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On Friday, Italian media sources reported that Francisco Bergoglio, the Pope of Rome, urged Vatican representatives to turn away from the bourgeois way of life to avoid looking foolish, saying, “There’s always a risk in embracing a bourgeois state of mind and lifestyle, which leads to slackness, to a cosy and passive life. When we embrace such a state of mind, it makes us foolish. Perhaps, some might flatter us, but watch out for those who praise us to our faces and criticise us behind our backs”. The media noted that the Pope, for the first time during his reign, gathered papal representatives from around the world, reminding them, once again, of their role in the appointment of local bishops. He said, “Make sure that the candidates are close to the people, that they’re humble, patient, and compassionate. Make sure that they believe in poverty and lead a simple and austere life”.
21 June 2013
Interfax-Religion
http://interfax-religion.ru/?act=news&div=51656
Editor’s Note:
The above isn’t good news for the First Things and Acton Institute crowds (Timothy Dolan should take note as well). You see, they want to ally the Catholic Church with the American rightwing and its love of money and its global hegemonic vision. For Orthodox people, it means that Hannes Jacobses must cut all ties with the Acton Institute, as it spits on Pope Francisco’s teaching, by embracing and defending the bourgeois way of life. However, do note that the konvertsy won’t do such… their political notions are more important to them than Christ and His Church are. It doesn’t matter what the Fathers say… it doesn’t matter what our REAL leaders say (poseurs such as Fathausen and Potapov don’t count)… it only matters to them what the Republican Party says.
Bear in mind that both HH and Pope Francisco oppose the “Me First” crapitalist system and have said so explicitly. That means that all Orthodox clergy and laity attempting to ally the Church with godless rightwing forces aren’t only mistaken, they’re in league with evil, full stop. Mind you, most are unaware that they’ve taken Satan’s shilling (the Potapovs, Drehers, Paffhausens, and Berzanskys are rare, thank God). Is Hannes Jacobses a dupe, or, is he a fully aware rebel? God alone knows… until it’s clearer, we should give him the benefit of the doubt. However, that means that we should watch him even more carefully… that’s the only way to find the underlying cause of it.
For now, simply don’t attend to anything issuing forth from Potapov, Paffhausen, Reardon, Whiteford, Freeman, or Dreher… they’re all soldiers in the wrong cause. If you want a sane voice on American politics, I’d recommend Val Zorin of VOR. Click here for my translations of his “A View from Moscow”… it’s a continuing effort, new ones keep coming out. Valentin Sergeyevich has over fifty years of experience in covering the American scene… certainly, he’s a more sure source than ignoranuses (no misspelling) such as Josiah Trenham and Alexander Webster.
Have a care… there be cowpats out there in that there field…
BMD
Poll Reveals that Almost No Russians Advocate a Total Abortion Ban
Tags: abortion, anti-abortion, artificial birth control, Birth control, Christian, contraception, Free market, political commentary, politics, Pro-Choice, Pro-life, Religion, Religion and Spirituality, Russia, Russian, Russians, United States, USA
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A Levada Centre poll revealed that a majority of Russians (59 percent) are opposed to the introduction of new restrictions on abortion, whereas 26 percent support such an initiative. In the June poll, 54 percent thought that abortion should be solely at the discretion of the woman involved. Another 32 percent would allow abortion only under certain circumstances. Only 4 percent of the respondents were for a complete ban on the procedure. Of those surveyed, 67 percent think that the government should stay out of the debate, leaving it up to the people. At the same time, one in five (21 percent) recognise the need for government action to restrict abortions, but 12 percent were undecided on this point. Most Russians (78 percent) would like to see the authorities implement educational programmes and develop social aid schemes in order to prevent abortions. Only 17 percent believe that the state should use criminal prosecution to combat abortion.
The poll also surveyed respondents’ views on other issues of family policy. The idea of an extra tax upon divorce went down to overwhelming defeat (70 percent opposed it, 21 percent supported it). Schemes to encourage at least three children (on average) per family won the support of 73 percent, whilst only 20 opposed it. On 29 May, experts of the Coordination Council of the RF Presidential Council for the Implementation of the National Strategy of Action for Children 2012-17 proposed measures for the prevention of abortion and the strengthening of the role of the Church and other religious organisations in family policy. The draft Concept of State Family Policy for 2025, states, in particular, the need for greater accountability for violations of the abortion law and the establishment of socio-psychological services aimed at the prevention of abortion and allowing women to bring their babies to term in all hospitals.
3 July 2013
Interfax-Religion
http://interfax-religion.ru/?act=news&div=51813
Editor’s Note:
You’d find the same situation here in diaspora Orthodoxy as you’d find in the Rodina. Very few (mostly fanatic “religious hobbyists”) are for a total ban on the procedure. Most would favour sensible restrictions on it… realising that’s the best deal that we can get in a pluralistic society. Indeed, we have no right to force our beliefs down someone else’s throat using the police power of the state… after all, we’re NOT papists, who DO believe that. Like it or not, the total abolitionist stance is crackbrained and doomed to failure. I stand for a true Pro-Life programme… generous aid to single mothers, the provision of contraceptives to all who wish them (the Church allows such… another area where we disagree with the papists), and an equitable tax system that makes all layers of society pay their fair share (unlike the present arrangement where the affluent effluent have a MUCH lower responsibility… the legacy of Slobberin’ Ronnie and George the Fool).
I WILL link hands with those who are so-called “Pro-Choice” if it means that the goal of a Fair and Equitable Society for All is advanced (a VERY Christ-like goal, if I may say so). I don’t have to agree with someone completely to see that they’re on the right road. Your real choice is between a Fair “One for All and All for One” Society and a Thieving “Me First” Society… there’s no other choice out there. If you support the so-called Free Market, you support an ideology that’s profoundly and essentially anti-Christian… after all, HH calls it a “fraud”… and Pope Francisco agrees with him. Ponder that, if you will…
BMD