We at Scripturelink.net would like to wish our news sections' readers a blessed All Hallows Eve- and then a Blessed All Saints Day- tomorrow.
All Hallows Eve, or Halloween- is the Eve (day before) of All Saints Day.
Both are good days to pray for the faithful departed!
Marc Aupiais
"Oct. 29 (Bloomberg) -- Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi may face the biggest challenge from Catholic voters since he entered politics in 1994 as his sex scandals alienate some values voters and opposition Catholic leaders unite.
“The Catholic vote had been dispersed, but it could carry more weight if they all get back together,” Antonio Noto, director of Rome-based IPR Marketing, said in a phone interview.
The Christian Democrats dominated politics in a country where more than 95 percent of the population is Roman Catholic until a corruption scandal led to its dissolution in 1992. The remnants of that party are now attracting other Catholic opposition politicians and values voters who are abandoning Berlusconi after a series of sex scandals."
(Bloomberg (Secular; Independent; American) 29 / 10 | October / 2009
"Millions of children trick-or-treating this Halloween in the United States will be toting little donation boxes, asking for money for the U.N. Children’s Fund to help poor children of the world.
What they don't know is that they will be helping to fund abortion, contraception and sterilization programs in the Third World.
So says the National Catholic Register in its Oct. 22-29 edition. It highlighted the lesser-known work of UNICEF, which is famous for providing food, water and basic medical care to children in the developed world.
Controversy simmering in El Salvador this month over a sex-education program sponsored by UNICEF is adding to what critics say is an anti-family, pro-abortion image of UNICEF foreign aid, the Register said.
Archbishop Fernando Saenz Lacalle of San Salvador has from the pulpit denounced a 170-page sex-education booklet designed by UNICEF and El Salvador’s Ministries of Health and Education for training adolescents on sexuality issues including contraception, homosexuality and abortion, the Register reporter."(EWTN (American; Catholic; Independent), Article by Zenit News Service (American; Catholic; Independent) 23 / 10 | October 2000)
"There's good news and bad news for Disney! Arguably, their biggest star, pop princess Miley Cyrus is wearing the "Worst Celebrity Influence" tiara. The 16 year old got 42 percent of the vote by voters aged 9-15 years old in a new poll by AOL's Just So You Know (JSYK.com). (Miley did take second place, with 16% of the vote in the "Favorite Female Artist" category behind Taylor Swift.) Ironically, after being named "Best Celebrity Mom" earlier this month in a different poll, Briteny Spears took second place as the "Worst Celebrity Influence."
Seventeen year old Selena Gomez, helps save the Disney name however, being named "Best Celebrity Influence" in the first ever JSYK Awards. Gomez, who also won for "Favorite Female Television Star" was recently named the youngest UNICEF ambassador."(Examiner.com (Secular; Independent; American) 28 / 10 | October / 2009)
As editor of South African Catholic, I admit- I am an evolutionist, and the facts in this article, seem to be the same facts creationists have spewed out for years- motivated by some desire to prove a younger Earth- possibly. When the pope had discussions on Evolution, creationists were notably and seemingly purposely excluded.
The church has largely taken the side of mainstream science. Granted, it did that against Galileo- when his views contradicted those of the science of the time, but that was prior any solid proof- that the Greek system (not the biblical system) was wrong about the planets. As for me, I am still on the side of evolution.
Zenit, however, is a top news service, and of note. According to them, some members of what I personally consider the "other side", think they have disproven evolution.
Zenit writes:
"After a year of conferences celebrating the 150th anniversary of Darwin's 1859 book, "On the Origin of Species," a Nov. 9 conference is planned to provide empirical proof to debunk evolution.
Rome's Pope Pius V University will host the daylong conference that will present a scientific refutation of evolution theory.
Peter Wilders and H. M. Owen, organizers of the event, told ZENIT that the conference is aimed to "stimulate debate among scientists" and that it is particularly geared to university students."
Being young, they have less built-in resistance to new data that conflicts with establishment dogma," a statement from the organizers explained.
"Darwinian evolution has become the accepted paradigm of the scientific community," they noted.
"New research data that challenges that paradigm is automatically rejected for philosophical rather than scientific reasons.
"Results of recent empirical research published by scientific academies refutes the basic principles of the geological time-scale. It reduces the age of rocks and therefore the fossils in them.
The theory of evolution is undergirded by both the time-scale and the age of fossils.
"This evidence from sedimentology harmonizes with the latest findings in genetics, paleontology, physics, and other scientific disciplines. The implications of this research are fatal for Darwinism. [...]""
October 26th 2009 -
Zenit News (Independent; Catholic; American)
http://www.zenit.org/article-27351?l=english
I guess we shall see after November 5th- don't expect any miracles, I certainly don't. Then again I think evolution a miracle.
My comments here are of course opinion. I have often used Genesis in an attempt to debunk creationism, and have enjoyed seeing friends abandon the young earth theory. That said, anything is possible. This is a note, not an article. If it turns out creationism is scientifically correct, so be it. Evolution is only a good theory.
What are your views?!...
As a Catholic, one has three choices- Marriage, Single life, or consecrated life.
This is because Jesus said- some become enuchs for the sake of the gospel. This despite that becoming an enuch (the cutting off of a part), accompanied direct exclusion from Israel, as something wrong.
Saint Paul said that a man with a wife, must focus on her and God. He is her head (that is her support, not her mind, despite the regular misquote made), he is to please her, and God.
The priest must focus only on God.
Most of us plan to enter married life sometime in the future, but some choose single life, or consecrated life. The priest, like the single individual- has no place being anything but celebate. His hands hold God, and give us the Eucharist.
The Mail and Guardian (Secular; Independent; South African; Liberal / leftist) is claiming that the Catholic church may need to evaluate the celebacy of the Latin Rite / Mainstream Catholic church after deciding to accept Anglican Priests into the communion, including married ones.
There are 23 rites in the Catholic church, 22 of them rejoined after leaving.
The practice of accepting the married Anglican priests into the Church is centuries long, not new, and last we checked over at South African Catholic- these married priests have to remain celebate in their marriages.
This is why one should rather read BBC [British Broadcasting Corporation] (Secular; Governmental; British; possible bias on environmental issues, slightly liberal) on Catholicism, or another more accurate source.
Even us independent Catholic news services, some of whom are more accurate, because of the specialisation!
I personally am in the midst of examinations at the moment, so from my part of the service- I may not post or post timeously while my varsity exams are on. I apologise for the inconvenience.
Marc Aupiais
With both sides stressing that this was a good move, and the British Catholic church ("Vincent Nichols, the Archbishop of Westminster and head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales") noting it was not a criticism of Anglicanism...
In what is being noted as a response to many requests- the Vatican has launched a new document- which will see more traditional Anglicans able to easily convert, keeping many structures, and their own bishops, while candidates for priesthood from that background, would be studying alongside mainstream Catholics, and priests would be being included by already current age-old traditions:
"VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Benedict on Tuesday took a major step to make it easier for disaffected Anglicans who feel their Church has become too liberal to convert to Roman Catholicism.
The move comes after years of discontent in some sectors of the 77-million-strong worldwide Anglican community over the ordination of women priests and homosexual bishops.
While both sides stressed the step would not affect dialogue between the two Churches, it was clear it was taken because of the growing number of Anglicans who want to leave their Church.
The Vatican said the Pope had approved a document known as an “Apostolic Constitution” to accept Anglicans who want to join Catholicism, either individually or in groups, while maintaining some of their own traditions.
It marks perhaps the clearest and boldest institutional step by the Vatican to welcome disaffected Anglicans into the fold since King Henry VIII broke with Rome and set himself up at the head of the new Church of England in 1534.
The new structure allows for the appointment of leaders, usually bishops who will come from the ranks of unmarried former Anglican priests, to oversee communities of former Anglicans who become Catholics and recognise the pope as their leader.
“In this way, the Apostolic Constitution seeks to balance on the one hand the concern to preserve the worthy Anglican liturgical and spiritual patrimony and, on the other hand, the concern that these groups and their clergy will be integrated into the Catholic Church,” the Vatican said. "
Euronews (Secular; Independent; French), article by Reuters (Secular; Independent; French)
20 / 10 | October / 2009
http://www.euronews.net/newswires/40473-pope-approves-document-on-anglicans-joining-church/
"[...]about 50 protesters gathered outside Parliament's main gate in Plein Street, Cape Town, at noon on Sunday, calling for rising food prices to be checked.
Among other things, the group called for the nationalisation of basic food production, including milk and bread.
The protesters, from the Congress of SA Trade Unions, the Black Sash, the Children's Resource Centre and the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace, displayed posters proclaiming: "Fight hunger - demand food security for all".
[... the memorandum was] addressed to President Jacob Zuma and Agriculture Minister Tina Joemat-Petterrson [...]"
(IOL's the Star (Secular; Independent; South African) story by SAPA (Secular; Independent; South African) 18 / 10 | October / 2009)
Article by Marc Aupiais
We believe what keeps us alive. We believe that politician will change it all, that judge is just, voting won't make a difference, we are better off than before?
We believe that they are altruistic, or that we did it all on our own. We believe what gets us high marks, what makes them our friend. We believe what we need to believe, what of truth?
We believe that news, because it has paid off to believe. We believe it Christ, because we must to survive?
Indeed, we must believe in Christ. But truth is not pragmatism.
I believe what I need to believe to survive, but not because I need to believe it, but because I know what we really need to believe.
Torture can aim to brainwash- in the Taming of the Shrew- the sun is the moon, the moon: the sun. A Man is a woman, for anothers voice says he is- and then he is what he was said not to be- it is so?
What we need to believe to live- is not that which others say to believe. What we need to believe is the truth, however harsh.
Truth has a sense within, deep inside- we know it is so.
I believe in God- because it is logical, in Christ- because it is so.
We need to believe truth to survive. Anything else we believe must not be out of fear. We must know and prepare for the consequences of no prior saying yes, and vice versa.
We may need to enter heaven as a little child may- but a little child hearing truth, and an adult hearing truth, true logic- both use all their wits.
This is why I preach intuition, dynamic conscience. If one believes, they must believe emotionally beyond cognitive recognition, if they desire to conquer sin and persevere. For this- they must know themselves, for in this we become close to the God who made our souls of truth.
To simply believe some priest or person, does not make it so. To believe what society says, does not make it so. To believe what we once thought but never knew..?
We must love God with heart, mind, body and soul- not in any wrong way- but with every yet every molecule.
To do this, we must know ourselves, our truth.
To truly know God- is to understand truth, self. Our soul- is the logical truth within the being which contain our destiny and connects us with God. Let us not destroy it. Rather- we must pray and find who we are before any other's identity matters.
We can only save others if we save our self first.
"WEEKLY ADDRESS: President Obama Calls Hails Progress on Health Insurance Reform Despite Defenders of the Status Quo
WASHINGTON – In his weekly address, President Barack Obama praised the progress that has been made on health insurance reform, and spoke out against those who defend the status quo in order to score political points and protect their profits. With reform the closest it has ever been to becoming law, the insurance companies are rolling out deceptive ads, paying for misleading studies, and flooding Capitol Hill with lobbyists. Now, Washington needs to serve the American people, not the special interests."
(White House (US Presidency; American; Governmental) 17 / 10 | October / 2009 )
"Of course, like clockwork, we’ve seen folks on cable television who know better, waving these industry-funded studies in the air. We’ve seen industry insiders – and their apologists – citing these studies as proof of claims that just aren’t true. They’ll claim that premiums will go up under reform; but they know that the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office found that reforms will lower premiums in a new insurance exchange while offering consumer protections that will limit out-of-pocket costs and prevent discrimination based on pre-existing conditions. They’ll claim that you’ll have to pay more out of pocket; but they know that this is based on a study that willfully ignores whole sections of the bill, including tax credits and cost savings that will greatly benefit middle class families. Even the authors of one of these studies have now admitted publicly that the insurance companies actually asked them to do an incomplete job.
It’s smoke and mirrors. It’s bogus. And it’s all too familiar. Every time we get close to passing reform, the insurance companies produce these phony studies as a prescription and say, "Take one of these, and call us in a decade." Well, not this time. The fact is, the insurance industry is making this last-ditch effort to stop reform even as costs continue to rise and our health care dollars continue to be poured into their profits, bonuses, and administrative costs that do nothing to make us healthy – that often actually go toward figuring out how to avoid covering people. And they’re earning these profits and bonuses while enjoying a privileged exception from our anti-trust laws, a matter that Congress is rightfully reviewing.
Now, I welcome a good debate. I welcome the chance to defend our proposals and to test our ideas in the fires of this democracy. But what I will not abide are those who would bend the truth – or break it – to score political points and stop our progress as a country. And what we all must oppose are the same old cynical Washington games that have been played for decades even as our problems have grown and our challenges have mounted."
(White House (US Presidency; American; Governmental) 17 / 10 | October / 2009 )
"
Notre Dame Pays Student Expenses to D.C. March for Gay ‘Marriage’The University of Notre Dame gave financial assistance to five students to participate in Sunday’s national gay rights demonstration, which was organized in part to advocate homosexual “marriage,” a campus newspaper has reported.
The “National Equality March” on Sunday, October 11, in Washington, D.C., was sponsored by Equality Across America, which aims to build a national grassroots network asserting homosexual couples’ “right to marry” as well as other demands. The Catholic Church believes that marriage is possible only between a man and a woman.
“Faithful Catholics will ask whether Notre Dame has learned its lesson from the scandalous commencement ceremony last spring,” said Patrick J. Reilly, President of The Cardinal Newman Society. “What university seeking to reassure families of its Catholic identity would pay for students to attack the family and oppose Catholic teachings on marriage?”
Students from Notre Dame’s Progressive Student Alliance (PSA) petitioned the Student Activities Office and were granted funding to travel to and participate in the demonstration. The Notre Dame students marched two miles across D.C. and then joined gay rights activists for a Capitol Hill rally.
The president of the Progressive Students Alliance told The Observer, “The fact that we were University-approved was surprising but it was a wonderful surprise. The University hasn't always been entirely receptive in the past.”"
(Cardinal Newman Society (Independent; American; Catholic; Watchdog Organization) 13 / 10 / 2009)
"For nearly 30 years, you've advocated on behalf of those without a voice. That's not easy. For despite the real gains that we've made, there's still laws to change and there's still hearts to open. There are still fellow citizens, perhaps neighbors, even loved ones -- good and decent people -- who hold fast to outworn arguments and old attitudes; who fail to see your families like their families; who would deny you the rights most Americans take for granted. And that's painful and it's heartbreaking."
(See What We See News And Archive 12 / 10 / 2009)
"The Philippines director of the Columban missionaries, Father Pat O'Donoghue, said Father Michael was "robust for his age" but had undergone a heart bypass operation four years ago.
"The concern that I would have is that if he does not have his medication this would be very serious thing for him, especially given the shock," Father Pat told the PA news agency.
"It must be a very shocking thing to find yourself bundled into a car and taken away.""
(BBC [British Broadcasting Corporation] (Secular; Governmental; British / (UK) United Kingdom) 12 / 10 | October / 2009)
"Rome, Italy, Oct 12, 2009 / 01:33 pm (CNA).- The semi-official Vatican daily, L’Osservatore Romano, has called the decision to award President Obama with the Nobel Peace Prize premature and more of an invitation to choose peace through politics. The award is also questionable because of his position on various bio-ethics issues, especially abortion.
The article points out that “the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Barack Obama has taken everyone somewhat by surprise, first and foremost the U.S. president himself.”
“During the last 90 years,” L'Osservatore noted, “the prize has never been awarded to a sitting U.S. president—when it was awarded to Jimmy Carter in 2002 he had been out of office already for some time—[but was] involved in politics and susceptible, therefore, to making a range of decisions related to peace.”
Perhaps for this reason, the newspaper said, “Analysts have almost unanimously interpreted his selection as a way of pressuring Obama to make pacifist choices as his administration continues forward.”
L'Osservatore also questioned the administratoion's actions in Iraq and Afghanistan, saying that the decisions seem aimed at trying to find a middle way between “fidelity to the pacifist statements made during the campaign season and a more realistic policy, which some have defined as a continuation of that of the ‘warmonger’ Bush.”
This back-and-forth policy, the paper observed, is very similar to the approach that Obama has taken to “the great bioethics issues, with abortion being first and foremost.” His way of doing things has generated great controversy among Catholics in the country, the daily added.
The Vatican newspaper also brought to mind Mother Teresa being honored with the Peace Prize in 1979, and said, “Obama ought to recall that in 1979 he was preceded by Mother Teresa, who had the courage to state in her acceptance speech that the harshest war with the greatest number of ‘fallen’ is the practice of abortion, legalized and facilitated as well by the international structures.”
Pointing out an inconsistency, L'Osservatore noted that Pope John Paul II was a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize for year but was never chosen for the award, not even in 2003 “after his condemnation of the war in Iraq.”"(Catholic News Agency [CNA] (Catholic; independent; American) 12 / 10 | October / 2009)
"Rome, Italie, Oct 12, 2009 / 01:33 pm (CNA) .- Le quotidien semi-officiel du Vatican, L'Osservatore Romano, a qualifié la décision d'attribuer le Président Obama avec le Nobel de la paix prématurée et plus d'une invitation de choisir la paix par la politique. Le prix est également contestable en raison de sa position sur différentes questions relatives à la bio éthique, en particulier l'avortement.
L'article souligne que "l'attribution du Prix Nobel de la paix à Barack Obama a pris tout le monde par surprise, d'abord et avant tout le président américain lui-même."
"Au cours des 90 dernières années," L'Osservatore noté, "le prix n'a jamais été attribué à un président américain salon quand il a été décerné à Jimmy Carter en 2002, il avait été au pouvoir pendant un certain temps déjà, [mais] impliqué dans la politique et susceptible, par conséquent, de prendre une série de décisions relatives à la paix. "
Peut-être pour cette raison, le journal a déclaré: «Les analystes ont interprété la quasi-unanimité sa sélection en tant que moyen de pression sur Obama pour faire des choix pacifiste alors que son administration continue à avancer."
L'Osservatore également mis en doute les actions du administratoion en Irak et en Afghanistan, disant que les décisions semblent visent à essayer de trouver une voie médiane entre «la fidélité aux déclarations pacifistes durant la saison de campagne et une politique plus réaliste, que certains ont défini comme une continuation de celle du «faiseur de guerre 'Bush".
Ce va-et-vient politiques, le document fait observer, est très similaire à l'approche que Obama a prises pour «les grands enjeux de la bioéthique, l'avortement étant d'abord et avant tout." Sa façon de faire les choses a suscité une grande controverse parmi les catholiques dans le pays, ajoute le journal.
Le journal du Vatican a également apporté à l'esprit Mother Teresa être honoré du Prix de la Paix en 1979, et dit: "Obama doit de rappeler qu'en 1979, il a été précédée par Mother Teresa, qui a eu le courage de dire dans son discours d'acceptation que le plus dur de guerre avec le plus grand nombre de 'Fallen' est la pratique de l'avortement, légalisé et facilité aussi bien par les structures internationales. "
Soulignant une incohérence, L'Osservatore noté que Pope John Paul II était un candidat pour le Prix Nobel de la paix pour l'année mais n'a jamais été choisi pour la récompense, pas même en 2003 "après sa condamnation de la guerre en Irak". "(Catholic News Agency [CNA] (catholique, indépendant; américaine) 12 / 10 | Octobre / 2009)
New Constitutional Court Judges for South Africa, could change the interpretation of law:
According to the office of the Presidency, of the Republic of South Africa, President Jacob Zuma has appointed 4 new judges to the constitutional court, who were set to take office today, according to the release:
"President Jacob Zuma has in accordance with section 174(4) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa [This is their claim, not our service's, as with all the claims quoted here], appointed the following judges to the Constitutional Court:
· Judge Sisi Sibongile Virginia Khampepe
· Judge Christopher Nyaole Jafta
· Judge Johan Coenraad Froneman, and,
· Judge President Mogoeng Thomas Reetsang Mogoeng
The four retiring Justices are:
· Chief Justice Pius Langa
· Justice Yvonne Mokgoro
· Justice Kate O’ Regan
· Justice Albie Sachs
On the 1st of October 2009, President Zuma announced the appointment of Justice Sandile Ngcobo as the new Chief Justice of South Africa, Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo assumes office on Monday 12 October 2009.
[...]
The newly appointed judges assume office on Monday 12 October 2009.
ISSUED BY THE PRESIDENCY ON 11 OCTOBER 2009"(The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa (Secular; Governmental; South African) 11 / 10 | October / 2009)
In South Africa, the Chief Justice is appointed by the presidency, the other judges are appointed by the President of the Republic from a list offered by the JSC (Judicial Service Commission), on which the presidency has a voice via proxy, on the body which also includes representatives of the legal profession. In South Africa, as elsewhere, the appointment of judges is seen as a political matter.
Refugees warned not to return to the DRC:
According to the United Nations (UN) News Center, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Friday warned 2 000 (Two Thousand) Congolese situated in Burundi, not to return to their home in the DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo / DR Congo), reportedly due to security fears:
"The latest warning from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) follows an incident yesterday when more than 400 Congolese from the recently closed camp in Gihinga, central Burundi, were stopped from entering their country by DRC immigration officials.
“UNHCR has repeatedly urged the refugees not to go back to their native South Kivu province in DRC for the moment, stressing that that under the prevailing security conditions neither the Government authorities nor UNHCR would be in a position to guarantee their safety on return,” agency spokesperson Andrej Mahecic told a news briefing in Geneva.
DRC immigration services said their actions were based on security concerns for the group. The refugees had boarded 11 trucks provided by Burundian government yesterday morning, leaving behind another group of some 500 refugees waiting for their turn to go home. When they reached the border they found it closed and the Burundian authorities took them back to Gihinga.
The refugees are being provisionally sheltered at the former camp, in classrooms and a health centre, waiting for the outcome of discussions between the Burundi authorities and DRC officials, who were expected to arrive in Bujumbura, the Burundian capital, today.
The refugees are being cared for by the Burundian agency responsible, Office pour la Protection des Réfugiés et des Apatrides, which is distributing food and water provided by UNHCR and high protein biscuits provided by the UN World Food Programme (WFP).
The Congolese denied access to their country are those who earlier refused to relocate to the newly established Bwagiriza camp in eastern Burundi, claiming their security would not be guaranteed there. Bwagiriza camp is presently sheltering some 1,200 mostly Congolese refugees, including 599 who voluntarily transferred from Gihinga earlier this week."(United Nations News Centre (Secular; United Nations; International) 09 / 10 | October / 2009 )
The Eastern Congo, remains a high alert area of the war torn Central African country.
Svetlana Medvedev, Russia's first-lady (The wife of President Medvedev), according to Russia's presidency, took part in the consecration of a Russian Orthodox church, that of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, situated in Sestroretsk which is in the Leningrad Region of Russia. Sestroretsk is reportedly situated nearby St. Petersburg.
Considering that the religious building was build nearby a spot, where Czar, "Peter the Great"/Peter I had launched what the presidency called his "lurking vessel", an early submarine vehicle, the Russian first lady used the opportunity to commemorate the deaths of sailers in Russian service. She also handed over a 18th Century icon of the two Apostles.
According to the Russian Presidency: Russian Orthodox Patriarch, Kirill, presided over the consecration of the church, which included a memorial to sailors in the wall. Also present were:
"[Russia's] Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov, [... their] Commander in Chief of the Navy Vladimir Vysotsky, St. Petersburg Governor Valentina Matvienko, the leaders of organizations [... which donated] funds for the construction of the temple, as well as residents Sestroretsk."(The Kremlin / Russia's Presidency (Secular / Associated with Russian Orthodox Church; Governmental; Russian - quote is a translation from the original Russian into English) 11 / 10 | October / 2009 : view English Google Translation)
The Russian Orthodox Church remains in a centuries old schism with the Roman Catholic church, despite warming of relations between the two recently, and speculation since the election of Kirill as Patriarch. While Russian Orthodoxy, is taught in public schools in Russia, Catholicism is not. Those Eastern Orthodox Christians not associated with the Roman Catholic Church, generally believe it is acceptable to make icons of saints, but not statues of them. The Russian Orthodox Church has in the past been perceived by some: of having close ties to the Russian government, something some hope Kiril may someday, prevent.
American President Barack Obama's press office has released their notes of his speech to what they note as an organisation promoting the interests of "gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender" persons. The US President claimed:
"For nearly 30 years, you've advocated on behalf of those without a voice. That's not easy. For despite the real gains that we've made, there's still laws to change and there's still hearts to open. There are still fellow citizens, perhaps neighbors, even loved ones -- good and decent people -- who hold fast to outworn arguments and old attitudes; who fail to see your families like their families; who would deny you the rights most Americans take for granted. And that's painful and it's heartbreaking. (Applause.) And yet you continue, leading by the force of the arguments you make, and by the power of the example that you set in your own lives -- as parents and friends, as PTA members and church members, as advocates and leaders in your communities. And you're making a difference. "(White House / US Presidency (Secular; Governmental; American; Occupied by the left leaning "Democratic Party") released 10 / 10 | October / 2009 )
President Barack Obama was speaking to an organization called the "HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN", where he claimed that their mission was to promote "human rights".
Barack Obama supports Abortion, late Term Abortion (where a child is likely to live if extracted by Caesarian Section), and the prevention of medical resources for survivors of abortion. Prior his election, he is reported in media as having made several promises to Abortion firm, Planned parenthood. He additionally supports homosexual marriage. For his stances on these issues, many Catholics, including a large number of US (USCCB) Catholic bishops, are very concerned over his presidency.
Top UN official notes that Afghanistan election was "fraudulent":
While claiming that there are mechanisms in place, to ensure the "will of the people", top UN (United Nations) envoy to Afghanistan, Special Representative: Mr. Eide, admitted to the existence of alleged widespread election fraud, alleged fraud long reported on by the like's of Britain's BBC (British; Governmental; Secular). The United Nations (UN) News Centre, notes that Mr. Eide, has been accused of showing bias towards encombant transition president: Hamid Karzai, this by the UN's own former Deputy Special Representative, Peter Galbraith, Eide's former deputy.
Eide is quoted by the UN News Centre as saying:
"“I have spent all my time over the last weeks for one purpose – and that is to bring this election process forward. That’s been a difficult process, marred by so many problems, not least, as you know, by widespread fraud. So it’s not been easy and that has been my only focus,”[...]
“It is important to bring this country through this process and to continue this process of installing democracy in Afghanistan,” [...]
“I believe that the institutional framework we have created – whatever its weaknesses and those are weaknesses we recognize – I understand well that these institutions would, in the end, be able to remove fraudulent votes and honour valid votes,” said Mr. Eide.
“We are now at a critical juncture,” he stated. “We have put very solid mechanisms in place to ensure that those steps are taken correctly, and that the result reflects the vote of the Afghan people.
“And I do believe, therefore, firmly, that when the result is being certified it will be a result being made on a solid basis and that should be acceptable to the Afghan people.”"(United Nations News Centre (Secular; United Nations; International) 12 / 10 | October / 2009)
The UN itself did not count votes, this was done by an allegedly "Independent Election Commission" (IEC), set up for the task.
Hamid Karzai's government, has caused discontent among some, after his government passed a law- permitting men to deny their wives food, if they did not please them sexually. The United States of America, and its coalition allies, had been hoping that the election would feed legitimacy to their military campaign in the Middle Eastern nation. Requests for more troops by its top commander in Afghanistan, seem to suggest that their mission has yet to succeed in any substantive way.
Senior UN envoy to Iraq concerned over election laws:
"The senior United Nations envoy in Iraq has voiced concern about the country’s election laws, saying they lack clarity just three months before parliamentary polls are slated to be held.
Ad Melkert, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and the head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), issued a statement yesterday in which he called on Iraq’s Council of Representatives to revise the legal framework for the elections.
“Holding parliamentary elections on 16 January appears to be something that is strongly desired by the people of Iraq, will be a vital milestone for Iraq’s democratization process, and called for by the Iraq constitution,” he said, according to a press release issued by UNAMI in Baghdad."(United Nations News Centre (Secular; United Nations; International) 12 / 10 | October / 2009)
The issue may cause concern, after the outcome of the Afghanistan election recently.
I have always admired Saint Damien because of his overwhelming love and work to help people that were so badly treated by society in
This island is very primitive and almost a hidden secret from the outside world still today. The place I am speaking of is Kalaupapa which is tucked away on the nearly inaccessible, rugged corner of
In 1865 this island was chosen by King Kamehameha V as an appropriate place to house or let leprosy patients live out their lives, they were literally just dropped off there and abandoned. Kalaupapa is best known for the work of Father Damien DeVeuster, known as “the Martyr of Molokai”. This serene place became a natural prison because of its high sea cliffs that surround it and near impossible accessibility in or out of it.
Father Damian who volunteered in 1873 to serve this leper settlement temporarily but once he arrived he remained. The people he encountered were desperate for help. He himself contracted leprosy in 1884 and remained in Kalaupapa. He died of leprosy at the age of 49, after spending 16 years of his life aiding the patients of Kalaupapa.
Patients who contracted leprosy, Hansen’s disease were immediately sent or taken from their homes for fear of spreading the infectious disease. In the 1800’s there was no medical treatment of it and patients were sent to the
Today many who visit Kalaupapa by plane, mule or boat are stunned with its beauty; there is little there, a store, a bar, a service station and a small post office, their homes and a hospital. Once all the lepers have passed away the National Park Service will take back this oasis and it will no longer belong to the State Department of Health. It is the right (law) of patients (leprosy) to remain there for their lifetime by Federal Law.
Since 1964, sulfur drug treatment has controlled leprosy also knows as Hansen’s disease and in 1969 patients were no longer confined to the settlement and were free to come and go as health permitted.
Also canonized Zygmunt Szczesny Felinski, archbishop of
Dominican friar Francisco Coll Guitart, one of two Spaniards created a saint, preached in
The other is Brother Rafael Arnaiz Baron who became a Trappist monk and died at the age of 27 in 1938. He “did not know how to pray” when he began monastic life but became an example “especially for young persons who are not easily satisfied”, the pope said.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/pope-canonizes-five-new-saints/article1320170/
"VATICAN, October 9, 2009 (CISA) - The reality of political violence in [parts of] Africa hit the ongoing Synod in Rome in its first week when a Congolese bishop-delegate was forced to cut short his participation and return home following attacks at a parish where priests were taken hostage.
The Synod is discussing justice, peace and reconciliation in Africa.
Archbishop François Xavier Rusengo [Archbishop François-Xavier Maroy Rusengo] of Bukavu in the war-torn eastern DR Congo [Democratic Republic of Congo] told the [Special] Synod [for Africa] that uniformed men last Friday burnt down one of his parishes, attacked priests and took others hostage. The archdiocese had to pay a huge ransom for release of the hostages.
'Through these acts, it is the Church, remaining the only support for a terrorized, humiliated, exploited and dominated people who they would reduce to silence. Lord, may your will be done, may your kingdom of peace arrive', the Archbishop said on Tuesday.
The Synod issued a statement of solidarity with Archbishop Rusengo and the Christians of Bukavu, and expressed the hope that reconciliation and the Good News of the Gospel, as we are reminded during these days of Synod reflection, may be welcomed as the path shared by all to accomplish conditions of human life founded on the values of justice, reinforced by peace, which is a gift from God.
At the same time, the Synod called on the government to do everything possible to bring back order in justice to establish and guarantee peace, necessary for a normal life of the dear population."(CISA [Catholic Information Service For Africa] (Catholic; Independent; African [Continental]) Friday 09 / 10 | October / 2009 ;)