I judge no one, but try to no longer pay attention to date-setting. It is a waste of time. To the degree that it expresses the inner longing to see my Lord face-to-face, fine. But since I could keel over dead today, what does it matter. Maranatha!
We're all sinners here. I think that's a given and we don't need to insert it in every post that might be controversial. We probably are of one mind on genocide and abortion being ecils that cry out to God for vengeance. Where we differ is in our obligation as citizens living in representative democracies. I'll post this link again because it's important to our understanding that the Church is the living, breathing body of Christ and not just a fossil frozen in time 2,000 years ago: https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/...s/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20021124_politica_en.html We have obligations about doing unto others. Prayer, sacrifice and deeds are not an either/or choice for those of us who aren't living in cloistered communities. If seeking the truth and standing for it involves evaluating political events, we have an obligation to do so to the best of oir ability. The tooth fairy doesn't enact legislation or send young people to kill or be killed in wars. Politicians do that, and in representative democracies they do it on our behalf. Silence is assent. That our voices may be crying in the wilderness doesn't relieve us of our obligation to speak out against evil. We must do so peacefully without inciting hatred or violence but we must do so. Christianity is being distorted to justify genocide in the name of Jesus. The very word "Christian" is being linked to slaughter in parts of the world which has yet to be evangelised. How does apathy or silence by Catholics towards such distortion serve the great commission to go, baptise all nations? It doesn't. Christians waging war to rebuild a physical temple to force the return of Jesus is a very great evil. What do we do? We speak the truth wherever we can and trust the Holy Spirit. Who are we to decide that the Holy Spirit can't or won't respond to our voices crying in the wilderness? We certainly should not remain silent because we have differences with others who opppse the evil. You know as well as I that anti-Christian ideologies gain a foothold where Christians fail to live the Gospel. Christian hypocrisy is the best weapon anyone can use against us. Demonstrations can and do work. I have a personal antipathy to them but there's no denying they can make a difference. When Christians leave a void by their failure to stand against evil, other forces will fill the space. I think that was the message Pope Francis was trying to convey when he said that care for the poor is a Christian value stolen by Communists. All the so-called conservatives who love their money denounced him as a Marxist for that but he was right. Christian hypocrisy leads to all sorts of errors and evil taking hold of a society. Representative democracy confers collective guilt not just on the powerful and their footsoldiers but also on those whose silence is assent. Anyway, where Palestine is concerned, with estimates of nearly half a million dead, it's looking like the Anglo-American-Zionist bloodlust has been satiated for the moment. Should we all puff out our chests in pride for blessing those whom God blessed and cursing those whom God cursed? It seems so. Millions of people calling themselves Christian actually believe that God favours Netanyahu over little Hind Rajab. We bring our troubles on ourselves. The wrath of God will rain down on us. All the signs we need lie dead under the rubble in Gaza.
As a nation, the USA support for Israel, and the lack of vocal protest over the Gaza genocide, must test the patience of God. The grieving words of Christ come to mind as I ponder what little effect sending a letter to my Representative achieved. She did respond, but how many complain and make their voices heard? Perhaps Americans, for the most part, care for their pocketbooks more than for righteousness. Luke 19:41 And when he drew near and saw the city he wept over it, 42 saying, “Would that even today you knew the things that make for peace! But now they are hid from your eyes. 43 For the days shall come upon you, when your enemies will cast up a bank about you and surround you, and hem you in on every side, 44 and dash you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another in you; because you did not know the time of your visitation.”
[/QUOTE] I think you're right, but what's most shocking is the hypocrisy of those who adopt selective outrage when it comes to the dead in wars around the world. Communist indoctrination, which has gained strength in recent years, manages to remain silent about the massacre of Christians in Nigeria and Putin's aggression in Ukraine—an aggression that has now taken on international proportions with the involvement of the North Korean meat grinder. In fact, this week, Kim Jong-un received the bodies of his fellow countrymen killed in Putin's war as heroes—even though, just a few months ago, Russian propaganda insisted that the communist country's involvement in the war was a Western fabrication. This is the same propaganda that dismissed Western reports about Russia's imminent invasion of its neighboring country as hysteria. Incidentally, many people criticize the Bible for not explicitly condemning slavery. However, Paul advised slave owners to treat their slaves well, even though he also encouraged the slaves to be obedient. In the end, it seems he was proposing a kind of brotherhood among peoples, even if it didn't entail a change in the prevailing social order—something that, clearly, none of the political leaders involved in today’s global conflicts seem to take into account. The word brotherhood acquired a notably Masonic connotation after the French Revolution, yet in its original essence, it represents the kind of Church Our Lord desired in the Book of Revelation under the motto “brotherly love.” The image of the lion lying next to the lamb seems to be a direct symbol of this—and also of what Pope Francis has often described as a “culture of encounter.” However, he himself has often adopted an exclusionary logic, such as when he said that Donald Trump was not a Christian during the 2016 presidential campaign, favoring his pro-abortion opponent. Nevertheless, in recent years, he seems to have drawn closer to the right. In fact, he was very close to Giorgia Meloni, who visited him in the hospital during his last hospitalization. His final meeting with a head of state, shortly before his death, was with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance. Still, his visits to the tombs of Saint Pius X and Benedict XVI in his final days were certainly more meaningful and transformative than any meeting with a head of state.
You tried, Mario, and that's all we are asked to do. You can't know whether your letter caused or will cause your Representative to reflect on his actions. I'm curious about what Catholics in the US are taught about the modern State of Israel, I've seen on the forum people apply the Biblical passage (I think from Isaiah) "I will bless those who bless you........". I thought they were just copying Protestants. Ted Cruz said he was taught in Sunday School that all Christians are obliged to support Israel, but I have zero respect for him. Anyway he was raised in Canada and despite the impression he likes to portray, his father left Cuba before Castro came to power. Then I watched an interview with Marjorie Taylor Greene. She was Catholic and said that she left the Church over the abuse crisis. She also said that she was taught in school something similar to what Ted Cruise was taught. Is the Church in the US teaching children that the secular, expansionist, war mongering, apartheid State of Israel is God's flag bearer? I'll probably be taking a break from the forum for a short while so, in case I'm not around on Friday, I wish you and all members in thr US a lovely day. Enjoy your celebrations of that party in Boston Harbour when good King George treated your ancestors to tea and crumpets as he apologised for his unfair tax policy and announced the withdrawal of his troops, wishing your Republic peace, prosperity and tranquility in the future.
I believe most Americans correlate the created 1948 State of Israel with ancient Israel, a sort of restoration. With all the tourism centered on Biblical sites one can see why they would make such a connection. Of course, I'm sure that given the current conflict, tourism is way down!
I totally support your position and skepticism. I like to pay attention prophecy and signs, and currently two out of three of the prophecies given to Blessed Carlos Acutis' mother have happened. One being that he would be Canonized, the other being the youth being filled with sanctifying grace. The last one being that all prophecy would be fulfilled once he is canonized. I believe this sanctifying grace why so many youth are returning to the faith, but also why they are drawn to the TLM. People are also having a lot of dreams and visions regarding the impending return of Jesus, and when they have dates that line up with the Canonization of Carlos Acutis I pay attention. Also, the line where no one knows the day or the hour is allegedly an idiom for the feast of Trumpets. Which gives the lines an entirely different meaning if true. No one would know which feast of trumpets, only that it would fall on the feast of trumpets. As well, there is Amos 3:7 which states "For the Lord God doth nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets." I also don't see this at date setting, because I am not setting dates. I am merely pointing out dates that were revealed to other people. As to what happens on these dates, I have no clue.
That's obvious. I'm more interested in what the Church teaches American children. What Cruz (I've corrected the spelling) and Taylor Greene said they were taught is not what I was taught over 60 years ago. Are Americans aware that the State of Israel has no defined borders and has consistently refused to define its boundaries? With no defined borders, it declares ownership of any territory it seizes. None of the Palestinian land occupied by Israel appears to be held legally, including all of Jerusalem and the West Bank. They've just wiped out another Christian village in the West Bank. Donald Trump had the power to ignore international law but I don't see how power gave him the right to do so. Some people (probably many Palestinians) hold that international law gives them the right to oppose an invading power even to the extent of using violence. I happen to lean towards the view that violence is never acceptable but there's no denying that given enough pressure the most peaceful people can be driven to violent reactions. When it comes to international law, I'm a complete ignoramus, but to my mind a country that refuses to define its boundaries takes upon itself illegally the right to steal land anywhere at any time. Where does it stop and who will stop it? The ethnic cleansing/genocide in Palestine has been going on for more than 70 years. It needs to stop. I'm sorry for being sarky about the 4th July and genuinely wish you all a great day.
I don't doubt the Carlo Acutis prophesy that after he is canonized, prophesy will be fulfilled. Looking at the world right now, it is clearly not in good shape with sins everywhere. Something might indeed happen on September 23-24, but the videos really confused me. Both of them mention September, but the one says that it will kick off seven years of tribulation (which would make sense given the buildup in war) and the other seeming thinks it will all be over then.... And both mention the rapture, which is something that Catholics don't believe in. I'm not doubting that something big is coming. And I can't dismiss those videos as false, because things are bad. But I feel some hesitation.
I completely agree, and to be sincere I don't know that either of them really had it all revealed or figured out. Often with these dreams they start interpreting it themselves or they add stuff. For all we know they are trying to get attention, or it is some kind of psy-op. You never really know, but when certain things line up from different sources I wont entirely dismiss it.
Iced? Tut-tut. What is it with you Americans that not even the tradition of hot tea with milk and two sugars is safe? I had found you an easy recipe for crumpets but iced tea and crumpets doesn't sound quite right. Here's the recipe anyway: https://www.recipetineats.com/crumpet-recipe/ Have the best weekend ever and don't forget that it's the first Friday and Saturday.
You're right, I don't like it either when personal issues are mixed with factual issues in a post. I think your ‘we are to blame’ triggered me because I feel personally guilty, but honestly not about Gaza.
I think we are not far apart in many respects. I understand your outrage. Terrible things are happening in Gaza and in many other places in the world. The cruelty with which Netanyahu treats the people in the Gaza Strip, ruthlessly bombing them, killing them and starving them to death, is outrageous. The fact that our European governments are giving millions of euros to Syria, supporting a ‘president’ and a ‘government’ that until recently had a bounty on its head, which our Christian brothers and sisters and other minorities are now slaughtering with EU sponsorship - that and much much more cries out to heaven. To speak out about this and other injustices, and to name everything that is evil, wrong or a lie, is certainly good and right. But as I see it, we are primarily obliged to do so when it comes to issues of faith. And in places where we have the opportunity to change something through our actions. Our conscience will tell us if this is the case. Besides, what we can do is almost always limited to our spiritual weapons. I am sometimes more, sometimes less willing to express my outrage about purely political grievances and to speak out. But not because I think I can change anything by doing so. If I'm honest with myself, I do it because sometimes it's good to be able to share thoughts, and because sometimes I feel like having a reaction or a controversy. Nevertheless some of us still have the opportunity to do more good than President Trump or other world leaders. If we live a godly life, and offer up our possibly heavy crosses, we can live a more deserving life than many of the world's powerful combined.
I couldn't disagree with anything you say in this post. I don't care to get bogged down in party politics. At voting time, I usually ask my sister the names of the best candidates from a pro-life perspective and I vote for them irrespective of party. The trouble here is that the most anti-war candidates are likely to be the most pro abortion and anti-traditional family values so there might not be a lesser evil option. I think, Steve, that we're coming to the end of the period of peace promised by Our Lady of Fatima. I've been looking some more into the situation in Armenia. A civil war could happen there. The Prime Minister's term of office expires next year. The Armenian Orthodox Church is his main opposition. The PM has accused the head of the Church of fathering a child and demanded his resignation, announcing his intention to get a group of laity to choose the successor. He has also arrested two Bishops, accusing them of plotting a coup: https://www.ctpost.com/news/world/article/armenia-arrests-another-top-cleric-over-an-20398702.php The EU has been throwing money at Armenia, probably in return for Armenia ceding disputed territory to Azerbaijan which is very closely allied to Turkey and Israel. It looks like a possible repeat of what happened in Ukraine with the Turks getting involved followed by the rest of NATO. Azerbaijan has the oil that Europe needs and it looks like the Turks have struck a deal to get the Azeri oil to Europe in return for Armenian territory which the Azeris want. I read on what looks to be a Russian linked news site a quote from a member of Turkish Intelligence saying that President Trump has cleverly managed to do what Biden couldn't: surround Russia. Russian relations with Azerbaijan are deteriorating. Putin always pussyfoots around them, the Turks and the Israelis. One comment I heard was that there's a powerful Azeri influence in Russia and that they're Azeri Jews. Pope Francis was right when he said that WW111 had begun. It's gathering pace now. Pray, pray, pray for peace.
Kyiv hit by barrage of drone strikes as Putin rejects Trump's truce bid https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2g3qvz0pvo We are in WW3 it just hasn't been officially announced yet.
