craigslist | general community in belfast

Bishop Sick Of Local Church Scene (Seems like an eternity....)

2010-03-14T17:46:50+00:00

SACRAMENTO, CA�Bishop Robert K. Boland of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento announced Monday that, although he remains a devoted servant of God and the Catholic Church, he has become tired of the same old church scene.

"This diocese is okay, I guess," Boland told reporters gathered on the front steps of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. "It's just getting a little... tedious. I've got more than 100 parishes in my diocese, but at the end of the day, they're all pretty much the same."

"Don't get me wrong�I still care about everyone's eternal soul," Boland added. "I care deeply, but I must admit that the congregations have sorta become one big blur of blue-haired old ladies. Lately, when I get the question about whether so-and-so's cats are waiting for her in heaven, I just fall back on a stock answer."

Appointed his bishopric by Pope John Paul II in 2000, Boland said he's weary of both the parishioners and "the entire sacraments thing." "When you're a bishop, you church-hop constantly, performing the Eucharist throughout the diocese," said Boland, whose diocese covers 20 counties in northern California. "Like, I love to worship God in the joyous celebration of the Mass and sacraments, but the whole thing never really changes. At some point, I went from 'I can't believe I get to do this' to 'I'm going to be doing this for the rest of my life.'" Continued Boland: "Once in a while, there's an exciting shake-up in the diocese, like an excommunication or a priest who misuses funds�but hardly ever."

Boland said he used to bolster his interest in the Church by getting involved with the neediest parishes, but that ultimately backfired. "I was spending a lot of time at St. Joseph's over in Sutter Creek, because they have a big problem with the youth using crystal meth," Boland said. "But if I spend too much time at one church, the priests at the others accuse me of playing favorites. Next thing I know, [San Francisco] Archbishop [William J.] Levada is on my behind, asking why I haven't been to the St. Monica Parish for six months." Continued Boland: "St. Joseph's isn't even all that great, but I will say that their Friday fish fry beats the tar out of the usual potluck spread." Boland said he hasn't always been disengaged.

"At first, I was thrilled to be living out the dream I'd had since the seminary," Boland said. "I had boundless energy. Every pancake breakfast was a new adventure. Now, I can barely choke down those greasy sawdust links the ladies in the Parish Council of Catholic Women call sausages." Added Boland: "God, I'm in such a horrible rut."

According to Boland, even the magnificent, 1,400-seat Cathedral of The Blessed Sacrament has lost its luster. "Yeah, it's a beautiful church," Boland said. "Those ceilings are absolutely amazing. You can't believe how far your voice carries without a microphone. But, even so, Sunday morning has become business as usual. It's like, 'Oh boy, let's watch Mr. Harrison nod off during the homily for the 200th time.'"

Boland's request to be transferred to a different diocese was not granted.

"Sure, I mentioned it once, but it never happened," Boland said. "In my request, I may have been a little hazy. I said that I was sick of the same old sacristies. I said that maybe I should help the poor in New Mexico or South Africa or someplace. In truth, the thought of starting over is pretty daunting. I was almost relieved when they never responded."

"What I need to do is climb my way up to cardinal," Boland added. "That'd be my ticket out of this one-horse diocese." Boland said there's little chance he'll be promoted anytime soon. "Archbishop Levada isn't going anywhere," Boland said. "He's here until he dies, and he's not much older than me. It's too depressing to think about right now."

Boland said he hopes current events will serve to shake things up a bit. "I'm grateful for this recent controversy over gay marriage," Boland said. "It allows me to dabble in politics a little. I'm firmly in support of President Bush's constitutional amendment to ban same-gender unions, so I've been trying to stir up some healthy debate on the subject. Anything to do something new in this diocese."

Cardinal Roger Mahony said he was not surprised by Boland's attitude. "Bishop Boland is going through a temporary period of dissatisfaction, similar to those experienced by many of his colleagues," Mahony said. "As a cardinal, I'm forced to listen to that same complaint again and again

See Youtube video......Jessica Christ Illustrated. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKyQlZ22Eps

ballynamallaght (county tyrone)

2010-03-13T19:36:01+00:00

Anyone know anything about this little town ? I can find it on a map but that is all. Any info ? Thank you Jim McLaughlin

Brown defends Iraq war at Chilcot Inquiry

2010-03-08T11:08:21+00:00

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown appreared at the Chilcot Inquiry into the Iraq War on Friday and, as former Prime Minister Tony Blair had done a month before, defended to the hilt the US-led war against Iraq.

The Iraq inquiry was set-up last June with a very limited remit to �learn the lessons� of the invasion�specifically why it was that original plans for a �quick� and easy war failed so abjectly. Witnesses are not required to speak under oath and none of them are cross-examined as they would be in a court of law.

Far from being an independent body the inquiry members, chairman Sir John Chilcot, Sir Lawrence Freedman, Sir Martin Gilbert, Sir Roderic Lyne, and Baroness Usha Prashar were selected by Brown. None have any legal training or experience and they sit without taking legal advice. One of the committee, the historian Gilbert, even supported the invasion and in 2004 effusively praised two of the architects of the war�Blair and then US President George W. Bush.

Brown originally intended that the inquiry�s proceedings would take place in private. Only following a public outcry and criticism in sections of the media was this reversed, although some hearings may still be private.

Brown was called to testify as the chancellor in the Blair government at the time of the invasion. The media has long claimed that he had private misgivings about the war. Press commentary prior to his appearance had centred on to what extent Brown would seek to distance himself from Blair and a war which is increasingly viewed as a foreign policy disaster in ruling circles.

Most of the media have focused on claims by senior former military figures, that as chancellor, Brown had not provided the necessary funds for conducting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Much of these claims are part of an ongoing campaign by the Conservative Party designed to portray Brown as �betraying our boys� on the battlefield. On the day of Brown�s appearance General Lord Guthrie, the leader of the Armed Forces from 1997 to 2001 told the Daily Telegraph, �Not fully funding the Army in the way they had asked ... undoubtedly cost the lives of soldiers. He should be asked why he was so unsympathetic towards defence and so sympathetic to other departments.�

In his testimony Brown went out of his way to dismiss any suggestion that he was not fully supportive of the war. He stated that the invasion of Iraq was �the right decision for the right reasons�. He also praised the previous prime minister and the role he played in the lead up to the war saying, �everything that Mr Blair did during this period, he did properly�.

In a blatant display of hypocrisy Brown denounced Iraq as a �serial violator� of international law. Brown said it was impossible by the time of the invasion to persuade former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein �that he should abide by international law.� He described Iraq at the time as an �aggressor state� that had refused �to obey the laws of the international community.�

Referring to Security Council resolution 1441 of November 2002, he said that Iraq�s supposed hidden �weapons of mass destruction� �had to be disclosed�, and that �this did not happen�. On another occasion Brown stated that the Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein �did not disclose, far less dismantle any of his weapons� after resolution 1441 was passed.

All these claims turn reality on its head. The term �aggressor state� is a description not of Iraq but the United States, supported by its UK ally.

By March 2003 Iraq was a defenceless and poor country, devastated by years of economic sanctions. Iraq had no �weapons of mass destruction� and claims to the contrary were lies employed to justify the US leading a war of aggression, in total defiance of international law and the opposition of tens of millions of people in Britain and internationally. More than one million Iraqis, and nearly 4,600 US and UK soldiers, have been killed as a result.

As with previous Labour government ministers appearing before Chilcot, Brown presented a scenario in which the British government was desperately seeking to avoid war in order to reach a peaceful solution based on a �diplomatic solution�. Brown claimed, �Right up to the last minute, right up to the last weekend, I think many of us were hopeful that the diplomatic route would succeed�.

Such claims were undermined by his responses as to the legality of the war. Brown claimed that legal advice given by then Attorney General Lord Goldsmith had persuaded him the war was legal. Pressed on whether he would have still supported the war had he seen an earlier document from the attorney general questioning the legality of the war, Brown replied in the affirmative.

In confirming that he would have supported an invasion knowing it to be illegal, Brown underscored that the British Labour government was no passive bystander in the build-up to the war in Iraq but bears joint responsibility with the United States for the preparation and instigation of this heinous war crime.

Further confirmation of this was published in a report by the Independent three days before Brown gave his evidence. Commenting on a secret Foreign Office document drawn up in 2000 entitled, �Iraq: Future strategy�, the Independent said, �An invasion of Iraq was discussed within the Government more than two years before military action was taken�with Foreign Office mandarins warning that an invasion would be illegal, that it would claim �considerable casualties� and could lead to the breakdown of Iraq�. The document was commissioned by Sir William Patey, then head of Middle East policy at the Foreign Office.

It warns of the possible consequences of �regime overthrow�, stating, �Such a policy would command no useful international support. An overt attempt to be successful would require a massive military effort, probably including a land invasion: this would risk considerable casualties and, possibly, extreme last-ditch acts of deterrence or defiance by Saddam.�

Adressing the legality of such action, the document reads, �It would also be illegal. Covert attempts, on the other hand, seem very unlikely to succeed and run the risk of fragmenting Iraq, which runs clearly contrary to our wider interests in the region.�

The Independent obtained the report, in a redacted version, from the Foreign Office after an initial request under Freedom of Information Act had been refused. The report said the �Foreign Office eventually agreed to release a redacted version�with the views of the United States and other countries blacked out�after The Independent demanded an internal review�. One of the blacked out sections includes a substantial part of the paragraph dealing with �regime overthrow�.

Crucially, the document is one of those that the Chilcot inquiry has had access to but has refused to make public. Under the terms of the inquiry the Brown government has the power to veto the publication of classified documents. The final say on the publication of any documents is down to the Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Home Civil Service Sir Gus O�Donnell. O�Donnell�s close relationship to Brown goes back to 2002, when he was made Permanent Secretary at the Treasury, working alongside the then chancellor.

The compliance of the media in promulgating the Labour government�s presentation of Iraq as a �just war� was no more evident than in its coverage of Brown�s appearance. No other newspaper has even reported the document uncovered by the Independent, let alone subjected it to the necessary scrutiny.

Instead the media largely praised Brown for his performance. The only criticisms made were not for his political support of an illegal and criminal war but, yet again, for his alleged responsibility for a lack of funding for the armed forces. The Times cited the comments of Admiral Lord Boyce, the chief of the defence staff up 2003. Boyce told the Times that the Ministry of Defence had been �starved of funds�, and �It�s just not the case that the Ministry of Defence was given everything it needed.�

The Guardian said in its editorial that �his claim to have been a supportive chancellor to the services is borne out neither by the sums nor by the military�s experience�.

.....

See Also; Workers Hammer - Forge a multiethnic revolutionary workers party! http://www.icl-fi.org/english/wh/207/Protectionism.html

AudiogoN, Audio Karma, and Audio Asylum get their butts kicked.

2010-03-05T19:22:51+00:00

Etiam nisi sem sit adipiscing sapien Pellentesque quis Proin rutrum malesuada condimentum

Please come and check us out. We're an online community for music lovers and audiophiles. We're not a bulletin board or forum, we're a group of people who are passionate about listening to and chatting about music. So we made a website where we can start and contribute to discussions, make friends, join groups, arrange music nights, upload photos and videos, and just have a good old time.

felis eu scelerisque adipiscing hac platea laoreet velit mi mauris quis magna in Quisque tempor tempus lorem

If you're into this kind of thing, please come and join us. Membership is free! We're looking forward to your take on things. Maybe we'll learn something from you. Maybe you'll learn something from us.

pellentesque dolor rutrum tempor iaculis Suspendisse ac posuere rutrum massa cursus tempus posuere odio sem feugiat Vivamus id sed nisl lectus Cras

http://audioevo.org

iae-aeim

relatives in Kilmore (Kilmore Crossgar)

2010-03-02T19:51:22+00:00

Looking for anyone from Kilmore. Looking up relatives of my wife and her twin sister born in 1949 and moved to America. Anyone who may know the Robinson family.