Snow Mountain Wallpaper

Snow Mountain Wallpaper

John Paul II: Dubious Legacy

This article comes from Deutsche Welle.

The point here is not to slander Karol Wojtyla.  He was certainly not the only one responsible for the Vatican's activity during his term as pontiff.  However, it is important to provide some measure of contrast to the wild praise that has been showered on him during the past week.
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Criticism grows as Pope John Paul II's beatification proceeds 

After more than 25 years as the leader of the Catholic Church, many of Pope John Paul II's followers want to see him made a saint. As the deceased pontiff comes closer to canonization, others are criticizing the Vatican.

Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims travelled to Rome this weekend for the beatification of Pope John Paul II, whose body was exhumed Friday in preparation for the event.

Leaders and delegates from around the world also headed to the Eternal City to look on as the Vatican conveys the title of "blessed" upon the late pontiff on Sunday.

Yet some voices from within the Church are calling the move to sanctify the former pope a mistake.

Thousands flocking to Rome

In John Paul's beatification ceremony - the third of four steps to canonization - the Catholic Church will recognize John Paul as being in Heaven and as able to intercede on behalf of those
who pray to him.

Some 500,000 people in total are expected to attend the Vatican ceremony, which will be relayed on giant screens around the Holy City. Of them, around 300,000 pilgrims are expected to come from outside the Italian capital.             

Sunday's ceremony was preceded on Saturday by a prayer vigil at the Circus Maximus, an ancient Roman stadium, where an estimated 200,000 pilgrims lit candles.

46-year-old Sister Marie Simon-Pierre, the French nun whose healing was recognized by the Vatican as the miracle needed for John Paul's beatification told pilgrims at the vigil how she attributed her inexplicable recovery from Parkinson's to the intercession of John Paul.

After the vigil, eight central Rome churches were to remain open all night for pilgrims to pray.

The Pope 'turned a blind eye'

While half a million are expected to attend the event, a support group for victims of pedophile priests on Friday urged the Vatican to slow down its rush to sanctify the late pope.

"The Church hierarchy can avoid rubbing more salt into these wounds by slowing down their hasty drive to confer sainthood on the pontiff," said Barbara Blaine, head of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) group.

"In more than 25 years as the most powerful religious figure on the planet, John Paul II did almost nothing to safeguard kids," she said.

Another critic of the pope, the Swiss theologian Hans Küng said that John Paul II was not a good role model for Catholics, saying he was "intolerant and opposed to dialog."

In 1979, Küng was stripped of his right to teach in the Catholic Church due to his questioning of the pope's infallibility.

Controversial guest

Of the world leaders to visit the Vatican for the event, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe will likely draw the most attention.

Mugabe, who has been widely criticized for human rights abuses in his country, is banned from travel to the European Union, but the Vatican, unlike Italy, is not a member of the bloc.

The Zimbabwean president will travel through Rome; however, following pacts between Italy and the Vatican, people heading to the Vatican via Italy cannot be impeded.

Other leaders expected to attend include Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski, Belgium's King Albert II, Mexican President Felipe Calderon and French Prime Minister Francois Fillon.

After the Mass, the faithful will be able to file past John Paul's casket, which will be on display inside St. Peter's Basilica and will later be given a new burial spot in a crypt near Michelangelo's Pieta.

Becoming a saint

The canonization process of the former pope was set in motion by current Pope Benedict XVI shortly after John Paul's death in 2005. In order for the Vatican to declare John Paul a saint, they must be convinced that he was worked at least two miracles.

In addition to the Sister Marie Simon-Pierre, thousands have sent their stories to the Vatican describing how they were helped by prayers to the late pope. Of these, 270 testimonies of presumed miracles have been selected to be investigated.

An unlikely relic

Pilgrims to Rome this weekend will also have the chance to see the former pope's bloodied vest from when he was shot in a 1981 assassination attempt.

"It's an incredibly moving relic: a symbol of faith but also of the pain, fear and suffering in those moments," said Sister Beatrice from the convent where the previously little-known item has been kept hidden.

The bloodied garment inscribed with the initials "J. P." was cut off the wounded pontiff in a hospital emergency room and cast aside as doctors rushed to save his life, Beatrice said.

It was picked up by a nurse, Anna Stanghellini, who stashed it in the back of a cupboard at her home, keeping it secret for years before she revealed it to Sister Beatrice in 2000.

The former pope, who survived the murder attempt, was known to his followers as a builder of bridges; he was considered by many instrumental to the establishment of democracy in his native Poland, as well as improving the Church's ties with Jews and Muslims.

Author: David Levitz (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters)

Editor: Andreas Illmer

Osama Bin Laden goes to meet Allah

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Heb 10:31).

Osama bin Laden will have a bit of a surprise this morning: no lakes of wine; no endless stream of virgins; no pat on the back from his inspirational prophet; no utterance from Allah of ‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant” (in Arabic). No, today he stands in the fearful presence of YHWH, and the wages of sin is death. Osama Bin Laden has committed one or two sins of some considerable magnitude, was quite unrepentant, and did not accept Christ as his Lord and Saviour. His Grace therefore suspects that things might be a little warm for Osama today. His lake of wine will be a lake of fire: his tongue will burn and his thirst will never be quenched. The only virgins he’ll meet will be the worm variety, for the pit of Hell is a place of decomposition and destruction; of weeping and gnashing of teeth.

On his many journeys across the Middle East, Bin Laden probably never visited the Valley of Hinnom just outside Jerusalem. But he’s enjoying the view today. And it’s not the sort of place from which you’d want to send a postcard or an inspirational video exhorting your Muslim brothers to martyr themselves. It is an awful place of burning sulphur, rotting carcases and dead men’s bones. Bin Laden has gone to the place prepared for the devil and his angels, where the beast and the false prophet will be, to be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

And to those who do not agree with His Grace’s rather literalist understanding of the afterlife, he does not care: he feels better for having conveyed a sense of what it must be to fall into the hands of the living God, without the hope of the salvation of Christ. There is no obituary to write for Bin laden, other than ‘good riddance’. He has reaped simply what he sowed. Justice has been done. The world is all the better for his passing.

Petition to the Dean of Westminster in support of the cartwheeling verger, Ben Sheward

According to widespread reports, the Verger at Westminster Abbey who became a YouTube sensation after he was caught on camera cartwheeling down the aisle following the Royal Wedding has been rebuked by senior clerics at the Abbey.

He has been identified as Ben Sheward, and is reportedly feeling ‘fairly chastened’. He has been forced to take a vow of silence on the matter, forbidden on pain of the rack not to talk publicly about his spontaneous acrobatics.

It is also reported in The Sunday Times (£) that officials from Westminster Abbey have complained to ITV and expressed their disapproval that the excerpt was broadcast. Apparently, it breached the agreement between them, that cameras would be turned off after the wedding service.

Jonathan Munro, the ITV editor in charge of coverage, defended the broadcasting of the clip, saying: “We believe the cartwheeling verger caught the happiness of the whole occasion.”

Not only that, His Grace is of the mind that Prince William's mother, the late Diana, Princess of Wales, would have loved it. The cartwheel was spontaneous and exuberant: it did indeed capture the mood of the nation and was so utterly and unstuffily Anglican. The Lord turns mourning into dancing (Ps 30:11), and King David danced before the Lord with all his might (2Sam 6:14). Why shouldn't a verger?

The Abbey is a Royal Peculiar: that is to say, its clergy are accountable not to the Bishop of London or the Archbishop of Canterbury but directly to the Monarch. As far as His Grace is aware, no complaints have been made in respect of this verger's behaviour - which constituted an act of worship - and it beggars belief that Abbey officials might think he offended the Queen.

His Grace is minded to write directly to the Dean of Westminster, the Very Revd Dr John Hall, in support of Ben Sheward. His Grace corresponded with the Dean only quite recently, and has direct access via email. Although Mr Sheward is apparently facing no formal disciplinary proceedings, in this instance to be rebuked and forced to take a Trappist vow constitute a chastening too far.

The names of all who sign in the thread below and all comments of support will be appended to His Grace's communication to the Dean. Please tell others of this petition (Twitter #VergerWheel): His Grace would like to give Dr Hall a very clear message.

UPDATE (Mon 2 May)

Westminster Abbey have tweeted:

For all those wondering about the cartwheeling verger - there is absolutely no question of Ben being disciplined...

His Grace then asked:

His Grace has not reported that he will be disciplined. Was he reprimanded at all and has he been instructed not to speak the media?

The Abbey simply reiterated:

Ben the Verger will not be disciplined.

To which His Grace politely pressed:

With respect, you're avoiding the questions: 1) Was he rebuked? 2) Has he been ordered not to speak of his exuberance to the media?

No response was received. His Grace made the point that there was no suggestion of future disciplinary proceedings: this petition is to make it known that he (and some in the media) consider that a rebuke and prohibition on talking to the media are inappropriate responses to this action. The petition stands.

For May Day -- We give you Big Bill Haywood

Bill Haywood (in Derby hat) leading strikers in Lowell, Massachusetts, 1912.

Happy May Day, Comrades. Remember back when Red States had nothing do to with Republicans and May Day had nothing to do with trees and birds and the environment?  Red meant RED, as in communist or socialist, and May Day was for Revolution.


Ninety-two years ago today, on May Day 1919, Socialists staged Red Flag marches in every major American city. It was American socialism was at its peak. Almost a million US workers went on strike against The Capitalist Enemy, led by radicals like William Z. Foster and Louis Fraina.  Bolsheviks had just taken power in Russia, and Eugene Debs would soon win almost a million votes for President in 1920 running from a prison cell on the Socialist ticket. The Red Scare was at its peak, and Emma Goldman still scared the socks off complacent American bourgoisie

Bill Haywood, circa 1910.

And of all the prominent lefties, the emblematic leader was Big Bill Haywood, president of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW or Wobblies) -- the biggest, baddest, toughest, roughest leftiest labor leader of them all.



Haywood wanted his IWW to be "One Big Union" for the entire American working class to battle the Corporate Plutocrats of J.P. Morgan's Gilded Age.  IWW organizers faced lynching or murder by company detectives. Strikers faced beatings, blacklists, and trumped-up prosecutions.  Still, the IWW attracted some 300,000 members at its peak. 


Bill Haywood himself -- a former cowpoke and miner -- didn't hesitate to push back,  He used sabotage or strong-arm tactics where needed. In 1905, he faced murder charges for the death Idaho governer Frank Steunenberg, blown up after a bitter mining strike.  This set the stage for one of America's  great courtroom dramas.  Idaho prosecutors, backed by Pinkerton detectives, blamed Haywood for the killing, and famed Chicago lawyer Clarance Darrow traveled to Idaho to defend him.  He won Haywood an acquittal.




During the World War I, Federal agents under direction of President Woodrow Wilson launched a sweeping crackdown of the IWW.   His Justice Department arrested over 100 Wobblies and in 1918 tried them en masse for Espionage. Haywood, convicted and facing prison, fled to Bolshevik Russia for his final years.


So this May Day, forget the flowers and trees. Forget the Red States and Blue States. Let's all wear Red, sing The Internationale, shake our fists at the Power Structure, and toast Big Bill Haywood, a socialist's socialist, a radical's radical, a Red's Red -- as American as apple pie.   


Here's the famous song by Joan Baez on one of Bill Haywood's better-known IWW organizers, Joe Hill.  Enjoy-- 





The best book on Bill Haywood is his own autobiography, published in 1929.


                   

Rome embraces Mugabe for the beatification of Pope John Paul II

As the Blessed Pope John Paul II (‘the Great’) is officially beatified in a ceremony of great joy and religious fervour, there is a whiff in the air, if not something of a sickening stench. And His Grace is not referring to the bodily decomposition of the late Pope, who could doubtless be nosed after his unseemly exhumation, having been entombed for barely five minutes. No, the sulphuric odour emanates from the very-much-alive corpse of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, who flew into Rome and was driven to the Vatican in order that he might attend the beatification ceremony.

Mugabe, a professing Roman Catholic, is subject to an EU-wide travel ban for more-than-a few human rights abuses. So someone must have pulled a few strings.

According to CNN, Fr. Federico Lombardi of the Holy See’s superlative press office ‘did not personally invite Mugabe to the Sunday event’. The reason he is present is because ‘a diplomatic relationship exists between Zimbabwe and the Vatican’.

Right. So you have a pleasant chat with the guy over a pizza and limoncello, and talk about saintliness and the weather. The Vatican ought to consider why such a relationship continues at all. The civilised world has imposed sanctions, instigated bans or ceased diplomatic relations altogether: it is the very least that morally-minded nations can do in response to murder, terrorism, oppression, starvation, genocide and a myriad of human rights abuses. The UK supports the EU’s travel ban and the Church of England has demanded an end to the regime.

But the Vatican is a sovereign state and not a member of the EU (despite continually desiring to foist it upon the rest of us). As a sovereign and independent state with its own sovereign diplomatic corps, its borders are secure and its sovereignty inviolable.

But Fr. Lomabardi explains: “The Vatican cannot tell Mugabe not to come if he wants to take part, just like it wouldn't tell no to Obama or Sarkozy, if they had wanted to come."

Curious, that. Because the Vatican is a sovereign state, and intrinsic to the notion of state sovereignty is control over one’s national borders (in the case of the Holy See, within Lateran Treaty confines). Someone clearly manoeuvred behind the scenes to circumvent the EU-wide travel ban which permitted Mugabe to fly into Rome. Who was that? It must have been some very senior Vatican official, colluding with the Italian government; conflating religion with politics; confusing the mind of God with diplomatic expediency; mistaking incarnate evil for one of the Catholic faithful.

It is not for us to judge the state of Mugabe’s soul or question his account before God. But it occurs to His Grace that the Zimbabwean President is about as Catholic as a certain German chancellor was.

Contrast Rome’s ‘normal diplomatic relations’ with the Church of England’s principled repudiation of the tyrant. The Most Revd and Rt Hon Dr John Sentamu, Archbishop of York, has heeded the cries of the Zimbabwean people for justice: “We can no longer be inactive to their call,” he said. “Mugabe and his henchmen must now take their rightful place in the Hague and answer for their actions. The time to remove them from power has come.” And he has pledged not to wear his dog collar again until Mugabe is removed from power. In cutting up his symbol of ordination, he said: "You know that identities are destroyed. As an Anglican, this is what I wear to identify myself that I am a clergyman. Do you know what Mugabe has done? He has taken people's identity and literally cut it to pieces."

And the Archbishop speaks for the entire Church of England on this matter.

What a great pity – not to say a very great tragedy – that Fr. Lombardi speaks for the Church of Rome.