9-19-06
Greetings!
Some random reflections on the recent uproar over Pope Benedict's comments on Islam:
-Anybody with even a minimal understanding of Pope Benedict knows he was not trying to provoke a conflict.
-Very few people appear to have read the whole of his speech, which once again denounced any connection between God, religion and violence. This is not a new theme. In fact, when he last visited Germany for World Youth Day in the summer of 2005 he actually met with various Muslim leaders. One of his key exhortations to them, in addition to continuing dialog, was the need for them to denounce violence in the name of Islam. Unfortunately, too often this has not been carried out. (Simply follow the daily news reports).
-You've got to admire the pope's humility and utter lack of pridefulness. He didn't intend to offend, and he really didn't say anything wrong. Yet, to prevent any further harm from occurring he apologized.
-Many of the protests have a certain "staged" quality to them. After all, how many Muslims pay attention to what the pope says at a university lecture in Germany? Some, of course, are simply looking for an excuse for violence.
-I recall reading an article during the flare-up over the publishing of a cartoon of the prophet Mohammed in Denmark. In the various protests/riots everyone in the Middle East seemed to have a Danish flag to burn. Now I've never been to the Middle East, but as the author pointed out, I don't imagine there are many Danish flags easily available for purchase there. Someone was agitating for a conflict and they made sure it happened, and provided the necessary materials.
Finally, Jimmy Akin, an excellent Catholic writer and commentator, hits the nail on the head with this statement:
From Jimmy Akin via: http://jimmyakin.typepad.com/defensor_fidei/2006/09/b16_clarifies.html
He is strong and resolute in his defense of the truth and willing to say unpleasant things when needed, but to deliberately provoke this situation is simply not Benedict's way of doing things. His way is the one described above, of promoting a dialogue that seeks to de-couple religion and violence.
This is an intense time of suffering for him and for all those Christians who are at risk of Muslim violence.
Let us therefore unite ourselves with the Holy Father in prayer for peace.
-Amen to that.
Phil's Tidbits:
- Pope Struck a Cord With Muslims, Says Expert
Despite Some Harsh Reactions
ROME, SEPT. 15, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI's words regarding Islam resonated with millions of Muslims worldwide who reject the justification of violence in the name of religion, said an expert in Islam.
Father Justo Lacunza, until recently rector of the Pontifical Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies of Rome, explained today on Vatican Radio, why, nonetheless, certain Muslim circles reacted harshly to the
discourse the Pope gave Tuesday at the University of Regensburg.
"In this the Pope has done no more than take up again the sentiment and desire of millions of Muslims who in one way or another, say: 'Violence and Islam cannot be related,'" Father Lacunza said.
He said that many Muslims say: "We are Muslims and we want to be Muslim believers in today's world and against those who use religion to strike at others with violence. Religion cannot be the foundation of a conflict, a war, or any other kind of violence."
The Muslim world reacted so violently to the words of the Pope, said the priest, for two reasons: "The first is that the Islamic world and Muslims are very sensitive to those who speak of Islam, in particular, when they do not belong to the Muslim faith.
"The second reason is that the Pontiff touched on a very, very delicate point, which is that of violence and war."
ZE06091508
Fr. Tadeusz Pacholczyk is one of the foremost experts on embryonic stem cell research. He is frequently called upon to give speeches the world over. Below is a clip from his address to the US Senate. It's well worth reading. The link is below. Indeed, it is striking how easily the senator mentioned misses his point entirely.
"Imposing Our Beliefs" on Others REV. TADEUSZ PACHOLCZYK
|
After I gave my testimony, one of the senators asked a pointed question. "Father Tad, by arguing against embryonic stem cell research, don't you see how you are trying to impose your beliefs on others, and shouldn't we as elected lawmakers avoid imposing a narrow religious view on the rest of society?" |
http://catholiceducation.org/articles/medical_ethics/me0093.htm
We are blessed in the US—where homeschooling, while not always looked upon favorably, is generally tolerated. Several years ago I visited a family in Canada. They relayed the increasing difficulties the local authorities were imposing on homeschooling families. In fact, that was one of their reasons for seriously considering moving to the US.
On the other hand, even here in the US laws are increasingly being passed mandating students participate in "diversity" or "sex ed" type classes. And parents are more frequently being told they cannot opt their children out. They justify that stand by arguing that students need to be made to understand such things in order to "become functional and productive" members of society.
Germany Uses Nazi Era Law to Imprison Mom for Homeschooling; Family Flees to Austria
By Peter J. Smith
PADERBORN, Germany, September 14, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – German police stormed into the residence of a Christian home schooling family, and arrested a mother for homeschooling her children, an offense established since Nazi Germany. Now the woman's husband has fled with their children to seek refuge in Austria, which allows homeschooling under certain conditions according to the Brussels Journal.
The Brussels Journal reports that Katherina Plett responded to a knock on the door from an undercover police woman Thursday morning at 11:00PM. Once the Baptist woman opened the door, police officers, hidden outside the house, stormed into her home and arrested her for the crime of homeschooling her children. The female officer insisted that she watch Mrs. Plett as she changed her clothes claiming, "She would arm herself and shoot us all."
German police then hauled Mrs. Plett off to Gelsenkirchen jail, where she is serving a 10 day prison sentence for exercising her right to be the primary educator of her children.
However, on Monday, Mrs. Plett's husband gathered their children and fled to Austria, finding asylum at a Christian family center in Wolfgangsee, Austria. Another homeschooling family from Germany has also taken refuge after a Paderborn court ordered the seizure of their children.
The sudden arrest of Katherina Plett has also evoked a growing realization that the ghosts of Nazi Germany have resurged, as German authorities have cracked down on homeschooling families (mostly Christian), who have no intention of letting the German schools indoctrinate their children with anti-Christian values.
In January 2005, a mother and father were each sentenced to six days imprisonment in Westphalia after they refused to pay the fines for having forbidden their children to attend a Christmas school play of Grimm's fairytale "King Thrushbeard", which they considered blasphemous.
The arrest of Mrs. Plett came as the latest act in struggle between 7 homeschooling families in Paderborn and the local education board of the county. According to the board's director, Heinz Kohler, "The parents' right to personally educate their children would prevent the children from growing up to be responsible individuals within society."
The Paderborn homeschoolers had asked to set up a private school, however the authorities dismissed the proposed compromise as a cover for homeschooling maintaining, "The living room is not a class room."
Manfred Müller, governor of Paderborn country, has also justified charging homeschoolers with "High Treason," saying "the obligation to attend school is a civil obligation that cannot be tampered with."
According to the Brussels Journal, Landrat Müller threatened to charge Hermann Stücher, a 68 year old man giving aid to these families with "High Treason and incitement of the people against the authorities (Hochverrat und Volksverhetzung), the same charge used by Nazis to squelch any resistance to their absolute power. Stücher had called on all Christian parents to withdraw their children from German public schools, which he says are dominated by "neomarxist activists propagating atheist humanism, hedonism, pluralism and materialism."
The Brussels Journal says Mrs. Plett still suffers imprisonment in Gelsenkirchen jail for advocating her parental right to educate her own children, and remains divided from her family.
Announcements:
-Weekly 24-Hr Adoration (Tuesday @8PM to Wednesday @ 8PM) starts this week in the Church at St. Peter's. Open to all.
-"Jesus the Teacher" Catechetical In-Service. Saturday, October 7th 8am-Noon. Open to all catechists and anyone who wants to learn more about the Faith. Topics include: Mass, the Spirituality of the Catechist, Teaching Methodology, and the History of the Early Church. Site: St. Peter's Church
God bless you!
Phil Lawson
For the latest info on St. Peter's, check out the parish website: www.saintpetercatholic.com
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