Dear Readers,

Today is a day of prayer and fasting for the people of St. Andrew's Church, Syracuse, NY ending with a prayer vigil at the church tonight at 7:00 pm.

Tomorrow, at 10:00 am there will be a court appearance before Judge James Murphy where lawyers for the Episcopal Diocese of Central New York and Bishop Skip Adams will be attempting to stop the transfer of all monies within the church, effectively shutting the church down. Attorneys Raymond Dague and Robert Genant will present oral arguments to counter these motions and are seeking to dismiss the bishop's lawsuit to seize St. Andrew's Church.

Please be at prayer for us today and tomorrow! -Pat Dague

"Our prayers lay the track down by which God's power can come. Like a mighty locamotive His power is irresistable, but it cannot reach us without rails." Watchman Nee


A Roundup of Links from Central NY


What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:31-39

Prayer opens the understanding to the brightness of Divine Light, and the will to the warmth of Heavenly Love -- nothing can so effectually purify the mind from its many ignorances, or the will from its perverse affections. It is as a healing water which causes the roots of our good desires to send forth fresh shoots, which washes away the soul's imperfections, and allays the thirst of passion. ... François de Sales photo

Rwanda: Anglican Archbishops to Visit Rwanda
The New Times (Kigali)
Posted to the web August 30, 2006
Grace Mugabe
Kigali

Over twenty five Anglican Archbishops from different churches in Africa, Latin America, Europe and Asia are expected to arrive in the country on September 19, for a three-day visit.

According to Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini, the prelates' visit is to placate Rwandans following the 1994 genocide.

Kolini, who was August 28, addressing a team of church planners charged with community activities at the Anglican Church headquarters in Remera, Gasabo District said the clerics were inspired by the prevailing peace in the country.

He added that they also intend to learn the strategies used to attain reconstruction, peace, unity and reconciliation.

"I would like to tell you that Rwanda is loved and blessed, so that's why the world puts its attention here," Kolini said, adding that the achievements registered by Rwanda have attracted global attention. the rest

New US Seminary Guidelines Insist on Total Acceptance of Full Teaching on Sexuality
Document Shows Bishops Getting Serious About Sexual Abuse
By John-Henry Westen
WASHINGTON, August 30, 2006

(LifeSiteNews.com) - Officially promulgated on August 4, a new 98-page Program of Priestly Formation has been issued by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) after being approved by the Vatican. Replacing the fourth edition of the norms guiding priestly formation in all seminaries published in 1992, the fifth edition has taken seriously the scandal of priestly sexual abuse. Speaking of a proper formation in sexuality, the document states, "As we have recently seen so dramatically in the Church, when such foundations are lacking in priests, the consequent suffering and scandals are devastating."

In the section on "Norms for the admission of candidates" to the priesthood, the Program states explicitly that "Any evidence of criminal sexual activity with a minor or an inclination toward such activity disqualifies the applicant from admission."

And in the very next clause the document addresses persons with homosexual tendencies. "With regard to the admission of candidates with same sex experiences and/or inclinations, the guidelines provided by the Holy See must be followed," says the document. the rest

A 500% Increase in the Cost of Going to College
by Newt Gingrich
Posted Aug 28, 2006

If you find yourself also worrying about the cost of educating your children and grandchildren, you're not alone. As I reported in the Fox special, the price of a public four-year college education increased by more then 500% from 1981 to 2003. Five hundred percent! All other consumer prices rose by 140% in that same time period.

When I was a college professor 25 years ago, the average cost of attending a private college was about $3,600 a year and the cost of a public university was about $1,600 a year. Today, a year at a public university will cost an American family more than $12,000. And a private school? That will cost on average $29,000 a year, and for some schools, much, much more.

So what does that mean for a family like the Pattersons? It means that Jenna's dad, Joey Patterson, took a second job on weekends and still couldn't save enough to send her to college. And the same is true for most Americans. A family that earns the median income of $44,000 a year has to plan on spending a third of its annual income just to put one kid through school -- and that's before taxes. the rest

ACLU files religious discrimination lawsuit against Mumme, NMSU
By Geoff Grammer/Sun-News Sports Editor

The American Civil Liberties Union on Monday filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against New Mexico State University head football coach Hal Mumme, alleging three former football players were discriminated against because they are Muslim.

Monday's filing comes just three days prior to Thursday's season opener for Mumme and the Aggie football team. The timing, according to one of the attorneys representing the ACLU and the players, has nothing to do with the start of the season.

“We finally got it done,” said attorney Joleen Youngers of Las Cruces. “... There is no calculated effort to time this with the start of the season.”

The complaint was filed on behalf of former players Mu'Ammar Ali, Anthony Thompson and Vincent Thompson. the rest

Doubt cast over brain 'God spot'

There is no single "God spot" in the brain, Canadian scientists say.

A University of Montreal team found Christian mystical experiences are mediated by several brain regions.

Researchers asked 15 nuns to recount mystical experiences while studying them on MRI scanners, the journal, Neuroscience Letters reported.

There has been much debate about how the brain reacts during connections with God among religious followers. the rest

If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world. ...C.S. Lewis
photo-Orion nebula

Matt Kennedy: Has the Episcopal Church been "Falsely Accused" Part III

If you were to walk into any given parish on Sunday morning and question the average Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican or evangelical believer regarding the official doctrines of his or her denomination, no doubt you would come away with at least some mistaken ideas. It would be unfair not to mention illogical to use this very particular and anecdotal evidence as a basis for judgment for or against his or her entire denominational body. The only fair way to measure or consider the faith of a given denomination is to examine the official teachings of that body.

In yesterday’s article I argued that that the “accusations” of heresy and apostasy against the Episcopal Church do not rest on the presence and/or influence of John Shelby Spong or Dr. Marcus Borg, but on the historical fact of the election, consent and consecration of V. Gene Robinson to the office of bishop in the state of New Hampshire. By this official legislative and sacramental act, the Episcopal Church crossed the boundary between right and false doctrine, orthodoxy and heresy. The transgression was confirmed, officially, at GC2006.

Why is nailing this fact down important to the debate?

If you were to walk into any given parish on Sunday morning and question the average Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican or evangelical believer regarding the official doctrines of his or her denomination, no doubt you would come away with at least some mistaken ideas.
the rest at Stand Firm

Leaders are Lost
08/27/2006
By Robert Hancock

Who would have ever thought that The Episcopal Church could have arrived at the place it now finds itself? Other Christian churches are finding themselves in similar straits, but maybe not quite so publicly.

It is my opinion that Christians the world over are in great jeopardy because church leaders have become totally lost and, despite the obvious markings on the path of righteousness, are leading us astray. We must decide if that is true and, if so, get ourselves back on the right track.

At this point, our bishops are not declaring themselves in opposition to scriptural truth, just spinning scripture to accommodate their message so as to claim a remote scriptural validity. You and I, far removed from theological rhetoric and biblical exegesis (critical interpretation), find it difficult to separate truth from fiction. I am personally convinced that we have been set on a strategic path to reject biblical teaching altogether, a la Jack Spong. Like any chess game, it may take several moves. the rest at The Living Church

Hitler and Stalin were possessed by the Devil, says Vatican exorcist
By NICK PISA

Adolf Hitler and Russian leader Stalin were possessed by the Devil, the Vatican's chief exorcist has claimed.

Father Gabriele Amorth who is Pope Benedict XVI's 'caster out of demons' made his comments during an interview with Vatican Radio.

Father Amorth said: "Of course the Devil exists and he can not only possess a single person but also groups and entire populations.

"I am convinced that the Nazis were all possessed. All you have to do is think about what Hitler - and Stalin did. Almost certainly they were possessed by the Devil.

"You can tell by their behaviour and their actions, from the horrors they committed and the atrocities that were committed on their orders. That's why we need to defend society from demons." the rest

Academics May Be Easiest Part of College Life
Today’s College Students Not Prepared for Life Outside of Classroom
DENVER, Colo., Aug. 29

Christian Newswire As colleges and universities across the country open their doors for another academic year, students face a challenging paradigm on the modern campus. Where morals, ethics and leadership were once a focus of university education, students are now often left to find their own way amidst growing social pressures.

In today’s complicated society, college students in their teens and early twenties are away from their parents for the first time and forced to make many tough decisions, particularly when it comes to social issues. Students routinely come in contact with moral and ethical dilemmas where they have to make a choice in this age of quick fixes and one-step solutions.

Some of the problems on today’s college campuses include dealing with relationships, promiscuous sex, binge drinking, drug use, credit card debt, depression and gambling, just to name a few. The Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS), a national student outreach organization, asserts that colleges and universities are not allocating enough resources to help students make the adjustment to collegiate life and to becoming moral and ethical leaders in society upon graduation. the rest

Jerusalem Gay Pride Set for September 21
By Gudrun Schultz

JERUSALEM, Israel, August 28, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) –The International Gay Pride Parade has been rescheduled to take place in Jerusalem on September 21, Israel National News Arutz Sheva reported today.

The weeklong homosexual celebration was originally planned for August, but was postponed due to the outbreak of violence in Lebanon.

The homosexual activist organization Open House announced the date for the planned event in defiance of concerted international opposition from Jewish and Islamic religious leaders, and the Vatican. The event has been condemned as an affront to the millions of faithful worldwide who consider Jerusalem to be a holy city.

“The event is scheduled to take place literally days before the Jewish New Year, a time of deep spiritual introspection for all Jewish people,” Rabbi Yehuda Levin, with the organization Jews for Morality, told LifeSiteNews.com. “It is inappropriate, so inappropriate, for them to flaunt their disrespect for thousands of years of Jewish tradition.” the rest

First Things: Michael Linton writes:

The Episcopal cathedral in Chicago is hosting a display of the “Keiskamma Altarpiece.” Made by artists in Hamburg, South Africa, the altarpiece is a monumental needlework, combining fabric, beads, wire work and photographs, and reproduces the form and dimensions of Matthias Grüenewald’s circa 1515 “Isenheim Altarpiece.”

Described as a “message of hope for people who are contending with the devastation that AIDS has wrought in their lives in the midst of poverty and other hardships,” the work was first shown in North America last month in Toronto as part of the sixteenth International AIDS Conference. From Chicago it travels to UCLA, where it will be displayed in the university’s Prosser Museum of Art as part of the UCLA AIDS Project.

The cathedral has posted photographs of the altarpiece on its website. And although a good friend of mine at the cathedral tells me that the photos come nowhere near to doing the work justice, even on my computer screen it looks splendid.

the rest-read it all

Bygone Protests
Operation Rescue transforms clinic
by John W. Kennedy
posted 08/28/2006

Operation Rescue (OR) has taken over a former Wichita abortion facility as its national headquarters. The organization announced June 30 that it had secured a $112,000 loan to buy the Central Women's Services building after the center fell behind on rent.

OR's new headquarters will have a chapel and a memorial to the estimated 50,000 pre-born babies who died in the building during the past 23 years, according to OR president Troy Newman. Part of the facility will remain untouched to show the squalid conditions that existed there, he says. Last year, OR successfully lobbied the Kansas legislature to pass a bill requiring abortion facilities to report injuries and deaths, and to adhere to cleanliness and safety standards. Gov. Kathleen Sebelius vetoed the bill.

the rest (Thanks Kevin K.)

The State of Preaching Today
August 28, 2006
Albert Mohler

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity. . ." With those famous words, Charles Dickens introduced his great novel A Tale of Two Cities. Of course, Dickens had the two cities of London and Paris in mind, and much of his story revealed that the tenor of the times depended upon where one lived.

In some sense, that remains true as we consider the state of preaching today. To a large degree, this depends upon where one chooses to look.

On the one hand, there are signs of great promise and encouragement. On the other hand, several ominous trends point toward dangerous directions for preaching in the future. the rest-Excellent!

Feast of St. Augustine
August 28

There is a joy which is not given to the ungodly, but to those who love Thee for Thine own sake, whose joy Thou Thyself art. And this is the happy life, to rejoice to Thee, of Thee, for Thee; this it is, and there is no other. Augustine

Lord God, the light of the minds that know you, the life of the souls that love you, and the strength of the hearts that serve you: Help us, following the example of your servant Augustine of Hippo, so to know you that we may truly love you, and so to love you that we may fully serve you, whom to serve is perfect freedom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. art and biography

Matt Kennedy: Has the Episcopal Church really been "Falsely Accused"? Part II

...the elevation of a divorced man living in a sexual relationship with another man, represented a clear, deliberate, officially sanctioned change in the doctrine of the Episcopal Church. What scripture, tradition, communion, and reason forbid, we chose to bless. And on that day the Episcopal Church stepped outside the limits and boundaries of orthodoxy.

This morning’s article is the second installment in a series of articles responding to Fr. Tom Woodward’s article Falsely Accused.

In the introductory installment I provided a rough summary of Fr. Woodward’s assertion: that the AAC, Network, and Church of Nigeria (why just those three I wonder?) have falsely accused the Episcopal Church of heresy and apostasy by (mis)representing the marginal teachings of marginal teachers, Dr. Marcus Borg and John Spong, as though they were the mainstream teachings of official voices.

Both teachers, as most readers know, deny essential doctrines: the virgin birth, bodily resurrection, and the bodily ascension.

If indeed the Episcopal Church were the healthy, well-balanced, orthodox Church Fr. Woodward claims, you would expect to see widespread opposition to Spong and Dr. Borg originating not just from the traditionalist wing, but from the “diverse center” as well. You would expect Spong to be brought up on presentment charges and men like Borg to be ostracized by the ecclesial leadership. the rest

First Things: Joseph Bottum writes "Georgetown University has rediscovered its Catholicism" [not!]

Excerpt: You always have to be a little wary of campus fights. American colleges invariably have their infighting—and when it spills over into public view, conflicts of personality and battles over turf can clothe themselves in grand claims of principle. Still, there was something odd going on last year when Campus Ministries demanded that the evangelical groups sign a statement promising not to “proselytize nor undermine another faith community.” And there was something even odder when it was done in the name of the school’s Catholic tradition—by the Protestant chaplains in the official Georgetown office.

The problem, of course, finally boils down to this: The evangelical groups represent only a few hundred students, but they are strongly pro-life and opposed to homosexual marriage. The mainline Protestant employees of Campus Ministry find such things embarrassing, and so they kick the evangelicals off campus, employing the power of the officially Catholic chaplain’s office and the rhetoric of the school’s Catholic identity.

There’s an obvious irony here—employed too often to be surprising—in which people begin by protesting in the name of diversity against centralized authority, and later discover, once they’re in charge, how useful those old forms of authority can be in controlling diversity.

But it also represents a tactic we’re likely to see more of: claims of old-fashioned Catholicism, used by people who are far from old-fashioned Catholics, to maintain control of officially Catholic institutions and to ban the people whose political opinions they don’t like. Watch for it at Boston College, and Marquette, and Notre Dame, and Loyola Marymount, and on and on.
the rest

Study Finds Aborting Brings Teens More Problems Than Giving Birth
Research Proves Adolescents Who Abort Face Higher Mental Health Risk
By Mary Rettig and Jenni Parker
August 28, 2006

(AgapePress) - An assistant professor at Bowling Green State University says even in the event of an unintended teen pregnancy, giving birth is better for teenagers than abortion. A study conducted by BGSU research psychologist Dr. Priscilla Coleman determined that abortion can cause severe mental health problems in young women.

Coleman says she took data from a longitudinal survey of more than 1,000 women to find out the difference between teens who gave birth and teens who aborted an unexpected pregnancy. Her study, published in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence, evaluated adolescent girls with unintended pregnancies and found that those who aborted their babies were five times more likely to seek help for psychological and emotional problems afterward than those girls who carried their pregnancies to term. the rest

When is it OK for boys to be girls, and girls to be boys?
Many kids want to look and act like the other sex. For some, it's a phase; for others, it's not. Parents and schools are adjusting.
Ilene Lelchuk, Chronicle Staff Writer
Sunday, August 27, 2006

Park Day School is throwing out gender boundaries.

Teachers at the private Oakland elementary school have stopped asking the children to line up according to sex when walking to and from class. They now let boys play girls and girls play boys in skits. And there's a unisex bathroom.

Admissions director Flo Hodes is even a little apologetic that she still balances classes by gender.
Park Day's gender-neutral metamorphosis happened over the past few years, as applications trickled in for kindergartners who didn't fit on either side of the gender line. One girl enrolled as a boy, and there were other children who didn't dress or act in gender-typical ways. Last year the school hired a consultant to help the staff accommodate these new students. the rest

Professor: BlackBerry Addiction Lawsuits Likely in Future
Friday, August 25, 2006

TORONTO — Keeping employees on electronic leashes such as laptops, BlackBerries and other devices that keep them constantly connected to the office could soon lead to lawsuits by those who grow addicted to the technology, a U.S. academic warns.

In a follow-up to an earlier paper on employees' tech addictions, Gayle Porter, associate professor of management at the Rutgers University School of Business in Camden, N.J., has written a paper that states workers whose personal lives suffer as a result of tech addictions could turn their sights on their employers.
the rest

Canadian Film on Same-Sex Marriage Causes Deeper Thinking on Issue
“C-38, the search for marriage” unlike any other media treatment of subject
By Steve Jalsevac

EDMONTON, Alberta, - When Bill C-38, Canada’s law that extended marriage to same-sex couples, was passed June 28 last year, pro-marriage leaders were dismayed the public hearings process was cut very short and its report never presented. Even before the bill was passed though, a young Alberta film maker and his brother were already producing a unique video that would fairly present the views of numerous ordinary citizens and experts on both sides of the marriage issue.

“C-38, the search for marriage”, is now an astonishing, 77 minute professional exploration of 19 key aspects of the marriage and same-sex issues. It tackles what it calls “the most controversial issues of our century” head on in such a manner that objective viewers can’t help but be led to a deeper understanding of them. Although the title refers to a Canadian bill the discussion in the film would be just as helpful to viewers in other nations. the rest

Hindu temple consecrated in Europe
Aug. 27, 2006

Europe's largest Hindu temple was consecrated Sunday in Tividale, England, the Press Trust of India reported.

Fifteen priests were flown in from India to perform what is known as the "Kumbhabhishekam" of Shri Venkateswara Balaji Temple in Sanskrit to sanctify the temple, said Joginder Sangar, trustee and chief treasurer of the temple.

The temple imitates the famous Tirupati-Tirumala Temple, one of the holiest sites in South India, the news agency said. Elegant carvings of Hindu deities are sculpted along the walls, ceilings and roof of the temple.

"This is the fulfillment of a long cherished dream, the end of a long road and the beginning of a new era," said VP Narayan Rao, founding chairman of the temple. the rest

Cancer cell 'executioner' found

Cancer cells keep dividing because the cell suicide process failsScientists have developed a way of "executing" cancer cells.

Healthy cells have a built-in process which means they commit suicide if something is wrong, a process which fails in cancer cells.

The University of Illinois team created a synthetic molecule which caused cancer cells to self-destruct.

Cancer experts said the study, in Nature Chemical Biology, offered "exciting possibilities" for new ways of treating the disease. the rest

S. Dakota Becomes Abortion Focal Point
Voters to Decide Fate of State Ban
By Peter Slevin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, August 28, 2006

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- Kayla Brandt had an abortion three years ago and instantly hated having done it. Now, hoping to stop other women from making the same choice, she is a public advocate for the most severe abortion ban in the nation.

"I don't want anyone to feel what I did," Brandt says.

Maria Bell is a Sioux Falls obstetrician-gynecologist who also joined the political fray for the first time, but on the opposite side. Appalled by the attempt to shut the state's only abortion clinic, she says she would not be able to live with herself unless she worked to overturn the law.

"To think passing a law will stop abortion is incredibly naive," Bell said. the rest

To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you. This is hard. It is perhaps not so hard to forgive a single injury. But to forgive the incessant provocations of daily life -- to keep on forgiving the bossy mother-in-law, the bullying husband, the nagging wife, the selfish daughter, the deceitful son -- how can we do it? Only, I think, by remembering where we stand, by meaning our words when we say in our prayers each night, "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." We are offered forgiveness on no other terms. To refuse it means to refuse God's mercy for ourselves. There is no hint of exceptions and God means what He says. ... C. S. Lewis photo

When the Heart Gets What It Wants
Life Lessons from Woody Allen
by Chuck Colson

“The heart wants what it wants.”

You may remember those words. They’re the excuse Woody Allen offered in 1992 for leaving his longtime lover to run off with her daughter. Even many of Allen’s fans were repulsed by the affair and by Allen’s cavalier attitude.

Cut to 2006. Allen is married to Soon-Yi Previn, the young woman at the center of the scandal, and they now have two children. His film career, after a slump, is again going strong. The scandal has more or less faded into a dim memory.

So Allen’s heart got what it wanted. According to the unwritten laws of our culture—and according to the philosophy he expressed in that infamous sentence—he ought to be happy.

Only he’s not, according to a new interview in the Washington Post. Interviewer David Segal quips that Allen’s worldview “is so bereft of meaning, so godless and absurd, that the only proper response is to curl up on a sofa and howl for your mommy.” the rest

Amid increased competition, Christian book stores shift focus
CHRIS BIRK
The (Scranton) Times-Tribune

TUNKHANNOCK, Pa. - Books filled with lessons of faith and Christian values once filled an entire room of Patti St. Clair's shop.

Now customers at Paradise Book and Gift Shop have just one wall's worth of titles to peruse.
Like many Christian retailers, St. Clair has moved away from books and more toward gifts and specialized items as bigger chains have cut into her niche market.

"I just know that people are not going to be coming back to me for books," said St. Clair, who with her husband, Tom, bought into the shop a dozen years ago.

"If I carry different gifts that the big stores don't carry and a bigger variety, that's probably where my money will come in."

No longer able to ignore a multibillion dollar industry, big box stores and mass merchandisers are carving out a chunk of Christian retailing. the rest

Protestant ministries booted by university
'After much dialogue with the Lord,' Georgetown severs ties with long-established religious groups
August 26, 2006 7

Protestant ministries with long histories of serving students at Georgetown University were told last week they are no longer welcome and have been banned from holding on-campus events and using the school's name.

The decision, which will affect the few hundred students belonging to six Christian groups, was announced during a meeting of leaders of the campus's Affiliated Ministries in a letter from the Rev. Constance C. Wheeler, a Georgetown Protestant chaplain.

"As a result of our new direction for the upcoming academic year, we have decided not to renew any covenant agreements with any of the Affiliated Ministries," she wrote. "While we realize this comes as a great disappointment, please know we are moving forward with this decision only after much dialogue with the Lord." the rest

Company Making Millions on Fake Embryonic Stem Cell Research Announcement
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
August 27, 2006

Alameda, CA (LifeNews.com) -- Just two days after it claimed to have come up with a new technique for obtaining embryonic stem cells that doesn't involve the destruction of human life, California-based Advanced Cell Technology says investors have given it commitments to raise millions of dollars in new funds.

The company had plans to try to raise $11.3 million in private placements but it said that most holders of debentures and warrants to purchase its stock agreed to exercise their options to buy more.

That will provide ACT with $8.5 million, according to a San Francisco Business Times news report and the company will exercise some of its outstanding warrants and raise another $5 million that way.

ACT has come under fire for lying about the new method and making a bundle on the stock market as a result.

Though the biotech firm said it obtained embryonic stem cells without killing any human embryos, it appears all of the 16 human embryos Advanced Cell Technology used to come up with the process died during the procedure.

"I have checked this out. The actual paper published in Nature states that all 16 embryos were destroyed and 4-7 cells taken from each 8-10 cell embryo," leading bioethics watchdog Wesley J. Smith explained. the rest

Father Cantalamessa on Marital Submission
Pontifical Household Preacher on This Sunday's Gospel

ROME, AUG. 25, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of a commentary by Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa, preacher to the Pontifical Household, on this Sunday's second reading.

Husbands, Love Your Wives

This time I would like to focus attention on the second reading of the day (Ephesians 5:21-32) because it has a theme of great interest for the family.

Reading Paul's words with modern eyes, one immediately sees a difficulty. Paul recommends to husband that they "love" their wives (and this is good), but he also recommends to women that they be submissive to their husbands, and this -- in a society strongly (and justly) conscious of the equality of the sexes -- seems unacceptable.

In fact, it's true. On this point St. Paul is conditioned in part by the mentality of his age. However, the solution is not in eliminating from relations between husbands and wives the word "submission," but, perhaps, in making it mutual, as love must also be mutual.

In other words, not only must husbands love their wives, but wives must also love their husbands. Not only must wives be subject to their husbands, but also husbands to their wives, in mutual love and mutual submission.

In this case, to be subject means to take into account the wishes, opinion and sensitivity of one's spouse; to discuss, not to decide on one's own; to be able to give up one's own point of view. In short, to remember that both are "spouses," that is, literally, persons who are under "the same yoke," freely chosen.

The Apostle gives Christian spouses as model the relationship of love that exists between Christ and the Church, but he explains immediately in what such love consisted: "Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her." True love is manifested in "giving" oneself to the other.

There are two ways of expressing one's love for the beloved. The first is to give presents, to fill the other with gifts; the second, much more demanding, consists in suffering for one's spouse.

God loved us in the first way when he created us and filled us with goods: Heaven, earth, flowers, our bodies, everything is a gift of his. But then, in the fullness of time, in Christ, he came to us and suffered for us, unto death on the cross.

This is also true in human love. At the beginning, the newly married express their love with gifts. But the time comes for all when presents are not enough. It is necessary to be able to suffer with and for the beloved. One must love despite the limitations one discovers in the other, and despite the moments of poverty and illnesses.

This is true love which is like Christ's.

In general, the first kind of love is called "seeking love" (with a Greek word, eros); the second kind, "giving love" (with the Greek word agape).

The sign that a couple is passing from seeking to giving love, from eros to agape, is this: Instead of saying "What more could my husband do for me (respectively, my wife) which he still does not do?" one begins to ask: "What more could I do for my husband (or my wife) which I still have not done?"

Zenit

Ernesto upgraded to hurricane status
By Howard Campbell, Associated Press Writer
August 27, 2006

KINGSTON, Jamaica --Ernesto became the first hurricane of the Atlantic season Sunday with winds of 75 mph, and forecasters said it would strengthen as it headed toward the Gulf of Mexico, where it could menace a wide swath of coastline including New Orleans.

The storm could grow into a Category 3 hurricane by Thursday, said the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami. Category 3 Hurricane Katrina struck the city a year ago Tuesday.

"It's over nice warm Caribbean waters, and far enough off the coast of Haiti that it is still strengthening now," said Ron Goodman, a forecaster at the center.

The storm, moving northwest at 10 mph, was projected to make landfall in Haiti on Sunday afternoon, dropping heavy rain that could cause deadly mudslides in the heavily deforested country. Ernesto was expected to cross west-central Cuba on Tuesday night before continuing into the Gulf of Mexico. the rest

Gays must change, says archbishop
Jonathan Wynne-Jones
(Filed: 27/08/2006)

The archbishop of Canterbury has told homosexuals that they need to change their behaviour if they are to be welcomed into the church, The Sunday Telegraph can reveal.

Rowan Williams has distanced himself from his one-time liberal support of gay relationships and stressed that the tradition and teaching of the Church has in no way been altered by the Anglican Communion's consecration of its first openly homosexual bishop.

The declaration by the archbishop - rebutting the idea that homosexuals should be included in the church unconditionally - marks a significant development in the church's crisis over homosexuals. According to liberal and homosexual campaigners, it confirmed their fears that the archbishop has become increasingly conservative - and sparked accusations that he has performed an "astonishing" U-turn over the homosexual issue. the rest

I am born for God only. Christ is nearer to me than father, or mother, or sister - a near relation, a more affectionate Friend; and I rejoice to follow Him, and to love Him. Blessed Jesus! Thou art all I want - a forerunner to me in all I ever shall go through as a Christian, a minister, or a missionary. ...Henry Martyn Art

Her Majesty: The Best Film You Haven't Seen ... Yet
Analysis by Dr. Marc T. Newman
MovieMinistry
August 25, 2006

(AgapePress) - One of the greatest movie mysteries of my film-going life has not been played out on the silver screen, but rather in my inability to comprehend why more people have not seen Her Majesty (PG). When I speak on "Movies and Meaning" at conferences, I regularly reference this film, tell a bit about the plot, and inevitably somebody asks, "Where did you find this film?"

We are so used to having the studios tell us what movies to see, directed, cattle-like, by loud, frantic multi-million-dollar advertising blitzes using bandwagon techniques to herd us into multiplexes, that it is easy for a smaller, brilliant film, such as Her Majesty, to slip by unnoticed. Despite a fistful of awards, the beautifully-shot Her Majesty did not find its way into wide release. Fortunately you now have an opportunity to support the kind of movie that many people have told me they would like to get behind, but cannot find, at their local theater: a family-friendly movie that is also entertaining, challenging, heart-warming, complex, funny, and thought-provoking. Her Majesty comes out on DVD on August 29. the rest

Visit the movie website

Muslim Integration in UK Said Ended
August 26, 2006

By Sher Zieve – After a lengthy series of interviews for his documentary “Dispatches: What Muslims Want”, researcher Jon Snow came to the conclusion that UK Muslims are no longer interested in integrating into the United Kingdom’s societies. Snow advises that the trend is now toward Muslim separatism.

Snow advises that although other second-generation immigrants tend to integrate into their adoptive societies, this is not true of Muslims. Snow writes: "Immigrants have usually tended to become more secular and less religious than their parents by the second generation. But the survey shows Muslims have gone in precisely the opposite direction” and “by contrast, today’s young British Muslims are less liberal and more devout than their parents. Their beliefs render many of them determined not just to be different but also to be separate from the rest of the nation.” the rest

Matt Kennedy: Has the Episcopal Church really been "Falsely Accused"? Part 1

The problem with his argument, as we shall see, is that if indeed voices like Spong’s and Borg’s are marginal rather than representative, why O why has there been so little opposition to them? If, in fact, TEC as a whole truly holds to the content (rather than just the form) of the Creeds etc you would expect at least some rigorous and sustained opposition to teachers like Spong and Borg to arise not just from the triple headed beast, but from more “moderate” quarters in the Church.

This morning’s article is the first installment in a series of articles commenting on and responding to Falsely Accused by the Rev. Thomas Woodward. Fr. Woodward seeks to disabuse his readers of the notion that he and his fellow travellers in the Episcopal Church have led the Episcopal Church into heresy/apostasy. In fact, in a rather odd twist Fr. Woodward claims that the leaders of TEC are actually “reasserting” the “traditional teachings” of the Episcopal Church over and against the maliciously destructive accusations of the triple-headed beast (the ACC, the Network and the Church of Nigeria). the rest

Global warming boost to glaciers

Global warming could be causing some glaciers to grow, a new study claims.

Researchers at Newcastle University looked at temperature trends in the western Himalaya over the past century.

They found warmer winters and cooler summers, combined with more snow and rainfall, could be causing some mountain glaciers to increase in size.

The findings are significant, because temperature and rain and snow trends in the area impact on water availability for more than 50 million Pakistanis. the rest

N.Y. judge rules church separating from PCUSA can keep its property
By John H. Adams
The Layman Online
Thursday, August 24, 2006

A state judge in New York's Supreme Court system has ruled that the Hudson River Presbytery has no claim to the property of the now independent Church of Ridgebury.

The decision was a big, if temporary, victory for a tiny congregation – membership 29 at the end of 1995, according to PCUSA records – that voted unanimously on Jan. 10, 2005, to leave the Presbyterian Church (USA).

The leaders of the congregation announced their departure by warning that any attempt by the presbytery or the denomination to claim the church's property "will be deemed slander of title, compensable by damages, and any entry onto Ridgebury Church property by any officer and/or agent of the Presbytery of Hudson River shall be deemed criminal trespass." the rest

Church loses property, wins war
5-year battle sought right to develop property
Posted: August 25, 2006

A five-year war over the right a church has to use its property for worship has ended with a decision in favor of a California congregation whose members wanted to develop a site in downtown Lake Elsinore.

But more importantly, The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty said the ruling from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the only judge in the nation to have ruled unconstitutional the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000.

"It erases any doubt as to the constitutionality of RLUIPA, at least for the land use portion," Becket Fund lawyer Roger Severino told WorldNetDaily.

The net effect of the ruling is that the Elsinore Christian Center now has permission to develop facilities and programs in Lake Elsinore. the rest

I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God. (Ezekiel 34:15)

Under the divine shepherdry saints are fed to the full. Theirs is not a windy, unsatisfying mess of mere human "thought," but the Lord feeds them upon the solid, substantial truth of divine revelation. There is real nutriment for the soul in Scripture brought home to the heart by the Holy Spirit. Jesus Himself is the true life-sustaining Food of believers. Here our Great Shepherd promises that such sacred nourishment shall be given us by His own self. If, on the Lord's Day, our earthly shepherd is empty-handed, the Lord is not.

When filled with holy truth the mind rests. Those whom Jehovah feeds are at peace. No dog shall worry them, no wolf shall devour them, no restless propensities shall disturb them. They shall lie down and digest the food which they have enjoyed. The doctrines of grace are not only sustaining but consoling: in them we have the means for building up and lying down. If preachers do not give us rest, let us look to the Lord for it.

This day may the Lord cause us to feed in the pastures of the Word and make us to lie down in them. May no folly and no worry but meditation and peace mark this day.
CH Spurgeon photo

Club prepares legal action over church's nude dancing stance

The owners of a Hobart nightclub featuring nude dancers say they are taking legal action to stop the Anglican Church terminating their lease.

The venue began operating two weeks ago in a church building next to St David's Cathedral.

The Anglican Church says the nude dancers are one of several activities that breach the terms of the club's lease, and the lease will be terminated if the activities are not stopped by midday today.

The director of the nightclub, Colin Latham, has told Southern Cross radio the church is wrong and he has had enough. the rest

National Cathedral to Welcome Former Iran President
8/24/2006

The former president of Iran has been invited to speak at the Washington National Cathedral on Sept. 7 on the role Judaism, Christianity and Islam can play in forging world peace.

In a statement released on Aug. 22, the Very Rev. Samuel T. Lloyd, III, dean of the cathedral, called the former president a man of peace and moderation.

“President Khatami’s commitment to a dialogue between civilizations and cultures is an important component in the peace process. This is much needed in the world today,” Dean Lloyd said.

The Rev. Canon John L. Peterson, the cathedral’s director of the Center for Global Justice and Reconciliation welcomed President Khatami’s visit during a period of heightened global tensions. the rest

What Your Freshmen Don’t Know
Beloit College has released its latest “Mindset List,” to help academics understand what freshmen know — and what they don’t have a clue about. This list has been prepared each August since 1998 and past lists are available online.

Here is this year’s list, for the Class of 2010:

1. The Soviet Union has never existed and therefore is about as scary as the student union.
2. They have known only two presidents.
3. For most of their lives, major U.S. airlines have been bankrupt.
4. Manuel Noriega has always been in jail in the U.S.
5. They have grown up getting lost in “big boxes”.
6. There has always been only one Germany.
7. They have never heard anyone actually “ring it up” on a cash register.
8. They are wireless, yet always connected.
9. A stained blue dress is as famous to their generation as a third-rate burglary was to their parents’.
10. Thanks to pervasive head phones in the back seat, parents have always been able to speak freely in the front.

the rest

UK Researcher: Cord Blood Real Potential for Cures, Not Embryonic Stem Cells - Part 1
By Peter J. Smith

UNITED KINGDOM, August 18, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A prestigious UK researcher says that scientists have made great advancements in treating and curing diseases from stem-cell therapies obtained from umbilical cord blood, a science that he says renders unnecessary any embryonic stem-cell research.

In an exclusive interview with LifeSiteNews.com, Dr. Peter Hollands, Chief Science Officer of the UK Cord Blood Bank and an early pioneer of (non-human) embryonic stem-cell research, spoke about the great strides being made for patients suffering from cancer and disease through stem-cell therapies using the morally acceptable cord blood.

“Cord blood stem cells have currently been transplanted just over 6000 times worldwide in the treatment of 45 different diseases,” stated Dr. Hollands. “These diseases are currently blood disorders and also the repair of the bone marrow following high dose chemotherapy for cancer.”
the rest

Part II here

GOP Dips in Religion Poll
By The Associated Press
Fri, Aug. 25 2006

WASHINGTON (AP) - The number of people who consider the Republican Party friendly to religion has dipped below half in the last year, with declines among white evangelicals and white Catholics. But the GOP remains far more closely tied to religion than the Democratic Party.

The number of people who consider the GOP friendly to religion dropped from 55 percent to 47 percent — with a 14-point drop among white evangelical conservatives and an 11-point drop among white Catholics, according to the poll by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press.

Only a fourth, 26 percent, considered the Democratic Party friendly to religion — about the same as last year.

Religious voters have been a key voting bloc in recent elections with the most devout Protestant, Catholic and evangelical voters leaning strongly toward Republicans. the rest

Conservative Anglicans prepare to celebrate their 'common cause'
By Peter T. Chattaway
August 24, 2006

WHILE one group of conservative Anglicans continues to work for change within the Canadian church, another group continues to function under the authority of Anglican archbishops from overseas -- one of whom will visit the Vancouver area next month. But both groups agree that they are united by a "common cause", which they will celebrate at a special meeting in North Vancouver September 8.

Archbishop Yong Ping Chung, the retired Primate of South East Asia, is coming to Canada to ordain Ken Bell as the new rector for St. Timothy's, a church that meets at a recreation centre in North Vancouver. He will also help celebrate the 10th anniversary of Richmond Emmanuel, a primarily Chinese-language congregation.

Both churches are affiliated with the Anglican Coalition in Canada (ACiC), a group of 11 congregations from across the country that left the Anglican Church of Canada (ACC) at various points after the Diocese of New Westminster voted in favour of blessing same-sex unions in 2002. ACiC clergy are licensed through the Anglican Church of Rwanda.

While he is in the area, Yong will also take part in a 'Common Cause Celebration of Orthodoxy' at Sutherland Church in North Vancouver.

the rest

Our lives are full of supposes. Suppose this should happen, or suppose that should happen; what could we do; how could we bear it? But, if we are living in the high tower of the dwelling place of God, all these supposes will drop out of our lives. We shall be quiet from the fear of evil, for no threatenings of evil can penetrate into the high tower of God. Even when walking through the valley of the shadow of death, the psalmist could say, will fear no evil; and, if we are dwelling in God, we can say so too. ...Hannah Whitall Smith photo

CNY Crisis: Interview with Raymond Dague Part II

This is part of an interview conducted with Fr. Robert Hackendorf and Raymond Dague of Saint Andrew's in the Valley Church of Syracuse,NY. This was recorded after St. Andrews was sued by Bishop Skip Adams from the Diocese of Central New York. Produced by Kevin Kallsen Footage Provided by CTSix.org Recorded on July 23, 2006 Recorded at St Andrew's Library, Syracuse, NY

Central New York Diocese: Lawyers for St. Andrew's Church File Papers Against Episcopal Diocese
August 24, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Raymond J. Dague 315-422-2052
http://www.DagueLaw.com

The lawsuit by the Episcopal Diocese of Central New York to seize St. Andrews Church in Syracuse was dealt a setback today as lawyers for the parish filed motions against the diocese. The motions claim that the diocesan lawsuit is “frivolous” and ask that the case against the parish, the rector, and the members of the vestry be dismissed, and that the diocese pay the legal fees for the parish.

When the diocese sued the parish last month, they neglected to tell the court that there was a precedent in New York for Free Churches to be independent of diocesan control, even if they had been affiliated with an Episcopal diocese for many years. The lawyers for the parish discovered the precedent, and are using it to challenge the bishop’s lawsuit. St. Andrews has been a Free Church under New York law since its incorporation in 1903, but the diocese claims a “Dennis Canon” trust on the parish property anyway, even though the deeds are in the name of St. Andrews, and the people of the parish put up the money to buy and maintain the property.

“This Free Church issue was squarely addressed in a 1995 case in Poughkeepsie, New York. In that case the court rejected the position of another Episcopal diocese, and said that a Free Church is not subject to diocesan control,” said Raymond Dague, attorney for St. Andrews and the parish members who have been sued. “But the diocese of Central New York either overlooked that case, or did not want the court here to know about it.”

The case is on for Friday, September 1st for oral argument of all of the motions including a motion by the diocese for an injunction to prevent money transfers at the parish, and St. Andrew’s motions to dismiss. Dague has been quoted previously as saying that if the diocese got their injunction that such an order would effectively shut the church down.

Bishop Gladstone “Skip” Adams sued the parish after St. Andrews declared the Archbishop of Rwanda to be its spiritual authority rather than the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Central New York.

The bishop and the parish were on the opposite sides of a controversy over homosexual bishops and the authority of Scripture which has engulfed the Episcopal Church for the last few years. St. Andrews adheres to the traditional teaching of the church that sex outside of marriage is prohibited by the Bible, while the Bishop and the leaders of the diocese have been outspoken supporters of the homosexual bishop of New Hampshire who divorced his wife to live with his male partner.

St. Andrews Church is a member of the Anglican Communion Network which seeks to be faithful to the traditional teachings of the Church. In the weeks following the Episcopal Church’s General Convention in June of 2006, seven entire dioceses (also Anglican Communion Network members) have disavowed the leadership of the national church and of the newly elected presiding bishop of the church, and have appealed to the archbishop of Canterbury over the same issue.

Over the last three years, twenty-two of 38 primates of the World Wide Anglican Communion have declared broken or impaired communion with The Episcopal Church (TEC) because of this issue, and the vast majority of the Anglican Communion believes TEC has abandoned the faith and practice of Anglicanism as well as historic Christian teaching.

Lord, I am no longer my own, but Yours. Put me to what You will, rank me with whom You will. Let me be employed by You or laid aside for You, exalted for You or brought low by You. Let me have all things, let me have nothing, I freely and heartily yield all things to Your pleasure and disposal. And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, You are mine and I am Yours. So be it. Amen. ...John Wesley photo

Dallas Episcopalians Mull Break from Denomination
By The Associated Press
Thu, Aug. 24 2006

DALLAS (AP) - As a moderate Episcopalian in the conservative Diocese of Dallas, Dixie Hutchinson doesn't find her strength in numbers.

"Nobody around here would elect me to anything," she says.

Soon, she may find herself even more isolated.Dallas Bishop James M. Stanton is among the leaders of seven Episcopal dioceses who have rejected the authority of the denomination's incoming national leader, Nevada Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, as the debate over the Bible and gay relationships tears at the church.

The move, prompted partly by Jefferts Schori's support for gay relationships, falls just short of a complete break. But in October, Dallas-area Episcopalians will meet to more fully consider their future in the denomination. the rest

ACN Council Meeting 2006: Fred Clark Ministry Minute

This is a Ministry Minute with Fred Clark from Trinity Church in Bristol, CT. Produced and Recorded by Kevin Kallsen/AnglicanTV.org Footage courtesy of Anglican Communion Network Recorded on August 1, 2006 Recorded at the ACN Annual Council Meeting Pittsburgh, PA

New York summit to bridge American divide
Date: Aug 25
By George Conger

IN A BID to defuse the American church’s civil war over homosexuality and the collateral damage it has been causing to the Anglican Communion, the Archbishop of Canterbury has invited the two sides to a summit. Leading US conservative and liberal bishops are to meet with ACC Secretary General Canon Kenneth Kearon next month for two days to initiate an ongoing dialogue on “some of the difficult issues facing the Church and to explore possible resolutions.”

Dr Williams has asked Virginia Bishop Peter Lee and Southwest Florida Bishop John Lipscomb to convene a gathering, moderated by Canon Kearon, in New York city in early September, and has invited from the left Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold and Presiding Bishop-elect Katharine Schori, and from the right Pittsburgh Bishop Robert Duncan and Bishop Jack Iker of Fort Worth to attend. In an August 18 statement to his diocese Bishop Iker stated, “in accordance with the Archbishop’s instructions,” each of the invitees are “to bring along another Bishop to share in these deliberations, and we have asked Bishop Ed Salmon of South Carolina and Bishop James Stanton of Dallas to join us.” the rest

Not everything is negotiable, says Archbishop
Date: Aug 25
By Ed Beavan

THE ARCHBISHOP of Canterbury has issued a warning to the liberal wing of the Anglican Church saying that not every controversial issue facing the Communion is negotiable. Speaking in an interview with the Dutch evangelical daily newspaper Nederlands Dagblad, the Most Rev Dr Rowan Williams said that ‘boundaries are determined by what it means to be loyal to Jesus Christ’ when questioned on unity in the church and the row over homosexuality.

He also explained his decision to write an essay while a professor of Divinity at Oxford in which he argued for a revision of Christian teaching and held open the possibility of same-sex unions. When asked if he had to compromise his personal views now he was Archbishop (pictured), he said: “Twenty years ago I wrote an essay in which I advocated a different direction. That was when I was still a professor, to stimulate debate. “It did not generate much support, and a lot of criticism – quite fairly on a number of points. “What I am saying now is: let us talk this through. As Archbishop I have a different task. I would feel very uncomfortable if my Church would say: this is beyond discussion, forever. Equally I have to guard the faith and teaching of the Church. My personal ideas and questions have to take second place.” the rest

Christmas 'ban' prompts Supreme Court petition
Policy allows recognition of Ramadan, Hanukkah, but not Christian holiday
Posted: August 24, 2006

A petition has been submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court asking the justices to repair damage done by a lower court in a ruling that allows the display in public schools of menorahs and star-and-crescent symbols, but not Christian symbols.

At issue is the policy of the New York City public schools that encourages the display of "secular" symbols such as the menorah at Hanukkah and the star and crescent symbol at Ramadan, but bans the Nativity at Christmas because of its religious meaning. the rest

Ancient biblical waterworks found in Israel
Corinne Heller Ramat Rachel, Israel
23 August 2006

Archaeologists in Israel have unearthed an ancient water system which was modified by the conquering Persians to turn the desert into a paradise.

The network of reservoirs, drain pipes and underground tunnels served one of the grandest palaces in the biblical kingdom of Judea.

Archaeologists first discovered the palace in 1954, a structure built on a 2,4 hectare site where the communal Ramat Rachel farm now stands.

Recent excavations unearthed nearly 70 square metres of a unique water system. the rest

Texas Sheriffs Say Terrorists Entering US from Mexico
By Kevin Mooney
CNSNews.com Staff Writer
August 21, 2006

(CNSNews.com) - The chief law enforcement officers of several Texas counties along the southern U.S. border warn that Arabic-speaking individuals are learning Spanish and integrating into Mexican culture before paying smugglers to sneak them into the United States. The Texas Sheriffs' Border Coalition believes those individuals are likely terrorists and that drug cartels and some members of the Mexican military are helping them get across the border.

Sheriff Sigifredo Gonzalez of Zapata County, Texas told Cybercast News Service that Iranian currency, military badges in Arabic, jackets and other clothing are among the items that have been discovered along the banks of the Rio Grande River. The sheriff also said there are a substantial number of individuals crossing the southern border into the U.S. who are not Mexican. He described the individuals in question as well-funded and able to pay so-called "coyotes" - human smugglers - large sums of money for help gaining illegal entry into the U.S. the rest

Pluto loses planet status
August 24, 2006

PRAGUE, Czech Republic (AP) - Leading astronomers declared today that Pluto is no longer a planet under historic new guidelines that downsize the solar system from nine planets to eight.

After a tumultuous week of clashing over the essence of the cosmos, the International Astronomical Union stripped Pluto of the planetary status it has held since its discovery in 1930.

The new definition of what is - and isn't - a planet fills a centuries-old black hole for scientists who have labored since Copernicus without one.

Although astronomers applauded after the vote, Jocelyn Bell Burnell - a specialist in neutron stars from Northern Ireland who oversaw the proceedings - urged those who might be "quite disappointed" to look on the bright side. the rest

Yale School of Medicine Requires Abortion Training for Ob/gyn Residents
By Peter J. Smith

NEW HAVEN, Connecticut, August 23, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Ob/gyn residents at Yale’s School of Medicine must undergo training in abortion procedures in a required residency program established by Planned Parenthood’s Connecticut branch (PPC).

Second year ob/gyn residents will have to complete two four-week rotations with PPC for training in abortion techniques such as vacuum suction, medical abortions, and other “family planning” services in a program entitled Family Planning/Ambulatory Surgery.

"Yale is very satisfied with the experience and training the residents are receiving at PPC and are especially happy with the number of patients the residents see," said Mary Bawza, chief operating officer of PPC to Planned Parenthood’s Choice! magazine.
the rest