US Secretary of State, H. Clinton, wants the UN Security Council to “send a clear message of support to the people of Syria”.

i.e. to get rid of President Bashar al-Assad and have him replaced by somebody else.

Who else?

Recent history shows that each time the US and its Western friends involve themselves in the internal affairs of Middle Eastern nations, things get worse.

* * *

President Obama praised last year’s Egyptian uprising saying it reflected the people’s yearning for “a government that is fair and just and responsive.”

What did they get? A People’s Assembly dominated by the “Freedom and Justice Party” — the Muslim Brotherhood under another name.

15 million Coptic Christians live in fear — killed on the streets, their women abducted.

In Libya, thousands of NATO air strikes resulted in — what?

A National Transitional Council whose draft constitution states that “Islam is the religion of the state and the principal source of legisation is Islamic jurisprudence (i.e. Sharia Law)”.

Already polygamy has been re-legalised.

* * *

If Bashar al-Assad goes, the Sunnis will take over Syria.

There will be a blood-bath.

(see this blog, 10 December 2011 and 13 June 2011)

Mr Rick Santorum is not favourite to win the American presidency — but it is not impossible.

Santorum hasn’t got as much money as the other candidates.

He does not have the blessing of the rich who own the media.

Western “democratic” nations are less demo-cratic than they are pluto-cratic.

The big money owns the media. The media own (or endeavour fairly successfully to own) the minds of the TV-watching punters/voters.

Anybody who presents himself in the public arena as a practising Catholic will be killed off by the journalists – that is what they being paid to do.

* * *

Journalists are far worse people than prostitutes.

To prostitute your body is not as immoral as to prostitute the Word.

Is Santorum mankind’s only hope?

If he gets elected, will they not simply kill him — like they killed that other Catholic president?

Santorum is a lot more Catholic than Kennedy ever was.

A national survey has found that Australians consider Australia Day the most significant day in the calendar. (AAP, 12 January 2012)

More than Anzac Day.

More than Christmas Day.

It is certainly being boosted by the political and media would-be opinion-controllers.

Municipal Councils are all hosting community breakfasts, sporting events etc., trying to beat up some interest.

Our Australian Aborigines are given at least a token mention in the publicity.

* * *

Australia Day commemorates the fact that on January 26, 1788, the “First Fleet” of European colonisers landed at Sydney Cove.

From that day on it became progressively more difficult for Aborigines to maintain their culture and way of life.

Since the 150^th anniversary of the First Fleet’s landing in 1938, some at least of the Aboriginal community, have taken to referring to January 26 as “Invasion Day and “a day of mourning and protest”.

It’s an unresolved problem.

The Christian gospel could be the factor that truly “reconciles” invaders and the invaded groups inhabiting Australia.

Generosity and fairness shown by the whites — and forgiveness and good living by the blacks – those are all it would take.

Grandstanding and slogan-quoting will not be enough.

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.

It is amazing that there is such a thing as Christmas.

The One whose birth is commemorated seems such an unlikely person to have dominated human history — and to have done so for so long.

This Jesus had no army.

He had no friends in high places.

At his death, the number willing to stand by him could be counted on the fingers of one hand.

Yet now, 2011 years later, 2.1 billion — one third of all human beings — follow him at least nominally. (Pew Research, 2010 *)

Yes, that is amazing.

We have a lot to be thankful for.

Let us ask God to grant us each a happy and holy Christmas.

And to enable us in New Year 2012 to live faithfully by the teachings of Jesus Christ.

( * www.pewforum.org/Christian/Global-Christianity-exec.aspx)

Jesus Christ taught about marriage.

He said, “From the beginning of creation, God created male and female. This is why a man must leave father and mother and be joined to his wife and the two shall become one flesh . . . .” (Saint Mark’s gospel, chapter 10, verse 7)

Christ’s church has always taught that the primary purpose of marriage is the generation and bringing-up of children.

Marriage, therefore, by definition, excludes homosexual and other unnatural behaviour.

* * *

For Catholics, the Church has always defined, as per the old Code of Canon Law, that “the primary end of marriage is the procreation and education of children”.

Having children, where it is possible, is essential to the nature of marriage itself — a participation in the creative work of God.

Marriage is a Sacrament of the Church. God is a participant in the marriage.

And as Jesus taught, “What God has joined together, let no man put asunder.” (Saint Mark’s gospel, chapter 10, verse 9)

* * *

In practice, it is found that the safest place for a child — least likely to suffer child abuse — is to be raised is in a family situation with his/her biological mother and father, married and living together.