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Huge mass in Lisbon ahead of pope’s arrival for ‘Catholic Woodstock’
A sea of flag-waving pilgrims from around the world packed a Lisbon park on Tuesday for an open-air Mass that kicked off a week-long jamboree of Catholic youth on the eve of the arrival of Pope Francis. Lisbon's patriarch, Cardinal Manuel Clemente, delivered the homily at the service held at the hillside Eduardo VII Park with sweeping views of the Portuguese capital and the Tagus River. "Lisbon welcomes you wholeheartedly," he told the crowd as pilgrims waved national flags in the air. Local authorities expect some 300,000 people to attend the opening Mass of World Youth Day, which is actually a week of religious, cultural, and festive events held every three years in a different city. Francis is set to arrive in Lisbon on Wednesday morning to join the event, which has been dubbed the "Catholic Woodstock". The 86-year-old pontiff is by Church standards the most liberal pope in decades and is very popular with young people. During his papacy, he has tried to create a more compassionate church, reaching out to the gay community and talking frankly to youngsters about abortion, divorce, and gender identity. "Pope Francis is open to young people," said Cristina Kelly, a 39-year-old who came from Brazil, just before the start of the Mass. "He called on us and we came. People need that today, for young people to be called to God," she told AFP. 'Recharge spiritual battery' In Portugal, the pope has a typically packed schedule for his five-day visit, despite having spent nine nights in hospital after undergoing hernia surgery in June. Francis, the first Latin American pope, is due to make 11 public pronouncements and hold numerous meetings, and on Saturday will visit the shrine of Fatima north of Lisbon. Church organizers expect one million faithful will attend the event's closing mass which will be delivered by the pope on Sunday at a waterside park on the outskirts of Lisbon. Images of the pope were on display on banners across the city as well as on screens on automatic bank machines along with the message: "I am with you". A Lisbon pastry shop is even selling cookies with the image of the smiling pontiff wearing a crucifix. "My goal is to recharge my spiritual battery because sometimes, as young people, we let it run low," Xochilt Cecilia Velis, a 24-year-old from El Salvador, told AFP in central Lisbon. World Youth Day is part of the Vatican's efforts to galvanize young Catholics at a time when secularism and disgust over clerical child sex abuse cause some faithful to abandon the Church. Meeting with abuse victims The gathering comes as the Portuguese Catholic Church is reckoning with its legacy of clerical sexual abuse. A report released in February by an independent commission determined that at least 4,815 children had been abused by clergy members in Portugal since 1950. The inquiry -- similar to audits elsewhere in Europe and the Americas -- concluded that the Church hierarchy "systematically" tried to conceal the abuse. Pope Francis is scheduled to meet privately with abuse victims during his visit but the date of the encounter or other details has not been released. Initially scheduled for August 2022, but postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Lisbon World Youth Day is the 16th international edition of what has become the largest gathering of Catholics worldwide. Church organizers said there are pilgrims registered to take part in this year's event from every country in the world except the Maldives. A brainchild of the late Pope John Paul II, the event started in 1986. The current one is the fourth presided over by Pope Francis, who became head of the Catholic Church in 2013. The last three events took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2013, in Krakow, Poland in 2016, and in Panama City, Panama in 2019. The post Huge mass in Lisbon ahead of pope’s arrival for ‘Catholic Woodstock’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Catholic Woodstock’ kicks off in Lisbon ahead of Pope arrival
The world's largest Catholic gathering, a week-long religious festival known as World Youth Day, kicks off in Lisbon on Tuesday, a day before Pope Francis arrives on his first foreign trip since recent surgery. Around 300,000 people are expected to attend the opening mass at 7:00 pm (1800 GMT) at the hillside Eduardo VII park, which offers sweeping views of the Portuguese capital and the Tagus river. The 86-year-old pontiff is set to arrive in Lisbon on Wednesday morning to celebrate World Youth Day, a week of religious, cultural and festive events held about every three years in a different city. He has a typically packed schedule for his five-day visit to Portugal, despite having spent nine nights in hospital after undergoing hernia surgery in June. Francis, the first Latin American pope, is due to make 11 public pronouncements and hold numerous meetings, and on Saturday will visit the shrine of Fatima north of Lisbon. Church organizers expect one million faithful will attend the event's closing mass held by the pope on Sunday at a waterside park on the outskirts of Lisbon. Images of the pope were on display on banners set up across the city as well as on screens on automatic bank machines along with the message: "I am with you". A Lisbon pastry shop is even selling cookies with the image of the smiling pontiff wearing a crucifix. "I think it is going to be amazing experience to be in the same spot as the pope," said Barbara Weisz, a 19-year-old student from the United States, part of a group of 37 youths who came from a San Diego parish. "It is a great feeling to be among so many young people who share your beliefs," she added as the group, who wore matching red t-shirts, gathered in the lobby of their hotel before going sightseeing before attending the opening mass. World Youth Day, which has been dubbed the "Catholic Woodstock", is part of the Vatican's efforts to galvanize young Catholics at a time when secularism and disgust over clerical child sex abuse cause some faithful to abandon the Church. In recent days groups of event volunteers, decked out in their distinctive yellow T-shirts, could be seen outside of churches in Lisbon to welcome pilgrims who have flocked to the city. "It is a special moment that you should experience at least once in your life," said Samuel Navarro, a 19-year-old student from Spain. - Meeting with abuse victims - Pope Francis is expected during his visit to meet privately with victims of sexual abuse by members of the Portuguese clergy. A report published in February by an independent commission found at least 4,815 children were sexually abused by clergy members -- mostly priests -- since 1950. The inquiry, based on testimony from over 500 victims, concluded that the Church hierarchy in Portugal "systematically" tried to conceal the abuse. "I know (the meeting) will take place... but I don't know where it will happen or how many people will take part," Lisbon's patriarch, Cardinal Manuel Clemente, told a news conference Monday. "There is a total commitment on the part of the Portuguese Church to settle this issue," he added. Around 16,000 members of law enforcement, civil protection and medical staff are being deployed for the pope's visit, officials said. Initially scheduled for August 2022, but postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Lisbon World Youth Day is the 16th international edition of what has become the largest gathering of Catholics worldwide. The brainchild of late Pope John Paul II, this year's event is the fourth presided over by Pope Francis, who became head of the Catholic Church in 2013. The last three events took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2013, Krakow, Poland in 2016 and Panama City, Panama in 2019. lf-tsc/ds/yad © Agence France-Presse The post ‘Catholic Woodstock’ kicks off in Lisbon ahead of Pope arrival appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
The story of the Waco siege — from the lawyer who got inside
Blood had already been spilled during the armed standoff between US agents and the Branch Davidian cult in Waco, Texas, when lawyer Dick DeGuerin got a phone call. The worried mother of cult leader David Koresh said her son needed legal help. She hired DeGuerin. He was the first outsider to pass through the security cordon and enter the Mount Carmel compound, where the Davidians were holed up. DeGuerin came face to face with a badly wounded Koresh, and was in position to try to broker an end to the stalemate. Three decades later, as the story pours forth from the 82-year-old lawyer, he remains convinced that the 51-day siege could have ended peacefully without the deaths of nearly 80 people. DeGuerin's account strikes a chord in today's deeply polarized United States, where some see Waco as a symbol of government overreach. Even now, a memorial at the scene of those killed draws hundreds of visitors a month. When DeGuerin got the call from Koresh's mother, he knew that the case was of a "magnitude" beyond anything he'd ever faced. "I had handled some big cases, but nothing like this," DeGuerin recalled from his office in Houston. "The world was watching." The Branch Davidians were founded in 1959 as a splinter from the Seventh Day Adventist church. They believed in the imminent return of Jesus, and Koresh emerged as their charismatic leader in the 1980s. In 1993, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) accused the group of stockpiling weapons, and obtained an arrest warrant for Koresh and a search warrant for the compound, where there were also allegations of child abuse. On February 28, ATF agents raided the complex, a gun battle erupted, several people died, and a tense weeks-long standoff set in. As he prepared to enter the compound in late March, DeGuerin thought he had worked out a deal with Texas Rangers law enforcement officers to manage Koresh's surrender. FBI agents took the lawyer close to the compound in the back of a tank, stopping about 100 yards away. "My handler said, 'Would you like some body armor?' I said, 'No, I'm not afraid of the Davidians... I just don't want you FBI snipers shooting at me.'" DeGuerin didn't know what to expect, but said he found Koresh, 33, to be intelligent and articulate, and could see he had gunshot wounds to his torso and wrist. Koresh was "very angry" at the siege by the FBI and ATF agents. DeGuerin saw it as his mission to get Koresh out of the compound and into court "without anybody else dying." "I told him, of course, that the law is the law and he had to obey the law even though it might conflict with his religious beliefs. He understood that," he said. As negotiations ground on, DeGuerin returned to the compound with another lawyer, Jack Zimmerman, who represented one of the other cult members. Patience was wearing thin, particularly among federal agents. "There were the negotiators that wanted it to end peacefully. And then there were the tactical people that just wanted to rush in and kill anybody and arrest him," DeGuerin said. "The tactical people won." As a final showdown loomed, DeGuerin sought to go back and make a final appeal for Koresh to surrender to authorities. But he was turned away. "This FBI agent told me, 'We don't need you anymore.'" On that day -- April 19, 1993 -- FBI agents in armored vehicles smashed into the compound buildings and pumped in tear gas. The causes of the subsequent fires are still disputed, but the compound burnt to the ground, claiming more than 70 lives, including some 20 children. Investigations cleared law enforcement of wrongdoing, but Waco became a rallying cry for Americans accusing their government of abuse of authority, and it spurred growth of militias across the country. In 1995, on the second anniversary of the raid, Timothy McVeigh, who had driven to Waco to witness the siege, carried out the Oklahoma City bombing killing 168 people. For DeGuerin, 30 years on, the lessons of Waco are clear. The federal agents had grown convinced that Koresh "was fooling them again" and would not surrender, he said. "They didn't wait. I believe if they'd waited, it would have ended peacefully. But it didn't." The post The story of the Waco siege — from the lawyer who got inside appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Davao police clueless on Quiboloy’s whereabouts
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 24 March) — Police authorities in the Davao region claim they are still clueless on the whereabouts of Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy. The Senate had earlier ordered the arrest of Quiboloy for his continued refusal to attend its investigation of alleged human trafficking and child abuse. Police major Catheine Dela Rey, Police […].....»»
The real pasaways
The local internet came down hard last week on an anonymous teacher who was caught on livestream giving her students a scorching tongue-lashing for what she claimed was their lack of respect and discipline. Almost hysterical, Teacher X called them good-for-nothings without a future. Predictably, netizens deplored her derogatory language, which they equated with child abuse, and called on the Department of Education to investigate the incident and impose some disciplinary measure on the teacher concerned......»»
Brigada News FM probes controversial child abuse interview
Brigada News FM probes controversial child abuse interview.....»»
Quiboloy to face trafficking, child abuse raps — DOJ
The Department of Justice said that it had recommended the filing of charges of child abuse and human trafficking against doomsday preacher Apollo Quiboloy. .....»»
Rights groups call for a safer environment for children
By DOMINIC GUTOMAN Bulatlat.com MANILA – Half a million Filipino children were trafficked for the production of new child sexual exploitation material in 2022, according to rights groups. Over the past 15 years, online child sexual abuse material surged by 15,000 percent, according to non-profit organization Thorn: Digital Defenders of Children. Women’s group Gabriela attributed… The post Rights groups call for a safer environment for children appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
Pinoy children unable to report online sex abuse – report
Fifty-five percent of children surveyed in the Philippines did not know how to report harmful content on social media, a report on online child sexual exploitation and abuse revealed......»»
Intensify efforts against child abuse – Cebu City dad
CEBU CITY, Philippines – A Cebu City legislator urged barangays to intensify efforts against child abuse like trafficking, online, and sexual exploitation. Cebu City Councilor James Cuenco penned a resolution requesting the 80 barangays of Cebu City through the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) to reconvene the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC).....»»
Students actively campaign against online sexual abuse and exploitation of children
With the Philippines ranking as the number one hotspot of online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC) and child sexual abuse and exploitation materials (CSAEM), students in Davao are speaking up and actively campaigning for digital protection and internet safety. “My only hope for digital technology in the future is for it to be […].....»»
Tiger parenting and the scars it leaves: Child abuse or valid parenting technique?
A misunderstood parenting style, or a pathway to child abuse – where do we draw the line?.....»»
Caloocan boosts efforts vs child abuse
The Caloocan City government has strengthened its efforts toward youth development and against child abuse......»»
AI flaw? Study shows image-generators being trained on explicit photos of children
Hidden inside the foundation of popular artificial intelligence image-generators are thousands of images of child sexual abuse, according to a new report that urges companies to take action to address a harmful flaw in the technology they built. Those same images have made it easier for AI systems to produce realistic and explicit imagery of fake children.....»»
Senate probe sought on Quiboloy church s alleged sexual abuse of children
Sen. Risa Hontiveros has filed a resolution seeking an investigation into the alleged human trafficking, sexual abuse, rape and child abuse incidents committed by members of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ — a religious organization led by controversial preacher Apollo Quiboloy......»»
DOJ, CWC join forces vs child abuse
The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) signed yesterday a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to help curb child abuse through the Makabata Helpline 1383......»»
Teacher refutes child abuse, fake news raps
A teacher who shared a video of a controversial traffic incident along Commonwealth Avenue filed a counter-affidavit before the Quezon City prosecutor’s office yesterday seeking to dismiss the criminal charges against him......»»
Trafficker mom offers own kids for online sexual exploitation
A 32-year-old woman from Talomo District, Davao City has been sentenced to four life imprisonments and ordered to pay a total of P6 million for multiple violations, including the violation of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act and the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act. The woman was arrested after offering to sexually abuse her six-year-old son and one-year-old daughter in exchange for money or other considerations. The presiding judge found her guilty of qualified trafficking, child abuse, and offering child sexual abuse material through a computer system. In addition to the life sentences, she was also sentenced to an additional 14 years in prison and ordered to pay fines and damages. The arrest and rescue operation were carried out by law enforcement agencies in collaboration with social workers. The conviction is seen as a testament to the government's efforts to combat trafficking and online sexual abuse and exploitation of children. The International Justice Mission-Philippines estimates that nearly half a million Filipino children were victims of this crime in 2022 alone. Convictions like this are crucial in deterring such crimes and the community's vigilance in reporting cases is essential. To report information about child abuse, contact the Davao City Hotline or the Philippine.....»»
Child witness
This is a case of child trafficking punishable under Republic Act 9208 and child abuse punishable by Republic Act 7610, where the main issue resolved is the credibility of the complaining witness who is only 14 years old......»»
‘Cult’ leader charged with child abuse
Alleged cult leader Jey Rence Quilario, also known as Senior Agila, and 12 other members of the Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc. have been charged with qualified trafficking and child abuse before a court in Surigao del Norte, the Department of Justice said yesterday......»»