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The Chaldean Catholic Diocese of St. Peter and Paul has formally received into its fold, those members of the Assyrian Catholic Apostolic Diocese who, under the leadership of Mar Bawai Soro (pictured above), had asked to be reconciled with the Catholic Church last January 17, 2008. One bishop (Mar Bawai himself), six priests, 30+ deacons and subdeacons and an estimated 3,000 faithful were received into full communion during liturgical celebrations for the Feast of Pentecost. The announcement by the Chaldean Catholic Church can be found here. The Black Cordelias blog has an earlier article here. Mar Bawai Soro has...

On Christian Unity "Keep Alive the Flames of Faith, Charity and Hope" VATICAN CITY, MAY 7, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Here is the text of the greetings Benedict XVI gave today to Catholicos Karekin II, supreme patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, and a translation of the catechesis he gave afterward during his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square. * * * [English Greetings to Catholicos Karekin II] It is my great joy today to greet His Holiness Catholicos Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, and the distinguished delegation accompanying him. Your Holiness, I pray that the light...

On Christian Unity "Let's Accept the Invitation to 'Pray Without Ceasing'" VATICAN CITY, JAN. 23, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI delivered today at the general audience in Paul VI Hall during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. * * * Dear Brothers and Sisters, We are celebrating the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which comes to an end Friday, Jan. 25. This day marks the conversion of St. Paul the Apostle. Christians from various churches and ecclesiastical communities come together at this time in unanimous prayer to ask the Lord Jesus for...

On Christian Unity Week "We Must Not Be Discouraged" VATICAN CITY, JAN. 17, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of Benedict XVI's address at today's general audience, dedicated to the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, held in most countries Jan. 18-25. * * * Dear Brothers and Sisters: Tomorrow begins the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which I shall close personally in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls next Jan. 25, with the celebration of Vespers, to which representatives of the other Churches and ecclesial communities of Rome have also been invited. The days from Jan....

BELGRADE, Serbia — Top Roman Catholic and Orthodox dignitaries declared Monday that the time has come to close the ages-old rifts between the ancient branches of Christianity and bring East and West closer together. Representing the world's 1.1 billion Catholics and more than 250 million Christian Orthodox, sixty bishops, metropolitans and cardinals — 30 from each side — convened in the Serbian capital Belgrade for a renewed "theological" dialogue while acknowledging that much wider issues are involved. "East and West have been estranged from each other since the 11th century," said Orthodox Metropolitan John Zizioulas, referring to the historic schism...

By NICOLE WINFIELD, Associated Press Writer VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday pledged to work to unify all Christians, reach out to other religions and continue implementing reforms from the Second Vatican Council as he outlined his goals and made clear his pontificate would closely follow the trajectory of his predecessor, Pope John Paul II. AP Photo Reuters Slideshow: Ratzinger Named Pope Benedict XVI Complete Coverage • News & Analysis • Photos & Slideshows Benedict, the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, listed top priorities of his papacy in a message read in Latin to cardinals gathered in the Sistine...

PRAYER OF THE DAY Almighty God, you send your Son to proclaim your kingdom and to teach with authorityu: Anoint us with the power of your Spirit, that we, too, may bring good news to the afflicted, bind up the brokenhearted, and proclaim liberty to the captive; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. FIRST LESSON • Isaiah 9:1b-4 In the former time the LORD brought into contempt the land of Zebulum and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations....

Why we are losing the 'gay marriage' battle Posted: February 24, 2004 1:00 a.m. Eastern Richard D. Ackerman © 2004 WorldNetDaily.com While everyone would like to claim that the homosexual "marriage" battle has energized the Christian majority in America, nothing could be further from the truth. The recent events in San Francisco and Massachusetts are the ultimate testimony to our lack of energy and desire to please God. We are currently losing this battle because we deserve to lose this battle. There are several reasons why we will not win this battle until we change our wicked ways. First, our...