Wednesday, June 22, 2011

child abuse - part 1

Child sexual abuse is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation.[1][2] Forms of child sexual abuse include asking or pressuring a child to engage in sexual activities (regardless of the outcome), indecent exposure of the genitals to a child, displaying pornography to a child, actual sexual contact against a child, physical contact with the child's genitals (except in certain non-sexual contexts such as a medical exam), viewing of the child's genitalia for the purpose of sexual gratification, or using a child to produce child pornography.[1][3][4]

The effects of child sexual abuse include depression,[5] post-traumatic stress disorder,[6] anxiety,[7] propensity to further victimization in adulthood,[8] and physical injury to the child, among other problems.[9] Sexual abuse by a family member is a form of incest, and can result in more serious and long-term psychological trauma, especially in the case of parental incest.[10]

In North America, for example, approximately 15% to 25% of women and 5% to 15% of men were sexually abused when they were children.[11][12][13] Most sexual abuse offenders are acquainted with their victims; approximately 30% are relatives of the child, most often brothers, fathers, uncles or cousins; around 60% are other acquaintances such as 'friends' of the family, babysitters, or neighbors; strangers are the offenders in approximately 10% of child sexual abuse cases.[11] Most child sexual abuse is committed by men; studies show that women commit 14% to 40% of offenses reported against boys and 6% of offenses reported against girls.[11][12][14] Most offenders who sexually abuse prepubescent children are pedophiles,[15][16] although some offenders do not meet the clinical diagnosis standards for pedophilia.[17][18]

Under the law, "child sexual abuse" is an umbrella term describing criminal and civil offenses in which an adult engages in sexual activity with a minor or exploits a minor for the purpose of sexual gratification.[4][19] The American Psychiatric Association states that "children cannot consent to sexual activity with adults", and condemns any such action by an adult: "An adult who engages in sexual activity with a child is performing a criminal and immoral act which never can be considered normal or socially acceptable behavior."[20]

Saturday, June 18, 2011

SIGNS OF CHRIST'S SECOND ARRIVAL

1. INTRODUCTION

Will there be signs, warning and advance indications of our Lord’s coming? If so, what will they be? Two extremes must be avoided. On the one hand, we must not set dates for the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. No man knows the precise hour of the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 24:36, 42; Acts 1:6, 7). On the other hand, we are not to be dulled into spiritual lethargy. We are to watch and be ready for the rapture (2 Timothy 4:8). Jesus wants His people to discern the signs of the times (Matthew 16:3; Luke 21:28; 1 Thessalonians 5:4). Genuine Christians who carefully observes current events and moral and religious trends must be deeply impressed by the cumulative evidence. Surely we are in the last days, and Christ’s second coming is very near indeed. What are some of the specific signs which seem to herald our Lord’s return?



2. A SCOFFING UNBELIEF IN CHRIST’S COMING

"There shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation" (2 Peter 3:3, 4). Some will flatly deny the doctrine of Jesus’ return as absurd or unreasonable. Others will interpret it to mean the death of the believer. Others will openly ridicule it as antiquated or superstitious. The very spread of incredulity indicates that the Lord’s coming draws near. For Peter tells us that scoffers will abound "in the last days" (2 Peter 3:3).



3. RELIGIOUS UNCONCERN

Callousness and carelessness with regard to the things of Christ have always been present. But they will increase in the last days and thus point unerringly toward the return of Christ. An Instructive Parallel - In Noah’s day, shortly before the destructive judgment of the Flood, men were concerned about two items: eating and drinking, and marrying and giving in marriage. The propagation and preservation of the race were their main topics of conversation in the very hour when the race was about to perish (Compare Genesis 6:5-9:19 with Matthew 24:32-39). The sinful race in Noah’s day cared little about his repeated warnings, was more interested in business as usual and the perpetuity of the human species. The inevitable result was that it was swept away by the Flood. So it will be at Christ’s coming. Mounting lack of concern about the things of God in general will precede His coming and indicate that it is near.



4. A FALLING AWAY FROM THE FAITH

God has given to us in His Word (i.e. Holy Bible) which is accurate and reliable. "Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21). People long have questioned, doubted and impugned the authority of the Bible. But the sacred Book has stood the test of time. In the last days the apostasy ("falling away") will spread rapidly. (And that is happening today!)

4.1 The Testimony of Paul

"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith." (1 Timothy 4:1-5) Note the "seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils" (1 Timothy 4:1) which will lead people astray. "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine" (2 Timothy 4:3). Unbelievers will have "itching ears" and will seek after false teachers and false religions which will not provide the true way of Salvation. They will be turned unto fables (2 Timothy 4:4).

4.2 The Modern Fulfillment

Paul stated the case perfectly. Spurious sects abound today. The old-fashioned, saving gospel is widely spurned. The integrity of the Scriptures is denied far and wide. The growing apostasy proclaims the approach the Son of God (Matthew 24:11).



5. AN OUTWARD FORMALISM

This will be a strange phenomenon of the latter days. Inward unbelief will be cloaked in outward ritualism. Faithlessness will be concealed by ceremonialism. If faith is missing, they will concentrate on form, "having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away" (2 Timothy 3:5).

5.1 The Value of Ceremonies

If one's faith in the Lord Jesus is deep and genuine, of course he will wish to demonstrate it in visible, tangible ways. He will prove the purity of his religion by holiness and charity (James 1:27) and by the religious exercises in which, as a child of God, he engages.

5.2 The Danger of Ceremonies

But when the outward trappings of religion are a substitute for saving faith in Christ, they can lure a man to a Christless eternity! In the last days this will be the tragic state of affairs. Many a man who is outwardly religious but inwardly lost will be left being at Christ’s appearing. The very multiplication of religious, formal but unredeemed groups will be another indication of the Saviour’s approaching advent.



6. THE INCREASE OF WICKEDNESS

Paul describes the last days as "perilous times" (2 Timothy 3:1-9). He then explains the nature of the peril. Study with care II Timothy 3:1-9. Essentially men will be "lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God" (II Timothy 3:4).

6.1 The Surprise

Popular fancy would have us believe that man’s moral status steadily improves; that education, erudition and culture are adequate agents in ethical rehabilitation. The Bible teaches the opposite. Man is a sinner both by nature and in conduct. A sign that Christ's coming is near is not that human society is morally prepared for His return, but rather that it is thoroughly degraded apart from the gracious influence of the Gospel.

6.2 The Challenge

Christians must do all they can to improve society. But their observation of contemporary moral deterioration (e.g. some highly educated men commit homosexual activities) and delinquency (e.g. a recent murder case was relating to a child who had killed a baby) must alert them to the nearness of Jesus’ advent (Matthew 24:12).



7. DISTURBANCES OF NATURE

7.1 The Ordinary Course of Nature

Earthquakes, famines and pestilences characterize human history. For since the Fall of man, nature has been under the divine curse (Romans 8:22).

7.2 Intensified Confusion

Jesus implied (Luke 21:10, 11) that these things would increase in number and destructive effect toward the close of the age.

7.3 Present Fulfillment

There have been more severe earthquakes in the last two hundred years than in the preceding one thousand years (Matthew 24:7; Luke 21:11). And the twentieth century has witnessed a lot of the worst pestilences in history (Matthew 24:21).



8. UNIQUE CONTEMPORARY SIGNS

During the last few decades a series of events has been taking place, the converging impact of which would suggest that Christ’s second coming may be even nearer than many believers suppose. There are at least eight such contemporary events is overwhelming. May we all be on tiptoe spiritually, with the earnest prayer in our hearts, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus" (Revelation 22:20).

8.1 Political Consolidation in the West

A union of ten nations in the area of the ancient Roman Empire is predicted in Daniel as a sign of the last days. These are the "ten toes" and "ten horns" of Daniel 2:42; 7:7. Read Revelation 13:1-15, 17:8-13. Western European countries are today entering into ever closer, economic (e.g. unified monetary system, ECU), political and military ties. The way is being prepared for Anti-Christ to assume power after the Church is caught up and away.

8.2 Promotion of Cashless Transactions System and Computer Records

The promotion of cashless system is also providing a way for the Anti-Christ to control the human rights of all people. Advancement of computer technology, computerized personal records and also transaction records, credit cards, debit cards and the recent launched "Mondex" cards will be used by the Anti-Christ as effective means to control all people and force them to obey and worship him (Read Revelation 13:16-18).

8.3 Stirrings in the Far East

Mighty nations, such as the People’s Republic of China (PRC), are now alert and ready for action. The rulers of the PRC are blood thirsty, corrupted and absolute dictators. Most of the religious activities are prohibited in PRC. Their military might is growing and their national ambitions are increasing. The renascence of the Far East is paving the way for the marching of "the kings of the east" toward Armageddon (Revelation 16:12).

8.4 Fusion of Peoples in the North

This means, north of Palestine - the area of Russia and her satellites. This fusion of peoples under the sponsorship of the hammer and sickle is a precursor of the great northern confederation (Ezekiel 38:14-16) which will invade Israel in the latter days. The present President of Russia who has serious heart disease (he is very sick), will either die or lose his political power very soon. The former army leaders (i.e. communists) will reign Russia with iron rod very soon. Russia will become a very strong military country very soon. The closer the "iron curtain" countries are joined in political unity, the nearer Christ’s return seems to be.

8.5 The Return of Israel to Her Land

After many centuries of wandering, the Jews are now making their way back to Palestine. Nowadays, Israel is a duly recognized republic (Review Isaiah 11:11; Jeremiah 23:3; Amos 9:13-15). The vanguard of Hebrews already back on the soil of their fathers will be followed by many more of their countrymen. All this paves the way for the return of Christ for His own; and then for the treacherous conduct of Anti-Christ, who will make a deadly agreement with Israel back in her land (Daniel 9:24-27).

8.6 The Tendency to Re-build the Jewish Temple at the Temple Mountain

The Jewish Temple will be rebuilt with the permission of the Anti-Christ who will seat on the throne in the temple and force the Jews to worship him (Matthew 24:15, 24; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12; Revelation 13:1-15). The recent re-opening of the second tunnel at the temple mountain in Jerusalem and excavation of archaeological evidences in Israel showing the tendency for the Jews to rebuild their Temple and restore their daily Sacrifices. If the Jews can find the lost gold altar of incense, ark of the covenant and two stone tablets of ten commandments, it will be a very strong and sufficient archaeological evidence to prove that the Holy Bible is the true Word of God, they will want to rebuild their Temple immediately (Note: A lot of Jews don't believe the New Testament, they only accept the Old Testament as the true Word of God) so that they just want to restore the Sacrifices in accordance with the Law of Moses. Satan don't want the Jews to rebuild their Temple because the Satan's ruling period in this world will only last for 7 years or even less according to the Bible Prophecy (Daniel 9:27). According to the above reasons, most of the people in the world will not pay attention to the current affairs happened in Israel. They may be deceived by the Satan to pay more attention to their daily entertainments, money making, UFO, ET, etc.

8.7 Preparation for the Coming World Church

The vast ecclesiastica maneuvering observable today, the merging of church groups, the minimizing of theological distinctives which separate denominations, the greater "understanding" between Protestantism and Rome - all this seems to be setting the stage for ecclesiastical apostate Babylon (Revelation 17:1-7). The harlot of Babylon represent a world-wide corrupt religious system (apostate Christianity) linked with Rome. The great prostitute as a false wife trying to take the place of the true Bride, the Church of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:22-28). In her final form she gathers up into her embrace all the false religious systems of earth. This Babylon will come into prominence on earth when the Church of Christ has been caught up to heaven.

8.8 The Atomic Age

As a climax to all the other signs, our generation has now entered an age about which our predecessors knew nothing. Peter, in describing "the day of the Lord," writes that "the elements shall melt with fervant heat," and that "all these things shall be dissolved" (2 Peter 3:10, 11). His words suggest just such an explosive era as the twentieth century. The destructive power of atomic bombs can evolve immense heat which can dissolve all materials in the world. Read also Matthew 24:6-8, 29; Revelation 6:1-8. Before the cataclysmic forces strike, the people of the Lord will be with their Saviour (2 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 5:1-6). Surely His coming will not be delayed much longer! Are we ready to meet Him in the air?



9. THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONLY WAY TO SALVATION

There is only one God, there is only one way to salvation. What is that way?

Is it by prayer? No
Is it by good deeds? No
Is it by paying money? No
Is it by doing the best you can? No.
Is it by becoming a local church member? No.
Is it by becoming a follower of a religion system? No.
What, then, is the way to Salvation?

The Lord Jesus Christ said, "I am the way." (John 14:6) He is the only way. No mere human leader or religious system showed us the right way to Heaven. We are faced with a decision. We can take the road which leads to eternal life and Heaven or we can take the road which leads to eternal death and Hell. God wants us to choose the way to eternal life. Satan wants us to choose the way to eternal death. God will not force us to take the way to Heaven. We have a free will. We can choose the place in which we want to spend eternity. We must choose today. Tomorrow may be too late to make our choice. We may be either dead or the Lord Jesus Christ may have already come to rapture His saints to Heaven.

"But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up…." (2 Peter 3:8-13). If you want to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, then you must pray to God, "I am a sinner, I deserve to go to Hell. I believe the Lord Jesus Christ died for my sins. I accept Him now as my personal Saviour and will seek to live for Him from this time forward."

VATICAN ADMITS WIDE SPREAD ABUSE OF NUNS BY PRIESTS

The Catholic Church in Rome made the extraordinary admission yesterday that it is aware priests from at least 23 countries have been sexually abusing nuns.

The Catholic Church in Rome made the extraordinary admission yesterday that it is aware priests from at least 23 countries have been sexually abusing nuns.

Most of the abuse has occurred in Africa, where priests vowed to celibacy, who previously sought out prostitutes, have preyed on nuns to avoid contracting the Aids virus.

Confidential Vatican reports obtained by the National Catholic Reporter, a weekly magazine in the US, have revealed that members of the Catholic clergy have been exploiting their financial and spiritual authority to gain sexual favours from nuns, particularly those from the Third World who are more likely to be culturally conditioned to be subservient to men.

The reports, some of which are recent and some of which have been in circulation for at least seven years, said that such priests had demanded sex in exchange for favours, such as certification to work in a given diocese.

In extreme instances, the priests had made nuns pregnant and then encouraged them to have abortions.

The US article was based on five documents, which senior women from religious orders and priests have presented to the Vatican over the past decade. They describe a particularly bad situation in Africa. In a continent devastated by Aids, nuns, along with early adolescent girls, are perceived by some as safe sexual targets. The reports said that the church authorities had done little to tackle the problem.

The Vatican reports cited countless cases of nuns forced to have sex with priests. Some were obliged to take the pill, others became pregnant and were encouraged to have abortions. In one case in which an African sister was forced to have an abortion, she died during the operation and her aggressor led the funeral mass. Another case involved 29 sisters from the same congregation who all became pregnant to priests in the diocese.

The reports said that the cultures in some African countries made it almost impossible for a young woman to disobey an older man, especially one seen as spiritually superior. There were cases of novices who applied to their local priest or bishop for certificates of good Catholic practice that were required for them to pursue their vocation. In return they were made to have sex. Some incidents of sexual abuse allegedly took place almost within the Vatican walls.

Certain unscrupulous clerics took advantage of young nuns who were having trouble finding accommodation, writing their essays and funding their theological studies.

Forced to acknowledge the problem, the Vatican has tried to play down its gravity. In a statement issued yesterday the Pope's official spokesman, Joaquin Navarro Valls, said: "The problem is known and involves a restricted geographical area. Certain negative situations must not overshadow the often heroic faith of the overwhelming majority of religious, nuns and priests".

One of the most comprehensive documents was compiled by Sister Maura O'Donohue, an Aids co-ordinator for Cafod, the London-based Catholic Fund for Overseas Development.

She noted that religious sisters had been identified as "safe" targets for sexual activity. She quotes a case in 1991 of a community superior being approached by priests requesting that the nuns be made available to them for sexual favours.

"When the superior refused the priests explained they would otherwise be obliged to go to the village to find women and might thus get Aids."Sister O'Donohue said her initial reaction to what she was told by her fellow religious "was one of shock and disbelief at the magnitude of the problem".

While most of the abuse happened in African countries, Sister O'Donohue reported incidents in 23 countries including India, Ireland, Italy, the Philippines and the United States.

She heard cases of priests encouraging the nuns to take the pill telling them it would prevent HIV. Others "actually encouraged abortion for the sisters" and Catholic hospitals and medical staff reported pressure from priests to carry out terminations for nuns and other young women.

O'Donohue wrote in her report how a vicar in one African diocese had talked "quite openly" about sex, saying that "celibacy in the African context means a priest does not get married, but does not mean he does not have children."

The head of the Vatican congregation for Religious Life, Cardinal Martinez Somalo, has set up a committee to look into the problem. But it seems to have done little beyond "awareness raising" among bishops.

More recently, in 1998, Sister Marie McDonald, mother superior of the Missionaries of Our Lady of Africa, put together a paper entitled The Problem of the Sexual Buse of African Religious in Africa and Rome.

She tabled the document to the Council of 16, made up of delegates of the international association of women's and men's religious communities and the Vatican office responsible for religious life. She noted that a contributing cause was the "conspiracy of silence".

When she addressed bishops on the problem, many of them felt it was disloyal of the sisters to send reports.

"However, the sisters claim they have done so time and time again. Sometimes they were not well received. In some instances they are blamed for what happened. Even when they are listened to sympathetically nothing much seems to be done" One of the most tragic elements that emerges is the fate of the victims. While the offending priests are usually moved or sent away for studies, the women are normally chased out of their religious orders, they are then either to scared to return to their families or are rejected by them. they often finished up as outcasts, or, in a cruel twist of irony, as prostitutes, making a meagre living from an act they had vowed never to do.

One of the few religious in Rome willing to talk about the report was Father Giulio Albanese, of MISNA, the missionary news agency. "Missionaries are human beings, who are often living under immense psychological pressure in situations of war and ongoing violence. On one hand it's important to condemn this horror and it's important tell the truth, but we must not emphasise this at the expense of the work done by the majority, many of whom have laid down lives for witness" said Fr Albanese "The press only talks about missionaries when they are killed, kidnapped or are involved in something scandalous" he added.

As the Vatican digests the unpalatable evidence of how their own priests are ruining the lives of their sisters, many Catholics hope a strong message may come from on high. With the American bishops, the Pope spoke in clear terms about paedophile priests, telling them this was a scourge that had to be faced. Some now hope that he may be equally courageous in denouncing an evil which has been covered by silence and shame for too long.

Catholic priests abusing nuns

WHERE IS THE REAL CELIBACY TAUGHT BY CHRIST?????????

Roman Catholic priests and bishops in several parts of the world have been exploiting their religious authority to obtain sexual favours from nuns, in some cases resorting to rape and subsequently obliging the victims to seek an abortion, it was claimed yesterday.
Report of widespread sexual abuses were compiled by two senior nuns between 1994 and 1998 and passed to the Vatican, the Rome daily La Repubblica and the Italian Roman Catholic news agency Adista said.

Abuses were documented in 23 countries, many of them in Africa, but also in Ireland, Italy, the US, the Philippines and Brazil, they said.

The Vatican acknowledged the existence of the problem yesterday and said it was working with bishops and the heads of religious orders to try to resolve it.

"The problem is known and is restricted to a limited geographic area," its spokesman, Joaquin Navarro-Valls, said.

"A few negative situations must not make us forget the often heroic faithfulness of the vast majority of monks, nuns and priests."

The Aids epidemic in Africa has led to nuns being seen as a potential source of safe sex, according to Sister Maura O'Donohue, of the Medical Missionaries of Mary, who visited numerous African countries to conduct an Aids study on behalf of the Catholic development agency Cafod.

"The superior of a religious community in one country was contacted by priests who asked her to make the nuns available for sexual services," she wrote.

On the superior's refusal, the priests said they would otherwise have to go to the village to look for women, exposing themselves to the risk of Aids."

The reports, one of which is said to have been delivered three years ago to Cardinal Eduardo Martinez Somalo, head of the Vatican department responsible for religious orders, say young female candidates for religious life are sometimes obliged to have sex with a priest to obtain the necessary certificates.

Nuns who became pregnant were forced to leave their religious congregation, the reports say, while the priests responsible were simply sent away for a brief period.

In one community 29 nuns are reported to have become pregnant after sexual relations with priests, but when the mother superior raised the problem with her archbishop she was removed from her post. One priest is said to have induced a nun he had impregnated to have an abortion and when she died during the operation he celebrated her funeral mass.

Another priest is reported to have been driven from his village by gunfire when the local men got fed up with the way he abused his power with their women.

Many African women have been raised to consider themselves inferior to men, and so find it difficult to say no to requests for sexual favours by priests, who are seen as authority figures, according to a report by Sister Marie McDonald, superior general of the Missionaries of Our Lady of Africa, quoted by Adista.

The priests are better educated than the nuns and sometimes use false theological arguments to persuade them, suggesting, for example, that sex between two celibate religious does not violate their vows of celibacy, she said.

Father Bernardo Cervellera, editor of the missionary news agency Fides, said the problem was largely confined to Africa, where the ideal of celibacy met resistance from cultural beliefs that set great store on fatherhood.

"In 25 years as a missionary priest I have never encountered this situation. I have come across the opposite, where priests have defended nuns from assault," he said.

"We shouldn't confuse a few individual errors with a tendency. I admire many African priests, who live their vocation with great heroism."