“DEATH TO AMERICA”

“KILL THE CHRISTIAN CONVERTS”

by

Paul L. Williams, Ph.D.

Welcome to American occupied Afghanistan and the latest results of the war on terror.

Thousands of students in northern Afghanistan today burned an effigy of the pope while protesting against attempts by Christian denominations to spread the gospel and to convert Muslims to Christianity.

At the same time, the Afghan government, under President Hamid Karzai, suspended operations of US-based World Church Service and Norwegian Church Aid after a local television station accused the groups of proselytism, which is a crime in the conservative Muslim country.

Students in the city of Mazar-i-Sharif shouted “Death to America” and set ablaze an effigy of Pope Benedict XVI, in the first public reaction to the allegations. “We are demonstrating to express our disgust towards the activities of Christians trying to covert Afghanis,” Abdul Karim, an Afghan student, told the press.

‘We want the government of Afghanistan to find those people, try them and punish them. We want both the converted and those who have converted them to be brought to justice and punished,’ Mr. Karim said.

Converting from Islam to another religion is punishable by death under Afghan law.

The Afghan constitution is based on traditional sharia law, which strictly bans religious conversion.

The government is investigating the two organizations after the little-known Noorin TV channel showed footage of men reciting Christian prayers in Farsi and undergoing baptism. The television station said the men were Afghans who converted to Christianity as a result of the proselytizing efforts of the two groups.

Both groups have denied the accusations.

The footage produced irate reactions from conservative circles, including Afghan lawmakers who called upon the country’s security chiefs for an explanation last week.

Former Afghan interior minister Mohammad Hanif Atmar, who resigned on Sunday over a Taleban rocket attack directed at a peace conference, told parliament that two of the men shown in the TV footage have been taken into custody and will face the death penalty.

LIFE ON THE DOLE SPOILING ISLANDERS

LAZY HAITIANS RELAXING IN THE SUN

FREE FOOD HURTING ECONOMY

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Haiti is calling for a halt in large-scale food assistance and free healthcare following the catastrophic 7.0 magnitude earthquake, relief workers say.

“When you continue having a lot of food distributions, you lower the price of food so that people can’t trade, and it disrupts markets, basically,” UNICEF nutrition aide Erin Boyd told CBS News.

Another reason Haiti wants an end to the aid is because desperately poor residents, who were not devastated by the earthquake, have now moved into refugee camps to receive the free food, shelter, clothing, healthcare, and a multitude of additional social services, even relief workers say.

One consequence of the cut-back on aid is that relief food that already has been shipped to the island will be sent to warehouses for future disasters — a practice the U.S. Agency for International Development calls “pre-positioning.”

The nearly $15 billion in aid that has poured in and been pledged to Haiti since the January 12 earth quake that killed more than 220,000 people and left 1.3 million homeless has also vastly increased corruption and crime, CBS News said.

“There are reports of gangs intercepting aid and selling food on the black market with impunity from high-ranking officials,” the network reported.

The United Nations Thursday launched a Web site intended to track the money pledged to Haiti by the international community.

The French and English site, www.refondation.ht, will promote efficient spending while “ensuring transparency and accountability” in the use of the money, a U.N. statement said.

The U.S. military is to end its formal earthquake relief mission in Haiti June 1, but the Obama Administration has voiced its intention to continue shipments of aid beyond that date.

The U.S. Army rescinded its invitation to evangelist Franklin Graham for the upcoming National Day of Prayer at the Pentagon over controversial remarks he made about Islam.

“True Islam cannot be practiced in this country,” he told CNN’s Campbell Brown last December. “You can’t beat your wife. You cannot murder your children if you think they’ve committed adultery or something like that, which they do practice in these other countries.”

The Last Crusade reminds our readers: The Commander in Chief of the United States Military is President Barack Hussein Obama.

Ritual sacrifice of children on rise in Uganda

“We all worship the one universal G-d” (G.W. Bush)

JINJA, Uganda — Caroline Aya was playing in front of her house in January when a neighbor put a cloth over her mouth and fled with her.

A couple of days later, the 8-year-old’s body was found a short walk away — with her tongue cut out. Police believe she was offered up as a human sacrifice in a ritual killing, thought to bring wealth or health.

“If it is a sickness you try to treat it, and if they die that is one thing,” said Caroline’s father, Balluonzima Christ. “But when you slaughter a person like a goat, that is not easy.”

The practice of human sacrifice is on the rise in Uganda, as measured by ritual killings where body parts, often facial features or genitals, are cut off for use in ceremonies. The number of people killed in ritual murders last year rose to a new high of at least 15 children and 14 adults, up from just three cases in 2007, according to police. The informal count is much higher — 154 suspects were arrested last year and 50 taken to court over ritual killings.

Children in particular are common victims, according to a U.S. State Department report released this month. The U.S. spent $500,000 to train 2,000 Ugandan police last year to investigate offences related to human trafficking, including ritual killings.

The problem is bad enough that last year the police established an Anti-Human Sacrifice Taskforce. Posters on police station walls show a sinister stranger luring two young girls into a car below bold letters that call on parents to “Prevent Child Sacrifice.”

Human sacrifices have been recorded throughout history and occur still in many countries, including India, Indonesia, South Africa, Gabon and Tanzania. One traditional healer in Uganda, when asked about the phenomenon, pointed to the story told in the Bible’s book of Genesis, when God asked Abraham to sacrifice a son.

However, the rise in human sacrifices in Uganda appears to come from a desire for wealth and a belief that drugs made from human organs can bring riches, according to task force head Moses Binoga. They may be fueled by a spate of violent Nigerian films that are growing in popularity, and showcase a common story line: A family reaping riches after sacrificing a human.

“I call it a problem of psychological disorientation,” said Binoga. “People get disoriented. People stop having respect in humanity and believe more in the worth of money and so-called good fortune, and they lose that natural social respect for people.”

The sacrifices are also linked to a deep belief in traditional healers, or witch doctors, who can be found practically every half mile in Uganda.

At the end of a winding dirt road on the edge of Kampala, Uganda’s capital, barefoot children scurry past a sign advertising the abilities of Musa Nsimbe, who goes by the trade name Professor Gabogola. The sign in front of his small wood hut reads like a panacea for the world’s woes.

“A traditional healer with powers over spirits. Solves all cases, demons, thieves, tooth decay, madness fevers, appelipse, genital affairs.”

Sunlight streams in like tiny laser beams through holes in the metal roof of Nsimbe’s shrine. Smoke fills the air. Furry hides cover the floor. Animal horns are arrayed before Nsimbe, who chants, hums, murmurs, shakes and bangs his head against the wall in a furious calling of the spirits.

The 38-year-old Nsimbe — a father of 14 children with two women — says it’s possible that some witch doctors carry out ritual sacrifices, but that he does not.

Another traditional healer, 60-year-old Livingstone Kiggo, said sacrifice is part of the healer’s tool kit — sacrificing a goat, sheep or chicken is considered a call to the spirits, to people’s ancestors. But killing humans is not part of the practice, said Kiggo.

He blamed sacrificial deaths on people who “want to destroy the work of traditional healers.”

“Those are killers. They are not healers. They are killers,” said Kiggo.

In 2008, Kiggo said a man approached him offering to sell a child. He went to the police, who set up a sting operation and snared a man trying to sell his nephew for $2,000. Police and advocates point to several cases where impoverished parents or relatives have tried to sell children to witch doctors for money.

The people of Jinja have seen three suspected cases of child sacrifice in recent months, including Caroline’s. When Binoga held a town-hall-style meeting in early February, some 500 people squatted under the shade of five large trees, straining to hear his words.

Many complained of police corruption, slow investigations and a lack of convictions by the country’s lethargic courts, words that drew loud cheers from the emotional crowd. Of about 30 people charged with ritual killing last year, nobody has yet been convicted. The last conviction was in 2007.

“There is a lack of political will to protect the children. We have beautiful laws but a lack of political will,” said Haruna Mawa, the spokesman for the child protection agency ANPPCAN. “As long as we keep our laws in limbo we are creating a fertile breeding ground for human and child sacrifice to escalate. No convictions. What message are you giving to the police?”

Mawa’s agency has helped with several recent cases of child sacrifice. A 2-year-old boy had his penis cut off by a witch doctor in eastern Uganda and now urinates through a tube, Mawa said.

A 12-year-old named Shafik had a knife put to his throat when a female witch doctor realized the boy was circumcised. Witch doctors don’t kill children who are circumcised or who have pierced ears because they are considered impure, Mawa said. As a result, some parents have taken their children to get piercings or circumcisions.

The Christ family is protecting their three remaining children in other ways. The siblings no longer walk to school alone and are instead accompanied by their parents. It is a security precaution that the parents can’t take forever, said Fred Kyankya, the district criminal intelligence officer.

“You can’t keep holding onto a child very tightly. Children move freely,” Kyankya said. “So people get scared that there are such vices in the country.”

AN EASTER EGG AND ARMAGEDDON

CHRISTIAN HOLY SITE CLAIMED BY ISLAM

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Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said Saturday that the Palestinian people will celebrate the Holy Fire vigil in Jerusalem next year.

Speaking at the end of Easter celebrations in Bethlehem, Fayyad announced, “Next year, Inshallah (God willing), we shall celebrate in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in east Jerusalem, the capital of the Palestinian state.”

“Our people, joined by all humanity, will celebrate the creation of the Palestinian independent state on all 1967 borders, a state whose capital shall be Jerusalem,” the Prime Minister added.

The creation of an independent Palestinian state along the 1967 borders has been endorsed by US President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

“The United States will be vigorously engaged in the pursuit of a two-state solution every step of the way,” she said. “The inevitability of working toward a two state-solution is inescapable.”

During his address last year at The University of Cairo, Mr. Obama said that the United States would not turn its back on the “legitimate” Palestinian aspiration for a state. He told the Islamic crowd that the creation of an independent Palestinian state, with Jerusalem as its capital, represents the “only resolution” to the conflict with Israel.

In his Easter Virgil speech, Mr. Fayyad further said: “The Palestinian state is being built these days brick by brick, step by step and we continue to broaden services for our people to fortify its standing, especially in the areas which have been damaged by the fence and the settlements.”

Earlier on Saturday thousands of Christian pilgrims gathered at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for the Holy Fire ceremony.

According to Christian tradition, Jesus was crucified and buried at the site and the fire burns above his grave on the Saturday before Easter.

CATHOLICISM IN SHARP DECLINE

TOLL OF PRIESTLY PEDOPHILIA

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Pope Benedict’s favorable rating has dropped sharply in the United States over his handling of clergy sex abuse cases in Europe, a poll suggested.

The pope’s favorable rating dropped from 63 percent in a Gallup poll taken two years ago to 40 percent in a Gallup poll released Wednesday.

The pontiff’s rating deteriorated about equally among Roman Catholics and non-Roman Catholics interviewed for the poll, Gallup said.

Pope Benedict XVI’s predecessor, Pope John Paul II, also saw his U.S. favorable ratings drop in 2002 over his handling of clergy sex abuse allegations.

But Pope John Paul’s favorable rating never dropped below 63 percent and improved to a favorable rating of 78 percent before his death in April 2005, Gallup said.

The poll was based on telephone interviews with a random sample of 1,033 U.S. adults conducted March 26-28, 2010. The poll had a margin of error of 4 percentage points.

Gallup also reported that attendance at Catholic services has also experienced a precipitious decline. 75% of the Catholics in America attended Mass at least once a week in 1960. Fifty years later that number has fallen to 40%.

To compensate for the decline, many parishes are now offering “quickie Masses” which only last for 15 minutes.

These Masses, which represent the Roman Catholic adaptation of the McDonald’s syndrome, became popular in Ireland and have taken root in parishes throughout the US.

FORGET SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE

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Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi thanked religious left groups for their help in ensuring the passage of ObamaCare.

She specifically cited the United Methodist Church for its tireless efforts in lobbying Congress to “Say yes to health care reform.”

“To the American Medical Association, the Catholic Health Association, the United Medical — the United Methodist Church, and Voices of America’s Children. From A to Z — they are sending a clear message to Members of Congress: Say yes to health care reform,” Ms. Pelosi proclaimed from the House floor.

On her website, Ms. Pelosi lists major pro-Obamacare groups to which she expresses thanks for the new legislation. The list includes the National Council of Churches, the United Methodist Board of Church and Society, and Faithful Reform in Health Care, a coalition that included Mainline Protestant agencies.

“We are not finished,” explained Jim Winkler of the United Methodist lobby office. “There is more work to be done in the weeks, months and years ahead to fulfill the need for health care around the globe.”

Mark Tooley, president of the Institute on Religion and Democracy, comments: “The Religious Left version of Jesus’ love is an unceasingly expanding federal welfare state that coercively seizes assets from one segment of society for redistribution to other segments, according to coarse political calculations, and with all the efficiency and compassion for which mammoth state bureaucracies are renowned.”

Tooley continues: “Obamacare, with its frustrating maintenance of private insurance, is an insufficient but a hoped for first step towards the eradication of private medicine and, the Religious Left inwardly hopes, ultimately of the private economy and private charity. After all, there is no salvation outside Big Government.”

Republican shouts “baby killer” at turncoat Stupak

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Pro-life activists condemn Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) for caving into pressure from President Obama and voting “yea” to the health care reform bill which provides public funding for abortion.

Brian Burch, president of CatholicVote.org, said Stupak’s decision to accept the promise of a presidential executive order as a solution to the abortion-funding issue is “unconscionable.”

“The Executive Order fix is a band-aid solution that fails to solve the fundamental problems in this bill, and can be repealed at any time, for any reason, by the president or future presidents. The order is likely to be challenged by pro-abortion groups, and could be struck down by the courts,” Mr. Burch said in a news release issued Sunday night.

“The Catholic Bishops along with CatholicVote.org and every major pro-life organization oppose this ‘fix.’ We have defended Rep. Stupak for months, but today we stand in protest of his decision,” Mr. Burch added.

Stupak’s last-minute decision to vote in support of the health care bill was a key factor in the House Democrats obtaining enough votes for passage of the controversial legislation.

“Since I was first elected to Congress I have fought to provide quality, affordable health care for all Americans and I am proud to be able to vote for this historic legislation,” Stupak said Sunday in a message posted on his Web site.

The Congressman said he’s witnessed the struggles that families and employers in his northern Michigan congressional district face under the current system.

“Although this legislation is not perfect and does not do everything I believe is necessary to reform our health insurance industry, it is a tremendous step forward for northern Michigan residents and for our nation,” Stupak said. He said he looks forward to the president signing the health care bill into law.

Stupak had insisted from the beginning of the health care debate that he would never vote in favor of federal funding to subsidize insurance plans that cover abortion. Abortion should not be recognized as a benefit in federal health plans, he said.

To mollify Stupak, President Obama announced he would sign an Executive Order reaffirming that the Hyde amendment can not be circumvented and that no taxpayer dollars would be used to pay for health plans that cover abortion.

“I have said from the start I would not vote for health care reform without adequate protections in place to make sure the current law of no federal funding for abortion is maintained,” Stupak said on Sunday. “The president’s Executive Order upholds the principle that federal funds should not be used to subsidize abortion coverage.”

President Obama promised to sign the Executive Order following passage of H.R. 3590.

But pro-life activists maintain the Executive Order on abortion funding will further politicize the issue. It will put decisions on taxpayer funding for abortion as well as conscience protections in the hands of Obama, future presidents, and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Mr. Burch said.

“We are convinced Rep. Stupak will come to deeply regret today’s decision,” the Catholic spokesman added.

ISLAMOCHRISTIAN MOVEMENT GAINS MAJOR MOMENTUM

LEADING PROTESTANT DENOMINATION DEMONIZES JEWISH STATE

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American Jewish leaders are condemning a report by the Presbyterian Church USA that blames Israel for the “Palestinian resistance” and denounces companies that conduct business with Israel.

The Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) say the Presbyterian report reduces the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to a caricature, demonizes Israel, and demands the creation of a Palestinian state.

“It’s a highly-selective use of text, history and circumstances to form an anti-Israel narrative,” says JCPA vice president Ethan Felson.

The 172-page report, written by the Presbyterian Church’s Middle East Study Committee, charges the US government with “complicity in the Israeli occupation” and suggests that the government consider withholding aid to Israel until it agrees to stop building settlements. It singles out the U.S. firm Caterpillar, which manufactures construction equipment, for its “continued profit-making from non-peaceful use of its products.”

The report also endorses the Kairos Palestine document, a manifesto by Christian Palestinians that calls for an end to Israel as a Jewish state and uses words like “evil” and “sin” to describe Israeli actions.

Rabbi Steve Gutow, president of JCPA, says that Jewish leaders are dismayed at the attempt to “delegitimize and demonize” Israel.

Last week, however, the Rev. Susan Andrews of the Presbyterian Church USA told The Jewish Week that “the recommendations we will be making are in keeping with our former statements and policies.”

“Our report is not about divestment,” she said. “Its main focus is on our Christian brothers and sisters in Lebanon, Syria and on what we hear from Iran and Iraq.”

The Presbyterian Church USA raised the ire of the Jewish community in 2004, when the General Assembly approved faith-selective divestment from Israel. In 2006 and 2008, it retreated from its position.

NO POSTHUMOUS MIRACLE FROM POPE

VATICAN DELAYS BEATIFICATION

By

Paul L. Williams, Ph.D.

A French nun’s return to illness will delay the canonization of Pope John Paul II.

Pope Benedict XVI placed his predecessor on the fast track for sainthood, and there had been speculation John Paul would be beatified on October 16, the anniversary of his election to the papacy, the Guardian reports. The Vatican has now scheduled the canonization of six saints on October 17, which bars the beatification of his predecessor the day before.

To become a saint requires evidence of posthumous miracles. Sister Marie Simon-Pierre said three years ago she had been relieved of the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease after praying to John Paul, who also suffered from Parkinson’s.

Now, a Polish newspaper, Rzeczpospolita, reports Simon-Pierre symptoms have returned. The newspaper also said her doctor, on his Web site, suggested she did not suffer from Parkinson’s but from a disease with the same symptoms that is known to go into remission.

Vatican sources told the Guardian a panel had been scheduled to meet in April to examine Simon-Pierre’s reported cure.

Other factors may block John Paul II’s path to sainthood. During his reign, the Banco Ambrosiano affair took place – - an affair by which the Vatican Bank with the aid of the international Mafia bilked billions from Italian investors.

The late pope also presided over the plague of pediophilia which drove hundreds of dioceses into bankruptcy and caused massive declines in church attendance and candidates for the priesthood.

John Paul II’s body already has been exhumed for examination by Vatican physicians for rell-tale signs of incorruptibility – - a sure sign of a saint. When the body of John XXIII was exhumed for examination more than a decade ago, the venerable pontif’s nose fell off.

Beatification is a papal decree that permits Catholics to venerate a person after his or her death. It is a preliminary step toward canonization, although it does not guarantee sainthood. Such a decree bestows the title “Blessed” to a departed soul.

To receive beatification, the candidate must perform a post-mortem miracle. Regarding such miracles, Father Peter Gumpel, a member of the Vatican’s saint-making commission,says; “We do not accept any cure as a miracle unless we are scientifically, humanly certain that the cure has been instantaneous, not expected, and complete.”