EndrTimes

Slain border agent's family alleges lies over ATF gun program

2012-02-01T23:14:00.000-08:00

It says then-U.S. Atty. Dennis Burke falsely told them guns found at the scene weren't part of the failed Operation Fast and Furious.

U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry was killed in December 2010, allegedly by Mexican bandits carrying at least two AK-47 semiautomatic rifles that had been purchased in Arizona as part of the ATF's failed Fast and Furious program. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Associated Press / November 20, 2007)

By Richard A. Serrano, Washington Bureau

February 1, 2012, 8:50 p.m.

Reporting from Washington— The family of slain U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry charged Wednesday that the top federal prosecutor in Phoenix lied to them about the guns found at the crime scene in an attempt to hide the weapons' connection to the ATF's failed Fast and Furious gun-tracking operation.

Terry was killed in December 2010, allegedly by Mexican bandits carrying at least two AK-47 semiautomatic rifles that had been purchased in Arizona as part of Fast and Furious. The operation was intended to catch drug lords using illegal weapons, but the ATF immediately lost track of 1,700 firearms.

The Terry family alleged that then-U.S. Atty. Dennis K. Burke told them last March that the two weapons came from a store in Texas and were not part of Fast and Furious.

The family made their allegations in a "notice of claim" stating that they intend to sue the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Justice Department for $25 million. They called the gun-tracking operation "abominable, reckless, nonsensical."

Burke has resigned and has declined to discuss Fast and Furious. But the family's claim notice strongly suggests that the federal government initially sought to keep Fast and Furious under wraps and hoped it would not be linked to the slaying.

Fast and Furious, run by the ATF's Phoenix field office, allowed illegal gun purchases in Arizona in hopes of tracking the weapons to Mexican drug cartels. Capitol Hill became aware of the operation in January 2011 — the month after Terry's slaying — but the program did not become publicly known until early March.

"The Terry family had received lots of conflicting and confusing information about exactly how Brian came to be shot in the back and killed," the claim notice says. "None of it made any sense."

After a memorial service in Tucson in January 2011, the family met with Border Patrol, FBI and Justice Department officials in a hotel conference room. "But the officials gave them almost no information and wouldn't answer the family's questions," the notice says. Two family members walked out.

"The federal officials were obviously covering something up, and their actions only added to the family's grief," the notice says.

In March, Burke met with the family in Michigan, where they live. "But this meeting went even worse," the notice says. "Burke hemmed and hawed, bobbed and weaved, refused to give straight answers, and flat-out lied about what he knew about Brian's death and Operation Fast and Furious."

The notice quotes Burke as saying the fatal bullet would never be found, even though it had already been located during an autopsy. And he told them the AK-47s were "bought from a gun store in Texas and were not linked to Operation Fast and Furious."

In fact, the notice says, "Burke actually knew within hours of Brian's murder that they were purchased from a Phoenix gun shop under ATF surveillance the previous January" — a fact borne out by Burke's emails.

richard.serrano@latimes.com

Source

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A Flood Of Evil In The Last Days!

2012-02-01T12:14:00.000-08:00

Volume XXXI Issue II February 2012
Last Trumpet Ministries, PO Box 806, Beaver Dam, WI 53916
Fax: 920-887-2626 Internet: http://www.lasttrumpetministries.org

A Flood Of Evil In The Last Days!

"Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ."
Revelation 12:12-17

"Say unto them, As I live, saith the LORD God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth. When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousness shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it."
Ezekiel 33:11-13

In this issue of the Last Trumpet Newsletter, we will focus on the flood of evil which has sprung forth from Satan in these last days. We now live in a time when our adversary, the devil, has unleashed a deluge of sin upon this world. While wicked men and women gobble up and absorb everything Satan has to offer them, we see the impact this sin has on their lives; and in doing so, we come to the realization that we do not want to participate in any of it. Although there are many seducing spirits now vying for your soul, we understand the importance of resisting the devil and his advances. In James 4:7 we read, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." As we progress through time, the world will grow increasingly wicked, and there will be many attempts to break down your resistance to the flood of evil engulfing the souls of mankind. However, I can tell you with all certainty that resistance is not futile.

Hands That Shed Innocent Blood!

In Proverbs 6:16-17 we find a list of seven sins that God hates. The third sin on this list is "hands that shed innocent blood." There is certainly no blood more innocent than that of an unborn child. Sadly, the United States of America not only allows, but condones the slaughter of over one million babies each and every year through abortion. A recent news report indicates that Planned Parenthood, which is the largest provider of abortions in the United States, received 487.4 million dollars in government funding from the period covering July 1, 2009, to June 30, 2010. During this period, they murdered 329,455 babies. This treacherous organization receives tax dollars to help fund their operations despite the fact that they have over one billion dollars in assets. (1)

From 1973 through 2008, nearly 50 million babies were murdered in the United States. It is estimated that approximately one-third of all women in America will have had at least one abortion, considering the present rate. In 2007, the most recent year for which data is provided, the ratio in New York City was 737 abortions for every 1000 live births. Eighty-four percent of all abortions are performed on unmarried women, and the most common reasons given for seeking an abortion are that having a child would interfere with work or school and that a child is unaffordable. (2)

Shockingly, the Salvation Army, which is a conservative charity group traditionally known to be based on Christian values, has now softened its stance on abortion. In a statement issued on their website in November 2010, the Salvation Army International stated, "The Salvation Army believes that termination can occur only when carrying the pregnancy further seriously threatens the life of the mother; or reliable diagnostic procedures have identified a fetal abnormality considered incompatible with survival for more than a very brief post natal period. In addition, rape and incest are brutal acts of dominance violating women physically and emotionally. This situation represents a special case for the consideration of termination as the violation may be compounded by the continuation of the pregnancy." (3) The statement on the Salvation Army International website has caused distress even amongst members of the organization itself. Jeff Stanger, the development director of the Indiana Division of the Salvation Army USA asserted, "That statement is not the Salvation Army USA's position on abortion." Major George Hood, the chief communications officer for the American branch of the Salvation Army, sent official correspondence to the international headquarters voicing his objections to the statement. (4)

Of all the sins so prevalent in the United States and much of the world, I believe abortion is the sin most detestable to God. There is nothing more brutal than robbing a tiny baby of life before the precious child even takes its first breath. The fact that women and their doctors can be so uncompassionate is just another indicator of how evil this world has become in the last days. There was a time when children were considered a blessing, but in this day and age, parents often consider their children to be burdens. Those who seek abortions not only rob their innocent children of life, they also rob themselves of a blessing. For as it is written in Psalm 127:3, "Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward."

The Brainwashing Of America's Youth!

In recent years, homosexuality has made the transition from the closet to the mainstream. Many of America's favorite entertainers and celebrities are homosexual, and this lifestyle has been making inroads, even amongst those who claim to be Christians. Now a coalition of health and education groups have released a new set of guidelines that calls for the sexual education of children to begin as early as the second grade. According to the guidelines, children should be taught to properly identify the anatomy of a male or female in grade two. By the end of the fifth grade, the recommendations suggest that children should be taught about homosexuality. Cora Collette Breuner, a pediatrics professor at the University of Washington, lauded the new recommendations. "The data points that trying to cover this stuff when kids have already formulated their own opinions and biases by the time they're in middle and high school, it's too late," Breuner stated. (5) In other words, the consensus among those charged with educating young children advocate a thorough brainwashing and mental conditioning before their students have an opportunity to form opinions of their own.

Not only has homosexuality become accepted by society, but homosexuals are sometimes given preferential treatment. One such example is an article published by LiveScience in January 2012 entitled "Why Gay Parents May Be the Best Parents." The article cites a psychologist known as Abbie Goldberg, who makes the claim that homosexual parents "tend to be more motivated, more committed than heterosexual parents on average, because they chose to be parents." According to the article, over half of all homosexual men and 41 percent of all lesbians in the United States would like to adopt children. Sociologist Judith Stacy of New York University was quoted as saying she believes gay men "will be the best parents on average." (6) According to a 2007 report, there were 65,000 children living with adoptive gay parents between 2000 and 2002. (7) Although more current data was not cited, it seems likely that number has only increased since that time.

Witchcraft - Flaunted And On Display!

These days, witchcraft is often considered a silly little genre of harmless fantasy. Although pagans have been practicing their religion for thousands of years, few people, outside of those who are initiated into the various factions of the occult, actually take it seriously. Yet, as I mentioned in the December 2011 issue of the Last Trumpet, paganism is the fastest growing religion in the United States.

One city which has always been notorious for witchcraft is Salem, Massachusetts. Salem is home to the federally recognized temple of witchcraft known as the Cabot Kent Hermetic Temple. (8) The temple's founder, Laurie Cabot, was proclaimed "the official witch of Salem" in the 1970s by Michael Dukakis, who was governor of the state of Massachusetts at the time. (9) The people of Salem are very proud of their witchcraft. Their official police insignia features the image of a witch riding a broom with the words "the witch city" prominently displayed. (10) One of their public schools is known as the "Witchcraft Heights Elementary School," and they have a high school athletic team known as "The Witches." (11)

Here let it be noted that two witches from Salem, Massachusetts, held a séance on Friday the 13th of January 2012 in an attempt to help secure a win for the New England Patriots over the Denver Broncos in the divisional round of the playoffs in the National Football League. "I'm going to raise the energy of the universe and send out all the good mojo," declared one of the witches. The chant performed at their altar of witchcraft was, "Tom Brady will see what he needs to see, be where he needs to be, and will take the Patriots to another victory." (12) Although casting such a spell sounds like complete foolishness to us, these witches believe in what they do. The Bible warns us in the book of Revelation that sorcery, which is a form of witchcraft, is one of the sins which will condemn people to hell. In Revelation 21:8 we read, "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." This verse indicates that not only is witchcraft a serious sin, but also it is a sin that will persist until the end of time.

Rising Opposition To Christianity!

Despite the fact that a recent poll found that 92 percent of its respondents believe in God and 78 percent identify themselves as Christians in the United States (13), a spirit of opposition has risen up against Christianity in America. In New York City, a ban has been put in place to prevent Christian groups from renting public schools to use as locations for church gatherings. Even though the rental of such facilities brought in several million dollars each year, the Board of Education in New York City has decided to impose the ban in what they claim is an effort to protect the minds of "impressionable youth." (14) On January 12, 2012, about 200 people gathered to protest the ban outside a public school where Mayor Michael Bloomberg was giving his state of the city address. While kneeling in prayer in front of the school, the protestors were ordered to leave by the police. In total, forty-three people were arrested for their public prayers, which the authorities deemed to be disorderly conduct. (15)

In Mount Pleasant, Tennessee, city manager Michelle Williams has banned workers at City Hall from praying during work hours. "We have no problem with them praying; it's just they need to do it on their own time," Williams said. Ms. Williams also made the claim that her decision would be beneficial to the citizens of her community. "Ultimately, their tax dollars are spent to pay city employees' salary. I would think (citizens) would want them working while they are getting paid," stated Williams. (16)

In the state of New Jersey, the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, which is operated by the United Methodist Church, was found to be in violation of New Jersey's nondiscrimination law after it refused to allow a civil-union ceremony for a lesbian couple to be performed at its facility. The same-sex couple filed a lawsuit after being turned down, and in January 2012, Judge Solomon Metzger ruled in their favor. "The respondent violated the [Law Against Discrimination] when it refused to conduct a civil-union ceremony for Ms. Bernstein and Ms. Paster," Judge Metzger wrote in his decision. (17)

Tightening The Leash On The American People!

Although debtors' prisons were technically abolished during the 1800s in the United States, more than a third of all states in America allow people who are unable to pay their debts to be jailed. Once a debtor becomes delinquent in loan payments, a creditor will often file a lawsuit against them. If a debtor then fails to appear at a court hearing or is unable or unwilling to make payments on the debt, an arrest warrant is then issued by the judge presiding over the case. The Wall Street Journal reports that at least 5,000 warrants of this nature have been issued since the beginning of 2010. (18)

In many cases, the debts that result in jail time are not even terribly significant. One such case involved a woman in Carbondale, Illinois, who spent five days in jail after she failed to a pay a $275 debt owed to a payday lender company. (19) In another case in the state of Illinois, a woman was arrested and jailed for failure to pay a $730 medical bill. (20) A man in Kansas City also faced jail time after he lost his job and was unable to make payments on some furniture he had purchased. (21)

In the state of Texas, many public schools are now actively patrolled by police officers throughout the course of the school day. Children are sometimes arrested for frivolous reasons. One such incident occurred after a twelve-year-old girl sprayed herself with perfume during class. Her teacher immediately chastised her saying, "Put that away; that's the most terrible smell I've ever smelled." The teacher then called the police who had been roaming the corridors of the school. The officers arrested the girl, charged her with a criminal misdemeanor, and ordered her to appear in court. (22) In the year 2010, police officers in Texas issued nearly 300,000 tickets to children as young as six years old. (23)

These days, the police might even get involved if you have overdue library books. Such was the case in Charlton, Massachusetts, where a police officer was dispatched to fetch books from a five-year-old girl who had failed to return them in a timely manner. "I thought it was way overboard. I closed my door, I looked at my daughter, and she started crying," the child's mother said. The officer who made the visit was not pleased with his assignment either. "Nobody wanted to, on this end to get involved in it. But the library contacted us, and the chief delegated, and apparently I was one of the low men on the totem pole," said Charlton Police Sergeant Dan Dowd. (24)

The erosion of personal freedom in the United States has become so undeniable that even the mainstream news media is starting to take notice. On January 13, 2012, the Washington Post published a story entitled "Ten Reasons the U.S. Is No Longer the Land of the Free." The article explains how the President of the United States and federal government agencies now have the authority to assassinate American citizens if they are deemed to be terrorists. Other abuses mentioned in the article include indefinite detention, warrantless searches, secret courts, and the continual monitoring of the American people. (25)

Reports have now surfaced that police forces all across the United States are becoming increasingly militarized to deal with the potential threat of a terrorist attack. Even the city of Fargo, North Dakota, which rarely even has a murder, went on an eight million dollar spending spree, which included the purchase of a $256,643 armored truck. One sheriff's department in Arizona even owns a military surplus tank. Since September 11, 2001, more than 34 billion dollars in federal grants have been doled out to police departments to facilitate these equipment upgrades. (26) Additionally, a new riot shield, known as the LRAD Sound Cannon, is now being developed. It will use low frequency sound waves to affect the upper respiratory tract and impair breathing until the targets are subdued. (27)

Law enforcement officials may not be the only people worried about potential attacks. In December 2011 a new record for gun sales was set in the United States. The FBI performed 1.5 million background checks, which are required before a person can legally purchase a gun, in December. On December 23, 2011, 102,222 of these background checks were performed, making it the second busiest day for gun sales on record. (28)

What Will The Future Be Like?

In this current year of 2012, we find all of humanity at a crossroads. The world we live in is on the very cusp of a dramatic transformation. Those pushing for these changes say it is all for the betterment of mankind, but if their goals should ever be fully implemented, the human race may soon find it has been assimilated into a system very difficult to escape. In December 2011 the Center for Technology Innovation at Brookings published a report entitled "Recording Everything: Digital Storage as an Enabler of Authoritarian Governments." As an introduction to the report, the author, John Villasenor, writes the following, "Within the next few years an important threshold will be crossed: For the first time ever, it will become technologically and financially feasible for authoritarian governments to record nearly everything that is said or done within their borders - every phone conversation, electronic message, social media interaction, the movements of nearly every person and vehicle, and video from every street corner. Governments with a history of using all of the tools at their disposal to track and monitor their citizens will undoubtedly make full use of this capability once it becomes available." (29)

The Brookings report goes hand-in-hand with a press release issued by IBM on December 19, 2011. In the release, IBM reveals five technologies they are hoping to implement over the course of the next five years. One of the goals is to develop a system that would use unique biometric data, such as facial definitions, retinal scans, and voice files, as your password to access online data. Far more troubling, however, is the technology IBM scientists are presently working on that they are hoping will literally read your mind. "If you just need to think about calling someone, it happens. Or you can control the cursor on a computer screen just by thinking about where you want to move it," states the report. (30) Over the last few decades, technology has advanced to amazing new heights. We stand at the precipice of a new dangerous era in which people no longer control their technology, but rather, the technology controls the people.

More Cases Of Disease And Pestilence!

In December 2011 a news story broke regarding a new strain of H5N1 avian influenza, which is more commonly known as bird flu. This strain of the flu is more deadly than previous strains and spreads more easily amongst mammals. Another unique trait of this strain of the virus is that it was intentionally created in medical labs at the Erasmus University Medical Center in the Netherlands and at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. This form of the virus is considered to be so dangerous that government officials requested that details regarding how it is made be withheld from publication for fear that it could be used as a biological weapon. (31) Following public outcry over fear that the virus could accidentally escape from research labs, scientists have agreed to suspend all research on their strain of H5N1 for sixty days. (32)

A new strain of swine flu has also surfaced in recent days. The virus, which is formally known as H3N2v, has infected at least twelve people in the states of Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia here in the United States. Worry has been expressed that this strain of the virus can be transmitted more easily from human-to-human than previous strains. (33)

In Haiti a virulent strain of cholera has now infected 500,000 people and killed 7,000 since October 2010. Evidence recently surfaced indicating that this brutal strain of cholera was brought to Haiti by UN peacekeeping troops out of Nepal. John Mekalanos, chairman of the Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology at Harvard Medical School, expressed deep concern over the virus. "What scares me is that the strain from South Asia has been recognized as more virulent, more capable of causing severe disease, and more transmissible. These strains are nasty. So far there has been no secondary outbreak. But Haiti now represents a foothold for a particularly dangerous variety of this deadly disease." Before this outbreak occurred, there had never been a case of cholera in Haiti or even in the entire Western Hemisphere. (34)

A Grim Outlook For The Global Economy!

Although news outlets have been reporting improvements in the American economy in recent weeks, the hard times in the United States and many other countries are far from over. It is now estimated that Barack Obama will have increased the national debt by 6.2 trillion dollars when his first term finally ends on January 20, 2013. (35) To date, Obama's strategy to cure America's debt problem has mainly involved tax hikes for the rich. He has stated on numerous occasions that rich folks, such as himself, can afford to pay "a little more." Of course, if he was really so eager to pay more, he could do so now instead of waiting for it to become law. Obama could easily make some generous donations to the United States Treasury. I am sure they would be readily accepted. However, instead of doing that, Obama prefers to leave the American taxpayers on the hook for his extravagant lifestyle. It is estimated that his December 2011 holiday vacation in Hawaii cost the American people approximately four million dollars. (36)

In a startling article published on January 6, 2012, by Reuters, it was reported that the global economy could survive disruption for only one week. Potential disruptions include attacks by militants or widespread natural disasters, which could essentially cause a global economic shutdown. According to a report by the London-based Chatham House, "One week seems to be the maximum tolerance of the 'just-in-time' global economy." (37)

Catastrophic disasters are not the only cause for worry to the global economy. The largest economies in the world will be facing a mountain of 7.6 trillion dollars in debt that is maturing this year. (38) In Europe, nine nations, including France and Austria, were subjected to a credit rating cut by Standard and Poor's. (39) In the nation of Greece, children are now being abandoned by parents who are no longer able to provide for their needs. According to Antonios Papanikolaou, founder of the Ark of the World Youth Centre in Athens, hundreds of parents have requested that the organization take their children. (40) Gerald Calente, founder of Trends Research Institute, has warned that several European nations are already in the throes of a depression. "If you live in Greece, you're in a depression; if you live in Spain, you're in a depression; if you live in Portugal or Ireland, you're in a depression. If you live in Lithuania, you're running to the bank to get your money out of the bank as the bank runs go on. It's a depression. Hungary, there's a depression, and much of Eastern Europe, Romania, Bulgaria. And there are a lot of depressions going on [already]," Calente stated. (41)

With so many nations now facing massive debt, one might wonder what the solution to the problem is. In the February 2012 issue of Wired magazine, writer David Wolman suggests that the answer might be a universal currency. (42) This was not the first time a global currency has been suggested in recent years, and it is likely that it will not be the last time. It is all part of Satan's grand scheme for a one world government. I believe this is yet another sign of the times and an indicator that the coming of our Saviour draweth nigh.

In closing, I urge all of you to seek the Lord while there is still time. The world has been engulfed by a flood of evil, but you can be safe and secure if you put all your hope and trust in God. In Psalm 32:5-7 we read, "I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him. Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah." If you have not yet fully given your heart to God, I encourage you to do so now. I offer my sincere thanks to all of you who continue to support this ministry. If you have any prayer requests, we welcome them, and we will give each one individual attention. Grace and peace be unto you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Samuel David Meyer

Acknowledgements
01. CNS News, January 3, 2012, By CNS News, http://cnsnews.com.
02. Abort73.com, Abortion Statistics, http://abort73.com.
03. Salvation Army International, International Positional Statement, http://salvationarmy.org.
04. Christian Post, December 31, 2011, By Stephanie Samuel, http://christianpost.com.
05. The Blaze, January 9, 2012, By Billy Hallowell, http://theblaze.com.
06. LiveScience, January 17, 2012, By Stephanie Pappas, http://livescience.com.
07. Ibid.
08. Cabot Kent Hermetic Temple, official website, http://cabotkenthermetictemple.org.
09. Wikipedia, Laurie Cabot article, http://wikipedia.org.
10. Salem PD, official website, http://salempd.org.
11. Wikipedia, Salem, Massachusetts article, http://wikipedia.org.
12. Fox News, January 13, 2012, By Fox News, http://foxnews.com.
13. Houston Chronicle, January 5, 2012, By Adelle M. Banks, http://chron.com.
14. World Magazine, January 12, 2012, By Tiffany Owens, http://worldmag.com.
15. The New American, January 16, 2012, By Dave Bohon, http://thenewamerican.com.
16. Columbia Daily Herald, January 14, 2012, By Columbia Daily Herald, http://columbiadailyherald.com.
17. World New Daily, January 12, 2012, By Bob Unruh, http://wnd.com.
18. The Wall Street Journal, March 17, 2011, By The Wall Street Journal, http://wsj.com.
19. Ibid.
20. National Public Radio, December 12, 2011, By Susie An, http://npr.org.
21. KCTV5, October 28, 2011, By DeAnn Smith and Stacey Cameron, http://kctv5.com.
22. The Guardian, January 9, 2012, By Chris McGreal, http://guardian.co.uk. 23. Ibid. 24. CBS News, January 2, 2012, By CBS News, Charlton, Massachusetts. 25. The Washington Post, January 13, 2012, By Jonathan Turley, http://washingtonpost.com. 26. The Daily Beast, December 21, 2011, By Andrew Becker, http://thedailybeast.com. 27. Gizmodo, December 14, 2011, By Andrew Liszewski, http://gizmodo.com.
28. CNN, December 27, 2011, By Carol Cratty, Washington, D.C.
29. Recording Everything, December 14, 2011, By John Villasenor, http://brookings.edu.
30. IBM Press Release, December 19, 2011, By IBM, http://ibm.com.
31. Associated Press, December 20, 2011, By Lauran Neergaard, Washington, D.C.
32. Reuters News Service, January 20, 2012, By Sharon Begley, New York, NY.
33. US News & World Report, January 11, 2012, By Jason Koebler, http://usnews.com.
34. ABC News, January 12, 2012, By Matthew Mosk, Brian Ross, and Rym Momtaz, http://abcnews.go.com.
35. CNS News, January 13, 2012, By Terence P. Jeffrey, http://cnsnews.com.
36. The Blaze, December 19, 2011, By Billy Hallowell, http://theblaze.com.
37. Reuters News Service, January 6, 2012, By Reuters News Service, http://reuters.com.
38. Bloomberg, January 3, 2012, By Keith Jenkins and Anchalee Worrachate, http://bloomberg.com.
39. Bloomberg, January 13, 2012, By Simon Kennedy, Patrick Donahue, and Mark Deen. http://bloomberg.com.
40. The Daily Mail, January 11, 2012, By Lee Moran, http://dailymail.co.uk.
41. Beacon Equity, January 4, 2012, By Dominique de Kevelioc de Bailleuel, http://beaconequity.com.
42. Wired Magazine, January 11, 2012, By David Wolman, http://wired.co.uk.

Special Note: A new tribute website for Pastor David J. Meyer can now be accessed at http://pastormeyer.org.

Comments regarding this newsletter or topic suggestions may be submitted to editor@lasttrumpetnewsletter.org.
If you would like to submit a prayer request, you may send email to prayer@ltmmail.org or mail it to our postal address.

Inquisition's heavy hand remains ready to strike

2012-02-01T07:35:00.000-08:00

BARNEY ZWARTZ
February 2, 2012
OPINION

THE treatment of former Toowoomba Catholic bishop Bill Morris, sacked last May by the Pope, shows that the Inquisition is alive and well in the Catholic Church - only the rack is missing.

The secret denunciations by a tiny minority of self-appointed orthodoxy police in Toowoomba, the secret Vatican investigation, the secret judgment - with the accused never even knowing who the accusers are or what they have charged, let alone getting a chance to defend himself - the absence of any appeal, the denial of natural justice and the flouting of canon (church) law are all classical Inquisition tactics.

The unfairness and cruelty were driven home by two recent independent reports into the removal of Morris - one by an eminent jurist, Queensland Supreme Court judge W.J. Carter, and one by a leading canon lawyer, Melbourne's Father Ian Waters.

They concluded that Morris was denied procedural fairness and natural justice. Carter wrote that the treatment of Morris was "offensive" to the requirements of both civil and canon law, while Father Waters found that the Pope had breached canon law and exceeded his authority in removing Morris without finding him guilty of apostasy, heresy or schism (which alone justify such action) and without following the judicial procedures canon law requires.

Carter found that an unsigned document from the Vatican to Morris in 2007 requiring his resignation showed "an appalling lack of evidence and particularity", "demonstrable errors of fact" and decisions "by high-ranking church officials more likely based on gossip and hearsay" than evidence.

"One could not imagine a more striking case of a denial of natural justice," he said.

Morris's real offence was to suggest the church might consider discussing whether it might ordain married men or women, given the critical and worsening shortage of priests. Even a statement as tentative and careful as this had to be crushed, it seems.

This heavy-handed manoeuvring is a long way from what the church purports to stand for: love, mercy, truth and justice. All that seems to matter to the hierarchs, whether at StPeter's in Rome or St Mary's in Sydney, is obedience and loyalty.

The church's leaders know it is losing a generation in the West. They seem not to care how much the ordinary, faithful Catholics in the pews and pulpits, doing the church's works of mercy, are discouraged and distressed, or how cynical it makes those watching.

The fact that a bishop wears a red hat (cardinals) or red shoes (the Pope) is no guarantee that he is not a bully, blinkered or Byzantine.

Historian Paul Collins says not only is the Inquisition alive and well - after all, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, headed by Morris co-executioner William Levada, was once known as the Holy Inquisition - but that it is worse than the original Roman Inquisition, founded in 1542 by Pope Paul III to counter Protestantism in Italy. That, at least, had very clear procedures and was considered a model of jurisprudence in the Europe of the time.

What of Australia's 42 Catholic bishops, who promised to represent Toowoomba's Catholics when they visited Rome for their five-yearly ad limina visit last October? One or two helped engineer Morris's removal, others may have supported it but most - well aware of what a travesty it was - were cravenly supine (as Collins put it).

They promised to raise the subject during their visit to the Vatican. They did so, meeting the cardinals and among themselves. Back in Australia, they put out a statement saying they accepted the removal and would extend fraternal care to Morris.

What could the bishops have done? Early and strong public statements of support for Morris would have made the Vatican act far more carefully.

But, according to progressive Catholics, the damage was done 13 years earlier, when Australia's bishops were excoriated about the state of the church in Australia during their 1998 ad limina visit to Rome. That was the time to stand up and repudiate the criticisms; the pattern is set now.

Meanwhile, in Rome, the leaders of the church who demand trust are callous in destroying it. Their medieval attitudes to authority seem very distant from the biblical teachings of Christ and much closer to the Pharisees, whom Jesus accused of laying heavy burdens on people's shoulders without lifting a finger themselves (Matthew 23:4). If the church leaders want the faithful to trust them, they should show themselves to be trustworthy.

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Tina Brown's Must-Reads: Dictators

2012-02-01T05:41:00.000-08:00

Listen to the Story

Morning Edition

[7 min 47 sec]

February 1, 2012

Tina Brown, editor of The Daily Beast and Newsweek, tells us what she's been reading in a feature that Morning Editionlikes to call "Word of Mouth." This week, Brown selects three pieces of writing that relate to the lives of dictators — and those living, in one form or another, in totalitarian states.

A 'Son' Of North Korea

Brown's first pick is The Orphan Master's Son, a novel by Adam Johnson. Set in North Korea under Kim Jong Il's regime, Orphan explores what it means to live in the country through the eyes of its imagined hero, Pak Jun Do (a play on John Doe).

"[Johnson] vividly creates this strange, dark, twisted lifestyle of the people who are condemned to live there, who have no other way of seeing the world except through the prism of the distortions the regime has served up," Brown tells NPR's Steve Inskeep. "You never think about what it means to live in a world of lies, which is what you get through the consciousness of Pak Jun Do."

Raised in the rural orphanage Long Tomorrows, Jun Do goes on to serve the regime by abducting people from South Korea to work in the North. Later, he gets a job on a fishing ship as an intelligence officer. Brown says some of the book's most memorable moments come when Jun Do, working the ship's wireless radio, hears fragments of messages from the outside world.

"He becomes particularly obsessed with the nocturnal reports of a young female American rower who's engaged with her female friend in a kind of stunt of rowing all night in the ocean," Brown says.

Johnson writes that Jun Do wonders,

What was it about English speakers that allowed them to talk into transmitters as if the sky were a diary? If Koreans spoke this way, maybe they'd make more sense to Jun Do. Maybe he'd understand why some people accepted their fates while others didn't.

Johnson suggests even in private, North Koreans cannot tell the truth — that everything in their lives is fictionalized to one degree or another — and Brown says that's part of why his book is so original.

"Their own biographies are captured and rewritten and made to be the thing that you imbibe and live through, and that's why the freedom of the rower becomes such a haunting thing to Jun Do," Brown says.

The Aesthetics Of Intimidation

Brown's next choice is an article by Peter York of the Financial Times called "Dictators of Taste."

"[York] writes about 'dictator chic,' which has now taken over as the fall of all these dictators from the Arab Spring brings all this flight money into Europe, and invades us with their taste," Brown says. According to York, 'despot decor' is increasing in certain spots around the world.

Jassim Mohammed/AP

Taken during a 1997 tour of one of Saddam Hussein's palaces, this photo shows a giant falcon made from Italian marble.

On what exactly a dictator's home looks like, York writes,

[They] are non-ironic zones. They are designed to reinforce the Dear Leader cult of personality, but at the same time they're very impersonal — no room for homey unposed photographs or the pram in the hall. They're places to plot and do deals, not real private spaces.

York says the classic dictator's home is designed to impress and intimidate — think an excess of gold — to tell whoever comes through the door this is a place of absolute power and resources.

"The whole thing sort of has an ersatz feeling because, in the end, it's a fake impetus, this phony inflation of ego and power," Brown says. "It's purely about intimidation, about making a stunt that makes ... the visitor feel like the worm that [dictator] feels you are."

'Heresy' Through The Ages

Finally, Brown recommends an article by Cullen Murphy from The Humanist called "Inside the Heresy Files."

"There's been a huge flood of very interesting documents from the Inquisition archives in the Vatican, which now enables us to read about the Inquisition in a very different way," Brown says.

Brown distinguishes Murphy's topic from the particular moment of the Spanish Inquisition launched in 1478, noting that the article looks at the idea of the Inquisition broadly.

"It has existed in multiple different forms, multiple different places, multiple different eras over the centuries," Brown says.

Murphy writes that an inquisition really is,

a set of disciplinary procedures targeting specific groups, codified in law, organised systematically, enforced by surveillance, exemplified by severity, sustained over time, backed by institutional power and justified by a vision of the one truth.

Murphy suggests that the Inquisition, rather than being a relic of the past, is a harbinger of modern times. Brown says that the sustained ability to create a system of fear, to maintain records, and to monitor people through communication systems and law reminds her of more modern examples.

"I recently went to Berlin and saw the Stasi Museum there," Brown says, referencing the secret police of the former East Germany. "It absolutely applies to the way the Stasi ran their intimidation and terror."

Even more recent examples of inquisition through organized oppression could be found in the countries that saw revolts in the Arab Spring.

Brown says in those examples, the people themselves were resistant to the system, but she remains skeptical.

"The question is, can you really dismantle it, because it only dismantles if the people themselves absolutely militate against it renewing itself," Brown says. "The fear of that in places like Egypt and Tunisia is, are we going to really have a sustained freedom, or are these terrifying systems somehow going to [be] quietly put back into place?"

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Ex-LA teacher charged with molesting 23 children

2012-01-31T14:13:00.000-08:00

A 61-year-old former elementary school teacher has been charged with molesting 23 children after an investigation by authorities uncovered more than 40 photographs showing victims with their eyes blindfolded and mouths covered with tape, possibly inside a classroom.

Film turned into photo lab led police to arrest a veteran educator. KNBC's Gordon Tokumatsu reports.

Mark Berndt was arrested at his Torrance home Monday following a year-long probe that began when a film processor turned in the images to law enforcement. Berndt was a teacher at Miramonte Elementary School in an unincorporated area of south Los Angeles for more than 30 years, but was fired by the school district shortly after the investigation began in January 2011.

"I am sickened and horrified by the behavior of Mark Berndt," said Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent John Deasy in a statement. "This individual and his conduct do not reflect on the quality of the teachers who work so hard on behalf of the students in the Los Angeles Unified School District."

Some of the images allegedly show Berndt with his arm around the children or with his hand over their mouths, according to a statement by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
In addition, authorities say the images depict girls with what appears to be a blue plastic spoon filled with an unknown substance. There were also photos of children with large, live Madagascar-type cockroaches on their faces and mouths.

A search warrant served by detectives on Berndt'shome also led to the discovery of more than 100 similar photographs depicting children, authorities aid. Also found was a DVD depicting adult sexual "bondage" activity. The adults in that DVD are not identified, according to detectives.
As part of the investigation, authorities say they have interviewed more than 80 current and former students, as well as school employees. The victims are identified as 23 boys and girls between the ages of 6 and 10, during a time period from 2008 to 2010.

Investigators are still working to identify 10 of the child victims in the 390 photos uncovered.
Early in the investigation, Special Victims Bureau detectives recovered a blue plastic spoon and an empty container from the trash in the suspect's classroom. The recovered items tested positive for semen, authorities said, and the suspect's DNA matched the DNA profile found on the spoon and container.

Authorities are recommending the children be tested for sexually transmitted diseases, the Associated Press reported.

Berndt was being held Tuesday on a $2.3 million bail.

Investigators are seeking help from the public to identify possible additional victims during the suspect's tenure at Miramonte Elementary School.

Deasy said "crisis counseling and support have been provided for more than a year to the known victims and their families, and we continue to offer those necessary services to new victims as they are identified or any student or parents who requests assistance."

Source

Finding the Fullness of Faith

2012-01-31T13:45:00.000-08:00

Finding the Fullness of Faith
[2006]

Starring: Steve Ray
Director: ------

In this exciting DVD, Baptist convert Stephen Ray shares deep insights and effective arguments to win over even the hardest of hearts. You'll be swept away as this best-selling author and apologist shares his journey to Catholicism and investigates the primary stumbling blocks of those who vehemently oppose the Church, the issues of salvation and the Papacy.

Stephen Ray was raised in a devout, loving, Baptist family. Always a zealous instructor of Sacred Scripture, he nearly fell off his chair when a close friend, an Evangelical pastor, converted to Catholicism.

Steve and his wife Janet began a personal pilgrimage that would radically change their lives. After serious study and much prayer, the Rays became convinced that the Roman Catholic Church was the Church founded by Christ almost 2000 years ago. They also realized that Catholicism faithfully and fully continued the Apostolic teaching as understood by the Fathers, the Councils and gloriously preserved through the See of Peter.

Run Time: 86 Minutes
Current Reviews: 1

This product was added to our catalog on Wednesday 23 July, 2008.

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.

Someone in Council Bluffs Iowa loves EndrTimes

2012-01-30T09:33:00.000-08:00

Since the Council Bluffs phenomenon is back, I have decided to 'run' this piece a second time:

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012

Someone in Washington D.C. loves EndrTimes

In the past it was someone from Alexandria, Virginia that was constantly on this blog according to my feedjit Live Traffic Feed; Recently it has been someone else from Council Bluffs, Iowa. Now it's someone from Washington D.C., that is on EndrTimes 24 o 7 around the clock, which makes me feel so important.

I wonder what Washington DC could find so interesting on this site?

I know it isn't the prophecy that I manage to associate to everything that takes place around the world?

Or, maybe the way I point to the violation of the SEPARATION OF Church and State PRINCIPLE*, with the way the Catholic Church and her daughters are getting in bed with the government; Something that isn't supposed to happen in our Constitutional Republic?

Just thought I'd mention that little tid bit! Now I feel better.

*SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE: A principle which neo-conservative and neo-liberal revisionist politicians now ridicule as if it was a fairy tale.

P.S. Council Bluffs is back!

Barack Obama: Created by the CIA

2012-01-30T09:10:00.000-08:00

Bombshell: Barack Obama outed as CIA creation

Special Report. The Story of Obama: All in The Company (In Three Parts)

Opinion Maker | August 19, 2010
Wayne Madsen

Investigative journalist Wayne Madsen has discovered CIA files that document the agency’s connections to institutions and individuals figuring prominently in the lives of Barack Obama and his mother, father, grandmother, and stepfather. The first part of his report highlights the connections between Barack Obama, Sr. and the CIA-sponsored operations in Kenya to counter rising Soviet and Chinese influence among student circles and, beyond, to create conditions obstructing the emergence of independent African leaders.

From 1983-84, Barack Obama worked as Editor at Business Internation Corporation, a Business International Corporation, a known CIA front company.

President Obama’s own work in 1983 for Business International Corporation, a CIA front that conducted seminars with the world’s most powerful leaders and used journalists as agents abroad, dovetails with CIA espionage activities conducted by his mother, Stanley Ann Dunham in 1960s post-coup Indonesia on behalf of a number of CIA front operations, including the East-West Center at the University of Hawaii, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Ford Foundation. Dunham met and married Lolo Soetoro, Obama’s stepfather, at the East-West Center in 1965. Soetoro was recalled to Indonesia in 1965 to serve as a senior army officer and assist General Suharto and the CIA in the bloody overthrow of President Sukarno.

Barack Obama, Sr., who met Dunham in 1959 in a Russian language class at the University of Hawaii, had been part of what was described as an airlift of 280 East African students to the United States to attend various colleges — merely “aided” by a grant from the Joseph P. Kennedy Foundation, according to a September 12, 1960, Reuters report from London. The airlift was a CIA operation to train and indoctrinate future agents of influence in Africa, which was becoming a battleground between the United States and the Soviet Union and China for influence among newly-independent and soon-to-be independent countries on the continent.

The airlift was condemned by the deputy leader of the opposition Kenyan African Democratic Union (KADU) as favoring certain tribes — the majority Kikuyus and minority Luos — over other tribes to favor the Kenyan African National Union (KANU), whose leader was Tom Mboya, the Kenyan nationalist and labor leader who selected Obama, Sr. for a scholarship at the University of Hawaii. Obama, Sr., who was already married with an infant son and pregnant wife in Kenya, married Dunham on Maui on February 2, 1961 and was also the university’s first African student. Dunham was three month’s pregnant with Barack Obama, Jr. at the time of her marriage to Obama, Sr.

The CIA allegedly recruited Tom M’Boya in a heavily funded “selective liberation” programme to isolate Kenya’s founding President Jomo Kenyatta, who the American spy agency labelled as “unsafe.

KADU deputy leader Masinda Muliro, according to Reuters, said KADU would send a delegation to the United States to investigate Kenyan students who received “gifts” from the Americans and “ensure that further gifts to Kenyan students are administered by people genuinely interested in Kenya’s development.’”

Mboya received a $100,000 grant for the airlift from the Kennedy Foundation after he turned down the same offer from the U.S. State Department, obviously concerned that direct U.S. assistance would look suspicious to pro-Communist Kenyan politicians who suspected Mboya of having CIA ties. The Airlift Africa project was underwritten by the Kennedy Foundation and the African-American Students Foundation. Obama, Sr. was not on the first airlift but a subsequent one. The airlift, organized by Mboya in 1959, included students from Kenya, Uganda, Tanganyika, Zanzibar, Northern Rhodesia, Southern Rhodesia, and Nyasaland.

Reuters also reported that Muliro charged that Africans were “disturbed and embittered” by the airlift of the selected students. Muliro “stated that “preferences were shown to two major tribes [Kikuyu and Luo] and many U.S.-bound students had failed preliminary and common entrance examinations, while some of those left behind held first-class certificates.”

Obama, Sr. was a friend of Mboya and a fellow Luo. After Mboya was assassinated in 1969, Obama, Sr. testified at the trial of his alleged assassin. Obama, Sr. claimed he was the target of a hit-and-run assassination attempt after his testimony.

CIA-airlifted to Hawaii, Barack Obama Sr., with leis, stands with Stanley Dunham, President Obama’s grandfather, on his right.

Obama, Sr., who left Hawaii for Harvard in 1962, divorced Dunham in 1964. Obama, Sr. married a fellow Harvard student, Ruth Niedesand, a Jewish-American woman, who moved with him to Kenya and had two sons. They were later divorced. Obama, Sr. worked for the Kenyan Finance and Transport ministries as well as an oil firm. Obama, Sr. died in a 1982 car crash and his funeral was attended by leading Kenyan politicians, including future Foreign Minister Robert Ouko, who was murdered in 1990.

CIA files indicate that Mboya was an important agent-of-influence for the CIA, not only in Kenya but in all of Africa. A formerly Secret CIA Current Intelligence Weekly Summary, dated November 19, 1959, states that Mboya served as a check on extremists at the second All-African People’s Conference (AAPC) in Tunis. The report states that “serious friction developed between Ghana’s Prime Minister Kwame Nkrumah and Kenyan nationalist Tom Mboya who cooperated effectively last December to check extremists at the AAPC’s first meeting in Accra.” The term “cooperated effectively” appears to indicate that Mboya was cooperating with the CIA, which filed the report from field operatives in Accra and Tunis. While “cooperating” with the CIA in Accra and Tunis, Mboya selected the father of the president of the United States to receive a scholarship and be airlifted to the University of Hawaii where he met and married President Obama’s mother.

An earlier CIA Current Intelligence Weekly Summary, secret, and dated April 3, 1958, states that Mboya “still appears to be the most promising of the African leaders.” Another CIA weekly summary, secret and dated December 18, 1958, calls Mboya the Kenyan nationalist an “able and dynamic young chairman” of the People’s Convention party who was viewed as an opponent of “extremists” like Nkrumah, supported by “Sino-Soviet representatives.”

In a formerly Secret CIA report on the All-Africa Peoples Conference in 1961, dated November 1, 1961, Mboya’s conservatism, along with that of Taleb Slim of Tunisia, are contrasted to the leftist policies of Nkrumah and others. Pro-communists who were elected to the AAPC’s steering committee at the March 1961 Cairo conference, attended by Mboya, are identified in the report as Abdoulaye Diallo, AAPC Secretary General, of Senegal; Ahmed Bourmendjel of Algeria; Mario de Andrade of Angola; Ntau Mokhele of Basutoland; Kingue Abel of Cameroun; Antoine Kiwewa of Congo (Leopoldville); Kojo Botsio of Ghana; Ismail Toure of Guinea; T. O. Dosomu Johnson of Liberia; Modibo Diallo of Mali; Mahjoub Ben Seddik of Morocco; Djibo Bakari of Niger; Tunji Otegbeya of Nigeria; Kanyama Chiume of Nyasaland; Ali Abdullahi of Somalia; Tennyson Makiwane of South Africa, and Mohamed Fouad Galal of the United Arab Republic.

The only attendees in Cairo who were given a clean bill of health by the CIA were Mboya, who appears to have been a snitch for the agency, and Joshua Nkomo of Southern Rhodesia, B. Munanka of Tanganyika, Abdel Magid Shaker of Tunisia, and John Kakonge of Uganda.

Nkrumah would eventually be overthrown in a 1966 CIA-backed coup while he was on a state visit to China and North Vietnam. The CIA overthrow of Nkrumah followed by one year the agency’s overthrow of Sukarno, another coup that was connected to President Obama’s family on his mother’s side. There are suspicions that Mboya was assassinated in 1969 by Chinese agents working with anti-Mboya factions in the government of Kenyan President Jomo Kenyatta in order to eliminate a pro-U.S. leading political leader in Africa. Upon Mboya’s death, every embassy in Nairobi flew its flag at half-mast except for one, the embassy of the People’s Republic of China.

Jomo Kenyatta, first President of Kenya.

Mboya’s influence in the Kenyatta government would continue long after his death and while Obama, Sr. was still alive. In 1975, after the assassination of KANU politician Josiah Kariuki, a socialist who helped start KANU, along with Mboya and Obama, Sr., Kenyatta dismissed three rebellious cabinet ministers who “all had personal ties to either Kariuki or Tom Mboya.” This information is contained in CIA Staff Notes on the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia, formerly Top Secret Umbra, Handle via COMINT Channels, dated June 24, 1975. The intelligence in the report, based on its classification, indicate the information was derived from National Security Agency intercepts in Kenya. No one was ever charged in the assassination of Kariuki.

The intecepts of Mboya’s and Kariuki’s associates are an indication that the NSA and CIA also maintain intercepts on Barack Obama, Sr., who, as a non-U.S. person, would have been lawfully subject at the time to intercepts carried out by NSA and Britain’s Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ).

(Continued below)

Special Report. The Story of Obama: All in The Company – Part II

In Part I of this WMR special report, we revealed the connections between Barack Obama, Sr. and the CIA-affiliated Airlift Africa project to provide college degrees to and gain influence over a group of 280 eastern and southern African students from soon-to-be independent African nations to counter similar programs established by the Soviet Union and China. Barack Obama Sr. was the first African student to attend the University of Hawaii. Obama Sr. and Obama’s mother Stanley Ann Dunham met in a Russian language class in 1959 and they married in 1961.

The African airlift program was administered by Kenyan nationalist leader Tom Mboya, a fellow Luo tribe mentor and friend of the senior Obama. According to CIA documents described in Part I, Mboya also served the CIA in ensuring that pro-Soviet and pro-Chinese African nationalists were stymied in their attempt to dominate pan-African nationalist political, student, and labor movements.

One of Mboya’s chief opponents was Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah, who was ousted in a CIA-inspired coup in 1966, one year before to Obama Sr’s son, Barack Obama, Jr. and his mother joined Lolo Soetoro, an Indonesian who Obama’s mother met at the University of Hawaii in 1965, when President Obama was four years old.

In 1967, Obama and his mother joined her husband in Jakarta. In 1965, Lolo Soetoro had been called back from Hawaii by General Suharto to serve as an officer in the Indonesian military to help launch a bloody CIA-backed genocide of Indonesian Communists and Indonesian Chinese throughout the expansive country. Suharto consolidated his power in 1966, the same year that Barack Obama, Sr.’s friend, Mboya, had helped to rally pro-U.S. pan-African support for the CIA’s overthrow of Nkrumah in Ghana in 1966.

East-West Center, University of Hawaii, and CIA coup against Sukarno

Ann Dunham met Soetoro at the East-West Center at the University of Hawaii. The center had long been affiliated with CIA activities in the Asia-Pacific region. In 1965, the year that Dunham met and married Soetoro, the center saw a new chancellor take over. He was Howard P. Jones who served a record seven years, from 1958 to 1965, as U.S. ambassador to Indonesia. Jones was present in Jakarta as Suharto and his CIA-backed military officers planned the 1965 overthrow of Sukarno, who was seen, along with the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI), as allies of China.

When Jones was chancellor of the East-West Center, he wrote an article for the Washington Post, dated October 10, 1965, in which he defended Suharto’s overthrow of Sukarno. Jones was “invited” by the Post to comment on the Suharto coup, described as a “counter-coup” against the Communists. Jones charged that Suharto was merely responding to an earlier attempted Communist-led coup against Sukarno launched by Lt. Col. Untung, “a relatively unknown battalion commander in the palace guard.”

Jones’s article, which mirrored CIA situation reports from the U.S. embassy in Jakarta, continued by stating that the alleged leftist coup on September 30 ”came within an inch of succeeding through the assassination of six of the top military command. It might well have succeeded had not Defense Minister Nasution and a number of other senior generals also maked for assassination acted fast in a dramatic counter-coup.” Of course, what Jones did not inform the Post’s readers was that the Suharto “counter-coup” had been assisted with the strong help of the CIA.

Sukarno never blamed the Communists for the assassination of the army generals nor did the Indonesian Cabinet, where the second= and third-ranking leaders of the PKI were present. The possibility that the assassination of the generals was a CIA/Suharto “false flag” operation to affix blame on the PKI cannot be ruled out. Two days after Suharto’s coup, a CIA “rent-a-mob” burned down the PKI headquarters in Jakarta. As they marched past the U.S. Embassy, which was also the site of the CIA station, they yelled out, “Long live America!”

Untung later said that when he became aware that Suharto and the CIA were planning a coup on October 5, 1965 – Indonesian Armed Forces Day – forces loyal to him and Sukarno moved first. Jones described this as “typical Communist propaganda.” Suharto moved against Sukarno on October 1. Jones iterated that “there was not an iota of truth . . . in the accusation that the CIA was working against Sukarno.” History has proven otherwise. Jones accused the Communists of taking advantage of Sukarno’s failing health to beat out the other candidates to succeed him. The goal, according to Jones, was to have PKI boss D.N. Aidit succeed Sukarno. Sukarno did not die until 1970, while under house arrest.

A CIA paper, formerly classified Secret and undated, states “Sukarno would like to return to the status quo ante-coup. He has refused to condemn the PKI or the 30th September Movement [of Lt. Col. Untung]; instead, he calls for unity of Indonesia and asks that no vengeance be taken by one group against the other. But, he has not succeeded in forcing the Army to abandon its anti-PKI activities and, on the other hand, he has bowed to their demand by appointing its single candidate General Suharto as head of the Army.” Suharto and Barry Obama Soetoro’s step-father Lolo Soetoro would ignore Sukarno’s call for no vengeance, as hundreds of thousands of Indonesians would soon discover.

The mass murder by Suharto of Indonesian Chinese is seen in the CIA paper’s description of the Baperki Party: “the leftist Baperki Party, with its major strength in rural areas, is largely Chinese-Indonesian in membership.” A CIA Intelligence Memorandum, dated October 6, 1966 and formerly classified Secret, shows the extent of the CIA’s monitoring of the anti-Sukarno coup from various CIA agents assigned as liaisons to Suharto’s army units surrounding the Presidential Palace in Bogor and at various diplomatic posts around the country, including the U.S. Consulate in Medan, which was keeping track of leftists in that Sumatran city and, which, in an October 2, 1965, Intelligence Memo, reported to the CIA that the “Soviet consul-general in Medan has a plane standing by that could be used for evacuation of Soviet citizens from Sumatra.” The October 6 memo also warns against allowing Untung from developing a following in Central Java.

A CIA formerly Secret “Weekly Summary Special Report” on Indonesia, dated August 11, 1967, and titled “The New Order in Indonesia,” reports that in 1966, Indonesia re-aligned its economy in order to receive International Monetary Fund (IMF) assistance. The CIA reports its is happy with the new triumvirate ruling Indonesia in 1967: Suharto, Foreign Minister Adam Malik, and the Sultan of Jogjakarta, who served as minister for economics and finance. The report also rejoices in the outlawing of the PKI, but states it “retains a significant following in East and Central Java,” where Ann Dunham Soetoro would largely concentrate her later efforts on behalf of USAID, the World Bank, and the Ford Foundation, all front activities for the CIA to “win the hearts and minds” of the Javanese farmers and artisans.

A CIA Intelligence Memorandum, formerly Secret and dated July 23, 1966, clearly sees the Muslim Nahdatul Ulama party {NU), the largest party in Indonesia and Muslim, as a natural ally of the United States and the Suharto regime. The report states that helped Suharto put down the Communists in the post-coup time frame, especially where the NU was strongest: East Java, where Obama’s mother would concentrate her activities, and North Sumatra and parts of Borneo. An April 29, 1966, formerly Secret CIA Intelligence Memorandum on the PKI states: “Moslem extremists in many instances outdid the army in hunting down and murdering members of the party [PKI] and its front groups.”

Dunham and Barry Soetoro in Jakarta and USAID front activities

Dunham dropped out of the University of Hawaii in 1960 while pregnant with Barack Obama. Barack Obama Sr. left Hawaii in 1962 to study at Harvard. Dunham and Obama divorced in 1964. In the fall of 1961, Dunham enrolled at the University of Washington while caring for her infant son. Dunham was re-enrolled at the University of Hawaii from 1963 to 1966. Lolo Soetoro, who Dunham married in March 1965, departed Hawaii for Indonesia on July 20, 1965, some three months prior to the CIA’s coup against Sukarno. Soetoro, who served Suharto as an Army colonel, was clearly called back from the CIA-connected East-West Center to assist in the coup against Sukarno, one that would eventually cost the lives of some one million Indonesian citizens. It is a history that President Obama would like the press to ignore, which it certainly did during the 2008 primary and general election.

In 1967, after arriving in Indonesia with Obama, Jr., Dunham began teaching English at the American embassy in Jakarta, which also housed one of the largest CIA stations in Asia and had significant satellite stations in Surabaya in eastern Java and Medan on Sumatra. Jones left as East-West Center chancellor in 1968.

In fact, Obama’s mother was teaching English for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which was a major cover for CIA activities in Indonesia and throughout Southeast Asia, especially in Laos, South Vietnam, and Thailand. The USAID program was known as Lembaga Pendidikan Pembinaan Manajemen. Obama’s mother, painted as a free spirit and a “sixties child” by President Obama and people who claimed they knew her in Hawaii and Indonesia, had a curriculum vitae in Indonesia that contradicts the perception that Ann Dunham Soetoro was a “hippy.”

Dunham Soetoro’s Russian language training at the University of Hawaii may have been useful to the CIA in Indonesia. An August 2, 1966, formerly Secret memorandum from the National Security Council’s Executive Secretary Bromley Smith states that, in addition to Japan, Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, and the Philippines, the Suharto coup was welcomed by the Soviet Union and its Eastern European allies because its created a non-aligned Indonesia that “represents an Asian counterweight to Communist China.” Records indicate that a number of CIA agents posted in Jakarta before and after the 1965 coup were, like Dunham Soetoro, conversant in Russian.

Dunham Soetoro worked for the elitist Ford Foundation, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Bank Rakyat (the majority government-owned People’s Bank of Indonesia), and the CIA-linked USAID while she lived in Indonesia and later, Pakistan.

USAID was involved in a number of CIA covert operations in Southeast Asia. The February 9, 1971, Washington Star reported that USAID officials in Laos were aware that rice supplied to the Laotian Army by USAID was being re-sold to North Vietnamese army divisions in the country. The report stated that the U.S. tolerated the USAID rice sales to the North Vietnamese since the Laotian Army units that sold the rice found themselves protected from Communist Pathet Lao and North Vietnamese attack. USAID and the CIA also used the supply of rice to force Laotian Meo tribesmen to support the United States in the war against the Communists. USAID funds programmed for civilians injured in the war in Laos and public health care were actually diverted for military purposes.

In 1971, the USAID-funded Center for Vietnamese Studies at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale was accused of being a CIA front. USAID-funded projects through the Midwest Universities Consortium for International Activities (MUCIA) — comprising the Universities of Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana and Michigan State — were accused of being CIA front projects, including those for “agricultural education” in Indonesia, as well as other “projects” in Afghanistan, Mali, Nepal, Nigeria, Thailand, and South Vietnam. The charge was made in 1971, the same year that Ann Dunham was working for USAID in the country.

In a July 10, 1971, New York Times report, USAID and the CIA were accused of “losing” $1.7 billion appropriated for the Civil Operations and Revolutionary Development Support (CORDS) program in South Vietnam. CORDS was part of the CIA’s Operation Phoenix program, which involved CIA assassination and torture of South Vietnamese village elders and Buddhist clerics. USAID money was also directed to the CIA’s proprietary airline in Southeast Asia, Air America. In Thailand, USAID funds for the Accelerated Rural Development Program in Thailand were actually masking a CIA anti-Communist counter-insurgency operation. USAID funds programmed for public works projects in East Pakistan in 1971 were used for East Pakistan’s military fortifications on its border with India, in the months before the outbreak of war with India, in contravention of U.S. law that prohibited USAID money for military purposes.

In 1972, USAID administrator Dr. John Hannah admitted to Metromedia News that USAID was being used as a cover for CIA covert operations in Laos. Hannah only admitted to Laos as a USAID cover for the CIA. However, it was also reported that USAID was being used by the CIA in Indonesia, Philippines, South Vietnam, Thailand, and South Korea. USAID projects in Southeast Asia had to be approved by the Southeast Asian Development Advisory Group (SEADAG), an Asia Society group that was, in fact, answerable to the CIA.

The U.S. Food for Peace program, jointly administered by USAID and the Department of Agriculture, was found in 1972 to be used for military purposes in Cambodia, South Korea, Turkey, South Vietnam, Spain, Taiwan, and Greece. In 1972, USAID funneled aid money only to the southern part of North Yemen, in order to aid North Yemeni forces against the government of South Yemen, then ruled by a socialist government opposed to U.S. hegemony in the region.

One of the entities affiliated with the USAID work in Indonesia was the Asia Foundation, a 1950s creation formed with the help of the CIA to oppose the expansion of communism in Asia. The East-West Center guest house in Hawaii was funded by the Asia Foundation. The guest house is also where Barack Obama Sr. first stayed after his airlift from Kenya to Hawaii, arranged by the one of the CIA’s major agents of influence in Africa, Mboya.

Dunham would also travel to Ghana, Nepal, Bangladesh, India, and Thailand working on micro-financing projects. In 1965, Barack Obama Sr. returned to Kenya from Harvard, with another American wife. The senior Obama linked up with his old friend and the CIA’s “golden boy” Mboya and other fellow Luo politicians. The CIA station chief in Nairobi from 1964 to 1967 was Philip Cherry. In 1975, Cherry was the CIA station chief in Dacca, Bangladesh. Cherry was linked by the then-U.S. ambassador to Bangladesh, Eugene Booster, to the 1975 assassination of Bangladesh’s first president, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and members of his family.

The hit on “Sheikh Mujib” and his family was reportedly ordered by then-Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. Bangladesh was also on the micro- and macro-financing travel itinerary of CIA-linked Ann Dunham.

CIA banking and Hawaii

Meanwhile, Dunham Soetoro’s mother, Madelyn Dunham, who raised young Obama when he returned to Hawaii in 1971 while his mother stayed in Indonesia, was the first female vice president at the Bank of Hawaii in Honolulu. Various CIA front entities used the bank. Madelyn Dunham handled escrow accounts used to make CIA payments to U.S.-supported Asian dictators like Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos, South Vietnamese President Nguyen van Thieu, and President Suharto in Indonesia. In effect, the bank was engaged in money laundering for the CIA to covertly prop up its favored leaders in the Asia-Pacific region.

One of the CIA’s major money laundering fronts in Honolulu was the firm of Bishop, Baldwin, Rewald, Dillingham & Wong (BBRDW). After the CIA allowed the firm to collapse in 1983 amid charges that BBRDW was merely a Ponzi scheme, Senator Daniel Inouye of the US Senate Intelligence Committee said the CIA’s role in the firm “wasn’t significant.” It would later be revealed that Inouye, who was one of the late Alaska Senator Ted Stevens’s best friends in the Senate, was lying. In fact, BBRDW was involved heavily in funding covert CIA programs throughout Asia, including economic espionage against Japan, providing arms for Afghan mujaheddin guerrillas in their war against the Soviets and covertly supplying weapons to Taiwan. One of BBRDW’s principals was John C. “Jack” Kindschi, who, before he retired in 1981, was the CIA station chief in Honolulu. BBRDW’s chairman Ron Rewald had a counterfeit college degree certificate provided for the wall of his office by the CIA’s forgery experts and his name was inserted in university records as an alumnus.

A false history for BBRDW was concocted by the CIA claiming the firm had operated in Hawaii since it was a territory. President Obama is currently plagued by allegations that he has fake college and university transcripts, a phony social security number issued in Connecticut, and other padded resume items. Did Hawaii’s fake BBRDW documents portend today’s questions about Obama’s past?

BBRDW conducted its business in the heart of Honolulu’s business district, where the Bank of Hawaii was located and where Obama grandmother Madelyn Dunham ran the escrow accounts. The bank would handle much of BBRDW’s covert financial transactions.

Obama/Soetoro and the “years of living dangerously” in Jakarta

It is clear that Dunham Soetoro and her Indonesian husband, President Obama’s step-father, were closely involved in the CIA’s operations to steer Indonesia away from the Sino-Soviet orbit during the “years of living dangerously” after the overthrow of Sukarno. WMR has discovered that some of the CIA’s top case officers were assigned to various official and non-official cover assignments in Indonesia during this time frame, including under the cover of USAID, the Peace Corps, and the U.S. Information Agency (USIA).

One of the closest CIA contacts for Suharto was former CIA Jakarta embassy officer Kent B. Crane. Crane was so close to Suharto after “retiring” from the CIA, he was reportedly one of the only “private” businessmen given an Indonesian diplomatic passport by Suharto’s government. Crane’s company, the Crane Group, was involved in supplying small arms to the military forces of the United States, Indonesia, and other nations. A foreign policy adviser to Vice President Spiro Agnew, Crane was later nominated as U.S. ambassador to Indonesia by President Ronald Reagan but the nomination was dead-on-arrival because of Crane’s dubious links to Suharto. The ambassadorship would instead go to John Holdridge, a close colleague of Kissinger. Holdridge was succeeded in Jakarta by Paul Wolfowitz.

Suharto’s cronies, who included Mochtar and James Riady of the Lippo Group, would later stand accused of funneling over $1 million of illegal foreign contributions to Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign.

President Obama has twice postponed official state visits to Indonesia, perhaps fearful of the attention such a trip would bring to the CIA connections of his mother and Indonesian step-father.

In the 1970s and 80s, Dunham was active in micro-loan projects for the Ford Foundation, the CIA-linked East-West Center, and USAID in Indonesia. One of the individuals assigned to the U.S. embassy and helped barricade the compound during a violent anti-U.S. student demonstration during the 1965 Suharto coup against Sukarno was Dr. Gordon Donald, Jr. Assigned to the embassy’s Economic Section, Donald was responsible for USAID micro-financing for Indonesian farmers, the same project that Dunham Soetoro would work on for USAID in the 1970s, after her USAID job of teaching English in Indonesia. In a 1968 book, “Who’s Who in the CIA,” published in West Berlin, Donald is identified as a CIA officer who was also assigned to Lahore, Pakistan, where Dunham would eventually live for five years in the Hilton International Hotel while working on microfinancing for the Asian Development Bank.

Another “Who’s Who in the CIA” Jakarta alumnus is Robert F. Grealy, who later became the director for international relations for the Asia-Pacific for J P Morgan Chase and a director for the American-Indonesian Chamber of Commerce. J P Morgan Chase’s CEO Jamie Dimon is being mentioned as a potential replacement for Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, whose father, Peter Geithner, was the Ford Foundation’s Asia grant-selector who funneled the money to Ann Dunham’s Indonesian projects.

CIA Black Projects and Hawaii

While in Pakistan, Dunham’s son Barack visited her in 1980 and 1981. Obama visited Karachi, Lahore, and Hyderabad, India during his south Asia visits. It was during the time period that the CIA was beefing up its anti-Soviet operations in Afghanistan from Pakistan.

A January 31, 1958, heavily-redacted formerly Secret NOFORN [no foreign dissemination] memorandum for CIA Director Allen Dulles from the Deputy Assistant Director of the CIA for Research and Reports [name redacted] reports on a fact-finding mission to the Far East, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East from November 17 through December 21, 1957.

The CIA Office of Research and Reports (ORR) chief reports a meeting with the staff of retired Army General Jesmond Balmer, a senior CIA official in Hawaii, about requests by the Commander-in-Chief Pacific (CINCPAC) for “a number of detailed, time-consuming research studies.” The ORR chief then reports about a CIA “survey of students at the University of Hawaii who have both Chinese language and research ability.” The ORR chief also reports that at a South-East Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) Counter Subversion Seminar at Baguio, Philippines held from November 26-29, 1957, the Economic Subcommittee discussed an “economic development fund” to combat “Sino-Soviet Bloc subversive activities in the area and a consideration of possible counter-measures which might be employed.”

The Thailand and Philippines delegations were pushing hard for U.S. funding for an economic development fund, which may have provided the impetus for later USAID projects in the region, including those with which Peter Geithner and Obama’s mother were intimately involved.

Although CIA geo-political covert operations at the University of Hawaii are well-documented, the agency’s darker side of research and MK-UKTRA type operations has not generally been associated with the University of Hawaii.

A series of formerly Confidential CIA memoranda, dated May 15, 1972, points to the involvement of both the Defense Department’s Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA), the CIA, and the University of Hawaii in the CIA’s behavioral science program. The memos are signed by then-Deputy Director of the CIA Bronson Tweedy, the chief of the Intelligence Community’s Program Review Group (PRG) [name redacted], and CIA Director Richard Helms. The subject of the memos is “ARPA Supported Research Relating to Intelligence Product,” The memo from the PRG chief discusses a conference held on May 11, 1972, attended by Lt. Col. Austin Kibler, ARPA’s Director of Behavioral Research. Kibler was the chief for ARPA research into behavior modification and remote viewing. Others mentioned in the PRG chief’s memo include CIA Deputy Director for Intelligence Edward Proctor, the CIA Deputy Director for Science and Technology Carl Duckett, and Director of the Office of National Estimates John Huizenga.

In 1973, after CIA Director James Schlesinger ordered a review of all CIA programs, the CIA developed a set of documents on various CIA programs collectively called the “Family Jewels.” Most of these documents were released in 2007 but it was also revealed that Dr. Sidney Gottlieb, the CIA’s director of MKULTRA, the agency’s behavior modification, brainwashing, and drug testing component, had been ordered by Helms, before he resigned as CIA director, to be destroyed. Duckett, in one memo from Ben Evans of the CIA to CIA Director William Colby, dated May 8, 1973, conveys that he “thinks the Director would be ill-advised to say he is acquainted with this program,” meaning Gottlieb’s drug testing program under MKULKTRA.

Senior Gerald Ford administration officials, including Chief of Staff Dick Cheney and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, ensured that after the production of the “Family Jewels” documents, no CIA revelations were made about CIA psychological behavior-altering programs, including MKULTRA and Project ARTICHOKE.

The May 15, 1972, set of memos appears to be related to the CIA’s initial research, code named SCANATE, in 1972 into psychic warfare, including the use of psychics for purposes of remote viewing espionage and mind control. The memo discussed Kibler from ARPA and “his contractor,” which was later discovered to be Stanford Research Institute (SRI) in Menlo Park, California.

In a memo from CIA Director Helms to, among others, Duckett, Huizenga, Proctor, and the Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, which later inherited reote viewing from the CIA under the code name GRILL FLAME, Helms insists that ARPA had been supporting research into behavioral science and its potential for intelligence production ”for a number of years” at “M.I.T., Yale, the University of Michigan, U.C.L.A., and University of Hawaii and other institutions as well as in corporate research facilities.”

The role of the University of Hawaii in CIA psych-war operations continues to this day. The chief of research for DIA’s Defense Counterintelligence and Human Intelligence Center (DCHC) Behavioral Sciences Program, Dr. Susan Brandon, who was reportedly involved in a covert program run by the American Psychological Association (APA), Rand Corporation, and the CIA to employ “enhanced interrogation” techniques, including sleep and sensory deprivation, intense pain, and extreme isolation on prisoners held at Bagram airbase in Afghanistan and other “black prisons,” received her PhD in Psychology from the University of Hawaii. Brandon also served as assistant director of Social, Behavioral, and Educational Sciences for the Office of Science and Technology Policy in the George W. Bush White House.

The CIA’s close connections to the University of Hawaii continued to the late 1970s, when the former President of the University of Hawaii from 1969 to 1974, Harlan Cleveland, was a special invited speaker at CIA headquarters on May 10, 1977. Cleveland served as Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs from 1961 to 1965 and Lyndon Johnson’s ambassador to NATO from 1965 to 1969 before taking up his position at the University of Hawaii.

A CIA Director of Training memo dated May 21, 1971, reports on the active recruitment of a U.S. Marine officer who was entering graduate school at the University of Hawaii.

The Family of Obama and the CIA

There are volumes of written material on the CIA backgrounds of George H. W. Bush and CIA-related activities by his father and children, including former President George W. Bush. Barack Obama, on the other hand, cleverly masked his own CIA connections as well as those of his mother, father, step-father, and grandmother (there is very little known about Obama’s grandfather, Stanley Armour Dunham, who was supposedly in the furniture business in Hawaii after serving in Europe during World War II). Presidents and vice presidents do not require security background checks, unlike other members of the federal government, to hold office. That job is left up to the press. In 2008, the press failed miserably in its duty to vet the man who would win the White House. With the ties of Obama’s parents to the University of Hawaii and its links to MKULTRA and ARTICHOKE, a nagging question remains: Is Barack Obama a real-life “Manchurian Candidate?”

(Continued below)

SPECIAL REPORT: The Story of Obama All in the Company – Add one more Obama family member to the CIA payroll. Part III

WMR previously reported on the CIA links of President Obama’s mother, father, step-father, grandmother to the CIA. Not much is known about Obama’s grandfather, Stanley Armour Dunham, who Obama mistakenly referred to as “his father” in two speeches, one recently to the Disabled American Veterans.

What is officially known about Stanley Armour Dunham is that he served with the 9th Air Force in Britain and France prior to and after the D-Day invasion. After the war, Dunham and his wife, Madelyn and his daughter Stanley Ann — Obama’s mother — moved to Berkeley, California; El Dorado, Kansas; Seattle; and Honolulu. Armour Dunham is said to have worked for a series of furniture stores.

Obama maintains that his mother and father first met in a Russian-language class at the University of Hawaii in 1959. However, a photograph has emerged of Stanley Armour welcoming Barack Obama, Sr., complete with traditional Hawaiian welcoming leis, from Kenya. Obama, Sr. was the only Kenyan student airlifted to Hawaii as part of the CIA-inspired Airlift Africa project that saw Obama and 279 other students from British eastern and southern African colonies brought to the United States for college degrees prior to their homelands gaining independence from Britain. The students were selected by Kenyan nationalist leader Tom Mboya who would later conduct surveillance for the CIA at pan-African nationalist meetings. Mboya was particularly focused on two African leaders who were seen as too close to the Sino-Soviet bloc, Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana and Sekout Toure of Guinea.

Stanley Armour Dunham with Barack Obama, Sr. at welcoming ceremony to Hawaii. The presence of two US Navy personnel indicates the plane may have landed at Hickam Air Force Base, an indication of the U.S. government’s and CIA’s role in the Airlift Africa project.

The photograph of Armour Dunham with Barack Obama, Sr., indicates that the “furniture salesman” in Hawaii was, in fact, working with a CIA-funded project to rapidly educate aspiring politicians to serve in post-independence African governments to counter Soviet- and Chinese-backed political leaders in the region.

There is a strong reason to believe that Armour Dunham worked in the 1950s for the CIA in the Middle East. An FBI file on Armour Dunham existed but the bureau claimed it destroyed the file on May 1, 1997. Considering the sour relations between the FBI and CIA during the Cold War, it is likely that Armour Dunham was being monitored by FBI director J. Edgar Hoover in the same manner as a number of other CIA officials and agents were being surveilled. Similarly, the pre-1968 passport records of Obama’s mother, Stanley Ann Dunham, were destroyed by the State Department.

There is a photographic clue that the Dunhams may have been assigned by the CIA to Beirut, Lebanon in the early 1950s. A photograph of Obama’s mother and grandparents has emerged that shows Stanley Ann Dunham wearing what may be a school uniform with the insignia of “NdJ,” which stands for the College Notre-Dame de Jamhour, a private Jesuit Catholic French language school in Beirut, Lebanon. Graduates of the school include three former presidents of Lebanon, Amine Gemayel, Bashir Gemayel, and Charles Helou, all of whom maintained close relations with Washington.

Did Obama’s mother [left] go to a private school in Lebanon in the early 1950s while her father [middle] worked for the CIA in Beirut?

There is also the curious nature of President Obama’s Social Security Number, issued in Connecticut, a state where there is no other evidence of his ever being a resident. Adding to the mystery is a New York City address for a “male” named Stanley Ann Dunham, 235 E. 40th St Apt 8F, New York NY 10016-1747. The address is a few blocks away from the address of the Ford Foundation. Ann Dunham did work briefly in New York for the Ford Foundation.

On August 9, 2010, WMR reported, “In a December 19, 1971, article in the Boston Globe by Dan Pinck, [a historian and former OSS officer] titled ‘Is everyone in the CIA?’ it is alleged that identifying US Agency for International Development (USAID) officers as CIA agents was a ‘reasonably accurate accounting of certain leading operatives and associates of the CIA.’ President Obama’s mother, Stanley Ann Dunham Soetoro worked for USAID in rural Java in Indonesia. Pinck’s article was a review of a 1968 book, ‘Who’s Who in the CIA’ published in Berlin.”

WMR has obtained a rare copy of “Who’s Who in the CIA,” from England. The book, published in West Berlin in 1968, lists some 3,000 CIA agents and agents-of-influence around the world.

The book also contains a reference to one CIA operative whose area of primary place of operation was Mercer Island, Washington. He was retired Air Force General Don Zabriskie Zimmermann, who was the Chief Engineer for the Boeing Company in Seattle. Before retiring from the Air Force, Zimmermann was the Air Force Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Development in Foreign Countries. Ann Stanley Dunham reportedly graduated from Mercer Island High School in 1960 and met Obama later that year in a Russian language class after her parents moved to Hawaii. Stanley Ann’s mother, Madelyn Dunham, worked at a Boeing plant in Wichita, Kansas during World War II.

The book lists the number of CIA agents in countries during the 1950s and 60s where Obama’s father, mother, step-father Lolo Soetori, and allegedly, his grandmother and grandfather worked:

Indonesia

Jakarta 64

Surabaya 12

Medan 8

Hollandia 1

Kenya

Nairobi 19

Mombassa 2

Lebanon

Beirut 61 (including one agent also assigned to Jakarta, Lahore, and Karachi and another assigned to Lahore)

Hawaii

Honolulu 6 (one agent also assigned to Canton Island and another was fluent in French, Stanley Ann Dunham spoke French, Urdu, Bahasa Indonesian, and she studied Javanese at the University of Hawaii, in addition to Russian).

-- Wayne Madsen is a Washington, DC-based investigative journalist, author and syndicated columnist. He has written for several renowned papers and blogs.

Madsen is a regular contributor on Russia Today. He has been a frequent political and national security commentator on Fox News and has also appeared on ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera, and MS-NBC. Madsen has taken on Bill O’Reilly and Sean Hannity on their television shows. He has been invited to testifty as a witness before the US House of Representatives, the UN Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, and an terrorism investigation panel of the French government.

As a U.S. Naval Officer, he managed one of the first computer security programs for the U.S. Navy. He subsequently worked for the National Security Agency, the Naval Data Automation Command, Department of State, RCA Corporation, and Computer Sciences Corporation.

Madsen is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), Association for Intelligence Officers (AFIO), and the National Press Club. He is a regular contributor to Opinion Maker.

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Catholic Church Rejects Surrender Terms from Obama

2012-01-30T09:03:00.000-08:00

Cliff Kincaid — January 30, 2012

My Catholic priest, Father Larry Swink, delivered a homily on Sunday that I told him would make headlines. In the toughest sermon I have ever heard from a pulpit, he attacked the Obama Administration as evil, even demonic, and warned of religious persecution ahead. What was also newsworthy about the sermon was that he cited The Washington Post in agreement—not on the subject of the Obama Administration being evil, but on the matter of its abridgment of the constitutional right to freedom of religion.

What is happening is extraordinary and unprecedented. The Catholic Church is in open revolt against the Obama Administration, with Fr. Swink noting from the pulpit that priests across the archdiocese were joining the call on Sunday to rally Catholics to resistance against the U.S. Government. He said we are entering a time of religious persecution and that Catholics and others will have to make a final decision about which side they are on.

The issue is what the Catholic Bishops have called a “literally unconscionable” edict by the Obama Administration demanding that sterilization, abortifacients and contraception be included in virtually all health plans.

At a time when the media are full of reports about who is ahead and behind in the polls, and who will win the next Republican presidential primary, this incredible uprising in the Catholic Church is something that could not only overshadow the political campaign season, but also may have a major impact on the ultimate outcome—if Republicans know how to handle it. This matter goes beyond partisan politics to the growing perception of an unconstitutional Obama Administration assault on religious freedom. To hear the Catholic Bishops and Priests describe it, our constitutional republic and our freedoms hang in the balance.

The administration claims there is a religious exemption in the mandate, but the bishops say it is so narrow that it fails to cover the vast majority of faith-based organizations, including Catholic hospitals, universities and service organizations that help millions every year. “Ironically,” they say, “not even Jesus & his disciples would have qualified.”

The bishops go on, “Now that the Administration has refused to recognize the Constitutional conscience rights of organizations and individuals who oppose the mandate, the bishops are now urging Catholics and others of good will to fight this unprecedented attack on conscience rights and religious liberty.”

Interestingly, The Washington Post, as Father Swink indicated, agrees with the bishops. The paper said, “In this circumstance, requiring a religiously affiliated employer to spend its own money in a way that violates its religious principles does not make an adequate accommodation for those deeply held views. Having recognized the principle of a religious exemption, the administration should have expanded it.”

So why would the administration pick a major fight with the Catholic Church? There are two main reasons. (1) The administration wants to please its progressive and feminist, secular pro-abortion base. (2) The administration believes Catholics are divided on the issue and will ignore their leaders and follow Obama.

Support for the latter explanation comes in the form of the Obama Administration’s efforts to co-opt the Catholic Church, primarily through appointing nominal Catholics to high-level positions in government and keeping funding going to the church for “social justice” causes. Another player in this effort is the hedge-fund billionaire George Soros, an atheist who nevertheless has foundgroups that are “Catholic in name only” to accept his financial largesse. These groups, including Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, are designed to give the impression that Catholics are less concerned about issues like stopping abortion and protecting the sanctity of traditional marriage than passing government health care. The Obama/Soros gamble may be backfiring.

It’s true that the bishops went along with Obama’s health care scheme, even lobbying on its behalf. But now they seem to be realizing that the plan was a Trojan Horse designed to force population control measures on the people of the United States. It will be difficult for the bishops to continue working with the administration on other issues, like immigration. They have drawn a line in the sand. They cannot back down.

Father Larry Swink of Jesus The Divine Word Catholic Church in Huntingtown, Maryland, is not alone in his tough language. Pittsburgh Bishop David A. Zubik posted a letter on the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh’s website that said, “It is really hard to believe that it happened. It comes like a slap in the face. The Obama administration has just told the Catholics of the United States, ‘To Hell with you!’ There is no other way to put it.” He added, “This whole process of mandating these guidelines undermines the democratic process itself. In this instance, the mandate declares pregnancy a disease, forces a culture of contraception and abortion on society, all while completely bypassing the legislative process.”

You know it’s serious when the bishops are talking about heaven and hell.

Indeed, Fr. Swink opened his discussion of what he described as the evil nature of the Obama Administration by reading from scripture about Jesus casting out demons. He saw the order on health care coverage as the start of religious persecution. The congregation joined him in calls of “Amen” when he challenged them to stand tall with the church.

You cannot expect the secular Washington Post to go along with such rhetoric. But even its liberal editorial writer saw the ramifications of the health care order, perhaps anticipating the confrontation that we now see developing. From the point of view of this liberal paper, the Obama Administration is not only undermining religious freedom but risking a major backlash to its overall “progressive” agenda and even a second term in office.

Some may see this battle as just another church-state dust-up that will be resolved through litigation. But when apocalyptic imagery is used, such as what I heard at my church on Sunday, one must wonder if there is an awakening on the part of the Catholic community and if there is something else going on here besides politics as usual. In short, is the Catholic Church beginning to finally recognize the real nature of the Obama Administration?

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Has Twitter gone to the dark side with new censorship?

2012-01-30T08:52:00.000-08:00

9:57 am January 28, 2012, by Christopher Seward

Twitter is going into the censorship business, and followers don’t like it.

The hugely popular social network, which unwittingly has helped fuel pro-democracy movements in the Middle East and elsewhere by allowing pretty much unfettered access to tweets, has decided to take down tweets that may break the law in one country but allow that same tweet to be seen in other countries. Previously, when a tweet came down it vanished from screens throughout the world.

Twitter says it’ll post a censorship notice whenever a tweet is taken down and it’ll also post on the website chillingeffects.org censorship notices that it gets from governments, companies and individuals.

Twitter defends the move as “a good thing for freedom of expression, transparency and accountability,” according to an Associated Press report.

The freedom-of-the-press advocacy group Reporters Without Borders, however, says Twitter will help suppress voices of dissent.

From the AP:

“By finally choosing to align itself with the censors, Twitter is depriving cyberdissidents in repressive countries of a crucial tool for information and organization…Twitter’s position that freedom of expression is interpreted differently from country to country is unacceptable.”

Has Twitter gone to the dark side? Would you want your tweet removed just because Washington doesn’t particularly like it?

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Zbigniew Brzezinski: "Strategic Vision: America and the Crisis of Global Power"

2012-01-30T06:36:00.000-08:00

LISTEN (to the podcast) X

Zbigniew Brzezinski: "Strategic Vision: America and the Crisis of Global Power" (Rebroadcast)

Sunday, January 29, 2012 - 2:06 p.m.

Zbigniew Brzezinski has had a hand in U.S. foreign policy for four decades. He served as national security adviser to President Jimmy Carter from 1977-1981. Since then he has counseled presidents and members of Congress. And he has written and lectured extensively on America's role in the world. In a new book Brzezinksi argues U.S. leaders need a better strategic vision to navigate the challenges of the 21st century. He offers his insights on China's meteoric rise, a turbulent Middle East and the likely consequences of a decline in American power.

Guests

Zbigniew Brzezinski

counselor and trustee at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, professor of American Foreign Policy at the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University and former National Security Advisor in the Carter administration.

This is a rebroadcast. Please view the original broadcast to comment.

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I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD

2012-01-30T06:16:00.000-08:00

Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me understanding according to thy word.

Let my supplication come before thee: deliver me according to thy word.

My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes.

My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.

Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts.

I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; and thy law is my delight.

Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me.

I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.

Psalm 119: 169-176.

Activist priest, ailing in detention, ends hunger strike after 2 weeks

2012-01-29T12:52:00.000-08:00

Originally published Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 7:28 PM

Father William "Bix" Bichsel, a Tacoma Jesuit priest, had been fasting to protest "nuclear weapons, inhumane treatment at prisons and the separation of policy from conscience," according to his attorney. The ailing 83-year-old broke his fast Wednesday because he felt himself weakening.

By Christine Clarridge

The Rev. Bix Bichsel, veteran of peace protests

JOE BARRENTINE / THE NEWS TRIBUNE

A Tacoma priest and peace activist best known for breaking into a nuclear submarine base in Kitsap County has ended a two-week fast that drew sharp concern from some in the local faith and peace communities.

Father William "Bix" Bichsel, a Jesuit priest based at St. Leo's Parish, had been fasting to protest "nuclear weapons, inhumane treatment at prisons and the separation of policy from conscience," according to his attorney Blake Kremer.

The ailing 83-year-old broke his fast Wednesday, according to portions of a letter from him published in the Disarmnowplowshares's Blog, because he felt himself weakening.

Bichsel has been arrested in connection with peace protests and acts of civil disobedience numerous times.

In 2009, he was among a group of five protesters who made headlines when they breached high-level security at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor by cutting through two fences to reach bunkers where nuclear weapons are believed to be stored.

The group, which included another priest and a nun, set up banners, sprinkled blood on the ground, scattered sunflower seeds and prayed until they were arrested, according to court documents.

Bichsel and the others ultimately were convicted of conspiracy, trespass and destruction of government property in the Bangor incident and were sentenced to terms ranging from two to 15 months, court documents show.

Nuke-complex trespass

In July 2010, Bichsel was arrested for trespassing at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tenn., where a nuclear-weapons manufacturing complex is planned, according to Disarm Now Plowshares. For that act of civil disobedience, Kremer said, he was given a three-month sentence, which he began serving Nov. 10, 2011, at the Federal Detention Center in SeaTac.

This month he was moved to a residential re-entry center, or halfway house, in Tacoma, according to Kremer.

It's unclear exactly what happened once he arrived at the halfway house, but for some reason he was sent back to SeaTac the following day and placed in solitary housing.

Kremer said Bichsel believes he was sanctioned because two Buddhist monks were waiting for him, and drumming, when he arrived at the transitional house.

The Bureau of Prisons declined to talk specifically about what policy Bichsel is alleged to have violated, but Kremer said Bichsel believes supporters were not supposed to be notified of his move or new location.

Kremer said that when Bichsel was moved back to SeaTac, he was initially denied warm clothing and extra blankets required for his circulatory and medical conditions.

2 pints of milk a day

Bichsel began his partial fast, taking only 2 pints of milk each day, to protest what he saw as the arbitrarily inhumane and harsh treatment of his fellow prisoners as well as to draw attention to his opposition to nuclear weapons and the existence of policies "divorced from conscience," Kremer said.

News of Bichsel's sanction, and subsequent fast, sparked outrage and a flurry of letters and phone calls to the prison and the media from members of the faith and peace communities. A vigil was held for him outside the detention center last Sunday.

Virginia "Ginger" Kennedy, a member of St. Leo's Parish, where Bichsel serves, said she was concerned about his well-being.

"He shouldn't even be there. He's not a flight risk, and he doesn't have a mean bone in his body," she said.

In his letter last Tuesday, Bichsel said he has now received additional clothing and blankets. In addition, he has been so encouraged by the support from well-wishers and by "a real sense of God's presence" that he no longer seeks release from the Special Housing Unit.

"Thank you hugely ... for the tremendous outpouring of help and consciousness you have brought about," he wrote. "Overwhelmed and humbled am I."

Christine Clarridge: 206-464-8983 or cclarridge@seattletimes.com

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Sarkozy announces 0.1 percent transaction tax from August

2012-01-29T12:19:00.000-08:00

(AFP) – 43 minutes ago


France's President Nicolas Sarkozy gets ready prior to the start of the one hour-long television interview (AFP/POOL, Lionel Bonaventure)

PARIS — French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Sunday announced plans to introduce a 0.1 percent tax on financial transactions to come into effect from August this year in France.

Sarkozy said he hoped to "create a shock" with the controversial "Robin Hood" tax and inspire other European countries to follow his lead, despite vocal opposition from other EU leaders.

He said in a television interview that the tax would enable French companies to keep jobs at home instead of outsourcing them abroad.

Advocates of the tax see it as a potentially significant revenue generator as well as a penalty against speculation, but critics say it could cause investors to pull their money out of countries applying it.

Some governments have in recent years taken up the campaign but most now intend to use the so-called "Robin Hood tax" to help reduce their budget deficits rather than embark on specific social programmes.

France and its major eurozone partners have supported the idea of the tax but now seem divided on how to approach the issue, with the major players in the bloc Germany and Italy advising caution.

Britain is opposed to transaction taxes being implemented across the 27-member EU bloc.

Fuente
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Davos Leaders Urge Europe to Resolve Crisis Threatening the Global Economy

2012-01-29T12:05:00.000-08:00

By Simon Kennedy and Jana Randow - Jan 29, 2012 3:00 AM ET

Davos World Economic Forum 2012

Scott Eells/Bloomberg

Donald Tsang, Hong Kong's chief executive, left, sits with Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), center, and George Osborne, U.K. chancellor of the exchequer, during a session on Jan. 28, 2012 at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.

Global finance chiefs warned no economy is safe from Europe’s debt crisis, adding urgency to their calls for its governments to deliver a swift resolution.

Policy makers from Hong Kong to Canada used the last full day of theWorld Economic Forum to push euro-region counterparts to boost their bailout cashpile to protect Italy and Spain. They also pressed Greece and its creditors to strike a credible agreement to cut the nation’s debt.

Failure to deliver home-grown solutions would cost Europe any chance of further outside support and undermine the International Monetary Fund’s push for more crisis-fighting resources of its own, officials said. The concern tempered optimism from earlier in the week when delegates expressed hope that Europe had succeeded in calming markets after two years of turmoil.

“I’ve never been as scared as I am about the world,” Donald Tsang,Hong Kong’s chief executive, said yesterday in Davos, Switzerland. “Nobody’s immune. You need decisive action. You need to inspire confidence.”

Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney estimated the European crisis will subtract 1 percentage point from global growth by the end of 2012 “and that’s in a world where this crisis is contained.” Europe’s pain could be transmitted via trade or financial channels with banks already hoarding cash or investing only in domestic markets, he said.

‘Train Wreck’

Yale University Professor Robert Shiller echoed the concern by estimating the euro-area will contract this year by more than the 0.5 percent predicted by the IMF. Nouriel Roubini, co- founder of Roubini Global Economics LLC, said Greece may be forced to quit the single currency within 12 months.

“The euro zone is a slow-motion train wreck,” Roubini said.

The concern leaves the euro-area’s leaders under pressure to raise the size of their rescue funds from the limit of 500 billion euros set to take effect in July when a permanent fund comes online aside the temporary European Financial Stability Facility.

While they plan to reassess that amount in March, U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne indicated they may need to do so sooner by demanding steps in “the next few weeks.” EU leaders next meet in two days time in Brussels to draw up a fiscal compact to strengthen governance of the euro area.

Not Dealt With

Osborne also sided with the consensus by urging a fast accord on slashing Greece’s debts, three months since creditors agreed to implement a 50 percent cut in the face value of more than 200 billion euros of debt. Negotiations continue in Athens this week.

“The fact we’re still at the beginning of 2012 talking about Greece is a sign this problem hasn’t been dealt with,” Osborne said.

Carney said a “credible” agreement is required even if that means increasing the participation of the private sector and perhaps the public sector. Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan said Greece should be prevented from defaulting because “once that door is open” others could follow.

Policy makers from Japan and the U.K. said while they and others might add to the IMF’s coffers, a prerequisite was Europe putting up more money of its own. Absent “firm action, I don’t think developing countries like China are willing to pay more money,” Japanese Economy Minister Motohisa Furukawa said.

Little Bag

Seeking to insulate the world from Europe’s woes, Lagarde wants to boost her institution’s lending capacity by $500 billion. She made her pitch by saying the world had “never been so interconnected” and that the IMF was always repaid with interest.

“I’m here with my little bag to collect a little bit of money,” she said.

Last-minute worries took the shine off the sentiment of earlier in the week when delegates sounded upbeat about Europe’s outlook after financial markets stabilized. Market lending rates eased again this week and Italian and Spanish bonds rose as borrowing costs fell at debt auctions. At the same time, Portuguese credit-default swaps hit a record and Fitch Ratings on Jan. 27 downgraded Spain, Italy and three other euro countries.

Buys Time

World Bank President Robert Zoellick said the respite was likely temporary and linked it to the ECB last month lending euro-area banks a record 489 billion euros for three years to ward off a funding squeeze.

“I’m really glad the ECB took these actions, but let’s not be complacent,” Zoellick said. “This buys time, you still have to act.”

To contact the reporter on this story: Simon Kennedy in Davos at skennedy4@bloomberg.netJana Randow in Davos at jrandow@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: John Fraher at jfraher@bloomberg.net

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VATICAN GLOBAL CONTROL: JON RAPPOPORT INTERVIEWS RICHARD BELL, FINANCE HISTORIAN & FORMER STOCKS MANIPULATOR‏

2012-01-28T10:18:00.000-08:00

VaTiCaN GLoBaL CoNTRoL: JoN RaPPoPoRT iNTeRVieWS RiCHaRD BeLL, FiNaNCe HiSToRiaN & FoRMeR SToCKS MaNiPuLaToR

http://www.scribd.com/doc/7197144/Jon-Rappoport-The-Vatican

A new interview with Richard Bell, historian of money, retired manipulator of stocks.

Q: So, foreign investors are accelerating their withdrawal of money from the US.

A: A significant amount is being shifted to Europe.

Q: So is this current stock market debacle an OP run by the European Union (EU)?

A: That is true, but too simplistic. Dr. Paisley points out that the EU has been a stepoperation.

Q: Meaning?

A: First came the Common Market. Then we had the European Community. Now we have the Europe Union. At each step, people were told, “This is a good and limited concept.” That was all a joke. It was always about creating one giant Euro-super-state, under the control of a few people.

Who really Killed Alberto Rivera?

2012-01-28T09:01:00.000-08:00

REMEMBER A UNION OF CHURCH &

STATE PLACED YAHUSHUA (JESUS) ON THE CROSS TO DIE.

The Blood of the Martyrs Still flowing

And will continue flowing until the return of the Moshiac.

Who really Killed Alberto Rivera?

We want to inform you that June 20, 1997 the beloved brother in the Lord Alberto Rivera was poisoned, and the church of the Savior lost another saint in the hands of criminals. Alberto was killed in his own congregation by people He knew. These people disguised themselves as saints of the Most High and played the role of saints, with the purpose to kill and destroy Bible believing saints. The only task of this saint was to denounce apostasy and to tell the church to turn from wickedness, and to turn to the word of the Creator. May the example of Alberto Rivera be in the heart of all those who love the Savior and his cause. We want to ask you some questions, Alberto Rivera was denouncing the many wrong doings of the catholic church, and how far away are they from the Bible. He also endure the attacks from the apostates as Hank Hannegraf and CRI and other professing believers, who took and take side with Roman Catholicism against the Gospel of our Lord and Savior and the testimony of Alberto Rivera, Chick Publications and other loyals who put the bible first. Before we give you the historic information to help you to decide your own personal verdict on this murder case. We want to include in this page a dream Mrs. Ellen G. White did have 100 years before the late Mr. Alberto Rivera began denouncing in his books the Roman Catholic Church. Alberto Rivera affirmed in the video prepared by James Arrabito "Jesuits Exposed" that: ..." Even The 7th Day Adventist Church have been placed under the greatest SET-UP, I mean, the greatest SET-UP in all the history of the DENOMINATIONS"...Quoted from the video "Jesuits Exposed"

"That night I dreamed that I was in Battle Creek looking out from the side glass at the door and saw a company marching up to the house, two and two. They looked stern and determined. I knew them well and turned to open the parlor door to receive them, but thought I would look again. The scene was changed. The company now presented the appearance of a Catholic procession. One bore in his hand a cross, another a reed. And as they approached, the one carrying a reed made a circle around the house, saying three times: "This house is proscribed. The goods must be confiscated. They have spoken against our holy order." Terror seized me, and I ran through the house, out of the north door, and found myself in the midst of a company, some of whom I knew, but I dared not speak a word to them for fear of being betrayed. I tried to seek a retired spot where I might weep and pray without meeting eager, inquisitive eyes wherever I turned. I repeated frequently: "If I could only understand this! If they will tell me what I have said or what I have done!"

I wept and prayed much as I saw our goods confiscated. I tried to read sympathy or pity for me in the looks of those around me, and marked the countenances of several whom I thought would speak to me and comfort me if they did not fear that they would be observed by others. I made one attempt to escape from the crowd, but seeing that I was watched, I concealed my intentions. I commenced weeping aloud, and saying: "If they would only tell me what I have done or what I have said!" My husband, who was sleeping in a bed in the same room, heard me weeping aloud and awoke me. My pillow was wet with tears, and a sad depression of spirits was upon me" From the book By Ellen Gould White, "Testimonies For the Church" Vol 1. pag 578.

Who killed Alberto Rivera? Was Fidel Castro intelligence Agency called G-2? or Was the CIA? or Was the KGB? or.......... Was it the Jesuit order, the one he was denouncing? It is your choice to answer the question. ..."At the time of the reformation in Europe. At this time great perils surrounded the protestant cause, the anathemas of the Pope thundered against Geneva, and mighty nations threatened it with destruction. How was this little city to resist the powerful hierarchy that had so often force kings and emperors to submission? How could stand against the armies of the world's great conquerors?

Throughout Christendom, Protestantism was menaced by formidable foes. The first triumphs of the reformation past, Rome summoned new forces, hoping to accomplish its destruction. At this time the order of the Jesuits was created, the most cruel, unscrupulous, and powerful of all the champions of popery. Cut off from earthly ties and human interest, dead to the claims of natural affection, reason and conscience wholly silence, they knew no rule, no tie, but that of their order, and no duty but to extend its power. The gospel of the Savior had enabled its adherents to meet danger and endured suffering, undismayed by cold, hunger, toil, and poverty, to uphold the banner of truth in face of the rack, the dungeon, and the stake. To combat these forces, Jesuitism inspired it followers with a fanaticism that enabled them to endure like dangers, and to oppose to the power of truth all the weapons of deception. There was no crime too great for them to commit, no deception too base for them to practice, no disguise too difficult for them to assume. Vowed to perpetual poverty and humility, it was their studied aim to secure wealth and power, to be devoted to the overthrow of Protestantism, and the re-establishment of the papal supremacy.

When appearing as members of their order, they wore a garb of sanctity, visiting prisons and hospitals, ministering to the sick and the poor, professing to have renounced the world, and bearing the sacred name of the Savior, who went about doing good. But under the blameless exterior the most criminal and deadly purposes were often concealed. IT WAS A FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE OF THE ORDER THAT THE END JUSTIFIES THE MEANS. By this code, lying, theft, perjury, assassination, were not only pardonable but commendable, when they serve the interest of the church. Under various disguises the Jesuits worked their way into offices of state, climbing up to be the counselors of kings, and shaping the policy of nations. They became servants to act as spies upon their masters. They established colleges for the sons of princes and nobles, and schools for the common people; and the children of protestants parents were drawn into and observance of popish rites. All the outward pump and display of the romish worship was brought to bear to confuse the mind and dazzle and captivate the imagination, and thus the liberty for which the fathers had toiled and bled was betrayed by the sons. The Jesuits rapidly spread themselves over Europe, and wherever they went , there followed a revival of popery.

From the book "The Great Controversy" by Ellen G. White. page 234 & 235.

In the thirteenth century was established that most terrible of all the engines of the papacy--the Inquisition. The prince of darkness wrought with the leaders of the papal hierarchy. In their secret councils Satan and his angels controlled the minds of evil men, while unseen in the midst stood and angel of the Creator, taking the fearful record of their iniquitous decrees and writing the history of deeds too horrible to appear to human eyes. "Babylon the Great" was "drunken with the blood of the saints." The mangled forms of millions of martyrs cried to the Creator for vengeance upon the apostate power.

Popery had become the world's despot. Kings and emperors bowed to the decrees of the Roman pontiff. The destinies of men, both for time and for eternity, seemed under his control. For hundreds of years the doctrines of Rome had been extensively and implicitly received, its rites reverently performed, its festivals generally observed. Its clergy were honored and liberally sustained. Never since has the Roman Church attained to greater dignity, magnificence, or power. But "the noon of the papacy was the midnight of the world" --J.A. Wylie, "The History of Protestantism", b.i, ch.4. The Holy Scriptures were almost unknown, not only to the people, but to the priests. Like the Pharisees of old, the papal leaders hated the light which would reveal their sins. The Law of the Creator, the standard of righteousness, having been removed, they exercised power without limits, and practice vise without restraint. Fraud, avarice, and profligacy prevailed. Men shrank from no crime by which they could gain wealth or position. The palaces of Popes and prelates were scenes of the vilest debauchery. Some of the reigning pontiff were guilty of crimes so revolting that secular rulers endeavored to depose these dignitaries of the church as monsters too vile to be tolerated. For centuries Europe had made no progress in learning, arts, or civilization. Amoral and intellectual paralysis had fallen upon Christendom.

We recommend the reading of the following books: "The Secret History of the Jesuits" by Edmond Paris. "50 Years in the Church of Rome" by Father Charles Chiniquy. "The Great Controversy " by Ellen G. White. "History of Protestantism" by D'Aubigne.

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Behind the Door - Jim Arrabito

2012-01-28T08:42:00.000-08:00

Uploaded by AM5743 on Jun 28, 2011

MEET THE ‘PREPPERS’ — THE AMERICANS STOCKPILING FOOD & WATER FOR A POSSIBLE COLLAPSE

2012-01-28T08:10:00.000-08:00

Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:39am by Billy Hallowell

The world’s a scary place. Wars, famines, corrupt politicians, terrorism, imploding economies — the list goes on. There are plenty of issues worth fearing, which is why a subset of the nation is preparing for what they see as impending calamity.

These individuals, dubbed “preppers,” are stocking up on food, guns, water and other items that they may need should the economy erupt or a massive natural disaster strike. With so many possibilities for problematic occurrences, these individuals want to ensure that they can live beyond any tragically defining moments.

Most preppers are fearful of the prospects of no governmental structure — something that some see as a possibility amidst economic woes and political strife. Back in 2009, a Newsweek report described this phenomenon:

In the late 1990s, Y2K fears brought survivalism to the mainstream, only to usher it back out again when disaster didn’t strike. (Suddenly, unused survival gear began showing up in classifieds and on eBay.) A decade later, “preppers” are what you might call survivalism’s Third Wave: regular people with jobs and homes whose are increasingly fearful about the future…

Watch some preppers discuss their lifestyle, below:

Reuters published a report this weekend, highlighting some of the preppers out there who are stockpiling and awaiting what they see as the inevitable. To begin, there’s Patty Tegeler, a 57-year-old who lives in Virginia’s Appalachian Mountains.

“In an instant, anything can happen,” she said. “And I firmly believe that you have to be prepared.”

Tegeler’s home has essentially been prepared for whatever may come. She has a large generator, water tanks, portable heaters and enough freeze-dried food to lock herself inside and to keep nourished for two years.

Wondering how she secured these items? There’s an entire market that caters to these individuals (most vendors operate on the internet). These companies sell many of the items that Tegeler has in her own home, as they teach skills or sell the products needed to ensure individual and family survival pending disaster.

The Reuters article even mentions Glenn Beck:

Conservative talk radio host Glenn Beck seems to preach preppers’ message when he tells listeners: “It’s never too late to prepare for the end of the world as we know it.”

Additionally, it goes on to further explain the movement:

“With our current dependence on things from the electric grid to the Internet, things that people have absolutely no control over, there is a feeling that a collapse scenario can easily emerge, with a belief that the end is coming, and it is all out of the individual’s control,” [Cathy Gutierrez, an expert on end-times beliefs at Sweet Briar College in Virginia] told Reuters.

While many would dub survivalist behaviors as silly or a waste of time, preppers separate themselves from the likes of Harold Camping and other leaders who have set dates for what they promise to be apocalyptic conclusions to societal existence. Preppers like Tegeler claim that their items won‘t go to waste regardless of whether there’s a collapse or not. For these individuals it’s all about being ready for anything that could unfold.

And there’s plenty of media outlets for these individuals to consume, as they share tips and communicate with one another. Blogs like lawyer Michael T. Snider’s “The Economic Collapse” focus upon the themes surrounding the economy’s potential bust.

“Most people have a gut feeling that something has gone terribly wrong, but that doesn’t mean that they understand what is happening,” Snider said. “A lot of Americans sense that a massive economic storm is coming and they want to be prepared for it.”

Then there’s James Wesley Rawles, a former Army intelligence officer, who is behind the “Survival Blog,” an online outlet that preppers regularly read.

“We could see a cascade of higher interest rates, margin calls, stock market collapses, bank runs, currency revaluations, mass street protests, and riots,” he said in an interview with Reuters. “The worst-case end result would be a Third World War, mass inflation, currency collapses, and long term power grid failures.”

A screen shot from the American Preppers Network

Tom Martin launched “American Prepper’s Network” back in 2009 — a daily blog and support network that attracts thousands of individuals each week. The most recent post on the site’s blogreads:

Man-made disasters come in many forms. The most obvious would be spills and contamination caused by deteriorating materials, poor driving, train derailments, pipeline maintenance (or lack thereof), infrastructure collapse, policies that lead to coastal erosion, policies that contribute to widespread forest fires, sub-standard building codes, etc. There are other potential disasters that can be even more far-reaching. These include, but not limited to, monetary policies, tax codes, currency issues, stock market crashes, credit down grades, recession/depression, inflation/hyper-inflation (alaWeimar republic) and devaluation of a currency. Venezuela, Japan and others have experienced these events.
The list of possibilities is long and growing, but again, the prudent man attempts to prepare. For his family and his continued well-being.

This is only a small lens into the prepper movement, but this is nothing new. Throughout history, subsets of American society have remained ready and prepared for whatever may come. While critics may dub it an over reaction, preppers feel they’re simply being prudent.

For a glimpse into some others who are “prepping” for the future, be sure to watch GBTV’s “Independence USA” — a reality show featuring a family trying to live off the grid.

Below, watch a clip that provides a glimpse into the show:

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The Advancing Papacy by Richard Bennett

2012-01-27T16:20:00.000-08:00

Uploaded by BereanBeacon on Mar 17, 2008
Vatican Control Though Civil Law - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQCqamsAgUQ

Evangelicals and Catholic Together - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuiJrhMxxJg

http://www.bereanbeacon.org
info@bereanbeacon.org

sacraments Catholic Relief Services Catholic Charities apostolic succession Eucharist Catholic Mass Nicene-Creed liturgy ecumenical councils Filioque Irenaeus Polycarp Catechism of the Catholic Church Sacred-Tradition Magisterium Baptism Confirmation Eucharist Penance Anointing-of-the-Sick Holy Orders Holy Matrimony Apostles' Creed papal infallibility filioque clause immaculate-conception priesthood seven deadly sins Baptism absolution seal of confession excommunication Penance Confirmation apostolic constitution Purgatory Liturgy of the Hours Mass of Paul VI Liturgy of the Word transubstantiation homily Indult Council of Trent Summorum-Pontificum motu-proprio Ecclesia-Dei Advent Lent Ordinary-Time canon-law breviary Stations of the Cross Mother of God College of Cardinals Vatican Vatican City Roman Curia hierarchy bishops priests deacons patriarchs primates archbishops College of Bishops metropolitans Communion and Liberation, Neocatechumenal Way, Regnum Christi, Focolare Movement Charismatic movement Traditionalists Opus Dei Life Teen divorce annulments monks nuns cloistered friars Rule of St Benedict Sisters of Charity Marist Brothers Carmelites Cistercians
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The History of the Jesuits

2012-01-27T16:16:00.000-08:00

Uploaded by TRUTHABOUTSUNDAY on Mar 6, 2011

For Educational Purposes Only

Many people have lost their lives to expose the wicked system of the Vatican and its cohorts called the Jesuits. Jim Arrabito gives information that details such despicable infiltration of our institutions of governance.

When honchos talk boom amid global bust

2012-01-26T08:25:00.000-08:00

Business Birdie

Shaili Chopra
Thursday January 26, 2012, 05:04 PM

Davos, the buzzing networking Swiss village for the last week of January is back in focus. But will the snow clad promenade which witnesses the world's most influential once again fail to get the pulse of the world? Over the years it’s becoming clearer that many subjects discussed at the World Economic Forum along the corridors by the world’s best CEOs, are getting predictions wrong. And it’s not the economists alone.

From an India standpoint, this is starker than ever. At the previous Annual Meeting in Davos in January 2011, India celebrated the 5 year anniversary of the ‘India Everywhere’ campaign, making another pitch for vibrant India and the economic promise. Except that in the 12 months that followed, it was proved that India was ‘not quite there’ as it saw its GDP dip, corruption soar and gloom enveloped the country.

“Today we are trapped in individual goal chasing and a fractured resolve,” says Vineet Nayar of HCL Tech “The crying need of the hour therefore is to come together as a nation, pool all our resources together to create a unified vision, take decisive actions and most importantly collaborate across all stake holders to get the most important things done. Maybe we needed an external crisis to wake up the giant … that crisis is now right at our doorstep.”

But does WEF really reflect this reality? Anand Mahindra says, "I'm more comfortable with their being bullish, even if they often prove to be off the mark." Davos sees attendance from many of the people who make the world turn. Indian CEOs believes the feel good factor is more encouraging. "It would be a little scary if they were always pessimistic about the global economy," says Mahindra.

Lee Howell, MD of WEF believes more leaders come here for a sense of change and there "are keen to know of what can be the opportunities of the existing situation." But Soumitra Dutta, just appointed dean of Cornell doesn't entire agree, "The danger is Indian optimism should not turn into arrogance."

Sentiment vs Reality

History is testimony to the ironically timed discussions at Davos, which often would see just the opposite play out in the world economy in the following year. In 1999, there was plenty of bubbly flowing to celebrate the peak of Internet boom, one that was expected to be everlasting. Bill Gates who attended WEF that year was worth $101 billion and called the Centibillionaire. Most CEOs at the forum’s corridors were smug and upbeat but just within the12 months that followed, the Davos Man began shivering. The boom had gone bust. The same people talked about how Internet stocks were grossly overvalued.

2007 played up the rise of Asia in the forum’s key agenda but entirely ignored the underlying threats to the world economy, that it was slowing down and facing major risks including the American subprime and the over-heating in China. Exactly a month after a bullish Davos forum, the Shanghai Stock exchange tumbled 9%, the largest in the preceding ten years, triggering a world wide sell-off. What everyone forgot was the rise of Asia, particular China is closely linked to the US economy and so the economic muck began to float to the surface with 2007 triggering off the start of tough times. Why go far? Even as the subprime crisis held the US economy hostage, Davos had little premonition about it earlier in the year.

When CEOs gather from across the world, each is trying to pitch to investors and often that selling point is a tad inflated. Rahul Bajaj, who goes there every year says, “ We are going to have a different tone here and there. We have a different purpose of opening our mouth. We need to attract investment, we need to put our best foot forward.” But Azim Premji of Wipro takes this with a pinch of salt, admits the euphoria has seen a correction "I think hypes have come down. That's not a bad thing because if we over-hype ourselves, then there can be a little disappointment. Plus the growth has come down which is a dampener on the situation, there is no doubt about that."

Less India Star Power

Whether Davos gets it right or wrong, it’s definitely become a once-a-year stop for a quick networking binge. But overtime, CEOs have been faced with dilemmas about what they really gain from it. Bajaj quips, “I haven’t earned a penny from going there!” He is in his 35 year of visit and believes its “an expensive holiday for me. I love it” This year much of India’s star power has decided to stay back. Kumar Mangalam Birla has called off his visit while Anand Mahindra is skipping Davos for the Sundance Festive. The finance minister has yet again decided not to go. Also not attending this year are WEF favourite Nandan Nilekani, bankers like KV Kamath, Chandha Kochchar. Montek Singh Ahluwalia and later Kamal Nath have also decided to drop out. An economist at Davos wondered,"Could they be worried about the world seeking explanations to the mess over India's scams?"

Nayar of HCL Tech has in the past questioned the relevance of Davos in an article he wrote, "Do the issues being debated at Davos by the world's movers and shakers, in both public and private forums, result in significant change? In short, does the event create more light than heat?" That's question many introspect on but most return to the forum.

Davos is planning to move its 5 day business-avangza to another few days of January or yet another month. We don't know if its numerology for luck or just a desire to keep date with the Chinese who can only make it after their Chinese new year celebrations end in January, but hopefully whatever the case, it may mean better fortunes for forecast and getting the pulse right.

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New questions, challenges confront Episcopal-turned-Catholic leader

2012-01-26T08:19:00.000-08:00

FIRSTPERSON-STEENSON Jan-25-2012 With photos posted Jan. 23. xxxn

Father Jeffrey N. Steenson gives the homily during Mass Mount Calvary Church in Baltimore Jan. 22. (CNS/Nancy Phelan Wiechec)

By Nancy Frazier O'Brien
Catholic News Service

BALTIMORE (CNS) -- Father Jeffrey N. Steenson is finding that there are a lot of new roads to travel and new questions to resolve since his Jan. 1 appointment as head of the Houston-based Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter for former Anglicans who want to become Catholics.

The former Episcopal bishop of the Rio Grande, who was ordained a Catholic priest of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, N.M., in February 2009, was to be installed in his new post Feb. 12. Also in February, a class of about 40 former Episcopal priests will begin an intensive, Internet-based course of studies to become Catholic priests within the ordinariate.

Father Steenson and his wife, Debra, have three grown children and a grandson. Because he is married, he will not be ordained a bishop, but he will become a full voting member of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

He spoke to Catholic News Service during a busy day Jan. 22 at Mount Calvary Church in Baltimore, where he celebrated Mass, received a group of parishioners into the Catholic Church, performed a baptism and led an evensong service.

Q: What do you see as the biggest challenges facing the ordinariate and yourself in the next months or years?

A: We have to create a set of norms to govern it -- I'm not a canon lawyer, but the canon lawyers call it particular law. None of that exists yet so that's what we've been working overtime on for the last month, just to try and create that. So there's the practical question of getting the legal and business structure set up, and I've noticed that there are so many questions about the ordinariate -- about what it is, what its mission is -- that it's easy for people to misunderstand or draw wrong conclusions. Like, the Episcopalians shouldn't think we're sheep stealing because we could never contact an Episcopalian directly. The Catholic Church wonders, "Will you fit in or will you just be a separate entity?" So we have to show that we're going to keep our patrimony, our identity intact but we're a fully functioning part of the Catholic Church and we have deep respect for the ecumenical protocols whenever there are these awkward situations coming up. So I would say this is very, very difficult. (Laughs) God is really going to have to watch over us in all this.

Q: Are there special challenges to governing a church jurisdiction that covers so large a geographical area?

A: I'm sure there are going to be many, and it's primarily going to be for the clergy to be able to build relationships with each other. We're going to be virtual in so many respects. We're going to really depend on technology to keep communication open. Our formation program for the clergy is going to be run via a really high-tech Internet system that will allow real-time, two-way communications, which I'm told has never been attempted before in any kind of a theological exercise. So that will be hard, and I'm concerned that a small group -- I mean, this church (Mount Calvary) is not going to have any problems -- but a small group that is out in the middle of nowhere doesn't feel isolated and forgotten. So we will have to work really hard on that.

Q: It seems to me that there would be something to learn from the Eastern Catholic jurisdictions in the United States on that. Have you been contacted with them about how they ...

A: I've talked to some of them. I've listened to many of the stories that have been told about their difficulties over the years. But in a way the Catholic Church today is in such a different place than it was in the early part of the 20th century. I've felt only a great sense of welcome from the Catholic bishops. And I hope -- I don't know how to put it, because I don't know enough about the history of Eastern Catholicism to be able to speak very knowledgably about it -- but I don't want to see us living too separated of an existence from the Latin rite. For good theological and historical reasons too because that's where we came from. Whereas the Eastern-rite Catholics, they have a ritual identity that goes way, way, way back. And for Anglicans, I mean we're specifically not a ritual church; we're not recognized as a separate rite but we're part of the regular Roman rite using our Anglican patrimony.

Q: Has the formation of the ordinariate given a new impetus or prompted a renewed interest in joining the Catholic Church among new groups of Episcopalians?

A: Oh yes, there has been. Probably maybe 30 extra priests have contacted us at some level. It's not an easy journey, even the ordinariate, because the priest really has to be willing to make the journey to the Catholic Church and not just escape from his own. So it requires commitment and a lot of prayer to think through and a lot of sacrifices have to be made. And it's very hard to start all over again. So I do expect that it will grow, but my goal has been that as we form these guys they will be able to stand equally with their Latin Catholic counterparts, that they'll be as well formed and be able to function in the priesthood at the same level.

Q: Why is the ordinariate needed when individual Episcopalians and even married Episcopal priests have been able to join the Catholic Church through other routes for years?

A: When the apostolic constitution was published, there was an explanation written by (Jesuit) Father (Gianfranco) Ghirlanda, who's the canon lawyer at the Gregorian University, that's kind of the official commentary on it. And he answered that question by saying that the reason for the ordinariate is to guarantee the existence of the liturgical identity and patrimony. So whereas in the pastoral provision for an individual converting, they just kind of merge into the local Catholic culture, we're expected to keep this patrimony, these traditions alive, because the pope said there is something precious about them that is worthy to be shared with the rest of the Catholic Church. So Father Ghirlanda said the ordinariate is to guarantee the freedom to keep this liturgy alive. I mean liturgy in the broadest sense of the word -- the music, all that constitutes the Anglican tradition.

Q: Why is the process different for groups of Anglicans than for individuals who want to become Catholic?

A: Of course if it is an individual layperson they go through RCIA in their own parish. If it is an individual clergy person or priest, they would go through the pastoral provision which is administered by Bishop Kevin Vann in Fort Worth. And that will continue. The pastoral provision basically uses the same program of priestly formation that exists for the seminaries, only it's kind of tailored to an individual, so it's whatever Father So and So needs in order to do it. The way that has worked up to now is that the faculty of the Immaculate Conception Seminary in Seton Hall have provided the formation. They kind of evaluate where candidates are and tell them what they need. But for the ordinariate we'll be doing that on our own this spring and practically speaking the process is accelerated. ... It starts at the beginning of February and it goes into May, so it's basically one semester of intense work. Some people can't believe that that's possible, that you can make a priest that fast, but the Vatican has approved this process and asked for it to be expedited in this way because the assumption is that the clergymen coming in have already received pastoral, spiritual and human formation through their Anglican training, and we're just trying to address the differences in the intellectual formation, in the theology. So the formation program for the priests is essentially a comparative reading of the Catechism of the Catholic Church -- where does it differ from the Anglican theological tradition -- and to address those differences.

Q: Some people have said it's not really fair, because married Catholic priests can't come back. How would you respond to that?

A: It's kind of easy actually. That would be to compare apples and oranges. When we became priests in the Anglican Church, we became priests in an ecclesial tradition that permitted married clergy. So the Holy See is simply recognizing that and allowing us ... it's an ancient principle from the early church. Whatever stage of life you are in when you come into the ministry, that's where you stay. So if a man came as a celibate, he would be required to maintain that discipline. If one came as a married man, he would be expected to be a good husband. And if he should ever be widowed, then he would embrace the discipline of celibacy. It's not a new rule, it's basically the old Eastern discipline about married clergy. So, I don't want it to sound critical, but for those Catholic priests who left to get married and then want to come back again, that's a whole totally different question for them. And I don't think it is comparable to what the ordinariate is about.

Q: As the only married member of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, what do you hope to bring to the discussions at national bishops' meetings and in the committees to which you are appointed?

A: (Laughs) I can't even imagine. Well I was taught, in my days in the Episcopal House of Bishops, in those early days you were taught to be there, to be square and to keep your mouth shut. And I think I will have a lot to learn and I don't anticipate doing much talking. But a lot of relationship building, I think. I've been to two meetings of the bishops now and it's amazing to me that a business meeting is a business meeting, no matter what communion it's in. So some of it is pretty tedious. I think one of the differences I see, though, is that the unity that exists among the Catholic bishops is far greater than what I see among the Episcopal bishops. I was quite taken by that, you felt that there was just a greater consensus on important things. Plus the USCCB has (Cardinal-designate Timothy M.) Dolan -- I have never seen a man run a meeting so effectively as him. I'm astonished by how good he is. I've never seen anything like it, at any level.

Q: Are there any particular issues that you plan to bring to the attention of the bishops because of your unique role?

A: What we're going to need from the Catholic bishops is their cooperation and help with a lot of the practicalities, such as insurance, health insurance, all those things that we can't (do alone). It's impossible to actually go out and create a national health plan for the clergy. So in many of the practicalities, we hope that we can partner with the local dioceses. I also would like to see the men, the priests of the ordinariate, spend a lot of time with their counterparts in the Latin dioceses in terms of clergy meetings and gatherings, priests' conferences. My goal -- I don't know if it is going to be possible -- would be to see every priest in the ordinariate also have faculties in the local diocese. I know that is a grand goal to have. Because when Cardinal (William J.) Levada opened this up, that first press conference he had, ... he used the word "integration," not "absorption," because the idea is not to just be absorbed and lose your identity but to deeply integrate with the local diocese and so I would guess in terms of my relationships with the bishops, it's going to be aimed in that direction. And I want the men, my priests to have, one of the great joys of the priesthood is the fellowship with other priests. One of the surpassing joys of the priesthood is the life you get to share with other priests. And I don't want them to miss out on that.

Q: Have you had an opportunity to meet the Holy Father? Will you be participating in the "ad limina" visits to Rome by the U.S. bishops this year?

A: Sometime in the next five years I am going to do one. I have met the Holy Father but not as Pope Benedict. I met him as Cardinal Ratzinger in 1993 and I actually read a paper for him on this subject, receiving Anglicans. So I haven't met him since then. Since I've been a Catholic, I went to many papal things during that year. I met Cardinal (Tarcisio) Bertone, that was my principal high contact, and Cardinal Levada of course, but I haven't met the Holy Father as Holy Father. I can't wait.

Q: If you had the opportunity, what would you say to the Holy Father?

A: Thank you, first of all. This wouldn't have happened without him. This was not an idea that developed in one of the dicasteries of the Curia. This came right from the top and he had to convince a lot of people. So I feel that Pope Benedict put himself out on the line on this, and I want to be sure we don't let the Holy Father's words fall to the ground. I want him to be proud of us and see that we are making a fruitful contribution to the church.

And the other thing I'd like to do if I could see him is to thank him for his Christology book that he wrote. It's sort of a life-changer for me -- "Jesus of Nazareth" 1 and 2. I'm a utility infielder at the seminary, in other words they throw me classes to teach when no one else can do it and last year I was given Christology. So the seminarians and I just read Pope Benedict, and it was an astonishing experience to do that. I think we all walked away from that experience in something of an awe for Benedict as a theologian. I'd like to thank him for that too. As a theologian I would say that in "Jesus of Nazareth" part 2, his chapter on Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane is probably the most extraordinary piece of theology of our time. It's astonishingly adventuresome. I mean, he opens up doors that, I don't know, it just took my breath away. That's probably more than your readers would be interested in, but I would vote that chapter on Gethsemane as one of the most amazing pieces of theology done in our time.

Q: Two of your sons have special needs.

A: Yes, our two boys have Asperger's syndrome. They're adults now. One of them lives with us; he's employed by Walgreens, which has a phenomenal program for disabled adults. I'm amazed at Walgreens. That's Eric. And our other son, John, lives in Seattle, on his own, and he's a software engineer for Amazon.com. And we hold him up in prayer, more than once a day, to have our little boy out there on his own. ... We moved him out in July, so about half a year now. He loves his work there. He talks about Uncle Jeff, you know, the head of Amazon. He's been a very good employer. And then our daughter Kristina, she's a pediatric doctor in Traverse City, Mich., with her husband and our grandson, Peter. We're very proud of him.

None of our children has come into the Catholic Church yet. All of them are very, very interested and I think the boys will come in relatively soon. ... Our children are all very strong Christians. Eric I think belongs to every young adult group in Houston, from Catholic to Baptist. He gets his social outreach through that; he's welcomed by Christian groups.

Q: In light of the March for Life tomorrow, I know there are a lot of challenges with special-needs kids but also a lot of gifts that you get from them. I was wondering if you could talk about that a little bit.

A: I remember when we got the diagnosis on Eric that he was autistic. It was obviously a pretty life-changing experience for us. And it was a Catholic nun, my first patristics teacher, she just appeared on the doorstep in Oxford -- Sister Agnes Cunningham, her name is, an amazing woman, she's the first woman president of the Catholic Theological Society of America -- and we were so down in the dumps about it and she walked in the door and said how God had chosen us for something special. And it was a total 180-degree attitude readjustment moment for us. And for parents that have special-needs kids, it's obviously very painful and difficult, but God never asks us to do something without giving us even more blessings. I just think if people offer up these challenges to God, they'll be astonished at what comes back.

END

Source

His Wisdom is a Blessing

2012-01-26T08:00:00.000-08:00

Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.

For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.

The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.

Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.

The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.

Proverbs 3: 31-35.

Southampton supervisors, farmers oppose Sunday hunting

2012-01-25T08:07:00.000-08:00

Photo (Courtesy) http://thepocomokepubliceye.blogspot.com/2010/11/virginia-deer-hunting-season.html

Published 9:46am

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

COURTLAND—Virginia Farm Bureau, the state’s largest farm advocacy group, continues to oppose Sunday hunting, as do some members of the Southampton County Farm Bureau as well as the Southampton County Board of Supervisors.

Supervisors on Monday voted 7-0 on a resolution to oppose hunting seven days a week. Supervisor Bruce Phillips on Tuesday delivered the resolution to lawmakers in Richmond. Also on the board of directors for the Southampton County Farm Bureau, Phillips opposes Sunday hunting.

“I think that both on a religious basis, and we have too many country churches,” Phillips said. “We don’t want dogs running through the yard and people shooting. It’s a day of rest, and we are a Christian community.”

He also favors giving those who don’t hunt a day in the woods without gunfire.

The state Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Committee last week voted 11-4 to allow Sunday hunting on private lands with landowners’ permission. The full Senate will vote soon on the bill, and similar House of Delegates bills also will be heard in subcommittee.

Sen. Harry Blevins, a Republican from Chesapeake, who represents portions of Franklin and Southampton and Isle of Wight counties, serves on the agriculture committee. He favored lifting the ban.

Larry Fowler, vice president of Southampton County Farm Bureau, is also opposed to Sunday hunting.

“I come from the old school,” said Fowler, a chemical salesman from Newsoms who serves the agricultural community and is a member of Newsoms Hunt Club. “I think that one, you don’t want people shooting when (others are) in church, or near a cemetery. Sunday is a time to worship and a quiet time.”

Chris Simms, another director for the Southampton County Farm Bureau, agrees.

“I’m a big hunter myself and I grew up hunting,” said Simms, a Sedley-area farmer. “Sunday was a day of rest, not just from the church standpoint, but also from the standpoint that’s a day for me to go into the woods and not have to worry about anyone else taking a shot.”

Virginia is one of 11 states that prohibit hunting on Sundays.

“Virginia Farm Bureau Federation opposes hunting on Sunday,” said Wilmer Stoneman, associate director of governmental relations.

“People are trying to couch this as a private property issue, but if it is, then you should be able to hunt and fish on private property 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, not just on Sundays.”

For decades, Farm Bureau members in Virginia have discussed and voted in favor of opposing Sunday hunting, Stoneman said. In policy discussions among elected representatives of the organization, members cited faith-based beliefs as well as the ability of horse owners and riders and landowners to use the outdoors one day a week without worrying about hunters.

Source

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No Sunday rest for parents of toddlers

2012-01-25T08:00:00.000-08:00

BY ELIZABETH WITHEY, EDMONTON JOURNAL JANUARY 24, 2012

Oh God. It's Sunday. Again.

They call it the day of rest. Except there is no rest. No peace, no quiet, no respite. Not when your small child has the attention span of a squirrel.

It's: Num num I like this fruit leather- STAIRS! Chucking bits of Lego down them! Hey let's go in the basement! Let's touch this AMAZING LIGHT SWITCH! What do you mean, NO? Waaaaaa .... but wait, look, it's a DOG! With EARS! Let's pull them and- BOOK! Light switch again! ON! OFF! ON! Milk! Can we go in the pantry? Can I touch the coffee grounds? Oh WOW OINTMENT! Let's bite the tube! And throw it into that big white bowl of water! Splashing, ha ha, WATCH ME FLUSH! Open the closet door, close it! Open it! And-iPhone-dishwasher-buttons-hate-when-you-wipe-my-nose-I-want-up- SPICES!

Three minutes gone, just like that.

W.C. Fields said, "I once spent a year in Philadelphia, I think it was on a Sun-day." Well, Claude, every week I spend a year in parenthood, and it's always on a Sunday.

Saturdays are doable, manageable, even entertaining. This fine northern city bursts with scheduled activities for little ones: music classes, sing-and-sign-frolics, swimming lessons. Kiddie-friendly eateries itch for your business, and let's not forget the sensory overload of farmers markets.

But things grind to a halt on Sundays. Library events dwindle, most notably in the city centre. Coveted swim lesson spots get snapped up by parents who are more organized or more desperate (or both). Farmers markets vamoose. Cafe Tiramisu is shut. You surf the Internet for mom-and-baby yoga classes, for story-times, even the ones in Urdu, for some-thing ANYTHING to take up the day.

Sure, there are winter festivals. But what if it's -30 C? No playground, no tobogganing. Ikea? Again? You end up knocking around the house, frantically arranging last-minute playdates, trying to keep your offspring safe from harm and, ideally, not whining. You are reduced to jester status: Look, it's Win-nie the Pooh! Look, it's a man walking by the front window! Look, it's a bottle of vitamins with a child-resistant lid that we can rattle!

The tumbleweed blows and bumps its way down Main Street. (Look, it's a tumbleweed!)

On the so-called day of rest in this predominantly Christian society, older humans can find ways to occupy them-selves. One-year-olds do not excel at self-amusement. They can't bury their noses in novels. They're happy with the car keys but they can't be sent off to Superstore to stock up for the week. And, oddly enough, they're just not that committed to organizing the basement. (Disorganizing it, definitely.)

You gripe, then berate yourself for griping. Because really, you have everything. Health and home and family. A beautiful, healthy, curious, active child.

Tick, tick, tick goes the clock. 7: 20 a.m.

"I know what will solve the problem," people tell you. "A sibling."

Working parents get spoiled with the day-care arrangement. Which ought to be so, given the hefty price tag. Being at work is luxury - a place where tears, moans of boredom and demands to be carried around are (somewhat) rarer, where there's a much lower risk of injuries on the slide (unless you work at Google), where no one (of late) is painting the floor with a milk bottle.

Day-care kids get spoiled, too. They love daycare. Daycare is to toddlers what bright and shiny objects are to magpies. Their joy on arrival is borderline insulting. How can a parent offer such entertainment on weekends?

Perhaps my toddler is more work than yours. Perhaps you know about a bunch of incredible things do with a one-year-old on Sunday in Edmonton.

Hang on. Sunday. I've got a plan for this weekend. A place we're always welcome, where we can climb and drool and squeal to our hearts' content. Good morning, my little love! Guess what? We're going to church!

ewithey@edmontonjournal.com

Source
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On the "March to Death"

2012-01-25T07:40:00.000-08:00

Satan is busily at work in our crowded cities. His work is to be seen in the confusion, the strife and discord between labor and capital, and the hypocrisy that has come into the churches. That men may not take time to meditate, Satan leads them into a round of gayety and pleasure-seeking, of eating and drinking. He fills them with ambition to make an exhibition that will exalt self. Step by step, the world is reaching the conditions that existed in the days of Noah. Every conceivable crime is committed. The lust of the flesh, the pride of the eyes, the display of selfishness, the misuse of power, the cruelty, and the force used to cause men to unite with confederacies and unions--binding themselves up in bundles for the burning of the great fires of the last days--all these are the working of Satanic agencies. This round of crime and folly men call "life." ...

The world, who act as though there were no God, absorbed in selfish pursuits, will soon experience sudden destruction, and shall not escape. Many continue in the careless gratification of self until they become so disgusted with life that they kill themselves. Dancing and carousing, drinking and smoking, indulging their animal passions, they go as an ox to the slaughter. Satan is working with all his art and enchantments to keep men marching blindly onward until the Lord arises out of His place to punish the inhabitants of earth for their iniquities, when the earth shall disclose her blood and no more cover her slain. The whole world appears to be in the march to death.-- Manuscript 139, 1903.

Evangelism, p.25.

Keep your personal stuff private

2012-01-24T20:50:00.000-08:00

AP
Tempted to complain about your significant other on social media? Think twice.

Published Wednesday January 18, 2012

By Pamela E. Spencer
The Kansas City Star

"Guess she's better than me. ... plus my cat just died and I'm eating dinner alone, again."

You've seen these status messages before and you think one thing: "Ugh. Too much information."

Please remember, social media is not a diary.

We concede, the rise of social media in our lives in recent years has brought about plenty of good. You can congratulate distant friends on their life accomplishments and milestones in seconds. You can't knock that.

But social media has also brought about a swell of oversharing or what we like to call "bleeding on Twitter (or Facebook)". Unless you've spent the last five years avoiding the Internet, you know what we're saying.

You see the status messages every day, the passive-aggressive updates that no one is supposed to understand but everyone does to some degree because the three previous updates supply you with viable context clues.

Many of us are guilty of this to some degree. It's easy to forget that the thoughts you share on a social network are available to hundreds of your "friends" or followers to dissect. It's a lot easier to type our feelings than verbalize them.

But here's the best advice we can possibly give in relation to social networks and dating: Anytime you want to overshare in regard to your dating life, pretend that you have three "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" lifelines. It's best that you phone a friend. The 50/50 might get you out of trouble, but avoid it, too. Never ask the audience. Nothing good can come of it. And you know what? Your friends don't want to hear it. It's uncomfortable.

Here are five sample status updates you should not share on Facebook in relation to your relationships, romantic or otherwise:

1. "Just went from 'married' to 'single.' Guess I wasn't the best husband. Hope to learn from my mistakes."

What are you thinking about? This is not the type of thing you announce on social media. What are we supposed to say? Are we supposed to "like" this? What comments are you looking for? We hope you remember that all your friends/followers — including co-workers — will be gossiping about you immediately. Maybe even approaching you to see if you're OK. You're purposely begging for attention, aren't you?

2. "Not sure why we stopping being close. Missing you and crying."

Pathetic. If you really want to get your message across to one person (and you really shouldn't have to beg), just send a text or make a phone call.

3. "Cheaters never win. That's why I just smashed his flat screen."

Psycho! The first thing everyone will think: Sorry you got cheated on, but the fallout is between you and your significant other.

4. "Wife and I just had a fight about her communicating with her college boyfriend. I say it's not cool. Am I right?"

Discussing your relationship issues with your most trusted confidants is OK. But I doubt you have hundreds of confidants. If you're having issues and you need to vent, talk to a good friend. But keep the details away from the masses.

5. 'In a relationship.' 'Single.' 'In an open relationship.'

If you're changing you relationship status every other week, it says something about you. You're probably unstable, or at least that's what most of your Facebook friends think. Unless you're engaged, it would probably be best to just leave it off.

Private things should stay private. Get a journal, call a friend or go to therapy, but please stay away from the Internet. Your social network will thank you.

Source

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National Geographic TV : Shows : Doomsday Preppers

2012-01-24T20:12:00.000-08:00

About the Show

Doomsday Preppers explores the lives of otherwise ordinary Americans who are preparing for the end of the world as we know it. Unique in their beliefs, motivations, and strategies, preppers will go to whatever lengths they can to make sure they are prepared for any of life’s uncertainties. And with our expert’s assessment, they will find out their chances of survival if their worst fears become a reality.

Source: http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/doomsday-preppers/

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Fuggedaboutit! NY named rudest US city

2012-01-24T08:11:00.000-08:00

Jan 23 08:20 PM US/Eastern

In-your-face drivers, unsmiling pedestrians and more than eight million peo...

In-your-face drivers, unsmiling pedestrians and more than eight million people in a rush: New York has been named America's rudest city.

The January issue of Travel and Leisure magazine gave the Big Apple the honor, saying readers voted America's most populous city at the head of a list of 20.

Following up were Miami in second place, Washington, DC, and three-time champ and road-rage capital Los Angeles.

Smaller, slower-paced southern cities like New Orleans and Charleston made the top five of a list of friendly cities.

"People in New York are constantly in a rush," the magazine quoted etiquette expert Thomas P. Farley, author of What Manners Most blog, as saying.

"Certainly, they don't linger on corners smiling, waving, and waiting to help people. But once you've stopped a New Yorker and asked them for directions, they're usually more than helpful."

Source

IMF slashes world growth forecast

2012-01-24T07:47:00.000-08:00

Posted: 24 January 2012 2333 hrs

This file photo shows the logo of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) at the organization's headquarters in Washington DC. (AFP/File - Saul Loeb)

WASHINGTON: The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday slashed its forecast for world economic growth, saying the stall in the troubled eurozone was threatening a global recovery.

With risks to the world growth and financial systems rising from the contraction across much of Europe, the IMF called on governments not mired in fiscal emergencies to avoid overly chopping spending that could exacerbate the situation.

In an update of its September economic forecasts, the IMF cut its 2012 forecast to 3.3 percent, from the prior 4.0 percent estimate, and said the 17-nation eurozone would contract by 0.5 percent this year.

It said global growth could pick up to 3.9 percent in 2013, but only if market panic over eurozone fragility is avoided. If markets grow more skittish, that could force up interest rates for even more governments and force them to cut spending.

"The global recovery is threatened by intensifying strains in the euro area and fragilities elsewhere," the global crisis lender said.

"Financial conditions have deteriorated, growth prospects have dimmed, and downside risks have escalated."

The lowered forecast "is largely because the euro-area economy is now expected to go into a mild recession in 2012 as a result of the rise in sovereign yields, the effects of bank deleveraging on the real economy, and the impact of additional fiscal consolidation," it said.

"Growth in emerging and developing economies is also expected to slow because of the worsening external environment and a weakening of internal demand," it added.

The Fund has been warning for weeks that global growth was weakening due to the European crisis.

On Monday in Berlin, IMF managing director Christine Lagarde pressed European leaders to build a stronger backstop to prevent the problems in the continent's weakest economies - Greece, Spain and Portugal - from pulling down others.

"We need a larger firewall," she said. "Without it, countries like Italy and Spain that are fundamentally able to repay their debts could be forced into a solvency crisis by abnormal financing costs."

In the new forecast, the Fund warned against overly sharp budget-balancing by those countries that can afford to move slowly to reduce their deficits.

Otherwise, they will just create more drag on the global economy.

Countries "with very low interest rates or other factors that create adequate fiscal space, including some in the euro area, should reconsider the pace of near-term fiscal consolidation," it said.

The recommendation was pointed at Europe's largest economies Germany, France and Britain, all of which it said would continue to grow this year, albeit at a weak pace.

Germany's economy was seen growing 0.3 percent, France's 0.2 percent, and Britain's 0.6 percent.

The United States, the world's largest economy, was projected to grow 1.8 percent in 2012.

- AFP/al

Source

Grand Rapids pastor charged with embezzlement to keep preaching

2012-01-24T07:35:00.000-08:00

6:59 AM, January 24, 2012

A West Michigan pastor who authorities say embezzled from his church plans to preach there on Sunday.

The Rev. Arthur Pearson Sr. of Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church in Grand Rapids was charged in December with embezzlement. A separate civil lawsuit claims he misappropriated up to $237,000 since 2008.

The Grand Rapids Press reports Pearson's lawyer Jerry Ashford says he expects Pearson to preach following a judge's decision Monday.

Kent County Circuit Court Judge Dennis Leiber said he had no authority to decide whether Pearson should be on church property. Leiber kept in place conditions of a Dec. 30 preliminary injunction including no access to church finances.

Bernard Schaefer, an attorney for church trustees, says it will be up to church members, trustees and Pearson to work out details.

Source

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‘Train Wreck’

Not Dealt With

Little Bag

Buys Time

VATICAN GLOBAL CONTROL: JON RAPPOPORT INTERVIEWS RICHARD BELL, FINANCE HISTORIAN & FORMER STOCKS MANIPULATOR‏

Who really Killed Alberto Rivera?

Behind the Door - Jim Arrabito

MEET THE ‘PREPPERS’ — THE AMERICANS STOCKPILING FOOD & WATER FOR A POSSIBLE COLLAPSE

The Advancing Papacy by Richard Bennett

The History of the Jesuits

When honchos talk boom amid global bust

New questions, challenges confront Episcopal-turned-Catholic leader

His Wisdom is a Blessing

Southampton supervisors, farmers oppose Sunday hunting

No Sunday rest for parents of toddlers

On the "March to Death"

Keep your personal stuff private

National Geographic TV : Shows : Doomsday Preppers

Fuggedaboutit! NY named rudest US city

IMF slashes world growth forecast

Grand Rapids pastor charged with embezzlement to keep preaching