However, when he was "caught" committing adultery, he openly wept and "confessed" his sins to the WORLD via television. Hmmm! Interesting!
Now it seems with the alleged misbehavior of President Clinton, we hear news reporters urging the President to just "own up" to the American people honestly what his association and behavior has been with regard to the former White House intern, Monica Lewinsky. Whether or not the news reporters give the nomenclature of "confession" to what they are asking the President to do, it remains a reality that that is exactly what they are requesting.
For Catholics we know that the “confession” the news media is asking for is not of a sacramental nature. But it is interesting that they ARE asking the President to "confess" his behavior and to the world.
I do wish our President that he would come to know the value and help that SACRAMENTAL confession would have for him and frankly for any and all involved in all of the allegations.
Jesus gave us the Sacrament of confession to heal us, and for sure, everyone of us needs to be healed. I, personally, have always felt strengthened and encouraged by this Sacrament.
Have you noticed, however, how readily people across our nation are ready to condone or tolerate alleged bad behavior of Clinton, whether it relates to adultery or lying? Our country has become so de-moralized that it the possible ill behavior is a ready excuse for other people for their possible bad behavior.
The conscience of Americans has been darkened. Right and wrong are not judged by God’s Commandments but by the need to excuse immorality in their own lives. Twenty years ago, the alleged behavior of Clinton would not have been tolerated by our society, but it seems that the American people are too ready to conclude that what the President does in his private life is his business as long as he does a good job as President.
Well, folks, a human being cannot be one person privately and another in his workplace. He cannot separate the principles by which he lives from one place to the other. He cannot lead with principles, if he doesn’t believe in them and exercise them in his private life. Our President either knows right from wrong, or he doesn’t. As the leader goes, so go his followers. Sodom and Gomorrah, are we better than you?
God bless you!
The New Woman All Women Health Care Clinic was destroyed in the 7:30 am explosion, according to police. Authorities evacuated students at nearby University of Alabama dormitories out of concern that a second device might explode, following a pattern at an Atlanta clinic bombing last year. Windows in the two-story building were blown out and an awning over the door was ripped apart. Black debris was blown into the street, and windows of an office building across the street were shattered. Pro-life leaders in Birmingham condemned the explosion as a heinous act and said it was in contradiction to the principles of the pro-life movement.
No suspects have been yet identified, but witnesses at the scene said police were questioning Menzor Chadwick, a regular pro-life protester at the clinic who was across the street when the building exploded. Police said later in the day that they cannot confirm whether there is a second bomb at the clinic and that the possibility was holding up the investigation.
In a sharp attack on the Holy See, the German theologian-- whose heterodox works have prompted the Vatican to warn that he should not be regarded as a Catholic theologian-- lashed out at the bishops for what he called their "servile obedience" to the "Roman Kremlin."
Kung said that the bishops, by accepting the Pope's decision, had lost their "credibility" and their "apostolic franchise." He desperately urged them to "tenacious resistance" against the authority of Rome, which he said was based on "half-truths" and "camouflage." In a nasty personal dig at Bishop Karl Lehmann of Mainz, the head of the German bishops' conference, he hinted that the German bishops were motivated by their desire to become cardinals.
Actually the German bishops have already shown at least some resistance to the Pope in this case. Although the Holy Father said that Catholic counselors should "instantly" stop issuing the certificates which are required to obtain abortions, the German bishops said that the practice would be stopped "as soon as possible."
In the Vatican Radio interview-- which was timed to coincide with the end of the Islamic observance of Ramadan-- Sheik Tantawi of the Grand Mosque in Cairo responded positively to a Vatican plea for Catholic-Muslim cooperation. That plea was lodged at the beginning of Ramadan by Cardinal Francis Arinze, the president of the Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue.
"We condemn terrorism in all its forms," the sheik said. "We condemn terrorism in Algeria, in Egypt, in every part of the world." He continued: "We condemn those who seize the territory of others, and those who violate the rights of others, because such acts are contrary to the right which Allah has commanded us to respect." He concluded: "We are allies for everyone who fights against injustice and oppression of all forms."
In response to the invitation to cooperative efforts, the Iman said that all genuine religions "welcome those who work for peace." He made a particular reference to Pope John Paul as a man noted for his pursuit of peace. And he said that Christian-Muslim cooperation would undoubtedly serve the cause of society, by "struggling against evil, sins, and all that Allah forbids, and for the progress of nations and the welfare of the whole world."
