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The European Court of Human Rights ruled today that Italian schools should remove crucifixes from classrooms, sparking uproar in Italy, where such icons are embedded in the national psyche.
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The court ruling, which Italy said it would appeal, said crucifixes on school walls, a common sight that is part of every Italian's life, could disturb children who were not Christians. Italy has been in the throes of national debate on how to deal with a growing population of immigrants, mostly Muslims, and the court sentence is likely to become another battle cry for the centre-right government's policy to restrict newcomers. (Source)
In case you haven't been following European politics, this is just the latest intrusion of the "European government" into the internal affairs of individual member countries.
As an economist, I support some of the initiatives that the European Union (EU) has brought. I'm totally in favour of free trade and a common market. I also can see the advantages of a monetary union and some harmonization of various economic and financial policies. Such measures promote economic efficiency, facilitate capital and labour mobility (i.e. job opportunities) and lead to a general increase in living standards. That was the original purpose of the EU.
However, like any institution that acquires power and influence, it is easily hijacked by those common folks that suffer from the chronic condition called "Original Sin." Over time, the EU has sought to expand
Last week, the earth shook when the Vatican announced the vehicle through which Anglicans could be received into the Catholic Church. For Traditional Anglicans, who had made the request to Rome, and for Catholics, this was a time of great celebration.
Although Traditional Anglicans represent a relatively small group, there are many other conservative-minded Anglicans who are paying close attention and considering the jump to the Catholic Church.
This will have wide-spread ramifications for the Anglican Communion. As more and more orthodox Anglicans leave for the Catholic Church, the remainder of the Anglican Church will be increasing composed of liberal-leaning Christians, drifting further and further from the essence of Christianity. These liberals will seek to increase their strangle-hold on Anglicanism by pushing for more liberal morality
We saw a first demonstration last week, as Ottawa Anglican Bishop, John Chapman, announced that a church in his diocese will be allowed to "bless" same-sex unions for the first time. His announcement came just two days after the Vatican's announcement. The bishops said: "This will be Ottawa's offering to the ongoing discernment that is happening throughout the Anglican Church of Canada." It seemed like a direct reaction to the announcement from Rome in order to appease the liberal wing in his church.
Here's a quote from the newspaper that caught my attention:
Bishop Chapman said liberal Anglicans in the diocese will likely believe the blessing protocol doesn't go far enough, while conservative-minded parishioners might think it goes too far. Chapman believes it's a healthy balance.
Strange analysis coming from a bishop. He's looking for a "healthy balance" between two factions within the Anglican Church. What ever happened to standing for the Truth? Why not follow God's will instead of finding an arbitrary compromise between subjective opinions? Is that what Anglicanism in Canada has become? I'm afraid so.
The more orthodox Anglicans in Africa, which make up the bulk of the Anglican Communion, are within a hair of bolting. To them, the idea of returning to the Catholic Church will become increasingly appealing. The Anglicans in the West, which are but a small fraction of the total Anglican Church, have generally become so liberal as to be beyond recognition. They support same-sex marriage, abortion, contraception, divorce, homosexual lifestyles, women priests, etc. Their low birth rates will almost guarantee that they will disappear within a hundred years or so.
By this time next century, the Anglican Church as we know it will probably have vanished. That's what happens when you stray from the Truth. Recall the wise words of Gamaliel in the Acts of the Apostles:
"So in the present case, I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone; because if this plan or this undertaking is of human origin, it will fail; 39but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them—in that case you may even be found fighting against God!’ (Acts 5: 38-39)
The Anglican Church in the West is failing because it has strayed too far.
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You may have heard in the news that the B.C. government is struggling with the polygamy issue. Years ago, when same-sex marriage was being debated, pro-life leaders warned that polygamy would be the next can of worms to be opened. Liberal-leaning Canadians scoffed. But it turns out we were right.
But the liberal-leaning Canadians don't seem to care. They should, especially the feminists. Polygamy is based on the idea that a man cannot be satisfied by just one woman. That's very demeaning to the dignity of women. In fact, the Catechism of the Catholic Church says it quite plainly
2387 The predicament of a man who, desiring to convert to the Gospel, is obliged to repudiate one or more wives with whom he has shared years of conjugal life, is understandable. However polygamy is not in accord with the moral law." [Conjugal] communion is radically contradicted by polygamy; this, in fact, directly negates the plan of God which was revealed from the beginning, because it is contrary to the equal personal dignity of men and women who in matrimony give themselves with a love that is total and therefore unique and exclusive." The Christian who has previously lived in polygamy has a grave duty in justice to honor the obligations contracted in regard to his former wives and his children.
Like so many teachings of the Church, they are logical. An atheist should be able to see this logic. Why is it, then, that we don't hear feminists being outraged by polygamy? Doesn't polygamy seem like a direct attack to the gains that feminists have made over the years?
I think part of the answer is that lefties don't tend to fight each other. They have a code of silence whereby they overlook each others' sins. But I wonder how much longer that can last on polygamy.
It's quite ironic that the Church, which some people consider to be discriminatory towards women, is more vocal in opposing polygamy that feminists!
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In case you thought the Harry Potter books were harmless, think again.
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One of Canada's Human Rights Commissions has decided to play God again. This time it's the Alberta Human Rights Commission (AHRC). It seems that nothing is beyond the reach of these kangaroo kourts. Nothing is too sacred or too logical to be questioned by these arbitrary commissions.
The latest incident involves a Catholic school teacher in Alberta that claims that she's suffering from "gender identity disorder" and that she must undergo a sex-change operation. Of course, such a rejection of the gender granted by God is a violation of Church teaching. From a purely secular standpoint, it's also a violation of plain common sense. When you have a problem of any kind, the only lasting solution comes from addressing the root of that problem. In this case, the teacher has a mental illness of some kind. Therefore, the logical and loving solution is to address the mental problem, not mutilate her body by making it look like a man.
As a result of her planned sex change, the teacher has been dismissed from the Catholic school board where she taught. She considers this to be a violation of her rights, and has filed a complaint against the school board. Unfortunately, the AHRC has accepted this complaint and will therefore hear arguments about it. The fact that they didn't reject this ridiculous complaint from the outset is very disturbing. It shows just how willing these commissions are to interfere in Church affairs.
I feel sorry for the teacher. I really do. Mental illness is not something that we should treat lightly or that we should scoff at. I have witnessed many people struggle with mental illness. It is extremely difficult to bear. Fortunately, it appears that the school board treated her kindly and respectfully when they let her go. The school board is well within its rights to decide who to employ.
The fact that the State is even considering the possibility of imposing its beliefs on the Church is extremely disturbing and intolerant. Canada is a diverse nation. It is not merely inhabited by the left wing extremists that run these commissions. These kangoroo kourts need to get in touch with reality and start being more tolerant of other peoples beliefs.
As for us Catholics, we better start moving our butts and make sure that our politicians understand that these commissions are unacceptable and violating the human rights they are supposedly intended to protect. If you don't act now, you're going to wake up someday and find out you're slave to the government's whims and fancies.
This incident also highlights the crucial fact that the true challenge for the Church in this day is to convert her own members. More damage is being inflicted on the Church in Canada today by Catholics than by any outsiders.
So before you go to bed tonight, look yourself in the mirror and ask yourself: "What concrete action will I take to propagate the true Faith within the Church?" Don't go to bed until you've made a firm commitment.
How can a rookie be inducted into the Hall of Fame before his rookie season is over? Obama has been in power for only 9 months. Moreover, did you know that candidates for the prize had to be submitted to the Nobel committee by February 1st? That's right, only two weeks after Obama was inaugurated as President.
There is clearly an agenda at work here, where the lefties are publicly endorsing each other like a clique. I normally wouldn't have a problem with that, except that we're dealing with the Nobel Peace Prize here. There is a huge symbolism attached to any Nobel Prize. It's like a lifetime achievement award that humanity grants to its most distinguished members. I find it very distasteful that they are manipulating this prize for politican reasons.
Distasteful isn't strong enough. I want to spit.
What's next? Will Obama be granted an honorary Gold Medal at the 100 metre dash?
Keep in mind that John Paul II, who worked so hard for peace, including helping bring down communism, was never awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Blessed Mother Teresa won the prize 1979. If you put Obama and Blessed Mother Teresa on opposite sides of a "peace" scale, which way do you think it would tilt? Is any comparison even possible?
Of note, she is quoted as saying: "the greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion." Very well said. In my book, that would rule out Obama big-time.
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