Where have you Christians been?
WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD It happened in China a few years before the Communists expelled the missionaries. A foreign Catholic missionary came upon an old woman by the wayside, deserted, cold, and hungry. “Why do you bother about me?” the old lady whispered feebly when the priest tried to help her as best as he could. “Nobody else cares. Why should you?” * * * “God said to go out over the world and help everyone who is in need,” the priest said. Pondering over the words of the priest, she said, “What a beautiful religion. Where did it come from? ” * * * Whereupon the priest started to tell her about God who loves us and sent his own Son Jesus Christ to save us. “Your Christ,” the old woman went on, “Where is He?” When the priest said He died two thousand years ago, she was amazed. “Do you mean to say that it has been two thousand years since Christ commanded his followers to spread his teachings? Why, where have you Christians been all this time?” * * * This might well be the pointed question addressed to us as we celebrate World Mission Sunday today. Before ascending to heaven, Jesus commanded his apostles: “Go out into the whole world and proclaim the Good News to every nation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mk 16,15). * * * Pope Francis gave the Church his first apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel). In it he proposed a profound missionary renewal of the entire Church. He asserted that we need an “evangelizing Church that comes out of herself…All renewal in the Church must have mission as its goal; otherwise, it falls prey to a kind of ‘ecclesial introversion.’” * * * How can we be an “evangelizing Church”? Obviously, not all can go out of their country to reach out to peoples who have not known Christ. If some heroic Christians can do it as missionaries, great. But for most of us, all that we can do is be missionaries at home. * * * Remember St. Therese of the Child Jesus? She is the universal patroness of Catholic missions yet, ironically, she never stepped out of the four walls of her Carmelite cloister! She merited the title because of her burning obsession to save souls by offering every little act, every bodily pain for the conversion of immortal souls. * * * When I was ordained priest in our missionary congregation, Society of the Divine Word (SVD), I applied to work in Mexico, Central America. Unfortunately I never got my wish. The farthest I’ve gone to is Mexico… Pampanga! * * * That doesn’t mean, however, that I am not a genuine missionary. By my work in the media or supporting seminarians under the “Adopt A Seminarian” scholarship program, I am a missionary. What counts is not geography, but the missionary spirit or attitude. In this connection, let’s not be missionaries only on Mission Sunday. As a good Christian, the mission spirit should be an all-time continuing attitude and action. * * * Further, you can be missionaries by means of extending financial assistance. Be generous and share your resources for the support of missionaries. Money is a necessity in the work of evangelization. Churches, schools, convents, clinics, social centers are needed, especially in the “bush” mission. * * * Every Christian is a missionary. Are you doing your share? * * * LAUGH WITH GOD. A parish priest was making an impassioned appeal to the parish council for the annual mission collection. Great was everybody’s surprise when the wealthiest but tight-fisted member of the council rose and offered to start the collection rolling with a contribution of P500. * * * As he stood up to hand in the amount, a mild earthquake took place and some plaster from the ceiling fell and hit him on the head. A bit shaken, he withdrew the amount and said, “I guess I’d better make that P5,000.” A small voice from the back was heard, “Hit him again, Lord.” (It’s not known if he gave some more!). * * * HELPING MISSIONARY SEMINARIANS. We Filipinos are blessed because there are still a good number of young men who wish to become priests and missionaries. But they have difficulty in pursuing their priestly vocation due to financial constraints, especially this time of the COVID-19 crisis. * * * Chip in or sponsor a year’s scholarship of a seminarian. REMEMBER: Without seminarians, we cannot have priests and missionaries. For inquiry, e-mail me at belsvd@gmail.com. * * * FAMILY TV MASS – is aired on 5PLUS Channel 59, Cignal Cable Ch. 6, Free TV Ch. 41 at 6-7 a.m. Sunday and anytime at “MCFI SVD Media” Account on YouTube and Facebook Page. Priest presider: FR. LOUIE PUNZALAN, SVD......»»
Interfaith groups glad that Ramadhan, Lenten Season are both occurring in March
This year’s Ramadhan among Muslims and the Lenten Season of Christians are both in March. For interfaith peace advocates, this is a reminder that religions should not set barriers but foster tolerance and understanding among believers......»»
‘Promote compassion, unity during Ramadan’
Muslims and Christians should promote compassion, generosity and unity during the observance of the holy month of Ramadan, Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. said......»»
What is the Epiphany? Why is it also called Three Kings Day? And when do Christians celebrate it?
What is the Epiphany? Why is it also called Three Kings Day? And when do Christians celebrate it?.....»»
Banals owe it all to God
There’s a reason why the Banals were destined to be devout Christians.....»»
Creating Safe Spaces for Tri-peoples Dialogue in Mindanao, Philippines
by Ma. Teresa "Marites" Guingona-Africa, Ph.D. Dec. 3, 2023, Sunday. ISIS forces detonated an explosive device on a large group of Christians attending Sunday Mass service at the gym of the Mindanao State University in Marawi. The explosion ripped through the assembly killing at least four people and injuring dozens of others. This act of violence hijacked the images of peace that w.....»»
Creating Safe Spaces for Tri-peoples Dialogue in Mindanao, Philippines
by Ma. Teresa "Marites" Guingona-Africa, Ph.D. Dec. 3, 2023, Sunday. ISIS forces detonated an explosive device on a large group of Christians attending Sunday Mass service at the gym of the Mindanao State University in Marawi. The explosion ripped through the assembly killing at least four people and injuring dozens of others. This act of violence hijacked the images of peace that w.....»»
‘Christians are family’: Marawi Muslims reach out to devastated families after blast
'These people are family. The families of these young students entrusted them to us. We cannot abandon them,' a peace advocate says in a phone interview with Rappler.....»»
CBCP to submit list of persecuted Catholics to Vatican
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has asked dioceses and other commissions to gather data on persecuted Catholics and Christians, which will be submitted to Rome for the 2025 Jubilee......»»
New non-profit Basilan peace promotion radio now on air
There is a new non-profit radio station in Basilan propagating religious solidarity among Muslims and Christians to sustain the fragile peace now in all four corners of the province......»»
Rally outside UN calls for Hamas to release hostages
Hundreds of demonstrators rallied outside the United Nations on Sunday demanding the release of hostages seized by Hamas during the Islamist group's bloody attack on Israel. The protest on the square outside the UN's Palais des Nations headquarters in Geneva was organized by the Voice for Freedom coalition, bringing together several Christian Zionist organizing committees. The gathering therefore had a religious tone, with chants and slogans intermingled with prayers and psalms. The demonstration was the culmination of a visit to Geneva by the families of several of those missing since the Hamas attack. They met with Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, and UN human rights chief Volker Turk. Many demonstrators waved Israeli flags or wore them around their shoulders, or held posters featuring pictures of missing Israelis, including children. Some wore T-shirts that said "Set them free", and held placards reading: "Never again is NOW", "Innocent life is non-negotiable" and "Children aren't bargaining chips". Leon Meijer, president of Christians for Israel International, urged the UN Human Rights Council to "work for the release of the hostages", saying: "Save the lives of those who can still be saved". Multiple demonstrations Hamas militants stormed into Israel from the Gaza Strip on October 7 and killed at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians who were shot, mutilated or burnt to death on the first day of the raid, according to Israeli officials. It was the worst attack on civilians in Israel's history. Israel says more than 200 hostages were abducted by the militants. More than 4,600 Palestinians, mainly civilians, have been killed across the Gaza Strip in relentless Israeli bombardments in retaliation for the attacks by the Palestinian Islamist militant group, according to the latest toll from the Hamas health ministry in Gaza. Several demonstrations have been held in Switzerland, some pro-Palestinian and others in solidarity with Israel. Three days after the Hamas attack, Zurich's Jewish community organized a demonstration in support of Israel, bringing together several hundred people. A demonstration in Lausanne brought together 4,500 to 5,000 people to demand an immediate end to Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip, while around 6,000 pro-Palestinian protesters rallied in Geneva last Saturday. Zurich has since decided to ban any gatherings relating to the Middle East, while Basel decided to ban all gatherings this weekend. The UN human rights office said Friday that blanket bans on peaceful assemblies were disproportionate. States "must not unduly restrict participation and debate, or critical commentary about the conflict, of expressions of solidarity with Israelis or Palestinians", spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told a media briefing in Geneva. "Any restrictions on the right to peaceful assembly must be based on law, and necessary for and proportionate to the risks, such as national security, public safety or public order," she said. The post Rally outside UN calls for Hamas to release hostages appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Jerusalem’s holy sites deserted on second Friday of war
Fatima lives a few kilometers from Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque but had to cross four checkpoints to get there for Friday prayers with the esplanade largely deserted since war erupted between Israel and Hamas. Normally packed for Friday prayers, there were only a few thousand worshippers present at the compound in the Old City of Jerusalem, which is the third holiest site in Islam but is also the most sacred place for Jews. The compound has been largely deserted since October 7 when Hamas militants from Gaza stormed across the border beginning an attack that has killed at least 1,400 people in Israel, mostly civilians who were shot, mutilated or burnt to death on the first day, Israeli officials say. Israel has struck back at Gaza with a relentless bombing campaign which has killed more than 4,100 Palestinians, mainly civilians, according to the enclave's Hamas-run health ministry. "Since it started, I haven't been back to the Old City nor to Al-Aqsa," says Fatima, a 37-year-old Palestinian who, like many others, did not want to give her family name for fear of reprisals as war rages between Israel and Hamas. Large numbers of Israeli security forces could be seen checking ID papers and turning away men under 50 from the Old City esplanade which is located in east Jerusalem, a majority Palestinian area seized by Israel during the 1967 Six Day War and later annexed in a move never recognized by the international community. Unable to reach the compound, hundreds could be seen praying on the pavements, while elsewhere, Israeli police fired skunk water and tear gas to disperse others who were trying to enter the Old City, AFP correspondents said. Elsewhere in the Old City, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was deserted, with a lone Greek Orthodox priest praying alone at the normally crowded site where Christians believe Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected. And at the Western Wall, the holiest place where Jews can pray, the vast esplanade which is normally packed in the hours before the Jewish sabbath begins at sundown, is also empty. It was early on a sabbath morning two weeks ago that Palestinian militants began their bloody attack, the most deadly ever to hit the Jewish state since it was founded in 1948. In the Muslim Quarter, most shops were shuttered, with Hassan Omar, 72, one of the only shopkeepers to open up, laying out prayer rugs and embroidered children's dresses alongside colorful scarves. "Since the war started, things have been very difficult. I come every day and pray, I go to Al-Aqsa then see if there any customers and if there aren't, I leave," he told AFP, expressing sorrow for the deaths of all civilians on both sides. "It's like during Covid, there's no-one." For Old City traders who depend on tourism, the war has spelt financial ruin, says fellow shopkeeper Mohammed Natsheh. "The whole economy has collapsed." The post Jerusalem’s holy sites deserted on second Friday of war appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Just Show Up: A Guide for Exhausted Christians
Escape Escapism Escapism is the tendency to engage in activities that prevent you from being present in your own life. Why do we escape? Well, at the risk of stating the obvious, life is hard. And there’s an even more powerful force driving our escapism. It’s simply this: We’re thirsty. We yearn for connection. We […].....»»
Venezuela offers a peek at prison run by gang
Venezuela's Tocoron prison was like a town all unto itself, boasting restaurants, a pool, a zoo, a playground for inmates' kids, and so much more as a powerful gang ruled the roost, using the facility as a criminal operations center. "Steak House. Enjoy," reads a sign on the wall of one of the restaurants in the prison, which thousands of soldiers and police stormed this week. Tocoron is now empty of the 1,600 prisoners who lived here and have been moved elsewhere. Gone is the gang that controlled it, called Tren de Aragua, which has tentacles in various countries of Latin America. "Life was nicer and safer in prison than out on the street," said the wife of a prisoner transferred elsewhere, declining to give her name. Venezuelan authorities took some 30-odd journalists on a controlled and limited tour of the prison on Saturday. The reporters did not get to see the concrete tunnels that the prisoners dug -- pictures of them are circulating on social media -- or what is left of the zoo with its pink flamingos. On one door is written "GNB: the train has stopped." That is the acronym of the Venezuelan national guard, and train refers to the gang. That was a message aimed at the visiting journalists but which the government is also presumably trying to spread nationwide amid the embarrassment of having a gang running a prison and living in relative luxury. Interior Minister Admiral Remigio Ceballos has said four prison officials had been arrested and charged with complicity with the criminals. The Tren de Aragua, which reportedly numbers some 5,000 criminals, emerged in 2014, specializing in classic mafia activities: kidnapping, robberies, drugs, prostitution, and extortion. It has extended its influence to other activities, some legal, but also to illegal gold mining. The head of the gang, Hector Guerrero, and other leaders were tipped off before the big raid on Wednesday and managed to flee the prison and the country a week beforehand, according to the Venezuelan Prison Observatory (OVV), a group that follows developments in the country's notoriously dangerous detention centers. As reporters toured the prison, bulldozers tore down a small settlement of houses made of brick, wood, and metal. The authorities gave no explanation as the machines rolled noisily over walls, bed linens, curtains, and other housewares. 'Look in the morgue' Rubeles Mejias, aged 25 and the fiancee of an inmate serving a 13-year term for manslaughter, said she lived in the jail for seven months and left only when her four-year-old daughter had to start school. Her man, whom she planned to marry in a few weeks, was one of the so-called "baptized" people in the prison -- devout Christians who wore white and were treated as a separate caste within the prison hierarchy. Gang members would leave them alone. "It was peaceful. There was a swimming pool, a zoo," Mejias, a hairdresser, said Wednesday after the raid as she stood outside the prison. She said her partner worked in a prison shop and sent her money so she could survive Venezuela's hyperinflation and shortages of food, medicine, and other essentials. "It was he who helped me," she said. The few streets that reporters touring the prison were allowed to see were littered with beer bottles, clothing, TVs, appliances, and stuffed animals. Near the pool and a basketball court were abandoned food stands. On the day of the raid, AFP reporters saw police taking away valuables such as air conditioning units, TVs, and motorcycles as women waiting at the gates of the prison for news of their loved ones screamed "Thieves!" On Saturday, three prisoners in yellow jail uniforms walked around the grounds, which include a building labeled as being for "the training of new men." Outside the prison, many people were still waiting, hoping to find out where their loved ones were sent. Claribel Rojas cried as she looked for her brother. Nesbelis Mavares was trying to find her partner, who was in for homicide. "The last message I got from him was a voicemail Wednesday in which he said, 'I love you. God bless you,'" Mavares said. She added: "They are prisoners, not animals. A guard told us to go look in the morgue." The post Venezuela offers a peek at prison run by gang appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BARMM ‘land of peace,’ says minister
ZAMBOANGA CITY — Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim announced during the 9th World Peace Summit of global leaders held recently in South Korea that the “Bangsamoro region is now a land of peace.” Ebrahim issued the statement before 1,800 world leaders who attended the Peace Summit held at Grand Hyatt, Incheon in South Korea last 18 September 2023. “Today, I stand before all of you with utmost humility and say that the Bangsamoro is now a land of peace, prosperity, and justice where Muslims, Christians, Indigenous Peoples’ and our Lumad brothers and sisters co-exist and live in harmony,” he said. Ebrahim joined over 1,800 world leaders of the Heavenly Culture, World Peace and Restoration of Light and peace advocates from around the globe in celebrating the 9th anniversary of the World Peace Summit. The BARMM chief minister said the event served as a testament to over nine years of unwavering commitment to peacebuilding and conflict resolution in the Philippines and abroad. In the same forum, Ebrahim also called upon everyone to unite and continue working toward the shared vision of peace and justice. “I also shared that during that time we had ended more than 40 years of unrest in the Southern Philippines when we signed the comprehensive agreement on the Bangsamoro with the Government of the Philippines,” Ebrahim said. The post BARMM ‘land of peace,’ says minister appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Mediatrix controversy
Author’s note: In the last column, I wrote that the 1951 Pius XII decree that said the Mediatrix apparitions had “no supernatural character or origin” is not binding because it was never promulgated officially. Pope Francis recently appointed a new Prefect of the Dicastery, Cardinal-to-be Archbishop Victor Manuel Fernandez, SJ. Like his predecessor, Fernandez is a Jesuit and an Argentinian. He is the “theological alter ego” of Pope Francis. How will controversial Archbishop Fernandez handle the 70-year-old Mediatrix issue? Will the current Dicastery, which is vehemently anti-Mediatrix, under the helm of Archbishop Fernandez tone down its stance? As a background, there was a decree of the Dicastery but not of Pope Pius XII. The Dicastery of 1951, whose members have died, claimed Pope Pius XII directly approved its decision (not to recognize the Mediatrix apparitions), but it was never formally entered into the Acta Apostolicae Sedis, the official Vatican publication, a requirement of Canon Law for it to take effect. What are the implications if the 1951 Pius XII decree is in truth non-existent? Under the domino principle, this implies that technically all subsequent declarations and orders of the Dicastery for 70 long years are also not binding, including the latest, wherein Lipa Archbishop Gilbert Garcera was ordered by the Dicastery to ban all celebrations of the 75th anniversary of the Mediatrix apparitions. However, the Dicastery never authenticated the Mediatrix apparitions, so the apparition celebrations are rightfully banned. But there is a contradiction that must be resolved — since the original 1951 Pius XII decree is in question. The members of the Dicastery in 1951 were caught in a lie because then apostolic administrator Bishop Rufino Santos stated in his decree of 12 April 1951 that he was still awaiting the Vatican decision regarding Lipa — when the Dicastery reported in its Protocol 226/1949 that a decision had been made, contradicting Bishop Santos. Archbishop Fernandez has to resolve this issue because the evangelization of Asia, which is the focus of Pope Francis, is at stake. Pope Francis looks to the Philippines, the only Christian nation in Asia, as the launch pad for the evangelization of Asia and the “conversion” of China. Conversion means stopping the persecution and massacre of Christians in China, permitting churches there to open, reuniting the Underground Church (who are the target of assassinations) and the Vatican-led Church, and finally, changing China’s belligerence to benevolence in the South China Sea to prevent a full-blown US-China confrontation. The Virgin can bring peace to Asia better than any military solutions. A well-publicized message of Our Lady Mediatrix of All Grace was a warning about China: “Pray hard for China’s dream is to invade the whole world. The Philippines is one of its favorites.” (17 October 1949). There is a Mediatrix shrine in a chapel in a small village near Nanjing that was built by Metropolitan Bank when it was commissioned by the Chinese government to develop two villages. This “foothold” in China is evidence the Virgin Mediatrix is fulfilling her mission of evangelization and conversion. Archbishop Fernandez and Pope Francis must be informed of the history of the Mediatrix to sharpen their perspectives on its geopolitical ramifications. The continued suppression of Mediatrix devotion and of the entire Philippine Church may hamper the Church’s efforts to evangelize Asia. In truth, Satan is scared of the Mediatrix, that is why, in his panic, he tortured Mediatrix visionary Sr. Teresing Castillo, as she wrote in her second diary that the Vatican failed to destroy but which is now available on the Internet. Is Satan behind the suppression of the Mediatrix by using Cardinals in the Vatican without them knowing it? For centuries, Satan has been penetrating the sacred halls of the Vatican and using the Cardinals without their being aware of it. That Satan works in the Vatican is nothing new. Historically, the Spanish Inquisition in the Middle Ages beheaded on mere suspicion about a thousand “heretics.” The ongoing “apostasy” (civil war) within the Vatican, which Fatima prophesied, is another sign of Satan’s works. It is thus in the interest of the Vatican to consider the Marian evangelization that it is suppressing — to have a change of heart. In the end, the Virgin will triumph over the Vatican, if need be, as revealed in the Bible. The Lord said, “I will put enmity between you (Satan) and the Woman (Mary), and between your offspring (demons) and hers (Jesus). Her offspring will crush your head and you will bruise His heel.” Genesis 3:15. “A huge red dragon stood before the Woman about to give birth, to devour her Child. She gave birth to a Son destined to rule all nations. In utter rage, the serpent waged war against the rest of her offspring, those bearing witness to the Son born of Her womb.” Revelation 11:1-17 (excerpts). *** eastwindreplyctr@gmail.com The post Mediatrix controversy appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Sinner, savior or both?: Trump woos evangelicals, women
Former US president Donald Trump courted evangelical Christians and women at two back-to-back Washington events on Friday -- voting blocks whose loyalties to him once seemed contradictory but have now become a well-established part of his base. The legal, moral, and sexual escapades of the scandal-plagued frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination have earned him indictments, impeachments, and public scorn in many quarters. But support among his devotees remains strong. "As a woman, I understand that he can be offensive," Joan Horswell, a 76-year-old retired nurse from Texas, told AFP. But "personally, I like him," she said at the "Pray Vote Stand" summit, put on by the conservative Christian group Family Research Council. Something of a rock star among white evangelical Protestants, 84 percent of whom voted for him in 2020, Trump also holds his own among women, having won 44 percent of their vote in the last election, according to the Pew Research Center. "This election will decide whether America will be ruled by Marxist, fascist, communist tyrants who want to smash the Judeo-Christian heritage," Trump, 77, said at the summit, "or whether America will be saved by God-fearing freedom-loving patriots like all of the people in this room." "Is he a flawed individual? Sure. But most Christians will say, we are all sinners. Jesus is not on the ballot," said William Wan, a 60-year-old Catholic engineer from Winter Garden, Florida who attended the summit. Still, Trump may strike many as offensive. He was found liable in a civil trial in May for sexually abusing writer E. Jean Carroll in 1996. He's also set to go on trial for allegedly paying election-eve hush money to a porn star. And he was heard boasting of groping women's genitals when the infamous "Access Hollywood" tape was published, just one month before the 2016 presidential election. But lots of conservative evangelicals believe he "is the perfect man for the job precisely because he does not reflect Christian values," Kristin Du Mez, a history professor at Calvin University, told AFP. Trump's supporters "certainly like what he's done for them. But I think that many are also very comfortable with how he's done it," Du Mez said. She points to his take-no-prisoners approach in getting conservative Christians what they wanted, from ending the federal right to an abortion to recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Her book "Jesus and John Wayne" chronicles the rise of rugged masculinity ideology within white evangelical Christianity. Penny Nance, CEO of conservative Christian women's group Concerned Women for America, echoed this dogma when she introduced Trump before he spoke across town at a leadership summit for her advocacy group on Friday. "Conservative women are not looking for a pastor or a husband for president, we are looking for a bodyguard," she told the audience to cheers. "Someone willing to stick the knife in his teeth and swim the moat to our rescue from those who threaten our safety and our freedom." Melissa Deckman, CEO of the nonpartisan Public Religion Research Institute, points out that while some political observers had initially been surprised by the number of women willing to vote for Trump, not all women see eye-to-eye on issues of sex and sexism. "American women are far from monolithic when it comes to attitudes about gender dynamics," she told AFP in an interview. Much stronger man Trump's former vice president Mike Pence -- who is also running for the Republican 2024 nomination and spoke at the "Pray Vote Stand" summit -- brandishes authentic evangelical bona fides as a deeply religious long-time churchgoer who has described himself as "a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican, in that order." Yet only five percent of surveyed white, evangelical potential Republican primary voters said they would choose him as their nominee. Trump meanwhile would receive 56 percent of their vote, according to a July 2023 New York Times/Siena Poll. "He is the clearest kind of white evangelical poster boy out there," said Du Mez. "They might want (Pence) as a Sunday school teacher; that's not who they want in the Oval Office." Horswell, the retired nurse, thinks "Mike Pence is OK," but adds, "I think at this point in our government, we need a much stronger man." For conservative Christians, Trump's accomplishments as a "strong man" are many. He appointed three of the Supreme Court's nine justices, creating a bench that went on to overturn abortion rights. In 2020 he became the first sitting president to attend the annual anti-abortion March for Life rally in Washington. He has repeatedly expressed his opinion that gender is biological, siding against trans inclusion in women's sports and against gender-affirming care for minors. Any personality flaws take a back seat said Deckman: "The moral character, I think, matters less in some ways than what a candidate is willing to stand for and fight for." As Wan, the engineer from Florida, put it, "Many Christians would argue we're electing a president, we are not electing a chief theologian." The post Sinner, savior or both?: Trump woos evangelicals, women appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Malays in technicolor
Malaysia is a merry mix of Muslims, Indians, Chinese and Christians whose vibrant culture and traditions vitalize its calendar with a variety of celebrations and festivals that, in themselves, give every reason to visit the country. In every celebration, the tradition of holding an “open house” or “welcome all” provides the opportunity for the various races to visit each other to enliven the celebration. Muslim For Muslims, the two major festivals are celebrated namely Hari Raya Puasa (Aidilfitri) and Hari Raya Haji (Aidiladha). Hari Raya Puasa marks the end of Ramadan, which requires Muslims to fast for a month. Hari Raya Haji is celebrated on the 10th day of Zulhijjah (the month of Islam) when Muslims perform the Haj in Mecca and are in the final stages of their worship. In conjunction with the festival, Muslims who are capable are encouraged to perform sacrificial worship (ibadah korban) and, due to this, it is also known as Hari Raya Korban. Other than the two major festivals, Muslims also celebrate Maal Hijrah (Awal Muharam), which is a celebration of the Islamic New Year; Maulidur Rasul to commemorate the birth of Prophet Muhammad SAW, and Nuzul Quran to commemorate the day of the revelation of the al-Quran among Muslims. Chinese Chinese Malaysian communities celebrate Chinese New Year on the first day of the Chinese calendar in January or February each year. The festival starts with the whole family gathering for dinner. The celebration lasts for 15 days to the day of “Chap Goh Meh”, which is celebrated on the night of the 15th day of the festival. The festival gesture or goodwill package “angpow” is a tradition that enlivens the atmosphere of Chinese New Year, especially for the children. For the majority of Chinese who are Buddhist, the month of May every year marks the arrival of Wesak Day to commemorate three important events in Buddha’s life: the day of birth, the day of the achievement of maturity of thoughts and the day of death. During the celebration, ceremonies and parades are normally held with prayers. In addition, there are other celebrations, such as the mid-autumn lantern celebration (Tanglung), Month of the Ghost Festival and Qing Ming. Indian For Hindu devotees, Deepavali, or the Festival of Lights, during the month of “Aippasi,” according to the Tamil calendar (October to November) is a time to rejoice. It marks the victory, brightness overcoming darkness, goodness overcoming evil, and wisdom over ignorance. The festival begins with prayers, followed by visiting of relatives and friends. In the evening, the house will be decorated with lights to enliven the festive atmosphere. Hindu devotees also celebrate Thaipusam in January as a sign of respect to the God Muruga. During the festival, Batu Caves in Selangor will be the focus of Hindu devotees carrying presentations above the “kavadi” to be presented to the gods. In addition, Hindus also celebrate Ponggal, Hindu New Year, Navarathiri and Kharthigai. Other festivals On 25 December each year, Christians celebrate Christmas, which marks the birth of Jesus with prayers in churches and visits to their relatives and friends. In Sabah and Sarawak, there are also the traditional ethnic festivals. In Sabah, in the month of May every year, the Kadazans will celebrate the Harvest Festival (Tadau Kaamatan), an important event to the farmer groups. Tamu Besar or Pasar Tahunan is a carnival created to organize traditional sports events. For the Dayaks, Ibans and Bidayuh in Sarawak, 1 June every year is a day to be awaited because, on that day, they will celebrate Hari Gawai. For the Dayaks, they will have specific celebrations consisting of Gawai Batu (beginning of the paddy planting season), Gawai Burung (celebration associated with a bad sign or nightmare), Gawai Bersimpan (thanksgiving upon completion of harvesting), Gawai Antu (celebration for the souls of the dead) and Gawai Kenyalang. Apart from the different races and festivals, Malaysians also celebrate Labor Day on 1 May, National Day or Independence Day on 31 August, Birthday of His Majesty Yang Di-Pertuan Agong on the Saturday of the first week of June, Birthday of the King/Sultan at state level and Good Friday for various states. The post Malays in technicolor appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Police guard Christian community, seeks blasphemers
Police on Thursday are guarding a Christian community in central Pakistan that had been attacked by a Muslim mob provoked by the desecration of the Koran. A spokesperson for the Punjab provincial government said late Wednesday that police in Jaranwala are also seeking to arrest the people accused of defiling the Muslim holy book, though more than 100 suspects who set fire on churches and ransacked Christian homes were also arrested. “The desecration of the Holy Quran has been made and emotions of the Muslims have been injured. An order has been issued for the arrest of the accused,” a statement from the provincial government said. Images on social media showed crowds of hundreds armed with sticks and rocks storming through the streets, with smoke rising from church buildings. In one video, crowds cheer and demand punishment for the accused blasphemers as a cross is torn from the top of a church. The boundary walls of a Christian cemetery were vandalized, police said. “The crowd inflicted heavy damage on the area including to homes of Christians, and many churches,” Ahad Noor, a government official, told Agence France-Presse. Pakistani bishop Azad Marshall, in the neighboring city of Lahore, said the Christian community was “deeply pained and distressed” by the events. “We cry out for justice and action from law enforcement and those who dispense justice and the safety of all citizens to intervene immediately and assure us that our lives are valuable in our own homeland,” he posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. Pakistan’s newly appointed caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar ul-Haq Kakar said on X that he was “gutted” by what was happening. “Stern action would be taken against those who violate law and target minorities,” he said. WITH AFP The post Police guard Christian community, seeks blasphemers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Targeted Christians found shelter with Muslims during Pakistan rampage
Pastor Javed Bhatti was roused from his sleep by the mosque's loudspeaker -- not the usual Islamic call to prayer, but a thundering call to protest against alleged blasphemy by Christians. Instinctively, he gathered his family and ran to the street, where fellow Christians were already spilling from their homes into narrow alleyways. "Some were running barefoot and some fled in rickshaws. There was chaos everywhere," he told AFP on Thursday, a day after hundreds of Muslim men rampaged through the streets, burning homes and churches. "The children were shouting, 'Run, run, the clerics are coming! They will attack us'," his sister Naila Bhatti added. Blasphemy is a flashpoint issue in Pakistan, where vigilante mobs have killed people accused of insulting Islam or the Prophet Muhammad. Christians make up around two percent of the population and occupy one of the lowest rungs in Pakistani society. More than 5,000 live in the Christian quarter in Jaranwala, most of them sanitary workers on meagre wages who occupy cramped homes shared by up to 18 relatives. As panic spread across the neighborhood, Muslims also rushed to the streets to warn and shelter their neighbors. "The crowd came from outside (this area), but the local Muslims here helped us and tried to save us," Pastor Bhatti said. Tariq Rasool, in the same narrow street as Bhatti, said Muslims had quickly pinned Koranic verses on the doors of Christian homes in the hope they would be spared the violence. "Two women were running. I opened the door of my house for them and let them inside. They were very worried but I consoled them," the 58-year-old Muslim told AFP. The mob swelled in size and anger throughout the day, with hundreds at its peak rioting through the streets. By nightfall, at least four churches and a dozen houses and shops had been burned and ransacked, according to an AFP team at the scene. Imran Qadri, a bearded Muslim, opened his home to two Christian women. "They are still inside our house. My family helped them, provided them with food and they spent the night with us," Qadri said, standing alongside Bhatti. Parveen Bibi fled with her eight family members after being woken up by her young children screaming: "Muslims are coming to burn our houses!" "We took rickshaws to the home of our Muslim neighbors. The door was open and we all went inside. I was accompanied by women, my two daughters-in-law and children. The women said, 'You are safe here, don't worry'," she explained tearfully, standing in the rubble of her home. Several Christians who returned to their houses on Thursday to survey the damage told AFP that more than 300 people had fled in the initial hours of the riot, but hundreds more evacuated at night and on Thursday to stay with relatives in other towns. Police have arrested more than 100 people allegedly linked to the violence and are searching for two Christian brothers accused of desecrating the Koran. Though the mob has dispersed and hundreds of police now guard the neighborhood, many are too fearful to return home yet. For Pastor Bhatti, returning has brought more pain for his family: "My own house was destroyed. This was our entire life's earnings. Now how will we live here again?" The post Targeted Christians found shelter with Muslims during Pakistan rampage appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Mixed reaction over drag queen’s performance
Senators on Thursday gave mixed reactions about the controversial performance of a local drag queen which ignited debates on social media. Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri expressed his disgust over a performance of a local drag artist, describing it as “extremely blasphemous” and “offensive.” “I condemn in the strongest possible terms the extremely blasphemous and offensive video that has gone viral showing people in a club making a mockery of the Christian faith and disrespecting The Lord’s prayer,” Zubiri said in a statement. “In my opinion, this is the height of the misuse and abuse of our freedom of expression that borders on criminal activity,” he added. “It offends the sensibilities of our Christian brothers and sisters, deeply demeans the faith of millions of Filipinos, and dangerously scales the boundaries of protected speech and expression.” The Senate chief is referring to the video clip of Pura Luka Vega’s performance where she was seen lip-synching in a Jesus Christ-like costume to the tune of the upbeat and remixed version of the Christian song “Ama Namin,” the Filipino version of “The Lord’s Prayer.” According to Zubiri, a criminal charge may be filed against Vega under Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code, which punishes those who “offend any race or religion in the performance of obscene or indecent plays, scenes, acts or shows in theaters, fairs, or any other place.” “We urge the authorities to look into this matter,” he said. “We are still tracing the venue. We are also studying the possible violations of law that was committed here.” “Nevertheless, this act merits condemnation not only by Christians but people of all religions whose practice of their faith should not be mocked for private gain or for a few theatrical laughs,” he added. He continued: “My first reaction when I saw the video was extreme disappointment and anger.” “For billions of Christians, The Lord’s Prayer is one of our most solemn prayers during the Holy Eucharist, and to take it out of this context of worship, and use it as material for a comedy bar, is highly insensitive.” The lawmaker, who described himself as a devout Catholic, called on the public to respect one another’s beliefs. “I hope that this behavior will not be repeated in the future. Again, let us respect each other’s beliefs, religious or otherwise, because that is how we build a kinder and gentler society,” he said. ‘Exercise discernment’ Echoing the same sentiment, Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito agreed that the performance was “blasphemous.” On his Twitter account, Ejercito cried foul at the drag queen’s act. “This is blasphemy. This disrespects my faith. This went overboard,” he said. In a separate statement, the lawmaker urged artists to “always exercise discernment” in their craft, stressing that it “may inspire division or worse, aggression.” “While art is generally covered by the freedom of expression, one of the most cherished rights in the Constitution, the extent of such freedom is limited by the exercise of other rights and freedoms, such as the right to practice one’s religious faith in peace and without fear of intimidation,” he said. “In the case at hand, the said performance has stirred hostile feelings towards the Catholic faith. Instead of prompting sober discussions on art and religion, the performance has nudged ad hominem attacks against Filipino Catholics,” he added. Ejercito said that he agrees with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ statement that that objects of faith “should not be used for entertainment purposes, more so, to mock God and his faithful.” “Ama Namin (The Lord’s Prayer) is sacred to us Christians; using it for humor is extremely offensive and disrespectful. Artists should always exercise discernment, as their craft may inspire division or worse, aggression. We should learn to respect each other’s faith and religion,” he said. In a tweet, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian also gave his opinion about the incident. “This is exactly what will destroy our society,” he said. ‘Regrettable’ Meanwhile, Senator Risa Hontiveros, a known ally of the LGBTQ+ community, said she found the drag queen’s performance “regrettable.” “As a woman of faith, I admit I personally find this regrettable. I know that many members of the LGBTQIA+ community, persons of faith among them, also find this regrettable,” Hontiveros said in a separate statement. She, however, stressed that the incident should not be used to “deny the rights and protections to a community that has long been marginalized and excluded.” “I wish for self-reflection, compassion and healing for both the religious and LGBTQIA+ communities. Our platforms should build bridges,” she said. “The struggle for SOGIE Equality continues,” she added. The video, which was uploaded by Vega on Twitter on 10 July quickly circulated on social media and garnered mixed reactions from netizens. As of writing, the video has gained a total of 17.3 million views. The post Mixed reaction over drag queen’s performance appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»