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Iran sentences Christian convert to 10 lashes for 'disturbing public order'

CNA Staff, Apr 23, 2020 / 01:30 pm (CNA).- Iran has sentenced a 21 year-old Christian woman to prison and lashing for “disturbing public order,” after she protested the destruction of a passenger jet by the military.

Mary (Fatemeh) Mohammadi, a 21 year-old Iranian convert to Christianity, was arrested on Jan. 12 after taking part in anti-government protests that followed the shooting down of a passenger jet, Ukrainian Air Flight 752, by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard (IRG).  Iran announced several days after the incident that the IRG mistakenly shot the plane down, resulting in the deaths of all 176 people on board the flight.

In an Instagram post on Wednesday, Mohammadi said her sentence of three months and one day in prison is suspended for one year. She was also sentenced to 10 lashes.

Mohammadi said she has been tortured in prison and suffered “terrible conditions” for “protesting against the slaughter of human beings.” She said she did not appeal her sentence “because the appeal courts have turned into affirmative tribunals.” 

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) tweeted a condemnation of Mohammadi’s sentencing on Wednesday, saying that “No peaceful activist should be targeted on the basis of their religious beliefs.”

President Trump highlighted her case in his remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast on Feb. 6, saying that she “was seized and imprisoned in Iran because she converted to Christianity and shared the Gospel with others.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also discussed Mohammadi’s case in a Feb. 12 interview with Tony Perkins on Washington Watch. Perkins is also the chair of USCIRF.

Pompeo said the U.S. was “deeply concerned” of reports of Mohammadi’s arrest, and said she was “targeted by the regime because she made the choice to convert to Christianity.”

According to the All Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief, Mohammadi was “physically and emotionally abused during her arrest and transfer to Qarchak prison,” and was questioned about her faith at her hearing.

Correction: This article originally stated that Mohammadi was one of a group of survivors of religious persecution who met with President Trump last July at the White House, as reported in the Christian Post. It was a different Iranian Christian, Dabrina Bet Tamraz, who met with Trump, not Mohammadi.



  • Asia - Pacific

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Performance Bond Requirements: Agriculture, Energy, Equity and FX Margins - Effective April 22, 2020

As per the normal review of market volatility to ensure adequate collateral coverage, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc., Clearing House Risk Management staff approved the performance bond requirements for the following products listed in the advisory at the link below.

The rates will be effective after the close of business on April 22, 2020.

For the full text of this advisory, please click here.




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Performance Bond Requirements: Energy Margins - Effective April 22, 2020


As per the normal review of market volatility to ensure adequate collateral coverage, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc., Clearing House Risk Management staff approved the performance bond requirements for the following products listed in the advisory at the link below.

The rates will be effective after the close of business on 04/22/2020.

Click here for the full text of the advisory

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Performance Bond Requirements: Energy and Agriculture - Effective April 23, 2020

As per the normal review of market volatility to ensure adequate collateral coverage, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc., Clearing House Risk Management staff approved the performance bond requirements for the following products listed in the advisory at the link below.

The rates will be effective after the close of business on 4/23/2020.

For the full text of this advisory, please click here.




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Performance Bond Requirements: Energy Margins - Effective April 22, 2020

As per the normal review of market volatility to ensure adequate collateral coverage, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc., Clearing House Risk Management staff approved the performance bond requirements for the following products listed in the advisory at the link below.

The rates will be effective after the close of business on 4/23/2020.

Click here for the full text of the advisory

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Performance Bond Requirements: Energy, Agriculture, Metals - Effective April 24, 2020

As per the normal review of market volatility to ensure adequate collateral coverage, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc., Clearing House Risk Management staff approved the performance bond requirements for the following products listed in the advisory at the link below.

The rates will be effective after the close of business on 4/24/2020.

Click here for the full text of the advisory

20-175




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Performance Bond Requirements: Agriculture, Energy, Equity, FX, & Metal Margins - Effective April 24, 2020

As per the normal review of market volatility to ensure adequate collateral coverage, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc., Clearing House Risk Management staff approved the performance bond requirements for the following products listed in the advisory in the link below. Please email any questions to Clearing.RiskManagement@cmegroup.com

The rates will be effective after the close of business on Friday, April 24, 2020.

For the full text of this advisory, please click here.




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Performance Bond Requirements: Energy, Agriculture and Interest Rates - Effective April 28, 2020

As per the normal review of market volatility to ensure adequate collateral coverage, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc., Clearing House Risk Management staff approved the performance bond requirements for the following products listed in the advisory at the link below.

The rates will be effective after the close of business on 4/28/2020.

Click here for the full text of the advisory

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Performance Bond Requirements: Energy Margins - Effective April 28, 2020

As per the normal review of market volatility to ensure adequate collateral coverage, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc., Clearing House Risk Management staff approved the performance bond requirements for the following products listed in the advisory at the link below.

The rates will be effective after the close of business on 04/28/2020.

For the full text of this advisory, please click here.




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Performance Bond Requirements: Interest Rate Margins - Effective April 30, 2020

As per the normal review of market volatility to ensure adequate collateral coverage, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc., Clearing House Risk Management staff approved the performance bond requirements for the following products listed in the advisory at the link below.

The rates will be effective after the close of business on 04/30/2020.

Click here for the full text of the advisory

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Performance Bond Requirements: Energy, Interest Rates and Metal Margins - Effective May 01, 2020

As per the normal review of market volatility to ensure adequate collateral coverage, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc., Clearing House Risk Management staff approved the performance bond requirements for the following products listed in the advisory at the link below.

The rates will be effective after the close of business on 05/01/2020.

Click here for the full text of the advisory

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Performance Bond Requirements: Agriculture, Energy, Interest Rate & Metal Margins - Effective May 1, 2020

As per the normal review of market volatility to ensure adequate collateral coverage, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc., Clearing House Risk Management staff approved the performance bond requirements for the following products listed in the advisory at the link below. Please email any questions to Clearing.RiskManagement@cmegroup.com

The rates will be effective after the close of business on Friday, May 1, 2020.

For the full text of this advisory, please click here.




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Performance Bond Requirements: Energy - Effective May 6, 2020

As per the normal review of market volatility to ensure adequate collateral coverage, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc., Clearing House Risk Management staff approved the performance bond requirements for the following products listed in the advisory at the link below.

The rates will be effective after the close of business on 5/6/2020.

For the full text of this advisory, please click here.




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Performance Bond Requirements: Energy Margins - Effective May 6, 2020

As per the normal review of market volatility to ensure adequate collateral coverage, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc., Clearing House Risk Management staff approved the performance bond requirements for the following products listed in the advisory at the link below.

The rates will be effective after the close of business on May 06, 2020.

Click here for the full text of the advisory

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Product Modification Summary: Amendments to the Price Increments of the 3-Year U.S. Treasury Note Futures Contract

Amendments to the Price Increments of the 3-Year U.S. Treasury Note Futures Contract

Click here for the full text of the advisory

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Performance Bond Requirements: Energy Margins - Effective May 8, 2020

As per the normal review of market volatility to ensure adequate collateral coverage, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc., Clearing House Risk Management staff approved the performance bond requirements for the following products listed in the advisory at the link below.

The rates will be effective after the close of business on 05/08/2020.

For the full text of this advisory, please click here.




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Performance Bond Requirements: Agriculture, Energy, Equity, Interest Rate & Metal Margins - Effective May 8, 2020

As per the normal review of market volatility to ensure adequate collateral coverage, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc., Clearing House Risk Management staff approved the performance bond requirements for the following products listed in the advisory at the link below. Please email any questions to Clearing.RiskManagement@cmegroup.com

The rates will be effective after the close of business on Friday, May 8, 2020.

For the full text of this advisory, please click here.




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Going the distance for the gospel

A Malagasy girl exemplifies dedication to spreading the gospel.




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A king encounters the King of Kings

The king of a small village in Madagascar welcomes the OM team to plant a church amongst his people.




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CME ClearPort API Entity Reference Data Changes for Brokers

Please be advised that effective Sunday, August 25, 2013 (for the August 26th business date) there will be changes to CME ClearPort API Entity Reference Data that will impact Party Detail List Reports and Party Entitlement Reports for CME ClearPort API Brokers and CME ClearPort API Platforms who request Entity Reference Data on behalf of Brokers.

These changes will be available for testing in the New Release environment on August 14th.

Changes to Existing Reponses

When a Broker (or Platform on behalf of Broker) submits a request for all related accounts using the Party Details List Request message or a request for all related accounts which trade a particular product using the Party Entitlement Request message, the following information is provided for each account in Related Party Detail blocks:  The Clearing ID of the Account’s Clearing Firm (Party Role 1), the Trading Firm / Account Owner’s firm identifier (Party Role 7),  and the Broker Firm’s firm identifier (Party Role 30).

Going forward, when the same requests are submitted, an additional Related Party Detail block will appear on the response if there is an Asset Manager Firm assigned to the account:  the Asset Manager Firm’s identifier (Party Role 49).

In the following examples, ACCT1 has been assigned an Asset Manager by the Clearing Firm, while ACCT2 has not.

<FIXML v="5.0 SP2" xv="109" s="20090815" cv="CME.0001">

<PtyDetlListRpt ReqID="123437" RptID="1376864472358" ReqRslt="0" Txt="Valid request">

<Hdr SID="CME" SSub="CPAPI" TID="PLTFM" TSub="username"/>

<PtyDetl ID="ACCT1" Src="C" R="24">

<AltPty ID="A-12345" Src="H"/>

<ReltdPtyDetl ID="123" Src="C" R="1">

<Rltnshp Rltnshp="2"/>

</ReltdPtyDetl>

<ReltdPtyDetl ID="trading_firm1" Src="C" R="7">

<Rltnshp Rltnshp="36"/>

</ReltdPtyDetl>

<ReltdPtyDetl ID="broker_firm1" Src="C" R="30">

<Rltnshp Rltnshp="22"/>

</ReltdPtyDetl>

<ReltdPtyDetl ID="asset_mgr_firm1" Src="C" R="49">

<Rltnshp Rltnshp="32"/>

</ReltdPtyDetl>

</PtyDetl>

<PtyDetl ID="ACCT2" Src="C" R="24">

<AltPty ID="A-67890" Src="H"/>

<ReltdPtyDetl ID="456" Src="C" R="1">

<Rltnshp Rltnshp="2"/>

</ReltdPtyDetl>

<ReltdPtyDetl ID="trading_firm2" Src="C" R="7">

<Rltnshp Rltnshp="36"/>

</ReltdPtyDetl>

<ReltdPtyDetl ID="broker_firm1" Src="C" R="30">

 

 

<Rltnshp Rltnshp="22"/>

</ReltdPtyDetl>

</PtyDetl>

</PtyDetlListRpt>

</FIXML>

 

<FIXML v="5.0 SP2" xv="109" s="20090815" cv="CME.0001">

<PtyEntlmntRpt ReqID="123412" RptID="1376865078371" ReqRslt="0" Txt="Valid request">

<Hdr SID="CME" SSub="CPAPI" TID="PLTFM" TSub="username"/>

<PtyEntlmnt>

<PtyDetl ID="ACCT1" Src="C" R="24">

<AltPty ID="A-12345" Src="H"/>

<ReltdPtyDetl ID="broker_firm1" Src="C" R="30">

<Rltnshp Rltnshp="22"/>

</ReltdPtyDetl>

<ReltdPtyDetl ID="trading_firm1" Src="C" R="7">

<Rltnshp Rltnshp="36"/>

</ReltdPtyDetl>

<ReltdPtyDetl ID="asset_mgr_firm1" Src="C" R="49">

<Rltnshp Rltnshp="32"/>

</ReltdPtyDetl>

<ReltdPtyDetl ID="123" Src="C" R="1">

<Rltnshp Rltnshp="2"/>

</ReltdPtyDetl>

</PtyDetl>

<PtyDetl ID="ACCT2" Src="C" R="24">

<AltPty ID="A-67890" Src="H"/>

<ReltdPtyDetl ID="broker_firm1" Src="C" R="30">

<Rltnshp Rltnshp="22"/>

</ReltdPtyDetl>

<ReltdPtyDetl ID="trading_firm2" Src="C" R="7">

<Rltnshp Rltnshp="36"/>

</ReltdPtyDetl>

<ReltdPtyDetl ID="456" Src="C" R="1">

<Rltnshp Rltnshp="2"/>

</ReltdPtyDetl>

</PtyDetl>

<Entlmnt Typ="0" Ind="Y">

<InstrmtScope Oper="1" ID="NN" Src="H" SecTyp="FUT"

 

Exch="NYMEX"/>

 

 

</Entlmnt>

 

</PtyEntlmnt>

</PtyEntlmntRpt>

 

</FIXML>

 

NEW- Broker Requests Asset Manager Users at an Asset Manager Firm

In a previous CME ClearPort API release a change was made to allow Brokers (or Platforms on behalf of Brokers) to specify asset manager users in party role 36 (instead of a trader at the account owner firm) to satisfy the trader individual requirements for applicable market types like energy and metals.  Now Brokers can use ClearPort API reference data to obtain a list of asset manager users for their related accounts.  Once the above responses are received, the Broker or Platform can use each related Asset

Manager Firm (Party Role 49) to request a list of users at the firm:

 

Request

<FIXML v="5.0 SP2" xv="109" s="20090815" cv="CME.0001">

<PtyDetlListReq ReqID="123437">

<Hdr SID="PLTFM" SSub="username" TID="CME" TSub="CPAPI"/>

<ReqPty ID="broker_firm1" R="30"/>

<Pty ID="asset_mgr_firm1" R="49"/>

<ReqR R="36"/>

</PtyDetlListReq>

</FIXML>

 

 

 

 

Response

 

<FIXML v="5.0 SP2" xv="109" s="20090815" cv="CME.0001">

<PtyDetlListRpt ReqID="123437" RptID="1376866782295" ReqRslt="0" Txt="Valid request">

<Hdr SID="CME" SSub="CPAPI" TID="PLTFM" TSub="username"/>

<PtyDetl ID="asset_mgr_user1" Src="C" R="36">

<Sub ID="First Last" Typ="9"/>

<ReltdPtyDetl ID="asset_mgr_firm1" Src="C" R="49">

<Sub ID="Company Name" Typ="5"/>

<Rltnshp Rltnshp="6"/>

</ReltdPtyDetl>

<ReltdPtyDetl ID="CMD" Src="C" R="22">

<Rltnshp Rltnshp="12"/>

</ReltdPtyDetl>

<ReltdPtyDetl ID="CME" Src="C" R="22">

<Rltnshp Rltnshp="12"/>

</ReltdPtyDetl>

<ReltdPtyDetl ID="DME" Src="C" R="22">

<Rltnshp Rltnshp="12"/>

</ReltdPtyDetl>

<ReltdPtyDetl ID="NYMEX" Src="C" R="22">

<Rltnshp Rltnshp="12"/>

</ReltdPtyDetl>

<ReltdPtyDetl ID="COMEX" Src="C" R="22">

<Rltnshp Rltnshp="12"/>

</ReltdPtyDetl>

<ReltdPtyDetl ID="CBT" Src="C" R="22">

<Rltnshp Rltnshp="12"/>

</ReltdPtyDetl>

</PtyDetl>

</PtyDetlListRpt>

</FIXML>

 

For more detailed information regarding entity reference data retrieval through CME ClearPort API, please see the CME ClearPort API Reference Data Guide:

http://www.cmegroup.com/clearing/files/Clearport_Reference_Data_API_FIXML_Message_Specification_

and_Samples.pdf

 

If you have questions or need help facilitating your tests in the New Release environment, please contact:

 

Market Operations Technical Support

24 Hour 6 Days a Week Support available from Sundays at 5PM ET to Fridays at 5PM ET

Phone: 800-275-6215 / 212-301-4720

Email:  thirdpartyservices@cmegroup.com




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Technologiekonzerne im Finanzbereich: Chancen und Risiken

German version of BIS Press Release - Big tech in finance: opportunities and risks, 23 June 2019




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Together we make a difference

OM Hungary works alongside partner organisations to bring comfort and Jesus’ love to refugees in Budapest.




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No Coincidence

The softball camp in Hungary was not originally planned. But there in the 38-degree (100° F) heat, prayers and decisions opened lives to the Lord.




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3DEXPERIENCE Marketplace add-in 6.28.146 is available for download

Latest SOLIDWORKS press releases, news, technical alerts and announcements. These feeds are seen on...




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Fin24.com | Lockdown | African governments must balance saving lives and preserving economies

The African Union Development Agency says countries should think about how they choose the lesser of the two evils because strict lockdowns have severe consequences.




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Fin24.com | IMF to discuss SA request for coronavirus assistance

The South African government is seeking a $4.2 billion loan from the IMF to support its response to the Covid-19 crisis.




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Maintaining SOLIDWORKS Design and Data Efficiency While Working From Home

Read this blog to learn how you can maintain efficiency throughout your design and data management activities when working from home.

Author information

Mark Johnson
Expert Technical Support Engineer, Escalation Manager for the Americas at SOLIDWORKS

Mark Johnson is the SOLIDWORKS Escalation Manager for the Americas. He also has resolved the highest number of technical support cases in SOLIDWORKS support history – over 45,000! This experience gives him a unique perspective which he leverages to train our VAR community and take part in the SOLIDWORKS Development process to improve overall customer experience. Mark also hosts and organizes the SOLIDWORKS World AE Workshop for the past 10 years and The VAR Performance Tuning Workshops (VPTW) at company HQ.

The post Maintaining SOLIDWORKS Design and Data Efficiency While Working From Home appeared first on The SOLIDWORKS Blog.




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Only sanctions can stop Mugabe




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Zimbabwe: Another Election Chance




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Swaziland: Beyond Royal Rule and Naked Reed Dances




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Zimbabwe: Engaging the Inclusive Government




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The Race for Influence in Zimbabwe




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Resistance and Denial: Zimbabwe’s Stalled Reform Agenda

Slow and inadequate progress in implementing the compromise they reached three years ago threatens to push Zimbabwe’s contending forces into premature elections and undermine political and economic recovery.




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Zimbabwe’s Sanctions Standoff

A bold approach to the sanctions issue is necessary to refocus efforts on the actions needed to break the political stalemate in Zimbabwe before elections are held that otherwise threaten to be as violent and undemocratic as the 2008 round.




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Lifting Zimbabwe sanctions might aid reform before elections

Bold steps can be taken by the EU to ease sanctions while not rewarding recalcitrant behaviour by Zanu-PF leadership




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Post-election Mozambique: Here comes an era of uncertainty

Hailed as transitional by local observers, the latest polls were expected to usher in a new type of leadership in FRELIMO, with Filipe Nyussi being the first non-liberation northern leader in a southern dominated elite; they would also see opposition parties RENAMO and MDM alter their strategies and become more politically relevant; and would possibly be the last polls before the country became a mass resource-producing economy. However, the Presidential and parliamentary elections of 15 October have made the political setting, the prospects for improved governance and wealth redistribution more opaque, and the implementation of the new peace agreement harder.




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Atheist encourages Christians to tell others about Jesus

After listening to the Gospel a self-proclaimed atheist encouraged Christians to go tell others this Good News.




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Dance speaks louder than words

OM Arts dancers come to Israel and share their art and testimony with locals.




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Strategic Worship Outings create chance for connection

An incorrect GPS coordinate leads a worship team to the end of the road, yet God has another route planned.




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Mission trip taught her dependence on God

Marcela (Argentina) experienced the power of God working through her while on a mission trip in Israel.




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God rewards patience

After years of prayer and patience, God answers the missionaries of OM Guatemala and sends an English teacher to give free classes.




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No coincidence: an answer to prayer

Puerto Barrios, Guatemala :: Logos Hope is welcomed by the mayor, who believes the ship brings what the city needs.




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Francis the farmer

A Malawian missionary brings change to his village and food to his family through farming techniques taught by OM Malawi.




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Of punctures, an epileptic, and healing

Cycling to reach people in remote villages in Malawi, Yolanda Mamvura experienced a puncture which led her to pray for an epileptic.




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Trapped in difficult circumstances

Behind the glow of city lights, a group of people easily go unnoticed—lost sheep in desperate need of the hope of the gospel.




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Local volunteers on board Logos Hope make a difference

Logos Hope's Visitor Experience deck creatively engages people with the gospel as local volunteers make the language and cultural barriers obsolete.




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Pope Francis: 'Allow yourself to be consoled by Jesus'

Vatican City, May 8, 2020 / 04:00 am (CNA).- We must learn to let ourselves be consoled by Jesus when we are suffering, Pope Francis said at his morning Mass Friday.

In his homily in the chapel at Casa Santa Marta, May 8, the pope noted it was difficult to accept Christ’s consolation in times of distress. 

Reflecting on the day's Gospel reading, John 14:1-6, which records Jesus’ words to his disciples at the Last Supper, the pope said the Lord recognizes their sadness and seeks to console them.

"It is not easy to allow ourselves to be consoled by the Lord,” he said. “Many times, in bad moments, we are angry with the Lord and we do not let Him come and speak to us like this, with this sweetness, with this closeness, with this meekness, with this truth and with this hope.”

He noted that Jesus’ way of consoling was quite different to telegrams of condolence, which are too formal to console anyone. 

“In this passage of the Gospel we see that the Lord consoles us always in closeness, with the truth and in hope,” he said. “These are the three marks of the Lord's consolation.”

The pope observed that Jesus is always close to us in times of sorrow.

“The Lord consoles in closeness. And He does not use empty words, on the contrary: He prefers silence,” he said, according to a transcript by Vatican News.

He added that Jesus does not offer false comfort:  

“Jesus is true. He doesn't say formal things that are lies: ‘No, don’t worry, everything will pass, nothing will happen, it will pass, things will pass…’ No, it won’t. He is telling the truth. He doesn’t hide the truth.”

The pope explained that Jesus’ consolation always brings hope. 

He said: “He will come and take us by the hand and carry us. He does not say: ‘No, you will not suffer: it is nothing…’ No. He says the truth: ‘I am close to you, this is the truth: it is a bad time, of danger, of death. But do not let your heart be troubled, remain in that peace, that peace which is the basis of all consolation, because I will come and by the hand I will take you where I will be’.”

The pope concluded: “We ask for the grace to learn to let ourselves be consoled by the Lord. The Lord's consolation is true, not deceiving. It is not anesthesia, no. But it is near, it is true and it opens the doors of hope to us.”

After Mass, the pope presided at adoration and benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, before leading those watching via livestream in an act of spiritual communion.

The congregation then sang the Easter Marian antiphon “Regina caeli.”

At the start of Mass, the pope noted that World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day falls on May 8, the anniversary of the birth of Henry Dunant, founder of the International Committee of the Red Cross.  

Pope Francis said: “We pray for the people who work in these worthy institutions: may the Lord bless their work which does so much good.”




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Illinois Catholics long for 'normal life' after governor announces lockdown plan

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, May 8, 2020 / 03:10 pm (CNA).- The Diocese of Springfield, Illinois, said that the Church must return to “normal life” after the governor announced plans to ban large gatherings until a COVID-19 vaccine or treatment is available.

Earlier in the week, the state’s Governor JB Pritzker unveiled a five-phase “Restore Illinois” plan that bans gatherings of more than 50 people until a vaccine or treatment is available, or the virus has stopped spreading for a sustained period of time. Health officials have said that a vaccine for the new coronavirus (COVID-19) might not be available for 12 to 18 months. 

Currently, people in the state are allowed to attend religious services of 10 or fewer people, but no gatherings of more than 10 people are permitted until phase 4 of Pritzker’s plan, and the state wouldn’t even be able to “advance” to phase 3 until May 29.

“The Church has certainly done her part in making great sacrifices to slow the spread of this virus,” Andrew Hansen, director of communications for the diocese of Springfield, Illinois, told CNA on Friday.

“That said, the Church must return to her normal life of liturgy and communal worship,” Hansen said, while emphasizing precautions such as social distancing “will likely be the appropriate path longer term for the return to some version of normalcy for the Church.”

Previously, in-person or drive-in religious services were banned in the state. The Thomas More Society filed a lawsuit on behalf of a church in Lena, Ill., on April 30. Later that evening a paragraph was added to the governor’s executive order allowing for people to leave their homes to attend religious services of ten or fewer people, the society’s president Peter Breen told CNA.

The next day, May 1, the archdiocese of Chicago announced it would be resuming public Masses with 10 or fewer people.

According to the “Restore Illinois” plan, there could not be any gathering of between 11 and 50 people in size until phase 4 of the plan—“Revitalization.”

That phase can start only when certain conditions have been met: the positivity rate of COVID tests is at or under 20% and doesn’t rise by more than 10 points over 14 days; hospital admissions don’t increase for 28 days; and hospitals have at least 14% “surge capacity” in ICU beds, medical and surgical beds, and ventilators.

Pitzker clarified in a Wednesday press conference that religious services would be part of this 50-person limit in phase 4, and schools would not be allowed to reopen until then, raising questions of how tuition-dependent Catholic schools might fare in the fall if remote learning is still widely utilized.

The state’s superintendent of education has said that at least some schools might have to begin the new school year with remote learning, or with students attending classes in-person only on certain days.

“So we continue to hope and pray schools will reopen next school year. Certainly, when our schools reopen, new measures and precautions will be in place,” Hansen told CNA.

The president of DePaul University, located in Chicago, announced earlier this week that the university already plans to “minimize our footprint on campus this fall,” and that an announcement of the fall plans could happen by June 15.




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Pope Francis: the devil seeks to destroy the Church through envy

Vatican City, May 9, 2020 / 04:00 am (CNA).- The devil uses envy to try to thwart the proclamation of the Gospel, Pope Francis said at his morning Mass Saturday.

In his homily in the chapel at Casa Santa Marta, May 9, the pope reflected on the day’s first reading, Acts 13:44-52, in which the Jewish community at Antioch rejects St. Paul’s preaching about Jesus. 

He said: “On the one hand there is the Lord, there is the Holy Spirit who makes the Church grow, and it grows ever more: this is true. But on the other hand, there is the evil spirit that seeks to destroy the Church.” 

After citing other examples in the Acts of the Apostles where the apostles faced rejection, the pope asked: “And what is the devil's instrument to destroy the Gospel proclamation? Envy. The Book of Wisdom [2:24] says it clearly: ‘Through the devil's envy sin has entered the world’ -- envy, jealousy, here. Always this bitter, bitter feeling.” 

Reflecting on this enduring struggle, Pope Francis quoted St. Augustine of Hippo, who wrote in “The City of God” that “the Church progresses on her pilgrimage amidst this world's persecutions and God's consolations.”

“A Church that has no difficulty lacks something,” he said. “The devil is too calm. And if the devil is calm, things are not going well. Always the difficulty, the temptation, the struggle... the jealousy that destroys. The Holy Spirit creates the harmony of the Church, and the evil spirit destroys. Until today.” 

The pope noted that in the first reading the community at Antioch turned the leading women and men of the city against the apostles. He observed that temporal powers are often an instrument through which envy is stirred up against Christians. 

He said: “Let us be careful with the preaching of the Gospel: never to fall, to put our trust in temporal powers and money. The trust of Christians is Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit that He sent, and it is precisely the Holy Spirit who is the leaven, it is the strength that makes the Church grow.” 

“Yes, the Church goes ahead, in peace, with resignation, joyful: between ‘the consolations of God and the persecutions of the world.’”

The pope led those watching via livestream in an act of spiritual communion, composed by St. Alphonsus Liguori, founder of the Redemptorists.

He prayed: “My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there, and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You.”

The pope ended the celebration with adoration and benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The congregation then sang the Easter Marian antiphon “Regina caeli.”

At the start of Mass, the pope noted that May 9 is the feast day of St. Louise de Marillac, the French founder of the Daughters of Charity. Her feast normally falls on March 15 but was transferred this year because it fell on a Sunday in Lent. A painting of the 17th-century saint was brought to the pope’s chapel to mark the occasion. 

The Daughters of Charity belong to the Vincentian family. Vincentian nuns live at the Casa Santa Marta, the pope’s residence, and run a pediatric dispensary at the Vatican.

At the start of Mass, the pope said: “Today is the commemoration of St. Louise de Marillac: let us pray for the Vincentian sisters who have run this clinic, this hospital, for almost 100 years and have worked here, in Santa Marta, for this hospital. May the Lord bless the sisters.”




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