Catholic Herald: The Filipino bishops are standing up against Duterte. We should applaud them

This is what makes me prouder as a member of the TRUE CHURCH OF CHRIST!

SOURCE:CATHOLIC HERALD

The president's war on drugs is clearly illegal. The Church has to take a stand

The War on Drugs, presently being fought in the Philippines by President Duterte and his death squads, has now entered a new phase, as the New York Times reports. The Church has offered to give sanctuary and protection to those police officers who wish to act as whistle-blowers, and who have evidence of illegal actions by their colleagues.

As the chairman of the Bishops’ Conference, Archbishop Socrates Villegas, explains in a pastoral letter: “Law enforcers have come forward confidentially to us, their spiritual leaders, to seek sanctuary, succour and protection. They have expressed their desire to come out in the open about their participation in extrajudicial killings and summary executions. Their consciences are troubling them.”

Bishops: We would rather go to jail than give up promoting life

Manila, Philippines, PhilStar - Some Catholic prelates yesterday said that they would rather go to jail on charges of sedition than give up their campaign to promote life.

The statement was made in reaction to President Aquino’s threats that the anti-Reproductive Health (RH) bill groups who encourage civil disobedience through non-payment of taxes may face sedition or rebellion charges.

He can put us all in jail. We are willing to pay the price to save the unborn from modern Herods and save the executioners from the grasp of the evil one, Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles told CBCPNews, the official news service provider of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

Cotabato Auxiliary Bishop Jose Collin Bagaforo said Amen! We obey God rather than man while Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes said, Let him (President Aquino) charge all of us bishops, priests, religious, all the faithful with sedition because it is better to obey God rather than men and immoral laws.

Meantime, former CBCP president Archbishop Angel Lagdameo called on the Catholic faithful to wait and see as he emphasized the need for both sides to be calm, reasonable and consider the moral aspect of the issue.

In the end, we must obey God and not man, he said.

Happy Annunciation Feast. Let's RALLY for Life at the Luneta!

Filipinos! Unite Under God for Life!” 
Luneta Grandstand
March 25, 2011
The Feast of the Annunciation
Day of The Unborn

PROGRAM: Emcees (Fr. Erick Santos, Fr. Joel Jason, Ms. Gaines Rosario)

3:00 – 4:00 - Arrival and Animation -Emcees
- 70’s Beats and Pieces band -c/o Eric Manalang
- El Shaddai Choir

4:00 – 4:15 - Recitation of the Holy Rosary -youth group

4:15 – 4:45 - Stations of the Cross for Life -c/o Fr. Genie Diwa

4:45 – 5:00 - Inter-faith prayer and Declaration of Opposition
-c/o Fr. Caloy Reyes

5:00 – 6:00 - Testimonies/Declaration of Opposition
Ms. Mae Belgica
Cong. Aliah Dimaporo

- Testimonies/Declaration of Opposition
Cong. Lucy Torres-Gomez
Bro. Bo Sanchez
Video Message from Cong. Manny Pacquiao

6:00 - Recitation of Angelus/Prayer for the Unborn
-led by Sr. Pilar

6:05 – 6:20 - Animation and Inspirations Songs
-El Shaddai Chorale

6:20 – 7:00 - “Interrogation” and “I Stand” chant
-CFC Singles for Christ

- Tearing of RH bill by different sectors of society
- Youth (EJ Aguila)
- Politician (Mayor Lito Atienza)
- Religious (Sr. Pilar Verzosa, RGS)
- Medical (Dr. Angie Aguirre)
- Journalist (Atty. Jose Sison)
- Muslim Faith Sector (none yet)
- Family
- Religious (Archbishop Paciano Aniceto
(suggestion)

- Live Pure presentation - CFC-FFL

- “Masterpiece” song and dance - CFC-FFL

7:00 – 8:30 - Holy Mass presided by His Eminence Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales with Cardinal Ricardo Vidal and Cardinal Jose Sanchez, and the Bishops and the Priests

Prayers of the Faithful:
• Doctors – Dr. Oscar D. Tinio
President, Philippine Medical Association
• Catholic Physicians Guild
– Joe Yamamoto / Oca Tagulinao
• Lawyers – Justice Santiago Kapunan
President, Integrated Bar of the Phil.
• Teachers – Dr. Jojo Escalano
Principal, JP Laurel High School, Quezon City
• Filipino Families – Francis & Debbie Rodrigo & Family
• Politicians – Hon. Michael Velarde
Representative, Buhay Party List

After Post Communion Prayer

Commemoration of March 25 1984 Consecration of the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary by Pope John Paul II

Consecration of the Family to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
• Fr. Yulito Ignacio

Special Address by Bro. Mike Velarde of El Shaddai

9:00 - Fireworks Display and Singing of Happy Birthday to celebrate LIFE

Unborn Child to 'Testify' on Ohio Abortion Bill

Photo Source: Women's Health

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) A fetus has been scheduled as a legislative witness in Ohio on a unique bill that proposes outlawing abortions after the first heartbeat can be medically detected.

Faith2Action, the anti-abortion group that has targeted Ohio to pilot the measure, called the in-utero witness the youngest to ever come before the House Health Committee at 9 weeks old.

Faith2Action president Janet Folger Porter said the intent is to show lawmakers who will be affected by the bill, which abortion rights groups oppose. Ohio Right to Life has not endorsed the measure.

An aide to committee Chairman Lynn Wachtmann said a pregnant woman will be brought before the committee and an ultrasound image of her uterus will be projected onto a screen. The heartbeat of the fetus will be visible in color.

Thanks to Creative Minority Report for the link.

Vatican's Aid Sought for Iranian Sentenced to Stoning

Jesus Compassion to sinners, even an adulterer woman
Story taken from the Holy Gospel according to John 8:1-12

Mary Magdelene who was forgiven by Jesus; a very touching scene in the movie "The Passion of the Christ"

While Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area, and all the people started coming to him, and he sat down and taught them.

Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle.

They said to him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?"

They said this to test him, so that they could have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger.

But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them, "Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her."

Again he bent down and wrote on the ground.

And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. So he was left alone with the woman before him.

Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"

She replied, "No one, sir." Then Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go, (and) from now on do not sin any more."

This is the JESUS we believe in the BIBLE!

VATICAN CITY, SEPT. 5, 2010 (Zenit.org).- The director of the Vatican press office indicated today that the Holy See would like to help stop the death by stoning of Sakineh Mohammdi Ashtiani.

The Iranian woman is convicted of adultery and condemned to be stoned to death. Iran has said that her sentence is not because of adultery but complicity in her husband's death.

Vatican spokesman Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi told journalists that “the Holy See is following the situation with attention and participation.”

The woman's plight has brought international criticism due to efforts by her son, Sajad Ghaderzadeh, to save her by drawing attention to her case. Ghaderzadeh told an Italian news agency that he has appealed to the Vatican for mediation.

Father Lombardi noted the Church's general opposition to the death penalty, adding that "stoning is a particularly brutal form [of it]."

He said mediation from the Vatican would come through diplomacy, not a public protest: "When the Holy See is asked in an appropriate way to intervene with authorities in other countries in humanitarian questions -- as has occurred often in the past -- she does so not in a public way but through the proper diplomatic channels."

An offer from Brazil to give her asylum has already been turned down.

This is what would happen to her if the stoning would push through. Please pray for her and her two children who needed a mother.

God, not Obama will bring peace to the Middle East, says Jordanian bishop

Obama wants peace but he can't achieve to do it, only God can. This is what the good Bishop of Jordan Most. Rev. Selim Sayegh said in reaction to Obama's Nobel Peace Prize.

Source Article: CNS
Amman, Jordan, Oct 9, 2009 / 02:25 pm.- The Vicar of Jordan, Most Rev. Selim Sayegh, spoke to CNA in Amman last week about the tensions in the Middle East as well as the diminishing number of Christians in the area. He noted that Catholics can assist those struggling in the region by praying for peace because “true peace comes from the Lord,” not Obama, or Israeli/Palestinian leaders.

Sayegh, who has served Jordan as an auxiliary bishop for 27 years, addressed the plight of Christians in the Middle East, particularly the ones living in Iraq. He noted that the while the situation isn’t desperate, less Christians are living in the area than is considered ideal.

“Why,” the bishop asked, are not only Christians but also Muslims leaving the area? “All of them, they are looking for peace…they want peace for their children,” he answered.

“Once peace is established into these countries...no one would think about leaving.”

He zeroed in on Iraq asking why anyone would leave – it’s “one of the richest countries in the world,” however “there is no hope.”

When Iraqi Christian’s leave, they go to Jordan or Syria, the vicar explained. But, “for the most part, the Christians don’t intend to become established in Jordan,” but they only “stay until they can obtain a visa to the United States, Europe or Australia.”

“It’s a very sad situation,” the bishop lamented, explaining that many of the Iraqis were educated, economically well-off people in their country, but when they leave, all of a sudden, “poof, and they have nothing.”

Bishop Sayegh said that Catholics around the world can help improve the situation in the Middle East not only by being “good citizens,” but also by praying for peace.

“Pray for peace because true peace comes from the Lord, it doesn’t come from Obama or from Netanyahu or from Abu Mazen,” but rather from the “Lord of peace,” the bishop remarked.

Reflecting on Christians’ role in the peace process, Bishop Sayegh said that they have their place, but that they are called to play a role by living out the faith. “That’s why every day in our churches we pray for peace,” since God is the only one who is “able to change the hearts” and to “arrive at peace” in the region.