My Catholic Blog

Nancy Pelosi is not a Catholic

2010-03-23T10:15:00.000+11:00

Nancy Pelosi, who is allegedly a member of the Catholic Church is nothing of the sort. During the past year or more she has lied and schemed and has been behind some of the most dirty sleazy backroom deals ever in the Congress of the USA.

It was reported that she went as far as "explaining" what the Catholic Church teaches. The problem is that what Nancy said is not the teaching of the Catholic Church.

As such, Nancy Pelosi has committed some of the grossest violations against the Catholic Church and she should be ex-communicated for what she has done.

It is not just her major sins of lying and cheating, it is not just her hypocrisy, it is the fact that she attempted to misrepresent the teachings of the Catholic Church and in such a way that she has distorted the Truth.

I believe that Catholics should demand that Nancy Pelosi is ex-communicated from the Catholic Church and until she repents (in the real sense of repenting) she should be denied any of the Sacraments of the Church.

What has gone down in the USA over the past 24 hours will live in infamy. There is nothing of precedence or even anything historical about the graft and corruption that preceded that vote.

Now is the time for Catholics to read up about what happened during the period of the Reconstruction and especially the corruption within each state Congress. Then read about the rise of the KuKluxKlan and who was behind the behaviour of the KKK and what was gained out of that intimidation.

Yesterday was one of the most shameful days in the history of the United States of America. Shame on all of those who voted to put Communists in control of the Congress.

The Williamson affair - why ex-communication does not apply

2009-02-09T07:57:00.000+11:00

The SSPX bishop Richard Williamson was recently reinstated to the Catholic Church after an ex-communication applied by Pope John Paul II over disciplinary matters concerning the SSPX. This ex-communication was lifted by Pope Benedict in an effort to reconcile the SSPX to the main body of the Catholic Church. If Catholics do not totally understand what took place then how on earth are Protestants, Jews or other interested parties to understand what has taken place.

The issue that has arisen is related to personal remarks made by Williamson. The man is not infallible and what he has stated - I disagree with him totally - is a private opinion that is not related in any way to his role within the Church.

The Catholic Church does not ex-communicate people because of their stated political views, unless those views are diametrically opposed to the moral teachings of the Church. In this case the views expressed, of holocaust denial, even though very repugnant has nothing to do with the moral teachings of the Catholic Church. We need to see the issue of his reinstatement from that point of view.

However, the political views expressed by Richard Williamson about the 6 million Jews and the 2-3 million Catholics who also perished in the Hitler death chambers are very repugnant to the majority of Catholics, including Pope Benedict XVI, a German who was himself opposed to Hitler.

Richard Williamson, in an interview on Swedish TV denied the possibility that so many perished, despite the evidence to the contrary that exists at the concentration camps. It seems that he also denies the fact that so many Catholics and other Christians also died in these same camps. Since we are supposed to have free speech, he is entitled to express:

"I believe that the historical evidence is strongly against -- is hugely against -- 6 million Jews having been deliberately gassed in gas chambers as a deliberate policy of Adolf Hitler," Williamson said recently in an interview with a Swedish television station, which also appeared on various Web sites after its broadcast. "I believe there were no gas chambers."

but Williamson is not an historian, so what evidence has he seen to in fact deny what took place? His claim that there were no gas chambers shows that he has not read the records relating to the existence of the gas chambers, neither has he given any indication that he acknowledges the death of the disabled and weak in German society by gassing at hospitals prior to the outbreak of the second world war, and the travesty against the Jews that took place during that time. It would seem that he did not read the diary of Anne Frank and he dismissed other evidence provided by eyewitnesses to the experiments that took place.

However, the Vatican is taking steps against Williamson over his holocaust denial, and I do believe that these are the correct steps to take:

The Vatican's secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, has said Williamson will not be allowed to perform priestly functions if he does not recant. He said the pope was unaware of the comments when he rehabilitated Williamson and three other members of the Society of Saint Pius X.

Pope Benedict himself has distanced himself from the views of Williamson. The young Josef Ratzinger was forced to join Hitler Youth, but he did not attend the sessions - he got away with the non-attendance. He displayed extraordinary courage through his own defiance. For Pope Benedict the comments are a searing reminder of the past travesty against Jews from Germany, Poland, Holland, and other European nations.

Do I believe that Williamson should be disciplined? Yes, I believe that the disciplinary measures that are being taken are appropriate. If he is to be ex-communicated again then it needs to be for church disciplinary reasons and not the political reasons behind the present uproar.

I have no doubt that Angela Merkel is a good woman. I have no doubt that she has a Christian background, but she has no understanding of the Catholic Church and her comments and demands are unhelpful. I fully support those who are upset about Williamson's remarks.

Pope Benedict gives response to Muslim Scholars

2007-10-22T09:14:00.001+10:00

BBC NEWS | Europe | Pope decries 'religious' violence

Pope Benedict XVI has urged world religious leaders not to allow God's name to be used to justify violence.

He said: "religions must never become vehicles for hatred". He also said that the Catholic Church would continue to seek dialogue to bridge the gap between the cultures:

"In a world wounded by conflicts, where violence is justified in God's name, it's important to repeat that religion can never become a vehicle of hatred, it can never be used in God's name to justify violence," the Pope told the gathering.

"On the contrary, religions can and must offer precious resources to build a peaceful humanity, because they speak about peace in the heart of man.

"With respect for the differences between different religions, we are all called to work for peace and an effective effort to promote reconciliation between peoples."

The Pope highlighted criminal violence in Naples

The Pope also made it clear that he will never budge on traditional Catholic teaching, that Catholicism alone is the one true faith.

Prior to the meeting of religious leaders the Pope celebrated an open air Mass in Naples, but there was a poor turnout for the Mass. Pope Benedict called for a profound renewal in the city of Naples, a city plagued by unemployment and a high crime rate. He singled out the activities of the local mafia of Naples, the organization that controls much of the city's economy.

"How important it is to intensify efforts for a serious strategy of prevention focusing on schools and the workplace and on helping young people spend their free time," the Pope said.

"Everyone must intervene against violence."

Vatican responds to call from Muslim scholars

2007-10-20T16:21:00.001+10:00

A top Vatican official has praised the Muslim call for dialogue whilst at the same time saying that there are difficulties in having a real theological debate because they saw the Koran as the literal word of God and would not discuss it in depth.

Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran stated in an interview in the French Catholic daily La Croix, that Christians would have to discuss the curbs on building churches in the Islamic world in any dialogue with the Muslim scholars.

The Cardinal stated that: "Muslims do not accept that one can discuss the Koran in depth because they say it was written by dictation from God. With such an absolute interpretation, it is difficult to discuss the contents of faith."

The fact that Muslims can build mosques in Europe (and elsewhere) while many Islamic states limit or ban church building cannot be ignored. "In limited dialogue among believers, it is fundamental to say what is good for one is good for the other" he said.
Whilst other Christian denominations welcomed the letter from the Muslim scholars, the key to any coordinated response is the Catholic response. It is expected that Pope Benedict will make a response to the appeal from the Muslim scholars when he addresses an interfaith meeting in Naples.

A Miracle sign in the fire?

2007-10-20T11:01:00.001+10:00

Is this Pope John Paul II waving from beyond the grave? Vatican TV director says yes | the Daily Mail

The Daily Mail reports on a photograph that was taken during a ceremony in Poland to mark the second anniversary of the death of Pope John Paul II. The shape of a figure was not present in two previous frames by the same photographer, but this one, which was taken at the moment of the death of Pope John Paul II looks very much like an image of the late Pontiff.

What are we to make of this photograph? Personally, I do not know what to think. I see the fire, and I see the image, and when I see a photograph of the late Pontiff, I can see the resemblance of our well loved Pope JPII. What purpose does such a sign prove? Perhaps it indicates to those who lack faith in God that there is life beyond the grave.

Russian Orthodox patriarch talks of a meeting with pope

2007-10-10T20:00:00.001+10:00

Russian Orthodox patriarch talks of a meeting with pope - International Herald Tribune Could it be that at last the Orthodox and the Catholic Church in Rome will be reunited? The signals coming from the Russian Orthodox Patriarch Alexy II seems to indicate that there is a good potential for the kind of unity that has been missing for more than 1000 years.

At the start of a visit to France, Patriarch Alexy II, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, also predicted that a meeting with the pope might take place within two years. The two churches must cooperate to combat the rise of same sex marriages and "propaganda in favor of euthanasia and abortion," the patriarch said in an interview with the daily Le Figaro, adding that he had "the same approach" to Europe's lack of spiritual values as Pope Benedict XVI.

The patriarch will also meet with the Catholic Bishops' Conference and President Nicolas Sarkozy. In his interview in Le Figaro, Alexy said that, in terms of a meeting with Pope Benedict XVI, he excluded "nothing." It could happen, "perhaps not in a month but in a year or two."

Hans-Gert Pöttering, president of the European Parliament and a practicing Roman Catholic, described the visit to France and meeting with Sarkozy as "highly significant at the current time," adding, "We need this dialogue if we are to avoid a "clash of civilizations."

Despite the positive message from the patriarch, obstacles could still prevent a meeting with the pope. Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, deputy chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, underlined the problems of "missionary activities among some people belonging to the Catholic Church in Russia and some Greek Catholics in some parts of Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan."

It is sad to think that there are priests underneath Patriarch Alexy II who are still placing obstacles in the way of any unity between the two halves of the Catholic Church. The alleged missionary activities have in fact helped the Orthodox to re-establish themselves after the fall of Communism. It is not really fair to blame the Catholic Church of Rome when in fact the people are hungry for knowledge of God that had been kept away from them for so long. Rather than claiming a false sense of hurt, they should be rejoicing that the people of Russia are returning to the faith. Let us pray for this meeting. It is essential that these two heads of the Church come together for a meeting, and the sooner the better.

Blogged with Flock

Martyr chose God's Kingdom over Hitler

2007-09-06T17:34:00.001+10:00

Austrian who opposed the Third Reich is to be beatified next month.

Franz Jägerstätter to Be Beatified Next Month

LINZ, Austria, SEPT. 3, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Franz Jägerstätter wrote that he would gladly renounce the rights that came from belonging to the Third Reich in favor of deserving the rights granted by the kingdom of God.
He was killed in 1943 and will be beatified next month.
A husband and father who lived in St. Radegund, Austria, Jägerstätter (1907-1943) voted against the annexation of Austria to Germany in 1938 after many citizens were arrested, tortured and killed.
At the time, he said: "I believe that what took place in the spring of 1938 was not much different from what happened that Holy Thursday 1,900 years ago when the crowd was given a free choice between the innocent Savior and the criminal Barabbas."
In 1943, Jägerstätter, a Third Order Franciscan, refused to join the army, and was thrown into prison after claiming conscientious objection.
While in prison, he kept a journal, writing: "I can easily see that anyone who refuses to acknowledge the Nazi Folk Community and is also unwilling to comply with all the demands of its leaders will thereby forfeit the rights and privileges offered by that nation.
"But it is not much different with God: He who does not obey all the commandments set forth by him and his Church and who is not ready to undergo sacrifices and to fight for his kingdom either -- such one loses every claim and every right under that kingdom.
"Now any one who is able to fight for both kingdoms and stay in good standing in both communities and who is able to obey every command of the Third Reich -- such a man, in my opinion, would be a great magician.
"I, for one, cannot do so. And I definitely prefer to relinquish my rights under the Third Reich and thus make sure of deserving the rights granted under the kingdom of God."
On Aug. 9, 1943, Jägerstätter was taken to Brandenburg where he was executed on the guillotine.
His beatification will take place Oct. 26 in Linz, Austria.

Benedict XVI says music leads to God

2007-09-06T17:25:00.001+10:00

Technorati Tags: Benedict XVI, music, Vatican

Pope Benedict says that music has the power to lead us to the Creator of all harmony.

The Pope said this Tuesday, following a concert he attended in the inner courtyard of the apostolic palace at Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome.
According to the Vatican press office, the event was organized by the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra as part of the celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the archdiocese of that German city.
The Pontiff said that music "has the power to lead us back ... to the Creator of all harmony, creating a resonance within us which is like being in tune with the beauty and truth of God, with the reality which no human knowledge or philosophy can ever express."
Benedict XVI thanked the conductor and members of the orchestra, as well as the event's organizers and promoters. He said the concert was a "gift which I interpret as being the sign of a special bond of affection between the Archdiocese of Bamberg and Peter's successor."
He added: "May your jubilee pilgrimage to the tombs of the apostles […] strengthen your faith and joy in God, that you may become his witnesses in daily life."

Shun disposable love, Pope tells eco-rally - World - smh.com.au

2007-09-06T17:15:00.001+10:00

Shun disposable love, Pope tells eco-rally - World - smh.com.au Pope Benedict used an eco-rally to get across a very good point: The beauty of Creation is proof of the existence of God.

Blogged with Flock

The Pen, the Sword and the Pontiff

2006-10-09T16:31:00.000+10:00

There is no doubt about the stupidity of the bleeding heart left wing liberal journalists with their mealy-mouthed criticisms of the Regensberg address. One such writer is Madeline Bunting, and her critical article (which showed that this journalist loves to project her own stupidity onto others)against the Regensberg address. This article has been answered by Lee Harris who soundly refutes the nonsense written by Bunting. Lee Harris addresses the following comment:

An elderly Catholic nun has already been killed in Somalia, perhaps in retaliation for the pope's remarks; churches have been attacked in the West Bank. How is this papal stupidity going to play out in countries such as Nigeria, where the tensions between Catholics and Muslims frequently flare into riots and deaths? Or other countries such as Pakistan, where tiny Catholic communities are already beleaguered?" In answer to this rather sarcastic statement about the acumen of Pope Benedict XVI, it seems that Madeline Bunting has made are rather sweeping assumption, one that is challenged by Harris: "Papal stupidity" is strong language. But a few paragraphs before this harsh phrase, Madeleine Bunting has prepared us for it by arguing that "even the most cursory knowledge of dialogue with Islam teaches...that reverence for the Prophet is non-negotiable. What unites all Muslims is a passionate devotion and commitment to protecting the honor of Mohammed." A Pope who did not know that "reverence for the Prophet is non-negotiable" must, therefore, be guilty of egregious stupidity.
The assumption? "reverence for the prophet (mhrih) is non negotiable". It is a statement like that which makes me think that Muslims have raised this sex-pervert, child-molester, thief, murderer, and slave trader to the position of deity. I began to suspect that this was the case when the mindless mobs began their riots over a bunch of cartoons that were good for a laugh and more than likely represented Osama Bin Laden or Nasrallah, than anything resembling Mohammed the child molester.

I will not address the points raised by Harris, because they are all good points, but I disagree when she uses Michael Servetus the arch heretic as an example of someone speaking truth - unfortunately Michael Servetus did not speak the truth and he received a just punishment for the time because of his refusal to recant his heresy. One has to keep in mind that what was uppermost was not so much the fear of criticism but the fear of the heresy spreading and not being able to combat the lie.

What is wrong in Islam, is that people do not have freedom of expression. Anyone who does not toe the line is considered an apostate, and the punishment in the countries where Sharia is practised is death. The majority of the mob who took to the streets cannot even read, and they had no real idea about what was stated. They are never given the opportunity to examine the violent aspects of Islam, and to decide for themselves that the violence must be removed. They have become like mindless idiots as they take to the streets in obedience to their masters, the radical mullahs. We are not even aware of exactly what they were told during the Friday sermons to cause such a ruckus and riots. The mullahs have the ability to stir up the mob and when the mob is stirred up then anything can happen. They only need a slight pretext before they send the mob into a new overdrive.

This is why not only do I agree with Lee Harris, but I have added my own thoughts to a well written article. I believe that there are other issues that Madelaine Bunting has failed to address. I suspect that she has not addressed those issues because the outcome of trying to be honest about Islam for a change goes against the grain of left wing politics.

It is the bleeding hearts, who act as willing fodder for the bull that comes out of the mouths of the alleged moderate Islamic spokesmen that is the real problem here. These are the people who are totally incapable of doing their own independent analysis of what was stated in the Regensberg address, the resulting riots, and for that matter any reporting that comes from the Middle East that concerns the Gaza Strip, Iraq and Afghanistan. These bleeding hearts listen to their masters, take it down word for word, but they do not have the brains to check out whether what they are being told holds the truth. Instead you will get comments such as that of Bunting that shows a journalist who is very self-opiniated but who shows no ability at all when it comes to self-examination, introspection and critical analysis.

Pope Benedict do not make any further apology

2006-09-19T14:57:00.000+10:00

I am a Catholic and I am proud to belong to the Roman Catholic Church. I am proud that my spiritual leader is a man with such a great intellect as Pope Benedict XVI, the German, Cardinal Josef Ratzinger. This is a man who has a very keen intellect, and last week he gave a speech at the university where he had been a professor for several years before he was called to serve elsewhere.

The speech itself concerned the issues of rational discussion and reason, and Ratzinger, with his understanding of philosophy approached his speech in a way that not only criticized the growing secularization of the west, but he mentioned a little known work of a dialogue between a medieval Christian Emperor and an Iranian, at a time when Constantinople was under siege. The remark concluded that Mohammed brought nothing but violence to religion. The remark iteself was a preface to a call for rational dialogue.

However, in typical fashion, the Jihadis got on their high horses. They met in their mosques, both in the day and at night (I could get carried away with the point about night and darkness), and the imams began their tireless task of whipping up the mob into violent protests. It did not take long for some rather disturbing news to reach the world. An elderly nun, who is a nurse, was shot four times in the back. Her bodyguard was also murdered. May she rest in the arms of the Lord, and may she be declared a martyr at the earliest possible moment. Churches belonging to the Orthodox were torched in Gaza - they only needed the flimsiest of excuses to do this deed. They demanded an apology from Benedict, and he gave an apology of sorts, regretting that such violence had been stirred up. The apology has not been good enough for the purveyors of such hatred.

The black sheet brigade took to the streets in Pakistan, showing the world how they love being enslaved to a group of violent misogynists. They carried placards that decried the alleged words of Benedict. In London, an infamous shit stirrer by the name of Choudray made threats against the life of the Pope, demanding that he be executed. The same call came from the imam in Somalia, who has issued a fatwah along the same lines as the one against Salman Rushdie. In the USA, the organization known as CAIR, the apologists for the jihadi terrorists denounced what it perceived as sleights against Muslims in the USA and as usual was silent concerning the demands to kill Benedict. The Mujahdeen in Iraq have posted their own vile threats on a website, claiming that they will overrun Rome.

To add insult to injury to Catholics, these psychopaths have blasphemed Jesus Christ. They have shown that they do not respect the religion of any other culture. They see themselves as being superior to all others. They claim that the comment that was made defamed Islam, yet their actions, their threats, and their tantrums have shown to the world that Islam is not a religion of peace, and that it is true. Nothing good has come out of Islam. We know them by their fruits, and from Mohammed there has been: violence, adultery, bigamy, rape, murder, child molestation, torture, and enslavement. Everything that has the stamp of Mohammed has the stamp of Hatred, and the author of Hatred is Satan.

Cardinal George Pell, the Archbishop of Sydney has spoken out in defence of Benedict. He has also taken to task two of Australia's Muslim spokesmen. Both of the men in question are known for their own intemperate remarks. They are known for their threats against others. They only thing in their favour is that Australian Muslims this time around have remained low key.

We are in the midst of World War 3, and we have been there since at least September 11, 2001. Let us not kid ourselves that Muslims everywhere are involved in this Jihad. Take a good look at those involved in the violence. Most of them wear white, and white in Islam is the colour worn by the Jihadi. The western leaders have been so stupid with their acceptance of Dhimmitude. They are being played as fools bythe Muslims who flatter them with attention. The Muslims will strike them as soon as look at some of them. We hear the litany of complaints about oppression and the like, but the complaints are wearing thin. The countries where there is the most oppression happen to be countries run by Islamic regimes.

The way was opened for dialogue but these violent jihadis have deliberately slammed the gate shut. They want to continue to play the blame game, and they want to deflect their own guilt onto others. If any of them had a genuine bone in their bodies, then they should have welcomed the opportunity to respond to the remarks of a Medieval emperor, and instead of whipping up violent protests they should have been willing to engage in dialogue.

I do not believe that Benedict ows these sandmonkeys and dogs any further apology at all. They owe Benedict an apology instead. They need to grow up and show some maturity, accept some responsibility for their own actions, and learn to be tolerant towards others.

We cannot dialogue with animals, well actually we can dialogue with the four legged variety, since they can communicate very effectively with their owners. On the other hand these human animals do not allow dialogue and reason to exist. As for their claims about civilization in Islam, well everything is made up. They have not made any scientific advances. They did not invent gunpowder, and they knew nothing of either astrology or astronomy.

Somali clashes after call for holy war - World - smh.com.au

2006-07-24T07:58:00.000+10:00

Somali clashes after call for holy war - World - smh.com.au First, we hear of the situation in Lebanon where Israel is once again on the verge of war with her neighbours. Now we hear of the call to war by Somali Islamists who are intent upon overthrowing the legitimate government of Somalia. The Somalian government lacks a strong military presence and so it is being helped by Eretria. The Eretrian troops have been moving across the border, and they have donned the Somali government uniforms. The call to war that was made by Osama Bin Laden is now being followed up by Islamist terrorists around the world. This is not a holy war. It is an UNHOLY war.

All-out Israeli invasion looms

2006-07-22T20:53:00.000+10:00

All-out Israeli invasion looms - World - theage.com.au There is nothing new under the sun, and the continuing hostilities between the Arab nations and Israel is evidence of the truth of the Scriptures. The murderous Hezbollah are funded by Syria and Iran - in the ancient Middle East these two nations were known as Aram and Persia respectively. The towns of Tyre and Sidon have previously been under attack, but now the attacks are being carried out with modern weapons. Yes, it is true that the prophet Isaiah spoke against what is now modern Syria. The Arameans had attacked the Kingdom of Judah and they were defeated. So it would seem that the ancient hostility and the desire for power over the Middle East continues unabated amongst a group of savages. Yet, there is a twist in the modern story of hostility, muder and mayhem. The leaders of the world seem content to sit back and allow the current leader of Iran finance Hezbollah and Hamas in their guerilla war against modern Israel. The leader of modern Persia wants to see Israel wiped off the face of the earth. The left wing elements of the mainstream media are happy to pepetuate the notion that Israel alone is at fault for the present hostility. However, history proves that this is not true, and that the murder and mayhem is very much tied up with Mohammed's desire to dominate the world with his man made Islam. The Islamics want to establish the world wide caliphate. The left wing element do not believe that this is the aim of radical Islam. The bleeding hearts refuse to accept that Islam is not a religion of peace - they cannot cope with any opinion that is in direct opposition to their own starry eyed view of Islam. Little do they know that their attitude is placing their own freedom in jeopardy. The desire to establish the world-wide caliphate is not about religion or the One True God. It is about the desire to place the whole of the world into a form of slavery. It will mean the end of Christianity, Judaism. Buddhism and Hiduism. All will be forced to be under Sharia law. The Sharia is not the same as laws of ancient Israel but it is an adaptation of the precepts.

Relections on the Crucifixion

2006-04-13T20:07:00.000+10:00

It is that time of year again, when we stop and reflect upon the events of the Last Supper and the Crucifixion. As a Catholic, and one who goes to daily Mass, I reflect upon these events nearly every day. When we celebrate the Eucharist, and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, we are in effect remembering what took place in the Upper Room, and then what took place on Calvary (Golgotha), followed by the Resurrection. It is so wrong of those Baptist fundamentalists who insist that we sacrifice Jesus over and over again at a Catholic Mass when in fact we remember and present the sacrifice again to the Father, so that He will not forget what Jesus did on our behalf. What does the Crucifixion and Resurrection mean to me? Jesus Christ was born as a man so that He could experience all of man's experiences, even though He is God. He was tempted, just as we are tempted, but as the Perfect One, He did not give into that temptation. In other words, He had enmity for Satan, and He refused to follow the way of Satan. He showed us the way because He was able to resist temptation. Jesus is the innocent man of the Scriptures, for there is reference for everything that took place in the writings of the prophets (David was also a prophet in his psalms). The men who plotted against Jesus were truly wicked, and if we were to know anything about their lifestyle, I feel certain that we would recoil over their crimes that they thought were hidden from full view. Some of these crimes are in fact documented, for there is some references to the lack of respect for one's parents, as well as other hints at wrong doing. The mere fact that they were trying to catch Jesus out by their tricks is evidence enough of the wickedness of their hearts. The Gospels mention that Caiaphas, as the High Priest also acted as a prophet when he said that one man must die to save many. Caiaphas was thinking only of the situation with the Roman soldiers. He thought that the attention that was given to Jesus would bring the weight of Rome down upon the Jews. He was thinking in terms of earthly power, yet his words do ring true when they are considered in a more spiritual way. Jesus died so that we could live through the granting of God's grace. One man, Jesus died, so that we would be saved from the chains of sin that bind us to Satan. To this day, the Jews have not accepted that Jesus is the Christ, and their lack of acceptance is due to the fact that they have not spiritually understood the nature of Messiah. At the time of Jesus, the Jews expected the Messiah to be a king who would lead them into battle against the Romans. Herod Agrippa, the one who tried to murder the infant Jesus, understood the Messiah in the same way. That is why Herod was afraid of a baby who was born to be king. He knew that he had usurped the throne from the rightful heirs of king David, and that the child was to be a member of David's royal family. He was afraid of losing his power. In the same way, Caiaphas and the other plotters were also afraid of losing power. This leads me to want to look more closely at the role of Judas Iscariot. This role is under scrutiny at the moment becuase of the news of the discovery of the missing Gnostic gospel of Judas. The manuscript mentions that Jesus was alleged to have passed on secret knowledge to Judas. Of course this is impossible because Judas committed suicide. (I will cover the subject in another post). Judas was the one because of the nature of his heart, rather than being the one who was chosen from birth to be the Betrayer. We only have a few hints about Judas Iscariot and it is enough to know that he was held in contempt by the other apostles.

Vassula and The Notification: Vassula Ryden Notification Irrelevant

2006-01-26T09:39:00.000+11:00

Vassula and The Notification: Vassula Ryden Notification Irrelevant I was introduced to TLIG in the 1990s and I found something in what was written that helped in a spiritual sense. Then came the 1995 notification, and all of the suspicion that went with such a notification. I saw Vassula when she came to Sydney, at Chatswood. I remained impressed over what I had seen, which was in fact quite spiritually uplifting. Nothing special happened to me. Why do I believe that the hand of God is involved? Well it is the way in which these messages are written. They are like a love song, a love poem to a bride. When I purchased the first book, I tried to substitute my name and the messages became more personal. In some ways I have moved on, because I have continued my own love of reading the Scripture. This I believe is the purpose of seeing the hand of God in something that is private revelation. It should lead us back to the Scripture, and we should be more aware of Catholic teaching about the Scripture. When I have asked priests about this material I have been told to read it with caution. I agree that a cautious approach needs to be taken. Then I read the prayers that spill forth from the writings and again I know the source. It is the Holy Spirit who writes through Vassula.

Pope Benedict XVI, priesthood and marriage, the meaning of love

2006-01-25T17:37:00.000+11:00

Pope Benedict XVI is due to release his first encylical soon. The subject of the encyclical is related to the true meaning of love. It will cover the issue of the way in which love is being abused in our society today. Since Cardinal Ratzinger has become the Bishop of Rome there has not been much in the way of news that has indicated which way things will go in the near future, so I was rather surprised that the BBC had reported on the Synod of Bishops in Rome in October, and that I had missed reading about the outcome of one of the topics discussed - celibacy and marriage within the priesthood. It appears that despite the hardships of not having enough priests, the Bishops from around the world have rejected the idea of allowing priests to marry. They continue to endorse the vow of celibacy for newly ordained priests. The reasons for this attitude are many and varied, and it is interesting that on the whole the MSM has overlooked this particular decision that was made by the Bishops, not by the new Pope alone. The liberal faction of the Catholic Church has been pushing for ages on this subject. Whenever there is mention of the scandals that have rocked the church, the cry goes out to let the priests marry, and that the panacea for the scandals will be married priests. However, it is the Bishops who disagree with the pundits on the issue. Yes, the Bishops, and in turn the priests who serve under them, have rejected the idea of marriage within the priesthood. From a practical and spiritual point of view, it makes sense for priests to remain celibate. A pastor must be available at all hours of the day or night to serve those in need of his services, especially those who are dying. Most pastors run a parish that has several thousand members in the congregation, and the demands upon their time are quite heavy. A wife and children would suffer greatly under these extraordinary demands. Also the salary of the pastor is not that high when compared to the earnings of other men with their standard of professional qualifications. If he had a wife and children, then this would be an added burden to the parish community. Then there is always the possible scandal that would come if the marriage broke down due to the demands of being a priest, and a divorce was to follow. The reasons that I have outlined are the issues that Rome addresses each time a request is made for a man who was once a pastor to a Protestant congregation, to become a priest within the Catholic Church. The wife has to be aware of the added burdens and she has to consent to these difficulties prior to the man being accepted for the priesthood. (yes there are married men who are Catholic priests today).

The poor will always be with us

2005-07-19T13:13:00.001+10:00

This is my response in part to an article that I found here: http://thepublicsquare.blogspot.com/2005/07/caring-for-least.html

In this article the writer speaks about the Catholic position regarding looking after the poor in our society. Should it be a government responsibility alone? Catholics such as Joan Chittiser and Richard McBrien obviously believe that we should have these expensive government programs that hand out welfare money without any form of responsibility. On the other side of the debate is Myron Magnet. Like Magnet, I believe that we have a social responsibility to care for people who are unable to care for themselves. I am referring to the elderly, the disabled and the mentally incapacitated in our midst.

On the other hand able bodied people should only have limited access to these resources when they become unemployed. I agree that there is a need for limited assistance because unemployment causes its own set of problems and something is needed to help a person until there is another offer of employment. An able bodied person has a better chance of finding long term employment than someone who is carrying some form of disability. The able bodied should be encouraged to find work and requires necessary incentives to work, not disincentives to work. A welfare state in the long term encourages laziness amongst those who are able bodied and unemployed. Benefits should be tied to some form of responsibility including schemes that require working for the dole.

In my comments I am probably going a lot further than the comments of Myron Magnet. I guess that is a result of my own life experiences. At this present time I, too, am unemployed. I could be accused of being picky about my location requirements for work, since I am not being as flexible as I have been in the past. The reason that I am not so flexible happens to be the result of an increase in the difficulties that I experience because of my arthritis. I have generalized osteoarthritis or at least that is one diagnosis.This has changed in recent years to Mixed Connective Tissue Disease. At the same time I had an accident and fractured my coccyx for the second time. It is spread throughout my body, from my jaw, right down to my toes. It is in my spine and it hurts to sit for any length of time. I have a condition that is known as spondylarthrophy and I have sacroiliitis which causes stiffness in my lower back, but I do not have the more severe condition know as AS. As a result of these conditions I feel that I do not want to work in a location that causes me to take hours to get to and from work. In reality it means that my opportunities for work are limited. Yet, there are people out there who are worse off than myself, and they do need some form of care.

My concern therefore, is not for myself but for the little people whose disabilities are so bad that they need constant care. I do believe that the government should provide some assistance for their care. However, the danger of allowing government to have total control over the care of the disabled is that eventually that care will be compromised by cost cutting measures.

What are we supposed to do? I believe that a major issue that has not been addressed is that of abandonment of the profoundly disabled in nursing homes. Instead of caring for their loved ones who have been born with conditions that cause disability, many families abandon them and leave them to rot in orphanages and nursing homes. The primary responsibility for a profoundly disabled child rests with the family and not the government. What if the family is not able to cope? This is the area where I believe that there needs to be government intervention. The family of the profoundly disabled sometimes needs respite from those concerns. This respite can be provided by either a government agency or by other family and friends. The family needs to know that it has the support of the community as a whole. This support will not happen so long as a community continues to have prejudices against those who have a disability.

There are different levels of disability and in most cases the physical disability does not affect the brain. When Judas got snotty over Mary of Bethany pouring oil over Jesus, he was given a reminder: "The poor will always be with us.". This is a truth that we should not forget. It does not mean that we should abandon the poor because they will always be around, but it does mean that the poor in society need to take some form of responsibility for their position in life. The welfare state has caused the abandonment of the disabled and the elderly.

At one time the elderly knew that they had an insurance policy because their children would look after them, however, now they face abandonment as they are increasingly being placed in nursing homes with the members of the family rarely coming near them. This is certainly true for a minority of the elderly of our society. I should point out that there are times when placement in a nursing home becomes necessary because the care needs of the elderly person are beyond the personal resources of the family members. These are people who require special care because of Alzheimer's disease or other similar conditions including patients who have been severely affected through brain damage brought on by a stroke. There is good and bad in a welfare state.

I need to point out that I am not against the use of welfare payments in cases of necessity. What if the parents of a young family are killed in a car accident? Who is to take responsibillity for the surviving family members? There is a divine requirement to care for the widow and the orphans. In such a case the children should not be abandoned into the streets; neither should they have to confront the wicked who would try to take everything away from them. We have a better society today than the society of the nineteenth century when poor houses or work houses were all the rage. Such Christian institutions were used to create a group of second class citizens who were used as "slaves" by those who were running the workhouses. The owners of such establishments were very cruel to the inmates. A welfare state has meant the end of such abuse of those who are poor.

The institution of a welfare state has in fact created a new crisis in the twenty first century. This time the crisis revolves around the dollars available for health matters. A lot of the health dollars are being channelled into non-productive purposes such as abortion on demand. At the other end of the scale, funds are being denied to people who are facing life and death issues. What is driving the push for euthanasia? Is it just that people do not understand that it is God who determines when we will live and die? Or is it a result of poor policy and health budget planning? What of the money that is being wasted on embryonic stem cell research? I am sure that this money could be more wisely spent in other fields within medicine and be more productive as far as outcome is concerned than by wasting even more health dollars on research in an area that has so far produced nothing but problems associated with tumors from the use of embryonic stem cells.

We can continue to care for the least amongst us whilst looking at where the health dollars are being spent. This is an area that needs to be thought about now, not even in five years time when the health budget will have soared again because of the abuse of those who are requesting health dollars today. Now more than ever, there is a crisis in our hospitals, as the hospital waiting lists for surgery continue to increase. I cannot fathom why this has been allowed to occur. Obviously, there is a problem within the health industry due to faulty budget management. Having dealt with the finance departments of various hospitals here in Australia, I find that I do have a little bit of insight into the problem that has arisen. One of the reasons that we have this problem stems from the over-reliance upon government to provide the health dollars. If the government of the day is not able to produce a wise budget and is wasting money in various ways (including wastage due to generous superannuation funding of parliamentarians) then other areas that need those dollars in order to operate sufficiently will be left under resourced.

The health crisis in Australia, for example, stems from the egalitarian push for universal medical coverage via government funding. It does not work to a satisfactory level. The emergency departments of the public hospitals have become full of people requiring the kind of medical attention that can be satisfied by the local GP. The attraction of the emergency department is the promise of free health, whereas the local GP now charges a very high fee for a 15 minute appointment. Medicare and its predecessor, Medibank have been total disasters. Prior to the introduction of this attempt to socialize medicine, we had a system where people were encouraged to save for that rainy day by having medical health insurance.

The introduction of Medibank, and then the introduction of Medicare meant that thousands of people opted out of the scheme. It was only natural that the fees of the funds would increase, and not decrease as membership levels fell to all time low levels. At the same time there was a renewed pressure upon the public system, to the point that public health is now in crisis. There are many who are employed and who have good salaries who should be participating in a health fund, but who prefer to have only the universal PAYE style of cover (PAYE is the Medicare levy through taxation).

The levy itself can be quite inequitable for families where there is more than one income, since they are the ones who bear the full burden over those who are without income. Under the old system the household paid into the fund at one family level only. These are the same people who clog the public schools with their children and who literally refuse to pay anything towards their children's education. Again, this attitude means that there is a drain upon the budgetary funds that are available within the ecomony. There is a constant level of competition for the Budget dollars and more often than not, one area has its funding increased at the expense of another area.

There is a lot of waste at the public service level of government. Whilst most public servants really do work very hard, the fact remains that there is too much fat and bloat at every level of government that is served by the public service. Why for example, is it necessary for either federal or state governments to be involved in the provision of health benefits for the general public? The fact that Medibank Private operates as a private insurance fund but remains a part of government is an indicator that there is too much bloat. Government should not be poking itself into this particular area. On the other hand, the government needs to ensure that doctors and other professionals are paid for their services to the poor. Of course, in the days that are pre-Medibank, the poor were always treated "pro bono". This means that the introduction of the scheme has brought forth a whole raft of other problems such as fraudulent claiming payment for services that have not been provided by a doctor or other professional. Some areas within the health industry have remained neglected. For example, why is it that a podiatrist is not recognized under Medicare? Why is it that physiotherapy and exercise therapy is not recognized under Medicare? If these things were recognized then other forms of costs could be reduced, because patients would seek alternatives to drugs for their illnesses.

The answer then, is that the whole system needs an overhaul and the government role in health should be reduced. There has been too much government interference and that has impacted upon the standard of care that is offered in our health system.

Reflections on Scripture - The Book of Wisdom

2005-05-21T16:21:00.000+10:00

The following posts are my reflections based upon Scripture and upon a reflection of my life at this present time. Each time I pick up the Scripture I am amazed at the things that are revealed. My first reflections here are based upon the Book of Wisdom. Over time I hope to add further reflections based upon other Scriptures: "Love justice, you who rule over the world. Think mightily of God, seek Him with simplicity of heart, for he reveals himself to those who do not challenge him and is found by those who do not distrust Him." (Wisdom 1:1-2) I am blown away by these very words because the human author of the Book of Wisdom, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit has captured the very essence of what God expects from each and every one of us: Justice. It is there and it is what is expected from those who are placed into positions of trust. Our rulers are expected to rule with justice, yet they do not accept the will of God when they allow injustice to happen to innocent men and women. How can we seek the Lord with simplicity of heart? When I read and reflect upn these words, I am reminded of the simplicity of a brain injured woman by the name of Theresa Schindler, a woman who was condemned to death by a judge even though she had not committed a crime. One of the lawyers involved in her case, Barbara Weller, spoke of the heart wrenching moment when Theresa was told that nothing more could be done to save her life, and how at the mention of the name of Jesus, Theresa laughed. That simplicity of heart shows me how Jesus was with Theresa in her final days. The laugh the ushered forth from Theresa tells me that throughout the 15 year ordeal, instigated by an unfaithful husband, Theresa was being comforted by Jesus. It was Jesus who gave her the strength to not give into they tyranny of the actions of Michael Schiavo. This innocent woman bore a lot in those 15 years because there were times when she was denied access to her family due to the spite of Michael Schiavo. Now that I understand the nature of being simplicity at heart, I look and see an admonition in those few words from the opening of the Book of Wisdom. The opening reads: "Love justice, you who rule over the world". This is an admonition that goes to the very heart of everything that is wrong in my world today. There is a lack of justice, for those who are responsible for the interpretation of the law are taking it upon themselves to bring about changes that are plunging us further and further into the mire of the culture of death. Theresa Schindler did not have to die. She was forced to die because her husband wanted her to be dead. She was brain injured, and she was alive. She was not living in a coma, but was in a minimally conscious state. She was being fed by a PEG tube because she needed time to recover from her injuries. Since 1992 Theresa Schindler was not allowed to receive any form of therapy or testing. Her husband attempted several times to murder her by refusing to allow the giving of antibiotics, in the full knowledge that she could end up with blood poisoning that would have ended her life. The probate judge knew about the accusations regarding these attempts to kill Theresa, yet he failed to remove Michael Schiavo as guardian. To add insult to injury, the judge, who acted with such injustice towards a disabled woman, George Greer, has received awards because of his handling of the case. The awards were given by self-interested parties who wanted the status quo of guardianship rorting in Florida to remain. The injustice in this case allows the continuance of those who are not able to look after themselves to remain vulnerable under the guardianship rules enforced in the probate courts. The lack of justice looks like a defeat and a victory for Satan, yet the death of Theresa Schindler is in reality a defeat for Satan, not victory, since her death marks the beginning of the end for the culture of death. For the moment the lawyers are crowing over the victory of injustice, and they continue to push their perverted notion of a right to die with dignity, attempting in their wake to force death upon those who are not dying but are severely disabled. Instead of ensuring an outcome that is justice, our judges are afraid of lsoing face. It is about the culture of "self", of "ego". God is missing from this culture of self, and where God is missing so is justice.

The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ - A Modern Play

2005-03-25T19:58:00.000+11:00

Today is Good Friday and it is the day on which we pause for a time to remember that Jesus Christ sacrificed His Life for our sake. He came, to be born of a Virgin, so that through His Death, we could have Life. The Life that He gave to us is the Life that comes from Grace. In my own life there has been a tragedy that was played out over the Holy Thursday and Good Friday. It is a constant reminder that my cousin Dorn lost her life because she refused the advances of a man who was not her husband. I have already reflected on Dorn's story in another post. Yet again this year I am remided of the tragedy of Dorn's kidnap, rape and murder. This evening as I am sitting here, I am reflecting on what Easter means to me, and I am reflecting upon the true message of the Scripture - (1) Love God and (2) Love thy neighbour. This is the essential message of both Old and New Testaments. Without the love of God, you do not love your neighbour. Without of love of neighbour, we become a people bereft of compassion, and lacking in justice, selfish, egotistical and greedy. This modern Passion play had its beginnings in February 1990 when a young woman who was only 25 years of age at the time collapsed on the floor of her bathroom and she was rushed to hospital. Since that night this young woman has been in a battle for her life, because her husband who is now her guardian is determined to kill her. The story of Theresa Schindler has been sending shivers down the spines of a variety of people from the ultra conservative to the ultra liberal, within the USA to Europe, including Holland and Germany, and through to my own country Australia. The plight of Theresa Schindler has caused comment throughout the world. She is being forced to die, a slow and painful death. It is a death that is designed to torture her as she lies there not being allowed to eat or drink. What is happening to Theresa Schindler is disgusting and it shows that a once Christian nation has debased itself by sacrificing on the altar of Satan. The latest death sentence that was imposed upon Theresa Schindler began on 18 March 2005. It began just as we began preparations to commemorate an event that happened almost 2000 years ago, two days prior to our celebration of Passion Sunday. As we sat and listened to the Gospel of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Theresa had begun her own passion - a court ordered death sentence, even though she is innocent of any crime. Yes, Jesus was also innocent of any crime, and he was put to death because the people, stirred up by the Pharisees, cried out that they wanted Him to be crucified. As this story has continued to unfold, it has not been difficult to see the parallels of the Gospel story. It begins with Michael Schiavo, the husband who, like Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus, has betrayed his wife with his philandering behaviour. Just like Judas this man has a murderous mind, who was waiting for an opportunity to carry out his plan to kill his wife. Poor Theresa, for she married the wrong man. His behaviour has shown him to be a wife abuser ( or at least it is suspected that he is a wife abuser). He comes on the television claiming that he loves his wife, and that his purpose is to carry out what he says is Theresa's wish to die rather than face her disability. The problem with this story is that Theresa cannot talk to let anyone know what she wants. The very tenacity of her existence is a sign that Theresa wants to live, despite the cruelty and isolation that she has faced. It is because Theresa cannot talk that Michael has been able to manipulate the press, as well as the judiciary in order to have his desire to kill his wife sanctioned. When Jesus faced His trial after His arrest, false witnesses came forward with their lying testimony. He was brought first before the Sanhedrin, then he was passed on to Pilate and Herod. Now we see a repeat of the coming forward of false witnesses in order to see Theresa condemned to an excruciating death by dehydration and starvation. These false witnesses are: a neurologist by the name of Dr. Crandon. His claim to fame is that he will guarantee to give a diagnosis of PVS for a fee as an expert witness. He wants to further his own death to the disabled, the elderly suffering from Alzheimers Disease and others agenda and he will oblige if someone wants a death sentence diagnosis. Then there is the brother and sister-in-law of the faithless husband who have been only too willing to comply with the request to state that Terri made a statement about not wanting to be hooked to life support. It is their testimony that has been accepted by Caiaphas (Greer) in order to manipulate the outcome of this case. This time it is not just the mother who is standing by her son, as he was dying on the cross, rather we have father, mother, brother and sister who feel so powerless because all of their efforts to rescue their loved one has failed. The American justice system, as it is practised in Florida has failed in the case of Terri Schiavo. As Jesus had moved towards the ultimate hour, which is the reason that He came and dwelt amongst us, the Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians and others managed to unite themselves together in order to carry out their plot to kill Jesus. For Caiaphas said that it was better to kill one man and spare the lives of thousands. With this prophetic statement, he put into motion the final plan that was to bring about the death of Jesus. Now in Florida, we have one man, the unjust judge, George Greer, who has stated: "No one is to feed that girl", as well as many other statements in which he has managed to thumb his nose at the highest office in the United States - the Office of the President of the United States of America. Just as Caiaphas was determined to murder Jesus, George Greer, Michael Schiavo and George Felos are determined to murder Theresa Schindler. On the night before He died, Jesus was handed over to the Roman soldiers and it was there that he was whipped and tortured. His flesh was split as a result of the flogging that he received. They spat at him, and they placed a crown of thorns on his head, as they jeered and made fun of him. It must have been a very sad spectacle when it took place. Yet Jesus bore the punishment that was meted out to Him, so that we would be saved from sin. Now, we see a woman lying on a hospital bed as she is being slowly tortured to death by starvation and dehydration. Outside of the hospice there are the ones who represent the faithful women disciples, who have been protesting and aligning themselves with the suffering of Theresa. Then there are the mockers, who like those who demanded that Jesus should show His power and come down from the Cross, who are happy to go along and make such glorious statements: "I am for Terri, let her die". In other words they are there to gloat as this woman is allowed to slowly die through what can only be described as torture. They have laws preventing animals being treated in that way, and they are not prepared to grant this woman a reprieve from her death sentence. Her husband wants her dead, because he is afraid that if she was sufficiently recovered he would be found out in his lies. The judge wants her dead because she has become the test case that will allow an avalanche of death for the most vulnerable citizens in the USA. This action in Florida is equivalent to the Final Solution of the Nazis as they went around, first rounding up the sick, elderly and disabled, and then rounding up the Jews and murdering all of them. The roles of Herod and Pilate are being played out in the appellate courts both in Florida and in the Federal arena. The judges have just wiped their hands of the issue. They continue to refuse to look at the evidence with fresh eyes. Whilst all of this political manouvering is happening, a woman is fading fast as she continues with her agony of torture through starvation and dehydration. At the moment when Jesus gave up his spirit, there was a darkness that came over the land. What is going to happen if Theresa is allowed to die? Will America slip into an era of darkness? The darkness is not that which relates to night and day, but the darkness and evil associated with sin. What is happening to Theresa Schindler is a very evil action. She is being murdered with the blessing of the Judiciary of the United States. She has become a pawn in a life and death struggle. The judges do not want to hear the pleas of Theresa's parents. They are not interested in looking into the motivation of a philandering husband who is a liar and has murder on his mind. I have no doubt that Theresa has united herself with Jesus Christ, as she continues to battle out her final days. She is not meant to die like this, or at least it is not God's will that she dies. What is happening? Why has Satan been allowed to take hold of the conscience of Americans? Why is it that there is no groundswell of people demanding that Theresa must be allowed to live? Instead we hear from those who are delighting in the notion that she is now closer to death. They unjustly claim that Theresa died 15 years ago, but that is not true. Her original brain CT scan was normal. Another of her tests was also normal. She did not have a heart attack as claimed by her not so loving two timing husband. There is increasing evidence that he attempted to strangle his wife, yet all efforts of seeking an investigation into these claims have been stifled. According to reliable witnesses, Terri was laughing with the nurses who were caring for her, and she used to say things like "hi", "mummy" and "pain". You see Terri feels pain and that makes a lie of Dr. Cranford's diagnosis of PVS. They claim that she is feeling nothing right now, and that low down rat has been getting his head on the TV telling people that she is feeling nothing. This man is a heartless cold blooded killer. Theresa was condemned to death because she cannot talk for herself. She has a husband who is afraid of her recovery because if she could talk, then the lid would be blown off his efforts to kill his wife. There are medical forensic experts who have filed affadavits stating that the results on the CT and bone scan indicate that Theresa was strangled and that was the reason that her brain was starved of oxygen. Keep in mind that Michael Schiavo did nothing at all to assist his wife after her collapse.

Are we in the End Times?

2005-03-08T15:55:00.000+11:00

The coming of the New Millenium brought with it a renewal of End Times fever. This is a phenomenon that was not new but is a repeat of what happened at the turn of the previous millenium. Having lived through the commotion and hype I can now look back at the unnecessary fear that was generated by people who are in fact ignorant when it comes to the interpretation of the Scripture. First of all, I believe that it is true that we are in an End Times at this present time. It is an end to the times as we know them but not of the end of the world, which is the interpretation of most people who read and talk about the End Times. Second, I believe that history has a habit of repeating itself and we are now going through a period of time which is in fact a repeat of a much earlier period in history. Take for example the following from the book of Isaiah: "A sinful nation, a people weighed down with guilt, a breed of wrong-doers, perverted sons. They have abandoned Yahweh, despised the Holy One of Israel; they have turned away from Him." (Is 1:4) "Take your wrong doing out of my sight. Cease to do evil, learn to do good, search for justice, help the oppressed, be just to the orphan, plead for the widow." (Is 1:16-17) "What a harlot she has become, the faithful city, Zion, that was all justice! Once integrity lived there, but now assassins. Your silver has turned into dross, your wine is watered. Your princes are rebels, accomplices of thieves. All are greedy for profit, and chase after bribes. They show no justice to the orphan, the cause of the widow is never heard." (Is 1:21-23) This is a very small sampling of the words of God that should be coming back to haunt each and everyone of us who are intent upon doing evil, despite having known the Lord. One only has to look to the level of injustice in the world to recognize that we are in an End Times period. What is wrong with our world today? The answer may seem to be complex but the reality is that there has been a massive loss of faith that has wounded God's people. We are beginning to reap the whirlwind of some of the shocking deeds that are being committed in our day. The Culture of Death seems to be in the ascendancy, yet we must remember that the Two hearts - that is the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus will prevail. It will not happen in my own lifetime, but it will happen. At the present time my thoughts on these matters are being guided by my concern for a disabled woman in Florida, whose husband has been attempting to ensure that she is given a state approved death sentence. This woman, Theresa Schindler, collapsed suddenly on a Februray night in 1990. One possible explanation for her collapse was that of a heart attack brought on by a potassium imbalance. However, further testing at the hospital disproved that theory. Despite the lack of evidence that pointed to bulimia or potassium imbalance, Michael Schiavo was successful in suing Theresa's doctor over the alleged failure to diagnose that she was bulimic. He claimed that he loved his wife and needed the money to care for and rehabilitate her. However, as soon as the money was set aside in the trust fund, Michael Schiavo has been relentless in his pursuit of killing his wife. In order to carry out his plan, Michael Schiavo enlisted the help of George Felos, the lawyer who is known for his pro-euthanasia views. George and Michael have been plotting together to bring about the death of Theresa Schindler. Michael has made every possible effort to ensure that a proper investigation into the mysterious circumstances of Theresa's collapse are stymied. He has also stymied every effort to ensure that Theresa receives rehabilitation therapy or has the proper tests that are required to determine the level of her brain function. Enter onto the stage Dr. Crandon, a neurologist who is also a member of the Hemlock Society, and an active promoter of euthanasia. If you want an expert witness willing to diagnose that a patient is PVS then Dr. Crandon is the man who will, for a fee carry out your wish. He was selected by George Felos to be an expert witness on Theresa's condition. When Theresa was injured in 1990 a CT scan was performed in the emergency room. Since that time there has not been any further testing or scans. However, despite this lack of testing Dr. Crandon was able to diagnose that Theresa is in a Permanent Vegetative State, and that there was no chance of recovery. He then added such information as the cortex of her brain had liquified and that she had no sense of feeling, and could not interact with people around her. The video evidence of the testing by the Doctors representing the Schindlers has produced a very different result. This is the evidence that Michael Schiavo had been determined that no one else should witness. However, the Schindlers managed to publish the video to the web and millions of people have been able to see that Terri is not in a permanent vegetative state and that she is very much a viable living human being. This is a status that Michael Schiavo is denying for her. To add insult to injury, George Greer coached Michael Schiavo in what he needed to say in court as evidence that he remembered that Theresa had said that she would not want to live in a vegetative state, and that all he wanted to do is carry out his wife's wishes. However, he neglected to inform the court that he already had the funeral home prepared in advance for the day that he has eagerly waited when "that bitch" would be dead. The nurses at the nursing home where Theresa had resided before Michael had her illegally taken to Woodside hospice, have given an affadavit to the effect that Michael Schiavo had attempted to ensure that his wife died of natural causes, due to his neglect for her care. However, Theresa survived the early attempts of Michael to kill her off. In the end he had to go to the probate court to get permission to remove Theresa's feeding tube so that he could carry out a very cruel death sentence - starvation and dehydration. People get thrown into prison for treating animals in that fashion. As I have investigated this case I have discovered that the issues that I am describing are really only the surface issues. There are issues that have very wide ranging implications for the manner in which guardianships are conducted, especially in Pinellas County. There is a scandal brewing in Pinellas county that is going to lift the lid off of the abuses that are being perpetrated against the disabled, as well as he elderly. Michael Schiavo, as the guardian of Theresa has abused his powers by preventing her family from visiting and by ordering that she is not to receive any form of rehabilitative treatment. His actions are not the actions of a loving husband. What has this outline of the Schiavo case got to do with my quotes form Isaiah? One of the strong themes in the Book of Isaiah is the recognition that the wealthy class of Israel and Judea had been exploiting the more vulnerable within the society. There is nothing new in that statement because what happened in Isaiah's time is also happening in our own time. The people who are least able to care for themselves are being exploited by those who have rich and privileged positions. The Lord warned against the injustices of that time, but Israel did not listen to what the prophets were saying and eventually they were not able to overcome the arrival of Sennacharib, who defeated the king of Israel and carried the people into exile. Today, we face dangerous times. It is dangerous because we do not know when the terrorists might strike again. This is the point about the end of the times as we know them. There is no reason to believe that there will be a rapture as described by Scofield. That does not mean that we are not in an end times period. The behaviour that I have described above, is something that is repeated in the USA, as well as in other countries. Thousands of people are in danger from those who want to bring in state euthanasia.