New attack against Christians in Iraq. Girl kidnapped from her home in Mosul

Gunmen broke into the house on the evening of December 15 in Mosul and forcibly abducted the student. Patriarch Ignatius III Younan denounces cover-up of the terror targeting Iraqi Christians. (What are you doing Mr. Barak Hussein Obama? -CD2000)

AsiaNews - Mosul (AsiaNews / Agencies) - A new attack on the Christian community in Iraq. On the evening of December 15 armed militants abducted a young Christian female student from her home in Iraq’s northern city of Mosul. The gunmen burst into her home in Mosul’s Karaj neighbourhood overnight and drove her away to an undisclosed location, according to the Ankawa Christian news website. The girl is a student of a local technical institute.

It is the latest in a string of attacks against the country's Christian community, once 100 thousand Christians lived in Mosul, but now only five thousand live in the area, due to growing wave of religious fundamentalism, and attacks against them. The Iraqi government decided only days ago to protect Christian churches with three meter high concrete walls, to avoid tragic incidents like the attack on the Syrian-Catholic Cathedral in Baghdad Oct. 31.

In his homily of 10 December the Syrian Catholic Patriarch Ignatius Joseph III Younan asked the Iraqi government to ensure the safety of all Iraqi citizens, and particularly Christians, "people who are honest, peaceful and helpless."

Life on Hold for Egyptian Christian Arrested for his Faith

Source: Compact Direct News

Reactions can be read at JihadWatch.org

Unresolved charge of ‘defaming religion’ leaves him in perpetual limbo.

CAIRO, Egypt, December 16 (CDN) — An Egyptian who left Islam to become a Christian and consequently lost his wife, children and business is waiting to see if the government will now take away his freedom for “defaming” Islam.

Ashraf Thabet, 45, is charged with defaming a revealed religion, Article 98f of the Egyptian Penal Code. The charges stem from Thabet’s six-year search for spiritual meaning that eventually led him to become a Christian. During his search, he shared his doubts about Islam and told others what he was learning about Jesus Christ.

Local religious authorities, incensed at Thabet’s ideas, notified Egypt’s State Security Intelligence service (SSI), which arrested and charged him with defamation. If found guilty, Thabet would face up to five years in jail. But because prosecutors have made no move to try the case, Thabet lives in limbo and is subject to a regular barrage of death threats from people in his community in Port Said in northeast Egypt.

Grant me Serenity, Lord

"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference."

St. John of Martha, pray for us.

Pope receives the ambassadors of Nepal, Zambia, Andorra, Seychelles and Mali

Circus trapezists perform for Pope Benedict XVI in the general audience

Open letter to Inactive Catholics...

"If you were baptized a Catholic, you’re a Catholic for life – even if you haven’t been to Mass for years, even if you’ve renounced the title and joined another Church. Your baptism infused your soul with Catholic DNA – it defines who and what you are."

BY BISHOP THOMAS J. TOBIN

Source: lefleurdelystoo blog

Bishop Tobin

My dear Brother or Sister: In the spirit of the Advent and Christmas Season, and as the Diocese of Providence nears the end of its “Year of Evangelization,” I’m writing this letter to inactive Catholics of our Diocese – perhaps you’re in that category – to let you know that we miss you, we love you and we want you to come home to the Church.

The first dilemma I faced in writing this letter was how to describe you – an “inactive Catholic,” a “fallen-away Catholic” or a “former-Catholic.” I chose the first option.

[Find Bishop Tobin on Facebook]

I decided against “fallen-away Catholic” for it suggests someone falling off a fence or out of a tree. The image isn’t helpful.

And there’s really no such thing as a “former Catholic.” If you were baptized a Catholic, you’re a Catholic for life – even if you haven’t been to Mass for years, even if you’ve renounced the title and joined another Church. Your baptism infused your soul with Catholic DNA – it defines who and what you are.

Thus, I’ve chosen the title, “inactive Catholic,” because even though you haven’t been “active” in the Catholic community for awhile, especially by attending Sunday Mass, receiving the sacraments and otherwise participating in the life of the Church, you’re still a Catholic. Sorry . . . you’re stuck with us!

A Saintly Boy Adam in Baghdad Confronted Islamic Terrorists: 'Enough, Enough, Enough'

"Little Adam used his reason. “Enough, enough, enough,” he said, for two hours to the Islamists, before they murdered him. So it was that Adam, the Christian fundamentalist, fell under the “sword” of the Islamic fundamentalists. Nowhere is there a more clear example of Islam, the violent political/religous system vs. Christianity, where all are called to be “as little children” who must try to use reason with Muslim aggressors, than in Adam, a little Catholic boy who, in my humble opinion, will someday be known as St. Adam of Baghdad, the youngest saint of the Catholic Church."  

Adam of Baghdad: “Enough, Enough, Enough”
Posted By Lisa Graas on December 14, 2010
[Read the Complete Article here...].

Proudly Pinoy Church in New Zealand

Coptic Church Ecumenical Day of Prayer and Solidarity for Christians Suffering in Egypt

Our Coptic brothers and sisters are asking for our prayers on December 4, 2010 at 10:30 am. Let us remember those suffering Christians in Egypt, as well as those persecuted Christians in Iraq, in Iran, in Pakistan, in India, in Sudan and elsewhere and remember to pray for the souls of those who went ahead of us.  In particular let us pray for the Church of Christ that we may soon become ONE CHURCH. -Catholic Defender. (visit copticchurch.net)

His Holiness Pope Shenouda III of the Coptic Church

As the world follows the unfortunate events affecting Christians in Egypt and experiences the pain and injustice they face because of their faith, the Coptic Orthodox bishops of the United States, including Their Graces Bishop Serapion, Bishop Youssef, Bishop Macarious, Bishop David, and Bishop Michael have called for a Day of Prayer and Solidarity on Tuesday, December 14, 2010 at 10:30 a.m.

Vatican Scandals, the Wikileaks and the Iglesia ni Cristo

St. Peter's Square seen on top of St. Peter's Cathedral in Vatican overlooking the eternal City of Rome.

I woke up the other day reading a bad news from Maktoob. As I was reading the article I thought this news would definitely be circulated in anti-Catholic blogs. WikiLeaks’ series of controversial “Classified Cables” posted on its website which were illegally obtained from the US cables targeted the Vatican by exposing an alledged mishandling of its banking system. Two days later after this news came out, an Iglesia ni Cristo cult member was found rejoicing over this story and posted it in a forum which has nothing to do with the topic

Unable to confront the intelligence of Catholic Apologists and Defenders of the Catholic Faith here's at Monk's Hobbit blog an Iglesia ni Cristo member by the pseudonym artsee came up with these Wikileaks scandals as his weapaon attacking the Catholic Church.  All he thought is that by these latest scandals, it would make is Iglesia ni Manalo the real church.

Note: Bro. Quirino Sugon cut short this INC member's feasting (read below) when Bro. Quirino told him that there were worse scandals in the church than that.  One commentator said, these scandals are not new to us, we always admit that we have sinners in the Church as well as saints. That's the reason why Jesus left us with the Sacrament of Reconcilliation because he knew very well that some members would commit sin:

Three Nuns leaving the Anglican Church to join the Catholic Church

Aerial view of the Walsingham shrine (Photo: walsinghamvillage.org)
Photo Source: Damian Thompson

Thanks to Fr. John Zuhlsdorf's Blog and to Ordinariate Portal for this Press Release. Here's the statement:

“On 2nd December 2010, Sr. Wendy Renate, Sr. Jane Louise and Sr. Carolyne Joseph left the Priory of Our Lady in Walsingham for a period of discernment with the intention of joining the Ordinariate when established. We ask prayers for ourselves and for the Sisters remaining at the Priory of Our Lady.

Email address: sisterswjc[at]gmail.com”

"Lives of fear for Iraqi Christians" from BBC News

By Jim Muir
BBC News, Baghdad
Reactions can be read at JihadWatch.org

A week after the worst single disaster to afflict Iraq's Christians in modern times, the Catholic cathedral in central Baghdad where the killing took place was back in business.

With its windows still smashed and walls scarred and pocked by blasts and bullets, the building had been quickly cleaned up in time for a service at exactly the same hour as the killers struck a week earlier.

As the cathedral was being readied for its first service since the attack, a senior Iraqi cleric in London, Archbishop Athanasios Dawood, called on Iraqi Christians to flee the country because it was so dangerous.

"If we stay, they will kill us," he told the BBC after addressing a congregation of Iraqi Orthodox Christians at a service in London.

"Which is better, to flee or to stay? To be killed or to be alive? But when I say 'leave', my heart is injured inside."

But in Baghdad itself, both Church leaders and Christian politicians seemed unanimous in urging their communities to stay.

We are the Christians of Iraq مَنْ نكونُ نحنُ مسيحيو العراق؟

Adam, the Little Christian Boy Who Confronted Islamic Terrorists

Pray for us, Martyrs for the Church!

Ancient Nestorian Church Monastery Discovered in UAE

Believed to be Nestorian ancient (1,400 years) monastery was discovered in the Arab Peninsula (United Arab Emirates) and will be open for public on Saturday. Nestorius (Nestorian Schism condemned by the Church during the First Council of Ephesus in 431 AD and Council of Chalcedon ) promulgated another Christology (away from the Orthodoxy) prominent in the the Arabian Peninsula that probably influenced Islam's prophet Mohammad 's concept of "Christology" denying the deity of Jesus in Arabia. The said ancient monastery is believed to be abandoned in the year 750AD during the Islamic expansion (persecuting non-Muslims) in the whole of the Arabian Peninsula. - Catholic Defender

By AFP

A general view of the United Arab Emirates' only discovered Christian monastery on November 29, 2009, in Sir Bani Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Photograph: MARTIN PFEIFER/ TDIC/AFP

DUBAI - A 1,400-year-old monastery that is the only known pre-Islamic Christian site in the United Arab Emirates has opened to visitors, The National newspaper reported on Sunday.

The monastery on Sir Bani Yas island in Abu Dhabi emirate is "believed to be the only permanent settlement ever established on the island" and "the only pre-Islamic Christian site known in the UAE," it said.

It is believed to have been built around 600 AD by a community of 30-40 monks and was discovered in 1992, said the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Development Company which is developing the island.

Dr Joseph Elders, the chief archaeologist for the Church of England, is leading the team excavating the site, the company said in a statement.

"Twenty years ago, we had no idea that Christians came this far south and east" in the Gulf region, The National quoted Elders as saying. "We don't have many monasteries from this period."

The people who lived at the monastery probably belonged to the "Nestorian Church, or Church of the East," it said, adding that the settlement was abandoned after about 750 AD.

It opened to the public on Saturday.

Be Patient

"Like children pining for Christmas morning, we know what it means to wait for what we desire. Whether it is the safe arrival of loved ones from afar or a recovery from cancer, we wait in prayer and patience, hope and trust. Angelus Sibelius advises, "If in your heart you make a manger for his birth, then God will once again become a child on earth."

— from Catholic Update

Chinese bishops deported to attend Patriotic Assembly

by W. Zhicheng - Z. Yuan

The gathering, incompatible with the faith of Catholics, aims to elect the Presidents of the Patriotic Association and the Council of Bishops. Some bishops have gone into hiding to avoid having to participate, while others have been taken against their will. The bishop of Hengshui, seized and torn from the safe cover of the faithful, dragged to Beijing.

[Read also The return of the Cultural Revolution: Chinese bishops imprisoned or hunted like criminals]

Beijing (AsiaNews) - AsiaNews sources say that some bishops and priests of the official Church have been forcibly deported to the capital to ensure their participation at the Assembly of representatives of Chinese Catholics, which the pope considers incompatible with Catholic faith.

The Assembly opened today in Beijing on a low profileand is being shrouded in secrecy: it is impossible to contact anyone and not even Xinhua is reporting on the event. The meeting should lead to the election of the national president of the Patriotic Association and president of the council of Chinese bishops, two bodies that are unacceptable to the Catholic Church because they aim to build a separate Church, detached from the pope. "It's just an election of a new round of leadership," said Liu Bainian, vice president and chairman of the PA Assembly. In fact, the gathering is the "sovereign body" of the official Chinese church in which bishops are a minority among Catholics and government representatives. Ecclesial decisions are made on the basis of rigged elections. Ahead of today's meeting, Liu Bainian had sent all participants clear indications of what to do and what to vote.

Pope : an appeal against intolerance, violence and suffering in the world

Benedict XVI recalls the "continuous attacks" against Christians and Muslims in Iraq, clashes in Egypt with "casualties" and victims of traffickers and criminals, like the Eritreans seized in the Sinai desert. He asks us to hear God's voice that resonates today "in the desert of the world."

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Benedict XVI at the Angelus today called on the faithful "to hear God's voice, echoing in the wilderness of the world through the Holy Scriptures, especially when preached with the power of the Holy Spirit." And speaking after the Angelus he recalled the dramatic situations of violence, intolerance and suffering in Iraq, in Egypt and the victims of traffickers and criminals in the Sinai Desert.

The Pope recalled the figure of St. John the Baptist, " who, according to a famous prophecy of Isaiah (cf. 40.3), withdrew into the wilderness of Judea and through his preaching, called the people to repent in order to be ready for the imminent coming of the Messiah. St. Gregory the Great says that the Baptist preaches the true faith and good works ... so that the penetrating power of grace, the light of truth shine, the pathways to God straightened and honest thoughts are born in souls after listening to the Word that leads to all good".

Muslims Terrorizing Sweden, 1 died

Islamization is one of the many problems Europe and the Americas is facing today. The pandemic threat of Islamic terrorism is a fact we all have to face. Muslims' failure to assimilate in our free society damages our own system because they use our democracy and our freedom to demand for their rights but are not ready to reciprocate either. They brag about Muslim converts but killed those who leave Islam. Now they want our cities under their spell. May God protect our cities. -Catholic Defender

One dead after suicide bombing in Stockholm
Source: The Local Sweden's News in English

Two nearly simultaneous explosions rocked central Stockholm on Saturday evening, killing one person and injuring two others in what is believed to be a suicide attack.

• Stockholm attack follows terror warnings (12 Dec 10)
• Witnesses tell of Stockholm bomb terror (11 Dec 10)
• Two Swedes jailed for plotting Somalia attacks (8 Dec 10)
• Somali militia issues Lars Vilks death threat (24 Nov 10)

The fatal blast occurred just minutes after a car exploded on another nearby street sending two people to hospital.

Roughly ten minutes before the explosions, Swedish news agency TT received an email telling Muslims in Sweden and Europe it was "time to take action".

Sveriges Television (SVT) reported that both explosions, which occurred about 200 metres from one another, were part of a suicide attack in the Swedish capital.

In Iran, a Christian pastor faces death sentence

Comments from Zolardrew: Iran is waging a war against Christians. This is not good. The Middle Ages are coming back. Bring back the Crusaders!

Photo Source: allvoices.com

(CNN) -- A Christan pastor in Iran has been sentenced to death for allegedly renouncing his Muslim religion and another faces a possible indictment on the same charge of apostasy, according to a prominent activist group working for human rights in Iran.

Youcef Nadarkhani, a 32-year-old member of the Church of Iran ministry and pastor of an approximately 400-person congregation in the northern city of Rasht, faces death, according to the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran.

In the southern city of Shiraz, another Christian pastor, Behrouz Sadegh-Khanjani, 35, is facing a possible indictment for apostasy.

"This is part of a greater trend of persecution against Christians," said Firouz Sadegh-Khanjani, brother of Behrouz and member of the Church of Iran's Executive Council.

Christians are feeling the heat in other parts of the Muslim world as well.

The Baghdad Assyrian Church Massacre: Waiting for Godot!

(AINA) -- When the Church of Our Lady of Salvation in Baghdad was seized by terrorists on October 31, 2010, Al-Qaida's Iraqi affiliate, the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI), claimed responsibility and defined churches as "The dirty place belonging to the infidels that Iraqi Christians have long used as a base to fight Islam."

The well-organized attack on civilian parishioners and priests resulted in a terrifying hostage takeover. As the drama unfolded, it became one of the bloodiest massacres against the Assyrians since the beginning of the 2003 Iraq War. Three priests and 58 non-combative parishioners were murdered and dozens of terrorized men, women and children wounded, leaving a nation forever emotionally bewildered and scarred. Amnesty International called the barbaric attack a "war crime" while worldwide, Assyrians view this massacre as yet another attempt to uproot their existence from the Middle East.

In a press release, ISI stated: "All Christian centers, organizations and institutions, leaders and followers, are legitimate targets for the mujahedeen (holy warriors) wherever they can be found."

However, the selection of Christian Assyrians as "legitimate targets" by fundamentalists is not a new phenomenon. One can find similar events throughout the course of history.

But why do they want to target the Christian Assyrians?

Islamization of the West Prided by Muslims

Indeed the world has changed for the past 20 years.

Today, our Banking system have changed, our Aviation security proceedures have changed; our Passports and visas are strictly scrutinized; We distrust each other between THEM and US; All because of ISLAMIZATION and the pandemic GLOBAL threat of ISLAMIC TERRORISM living within our civilized cities, enjoying our liberty, our democracy, demanding their rights while they DO NOT reciprocate it.

Muslims around the world may brag about their growing population in Europe however they simply cannot distinguish who is a real Muslim; the one who prays regularly but do not integrate to Western culture or the one who seldom prays but live humanly or someone who prays hard and terrorize many?

This video below shows how Muslims living in the West unites silently for ISLAMIZATION. They want their presence to be felt. God bless Europe and the Americas!

Where We Got the Bible: Our Debt to the Catholic Church

Photo Source: Catholic Gift Store

by The Right Rev. HENRY G. GRAHAM,

Author of "Hindrances to Conversion," etc.

Twenty-second Printing

Nihil Obstat et Imprimatur JOANNES RITCHIE, Vic. Gen.
Glasguae.

Dedicated to all lovers of the written word.

'In which are certain things hard to be understood, which the unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, to their own destruction.' 2 Peter iii. 16

'I would not believe the Gospel unless moved thereto by the authority of the Church.' - St. Augustine (Contra Epis. Manich., Fund., n. 6.)

CONTENTS

Preface
IntroductionChapter I.     Some Errors Removed
Chapter II.    The Making of the Old Testament
Chapter III.   The Church Precedes the New Testament
Chapter IV.   Catholic Church Compiles the New Testament
Chapter V.    Deficiencies of the Protestant Bible
Chapter VI.   The Originals and their Disappearance
Chapter VII.  Variations in the text Fatal to the Protestant Theory
Chapter VIII. Our Debt to the Monks
Chapter IX.    Bible Reading in the 'Dark Ages'
Chapter X.     Where then are all the Mediaeval Bibles?
Chapter XI.    Abundance of Vernacular Scriptures before Wycliff
Chapter XII.   Why Wycliff was Condemned
Chapter XIII.  Tyndale's Condemnation Vindicated by Posterity
Chapter XIV.  A Deluge of Erroneous Versions
Chapter XV.   The Catholic Bible (Douay)
Chapter XVI.  Envoi

Read MORE...

On ISAIAH 9:6 twisted by an Iglesia ni Cristo blogger

Now someone has joined the the anti-Catholic bashing group from the Iglesia ni Cristo cult founded by Felix Manalo Ysagun and incorporated it in July 27, 1914 who introduced himself as Engr. Renante Nate. Just like readme Conrad J. Obligacion, this newbie INC blogger is a trying hard historian and theologian. Of course, we can never be too sure of his opinion since he DOES NOT HAVE any official INC teaching to back up his opinion.

Thanks to Manila Balita introducing us another "notorious" INC Defender like Conrad J. Obligacion who owns resbak.com and readmeinc.blogspot.com.

Posted in Thursday, November 5, 2009, Article Title: ON ISAIAH 9:6, he said that the title given to Jesus as Emmanuel or Immanuel (God with us) is Theophory.

What is Theopory? According to Wikipedia, Theopory "refers to the practice of embedding the name of a god or a deity in, usually, a proper name."

Such that Isaiah 9:6 which says:

For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.

Kasagutan kay Ahmed Deedat

Maraming artikulong paninira sa Kristianismo at sa Iglesia Katolika ang nalimbag ni Ahmed Deedat, isang iskolar daw ng Islam na tumutuligsa sa mga katuruan ng Kristianismo.

Bagamat matalas ang wikang ginagamit ni Ahmed Deedat ng walang kaabog-abog. Narito ang mga artikulong maaaring basahin upang maliwanagan sa mga kasinungalingan ni Ahmed Deedat.

• Ahmed Deedat sa Tumbukin Natin ni Cenon Bibe
• Answering Deedat 
• Response to Ahmed Deedat by Dar Al-Masih
• A Refutation of Ahmed Deedat's Crucifixion or Cruci-Fiction? by jaymann777

India: Darjeeling’s ‘miracle’ draws thousands

By Julian S Das, Sonada
UCANews

Photo of the "bleeding crucifix" in Sonada

A bishop in eastern India says the “first miracle” in his diocese has strengthened his people’s faith and attracted people of other religions.

“Our people are overjoyed at the first public miracle,” Bishop Stephen Lepcha of Darjeeling told ucanews.com on Nov. 26. “This has strengthened the faith of the people,” he added.

The bishop said the “miracle” occurred Nov. 20 when a priest and two couples preached a retreat for some novices of Claritian congregation at Dirnberger Niketan, Sonada, in West Bengal state.

A crucifix began to bleed when a woman preacher, a recent convert from Islam, prayed in her room in the morning. “Soon other crucifixes, rosaries and a big statue of Mary in the house began to bleed,” the prelate narrated.

Bishop Lepcha said he visited the place the next day and saw the crucifix and the Marian statue. He also met Mary, the Muslim who became a Catholic on Aug. 7.

The prelate quoted the woman from Kerala, southern India, as saying the Blessed Virgin had separate messages for the bishop, priests and people.

Somali Teenage Girl Shot to Death for Embracing Christ

Nurta Mohamed Farah, 17, had fled parents who tortured her.

NAIROBI, Kenya, December 3 (CDN) — A 17-year-old girl in Somalia who converted to Christianity from Islam was shot to death last week in an apparent “honor killing,” area sources said.

Nurta Mohamed Farah, who had fled her village of Bardher, Gedo Region to Galgadud Region to live with relatives after her parents tortured her for leaving Islam, died on Nov. 25. Area sources said they strongly suspected that the two unidentified men in Galgadud Region who shot her in the chest and head with a pistol were relatives or acting on their behest.

“Reports reached the relatives in Galgadud that Nurta Farah had converted to Christianity,” one source said. “The suspicion that the family is responsible is a solid one. The sister was killed in Abudwaq, a district in Galgadud Region, and the place where the incident took place is about 200 meters from where the sister was staying with relatives.”

Marian Apparition in US Declared Worthy of Belief

Photo Source: datelinezero.com



Our Lady Appeared in 1859 to Belgian Immigrant in Wisconsin

GREEN BAY, Wisconsin, DEC. 8, 2010 (Zenit.org).- On today's feast of the Immaculate Conception, patroness of the United States, apparitions of Our Lady in Wisconsin have been given official diocesan approval.

Reading from his decree at a special Mass today at the Champion, Wisconsin, shrine, Bishop David Ricken of Green Bay stated, "I declare with moral certainty and in accord with the norms of the Church that the events, apparitions and locutions given to Adele Brise in October of 1859 do exhibit the substance of supernatural character, and I do hereby approve these apparitions as worthy of belief -- although not obligatory -- by the Christian faithful."

Today’s declaration makes Our Lady of Good Help at Champion the first and only site in the United States of an approved apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Dazzling

The apparitions -- there were three -- occurred in 1859. Our Lady spoke with Adele Brise (1831-1896), a young immigrant from Belgium.

Poland has the largest image of Christ

Thanks to ritemail.blogspot for these photos:

Happy Feast Day (Immaculate Conception) to all Catholics!

Gn 3:9-15, 20; Lk 1:26-38) When Mary received a shocking invitation to mother the Messiah, she wisely inquired how a virgin could bear a child. In faith, she accepted the assurance that nothing is impossible with God. Conceived without sin, Mary, like the Son of God himself, always said yes to God.

— from Catholic Update

Read the IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

Pope Benedict XVI Photo

Thanks to SantePater Getty Images

Spot the Difference: 10 Things every Catholic and Muslim Should Do

American convert and writer, Yahiya Emerick (in RED), suggests ten easy things that every Muslim family can do to contribute to the betterment of Muslims and the establishment of Islam in the West.

In contrast, here is Salome Bintullah's (in BLUE) suggested ten things every Catholic should do and see the difference:

#1

Muslim: Sponsor an Orphan

Before anything else, there are hungry Muslim children everywhere who have needs right now. There are several reputable relief agencies who offer orphan sponsorship programs that only cost from $20-$40 a month. You and I know that's nothing expensive on your part - so do it. Some agencies even offer automated withdrawal so you can send a letter once with a voided check and never have to fill anything out again. Doing this can make you close to the Prophet in Paradise.

Christian: Sponsor an orphan. Emerick recommends that Muslim families sponsor a Muslim orphan. We shouldn't restrict ourselves to Christian orphans, but it is true that there are many Christian orphans. All orphans can benefit from our assistance. There are many Catholic and other Christian orphanages that you can donate to regularly.

#2

The Fact of the Crucifixion: A Response to Ahmed Deedat, Part 3 by Dar al-Masih

Ahmed Deedat's published books attacking the Bible and the Christian Faith

Ahmad Deedat is one of the most notorious, if I may, Indian decent Muslim preacher proselytizers in the Middle East. His books were translated to many languages that targets those 3 million non-Muslim workers in the Middle East often robbed of his/her basic rights. I have read many of his books and I can categorically say his works are more of a an attack rather than apologetical, distorting the true meaning of the Christian Bible to suit his (ill) pupose-- where many poorly catechized Catholics and other Christians are made to believe and converting with a handsome cash prize. But what I noticed in his book was that he never address the internal problem of Islamic extremism and the fact that once you become a Muslim, THERE is NO EXIT door in Islam! -Catholic Defender

(Thanks to Dar al-Masih Blog of sister Salome Bintullah for this enlightenment)

By Dar al-Masih
The original link to Deedat's book "Crucifixion or Cruci-fiction?" doesn't seem to be working anymore. Here's a new link. In this and other posts responding to Islamic apologists, I am indebted to the excellent website Answering Islam.

In his third chapter, "Establishing God's Kingdom," Ahmed Deedat seeks to dismantle the authenticity of the four Biblical gospels. "Not a single one bears the signature, mark or thumb-print of its author in the so-called originals," he says smugly, conveniently forgetting to mention that none of the Qur'anic manuscripts bear the signatures of either Muhammad or Allah (the ultimate author of the Qur'an according to Muslim belief). Just because a copy of a manuscript does not have the signature of its original author, that does not mean it is unreliable. Let's say that I have a copy of the first Harry Potter book, but it isn't signed by J.K. Rowling. Should I therefore assume that the book in my hands is not written by J.K. Rowling? Of course not! Such an assumption would be ridiculous. Yet this is the conclusion to which Deedat's argument brings us.

Leading rabbi says Europe risks being 'overrun' by Islam (EUobserver)

By ANDREW RETTMAN

EUOBSERVER / JERUSALEM - One of the luminaries of the international Jewish community, Rabbi David Rosen, has warned that Europe risks being "overrun" by Islam unless it rediscovers its Christian roots.

Speaking to journalists at a meeting in Jerusalem on Friday (26 November), Rabbi Rosen, the director of inter-religious affairs at the Washington-based American Jewish Congress, said that a predominantly secular and liberal Western European society is under threat from the rapid growth of Islamic communities which do not want to integrate with their neighbours.

The Arab quarter in Brussels. 'Those who do

not have a strong identity are easily overrun

by those who do' Rabbi Rosen said (Photo: aldask)

"I am against building walls. My humanity is my most important component. But Western society very clearly doesn't have a strong identity. I would like Christians in Europe to become more Christian ... those who do not have a strong identity are easily overrun by those who do," the rabbi warned.

"I think there is a pretty good chance that your grandchildren, if they are not Muslim, then they will be very strong Roman Catholics," he told one Italian reporter. "I don't think a tepid identity can stand up to the challenge."

Rabbi Rosen's views are shared by a number of Jewish commentators, who look at the demographic growth of Muslims in Europe with the same trepidation as the demographic growth of Arabs in Israel.

In Pakistan, Christianity Earns a Death Sentence by TIME

Pakistani Christian woman Asia Bibi listens to Governor of

Pakistani Punjab Province Salman Taseer, unseen, at a prison

in Sheikhupura near Lahore, Pakistan, on Saturday,

Nov. 20, 2010 -AP

By TIME.com

It all began a year and a half ago, with a quarrel over a bowl of water. A group of women farm workers were suffering in the heat near a village in Pakistan's Punjab province. Aasia Noreen, an illiterate 45-year-old mother of five, offered them water, but was rebuffed. Noreen was a Christian, they said, and therefore her water was unclean — sadly, a common taunt hurled at Pakistan's beleaguered Christians. But rather than swallowing the indignity, she mounted a stout defense of her faith.

Word of the exchange swiftly filtered through the village of Ittan Wali, in Sheikhupura district. The local mullah took to his mosque's loudspeakers, exhorting his followers to take action against Noreen. In a depressingly familiar pattern, her defense of her faith was twisted into an accusation of blasphemy, according to her family and legal observers familiar with the case. As a frenzied mob pursued her, the police intervened, taking her into custody. But far from protecting her, they arrested and charged Noreen with insulting Islam and its prophet. And on Nov. 8, after enduring 18 months in prison, she was sentenced to death by a district court, making her the first woman to suffer that fate.

The Slow Genocide Against Christians in the Middle East

by Farid Ghadry

Photo Credi AINA

Christians in the Middle East have long suffered from the ills of the region because of their religious beliefs. There is a slow process against the Christians using a systematic genocidal signature manifesting itself in a variety of forms. But there also exists a protective shield for Christians under an authoritarian umbrella. Either way, the size of their community is shrinking as we watch their own viability as a vibrant people become an issue the world needs to turn its attention to.

According to Daniel Pipes, in an article he published in the Middle East Quarterly, some 12 million Christians remain in the region. In Syria, Pipes offers that the Christian population represented one third of all Syrians in the early 20th century but now represent less than 10%. Grant you, this is partially due to lower birth rate, as Pipes argues, but persecution and terrorism have been the most painful source of their plight.

Benedict XVI Meets With Victims of Baghdad Church Massacre

Source: AINA

Vatican City -- Pope Benedict XVI met with Iraqi Christians injured during the Oct. 31 attack on Our Lady of Salvation Syriac Catholic Cathedral in Baghdad.

The 26 Iraqi Christians, led by Father Giorgio Jahola, attended the Pope's Wednesday General Audience Dec. 1. The group spoke later spoke with the Pontiff and met with Archbishop Fernando Filoni, the substitute for the General Affairs of the Secretariat of State and former papal nuncio to Iraq.

A one-year-old girl who lost her father and her three-year-old brother in the attack, as well as seven students attacked on their way to university classes, were among the group of Iraqis.

All 26 were able to make the trip to Rome with assistance from the Italian Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Vatican. The survivors of the attack--three children, 16 women and seven men--received medical treatment at Rome's Gemelli Hospital.

Thug Hardline Clerics in Pakistan offer reward to kill Asia Bibi

Thugs in Pakistan respect no laws. Asia Bibi has been found to be wrongly accused by some women of her town and used the infamous "Anti-Blasphemy Law" to silence her. Disgusting! (Read comments from JihadWatch.org). Can anyone double the prize to save Asia Bibi's life?

Asia Bibi Condemned to  Death by Islamic State of Pakistan proved by its court to be innocent
(Photo Source: beaconoftruth.com)

Hardline Pakistan cleric offers reward to kill Christian woman

By Faris Ali

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) - A hardline, pro-Taliban Pakistani Muslim cleric Friday offered a reward for anyone who kills a Christian woman sentenced to death by a court on charges of insulting Islam.

The sentence against Asia Bibi has renewed debate about Pakistan's blasphemy law which critics say is used to persecute religious minorities, fan religious extremism and settle personal scores. Non-Muslim minorities account roughly 4 percent of Pakistan's about 170 million population.

Maulana Yousef Qureshi, the imam of a major mosque in the northwestern city of Peshawar, offered a $5,800 (3,700 pounds) reward and warned the government against any move to abolish or change the blasphemy law.

Islamic states push for global anti-blasphemy resolution

Not in the name of Islam! Anti-Blasphemy Law which the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) pushes to the UN resolution should not be passed for the mere fact that this law is applied only to Muslims protecting Islam and their prophet against those who question them. Asia Bibi, an innocent victim of the Anti-Blasphemy Law of Pakistan is a clear example how barbaric this law could turn to be. - Catholic Defender

Madrid, Spain, CNA).- The Organization of the Islamic Conference has sponsored a draft resolution at the United Nations that would condemn the “defamation of religion” and create a global “anti-blasphemy law.”

The draft resolution was presented by Pakistan in the name of the Islamic conference, which holds a majority of the seats on the U.N. Human Rights Council, according to the Spanish daily ABC.

The Muslim organization hopes to secure passage of the resolution by the U.N. General Assembly. However, the resolution has been met with widespread rejection, especially for its condemnation of the criticism of radical Islam by the media.

The United States and European countries have warned that a resolution of this kind constitutes an attack on freedom of expression and could lead to greater persecution of religious minorities. Experts say “defamation” can only be liable to legal sanction when it involves persons and not concepts or feelings.

The Global Threat of Islamic Terrorism!

Baghdad Church Massacre Victims in Paris for Treatment, Recount Harrowing Ordeal

What kind of god could possibly exult his glory through violence?

Cardinal Bertone: 'Christians the Most Persecuted Religious Group in the World'

By Deacon Keith Fournier
'We die, we die, okay. But the cross lives'

'If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first.... because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you... No servant is greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.' (John 15:18-20)

CHESAPEAKE, VA. (Catholic Online) - The fourth Gospel contains a stirring "promise" of the Bible. It is rarely recounted by some contemporary preachers who often refer to the "promises" of the Bible in a manner that seems to imply we can all be "healthy, wealthy and wise" if we simply "claim" them. However, this promise is found in all of the Gospel accounts and comes right from the mouth of the Lord Himself:

Early Christian Martyrs

"If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you. Remember the word I spoke to you, 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you." (John 15:18-20)

Most of our readers know that I write often about the growing persecution faced by our brothers and sisters throughout the world. Just yesterday we published a stunning account from a survivor of the evil attack on Catholics during Holy Mass at Our Lady of Salvation (Deliverance) in Iraq. Here is an excerpt:

Pope praises CBCP’s role in blocking RH Bill

ABS-CBN News, MANILA, Philippines - Pope Benedict XVI praised the Catholic Bishops' Conference in the Philippines (CBCP) for its effort in blocking the Reproductive Health (RH) bill.

The Pope, as quoted by CBCP News, said: “I commend the Church in the Philippines for seeking to play its part in support of human life from conception until natural death, and in defense of the integrity of marriage and the family.”

“In these areas you are promoting truths about the human person and about society which arise not only from divine revelation but also from the natural law, an order which is accessible to human reason and thus provides a basis for dialogue and deeper discernment on the part of all people of good will,” he said. .

The Pope made the statement during the “ad limina” visit of Filipino prelates in Rome on November 29.

In issuing the Pope’s message, CBCP seems to be clarifying his earlier statement with regard to the use of condoms.

The Pope said HIV-carrying prostitutes could use condoms to avoid infecting their partners. This is part of their moral responsibility, he said.

Staunch advocates had earlier welcomed the statement, prompting the Church to go on the defensive.

Some RH bill supporters said the Pope’s statement would show that the Church is now trying to wean itself from conservative ideologies.

Muslim Converts to Catholicism by Dar al-Masih blog

Testimonies of Muslim Converts to Catholicism

So I was procrastinating today, flipping around on the internet instead of writing papers like I'm supposed to be doing right now. Well, God must have had a plan, because I found a website with several stories of Muslim converts to Catholicism. Praise Jesus for leading these souls to him! Here are the links to their testimonies:

• Ishya Beevi and family
• Mehboob Khan
• Salma Ali
• Munira

If any ex-Muslim Catholics would like to share their conversion stories/testimonies, please email me at salomebintullah [at] gmail [dot] com so I can post them! Let me know if you'd like to remain anonymous or if you'd like a false name to protect your privacy.

And let me add the story of Ahmed and Syed Ainul Hadeed,- Catholic Defender

The Pope being the 5th Most Powerful Man? No Way says an Iglesia ni Cristo member

A comment from Mr. plaridel, member of the Iglesia ni Cristo cult founded by Felix Manalo, an ex-Catholic, at my earlier post Leader of a "dying mythological system" and an "anti-Christ" is 5th Most Powerful Man on this planet! How can this be?:

plaridel said... I just have to comment on this. remember CD2000 that the INC is not as large as the ICAR thus this would make you even more powerful or known. I have to agree that the pope can do many things like silence sexual abuse cases, deport priest who are suspected of those things and even create new doctrines. You do have to agree to that right? come on CD2000 you do see how much bigger you are compared to the INC. right? December 1, 2010 4:00 PM

Of course, I understand why you are so bitter with this declaration. It's UNFAIR to compare your 96 years old  INC to the 2,010 years old Catholic Church. But this isn't a declaration from the Catholic Church Mr. plaridel. It's Forbes' for God's sakes! In fact the Pope was even said to be the world's highest authority:

The pope was named the "highest earthly authority for 1.1 billion souls," which represents one-sixth of the world's population.

Your signature to save Asia Bibi and Pakistan

Rome (AsiaNews) – At our reader’s request, AsiaNews has decided to launch an international petition to be sent to President Asif Zardari to save the life of Asia Bibi, who was sentenced to hanging for blasphemy. AsiaNews is also asking President Zardari to cancel or change the unjust blasphemy law, which kills many innocent victims and destroys coexistence in the country. We are asking you o support this initiative by sending a message to the following email:

salviamoasiabibi@asianews.it

Or you can send a message directly to the Pakistani President:

publicmail@president.gov.pk

A Catholic Survivor of Iraqi Church Massacre Speaks

Source from Catholic Online

ROME, Italy (AsiaNews)- "I try to forget what happened," but "as soon as I'm alone I start to think and all of those images come to mind, of what I experienced there. It hurts, I'm still in shock, it is impossible to describe what happened". These are the words of an Iraqi Catholic, one of the "lucky" survivors of the October 31 al Qaeda attack on the church of Our Lady of Salvation in Baghdad. He has shrapnel in his back and legs. But for another 58 people it was even worse, they lost their lives: among them, 46 faithful who simply had gone to Mass and the two priests who were celebrating. More than 70 injured. Of these, approximately 37 (the most severe cases) were transferred to France last November 8, 26 others, along with their families, have been hospitalized in Rome, where they spoke with AsiaNews.

"It was a Sunday and evening mass had just begun. Shortly after the Gospel reading, about 17.15, we heard the sound of gunfire outside the church. Don Tha'er, who was celebrating the liturgy, tried to calm everyone down, telling us to pray together. The noise became louder, then we heard a loud explosion and the terrorists entered the Church - five or six in all - and started shooting everywhere".

KATOTOHANAN: "Hindi Matitibag ang Iglesia ni Cristo"

"Hindi matitibag ang Iglesia ni Cristo".  Ito ang pahayag ng isang kaanib ng Iglesia ni Cristo (ni Manalo) sa Facebook forum topic. TOTOO nga po ito.  Ito rin kasi ang PANGAKO ni Cristo sa Mat. 16:18. Kaya nga dapat SUMPAIN ang mga sinungaling na mangangaral (daw) na nagsasabing TULUYAN nang NATIBAG ang Iglesiang tatag ni Cristo at kailangang ibangon uli!!!

Pero ang tinutukoy kaya  niyang IGLESIA ay ang HUWAD na  naitatag lang kamakailan (Iglesiang tatag ni Felix Manalo noong 1914) o ang TUNAY na Iglesia na naitatag ni Cristo noong Unang Siglo (Iglesia Katolika 33A.D)?

Ano ang paalala ng kanilang OPISYAL na magasing PASUGO Mayo 1968, p. 7:
“Ang tunay na Iglesia ni Cristo ay iisa lamang, ito ang Iglesiang itinayo ni Cristo. Kung mayroon mang nagsisibangon ngayong mga Iglesia at sasabihing sila man ay INK rin ang mga ito ay hindi tunay kundi huwad lamang!"

"Nabasa ko na yang site na iyan... Isa lang yan sa mga ginawang paninira laban sa Iglesia Ni Cristo... Hindi ninyo matitibag ang aral ng Iglesia Ni Cristo dahil ito ang tunay na aral na mula sa bibliya... Yan kasing mga aral ninyo inimbento na lang kaya hindi ninyo mapagtanggol..

"Nabasa ko na yan" sabi nitong kaanib ng Iglesia ni Cristo.  Itong munting aklat na Ang Katotohanan Tungkol sa INK-1914  ang tinutukoy niyang nabasa na raw niya 'yan.

Kung inyong i-click ang link na 'yan, isa pong malinaw na kasiraan ang mga nakasulat doon dahil mismong kanilang mga ministro ay naglilimbag niyan.

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