---

---

 

 

Saint Gregory the Great

In his general audience yesterday morning, Benedict XVI resumed the catechesis he began last week on St. Gregory the Great, focusing on the doctrine of this Pope and Doctor of the Church. The Holy Father began by recalling how St. Gregory, in his numerous works, 'never displays any concern with outlining a doctrine 'of his own'. Rather, he seeks to echo the Church's traditional teaching on the path to follow to reach God. A passionate reader of the Bible', the author of the Homilies on the Gospels believed that when reading Scripture 'Christians must not draw theoretical knowledge so much as daily nourishment for their soul'. Gregory likewise insisted that approaching 'Holy Scripture only to satisfy one's own desire for knowledge means giving way to the temptation of pride. Intellectual humility is the primary rule for people seeking to penetrate supernatural truth on the basis of the Holy Books', said the Pope, remarking that 'where the Word of God is involved, to understand means nothing if understanding does not lead to action'.

In his Moral Commentary to Job this Doctor of the Church, following patristic tradition, examined the sacred text in the light of its threefold significance: literal, allegorical and moral. ... The moral ideal consists in achieving a harmonious integration of word and deed, of thought and commitment, of prayer and dedication to one's duties. ... This great Pope thus outlined a complete life project for true believers, which during the course of the Middle Ages represented a kind of 'Summa' of Christian morals'. In his most famous work, the Pastoral Rule, Gregory 'seeks to delineate the ideal bishop, master and guide of his flock. ... The bishop is above all the 'preacher' par excellence and as such he must primarily be an example to others. ... For pastoral action to be effective, bishops must understand its recipients and adapt their interventions to the situations of each'. Gregory also 'insists on the daily duty pastors have to recognise their own poverty, so that pride does not make the good achieved ineffective in the eyes of the supreme Judge. All these precious guidelines', said Pope Benedict, 'demonstrate St. Gregory's exalted concern for the care of souls, which he defined as 'ars artium' (the art of arts). ... In the theological design that Gregory develops in his works, past, present and future are relativized. What has most importance for him is the entire span of the history of salvation, which continues to unravel through the dark meanders of time. ... He believes that the leaders of the Christian community must continually undertake to reread events in the light of the Word of God'.

Finally Benedict XVI mentioned the relationships Gregory 'cultivated with the Patriarchs of Antioch, Alexandria and Constantinople', noting how he was 'constantly concerned with recognising and respecting their rights, avoiding any form of interference that could limit their legitimate autonomy'. And if Gregory 'opposed the title of 'Ecumenical' for the Patriarch of Constantinople', said the Pope, 'he did so because he was concerned for the fraternal unity of the universal Church and, above all, because he was profoundly convinced that humility was the fundamental virtue for all bishops, and even more so for a Patriarch. 'In his heart', the Holy Father added, 'Gregory continued to be a simple monk and for that reason opposed the use of grand titles. He wished to be 'servus servorum Dei' (servant of the servants of God). ... Intimately inspired by the humility of God Who in Christ became our servant, ... he was convinced that a bishop must imitate such humility'.

Although Gregory's wish had been 'to live as a monk in permanent communion with the Word of God', Benedict XVI concluded, 'for His love he became the servant of everyone in a time full of tribulation and suffering; he became the servant of the servants. This is why he was 'Great' and shows us the measure of true greatness'. [Vatican Information Service] 1453.1

 

Saint Francis Caracciolo

At the end of yesterday's general audience, the Pope addressed some remarks to participants in a pilgrimage being promoted by the Order of Minor Clerks Regular to mark the end of celebrations for the fourth centenary of the death of their founder, St. Francis Caracciolo (1563-1608). 'Dear friends', said the Pope, 'I hope that this important occasion many contribute to renewing in everyone the living desire to serve Christ, following the teachings of this great saint who was a lover of the Eucharist, a humble servant of the poor, and an ascetic constantly immersed in contemplation of the Crucified Christ'. The Holy Father then turned to greet Polish pilgrims, recalling that yesterday marked the 45th anniversary of the death of Blessed John XXIII 'whom people called 'John the Good' or 'Good Pope John'. It was he who called Vatican Council II which began the renewal of the Church, the reform of her structures and the 'aggiornamento' of her liturgy. May this reform', Benedict XVI concluded, 'produce fruits in us and in the Church of the third millennium'. [Vatican Information Service] 1453.2

 

The Sacred Heart

Even though the presence of Christ is only perceptible through faith, it's a deeper and more trustworthy presence that everyone needs, says Benedict XVI. The Pope said this on Sunday before praying the Angelus with the crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square, encouraging the faithful to renew their devotion to the Sacred Heart of Christ this month. He recalled that June is traditionally dedicated to the devotion of the heart of Christ, which he said is 'a symbol of the Christian faith that is dear to the faithful, to the mystics and to theologians because it expresses in a simple and authentic way the 'glad tidings' of love, summarizing the mystery of the Incarnation and the Redemption in itself.' The Holy Father explained that the solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, celebrated Friday, along with the solemnities of the Most Holy Trinity and Corpus Christi, 'brings to mind a movement toward the center: a movement of the Spirit that is guided by God himself.'

He continued, 'From the infinite horizon of his love, in fact, God desired to enter into the limits of history and the human condition, he took on a body and a heart; thus we can contemplate and meet the infinite in the finite, the mystery of the invisible and ineffable human heart of Jesus, the Nazarene. 'In my first encyclical on the theme of love, the point of departure was the gaze turned toward Christ's pierced side, of which John speaks in his Gospel. [...] And this center of the faith is also the font of the hope in which we have been saved, the hope that I made the object of my second encyclical. Every person needs a 'centre' in his life,' he said, 'a source of truth and goodness to draw from in the flux of the different situations of everyday life and its toil. Everyone of us, when he pauses for a moment of silence, needs to feel not only the beating of his own heart, but more deeply, the beating of a trustworthy presence, perceptible to the senses of faith and yet more real: the presence of Christ, heart of the world.' [Zenit] 1453.3

 

The Visitation

At 8 p.m. on Saturday in St. Peter's Square, a celebration was held to mark the end of the month of May. Cardinal Angelo Comatri, archpriest of the Vatican Basilica, presided at the recitation of the Rosary during which the statue of the Virgin was carried around the square in procession. Following the Marian prayer, Benedict XVI pronounced an address. The Pope began by recalling how today marks the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin and that of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and he noted how 'during the month of May many Christian communities have the beautiful custom of solemnly reciting the Rosary in families and in parishes'. 'May this habit not cease, rather may it be continued with greater commitment so that, at the school of May, the lamp of faith may shine ever more brightly in the hearts of Christians and in their homes'.

Following the Annunciation of the Archangel, 'Mary found herself with a great mystery closed in her womb; she knew that something unique had happened; she was aware that the last chapter in the history of the salvation of the world had begun'. The Virgin went to the house of Elizabeth who, 'illuminated from on high, exclaimed: 'Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leapt for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord!'

The Holy Father explained how Elizabeth's words 'awoke in Mary's soul a hymn of praise which is a real and profound 'theological' reading of history: a reading that we must learn continually from the Woman whose faith was unshadowed and unbroken. 'My soul magnifies the Lord'. Mary recognised God's greatness. This is the first and indispensable sentiment of the faith, the sentient that gives human beings security and frees them from fear, despite the storms of history'. 'Her faith enabled her to see that the thrones of the powerful of this world are all transitory, while the throne of God is the only rock that does not change and does not fall. After centuries and millennia, her Magnificat remains the truest and most profound interpretation of history, while the theories of so many wise men of this world have been disproved by the facts over the course of the centuries'.

'Let us return home with the Magnificat in our hearts', Benedict XVI concluded. 'Let us carry Mary's same feelings of praise and gratitude towards the Lord, her faith and her hope, her meek abandonment in the hands of Divine Providence. Let us imitate her example of readiness and generosity in serving our fellow man. Indeed, only by welcoming God's love and making our existence a form of disinterested and generous service to others, will we be able to raise a joyful hymn of praise to the Lord. May we receive this grace through the Blessed Virgin, who this evening invites us to find refuge in her Immaculate Heart'. [Vatican Information Service] 1453.4

 

China and Myanmar

Benedict XVI again called for solidarity with China and Myanmar as they continue to deal with the effects of natural disasters. The Pope made his appeal on Sunday on behalf of the victims of Cyclone Nargis and the Chinese earthquake praying the midday Angelus with the crowd gathered in St. Peter's Square. 'Once again I would like to invoke the Virgin's maternal intercession for the people of China and Myanmar, stricken by natural disasters, and for those who are dealing with the many situations of suffering, of sickness and material and spiritual misery that mark the journey of humanity,' the Pontiff said. The Chinese authorities have again updated the number of victims of the earthquake that struck May 12. The death toll is now above 69,000 and the number of missing persons is more than 18,000. Caritas Internationalis has appealed for $8.2 million for the first three months of the emergency response in Myanmar. [Zenit] 1453.5

 

Talks with Moscow

Cardinal Walter Kasper, the president of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity, has assured Russian Orthodox leaders that the Catholic Church does not intend plan to exclude the Moscow patriarchate from ecumenical dialogue. Returning from a visit to Moscow, where he had met with Orthodox Patriarch Alexei II, Cardinal Kasper told reporters in Rome that the Holy See looks forward to further progress in dealings with Moscow. The cardinal, who avoided any concrete predictions about the next steps in ecumenical dialogue, portrayed his visit to Russia as an effort to become better acquainted with the regular life of the Russian Orthodox faithful. The Interfax news service reported that before leaving Moscow, the cardinal had promised that the Vatican would not resume theological talks with Orthodox churches without including Russian Orthodox representatives.

The Moscow patriarchate pulled out of the most recent session of Catholic-Orthodox talks, held in October 2007 in Ravenna, Italy, to protest the seating of delegates from the Estonian Orthodox Church, which Moscow does not recognize. Cardinal Kasper told an audience in Moscow that the dispute over the Estonian delegation was an 'inter-Orthodox affair,' involving a disagreement between the patriarchates of Moscow and Constantinople. The Vatican will not interfere in that dispute, he said, but hopes for a compromise that will allow the joint Catholic-Orthodox commission to continue its work. Upon his return to Rome the cardinal told Vatican that his talks with Patriarch Alexei had been 'very positive, very constructive,' and he saw a 'new phase' opening in relations between Rome and Moscow. [CWNews] 1453.6

The Shroud of Turin

On Monday the Pope welcomed 7,000 faithful from the archdiocese of Turin, Italy. After extolling their efforts to grow deeper in the faith, the Holy Father announced that in the spring of 2010, there will be an exposition of the Shroud of Turin. Pope Benedict began his talk to the faithful by saying that he is aware of how over the past ten years, the archdiocesan community has undertaken 'wide-ranging apostolic and missionary activities, based on intense spiritual movement which focuses above all on the Sunday Eucharist, on weekly Eucharistic adoration and on the rediscovery of the importance of the Sacrament of Penance.' The Holy Father noted how the next pastoral year will be dedicated to the Word of God, while the following one 'will see you oriented towards a more attentive contemplation of the Passion of Christ.'

The Pope also had a special gift that he gave the Catholics from Turin as the contemplate Jesus' Passion. At the audience he announced that he had accepted the request of the archbishop of Turin to have another 'Solemn Exposition of the Shroud' in the spring of 2010. He spontaneously added that, 'If the Lord gives me life and health, I too hope to come.' The Exposition of the Shroud, he said, 'will provide an appropriate moment to contemplate that mysterious Face which silently speaks to the hearts of men, inviting them to recognize therein the face of God.' 'May no difficulty or obstacle hinder your love for the Gospel of Christ!' exclaimed the Pope. 'If Jesus is the center of your families, of your parishes and of all communities, you will feel His living presence, and unity and communion will grow among the various elements of the diocese.'

He encouraged the faithful to nourish their relationship with Christ through 'prayer and with the frequent practice of the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Confession.' Young people were also a concern for the Holy Father who said that their 'continuous Christian formation' must be ensured by the community. The adults of the Christian community should strive to be marked by their 'works of charity and for your joint efforts to face the great 'educational challenge' of the new generations.' Finally, Benedict XVI asked the Virgin Mary 'to protect priests and pastoral care workers, to ensure your communities have numerous holy vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life, to arouse in young people the desire to follow the exalted ideal of sanctity, and to be a comfort and support especially for the elderly, the sick, the suffering and for people alone and abandoned.' [CNA] 1453.7

 

The rosary

The rosary is a school of Mary in which Christians can learn to let the lamp of faith shine brighter in their hearts, says Benedict XVI. The Pope said this on Saturday evening at a gathering in St. Peter's Square marking the conclusion of May, the month dedicated to the Mary. The candlelight event, attended by cardinals, bishops, priests and the laity, is one of a number of events honoring Mary that the Pontiff participated in this May. On the first Saturday of the month he presided at the praying of the rosary at the Basilica of St. Mary Major. In his address at St. Peter's Square, the Holy Father reflected on the rosary, which he said is 'a biblical meditation that permits us to reflect on the events of the Lord's life in the company of the Blessed Virgin, treasuring them, as she did, in our heart.' Benedict XVI encouraged the practice praying of the rosary, 'so that, in the school of Mary, the lamp of faith may shine ever brighter in the heart of Christians and in their houses.'

The Pope then reflected on the 'Magnificat' of Mary, in which she 'acknowledges God's greatness.' 'This is the first indispensable sentiment of faith,' the Pontiff explained, 'the sentiment that gives certainty to the human creature and liberates the creature from fear, even in the midst of history's storms.' He continued: 'Going beyond the surface, Mary 'sees' with the eyes of faith God's work in history. For this reason she is blessed, because she believed: By faith, in fact, she welcomed the word of the Lord and conceived the incarnate Word. 'Her faith allowed her to see that the thrones of the powerful of this world are all provisional, while the throne of God is the only rock that does not change and does not fall. 'And Mary's 'Magnificat,' after centuries and millennia, remains the truest and the deepest interpretation of history, while the readings of the many wise persons of this world have been disproved by the facts over the course of the centuries.' 'Let us return home with the Magnificat in our heart,' urged the Holy Father.

'Let us carry in us Mary's same sentiments of praise and thanksgiving to the Lord, her faith and her hope, her docile abandonment into the hands of divine providence. 'Let us imitate her example of availability and generosity in serving our brothers and sisters. In fact, we are only able to raise a canticle of praise to the Lord by welcoming God's love and making of our existence a disinterested and generous service of neighbour.' [Zenit] 1453.8

 

The feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul

The Vatican will allow the Mass for the feast of the Conversion of St. Paul to be said on a Sunday in 2009, during the Pauline jubilee year. On Friday the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments published the decree authorizing the Mass to be said Jan. 25, 2009, which falls on the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time. Some feasts that coincide with a Sunday are moved to a weekday since the normal Sunday liturgy usually takes precedent. The decree, signed by Cardinal Francis Arinze and Archbishop Albert Malcolm Ranjith, respectively prefect and secretary of the congregation, explains that the authorization is a special permission given during the Pauline Year. Benedict XVI declared the jubilee year marking the 2,000th anniversary of Paul's birth. It will be held from June 28, 2008, to June 29, 2009.

The decree states: 'The Apostle St. Paul, who proclaimed the truth of Christ to the whole world and did so after being Christ's persecutor, spent himself in using every means to proclaim the Good News to the nations, committing himself with zeal to the unity and concord of all Christians, has always been and continues to be venerated by the faithful, especially in this particular year, the bimillennium of his birth, which the Supreme Pontiff Benedict XVI desired to institute as a special jubilee year. 'Thus, in virtue the faculties conferred on this Congregation by the Supreme Pontiff Benedict XVI, it is permitted, in an extraordinary manner, that on Jan. 25, 2009, the Third Sunday 'per annum,' a Mass according to the formulary 'Conversion of St. Paul,' as is found in the Roman Missal, may be celebrated in the individual churches.

In such a case, the second reading of the Mass is taken from the Roman Lectionary for the Third Sunday 'per annum,' and the Creed will be recited.' June 28 will be the solemn opening of the Pauline Jubilee Year. The Pope will preside with first vespers in St. Paul's Outside the Walls. Then, on the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, June 29, he will preside over a 9:30 a.m. Mass, which will include the imposition of the pallium on new metropolitan archbishops. [Zenit] 1453.9

 

 

United Nations

 

 

World Food Security

On Tuesday at the Rome headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B. read out a Message from the Holy Father during the opening session of the 'High-Level Conference on World Food Security: the Challenges of Climate Change and Bio-energy'.

In his Message, the Holy Father writes that 'hunger and malnutrition are unacceptable in a world which has, in fact, levels of production, resources and knowledge sufficient to put an end to such dramas and their consequences. The great challenge of today is to 'globalise', not just economic and commercial interests, but also the call for solidarity, while respecting and taking advantage of the contribution of all components of society'.

To the 50 heads of State and government participating in the conference, Benedict XVI reiterates the hope he expressed before the U.N. General Assembly in April: that of overcoming 'the obvious paradox of a multilateral consensus that continues to be in crisis because it is still subordinated to the decisions of a few'.

After calling on leaders 'to collaborate in an increasingly transparent way with ... organisations committed to closing the growing divide between rich and poor', the Holy Father exhorts them 'to continue with structural reforms which, at the national level, are indispensable in order to face the problems of underdevelopment, of which hunger and malnutrition are direct consequences'.

'Poverty and malnutrition are not a simple fatality, provoked by adverse environmental situations or by disastrous natural calamities', writes the Pope, noting at the same time that 'purely technical and economic considerations must not prevail over the duties of justice towards people suffering from hunger'.

The 'primary right to food is intrinsically linked to the safeguarding and defence of human life', he says. 'Each person has the right to life. Hence it is necessary to promote the effective implementation of this right, and peoples suffering from lack of food must be helped to become gradually capable of satisfying their own need for healthy and sufficient nourishment'.

Referring to the current problem of rising prices of agricultural products, the Pope calls for the drawing-up of 'new strategies to fight against poverty and to promote rural development, ... through structural reform processes which enable the challenges posed by security and by climate change to be faced'.

'The global increase in agricultural production will, nonetheless, be effective only if accompanied by the effective distribution of that production, and if it is primarily destined to satisfying essential needs'.

Modern technologies, notes Benedict XVI, 'are not enough to meet shortfalls in food', and he goes on to mention the need for 'political action which, inspired by those principles of natural law written in man's heart, protects the dignity of the individual. ... Only by protecting the person, then, is it possible to combat the main cause of hunger'.

If negotiations and decisions were to take respect for human dignity into account, 'it would be possible to overcome otherwise-insurmountable obstacles, and to eliminate - or at least diminish - disinterest towards the good of others. ... The defence of human dignity in international activity, even in emergencies, would also help to limit superfluity, with a view to the needs of others, and to administer the fruits of creation with justice, placing them at the disposal of all generations.

'In the light of such principles', the Pope adds in conclusion, 'it is my hope that the delegations present at this meeting may take on new commitments and set themselves to pursue them with great determination. The Catholic Church, for her part, wishes to unite herself to these efforts'. [Vatican Information Service] 1453.10

 

 

Europe

 

 

 

'Gross interference'

Latvian MPs Challenge 'Gross Interference'. Michael Baggot writes : 'Following efforts from a European Parliament group to silence public disapproval of homosexual behaviour, six conservative MPs from the Latvia First Party boldly challenged the 'gross interference of a homosexual group of European Parliament members into Latvia's internal affairs' in a recently released statement.

'Church representatives and other supporters of traditional family values stand against the forcing of the mistaken idea that homosexuality is normal upon society, against the legal equalisation of homosexual rights and the natural family model, and against the challenging demonstration of homosexuals and immoral and hooligan behaviours,' stated the six MPs.

The MPs' remarks came in response to the European Parliament's Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian Rights condemnation of an open letter from Archbishop of Riga Cardinal Janis Pujats and other Catholic priests opposing the legality of the May 31st pro-homosexuality Equality March.

The European group chided the Catholic clergy for 'inflicting their prejudices on others.'

'The signatories to the letter show a blatant disregard for human rights as expressed in the European Convention of Human Rights,' said Michael Cashman, President of the Intergroup.

'They also show an appalling and worrying ignorance of EU Treaties and legislation. They should not interfere in a democratic state which abides by the rule of law. It is up to governments to govern and up to the clergymen to preach unto those who believe as they do.'

The Latvia First Party criticized the Intergroup's attempt to silence opposition to homosexuality.

'We, members of the 9th Saeima of the Republic of Latvia, denounce the attacks by the homosexual group of European Parliament members who are trying to limit our freedom of speech and our religious convictions,' responded the six MPs.

Cardinal Pujats's late May letter against the Equality March is not the first time the prelate has spoken against the threat of pro-homosexuality activists.

Last May, the Latvian newspaper Ritienda published the open letter by Cardinal Pujats, 'Defending Family Values,' where the head of Latvia's Catholic Church described homosexual behaviour as 'total corruption in the sexual arena' and an 'unnatural form of prostitution.'

'One month from now, there will once again be the issue of tolerance towards homosexuality in the context of yet another attempt to organise a Pride march on June 3,' the Archbishop of Riga stated in his letter, saying that the organisers of the Pride march are 'essentially demanding that people be tolerant toward this moral corruption'.

'They are demanding not just tolerance, but also that sexual corruption be protected by law and popularised on the basis of special programmes in schools and other organised events,' the Cardinal warned.

'There would be no opportunity to object against legal events, because that would be seen as a manifestation of hatred. That's how corruption grows into dictatorship.'

Cardinal Pujats went on to encourage peaceful counter-protests against the marchers.

The Latvia First Party recently joined in the Cardinal's warnings against pro-homosexuality marches.

'A homosexual march is not an innocent and colourful rainbow. It is a bomb explosion with poisonous gases which people will breathe long after the event itself. People will not even notice how they poison and change their minds and their bodies.'

Ever since Latvia joined the European Union in 2004, it has been under constant pressure to adopt the EU's pro-homosexuality laws. Latvia's previous President Vike-Freiberga was a strong defender of homosexuality activism in the country, and in September 2006 successfully cowed the Parliament into banning discrimination on sexual orientation; a condition of membership in the EU. [LifeSiteNews] 1453.11

Lithuanian pro-life law and EU law

The KAI news agency reports that 100 members of the European Union parliament have written to the speaker of Lithuania's parliament, Ceslovas Jursenas, to clarify that pro-life legislation does not contradict EU law. The MPs, who represent 19 countries and four different political groups, wrote, 'We welcome the work of Lithuanian MPs to better protect unborn children'. The MP who initiated the letter, Polish Law and Justice Parliamentarian Konrad Szymanski, explained, 'With this letter we want to clarify the misunderstanding which pro-abortion activists recently caused in Lithuania'. Among those who signed the letter were 38 Polish parliamentarians, 15 from Italy, and 10 Germans. [CWNews] 1453.12

 

 

The radical onslaught

 

 

Bestiality 'a harmless quirk'

Long-time homosexual activist Frank Kameny's claim to fame is successfully manipulating the American Psychiatric Association into declassifying homosexuality as a mental disorder, and today the Smithsonian honoree is now busily advocating bestiality 'as long as the animal doesn't mind.'

Kameny, 83, has had a long career advocating the removal of any restrictions on human acts long considered by sane societies as obscene, dangerous, and disordered.

However the octogenarian has a new mission to complement his current campaign to pressure the APA to ban reparative therapy for homosexuals. Kameny describes his mission as 'Americanism in action' by advocating bestiality and encouraging the saturation of American culture with what he calls 'more and better and harder-core pornography.'

According to Americans for Truth about Homosexuality (AFTAH), Kameny wrote an e-mail to them saying that while he was personally opposed to bestiality, he found it an otherwise 'harmless' quirk, so long as it was consensual with the animal involved.

'Bestiality is not my thing,' Kameny wrote. 'But it seems to be a harmless foible or idiosyncrasy of some people. So, as long as the animal doesn't mind (and the animal rarely does), I don't mind, and I don't see why anyone else should.'

Americans for Truth president Peter LaBarbera said Kameny's outrageous statement begged a number of questions.

'We have many questions for Kameny, the first being: how exactly does an animal signal his or her 'consent' to have sex with a human?' queried LaBarbera.

In his May 31, 2008 e-mail to AFTAH, Kameny prefaced his comments by saying 'the term 'sexual perversion' is devoid of objective meaning' and added that the correct definition for him was 'any sexual practice disapproved of by the speaker.'

'If something which someone arbitrarily defines as a 'sexual perversion' provides happiness for consenting adult participants, then its enjoyment is enshrined in basic Americanism,' Kameny wrote. 'So: Let us have more and better enjoyment of more and better sexual perversions, by whatever definition, by more and more consenting adults. We will all be the better off thereby. And that will be Americanism in action.'

Kameny made the bold claim that the founding fathers of the United States implicitly approved of uninhibited sexual exploits or 'sexual perversion' when they wrote the Declaration of Independence, because he believes it is part of the 'Inalienable Right, of the 'Pursuit of Happiness''.

Kameny included bestiality and hardcore pornography as 'Americanism in action' and said that those who wanted to suppress it were 'the American Taliban, and Christianofascism in action.'

Kameny said he is the founder and president of the National Consumers Association for the Advancement and Protection of Pornography, Inc. He told Americans for Truth, 'Give some thought to what Americanism and our American freedoms really mean. It is clear that you haven't a clue.'

Kameny has been painted by some on the moral left as a 'civil rights leader.' His 1965 protest signs that contributed to the removal of homosexuality from the APA's list of mental disorders will be displayed at the National Museum of American History, and his papers will be archived at the Library of Congress. Americans for Truth, however, have protested against recognizing Kameny as a civil rights leader, observing that Kameny has advocated moral anarchy in all sexual matters, contributing further to the accelerating breakdown of modern American society, especially through the destruction of the family. [LifeSiteNews] 1453.13

 

A 'shocking decision'

On June 1st , the student council at York University, one of Canada's largest with 50,000 students and 7,000 staff, ramped up its war against campus pro-life groups with an 8-0 vote to enact of a new policy against the groups. The new policy reads, 'No YFS resources, space, recognition or funding will be allocated to enhance groups or individuals whose primary or sole purpose is anti-choice activities.'

This decision comes in the wake of last weekend's motion by the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS), which was proposed by the York Federation of Students (YFS) and essentially grants the support of the CFS to any student union that denies recognition to campus pro-life groups.

'According to the National Post, the universities administration has condemned the council saying it has disregarded free-speech in the past and ultimately acts in ways contrary to the school's mission. The administration also said it would attempt to accommodate the student groups who will fall victim to this policy.'

The Catholic Civil Rights League also criticized the shocking decision, saying, 'This is a straightforward attempt to stifle free speech on campus, and particularly troubling since universities are places where our basic freedoms are expected to be particularly upheld and valued.'

Gilary Massa, vice-president external of the York Federation of Students, commented on the fact that pro-life student groups will still be able to operate on campus, but without recognition or funding. She also explicitly stated which groups the decision would affect: 'It only applies to groups whose sole purpose is to spew anti-choice rhetoric on our campus.'

However, the National Campus Life Network, a Canadian university pro-life organization, believes the phrase, free-'choice', is where the deception lies, releasing the following statement regarding the YFS's 'discriminatory' decision.

'When it comes to abortion, a contentious issue to say the least, shutting out a legitimate side of the debate is discriminatory. Covering the decision in 'choice' rhetoric is intellectually dishonest. Not actively consulting the students who these student unions represent is presumptuous and unprofessional.'

Margaret Fung, co-president of York's Students for Bioethical Awareness, was never contacted about the decision, and made it clear that her pro-life group was never supported in the first place.

'It's just very strange that I was never contacted,' she said. 'I guess that means we can't use the student centre building. We never really received any funding. We don't even have an office.'

York's vice-president of students, Robert J. Tiffin, was concerned and 'disappointed' the student council had made such a significant decision when the majority of students are away from the school for the summer.

Michael Payton, a York student also commented on this point, saying, 'I think it's outrageous that they do this when students are away for the summer and when they can't really do anything about it. This isn't the right of the student government to be deciding what students are allowed to hear.'

'When the YFS says they believe in free speech, they believe in free speech for them, for the positions they hold, not for freedom of speech for positions they disagree with,' added Payton.

Editor in Chief of the University's paper called the YFS's decision 'dangerous,' and questioned whether or not the 'vast majority' would support the YFS's decision. 'When did these people take it upon themselves to decide what we think?' Zalina Alvi wrote.

This controversy follows the YSF's March decision to stop a University abortion debate. Several other similar incidents have surfaced in Canadian Universities over the past year, including Capilano College, the University of British Columbia-Okanagan, Lakehead University and Carleton University. Student groups at these schools faced similar fates as those at York University, and while some have regained recognition, others are awaiting decisions from the human rights commissions. [LifeSiteNews] 1453.14

 

 

International news

 

 

Australia  Foreign aid money and abortion

There are two countries in the world, Australia and the USA, that refuse to allow their foreign aid