AGC News Online: June, 2008

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another.

Romans 12:3-5

The world is overcome not through destruction, but through reconciliation. Not ideals, nor programs, nor conscience, nor duty, nor responsibility, nor virtue, but only God's perfect love can encounter reality and overcome it. Nor is it some universal idea of love, but rather the love of God in Jesus Christ, a love genuinely lived, that does this.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Update to Lyons Ritual in Worship section

August 15-16, 2008 meeting in Columbus, OH, USA on schedule and growing

We are blessed to have Dorothy Day's granddaughter Martha Hennessey joining us for this year's event. She will be leading the session, Dorothy Day: Portrait of a Catholic Worker in which she will share aspects of the life of the Catholic Worker community, reflect on some of Dorothy's visions for "a world in which it is easier to be good," and discuss how Dorothy would perhaps respond to events in times such as these.

We were also able to confirm a session titled Jesus' Beatitudes: A Blueprint for Anarchists, which will look at the "blessed" statements as a process of both spiritual and social transformation that continually confronts our personal and shared idols.

Pope's Spokesman: "Every Intentional Concealment of the Truth, Will Exact a Dear Price in the End"

Frederico Lombardi S.J., the director of the Holy See Press Office, addressed the Catholic Media Convention in Toronto, ON, Canada Tuesday speaken on "When the Pope speaks to the world" analyzing the strategy behind Papal communications. A key message in Lombardi's talk was the "balance between the positive message and the clear identification of evils, divisions, weaknesses and dangers" present in the world.The consequences for failure in this regard are dire, he suggested. "It is vitally important to tell the truth with clarity and simplicity. Every ambiguity, every reticence and, worse still, every intentional concealment of the truth, will exact a dear price in the end. The vicissitudes connected to the sexual abuse crisis were the weightiest proof of this."

Sunday 01 June, 2008

Massive fire at Universal Studios delays AGC statement on Universal film release

Hundreds of firefighters have been tackling a massive fire at the world-famous Universal Studios in Los Angeles, California. The blaze was reported before dawn on a sound stage at the film studios, said Los Angeles fire captain Frank Reynoso. The fire swept through several buildings at the 230-acre site, destroying the King Kong attraction and a video library vault.

The AGC is involved in a dispute with Universal Studios over a forthcoming movie release As a result of this event, the statement of the Council of Elders scheduled for posting on this date will be deferred to a more appropriate date.

Monday 02 June 2008

Moderator is directed by COE on behalf of AGC elders to query French in detail

Concerns about wandering bishops, Martinist and Rosicrucian influences prompted special deliberations by Elders. A previous November, 2007 review decided that high level substantive communiques to France should be frozen pending the meetings in May. Those meetings now ended have mandated the moderator to request certain clarifcations in advance of certain pending events.

The AGC continues to serve as a lightening rod for the terrible times to come. It does so in good faith. In return, it respectfully asks that autonomous affiliates provide accurate information about their altered situations so Elders may seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit and then best advise as to the course of action most acceptable to GOD.

The same meeting, after receiving the recommendations from assembled elders meeting during the past 3 weeks mandated the publication of additional changes and proposals. These will be webposted during the course of the next 14 days.

Week of 8 - 14 June, 2008

No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.

1 Corinthians 10:13-14

Tuesday 10 June, 2008

Severe weather delays news updates

News updates delayed due to intense storms on this site. There is no delay for registered subscribers who access our RSS news feed or backup site.

Assisted Suicide Gains Ground in British Courts

A British woman with multiple sclerosis was granted her request for a full judicial review on 10 June in her quest to find out if her husband can help her commit suicide without fear of being prosecuted.

Debbie Purdy, 45, says she fears that her husband would be prosecuted if she should choose to end her life with his assistance in Switzerland, where assisted suicide is legal. Purdy is currently a member of Switzerland's "Dignitas" group, which specializes in administering lethal doses of barbiturates to those who wish to die. In Britain, however, aiding or abetting a suicide is a crime punishable by law with up to 14 years imprisonment.

Currently citizens of the U.K. cannot obtain assisted suicide, and must go out of the country to do so, though there is a strong movement in the direction of legalizing assisted suicide in the country. The most recent of many attempts to secure the right to kill oneself took place in 2006; it was rejected in the House of Lords, however, by 148 votes to 100.

Ontario Legislature keeps Lord's Prayer

Despite intense lobbying efforts by Ontario's premier, the Ontario legislature has voted by an overwhelming 58-0 in favour of keeping its daily reading of the Lord's Prayer.

However, while the legislature reacted strongly against the attempt to end the tradition, it did decide that a rotation of one prayer from Canada's eight other major religions will now accompany the Lord's Prayer.

Earlier this year, Premier Dalton McGuinty announced his belief that reading just the Lord's Prayer every day before the opening of business was out of date. He then appointed an all-party committee to examine the issue.

Week of 15 - 21 June, 2008

For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:12-13

Quebec approves electric cars on limited basis

Canadian Senate passes AGC supported bill banning corporal punishment

Liberal Senator Céline Hervieux-Payette said that the passage of her anti-spanking bill through the Senate will "send a signal so that people who use violence in a repeated way will no longer feel protected."

Bill S-209, which will see parents charged with assault for spanking their children, has passed its first hurdle and now moves on to the House of Commons. It has been working its way through committees for four years and proposes to remove Section 43 of the Criminal Code that says, "Every schoolteacher, parent or person standing in the place of a parent is justified in using force by way of correction toward a pupil or child, as the case may be, who is under his care, if the force does not exceed what is reasonable under the circumstances."

Escalating violence makes free and fair Zimbabwe elections impossible

Several AGC families and farms under water as massive floods batter US midwest

Washington State assisted suicide bill goes on ballot this fall. AGC active in support

"Plug is pulled" on 'Christian' Civic League in Maine it abandons legal petitions

An initiative campaign to repeal Maine's gay rights law and put in place roadblocks to gay marriages and adoptions is being abandoned, leaders of the campaign said Thursday.

"We're pulling the plug," said Michael Heath, executive director of the Christian Civic League of Maine. Heath said the evangelical group failed to attract voter, volunteer and financial support it needed to continue its campaign.

The group collected only a third of the 15,000 voters' signatures it had set as a goal for primary election day June 10, said Heath.

The proposed law had several components, including repealing Maine's law protecting gays and lesbians from discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodation, credit and education. It would have barred the use of state funds by the attorney general's office for its civil rights teams and civil rights programs in public schools.

Is this an example of 'voter-assisted suicide? The AGC as long opposed the discriminatory campaigns by the CCL and predicted two years ago that the CCL under leader Mike Heath had about a five year shelf life.

Two separate and unrelated efforts to prevent newly enacted state laws from taking effect are still in progress, with a July 17 deadline to collect signatures approaching. The targeted laws include one raising taxes on beer, wine, soda and insurance premiums to finance the state's Dirigo Health insurance program, and one to undo driver's license security measures. The AGC strongly supports these measures.

AGC endorses water powered car in Japan

Universal Studios alters viral marketing campaign after AGC response

Moderator attends Washington wake for the late "Meet the Press" host Tim Russert

AGC moderator James Crawley will pay his respects for the late "Meet the Press" host Tim Russert will be held Tuesday 17 June, at St. Albans School in Washington, D.C. He will also attend a memorial service at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Wednesday, June 18, 2008. Russert died of a heart attack on June 13, while at work in Washington. Russert, died of a heart attack Friday 13 June, at the age of 58.

American good Christians must give up domestic air travel for good Sat 21 June

For the relatively small numbers of good Christians who fly within the United States this Saturday is the last time they can travel without showing government issued ID. On that date domestic air travel requires by law mandatory identity checks and citizen compliance. For the good Christian this effectively ends their freedom to fly as baptized members shun government identification documents. Also, there is a deep philosphical and moral objection to the legitimacy of this order.

Week of 22 -28 June, 2008

Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot would say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear would say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?

1 Corinthians 12:14-17

'Spiritual silly season' starting says Bishop Riordan in prepared remarks 28 June

Guardian of the Faith says pacifism makes AGC an easy target, but admits it must do more to protect the faith and educate the public even if doing results in encouraging more invention, lies and distortions.

AGC to offer Alberta government solution to the woes of RCC Bishop Henry

Calgary RCC Bishop Fred Henry has asked Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach to repeal Section 3(1)(b) of the Alberta Human Rights Act in order to protect the rights of religious freedom and freedom of speech.

In a letter to Premier Stelmach, Bishop Henry points out that in the past 18 months he has raised the issue of the Alberta Human Rights Commission (AHRC) several times with the Premier. "On each of those occasions, you said that you understood the issues and shared my concerns."

A special page will be devoted to this issue next week. Included will be the formal AGC letter to Alberta Premier Stelmach and RCC Bishop Henry. While several old files are not presently online about the AGC and Bishop Henry a short reference may be found here dating from December, 2005. Here is an excerpt:

"AGC General-Secretary Paul Ryan says:

Elder Ryan General Secretary"Fred Henry wants to open a debate on the 'special rights' he and churches enjoy . We welcome and encourage a discussion on the tax exempt status of churches in Canada. Of course, if Mr. Henry wishes to speak publicly, he need only renounce his special status and be taxed like any citizen or corporation. Calgarians are not fooled. They know Fred Henry is all bluff and bluster. His moral outrage is so strong, he even accept tax dollars from married same sex couples who pay taxes like all other citizens. Yes, 'Bishop' Fred Henry is a man of clear, consistent conviction. ""

"Wanted" wants more truth less violence woven into the viral story line

Due to the high volume of recent visitors to our website an important clarification needs to be made. The AGC is not in the habit of reviewing movies. The only concern of the AGC is the viral marketing websites commissioned on behalf the movie "Wanted".

There was no ancient order of assassins formed by a cult of weavers 1000 years ago who were the spiritual descendants of the medieval Cathars. The idea that simple living, plain speaking pacifists would turn into pistol packing secret coding, future-telling purveyors of death is not only defamatory and historically unfounded, but simply ludicrous. It is as extreme an idea as the violence found in the movie.

We are extremely happy that so many people have found the viral campaign to be silly in almost every way. Self-knowledge through solid scholarly sources combined with an enlightened mind is again proven to be the best course.

It need be understood the AGC itself will not take legal action. Friends of the AGC reserve the right to make application before the civil courts if the need arises to seek the withdrawal of those sites. Our hope is that Universal Studios and its surrogates will revise or remove the offending sites.

The official AGC statement will be webposted including links to reviews.

Website additions July, 2008

Restoring Meeting the Faith. Adding The Truth. This section will debunk the myths. Adding The Sandbox to explore new site designs and add-ons with your feedback

Zimbabwe good Christians remain on high alert

The U.N. Security Council issued its first sweeping condemnation of the violence gripping the nation, saying it would be 'impossible for a free and fair election to take place.'

Week of 29 - 5 July, 2008

For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) so that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law) so that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

Website additions July, 2008

Restoring Meeting the Faith. Adding The Truth. This section will debunk the myths. Adding The Sandbox to explore new site designs and add-ons with your feedback

AGC radio goes global this fall when "Voice of the Dove" expands programming

A new format increases the AGC role on a radio platform with two-way conversation, phone or internet VOIP access and recorded broadcasts. Our potential reach as a show will far exceed the reach of a terrestrial or even satellite radio talk show host, because our audience is global rather than regional. This will truly change the face of our media and communication exchange with the public and allow live interaction, as well as allow users to generate and consume content in audio format as well as in written format. AGC radio works anywhere, at anytime and in any language. We hope to launch specific programs in Bulgarian, English, French, German, Spanish and Russian.

All callers will be pre-screened. You can and may be muted at the host's discretion. if your statements are off-topic, infringes on another's rights, slanders others, or in any way promotes hatred, prejudice, harassment of others, illegal activities, and anything else considered unlawful.

We may for the initial expansionary period require callers to register and login at one of our websites for quality assurance purposes. In addtion, callers from a small number of localities may not be able to access AGC radio, the U.S. state of Ohio being but one example. All incoming calls will be traceable and voice resolution technology applied.

Our intention is for an shared period of uplifting spiritual edification for listeners and hosts alike. We want you to get to know us better, understand our spiritual lifestyle and daily way of life in service. We look forward to sharing joint prayer and praise in a quiet, reflective way that lead all to live a good life and die a good End.

Look for more details soon.

Good food for good people by good people

Good Christians have long been involved in working with and supporting the poorest of of the poor and blessed to live and work daily in areas where some of the Constantinian churches fear to tread. In keeping with that long tradition a new market was launched in one of Montreal Quebec's poorest neighbourhoods yesterday with the aim of increasing access to fresh food, not making profits. Read the news here (external link).

Spanish bishop praises proposed bill extending human rights to the Great Apes

Petras Santiago, bishop of Catalonia endorsed in glowing words the actions of a Spanish parliamentary committee which gave its support to a resolution that would grant all "great apes" the rights to life, liberty and freedom from torture.

Should the committee's resolution become law a major new animal rights precedent would be established making it illegal in Spain to use apes, including chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas and orang-utans in experiments.

According to a Reuters report, it will also become illegal to keep apes in circuses, or for the purposes of television commercials or filming.

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Website additions July, 2008

Restoring Meeting the Faith. Adding The Truth. This section will debunk the myths. Adding The Sandbox to explore new site designs and add-ons with your feedback