Johan Kotzé not a monster – Tutu

Cape Town – Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu has called on the media and public to stop calling Limpopo rape and murder accused Johan Kotzé the “Modimolle monster”, saying that despite his alleged crimes, he is still a child of God.

Kotzé is accused of hiring three men to gang-rape and mutilate his estranged wife, and of killing her 19-year-old son.

Tutu wrote a letter to The Star, in which he condemned what had happened, but also expressed his concern that the widespread outrage over Kotzé’s alleged actions had led to him being dubbed a monster.

‘Capacity to become a saint’

“He may indeed be guilty of inhuman, ghastly and monstrous deeds, but he is not a monster. We are actually letting him off lightly by calling him a monster because monsters have no moral sense of right and wrong – and therefore cannot be held morally culpable, cannot be regarded as morally blameworthy,” Tutu wrote.

He added that Kotzé “remains a child of God with the capacity to become a saint. This may shock some of us”.

“We should condemn ghastly acts of awful cruelty but we must, as they say, hate the sin and love the sinner, or hope that he may change for the better.”

He said this was in many ways the basis of the Truth and Reconciliation process.

“We heard bloodcurdling stories of how people had been murdered brutally and yet we saw some extraordinary scenes of magnanimity when perpetrator and victim or relative of victim embraced publicly.

“If it were true that once a murderer always a murderer, then we should have had to shut up shop straightaway. But we believed then, and I hope we still do, that it was possible for people to change for the better, that the worst criminal could become a good and virtuous person.”

Appalled

Tutu was not defending Kotzé’s alleged acts, saying decent people are rightly appalled at what had happened, and that it was quite right to condemn the “dastardly, barbaric and monstrous” deeds.

He expressed his deep sympathy and condolences to Kotzé’s estranged wife and pleaded that people stop calling him a monster.

However, The Star quoted criminologist Dr Jackie de Wet, from the University of Fort Hare, as saying that the chances of someone like Kotzé being rehabilitated and becoming a good and virtuous person – if he did indeed commit the crimes he is charged with – are “very, very slim, almost minuscule”.

ANC Women’s League protesters outside the Modimolle Magistrate’s Court during his appearance last Friday dubbed him a monster. “No human being can do such a thing,” said ANCWL Waterberg treasurer Joy Matshoge.

by McBrolloks

It is the season
When we piss away reason
When some celebrate the birth
Of their very own hero

Their Jesus was born, then he had to be murdered
So that they won’t have to burn, for all of  their sin

If you believe in this tale, you will surely enjoy
All the other fables, on the Jesus resume

If you are too young to understand, don’t worry my dear
People will get you going, with all of their cheer
If this doesn’t work, there is nothing to fear
A guy named Santa, will bring you lots of nice gear
Bags full of presents, that will give you much joy
And later they’ll tell you, these presents weren’t free
That it’s all part of remembering why Jesus had died
Because Adam and Eve ate some fruit, and told god a lie
A lie that made him so mad that he started to cry
He made a new place, of fire and hell, where he would put everyone, who would break his heart ever again
He also made a list, of 10 mortal sins, things you have to remember, you can never ever do again
But if you forget, or you just couldn’t stop, don’t worry, because all is not lost
That is why god, sent down his only son, to be tortured and killed by a very angry mob
So that his blood could cleanse you and you can still go to heaven, and there we will all be together forever and ever
If this sound too cruel, and it makes you afraid, don’t worry my child, it’s all very normal, god and Jesus loves you and would never forsake you
Just don’t do what you want, because they can always see you, and they never forget, if you broke any rules and told any lies, be sure they will eventually get you
Remember all that blood didn’t flow just for you, and if you neglect to be sorry, it will flow all over you, in the form of fire and pain, in that place they call hell, for ever and ever and too long to measure

It’s a wonderful time
When we celebrate the season
The gifts and the cheer, it’s all for a good reason
All thanks to a snake, a man and his wife
A god that got pissed and a paradise that they lost
But god’s heart got soft
So he raped a young girl
And sent us their son
To save us from hell
Who he left to be murdered
In a wonderful way
So everyone
Can all be together
In a new paradise
Forever and ever

If this all seems too much
For a young and healthy mind
Don’t worry my child
It will never make sense
Enjoy all your gifts
Enjoy all the fun
But someday you will pay, the price for it all
Someday you will know, what we all know now
That hell is a place, where you don’t want to go
And go there you won’t, because everyone knows
When they nailed Jesus to that cross
He died for your sins
So heaven awaits
As soon as you die
But starting right now
Your brain will start to get fried

Years later, without a doubt
You will do to your kids
What we, the people who love you, are doing to you now
Start of with Santa, and a bag full of gifts
Then move on a bit later
To Jesus and love
To the snake and the garden, and to god and his lust, for a girl in the desert
Whom he allegedly never spread like an eagle, from which Jesus was born
To save us from our sins
His dad sent him to get killed, by a murderous mob
To save us for ever
So when we’re all dead, we’ll all be together

People who doubt, can still get on board
As long as they stop
To be a pain in the arse
And get with the program
And never more doubt
And before they will know it
Their brains will start to rot

Once they are zombies
The fun really starts
You will know it for sure
When they open their mouths
And they spread all their lies
And they don’t want to hear
That their good news is crap
And their god is a cunt
A sick fucking bastard
That you don’t want around
If you don’t believe me, go and read his old book
It is full of murder and many other crimes, things that will scare you, and never make sense, not the deeds of a loving god, rather a monster you would never want as a friend
We don’t talk about it, and we don’t like to hear, anything about it, it will ruin the fun, so keep your mouth shut, and never fear, as long as we all lie, nobody can ruin our cheer

So if you love reason and you still have a brain
warn your children, and warn them all now
That this sickness can spread, and it is everywhere
But as long as you can think, be honest and use reason
There is nothing to fear, and you are safe from them all
Because you have to be bat-shit crazy, and totally mad
To believe all that crap, and all of those lies
Just remember that they, a long time ago
Were once like we are, and nothing was wrong
But they got the sickness, the rotting of the brain
And that’s why they believe in all of this shit, about a man who had died
So that they can all live forever, together in a place in the sky
At the feet of their ghosts, with people singing and angels playing the harp

If you have a brain, and it still works pretty fine
I am sure then you know, about this whole fucking lie
Please spare your children, don’t let them fall in this trap
There’s nothing like gifts, to impress a young mind
Just make sure they don’t think it came from a god
That lives up in the sky, who loves them as long as they never lie

So enjoy all the cheer, for the holidays are fun
But remember that too much
Of this fun can do harm
And leave some with a hangover
They will suffer for life
A brain that rots as the years all go by
Till later they can’t tell, the truth from the lies

Happy Xmis Everbody!!!!

An Afghan girl looks at US army soldiers in Muhammad Aghah district of Logar province, eastern Afghanistan. Photograph: Umit Bektas/Reuters

Afghanistan has pardoned a woman who was raped by a family member but then jailed for adultery, a statement from the presidential palace has said, in a case that highlights deep concerns about women’s rights in the country.

The 21-year-old, known as Gulnaz, had earlier been offered release from prison if she married her attacker and eventually agreed to this condition, but her lawyer said the release granted this week did not depend on her going through with the wedding.

It was not clear whether she still intended to marry the man who raped her, her cousin’s husband, who is serving a seven-year prison term for the crime, her lawyer Kimberley Motley added.

Afghan president Hamid Karzai’s palace issued the statement pardoning Gulnaz late on Thursday, a rare pardon in such a case in staunchly conservative Muslim Afghanistan.

Her case attracted international attention after she took part in a documentary film commissioned by the European Union but later withheld.

Ms Motley said she hoped her client would be released shortly, and that there was a place for her in a women’s shelter.

The palace statement said justice minister Habibullah Ghalib asked a panel of top legal officials to order her release. Gulnaz sought a pardon from Mr Karzai earlier this week.

“After assessing Gulnaz’s case, (they) decided that her remaining sentence in jail should be pardoned under the current rules and regulations of the country and she should be released,” the palace statement said.

Gulnaz was initially sentenced to two years in jail for “adultery by force”, which was later increased to 12 years on appeal. She was given the choice of marriage or serving a jail sentence.

Her sentence was then cut to three years after a third appeal, and the requirement for her to marry was dropped.

Gulnaz became pregnant as a result of the attack and gave birth to a daughter in the Badam Bagh women’s prison in Kabul almost a year ago.

Ms Motley also welcomed what she said was a decision to review the cases of other women in the same jail.

“The judiciary has effectively supported the Elimination of Violence Against Women Act by allowing for her to be released, for allowing for her to be pardoned,” Ms Motley said.

“Precedent definitely has been set. As I understand it, the judiciary today was also reviewing the files of other women in Badam Bagh,” she said.

The presidential palace declined to comment on whether other cases were under review.

The film in which Gulnaz featured, a documentary on women in prison, was blocked from release by the EU mission in Afghanistan over fears it might compromise the safety of the women involved because it showed their identity.

The film-makers have been pushing for the film to be released, and say Gulnaz wanted her story to be told.

“I made a promise to these women that I would get their stories out. I am glad that I’ve been able to honour that promise to Gulnaz,” said the film’s director Clementine Malpas.

Category: Medicine • Religion
Posted on: October 19, 2011 11:24 AM, by PZ Myers

Want to spend an hour cringing and twitching? This is the abridged version of “Cut: Slicing Through the Myths of Circumcision“, and you will suffer if you watch it. It is a wasteful, terrible thing to do to a child.

One rabbi interviewed is at least honest about circumcision: “It’s painful, it’s abusive, it’s traumatic, and if anybody does it who isn’t in a covenant ought to be put in prison…I do abusive things because I’m in covenant with god.” What nonsense. What a wretched excuse for abusing children.

(Warning: lots of shots of babies getting chopped, as well as closeups of adult penises.)

The arguments for circumcision are pathetic and awful.

• “You either believe [in the covenant of circumcision] or else nothing is true”. I’ve heard that before: it’s the argument creationists use to defend the absolute literal truth of the book of Genesis, because if that’s not true, the story of Jesus falls apart, and therefore the whole of Christianity is false. Yeah, so? Then it’s false.
• “The mystery of circumcision is profound”. Ignorance should not inspire the kind of awe that motivates one to mutilate another person’s body.
• The health benefits. Total bullshit. As one of the speakers in the movie explains, there have been progressive excuses: from it prevents masturbation to it prevents cancer to it prevents AIDS. The benefits all vanish with further studies and are all promoted by pro-circumcision organizations. It doesn’t even make sense: let’s not pretend people have been hacking at penises for millennia because there was a clinical study. Hey, let’s chop off our pinkie toes and then go looking for medical correlations!
• It’s tradition. Grandpa and great-grandpa and great-great-grandpa did it, so I’ll perpetuate the cycle of abuse to my children. I have to reject that: it reduces a decision to do irreparable damage to a child to repetitive, superstitious, mindless behavior.

There is no reason, other than certain rare and specific medical conditions, for maiming anyone’s genitalia. Don’t do it to your children.

2011-11-29 22:58

Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi, minister van gesondheid, by die uitreiking van die MIV/vigs-verslag vir 2010 in Pretoria. Foto: Lisa Hnatowicz

Die skerp styging in die voorkoms van MIV onder mense bo 35 beteken dalk die regering moet met sy bewusmakingsprogramme begin fokus op getroude paartjies.

Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi, minister van gesondheid, het gister by die uitreiking van die 2010-MIV/vigsverslag in Pretoria gesê hy is bekommerd oor die toename in dié groep, terwyl die voorkoms bestendig gebly het in jonger groepe.

Die peiling is in Oktober verlede jaar gedoen by 1424 van die staat se sowat 4200 voorgeboorteklinieke. 30,2% van die vroue was MIV-positief, teenoor 29,4% die vorige jaar.

Volgens die navorsers kan die effense styging toegeskryf word aan die toename onder ouer vroue, eerder as jonges.

Verlede jaar was 38,4% van swanger vroue tussen 35 en 39 MIV-positief teenoor 35,4% die vorige jaar.

Die voorkoms onder vroue tussen 40 en 49 is op van sowat ’n kwart tot net minder as ’n derde.

Volgens Motsoaledi kan dit wees dat antiretrovirale medisyne (ARM) meer ouer mense langer laat lewe, maar die toename kan ook te doen hê daarmee dat vroue nie kan onderhandel vir kondoomgebruik binne vaste verhoudings nie. Dit word deur sommige mans as ’n teken van losbandigheid of wantroue beskou as ’n vrou daarop aandring.

“Dit … gaan eintlik nie oor die vroue nie, maar oor die mans. MIV is ’n siekte wat deur mans versprei word en wat vroue laat ly,” het Motsoaledi gesê.

Hy glo die kwessie moet getakel word deur mans te teiken, byvoorbeeld wanneer hulle deelneem aan besnydenisprogramme.

Die verslag het voorts getoon sowat 3% van die 166 wit vroue wat by die klinieke aangemeld het, was MIV-positief, asook 7% van 2 930 bruin vroue, 7% van 144 Asiërs en 32,5% van meer as 28 533 swart vroue.

Meer as ’n derde van mense wat nooit skoolgegaan het nie, was met die virus besmet. Die voorkoms van MIV onder geskeides (39%) en mense wat ’n maat aan die dood afgestaan het (41,7%), was hoër as by enkellopendes (31,2%) en getroudes (25%).

Net gemiddeld 65% van MIV-positiewes het geweet hulle dra die virus.

Volgens Motsoaledi was die effense toename nie statisties beduidend nie, maar is die regering steeds erg bekommerd oor dele van KwaZulu-Natal waar 40% van vroue die virus dra.

Die regering raam 17% tot 17,9% van Suid-Afrikaners tussen 15 en 49 is nou MIV-positief.

Syfers

• Meer as 4 miljoen Suid-Afrikaners bo 15 en 438 000 onder 15 is na raming MIV-positief
• Daar word geraam sowat 173 000 volwassenes is in 2010 aan vigs dood
• Net in 2010 het daar na raming 281 000 volwassenes en 54 000 kinders onder 14 met MIV besmet geraak.

Mans, laat julle besny, sê minister

2011-11-25 01:44

Kaapstad. – Alle Suid-Afrikaanse mans wat nog nie besny is nie, móét die prosedure ondergaan omdat dit die kanse drasties verminder om die MI-virus op te doen.

Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi, minister van gesondheid, het gister dié pleidooi in die Nasionale Vergadering gerig.

“Ons het bewyse dat manlike besnydenis die kanse verminder van die oordrag van die virus van man na vrou,” het hy gesê.

Motsoaledi het in die debat oor Wêreldvigsdag gesê verteenwoordigers van die regering sal op ’n landwye toer gaan om dié boodskap te verkondig. “Ons gaan ’n beroep doen op elke man wat nog nie besny is nie om te sorg dat hy besny word.”
Staatsgesondheidsgeriewe sal besnydenisse gratis uitvoer.

Hy het gesê besnydenis moet deel wees van ’n omvattende pakket boodskappe oor seksuele gesondheid. Dit sluit die gebruik van kondome en verantwoordelike gedrag teenoor seksmaats in.– Rajaa Azzakani

Published: 1 Jul 11 11:08 CET | Double click on a word to get a translation

The Christian Democrats on Thursday voted to retain the demand for sterilization for those choosing to undergo a sex change, arguing that if “a woman becomes a man, she should not be able to become pregnant as a woman”.

• Christian Democrats discuss same-sex adoption stance (16 May 11)
• Christian Democrats sign up for Stockholm Pride (5 May 11)
• Transgender need more protection in law (28 Jul 10)

At the party conference on Thursday in Umeå in the north of Sweden, the party rejected an earlier suggestion from the National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen) to remove the sterilization requirement.

“A sex-change means that you willingly subject yourself to treatment in order to change your gender, and if you do that it is also reasonable that you give up some gender-specific properties of your old sex,” Maria Larsson, minister for children and the elderly, said in a speech at the party conference on Thursday evening.

Larsson also said that Sweden is by no means unique in implementing this rule and added that it is also a question of children having the right to “define who is their mother and who is their father”.

According to legislation passed in 1972, to undergo a sex change operation a person must be over 18-years-old, a Swedish citizen, be sterilized and unmarried.

This has long been defended by the Christian Democrats but lately critical voices have risen from within the rank and file that the position is old-fashioned, and on Thursday Larsson met criticism from party members.

“This is state-imposed surgery that is mandatory in a certain situation, a mutilating surgery, and you should have very strong reasons to force that on people,” said party member Olle Sandahl in a speech.

Another party member, Caroline Szyber, said that the Christian Democrats should safeguard the sanctity of all individuals and protect their rights.

“Many, myself included, will associate forced sterilisations with the policies of the post-war era. As long as it is state-sanctioned it is coercion,” said Szyber in her speech.

Between 1934 and 1976, when there was a change in legislation, it is estimated that 63,000 mentally disabled people, epileptics and people with alleged social problems, were coerced to undergo sterilization in Sweden against their will, or pressured into agreeing to the operation in order to be allowed to marry or be released from mental institutions.

In 1999, Sweden agreed to compensate some of the victims of forced sterilization, offering each individual up to 175,000 kronor ($28,000).

Larsson was not amused by the comparison to the state imposed sterilizations in Sweden’s past.

“I feel slightly concerned when people compare this rule to the forced sterilizations from history – there is no comparison, let me be clear on that. This is about how someone willingly has chosen to change their sex,” Larsson said.

According to news agency TT, the government is divided on the issue. And at a party leader debate held during last year’s Pride festival, prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt said he was keen to modernize the law.

“It’s a dark chapter in Swedish history,” he told news agency TT at the time.

But Larsson told Sveriges Radio (SR) on Thursday that, as it is only this point they don’t see eye-to-eye on, she is confident that they will be able to reach an agreement.

The Christian Democrats did however vote in favour of scrapping the demand that a married person who chooses to have a sex change must get a divorce, and the requirement that you have to be a Swedish citizen to have the procedure done.

2011-11-17 11:38

Port Elizabeth – A priest and members of his congregation have been arrested for killing a child in Humansdorp, Eastern Cape police said on Thursday.

Lieutenant Colonel Priscilla Naidu said the 22-year-old priest and four of his congregants were arrested on Wednesday.

Naidu said they killed the 7-year-old girl while conducting a violent exorcism a week ago.

“The parents and the church members felt that the child was demonised [possessed] and needed prayer,” said Naidu.

Internal injuries

During the exorcism, they realised the girl needed medical attention and tried to take her to hospital, but she died on the way there.

A post-mortem revealed that she had sustained internal injuries.

Naidu said that on the night of the girl’s death, police found bruises on her body and had noted that her eyes were swollen.

“It is suspected that for that hour or two, the girl must have been pushed back and forth while she was being prayed for,” she said.

The five men arrested were expected to appear in the Humansdorp Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.

- Were you there?

2011-10-26 01:48

Me. Nicolette Lotter.Foto: Dries Liebenberg

• ‘Toordery’ lei haar na ‘God se 3de seun’

Durban. – Sy het haar ma met ’n mes doodgesteek om haar liefde en gehoorsaamheid aan God te betoon.

So sê me. Nicolette Lotter in ’n verklaring wat vandeesweek in die verhoor weens die moord op haar ouers, mnr. Johnny (53) en mev. Riekie Lotter (52), as bewysstuk in die Durbanse hooggeregshof ingedien is.

Me. Lotter (29) word saam met haar broer, Hardus (23), en destydse kêrel, mnr. Mathew Naidoo (25), van die moorde op 19 Junie 2008 in Westville aangekla.
Al drie ontken skuld.

In haar verklaring sê sy dat Naidoo haar broer beveel het om sy pa op sy eie te verwurg “en daarna saam met God te stap (selfmoord te pleeg)”.

Naidoo het hom luidens me. Lotter se verklaring die derde seun van God genoem en gesê dat God deur hom praat.

Luidens haar verklaring was dit Naidoo wat twee maande voor die moorde gesê het haar ouers moet doodgemaak word omdat haar pa tot Satan bid.

Sy was huiwerig om haar ma dood te steek en het aan Naidoo gesê sy sal dit net doen as God dit beveel en dit Sy wil is.

“Toe sê Mathew ek moet in my verwarde hart kyk en ek sê toe: ‘Ja, in my hart is dit God se wil.’ ”

Luidens die verklaring het me. Lotter en Naidoo vroeër daaroor gepraat en sê sy volgens die Bybel kan jy nie die koninkryk van God binnegaan as jy jou ouers liewer as God het nie.

Haar broer was die dag voor die moorde ook onwillig om aan die plan deel te neem, maar luidens me. Lotter se verklaring het sy en Naidoo hom “die koue skouer gegee” totdat hy ingestem het.

“Ons het nie haat in ons harte vir ons ouers gehad nie. Ons het dit gedoen, want Mathew het
gesê ons moet en ons het hom geglo as die derde seun van God,” lui die verklaring.

Volgens Naidoo het hy niks van die moordplanne geweet nie en het me. Lotter en haar broer baie met hul ouers vasgesit.

Darwin and the lie of evolution

Dr B. I. S. van der Ventel
The year 2009 marked the bicentenary of the birth of Charles Darwin, and the
150th anniversary of the publication of his book: “On the origin of the species”.
The secular media with their undeniable anti-Christian agenda went to great
lengths to promote this event. Programmes such as National Geographic,
Discovery Channel, BBC Knowledge, etc… all featured documentaries analysing
Darwin’s theory and the impact it had on science and society. The question of
course is what must our attitude as Christians be towards this theory? In other
words, is it compatible with, or antagonistic towards, our Christian faith?
The basic premise of evolution is that all life on planet earth descended from a
common ancestor. Essentially it maintains that complex creatures evolved
naturally over an enormous amount of time from very primitive building blocks.
There are three reasons why the theory of evolution cannot be accepted by
Christians. Firstly, since it argues that life evolved over time without the aid of a
Creator, it is in direct contrast with the book of Genesis. In this first book of the
Bible it is very clear that God created the heavens and the earth. In Gen 1: 26 it
states that we humans are created in God’s image. The plant and animal
kingdoms were also created separately from Man. Secondly, if we can call into
question and compromise on the story of creation as outlined in the Bible, then
many other stories and events in the Bible may be questioned and made out to
be unscientific or implausible. This can clearly lead to a “domino effect” and
ultimately we can question the inerrancy and infallibility of the entire Bible as the
True and Eternal Word of God. Thirdly, if there is no need for a Creator, then
there is also no need for a plan of salvation, and this ultimately is an outright
attack on the personage of our Lord Jesus Christ and His redeeming work on the
cross. It is therefore very clear that the theory of evolution must be seen as being
antagonistic towards the core principles of our faith and should therefore be
actively opposed by Bible-believing Christians. Furthermore, the theory of
evolution causes many to turn their backs on God and therefore (in light of the
Great Commission) we are compelled to oppose this false teaching.
In the whole evolution versus creation debate, the secular media frequently
creates the impression that those who oppose the theory belong to the Dark
Ages and have no scientific foundation for their position. After all, many scientists
in the world accept or support evolution. Firstly, we as Christians must recall that
“Fools say to themselves, ‘There is no God’ ” (Ps. 14:1), “How clearly the sky
reveals God’s glory” (Ps. 19:1), “Ever since God created the world, his invisible
qualities, both his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen; they
are perceived in the things that God has made. So those people have no excuse
at all!” (Rom. 1:20) and “For what the world considers wisdom is nonsense in
God’s eyes” (1 Cor. 3: 19). The last passage especially illustrates that the Bible
has complete authority over any scientific textbook ever written by man. The
Apostle Paul writes in 2 Tim. 3:16 that “All Scripture is God-breathed and is
useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness”. The
statements these scientists make concerning the origin of life must be tested
against what the Bible has to say. If it is found to contradict the Bible then it must
be rejected as lies. Secondly, it is a complete and utter fallacy to think that there
is no scientific evidence for creation or intelligent design. There is a wealth of
resources available to Christians on this topic. These include the website of
Creation Ministries International (http://creation.com), the DVD and book by Lee
Strobel, “The case for a Creator”, Kenneth Poppe’s “Exposing Darwinism’s
weakest link”, Kerby Anderson’s “A biblical point of view on Intelligent Design”
and many more. It is of course not possible to delve here into the creation versus
evolution debate in all its details, but here are a few facts for us to remember as
we are bombarded by messages from the secular media incorrectly glorifying the
theory of evolution.
1. The “Origin of Life” experiment by Stanley Miller, performed in 1953, has
been totally discredited. This experiment showed that if you combine
methane, ammonia, hydrogen and water vapour in a glass apparatus with
electrical sparks (to simulate lightning) then you can produce amino acids
which are the building blocks of life. At the time it was believed that these
gases constituted the atmosphere of the earth before life began. Note that
the assumption of an “old earth” (i.e. billions of years) is necessary for the
theory of evolution to work. This contradicts the biblical view that the earth
is but a few thousand years old. (See the insightful article “How old is the
earth according to the Bible?” at http://www.icr.org/article/1137/). This
experiment was hailed as the great triumph of evolutionary ideas since it
apparently showed that the building blocks of life can be formed without
the intervention of God. However, further research showed that the
assumption concerning the initial gases was incorrect. Within the
evolutionary framework it was found that carbon dioxide, nitrogen and
water vapour constituted the early atmosphere and these gasses cannot
produce amino acids. Evolutionists therefore run into a considerable
problem: their models for the initial composition of the earth’s atmosphere
does not allow for the formation of amino acids. To quote Lee Strobel:
“Materialistic explanations for the origin of life were deeply flawed.”
2. In his book Darwin proposed the “Tree of Life” which formed the basis of
his theory, namely that every species of animal and plant evolved from
some common ancestor over enormous periods of time. The key idea is
that evolution takes place in small steps with species at the upper levels of
the tree showing great diversity. However, the “missing links” required by
Darwin’s theory do not show up in the fossil record. This “Tree of Life”
concept is also totally refuted by the so-called “Cambrian Explosion”, a
geological event where the body plans for virtually every major animal
phyla appeared not gradually (as proposed by Darwin) but suddenly. Even
the secular scientific journal New Scientist recently published an article
called “Axing Darwin’s tree” wherein the notion of a “Tree of Life” is
disputed. Note that these are non-Christian scientists who have to
concede that current scientific evidence does not point to a “Tree of Life”
as proposed by Darwin.
3. The Biosphere2 experiment showed that even under perfectly controlled
laboratory conditions it is not possible to sustain life. In contrast, planet
earth has an extraordinary, complex and elaborate self-sustaining ecosystem
which could not have occurred by chance.
4. Physics has shown that there are a number of so-called physical
constants which must have very precise and specific values for life to
occur. For example, without gravity there would be no stars and planets.
Without the strong nuclear force there would be no atoms and hence no
chemical reactions, and ultimately no life. The physical constants
associated with these physical phenomena are finely tuned and have
exactly the right values for life to exist. Is this purely chance?
These are just a few examples, but there are many more. In the academic and
scientific environments Christians experience tremendous adversity and
discrimination if they air their opposition to the theory of evolution. Secular
scientific journals do not allow articles to be published which seek to offer
scientific evidence that point to the Creator. It is for this reason that a group of
Bible-believing and committed Christians, who are also scientists, came together
to start the excellent magazine called Creation, published by Creation Ministries
International. This magazine offers countless examples of the failure of the
theory of evolution and the vast scientific evidence for a Creator. The articles are
written in a clear and concise manner and will appeal to scientists and lay-people
alike. The scientists who contribute to this magazine travel the world giving
lectures on the scientific truths of the Bible. They present scientific evidence for
the Genesis story of creation and the flood, amongst other things. The key point
to note here is that they present scientific evidence. This is in stark contrast to
the secular media who always creates the impression that the Bible is an
outdated book and should be discarded in the light of scientific discoveries. Once
again, a complete and utter lie! Creation also has a section called “Creation for
Kids” where the biblical story of creation and all its implications are explained to
children. This is especially important as our children are under severe attack from
the forces of Satan. In the May 2009 edition of Joy! magazine it was reported that
the government is investing millions of rands into the promotion of evolution at
school level. This is just another way in which God and the Bible is removed from
our schools and education system.
The whole evolution versus creation debate must be seen against the backdrop
of a much larger battle waging between God and Satan for the souls of men and
women. The secular media wants to portray the Devil as cool and a nice guy (for
example the series “Reaper” on M-Net), but the Bible describes him as a roaring
lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). The theory of evolution is just
one of the many ways in which the Devil wants to attack the personage of our
Lord Jesus Christ, in order to turn us away from His redeeming work on the
cross.
When we as Christians are faced with the evolution versus creation debate we
need no longer step back. No! Let us, from a human point of view call on the vast
scientific evidence in support of creation, and from a spiritual point of view call on
the infallible, inerrant Word of God which states: “In the beginning God created
the heaven and the earth.” (Gen 1:1)

by Genocide Watch
15 September 2011

Genocide Watch placed South Africa at stage 5 (polarization) from 2001 – 2011 because the country’s racial divisions continued, there was a high level of youth unemployment in the black population, and the country had an appalling crime rate, including one of the world’s worst rape rates against all groups in the country.  Genocide Watch has been particularly concerned for over ten years at the hate crimes perpetrated against Boer farmers and other whites — bodies of murder victims disemboweled and disfigured, old women raped in front of their husbands, and other strong evidence of racially targeted crimes.  However, we had no evidence that these crimes were being encouraged by the South African government or that they were organized by an organized hate group.

Now we have evidence of organized incitement to violence against white people.  It began with the rise of Julius Malema, President of the African National Congress Youth League, who began singing the old anti-Boer song: “Kill the Boer” at rallies of the Youth League, then called for expropriation of white owned lands while he was in Zimbabwe visiting Robert Mugabe, and has most recently called Botswana’s racially harmonious society “neo-colonial,” and has called for the overthrow of Botswana’s government.  Malema is a racist Marxist-Leninist.  The failure of the leadership of the ANC to discipline him and remove him from the Presidency of the ANC Youth League, and his recent reelection to the Presidency of the ANC Youth League (despite his age of 30), have led Genocide Watch to conclude that violence against whites is now being planned and incited by one of the most important leaders of the new South Africa.  Malema has considerable support among young black South Africans, and ANC leaders are afraid to discipline and remove him from his position.   Genocide Watch will keep South Africa at Stage 6 – Preparation, until Julius Malema is removed from his position of growing power.  South Africa has not yet reached actual genocide, which is Stage 7, but the preparations for it are ominous.  Xenophobic riots and murders of foreign refugees as well as continuing hate crimes against Boer farmers and other whites have caused dark storm clouds to form over the “rainbow nation.

2011-09-22 20:01

However, the rally drew fewer people than organisers hoped, with police saying only around 2 500 had gathered in Berlin’s Potsdamer Platz while the pope was delivering a speech at the Reichstag parliament building.

In the run-up to Benedict’s visit, organisers had spoken of a protest numbering as many as 20 000.

One demonstrator was dressed as a giant nun clutching a crucifix and a wooden stick with “never again” emblazoned across her robe, a reference to the high-profile abuse scandal that rocked the Church in Germany last year.

Another wielded a banner proclaiming: “Pope Go Home,” as he began his first state visit to his native Germany.

Other demonstrators were protesting against the pope’s ban on artificial contraception, with signs reading: “Free choice between Aids and condoms.”

Several dozen leftist deputies also boycotted the pontiff’s speech in parliament, amid concerns over the separation of Church and state.

Berlin’s large gay community was also out in force to protest what it says are Benedict’s outdated views on sexuality, some carrying banners saying, “Homophobia kills.”

Protests in Spain last month against the pope’s visit turned violent, with clashes between riot police and demonstrators. Thousands turned out to protest against the cost of the pope’s visit amid an economic crisis in the country.

Opposed by

Massachusetts Catholic Bishops Oppose “Death with Dignity” Initiative Petition

This is a basic human right the Roman Catholic Church is trying hard to deny any and all people who live in the state of Massachusetts. Typical of these evil monsters. It is laughable how they go about their business to prolong suffering by denying people the choice to end their lives with dignity. Whether you are Catholic or not, they want to deny everyone that basic human right. They have gotten away with this for way too long. I hope this ballot passes at the next elections. I bet they, the RCC, will spend millions on a campaign to “educate” voters into voting no. Bunch of evil hypocrites.

Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin at a press conference in Drumcondra, Dublin, yesterday.Photograph: Aidan Crawley

ANALYSIS: The Holy See reaction to the Irish report is marked by a failure to address core concerns, writes PATSY McGARRY

THE VATICAN’S response to the Cloyne report, as well as to comments by Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore and motions passed by Dáil and Seanad, would have us believe that the clerical child sex abuse scandals in Ireland are an Irish problem, where Rome’s only involvement has been in helping with a solution.

For this, it believes, it has received little or no acknowledgement in Ireland. For instance, Saturday’s response noted that nowhere in his Dáil speech of July 20th last did Kenny recognise any of its efforts to improve matters in this context, and that Pope Benedict’s Letter to the Catholics of Ireland in March last year didn’t even merit a mention in the Cloyne report.

What happened in Ireland was because of local factors, the response indicates – helpfully quoting from the pope’s letter of March last year to underline this.

There, addressing the Irish bishops directly, he said: “Some of you and your predecessors failed, at times grievously, to apply the long-established norms of canon law to the crime of child abuse.”

That may well be so, but it is not the entire picture.

Selectively choosing what it wished to address, the Vatican response ignored completely its own treatment of the Murphy commission. It was set up by this State, yet it did not merit an acknowledgement from the Vatican when in September 2006 it wrote to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith requesting information. Two further requests for information received no reply.

Nowhere in its response, which runs to 25 pages and almost 11,000 words, is any of this addressed by the Vatican. Rather it takes issue with certain findings of the Cloyne report which might have been clarified had it co-operated with the commission, whose remit was extended from the Dublin diocese to cover Cloyne in 2009. It can hardly complain if its non-cooperation backfired.

The response largely focused on the 1996 framework document on child protection, prepared for the Irish bishops, but shot down in a letter circulated to them by the Vatican in January 1997.

The response rejected, robustly, a finding of the Cloyne report that: “There can be no doubt that this letter greatly strengthened the position of those in the church in Ireland who did not approve of the framework document as it effectively cautioned them against its implementation.”

The letter pointed out how the then prefect of that congregation, Cardinal Darío Castrillón Hoyos, had, at a meeting in November 1998 with the Irish bishops at Rosses Point in Sligo, “unequivocally stated” that the church “should not in any way put an obstacle in the legitimate path of civil justice” when it came to issues of clerical child abuse.

Nowhere does it quote from that 1997 letter, which said that, where the Congregation for Clergy was concerned, a framework document direction on mandatory reporting “gives rise to serious reservations of both a moral and a canonical nature”.

The congregation also warned that procedures in the document appeared “contrary to canonical discipline”. It also referred to it as “merely a study document”.

This latter observation, it said at the weekend, was a reflection of the document’s standing among the Irish bishops. The weekend response also emphasised that none of this meant the framework document guidelines could not be implemented in Irish dioceses and that “each individual bishop was free to adopt it . . . provided these were not contrary to canon law”. The Vatican appears to be trying to have its cake and eat it, repeating what was said in the 1997 letter.

All of which is to ignore the frustration felt by the Irish bishops in dealing with Cardinal Hoyos over the abuse issue. In a comment to this newspaper last December, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin said that in the past “most of the Irish bishops felt that dealing with the Congregation for Clergy was disastrous”. It was understood he was referring to the period between 1996 and 2006, when Cardinal Hoyos was prefect at that congregation.

An Irish bishop confirmed, on condition of anonymity, that he made a note at the time of his receipt of that 1997 letter in which he described it as “a mandate to conceal the crimes of a priest”.

At the same Rosses Point meeting in 1998, the then archbishop of Dublin Desmond Connell thumped a table in frustration as Cardinal Hoyos insisted it was Vatican policy to defend the rights of an accused priest above all.

In 2001 Cardinal Hoyos wrote a letter to French bishop Pierre Pican praising him for not passing information about an abuser priest to police. Bishop Pican received a suspended sentence for failing to report the priest who was sentenced to 18 years for the repeated sexual assault of boys over 20 years, and the rape of one of them.

Cardinal Hoyos wrote to Bishop Pican: “I am pleased to have a colleague in the episcopate who, in the eyes of history and of all other bishops in the world, preferred prison to denouncing his son and priest.”

In the Murphy report chancellor of the Dublin archdiocese Msgr John Dolan is reported as having said that the 1997 letter “placed the [Irish] bishops in an invidious position”. It meant any priest against whom they took action “had a right of appeal to Rome and was most likely to succeed.”

None of this is addressed in Rome’s weekend response.