Sunday, December 10, 2023
Saturday, December 09, 2023
Friday, December 08, 2023
DOUG THORNTON & THE BORDER WAR
Today's Show: DOUG THORNTON & THE BORDER WAR - 12.6.2023
Chris has an exclusive interview with former Federal police officer, Doug Thornton -- host of the American Vindicta podcast. We discuss his experience working on the Mexican border and the many warnings that have been given by federal agents and border patrol concerning the mass invasion of our country. Also discussed is the condition of the migrants (i.e. as "fighting age males") along with the role of the Roman Church in this process of violating America's national sovereignty through globalization. Chris also gives an update on the new documentary, "American Jesuits."
Listen
Thursday, December 07, 2023
US Risks Being Dragged Into Third War
Dec 07, 2023 at 11:36 AM EST
The U.S. could be heading toward involvement in another global conflict as tensions between Venezuela and neighboring Guyana skyrocket following a controversial referendum that sparked fears of a land grab in South America.
The U.S. military said on Thursday that its Southern Command forces would carry out "flight operations within Guyana" later in the day, and that Washington would "continue its commitment as Guyana's trusted security partner."
On Sunday, voters in Venezuela backed the proposals of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro to claim sovereignty over the contested Essequibo region, which has been a bone of contention between Venezuela and Guyana for more than a century. The resource-rich Essequibo region is controlled by Georgetown, making up more than two-thirds of Guyana's territory.
An 1899 ruling declared Essequibo a part of Guyana, which was then a British colony. A 1966 agreement between the U.K. and Venezuela to resolve the dispute has not stopped the flaring of tensions between the two countries, which intensified after oil and gas giant ExxonMobil said in 2015 it had made a "a significant oil discovery" in the region.
READ MORE
Map shows region Venezuela has voted to take from Guyana
Guyana had asked the court to stop the referendum, suggesting Venezuela could take "unilateral measures to 'resolve' the controversy with Guyana by formally annexing and integrating into Venezuela all of the territory at issue."
Following the vote, Guyanese President Irfaan Ali denounced "a direct threat to Guyana's territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence." Ali said Georgetown would "intensify precautionary measures to safeguard its territory," adding that he had spoken with the United Nations, global leaders and reached out to the U.S. military.
The Venezuelan government's actions "fly in the face of international law and constitute a grave threat to international peace and security," Ali said in an address to Guyanese citizens on Wednesday.
The language has clear echoes of the U.S. rationale for its involvement in the ongoing wars in the Middle East and eastern Europe, prompting speculation over how far U.S. military backing for international peace and order will extend in the Americas.
The U.S. is currently providing aid, including military backing, to Israel, increasing its support in the wake of the October 7 attacks launched by Palestinian militant group Hamas from the Gaza Strip. Washington has also thrown its weight behind Kyiv following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The U.S. could be heading toward involvement in another global conflict as tensions between Venezuela and neighboring Guyana skyrocket following a controversial referendum that sparked fears of a land grab in South America.
The U.S. military said on Thursday that its Southern Command forces would carry out "flight operations within Guyana" later in the day, and that Washington would "continue its commitment as Guyana's trusted security partner."
On Sunday, voters in Venezuela backed the proposals of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro to claim sovereignty over the contested Essequibo region, which has been a bone of contention between Venezuela and Guyana for more than a century. The resource-rich Essequibo region is controlled by Georgetown, making up more than two-thirds of Guyana's territory.
An 1899 ruling declared Essequibo a part of Guyana, which was then a British colony. A 1966 agreement between the U.K. and Venezuela to resolve the dispute has not stopped the flaring of tensions between the two countries, which intensified after oil and gas giant ExxonMobil said in 2015 it had made a "a significant oil discovery" in the region.
A member of the Bolivarian Militias stands guard at a polling station during a consultative referendum on Venezuelan sovereignty over the Essequibo region controlled by neighboring Guyana, in Caracas, Venezuela, on December 3, 2023. The U.S. could be shuffling toward involvement in another global conflict as tensions between Venezuela and Guyana skyrocket following a controversial referendum that sparked fears of a land grab in South America.PEDRO RANCES MATTEY/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
Venezuela says the 1966 Geneva Agreement effectively undid the 1899 ruling by international arbitrators.
The vote's results were perceived by Guyana as a step toward annexation. And there's precedent for such anxieties, as Russia has held referendums widely believed to be sham votes to try to legitimize claiming swathes of Ukraine.
"We have taken the first steps of a new historical stage to fight for our Guayana Esequiba, for peace and to recover what the liberators left us," Maduro said following the announcing of the referendum's results, referring to the region by its alternative name.
The U.N.'s top court, the International Court of Justice, had said that Caracas should not take any action that could change Guyana's control over the Essequibo region, but it stopped short of blocking Venezuela's vote.
Venezuela says the 1966 Geneva Agreement effectively undid the 1899 ruling by international arbitrators.
The vote's results were perceived by Guyana as a step toward annexation. And there's precedent for such anxieties, as Russia has held referendums widely believed to be sham votes to try to legitimize claiming swathes of Ukraine.
"We have taken the first steps of a new historical stage to fight for our Guayana Esequiba, for peace and to recover what the liberators left us," Maduro said following the announcing of the referendum's results, referring to the region by its alternative name.
The U.N.'s top court, the International Court of Justice, had said that Caracas should not take any action that could change Guyana's control over the Essequibo region, but it stopped short of blocking Venezuela's vote.
READ MORE
Map shows region Venezuela has voted to take from Guyana
Guyana had asked the court to stop the referendum, suggesting Venezuela could take "unilateral measures to 'resolve' the controversy with Guyana by formally annexing and integrating into Venezuela all of the territory at issue."
Following the vote, Guyanese President Irfaan Ali denounced "a direct threat to Guyana's territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence." Ali said Georgetown would "intensify precautionary measures to safeguard its territory," adding that he had spoken with the United Nations, global leaders and reached out to the U.S. military.
The Venezuelan government's actions "fly in the face of international law and constitute a grave threat to international peace and security," Ali said in an address to Guyanese citizens on Wednesday.
The language has clear echoes of the U.S. rationale for its involvement in the ongoing wars in the Middle East and eastern Europe, prompting speculation over how far U.S. military backing for international peace and order will extend in the Americas.
The U.S. is currently providing aid, including military backing, to Israel, increasing its support in the wake of the October 7 attacks launched by Palestinian militant group Hamas from the Gaza Strip. Washington has also thrown its weight behind Kyiv following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Ali to "reaffirm the United States' unwavering support for Guyana's sovereignty" on Wednesday, the U.S. government said in a statement.
Just before the vote, Guyanese Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo said that "all options are on the table for the defense of our country." Brazil's Defense Ministry had also said it was bolstering its military presence along its northern border with Venezuela and Guyana.
Just before the vote, Guyanese Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo said that "all options are on the table for the defense of our country." Brazil's Defense Ministry had also said it was bolstering its military presence along its northern border with Venezuela and Guyana.
Tuesday, December 05, 2023
Monday, December 04, 2023
Cop28 president says there is ‘no science’ behind demands for phase-out of fossil fuels
Cop28
Exclusive: UAE’s Sultan Al Jaber says phase-out of coal, oil and gas would take world ‘back into caves’Cop28 live – latest updates
Damian Carrington and Ben StocktonSun 3 Dec 2023 05.33 EST
The president of Cop28, Sultan Al Jaber, has claimed there is “no science” indicating that a phase-out of fossil fuels is needed to restrict global heating to 1.5C, the Guardian and the Centre for Climate Reporting can reveal.
Al Jaber also said a phase-out of fossil fuels would not allow sustainable development “unless you want to take the world back into caves”.
The comments were “incredibly concerning” and “verging on climate denial”, scientists said, and they were at odds with the position of the UN secretary general, António Guterres.
Al Jaber made the comments in ill-tempered responses to questions from Mary Robinson, the chair of the Elders group and a former UN special envoy for climate change, during a live online event on 21 November. As well as running Cop28 in Dubai, Al Jaber is also the chief executive of the United Arab Emirates’ state oil company, Adnoc, which many observers see as a serious conflict of interest.
Cop28 president refuses to commit to phasing out fossil fuels – video
More than 100 countries already support a phase-out of fossil fuels and whether the final Cop28 agreement calls for this or uses weaker language such as “phase-down” is one of the most fiercely fought issues at the summit and may be the key determinant of its success. Deep and rapid cuts are needed to bring fossil fuel emissions to zero and limit fast-worsening climate impacts.
Sunday, December 03, 2023
The Pope: 'Faiths are bound to guard our common home together'
(Translated version of original article in Italian)
'The climate drama is also a religious drama, it is urgent to act for the environment'
DUBAI, December 03, 2023 12:58 pm
ANSA editorial staff
Pope Francis - All rights reserved
"It is important to come together, beyond our differences, as brothers and sisters in humanity, and above all as believers, to remind ourselves and the world that, as pilgrims waiting in this land, we are obliged to guard our common home."
This was stated by Pope Francis in his greeting on the occasion of the inauguration of the Faith Pavilion at Expo City, in Dubai, as part of COP28, which was read out by the Cardinal Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin.
"Religions, as consciences of humanity, remind us that we are finite creatures, inhabited by the need for the infinite," the Pontiff said. Yes, we are mortal, we are limited, and guarding life also means opposing the delusion of voracious omnipotence that is ravaging the planet. It arises when man considers himself lord of the world; when, living as if God did not exist, he allows himself to be carried away by the things that pass away."
"Then the human being, instead of having technology at his disposal, allows himself to be dominated by it," he emphasizes, "he 'commodifies' himself and becomes indifferent: incapable of weeping and pitiing (pitying), he remains alone with himself and, rising above morality and prudence, goes so far as to destroy even what allows him to live." "This is why the climate drama is also a religious drama," Francis adds, "because its root lies in the presumption of self-sufficiency of the creature."
The Pavilion of Faith, a platform to promote religious commitment
The Faith Pavilion established at Expo City Dubai by the Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development (ICSD), together with the Muslim Council of Elders, the UN Environment Program's Faith for Earth and other partners, is the first Pavilion of its kind in the history of UN COP climate conferences. The Pavilion serves as a global platform to promote religious engagement and interfaith dialogue in the implementation of effective measures to address the climate crisis. The initiative, emphasizing the importance of engaging religious figures and leaders in developing strategies to address global challenges, including the pursuit of environmental justice, gives them the opportunity to launch proposals and present ideas that support the efforts of all nations and peoples of the world to combat climate change. In this regard, at the end of the inauguration ceremony, a "Confluence of Conscience" will also be signed by the Pope (Cardinal Parolin will do so in his place), the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar.
'It is urgent to act for the environment, faiths must educate to change lives'
"It is urgent to act for the environment, but it is not enough just to use more economic resources: we need to change the way of life and it is therefore necessary to educate to sober and fraternal lifestyles." This is what Pope Francis said in his greeting. "It is an indispensable action for religions, which are also called to educate in contemplation, because creation is not only a system to be preserved, but a gift to be welcomed," the Pontiff added. And a world poor in contemplation will be a world polluted in the soul, which will continue to discard people and produce waste; A world without prayer will say many words but, devoid of compassion and tears, it will live only on a materialism made up of money and weapons."
'Preserving creation, the little ones and the poor ask of us'
"I cordially greet you and I am very sorry that I cannot be with you. I entrust to Cardinal Parolin the words that I would have liked to address to you. I would like to say 'thank you': thank you because you have created, for the first time, a religious pavilion within a COP. And thank you because this testifies to the willingness to work together."
"Today the world needs alliances that are not against anyone, but in favor of all," the Pontiff continued. It is urgent that religions, without falling into the trap of syncretism, set a good example by working together: not for their own interests or those of one party, but for the interests of our world." Among them, "the most important today are peace and climate."
"Let us set an example, as religious representatives, to show that change is possible, to bear witness to respectful and sustainable lifestyles, and let us ask the leaders of nations to preserve our common home," Francis said. "This is what the little ones and the poor ask of us in particular, whose prayers reach the throne of the Most High," he concludes. For their future and the future of all, let us protect
'The task of faiths is also to preserve peace, no inconsistencies'
"We know how interdependent peace and the care of creation are: it is clear to all how wars and conflicts damage the environment and divide nations, hindering a shared commitment on common issues, such as the protection of the planet." This was stated by Pope Francis in his greeting on the occasion of the inauguration of the Faith Pavilion.
"A home, in fact, is livable for everyone only if a climate of peace is established inside," the Pontiff said. So it is with our Earth, whose soil seems to unite with the cry of children and the poor to make a single plea reach heaven: peace!"
"Preserving peace is also the task of religions," Francis warned. Please don't let there be any inconsistencies on this. Do not deny with facts what you say with your lips: do not limit yourself to talking about peace, but take a clear stand against those who, by declaring themselves believers, feed hatred and do not oppose violence." The Pope concludes his greeting with an invitation to "be, together, builders of peace and guardians of creation."
All rights reserved © Copyright ANSA
'The climate drama is also a religious drama, it is urgent to act for the environment'
DUBAI, December 03, 2023 12:58 pm
ANSA editorial staff
Pope Francis - All rights reserved
"It is important to come together, beyond our differences, as brothers and sisters in humanity, and above all as believers, to remind ourselves and the world that, as pilgrims waiting in this land, we are obliged to guard our common home."
This was stated by Pope Francis in his greeting on the occasion of the inauguration of the Faith Pavilion at Expo City, in Dubai, as part of COP28, which was read out by the Cardinal Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin.
"Religions, as consciences of humanity, remind us that we are finite creatures, inhabited by the need for the infinite," the Pontiff said. Yes, we are mortal, we are limited, and guarding life also means opposing the delusion of voracious omnipotence that is ravaging the planet. It arises when man considers himself lord of the world; when, living as if God did not exist, he allows himself to be carried away by the things that pass away."
"Then the human being, instead of having technology at his disposal, allows himself to be dominated by it," he emphasizes, "he 'commodifies' himself and becomes indifferent: incapable of weeping and pitiing (pitying), he remains alone with himself and, rising above morality and prudence, goes so far as to destroy even what allows him to live." "This is why the climate drama is also a religious drama," Francis adds, "because its root lies in the presumption of self-sufficiency of the creature."
The Pavilion of Faith, a platform to promote religious commitment
The Faith Pavilion established at Expo City Dubai by the Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development (ICSD), together with the Muslim Council of Elders, the UN Environment Program's Faith for Earth and other partners, is the first Pavilion of its kind in the history of UN COP climate conferences. The Pavilion serves as a global platform to promote religious engagement and interfaith dialogue in the implementation of effective measures to address the climate crisis. The initiative, emphasizing the importance of engaging religious figures and leaders in developing strategies to address global challenges, including the pursuit of environmental justice, gives them the opportunity to launch proposals and present ideas that support the efforts of all nations and peoples of the world to combat climate change. In this regard, at the end of the inauguration ceremony, a "Confluence of Conscience" will also be signed by the Pope (Cardinal Parolin will do so in his place), the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar.
'It is urgent to act for the environment, faiths must educate to change lives'
"It is urgent to act for the environment, but it is not enough just to use more economic resources: we need to change the way of life and it is therefore necessary to educate to sober and fraternal lifestyles." This is what Pope Francis said in his greeting. "It is an indispensable action for religions, which are also called to educate in contemplation, because creation is not only a system to be preserved, but a gift to be welcomed," the Pontiff added. And a world poor in contemplation will be a world polluted in the soul, which will continue to discard people and produce waste; A world without prayer will say many words but, devoid of compassion and tears, it will live only on a materialism made up of money and weapons."
'Preserving creation, the little ones and the poor ask of us'
"I cordially greet you and I am very sorry that I cannot be with you. I entrust to Cardinal Parolin the words that I would have liked to address to you. I would like to say 'thank you': thank you because you have created, for the first time, a religious pavilion within a COP. And thank you because this testifies to the willingness to work together."
"Today the world needs alliances that are not against anyone, but in favor of all," the Pontiff continued. It is urgent that religions, without falling into the trap of syncretism, set a good example by working together: not for their own interests or those of one party, but for the interests of our world." Among them, "the most important today are peace and climate."
"Let us set an example, as religious representatives, to show that change is possible, to bear witness to respectful and sustainable lifestyles, and let us ask the leaders of nations to preserve our common home," Francis said. "This is what the little ones and the poor ask of us in particular, whose prayers reach the throne of the Most High," he concludes. For their future and the future of all, let us protect
creation and protect our common home; Let us live in peace and promote peace!"
'The task of faiths is also to preserve peace, no inconsistencies'
"We know how interdependent peace and the care of creation are: it is clear to all how wars and conflicts damage the environment and divide nations, hindering a shared commitment on common issues, such as the protection of the planet." This was stated by Pope Francis in his greeting on the occasion of the inauguration of the Faith Pavilion.
"A home, in fact, is livable for everyone only if a climate of peace is established inside," the Pontiff said. So it is with our Earth, whose soil seems to unite with the cry of children and the poor to make a single plea reach heaven: peace!"
"Preserving peace is also the task of religions," Francis warned. Please don't let there be any inconsistencies on this. Do not deny with facts what you say with your lips: do not limit yourself to talking about peace, but take a clear stand against those who, by declaring themselves believers, feed hatred and do not oppose violence." The Pope concludes his greeting with an invitation to "be, together, builders of peace and guardians of creation."
All rights reserved © Copyright ANSA
Saturday, December 02, 2023
Societal Malaise
Volume 42 Issue Twelve December 2023
Last Trumpet Ministries · PO Box 806 · Beaver Dam, WI 53916
Phone: 920-887-2626 Internet: http://www.lasttrumpetministries.org
“For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?” I Cor. 14:8
Societal Malaise
“And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat prosperity. And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD.”
Lamentations 3:17-18
Reading the news can be quite exasperating. Those who set out to learn about current events will often find confusing headlines and mixed signals. For example, countless news stories are proclaiming that the American economy is surprisingly strong. This includes a November 3, 2023, piece by The Wall Street Journal with the headline, “The Improbably Strong Economy.” (1) The report notes that unemployment in the United States is low, average hourly earnings have been rising, and despite the many predictions from economists to the contrary, recession has been avoided in 2023. We’re even told that inflation is finally cooling down. (2) This all sounds like good news. Yet, the national mood in the United States tells a different story.
Despite the efforts of the mass media to convince us that everything is wonderful, the American populace remains unconvinced. A headline from CNN published on November 8, 2023, declares, “Americans think the economy stinks, but wages are up and so is spending. Economists and political strategists are baffled.” (3) The report goes on to cite a recent CNN poll that found 72 percent of respondents say “things in this country today are going badly.” Another poll from the New York Times and Siena College found that a mere 2 percent of respondents said the economy is excellent. (4) Why is there a disparity between what we are told by the media and how the American people feel? Is everything getting better and better every day as they suggest, or is the reality far different for people living in the real world?
One of the primary reasons the American people are so down on the economy is because of persistently high inflation. When inflation is high, it affects almost everything we buy. Every time we visit a supermarket, we’re reminded of the fact that we’re spending far more money on our groceries than we were three years ago. While reports indicate that inflation in October 2023 fell to only 3.2 percent, (5) the prices we pay still remain much higher than they used to be. In fact, the cost of groceries has risen on average by 25 percent since February 2020. (6)
One of the reasons economists say the economy is strong is because consumers have continued to spend gobs of money even as inflation remained stubbornly high. How is this possible? The American people have taken dramatic and sometimes desperate steps to maintain their standard of living. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Americans now owe a record-high 1.08 trillion dollars on their credit cards. (7) As credit card debt rises, the number of delinquent accounts is also increasing, which prompted The Wall Street Journal to report on November 25, 2023, “American borrowers are getting closer to maxing out.” The piece notes that households earning less than $50,000 per year with delinquent accounts are utilizing on average 80 to 90 percent of their available credit. (8) Thus, many who have been using credit cards to get by in recent years won’t be able to do this for much longer. Not only that, but getting new credit cards is becoming more difficult. “Tighter financial and credit conditions for households and businesses are likely to weigh on economic activity, hiring, and inflation,” the Federal Reserve said in a November 2023 statement. (9)
Friday, December 01, 2023
Canon law must be part of church's mission of mercy, pope says
Code of Canon Law books for the Latin and Eastern Catholic churches are pictured in Rome at the Pontifical Oriental Institute in this Sept. 15, 2016, file photo. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
CINDY WOODEN
CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
Vatican City — December 1, 2023
All the Catholic Church's structures, including tribunals and faculties of canon law, must undergo a "pastoral and missionary conversion" to ensure the church is giving the world "the only thing it needs: the Gospel of the mercy of Jesus," Pope Francis wrote.
"To be pastoral does not mean that the norms should be set aside, and one sets off in whatever direction one wishes, but that in applying the norms one should make certain that the Christian faithful find in them the presence of the merciful Jesus, who does not condemn but exhorts them to sin no more because he gives grace," the pope wrote to an international group of canon law scholars.
Francis made his remarks in a message to the "Consociatio Internationalis Studio Iuris Canonici Promovendo" (literally translated as the international association for promoting the study of canon law), which was celebrating its 50th anniversary with a conference in Rome Dec. 1.
When canon law is an instrument of mercy, the pope wrote, "even when a severe sanction is to be applied to one who has committed a very serious crime, the Church, which is mother, will offer him the help and spiritual support that is indispensable so that in repentance he may encounter the merciful face of the Father."
In its application, he said, each church law must be interpreted in light of the "supreme law," which is "salus animarum," the salvation of souls.
The application of canon law is something which must be done in prayer and with fidelity to the word of God, the living tradition of the church and the magisterium or teachings of the popes, he said.
"The wisdom that comes from God, received in prayer and in listening to others," he said, should guide canonists "in distinguishing what is essential in the daily life of the Church, inasmuch as it is desired by Christ himself and established by the Apostles, and also expressed in the Magisterium, and what instead is merely a set of external forms, perhaps useful and significant in the past, but no longer so in the present or, indeed sometimes, an impediment to a witness that, especially today, requires greater simplicity to be credible."
As a model, Francis pointed to most Catholics' mothers, who first taught them the faith. This essentiality of faith is what was transmitted to us by our mothers, the first evangelizers. "Why not take her as a point of reference regarding the attitude of spirit to be lived in the various situations of Church life?"
The pope thanked the canon lawyers for their contributions to church life and prayed that they would be "instruments of God's justice, which is always inseparably united with his mercy."
Source
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