Lisa Graas

Pax Christi South Seems Confused

2010-11-01T10:43:00.000-05:00

Today, we are struggling with the concept of Church. Is church the hierarchical, patriarchal, absolutist monarchical rule of the papacy and the curia that is fully intent on rolling back the reforms of Vatican II which defined Church as “the people of God,” a communio as in communion of saints. We are the Church. All the faithful—ordained and non-ordained—are the people of God.

Apparently, whoever wrote this is afraid of the very thing that brought me into the Faith. That is, knowing with absolute certainty what is true and what is not true; what is debatable and what is not debatable. Something tells me that the person who wrote this would have rebelled against Jesus Himself because He spoke with authority. Authority is not the enemy of the people of God. If it were, it would mean that Christ Himself is the enemy of the people of God.

We can see a clear example of authority in action in The Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 15, when people came down from Judea teaching error. St. Paul traveled over three hundred miles in the days before planes, trains and automobiles to the Church seated in Council in Jerusalem for a ruling on the matter, from the teaching spoken through St. Peter, the first Pope, confirmed by the Bishop of Jerusalem, St. James, that was then bound upon the entire Church worldwide.

This assurance has offered peace and unity for billions upon billions of faithful Christians for centuries. It's not part of the problem. It's part of the solution. Dissent is part of the problem.

What Reason TV Saw at the Stewart-Colbert 'Restore Sanity' Rally

2010-11-01T09:10:00.000-05:00

While I would argue that "he's not establishment" isn't a good enough reason to vote for someone, and since it's true that being an incumbent or having the support of incumbents is enough for the Tea Party movement to reject any candidate outright, giving no thought whatsoever to issues, this video from Reason.TV shows that there is no reason to believe that the Left in power now is any more sane than the far Right.

Very Early Photo of Cincinnati Waterfront Includes Images of People

2010-11-01T02:16:00.000-05:00

Photography is one of my favorite subjects, plus I'm a big history buff, too, so this story intrigued me.

Yahoo News: Very early photographic images of humans discovered

I tend to agree that the man on the left is behind the wall with his hand on his knee. Also, I don't think anyone else has mentioned, the one on the right appears to be African-American....and quite young, too, I think. They may be fishing. It's doubtful a thin fishing pole would show up on a photograph like this, but to have been still that long...it just seems to me they were probably fishing.

The Rand Paul Gravy Train Draws Near for Kentucky Political Bloggers

2010-11-01T01:47:00.000-05:00

CHA-CHING! It looks as though we're going to have lots of madness to blog about in Kentucky for the next six years.

From Talking Points Memo: Rand Paul Way Ahead

I think I'll start making out my Christmas list.

Happy Feast of All Saints - Litany of the Saints

2010-11-01T01:15:00.001-05:00

Today is the Feast of All Saints in which the Holy Catholic Church celebrates all the Saints, both known and unknown. This video is of the traditional Litany of the Saints as participated in by Sacred Heart Parish of Medford, Oregon, Easter Vigil Mass, 2007.

Learn more about the Saints at Saints.SQPN.com

Almighty and Everlasting God,
who dost enkindle the flame of Thy love in the hearts of the saints,
grant unto us the same faith and power of love;
that, as we rejoice in their triumphs
we may profit by their examples, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Catholics in Indonesia Suffer 'Heavy Losses' From Tsunami

2010-10-31T23:53:00.000-05:00

EWTN News reports:

The tsunami in the Indonesian islands of Metawai hit Catholic villages the hardest, the local Catholic bishop said. Reporting the “heavy losses” of the faithful, he described the relief action already underway and urged that the disaster victims maintain hope.

Read more here.

May God bless these relief efforts.

Dear Jewish Friends...

2010-10-31T15:27:00.000-05:00

To my dear Jewish friends,

I know you are upset about what you are hearing coming from voices in the Catholic Church these days, but especially the words of Archbishop Bustros. I do not have the words right now to speak on this matter, but I want you to know that my thoughts are as those of my fellow Catholic Robert Spencer who writes at Jihad Watch, particularly here.

See search results for "synod" at Jihad Watch for more.

This is the catechism which is the official teaching of the Catholic Church that I am bound to.

This is my own post at NewsRealBlog on what Vatican II had to say about Christians, Muslims and Jews which shows my understanding of what Catholics are to believe about our relationship with the Jews and what we are to believe about Judaism and Islam.

My trusted Jewish source for information on matters in the Middle East is Sultan Knish.

As many of you know, I have been caught up in many things, including very serious matters in Kentucky politics that could affect Israel, and the Catholic Left here in America, not to mention great personal sufferings and caring for four children. The best I can offer you at this time is the continued assurance of my love and hope that things will get better for Israel, not worse. That is my hope, and I do love all of you dearly.

Blessings to all of you.

An Explanation of How ObamaCare Funds Abortion

2010-10-31T14:58:00.000-05:00

Beware politicians making promises about abortion. It's important, when debating this issue, to know what you're talking about. This video explains how ObamaCare funds abortion.

BBC Covers Pagan Celebration

2010-10-31T13:10:00.000-05:00

Damian Thompson brings the sad news that the BBC is reporting on the celebration of paganism....or should we say "neo-paganism".

Telegraph: The BBC Sucks Up to Pagans

He writes of the "bogus pseudohistorical claims" propagated therein. Indeed.

Sigh and alas.

Here. Take one Litany of St. Michael the Archangel and call me in the morning.

Here I Am Lord with lyrics

2010-10-31T12:05:00.000-05:00

I will go where He wants.

Message to the People of God from the Middle East Synod of Bishops

2010-10-31T10:59:00.000-05:00

Below is the full statement via the Vatican, Message to the People of God, from the Middle East Synod of Bishops, found here. As previously noted, Archbishop Nustros's remarks which are causing such a fuss were not included in the final statement. The Pope will issue an apostolic letter on this issue in the future. We anxiously await this. (Please also see my post at NewsRealBlog from October 17: 15 Shocking Quotes from Catholic Bishops About Muslim Aggression in the Middle East)

MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE OF GOD

During the Fourteenth General Congregation held yesterday afternoon, Friday 22th October 2010, the Synod Fathers approved the Nuntius, the Message to the People of God, at the conclusion of the Special Assembly for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops.

The full text (written in Arabic, French, Italian and English) of the English version is published below:

“Now the company of those who believed were of one heart and soul” (Acts 4:32)

To our brother priests, deacons, monks, nuns, consecrated persons, our dear lay faithful and all people of good will.

Introduction

1.May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you.

The Synod of Bishops for the Middle East was for us a new Pentecost. “Pentecost is the original event but also a permanent dynamism, and the Synod of Bishops is a privileged moment in which the grace of Pentecost may be renewed in the Church’s journey” (Pope Benedict XVI, Homily at the Opening Liturgy, 10 October 2010).

We have come to Rome, We the Patriarchs and Bishops of the Catholic Churches in the Middle East with all our spiritual, liturgical, cultural and canonical patrimonies, carrying in our hearts the concerns of our people.

For the very first time, we have come together in a Synod, gathered around His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, with both cardinals and archbishops, who are heads of the various offices in the Roman Curia, presidents of episcopal conferences around the world, who are concerned with the issues of the Middle East, representatives from the Orthodox Churches and ecclesial communities and Jewish and Muslim guests.

We express our gratitude to His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI for his care and for his teachings, which guide the journey of the Church in general and that of our Eastern Churches in particular, especially in the areas of justice and peace. We thank the episcopal conferences for their solidarity, their presence in our midst during their pilgrimages to the holy sites and their visits to our communities. We thank them for guiding our Churches in the various aspects of our life. We thank the different ecclesial organisations for their effective assistance.

Guided by the Holy Scriptures and the living Tradition, we have reflected together on the present and the future of Christians and all peoples of the Middle East. We have meditated on the issues of this region of the world which God willed, in the mystery of his love, to be the birthplace of his universal plan of salvation. From there, Abraham’s vocation was initiated. There, the Word of God, Jesus Christ, took flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit. There, Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of life and the kingdom. There, he died to redeem humanity and free us from sin. There, he rose from the dead to give new life to all. There, the Church was formed and went forth to proclaim the Gospel of Christ to the world.

The primary aim of the Synod is pastoral. Thus, we have carried in our hearts the life, the pains and the hopes of our people as well as the challenges they need to confront each day “because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us” (Rm 5:5). Dear sisters and brothers, we therefore address this message to you. We wish it to be an appeal to safeguard the faith, based on the Word of God, to collaboration in unity and to communion in the witness of love in every aspect of life.

I. The Church in the Middle East: Communion and Witness throughout History

The Journey of Faith in the Middle East

2. In the Middle East, the first Christian community was born. From there, the apostles after Pentecost went evangelising the whole world. There, the early Christian community lived amid tensions and persecutions, “they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42), and no one of them was in need. There, the first martyrs, with their blood, fortified the foundations of the nascent Church. After them, the hermits filled the deserts with the perfume of their holiness and their faith. There, the Fathers of the Eastern Church lived and continued to nourish the Church in both the East and West through their teachings. In the early centuries and later, missionaries from our Churches departed for the Far East and the West, bringing with them the light of Christ. We are the heirs of that heritage. We need to continue to transmit their message to future generations.

In the past, Our Churches provided saints, priests and consecrated persons; they still do in the present. Our Churches have also sponsored many institutions which contributed - and still do - to the well being of our societies and countries, sacrificing self for the sake of the human person, who is created to the image of God and is the bearer of his likeness. Some of our Churches continue to send out missionaries who carry the Word of God to many places in the world. The pastoral, apostolic and missionary needs mandate us to put together a pastoral master-plan to promote vocations to the priesthood and religious life in order to ensure the Church of tomorrow.

We are now at a turning point in our history: The God who has given us the faith in our Eastern lands 2000 years ago, calls us today to persevere with courage, strength and steadfastness in bearing the message of Christ and witnessing to his Gospel, the Gospel of love and peace.

Challenges and Aspirations

3.1. Today, we face many challenges. The first comes from within ourselves and our Churches. We are asked by Christ to accept our faith and to apply it to all situations in our lives. What he asks from our Churches is to strengthen the communion within every Church sui iuris and that of the Catholic Churches of various traditions, and to exert every effort in prayer and charitable acts in order to attain the full unity of all Christians so as to fulfil the prayer of Christ: “that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (Jn 17:21).

3.2. The second challenge comes from the outside, namely, political conditions, security in our countries and religious pluralism.

We have evaluated the social situation and the public security in all our countries in the Middle East. We have taken account of the impact of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the whole region, especially on the Palestinians who are suffering the consequences of the Israeli occupation: the lack of freedom of movement, the wall of separation and the military checkpoints, the political prisoners, the demolition of homes, the disturbance of socio-economic life and the thousands of refugees. We have reflected on the suffering and insecurity in which Israelis live. We have meditated on the situation of the holy city of Jerusalem. We are anxious about the unilateral initiatives that threaten its composition and risk to change its demographic balance. With all this in mind, we see that a just and lasting peace is the only salvation for everyone and for the good of the region and its peoples.

3.3. We have reflected in our meetings and in our prayers the keen sufferings of the Iraqi people. We have recalled the Christians assassinated in Iraq, the continued suffering of the Church in Iraq and her sons who have been displaced and dispersed throughout the world, bringing with them the concerns for their land and their fatherland. The synod fathers have expressed their solidarity with the people and the Churches in Iraq and have expressed their desire that the emigrants, forced to leave their country, might find in the welcoming countries the necessary support to be able to return to their homeland and live in security.

3.4. We have extensively treated relations between Christians and Muslims. All of us share a common citizenship in our countries. Here we want to affirm, according to our Christian vision, a fundamental principle which ought to govern our relations, namely, God wants us to be Christians in and for our Middle Eastern societies. This is God’s plan for us. This is our mission and vocation - to live as Christians and Muslims together. Our actions in this area will be guided by the commandment of love and by the power of the Spirit within us.

The second principle which governs our relations is the fact that we are an integral part of our societies. Our mission, based on our faith and our duty to our home countries, obliges us to contribute to the construction of our countries as fellow-citizens, Muslims, Jews and Christians alike.

II. Communion and Witness Within the Catholic Churches of the Middle East

To the Faithful of Our Churches

4.1. Jesus says to us: “You are the salt of the earth, the light of the world” (Mt 5:13.14). Your mission in our societies, beloved faithful, through faith, hope and love, is to be like “salt” which gives savour and meaning to life; to be like “light” by proclaiming the truth which scatters the darkness; and to be like the “leaven” which transforms hearts and minds. The first Christians of Jerusalem were few in number, yet they were able to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth because of the grace of “the Lord who acted with them and confirmed their Word by signs” (Mk 16:20).

4.2. We want to greet you, Christians of the Middle East, and we thank you for all you have achieved in your families and societies, in your Churches and nations. We commend you for your perseverance in times of adversity, suffering and anguish.

4.3. Dear priests, our co-workers in the mission of catechesis, liturgy and pastoral work, we renew our friendship and our trust in you. Continue to transmit to your faithful with zeal and perseverance the Gospel of life and Church’s tradition through your preaching, catechesis, spiritual direction and the good example of your lives. Build up the faith of the People of God to make of it a civilisation of love. Provide the sacraments to the People of God so that this People might aspire to be renewed. Gather them together in the union of love by the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Dear consecrated men and women in the world, we express to you our gratitude and with you we thank God for the gift of the evangelical counsels – of consecrated chastity, of poverty and obedience – through which you have made the gift of yourselves as you follow Christ, the special love to whom you long to witness. It is thanks to your diverse apostolic initiatives that you are the true treasure and wealth of our Churches and a spiritual oasis in our parishes, dioceses and missions.

We unite ourselves spiritually to hermits, to monks and nuns who have dedicated their lives to prayer in contemplative monasteries, sanctifying the hours of day and night, carrying the Church’s concerns and needs to God in their prayers. You offer the world a sign of hope through the witness of your life.

4.4. We express to you, faithful lay people, our esteem and our friendship. We appreciate everything you do for your families and societies, your Churches and home countries. Remain steadfast amidst trials and difficulties. We are filled with gratitude to the Lord for the charisms and talents which he has showered you and which equip you to participate, through the power of your baptism and chrismations, in the Church’s mission and her apostolic work to permeate the temporal world with the spirit and values of the Gospel. We invite you to give the witness of an authentic Christian life, of a conscientious religious practice and of good morals. Have the courage objectively to proclaim the truth.

Those of you who suffer in body, in soul and spirit, the oppressed, those forced from your homes, the persecuted, prisoners and detainees, we carry you all in our prayers. Unite your suffering to that of Christ the Redeemer and seek in his cross patience and strength. By the merit of your sufferings, you gain God’s merciful love.

We greet each of our Christian families and we look upon your vocation and mission with esteem as a living cell of society and a natural school of virtue and ethical and human values, the “domestic Church” which transmits the practices of prayer and of faith from one generation to the next. We thank parents and grandparents for the education of their children and grandchildren, who, like Jesus grow “in wisdom, in stature and grace in the sight of God and men” (Lk 2:52). We commit ourselves to the defence of the family through our pastoral programmes on its behalf, through marriage preparation courses and centres, open to all but mainly to couples in difficulty, where they can be welcomed and obtain counseling, and by defending the fundamental rights of the family.

We now wish to speak to the women of our Churches in a special way. We express to you our appreciation for what you are in the various states of life: girls, mothers, educators, consecrated women and those who engaged in public life. We revere you, because you harbour human life within you from its very beginnings, giving it care and tenderness. God has given you a special sensitivity for everything that pertains to education, humanitarian work and the apostolic life. We give thanks to God for your activities and we hope that you will be able to exercise greater responsibility in public life.

Young women and men, we look to you with the same love which Christ had for the young man in the Gospel (cf. Mk 10:21). You are the potential and renewing force for the future of our Churches, our communities and our countries. Plan your life under the loving gaze of Christ. Be responsible citizens and sincere believers. The Church joins you in your desire to find work commensurate with your talents, work which will help to stimulate your creativity, providing for your future and making possible the formation of a family of believers. Overcome the temptation of materialism and consumerism. Be strong in your Christian values.

We greet the heads of Catholic institutions of education. Pursue excellence and the Christian spirit in your teaching and education. Aim at the consolidation of a culture of harmonious living and concern for the poor and disabled. In spite of the challenges which confront your institutions, we invite you to maintain them, so as to further the Church’s educative mission and to promote the development and common good of our societies.

We address with great esteem those who work in the social sector. In your institutions you are at the service of charity. We encourage and support you in this mission of development, guided by the rich social teaching of the Church. Through your work, you strengthen the bonds of fellowship between people and serve the poor, the marginalised, the sick, refugees and prisoners without discrimination. You are guided by the words of the Lord Jesus: “Everything you do to one of these little ones, you do it to me!” (Mt 25:40).

We look with hope to prayer groups and apostolic movements. They are schools where our faith can mature and we can be given the strength to live that faith in family and society. We appreciate their activities in parishes and dioceses and their support for pastors, in accordance with the Church’s directives. We thank God for these groups and movements which are active cells in the parish and seed-beds for vocations to both the priesthood and the consecrated life.

We appreciate the role of the means of social communication, both printed and audio-visual. We thank you journalists for your collaboration with the Church in broadcasting her teachings and activities and, over the course of these days, for having given global news coverage to the Special Assembly for the Middle East of the Synod.

We are pleased with the contribution of the media, both international and Catholic. With regard to the Middle East, Télé Lumiere-Noursat merits a special mention. We hope it will be able to continue its service of providing information and forming the faith, of working on behalf of Christian unity, of consolidating the Christian presence in the Middle East, of strengthening interreligious dialogue and the communion of all peoples of Middle Eastern origin, presently in every part of the globe.

To Our Faithful in the Diaspora

5. Emigration has become a generalised phenomenon by Christians, Muslims and Jews alike. All emigrate for reasons arising from political and economic instability. However, Christians also emigrate from a sense of insecurity, in varying degrees, in many Middle Eastern countries. May Christians have trust in the future and continue to live in their dear countries.

We send our greetings to you, members of our Churches in the various countries of the Diaspora. We ask you to keep alive in your hearts and concerns the memory of your countries and your Churches. You can contribute to their development and their growth by your prayers, your thoughts, your visits and by various other means, despite the fact that you are far from the Middle East.

Look at your goods and your properties in your home country; do not abandon and sell them too quickly. Keep them as your patrimony and as a piece of the homeland to which you remain attached, a homeland which you love and support. The land is part of a person's identity and his mission. It is a vital aspect of the lives of those who remain there and for those who one day will return there. The land is a public good, a good of the community and a common patrimony. It should not be reduced to a question of individual interests on the part of those who own it and who alone decide, according to their desires, to keep or abandon it.

We accompany you with our prayers, you the children of our Churches and of our countries, forced to emigrate. Bear with you your faith, your culture and your patrimony, so as to enrich your new countries which provide you with peace, freedom and work. Look towards the future with confidence and joy. Hold fast to your spiritual values, to your cultural traditions and to your national patrimony, in order to offer to the countries which welcome you the best of yourselves and the best of that which you have. We thank the Churches of the countries of the Diaspora which have received our faithful and unceasingly collaborate with us to ensure the necessary pastoral services for them.

To the Migrants in Our Countries and Our Churches

6. We send our greetings to all immigrants of varying nationalities, who have come to our countries seeking employment.

We welcome you, beloved faithful, and we see your faith as a source of enrichment and a support for the faithful of our Churches. We joyously provide you with every spiritual assistance you might need.

We ask our Churches to pay special attention to these brothers and sisters and their difficulties, whatever may be their religion, especially when their rights and dignity are subject to abuse. They come to us not simply to seek the means for living but offer the services which our countries need. Their dignity comes from God. Like every human person, they have rights which must be respected. No one should violate those rights. That is why we call upon the various governments which receive them to respect and defend their rights.

Communion and Witness Together with the Orthodox and Protestant Communities in the Middle East

7. We send our greetings to the Orthodox and Protestant Communities in our countries. Together we work for the good of all Christians, that they may remain, grow and prosper. We share the same journey. Our challenges are the same and our future is the same. We wish to bear witness together as disciples of Christ. Only through our unity can we accomplish the mission that God has entrusted to us, despite the differences among our Churches. The prayer of Christ is our support; the commandment of love unites us, even if the road towards full communion is still distant for us.

We have walked together in the Middle East Council of Churches and we wish, with God’s grace, to continue on this path and to promote its activity, having as an ultimate goal a common testimony to our faith, the service of our faithful and of all our countries. We acknowledge and encourage all initiatives for ecumenical dialogue in each of our countries.

We express our gratitude to the World Council of Churches and to the different ecumenical organisations which work for the unity of the Churches and for their support.

IV. Cooperation and Dialogue with Our Fellow-Citizens, the Jews

8. The same Scriptures unite us; the Old Testament, the Word of God is for both you and us. We believe all that God revealed there, since he called Abraham, our common father in the faith, Father of Jews, of Christians and of Muslims. We believe in the promises of God and his covenant given to Abraham and to you. We believe that the Word of God is eternal.

The Second Vatican Council published the document Nostra aetate which treats interreligious dialogue with Judaism, Islam and the other religions. Other documents have subsequently clarified and developed the relationship with Judaism. On-going dialogue is taking place between the Church and the representatives of Judaism. We hope that this dialogue can bring us to work together to press those in authority to put and end to the political conflict which results in separating us and disrupting everyday life in our countries.

It is time for us to commit ourselves together to a sincere, just and permanent peace. Both Christians and Jews are called to this task by the Word of God. In his Word, we are invited us to listen to the voice of God “who speaks of peace”: “Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his holy ones” (Ps 85:9). Recourse to theological and biblical positions which use the Word of God to wrongly justify injustices is not acceptable. On the contrary, recourse to religion must lead every person to see the face of God in others and to treat them according to their God-given prerogatives and God’s commandments, namely, according to God's bountiful goodness, mercy, justice and love for us.

V. Cooperation and Dialogue with Our Fellow-Citizens, the Muslims

9. We are united by the faith in one God and by the commandment that says: do good and avoid evil. The words of the Second Vatican Council on the relations with other religions offer the basis for the relationship between the Catholic Church and the Muslims: “The Church regards with esteem also the Muslims. They adore the one God, living and subsisting in Himself; merciful and all- powerful, the Creator of heaven and earth, who has spoken to men” (Nostra aetate 3).

We say to our Muslim fellow-citizens: we are brothers and sisters; God wishes us to be together, united by one faith in God and by the dual commandment of love of God and neighbour. Together we will construct our civil societies on the basis of citizenship, religious freedom and freedom of conscience. Together we will work for the promotion of justice, peace, the rights of persons and the values of life and of the family. The construction of our countries is our common responsibility. We wish to offer to the East and to the West a model of coexistence between different religions and of positive collaboration between different civilisations for the good of our countries and that of all humanity.

Since the appearance of Islam in the seventh century and to the present, we have lived together and we have collaborated in the creation of our common civilisation. As in the past and still existent today, some imbalances are present in our relations. Through dialogue we must avoid all imbalances and misunderstandings. Pope Benedict XVI tells us that our dialogue must not be a passing reality. It is rather a vital necessity on which our future depends (Pope Benedict XVI, Meeting with Representatives from the Muslim Communities, Cologne, 20 August 2005). Our duty then is to educate believers concerning interreligious dialogue, the acceptance of pluralism and mutual esteem.

VI. Our Participation in Public Life: An Appeal to the Governments and to the Political Leadership in Our Countries

10. We appreciate the efforts which have been expended for the common good and the service to our societies. You are in our prayers and we ask God to guide your steps. We address you regarding the importance of equality among all citizens. Christians are original and authentic citizens who are loyal to their fatherland and assume their duties towards their country. It is natural that they should enjoy all the rights of citizenship, freedom of conscience, freedom of worship and freedom in education, teaching and the use of the mass media.

We appeal to you to redouble your efforts to establish a just and lasting peace throughout the region and to stop the arms race, which will lead to security and economic prosperity and stop the hemorrhage of emigration which empties our countries of its vital forces. Peace is a precious gift entrusted by God to human family, whose members are to be “peacemakers who will be called children of God” (Mt 5:9).

VII. Appeal to the International Community

11. The citizens of the countries of the Middle East call upon the international community, particularly the United Nations conscientiously to work to find a peaceful, just and definitive solution in the region, through the application of the Security Council’s resolutions and taking the necessary legal steps to put an end to the occupation of the different Arab territories.

The Palestinian people will thus have an independent and sovereign homeland where they can live with dignity and security. The State of Israel will be able to enjoy peace and security within their internationally recognized borders. The Holy City of Jerusalem will be able to acquire its proper status, which respects its particular character, its holiness and the religious patrimony of the three religions: Jewish, Christian and Muslim. We hope that the two-State-solution might become a reality and not a dream only.

Iraq will be able to put an end to the consequences of its deadly war and re-establish a secure way of life which will protect all its citizens with all their social structures, both religious and national.

Lebanon will be able to enjoy sovereignty over its entire territory, strengthen its national unity and carry on in its vocation to be the model of coexistence between Christians and Muslims, of dialogue between different cultures and religions, and of the promotion of basic public freedoms.

We condemn violence and terrorism from wherever it may proceed as well as all religious extremism. We condemn all forms of racism, anti-Semitism, anti-Christianism and Islamophobia and we call upon the religions to assume their responsibility to promote dialogue between cultures and civilisations in our region and in the entire world.

Conclusion: Continue to Bear Witness to the Divine Path That Has Been Shown to Us in the Person of Jesus

12. Brothers and sisters, in closing, we say with the St. John the Apostle: “What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we looked upon and touched with our hands concerns the Word of life for the life was made visible; we have seen it and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was made visible to us what we have seen and heard we proclaim now to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; for our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.”(1 Jn 1:1-3).

This Divine Life which has appeared to the apostles over 2000 years ago in the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ and to which the Church has witnessed throughout the course of her history will always remain the life of our Churches in the Middle East and the object of our witness, sustained by the promise of the Lord:“Behold, I am with you always, until the end of the time” (Mt 28:20). Together we proceed on our journey with hope,“and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us” (Rm 5:5).

We confess that, until now, we have not done what is possible to better live communion in our communities. We have not done enough to better live communion among our communities. We have not done everything possible to confirm you in your faith and to give you the spiritual nourishment you need in your difficulties. The Lord invites us to a conversion as individuals and communities.

Today we return to you full of hope, strength and resolution, bearing with us the message of the Synod and its recommendations in order to study them together and to put them into practice in our Churches, each one according to the Church’s states of life. We hope also that this new effort might be ecumenical.

We make a humble and sincere appeal to you, that together we might embark on the road of conversion, allowing ourselves to be renewed through the grace of the Holy Spirit and again draw close to God.

To the Most Holy Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church and Queen of Peace, under whose protection we have accomplished our Synodal task, we entrust our journey towards new, Christian horizons in the faith of Christ and through the power of his word: “Behold, I make all things new” (Rev 21:5).

Michael Geer's Incompetent Post at American Thinker on 'The Vatican'

2010-10-30T22:46:00.000-05:00

Michael Geer's post at American Thinker entitled "Stunning" is stunningly ignorant.

Please read this article at Catholic Culture: Israel, American Jewish Committee blast synod remarks

Key point:

The synod’s final message-- contrary to some media reports-- did not include Archbishop Bustros’s remarks.

Also, one remark by one bishop is not "The Vatican".

Read the full article at Catholic Culture, and next time, Mr. Geer, do a little research before you go off claiming "The Vatican" said something "stunning".

I think American Thinker should pull that article. Its incompetence is inexcusable and, personally, as a Catholic, I'm offended.

We all await the Pope's apostolic letter which is forthcoming. I hope Geer will find it "stunning" in a different way.

Are Some People Really This Evil?

2010-10-30T20:54:00.000-05:00

Yes, some people really are this evil. I know, he "allegedly" did it, and he is innocent until proven guilty.....but...

WHAS-11: Southern Indiana man jailed for allegedly pouring scalding water on 2-year-old

We have to start talking more about basic human dignity, folks. We have to start caring more about the dignity of the human person, especially little ones. That's all there is to it. I promise you, this child is not thinking about bailouts tonight. What are you all thinking when you say America's money problems are the biggest issue?

A Video Tribute to All the Saints

2010-10-30T18:35:00.000-05:00

Here is a video tribute to all the saints, by davemyers1977

Song: Lifesong by Casting Crowns

Katie Stine's Positive Leadership Shows Through in Her Campaign

2010-10-30T17:50:00.001-05:00

I have to admit that I was a little concerned when I found out about the leftist opposition to pro-life Senator Katie Stine in Kentucky's 24th State Senate district, but I should have known better. She's just as positive and hard-working as ever. Check out her latest "week in review" below. Very impressive. She's an inspiration.

Pro-lifers please help get out the vote for Katie Stine on November 2nd. She's one of our greatest champions in Frankfort.

Katie Stine's Week in Review, October 28:

This has been a busy few weeks in Frankfort and at home. Besides continuing with my Back to School visits to my district’s school children sponsored by the bipartisan National Conference of State Legislature, I attended legislative meeting in locations ranging from Louisville to Lexington as well as Frankfort.

The Task Force on Medicaid Cost Containment met on both Monday and Tuesday. We continue to question the Administration about their plans on how to address the pending Medicaid shortfall but have yet to receive an answer. The Attorney General’s Office also appeared in front of the committee where they informed us that they, unlike the previous Attorney General, hadn’t filed any lawsuits against drug companies for unfair pricing practices since 2004. The Cabinet for Health and Family Services testified on their anti-fraud efforts which appear to be very decentralized and frankly, inefficient. It does seem like our task force has our work cut out for us. The unfortunate fact of the matter is that we as a General Assembly cannot act until January. It is incumbent on the Administration to implement cost-cutting measures because the longer we delay during this fiscal year, the more magnified the eventual cuts will be. Urging action has been a bipartisan call during each of these meetings.

On Wednesday, the Interim joint Committee on Health and Welfare met in Louisville where we heard from several doctors about breakthrough cancer research being done at the University of Louisville. There are many exciting educational opportunities occurring at this state university. Another interesting point about the meeting, I thought, was testimony we received from Dr. Demetra Antimisiaris, Director of Geriatric Pharmacotherapy at U of L. She discussed the dangers in taking too many prescribed drugs without coordination. All too often, our older citizens are struggling against multiple ailments that are managed by different providers prescribing different medications. Many don’t realize that the drugs have counterindications and may not mix well. Pharmaceutical management – or comprehensively coordinating drug prescriptions – benefits everyone and Medicaid itself would benefit from this since it would lower costs and improve care.

Thursday I was in Lexington for a joint meeting of the Economic Development and Tourism Committee and the Labor and Industry Committee. The Executive Director of the Horse Park provided a briefing on the economic impact of the World Equestrian Games (WEG). Many of the schools in our district took advantage of the free admission for school-children to attend. It was great exposure for Kentucky and John Nicholson, the executive director, stated that the WEG infrastructure improvements will help Kentucky remain the horse capital of the world for the next 50 to 100 years.

Finally, on Friday, I was honored to speak at the dedication of the new Justice Center in Pendleton County. It is appropriate that the people of Pendleton County be afforded a safe and accessible place to have their legal concerns addressed. This new facility is handicapped-accessible and has important safety measures in place to protect everyone who enters. Justice
should be fair and accessible to all.

As I have been walking door- to- door I have been honored by how many folks seem to know who I am before I have the chance to identify myself. Often they will open the door and say, “Katie, what are you doing here?”, before I can even introduce myself. Sometimes when I manage to introduce myself they will laugh and say,” I know who you are!” It’s, not unusual for kids to recognize me from having visited at their school. The other day several little girls in an Alexandria neighborhood came running out of their house yelling my name and I was really amazed to have them hug me in the middle of the street. It has meant the world to me to be greeted with such love and generosity of spirit. I was particularly touched by the mom in Bellevue the other night who came down the street where I was going door- to- door to meet me. Her two kids had won the award that I give out each year to students who are particularly hard workers and routinely give 110% in school. She thanked me for “always being there for Bellevue schools”. We rejoiced together that her kids had won scholarships to college because of the great job that she and her husband had done raising them. It was a great night!

Senator Katie Stine on Facebook

Family First Endorses Paul Hornback for Kentucky's 20th State Senate District

2010-10-30T17:36:00.000-05:00

Family First Kentucky has joined with Kentucky Right to Life Association to endorse Shelby County farmer Paul Hornback for State Senate in Kentucky's 20th State Senate District. Below is a statement from Gwen McCoy Kik, Chairperson, Family First Kentucky. Click here for a map of the 20th Senate District. Help this pro-life candidate win on November 2.

After speaking personally with Paul Hornback, and reviewing the record of his opponent, I am convinced that a vote for Hornback is a vote for Kentucky families.

Paul is a firm supporter of the sanctity of human life and the traditional family. As a farmer, Paul Hornback understands the governmental burdens created for Kentucky farmers and small-businesses, and he wants to make Kentucky business-friendly - creating jobs and limiting the tax burden on business AND families.

Hornback will stand up for Kentucky business, Kentucky farmers and Kentucky values!

Visit Paul Hornback's website.

Maysville Ledger-Independent Profiles Dr. Jack Ditty

2010-10-30T17:21:00.000-05:00

Dr. Jack Ditty is the pro-life candidate for State Senate in Kentucky's 18th Senate District. The Maysville Ledger-Independent has an article about him online here. His opponent, Robin Webb, did vote for the pro-life ultrasound bill, SB38, but she has consistently held a pro-abortion position. I encourage pro-lifers in the 18th Senate district to help get out the vote for Dr. Jack Ditty on November 2nd.

Visit Jack Ditty's webpage.

Click here for a map of the 18th State Senate district.

Read the article about Jack Ditty at the Maysville Ledger-Independent.

Folks to Follow on Twitter

2010-10-30T16:48:00.001-05:00

It's been a while since I did a post recognizing some favorites on Twitter, so here goes.

First, RuBegonia earns a huge honorable mention for this tweet.

@Rubegonia - Ruby Red Watchdog - searching for some dog sense and a good WOOFAW

http://www.rubegonia.net

@bapartofmylife - Pro-choice but also pro-Israel and agrees with me that Ron and Rand Paul are bad news for Israel. Independent, Jewish, blogger.

@theanchoress - Contributing Writer First Things Magazine; Catholic Portal Manager, Patheos.com. Blogs on Religion, Politics, Baseball; Benedictine Oblate

http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/theanchoress/

@snappperhead - Liberals,for arguments sake lets say U *inherited* this.ask yourselves WHY CANT U FIX IT? proud Husband of @the_Q_is

@catholicmominHI - I'm a SAHM in Hawaii and I LOVE God, the Catholic Church, My Family and the USA...and animals

http://hicatholicmom.blogspot.com

@justsnapd8 - Proudly conservative & ProLife. Not here to buy anything. I block all who diss my God and Jesus, or religion.

http://justsnapd8.wordpress.com

@thepresenceusa - Joshua Koch, editor of Ky Freedom Digest

@louiseallain - Girl with a soft, romantic heart, a single mother of 2 dear children who loves beautiful things, good manners and living in London. I am a RC and am prolife.

@ericatwitts - RN,med-surg oncology. Faith based hospital. Devout Catholic.Passionate Conservative and Patriot. Visit~A PATRIOTIC NURSE~#TCOT #SGP #TWISTERS

http://ericatwitts.wordpress.com

Find more on my Twitter Dailies -- Full Stream, ProLife Courier, Opinion Juggernaut, and ConservaThink Daily.

Our Choices in Kentucky's U.S. Senate Race

2010-10-30T16:21:00.001-05:00

From the Facebook page of Sha Ren. Hat-tip, Joshua Koch.

We Are The Catholic Vote

2010-10-30T11:51:00.000-05:00

We Are the Catholic Vote is a video by CatholicVote.org to encourage Catholics to get out and vote on November 2nd! See CatholicVote's endorsed candidates here.

Here are my recommendations: Who Catholics Should Vote For in Kentucky's State and Federal Elections

Hat-tip, Jeff Cavins for the tip on the video.

Follow Jeff Cavins on Twitter.

Follow CatholicVote on Twitter.

Follow LisaGraas on Twitter.

Visit Jeff Cavins ' webpage.

Visit CatholicVote.org

Pro-Lifers Have a Real Chance to Defeat Boswell in Kentucky's 8th Senate District

2010-10-30T10:55:00.001-05:00

A recent article in the Richmond Register highlights party conflict in the battle for control of Kentucky's State Senate. Pro-life voters should not ignore the very real dangers of having a Democratic-controlled State Senate. Make no mistake, there is arm-twisting going on behind closed doors in Frankfort from Democratic power brokers who expect Democratic State Senators to hold with the party on the abortion issue. David Boswell claims to be pro-life, but he does not have the pro-life convictions to stand against his party consistently, at all times and in all places, to protect life. The State Senate in Kentucky MUST remain in Republican hands. Further, I have to be honest, if you asked me which current State Senator I would most like to see defeated, it would be David Boswell, without a doubt.

It's a crying shame that Catholic voters keep electing David Boswell election after election when he has fundamentally failed to work with pro-lifers in Kentucky to make a stand against the Democratic arm-twisting in the State Senate to ensure prompt passage of pro-life legislation. True, he has a pro-life voting record, but we need more than that. We need true leadership so that Democrats who happen to be pro-life are not cowering in fear of the Democratic party machine.

I hope that pro-lifers in the 8th Senate District, especially my fellow Catholics, will turn a listening ear to the KRLA-endorsed candidate in this race, Joe Bowen. He is the strong pro-life candidate in this race and it would make me so very happy to see Boswell replaced with a pro-life leader.

Visit Joe Bowen's website.

Joe Bowen on Facebook.

UPDATE: Here's Joe Bowen's tv ad.

Family First Endorses Jack Whitfield for Kentucky's 6th Senate District

2010-10-30T10:30:00.000-05:00

Both Kentucky Right to Life Association (my favorite Kentucky group) and Family First Kentucky have endorsed Jack Whitfield for Kentucky's 6th Senate District. Below is Family First's endorsement announcement.

After speaking the candidate and reviewing the record of his opponent, we are convinced that Jack Whitfield is the best candidate for District 6 in the Kentucky State Senate. Jack is a man of conviction, who will be an advocate for family values. He will not only vote pro-life, but he vows to fight for bills that will protect the unborn. He will also defend traditional marriage - between one man and one woman.

If given the opportunity, Jack will urge the Attorney General to join the efforts by other states to repeal President Obama’s Health Care Reform Bill.

Lastly, Jack Whitfield does not believe that gambling is the answer to the State’s budget crisis, but instead he would work to reduce taxes and review the State budget for waste, fraud and abuse.

Jack knows what it’s like to get up before the sun every morning and go into the mines. Jack also knows how to create jobs to get more people working.

Jack knows what Western Kentucky needs and he will get the job done.

Please help get out the vote for Jack Whitfield on November 2. Click here for a .pdf showing a map of this district.

Jack Whitfield on Facebook.

NKY Tea Party Ad Raises Campaign Finance Questions

2010-10-30T10:01:00.001-05:00

Amanda Van Benschoten reports on some questions being raised about an ad paid for by the Northern Kentucky Tea Party.

Please read the whole thing, but a few key points stick out to me.

Charlie Walton, a Boone County Commission candidate and former state legislator, has attended several Boone County Tea Party meetings. Despite being lauded at those meetings as a strong supporter of the group’s core values, he was not included in the ad.

“I’m not surprised by anything in politics,” Walton said. “I can guarantee you my voting record is more conservative than anyone’s on that list.”

If true, I think this is a valid complaint. I'm not referring to the legal sense but just in regard to the question of basic fairness. Mind you, don't read that as support or non-support for Charlie Walton as a candidate. I'm referring only to this one point he makes. If the Tea Party is "leaderless", then it's not clear to me how the group can put out information that contradicts the views of some of its members or otherwise do things that result in the suppression of voting for some who do espouse Tea Party values. Whether or not Charlie Walton himself fits that description is beside the point I'm trying to make here, mind you. I'm speaking in terms of general policy.

Another key point:

Regarding a ballot initiative dealing with a change from county commissioners to justices of the peace in Campbell County, the ad encourages readers to “Vote Yes” on the issue.

There's a distinction between educating voters on what a proposed measure is about and telling them how they should vote on it.

Another point:

Neace said a recent change in leadership at the Northern Kentucky Tea Party may have signaled a shift in its objectives. Flaig was chosen in August to replace Willie Schadler as president of the group.

This information should raise some eyebrows, but just enough to encourage voters to get in touch with the organizers, former and current, at NKY Tea Party and just ask them what their views are on these things. One shouldn't just assume that because there's been a leadership change that the vision of the organization has changed, but one shouldn't assume the contrary either. I would recommend that anyone in the area who wants to know what the organization is about should contact current and former organizers and make up their own minds about what's going on there.

Having said all that, the absolute best thing to do would be to talk to the candidates themselves about where they stand on the issues that are important to you and then make up your mind about them.

Do read the whole article. It's important that the law be followed. I'm not suggesting there's anything fishy going on, but responsible citizens should use their best judgment. Let's all work together to make sure everything is on the up and up.

KDP Ad Attacking Alice Forgy Kerr Misrepresenting Her Record

2010-10-30T09:21:00.000-05:00

Pro-life State Senator Alice Forgy Kerry is a real threat to the pro-abortion lobby here in Kentucky so it's important that pro-lifers in her district stand with her to help get out the vote on election day. An appalling smear from Kerr's opponent and the Kentucky Democratic Party is all the more reason to stand up and make a difference for her campaign.

According to a report at Bluegrass Politics, an ad paid for by the Kentucky Democratic Party is attacking Kerr for ostensibly failing to miss key votes. But the ad's source, KentuckyVotes.org, does not show the complete picture, according to Kerr.

She said that KentuckyVotes.org, the source of the information in the ad, is not accurate because it does not reflect the paperwork she filed to record her votes at a later date.

“I’ve cast 3,845 floor votes representing Fayette County in the Senate,” Kerr said.

Her opponent's campaign has even started a website that copies images from her official website which seems to be an attempt to confuse voters about whose website they are really on. It's unclear to me why Kerr's Democratic opposition forces believe voters are going to prefer a candidate who uses dirty tricks to an honorable one whose voting record is not at all what they claim it to be.

Trust me when I say it's ludicrous to suggest they're concerned about Kerr missing votes. What they are really concerned about is that she DOES vote and she votes in the way that stands in the way of their destructive agenda.

Please help get the word out about this behavior on the part of Kerr's opponent. Is this the kind of trickery we want to see from our servants in Frankfort? I think not.

Reject the lies! Visit Alice Forgy Kerr's real website and show your support by helping to get out the vote for Alice Forgy Kerr.

Monsignor Ignacio Barreiro-Carámbula: Why Marriage Can't Be Anything Other than What It Is

2010-10-29T22:06:00.000-05:00

Some people think of marriage as nothing more than what we find in the Sesame Street explanation. Anything else goes. Watch the Sesame Street version that offers the same definition of marriage that some adults today hold to. Then read on below it for a fuller explanation of real marriage and why it can't be destroyed.

At Human Life International, Monsignor Ignacio Barreiro-Carámbula explains Why Marriage Can't Be Anything Other than What It Is.

Marriage is a permanent, faithful union between a man and a woman. It is necessarily open to life, creating the proper setting not only for sexual union between spouses, but also for giving birth to, raising, and educating children. As such it is a natural institution and genesis of the family, the most basic element of any society. No matter how some may clamor that this natural view of marriage is somehow oppressive or restricting, they cannot change its basic biological, societal and spiritual character.

Read the whole thing.

Hat-tip, Courageous Priest -- a site to bookmark, for sure.