#Dom Helder Camara

[without-ado]

"When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist." —Dom Helder Camara

l Dorothea Lange l Migrant Mother l 1936

[rivage-seulm]

Israeli-Jewish Terrorists vs. “The Jews of the Jews”

Where have our national “leaders” been all these years? To judge by their statements concerning the current crisis in Israel-Palestine, they haven’t been following the news about Israeli-Jews’ treatment of Palestinians in the territories the former have illegally occupied for decades. Are mainstream politicians unfamiliar with international law, with President Carter’s concept of apartheid in…

[anticattocomunismo]

Nuovi interrogativi su Papa Francesco

Nuovi interrogativi su Papa Francesco

La crisi religiosa è dunque profonda, ma lo stesso papa Francesco, nell’Angelus di domenica 18 dicembre, ha affermato che nelle epoche di crisi Dio apre prospettive nuove, che noi prima non immaginavamo, magari non come noi ci aspettiamo, ma come Lui sa. (more…)

[friendsofrosemary]

"When I feed the poor, they call me a saint, but when I ask why the poor are hungry, they call me a communist." -Dom Helder Camara

[victusinveritas]

"There are three kinds of violence. The first, mother of all the others, is institutional violence. It legalises and perpetuates domination, oppression, and exploitation. It crushes and eliminates millions of people in its silent and well-oiled cogs.

The second is revolutionary violence, which is born of the will to abolish the first.

The third is repressive violence, which stifles the second, by making itself the helper and accomplice of the first violence- the one that causes all the others.

There is no worse hypocrisy than only calling the second 'violence', while pretending to forget the first one, that gives it life, and the third, that kills it."

And...

"When I feed the poor, they call me a saint. But when I ask why the poor are hungry, they call me a communist."

Dom Helder Camara

[thelcsdaily]

Creamy Chicken Congee topped with Bacon

Add bones for the most delicious congee. It's a cost-effective and environmentally friendly method of cooking, but I use it because the chicken congee I make with the bones is far superior. Congee can be made with just water and rice; nevertheless, many traditional meals around the world use the time-honored method of adding bones to dishes that don't necessarily call for them.

“When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist.” ― Dom Helder Camara

[eaglesnick]

“When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist.” ― Dom Helder Camara, Dom Helder Camara: Essential Writings

Potty mouth James Cleverly has a fondness for the word “shit". He apparently described the government’s flagship Rwanda deportation scheme as “batshit”, but then denied he had used such language.

"James Cleverly repeatedly refuses to deny he called Rishi Sunak’s scheme ‘batshit’.” (Independent: 16/11/23)

Within a few days of that denial he was denying he had called the constituency of Stockton North a “shithole", following a child poverty question in the House of Commons.

During Prime Ministers Questions, Rishi Sunak was asked by the Labour MP  for Stockton North why 34% of children in his constituency were living in poverty.  Sunak, answered that 1.7 million FEWER people were living in poverty due to the policies of his government, and that 100,000 fewer children were living in poverty than when the Labour Party left office in 2012.

During that exchange Cleverly was allegedly heard to say “Because its a shithole". Under pressure, Cleverly admitted he used “unparliamentary” language, claiming he was insulting the MP and not his constituency.

“Allies of Home Secretary James Cleverly insist he DIDN'T call Stockton a 's**thole'... but did call Labour's Alex Cunningham a 's**t MP' in bizarre row over Commons hot mic moment."  MailOnline: 23/11/23)

Typical of the Tory right-wing press and the Tories themselves, the original question about child poverty has been totally sidestepped. I have no idea if the MP for Stockton North is a good constituency MP of a bad constituency MP. Either way, he is certainly NOT responsible for the high level of child poverty in his area. That shameful figure is the result of repeated Tory governments cutting of public services, welfare benefits and local authority funding.

Let us look at Sunak’s claims about poverty in general and child poverty in particular.

He assured us that  “1.7 million fewer people” were now living in poverty due to HIS policies. Sunak came to power on October 22nd, 2022, so poverty figures for 2022/23 are not yet complete or available, so how Sunak can make this claim is uncertain.

What we do know from government figures for the year 2021/22 is that relative poverty INCREASED while absolute poverty remained static.

What we also know is that in 2021, when Chancellor Sunak was asked about poverty levels in this country he lied. He stated on BBC Breakfast Programme:

"The number of people in poverty has fallen as a result of the actions the government has taken over the last several years” (06/07/21)

When this claim was fact checked, it was found that :

“Tory government statistics show the number of children in poverty in the UK rose by 600,000 between 2011 and 2019. The latest evidence (from a Tory think tank) says another 150,000 children are living in poverty since the pandemic – despite any aid from the Chancellor." (The National: 06/07/21)

And in 2022 we had this headline:

“More than one million to fall below the poverty line after Sunak's spring statement, think tank says."  (ITVX: 24/03/22)

Turning to child poverty, Sunak claimed 100,000 fewer children were in poverty due to his interventions. Again, the figures for 2022/23 have yet to be compiled so how does he know?

For the year 2021/22 child poverty figures went up from the year before, the governments own figures showing a rise from 3.9 million to 4.2 million for children in  relative poverty after housing costs were taken into account, while the number of children in absolute poverty remained the same at 3.3 million.

As tedious as it is to trawl through statistics, tables graphs and other data regarding poverty in this country it is essential that we realise that under successive Tory governments the number of those living in poverty is on the increase despite claims to the contrary.

Cleverly’s crass remarks regarding child poverty shows the true heart of the Conservative Party – blame the poor for their own plight.  A place is a “shithole" not because it’s public services are under funded, or its schools are crumbling, or the rents are too high and their are no jobs, but because of the type of people that live there: the poor.  Inflation, benefit cuts, housing shortages and the rising cost of living have nothing to do with turning a place into a shithole. It is the people who are to blame.

The sooner these arrogant, out of touch, rich, hypocritical, uncaring Tories are removed from office the better.

[marie-is-seein-stars]

Chinese Culture and Tradition

Centuries-old traditions still play an extremely important role in Chinese culture. Many of these traditions are rooted in Eastern philosophy and religion.

One of the most influential philosophies in Chinese history is Confucianism. Developed through the teachings of Confucius, this philosophy expresses confidence in an orderly and ethical society. To maintain that order, Confucianism stresses respect for government and family elders.

Click on the link below to access the Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia™ article "Confucianism."Confucianism

Another major Chinese religion is Buddhism. It is based on the teachings of Gautama Buddha. As a young man, Gautama renounced his position of privilege in a royal family and became a humble monk in search of ultimate truth. His experiences led him to draw conclusions about the causes of suffering and the path to freedom from that suffering.

A third major Chinese religion is Daoism, also known as Taoism. The term Tao refers to the "way" or the "path." Tao also refers to the source and force behind all existence.

Historical Background

China has been ruled by a communist regime since 1949. However, over the past several decades, political changes have resulted in capitalist reforms and a booming industrial economy. To understand the factors driving today’s growth, it is important to understand a bit about China’s past.

Qing (Ch'ing) Dynasty

Over a span of almost 4,000 years, China was host to nearly 20 dynasties. The last dynasty was the Qing (Ch'ing) Dynasty, which ruled from 1644 to 1911. It was under the Qing Dynasty that China began to slowly open its doors to trade with the West.

Great Britain in particular was interested in trading with China. During the 1800s, the Qing Dynasty allowed the exchange of Chinese pottery for imported English furs. However, Great Britain and other Western powers were soon frustrated by the strict regulations imposed by the Qing rulers over European trade.

Click on the link below to access the Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia™ article "Qing (Ch'ing) (Dynasty)."Qing (Ch'ing)(Dynasty)

The farming of tea is still a massive economic industry in China. (Photo by Ke Wang, Shutterstock.com)

"When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist." -- Dom Helder Camara, Brazilian Archbishop

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[nebris]

"When I give food to the poor, I am called a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, I am called a Communist". ~Dom Helder Camara

[eurosocialistprincess]

“When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist.” - Dom Helder Camara

[monriatitans]

POVERTY AWARENESS QUOTE 2 OF 3 Tuesday, January 3, 2023

"When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist." - Dom Helder Camara, Dom Helder Camara: Essential Writings

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Check out Global Citizen to see how you can help those in need! Image made with and shared via the Quotes Creator App! This was originally posted to Instagram, check it out here; everything posted to Instagram is shared to Tumblr! Interested in seeing where the quote came from? If so, click here!

[befreiungsbewegung]

Mit der Religion zurück in Faschismus?

Die Religion ist der Seufzer der bedrängten Kreatur, das Gemüt einer herzlosen Welt, wie sie der Geist geistloser Zustände ist. Sie ist das Opium des Volkes. Karl Marx Es gab einmal eine Theologie der Befreiung, die aber von der vatikanischen Politik weitgehend bekämpft und ermordet wurde: Das Aufkommen der Theologie der Befreiung in Lateinamerika ist nach meiner Meinung das wichtigste Ereignis der Theologiegeschichte in der zweiten Hälfte dieses Jahrhunderts. Falls jemand dies für eine allzu steile These hält, will ich mit meiner noch steileren Vermutung nicht hinter dem Berg halten: Was in der Dritten Welt heute religiös und theologisch geschieht, sollte mit der europäischen Reformation des 16. Jahrhunderts verglichen werden. Dorothee Sölle: Rüstung tötet auch ohne Krieg. zeitschrift für befreiende pädagogik 17 - 18 / 1998 © bei den Verfassern Theologische Kontexte der Befreiung, Befreiungstheologie in Deutschland. http://joker-netz.de/befreiungstheologie.htm Die Einen hatten ihre Religion mit magischem Glauben und Mythen festgehalten, die Anderen sehen weiter ihre Privilegien und Sicherheit in ihrer gemeinschaftlichen und persönlichen Verbindung zu ihrem Gott. Der Rest nutzt die nostalgischen Gefühle der Feiern, der Essen und Geschenke, der Musik. Die Theologie der Befreiung oder auch Befreiende Theologie war zuerst eine südamerikanische Bewegung des Selbst-Ermächtigen in Kritischem Denken bei gleichzeitiger gegenseitiger Stärkung in einer dort oft indigenen Gemeinde, die das Evangelium in die Tat umzusetzen bereit war: Ihre Ausbreitung wurde durch den Antikommunismus der reaktionären Kräfte im Vatikan wie Opus Dei durch Folter, mit Zustimmung der Päpste zu Militärregierungen und durch zahlreiche Morde bekämpft, wird aber nicht aufzuhalten sein: Dom Helder Camara, Oscar Romero, Ernesto Cardenal … Religion ist aber auch der Untergrund des Chauvinismus, der vermeintlichen Höherwertigkeit, die mit den schlechten Gewohnheiten des Kapitalismus, die anderen für sich arbeiten zu lassen und den Mehrwert abzuschöpfen, exklusiv zu privatisieren, zum Faschismus werden kann, der sich selbst überhöht und mit Ausgrenzung und Rassismus die Welt kolonial beherrschen will. Unser NATO-Kriegszustand erzählt, wie früher auch in allen Kriegen, von der Bosheit der Anderen, verschweigt das eigene kriegerische Treiben und stellt sich unschuldig dar: Die Religionen dienen mit den Theologie-Künsten der Kleriker, der vor allem männlichen Priesterschaft, den Feind- und Unschuldsbildern, die alten Schriften der Bibel produzieren einen Weltuntergang, den die Ökologie ohne Auto- und Rüstungswirtschaft nicht bräuchte. Schulden: Die letzten 5000 Jahre Durch meine Schuld, durch meine übergroße Schuld: Die Erbsünde der Bibel wächst sich über das Börsen- und Zins-System zum kapitalen Faschismus der Verwirtschaftung aus, die den Konsum der Güter der Erde als vermeintlichen Besitz zum Müllberg macht. Mythos Aufklärung - Mythos Westen ein lesenswertes Buch, meint Wolfgang Goede, David Graeber ist auch Autor des Bestsellers DAWN/ANFÄNGE. Dazu eine Veröffentlichung im FREITAG: Dass Indigene die Aufklärung erfanden und damit die Französische Revolution inspirierten. https://www.freitag.de/autoren/der-freitag/montesquieu-john-locke-rousseau-die-aufklaerung-stammt-von-den-indigenen Schuld(en) sind ein Thema, das sich durchzieht:

Papa-Francisco-Nagasaki Wer ist schuld an, wer ist wem was schuldig, selber schuld, dass DIE verhungern, verdursten, an der Hitze verrecken … Othering nennen das junge Soziolog*innen, Kolonialismus- und Rassismus-Kritisierende, wenn sich Menschen von den Gefühlen für andere abwenden, abgrenzen, sie zu Feinden oder Fremden erklären, wie wir es gerade bei primitiven Mitmenschen zu russisch Sprechenden erleben. David Graeber hatte mit „Schulden, die ersten 5000 Jahre“ eine Grundlage beschrieben, wie uns mit den Religionen die „Erbsünde“ bei gebracht wurde, die uns dann in den Kapitalismus getrieben hat. Read the full article

[anticattocomunismo]

Con Camara si "beatificherà" il cattocomunismo

Con Camara si “beatificherà” il cattocomunismo

A breve dom Helder Camara potrebbe essere dichiarato venerabile. Protagonista della teologia della liberazione, benevolo verso URSS e Cina, nella sua diocesi si pianificava la lotta armata rivoluzionaria. Un “santino mediatico” e ideologico, ben più che religioso. (more…)

[fuoridalcloro]

Quando il tuo battello ancorato da troppo tempo nel porto ti lascerà l’impressione ingannatrice di essere una casa, quando il tuo battello comincerà a mettere radici nell’immobilità del molo, prendi il largo. È necessario salvare a qualunque prezzo l’anima viaggiatrice del tuo battello e la tua anima di pellegrino.

- Dom Hélder Câmara -

[frayed-unit]

I will not believe in the law of the strongest,

In the language of guns,

In the power of the powerful.

I want to believe in the right of all,

In the open hand,

In the strength of the non-violent.

I will not believe in race or riches.

In privileges,

In the established order.

I want to believe that all human beings

Are human beings

And that the order of force and of injustice

Is a disorder.

I will not believe that I don’t have to concern myself

With what happens far from here.

I want to believe that the whole world

Is my home, the field that I sow,

And that all reap what all have sown.

I will not believe that I can combat oppression out there

If I tolerate injustice here.

I want to believe that what is right

Is the same here and there

And that I will not be free

While even one human being is excluded.

I will not believe that war and hunger are inevitable

And that peace is inaccessible.

I want to believe in the love of bare hands,

In peace on earth.

I will not believe that any effort is in vain.

I will not believe that the dream of human beings

Continues being only a dream

And that death is the end.

But I dare to believe in the dream of God:

A new heaven, a new earth

Where justice reigns.

[dk-thrive]

When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist.

Dom Helder Camara, Brazilian Archbishop quote in “Connecting Like Jesus“ by Tony Campolo, ‎Mary Albert Darling (Wiley, Published:May 27, 2010)