"Path to Rome" The Holy Spirit Unites! Conference planned
in September in Chicago for cradle Catholics, newcomers to the
Church and non Catholics (note this is not for the regular membership).
His Eminence Francis Cardinal Stafford, President of the Pontific
Council for the Laity, the Archbishop of Chicago, former Bishop
of London, Nigeria, Puerto Rico Austria's Imperial & Royal Highness,
Archduchess Alexandria of Austria a direct Descendant
of Queen Isabel and Dr. Alan Keyes.. The theme: the Holy Spirit
is sparking an exciting period of evangelization and renewal which
is leading many prominent people on the PATH TO ROME. Our comment,
they know us, we like to identify with prominent people?? Maybe they
do, but true Christians identify with the poor.
The Pope takes the Mark from "Religion in the News" (4.20-26.98).
John Paul II allowed a priestess of Shiva to create the traditional
Shiva mark on his forehead. Shiva is a pagan god from
India. He is part of the Hindu trinity of Brahma (Creator),
Vishnu (Preserver), and Shiva (Destroyer). Shiva's reputation is well
known and sinister.. the pope apparently sees nothing wrong with accepting
a mark from the dark Hindu god of destruction.
The London Times reported 4.24.98 that the pope recently declared that the
world is not about to end. He admitted it was doomed to end at
some point, but that it was not any time soon, nor any fixed date,
"nor could one be discerned from the Bible."
His Holiness further stated "that Christ did not indicate any
chronological deadline." The Liberator Newsletter, (former Catholics)
March- June 1998 stated "What the pope knows about Christ
or Bible prophecy would fit inside of a communion wafer. Has
he forgotten that Christ is the author of the Old Testament? Has he not
read Daniel 9:24- 27, Matt24:15, 32ff; and Hosea 6:2 among
many others?
"Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy
city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins,
and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting
righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to
anoint the most Holy. Know therefore and understand,
[that] from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build
Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince [shall be]
seven weeks, and three score and two weeks: the street shall
be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times."
"The Vatican plans to establish Jerusalem as the capital of the
world. According to the will of the Vatican, Jerusalem
could become the capital of the world. The one-sided claim by
Israel
does not justify the equality of Muslims and Christians and their claim
to the Holy City, according to Secretary of the Cardinals, Angelo
Sodano. In a press release, the pope invited all people to
create conditions in which Jerusalem should fulfill its calling
as a city of peace to the honor of God. The Vatican is willing to supply
finances for such an undertaking. According to Catholic
dogma, Jerusalem is the most important city universally for the
900 million Catholics on planet Earth." (Topic, 3.98, p.5, translated
from the German, Postfach 1544, D57206, Kreuztal, Germany.
The Vatican clamps down on theological dissent. Vatican City
- The Vatican announced (6.30.98) to suppress dissent by
liberal theologeans which challenge the church teachings such as the
ban on women priests, contraception, euthanasia and sex outside
of marriage. In the document, Pope John Paul II declared deviations
from Catholicism's "definite truths" a violation of church law..
Dissenters could be declared "no longer.. in full communion with
the Catholic Church," Ratzinger said. Violators could be subject
to a wide range of punishments, from a warning to excommunication...
The document, an apostolic letter, concerns the church's "profession
of faith," a summation of essential Catholic beliefs that was
formulated in 1989.. The profession of faith calls on all Catholics
to accept the religion's fundamental truths as "divinely
revealed." But in 1989, a new category was
added: teachings on faith and morals that must be "definitively
held." "Whoever refuses" teachings that are "to
be definitively held is opposed to the doctrine of the
Catholic church," the new law reads."
(AP Tampa Tribune 7.1.98)
Pedestals have crumbled under priests (Ibid.,
6.6.98) ".. I'm still proud to be
a priest," says Dickey, who serves at St.Frances
Xavier Cabrini Church, ".. we have had some tragedies,
tragedies will always be with us." He was referring to the most
recent sex-abuse scandal in the Catholic church. Bishop J. Keith Symons
of the Diocese of Palm Beach (served 40 years) resigned after
admitting to sexually abusing five boys early in his career.
Two archbishops have resigned since after admitting involvement
with women. Bishop Lynch said this week that there are no more pedestals
for priests. {He is alluding to the fact that the Catholic Church
has become a "people of God" church} Since Vatican II - a reform
movement in the 1960s brought sweeping changes to the church - Before
Vatican II priests universally were treated with awe and respect.
It came with the collar. If you were ordained, you were elevated to
a loftier position than common folk, and few actions were ever questioned
by the people who served. That's why is was easier for pedophile priests
to survive within the system. Children and their parents trusted these
spiritual men and looked up to them as fathers. Young victims of molestation
by a priest were likely kept as hidden secret. Lynch said priests now live
in a more realistic world. They have to be more cautious, and
the people they serve have to be more
questioning.. When priests with sexual addictions like pedophilia are exposed,
people need to understand that they are like everyone else: human,
fragile and subject to temptation. The sexual abuse problem
is growing admits the Archdiocese of Boston and they pay millions
to sexual abuse lawsuits, as groups for victims are flooded with calls.
In the last 3 days we have gotten about 70 calls, that is more than
triple we get on a normal week, says Tom Economus of Link-up, a Chicago-based
organization that claims 7,500 members. This increase was due
to this resignation of Bishop J.K. Symons. Rev. John J.
Geoghan, a retired priest accused of sexually molesting
more than 50 children over three decades. Estimate is
between $2.5 and $10 million which pushes total payout of cergy
sexual abuse to nearly $800 million in the past 15 years. Link-up
gets about 25 calls a day mostly from victims who seek closure and
share their stories. It's important to at least know your rights..
The crisis can only be reversed by changes instituted by the Vatican and
it's clear that the pope is in no posture to change anything.
"What you have is a power structure that is
honeycombed in political secrecy and sexual denial," said Jason
Berry author of "Lead Us Not Into Temptation." SNAP
- Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests - David Clohessy of
St. Louis (312) 409-2720. Link-up (800) 374-8807 or (773) 334-2296.
Vatican City is one of the most informed Countries on International
affairs in the World. It received diplomatic missions
since the fourth centuries, just like any other country. January 10, 1984
(with the help of Billy Graham) President Reagan established "diplomatic"
relations with the Holy See, and sent William Wilson as our
first U.S. Ambassador. In turn they sent their Apostolic Pro- Nuncio, Peo
Laghi to the U.S. The Vatican is a unique institution. It is both Church
and State.
When President Reagan appointed William Wilson as the first U.S. Ambassador
to the Vatican he bypassed a principle which had been placed in the
First Amendment. "The Constitutional safe guard had always been the
Established Clause of the First Amendment, which prohibits the preference
of one religion over another.", wrote Lawrence Lader. "If
an ambassador were sent to the state of the City of the Vatican.. the United
States would be recognizing the religious ruler of a civil territory..
The Vatican's 108 acres give it only the slightest resemblance
of a state." (Lader Lawrence, Politics, Power, and the Church, 1987,
p.4)
A coalition of Protestants connected with Americans United
for Separation of Church and State wrote, "To
give one church a preferential status in relation
to the American government.. would set aside the principle
of according all religious bodies the same states in the eyes of our
government. (Americans United for Separation of Church and State
v.Reagan, E.Dist.. Pa., No. 84-4476, Complaint, pp 28-29.) How
did Reagan and Billy Graham get around the First Amendment?
Incidentally, former Vatican Ambassador, William Wilson
is a
Catholic. He helped start Campaign for America CCA in 1992. (Bold Truth
Press Inc., PO Box 19208, Denver, Co. 80219)
"And after three score and two weeks shall Messiah be cut
off, but not for Himself: and the people of the prince that shall
come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end
thereof [shall be] with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations
are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for
one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice
and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of
abominations he shall make [it] desolate, even until the consummation, and
that determined shall be poured upon the desolate." (Daniel
9:24-27)
"When ye therefore shall see the abomination
of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the
holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)" (Matthew 24:15) "After two days
will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we
shall live in His sight." (Hosea 6:2)
"Now learn a parable of the fig tree {Israel}; When his branch is yet
tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer [is]
nigh:" (Matthew 24:32)