Child Friendly Church - I'm hopeful!

The other day, when we priests gathered, we were commenting: Catholic church is becoming a world leader in one more area - dealing with child sex abuse issues.

It's not a very impressive title, I admit. But it is a good thing. With humility, we can say that no other organization/association in the world might not have done so much to address this issue NOW. (Yes, we had our faults in addressing it at the "very first place". But better late than never.)

And personally I think, it does make sense that cleansing in this area starts from Church-not necessarily because this problem is only within Church or Church is THE highest offender (there's no data to suggest that), but because Church should be the "light of the world" and its dark elements have to be illuminated first.

And also I believe that the public (as well as Catholic faithful) will see through this smoke created around the Church over this issue (many a time by vested interests), by seeing the efforts Church is taking to address this issue and the other good things Church continue to do in the world and bring their children (and youngsters) back to Church. I can see a lot of evidence for that and I am hopeful :)

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This is posted as a response to Facebook post by Suraj AB

Dharmaram

Why do I endorse Liberal party and Tony Abbott for the Australian election 2010

On the outset of Australian elections, I endorse Liberal party and Tony Abbott for this election and encourage all my friends to vote for them when you go to the polling booth tomorrow.

Why do I endorse Tony and reject Julia Gillard? This is because:

There's a fundamental dishonesty in Julia Gillard in the way in which she annihilated her leader and came to power, which sets a wrong precedent and role model of young generations and Australian (and world) politics. Such tactics should not be endorsed by any responsible society.

There is a fundamental dishonestly in Julia Gillard when she says that she stands for "working families" and does not believe in family and openly in a de-facto relationship.

There's a fundamental dishonesty in Julia Gillard (and Labor) saying that they stand for "working class" and still the Resources Tax proposed by Labor is a "world tax" on resources and is going to exploit the poorest and the marginalized "working class" in developing and under-developed nations. Labor and Gillard don't stand for the principles of equity they preach as Labor core principle but promote exploitation of poor people in international levels through Resources Tax.

Tony Abbot rejects Resources Tax, supports family and ran a disciplined, positive and honourable campaign compared to Gillard. So, it is Tony this time!

Australia's new world tax!

I feel morally responsible to respond to the newly announced "super tax" on miner by Australian govt (total tax to raise to 64%, accoding to some reports). This tax will defenitly put upward pressure on commodities arond the globe. So, this is going to be a "world tax" on commodities for just the benefit of 21 million ...Australians. I cann't justify such a tax grab just for the luxury of few millions ($100,000 will be added to super annuation of all Aussies by just sitting on their couches as result of this tax) at the cost of billions in developing world including China & India. These kinds of tax grabs are the seeds of great conflict in the future which will put world peace at peril. RUDD & AUS will be responsible for that, sadly.

The Lord is my Boss! (Psalm 23 for Professionals)

The Lord is my Boss!

The Lord is my real boss,
and hence I shall not want.
He gives me peace, even while chaos is all around me.
He gently reminds me to pray and do all things without murmuring and complaining,
that He may be glorified in everything I do.
He reminds me that He is my source and not my job,
and that he plans my future, not my boss defining my fate.
He restores my sanity everyday and guides my decisions,
so that I might honor Him in all that I do.
Even though I face absurd amounts of e-mails, system crashes, unrealistic deadlines,
budget cutbacks, misunderstanding and gossiping co-workers,
discriminating supervisors along with all similar challenges,
and an aging body that doesn't cooperate every morning,
I still will not stop but keep going – for He is with me!
His presence, His peace, His power and His provisions will see me through.
He raises me up, even when they fail to promote me.
He claims me as His own, even when the company threatens to let me go.
Truly, all my security, rewards and recognitions come from him.
His faithfulness and love are better than any bonus check as He meets my every need.
His retirement plan beats every 401k there is – no ups and downs – because
His benefits are the same yesterday, today, and forever!
When it's all said and done, I'll be working for Him a whole lot longer and for that,
I BLESS HIS NAME!!!!!!

Got from Joynet page:
http://joynet.jesusyouth.org/pg/pages/view/5002/

Use unique ID of international students for a just cause (Letter to Editor: Canberra Times)

As an Indian student in Australia, I welcome the Baird recommendations to revamp the international education system in Australia. The most important suggestion is to give a unique identifier number to every international student coming to this country. The primary intention is seems to protect students from scrupulous agents by tracking their movements between institutions. This ID could also be used to a greater cause which will ensure more transparency, credibility and justice to Australian education sector.

Australian government awards 5 points towards Australian permanent residency (PR) for 2 or more years of study in Australia. Those 5 points are so critical that an average students who does a course in skills demand list (MODL, CSL, etc) will be eligible for PR, if they get those last 5 points. That's their last mile. Many students choose those courses (which are in skills demand list) for 2 or more years with the intention of applying for PR after their studies. This is good for Australia too, for Australia gets right skills trained in Australia itself.

In order to make this arrangement more transparent and just, Australia could link the proposed unique ID for international students with the skills demand list of the time students get admission to Australian educational institutions. This will be consistent with the practise of linking 5 points towards PR for 2 years of study in Australia at the very first time they join courses in Australia.

If we do not do this, we will be allowing the system to "change the goal posts" for international students during their 2 years of study in Australia. No one would argue that Australia has a right to change the skills demand list as the demand changes in the society. At the same time, we do have an obligation to protect the interests of international students who come here to study and fill in the needs of Australia, as we advertise. Linking the unique ID for international students with that of the demand list of the time students get admission to Australian educational institutions will be the best way to implement it. This will ensure credibility and reinstate confidence in "Australia brand" in international circles.


Fr Jaison Mulerikkal CMI
47 Lowe st
Queanbeyan, 2620
Mob: 0433893593

jmulerik@cs.anu.edu.au

A Conspiracy Theory!

I will tell you a conspiracy theory. It's on the wake of the latest market crash at Europe: Some (bad) guys planned to siphon out huge wealth from big financial institutions - say banks. They planned that, once their  financial institutions are bankrupt, they will terrify the public and govts, saying that, if they they dont bail them out, they will collapse. The public and the govts will be terrified, coz those financial institutions have become TOO BIG to fail now. They will convince the public and govts (they got their men inside govts.. lol) to bail them out. That is public will pay for the money they took. The private debt becomes public debt. That's the magic! Now every citizen/tax payer will work the rest of their life to pay that bill. What bill? The money who siphoned out by those bad guys in the first place.How is it? The worst part of the story is, most likely it may be true!