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Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Anti-sacrilege bill tabled in Punjab assembly
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government on Monday tabled the anti-sacrilege bill in the Punjab assembly, proposing punishment up to life imprisonment for sacrilegious acts against religious scriptures. Chief minister Bhagwant Singh Mann during the 3rd day of Punjab assembly session in Chandigarh on Monday. (Ravi Kumar/HT) Chief minister Bhagwant Mann introduced the Punjab Prevention of Offences Against Holy Scriptures Bill 2025 in the Vidhan Sabha on the third day of the special assembly session. The bill mandates strict punishment, extending up to life imprisonment, for the desecration of holy scriptures. This is the third attempt by the Punjab assembly to enact a bill on sacrilege issues, seeking harsher punishment for perpetrators. In 2016 and 2018, the SAD-BJP government and later the Congress government, respectively, passed the bills in the assembly. On both occasions, the bills were returned by the President without assent. According to the draft of the bill, the minimum punishment for sacrilege will be imprisonment not less than 10 years, which may extend to life imprisonment, and shall also be liable to pay a fine of ₹5 lakh, which may extend up to ₹10 lakh. In case of an attempt to commit an offence, the act will carry a punishment of imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three years. 'This term may extend to five years, and shall also be liable to pay a fine which may extend up to ₹3 lakh,' the bill reads. The provisions of this act shall be in addition to and not in derogation of the provisions of any other law for the time being in force, the draft reads. The 'offence' means any sacrilege, damage, destruction, de-facing, disfiguring, de-colouring, de-filing, decomposing, burning, breaking or tearing of any Holy Scripture, or part thereof, the bill introduced on Monday reads further. The bill says the offences punishable under this shall be cognisable, non-bailable and non-compoundable, triable by the court of session. 'The investigation of the offence(s) punishable under this act shall be conducted by the police officer, not below the rank of deputy superintendent,' it adds. Upon the introduction of the bill, leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa described the issue as a serious one and urged speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan to hold the discussion on the bill on Tuesday, the concluding day of the session. To this, CM Mann also asked the speaker to consider Bajwa's plea positively. 'However, it's a matter of surprise that the opposition needs time to discuss the issue of sacrilege which has been hounding Punjab since 2015,' Mann said. The speaker adjourned the session for 15 minutes before announcing that it had been decided to have a discussion on the bill on Tuesday. Before this, the speaker had adjourned the proceedings for one hour and called leaders of all parties in the assembly before the start of the discussion. Earlier, before the start of the session at 2 pm, the state-specific bill was cleared by the cabinet at a meeting chaired by chief minister Mann at his official residence in Chandigarh. The bill mandates strict punishment, extending up to life imprisonment, for the desecration of holy scriptures, including Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the Bhagavad Gita, the Bible and the Quran, an official spokesperson said after the meeting. With the enactment of the law, the state seeks to further strengthen the ethos of communal harmony, brotherhood, peace, and amity. It will also act as a strong deterrent against anti-social and anti-national activities by ensuring severe punishment for perpetrators, the official spokesperson said. The spokesperson said there have been numerous incidents in the past involving the sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib and other scriptures, wounding public sentiments and causing unrest in society. While Sections 298 (hurting religious sentiments, carrying a jail term of 3 years, fine or both), 299 (outraging religious feelings carrying 3-year punishment, fine or both) and 300 (disturbing religious assemblies carrying 1-year jail, fine or both) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, address such issues, they do not prescribe sufficiently stringent penalties to serve as an effective deterrent, said the spokesperson. Considering the gravity of such offences and the imperative to preserve communal harmony and religious sanctity, the cabinet found it necessary to introduce state-specific legislation providing enhanced penalties, including life imprisonment, for those convicted of sacrilege against any scripture, the spokesperson stakeholder Until now, no specific legislation directly addressed offences against 'holy granths (books)', often resulting in leniency or evasion of serious action by culprits, said the spokesperson. This new legislation aims to fill that legal void by criminalising and prescribing punishments for acts of sacrilege across all sects and faiths. The spokesperson said there is also a provision for setting up special courts to deal with cases pertaining to desecration of scriptures. There will be no parole for those guilty of sacrilege acts. Mann had earlier said that the state government would seek the opinion of all stakeholders and religious bodies for the proposed legislation, indicating it would not be enacted immediately. 'We are drafting it. A law is going to be enacted. But for this, we will talk to stakeholders and religious organisations. We will present the draft legislation (in the assembly).' Past attempts This is not the first time that a specific law dealing with sacrilege acts has been brought in the state seeking a stricter punishment for perpetrators. In 2016, the then SAD-BJP government brought in the IPC (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2016 and CrPC (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2016, recommending life sentence for sacrilege acts against Guru Granth Sahib. The Centre later returned the bill, saying all religions should be treated equally given the secular nature of the Constitution. In 2018, the Amarinder Singh government passed two bills — the Indian Penal Code (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2018, and the Code of Criminal Procedure (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2018, which stipulated a punishment of up to life imprisonment for injury, damage or sacrilege to Guru Granth Sahib, Bhagavad Gita, Quran and the Bible. However, the two bills did not get the President's assent. Acts of sacrilege against religious scriptures have been an emotive issue in Punjab and there has been a demand from various quarters for stringent punishment for the acts of sacrilege against religious texts. In 2015, the incident related to the theft of a 'bir' (copy) of Guru Granth Sahib from Burj Jawahar Singh Wala gurdwara, putting up handwritten sacrilegious posters in Bargari and Burj Jawahar Singh Wala and torn pages of the holy book found scattered at Bargari, had taken place in Faridkot. These incidents had led to anti-sacrilege protests. In the police firing on anti-sacrilege protesters in October 2015, two persons were killed in Behbal Kalan while some persons were injured at Kotkapura in Faridkot. Regulating crusher units HT Correspondent letterschd@ Chandigarh The Cabinet also approved the Punjab Regulation of Crusher Units, and Stockists and Retailer Rules, 2025, to ensure that crusher units, stockists, and retailers operate within a regulated framework. These rules have been formulated pursuant to the Punjab Regulation of Crusher Units, and Stockists and Retailer Act, 2025, which was enacted to prevent the procurement of illegally mined sand and gravel by crusher units. The new rules define detailed procedures, prescribed forms, timelines, authorities, and compliance mechanisms to facilitate effective, transparent, and accountable implementation of the Act. They aim to eliminate ambiguity in operational processes, prevent royalty evasion and illegal mineral trade, and promote environmentally sustainable and legally compliant business operations. Furthermore, these regulations are expected to enhance transparency and curb illegal mining practices across the state.
New York Times
28-04-2025
- General
- New York Times
On Tango, and Lasting Marriage: By Pope Francis
This is the full text of a foreword written by Pope Francis to a book outlining Catholic teachings on love and marriage for young people. It was translated from Italian by Isabella Corletto. Read more about the letter here. Dear friends, In my homeland of Argentina, there is a dance I love very much, one that I often participated in when I was young: the tango. Tango is a wonderful, free game between man and woman, filled with erotic charm and attraction. The male and female dancers court each other and experience closeness and distance, sensuality, attention, discipline and dignity. They rejoice in love and understand what it might mean to give themselves to someone completely. Perhaps it is due to my distant memory of this dance that I have called my great apostolic exhortation on marriage 'Amoris Laetitia': the joy of love. I am always touched to see young people who love each other and have the courage to transform their love into something great: 'I want to love you until death do us part.' What an extraordinary promise! Of course, I am not blind, and neither are you. How many marriages today fail after three, five, seven years? Maybe your parents, too, began the sacrament of marriage with that same courage, but were unable to take their love to completion. Wouldn't it be better, then, to avoid the pain, to touch each other only as though in a passing dance, to enjoy each other, play together, and then leave? Do not believe this! Believe in love, believe in God, and believe that you are capable of taking on the adventure of a love that lasts a lifetime. Love wants to be permanent; 'until further notice' isn't love. We humans have the desire to be accepted without reservations, and those who do not have this experience often — unknowingly — carry a wound for the rest of their lives. Instead, those who enter into a union lose nothing, but gain everything: life at its fullest. Holy Scripture is very clear: 'That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh' (Genesis 2:24). One flesh! Jesus takes this all to its culmination: 'So they are no longer two, but one flesh' (Mark 10:8). One single body. One single home. One single life. One single family. One single love. In order to help you build a foundation for your relationship based on God's faithful love, I have called upon the whole Church to do much more for you. We cannot continue on as before: many only see the beautiful ritual. And then, after some years, they separate. Faith is destroyed. Wounds are opened. There are often children who are missing a father or a mother. To me, this is like dancing tango poorly. Tango is a dance that must be learned. This is all the more true when it comes to marriage and family. Before receiving the sacrament of marriage, a proper preparation is necessary. A catechumenate, I would even venture to say, because all life takes place in love, and love is not something to take lightly. Perhaps the word catechumenate means nothing to you. In the early Church, anyone who wanted to become a Christian had to go through what is called a 'catechumenate,' a journey of learning and personal confirmation that often lasted several years. I have always dreamed of a similar formation for the sacrament of marriage: it could save you from disappointment, from invalid or unstable marriages. How thrilled I was to see that YOUCAT had taken on my suggestion! When I first heard about this project years ago and learned that young Catholics from 30 countries were participating, I asked the team to read 'Amoris Laetitia' and translate it into youthful language. Now, I see that they have succeeded! This book is an ideal companion on the path toward the sacrament of marriage. It speaks about the joy of love in an engaging and positive manner, but it doesn't ignore the bumps along the road toward a successful shared life. Take it as basic reading for any kind of preparation for marriage that is deserving of the title of matrimonial catechumenate. Absolutely participate in marriage preparation courses! The more demanding they are, the better. Discuss this book as a couple, or with other couples you are friends with. As I wrote in 'Amoris Laetitia,' 'In young love, the dancing — step by step, a dance toward hope with eyes full of wonder — must not stop.' Yours, Pope Francis
Sky News
25-04-2025
- General
- Sky News
Full order of service for Pope Francis's funeral
The full order of service for the funeral of Pope Francis has been released by the Vatican. More than 200,000 people are expected to attend Saturday's ceremony in St Peter's Square, including some 130 delegations. The service usually lasts about two-and-a-half hours and is mostly conducted in Latin. It is being led by the dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who will begin with a procession led by a priest carrying a cross, followed by the coffin and ordained clergy. Francis will then be buried in Rome's Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore - or Saint Mary Major - rather than at St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, like almost all his predecessors. Order of service Entrance antiphon The ceremony will begin with the entrance antiphon - one or more psalm verses or sentences from Holy Scripture which are typically sung or spoken. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. Praise is due to you in Sion, O God. To you we pay our vows in Jerusalem. You who hear our prayer. To you all flesh will come. Our evil deeds are too heavy for us, but only you can pardon our transgressions. Blessed the one whom you choose and call to dwell in your courts. We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Peace be with you. And with your spirit. The Penitential Act This follows the welcome and is a way for the faithful to confess their sinfulness. Brethren, let us acknowledge our sins, and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries. I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, through my fault, through my fault, through my most greivous fault; therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-virgin, all the angels and saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God. May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Collect - opening prayer Let us pray. O God, immortal shepherd of souls, look on your people's prayers and grant that our servant Pope Francis, who presided over your Church in charity, may, with the flock entrusted to his care, receive from your mercy the reward of a faithful steward. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. 1:19 The Liturgy of the Word First reading - from the Acts of the Apostles He is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. In those days: Peter opened his mouth and said: 'Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ - he is Lord of all - you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all those who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him on the third day and caused him to appear, not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.' The word of the lord. Thanks be to God. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. Fresh and green are the pastures where he gives me repose. Near restful waters he leads me; he revives my soul. He guides me along the right path, for the sake of his name. Though I should walk in the valley of the shadow of death, no evil would I fear, for you are with me. Your crook and your staff will give me comfort. You have prepared a table before me in the sight of my foes. My head you have anointed with oil; my cup is overflowing. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. In the Lord's own house shall I dwell for length of days unending. 1:52 Second Reading - from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians He will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body. Brothers and sisters, our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await for, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Acclamation before the Gospel This is the will of my Father, says the Lord, everyone who believes in the Son should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. Gospel The Lord be with you. And with your spirit. A reading from the holy Gospel according to John. Glory to you, O Lord. When Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter: 'Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?' He said to him: 'Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.' He said to him, 'Feed my lambs.' He said to him a second time: 'Simon son of John, do you love me?' He said to him, 'Yes, Lord; you know that I love you'. He said to him: 'Tend my sheep.' He said to him the third time: 'Simon, son of John, do you love me?' Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, 'Do you love me?' and he said to him: 'Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.' Jesus said to him: 'Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go (this he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God).' And after saying this he said to him: 'Follow me.' The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. Homily Universal Prayer or Prayer of the Faithful Brothers and sisters, let us pray to God our Father, who today brings us together to commemorate the Paschal Mystery of his only-begotten Son as we celebrate the funeral of the pastor of the universal Church. May he welcome him into his peace and bestow every blessing upon the Church and the whole world. Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, hear our prayer. For the late Pope Francis, that the chief shepherd, who eternally lives to intercede for us, may welcome him into his kingdom of light and peace. Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, hear our prayer. For the holy Church of God, that in fidelity to her mandate, she may be, in Christ, a leaven of renewal in our human family. Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, hear our prayer. For the souls of the deceased Roman pontiffs and of all those who in the Church proclaimed the Gospel and exercised the priestly ministry, that they may come to share in the heavenly liturgy. Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, hear our prayer. For all the faithful departed, that they may be granted entrance into the kingdom of heaven. Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, hear our prayer. For us gathered here, that having celebrated the sacred mysteries, we may one day be called by Christ to enter his glorious kingdom. Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, hear our prayer. God, our salvation, hear us as we make our prayer in union with the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the Saints: welcome into the assembly of your elect the soul of your servant and our Pope Francis, who put his trust in the prayer of the Church. Through Christ our Lord. 0:52 The Liturgy of the Eucharist Offertory Chant The offertory chant accompanies the procession that brings the bread and wine to the altar. Give light to my eyes lest I fall asleep in death; lest my enemy say, 'I have prevailed over him'. Pray, brethren, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father. May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of his name, for our good and the good of all his holy Church. Prayer over the offerings Look with favour, we pray, O Lord, on the peaceful offering of your people, with which we confidently commit to your mercy the soul of your servant Pope Francis, and grant, we pray, that, having been, in the midst of the human family, an instrument of your charity and peace, he may merit to delight in the same, for ever with all your Saints. Through Christ our Lord. Eucharistic Prayer III Preface The hope of resurrection in Christ The Lord be with you. And with your spirit. Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, through Christ our lord. In him the hope of blessed resurrection has dawned, that those saddened by the certainty of dying might be consoled by the promise of immortality to come. Indeed for your faithful, Lord, life is changed not ended, and, when this earthly dwelling turns to dust, an eternal dwelling is made ready for them in heaven. And so, with angels and archangels, with thrones and dominions, and with all the hosts and powers of heaven, we sing the hymn of your glory, as without end we acclaim: You are indeed holy, O Lord, and all you have created rightly gives you praise, for through your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, by the power and working of the Holy Spirit, you give life to all things and make them holy, and you never cease to gather a people to yourself, so that from the rising of the sun to its setting a pure sacrifice may be offered to your name. Therefore, O Lord, we humbly implore you: by the same Spirit graciously make holy these gifts we have brought to you for consecration, that they may become the body and blood of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, at whose command we celebrate these mysteries. For on the night he was betrayed he himself took bread, and giving you thanks, he said the blessing, broke the bread and gave it to his disciples, saying: 'Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my body, which will be given up for you.' In a similar way, when supper was ended, he took the chalice, and giving you thanks, he said the blessing, and gave the chalice to his disciples, saying: 'Take this, all of you, and drink from it, for this is the chalice of my blood, the blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. 'Do this in memory of me.' The mystery of faith. We proclaim your death, O Lord, and profess your resurrection until you come again. Therefore, O Lord, as we celebrate the memorial of the saving passion of your Son, his wondrous resurrection and ascension into heaven, and as we look forward to his second coming, we offer you in thanksgiving this holy and living sacrifice. Look, we pray, upon the oblation of your Church and, recognising the sacrificial victim by whose death you willed to reconcile us to yourself, grant that we, who are nourished by the body and blood of your Son and filled with his Holy Spirit, may become on body, one spirit in Christ. May he make of us an eternal offering to you, so that we may obtain an inheritance with your elect, especially with the most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, with blessed Joseph, her spouse, with your blessed apostles and glorious martyrs, and with all the saints, on whose constant intercession in your presence we rely for unfailing help. May this Sacrifice of our reconciliation, we pray, O Lord, advance the peace and salvation of all the world. Be pleased to confirm in faith and charity your pilgrim Church on Earth, with the order of bishops, all the clergy, and the entire people you have gained for your own. Listen graciously to the prayers of this family, whom you have summoned before you: in your compassion, O merciful Father, gather to yourself all your children scattered throughout the world. Remember your servant Pope Francis whom you have called from this world to yourself. Grant that he who was united with your Son in a death like his, may also be one with him in his resurrection, when from the Earth he will raise up in the flesh those who have died, and transform our lowly body after the pattern of his own glorious body. To our departed brothers and sisters, too, and to all who were pleasing to you at their passing from this life, give kind admittance to your kingdom. There we hope to enjoy for ever the fullness of your glory, when you will wipe away every tear from our eyes. For seeing you, our God, as you are we shall be like you for all the ages and praise you without end, through Christ our Lord, through whom you bestow on the world all that is good. Through him, and with him, and in him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, for ever and ever. The Communion Rite At the Saviour's command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant our peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and for ever. Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your Apostles: Peace I leave you, my peace I give you, look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will. Who live and reign for ever and ever. The peace of the Lord be with you always. And with your spirit. Let us offer each other the sign of peace. Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb. Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed. Communion Antiphon Let perpetual light shine upon him, with your Saints for ever, foy you are merciful. Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD; LORD, hear my voice! O let your ears be attentive to the sound of my pleadings. If you O LORD, should mark iniquities, LORD, who could stand? But with you is found forgiveness, that you may be revered. I long for you, O LORD, my soul longs for his word. My soul awaits the LORD more than watchmen for daybreak. More than watchmen for daybreak, let Israel hope for the LORD. For with the LORD there is mercy, in him is plentiful redemption It is he who will redeem Israel from all its iniquities. Like the deer that yearns for running streams, so my soul is yearning for you, my God. My soul is thirsting for God, the living God; when can I enter and appear before the face of God? My tears have become my bread, by night, by day, as I hear it said all the day long: 'Where is your God?' Prayer after Communion Let us pray. As we come to the table of your eternal banquet, we humbly beg your mercy, Lord, for the soul of your departed servant Pope Francis, that he may rejoice at last in possession of the truth in which he faithfully confirmed your people. Through Christ our Lord. Final commendation and farewell Introduction Dear brothers and sisters, let us commend to God's tender mercy the soul of Pope Francis, bishop of the Catholic Church, who confirmed his brothers and sisters in the faith of the resurrection. Let us pray to God our Father through Jesus Christ and in the Holy Spirit; may he deliver him from death, welcome him to eternal peace and raise up him on the last day. Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, queen of apostles and protectress of the Roman people, may God reveal to our Pope the face of his beloved Son and console the Church with the light of the resurrection. Prayer of the Church in Rome Holy Mary, Pray for him. Holy Mother of God... Mother of the Church... Protectress of the Roman people... The cardinal will then list all holy angels, patriarchs and prophets, apostles and evangelists, disciples, pontiffs and holy men and women, which he asks the congregation to pray for. O God, faithful rewarder of souls, grant that your departed servant and our bishop, Pope Francis, whom you made successor of Peter and shepherd of your Church, may happily enjoy for ever in your presence in heaven the mysteries of your grace and compassion, which he faithfully ministered on Earth. Through Christ our Lord. Prayer of the Eastern Churches God of our salvation, grant rest to the soul of your servant. Lover of mankind, lead him, with the souls of the just, to the blessings of eternal life in your presence. Guide the soul of your servant to the place of your rest, Lord, where your Saints repose, you who alone are immortal. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. You are our Saviour, our God, who descended into hell and freed those imprisoned there from its pains; now grant repose to the soul of your servant. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be. Amen. May the Blessed Virgin Mary, most pure and immaculate, who without loss to her virginity became the Mother of God, pray for the salvation of the soul of your servant. Have mercy on us, O God, in your great kindness; we beseech you, hear us and be merciful. Lord, have mercy. Again, let us pray for the repose of the soul of this departed servant of God, Francis, bishop, that he may be forgiven his every sin and failing. Lord, have mercy. May the Lord God lead his soul to the resting place of the righteous. Let us ask Christ, our immortal king and God, to bestow on him the divine mercy, the kingdom of heaven, and the forgiveness of his sins. Hear us, Lord. Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. God of souls and of all flesh, who trampled death underfoot, vanquished the devil and gave life to the world, grant repose to the soul of your departed servant Francis, bishop, in a place of light and joy, a verdant place, a place of blessedness, where suffering, pain and sorrow are no more. Forgive every sin he committed in thought, word or deed, for you are a gracious God and a friend to mankind. No one who lives is without sin; you alone are sinless, your righteousness is eternal and your word is truth. For you, O Christ our God, are the resurrection, the life and the repose of your servant Francis, bishop, who has fallen asleep. We give you glory, with your eternal Father and your Holy Spirit, who is gracious and the giver of life, now and forever. Amen. Amen. Responsory A responsory is an anthem said or sung by a choir. I know that my redeemer lives: on the last day I shall rise again. And in my flesh I shall see God my saviour. I shall see him myself, face to face and my own eyes shall behold him. And in my flesh I shall see God my saviour. Within my heart this hope I cherish: That in my flesh I shall see God my saviour. Gracious Father, we commend to your mercy our Pope Francis whom you made successor of Peter and shepherd of the Church, a fearless preacher of your word and a faithful minister of the divine mysteries. Welcome him, we pray, into your heavenly dwelling place, to enjoy eternal glory with all your chosen ones. We give you thanks, Lord, for all the blessings that in your goodness you bestowed upon him for the good of your people. Grant us the comfort of faith and the strength of hope. To you Father, source of life, through Christ, the conqueror of death, in the life-giving Spirit, be all honour and glory for ever and ever. Antiphons May the angels lead you into paradise; may the martyrs come and welcome you and take you to the holy city, the new and eternal Jerusalem. May choirs of angels welcome you and with Lazarus, who is poor no longer, may you have eternal rest. Canticle of the Blessed Virgin Mary Luke 1:46-55 My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring for ever. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
GOP Lawmakers Cede to Trump, Musk Power Grab Without a Challenge
(Bloomberg) -- Congressional Republicans have managed barely a whimper as President Donald Trump wages a historic push to expand executive branch power, steamrolling them along the way and unleashing anxiety across the federal government. State Farm Seeks Emergency California Rate Hike After Fires NYC's Newest Transit Leader Builds a Worker-Driven Strategy New York's First 'Passive House' School Is a Model of Downtown Density Transportation Memos Favor Places With Higher Birth and Marriage Rates When French Communists Went on a Brutalist Building Boom Trump's not only made a play to snatch authorities that are constitutionally in Congress's remit, particularly how to spend billions of federal funds, he's empowered his most-visible adviser, Elon Musk, to case federal agencies for sensitive information and cut staff. The world's richest man is so emboldened by Trump's imprimatur that over this past weekend his own underlings held a standoff at the US Agency for International Development that's resulted in the 60-year-old agency being essentially idled. Musk, hand-picked by Trump but not Senate confirmed, has been given 'read-only' access to 'coded data' of the government's payments system, the Treasury Department confirmed on Tuesday. There appears to be few guardrails for either man. Trump looks increasingly likely to have his cabinet picks confirmed, including some who have drawn questions about their fitness for the roles. Only former Representative Matt Gaetz, who faced accusations of illicit drug use and paid sex with a minor — allegations that he's denied — proved too much for GOP senators to stomach through the confirmation process. Republican lawmakers are unwilling to challenge Trump on almost anything, said a senior House Republican, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they said they otherwise fear reprisal. The senior Republican likened the treatment of the president's directives among their colleagues to Holy Scripture, with any contradiction considered a breach of faith. Such a dynamic was a staple of Trump's first term in office, when Republicans contorted themselves to avoid being crosswise with the vindictive and mercurial president. Trump now is term-limited, but his grip on the party has never been tighter. In the roughly two weeks that he's been back in the White House, congressional Republicans, who control the House and Senate, have displayed remarkable acquiescence alongside Trump's extraordinary power grab. There were a few instances of special pleading for particular programs and a few senators, when asked by reporters, suggested Trump would likely need congressional approval to shut down USAID or fold it into the State Department. Senate Majority Leader John Thune demurred on Tuesday when asked if Trump had the power to eliminate a department. 'I do think they have the right to review funding,' Thune told reporters. On Monday, Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina told reporters that before shutting down USAID 'a consultation would have just been helpful.' But Tillis, who is up for reelection in 2026, offered justifications for overhauling the foreign aid agency. Senator Lisa Murkowski, usually one of the GOP's more independent-minded voices, simply told reporters that after the unprecedented moves at USAID and Treasury, 'We're all trying to figure out what happened.' It was a repeat of last week, when congressional Republicans were largely silent when Trump pushed the envelope of his authority with a now-dead executive order freezing payments on federal grants that Congress had already funded. The White House ultimately backtracked after the order provoked chaos and uncertainty nationwide in public services from school lunch programs to health clinics, along with a court injunction temporarily blocking it. But the die had already been cast: With Democrats out of power, Trump's only barrier to snatching Congress's purse strings would be found in the judiciary, where a 6-3 conservative majority controls the Supreme Court. That, and Trump's own sensitivity to public and market backlash. Several House Republicans, gathering last week at Trump's Doral resort in Florida when Trump signed the payment-freeze order, said they were too busy with their retreat to read it. Dinner one night included hamburgers with the president's name emblazoned on the top bun. Even the House Appropriations Committee's Republican chair, Tom Cole of Oklahoma, whose panel's prerogative to dictate federal spending line by line has been jealously guarded by his predecessors, offered excuses for Trump's intervention, describing the freeze as 'prudent.' In the Senate, Thune sought to portray the move as normal. After the White House countermanded the budget memo freezing payments last week, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt suggested the administration still intended to withhold congressionally mandated funding for programs it considered inconsistent with Trump's views on climate action, diversity, equity and inclusion, and other priorities. The White House is also considering dozens of options to allow Trump to take greater control of federal spending, including challenging the constitutionality of a 50-year-old law which restricts the president's ability to refuse to carry out congressionally approved spending, according to people familiar. Many Republican lawmakers are mindful that Trump performed better than they did in the November vote in their districts and fear alienating him, the senior Republican said. Even behind closed doors, there was little outrage or even disagreement with the spending freeze expressed among Republican House members, said another senior GOP lawmaker. House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain told reporters at the Doral retreat she was 'excited' about Trump's freeze of federal grants and contracts. 'Thank God' he is keeping his promise for fiscal responsibility, she added. House Speaker Mike Johnson also doesn't have the political footing to stand up to Trump, with a tenuous hold on his own leadership over a fractious party and his position dependent on Trump's support, said several Republican lawmakers. Johnson is fully occupied trying to keep his job amid fierce Republican infighting over spending and tax priorities and anger that he hasn't been able bring the party together around a coherent budget plan, they added. Alienating even a small group of Republicans could cost him his job. Still, several Republican lawmakers said they expect their colleagues will become less deferential to Trump over time, particularly when it comes to relinquishing core congressional powers such as authority over spending. Plenty of American presidents have begun their terms with formidable political power only to see it quickly dissipate. In fact, one reason the Trump administration is rushing its agenda is fears that Republicans will lose control of at least one chamber of Congress in midterm elections in 2026. Some Republicans vowed to protect their authority should Trump seek to unilaterally divert funding for his priorities or permanently block congressionally approved spending, including Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins, a Republican who represents Democratic-leaning Maine. 'Our will prevails,' she told reporters last week. 'The power of the purse is a constitutional power and I think it's important that Congress stand up for it.' Still, Collins said she was inclined to vote to confirm Trump's choice for budget director, Russell Vought. Vought has been a leading advocate of a legal theory that the president can ignore a law Congress passed during the 1970s and simply refuse to spend money lawmakers have appropriated. 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