May I wish all my Vox friends a Very Merry Christmas, and Best Wishes for the New Year.
Your company during the past year is sincerely appreciated.
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,26512112-5003402,00.html
Books prove prayer can cure cancer, says archbishop
TERMINAL illness such as cancer can be cured by prayer, the head of the Catholic Church in Australia said.
But Catholic Archbishop of Sydney Cardinal George Pell admitted such cures, like the miracle attributed to Mary MacKillop, were obviously rare.
"Yes obviously (cancer can be cured by prayer)," Cardinal Pell told ABC Television today.
"And there are quite a number of examples in the books."
Cardinal Pell said that wouldn't give sick people a false sense of security because they realised cure by prayer was a "very long shot".
The Vatican has recognised Mother Mary's role in the healing a woman with inoperable cancer during the mid-1990s after she prayed to Mother Mary.
It was the second miracle attributed to Mary MacKillop, set to become the nation's first saint 100 years after her death.
Those of you who used to be on Whitepage may be interested to know that cc is back on Vox. She used to live in Sydney but is in the bush now. You can catch up on her here. http://cc1804.vox.com/
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,26506144-952,00.html
Tony Abbott preaches all children must read the Bible
December 18, 2009 11:00pm
BIBLE classes should be compulsory so children have a fundamental understanding of Christianity on leaving school, federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says.
"I think everyone should have some familiarity with the great texts that are at the core of our civilisation," Mr Abbott told the Herald Sun.
"That includes, most importantly, the Bible.
"I think it would be impossible to have a good general education without at least some serious familiarity with the Bible and with the teachings of Christianity."That doesn't mean that people have to be believers."
But former Howard government Islamic advisor Dr Ameer Ali, said Mr Abbott's remarks were "over the top".
"It's one thing to say every child needs a good knowledge of history and geography or science," Dr Ali said.
"But it is something else to say all children should have a knowledge of the Bible. That might hurt other people who have their own holy scriptures," he said.
And the Australian Education Union's federal president, Angelo Gavrielatos, said that religion was not a priority for schools.
"There is a place for comparative studies of religion in the curriculum, but ultimately we consider it a private matter for parents and their children," he said.
Read more on the Herald Sun's website.
