When the Catholic Saints come marching in!

Pat Macpherson, Pfc. Sandoval, CC Liu, Wisdom Quarterly; NPR Italy Correspondent Sylvia Poggioli, L. Carol Ritchie (npr.org); Shirley Jahad (SCPR); Harry Cooper (Coast to Coast)

Former Hitler Youth member, former Cardinal Ratzinger, former Pope Benedict I kisses man

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Vatican (Vincenzo Pinto/AFP/Getty Images)

Hundreds of thousands of people filled St. Peter's Square [in the Holy See] and the streets of Rome on Sunday to witness the extraordinary sight of two popes -- one reigning and one retired -- declaring two of their predecessors as saints.

Fr. Beniof, Our Lady of Angels (Shirley Jahad)

Most Catholics around the world are celebrating the sainthood of Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII. [Two groups are conspicuously absent from that list, purists who recognize the anti-Catholic violations by the extremely popular Pope John Paul II and victims of child molestation or to put it more palatably "clerical sexual abuse" often involving homosexual rape.] The historic canonization this weekend has stirred controversy for some victims of the clergy sex abuse scandal. Pope John Paul II is widely credited with helping melt down the Iron Curtain, traveling the world, and supporting oppressed people. Officials with the L.A. Archdiocese said he is particularly popular in Los Angeles, where 75 percent of parishioners are Latino. They say Pope John Paul II visited Mexico more than any other country besides Poland, his homeland. Now Pope John Paul II is reaching "sainthood" in record time. But some say he should not be named a saint because of the church sex abuse scandal. LISTEN

 

The ceremony was the first time two pontiffs -- John XXIII and John Paul II -- were made saints at the same time. The AP says:

"Francis recited the saint-making formula in Latin, saying that after deliberating, consulting, and praying for divine assistance 'we declare and define Blessed John XXIII and John Paul II be saints and we enroll them among the saints, decreeing that they are to be venerated as such...'"

Pope Francis kisses relic -- like the previous "Nazi" Pope Benedict once kissed a man -- of Pope John XXIII during canonization mass. Above: Red and white Polish flags dot St. Peter's Square for the canonization of Popes John XXIII and Polish John Paul II (Vincenzo Pinto/AFP).

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Beloved Polish pope

It was also the first time in the history of the Roman Catholic Church that a living and a former pope performed a mass together. Pope Francis was joined by emeritus Pope Benedict XVI, who "retired" [or was chased out pending indictment for crimes against humanity and banking irregularities at the Vatican bank under his tenure and his long-time affiliation as head of the Office of the Inquisition under the previous Pope John Paul II] last year.

Hitler survived, moved to Argentina

Hitler in Argentina

It is strange that the "Nazi Pope" Ratzinger, aka Benedict I -- a self-confessed member of the Hitler Youth -- was deposed and replaced by the first Vatican pontiff/CEO from Argentina. Last night George Knapp (Coast to Coast) interviewed author and researcher Harry Cooper (sharkhunters.com), author of Hitler in Argentina who makes the case that Adolf Hitler, "the Fuhrer," did not commit suicide. That was a stand in. He and Eva Braun and enormous riches of top Nazi brass were ferried away to Argentina (and neighboring Antarctica) at the end of WWII to live out a full life. The show began with an hour of Dan Johnson, the founder of PANDA (People Against the National Defense Act) sharing an update on new assaults to our civil liberties. More

 

We made a good choice in Francis I

Many of the faithful had camped in the square to claim spots for the mass. Others prayed in all-night vigils in churches in downtown Rome.

Today, they celebrated under flags and banners bearing the colors of the Vatican and Poland, Pope John Paul's homeland.

I wanted the job longer like Hitler -Ratzinger

"Italy's interior ministry predicted 1 million would watch the Mass from the square, the streets surrounding it and nearby piazzas where giant TV screens were set up to accommodate the crowds eager to follow along," the AP said. More

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Is domestic violence kind of SEXY? (cartoon)

Ashley Wells, Seth Auberon, Irma Quintero, Wisdom Quarterly; Mia De Graaf (Daily Mail)

 

Vogue is being blasted.

Is the fashion magazine "trivializing domestic abuse" in violence-themed edition that teams beaten-up and bloodied models with haute couture (high fashion)?

 

Female editor Franca Sozzani is unapologetic. She claims it is a political statement against domestic abuse. But outraged Twitter users blast the images as "unacceptable" and "repulsive."

Woman bleeding and strewn across floor

[First it was "heroin chic," now this. What next? Demeaning and expensive clothes and shoes? Tasteless jokes? "What do you tell a woman with two black eyes? Nothing, you already..." Hey, you can't publish that punchline! All right, just saying. I mean, what next?]

 

Vogue Italia has sparked international outrage after publishing slick photos of a "beaten-up" model. The image, in this month's edition, was an attempt at making a statement calling attention to all-too-common violence, the publication is claiming.

 

I'd rather be on the cover of Vogue

But critics have blasted the fashion shoot for "glamorizing" violence against women. The photograph shows a redheaded model in a Prada dress sprawled upside down at the bottom of a flight of stairs, blood streaming into her hair, as a blood-splattered man looks on from an armchair.

Other images in the violence-themed edition show a girl in a Prada dress screaming as a man approaches her with blood on his hands.

A balaclava makes one Pussy Riot

Another girl hides in a cupboard, with a man leaning over brandishing shears. And in one, the model looks petrified crouching under the stairs as a man descends.

Outraged Twitter users [twits?] attacked the fashion shoot as being in "poor taste." More

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Dalai Lama visiting US for series of public talks

Pat Macpherson, CC Liu, Wisdom Quarterly; DalaiLama.com

Yesterday, the Dalai Lama visited the American Enterprise Institute for a talk on "Unlocking the Mind and Human Happiness” (Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images/Washington Post).

  

14th Dalai Lama

The following is the Dalai Lama's public schedule abroad and in India, where he lives. Tickets are required for most events. Contact organizers directly or visit the websites given below for details. While most events in India are free, the majority of events abroad require tickets. NOTE: It is a long-standing policy of the Dalai Lama that he does NOT accept any fees for his talks. Where ticket purchase is necessary, organizers are requested to charge the minimum entrance fee to cover costs only. Dates subject to change.

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SCHEDULE

Remember that time China said I...

Public Talk, San Francisco, California, USA on Feb. 22, 2014: public talk in the afternoon at Davies Symphony Hall. Contact: himalayan-foundation.org

Public Talk in Berkeley, California, USA on Feb. 23: public talk on How To Achieve Happiness in the morning at the Berkeley Community Theater. Contact: tanc.org

Dialogue in Santa Clara, California, USA on Feb. 24: dialogue on the theme of Compassion and Business at Santa Clara University organized by CCARE and Santa Clara University. 

Public Talk in Los Angeles, California, USA on Feb. 25:

The L.A. Forum, home of mega rockstars

public talk on Non-Violence and the Effects of Compassion in the 21st Century at the Forum in the afternoon organized by The Lourdes Foundation.

Talk in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA on March 1: talk at the 26th annual Nobel Peace Prize Forum in the morning at the Minneapolis Convention Center organized by The Nobel Peace Prize Forum and Augsburg College.

Tibetan New Year Celebration in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA on March 2: Tibetan New Year celebrations in the morning at Augsburg College organized by the Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota.

Talk in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA on March 2: talk on The Nature of Happiness, Fulfillment, and Embodiment in the afternoon at Macalester College. 

Richard Gere greets the Dalai Lama in DC

Public Talk in Washington, D.C., USA on March 7: public talk on Beyond Religion: Ethics for the Whole World in the morning organized by the National Cathedral and the Office of Tibet.

Teachings in Dharamsala, Himalchal Pradesh state, India on March 16: short teaching from the Jataka Tales (Buddhist Rebirth Stories) in the morning at the Main Tibetan Temple.

Talk in New Delhi, India on March 20: talk on Success, Ethics, and Happiness in the afternoon at Lady Shri Ram College for Women.

Teaching in Livorno, Italy on June 14 & 15: teachings on Nagarjuna's Letter to a Friend (shetring) on June 14th. He will confer an Avalokiteshvara Initiation(chenresig wang jigten wangchuk) on the morning of June 15th. The teachings are being held at PalaLivorno at the request of Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa. Contact: dalailama.it

Public Talk in Livorno, Italy on June 15: a public talk on Compassionate Ethics in the afternoon at PalaLivorno. Contact: dalailama.it

(BK) Kalachakra 2012 ceremony. WATCH entire movie on Vimeo.com/37475723. This movie was not made for profit or fame. Its creators only want to share its message for all humankind delivering it as widely as possible.

 

Kalachakra in Leh, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir state, India from July 3 to 14: giving of the Kalachakra at the request of the two main organizers, the Ladakh Buddhist Association and the Ladakh Gonpa Association. The Tibetan Kongpo Association and the Tibetan Jonang Association are co-sponsors. During the first three days of the Kalachakra, from July 3 to 5, the Dalai Lama, along with the monks of Namgyal Monastery and senior lamas, will conduct rituals which prepare and consecrate the venue. These include chanting of prayers, creation of the sand mandala, and other rituals. From July 6 to 8, the Dalai Lama will give preliminary teachings on Nagarjuna's Letter to a Friend (shetring). On July 9, the KalachakraRitual Dance will be performed by the monks of Namgyal Monastery. The Dalai Lama will confer the Kalachakra Initiation from July 10 to 13. On July 14, a long life empowerment (tsewang) and a ceremony offering prayers for his long life will be performed. Contact: ladakhkalachakra2014.com

(NAA) The 32nd Kalachakra (short movie)

Discussion in Hamburg, Germany on August 23: leading a discussion on Secular Ethics - Human Values in Our Lives. Contact: dalailama-hamburg.de

Teaching in Hamburg, Germany from August 24 to 26: teachings on Shantideva's A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life (chodjug) on August 24 and 25. He will confer an Avalokiteshvara Initiation(chenresig wang jigten wangchuk) on the morning of August 26. Contact: dalailama-hamburg.de. More