Saysame - On Religion, Denials and Truth

R-69 Pope vows to bar pedophiles becoming priests

2008-04-15T11:20:00.005-04:00

Pope vows to bar pedophiles becoming priests

So what's wrong with this picture when the pope says.....

"We will absolutely exclude pedophiles from the sacred ministry."

"We are deeply ashamed and will do whatever is possible so that this does not happen in the future,"

What's wrong is that the pope now intends to exclude pedophiles from the sacred ministry... What he's not saying or addressing (denial) is the abuse by the existing "known" pedophiles already in the clergy. He's also playing dumb as to his role as then, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, and the cover up of sex abuse back in the 1960's that he was a part of....

R-13 Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger a.k.a. the enforcer a.k.a. The Pope - named in child sex abuse cover-up

Sorry but I can't upload any images on Blogger at this time...

JR
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ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (Reuters) - Pope Benedict said on Tuesday he was "deeply ashamed" over sexual abuse of children by priests and vowed to do everything possible to stop pedophiles entering the priesthood in future.

"We will absolutely exclude pedophiles from the sacred ministry," he told reporters accompanying him on his first trip as pope to the United States.

"We are deeply ashamed and will do whatever is possible so that this does not happen in the future," he said on board the plane to Washington.

The U.S. trip is the first by a pontiff since a wave of sex abuse scandals began in 2002, provoking lawsuits that have forced dioceses to pay more than $2 billion in settlements.

Benedict said the Church will do everything possible in screening candidates for the priesthood "so that only really sound persons can be admitted."

"It is more important to have good priests than to have many priests," said the pontiff, who will be greeted upon arrival at Andrews Air Force Base by U.S. President George W. Bush.

The pope is expected to discuss sexual abuse again during the six-day trip to the United States, during which he also will pray at Ground Zero in New York and address the United Nations.

Flagging the issue ahead of arrival, he said abuse had caused "great suffering" to the Church in the United States.

"If I read the histories of these victims, it's difficult for me to understand how it was possible that priests betrayed in this way their mission to give healing, to give the love of God to these children," he said.

A poll released this month by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life showed the German-born pope was viewed favorably by most Americans, but was not as popular as his predecessor John Paul II.

The pope, who will also mark the third anniversary of his election during the trip, has said he hopes the visit will lead to a spiritual renewal in America.

He addresses the United Nations on Friday and has said he aims to draw attention to the need for greater peace and justice around the world.

In New York, Benedict will also make a brief stop at a synagogue to wish the city's Jewish community a happy Passover.

He ends the trip on Sunday after visiting Ground Zero, the site of the World Trade Center towers destroyed in the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States. He will also say Mass at Yankee Stadium.

(Writing by Phil Stewart; Editing by Richard Balmforth; Photo By Philip Pullella )

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R-68 New Year.. times are a changing.... No more new posts

2007-01-04T22:18:00.001-05:00

Other than for my personal Blog “Saysame,” I will not be adding any more posts to any of my “other” Blogs. The original intent and purpose of those Blogs was to present and document the unloving denials present in our society and so show how the different religions, governments, organizations, customs and traditions are all related and how the truth is distorted, manipulated and controlled by denial, omission, or in stating part truths meant to confuse and deceive. In all our history, nothing has really changed except the form of the experiences and no real healing or true understanding can take place as long as these conditions, fueled by unlovingness and old imprints, programs and beliefs are present.

What is happening globally now is merely the lull before the storm, a momentary pause in the on-going and escalating hatred and violence, creating the illusion of a possible peace, but that is only a façade. Rest assured that each side with its religion, government and its social structure and order is silently preparing for either a new offensive or defensive maneuver. Nothing has changed except, as mentioned, the “form” of the experience and now a "new" element will be brought into the conflicts to create the appearance that this is a new and different problem and issue and so the cycle continues, going around and around as it also escalates.

The coming times and Earth changes will not be easy as it will bring a total breakdown of society as we presently know it. These changes will not be affecting some other person or people in another part of the world, but will be happening on our personal doorstep where it can’t be denied unless denial is still your intent.

In the next few years everyone will be facing their denials and will be making life and death choices that will have far reaching consequences; more than just our present physical survival, but the survival of our very Spiritual essence. For Humanity to survive, we need to change within, before we can change the without. We need to let go of all our old imprints, programs and beliefs that keep us in this never ending cycle of unlovingness, suffering and death created by denial, guilt and shame that we have been struggling to change and call life. We can’t change it. IT is what it is…. until IT wants to change. What we need to do is to let it go from within us and to allow it to find it’s right place. Those that desire and choose to continue to follow IT need to be allowed to do so to also find their right place.

John

R-67 Polish archbishop-to-be was 'communist collaborator'

2007-01-04T11:41:00.001-05:00

Polish archbishop-to-be was 'communist collaborator'

WARSAW (AFP) - Stanislaw Wielgus, who is poised to be sworn in as archbishop of Warsaw, was a "secret and conscious" collaborator with Poland's hated communist-era security forces, newspapers have reported......"The new archbishop of Warsaw was a secret and conscious collaborator with the communist police, the SB, for more than 20 years. Documents confirm this," conservative daily Rzeczpospolita wrote Thursday.

Wielgus, 67, was recruited by the Sluzba Bezpieczenstwa (SB) in 1967 when he was a philosophy student at the University of Lublin in eastern Poland, Rzeczpospolita wrote.

The newspaper also cited an agreement to work with the communist security forces, which it says was signed by Wielgus in 1978, and several other documents in which the SB claims Wielgus gave them information about the University of Lublin, where he worked for a time as a professor.

The newspaper also cited documents held by the National Remembrance Institute (IPN) -- set up in Poland in 1998 to prosecute Nazi and communist crimes -- which allegedly show that Wielgus used three pseudonyms for his work with the SB: "Grey", "Adam" and "Adam Wysocki"......Other documents held by the IPN show Wielgus was given "special training for agents" and rewarded for his collaboration with a grant to study in Munich, Rzeczpospolita said. ..... The same documents were cited Thursday by liberal weekly Wprost on its website, and the right-wing Gazeta Polska newspaper later the same day posted on its site a 68-page file held by the IPN on Wielgus.

"There is no doubt that he collaborated with communist intelligence from 1973 to 1978, but we don't know what motivated him or the effects of his collaboration," historian Andrzej Paczkowski said after reading the file.

Accusations were first levelled against Wielgus, who is due to take office on Sunday, last month when the Vatican announced he had been chosen to replace Cardinal Jozef Glemp.

He is not the first high-ranking cleric to be accused of working with the communists -- an accusation that evokes deep-seated unease in overwhelmingly Catholic Poland, where the church was in the forefront of opposition to the communists.

In 2005, the IPN said it had files showing that a Polish priest who was close to the late Polish-born pope, John Paul II, worked with the communist security services in the 1980s. John Paul II was pope from 1978 until his death in April 2005.

When that row blew up, weeks after John Paul II's death, the Polish episcopate said: "One must not forget that the communist system was pitiless... it had everyone in its clutches."

Since the end of communism in Poland in 1989, holders of public office have had to come clean about their communist past. While collaborating with the communists does not automatically mean exclusion from public office, failing to admit involvement with the now defunct regime does.

Although the come-clean rule does not apply to clerics, last year the church in Poland -- where more than 90 percent of the 38.5-million-strong population profess to be Roman Catholic -- publicly apologised for priests and other clerics who collaborated with the SB.

Several prominent priests have admitted that they had secret police links, but most deny having ever collaborated.

R-66 Pope makes Christmas appeal for children

2006-12-24T21:18:00.001-05:00

Pope makes Christmas appeal for children

VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Christmas Midnight Mass in the splendor of St. Peter's Basilica early Monday with an appeal for abused children around the world, including child soldiers, beggars and others deprived of sustenance and love.

************************* says a me comment **********************

I very much doubt that the pope has had a change of "heart-less-ness" but that this is part of the standard "IMAGE" of love and compassion that the Catholic church would have the public believe on this so-called "holy" occasion. It's a clever change of tactics to take the focus off the REAL issues within the church by blaming another... And where's the LOVE in that????

Saysame
JR

R-65 Christmas, pagans and religious divergence

2006-12-11T11:01:00.001-05:00

Christmas, pagans and religious divergence
Happy holidays!

Have I just offended you? If you are a member of the American Family Association, the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights or the Committee to Save Merry Christmas, I probably have..... Yet there is a deep, and seasonal, irony here - one that might come as a shock to the "Save Merry Christmas" crowd.

For Christmas is, in its origins and its symbolism, perhaps the most pagan-inspired of all Christian holidays. Its dating derives from the ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia, which was determined by the winter solstice, that astronomical point in the year after which the periods of sunlight on Earth lengthen.

And that's not all that contemporary Christians have in common with neo-pagans. Most of the popular symbols surrounding Christmas - evergreen trees and other greenery, mistletoe and holly, the Yule log, candles and bonfires and holiday lights, mystical spirits with the ability to fly and to enter and leave a house through its chimney, tricksters who treat or taunt little children, not to mention those elves - all derive from older, pre-Christian Europe.

These pagan-derived symbols and customs are precisely the elements of Christmas that Christian activists are pressing to preserve and promote, in venues such as Target and Macy's. Compounding the irony even further, these are the symbols that federal and state courts have determined make a holiday display sufficiently "secular" to warrant its construction on public property at taxpayer expense. All of which goes to illustrate what's wrong when any one religious group or government entity claims the ability to determine what constitutes "religion" in America.

In fact, nothing could be more in keeping with the "Christmas spirit" than to embrace and celebrate religious diversity. And nothing could be truer to the spirit of the First Amendment than to honor American war dead as they and their loved ones would wish. No single group of self-proclaimed Christians holds a premium on the meaning of this magical season. And no government agency should decide what "qualifies" as an appropriate religious symbol.

And so, no offense intended, but season's greetings.

**************************** says a me comment ******************************

Did you also know that "Christsmas" is not mentioned in the bible and that Easter is also only mentioned once in after thought sort of way.... Says a lot for the two most important Christian holidays and also how twisted the Christian religion really is...

"Food for thought"
JR

R-64 Envoy fears for Tibet when Dalai Lama dies

2006-12-06T09:47:00.001-05:00

Envoy fears for Tibet when Dalai Lama dies BEIJING (Reuters) - The Dalai Lama's top envoy, in rare remarks on a dialogue process with China, has warned of potential instability unless the issue of Tibet is resolved within the lifetime of the 71-year-old spiritual leader.

About half of China's Tibetans live in the Tibetan Autonomous Region, the remote, mountainous area the Dalai Lama fled in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese Communist rule.

The remainder live in parts of the western Chinese provinces of Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan and Yunnan, which are considered part of a historical, or cultural, Tibet.

Uniting Tibetans in those regions was not an effort to create a "greater Tibet" or a cover for a separatist plot, Lodi Gyari said, but stemmed from a desire to restore the integrity of Tibetans as a distinct nationality within China.

R-63 Pope anged over bishop's ordination in China

2006-12-02T08:26:00.001-05:00

Pope sorrowful over bishop's ordination VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI felt "great sorrow" that China had ordained another bishop without papal approval, the Vatican said Saturday.

The ordination on Thursday was the third known case this year, aggravating tensions between China and the Holy See. "The Holy Father learned the news with great sorrow, because the episcopal ordination was conferred without the pontifical mandate" and thus violated Catholic Church law, the Vatican press office said in a statement.

China's government-backed Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association on Thursday ordained Wang Renlei, vicar-general of the Xuzhou diocese in the eastern province of Jiangsu.

Beijing broke ties with the Vatican in 1951 after the communists took power and set up a separate Catholic church outside the authority of the Holy See. The faithful are only allowed to worship with the state-sanctioned church. Beijing views papal appointments in China as an interference in internal affairs.

"This series of extremely grave acts, which offend the religious sentiment of every Catholic in China and in the rest of the world, is fruit and consequence of a vision of the Church which doesn't correspond to Catholic doctrine and subverts fundamental principles of its hierarchal structure," the Vatican statement said.

R-62 Benedict does with the Muslims what John Paul did with the Jews

2006-12-01T10:38:00.001-05:00

Pope hailed for praying toward Mecca like Muslims ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Pope Benedict ended a sensitive, fence-mending visit to Turkey on Friday amid praise for visiting Istanbul's famed Blue Mosque and praying there facing toward Mecca "like Muslims.".... The Pope, who sparked protests across the Muslim world with a speech two months ago seen as criticizing Islam, looked relaxed and pleased as he entered the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit for a mass at the end of the four-day trip.

His first visit to a mostly Muslim country, held under tight security for fear of protests by nationalists and Islamists, was highlighted by a series of conciliatory gestures culminating in a stop on Thursday afternoon in Istanbul's famed Blue Mosque.

"The Pope's dreaded visit was concluded with a wonderful surprise," wrote daily Aksam on its front page. "In Sultan Ahmet Mosque, he turned toward Mecca and prayed like Muslims," the popular daily Hurriyet said, using the building's official name.

Just before leaving, Benedict said he hoped his visit was seen as "a sign of friendship between religions" that helps bring countries and cultures closer together..... Catholic officials also presented the mosque visit as a key moment of reconciliation.

"I would compare the Pope's visit to the mosque to Pope John Paul's gestures at the Western Wall," said veteran Vatican mediator Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, referring to Pope John Paul II's prayers at Jerusalem's Western Wall in 2000...... "Yesterday, Benedict did with the Muslims what John Paul did with the Jews."

R-61 Pope bids to unite divided Churches

2006-11-30T10:36:00.002-05:00

Pope bids to unite divided Churches Pope Benedict XVI has held prayers with the spiritual leader of the world's 250 million Orthodox Christians during his visit to Turkey.

At the Church of St George in Istanbul, the Pontiff and Patriarch Bartholomew recommitted their aim to find unity after almost 1,000 years of schism between their Churches...... The Western and Eastern branches of Christianity split in the Great Schism of 1054 over differences on theology and papal authority.

Pope Benedict XVI has held prayers with the spiritual leader of the world's 250 million Orthodox Christians during his visit to Turkey....... At the Church of St George in Istanbul, the Pontiff and Patriarch Bartholomew recommitted their aim to find unity after almost 1,000 years of schism between their Churches.

The Western and Eastern branches of Christianity split in the Great Schism of 1054 over differences on theology and papal authority..... The Vatican and the Russian Orthodox Church have been at odds over Orthodox charges that Catholics have been trying to win converts after the break up of the Soviet Union in 1991. The Vatican denies this.

R-60 Pope in Turkey.... urges leaders to renounce violence

2006-11-28T18:26:00.001-05:00

Pope urges leaders to renounce violence ANKARA, Turkey - Pope Benedict XVI urged leaders of all religions Tuesday to "utterly refuse" to support any form of violence in the name of faith, while Turkey's top Muslim cleric complained to the pontiff of growing "Islamophobia" in the world..... As he began his first visit to a Muslim country — a trip that drew extraordinary security but few onlookers — Benedict sought a careful balance as he extended friendship and brotherhood to Muslims, hoping to end the outcry from many Muslims over his remarks linking Islam to violence.

He expressed support for Turkey's efforts to join the European Union, moving away from opposition he voiced when he was a cardinal.... He avoided mention of any specific religion, even as he decried terrorism and the "disturbing conflicts across the Middle East."

Benedict also said guarantees of religious freedom are essential for a just society, and the Vatican said he raised specific issues such as property rights of Turkey's tiny 32,000-member Catholic community during talks with Turkish officials.

R-59 Is Benedict XVI the next to last Pope?

2006-11-26T19:28:00.001-05:00

I've felt for some time that that the next Pope following John Paul II would not be around too long and that the one following him would be the last. I'm not going to go into any details as there is a lot of information on this subject on the net already. I've provided some links and if you are interested, you can do your own follow up.

THE BIBLE REVEALS NEXT AND LAST POPE WILL BE A DEVIL IMPERSONATING JOHN PAUL II

Lateran Pacts of 1929

Lateran Concordat of 1929 - Papal Wound Healed!

Vatican City (Holy See)

A Short History of the Holy See's Diplomacy

VATICAN CITY

The Aftermath

Nazis mixed religion with government

The Catholic Church and the Nazis

So long as Adolf Hitler was in power, his Roman Catholic Church never questioned his Catholicism in public, where it mattered.

Hitler's Pope? Pope Benedict XVI - Former Hitler Youth

The Papacy - A Historical Perspective (list of Popes)

THE SPIRITUAL AMBUSH OF A UNIVERSAL RELIGION How It Will Be Utilized For The Manifestation Of The False Christ

The M+G+R Foundation

Some Major Contemporary Religious Bodies:

English Bible History

Bible; From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

R-58 Turkish protests at Pope's pending visit

2006-11-26T09:42:00.001-05:00

Turkish protests at Pope's visit Thousands of Muslims are holding a protest in Istanbul against the Pope's forthcoming visit to Turkey..... Crowds have been booing - and shouting slogans such as "Don't come Pope" - as pictures of Benedict XVI have been shown on a giant screen.

The Pope sparked outrage across the Muslim world in September, when he quoted a 14th-Century Christian emperor who criticised the Prophet Muhammad..... The Pope stressed that these were not his own words and later expressed regret for any offence his words caused...... However many Muslim leaders have been demanding an unequivocal apology.

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Turkey's Christians await pope's visit When Pope Benedict XVI visits Turkey for four days starting Tuesday, he will try to ease anger over his recent remarks linking Islam and violence. But he is also expected to press the 99 percent Muslim country to give its Christian community more rights. Some of those Christians are forced to worship in so-called "apartment churches," and suffer prejudice, discrimination, even assault.....

Of Turkey's 70 million people, some 65,000 are Armenian Orthodox Christians, 20,000 are Roman Catholic, and 3,500 are Protestant, mostly converts from Islam. Another 2,000 are Greek Orthodox and 23,000 are Jewish.
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Thousands in Turkey denounce papal visit ISTANBUL, Turkey - Tens of thousands of protesters denounced Pope Benedict XVI as an enemy of Islam at a rally Sunday that underlined deep divisions straining Turkey ahead of the pontiff's visit this week.....

Officials hoping to promote closer ties with the West urged calm, but Islamic groups wary of Western ways are united in anger over a speech Benedict gave two months ago in which he quoted a medieval text that linked Islam to violence.

Chants of "No to the pope!" rose among nearly 25,000 demonstrators at every mention of his remarks on violence and the Prophet Muhammad. Many protesters wore headbands with anti-pope slogans and waved placards that included a depiction of Benedict as the grim reaper...... Turkey's foreign minister, Abdullah Gul, said Benedict's visit could help "remove some misunderstandings" between Christians and Muslims.

"The messages the pope gives here will, of course, be very important," Gul said at a news conference..... But the protesters sent a loud signal that the pope is not welcome until he offers a full apology for his remarks in September, in which he quoted a medieval Christian emperor characterizing some of Muhammad's teachings as "evil and inhuman."

R-57 Buddhist monk cuts off his penis.... renounces all earthly cares

2006-11-23T10:28:00.001-05:00

Buddhist monk cuts off penis and renounces refix BANGKOK (Reuters) - A Thai Buddhist monk cut off his penis with a machete because he had an erection during meditation and declined to have it reattached, saying he had renounced all earthly cares, a doctor and a newspaper said on Wednesday.

The 35-year-old monk, whose name was withheld for privacy reasons, allowed medical staff at Maharaj hospital, 780 km (480 miles) south of Bangkok to dress his wound, but refused reattachment, hospital chief Prawing Euanontouch said.

"We cleaned up the wound, gave him some stitches, but he declined to have it reattached because he said had abandoned everything," Prawing told Reuters by telephone.

************************ Says a me comment ********************

The question and issues that the monk denied were - what was he thinking about or feeling during his meditation? Does he believe that having an erection also means having a desire for sex? Why does he feel that sex is wrong or evil? If sex is wrong or evil, then he must also be evil as he is the prodiuct of a sexual act. If he was born evil, how can he expect to change what is?

Me thinks this monk needed to meditate and reflect on his issues instead of hacking off his manhood that he accused of wrong doing... What's next, a hand that scratches his ass? But alas, Buddahist meditation is based in denial as what is sought is an escape from physical reality by obtaining a mindless oneness with all that is.

Saysame JR

R-56 Orthodox chief urges Turks not to create unpleasant incidents durintg Popes visit Nov 28 - Dec 01

2006-11-19T18:33:00.001-05:00

Orthodox chief urges Turks on pope visit ANKARA, Turkey - The spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians cautioned Turks in an interview published Sunday against creating "unpleasant incidents" during
Pope Benedict XVI's upcoming trip to Turkey — his first to a Muslim country.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I said in an interview in the Sabah newspaper that the pope's Nov. 28-Dec. 1 trip was a great opportunity for Turkey, and he would tell the pontiff that the country belonged in the European Union, which Ankara has long sought to join.

Turkish authorities have said they expect protests against the pope, who angered Muslims by a speech he made in September in which he quoted a Byzantine emperor's remarks about Islam and violence. Benedict has expressed regret that his remarks had caused offense, and has stressed they did not reflect his personal opinion....

R-55 Pope to hold summit on married Catholic priests

2006-11-14T11:32:00.001-05:00

Pope to hold summit on married priests VATICAN CITY -
Pope Benedict XVI has called a meeting Thursday with top Vatican officials to discuss lifting the celibacy requirement for priests seeking to marry or who have already married.

The Vatican stressed the meeting would not open a general discussion of the celibacy requirement but would only examine requests for dispensation made by priests wishing to marry and requests for readmission made by clergy who had married in recent years.

Bishops OK guidelines for gay ministry BALTIMORE - The nation's Roman Catholic bishops adopted new guidelines for gay outreach Tuesday that are meant to be welcoming, while also telling gays to be celibate since the church considers their sexuality "disordered."..... Gay Catholic activists said the approach was so contorted and flawed that it would alienate the very people it was trying to reach.

Pope presides at summit on celibacy
VATICAN CITY -
Pope Benedict XVI presided over a summit Thursday on the celibacy requirement for clergy, spurred by a married African archbishop who has been excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church.... The Vatican insists that the policy itself was not open for discussion, but that the meeting was called to examine the implications of the "disobedience" by Zambian Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo.... The prelate is thinking big in his campaign to have the Church to drop the demand that clergy be celibate. He is hoping to draw some 1,000 married Catholic priests to a Dec. 8-10 gathering in the New York City area.

The Holy See had stressed that the summit on Thursday would not open up debate on the celibacy requirement, but would instead examine requests for dispensation made by priests wishing to marry and requests for readmission by clergy who had married in recent years. It cited no numbers.

Vatican reaffirms celibacy for priests VATICAN CITY - A Vatican summit led by Pope Benedict XVI reaffirmed mandatory celibacy for priests Thursday, rebuffing a high-profile crusade by a married African archbishop who has been excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church..... In a statement after the three-hour meeting, the Vatican said: "The value of the choice of priestly celibacy, according to Catholic tradition, has been reaffirmed."..... The Vatican did not cite any figures, but there are estimated to be at least 100,000 married priests worldwide, with about 25,000 of them in the United States.

R-54 Pope to meet Muslim cleric who denounced him and his speech of Sept 12

2006-11-11T20:33:00.001-05:00

Pope to meet cleric who denounced him VATICAN CITY - The pope's upcoming trip to Turkey will include a meeting with a Muslim cleric who was one of the first to denounce Benedict XVI for his remarks on Islam and violence, the Vatican said Saturday.... The Nov. 28-Dec. 1 pilgrimage was born out of Benedict's desire to meet with the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, as the pope pursues closer relations among Christians.

One of the first to denounce Benedict's speech was Turkey's president for religious affairs, Ali Bardakoglu, a top Islamic cleric who said criticism of Islam threatened world peace. Benedict and Bardakoglu will meet within hours of the pope's arrival in Ankara, the Turkish capital. The pope will also deliver a speech during his encounter with the cleric, the Vatican said.

Benedict has offered his regrets that his speech caused offense and has stressed that the quotes did not reflect his personal opinion. He has also expressed esteem for Islam.

R-53 Christian population falls in Holy Land

2006-11-11T20:14:00.001-05:00

Christian population falls in Holy Land BETHLEHEM, West Bank - The death threat came on simple white fliers blowing down the streets at dawn. A group calling itself "Friends of Muhammad" accused a local Palestinian Christian of selling mobile phones carrying offensive sketches of the Muslim prophet.... The message went on to curse all Arab Christians and Pope Benedict XVI, still struggling to calm Muslim outrage from his remarks on Islam.

Call it part of a modern exodus, the steady flight of the tiny Palestinian Christian minority that could lead, some predict, to the faith being virtually extinct in its birthplace within several generations — a trend mirrored in many dwindling pockets of Christianity across the Islamic world.

R-52 Catholic Nun gets 30 years for her part in Rwanda's 1994 genocide...

2006-11-10T21:18:00.001-05:00

Catholic nun gets 30 years for Rwanda genocide

NAIROBI, Kenya - A Catholic nun has been sentenced to 30 years in jail for helping militias kill hundreds of people hiding in a hospital during Rwanda's 1994 genocide, an official said Friday....Theophister Mukakibibi was sentenced by a traditional gacaca court for helping Hutu militiamen to kill ethnic Tutsis seeking refuge from the slaughter in Butare hospital, where she worked.

"She was responsible for selecting Tutsis and would throw them out of the hospital and the militia would then kill them," said Jean Baptiste Ndahumba, president of the local gacaca court in Butare town. "This nun was organizing people to be killed." She was jailed Thursday....

A number of Hutu Catholic and Protestant church leaders are alleged to have played significant roles in the east African nation's 100-day massacre. More than a half-million Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed by the militia, orchestrated by the extremist Hutu government then in power. The genocide ended when Tutsi rebels toppled the government.

The gacaca courts are intended to speed up the genocide trials and are separate from the conventional judicial system. With nine judges from the local community, the traditional courts were also established to help heal divisions but can impose life sentences.

Some 63,000 genocide suspects are detained in Rwanda, and justice authorities say that at least 761,000 people should stand trial for their role in the slaughter and chaos that came with it. The suspects represent 9.2 percent of Rwanda's estimated 8.2 million people.

A U.N. tribunal based in neighboring Tanzania is trying those accused of masterminding the genocide in Rwanda. Three members of the clergy have appeared at the tribunal.

In 2001, two Rwandan Catholic nuns were convicted by a Belgian court for aiding and abetting the mass murders. A Roman Catholic priest is on trial before the Tanzania-based U.N. tribunal, accused of ordering the slaughter of 2,000 people who sought refuge in his church.

R-51 Israel to host gay parade.. Pope has it cancelled..

2006-11-10T20:11:00.001-05:00

Vatican urges Israel to ban Jerusalem gay parade VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The
Vatican has condemned a gay pride parade due to be held in Jerusalem on Friday as offensive to religious believers and urged Israeli authorities to stop it taking place..... "It is with bitterness that we have learned that the day after tomorrow, November 10, 2006, there is scheduled in Jerusalem a so-called 'gay pride parade'," the Vatican said in a statement issued on Wednesday.

"The Holy See has reiterated on many occasions that the right to freedom of expression, sanctioned by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, is subject to just limits, in particular when the exercise of this right would offend the religious sentiments of believers," the letter said.

"It is clear that the gay parade scheduled to take place in Jerusalem will prove offensive to the great majority of Jews, Muslims and Christians, given the sacred character of the City of Jerusalem."

Israel gay pride parade canceled

R-50 Are we sinning yet... Whipped cream? Hummmmm

2006-11-08T20:38:00.002-05:00

Are we sinning yet?

TORONTO, Nov 7 (Reuters Life!) - The United Church of Canada hopes an ad featuring a can of whipped cream and the question, "How much fun can sex be before it's a sin?" will fill its pews as Christmas nears.

The United Church of Canada has a declining active membership of about 573,000, although almost 3 million people have some sort of affiliation with the church. Between 1994 and 2004, membership dropped about 20 percent, according to church statistics.

R-49 Church of England upset..... no Christian stamps for Xmas

2006-11-06T09:49:00.001-05:00

Church posts anger at Britain's Christ-free Christmas stamps

LONDON (AFP) - The Church of England have sent a message of annoyance to the Royal Mail over this year's Christmas stamps, which feature festive fun rather than a Christian theme...... Santa Claus, snowmen, reindeer and a Christmas tree surrounded by presents appear on the 2006 collection, which goes on sale Tuesday.

The established church in England delivered a note of "regret" at the lack of reference to the birth of Jesus Christ, while the Royal Mail said they alternated each year between religious and non-religious themes...... "In 2004, the Church of England's General Synod approved a motion calling for Royal Mail to issue Christmas stamps with Christian themes every year," said a C of E spokesman on Monday....... "We regret that the Royal Mail have decided against continuing last year's welcome return to Christian-themed designs reminding people of the true meaning of Christmas."

Last year's set included a controversial image of a couple with Hindu markings worshipping Jesus.

UPDATES: '06 Nov 07 Non-religious Christmas stamps criticisedyear's collection of festive stamps.... Instead of religious images adorning the Christmas stamps -- which go on sale from Tuesday -- they have pictures of Santa, a snowman, a Christmas tree and a reindeer...... Religious groups say they are concerned the stamps have no connection with the real meaning of Christmas.

**************************** says a me comment ********************

"Religious groups" or "CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS GROUPS" say they are concerned the stamps have no connection with the real meaning of Christmas. I'm sure that if the Post Office started issuing stamps to celebrate other religions.. that there would be a cacophony of Christian religious opposition... especially if they were Muslin stamps...

HEY Christians....you have lost your way!!!! Aren't you the same two faced, hypocritical gang that says the true meaning of Christmas isn't about commercial things, but about love and celebrating the birth of Christ... What does that have to do with stamps? Christ never had stamps celebrating his birthday; come to think of it.... Christmas is NEVER even mentioned in the bible.... So what are you pious and righteous Christians really celebrating? If you check out the history books you will find Christmas been adapted from PAGAN holidays... So what does that make you?

"Food for thought"
Saysame JR

R-48 Anglican bishop accuses Muslims of double standards.... Pot calling kettle black....

2006-11-05T11:20:00.001-05:00

Bishop attacks 'Muslim hypocrisy' A senior Anglican bishop has accused many Muslims of being guilty of double standards in their view of the world..... The bishop, whose father converted from Islam, also said situations such as teaching could require Muslim women not to wear full-face veils.

He added: "Given the world view that has given rise to such grievances, there can never be sufficient appeasement and new demands will continue to be made.".... He disclosed that he asks Muslim women to remove the veil when they attend his Blackburn constituency surgeries.

R-47 Evangelical chief Haggard forced to quit over sex scandal

2006-11-04T19:51:00.001-05:00

Evangelical chief Haggard forced to quit

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Rev. Ted Haggard was forced out Saturday as leader of the megachurch he founded after a board determined the influential evangelist had committed "sexually immoral conduct," the church said Saturday.

Haggard had resigned two days earlier as president of the National Association of Evangelicals, where he held sway in Washington and condemned homosexuality, after a Denver man named Mike Jones claimed to have had drug-fueled trysts with him.

"Our investigation and Pastor Haggard's public statements have proven without a doubt that he has committed sexually immoral conduct," the New Life Church's Overseer Board said in a statement.

R-46 Muslim Women demand a voice...and a choice

2006-11-03T20:13:00.001-05:00

Muslim feminists battle against 'macho' views BARCELONA (AFP) - Muslim women from around the world took up the fight against a "macho" interpretation of Islam's Koran at the opening of an international conference on Islamic feminism

"It will come into full force when women are able to make choices in life with their own consent," Escurado said..... The three-day conference was called to "support women who are fighting for recognition of their rights in the Islamic world" and rising up "against the long-established supremacy of men", he said...... The Islamic feminist movement has slowly emerged in the Muslim world, which comprises some 29 countries with more than one billion people.

"Nothing can really begin until women start to talk to other women," said Pilar Vallugera, director of the department on women and rights at city hall in Barcelona...... "We live for the most part under rules which were handed down in Saudi Arabia centuries ago, and there are still too many unenlightened mullahs who direct our lives."..... Besides the disapproval of some men, the pioneers of Islamic feminism also face the rejection, incomprehension and anger of some of their Islamic sisters......

R-45 Frustrated Muslins respond to growing prejudice against them....

2006-10-31T11:04:00.001-05:00

Second Muslim cleric joins row in Australia over women and rape SYDNEY (AFP) - A second Muslim cleric in Australia has stepped into a bitter dispute over attitudes to women and rape, charging that anti-Islamic bias ensured Muslim rapists got tougher sentences than other men..... Sheik Mohammed Omran publicly defended a sermon in which he said Muslims were dealt with more harshly than other sex offenders such as "bikies" belonging to motorcycle gangs or "football stars".

Both clerics referred in their sermons to heavy sentences meted out to a group of young Muslim men for a series of notorious gang rapes in Sydney six years ago..... One of the men received a 55-year jail sentence, which was later reduced on appeal...."What I said in the sermon, I say it here and I'll say it wherever I am," Omran said......

"We are part of the Australian society and, as an Australian -- forget what I am, a cleric or not a cleric, I am an Australian -- I have a view and I am free to tell the people about my view."....

Omran charged that judges lacked consistency in sentencing, saying that otherwise similar sentences should be passed on "the priest who rape(s) a child under his care, or the teacher who (has) a sexual relation with his student"..... He also accused the media and the government of overreacting to crimes committed by Muslims. Prime Minister John Howard has led the storm of criticism of the mufti's remarks about "uncovered meat".

************************ says a me comment ***********************

Similar to how aboriginals have been and still are discriminated against..... Muslims, world wide, are now being targeted with prejudice and discrimination... US - Bush did a lot to lay the finger of blame and supsicion of 911 on Muslims... and no matter what they now say or do, if they do anything wrong or complain in any way.. they are the problem and need to be taught a lesson... That's Christians for you... and any other religion for that matter... "do as I say.. don't do as I do".. but that's not the GOLDEN RULE they tell you they believe...

Saysame JR

R-44 Evangelical Pentecoastal Church in Ukraine... uses loud music and pom pom dancers..

2006-10-30T21:52:00.001-05:00

Nigerian pastor finds new flock in Ukraine Inside one of Ukraine's biggest sports halls a band pumps out deafening music surrounded by pom pom-waving dancers in shiny blue outfits...... Thousands of people are on their feet enthusiastically singing and clapping along, as if at a pop concert...... A Pentecostal church called the Embassy of God is sweeping across the country...... It claims to have 25,000 members in the capital alone.... For many people here a church service that has a feel-good factor is something new.

Some critics are suspicious of this evangelical movement and its close relationship with powerful politicians...... The Orthodox Church feels threatened. It says Embassy of God is a cult...... "The followers become like zombies - they are fully devoted to the leader of the organisation, ready to fulfil any of his desires," says Father Superior Yevstratiy Zorya, spokesman for the Orthodox Church in Kiev..... "It also has an impact on political life, because these people help to campaign for the politicians loyal to their church."

The Embassy of God says there is no brainwashing. Instead it targets people who feel rejected by society...... It runs a homeless shelter in the capital which helps prostitutes, drug addicts and members of the mafia like Alexander Skrypin.

R-43 Pope in denial... plays dumb to past... now urges "action" on sexual abuse....

2006-10-28T20:42:00.001-04:00

Pope urges action on sexual abuse

The Catholic Church must take all necessary steps to prevent further occurrences of child sex abuse by clergy, Pope Benedict has said.... To do this, the church had to find out what had happened in the past, he said....Pope Benedict said that abuse scandals had created deep wounds in the church.

"It is important to establish the truth of what happened in the past, to take whatever steps are necessary to prevent it from occurring again," he said, according to a copy of the speech released by the Vatican.... "Above all, (it is important) to bring healing to the victims and to all those affected by these egregious crimes."

R-42 US Evangelicals bring aid to suffering war torn Israel

2006-10-26T22:24:00.001-04:00

U.S. evangelicals on mission in Israel

ASHDOD, Israel - After 35 days at sea, a group of American evangelicals traveling on a creaky World War II-era cargo ship landed in Israel on a solidarity mission only to run aground in red tape, with long delays in unloading their cargo of clothes, toys and medical supplies.

Still, the crew was unfazed Thursday, keeping a positive attitude in a demonstration of the growing alliance between evangelical Christians and the Jewish state...... "The Bible says, 'Who blesses Israel will be blessed,'" said Don Tipton, the group's leader. "We believe that."

But the mission to Israel is different.

"This is not aid, it's an expression of friendship and love," Don Tipton said. The members of his crew, like many other evangelical Christians, see supporting Israel as a divine commandment. They were further spurred by this summer's war against Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, he said.....

"After the war, we saw that Lebanon was getting lots of aid and friendship, and I thought, hey, they're not the ones who just got mugged," Tipton said. He then sped up preparations for the trip, which had been planned before fighting broke out.

The voyage reflects the growing support among American evangelicals for the Jewish state, with Christians becoming more vocal politically and more generous financially on Israel's behalf.

R-41 Muslim clerics sexist comment not different than Western Societies attitude...

2006-10-26T10:03:00.001-04:00

Australian Muslim cleric apologises for remarks on women

SYDNEY (AFP) - Australia's most senior Islamic cleric has issued an apology after triggering outrage for describing scantily-clad women without headscarves as "uncovered meat" inviting sexual attack.

The comments were condemned Thursday by other Muslim leaders and Prime Minister John Howard, while the government's sex discrimination commissioner said he should be deported..... "I unreservedly apologise to any woman who is offended by my comments," the cleric, Sheikh Taj Aldin al-Hilali said in a statement, after a backlash from politicians, community leaders and the Muslim community..... "I had only intended to protect women's honour, something lost in The Australian presentation of my talk," he said.

The senior Islamic cleric had commented...... "If you take out uncovered meat and place it outside on the street, or in the garden or in the park, or in the backyard without a cover, and the cats come and eat it ... whose fault is it, the cats or the uncovered meat?" he asked...... "The uncovered meat is the problem. If she was in her room, in her home, in her hijab, no problem would have occurred."

Howard said the comments were "appalling and reprehensible," adding: "The idea that women are to blame for rapes is preposterous."..... "It is incitement to a crime. Young Muslim men who now rape women can cite this in court, can quote this man, their leader in court," she told Australian television...... "It's time we stopped just saying he should apologise. It is time the Islamic community did more then say they were horrified. I think it's time he was asked to go."

************************** says a me comment **********************

I'm sure that this comment by the Muslim cleric was triggered by the The British comments on Muslim women and their veils. Again... a conflict and different opinions over customs, traditions and religious moral views.

While this is a sexist comment, it is also a religious and racial slur.. BUT... that is only part of the picture and problem... Howard and the so-called western society was quick to point a finger at the Muslins sexist comment... but.. what he failed to notice was that western society does nothing to protect women that are abused or raped... And that if a woman is abused or raped... then she must have deserved it or had invited it.... That's no different than what the Cleric was saying...

Now I'm not saying that some women don't use their body and sex to entice and manipulate men... as a form of control and power to get what they want... There are issues on all sides that need to be addressed.... including those of the so-called victim...

Saysame JR

UPDATES:
'06 Oct 26 India tackles domestic violence

It's interesting to see a twist and turn of events here... and how these same so-called good and righteous Christians never denounced the Pope when he called Muslims evil and inhuman... yet now they are outraged by a Muslim cleric calling women that reveal skin... uncovered meat... It's part of the old "Golden Rule" again and the good old "knight in shinning amour syndrome".. that now reveals himself to protect the "honor" of women, that they themselves at times, treat as meat... BUT.. this takes the focus off of their unloving actions and places it on someone that is DIFFERENT but SIMILAR...

True colours - Shit hits fan

Australia fury at cleric comments

Australian mufti's sermons suspended amid firestorm over women comments

Australian Muslim cleric apologizes for remarks on women

UPDATE: '06 Oct 30 Under-fire Australian Muslim cleric collapses, takes leave

'06 Nov 03 Australia's cleric preaches despite vow

R-40 Christianity... coming apart at the seams...

2006-10-24T11:09:00.001-04:00

Anglican bishop warns gay clergy issue could marginalise leader

SYDNEY (AFP) - An Australian Anglican archbishop has warned that tolerance of gay clergy will marginalise the position of the Archbishop of Canterbury and devolve the global church from its traditional powerbase..... The leader of the largest Anglican diocese in Australia, Sydney Archbishop Peter Jensen, played down the possibility of the church's disintegration, but cautioned that the ordination of gay clergy could undermine the status and influence of the global church's top figure.....

Making clear his total opposition to gay and female clergy, Jensen told a church synod late Monday that at least two overseas churches had applied to join Sydney's conservative Anglican diocese..... "I do not talk of a split, for example. Nor have I been one to talk of schism and the break-up of the Anglican communion," Jensen said.

*************************says a me comment *****************************

Why is Christianity so fragmented? Could it be that the beliefs on which it was founded are also flawed? A religious split is only a form change whereby they deny what they can't accept... So another religious domination built on the sand of denial...

Saysame JR

R-39 Religion - Politics - In god we Trust... Ahhhhhhh..... Change that.. In OUR God we Trust...

2006-10-23T22:26:00.001-04:00

Conservatism doesn't need God

That was the nearly universal advice to Democratic politicians after the publicly pious George W. Bush vanquished the more religiously reticent John Kerry in the 2004 presidential election. The largest plurality of voters - 22% - had told exit pollsters that "moral values" (left undefined in the poll) were their most salient concern. Add to this enigmatic survey finding the fact that 11 states passed amendments banning gay marriage, and the result, according to gleeful Republican pundits and not a few Democratic consultants, was the exposure of a Democratic God gap....... Ever since then, Democrats have been trying to show that they, too, have God in their hearts and in their caucus rooms.

What does faith reveal?

What are we supposed to learn when a candidate talks about his faith: That he is a good person? The rich history of religious bounders and charlatans should give the lie to that hope. Nor has a sincere belief in God prevented behavior we now view as morally repugnant. There were few more religious Americans than antebellum slaveholders and their political representatives; their claim to a divine mandate for slavery was based in unimpeachable Scriptural authority.

Or perhaps a politician's discussion of his prayer habits should reassure the public he'll make the right decisions in office. But what if opposing candidates declare themselves supplicants of the divine will - how will a voter decide who is most likely to receive divine guidance?

R-38 Masons - No so Brotherly Loving.. as they profess...

2006-10-23T22:10:00.001-04:00

Masons struggle with racial separation
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Masons, the storied fraternal order whose members have included Mozart, George Washington and John Wayne, has become entwined across the Deep South with the remnants of another tradition in these parts: strict segregation....... Nationwide, Masonic groups operate in a separate-but-supposedly-equal system in which whites typically join one network of Masonic groups, called Grand Lodges, and blacks typically join another, called Prince Hall.

But in the South, it goes further: White-controlled Grand Lodges in 12 Southern states do not even officially recognize black Masons as their brothers — the Masonic term is "mutual recognition" — and in some cases, black lodges have taken similar stands.

R-37 US criticizes the role of Islam in politics.. but fail to see the role of Christianity

2006-10-22T20:34:00.001-04:00

'06 Oct 21 Schroeder: Bush's faith raised suspicion BERLIN - Ex-Chancellor
Gerhard Schroeder, whose second term was marked by vehement opposition to the war in
Iraq, described in an advance copy of his memoirs how he was suspicious of
President Bush's constant references to his Christian faith.....

While meetings with Bush at that time were friendly, Schroeder said he could not reconcile himself with the feeling that religion was the driving force behind many of Bush's political decisions....... "What bothered me, and in a certain way made me suspicious despite the relaxed atmosphere, was again and again in our discussions how much this president described himself as 'God-fearing,'" Schroeder wrote, adding he is a firm believer in the separation of church and state....... Schroeder accused some elements in U.S. as being hypocritical when it comes to secularism in government.

"We rightly criticize that in most Islamic states, the role of religion for society and the character of the rule of law are not clearly separated," Schroeder wrote. "But we fail to recognize that in the USA, the Christian fundamentalists and their interpretation of the Bible have similar tendencies."

R-36 Politics, sex, coruption and now RELIGION....

2006-10-20T22:31:00.001-04:00

'06 Oct 19 Newspaper: Priest admits ties to Foley
ROME - A priest acknowledged Thursday that he was naked in saunas and went skinny-dipping with Mark Foley decades ago when the former congressman was a boy in Florida, but denied that the two had sex....."We were friends and trusted each other as brothers and loved each other as brothers," Mercieca told The Associated Press in Rome. Asked if their association was sexual, the priest replied: "It wasn't."

Among the activities described by Mercieca in the newspaper were massaging the boy in the nude, skinny-dipping together at a secluded lake in Lake Worth, Fla., and being nude in the same room on overnight trips while he was a priest and Foley was a parishioner.......

'06 Oct 20 Experts: Priest in denial about behavior

Experts on sex abuse say the comments of a Roman Catholic priest who acknowledged being naked with Mark Foley when the former congressman was young fit a pattern of distorted thinking that they've seen over and over among offenders...... The priest told the Sarasota (Fla.) Herald-Tribune that he and Foley "loved each other like brothers" and that although he taught Foley "some wrong things" related to sex, Mercieca insisted their interactions were innocent....... "It was just fondling," he told WPTV of West Palm Beach, Fla.

From the perspective of people who have worked with abusers and their victims, that thinking is typical of a molester. Offenders, who are sexually immature, commonly view their involvement with their victims as normal and are baffled when others see things differently....... "This is the same type of rationalization that I've heard time and time again from priests who have been grooming or setting a young boy up for molestation," said the Rev. Thomas Doyle, a canon lawyer turned victim advocate.

************************* says a me comment ******************

Original post on the following link... Saysame - On Politics- denials and truth - Politics, sex, coruption

R-35 Iraqs Shiite and Sunni seek peace amongst themselves

2006-10-20T20:40:00.001-04:00

Iraq's religious figures issue edicts

BAGHDAD, Iraq - In a bid to stop sectarian bloodshed, Shiite and Sunni religious figures met in Mecca, Islam's holiest city, and issued a series of edicts Friday forbidding violence between Iraq's two Muslim sects........ A final communique, heavy on quotations from the Quran and Hadith, was issued at the end of the two-day meeting. It contained 10 points, the majority of which were edicts forbidding kidnappings, incitement of hatred, attacks on mosques and Shiite places of worship. It also prohibited forcing members of the other sect from their homes and called for the release from detention of Iraqis not charged with specific crimes...... It also stated that differences between the two sects did not touch on the basics of the faith.

None was among the country's top clerics, but spokesman Salah Abdul-Razaq, speaking to The Astry to sociated Press from Mecca, said the fatwas were vetted and approved by Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the country's top Shiite cleric, and radical anti-U.S. Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr. Al-Sadr is not a high-ranking cleric but he runs the Mahdi Army, a militia blamed for much of the violence against Sunni Arabs.

The Mecca meeting had lowered expectations from the outset, with its organizers maintaining that they did not seek a truce in Iraq, where a Sunni insurgency continues to target U.S. and Iraqi forces, but only to stop sectarian killings between rival Sunnis and Shiites.

UPDATE '06 Oct 20 Long path to Iraq's sectarian split

R-34 Pope John Paul II Cartoon...just in time for Xmas ... Shows him close to children and families...

2006-10-17T17:58:00.001-04:00

Vatican issues cartoon version of John Paul's life

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - No one expects it to replace Alice in Wonderland or Cinderella, but the Vatican has turned to a talking pen and pigeons in a new cartoon movie to teach children about the life of the late Pope John Paul..... The film, called "John Paul II, the Friend of Humanity," was unveiled at a news conference on Tuesday and its producers hope it will be a big hit for the coming Christmas season.........

"The idea was to present the human side of John Paul as the best way to bring him close to children and families," said J.L. Lopez-Guardia, a Spanish animation artist who goes by the professional name Cavin Cooper.......

****************************** says a me comment **************************

"Shows hinm being close to children and families.... I'd say so with all the sex scandals he was covering up.... NEVER happened in real life... so they have to make a movie about what they want the public to believe is the truth... I think it's only fitting that it's a Cartoon. :)

Saysame JR

R-33 Bush Politics... back in Religion

2006-10-16T09:33:00.001-04:00

Bush aides 'mocked evangelicals' A new book by a former US official says President Bush's top political advisers privately ridiculed evangelical leaders, while publicly embracing them.....

The Republican party is concerned the allegations may harm its standing in next month's mid-term elections......'Alarm bells ringing' With just weeks to go before what promised to be highly competitive congressional elections, Republicans can ill afford to lose the support of their evangelical Christian base.

"When [the president] talks about the Faith-Based Initiative, this is one of these things where he believes years and years down the road... this is going to be one of the signal accomplishments - harnessing the power of faith in dealing with some of the most intractable problems our society faces." ...... But ... for the moment it is a short-term goal of keeping a Republican majority in congress that seems most at threat by these revelations.

R-32 Pope still going to Muslim Turkey Nov.28 - Dec 1

2006-10-16T09:13:00.001-04:00

Pope to visit Turkey despite row The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Benedict XVI will travel to Turkey in November, his first visit to a predominantly Muslim country...... The Pontiff will visit Ankara, Izmir, Istanbul and ancient Ephesus during the trip, which will begin on 28 November and run until 1 December,

The trip has been overshadowed by a row over remarks he made about Islam..... Muslims were angered when the Pope quoted a 14th Century Christian emperor who said the Prophet Mohammed had brought only "evil and inhuman" things.

Other Links:
Pope remarks reveal harder stance

Muslims debate Pope's speech reaction

R-31 Scotland's independence... a re-play of Ireland's turmoil?

2006-10-15T13:21:00.001-04:00

Cardinal happy to see UK break-up

The head of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland has given his backing to independence north of the Border......"There is currently some frustration among the Scots about the say they have over what happens here, and that is part of what is pushing the independence movement.

"I can see this coming, perhaps not in the next few years, but before too long."

As the leader of a Scottish church, which is itself independent from England, he admitted it was difficult to argue for ecclesiastical but not political independence.

**************************** Says a me comments *******************************

The commitments made by the head of the Catholic Church in Scotland, will only activate Scottish Protestants that will feel that the Catholics (in politics) are trying to take over home rule and that they (the Protestants) will have no, or limited say... Aye... The same Orange and Green shite as in Ireland... just in a different pot now... Scotland...

Not only will he tick of the Scottish Protestants but also both Catholics and Protestants in the UK.... who don't want to see Scotland have independence..
Saysame JR

R-30 India and Hinduism....a country and a religion in turoil...

2006-10-15T11:28:00.001-04:00

It's now time to E-X-P-A-N-D this topic to include another religion, Hindism and Indian social structure and of its internal as well as its external issues with it's neighbours and the world... I got the followiing links with a brief web search. I haven't read or researched them all, but I remember them being in the news.

WARNING: Some scenes are brutal
and shocking
Indian Terrorism Genoside of Muslims, Sikhs Christians and neighbour Kaskmir

Genocide of Muslims in India

**************************** Indian (Hindu) Caste System **********************

Hindus caste system

CASTE PROBLEM IN INDIA

Indian Caste System (Pictures)

India's Outcast Widows Have New Havens 04/05

Discrimination against India's lowest Hindu castes is technically illegal. But try telling that to the 160 million Untouchables, who face violent reprisals if they forget their place

India's "Untouchables" Face Violence, Discrimination 2003

India's 'untouchables' gain political might 1995

UPDATE: '06 Oct 17 India and Kasmir Hindu against Muslim

R-29 and Christianity forced on Hindus......... Where is the Love?

2006-10-15T10:19:00.001-04:00

Low-caste Hindus convert en masse NAGPUR, India (Reuters) - Thousands of low-caste Hindus converted to Buddhism and Christianity on Saturday in protest against new laws in several Indian states that make such changes of religion difficult.......

Several states governed by the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have introduced or strengthened laws to stop what it says are forced conversions, mainly by Christian missionaries.......Under the new laws anyone planning to leave the Hindu fold, the country's majority faith, must obtain certificates from officials and affidavits from courts, stating they were converting out of free will and not by inducements.... A hardline Hindu leader said the conversions were "forced".

"You are no more a Hindu. Say you will not worship any Hindu god or goddess. Say I will never go to a temple," a Buddhist monk asked the crowd to repeat with him.

Hindus form 80 percent of secular India's population, Muslims more than 13 percent and Christians less than 3 percent. Religious minorities such as Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and Parsis make up the rest.

************************ Says a me comment ******************************

Christians and Buddhist are playing both "politics" and "the righteous savior" at the same time in converting the Hindu poor and oppressed. It's interesting that they can't see their own religiouos and political oppression in their own house and back yard.. yet are quick to see it in their neighbors....

The question now is..... how is converting to Buddhism or Christianity going to change the social life of these poor people? Does conversion come with a house and a car and a good Christian or Buddhist job? ... I think not.....

What has really happened is, that these conversions have in fact, created a class of poor and oppressed Christians and Buddhists..living in India... And like I said earlier...are now in "their back yard".. but of course, they don't see it that way or even care about it....

All that these "religious do-gooders" care about is the superficial show of doing their religious good deed, their "act" KEYWORD "act" of kindness and mercy for their fellow man, by converting him or her to the TRUE faith....Ahh? but which on is that.... Buddhist or Christian?

Saysame JR

UPDATES:
'06 Oct 15Anger over Gujarat religion law
'06 Oct 15Low-caste Hindus adopt new faith

R-28 Fear and uncertainty lead to Muslim religious revival

2006-10-14T20:03:00.001-04:00

More Muslims than ever observing Ramadan JERUSALEM - The boom of a cannon and the wail of a muezzin signaled the end of the day's fast and thousands of worshippers at one of Islam's holiest shrines tucked into their dinner...... The holy month of Ramadan is under way, and from Morocco to Indonesia and the growing Muslim communities of the West, around one-fifth of humanity is on a daily dawn-to-dusk fast, honoring the revelation of the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad.

Islamic scholars say more Muslims than ever observe the fast — a religious revival brought on in part by globalization's assault on local cultures and the growing tensions between Islam and the West.

R-27 Religion and Politics... "trying" to mix Oil and Water

2006-10-14T12:22:00.001-04:00

Battles over Muslim and Christian religious symbols rage LONDON (AFP) - Battles over religious symbols are raging as a Christian woman took on British Airways over her cross necklace and a Muslim teaching assistant defended her stance on wearing the veil.

The debate has amplified in the week since cabinet minister Jack Straw appealed to Muslim women to remove their veils to improve face-to-face communication and prevent separate cultures from taking root in Britain.

R-26 Muslim Scholars give Pope benifit of the Doubt

2006-10-13T22:53:00.001-04:00

Muslim scholars accept pope's statement AMMAN, Jordan - Dozens of Muslim scholars and chief muftis from numerous countries have accepted Pope Benedict XVI's statement of regret for his remarks on Islam and violence, the editor of a Muslim journal said Friday......

The scholars have signed an open letter that will be delivered to a
Vatican envoy in the hopes of engaging the pope in a dialogue to counter prejudice against Islam, said the Jordanian-based editor of Islamica Magazine, Sohail Nakhooda.

Nakhooda added the letter, which will be published on Islamica Magazine's Web site on Saturday, is "an attempt to engage with the papacy on theological grounds in order to tackle wide-ranging misconceptions about Islam in the Western world."

************************ Says a me Comments Below *******************************

The Muslim Scholars have given the Pope the benifit of the doubt instead of their intuition that has been saying for weeks that Pope knew full well what he was saying. In denying themselvs, (their intuition) they have given the Pope their power. The Muslin scholars optimistically think that they have something to teach the Pope and that the Pope is receptive to their teachings... WRONG... They have played into his hands and he will string them along for as long as he can. It is the Scholars false sense of pride and superiority and of righting a wrong, along with a desire to help another less enlightened, as they feel they know more than the Pope... Well they may know more about Islam, but they don't know more than the Pope when it comes to playing the power and denial game. It will be interesting to see how this plays out....

Saysame
JR

R-25 If you disagree with the Catholic Church.... you're Saint material...

2006-10-13T12:53:00.001-04:00

Indiana Nun to be proclaimed a saint
ERRE HAUTE, Ind. - An Indiana nun once banished from her congregation by a bishop will be proclaimed a saint on Sunday, providing a model of virtuous life to America's Roman Catholics — even if they find themselves at odds with church leaders......

Blessed Mother Theodore Guerin led a group of six French nuns who arrived in Indiana on Oct. 22, 1840, to establish a community in the woods outside Terre Haute. She and Vincennes Bishop Celestin de la Hailandiere struggled over control of the fledgling order, and he dismissed Guerin from her vows, threatened her with excommunication and banished her for a time from St. Mary-of-the-Woods. She did not return until after his resignation in 1847

Pope Benedict XVI will canonize Blessed Mother Theodore Guerin as the first new U.S. saint in six years, a span marked in this country by the scandal over the sexual abuse of minors by clergy......The pontiff also will canonize a Mexican bishop and two Italians who founded religious orders.

**********************************************************************************
The "Church" is losing power and the Pope is trying to make friends and influence people to try to regain it. He's leaving no stone unturned as he searches for ways and means to bring back all those that were forced out of the flock or fled the good shepherd. The Pope wants all his "flock" back and he'll do it anyway he can... even if it means making saints of those that disagreed with the Church doctrine and its policies and were subsequently excommunication and banished from the Catholic Church....

His plan is to make them part of the church, and if she's a saint, then she has to be Catholic...and part of the Church and no longer separate... So by default, she, and all those that follow her are returned to the flock... And... because the good Sister is dead.... how can she disagree with the Pope...

HEY! That makes me a SAINT too... it's just that the Pope and all the rest of the good ole Catholics don't know it yet..... Kind of funny when you think of it... LOL.... I'm laughing.... but at the same time I'm not... as I want nothing to do with the Church or any organized religion for that matter...

BUT there's more to this.... What is the Pope not saying beside the obvious?
He's not saying that
1) The church was wrong to excommunicate the nun in the first place.
2) That the bishop that excommunicated the nun was wrong.
3) That the Church was flawed in choosing the bishop.
4) That the Pope made a mistake in making him a bishop.
5) That the Church and the Pope make mistakes.

Of course none of this is said as the Pope and the Church consider themselves infallible and can do no wrong.. or at least... can't admit that they do wrong... as that would be a sign of weakness and a loss of power and control.. This is a good example of how DENIAL and unlovingness work... pretending they are the opposite of what they really are by doing a "good deed."

Saysame JR

UPDATES: '06 Oct 15 Pope Benedict proclaims 4 new saints

R-24 "Birds of a Feather....."

2006-10-13T09:46:00.001-04:00

Pope holds meeting with Dalai Lama VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI met privately Friday with the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet, but the Vatican released no details of the low-key visit that was not even listed on the pontiff's official calendar...... The Vatican confirmed "a private courtesy visit on religious topics," but declined to issue further information because of the unofficial nature of the audience.

The Vatican has maintained a low profile on past visits by the Dalai Lama, including his last trip in 2003 to meet with John Paul II, to avoid a further chill in its icy relations with China.

The Dalai Lama wants autonomy for Tibet, which China has occupied since 1951. He led about 80,000 Tibetans into exile in 1959, and heads a government-in-exile in Dharamsala, India.

China's government bars Catholics from having contact with the Vatican and allows worship only in government-monitored churches. Millions remain loyal to the pope and worship in secret, but priests and member of their congregations frequently are detained and harassed.
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Birds of a Feather.... Flock together

What does the Pope and the Dalai Lama have in common? ... A common enemy... China... The Pope is trying to gain a political alley as he was doing with Israel the other day... The Pope and the Dalai Lama are the cosy "we" in this case and the Chinese government is the bad "they"....

Saysame JR

R-23 More Priests "exposed".. Now what about the Nuns?

2006-10-12T17:51:00.001-04:00

Vatican OKs resignation of Iowa bishop
DAVENPORT, Iowa - The Vatican announced the bishop of Davenport's retirement Thursday, two days after the Roman Catholic diocese filed for bankruptcy amid dozens of lawsuits alleging priest sex abuse.......Since 2004, the Diocese of Davenport has paid more than $10.5 million to resolve dozens of claims filed against priests, including a $9 million settlement reached with 37 victims. The lawsuits accused 11 priests of sexually assaulting children since the 1950s and blamed church leaders for covering it up.

The Diocese of Davenport includes 85 parishes and more than 102,000 members..... The cost of the Catholic sex abuse cases nationwide has risen to about $1.5 billion since 1950, according to figures compiled from various studies by the U.S.Conference of Catholic Bishops.

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I have to add a comment here as there is also another area of abuse within the Catholic Church... and that is with the Nuns.... While I know that some of them were abused by the priests, I also know of the children, including myself, that were abused by the nuns. Maybe not sexually, but that was there also, but in the mental, emotional and physical cruelty they inflicted on innocent children, just to get them to "conform" to the Churchs and their rules. It's time that they are also exposed for what they are.... including Sister Thereasa.

"And the thruth shall set you free"

Saysame, JR

PS: Violence against children widely accepted: U.N. study

R-22 Religion - a state of mind -Spirituality - a state of being.

2006-10-12T17:17:00.001-04:00

Religion is a state of mind, while Spirituality is a state of being.

Hi everyone,

To understand the significance of that statement you need to ask yourself a question. What would you think or believe if you were not "taught" your religion and what love is or is not? To do that, you need to wipe out; erase your mind of all the things that you have been told by your religion or by other religions, and then ponder who and what you really are and what love is. Once your beliefs, your (state of mind) are gone, you are left with your "I am" presence, your spiritual essence and state of being. This state of being is totally opposite from your state of mind as it is "felt" and is without definition, limitation, rules or conditions.

All religions have definitions, rules, limits, controls and conditions to function and operate and are therefore conditional love. When you no longer buy into these beliefs, you are free and empowered. If you're a Christian, are you limited and controlled by the beliefs of a Buddhist or Taoist? Of course not! You might not even know what they are so you are "free" of their "control" because it's not what you have learned and been made to accept as real and the truth for you. It's not a part of your state of mind.

Children are not born with their religious beliefs, they are taught them and it depends in what country and nationality as to what these religious beliefs might be. The same child, born to Muslim parents, but then adopted by Christians, would most likely be brought up to be a Christian and to have Christian values because that would be what the child would be taught. Religion is not who or what you are, but by its mind control, defines what you believe you are and what love and truth is.

The older you get, the deeper you slide into the quicksand of your beliefs that you accept as truths. The same old record and program is played over and over again, deepening what you believe is your faith, but in reality is only false beliefs and judgments. Now you are so entrenched and confused that you fight to hold onto the old beliefs even if they are dragging you to your death.

How can you ever find the unconditional love and truth you seek when all you've ever known is love with conditions, which is what you've been taught experiencing only fleeting moments of unconditional love before you are snapped back by your denials? Again, it's a state of mind, your beliefs, that cause you fear what you do not know. As long as you accept your beliefs as truth, nothing will change. For things to change, you need to be open to challenge your beliefs, not defend them. If you believe that your religion and beliefs are unconditional love and truth, they will withstand any challenge. If they don't, then you need to ask yourself why are you are justifying and defending them? I leave you with this food for thought.

Saysame,
JR

R-21 Pope says he condemns use of religion for hate.... Yet Religious leaders spread Hatred....

2006-10-12T14:15:00.001-04:00

Pope condemns use of religion for hate
VATICAN CITY -
Pope Benedict XVI met Thursday with representatives of a Jewish group and said that religion should never be used to justify hatred and violence......The comments came a month after Benedict's speech at a German university sparked anger in the Muslim world when he quoted a medieval text that characterized some of the Prophet Muhammad's teachings as "evil and inhuman" and called Islam a religion spread by the sword......The aim of such dialogue, he said earlier in the speech, is "to build relationships not just of tolerance but of authentic respect."

Abraham Foxman, national director of the ADL, said his group supports Benedict's desire for honest interfaith dialogue, particularly when it comes to relations with Muslims....."If we really feel our faith is the only one that is right, how can we still have dialogue? The answer is that we must believe we have a truth, not the truth. As long as we believe that we can respect other truths," Foxman told The Associated Press in a telephone interview after the meeting. "This is the dialogue we need to have, both Jews and Christians, with the Muslims."

************************ Says a me Comments ****************************************
Defination: tol·er·ance (tol'?r-?ns)
n.
1) The capacity for or the practice of recognizing and respecting the beliefs or practices of others.
2) Leeway for variation from a standard.
3) The permissible deviation from a specified value of a structural dimension, often expressed as a percent.
4) The capacity to endure hardship or pain.

The Popes comment on tolerance is used to confuse, befuddle, deny and cover up what is really not accepted or tolerated. If one already had these qualities that they profess they have....... then why must they make it a conscious effort to practice them... they should be as natural as breathing... Saying you have tolerance and respect doesn't mean that you have... it just means that you want the other person to believe that you have these qualities... The real agenda behind the lie is that you want them to accept your lies and denials as truth... Because if they accept them, then they give up their power, because they know you're a liar, but since they give you the benefit of the doubt, they also give up their their truth, their power...

Foxman's comment, "If we really feel our faith is the only one that is right, how can we still have dialogue?" is also a load of crap... Think about it... If what he was saying was the truth.... then what he's actually saying is that reason he is open to having a dialogue is because he believes that HIS faith is NOT right.... but he twists it around to make it sound like he is open, when in fact... he isn't... Exploring anothers religions beliefs and accepting them as his truth, is NOT part of his hidden agenda

Also note the comment by Foxman, "This is the dialogue we need to have, both Jews and Christians, with the Muslims." It might not be obvious to you... but to me, there is a subtle power play at work... The KEYWORD that leaves no doubt about his intent is the word "both"...refering to "Jew and Christians"....vs "the Muslims"...

AND the Pope says he condems the use of religion for hate!!!!! Give me a break!!! He uses religion to spread hate!!!.

And.. what's also interesting is that to these people that are twisting the truth, are also actually telling the truth, or rather a part truth... They're not saying that it's "in" love... they're saying that it's "in the name of" love. It's all meant to confuse, because if you're confused.. you're also easily controlled and manipulated... and kept in the dark.... ignorant....

It's all word games... and a sham... but to the ignorant, who don't know the difference between "sheep shit" and "chip dip"... they eat this crap up....and not only do they say it's "good"... but... then they also pass it on to get others to eat it... in the name of love.... KEYWORDS... "in the name of"... not "in" love... but "in the name of" love... which really isn't love... it's just using the words to get others to think that it is something that it is not...

Other examples of WORD games; in the name of, in the style of, in the image of, in the likeness of, the same as, similar, like, looks like, sounds like, tastes like, smells like, feels like, etc. They are not the original, but copies, imitations, clones.. Tastes like Coke... but it's Pepsi.... "Looks and feels like leather... but....it's not leather."

Saysame JR

R-20 Pope seeks sheep....lost almost 40 years...

2006-10-11T17:05:00.001-04:00

Pope to ease old Latin Mass restrictions
VATICAN CITY -
Pope Benedict XVI has decided to loosen restrictions on use of the old Latin Mass, a
Vatican official said Wednesday, a major concession to ultraconservatives who split with the Vatican to protest reforms..... The decision is part of Benedict's efforts to woo back Catholics who joined a rebel archbishop in protest over the changes.
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I guess it's never to late for the Vatican to change its mind.... even if it takes some 40 years... If nothing else, it takes the attention of the bad press the Popes been getting recently....

Saysame JR

R-19 Christian Motto: "It's OK it it happens to others.... BUT NOT TO ME !!!!"

2006-10-10T19:43:00.001-04:00

Denmark warns of new cartoon crisis with Muslims
COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Denmark said on Tuesday a new cartoon crisis with the Muslim world could erupt after Danish television stations broadcast footage last week deemed insulting to the Prophet Mohammad......In September last year the Danish daily Jyllands-Posten published cartoons that Muslim clerics denounced as blasphemous, sparking protests early this year in which more than 50 people were killed in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.......

Angry Christians force Slayer album out of India MUMBAI (Reuters) - U.S. heavy metal band Slayer's latest album has been recalled from music stores across India after the country's small Christian community said the cover depicting Christ with amputated arms and a missing eye was insulting......"We took strong exception to the album which is offensive and in very bad taste," said Joseph Dias of Mumbai's Catholic Secular Forum.......

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Hey Christians... chill out... it's ONLY a picture.... don't be so SENSITIVE !!! What were the wise and compassionalte words that you uttered last September when the pictures of Mohammad came out.... Forgive and forget or something pious like that....oh yea, and freedom of speech was another. But now that it's your turn to taste the shit pill... turns out that you don't like it either!!! What can I say that I haven't just said....

Saysame...JR

PS: This religious saber rattling is similar to the political saber rattling presently going on... and it's all escalating...soon, all religions will be going at each other with... "My god is better that your god...or "My god can kick your gods ass."

R-18 Anglican Church facing splits

2006-10-08T13:12:00.001-04:00

Archbishop raises idea of split

The Anglican Church could be split into different sections in a bid to resolve the row over homosexuality, the Archbishop of Canterbury has said.

Analysis: Anglican schism nears realityThe decision by Anglican leaders to ask North American Churches to withdraw from a key body for three years appears to buy time to resolve the divide.

However, it is widely seen as a victory for the traditionalists...in a key passage, the communique says: "We request that the Episcopal Church (USA) and the Anglican Church of Canada voluntarily withdraw their members from the Anglican Consultative Council for the period leading up to the next Lambeth Conference" [the 10-yearly meeting of all Anglican bishops, due next in 2008].

R-17 Conflict between Church and State

2006-10-08T12:10:00.001-04:00

Pope urges couples to back family values

VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI spoke in support of Christian marriage and traditional family values on Sunday, urging couples to resist modern cultural currents inspired only by a search for happiness and pleasure....."There is a need for families who won't let themselves be swept away by modern cultural currents that are inspired by hedonism and relativism," the pontiff added...

The Vatican also has consistently criticized movements in Italy and other countries that call for legal rights for unmarried couples as an attack against the traditional family..... and have legalized same-sex marriage laws the church firmly opposes.

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Church and state fighting over who has control of the individual and the masses. According to the Church, the sanctity of marriage is supposed to be a Holy union between man and woman, yet why does one need a (State) licence to get married and even more (State) paper work to get divorced. And look at all the (state) paper work you have when you are married. Why does one need to be married in a church... Why does one need to be "so-called married to do or have what so-called married people do or have. Why is there all the legal paper work after a union splits up? Religion believes that following its beliefs and values will ensure a proper and lasting relationship while the State thinks that legislation and social laws will ensure proper conduct and lasting relationships.

Both are screwed!... as neither have worked or will ever work... To have a loving and working relationship, there has to be love present... And Love isn't something that you are taught, either by a religion or by a State... it is something that you feel... BUT.. that's also screwed up as what we feel isn't always what we think it is....To know what love is.. we also have to know what love is not... and we can only do that by ending our denials. "And the truth shall set you free"

Saysame
JR

R-16 When is the truth....not the truth? When it's a lie!

2006-10-07T10:03:00.001-04:00

Vatican document on limbo might be ready

11 VATICAN CITY -
Vatican theologians are leaning toward revising centuries-old teaching that babies who die without baptism go to limbo instead of heaven, officials said Friday......Although Catholics have long believed that children who die without being baptized still have original sin and are thus excluded from heaven, the church has no formal doctrine on the matter, Vatican officials have noted

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Limbo... according to Catholics, is the temporary home of the souls of good people who have died... but... just weren't good enough to go to directly to Heaven and are now awaiting the Resurrection of Jesus to decide their final fate. The word limbo also refers to where unbaptized children go, who die in infancy without having committed any personal sins, but without having been freed from original sin, which apparently only basptim had the power to do.

Question is.. if there is no longer going to be a limbo for children that die before being baptised.. does that also mean that there is no longer going to be a limbo for the souls of good people who died but did not go to Heaven.....And, does that mean that baptism isn't all that it's made out to be? And what does that say about ORIGINAL SIN...??? And ....if one Church Law is wrong... doesn't that also imply that other laws can also be wrong? And if the ones presently changing the law are right, just and holy...what does that say about the ones that originally wrote the law... that they were un-just and un-holy? Or, are the ones that are now trying to change the law wrong, un-just and un-holy? In either case... what does that say about the Catholic Chruch? What does that say about the bible? What does that say about religion(s)?

A lie always changes... the truth is what it is... "Food for thought"

saysame
JR

R-15 Widening influence of Christian based Television Evangelists

2006-10-06T11:41:00.002-04:00

'06 Oct 06 >>> Poll: Pentecostals widening influence (Picture - Benny Hinn) NEW YORK - A new 10-nation survey of Pentecostal and charismatic Christians, considered the fastest-growing stream of Christianity worldwide, shows they are deeply influencing the Roman Catholic and mainstream Protestant churches and are poised to make a big impact on global affairs.....

The study also found that followers are more willing than previously thought to bring their traditional values into public debates, potentially shaping government policies in the years ahead >>> Researchers polled both Pentecostals, who form their own denominations such as the Assemblies of God, and charismatics, who have adopted some Pentecostal beliefs but remain members of traditional Protestant and Catholic churches.

R-14 Unlocking the power of the internet

2006-10-04T09:46:00.001-04:00

The media, TV, radio and newspapers gather mountains of information but they never pursue it. Today’s news is for today and then it’s forgotten and becomes old news, and who’s interested in hearing “old” news? We forget important events and issues as they’re not followed up, or maybe that’s the plan…. Although we get information from the media, it’s the individual’s ability via the internet to not only pull all these events and issues together, but to also save and instantly recall all data and reference links, and then to also be able to instantly share this information with anyone in the world that is connected to the internet… As we pull this information together and record all these events and issues, we begin to see the underlying pattern of what’s really going on that those in the news would like us to forget. Before the internet, there was no real means to gather the facts and to instantly share them with the world on a personal level as I am doing now.

For instance, take this blog where the current focus is on the Pope. With the help of the internet, I can not only read, see and hear what the media is reporting, but I also have access to related topics or articles. Now I can take these seeming un-related events and in organizing them, see that they are not un-related, but are in fact part of a piece of the puzzle of a much larger picture that the media has some how forgotten or is denying pursuing on purpose.

In the matter of a couple of weeks, I have been able to gather a mountain of undeniable evidence portraying the Pope and the Church for what they really are. That without the Internet, all these events, issues and situations would have been swept under the carpet, but now the ugly reality is beginning to be exposed. Look at this Blog and tell me that the Catholic Church isn’t corrupt? Well... you can if you’re in denial, but I’m not going to debate your denial beliefs. While the Pope is the one that is presently in the headlines, this corruption is in every religion as none “walk their talk” and will say one thing and do another.

I knew that the Catholic Church was evil and corrupt when I was seven years old; from mind numbing indoctrination, intimidation and guilt laden rhetoric, to the awareness of sexually abused choir and alter boys, pregnant nuns, and culminating with the excommunication of me and my family when I was thirteen years old. These personal experiences were only strengthened by what I heard, saw and read in the media in later years, but that somehow were never followed up or investigated. It was as if evil had the power to quash anything that would cause it to disclose the truth that they, so vehemently hid and denied. Why? For power and control... because if the truth were know, would people still follow and serve the Church?

Throughout the years, while no longer personally and directly subject to their abuse, I’ve continued to witness it and when I’ve expressed my truths I’ve been chastised and poo-poo’d by Catholics, as being wrong, angry or unable to forgive and forget. By starting my Blog and recording the present media coverage on the internet, I can now express and share my truth with not only one person, but with the world. And in expressing my truth, of what I already know, combined with what is in the media, I can help expose the denied evil and unlovingness for what it really is. Not that I can, or even want to bring them to so-called legal justice, but my intent is to simply make others aware of the truth, a truth that WOULDN”T GO AWAY, and then, it’s up to each person to make up their mind as to what is the truth for them. Do they still want to cling to their old imprints, programs and beliefs, or …. are they now beginning to see things in a different light are are getting fed up with all the BS that they've been eating up like candy?

Denying the truth doesn’t change the truth, just your perception of it.

With experience comes understanding and knowing, and in the applying of that which you know and understand comes wisdom and new experiences.

R-13 Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger a.k.a. the enforcer a.k.a. The Pope - named in child sex abuse cover-up

2006-10-01T19:41:00.001-04:00

Bishops condemn BBC abuse claim '06 Oct 01 The Catholic Church has accused a BBC documentary of a "deeply prejudiced attack" on the Pope over claims of a systematic cover-up of child sex abuse......Panorama examined a document which allegedly encourages secrecy in dealing with cases of priests abusing children.....It says this was enforced by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger before he became Pope.

'Misuse of the confessional' The document called Crimen Sollicitationis was written in 1962 and apparently instructed bishops how to handle claims of child sex abuse......Programme makers asked Father Tom Doyle, a former church lawyer who was sacked from the Vatican for criticising its handling of child abuse, to interpret the document. He said it was an explicit written policy to cover up cases of child abuse, which stressed the Vatican's control and made no mention of the victims...... The Catholic Church said the document was not directly concerned with child sex abuse, but with the misuse of the confessional.

Sex crimes and the Vatican A secret document which sets out a procedure for dealing with child sex abuse scandals within the Catholic Church is examined by Panorama..... Crimen Sollicitationis was enforced for 20 years by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger before he became the Pope....It imposes an oath of secrecy on the child victim, the priest dealing with the allegation and any witnesses...... Breaking that oath means excommunication from the Catholic Church.

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What can I say, the pile just keeps getting higher? I just had a thought..... Wouldn't it be ironic if the Vatican excommunicated the Pope? Hmmmmmm..... "food for thought"

JR

R-12 Ahhh! but it feels so much better to recieve..

2006-09-30T10:07:00.001-04:00

Priests accused in $8 million church theft
MIAMI (Reuters) - Two Roman Catholic priests allegedly misappropriated more than $8 million from their church and spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on real estate, travel, rare coins and girlfriends, police in Florida said on Friday.
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More twists and turns are being exposed on the denied and corupt dark side of religion... Although most of these posts have been related to Catholics... they apply equally to ALL religions... It's just that each religion does it in a slightly different manner, depending on their beliefs, customs and traditions...

JR

R-11 the UGLY, the BAD...side of... the GOOD?

2006-09-29T12:27:00.001-04:00

Pig's head dumped outside mosque at start of Ramadan

LONDON (AFP) - Police have revealed they were investigating the dumping of a pig's head outside a mosque on the first full day of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan....The head was found outside the Jamia Mosque in Newport, southeast Wales, on Saturday. The Koran strictly forbids Muslims to eat pork.

"There is a good and bad in every community and I believe we have some young fanatics who could take this the wrong way," he said...... "It is a very sensitive time for Muslims and since 9/11 we are facing a lot of problems which are unwanted.

R-10 Foot in Mouth disease..

2006-09-29T09:35:00.001-04:00

Vatican envoys urged to work for freedom

VATICAN CITY - The Vatican's new secretary of state urged diplomats Friday to work for religious freedom everywhere, touching on a sensitive issue between the Holy See and some countries, including Muslim ones, where people are not allowed to worship freely......

Two weeks ago, Pope Benedict XVI angered many Muslim religious and political leaders with a speech that quoted a Byzantine emperor who characterized some of the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad as "evil and inhuman," particularly "his command to spread by the sword the faith.".....

Why do I say "Foot in Mouth disease"... look at the first paragraph and at what they imply....but don't say outright.... they are attacking Muslims again.. by saying that muslim countries don't allow people to worship freely...

R-9 R.E.S.P.E.C.T. what does it mean to me?

2006-09-28T20:37:00.001-04:00

Pope: Tolerance must be based on respect
Pope Benedict XVI, who has been harshly criticized by Muslims for remarks about Islam, said Thursday that true tolerance must be based on respect and the Catholic Church is not trying to forcibly instill its message....."For this reason, the encounter with others must be marked by tolerance and cultural openness," the pope said. "True tolerance always presupposes respect for the other, for man, who was created by God, whose existence was wanted by God."

Church removes Zambia archbishop...Pope Benedict XVI has excommunicated a Zambian archbishop, Emmanuel Milingo, two days after he ordained four married men as bishops.....A Vatican statement said he had been automatically excommunicated under church law because of his actions....
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R.E.S.P.E.C.T. what does it mean? Well if your the Pope, it means... "How other people are supposed to treat their fellow human beings... BUT, then the good old "not withstanding" clause of the Golden Rule comes into play here, as he, nor the institution of the Catholic Church has to abide by the same definitions and rules that apply to others...... How ironic is it that he can pompously and piously professes R.E.S.P.E.C.T. for others, yet fails to do the same for those ordained within his very Church.....

He's still trying (KEYWORD - trying) to talk his way out....but he can't... as he's way too deep in denial...

JR

R-8 Pope goes to highest power

2006-09-27T23:00:00.001-04:00

The Pope calls to the highest power in the land
'06 Sept 27 UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The Vatican used the stage of the United Nations on Wednesday to try to make amends for remarks by Pope Benedict that drew fury from Muslims worldwide.

The pope has faced persistent criticism despite four attempts to make amends, without actually apologizing directly, for a speech he gave on September 12 in his native Germany..... His last effort was in Italy on Monday when he spoke to diplomats from some 20 Muslim countries plus leaders of Italy's own Muslim community.
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Ever since the Vatican tossed up the shit and the Pope turned on the fan, the Pope and Vatican have tried their damndest to convince Muslims... and the world that they are right, even thought the Pope adamantly claims that what he said is not what he thinks or believes....and the Vatican backs him up... Dah? Today...frustrated that Muslins and quite a few "other" people... are not accepting their "non apology" rhetoric, the pope and Vatican, called upon the sympathies and compassion of the highest toothless power on Earth, the pretentious United Nations (Big Boys Club --- Select Members Only) to spread the word that it's OK to accept mis-information and lies from people that have hidden agendas but deny they do... The pope felt that he was coming to the right place for that and....to his credit... he was in good company today.

But hey... don't forget... this is also a political move on the part of The Church as The Dalai Lama scores points yesterday...... so why not kill two birds with one stone...

PS: The views expressed in this post do not reflect my personal thoughts or opinions. They are just words meant to provide information and to be used as a filler for this blog... :)

'06 Sept 28 Hey...they heard me Call to overhaul Security Council heard
UNITED NATIONS - Amid the vitriol and accusations, leaders at this year's General Assembly meeting sounded the same note: The U.N. Security Council doesn't represent our interests anymore, and it must be reshaped to reflect the world of 2006, not 1945, the year it was created.

R-7 Dalai Lama now shows his hand

2006-09-27T12:00:00.001-04:00

06 Sept 26 > Dalai Lama: Too many lives lost in Iraq >>>LONG BEACH, Calif. - The Dalai Lama said Tuesday that violence in Iraq has cost too many lives and soured his view of the U.S.-led war.

>>>> While the Dalai Lama appeared to focus on the "political" US/Iraq conflict, there was also the obvious but unspoken (denied) reference to the controversy going on with the Pope (Christian Catholics) and the Muslims. I'm sure that the Dalai Lama now feels it's right time to come out as the SMILEY "good guy" and get his digs in and score brownie points. Same basic peace message rhetoric as the Pope... but promoting his religious point of view... Same shit....different fan.... lets see where this blows to.

saysame...
John

R-6 Pope has new plan to avoid telling the truth.

2006-09-27T11:44:00.001-04:00

'06 Sept 27 > Pope says tourism can promote dialogue > Pope Benedict XVI said Wednesday that tourism should help different cultures bridge gaps and promote dialogue between people..... "I hope that tourism will increasingly promote dialogue and respect between cultures, thereby becoming an open door to peace and harmonious cohabitation," Benedict said.

Maybe his holiness should take his own advice and get of his holy ass and do more sight seeing to bridge his own cultural gap....It's Ironic that the pope is now asking for public support to take the pressure of what he couldn't or rather... wouldn't do, that being to personally apologize for his hate comment.... It's the same old rhetoric and the same old "Golden Rule"....Do unto others as you would have others do unto...(preaching Peace and Harmony) and.."do as I say, don't do as I do"

Yadda, Yadda, Yadda, I'm getting tired of hearing all this bullshit, aren't you? I Hummmm? Well ... maybe not... if you're a "good" Catholic, then right now you're pissed off with me and calling what I'm saying bullshit.... :) I said that and then I thought to myself, am I really tired of hearing it? Yes and no. "Yes" in that it's all I've ever heard in some form or another and, 'No" because I'm seeing it unravel in a way that it never has before... and I'm also recording it so it's easy to show and tell...

R-5 Oh Oh! ---- Trouble in Paridise

2006-09-27T11:42:00.001-04:00

'06 Sept 26 Oh Oh! Trouble in Paridise > Vatican sexcommunicates Zambia archbishop >>>The Vatican, accusing Milingo of "sowing division and disarray among the faithful," The Vatican also said that Milingo violated church law when he created an association of married priests and when he celebrated Mass with married clergy.
'06 Sept 26 >Mexico cardinal denies protecting priest accused of rape and molestation Cardinal Norberto Rivera on Sunday urged a Mexican priest charged with raping and molesting children to turn himself in but denied accusations that he helped protect the fugitive......Similar suits have cost U.S. Catholic dioceses an estimated $1.5 billion, alarming church leaders worldwide......Church officials in Los Angeles also have denounced the legal action, saying it is baseless.

R-4 Pope plays politics

2006-09-27T11:40:00.001-04:00

'06 Sept 23 Religion and Politics... (Bed-fellows) Evangelical voters more jaded in 2006 > Christian conservatives, traditionally a reliable Republican constituency, aren't necessarily a GOP gimme this time around.

'06 Sept 24 > Cat Stevens criticizes pope over Islam comments...In an interview with BBC television, Islam (Cat Stevens) said that he went to a Catholic school, "so at one point I used to believe that the Pope was infallible." But he added that the pope's comments on Islam showed he was fallible,

'06 Sept 25 > Pope says 2 faiths must overcome enmity Benedict...has not offered a complete apology as some have sought....His five-minute address Monday at a meeting with 22 foreign diplomats and representatives of Italian Muslim organizations ..was called "mainly political" intended to improve relations with Muslim states......Fahmi Howeidi, a liberal Islamic writer in Egypt, said that since the pope did not apologize, protests may continue.... "The people that were convinced he was against Islam are not going to change their minds,"

R-3 Pope selling.... Muslims not buying...

2006-09-27T11:38:00.001-04:00

'06 Sept 19 Muslims want further apology from pope....."We firmly ask the Vatican Pope to offer a personal, public and clear apology to the 1.5 billion Muslims in this world."

'06 Sept 20 Pope says anti-Islam quotes not his own views...."The Pope says it does not express his views. So what are his views?" said Mohammed Habib, deputy head of the influential group. "He must say these views (in the quotes) are incorrect."
Attempted assassin warns Pope against Turkey visit

'06 Sept.22 Thousands rally against pope in Mideast

R-2 Pope claims "diplomatic immunity"

2006-09-27T11:34:00.001-04:00

'06 Sept.18 The Pontiff said on Sunday he was deeply sorry Muslims had been offended by his use of a medieval quotation on Islam and holy war. But he stopped short of retracting a speech seen as portraying Islam as a religion tainted by violence.
Al-Qaeda threatens jihad over Pope's remarks

My question is that if the quotation from a medieval text, does not in any way express the personal thoughts of the Pope or Vatican, then why in the hell did he say them? Dah! I don't believe for one moment that he is ignorant and would recite words that mean nothing. I do however believe that he is now trying to feign ignorance, knowing full well what he was saying but now that the shit has hit the fan, he is piously trying to claim papal diplomatic immunity.

That also brings up another issue. Why is he the pope? I thought that the Pope was Gods infallible spokesperson on Earth though the Church? Is this how God speaks through him? Sounds like he's in league with, and listening to someone other than God, as God would have know how these words would affect Muslins and would not have said them... not because they would offend some Muslims...but because they were unloving and said with unloving intent. It's all beginning to fall apart.....

R-1 True Colours - Shit hits fan

2006-09-27T11:29:00.001-04:00

Remarks by Pope Prompt Muslim Outrage, Protests

The pope began his lecture at the University of Regensburg by quoting from a 14th-century dialogue between the Byzantine emperor, Manuel II Paleologos, and a Persian scholar. In a passage on the concept of holy war, Benedict recited a passage of what he called "startling brusqueness," in which Manuel questioned the teachings of Islam's prophet, Muhammad. (See third paragraph for quote)

"Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached," Benedict quoted the emperor as saying.
The pope neither explicitly endorsed nor denounced the emperor's words, but rather used them as a preface to a discussion of faith and reason. The Vatican said the pope did not intend the remarks to be offensive to Muslims.
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Hey it's happening... and I think it's great! Why? Because all the self interest corruption, lies, deceit and denials are coming to the surface.... "And the truth shall set you free".... I'd say the Popes speech was along the same lines as Bushs political adgenda, but Bush would have choosen his favorite words like terrorists, axis of evil and weapons of mass destruction.

What has been silently denied for countless centuries is finally being exposed and "the" church (in this case the Catholic Church) is beginning to show its TRUE colours, and NOT what it claims to be. While we (as a society) attempt to separate church and state it is an undeniable fact that they are intertwined and always have been as the very fabric of society and its social structures, even in primitive ones. Everyone has a religious or non-religious belief and if they are in politics or in a place of social power, their beliefs are inevitably part of their political platform.

Throughout history there has been a constant battle between church and state for POWER and CONTROL of the masses and while they may deny and claim that no such power play exists today, that doesn't change the fact that there is. Unfortunately, even most of masses will ignorantly support their political and Clerical leaders denial based rhetoric as they blindly believe that their old customs, traditions and beliefs are the truth and the only way of life.

"Denying the truth doesn't change the truth....just your perception of it." and you can quote me on that.

Thanks for reading my blog and I hope it gave you some
"Food for thought"
JR

NOTE: This blog was originally a post on Saysame (My Blog) on '06 Sept 16 under the title of "True Colours - Shit hits fan"
There were some other media reports on issues with Hindus and Muslims, Hindus and Christians, Jews and Catholics,(re: WWII) Jews and Muslins and also other religions but I let them go as I was posting updates to the existing post on the Pope, but now that I have started a "religion" blog...so to speak.. I'll keep you posted as they pop up.. and of course... give you my point of view :) <<<<