President Obama’s trip this month to Africa, with the first family tagging along, is projected to cost taxpayers as much as $100 million, sparking criticism as the federal government scrimps along during sequester-related budget cuts.

Among the related costs will be fighter jets; hundreds of Secret Service agents; a Navy ship with a full trauma center; and military cargo planes to bring 56 vehicles including 14 limousines and three trucks loaded with sheets of bullet­proof glass to cover the windows of the hotels where the first family will stay. The details were reported by The Washington Post, based on a confidential planning document.

The trip to sub-Sahara Africa runs from June 26 to July 3.

The president and first lady have cancelled plans to go on a safari that would have included the additional expense of a sharp-shooting team, responsible for putting down a cheetah, lion or any other wild animal that became a threat.

Figuring out the exact cost of the overall trip is difficult because the information is classified for the purpose of national security.

However, a Government Accountability Office report shows President Clinton’s 1998 trip to six African nations cost at least $42.7 million – not including Secret Service expenses.

Obama’s trip could cost the federal government $60 million to $100 million based on the costs of similar African trips in recent years, a person familiar with the Obama journey but not authorized to speak for attribution told The Post.

The White House had defended the trip cost saying the Secret Service plan determines the security cost and that first family’s trip will result in long-term goodwill.

TOULOUSE, France (AFP) –  Flash floods in southwestern France killed an elderly woman as the inundated grotto at the Roman Catholic pilgrimage site of Lourdes remained closed for a second day on Wednesday.

The woman in her 70s was washed away overnight by the floodwaters after getting out of her submerged car at Saint Beat near Lourdes, the local prefecture said in a statement. Her husband was rescued by firefighters.

About 2,000 people in the region were evacuated, some of them by helicopter. A bridge at Saint-Laurent-de-Neste was washed away by a tributary of the Garonne river.

The shrine at Lourdes, where the Virgin Mary reportedly appeared to a peasant girl in 1858 and whose water many believe has curative powers, remained closed on Wednesday.

Tourists in the town were relocated from hotels bordering the Gave de Pau to an area on higher ground.

On Tuesday afternoon, there was already 1.40 metres (4.5 feet) of water in the Lourdes cave and the Gave de Pau river nearby was 3.50 metres above its normal level.

The French interior and ecology ministers were due to visit Lourdes later Wednesday to assess the damage in the area, home to 22 shrines.

(Vatican Radio) For a Christian, Jesus is “all”, and this is the source of his or her benevolence.

This was the focus of Pope Francis’s message during Mass on Monday morning at the Domus Sanctae Marthae. The Pope also affirmed that the righteousness of Jesus exceeds the righteousness of the scribes, that it is superior to the “eye for eye, tooth for tooth” kind of justice. Amongst those present at the Mass, which was concelebrated by Cardinal Attilio Nicora, was a group of collaborators of the Vatican’s Financial Information Authority and a group of Vatican Museums collaborators accompanied by the Museum administrative director, Fr Paolo Nicolini.

The Archbishop of Manila, Cardinal Luis Tagle, was also present. “If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also”. Pope Francis focused his homily on Jesus’ earth-shaking words to his disciples. The slap of the cheek – he said – has become a classic take used by some to laugh about Christians. In life, he explained, everyday logic teaches us to “fight to defend our place” and if we receive a slap “we react and return two slaps in order to defend ourselves”.

On the other hand, the Pope said, when I advise parents to scold their children I always say: “never slap their cheek”, because “the cheek is dignity”. And Jesus, he continued, after the slap on the cheek goes further and invites us to hand over our coat as well, to undress ourselves completely.

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By Catholic Online

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic online) – Father Heilman was in need of finding a better way to tend to the needs of his 800-family flock. After 25 years in the ministry, Heilman believes Catholics could do with a bit more priest-and-me time, at least once a month.

“Maybe more often if you’re dealing with repetitive sin,” Heilman told reporters. “A lot of us aren’t in a state of grace and confessions help that grace flow freely.”

One of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church, confession usually occurs in an enclosed booth where priest and parishioner can chat through a lattice to keep anonymity. After the repentant list out their sins, the priest offers forgiveness and suggests a penance.

However, the number of Catholic priests in America has declined over the years. Heilman, in charge of three Madison-area parishes, with five Masses to recite every weekend, says that by factoring in baptisms, weddings and funerals, you’ve got one very busy priest.

“It’s challenging sometimes for priests to find time for confession because they have work to do,” Heilman said. “And parishioners are trying to go easy on Father because they see us trying to handle multiple things.”

Scheduling an appointment for confession takes away the veil of anonymity. “We don’t want this to be awkward or embarrassing,” Heilman said.

The My Confessor app is very simple. A red status box means “Father is OUT.” A green status box means “Father is IN.” Priests also have a special log in that lets them easily update their statuses and even post messages, according to app developer Mary Hoerr.

The app has a section explaining the sacrament of confession, as well as another place where users can read priests’ bios.

The only priest on the app for now, Heilman has been paying all the development costs out of his own pocket. But he says several other priests have reached out and asked to get involved. The app currently serves people in the Madison area. Heilman see the app going national.

He envisions an app that has a Google map with markers that point out where the nearest priest is. So if you’re driving by and you realize that there’s a burden on your back that you need to unload, users of My Confessor will know exactly where to go.

“I want people to not feel uncomfortable asking about confession,” Heilman said. “We want everybody ignited in the Holy Spirit.”

© 2013, Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

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Pope: Religious freedom often affirmed, not always put into practice

(Vatican Radio) Religious freedom was among the topics which Pope Francis touched upon Saturday during his meeting with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano. In his address to the Italian Head of State, Pope Francis recalled how 2013 marks the 17th centenary of the Edict of Milan, a document which many consider to be the first example of religious freedom being promoted.
“In today’s world, religious freedom is more often affirmed than put into practice”, the pope said. It is often threatened, and not infrequently violated. The serious outrages against this fundamental right are a source of serious concern, and need to be confronted at the global level.
Defending religious liberty and making it available for everyone, Pope Francis said, is everyone’s responsibility. Doing so “guarantees the growth and development of the entire community.”
Pope Francis then turned his attention to the current global crisis. At this time in history, he said, the world is undergoing a “serious and persistent global economic crisis which accentuates economic and social problems, above all placing a burden on the weakest of society.”
Some of the main causes for concern, Pope Francis pointed out, include the weakening of family and social ties; decreasing populations; the prevalence of a way of thinking which values profit more than work; insufficient attention given to younger generations and their formation, which jeopardizes a peaceful and secure future for society.

Read More: http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-religious-freedom-often-affirmed-not-always-p

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Texas couple completes quest to visit every state capitol

FoxNews.com - A Texas couple has fulfilled a lifelong dream by visiting Maine to watch the state Legislature at work. Seriously.

The Portland Press Herald (http://bit.ly/18mLCbP ) reports that 86-year-old Marcine Webb and his wife, 81-year-old Nita Lou Webb, were in Augusta last week to complete their quest to visit every state capitol. Maine’s was the last one.

When House Speaker Mark Eves announced the reason for their visit, the state representatives stood and cheered.

The trip for the San Angelo, Texas, couple was a 65th wedding anniversary present from their children. They will reach the milestone in August.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/06/10/texas-couple-completes-quest-to-visit-every-state-capitol-with-trip-to-maine/#ixzz2VpOW4czH

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Pope visits with sick children

news.va - A message of love and hope: this is what Pope Francis had for a group of children, who are patients at the pediatric oncology ward of the famed Agostino Gemelli hospital here in Rome. “Jesus loves [you] very much,” Pope Francis told the 22 boys and girls, who came to visit him in the Domus Sanctae Marthae residence. After a “Hail, Mary!” prayed together, Pope Francis offered his blessing, which, he explained, is “like a hug from God.” The children were accompanied by their parents and by volunteers of UNITALSI, the organisation that offers care and transport to the ill and those with special needs.

Read More: http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-receives-sick-children

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American multinational oil company says ‘No’ to homosexual agenda

LifeSiteNews.com – At its annual shareholder meeting this week, the world’s largest oil company, ExxonMobil, rejected a proposal demanding changes to its Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policy that would have granted special rights to homosexual employees.

“Had the resolution passed, the company would have been forced to begin promoting and providing ‘acceptance’ training of homosexuality to all employees, even if they had religious objections,” said Tim Wildmon, president of the American Family Association.

The proposal, voted down by 81 percent of ExxonMobil’s shareholders on May 30 read, “The Shareholders request that ExxonMobil amend its written equal employment opportunity policy to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and to substantially implement the policy.”

Read More: http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/american-multinational-oil-company-says-no-to-homosexual-agenda

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May 30, 2013 / Maria news

Christian triumphalism passes through human failure

news.va – Christian triumphalism passes through human failure. Letting oneself be tempted by other kinds of triumphalism, by a worldly brand of triumphalism, means giving in to the temptation of conceiving a “Christianity without a cross”. Pope Francis’ reflection at the Mass he celebrated this morning, Wednesday 29 May, in the Chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae, was centred on humility.

Today’s Gospel (Mk 10:32-45) says: the disciples “were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. Determined”. Reflecting on the restive sentiments seething in the hearts of the “dismayed” and “fearful” disciples, the Holy Father highlighted the conduct of the Lord who revealed the truth to them. The Son of man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and kill him; but on the third day he will rise.

The disciples underwent the same temptation that Jesus had faced in the wilderness, “when the devil” challenged him to work “a miracle”, the Pope said. Such as throwing himself down from the temple and saving himself in such a way that all might see it and be redeemed.

Today, the Pope said, we risk succumbing to the “temptation of a Christianity without a cross”. And “there is another temptation”: that of “a Christianity with the cross but without Jesus”; the Pope explained that this was the “temptation of triumphalism”. “We want triumph now”, he said, “without going to the cross, a worldly triumph, a reasonable triumph”.

“Triumphalism in the Church halts the Church. The triumphalism of us Christians halts Christians. A triumphalist Church is a half-way Church”. A Church content with being “well organized and with… everything lovely and efficient”, but which denied the martyrs would be “a Church which thought only of triumphs and successes; which did not have Jesus’ rule of triumph through failure. Human failure, the failure of the cross. And this is a temptation to us all”.

Concelebrating with the Holy Father were Bishop Valério Breda of Penedo, Brazil, and Bishop José Manuel Garcia Corderon of Bragança-Miranda, Portugal. Taking part in the Mass among others were the staff of the workshops and installations service, Fr Dario Edoardo Viganò, Director of the Vatican Television Centre, and Mons. Francesco Ceriotti, for decades involved in the area of communications of the Italian Episcopal Conference who today is celebrating the 70th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood.

Read more: http://www.news.va/en/news/the-triumphalism-of-christians

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‘Oh my gosh, those are cars!’ Watch the most dramatic footage of the deadly Moore tornado captured here as it devours an entire town

Thursday, May 30, 2013 10:12 AM

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) – The dramatic footage was captured by storm chasers Justin Cox and Chance Coldiron as they pursued the twister along the highway and reported in to the news desk. Their updates provided residents on the ground with immediate information as the twister tore through neighborhoods and destroyed homes, schools, and businesses.

From the outset, the tornado was understood to be serious, but it quickly exceeded the most dire expectations as it widened. Within minutes, it struck a home or outbuilding, then made its way towards a freeway.

At one point, just as the tornado crosses the freeway, one of the spotters shouts “Those are cars! Oh my gosh, those are cars!”

The desperation of the on-air news reporters and the chasers is evident in their voice as it becomes clear the tornado is a deadly event. Not long into the disaster, reporters announce the declaration that a “tornado emergency” is in effect. A tornado emergency is the highest level of warning the National Weather Service can issues and it means that a tornado is actively destroying inhabited areas.

One of the spotters becomes sure his own home is lost as the tornado strikes his neighborhood. Dutifully, he continues radioing updates on the disaster.

© 2013, Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

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