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.

In AFRICA, well-known “homosexual rights” lobbyist, David Kato, was murdered in his home in Uganda the other day.

Mr Kato had been involved in a court action against Uganda’s “Rolling Stone” newspaper, which had identified certain people as homosexual, along with a headline “Hang Them”.

Uganda has a bill currently before parliament to have people committing homosexual acts, whether male or female, jailed for life.

* * *

In EUROPE, last week, the European Parliament issued a resolution condemning a bill before the parliament of Lithuania which would ban “public promotion of homosexual relations.”

Already the European Parliament is peeved over prohibition by Lithuanian authorities of “gay pride” marches.

They are also calling on Lithuania to “enable minors to freely access information on sexual orientation.”

Which many parents would consider a form of brainwashing and well outside the role of schools.

* * *

In AUSTRALIA, the ABC Radio news program “AM” comments on Mr Kato’s killing, saying that  “his murder comes at a time of increasing bigotry against homosexuals by church groups . . . .”

Bigotry?

But what are church groups supposed to do?

The Catholic religion has teachings about marriage, family and related issues which make homosexual practices an offence to God.

Is it bigotry to say so?

* * *

The Church NEVER advocates killing homosexually active people.

But people who live the way Mr Kato was apparently in the business of advocating DO (indirectly) kill homosexually active people.

If people indulge in anal sex, they increase their chances of contracting AIDS.

Last November, Asia Bibi, mother of five, was arrested in Pakistan for alleged blasphemy against the Islamic religion, and sentenced to death.

She is believed to be still in gaol, pending an appeal.

Pope Benedict XVI has called for her release.

Although Pakistani law permits execution for blasphemy, no such execution has apparently ever happened.

But the law remains, despite criticism from human rights activists.

Samsam Bokhari, Pakistan’s Deputy Information Minister, says the government has no plans to change the law.

However that has not stopped continuing protests and rallies all over Pakistan, with plenty of rock throwing and civil disobedience.

Around 5,000 people gathered in Karachi, just the other day, carrying placards etc.

Some of them chanting, “Death to America!”

Which was really not the point.

* * *

What about blasphemy in Australia?

It never ends. In supermarket aisles, playgrounds, and on every TV screen, day in, day out . . . .

“O, my God!” people say, usually with a giggle, a shrug or a rolling of the eyes.

Taking our Creator’s name in vain is forbidden to Christians, Jews, Muslims — to everyone hoping to escape hell.

It is forbidden by the Second of the Ten Commandments: “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain . . . .”  (Exodus, chapter 20)

Australia’s civilisation will not survive if we continue blaspheming God’s name.

We will become an unpleasant scrap of refuse in the dustbin of history.

* * *

Disrespecting God brings consequences in both time and eternity.

God revealed to Saint Catherine of Siena that he will call mortals on the Last Day, “Rise you dead and come to judgement . . . you who are dead to my love.”

And he told her how he grieves for the proud: “Their hatred so great that they cannot will or desire any good, but continually blaspheme me . . . .  They will be gnawed eternally by hatred, because in hatred they finished their lives.”

Is that us he was speaking about?

The Spanish government recently fined a broadcaster 100,000 Euros for running advertisements favouring the traditional family and opposing homosexual lifestyles.

Italian politician, Rocco Buttiglione, had his nomination as a European Union Commissioner withdrawn because of his Catholic beliefs.

The head of Turkey’s Catholic community, Bishop Luigi Padovese, was fatally stabbed in his home by his driver on June 3, 2010.  

These events are typical of 21st century Europe, according to a report released ten days ago by a group called the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination . . . .

There are hundreds of examples on the Observatory website.

The Observatory report calls on European governments to “show full respect for fundamental freedoms, recognition and condemnation of intolerance and discrimination against Christians to ensure their full participation in public life . . . .”

* * *

Speaking last September to the Catholic bishops of Europe, Pope Benedict XVI touched on the same subject.

But his emphasis was slightly different.

He urged the bishops to “fight against intolerance and discrimination against Christians . . . .”

He then went on to tell the bishops to “continue the important work undertaken and inspire in the Church communities the necessary commitment . . . .”

* * *

Note that the Pope’s key word is “commitment”.

The point is that – while it would be nice if non-Christian society would stop persecuting Christianity – the Church’s most urgent problem is insufficient commitment within the Catholic community itself.

Truly committed Catholics would be a challenge to non-Catholic individuals and the society around them.

That might result in the Church receiving greater respect, and perhaps increasing numbers converting to the Faith . . . .

Or it might lead to increased persecution . . . .

Or both . . . .

* * *

Whatever. What matters most is that truly committed Catholics would be pleasing to God.

That is the purpose of the Church’s existence – that God should be obeyed and that we should live solely committed to pleasing him.

So long as we live to please God, and him alone, the question of whether we are persecuted or not is secondary.

If persecution comes, we must accept it as something which God permits, and offer it up to him.

This year’s Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Liu Xiaobo.

Mr Liu missed the presentation, due to a previous engagement — he’ll be in prison in China for the next 11 years for “inciting subversion of state power”.

Liu and 350 others signed a document called “Charter 08”, calling for an amended constitution, legislative democracy, independent judiciary, freedom of religion etc.

The Charter begins by saying: “This is the 1ooth year of China’s Constitution, the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights . . . the 10th year since China signed the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

“After experiencing a prolonged period of human rights disasters and a tortuous struggle and resistance, the awakening Chinese citizens are increasingly recognising that freedom, equality, and human rights are universal common values shared by all humankind, and that democracy, a republic and constitutionalism constitute the basic structural framework of modern governance . . .

“Where will China head in the 21st century? Continue a ‘modernisation’ under this kind of authoritarian rule? Or recognise universal values, assimilate into the mainstream civilisation, and build a democratic political system?”

Mr Liu couldn’t have been very surprised when he was locked up.

* * *

The selection of a Nobel Peace Prize-winner is always a political statement. (Last year President Obama won it.)

This year’s decision contains two messages from the Nobel Committee to China:

Firstly, that the way of the future is the America-like kind of world that Mr Liu and associates want — not the kind that today’s Chinese leadership wants.

Secondly, that nothing will be done to force change on China except this kind of ineffectual gesture. Trade interests always trump human rights. (Just as when the 2008 Olympic Games went to Beijing and no serious attempts made to boycott them.)

* * *

During the Olympics, Chinese Christians were warned against organising public worship.

But on the Feast of the Assumption, about 1000 Catholics attended a Mass celebrated by Bishop Jia Zhiguo.

Bishop Jia, who had already spent 15 years of his life in prison, was again arrested.

Nobody has given him a Nobel.

But what he stands for is a true alternative.

Both sides of the world power-struggle are comfortable with him in gaol.