In Cairo the Lecture of Regensburg Is Relevant Again

Never has a pope been so clear and courageous in unveiling the roots of violence in Islam, before Benedict XVI. And not afterward, either. Two obligatory rereadings, to decipher the Egyptian crisis

by Sandro Magister

Source: Chiesa Espresso Repubblica

ROME, August 20, 2013 – In a few days many dozens of churches, convents, homes of Christians in Egypt have been attacked or burned. A tragedy within the tragedy, after the coup d'état that has plunged the nation of the Nile into a civil war with hundreds if not thousands of victims.

In covering the news of the numerous appeals for the cessation of violence, “L'Osservatore Romano” of August 18 did not, however, succeed in listing among these invocations even one from the Muslim world.

This public silence of the Islamic spiritual guides does not come as a surprise. It accompanies almost every act of political violence that sees Muslims in action, in one or another region of the globe.

It is a silence that is not explained by calculations of timeliness alone, or by the fear of retaliation. Nor by the fact alone that today in Egypt the greatest clash is between opposing Muslim factions, both of them determined to assert with force the precepts of Islam: because it is not only the Muslim Brotherhood of the deposed president Mohamed Morsi that has a conception of the political struggle as jihad, as holy war, but this is also held by its adversary, Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, the general placed at the head of the armed forces by Morsi himself because he was believed to be the most faithful Islamist of all.

In order to understand the ultimate root of the silence of Muslim spiritual leaders in the face of the explosion of violence of Islamic inspiration, one need do just one simple thing. It is enough to reread the initial part of the lecture given by Benedict XVI on September 12, 2006 in the aula magna of the University of Regensburg.

New Catholic Church Parish in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Bishop Paul Hinder blesses the cornerstone of a new UAE church. Credit:St. Joseph's Cathedral of Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, (CNA/EWTN News).- Catholics in the town of Mussafah in the United Arab Emirates have begun construction on a new church dedicated to St. Paul.

Bishop Paul Hinder, O.F.M., the Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, blessed the church’s foundation stone on June 29 in the presence of the local Catholic community, including priests and religious missionaries .

“God dwells in each person ... and with faith and love (is) gathering us together in this new church,” Bishop Hinder said.

He said he hoped the love of Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit will enable the “speedy” completion of the church, expected to be finished in two years.

Mussafah is an industrial town southwest of the capital city Abu Dhabi.

There are about 3,500 Catholic families and about 15,000 Catholic laborers around Abu Dhabi. Many are guest workers from Africa, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and the Philippines, but some are local Arabs, George Puthussery, press officer for the Abu Dhabi-based Vicariate of Southern Arabia, told CNA.

July 27-28, 2013: Celebration of two churches, which has the characteristics of the real Church?

BELOW VIDEO: The IGLESIA NI CRISTO-1914 celebrating their 99th Founding Anniversary.  All their videos show that they are 99.9% FILIPINOS!

Is this the true church?

BELOW VIDEO: The UNIVERSAL CHURCH-33 AD 28th World Youth Day Celebration in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. All videos show the universal characteristic of this church.

If you are a NON-FILIPINO what church would you want to join? A church that is exclusively dominated by Filipinos from Philippines founded in 1914 AD or a church that is well represented by all nations, races, languages, ethnicity, culture, tradition, history founded around 33 A.D.?  The choice is yours! Your choice is your salvation!

Mga Katotohanang isiniwalat ng yumaong ERAÑO MANALO tungkol sa mga Ministro ng Iglesia ni Crist®

Narito ang mga katotohanang isiniwalat ng yumaong ERAÑO MANALO, anak ni Felix Manalo, pangalawang Papa ng INC^® ni Manalo tungkol sa kabuktutan ng Iglesia ni Cristo^® tatag ng kanyang amang si Felix Manalo, kanilang mga bayarang Ministro at mga manggagawa:

1. Mga sinungaling
2. Mga kakampi ng katiwalian
3. Mga nagtuturo ng katiwalian
4. Walang sariling paninindigan
5. Nagbabago ng ulat para ilihis ang paniniwala at pangangasiwa
6. Nagkaisa para linlangin at dayain ang pangangasiwa
7. "Napakagagong" pangangasiwa, gumagastos para sa maninira
8. Si Eraño nananakit ng kanyang mga manggagawa
9. Si Eraño tingin sa mga ministrong nasa probinsiya ay mga mangmang
10. Mga ministro nananakit ng kapwa manggagawa (nanununtok)
11. Mga ministro, manlulupig at maninikil ng kapwa-INC™
12. INC™ laban sa INC™
13. Walang matinong manggagawa sa kasaysayan ng buhay ng kanyang ministro
14. Lahat tiwali (hindi isa, hindi karamihan, kundi lahat)
15. Sinang-ayunan ni Eraño na totoong tiwali ang lahat ng kanyang mga ministro at manggagawa
16. Walang takot sa Dios
17. Lahat manlulupig na ng katuwiran (hindi isa, hindi karamihan, kundi lahat)
18. Habol lamang ng mga ministro ay sweldo, tulong, bahay, kasaganaang tinatamasa (bayad),
19. Mga taga-opisina, kinakalaban ng mga ministro at manggagawa
20. Mga ministro gustong maghari sa INC™
21. Eraño, nagsabing sila (Manalo) lamang ang maaaring maghari sa INC™, ang mga nagnanais tatamaan ng kidlat at kulog
22. Eraño, nanalanging bahain at mamatay lahat ng kanyang mga ministro at manggagawa
23. Lahat ng manggagawa nagkakaisa ipagkanulo Dios (hindi isa, hindi karamihan kundi lahat)
24. Mandaraya ng senso (bilang ng kaanib)
25. May dagdag-bawas sa ulat ng mga kaanib (kaya pala sabi mahigit 10 milyon eh 2.5 lang pala ayon sa opisyal na talaan ng National Statistics Office o NSO).
26. Mula Sorsogon hanggang sa Maynila, ang mga manggagawa ay mga mandaraya ng ulat
27. Ang pandaraya (pandodoktor) ng ulat ng mga kaanib tradisyon na sa mga manggawa sa loob ng Iglesia ni Cristo^®®
28. Mga ministro nang-aaway
29. Mga ministro nagmumura
30. Mga ministro nanlalait
31. Mga ministro namimilit na gumawa ng liko
32. Mga ministro nanlulugmok para gumanda ang sarili
33. Mga ministro nagpapalsika ng pirma ng iba
34. Mga ministro ng Maynila magnanakaw at tampalasan
35. Mga taga-opisina nansisiyasat ng ulat na di pala totoo
36. Sa INC^® laganap ang espiritu ng pandaraya at panlilinlang
37. Ang Dios ay pagod na sa katatatag
38. Inamin ni Eraño na tao ang tumatalikod at hindi ang iglesia
39. Inamin din ni Eraño na tao ang tumatalikod sa tuntunin, hindi ang iglesia. Samakatuwid ang tao pala ang tumalikod sa Iglesia Katolika at hindi ang Iglesia Katolika na sa pasimula ay siyang Iglesia ni Cristo (Pasugo Abril 1966, p. 46. Ibig sabihin hindi totoo ang kanilang aral tungkol sa Pagtalikod na Ganap ng Iglesia Katolika na sa pasimula ay siyang Iglesia ni Cristo (Pasugo Abril 1966, p.46).
40. Inamin ni Eraño na may abuluyan sa INC^®™
41. Inamin ni Eraño na likom ng likom ng abuloy ang ibang lokal ng INC™ (kaya pala si readme ay nagkakalat ng kasinungalingan para lang manghingi ng dagdag-abuloy)

Mga KABUKTUTAN ng mga MINISTRO ng Iglesia ni Cristo® ayon kay yumaong ERAÑO MANALO!

“Ngayon, kung ang isang manggagawa, mga kapatid, sinungaling, hindi puwedeng manindigan. Kung ang isang manggagawa kakampi sa katiwalian, hindi puwedeng manindigan. Kung ang isang manggagawa siya pang nagtuturo ng katiwalian, eh lalong masamang manggagawa ito.

“Wala nang sariling paninindigan ay siya pang kasangkapan ng diablo. Eh sino ho iyang ganyang manggagawa? Maraming manggagawa natin, halos lahat ganyan.

“Hindi ho ba naman isang napakarahas na pagpaparatang iyan? Hindi. Kaya ko nalalaman sapagka't ang mga ulat na dumarating sa amin, hindi totoo. Bakit ho hindi naging totoo?

“Hindi sapagka't ang kapatid ang nagkamali kundi ang mga manggagawa ang siyang bumabago ng ulat para ilihis ang paniniwala ng pangangasiwa.

“Eh iyon ho bang mga tagapamahala nalalaman iyan? Nalalaman iyan ng karamihan. Pero nagkaisa ang mga manggagawa sa loob ng iglesia para linlangin at dayain ang pangangasiwa sa layunin nilang gumanda, kuminis ang bagay na marumi at ang bagay na hindi matuwid.

“Pero napakasama naman na ito palang mga tinustusang ito, ito pala naninira sa iglesia. NAPAKAGAGONG pangangasiwa, na gumagastos ka para sa maninira.

“Pero gusto kong masaktan kayo. Gusto ko na higit pa sa masaktan. Kung maaari ko lang dagukan ang iba ay gagawin ko para maging matindi sa kaniya...

“Yung ibang mga kalihim sa probinsya, talagang wala eh, hindi abot ng kanilang kapasidad. Lalo na sa mga liblib na lugar, papaano makagagawa ng form 'yun?

“Kayong (Eh yong) manggagawa ngayon, inaasahan ko na kapatid, heto, mali ito, bakit ka mag-uulat ng hindi totoo? masama iyan.

“Eh hindi, yung kapatid mag-uulat ng totoo. Baguhin mo iyan! Eh ito ho ang nasa tuntunin. Ah, anong nasa tuntunin?

“Akin na iyan, pag hindi SUSUNTUKIN KITA! Iyan ang manggagawa natin ngayon. “MANLULUPIG! MANINIKIL NG KAPATID.

“Kaya ang iglesia'y naghihimagsik laban sa manggagawa sa nakikita nilang KATIWALIAN AT KATAMPALASANAN na hindi nila inaasahang mangyari.

“Ano ang sulat sa akin ng isang kapatid? Baka gusto ninyong ipabasa ko sa inyo. Hanggang ngayon wala pa po akong nakikitang MATINO na manggagawa sa kasaysayan ng buhay ko, LAHAT ho puro TIWALI. Masakit na salita.

“NASAKTAN AKO... sapagka't ako'y manggagawa rin. Pero hindi ko masita yung kapatid sapagka't alam kong nagsasabi siya, kung hindi man buong-buo na katotohanan eh NAGSASALITA SIYA NG TOTOO.

“Wala nang nagkaroon ng takot sa Dios na kahit isa para tumayo at manindigan sa panig ng katuwiran. LAHAT MANLULUPIG na ng katuwiran.

“Bakit? SUWELDO ang hinahanap, yung TULONG niya, yung BAHAY niya, yung KASAGANAAN niya, siguro, ang TINATAMASA niya pero ang iglesia ay ayaw na niyang pagsilbihan ng totoo.

“Pero isipin ninyo, dumadami tuloy ang ating form. Nagagalit kayo sa opisina. Pati mga taga-opisina kinakalaban ng ibang mga manggagawa. Kapag nag-uulat sa akin, nagagalit. Nasaan ninyo gusto... Papaano ang ating gagawin sa iglesia?

“Kayo ang maghahari sa iglesia? Hindi. TAMAAN KAYO NG KIDLAT AT KULOG bago mangyari iyan. (Kung) Kaya sabi ko sa Dios, napakarami ho namang dapat BAHAING MANGGAGAWA, bakit hindi mo siyang binaha? PARA MALIPOL ang mga TAMPALASANG taong ito. Nadaig pa ang kasalanan ni Judas, iisang maestro ang ipinagkanulo. Iisa ang nagkanulo sa panahon ni Kristo pero NGAYON LAHAT NG MANGGAGAWA nagkakaisa ipagkanulo Dios.

“Te' kayo, tingnan ninyo, mga kapatid, iyan ang tagapamahala sa Visayas at Mindanao. Nagpalitan tayo ng mga matatagal na sa pamamahala. Eh isa-isa, lumalapit sa akin, dumadaing sa akin. Kapatid, mayroon ho akong problema. Ano? Yun hong nakatala sa ating sa senso na mga pangalan ng kapatid, eh hindi ko naman ho makita (dito) ngayon sa aking destino.

“Ano kako ang ibig mong sabihin? Eh ang numero ho eh napakalaki pero sa katotohanan ho'y wala yung tao. Ang Camarines, este ang Sorsogon, hinihiling sa akin na alisin sa talaan ang kulang-kulang na apatnaraang tao eh kakaunti lang naman ang kapatid sa Sorsogon.

“Bakit? Tinignan ko sa ulat ang nakaulat na malamig eh mahigit lang isandaan. Pero ang aalisin eh apat na raan.

“Eh bakit, ano ho ba ang ginawa nung mga dating naroon? Aba'y e di binabago ulat. “Pinakikinis para huwag mapagalitan.

“Samakamatuwid eh malaman, ang sinasanggalang iyong sarili, hindi ang kapakanan ng iglesia. Eh iyon ho ba'y sa Sorsogon lang? Laganap iyan kung saan-saan. Maski sa Maynila, ANG MGA MANGGAGAWA RITO'Y MAGDARAYA. Sasabihin sa iyo, dinoktrinahan ko iyan. Hindi naman. Sasabihin sa iyo, (nabautismu...) iyan ho'y nasubok sa pagsamba, pero hindi totoo. Eh bakit?

“Nakita sa matatandang ministro, nakita sa matatandang manggagawa na iyon pala ang paraan para siya ay bumuti sa paningin ng pangangasiwa.

“Sila ang nagsasanggalang ngayon sa kapakanan! Pero hanggang kailan tatagal ang iglesia'y INAAWAY ng mga MANGGAGAWA, BINABABAG, MINUMURA, NILALAIT at PINIPILIT NA KAYO ANG GUMAWA NG LIKO? Saan kayo nakakita ng manggagawa, sa halip na siyang magtindig sa nakalugmok.

“Yung nakatayo ang ilulugmok para lamang gumanda ang kanyang sarili. Eh kung dito sa Maynila nangyayari iyon eh, eh di lalo na sa probinsya, lalo na sa malalayong lugar. Ay, tingnan ninyo sa Mindanao at sa Bisaya ngayon eh, at sa lahat ng mga... eh iba, mabibigla, mababagong bigla ang senso ng iglesia. Ano ang dahilan? Wala pala yung mga kapatid na iyon, sinasabi lang na naroon. Sino ho ang may gawa niyan? Yung magdarayang manggagawa. Hindi iyong kapatid. Yung kapatid, magkamali man, eh hindi sinadya. YUNG MINISTRO, SINASADYA.

“Tumawag ako ng pulong ng mga pamunuan sa Maynila para sabihin: Mga kapatid, tumulong kayo sa akin. Ayokong mamatay ang manggagawa; ang gusto ko ay pagtulong-tulungan nating sila'y buhayin. Sabihin n'yo sa akin kung ano ang ating maitutulong. Aba'y hindi ang sinabi sa akin kung ano ang maitutulong. Ang sinabi sa akin kung anu-anong KATIWALIAN. Ang sabi sa akin nung isa; Kapatid, tama ho ba na hindi ho itinuturo outline? Tuwing mamimili ho ng tatlong talata, tatanungin, o ano, naiintindihan mo ba iyan? Tama ho ba kapatid, bungkos-bungkos na mga katibayan, siya pumipirma, PINAPALSIKA ho niya pirma ng mga kinauukulang kalihim at mga katiwala ng gawain? Pinigil ko. Ni hindi ko itinanong sino gumagawa niyan.

“Bakit? Alam kong ang manggagawa sa Maynila. Mawawalan ng dangal kapag nalaman ng lahat, siya pala'y MAGNANAKAW at TAMPALASAN.

“Maski saan ka bumaling eh, wala kang makikitang liwanag. Bakit? Kumalat, lumalaganap iyang espiritung iyan na DAYAIN ANG ULAT, dayain ang ulat, LINLANGIN ANG PANGANGASIWA.

“Sayang ang papel. Katakut-takot ang nagagastos natin. Binabayaran natin ang mga empleyado sa opisina, hindi pala totoo ang sinisiyasat nila.

“Dito ba magwawakas ang kamatayan ng mga ito? Sa tinagal-tagal ho ba ng iyong pagpapakasakit at pagpapakahirap, at iyon ang sugo sa huling araw, ay dito ba lamang ba matatapos ang kanilang buhay at takbuhin? Kundi ang manggagawa ang siyang lumulupig sa mga kapatid na gustong manindigan, tinatakot. Kaya nagkaroon tuloy ng paniniwala: Ang pinakamasamang tao ang mag-ulat. Ang pinakamasamang tao ang mag-ulat. Ang mabuti ang tahimik. Ang mabuti ang kunsintidor. Ang mabuti ang tiwali. Kaya hindi ako nagtataka, mga kapatid, kung bakit ang Dios pagod na pagod ng katatatag, talikod naman ng talikod ang tao.

“Ang tuntunin niya ang tinatalikuran. Ngayon, nagsasanay na naman ang mga manggagawa talikuran ang tuntunin! Pero sa ginagawa natin ngayon, sa ginagawa ng karamihang mga manggagawa kung hindi man lahat, anong ehemplo ang ipakikita sa may tungkulin?

“Papaano ko ngayon, papaano natin kokontrahin ang mga may tungkulin, magtapat kayo.

“Sasabihin ng may tungkulin: Ikaw ang salbahe eh. Lumilikom ka ng abuloy, wala namang pahintulot. Ikaw ang nagsabi sa amin na huwag na kaming magsusumbong. Papaano kami magtatapat eh ikaw ang gumagawa ng katiwalian? Papaano tayo makakalikha ng mabubuting may tungkulin? Papaano? Kung ganyan ang ating ipamumukha sa mga kapatid natin? Wala na kayong bibig diyan. Isipin ninyo sa Agusan, ilang beses, likom ng likom ng abuloy.?”

A Fake "Catholic" Priest's Convertion: How Ministers of the Iglesia ni Cristo® Deceived its own viewers

PEKENG PARI NAUTO NG MGA MANALO! from The Splendor on Vimeo.

This man was NOT a priest of the Catholic Church but he's an ordained priest from The Apostolic Catholic Church, Incorporated. Therefore a FAKE PRIEST, and he deceived all the INC's viewers.

Source: THE NEW SPLENDOR OF THE CHURCH blog

THREAT from the Iglesia ni Cristo®?

Photo source: Politics and Church blog

I received one comment, subtle yet it's threatening. Could be a joke but could be a stern warning. Considering how members of the Iglesia ni Cristo would do anything, even extreme violent and un-Christian way to terminate those whom they see as attacking Manalo and his INC^®.

From INC^® Anonymous August 1, 2013 at 3:25 AM

Aba, buhay ka pa pala. ha ha ha. Sabi ng Papa, wag daw husgahan ang mga bakla. Ano ba yan. Bakla kasi mga pari nyo. ha ha ha. Dapat sana ang payo niya, huwag gawin ang ginagawa ng mga bakla. Tsk tsk, playing safesi fafa. ha ha ha. Tuwang tuwa tuloy mga bakla. [Surprise, you're still alive. ha ha ha. The Pope said, don't blame gays. What's that? Because your priests are gays. ha ha ha.  He should have advised, don't do what gays do. Tsk, tsk, tsk, playing safesi (sic) fafa. ha ha ha. Now gays are rejoicing.]

I won't go pathetic with this message but if anything happens to me (violently) considering how they're so violent when cornered (you can read here, here), how they inherited bad attitudes, I'd say blame it to the Iglesia ni Cristo^® for not chastising their violent members, because what I know is that I don't have natural enemies.

Pray for all Filipino CATHOLIC DEFENDERS out there who are roundly threatened by members of this cult. May God have mercy on their souls.  Holy Mary, pray for us and keep us safe from the enemies of your beloved Son, Jesus our Lord, Savior and our God. Amen!

Pope Francis' Unaltered Remarks on Alleged Gay Lobby within Vatican

Before anyone jumps into conclusion that Pope Francis gave the 'go signal' to homosexual lifestyle as he was badly misquoted in the money-hungry press business, here's an unaltered transcript of what he really said on that interview.  Thanks to Pauline.org:

The Question to Pope Francis from Ilse, a journalist on the Papal flight

Ilse: I would like to ask permission to pose a rather delicate question. Another image that went around the world is that of Monsignor Ricca and the news about his personal life. I would like to know, your Holiness, what will be done about this question. How should one deal with this question and how does your Holiness wish to deal with the whole question of the gay lobby?

The Pope’s Answer

[Pope Francis's response:] Regarding the matter of Monsignor Ricca, I did what Canon Law required and did the required investigation. And from the investigation, we did not find anything corresponding to the accusations against him. We found none of that. That is the answer.

But I would like to add one more thing to this: I see that so many times in the Church, apart from this case and also in this case, one looks for the "sins of youth," for example, is it not thus? And then these things are published. These things are not crimes. The crimes are something else: child abuse is a crime.

But sins, if a person, or secular priest or a nun, has committed a sin and then that person experienced conversion, the Lord forgives and when the Lord forgives, the Lord forgets and this is very important for our lives.

FACT: A Devout Catholic is the Deisigner of the Iglesia ni Cristo® chapels!

Do you know this man?  Perhaps not!  He is the sole DESIGNER of Iglesia ni Cristo^® chapels we find all around the Philippines.

His name is CARLOS A. SANTOS-VIOLA, a devout Catholic! Says Wikipedia:

"Carlos was a lifelong devout Roman Catholic. He ministered for the Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Quezon City and was frequently invited to join the INC but repeatedly denied the invitations due to ideological differences. He also taught architecture at the college where he graduated, and helped found the Philippine Institute of Architects in 1938."

FACTS: What you should know about the Iglesia ni Cristo®

MANILA, Philippines (Rappler) – This day in 1914, the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) was officially registered by Felix Manalo, a Catholic who became dissatisfied with theological teachings he grew up with.

Manalo came up with new-found doctrines that have become the foundation of a new church which he initially established in Sta Ana, Manila.

From its humble beginnings in Manila, the INC has gained a nationwide, and even worldwide, following.

After 99 years, INC has remained alive, and has become a significant part of history. Its large following has become a vital part of the country’s social and political life through the years.

It has been known to lobby for government posts for members of its church. Among its members who were appointed to various posts are Land Transportation Office chief Virginia Torres, former Justice secretaries Serafin Cuevas and Artemio Tuquero, former Court of Appeals Justice Nicolas Lapeña Jr, former National Bureau of Investigation chiefs Reynaldo Wycoco and Magtanggol Gatdula, and former Philippine National Police chief Edgardo Aglipay.

Political leaders and even presidential aspirants have sought audiences with the Manalos, seeking their endorsement.

Debate over whether the INC has remained influential continues, but most political strategists prefer to err on the side of caution, still opting to seek the blessing of the INC head.

The group is now headed by the founder’s grandson, Eduardo Manalo – the 3rd person to have become the groups’ leader.

Did Pope Francis really say OK for gays?

Anti-Catholics out there especially the notorious anti-Catholic and anti-Christ sect from the Philippines-- the Iglesia ni Cristo®-- would rejoiced with the news that distorted what Pope Francis said about homosexuals.

"The Bible and the Catholic Church have never taught that it is a “sin” to be homosexual."  Thanks Fr. Jonathan Morris from  FOXNEWS!

What Pope Francis really said about gays -- and no, it's not new

Pope Francis doesn’t do interviews. Or at least that’s what we thought. He said that about himself just one week ago on the way to Rio de Janeiro for World Youth Day.

Then World Youth Day happened. And it happened in a big way.

According to official reports from City Hall, 3.2 million young people gathered on Copacabana Beach to see him, pray with him, and hear his proposal about the meaning of life.

His closing message to them was simple: Go back to your homes, and serve others without fear.

Hours later, perhaps taking to heart his own closing message about fearless service, Pope Francis offered an 80 minute, unscripted question-and-answer session with the international press corps.

In its entirely, the press conference on the pope’s plane traveling from Brazil back to the Vatican was fascinating. (For more, please look at my Twitter reports.)

But, unfortunately, if you were reading the headlines from some media outlets, you would have learned just one thing. As the Huffington Post put it: “Breakthrough: Pope OK with Gays.”

This is the worst coverage of a religious story I have seen to date.

Let’s begin with the fact that the pope has always been “OK” with homosexuals. In fact, by the demands of his own religion he is required to be much more than just “OK.” The Christian faith teaches that every person is endowed by God with an inviolable dignity and therefore deserves our unconditional respect and love.

A section of an Associated Press report also got the story very wrong. Summarizing the pope’s comments on homosexuals in the priesthood, the AP reported: “Francis was much more conciliatory [than Pope Benedict], saying gay clergymen should be forgiven and their sins forgotten.”

Pope Francis didn’t say that, and the report is wrong on so many levels.

First of all, it suggests that being gay itself, is a sin. What Pope Francis really said, in response to a reporter’s question about homosexual priests who are living a celibate life was this: “If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?”

Pope Francis simply and compassionately reiterated Biblical teaching. The Bible and the Catholic Church have never taught that it is a “sin” to be homosexual. They teach it is a sin to have homosexual sex because it goes against the laws of God’s nature, specifically his plan for human sexuality.

When Pope Francis says “who am I to judge” he is saying—and I think we need to hear more of this from religious leaders—that active homosexuals deserve the same kindness, love, and mercy that all of us sinners would hope to receive from God and from others.

We don’t make judgments about anyone’s personal worth—God has already done that when he created us out of love.

I would hope next time Pope Francis offers to meet with the press, they would take to heart his message about fearless service and report to their readers what he actually said, rather than what they wish they had heard.

So stop circulating a distorted news and get the facts straight from the source!

Iglesia ni Cristo® is a Masonic Church. It's in its Logo says an American blogger

The INC™'s logo can't escape an American blogger Mary Tomaselli's judgment that it is indeed a MASONIC church.  Here is what she's thinking about the Iglesia ni Cristo® church she found at Forest Hills, NY. [Read also my earlier post What's in the INC logo?]

I was driving through Forest Hills, N.Y. a neighborhood near me when I came upon the church you see in the photo above. It was huge and very imposing, a structure I had never seen before. The architecture was strange and modern-looking. It turned out to be the Iglesia Ni Christo, a church I'd never heard of.

That this church had been built in Forest Hills was unusual, I thought, but in my research I found out that 61.3% of New York City's total Filipino population live in Queens of which Forest Hills is one neighborhood. When I went to Wikipedia I found a photo of the Eglesia Ni Cristo church in Quezon City, The Philippines. Here it is:

If you click on the Wikipedia link above you'll see the architectural details of the Forest Hills church are VERY similar to the church in Quezon City.

Finally I want to show you the logo of the church which sits boldly on the front of the church as it faces the street.

What I noticed in particular was the combination of Christian and Masonic symbols. Apparently Felix Manalo, the church's messenger from God, was a freemason. I hope you liked the additional information attached to the photos I took of the Iglesia Ni Cristo^® church. They aren't touched up in any way.