The Quotation of the Week (March 29 - April 4, 2020)

A quotation of Abraham Lincoln on 'marriage,'
compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Photo © Jerome D'Costa (2020)

The Quotation of the Week (March 22 - 28, 2020)

A quotation of President Ronald Reagan on 'the greatest leader,'
compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Photo © Jerome D'Costa (Dec. 16, 2017)

The Quotation of the Week (March 15 - 21, 2020)

A quotation of Dr. Bruce Aylward on 'importance
of the right information for doing the right things 
during emergencies,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Photo (Power lines in Ontario) © Jerome D'Costa

Surviving the COVID-19 for the Sake of Survival (A poem)

Image courtesy: cityofroseville.com/

Surviving the COVID-19 for the Sake of Survival

By Adrian D’Costa

Streets that had the hustle and bustle

everywhere and the hubbub was frequent

is now empty.

Empty without the liveliness.

COVID-19 Coronavirus. The name it is.

The death. The Grim Reaper.

Everywhere you go.

Waiting to strike at 12 o’clock at night.

Not even the Canadian Prime Minister’s true love for his

wife could protect her from contracting this highly contagious

illness. Love. A word with four little letters.

Are given away and taken in by people

all around the world.

Evilness is subsiding.

What we have is asking for forgiveness

and the mentality of being changed.

From Prime Minister to President to healthcare professionals

to doctors to nurses to government officials

to public figures to people like you and me

are worried about death. Worried for the people around us.
Worried for the world.

For friends and family members.

For the world and the nation.
How many innocent people have to die?

Today our leader Prime Minister

Justin Trudeau urged the Canadians

not to tackle this as a primitive elementary

issue constricted within the boundary

of our border but as a global issue

by following the rules of battleground

of the medical field and by being a true Canuck

united to one Tough and Rough Ice Hockey Team.

Because in the past we have seen over and over again,

what Canadians did to outlast, to outmaneuver, and to outwit

every pestilence, every war, and every burning matter

of our lives by being the citizens of this world

and being united near the brunt of the fire.

Yes. We saw the Canadian

lives being lost unexpectedly.

But we will win this.
We will get through this.

Believe me, my fellow countrymen.

With our Technology and our Intelligence

we will be at the top of our game.

We will contribute to the world

as part of the approach of Humanity

to save the world.

Time is nigh.

Time is short.

Time is not on our side.

But we cannot and must not allow to

smudge off the last imprint of Homo Sapiens

from the caves of this earth.

We have to stop this deadly pandemic.

We have to come as one to work

to uphold our Human Element.

And make the impossible possible.

We stopped the Ebola.

We seized the SARS.

We vanished the Black Plague.

We sent a rocket to the moon and back.

We can’t back down now.

We have to survive

for the sake of survival.

That must be our motto now.

COVID-19 Coronavirus Now A Pandemic In The World

Coronavirus (COVID-19) as it looks under the microscope

Photo courtesy: cdc.gov/

Map showing countries affected by
COVID - 19 virus (as of March 11, 2020)

Map courtesy: cdc.gov/

The World Health Organization (WHO) of the United Nations, on March 11, 2020, declared Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak a 'pandemic' (an outbreak of a disease that occurs over a wide geographic area and affects an exceptionally high proportion of the population). It spread to 114 countries on five continents, except Antarctica, so far. There have been 118,000 Covid-19 cases with more than 4,200 deaths.  

The WHO says Covid-19 is "a pneumonia of unknown cause detected in Wuhan, China, was first reported to the WHO Country Office in China on December 31, 2019. On 30 January 2020, the outbreak of this disease was declared 'a Public Health Emergency of International concern on 30 January 2020."

On February 11, 2020, the WHO named the coronavirus disease "COVID-19." 

The WHO also said, "Pandemic is not a word to use lightly or carelessly. It is a word that, if misused, can cause unreasonable fear, or unjustified acceptance that the fight is over, leading to unnecessary suffering and death."

There are different types of coronaviruses. The WHO says, "We have never before seen a pandemic sparked by a coronavirus. This is the first pandemic caused by a coronavirus. And we have never before seen a pandemic that can be controlled, at the same time."

For details, please read the following:

• Coronavirus symptoms: What are they and how do I protect myself (March 11, 2020)
• Coronavirus: Eleven of your most popular questions answered (March 12, 2020)
• Coronavirus: what happens to people's lungs when they get Covid-19? (March 12, 2020)
• COVID-19: How long can coronavirus survive on surfaces? (March 13, 2020)
• Covid-19 is not the flu. It's worse (March 13, 2020)
• Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public (Advice from the WHO)
• Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Global Map
• Coronavirus: A visual guide to the outbreak (March 11, 2020)
• Map, chart: Updates on Coronavirus cases and deaths around world (March 11, 2020)
• Mapping the Spread of the Coronavirus Outbreak Around the U.S. and the World (March 11, 2020)
• COVID-19 Maps & visuals (Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, University of Minnesota, USA)
• Here are some of the best maps tracking Coronavirus updates (March 13, 2020)
• Coronavirus: Before, after images show impact of COVID-19 on the world's top tourist spots (March 9, 2020)

(Updated on March 13, 2020)

The Quotation of the Week (March 8 - 14, 2020)

Above design by Jerome D'Costa

Pope Francis Defrocks Argentine Priest, Father Roberto Juan Yannuzzi, For Sexual Misconduct

'Miles Christi' founder Father Roberto
Juan Yannuzzi of Argentina

Photo courtesy: catholicnewsworld.com/

Pope Francis defrocked Father Roberto Juan Yannuzzi, an Argentine priest and founder of Miles Christi (soldier of Christ) Institute, after finding him guilty of committing sexual misconduct with members of his own institute.

Miles Christi is comprised of priests, coadjutor brothers, consecrated women, and lay associates. This religious order works in Argentina, Mexico, Italy, and the USA.

Father Yannuzzi, being the founder of this institute, found himself quite comfortable in violating Church teachings on celibacy, sexual chastity, and self-sacrifice of Catholic priests. 
He "has been found guilty of crimes against the sixth commandment with adults, the absolution of the accomplice, and the abuse of authority," reports the Catholic News Agency.

For more, please read the following:

• Pope dismisses founder of Miles Christi Institute from clerical state (Feb. 4, 2020) 
• Pope dismisses founder of Miles Christi Institute from clerical state (Feb. 4, 2020)
• Breaking News: Pope Francis removes Argentine Founder of Miles Christi Roberto Juan Yannuzzi from clerical state (Feb. 2020)
• Pope expels from priesthood Argentine founder of religious institute (Feb. 5, 2020)
• Pope Francis defrocks Argentine founder of religious institute (Feb. 5, 2020)
• Pope defrocks fellow Argentine priest Roberto Yannuzzi
• Pope expels from priesthood Argentine founder of religious institute (Feb. 5, 2020)
• Miles Christi (soldier of Christ)

Pope Francis Defrocks Kerala Priest For Serious Sexual Misconduct

Father Robin Vadakkumchery of Kerala, India

Photo courtesy: newindianexpress.com/

Pope Francis recently defrocked Father Robin Vadakkumchery who was convicted earlier by the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) court of Thalassery, Kerala, India, for raping and impregnating a 16-year-old girl in 2016, reports the New Indian Express. The court had jailed him for 20 years and imposed a fine of 300,000 Indian rupees (US$4,300) to be paid as compensation to the victim. 

Father Vadakkumchery was a manager and teacher at the Catholic school where the girl was studying. On February 7, 2017, she gave birth to a child that has been sent to a Catholic orphanage.

On February 27, 2017, Mananthavady Catholic diocese had suspended Father Vadakkunchery from priestly duties and formed a committee for further investigation.

For further details, please read the following:

• Pope Francis defrocks rape convict Kerala priest Robin Vadakkumchery (March 1, 2020)
• Vatican dismisses Indian priest jailed for rape (March 2, 2020)
• Jailed for 20 years, rape-convict Kerala vicar defrocked by Pope Francis (March 2, 2020)
• Pope defrocks priest convicted in rape case (March 2, 2020)

The Quotation of the Week (March 1 - 7, 2020)

A quotation of Pope Francis on 'Catholic clericalism that hinders
baptism of illegitimate children,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Photo (Metal screen in a restaurant, Toronto) © Jerome D'Costa