CHRIST CRUCIFIED ANEW -- COURAGE IN THE FACE OF EVIL

E-MAIL | April, 2003 | Padre José Conrado

[Luis Gonzalez]

I had an epiphany yesterday.

I awoke the same man that I have always been, well, the man that I have been since Good Friday three years past, but laid in restless slumber someone else, well into the wee hours of the night.

Several things...

The newspaper headlines read like some absurd black comedy, and my nightmare sustained life even in my wakefulness.

In the aftermath of the most hideous and offensive display of oppression and absolute disregard for human rights, the Cuban government, unrepentant in their maliciousness, reveling in the putrid chest-beating of it’s surely disease-ridden Head-of-State, openly asserted their right to murder, and incarcerate their citizenry, laughing in the face of any country where men have a semblance of conscience, with no regard for international law, international pressure, or common, human decency.

For these actions, and the many, many more similar actions of savagery, murder, and repression, the Cuban government was awarded with another three-year term in the United Nation’s Commission on Human Rights; the crackdown on Cuba’s dissidents having begun as the Cuban attaché arrived in Geneva to attend the annual meeting of the panel, the panel's proclamation punctuated by the sounds of the firing squads in Havana.

Then, I saw the following in an article on the May Day celebration in Havana:

"Addressing the May Day crowd, the Rev. Lucius Walker Jr., an American pastor who has long backed Castro's government, said that Cuba is "loved, respected, appreciated and supported by millions of U.S. citizens."

"Cuba: you are a world leader in human rights and respect for human life," said Walker, pastor of Salvation Baptist Church in Brooklyn and executive director of New York-based Pastors for Peace."

My mind reeled at the thought, and at the bizarre, surreal quality to the news.

Then I received an e-mail.

I’ve translated the text below, text that did something to me.

It’s a sermon, delivered by a simple man of God, from the pulpit of a small Church in a country where religion is considered sin.

It’s bravery at its purest form, heroism in its humblest manifestation; it’s love and courage, and undaunted determination in the face of seemingly overwhelming odds.

It is the essence of the heart of the many who ran into the flames as others ran out, or that rushed the cockpit with little more than the hope of dying as they had lived…proud, and free.

It’s courage, raw and vibrant, it's belief in the ultimate triumph of good over evil, and in the awesome power of freedom.

[nickcarraway]

Why wouldn't we want to out of respect for JFK? I'm sure he'd be all for it.

[Michael2001]

Good post. BTW are you originally from Cuba or of Cuban ancestry?

[rmmcdaniell]

Yes I'm hearing alot about the church's outrage over the Cuban situation. But where were they when Saddam was sending people in into a plastic shredding machine? I'm not trying to single out the author of this article, but the church as a whole is going to have to be more consistant if it wants anyone to listen to what it has to say.

[snippy_about_it]

"Addressing the May Day crowd, the Rev. Lucius Walker Jr., an American pastor who has long backed Castro's government, said that Cuba is "loved, respected, appreciated and supported by millions of U.S. citizens."

What a load! Sure and "millions" were against the Iraqi war supposedly...Another load of BS.

These leftists try to spoon feed their ideology to the masses.

I've got news for them, the 'masses' aren't buying. Lies, Lies.

The tide is turning in this country. Keep shining your light Luis. Cuba will be free.

Soon FRiend, soon.

[NRA2BFree]

Someday God will judge certain so-called Christians: "I was persecuted and you sided with My persecutors."

Amen! Unfortunately there are many who fall into that category.

[Luis Gonzalez]

I was born in Cuba.

[Luis Gonzalez]

The man whose sermon I've posted lives in Cuba. I'm not sure of his position on Saddam, but I can tell you that with control exerted on the media, most Cubans have no idea of what's going on outside their country.

The thing that set me off about this situation, was the fact that an American "religious leader" went to Cuba, and stood next to Fidel Castro, an atheist, who up until not too long ago did whatever he could do to destroy religion in Cuba, and praised his human rights record...while the rest of the world, including former allies, condemned his incarceration of political dissidents and independent journalists, and murdered Cuban citizens for the crime of wanting to leave the island, and being desperate enough to try anything to do so.

Then, the United Nations votes in favor of Cuba maintaining their seat in the Commission on Human Rights.

[Luis Gonzalez]

[redrock]

"Keep the rubber on the road, ya' hear?"

Only part time...the rest of the time is spent teaching.

American History naturally.........

redrock

[aruanan]

BUMP

[cake_crumb]

"God granted these rights to all His children so that they may live in freedom and brotherhood, knowing ourselves to be equal in dignity."

Courageous man, standing up to not only that disgusting dictator Castro, but to Castro's best ally, the Unholy Nations, as well.

Praying that God protects Father Conrado from the repercussions we can guess will come of his ENTIRELY TRUE sermon.

[victim soul]

IF you are a member of the Church you are already part of the Body of Christ and do not have to wait to do the right thing.

The Good Samaritan didn't check it out with or wait for his leader in the hierarchy to help .. he just did it!!!

Neither did Mother Teresa or Thomas More.

God bless, Padre José Conrado!!

Thank you, Luis Gonzalez!

Víva Cristo Réy!

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

The brave people of Cuba are going to be free one day!! Pray for the great leaders of this country to have the courage to dismantle the terrorist training camp of Cuba just as we have done in Iraq!

[cake_crumb]

It was pleasantly surprising that Italy condemned Fidel's latest crimes against humanity.

[Luis Gonzalez]

Thanks snippy!

[f.Christian]

fc ...

my epiphany

To: Hodar

h ...

"I do believe that the entire reason the the Pilgrims came here, was to escape religious persecution. The Founding Fathers granted the entire concept of freedom of religion to ALL religions."

"the entire reason"

"freedom of religion to ALL religions."


fC ...

Does the constitution say separation of state and God ?

Freedom from religion ?

Does one escape a burning house to protect arsonists ?


170 posted on 05/01/2003 3:34 PM PDT by f.Christian (( With Rights ... comes Responsibilities --- irresponsibility --- whacks // criminals - psychos ! ))

The junta reno oath (( witch rights )) of office ... public orgasm burning people // children to death !

Does one escape a burning house to protect arsonry // arsonists (( aclu whacks )) ?


Liberals do both !

[Search4Truth]

Cuba needs a regime change. Libere Cuba!

[f.Christian]

fC ...

Does one escape a burning house to protect arsonists ?

H ...

Did you drive to work, or bring a banana for breakfast? What are you talking about here??

171 posted on 05/01/2003 6:16 PM PDT by Hodar (With Rights, comes Responsibilities. Don't assume one, without assuming the other.)

fC ...

Does one escape ... a burning house (( castro // cuba // nazis )) --- to protect arsonists (( atheist // communists // liberals // devilcrats )) ?

also ...

To: Hodar; sinkspur

I am amazed ...

the aclu is blantantly anti 1st and 2nd amendment and fr posters work full time for them ---

gun and bible (( elian )) grabbers !

174 posted on 05/02/2003 11:23 AM PDT by f.Christian (( With Rights ... comes Responsibilities --- irresponsibility --- whacks // criminals - psychos ! ))

justice ...

janut drano flushed gore (( saddamm // castro )) down the toilet !

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[f.Christian]

"The buzz is, a cable network plans to re-run the series “Roots” backward so that all the slaves will end up back in Africa ... to give it a happy ending --- or a happy beginning – whichever it turns out to be."