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News from Fr. JohnCheck back often to hear about Fr. John’s travels and experiences. |
November 30, 2015
Response:
Dear Father John,
Thank you for getting back to us! I’m glad to hear you’re learning so much, and I appreciate you’re sharing it with us. This is a very complicated issue…
I too have had very pleasant experiences with some Palestinians and Muslims. I went to Israel on a business trip in the early ‘90’s, and I got to work with both Israeli and Palestinian companies. I got to hear both sides, but that doesn’t make me an expert by any means.
I’ve done work in 12 foreign countries as well as all over the U.S. Whenever I go to another country, I study their history, culture and the basics of their language. Very few Americans bother to do this, and it really gives me an advantage in getting accepted. I’ve found that when I gain acceptance on the business front, I’m often invited to their homes, and they personally share on a level not always available to others. Additionally, I’ve done a lot of trouble shooting, which caused me to become a good listener, another thing we Americans don’t like to do in foreign countries. Again, it doesn’t make me an expert, but I’ve learned a few things.
Interestingly, the educated folks on both sides want no part of all this fighting. They realize as a Palestinian Ph.D. told me, “All we’re doing is destroying each other’s standard of living.” I don’t think he meant monetarily. I think it was more how do you encourage your kids to study and practice to achieve some level of competence when there’s a good chance they may not live long enough to benefit from it?
My grandfather used to say, “There’s good and bad in everybody,” and I think that’s true for cultures too. I’m glad to hear of the good work your colleagues are doing in trying to dialogue with Muslims. I’m sure it will be beneficial with the reasonable ones, but they’re not all reasonable! Even Muslims will admit that!
History was one of my favorite subjects, and I appreciate your historical summary. Unfortunately, I’m not sure it’s relevant to the problem with which we are trying to deal.
Our government is in the process of importing Muslim refugees from Syria while Christian refugees are largely ignored. We’re told from multiple sources that 70% of these are men. Isn’t that interesting? Coming from a war zone, wouldn’t you think the men had been fighting, and there would be fewer men than women? The fear, and it’s well founded, is that ISIS has salted these refugees with terrorists in training.
Can a rationale person have any confidence in our government’s claimed ability to vet them? Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker has been asking questions about this, and he’s not getting any answers! Think about it. We can’t keep illicit drugs, child pornography and a host of other undesirables out of the country. What makes us think we can sort the terrorists out of this nearly perfect screen?
Remember this is being run by the same administration that traded 5 Taliban terrorist super stars for one American deserter. This same administration negotiated a nuclear deal with Iran which released roughly $160 billion dollars to them while essentially gaining nothing in return. Iran never signed the deal and has already said they won’t allow the inspections. Those billions will enable Iran to redouble their efforts in financing terrorism around the world. We should be seeing the effects of that ridiculous negotiation in the not-too-distant future. We would have to be hopelessly naïve to believe it will delay them from developing a bomb to any great extent.
Father John, it’s not that we hate Muslims; we’re afraid of them. Look at the experience of other countries like France. President Hollande actually thinks bombing ISIS in Syria will eliminate his problem in France. He has millions of Muslims already there. There are neighborhoods in Paris, Marseilles and other French cities that the police don’t want to go into. How do you sort them out? How do you find the terrorists when they always hide behind innocent people?
In my last note, I sent two pdf’s on St. Thomas Aquinas’ teachings on the subject. Did you get a chance to look at those? They are the crux of our argument.
The U.S. has always been and continues to be the most generous country on earth. When a disaster happens, we’re there first, and we do more for those people than anybody else. We’ve taken in more refugees than any other country. In fact, we’re a nation of refugees. Even so, does it really make sense to load a cannon pointed directly at us?
Our Lord charged us to help the poor, and I think we do better than anyone else. Although He told us to love our enemies, I don’t think He meant for us to expose our citizens to a danger, which once it manifests itself, becomes almost impossible to eliminate. France will never be the same; neither will Germany. They’re two of my favorite countries, and I’m so sorry to see what’s happening to them.
We will never be the same. We already have millions of Muslims here, and some have even formed communities living under Sharia law, Yes, we’re a nation of immigrants, but the Irish, Italians, Poles, French and others learned the language and assimilated into our culture. Many of these Muslims refuse to assimilate. They want their own country in our country. And no matter how much you give them, they’re never satisfied.
Yes indeed, it’s a moral question. Isn’t our first responsibility to the safety of our citizens? Can we sacrifice that under the guise of charity without having to answer for it at the Pearly Gates?
I’m a sailor. The law of the sea dictates we help and rescue vessels in trouble up to a point. We can’t risk the safety of our vessels, passengers and crew. Having two ships go down instead of just one never makes anything better.
In Romans 12:13-21, St. Paul tells us,
Look on the needs of the saints as your own; be generous in offering hospitality. Bless your persecutors; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Have the same attitude toward all. Put away ambitious thoughts and associate with those who are lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never repay injury with injury. See that your conduct is honorable in the eyes of all. If possible, live peaceably with everyone. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves; leave that to God’s wrath, for it is written: “‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay,’ says the Lord.” But “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; by doing this you will heap burning coals upon his head.” Do not be conquered by evil but conquer evil with good.
With all due respect, I believe we are already doing this. We’ve given them and continue to give them billions in aid. Please note that it doesn’t say, “Invite your enemies into your home so they can destroy you.”
Once again, I’m no expert, and I would certainly defer to anyone with more knowledge, as I’m always trying to learn, but I would expect real and reasonable answers to these questions.
What am I missing here?
-Ron
Dear Steve,
I am saddened by your response, not because I am naive and an apologist for Islam (which I don’t think that I am), but because I am trying to share some of the things that I am learning from people who know far more than I, and because Jesus never tells us to hate others, but to love and pray even for those we consider to be our enemies.
It is important to realize that our lecturers and our tour guides are quite a learned group and most have spent years here in the Holy Land. Giving a breakdown counting each 2 1/2 hour lesson as one session and each day of tour also as one, our presenters are as follows: 28 Jews (Orthodox to Liberal), 26 Catholics, 11 Protestant or Orthodox Christians, and 8 Muslims. Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald, who represented the Vatican under St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict, spent five hours with us introducing us to the Quran and to the possibilities of dialogue with Muslims. Archbishop Fitzgerald spent about 20 years in inter-religious dialogue with Muslims. He is in his 70’s and has retired from the Vatican Congregation he headed.
Rather than speaking from what one learns from televisions talking heads, or even worse from Donald Trump or from Christian Zionists, I suggest that one become familiar with some of the scholarly sources coming out of the West. There are interesting articles in “The Oxford History of Islam.” I also suggest anything written by John Esposito. Prof. Esposito is on the Georgetown University faculty and has followed and written on modern Islam, in its varied forms and movements, for the past thirty years. One of his books became required reading for Army officers being sent to Iraq and Afghanistan. Georgetown is noted for its School of Foreign Service.
Muslim rulers were not always oppressive and violent, any more than Christian rulers were always oppressive and violent when they ruled over Muslims and Jews. In 638, Patriarch Sophronius surrendered Jerusalem to the Caliph Omar on the condition that Christians would be allowed to worship and that the Holy sites would not be bothered. The Caliph Omar agreed and Christianity continued and pilgrims were allowed to come. Many Christians in Palestine found the Muslim rulers to be less oppressive than the Byzantine Emperor in Constantinople. On the the other hand, in 1009, the Egyptian Caliph Hakim destroyed the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchure and persecuted Christians. In different periods, different Muslim rulers (they could be Arab, Egyptian, Berber, Turkish, etc,) had different ways of treating Christians and Jews. Christians could be equally moral or immoral in their treatment of non-Christians. For example, when the Crusaders conquered Jerusalem in the First Crusade they put to death all the Muslims and Jews in the city. The expulsion or forced conversions or executions of Muslims and Jews under Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain at the end of the 15th century is not one of the prouder moments in Christian history. As St. Paul says, “all have sinned.” We all need a God who is rich in mercy. That is something that most Jews, Christians and Muslims can agree on. Unfortunately, the Wahabi and Salafist Muslims and some fundamentalist Christians believe that God will only have mercy on them and everyone else needs to be eliminated.
Interestingly, three days ago the local newspaper mentioned how an Islamic organization in Indonesia with 50 million members has put out a DVD to refute the heretical stance of ISIS in its war against Muslims, Christians and others. Unfortunately, I did not write down the name of the organization. There refutation is on line.
You all remain in my prayers.
Peace in the Lord Jesus,
Fr. John
November 26, 2015
Dear Friends in the Lord Jesus,
Happy Thanksgiving from Jerusalem. I hope that you and your loved ones have a blessed Thanksgiving.
Here is our group who earlier in the week were at the Al-Aksa Mosque. In the background is the Dome of the Rock, the place where Muslims believe that Mohammed ascended into heaven to receive from God the call to pray five times a day. They believe that the angel Gabriel brought Mohammed at night from Arabia to Jerusalem and then up to heaven from this spot. It is the third holiest spot for Muslims, after Mecca and Medina. The Dome of the Rock was built in the late 7th century.
Because of the respect that the Tantur Ecumenical Institute has, we were able to enter through a gate that is usually reserved only for Muslims. Our guide from the Wahf (the Muslim organization that cares for their Holy Places) was most gracious. Their sponsor is the King of Jordan.
Peace in the Lord Jesus,
Fr. John
November 23, 2015
Response:
Dear Father John, and anyone else whose reading,
I have to agree with Ron on this. Father John, when you said there were battles between Christians and Muslims beginning in the 8th century, you are right. Actually, a muslim army invaded Spain in the year 711 and defeated King Roderic. This happened long before the first Crusade and long, long, before America. Eventually, more muslim armies invaded Spain. They eventually tried to invade France but were defeated in 732 at the Battle of Tours by a Frankish army, led and trained by Charles Martel. If it weren’t for Martel, we might all be praying toward Mecca today. Once Islam conquers a land, that land becomes part of the Caliphate, and they must get it back. The muslims weren’t totally driven out of Spain until the 1400s. Believe me, they have plans to get Spain back. Islam doesn’t need any help getting into wars since it was spread by the sword not by the word. Mohammed personally took part in numerous massacres of many people. How can a religion be peaceful when its founder was anything but. Neither was he a prophet. I don’t care whether they are sunni, shia, or salafist, the results are always the same… death and destruction.
According to a 2015 assessment of persecution in the Open Doors USA’s World Watch List, 9 of the 10 countries with the worst records for persecution of Christians have populations that are at least 50 percent Muslim. The facts are the facts. Islam is hazardous to our health. I wrote in an earlier email that a poll was taken of Muslims here in America, and 51% said they would rather be governed by Sharia law than the constitution. That’s way too many. Sharia law is 100% incompatible with our constitution and freedom in general. Sharia law would instantly make Christians, and anyone who isn’t muslim, a 3rd class citizen at best.
Father John, you wrote that you spoke to several muslims regarding who is responsible for the trouble in the middle east. By what you wrote, it appears that they blame America and Israel. Did you expect to hear something different from them, maybe an objective opinion? I am positively sure that if I asked muslims here or in the middle east what they thought about the turmoil there, I would get the same answer… it’s all the fault of America and Israel. However, when you asked the Israelis what they thought about the problems over there, what did they say? With regard to what the muslims told you about their respect for Jesus and other things, well, it’s my understanding that in Islam it’s ok to lie to people as long as the lie aids in the advancement of Islam. In this case, they want you to play the role of an apologist for Islam, which greatly benefits Islamists, in that, they have the authority of a Catholic Priest who takes their side against America and Israel, and argues this point to other Christians. Now, I don’t believe that you have malicious intent in this but the result is still the same. Islam benefits at the expense of America and Israel. You have to be careful when you have a preconceived opinion/belief, and then look for the evidence to support it… you’ll find it every time.
I say again, this country should not accept any muslim refugees. I will go further and say that I don’t think any muslims, whatsoever, should be allowed into this country. I believe that it’s only a matter of time before Islam is made illegal in Europe and the United States because its goal is to topple western governments, put muslim leadership in it’s place, then institute sharia law. The plan to accomplish this is by immigration and high birth rates. There are already numerous no-go zones in European countries that are controlled by muslims. The police and fire-fighters risk their lives just to go there. Here in this country, Dearborn Michigan is close to becoming a non-muslim no-go zone. You take your life in your hands if you go there to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ just like you do in any muslim country. I believe more and more people all the time, here and in Europe, are waking up to the extreme danger posed by Islam, and are beginning to do something about it. Thank God for that.
-Morris
November 23, 2015
This past Sabbath (Friday evening – the Sabbath goes from sundown of Friday to sundown on Saturday) we attended a synagogue service in one of the few Orthodox synagogues that allows women to preach. The sexes are separated by a curtain, but each is given an equal amount of space side-by-side. Everyone shared in the singing of the psalms and other prayers. But, like in the Catholic church, you had people coming in ten or more minutes late, and some leaving early. Our group then went off in groups of two or three, hosted by various families for the Shabbat meal with its rituals and prayers. Our hosts were most gracious and informative.
-Fr. John
November 22, 2015
Dear Ron,
I will take a look at the Aquinas material tomorrow as it is 10:30 PM here in Jerusalem.
I don’t know where you are getting the information that the U.S. is only talking about bringing in Muslim refugees. That would be strange as there are probably more Chaldean Christians with relatives in the U.S. than there are Muslims with U.S. relatives.
Secondly, I have learned that there are at least five major schools of Islamic law (sharia) in Sunni Islam. Almost all are against stoning for adultery (the Saudis are the exception), many are against genital mutilation (primarily an African Muslim practice), and one (the Morrocan) holds that a man can only have one wife, and honor killings are banned by a number of schools (they are more of an Arab tribal custom). It is important not to wrap whole religious groups in a single label, even though our media like to do that in many cases (ex. most Catholic priests are pedophiles or sexually frustrated; many of the police are racist thugs; pro-lifers are violent fundamentalists. Each is an unfair characterization).
Just today I was talking to a visiting Irish missionary sister who has three Chaldeans nuns staying at her convent for a few days’ break. They fled their motherhouse in Mosul, Iraq. There were warned by a Muslim neighbor that ISIS was coming to take over the motherhouse the next day. The sisters packed up what they could and joined an exodus of Catholics from Mosul. They fled to a Kurdish area where the local Christians welcomed them. They are now working among the Iraqis and Syrians (both Christian and Muslim) in a refugee camp in Jordan. We do have a moral obligation to help them, certainly in the refugee camps in Jordan and Lebanon, but also, for the few who came come in, in the United States.
In regard to the Muslims fighting one another, there was less fighting in Muslim lands from the 8th through the 18th centuries, than there was in Europe. For better or worse, Muslim Empires often lasted for hundreds of years, with the Ottoman Turks being the last. However there were battles between Christians and Muslims from the 7th through the 20th century. Sometimes they were the aggressors and sometimes Christians were the aggressors.
Peace in the Lord Jesus,
Fr. John
November 22, 2015
Response:
Dear Father John,
It’s great to hear from you, and I thank you for sharing your perspective!
I too have had pleasant encounters with Muslims both in Israel and the Far East. In fact, some I would consider downright charming. If these were the immigrants in question, there would be less cause for concern.
Unfortunately, this is not the case. The terrorists hide among their own people using them as human shields. We do not have the ability to properly vet them despite what our government is saying. We already have too many incidents of terrorism in our country. The Boston Marathon bombers are just one example…
Living in Israel you can’t have failed to notice the incredible lengths to which they go to maintain some level of security. When you need armed guards and bomb detection equipment for many gatherings (e.g., Passover celebrations, weddings, Bar Mitzvahs, funerals, etc.), there is an incredible cost, not just in money but in human lives as well. There’s little question that we’re headed in that direction, but do we really want to accelerate it?
You’re absolutely right; our government has made some grievous errors, but we’re far from the total cause. God told Abraham He would put enmity between his two sons and their descendants. Our Heavenly Father did an incredibly good job because when there are no Jews or Westerners around, the Muslims fight with each other. And it’s been going on since long before the Americas were even discovered.
Even so, do we want to follow the stupid decisions we’ve made in the Middle East by making more stupid decisions? Will that really make anything better?
Even if there’s no terrorism at first, they will want Sharia Law, which is completely incompatible with our Constitution and way of life. For instance, many of the Muslims already here have multiple wives. And we support them on welfare as “extended families.” A woman who disobeys her husband can be stoned to death. We would of course consider that murder. When we try to arrest somebody for it, we would have quite a fight on our hands. That’s just one example, but there are so many.
It’s not a question of punishing the good with the bad; many of the “good” Muslims are committed to practices (e.g., honor killings, female genitalia mutilation, etc.) which are totally illegal in our country. Even though our moral values are steadily eroding, these practices are still considered abhorrent to most of us.
Isn’t it interesting that we want to import 10,000 Muslim refugees, 70% of which are men, but no Christians? We’ve been hearing of the incredible persecutions our Christian brethren are undergoing, far worse it seems than the Muslims; why aren’t we importing Christians refugees?
While wondering how to respond to your message, someone just sent me the attached documents. The first is a summary of St. Thomas Aquinas’ teachings on the subject. The second, which is based on the first, is a modern interpretation of those teachings. They’re discussed within the framework of the Good Samaritan. They’re fairly brief; 6 pages in all and easy reading.
I was amazed when I read it. I’m glad I don’t have to go to confession for thinking the way I do…
Yes, we should help the Muslims in some way, but we’re under no obligation to help them destroy us. Let’s pray that Our Lord helps us find the right solutions quickly.
Hoping this helps,
Ron
November 21, 2015
Responses:
Taking refugees blindly, is not compassion. It is stupid. Certainly there are good Syrians. The task is to sort them out.
-Anonymous
As I sat in church praying the other morning, I started thinking about the Old Testament battles where the Lord led the people against their enemies. He told them not to take wives from the enemy ranks and to leave the plunder. It came to me that we really need Christians in Congress that will pray about such things and make decisions based on what they hear God saying. As I pray for the people in Paris and the refugees and other ISIS victims, I also join my prayers with the many who are praying for our country.
-Anonymous
Dear Fr John,
Thank you for bringing us your perspective from living in a Muslim country. I continue to pray for you.
God bless you,
Lee
November 21, 2015
CCN – Tell Your Members of Congress and Governor Hassan to Welcome Syrian Refugees
Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord Jesus,
For the past two and a half months, I have lived in a country which is 20% Muslim, have visited the Palestinian Territories (which includes Bethlehem and Nazareth) on various occasions where another 3 million Muslims live, and spent three days in Jordan which is a predominately Muslim nation (and where over 20% of the population are refugees from Syria and Iraq). Our group visited a Muslim sheik in Nablus who spoke of the need for tolerance among the three Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) and prayed a very moving blessing on our group of Catholic and Protestant clergy and religious. We sat in a Bedouin leader’s living room and heard of the peaceful struggle that he has fought to get the Israeli government to bring electricity and a school into his 500 year old village of 3000. The electric lines run 100 yards away from the village! We listened as our Muslim guide in Jordan spoke of the respect that Muslims have for Jesus as a prophet and for the People of the Book and how we share many of the same moral teachings. He also stressed how Jordan has avoided being sucked into the radical Wahabbi and Salafist Islam that Saudi Arabia supports and has spread in parts of the Islamic world. Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald, who had spent decades in dialogue with Muslims, and is now retired from the Vatican Commission on Non-Christian religions, gave us five hours of lectures on Islam and the Quran.
It is important to realize that the United States is responsible for much of the instability in the Middle East. The unwise actions of the U.S. in supporting and sending arms to the jihadists who fought the Russians in Afghanistan in the 1980s and 90s trained a generation of radical Muslims from many nations who returned with their radical ideas to their homelands after Russia withdrew. Secondly, the U.S. toppled Saddam Hussein in Iraq, who did not have weapons of mass destruction. The U.S.and did not understand the Shiite/Sunni conflict in that land, which led to instability there and the eventual rise of ISIS. There were plenty of American and British and other academics whose warnings were ignored because of American political blindness. I suggest that you read one of John Esposito’s books to help you understand the various forms of Islam and the problems with radical Islam and American policy. One of his books became required reading for American officers who were sent to Iraq and Afghanistan. He is a professor at Georgetown University, which has a large school of foreign service. I have known of his work for some time and am presently reading The Future of Islam (Oxford University Press, 2010). Thirdly, our years of buying oil from Saudi Arabia has allowed it to train many Islamic imams and scholars in the Wahhabi or even Salafist understandings of Islam.It was a Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia who first gave approval to the fatwa (religious decree) of bin Ladin for war against the West. That Grand Mufti has been removed. Sunni Islam is a lot like Judaism in that it had no central religious authority. A government may sponsor a particular religious leader as a spokesperson, like the head of the Orthodox Jewish Council in Israel, but one can listen to the imam in one’s own mosque as one listens to one’s own rabbi in the synagogue.
As far as the refugees go, we need to realize that both Jordan and Lebanon are bearing the largest burden with 20-25% of the people in those countries being refugees. What would it be if the U.S. had to deal with over 60 million refugees? With their cities being destroyed by years of war, with radical elements ready to kill them if they return, and with few opportunities for jobs in Jordan or Lebanon, the refugees are seeking a better life for themselves and their families. That is a common human hope.
Jesus calls on us to love our neighbor. The Muslims, Christians and Yazedis (sp?) are our neighbors. Unlike Europe which is being inundated by refugees, the U.S. is looking to bring in 10,000. We have an 18 to 24 month vetting period, far longer than that of other nations. Could a terrorist slip through? It is possible. But do we punish the innocent with the guilty? Scripture says, “no.” Did an occasional Irish or Italian or Polish criminal slip through immigration in the last 150 years? Yes, the Mafia did not just appear in the U.S. There is a risk. But love of neighbor is known to take risks. Ask the people at Lazarus House and those who work in the inner city and those who work with drug addicts. I suggest that one read the web-sites of Catholic Relief Services on the refugee situation and Catholics Confront Global Poverty (info@confrontglobalpoverty) or the Vatican web-site. Please don’t depend on the politically slanted Fox News, ABC, NBC, CBS, and CNN. BBC is better.
Please pray over the situation and as Lee suggests ask God to help you see things from His viewpoint. Certainly what I have learned here in Israel has entered into my prayer.
Peace in the Lord Jesus,
Fr. John
October 29, 2015
I just came back from Petra in Jordan, which is designated by the UN as one of the 7 wonders of the world. It is quite amazing – a city carved out of the sandstone rocks which flourished from 100 BC to 100 AD.
What I am suggesting for the website is part two of the CRS series on Catholic Social Teaching. The Life and Dignity of the Human Person. One of the speakers is Helen Alvarez, who when she was a young lawyer, was the point person for the US Conference of Catholic Bishops on life issues. Now she is a tenured law professor with, if I’m not mistaken, three children. She is always worth listening to or reading her articles – a couple of times a year in “America.”
October 25, 2015
Today was only the second day that we’ve had any rain since I got here in early September. That was just a shower while today it has rained all day. The rainy season here in Jerusalem is from November through January.
Please check this link to Catholic Relief Services, this is a clear need. The write up of the testimony in #3 is interesting.
October 24, 2015
You may have been reading of the troubles here in Israel. As is all too usual, the American press tends to present things in a one-sided way. Clearly the Palestinian Arabs and the Israeli Arabs are the bad guys – terrorists. It is more complex than that. The U.S. press seldom covers the attacking and killing of Palestinian Arabs by Jewish settlers or by the Israeli Defense Forces.
In regard to the troubles here in the Holy Land, I am writing this for family, for the Knights and the Parish. It is a very complex situation. On Thursday, we had a Muslim woman, who works with coordinating various peace-making NGOs, speak with us. Then we visited a site where an Arab Christian and a religious Jewish settler spoke about how they bring people from the two communities together to dialogue and how the settlers in this town speak to the Israeli army to mitigate some of the more onerous parts of the occupation. Unfortunately this dialogue is unusual. We then visited an official of a middle class settlement of over 5,000 who gave a benign presentation of the government line. We also had two women from a Christian peacemaking team speak to us about how they accompany Arab kindergarten children through an Army checkpoint so that they can get to school. They also film whatever they see that seems to violate international law, though the Army harasses them for doing that and they are presently barred from going to Hebron (where they work) for two weeks. One is from Canada and the other is a doctoral student, who by her accent is probably British. It is common for teens to throw rocks at the Israeli army and the Army to respond with tear gas and often rubber-tipped bullets.
Jerusalem and Bethlehem (Tantur Institute is on the border between them) are big places so we simply avoid those few places where there is trouble. Since we are near the Bethlehem checkpoint, we see the 16 to 25 foot security wall that separates Jerusalem from Bethlehem (which is under the Palestine Authority) and we go through the metal detector and show our passports to go to Bethlehem. As we pass through the checkpoint there is a large red sign which tells Israeli citizens that they are forbidden to go into Bethlehem for it is dangerous and their lives will be in danger. Our lives are not in danger and Arab Palestinians are quite gracious. Since hundreds of people from Bethlehem work in Jerusalem, they have to go through security each day and read this sign which says that they are a threat. It is quite demeaning. We often ride the Arab bus into Jerusalem (it has a stop by Tantur) and the bus is sometimes stopped and soldiers get on to check peoples’ papers. If you are a young Arab, you have a fair chance of being taken off the bus for further questioning.
The 1967 war has been over for nearly fifty years, yet there is still no Palestinian state and Israel controls all major security. Mr. Netanyahu continues to allow Jewish neighborhoods to be built in areas that are supposed to be negotiated because they were taken from Jordan in that war. We are right near Gilo, one such neighborhood in Jerusalem, that has over 30,000 people in it. There are over 300,000 people in such neighborhoods. Israel gives special breaks to those who live in them. If you have been in the Army,you can get a cheap mortgage but Arab Israelis cannot join the Army. Thus almost none can afford $500,000 American or more to live in one of the condos. The Arab neighborhoods in Jerusalem are not allowed to expand, as it is nearly impossible to get a building permit, which Jewish neighborhood are created and continue to expand. Clearly the Israeli government likes that status quo for it is pushing the Arab Palestinians out and taking their land (more about that later).
I’ve rattled on enough about the political situation. Praying here is quite wonderful. This evening we went to the Russian Orthodox monastery on the Mount of Olives for their Vespers Service. The chanting was wonderful, though in typical Orthodox fashion, it lasted over 45 minutes. We also visited the convent of the sister who did the icon of Jesus and the two disciples at Emmaus that hangs in the Emmaus Room at Mary Queen of Peace. Their chapel is filled with her icons. God is very present there.
I do remember you all in prayer.
Peace in the Lord Jesus,
Fr. John
October 6, 2015
“Today and tomorrow we are spending 7 1/2 class hours with Abbot Gregory Collins, OSB, on Orthodox liturgy, theology and spirituality. Last Friday, a Palestinian Arab Evangelical professor spent five hours with us on the Gospel of John. On Thursday, we visited Yad Vasham, the Holocaust Memorial and Mt. Herzl, named after the founder of secular Zionism who is buried there along with most of the former Israeli prime ministers.
Please pray for peace in this land, as over the past week there have been killings on both sides and demonstrations and stone throwing with retaliation with tear gas and rubber bullets at close range. The Muslim section of the Old City of Jerusalem is crawling with soldiers and police and there has been unrest in a refugee camp in Bethlehem.
On Sunday, three of us attended a Mass celebrating the Feast of St. Francis at the Franciscan Church of St. Savior in the Old City of Jerusalem with the Latin Rite Patriarch Tawal in attendance along with thirty or more celebrants, full choir, organ and cello. After that I went to the Garden of Gethsemane and prayed in the nearby Church of All Nations. Then I went to St. Anne’s Church and visited the Pool of Bethesda and the remains of both the Byzantine Church from the fifth century and the Crusader Church from the 12th century.”
“This icon of Mary the Mother of God is a lovely one. It is in the Benedictine Church of the Dormition. That is the earliest name for what developed into the doctrine of the Assumption of Our Lady into heaven. The dormition is Our Lady falling asleep in death, and then when the tomb was opened a few days later, when one of the apostles arrived, the tomb was found empty. God has taken her body into heaven for He would not let the body of the Mother of His Son see corruption.
I had plenty of time pray for family, friends and the people of Saints Mary and Joseph in Salem.”
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William Barclay once wrote that, “Both worry and serenity come not from circumstances but from the heart.” He retold a story of Johann Tauler, the 14th Century German Mystic who recounts a day in his life when he met a beggar: Tauler said to the beggar: “God give you a...
Join Bishop Peter A. Libasci and Catholics throughout the Granite State to learn how you can make a difference in our state by advocating for justice and the common good. Flyer: Catholic Day State House 2017 Registration DATE AND TIME Thu, March 9, 2017 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM EST...
KidsChurch is a great way for your child to love coming to church on Sundays! We meet at Mary Queen of Peace during the 9:30 mass on Sundays. We teach the day’s gospel lesson, enjoy a craft and have lots of fun while parents are at mass.
Fun was had by all on this visit to Salem Haven by the faith formation students on Valentine’s day.
We have changed the book we were going to read in March. Originally we had Short Stories by Jesus, but we are replacing it with the book Made for Goodness and why that makes all the difference. Click here for more information
Due to the snowstorm, all those who usually attend faith formation option 5:00 please choose to attend either the February 12th 9:30 option at Mary Queen of Peace or the 11:00 option on February 19th at St Joseph.
January minutes have been posted. Note that there were no meetings in December or February. Pastoral Council Minutes
This Sunday’s Gospel is the third of five taken from the “Sermon on the Mount.” In his sermon, Jesus reveals God to be our “Heavenly Father,” whose only intention is to bless us. The Sermon even begins with the word “Blessed,” which means (1) a person who is happy (2)...
We are in need of Eucharistic Ministers, Office Assistants, & ‘Toddler Time with Jesus” Helpers! Eucharistic Ministers: Saints Mary & Joseph Parish continues to serve the patients at the Northeast Rehab with a weekly Sunday Eucharistic Service held on site. The patients, their families and even the staff look forward...