Pope: How could God 'tolerate' Holocaust?

OSWIECIM, Poland - Pope Benedict XVI walked along the row of plaques at the Auschwitz-Birkenau complex's memorial, one in the language of each nationality whose members died there. As he stopped to pray, a light rain stopped and a brilliant rainbow appeared over the camp.
"To speak in this place of horror, in this place where unprecedented mass crimes were committed against God and man, is almost impossible — and it is particularly difficult and troubling for a Christian, for a pope from Germany," he said later.
"In a place like this, words fail; in the end, there can be only a dread silence, a silence which itself is a heartfelt cry to God: Why, Lord, did you remain silent? How could you tolerate all this?"...(more...)

Young must research sex - Blair

Tony Blair has warned young people to take responsibility for their sexual behaviour and learn more about sex from the wealth of information on offer.
He told BBC Radio 1 - which has begun research into youth attitudes on sex - there were far more ways to discuss the topic compared to his schooldays.
The prime minister also laughed off one of the study's questions, refusing to say if he ever had a one-night stand.
He promised the survey's results would help to improve health services.
"When I was at school there wasn't any formal sex education at all," he said.
"People picked it up in all the ways, from friends, parents and so on, but I think there's a lot more information there now.
"This isn't just about formal structures, it's about networks where people are actually going to have a far better idea from talking to people what are the types of problems they may confront and how to behave responsibly, sexually." (more...)

The Da Vinci Code Mystery Revealed!

TIME's movie critic Richard Corliss blogs live from the Cannes Film festival:

...Well, to resolve two mysteries at once (why the film was kept from critics and what my reaction is), it’s not very good — long (2hr.32min.) and mostly inert.

Howard and Goldsman have efficiently touched all the bases. But they haven’t found a way to replicate the book’s page-turning urgency. The games Brown plays — anagrams, the Fibonacci sequence, the art-history gamesmanship, the delving into Gnostic gospel lore, all the clues and miscues in his devious treasure hunt — are best savored by readers with a long night or a long flight ahead of them. They’re not intrinsically visual or movie-dramatic, however many car chases the Howard version cranks up.(more..)

Da Vinci Code movie a target for US evangelicals

America's evangelical Christians who see "The Da Vinci Code" as Bible bashing at its worst are taking a cue from Hollywood to attack the story.


A boycott at this point would not do any good. When you have a tsunami coming it doesn't help to build a wall," said Dr. Erwin Lutzer, pastor of Moody Bible Church in Chicago.


"I have never in my 30 years of ministry had a time when so many people are interested ... We as evangelicals welcome the debate," added Lutzer, who wrote "The Da Vinci Deception" which has been turned into a video teaching kit on the subject. (more...)

From life without limbs to life without LIMITS!

To inspire fellow Christians Nick gives a powerful testimony of how God's grace and reliance on scripture has helped overcome his disability and see his purpose through God's eyes. He reveals how his so-called birth defect is not a tragedy but an instrument to reveal the glory of God. (John 9:3) Nick deals with topics like overcoming fear & rejection, suffering, unanswered prayers, reaching the lost & forgotten and mediocre Christianity. Nick integrates his message with whatever current theme or topic that your church may be going through.

"It is truly amazing to see how many doors God is opening for my ministry. My burning desire is to give hope to people in any way I can. Even though I can't preach the Gospel at Corporate and School Speaking Engagements, I Praise God as I witness seeds being planted in every soul for His Glory."(more...)

Humanitarian groups worried about Amnesty International’s wide-sweeping abortion initiative

Konigstein, May. 05, 2006 (CNA) - A number of pro-life organizations, including the Catholic 'Aid to the Church in Need' (ACN), have raised their voices against the international human rights advocacy group, Amnesty International, and its declared intention to spread abortion rights around the world. On Friday, Father Joaquin Alliende, ACN’s international ecclesiastical assistant, said that it was “With great regret we have learned that Amnesty International has proposed advancing abortion ‘rights’ around the world as a new mission for their organization.” (more...)

Archbishop woos hoodie generation

The Archbishop of York wore a hoodie as he urged people not to judge teenagers by their choice of fashion.
Dr John Sentamu told a conference on youth work in the Church: "Ninety-nine per cent of those who wear hoodies are law-abiding citizens."

About 150 teenagers were among the 650 delegates at Monday's event at Bradford Grammar School in West Yorkshire.
"In a rapidly changing culture, many are bewildered about how to communicate with young people," Dr Sentamu said.

"There are a lot of young people here today and to me that is very telling - they play a major part in the life of the Church.(more...)

Ex-stripper does new turn -- in missionary position

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Heather Veitch, a tall, shapely blonde, made a career out of baring it all at strip clubs. Now when she walks in a club, it is just to deliver her naked truth about God.

Last month she was introduced on evangelist Pat Robertson's "The 700 Club" as a "holy hottie."
At 32, Veitch still has a girlish strain to her voice, but she has done a fair amount of living, surviving a failed, turbulent marriage; having a child at 18; spending five years in the trenches as a stripper; making four appearances in "soft porn" and fetish movies; and having a second daughter with her current husband, who has brain cancer.

"A lot of people think we are trying to get them out of the industry or we're trying to help them change, but really we're trying to have them have a relationship with God.
"We want her to change her heart, and then if she changes her life because of that, then great, but it is not a requirement," she says. "We totally go by the Bible, like, we believe that the Bible is 100 percent truth."

"My goal is that I know that never again will a stripper -- or anybody -- feel like God is not for them. That's my goal," Veitch says, but she adds: "I would love them not to dance, because I know it is damaging and it is hard."(more...)