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Giving the trumpet a certain sound

September 2004

al-Sadr Asked Vatican help


Catholic World News is reporting that Iraqi Shi'ite dissident Moqtada al-Sadr requested Vatican help in mediation:

A spokesman for al-Sadr told reporters that the Shi'ite cleric, who controls militia groups that have clashed with US-led occupation troops around the city of Najaf, would welcome the Vatican's involvement. That statement came less than a day after the Vatican Secretariat of State, Cardinal Angelo Sodano said that the Holy See would be willing to mediate the conflict in Najaf. . . .

Archbishop Fernando Filoni, the apostolic nuncio, expressed some uncertainty about al-Sadr's willingness to negotiate a realistic peace accord. The archbishop told the AsiaNews service, "We'll have to accept him as a partner if he shows he is willing to find a peaceful solution to the conflict, but it is useless to speculate until he reveals his true intentions." ("Iraqi Shi'ite asks Vatican mediation," www.cwnews.com, August 17, 2004)

Inspired Commentary

And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. (Rev. 13:3)

But in this homage to papacy the United States will not be alone. The influence of Rome in the countries that once acknowledged her dominion, is still far from being destroyed. And prophecy foretells a restoration of her power. "I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed; and all the world wondered after the beast." [Rev. 13:3.] The infliction of the deadly wound points to the abolition of the papacy in 1798. After this, says the prophet, "His deadly wound was healed; and all the world wondered after the beast." Paul states plainly that the man of sin will continue until the second advent. [2 Thess. 2:8.] (The Great Controversy (1888 ed.) p. 579)

Abortion Rationale


A recent story subject shared some of the reasons some women consider abortions:

Having felt physically fine up to this point, I got on the subway afterward, and all of a sudden, I felt ill. I didn't want to eat anything. What I was going through seemed like a very unnatural experience. On the subway, Peter asked, "Shouldn't we consider having triplets?" And I had this adverse reaction: "This is why they say it's the woman's choice, because you think I could just carry triplets. That's easy for you to say, but I'd have to give up my life." Not only would I have to be on bed rest at 20 weeks, I wouldn't be able to fly after 15. I was already at eight weeks. When I found out about the triplets, I felt like: It's not the back of a pickup at 16, but now I'm going to have to move to Staten Island. I'll never leave my house because I'll have to care for these children. I'll have to start shopping only at Costco and buying big jars of mayonnaise. Even in my moments of thinking about having three, I don't think that deep down I was ever considering it. ("When One Is Enough," The New York Times (Magazine) [online], July 18, 2004)

An addendum to the article noted about the subject of the story:

The column identified Ms. Richards as a freelancer at the time of her pregnancy but should have also disclosed that she is an abortion rights advocate who has worked with Planned Parenthood, as well as a co-founder of a feminist organization, the Third Wave Foundation, which has financed abortions. That background, which would have shed light on her mind-set, was incorporated in an early draft, but it was omitted when an editor condensed the article. (Ibid.) The article noted that two of the triplets were twins. These were aborted by giving the fetuses a shot of potassium chloride to the heart.

Inspired Commentary

Love of self is a major factor in the last days:

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; (2 Tim. 3:1-4)

New Jersey Governor Resigns


An editorial commented on the recent (August 12) resignation of New Jersey Gov. James E. McGreevey:

At the root of Mr. McGreevey's unexpected announcement is an affair with a male former New Jersey state employee, Golan Cipel, who has threatened to file suit against the governor and is asking $5 million to drop it. Mr. McGreevey had hired Mr. Cipel, an Israeli citizen, in 2002, first as an adviser at the state's homeland security office, and then as a counselor to himself as governor for an annual salary of $110,000.

So there's the bottom line -- patronage. In this day and age Mr. McGreevey could almost certainly have revealed his homosexuality and stayed in office as governor of New Jersey. Other responsible public officials at the state and national level have certainly done that. . . .

Patronage jobs -- which is to say, appointments to public office based on factors other than the person's qualifications -- in general constitute a rip-off of the public, whether they are at the national, state, county, city or borough level. The public as taxpayers deserve to be served by competent people -- not by people who are some officeholder's otherwise potentially unemployable wife, sister, brother, cousin, nephew, niece, friend or -- in this case -- lover. ("Gay smokescreen / N.J. governor scandal is really about patronage," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 15, 2004)

Inspired Commentary

The above story seems to be another illustration of the adage about the corrupting influence of power, especially political power. Inspiration notes that one day the love of power will lead to the suppression of religious freedom (ostensibly for the public's good):

Political corruption is destroying love of justice and regard for truth; and even in free America, rulers and legislators, in order to secure public favor, will yield to the popular demand for a law enforcing Sunday observance. Liberty of conscience, which has cost so great a sacrifice, will no longer be respected. (The Great Controversy, p. 592).

Ministers who deny the obligation of the divine law will present from the pulpit the duty of yielding obedience to the civil authorities as ordained of God. In legislative halls and courts of justice, commandment keepers will be misrepresented and condemned. (ibid.)





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