Showing posts with label Persecuted Christians. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Persecuted Christians. Show all posts

Friday, December 25, 2015

The Last Arab Christian Prince: "My Great Mission is Raise the Awareness of the West"


The Ghannasid dynasty has ruled a vast territory that included parts of present-day Saudi Arabia, Syria and Jordan. It was an allied Christian kingdom of the Byzantine Empire. Its importance was vital and contributed to progress to protect and promote trade.The dynasty was overthrown by the Muslims in the seventh century, although its descendants ruled kingdoms until the eighteenth century.
Currently, the heir and head of the royal house is Prince Gharios Gasánida and  Actuall  is confronting this great challenge: to protect millions of persecuted Christians in the areas in which his family ruled.

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Leftist Ex-Mayor of Venice: "I Expect More From the Pope Than From a Renzi or Merkel"

(Rome) The Catholic journalist Antonio Socci has been harshly attacked for his criticism of Pope Francis' silence about the tragedy of the Christians in the Middle East. However, similar criticism also comes from an "unsuspected" wing, as expressed by philosopher Massimo Cacciari who was mayor from 1993-2000 and 2005-2010 of Venice. Cacciari began his career as a radical left-winger. For the daily newspaper La Repubblica, which Pope Francis prefers like no other medium,  Cacciari said:
"This is a radical change in the political theology of the Church ... but that's a neat problem ... Francis considered an intervention, where he decides to to legitimate the UN   - but that is a secularization of the Catholic idea of" just war "... The position of Francis is extremely weak. His point of view is actually one that a Renzi or a Merkel might represent. Forgive me, but from the Pope, I expect something more, that is, he should tell me that it is necessary to intervene on the basis of the absolute values he holds."

"No more silence" - Haunting Words of Saint Catherine of Siena

Antonio Socci provides affirmation  to Cacciari's statement  in the words of St. Catherine of Siena (1347-1380):

Saint Catherine of Siena, with a burning faith and an open heart
"Oh,  end  the silence! Call out  with a hundred thousand tongues. I see that the world is sick because of the silence, the bride of Christ is pale. "With these powerful words, the saint turned to  high church officials.
And what else did Antonio Socci write about in the newspaper  on 20 August  on the topic for Libero:
"Even today, one can feel the need in the Church, that women and men with burning faith and open hearts like St. Catherine, turn anxiously to the Pope (Gregory XI), who did not do what he was supposed to have done:  'In  your place I would fear that the divine judgment would come upon me.'
But in our time a strange clericalism and its flattery predominate and not the voices of the great saints or free men and women, or perhaps they are not heard.
It is very hard and very painful for a Catholic, given the tragedy of Christians and other minorities in Iraq, to understand the attitude of the Vatican by Pope Bergoglio and accept that they are hunted and killed by bloodthirsty Islamists of the Caliphate in these times.

A Week-long Illusion

In the first weeks there was a reluctance to talk about it. Even the prayer initiative of the Italian Bishops' Conference of 15 August, the pope, in open contrast to his predecessors, remained silent. Obviously, he cherishes a dislike of the Italian Church.
Then, finally, after 20 days of the massacre of men, women and children and a thousand times the pressure, especially by the bishops of that country and the Vatican diplomats, Pope Bergoglio decided to express those fateful words, even though he did it very quietly, 'It is legitimate to stop an unjust aggressor '.
What a performance ... That would have been missing, would  he have said that it is legitimate that the attacker kills innocent people, crucifies the  'enemies of Islam', buries children alive and rapes women and sold them as slaves.

The Attitude of John Paul II., And Benedict XVI.

In another tempo and energy, John Paul II called to defend the innocent. 'When I see that my neighbor is persecuted, I must defend him: This is an act of charity. That to me is humanitarian intervention.' He emphatically turned, however, in 2003 with his last strength against the non-UN-supported U.S. military intervention Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq.  Similarly, Benedict XVI appealed against the. 2011,  UN-supported U.S. military intervention Opération Harmattan against Libya.
But neither John Paul II. nor Benedict XVI. are sitting on the chair of Peter. Pope Bergoglio hastened to shuffle off his words   immediately that one may legitimately 'stop the attacker, but without bombs and without going to war.'  Thus we imagine the bitter question of whether he really wants to save face or save the lives of innocents. How should a brutal gang of killers be stopped without weapons? What does  Pope Bergoglio suggest to the butcher to stop?  There will be those who will immediately say, a pope could not call for violence, even not when it comes to saving innocents. Wrong. For centuries, the Catholic doctrine teaches the right to self-defense against an unjust aggressor.
It was the theologians of the school of jurists of Salamanca, as well as the Dominican Francisco de Vitoria, precisely on that point, who established the modern basis of International Law on the basis of natural law in the early 16th century.
Pope Benedict XVI. in 2008, recalled to the United Nations: 'The principle of responsibility to protect was viewed from the ancient ius gentium  (international law) as the foundation of every action that is performed by the governing to the governed.' And pointed out that the Dominican Friar Francisco De Vitoria, is rightly regarded as a precursor of the idea of the United Nations.'
Thus John Paul turned II turned in 1995 in his encyclical Evangelium Vitae: On the other hand, "self-defense of the one for the lives of  others  responsible for the welfare of his family or the common good, is not only a right but a grave duty". 1 It unfortunately happens that the need to render the attacker harmless, sometimes brings his killing with it. In this case, the fatal outcome is put the attacker to load, which has exposed him by his act, even in the event that he was not morally responsible for lack of use of reason.' 2
What Pope Francis would have done if following in the footsteps of his predecessor, would have been a proportionate and targeted use of force to disarm the attacker and save the lives of the persecuted. But not for other interests.

Silence is a Child of Catho-progressive Ideology

Moreover, we find no single  mention by the Pope regarding the Islamist slaughter, not even once the word Islam, Islamists or Muslims. If someone had only the words of the Pope to go on,  he would not understand in the least, who is responsible for this humanitarian tragedy.
This serious reluctance is the result of Catho-progressive ideology, for dialogue with Muslims is wrongly understood and  pursued as surrender, even on a psychological level. This goes so far that there are Catho-progressive commentators who go so far as to repeat with zeal, that the butchers of the Caliph have nothing to do Islam and the  'true' Islam, since   actual Islam is something else entirely. Only: The Butcher of the Caliph forces his victims to convert to Islam if they don't want to be killed or driven away.
It is understandable and right that the church leadership does not seek conflict, controversy or even a religious war. But it is also a duty to tell the truth and to give believers a serious cultural judgment about  what is happening to Christians in the world. This is especially true given the cultural subservience of many Catholics, where some are even  seriously concerned, to keep so contemptibly, silent about 'the persecution of Christians.'  Christians are clearly the most persecuted group worldwide.

The Pope's Quiet Words   "at least" Refute the Loud Talkers

Despite all the words of the Pope on the flight back from Korea, it's a step forward, always with the hope that given the dramatic situation he will soon, as soon as possible, follow clearer and more decisive words.
The words should, meanwhile, already serve to order some of their thoughts to help. Even those who wanted to go immediately with sharp words, to  silence everyone in recent days who dared to call the papal silence by name. And those who were not embarrassed, to insinuate the same time, the demand to stop the attacker was the same as calling for a war or even a crusade.
The papal words, as quietly as they may be, at least refute those who  trumpeted the most loudly, that the silence of the Pope meant that he 'wanted to avoid even worse reactions'. Or quite shrewdly: 'If the Pope does not say anything, then it means that he is in secret '. This is much chatter, spoken by well-meaning and less well-meaning people.
In reality, we were under the illusion in the Vatican for weeks that there is a diplomatic way. However, the  Caliph just wants to conquer, massacre and forcibly convert. That's exactly what the situation as it was described by the Iraqi bishops who were perfectly familiar with the real situation for the Vatican, which did not want to hear. The bishops have indicated that the butchers do not even know what the word 'dialogue' or diplomacy mean.

An addendum

And an addendum: In his speeches during the Korean visit to Pope Francis called legitimately on the whole Church to reflect on the example of the martyrs of yesterday and today and for prayer. Quite right. The call is very weak, if he does not at the same time encourage the whole Church to rush to the aid of the victims. And it is weak without that profound cultural consciousness that Benedict XVI. knew how to give those who were willing to listen. Today, however, confusion rules.
Introduction / Translation: Giuseppe Nardi
image: Riscossa Christiana / fresco in the church of S Pietro di Carpignano Sesi (Novara)
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
Link to Katholisches...
AMDG

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Does Pope Francis Really Say to Persecuted Christians: "See how you get through it."

 

Antonio Socci: Are Pope Francis, the persecuted Christians in the Middle East no matter how President Obama?
(Rome) The Catholic journalist Antonio Socci, director of the Academy of Television Journalism in Perugia, a joint project of the University of Perugia and  public television RAI, wrote after the Angelus of Pope Francis from last Sunday on his Facebook page a short comment:
Bergoglio says to the persecuted Christians 'See to it how you cope with it'?
At today's Angelus Pope Bergoglio said, 'Looking the other way is an kind of way of saying, see toit how you cope with it'. But that is not Christian. "
But Bergoglio avoided any reference to the persecuted Christians and especially those that are being persecuted in Iraq at this time because of their faith.
Not even a reference to the initiative of the Italian Bishops' Conference, which has   declared a day of prayer for the persecuted Christians for the coming 15th August.
According to his own words, this means that you are being harassed because of your faith and out of your homes? See how you can cope with it.
A tribute to the Italian bishops! Rather, why didn't the prayer not connect with the initiative of  the Society of St. Peter ?
This ends the commentary. The Catholic journalist left the question hang in the air, whether Pope Francis, is indifferent to the persecuted Christians of the Middle East.  Indifferent as the U.S. President Barack Obama and most Western leaders?
The Austrian bishops have proclaimed  an ecumenical day of fasting and prayer  on August 8. With his suggestion that the bishops should have actually aligned their prayer initiative with that of the FSSP  on August 1,  Socci would clearly have overwhelmed the bishops.  A joint initiative of Western European Episcopal Conferences with a community of tradition? That would be the best  imaginable from the U.S. Bishops' Conference.  As  "Western Europeans" we should just enjoy it, that the bishops are active.
Text: Giuseppe Nardi
image: Tempi
Trans: Tancred vekron99@homtail.com
AMGD

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Pope Francis' Angelus for 26 December -- St. Stephen and the True Meaning of Christmas: Bethlehem and Golgotha

 Francis: Religious freedom is often not realized in countries as they are guaranteed on paper. Persecution and discrimination: for a testimony. On the civilian level they need to be identified and eliminated.

By Armin Schwibach Rome (kath.net / as) Angelus on the Feast of St. Stephen, Protomartyr. The Bible presents him as "a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit" (cf. Acts 6:5), said Pope Francis in his address before praying the Angelus, who was commissioned and worked with others for the service of the widows and poor of the first community of Jerusalem. Stephen died as Jesus and asked for forgiveness for his murderers (cf. 7.55 to 60).

In the atmosphere of Christmas full of joy, it might seem that this commemoration is somehow out of place, the Pope said. In the optics of faith, however, the feast of St. Stephen is in harmony with the deep meaning of Christmas. In martyrdom, "violence is defeated by love, death by life." The Church sees in the sacrifice of the martyrs their "birth to heaven." So we are celebrating today the "Baby Shower" of Stephen, of the Nativity of Christ which springs from the depths. "Jesus turned the death of those who love him as the dawn of new life."

In the martyrdom of Stephen, the same struggle between good and evil , between hatred and forgiveness, between gentleness and violence, which had its climax on the cross of Christ is represented. Thus the memory of the first martyr dispels the false picture of Christmas: "The fabulous and sweet image that does not exist in the Gospel." Liturgy brings out the real meaning of the Incarnation by connecting Bethlehem with Golgotha ​​and thus it recalls that the divine healing is encompassed in the fight against sin and goes through the narrow door of the Cross: "This is the way Jesus has clearly shown his disciples, how the gospel is testified today, ' And you shall be hated by all men for my name's sake: but he that shall persevere unto the end, he shall be saved."(Matt. 10:22).

Therefore Francis called for prayers especially for the persecuted Christians: "Let us be close to these brothers and sisters who have been, like Saint Stephen, unjustly accused and are the object of violence of various kinds. "The Pope was convinced that today there are more martyrs than in the first centuries of Christianity.

This takes place especially where freedom of religion is not yet guaranteed or fully realized, however, this also in countries and areas, which protects the freedom and human rights on paper, but in which the faithful and particularly the Christians encounter de facto restrictions and discrimination. Francis called the faithful in St. Peter's Square to to pray in silence for the persecuted Christians, and closed this prayer with a "Hail Mary". For the Christian, "it is no wonder, since Jesus had announced this as an opportunity to give testimony. Nevertheless, injustices must be exposed and eliminated eliminated on a civil level."

"Mary, Queen of Martyrs," the Pope concluded, "help to live Christmas with that fervor of faith, which shines in St. Stephen and all the martyrs of the Church". Link to kath.net...

Thursday, August 15, 2013

The Arab Revolt Continues in Egypt as Christian Churches Are Burning

So much for the “Arab Spring”.  We predicted an Arab Revolt long before this happened, when the various media organs were rhapsodizing about the wonders of Democracy.

A report from Pro Christanis’ Facebook group reveals:

Update - Egypt - 14.08.2013
24 churches burnt down today15 orthodox7 catholic and 2 protestant churchesCopts' houses attacked in Cairo, Alexandria, Sohag, Minya and SuezChristians' shops and Bible publishing houses also attacked A priest and his wife were kidnapped and hold captive by Muslim Brotherhood

And the atrocities continue, link.


Sunday, December 16, 2012

"Convert to Islam or Die" -- Iraqi Grand Ayatollah Unleashes Fatwa Against Christians

(Bagdad) On the same day in which the Syrian-Catholic Cathedral was solemnly re-consecrated, the Grand Ayatollah issued a Fatwa against the Christians of Iraq.  The Christians are expected to convert to Islam or are liable to be killed.  The Catholic Cathedral was the scene of a bloody attack on 31 October, 2010.  An Al-Qaeda unit attacked the church, as the Christians there were celebrating Holy Mass. 58 Catholics lost their lives in the attack, among whom were two priests.

The Shi'ite Iraqi Grand Ayatollah Sayid Ahmad al Hassani al Baghdadi announced his call to murder Christians with the Egyptian television broadcaster Al Baghdadia.  Al Baghdadi, which belongs to one of the most radical members of the Islamic Jihad, is calling Christians as polytheists and friends of Zionists.  Al Baghdadi's call to the Christian minority of Iraq reads:  "Convert to Islam or Die".  The women and girls of the Christians "can be legally considered to be wives of Muslims", said the Grand Ayatollah.  Al Baghdadi,  who was born in Nadjaff in Iraq, is one of the "holy cities" of Shi'ite Islam, lives today in Syria and there supports the armed struggle of Islamists.

The Catholics of Bagdad regard the Fatwa as "extremely troubling".  Whatever effect they will have, they should not be underestimated.  Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, of the Prefect of the Congregation for Oriental Churches,  undertook the re-consecration of the Cathedral.  In his sermon he spoke of the murdered Christians in 2010, that the tears and the blood of martyrs are seedlings, which will bring forth new fruit.  Cardinal Sandri held a five day visit to Iraq, in order to strengthen the Christians there during the year of Faith.

Text: Asianews/Giuseppe Nardi
Bild: Asianews




Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Converted Muslims Are Secretly Baptized in Vienna -- Msgr Franz Schlegl on World Prayer Day for Persecuted Christians

(Vienna) On the 4th of November 2012 Msgr. Mag. Franz Schlegl preached for persecuted Christians.  Msgr. Schlegl is a priest of the Roman Rite and an Archpriest of the Byzantine Rite (Ukrainian Communion) of the Archdiocese of Vienna.

At the outset Dr. Elmar Kuhn, the General Secretary of Christian Solidarity International Austria spoke of a "dramatic scale of Christian persecution".  Kuhn reported the current case of a Pakistani Christian who had been given a prison sentence for "ridicule" involving  "blasphemy against the Prophet".  Although he had completed his sentence, the Muslim prison director refused to let him free, because he had continued to hold fast to his belief in Christ.

Msgr. Schlegl spoke in his sermon about the Christian persecution, of which the media does not report. "Whichever picture of human rights, whichever picture of democracy our responsible journalists of our media",   when there are attacks and violence to Christians "are hardly talked about in the media".   Every five to ten minutes somewhere in the world a Christian is killed because of his faith.  In 50 nations of the world there are more than 100 million Christians persecuted for their faith, mishandled, discriminated,  and threatened with death.  Nine of ten of those persecuted for their beliefs are Christians.  But that does not merit a line of the news value and also in the newspapers not a line."  With the exception of North Korea, he People's Republic of China and some of the other communistically inclined states, "the persecution of Christians takes place primarily in Islamic countries.  The 'Arab Spring' has become a Christian crucifixion." Christians are valued in states like Somalia and Nigeria "as vermin, that must be destroyed, as trash that must be taken out".

Msgr Schlegl explained that Muslims, who have converted to the Catholic Faith, in agreement with Archbishop Christoph Cardinal Schönborn do not have to participate in the catechumen celebration, "very simply, because it is dangerous.  Then their preparation for baptism and the baptism inclusively held in secret so that they don't have to fear for their lives."

"That is happening to us today that Christians, in following the Lord are ready to die as martyrs.  That is the biggest difference.  The Muslims also say, their fighters are martyrs.  As a Christian I am prepared to die for my Christian faith, but I am never prepared to murder for my Faith.  And those who call themselves martyrs, because they set off an automobile in the air and rip 100 or 50 people to death: what does that have to do with martyrdom.  That is naked violence."

Link to katholisches...

Sorry, his sermon is only in German.