The Trumpet Herald

Giving the trumpet a certain sound

March 2010

Earthquake in Haiti


Wikipedia sums up the basic information from several sources about the devastating January 12 earthquake in Haiti:

The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake. Its epicentre was near the town of Léogâne, approximately 25 km (16 miles) west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital. The earthquake occurred at 16:53 local time (21:53 UTC) on Tuesday, 12 January 2010. By 24 January, at least 52 aftershocks measuring 4.5 or greater had been recorded. An estimated three million people were affected by the quake; Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive stated on 3 February 2010 that 200,000 people had been identified as dead and estimated that 300,000 injured had been treated. Bellerive also estimated that 250,000 residences and 30,000 commercial buildings had collapsed or were severely damaged (“2010 Haiti Earthquake,” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Haiti_earthquake).

A large humanitarian response occurred and is ongoing to help deal with this disaster. Wikipedia.org noted that Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.

Inspired commentary

Along with the poverty of a large majority of the citizens of Haiti, the society there has several other issues contributing to a bad situation. None of these issues, however, detracts from the magnitude of the disaster and suffering, indeed some of these issues amplify the disaster magnitude. Sadly, inspiration indicates that there is more to come.

God’s message for the inhabitants of earth today is, “Be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” Matthew 24:44. The conditions prevailing in society, and especially in the great cities of the nations, proclaim in thunder tones that the hour of God’s judgment is come and that the end of all things earthly is at hand. We are standing on the threshold of the crisis of the ages. In quick succession the judgments of God will follow one another—fire, and flood, and earthquake, with war and bloodshed. We are not to be surprised at this time by events both great and decisive; for the angel of mercy cannot remain much longer to shelter the impenitent. (Prophets and Kings, p. 278.

And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows (Matt. 24:6-8).

Fidelity to the Magisterium


In the Roman Catholic Church the word “Magisterium” refers to the teaching authority of the church. This authority is understood to be embodied in the episcopacy, which is the aggregation of the current bishops of the Church, led by the Bishop of Rome (the Pope), who has authority over the bishops, individually and as a body, as well as over each and every Catholic directly. According to Catholic doctrine, the Magisterium is able to teach or interpret the truths of the Faith, and it does so either non-infallibly or infallibly (“Magisterium” www.wikipedia.org).

“The task of interpreting the Word of God authentically has been entrusted solely to the Magisterium of the Church, that is, to the Pope and to the bishops in communion with him” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd ed. 1997, pt. 1, sect. 1, ch. 2, art. 2, III [#100], quoted in “Magisterium”, www.wikipedia.org).

Given the definition, now the news:

VATICAN CITY, FEB. 5, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI is urging prelates to call Catholics to complete fidelity to the magisterium, presenting Church teaching as a message of hope rather than a series of prohibitions.

The Pope stated this today in an audience with the bishops from Scotland who are in Rome for their five-yearly visit. ...

The Pontiff added, “That task requires a readiness to grapple firmly with the challenges presented by the increasing tide of secularism in your country.”

He mentioned in particular Scotland’s support for euthanasia, developments in medical ethics and some practices advocated in the field of embryology, stating that these are a “cause for great concern.”

“If the Church’s teaching is compromised, even slightly, in one such area, then it becomes hard to defend the fullness of Catholic doctrine in an integral manner,” the Holy Father said.

“Pastors of the Church, therefore, must continually call the faithful to complete fidelity to the Church’s magisterium,” he said, "while at the same time upholding and defending the Church’s right to live freely in society according to her beliefs.” (“Pontiff Calls for Complete Fidelity to Magisterium,” www.zenit.org, Feb. 5, 2010).

Inspired commentary

Despite ongoing changes in emphasis in Roman Catholic teaching in response to the times, that church is tied to fallible doctrines developed beyond those, and corrupting those, of the New Testament church. Occasionally adherence to those “extensions” is plainly stated as noted above. Inspiration points to the downside of clinging to such tradition.

The Roman Church now presents a fair front to the world, covering with apologies her record of horrible cruelties. She has clothed herself in Christlike garments; but she is unchanged. Every principle of the papacy that existed in past ages exists today. The doctrines devised in the darkest ages are still held. Let none deceive themselves. The papacy that Protestants are now so ready to honor is the same that ruled the world in the days of the Reformation, when men of God stood up, at the peril of their lives, to expose her iniquity. She possesses the same pride and arrogant assumption that lorded it over kings and princes, and claimed the prerogatives of God. Her spirit is no less cruel and despotic now than when she crushed out human liberty and slew the saints of the Most High (The Great Controversy, p. 571).

Amnesty for Home Schoolers


A U.S. immigration judge’s decision to grant political asylum to a German family with “a well-founded fear of persecution” for home-schooling their children should send a powerful message to the German government to change its stance on home schooling, the family’s attorney said Wednesday. ...

Home schooling in Germany is illegal in most cases, and violators can be fined, jailed and even lose custody of their children. Mr. Donnelly said the German government has decided home-schoolers are “trying to create a parallel society” that must be “stamped out.”

The Romeikes home-schooled their children in Germany and received fines totaling $10,000. On one occasion, Mr. Donnelly said, police hauled their children off to school. In 2006, the Romeikes emigrated to Tennessee and continued home schooling their children. Mr. Donnelly said the family applied for political asylum within three months of arriving in the U.S. (“Home-schoolers win asylum in U.S.,” www.washingtontimes.com, Jan. 28, 2010).

Inspired commentary

The U.S.A. with a heritage of religious freedom is not immune and will not be immune from coercive government.

When our nation, in its legislative councils, shall enact laws to bind the consciences of men in regard to their religious privileges, enforcing Sunday observance, and bringing oppressive power to bear against those who keep the seventh-day Sabbath, the law of God will, to all intents and purposes, be made void in our land, and national apostasy will be followed by national ruin (Last Day Events, p. 133)





Page created:03/24/2010. Updated: 03/24/2010
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