Why Catholic Sex Abuse?
The Roman Catholic Church is facing another widening sex abuse scandal of perhaps historical proportions, while trying to cope with the sex scandals in Ireland and other countries. For decades, the Church looked the other way, downplayed the problems or covered them up, while ignoring the victims and protecting the pedophile perpetrators. Is enforced celibacy one of the main reasons for these terrible sexual scandals within the Church?
Current Events
This Week in the News
This issue focuses heavily on events in Europe.
We begin this section by reporting on the collapse of the Dutch government, which was mainly caused by disagreements on how to proceed in Afghanistan. The highly unpopular Afghan war might force other individual European governments to either withdraw their troops or to risk political defeat. At the same time, the EU--as a unified entity--is getting more and more involved, politically and militarily, in countries such as Afghanistan.
Looking merely after its own economic interests, France struck a military deal with Russia, thereby antagonizing and frightening other European countries. Israel warns that Britain and the USA may be next in line to be accused of war crimes, and Europe is struggling to resolve the Greece debacle which is blamed to a large extent on secretive U.S. dealings. The German government is asking the Catholic Church to deal with its problems of sexual child abuse through deviant priests. At the same time, Germany's female leader of the Protestant church resigned over an incident of drunk driving.
An interesting article discusses the Habsburg legacy, and we conclude with an admission of scientists that they make mistakes--showing that our trust must never be in science if it contradicts the Word of God.
...Dutch Government Collapses Over Afghanistan
The collapse of the Dutch government will have wide-reaching consequences, not just for The Netherlands, but also for Europe and the future of the Afghan War. Sentiments against America's insistence to continue the war will increase in Europe and force European governments to either follow public demands...
The EU in Afghanistan
The EUobserver wrote on February 24:
"The EU's new envoy to Afghanistan, Lithuanian diplomat Vygaudas Usackas, has said he aims to demonstrate that new member states are up to handling the bloc's top overseas postings... Mr Usackas... will in April leave behind his family to go to Kabul, where...
France's Warship Sales to Russia "Very Risky"
The EUObserver wrote on February 19:
"Georgia on Thursday (19 February) warned Europe against a proposed French sale of warships to Russia, as it would allow Moscow to invade any former Soviet republic 'within hours,' echoing concerns raised by Baltic leaders that the deal is in breach of an...
"PIIGS to the Slaughter"
Der Spiegel Online wrote on February 22:
"As speculators attack the euro, Europe is facing a growing threat of national bankruptcies. The consequences would be dramatic for the whole of the continent, especially German banks, which are highly exposed to risky debt. EU politicians are willing...
Head of German Lutheran Church Resigns Over Drunk Driving
Deutsche Welle reported on February 24:
"The head of the Lutheran Church in Germany, Margot Kaessmann, announced her resignation at a press conference on Wednesday after being pulled over for drunk driving days before... Her resignation as head of Germany's Protestants and Hanover's bishop is...
Scientists Retract Global Warming Study
The most important aspect in the following article is the fact that scientists openly admit that they make mistakes of such a magnitude that they can have wide-ranging consequences. It is high time that our "modern" and "sophisticated" civilization begins to place its trust and belief in God--rather...
German Reactions to the Dutch Debacle
On February 22, Der Spiegel Online reported on the reaction of the German press to the collapse of the Dutch government, and the Afghanistan mission in general:
"The Dutch government is the first to collapse in a dispute over NATO's involvement in Afghanistan. German media commentators say other...
Afghan War Unwinnable
BBC reported on February 23:
"Sixty-four per cent of British people think the war in Afghanistan is unwinnable, a BBC poll suggests... Only 27% agree that the government has given sufficient support to UK forces... The data was collected between 19-21 February 2010, while more than 1,000 British...
"USA and Britain Are Next..."
A-7 News reported on February 24:
"Meeting with foreign ambassadors in the Knesset on Tuesday, Knesset Speaker Ruby Rivlin (Likud) said, 'If the trend doesn't change, the U.S. and Britain will be next in line' to pay the price for the world's double standards, and for their willingness to fight,...
Germany Urges Catholic Church to Come Clean on Child Abuse
Deutsche Welle reported on February 21:
"German Justice Minister Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger leveled criticism at the Bishop of Augsburg, Walter Mixa, who she said was 'hiding behind polemic excuses instead of contributing to clearing up' the matter. The controversial bishop had previously...
The Habsburg Legacy
The Habsburg Empire was for many years a predominant force in continental Europe and constituted the seventh resurrection of the ancient Roman Empire and the fourth resurrection of the Holy Roman Empire. Even though it is very unlikely, based on the facts set forth below, that the Habsburgs will ever...
