france24--2019-11-09--India's Supreme Court approves Hindu temple on disputed land

Hindu devotees celebrate after the Supreme Court's verdict on a disputed religious site, in Ayodhya, India, on November 9, 2019.  India’s Supreme Court on Saturday ruled in favor of a Hindu temple on a disputed religious ground in the country’s north and ordered that alternative land be given to Muslims to build a mosque — a verdict in a highly contentious case that was immediately deplored by a key Muslim body.  The dispute over land ownership has been one of India’s most heated issues, with Hindu nationalists demanding a temple on the site in the town of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh state for more than a century. The 16th century Babri Masjid mosque was destroyed by Hindu hard-liners in December 1992, sparking massive Hindu-Muslim violence that left some 2,000 people dead.  Saturday’s verdict paves the way for building the temple in place of the demolished mosque.  As the news broke, groups of jubilant Hindus poured into Ayodhya’s streets and distributed sweets to celebrate the verdict, but police soon persuaded them to return to their homes.  The five Supreme Court justices who heard the case said in a unanimous judgment that 5 acres (2 hectares) of land will be allotted to the Muslim community to build a mosque, though it did not specify where. The court said the 5 acres is “restitution for the unlawful destruction of the mosque.”  The disputed land, meanwhile, will be given to a board of trustees for the construction of a temple to the Hindu god Ram.  Hindu hard-liners have said they want to build a new temple to Ram on the site, which they revere as his birthplace. They say the mosque was built after a temple dedicated to the Hindu god was destroyed by Muslim invaders.  Zafaryab Jilani, a representative of the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board, a key Muslim body in the state and a party to the dispute, opposed the ruling.  “We are not satisfied with the verdict and it’s not up to our expectation,” he said. “These 5 acres of land don’t mean anything to us. We are examining the verdict and whatever legal course is open for us.”  Jilani hinted at filing a review petition in the Supreme Court challenging the verdict. At the same time, he appealed to members of all communities to maintain peace.  The judges said that the demolition of the mosque in 1992 was “in violation of the status quo orders of this court.” But they didn’t order any punitive action against those who demolished the mosque in the presence of several top leaders of current Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party.  Modi hailed the decision and said it had settled a long-standing matter.  “Every point of view was given adequate time and opportunity to express differing points of view. This verdict will further increase people’s faith in judicial processes,” Modi tweeted.  Hindu supporters and activists celebrated the ruling on the court lawns, blowing bugles and chanting “Jai shree Ram,” or “Hail god Ram.”  The five judges said Hindus’ belief that Ram was born at the site “is undisputed,” and that Muslims have not provided evidence that they were in exclusive possession of the disputed site.  The judges also said the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board had failed to establish its case. On the contrary, Hindus established their case that they were in possession of the outer courtyard of the disputed complex, they said.  Vishnu Shankar Jain, an attorney who represented the Hindu community in the case, said the journey over several years had been a struggle.  “It was a huge legal battle and we are happy that we convinced the Supreme Court. It’s a historic moment for Hindus,” he said.  In Islamabad, Pakistan’s foreign minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, criticized the verdict, saying it was indicative of the “hate based mindset” of Modi’s government.  After the demolition of the mosque, Hindus and Muslims took the issue to a lower court, which in 2010 ruled that the disputed land should be divided into three parts — two for Hindus and one for Muslims.  That was challenged in the Supreme Court by both communities.  The five judges started daily proceedings in August after mediation failed to find a compromise.  Modi had promised to build the temple during 2014 elections that brought him to power. But he later decided to wait for the court verdict despite pressure from millions of Hindu hard-liners who asked his government to bring legislation to build the temple.  Authorities on Saturday increased security in Ayodhya, which is located 550 kilometers (350 miles) east of New Delhi, and deployed more than 5,000 paramilitary forces to prevent attacks by Hindu activists on Muslims, who comprise 6% of the town’s more than 55,500 people.  Overall, Hindus comprise more than 80% and Muslims around 14% of India’s 1.3 billion people.  The town looked deserted on Saturday, with authorities turning back thousands of Hindu pilgrims who were congregating for a religious event scheduled for Tuesday.  Police have arrested about 500 people for posting provocative messages on social media in Uttar Pradesh. Police also have detained around 5,000 people with criminal backgrounds across the state to prevent them from creating trouble after the court verdict, according to Uttar Pradesh government spokesman Awanish Awasthi.  Authorities have stopped the entry of people into the state through the land border from Nepal, and ordered all of the state’s schools and colleges to remain closed until Monday.


lifesitenews--2019-10-10--Proposal for ‘Amazonian Catholic rite’ comes as a surprise at Synod

ROME, October 9, 2019 (LifeSiteNews) -- There is nothing truly unexpected about the proposals that were presented on Monday during day two of the Amazon Synod. Among them were instituting new ministries for laymen and women, including “the possibility of diaconal ordination for women,” and creating a new Catholic rite, the “Amazonian rite,” that would probably include the ordination of married men and an inculturated “Mass” of which several rituals performed these last few days by indigenous Amazonians in and around the Vatican could be a foretaste.  All of these innovations were clearly present in the Instrumentum laboris of which several cardinals – Raymond Burke, Walter Brandmüller, Gerhard Müller – have stated lately contains heresy or even apostasy in its naturalistic approach, where Jesus Christ and redemption are notably absent, and in its exaltation of the indigenous lifestyle, its promotion of the ordination of married men, and of some form of ordained ministry for women.  But while the Instrumentum laboris repeatedly called for a church with an Amazonian face, this is apparently the first time that there has been a public appeal for a new Amazonian rite within the church. In fact, this proposition was not present in any press briefings in different languages. This point was reserved for the Spanish communiqué.  The communiqué, which has apparently not been published online, was quoted by ACIPrensa (the Spanish service of Catholic News Agency) and by Religión Digital, a major progressive Spanish-speaking religious news service.  Speaking of the “Synod fathers (and mothers)” Jesús Bastante of Religión Digital said the proposal to create an “Amazonian Catholic rite” was the “star position” during afternoon discussions on Monday in the Synod Hall.  These indigenous rites, according to the Vatican note, could be instituted ad experimentum, that is for a theoretically limited time in order to test their usefulness. “The Church considers with benevolence all that is not linked to superstition in order to harmonize it with the true liturgical spirit,” explained the note.  “From there, the suggestion to have in Amazonia a sharing process regarding the experience of indigenous communities that have enculturated celebrations for certain sacraments such as baptism, matrimony or priestly ordination. (…) One of the proposals that was presented involves thinking about establishing – ad experimentum and following the right theological, liturgical and pastoral discernment – a Catholic Amazonian rite in order to live out and celebrate faith in Christ,” according to the note as quoted by ACIPrensa.  “Fundamentally, it was underscored in the Aula, in the same way that exists an environmental ecosystem, there also exists an ecclesial ecosystem.”  What would an Amazonian rite look like? The ceremony of the planting of an oak tree in the Vatican Gardens last Friday under the eyes of Pope Francis and in the context of an easily identifiable indigenous ritual to the Mother Earth gives a number of indications.  The leading role was played by a woman – an important point – raising her hands in prayer facing a blanket on which many Amazonian objects had been placed, including two statuettes of naked pregnant women, one of which is now referred to by some journalists in Rome as “Our Lady of the Amazon” as it pops up repeatedly in churches where Masses linked to the synod are being celebrated, including St. Peter’s Basilica.  During that ritual in the Vatican Gardens, participants prostrated themselves toward the blanket and figurines.  They did so again in Santa Maria in Traspontina, at the bottom of the Via della Conciliazione leading to St. Peter, that same day, surrounding the same blanket with symbolic offerings (to Mother Earth?) during a prayer vigil in view of the Synod. The event included woman executing a barefoot dance with what appears to be the New Testament, in the nave of the church, in the presence of priests and religious.  What is especially worrying about these obviously religious events is that they are not purely pagan ceremonies – which would be bad enough – but that Christian elements, such as prayers to Christ and signs of the cross are included, creating a syncretistic pseudo-Catholic rite that is orientated not toward Our Lord but toward pagan artifacts.  As far as “theological, liturgical and pastoral discernment” is concerned, this seems to have been massively absent from the rituals that were performed in churches and even under the eyes of the Pope without encountering any form of visible opposition.  The idea of having women deacons or another form of feminine ordained ministry was also present during the first day of discussions on Monday when participants were invited to express themselves during four minutes, by fours, with time left in between for the synod fathers to “meditate.”  LifeSite reported on Cardinal Claudio Hummes’ and Sister Alba Teresa Castillo, who mentioned the need for change because of the lack of priests in the Amazon region: “This means pastoral care made up of sporadic visits instead of adequate pastoral care,” said the cardinal. The nun underscored how women religious are already performing baptisms and presiding at marriages in regions where priests are not easily available. She also said when death is near the indigenous will “confess” their sins to a woman religious who cannot give absolution.  All lay people can baptize in case of necessity as long as they respect the form of the rite and want to conform to the Church’s intention. Marriage is in fact a sacrament whose ministers are the man and woman exchanging vows and this can be done without a priest if none will be available to witness them for an extended period. As to telling one’s sins to another person when there is no priest, even St. James would agree, as long as no absolution is given: “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.”  But on the other hand, baptism and the receiving of marriage vows are part of the ordinary ministry of deacons.  Putting forward a woman religious to speak about these forms of ministry without recalling the rules of the Church feels very much like a subtle promotion of ordination for women so that they may ordinarily provide these sacraments, even when there is no emergency.  The very “feminine” face of the indigenous rites performed in the Vatican over the last few days is in the same vein. Indeed, several participants in Tuesday’s discussions at the Synod openly spoke of the “possibility of diaconal ordination for women, so as to emphasize their ecclesial vocation.”  In particular, they said the ordination of married men and the creation of “lay ministers” such as permanent deacons with the role of assisting in administering the sacraments would help in “promoting indigenous vocations.”  “Having lay men and women contribute to the spiritual life of their communities, particularly in bringing them the sacrament of the Eucharist, would help the Church pass from a ‘pastoral ministry of visits’ to a ‘pastoral ministry of presence,’” said Tuesday’s official news summary from the Vatican.  Interestingly, Fr. Pablo Mora, a Jesuit priest who has worked for the Servicio Jesuita a la Panamazonia (SJPAM) and the Red Ecleisal Panamazónica (REPAM) and is currently helping to prepare the Amazon Synod as an official of the Bishops’ Synod in Rome, published an op-ed on Amerindiaenlared.org in which he spoke extensively of this “pastoral ministry of presence,” on Monday.  Fr. Mora did make clear that he was expressing himself personally and not in the name of the Synod officials of which he is a member.  Nonetheless, it is the vocabulary he uses that is being employed in the Synod Aula, where calls for “new ministries” echo his dreams.  Speaking of the central character of the Eucharist in the Catholic faith, he said Jesus should not be brought to the indigenous communities occasionally but should “dwell with them,” in his “tent” or “tapiri.”  Priests are trying to give a more “Amazonian taste” to their chapels so that the liturgy can be “better identified by the local culture,” using materials from the local forest and “native paintings and images,” he said, but argued that “inner changes are also required,” with indigenous people celebrating the Eucharist and accepting “cultural distance.”  According to Fr. Mora, this needs to take into account the importance of community for the Indian tribes “where the collective being or identity take precedence over individual being or identity.”  Even more, he argued, this requires understanding of the fact that “from the perspective of an indigenous community, it is difficult to understand that the priest should be celibate and in truth, this matters little … They simply do not believe that an adult man can be celibate and not have a family and children.  “In many indigenous communities, a man without the company of a woman is considered to be an incomplete man who has not reached ‘maturity.’ This vision of the cosmos suggests a mentality of that which is dual, opposites and complementary. It means that in the case of man and woman, their complementarity in different levels of family life, social interaction and work are a necessary reality, one that is simple and needs no explaining. So we understand why initiation rites into adult life, that soon leave to indigenous marriage, take place very early in adolescence.”  Bishop Erwin Kraütler, emeritus of Xingu in Brazil, a vocal proponent of married priests, said much the same during Wednesday’s press conference about the Synod in Rome. Fr. Mora goes into far more detail, making clear that a Church with an “Amazonian face” would be something very different from the Church that is centered on Christ and dispenses His saving grace.


newsbusters--2019-06-28--A Lot to Celebrate on the Fourth of July

Sixty-six percent of Americans believe that the Fourth of July is one of our nation's most important holidays. To celebrate, 62% of Americans will watch fireworks, 54% will enjoy a cookout with family and friends, 19% will attend a parade, 13% will go to the beach, and 11% will sing patriotic songs.  Only 6% will read the document that started it all: the Declaration of Independence. And to be honest, many probably mix up the declaration and the Constitution. But the vast majority continue to embrace the core ideals expressed in our nation's founding document. Ninety-four percent agree with a sentiment sometimes defined as the American Creed: Every American should have the right to live their own life as they see fit, so long as they respect the rights of others to do the same.  Obviously, we still have problems to overcome. Seventy-four percent of voters believe our political system is badly broken, and 67% believe our political leaders don't respect the voters they are supposed to serve. Eighty-seven percent believe corruption is widespread in the federal government. In fact, just 27% believe the federal government primarily serves the interests of the American people. More than twice as many -- 60% -- believe it primarily looks out for its own interests.  But despite these problems, Americans are optimistic. Fifty-eight percent believe that our nation's best days are still to come. That optimism is found among rural, urban and suburban communities. It is shared by white voters, black voters and Hispanic voters.  To some who live and breathe politics, that makes no sense. They wonder how people look at our nation's toxic and dysfunctional political system and are still optimistic. The answer is that there's more to a nation than politics. Sixty-five percent recognize that positive change in America generally comes from outside of the political system.  Additionally, voters keep politics in perspective. Sixty percent agree that politics has a role to play in governing our society, but it is not the lead role. Instead, 77% agree with the following statement: "For America to succeed, we need an all-hands-on-board approach that unleashes the creativity and resources of individual Americans, families, community groups, churches, entrepreneurs, small businesses, local governments, and more."  Eighty-nine percent believe that volunteering for community activities has a bigger positive impact on the nation than engaging in political campaigns. Ninety-four percent believe that giving to charity is a better use of money than giving to a political campaign.  Not only that, voters live out that belief with the use of their time. Over the past year, the single most common political activity was displaying a political sign or bumper sticker. Even though that involves very little personal involvement, just 15% have engaged politically in that way.  During that same time frame, a larger number have volunteered to help the poor (31%), volunteered at a church or religious event (28%), given blood (23%) or volunteered with a school organization (22%). In other words, Americans would rather give blood than get involved in politics.  So, this Fourth of July, let's celebrate the fact that Americans have been blessed with a proud legacy of individual freedom. That freedom allows us to work together in community and create a better world.


redstate--2019-11-26--Kanye West Gets Targeted by the Left for Ministering to Prisoners

Rapper Kanye West smiles as he talks with President Donald Trump during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)  This seems like a good use of some leftwinger’s time, right? The Freedom From Religion Foundation is going after a local sheriff and Kanye West for providing a little light in the darkness that is our prison system. Because what prisoners really need is to be deprived of a source of hope and belief in something greater than themselves.  This all happened after West held a completely voluntary church service with his choir at a local jail in Houston.  Despite the unmitigated good this service turned out to be, the FFRF decided to file a formal complaint against the Sheriff for allowing West to come.  In short, this was unconstitutional. You were elected to a secular office and to uphold a secular Constitution. You cannot use that public office to promote your personal religion, even if it happens to be a religion Kanye West shares. This constitutional violation is particularly egregious because it imposed religion on inmates—literally a captive audience—who have a deep and immediate interest in being seen favorably by you and your staff. When you signal that you prefer Christianity to inmates, you tell non-Christian inmates that they would be viewed more favorably if they convert to your preferred religion. It is no excuse that Kayne West is famous. If anything, this makes the violation worse because the captive audience may be more receptive to his message. Too often we see religion assisting the vulnerable as a means of converting the susceptible. While Christians are vastly overrepresented in the prison population, it is still inappropriate to expose any prisoner to proselytizing, be it through music or a worship service. Now, more than one-quarter of Americans, 26%, are religiously unaffiliated and nearly 30% are non-Christians, either practicing a minority religion or no religion at all. Younger Americans are not just religiously 5 unaffiliated, they are largely atheist or agnostic. A recent survey found that 21 percent of Americans born after 1999 are atheist or agnostic.6  The First Amendment does not guarantee that religious activities may never happen within government facilities, much less prisons. Nor does it guarantee that a person never be exposed to religion. It simply guarantees that the government can not make religion compulsory, nor discriminate based on what someone’s religion (or lack of) may be.  For as long as jails have been around, wardens have allowed voluntary participation in religion, if for no other reason than it promotes well-being and peace among the inmates. Further, it is standard practice for jails to allow prison ministries performed by outside groups.  The service West held was not forced on inmates. None of them had to attend. Like any other religious event, it was voluntary. All accounts are that the prisoners were very grateful and got a lot out of it. But leave it to some woke atheist group to get their panties in a bunch when the prisoners themselves weren’t offended.  I’ll note this is the same dumpster fire organization that spent years fighting to get a WWI memorial cross taken down. They eventually lost that battle.  There is no First Amendment right to “freedom from religion.” Period. If someone wants to evangelize you, you have the right to say no. If there’s a church service in a prison, you have the right to sit in your cell. Hopefully, this sheriff tells this group to go jump in a lake.  Enjoying the read? Please visit my archive to read more of my latest articles.  Find me on Twitter and help out by following @bonchieredstate


sluggerotoole--2019-08-11--An insiders guide to the Royal Black Institution and the Fermanagh Black Twelfth

An insiders guide to the Royal Black Institution and the Fermanagh Black Twelfth…

The anticipation of the big parade has been building up for the past year and come the first Saturday in August all preparations are about to be realised. There’s a plethora of speculation about who will be within the procession with some very famous dignitaries anticipated along with spectators expected to reach tens of thousands. There is a buzz, there is vibrancy, and there is a feeling that this parade is part of the mainstream psyche. The media coverage has been astronomical, and history is being made, however enough about Belfast Pride, for this instalment we’re going to take a drive up the M1 to Brookeborough for a very contrasting parade. It’s one of the lesser-known Loyal Order events called the Fermanagh Black Twelfth also known as the “The Battle of Newtownbutler Annual Black Parade”.  I have used Pride as a backdrop to this parade as they are very different events, Pride is popular, vibrant and a little tacky whereas the Fermanagh Black Twelfth is virtually unknown, small, somber and styled on being dignified and respectable.  The origins of why the Royal Black Institution (RBI) was formed are fairly simple; it came about in 1797 two years after the Loyal Orange Institution with a mission statement that amounts to the promotion of scriptural truths and the Christian Reformed faith. The Orange is seen as Christian centric with historical, political and cultural dimensions, but the raise de entre for the Black is exclusively religious. The Orange only has two official degrees which are reasonably straightforward, however, within the Black there are 11 degrees, so it is a lot more involving.  To get into the Royal Black Institution is a little confusing, one has to be a member of the Loyal Orange Institution and male, however, one also has to have completed the Royal Arch Purple (RAP) degree which is linked to Orangeism but is not recognised by the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland. In fact RAP meetings are rarely held, they are supposed to be opened after a normal Orange meeting closes but as many members have not completed this degree and indeed the RAP meeting will have nothing of note linked to them, it’s a rather pointless process. The RAP is another example of disunity and ambiguity within the Loyal Orders, it would make more sense if the Orange recognised the degree and brought it inhouse. The degree itself is fairly controversial as it is heavily ritualistic and plays out parts of the old Testament, nobody prepares members for what they undergo, and the experience is unique. I did mine many years ago, I didn’t mind it, but it was daunting, however, at the end there was a great feeling of camaraderie between other members and me and as a reward we were served tea and sandwiches. I did think to myself at the time that this process would be a difficult sell to most people outside of the Orange, however as I have since learnt it is a difficult sell to many within the Orange hence why it is not recognised by Grand Lodge which is absurd as most within Grand Lodge will have completed it. The process of completing the RAP is known affectionately within the Institution as “riding the goat” or as we say in Fermanagh “riding the buck” (no animals are harmed when completing the initiation).  As previously mentioned, the Royal Black Institution is more ritualistic than the Orange and within it there are 11 degrees namely:   1.   Royal Black Degree   2.   Royal Scarlet Degree   3.   Royal Mark Degree   4.   Apron and Royal Blue Degree   5.   Royal White Degree   6.   Royal Green Degree   7.   Gold Degree   8.   Star and Garter Degree   9.   Crimson Arrow Degree   10. Link and Chain Degree   11. Red Cross Degree (A red cross will be on most banners)  There is an overall retrospective degree that covers the 11 mentioned above and is like a refresher, however this is unofficial and is rarely rolled out. None of these degrees are in the same league as the RAP and all are much milder in tone. Membership of the Black requires much more commitment than that of the Orange and for this reason it puts many off. In fact, despite or because of the numerous degrees many members prefer the Black over the Orange considering it to be a more mature and introspective organisation with a strong sense of fraternity, and Christian fellowship whilst charitable donations are also a significant part of the Black.  The Royal Black Intuition is seen as the most senior of the Loyal Orders with the Orange being the intermediary and the Apprentice Boys the junior organisation. The Black is also the organisation that is the most old fashioned and conservative whilst also the one that is declining fastest. Members of the Institution are sometimes referred to as Blackmen but for obvious reasons, this has been a word used less often in recent years. The official title for a member of the Black is “Sir Knight” which for me is dreadfully out of date, in the Orange members are referred to as Brothers and Sisters.  Fermanagh has three Black districts comprising of 24 Preceptories namely:   1.       Enniskillen (13 Preceptories)   2.       Lisnaskea (8 Preceptories)   3.       South Donegal (3 Preceptories, despite the name this area covers Kesh)  A Preceptory is like a club so for example in the Loyal Orders there are Orange Lodges, Black Preceptories and Apprentice Boy Clubs. All Preceptories rollup into the district and the district rolls up into the County Grand Black Chapter. The Country Grand Master of the Black in Fermanagh is well known local politician Tom Elliott. In many ways Tom is the perfect candidate for the role, he has strong Loyal Order credentials (one of the few politicians who is not a member to gain votes), active within his church, experienced leadership roles throughout the Black, is a former County Grand Master of the Orange and he has strong political credentials. However, I fear that things have not improved thus far under Tom’s tenure (just over one year to date), if a list of success stories were rolled out for the year, I can imagine that they would be the following:  –          New banner unfurled by Brookeborough Black Preceptory (Not linked to the leadership)   –          Successful Black Twelfth in Brookeborough (the stock line after every Twelfth is to indicate what a success it was)  The above is a significant problem as the lack of effective leadership is causing decline within the Black and most fear Tom’s role is more figurative rather than to actually improve the Institution within Fermanagh. I feel if I asked Tom for an action plan about how the Institution can be improved over the next 12 months, there would be a blank response but secretly one imagines he would hope that the decline can be slowed down, this is simply not going to save the Institution within Fermanagh.  The structure of the Black and the problems faced are very similar to that of the Orange and in many ways the Black needs the Orange to fix its problems so that changes can feed their way up. Attracting new members is almost impossible due to the following:   –          Limited pool to choose from   –          Being seen as old fashioned   –          Many feel being in the Orange is enough   –          Fees are off-putting. My own Preceptory costs £80 per year with an additional levy of £20 which is for charitable contributions, in addition to this there are several expensive pieces of regalia that members are required to purchase.  The usual problems of collecting dues are apparent within the Black, however, because of the extra dedication needed for the Black over the Orange it’s not quite as painful, and most members will pay on time. Meetings are generally on the second Monday of each month and like the Orange attendance at meetings is low at around 35%. Outside of the degrees there is not enough to compel members to attend, meetings can be bland or indeed similar to that of the Orange which is a huge issue.  The nuts and bolts of the Black Twelfth are similar to that of an Orange Twelfth in that all Preceptories will have their church parade leading up to or sometimes after the Twelfth. In recent years the Fermanagh Black Twelfth was on the second Saturday in August, however as this clashed with Derry day (the main Apprentice Boys of Derry’s parade) Fermanagh suffered in attracting the crowds with many preferring the popular Derry day. For many years a push was made to get the date of the Fermanagh Black Twelfth changed to avoid this clash and eventually this happened around 2010/11, however by this stage the crowd was lost, failure to adapt by the Loyal Orders contributes significantly to our downfall. Ironically we now clash with Pride, however I don’t envisage the date changing to allow supporters to attend this event also.  The Black in Fermanagh for a rather quasi reason holds this event to commemorate the battle of Newtownbutler, however it has always appeared strange why the Black aligns itself to a battle and it’s further confusing as most Black Twelfths pass without even an utterance of Newtownbutler. Further irony is that Newtownbutler is a town where the Twelfth is never held and commemorating an event that took place so long ago that only made up part of the Williamite wars compares unfavorably to Pride which has an actual forward-looking reason for its parade. In the Loyal Orders we need to look forward more rather than constantly harking back, this does not mean we should not remember but we have to have an active and vibrant purpose in 2019 and beyond.  My Preceptory and band have our meeting at 9 am and parade our town at 10 am which is a much more sensible time and causes less issues with local residents. Turnout was extremely low, we have around 55 on the books, however only 25 were on parade that morning including 6 visitors. In the Black we pride ourselves on our appearance, dark suits, white shirts, ties, black collarettes, white gloves, ceremonial aprons and bowler hats are the order of the day with no exceptions. However, that morning several bowlers are missing (particularly noticeable on a bald head) and several in the ranks look scruffy. I am much less active in the Black than the Orange, however the standards slipping is extremely disheartening with nobody taking ownership of the issue, I mention it to a few who look particularly haphazard but it’s a delicate topic and a directive really needs to come from the top. I’ll raise it at the next meeting as it’s a widespread problem. I am questioned a number of times on the day from members of the public as to what the dress code is for the Black? On a few occasions I am told that the Black in 2019 now almost look as scruffy as the Orange on parade and it seems like the bowler hat is on the decline. I receive negative feedback from several people that a number of Preceptories are looking untidy on parade, it is an issue that the public clearly don’t appreciate (nor do many members to be fair), however getting it tackled by the County has proven an uphill battle.  I drive to Brookeborough with my wife (I feel she would have preferred to have went to Pride), there are no issues with queues going into Brookeborough, the Black Twelfth is a much more condensed event and the turnout at the Demonstration will be small. My wife and I park and call into the local Orange hall for coffee and traybakes (that’s a true stereotype I’m afraid). The atmosphere is very mild-mannered and respectable, the ladies working there are extremely generous and friendly and the hall is an amazing historical gem with many old Orange banners hanging on the walls around it. I’m reminded of discussions on this topic on Slugger and the fact that there is so much history and culture encapsulated within these banners that it would be to the shame of my generation is these were permanently consigned to history. I should note that on the subject of halls there are no RBI halls in Fermanagh and very few in Northern Ireland with Orange halls generally playing host to Black meetings.  After our Preceptory parade to the Assembly field my wife and I walk around the village and catchup with friends and family. The atmosphere is very sedate, crowds are small but respectful and primarily comprises of the family members of those on parade. Walking past the public houses there seems to be a good trade established, not quite as lively as at the Orange Twelfth but it still fits in awkwardly with the principles of the day. Stalls selling the usually rubbish are plentiful, one can purchase an upside-down Union flag attached to a pole or an Israeli flag for £10, other disposable toys that break upon being unpackaged are available. Israeli flags are particularly inappropriate at an RBI event and this really does illustrate the lack of knowledge some have of the organisation.  The procession kicks off at 12:40 so my wife, a few from my Preceptory and I take a position close to the Assembly field and watch as the parade winds down the main street of Brookeborough. The opening of the parade in which all the leading dignitaries of the Black are assembled is always impressive and there are no attire issues here. Killskeery Silver band lead the parade (One of two Tyrone bands within the procession), they’re a bit scratchy in general, they seem to have lot of young members but the more mature members have dropped off and they are out of formation with some missing pieces of uniform and it’s not a good impression from the band leading the parade, I am very surprised with the RBI allowing this to happen. Killskeery is a band with huge potential but without the necessary leadership it appears incoherent on parade and perhaps with some fine tuning it would be more apt at leading a parade. The next contingents are those from the Republic (Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal and Leitrim), however the writing is on the wall for the Institution here, some Preceptories had around three people parading with them, others had non-members carrying their banners which is a terrible look on a Black parade and one that has infiltrated the Scarva event too. I feel that if truth be told many of these Black Preceptories in the Republic probably don’t actually exist and only show up on the Twelfth with a banner, at some point in the near future this will almost certainly cease too.  One small Orange Lodge and Black Preceptory in the Republic are lead each year by the Enniskillen Fusilier’s flute band, however it looks bizarre on parade to have a rather large band accompany a virtually nonexistent Lodge/Preceptory. Obviously, Lodges and Preceptories can be led by whatever band they choose but it would be more apt to pick a local band from the Republic who might relish an extra parade in the year and who would not dwarf the Preceptory.  The dress code amongst Sir Knights from the Republic leaves much to be desired, virtually no bowler hats are worn, several look scruffy with ties hanging loose at the collar if indeed worn all and many stragglers are allowed into the ranks. It would be unfair to label only the Republic as having dress code issues as the Fermanagh ranks have declined in standards too, this decline in standards was possibly allowed to slow down the decline in numbers but in reality, our loose standards have only accelerated numerical decline and this feedback is received every year. Numbers within the Fermanagh Preceptories were concerning across the board, Enniskillen, Killadeas, Necarne, Lisnaskea, Ardess, Brookeborough, Cleenish and Tempo all had extremely low turnouts, furthermore the rate of decline within the County Grand Master’s ranks of Ballinamallard continues to gather pace, clearly something is wrong with the Loyal Orders in this part of the world and this is certainly where the County Grand Master’s work begins. The two biggest Preceptories in Fermanagh have also declined, Maguiresbridge looked smaller and scruffier than normal whilst Derrygonnelly looked reasonable but benefitted from having a number of visitors within its ranks.  I mentioned that some of the bands looked scratchy, this is more concerning in that as less bands appear at the Black Twelfth(35 this year) and it’s usually the higher quality assembles that are on parade. However Newtownbutler Border Defenders, Loughkillygreeen, Ballinamallard and Tempo Accordions, Magerheraboy and Florence Court flute bands all looked disheveled and or depleted on parade and a few from the Republic looked worryingly weak and untidy including Cappa Accordion. There were some great bands on parade too including Moyne, Killadeas, Drumharvey and Enniskillen Pipe bands and Brookeborough Flute band (although with this band the former County Grand Master of the Orange should have paraded with the Black and not the band, protocol can be conveniently ignored).  We’re close to the end of the procession this year and as we make our way to the Assembly field the band is ready and waiting. As usual there is not much communication between Preceptory and band, their fee is £400 which is painful but it also includes them leading us on our church parade. Like the Orange this cost is unsustainable based on our declining numbers and other Preceptories are likely to be in a similar position. Our ranks are now around 30 which is an improvement but questions will have to be asked about our missing members and where we’re going wrong? Most of the music at a Black Twelfth in Fermanagh will be hymns with the exception of a few renditions of “The Sash”, “Killaloe” and of course “Old Lang Syne”. Jokes aside I think we need to phase out “Old Lang Syne” otherwise we’re going to run the risk of “Jingle Bells” infiltrating our ranks and Christmas is going to start in Fermanagh on July 12th.  As we make our way through Brookeborough there is a lovely atmosphere with small pockets of families lining the streets, the crowds are not overwhelming but are dignified, respectful and there is a good age mix. It’s mostly females and children spectating with males on parade and this is the reality of the gender imbalance within the Loyal Orders and accompanying bands. The banners are generally of a very high quality and depict images primarily from the Old Testament, there are no depictions of William crossing the Boyne on a Black banner. Like the Orange Twelfth the parade makes its way to a Demonstration field for the religious service. As is the norm most people avoid the platform proceedings and make their way back into town to meet family members, enjoy a picnic or indeed grab a swift half. Considering that few concern themselves with this aspect of the day it is something that both the Orange and Black need to look at, I genuinely feel as both organisations as based on Protestant Christian principles then the religious aspect should happen but perhaps it is the timing that needs to change with all members encouraged to attend the religious event. County Grand Master Tom Elliott marketed the Black Twelfth as a family day with a festival atmosphere, however in essence it’s a parade to and from a religious service so again the narrative from the Loyal Order is confusing. As I have said previously the RBI is solely a religious organisation, however in Fermanagh it dabbles in politics by promoting the Union and the Royal Family as well as drifting off to remember the Williamite wars including of course the battle of Newtownbutler. We really need to get better within the Loyal Orders of promoting a consistent and clear message that is true to our principles because at present the narrative is frankly confusing and contradictive. The Demonstration ends with the National Anthem, like the Orange we will play this again at the end of the procession and once more for good luck when we finish the parade in our home town.  When the parade makes its way back through Brookeborough there are the usual problems, however one sight stood out in relation to a Preceptory on parade. Trillick Preceptory returning from the Demonstration field looked noticeably disheveled, either they were reenacting the battle of Newtownbutler at the field or they were intoxicated on the return leg, if it was the latter then this will not have been the first time this Preceptory has been guilty of such antics and the County Black Chapter needs to take action, we certainly don’t want this nonsense happening in Fermanagh or at any Loyal Order event in the world. Trillick’s ranks are severely depleted in comparison with previous years and I have no doubt that this drinking culture is partially to blame. I am certainly not against anyone having a drink but there has to be a modicum of common sense used particularly on public parade and if people are staggering around and looking disheveled then clearly this is unacceptable. As I have mentioned before the return leg at Loyal Order events is a mess with contingents falling out at random locations, there were several examples caught on video of the lead part of a Preceptory parading one way with the band and remainder of the Preceptory breaking off and parading in a different direction, if ever there was a literal metaphor illustrating the problems of the Loyal Orders in Fermanagh then this was it. During the return leg most of the procession got caught in heavy rain, I noticed during this time that as Preceptories were falling out that some managing the banners were not well versed in the task and a few banners were being trailed in deep puddles when they were being rolled up which has the potential to cause damage to the banner. With banners costing in the region of £2-4k we can ill afford to be so cavalier in how we treat them lest we mention the history and significance behind banner and this is an issue that could be remedied with some leadership and a little bit of training.  After the parade ends, we return back to our hometown to parade it one final time. There is generally nothing arranged by any of the Preceptories for the Twelfth evening so we meet up with friends and go out for dinner. There will be no TV coverage of the parade although the local newspapers may devote a few lines to us in their next edition along with a photograph of someone eating an ice-cream. As we enjoy a lovely meal that evening a friend asks me if I think there will be a Black Twelfth in 10 years’ time? I smile but say nothing but others at the table are much more vocal on our pending extinction.  If people struggle to understand the Orange then the Black is almost an alien concept to many and I don’t believe very many watching understand our principles, I am also beginning to feel this is true of our members too. There is no education done on the day in terms of stalls etc and anyone wishing to join will have to be asked. I do find it bizarre that many very senior Orangemen are not in the Black, furthermore the majority will not even attend the Black Twelfth which is a problem in itself. I’m not as well versed on the numbers within the Black in Fermanagh, however there are 24 Preceptories within the county and there is an average of 30 members within each (I suspect in many cases 30 is being extremely generous) which leaves 720 members within the county of which 85% are over 55, the reality is that unfortunately the Black Twelfth is unsustainable. I recognise that it is old fashioned and for many a little stuffy and unwilling to change, however its decline is very disheartening. I know some would sacrifice the Black to save the Orange, however as both are in decline this is not a viable tactic and there are opportunities for it to survive which I will delve into further within the next installment.  I wanted to share a few lines on Scarva, this is an event that I have attended a number of times over the years and to be perfectly frank I really don’t like it but I feel that I should as it’s the Loyal Order’s showcase event. The Scarva Demonstration is overcrowded in the extreme with a small village hosting in excess of 60,000 people (this time the Loyal Orders have not exaggerated the figures). The venue feels cramped and uncomfortable and there is almost no toileting facilities to accommodate the huge crowds. The procession itself it tight and there are a number of exceptional bands on parade, however others are less impressive and often consist of various members from different bands. Like Fermanagh the Preceptories are declining fast in terms of numbers and many on the day will have had their ranks swollen by visitors. Furthermore, there is the issue of many members of the RBI missing pieces of attire which in the past was unheard of at Scarva and almost all of the banners are carried by non-members which is not a good look on parade. The Demonstration field is almost like a funfair with amusements and very loud pop music being played along with endless burger and ice-cream vans. The famous Sham fight occurs after the first leg of the parade which few will get to see due to the confined space it happens within and also due to the large crowds but it really isn’t worth watching and consists of groups of men firing blank rounds at two flags until they fall off their pole while William and James battle it out in a sword duel. One of the problems with this fight is that some Loyal Order members seriously advise that this is historically accurate with James having being chased from the Boyne to Scarva where he dies in an epic sword fight against William. As one person told me, “If it didn’t happen then why is this event here every year?” Quite why the Black host the Sham fight is beyond me as it’s better suited to an Orange Twelfth, however I do feel a proper reenactment of an aspect of the Battle of the Boyne or even something from World War I is a serious opportunity for the Loyal Orders and would garner significant interest. After the Sham fight the religious service begins with very few watching it, many instead prefer to have their picnics or a cool one before the return leg, of course all the amusement rides etc are going on throughout the service and to say it’s an odd mix is an understatement. Some of the parade participants do look disheveled on the return leg and like Fermanagh the route can vary, in fact I have seen the return parade begin before the religious service has ended as some bands have to catch their train by a set time. Scarva also has a notorious drinking culture particularly within the wooded area coming into the Demonstration field, everyone turns a blind eye to this but it sits extremely awkwardly within the context of a Christian organisation’s showcase event and on a few occasions, I have seen some low level scuffles breaking out. Overall there are a lot of good ingredients within the Scarva event, however it does not quite come together, I feel the better RBI events are held on the last Saturday in August or even the modest Fermanagh Black Twelfth is a much more fitting occasion than Scarva.  I wanted to conclude this segment on the Black Twelfth in Fermanagh with this thought. On a day in which everyone was talking about the Belfast Pride event, for me my pride was within the many good members within the Loyal Orders and bands in Fermanagh who make it tick and contribute so much to the survival of their religion and culture. The Loyal Orders are evolving too as there were several gay members on parade with many of them being very active within their Preceptories and lodges and perhaps this pride that they have in being themselves within the Loyal Orders is a great testament to an organisation that’s more diverse than one might think.


sputnik--2019-03-31--Pope Francis Celebrates Mass in Moroccos Rabat Stadium VIDEO

Pope Francis Celebrates Mass in Morocco's Rabat Stadium (VIDEO)

Pope Francis, who is currently paying a visit to Morocco in a two-day trip, is celebrating mass at the Rabat Stadium; some estimates indicate that 10,000 people gathered for the religious event on Sunday.  During his first day in Morocco, Pope Francis commented on Jerusalem, stressing that it should become a "symbol of peaceful coexistence" for Christians, Jews and Muslims — this statement echoes the views of Morocco's King Mohammed VI who invited the prominent Catholic figure to the predominantly Muslim state.


sputnik--2019-07-30--Indian Godwoman Radhe Maa Booked by Police for Allegedly Assaulting Journalist at Spiritual Event

The alleged assault occurred on Sunday evening when the scribe had gone to cover a religious event of the godwoman in Panipat city of the Indian state of Haryana.  While the journalist was reportedly invited by the godwoman’s supporters, she was reportedly miffed over some of his disturbing questions and allegedly threatened him.  It followed with her followers allegedly assaulting the journalist and damaging his camera. They even purportedly tried to kidnap the scribe but were prevented from doing so by policemen present on the occasion.  “The police are enquiring into the matter, though no arrest has been made yet. The alleged assault on the journalist took place in her presence,” Indian Express quoted a police official as saying.  Radhe Maa, who prefers dressing up in modern dresses or red-coloured traditional attires and sporting heavy gold ornaments, is considered as a reincarnation of Hindu goddess Durga by her huge number of fans and followers.  The godwoman, whose original name is Sukhvinder Kaur has often left a lot of people amused with her gimmicks and fancy attires. In 2015, she had caused a social media row after a video of her wearing a red mini skirt went viral. She was subsequently booked on charges of obscenity.


sputnik--2019-10-03--IRGC Intelligence Says Assassination Attempt on Quds Force Commander Has Been Foiled - Reports

Iranian authorities have thwarted an assassination plot against Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Quds Force commander Soleimani, with three alleged plotters arrested, Iran's Fars News Agency has reported.  According to authorities, the attempt to assassinate the commander was a "regional," "joint Israel-Arab" plot, with no information provided yet regarding the identities and/or nationalities of those arrested.  According to Hossein Taeb, the head of the IRGC's Intelligence Organisation, the plot by a "group of terrorists" took several years to concoct, with the plotters planning to plant between 350 and 500 kg of explosives under a congregation hall at a religious event in Kerman, southeastern Iran, at which Soleimani was supposed to appear in September. The plotters were said to have been captured and arrested before being able to carry out the operation.  Known for participating in operations to assist Iraqi and Syrian forces engaged in the fight against Daesh, Soleimani has repeatedly accused the United States of 'collaborating' with the terrorists to achieve their regional aims. In 2015, then CIA Director John Brennan voiced concerns over Soleimani's involvement in the war against Daesh in Iraq, arguing that his presence in the country posted a significant threat to US counterterrorism efforts.  Earlier this week, Soleimani gave a rare interview with Iranian television, revealing that he and Hassan Nasrallah, the current secretary-general of Lebanese politicial and militia movement Hezbollah, barely escaped an Israeli drone attack during the 2006 war between Israel and Lebanon.  Iran's Revolutionary Guards units have faced multiple terrorist attacks on its members in recent years, including a February 2019 car bomb attack which killed over two dozen IRGC servicemen. Iran has accused regional adversaries in the Gulf as well as Israel and the United States for the acts of violence.  *A terrorist group outlawed in Russia and many other countries.


tass--2019-02-03--Kiev holds liturgy to celebrate enthronement of head of new Ukrainian church

KIEV, February 3. /TASS/. A liturgy was held in Kiev’s Saint Sophia Cathedral on Sunday to celebrate the enthronement of the head of the so-called Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Epiphany.  According to the Pryamoy TV channel, Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko, government members and foreign delegations attended the event. The church community was represented by nearly 60 bishops, including hierarchs of the Constantinople Patriarchate.  Ukraine’s law enforcement agencies beefed up security, installing a metallic barrier in front of the cathedral. Many journalists were not allowed to enter the building. However, the religious event did not generate interest among ordinary Ukrainians and the square in front of the cathedral was almost empty.  The symbolic enthronement of Metropolitan Epiphany was held on his 40th birthday. On Monday, the so-called Ukrainian Orthodox Church is expected to convene the first meeting to discuss the new church’s structure.  The so-called honorary patriarch of the Ukrainian Church Filaret, anathemized by the Russian Church, did not attend the ceremony over feeling sick, Archbishop Evstratiy told the TV channel.  ## Church standoff in Ukraine  Ukraine’s current leadership has sought to create a local Orthodox church independent of the Moscow Patriarchate in the country since it came to power after the 2014 coup. Last April, Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko sent a letter to Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople requesting autocephaly for the Ukrainian church. The Poroshenko regime cobbled together a "unification council" that was held in Kiev on December 15, which announced the creation of a new church, the so-called Orthodox Church of Ukraine. The Tomos of Autocephaly (a clerical decree on establishing an independent church) was handed over to its head, Metropolitan Epiphany, on January 6.  Both the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Russian Orthodox Church consider the newly-established ecclesiastical institution to be schismatic. The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church earlier said full communion with Constantinople was no longer possible.  In other media


tass--2019-08-15--Chinese Halloween The Ghost festival kicks off on Hainan

'Chinese Halloween': The Ghost festival kicks off on Hainan

BEIJING, August 15. /TASS/. Hainan residents celebrate an important date this week - the Hungry Ghost festival, which some jokingly call the "Chinese Halloween." On this date, it is customary to launch lanterns in the air or along the river, treat oneself to exotic delicacies, as well as appease ghosts with treats.  According to legends, usually on the 15th of the 7th month according to the lunar calendar (this year falls on August 15), the souls of the deceased take to the streets with at night to walk alongside the living. According to Buddhist tradition, people on this date visit the graves of those who recently passed away, paying their respects. At the same time, it is customary to appease "wandering" ghosts - the spirits who, due to special circumstances of their deaths, could not find peace. The Hainan residents usually launch paper lanterns into the air on this occasion; the lanters are considered magical, because, according to legends, they "help to send unsatisfied ghosts to heaven."  In various regions of China there are many superstitious restrictions on this day associated with the need to avoid dangerous contacts with the ghosts of the deceased, as a result of which, according to ancient beliefs, the ghosts can take hold of a person’s body, and their own soul will become a shell, or will destroyed by the intruder. For example, before going to bed, one should put slippers in front of the bed so that they look in an opposite direction, in order to confuser the ghosts. People shouldn’t be calling each other by their names in the evenings, dry clothes at dusk, say the word “ghost”, mock the underworld, pick up money from the pavement as it is believed that the money now belongs to the spirits. Also, one should not lean their backs against the walls, turn around if someone pats them on the shoulder, stay awake at night, stroll along the banks of rivers and ponds.  “No matter what they say, however, the people of Hainan treat this special day with reverence,” said one of the locals. “Local residents know ways to turn the Ghost Day into a cheerful spiritual holiday.”  Some people on the Island of Hainan also traditionally believe that on this day one should not leave the house for long, go to the hairdresser, buy clothes, shoes and products made of wood - otherwise, according to legend, there is a danger that perfumes will take someone’s life from loved ones. At the same time, it is believed that a person should visit crowded places where, in the midst of general fun, he can dump negative energy from himself.  In South China, Zhongyuanjie is a significant date, second only to two major events: the traditional New Year and the Mid-Autumn Festival Zhongjujie. It is also believed on this day the god of the earth was born. Buddhists, as a rule, on this occasion pay respects to their ancestors praying for the dead, hold religious events.


theatlantic--2019-02-06--emThe Atlantic emPolitics amp Policy Daily Next in Line

<em>The Atlantic </em>Politics & Policy Daily: Next in Line

Female members of Congress cheer after President Donald Trump acknowledges the increased number of women in Congress during his State of the Union address on Tuesday. (J. Scott Applewhite / AP)  (David Frum)    “Successful State of the Union speeches are backed by considered plans of action. If a president talks about infrastructure modernization, it’s because he and his party have an infrastructure bill ready to go. The dysfunctional Trump administration does not.”  The Vatican and the Gulf Have a Common Enemy (Graeme Wood)    “For the past week, the United Arab Emirates has been preparing for one of the most significant interreligious events in modern memory. A conference on “global fraternity” has featured rabbis, imams, swamis, cardinals, and obscure religious officiaries whose titles I had never heard before.”  What I’ve Gained by Leaving the Republican Party (Peter Wehner)   “It would be deeply unfair to claim that most Republicans are bigots. But it is fair to say that most Republicans today are willing to tolerate without dissent, and in many cases enthusiastically support, a man whose appeal is based in large part on stoking racial and ethnic resentments, on attacking ‘the other.’”  (Reihan Salam)   “Given his propensity toward hyperbole, this could be dismissed as little more than a rhetorical flourish. One wonders, though, if it’s a sign of things to come.”  ◆ Fight the Ship: Death and Valor on a Warship Doomed by Its Own Navy (T. Christian Miller, Megan Rose, and Robert Faturechi, ProPublica)  ◆ In Need of Water, an Idaho Town Turns to Its Neighbors (Emily Benson, High Country News)  ◆ It Will Take More Than Congress to Cure America’s War Addiction (Gunar Olsen, The New Republic)  We’re always looking for ways to improve The Politics & Policy Daily, and will be testing some formats throughout the new year. Concerns, comments, questions, typos? Let us know anytime here. Were you forwarded this newsletter? Sign up for our daily politics email here.


thegatewaypundit--2019-08-25--Jewish Skirball Center and Museum in Los Angeles Hosts Radical Leftist Exhibits And Pushes Indoctrin

Jewish Skirball Center and Museum in Los Angeles Hosts Radical Leftist Exhibits And Pushes Indoctrination Materials On Children

It’s main purpose and permanent museum collection is of and to celebrate Jewish Culture.  It is located adjacent to other prominent Jewish cultural institutions The Milken School, The American Jewish University and The Steven S. Weiss Synagogue.  The Skirball Center itself even has synagogue space on its grounds and hosts Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services as well as Jewish Weddings and Bar Mitzvah receptions.  Many West LA Jews have been to its extensive and beautiful grounds for these religious events as well as to the museum which has displays on Jewish Cultural history for adults and playgrounds and a permanent “Noah’s Ark” learning and play area for children.  The museum also has rotating displays. For instance they recently displayed an installation called “The Notorious RBG” which was a celebration of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.  Since Ginsburg is Jewish, this exhibit made sense for the Skirball Center to be the host museum.  But the Skirball Center also hosts exhibits that don’t make sense for a Jewish institution.  The Skirball Center is currently hosting two exhibits that are highly questionable as to how they relate to Jewish heritage, tradition and existence.  One is “Black is Beautiful” on the civil rights movement focusing mostly on extremely radical political activism.  The other a “celebration” of the LGBT “movement”.  While it is fine to host any exhibit a museum wants, the supporting materials and the content in the museum gift shop is another matter entirely.  For the “Black is Beautiful” exhibit, legitimate books on the subject for adults are displayed right next to radical indoctrination materials aimed at children!  The books that correspond with the LGBT exhibit are controversial to many including such titles as “Jacob’s New Dress”, “Jacob’s Room To Choose” and “Sparkle Boy”.  These books for children are displayed right next to books on clearly adult subjects like gay fashion icons and the Stonewall Riot.  One would think the radical indoctrination books might be displayed in the store only for controversial subjects like ones corresponding to an exhibit but look at the “Feminist Baby” children’s books that go with the Justice Ginsburg books.  Then we have the coup de grace:  A children’s book called “First Generation” that has ILHAN OMAR front and center on the cover!!!!  This book is located in the store away from an exhibit book displays but in the permanent area!!!!  What a disgrace for a Jewish institution to go out of it’s way to celebrate ideas and people that embody the opposite of Jewish cultural traditions and them indoctrinate Jewish children who come to this place with these destructive ideas.  Would a pro radical racial justice or LGBT museum carry children’s books celebrating Anita Bryant or Jimmy Swaggart? So why should a Jewish institution celebrate people who wish to destroy Jewish culture and Israel?


theguardianuk--2019-01-14--Kumbh Mela Hindus converge for largest-ever human gathering

Kumbh Mela: Hindus converge for largest-ever human gathering

From June last year, Dilip Trigunayak would stride out each morning to the banks of the Ganges and will the holy waters to recede. The clock was ticking. In six months, the floodplains where he stood would be the site of the largest human gathering in the world, probably ever.  “I would watch the water levels going up and down,” the bureaucrat says. “From then my anxiety started.”  More than 120 million Hindu devotees, as well as tourists, are expected to visit the north Indian city of Prayagraj over the next few weeks for the Kumbh Mela, a vast spiritual festival at the point where two sacred rivers, the Ganges and Yamuna, converge.  As the rivers have emptied of monsoon rain in recent months, Indian authorities have swung into action, reclaiming the riverbed and laying the skeleton for a temporary city that at 15 sq miles (39 sq km) is two-thirds the size of Manhattan.  The festival starts on Tuesday morning when tens of thousands of Hindu ascetics will charge – roaring, naked and ash-smeared – into the water, sanctifying it for the tens of millions of pilgrims who will follow in the coming days and weeks.  Praygraj is said to be one of four sites in India where drops of the essence of immortality were spilled from an urn being fought over by gods and demons. The festival moves between the four locations, with Prayagraj the largest and most lavish. Pilgrims travel from across the country and wait for days for their opportunity to bathe there for a few seconds, including at least 30 million people on the most auspicious day.  “People come here to taste the nectar of immortality,” says Sarabhang Giri, an Australian who was ordained a sadhu, or Hindu saint, in 2004.  With an election looming in India, more earthly matters are also under contemplation. For India’s Hindu nationalist government, the Kumbh’s message of unity across the religion’s castes and innumerable deities dovetails nicely with the ruling Bharatiya Janata party’s goal of consolidating Hindu votes.  This is the first Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj since the city’s Mughal-era name of Allahabad was changed. No Kumbh Mela has ever been so well funded, or so heavily promoted in the media and on billboards, invariably alongside the face of Narendra Modi, India’s Hindu nationalist prime minister.  “In many recent Kumbhs there’s always been a political presence of some sort,” says Kama Maclean, an associate professor of south Asian history at the University of New South Wales. “For most people who go it’s a religious event. But from the 1930s people were going to the Kumbh Mela, bathing in the Ganga, and then going up [India’s first prime minister] Jawaharlal Nehru’s house and learning about nationalism.”  Pilgrims at the Unesco-listed festival will traverse a pop-up city of more than 185 miles (300km) of roads, nearly two-dozen pontoon bridges, a hospital, 40 police stations and 120,000 toilets. At night, the city is illuminated by more than 40,000 lights. Last Sunday a parade of Hindu ascetics on elephants and camels passed billboards advertising matrimonial websites and the Kumbh’s free wifi.  The core of the festival is the estimated 200,000 Hindu saints in attendance, many of whom emerge from seclusion in forests and mountains to take up residency in the tent city, where they perform prayers, administer blessings and lecture on Hindu scripture.  Many belong to one of the 13 major sects represented at the fair, first formed as militant defenders of Hindu temples, and who in the past have turned their fire on each other to determine who bathes in the holy river first.  “They have physically fought over the order,” says Giri. “Thousands of people have died in Kumbh Melas through history. Now they’ve worked out treaties saying this is the order in which we do it, and if there’s any change, there has to be big discussions.”  As well as keeping the peace between holy orders, organisers must work to ward off disease. Some epidemiologists and historians trace the first cholera pandemic of the 19th century to 1817’s Kumbh Mela, from where the infection spread via colonial British naval ships to rest of Asia, Europe and eventually the United States.  Apart from building toilets, and deploying an army of more than 9,000 “night sweepers” to collect or treat waste, authorities try to keep the river flowing at an optimum speed of at least 200,000 litres a second: fast enough to avoid stagnation, but not too quick that it washes away bathers.  Stampedes are another constant threat. Thirty-six people where killed by a crush at a Prayagraj train station at the most recent event. In 1954, an elephant charged a dense crowd, killing more than 500 people.  The key to public safety is to keep the mammoth crowds moving, says Devesh Chaturvedi, the chief public servant who organised Prayagraj’s last Kumbh Mela in 2013. “Even if the water is 500 metres away, we have a system where the pilgrims can be moved for another three or four kilometres. People won’t worry about how much they have to walk. But after five or six hours of walking they should finally get their dip.”  One pilgrim, Devi Prasad, says he has walked hundreds of miles by foot from his village in Bihar state to bathe in the confluence of the Ganges and the Yamuna. A few more hours on foot is no trouble, the 63-year-old adds. “If you want to get close to God, you have to walk.”

Michael Safi and Kakoli Bhattacharya in Prayagraj


theguardianuk--2019-06-26--Gambian pageant winner accuses ex-president Yahya Jammeh of rape

A Gambian pageant winner has accused the country’s former president of rape as an investigation claims Yahya Jammeh systematically sexually abused young women.  Jammeh, who reluctantly stepped down in 2017 after 22 years of rule, presented himself as a deeply religious figure and an advocate of girls’ rights and declared his small west African nation an Islamic republic.  But Toufah Jallow claims he raped her as a teenager at a religious event on the eve of Ramadan. Two other women also accused Jammeh of rape and sexual assault in interviews with Human Rights Watch and Trial International, and eight former Gambian officials said they had direct knowledge of the events. Jallow is the only one disclosing her real name.  The former winner of the prestigious Miss July 22nd beauty and scholarship pageant said she wanted to “start the conversation about something that is destroying the fabric of society” – girls carrying the burden of sexual abuse.  “I felt like if I can do that with the president of the country, it becomes somewhat easier for someone who’s dealing with a CEO, with a boss, with a schoolteacher or with an uncle, because the highest level is being exposed,” she told the Guardian.  For years Jallow had watched the prestigious July 22nd pageant – named for the date Jammeh seized power – on television. When she was crowned winner in 2014, she thought a scholarship would soon follow.  Instead, she said, Jimbee Jammeh, the president’s cousin and a State House protocol officer, began calling her to ask about a drama project she had to submit after winning the pageant. Soon she found herself being taken to Jammeh’s private residence.  “Fula girl,” he greeted her, using traditional teasing between their ethnic groups, Jallow recalled. He was wearing a shirt and trousers, not his usual bulky robes. He gave her a fatherly hug and switched on the Animal Planet channel.  “He was watching this lion hunt his prey, talking about it,” she said. “He said his uncles were hunters and that hunters actually just mimic what lions do, and they have to take their time.” He talked until midnight, she said, going through her proposal and reminiscing about his childhood. Then she left.  After several more meetings, Jammeh arranged for Jallow’s mother’s house to get a water supply, and he sent gifts of furniture and offered Jallow a job like Jimbee’s.  Then one night at dinner, she said, he allegedly told her: “I want to marry you, you know. When can I send people to go see your parents?”  She said no, blocked Jimbee’s number and decided to have nothing more to do with Jammeh. But the night before Ramadan, Jimbee got through on a private number and told her to come to a Qur’anic recitation ceremony at State House along with previous pageant winners. She felt unable to decline.  Jimbee allegedly engineered it so that they were in a room alone and then left. Jammeh walked in. “This time it wasn’t the fatherly ‘hey Fula girl’. His eyes were so red and he was so angry,” she claimed. “He said to me: ‘Who do you think you are?’ His ego was bruised, seriously.”  Shouting that he could get any woman he wanted, he allegedly dragged her into the next room. “He said to me: ‘This could have gone way, way, much better if you had just gone along. But it seems like this is how you want it,’” she claimed.  “The echo of the reading of the Qur’an outside was loud; I could hear every word of it when I was in that room. He pushed me so I was kneeling on the floor. And he pulled his genitals out and rubbed it on my face, saying things like ‘let’s see if you’re a virgin’, and I was screaming,” she alleged.  “He said ‘it’s not going to kill you’. Then he took [a syringe] from his pocket and injected me right here,” she claimed, pulling up her sleeve to show a scar. After that, Jallow said, she could not hear her own screams. She claimed he pulled off her leggings and underwear and anally raped her.  She alleges she passed out, and when she woke up at 2am he was sitting on the couch watching her. He told her: “Get out.”  Jallow decided she had to escape. She put on a niqab and went to the market where she gave the men following her the slip, she said. She crossed the Gambia River in a fisherman’s boat, begged a truck driver to smuggle her across the Senegalese border and slept in a Dakar bus station until she could get help, then sought asylum in Canada.  What allegedly happened to Jallow was not a one-off but appears to be part of “a state-sponsored system to get women into his bed,” said Reed Brody, a lawyer at Human Rights Watch who along with Marion Volkmann-Brandau has been building a case against Jammeh that covers the alleged massacre of migrants and his bogus HIV “cure” programme.  Jammeh allegedly lavished gifts on the impoverished family of “Anta”, a pseudonym for one of the other women who has accused him of sexual assault. She claims she refused his advances until he threatened to take everything away from the family. She further alleges that a soldier was sent with Jimbee to force her to move to State House to be on call for sex whenever he wanted it.  The third woman, referred to as Bintu, claims she was groomed and then told to undress in front of Jammeh and Jimbee, and when he started to touch her she started crying. She was told to leave and her scholarship was cancelled.  Jammeh is hiding out in Equatorial Guinea along with Jimbee, protected by the country’s president, Teodoro Obiang.  Now a keen boxer who works in sales but still has the acting dream, Jallow is preparing to travel to the Gambia to tell her story there. On her way to a boxing class in Dakar, Senegal, on Tuesday night, shocked messages of support trickled in from friends hearing about her case. “It’s hard. But what happened is harder,” she said.  Her goals are clear: she wants her story to make a difference and, if the case comes to trial, she wants sexual assault to be treated as seriously as murder, kidnapping and torture, of which Jammeh is also accused. “I want it to be part of whatever brings him down.”  Efforts to obtain contact details for Jammeh in order to put the allegations to him were unsuccessful.


theindependent--2019-03-18--Easter 2019 When is it and why does the date change every year

Easter 2019: When is it and why does the date change every year?

One of the most important festivals in the Christian faith, Easter celebrates the period during which Christians believe Jesus Christ was resurrected following the crucifixion.  For non-Christians, it is also a time to come together as a family.  Unlike Christmas, the date of Easter is subject to change, as its date is determined by a lunisolar calendar.  So when is Easter, why does its date vary and how is it celebrated? Here's everything you need to know:  Easter marks the end of the 40-day period of Lent, during which those who observe the festival abstain from everyday luxuries such as rich foods.  The week before Easter is widely referred to by Christians as "Holy Week", as it recalls the events surrounding the passion, crucifixion, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  This year, Easter Sunday is taking place on Sunday 21 April.  It marks the latest Easter has occurred since 2011, when it fell on 24 April.  Some sectors of Christianity celebrate Easter on a different date in accordance with the Julian Calendar, a Roman calendar first proposed by Julius Caesar in 46 BC.  Orthodox Christianity will celebrate Easter on Sunday 28 April this year, a week after Western Christianity.  Much like other religious events such as the Hindu celebration of Diwali and the Jewish festival of Rosh Hashanah, Easter is a moveable feast.  This means its date on the Gregorian calendar can vary every year.  The date of Easter Sunday falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox in March.  By taking into account the date of the vernal equinox (which this year falls on Wednesday 20 March) and the next following full moon (Friday 19 April), it was therefore calculated that Easter Sunday would take place on Sunday 21 April in 2019.  Those who observe the Christian festival of Easter celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ three days after he was crucified, as outlined in the New Testament.  Easter has strong links with the Jewish festival of Passover, another moveable feast which is taking place this year between Friday 19 April and Saturday 27 April.  The first church service that some Christians attend in celebration of Easter is held on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday and the last day of Holy Week.  In addition to church services, it's also tradition for Christians to commemorate Easter with music, candles, flowers and the ringing of church bells.  While Easter is a religious festival, it is also celebrated by a variety of communities of different faiths across the globe.  Many mark the occasion by exchanging chocolate eggs, which are traditionally symbolic of rebirth and new life.  Lots of children also take part in the festivities by participating in Easter egg hunts.  On Saturday 20 April, an Easter vigil mass is due to take place at St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.  Easter morning mass will be held the next morning at 10am in St Peter's Square, where it will then be followed by a blessing from Pope Francis.


theindependent--2019-04-22--Sri Lanka bombings carried out by Islamist group National Thowheed Jamaaposath minister says

Sri Lanka bombings carried out by Islamist group National Thowheed Jama'ath, minister says

Bombings that killed hundreds of victims at churches and hotels in Sri Lanka were carried out by a local Islamist group with help from international terrorists, the government has said.  Health minister Rajitha Senaratne said seven suicide bombers who struck on Easter Sunday were Sri Lankan citizens linked to National Thowheed Jama’ath.  “We do not believe these attacks were carried out by a group of people who were confined to this country,” he added. “There was an international network without which these attacks could not have succeeded.”  National Thowheed Jama’ath was previously known for vandalising Buddhist statues and in 2016 one of its leaders was arrested for inciting racism.  President Maithripala Sirisena is asking for foreign assistance to trace the bombers’ international links.  “The intelligence reports [indicate] that foreign terrorist organisations are behind the local terrorists,” a spokesperson said. “Therefore, the president is to seek the assistance of the foreign countries.”  There was no claim of responsibility and officials said 24 suspects were in custody for questioning.  Little over a week before the attacks, National Thowheed Jama’ath was named in a police advisory to security services warning of a potential threat to Catholic churches.  Telecommunications minister Harin Fernando posted images of the letter, entitled “information on an alleged plan attack” and detailing names and other details, on Twitter.  He called for “serious action” on why the atrocities were not prevented and the prime minister launched an inquiry.  Ranil Wickremesinghe claimed he had not personally been informed of the threat, adding: “We must look into why adequate precautions were not taken.”  The targeting of churches and hotels popular with foreign tourists is a technique recently used by Isis and al-Qaeda affiliates.  Amarnath Amarasingam, a senior research fellow with the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, pointed out that recent new year celebrations and Buddhist religious events passed off safely.  “If this were local Muslim extremist groups who wanted to retaliate against anti-Muslim attacks by Buddhists, I think the targeting would have been a bit different,” he wrote on Twitter.  “The attacks targeted churches as well as major tourist hotels in the capital, which were having Easter buffets and so on. This signals some coordination and planning by foreign groups.”  A total of nine bombings on Sunday killed at least 290 people and injured more than 500.  Sri Lankan officials said two people were involved in the attack at the Shangri-La hotel.  One bomber each attacked the Cinnamon Grand and Kingsbury hotels, and St Anthony's Shrine in Colombo, St Sebastian's church in the city of Negombo and Zion Church in the city of Batticaloa.  Two bombings hours later at a guesthouse and near an overpass on the outskirts of Colombo are still under investigation.  Suspects detonated explosives at a safe house near the overpass blast as police closed in, killing three officers.  Sri Lankan police found 87 bomb detonators at the main bus station in the capital, Colombo, on Monday and a large bomb was defused on an access road to the international airport.  Most of the victims were Sri Lankan but victims also included people from Britain, the US, Denmark, China, Japan, Portugal and Australia.  The president was to declare a nationwide emergency that will go into effect at midnight on Monday, following a curfew and blocks on social media.  The state of emergency will grant police and the military extensive powers to detain and interrogate without court orders, was in force at various times during the civil war that raged from 1983 to 2009.  It ended with the government defeating the Tamil Tigers, who launched numerous terror attacks in a bloody campaign for an independent ethnic state.  The Tamil separatists – including Hindus and Christians - had been fighting against Sri Lanka’s Sinhalese ethnic majority, who are predominantly Buddhist.  There were fears the Easter Sunday bombings could spark fresh sectarian violence, with a petrol bombing on a mosque and arson attacks on Muslim-owned shops reported.


theindependent--2019-12-12--Trump hosts pastor who says 'Jews are going to hell' at White House Hanukkah party

US President Donald Trump hosted an evangelical pastor who once said Jewish people were going to hell at the White House Hanukkah reception on Wednesday.  Robert Jeffress is a prominent Christian leader from Dallas and has spoken at several religious events, including the opening ceremony of the new American Embassy in Jerusalem in 2018.  During the White House Hannukah reception, Mr Jeffress gave a speech calling Mr Trump “the most pro-faith president in history” and said he is “on the right side of God”.  At a sermon he preached in 2008, he said: “Not only do religions like Mormonism, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism – not only do they lead people away from the true God, they lead people to an eternity of separation from God in hell.  “Hell is going to be filled with good religious people who have rejected the truth of Christ.”  Two years later, Mr Jeffress told the Trinity Broadcasting Network that Islam and Mormonism are “heresies from the pit of hell”, adding that “you can’t be saved being a Jew.”  “The three greatest Jews in the New Testament: Peter, Paul and Jesus Christ. They all said Judaism won’t do it. It’s faith in Jesus Christ,” he said.  Mr Jeffress is a staunch supporter of Mr Trump, previously hailing him as a “Christian warrior”.  His praise has not gone unnoticed by the president, who said: “I didn’t know him, but I watched him, and I’d watch him on different shows. I said, ‘I like that guy. Man, he really talks great about me, and I like people that talk well about me.’”  Mr Trump signed an executive order at the event effectively defining Judaism under federal law as a race and nationality, as well as a religion.  This invokes Civil Rights Act protections that prevent educational institutions receiving federal funding from discriminating people based on their national origin.  Concerns about the order have been raised, with pro-Palestinian groups worried it may be used to silence campus campaigns calling for Israeli divestment and to end Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.  Some Jewish groups are also worried by the order. Emily Mayer, political director of the Jewish advocacy group IfNotNow, said the move “promotes the classically bigoted idea that American Jews are not American… This order is a dangerous move to silence the free speech of human rights advocates and, in particular, Palestinian and Muslim students.”