_______________________________________________________________In a speech delivered at the Vatican just three days before the U.S. presidential election, Pope Francis urged social justice activists from around the world not to give into the politics of fear by building walls but instead work to build bridges.“Because fear—as well as being a good deal for the merchants of arms and death—weakens and destabilizes us, destroys our psychological and spiritual defenses, numbs us to the suffering of others,” he said.“In the end,” he continued, “it makes us cruel.”The pope did not mention the Nov. 8 U.S. election, but many of the themes he touched on have played out in debates between Donald J. Trump and Hillary Clinton in recent months.For example, the pope reiterated his plea for nations to respond more generously to the global refugee crisis, which he blamed on “an unjust socio-economic system and wars.”He pointed specifically to the hundreds of thousands of people who have died in the Mediterranean Sea seeking entry into Europe in recent years and, he said, “no one should be forced to flee their homeland.”…On the issue of migration more generally, Francis devoted several minutes of the speech to condemning “physical and social walls” that “close in some and exclude others.”Mr. Trump has proposed building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, which led to a tussle with the pope earlier this year.In February, following a visit to the border, the pope said in response to a question from a journalist that politicians who propose building walls instead of bridges are “not Christian,” leading to objections from the Trump campaign. The Vatican later clarified the remark, saying that the pope was not speaking about specific candidates….The pope said on Saturday that Christians should not give into the temptation to build walls, even in the face of “hateful and cowardly attacks,” a reference to global terrorism.“Dear Brothers and Sisters,” he said, “all walls fall.”…Francis said “mercy is the best antidote against fear” and that it “is much more effective than walls, that barbed wire fences, than alarms and arms, and it is free. It is the gift of God.”He also touched on the need for individuals at the grassroots level “to revitalize” democracy around the world that are imperiled due to “the enormous power of economic and media groups that seem to dominate” and repeated his condemnation of placing money above human beings.Christians have a duty, he said, to be active in political life, but he warned against corruption and arrogance.“Anyone who is too attached to material things or the mirror, who likes money, lush banquets, sumptuous mansions, refined suits, luxury cars,” he said, should avoid going into politics—as well as the seminary. Instead, political leaders must lead by example, living frugally and humbly.Francis also offered some advice on how to fight terrorism and oppression, saying, “the best antidote is love. Love heals everything.”
“‘Because fear, as well as being a good deal for the merchants of arms and death, weakens and destabilizes us, destroys our psychological and spiritual defenses, numbs us to the suffering of others,’ he said. ‘In the end, it makes us cruel.'”
“For example, the pope reiterated his plea for nations to respond more generously to the global refugee crisis, which he blamed on ‘an unjust socio-economic system and wars.’“He pointed specifically to the hundreds of thousands of people who have died in the Mediterranean Sea seeking entry into Europe in recent years and, he said, ‘no one should be forced to flee their homeland.’ …“On the issue of migration more generally, Francis devoted several minutes of the speech to condemning ‘physical and social walls’ that ‘close in some and exclude others.'”
“The Twitter timeline of Pope Francis is exactly what you would expect: a delightful medley of prayers, blessings, and occasional charming pop culture references. This weekend, though, His Holiness showed that he has mastered the art of the sub-tweet, too. Although he did not name Donald Trump in a prepared address the Pope delivered on Saturday, he did offer a stern warning to a particular type of person who might consider seeking elected office:“‘Anyone who is too attached to material things or the mirror, who likes money, lush banquets, sumptuous mansions, refined suits, luxury cars, I would advise you to look at what is happening in your heart and pray for God to release you from those bonds.’“The only thing missing from this riff is Pope Francis staring directly into the camera and saying something like ‘Also, I mean this big league.’ In the same speech, he called for countries to show more compassion for refugees fleeing Syria and elsewhere, a subject on which Catholic officials have previously stood up to, among others, Trump’s vice presidential candidate. And just for good measure, Pope Francis sharply criticized would-be leaders who want to construct ‘physical and social walls’—hey, does that ring any bells?—that ‘close in some and exclude others.’ I understand that the Pope is a staid, reserved religious leader who is nearly 80 years old, but still, it’s fun to imagine him bellowing this mic drop-worthy line in Christian Bale’s Batman voice: ‘Brothers and sisters, all walls fall. All of them. Do not be fooled.’“Normally, I would eagerly await the inevitable unhinged tweetstorm of a response, but Donald Trump’s handlers have succeeded in wresting control of the world’s most famous extremely rude Twitter account for the election’s final days, so it looks like Trump takes the L on this one. I have a feeling that it’s the first of several to come this week.”
The seizure of Infidel girls and their use as sex slaves is sanctioned in the Qur’an. According to Islamic law, Muslim men can take “captives of the right hand” (Qur’an 4:3, 4:24, 33:50). The Qur’an says: “O Prophet! Lo! We have made lawful to you your wives to whom you have paid their dowries, and those whom your right hand possesses of those whom Allah has given you as spoils of war” (33:50). 4:3 and 4:24 extend this privilege to Muslim men in general. The Qur’an says that a man may have sex with his wives and with these slave girls: “The believers must win through, those who humble themselves in their prayers; who avoid vain talk; who are active in deeds of charity; who abstain from sex, except with those joined to them in the marriage bond, or whom their right hands possess, for they are free from blame.” (Qur’an 23:1-6) (source Robert Spencer)
Abu Sirma said to Abu Sa’id al Khadri (Allah he pleased with him): 0 Abu Sa’id, did you hear Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) mentioning al-’azl? He said: Yes, and added: We went out with Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) on the expedition to the Bi’l-Mustaliq and took captive some excellent Arab women; and we desired them, for we were suffering from the absence of our wives, (but at the same time) we also desired ransom for them. So we decided to have sexual intercourse with them but by observing ‘azl (Withdrawing the male sexual organ before emission of semen to avoid conception). But we said: We are doing an act whereas Allah’s Messenger is among us; why not ask him? So we asked Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him), and he said: It does not matter if you do not do it, for every soul that is to be born up to the Day of Resurrection will be born. (Sahih Muslim 3371)
More and more women say they are victims of sexual crimes. New figures from the National Council shows that 480 000 events affected Swedish women in 2015. That is more than any previous year.In a new study says three percent of the women that they were subjected to some form of sexual offenses in 2015. The corresponding figure last year was just under two percent.Most vulnerable are women aged 16-24 years. Among the young women, nine percent said they were subjected during the last year.The figures come from an interim report of the National Crime Survey (NTU), the National Crime Prevention Council (BRA) have published.
Migrants in Germany have committed 142,500 crimes in just six months, police figures have revealedThis was the equivalent of 780 crimes a day – an increase of nearly 40 percent over 2015, according to data from Germany’s Federal Criminal Police OfficeIt comes as German chancellor Angela Merkel remains under pressure over her open-door policy on immigration amid concerns over how to integrate 900,000 newcomers who arrived last year.A separate report from late last year by the Federal Criminal Office found that migrants registered as living in Germany committed more than 200,000 crimes over the whole of 2015 with two-thirds involving theft counterfeiting and financial crimes.According to the Gatestone Institute, an international policy council, police in some parts of the country fear they are being stretched to the limit amid climbing crime figures.Their report said: ‘During the first six months of 2016, migrants committed 142,500 crimes, according to the Federal Criminal Police Office. This is equivalent to 780 crimes committed by migrants every day, an increase of nearly 40 per cent over 2015. The data includes only those crimes in which a suspect has been caught.‘Migrant crime statistics for all of 2016, when they become available, are likely to show a significant increase over the 2015 numbers. One reason for this is that thousands of migrants who entered the country as ‘asylum seekers’ or ‘refugees’ have gone missing.’The statistics emerged against a backdrop of rising tensions over Merkel’s liberal refugee policies.The right wing populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) harnessed a wave of anger over the refugee influx to claim around 14 percent of the vote in Berlin state in September.In October, thousands of protesters massed in the eastern German city of Dresden to mark the second anniversary of the anti-migrant and Islamophobic movement Pegida.Carrying flags bearing slogans like ‘Refugees not welcome’, the crowd chanted ‘Merkel must go’.Earlier in the month, Pegida supporters sparked outrage when they heckled Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Joachim Gauck during German reunification celebrations in Dresden.No violence had broken out so far at the rally, police said, while independent research group Durchgezaehlt estimated turnout at between 6,500 and 8,500 people – far less than the 20,000 who joined the anniversary rally a year ago….
