The Catholic Voice

Bishop Barber celebrates Mass on Respect Life Sunday.

Pope urges nations to create a world free from nuclear arms By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service... VATICAN CITY -- Marking the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons coming into force Jan. 22, Pope Francis encouraged nations to work toward a world free from all nuclear arms. The treaty is the first legally binding international agreement to prohibit signatory states from the development, testing, production, stockpiling, stationing, transfer, use and threat of use of nuclear weapons, as well as assisting with and encouraging such activities. Nuclear weapons have an "indiscriminate impact" as they can "strike large numbers of people in a short space of time and provoke long-lasting damage to the environment," the pope said Jan. 20 during his weekly general audience, livestreamed from the library of the Apostolic Palace. The pope "strongly encouraged" all nations and people "to work with determination to promote the conditions necessary for a world without nuclear arms, contributing to the advancement of peace and multilateral cooperation, which humanity greatly needs today." The Holy See was the among the first to ratify the treaty, which was approved by 122 U.N. members. Netherlands was the only country to vote against it while Singapore abstained. Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Vatican secretary for relations with states, signed it at the United Nations in New York the first day it was open for signatures in September 2017. The treaty comes into force Jan. 22, three months after the required 50th nation ratified the historic document, which resulted from months of negotiations led by non-nuclear countries. The Holy See was a key participant in the process that led to drafting the treaty, providing encouragement and advice to negotiators, according to Jesuit Father Drew Christiansen, a nuclear weapons expert who is professor of ethics and global development at Georgetown University. The nuclear nations and those under the U.S. nuclear umbrella opposed the measure and played little if any role in negotiations. In addition to the U.S., the countries possessing nuclear weapons are Russia, China, United Kingdom, France, Israel, India, Pakistan and North Korea. Data from various sources, including the U.S. Department of State and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, show that the nine countries hold an estimated 13,440 nuclear weapons.

Upcoming local pro-life observances: Friday, Jan. 22,noon: Stand Up 4 Life Rally, in front of Oakland City Hall, noon https://issues4life.org/s4life.html... Saturday, Jan. 23, noon Walk for Life West Coast Civic Center Plaza, San Francisco https://www.walkforlifewc.com/ Sunday, Jan. 24 11 a.m. Mass for the Unborn Bishop Michael C. Barber, SJ, presiding The Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland No public attendance. Watch at https://www.youtube.com/CathedralofChristtheLight

Congratulations to our seminarians at St. Patrick’s Seminary who were installed to ministry of Acolytes and Lector. L-R: Alvaro Santamaria (Lector), Garrett McGowan, Juan Carlos Ponce, John Paul Rabago (Acolyte). The Most Rev. Jaime Soto of the Diocese of Sacramento as the main celebrant.

Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has issued the following statement on the 2020 presidential election: We thank God for the blessings of liberty. The American people have spoken in this election. Now is the time for our leaders to come together in a spirit of national unity and to commit themselves to dialogue and compromise for the common good. As Catholics and Americans, our priorities and mission are clear. We... are here to follow Jesus Christ, to bear witness to His love in our lives, and to build His Kingdom on earth. I believe that at this moment in American history, Catholics have a special duty to be peacemakers, to promote fraternity and mutual trust, and to pray for a renewed spirit of true patriotism in our country. Democracy requires that all of us conduct ourselves as people of virtue and self-discipline. It requires that we respect the free expression of opinions and that we treat one another with charity and civility, even as we might disagree deeply in our debates on matters of law and public policy. As we do this, we recognize that Joseph R. Biden, Jr., has received enough votes to be elected the 46th President of the United States. We congratulate Mr. Biden and acknowledge that he joins the late President John F. Kennedy as the second United States president to profess the Catholic faith. We also congratulate Sen. Kamala D. Harris of California, who becomes the first woman ever elected as vice president. We ask the Blessed Virgin Mary, patroness of this great nation, to intercede for us. May she help us to work together to fulfill the beautiful vision of America’s missionaries and founders one nation under God, where the sanctity of every human life is defended and freedom of conscience and religion are guaranteed.

Catholics acknowledge postelection divisions, work ahead By Carol Zimmermann Catholic News Service...Continue reading