Catholic Answers: Born Again - The Bible Way

Article Source: Catholic Answers by Tim Staples

October 4, 2013

“Have you been born again, my friend?” Thousands of Catholics have been asked this question by well-meaning Fundamentalists or Evangelicals. Of course, by “born again” the Protestant usually means: “Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior through the recitation of ‘the sinner’s prayer?”” How is a Catholic to respond?

The simple Catholic response is: “Yes, I have been born again—when I was baptized.” In fact, Jesus’ famous “born again” discourse of John 3:3-5, which is where we find the words “born again” in Scripture, teaches us about the essential nature of baptism:

Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicode'mus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”

At this point, a Fundamentalist or Evangelical will respond almost predictably: “Baptism does not save you, brother; John 3:5 says we must be born of water and the Spirit.” The Catholic will then be told the “water” of John 3:5 has nothing to do with baptism. Depending on the preference of the one to whom the Catholic is speaking, the “water” will either be interpreted as man’s natural birth (the “water” being amniotic fluid), and “the Spirit” would then represent the new birth, or the water would represent the word of God through which one is born again when he accepts Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior.

Amniotic Fluid vs. Baptismal Water

To claim the “water” of John 3:5 is amniotic fluid is to stretch the context just a smidgen! When we consider the actual words and surrounding context of John 3, the waters of baptism seem to be the more reasonable—and biblical—interpretation. Consider these surrounding texts:

John 1:31-34: Jesus was baptized. If you compare the parallel passage in St. Matthew’s gospel (3:16), you find that when Jesus was baptized, “the heavens were opened” and the Spirit descended upon him. Obviously, this was not because Jesus needed to be baptized. In fact, St. John the Baptist noted that he needed to be baptized by Jesus (see Matthew 3:14)! Jesus was baptized in order “fulfill all righteousness” and “to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins,” according to Scripture (cf. Matt. 3:15; Luke 1:77). In other words, Jesus demonstrably showed us the way the heavens would be opened to us so that the Holy Spirit would descend upon us… through baptism.

John 2:1-11: Jesus performed his first miracle. He transformed water into wine. Notice, Jesus used water from “six stone jars … for the Jewish rites of purification.” According to the Septuagint as well as the New Testament these purification waters were called baptismoi (see LXX, Numbers 19:9-19; cf. Mark 7:4). We know that Old Testament rites, sacrifices, etc. were only “a shadow of the good things to come” (Hebrews 10:1). They could never take away sins. This may well be why “six” stone jars are specified by St. John—to denote imperfection, or “a human number” (cf. Rev. 13:18). It is interesting to note that Jesus transformed these Old Testament baptismal waters into wine—a symbol of New Covenant perfection (see Joel 3:18; Matthew 9:17).

John 3:22: Immediately after Jesus’ “born again” discourse to Nicodemus, what does He do? "... Jesus and his disciples went into the land of Judea; there he remained with them and baptized." It appears he baptized folks. This is the only time in Scripture we find Jesus apparently actually baptizing.

John 4:1-2: Jesus’ disciples then begin to baptize at Jesus’ command. It appears from the text, Jesus most likely only baptized his disciples and then they baptized everyone else.

In summary, Jesus was baptized, transformed the “baptismal” waters, and then gave his famous “born again” discourse. He then baptized before commissioning the apostles to go out and baptize. To deny Jesus was teaching us about baptism in John 3:3-5 is to ignore the clear biblical context.

Rev. Robert Palladino, Scribe Who Shaped Apple’s Fonts, Dies at 83

Robert Palladino in his home studio in Sandy, Ore., in 2012.
Liz Devine

Source: New York Times
By MARGALIT FOX
March 4, 2016

Because of a Trappist monk, Apple computer displays look the way they do today.

The monk was the Rev. Robert Palladino, who died on Feb. 26 at 83. A Roman Catholic priest who began his vocation in a monastic order, Father Palladino was also a world-renowned master of calligraphy.

“Priest and calligrapher,” his business card read, in his unimpeachable Renaissance italic, and he long plied both trades at once. For years, babies he baptized received baptismal certificates in his flawless hand. In Oregon, where he made his home, Father Palladino hand-lettered the state medical licenses for generations of newly minted doctors.

As a Trappist brother, Father Palladino learned his art in silence, honed it over years of study and eventually, on leaving his order, taught it to others.

To his students, he brought a world of genteel scholarship and quiet contemplation; a world whose modus operandi — by hand, with ink, on paper, parchment and vellum — was little changed for centuries; a world of classical music (an accomplished singer, he liked to ply his calligraphy to Beethoven), Gregorian chant and the Latin Mass, which he continued celebrating in discreet defiance long after Vatican II.

Into that world burst a young college dropout named Steve Jobs.

It is a coincidence no less exquisite than Father Palladino’s finest calligraphy that “Silicon Valley’s future most famous screamer studied with a monk who spent years taking a vow of silence,” as The Hollywood Reporter wrote shortly after Mr. Jobs’s death in 2011.

A character based on Father Palladino, played by the strapping young actor William Mapother, appears in “Jobs,” the 2013 Hollywood film starring Ashton Kutcher. To reporters who asked Father Palladino whether he planned to see the film, he replied, characteristically, that he saw few movies of any kind.

An authority on the history, structure and aesthetics of scripts from antiquity to the present, Father Palladino taught calligraphy at Reed College in Portland, Ore., from 1969 until his retirement, in 1984.

The college’s calligraphy program, which flourished from 1938 until Father Palladino’s retirement, was widely regarded as the foremost in the country, training many respected artists, typographers and graphic designers. For decades, nearly every sign and poster on campus was the graceful fruit of its labor.

Mr. Jobs briefly attended Reed in 1972 before dropping out for economic reasons, but hung around campus for more than a year afterward; during that time, he audited Father Palladino’s class. After helping to found Apple in 1976, he often credited the company’s elegant onscreen fonts — and his larger interest in the design of computers as physical objects — to what he had been taught there.

“I learned about serif and sans serif typefaces, about varying the amount of space between different letter combinations, about what makes great typography great,” Mr. Jobs said in a 2005 commencement address at Stanford. “It was beautiful, historical, artistically subtle in a way that science can’t capture, and I found it fascinating.” He continued:

“Ten years later, when we were designing the first Macintosh computer, it all came back to me. And we designed it all into the Mac. It was the first computer with beautiful typography. If I had never dropped in on that single course in college, the Mac would have never had multiple typefaces or proportionally spaced fonts. And since Windows just copied the Mac, it’s likely that no personal computer would have them.”

Asked about his famous charge in a 2013 interview with The Catholic Sentinel, an Oregon publication, Father Palladino recalled, “He was most pleasant.”

The word “calligraphy” is born of Classical Greek κάλλος (kallos, “beautiful”) and γράφω (grapho, “write”). Though he was by all accounts too courtly to have said so, it would doubtless have pained Father Palladino — whom Mr. Jobs consulted on the design of the Mac’s Greek letters — to see the flagrant unloveliness of the only Greek font at this newspaper’s disposal.

BREAKING: Ex-Iglesia minister Menorca already out of PHL –Immigration Bureau

Photo Source: NewsInfoInquirer

Following alleged death threats to him and his family, former Iglesia Ni Cristo minister Lowell Menorca has left the Philippines, the Bureau of Immigration said on Monday.

In a tweet, GMA News' Jun Veneracion quoted BI spokesperson Nikki Reyes as saying that Menorca, who had accused Iglesia Ni Cristo officials of illegally detaining him and his family, left Sunday.

"Immigration Spokesperson Nikki Reyes confirms that ex-INC minister Lowell Menorca has left PHL yesterday," read Veneracion's tweet.

The BI did not indicate Menorca's destination.

Earlier in the day, Menorca's legal counsel Trixie Cruz-Angeles manifested before the Court of Appeals that Menorca had told her over the phone Sunday night that they were at the airport ready to depart.

The lawyer said Menorca, his wife Jinky Otsuka-Menorca and their daughter were intially stopped at the airport by officials due to a hold departure order.

Angeles, however, said Menorca later informed her the family was finally allowed to leave.

Reyes told reporters that Menorca took a Cebu Pacific flight that left for Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam at 10:45 p.m. —Mark Merueñas/KBK, GMA News

Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church confirms communion with Rome: "what no totalitarian regime could break"

Pope Francis meets members of the Greek Catholic Ukrainian Church, 5 March. - REUTERS

(Vatican Radio) On Saturday Pope Francis met with leaders of the Permanent Synod of the Greek-Catholic Ukrainian Church. His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevhchuk affirmed communion with the Catholic Church despite a century of persecution inflicted by totalitarian regimes. Suffering in Ukraine included wars, genocides, a state-planned famine, and ethnic cleansing, all claiming some 15 million lives. Suffering continues in Ukraine for which the Permanent Synod seeks the Holy Father's support. The statement of the Permanent Synod is reproduced below in full:

As Pastors We Speak Out on Behalf of Our People

Before the Holy Father and Before the World:

“Pope Francis heard us.”

“We came to reaffirm our communion with the Holy Father and to ask for his help for the suffering people of Ukraine during the Jubilee Year of Mercy,” stated His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevhchuk. “And the Holy Father heard us.”

In Rome on the eve of the 70th anniversary of the Lviv pseudo-synod the Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), His Beatitude Major Archbishop Sviatoslav, and the members of the Permanent Synod came to Rome to meet His Holiness Pope Francis. “We reaffirm what no totalitarian regime could break: our communion with Rome and the Universal Church,” His Beatitude said.

The Head of the UGCC and the Permanent Synod conducted meetings, discussions with representatives of the Holy See, and prepared a public statement denouncing the invasion and hybrid war in Ukraine and decrying the suffering of millions of innocent men, women and children. The Church condemns the atrocities, the kidnappings, imprisonment and torture of citizens of Ukraine in the Donbas and Crimea—especially abuses directed at religious communities and ethnic groups, especially Muslim Tatars, as well as broad violations of civic rights and the human dignity of millions.

Iglesia Ni Cristo's Online Vigilantes called "MANDIRIGMA" starts Attacking ex-members!

IGLESIA NI CRISTO®'s ONLINE VIGILANTES called "MANDIRIGMA" are in FULL SWING against former INC™ members. Mr. Lowell Menorca II and his family was ATTACKED online! 

Please pray for Mr. Menorca and all those who are persecuted and threatened by the INC™ leadership.

Source: Inquirer.net

Ex-INC minister who accused sect leaders goes missing — lawyer

Former Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) Minister Lowell Menorca II and his family are missing, his counsel said before the Court of Appeals.

Menorca was supposed to appear before the Court of Appeals for the continuation of his cross examination on the writ of amparo petition filed by his brother Anthony and sister-in-law Jungko.

READ: Expelled minister crosses swords with Iglesia lawyer | Ousted Iglesia ni Cristo leader bares murder plot

Named respondents are INC Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo and members of the sect’s Sanggunian, Radel Cortez, Bienvenido Santiago, and Rolando Esguerra.

The petition was filed last Oct. 15, 2015 after Menorca and his family were taken by alleged INC members after he was being suspected to be Anthony Ebanghelista, the blogger writing against INC.

During Monday’s hearing, Menorca’s counse

l Atty. Trixie Angeles said last Sunday evening the last communication she had with Menorca was at 8pm Sunday.

Angeles said Menorca called her from the airport.

“He informed us that they received a death threat,” Angeles told the Court.

The death threat was sent using Menorca’s family photo with a March 7 date, face of his daughter marked with an “X”. It was placed on the windshield of his vehicle.

“It scared him so much that he proceeded to the airport so that he could secure his family,” Angeles told reporters.

At the airport, she said Menorca informed him past 7 in the evening Sunday that he has a warrant of arrest and a hold departure order, meaning they cannot leave the country.

Angeles said Menorca informed her that he was held by Immigration officials supposedly to be turned over to the Philippine National Police (PNP) and then brought to Camp Crame.

At 8 in the evening, Angeles said he received another call from Menorca informing her that they have been allowed to leave.

“He called us and told us that he was being allowed to leave to which we expressed our reservations because if there is an HDO, it would not be possible. Nevertheless he promised to call us no matter how things turned out and he has not been reachable ever since,” Angeles said.

Angeles said she could not also reach Menorca’s brother Anthony and sister-in-law Jungko.

INC lawyers questioned why Menorca’s lawyer was not able to communicate with him after 8pm Sunday when Menorca was able to post on his Facebook account 6 hours ago.

“I am expressing suspicion as to the authenticity of this claim,” Att. Patricia Ann Prodigalidad said.

Prodigalidad was referring to the photo of the death threat the Menorca’s family received where the former minister appealed to leave his daughter alone.

The Court of Appeals reset the case on March 21 and 28.

Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/771305/ex-inc-minister-who-accused-sect-leaders-goes-missing-lawyer#ixzz42CE1fx5s
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Journey Home - Former Prot. Minister - Marcus with Dcn Alex Jones

More Than One Thousand New Converts are Added to the Catholic Church in Singapore!

Brief explanation of the Coat of Arms of the Diocese of Singapore (Source: Diocese of Singapore)

Singapore is an island nation that is found in the Southeast Asian region. It's population is estimated to be 5.5 million as of October 2015. And out of that 4.8% of them are Catholic (that's roughly 276,750 members, but according to the archdiocese official website, Catholics are estimated to be around 360,000), and still growing this Easter when the Church will baptize more than 1,000 new converts according to the Archdiocese of Singapore, to the Glory of God!

So who says the Catholic Church is dwindling? :) This is the ONLY CHURCH OF CHRIST, He established ONLY ONE CHURCH on earth! Whoever says HIS CHURCH apostatized completely are LIARS. People apostatize, NOT THE CHURCH for "the gates of hell shall not prevail" (Mt. 16:16-18) ever! 

READ MORE about the ARCHDIOCESE OF SINGAPORE for more information.

Source: Vatican Radio

Over 1000 Singaporeans joining Catholic Church this Easter

The Archdiocese of Singapore is preparing 1,227 candidates to join the Catholic Church at Easter this month. 498 non-Christians seeking Baptism and 68 non-Catholics seeking full communion with the Catholic Church participated recently in the Rite of Election of the archdiocese's Christ the King Church parish. At the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, there were 393 catechumens and 33 candidates. A Chinese Rite of Election also was held on Feb 21 at the Church of the Holy Trinity with 133 catechumens and two candidates. The Rite of Election that closes the period of the catechumenate or preparation, includes enrollment of names. Archbishop William Goh said there was a 17 percent increase in the Rite of Election over the previous year.

Father Erbin Fernandez, archdiocesan catechetical director, told the archdiocesan newspaper CatholicNews that through their courses, workshops and formations sessions, they were encouraging catechetical groups to come together to pray as communities as well as to work with others in the parish in the areas of evangelization and discipleship. (Source: UCAN)

A member of the Iglesia Ni Cristo®, founded by Felix Manalo in 1914 dishonored Mary, the Mother of the Lord in Facebook!

"MANDIRIGMA" -- Iglesia Ni Cristo's latest Online Vigilantes?

If this is true, non-INC™ members especially Catholics who are critical to the Iglesia Ni Cristo's fragile governance should be clever enough to ensure their personal information and/or photos in their social media accounts’ PRIVACY are securely protected.

Source: Sher Lock FB Account

Vicar of Arabia: Sisters of Mother Teresa killed for religious reasons

REST IN GOD'S PEACE MY DEAR SISTERS! MARTYRS OF THE CHURCH, PRAY FOR US! Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis. Requiescatant in pace. Amen.

Source: AsiaNews

For Mgr Paul Hinder, the "signal is clear: it has something to do with religion". A clergyman who lived at the nuns’ convent was abducted. The facility’s superior saved herself by hiding. Four nuns and ten civilians were killed. For the Vicar, they "sacrificed their lives by following their own charism."

Photo Source: Family Mission Company

Sanaa (AsiaNews) – In a dramatic statement, Mgr Paul Hinder, apostolic vicar to Southern Arabia, spoke to AsiaNews about this morning’s “religiously-motivated” attack against the convent of the Missionaries of Charity in Aden, in southern Yemen.

At 8:30 am, the prelate said, "People in uniform stormed the compound where the Missionaries of Charity live. After they killed the security guard and all the employees that stood in their way, they came for the nuns and opened fire, killing four [sisters]. One managed to hide and survive. Now she is in a safe place.”

The victims are Sister Anselm from India, Sister Marguerite from Rwanda, Sister Judit from Kenya and Sister Reginette also from Rwanda. The superior was able to find a hiding place.

The attackers seized Fr Tom Uzhunnalil, a Salesian priest who lived at the facility. At the time of the attack, he "was in the chapel praying."

Overall, 14 people lost their life: four religious and ten lay people, employees of the community that also housed senior citizens and disabled people.

"We knew that the situation was difficult and that the sisters were running a certain risk,” Mgr Hinder said. In fact, the nuns had been attacked in the past. However, "they decided to stay no matter what because this was part of their spirituality.”

At the same time, “It was clear that the area was not safe, even if there had been no special signs [of trouble]. Getting information was hard." For the prelate though, the "signal is clear: it has something to do with religion".

In July 1998, a gunman shot and killed three nuns of the Missionaries of Charity founded by Mother Teresa of Kolkata as they left a hospital in the city of Al Hudaydah.

Yemeni authorities said at the time that the assailant was an “unbalanced Saudi”. Two of the murdered nuns were from India – Sister Lilia and Sister Anneta – whilst the third, Sister Michelle, was from the Philippines.

Since January 2015, Yemen has been the scene of a bloody civil war pitting the country’s Sunni leadership, backed by Saudi Arabia, against Shia Houthi rebels, close to Iran.

In March 2015, a Saudi-led coalition launched air strikes against the rebels in an attempt to free the capital For Saudi Arabia, the Houthis, who are allied to forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, are militarily supported by Iran, a charge the latter angrily rejects.

Groups linked to al Qaeda and jihadist militias linked to the Islamic State group are active in the country, which adds to the spiral of violence and terror.

Catholic Herald: Pope Francis ‘accepts invitation to visit Pakistan this year’ (?)

What makes Pope Francis the most sought prized trophy of Muslim extremists? It's not because of his title but because of his Title as Head of Catholicism (which for them represents the entire Christian world). And for Muslims, Christianity is the enemy of the "ONENESS OF GOD" or what TAWHID.

Source: Catholic Herald

 

Despite reports by the country's news agencies the Vatican says 'no travel programme' is currently being studied

Pope Francis has accepted an invitation from the Pakistan government to visit the country later this year, according to the country’s news agencies.

Two ministers, Kamran Michael, a Catholic, and Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, the minister for religious affairs, visited Pope Francis on March 2 in Vatican City to extend the invitation, according to the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency.

However, Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi told the National Catholic Register that there is “currently no travel programme to Pakistan being studied”.

The Pope was thankful for the invitation but neither accepted nor declined, Vatican sources told the Register.

The only previous Pope to visit Pakistan was St Pope John Paul II, who celebrated Mass at the National Stadium in Karachi. A small bomb exploded minutes before his arrival.

Bishop Rufin Anthony of Islamabad-Rawalpindi said the possibility of Pope Francis coming to Pakistan was encouraging. “The minority Christians will be definitely encouraged,” he told ucanews.com. “However, the security of the Holy Father will be the sole responsibility of the government.”

Fr Saleh Diego, director of the bishops’ National Commission for Justice and Peace in Karachi archdiocese, said: “This is totally unexpected. Our joy know no bounds ever since we heard about it.

“The Pope might tie up his visit with his tour to India slated for 2017. However, this is a big risk for the government as things are different than they were when Pope John Paul II had visited Karachi in 1981,” he said.

Fr Diego also warned that there were severe security concerns in the country, pointing out that “the Taliban are still targeting institutes and intolerance is generally prevalent in the society”.

Pope Condemns the Diabolic Attack on Christian Missionaries by Muslims in Yemen

Sisters of Charity (Photo Source: First Things)

We are living in a world that is full of hatred from Muslim faiths.  A world where Christians are being targeted by Muslims as a fair game yet their death stirs no condemnation from world leaders; no outcry from mainstream media. These missionaries' only sin was simply because they're Christians. Their death will not be in vain. The blood of the Martyrs is the seed of faith.  Saints and Martyrs of the Church, pray for us! -CD2000

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis was “shocked and profoundly saddened” by the murder of four Missionaries of Charity and twelve other people at a home for the elderly in Aden, Yemen.

Gunmen entered the building on Friday and went room-to-room, handcuffing victims before shooting them in the head.

A message signed by the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said the Holy Father “sends the assurance of his prayers for the dead and his spiritual closeness to their families and to all affected from this act of senseless and diabolical violence.”

The message said Pope Francis “prays that this pointless slaughter will awaken consciences, lead to a change of heart, and inspire all parties to lay down their arms and take up the path of dialogue.”

It concludes with a strong appeal for an end to the ongoing violence in Yemen.

“In the name of God, he calls upon all parties in the present conflict to renounce violence, and to renew their commitment to the people of Yemen, particularly those most in need, whom the Sisters and their helpers sought to serve” – the message reads – “Upon everyone suffering from this violence, the Holy Father invokes God’s blessing, and in a special ways he extends to the Missionaries of Charity his prayerful sympathy and solidarity.”

The full text of the message is below

His Holiness Pope Francis was shocked and profoundly saddened to learn of the killing of four Missionaries of Charity and twelve others at a home for the elderly in Aden. He sends the assurance of his prayers for the dead and his spiritual closeness to their families and to all affected from this act of senseless and diabolical violence. He prays that this pointless slaughter will awaken consciences, lead to a change of heart, and inspire all parties to lay down their arms and take up the path of dialogue. In the name of God, he calls upon all parties in the present conflict to renounce violence, and to renew their commitment to the people of Yemen, particularly those most in need, whom the Sisters and their helpers sought to serve. Upon everyone suffering from this violence, the Holy Father invokes God’s blessing, and in a special ways he extends to the Missionaries of Charity his prayerful sympathy and solidarity.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin
Secretary of State

Four Nuns (Missionaries of Charity) Martyred in Yemen

We CATHOLICS are being persecuted from all sides -- Muslims, All forms of Protestantism (including the localy founded churches like the Iglesia Ni Cristo® by Felix Y. Manalo in 1914 and Ang Dating Daan® of Eliseo Soriano in 1983), Atheists, Agnostics, Liberals, Leftists, Masons, Mafias, and SATANISTS! COME LORD JESUS, DO NOT DELAY!

Source: Roaming Romans

Four Missionaries of Charity nuns from the order founded by Mother Teresa of Calcutta are reportedly among 16 killed by gunmen who attacked a church-run retirement home in Yemen, the latest attack on Christians in the increasingly lawless country.

The women religious, members of the Missionaries of Charity, were killed when four armed men attacked the convent and home for the elderly in the southern city of Aden on Friday (March 4), the Catholic news agency Fides reported.

Two of the nuns were Rwandan, while one was from Kenya and another Indian, Fides said.

There were no immediate claims of responsibility but Yemen, on the southern edge of the Arabian Peninsula, is in the midst of a civil war that is also fueled by the involvement of outside nations.

The Islamic State group and al-Qaida affiliates have exploited the lawlessness and created safe havens in the south, where they have conducted numerous attacks.

In the summer, a Catholic church was burned by Islamic extremists. Unknown assailants have also vandalized a Christian cemetery and last year blew up an abandoned Catholic church.

Yemen’s embattled government, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, is based in Aden but has struggled to impose its authority there. Shiite Houthi fighters allied with Iran still control the country’s capital, Sanaa.

Aden was once one of the world’s busiest ports and home to thriving Hindu and Christian communities, which have now largely disappeared.

One nun who survived Friday’s attack and was rescued by locals told The Associated Press that she hid inside a refrigerator in a storeroom after hearing a Yemeni guard shouting “run, run.”

Another survivor said that in addition to the four nuns, six Ethiopians, one Yemeni cook, and Yemeni guards were among the dead. There are about 80 elderly and disabled residents of the facility.

Security officials said the attackers separated the nuns from the others and then shot them. They later handcuffed the elderly people and opened fire.

More than 6,000 people have been killed in the Yemen conflict since last March, while 28,500 people have been injured, according to U.N. figures.

The Missionaries of Charity was founded by Mother Teresa in 1950 and the congregation has since expanded globally from its Indian origins.

Mother Teresa died in 1997 and is expected be made a saint later this year, after Pope Francis signed a decree attributing a miracle in Brazil to the late nun.

On Jenny Arteta II's Accusations against the Baclaran Church: Rector forgives Baclaran Shrine critics

Source: CBCP News

PARAÑAQUE City, March 4, 2016 – The rector of the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help in Baclaran, Parañaque City has finally spoken out on the malicious post that went viral on social media recently, saying that while it hurt and demoralized him and fellow Redemptorists, they are willing and ready to forgive the offenders.

“We were saddened by the comments. We were also angered by the unfounded remarks hurled against the church, its priests and brothers. These were accusations that were unfair and uncalled for,” said Fr. Joseph O. Echano, C.Ss.R. in an open letter Friday, March 4, lamenting the unverified incident involving a father and his son which had been blown out of proportion online at the expense of the whole Redemptorist community and all Catholic clergy.

Damaging post

The viral story was posted by Facebook user Jenny Arteta II on March 1 in which she called attention to the “plight” of a certain Jesus San Antonio and his son whom she spotted being “insensitively” escorted out of the Baclaran shrine compound by one of the guards on duty the midnight before.

According to Arteta, San Antonio told her they came from Trece Martires City, Cavite, and they were just dropping by the church enroute to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) in Manila to have the child treated of tuberculosis (TB) when she saw “Kuya Guard” turning them away on order of “Father.”

The post became a trending topic among netizens soon after, prompting many to pity the San Antonios and lash out at the “heartlessness” of the security guard and the clergy in charge of the national shrine, with some even offering to send cash.

‘Hurtful’ comments

Basing only on Arteta’s version of the event, one Facebook user criticized the priests and lay brothers of Baclaran in particular for being “inhumane,” and all Catholic priests in general for being “hypocrites” who “preach compassion but do not practice it themselves.”

Another dragged parties who had nothing to do with what happened like Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), and even Pope Francis.

“We had no idea where all these comments were coming from. While we noticed some were sincere in expressing sorry for the San Antonios, many more saw an opportunity to attack the Church and defame the reputation of her priests and brothers,” bemoaned Echano, who was quick to point out Arteta’s good intentions.

Scam?

It turned out, however, that the elder San Antonio was a regular beneficiary of financial aid who had been given employment opportunities many times previously by concerned individuals at the National Shrine of the Sacred Heart and Don Bosco Parish in Makati City.

In a text message to Arteta, he gave a reference number to which donors could send donations, with a reminder that he could not entertain phone calls due to an allegedly damaged earpiece.

Unknown to her, at the time of the incident, San Antonio had already been endorsed to the social mission department of the church.

Just to be sure, a social worker from Baclaran checked whether a record exists proving San Antonio had his son admitted at PGH. There’s none.

‘Tactless, irresponsible’

According to Echano, there was no effort on the part of Arteta and the people who were following her thread to let the Redemptorist community confirm or deny the allegations against them.

“It was tactless and irresponsible of them to be saying those things. We have been given a sentence even before we had a chance to explain our side: my fellow priests, the brothers, and the staff,” he said, commenting on the online backlash.

However, despite the flak the Redemptorists received, Echano went on to extend forgiveness on behalf of those who were hurt… to Arteta and those who jumped on the Facebook bandwagon.

“We were really affected by the comments. But the best thing we can do now is to forgive Ms. Jenny and all who reacted negatively on her post. We forgive them if only because they did not know the whole story. Rest assured that in spite of all these we will continue to help and serve the poor and the needy,” he explained.

Helping poor since Day 1

For the sake of the public, Echano enumerated the programs and services offered at the national shrine, one of few churches in the Philippines open 24/7, as follows:

• St. Gerard Family Life Center gives guidance and counselling to strengthen family life;

• Crisis Intervention Center renders emergency assistance;

• Medical and Dental Services responds to basic health needs;

• Solidarity Assistance Committee provides calamity assistance;

• Redemptorist Education Assistance Program gives scholarship;

• Sarnelli Center for School Children helps street children readjust their lives and become responsible members of their families and communities;

• Redemptorist Skills Training and Livelihood Program gives skills training to the poor to help them improve their economic condition; and

• St. John Neumann Center for Migrants helps migrants and their families cope with the social costs of migration.

• Furthermore, Echano appealed to netizens to be more responsible in exercising their freedom of expression.

“Let us use social media properly. Avoid posting things that can destroy the good name and dignity of one another,” he added.

For the whole text of Echano’s statement, visit: https://www.facebook.com/omphbaclaran/posts/478165085718822. (Raymond A. Sebastián / CBCP News)

Opisyal na Pahayag ng Simbahan ng Baclaran Bilang Tugon sa Posting ni Ms. Jenny Arteta II sa facebook noong Marso 1, 2:25 pm

Si G. Jesus San Antonio na ayon kay Ms. Jenny ay mga inapi ng guwardia ng Baclaran Church.

Narito po sa ibaba ang sagot ng BACLARAN CHURCH sa akusasyon ng isang nagngangalang JENNY ARTETA II  na nagsiwalat ng kwento (basahin dito) tungkol sa mag-amang JESUS SAN ANTONIO na para kay Ms. Jenny ay masyadong naapi.

Ngunit ayon sa pamunuan ng Baclaran Church, ang mag-ama ay HINDI PO TOTOONG  API.  Sila pong mag-ama ay NAKITA SA CCTV magkasama, MALAKAS ANG PANGANGATAWAN pati ng bata. Pagdating sa LOOB NG SIMBAHAN, ang BATA ay himalang NAGSAKIT-SAKITAN. Basahin sa ibaba ang paliwanag ng Baclaran Church.

Pakiusap ng Simbahan, bago mag-post na ikasisira ng isang lupon, grupo o samahan ay alamin muna ang buong katotohanan para patas naman ang saloobin ng mga nagkomento.

At sa iyo Ms. Jenny, baka naman pwedeng humingi rin ng tawad sa Simbahang ng Baclaran sa iyong mapanirang kwento sa Facebook.

Opisyal na Pahayag Bilang Tugon sa Posting ni Ms. Jenny Arteta II sa facebook noong Marso 1, 2:25 pm
(Source: Baclaran Church Official)

Una sa lahat, kinikilala namin na totoo ang naramdamang habag at malasakit ni Ms. Jenny Arteta II sa kalunos-lunos na kalagayan ni Jesus San Antonio at kanyang anak. Kung kami rin ay nasa katayuan nya, ganon din ang aming mararamdaman sa unang pagkakita kay Jesus at kanyang anak. Hindi rin namin ija-justify ang naging ugali ng guard doon kay Jesus at kanyang anak. May pagkakamali sa naging approach at aksyon ng guard. Nakausap na namin ang nasabing guard at napagsabihan at napaalalahanan na namin sya ng tungkol sa pangunahing policy ng simbahan—ang bukas na pagtanggap sa lahat ng tao lalong-lalo na ang mga nangangailangan at mga mahihirap. Sa ganitong reputasyon nakilala ang simbahan simula’t sapul nang ito’y itinayo.

Amin ding ni-review ang CCTV ng nasabing insidente sa loob at labas ng simbahan upang mabigyan kami ng kongkretong konteksto ng mga pangyayari. Ang buod ng nakita namin mula sa CCTV ay buhat sa labas ang mag-ama ay pumasok sa simbahan. Ang nakatawag ng aming pansin ay ang anak ay masigla at malakas, at masaya pang naglakad papasok ng simbahan. Pag-upo doon sa upuan ng simbahan saka lamang ito kinalong ni Jesus San Antonio na parang nagmukhang may sakit ang bata.

Pagkatapos na mabasa namin ang posting ni Ms. Jenny Arteta II, kaagad naming pinapunta ang aming social worker sa PGH upang i-verify kung ang anak ni Jesus San Antonio ay naka-confine sa PGH. Sa kasamaang palad walang matagpuang record sa PGH na nakaconfine ang anak ni Jesus San Antonio.

Samantala, naging viral ang posting ni Ms. Jenny sa pamamagitan ng maraming likes at shares. Nalungkot kami sa mga comments na aming nabasa. Subalit may galit din dahil sa maraming mga maling paratang na ibinato sa simbahan, pari at brother ng simbahan. Mga paratang na masasakit at di makatarungan. Di namin maubos maisip kung saan nanggaling ang mga comments sa posting ni Ms. Jenny. Ramdam namin na may halong awa ang ibang mga comments subalit mas marami ang walang habas na paninira sa reputasyon ng simbahan at sa dangal ng mga pari at brother sa simbahan. Wala kaming gaanong nakita na pag-iingat at responsibilidad sa pagbibigay ng komento. Sinentensyahan na ang mga pari at mga staff dito kahit na hindi pa nila narinig ang panig ng simbahan, ng mga pari, brother at staff.

Sa puntong ito ay nais din naming tanungin si Ms. Jenny kung naisip man lamang niya ang consequences ng kanyang posting sa facebook. Kung bago niya pinost iyon sa facebook ay nag-exert man lamang sya ng effort na tanungin ang mga pari o staff ng simbahan tungkol sa katayuan ni Jesus San Antonio.

Ilang araw ding kaming di matahimik dahil sa mga negatibong comments na aming nabasa. May galit pa rin sa aming dibdib subalit ang galit ngayon ay mas napapangibabawan ng pagpapatawad. Pagpapatawad kay Ms. Jenny at sa lahat ng nagcomment sa kanyang posting. Pinapatawad namin sila sapagkat di nila alam ang buong larawan ng pangyayari. Sa kabila ng lahat ng negatibong mga comments, buo at panatag ang aming kalooban na patuloy ang aming paglilingkod sa mga dukha at mga nangangailangan.

Ang aming galit ay napapangibabawan din ng pasasalamat kay Ms. Jenny at sa mga nagkomento. Ang pangyayaring ito ay nagbigay sa amin ng isang window of opportunity upang ilahad ang mga programa at serbisyo ng simbahan lalo na sa mga di nakakabatid dito.

Una sa lahat, maipagmamalaki namin na ang aming simbahan ay ang tanging simbahan na bukas 24/7. Tanging ang simbahan namin ang may staff at madre, na katulad sa mga call centers, ay may pang graveyard shift upang tumugon sa mga pangangailangan ng mga tao. Marami pa kaming ibang programa.

Nariyan ang St. Gerard Family Life Center na nagbibigay ng libreng counselling patungkol sa mga isyu ng pamilya at mag-asawa katulad ng marital infidelity, homosexuality, pre-marital sex, drug addiction, sexual abuse at iba.

Nabanggit ko kanina ang Crisis Intervention Center na nagbibigay ng kagyat ng tulong sa mga lumalapit sa aming sa pamamagitan ng medical, hospitalization, food, transportation, temporary shelter, educational, atbpa.

Mayroong kaming medical/dental Clinic na nagbibigay ng libreng serbisyo sa mga nangangailangan lalo na tuwing Linggo at Miyerkoles.

Mayroong kaming Solidarity Assistance Committee na binubuo ng mga volunteers mula saiba’t-ibang ministry ng simbahan upang tumugon sa mga biktima ng kalamidad katulad ng bagyo, baha, landslide, maging sa mga nasunugan.

Marami kaming pinapag-aral sa kolehiyo sa pamamagitan ng Redemptorist Education Assistance Program.

Marami kaming mga iniligtas na mga bata mula sa lansangan sa pamamagitan ng Sarnelli Center for Street Children. May dalawa kaming center ang Sarnelli Drop-In Center na nagbibigay ng agad na kalinga at programa ng rehabilitation. Pangalawa ay ang Sarnelli Residential Center na nagbibigay ng pangmatagalang serbisyo sa mga batang lansangan katulad ng edukasyon, kalusugan at pabahay.

Nakagpabigay din kami ng vocational and technical training katulad ng food processing, computer at cellphone repair, dressmaking, atbpa, sa mga out-of-school youth at mga walang trabaho sa pamamagitan ng Redemptorist Skills Training and Livelihood Program.

Tumutugon din kami sa mga pangangailangan ng mga OFW at mga migrante at kanilang pamilya sa pamamagitan ng St. John Neumann Center for Migrants.

Sa kabila nito, aaminin namin na may pagkukulang doon sa pangyayari—may pagkukulang sa guard, at may pagkukulang sa mga pari at brother upang matugunan ang lahat ng pangangailangan ng lumalapit sa amin. Sa laki ng problema at sa dami ng mga taong lumalapit sa amin, hindi namin kayang tugunan ang lahat ng kanilang pangangailangan.

Panghuli, nais naming umapela para sa pagkakaroon ng etiketa at responsibilidad sa social media. Matuto sana tayo ng wastong pagpopost at pagbigay ng comment na hindi nakakasira sa dignidad ng ating kapwa. Maganda ang magpahayag ng ating sarili at magpakita ng malasakit sa ating kapwa ng walang sinisiraan na tao.

Sa diwa ng kuwaresma nawa ang pangyayaring ito ay magbukas sa atin ng kahalagahan ng pagbabago sa ating lahat. Pagbabago na nanggagaling sa biyaya at awa ng Diyos.

Maraming salamat sa pagbibigay sa amin ng puwang upang mailahad namin ang aming panig.

Pagpalain nawa tayo ng mahabaging Diyos.

Ipanalangin nawa tayo ng Mahal na Ina ng Laging Saklolo.

Para sa Pambansang Dambana ng Ina ng Laging Saklolo,

Fr. Joey Echano, CSsR

Rector

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle is welcomed by Biblical Federation Middle East.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS.

 CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS!

VIRAL: Signs of falsehood: I am leaving the Iglesia Ni Cristo

Source: LocalPulse

Unverified user named Maya Agoncillo talks about the signs of falsehood of Iglesia Ni Cristo that went viral on social media.

With the observed signs of falsehood, she vented her frustrations by leaving her church.

From bloc voting to death threats uttered by ministers to leaders of other denominations, Maya decided to leave Iglesia Ni Cristo.

Below is her confession.

As I planned to write this piece I was at the crossroads of my membership with the Iglesia ni Cristo. Shall I stay? Or shall I leave?

I have been an avid member of the Iglesia ni Cristo since the time of Bro. Eraño Manalo. I believed all its teachings that it is the true church. I stayed loyal for more than a decade now, doing my part and giving my all that was required of the members. I had no complains. I felt it was okay so that we could have beautiful chapels that are our pride and joy.

 

But I am not exactly moneyed: my salary is just enough to give my part. And that explains why I think I am also entitled to say my piece and ask where the money goes. Where do they really go? I am asking this question and other questions because of the recent events that have captured the attention of the world on us. Are we really a true church? Is the Iglesia ni Cristo God’s church?

Now and then, I would hear people attacking the teachings of the church especially the part that says Christ is man. But that did not bother me. I still have time to check on that. Politically, there are those issues like the legitimacy of bloc voting that sometimes a brother is pitted against his family. He cannot vote for his relative but only for the wishes of the Administration or else he gets excommunicated. I had an experience that closely hews to this one. It concerned my father who lost the barangay elections because earlier he did not vote for the choice of the Administration. They pitted someone against him. Poor father! That was painful to me but I still let that pass.

We were told not to watch the programs of Eliseo Soriano or Bro. Eli – that proud minster that left us and now talks a lot against the church. But one fortunate Friday, without intending to, I had the opportunity to watch him in one of his recent Bible Expositions. There, flashed on the screen, I saw our ministers unabashedly flashing a death threat on him. They were saying, if he comes back (to the country), he would be met at the airport; there would be red carpet on the floor. Candles would burn for him and there would be free peanuts. They sealed their talk saying, “To Bro. Eli, peace be with you!”

I was so ashamed of myself. And I thought we drove him away in an effort to gag his mouth. This Bro. Eli was saying at the Exposition that he was forced to leave the country on account of the INC. He explained that events happened fast when he dared our Sugo to have a debate with him. But we did not respond to that challenge, right?

I knew that our brother, Daniel Veridiano, had filed a rape case against Soriano. When that move did not prosper, he went to GMA7 and had himself interviewed. I came to know more about this case because of that Boycott Page of the Ang Dating Daan people in Facebook. From the Long Description of that page, it appeared that they are still smarting from a Second Insult from GMA. They say that despite their complaints of irresponsible reporting, some 3 years after, their sister station aired that controversial interview also. That is why it is a GMA7-11 that the Ang Dating Daan are boycotting, going five years now, they say. Don’t tell me we had nothing to do with this GMA caper. We love to persecute Soriano.

Catholic Navy Seal receives Medal of Honor from President Obama

Source: Catholic Herald

Edward Byers Jr rescued a civilian hostage from a remote area of Afghanistan in 2012

A Catholic Navy Seal with a strong devotion to St Michael the Archangel was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Barack Obama at the White House on Monday.

The 36-year-old Ohio native, Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator Edward Byers Jr, rescued a civilian hostage in a remote area of eastern Afghanistan in December 2012.

At the White House ceremony, President Obama introduced Byers, calling him a “special breed of warrior that so often serves in the shadows.”

“The ethos — the creed — that guides every Navy Seal says this: ‘I do not advertise the nature of my work, nor seek recognition for my actions,'” the president said. “Which is another way of saying that standing here today, in front of the entire nation, is not Senior Chief Ed Byers’ idea of a good time.”

The nation’s highest military honour was awarded to Byers for, as a military aide read, “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a Hostage Rescue Force Team member in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom on December 8-9, 2012.”

The Washington Post and other news outlets reported that Byers, who is assigned to the Seal teams based in Little Creek, Virginia, said that for years he has prayed to St Michael the Archangel, drawing strength from the saint described in Scripture as the one who defends the people of God from their enemies.

Byers was quoted by the Washington Post as saying that during a career of serving in combat, he has always worn a St Michael the Archangel patch “on my back. … Every single mission I’ve ever done, I’ve always said a prayer to St Michael to protect and watch over us.”

During the Medal of Honor presentation, a military aide described the heroism of Byers: “(He) fearlessly rushed into the room and engaged an enemy guard aiming an AK-47 at him. He then tackled another adult male who had darted toward the corner of the room. During the ensuing hand-to-hand struggle, Chief Byers confirmed the man was not the hostage and engaged him. As the other rescue team members called out to the hostage, Chief Byers heard a voice respond in English and raced toward it. He jumped atop the American hostage and shielded him from the high volume of fire within the small room.”

While he covered the hostage with his body, the aide continued, Byers “immobilised another guard with his bare hands, and restrained the guard until a teammate could eliminate him.

“His bold and decisive actions under fire saved the lives of the hostage and several of his teammates. By his undaunted courage, intrepid fighting spirit, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of near-certain death, Chief Petty Officer Byers reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.”

According to reports, Byers is the sixth Navy SEAL in history to be awarded the Medal of Honor and the first living SEAL to receive the honour since the Vietnam War.

In President Obama’s introduction of Byers’ family, he welcomed his wife, Madison, their daughter, Hannah, and Byers’ mother, Peggy. The president relayed that she “had one question when Ed told her about this ceremony — ‘Do you think I can come?’ That’s so sweet. Yes, Mom, you’re allowed to come when your son gets the Medal of Honor,” he added.

Eduardo V. Manalo, leader of the Politically Powerful sect in the Philippines was Nominated for the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize, wait...

As leader of the faked "Church" called the Iglesia Ni Cristo® (INC™), re-established to its pristine beauty, His Holiness little pope Eduardo V. Manalo should be nominated for this year's prestigious Nobel Peace Prize for his austere defense on his INC Church from collapsing. The expulsion of his own mother and his own siblings makes him even topnotch in the nomination.

But just as how the fate of other false prophets went down in history, so must this man will have the same fate. Sorry guys, a nomination for EVM for the Nobel is impossible. Perhaps better organize a "Guinness Record" breaker challenge, that award is most probable.

Source: Catholic Herald

Pope Francis and Donald Trump nominated for the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize

The winner of the prestigious prize will be announced in October

Pope Francis has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

US presidential hopeful Donald Trump has also been nominated for the award, as has German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

A record 376 nominations have been submitted this year. The head of the Nobel Institute, Olav Njolstad said that there were 228 individuals and 148 organisations had been nominated.

“We live in a world where there are a lot of conflicts and where there are also a certain number of processes that are heading in a more positive direction,” Njolstad said.

“Clearly, this has inspired a lot of people to exercise their right to nominate someone.”

The winner of the prize will be announced on October 7.

Pope Francis was nominated for last year’s prize but it went to four Tunisian groups that rescued the county’s transition to democracy.

Justice at last for Ex-INC™ Ministers

Source: Manila Bulletin

Ex-INC™ Minister Isaiah Samson Jr. (Photo Source: Politico.com)

Libel cases filed by INC vs former ministers junked

The Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office junked the five libel cases filed by powerful religious group Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) against two of its former ministers and another ex-INC member due to insufficiency of evidence.

In a 12-page joint resolution, Assistant City Prosecutor Manuel Luis Felipe dismissed the libel cases against Isaias Samson Jr., former INC minister and ex-editor-in-chief of Pasugo, INC publication; Eliodoro Yuson Jr. and Rodel Rosal, former INC minister and member, respectively.

Also exonerated from the libel cases were Marc Jason Cayabyab, Abel Ulanday and John Nery, reporter, publisher and editor-in-chief, respectively, of Inquirer.net online news.

In the resolution, Felipe said that three elements of libel – persons defamed were identifiable, the defamatory remarks were made public and the remarks were defamatory – were present in the complaints filed, but the other element – malice – was not present.

“The subject TV/radio interviews and news articles are clearly defamatory. There is no question that the subject interviews and news articles were made by respondents Samson, Yuson and Rosal and complainant Santos was identified by name in the TV interview and news articles. But the weakness in the complainant’s cases lies in the second element -which is malice. The burden is on the side of the respondent to show good intention and justifiable motive in order to overcome the legal inference of malice,” Felipe said in his resolution.