Friday, November 14, 2008

/C O R R E C T I O N -- U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops/


Last update: 1:03 p.m. EST Nov. 3, 2008


WASHINGTON, Oct 31, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- In the news release, U.S. Catholic Population by State, issued 31-Oct-2008 by U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops over PR Newswire, we are advised by the organization that in the chart U.S. Catholic Population by State the numbers for Maryland should be "Catholics: 1,000,000 and Percentage Catholic: 17.8" rather than "Catholics: 504,159 and Percentage Catholic: 9" as originally issued inadvertently. The complete, corrected release follows:
U.S. Catholic Population by State


The following was released today by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops:

Background


In response to media inquiries, here is a list of states with their population and percentage who are Catholics according to the 2008 Official Catholic Directory.



U.S. Catholic Population by State


State State Population Catholics........................................ Percentage Catholic
Alabama 4,627,851 151,554.................................................................. 3.3
Alaska 626,932 52,813 ..........................................................................8.4
Arizona 6,338,755 1,026,302 ..............................................................16.2
Arkansas 2,834,797 116,605 ................................................................4.1
California 36,553,215 10,463,330 ......................................................28.6
Colorado 4,861,515 707,420 ................................................................14.6
Connecticut 3,502,309 1,282,153 .......................................................36.6
Delaware 783,600 233,000 .................................................................29.7
Florida 18,251,243 2,366,688 ..............................................................13
Georgia 9,544,750 730,005 .................................................................7.6
Hawaii 1,283,388 251,575 ....................................................................19.6
Idaho 1,499,402 165,363 ......................................................................11
Illinois 12,852,548 3,870,647 ..............................................................30.1
Indiana 6,345,289 762,076 ..................................................................12.0
Iowa 2,988,046 499,661 .......................................................................16.7
Kansas 2,775,997 415,103 .....................................................................15
Kentucky 4,241,474 382,521 .................................................................9
Louisiana 4,293,204 1,188,798 ............................................................27.7
Maine 1,317,207 191,008 .....................................................................14.5
Maryland 5,618,344 1,000,000 ..........................................................17.8
Massachusetts 6,449,755 2,709,552 ..................................................42
Michigan 10,071,822 2,206,372 ..........................................................21.9
Minnesota 5,197,621 1,064,696 ..........................................................20.5
Mississippi 2,918,785 107,098 ............................................................3.7
Missouri 5,878,415 757,349 ................................................................12.9
Montana 957,861 104,276 ...................................................................10.9
Nebraska 1,774,571 366,894 ...............................................................20.7
Nevada 2,565,382 829,675 .................................................................32.3
New Hampshire 1,315,828 319,269 ...................................................24.3
New Jersey 8,685,920 3,562,389 ......................................................41
New Mexico 1,969,915 498,334 .........................................................25.3
New York 19,297,729 7,166,308 ........................................................37.1
North Carolina 9,061,032 365,888 .....................................................4
North Dakota 639,715 146,153 ...........................................................22.8
Ohio 11,466,917 2,068,348 ..................................................................18
Oklahoma 3,617,316 175,006 ..............................................................4.8
Oregon 3,747,455 442,137 ...................................................................11.8
Pennsylvania 12,432,792 3,530,817 ...................................................28.4
Rhode Island 1,057,832 629,889 ........................................................59.5
South Carolina 4,407,709 183,356 ......................................................4.2
South Dakota 796,214 153,357 ...........................................................19.3
Tennessee 6,156,719 141,740 ..............................................................2.3
Texas 23,904,380 6,503,844 ..............................................................27.2
Utah 2,645,330 230,000 .....................................................................8.7
Vermont 621,254 118,000 ..................................................................19
Virginia 7,712,091 642,064 ................................................................ 8.3
Washington 6,468,424 746,385 .........................................................11.5
West Virginia 1,812,035 88,974 .........................................................4.9
Wisconsin 5,601,640 1,650,276 .........................................................29.5
Wyoming 522,830 47,119..................................................................... 9


Data retrieved from Official Catholic Directory 2008


SOURCE U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops





Nebuchadnezzar's Dream Of A Tree


1Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

2I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.

3How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.

4I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace:

5I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.

6Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream.

7Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.

8But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my God, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying,

9O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.

10Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.

11The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:

12The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.

13I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;

14He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:

15Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth:

16Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.

17This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

18This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.

19Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.

20The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;

21Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation:

22It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.

23And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him;

24This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:

25That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

26And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.

27Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.

28All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.

29At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.

30The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?

31While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.

32And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

33The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.

34And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:

35And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

36At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.

37Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.


Daniel 4

Thursday, November 13, 2008

RCs help sway vote for Obama, despite white Evangelicals


Applause: people of the Abyssinian Baptist Church, Harlem, New York, clap a reference to Mr Obama on Sunday

by Pat Ashworth

ANALYSIS of how religious people in the United States voted in last week’s presidential election indicates that the victorious Senator Barack Obama managed, in the words of one Washington analyst, to “narrow the God Gap”, principally by winning over Roman Catholics.


Senator Obama won the popular vote by 52 per cent to Senator John McCain’s 46 per cent. Mr McCain attracted more Protestants (54 per cent against 45 per cent) but fewer Roman Catholics: 54 per cent voted for Mr Obama and 45 per cent for Mr McCain.


Seventy-four per cent of white Evangelicals supported Mr McCain, just 24 per cent voting for Mr Obama; 55 per cent of regular church­goers voted for Mr McCain, 43 per cent for Mr Obama. In 2004, the proportions were 61 per cent for George Bush and 39 per cent for John Kerry, a Roman Catholic.


“Obama forged a new democratic faith coalition,” the analyst Steve Waldman told the Wall Street Journal. “To a large degree, he was able to make such progress with these groups because of the economy. Some pro-life voters went with Obama in spite of his positions on ‘values issues’, not because of them.”


The Democrats continue to sup­port legalised abortion, but it is thought that their parallel commit­ment to strengthening social support for women to encourage them to have their babies enabled Roman Catholics to vote for them. Cardinal Francis George, Archbishop of Chicago and president of the United States’ Conference of Catholic Bishops, said, however, that Roman Catholic leaders must remain op­posed to the party’s approach.


“Common ground cannot be found by destroying the common good,” he told the New York Times. But he also pledged the support of Roman Catholic bishops in the US, and told Senator Obama: “We stand ready to work with you in defence and support of the life and dignity of every human person.”


An official statement from the Episcopal Church in the United States said that views would differ on the outcome of the vote, but that Senator Obama’s election repre­sented “a significant victory in our nation’s long and continuing struggle to heal the wounds of injustice and inequality in our common life”.


African-American churches in the US are reported to have welcomed the news, some boisterously, some quietly, not wanting to politicise Sunday worship. The Black Christian Leaders Forum in the UK gave a warm welcome. Dr David Muir said: “This is a defining moment in Amer­ican political history. . . Ultimately, it is the realisation and triumph of Martin Luther King’s dream of a person being judged not by the colour of their skin, but the content of their character.”


Environmentalists worldwide have welcomed a new era, hoping the new leadership will ratify the Kyoto treaty on climate change. The US is the only one of the OECD countries not to have done so.


Settling the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is deemed by others to be the highest priority. The Council on American-Muslim relations said it looked forward to working with Senator Obama “in protecting the civil rights of all Americans, project­ing an accurate image of America in the Muslim world, and playing a positive role in securing our nation”.


The Bishop of New Hampshire, the Rt Revd Gene Robinson, told The Times that he had had three con­versations with Senator Obama before the election, describing them as part of his “extraordinary” out­reach to all religious communities.


Meanwhile, Senator McCain’s running-mate, Governor Sarah Palin, has announced that she will wait for guidance from God on whether to stand for the presidency in 2012.



Audacious? George Watts’s 1885 painting Hope, which Barack Obama has cited as the inspiration behind his presidential running campaign and his latest book, Audacity of Hope. The painting is on display at the Guildhall Gallery of Art in the City of London until 26 April 2009 in the exhibition “G. F.



She is quoted in the Daily Tele­graph as saying: “I’m like, OK, God, is there is an open door for me some­where. This is what I always pray, I’m like, don’t let me miss the open door. And if there is an open door in ’12 or four years later, and if it is something that is going to be good for my family, for my state, for my nation, then I’ll plough through that door.”



Iran accuses Israel of abusing U.N. interfaith meeting


Reuters
Published: November 13, 2008


By Patrick Worsnip

Iran's U.N. envoy on Thursday accused Israel of abusing a Saudi-sponsored U.N. interfaith conference for political purposes and suggested the Jewish state had no right to take part.

Speaking on the second day of the meeting, which earlier heard U.S. President George W. Bush call for worldwide religious freedom, Iran's U.N. Ambassador Mohammad Khazaee did not name Israel but left no doubt what country he had in mind.

"The representative of a regime (whose) short history is marked with ... aggression, occupation, assassination, state terrorism, and torture against the Palestinian people, under the pretext of a false interpretation of a divine religion, has tried to abuse this meeting for its narrow political purposes," he said.

Khazaee was referring to Israeli President Shimon Peres, who took the rare opportunity of being in the same room as Saudi King Abdullah on Wednesday to praise a Saudi peace initiative that he said had brought hope to the Middle East.

Today in Africa & Middle East


Gaza goes dark after officials shut power plantEighth-century church unearthed in SyriaIran claims success in tests firing long-range missiles"The participation of such a regime not only has no benefit to our common purpose, but, as proved in this very meeting, will give them a chance to try to disrupt the current process divert our attention from our mandate" to improve dialogue between different religions, Khazaee said.

Iran believes the Jewish state has no right to exist and opposes peace talks. Israel considers Iran an existential threat and, together with the United States and other countries, accuses it of developing nuclear weapons. Tehran denies the charge.

Khazaee's speech stood out at the two-day meeting of the U.N. General Assembly, convened at the request of the Saudi monarch, not only because of its accusatory language but because it failed to praise Abdullah.

Earlier, Bush proclaimed religious freedom as the foundation of a healthy society and defended the U.S. record in protecting Muslims caught up in foreign conflicts.

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

The U.N. meeting, attended by leaders and diplomats from some 70 countries, was opened by King Abdullah, who on Wednesday denounced terrorism as the enemy of all religions.

Bush, a devout Methodist who said faith had sustained him through his presidency, which ends in January, praised Abdullah's initiative but also implicitly criticized countries that restrict religious practice. Saudi Arabia forbids public non-Muslim worship.

Noting that the United States had been founded by people fleeing religious persecution, Bush said that "Freedom is God's gift to every man, woman, and child -- and that freedom includes the right of all people to worship as they see fit."

He was speaking a short way from the site of New York's former World Trade Centre, destroyed in 2001 by planes piloted by Islamist al Qaeda militants. Some Muslim critics have called his subsequent "war on terror" a crusade against Islam.

"Our nation has helped defend the religious liberty of others, from liberating the (World War Two) concentration camps of Europe to protecting Muslims in places like Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq," said Bush.

"Religious freedom is the foundation of a healthy and hopeful society. We're not afraid to stand with religious dissidents and believers who practice their faith even where it is unwelcome."

German minister of state Hermann Groehe defended the right to convert to another faith -- a right not recognized in some Muslim countries -- and called it unacceptable some countries threatened those who want to convert with the death penalty.

(Editing by Alan Elsner)



Despite Vatican warning, Father Bourgeois firm on women's ordination


BOURGEOIS-VATICAN (UPDATED) Nov-13-2008 (730 words) Follow-up. xxxn


By Dennis Sadowski
Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Despite being threatened with excommunication by the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Maryknoll Father Roy Bourgeois said he would not recant his belief that women should be ordained as Catholic priests.

"There's nothing that Rome can do to me to take away the peace, the clarity I have on this issue," Father Bourgeois told Catholic News Service Nov. 12. "No matter what the consequences, I feel I am doing the right thing."

Father Bourgeois sent a letter to congregation officials Nov. 7 outlining his stance on women's ordination and how he believes church "teaching on this issue is wrong and does not stand up to scrutiny." He said the issue is one of conscience and that he cannot recant something of which he remains firmly convinced.

The letter was made public Nov. 11 by the priest's attorney, Bill Quigley, in New Orleans, La.

The 69-year-old priest said his letter was in response to an Oct. 21 notice from the Vatican congregation, headed by Cardinal William J. Levada, an American, that gave him 30 days to recant his belief and public statements about the ordination of women or be excommunicated.

Known widely for his 19-year campaign to close a U.S. army school at Fort Benning, Ga., that trains Latin American soldiers, Father Bourgeois attracted the attention of the leaders of his order and church officials following his participation in a reported ordination ceremony sponsored by Roman Catholic Womenpriests Aug. 9 in Lexington, Ky.

In August Father Bourgeois said he concelebrated the liturgy, delivered the homily and laid hands on longtime friend and fellow peace activist Janice Sevre-Duszynska during what traditionally would have been the ordination rite at the ceremony in a Unitarian Universalist church. He said he was invited to the ceremony by Sevre-Duszynska and decided to participate after a period of discernment.

He received a canonical warning from Maryknoll leadership during an Aug. 18 meeting with representatives of the order's General Council in Maryknoll, N.Y. At the time, Father Bourgeois said he hoped the issue was settled because he had no intention of participating in any other such ceremony.

The Maryknoll order, through spokeswoman Betsey Guest, said Nov. 13 that a confidential notice had been received from the Vatican congregation and forwarded to Father Bourgeois. She said the order "continues to respect the confidentiality" of the communications.

"We are definitely required to abide by the decision by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith," she said. "At the same time we have an obligation to ensure the canonical rights of our members."

She added that it would be Father Bourgeois' decision on the next step to take once a final decision from the congregation is received.

The congregation's letter came as a shock, said Father Bourgeois, who was ordained in 1972. "The seriousness set in," he said. "It wasn't complicated. They said very seriously I had 30 days and if I didn't recant I will be excommunicated. That's pretty serious. That's pretty clear. No ifs, ands or buts."

Father Bourgeois said he spent two weeks in prayer and discernment before crafting his response. He said he then drove from his home in Columbus, Ga., to Lutcher, La., 35 miles west of New Orleans, to meet with his family, including his 95-year-old father.

"To them and to me (my father) said, 'Roy has been all over the world and God brought him back from the war in Vietnam safely. God brought him back from Bolivia and El Salvador (where he served as a Maryknoll missioner) and God is going to take care of him now. I support him 100 percent and he's doing the right thing,'" Father Bourgeois told CNS.

"When we get the blessing from family and loved ones, it does bring some peace. At the same time, it saddens me to put them through this," he said.

For now, Father Bourgeois will continue to prepare for the Nov. 21-23 vigil and procession to the gates of Fort Benning in Columbus, the home of the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, the army school he has been trying to close for nearly two decades.

He also said he may try to arrange a meeting with congregation officials with the help of his superiors in New York and in Rome to discuss the issue.

END


Higlights: William Levada....
arsenio

SC priest: No communion for Obama supporters


Thursday, November 13, 2008


COLUMBIA, S.C. - A South Carolina Roman Catholic priest has told his parishioners that they should refrain from receiving Holy Communion if they voted for Barack Obama because the Democratic president-elect supports abortion, and supporting him "constitutes material cooperation with intrinsic evil."

The Rev. Jay Scott Newman said in a letter distributed Sunday to parishioners at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Greenville that they are putting their souls at risk if they take Holy Communion before doing penance for their vote.

"Our nation has chosen for its chief executive the most radical pro-abortion politician ever to serve in the United States Senate or to run for president," Newman wrote, referring to Obama by his full name, including his middle name of Hussein.

"Voting for a pro-abortion politician when a plausible pro-life alternative exists constitutes material cooperation with intrinsic evil, and those Catholics who do so place themselves outside of the full communion of Christ's Church and under the judgment of divine law. Persons in this condition should not receive Holy Communion until and unless they are reconciled to God in the Sacrament of Penance, lest they eat and drink their own condemnation."

During the 2008 presidential campaign, many bishops spoke out on abortion more boldly than four years earlier, telling Catholic politicians and voters that the issue should be the most important consideration in setting policy and deciding which candidate to back. A few church leaders said parishioners risked their immortal soul by voting for candidates who support abortion rights.

But bishops differ on whether Catholic lawmakers - and voters - should refrain from receiving Communion if they diverge from church teaching on abortion. Each bishop sets policy in his own diocese. In their annual fall meeting, the nation's Catholic bishops vowed Tuesday to forcefully confront the Obama administration over its support for abortion rights.

According to national exit polls, 54 percent of Catholics chose Obama, who is Protestant. In South Carolina, which McCain carried, voters in Greenville County - traditionally seen as among the state's most conservative areas - went 61 percent for the Republican, and 37 percent for Obama.

"It was not an attempt to make a partisan point," Newman said in a telephone interview Thursday. "In fact, in this election, for the sake of argument, if the Republican candidate had been pro-abortion, and the Democratic candidate had been pro-life, everything that I wrote would have been exactly the same."

Conservative Catholics criticized Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry in 2004 for supporting abortion rights, with a few Catholic bishops saying Kerry should refrain from receiving Holy Communion because his views were contrary to church teachings.

Sister Mary Ann Walsh, spokeswoman for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said she had not heard of other churches taking this position in reaction to Obama's win. A Boston-based group that supports Catholic Democrats questioned the move, saying it was too extreme.

"Father Newman is off base," said Steve Krueger, national director of Catholic Democrats. "He is acting beyond the authority of a parish priest to say what he did. ... Unfortunately, he is doing so in a manner that will be of great cost to those parishioners who did vote for Sens. Obama and Biden. There will be a spiritual cost to them for his words."

A man who has attended St. Mary's for 18 years said he welcomed Newman's message and anticipated it would inspire further discussion at the church.

"I don't understand anyone who would call themselves a Christian, let alone a Catholic, and could vote for someone who's a pro-abortion candidate," said Ted Kelly, 64, who volunteers his time as lector for the church. "You're talking about the murder of innocent beings."

---

On the Net:

St. Mary's Catholic Church: http://www.stmarysgvl.org/

U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops: http://www.usccb.org/


Moses is chosen to lead the Children of Israel


1Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.

2And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

3And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.

4And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.

5And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

6Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.

7And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;

8And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

9Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.

10Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.

11And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?

12And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.

13And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?

14And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

15And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, the LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.

16Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt:

17And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.

18And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.

19And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand.

20And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go.

21And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty.

22But every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians.


Exodus 3

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Romanizing America Through Illegal Immigration


Romanizing America Through Illegal Immigration
[Originally posted on April 6th, 2006 A.D.]

In recent weeks, the advocates of the "rights" of illegal Mexican immigrants, accompanied by and even led by Roman Catholic priests, have staged rallies, protests, and parades all across the United States of America.
On 25th March, 500,000 people took to the streets of Los Angeles, flying Mexican flags and chanting slogans such as "Viva Mexico!" Another 500,000 marched in Dallas on April 9, waving Mexican flags with "Our Lady of Guadalupe" emblazoned in the center.
On May 1, a favorite Communist holiday, illegals staged a nationwide work stoppage and boycott of businesses and schools. The alien lobby also once more staged marches and rallies nationwide. As reported by NBC News, some of those activities were launched from local Roman Catholic parish churches. This outburst of protest is a response to several immigration and border reform measures working their way through the U.S. Congress. According to current estimates, there are as many as twenty million illegal aliens in the United States of America.
Rome aiding and abetting
It is unfortunate that very few Americans have been concerned with the religious aspect of this issue. The Roman Catholic Church is aiding and abetting the criminal invasion of America from Mexico, working both legally and criminally to bring as many illegal Mexican immigrants into my country as possible. In this, Rome has one goal in mind - the pope and his henchmen are seeking to turn America, founded and still a Protestant country, into a Roman Catholic country.
To that end, the Justice for Immigrants campaign was founded by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Twenty other Catholic organizations have joined together with the bishops in a massive educational, media, and political campaign to block legislation to deal with the alien invasion of America. On its website, the Justice for Immigrants campaign lists the bishops' "criteria for the reform of the U.S. immigration system, including . . . abandonment of the border 'blockade' enforcement strategy." Plainly speaking, the goal is to eliminate America's security along our border with Mexico! The U.S. bishops together with their Mexican counterparts, of course with papal consent and encouragement, have determined to use Catholic treasure, influence, and manpower to erase America's border! This is not surprising to the discerning Christian. Sovereign nations have always been a hindrance to the pope's effective exercise of his office as "father of kings, governor of the world and Vicar of Christ."
The bishops and their comrades in crime are sparing no expense or effort to influence every strata and institution of American culture. Reading material which the Justice for Immigrants campaign has produced for distribution to school children is reminiscent of
the propaganda produced by the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network for the same audience!
All dioceses backing the campaign
Mark D. Franken, executive director of Migration and Refugee Services for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, recently told the Washington Times that all of America's 197 Catholic dioceses "are in some way backing the campaign, with more than 70 being particularly active." As Mr Franken points out, Catholic advocacy on behalf of the illegal alien movement is highly organized, and the troops are getting their marching orders from the top. Consider this from the Catholic Zenit News Services: "Representatives of the Holy See and of the Catholic Church in Mexico are opposing a U.S. bill on immigrants, considering it a violation of human rights .... On Sunday, the California Catholic Conference of Bishops appealed for full migratory reform, which will include the legalization earned by illegal workers with their effort." So now, by taking a job and getting paid for it, criminals "earn" the right to have their criminality ignored. The lack of general outrage over such Romanist remarks cannot help but remind one of Revelation 18:23 - "by thy sorceries were all nations deceived."
On January 22, 2003, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, in concert with the Catholic Bishops of Mexico, issued Strangers No Longer: Together on the Journey of Hope A Pastoral Letter Concerning Migration. This lengthy, authoritative document contains statement after brazen statement endorsing and encouraging illegal immigration from Mexico. The bishops include a glossary of terms in which they differentiate between a legal immigrant; an immigrant; and a migrant, one who freely moves back and forth across national borders. The bishops make it clear throughout the document that their concern is for "undocumented" immigrants and migrants - the illegals.
'Necessary and beneficial'
While the majority of Americans find illegal immigration destructive and dangerous, the bishops find it otherwise: "We speak as two episcopal conferences but as one Church, united in the view that migration between our two nations is necessary and beneficial." Yes, the Romanists find "migration" necessary and beneficial to the cause of Rome; hence, the bishops call for an underground railroad to help illegals make it into America from Mexico:
"We call upon pastors and lay leaders to ensure support for migrant and immigrant families. We urge communities to offer migrant families hospitality . . . We commend church communities that have established migrant shelters . . . We call on the local church to help newcomers integrate . . .
"The reality of migration, especially when the journey entails clandestine border crossings, is often fraught with uncertainties and even dangers. As migrants leave their homes, pastoral counseling should be offered. . ."
2
Papal encouragement
To buttress their lawless instructions, the bishops turn to antichrists of the past:
"Catholic teaching has a long and rich tradition in defending the right to migrate."
"As Pope John Paul II wrote in Ecclesia in America: '. . . They often bring with them a cultural and religious heritage which is rich in Christian elements. The Church . . . is committed to spare no effort in developing her own pastoral strategy among these immigrant people, in order to help them settle in their new land and to foster a welcoming attitude among the local population, in the belief that a mutual openness will bring enrichment to all.'"
"Pope Pius XII reaffirms the Church's commitment to caring for pilgrims, aliens, exiles, and migrants of every kind in his apostolic constitution Exsul Familia, affirming . . . 'the sovereignty of the State, although it must be respected, cannot be exaggerated . . .'"
Of course, the quote from John Paul takes us back to my claim that the leadership of the Catholic church is so very concerned about the "human rights" of illegals because those illegals add numbers to the pope's American flock and leaven my country with Romanism. The bishops are not shy on that point and give some straightforward instruction for equipping the illegals pouring into America from Mexico: "Prayer books and guides to social and religious services should be provided along the way and at the points of arrival. The migrants should be reminded of their role as evangelizers."
Cardinal Theodore McCarrick
The bishops' pastoral letter is far from being the only documentation which could be given to prove that the Roman Catholic Church is unlawfully using illegal Mexican immigrants to build her power base in America. For instance, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick of Washington, D.C. said this about illegals in El Paso Times: "They . . . come with the values that are so needed in the United States today . . . . This is a special moment in the history of the Catholic church and the history of migration."
Archbishop Jos? Gómez of San Antonio, speaking of the illegals, told Zenit press,
"(T)he values they bring . . . is [sic] making North American culture return to its Christian roots .... The values of the immigrants are very basic, reflecting a profound Catholicism."
Cardinal Norberto Rivera, Mexico's archbishop, has exulted: "In the north the emigrants, Mexicans and those who pass through Mexico, are bearing the faith to the north of our continent. Only five years ago the [Catholic] church was in the minority in the United States, it is now the majority" (EI Universo, July 28, 2002). The Cardinal was a bit premature in his Catholic majority claim; but the way things are going, one can understand his overstatement.
3
Of course, the Catholic bishops are the generals in the offensive against America's sovereignty, security, and Protestant identity. The thousands upon thousands of diocesan and religious order priests are the frontline troops who are charged with turning rhetoric into reality. As might be expected, the priests tend to be even blunter than their bishops with regard to the Catholic church's "human rights" work on behalf of illegal Mexican immigrants. For instance, consider this from Priest Paul Manx, as quoted in the wellrespected Catholic paper, the Wanderer, May 6, 1987: "America is a dying nation. I tell the Mexicans when I am down in Mexico to keep on having children, and then to take back what we took from them: California, Texas, Arizona, and then to take the rest of the country as well."
As is plain from that quote, the Vatican's corrupt campaign to funnel illegal "evangelizers" into America did not start in 2003; but it is increasingly out in the open, more aggressive, and more anti American. For instance, the 2003 pastoral letter of the Mexican and American bishops openly decries the "xenophobic and racist attitudes" of those Americans who are demanding an end to the alien invasion from Mexico. They are also outraged that our border patrol would actually arrest individuals criminally crossing our borders: "Alarmingly, migrants often are treated as criminals." The bishops echo the shrill charges of the leftist Reconquista crowd when they speak of "reports of physical abuse of migrants by U.S. Border Patrol agents" and claim that "the U.S. record of handling undocumented unaccompanied minors from Mexico and other countries is shameful."
Guide corps
In 2003, the bishops also suggested a Catholic commission "study the possibility of a more comprehensive preparation and assignment of clergy, religious, and lay people who dedicate themselves to pastoral accompaniment of migrants." Put another way, the bishops are promoting the development of a well trained guide corps comprised of Roman Catholics whose mission would be to skillfully and efficiently bring Roman Catholic Illegals from Mexico across the border into America. As the bishops gloated in their letter, "This cross border collaboration has already reaped positive results." It certainty has. The Roman Catholic Church in America has been reinvigorated, and its prospects are bright if only the move toward immigration reform and the re-securing of America's borders can be staved off.
The pope and his people do not care one whit about the economic and social effects of their campaign to Romanize America. They do not care that we now have thousands of vicious MS 13 gang members, illegals born Central America, roaming the streets of American cities. The scarlet and purple cadres couldn't care less about the danger that unsecured borders pose for the citizens of America in this day of Islamic Jihad. The woman who has ridden the beast in the past wants to get back in the saddle again in the worst way. The predominately Protestant nature of America's culture and our traditional defense of our national sovereignty are obstacles which stand in the way of the world without borders which is in Rome's best interest. The bishops, of course in compliance
4
with their boss's wishes, have seen the benefit of America's porous border and are determined to seize the moment:
"Now is the time for both the United States and Mexico to . . . work toward a globalization of solidarity."
And speaking of solidarity, we will end this brief reminder of the cold, calculating ambition of Rome with a closing encouragement to lawlessness by the Catholic bishops of America and Mexico: "We stand in solidarity with you, our migrant brothers and sisters, and we will continue to advocate on your behalf for just and fair migration policies. We commit ourselves to animate communities of Christ's disciples on both sides of the border to accompany you on your journey."

Source: http://ctwilcox.com/RomanizingAmerica.pdf

The land boom has cursed this country


The land boom has cursed this country, extravagant prices have been paid for lands bought on credit; then the land must be cleared, and more money is hired; a house to be built calls for more money, and then interest with open mouth swallows up all the profits. Debts accumulate, and then come the closing and failure of banks, and then the foreclosure of mortgages. Thousands have been turned out of employment; families lose their little all, they borrow and borrow, and then have to give up their property and come out penniless. Much money and hard labor have been put into farms bought on credit, or inherited with an incumbrance. The occupants lived in hope of becoming real owners, and it might have been so, but for the failure of banks throughout the country.



Now the case where a man owns his place clear is a happy exception to the rule. Merchants are failing, families are suffering for food and clothing. No work presents itself. But the holidays are just as numerous. Their amusements are entered into as eagerly. All who can do so will spend their hard-earned pence and shillings and pounds for a taste of pleasure, for strong drink, or some other indulgence. The papers that report the poverty of the people, have regular standing notices of the horse races, and of the prizes presented for different kinds of exciting sports. The shows, the theaters, and all such demoralizing amusements, are taking the money from the country, and poverty is continually increasing. Poor men will invest their last shilling in a lottery, hoping to secure a prize, and then they have to beg for food to sustain life, or go hungry. Many die of hunger, and many put an end to their existence. The end is not yet. Men take you to their orchards of oranges and lemons, and other fruits, and tell you that the produce does not pay for the work done in them. It is next to impossible to make ends meet, and parents decide that the children shall not be farmers; they have not the courage and hope to educate them to till the soil.



Fundamentals of Christian Education, E. G. White, pp.317-318.

The battle is not yours, but God's


1It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.

2Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazontamar, which is Engedi.

3And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

4And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.

5And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court,

6And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?

7Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?

8And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying,

9If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.

10And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not;

11Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit.

12O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.

13And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.

14Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation;

15And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.

16To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel.

17Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.

18And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD.

19And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high.

20And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.

21And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever.

22And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.

23For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another.

24And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped.

25And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much.

26And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of Berachah; for there they blessed the LORD: therefore the name of the same place was called, The valley of Berachah, unto this day.

27Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in the forefront of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy; for the LORD had made them to rejoice over their enemies.

28And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of the LORD.

29And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries, when they had heard that the LORD fought against the enemies of Israel.

30So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his God gave him rest round about.

31And Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah: he was thirty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.

32And he walked in the way of Asa his father, and departed not from it, doing that which was right in the sight of the LORD.

33Howbeit the high places were not taken away: for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers.

34Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Jehu the son of Hanani, who is mentioned in the book of the kings of Israel.

35And after this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who did very wickedly:

36And he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish: and they made the ships in Eziongaber.

37Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the LORD hath broken thy works. And the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish.




2 Chronicles 20

Saturday, November 08, 2008

Rome's Global Ambitions · November 2008


Romes Global Ambitions · November 01, 2008


Dear Friends,

This month we have another important message to share with you about how prophecy is being fulfilled to the very letter. In some of our recent sermons we have looked at the way in which Rome has developed incredible political power in the United States particularly through the president’s office, the Congress and the Supreme Court. The United States is in the process of making the image to the beast by coordinating domestic laws and policies with the Vatican so that they mirror Rome’s principles. For example, we have documented how U.S. policies have mirrored Rome’s historical inquisitional principles including torture in secret prisons, domestic surveillance and judicial changes that deprive detainees of their personal rights. This has been done in the name of fighting terrorism and is in partial fulfillment of Revelation 13:14 that tell us that “they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by the sword and did live.”

However, Rome is not satisfied to merely infiltrate and manipulate the United States for her own ends within its borders. Rome wants global power. She wants to use the United States and other western nations to accomplish her global purposes. You will be amazed as you listen to these developments that fulfill, in our day, some of the most important prophecies in the Bible.

But before we begin, let us bow our heads in prayer and ask for God’s direction and blessing. Our dear Father in heaven, thank you for giving us Jesus who died for us to save us. Thank You that He has given us prophecy so that we may be prepared for the time of trouble that is coming upon the world and so that we can meet him when He comes in the clouds of glory. We see the onward marching events in the news and we see their connection to the things You have warned us about in Your holy word. We sense that we are getting steadily closer to the great time of trouble in the world, which will also bring a little time of trouble upon Your faithful people. May Your Holy Spirit show us today how prophecy reads like the daily news. May we sense Your presence. Show us what we must do to get ourselves ready and also our families. In Jesus holy and precious name I pray, Amen.

To understand how subtlety and stealthily the United States is being used to advance the goals of the Vatican, it is important to first see what Jesus through the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy says will happen. Let us read from Daniel 8:23 through 25. “And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practice, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.”

I like the end of those verses. The great end of Rome is brokenness. After all, Rome has nothing to offer the true follower of Christ. All her superstitions, and all her pilgrimages, and all her indulgences amount to nothing and are useless. All her rites and rituals, feasts and festivals are powerless to save the soul. All her high days and holy days are useless in gaining entrance into the kingdom of heaven.

Yet, she will prosper for a time. Notice that her prosperity is gained by peace. In other words, by her craft and politics, she will work for peace at least openly and will be seen as the broker of peace in the world’s conflicts. But Rome actually uses war to her own benefit. It gives her the opportunity to be the peace broker, and she stands to gain political and economic benefit by it.

Notice too that the prophet Daniel says that the Papacy will be “mighty, but not by his own power…” What does this mean? It means, my friends, that the Vatican will have great influence and power in world politics, but she is not able to enforce her political powers by her own military. You see, a nation can only have as much influence on global politics as they have a military to support it globally. So, nations with a large and sophisticated military have a lot power in global politics while nations with no military have very little influence as a general rule. Of course there are exceptions. For example, nations that have a strategic location or strategic resources like oil, still have some influence because of those specific strategic reasons.

Rome does not have a military, so she has no way of enforcing her policies on other nations or achieve global political power by traditional means. However Rome has other resources. One of the most important strategic resources she has is that she is not only a nation state but also a religion. And she has more than a billion followers scattered in every country of the world. This means that other nations have to treat her like any other nation. But it also means that she is treated differently than every other nation of the world because of her religious character. In nation states where there are a lot of Roman Catholics Rome has a lot of power over the people and to a large extent over the leaders of the nation. It is actually because of her religious status that she doesn’t have to have a military in order to have geopolitical influence.

By her religious nature, the Papacy has a sanctimonious covering for her political power plays and everybody seems to think that her purposes are good. They think that all is well with Rome because she apologizes for the wicked sex scandals of the bishops and because she apologizes for the Inquisition and for her other iniquitous deeds in the past.

Notice this statement from inspiration. This is from the book Great Controversy, page 571. “The Roman Church now presents a fair front to the world, covering with apologies her record of horrible cruelties. She has clothed herself in Christlike garments; but she is unchanged. Every principle of the papacy that existed in past ages exists today. The doctrines devised in the darkest ages are still held. Let none deceive themselves. The papacy that Protestants are now so ready to honor is the same that ruled the world in the days of the Reformation, when men of God stood up, at the peril of their lives, to expose her iniquity. She possesses the same pride and arrogant assumption that lorded it over kings and princes, and claimed the prerogatives of God. Her spirit is no less cruel and despotic now than when she crushed out human liberty and slew the saints of the Most High.

Do Protestants honor the Papacy today? You bet they do. By the way, Protestants no longer call themselves Protestants because they don’t want to be seen as protesting anything. They are now called Evangelicals, and they are very supportive of Rome. In fact, Rome has invited them to join her in fighting corruption in society like abortion, euthanasia, gay marriage and other moral issues. Rome has been nice to them and called them separated brethren instead of heretics. And in response, evangelicals have decided that they can no longer protest Rome’s false doctrine and use the Bible’s clear condemnation against her any longer. They think that Rome has changed, so what they once believed about her was wrongheaded, or at least that it no longer applies.

But actually Rome never changes. She has carefully adjusted her image, like a chameleon adjusts her skin to her surroundings, and now she talks about unity and love and even religious liberty (for which, by the way, Rome has its own definition). And guess what, most churches or pastors who don’t understand the principles of prophecy also talk about love and unity too. Who can be against that? They don’t want to be seen as promoting bigotry by identifying Rome as the beast of Revelation 13 or the great whore of Revelation 17. They don’t apply any of that to her any more.

Once they dropped their condemnation of Rome she can actuality use them to assist her in building up her strength and power. Notice that Daniel said that she will be mighty, but not by her own power. Do you know who is giving Rome her power? Revelation 13:2 says that the dragon is the source of her power. Speaking of the beast, the verse says, “the dragon gave him is power, and his seat, and great authority.” But Satan knows that he has to give Rome power over the other churches and nations. It is the former Protestants who are no longer protesting, but instead they are actually helping her by making her very popular.

Did you see how much the Methodist president George W. Bush, and the people of all faiths adulated the pope when he visited the United States in April? Did you notice how 500,000 people cheered and fawned over Pope Benedict in Australia when he went there for World Youth Day in July? Did you notice the thousands of people in France that excitedly welcomed the pope when he came to that rather irreligious country in September? What about the hundreds of thousands in Brazil and the hundreds of thousands in Austria in 2007. The list could go on and on.

My friends, the scriptures says that “all the world wondered after the beast.” Revelation 13:4. And it is happening. They love Rome. Remember, the beast represents that end-time power that opposes Jesus Christ and misrepresents his sacrifice and salvation, and the principles of His righteous character. If ever there was a power that does this and takes the glory away from Christ and takes it to himself, it is the Pope who sets himself up as God on earth. Benedict is getting nearly as much adulation and support as John Paul II. This is prophetic in is implications because it means that as the pope gets more popular, he will have more political power over the leaders of the nations. All the world wondered after the beast in his opposition to Jesus and His holy law. And as Rome gains more geopolitical power through her craft, it breeds still more global respect and still more power. Gradually Rome will rise to the height of power, not just in Europe, but in world-wide credibility and influence.
But it is more than that. The Vatican gains more power by cooperating with national leaders to accomplish her purposes. She is very skilled at manipulating them, often without them even realizing it. That is another reason why her power is not her own. For example, the cooperation of Rome helps the United States, but in turn the United States is also helping Rome. When President Bush met with Benedict in Rome on June 9, 2007, USA Today reported that President “Bush said the pope is worried about the fate of Christian communities within Iraq, and that the meeting featured an array of issues ranging from AIDS to immigration…” USA Today went on to say that ”the Vatican issued a three-paragraph statement saying Benedict and Bush had ‘cordial discussions’ about ‘the international political situation,’ as well as ’contemporary moral and religious issues.’ The statement expressed hope for ‘a regional and negotiated solution to the conflicts and crises’ of Iraq and the Middle East.”

Obviously Benedict understands that by working with the United States in finding a solution to the problem in Iraq, she can insert herself in that region as a peace broker and even a political player. Of course she is interested in the fate of Christians in Iraq, but it is much, much more. Note that they also spoke of the “international political situation.” This could, of course, include almost anything that is important to the Vatican. There should be no doubt that President Bush was not visiting the Vatican because he wanted to instruct the pope concerning what the Vatican should do. He was there to receive instruction concerning how the United States can serve the interests of the Vatican.

As Rome gains more credibility with worldly people, her power and influence in world politics grows. But by publically cooperating with the most powerful nation on earth, the United States, she is building her resources so that she can one day persecute God’s people. Once the image to the beast is given life, then persecution begins, according to Revelation 13:15-17.

Listen to this statement from the book Great Controversy, page 581. ”God’s word has given warning of the impending danger; let this be unheeded, and the Protestant world will learn what the purposes of Rome really are, only when it is too late to escape the snare. She is silently growing into power. Her doctrines are exerting their influence in legislative halls, in the churches, and in the hearts of men. She is piling up her lofty and massive structures in the secret recesses of which her former persecutions will be repeated. Stealthily and unsuspectedly she is strengthening her forces to further her own ends when the time shall come for her to strike. All that she desires is vantage ground, and this is already being given her. We shall soon see and shall feel what the purpose of the Roman element is. Whoever shall believe and obey the word of God will thereby incur reproach and persecution.”

And what are her secret purposes? Here it is from Great Controversy, page 573. “In the movements now in progress in the United States to secure for the institutions and usages of the church the support of the state, Protestants are following in the steps of papists. Nay, more, they are opening the door for the papacy to regain in Protestant America the supremacy which she has lost in the Old World. And that which gives greater significance to this movement is the fact that the principal object contemplated is the enforcement of Sunday observance—a custom which originated with Rome, and which she claims as the sign of her authority. It is the spirit of the papacy—the spirit of conformity to worldly customs, the veneration for human traditions above the commandments of God—that is permeating the Protestant churches and leading them on to do the same work of Sunday exaltation which the papacy has done before them.”

All the surface activity that you see between the United States and Rome is that which is driving up Rome’s power in the world so that one day soon, she, in cooperation with the United States, will oppose the law of God and persecute God’s people. Make no mistake about it, this prophecy will come true, just as the others have been coming true. Perhaps Protestants are already too far entangled with Rome and it is too late to escape the snare.

Rome is working to bring about a lot of mischief to God’s people. She is working to overthrow them and to make life terribly miserable for them. Most people wouldn’t really care, since they are not part of God’s last church on earth. So long as they can continue their lives without any trouble from the government or from the economy, they don’t really care what happens in world politics, or to God’s people. They just want to be able to watch their TVs, their football games, and their movies, or listen to their dancy music – religious or secular, eat their meat and drink their beer, and do a few other things that make them feel good.

Meanwhile, Rome stealthily gains power and strength from their leaders who discuss with the Vatican and the pope, how they can help her accomplish her objectives. They see the Papacy as a beneficial entity so their cooperation is very willing. They benefit from her. After all the Bible says in Revelation 18:9 that the kings of the earth “live deliciously with her.” Listen to the words of holy scripture. “And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning.”

This destruction is future. Right now it doesn’t look like Rome is burning. The only smoke you see over Rome is when the cardinals are in conclave to elect a new pope. Rome is not burning. So right now is the time when the kings of the earth are committing fornication and living deliciously with her. What does it mean to commit fornication in the spiritual sense?

Jesus said “render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and unto God the things that are God’s.” Matthew 22:21. Jesus was saying that church and state have two separate fields in which to work and that they are to be separate. Human beings owe allegiance to both, but the higher allegiance is to God. When church and state unite, they are committing spiritual fornication. They are doing that which is forbidden. Even the Ten Commandments are divided between our obligations to God and our obligations to our fellow man. The first four commandments are related to our obligations to God and the last six are related to our obligations to our fellow man. The first four come first because they are the higher priority. Human laws, then, must not require a man or woman to do anything that would cause them to discontinue or breach their obligations to God.

Fornication has a temporary good feeling. That is why people do it. But it is wrong, and the Bible says that fornicators will not be in heaven. 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10 says; “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”

There could not be a better description of the mixing of church and state than fornication, for both parties feel good about it, at least temporarily. Moreover, Rome is described by the Bible as the mother of Harlots in Revelation 17. A harlot’s business income, or her economy is based in her fornication. Rome gains economically and politically by her forbidden relationship with the nations of the world. And we are watching this spiritual fornication take place very frequently as the pope visits nation after nation and receives their praise and adulation, and as the pope is visited by the leaders of the nations at the Vatican.

Now in order to understand the international political intercourse between Rome and the United States in accomplishing her global political goals, we have to go back in history a little and get the big picture. The way that the Papacy ruled in the Dark Ages, or the medieval period involved cooperation between church and state so that the state eventually became subject to the control of the church. The feudal kings eventually owed their kingdom to the sometimes fickle decisions of the reigning pope. The Vatican co-opted them in accomplishing her purposes.

When Islam invaded the empire from the East, Rome gathered the feudal kings and enjoined them the raise up armies to fight to defend her as well as their own dominions. Rome has never had an army of her own, and still doesn’t. Therefore, she needs the armies of her cooperative partners or subjects to defend her and even fight for her. The feudal kings had a vested interest in cooperating with Rome because they saw that the security of their own kingdoms and of the whole empire was dependent on the success of their efforts at the behest of Rome or at her command. The papacy had ready allies in the defense of the Holy Roman Empire. And as they cooperated together, Papal credibility, strength and power increased.

In more recent times, Rome has begun to use the United States as a cooperative partner with her in pursuing the Papacy’s global agenda. During the pontificate of John Paul the II, he and U.S. President Jimmy Carter, and then Ronald Reagan, held secret correspondence and meetings to overthrow a mutual enemy, eastern European communism. Both parties needed each other. Neither could accomplish the objective without the other. Carl Bernstein in his article for Time magazine February 24, 1992, titled the Holy Alliance, quoted U.S. National Security Adviser Richard Allen as saying the cooperation between the United States and the Vatican, or the President and the Pope, was “one of the great secret alliances of all time.” The effect of this cooperative endeavor helped to strengthen the ties between the United States and Rome. In fact, you may remember that it was just before the fall of eastern European communism that Ronald Reagan greatly strengthened diplomatic relations with the Holy See by sending an ambassador to the Vatican for the first time in history on January 10, 1984. Once the Polish communist party collapsed, the rest of the communist leaders were on shaky ground. One after another they too were overthrown. Ronald Reagan got the credit for the fall of communism, but it could not have happened without the cooperative effort with the Vatican. But that was only the beginning. They needed communism for practice, as a dray run, to prepare for their cooperation on a much more global war that was yet future. The U.S. and the Vatican were merely conducting join training exercises for the war with Islam.

Time Article
See Diplomatic Relations

But the Papacy has not stopped its meddling in geo-political affairs. The Holy See is always at work, through diplomatic means and through alliances and cooperation with nations to mature her agenda. Her goal is to use the United States to assist her in recovering the global dominance that she once wielded, and eventually establish herself as queen of the world again. Listen to Revelation 18:7. Rome says “I sit a queen, and am no widow and shall see no sorrow.”

Rome continues to play her political cards in such a way as to co-opt as many nations as possible to join her in her quest to gain control of the world. European leaders are very dedicated to assisting Rome in resurrecting the Holy Roman Empire in Europe. The cooperation of Angela Merkel of Germany and Nicolas Sarkozy of France, the two leading nations of the European Union, is especially significant. Germany was the home of the great reformer Martin Luther who stood up to Rome’s leaders and cut down her spiritual power over the people by exposing her corruption and spiritual blasphemy. Now the leader of Germany, Angela Merkel, a Lutheran, of all things, has done everything she can to place Rome back on the throne of Europe (We reported on this in a sermon called Germany Infuriates the Pope, which you can order if you did not receive it). She has strongly worked to have a reference to European Christian roots (that is: Roman Catholic roots) written into the constitutional documents of the European Union. She is trying to help establish Rome’s historical claim to Europe as her spiritual domain.

France, on the other hand, was the nation that cut down the temporal power of the popes in 1798 under the military dictatorship of Napoleon. The modern leader of France, Nicolas Sarkozy, a practicing Catholic, is also cooperating with both Merkel and Benedict XVI to restore the temporal domains of the papacy. Sarkozy has advocated reducing the separation of church and state in France. When Sarkozy visited the pope in December of 2007 he was made an honorary member of the clergy of the Roman Catholic Church. That would be quite an honor for a Roman Catholic government leader of any nation. Rome is trying to blur the line of separation of church and state wherever she can. Imagine a Roman Catholic and a Lutheran cooperating together to resurrect and consolidate Rome’s spiritual and temporal power over Europe. What an alliance!

Angela Merkel
Nicolas Sarkozy

In his recent visit to France, Benedict and Sarkozy discussed the issue of the separation of church and state. Canada.com reported on the public remarks of the two cohorts. “Sarkozy, who spoke before the Pope, said it would be ‘madness’ for France, which ‘accepts its Christian roots,’ to ‘deprive ourselves’ of religion.” The pope responded by saying “In fact, it is fundamental to become more aware of the irreplaceable role of religion for the formation of consciences and the contribution which it can bring to… a basic ethical consensus within society.”
In other words, Benedict was saying that without the Roman Catholic Church informing the conscience in France, the French people will never be able to form an ethical consensus.

Benedict also said: “As we face the danger of a resurgence of old suspicions, tensions and conflicts among nations, which we are troubled to witness today, France, which historically has been sensitive to reconciliation between peoples, is called to help Europe build up peace within her borders and throughout the world.” Rome wants to extend her influence on French society and through them on other parts of the world. It is Rome that is the peace broker. This is nothing more than a bid to seize an opportunity to partner with France to promote their common interests.

Please note that Sarkozy said that France acknowledges its Christian roots. The Christian roots of France go all the way back to the time of Clovis in the late fifth century. So in essence, Sarkozy was saying that France, though quite secular, recognizes its obligations to the Papal authority.

Benedict’s visit to France

But the United States is the prize for Rome. It is a protestant country that she has never ruled, but whose separation of church and state has kept America free from excessive meddling by Rome. But since 9/11 America is obsessed with security. This is a perfect opportunity for Rome to cooperate with the United States in accomplishing her purposes abroad. For example, One of Rome’s spiritual opponents is Islam, particularly radical Islam. If Rome can cooperate with the United States in dealing with radical Islam, particularly its religious aspects, she can shape the discussion with Islam and the West, particularly with the United States, by inserting herself between them. At the same time she can help shape America’s response to radical Islam in harmony with her own principles, including torture in secret prisons, inquisitional justice, cannon law, and thus gradually and in the name of fighting terror undermine further the U.S. Constitution and replace it with an inquisitional mentality followed by inquisitional law. Furthermore, she can shape the overall U. S. and western response to Islam at large. Let me restate this very important principle. Rome can manage the religion side of the issues with Islam by itself. At the same time, she can use the U.S. and other nations to assist her with their military and political powers.

No doubt the Vatican helped President Bush think through his arguments for the war in Iraq. In his 2005 inaugural speech at the beginning of his second term, Bush said, “The best hope for peace in our world is the expansion of freedom in all the world… So it is the policy of the United States to seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture, with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world…” This is language the Papacy can understand and it is a reason with which the Vatican can support.

In a recent article in Newsmax, called “The Great Crusader,” the author, Brad Minor says that “as the world’s last global superpower, American political hegemony can help the church’s global efforts.” What does he mean? He is saying that the United States’ world power combined with its cozy relationship with the Vatican can assist the Holy See in increasing its global influence and political power.

While Rome is officially against war, nevertheless, war can be very helpful to Rome if it helps her accomplish her goals. This kind of war she defines as a “just war,” by claiming that it is necessary to accomplish larger humanitarian good such as freedom and justice and other nice-sounding words.

The article in Newsmax went on to say, “The Pope’s visit to America also has strategic importance, as the Church races to solidify its position against Islam.” In other words, the Vatican is attempting to use it’s historical diplomatic methods to coordinate with the United States and increase its own presence and influence in the Middle East. The new ambassador to the Holy See, Mary Ann Glendon commented to Catholic News Service on March 14, 2008 that the “the Holy See is now fully supportive of U.S. efforts to rebuild the country and to establish peace in the region.”

Glendon’s remarks

At first the Holy See under John Paul II was strongly opposed to the war in Iraq. But in more recent times, under Benedict XVI, that has changed. Why? Though it was not one of the original reasons for the war in Iraq, one of the more recent justifications is to spread democracy and freedom. This appeals to Rome. This reason provides an opportunity for Rome to piggyback on to America’s efforts in order to accomplish her own objectives in the Middle East. So now Rome has changed its tune.

The Georgia Bulletin, a Roman Catholic publication in Atlanta reported on the change in 2005. “After presenting his credentials to Pope Benedict XVI Nov. 12, the new U.S. [ambassador] said he was convinced that the United States and the Vatican are natural allies on a host of modern issues. On questions like terrorism and human trafficking, on foreign assistance and AIDS treatment, the Vatican and the U.S. government are on the same page… Even the war in Iraq, which was strongly opposed by the Vatican, has moved into the category of shared objectives,’ the ambassador said. ‘We’re in a new day here, with the Vatican and the United State supporting each other as we work together to support the people of Iraq,’ he said. ‘When it comes to nation-building in Iraq,’ he said, ‘the Holy See is there to lend its voice of support, in developing a free, particularly religiously free, country that is based upon freedom and democratic principles.’”

Rooney interview

Notice that the ambassador was saying how important the cooperation between the Papacy and the United States is by calling them “natural allies.” That has not come easily. 200 years ago, the United States would have never seen itself as a natural ally with the Vatican. But things have changed dramatically. Benedict sees the effort to establish democracy in Iraq as in Rome’s best interests. In essence he sees the war as helpful to his own objectives in the Middle East. Democracy is important to the Holy See because she can then more easily build her churches and cathedrals and through them influence the state. Also democracy is built on the idea that the majority rules. It’s called majoritarianism. Whenever Rome can control the majority, she has gained her footing. In getting there, she tries to control the dialogue, so that she can shape the outcome. Rome is essentially resorting to her historic role in which she shares political power with nation states to put herself in a position to manipulate them if she cannot outright control them. She is actually helping the United States to forcefully rebuild the nation of Iraq as a democratic nation. If this doesn’t fulfill Revelation 18:9 which says that the kings of the earth commit fornication with her, I don’t know what does.

And Rome’s changing attitude is paying off. As the Holy See dialogues with some Middle East nations, particularly those working closely with the U.S. and other Western countries, she is reaping considerable rewards. In November 2007, Saudi Arabia’s king Abdullah, while on a tour of Europe visited Pope Benedict at the Vatican. This was a first ever meeting between a Saudi king and a pope. Now the Saudi king is lending his support for the construction of the first non-Muslim place of worship in the kingdom, a Catholic Church. Approximately 800,000 Catholics live and work in Saudi Arabia, mostly Filipinos. Catholic News said that Vatican officials confirmed that the pope “pressed for permission to open a church in the kingdom, and said that opening a Catholic parish in the Islamic land would be ‘a historic achievement’ for religious freedom and a major step forward for inter-religious dialogue.”

Saudi King and Pope
Catholic Churches in Saudi Arabia

While Rome is working hard to build relationships with every national leader possible, she needs to bring the strength of the western nations, particularly the United States to her aid. She works closely to help them with national security issues, and they work closely with her on social issues.

National security has always been one of the key reasons for nations to go to war, even in distant lands. President Bush has made national security one of the key platforms in defending his war in Iraq. Joining with the Holy See to defend national security against radical Islam resurrects the ancient and historical relationships that the Vatican used in the middle ages to manipulate and control the states under her dominion. If this is not leading to Rome’s dominion over the United States, and advancing her geopolitical ambitions, I cannot think of anything else that would.

So the war in Iraq has now become a cooperative effort to accomplish “shared objectives” between the U.S. and the Vatican. In other words, the Vatican is supporting the U.S. effort to force a democratic or majoritarian government on the people of Iraq, all in the name of freedom, particularly religious freedom. While this sounds good to Americans who love their liberty, it is actually being accomplished by the very means that the Bible predicts, a cooperation between church and state, Rome’s historic relationship with earthly governments. This cooperation, though appealing to westerners in dealing with resurgent Islam, is a dangerous mix that will eventually lead to persecution. Rome wants freedom of religion for Catholics of course, and in the mean time she is willing to extend it to others. But the Bible tells us that all the world will wonder after the beast (Rev 13:4); and that the United States will require all men to receive the mark of the beast and worship according to Rome’s requirements, (vs. 14-17).

Bendict’s visit to the United Nations elevated the papal image and influence among the nations. Rome is a “permanent observer” to the United Nations, which sounds like Rome is not involved in the political aspects of the UN, the truth is quite the opposite. Rome’s permanent observer status carries with it “the right of reply and the right: to participate in general debate, to issue communications and to co-sponsor draft resolutions,” said the National Catholic Register, April 6, 2008. So the Vatican can in fact, be very involved in UN global politics. And this just suits Rome perfectly. Through the United Nations, as well as in her cooperation with the United States, Rome can advance her global political agenda. She is working all fronts at the same time. The fact that Benedict visited both the United States and the United Nations on the same trip is not insignificant. Let us remember that Rome’s interests are both domestic in the United States, and global throughout the rest of the world. Rome intends to become the queen of the earth. Benedict came to speak to the issues that the global community of nations should respect as well as speak to the people of the United States.

Rome’s Enhanced UN Status

Popes have frequently sought advice from former U.S. government leaders and others to advise them, or the various branches of the Holy See on matters of international politics, economics and social matters. Nixon administration Secretary of State Henry Kissinger was asked by Benedict XVI to become a “political adviser” wrote the National Catholic Register on November 22, 2006 “and Kissinger has accepted… The Nobel laureate was asked at a… private audience with the Holy Father to form part of a papal ‘advisory board’ on foreign and political affairs.” Henry Kissinger, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, has much experience dealing with Israel, Islam and the nations of the Middle East. He is well versed in the politics of the former soviet empire, and is intimately familiar with U.S. politics and foreign policy. From the Vatican’s point of view, Kissinger, a Jew, would be an ideal candidate to assist the Holy See in its international political ambitions.

The Register reported that other key former players in the U.S. administration have also been asked to assist the Vatican in achieving its global goals. The Register said that Zbigniew Brzezinski, former National security Adviser to U.S. President Jimmy Carter was a close confidant of John Paul II. In more recent years, the Vatican has drawn in men like Paul Wolfowitz, former President Bush adviser, and American Economist Jeffrey Sachs, who also happens to be Special Advisor to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon. While the Holy See is not exclusive in its choice of former U.S. administration officials as Vatican advisers, it no doubt sees them as vital to its ongoing global political agenda. What is more, they know how to choose the most connected among the globalist elites. Their CFR connections will keep the Vatican well informed on the planning going on behind the scends by the global elites.

N C Register
N C Register 2
Jeffrey Sachs

My friends, those who are carefully watching prophecy can see the strategic alignment between the United States and the Papacy that most evangelicals cannot see. They think they are doing a good thing by exalting the papacy. Yet their very ecumenical attitude is opening the way for Rome to gain more strength and power by cooperating especially with the U.S. government and fulfill some of the most important prophecies ever written in the Bible.

May God help us prepare for the events to unfold as we near the coming of Jesus. Let us pray. Our Father in heaven, through Jesus we come to You asking that You will show us how to prepare our lives for the coming events that will herald the coming of Jesus in the clouds of glory. I pray that we will be more faithful in our daily experience with Christ, so that our lives will reflect the piety of those who are truly followers of Jesus and who keep all of His commandments. May Your Holy Spirit teach us how to live righteous lives before God and man. And when trouble comes upon us, we pray that we will have confidence in Jesus and His love, His tender care, and His sustaining power. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.



Source: http://www.ktfministry.org/sermons/308/romes-global-ambitions