An nescis, mi fili, quantilla prudentia mundus regatur.
- Axel Oxenstierna (1583-1654)
as quoted by Andreas Elfving
as quoted by Andreas Elfving
Translation:
If you only knew, my son, with how little wisdom the world is ruled.
"No homosexuals in the Sudan" - oh, really?
Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul Yak, primate of the Episcopal Church of the Sudan and bishop of Juba, said at the Lambeth conference on July 22, 2008, that there are no homosexuals in the Sudan. "They have not come to the surface. We don’t have them." The Anglican Journal (of Canada) reported this.
Is the archbishop being obtuse, is he stupid, or is he deliberately twisting things, I wonder? If I were gay and Sudanese (like the blogger, Ali), I would not come "to the surface" or "out of the closet" either - it would simply not be healthy!
Is the archbishop being obtuse, is he stupid, or is he deliberately twisting things, I wonder? If I were gay and Sudanese (like the blogger, Ali), I would not come "to the surface" or "out of the closet" either - it would simply not be healthy!
Theologian vs. church leader?
The Archbishop of Canterbury ("ABC"), the Most Rev. Dr. Rowan Williams, presided at the Lambeth conference this summer. He made it clear that gay inclusiveness was to be regarded as a kind of splinter movement and that the (mainly North American) church provinces that engaged in gay marriages and the like were to cease doing so, in order to preserve the unity of the Anglican communion. The African and South American provinces that are actively creating parallel structures in North America were also to subside. Neither group has reacted favorably to his request. When Williams was elected ABC five years ago, he was Archbishop of Wales, and known as a fairly liberal theologian. Today's the Times published an article, Rowan Williams: gay relationships 'comparable to marriage', by its Religion Correspondent, Ruth Gledhill, where she quotes some private correspondance shown to her by Williams. In an exchange of letters with an evangelical Christian, written some eight years ago when he was Archbishop of Wales, he described his belief that biblical passages criticising homosexual sex were not aimed at people who were gay by nature. The letters, written in the autumn of 2000 and 2001, were exchanged with Dr. Deborah Pitt, a psychiatrist and evangelical Christian living in his former archdiocese in South Wales, who had written challenging him on the issue. [Update: Another article by Gledhill, New light on Archbishop of Canterbury's view on homosexuality, was published later the same day.]
Williams told Pitt that by the end of the 1980s he had "definitely come to the conclusion" that the Bible did not denounce faithful relationships between people who happened to be gay. In his 1989 essay The Body’s Grace, Dr Williams argued that the Church’s acceptance of contraception meant that it acknowledged the validity of nonprocreative sex. This could be taken as a green light for gay sex. That is all well and good. Liberals have, however, been bitterly disappointed that a man whom they regarded as chosen to advance their agenda has instead abided by the traditionalist consensus of the majority.
In a recent interview, the Archbishop said: "When I teach as a bishop I teach what the Church teaches. In controverted areas it is my responsibility to teach what the Church has said and why."
I wonder. His statement seems to mean, as one commentator put it: "If I’m asked for my views, as a church leader rather than a theologian, I have to be dishonest."
As a pastor, I have the same responsibility regarding Church teachings as the ABC, although not the same visibility or influence. My view is that I will teach "mainstream" Christianity as long as it does not clash with my own considered opinions. I will not lightly deviate from Church dogma. If I find myself in opposition to the dogma, however, I have a responsibility to follow my conscience and be true to what God has revealed to me, be it through the Bible, through tradition, through my intellect or through my conscience.
Then, of course, I'll have to bear the consequences of my stance - if my church finds that I deviate too much, it will discipline me in some way, I suppose. So far, it has refrained from doing so; instead, I have been exonerated by the Diocesan Chapter of Porvoo.
Williams told Pitt that by the end of the 1980s he had "definitely come to the conclusion" that the Bible did not denounce faithful relationships between people who happened to be gay. In his 1989 essay The Body’s Grace, Dr Williams argued that the Church’s acceptance of contraception meant that it acknowledged the validity of nonprocreative sex. This could be taken as a green light for gay sex. That is all well and good. Liberals have, however, been bitterly disappointed that a man whom they regarded as chosen to advance their agenda has instead abided by the traditionalist consensus of the majority.
In a recent interview, the Archbishop said: "When I teach as a bishop I teach what the Church teaches. In controverted areas it is my responsibility to teach what the Church has said and why."
I wonder. His statement seems to mean, as one commentator put it: "If I’m asked for my views, as a church leader rather than a theologian, I have to be dishonest."
As a pastor, I have the same responsibility regarding Church teachings as the ABC, although not the same visibility or influence. My view is that I will teach "mainstream" Christianity as long as it does not clash with my own considered opinions. I will not lightly deviate from Church dogma. If I find myself in opposition to the dogma, however, I have a responsibility to follow my conscience and be true to what God has revealed to me, be it through the Bible, through tradition, through my intellect or through my conscience.
Then, of course, I'll have to bear the consequences of my stance - if my church finds that I deviate too much, it will discipline me in some way, I suppose. So far, it has refrained from doing so; instead, I have been exonerated by the Diocesan Chapter of Porvoo.
Different kinds of exclusion
... at the end of the day, there is an ontological difference between feeling excluded because you're disagreed with and being excluded because of who you are. Brother and sister Anglican walking away from the table because they've been disagreed with is a painful thing. The church walking away from the gay and lesbian baptised is a sinful thing.
Does this count as 'gay bashing'?
On July 27, 2008, Jim D. Adkisson, 58, opened fire in a church in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA. He was unemployed and strongly influenced by some right-wing talk show hosts, so he blamed his problems on the "liberals". His wife had left him; since she at some point had attended the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, and since it can be branded as "liberal", it became a focus point for his frustration and anger, and so he chose it as the venue for his act of desperation.
Adkisson was motivated by hatred of liberalism and by extension homosexuality. The church is liberal and gay-friendly, and this was one reason why it was chosen. No homosexual was killed, but this was a hate crime, none the less. I only wonder whether it qualifies as a gay bashing. During Europride in Stockholm, Sweden, a number of gay bashings took place. One hate crime targeted churches - luckily much less seriously than the events in Knoxville. The church buildings of Högalid parish and two other parishes in Stockholm were covered with flyers. The flyers, posted by a group calling itself "orthodox Christians", were taped to the exterior walls of the churches and strewn on the ground with rocks to hold them in place. One flyer, containing 95 theses, was nailed to the church door, mimicking the 95 theses Luther nailed to the church door in Wittenberg, thus starting the Reformation. The theses in Stockholm were of far poorer quality, though...
This is, of course, not the most aggressive act imaginable. However, in combination with the Knoxville shooting and other similar incidents lately, it is clear that it is not only gay people that are targeted by homophobic so-called "Christians", but anybody who is making an effort to spread God's love to those who are considered "unworthy". Witness the processes against myself and other pastors within the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, who have dared to speak out for gay rights - and the threats (including death threats) that we have recieved!
Unitarian Universalism is a religion that, while it has Christian roots, no longer can be said to be Christian (in a theological sense), but has a creedless, non-dogmatic approach to spirituality and faith development. "Unitarians" believe God to be a single entity, as opposed to the Trinity of the Christians; "Universalism" implies that everyone will be saved in the end, i.e. there is no concept of Hell or eternal damnation.Adkisson killed two and wounded seven of those gathered for the church service, before he was wrestled to the ground. One of the two stood deliberately (heroically!) in front of the shotgun, trying to protect the rest of the congregation.
Just as many other non-Christians (and even some Christians, believe it or not!), the "UU's" are well worth our respect for their strong engagement in questions of social justice, working for the benefit of those who have least, those on the fringe of society. This has often meant activism in political causes, notably the civil rights movement, the gay rights movement, the social justice movement, and the feminist movement. In the 19th century, Unitarians and Universalists were active in abolitionism, the women's movement, the temperance movement and other social reform movements. The first six (!) presidents of the USA (Washington, J. Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, and J.Q. Adams) were what today would be called "UU's".
Some European news reports claimed that the Knoxville shooting took place in a Presbyterian church, but that is clearly a misunderstanding, probably based on the fact that there are very few "UU's" on this side of the Atlantic.
Adkisson was motivated by hatred of liberalism and by extension homosexuality. The church is liberal and gay-friendly, and this was one reason why it was chosen. No homosexual was killed, but this was a hate crime, none the less. I only wonder whether it qualifies as a gay bashing. During Europride in Stockholm, Sweden, a number of gay bashings took place. One hate crime targeted churches - luckily much less seriously than the events in Knoxville. The church buildings of Högalid parish and two other parishes in Stockholm were covered with flyers. The flyers, posted by a group calling itself "orthodox Christians", were taped to the exterior walls of the churches and strewn on the ground with rocks to hold them in place. One flyer, containing 95 theses, was nailed to the church door, mimicking the 95 theses Luther nailed to the church door in Wittenberg, thus starting the Reformation. The theses in Stockholm were of far poorer quality, though...
This is, of course, not the most aggressive act imaginable. However, in combination with the Knoxville shooting and other similar incidents lately, it is clear that it is not only gay people that are targeted by homophobic so-called "Christians", but anybody who is making an effort to spread God's love to those who are considered "unworthy". Witness the processes against myself and other pastors within the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, who have dared to speak out for gay rights - and the threats (including death threats) that we have recieved!
Knoxville, Tennessee:
2008 Knoxville Unitarian Universalist church shooting (Wikipedia)
Kyrkobesökare öppnade eld (Dagen 27.7.08)
Två döda i skottdrama i kyrka (Dagen 28.7.08)
Gunman Kills 2, Wounds 7 At Gay Welcoming Church (AP through 365gay 28.7.08)
Accused church shooter threatened to kill wife, himself (Knoxville News Sentinel 28.7.08)
Bill O'Reilly, Michael Savage, Sean Hannity on accused shooter's reading list (Knoxville News Sentinel 28.7.08)
Two killed in gun attack on US church supportive of gay rights (PinkNews 28.7.08)
Shooter hated church's pro-gay, liberal views (AP through Advocate News 28.7.08)
Knoxville Shooter Hated "Blacks, Gays, Anyone Different" (Box Turtle Bulletin 28.7.08)
Knoxville update (Of course, I could be wrong... 28.7.08)
Police: Man Shot Churchgoers Over Liberal Views (AP through 365gay 28.7.08)
3 Wounded In Shootings At Gay-Friendly Church Improving (AP through 365gay 29.7.08)
Kyrkan som attackerades var öppet gayvänlig (Antigayretorik 29.7.08)
Hate for Liberals and Gay People Drove Gunman, Police Say (New York Times 29.7.08)
Madpriest's thought for the day after Knoxville (Of course, I could be wrong... 29.7.08)
The word on the streets (Of course, I could be wrong... 29.7.08)
Sköt ner två i USA - kyrkan var för liberal (Dagen 27.7.08)
Suspect's note cites 'liberal movement' for church attack(Knoxville News Sentinel 29.7.08)
Tenn. church shooting victims recovering (AP through Advocate News 29.7.08)
Tennessee UU Church Gunman Motivated by Hate; Shooting Leaves Trans Teen Fatherless (365gay 29.7.08)
"A Whole Lotta Ugly" in Church Shooting (Washington Post 29.7.08)
Högalid, Stockholm:
Churches vandalized for Europride involvement (The Local 30.7.08)
"Ortodoxa kristna" vandaliserade kyrka (Dagen 30.7.08)
Protest mot Högalids församlings prideengagemang (Kyrkans Tidning 30.7.08)
"Orthodox Christians" target EuroPride churches (PinkNews 30.7.08)
Terrorists - our Archbishop feels your pain (Of course, I could be wrong... 31.7.08)
Luther on music
Beautiful music is the art of the prophets that can calm the agitations of the soul; it is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents God has given us.
- Martin Luther
Charity and wisdom
Where there is charity and wisdom, there is neither fear nor ignorance.
- St. Francis of Assisi
The abyss
No abyss of evil can hide from [Jesus] through whom the world is reconciled with God. But the abyss of God's love encompasses even the most abysmal godlessness of the world.
"Christian" Nigeria letter
A form of spam that's been floating around for some years is the so-called Nigeria letters. They are, of course, a kind of con, trying to get greedy people to pay out a medium amount of money in order to get a great amount of money. Usually, the story is that some millions are just sitting in a bank account in Nigeria or some similar country, but the sender of the letter lacks the funds for the necessary stamp tax or bribes or whatever to get at it - please send the money and I'll split the loot with you!
Yeah, right!
Most people on the Internet are aware of this kind of confidence trick, but apparently it sometimes works, since the letters keep coming. And why wouldn't it work? "A fool and his money are soon parted" - and there are plenty of fools around. Since the brighter fools usually aren't all that interested in divulging their folly, relatively few cases are reported to the police... I recieved a new version of Nigeria letter last week. To me, it was particularly heinous, since it was coated in Christian terminology and reeked of Christian faith - but since the letter was sent with a criminal intent, it was more or less blasphemous!
But judge for yourself. I enclose the (slightly censored) letter; its bad English naturally makes it all the more believable. Also note that the letter does not ask for money; that will surely come later...
I've been conned like this before, but on a much smaller scale ("Hello, Pastor! Would you pray for me, please - oh, and I could use a fiver!") but this lays it on so thick that I'm afraid someone with a good heart will fall for it! Please don't!
Yeah, right!
Most people on the Internet are aware of this kind of confidence trick, but apparently it sometimes works, since the letters keep coming. And why wouldn't it work? "A fool and his money are soon parted" - and there are plenty of fools around. Since the brighter fools usually aren't all that interested in divulging their folly, relatively few cases are reported to the police... I recieved a new version of Nigeria letter last week. To me, it was particularly heinous, since it was coated in Christian terminology and reeked of Christian faith - but since the letter was sent with a criminal intent, it was more or less blasphemous!
But judge for yourself. I enclose the (slightly censored) letter; its bad English naturally makes it all the more believable. Also note that the letter does not ask for money; that will surely come later...
From Mrs N.N.Arrggh!
[Street address]
Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire
ATTN: DEAREST ONE OF GOD
I am the above named person from Kuwait. I am married to Mr N.N., who worked with Kuwait embassy in Ivory Coast for nine years before he died in the year 2004. We were married for eleven years without a child. He died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days.
Before his death we were both born again Christian. Since his death I decided not to remarry or get a child outside my matrimonial home which the Bible is against. When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of $2. 5 Million (Two Million Five Hundred U.S. Dollars) in the bank here in Abidjan in suspense account.
Presently, the fund is still with the bank. Recently, my Doctor told me that i have serious sickness which is cancer problem. The one that disturbs me most is my stroke sickness. Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to a church or individual that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct herein. I want a church that will use this fund for orphanages, widows, propagating the word of God and to endeavour that the house of God is maintained.
The Bible made us to understand that blessed is the hand that giveth. I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this money and my husband relatives are not Christians and I don't want my husband's efforts to be used by unbelievers. I don't want a situation where this money will be used in an ungodly way. This is why I am taking this decision. I am not afraid of death hence i know where I am going. I know that I am going to be in the bosom of the Lord. Exodus 14 VS 14 says that the Lord will fight my case and I shall hold my peace.
I don't need any telephone communication in this regard because of my health hence the presence of my husband's relatives is around me always I don't want them to know about this development. With God all things are possible. As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the bank here in Abidjan. I want you and the church to always pray for me because the Lord is my shepherd. My happiness is that I lived a life of a worthy Christian. Whoever that wants to serve the Lord must serve him in spirit and Truth. Please always be prayerful all through your life.
Contact me on the above e-mail address for more information, any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing another church or individual for this same purpose. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I Stated herein. Hoping to receive your reply.
Remain blessed in the Lord.
Yours in Christ,
Mrs N.N.
I've been conned like this before, but on a much smaller scale ("Hello, Pastor! Would you pray for me, please - oh, and I could use a fiver!") but this lays it on so thick that I'm afraid someone with a good heart will fall for it! Please don't!
Schoolboy Howlers 2
John Milton wrote Paradise Lost. Then his wife died and he wrote Paradise Regained.
What shalt thou do?
What shalt thou do? ... Do good. Do all the good thou canst. Let thy plenty supply thy neighbour’s wants; and thou wilt never want something to do. Canst thou find none that need the necessaries of life, that are pinched with cold or hunger; none that have not raiment to put on, or a place where to lay their head; none that are wasted with pining sickness; none that are languishing in prison? If you duly considered our Lord’s words, "The poor have you always with you," you would no more ask, "What shall I do?"
Tutu does it again!
Archbishop Desmond Tutu is a person I have the utmost respect for. He has been stalwart in battling for human rights and human dignity, first during the apartheid regime of South Africa, and now during the homophobic regime of the leaders of the Anglican church. For the first, he received the Nobel Peace Prize, and for the second, he also recieved a prize last spring.
A report states:
A report states:
The former Archbishop of Cape Town and Nobel Prize Laureate Desmond Tutu is to be honoured by the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission. [...]When he accepted the award in April,
He will [...] accept the OUTSPOKEN Award "in honour of the unprecedented impact of his leadership as a human rights advocate."
In November 2007 Archbishop Tutu told the BBC that if he believed that God was homophobic, he wouldn't be a Christian. The Nobel Peace Prize winner said he was ashamed of his church because of its treatment of gays. [...]
"Our world is facing problems, poverty, HIV and AIDS, a devastating pandemic, and conflict," Tutu said. "God must be weeping looking at some of the atrocities that we commit against one another.
"In the face of all of that, our Church, especially the Anglican Church, at this time is almost obsessed with questions of human sexuality."
[...] "If God as they say is homophobic I wouldn't worship that God."
"It is a perversion if you say to me that a person chooses to be homosexual.
"You must be crazy to choose a way of life that exposes you to a kind of hatred. It's like saying you choose to be black in a race infected society."
In December he apologised to gay people all around the world for the way they have been treated by the Church.
Archbishop Tutu said that for his part it was impossible to keep quiet "when people were frequently hounded ... vilified, molested and even killed as targets of homophobia ... for something they did not choose - their sexual orientation."
Archbishop Tutu has vocally challenged discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. In a 2004 article in The Times of London, he condemned persecution on the basis of sexual orientation, comparing it to apartheid.Amen to that! Thank you, Archbishop!
"We struggled against apartheid in South Africa, supported by people the world over, because black people were being blamed and made to suffer for something we could do nothing about - our very skins," he wrote. "It is the same with sexual orientation. It is a given. I could not have fought against the discrimination of apartheid and not also fight against the discrimination that homosexuals endure, even in our churches and faith groups."
Tutu calls on Ugandans to protect LGBT community (PinkNews 27.2.08)
Tutu to accept award from LGBT rights group (PinkNews 29.2.08)
Tutu Speaks Out On Gay Civil Rights (365gay 9.4.08)
Tutu inspires gay audience in San Francisco (PinkNews 10.4.08)
Sure sign of intelligence
Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us.
- Calvin (from Calvin and Hobbes)
"Behead all gays," says Gambian president
The Gambia is the smallest country on the African continental mainland and is bordered to the north, east, and south by Senegal, and has a small coast on the Atlantic Ocean in the west. The country, with an area of 10,380 sq.km. and a population of 1,7 million, is ruled by president Yahya Jammeh (born in 1965). He took power in a bloodless coup in 1994 and was elected president two years later.
The president likes to be portrayed as a devout Moslem, and has done some interesting stunts to prove his spiritual worth. The most dangerous of these are his alleged healing of people with AIDS and his recent threat to behead any homosexuals that hadn't left the country within 24 hours.
To my knowledge, his threat hasn't been fulfilled - yet - but it can't have any positive impact on the human rights situation in his country or in Africa in general. Moreover, if he goes ahead with his homophobic plans, the Gambia's economy will suffer, with a decline in foreign aid, in trade, and in tourism. Two Spanish tourists have already been arrested.
But that hasn't stopped madmen before. What remains to be seen is whether president Jammeh is one or not.
The president likes to be portrayed as a devout Moslem, and has done some interesting stunts to prove his spiritual worth. The most dangerous of these are his alleged healing of people with AIDS and his recent threat to behead any homosexuals that hadn't left the country within 24 hours.
To my knowledge, his threat hasn't been fulfilled - yet - but it can't have any positive impact on the human rights situation in his country or in Africa in general. Moreover, if he goes ahead with his homophobic plans, the Gambia's economy will suffer, with a decline in foreign aid, in trade, and in tourism. Two Spanish tourists have already been arrested.
But that hasn't stopped madmen before. What remains to be seen is whether president Jammeh is one or not.
Sources:
President plans to kill off every single homosexual (Afrik.com 19.5.08)
President Jammeh Gives Ultimatum for Homosexuals to Leave (Gambia News 19.5.08)
Doom awaits gays in Gambia (Gambia News 21.5.08)
Gambias president tar bladet från munnen (Antigayretorik 21.5.08)
Gambias president hotar döda landets homosexuella (Dagen 22.5.08)
Gambia gay death threat condemned (BBC News 23.5.08)
Two Spanish caught in the Gambia after President called for the death of Homosexuals (Afrik.com 2.6.08)
Two Alleged Homosexuals Arrested (Gambia News 2.6.08)
Update 5.6.08: The Spanish tourists have been released, Advocate News reports.
Protesting injustice
There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.
- Elie Wiesel
Good Methodist news and bad
Ecumenical News International (ENI) reported on May 1st:
This is bad news, as far as gay Christians are concerned. They still won't have full and equal rights within the Methodist church - or in the Lutheran church for that matter - which I think is sad. But given time, perhaps...
The United Methodist Church, meeting for its once-every-four-years church-wide gathering has approved an agreement with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America for full communion between the two U.S.-based denominations. At the same meeting in Fort Worth, Texas, the 12-million-member United Methodist General Conference, its main governing body meeting from 23 April to 2 May, turned down efforts to change denominational rules on homosexuality.This is good news, in that the two churches are coming together. The same process is underway here in Finland, too, and I welcome that.
This is bad news, as far as gay Christians are concerned. They still won't have full and equal rights within the Methodist church - or in the Lutheran church for that matter - which I think is sad. But given time, perhaps...
More news:
United Methodist Church Adopts Full Communion Proposal with ELCA (ELCA News Service 30.4.08 - more links there)
"Diskussionerna gick över gränsen" (Dagen 9.5.08)
The biggest fool
The only fool bigger than the person who knows it all is the person who argues with him.
- Stanislaw Jerszy Lec
Bonhoeffer on a moral society
The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world that it leaves to its children.
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer
as quoted on the Rainforest Site
as quoted on the Rainforest Site
Luther's tree
If Christ were coming again tomorrow, I would plant a tree today.
- Martin Luther
as quoted on God's Politics
as quoted on God's Politics
Honesty gets you through customs
A distinguished young woman on a flight from Switzerland asked the priest beside her, "Father, may I ask a favor?"
"Of course. What may I do for you?"
"Well, I bought an expensive electronic hair remover that is well over the Customs limits and I'm afraid they'll confiscate it. Is there any way you could carry it through Customs for me? Under your robes perhaps?"
"I would love to help you, dear, but I must warn you: I will not lie."
"With your honest face, Father, no one will question you." When they got to Customs, she let the priest go ahead of her. The official asked, "Father, do you have anything to declare?"
"From the top of my head down to my waist, I have nothing to declare."
The official thought this answer strange, so he asked, "And what do you have to declare from your waist to the floor?"
"I have a marvelous little instrument designed to be used on a woman, but which is, to date, unused."
Roaring with laughter, the official said, "Go ahead, Father. ... Next!"
"Of course. What may I do for you?"
"Well, I bought an expensive electronic hair remover that is well over the Customs limits and I'm afraid they'll confiscate it. Is there any way you could carry it through Customs for me? Under your robes perhaps?"
"I would love to help you, dear, but I must warn you: I will not lie."
"With your honest face, Father, no one will question you." When they got to Customs, she let the priest go ahead of her. The official asked, "Father, do you have anything to declare?"
"From the top of my head down to my waist, I have nothing to declare."
The official thought this answer strange, so he asked, "And what do you have to declare from your waist to the floor?"
"I have a marvelous little instrument designed to be used on a woman, but which is, to date, unused."
Roaring with laughter, the official said, "Go ahead, Father. ... Next!"
Thanks to MadPriest.
A reason for everything?
Hate has a reason for everything. Love is unreasonable.
- V. Raiuhes Ahaefvthe
Living in harmony
He who lives in harmony with himself lives in harmony with the universe.
- Marcus Aurelius
St. Francis on preaching
Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.
- St. Francis of Assisi
St. Francis on exclusion
If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men.
- St. Francis of Assisi
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