"The Christianity of history is not Protestantism. If ever there were a safe truth it is this, and Protestantism has ever felt it so; to be deep in history is to cease to be a Protestant." (-John Henry Newman, An Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine).

"Where the bishop is, there let the people gather; just as where ever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church". -St. Ignatius of Antioch (ca 110 AD)a martyr later thrown to the lions, wrote to a church in Asia Minor. Antioch was also where the term "Christian" was first used.

“But if I should be delayed, you should know how to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth.” 1 Timothy 3:15

"This is the sole Church of Christ, which in the Creed we profess to be one, holy, catholic and apostolic." -CCC 811

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Celebrate Mercy - A Trailer on the life of Muhammad

Islamic Film - Celebrate Mercy - which showcases Islam's Prophet Muhammad.


This video is indirectly an anti-thesis to what the world is seeing as the "real" face of Islam and the constant threat Islamic extremism.

The History of Islam recorded many battles they fought from the time of their Prophet to the 21st Century.

The spread of Islam within our slumber cities is alarming (see HERE). The threat of Islamization has been felt now in many main cities of Europe which was once a bastion of Christian pride. Today, many cities within the European Union lost their sense of Godliness and the vacuum of pride and godlessness will soon be replaced by fast growing Muslim population in the region.

Soon Europe will be no more but EURABIA and non-believers will be second class citizens in our own land!

There is nothing wrong with Islam but imposing their religion to others is what's unacceptable. When Muslims live in our cities, they demanded us what they CAN'T GIVE non-Muslims living in Muslim countries such as Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Qatar. Christians have house of worships but they are controlled by the government-- they are not even allowed to mount a CROSS on top of their house of worship-- but they demanded CRESCENTS to be on top of our own buildings.

The Minaret Issue in Switzerland should be a "wake up" call to Europeans themselves. If left unchecked, they will be surprise the next day, a shout from one of Muslim's minaret would wake the up for the early hours prayer for Muslims.

This film is obviously an answer to a more serious problem Islam is facing today about threats of Islamic Terrorism, Global Jihad waged against Kuf'r - non believers (i.e. Christians, Jews, and pagans)and the Islamization of the World (watch The 'FITNA' HERE). They want to paint another "Good islam" in the midst of growing tension between the world and Islam.

Here is another video entitled "Islam: What the West Needs to Know" with shocking revelations about the imminent threat of terrorism within our peaceful neighborhood.

"Everything you've always wanted to know about Islam but were afraid to ask. The feature documentary that discovers the basis of Muslim violence in the Koran and the life of Muhammad. jihad terror Muhammad Koran Quran Fitna"

For more information visit JIHADWATCH.ORG.

Global Spread of Islam

(Source: CrazyIslam) Since leaving Islam is a death sentence, it will only spread until it is confronted and halted.

It's not rocket science or brain surgery, just common sense.

To those who wish to not have their daughters raped, kidnapped, married against their will, etc. - you have 2 choices.

1. You fight now so that your children have a bright future.

2. You do nothing now, hoping the problem will go away (it won't) and your children suffer as a result of your apathy, cowardice, or mistaken multicultural PC beliefs.

But Wait, There's More. The following from http://docstalk.blogspot.com/

Islamization occurs when there are sufficient Muslims in a country that agitate for their so-called "religious rights."

When politically correct and culturally diverse societies agree to "the reasonable" Muslim demands for their "religious rights," they also get the other components under the table.Here's how it works (percentages source CIA: The World Fact Book (2007)).

As long as the Muslim population remains around 1% of any given country they will be regarded as a peace-loving minority and not as a threat to anyone. In fact, they may be featured in articles and films, stereotyped for their colorful uniqueness:

United States -- Muslim 1.0%
Australia -- Muslim 1.5%
Canada -- Muslim 1.9%
China -- Muslim 1%-2%
Italy -- Muslim 1.5%
Norway -- Muslim 1.8%

At 2% and 3% they begin to proselytize from other ethnic minorities and disaffected groups with major recruiting from the jails and among street gangs:

Denmark -- Muslim 2%
Germany -- Muslim 3.7%
United Kingdom -- Muslim 2. 7%
Spain -- Muslim 4%
Thailand -- Muslim 4.6%

From 5% on they exercise an inordinate influence in proportion to their percentage of the population.

They will push for the introduction of halaal (clean by Islamic standards) food, thereby securing food preparation jobs for Muslims. They will increase pressure on supermarket chains to feature it on their shelves -- along with threats for failure to comply. (United States).

France -- Muslim 8%
Philippines -- Muslim 5%
Sweden -- Muslim 5%
Switzerland -- Muslim 4.3%
The Netherlands -- Muslim 5.5%
Trinidad & Tobago -- Muslim 5.8%

At this point, they will work to get the ruling government to allow them to rule themselves under Sharia, the Islamic Law. The ultimate goal of Islam is not to convert the world but to establish Sharia law over the entire world.

When Muslims reach 10% of the population, they will increase lawlessness as a means of complaint about their conditions (Paris -- car-burnings). Any non-Muslim action that offends Islam will result in uprisings and threats (Amsterdam -- Mohammed cartoons).

Guyana -- Muslim 10%
India -- Muslim 13.4%
Israel -- Muslim 16%
Kenya -- Muslim 10%
Russia -- Muslim 10-15%

After reaching 20% expect hair-trigger rioting, jihad militia formations, sporadic killings and church and synagogue burning:

Ethiopia -- Muslim 32.8%

At 40% you will find widespread massacres, chronic terror attacks and ongoing militia warfare:

Bosnia -- Muslim 40%
Chad -- Muslim 53.1%
Lebanon -- Muslim 59.7%

From 60% you may expect unfettered persecution of non-believers and other religions, sporadic ethnic cleansing (genocide), use of Sharia Law as a weapon and Jizya, the tax placed on infidels:

Albania -- Muslim 70%
Malaysia -- Muslim 60.4%
Qatar -- Muslim 77.5%
Sudan -- Muslim 70%

After 80% expect State run ethnic cleansing and genocide:

Bangladesh -- Muslim 83%
Egypt -- Muslim 90%
Gaza -- Muslim 98.7%
Indonesia -- Muslim 86.1%
Iran -- Muslim 98%
Iraq -- Muslim 97%
Jordan -- Muslim 92%
Morocco -- Muslim 98.7%
Pakistan -- Muslim 97%
Palestine -- Muslim 99%
Syria -- Muslim 90%
Tajikistan -- Muslim 90%
Turkey -- Muslim 99.8%
United Arab Emirates -- Muslim 96%

100% will usher in the peace of "Dar-es-Salaam" -- the Isla mic House of Peace -- there's supposed to be peace because everybody is a Muslim:

Afghanistan -- Muslim 100%
Saudi Arabia -- Muslim 100%
Somalia -- Muslim 100%
Yemen -- Muslim 99.9%

Of course, that's not the case. To satisfy their blood lust, Muslims then start killing each other for a variety of reasons.

"Before I was nine I had learned the basic canon of Arab life. It was me against my brother; me and my brother against our father; my family against my cousins and the clan; the clan against the tribe; and the tribe against the world. And all of us against the infidel. -- Leon Uris, "The Haj"

It is good to remember that in many, many countries, such as France, the Muslim populations are centered around ghettos based on their ethnicity. Muslims do not integrate into the community at large. Therefore, they exercise more power than their national average would indicate.

Adapted from Dr. Peter Hammond's book: Slavery, Terrorism and Islam: The Historical Roots and Contemporary Threat.. www.frontline.org.za/bo oks_videos/sti.htm

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Pope to Hariri: Lebanon, a model of coexistence and "message" for the entire Middle East


Lebanese Prime Minister Saad-eddine Rafiq Al-Hariri and his family with Pope Benedict XVI(Feb. 20, 2010)
سعد الدين رفيق الحريري‎‎
 Vatican City (AsiaNews) - The situation in Lebanon and the plight of Christians in the Middle East were the themes at the heart of the meeting between Pope Benedict XVI and Prime Minister Saad Hariri of Lebanon this morning in the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican. After the audience, conducted in a "climate of great cordiality" - as stated in the press release issued by the Holy See - the prime minister visited the Secretary of State Card. Tarcisio Bertone accompanied by Msgr. Dominique Mamberti, Secretary for Relations with States.

Benedict XVI and Hariri stressed the importance of Lebanon, which for decades has been a model of peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims. The hope - said the statement - is that "through the exemplary coexistence" of different religious communities that comprise the country, it will "remain a 'message' for the Middle East region and the entire world."

Among other things the Lebanese government recently announced its intention to establish an Islamic-Christian holiday in the name of the Annunciation of Mary. It will have a "national" rather than "religious" stamp and will complement that of the Annunciation, not replace it. However, the new holiday aims to strengthen the "symbol of unity" among the Lebanese in the name of the Virgin Mary - who is also revered by followers of Mohammed - and "encourage the image of Lebanon as a 'Country' symbol of pluralism and tolerance", as often repeated by John Paul II.

Pope Benedict and Saad Hariri also stressed the need to find a "just and comprehensive solution to the conflicts that cause bloodshed in the Middle East. To achieve this goal - continues the statement - it is important to promote "intercultural and interreligious dialogue" that is a harbinger of peace and justice.

The Christians of the Middle East are victims of sectarian violence and persecution, which moves the faithful to abandon their places of origin in search of safety. In this perspective, the forthcoming Special Meeting of the Synod of Bishops of the Middle East - scheduled 10 to 24 October 2010 – was mentioned, which will seek solutions to the mass exodus that threatens to empty the region of a Christian presence. Benedict XVI and Hariri recalled "the importance of the work of Christians in the country" that is applied to "the entire society, especially through its educational, health and welfare institutions."

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Founders of the Catholic Church?

Author: Edgar Jacinto at Filipino Catholic Defenders

The Catholic Church, referring to the One, Holy, Apostolic, Roman Catholic Church, has been teaching, through her teaching office, her scriptural accounts and her holy tradition, that her founder is no other than Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. This can be logically demonstrated through enormous ecclesiastical historical records of early Christianity to include canonical and related scriptural accounts. The founding of the Church of Christ which is actually the Catholic Church, irrespective of the theological interpretation of the church, either as a movement or a community or as an institution or a society with a structural hierarchy, is not much challenged among believers in the Philippines.

However, the various anti-Catholic sects in this country have persistently argued that Jesus Christ never established the Catholic Church. This is purposely to support their argument that the Catholic Church is not the true Church of God founded by Jesus Christ.

To support this ridiculous argument, these sects argue that the original Church is distinct and different from the Catholic Church which is allegedly an apostate institution. In fact, most of them are inclined to believe that Christ indeed established His church in Jerusalem way back in 33 A.D. as also preached by the Catholic Church. Of course, there may be varying presentations on the period and circumstances which unfolded the founding of the church but essentially the founding of Christ’s church in the early Christian period is generally acceptable to them.

Allegations on Who Founded the Catholic Church

Surprisingly, these sects, though targeting the Catholic Church as a common enemy of their faith, exhibit different and contradicting arguments as to when, how and who initiated the emergence of the Catholic Church as an alleged heretical organization coming out of the true Church of Christ. The following are some of the fanciful arguments of the various anti-Catholic sects in the Philippine religious spectrum:

Founded by a Pagan Emperor?

First, some argue that the Catholic Church was founded by Emperor Constantine the Great, a pagan emperor. Allegedly, this emperor established the Roman Catholic Church, made himself its first pope and rendered it as the official religion of the whole empire. They argue further that the emperor convened councils to define the significant dogmas of the Catholic Church to include the Council of Nicea which greatly spelled the Divinity of Christ among the Christian fold. They concluded that the emperor converted early Christianity into a Romanist Paganistic Christianity which the Vatican is said to be now propagating in the whole world. On the contrary, these arguments are historically incorrect and misleading. The Roman Empire was gradually converted to Christianity rather than the Christianity being transformed as a paganistic movement. The empire carried the cross of Christianity, adapted its religious teachings, modified its rituals and traditions in consonance with Christianity and revolutionized the moral standards of the empire. In return, the emperor accorded due security and safety to Christianity and considerable freedom in the exercise of this new religion. The efforts of the emperor in the councils of the church were meant to safeguard it from violence and never to interfere in essence in the church definition and proclamation of its faith.

Founded by Satan?

Second, others point to Satan or the Demon as the founder of the Catholic Church. This argument is the weakest propaganda offensive of the anti-Catholics for there can be no literal and explicit biblical and historical support which can be utilized to label the Catholic Church of such anti-Christ overtones. Nevertheless, this is a very prevalent and dominant attack of the fundamentalists against the Catholics. These sects have been brainwashed to accuse that the Catholic Church is an instrument of the Anti-Christ, Satan or the Demon. It is allegedly its handiwork. This is very abundant in the writings of the Witnesses of Jehovah, Seventh Day Adventist, Church of Christ, Pentecostals and Baptists. Local Born-Again Christians and non-Catholic charismatic groups have been easily infected by this propaganda campaign against the Catholic Church. In various debates and dialogues with these anti-Catholic sects, they arrogantly, maliciously and satirically accuse the Catholic Church to be the invention and the instrument of Satan in his struggle to deceive the faithful and embattle the Christ Jesus outside and within His living and militant church. A variant of this argument is espoused by some sects which believe that the bad spirits tempted the church leaders and believers to discreetly defect from the original teachings and to gradually transform the original church into becoming an apostate church by amalgamating pagan and demonic teachings and traditions. In debates, this is their common propaganda offensive. They will have all the elbow room to attack every Catholic teaching in order to prove it to be demonic and to somehow conclude in the process of their argumentation that the church is heretical. The problem with this argument is that this is fallacious and can never withstand academic scrutiny. The purpose of this argument is to simply attack in a shotgun approach with all the pandemonium of hearsays and fanciful stories, unsupported biblical interpretations and all other rhetorical styles just to gain public attention, sympathy and support. They will never stick to any discussion on a single controversy but will merely jump from one attack to another to gain propaganda mileage simply because they lack deeper biblical and logical support for their arguments inasmuch as most of them are not properly schooled on scriptural studies, historical analysis and philosophical tools for debates and argumentation.

Founded by Saint Ignatius?

Third, there are those who accuse St Ignatius of Antioch as the inventor of the Catholic Church. Just because early records show that St Ignatius was allegedly the first to literally use the word catholic to describe the early Christian church, this did not mean that he invented the church. What he invented, if that may be appropriate, is the coining of the word catholic to the Christian Church, not the invention or the founding of the church which he named. How can St Ignatius describe the church to be catholic if the church has never been in existence before he named it as catholic? Historical records can attest that the Catholic Church has been in existence even before St Ignatius wrote his letters regarding the early church.

Founded by a Council?

Fourth, some sects insist that the Catholic Church was only established when a council declared that the Catholic Church must be officially named as the One, Holy, Roman, Catholic, Apostolic Church, thereby marking the alleged birth of the Roman Catholic Church. Again, this is a ridiculous argument since before that council the Catholic Church has already been in existence. It does not necessarily follow that when an entity declares to have a new name, a new entity is created distinct from its original existence. The essence of a being or an entity does not change just because it receives a new name. In natural phenomena, a typhoon does not exist only when it receives a new name when it enters a certain territory inasmuch as it is already a typhoon even before it received a new name. A newly discovered organism which is given a new scientific name cannot be construed to have not existed prior its discovery and giving of a new name. The Catholic Church, since its very existence has been accorded numerous names; but, its existence has never been construed to have been obliterated and reconstituted as it receives a new name as it transcends every generation, culture and change. It has survived amidst difficulties and emerged renewed and significant to every generation to truly serve as the prophet of God in this ever-changing world.

Warning on these Accusations

Those who accuse the Catholic Church to have branched out from the original church will expectedly claim to be the living descendants of the original church. As such, they claim to possess the orthodox teachings and traditions of church established by Christ. To a certain extent, some extreme fundamentalist groups even claim that their generation of believers could be traced as underground groups of believers who survived the alleged persecution mounted against them by the Catholic Church. It is speculated to some extent that some of the local preachers and believers espoused these arguments to include that of some of the Anabaptists and some Adventists groups. Unfortunately, documentation of their arguments is too scarce inasmuch as their debaters seem to be very shadowy in their argumentation to hide their real doctrinal positions to escape scrutiny and dissection of their arguments. They may try to modify their argumentation but in essence they will concede in some angles that their generation of believers can be traced back to the early church.

Those who accuse that the Catholic Church is the apostate transformation of the original church of Christ, will claim that their sect leader was prophesized and ordained by God to re-establish the true Church of Christ which was destroyed by the devil through the apostate Catholic Church.

Most of the locally established sects in the Philippines belong to this group. Their founders are equipped with biblical verses which they use as the alleged prophesies for their authority to establish a new church in the Philippines or in any part of the globe. Some of their founders even fancifully claim to be an angel, an apostle, Christ himself, a direct messenger of Christ or a direct messenger of the Heavenly Father.

No matter how fanciful, magical, superstitious or heretical their invented stories are, this is their seemingly expected argument in order to circumvent their syllogism so as to justify the existence of their sect as an alternative to the Catholic Church.

These sects could easily choose any name, title or designation to the early church as depicted in the Bible to be their alleged authoritative name of their church. It is easy to understand why some of these sects labeled themselves as Church of Christ, Churches of Christ, Church of God, Church of the Living God, Church of the First Born, Church on the Rock, Church of the Gentiles, Apostolic Church, Church of God, Church of God Pillar and Bulwark of Truth, Church of the Latter-Day Saints and many other bible-copied descriptions, names or labeling of the early church.

Since the name of their church can be read in the bible simply because they copied their name from the bible, they will fallaciously argue that their church is the true church as their name is bible-based.

Unfortunately, if they have the same basic argument that their church name can be read in the bible, this does not guarantee that if they can find their name in the bible, they already belong to the true church.

Since only one church can be the true church of Christ, it is statistically impossible that one of them is the true church. The greater possibility is that they are merely pirating the names of the true church as depicted in the bible. In all angles, not one of them can be the true church of Christ.

Warning on these Accusations

It is then impossible to demonstrate that the Catholic Church was never founded by Jesus Christ because these anti-Catholics shall have the difficult task of pointing who established the Catholic Church if Christ has nothing to do with its institution.

For those who posit that the church which Christ established defected into heresy and apostasy, they will be faced with the sacrilegious questioning and even doubting the divine institution of the church of Christ. If the church which Christ established truly defected into heresy and apostasy, are we inclined to believe that Christ is not powerful enough to build a truly strong church founded on a rock which can never be defeated by the forces of evil? If Christ failed in his mission to build a strong church, how can we possibly accept that the new sect leaders in this century and of this country, can emerge to be more powerful than Christ for being able to re-build the church which Christ failed to establish in perpetuity? Are we talking of new Christs in this century or anti-Christs to that effect as foretold in the prophecies of the New Testament that false prophets and messiahs shall come to deceive many?

Logically, it will be safe to conclude that Christ truly founded a strong church which shall never be destroyed and can never be replaced or rebuild by the numerous sect leaders in this century. This church which is catholic in essence since its establishment, as to its doctrine and believers, prophetically become truly catholic as time goes on as the world now can see.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Are We Getting the Right Answer from the Iglesia ni Cristo (1914)?

For more than a year since I had unhealthy exchanged arguments with hiding Ministers of Felix Manalo and in particular a denying member of the Iglesia ni Cristo™, they have not once told the truth either to me or to members of his cult.

In many forums and blog commentaries like that of Bro. Cenon Bibe’s TUMBUKIN NATIN, none of them have shown sincerity of heart. None of them showed any charity while answering any honest question. They DO NOT answer direct question with a direct answer but they demand Catholic Defenders to answer them directly.

The good thing while we are exchanging arguments with INC™ is that we are sure that what we are saying reflects that of which the Catholic Church teaches Christians for more than 2,000 years UNBROKEN and UNCHANGED. We are certain that by means of quoting our official position (without distortion from anti-Catholics), we can represent the splendor of Christ’s truth among those who are honestly searching for spiritual growth in Christ who is both God and man and gain sanctification through the Catholic Church—a Church not clouded by ignorance and pride.

Compared to the INC™, they have the right reason why they always resort to blackmailing, serious threats, bad mouthing, naming names, character assassination is because their teachings have many loopholes that they can’t patch off beginning from Felix Manalo’s self proclamation as their “Last Messenger”, his “Angelic” position, the founding of his church, its ownership, and the hidden wealth of the Manalo clan down to Mr. Conrad J. Obligacion, the hiding Readme and the owner of "Gustong Sukiat" Blog who's completing his studies as future "distorter" of the Truth at the Erano University in the Philippines.

How many times we have quoted conflicting teachings carelessly printed in their official magazine called PASUGO without any honest answer from any of them why those conflicts appearing in their official magazine? Since their silence is deafening, for now those quotes will remain our unyielding and substantial proof against their own teachings. It’s INC™ teaching vs. INC™ teaching.

Say for example this one:

PASUGO November 1940, p. 23“Iisa lamang ang tanging makapagtayo ng Iglesiang magiging dapat sa Dios. Kung sino—ang ating Panginoong Jesu-Cristo lamang! Sino mang tao—maging marunong o mangmang, maging dakila o hamak—ay WALANG KARAPATANG (emphasis mine) magtayo ng Iglesia.” [There’s only one who is authorized to build a Church that’s for God. Who’s he—our Lord Jesus Christ alone! No one—whether wise or fool, rich or poor—has the right to build a Church.”

In the above PASUGO quotation, the INC™ minister was saying “ONLY” our Lord Jesus Christ has the sole authority to build a Church which is for God. And that no other has the right, to build another.

Another quotation from their official magazine is from PASUGO Mayo 1968, p. 7, it says “Ang tunay an INK ay iisa lamang. Ito ang Iglesiang itinayo ni Cristo. Kung mayroon mang nagsisibangon ngayong mga Iglesia at sasabihing sila man ay Iglesia ni Cristo rin, ang mga ito ay hindi tunay an Iglesia ni Cristo kundi huwad lamang.” [The true INK (that’s their former registered name Iglesia ni Kristo) is only one. This is the Church built by Christ. If there are sprouting today Churches claiming to be Christ’s Churches too, these are not genuine rather they are fakes.”

They further confirmed that Christ’s true Church is ONLY ONE, and that every existing churches claiming to be Christ’s too were all fakes.

That’s according to their own standards. Now let’s found if their Iglesia ni Cristo is a genuine one of fake. Let’s use their own official magazine to answer that question:

PASUGO Mayo 1954, p.9“Alin ang tunay na Iglesia? Ang Iglesiang itinayo ni Cristo sa Jerusalem”

So which is the true Church according to their official magazine? It’s the Church founded by Christ himself in Jerusalem.

If that’s the case then this Church should have been thousands of years old, not 95 years only. Let us consult encyclopedia what is this Church that traces itself to the first century when Jesus built his Church in Jerusalem?

“The history of the Catholic Church is traced by the Catholic Church back to apostolic times and thus covers a period of nearly 2,000 years, making it one of the world's oldest institutions. The history of the Catholic Church is an integral part of the history of Christianity and of Western civilization.” (Source: Answers.com)

So when was this “FAKE” Church of Christ built in the Philippines? PASUGO (Agosto-Setyembre 1964, p. 5) will answer it for us:
“Kailan napatala sa Pamahalaan o narehistro ang INK sa Pilipinas? Noong Hulyo 27, 1914. Tunay nga na sinasabi sa rehistro na si Kapatid an F. Manalo ang nagtatag ng INK.” [When was INK recorded or registered in the Philippines? It was in July 27, 1914. Truly, the registry says Brother F. Manalo founded the INK.]

Therefore who owns the Iglesia ni Cristo™ that was founded in the Philippines by no other than Felix Manalo?

PASUGO Mayo 1952, p.4“Kung ang babalingan ng pag-uusap ay ang nagtatag, dapat na siya ang may-ari ng itinatag, at sa kanya rin manggagaling ang mga aral at turo na pinatutupad.” [If the swift of discussion is who founded (a church), he should own what he has founded, and that all teachings implemented should come from himself.]

Therefore, if the Catholic Church has existed for “nearly 2,000 years” ago, then this must be the Church of Christ being mentioned in the official magazine.

Let’s confirm it from their own magazine, PASUGO Abril 1966, p. 46: “Ang Iglesia Katolika an sa pasimula ay siyang Iglesia ni Cristo.” [The Catholic Church which at first was the Church of Christ].

If the Catholic Church is the true Church of Christ which Christ has the sole authority to build, and that no man, whether wise or old, rich or poor can build a church that is for God, then what is this Iglesia ni Cristo founded by Felix Manalo in the Philippines in 1914?

Let us consult their official magazine for answers.

PASUGO Nobyembre 1960, p. 26“Kaya’t papaano makikilala ang sugo ng Dios at ang hindi sugo ng Dios: Sa aral makikilala ayon kay Jesus. Ang aral ng mga sugo ng Dios ay mula sa Dios, ang mga aral ng hindi sugo ng Dios, ay mula lamang sa kanyang sarili. (Juan 7:16-18)” [So how are we certain who is God’s real messenger from false messengers: We can know them through their teachings says Jesus. The teachings of God’s messengers are from God, and the teachings from fake messengers of God, are from their own selves.]

In one of PASUGO’S (November 1959, p. 20) publications, it’s written “Walang aral si Kapatid an Felix Manalo na kinatha mula sa kanyang sarili.”[Brother Felix Manalo has no teachings authored by him.]

From this statement, let’s see how they put to shame their own founder:

PASUGO Mayo 1961, p.4“At sino nga ba ang gumagawa ng mga leksiong itinuturo ng mga ministro, maging sa mga pagsamba, mga doktrina o mga Propaganda? Ang Kapatid na Felix Manalo.” [So who formulated all lectures that are taught by the ministers, in worship, doctrines, or Propagandas? It’s Brother Felix Manalo]

And another:

PASUGO Mayo 1963, p. 27
“Kaya’t sa katuparan ng hula, ang lahat ng mga itinuturo ng mga Ministro ng INK sa mga pagsamba, sa mga doktrina, sa mga pamamahayag sa gitna ng bayan, ay si Kapatid na Felix Manalo lamang ang bumabalangkas at nagtuturo sa kanila.” [As a fulfillment of the prophesy, all teachings taught by the Ministers of the INK in worship, doctrines and in proclamation in the middle of towns, it’s our Brother Felix Manalo alone has formulated and taught them.]

What did they say? We can know who’s genuine from fakes by its teachings. Those messengers from God teaches what’s from God and those who teaches teachings from their own selves are FAKES. If Felix Manalo formulated his own teachings, in worship, doctrines and preaching in the INC, then it follows that they were the ones who confirmed Felix Manalo being FAKE MESSENGER.

I therefore conclude, from their own PASUGO comes the confirmation that:
1. Christ founded only one Church which belongs to God.
2. And that no man, whether wise or fool, rich or poor has the authority to build a church.
3. And that every existing churches claiming to be Christ’s Church are fakes.
4. Independent Encyclopedias claim, only the Catholic Church can trace its history back to the times of the apostles for nearly 2,000 years making it one of the oldest institutions in the world.
5. Felix Manalo, a mortal man, founded a church.
6. Felix Manalo, a mortal man, registered his church in July 27, 1914.
7. Felix Manalo, a mortal man named his church “Iglesia ni Cristo” Church of Christ/
8. True messengers of God teaches something from God.
9. False messengers preaches what they themselves formulated.
10. Felix Manalo formulated his own teachings, in worship, doctrines and preaching which INC™ Ministers are teaching.

Now, I am sure why these INC™ members are afraid to answer our honest inquiry because they have shed enough proof that their Iglesia ni Cristo™ is not Christ’s and therefore it’s a FAKE CHURCH!

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Catholic Church Is Guide for Many Faiths

True, among many other faiths in the world today, the Catholic Church played a significant role in uniting people from different faiths dealing them with respect and tolerance. The Bishop of Rome, the Leader of the 1.4 billion Christian Catholics in the world, the Vicar of Christ, the Successor of St. Peter as our First Pope has bridged the gap between conflicts and bring them back to dialogue. The Holy Father has always been the animating agent to heal brokenness and appease hatred existing among religions in the world.

We must all praise God for our great faith that through our dialogue with other faiths, the face of Christ may shine upon them and blessings be bestowed upon them.
(Photo Credit: journeytorome)
Cardinal: Catholic Church Is Guide for Many Faiths
Says Other Religions Are Welcoming Pope's Scotland Visit

VATICAN CITY, FEB. 5, 2010 (
Zenit.org).- The president of the Scottish bishops' conference is affirming that people of other faiths look to the Catholic Church for leadership on current issues, and are anticipating Benedict XVI's visit.

Cardinal Keith O'Brien, archbishop of St. Andrew's and Edinburgh, stated this in an address today upon being received in audience by Benedict XVI.

The meeting was attended by 11 bishops from Scotland who are in Rome for their five-yearly visit, which will end Wednesday.

The cardinal told the Pope, "Your Holiness has let it be known that you will visit Great Britain in the autumn, and we are thrilled that your visit will include Scotland."

He continued: "We are certain that the Scottish people will give Your Holiness a heartfelt welcome.

"We hope that your visit to Scotland later this year will bring us renewed encouragement, vigor and joy as we seek to serve Christ in the circumstances of the present day."

"We have been inspired and enriched by the transparency and the profundity of your teaching," the prelate told the Pontiff, "which has in turn inspired us in our duty as teachers of the faith."

Leadership

He noted that "many people of other Christian denominations and representatives of other faith traditions in our country actually look to our Church for leadership in the great religious, moral and ethical issues of the time."
"They too welcome the prospect of a visit to our land from Your Holiness in the hope that they may gain a deeper appreciation of Jesus Christ and of the way in which faith and reason come together to shed God's light on the questions which both fascinate and trouble the human spirit," Cardinal O'Brien stated.

He listed some of these questions: "What does it mean to be a human person who is open to the transcendent mystery of God?

"How is this transcendence mediated definitively by Jesus Christ? How is human transcendence expressed in the moral and ethical choices we make about how we live and how we die?"

The cardinal concluded by stating, "With respectful anticipation we await your message, hoping for your guidance for our ministry as bishops."

Benedict XVI next addressed the bishops, underlining his joy at his scheduled visit to Scotland and encouraging them in their ministry. He gave each prelate a pectoral cross as a personal gift.

Scotland's total population of 5 million is around 65% Christian. Some 17% of the citizens are Catholics.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Protestantism in ERROR


Thanks to KEVIN BRANSON for this post at Journey to Rome.

Bro. Kevin Branson, a formerly member of the Reformed Calvinist Presbyterian, then Anglican, have recently and finally come home to the Catholic Church. His site is for family, friends, acquaintances, or strangers who may be curious, concerned, or confused about the Catholic Church, as well as those of you who know and love Her dearly. He wishes you Blessings and Peace from the Lord of Peace.

You can follow him in Facebook or in Twitter.

244. Do you say that the Protestant faith is false?

There is no such thing as the Protestant faith. There are hundreds of varieties of Protestantism, each variety containing some true things mixed up with its own particular errors. As religious systems I say that all Protestant sects are wrong.

245. How does Protestantism in general disobey Christ?

In general it says that Scripture is a sufficient guide to salvation, although Scripture says that it is not; it denies the authority of the Church established by Christ; it has no sacrifice of the Mass; it does not believe in confession; it denies Christian teaching on marriage; it rejects Purgatory, and very often its advocates refuse to believe in Hell. But I could go on almost forever. Meantime, if you give me any doctrine taught by one Protestant Church, I will produce another Protestant Church which denies it, save perhaps the one doctrine that there is a God of some sort.

246. Would you call Protestants heathens?

Christ said, "If a man will not hear the Church, let him be as the heathen." Mt 18:17. He referred, of course, to a deliberate and willful refusal of a known obligation. If a man knows that the Catholic Church is the true Church, yet refuses to obey it, he will certainly be as the heathen before God. But Protestants who are ignorant of the truth of the Catholic claims, and who believe in Christ, trying to serve Him as best they can, would not be regarded as heathens. An exception is made in their case because of their lack of knowledge and because of their good dispositions.

247. Protestantism is not a protest against Christ, but against the Roman Church.

Christ promised that His Church would not fail. The Protestant Reformers said that it did fail. Instead of protesting merely against the bad lives of some Catholics, and even of some Priests, they went too far, and protested against the Church as such, asserting that Christ had failed to keep His promise concerning it. This was a protest against Christ, who had promised to be with His Church till the end of the world. Protest as much as you like against individual abuses in the Church, but no man has the right to set up a new Church.

248. But a re-formed Church is not a new Church.

Protestantism was not a true reformation of the Church. The identity of the Church is indissolubly linked with a continuous identity of doctrine, worship, and discipline. The so-called Reformation involved the abolition of essential doctrines, worship, and discipline, substituting completely different and humanly invented alternatives.

249. The Protestant Churches have as much right to say they have the truth as the Churches of the Corinthians, Ephesians, Colossians, etc., in early times.

You are supposing that the Protestant Churches have the same doctrine, worship, and discipline as those early Churches. But this is an unwarranted supposition. Those early branch foundations of the one true Church had the true doctrine, and were in communion with St. Peter, Bishop of Rome, who addressed his first Epistle to the Galatians and several other Churches. Protestant Churches do not hold the same doctrine as those early Churches, nor do they acknowledge the same obedience. Also, in all the countries where Protestant Churches exist, there exists also the Catholic Church which corresponds exactly with the Churches of the Corinthians, Ephesians, Colossians, etc.

250. According to you, Christ was a Catholic. All followers of Christ, therefore, belong to the Catholic Church.

Christ, as the Founder of the Catholic Church, was of course a Catholic. But your conclusion does not follow. Many profess to believe in Christ, but do not accept the whole of His teaching. They are mistaken. Certainly the Anglican does not believe in the correct doctrines of Christ if the Baptist does. The Catholic Church alone teaches the complete doctrine of Christ, and the only way to become a Catholic is to submit to her teaching authority and disciplinary directions.

251. Since Christ forbade divisions in the Church, you must admit that every Christian Church is a branch of the true Church. The Protestant Churches are but offshoots from the Roman Catholic Church.

The Protestant sects constitute a breakaway from the Catholic Church. That is their condemnation, for there could never have been a valid reason for leaving the Church established and guaranteed by Christ. In any case, branches of the Church must be living branches still retaining their union with the parent tree. The Catholic Church as established in England, or in America, or in Australia, fits in with the idea of living branches. But at best, the Protestant sects are branches sawn off, and without the true life of the tree. Protestant Churches are divisions from the Church, not co-ordinated parts within the Church, and making up one complete body.

252. You have no right to deny our claims. Christ meant Protestantism to be, or it would not exist.

On the same reasoning you would argue that because sin exists Christ meant it to be! Christ predicted that heresies would arise, but distinctly forbade men to abandon the Church and originate them.

253. God sends all for our good, and it is our fault if we do not make good use of Protestantism.

Not everything is sent by God. He permits some things which the perverse will of men causes, and He permitted the evil of heresy. However, He never permits any evil without drawing some good from it. There are many good Protestants despite the sin of those who began Protestantism. And it is undeniable that Protestantism occasioned the reform of many abuses among the members of the Catholic Church.

254. What right has the Catholic Church to arrogate to herself powers given by Christ, rather than any other body of believers?

None whatever. No body of believers has any right to arrogate to itself any powers at all in this matter, just as no ordinary citizen has the right to enter a court and declare himself to be judge. Yet a lawfully appointed judge has the right to act in virtue of his commission. The Catholic Church takes nothing upon herself, but she does endeavor to fulfill the commission given her by Christ. Historically she alone can possibly inherit the jurisdiction given by Christ to the Apostles, and handed down through tiie ages. All other churches exist because men arrogated to themselves the right to coin new doctrines and set up churches of their own.

255. We have the Creeds, Saints' Days, Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Communion. These things guarantee that we are true Christians.

Some Protestants have those things, at least theoretically. Others have some of them. Others have none of them. But in any case they would not prove Protestants to be true Christians. At most they prove that some Protestants are attempting to do some Christian things. But a true Christian accepts the complete teaching of Christ, and does all that He commands. And all is accepted on the authority of Christ, not on the authority of one's own human judgment. A self-made religion built upon a personally approved selection from the teaching of Christ does not give us the Christian religion.

256. Anyway, there are Protestants as good as Catholics, and the Protestant Church is as good as the Catholic Church.

The idea that there are Protestants as good as Catholics has no bearing on the question. There are very good and sincere Mahometans, but that does not make Mahometanism true. And again, there is not a Protestant Church, there are dozens of different brands of Protestantism. Tell me which brand of Protestantism is as good as the Catholic Church, and I shall tell you when it started and who started it. Christ certainly did not begin it.

257. Protestants at least are allowed to think for themselves.

And when they do they end in chaos, or with no religion at all! However, the chief characteristic of the majority of Protestants is absence of thinking on matters of religion.

258. If Protestantism continues because Protestants do not think, is not the same true of Catholicism?

No. There is no really rational foundation for Protestantism, and if Protestants did reflect soundly upon the subject they would discover this. But there is a rational foundation for Catholicism. All Catholics at least know that their Church would not be so vast and united, not to speak of its mere existence, after centuries of misrepresentation, hatred, and attack, were it not for the protection of God. And if they give deeper thought to the matter they find many other solid reasons for their conviction. Impartial study leads a man out of Protestantism. It never leads a man out of Catholicism.

259. Just the opposite is true. Catholics remain Catholics because they have never developed any reasoning powers on the subject of religion.

You show complete ignorance of Catholic theological works, written by the cleverest men of the centuries. St. Thomas Aquinas had the Catholic Faith very deeply, yet wrote probably the greatest masterpiece of religious thinking the world has ever seen.

260. You are most ungrateful, for your own change from Protestantism to Catholicism was due to the very freedom of thinking given you by Protestantism.

You are in a quandary. Catholics remain Catholics because they do not think, yet thinking led me to become a Catholic! However, Catholics are free to think as much as they like about religion, and the more the better. The Catholic Church merely keeps them from thinking wrongly. Protestants are free to think whatever they like, apparently, with no safeguard against error at all.

261. If all that you say is true, why is the British Empire Protestant?

Because the ancestors of its present members rejected and left the Catholic Church, setting up Churches of their own. But must the religion of the British Empire be the true religion? Is that the infallible test? If Anglicanism is true because it is British, we may as well add, "and because it is not French, or Spanish, or Italian, or German, or Austrian, etc." In other words, because it is not the religion for all nations established by Christ.

262. But surely the majority of the millions of Protestants would realise their mistake, if indeed they are mistaken. They would on any other important subject.

It is not certain that men would realize their mistakes on other subjects. In political and national affairs men differ hopelessly, and absurd political policies seem ever to find followers. Yet, even granted that men would realize their mistakes in other matters, they would not therefore realize the falsity of Protestantism. In the first place, religion is very different from other matters. It is not here a question of a merely intellectual admission. The acceptance of Catholicism is a complex matter demanding adherence of mind, heart, and will, under the influence of God's grace. The absence of one or other necessary condition can mean a dimming of one's powers of comprehension. And until a man sees the truth of Catholicism, he is liable to rest more or less content with the religion he has. Again, Protestant prejudice is a real, if unrealized, force in those educated under the influence of Protestantism, a force blinding people to the defects of Protestantism, and to the merits of Catholicism. I remember a man who went through many forms of Protestantism, ending in Agnosticism, and who replied to my question as to whether he had ever studied Catholicism, "No. But Catholicism can't be right!" Protestantism had ceased to grip him positively, yet still left the negative poison in his system, "Rome must be wrong — I would not even consider it." Finally, and especially with Englishmen, the Protestant religion has been so blended with nationalism that it has become a matter of sentiment and patriotism. Its adherents go far more by feeling and emotion than by reason and true faith. Indeed it has been said strongly, yet not without a degree of truth, that when an Englishman enters his Church, he leaves his brains on the doormat. In other words, the average Protestant gives little real thought to his religious position at all.

263. That Protestantism commends itself more to men is evident from the fact that it is not attacked as is Catholicism.

The world is not afraid of Protestantism, which has always been ready to water down Christian obligations to suit it. But instinctively the world hates and fears the Catholic Church, which will make no compromise, but insists upon the fullness of Christian doctrine, comfortable or uncomfortable. She insists upon the intellectual obedience of faith; disciplinary submission of the will; the impossibility of divorce and re-marriage; the iniquity of birth-control by evil means; the inadequacy of a merely secular education. Her repetition of Christ's axiom, "Deny thyself; take up thy cross; and follow Me," interferes too much with the comfort of men. If Christianity demanded merely the admission of a few religious doctrines, men would not object to it. But since it imposes moral obligations difficult for human nature, I am not surprised that men refuse it in its original and austere form when they are offered a less exacting substitute with the assurance that it is just as good.

264. Are not the Protestant Churches at least working for reunion?

Not for reunion with the Catholic Church. Meantime, if they were to unite among themselves, the union would not last a generation. As long as men refuse to submit to the Catholic Church, they will insist upon the right to think for themselves and build up systems accordingly. If Protestantism grants the right of private judgment, it may secure the cry, "Good. I think Catholicism wrong." But it must be prepared to hear the words, "And I think Protestantism wrong also." Already-established Protestantism can say nothing, and the man sets up for himself. So it will go on. The Catholic Church alone can preserve true unity. Every year finds Protestantism splitting up into still further sects, and in the end it will fall, as must every house divided against itself....
Continue Reading..

Thursday, February 4, 2010

By Their Fruit You Will Know Them

“By their fruit, you will know them” says Christ in Mt. 7:20.

For the past two weeks, I have been one of the regular visitors to Bro. Cenon Bibe’s Blog Tumbukin Natin. He has exellently dealt with many major issues launched against the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church of Christ by members the Iglesia ni Cristo® founded, registered and incorporated by Felix Y. Manalo in July 27, 1914.

Among the many replicated issues they couldn’t disprove is about the Divinity of Christ. The Iglesia ni Cristo® members tried to score out by quoting very limited Bible passages which they thought would demonstrate their void disagreement. Very easily Bro. Cenon rebuted them with intelligibility, all taken from the same Holy Book they were quoting. They can’t even locate any particular passage in the Bible that says “Jesus ISN’T GOD.”

Regarding Felix being the “Shepherd of the Iglesia ni Cristo®” they couldn’t challenge their very own defender Mr. Jose Ventilacion’s admission that Christ “ceased to be be its shepherd” but instead was Felix Manalo. For me, that’s not unexpected. Even their own Official Magazine called PASUGO substantiated the fact that the true Church is the Catholic Church and theirs is FAKE. Why I said so? It’s because they made a clean breast in their Official Magazine that Felix Manalo established and registered the Iglesia ni Cristo®.

Instead of refuting Bro. Cenon’s disagreements, these Iglesia ni Cristo® members spoiled his blog with foul language, naming names and threats. Isn’t that an attitude of a cultic member? That’s one thing the have proven which was recorded for everyone to read.

Since TRUTH is NOT with them, by no means we expect nothing from them. We’d rather expect them to bear NO GOOD fruits. “A good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.’

Again, we shouldn’t be surprised then. When Felix Manalo founded his church, it stood on the premise that the Catholic Church which was “in the beginning the true Church of Christ” apostatized. And for that reason alone, he declared himself the “Last Angel” to “re-establish” the church. Isn’t it weird?

Then he started demonizing the Catholic Church, its Salvation History, the Pope, the Saints and all Catholics. He accused every Catholic of being “children of Satan” recorded in their Official Magazine called Pasugo.

More than two thousand years ago, Jesus, the Son of God knew that there would be false prophets and fake angels coming to deceive his own sheep. He knew very well that there would be “bad guys” who are going to sow confusion among his own sheep. He perfectly knew that there would be fake angels who would come and distort his Gospel and teach another one. St. Paul said, “let them be accursed!”

And since he was aware of their coming, HE GUARANTEED St. Peter that the “gates of Hell” WILL never prevail agianst his established Church.

So all those who dared to say that Christ betrayed his own Church, THEY are LIARS! For Christ never lie!

For the past 2,000 years, Christ’s Church produced good fruit. He raised numerous saints different backgrounds. These saints are what we, Catholics consider our HEROES for they didn’t die in vain. They lived a holy lives and chose death for the sake of Christ and his Church rather living under sin than the praise of men.

Some were fed to ravage beasts, some were hanged, imprisoned, burned, crucified, tortured and beheaded. But all asked pardon for the sins of their persecutors and praised God for sharing the sweet prize of following him leading them to their own calvaries.

Just in a span of hundred years after Christ ascended to heaven, the Catholic Church produced thousands of saints, both known and unknown. We have been witness to the saintly lives of Mother Teresa of Calcutta and John Paul the Great who were witnesses to Christ’s mercy and love. No Iglesia ni Cristo® could match that. Truly, God is praised among his own!

“If you wish to follow me, take up your cross and follow me” says Jesus .

Today, what Christ prophesied more thant 2,000 years ago were all fulfilled to Felix Manalo. False prophets and angels had come and distorted his Gospel. He taught another Christ who was a LIAR. He preached another Gospel which were all contrary to Apostolic Teachings such as Christ’s was ONLY a man. He questioned priestly celibacy as a “teaching from Satan” while accepting the celibacy practiced by Christ, St. Paul and other disciples who were never married.. He insulted the saints—friends of God, and the Primacy of Peter and the Papacy while he himself acted like a “LITTLE POPE” to his own cult. Today their little Pope is Eduardo V. Manalo, the grandson of their first little Pope Felix Manalo. They hated our teaching about Papal Infallibility but blindly accepts all teachings of Felix Manalo as infallible. No questions are allowed to challenged their own teachings. No one is allowed to interpret Bible passages except their own Ministers. It appears that they (Minister) are more infallible.

The tree of the Iglesia ni Cristo® bears no good fruit. History proves it. From its own founder down to the least of his would-be Ministers studying in New Era University displayed a promising fruit they all would harvest on the day of judgment. Quotes from their Official Pasugo shows what kind of “angel” this Felix Manalo was.

PASUGO Disyembre 1965, p. 5:
Kaninong Ministro kung ganyan ang mga Paring Katoliko? Mga Ministro ni
Satanas na Diablo."

PASUGO Oktubre 1959, p. 5:
Mga magdaraya at anti-Cristo, ang mga nagtuturong si Cristo ay Dios."

PASUGO Agosto 1962, p. 9:
Kaya ang tunay na anti-Cristo, ang mga Papa ng Iglesia Katolika Apostolika Romana. At ang tunay na ampon ng anti-Cristo ay ang mga Katoliko."

PASUGO Oktubre 1956, p. 1:
Ang Iglesia ni Cristo ay nagdaos ng pamamahayag sa Lunsod ng Davao. Nagsalita roon si Kapatid na Felix Manalo at ang kasama niyang mga Ministro. Ipinahayag doon ng mga nagsalita na ang Iglesia Katolika Romana ay hindi itinatag ni Cristo kundi itinatag ng Diablo."


Two of his ministers have created their own blogs to counter-attack Catholic Defenders who are defending Christ and his Churvh by blogging. The author of www.resbak.com aka Conrad J. Obligacion has vicously attacked everyone who opposes the Iglesia ni Cristo® and its founder Felix Manalo. In forums, he uses foul languages and naming names. Proof that he couldn’t find any fault in our arguments, he resorted to character assassination, stole names to deceive people. Say for example his alias as “truthcaster” he stole from INC® mortal rival Eliseo Soriano. He too stole my name by creating a bogus blog http://catholicivatan.blogspot.com that bears my name in it. What would be his feelings if someone would come up with a blog that pretends to be his? I won’t expect anything good from a bad fruit anyway.

Another blog was created by an INC® member whose penname is known to be “Readme” (http://readme.blogspot.com). If you see how these INC® defend their position, they never use reasoning. They use what their founder taught them to do so. In Cenon Bibes Tumbukin-Natin, INC® vandalized it with foul languages and threats.

How can we distinguish real from fakes? By their fruit we will know them. Are they producing “good fruit”? Definitely not. That’s because their tree is the bad tree Christ is referring to. See it for yourselves how they behave at TUMBUKIN NATIN of Bro. Cenon Bibe.

We should all be thankful to God for being Catholics!

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Wife of Christian Prisoner Calls for Prayer

Video: Wife of Christian Prisoner Calls for Prayer
Please have a short time watching this video from Persecution Blog

Please offer your prayers today for them. God bless.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Sharia: Death for Homosexuals (Tracking them in Internet)

There is no room for the Love of God even to "sinners". We recommend all the souls of those who died in the hands of "brutal" individuals calling the name of God while doing such horrible acts. May God forgive their sins. And for the dead, may they all rest in God's peace. Amen!
How Islamist gangs use internet to track, torture and kill Iraqi gays (Source: Guardian)

Sitting on the floor, wearing traditional Islamic clothes and holding an old notebook, Abu Hamizi, 22, spends at least six hours a day searching internet chatrooms linked to gay websites. He is not looking for new friends, but for victims.

"It is the easiest way to find those people who are destroying Islam and who want to dirty the reputation we took centuries to build up," he said. When he finds them, Hamizi arranges for them to be attacked and sometimes killed.

Hamizi, a computer science graduate, is at the cutting edge of a new wave of violence against gay men in Iraq. Made up of hardline extremists, Hamizi's group and others like it are believed to be responsible for the deaths of more than 130 gay Iraqi men since the beginning of the year alone.

The deputy leader of the group, which is based in Baghdad, explained its campaign using a stream of homophobic invective. "Animals deserve more pity than the dirty people who practise such sexual depraved acts," he told the Observer. "We make sure they know why they are being held and give them the chance to ask God's forgiveness before they are killed."

The violence against Iraqi gays is a key test of the government's ability to protect vulnerable minority groups after the Americans have gone.

Dr Toby Dodge, of London University's Queen Mary College, believes that the violence may be a consequence of the success of the government of Nouri al-Maliki. "Militia groups whose raison d'être was security in their communities are seeing that function now fulfilled by the police. So their focus has shifted to the moral and cultural sphere, reverting to classic Islamist tactics of policing moral boundaries," Dodge said.

Homosexuality was not criminalised under Saddam Hussein – indeed Iraq in the 1960s and 1970s was known for its relatively liberated gay scene. Violence against gays started in the aftermath of the invasion in 2003. Since 2004, according to Ali Hali, chairman of the Iraqi LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) group, a London-based human-rights group, a total of 680 have died in Iraq, with at least 70 of those in the past five months. The group believes the figures may be higher, as most cases involving married men are not reported. Seven victims were women. According to Hali, Iraq has become "the worst place for homosexuals on Earth".

The killings are brutal, with victims ritually tortured. Azhar al-Saeed's son was one. "He didn't follow what Islamic doctrine tells but he was a good son," she said. "Three days after his kidnapping, I found a note on my door with blood spread over it and a message saying it was my son's purified blood and telling me where to find his body."

She went with police to find her son's remains. "We found his body with signs of torture, his anus filled with glue and without his genitals," she said. "I will carry this image with me until my dying day."

Police officers interviewed by the Observer said the killings were not aimed at gays but were isolated remnants of the sectarian violence that racked the country between 2005 and 2006. Hamizi's group, however, boasts that two people a day are chosen to be "investigated" in Baghdad. The group claims that local tribes are involved in homophobic attacks, choosing members to hunt down the victims. In some areas, a list of names is posted at restaurants and food shops.

The roommate of Haydar, 26, was kidnapped and killed three months ago in Baghdad. After Haydar contacted the last person his friend had been chatting with on the net, he found a letter on his front door alerting him "about the dangers of behaving against Islamic rules". Haydar plans to flee to Amman, the Jordanian capital. "I have… to run away before I suffer the same fate," he said.

According to Human Rights Watch, the Shia militia known as the Mahdi army may be among the militants implicated in the violence, particularly in the northern part of Baghdad known as Sadr City. There are reports that Mahdi army militias are harassing young men simply for wearing "western fashions".

A Ministry of Interior spokesperson, Abdul-Karim Khalaf, denied allegations of police collaboration. "The Iraqi police exists to protect all Iraqis, whatever their sexual persuasion," he said.

Hashim, another victim of violence by extremists, was attacked on Abu Nawas Street. Famous for its restaurants and bars, the street has become a symbol of the relative progress made in Baghdad. But it was where Hashim was set on by four men, had a finger cut off and was badly beaten. His assailants left a note warning that he had one month to marry and have "a traditional life" or die.

"Since that day I have not left my home. I'm too scared and don't have money to run away," Hashim said.

Monday, February 1, 2010

UK Police Found Film Teaching Children How to Blow-up Themselves

Film seized 'shows children being radicalised' (Source: BBC News)
say the film shows young children being radicalised (see video here)

Counter-terrorism police say their discovery of a film of children being encouraged to hold guns is evidence of attempts to radicalise youngsters.

The Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU) in North West England revealed they found the film during a raid in Manchester.

Officers say it shows two children, aged about three and six, playing with a pistol and a Kalashnikov rifle.

Material seized separately included the advice: "No child is ever too young to be started off on Jihad training."

The footage, which police believe was filmed in Pakistan, was uncovered on the hard drive of a computer during a raid carried out under the Terrorism Act 2000. Police have not revealed when the material was seized.

'I want to kill'

Police believe the firearms are real.

The video shows a girl and young boy playing with guns and a man's voice says: "What do you do with the weapon?"

He answers his own question: "I want to kill the infidels [non-believers]."

A senior officer in the CTU, who cannot be identified for security reasons, said: "We believe this was filmed abroad.

"We have no idea who the children are. We were shocked to find it at the house. We have no reason to believe this is faked. The guns are real."

It just shows the mindset of some people and what we are up against

Senior CTU officer
Police say they have also found flash cards, used to teach young children the alphabet, in another house raid.

The officer said: "We found a series of flash cards and documents on how to raise Mujahid children [who will fight for Islam]. The cards were written in English - and instead of having M for Muhammad they had M for Mujahideen..."

"They have the potential to indoctrinate. It just shows the mindset of some people and what we are up against."

Police say they also found documents downloaded from an extremist website which instructs parents to raise Mujahid children.

The documents say: "The key is to start instilling these values in them while they are babies. Don't wait until they are seven. No child is ever too young to be started off on Jihad training."

'Awful to see'

David Thompson, Assistant Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, said the majority of the Muslim population supported the police's counter-terror operations in the region.

He said: "My view is [that] the majority of the community across the board see the threat that we're dealing with and are hugely supportive."

MP Kim Howells, chairman of the parliamentary intelligence and security committee, was shown the footage.

He said: "It's a dreadful thing to see and I hope I never have to see it again actually.

"That's as serious a piece of evidence of the kind of thing we are up against as I have ever set eyes on."

Anjum Anwar MBE, who works for the church as a community dialogue development officer, said the film must not be used to implicate the rest of the Muslim world.

Most of the Muslim community do not bring up their children in that way, she said.

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