Tag: Christian

Christians Helping Peace in Syria


» 03/16/2012 23:50 VATICAN – SYRIA Vatican Nunzio: For the Church in Syria it is time to go on the offensive and not stand and watch by Bernardo Cervellera In an interview with AsiaNews, Mgr. Mario Zenari, for the past three years nunzio in Damascus, described all the elements that make up the tangled skein of Syria. The deep division between Sunnis and Alawites (Shiites) and the growing hatred. The too fearful Christians must commit themselves to building a society where there is respect for man and his rights, equality for women, equality among all citizens, freedom of religion and of conscience. Being in Syria is a mission. At Homs a priest talks with the rebels and with the army to provide aid to the poor, to save the lives of the inhabitants, to bury the dead that nobody wants to touch. In a year of violence at least 800-900 children have been killed. The majority were shot in the streets by unknown snipers. Syria is changing and there’s no turning back.

Damascus (AsiaNews) –  “This is the Christians’ hour”; there has begun “a new historical process in Syria” from which it will never turn back and “Christians cannot miss this rendezvous with history”: Msgr. Mario Zenari, for three years now the Vatican nuncio in Damascus, speaks almost excitedly as he recalls the Christians’ missionary efforts of Christians, which is to be “like sheep among wolves”, but with an identity and a task. Precisely because in Syria the gap between the different components of society is widening more and more, he sees an urgent need for Christians to come out into society and build bridges of reconciliation, defending the values typical of the Church’s social doctrine: human dignity, rejection of violence, equality between men and women, fundamental freedoms, freedom of conscience and religion, the separation between religion and state.  “It is urgent”, he said, “to go out into the open, on the attack, and not to sit back and watch.” Mgr. Zenari, 66, tells stories of ordinary heroism of some priests who have remained in Homs during this months’ bombing and violence. While sharing in the mourning for the tragedy of the Belgian children killed in a car accident in Switzerland, he reminds us that in Syria 800-900 children have already been killed, mostly shot “in the head and the heart” by strangers: “Their murder is an atrocity” and it is necessary that the international community ensure “justice for these children.” Here is the full interview which Mgr. Zenari gave via telephone to AsiaNews.

Your Excellency, what is it like is to be in Syria at this moment?

My heart is sad. This is the fourth spring that I’ve lived in Damascus and this year I still haven’t seen spring arrive. They’re expecting the fruits of Kofi Annan’s mission, but there are fears that the parties will say “Yes, but …”,   where the “but” is more important than the “yes”. Instead it is urgent that both parties make a tremendous effort.  The distances between them have become huge and are widening every day. For this reason it’s necessary for both parties to jump through hoops to rebuild the dialogue. A reversal is necessary, a conversion… The climate is so deteriorated that a fair amount of heroism is needed, perhaps a bit more from one particular side. Hopefully the help of the international community will bear fruit, so it will make them make great gestures, but it’s a bit difficult.

Before, the international community accused only the regular army. Now Annan has called for an end to the violence from both sides;  Britain hopes for a peaceful solution; France is doubtful about sending weapons to the rebels…

Yes, this is true. The request has to come from 360 degrees, from all sides. Maybe at the beginning the media exaggerated about only one of the sides. But both parties are called upon to make gestures of goodwill and put an end to violence. At first, perhaps driven by enthusiasm for the Arab spring in other regions, the riots were seen in a very idealistic manner; and then going forward, we saw many other aspects come into play. To date, Syria is a tangled skein, and there are many elements to watch.

Could you list these elements?

Initially there were demonstrations for more democracy, more respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms, with peaceful demonstrations that were suppressed. But then so many factors were added: first, the fact that 75% of the society here is composed of Sunnis; then, that it is governed by 12% of the population who are the Alawites.  This tension between Sunnis and Alawites today is decisive, without forgetting the other aspects. History will assess how the relationship between Sunnis and Shiites has gone (the Alawites are somehow linked to the Shiite world).

There is also an attempt to internationalize the conflict.

We are neighbors with Iraq, with Israel, with Lebanon; and we’re not far from Iran… and so in Syria ingredients come in from all sides and complicate the mess.

There is a risk that the international community use Syria as a chessboard for its interests: the West, Saudi Arabia and Qatar against Iran; Israel against Hezbollah; Turkey against Syria … But the needs of the Syrian people are forgotten.

There are various readings. There is the simplistic one of the regime which claims that a foreign conspiracy is present. It’s impossible to evaluate fully how much is true and how much is propaganda.

The Syrian Christians, 10% of the population, seem caught in the crossfire.

For me there is a place for Christians and they cannot afford to miss this appointment with this new historical process. There is no doubt that Syria is changing: a new process has begun and there’s no going back. Where should the Christians place themselves? I would answer based on the Psalms, a wisdom that is at least 2500 years old. And one Psalm says:  Do not lean on a falling wall [Ps 61 (62), 4]. And neither should a man stand by, gazing out the window. Christians are in society and must roll up their sleeves. In the past there have been faithful who have made a glorious contribution in the field of culture, art, politics: one of the founders of the Baath Party was a Christian. Woe, therefore, if they miss this appointment. What’s more, Christians start off with an advantage. The Pope, a few months ago, at the Syrian ambassador’s presentation of credentials [June 9, 2011], pointed out that there are exemplary relations between Christians and Muslims. The Christians in Syria also have a good elite: cultural figures, academics, lawyers, presidents of hospitals… It’s time to live out our task and make our contribution, reclaiming our dignity and our identity, based on the Gospel and the social doctrine of the Church: human dignity, rejection of violence, equality between men and women, fundamental freedoms, freedom of conscience and religion, the separation between religion and state, etc… It is urgent to go out in the open, on the attack, and not to sit back and watch.

Three years ago I presented my credentials to President Assad. And I was impressed that for following 15 minutes during the personal interview, the president continued to speak of the importance that Christians have for Syrian society. He truly admired the Christian components in the country. In this phase of transformation, one cannot look back and think about some protection from the outside: we must work for a rule of law, in which all citizens are equal, have the same rights and duties.

Another thing I noticed is that at every level Christians serve as a bridge. In many mixed villages, Alawites and Christians live in peace, Sunnis and Christians the same, Druze and Christians live in harmony… In these times, with the conflict, sometimes there has been friction and confrontation, but until now, no church has ever suffered even a scratch. In any case, we Christians can have a function of reconciliation among all the groups living in the country. The idea is going around that the fate of Christians in Syria is likely to be similar to what happened in Iraq. But Syria is not Iraq, and it’s not even Egypt: it has its own characteristics, with a tradition of good tolerance.

The Gospel tells us: I send you out as sheep among wolves. And the wolves are not only in Damascus but also in Frankfurt, New York, London, Paris …. only somewhat more subtle and refined. Being in the midst of wolves is part of our mission and we need not fear. The Gospel also says: “Do not be afraid.”

I have continually before my eyes outstanding examples of this mission. In these days Homs is hell. Everyday I phone three priests who have remained there. As we speak, we hear gunfire because the Christian quarter is between in the crossfire. One of them is remarkable for what he is able to do: he talks to the rebels to halt the violence, asking them permission to let pass the trucks with food aid for the poor. On the other hand, from the other side, he asks the army not to shoot, in order not to hit the neighborhoods where there are still inhabitants, or sacred buildings. And he serves as a bridge, like a sheep among wolves. Several days ago there were the bodies of three soldiers in front of the cathedral. They had been there for 10 days. No one dared to recover them because there was the risk of being killed. So he went to the rebels and asked for clemency for these bodies. The rebels at first were angry, shouting: “What do we care for these pigs?” But he said: “No, after we are dead we are not pigs, we are all equal.” And he managed to get them to listen:  they loaded the bodies onto a truck and dumped them onto a piece of road where it was easier for their fellow soldiers to recover them.

The Church can do a lot, on a practical, charitable level, and with our choices, focusing on the defense of the human person, above party lines. We must give attention to the hungry, the wounded, the dead… So many people have been killed and no one knows by whom. We must go out, denounce, give our testimony in favor of the human person.

These days the world has been impressed by the tragedy of that bus that crashed in a tunnel in Switzerland. 22 Belgian children died and the emotion that it aroused is understandable. Here in Syria, until 2 weeks ago, according to the UN there have been 7500 killed, but now we are up to 9500. Of these, at least 500 are children! This means that out of every 15 deaths, one was a child. Some of them died crushed by the rubble caused by bombs, but the majority died in the street and not because they stumbled or fell, no: they were shot in the heart or the head with bullets. I hope that the international community can do something to ensure justice for these children. It is good and fitting to be moved over 22 children, but here there are 800-900 who have died. It is urgent to denounce these crimes. Human life is sacred, that of those who wear the military uniform, like that of the rebels, but even more so that of children. Their murder is an atrocity.

The road Syria is on is long, difficult and painful, like that of a river: it may deviate, go right or left, but it reaches the sea. The Synod for the Middle East prompted the bishops and the faithful to witness to the faith and work together to build the city of man along with the others. The Church must speak its position, meet, comfort, clean up these disfigured faces. Being in this country is a mission.

What can we Catholics do in the rest of the world? The Custody of the Holy Land, for example, has launched a campaign to help the Christians of Syria…

We must begin by thanking you for your generosity and solidarity, which is much needed. I hope that with Caritas and other institutions we can alleviate all the suffering in the country. It is also necessary try to understand the situation of the Christians. It’s one thing is to reason at a table, and another thing to get carried away by sentiment. We must understand even the feelings and listen.

What worries me most is the growing hatred in society. For now it isn’t manifest, but it’s burning. The bullets that the two groups are exchanging are only the tip of the iceberg. We are walking on embers that can ignite at any time. For our part, we Christians witness to charity. It’s the Christians’ moment, we must act and go on the offensive in defense of the human person: it is important not to miss this historic moment.

Advertisers Fail Their True Buyers Except Quicken Loans

Some companies indicate they’ll be sticking with Rush, though. “While we do not condone or agree with Limbaugh’s statements regarding Sandra Fluke, we respect his right to express his views, as well as those who disagree with him,” Quicken Loans spokeswoman Paula Silver said in an emailed statement. “As an advertiser, our goal is to reach a broad audience, which we accomplish by placing ads on a number of programs across the country representing diverse views.”

Congratulations to a true freedom loving, constitution respecting, American company and to spokes person Paula Silver for clearly stating what should be obvious to all namely “….we respect his right to express his views as well as those who disagree with him…As an Advertiser (see above)..”

Who are the callers to sleep Eze and the other advertisers who stopped advertisements or affiliation with the hugely popular Rush Limbaugh show.  I very much doubt they are regular listeners to his three-hour program.  I suggest instead that these are what are known today as “political drones” who are paid to complain or if not actually paid, they are people who sit before their computer screen eight or more hours a day in order to attack their political, social, or religious opponents.”

The existence of these kind of chronic E mail hacks, is known by just about everybody, except those advertisers who do not have the native intelligence nor the Internet savvy to understand that the so-called “firestorm” of protest about the Limbaugh comments was generated by people who never listen to his program and therefore would not buy their products anyway.  The mere fact that the news reports indicate that all Limbaugh advertisers received the same deluge of E mail complaints and telephone protests tells us that this was merely a coordinated sociopolitical motivated attempt at intimidation.  That even the Speaker of the House of Representative Mr. Boehner was subjected to this obviously organized barrage and that he responded to it tells this writer that the so-called outrage is phony.  Also the idea that President Barrack Hussein Obama called her to thank her for standing up for women’s rights is a clear indication that this supposed spontaneous public outcry is a sham.

Why do I care?  Actually, I do not know this woman.  I do not care what she does with her life.  I do not care if this makes her famous, like Joe the Plumber or not.  However, I do care that major USA corporations are so ill-informed concerning the American principles of freedom of speech and freedom of religion, and yes, freedom to have sex or not to have sex, that they easily fall victim and become accomplices to those who would change our social/religious/political values by Internet intimidation.  That is worrisome.

Southern Baptist Leader Right About No Religion Test for President

http://www.newsmax.com/Headline/romney-mormonism-christianity-santorum/2012/02/29/id/431034?s=al&promo_code=E4CC-1

I found this article distressing and I disagree with the analysis that Mormon Christianity is not Christianity at all.  And I disagree with the idea that the book of Mormon is the same as the Quran.  However, I do agree that there is not a “religion” test for the Presidency of the USA.  In fact a Hindu, Confucian, Shinto, Moslem, or “no religion at all” person could become President under the Constitution.  The key word in the above sentence is “Constitution”.  The USA is a constitutional Republic and not a Christian State.  Essentially, the USA is a secular government under the prescription that it must respect the freedom of religion opinions of its citizens.  There is also the proscription that the government cannot impose itself upon, regulate, or attempt to destroy the practice of religions by its citizens.

That being affirmed, the opinions of the leader of the Southern Baptist Convention are really the affairs of that denomination of Christianity.  His viewpoint is allowed in USA.  He is even allowed to make it public and to defend his position.  That is our right under the first amendment regarding freedom of speech and freedom of religion.  Unlike, the grossly stated falsehood that the Constitution protects the government from the influences of religiously informed opinions, the Bill of rights, which is the first ten amendments to the Constitution, protects people of religion from the power of the government and the prejudices of people opposed to religion.  That is to say, that you are not required to agree with my religion nor my opinions as informed by my religion but the law guarantees me the liberty to hold and express such opinions.  And while IRS regulations threaten to revoke a congregations 501.3C status if the leaders use the pulpit to preach for or against any political candidate, that is merely an IRS regulation and does not forbid preachers of any type from preaching politically motivated sermons.  Admittedly, sermons such as those of Jeremiah Wright, Senator Obama’s Christian Pastor, in which he damned America and not blessed America, are repugnant to and repudiated by the 99.9 % of Christians, nonetheless, he is allowed to preach that.  (Please, note that no one needs to listen to his rants, and that a Senator of the USA should belong to Rev. Wright’s congregation for ten or more years, is disturbing but not illegal.)

Finally, to the doctrinal theology that informs the SBC speaker.  It is a judgement made because Mormonism supplements the 66 books of the historic Christian Bible with the book of Mormon.  Some Christians regard this as an addition to the Holy Scriptures and therefore as antithetical to Christian teaching that the only authoritative scripture is the 66 book Bible.  In this regard, some Christians would claim that Roman Catholic Christianity is also not true Christianity because they include the Apocryphal books to their publication of the Bible.  And even though Roman Catholic Christians are informed that the Apocryphal books are not regarded as Holy Scripture, nonetheless, their detractors say that publishing them inside of the covers of a Bible is itself condemnatory.

Friends, these are matters of internal Christian denominational belief and although we can go on, this writer will again state, as he has repeatedly, that Mormonism is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and that its doctrines regarding the essentials of the Christian faith make it another, albeit disputed, Christian denomination.

USA Intervention prolongs Tyrany and Prevents Democracy

It is this authors opinion that the progress of democracy is inevitable.  I also believe that it is the best form of government for all people’s worldwide.  Additionally, I wholeheartedly support efforts to educate, advocate and promote peaceful democracy worldwide.  However, war is a terrible thing and as we learned in our own Revolution and Civil War a great many people die prematurely for something which is so inevitable that we do not need bloodshed for its achievement.  And for those conservative pundits who argue with me on this, well!  Have you been in the US military?  Is your child in the US military?  Have you been confronted with the agony of mobilization and deployment?  Yes, I have and so have my children.  So, before we go wrapping everything in the flag, let’s talk. Okay.

Democracy has many forms, including limited democracy such as a real monarchy, and on to parliamentary democracy and a Republic like the USA.  However,  there is not one form that fits all societies.  A tribal system such as Libya and Iraq may not be historically, culturally or ethnically suited for USA style democracy.  Rather, ethnic, cultural, religious and societal uniqueness may require that democracy be tailored to the local situation.

And I completely agree that many societies in the Middle East of our world are seeking a greater form of democratic society.  However, in distinction from my colleagues, I suggest that democracy was and is inevitable in these societies and that the modern interconnected Internet world, would and will, sooner than later, achieve that democracy, worldwide.  However, in many countries and societal situations the so-called “powerful” need to learn the new methods of power and government.  It is my belief that they would have, and they will learn the modern way without violence, bloodshed and death.  It is inevitable.

But, many object, that in the societies of the Middle East, it is taking too long.  First, I ask you, if you are a citizen of the country you criticise?  If not, shut up.  It is none of your business and don’t spout the crap about “you are your brothers keeper”.  When you leave your USA armchair and travel to the streets of the struggle and face the bullets, then maybe, and only maybe, then you will have a little right to speak.  Hey, brother, please don’t tell me what I must die for.  You die in my place, okay? And then, I will religiously lay a wreath at your grave. Deal?

It is this author’s opinion that much of the violence and the death happening worldwide and especially in the Mid East is caused by geopolitical aims and seeks to falsely use democracy as the excuse for the extension of a western economic imperial model that has nothing to do with the “quality of life” of the protagonists and a lot to do with the wealth and continued economic imperialism of western governments and corporations.

Rather, let’s not arm the rebels.  Let’s educate them on civil organization and political reality.  But, you say, that we tried that and it failed.  Did it?  In my opinion, it did not fail. It simply did not meet our expectations.  We will need to extend our timelines and get real about what is possible now and what can only be achieved later.

Friends, I will not dictate that for which you must die.  Rather, I will do everything I can to promote your freedom within the context, society and culture in which you live.  In the end, the result will be the same because freedom and I believe, democracy, are inevitable.

 

 

Will US Admin and US Congress Condemn Sudan

http://www.newsmax.com/TheWire/Sudan-Graham-Heiban-Bible/2012/02/02/id/428361

The question is: Will the US Government and the US Congress condemn the government of Sudan for bombing a Christian Bible College? The US Obama government backed uprisings against Mubarak in Eqypt even though it was suspected the results would be persecution of innocent Christians.  Subsequent events in Egypt proved that not only innocent Christians are persecuted but also moderate Muslims and social activities.  In Libya, the US Obama administration backed the wonton and wholesale bombing of the Sovereign government of Gaddaffi even though it was suspected that the NTC rebels were a front for European colonalist and imperialist powers.  The results have proven the colonialist and imperialist takeover is now threatened by an Islamic fundamentalist extremism that persecutes Sufi Muslims and Ethnic Christians.  In Tunisia, the US Obama administration hailed and supposrted the “Arab Spring” which is now instituting strict Islamic religious (Sharia) law upon a moderate Moslem population.  Now we have the government of Sudan using its air force to bomb and destroy a Christian Bible College.  The Obama Administration and the US Congress must not only condemn this action but also raise the issue at the United Nations of Islamic genocide against Christians.

Hopkins an Individual inside of Society

http://news.yahoo.com/47-hopkins-knows-end-finally-near-050257090–boxing.html  Today seems to be the day for great stories of individuals who stand out for their individuality while remaining inside society.  All the stories featured today involve persons who are variously thrown out of the “normal” society and yet, they barge back into that society and thereby make the society that rejected them, bigger.  Wonderful reading.

Paul Ryan is the Leader America Needs

http://www.npr.org/2011/08/18/139737992/weekly-standard-paul-ryans-presidential-potential?ft=1&f=1057

We need a leader and Representative Paul Ryan is the man of the hour.  He understands economics.  He also understands the economics needed to get the USA back into play as the greatest economy in the world.  This will not only help America, it will help the world.  Yes, I am bold enough to say that a Paul Ryan Presidency will make the world a better place.

He is also a very good communicator and what he tells you is the truth.  Today we have a lot of double speak, mis-speak and down right lies.  We also have a huge amount of political theater by the ” I will veto it Obama”  and the “dead on arrival Reid.”  We need Paul Ryan because he has sound financial ideas, these ideas are part of an all encompassing plan, and if we implement the plan we will stop this double dip recession, save medicare and Social Security and put America back to work on the road to prosperity.

Paul Ryan loves America.  He is a proud citizen of our nation and he has served in our Congress with dignity and integrity.  There is little  likelihood that like Obama, Ryan would appoint people to his cabinet who, like the President, do not love America .

The names of the people who are endorsing a Ryan bid for the White House show that he would unite and strengthen the Republican party, (see names in the article).  It also indicates that Congressman Ryan enjoys across the spectrum political support.

Although I cannot promise it, I also believe that if Paul Ryan wins the nomination from Mitt Romney, that Governor Romney will commit his strong  campaign force behind a Ryan drive for the election.

Paul Ryan is a good campaigner,  and will be a match for Obama.  Paul’s love for the truth will not allow Paul’s respect for the institution of the Presidency to limit him as he refutes the smear campaign certain to be launched against him by the Obama White House.

In every area and according to every criteria, a Paul Ryan Presidency will be very good for America.  He is the leader we need.

Obama, Sarkozy and Cameron are Liars

http://news.yahoo.com/libyan-rebels-attacking-tripoli-224402452.html I am a little guy.  I live in a small house, I earn an average salary and I live modestly.  And I hate liars.

I am embarrassed.  As a proud citizen of the most powerful nation in the world, I am ashamed of the conduct of this War of Illegal aggression against the Sovereign State of Libya.

Yes, I tis a dictatorship.  But so are many, yes MANY nations around the world.

Yes, it is a third world nation, but so are many African and Arab countries.

Yes, it has the oil in abundance, but so do many nations in Africa.

And I am ashamed, because the United Nations is a whore.  It sold itself to French Imperialist Sarkozy, British Colonialist Cameron and Just straight out liar Obama.  This article which clearly details the egregious aggression of the  NATO European Military Alliance against Libya, is a terrible indictment of the Obama Administrations duplicity and outright lying in its pursuit of World domination at the expense of fundamental civil liberties.  All three leaders are liars.  And I hate Liars.  It is impossible for any truthful citizen of our world to read this article and conclude that the NATO ( that definitely includes USA, no matter how much Obama seeks to hide his lies and bullying ways)  I HATE BULLIES…NATO is engaged in an illegal act of criminal aggression of enormous scope which boggles the mind.  NATO and therefore the USA is engaged in an undeclared war, which by definition of the so-called “August” Hague Tribunal,  is itself a war CRIME.

In so far as the USA has engaged with the NATO military alliance in illegal acts of aggression against the people of Libya and against the Sovereign and independent country of Libya… these actions must be brought before the tribunal of fair and equitable American public opinion and judged according to the laws and rules of the USA.  It may, (sadly) be that Obama and his administration are found to be criminally engaged in an illegal act of international significance which  would be cause for impeachment and conviction by the Congress of the USA.

 

Christian World Domination? Don’t Be Silly!

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/08/14/dominionism-michele-bachmann-and-rick-perry-s-dangerous-religious-bond.html?om_rid=NsgG76&om_mid=_BOSQ7zB8ctRRHD  The writer of this very silly piece of fantasy knows nothing at all about Christianity.  I do not mean Christian thinking, I mean the reality of Christian denominationalism.  There is simply not enough cohesion for Christianity in any form to be a world dominator.  Secondly, the author assumes, ( remember the saying that assume mean to make an ass out of u and me!) that such a nefarious world domination conspiracy exits in the “secret” halls of radical right-wing Christian extremists.  Good stuff for Dan Brown novels but very far removed from the present scene of world-wide Christianity.  Christianity is a religion and it is so diverse and so divided that the idea of one universal theology able to collect enough followers for a comprehensive world domination philosophy is simply nonsense.  So, I would recommend that Ms. Goldberg get a grip, take out a few  recently published works about Christianity and get to reading.  Maybe, in that way, she will come out of her editorial office in some high-rise metropolitan building and get real with real people.