The Vatican is this morning facing a further crisis after routine DNA tests revealed that the communion wafers used in Sunday mass contain 0% of the body and blood of Christ.

The Vatican is this morning facing a further crisis after routine DNA tests revealed that the communion wafers used in Sunday mass contain 0% of the body and blood of Christ.

The findings are sure to pile further pressure on the ailing religious organisation, just days after their Chief Executive resigned citing ‘personal reasons’ and ‘being a bit old’.

The news will concern billions of Catholic consumers, previously led to believe they were consuming Christ himself each Sunday morning during mass.

Catholic Simon Williams told us, “So what have I been eating all these years? It’s not horse again is it?”

“It’s always had a funny taste that I couldn’t quite place. But having been a choir boy in the catholic church I grew up being told by priests that putting strange things in my mouth was the done thing.”

“That said, with the amount of cash I’m encouraged to put in the collection plate on a Sunday morning I can’t believe they’re scrimping on the ingredients.”

“You’ll be telling me next that the stuff they dip the wafer in isn’t actually blood.”

Catholic crisis

A spokesperson for the Vatican explained that the DNA test results merely highlight the incompatibility of science and religion.

They told us, “Where is your faith that the wafer is the body of Christ? Science can’t tell you everything, and just as it can’t prove God doesn’t exist, it can’t prove the wafer ISN’T the body of Christ.”

“Oh, it has done exactly that? Right. Well.  There’s probably something in the Bible about that. I’ll have to go and look.”         NewsThump

Pentagon confirms North Korean missile launch

In defiance of recent international condemnation for a supposed hydrogen bomb test, North Korea launched a long-range missile Sunday morning, according to senior Pentagon officials.

“Based upon its trajectory as we are tracking it, it does not pose a threat to the U.S. or allies,” a senior defense official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence matters.

The launch occurred at 7:29 p.m. Eastern Saturday and 9:29 a.m. local Sunday, according to the Pentagon. The missile’s launch system appears to have entered space, according to senior defense officials, much like the United States’s inter-continental ballistic missiles.

The missile is a possible test of a system that could deliver a nuclear warhead capable of striking the U.S. homeland, something North Korea has sought to develop and produce for decades. It is unclear where the missile impacted, however according to the U.S. Strategic Command, the missile was tracked “on a southerly launch over the Yellow Sea.”

According to a release from Strategic Command, U.S. forces in the region “remain vigilant in the face of North Korean provocations and are fully committed to working closely with our Republic of Korea and Japanese allies to maintain security.”

Various reports on social media indicated the missile violated Japanese airspace during its flight.

Earlier last month North Korea claimed a successful underground hydrogen bomb test. Though the explosion created a small earthquake in the region, international monitors claimed the blast was too small to be an actual hydrogen bomb.

In a statement U.S. Secretary of State John F. Kerry strongly condemned the launch.

“We will continue to work with our partners and members of the UN Security Council on significant measures to hold the DPRK to account,” Kerry said.

The test, the fourth of its kind since 2006, drew widespread international condemnation and prompted threats of new sanctions from the U.N. Security Council. Following North Korea’s most recent launch, according to Reuters, the Security Council is expected to hold an emergency meeting Sunday.    Washington Post

New stamps promoting LGBT equality worldwide unveiled at UN

UN Free and Equal postage stamps – promoting LGBT equality worldwide. Source: UNPA

4 February 2016 – The United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) today unveiled a set of six commemorative stamps to promote UN Free & Equal – a global UN campaign for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality launched and led by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
The new stamps, which celebrate the diversity of the LGBT community, mark the first time the United Nations has issued stamps with this theme. The set, which features two in English, two in French, and two in German, will be available as of tomorrow at UN Headquarters in New York, Geneva and Vienna. They can also be purchased online.
In an interview, the artist who designed them said he was very influenced by art from the first quarter of the 20th Century. Sergio Baradat, who is of Cuban background, explained that his style stems from his appreciation for French Art Deco and growing up in Miami.
“One of the stamps represents someone who is transgender,” Mr. Baradat told UN Radio, referring to the stamp that depicts a person with butterfly wings, an image he says represents a person “becoming who they really are, blossoming,” he said.
“We live in a world where even though [developed] nations have embraced marriage equality [and] LBGT equality, we still have a far, far, far way to go, but we are making some strides,” he added.
“There are some countries in the world right now where not only are we not celebrated or respected, but we are beaten and killed. And I thought that it would be a wonderful opportunity using art, to use postage stamps as a vehicle – using art to change hearts and minds.”
He also stressed that LGBT rights are human rights and that all individuals deserve to be treated equally and fairly under the law.
The series is co-sponsored by the permanent missions of Argentina, Australia, Chile, El Salvador, Germany, Israel, Netherlands, Norway, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Uruguay, the delegation of the European Union, in addition to OHCHR and UNPA.
United Nations stamps in United States denominations are valid for postage only if mailed at UN Headquarters in New York. Stamps in Swiss franc denominations are valid for postage only if mailed at the Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland. Stamps in euro denominations are valid for postage only if mailed at the Vienna International Centre, Austria.          UN

Pope Francis announces historic meeting with Russian Orthodox Church leader

For the first time ever, a pope will meet with a patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, the Vatican has announced.
The meeting is aimed at improving ties between the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church, which broke away in the year 1054.
The globe-trotting Pope Francis is scheduled to meet Patriarch Kirill in Havana on Feb. 12.
“The importance of this event is this is the first time the pope meets the patriarch — it is extremely important for ecumenism,” Father Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, said at a news conference Friday.

The Orthodox Church split away nearly 1,000 years ago amid disagreements over liturgy and power-sharing. Over the centuries, the relationship has been full of rancor and distrust.
The Vatican and the wider Orthodox Church’s spiritual leadership have moved to patch things up over the last century, and Francis has met its current spiritual head, Patriarch Bartholomew. But the relationship has remained troubled because the powerful Russian branch, whose 150 million members account for two-thirds of all Orthodox Christians, has kept its distance.
In 1995, Pope John Paul II called the eastern and western churches the two lungs of Christianity and wanted to visit Moscow. But his plans to establish new Catholic dioceses in Russia only deepened the rift, with Russia accusing him of trying to convert Orthodox Christians to Catholicism.
Lombardi said the historic meeting this month follows two years of diplomacy. “This is not improvised,” he said.
The meeting will take place in the airport in Havana, a location that suits the longtime desire of both churches to meet on neutral ground as well as the schedules of Kirill and Francis. The Russian patriarch will be in Cuba as part of a tour of Latin America, while Francis will stop at the airport on his way to Mexico.
Cuba also has significance because it was for many years an ideological front line between Catholicism and Russian communism, while in 2014, Francis helped reopen diplomatic relations between Cuba and the U.S.
The two leaders will meet for nearly two hours before signing a joint declaration at an event hosted by Cuban leader Raul Castro.
The signing, Lombardi said, will signify “a dialogue that can overcome previous obstacles.”

Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill plan to meet in Cuba next week.
(Alberto Pizzoli, Louisa Gouliamaki)

Metropolitan Illarion, foreign policy chief of the Russian Orthodox Church, said Friday there were still basic disagreements to resolve, including the role of Orthodox churches in western Ukraine.
The killings of Catholics and Orthodox Christians in Middle East conflicts were a key motive for scheduling the meeting, he said.
“The situation in the Middle East, in northern and central Africa and in other regions where extremists are perpetrating a genocide of Christians requires immediate action and an even closer cooperation between Christian churches,” Illarion said.
“In this tragic situation, we need to put aside internal disagreements and pool efforts to save Christianity in the regions where it is subject to most severe persecution.”
The rift between the churches goes far beyond a battle for converts in Russia. One Vatican expert said it is largely about who would come out on top if they ever reunited. There are 1.2 billion Catholics.
“It’s about who has the bigger hat,” said Robert Mickens, editor in chief of Global Pulse. “The Russians are afraid of being swallowed up.”
Mickens said the Vatican has traditionally viewed itself as superior to the Russian Orthodox Church. But Francis has made friends in Moscow by behaving more like an equal.
Mickens added that the Russians had decided to act while Francis was still in office. “They fear a conservative backlash in Rome after Francis,” he said.
A key turn in church relations came in November 2014, when Francis bowed to Bartholomew during their meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, said Gerard O’Connell of the news organization Vatican Insider. The rapprochement “has a lot to do with the humility shown by Francis to the Orthodox Church,” he said.              LATimes

The healthy benefits of Garlic

Garlic (Allium sativum) has been called the "stinking rose."  While some people think it reeks, others can't get enough of its bite.  Whether you love garlic or can't stand it, there is no denying that this bulb provides a wealth of healthy benefits. 

Green Med Info's database documents the effectiveness of garlic in 183 disease conditions ranging from cancer to stroke, infection to atherosclerosis, diabetes to lead toxicity. The database also provides evidence of garlic's 57 pharmacological effects in the body.

Here are just seven evidenced-based reasons to eat more garlic every day.

1. Garlic Cuts Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke by 50%

Garlic reduces a multitude of risk factors that may lead to heart attack or stroke.  It's been shown to affect arteriosclerosis, triglycerides, blood pressure, platelet aggregation, and plasma viscosity.  Penn State researchers noted that studies link garlic use with a 38% decreased risk of heart problems in general.[i]

And in a prospective four-year clinical trial in Germany, researchers found that because garlic has so many effects on the body, it resulted in a reduction of relative cardiovascular risk for infarction (heart attack) and stroke by more than 50%.[ii]

2.  Garlic Slows Atherosclerosis

Studies show garlic inhibits the formation of arteriosclerotic plaque.[iii]  In fact, research on GreenMedInfo.com features 14 studies on how garlic fights arteriosclerosis, calcification of the arteries, and arterial plaque. 

At UCLA researchers conducted a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trial of 65 people at risk for heart disease.  Every day they gave the subjects a placebo capsule or a capsule containing aged garlic extract (250 mg) plus Vitamin B12 (100 micrograms), folic acid (300 micrograms), Vitamin B6 (12.5 mg), and the amino acid l-arginine (100 mg).  They measured the amount of calcification in the coronary artery at the beginning of the trial and at the end.  After one year the progression of coronary artery calcification was significantly reduced for the group taking the garlic and other supplements.[iv]

And the 4-year clinical trial in Germany cited above showed that garlic powder taken daily reduced the volume of arteriosclerotic plaque by up to 18%.[v]

3. Garlic Protects the Heart from Calcification

A study published in the International Journal Cardiology shows that aged garlic extract helps alter the ratio of brown fat to white fat surrounding the heart muscle.  Brown fat is a more active form of adipose tissue and produces heat or energy.  White fat is for storage and is inactive.  White fat surrounding the heart muscle is strongly correlated with the calcification of the coronary artery.

The study randomized 60 subjects to receive either a daily placebo or a supplement containing 250 mg of aged garlic-extract, 100 micrograms of vitamin-B12, 300 micrograms of folic-acid, 12.5mg of vitamin-B6, and 100 mg of l-arginine.

After one year the risks of coronary artery calcium progression were significantly lower in the supplement group compared to the placebo group.  Researchers also found an increase in the beneficial brown fat around the heart muscle. And the more brown fat a person had around their heart, the less risk of calcification they had. 

Another randomized placebo-controlled study from UCLA looked at the effect of aged garlic extract in patients on statin drugs.  For one year, patients took either a placebo or 4 ml of aged garlic extract.  At the end of the year, the rate of coronary calcification was 3 times slower for those taking the aged garlic extract.[vi]  The authors suggested that

"garlic may prove useful for patients who are at high risk of future cardiovascular events."

4. Garlic Lowers Blood Pressure Better Than Drugs

A groundbreaking study in the Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences compared garlic tablets with the blockbuster blood pressure lowering drug atenolol and a placebo.  It found that garlic in daily doses ranging from 300 to 1,500 mg significantly reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure in hypertensive patients compared to atenolol and placebo.[vii]

How does garlic lower blood pressure?  Sulfur compounds in garlic enter the red blood cells and are converted to hydrogen sulfide which dilates the blood vessels.  That helps boost blood flow and reduce blood pressure.    

In another study Chinese researchers recruited 125 stroke patients and asked them how often they ate garlic.  The mean garlic intake of the group was 2.9 grams per day – about one clove.  Then they measured arterial blood flow using an ultrasound test.

Researchers found they could accurately predict blood flow based on the amount of garlic the patients reported eating.[viii]  Patients eating less garlic had poorer circulation.  Those eating more had better circulation. 

5. Garlic Fights Infection.

Garlic has potent antibacterial powers and may be the life-saving answer to the growing problem of multi-drug resistant bacteria.  Studies prove that garlic can kill at least 13 types of infections – both bacterial and viral.

One study compared garlic to the antibiotic drug metronidazole in treating vaginal infections.  Every day, women in the study received either two 500 mg garlic tablets or two 250 mg doses of metronidazole.  After seven days the garlic reduced the active infection by 70% compared to 48% for the drug.  And garlic had no side effects making it a safer bet by far.  Metronidazole is a probable carcinogen with a wide range of side effects including nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, and abdominal pain.

6. Garlic Prevents the Common Cold

The Cochrane Collaboration in Australia documented a study in which garlic reduced the incidence of colds more than 50 percent.[ix]  Researchers gave 146 people either a placebo or a garlic supplement - standardized to 180 milligrams of allicin.  Allicin is the compound that gives garlic its pungent smell.

After 12 weeks the placebo group had 65 total colds while the garlic group had only 24.  In addition, the placebo group had a total of 366 sick days compared to the garlic group which only had 111.  In other words, the placebo group had more than triple the number of sick days as the garlic group.

Garlic can also reduce the severity of cold symptoms.  In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in the journal Clinical Nutrition researchers gave 120 people either a placebo or 2.5 grams per day of an aged garlic extract supplement. Over six months, the garlic group had 58 percent fewer colds and suffered 61 percent fewer days with colds.  In addition, the garlic group had 21 percent fewer symptoms when they did catch a cold.

7. Garlic Beats Chelation Drug for Detoxifying Lead

Garlic naturally reduces blood and tissue concentrations of lead.  And it's just as effectively as a common chelation drug.  A study published in the journal Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology compared garlic to the chelation drug known as d-penicillamine.[x]

Researchers measured lead concentrations in the blood of 117 workers at a car battery plant.  Then the workers were randomly assigned to take either garlic (1.2 milligrams of allicin from approximately 1,000 mg of garlic extract, three times daily) or d-penicillamine (250 mg, three times daily). 

After four weeks, both the drug and the garlic significantly reduced lead concentrations in the blood by about the same amount.  But the garlic also improved clinical symptoms while the drug did not.  The garlic significantly reduced irritability, headaches, deep tendon reflex, and systolic blood pressure.  And the drug had serious side effects.

The researchers concluded that

"garlic seems safer clinically and as effective as d-penicillamine. Therefore, garlic can be recommended for the treatment of mild-to-moderate lead poisoning."

Garlic has been proven time and again to be safe and effective.  Many studies have tested garlic oil, powder, or aged garlic extracts.  But eating and cooking with fresh whole garlic is a great way to get the benefits on a daily basis. Aim for one clove a day.

Add freshly crushed or chopped garlic to soups, stews, sauces, dressings, and vegetables.  But let your garlic sit for a few minutes after crushing or chopping it.  This allows the allicin to fully develop.  Heating the garlic or adding an acid (like lemon juice or vinegar) right away will kill off many of the beneficial compounds. 

References:

[i] Ried K, Toben C, Fakler P. "Effect of garlic on serum lipids: an updated meta-analysis." Nutr Rev. 2013;71(5):282Y299

[ii] G Siegel, A Walter, S Engel, A Walper, F Michel. [Pleiotropic effects of garlic]. Wien Med Wochenschr. 1999;149(8-10):217-24. PMID: 10483684

[iii] Günter Siegel, Frank Michel, Michael Ploch, Miguel Rodríguez, Martin Malmsten. [Inhibition of arteriosclerotic plaque development by garlic]. Wien Med Wochenschr. 2004 Nov;154(21-22):515-22. PMID: 15638070

[iv] Matthew J Budoff et al. Aged garlic extract supplemented with B vitamins, folic acid and L-arginine retards the progression of subclinical atherosclerosis: a randomized clinical trial. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2004 Feb;83(3):221-31. PMID: 19573556

[v] G Siegel, A Walter, S Engel, A Walper, F Michel. [Pleiotropic effects of garlic]. Wien Med Wochenschr. 1999;149(8-10):217-24. PMID: 10483684

[vi] Matthew J Budoff, Junichiro Takasu, Ferdinand R Flores, Yutaka Niihara, Bin Lu, Benjamin H Lau, Robert T Rosen, Harunobu Amagase. Inhibiting progression of coronary calcification using Aged Garlic Extract in patients receiving statin therapy: a preliminary study. Prev Med. 2004 Nov;39(5):985-91. PMID: 15475033

[vii] Rizwan Ashraf, Rafeeq Alam Khan, Imran Ashraf, Absar A Qureshi. Effects of Allium sativum (Garlic) on systolic and diastolic blood pressure in patients with essential hypertension. Pak J Pharm Sci. 2013 Sep ;26(5):859-63. PMID: 24035939

[viii] Lau KK et al, Garlic intake is an independent predictor of endothelial function in patients with ischemic stroke. The Journal Of Nutrition, Health & Aging 17:7 2013 Jul pg 600-4 PubMed:23933870

[ix] Lissiman E, Bhasale AL, Cohen M. Garlic for the common cold. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014 Nov 11;11:CD006206.

[x] Sina Kianoush, Mahdi Balali-Mood, Seyed Reza Mousavi, Valiollah Moradi, Mahmoud Sadeghi, Bita Dadpour, Omid Rajabi, Mohammad Taghi Shakeri. Comparison of therapeutic effects of garlic and d-Penicillamine in patients with chronic occupational lead poisoning. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2012 May ;110(5):476-81. Epub 2011 Dec 29. PMID: 22151785

Greenmedinfo 

The alarming link between energy drink consumption and young people suffering heart problems.

9NewsAdel

Published on Feb 3, 2016

A study by the University of Adelaide has revealed an alarming link between energy drink consumption and young people suffering heart problems.

 

Magnifying the character of Lucifer on TV

Lorena Blas, USA TODAY Life 10:44 a.m. EST January 31, 2016
Lucifer Morningstar (Tom Ellis) brings a different kind of devilish character to television. Fox's Lucifer (Mondays, 9 ET/PT) gives us a charming demonic dude who takes up residence in Los Angeles as a nightclub owner. Of course, he's quite the ladies' man, and well, he doesn't want to go back to hell, where his father wants him.
What’s next? Will the son of Satan walk among us? Oh wait, that's Damien, coming to A&E March 7.
But the Devil isn't new to the small screen. USA TODAY takes a look at other recent TV devils.

Lucifer (Supernatural, CW, Wednesdays, 9 ET/PT)
 Lucifer has had multiple faces on the drama series, which started in 2005. In most of his appearances, he's portrayed by Mark Pellegrino. But if you follow the show, you know this baddie also inhabited the characters played by Jared Padalecki and more recently, Misha Collins. It's a devil of a headache to follow.

Super Devil (Family Guy, Fox, Sundays, 9 ET/PT)
 Super Devil's appearance in Season 5 of the animated series is the stuff of legend.  He's got red skin, ram's horns, a flying motorcycle and a jar of marmalade that forces people to commit adultery. Ultimately, he's killed by Brian, the dog, randomly firing a revolver.

Devil Flanders (The Simpsons, Fox, Sundays, 8 ET/PT) 
Devil Flanders on the long-running Fox animated series is Simpsons neighbor Ned Flanders, transformed into Satan. One day, when Homer is out of doughnuts at work, he mutters something about being willing to sell his soul for a doughnut. So Devil Flanders  strikes a deal with Homer,  who thinks he can get out of the deal by not finishing it. Well, complications ensue and after a trial, Marge wins ownership of Homer's soul, beating the devil. Devil Flanders also appears on several "Treehouse of Horror" Halloween episodes.

Satan (South Park, Comedy Central)
The animated comedy series has its own demonic spirit. Satan, who here is openly gay, occasionally rises from Hell to South Park to carry out wicked deeds, but he's not completely without compassion. He's had relationships with Saddam Hussein and more recently, Chris. And he has a son named (what else?) Damien.

USAToday

The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven admits he lied about his experience; Publisher Says It Will Pull Book

Nearly five years after it hit best-seller lists, a book that purported to be a 6-year-old boy's story of visiting angels and heaven after being injured in a bad car crash is being pulled from shelves. The young man at the center of The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven, Alex Malarkey, said this week that the story was all made up.
The book's publisher, Tyndale House, had promoted it as "a supernatural encounter that will give you new insights on Heaven, angels, and hearing the voice of God."
But Thursday, Tyndale House confirmed to NPR that it is taking "the book and all ancillary products out of print."
The decision to pull the book comes after Alex Malarkey wrote an open letter to retailer LifeWay and others who sell Christian books and religious materials. It was published this week on the Pulpit and Pen website.
"I did not die. I did not go to Heaven," Alex wrote. He continued, "I said I went to heaven because I thought it would get me attention. When I made the claims that I did, I had never read the Bible. People have profited from lies, and continue to. They should read the Bible, which is enough. The Bible is the only source of truth. Anything written by man cannot be infallible."
He concluded, "Those who market these materials must be called to repent and hold the Bible as enough."
Here are a few key background details of the story: Alex Malarkey was paralyzed at the age of 6 when he was in a car wreck. He then spent two months in a coma. He's now a teenager. The book lists him as a co-author along with his father, Kevin Malarkey.
Calling the book a "spiritual memoir," The Washington Post notes that it "became part of a popular genre of 'heavenly tourism,' which has been controversial among orthodox Christians."
Alex's parents are now divorced; he and his siblings live with his mother, Beth Malarkey, who has previously spoken out against the book featuring her son. She has also said that profits from the book haven't been going to Alex. Another book about a boy who said he had gone to heaven, Heaven Is For Real, has been turned into a movie.
Last spring, Beth Malarkey wrote a blog post stating, "Alex's name and identity are being used against his wishes (I have spoken before and posted about it that Alex has tried to publicly speak out against the book), on something that he is opposed to and knows to be in error according to the Bible."
She added, "I am fully aware of what it feels like to be pulled in. There are many who are scamming and using the Word of God to do it. They are good, especially if you are not digging into your Bible and truly studying it. They study their audience and even read 'success' books to try to build better and bigger ... 'ministries/businesses.' "      NPR

The Papacy is forming an alliance with Google and Apple, the most powerful digital technology companies in the world.

EvenAtTheDoors

Published on Jan 31, 2016The Papacy is forming an alliance with the most powerful digital technology companies in the world. Why?

From Conflict to Communion: Catholics and Lutherans Will Recall Reformation

Nearly 500 years ago, Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of a German church, beginning the Protestant Reformation that led millions to break with the Roman Catholic Church and ushered in more than a century of conflict and war.

On Monday, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis will participate in a joint Lutheran-Catholic worship service in Sweden this October, kicking off a series of events planned for 2017 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.

The effort to mend relations with Protestants has been on the agenda of many popes before Francis, but it is a delicate endeavor. The worship service in Sweden was billed by its sponsors, the Vatican and the Lutheran World Federation, as a “commemoration,” not as a “celebration,” in order to avoid any inappropriate note of triumphalism. Some Catholics have criticized the notion of a pope celebrating the anniversary of a schism.

Francis addressed the troubled history between the Christian churches as he led an ecumenical vespers service at a basilica in Rome on Monday to mark the closing day of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. He appealed for forgiveness for “the sin of our divisions, an open wound in the Body of Christ.”

He added that “when together the Christians of different churches listen to the word of God and try to put it in practice, they achieve important steps toward unity.”

The year 2017 is also the 50th anniversary of the start of an international dialogue between Catholic and Lutheran theologians. The dialogue produced a significant document in 1999, the “Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification,” which established a common understanding on core questions about sin and salvation. In 2013, the two bodies published a joint study document, “From Conflict to Communion.”

Dialogue between Lutherans and Catholics has been “on the front burner” of both churches for years, and has resulted in more significant progress than many other ecumenical initiatives, said Michael Root, an expert on and participant in Lutheran-Catholic dialogue, and a professor of systematic theology at Catholic University of America, in Washington.

He said it was notable that the joint worship service would be in Sweden.

“There’s been a great recognition that particularly the Scandinavian Lutherans have a greater affinity for the Catholic world than the Germans or Americans,” Professor Root said. “They kept a more traditional church structure and style, and oddly enough, because there are virtually no Catholics in Sweden, it makes relations easier. There’s no history of competition and no history of warfare.”

Despite historic strides, Catholics and Lutherans are still officially barred from receiving communion in each other’s churches. Francis stirred up a controversy last year when he visited a Lutheran church in Rome and, during a question-and-answer session, suggested to a Lutheran woman married to a Catholic man that perhaps, if her conscience permitted, she could receive communion in her husband’s church.

“I wouldn’t ever dare to allow this, because it’s not my competence,” Francis told the woman, according to news reports, then added: “One baptism, one Lord, one faith. Talk to the Lord and then go forward. I don’t dare to say anything more.”

The joint service, to be held at the cathedral in Lund on Oct. 31, is sponsored by the Lutheran World Federation, the global umbrella for 72 million Lutherans in 98 countries, and the Roman Catholic Church. The service will be led by Pope Francis and both the president and the general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation.

The Rev. Martin Junge, the general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation, said in a statement, “By working towards reconciliation between Lutherans and Catholics, we are working towards justice, peace and reconciliation in a world torn apart by conflict and violence.”

The two churches released a liturgical guide last month, “Common Prayer,” to be used in commemorations of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. A website for Catholic traditionalists, Rorate Caeli, pronounced some of the prayers “scandalous,” claiming they extolled Martin Luther.                   NYTimes

A Compromising Interview w/ Ben Carson

Jan 26, 2016

Does Dr. Ben Carson consider himself an evangelical? How would "President Carson" share the gospel? |

Ed Stetzer

This week, I interviewed presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson. This is part one of our interview. Part two will likely follow later this week. If you have questions about why or how we do these interviews, or why your preferred candidate is not interviewed, click here.

On Christian Identity

Ed Stetzer: Do you describe yourself as an Evangelical and if so, or if not, why?

Dr. Ben Carson: I would describe myself first of all as a Christian—Evangelical in the sense that I believe we have a responsibility to proclaim the gospel and show other people why we live the way that we do and hopefully that will affect their lives. I think that’s a very important component of what we do.

ES: How would a President Carson proclaim the gospel in the White House?

Dr. Carson: By not being a politician.

Politicians do what is politically expedient. I don’t believe in that.

I believe you have to do what’s right. And I believe there is such a thing as right and wrong.

We’ve moved away from that model. We’ve moved toward the model of everything is relative and nobody gets to define right and wrong. I, obviously, don’t believe that.

I believe in the Bible, biblical principles. I believe in the Judeo-Christian foundation of this nation and would live accordingly. But the fact is, everybody lives according to their faith. Even an atheist lives according to their faith.

ES: Could you see yourself sharing the gospel in the Oval Office?

On Sharing the Gospel in the Oval Office

Dr. Carson: I will never use my position to force my beliefs upon someone else. But I will always lead a life that I believe is consistent with the will of God.

ES: You’re the first Seventh Day Adventist who is as known on a national scale and people have had questions about Seventh Day Adventism. So a couple of questions related to that.

One of the big emphases in Seventh Day Adventism is the Second Coming. What does it mean that you live in light of that? There is a strong sense of imminence in Seventh Day Adventism. How is that focused in your life?

On the Second Coming of Jesus

Dr. Carson: I obviously do look forward to the return of Christ, you know, as described in 1 Thessalonians 4. I believe that you should lead your life in such a way that every day could be your last day. So you shouldn’t be like planning oh, a year from now, five years, I’ll do this or ten years I’ll do this. You need to lead the right kind of life as if you were going to die today.

ES: Most Christians believe in a return of Jesus. But, in modern political conversation, when a Christian articulates that people ask, “Does that mean you won’t care about certain things because Jesus is coming back soon? “ For example, the environment…

Dr. Carson: Well the thing you have to remember, the Bible says—in the Book of Psalms—to God, one day is like a thousand years or a thousand years is like a day. You know, so imminent return could mean three thousand years or 30 thousand years—or it could be tomorrow.

For us to pre-define what that means in our minds and then live according to that predefinition I think would be foolish.

ES: Do you think Jesus is coming back in our lifetime?

Dr. Carson: No idea.

But I do recognize what is happening in the world, you know, with the radical Islamic Jihadists. I do recognize that it will not be possible to keep nuclear weapons out of their hands forever. And I do realize that they have a mindset that would not preclude them from using them. So, you know, all of that obviously is something of concern.

On Radical Islam

ES: Do you think that the rise of Islamic radicalism is sort of a portent of prophecy?

Dr. Carson: It does seem to fit in with a lot of things that are predicted in the Bible. No question.

On Ellen White and Prophecy

ES: Most people have a general notion—and Christianity Today readers would have a stronger notion—of what Evangelicals are. But, sometimes Evangelicals and Seventh Day Adventists are not sure of one another’s beliefs.

Ellen White, of course, is key figure in Seventh Day Adventism. In Seventh Day Adventism, she’s talked about as a prophet, specifically mentioning “the spirit of prophecy.” How do you perceive Ellen White and her writings?

Dr. Carson: Well I think she added a lot of light, particularly in the health area and was many years ahead of medical science—no question about that. Where could she have gotten that information because it wasn’t known yet?

I think there clearly was some inspiration there. I think some of the things that she wrote were her own opinion. So I’m not one of those people who equate her writings with the Bible by any stretch of the imagination. She said that you shouldn’t do that. But her writing, along with the writings of many religious people over the course of the decades, has been enlightening.

ES: So was she a unique prophet for our day or was she one of many who wrote good, helpful things under the inspiration of God?

Dr. Carson: I would seriously doubt that she would be the only person who would be inspired by God.

But you know, as she said herself—and it’s what I believe—anything that is written by anyone, you must compare it to the Word of God and if there’s any inconsistency, you must reject it.

ES: Did she have a unique prophetic role or one of many who might have a similar prophetic role?

Dr. Carson: I can’t believe that there would only be one prophet.

ES: Is there anyone you look to today who you might say there’s a similar “spirit of prophecy” on that person?

Dr. Carson: Let me put it this way, I think there are a lot of people out there today in the spiritual world that I respect tremendously who have provided extraordinarily wise counsel. Whether they’re inspired or not is very hard to say. But I certainly have a great deal of respect for what they have to say.             CT

No card required: Eye scanners coming soon to your ATM

The Kim Komando Show

 

Published on Jan 22, 2016

No matter where you are, you're most likely carrying a debit or credit card. If you've swiped it at a gas pump or an ATM, you're putting your financial accounts at risk by falling victim to card skimmers. Once in place, this sneaky bit of electronics steals the magnetic strip information from your card. But in this Komando.com Report, we look at one company that's using biometrics to stop the problem all together.

The Japanese lettuce production company Spread believes the farmers of the future will be robots.

The Japanese lettuce production company Spread believes the farmers of the future will be robots.

So much so that Spread is creating the world's first farm manned entirely by robots. Instead of relying on human farmers, the indoor Vegetable Factory will employ robots that can harvest 30,000 heads of lettuce every day.

Don't expect a bunch of humanoid robots to roam the halls, however; the robots look more like conveyor belts with arms. They'll plant seeds, water plants, and trim lettuce heads after harvest in the Kyoto, Japan farm. 

"The use of machines and technology has been improving agriculture in this way throughout human history," J.J. Price, a spokesperson at Spread, tells Tech Insider. "With the introduction of plant factories and their controlled environment, we are now able to provide the ideal environment for the crops."

The Vegetable Factory follows the growing agricultural trend of vertical farming, where farmers grow crops indoors without natural sunlight. Instead, they rely on LED light and grow crops on racks that stack on top of each other.

In addition to increasing production and reducing waste, indoor vertical farming also eliminates runoff from pesticides and herbicides — chemicals used in traditional outdoor farming that can be harmful to the environment.

The new farm, set to open in 2017, will be an upgrade to Spread's existing indoor farm, the Kameoka Plant. That farm currently produces about 21,000 heads of lettuce per day with help from a small staff of humans. Spread's new automation technology will not only produce more lettuce, it will also reduce labor costs by 50%, cut energy use by 30%, and recycle 98% of water needed to grow the crops.

The resulting increase in revenue and resources could cut costs for consumers, Price says.

"Our mission is to help create a sustainable society where future generations will not have to worry about food security and food safety," Price says. "This means that we will have to make it affordable for everyone and begin to grow staple crops and plant protein to make a real difference."

Spread

Spread is also developing sensors to provide data about how specific type of crops grow. These sensors would alert human workers if a crop is not growing correctly, allowing them to adjust techniques as necessary.

Farm robots will certainly eliminate some human jobs, but they could also create new and more interesting jobs for people. Spread's human farmers, for example, will be able to concentrate on developing sustainable farming methods and learning how to produce higher quality vegetables.

The Vegetable Factory will open next year, and eventually, Spread hopes to build similar robot farms around the world.            TechInsider

Polar air mass over much of Mexico

State of emergency declared in 446 municipalities

Mexico News Daily | Saturday, January 30, 2016

Residents in many parts of Mexico might decide to remain in their homes for this long weekend as heavy rains, strong winds, some snow and cold temperatures are forecast for many regions.
In fact, the national Civil Protection office has declared an “extraordinary emergency” in 446 municipalities in 23 states, brought on by cold front No. 34 and the eighth winter storm of the season.
The declaration will make resources available for the emergency supply of food and blankets to an estimated half a million people from Chihuahua in the north to Chiapas in the south.

The cold front´s mass of polar air is covering much of the country, guaranteeing cold to very cold weather for the weekend. Sleet or wet snow are forecast for areas 3,500 meters above sea level in the State of México, Tlaxcala, Puebla, Hidalgo and Veracruz and winds gusting to 70 km/h in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.
Mountain regions of Chihuahua, Durango, Zacatecas and Nuevo León can expect temperatures to plunge lower than -5 C.
The weather in both Mexico and California has been having adverse effects on fresh produce supplies in the U.S. and Canada. The second-largest food retailer in Canada said last week there would be shortages for three weeks due in part to weather conditions.
Sobey´s said it is struggling to deal with the worst situation in 30 years.
One of the coldest places in Mexico this week was La Rosilla, a community in the Durango municipality of Guaneceví. The temperature dropped two days ago to -17 C.
In Nuevo León, meanwhile, the roofs of many homes in the community of Galeana, located in the south of the state, collapsed under the weight of the heaviest snowfall in 20 years.     MexicoNewsDaily

It is hoped fluoridated milk will tackle tooth decay

15:58Wednesday 20 January 2016

 

More than 8,000 children in Blackpool are to be offered fluoridated milk after councillors approved a proposal to introduce it to the town’s existing free breakfast scheme.

Blackpool Council’s executive agreed a recommendation after hearing the scheme would help reduce the risk of tooth decay.

It is hoped the milk, which is recommended by the World Health Organisation, will help tackle poor dental hygiene among children in the town.

Figures show almost half of 12-year-olds in Blackpool have at least one decayed, missing or filled tooth – much higher than the national average of 33 per cent.

But parents will be able to opt out if they wish.

Coun Graham Cain, cabinet secretary for Blackpool Council, said: “Unfortunately the state of Blackpool’s dental health is very poor.

“However, where some parts of the country can benefit from fluoride naturally appearing in their daily drinking water, in Blackpool we cannot.

“What we do have is a method through the free breakfast programme that allows us to reach all primary school children as they are growing up and make the fluoride milk available to them there.”

But some concerns have been raised about the proposal.

Coun Tony Williams, leader of the Conservatives on Blackpool Council, said: “Parents now have to be really assured and confident that it is the right move for their child.

“And if they don’t think it is, they need to contact their children’s school.”

The proposal was first put forward in 2013 but delayed while further studies were carried out. These found children in the town have lower than normal levels of fluoride in their bodies.

The study examined pre-school children and monitored the levels of fluoride currently in their system.

A group will now be formed combining Blackpool Council, Public Health England, Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and oral health charity the Borrow Foundation to oversee the application and implementation of the scheme.          The Gazette

Paramedics called to secondary school as pupils fall ill and collapse after being given their vaccinations

• Pupils in Year 10 reportedly fainted after being given their jabs
• Paramedics were called but all have reportedly now recovered
• School is investigating whether faulty vaccines were to blame 

By Richard Spillett for MailOnline

Published: 11:49 GMT, 27 January 2016 | Updated: 12:47 GMT, 27 January 2016

 

 

Paramedics had to be called to a secondary school when pupils fell ill and fainted after being given their vaccinations.

Around 10 to 15 students from Year 10 reportedly keeled over after getting their jabs at Northampton School for Boys on Tuesday.

One parent, whose son saw the drama unfold, said children were seen 'on their backs on the floor with their legs up on chairs'.

Pupils in Year 10 of a school in Northampton reportedly fainted after receiving vaccinations. File photo

The woman, who didn't want to be named, added: 'Several different vaccines were being administered, and around 10 to 15 pupils keeled over and paramedics were called.

'The rest of the jabs were cancelled and a letter was sent home to the parents of pupils who had been given the jabs about what to do if they felt nauseous. Rumours say there may have been a duff batch of vaccines.'

The teenagers were later said to be 'well' but the school sent a letter home to parents warning them to seek medical advice if their sons started to feel ill.

In the note, the school said it is not known what caused the pupils to fall ill but said the vaccine was withdrawn 'as a precaution'.

The letter, sent by the nursing team, reads: 'Dear Parent/Carer, please be advised that the immunisation session your child attended today was suspended due to unforseen circumstances.

'Some of the vaccinated children have become unwell shortly after vaccination.'

The school later sent out letters telling parents the batch of vaccines had been withdrawn as a precaution

The note continued: 'Your child has received their scheduled vaccination and, whilst we are not expecting him to become unwell, we are advising that if he experiences sensations of dizziness. nausea, skin rash or breathing difficulties to seek the appropriate medical advice.

'At present we are unclear regarding the reasons for the reaction to the vaccination and are completing an investigation with our immunisation colleagues.

'We can provide reassurance that the small number of children involved are currently well.

'However, as a precaution, we have withdrawn the batch of vaccine that they had received. If you wish to discuss this further please contact the School Nursing team.'

An investigation has now been launched by the Northampton School Nursing Team at Northants Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.         DailyMail

fracking fluid samples have same chemicals that are going down drains at home

(NaturalNews) Most people take measures to ensure that the items they use in their homes on a daily basis are not on par with things that are considered unsafe for their bodies or the environment.

However, researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder have discovered that the toxic substances in fracking fluid, which are going down wells, are essentially the same as what's going down the drain in people's households. Their findings, which are published in the journal Analytical Chemistry, show that the same toxic substances exist in fracking fluid samples that are also in many of the everyday items that individuals use, from toothpaste and detergent to ice cream and laxatives.

The findings reinforce what many people have thought all along: that contamination of ground and surface water supplies may be traceable to the chemicals used in the fracking (hydraulic fracturing) process.

Expert: fracking fluid samples have same chemicals that are going down drains at home

"This is the first published paper that identifies some of the organic fracking chemicals going down the well that companies use," says the paper's lead author and a co-founder of the Laboratory for Environmental Mass Spectrometry in CU-Boulder's College of Engineering and Applied Science, Michael Thurman. "We found chemicals in the samples we were running that most of us are putting down our drains at home."

The paper, titled "Analysis of Hydraulic Fracturing Flowback and Produced Waters Using Accurate Mass: Identification of Ethoxylated Surfactants," notes the specific surfactants found. It states, "Two series of ethylene oxide (EO) surfactants, polyethylene glycols (PEGs from EO3 to EO33) and linear alkyl ethoxylates (LAEs C-9 to C-15 with EO3-EO28), were identified in hydraulic fracturing flowback and produced water . . . " According to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), ethylene oxide is present in a range of commonly-used household products ranging from detergents and antifreeze to cosmetics and spices. They also note that it's linked to a host of problems including dizziness, spontaneous abortion, nerve damage and impaired memory.

To conduct the study, researchers obtained fracking fluid samples from five states -- Colorado, Louisiana, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Texas -- then analyzed the surfactants in these fluids at a mass spectrometry laboratory sponsored by Agilent Technologies, Inc., where state-of-the art instrumentation was provided.

Additional studies needed to consider variables in fracking process and address other concerns

Because the chemicals in fracking fluid are considered to be proprietary mixtures designed to extract as much oil and gas as possible, hesitancy to reveal chemicals remain due to fracking industry competition. While state and federal regulations do require disclosure regarding the chemicals used, only broad chemical categories are typically provided. Furthermore, variations in the fluid mixtures also exist due to the differing geology surrounding different well sites, and as such, researchers involved with this study note that their findings are not necessarily applicable to all existing wells. Researchers in this study, however, say that they are moving forward with plans to conduct a larger study that will look into samples from other wells in an effort to address these matters further.

Additionally, Thurman expressed concern about other fracking-related issues that he says warrant investigation such as air pollution, the quantity of water used and earthquakes occurring from wastewater disposal.

Air pollution as it pertains to fracking is a very real concern.

In fact, recent findings in a study led by Dr. David Carpenter, director of the Institute for Health and the Environment at the University at Albany-State University of New York, show that air samples near fracking wells contain hydrogen sulfide levels that exceed federal standards by 90 to 60,000 times. Researchers also found there to be very high levels of benzene and formaldehyde around these areas. Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen linked to leukemia and nasopharyngeal cancer, while hydrogen sulfide has been associated with health hazards such as eye irritation and asthma.

Sources for this article include:

(1) http://www.colorado.edu

(2) http://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/ac502163k

(3) www.osha.gov

(4) http://www.naturalnews.com
Natural News

New Telescope Observes Otherwise Invisible Terrestrial Entities with Intelligent Movement

26 January, 2016 - 16:50 aprilholloway 

Invisible Terrestrial Entities of the Second Kind (ITE-2)

He defines the Second Kind (ITE-2) as entities that:

1. are not visible to the human eye or to conventional optical instruments wish convex lenses, but are otherwise fully visible via Santilli telescopes with concave lenses;
2. exist in our terrestrial environment, rather than in deep astro-physical spaces; and
3. leave “bright images” in the background of digital cameras attached to Santilli telescopes.

Unlike the ITE-1s, which leave dark images caused by a type of light equivalent to antimatter-light, ITE-2s appear to be composed of matter that leave bright images caused by ordinary light, which possess invisibility due to the “conversation of their index of refraction from a positive to a negative value”.

Dr Santilli notes that the ITE-2s were pulsating and moving systematically backward and forward, suggesting they were “conducting unauthorized surveillance of the Tampa Area solely visible with the Santilli telescope, thus confirming the need for systematic views of sensitive civilian, industrial and military installations”.

  

Photographs of ITE-2s. Captured by Dr Santilli in the night sky over Tampa Bay, Florida on September 5, 2015. Credit: Dr Santilli.

Photograph of an ITE-2 showing its movement. The entity consists of lights of different colors that are pulsating and move synchronously according to a complex trajectory during the 15 seconds of exposure, including a point in which motion stopped for a few seconds, to resume thereafter.

In his report published in the American Journal of Modern Physics, Dr Santilli explains the significance and potential applications of this revolutionary discovery:

“The writing of this paper has been motivated by the fact that ITE-1 and ITE-2 behave in a manner strongly suggesting the conduction of unauthorized surveillance of our sensitive, civilian, industrial and military installations, thus warranting their societal knowledge.

On scientific grounds, the documentation presented in this paper establishes beyond credible doubt the existence of two new types of light that are totally outside any possibility of treatment via 20th century physical knowledge…

On industrial grounds, the findings presented in this paper establish, also beyond credible doubt, the utility of Santilli telescopes, not only for basically novel astrophysical advances, but also for issues pertaining to personal, industrial and national security.”

Featured image:  Main: Tampa Bay in Florida (pictured). Source:  Matthew Paulson / Flickr . Inset: Photograph of an ITE-2. Credit: Dr Santilli.
By April Holloway

Reference:

Ruggero Maria Santilli. Apparent Detection via New Telescopes with Concave Lenses of Otherwise Invisible Terrestrial Entities (ITE) . American Journal of Modern Physics. Special Issue: Issue II: Foundations of Hadronic Mechanics.
Ancient Origins