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The following articles are compiled by:

Leo Wong

Leo@WatchmenWatching.com

 

 

 

Santeria leader says ban on animal sacrifice is affront to faith

Source: The Dallas Morning News

 

January 15, 2007 -- The room was set up with benches and shrines, the herbs, dried coconuts and eggshell chalk laid out on a table. With the preparations done, 10 church members sat by the pool behind the red-brick home on the cul-de-sac and drank beer.

 

The next day, they would sacrifice a chicken to initiate a new member, using the energy in its blood to communicate with the spirits, known as orishas.

 

But then Euless police knocked on the door.

 

The officers explained to the priest, Jose Merced, that killing animals of any kind is illegal within the city limits. And Merced tried unsuccessfully to explain that animal sacrifice is as essential to his religion, Santeria, as the Eucharist is to Catholicism.

 

Now, Merced has filed a federal discrimination lawsuit against the city, thrusting the African-Caribbean religion and the quiet suburb into the spotlight. And Merced has a U.S. Supreme Court case supporting Santeria animal sacrifice, indicating that Euless might have to compromise.

 

"It appears that city officials are either deliberately defying the Supreme Court justices on this ruling or they're simply confused," said Ernesto Pichardo, head of the Santeria religion in the U.S. and the plaintiff in the 1993 Supreme Court case.

 

Euless officials declined to present their side of the story, saying they wouldn't comment on their dispute with Merced, the intentions of their ordinance or the Supreme Court case because of the pending lawsuit.

 

The city's code says the law against slaughtering animals is intended to promote "the health, safety, morals and general welfare of the city," "to protect property values" and "to enhance the quality of life of persons, pets and other animals."

 

Comments:  Animal rights are a big deal these days in Canada, the U.S. and the EU.  Organizations such as the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) consist of people who have a love for animals and decry any mistreatment of creatures lower than man.  Greyhound and chuck wagon races are strictly monitored but cockfight allowance is a real enigma to the SPCA.  It didn’t surprise me then that the Euless Texas police came down hard on the Santeria religion.  For the ordinary people, they were appalled that such animal sacrifice still exists.  We are a civilized society after all, aren’t we?

 

The EU is most gung ho about animal rights and in its new 7‑year budget that began on January 1, 2007, the treatment of animals across the Union will be closely scrutinized.  A mid-term review (i.e. 3.5 years into the budget term) will be conducted to gauge the effectiveness of such monitoring.

 

Daniel 9:27 says “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.” This verse tells us that the future world leader, the Antichrist, will stop animal sacrifice in the rebuilt Jewish Temple.  This will occur mid-way into the 7‑year peace accord that he had brokered between Israel and the many nations/peoples.  As you know, today in Israel, the Temple Mount Faithful (TMF) is earnestly preparing for the Jewish Temple to be constructed.  The TMF has needed things already in place and once the Temple construction is commenced, animal sacrifice will be reinstituted.  The Antichrist will have to grant the religious Jews an exemption in order for animal sacrifice to be carried out though.  He will use the mid-term review as one of his excuses to barge into the Temple, desecrate it and proclaim himself as God.

 

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Berlin wants to start/promote "an intercultural/inter-religious dialogue in the EU

Source: EUObserver.com

 

Europe should train its Muslim clerics, Germany says (now head of EU until July 1, 2007).

 

The Christian Democratic politician (The German interior minister Wolfgang Schaeuble) added that Berlin wants to start and promote "an intercultural and inter-religious dialogue in the European Union."

 

WeDG member cnav said “Sounds like Spain's proposed cultural alliance known as the AOC........now adapted by the UN.” Refer to http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3679336.stm.

 

The Spanish prime minister has called for an international effort to resolve cultural and religious differences between the Western and Muslim world.

 

Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said "an alliance of cultures" was necessary in a world facing conflict because of poverty and Islamic radicalisation.

 

"This alliance would have as its fundamental objective to deepen political, cultural and education relations between those who represent the so-called Western world and, in this historic moment, the area of Arab and Muslim countries."

 

The alliance he envisages could therefore prevent hate and misunderstanding from developing by looking at political and cultural issues - everything from joint peace keeping missions to interfaith dialogue.

 

Comments:  The Old Roman Empire consisted of the Western segment (i.e. European) and the Mediterranean/North Africa portion (predominately Muslim).  Many of us are aware of the Revived Roman Empire with the EU leading the charge.  The Mediterranean/North Africa portion is lagging behind, but it needs to be effectively merged with the EU both from religious and cultural standpoint.  Eversince 9/11 and the subsequent war against terrorism, Muslims have felt picked on and isolated.  The tall foreheads at the EU and the UN are perplexed about this.  How can the Beast’s world empire eventually engulf the world if there’s a gulf between its citizens?  Western and Muslim cultures are like day and night; they’re that different.  Islam won’t go away any time soon so get used to it.  The EU has to condition its European Catholics and Protestants to reach out to their Muslim brothers and sisters in love and unite with them for the purpose of Union solidarity.

 

A question has been frequently asked in Bible prophecy chat rooms and discussion boards, i.e. “How will Christianity and Islam co-exist in the Antichrist’s One World Government?”  It has been a long held view that the Antichrist will be a European, but lately, there has been a shift toward a Muslim man being the little horn Beast spoken of in the books of Daniel and Revelation. Since it is Islam which will be the hardest to please, a Muslim Antichrist would appease both Islam and apostate Christendom (which doesn’t care who leads as long it isn’t God).

 

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Church of England using YouTube

Source: telegraph.co.uk 

 

January 15, 2007 -- The video-sharing website most used for pop promotions, film trailers and personal "vidcasts", is set to become the next tool in the Church of England's battle to curb declining attendances.

 

The Archbishop of Canterbury is planning to use the site to broadcast his sermons in an attempt to make the Church more relevant to the internet generation.

 

A video will also be put on YouTube later this month urging other churches to advertise the contemporary style of their services and suggesting ideas introduced under the Fresh Expressions initiative, which was set up by Rowan Williams.

 

Comments:  The Church of England is real desperate these days.  People (especially the young) are staying away in droves.  The older congregants are dying and there’s no new blood to take their place.  If deaths exceed births = eventual extinction.

 

The Church of England, like all Protestant state churches that are liberal humanistic in nature, has stopped being blessed by God. Liberalism is satanic in nature and opposes God and His principles.  True believers who yearn to be fed God’s Word aren’t getting their nourishment, but instead are offered gay and lesbian acceptance, egalitarian philosophies, Bible gender neutrality and a host of other man made, man centered doctrines.  Legalism, which the youth of today abhor, rule the pulpits with a list of do’s and don’ts.

 

The young go where the action is, where vitality and self expression are encouraged.  YouTube is just that type of Internet medium.  With so many options on YouTube, will the Church of England’s offerings even be noticed?  How many people will search for “religious” fares among the plenitude of stuff appealing to the carnal side of humanity?  Instead of YouTube and other electronic means other there, the Church of England would get its desired results by repenting of their transgressions before God and from today onward, honor God and Jesus and preach the Good News to sinners.  Humility before God and a sincere turning away from the philosophies of man is the first positive step toward reconciliation with God.

 

Andy Adds:
Speaking of YouTube here is a 9-minute MUST SEE video!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_H7af26_Gk