VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE   
   YEAR XXIV - # 95   
   DATE 23-05-2014   
      
   Summary:   
   - FRANCIS COMMENDS HIS PILGRIMAGE TO MARY   
   - FIRST POSITIVE CONCLUSIONS REGARDING THE HOLY SEE REPORT FOR THE CONVENTION   
   AGAINST TORTURE   
   - NOTICE   
      
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    FRANCIS COMMENDS HIS PILGRIMAGE TO MARY   
    Vatican City, 23 May 2014 (VIS) - Early this morning the Holy Father made a   
   private visit to the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major, to pray to the Virgin   
   and to commend to her his upcoming apostolic trip to the Holy Land. After   
   praying for around fifteen minutes, the bishop of Rome offered a bouquet of   
   roses in homage to Mary "Salus populi romani".   
      
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    FIRST POSITIVE CONCLUSIONS REGARDING THE HOLY SEE REPORT FOR THE CONVENTION   
   AGAINST TORTURE   
    Vatican City, 23 May 2014 (VIS) - The Committee for the Convention Against   
   Torture (CAT) has released an advance unedited version of its Concluding   
   Observations on the Initial Report of the Holy See. These Observations   
   recognise that the Holy See has made many serious and substantial reforms on   
   its procedures that further advance the principles and objectives of the CAT.   
   The Concluding Observations acknowledge extensively the good faith efforts of   
   the Holy See to comply with and advance the CAT, to institute reforms to   
   prevent sexual abuse, and to compensate and facilitate the care and healing of   
   the victims of sexual abuse.   
    The report states that the Committee did not find the Holy See in violation   
   of the CAT, and acknowledges that the Holy See and Catholic dioceses and   
   religious orders have instituted important efforts to prevent sexual abuse.   
   The Committee appreciates the open and constructive dialogue with the   
   high-level delegation of the Holy See and notes that many Catholic dioceses   
   and religious orders have provided financial settlements to victims of sexual   
   abuse. Finally, the Conclusions do not assert that the Church's efforts to   
   protect the unborn are a form of torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading   
   treatment or punishment under the CAT, thus safeguarding the fundamental human   
   right of freedom of religion and opinion and the protection and promotion of   
   human life.   
      
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    NOTICE   
    Vatican City, 23 May 2014 (VIS) - The Vatican Information Service will issue   
   special bulletins tomorrow, Saturday 24 May, and Sunday 25 May, covering the   
   Pope's apostolic pilgrimage to the Holy Land.   
      
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   For more information and to search for documents refer to the site:   
   www.visnews.org and www.vatican.va   
      
   Copyright (VIS):  the news contained in the services of the Vatican   
   Information Service may be reproduced wholly or partially by quoting   
   the source:  V. I. S. - Vatican Information Service.   
   http://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/vis/vis_en.html   
      
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    * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)