Dominic Bird, an Australian aged 32, is in a Malaysian gaol after allegedly trying to sell 225g of methamphetamines to an under-cover police officer.

Under Malaysian law, anyone convicted of possessing more than 50g of methamphetamines faces a mandatory death penalty.

The Australian government’s only comment so far has been that it would seek a stay of execution – and that it opposes the death penalty . . . .

Do ordinary Australians oppose the death penalty?

* * *

In 2006, before Australian citizen, Nguyen Tuong Van, was executed for heroin possession in Singapore, a Morgan Poll found 47 percent of Australians saying that he should die.  46 percent said no.  7 percent were undecided.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says:  “Legitimate public authority has the right and duty to inflict penalties commensurate with the gravity of the crime . . . the traditional teaching of the Church does not exclude . . . recourse to the death penalty.” (CCC 2266-2267)

The Bible says: “Whoever shall shed man’s blood, his blood shall be shed; for man was made in the image of God.” (Genesis 9:6)

People trafficking in drugs sell a product which they know will cause deaths.

December 28: Feast of the Holy Innocents.

Commemorates the slaughter of innocent children by a jealous, insecure dictator about 2012 years ago.

Gospel of Saint Matthew:

An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream saying, “Get up, take the Child and his Mother. Flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” Joseph took the Child and his Mother by night, went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod . . . .

When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was angry. He sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem aged two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be consoled, because they are no more . . . .”

* * *

Last Sunday, another slaughter of holy innocents.

At least 40 people have been killed in bomb attacks in central and northern Nigeria  — attributed to Muslims of the Boko Haram sect which seeks to impose Sharia law in Nigeria.

A bomb exploded at the end of Christmas Mass in St Teresa’s church, Madalla (near the capital, Abuja) killing an estimated 35 victims.

Pope Benedict XVI said: “I wish to express my solidarity with those who have been hit by this absurd act and invite prayers for the many victims.”

* * *

The indispensable first step in making this a better world is to convert all Muslims to the Catholic Faith.

The first indispensable step in converting all Muslims is for all Catholics to put their Faith first in their lives.

And to do it cheerfully, humbly, non-judgementally, charitably, generously , enthusiastically . . . .

These victims may not have died in vain.

Fashion clothing company, Cotton On, is being sued by Australia’s competition watchdog, the ACCC.

Cotton On recalled a range of sleepwear in November 2010 after the ACCC discovered the products weren’t up to fire safety standards — despite carrying a “low fire danger” label.

Cotton On continued selling the pyjamas into 2011, according to an ACCC statement lodged in the Federal Court.

* * *

Last year, Cotton On was marketing hip flasks to under-drinking-age teens.

Making the makings of an alcohol binge into a fashion accessory . . . .

Suitable for concealing in one’s jacket pocket or inside one’s shirt . . . .

In fashion colours — hot pink snakeskin, blue or pink floral, graffiti and denim . . . .

Professor of Health Psychology, Dr John Toumbourou, condemned this venture, wanting the flasks withdrawn from sale, being “contrary to public health interests”.

Cotton On did eventually start labelling the flasks as not for sale to people under 18.

* * *

Cotton On seems willing to sell ANYTHING that will make a dollar.

No good waiting for their consciences to make them do the right thing.

It would be nice if the younger set decided to boycott Cotton On and put them out of business.

A shipping container containing 8 lawnmowers arrived in Melbourne 4 weeks ago.

It contained also 200-odd plastic bags which, between them, contained $200 million worth of cocaine.

Federal Police followed this up and have now arrested three men and confiscated over $200,000 in cash — the fifth largest such haul in Australia’s history.

The maximum penalty for importing a commercial quantity of cocaine is life imprisonment and/or an $825,000 fine.

Fair enough considering that drugs cause many deaths, crimes and psychotic mental illnesses.

* * *

This seizure will make cocaine scarcer in Australia, driving up its price, and thus decreasing its consumption.

Australian Federal Police spokesman, Ramzi Jambour, said, “Australian law enforcement is more united and better equipped than ever in the fight against organised crime . . . another example of our commitment to combating these criminal groups which jeopardise the health and safety of the Australian community.”

Australians should congratulate their police on this great effort.

We should continue to keep all currently illegal drugs illegal.

We should continue the compulsory seizure of all assets of drug traffickers.

* * *

Elimination of the drug trade should be a top ambition for all Australian politicians.

In this context, we might mention the Greens’ Party.

The Greens recommend — not only facilitating the use of illegal drugs by needle-handout “exchanges”, legal injecting rooms etc. – but even the providing of heroin on prescription to “registered” addicts. (Policy 13)

Thousands of prisoners are being released in Libya who have been in gaol for years and never had a fair trial.

Many Libyans now rejoice, hoping that a new era of justice is beginning.             

The rights to be (1) presumed innocent until proved guilty and (2) given a chance to face one’s accusers in an impartial court . . . .

These are universally acknowledged human “rights”.

* * *

Yet some western nations are moving in the opposite direction.

In the US, the bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Boston has published online a list of 159 clerics who have been accused of child abuse.

Including, not only those found guilty, but also those found innocent.

Is this bishop more interested in looking “tough” on child abusers – than in the future reputation of men who have done nothing wrong?

Some people visiting the website will think, “If Father X was accused, he must have been up to something. Where there’s smoke there must be fire . . . .”

* * *

In Australia, Senator Xenophon has forever been agitating for laws of “mandatory reporting” of alleged child abuse to apply to priests in the confessional.

He’s been at it again since the PM of Ireland introduced legislation making such refusal punishable by 5 years gaol.

For 2000 years, Christian priests haven’t revealed what they hear during confessions – even when tortured, threatened etc.

Some politicians want power over everything, including religion . . .  “big government” gone berserk.

Yes, London is in chaos.

Likewise Birmingham and other UK cities.

Thousands on the streets looting, assaulting, starting fires.

Everybody has a theory about why it is happening.

Some blame the government for unemployment and reduced welfare handouts.

Others blame multiculturalism.

Some blame the police.

Others blame parents for not keeping their teens under supervision.

So far, I haven’t heard anybody blaming celebrity-atheist and author Richard Dawkins.

Certainly RD isn’t personally responsible for everything.

But he has done his bit to make the lives of Britons purpose-free.

Popularising the notion that smart people don’t believe in God.

* * *

Australia is half-way there, having let ourselves be lumbered with an atheist Prime Minister.

Plus a God-denying Greens party manipulating every government decision.

Not believing in God means not believing in any absolute difference between right and wrong.

The godless can logically feel free to do whatever turns them on.

They often do – and will do increasingly, unless big changes occur in our society.

* * *

When schools and media focus young minds on little else but mocking tradition and idolising celebrity-parasites, what can we expect?

But there is always hope.

God does exist.

His will is always done.

He is almighty.

When something bad happens, there is a reason.

There is always something to be learned from it.

When more people go to their church confessional on Saturday nights than go to night-clubs . . . .

Then we’ll know we’re ready to reform our world into a better and truly peaceful place.