The United States issued Israel an ultimatum this week: Announce new settlement construction and Washington won't veto a French-sponsored UN Security Council resolution declaring West Bank settlements illegal, the Times of Israel website reports today (October 7, 2015).
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected calls by senior ministers for construction of Jewish settlements in the West Bank in response to an increase in Palestinian terrorism, at a meeting of his security cabinet on October 5.
That was because the Obama administration had warned Netanyahu against announcing new construction over the Green Line in response to the uptick in terrorism, Channel 2 reported yesterday.
In March, the Obama administration said it would re-evaluate its automatic-veto policy at the UN, as a result of Netanyahu's assertion in a pre-election interview that there would be no Palestinian state as long as he remained Israeli prime minister.
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Vatican May Be Sending Gay Priests to Be Cured; Former Priest Refused Care at Rehab Monastery
A former clergyman revealed today (October 6, 2015) that the Vatican has been sending gay priests to a monastery to "cure" them of homosexuality, according to the Christian Today (British) website.
Mario Bonfanti said he was asked to go to the Venturini monastery in Trento, northern Italy, after it was discovered he was gay.
Despite having maintained his vow of celibacy, the priest was dismissed from his parish in Sardinia three years ago when he refused.
Following Bonfanti's allegations, the head of Venturini monastery, Father Gianluigi Pasto, told Italian reporters: "I can only say that here we help the priests become healthy."
Mario Bonfanti said he was asked to go to the Venturini monastery in Trento, northern Italy, after it was discovered he was gay.
Despite having maintained his vow of celibacy, the priest was dismissed from his parish in Sardinia three years ago when he refused.
Following Bonfanti's allegations, the head of Venturini monastery, Father Gianluigi Pasto, told Italian reporters: "I can only say that here we help the priests become healthy."
Russia Defies Turkey's Airspace for Second Time; Has Ground Troops in Syria to Back Assad Forces
Russian involvement in the four and one-half year-old Syrian civil war is escalating, with NATO's secretary general confirming today (October 6, 2015) that a second incursion by Russian planes into Turkish airspace and saying Russian ground troops are in Syria as well, the CNN website reports.
"Russian combat aircraft have violated Turkish airspace," Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said. "This is unacceptable."
Stoltenberg also said that "substantial buildup of Russian forces in Syria" includes ground troops in connection with the air base they have." He believes that Russia is not targeting Islamic State (IS) troops, but rather American-trained rebels who oppose the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Russia is a strong ally of Assad, while the United States is his enemy and wants him overthrown. Russia's recent entry -- just one week ago -- into Syria's civil war to assist Assad's failing troops may well result in a more serious war involving Russia, Turkey, and the United States, as well as Syria and the Islamic State.
"Russian combat aircraft have violated Turkish airspace," Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said. "This is unacceptable."
Stoltenberg also said that "substantial buildup of Russian forces in Syria" includes ground troops in connection with the air base they have." He believes that Russia is not targeting Islamic State (IS) troops, but rather American-trained rebels who oppose the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Russia is a strong ally of Assad, while the United States is his enemy and wants him overthrown. Russia's recent entry -- just one week ago -- into Syria's civil war to assist Assad's failing troops may well result in a more serious war involving Russia, Turkey, and the United States, as well as Syria and the Islamic State.
Monday, October 5, 2015
Lesbian Bishop Seeks to Remove Church Crosses; Claims Removal Would Avoid Offending Muslims
The world's first lesbian bishop of a mainstream Christian denomination -- who is "married" to a woman priest -- has called for one of Sweden's seaport churches to remove its crosses, so as to avoid offending Muslims, the WND (World Net Daily) website reports today (October 5, 2015).
Bishop Eva Brunne of the Lutheran Church of Sweden has proposed to remove the Christian symbols of the Seamen's Church in Freeport to make it more inviting for visiting sailors from other religions.
Her plan calls for removing crosses and other Christian symbols while setting up a prayer room inside the church that marks the direction of Mecca.
"Making a room available for people of other faiths does not mean that we are not defenders of our own faith. Priests are called to proclaim Christ. We do that every day and in every meeting with people," according to Brunne. "But that does not mean that we are stingy toward people of other faiths."
Bishop Eva Brunne of the Lutheran Church of Sweden has proposed to remove the Christian symbols of the Seamen's Church in Freeport to make it more inviting for visiting sailors from other religions.
Her plan calls for removing crosses and other Christian symbols while setting up a prayer room inside the church that marks the direction of Mecca.
"Making a room available for people of other faiths does not mean that we are not defenders of our own faith. Priests are called to proclaim Christ. We do that every day and in every meeting with people," according to Brunne. "But that does not mean that we are stingy toward people of other faiths."
Cal. Grants Terminally Ill the Right to End Lives; Gov. Brown Signed End of Life Option Act Today
Granting terminally ill patients the right to end their lives with a doctor's help, California Governor Jerry Brown today (October 5, 2015) signed the End of Life Option Act, the San Jose Mercury News website reports.
The new law -- which goes into effect in 2016 -- allows physicians to prescribe life-ending drugs to Californians diagnosed as having less than six months to live.
Brown -- a former Jesuit seminarian -- said, "In the end, I was left to reflect on what I want in the face of my own death." All the major Christian branches -- including Roman Catholicism, Greek Orthodoxy, and Protestantism -- are opposed to assisted dying.
California joins five other states in which aid in dying is legal: Oregon, Washington, Vermont, Montana, and New Mexico.
The new law -- which goes into effect in 2016 -- allows physicians to prescribe life-ending drugs to Californians diagnosed as having less than six months to live.
Brown -- a former Jesuit seminarian -- said, "In the end, I was left to reflect on what I want in the face of my own death." All the major Christian branches -- including Roman Catholicism, Greek Orthodoxy, and Protestantism -- are opposed to assisted dying.
California joins five other states in which aid in dying is legal: Oregon, Washington, Vermont, Montana, and New Mexico.
Sunday, October 4, 2015
Pope Opens 3-Week Synod of Bishops on Family; Homily Inspires Love between Man and Woman
Pope Francis today (October 4, 2015) reaffirmed Catholic opposition to gay marriage, as he opened a three-week gathering of bishops from around the world, but said the Church had to show love and understanding towards all, according to the Reuters website.
Francis presided at a solemn Mass in St. Peter's Basilica to open the meeting -- known as a synod -- on the theme of the family in the modern world.
But the run-up to the synod -- attended by some 300 bishops and other delegates -- has been dominated by gay issues.
Francis dedicated one-third of his homily to the topic of love between man and woman and its role in procreation. "This is God's dream for His beloved creation: to see it fulfilled in the loving union between a man and a woman, rejoicing in their shared journey, fruitful in their mutual gift of self," he said.
Francis presided at a solemn Mass in St. Peter's Basilica to open the meeting -- known as a synod -- on the theme of the family in the modern world.
But the run-up to the synod -- attended by some 300 bishops and other delegates -- has been dominated by gay issues.
Francis dedicated one-third of his homily to the topic of love between man and woman and its role in procreation. "This is God's dream for His beloved creation: to see it fulfilled in the loving union between a man and a woman, rejoicing in their shared journey, fruitful in their mutual gift of self," he said.
Card.:Communion OK for Remarried Divorcees; Process of Conversion Can Come by Confession
Britain's most senior Roman Catholic cleric said today (October 4, 2015) that divorcees who remarry against the official teaching of the Roman Catholic Church could be readmitted to Holy Communion on a case-by-case basis, the Telegraph (British) website reports.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols said a historic gathering of bishops from around the world called by Pope Francis -- which begins meeting at the Vatican today -- to discuss family issues, is unlikely to come up with a "categorical solution" to what has become one of the thorniest questions facing the Church.
But he said that, while there would be no sweeping dispensation to readmit those in second marriages in the face of Catholic teaching on divorce, a view was emerging that individuals could be received after undergoing a potentially lengthy and painful process of "conversion."
Cardinal Nichols said this "pathway" would be different for each person but could draw on elements of the Catholic sacrament of confession with people required to discuss and face up to the damage caused by the breakup of their first marriage and, where appropriate, take practical steps to put things right.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols said a historic gathering of bishops from around the world called by Pope Francis -- which begins meeting at the Vatican today -- to discuss family issues, is unlikely to come up with a "categorical solution" to what has become one of the thorniest questions facing the Church.
But he said that, while there would be no sweeping dispensation to readmit those in second marriages in the face of Catholic teaching on divorce, a view was emerging that individuals could be received after undergoing a potentially lengthy and painful process of "conversion."
Cardinal Nichols said this "pathway" would be different for each person but could draw on elements of the Catholic sacrament of confession with people required to discuss and face up to the damage caused by the breakup of their first marriage and, where appropriate, take practical steps to put things right.
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