President Trump blasted former Secretary of State John Kerry today (May 7, 2018) for engaging in "possibly illegal" negotiations with Iranian officials to salvage the Obama administration's nuclear deal, according to the Washington Times website.
"The United States does not need John Kerry's possibly illegal Shadow Diplomacy on the very badly negotiated Iran Deal," Trump tweeted. "He was the one that created this MESS in the first place!"
Kerry met twice with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif in recent months in a private effort to save the deal that Trump has been threatening to scrap. Trump has a May 12 deadline to decide whether or not to renew the nuclear deal.
Kerry's discussions have led to accusations by some U.S. officials that he may have violated the Logan Act, which bars private citizens from negotiating on behalf of the U.S. government without authorization.
Monday, May 7, 2018
Sunday, May 6, 2018
At Least 12 Killed in Afghan Mosque Explosion; Mosque Was Used as Voter Registration Center
A bomb blast today (May 6, 2018) inside a mosque in eastern Afghanistan that was being used as a voter registration center killed at least 12 people and wounded 33 others, according to the NY Post website.
The attack took place in the city of Khost, the capital of the province of the same name.
No one claimed responsibility for the attack, but both the Taliban and the Islamic State (IS) affiliate reject democratic elections and have targeted them in the past.
Last month, an IS suicide bomber attacked a voter registration center in Kabul, killing 60 people and wounding at least 130 others. Afghanistan plans to hold elections in October, the first since 2014.
The attack took place in the city of Khost, the capital of the province of the same name.
No one claimed responsibility for the attack, but both the Taliban and the Islamic State (IS) affiliate reject democratic elections and have targeted them in the past.
Last month, an IS suicide bomber attacked a voter registration center in Kabul, killing 60 people and wounding at least 130 others. Afghanistan plans to hold elections in October, the first since 2014.
Pope Urges Missionaries to Respect All Cultures; Tells Them Not to Give Orders in Spreading Faith
Pope Francis yesterday urged one of the Catholic Church's biggest but most contentious missionary movements to respect different cultures and not try to conquer souls as it spreads the faith around the world, the Miami Herald website reports today (May 6, 2018).
Francis headlined a big rally marking the 50th anniversary of the Neocatechumenal Way's arrival in Rome.
The community founded in Spain in the 1960s seeks to train Catholic adults in their faith and each year sends out families on mission around the globe.
Francis warned the 34 new missionary groups heading out not to dictate to others or follow pre-ordained scripts, but to accompany the faithful patiently. He also urged them to love and respect the cultures and traditions of other people.
Francis headlined a big rally marking the 50th anniversary of the Neocatechumenal Way's arrival in Rome.
The community founded in Spain in the 1960s seeks to train Catholic adults in their faith and each year sends out families on mission around the globe.
Francis warned the 34 new missionary groups heading out not to dictate to others or follow pre-ordained scripts, but to accompany the faithful patiently. He also urged them to love and respect the cultures and traditions of other people.
Saturday, May 5, 2018
Rabbi Panken, HUC Pres.,Killed in Plane Crash; "Ardent Supporter of Reform Judaism in Israel"
Rabbi Aaron Panken, the president of Hebrew Union College (HUC), was killed today (May 5, 2018) piloting a small aircraft in the Hudson Valley area of New York state, according to the JTA (Jewish Telegraphic Agency) website.
The plane crashed in a wooded area in the town of Wawayanda, near the New Jersey border. A passenger, Frank Reiss, a flight instructor, was injured.
An HUC release announcing Panken's death said he was 53 years old and a licensed commercial pilot. It also asserted that Panken was an "ardent supporter of Reform Judaism in Israel."
Panken had led the Reform movement's flagship seminary since 2014. Prior to serving as the chief executive officer of HUC's four campuses -- in Cincinnati, Jerusalem, Los Angeles, and New York -- the native New Yorker held senior positions at the school, including vice president for strategic initiatives, dean of the New York campus, and dean of students. He was ordained in 1991.
The plane crashed in a wooded area in the town of Wawayanda, near the New Jersey border. A passenger, Frank Reiss, a flight instructor, was injured.
An HUC release announcing Panken's death said he was 53 years old and a licensed commercial pilot. It also asserted that Panken was an "ardent supporter of Reform Judaism in Israel."
Panken had led the Reform movement's flagship seminary since 2014. Prior to serving as the chief executive officer of HUC's four campuses -- in Cincinnati, Jerusalem, Los Angeles, and New York -- the native New Yorker held senior positions at the school, including vice president for strategic initiatives, dean of the New York campus, and dean of students. He was ordained in 1991.
Jewish Headstones Destroyed in Athens Cemetery; Anti-Semitism Hits Greece as It Permeates Europe
Greek police said today (May 5, 2018) that unknown assailants destroyed several Jewish headstones in a cemetery in a southwestern suburb of Athens, according to the AFP (Agence France-Presse) website.
"Marble grave headstones were damaged in the Jewish part of the Nikaia cemetery," a police spokesman said.
The head of the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece (KIS), Minos Moissis, said he was "very angry" about the desecration, in a Facebook post.
The vandalism comes amid a wave of rising anti-Semitism in Europe, after a spate of recent incidents across the continent.
"Marble grave headstones were damaged in the Jewish part of the Nikaia cemetery," a police spokesman said.
The head of the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece (KIS), Minos Moissis, said he was "very angry" about the desecration, in a Facebook post.
The vandalism comes amid a wave of rising anti-Semitism in Europe, after a spate of recent incidents across the continent.
Friday, May 4, 2018
Pope: Three "P's" Are Basis of Consecrated Life; Says Prayer,Poverty,Patience Imperative Pillars
Pope Francis said today (May 4, 2018) that three "p's" -- prayer, poverty, and patience -- remain the pillars in the consecrated life, according to the Rome Reports website.
The pope said "prayer" helps people return to God, who has called them to that life. It also reminds them that they work for God and not for their own interests or institutions.
"Poverty" is like a wall that protects them from vanity and pride.
And "patience" consists in confronting the little things of community life, even the sacrifice of oneself and carrying on one's shoulders the problems and sufferings of the world.
The pope said "prayer" helps people return to God, who has called them to that life. It also reminds them that they work for God and not for their own interests or institutions.
"Poverty" is like a wall that protects them from vanity and pride.
And "patience" consists in confronting the little things of community life, even the sacrifice of oneself and carrying on one's shoulders the problems and sufferings of the world.
Trump Sets Up White House Faith-Based Office; Provides Federal Funding to Faith-Based Groups
President Donald Trump signed an executive order yesterday, creating the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, the Christian Post website reports today (May 4, 2018).
"The executive branch wants faith-based and community organizations, to the fullest opportunity permitted by law, to compete on a level playing field for grants, contracts, programs, and other Federal funding opportunities," reads the order in part.
In his remarks at the Rose Garden event, Trump said: "The faith initiative will help design new policies that recognize the vital role of faith in our families, in our communities, and in our great country."
Critics of the new executive order -- including Americans United for Separation of Church and State -- have argued that it will further advance discriminatory measures in the name of religion.
"The executive branch wants faith-based and community organizations, to the fullest opportunity permitted by law, to compete on a level playing field for grants, contracts, programs, and other Federal funding opportunities," reads the order in part.
In his remarks at the Rose Garden event, Trump said: "The faith initiative will help design new policies that recognize the vital role of faith in our families, in our communities, and in our great country."
Critics of the new executive order -- including Americans United for Separation of Church and State -- have argued that it will further advance discriminatory measures in the name of religion.
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