Posted on 05/02/2002 7:49:47 AM PDT by ppaul
On December 14, 2001, Pope John Paul II called a Catholic fast to coincide with Ramadan in a show of solidarity with Muslims, who were ending their annual Ramadan fast. The BBC reported the Pope's initiative in an article entitled, "Pope Fasts for Ramadan," released on the same day.
The BBC article related that the Pope had been holding talks at the Vatican with Catholic bishops from the Middle East. [The bishops] issued a statement calling for the establishment of a Palestinian state, the evacuation of the occupied territories by Israel, and the creation of secure frontiers for the Jewish state.
On January 24, 2002, the Pope sponsored a world peace event in Assisi, Italy, with 200 world religious leaders in attendance.
Shortly after these events occurred, a major pedophile scandal rocked the Catholic Church. The media reported a German Bishop quitting amid sex abuse allegations, the Catholic church facing a major financial crises (legal claims are now estimated at over $1 billion dollars), and the Pope calling for a Vatican meeting of all U.S. Cardinals. Numerous other stories began circulating about additional sex allegations.
"In the April 15 issue of Business Week, in an article entitled, "The Economic Strain on the Catholic Church,” states that many Catholics are angered and appalled by the insensitive way Church officials have handled the crisis, putting the protection of its priests (now well over a thousand) above the interests of the victims.
The article further stated that a groundswell is building for radical reforms, such as: optional celibacy, changes in the strict dogma about sex, and the ordination of women. At the same time, there is a growing call for more financial disclosure and corporate-style discipline for the stewardship of the multiplied billions on the Church's books.
When the interests of a privileged class of clergy are placed above the interests of their victims, repercussions can certainly be anticipated. The current Catholic dilemma could quite plausibly serve as a warning: even harsher consequences are in store for any government or institution which sets itself against the "God of Israel," attempts to legitimize the Muslim religion (which is by any measure an enemy of Christianity and Judaism), diminishes Jesus Christ in an attempt not to offend others, or calls with other religious leaders for a lasting world peace that isn't Biblical.
Yes, other troubling issues are facing the Catholic Church. Yet, the events mentioned above--and the embarrassing events shortly thereafter--appear to my eye as more than just coincidental.
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Link to article and links to news stories referenced in article HERE.
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C'mon ... this is too stupid.
It's like saying the WTC and Pentagon were hit because George Bush (of the pro-abortion GOP party) nailed open the door to the most profitable window of human personhood but a fortnight before the blasts.
Granted, there are some equations which make sense. A Godless nation will not remain free, for instance. A nation who accedes to the judicial wisdom and insight of a court who legitimizes cyber child-porn is probably following a Pied Piper intent on extreme political controls belied by its big yellow smiley face of sexual "liberation".
Posting of idiocy like this only casts additional doubt on the Personal Interpretations and reading of tea leaves of various protest-ant Christian sects.
I do not disagree with you.
Cheers.
Groundswell? What a load of fecal matter.
Here is a photo of the pope at the end of an audience with Patriarch Raphael I of Iraq, where the pope "bowed" to the Muslim holy book, The Koran, presented to him by the delegation.
Did the pope, who in fact is the supposed "infallible" voice of the Roman Catholic Church not remember what The Koran has to say about Jesus and the nature of God? Does he not know how The Koran demotes Jesus the Messiah to "only a messenger of Allah" status?
However, it is reported that he was kissing the Holy Scriptures of a middle east apostolic church leader, not the Koran.
I have seen no DEFINITIVE proof either way.
But if he is kissing the Bible, and not the Koran, you guys have a lot to answer for.
He knows.
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