France: Catholics are Under Police Protection for the Feast of the Assumption

Terror Prevention on Feast of the Assumption

Paris (kath.net/ idea.de )) - The Catholic churches in France are under increased police protection for the prevention of terrorist attacks. The event: On August 15, Catholics celebrate "The Assumption" where about 150,000 visitors are expected just in the Parisian cathedral of Notre Dame alone.

The Catholic Bishops Conference recommends that churchgoers be particularly vigilant and to leave no bags unattended during the Mass. On the same day the Catholic churches will also ring their bells at 12 noon in solidarity with the persecuted Christians of the Middle East. Already in April the French police intensified the protective measures for 178 churches, after a terrorist attack in the Paris suburb of Villejuif had been frustrated. In January, the security level for Catholic and Protestant churches and synagogues and mosques had been increased as a result of attacks on the offices of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and a Jewish supermarket. Of the 65.8 million inhabitants of France approximately 64.3 percent are Catholics, about 4.3 percent are Muslims, about 1.9 percent are Protestants, about one per cent Buddhist and 0.6 percent Jewish. The rest are mostly without a confession. Link to kath.net... Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com AMDG

On the 15th of August Bells Will Sound For Persecuted Christians of the Orient Will Sound

(Paris) On the feast of the Assumption 40 diocese of France, Luxembourg, Belgium and Switzerland will ring their   church bells for the persecuted Christians in the Middle East. The 15th of August was chosen because the Blessed Virgin Mary is the patron saint of Christendom and is particularly revered in the Orient.

The diocese will thus set an example of solidarity and solidarity with the persecuted Christians. The bells  call for prayers especially for the oppressed, exiled and enslaved Christians. "If everything goes bad and there is apparently no hope, one turns to Mary, which brings down the walls," said Archbishop Jean-Pierre Cattenoz of Avignon the initiative.

Initiative for persecuted Christians from Bishop Dominique Rey of Fréjus-Toulon

The solidarity campaign starts from Bishop Dominique Rey of Fréjus-Toulon, one of the most prominent bishops of France who trains priests of his diocese in both forms of the Roman Rite, and has even celebrated in the traditional rite and promotes this in his diocese. The small diocese in the Provence has by far the highest number of seminarians throughout France.

His announcement, ringing the bells to the Assumption of the persecuted Christians was followed immediately by the bishops of Gap Embrun, Ajaccio, Avignon and Bayonne. All dioceses where the traditional rite has a home.

Meanwhile, the group of dioceses taking part in the action has greatly increased. There are now 40 dioceses and not just in France but also in French-speaking Switzerland, in Belgium and Luxembourg.

Charity concert of singing priests - disability symptomatic of the state of Europe

The singing French priests "Les Pretres" from the diocese of Gap have donated the proceeds from two large benefit concerts for the persecuted Christians in the Orient. Originally, the Parisian society for public transport (RATP) had refused to accept posters for the charity concert, because  it is "religious advertising"  (see "France suffers from its secularity" - priest of Parisian subways "too political"? ). But this is contrary to the secularism of France. The refusal sparked an intense debate. Many people were outraged because they thought it absurd that a benefit concert for persecuted Christians was considered   "religious advertising" and that a relief operation has been hampered by the refusal.

This was partly a fundamental discussion about the fact that in the Middle East  Christians die, but rather than  providing assistance,  the West holds abstract and antichristian discussions. "While we are discussing, people are dying in the East. Solidarity is different, a young woman wrote in the Internet log of the singing priests.

The discussion at least led to such  great interest in the charity campaign of the singing priests that one concert became two. Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve  and also Senate President Gerard Larcher attended. Unfortunately, the bishops of other parts of Europe have not taken up the initiative of Bishop Dominique Rey and excepted themselves from  the "French," a European mark of solidarity and solidarity with the persecuted Christians.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: Infovaticana

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholischesl...

AMDG

It Should Have Been the Largest Bloodbath of Christians -- Jihadist Shoots Himself in the Foot

Massacre of Christians Prevented in France

(Paris) He wanted to inflict the biggest massacre on Christians in France. The attack was held on Sunday,  April 19. Sid Ahmed Ghlam stood ready, armed with a Kalashnikov to penetrate during the Sunday Mass in the Catholic Church of Villejuif. His goal: to kill hundreds of Christians. Then the jihadist accidentally shot  himself in the foot ...

On April 19,  an emergency call center was contacted.  A man asked for help. "I'm outdoors. I've been shot in the foot," the duty officer in the emergency center carefully asked for a clarification:  "Shot in the foot! With a gun? "

Bombers had Chosen Two Churches in Villejuif Near Paris

It is hard to imagine what would happen to would not undermine the Islamic terrorists Sid Ahmed Ghlam the misfortune.The 24 year old Muslim Sid Ahmed Ghlam comes from Algeria and was planning on that Sunday, April 19, 2015 to storm  the Catholic church Sainte Therese of Villejuif in Val de Marne south of Paris. He had two chosen among the churches of Villejuif, Saint Therese and Saint Cyr-Sainte Julitte. He wanted to cause a bloodbath like the Islamist militia Boko Haram in Nigeria and al-Shabaab in Kenya. Wanted, with the difference that Sid Ahmed Ghlam would wreak carnage in the middle of Europe and therefore attract a lot more attention. He named his assassination target even after his arrest.

Three months after the "prevented" assassination   the daily newspaper Le Monde reported the background.

As Sid Ahmed Ghlam was brought bleeding from an ambulance to the hospital, arrived and police. Then it happened in quick succession. The police followed the trail of blood and went to his car. In the vehicle they found a Kalashnikov, two pistols, a bulletproof vest and written evidence of a planned assassination, including accurate location information to the two churches of Villejuif.

Murder of young mother Aurelie Chatelain

He is accused of the murder of 32 year old Aurelie Chatelain, mother of a five year-old daughter. Chatelain had been shot and then set on fire in her car. When the police found the charred body, initially a robbery was suspected.  Meanwhile, the investigators believe that Chatelain had to die because Ghlam mistook her for a police officer in plain clothes.

Ghlam claims meanwhile, to have nothing to do with the murder of Chatelain. He confirmed that an attack had been planned at the church, but wanted another person present at the scene to commit,  which was prevented. He had suffered the gunshot wound.

When the police carried out a house search at the home  address of Ghlam, they found three Kalashnikovs and other bulletproof vests. Who had armed him? According to Le Monde, Sid Ahmed Ghlam was "remote controlled from Syria" to the last detail. His direct contact man was a French citizen of Toulouse, who had converted to Islam and has joined the battle of the Islamic State (IS) in 2014 in Syria. Previously, he was incarcerated in France five years in prison for supporting terrorism. Ghlam also maintained contacts with Mohammed Merah,  Islamic terrorist, who committed three separate attacks in Toulouse and Montauban on March 2012 in which three French soldiers, a Jewish rabbi, whose two children and the daughter of the Jewish headmaster were killed. Another soldier survived, seriously injured, as well as a 17 year old Jewish student. On March 22, the Islamist bomber was located ​​and killed.

Islamist network in Europe: contacts with assassins of Paris, Toulouse, Montauban and Nice

2013/2014 Ghlam lived in Reims. His apartment was only a few meters away from that of  Saïd Kouachi, one of the two bombers to the editors of Charlie Hebdo.

In addition to handlers in the Middle East  three additional personas have helped Sid Ghlam in opbtaining  the arsenal.  One of them, Rabah R., is known  to the French secret service as an "old acquaintance". Several times he was questioned in connection with the Islamic terrorism. The other two men were not yet known to the security forces. As it turned out, they were close to Moussa Coulibaly who had attacked three French soldiers last February in Nice, and had contacts with a Moroccan jihadist group.

In the home of Sid Ahmed Ghlam the police discovered documents proving connections to other people in the Islamist network. Sid Ahmed Ghlam is just one of the ticking time bombs who is preparing, under  the protection of Europe's legal and social order, a  cathartic terror act. The attack on the church in Villejuif should have caused many more deaths than the assassination of the editor of the satirical leftist weekly Charlie Hebdo. At the church selected by Ghlam, 300 people participate in Holy Mass every Sunday.

In  2001, he came for the first time with his family to France. In 2003 he returned to Algeria. After finishing school, he moved in 2010 in the wake of "family reunification," all the way to France.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: Tempi

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches...

AMDG

Stations of the Cross Removed: "Lack of Respect for Unbelievers and Muslims"

Stations of the Cross Removed: "Lack of respect for
unbelievers and Muslims."

(Madrid) The Socialist Natalia Nuñez was elected last May 24th as the new Mayor of Cenicientos in Spain. The municipality in the Autonomous Community of Madrid has a population of 2,073 inhabitants. One of the first acts of the PSOE representative was the removal of the Stations of the Cross in the small town by the pilgrimage church of Nuestra Señora del Roble, the city's patron.

The Mayor charged  the Way of the Cross with a "lack of respect" towards non-believers and those are who "profess the Muslim religion and culture." Nuñez described the Way of the Cross in interviews dismissively as "those stones".

The destructiveness of the "Alcaldesa" of Cenicientos caused quite a stir in Spain. The more so because the Way of the Cross represented by the stone steles  were only represented by the Roman station number, but without a cross or other religious symbol. Their  placement was financed by the citizens with a support of the Culture Programme of the provincial administration for 3,000 euros. It was at no cost to  Cenicientos. Only three months after its construction, now that the local elections had taken place, they were again removed. 

"If Stone Steles Offend a Muslim, Will You Want Tomorrow to Demolish the Churches and Chapels?"

A citizens' committee presented a collection of signatures, which were handed over on July 17 at the City Hall. The committee addressed the mayor the question whether the destruction of the Cross, even presented in this simplicity, shows no "lack of respect towards the Catholics." It calls for the return of the stone steles to their place.

Father Jorge González Guadalix, priest of the Archdiocese of Madrid, referred to the activism of the Mayor as "sectarianism". There is a "will not to respect Catholics and to insult them". InfoCatolica quoted the priest with the question: "How could stone steles without any religious symbol insult a Muslim. He doesn't even know their importance. If naked stones already offend, how much more must then churches and chapels 'insult'? Will they demolish them tomorrow?"

According to Father Guadalix this day is not far off for those who think this way: "The truth is that you want to make an end to   Catholics and with everything that reminds us of the Church. This is an old aim under which Spain has already suffered greatly. The 'fruits of this tolerance' we know all too well," the priest said, alluding to the anti-Catholic persecution in the 1930s.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: Tempi

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches...

AMDG

Bagdad's Christians Threatened by Criminals

Church Under Guard

(Baghdad) In the past two weeks four Chaldean Christians have been kidnapped in the Iraqi capital. Two of them were murdered, despite the payment of a ransom. The  Chaldean Patriarchate united with Rome  laments that the security situation of Christians has worsened in the capital Baghdad.

Qais Abd Shaya and Saher Hann Sony were kidnapped and despite the efforts of their families and the Chaldean community to obtain their release, they were murdered.  The perpetrators conceding the demanded ransom, but did not comply with the agreements. "With great pain," complained the Chaldean Patriarchate in a press statement, there is a deteriorating security situation for Christians. Dangers threatening not only by the advancing Islamists. The war, which the Islamic State has (IS) carried into Iraq, leading to a general brutalization.

Kidnapping for ransom of Christians Considered as "Legitimate"

Unscrupulous characters and gangs are active as highwaymen. With the kidnapping and ransom of Christians the gangs and clans build on  old patterns of behavior that had been thought to be overcome.

Fortunately the kidnapping of two Christians Bashar al-Ghanem Akrawi, a doctor, and Saad Galyana Shaba ended, for their families and the Christian community had to raise a ransom. In this case, the perpetrators at least kept the agreements.

The murder of Shaya and Sony also unsettled the Christian community. Therefore, Patriarch Raphael Louis I. Sako of the  Chaldean Catholic Church united with Rome calls for more protection from the state. Christians, "are in all respects citizens of that State. For almost 2000 years, Christians have contributed to the culture and civilization of this country. We therefore appeal to the state authority and the state security forces in Baghdad to send us the protection every citizen of the country deserves.  We appeal that the State shall protect the life of Christians, our churches and property of our people."

In Patriarchate it is  held  that  Christians with Muslims on the one hand, are just as liable to be common criminals. Upon investigation  it is confirmed that the latter are invariably Muslims. The kidnapping of Christians and the ransom to fund-raising is considered as "legitimate".

Text: Asianews / Giuseppe Nardi
Image: Asianews

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com 

Link to Katholisches...

AMDG

Venice: Art Historian Protests Against "Mosque" in the Church and Calls the Police

Church to Mosque

(Venice) In  ongoing Venice Biennale, unbeknownst to the Patriarchate, a Catholic church was converted into a mosque (see Venice Biennale: Mosque installed in the church - "Invitation to Islamists to Conquer" ). During the Patriarchate protested with explanations,  the Catholic art historian Alessandro Tamburini, professor at the Institute of Religious Studies, engaged in  a far more efficient sign of protest.

The tax-financed "artwork",  a contribution from the Republic of Iceland to the art exhibition, has been used since then  by  the Muslims of the area as a mosque. Moreover, Muslims have usurped the church and "artwork"  and taken control of the building.

The "interaction" is welcomed as an "invitation to dialogue" by the Swiss artist and the Icelandic Minister of Culture. Neither the state nor the Scandinavian artist has expressed a word of apology or regret for the profanation of the Catholic Church of Santa Maria della Misericordia - Catholic churches are in contrast to Islamic mosques consecrated places. The Catholic Church seems to have a fictional duty which is put forward as a  matter of course, that it does not even need a mention.

The Patriarchate raised strong protest against the abuse. The fact that the church has been privately owned since the 1970s, complicates matters and limits the intervention of the competent diocese.

Access with Shoes in the "Art Pavilion" Denied

Inscription Above the Door of the Venetian Church, Which Was Converted into a Mosque

Alessandro Tamburini a religious scholar who is well-known in academic circles religious scholar  wanted to look at the "scandal" in person. At the entrance to the church, recte for "work of art", he was stopped by Muslims and asked to  take off his shoes, because he was setting foot in  "a mosque."  When Tamburini refused because it was not a mosque, but a Catholic church, he was denied entry by the Muslims. Tamburini called the police on the spot and made it  publicly clear that this is an abuse and an attack against the Catholic Church and Its believers.

"Professor Tamburini made his courageous decision as an example of how to react in such situations of more or less veiled attacks against Christianity in the context of legality," said  Messa in Latino .

Tamburini lives in Venice and teaches art history of Antiquity and the Middle Ages. Foreign friends had informed him that they were refused entry to the "Icelandic Pavilion" of the Biennale, because they had refused to take off their shoes. Tamburini went on site to his friends and tried to enter the "Pavilion", where he was filming the entire process.

"Is This a Center of Worship? Respect for Whom and What" -  Iceland Refused to Say

"I was denied entry because I refused to take off my shoes. I asked the following question: which is this a center of worship? They agreed and denied me admission, out of respect. I asked, therefore, respect due to whom  and what: Because of the perhaps too expensive carpet? Or because it is an Islamic place of worship? Inside are  praying Muslims apparently. Or because it is a Catholic place of worship? Removing the  shoes is an act of worship. If this is an art pavilion, then this forced  action is severe. Who wants to visit a mosque of cultural or artistic interest in an Islamic country, will be adapted to the necessary rules, conversely, whoever in Italy wants to visit a church. But this can not apply for an art exhibition, which tends to be thought of as a provocation, for which the artist Büchel is indeed well known," said Tamburini.

"What right have Icelanders in Venice to ban access and convert churches into mosques?"

Reporters said Tamburini then: "It is to be rejected and condemned, that the fundamental rights of a citizen of this country can be restricted by Muslims and pseudo artists who encourage surely neither respect nor dialogue but unnecessarily provoke divisions and tensions. The headlines these days in the media speak for themselves: the sharp observations of patriarchy, because a church was converted into a mosque without permission. In addition, I did not know which authority would have the Icelanders to ban Italian or foreign citizens the access to a public place. And what right have the Icelanders to convert a church into a mosque in Venice? Because a mosque is in every respect. Muslims pray in it, forcing their rules keep them occupied in fact. They have already announced plans to celebrate in, Pavilion 'Ramadan. If this place of worship allowed by the prefecture? If the Treasurer informed? The city administration? I called the police and filed a complaint. "

After Protest, the Icelandic Pavilion Director Allowed Shod Access - art historian refuses: "Questions not answered"

Meanwhile, the Muslims have usurped a church with Icelandic assistance "on behalf of the freedom of art" and want to celebrate in Ramadan

After the art historians sharp words, and engaging the police lengthy discussions, the Icelandic director of the "Pavilion" granted Tamburini an "exceptional" permission, and was allowed to wear shoes to enter the building.  "I refused, because it was not just about my rights. Numerous other people  had already been banned access and the same thing would happen to me again. Above all, they refused to respond to my questions: Is this a religion? Respect for what and whom? Because of an obligatory attitude of refusal  they do not encourage dialogue, but provoke and cause division."

Tamburini continued: "We owe respect to  Muslims and the Icelanders, who are guests in our country. I share the opinion of the Patriarchate and can only regret that it is precisely a city like Venice, which has always historically been  a meeting place of different cultures and religious traditions, has become the scene of such a lack of respect for the identity of others, which has happened to us. Respect demands that you first knock on the door before it opens. Icelanders and Muslims have no respect and without asking permission, converted a church into a mosque. On this basis, it is difficult to engage in interreligious dialogue. The pseudo-artists are known for the fact that they do not ask. Islam is well known for the fact that it does not ask for permission. All the more surprising that the Icelanders still promote such an attitude."

Icelanders have the disrespect to convert a  church dedicated in a foreign city in which they are guests, and to transform it into a mosque, but the Icelandic pavilion director refuses to answer  Tamburini's question whether the pavilion is a place of worship and, if so, whose religion. "Because they misuse a Catholic church, therefore a place of worship, they dare not to answer this question, because by what right could they demand respect for a Muslim place of worship, if you have just desecrated a Catholic place of worship," said Tamburini , "I expect that the prefect and the competent public authorities will protect the Italian Constitution and the rights of Italian citizens."

Meanwhile, the art historian is filing a legal complaint against the owner of the church and the organizer of the Biennale.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: Milo

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches...

AMDG

Jihadists Destroy Armenian Cathedral of Aleppo

The Cathedral of the 40 Martyrs, Destroyed
on April 28th, 2015 

(Beirut) "Just in time" for the 100th anniversary of the genocide of the Armenians, jihadists destroyed the Armenian Cathedral of Aleppo. Ignatius Joseph III. Younan, Patriarch of the  Syrian Catholic Church of Antioch in union with Rome, speaks of a "tragedy in Aleppo", the second largest city of Syria. On April 28, the city was bombarded by Islamist militias. Here also, the Cathedral of the Forty Martyrs  of the Armenian Apostolic Church was destroyed.

The cathedral in the Christian district Jdeydeh is dedicated to the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste. It was built in 1429 in front of a smaller predecessor. In its present form, it was enlarged 1499/1500. She is one of the oldest churches in the Armenian diaspora and the old city of Aleppo.

The patriarch spoke of his visitations in twelve Syrian parishes. In all he had found a precarious situation, but above all the desire of Christians and Muslims, "that the slaughter come to an end as soon as possible".

"West Does not Want to Understand Real Problem"

The bell tower of the cathedral before destruction

In Syria there is an incumbent, internationally recognized government, "which can not be put on the same footing as the rebels," said the Patriarch to the daily newspaper Avvenire. "But the West, particularly the United States, France and Great Britain, do not want to understand the real problem: that the Sunni majority does not accept the various minorities."

The West must seriously ask themselves whether or not to put an end to this tragedy, said the Patriarch. "If we really want, then the flow of arms must stop. In addition, the borders must be controlled so that the jihadists who come even from Indonesia and Nigeria can not just to enter the country. Unfortunately, the West also gets its advantage from the war, because some thought to be able to resolve the crisis at least in part, by selling weapons to the fighters. "

Of the Islamic State, the Patriarch said: "I can not discuss the Islamic state. The problem of IS would be solved within a short time if it were not militarily  supported by some countries in the region such as Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, with the tacit approval of the West."

Turkey and Genocide: "Why the Patriarch of Antioch Can Not Reside in This City?"

Magnificent Reliefs of Armenian Religious Art Were Lost

Regarding the Turkish reactions to Pope Francis, who spoke about the genocide of the Armenians, Ignatius Joseph III .Younan said: "Last Sunday we commemorated the tragedy of our Armenian brothers with a Holy Mass who also included  both Catholics and Orthodox Syrians. The genocide took place. If the Turks do not want to acknowledge this, that's their problem. But that's the truth. We need not be afraid of their reaction. We should rather ask: Why is there, in the area of ​​present-day Turkey, where Christianity was represented historically since ancient times, only a population of 50,000 Christians out of 80 million?  Why did none of the five patriarchs of Antioch, three Catholic and two Orthodox headquarter in this city? I myself am the son of refugees. My mother and my father had to leave Turkey when I was a kid. Given certain attitudes we must firmly and decisively remain here."

EU could make great contribution to the solution of the Middle East conflict

Considering the EU the Patriarch added, "I think of the European Union in a particular way. If the EU is united, their cultural identity rediscovered and  not be determined by the United States: Where does that leave Turkey? Unfortunately, the West is often a prisoner of a certain cowardice, which is reflected in a politically correct mentality. In reality, the EU could make a major contribution to solving the Middle East problem."

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
image: ora pro Siria
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
Link to Katholisches...
AMDG

Muslims Demonstrate With Pope Citation: “Whoever Insults My Mother, He Will Get My Fist."

Muslim Demonstration in London With
Pope Citation

(London) While on the German mainland freedom  of expression and  of assembly by Pegida is restricted by the State in Dresden, Leipzig, Vienna and Linz, under false pretexts and the peoples' resentment of politics and the media is attacked, Muslims may  in Britain unhindered and even appeal to Pope Francis.

Thousands of Muslims did this last Sunday in London is the front of the residence of Prime Minister David Cameron in Downing Street. They were protesting against the left-wing satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo which published cartoons about Islam. The rally participants condemned the abuse of freedom of expression by the satirical magazine. The right to freedom of expression of Charlie Hebdo , so say the Muslims, is  used as an excuse to insult Mohammed, who is "holy" to Muslims.  Above all, the cartoons against the “prophet”   was called an "assault on the norms of civil society". Their publication in the satirical newspaper was "a violation of Islamic law." As an added attraction point it was noted among the protesters that the weekly newspaper was owned by the Jewish Rothschild family since 2014.

Pope's quote: “If He Insults My Mother, He Will Get My Fist"

Among the slogan boards of Muslims many had a quote from Pope Francis,  that said after the  Paris terror attack: "Insult my mum and I will   punch you (Pope Francis) "(" insult my mother and I will punch you" ). This is what the  Pope is quoted as saying on the flight from Sri Lanka to the Philippines. When Doctor Gasbarri [the papal trip's marshal], who is my friend, insulted my mother, he gets one with my fist,”  is what Pope Francis said jokingly to the show the limits of free speech, is literally being claimed  ​​by the Muslim protesters.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: Il Foglio

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches…

AMDG

Blasphemous Charlie Hebdo Magazine Attacked by Unknown Assailants who Shouted Islamic Slogans: False Flag?

Update: we removed the offending photo.  Hope people are more angry with Charlie Hebdo than they are with us.

Edit: this graphic cartoon didn't get much press outside of France that we recall. There certainly wasn't the kind of response from the Christian world that there has been in the Islamic one.  The Christian world has cravenly stood by as a silent and ineffectual spectator with respect to such things.

Still, the identity and the motivations of the perpetrators are unknown.  Until an organization takes responsibility for it, which to date no one has, it will be impossible to know.  But even if it was Islamics, surely no one expects that the blame will be put where it belongs.

Photo: courtesy of LC

Islamists Control Libyan Capitol: Christians Hardly Dare to Leave Their Homes

(Tripoli) The Islamists have taken control over Libya's capital Tripoli. Christians hardly dare to leave their homes: "We celebrate Holy Mass as in the times of the great persecutions."

The government and parliament have fled to Tobruk. The Libyan Capitol has sunk into chaos: "Since the West has militarily intervened, armed bands have the say."

The end of August saw the Islamist Misrata Brigade, the Libyan Dawn, capture the international airport In Tripoli. Parliament and government then tool flight. The security situation in the Libyan capital since then has been a "nightmare". "Defenseless, above all are the Christians, says Pater Amado Baranquel for the Catholic News Service.

Celebrating Mass in Secret

The Franciscan priest was a pastor for Philippine guest workers in Libya before the war. Their number before the war was about 13,000. Today he cares for all of the Christians. "For two weeks Christians have hardly dared to leave their homes any more," says Pater Amado. They are afraid of being abused or even killed. "There is no rule of law any more in the city. We don't know who might protect us or come to help us. All Holy Masses have to be celebrated in private in secret and private homes, as in the old times during the great persecutions," is how the Franciscan described the difficult situation.

In Libya there are daily conflicts between Islamists and forces loyal to the government. There are check points on the streets. Before getting to the control point you don't exactly know which side set it up. "Who can we trust? Whom can we ask for help? The question will remain open until we know who will take over the government."

"The Church Stands by Her People"

The situation in Bengazi, the second largest city in Libya, which is controlled by Islamists, is no different. "The Church stands with Her people," exclaims Sylvester Margi, Apostolic Vicar of Bengazi for the Catholic Church, besides the Orthodox Copts and the Greek Orthodox who have excavated their priests from the city. "The Catholic Church has decided to take the religious sisters out of Bengazi into safety." The danger of rape is too great, says the Apostolic Vicar, who is remaining behind in the city.

"We don't know what the future will bring. At the moment there are two governments, two warring parties and countless associated militias and battle groups. nicht, was die Zukunft bringen wird. There are at present not intermediaries," says Pater Amado.

The 115 Parliament members live with their families on a Greek luxury liner about 1.500 Kilometers from the Capitol of Tripoli. They seem prepared to go further into exile. Neither US-Präsident Obama, NATO or the Inited Nations, who toppled the previous president Muammar al-Gaddafi, and simultaneously plummeted the land into it's current chaos, show the least interest to change the situation. The same goes for the EU, despite Libya being a point of departure for most of the immigrants who are attempting to get to the EU through Lampadusa.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Bild: Asia news
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
AMDG

Pope's Turkey Trip and An Absurd Attack on Pope Francis

Absurd accusation from Turkey: Head of state religion Office raises Francis before, not doing enough to defend the Islam

Rome / Istanbul (CBA) Reportedly, later this year Pope Francis wants to undertake a visit to Turkey and participate in Constantinople on Orthodox on the Patronal Feast of St. Andrew. Various media reports were not unfounded, it said on Friday from the Roman Church circles. A month ago there had been evidence of the Pope's participation from the Patriarchate of Constantinople in the celebrations on 30 November at the Phanar, the official residence of the Patriarch. Originally, it was named for 2015 as a possible date for the Pope's visit for the Feast of St. Andrew's.

As already his predecessor John Paul II. in 1979 and Benedict XVI. in 2006 Francis should start with a protocol-related Turkey visit to the capital Ankara. Benedict XVI. had also made ​​a trip to the tomb of Mary at Ephesus, above the port city of Izmir in his three-day visit to Turkey. At that time, the trip took place after the discussion of the Regensburg speech of the Pope where misleading quotes on Islam and violence contributed to more objectivity.

Currently, statements by Mehmet Görmez have made headlines in Turkey. The head of the National Religion Office, who reports directly to the Turkish Prime Minister, accused Francis mid-week, of not doing enough in defense of Islam.

There were attempts to reinterpret the existence of Islam in question to making it a "security and legitimacy problem", Görmez said. Among other things, Görmez pointed to the increasing number of attacks after his presentation on mosques in Germany. In the years 2001 to 2012 there were an annual average of 22 mosques that have been attacked in the Federal Republic. In 2013 there were 36, while this year the number had increased to 70. In contrast, not only the Islamic world should fight back, but "all religious institutions, especially the Vatican."

 It is not enough, "to wash the feet of a young girl or to organize an interfaith football tournament." Görmez played on the washing of the feet by the Pope on Holy Thursday and on the "football match for peace" last Monday in Rome.

(C) 2014 CBA Catholic News Agency. All rights reserved.
Link to kath.net...
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
AMDG

Continued in St. Paul: Church of St. John's Gutted and Handed Over to Muslims

Mehmet IV Entering Hagia Sofia 1453

Whether unarmed or well-equipped, march on and fight for the cause of Allah, with your wealth and your persons. - 9:41

Edit: we'd reported on this in early June of this year when it happened.  St. John's was a fairly conservative presence in the Archdiocese.  Now it will be turned into a Mosque, it's cross hacked off its spire, to be replaced by the hateful symbol of Mohamedism.

This is something which should send a chill over those of us who are Europeans, because this is one of those symbolic events that accompanied the Muslim conquest of our cities.

It's unclear what's happened to rererdos, the portion behind and around the altar, but some men from another parish have come to take away the volks altar (Cramner Table), the altar in front of the reredos, but the confessionals have already been thrown into a dumpster.

There are many photos

Link ...   

Muslims Attack in Utrecht: "We Will Kill You Christians"

12.08.2014 | 16:33 |   ( The Press )

The Hague . A Catholic seminary student from Colombia has been threatened and spat upon in Utrecht by radical Muslims: Brother Jaider Chantré Sanchez who upon just leaving  church on the weekend, while walking alone through the park when two Muslims began to pursue him, cursing and spitting . They are supposed to have shouted, "We will  kill all of you Christians." 

"I was so scared. It is the first time something like  that's happened to me,"    Chantré Sannchez recently explained in the newspaper "De Telegraaf ". "I was told in Colombia, the Netherlands is a tolerant country. But this does not seem to be so," continued the student, who was able to escape. The attacker had apparently been traveling to an anti-Israel demonstration.  Yet Sanchez believes he has an explanation as to why they had become so aggressive, however, with this explanation: "I wore a T-shirt with the logo Nasrani. This is used by the IS-terrorist group in Iraq to mark houses of Christians. Many Christians wear those shirts now in solidarity with their fellow Muslims in Iraq. The logo must have seemed to the two Muslims like a red flag."

Heated social climate

The incident causing quite a stir. "When you are wearing a T-shirt and are threatened, anyway, that is unacceptable," said Hans Zuijdwijck, a spokesman for the Archdiocese of Utrecht. The incident shows how heated the social atmosphere is in the Netherlands. So it was in The Hague in the recent days demonstrations, where fans of the IS-terrorists, who murder and pillage in Iraq, as they shouted slogans such as "Death to all Jews". As citizens marched in a counterdemonstration, they were attacked by the Islamists.(Htz)

("Die Presse", print edition, 13/08/2014)

Translated: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to ...

AMGD

Islamists Capture the Largest Christian City on the Nineveh Plain: 100,000 Christians in Flight

Jihadis of the Islamic States (IS)

 (Baghdad) The jihadists of the Islamic State (IS) have conquered the largest Christian town in the Nineveh plain in northern Iraq. 100,000 Christians are fleeing. Organizations speak of a "humanitarian catastrophe." How long will the West will still look away? Christian solidarity is really not a category for the "neutral" Western state doctrine ?

This past July 20, the Christians of Bach Dida (Qaraqosh) was still   a haven to the monks of the 1,600 year old Syrian Catholic monastery Mar Behnamr from which they'd been driven.'  The Islamists had  occupied the monastery and offered the monks with the alternative of "conversion" to Islam, escape or death. The Kurdish Perschmerga brought the monks after a flight of several hours to the Christians of Bach Dida. Now the city which is barely 30 kilometers southeast of Mosul has been conquered by the Islamists. The Iraqi army has abandoned the Nineveh plain after the first advance without fighting. The Christians have organized, despite a lack of weapons,  a kind of militia, but were hopelessly inferior to the battle-hardened jihadists, funded by the oil emirates and Washington.

Christians Defenseless - Radical Cleansing

Christians on the Run

Bach Dida, also known under the name Qaraqosh, is the largest Christian town in Iraq. The city is the largest Christian church in the country on the Euphrates and Tigris. The Christians have in their flight, as far as possible, the preserved in the city and taken venerated relics. Others were buried. They fear that the churches be desecrated or destroyed. The Chaldean archbishop of Kirkuk Yousif Thomas Mirkis-Sulaimaniya, a Dominican, speaks of an "unimaginable humanitarian catastrophe" and a "tragic situation". He feared that the largest church in the city could be misused by the Islamists in a command center, as it has already happened in other places. "A show of force," said the Archbishop. "Tens of thousands of people are terrorized and expelled, as we speak. We suffer a disaster that is hard to describe in words."

Not only Bach Dida, but the entire area was conquered by the Islamists, as well as the other Christian places of the valley Kayf, Bart and Ella Karamlesh. The area is "cleaned". Wen the Islamists did not immediately shoot (men) or abducted (women) has only the alternative of "escape or death". Since the Iraqi state power no longer exists in the province of Nineveh, hoped the Christians  to protect the Kurdish Peshmerga. These are ready to offer the Christians in the Kurdish area protection, but do not want to get involved in direct combat due to lack of weapons with the Islamists outside of Kurdistan. This means that the majority Christian area of ​​Qaraqosh is defenseless.

Conquest with the Cry Allahu Akbar  - Mass Executions

"We are witnessing a genocide by cleansing. How long will the world just watch? We called on the UN Security Council to intervene immediately. Here  a disaster of the largest proportions is taking place. Why does nobody help us?

The nearby town of Tal Kayf was conquered by the Islamists: "The Islamists arrived at night. There were shots. Long convoys of armed fighters of the Islamic State invaded the city. WIth the cries of Allhu Akbar they proclaimed their conditions," said a Christian from the valley Kayf, managed to escape in the Kurdish capital of Erbil.

In addition to the Christians, the minority Yazidi were driven as well. Even Muslims took to flight.  About 500 men of the city were executed by the Islamists, hundreds of women, especially Christian women were deported as slaves of the Islamists, says Tempi, citing Iraqi sources.

Patriarch Sako: "People Are Suffering Here Via Crucis "

The Chaldean Patriarch Raphael I Louis Sako of Baghdad, who had directed a desperate cry for help to Pope Francis a few days ago, said: "They create a void, an emptiness. In Syria, there is an intact army fighting against the Islamists. In Iraq, there is no army that can protect anyone. The Kurds withdrew into their territories. They only have light weapons.The Islamists are very well armed. Thousands of people are on the streets on the run. Their goal is uncertain. If no help comes, droit 50,000 of them the death by hunger and thirst. There are women, children, old people. It is necessary to mobilize the conscience of public opinion in all countries. The people on the run, walk, experience their Via Crucis.

Asianews has now started a  concrete relief effort, which will find imitation hopefully also in the  rest of the world.  Donations will be collected under the keywords: "Adopt a Christian from Mosul." With five euros a day a refugee can be helped. The money will be sent to the Patriarchate of Baghdad to coordinate the relief effort for the persecuted Christians.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
image: Asianews / tempos

Trans:; Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches...

AMGD

2,300 ISIS Fighters From Europe -- And What If They Return?

"European" Islamists at War

Since in the course of centuries not a few quarrels and hostilities have arisen between Christians and Moslems, this sacred synod urges all to forget the past and to work sincerely for mutual understanding and to preserve as well as to promote together for the benefit of all mankind social justice and moral welfare, as well as peace and freedom. -Nostra Aetate

(Baghdad) The Islamists of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) march forward.   In Christian areas in Mosul they have interrupted the electricity and water supply, as the news agency    Aina reports.   The access to the water for inhabited places like the Assyrian settlements  Bartella and Qaraqosh they control and require payments.  One liter of water costs six dollars.  The price goes up almost daily. It's unaffordable for many residents.   A new preliminary form of the poll tax, which Christians have to  pay to the Islamist "caliphate".   It's a form to break any resistance.
 

 Are Saddam's chemical weapons still in Iraq?

According to the Wall Street Journal, the jihadists have also taken Al Muthanna, where Saddam Hussein was producing chemical weapons and have occupied it.  According to American security sources, however, the Islamists were not in a position to deploy the complicated weapons.  The only people who would be harmed by the chemical weapons operated by Islamists, would be themselves," says  the Wall Street Journal, quoting an American officer. Even more than this naive assumption, the question arises as to why, just 45 kilometers away from Baghdad in Al Muthanna,  there are chemical weapons are stored.

Thousands of Islamists from Europe to fight in the Middle East

There are not only Iraqis in the ranks of the ISIS, but Syrians, Saudis, Chechens, Afghans, Pakistanis, Yemenis, Somalis, Tunisians, Egyptians, Algerians are fighting as well.  Among them are also "European" units.  Europol estimates the number of fighters at 2,300 that have set out from Europe to fight in the Middle East for the ISIS jihad.  How much are from Germany or Austria, and Switzerland, no one knows exactly.   According to Europol, the United Kingdom is the country from which  most jihadists have set out.

And if the ISIS-fighters return to Europe?

According Lahoor Talabani, head of the anti-terrorist unit of the autonomous Kurdish government in northern Iraq,  to start, there are at least 450 British citizens who have joined the ISIS.  The task force associated with Al-Qaida controls today, says Talabani,  a contiguous area with an east-west distance of at least 500 kilometers.   An area in which the border between Iraq and Syria is no longer important because it extends over both countries.  After the conquest of Fallujah in January and now Mosul and Tikrit also, the ISIS has pushed up to within a few miles of Baghdad.

For Talabani fighters from Europe are a problem not only for Iraq but for Europe as well, because ISIS leader, Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi "if they survive their current engagement, they can be used for an attack against England."   The situation will deteriorate rapidly if the West doesn't do anything. "Talabani hopes for air support from the West, as  requested by Iraq's Prime Minister Al Maliki.  However, U.S. President Obama seems unenthusiastic, to again return to the land that had been conquered in 2003.    Obama had made the campaign promise to leave Iraq and that had helped him win the 2008 presidential election.

From Stone Age  The Taliban Have Long Been Digitized 

Meanwhile,   the time in which the Islamists sent messages with videotapes is long  in the past. Today they skillfully use the limitless possibilities of  communication on the Internet.  There are no more video messages from Afghan caves.   Instead, the Islamists have their own websites, using the latest technological standards and publishing their texts, messages and photos on Facebook.  From the "Stone Age-Taliban," as it was called disparagingly still around 2000, they have become a  "digitized Taliban".  Their  global loudspeaker is the Internet.

They have no problems to post on Twitter and Facebook about their actions.  The enemy may read along.   However, they are aimed at mobilizing influence in the Islamic world.  The Internet offers the possibility to simultaneously use information and disinformation. Syria's president has accused all rebels of being terrorists.  But the West has supported the rebels and claimed a part is democratic.   This offers the Islamists enormous leeway to present themselves as anti-Assad-front and as "good" rebels.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Bild: Tempi Photo: Tempi
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
Link to Katholisches...
AMGD

Kasab The City of the Armenians is Liberated --- All Churches Destroyed by the Islamists

(Damascus) On the 14th and 15th of June the Syrian army regained control of Kasab.  The city, inhabited by Armenians city in northwestern Syria, is less than three kilometers from the Turkish border and 17 kilometers from the Mediterranean. It had been captured in March by anti-Assad rebels.

 As the Armenian Patriarch Nerses Bedros XIX Catholic Tarmouni explained,   the advancing Syrian soldiers provided a picture of devastation. Alle Kirchen der Stadt wurden von den Islamisten zerstört. All the churches of the city were destroyed by the Islamists.   The crosses were torn from the churches, the icons damaged or burned, statues smashed.  The churches were burned down and the walls smeared with Islamist slogans and the Koranic suras.

 The reclaiming of Kasab  was attended by the regular Syrian associations, self-defense units formed by Syrian Armenians in part and associations of the Shiite Hezbollah from Lebanon.

 Islamists Systematically Destroyed Christian Symbols

  Desecrated icons of Kasab

 On March 21, the attack of the Islamists had begun. Particularly active was   the Al-Qaida Salafist associated Al-Nusra Brigade. The Islamists moved from the border mountains of Turkey into the city.  More than 700 families were evacuated from the city. What remained were units of the Syrian army and the young Armenian men who formed a self-defense militia to defend the churches of the town.  After heavy fighting, however, they had to retreat before the overwhelming power of the Islamists. Now they have returned to their liberated city.

  The Armenian Catholic Patriarch called on the refugee population to return to Kasab and participate in the reconstruction of the city.  The Armenians of Kasab are mainly engaged in agriculture. The city has a symbolic character for the Armenians.   Since 1915 they have had  been expelled by the Turks in the great genocide of Cilicia, and Kasab is the last Armenian enclave of this area.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi  
 Picture: Ora per Siria
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
Link to Katholisches...
AMGD

Archdiocese Selling Historic Church to Muslims?

Update 19:26 GMT:  the sale has been confirmed by the listing agent, but the Archdiocese refuses to discuss it. City Council Member Kathy Lantry also confirms this:

I am writing to let you know that we have a Purchase Agreement on the Church of St. John's in Dayton' Bluff. The buyer intends to use the church for an Islamic worship center and the house as residency for the minister. They have no intended use for the school at this time.

Edit: it's a church that was active on St. Paul's East Side for 127  years when its pastor, Father George Welzbacher said its last Mass.  It's been a part of home, of homeland,  a consolation and a source of learning for generations of Americans, students, parishioners, pastors and the people of the neighborhood.    It was one of the more conservative parishes in the Archdiocese.  Soon, it will be another conquest by advancing militant Islam.

Now it looks like it's being sold to Muslims.  The asking price is less than a million dollars, which seems a bit on the cheap side.  We're contacting the Archdiocese, but haven't heard anything yet.

Listing here.

Thanks to liberal immigration policies, the streets are teaming with Muslims and their increasingly visible presence is taking advantage of the continuing decline of Christianity.

And don't ask where we got the information.

H/T: Brother Ass