Kamis, 19 Februari 2009

Pernyataan Asosiasi Medis Katolik AS Tentang Obama dan Isu-isu Aborsi

FIAMC Statement on Obama and Life Issues

"Obama Promised to Be a Force for Positive Change"

ROME, FEB. 17, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Here is the statement released today by the World Federation of the Catholic Medical Associations about new threats to human life under the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama.

* * *

The election of Barak Obama as President of the United States marked an important watershed in American history and culture. Running for office in a time marked by economic and geo-political turmoil, Obama promised to be a force for positive change, political reconciliation and effective government. Unfortunately, President Obama has begun his term with actions that will undermine respect for human life, human dignity and religions freedom. We call upon Catholic physicians and health care providers, and all people of good will, to spare no effort in convincing President Obama to reverse these decisions.

During the 2008 campaign, some Catholics and self-identified Catholic advocacy groups endorsed Barak Obama for President based in part on his support for economic justice and foreign policy, and in part on his pledge to try to reduce the number of abortions by increased social spending on support for pregnant women. Yet as a legislator and as a candidate, Obama had taken positions utterly opposed to respect for human life. For example:

-- Obama has long been an advocate of abortion on demand, and has touted his 100% approval rating from Planned Parenthood, the largest provider of abortion in the United States;

-- Obama opposed every limitation on abortion, including laws requiring parental notification and consent before minors could obtain abortions;

-- Shockingly, as a state senator, Obama actively opposed any protections for infants born alive after failed abortion procedures and misrepresented his record on this issue during the 2008 campaign;

-- Finally, during the campaign, Obama proudly proclaimed his support for the “Freedom of Choice Act” (FOCA) -- the most radical expansion of abortion license in the world -- and promised to sign the law as President.

In addition to his unqualified support for abortion, Obama has promised to provide federal funding for stem-cell research that destroys human life at the embryonic stage.

Since taking office, President Obama has engaged in a series of actions that indicate that he is prepared to implement his prior support for abortion.

-- Within the first few days of taking office, Obama overturned the “Mexico City Policy,” a U.S. government policy that denies federal funding to international agencies that promote or perform abortion as a means of birth control;

-- More ominously, when overturning this policy, President Obama indicated his willingness to provide financial support to the United Nations Population Fund, an organization that lost U.S. government funding after it collaborated with the Chinese government’s coercive “one child” population policy.

-- President Obama is filling his Cabinet and Administration positions with supporters of abortion, including Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State (who has long been a proponent of abortion “rights” in the United States and around the world); Rahm Emanuel, White House Chief of Staff (who had a 100% voting record with the National Abortion Rights Action League as a member of Congress and a reputation as an aggressive pro-choice politician); Dawn Johnsen, nominee for Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Counsel (who was the Legal Director for NARAL and part of the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project); Eric Holder, Attorney General (who has been a longtime supporter of abortion “rights”); Melody Barnes, Chair of the Domestic Policy Council (who has been a member of the boards of directors for both Planned Parenthood and Emily's List); Ellen Moran, White House Director of Communications (who is the current executive director of Emily's List); and Thomas Perelli, nominee for Associate Attorney General (who collaborated with pro-euthanasia attorney George Felos to successfully starve Terri Shiavo to death).

-- While he has made no move to encourage the passage of FOCA, many are still concerned that the provisions of FOCA will be added piecemeal to other bills and legislative acts.

-- Finally, President Obama has declared his opposition to the new HHS rule that protects the conscience rights of health care providers. The rule was enacted in the last days of the Bush administration in response to many threats to the conscience rights of physicians, pharmacists and health care providers in the United States.

In light of these actions and appointments, we are issuing an urgent appeal to President Obama to reconsider his support for abortion and research that can succeed only by destroying innocent human life. In addition, we offer our prayers, encouragement and appeals to Catholic physicians in the United States to educate the public and to oppose these efforts to promote abortion. Finally, we appeal to all members of FIAMC to be vigilant in opposing the new threats to human life and dignity that could now come from the Obama administration officials in foreign policy positions and at the United Nations.


Senin, 09 Februari 2009

Patriak Bartholomeus I Mengharapkan Persatuan Dunia Orthodoks Bersama Patriak Kirill

Bartholomew I Foresees Orthodox Unity With Kirill

Proposes a Convocation of the Grand Synod

MOSCOW, FEB. 6, 2009 (Zenit.org).- The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, expressed hope that the election of Kirill as the new Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia will bring greater unity among the Orthodox Churches.

Bartholomew I made this known in his message to the new Russian patriarch on the occasion of his enthronement in Moscow on Feb. 1, reported L'Osservatore Romano today. He expressed the hope that this event will be a step forward toward the celebration of "The Great and Holy Synod" that gathers together all the Orthodox Churches.

The message was delivered to Patriarch Kirill by Archbishop Ireneus of Crete, head of the delegation of the ecumenical patriarch in Moscow.

It read, "The expectations of the Church of Constantinople are many and are focused above all on unity and good will, as well as the common path toward the organization and convocation of the Great Synod, which has been announced for some time."

The celebration of the Great Synod "should be accelerated in order to preserve the credibility of the Orthodox Church and the cooperation with the other Christian Churches when the theological discussions have finished," added the patriarch.

He affirmed that "the peaceful solution of bilateral divergences and other issues that have come up in time" also necessitates the unity between Orthodox Christians.

Furthermore, he added, Christians should face together "the socioeconomic problems which affect the contemporary world," as well as the “challenges of bioethics.”

Bartholomew I described Kirill as "an active and creative man" and "a man of proven ecclesial value, characterized by wisdom and by his contribution to the unity of Christians."

Rifts

The Russian Orthodox Church, according to tradition born in 988 with the conversion of Vladimir the Great, depended initially on the patriarch of Constantinople, until 1589. It is one of 14 Autocephalous Orthodox Churches, and the most numerous in members, including more than 80 million of the 200 million Orthodox believers in the world.

The patriarch of Moscow does not recognize the patriarch of Constantinople as "primus inter pares" [first among equals], a title traditionally attributed to him by other Orthodox Churches. This has given rise to historical disagreements and misunderstandings.

The last of these rifts took place in 1996 on the occasion of Estonia's independence. The Church of that country requested to enter the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, abandoning Moscow, and the Moscow Patriarchate does not recognize it.

This particular controversy led to the Russian Orthodox Church's withdrawal from the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Churches, in protest of the participation of Estonians in the meeting held in Ravenna, Italy, Oct. 8-14, 2007.

Patriak Bartholomeus I Mengharapkan Persatuan Dunia Orthodoks Bersama Patriak Kirill

Bartholomew I Foresees Orthodox Unity With Kirill

Proposes a Convocation of the Grand Synod

MOSCOW, FEB. 6, 2009 (Zenit.org).- The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, expressed hope that the election of Kirill as the new Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia will bring greater unity among the Orthodox Churches.

Bartholomew I made this known in his message to the new Russian patriarch on the occasion of his enthronement in Moscow on Feb. 1, reported L'Osservatore Romano today. He expressed the hope that this event will be a step forward toward the celebration of "The Great and Holy Synod" that gathers together all the Orthodox Churches.

The message was delivered to Patriarch Kirill by Archbishop Ireneus of Crete, head of the delegation of the ecumenical patriarch in Moscow.

It read, "The expectations of the Church of Constantinople are many and are focused above all on unity and good will, as well as the common path toward the organization and convocation of the Great Synod, which has been announced for some time."

The celebration of the Great Synod "should be accelerated in order to preserve the credibility of the Orthodox Church and the cooperation with the other Christian Churches when the theological discussions have finished," added the patriarch.

He affirmed that "the peaceful solution of bilateral divergences and other issues that have come up in time" also necessitates the unity between Orthodox Christians.

Furthermore, he added, Christians should face together "the socioeconomic problems which affect the contemporary world," as well as the “challenges of bioethics.”

Bartholomew I described Kirill as "an active and creative man" and "a man of proven ecclesial value, characterized by wisdom and by his contribution to the unity of Christians."

Rifts

The Russian Orthodox Church, according to tradition born in 988 with the conversion of Vladimir the Great, depended initially on the patriarch of Constantinople, until 1589. It is one of 14 Autocephalous Orthodox Churches, and the most numerous in members, including more than 80 million of the 200 million Orthodox believers in the world.

The patriarch of Moscow does not recognize the patriarch of Constantinople as "primus inter pares" [first among equals], a title traditionally attributed to him by other Orthodox Churches. This has given rise to historical disagreements and misunderstandings.

The last of these rifts took place in 1996 on the occasion of Estonia's independence. The Church of that country requested to enter the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, abandoning Moscow, and the Moscow Patriarchate does not recognize it.

This particular controversy led to the Russian Orthodox Church's withdrawal from the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Churches, in protest of the participation of Estonians in the meeting held in Ravenna, Italy, Oct. 8-14, 2007.

Senin, 02 Februari 2009

Patriarch Kirill Menjadi Pemimpin Gereja Orthodoks Rusia

Rabu, 28 Januari 2009 | 20:23 WIB

VATIKAN CITY, RABU — Paus Benediktus XVI memberi selamat atas terpilihnya Metropolitan Kirill sebagai pemimpin Gereja Ortodoks Rusia.

Dalam pesannya, Rabu (28/1), Paus mengaku mengikuti berita tentang pemilihan itu dengan senang hati. Dia berharap Kirill dapat melayani Gereja Ortodoks Rusia.

Kirill terpilih, Selasa (27/1), sebagai pengganti Patriaki Moskwa Alexy II, yang wafat pada Desember setelah memimpin gereja utama Rusia itu sejak 1990.

Kirill dipandang sebagai sosok modern yang bisa menjalin rekonsiliasi dengan Vatikan. Dia juga pernah bertemu Paus Benediktus pada Desember 2007.

Catt : Semoga Gereja bersatu sesuai dengan jeritan Hati Kudus Yesus ! Semoga beliau (Patriarch Kirill) tokoh yang menjadi jembatan persatuan Gereja dari Timur, suatu mata air rekonsiliasi diantara wali Gereja. God bless the East and West.

♥ HATIMU MUNGKIN HANCUR, NAMUN BEGITU JUGA HATIKU

 ♥ *HATIMU MUNGKIN HANCUR, NAMUN BEGITU JUGA HATIKU* sumber: https://ww3.tlig.org/en/messages/1202/ *Amanat Yesus 12 April 2020* Tuhan! Ini ...