Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar
From Arutz Sheva - Israel National News:
"The earthshaking disaster in southeast Asia shows that 'G-d is angry' and that 'we must pray more and ask for mercy,' Rabbi Amar told the Ynet website. 'The nations of the world are obligated to observe the seven Noahide laws, such as prohibitions against murder and illicit relations... The deaths are very painful.'
No one should mourn for those who are missing until the rescue missions stop trying to find victims, the rabbi added. Israeli rescue teams are planning to remain in the region for at least another few days for this purpose."
Monday, January 3, 2005
Father Benedict Begins to Gain Movement in Right Arm
Asks for your continued prayers on his behalf:
Father Benedict's Letter:
"Most of you knew that my shoulder was frozen solid with calcium deposits, which came as a result of the breakage of bones. It seemed that the only way to improve this situation was surgery that was dangerous because of the possibility of a blood clot and stroke. I opted not to take that possibility. Just the other day my shoulder began to move, not a great deal, but very obviously.
This means that the calcium adhesions have broken loose in the socket and will probably break loose some more. I'm so grateful for your prayers added to those that you sent as I initially recovered. It will be very helpful to have some more use of my right arm.
I've been praying to Our Lady of Lourdes through the intercession of St. Bernadette very particularly for recovery and it seems like the Lord is hearing those prayers. Thank you for all your prayers and kindliness to me during this difficult year."
Father Benedict's Letter:
"Most of you knew that my shoulder was frozen solid with calcium deposits, which came as a result of the breakage of bones. It seemed that the only way to improve this situation was surgery that was dangerous because of the possibility of a blood clot and stroke. I opted not to take that possibility. Just the other day my shoulder began to move, not a great deal, but very obviously.
This means that the calcium adhesions have broken loose in the socket and will probably break loose some more. I'm so grateful for your prayers added to those that you sent as I initially recovered. It will be very helpful to have some more use of my right arm.
I've been praying to Our Lady of Lourdes through the intercession of St. Bernadette very particularly for recovery and it seems like the Lord is hearing those prayers. Thank you for all your prayers and kindliness to me during this difficult year."
Gypsies' Knowledge of the Sea Saves Them
From Yahoo! News - Elders' Sea Knowledge Spares Some Thais:
"By the time killer waves crashed over southern Thailand last Sunday the entire 181 population of their fishing village had fled to a temple in the mountains of South Surin Island, English language Thai daily The Nation reported.
'The elders told us that if the water recedes fast it will reappear in the same quantity in which it disappeared,' 65-year-old village chief Sarmao Kathalay told the paper.
So while in some places along the southern coast, Thais headed to the beach when the sea drained out of beaches 'the first sign of the impending tsunami ' to pick up fish left flapping on the sand, the gypsies headed for the hills. "
"By the time killer waves crashed over southern Thailand last Sunday the entire 181 population of their fishing village had fled to a temple in the mountains of South Surin Island, English language Thai daily The Nation reported.
'The elders told us that if the water recedes fast it will reappear in the same quantity in which it disappeared,' 65-year-old village chief Sarmao Kathalay told the paper.
So while in some places along the southern coast, Thais headed to the beach when the sea drained out of beaches 'the first sign of the impending tsunami ' to pick up fish left flapping on the sand, the gypsies headed for the hills. "
The Water Seemed to Stall Momentarily
Missionary saves his orphanage...with prayer
From With little warning, director saves 28 orphans from tsunami - 12/29/04:
"The orphans' ordeal did not end when their boat pulled away from the shore.
Not only was water cascading over the lagoon side of the peninsula, but it also was pouring in directly from the mouth of the estuary about two miles away. Sanders feared the converging currents would swamp the small craft. At that point, Sanders said, he recalled a line from the Book of Isaiah: 'When the enemy comes in like a flood, the spirit of the Lord shall raise up a standard against it.'
He raised his hand in the direction of the flood and shouted, 'I command you in the name of Jesus -- stop!' The water then seemed to 'stall, momentarily,' he said. 'I thought at the time I was imagining things.' With the water pouring into the mouth of the lagoon, he then began to worry that waves would overtake them from behind, swamping the small boat. Reasoning that it was better to hit the waves head on, he said, he ordered the driver to reverse direction and head back toward the open ocean.
But that maneuver carried its own risks. As it made for the mouth of the lagoon, the boat was broadsided and nearly capsized by the torrent pouring over the peninsula. 'The children were very frightened,' Kohila Sanders, 30, recalled. 'We were praying, 'God help us, God help us.''
As the waters began to roll back out to sea, the turbulence subsided. It was then, Sanders and his wife recalled, that they became aware of the people crying for help as they bobbed in the water nearby. They were villagers who had been swept off the peninsula. The passengers rescued one young man, who was 'howling for his missing wife and daughters,' Kohila Sanders said. But they had to leave the rest behind. There wasn't any room.
'People were crying, 'Help us, help us"
From With little warning, director saves 28 orphans from tsunami - 12/29/04:
"The orphans' ordeal did not end when their boat pulled away from the shore.
Not only was water cascading over the lagoon side of the peninsula, but it also was pouring in directly from the mouth of the estuary about two miles away. Sanders feared the converging currents would swamp the small craft. At that point, Sanders said, he recalled a line from the Book of Isaiah: 'When the enemy comes in like a flood, the spirit of the Lord shall raise up a standard against it.'
He raised his hand in the direction of the flood and shouted, 'I command you in the name of Jesus -- stop!' The water then seemed to 'stall, momentarily,' he said. 'I thought at the time I was imagining things.' With the water pouring into the mouth of the lagoon, he then began to worry that waves would overtake them from behind, swamping the small boat. Reasoning that it was better to hit the waves head on, he said, he ordered the driver to reverse direction and head back toward the open ocean.
But that maneuver carried its own risks. As it made for the mouth of the lagoon, the boat was broadsided and nearly capsized by the torrent pouring over the peninsula. 'The children were very frightened,' Kohila Sanders, 30, recalled. 'We were praying, 'God help us, God help us.''
As the waters began to roll back out to sea, the turbulence subsided. It was then, Sanders and his wife recalled, that they became aware of the people crying for help as they bobbed in the water nearby. They were villagers who had been swept off the peninsula. The passengers rescued one young man, who was 'howling for his missing wife and daughters,' Kohila Sanders said. But they had to leave the rest behind. There wasn't any room.
'People were crying, 'Help us, help us"
Vatican Reopens Case Against Maciel?
That's what the Hartford Courant is reporting: Connecticut News - State, National and World News from Today's Hartford Courant - FROM TODAY'S COURANT:
"The Vatican has reopened an investigation into charges first reported nearly eight years ago that a powerful Mexican priest close to the pope sexually abused seminarians.
The allegations focus on the actions of the Rev. Marcial Maciel Degollado, now 84 and based in Rome. He leads a religious order known as the Legionaries of Christ, which claims 600 priests in 18 countries. Its U.S. headquarters is in Orange and it has a seminary in Cheshire.
The allegations surfaced in a Courant report in February 1997. Nine former members of the Legion said Maciel first abused them years ago when they were young boys or teenagers, ages 10 to 16, in seminaries in Spain and Italy."
"The Vatican has reopened an investigation into charges first reported nearly eight years ago that a powerful Mexican priest close to the pope sexually abused seminarians.
The allegations focus on the actions of the Rev. Marcial Maciel Degollado, now 84 and based in Rome. He leads a religious order known as the Legionaries of Christ, which claims 600 priests in 18 countries. Its U.S. headquarters is in Orange and it has a seminary in Cheshire.
The allegations surfaced in a Courant report in February 1997. Nine former members of the Legion said Maciel first abused them years ago when they were young boys or teenagers, ages 10 to 16, in seminaries in Spain and Italy."
Bishop Sees God's Message in Tsunami
The message for all of us is "you know neither the day nor the hour."
From Bishop sees god's message in tsunami :- - India News - Webindia123.com:
"Was the killer tsunami a message from god? A reflection on the way man lives?
Yes, says Bishop Alex Dias of the Stella Morris Cathedral Church, the main Catholic church here.
'I believe that the tsunami is a warning. A warning from god to reflect deeply on the way we lead our lives,' said Dais, as he stood among the ragtag tarpaulin tents in the 900-strong relief camp the church is running for tsunami survivors.
More than 800 people are now confirmed dead in the Indian archipelago of the Andaman and Nicobar, which has 572 islands, islets and rocks, and more than 5,000 still missing, a week after giant tidal waves hit the islands. "
From Bishop sees god's message in tsunami :- - India News - Webindia123.com:
"Was the killer tsunami a message from god? A reflection on the way man lives?
Yes, says Bishop Alex Dias of the Stella Morris Cathedral Church, the main Catholic church here.
'I believe that the tsunami is a warning. A warning from god to reflect deeply on the way we lead our lives,' said Dais, as he stood among the ragtag tarpaulin tents in the 900-strong relief camp the church is running for tsunami survivors.
More than 800 people are now confirmed dead in the Indian archipelago of the Andaman and Nicobar, which has 572 islands, islets and rocks, and more than 5,000 still missing, a week after giant tidal waves hit the islands. "
Sunday, January 2, 2005
My View: Don't Punish the Kids for the Sins of the Parents
FromGay Couple's Sons Anger Catholic Parents - EarthLink - U.S. News:
"Some parents and parishioners have accused the Roman Catholic diocese in Orange County of violating church doctrine by allowing a gay couple to enroll their children in a church school.
The group demanded that St. John the Baptist School in Costa Mesa accept only families that pledge to abide by Catholic teachings, the Los Angeles Times reported in Sunday's editions. Church doctrine opposes gay relationships and adoption by same-sex couples.
'The teachings of the church seem to have been abandoned,' John R. Nixon told the Times. 'We send our children to a Catholic school because we expect and demand that the teachings of our church will be adhered to.'
School officials rejected the demand, and issued a new policy stating that a family's background 'does not constitute an absolute obstacle to enrollment in the school.'"
"Some parents and parishioners have accused the Roman Catholic diocese in Orange County of violating church doctrine by allowing a gay couple to enroll their children in a church school.
The group demanded that St. John the Baptist School in Costa Mesa accept only families that pledge to abide by Catholic teachings, the Los Angeles Times reported in Sunday's editions. Church doctrine opposes gay relationships and adoption by same-sex couples.
'The teachings of the church seem to have been abandoned,' John R. Nixon told the Times. 'We send our children to a Catholic school because we expect and demand that the teachings of our church will be adhered to.'
School officials rejected the demand, and issued a new policy stating that a family's background 'does not constitute an absolute obstacle to enrollment in the school.'"
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