Like last Wednesday, today we are talking about the protagonists in the young Church. Today, we will talk about St. Ignatius, who was "the 3rd bishop of Antioch in Syria, from the year 70 to 107." At that time, Rome, Alexandria and Antioch were the 3 great cities of the Roman Empire. The Council of Nicaea mentions the 3 "primacies": that of Rome, and Alexandria and Antioch participate, in a certain sense, in a "primacy."
Works by Jesuit Father Jon Sobrino contain "notable discrepancies with the faith of the Church," states a notification published by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. According to the congregation, the discrepancies are related to the following themes: the divinity of Jesus Christ, the incarnation, the relationship between Jesus Christ and the kingdom of God, the self-consciousness of Jesus and the salvific value of his death.
(IHT: Vatican rebukes priest for "dangerous" writings)
(IHT: Vatican rebukes priest for "dangerous" writings)
(Zenit: Full text of notification)
The Archbishop of Caracas said this week Venezuela would not benefit from the installation of a brand of Marxist-Leninist socialism. Such as system under President Chavez would not lead to prosperity, but to a "great oppression of the people." "Jesus Christ was not a politician," the Cardinal stressed, and "it cannot be said that Jesus Christ supports either the Socialist or the neo-liberal capitalist system, nor the monarchy, nor the republic."
Press review...
After protracted negotiations, Germany's governing coalition has finally agreed on a new set of laws regulating the status of immigrants in Germany. But will it actually help them? German commentators attempt to answer that question.
Last week, the German parliament (Bundestag) agreed to deploy up to 8 Tornado jet fighters to Afghanistan. A clear majority of Germans reject this operation. Despite the claims of "peaceful reconstruction," Berlin is coming to the aid of US imperialism in the violent pursuit of its geopolitical goals.
Members of the European Parliament yesterday received some more specifics on the text of the EU's 50th anniversary declaration when talking to the German foreign minister, who revealed that Berlin wants to stress the EU's "social dimension." "Europe stands for a social model based on economic competition but reconciling that competition with social and ecological responsibility."
Political wrangling between governments and companies in the EU is jeopardising the bloc's biggest ever joint technological project – the Galileo satellite navigation system – which is already facing several delays.
Russian and Italian political and business leaders signed accords strengthening their economic ties yesterday, including deals for building an airliner and for developing nuclear power projects and a railroad system.
The Jewish Temples never existed, the Western Wall really was a tying post for Muhammad's horse, the Al Aqsa Mosque was built by angels, and Abraham, Moses and Jesus were prophets for Islam. All this according to Sheikh Taysir Tamimi, chief Palestinian Justice and one of the most influential Muslim leaders in Israel.
The EU supports Syria's goal of regaining the Golan Heights from Israel, the EU foreign policy chief said after meeting President Bashar Assad yesterday. "We would like to work as much as possible to see your country Syria recuperate the territory taken in 1967."
Right-wing MKs slam EU's support of Syria's claim to regain disputed territory. "Israel will never retreat from the Golan Heights; the region is an integral part of Israel and vital for its security and protection."
Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt announced they will seek to relaunch a 2002 peace initiative at an upcoming Arab summit. "Arab states should unify their positions and especially as regards giving new impetus to the Arab peace initiative. This is an Arab peace initiative, a declaration of principles toward solving the Palestinian issue and represents a clear Arab position and is acceptable on the international arena."
Fulfilling a 60-year old Israeli dream and an American unwavering strategy, the 22-member League of Arab states are now in consensus on a potentially groundbreaking Arab Peace Initiative, which pledges their collective and full recognition of the Jewish state and full-fledged permanent peace in return for withdrawing the Israeli Occupation Forces to 1967 lines, the establishment of an independent Palestine with eastern Jerusalem as its capital, and "an agreed, just solution" to the Palestinian refugee issue in accordance with UN Resolution 194, but both Washington and Tel Aviv are not forthcoming.
A proposed new package of sanctions against Iran for enriching uranium appeared headed to the UN Security Council after ambassadors for 6 world powers resolved remaining differences. The 6-nation show of unity would be unlikely to meet strong opposition from the other 10 members on the council, which must approve the measures. A vote was expected in the days to come.
The UN Security Council has no legitimacy today, President Ahmadinejad said today. "Enemies are using the UN Security Council as a tool to prevent the Iranian nation from achieving development and progress." But he said they will fail as "no one can ever prevent Iranians from achieving progress."
Speakers addressing the 2nd day of an international conference dubbed `War, Imperialism and Resistance: West Asia' condemned the US for its wrong policies in the Middle East, particularly towards Iran. "It would be nonsensical to attack Iran as US claims it will as this will result in millions of deaths and will have a negative impact not only on the region but the entire world as well."
All ancient Iranians believe in monotheism, said President Ahmadinejad while addressing a group of prominent citizens and intellectuals. "There is no sign polytheism was practiced by any of the ancient Iranian tribes, including the Zoroastrians."
The best this Congress can offer is non-binding stuff with no meaning and a wishy binding proposal guaranteeing support for the war with billions more spending than the administration wants.
Peculiar to conservatives is a certain tribalism, often accompanied by subclinical paranoia. They seem to be looking fearfully about as the wolves circle closer. It doesn't matter whether there actually are any wolves.
A major insurance company [Allianz, of Bavaria!] is holding back from paying Larry Silverstein insurance money he says he is still owed from the destruction of the World Trade Center complex, the question is why?
See the faint jet plumes overhead? Once soaring high through the celestial sphere of finance, the dollar is starting to lose orbit – tugged by the drag of war. But this time it's different. It's different because war is being waged in a monetary climate that has no precedent: an inflationary fiat monetary system, a derivatives bubble, a pesky Patriot Act, and a bulging trade deficit with China. The confluence of the four spells trouble for the dollarized system
Wednesday's close came after a wild day and a dramatic rebound. Bill Murphy at the LeMetropoleCafe.com Web site offered this savage summary: "Miracle on Planet Wall Street ... PLUNGE PROTECTION TEAM DOES IT AGAIN!" Murphy is a leading proponent of the view that investment markets, above all gold, have long been subject to extensive official-sector manipulation through various private-sector chosen instruments, nicknamed the "Plunge Protection Team."
Mutual funds held mortgage-related debt securities issued by the subprime lenders New Century Financial, NovaStar Financial and others at the end of last year, indicating that everyday investors are among those who will probably be hurt by the turmoil that is tearing through the US residential mortgage market.
Today in Scripture
"On the 24th day of the 11th month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah, the son of Iddo..." (Zech 1:7)
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