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yessir posted this in Insights & Views on July 31st, 2010
Shocking Unprovoked Attack By President Ahmadinejad
Octopus Paul didn’t see it coming, and neither did his fans. In an unprovoked attack, Iranian President Ahmadinejad fired a broadside at Octopus Paul, hero of the recently concluded 2010 FIFA World Cup competition in South Africa where he predicted the outcome of football matches with deadly 100% accuracy. Thankfully Octopus Paul managed to duck the fiery missiles. Now shell-shocked fans of Octopus Paul have returned fire.
Unprovoked Attack On Octopus Paul
President Ahmadinejad delivered the opening salvo during a recent speech in Tehran. He called Octopus Paul a symbol of “decadence and decay” affecting the enemies of Iran. Next President Ahmadinejad accused Octopus Paul of “spreading Western propaganda and superstitution.”
Unprovoked Attack On Fans And Followers Of Octopus Paul
Then shifting his gunsight from Octopus Paul to his fans and followers, President Ahmadinejad fired the next salvo, saying: “Those who believe in this type of thing cannot be the leaders of the global nations that aspire, like Iran, to human perfection, basing themselves in the love of all sacred values.”
Reaction
Shell shocked fans of Octopus Paul were caught off guard by this sudden attack by President Ahmadinejad. But now a fan has fired a return salvo at President Ahmadinejad. Irish journalist Rory Fitzgerald wrote a tongue-in-cheek reply on behalf of Octopus Paul for the Huffington Post. There, Roy Fitzgerald had Octopus Paul saying: ”As an octopus, I can claim some objectivity in my view human affairs. From my reading of the 9/11 Commission report, I understand that Iran is believed to be linked with al-Qaeda. Al-Qaeda in turn is understood to be linked to the twin bombings in Uganda that killed 74 innocent people while they watched the World Cup final on TV. Octopus morality must be very different from Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s perspective on things, but for us Octopi the killing of innocent people constitutes a much more serous moral offence than jokingly predicting the outcome of football games.”
Think About It
What provoked Iranian President Ahmadinejad to launch this sudden attack on Octopus Paul and his fans? Why attack an innocent creature of the sea?
Previous post
2010 FIFA World Cup – What Now For Octopus Paul?
2010 FIFA World Cup – Octopus Paul Sends Bobbi Eden Twitter Followers Going Dutch As Spain Wins The Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup – Germany Out Of Final As Octopus Paul Scores 6-0
2010 FIFA World Cup – England’s Exit Due To German Secret Weapon?
yessir posted this in Insights & Views on July 31st, 2010
“Let Me Do It”
Even as police prepare to hand over dossiers of Luna Maya and Cut Tari’s alleged involvement in the Peterporn sex videos, Ariel’s lawyer said that he is willing to produce Ariel’s new songs if nobody is prepared to do so.
Attorney General’s Office To Get Dossiers Of Luna Maya And Cut Tari Soon
National Police detective chief Comr. Gen. Ito Sumardi said the other day concerning the case against Luna Maya and Cut Tari: “We have almost completed their dossiers and will hand them to the Attorney General Office later this week.” Police believe that both Luna Maya and Cut Tari were the persons seen in the 3 Peterporn sex videos, having sex with Nazril Irham aka Ariel. So far, Cut Tari has publicly admitted to being the person shown in one of these Peterporn sex videos having sex with Ariel about a year after her marriage. But Luna Maya has not made such an admission thus far.
Luna Maya, Cut Tari along with Ariel are charged under the 2008 Anti-Pornography Law,which carries a maximum punishment of 12 years in prison.
Otto Cornelius Kaligis (OC Kaligis)
Meanwhile, Ariel’s lawyer revealed a conversation he had with Ariel recently. Otto Cornelius Kaligis asked Ariel about his song writing activity. Otto Cornelius Kaligis said: “I asked him if he was writing songs. Ariel answered ‘Yes, slowly’”. Then Otto Cornelius Kaligis made this offer to Ariel: “ If people do not want to produce them, let me do it.”
But what did Otto Cornelius Kaligis know about Ariel’s music? Otto Cornelius Kaligis said: “I apologize, I have never listened to Ariel’s songs, maybe because I’ve been busy with too many cases. However, songs are universal, meaning they do not correspond with this case. If the songs are good listening, then everyone will.”
Otto Cornelius Kaligis said he remained optimistic that people would view the songs for its quality, irrespective of the Peterporn sex videos scandal.
Think About It
What will the Attorney General Office decide to do after receiving the dossiers on Cut Tari and Luna Maya? Will they proceed to prosecute both of them under the 2008 Anti-Pornography Law? The complication, at least as far as Cut Tari is concerned, is that she claimed to perform the sex act with Ariel way before 2008 when the Anti-Pornography Law came into force. How will the Attorney General Office decide on this? And will people still buy songs written by Ariel? If so, why?
Previous posts
Peterporn Sex Videos – Did Ariel Just Marry Luna Maya?
Peterporn Sex Videos – Cut Tari Admits Bedroom Exercise With Ariel Was Adultery
Peterporn Sex Videos Scandal – Now Lawyer Wants Constitutional Court To Review The Anti-Pornography Law
Peterporn Sex Videos – Time For Ariel To Apologize?
Peterporn Sex Videos – Police Name Suspected First Uploader
Peterporn Sex Videos – Ariel’s Friend Arrested As First Uploader
Peterporn Sex Videos – Has Luna Maya Been Arrested?
Peterporn Sex Videos – Now Cut Tari Admits She Had Sex With Ariel
Peterporn Sex Videos – Luna Maya And Cut Tari Made Separate Apology To Fans
Ariel Arrested Over Sex Videos Featuring Luna Maya And Cut Tari
nuryn posted this in Difficult Questions on July 30th, 2010
Saudi Sheik Aedh al-Garni’s Says “No”
What should Muslim women who normally cover their faces do when laws are introduced to make it illegal to do so, as may happen in countries such as France, Belgium, and Spain? A Saudi woman living in France put this question to popular Saudi cleric Sheik Aedh al-Garni, whose writings are widely read and whose advice thus carries some weight. While deploring efforts to introduce such laws, his advice is that, in countries where the full-face veil is banned, it is permissible for Muslim women to reveal their faces.
Sheik Aedh al-Garni’s Reason For His Guidance (Fatwa)
Sheik Aedh al-Garni said: “We should not confront people in their countries or elsewhere. In case a ban is enforced against a Muslim woman there – and as a consequence there is a reaction or negative implications or harassment or harm – it is better for the Muslim woman to reveal her face.”
Other Clerics’ View
Not all clerics are as liberal as Sheik Aedh al-Garni over this issue. For instance, Mohammed al-Nujemi, a Saudi professor at the Institute of Judicial and Islamic Studies in Riyadh said “The Saudi woman should not go on tourism to non-Muslim countries. Going to a non-Muslim country without a necessity is not permissible according to the sharia”.
Think About It
If wearing the full-face veil can be abandoned in countries where it is banned, why are some people still seeing it as a religious obligation? “We should not confront people in their countries…”. Does this mean that foreigners should try their best to adapt to the customs of the host country, especially when the foreign customs are not welcome?
Previous posts
Syria Quietly Bans The Burqa And The Nijab In Schools And Universities
Attempts To Ban The Burqa Continue In France And Elsewhere
Council Of Europe Opposes General Ban On Wearing Of Full Face Veils
France Resolves To Ban The Full Veil Just As Council Of Europe Opposes Ban
Fined For Wearing A Burqa In Italy … Then Confined To The House?
Belgium Goes For National Ban On Full Face Veil
Burka Not Welcome In France
Wearing A Veil (Hijab) Is A Muslim Woman’s Personal Choice
The Muslim Niqab – Custom Or Faith?
yessir posted this in Insights & Views on July 30th, 2010
Police Said “No”
Responding to rumors that Nazril Irham aka Ariel of pop band Peterpan had married Luna Maya recently, police said that’s not possible. Meanwhile Ariel’s application for conditional release was denied by police.
Ariel Failed To Gain Conditional Release
Ariel’s recent plea for conditional release has been rejected by police. The plea was filed by Ariel’s lawyer, Otto Cornelius Kaligis (OC Kaligis). Had the plea succeed, Ariel would be released and confined within the city limits to await the outcome of police investigations. Why was the plea rejected? National Police Chief Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri explained: “We can’t grant the request. His detention is commensurate with the severity of his crime.”
Rumored Wedding
Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Marwoto Soeto has denied rumors that Ariel had married his girlfriend, Luna Maya, in a jailhouse ceremony recently. Sr. Comr. Marwoto Soeto said: “If they wanted to get married in detention they would have to ask permission from the chief detective. And we have not received any such request.”
Three University Students To Be Arrested Soon
Sr. Comr. Marwoto Soeto said that police plans to charge 3 university students in connection with the uploading of the Peterporn sex videos onto YouTube. These 3 university students are believed to be linked to Reza Rezaldi, music director of the Peterpan pop band who allegedly stole the Peterporn sex videos from Ariel’s laptop computer to become the alleged first uploader of these sex videos. Police are waiting for the arrest warrants for these 3 university students from the Bandung District Court in West Java.
Think About It
There is no doubt that police are tightening the net around Ariel and Luna Maya. Both Ariel and Luna Maya have not admitted to any wrongdoing, and Luna Maya is said to be cooperating with police. And police is also tightening the net around the uploaders of the Peterporn sex videos. Are we likely to see Ariel and Luna Maya fighting the case, or will they cave in and confess their roles in the Peterporn sex videos? If they decide to fight the case, what will be their defense? How will the 2008 Anti-Pornography Law be tested in court? What if this law is found wanting?
Previous posts
Peterporn Sex Videos – Cut Tari Admits Bedroom Exercise With Ariel Was Adultery
Peterporn Sex Videos Scandal – Now Lawyer Wants Constitutional Court To Review The Anti-Pornography Law
Peterporn Sex Videos – Time For Ariel To Apologize?
Peterporn Sex Videos – Police Name Suspected First Uploader
Peterporn Sex Videos – Ariel’s Friend Arrested As First Uploader
Peterporn Sex Videos – Has Luna Maya Been Arrested?
Peterporn Sex Videos – Now Cut Tari Admits She Had Sex With Ariel
Peterporn Sex Videos – Luna Maya And Cut Tari Made Separate Apology To Fans
Ariel Arrested Over Sex Videos Featuring Luna Maya And Cut Tari
yasna posted this in Difficult Questions on July 29th, 2010
The Interrogation Of Mohammed Mostafaei
Mohammed Mostafaei, the attorney representing Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani – an Iranian mother-of-two who was sentenced to death by stoning for adultery – has gone missing. Recently, Mohammed Mostafaei was summoned by the Iranian authorities and he spent four hours being questioned at the notorious Evin prison’s Court Branch. Explaining the reasons for the summons on his website, Mohammad Mostafaei said that he was questioned about the nature of his assistance to child offenders on death row, and also about a bank account which was used to hold blood money for the family of victims. Mohammed Mostafaei had, over the last several years, been able to save the lives of eighteen juveniles (those under the age of eighteen) from the noose.
Arrest Of Wife Fereshteh Halimi And Brother-in-law Farhad Halimi
Later that afternoon, security agents went to Mohammed Mostafaei’s house with an arrest warrant. As Mohammed Mostafaei was not there, the agents arrested his wife, Fereshteh Halimi, and brother-in-law, Farhad Halimi, on the charge that the two were trying to conceal Mohammed Mostafaei and help him to avoid arrest. No one has heard or seen Mohammed Mostafaei ever since.
Reactions From Amnesty International And Human Rights Groups
Tim Hancock, campaigns director of Amnesty International told the media, “It’s deeply worrying that the Iranian authorities now appear to be targeting Sakineh’s lawyer. Mohammed Mostafaei is a lawyer doing his job, trying to defend his client. He should be left alone to practise the law, not subjected to harassment and intimidation. It’s shocking that the authorities have detained his wife and her brother in an apparent effort to put pressure on Mostafaei.”
Several human rights groups were also concerned with the latest actions of the Iranian government. The International Committee Against Execution has called on all human rights organizations to “demand the immediate release of Mohammed Mostafaei’s wife and brother-in-law.”
Effect On Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani’s Sentence
Mohammed Mostafaei, who is in his late thirties and has a seven-year-old daughter, is a well-known attorney for his bravery in taking up causes especially in human rights. Mohammed Mostafaei’s latest cause was of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani who had been sentenced to death by stoning for adultery. The international outrage seemed to have caused the Iranian authorities to suspend Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani’s stoning temporarily. The Supreme Court in Iran should have issued a statement on Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani’s case on July 21st, 2010. However, the release of the statement has been postponed for 20 days according to sources from Iran.
Think About It
The Iranian authorities’ pursuit of Mohammed Mostafaei may not bode well for Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani. Was the arrest of Mohammed Mostafaei’s wife, Fereshteh Halimi, and brother-in-law, Farhad Halimi, a quid pro quo? Would Mohammed Mostafaei’s disappearance inadvertently lead to Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani’s execution? Or would Mohammed Mostafaei turn himself in to save his family?
Previous posts
Iran – New Information On Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani’s Stoning Case
Iran – Adulteress Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani Escapes Stoning Death
Iranian Woman Facing Death By Stoning
yessir posted this in Insights & Views on July 29th, 2010
Cut Tari’s Husband Johannes Yusuf Subrata: “I Forgive Cut”
Ever wondered why Cut Tari apologized to husband Johannes Yusuf Subrata? Apart from causing shame and embarrassment to him by appearing in the sex video with Nazril Irham aka Ariel, vocalist from pop band Peterpan, the other reason is that she was committing an act of adultery.
Cut Tari’s Admission
Cut Tari made an apology to husband Johannes Yusuf Subrata. She did so at a press conference at lawyer Hotman Paris Hutapea’s office some time back. There Cut Tari blurted out her apology with tears, saying: “I would like to apologize to my husband and would like to thank him for always standing beside me when I am in trouble.” Cut Tari also added: “I hope that I get hidayah after this case.” “Hidayah” means “guidance”.
Now more details have surfaced on the adulterous act captured on video by Ariel. Cut Tari said of Ariel: “I did not give him permission to videotape our bedroom exercise.” But the question is whether Cut Tari knew that Ariel was videotaping her “bedroom exercise” with him. Lawyer Hotman Paris Hutapea said then that Cut Tari was not aware that Ariel was videotaping her sex acts with him. Let’s hear Cut Tari’s confession on this point.
Cut Tari said: “In fact, I pushed his hand away while he tried to record it with his mobile phone camera. He did keep his phone away. So I didn’t know how he managed to record it.”
Confession Is Admission Of Adulterous Act
That the “bedroom exercise” turns out to be an act of adultery was evident when Cut Tari admitted that she had sex with Ariel between 2004-2005. That would put the sexual activity taking place about a year after Cut Tari married Johannes Yusuf Subrata. So now we know why Cut Tari apologized to husband Johannes Yusuf Subrata and asked for guidance.
Reaction Of Husband Johannes Yusuf Subrata
In the early days of the Peterporn sex videos scandal, Cut Tari denied her involvment. She even swore to her family. Her lawyer Malik Bawazier said then: “Cut Tari denied the woman in the tape was her. She swore to her family it wasn’t her. She’s truly in shock. She can’t believe someone could do this to her.” Cut Tari herself said that her family did not believe it was her in the sex video with Ariel. Cut Tari said then: “The point is my husband and family do not believe that the lady is me.” And how did husband Johannes Yusuf Subrata react at that time? He said: “I trust her, and I’m highly confident the woman in the video isn’t Tari. I know Tari is a very responsible woman.” But Johannes Yusuf Subrata added: “Let us pray that the allegations are proved untrue.”
So now that the allegations are proved to be true, how did husband Johannes Yusuf Subrata react? He said: “I forgive Cut for what she’s done in the past. Everyone makes mistakes. But I’m proud of my wife for having the courage to own up to her own mistakes.”
Legal Poser
Here is a legal poser. Cut Tari said that the Peterporn sex video of her and Ariel having sex was recorded between 2004-2005. If this can be verified, then there is a possibility that she may just walk away from this whole Peterporn sex videos scandal. This is because the Anti-Pornography Law came into effect only in 2008. It would take a lot of legal arguement to convince a judge that an offense done prior to the enactment of the law can be charged under that law. So if it can be proved that the other 2 Peterporn sex videos showing Ariel having sex with Luna Maya also took place prior to 2008, then all three celebrities – Ariel, Luna Maya and Cut Tari – could be free. How real is this prospect?
But if Cut Tari can possibly escape a charge under the 2008 Anti-Pornography Law, what about the charge of adultery? Police Chief Comr. Ito Sumardi said recently: “If you have extra-marital sex and then the public finds out about it then you should be punished, right? It’s simple logic. Even though the videos were not distributed with this intention, the fact is the videos were widely circulated. It is not magic. We suspect Ariel showed the videos to his friends because he felt proud after having sex with several women.”
However Rudi Satrio, a legal expert on adultery disagreed, saying: “But first, there must be an official complaint from her husband.” This is unlikely to happen now that husband Johannes Yusuf Subrata has publicly forgiven Cut Tari. So on this charge of adultery, Cut Tari could conceivably also walk away free.
What Next?
So what should the police do now. What should the government of Muslim majority Indonesia do? Charge Ariel, Luna Maya and Cut Tari under shariah law? But that’s only in force in a limited way in Aceh Province. So it’s not an option. What will be the next move? Very likely police will proceed to prosecute this case. They can’t really stop the case now. And Cut Tari must be very glad that she is not living in Iran. There adulterous women are stoned to death.
Think About It
What message would be sent to all Indonesians if Ariel, Luna Maya and Cut Tari were to be acquitted because the sex acts recorded in the Peterporn sex videos were recorded prior to the implementation of the 2008 Anti-Pornography Law? At this moment, only Cut Tari has admitted her role in the Peterporn sex video, and gave a date prior to 2008 when the video was made. Why are Ariel and Luna Maya not admitting to their roles in the other 2 Peterporn sex videos? Could it be that the sex acts in these 2 Peterporn sex videos were recorded after 2008? If not, why the hesitation?
Previous posts
Peterporn Sex Videos Scandal – Now Lawyer Wants Constitutional Court To Review The Anti-Pornography Law
Peterporn Sex Videos – Time For Ariel To Apologize?
Peterporn Sex Videos – Police Name Suspected First Uploader
Peterporn Sex Videos – Ariel’s Friend Arrested As First Uploader
Peterporn Sex Videos – Has Luna Maya Been Arrested?
Peterporn Sex Videos – Now Cut Tari Admits She Had Sex With Ariel
Peterporn Sex Videos – Luna Maya And Cut Tari Made Separate Apology To Fans
Ariel Arrested Over Sex Videos Featuring Luna Maya And Cut Tari
yasna posted this in Insights & Views on July 28th, 2010
Land Of The Pure Is Number One
When trawling the Internet for pornography and sex, it is a surprise that a Muslim country is ranked number one in the world. No it is not Indonesia, where the infamous Peterporn trio – Ariel, Luna Maya and Cut Tari – are from. But rather in a very surprising revelation, it is conservative Pakistan – dubbed as the “Land of the Pure” – that is ranked top in the world by Google for this sort of internet searches. The shocking truth is that Pakistan is addicted to pornography as it outranks every other country in the world in searches per person for sex-related content.
Addicted To Sex And Pornography
Since 2005 or so, Pakistan – a Muslim country – has been consistently ranked top in searches for “sex”, “animal sex”, “horse sex”, “donkey sex”, “camel sex”, “dog sex”, “rape pictures”, “rape sex”, “rape sex videos”, “child sex” and “child sex videos” according to Google Trends and Google Insights – Google’s tools that generate search data on the Internet. There are other sex-related parlances originating from Pakistan which cannot be named for the purity of those reading this article.
No Vigilance Against Pornography
Gabriel Said Reynolds, a professor of Islamic Studies at the University of Notre Dame said, “You won’t find strip clubs in Islamic countries. Most Islamic countries have certain dress codes and it would be an irony if they haven’t shown the same vigilance to pornography.” Pakistan has banned access to certain websites to block what is deemed as offensive and blasphemous material. While pornography sites are unlikely to be included in Pakistan’s list of blocked websites, media reports say that Google, Yahoo, Bing, YouTube, Amazon, MSN and Hotmail are constantly monitored for anti-Islamic content. Gabriel Said Reynolds said the list of blocked websites was not to “censor the Pakistani people but to shut out the rest of the world” from Pakistan. He explained that the Pakistan authorities feared that such offensive sites (that is the non-pornographic ones) “can lead to conversion and undermine the very order of the state.”
No Punishment For Indulging Or Supporting Pornography
In May, Pakistan banned Facebook when the “Everybody Draw Muhammad Day” page appeared in Facebook, which encouraged users to upload pictures of the Prophet Muhammad. Those charged with blasphemy in Pakistan face execution. And this cannot be said for those who indulge in or support pornography.
Think About It
Pakistan is a conservative Muslim country. Why are there so many searches for pornography on the Internet? Does pornography have a detrimental effect on Muslims who indulge in it? Why aren’t pornography sites blocked by the Pakistani government? Would addiction to pornography lead to a decadent society? Are Pakistani children protected from such sites?
Previous posts
Facebook Founder Being Probed In Pakistan For Blasphemy
Pakistan – Facebook Ban Lifted
Molly Norris – May 20 Is Everybody Draw Mohammed Day
yessir posted this in Insights & Views on July 28th, 2010
Family of Murder Victim Must Attend Trial
How can a murderer maintain the stay of his execution if he was charged in the UAE? Well, by hoping that the victim’s family is absent in court. In June, the Emirate’s Federal Supreme Court ruled that judges in capital murder cases must follow the Sharia law – which states that the victim’s relatives must accept or decline blood money in court. This ruling stemmed from the successful appeal by the prosecution in a case involving an Indian national charged with homicide last year. Experts say the Federal Supreme Court’s ruling could end up delaying murder trials for months or even years.
Blood Money Right Reserved for Family of Murder Victim
The Federal Supreme Court’s judge, Justice Ahmed Abdulhameed said that the Court’s ruling protects the victim’s family’s rights for blood money. Justice Ahmed Abdulhameed said, “This is a right guaranteed by the Islamic Sharia to the family of the victim; no one can deprive them that right unless they say yes or no to the death penalty. There is only one way to prevent a death penalty: when the family of the victim forfeit their right either by accepting the blood money or forgiving the victim.”
While public prosecutors are expected to spare no efforts in finding the victim’s family to attend the court hearings, Justice Ahmed Abdulhameed said that in most cases, the family chose to “forfeit their right and accept the blood money” if they attend the court hearings. By this, the implication is that the Sharia law does not always mean that the accused is surely condemned to death. However, if the victim’s family does not accept the blood money, negotiations would continue until the moment of execution. If the blood money is still not accepted at this point, then the family must be present to witness the execution.
Delays to Murder Trials
According to media reports, there are at least two murder cases in Abu Dhabi’s Criminal Court that have been adjourned because of this ruling. For the first case, a driver was convicted of killing his lover from Indonesia after she revealed to him that she was pregnant. His case has been repeatedly adjourned ever since because the victim’s family had not been able to attend the court hearing and express whether they will accept the blood money. In the second case, an Emirati was killed by an intruder who was having an affair with his housemaid. The intruder, a Sri Lankan, was sentenced to death but the victim’s family refused to attend the appeal trials in protest.
Victim’s Family Can Be Summoned
According to Salim Muntaser, an Abu Dhabi legal expert, the victims’ relatives can be subpoenaed to attend the court hearing. However, this was rarely used by the court “out of respect for the feelings of the victim’s family.”
Think About It
If the family of the victim cannot be found but in spite of incriminating evidence against the accused, would it be right for the serving of justice to be delayed? How much is a victim’s life worth in blood money? Is it easier for the rich to pay this blood money and walk away freely? If the blood money is still not accepted at this point, then the family must be present to witness the execution. Nobody knows what emotions the family of the victim will feel during the execution. Would it be guilt or relief?
yasna posted this in Insights & Views on July 27th, 2010
Same Punishment For Child Sex Abuse And Ordaining Women As Priests
Outrage, anger and ‘slap in the face on women’ – these are some expressions picked up in media reports when the Roman Catholic Church declared that the act of ordaining women as priests is as sinful as child sex abuse. Under new religious rules set by the Vatican, male priests who ordained women into priesthood will face the same punishment as those pedophilic priests found guilty of child sex abuse. This declaration came in the wake of church reforms following a string of child sex scandals that rocked the Church last year. Whilst controversy has been stirred, many Roman Catholic worshippers have this question in their mind – does the Roman Catholic Church equate ordaining women as priests with child sex abuse?
Very Serious Commitment To Promote Safe Environments
The Vatican insisted that the new rule showed that the Church was “very, very serious in its commitment to promote safe environments and to offer an adequate response to abuse.” The Vatican believes that Jesus Christ had not chosen women as his disciples and therefore it would be wrong for women to legally assume priesthood or leadership in the Church. Priests caught ordaining women or for pedophile offences will be defrocked or excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church. This punishment will be carried out by the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, a department previously known as the Inquisition.
Reactions From Catholic Worshippers
Few outside the Vatican inner circle see this as a major offence. Not surprisingly, many Catholic worshippers believe that this latest rule that equates women clergy with child sex abuse is a wrong message sent. Andrew Madden, a former Dublin altar boy said, “The first thing the Church should be doing is reporting crimes to civil authorities. That’s far more important than deciding whether a criminal priest should be defrocked or not. The Church’s internal rules are no more important than the rules of your local golf club.”
Reactions From Child Sex Abuse Victims Groups
The reactions from sex abuse victims groups were also severe. They disputed that criminal offences against children is far more grievous than whether women can be ordained. Barbara Dorris, a campaigner of the Survivors’ Network for Those Abused by Priests, thought the new rules “can be summed up in three words: missing the boat.”
Think About It
Is the Roman Catholic Church saying that ordaining women as priests equates with child sex abuse? Would removing women from priesthood promote a safer environment? Were the majority of pedophile priests men or women? Did the Roman Catholic Church “miss the boat” with this declaration?
Previous posts
The Celibacy Of Priests In A Time Of Sexual Revolution
The Roman Catholic Church In Repentance
Finally The Pope Speaks Of Action On Sex Abuse
nuryn posted this in Family & Relationships on July 27th, 2010
Two Adverse Reports On Polygamy
Isn’t it obvious that polygamy is not good or desirable? Well, those who need convincing can turn to two recent reports. One, a survey of polygamous families by Sisters In Islam, reveals that the children and the first wives in polygamous marriages do not support such marriages. The other, a research paper prepared by Canadian scholar Joseph Henrich for British Columbia’s Supreme Court, finds that polygamy is associated with, among other things, increased crime, prostitution, antisocial behavior, greater inequality between men and women, and less parental involvement in children.
Polygamy In Islam
Islam allows a man to have up to four wives at any one time, provided certain conditions are fulfilled—-eg, that the existing wives should agree to it, and that the man can treat all the wives equally. According to Nik Noriani Nik Badli Shah,a Sisters In Islam consultant and member, most Muslim men think that polygamy is a God-given right conferred upon them, “whereas polygamy is really a pre-Islamic institution which was drastically reformed and restricted by the Qur’an which points the way towards monogamy”. In fact the Qu’ran says (in Surah al-Nisa 4:3) that “If you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, marry women of your choice, two or three or four, but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly (with them) then only one…that will be more suitable to prevent you from doing injustice”. This verse was promulgated after the battle of Uhud, when the Muslim community was left with many widows and orphans.
The cavalier attitude that some Muslim men take towards polygamy is exemplified by the case in May this year, when Bung Mokhtar Radin, a Malaysian member of parliament no less was sentenced to a month’s jail for taking a second wife without first obtaining the permission of the Shariah Court.
Sisters In Islam Survey
Sisters in Islam is a Malaysian women’s advocacy group. One of its projects is the production of a model Muslim Family Law that is based on the principles of justice and equality, to replace present laws that are based on a superior husband and subordinate wife. Another related one is its survey on the impact of polygamy on families.
The survey found that nearly 90% of 523 children interviewed insisted that they would not start polygamous households when they grew up. Nearly 70% of women whose husbands took a second wife would not recommend polygamy, and they said that their husbands were not able to meet their needs fully. Not only that, many felt betrayed when their husbands took another wife. 65% of those interviewed said that they were not consulted first. Women who were superseded by other wives also felt ashamed and isolated themselves from their friends.
Nearly 80% of 214 husbands interviewed felt that they were able to provide for their families but many of the first wives felt cash-strapped. The 228 second wives interviewed were evenly split on whether to support polygamy.
The data are preliminary, and are not scientific because the number of polygamous marriages is unknown. It is hoped that the analysis will be completed by the end of this year, after which Sisters In Islam intends to submit them to the government and to urge the authorities to formulate better family policies for Muslims. One suggestion is that the Shariah Court applies stricter criteria before giving approval for polygamous marriages.
Background To Joseph Henrich’s Research Paper Filed In British Columbia Supreme Court
Here it is polygamy among Mormons that prompted the commissioning of the paper. The Supreme Court wished to know whether outlawing polygamy in a reference case to be heard in November is justified even if it breaches guarantees of religious freedom and freedom of expression. Joseph Henrich’s paper is but one of several that the Supreme Court has filed or will be filing.
There is no limit to the number of wives that Mormon men can take. For example, Winston Blackmore, a former bishop of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints (FLDS), who was charged with polygamy last year, has more than 20 wives, and FLDS prophet Warren Jeffs, who is in jail in Utah, has more than 80.
Joseph Henrich’s Research Paper Filed In British Columbia Supreme Court
A key argument in Joseph Henrich’s paper is that in a society where polygyny (the taking of multiple wives) is rife, a good proportion of men end up remaining single, and that large groups of unmarried men create havoc.
Joseph Henrich provides a hypothetical example of 20 men and 20 women, in which 12 men with the highest status marry 12 women (it is always only the highest ranking men in polygynous societies that get multiple wives). Then the top 5 take a second wife, and the top 2 take a third. Finally the top guy takes a fourth. One result is that 40% of the men remain unmarried (though 58% of marriages are monogamous). He then cites examples of societies from history or of present-day societies where men outnumber women (eg in China and India). In such societies, bachelor bands compete ferociously , “and engage in aggressive, violent, and antisocial activities”.
Joseph Henrich also reports that a consistent finding is that children from polygynous families have considerably lower survival rates. This he attributes to the possibility that polygynous men use their money to add more wives rather than invest in their children.
Think About It
Is polygamy a realistic option in modern-day life? Can equality between the sexes and justice prevail in polygamous families? Can they prevail in polygamous marriages of two, three, or four wives, let alone 80 wives? If Tunisia, a Muslim country, can ban polygamy, can’t other Muslim countries do so as well? By having one law allowing polygyny for Muslims, but not for men of other religions in the same country, is that not assuming that Muslim women have fewer feelings and sensitivities than other women? Should freedom of expression and of religion take precedence over harms to families and society?
Previous posts
Malaysia – Polygamist Cheated By Second Wife
Is Polygamy Really A God-Given Right To Muslim Men?
Lies Hebbadj – Polygamous Wives Or Mistresses?
Indonesian Men – No To Polygamy
Polygamy
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