Happy Saint Patrick's Day, My Irish Compatriots!

(Journey In A Broken World ; Tridentine South (And Southern) Africa )

Article by Marc Aupiais

Yes, it's that time of year, no I am not getting drunk (not just Irish, also Catholic). Today is the 17th of March: and us with Irish Heritage: are hitting the streets in an Irish Pride Parade: location: your office, lecture hall, or classroom. Personally, I have no green clothes: so I celotaped a three leafed clover to the left side of my jeans.

Have a Happy Saint Patrick's day: and if in Ireland: attend church: as is compulsory for those in that group of diocese, and living there.

And remember: Patrick was always loyal to the pope: so should you be.

God Bless,

Marc Aupiais

Editor

Part of Why I cannot see how abortion: can possibly be anything but Legally Defined Genocide: however you view it!

(Social Justice South Africa)

Article by Marc Aupiais

According to The Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights: for the United Nation, in the:
Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide

Approved and proposed for signature and ratification or accession by
General Assembly resolution 260 A (III) of 9 December 1948

entry into force 12 January 1951, in accordance with article XIII

"Article 2

In the present Convention, genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such:

(a) Killing members of the group;

(b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;

(c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;

(d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;

(e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group."

9 December 1948;
12 January 1951;

http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/p_genoci.htm

These are genocide.

Acticle 2, section d: obviously refers to the destruction of potential population. The declaration does to refer to the prevention of one, or a million births: only to preventing births.

Legal abortion: whatever its' other intents: intends to prevent some, if not many future citizens of humanity, and of the countries where it is legal: from being born.

Thus: it destroys part of a future population: via imposed laws: which prevent citizens from stopping abortion, and which cause people to be allowed to perfrom abortions.

Therefore: whether or not the child is a person: does not make Abortion by state, or aided by state anything but Genocide in my possibly uneducated opinion.

How then: do so many governments throughout the world: so easily ignore what the World has declared as genocide?



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Canada: North America: Development and Peace (Caritas Canada)/ Canadian bishops: Funding Abortionist groups in mexico: LifesiteNews

(Social Justice South Africa; c.f. archive: 28th of September 2008; LifeSiteNews (Catholic; Independent; Canadian) 12 / 03 / 2009)

Article by Marc Aupiais

--Yesterday--2009: 12th day of March--Canada/Mexico--Church organization helps fund abortionist activists--

Those who were shocked when the Australian Government allegedly lifted a ban on giving taxpayers money to abortionistic groupings, will be more shocked to hear that those supporting abortion, and aiming to legitimize it in Mexico, are receiving money given to "Development and Peace" (Caritas Canada): in good conscience. Development and Peace: in the fundraising body of the Canadian Bishops' Conference.

Caritas' Canadian Arm: not only doesn't deny or dispute evidence, that it its supporting pro-abortionist groupings: who are attempting to widen the noose over Mexico: but further admits to having no policy on the issue of abortion: and it is not an issue as to funding an organization, as to whether or not they partake in the killing of unborn children: according to Caritas' Canadian Arm: "Development and peace": who have given money given in good conscience: to the cause of allowing widespread killing of unborn infants in Mexico, Latin America.

"Catholic" support of what the church sees as a Genocide against the rights of the unborn: is often pivotal to the success of abortionists in killing the unborn child. The money given to these organizations, and prestige of working with the church: undoubtedly allows them to donate more resources to legalizing the rip[ping apart, or burning to death of unborn babies.

That many of the worst agents in the world: of the so-called "Culture of Death", are church-going "Catholics" is not surprising. That An SSPX bishop is banned from many churches: while abortionists receive, and desecrate our lord and Savior, at Mass: is shocking and disgusting.

This is not the first time that Canada's Catholic Bishops have directly aided abortionists' agendas. Previously: the Canadian church supported a Canadian march: supporting abortion, and homosexual unions. The "Catholic Womens' League" leadership in Canada: also partook in such, via the same march (archive: 28th of September 2008).

In South Africa: "The Southern Cross", an organization partly owned by the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference (SACBC): not only regularly attacks the Vatican: when secular news praises it: but has also been caught out fronting abortionist arguments, and supporting contraception, and gay priests.

Aiding abortion: is an activity: which very likely results in the automatic excommunication from the Catholic church: preventing absolution in confession: such spiritual excommunication: needs a special confession and absolution to be lifted.




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Polish Politicians: to try dislodge Opposition TV head, via new legislation

(Media Study South Africa; c.f. See What We See News Archive 13 / 03 / 2009)

Article by Marc Aupiais

--Yesterday--2009: 12th day of March--Poland--Politics--

Polish state media, is set to lose its independence. TVP, the polish television organization, is headed by an ex-neo-Nazi, and current Catholic: Piotr Farfal, who has renounced his neo-Nazi youth, in which he had edited a magazine for the said movement.

Like in South Africa, it is hard to dislodge a head of state television, due to apposing views expressed than yours. A bill, set to be passed in Poland in June, and likely to be apposed by Polish President: President "Lech Kaczynski", who blocked a similar bill before, is to be attempted again by political opportunists, in June: they hope to get a majority to overrule the Veto, of Poland's President. In many countries: State Television becomes a government spokesperson, rather than reporting actual events: this is why somewhat independent state broadcasting can be important to the life of democracy.

"Prime Minister Donald Tusk", of Poland: is attempting to use the bill, to oust: Polish Television's head, a member of, what Reuters names: the staunchly Roman Catholic "League of Polish Families (LPR)", a political opponent of the "center-right", as well as the left leaning SLD, and of the current Prime Minister: in Poland: "Prime Minister Donald Tusk".








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South Africa: South Africans Abroad (Expatriots): May Vote: Const. Court

(Social Justice South Africa; c.f. BBC World News (Governmental; British; Secular) 12 / 03 / 2009)

Article by Marc Aupiais

--Johannesburg, South Africa -- Thursday 12th March 2009--

Under ANC leadership, millions of South Africans have left, either due to openly racially based policies: designed to "transform" the workplace (replace white people with Black people: often irrespective of skills levels), get rid of "elitist" education, such as Advanced program Mathematics, and to conduct other forms of social engineering, and the like. Corruption, and crime have also caused an exodus, with the chief of police suspected of aiding organized crime: the organization investigating this disbanded, and South Africa's mooted next president: facing over 700 (Seven Hundred)charges of corruption from the same disbanded organization. To say nothing of electoral violence, murders, widely noted voter intimidation, incitement of political and ethnic violence, to say just some of the things, which have caused South Africans to leave, while the ANC (African national Congress) has "cared", for South Africa, these past 15 or more or less years.

Today, the Constitutional Court, in Johannesburg, upheld a plea, launched by an opposition party, to allow South Africans abroad to be able to vote, if registered.

Some of those who voted with their legs, perhaps: now can help keep South African Democracy safe. Mr Jacob Zuma, the ANC candidate for the election, has not even completed his schooling. Many ANC candidates have been caught in corruption, and those in power currently, kicked South Africa's previous president out of office, before his term was complete.

Fortunately, the Constitutional court, has ruled, and just some of the South Africans abroad, will be able to vote.

The IEC (Independent Electoral Board (of South Africa)), has said that it is prepared to take on foreign based voters. They must inform them of an intent to vote before March 27th 2009. It is very likely that Foreign based voters, who are registered, will be able to vote at South African Embassies overseas, however, we do not have the exact details of the plan with certainty as yet.

The ANC, is widely thought to be those who will win the next election, despite corruption, and a rise in unemployment. 2 000 000 (Two Million) South Africans are living abroad. Often Crime, and fears for job security, are sited as reasons for leaving South Africa. Many skilled workers have left the country.

At least now those expats (expatriots) who are warned in time, will not be disenfranchised this election (prevented from voting), rather, they shall have suffrage to help shape South Africa's future.

Tridentine SA: LETTER ON REMISSION OF EXCOMMUNICATION LEFEBVRE BISHOPS

(Tridentine South Africa)

Article by Marc Aupiais

As Predicted, by Rorate Caeli, the Papacy has announced Benedict XVI's intentions, and feelings on the Williamson issue.

Here is the release:

LETTER ON REMISSION OF EXCOMMUNICATION LEFEBVRE BISHOPS

VATICAN CITY, 12 MAR 2009 (VIS) - Made public today was the Letter of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to the bishops of the Catholic Church concerning the remission of the excommunication of the four bishops consecrated by Archbishop Lefebvre.

  

The Letter is dated 10 March and has been published in English, French, Spanish, Italian, German and Portuguese. The complete text of the English-language version is given below:

  

"Dear brothers in the episcopal ministry.

 VATICAN CITY, 12 MAR 2009 (VIS) - Made public today was the Letter of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to the bishops of the Catholic Church concerning the remission of the excommunication of the four bishops consecrated by Archbishop Lefebvre.

The Letter is dated 10 March and has been published in English, French, Spanish, Italian, German and Portuguese. The complete text of the English-language version is given below:

"Dear brothers in the episcopal ministry.

"The remission of the excommunication of the four Bishops consecrated in 1988 by Archbishop Lefebvre without a mandate of the Holy See has for many reasons caused, both within and beyond the Catholic Church, a discussion more heated than any we have seen for a long time. Many bishops felt perplexed by an event which came about unexpectedly and was difficult to view positively in the light of the issues and tasks facing the Church today. Even though many bishops and members of the faithful were disposed in principle to take a positive view of the Pope's concern for reconciliation, the question remained whether such a gesture was fitting in view of the genuinely urgent demands of the life of faith in our time. Some groups, on the other hand, openly accused the Pope of wanting to turn back the clock to before the Council: as a result, an avalanche of protests was unleashed, whose bitterness laid bare wounds deeper than those of the present moment. I therefore feel obliged to offer you, dear brothers, a word of clarification, which ought to help you understand the concerns which led me and the competent offices of the Holy See to take this step. In this way I hope to contribute to peace in the Church.

"An unforeseen mishap for me was the fact that the Williamson case came on top of the remission of the excommunication. The discreet gesture of mercy towards four bishops ordained validly but not legitimately suddenly appeared as something completely different: as the repudiation of reconciliation between Christians and Jews, and thus as the reversal of what the Council had laid down in this regard to guide the Church's path. A gesture of reconciliation with an ecclesial group engaged in a process of separation thus turned into its very antithesis: an apparent step backwards with regard to all the steps of reconciliation between Christians and Jews taken since the Council - steps which my own work as a theologian had sought from the beginning to take part in and support. That this overlapping of two opposed processes took place and momentarily upset peace between Christians and Jews, as well as peace within the Church, is something which I can only deeply deplore. I have been told that consulting the information available on the internet would have made it possible to perceive the problem early on. I have learned the lesson that in the future in the Holy See we will have to pay greater attention to that source of news. I was saddened by the fact that even Catholics who, after all, might have had a better knowledge of the situation, thought they had to attack me with open hostility. Precisely for this reason I thank all the more our Jewish friends, who quickly helped to clear up the misunderstanding and to restore the atmosphere of friendship and trust which - as in the days of Pope John Paul II - has also existed throughout my pontificate and, thank God, continues to exist.

"Another mistake, which I deeply regret, is the fact that the extent and limits of the provision of 21 January 2009 were not clearly and adequately explained at the moment of its publication. The excommunication affects individuals, not institutions. An episcopal ordination lacking a pontifical mandate raises the danger of a schism, since it jeopardises the unity of the College of Bishops with the Pope. Consequently the Church must react by employing her most severe punishment - excommunication - with the aim of calling those thus punished to repent and to return to unity. Twenty years after the ordinations, this goal has sadly not yet been attained. The remission of the excommunication has the same aim as that of the punishment: namely, to invite the four bishops once more to return. This gesture was possible once the interested parties had expressed their recognition in principle of the Pope and his authority as Pastor, albeit with some reservations in the area of obedience to his doctrinal authority and to the authority of the Council. Here I return to the distinction between individuals and institutions. The remission of the excommunication was a measure taken in the field of ecclesiastical discipline: the individuals were freed from the burden of conscience constituted by the most serious of ecclesiastical penalties. This disciplinary level needs to be distinguished from the doctrinal level. The fact that the Society of Saint Pius X does not possess a canonical status in the Church is not, in the end, based on disciplinary but on doctrinal reasons. As long as the society does not have a canonical status in the Church, its ministers do not exercise legitimate ministries in the Church. There needs to be a distinction, then, between the disciplinary level, which deals with individuals as such, and the doctrinal level, at which ministry and institution are involved. In order to make this clear once again: until the doctrinal questions are clarified, the society has no canonical status in the Church, and its ministers - even though they have been freed of the ecclesiastical penalty - do not legitimately exercise any ministry in the Church.

"In light of this situation, it is my intention henceforth to join the Pontifical Commission 'Ecclesia Dei' - the body which has been competent since 1988 for those communities and persons who, coming from the Society of Saint Pius X or from similar groups, wish to return to full communion with the Pope - to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. This will make it clear that the problems now to be addressed are essentially doctrinal in nature and concern primarily the acceptance of the Vatican Council II and the post-conciliar Magisterium of the Popes. The collegial bodies with which the congregation studies questions which arise (especially the ordinary Wednesday meeting of cardinals and the annual or biennial plenary session) ensure the involvement of the prefects of the different Roman congregations and representatives from the world's bishops in the process of decision-making. The Church's teaching authority cannot be frozen in the year 1962 - this must be quite clear to the Society. But some of those who put themselves forward as great defenders of the Council also need to be reminded that Vatican II embraces the entire doctrinal history of the Church. Anyone who wishes to be obedient to the Council has to accept the faith professed over the centuries, and cannot sever the roots from which the tree draws its life.

"I hope, dear brothers, that this serves to clarify the positive significance and also the limits of the provision of 21 January 2009. But the question still remains: Was this measure needed? Was it really a priority? Aren't other things perhaps more important? Of course there are more important and urgent matters. I believe that I set forth clearly the priorities of my pontificate in the addresses which I gave at its beginning. Everything that I said then continues unchanged as my plan of action. The first priority for the Successor of Peter was laid down by the Lord in the Upper Room in the clearest of terms: 'You ... strengthen your brothers'. Peter himself formulated this priority anew in his first Letter: 'Always be prepared to make a defence to anyone who calls you to account for the hope that is in you'. In our days, when in vast areas of the world the faith is in danger of dying out like a flame which no longer has fuel, the overriding priority is to make God present in this world and to show men and women the way to God. Not just any god, but the God Who spoke on Sinai; to that God Whose face we recognise in a love which presses 'to the end' - in Jesus Christ, crucified and risen. The real problem at this moment of our history is that God is disappearing from the human horizon, and, with the dimming of the light which comes from God, humanity is losing its bearings, with increasingly evident destructive effects.

"Leading men and women to God, to the God Who speaks in the Bible: this is the supreme and fundamental priority of the Church and of the Successor of Peter at the present time. A logical consequence of this is that we must have at heart the unity of all believers. Their disunity, their disagreement among themselves, calls into question the credibility of their talk of God. Hence the effort to promote a common witness by Christians to their faith - ecumenism - is part of the supreme priority. Added to this is the need for all those who believe in God to join in seeking peace, to attempt to draw closer to one another, and to journey together, even with their differing images of God, towards the source of Light - this is inter-religious dialogue. Whoever proclaims that God is Love 'to the end' has to bear witness to love: in loving devotion to the suffering, in the rejection of hatred and enmity - this is the social dimension of the Christian faith, of which I spoke in the Encyclical 'Deus caritas est'.

"So if the arduous task of working for faith, hope and love in the world is presently (and, in various ways, always) the Church's real priority, then part of this is also made up of acts of reconciliation, small and not so small. That the quiet gesture of extending a hand gave rise to a huge uproar, and thus became exactly the opposite of a gesture of reconciliation, is a fact which we must accept. But I ask now: Was it, and is it, truly wrong in this case to meet half-way the brother who 'has something against you' and to seek reconciliation? Should not civil society also try to forestall forms of extremism and to incorporate their eventual adherents - to the extent possible - in the great currents shaping social life, and thus avoid their being segregated, with all its consequences? Can it be completely mistaken to work to break down obstinacy and narrowness, and to make space for what is positive and retrievable for the whole? I myself saw, in the years after 1988, how the return of communities which had been separated from Rome changed their interior attitudes; I saw how returning to the bigger and broader Church enabled them to move beyond one-sided positions and broke down rigidity so that positive energies could emerge for the whole. Can we be totally indifferent about a community which has 491 priests, 215 seminarians, 6 seminaries, 88 schools, 2 university-level institutes, 117 religious brothers, 164 religious sisters and thousands of lay faithful? Should we casually let them drift farther from the Church? I think for example of the 491 priests. We cannot know how mixed their motives may be. All the same, I do not think that they would have chosen the priesthood if, alongside various distorted and unhealthy elements, they did not have a love for Christ and a desire to proclaim Him and, with Him, the living God. Can we simply exclude them, as representatives of a radical fringe, from our pursuit of reconciliation and unity? What would then become of them?

"Certainly, for some time now, and once again on this specific occasion, we have heard from some representatives of that community many unpleasant things - arrogance and presumptuousness, an obsession with one-sided positions, etc. Yet to tell the truth, I must add that I have also received a number of touching testimonials of gratitude which clearly showed an openness of heart. But should not the great Church also allow herself to be generous in the knowledge of her great breadth, in the knowledge of the promise made to her? Should not we, as good educators, also be capable of overlooking various faults and making every effort to open up broader vistas? And should we not admit that some unpleasant things have also emerged in Church circles? At times one gets the impression that our society needs to have at least one group to which no tolerance may be shown; which one can easily attack and hate. And should someone dare to approach them - in this case the Pope - he too loses any right to tolerance; he too can be treated hatefully, without misgiving or restraint.

"Dear Brothers, during the days when I first had the idea of writing this letter, by chance, during a visit to the Roman Seminary, I had to interpret and comment on Galatians 5:13-15. I was surprised at the directness with which that passage speaks to us about the present moment: 'Do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love be servants of one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. But if you bite and devour one another, take heed that you are not consumed by one another'. I am always tempted to see these words as another of the rhetorical excesses which we occasionally find in St. Paul. To some extent that may also be the case. But sad to say, this 'biting and devouring' also exists in the Church today, as expression of a poorly understood freedom. Should we be surprised that we too are no better than the Galatians? That at the very least we are threatened by the same temptations? That we must always learn anew the proper use of freedom? And that we must always learn anew the supreme priority, which is love? The day I spoke about this at the Major Seminary, the feast of Our Lady of Trust was being celebrated in Rome. And so it is: Mary teaches us trust. She leads us to her Son, in Whom all of us can put our trust. He will be our guide - even in turbulent times. And so I would like to offer heartfelt thanks to all the many bishops who have lately offered me touching tokens of trust and affection, and above all assured me of their prayers. My thanks also go to all the faithful who in these days have given me testimony of their constant fidelity to the Successor of St. Peter. May the Lord protect all of us and guide our steps along the way of peace. This is the prayer that rises up instinctively from my heart at the beginning of this Lent, a liturgical season particularly suited to interior purification, one which invites all of us to look with renewed hope to the light which awaits us at Easter

"With a special Apostolic Blessing, I remain Yours in the Lord".

BXVI-LETTER/EXCOMMUNICATION BISHOPS/... VIS 090312 (2540)

Pope on renewed Violence in Northern Ireland

Pope on renewed Violence in Northern Ireland:

POPE CONDEMNS NORTHERN IRELAND ATTACKS

VATICAN CITY, 11 MAR 2009 (VIS) - At the end of today's general audience the Holy Father made an appeal for an end to violence in Northern Ireland, where recent attacks have left two soldiers and a policeman dead.

"It was with deep sorrow that I learned of the murders of two young British soldiers and a policeman in Northern Ireland. As I assure the families of the victims and the injured of my spiritual closeness, I condemn in the strongest terms these abominable acts of terrorism which, apart from desecrating human life, seriously endanger the ongoing peace process in Northern Ireland and risk destroying the great hopes generated by this process in the region and throughout the world. I ask the Lord that no one will again give in to the horrendous temptation of violence and that all will increase their efforts to continue building - through the patient effort of dialogue - a peaceful, just and reconciled society".
AG/APPEAL/NORTHERN IRELAND VIS 090311 (170)

Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference: "Fr Lionel Sham: Obituary": Basically what he did for the church

(Southern African Catholic Press Releases)

Article by Marc Aupiais

Details of message received, and our forwarding:

I am privileged to forward the following message from the SACBC, it concerns the obituary of a recently deceased priest: Fr Sham:

Rebroadcasting, or forwarding, or publishing this message does not imply endorsement of the Bishops conference, or any person mentioned in the contents of this dispatch/article, nor does it imply any endorsement of the accuracy, or content of views expressed in the forwarded content, which was sent to us by the Southern African catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC). We do not guarantee the accuracy, nor content, nor orthodoxy or fidelity of views expressed by the bishops conference, by emails sent to us via them, and by views recorded by them. These are not necessarily our views, nor do we necessarily express, or ascent to the views expressed in the message we are representing here for you:

The following is nothing, but a quotation of a source, that being an email we directly received from Father Townsend, of the SACBC, as a press release:

Received at: 15:19 (3 hours ago)

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Fr Chris Townsend 
Date: 2009/3/11
Subject: Fr Lionel Sham: Obituary
To:

Contents:

"The Very Reverend Father Lionel Sham.


Lionel John Sham was born 23 May 1943 of Keralla (Kay) and Janie (nee Boles) in Johannesburg. He has 2 Brothers (Peter and Reggie) and 1 sister (Vicky)


In 1959, at the age of 15, Lionel went to Sacred Heart Minor Seminary in Boksburg to discern his vocation to the Diocesan Priesthood. He spent 2 years there and completed his Matric at Christian Brothers College in Boksburg.


In 1961 he commenced his studies at St John Vianney seminary in Pretoria. He was ordained priest on 9 September 1967 at Holy Angels Catholic Church in Bez Valley by Bishop Hugh Boyle.


His first appointment was to the Cathedral of Christ the King where he worked from 1968 to 1971. He started studies through UNISA and completed an Honours Degree in Social Science in 1973.


In 1972, he joined Fr (Later Bishop) Reginald Orsmond at Boys Town in Magaliesburg and served the parish of St James and Hekpoort. He remained in Magaliesburg until 1986. He was Dean of the West Rand Deanery, a position he would fill again from 2006 to 2008.


Fr Lionel was appointed Bishop’s Vicar for Vocations in 1986 and moved to the Cathedral of Christ the King. In this role, he was responsible for accompanying many young men in their discernment of the call to Priesthood. He remained Vicar until 1999.


He was appointed Bishop’s Vicar for Youth in 1987 where touched the lives of many youth.


He was appointed Bishop’s Vicar for Funding and development from 1988 to 1999.


From 1992 to 1993 he was Priest-in-charge of Our Lady of Loreto Catholic Church in Kempton Park.


In 1994, he was appointed as Administrator of the Cathedral of Christ the King in Johannesburg, a position he held until 1999.


He was second Vicar General for Bishop Orsmond from 1995 to 2000.


In 2000, Fr Lionel Sham was appointed as Rector of the Orientation Seminary in Welkom. The Seminary moved under Fr Lionel’s direction to Oakford in KZN. Fr Lionel remained Rector until the end of 2005. During this time, he was responsible for many young men beginning their studies for the Catholic Priesthood in Southern Africa. He also looked after his mother until her death in January 2006.


In 2006, Fr Lionel returned to the Diocese of Johannesburg and was asked to look after four parishes on the West Rand in Johannesburg – St Paul of the Cross – Bekkersdal, Our Lady of Africa, Mohlakeng, St Martin de Porres – Toekomsrus and Immaculate Conception in Westonaria. He remained Parish Priest of Our Lady of Africa when he was murdered.


Fr Lionel had also served on the Southern African Council of Priests, the South African Council for Catholic Social Services, the World Lebanese Cultural Union and the Knights of Da Gama. Fr Sham was also responsible for the fundraising and development of the Sacred Heart pastoral Centre in Walkerville. Fr Lionel was Bishop’s Vicar for SPRED and Catechetics at his death.


Fr Chris Townsend – Johannesburg – 11 March 2009


Fr Chris Townsend

Information Officer

Office for Communication and Media.

Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference (SACBC)

P.O.Box 941 Pretoria 0001 South Africa

Khanya House - 399 Paul Kruger Street, Pretoria, 0001

Tel: +27 (0)12 323 6458

Fax: +27 (0) 12 326 6218

Mobile: +27(0)82 783 4729

www.sacbc.org.za


P Please consider the environment before printing this email"

Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference: SACBC Secretary General's clarification: Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference authorised to proceed with the implementation of the New English Translation of the Roman Missal.

(Southern African Catholic Press Releases)

Introduction by Marc Aupiais

Details of message received, and our forwarding:

I am privileged to forward the following message from the SACBC, it concerns the  introduction of the new liturgical changes in Southern Africa:

Rebroadcasting, or forwarding, or publishing this message does not imply endorsement of the Bishops conference, or any person mentioned in the contents of this dispatch/article, nor does it imply any endorsement of the accuracy, or content of views expressed in the forwarded content, which was sent to us by the Southern African catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC). We do not guarantee the accuracy, nor content, nor orthodoxy or fidelity of views expressed by the bishops conference, by emails sent to us via them, and by views recorded by them. These are not necessarily our views, nor do we necessarily express, or ascent to the views expressed in the message we are representing here for you:

The following is nothing, but a quotation of a source, that being an email we directly received from Father Townsend, of the SACBC, as a press release:

Received at: 14:59 (2 hours ago)

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Fr Chris Townsend 
Date: 2009/3/11
Subject: SACBC Secretary General's clarification: Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference authorised to proceed with the implementation of the New English Translation of the Roman Missal.
To:

Contents:

"Statement issued by Fr Vincent Brennan SMA, Secretary General of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference.
Pretoria
11 March 2009.

For Immediate Release.

STARTS>

The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments has accepted the explanation by the President of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference regarding the early implementation of the new translation in English of the People's parts of the Roman Missal.

The Congregation has agreed that the implementation continue along with continued catechesis explaining the changes. This catechesis should include preparation of music for singing the new texts.

The other approved texts of the mass (e.g. the Eucharistic Prayers) will be implemented when the rest of the English Speaking world implements the changes.

A fuller statement may be issued by the President on his return from Rome.

Fr Vincent Brennan SMA
Secretary General

ENDS>

Issued on behalf of the Secretary General by Fr Chris Townsend.



Fr Chris Townsend
Information Officer
Office for Communication and Media.
Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference (SACBC)
P.O.Box 941 Pretoria 0001 South Africa
Khanya House - 399 Paul Kruger Street, Pretoria, 0001
Tel: +27 (0)12 323 6458
Fax: +27 (0) 12 326 6218
Mobile: +27(0)82 783 4729
www.sacbc.org.za
P Please consider the environment before printing this email"

Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference: "Johannesburg Archdiocese: Funeral Details: Very Rev. Fr Lionel Sham."

(Southern African Catholic Press Releases )

Article by Marc Aupiais

Details of message received, and our forwarding:

I am privileged to forward the following message from the SACBC, it concerns the funeral of a recently deceased priest: Fr Sham:

Rebroadcasting, or forwarding, or publishing this message does not imply endorsement of the Bishops conference, or any person mentioned in the contents of this dispatch/article, nor does it imply any endorsement of the accuracy, or content of views expressed in the forwarded content, which was sent to us by the Southern African catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC). We do not guarantee the accuracy, nor content, nor orthodoxy or fidelity of views expressed by the bishops conference, by emails sent to us via them, and by views recorded by them. These are not necessarily our views, nor do we necessarily express, or ascent to the views expressed in the message we are representing here for you:

The following is nothing, but a quotation of a source, that being an email we directly received from Father Townsend, of the SACBC, as a press release:

Received at: 15:30 (5 minutes ago).

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Fr Chris Townsend 
Date: 2009/3/10
Subject: Johannesburg Archdiocese: Funeral Details: Very Rev. Fr Lionel Sham.
To:

Contents of message received:

"Funeral Arrangements

Very Rev. Fr Lionel John Sham (1943 to 2009)

Memorial Services:

Wednesday 11 March 2009                          St John Vianney Seminary

                                                                                179 Main Street

                                                                                Waterkloof

                                                                                17.30

Sunday 15 March 2009                                   Our Lady of Africa Catholic Church

                                                                              

                                                                                14.00

Monday 16 March 2009                                 Catholic Cathedral of Christ the King

                                                                                cnr Saratoga & End street.

                                                                                Doornfontein

                                                                                18.00

Monday 16 March 2009                                 Maronite Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Cedars of Lebanon.

Western Service Rd

Wendywood

                                                                                18.30

Funeral Service:                                                Tuesday 17 March 2009

                                                                                Catholic Cathedral of Christ the King.

cnr. Saratoga and End Street.

Doornfontein.

                                                                                Office of the Dead                           09.30

                                                                                Requiem Mass                                  10.00

                                                                                Prior to Private Cremation.

Clergy Instructions:                                         The Office of the Dead will start at 9.30am.All priests are invited to concelebrate. The Requiem Vestments will be Purple. Please try to share transport as parking at the Cathedral is severely restricted due to Construction.

One week Mass:                                              Our Lady of the Cedars of Lebanon

22 March 2009.

09.30

Fr Chris Townsend

Information Officer

Office for Communication and Media.

Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference (SACBC)

P.O.Box 941 Pretoria 0001 South Africa

Khanya House - 399 Paul Kruger Street, Pretoria, 0001

Tel: +27 (0)12 323 6458

Fax: +27 (0) 12 326 6218

Mobile: +27(0)82 783 4729

www.sacbc.org.za

P Please consider the environment before printing this email"

"Funeral arrangements of the Late Fr Lionel Sham"...

The following is an email, I am forwarding, concerning a certain: Fr Sham, who died recently.

(name excluded) invited you to "Funeral arrangements of the Late Fr Lionel Sham" on Tuesday, March 17 at 9:00am.

Event: Funeral arrangements of the Late Fr Lionel Sham
What: Ceremony
Host: Fr Lionel Sham a Life in our Time
Start Time: Tuesday, March 17 at 9:00am
End Time: Tuesday, March 17 at 3:00pm
Where: Cathedral of Christ the King

To see more details and RSVP, follow the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=54834507595&mid=2042abG28ca5d0fG168e674G7

Thanks,
The Facebook Team

South Africa: DA Leaders office denies any pro-civil-union discrimination

(Scripturelink Voters guide)

Article by Marc Aupiais

In response to a request for clarity on seeming insinuation of DA discrimination for Homosexual candidates, the DA, has responded to our concerns. Gavin Davis, the Chief of Staff of the Da's Office of The Leader, whom I have corresponded with in the past, has responded to our concerns on behalf of Christian voters. The following is an email reply we received from him today:

2009/3/10 Gavin Davis 

Dear Marc

Thank you for your email.

As I mentioned in previous correspondence, DA public representatives have a free vote on issues of conscience including civil unions. To my knowledge, Mr Ollis has never said that the DA is for civil unions. He has expressed his personal view, which he has every right to do. But it does not represent the view of the party.

As far as the DA’s lists are concerned, there is no discrimination either for or against people from any particular group, whether based on race, religion, gender or sexual orientation.

I hope this answers your question.

Kind regards
Gavin

We have asked that the DA monitor their facebook group better, and are pleased that their national policy seems the same. It does seem odd, that Ian Ollis, should make such a point, as he did, and that he seems to have insinuated certain things, which would make the DA a less acceptable party to vote for.

As it is, they maintain their status on our acceptable vote list. Due to the positions of their leadership. We do hope that the DA will look into the claims by Ian Ollis, involving the Gauteng list, and sexual orientation.

South Africa: DA's SA Christian voters lose say?

(Scripturelink Voters Guide)

Note: the DA's leader's office's head of staff replied to our request: http://southafricancatholic.blogspot.com/2009/03/south-africa-da-leaders-office-denies.html

Article By Marc Aupiais

Recently, we came accross the following:

"

Post #1

Ian Ollis wroteon February 25, 2009 at 1:49pm

Ok, so huge numbers of people have been asking about the gay thing, so I decided we should start a discussion on the board! Currently, the DA has a large number of gay (LGBTI) people as public rep's either as MP's MPL's and Councillors around the country. Yes, I am one of them! On our election lists for the 2009 general elections, I was extremely happy to see the number of gay people that have been chosen on the lists for parliament and the various provinces as candidates. A case in point is the Gauteng Parliamentary Candidates list. I am currently one of 5(that I know of) gay or lesbian people in the top 16 positions on the list. That is a huge plus for the party and for our representivity. Show me one other party in SA that has that many? An many of us, like myself, Mike Waters, Paul Willemburg are very out about our sexuality. we are not a pink party however. We support equal rights for gay people, just as we support say, the equal rights of both genders, all races and each language group in the country. For those of you out there who are thinking of voting DA and for whom this is an issue, rest assured, the DA is the party that most represents the rights and views of gay people and not just in words. we have actions that support what we say! Viva Helen Viva!"

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=2226300562&topic=7506

Ian Ollis, is the 11th member listed on the DA's GAUTENG NATIONAL ASSEMBLY LIST listing. I see no reason to discount that the person speaking is him.

 Last year, when asking the DA, whether or not they had altered their policy on gay marriage, their answer to our organization was no: they still had no policy. This was after a decision involving Internation Politics, which technically favored "Gay Marriage".

We have requested a reply from the Democratic alliance, on this issue, since, having seen this admittal by a potential MP.

This was posted on their facebook group.

The DA, has also refused to alter the constitution, so that abortion is clearly relegated to the criminal arena, as any South African, no matter their age, can legally request an abortion. The only restrictions in South Africa, seem to focus on protecting the mother's health. The Judiciary, largely seems to have a certain view of the Constitution, and some believe that if South Africa's abortion laws are overturned, they will overturn the nullification of ANC: African National Congress: policy. This trial has yet to occur however.

Such moves either mean nothing, or everything. The DA would not have succeeded in changing the constitution, and so their choice had no effect, but they seemed to say that the constitution was over in 1994.

If the DA values their Pro-life, pro-family, pro-catechism voters, I suggest that they clarify this issue: as one of their representatives seems to be saying that they have purposely placed a large portion of homosexual voters on their parliamentary list high up. Such would mean a pragmatic change in a possibly neutral vote on a pro-life issue: marriage.

Such calls into account: how does the DA stand on other issues of policy, such as abortion: another issue, of importance to Christians voting. If they are that sort of "liberals" now, leaving what I would have thought was the PFP behind, then: where else are they liberal. America's Democratic Party has jumped on both issues, so have many others. Such concern lies not in homosexual ideas, which generally may change from each to each: but what is considered liberalism in many nations.

Both support of "Gay Marriage", and support of abortionist policies, are issues which make a party very unlikely to be the best for Catholic voters. The question is whether or not the DA is still neutral on these issues, or if they simply are officially neutral, but have hidden practical policies.

I would like it if the DA were to reply to my request.

Can the DA say that it is still neutral on these morally concerning issues to Christian voters?

If the man above is not Ian Ollis, I request that the DA inform us, as it is, I suspect it is the DA potential Parliamentarian, and I hope that the DA, is not discriminating against heterosexuals in their representation in parliament.

Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference: releases more details on deaths of two priests

(Southern African Catholic Press Releases)

Article by Marc Aupiais

I am privileged to forward the following message from the SACBC, it concerns the deaths of two priests, one we have just reported to you yesterday, via the message they sent us:

Rebroadcasting, or forwarding, or publishing this message does not imply endorsement of the Bishops conference, or any person mentioned in the contents of this dispatch/article, nor does it imply any endorsement of the accuracy, or content of views expressed in the forwarded content, which was sent to us by the Southern African catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC). We do not guarantee the accuracy, nor content, nor orthodoxy or fidelity of views expressed by the bishops conference, by emails sent to us via them, and by views recorded by them. These are not necessarily our views, nor do we necessarily express, or ascent to the views expressed in the message we are representing here for you:

The following is nothing, but a quotation of a source, that being an email we directly received from Father Townsend, of the SACBC, as a press release:

Contents of forwarded message :

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Fr Chris Townsend 
Date: 2009/3/9
Subject: Church Mourns murdered priests
To: (list excluded by South African catholic)

Message we received at 16:15 (3 hours ago), from the bishops Conference:

"Immediate
Pretoria
9 March 2009.

STARTS>
Church Mourns Murdered priests.

Fr Lionel Sham, Parish Priest of Mohlakeng (Johannesburg Archdiocese) was killed on Saturday 7th March 2009, after being abducted from his home in Mohlakeng. He was the second catholic priest to be murdered in one week in South Africa. Father Daniel Matsela Mahula, from Klerksdorp Diocese, was killed on 27th February.

The body of Fr Lionel Sham, 66 years old, has been recovered by the Police on Sunday, few hours after the priest disappeared from his parish. Fr Lionel Sham was well known to be open to all and generous with people in the need.

“All we can do now is pray with the family, the parish of Mohlakeng and the many people who loved and knew Lionel” said Archbishop Buti Tlhagale of Johannesburg, on the 7th March. “I wish to express my own gratitude to the countless people who have looked for Fr Lionel and who have prayed for his safe return.”

On Friday 27th February 2009, Father Daniel Matsela Mahula was killed will driving his car, by four hitch-hikers, near Bloemhof. Father Matsela was a young priest, born on the 6th of June 1975 and ordained to the Priesthood on 22 December 2002. He ministered at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Jouberton at the time of his death.

In October 2007, Oblate of Mary Immaculate Father Allard Mmako, 42 years old, died in Nelspruit after being shot by carjackers.

Funeral Details for Father Lionel Sham will be announced as soon as they are finalised.

ENDS
Issued by Fr Chris Townsend

Fr Chris Townsend
Information Officer
Office for Communication and Media.
Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference (SACBC)
P.O.Box 941 Pretoria 0001 South Africa
Khanya House - 399 Paul Kruger Street, Pretoria, 0001
Tel: +27 (0)12 323 6458
Fax: +27 (0) 12 326 6218
Mobile: +27(0)82 783 4729
www.sacbc.org.za
P Please consider the environment before printing this email"

 The Following was brought to you by South African Catholic: http://southafricancatholic.blogspot.com for a fuller disclaimer the disclaimer on that site applies to this message. This message may be distributed.

Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference: Archbishop announces the finding of the Body of Missing Priest

(Southern African Catholic Press Releases)

Introduction by Marc Aupiais

Rebroadcasting, or forwarding, or publishing this message does not imply endorsement of the Bishops conference, or any person mentioned in the contents of this dispatch/article, nor does it imply any endorsement of the accuracy, or content of views expressed in the forwarded content, which was sent to us by the Southern African catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC). We do not guarantee the accuracy, nor content, nor orthodoxy or fidelity of views expressed by the bishops conference, by emails sent to us via them, and by views recorded by them. These are not necessarily our views, nor do we necessarily express, or ascent to the views expressed in the message we are representing here for you:

Contents of forwarded message :

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Fr Chris Townsend 
Date: 2009/3/8
Subject: SAPA PR: Archbishop announces the finding of the Body of Missing Priest
To: (list excluded on publication)

Time: 16:52 (2 hours ago)

Forwarded message:

Immediate

Johannesburg

Sunday 8 March 2009

STARTS

Archbishop Announces the finding of the Body of Missing Priest.

Archbishop Buti Tlhagale, Catholic Archbishop of Johannesburg, regrets to announce that the SAPS have found the Body of Fr Lionel Sham. Fr Sham, Parish Priest of Mohlakeng, had been missing since Friday night. The SAPS has recovered the missing car at an accident scene in Denysville in the Free State this morning. Suspects were apprehended and questioned.

Archbishop Buti spoke of the great Love Father Lionel shared with those he came into contact with. He was a friend and mentor to many people. He had worked at Boys Town, in various Parish Assignments, as Administrator of the Cathedral of Christ the King in Johannesburg, Rector of the Orientation Seminary in Welkom, Secretary of the Seminary Department of the Bishops Conference, Vocation Director and Vicar General.

“All we can do now is pray with the family, the parish of Mohlakeng and the many people who loved and knew Lionel” said the Archbishop. “I wish to express my own gratitude to the countless people who have looked for Fr Lionel and who have prayed for his safe return.”

Further details will be released when they are available .

Ends

Released By Fr Chris Townsend on behalf of Archbishop Tlhagale.

Fr Chris Townsend

Information Officer

Office for Communication and Media.

Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference (SACBC)

P.O.Box 941 Pretoria 0001 South Africa

Khanya House - 399 Paul Kruger Street, Pretoria, 0001

Tel: +27 (0)12 323 6458

Fax: +27 (0) 12 326 6218

Mobile: +27(0)82 783 4729

www.sacbc.org.za

P Please consider the environment before printing this email

Zimbabwe; SADC Region; Africa: Mrs Tsvangirai "assasinated", Morgan in foreign hospital?

(Social Justice South Africa; c.f. Google News Search (assorted, diverse sources) __/__/__; IOL (South African; Secular; Independent) 08 / 03 / 2009; BBC World News (Governmental; British; Secular) 07 / 03 / 2009; AP (Independent; Secular; American) 08 / 03 / 2009; BBC World News (Secular; British; Governmental) 06 / 03 / 2009; 07 / 03 / 2009)

Article by Marc Aupiais

It was a car crash, and the MDC, who have changed their tune of late, were once sticking to that story, about how, Susan Tsvangirai died, and Morgan Tsvangirai, Zimbabwe's Prime Minister, and the leader of the MDC ("Movement of Democratic Change"), landed in hospital, before allegidly being shipped off to Botswana for some reason. Whether or not the accident resulted from "foul play", Tsvangirai, had had a two car escort, but somehow still got hit by a truck/lorry, controlled by a partner of USAID, operating in Zimbabwe. The lack of a police escort is odd, it is even more odd, that Tsvangirai, who has allegedly, repeatedly in the past, had his human rights abused by Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, managed to get himself into a car accident, something other trouble persons in Zimbabwe's President's eyes, have gotten into in the past.

Mugabe appeared at the hospital to visit his arch rival in politics, and seemed disappointed, either by the incident, or by some other thing. Repeatedly, the "Unity Government", forced on the MDC, by SADC ("Southern African Development Community"), mediations, called biased and partisan by the MDC, has began to look more and more like an oddity.

One of the MDC's officials, Roy Bennett, is still in jail, after his bail on "terrorism" charges, was appealed again, with a magistrate who ordered his release from jail: arrested on Friday. It is widely thought that the charges are trumped up, and that the judiciary are acting as oddly as Mugabe's henchmen in an election.

The "Masvingo-Harare" Road, where Susan Tsvangirai, called the pillar, of Morgan Tsvangirai's strength, met her sudden end, has two lanes. Morgan had a car in front and behind himself, and still, they got hit by a truck. Morgan Tsvangirai is in a Stable condition, his wife is stably dead.

Deputy Mines Minister "Murisi Zwizwayi", who is a member of the MDC, does not buy into police reports involving humps in the road and potholes. He says the road was clear. An independent investigation is already being demanded, and the MDC, has also realized that they probably need to investigate the facts.

All these again put a shadow over Zimbabwe's Neighbor, South Africa: seen as instrumental in keeping Mugabe in power, the same nation, whose efforts to keep Sudan's president out of the International Criminal Court, and whose efforts to keep Saddam Hussein in Iraq, in power, are noted internationally.

Few signs of stability in Zimbabwe, if any

While Mugabe's opponents, have a history of "convenient" car crashes, according to an American source, the fact, that it was a truck, from a Zimbabwean partner of USAID, a governmental organization, seems highly odd; especially, as it allegedly is the truck, which hit the Tsvangirai car. America has extended sanctions against Zimbabwe, and continues to refuse to acknowledge the new "unity government", as currently capable of bringing any real hope to Zimbabwe. Western nations, don't have any change of opinion of Zimbabwe, since South African lead mediation organized a "Unity" Government, which maintained much of Mugabe's stranglehold. The MDC, was disappointed when sections of government, in the past: used to kill MDC members, or hold them, were not given into their control. These same apparatus, seem to still be used against their human rights.

Tsvangirai, has reportedly been flown to Botswana, the only SADC region government, to strongly appose Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe, and his Zanu PF. Botswana, has been giving aid to Zimbabweans, via the Catholic Charity "Caritas Zimbabwe", of "Caritas Internationalis": Caritas Internationalis, is known for getting aid to those in need of it. Other gifts of funding, by other nations, have been fraught with accusations, that such funding went straight to Mugabe.

Botswana's assistance to Zimbabweans

Botswana, and the Catholic church, have both been critics of Zimbabwe's government. The "Republic of South Africa", has still not cut off Zimbabwe's electricity, and has taken no real action against Robert Mugabe. 4 000 (Four thousand), Zimbabweans, are dead, having had Cholera. 80 000 to 90 000 (Eighty Thousand, to Ninety Thousand), Zimbabwean people, have the disease currently.

In South Africa

Due to a lack of compensation, meanwhile: the city of Cape Town, in South Africa, has recently moved to have refugees in state run areas evicted. This follows other closings of camps set up to protect foreigners, after multiple murders and acts of hate against them in Xenophobic attacks. Zimbabweans seeking asylum, were recently shipped off, from northern South Africa's Musina, in Limpopo Province: to Johannesburg, where a Christian church, has been caring for them. The Government has far from welcomed the refugees, but many have had to enter the country: in order to get basic care for cholera, or avoid death, or untenable standards of living. Cape Town, claims that the National government has not reimbursed them for care of refugees. The opposition stronghold, does not plan to follow other areas, in forcibly removing refugees, but rather: has taken a legal route.

The Cape Town action, in South Africa's south, under South Africa's Opposition, the DA (Democratic Alliance), is much later than that of Pretoria, which has already bulldozed away any refugee sanctuary.

The Musina outpost, in Limpopo, to the north of the country (South Africa), near the Zimbabwean border, to deal with refugees from Zimbabwe, has meanwhile, also been closed.

The SANDF (South African National Defense Force), meanwhile may take its own action to remove refugees from SANDF properties. The government in Cape Town has said, that their action to have refugees removed from public/municipal property: does not effect those on SANDF properties.

Meanwhile, the murder trial, in which a South African singer (Lucky Dube) was killed in a botched hijacking: some time ago, also showed what foreigners in Zimbabwe faced. Criminals are more likely to kill a foreigner, than a South African: and many in South Africa, are openly xenophobic. Those in the refugee camps, set up, at the hight of attacks on non-South African Africans, at least those in Cape Town: are likely refusing assistance, at reintegration into South Africa, due to fear, as the burning images, of one famous torched foreigner: likely still remain in their minds.

In Zimbabwe

Suspicions, that the car crash, was an assassination attempt, on Zimbabwe's own opposition leader, will likely further divide the political scene there.

Foreign governments, will likely be even more suspician of the Zimbabwean government than before.

A report on ENEWSCHANNEL, shortly after Zimbabwe's elections, said that due to the suspension of a runoff, Tsvangirai, had legitimately won the elections with a legitimate majority.

Tsvangirai is Zimbabwe's Prime Minister, under mediation brokered in Pretoria. Whether this was an assassination attempt or not: Mugabe will have one less voice in parliament to deal with. Echoes of political suppression in Zimbabwe, are not far from many memories: and continuing seeming human rights abuses in the Sub Saharan Nation, mean that most eyes viewing this situation from afar, are unlikely to take the politically convenient, whether false of true: view, that anything about Zimbabwe has changed much.

Brazil's anti-mgisterial "Workers Party" strikes again, but Vatican sticks by their man!

(Altered Persuation; SA Catholic 28 / 02 / 2009; 06 / 03 / 2009; BBC World News (Secular; Governmental; British; Professional)07 / 03 / 2009; Catholic Hierarchy (Independent) __/__/__)

Article by Marc Aupiais

Canon law is clear, whatever human laws say: help a girl (or in these pressing times, a guy) get an abortion, and you are outta the Catholic church. You are banned from all sacraments, until you get a special absolution, in which you must have confessed your sin, of partaking in abortion. This excommunication extends to those who vote for abortionistic parties, which causes extra abortions.

The News broke, a girl, whose stepfather is accused of abusing her consistently from age six to 9, and of abusing her 14 year old challenged sister, and was arrested on charges of rape: was persuaded by her mother into killing her twin daughters, before they could escape the womb, and Brazil's law, which gives the unborn no real rights.

The Catholic bishop of the area: "Brazilian Archbishop Jose Gomes Sobrinho ", was furious, and excommunicated the doctors who did the abortion, and justified it, and the mother. Brazil's Worker's Party, known for their positions on contraception, women priests, and homosexuality: then used the Vatican's protection of the unborn, to once again lambast the church.

The fact, that the mother and doctors involved in what the church termed to be homocide, against her grandchildren: were already automatically excommunicated, via canon law, has passed by many media works.

"Fatima Maia", who is director of the hospital who killed the twin fetuses, who had been conceived after years of abuse, by a 9 year old's 23 year old stepdad, with seemingly no intervention on the part of the girl's mother: tried to justify her hospital's work. She said that it was dangerous for a 9 year old to give birth.

"Marcio Miranda", who is a lawyer, and represented the church in a media release, stated that there was no risk to the 9 year old, and that a perfectly safe alternative to abortion, would be a Caesarian Section.

People often forget, that if one is permitting a woman to abort her baby, due to rape: that this is a complete denial that the child is a human person. In fact, in South African law: the fact that the Fetus is not considered a person, is precisely why many claim a right to abortion. Before it takes its first breath in South African law, it is considered just that, an it. This Brazillian decision, seems to work on the same principal: that the child has no right to choose to live.

President "Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva", of Brazil, and belonging to its infamous "Workers Party", slung mud, calling the Church "Conservative", saying that they did what he termed "necessary" and "saved" a nine year old's life. He is no stranger to completely ignoring canon law, and himself likely falls under the same automatic excommunication, as the mother and doctors do.

Recently, a congressman of his "Workers Party" party: a certain "Father Luiz Couto", called for the church to stop "unfair discrimination against homosexuals" (paraphrase), and said that condoms are "necessary", while also calling for the church to allow priests to have sex. Father Luiz Couto: was thus suspended from saying the mass, by his archbishop: "Aldo Pagotto", of Paraiba. "Father Luiz Couto", had already broken canon law, in being elected for the "Workers Party". The COngressman, said he would continue to say the mass at his house, with assorted friends.

Despite a large demographically "Catholic" population, Brazil, allows for abortion when a woman is raped, or when her health is badly in danger.

From past experience, Brazillian President, "Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva", calling himnself a "Catholic", for some odd reason: and his party, loves the word "necessary", when slamming the policies of the church. It is not surprising, that he has slammed the church's decision to appose the forcing of an abortion on a nine year old. Brazil's left leaning president, has neither seemingly said much of any alleged neglegence on behalf of the girl's mother, who additionally made her get the abortion, nor has he seemed to mention the two twins, who are now dead, due to his policy, which allowed the uunborn twins to be murdered, in a hospital.

The Vatican's "Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re", who is "Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops", and "Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops", according to "Catholic Hierarchy", has said that life should always been protected, and has named the attack on the Brazillian Bishop, who stood by Catholic beliefs, and regulations: to be unwarranted.

In Many parts of the world, Bishops, have ignored canon law on issues such as abortion, or moves to create anger towards the Vatican. The stancew this bishop has taken, and which his Vatican support have taken: is admirable to any true pro-lifer.

That abortion, itself is a surgery, where generally, the children, are either buirnt into non-existence, or torn apart, limb by limb, seems far from the minds of many a government. As long as the anborn is not known as a person, this will likely remain.

Please note, that the definition of murder, here mentioned: refers to the intentional killing of a unique human life.

The scales and balances of life and limb

(Journey: In a Broken World)

Article by Marc Aupiais

I set my cellular phone date and time today. I dropped it, and it lost the information. I set it by feel, and suddenly realized I was setting it to Saturday 8th, last year. My time, was only two minutes off, when I checked it against the television.

Evolution, or should I say Mother Evolution, or simply, that stuff, if you don't believe in evolution: has designed the mhuman body in a certain manner.

Now, we hate pain, but not the pain itself, but what the pain tells us is happening. We desire quality of life, but really: is this not simply a way to try an insure we live in a better, longer, fuller way. We might smoke (I don't), in order to relieve stress, or eat too much, to feel happier. In fact, here, we are doing something evolution, and survival of the fittest, does not desire entirely.

We fear, or are happy, or cry, or weep, or scream, or stand dead still: because Mother Evolution tells us we must. From this, comes all emotion. Even the joy of heaven, or hope for death: comes from a hope to protect the form of our bodies, and lives.

So, when we judge an action, we judge it in two ways: how much does it disobey the natural instinct, which seeks our protection, and the protection, and spreading of the species, or how sane it is, and secondly: in what extent does it endanger a life, or soul.

Those perfectly in touch with evolution, are those who are most moral. To obey God most fully, brings such joy, and a recent survey in the infamous, liberal New York Times, found that those in organizaed religion, are ost successful in general. Also, evolution has caused us to have this desire for something more, beyond: whther aimed at ghosts, aliens, conspiracy theory, or some manifesto: we desire more.

With this in mind, while things such as rape are extremely evil, intrinsically evil: the evil is effecting the rapist, and causing harm to the one who is raped. In the case of murder, a horrid thing is done to another, but society may judge the murderer more "sane", more acceptible than the rapist. Abortion, however, not only kills a person, but also causes a denial of their humanity, such is not only an act by one denying something, by one the church would consider unsound, but is further the ultimate effect on another.

We hate rapists, because rapists are unsound, but we hate rape, because it ruins quality of life, and makes one less likely to succeed, more likely to die.

Pain, is intricately related to existence. Pain is a method of keeping us alive. There is no point in any pain, nor reason for it, which is better: than being a warning system to keepn us alive.

So, why does the church make such an issue of abortion: because on both standards, it is denial of reason, and it has direct harm. All sin is insanity, and true sanity is never formed into sin.

So, rape is utterly evil, so far as the effect on the rapist, and the scandal apon the psyche of the raped, and possible transfer of illness, but our response to rape, this emotive response: truly is due to care for the raped person's wellbeing, their ability to sustain existence: so that murder is possibly worse than rape, for it ruins a life forever.

Of course, this is a meer evolutionary look at things, I here have excluded much of morality. Excommunication is a measure to protect the church, declaring a person in mortal sin, however, is simply a statement of a reality, done by God. Excommunication is an act of man, possibly aided by God. Declaring a person in mortal sin, is simply to say that it is likely that God has seen that their life is so faint it wont last for eternity, and the person in question needs an infusion of life, and "sanity", via confession.

And so, excommunication: either is a call to reform, via the good punishment of the church: to the person in question, or else the protecting of the church from a cancer within. Either way, the excommunicated can still enter churches, and communicate with Catholics, they are simply banned from sacraments until they repent. The Sacraments would not work in any case: due to their state of "disobedience".

Unfortunately, many bishops, or priests neglect to inform people of the state of their souls. If these were doctors of the body, we would demand honest, well-trained accuracy, why not with the physicians of our souls: why not with our Grace infusing priests?

Brazil; South/ Latin America: Mother of child whose step-father raped her: excommunicated, after the nine year old went through the trauma an abortion (Abortion is an excommunicable offense in Catholicism, and a mortal sin)

(Social Justice South Africa; IOL (Independent; Secular; South African) 06 / 03 / 2009 ; 05 / 03 2009 : note some reader comments on this page are disturbing, even hateful and anti-religious)

Article by Marc Aupiais

Rio de Janeiro; Brazil- - Her stepfather (A 23 twenty three: year old male) Raped her, and her mother gave her the childhood memory of and stigma of having had an abortion. A Girl of (9) Nine years of age, in Brazil, aborted her twin children, as endorsed by the Brazilian Government, in cases such as rape. Having, or assisting, or being part to an abortion, or allowing even one additional abortion to occur, by one's effect, can incur the automatic excommunication, which may only be lifted with the permission of a Catholic bishop: hopefully given to one's confessor. One must confess directly, the sin of abortion, and not vaguely that of wrath.

The 9 year old was considered too young to fall into being held accountable by the punishment, but the mother: was either excommunicated in causing the child to get an abortion or for other reasons. The Child is old enough, that her actions are mortal sin, and will deny her entrance into heaven, unless she confesses her sin, or there is the slight possibility, that she did not understand her actions. The 9 year old, is not excommunicated, only the mother, who endangered her for the affections of a 23 year old, and also caused her to have an abortion, and the doctors who did the deed.


Abortion is the killing of a unique and independent human life. In the catholic world view: it is homicide, and murder. There is also many an effort to help women or their partners, due to the horrific trauma that killing unborn innocents brings with it. Abortion is an intrinsic evil, and having any part in one, and possibly even voting for a party, which is pro-abortion ("pro-choice"), will very likely get you automatically excommunicated from the Global Roman Catholic Church, the world's largest and oldest religious organization, which is currently under the pontificate of the Beloved Pope Benedict XVI. This means that you cannot take sacraments in the church, and cannot attend confession validly, until the abortion is confessed to a priest who has the authority to absolve one for aiding abortion, who must then absolve one.

"Brazilian Archbishop Jose Gomes Sobrinho ", yesterday announced the excommunication of the doctors who took part in killing the nine year old's twins.

The Twins were killed at a hospital under the direction of a: "Fatima Maia". "Marcio Miranda", meanwhile, a lawyer who was representing the church: notes that any health danger claims asserted to by the director of the hospital, which killed the twins, are unfounded. They say that a Caesarean section, would have been a perfectly safe, and ethical option when the pregnancy reached the stage when the mother was to birth the children. Direct, and intentional abortion is a mortal sin of the gravest manner, in the Roman Catholic church.

It is considered, murder, heresy, the killing of one who has never once sinned, and possibly even the prevention of an unborn soul entering heaven. As an aborted child is not baptized, it is considered that it's soul's state should be left in the hands of God.