Mythbuster
JoinedPosts by Mythbuster
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6
Pope under fire for transfer, letter on sex abuse
by No Apologies in.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100313/ap_on_re_eu/eu_church_abuse.
what do you think, would it ever get to the point where the pope would be forced to step down, if enough evidence linking him to mistakes in handling the cases comes to light?.
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15
Confiscation of religious property in Russia begins
by Mythbuster inhttp://www.jw-media.org/rus/20100309.htm.
for immediate release.
march 9, 2010.
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Mythbuster
Seems not Blondie. Funny, JW's aren't mentioned here.
RUSSIA: Governor orders church land grab
By Geraldine Fagan, Forum 18 News Service <http://www.forum18.org>
Apparently unaware that he was giving a public address, the governor of Kaluga Region has ordered that land legally owned by Word of Life Pentecostal Church be seized by "any" means, Forum 18 News Service has learnt. The order, made at a recent local government meeting broadcast live via the regional administration's website, has been captured and posted on the internet site YouTube by a church member. No official was prepared to comment to Forum 18. Word of Life has complained of frequent bureaucratic harassment ever since its land and building became an impediment to shopping mall construction plans in Kaluga. In Udmurtia, Philadelphia Pentecostal Church is the latest congregation to report similar bureaucratic obstruction, which state officials usually insist is lawful and routine. Such problems are usually encountered by Protestants, who are more likely to have unsecured worship premises.
In an exceptional insight into the behind-the-scenes mechanisms employed by state officials to restrict disfavoured religious communities, a regional governor has ordered the seizure of a Pentecostal church's land by "any" means, Forum 18 New Service has learnt.
Protestants have repeatedly suggested to Forum 18 that they are targeted with undocumented instructions and unduly stringent state check-ups, but evidence is rare.
Apparently having forgotten that the 9 February meeting of Kaluga Regional Government was being broadcast via the regional administration's website, however, Governor Anatoli Artamonov ordered Vice-Governor Maksim Akimov to do whatever it takes to seize land belonging to Word of Life, a local Pentecostal church.
"That church of ours there, not ours, some kind of Swedish church," Artamonov declares in a video of the meeting captured by a Word of Life parishioner who happened to be watching. "Find ways of confiscating that land - any... you have two weeks to deal with this issue."
The footage, with English subtitles, may be seen at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-JWFTZN9PQ.
Word of Life's parent church is based in Uppsala, Sweden. Ironically, Centrumutveckling, the company whose shopping mall construction plans in Kaluga are inconvenienced by Word of Life's existing church building, is also Swedish.
Artamonov's secretary said the Governor was unavailable for comment on 24 February and directed Forum 18 to Vice-Governor Maksim Akimov's assistant, Aleksandr Kashkin. Kashkin said he was unable to comment as he was hearing about the order to seize the land for the first time from Forum 18. He added that Vice-Governor Akimov was in a meeting and unavailable for comment.
On 25 February, a second assistant said Akimov was away for a couple of days but promised to call back. Expressing surprise that Aleksandr Kashkin had said he knew nothing about the order, she added that he had in fact dealt with architectural and construction issues, specifically Word of Life's case.
After contacting Governor Artamonov, the same assistant told Forum 18 on 26 February that he had suggested contacting Maksim Shereikin, Kaluga Region's Minister for Economic Development. In the footage of the regional government meeting, Artamonov also suggests that Shereikin be involved in executing his order.
Minister Shereikin's assistant told Forum 18 on 26 February that he was in a meeting, but promised to call Forum 18 with an explanation of the land seizure later that day. There was no response by the end of the working day.
Word of Life has not encountered any fresh challenge to its property rights since the 9 February order, its pastor, Albert Ratkin, told Forum 18 on 18 February. A new wave of check-ups by the local Public Prosecutor's Office, Justice Department and Building Inspectorate began in December 2008, however, he added. Forum 18 has not been able to reach Pastor Ratkin since 18 February.
Then mayor of Kaluga, Maksim Akimov issued a decree confiscating Word of Life's land and building on 23 November 2006, but this was ruled unlawful by Kaluga Regional Arbitration Court in 2007. The church has subsequently faced numerous bureaucratic check-ups and threats to cut off its power supplies. Purchased in 2002, Word of Life's building - a former sports centre - and associated plot of land found itself in the middle of the shopping mall construction site in 2006 (see most recently F18News 30 October 2007 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1040).
Meanwhile, in a more familiar example of bureaucratic pressure, one of Udmurtia's largest Pentecostal churches is unable to meet as a single congregation. In May 2008 the 1,400-strong Philadelphia Church was forced out of a house of culture in the republic's capital, Izhevsk, Pastor Pavel Zhelnovakov told Forum 18 on 18 February. There - similarly to the approximately ten other houses of culture suitable for rent in Izhevsk - the church was told that it was "no longer possible" to rent the building, he explained: "It's unofficial, there's no document. All Protestant churches here encounter this."
Philadelphia currently worships in two shifts at a factory conference hall. Until December 2008, the church met unobstructed in its own building, started in 1998 and not yet declared fit for use. Pastor Zhelnovakov insists that the building is close to completion and in good enough condition for meetings. A 27 January check-up by the republic's Building Inspectorate, however, found 43 violations, for which the church could face a fine of up to 500,000 Roubles (94,760 Norwegian Kroner, 10,867 Euros or 13,904 US Dollars) if it continues to use the building. Pastor Zhelnovakov refused to accept and sign these charges on 9 February, claiming that only three or four of the violations have foundation. "Check-ups are typical for a building, and it's one thing when they're done right," he remarked to Forum 18. "But these demands are unjust, and we will protest them and defend our rights."
Rais Khalimov, the regional Construction Inspectorate official who conducted the check-up, was unavailable for comment when Forum 18 rang on 24, 25 and 26 February.
Protestants in particular - but sometimes also Orthodox, Catholics and Muslims - point to an apparently inordinate level of state interest in the fire safety and other technical aspects of worship buildings, resulting in fines, temporary closures or demolition threats (see F18News 18 May 2006 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=783, 15 February 2007 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=908 and 15 March 2007 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=932). Glorification Pentecostal Church in the southern Siberian city of Abakan (Khakassia Republic) was forced to demolish its prayer hall in 2007 (see F18News 30 October 2007 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1040).
Protestant churches also report being routinely barred from rented premises without explanation (see most recently F18News 18 December 2008 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1232).
In a separate case, Samara Regional Court on 13 January rejected a suit to dissolve Light to the World Pentecostal Church, local news website Dobryye Samaryanye reported on 29 January. Following a check-up on the church's Awakening Bible Institute - which has only a handful of students - Samara city's Kirov District Public Prosecutor's Office concluded that Light to the World was conducting unlicensed educational activity and filed for its liquidation (see F18News 30 June 2008 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1151).
Confusion has persisted over what type of religious activity requires an education licence. A Pentecostal Bible centre in the Volga republic of Chuvashia lost its legal personality status for unlicensed educational activity in August 2007 and sent an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg on 15 April 2008 (see F18News 15 November 2007 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1048).
In March 2008, Smolensk Regional Court dissolved a local Methodist church for running a Sunday school - which has only four pupils - without an education licence (see F18News 26 March 2008 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1104). A landmark 10 June 2008 ruling by Russia's Supreme Court overturned the Smolensk ruling, however. It also established that a licence is required for educational activity only if it is "accompanied by confirmation that the student has attained levels of education prescribed by the state" (see F18News 30 June 2008 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1151). (END)
For a personal commentary by Irina Budkina, editor of the http://www.samstar.ru Old Believer website, about continuing denial of equality to Russia's religious minorities, see F18News 26 May 2005 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=570.
For more background, see Forum 18's Russia religious freedom survey at http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1196.
Reports on freedom of thought, conscience and belief in Russia can be found at http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?query=&religion=all&country=10.
A printer-friendly map of Russia is available at http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/atlas/index.html?Parent=europe&Rootmap=russi.
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15
Sex Offender Sues For Right To Go Door to Door - Betrayed by WT for Lying
by Mythbuster inwhat he claimed was "required":.
http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/03/10/25418.htm.
lawrence bullard says he should be allowed to proselytize door-to-door twice a week with other witnesses, as their religion requires.. .
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Mythbuster
What he claimed was "required":
http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/03/10/25418.htm
Lawrence Bullard says he should be allowed to proselytize door-to-door twice a week with other Witnesses, as their religion requires.
The Latest:
A Cincinnati Jehovah's Witness, who is also a registered sex offender, is suing the State of Ohio for the right to go door to door as part of his faith.
37 year old Lawrence Bullard is suing his local parole officer and the Ohio Department of Corrections. His parole officer allows him to go door to door once a month, but Bullard wants more-to be able to go out at least two times a week. Bullard says the state is forcing him to choose between his faith and his freedom.Bullard's sex conviction was in New York State. In 2001, Bullard broke up with a fellow church member, whom he was dating. Bullard's attorney says his client was upset and confused, and let himself into the woman's home. The lawsuit says he hid in her closet and, "At some point, he forcibly kissed her and fell to the floor on top of her. He then put his hands down her pants, touching her pubic area." The attorney says Bullard called police himself, and admitted to the crime.
Bullard now lives in East Price Hill and is registered on the Hamilton County Sheriff's sex offender website. Bullard is also a member of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in his neighborhood. He says the lawsuit is about bearing witness to his faith. Bullard's attorney is with the Ohio Justice and Policy Center in Downtown Cincinnati. He says Bullard's church is aware of his conviction and he is always with another church member when he goes door to door and by limiting him, the state is limiting his right to exercise his religion and his right to free speech.
Bullard and his attorney refused an on-camera interview with Local 12. The Jehovah's Witness World Headquarters released this statement, saying "While all Jehovah's Witnesses participate in the public ministry, each decides personally how often he/she will share in it. Some are able to do more due to circumstances, some less. Encouragement is given to all Witnesses at our weekly congregation services to engage in public ministry as often as individual circumstances allow."In his lawsuit, Bullard is asking for a retraining order against the Adult Parole Authority, who will put out a warrant for Bullard's arrest if he goes door to door more than once a month.
The State Department of Corrections says they cannot comment on a pending lawsuit.
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Confiscation of religious property in Russia begins
by Mythbuster inhttp://www.jw-media.org/rus/20100309.htm.
for immediate release.
march 9, 2010.
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Mythbuster
yep
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62
This week's Bible Highlights, verbatim quote: "Jehovah is a Killer..."
by Open mind init's amazing what you notice when you go through the bible again with a changed worldview.
this week's watchtower-assigned bible reading is the opening chapters of 1 samuel.
this little gem just jumped off the page at me:.
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Mythbuster
They knew what they were getting into when they asked to be created.
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19
I WANT TO DO T-SHIRTS AND COFFEE MUGS
by Quentin inlulu.com seems the best place to get started....below a couple of images i have thought of using, have others, not all are jw, may try calenders as well...what do you think?.
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Does anyone know what Song this is?
by SeekingSanity ini want a mainecoon =( my family wont let me have a cat.
but does anyone know what song this is?.
i don't know how to put the actual youtube video into this website...so ...just click?.
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Mythbuster
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BybTNK9HwWE
Requiem for a Dream
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The reality of Satan worship
by Weeping ina fascinating video that adresses the reality of satanism.
for those who doubt what i've said about my experiences with satanic cults.. .
this was done by one of the most repected investigative journalists working today.
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Mythbuster
Weeping, you realize you copied text from a site making fun of Satanic cults...right?
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15
Confiscation of religious property in Russia begins
by Mythbuster inhttp://www.jw-media.org/rus/20100309.htm.
for immediate release.
march 9, 2010.
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Mythbuster
http://www.jw-media.org/rus/20100309.htm
For Immediate Release
March 9, 2010
(Russian)
Confiscation of religious property in Russia beginsTAGANROG, Russia-On March 1, 2010, law enforcement officers closed down and sealed the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in the city of Taganrog, Rostov Region.
Confiscation of the building was one of the prosecutor's demands in the judicial proceedings on the liquidation of the Taganrog Local Religious Organization of Jehovah's Witnesses. The building was built in 2006 by local Jehovah's Witnesses, who financed its construction and use with their own voluntary contributions. Since then it has served as a center for Bible study and religious services, which were free and open to the public.
Coincidentally or not, the law enforcement officers showed up to close the building the day after Jehovah's Witnesses concluded their distribution of the tract Could It Happen Again? A Question for the Citizens of Russia, which had an estimated circulation in Russia of 12 million copies. That publication quoted excerpts from the address of Russia's president, who condemned the violation of human rights and restriction on freedom that had been allowed in the past.
This is the first case in democratic Russia in which a religious building owned by Jehovah's Witnesses was confiscated. About 60 years ago, houses and property of thousands of Jehovah's Witnesses were confiscated, and the Witnesses were exiled to Siberia "for permanent residence." More than a decade later, the Order of the U.S.S.R. Supreme Council dated September 30, 1965, finally set them free, and the Order of the RF President dated March 14, 1996, fully exonerated them and declared them victims of political repression.
"Under the Soviet regime," said Vasily Kalin, chairman of the Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses, "Jehovah's Witnesses first were ostracized from public life and were forced to go underground. Then they were declared to be gloomy sectarians who had chosen for themselves to hide from people. Again we're seeing a similar picture today regarding the Witnesses. While their property is being confiscated under the pretext of fighting extremism, the property that was previously taken from other religions is being returned."
Contact information:
In Russia: Grigory Martynov, telephone +7 812 432 94 70
In USA: Mario Moreno, telephone +1 845 306 0711Last updated 10 March 2010 16:14:46 GMT
Copyright © 2010 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. All rights reserved.