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Priest comforts Foley family after ‘killing of journalist’
Catholic Herald ^
| August 20, 2014
Posted on 08/20/2014 1:54:57 PM PDT by NYer
American journalist James Foley, who appears to have been killed by Islamic State terrorists Below: Fr Paul Gousse leaves the Foley family home in Rochester, Boston (PA)
Islamic State have released a gruesome video appearing to show American photo journalist James Wright Foley being beheaded by a masked militant. Foley went missing in Syria in November 2012 while working for the GlobalPost agency.
Mr Foley came from a Catholic family in Rochester, New Hampshire. On Tuesday Fr Paul Gousse, of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, where the Foleys are parishioners, spent about 45 minutes at the house before leaving without speaking to reporters.
In 2011, Mr Foley was kidnapped and held by pro-Gaddafi forces in Tripoli, Libya, before being released after 45 days. After his release he wrote an article for Marquette, the magazine of the Milwaukee university he attended, about how prayer helped him through his experience.
“I kept telling (my colleague) Clare my mom had a strong faith,” he wrote.
“I prayed shed know I was OK. I prayed I could communicate through some cosmic reach of the universe to her. I began to pray the rosary. It was what my mother and grandmother would have prayed.
I said 10 Hail Marys between each Our Father. It took a long time, almost an hour to count 100 Hail Marys off on my knuckles. And it helped to keep my mind focused.
“Clare and I prayed together out loud. It felt energising to speak our weaknesses and hopes together, as if in a conversation with God, rather than silently and alone.”
After the Islamic State posted the video of Mr Foley’s murder online, with the killing carried out reportedly by a man with a British accent, Mr Foley’s mother, Diane, wrote on the Free James Foley Facebook page: “We implore the kidnappers to spare the lives of the remaining hostages. Like Jim, they are innocents. They have no control over American government policy in Iraq, Syria or anywhere in the world.
“We thank Jim for all the joy he gave us. He was an extraordinary son, brother, journalist and person.”
After Mr Foley’s murder is shown in the online video, another man, thought to be another missing American journalist, Steven Joel Sotloff, is paraded on camera, with the militant saying: “The life of this American citizen, Obama, depends on your next decision.” This warning comes after US airstrikes targeted Islamic State positions in northern Iraq.
Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond told the BBC that although the video is yet to be authenticated, “all the hallmarks point to it being genuine”.
In reference to the fact that the killer appeared to have a British accent, he said: “We’re absolutely aware that there are significant numbers of British nationals involved in terrible crimes, probably in the commission of atrocities, making jihad with (Islamic State) and other extremist organisations.”
“This is something we have been tracking and dealing with for many many months and I don’t think this video changes anything. It just heightens awareness of a situation which is very grave and which we’ve been working on for many months.”
Two US officials have confirmed anonymously that the man in the video is Mr Foley. President Obama is expected to comment later today.
TOPICS: Catholic; Prayer
KEYWORDS: jamesfoley
1
posted on
08/20/2014 1:54:57 PM PDT
by
NYer
To: Tax-chick; GregB; Berlin_Freeper; SumProVita; narses; bboop; SevenofNine; Ronaldus Magnus; tiki; ...
Prayers for the Foley family, ping!
2
posted on
08/20/2014 1:55:34 PM PDT
by
NYer
("You are a puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears." James 4:14)
To: NYer
In 2011, Mr Foley was kidnapped and held by pro-Gaddafi forces in Tripoli, Libya, before being released after 45 days.Brave man, perhaps a slow learner. He didn't realize he was a special target by virtue of being an American in the midst of Islamic chaos, and that he could be captured more than once, possibly with a worse outcome. RIP.
To: NYer
I told a co-worker that within moments of the news of his death, it would be spun as America's fault.
We implore the kidnappers to spare the lives of the remaining hostages. Like Jim, they are innocents. They have no control over American government policy in Iraq, Syria or anywhere in the world.
Not the kidnappers fault, not his fault for reentering a place he knew was in enmity against Americans, but Americas fault for government policy. They never learn the Chamberlain style politics ALWAYS leads to death of innocents. If we had stayed in Iraq and fought them there, her son would probably still be alive.
4
posted on
08/20/2014 2:12:14 PM PDT
by
wbarmy
(I chose to be a sheepdog once I saw what happens to the sheep.)
To: NYer
God comfort the Foley family.
It is a horrible, horrible thing to know your son or daughter has been beheaded by evil people.
Be not deceived. God is not mocked.
5
posted on
08/20/2014 2:22:01 PM PDT
by
sauropod
(Fat Bottomed Girl: "What difference, at this point, does it make?")
To: wbarmy
We implore the kidnappers to spare the lives....”
.
You can expect to hear that plea soon enough in this country when our domestic ISIS terrorists come sneaking home.
6
posted on
08/20/2014 2:22:44 PM PDT
by
353FMG
To: 353FMG
BIG DIFFERENCE: AMERICANS are ARMED to the teeth. ISIS tries to do this here, and they will have their rearends handed to them.
7
posted on
08/20/2014 2:40:45 PM PDT
by
Biggirl
(“Go, do not be afraid, and serve”-Pope Francis)
To: NYer
Dear God, give confort to the family. Amen
8
posted on
08/20/2014 2:59:12 PM PDT
by
Biggirl
(“Go, do not be afraid, and serve”-Pope Francis)
To: wbarmy
9
posted on
08/20/2014 3:03:52 PM PDT
by
Moonman62
(The US has become a government with a country, rather than a country with a government.)
To: Moonman62
10
posted on
08/20/2014 3:07:44 PM PDT
by
trisham
(Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
To: trisham
Was he a terrorist sympathizer? I think his father was suspect, too.
11
posted on
08/20/2014 3:09:16 PM PDT
by
Moonman62
(The US has become a government with a country, rather than a country with a government.)
To: Moonman62
I don’t know. I don’t think that we ever got the whole story on who he was and what really happened.
12
posted on
08/20/2014 3:14:47 PM PDT
by
trisham
(Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
To: Moonman62
Was he a terrorist sympathizer? I’m suspicious! Did you see Foley’s tweets from two years ago? Find them and read up.
He seems to me to be a ‘journalist’ version of Bergdahl — even Foley’s parents seem very odd and in no way outraged enough over his death. It’s a horror, yes, but I have a lot more questions...
To: NYer
How fantastic that he used his time in prayer. Powerful.
My thinking is that the Blessed Mother Mary joyfully showed this young man the fruit of her womb...JESUS!
Prayers up for the healing of his family and friends...especially his father.
14
posted on
08/20/2014 3:23:45 PM PDT
by
SumProVita
(Cogito, ergo....Sum Pro Vita - Modified Descartes)
To: NYer
May this family find consolation in the teachings of the Church and their faith in the goodness of God...
To: Biggirl
You will be fighting Obama’s DHS if you try to take the law into your own hands.
Don’t forget that muzzies are a privileged part of our society.
Just contribute for another mosque and all will be forgiven.
16
posted on
08/20/2014 3:38:27 PM PDT
by
353FMG
To: NYer
**Mr Foley came from a Catholic family in Rochester, New Hampshire. On Tuesday Fr Paul Gousse, of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, where the Foleys are parishioners, spent about 45 minutes at the house before leaving without speaking to reporters.**
God bless Father Paul Gousse!
17
posted on
08/20/2014 4:13:17 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: 353FMG
The really is that Americans have been buying guns and gun sales have been up the last couple of years. This is a fact.
Also there is no such thing as a privilaged group of people, PERIOD.
No money will ever go to another mosque.
18
posted on
08/20/2014 5:12:45 PM PDT
by
Biggirl
(“Go, do not be afraid, and serve”-Pope Francis)
To: Salvation
God Bless Father Paul Gousse and all priests and consecrated religious.
Condolences To The Foley Family, With Prayers Also.
19
posted on
08/20/2014 5:14:43 PM PDT
by
Biggirl
(“Go, do not be afraid, and serve”-Pope Francis)
To: nhwingut
An article about your parish.
Sorry about that other thread.
20
posted on
08/20/2014 5:15:40 PM PDT
by
mware
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