Pregame Analysis: Soccer Match for Peace

Louie,

The “Interreligious Soccer Match for Peace is set to take place on September 1st at 8:45 p.m. local time in Rome’s Olympic Stadium.

According to Catholic News Agency, the match will draw together past soccer players who represent different cultures and religions, including Buddhists, Christians – Catholic and Protestant – Jews, Hindus, Muslims and Shintos.

I won’t be watching, but one can just imagine how this match will go…

• The Catholics, who started their pregame novena on August 24th, will have the perfect game plan, but the Protestants will reject it.
 
• The Hindus will pass to one another using their favorite play, connect-the-dots (otherwise known as the give-and-go).
 
• The Shintos, in spite of spirited play, will come up a little short.
 
• The Buddhists will be the assists leaders since they’re just so damned selfless
 
• The Jews will sell the tickets, the food, the souvenirs, and the television rights, but only after negotiating player contracts. (Oh, and they’ll also provide the team physician.)

• And last but not least, the Muslims will be shooting at every possible opportunity.
Muslim Soccer

Blog Post

Comments (47)

  1. Why not? Because we’re pro-life.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESu125XCyAA
    1. Like it or not, these are facts–in recent years quarterbacks started suing the NFL for the brain damagage they and their families are now trying to cope and find help for- after playing pro, with protective equipment that fails to prevent.it. Football and soccer have both been shown to produce debilitating brain injuries, which many people still dismiss as the player’s choice, but the money and fame lures them into sports as youngsters. A Norwegian study found that 35% of 69 Division I soccer players have abnormal electroencephalogram (patterns–more than 2x the rate of abnormal EEG patterns in control subjects.
    =====
    Retired soccer players had several brain abnormalities including reduced cortical tissue and increased lateral ventricle size. –Another study reports that 81% of soccer players suffer from problems with attention, concentration, and memory. Players who typically head the ball have also been found to have more neurological problems than non-headers. Concussions make up 2-3% of all soccer injuries–same rate as for footbal. College team ave: 29 concussions in a 2-year period. Causes: Head to head and head to ball at close range.
    =====
    Somewhere, as Chrisitians, don’t we have to start taking responsibility for either participating in this reality and being ambivalent about it, or promoting it? Even more people get inured in the brawls so common after soccer matches these days, so there is even more risk and cost to all the individuals involved in his “production”
    =====
    2. If there is so much rancour poured out between competing teams fans -as a “norm” what is likely to happen when you fill stadium with rival fans of rival religions who have been killing one another- off the field? It’s a nice dream, “peace” but is it realistic? Here are a few incidents from recent years:
    =====
    “June 18 2014 – South Korea and Iran in Seoul,- last game of the group for both teams, South Korean coach Choi Kang-Hee pledged he would “defeat Iran no matter what. Statements of feud and revenge started to come from the South Korea national football team stating that they would “make life painful” and make the captain of Iran cry “tears of blood”.Iran eventually won 1-0. As Iran started to celebrate on the pitch, South Korean fans started throwing water beer bottles towards the Iranian players. As Carlos Queiroz made his way across the pitch to thank the Iranian fans, he was also pelted by the South Korean fans fter the match, the coach of the South Korean team resigned.”
    =====
    “in 2013 a Brazilian league match between Atlético Paranaense and Vasco da Gama was stopped for more than an hour–after fans started fighting in the stands and a helicopter had to land on the pitch to airlift a seriously injured man to hospital.”Fan violence has been rampant in Brazil this year, “This is deplorable,” said the Vasco coach, This is not sport.”
    =====
    “in 2012 Feb 1st– in Port Said, Egypt at the conclusion of the match where Port Said’s al-Masry beat Cairo’s Al-Ahly 3–1. Ahly fans unfurled banners insulting Port Said, and an Ahly supporter descended onto the pitch carrying an iron bar. Al-Masry fans reacted first by attacking Ahli players, then opposing fans. Fights from the stands poured out onto the field, causing riots and eventual civil unrest. The rioting resulted in 73 deaths and at least 1,000 injured, making it the worst disaster in the history.”

  2. Lou, that’s rich…

    if the Catholic world only had the Catholic equivalent of The Five…on FOX…

    you’d certainly be a sine qua non member…

  3. “The Shintos, in spite of spirited play, will come up a little short.”
    I almost passed out. Too funny.

  4. Bergoglio will be sitting in the stands not knowing who to root for because he loves everyone!

  6. I agree – to be avoided. Instead of watching the antichrist spectacle perhaps spend the time before Christ in the Blessed Sacrament or praying the Rosary rather than engaging in yet another world wide ‘event’ organized by a ‘pontiff’, the aim of which is to ‘dissolve Christ’.
    –
    “And every spirit that dissolveth Jesus, is not of God: and this is Antichrist, of whom you have heard that he cometh, and he is now already in the world.” 1 John 4:3
    –
    “And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath the faithful with the unbeliever?” 2 Cor 6:15

  9. You win one, you ……:(
    _____
    Via Pewsitter blog: http://bostoncatholicinsider.wordpress.com/2014/08/27/bostons-holy-trinity-church-up-for-sale/
    _____
    Money quote:
    “As soon as they (parishioners) learned about this (church preservation) movement, Holy Trinity parishioners formed a preservation group in October 2013. Their plan, modeled on the plans of other preservation groups, was to assume all the maintenance costs of Holy Trinity Church in return for the Archdiocese authorizing one Mass there per year. When the offer was made by telephone to Fr. Paul Soper, Director of the Office of Pastoral Planning, he rejected it, saying that parishioners needed to “move on.”
    ______
    Move on, nothing to see here!

  12. “The Shintos, in spite of spirited play, will come up a little short.”

    Juvenile cheap shot. You’re better than that.

  13. Excellent pregame analysis! It’s good to have a bit of comic relief in these very difficult and trying times for Catholics.

  14. Speaking of difficult and trying times, and yellow and red cards…. When are the Cardinals going to start calling the “Fouls”?
    ___
    According to the rules you can’t get away with showing dissent by word or action, persistently infringing the Laws, conducting yourself violently, deny the goal, using offensive, insulting abusive language, or continuing to do so after the second warning. And aren’t at least some of these offenses for which play has to be stopped to dismiss a player?
    ___
    August 27th:
    “The secretary-general of the Italian bishops’ conference has said that the Church must make efforts to welcome “unconventional couples.” “Couples in irregular matrimonial situations are also Christians, but they are sometimes looked upon with prejudice,” said Bishop Nunzio Galantino of Cassano all’Jonio, who was appointed secretary-general of the Italian episcopal conference by Pope Francis.
    ….” when couples in irregular marital situations are excluded from the sacraments, it “is an unjustified price to pay, in addition to de facto discrimination.”
    ___
    In May, Bishop Galantino said that he hoped that Church leaders will “listen without any taboo to the arguments in favor of married priests, the Eucharist for the divorced, and homosexuality.”
    http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=22408

  15. “The Jews will sell the tickets, the food, the souvenirs, and the television rights, but only after negotiating player contracts.” – If you weren’t already on the outs with The Powers That Be, this (based on factual information) supposition would be all it would take.
    —–
    “And last but not least, the Muslims will be shooting at every possible opportunity” – I sure laughed out loud at that!

  17. This is huge sports fans. SSPX mass offer in St. Peter’s Basilica. 🙂
    _____
    RC has the story here: http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2014/08/sspx-priest-celebrates-mass-in-saint.html#more
    _____
    Context: The permission that was given by the “higher direction” is no doubt part of the modernist strategy to “FFI” the SSPX. No doubt that the enemies of Tradition and their useful idiots (not meant in the pejorative sense of that term) will portray this as another sign that the SSPX is folding. I don’t think that the former is the case and I pray that this is not the case. But on the positive side, I for one will take these little victories as they present themselves.
    ______
    St Michael Archangel, ora pro nobis
    Archbishop Lefebvre, ora pro nobis

  18. ooh. Does this mean the ‘negotiations’ are going the right way or the wrong way? I don’t want to be pessimistic; would welcome opinions.

  20. it seems to prove the analysis of Bishop Williamson, that Mr. Humble wants a big-tent…nor is it news, since priests of the Society have on occasion celebrated at St Peter’s before, that RC reports it as news only shows how desperate RC is to find something positive in the daily headlines as the world slips into the crisis from which only Consecration of Russia to the IHofM will rescue it…We now have Russia invading Ukraine, a murdurous Caliphate in the MidEast, jihadits being recruited in western countries and 1/6 French citizens saying that they support ISIL….the west is about to fall and implode…

  21. Dear RW:
    Brick by brick, my dear RW, brick by brick.
    ______
    Gradualism is called for here. Or rather, what Eternal Rome calls “Romanita”. The Catholic Church has been systematically destroyed over the last 50 years, and it will not “un-destroy” itself overnight.
    ______
    And speaking of bricks, Pontifical Mass sightings over at Fr. Z’s blog: http://wdtprs.com/blog/2014/08/pontifical-mass-sighting/
    ______
    Dig the Cappa Magna! 🙂

  22. Oi. I watched the ‘debate’ with Sean and the im-exscuse-me-satan’s-mam. It was simply a case of a ‘default’ satanist (hannity) berating an actual satanist for his lack of finnesse. Hannity dared to call himself a Christian. He never once stated clearly to the satanist-muslim, that Christ Jesus is God,- God Almighty – God irrefutably, One with the Creator, Who came in the Flesh, Who is the imama’s salvation and mine. Hannity didn’t dare, like his pope, to point out that the whole koranich/talmudic/sutraic whatever ideology denies this eternal Truth which makes the deniers the enemy of Truth. It’s a lot to ask of a chap on a talk show – but the least he could have done if he dared to call himself Christian is state the Truth of Christ.

  23. p.s. in short – it’s my understanding that the degree to which God has ordained or, lacking our Faith, permitted, people to have the privilege of reputation and/or repsonsibliyt/wealth etc. in this world, in no small part, impacts the degree to which the same will be called to account (especially if they dare to ride on the name of Christ). If the hannity’s of the media are going to invoke the name of Christ when they go to debate barbarism at least have the honesty to address the supernatural against supernatural enemies such as false religions, otherwise just be the naturalist that you are and don’t pretend you speak in the name of Christ (much like his ‘pope’).

  24. Bishop Williamson’s messages remain circumspect with regard to the ‘movers and shakers’ of the current regimes. My rule of thumb is, if I had St Peter, St Paul, St Pius V, St Pius X and St Mary Magdalene in the room, what would the consensus on the current crisis be?

  26. While this piece is very convincing on the face of it, we see no mention of a number of important concerns:
    1. Our Lady said at Fatima that Russia is the instrument chosen by God to chastise the world, and to save the world from that, the consecration to Our Lady’s Immaculate heart is needed..
    2. After WWII, world powers silently endorsed/ looked the other way as the iron curtain was formed producing a form of unity based on the lures of false promises ( of atheistic Communism)- initially embraced by many of it’s people- resulting in dictatorships which murdered and, imprisoned millions of its own people, and enslaved the rest., demonstrating how true it is, that absolute power corrupts absolutely, unless it is wielded by God
    3. Russia is hungry to recoup that former power right now, Putin(KGB) is reportedly torn between his own personal desires for that, and his current need to cater to the crime bosses controlling a majority of the government–hence his sudden return to the “Faith” of his fathers -gaining political support from the populace, while at the same time divorcing his wife and creating a play-palace on the Black See using Government funds. Communism has been re-faced with a form of “democracy” which has not proven stable enough to prevent a return to the “old ways”, making returning to mother Russia into another dangerous lure for the Russian speaking peoples who live in the former Soviet satellite countries.
    4. The outlawing of the Russian language is a problem that could be reversed as easily as it was created, and although it demonstrates a prejudice which may go much deeper, would it not be wise to look for an alternative solution to re-creating the Soviet Socialist Republic–especially with its close ties to Communist China?.

  27. I can’t speak for the author, (Faitma ‘aside’ since nothing about the Fatima revelation is ‘political’ so to say, but orthodox on all matters of Faith and Morals) the perspective, I think, of the piece is pointing out the irony of administrative political hypocrisy (expediency).

  28. p.s. isn’t the ‘error of russia’ marxism/socialism (otherwise known as ‘institutionalized envy’?).

  29. Dear salvemur,
    There is no denying that “administrative political hypocrisy” is as bad a problem elsewhere these days, -maybe worse here in the U.S.-but the piece definitely was slanted towards convincing the reader that it might be more beneficial to let the will of the minority be carried out- in this particular situation-, which is why we feel it needed to be balanced by the warnings inherent in the historical facts.
    ___
    In the longer run, when the consecration finally gets done, the larger Russia is at the time, the more people will be converted as predicted. The problem is, we have no way of knowing how much time will pass before then, and those who live under the rule of the “chastiser of the world”, may very well wish they had not reunited with her before the Consecration was done.

  30. p.s. to salvemur…
    The media doesn’t make it easy to tell if there are any “good guys”…
    After assuring us that Russia has at least 1,000 troops fighting, using equipment that could only be Russian, they go on to talk about Putin’s denials of same, and …
    –The U.N. human rights office on Friday accused both sides of deliberately targeting civilians.
    –Pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine have carried out murders, torture and abductions along with other serious human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law, according to the mission’s field work between July 16 and Aug. 17. The report also said Ukraine’s military is guilty of human rights violations such as arbitrary detentions, disappearances and torture.

  31. Dear salvemur,
    Hannity claims to be a product of Catholic schools and seminary–if that doesn’t explain enough– this link says the rest, as he slams a pro-life priest who accuses him of everything you just pointed out he needed to be accused of:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usTWwSbpWRc

  32. But don’t worry, Obama will get this message loud and clear:

    Putin told the assembly, on the banks of a lake near Moscow, the Russian takeover of Crimea in March was essential to save a largely Russian-speaking population from Ukrainian government violence. He said continued fighting in eastern Ukraine, where pro-Russian separatists launched an uprising in April, was the result of a refusal by Kiev to negotiate.
    ___
    Ukraine, and Western governments, accuse Russia of sending troops and armor to back the separatists in a conflict that has already killed over 2,000 people. Russia denies the charge.
    “Russia is far from being involved in any large-scale conflicts,” he said at the camp on the banks of Lake Seliger. “We don’t want that and don’t plan on it. But naturally, we should always be ready to repel any aggression towards Russia. “Russia’s partners… should understand it’s best not to mess with us,” said Putin…”Thank God, I think no one is thinking of unleashing a large-scale conflict with Russia. I want to remind you that Russia is one of the leading nuclear powers.”

    http://news.yahoo.com/putin-says-russia-ready-respond-aggression-123956691.html

  34. The current batch of conflicts – encompassing Syria, Iraq and Ukraine – has to do with global energy politics. The issue at hand is that regarding the supply of energy to Europe. The US-EU-sponsored coup d’etat of the pro-Russian Ukrainian government in February of this year greatly threatened Russian interests, as the Right Sector – conveniently – wants to permanently disrupt the flow of Russian gas to Europe – which represents 1/4 of all European consumption. The US is involved because they are backing the creation of a Sunni pipeline which will pump natural gas from the gigantic North Dome gas field off the coast of Qatar, through Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria and Turkey, to Europe, effectively cutting Russia out of the loop. The other proposal, a Shia-controlled pipeline, would be much shorter and run from the South Pars gas field (the Iranian part of the North Dome field) in Iranian waters through Iraq and Syria, under the Mediterranean, and pop up again in Greece, from which it would be distributed throughout Europe. The sticking point in both pipelines is Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, as both plan to run through Syria. Being a Shiite in alliance with Iran, he rejected the Sunni plan and signed an agreement for the construction of the Shia alternative in 2012. Since then, his days as President of Syria have been numbered. The US, through their allies Saudi Arabia and Qatar, have been pumping money and weapons to rebel Sunni forces in Syria in the attempt to bring Assad down. When they proved unable to get the job done, ISIS appeared on the stage – not to topple Assad, but to justify US air-strikes on Syrian soil, which will, with or without rebel assistance, lead to an overthrow of the Assad regime. Turkey, one of the players which stands to gain significantly through the construction of the Sunni pipeline, is more than willing to form a coalition to get the job done, which will provide the US coverage from being labelled as “anti-Islam”. When Assad is gone, a puppet government will be installed in Syria – and, if necessary, the process will be repeated in Jordan – whose entire reason for existence will be the security of the Sunni pipeline. Remember that ISIS has already laid claim to Jordan; if the latter resists, we will see 1) a popular uprising, followed by 2) ISIS invading Jordan, followed by, 3) US intervention. ISIS, provided that it keeps itself limited to eastern Syria, north-western Iraq and eastern Jordan, will be permitted to exist indefinitely, as it will be the go-to justification for any military intervention in the region. When the pipeline is up and running, Europe will be in a position to limit or even stop all imports of energy from Russia, putting a large segment of the Russian economy under European control: oil and gas are responsible for upwards of 16% of Russia’s GDP, 52% of their federal budget revenues and 70% of their total exports, tendency rising.

  35. Salvemur,

    I am glad you tacitly agree with Williamson on everything but conspiracy theories…shows you have your heart and mind in the right place…

  36. The wars are being played out first and foremost by propaganda in the controlled-Media. One ought to look as far as possible to independent Media rather than the propaganda Media that is the MSM. In the Western MSM we heard nothing about how US, and its accomplices, including the EU, planned and organised the coup in the Ukraine.

    Likewise, the chemical attacks on the people in Syria was reported in the MSM as being by Assad as per the White House talking points. When it was shown by independent Media to have been the US-backed and -organised and -armed and -funded “rebels”, there was not a peep from the MSM.

    Without the organisation and funding of Al Qaida, the Syrian- rebels, etc., there would not be such a powerful, experienced, well-armed and confident ISIS.

    Blessed Michael defend us in battle . . .

  38. @Matthew. Appreciate this very succinct and comprehensive overview. The first reason for expansion is always to get rid of the Real Presence I would guess. The second reason, resources. Halford Mackinder’s “Geographical Pivot of History” blueprint for expansion has been playing out pretty much by the numbers. He juxtaposed the ‘sea powers’ (a de-Christianized west) with the pivot of ‘civilization’, or the Eurasian landmass. The way I see the post-Pius XII ‘papacy’ bought into this. Roncalli, Montini, Wojtyla and now Bergoglio (not so sure about Ratzinger – he did ‘chastise’ the ungodly/humanistic aims of the UN) all worshipped at the altar of the UN and forced the ‘church’ to similarly worship there, symbolically and actually. It seems that which ever way the winds of expedience blow this ‘new world order’ will try to have its way, and is happy to employ communist regimes, the utterly antichrist regimes of the new-west, or supporting and encouraging Israel or Islam at different turns. What would a new world order be? Why one based on masonic ‘priniciples’ of course feeding the demons they worship in common with Rabbinical Judasim and Islam – ultimately a sort of Rabbinical ‘utopia’.

  40. Dear salvemur,
    Thank you for posting this interview segment. Like many others, we had only seen the initial comments, and had hoped Benedict had begun to realize the error of his former thinking on this matter. Obviously, he continued to believe no “political” solution (ie. the consecration of Russia?) is necessary. By doing that, he really dismisses the idea that any miraculous event is in store for mankind, related to that consecration; and continues along the same road as his predecessors and successor–that of changing hearts-apparently also by the same means Pope Francis believes in–“planting seeds and letting the Holy Sprit do the rest” without “proselytizing.
    ___
    His actions bore this out over the years, so we didn’t expect otherwise, but it’s good to have confirmation of what he really thought. It’s sad that he so often chooses to use words that placate both sides in such serious matters, leaving each thinking he agrees with them, and battling one another for years.
    ___
    That’s one reason we stopped engaging in those battles a long time ago, and just continue to pursue the truth. So in that vein, thank you again for this.

  41. Dear A Catholic Thinker,
    We’re not familiar with the details of what you describe here, but we’ve seen the pattern repeated so often–it seems to be one of Satan’s favorite way of causing more division among the faithful. It’s also nothing new as St. Paul felt it necessary at one point to remind the faithful of his time on earth-that they were supposed to be following Jesus, not Paul or Apollos.. The old divide and conquer military strategy still works. Truth will unite us, but unfortunately it takes some people a lifetime to find it.

  42. Indignus Famulus: ‘–hence his sudden return to the “Faith” of his fathers -gaining political support from the populace, while at the same time divorcing his wife and creating a play-palace on the Black See using Government funds.’
    –
    And you know for an absolute fact that that is the reason why Putin became Orthodox? Only God knows.

  43. @ #19 Dear Christopher,
    You’re right, we apparently did omit our usual reminder -of the possibility that anyone speaking publicly about his Faith (even if around election time) and denouncing sin and its increase in society- could be doing so for sincere reasons or others known only to himself and God. That may have been due in part to unwitting prejudice, and if so we apologize
    ___
    However because of Putin’s own words and actions as he was publicly claiming the need to bring back Faith and morals while denouncing homosexual acts as harmful to society, he was- and still is, doing many other immoral, anti-Catholic things including one of the worst a public figure can do -for which Our Lord labeled the Jews as children of their father-the devil–“The father of lies”.
    ___
    Most recently he claimed there have been no Russian troops fighting in Ukraine-with or without tanks, and other heavy equipment. His lies failed to convince or daunt the Russian mothers who have publicly denounced him while bewailing their army-sons deaths on Ukranian soil.
    ___
    Now that he’s warned the world- “don’t mess with Russia- because we have tactical nuclear weapons and are not afraid to use them”, the U.N. suddenly concluded this week that he must be stopped because he “ignores state sovereignty” and “is out to rebuild Russia’s empire”- physically, (when unable to establish puppet governments)- at the expense of innocent human lives.
    -Last week he said Kazakstan’s statehood was never established, and even some Russians are now portraying him as Hitler, but his overall rating is still said to be high among most, for giving them back a strong sense of “Mother Russia”.
    ___
    “The fates of Putin’s enemies” documents well-known cases of people who died trying to expose his executions: (add http//www.) bbc.com/news/world-europe-23343788
    — “Politkovskaya was the 13th journalist slain in a contract-style killing in Russia since Putin took office in 2000,” the U.S.-based Committee to Protect Journalists said. “She wrote: “I have wondered a great deal why I have so got it in for Putin. What is it that makes me dislike him so much as to feel moved to
    write a book about him? I am not one of his political opponents or rivals, just a woman living in Russia. Quite simply, I am a 45-year-old Muscovite who observed the Soviet Union at its most disgraceful in the 1970s and ’80s. I really don’t want to find myself back there again.”
    –1998 4 mos. after Putin took over at the KGB, -Duma Deputy Starovoitova- prominent Kremlin critic- murdered at home.
    –Just before being named Prime minister, Putin silenced Attorney General, Skuratov-investigating high-level Kremlin corruption-by airing a sex video on national TV.
    –2003 April, May, July, (5 Members of the “Commission formed to investigate “bombing charges” against Putin were “taken out”) Sergei Yushenkov, co-chairman–gunned down at home. –Yuri Shchekochikhin- died from poisoning. –2 more were beaten by “thugs”, and- 1 Jailed for “espionage” –An article Shchekochikhin wrote before his death- “Are we Russia or KGB of Soviet Union?” described.. government use of poisoned gas; 3 Whales Corruption Scandal, FSB officers money-laundering; and illegal actions of Yevgeny Adamov,-a case was under the personal control of Putin. The author had contacted the FBI and got an American visa to discuss the case with US authorities, but suddenly died on July 3rd, before his appointment. Russian authorities refused to allow an autopsy, –his relatives “managed to send a specimen of his skin to London” where his cause of death was diagnosed “thallium poining” (commonly used by KGB)
    –2004-Nikolai Girenko – prominent human rights defender, Professor of Ethnology -murdered at home.
    –Paul Klebnikov editor of Russian Forbes magazine, -shot dead while investigating money-laundering in the Kremlin, organized crime and the FSB.
    –2004-Viktor Yushchenko, anti-Russian candidate for the presidency of the Ukraine, barely survived a poisoning by Dioxin- known as “Yellow Rain,”.
    –2005 Reporters Without Borders: “Working conditions for journalists continued to worsen alarmingly, with violence the most serious threat to press freedom. The independent press is shrinking ..authorities’ refusal to accredit foreign journalists showed intent to gain total control of news..”
    –2006 -Litvinenko-…wrote two books, “Blowing up Russia: Terror from within” and “Lubyanka Criminal Group”, accused the Russian secret services of staging Russian apartment bombings and other terrorism acts to bring Vladimir Putin to power. Nov 1st, Litvinenko suddenly-hospitalized,died 3wks later, -1st confirmed victim of lethal polonium-210-induced acute (nuclear)radiation.
    –Andrei Kozlov First Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Central Bank,-who strove to stamp out money laundering -shot dead in Moscow.
    –October 2006 -Anna Politkovskaya author of bookd/articles exposing Russian human rights violations-attacking Vladimir Putin as a dictator, shot dead in her home. (mentioned above)
    — 2009, Russian human rights attorney Stanslav Markelov -shot in the back of the head with a silenced pistol as he left a press conference at which he announced his intention to sue the Russian government for its early release of Col. Yuri Budanov, who murdered his 18-year-old client 5 years earlier.
    — Anastasia Barburova, a young journalism student -working for Gazeta- had studied under Anna Politkovskaya, reporting on the Budanov proceedings.-also shot dead.
    Until Russia is Consecrated as Our Lady requested, we will continue to seriously doubt any claims Putin makes about having Faith, which are so clearly belied by his actions, while we continue to pray for his soul, and hope.

  45. 1) ‘Most recently he claimed there have been no Russian troops fighting in Ukraine-with or without tanks, and other heavy equipment. His lies failed to convince or daunt the Russian mothers who have publicly denounced him while bewailing their army-sons deaths on Ukranian soil.’
    –
    You mean the Crimea? Where Russia’s Black Sea fleet is based? Is there evidence that Russian troops were fighting in the Ukraine?
    –
    2) ‘ “don’t mess with Russia- because we have tactical nuclear weapons and are not afraid to use them”,’
    –
    Could not find the quote, do you have a source? Putin did remind the world that it is a nuclear power, and his stating ‘“It’s best not to mess with us,” is in response to what Putin sees as Western aggression with the Ukraine (which has had CIA involvement by CIA Director Brennan). The quote you reference, within the context is basically telling the Western aggressors to ‘Back Off’. After all, just look at the state of the Middle-East because of the United States.
    –
    3) ‘the U.N. suddenly concluded this week that he must be stopped because he “ignores state sovereignty”
    –
    Despite the fact that Putin condemned the United States for overthrowing existing governments because they do not agree with the United States? Where was the U.N. when the U.S. happily overthrew the Egyptian rule for Radicals?
    –
    4) “is out to rebuild Russia’s empire”- physically, (when unable to establish puppet governments)- at the expense of innocent human lives.
    –
    Russia’s Empire also included Finland, Estonia, Poland, Lativa, Lithuania, and Belarus. So far only hostility is shown over the Ukraine, and Russia is acting in reaction to an illegitimate government that decided to establish itself because it did not like the Pro-Russian sentiment that the Ukrainian Government was displaying.
    –
    5) Last week he said Kazakstan’s statehood was never established, and even some Russians are now portraying him as Hitler, but his overall rating is still said to be high among most, for giving them back a strong sense of “Mother Russia”.
    –
    However, wasn’t Kazakstan established in 1991 after the dissolution of the U.S.S.R.? Prior to the dissolution, Kazakstan was a republic within the U.S.S.R and prior to the establishment of Republics, Kazakstan did agree to place itself under Russia’s control. The technicality of what a legitimate state is and not is debatable. It’s also a common occurrence to be compared to Hitler when people disagree with the policies which are Hawkish. That however does not mean the actions are wrong. When it comes to the Crimea situation, Russia has a Just Cause to intervene in the Crimea, a wholly Russian Ethnic area, for the sake of the protection of the Russians.

  46. 6) ‘“Politkovskaya was the 13th journalist slain in a contract-style killing in Russia since Putin took office in 2000’,
    –
    which was found linked to a few corrupt policemen in relation to a Crime Ring, Putin could not be tied to the issue. Unless you have evidence otherwise that would bring the trial to an end.
    –
    7) ‘1998 4 mos. after Putin took over at the KGB, -Duma Deputy Starovoitova- prominent Kremlin critic- murdered at home.’
    –
    KGB did not exist then, it was the FSB. Starvoitova’s death was linked to Mikhail Glushchenko, a former Duma deputy with Liberal Democratic Party as the mastermind.
    –
    8) ‘Just before being named Prime minister, Putin silenced Attorney General, Skuratov-investigating high-level Kremlin corruption-by airing a sex video on national TV.’
    –
    Source? Skuratov was in conflict with Yeltsan, how does that relate to Putin?
    –
    9)’2003 April, May, July, (5 Members of the “Commission formed to investigate “bombing charges” against Putin were “taken out”) Sergei Yushenkov, co-chairman–gunned down at home. –Yuri Shchekochikhin- died from poisoning. –2 more were beaten by “thugs”, and- 1 Jailed for “espionage” –An article Shchekochikhin wrote before his death- “Are we Russia or KGB of Soviet Union?” described.. government use of poisoned gas; 3 Whales Corruption Scandal, FSB officers money-laundering; and illegal actions of Yevgeny Adamov,-a case was under the personal control of Putin. The author had contacted the FBI and got an American visa to discuss the case with US authorities, but suddenly died on July 3rd, before his appointment. Russian authorities refused to allow an autopsy, –his relatives “managed to send a specimen of his skin to London” where his cause of death was diagnosed “thallium poining” (commonly used by KGB)’
    –
    What bombing charges? Sergei Yushenkov’s death has no relation to Putin , Yuri Shchekochikhin was uncovering the truth about a high-level corruption case involving officials from the Federal Security Services (FSB) and the Prosecutor General’s Office.
    –
    10) ‘2004-Nikolai Girenko – prominent human rights defender, Professor of Ethnology -murdered at home.’
    –
    And what about the Neo-Nazi groups that passed death sentences upon him?
    –
    11) ‘Paul Klebnikov’
    –
    Again, no link to Putin.
    –
    12) ‘Viktor Yushchenko’
    –
    Who had dinner with the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU), Ihor Smeshko, and his deputy, Volodymyr Satsiuk before falling ill. How do you know that links to Putin?
    –
    13) ‘Litvinenko’
    –
    Again, it still does not directly link to Putin.
    –
    14) ‘Andrei Kozlov’
    –
    And of Ex-President of VIP Bank Alexei Frenkel whom the Prosecutor General’s Office suspects as being the contractor?
    –
    15) ‘Stanslav Markelov’
    –
    Which it was found to be Colonel Yuri Budanov’s underlings who committed the crime.
    –
    16) ‘Anastasia Barburova’
    –
    Apparently died trying to save Markelov’s life.

  47. 17) ‘Until Russia is Consecrated as Our Lady requested, we will continue to seriously doubt any claims Putin makes about having Faith, which are so clearly belied by his actions, while we continue to pray for his soul, and hope.’
    –
    In no way is the arguments above Putin Apologetics, but is based on the principle of benefit of the doubt on the lack of direct evidence against Putin. The arguments also put forth seem to argue for a form of unity in the political sphere within Russia when in fact it is no different from the United States. Various factions like in the United States, exist within Russia, and just because the underlings of Colonel Yuri Budanov commit the act of murder, it does not mean that it somehow automatically came from Putin. Putin may have, or may not have committed said crimes, there’s no evidence. And most of your assertions have been found to be linked to other men with other motives (which does occur).
    –
    As to Our Lady of Fatima and the Consecration of Russia, the prophecy says that Russia will spread her errors, so there are a few possible outcomes: 1) Russia converts while her errors are still spread, just like how a meteor strikes, and the meteor is no longer moving, yet the kinetic energy being released is still occurring. 2) Russia has not converted.
    –
    Russia has already spread her errors throughout the whole world, but it seems now that Russia, while still full of corruption, is recovering by the very fact that it is going the absolute opposite direction in the terms of the West. Russia opposes Abortion, opposes Same-Sex ‘Marriages’ and is rebuilding the political strength of the Orthodox Church.

Comments are closed.