Sunday Snipets - A Catholic Carnival

I sometimes discover things, mostly often of a trivial nature, that I slowly grow to love or enjoy more and more; whether it's my passion for scooters, my enjoyment of video games and other technologies, my love for music music or formal shirts (oh yes), I love to learn more and more about each of the things that I develop an interest in.

However, I often find myself moaning as I flick through a piece of music manuscript or the manual of a video game or phone which I'm desperately trying to work, wondering how on earth I will ever gain a true understanding of how to play the piece properly, how to get the character to do a double jump or how to send a text message. So to me, this makes my enthusiasm for my faith seem even more strange, because...

Our faith is based entirely on scripture, the biggest instruction manual ever set down; yet, although we may be frustrated by what's layed down for us, we Catholics don't say 'Well what the heck, let's just pack it in and forget these dumb rules' - no - because our cause is greater than that, our cause will not see us rewarded by points or pointless satisfaction, our cause will see us rejoicing in heaven with all the angels and saints praising God the Father. It is this image that motivates me to get stuck in to a good Bible that has ALL 73 books, fully untouched by the schemes of a 16th century attention seeker; because, with truly complete Bible, we can feel confident in the fact that we have everything we need to know what to do. 

He, who is the Word made Flesh, has given us so many gifts, both spiritual and physical; and the Holy Bible is one of them- so cherish it, hold it close to your heart, and never forget the Love that God has promised us; the love which he gave to us, in the form of a man.

God Bless You

James

From Rome: The Death of a Tyrant

Perhaps it is controversial of me to speak about the killing of Osama Bin Laden who was, until yesterday, the World's most wanted man. 


It is not, however, my opinion that I will be giving:


The Vatican said the killing of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, a man who sowed division and hatred and who caused "innumerable" deaths, should prompt serious reflection about one's responsibility before God, not rejoicing.

The Vatican statement May 2 came the day after President Barack Obama announced that U.S. forces had killed bin Laden in an attack on his hideout in northwest Pakistan. In several U.S. cities, the news prompted street demonstrations and expressions of jubilation.

Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, released a brief written statement reacting to the news.

"Osama bin Laden, as we all know, bore the most serious responsibility for spreading divisions and hatred among populations, causing the deaths of innumerable people, and manipulating religions to this end," Father Lombardi said.

"In the face of a man's death, a Christian never rejoices, but reflects on the serious responsibilities of each person before God and before men, and hopes and works so that every event may be the occasion for the further growth of peace and not of hatred," the spokesman said.

The Vatican missionary news agency, Fides, reported that Christian schools and other institutes were closed and churches put on guard in Pakistan's main cities out of fear of possible repercussions on the Christian minorities there. Pakistani Christians are often identified in extremist literature with the West and the United States.

Paul Bhatti, a government adviser for religious minorities in Pakistan, told Fides that "the situation is tense."

"In fact, there are strong fears of reactions -- senseless reactions -- against the Christian minorities. The government is giving the maximum attention to prevention measures," he said.

Father Mario Rodrigues, director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Pakistan, said after a meeting with government officials May 2: "They put us on alert, requesting the closure of our institutes and making available additional police personnel around the churches. The Christians of Pakistan are innocent victims in this and other situations. Any pretext is used to threaten them or launch an attack."

Rodrigues said some experts predicted that bin Laden's killing would weaken the Taliban and their ideologies, which could help diminish anti-Christian persecution in the long term. But he said radical Islamic groups were flourishing in Pakistan, and other extremist leaders could arise.

What is needed, he said, is a serious policy of interreligious tolerance at every level - cultural, social, political and legislative.


James