The Pope to visit Ur
The spectacle of the Pope visiting Ur, Abrahams birthplace, located within Iraq, is one which causes great concern among Western nations especially the USA and Britain. It is they who are most responsible for the continuation of economic sanctions and the enforcement of “no-fly zones”. Their hope was that, as a result of these measures, the Saddam Hussein regime would be toppled from within, but that has not happened, and now the prospect of the Pope, the head of the Vatican state, arriving in Baghdad to be greeted by President Hussein with the worlds mass media present, fills them with dismay. But the Pope sets his own agenda and is determined to visit Babylon yes, Babylon as part of his preparations for millennium celebrations. Abraham, it will be remembered, was known in Ur prior to his departure as Abram (“Father of the High Place”), a name which some believe indicates that he was, prior to the “God of glory” revealing Himself to him, a Babylonian idolater, a priest engaged in the worship of Nimrod and Semiramis. He went out but never returned. How mysterious that the Pontifex Maximus of Rome should be returning to his roots and unwittingly directing the worlds attention to his origin. Is it possible that the day may not be far distant when Romes forehead shall be exposed as bearing the name: “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH”?
Rome and East Timor
Looking at the map, East Timor seems to lie at the extreme eastern end of the extensive archipelago which makes up the Indonesian Republic and at first sight one might well ask why should there be such a clamour for independence. Dr Clive Gillis in an article in the “English Churchman” tells us why, and explains the part that the Roman Catholic Church has played in the troubles, pointing out that several commentators have likened the situation in East Timor to that in Northern Ireland. It would appear that the Indonesian government went to great lengths in order to placate the East Timorese (85% RC), pouring in money and inaugurating a new Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception which was “consecrated” by the Pope earlier this year. Even a huge statue purporting to be of Christ, “the largest in the world after Rio and Lisbon” was built at government expense, but all to no avail. Rome is determined to have her own little state here and the leading cleric Bishop Belo who forsook the people and fled to Australia at the height of the troubles, is now back in charge with, among others, British taxpayers help. Sheltering behind his position as a cleric, Belo gains favourable publicity while in reality he continues in a persistent, provocative manner to manipulate the political scene to his own and his Churchs advantage.
Return to Table of Contents for The Free Presbyterian Magazine – November 1999