Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said today (May 31, 2014) that a coalition government to be formed by his Fatah party and its rival, the militant group Hamas, will be sworn in Monday, June 2, 2014, according to the LA Times website.
The new government will adopt his political program, Abbas said, which includes recognition of Israel and renunciation of terrorism. Nonetheless, Israel has informed him it will not recognize the new government and will impose sanctions against it because of the inclusion of Hamas, which Israel considers a terrorist group.
An Israeli official said today that it was too early to say whether the government is going to impose punitive measures against the Palestinians.
But Abbas told pro-Palestinian French activists at his Ramallah office today that the decision for a Palestinian unity government had already been made. "Israel has informed us that it is going to impose sanctions against us when the national conciliation government is declared on Monday," he said. Abbas added, "For every Israeli measure, there is going to be an appropriate Palestinian response."
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Vancouver Church Site Is Used for Dumping Trash; Pastor's Sign Reads "Do Not Drop Your Crap Here"
St. Barnabas Church in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada is "warning" that there could be shocking consequences for those who dump trash at the site, the Vancouver Sun website reports today (May 31, 2014).
Roxee Forrest -- associate warden at the church in the Brow of the Hill neighborhood -- said people have been dumping assorted items at the church, and this needs to stop. "It comes in the middle of the night. We've had two or three mattresses, a huge old china cabinet with broken doors," she said. "It's really a costly thing."
"It's not just us, it's happening to everybody," Forrest said. "People do it because they don't know what to do with it or they don't have the money to pay for it."
Rev. Emilie Smith has created a tongue-in-cheek sign from God that she hopes will deter people from dumping unwanted items at the church -- as it could have electrifying consequences. "Do not drop your crap here... Management of St. Barnabas Church not responsible for lightening bolts," states the sign.
Roxee Forrest -- associate warden at the church in the Brow of the Hill neighborhood -- said people have been dumping assorted items at the church, and this needs to stop. "It comes in the middle of the night. We've had two or three mattresses, a huge old china cabinet with broken doors," she said. "It's really a costly thing."
"It's not just us, it's happening to everybody," Forrest said. "People do it because they don't know what to do with it or they don't have the money to pay for it."
Rev. Emilie Smith has created a tongue-in-cheek sign from God that she hopes will deter people from dumping unwanted items at the church -- as it could have electrifying consequences. "Do not drop your crap here... Management of St. Barnabas Church not responsible for lightening bolts," states the sign.
Friday, May 30, 2014
Egypt's Christians Optimistic After Pres. Election; Say Pres. Sisi Will Save Them from Islam Radicals
Christians in Egypt are hopeful following the election of a new Egyptian president that they will be protected from Muslim extremist attacks, the Christian Post website reports today (May 30, 2014).
Field Marshall Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has received more than 95 percent of the 25 million plus votes that were cast. It was the first presidential election since the fall of Islamist president Mohammed Morsi last year, who was removed following a public uprising that led to clashes between army forces and pro-Islamist supporters.
"Many Christians, and even Muslims, think that Sisi saved them from the Islamic groups and he is the hero and savior that we are all waiting for. In Egypt you have to choose from two choices: Military or Islamist. So, if I am Christian, for sure I'll choose the military even if I don't like them," said Mahmoud Farouk, executive director of the Egyptian Center for Public Policy Studies.
Many Egyptians remain hopeful that El-Sisi will be able to restore the country. "I support him because he has promised us that he will do his best to serve the Egyptian citizen and eliminate the illiteracy and he will combat the terrorism in Egypt and defend the Christians [and] the church. He also has promised the youth that he will create new jobs for them," Nariman Gaber, a Christian woman in Cairo, said.
Field Marshall Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has received more than 95 percent of the 25 million plus votes that were cast. It was the first presidential election since the fall of Islamist president Mohammed Morsi last year, who was removed following a public uprising that led to clashes between army forces and pro-Islamist supporters.
"Many Christians, and even Muslims, think that Sisi saved them from the Islamic groups and he is the hero and savior that we are all waiting for. In Egypt you have to choose from two choices: Military or Islamist. So, if I am Christian, for sure I'll choose the military even if I don't like them," said Mahmoud Farouk, executive director of the Egyptian Center for Public Policy Studies.
Many Egyptians remain hopeful that El-Sisi will be able to restore the country. "I support him because he has promised us that he will do his best to serve the Egyptian citizen and eliminate the illiteracy and he will combat the terrorism in Egypt and defend the Christians [and] the church. He also has promised the youth that he will create new jobs for them," Nariman Gaber, a Christian woman in Cairo, said.
Rus. Patriarch Rips UGCC for Russophobic Words; Says It Hampers Russian Church-Vatican Rapport
Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia sharply criticized the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) yesterday, accusing it of using Russophobic slogans against the Russian Orthodox Church, the Orthodox Church Info blog reports today (May 30, 2014).
"The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church is engaging in direct political activities, unfortunately, using sharp Russophobic slogans and statements and making sharp statements against the Russian Orthodox Church in its public declarations," the patriarch said at a meeting in the Russian Foreign Ministry yesterday.
Patriarch Kirill added that "a very sad shadow" has been cast on the relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Vatican.
Archbishop Svyatoslav Shevchuk -- the head of the UGCC -- has recently made very sharp statements against Russia. Greek Catholic worshipers -- often referred to as Uniates in several Eastern European nations -- recognize the pope as their church leader, but their church services are conducted in the tradition of the Greek Orthodox Church, rather than the Roman Catholic Church.
"The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church is engaging in direct political activities, unfortunately, using sharp Russophobic slogans and statements and making sharp statements against the Russian Orthodox Church in its public declarations," the patriarch said at a meeting in the Russian Foreign Ministry yesterday.
Patriarch Kirill added that "a very sad shadow" has been cast on the relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Vatican.
Archbishop Svyatoslav Shevchuk -- the head of the UGCC -- has recently made very sharp statements against Russia. Greek Catholic worshipers -- often referred to as Uniates in several Eastern European nations -- recognize the pope as their church leader, but their church services are conducted in the tradition of the Greek Orthodox Church, rather than the Roman Catholic Church.
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Israel, Palestinian Presidents to Meet at Vatican; Pope Invites 2 Leaders to Pray for Peace June 8
Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will meet at the Vatican and pray for peace together at an unprecedented gathering on June 8, the Reuters website reports today (May 29, 2014).
In one of his boldest political gestures since his election in March, 2013, Pope Francis invited the two leaders to come to the Vatican and hold a joint prayer meeting with him during the pontiff's trip to the Holy Land last week.
Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said the two had accepted and that the meeting would take place on a Sunday afternoon. On the morning of June 8, the pope will be presiding at a Pentacost Sunday service in St. Peter's Square. Pope Francis -- who made the surprise invitation at the end of a Mass in Bethlehem on May 24 -- told reporters on the plane returning to Rome that he was not getting directly involved in the stalled Mideast peace process, something he said would be "crazy on my part."
But he said he hoped the prayer meeting -- which comes after failing diplomatic efforts to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict -- would help create an atmosphere that would help the eventual resumption of talks. "Courage is needed to do this and I am praying to the Lord very much so that these two leaders, these two governments, have the courage to move forward. This is the only path for peace," Francis said.
In one of his boldest political gestures since his election in March, 2013, Pope Francis invited the two leaders to come to the Vatican and hold a joint prayer meeting with him during the pontiff's trip to the Holy Land last week.
Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said the two had accepted and that the meeting would take place on a Sunday afternoon. On the morning of June 8, the pope will be presiding at a Pentacost Sunday service in St. Peter's Square. Pope Francis -- who made the surprise invitation at the end of a Mass in Bethlehem on May 24 -- told reporters on the plane returning to Rome that he was not getting directly involved in the stalled Mideast peace process, something he said would be "crazy on my part."
But he said he hoped the prayer meeting -- which comes after failing diplomatic efforts to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict -- would help create an atmosphere that would help the eventual resumption of talks. "Courage is needed to do this and I am praying to the Lord very much so that these two leaders, these two governments, have the courage to move forward. This is the only path for peace," Francis said.
Ex-NYC Cop Says Vandalism Due to "Cheap Jews;" As a Deliveryman "They Never Gave Me Anything"
The former New York City police officer charged with spray-painting anti-Jewish obscenities and swastikas in Brooklyn earlier this month said he did it because of "cheap Jews," the JTA (Jewish Telegraphic Agency) website reports today (May 29, 2014).
Michael Setiawan -- who was arraigned on May 23 on a 39-count indictment -- made the assertion in court papers. "When I was a deliveryman, they never gave me anything," he said.
The graffiti appeared on cars, storefronts, and a school in the Hasidic enclave of Borough Park on May 3.
Setiawan, 36, retired in 2007 after two years as a cop, according to the court papers.
Michael Setiawan -- who was arraigned on May 23 on a 39-count indictment -- made the assertion in court papers. "When I was a deliveryman, they never gave me anything," he said.
The graffiti appeared on cars, storefronts, and a school in the Hasidic enclave of Borough Park on May 3.
Setiawan, 36, retired in 2007 after two years as a cop, according to the court papers.
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
SNAP Head Says Pope's Abuse Meeting a PR Ploy; Says Pope Has Info Needed to Fire Abusive Priests
The head of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP) says Pope Francis' plan to meet with sexually abused victims by clergy in June looks like "a public relations ploy," the Christian Broadcast Network website reports today (May 28, 2014).
SNAP President Barbara Blaine says the pope already has all the information he needs to remove priests who abuse minors and bishops who cover it up.
Francis' upcoming meeting with a half-dozen victims -- which he announced on May 26 -- is being organized by Cardinal Sean O'Malley, the archbishop of Boston.
O'Malley was instrumental in setting up a 2008 meeting between clergy sex-abuse victims and Francis' predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI. Blaine says that meeting did not lead to meaningful action.
SNAP President Barbara Blaine says the pope already has all the information he needs to remove priests who abuse minors and bishops who cover it up.
Francis' upcoming meeting with a half-dozen victims -- which he announced on May 26 -- is being organized by Cardinal Sean O'Malley, the archbishop of Boston.
O'Malley was instrumental in setting up a 2008 meeting between clergy sex-abuse victims and Francis' predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI. Blaine says that meeting did not lead to meaningful action.
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