It’s as if they want me executed, says culture chief enduring hate campaign

The letters and emails come in a daily tide. “Filth!” they cry. “Shame on you”; “You are a very sick person”; “The soul that sinneth shall DIE”. For the past six months, the head of Glasgow’s museums and art has been under siege from Christian fundamentalists, who have vowed to oust her from her job.

Dr Bridget McConnell, head of Culture and Sport Glasgow (CSG), the £100 million charity in charge of the city’s culture, says she is alarmed by what she describes as a “personal witchhunt” against her.

“It is almost like being phsyically abused,” she said. “You get knocked down by it every day and you pick yourself up, but then you come in the next morning and it happens all over again. It’s attrition.”

Read more . . .

Rabbis hold prayers in besieged Gaza

Four rabbis held the Sabbath prayers in a hotel in Gaza city on Saturday evening to express solidarity with people stranded in the besieged Gaza Strip.

The four rabbis are members of Neturei Karta movement, a Jewish group that doesn't believe in Zionism and insists that Israel doesn't represent Jews.

"I understand the opinions of Palestinians towards Jews," Rabbi Yisrael David Weiss, an American citizen, told Xinhua, adding that "Judaism rejects Zionism and its approach."

It is important to realize that there are many Jews world wide who believe the State of Israel is an abomination.

Uganda Catholic Priests Form New Church

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) -- Twenty renegade Catholic priests who are either married or want to marry have broken from the mainstream Roman Catholic Church here and formed a new church where celibacy is not required, members said.

The Ugandan government said Thursday it was investigating the breakaway Catholic Apostolic National Church in Uganda and would ban it if found to be illegal. Vatican officials said the priests were now considered ''outside'' the Catholic Church and would likely be excommunicated.

The creation of the splinter church underscored the increasingly vexing problem of enforcing celibacy for Roman Catholic priests in Africa, which has the world's fastest-growing Catholic population but where there have been several cases of priests living openly with women and fathering children.

The Catholic Church really needs to take a serious look at its tradition of celibacy. There is very little Biblical support for, other than the misogynist Saul, and certainly Yeshua never said anything about it. It's no leap to attribute the forced celibacy of the priests to the perversions that are practiced by them.

Israel settlements: rabbis say soldiers' loyalty to God trumps army orders

In Israel, a standoff is escalating between the Israeli defense establishment and religious nationalists over the possible evacuation of Jewish settlements in the West Bank. On Thursday, a group of rabbis published a letter saying a soldiers' loyalty to the divine takes precedence over their commanders.
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The declaration was signed by dozens of teachers in government-affiliated religious seminaries – known as "hesder'' yeshivas – after Defense Minister Ehud Barak took the unprecedented step earlier this week of cutting ties with a hesder yeshiva because its dean, Rabbi Eliezer Melamed, openly advocates refusing of orders in case of an evacuation.

Read more at Christian Science Monitor.

Fort Hood attack unrelated to Islam, local Muslim leaders say

Just more evidence Muslim is the new "black" . . . one Muslim commits a crime and all Muslims are to blame. Even though many other soldiers have committed murder, their ethc/religious
Leaders of Metro Detroit's Muslim community gathered this morning to urge all Americans to view the Fort Hood shooting as a criminal act and unrelated to the faith of Islam.

"Islam opposes such actions as committed by Maj. (Nidal Malik) Hasan. The Qur'an considers human life sacred," Imam Steve Elturk of the Islamic Association of North America said Friday morning at a press conference called by the Council of Islamic Organizations of Michigan.

Army officials have said they believe Hasan acted alone when he jumped on a table with two handguns, shouted, "Allahu akbar," a common Arabic expression meaning "God is the greatest," and opened fire inside a building at Fort Hood, Texas.

Read more . . .

Ultra-Orthodox Jews target Intel over Sabbath work

And more conservative religionists attempting to force their will on a company . . .

Intel, the world's biggest chipmaker, has become the latest target of protests by Jerusalem's ultra-Orthodox community.

On Saturday, a day before the inauguration of Intel's new plant in an industrial area of west Jerusalem, hundreds of ultra-Orthodox Jews demonstrated against it operating on the Jewish Sabbath, which runs from Friday night to Saturday night.

The protesters, dressed in traditional black hats and long black coats, repeatedly chanted "Shabbes ", the Yiddish word for the Sabbath, and tried to break into the compound before being dispersed by police. Some of them also shoved and threw stones at journalists and attacked an ultra-Orthodox Jerusalem deputy mayor who arrived at the site, claiming he had not done enough to stop the plant's operation on the Jewish day of rest.

Read more at the BBC . . .

Who is Doris Rotolo?

She's a racist. I offer you her "petition" to force Muslims to leave the United States:

I am a Democrat, and I am in support of my President. That being said....I am as you are today very hurt, angry, and I want all Muslims out of my country. Having said that I doubt I will ever see that. However there should not be people serving in the Military who have a belief that we are to be killed by them and they will be rewarded.

There is no real way to identify a person who is a true American, but by country origin, and faith, and belief system of the people who embrace those philosophies. They must not be permitted to be in service to America ,because they do not serve the same ideas and honor life as we do...these people should not be accepted in the Armed forces.

I personally have the right to feel as I do be it Bigot , or whatever name you wish to call me....but I assure you I am a true American and as an American I am speaking my mind.

This is not a Bush or Obama problem, it is too easy to put it on the shoulders of one person. It is time that we as Americans stand together and sign one huge petition to be heard....set a precedent to let our Federal Government and all it's leaders know that we do not accept traitors or killers into our armed services.

That not as Democrats or Republicans , but as Citizens we are joined together and we do not want Muslims who do not share our beliefs about human life to serve in any capacity in our armed forces.

We do not reject people but we do reject a whole philosophy that permits, encourages, and approves of death as a means to promote a faith based idea that killing in some way is an honorable way to attain any entrance to any after death privilege.or honor. This is counter productive and does not serve the purpose of a military entity solely carried forth for the purpose of protecting life.

If you do agree , please use this or any of my words combined with yours to form a petition and circulate it in any way it can be done for the sole purpose of forbidding the entrance into any Armed Forces Branch to serve in the the United States of American Armed Forces or Federal Civil Services if of any Faith contrary to the Constitution of the United States of America, and all definitions of the laws of the Land known as The United States of America, all of its people and it's Government.

We the people propose that no sect, group, religion, or belief that accepts that to die in anyway, shape or form to promote an after death position in any faith is barred from entrance or service to this country alongside those who are not in agreement with the concepts afore mentioned.

I do not possess the computer skills...or legal ability to compose a document to suffice I am sure...... I don't know how to reach from here to where it needs to be.... I will however be the first to sign my name...and affiliation. I am willing to sign if presented to me as a true and honest document to be presented for edification and consideration by the President of the Untied States of America as a unique and personal and serious desire to be heard and acted upon in our behalf under a Constitution that professes a Government to and for the people of the United States of America. ....similar to but not limited to the election process that confirmed his or her Presidency.

We request as a unique and official request with respect of the lay people of America to be heard and acknowledged as part of the promise we would be all inclusive as a part of our Freedom to choose the administration of our counties Government, and all of it's entities, and not limited to this issue.

We wish to be heard as to wishes of the signed citizenry of this country.

Doris Rotolo Democrat

She has the temerity to say we shouldn't allow Muslims in the military because "You wouldn't have sex offender baby sit...or a robber guard the jewels."

That's right. The ignorant git actually is comparing millions of Americans to pedophiles and thieves based ONLY on their religion. Nevermind that all the worst murderers, baby rapers and immoral politicians in US history have been white Christian men. That the vast majority of violence committed by returning soldiers has been committed by white men but no one is saying the white Christians should be tossed out. No, but one Muslim man commits a crime, and suddenly an entire people should be ejected from our nation.

Let Ms. bottom feeder know what you think, email her at her publicly searchable email address. And join me in asking the President to find a new homeland for racists.

European court: No crucifixes in Italian schools

The Vatican on Tuesday denounced a ruling by the European court of human rights that said the display of crucifixes in Italian public schools violates religious and education freedoms.

In a decision that could force a review of the use of religious symbols in government-run schools across Europe, the court ordered Italy to pay a 5,000-euro ($7,390) fine to a mother in northern Italy who fought for eight years to have crucifixes removed from her children’s public school classrooms. The Italian government said it would appeal.

Read more . . .

This is good news.

Catholic pastors directed to distribute anti-health reform materials at mass

This past weekend the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops instructed pastors at parishes across the country to distribute material urging Catholics to oppose the health reform bills making their way through Congress for allowing public funding of abortions. Priests were to insert the Bishops Conference pdf leaflets and letters into parish news bulletins, distribute them at church doors or place them in pews. They were also directed to read a statement at mass to reinforce the message. Read more . . .

Clearly the RCC has forgotten that they are prohibited from doing this sort of thing. It's time to Tax the Churches!

Lawmakers cracking down on 'Lost Boys' issue

State lawmakers have passed a bill that appears to crack down on child abandonment in the fundamentalist communities of Hildale, Utah and Colorado City, Ariz.

It appears aimed at the phenomenon of the so-called "Lost Boys" — teens who have been ousted from the Fundamentalist LDS Church. HB23, sponsored by Rep. Lorie Fowlke, R-Orem, makes child abandonment a form of child abuse, and makes it a third-degree felony for anyone or any enterprise to encourage child abandonment.

"We're really focused on the organizations who force these parents to throw away their children in order to be able to to continue to remain part of the community," Fowlke told the Deseret Morning News on Thursday.

Read more . . .

The dark side of faith in Africa

The town of Yelwa sits squarely in the "middle belt" of Nigeria, an area where the Christian majority south and the Muslim majority north grind away at each other in spasms of religious violence that would make an inquisitor blush. An article in the current Atlantic Monthly "God's Country" by Eliza Griswold, recounts one of these episodes of religious violence.

There were bullet-ridden bodies strewn around. A church was set on fire by an arsonist's hand. Then the school and the nursery were set ablaze. Members of the congregation were shot by armed gunman. In all, 78 Christians were killed and placed in a mass grave. Fortunately, the pastor of the destroyed church survived but lost seven members of his family that day. This was the result of a coordinated attack on a Christian church by Muslims in the Nigerian town of Yelwa. A week later, Yelwa was surrounded by hundreds of armed men, some sporting tags identifying them as members of the Christian Association of Nigeria.

Read more at news source.

Contradiction in Arab cartoon views

Blatantly anti-Semitic literature is on sale in Cairo, just like many other Arab capitals. The BBC News website's Martin Patience reports on the apparent inconsistency in the Egyptian reaction to the Danish cartoons caricaturing the Prophet Muhammad. ^{[BBC News]}

This kind of hypocrisy seems to curse all three of the major Middle Eastern religions. It comes, I think, from their insistence that each is the only one that is right, the chosen ones. They each believe they have the TRUE God and making fun of THEIR God is blasphemy, but it's not blasphemy when they ridicule other folks' beliefs.

This is where the danger comes for a secular, multi-cultural society. We try, because we desire our own freedom, to allow others to do what they believe it right. But what do you do when another person believes that attempting, or even FORCING, you to convert to their belief system is "right".

The article goes on:

While he insists he believes in freedom of speech, he is furious about the cartoons caricaturing the Prophet Muhammad.

He argues that slandering any religion should be punishable.

But when it comes to selling the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, he says: "The book is about politics not about religion. I don't have a problem with books criticising politics."

So freedom of speech is only applicable when YOU are talking about other religions? Oh, yeah, call it "politics" but it's still religion and I feel sure the speaker understands that.

Honestly, the more I hear Muslims complain about not being treated as equals the more bemused I am. I want to say to them that being ridiculed is part of being equal.

Beauty queen rejected as pageant judge for being witch

Miss Toronto Tourism officials reject reigning Miss Canada Plus because she reads tarot cards

She might be a witch, but Stephanie Conover says that's no reason for officials at an upcoming Toronto beauty pageant to reject her as a potential judge.

Conover, who was crowned winner of the Miss Canada Plus Pageant last year, said she was recently invited to be a judge at the Miss Toronto Tourism pageant on Feb. 2.

"I said I'd definitely be there," Conover told the Star yesterday.

"Then, last week, on Monday, they asked me for a biography. I told them everything I do, how I'm an entertainer and a singer and a dancer. I talked about my charity work and I said I also have hobbies, including songwriting, knitting, painting, yoga, reiki and tarot cards."

That's where things got sticky.

"We just got her bio a week ago and we don't agree with it," said Karen Murray, Miss Toronto Tourism pageant director. "We want someone down to earth, not someone into the dark side or the occult."

Read more . . .

Teacher crosses line between church, state, say Irasburg parents

IRASBURG — Mel Downs doesn't object to academic discussions over the relative merits of varying religious philosophies.

But when his daughter came home from her public school with a handout titled "Why Jesus Is Better Than Santa Claus," the Irasburg father took offense.

"It isn't about my religion or me being biased in some way," Downs said. "It's about the separation of church and state that is supposed to exist in my daughter's classroom."

Downs' daughter attends seventh grade at Irasburg Village School. She received the "Jesus" handout just before Christmas vacation, and Downs says it reflects a pattern of religious-themed material being taught by Wally Rogers, his daughter's language arts teacher.

When Downs' daughter began the school year in September, he said, the Ten Commandments were mounted to the classroom wall, Christian books filled the classroom bookshelf, and a school-funded Web page, used by the teacher, included links to Christian Web sites.

Read more . . .

Muslims are flying into Mecca in their thousands for the Haj, but many followers in China have been grounded by bureaucratic hurdles and political obstacles.

In the streets of Khotan, where the aroma of roasting mutton kebabs and cardamom tea fill the bazaar, one young Muslim merchant was despairing. His parents made the pilgrimage several years ago – before officials introduced character checks on would-be pilgrims. He said: “Now the Government is afraid that when we go abroad we will say bad things about them. So they want to be careful who they allow.”

Read more . . .

Egypt Copt jailed 45 years after father's conversion

An Egyptian Christian woman has been jailed for three years because her father's brief conversion to Islam 45 years ago made her legally a Muslim while her official papers said she was Christian, her lawyer said Thursday.

Shadia Nagui Ibrahim, 47, was charged with fraud for stating Christianity as her religion on her marriage certificate, unaware that her father's conversion to Islam in 1962 had made her officially a Muslim, Michael Maurice told AFP.

Nagui Ibrahim left home in 1962 when daughter Shadia was two years old, converted to Islam and took on the Muslim name Mustafa.

Read more . . .

This is the sort of thing you could expect if the Christians have their way and convert the US to being a "Christian" country. Abuse, oppression, loss of liberty. SUPPORT SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE!

Warren Jeffs renounces leadership of FLDS

Polygamous sect leader Warren S. Jeffs renounced his role as prophet in January, telling family and select followers the Lord considered him a ''wicked man'' for immoral acts as a young man, according to a court document released Tuesday.

In a series of telephone calls, Jeffs said he had been immoral with a sister and a daughter and, since the age of 20, had not held the priesthood in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He made a similar statement a day later in a jailhouse visit with a brother.

Read more . . .

Words To Live By

The Radical Christian Right Is Built on Suburban Despair

By Chris Hedges, AlterNet. Posted January 19, 2007.

Millions of Americans live trapped in soulless exurbs which lack any kind of community, leaving them feeling isolated and vulnerable. Without alternatives for their social despair, they flock to demagogues promising revenge and a mythical utopia.

The engine that drives the radical Christian Right in the United States, the most dangerous mass movement in American history, is not religiosity, but despair. It is a movement built on the growing personal and economic despair of tens of millions of Americans, who watched helplessly as their communities were plunged into poverty by the flight of manufacturing jobs, their families and neighborhoods torn apart by neglect and indifference, and who eventually lost hope that America was a place where they had a future.

This despair crosses economic boundaries, of course, enveloping many in the middle class who live trapped in huge, soulless exurbs where, lacking any form of community rituals or centers, they also feel deeply isolated, vulnerable and lonely. Those in despair are the most easily manipulated by demagogues, who promise a fantastic utopia, whether it is a worker's paradise, fraternite-egalite-liberte, or the second coming of Jesus Christ. Those in despair search desperately for a solution, the warm embrace of a community to replace the one they lost, a sense of purpose and meaning in life, the assurance they are protected, loved and worthwhile.

read more . . .

Calls to pardon 'UK's last witch'

Helen Duncan was tried under the Witchcraft Act

The family of the last person in the UK to be prosecuted under the Witchcraft Act will mark the 50th anniversary of her death by calling for her pardon.

Medium Helen Duncan, who was born in Callander, Perthshire, was imprisoned using the law during World War II.

She was targeted by the government after revealing to a séance audience that a warship had sunk before the news had been released to the public.

Her grand-daughter is particularly angry at the accusations of treason.

Mary Martin, of Edinburgh, said Mrs Duncan had been accused of being a traitor.

Spiritualist churches

"When she first came back home after prison she was never the same.

"She always had a bit of a glow about her but she seemed to have lost that.

"Some people said it was treason. My grandmother had two sons and two son in laws in the forces ... and there is no way she would have given anybody information."

Mrs Duncan became one of the most famous mediums of her time, heading a network of spiritualist churches.

During the war she lived in Portsmouth, the home of the Royal Navy.

She has put us on the right side of the law by bringing in the 1952 act Mary Armour Medium

At a séance in 1943 it was claimed that the spirit of a sailor from the HMS Barham appeared.

The vessel was only officially declared lost several months later.

She was arrested in 1944 and sentenced to nine months in prison at the Old Bailey for crimes under the Witchcraft Act of 1735.

While in prison she was visited by Winston Churchill.

When he was re-elected in 1951 the Witchcraft Act was repealed and three years later spiritualism was officially recognised as a religion.

Campaigners to pardon Mrs Duncan have set up an online petition.

The campaign is backed by the British Society of Paranormal Studies.

Medium Mary Armour, who wrote her biography, said: "She has put us on the right side of the law by bringing in the 1952 act."