Last week, Cardinal Raymond Burke, who is second only to the Pope in judicial authority regarding Church Law, visited  Australia.

He came at the invitation of  the Australian Catholic Students Association.

Last Friday night he gave a lecture on the subject of “The Fall of the Christian West”.

The theme of his lecture was the need for strict obedience to the authentic teachings of the Church if we are to call ourselves Catholics.

He reminded his listeners that Saint Mary of the Cross (Australia’s Mother Mary MacKillop) was one example of such obedience, even when persecution resulted.

* * *

Last Sunday, Cardinal Burke celebrated traditional Catholic Mass in Latin in the form used continuously for centuries – pre-dating the introduction of the colloquial-language mass more often used since the 1970s.

This Mass celebration was packed out — standing room only — by young students.

* * *

Cardinal Burke was archbishop of St Louis, USA, before taking up his present appointment in Rome.

His uncompromising faithfulness to Church teaching made him a newsworthy, some would say “controversial”, figure.

Cardinal Burke succeeded in attracting more trainee priests than other American bishops.

He made a point of knowing every seminarian personally — going for walks with them one at a time – an opportunity for each to speak informally to him about their faith, their worries . . . anything.

Cardinal Burke made freely available the old traditional Latin Mass for all Catholics wanting it – unlike some other bishops.

Cardinal Burke criticised politicians who profess to be Catholic while voting and speaking contrary to Catholic religion on subjects like abortion, euthanasia, embryo-destroying stem cell research etc. He said that such persons should not be given Holy Communion.

Cardinal Burke called Barack Obama “an agent of death”, because of his anti-life, pro-abortion policies — and warned the Democrats Party that they were transforming themselves into “a party of death”.

Altogether quite a thought-provoking guest for the Catholic Students Association to have chosen.

Shahbaz Bhatti, aged 42, was the only Catholic in the Parliament of Pakistan.

He was shot to death on March 2. Buried on March 4.

Witnesses describe him being pulled from his car by masked men who shot bullets into his body constantly for about two minutes — then drove off in a white car.

A branch of the Taliban called Tehrik-i-Taliban Punjab, claims to have organised the killing.

“This man was a known blasphemer of the Prophet,” group’s spokesman, Ahsanullah Ahsan, told the BBC. “We will continue to target all those who speak against the law which punishes those who insult the Prophet. Their fate will be the same.”

* * *

Bhatti had been receiving death threats because he opposed Pakistan’s “blasphemy law”.

On a video prior to his assassination, he said, “I want to share that I believe in Jesus Christ who has given his own life for us. I know what is the meaning of the cross.”

He also said, “As a Christian, I believe Jesus is my strength. He has given me a power and wisdom and motivation to serve suffering humanity. I follow the principles of my conscience, and I am ready to die and sacrifice my life for the principles I believe.”

* * *

He could see it coming . . . .

Two months earlier, Punjab Governor, Salman Taseer, had been shot dead. The man who shot him is widely regarded as a hero all around Pakistan.

Taseer’s assassination followed his supporting a motion by female MP, Sherry Rehman, to remove the death penalty from the blasphemy law.

Rehman hasn’t been killed yet, but says she receives death threats by email at the rate of about one every half hour.

* * *

Perhaps we, in Western nations, don’t understand the nature of the cross of Christ like Pakistani Catholics do.

Our turn may come.

The Greens Party’s stranglehold on Australia will tighten as from July, when they take over control of the Senate.

Persecution of Christians will then start becoming more intense.                                                            

The predominantly Catholic nation of Peru is under pressure to let its cultural standards be undermined.

The Obama administration plus international abortionist organisation, Planned Parenthood, has made available to Peru some “aid” in the form of 18 million condoms.

Archbishop Jose Antonio Eguren has gone on the attack, “It shames me terribly that the Ministry of Health is promoting this massive distribution of condoms with the support of USAID because it encourages the irresponsible exercise of sexuality, above all among our young people.

“Sexuality cannot be reduced merely to the genitals, to an irresponsible sexual act — separated completely from its procreative intention and from its natural and rightful place, which is marriage.”

“We should reject this type of policy which promotes a culture that trivialises human sexuality.”

* * *

Peru isn’t like the USA and Australia.

Sex outside marriage isn’t considered an insignificant matter in the same way as it is here.

The Church in Peru isn’t afraid to remind the people about right and wrong . . . .

 And to insist on defending Catholic teaching.

* * *

Likewise, when two leading candidates for the forthcoming Peruvian presidential election announced policies to legalise same-sex “marriage” and/or “civil unions”, the Church spoke up again.

“The proposal of nature and of God is the union of a man and a woman in marriage . . . .

“ Economic unions already exist, but when they give them the character of a wedding, they are working on a hidden agenda against the natural law,” said Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani.

* * *

Interestingly, most Peruvians are WITH the Church on such moral issues.

A recent poll found 76 percent of Peruvians opposed to the legalisation of abortion.

And when asked if they were in favour of homosexual “marriage”, 74 percent said No.             

Australian Liberal Senator, Cory Bernardi, said a couple of days ago that Islam is a “totalitarian political and religious ideology”.

And that “Islam itself is the problem – it’s not the Muslims.”

Senator Bernardi now reveals that since saying those things he has received death threats via email.

His boss, Opposition Leader, Mr Abbott, has contradicted him, saying that Islam is OK – except for a few fanatics.

Who is right?

* * *

Every few days we hear media reports of Christians somewhere being killed by local Muslims.

We should not be surprised. This is a continuation of unchanging Islamic practice since that religion began.

Mohammad himself used and encouraged violence in spreading Islam.

The writings of the Sunnah — the approved sources used by Muslim teachers and scholars regarding what is known about the Prophet – describe the tactics Mohammad employed.

There is no doubting the history.

When Muslims use violence and murder against their enemies, they are following the example of their founder.

The founder of Christianity used no violence and did not advocate it.

* * *

When Muslims kill Christians, we should not hate or take revenge on them.

The atrocities are something permitted by God.

Ultimately it is he (God) who lets such things happen.

One’s focus, then, must not be primarily on how we should regard and relate to the perpetrators.

Focus rather on asking God to show us why he has chosen to let us suffer.

There will be a reason.

Our prayer must always be, “Our Father . . . Thy will be done . . . .”

* * *

God asks us to love and respect all of his children – including Muslims.

He does not, of course, require us to love or respect their religion – which is not compatible with truth as understood in the light of the Christian gospel.

If that is what Senator Bernardi was trying to say, then he is right.

Mr Abbott should not contradict the Senator, but think hard about what he is saying.

Egypt is now in the hands of the military.

This situation follows talks last week between the Muslim Brotherhood and the then Vice President, Omar Suleiman.

No representatives of the Egyptian Christian community were invited to participate in the talks, despite their having been part of the original demonstrations demanding “reform” . . . .

* * *

For all the talk about “democracy”, the power-brokers orchestrating this revolution ignored the 10 million or so Christians who comprise more than 10 percent of the population.

One need not be surprised.

Persecution of Christians has been increasing in Egypt — and many observers expect an acceleration in sectarian murders, starting about now.

On New Years Day, a car bomb exploded in front of a Coptic Church in Alexandria, killing 21 worshippers.

A fortnight ago, Muslims broke into the homes of two families of Christians, murdering 11 people including 4 children.

It is bad luck about Egypt.

The media are encouraging  us to view the whole situation through rosy glasses and to await the joyful democratic future they say is on the way in Egypt.

Some will find it joyful, but it is hard to be confident that the typical Egyptian battler will be any better off.

* * *

There is likely to be a big exodus of Christians from Egypt before long, much as there has been from Iraq.

You can hardly blame people for not wanting their children killed.

Where are such Christians to go?

Why not Australia?

This is something about which our Federal Government and Opposition could unite to support.

There is already an active Coptic Orthodox community in Australia.

Australia could certainly benefit from an influx of Christians.

Yesterday the media reported a survey by Girl Guides Australia into bullying.

They said that 68 percent of schoolgirls are “very concerned about bullying”.        

Experts talk about “stamping out” bullying amongst the young.

It won’t be easy.

* * *

Parents give their children electronic gadgets which are perfect for bullying.

What better than a mobile phone or somebody’s inbox for a bit of fun terrorising?

Are Australian parents ready to refuse their offspring electronic bully-toys?

If they do they’ll cop some bullying themselves — the kiddies blackmailing them one way or another until the privileges are restored.

* * *

Bullying isn’t exactly the problem.

Bullying is a symptom . . . of a universal social cancer.

You can no more stamp out bullying in present-day children that fix a melanoma by putting Vicks on it.

For starters, our children have never encountered a situation where bullying isn’t considered normal.

At home, do they not hear their neighbours being run down?

Do they not watch TV — programs full of insult-swapping, gossiping and violation of the weak?

Our adult society – with its capitalism, deregulation, globalisation, community-consultation-after-the-funding-has-already-gone-through – isn’t it wall-to-wall bullying, dressed up to look nice?

* * *

Christianity, correctly understood, is the one and only antidote to the bullying mentality.

Jesus told his disciples, “Learn of me, for I am meek and humble of heart.”

It’s the heart that matters.

Christ’s life was nothing but humiliation by those we might call “bullies” from beginning to end.

He welcomed it.

His death at the hands of his enemies he offered up to God.

The merit he gained makes those willing to follow him eligible to be partakers in the nature of God himself.

If we are on the receiving end of humiliations, let us, likewise, be glad to accept them.