Tuesday 31 August 2010

Catholic Bishops oppose anti-journalists' interests law



(Southern African Catholic Dispatches)

Article by Marc Aupiais

Feel free to discuss this press release here:

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A press release our service verifies has passed our verification process as from the SACBC:

"Protection of Information Bill: Statement by Cardinal Napier

The Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference has serious concerns about the wisdom and the constitutionality of the Protection of Information Bill currently before Parliament, as well as about the need for the establishment of a Media Appeals Tribunal.

The Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) shares the views of numerous civil society groups and reputable constitutional experts, that the Bill threatens some of our most fundamental rights:
a) The right to receive and impart information;
b) The right to a free press and media;
c) The right of access to information held by the state, and
d) The right to administrative justice.

Furthermore, we believe that the Bill violates the spirit of openness and accountability that is so necessary to underpin the Constitution’s provisions on good governance, essential for a healthy democracy.

Our concerns include:
i) that virtually any information is liable to be classified as secret by officials who are themselves not accountable to the public;
ii) that the definition of national interest and national security are so broad that they could be used to keep secret matters that ought by right to be accessible to the public;
iii) that there is practically no right of appeal, as any appeal would be processed by the very people who made the original ruling.

We certainly do not want government to take us back to the oppressive practices of yesteryear, against which our common struggle was launched.

We accept that some degree of restriction of information is both legitimate and necessary. However we have grave misgivings about the way it will be done, particularly since it risks fostering or even entrenching a culture of non-accountability and non-transparency among state officials at all levels.

We, therefore, strongly urge government to withdraw the Bill for complete redrafting to ensure that the openness and transparency required by the Constitution and demanded by a clear majority of informed civil society organization and legal experts are adequately built in.

Finally, it is in this context that the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference calls on government recognize that there is already an efficient Media Ombudsman in existence. There is merit in proposals to strengthen the Ombudsman’s role in enabling the media to regulate itself. We believe that the proposed measure will give this instrument sufficient muscle to satisfy complainants.

Cardinal Wilfrid Napier OFM
Archbishop of Durban
Spokesman for the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference"
Press release emailed out today by the SACNC (Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference)
31 / 08 | August / 2010 : received at 14:27 GMT+2: "Protection of Information Bill: Statement by Cardinal Napier"



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Climate change panel more feels than science- UN review suggests



(World Tainted Green)

Article by Marc Aupiais

For source quotes and analysis see

SACNS Quotes Analysis

Climate (gate) panel needs serious changes- review states the obvious:MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 2010

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The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which controversially shared the Nobel Prize, with former US Vice President Al Gore, has been slapped with an UN requested review. Al Gore whose climate change documentary "An Inconvenient Truth" has since been found to hold faulty science, such as in the Hockey Stick Graph, has also recently come under heavy scrutiny, causing two major sources of press releases and information on Climate Change theories to have been called into question. An in-house United Nations (UN) review of practices of the IPCC, has called for clear procedures, shorter terms, a formal structure, more scientific methods, and other procedural and structural changes. It especially asked for strict procedures on conflicts of interest.

Scholarly concerns about vagueness of guidelines on source materials were also cited.

Investigations by the British press, have found that the IPCC:


  • - has cited an unpublished study to claim that natural disasters were caused by alleged climate change, the study changed its finding before being published, under peer review.
  • - cited an article on deforestation, to claim that climate change would affect forest growth, when the paper dealt clearly with direct deforestation and not the affect of climate on trees.
  • - Quoted a press release by the WWF (World Wildlife Fund), an environmental special interests promotion group, as a source.
  • - Quoted a hiking magazine on glaciers.
  • - Referenced a local Indian magazine, which quoted a scientist as saying that the glaciers of the Himalayas which support one billion people, would disappear by the year 2035:
    • -- an incorrect statistic, but reportedly correctly attributed to the scientist,
    • --however, the IPCC, attributed the article to American magazine New Scientist, instead of local Indian press.
      • ---The given scientist seemingly has an interesting monetary relationship to the climate change enriched IPCC chair Rajendra Pachauri.
  • - Admitted in response to them that the Himalayas glaciers will not disappear by 2035, according to scientists, the Himalayas ice won't even disappear by 2350.

While the University of East Anglia, at the centre of what media labelled Climate Gate for lack of imagination:


  • - has admitted, in response to an Access to Information request that its temperature data, which through years of study is said to show an increase in global temperatures, does not exist: rather, the original data was tossed years ago when the Climatic Research Unit (CRU) moved building decades ago. The data from around the world, was homogenized: adapted due to how it was collected, in accordance with the bias of those homogenizing it.

    • --Thus, the greatest body of proof of rising temperatures, correlating with carbon levels in ice caps, cannot be verified by independent review.
  • - has come under fire, along with global scientists connected with the IPCC, for emails, which the Daily Mail alleges were likely hacked by Chinese government hackers, which reportedly show conspiracy to skew the peer review process, and prevent any scientific scepticism from being published.

One estimate has about 75% of scientific papers supporting the theory that climate change is majority caused by greenhouse gas emissions, while about 25% cite other possible alternative causes.

Some sceptics cite the theory of natural causes, relying on historic records, to claim that during the Middle ages, Europe was much hotter than today. Others link rises in temperature to the sun. When Galileo Galilei, first spotted "sun spots", this was followed by a period when there were none for years, and by a reduction in global temperature by about 2 percent, causing some to fear that astronomical or solar events may be partially responsible for claimed rises in temperatures. Other sceptics have pointed to a lack in rises in temperatures over recent years.

Sceptics, in comparison to deniers, are scientific in nature, these are mostly the sort who would prefer additional research be done both into the claims of a strong Greenhouse Effect, and into alternative theories, to strengthen or show false the currently weakened case that certain gases have a greenhouse effect on a planetary scale.


Another possible cause cited is urbanization, which upsets natural soil environments, which have different claimed effects on local temperatures, as well as the effect of concrete and steel and glass on temperatures. While the effects on carbon dioxide in the lab on a small scale are indisputable, it is still not confirmed what effect slight additions to the carbon dioxide on the global scale have.

It is this bundle of questions, which have caused politicians to shy away from any drastic action on climate change, accompanied with the secretiveness and political language of the climate change movement. The politicization of climate change, as a platform for the far left, including those supporting reductions in human population, and those advocating taxes on rich nations to support poorer nations, has also given those who choose not to act further ammunition.

Projects such as one by the European Union, seemingly to study global temperatures and ice bodies, and other more modern projects, may start to rebuild the case for anthropological climate change theory. However, the damage done by the IPCC, and by individuals such as Al Gore, is very serious. Links between the head of the IPCC, which really is an informal committee set up to aid climate treaties; and his massive consulting business ventures have also not helped. That Al Gore, whose Inconvenient Truth movie was widely publicized by enviromentalists, inconvenient: was his movie's incorrect portrayal of climate data, has also been substantially enriched by his views.

While climate change research has been pushed back to its infancy by revelations of lost data, and of politicization, if the new UN recommendations are implemented, and implicated scientists replaced, much can be done to encourage action on possible climate ramifications.

The UN review, which focussed on procedure not function, according to French Government service AFP, called the IPCC largely successful.







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Monday 30 August 2010

Nobel Prize winner, Barack Obama defends environmentally shameful oil policies

Article by Marc Aupiais


Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy


Speaking to NBC Nightly News, in the occasion of a speech he gave to New Orleans, commemorating the disastrous response of George W. Bush to the Katrina hurricane disaster, Barack Obama took the opportunity, to justify his response to the Oil leak, noting: that the burning of oil, etc had prevented it from coming ashore, and fully defending his and BP's response.

According to British service Reuters, and those concerned with oceanography:

"The Exxon Valdez accident in Alaska in 1989 spilled around 10 million gallons.

Simon Boxall, an expert at Britain's National Oceanography Center who has helped analyze various major oil spill cleanups, said several detailed experiments had been conducted since the Exxon Valdez spill, looking at areas that were left alone, as well as at areas cleaned up chemically or mechanically.

"The chemically cleaned up areas have taken the longest to recover and they are still damaged," Boxall said. "The areas that were left alone actually recovered much quicker."

Some 10,000 people were flown in to deal with the Exxon Valdez spill, and Boxall said scientists now wondered whether the "cleanup town" that grew up around it caused more environmental damage than the oil itself.

Christoph Gertler of Bangor University, who has been studying various potential bacterial remedies for oil spills, said reports by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration suggested that dispersants were "changing the nature of the oil in a very unfavorable way," making it more difficult for naturally occurring marine bacteria to break it down.

Boxall said it was important to remember that oil coming from the BP well was a light crude that would break down and evaporate fairly quickly when it came to the surface.

He said there were three golden rules of oil spills:

"The first is don't spill it in the first place: the second is, if you do spill it, try and pick it up as quickly and easily as possible," he said. "And the third is that in the open ocean, the best thing to do is leave well alone. Unfortunately, politically that always looks like a cop-out."

Scientists agreed that the wetlands of Louisiana were the most sensitive areas at risk, but said that here again a light touch might be the safest solution.

"The more delicate an area is -- and many of these areas around the Gulf coast are very delicate -- the more significant is the risk of making things worse by acting," said Preston. "A rather gung-ho attitude to the cleanup could end up doing more damage than if it had simply been left alone.""
Kate Kelland, Health and Science Correspondent of Reuters (British Based; Independent of the government; Secular/general interests coverage) Editing by Maggie Fox and Tim Pearce of the same service
28 / 06 | June / 2010

Obama shelved regulations which would have insured stricter control of drilling. BP, was not itself responsible for the oil spill, although legally it likely is, rather, a foreign firm it sublet to was the one which was in control of the vessel at the time of the disaster. The US president then attempted seemingly unsuccessfully for a moratorium on drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, despite the local economy being reliant on the oil industry, the other major industry of fishing, having been destroyed by the oil spill and human interventions.






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Friday 27 August 2010

Fw: A Scary Silence: $9,250 Needed in 6 Days

We don't need donations- but a service we often rely on does:



From: "CatholicCulture.org" <mailings@catholicculture.org>
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2010 20:27:44 -0400 (EDT)
To: <>
ReplyTo: "CatholicCulture.org" <replies@catholicculture.org>
Subject: A Scary Silence: $9,250 Needed in 6 Days

A Scary Silence: $9,250 Needed in 6 Days

Dear Mr Aupiais,

The appeal I sent out yesterday brought in only $243, the worst response we've ever had.

I'm still hoping that we'll receive critical support over the next few days so we can avoid closing down CatholicCulture.org. I assure you that this is not fund-raising jargon. Our current deficit makes it an unfortunate possibility.

If you value what we do, please help us.

Unfortunately, we can't continue unless we can come at least very close to paying all our bills at the end of the month, including all of our salaries: We need $9,250 to do that.

I am asking you to stand with us in our mission of enriching faith, strengthening the Church, and forming Catholic culture. Together we can make a difference to the 2.5 million persons who use CatholicCulture.org around the world.

First, I beg you to pray for our success.

And then I ask you to make whatever contribution you believe God wants you to make.

That's all that matters, really. God will certainly bless you for your generous response to whatever He prompts you to do!

Thanks!

Jeff Mirus
President
Trinity Communications

www.CatholicCulture.org - Email: contact@catholicculture.org

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[Sent to ]

Become a part of the SACNS experience

Article by Marc Aupiais

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Monday 23 August 2010

The Strikes contravene the public interest- RSA Bishops

(SACNS Africa; Social Justice South Africa)

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Article by Marc Aupiais




For our source quotes, analysis, and additional information, please see:

SACNS Quote Analysis:
South African Bishops claim that state doctors', teachers' strike contravenes the public interest


A protest action over pay and benefits by public service unions, including unions consisting of educators at state institutions, as well of healthcare professionals, who are employed by the state, was the receiver of recent statements of disagreement from the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference, the official Vatican endorsed Catholic bishops' conference for South Africa, and neighbouring nations. The SACBC media unit contacted our service, and other media earlier today via email, as is verified by our internal systems, so as to allow our service access to their opinions, which they inform us are also aired on their official website.

Cardinal Wilfred Fox Napier, of the Archdiocese of Durban who lists himself as the SACBC spokesperson, who our service verifies is a former head of the regional organization, has stated his view that some of those seemingly partaking in protest actions have prevented doctors, students and teachers from free access to healthcare and education facilities, in some instances, and has claimed that such reported actions contravene the public interest and human special interests, such as the general allowance, in South African law to primary, as well as secondary education, and healthcare. He stated that the Bishops Conference supported the allowance in South African law for protest action during wage disputes, but that some strikers had affected negatively the ability of other individuals residing in South Africa, to further their own interests, such as the achievement of primary, or secondary education, or the accessing of health services, and may have affected the interests of those who are less able to make a living, and those with fewer means at their disposal. Military medical units have been sent by the state to state healthcare facilities, according to a number of local media reports.

Cosatu (Congress of South African Trade Unions), a non-parliamentary member of the ruling (ANC) African National Congress's tripartite alliance, was part of general protest action, according to a "No Comment TV" video from independent European Union special interests service, EuroNews, which is connected to a number of European state broadcasters, and has an official contract with the European Union to air certain programs. Mine workers, have also been on strike according to text on video sharing site YouTube below the "No Comment TV" video by EuroNews.

South Africa has a history of violent and controversial protest action, those not partaking in some protest actions have in the past been reported in local press as having been intimidated to join protest action, or having been injured.

The recent protest action, has accompanied reported intimidation of other individuals by individuals partaking in the general protest action. Local media has claimed that some students in a less affluent area had allegedly assaulted a group of educators who were partaking in the protest action, via stoning. Stoning is a common form of vigil-ante behaviour in South Africa, where victims often do not survive the process.

There have been allegations of obstructions of ambulances, and some students have been advised that if they attend school, they should do so without wearing any form of identifiable school uniform. The president of the republic has been reported recently in local media as disapproving of the actions of strikers.

A number of deaths have been reported, allegedly due to the actions of strikers, and police have reportedly used rubber bullets, in accordance with usual police policies involving crowd control. Police and state agents, have been deployed to certain areas according to local media, reportedly, in order to address security, health and human special interests which could have been affected by the protest action.

Sunday 22 August 2010

Murmurs, lies, holocaust reduction check: but is a recent newsletter by SSPX Williamson, a hint that reunification with Rome is on the horizon for the infamous fraternity

(SACNS Europe; Tridentine South Africa)

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Article by Marc Aupiais

For our source quotes, analysis, and additional information, please see:

SACNS Quote Analysis:
Murmurs of a separatist - SSPX Bishop alleges that Rome will accept their schism back

A recent newsletter sent out by Bishop Richard Williamson, of the SSPX, has raised eyebrows, suggesting that he may be reacting to a possible coming reunification with Rome.

Some context

The SSPX is a group which broke off from the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church through the consecration of four bishops, not authorized by the Holy See, including Williamson, by the late Archbishop Lefebvre, as the leaders of their Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X (FSSPX/SSPX) in 1988. The consecration saw Lefebvre, and his four bishops excommunicated. The SSPX believes that the Second Vatican Council, was not infallible in moral and doctrinal matters. It opposed the translation of the Catholic Latin Rite Mass into colloquial languages. According to the Vatican, all priests in the said priestly organisation, are in schism.

Recently, as part of negotiations with the fraternity, the Vatican official applicable, lifted the excommunications automatically incurred by the four leaders of what the Vatican sees as the SSPX schism. Just before this, an interview by a television station, conducted with Williamson was aired, in which he portrayed the Holocaust against Jews in World War II by the National Socialists of Germany, as much less than that believed to have occured by mainstream historians, and war records. In his view, the holocaust was only a minor event.

The bad publicity received by Rome, due to his interview, being released, caused an international storm, which Benedict XVI, was himself hit by, through choosing to take the full blame for the actions of the bishop, who lifted the excommunications, of the said SSPX four, as part of negotiations.

Traditionalist Catholic, and Latin Mass special interests coverage service, Rorate Caeli, has now released a copy of Williamson's recent newsletter, which besides its negative portrayal of the Vatican, suggests that seemingly because Benedict XVI will likely die soon, as the schismatic against Rome suggests, most popes do: that the Pope will pass over many doctrinal differences, and on condition the SSPX accept the Catechism of the Catholic Church, allow the group's members back into the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic church. Williamson, like many SSPX members, believes that Vatican II, considered infallible on morals and doctrine by the mainstream Catholic Church and hierarchy, has no legitimacy, and is heresy.

The logic of the SSPX bishop is highly flawed, but given the fact his holocaust denial interview was aired just before the excommunications were lifted by the bishop in charge of negotiating with the SSPX (contrary to media reports, Benedict XVI is not the negotiator, it is a bishop assigned the task), it may be possible that the SSPX bishop, is attempting to stifle an agreement his fellow bishops have made with Rome.

Italy: Interior Minister's statements against legitimate immigrants on welfare are unacceptable according to the Italian Bishops

(SACNS Europe; Social Justice South Africa)

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Article by Marc Aupiais

SACNS Quote Analysis:
Italian Bishops oppose throwing out EU immigrants who rely on benefits- Italy
And : Interior Minister from federalist party, not that of Berlusconi - Italy

Italian Interior Minister Roberto Marconi (EuroNews spelling- seems incorrect) (Minister Roberto Maroni), of the Lega Nord Padania federalist party, which is working in coalition with the Popolo della Libertà of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi- has made a statement which has reportedly put him at odds with the official body of Catholic bishops in Italy.  Maroni has called for immigrants in Italy from other European Union (EU) states, who are receiving financial support from the government to survive, during the financial crisis, to be expelled from Italy. The move has upset the Italian Catholic Bishops, according to European service EuroNews, which quotes Giancarlo Perego as representing the Italian Episcopal Conference, to state their criticism of the move, by a minister of Silvio Berlusconi's broad coalition government.

The Catholic Bishops' representative reportedly, has expressed the view, that such a move would cause a societal shift favouring a more nationalist tendency, over one of a more European perspective. The representative stated, seemingly that restricting the movement of Europeans in Europe could have a negative affect on the achievement of a particular vision of the European Union, which the bishops, it seems to be suggested, support.

European citizens are officially welcomed in Italy, which has taken actions against non-European-Union-origin immigrants.

Saturday 21 August 2010

Hung Parliament

Note by Marc Aupiais

In a move that is sure to lead to a remaking of the left- and a re-embracing of the right- Australian elections are resulting in a hung parliament it seems- from the UK Telegraph!

Thursday 19 August 2010

An Archbishop, a Mosque and the New York Mayor


(Catholic Watchdog South Africa)

Article by Marc Aupiais

SACNS Quote Analysis:
The Mosque that divides America

As Europe debates banning Islamic symbols, for the sake of women's, and feminist special interest campaigns, and cultural special interests, America is considering the placement of a Mosque by the September 11 site. The Democratic party, with Islamic constituencies (and two Muslim lawmakers), is taking the gamble of supporting the mosque by what to many Americans is something that has largely seemed to have been seen as a sacred site- a memorial of sorts. A memorial so strong, that it has been the basis of war after war, and the cause of many American deaths, as American special interests are pursued against Islamic special interests group Al Qaeda, and those accused by America of being their allies. Wars on a loose group of alleged allies whom the West has accused of using terror tactics.

Whether the mosque will increase the position of those opposing Islamic special interests, or increase the position of those supporting Islamic special interests, is at the heart of the position of the Catholic archbishop of the area of which it's concerned. In his view, building a mosque by the site, may harm Islamic special interests. He sites a Catholic example, where a Catholic building was not kept, but abandoned nearby a German concentration camp, this out of a view that it was most prudent at the time not to keep the given nearby site for religious purposes. This given the sensibilities, especially due to the positions of some of those promoting Jewish, and other special interests, after the Second World War. Sensibilities which had extended right into 1993, when Pope John Paul II, had the site abandoned.

That is to say


"Speaking during an impromptu news conference at Covenant House, a Catholic shelter in Manhattan for homeless youth, Archbishop Dolan invoked the example of Pope John Paul II, who in 1993 ordered Catholic nuns to move from their convent at the former Auschwitz death camp after protests from Jewish leaders.

“He’s the one who said, ‘Let’s keep the idea, and maybe move the address,’ ” the archbishop said. “It worked there; might work here.”"
JAVIER C. HERNANDEZ, writing for the New York Times (secular; Independent; American; Allegedly promotes Democratic party special interests)
18 / 08 | August / 2010

The Archbishop is referenced by the New York Times, as claiming his feelings on the mosque are not strong, and that he is prepared to mediate for the two sides. New York Mayor, the former Democrat, then Republican, now an independent: Michael Bloomberg, had a Catholic priest standing by him when he stated his belief that the building of the mosque was to be allowed, as a matter of legal rights, according to the New York Times.



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Wednesday 18 August 2010

Hold the presses

Note by Marc Aupiais editor of SACNS

What to publish is always an interesting thought for media. During the passing of the American health reform I held back one of my own stories, shelved it, never printed.

The story was on Bart Stupak, and a questionable connection with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops- of their odd use of him, to front their views, even when the Republican party had the power to do so. It isn't newsworthy now, but surely must play a role.

I should have presented my hours of research on the man- but, for the sake of a cause- the stifling of the legislation I did not.

It is a lesson I have learnt from. It is also responsible for my new more neutral style of writing- and for the creation of some of our other services- such as evidence gathering SACNS Quote Analysis.

I have finally decided to admit to this- that I did not publish when I should have. It makes for a bad editor- but one who has learnt not to misjudge a situation again.

I am sure the paper trail is still available on the USCCB site (and other sources), in addition to my own evidence for those who have an interest.

I am sorry for not publishing that story. It is my job to report the truth- and while I do shelve some huge stories, for the sake of other stories- I had no valid reason to shelve that.

Thursday 12 August 2010

US voters oppose move to allow open gays in US armed forces- latest poll results



(Social Justice South Africa)

Article by Marc Aupiais

For our source quotes, analysis, and additional information, please see:

SACNS Quote Analysis:
US voters oppose open gays in US armed forces- latest poll THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2010
Contrary to polls, by homosexual special interests supporting organisations, a conservative group, opposing homosexual special interests in this case has conducted a poll- this time focused on persons who plan to vote in the upcoming elections (presumably those to replace representatives later in this year)- the results were the opposite of prior polls which did not focus on professed planned voters. Respondents, the conservative pollsters claimed- opposed prioritizing lifting the American ban on homosexuals in the military.

A network of major opponents to a homosexual special interests effort by US President Barack Obama, and Michael D. Palm Center, to legalize service by homosexuals in the US military has conducted a poll of 1000 respondents who claimed they planned to vote in November elections: which could see an end to Democrat majorities in the House of Representatives and the Senate.

The Military Culture Coalition, said that: potential voters nearly unanimously felt that overturning the 1992 law, should not be a focus for the American Congress. Over 50% thought US President Barack Obama was putting political games ahead of principle.

On 9th July 2010, Reuters reported on objections, that those in a group most forcefully pushing the repeal have had, to surveying troops, as to whether they would react negatively, to open homosexuals in the military, calling any survey biased. Center for the Study of Sexual Minorities in the Military is the name the Michael D. Palm Center, once went by: this group is the one which opposes surveys of troops, and is often quoted by secular services.

Section 654, Title 10, is the law in question for repeal. A 2006 poll by those promoting the repeal, found similar results to the current one, with 69% neutral or opposed to homosexuals openly serving in the US military.

Contrary to media reports- "Don't ask don't tell" does not ban open homosexuals, but rather all homosexuals from military service in the United States. However, the system "don't ask don't tell" removed mandatory questions on soldiers' sexual attractions from questionnaires they were compelled to fill out. Whether the system is actually enforced by the Obama administration has come into question, after it emerged that the alleged wikileaks leak- who revealed thousands of US military secrets about war efforts in active war zones- had for a long time served as an open homosexual, and homosexual special interests activist in the US military.

For more information on the history of the debate involving the law which "Don't Ask Don't Tell" relates to, please view our archive article:

Bias in Reuters? :Pentagon says troop survey not biased against gays | Reuters SATURDAY, JULY 10, 2010







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"The end of Catholic Healthcare in Boston": conscience protection of healthcare workers much more likely to end!- critics



(Catholic Watchdog South Africa)

Article by Marc Aupiais

For our source quotes, analysis, and additional information, please see:

SACNS Quote Analysis:
"The end of Catholic Healthcare in Boston": conscience protection of healthcare workers much more likely to end!- say some sources

The Coalition to Save Catholic Health Care, is sending a letter to the pope, in a last ditch attempt, to prevent the sale of what is reportedly the last 6 Catholic Hospitals in Boston, USA: the Caritas Christi hospital system.

Previously Catholic Action League, had lead the charge against yet another sale of church controlled assets, stating that it would end 150 years of Catholic healthcare in Boston, among other concerns. The suggested buyer is secular capitalist firm: Cerberus Capital Management, L.P. of New York, named after the three headed dog, which guards Hades in Greek mythology. There is a contractual clause which demands the retaining of Catholic identity, but this can be done away with should the investment firm decide to pay about 3 percent (%) of the asking price to an approved archdiocesan charity, that is, seemingly if such Catholic identity becomes "unlawful or materially burdensome".

Some of the more outspoken criticisms of the clause come from the Catholic pro-life:

"But we already know that adherence to Catholic moral standards is unlawful for any hospital that participates in the Massachusetts universal health care insurance program (the model for ObamaCare), because the program requires participants to provide abortion, contraception, sterilization, etc. In fact, the archdiocese’s inability to participate in the Massachusetts program is precisely the reason why Caritas is unprofitable and is being sold. So the termination of Catholic standards is inevitable. Why the charade to mislead the public that Caritas will remain Catholic?"
Judie Brown writing for American Life League (Catholic; Independent; American; pro-life) article hosted on Catholic Exchange (Catholic; Independent; American)
12 / 07 | July / 2010

The choice to sell the hospitals to the second major buyer, comes as the hospitals, faced bankruptcy, after refusing to enter a state (not federal) government subsidized system in the state of Massachusetts, in the United States of America, which reportedly would have demanded that they provide contraception, abortion, and sterilization as services.

Critics of the deal, cite the fact that free services to the poor may suffer, as well as services to the mentally ill, and that conscience protection of health workers, and ethical trustworthiness of each hospital may be done away with. A previous deal in attempts to save the hospitals, was walked away from, when it became clear in the opinion of officials that the Catholic ethics of the hospitals would be severely compromised.


Caritas director James Karam, has admitted that he cannot guarantee the investment firm will maintain what would seem to be the archdiocese of Boston's last remaining Catholic hospitals. If this deal does not go through, it is seen as likely, by the archdiocese, that the debt ridden hospitals will soon be forced to close. Their high asking price, likely is due to state and federal investments in healthcare making hospitals more attractive to investors.





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Vatican eyes massive online presence and plans extending existing site



(Media Study South Africa)

Article by Marc Aupiais

Please note that the source quotes, which this article is based on, along with additional information: are conveniently located at:

SACNS Quotes Analysis: Massive Overhaul of Vatican site online: to include many more documents: team of about 20, who bring pope's message to the "extreme ends of the earth" 12 / 08 | August / 2010

Argentine by birth (born in Santa Fe), South American priest, Msgr. Lucio Adrian Ruiz, recently gave an interesting, enlightening and exciting interview to editorially independent Vatican based Italian language paper: L'Osservatore Romano. The Vatican's half million pages are in for a surprise, as the site is redesigned and revamped. The different Congregations of the Roman Curia: that is the Vatican's ministries/operational departments, should each get their own websites soon, more Chinese pages are planned, all major pre-1900 popes are soon to have a voice on the website, in the furthering of Petrine papal teaching, and Vatican diplomatic information is soon to have more space and prominence on the now famous site.

In an interview with L'Osservatore Romano, the Vatican's webmaster notes much, he does not only set out the working structure of the team of about 20 which maintains and updates the Vatican website: part design, part technical, and notes top searches, and when what information is most sought, as well as the Vatican's view that media distorts its views. The former computer sciences teacher, additionally notes exiting additions to the site: such as an updating of diplomatic information, and soon to be available information from the popes prior the 20th century - given that the Vatican had previously only uploaded such documents that were not pre-1900.

The webmaster's team works with Interpol and Italian intelligence in its efforts to protect the official voice of the Holy See online, which has often been targeted by unscrupulous hackers. He also notes that the Vatican first went online in Christmas 1995 with a message from the then Pope John Paul II. Easter 1997, marked the site becoming a more structures orientated website.




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Monday 9 August 2010

Just like Fort Hood: Wikileaks alleged traitor signs were all there



(Catholic Watchdog South Africa)

Article by Marc Aupiais

Like the Islamist special interest cause activist soldiers who detonated bombs against US troops in the mid-east, or the Fort Hood shooter; with the wikileaks fiasco for the US military, the signs were all there:

The alleged leak was reportedly a homosexual (colloquial: gay) special interests activist, who aired publicly, his breaking of US law, in pursuit of his special interests: as a homosexual in the military; and publicly made known his increasingly malcontent style opinions.


"The Wikileaks story is all about revelations. But very few news stories covering that controversy have covered the fuller story. What don’t they want to reveal?

The UK Telegraph shows the clues were there. Right upfront, the Telegraph notes that the prime suspect in the leaks, Pfc Bradley Manning, ‘raged against the US Army and society at large in the days before he allegedly downloaded thousands of secret military documents.’ The logical question ‘what did they know and when did they know it?’ applies.

The Pentagon, which is investigating the source of the leak, is expected to study Mr Manning’s background to ascertain if they missed any warnings when he applied to join the US Army. The postings on his Facebook page are also likely to form part of the inquiry.

That’s more than British understatement. It’s the assumption that information well known in Mr. Manning’s world and publicly available to anyone of interest is finally going to figure into an investigation that should have started many months ago and might have prevented the damage.

Mr Manning, who is openly homosexual, began his gloomy postings on January 12, saying: “Bradley Manning didn’t want this fight. Too much to lose, too fast.”

At the beginning of May, when he was serving at a US military base near Baghdad, he changed his status to: “Bradley Manning is now left with the sinking feeling that he doesn’t have anything left.”

Then he was left by his boyfriend, the article notes, and Manning was “livid.”

His tagline on his personal page reads: “Take me for who I am, or face the consequences!” …

Pictures on Mr Manning’s Facebook page include photos of him on school trips during his time in Wales and at a gay rights rally, where he is holding up a placard demanding equality on “the battlefield”."
InForum Blog by Sheila Liaugminas (Catholic; Independent; American; Conservative)
08 / 08 | August / 2010

Sheila goes on to note how the alleged de jure traitor became more and more frustrated. She also notes, that just like in the case of the Islamist special interests activist who shot up Fort Hood, the whistle blower in this case, had been open in his opposition to the US military, and openly in this case displayed allegedly: conduct which in US law was illegal. "Don't ask don't tell"- simply did away with questions of sexuality in recruitment surveys- required of troops: it did not decriminalize homosexuality in the military. However, no matter the amounts of awards she has won, Sheila misses a point: it was not simply a laxity of enforcement as regards open disobedience against the military via don't ask don't tell defiance.

The US military, like other institutions has vastly neglected the internet. Further, the Fort Hood case, makes it clear: very little at all is enforced by the very lax US military.

For America and its allies: the Wikileaks leak was a terrible scorpion sting against the Achilles Tendon, a tragedy, which aided the rest of the world: in accusations against America for a seemingly dirty war: not that less read media sources weren't reporting on such a war in any case.

The problem with such alleged radicals as this individual- lies not in their sexual orientation: which here is circumstantial, specific to this case, but in their alleged preparedness to destroy structures designed to save lives. The bigger problem, is that once again the US system never caught this individual. This is a problem for America, which has increasingly become more desperate as Obama leads war efforts into ever larger troop deployments.

Then again, this is only a problem for America and its allies: and the man if a traitor: is a traitor against America's military: after all: President Obama: said Wikileaks put American lives at risk: they likely also saved many non-American lives.

And transparency is no absolute virtue.

"Homosexuality" can also be a sign of past trauma- or of identity crises: the second of which may well have been why a soldier would allegedly betray their country for the sake of whatever cause. His alleged treachery against America, has certainly given the rest of the world much to speak of. It may cost American lives, but that is not so much a concern as how America appears to be fighting the war, it would be quite apt for a United Nations investigation to be launched now, as happened against North Korea, when they allegedly shot at a South Korean ship. Accusations of a trigger happy US army, which allegedly carries out many abuses: are certainly noteworthy, if accurate. Treachery is an internal matter for America, what the United States does with their alleged traitors is their business- so long as it is justly handled: this should not detract from the importance of any such accusations, especially if well documented.

What is noteworthy, is that once again, it has been shown: how lax and incompetent US intelligence appears to be. This is no less important than the fact that a basic outline of their war strategy has now been revealed, along with information that America's Islamist special interest cause enemies can now download for free.





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Sunday 8 August 2010

MTV advert public indecency?

(A legal Listening post: Scripturelink legal-listener)

Short note by Marc Aupiais

It started out with a man appearing making bird-like movements- and tweeting like a bird, while moving in different directions, and wearing a suit. Then another man appears- looking the same as the man does.

The other man's pants (British: trousers) fall down as he commits a homosexual act against the other man. Before the MTV logo appears.

This advertisement for MTV Networks Europe- while undoubtedly filled with homosexual special interests, seems hardly appropriate for television- especially as it portrays sodomy- indecent assault, even if it portrayed ordinary homosexual behaviour- it would still be indecent to air where children may mimic sexually explicit behaviour- especially given the 2007 amendment to criminal law- which in my personal opinion- based on a reading of the amendment- criminalises such as displaying pornography to a minor- whether real or simulated!

If MTV cannot broadcast decent content- as this advertisement was broadcast at around 9 o'clock in the morning today- Saturday- then I suggest that DSTV- stop broadcasting the channel to children.

http://legal-listener.scripturelink.net

Thursday 5 August 2010

The anti-traditional family values camp gains 2 victories: Kenyan Constitution, Gay marriage ban overturned in California



(Scripturelink Voter's Guide)

Article by Marc Aupiais

The left, or The Destruction: (the camp of those opposing the status quo and in this case traditional values) as they were known in post-revolutionary France, has gained another 2 victories:

"In the United States, a federal judge overturned California's gay marriage ban yesterday in a case which might end up in the country’s Supreme Court."
Vatican Radio (Catholic; Independent; Vatican Based)
05 / 08 | August / 2010

"As we expected, Judge Vaugh Walker has decided to overturn Proposition 8 (which re-established traditional marriage in California) and has ruled that efforts to retain the traditional definition of marriage between one man and one woman are “unconstitutional.” [CVA AMP provide the full judgement, click on the link at the date to see their article].

It will be appealed to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals (which I expect to agree with Judge Walker), and then onto the Supreme Court, where the question of the legality of same-sex marriage could be decided in a more definitive fashion. [...]

[...]

Cardinal Francis George, the President of the USCCB has issued an immediate statement:

“Marriage between a man and a woman is the bedrock of any society. The misuse of law to change the nature of marriage undermines the common good,” Cardinal George said. “It is tragic that a federal judge would overturn the clear and expressed will of the people in their support for the institution of marriage. No court of civil law has the authority to reach into areas of human experience that nature itself has defined.”

Joining Cardinal George in his criticism of the court decision was Archbishop Joseph Kurtz, Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee for the Defense of Marriage. Archbishop Kurtz noted that “Citizens of this nation have uniformly voted to uphold the understanding of marriage as a union of one man and one woman in every jurisdiction where the issue has been on the ballot. This understanding is neither irrational nor unlawful,” he said. “Marriage is more fundamental and essential to the well being of society than perhaps any other institution. It is simply unimaginable that the court could now claim a conflict between marriage and the Constitution.”

I have had a chance to briefly scan Judge Walker’s decision. Here are some interesting quotes [my {Thomas Peters', not ours} comments in brackets]:

“Gender no longer forms an essential part of marriage; marriage under law is a union of equals.” (Page 113) [What we see here is a complete deconstruction of gender.]

“Indeed, the evidence shows beyond any doubt that parents’ genders are irrelevant to children’s developmental outcomes.” (Page 127) [This view is simple absurd. The Ruth Institute (and other organizations) have demonstrated in study after study that parents' gender matters enormously to child development.]

“Because of Proposition 8, same-sex couples are not permitted to engage in sexual activity within marriage.” (Page 128) [More absurdity. After all - also not allowed to have sex within marriage? Siblings. The Judge has already decided, after all, that marriage is a union of equals. And who can be more equal than two people born of the same parents? Again, this is horrible logic.]

A friend [of Thomas Peters] pointed out this passage – which gets to the heart of the Judge’s argument:

“The evidence shows that the movement of marriage away from a gendered institution and toward an institution free from state-mandated gender roles reflects an evolution in the understanding of gender rather than a change in marriage. The evidence did not show any historical purpose for excluding same-sex couples from marriage, as states have never required spouses to have an ability or willingness to procreate in order to marry. Rather, the exclusion exists as an artifact of a time when the genders were seen as having distinct roles in society and in marriage. That time has passed.” (Page 113)"
Catholic Vote Action American Papist (Catholic; Independent; American; Pro Traditional Values)
04 / 08 | August / 2010



"Kenyans overwhelmingly backed a new constitution, according to preliminary results announced Thursday.

The Catholic bishops and other Christian leaders had opposed the constitution, because of its abortion language and the special status it gave some Islamic courts."
Vatican Radio / Radio Vaticana (Catholic; Independent; Vatican Based)
05 / 08 | August / 2010

The Kenyan Constitution was backed by both sides, for whom election violence was committed at Kenya's last election: it supports Muslim courts, a possible expansion of special interests and homosexual agendas, has land clauses which could further create hostilities or further hostilities on tribal and ethnic grounds, and takes the start of life in Kenyan law from conception, to birth.


"The Secretary of the National Council of Churches of Kenya, Peter Karanja said: "The Constitution has many good things, but the good is mixed with the evil that may influence the moral life and rights of this country in its foundations." This position was reiterated by Cardinal John Njue, Archbishop of Nairobi, who in opening the ecumenical prayer service said: "There have been improvements in the draft constitution, but the good has been mixed with some bad points that affect the moral life and rights. There are people who think that only a small percentage of the draft constitution is bad. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Evil, no matter how small it is, is like a bad yeast that transforms and corrupts the entire dough from within." Over 63,000 security agents across the country were mobilized to ensure safety, particularly in the Rift Valley, where the greatest number of deaths occurred in 2008 as a result of post-election violence. The UN has sent 50 observers to monitor the conduct of the vote in the “hot-spot” areas of the country. Observers will also be particularly attentive that there are not people who will incite hatred. It has also created a center to verify that messages sent via SMS do not contain incitement to violence. In the crisis of 2008, several text messages were sent inciting violence. "
Agenzia Fides (Catholic; Independent; Vatican Based; Subject to the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples)
03 / 08 | August / 2010







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Monday 2 August 2010

Gillard running scared



(Scripturelink Voter's Guide)



View Larger Map

[Near Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Australia]


Political Analysis Editorial Article by Marc Aupiais


"Prime Minister Julia Gillard has used a campaign stop in the marginal western Sydney seat of Lindsay to promise to increase family payments for some students by up to $4,000 a year if Labour is re-elected.

The address to students at McCarthy Catholic College in Emu Plains came after Ms Gillard promised to "throw away the rule book" following a Newspoll showing the Coalition drawing level with Labor on the two-party preferred vote."
ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)[Secular; Australian; Governmental]
02 / 08 | August / 2010

In Australia, there is Labour and the Liberals, the latter's group referred to as the Coalition. In Australian politics, the Liberals/Coalition would be closer to a Catholic vote than Labour, a vast difference from Northern Hemisphere Liberals who have become more socially left at times due to the existence of Conservatives. Labour got rid of Rudd, for dragging down their vote: mostly with Mining Taxes... and not by supporting, or for that matter not supporting enough (as the left claims) Anthropological Global Warming theory in divided Australia, as some have possibly claimed, but now even Atheist Cohabiting with a hairdresser Gillard is not fairing too brightly. This should be interesting.

Abbott has not noted any plans to reverse anti-life policies, although Australian funding of anthropological global warming theory adoption programmes will be cut if he is elected. The Liberals are generally a safer bet for Christians policy wise, even the difference between the head of Labour, and that of the Coalition furthers the relative difference between the two parties.




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Sunday 1 August 2010

Kenyan government tries to pass dangerous, foreign constitution



(Social Justice South Africa)

Article by Marc Aupiais


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'No' side claims dirty tricks in Kenya referendum campaign | RFI

"Popular support for the new constitutition was supposed to be a fait accompli. That was until the mainstream churches threw a spanner in the works. They mobilised for a rejection of the draft, claiming that it is liberal on abortion and same-sex relationship and that it introduces Muslim Khadi courts.
Former President Daniel Arap Moi and influential politicians from the populous Rift Valley province are opposing the draft over the same issues and over the question of land.

President Mwai Kibaki, Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, Prime Minister Raila Odinga and nearly 90 per cent of the cabinet and MPs addressed a huge rally in Nariobi’s Uhuru Park, urging a massive turn-out in favour of the draft.



[...]

The no campaign held a similar rally in the city’s Jamhuri Park. They accuse the government of using underhand methods and intimidation to get support for the draft because it senses defeat.

Tom Namwamba, who heads the no campaign secretariat, claims that the president’s side of using underhand tactics. They have used thugs to attack his office and steal material, he says, ordered civil servants to campaign for a yes vote and booked all choice venues in Nairobi to deny his side a convenient venue to hold their rallies.

“If you see anybody engaged in such petty, barbaric practices, then you know that that person has read the signs of losing,” he comments."
Radio France Internationale [RFI] (Secular; French)
01 / 08 | Aug / 2010

A no side rally was tragically bombed some time ago, as I reported then, noting that the government said not to jump to conclusions as to who bombed it. The yes side, has the backing of US president Barack Obama, who seems to have been flexing muscle to insure the constitution, which encourages homosexuality and abortion passes, Kenya may find additional aid coming their way if they acquiesce in the matter of values, and culture. Other controversial elements include "land reform" clauses which the opposition claims may cause tensions between black and white Kenyans. Kenya suffers from endemic violence and also racism, White (Caucasian) and Indian (Asian) Kenyans have both faced persecution in the past. The current government has been accused of allowing the creation of death squadrons (Agenzia Fides: The Vatican's Missionary News Service 24 / 09 | Sept / 2008), which allegedly killed and tortured rivals, and those allegedly involved in crime. The government claims that the Constitution will pass, despite Catholic and evangelical opposition to what is essentially a foreign constitution, misrepresenting the culture and values of Kenya.

In 2009 our service noted:

"Kenya: more general Overview:

Kenya, was once one of Africa's so-called: shining stars, however, electoral violence, and purported human rights abuses, along with drought, and famine: have harshly affected, what once was a nation, seen, perhaps falsely as a hope for many.

In previous articles, we have covered, the political situation in Kenya, having stabilized somewhat at this stage. Recent events, however: show a government, made up largely of people, seemingly more interested in their own political success, than in the success of their country. The global economic downturn, will likely also affect such nations: but with such a makeshift government, the chances are, that problems in Kenya, won't be ultimately solved overnight. Efforts, at helping populations make it through such trying times: however, can make differences in lives, just as efforts in Zimbabwe, and the DRC (Congo), have paid off somewhat.

Corruption, and accountability in Africa

What Kenya, and much of Africa: truly need at this point, is accountability for actions, politically, and in business. That a situation, such as the one: over, or perhaps caused by alleged vote rigging, and alleged political human rights abuses: has occurred: has made Kenya less able to deal with life threatening situations."
Archives
13 / 01 | Jan / 2009









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What is want to God? What is your death, christian fool!

Note by Marc Aupiais

What you want does not matter,
Realise truth as the desert sands swirl, and destroy.

What you desire, is hardly a concern,
It means little if anything,
It isn't even what you really desire,
You don't know what you want,
You are a fool,
Worse than an infant,
Less intelligent than a donkey,

Ask your self what you want, then look back a bit,
Say: why: why do I really want this?
Ask: what lead to this:
What did I want when I decided I want this?


Simply because a line of thought is no longer popular, does not make it wrong,
Popularity of thought, is as pointless as fashion.
You don't want what they say you want,
They don't especially know you,
Not more than God,
And they only want to destroy you.

Anyone can follow fashion- few ever learn style.

Ask what you wanted, realise your deep despair and loneliness,
Know why you sin,
Why you store up what is not yours,
You infinite fool,
You finite idiot.

Why would God help you if you don't trust him?
You have a duty to yourself,
But not in sin.

You will die by tomorrow's noon,
In this dark evil night.

But some raise again in dawn not dark



[Analysis of today's Gospel and readings brought here by Chastitysa and Tempest and the Hurricane, by Marc Aupiais]

American Apparel Ad's




Tonight driving home while stuck at a traffic light I happened to turn my head and look directly into a huge billboard ad for American Apparel. I don't shop or have I ever shopped at this store? Actually, till the last week I had never even heard of it.

I was staring at this ad and all I could think about was WOW this woman/girl had one fabulous body ... that's what I thought, it was my only thought, cross my heart. Well that's what went through my mind for the first 30 seconds, till I looked over at my son and asked him if that was the store he wanted to go to, yes was his answer. Hmm, is what was in my mind.

I commented that the woman had a fabulous body didn't she, I'd like to look like that. My son asked me if I was crazy, why would you want to look like that? I said because I thought she was beautiful.

He did not view that ad as beauty but of embarrassment, mind you he is very young, well not that young. But he was adamant he didn't want me looking like that. I said wearing that or looking like that ... he said dunno. In my mind I still felt she was beautiful but the ad sure was sexy and bordering on pornographic. Or was it?

Well, now back to me. This ad was very sexual, it showed no nudity at all. It sure as heck caught my eye so I can imagine any man at that intersection, well their eyes were probably popping out of their head. She was posing in sand and wearing a one piece bathing suit.

I think maybe it was her pose which is what caught my attention, a side view of a woman with an arched back. This ad said sex to me, at my SECOND look, then I thought why, why do I think that, is this right, wrong ... is this sin on the part of what I'm thinking or the part of this model? It sure as heck was provocative and publicly ... but it was also a very beautiful women in a seductive position is all.

I'm so far from being a prude but what are they selling, swimwear, I love swimwear but don't tell me anyone is thinking about her bathing suit in some of these pics. This is like shock sex advertising ... I can't believe I am even saying this but ... how old are these girls exactly? What age group are we selling to and what are we selling?

This marketing is bordering on pornographic images. Or is it what our minds make us think when we view this. I'm unsure about what I seen or how sexy a woman can look before it crosses the line, that sounds so prudish to me.

It seems sex sells everything in our world today as well as "swimwear" at American Apparel or maybe it was "sand" they were selling, I'm not sure.




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