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A Daallo Airlines operated commercial plane, bound for Djibouti, makes an emergency landing at Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu, following an unexplained explosion that left a gaping hole in its fuselage. Despite reports a person fell out of the hole, Daalo Airlines says all 60 people on board have been accounted for.
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DOVER — With a precedent-setting determination regarding confidentiality among some church members last week, a Superior Court judge continued a lawsuit against a Sussex County congregation.
Judge Mary M. Johnston did not dismiss a lawsuit filed by the state of Delaware against the Laurel Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses regarding whether it should have reported child abuse allegations in 2013.
The state is suing the congregation and two elders for allegedly not disclosing knowledge of a reported sexual relationship between an adult member and juvenile member, according to court documents. The complaint was filed on July 10, 2014, in New Castle County Superior Court.
The congregation filed a motion for summary judgment on Nov. 9, 2015, which was denied on Jan. 26 by Judge Johnston.
The motion centered around the application of the “priest-penitent in a sacramental confession privilege” and whether conversations among Jehovah’s Witnesses leaders and members were covered in Delaware Code.
According to court papers, the state alleged two elders met with a juvenile and his mother, both congregation members, in January 2013 and a disclosure of a sexual relationship was made.
Also, according to documents, the elders then spoke with the adult member in question, who confirmed the relationship had happened.
Both the juvenile and adult member were excommunicated from the congregation in February 2013, papers indicated.
Also named as defendants in the lawsuit were Joel Mulchansingh and William Perkins.
In papers, the Department of Justice said it is seeking a civil penalty against each defendant not to exceed $10,000, costs, expenses and attorney’s fees incurred awarded to the state, and “such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper.”
With the civil action pending, the Department of Justice declined comment on the matter.
From 2012 to 14, the Department of Justice said, other entities such as a charter school, public elementary school and medical practice were named as defendants in similar cases regarding all abuse and neglect and the matters “were settled and dismissed without trial, with settlements generally consisting of training on mandatory reporting and other penalties.”
Officials said the mandatory statute regarding abuse and neglect has been active since at least 1971; before 1997, only attorney-client communication had privilege.
The criminal case
On Nov. 6, 2013, Katheryn L. Carmean pleaded guilty to third-degree rape, fourth-degree rape and endangering the welfare of a child, according to the Delaware Department of Justice. She was sentenced to six years in prison on Feb. 21, 2014, followed by six months at Level IV work release, followed by two years Level III probation. She is also registered as a Tier II sex offender, according to officials.
According to the Delaware State Police at the time of her arrest, Ms. Carmean, of Berlin, Maryland, was 35 and the allegedly involved male was 14.
The state police said investigation found encounters occurred over 10 months from November 2011 to August 2012 when the teen occasionally would stay at Ms. Carmean’s residence on Mount Zion Road near Laurel. She later moved to Maryland, authorities said.
In court papers regarding the civil suit, the defendant in the criminal case was identified as Katheryn Harris Carmean White.
The civil suit
In the civil suit, the state responded to the motion by citing Delaware Code Sections 903 and 904 which required “Any person, agency, organization or entity who knows or in good faith suspects child abuse or neglect shall make a report …” and “Any report of child abuse or neglect required to be made under this chapter shall be made by contacting the Child Abuse and Neglect Report Line for the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families” as obligation to report suspected child abuse.
According to papers, the court examined the constitutionality of whether the congregation was exempted by Delaware Code Section 909 to report privileged communications.
Section 909 states “No legally recognized privilege, except that between attorney and client and that between priest and penitent in a sacramental confession, shall apply to situations involving known or suspected child abuse, neglect, exploitation or abandonment and shall not constitute grounds for failure to report as required by 903 of this title or to give or accept evidence in any judicial proceeding relating to child abuse or neglect.”
According to court documents, the congregation maintained that all communications between elders, juvenile and adult members are covered by clergy/penitent privilege. Additionally, the congregation argued it had First Amendment coverage through the United States and Delaware, and were exempt from a reporting duty.
Ultimately, the court ruled that since the congregation had called a meeting with the adult member to discuss the issue, the member could not be deemed a “penitent” and the meeting to investigate allegations not a “sacramental confession.”
Also, the court found the juvenile’s subsequent excommunication indicated he might not have willingly met with the elders, and did not consider the meeting as a form of repentance as part of absolution and a “sacramental confession.”
The elders’ beliefs
The elders submitted signed affidavits, which included the premise that, “In accordance with the beliefs and practices of Jehovah’s Witnesses, confidential information is kept confidential so as to uphold the elders’ role as spiritual shepherds of the congregation, to maintain respect for the position of elders and congregants, and to allow congregants to feel comfortable fully disclosing information to the elders …”
The court noted no reference was made to why the General Assembly used the language in Delaware Code Section 909 “between priest and penitent in a sacramental confession” instead of more ecumenical religious terms.
Thus, the court turned to Black’s Law Dictionary to define “priest-penitent privilege” and determined it to be “In evidence, the recognition of the seal of confession which bars testimony as to the contents of a communication from one to his confessor.”
Also in Delaware Code, the court noted, “A person has a privilege to refuse and disclose to prevent another from disclosing a confidential communication by the person to a clergyman in his professional character as a spiritual adviser.”
A clergyman was described as a “minister, priest, rabbi, accredited Christian Science practitioner or other similar functionary of a religious organization, or an individual reasonably believed so to be by the person consulting him.”
According to the court, a priest and penitent communication in a sacramental confession cited in Section 909 “is a narrow exception to the duty to report abuse or neglect.
“The obvious purpose of these privileges is to balance free and candid communications with legal or religious advisers, with the public mandate to prevent and prosecute child abuse.”
‘Genuine issues exist’
In conclusion, the court ruled that a narrow interpretation of Section 909 “is unconstitutional on its face” and the terms “priest,” “penitent” and “sacramental confession” apply to only select denominations if taken literally.
“The Delaware Constitution prohibits laws that give preference to any religion,” the court wrote.
“However, Section 909 can potentially be read to apply to all religions.
“Regardless of the constitutionality of Section 909, genuine issues of material fact exist that prevent summary judgment.”
Delaware Code states that Section 903 violators “shall be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed $10,000 for the first violation, and not to exceed $50,000 for any subsequent violation.” Costs and attorneys’ fees may be awarded as well.
Attorneys James Liguori and Francis McNamara represented the defendant congregation in the motion, along with the Watchtower Legal Department, the Jehovah’s Witnesses legal advisers. Deputy Attorneys General Janice Tigani and Valerie Farnan represented the state.
Staff writer Craig Anderson can be reached at 741-8296 or canderson@newszap.com. Follow @DSNAnderson on Twitter.
Reach staff writer Craig Anderson at canderson@newszap.com
http://delawarestatenews.net/news/judge-refuses-to-dismiss-lawsuit-against-jehovahs-witnesses/
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I have less than 1/4 inch of hair. Lol.
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Michael Peppard is an associate professor of theology at Fordham University and the author, most recently, of “The World’s Oldest Church: Bible, Art, and Ritual at Dura-Europos, Syria.” In this NY times article he reviews what we understand about this image in a Church in the Roman outpost of Dura-Europos,
Peppard compares the image with others and concludes that the artist intended to portray Mary. The image was preserved by being buried in sand in the third century CE, in an attempt to strengthen the walls of the outpost against attack by the Sasanians.
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Jehovah's Witnesses > WTBTS of Pennsylvania > Archive of Publications > 2016 C.E.
Song 149 - Grateful for the Ransom Lyrics
Sing to Jehovah - New SongsStanza 1
Today, Jehovah God,
we stand before your throne,
For you showed the greatest love
that could ever be shown.
You gave the gift of your dear Son
that we might live.
No greater sacrifice than this
could you ever give.(CHORUS)
He gave his life to set us free.
His precious blood provides the key.
With all our hearts,
we’ll go on thanking you eternally.Stanza 2
It was a willing sacrifice
that Jesus made.
Out of love, his perfect life
was the price that he paid.
We had no hope until he came
to save mankind.
But now our hope is finding life,
leaving death behind.(CHORUS)
He gave his life to set us free.
His precious blood provides the key.
With all our hearts,
we’ll go on thanking you eternally.- Submitted
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Esta experiencia fue contada en una asamblea“Valdir nació en Portugal. Cuando era pequeño, toda la familia se mudó a Brasil. Cuando él tenía 12 años su papá murió. Un año después, su mamá se casó de nuevo. Valdir no aceptó que alguien tomara el lugar de su padre así que surgieron conflictos entre él, su padrastro y su madre. Después de una terrible discusión, decidió irse de casa. Un corto tiempo después, el resto de la familia decidió volver a Portugal. Valdir tenía solamente 13 años cuando dejó la familia.
Él decidió ser sacerdote. Empezó los estudios en un seminario y se graduó en teología y llegó a ser sacerdote. Gracias a su cargo, lo mandaron al Vaticano en Roma para trabajar y seguir educándose allá. Durante esa época fue mandado a 80 diferentes países y él aprendió hablar y escribir 6 diferentes idiomas. Él trabajaba con Pablo IV y Juan Pablo II. También recibío clases de ellos y los conocía en privado. Él también tenía mucho contacto con quien despues llegaría a ser el papa Bendicto XVI. Era muy respetado y fue mandado a diferentes países para hacer investigaciones y solucionar problemas dentro de la iglesia.
Él también ha compuesto música religiosa. Por lo menos unas dos de estas canciones son conocidas en todo el mundo y unos sacerdotes brasileños famosos las cantan. Se han vendido en unos 2 millones ejemplares.
En la mitad de los años 90 se le mandó a Sao Paulo en Brasil. Y poco después iba a ser consagrado (nombrado como obispo). Pero en ese tiempo empezó a sentirse decepcionado por el abuso del poder y la parcialidad que existía en la iglesia, por eso dimitió ese cargo. Un año después, recibió un mensaje del Vaticano donde se le informó que debería ser obispo con el propósito de seguir avanzando para ser arzobispo y cardenal. Pero, lo rechazó de nuevo. También se le dijo que un sacerdote con tan alta educación, no podría quedarse en una ciudad tan grande, sin tomar más responsabilidad. Tenía que cambiarse a una ciudad más pequeña. Él escogió una región muy católica cerca la ciudad Tatui. Quiso efectuar trabajo social. (Este lugar pertenece a la congregación Tatui oeste.)
En los años 80 Valdir estaba en Los Estados Unidos durante un año, mandado por la iglesia. Su misión era estudiar las iglesias más influyentes en el país. Fue entonces cuando por primera vez recibió información sobre los Testigos de Jehová. Aunque no le agradó la enseñaza de la verdad, se convenció de que solamente los Testigos cumplen el mandato de predicar el evangelio públicamente y de casa en casa, aunque la gente se burle, los repudie y rechace ferozmente.
Después de un tiempo recibió una visita de un hermano que estaba predicando de casa en casa. El hermano le dejó un par de revistas. Después de leerlas, usó el material de ellas para su próximo sermón y también mencionó la fuente de la información. Algunos de los oyentes reaccionaron de forma negativa, incluso se informó a la sede de la iglesia en Sao Paulo. Recibió una reprensión, pero no se dejo intimidar, sino que siguió recibiendo visitas de los hermanos. También siguió leyendo las revistas y usándolas en sus sermones.
Un precursor que había pasado por la escuela de siervos nombrados empezó estudiar con Valdir. Aunque experimentó mucha oposición (verbal, psíquica, también fue atacado algunas veces) continuó estudiando.
Valdir solicitó la baja en la iglesia y empezó a frecuentar las reuniones. Sus amigos anteriores llegaron a ser enemigos y trataron de hacerle daño. Para obstaculizarle encontrar un trabajo, empezaron a mentir acerca de él. Hasta trataron de convencer a una persona de la congregación de que le acusara por haber cometido un delito. La persona lo negó, y le contó a Valdir lo que estaban haciendo.
Como publicador no bautizado, tenía un promedio de 70 horas/mes en la predicación. En julio de 2005 expresó su deseo de bautizarse, pero se le aconsejó esperar un poco. En enero de 2006 fue aprobado para el bautismo en la asamblea que se celebraría en febrero en el local de asambleas del hogar Betel. Cuando fue aprobado para bautizarse (un mes antes del bautismo) sintió que necesitaba restablecer la amistad con su familia, la cual no había visto en 31 años. Pensó que un cristiano verdadero tiene que predicar la verdad a sus familiares.
Durante todos estos años que él había tenido contacto con el consulado para renovar su permiso de residencia en Brasil, siempre había un saludo de su familia y un número telefónico para que él se pusiera en contacto con ellos, pero Valdir nunca los llamó. Ahora quiso llamar a su mamá. Pero cuando escuchó la voz de ella, no logró hablar, solamente lloró y tuvo que colgar. Después de unos minutos la llamó de nuevo.
El siguiente diálogo se desarrolló:
-La madre: "¿Cómo estás, hijo mío?"
-Valdir: "Gracias a Jehová, estoy bien ahora".
-La madre: ¿Qué nombre has usado? ¿Hablas de Jehová?
-Valdir: "Sí. Ya no soy sacerdote en la iglesia".
Soy testigo de Jehová, y tengo mucho que contarte.
-La madre: "Hijo mío. Toda la familia, incluida yo, tu padrastro y tus hermanos somos Testigos desde hace muchos años. Es por eso que hemos tratado de establecer contacto contigo".
Durante unos minutos no podían hablar, solamente lloraron. Valdir llegó a saber que uno de sus hermanos sirve como anciano. Su padrastro, su mamá y uno de sus hermanos llegaron para su bautismo. Todavía no ha decidido si se va a quedar en Brasil o se va a mudar con su familia en Portugal.”
Contado por Georg y Mona Agren, misioneros en Betel, Brasil.
¡Tremenda experiencia!. Nunca subestimemos nuestra labor de celosos predicadores del Reino. Así este mundo podrido nos odie e insulte, nos maltrate y nos hiera, el mensaje del Reino se debe llevar. Solo Jehová, y nosotros sus Testigos, sabemos lo que es, un puertazo en la cara y quedar con una sonrisa a medio morir dibujada en el rostro, tener que recoger nuestros sentimientos y avanzar a la siguiente puerta esperando un recibimiento mejor. Por eso, bien lo dicen las Santas Escrituras: ¡Cuán hermosos sobre las montañas son los pies del que trae buenas nuevas, del que publica paz, del que trae buenas nuevas de algo mejor, del que publica salvación, del que dice a Sión: ‘¡Tu Dios ha llegado a ser rey!’" (Isaías 52:7) Sin lugar a dudas el pueblo de Jehová seguira declarando el juicio de Dios contra este sistema de cosas dominado por Satanás. Y no nos contristemos, pues bien sabemos nosotros, que si al Hijo de Dios lo odiaron a nosotros también nos odiarán, en algún momento y demasiado tarde la humanidad rebelde que no se ponga del lado de Dios, comprobará por si misma lo cierto de las Escrituras al decir: "Es cosa horrenda caer en las manos del Dios vivo". (Hebreos 10:31) -
A leading infectious disease doctor is warning that not only is the virus sexually transmitted but that it could affect blood donations
New concerns have emerged over the widespread Zika epidemic as it's feared the virus can be spread through sex and can impact blood donations.
Scientists probing the rapid onslaught of the virus claim pregnant women can catch it through unprotected sex.
At least one UK resident was warned not to have sex without a condom after contracting the virus.
Leading infectious diseases expert Dr Amesh Adalja at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center says it has been well documented and part of that research was focused in the UK.
And there's fresh concerns that it could end up contaminating emergency blood supplies .
Only one in five people show symptoms of the disease and don't seek medical treatment - meaning Zika is a benign illness for the vast majority of patients.
Read more: Was Zika outbreak caused by release of genetically modified mosquitoes in Brazil?
Dr Amesh A. Adalja is a leading infectious disease researcher at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
But this opens up major concerns for doctors worried that the disease can spread person to person - and infect unborn babies - without a mosquito bite.
Dr Adalja said: "There have been cases of sexual transmission of Zika from male to female and, if the woman is pregnant , the virus could theoretically pass to the gestating fetus.
There are fears that the virus could end up contaminating emergency blood supplies
"At least one case report of a sexual transmission event that spread Zika in the medical literature.
"It involved a male scientist who was in Senegal in 2008 and then traveled home to Colorado.
"Both he and his wife developed Zika virus, though she had not traveled to any Zika prevalent areas but had engaged in sexual intercourse.
"Interestingly, his symptoms included having blood in his semen (hematospermia).
GettyThe Zika virus can be transmitted through unprotected sex"Hematospermia was also reported in a Tahitian patient in 2013 and the Zika virus was subsequently isolated from the semen.
"The US CDC has not made a recommendation regarding sexual transmission to pregnant women however, as a precaution, Public Health England has recommended condom use in a male patient returning from Zika-affected areas for 28 days and for 6 months in those with confirmed Zika.
"More evidence of sexual transmission including its likelihood and its timeframe are needed."
James BreedenSix young babies with microcephaly and their parents wait to be seen by medics in BrazilMillions of British people visit the 24 infected countries each year and the Government is warning pregnant women not to travel.
However, these new revelations are worrying not only for pregnant women but for millions of people who rely on blood donations.
Speaking exclusively to Mirror Online , Dr Adalja, added that there are very real concerns over blood transfusions.
He added: "There is also concern for the virus being transmitted via blood transfusion.
"The UK is not home to Aedes mosquitoes but still has to be prepared to identify and diagnose infected travelers.
GettyDr. Angela Rocha examines Ludmilla Hadassa Dias de Vasconcelos"The risk of contracting Zika via a blood transfusion was established via screening asymptomatic donors in French Polynesia a few years ago and there has been at least one report of the virus being acquired in this manner.
"The blood banking industry and regulatory agencies are rapidly developing donor guidance to minimize this risk."
Dr Adalja says any real vaccine offering could be at least 10 years off and British doctors have to be prepared for the real possibility that the virus could spread exponentially in the UK.He added: "Vaccine development is generally measured on the scale of years.
GettyA health care employee examines blood infected with the Zika virus in a health centre in Caracas, Venezuela"However, there are a few extant vaccines that may be able to reconfigured for Zika allowing the proceed to be accelerated but it will still be some time before vaccine is widely available.
"It usually takes about a decade to fully commercialize a novel vaccine.
"There are many new technologies that have been developed that may be able to accelerate the development and there are emergency use provisions facilitating human use earlier in clinical development than usual.
"This acceleration will be dependent on how easy it is to devise a vaccine against Zika which will include deciding what part of the virus to target to stimulate protective immunity while not triggering autoimmune reactions, which may be an issue given the cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome that have been linked to Zika.
REUTERS/Denis BalibouseWorld Health Organization (WHO) headquarters in Geneva has declared an emergency"However, once the vaccine development, safety, efficacy, storage and dosing studies all take time so it is hard to put an exact timeline on to a novel vaccine."
Five cases of Zika virus have been diagnosed in UK travellers as part of this outbreak.
There has only been one additional case of Zika virus infection diagnosed in the UK to date.
GettyDavid Henrique Ferreira, 5 months, who was born with microcephaly which is believed to be linked to ZikaThis case was diagnosed in 2014 following travel to the Cook Islands and is not part of the ongoing outbreak in South and Central America and the Caribbean.
Almost 1.4 million UK residents travelled to South and Central America and the Caribbean on average each year between 2010 and 2014.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/fears-zika-virus-can-spread-7292653
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06:00 Tuesday 02 February 2016
A Jehovah’s Witness who groomed a girl for sex has been thrown out of his church.
Richard Ogilvie was ‘put outside’ the Hartlepool South Congregation after a meeting of elders earlier this month.
The meeting was called to discuss Ogilvie’s conviction for sexual grooming of a child following a trial at Teesside Crown Court last November.
A Jehovah’s Witness spokesman said: “I can confirm Richard Ogilvie has been put outside the congregation.
“As witnesses, we are guided by the scriptures.
“Any abuse of a child is a biblical sin, as well as being a serious criminal offence.”
The victim’s father previously said his daughter and family were severely damaged by Ogilvie.
Commenting on his ejection, the father said: “I hope as a family we can move on from this and draw a line under it.
“What the Hartlepool South Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses do to their own has no effect on the ongoing repair my family is still trying to achieve.”
Ogilvie, 32, of Scott Grove, Hartlepool, was given a suspended prison sentence after a jury convicted him of sexual grooming by sending texts to the girl telling her he ‘loved her to bits’, wanted to snog her, and hoped they could ‘do it properly’ one day.
Ogilvie was acquitted of a separate charge of inciting the same child to commit sexual activity.
Christine Egerton, defending, told the court Ogilvie had lost his job due to the conviction, but was not ‘seeking to hide’ from what he had done.
In addition to the suspended sentence, Ogilvie is the subject of an indefinite sexual harm prevention order which severely restricts his contact with children.
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Jehovah's Witnesses > WTBTS of Pennsylvania > Archive of Publications > 2016 C.E.
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Wow! Interesting comparisons. Thanks for sharing!
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Interesting post Kurt! I guess that does make sense.
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Due to soaring costs I was not able to continue paying for the email service to the 42,000 subscribers across the different topics.
I had to close down social.jw-archive.org and join a section here on World News to cut costs as well.
Sorry,
The Librarian
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Dear Librarian.Does anyone have a clearer understanding of what it seems to be a contradiction between Neh. 1:1 and 2:1? The research literature on hand does not seem to give me a clear cut explanation. I hope someone have info they could provide. ThanksAgape
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North Korea and weapons of mass destruction
in Topics
Posted