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A call has been made for all local councils in Northern Ireland to ‘honour’ the 50th anniversary of the female UDR soldiers, or ‘Greenfinches’, but Sinn Fein/IRA has vetoed the call.

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, who is also President of the Ulster Defence Regiment Association, has challenged Sinn Fein to justify how it can veto a public honour for them at Armagh Craigavon and Craigavon (ABC) Borough Council when republicans “glorify and eulogise those who set out to murder women”.

197 members of the regiment were killed both on and off duty, including four women (Greenfinches), as well as over 60 killed after leaving the Regiment. Over 400 were seriously wounded and many still continue to suffer both psychologically and physically as a result of their service.

In 2006, when Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, came to Belfast to present the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross to The Ulster Defence Regiment, she said that the contribution of the Regiment to peace and stability within Northern Ireland had been unique and had required ‘uncommon courage and conviction’.

Her Majesty reflected that no challenge faced by The Ulster Defence Regiment went unmet, whatever the personal cost.

The Victoria Cross is the only higher combat gallantry award presented by the United Kingdom

Sir Jeffrey was speaking after Sinn Fein blocked a motion from UUP Alderman Glenn Barr to honour the female UDR soldiers at the local authority last month.

The formation of the female UDR soldiers, or Greenfinches, in 1973 was the first case of complete integration of men and women in a British military unit and it proved to be a very successful model. The initial recruitment drive attracted over 530 applications from women.

Once again the unremitting and relentless hatred of all things British is seen on the part of Sinn Fein/IRA. Its members glory in the cowardly deeds of those who waited in ambush to shoot down and murder those dedicated to offering protection to civilians. (more…)

Here is yet another shameful exposure of the iniquities of Roman Catholicism.

It is a report from ‘The Guardian’ newspaper, dated yesterday, Monday 13th February 2023 and sent to me by a watchful friend.

I cannot help but be amazed that this evil system of falsehood and lies and blasphemy retains its standing amongst men despite the repeated laying bare of its true character. Were this any other organisation, it would be condemned, ostracised and repudiated by all. The old saying is yet again proved true! “The devil takes care of his own!”

Sincerely in Christ’s name,

Ivan Foster

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Portugal: Catholic clergy abused nearly 5,000 children since 1950, inquiry finds

Independent commission reaches conclusion after hearing evidence from over 500 survivors last year

Catholic clergy in Portugal have abused nearly 5,000 children since 1950, an independent commission said on Monday after hearing hundreds of survivors’ accounts.

Thousands of reports of paedophilia within the church have surfaced around the world, and Pope Francis is under pressure to tackle the scandal.

The Portuguese inquiry, commissioned by the church in the staunchly Catholic country, published its findings after hearing from more than 500 survivors last year.

“This testimony allows us to establish a much larger network of victims, at least 4,815,” the commission head, Pedro Strecht, told a press conference in Lisbon that was attended by several senior church officials. (more…)

The Challenge Facing PCI Moderator Elect, Rev Sam Mawhinney!

Although the next leader of the church, the Rev Sam Mawhinney, is not in favour of female ordination, the church said it remains its ‘settled’ policy. The general secretary of his church, Rev Trevor Gribben, has stated that the clear, longstanding and settled position of its General Assembly is “that the Presbyterian Church in Ireland ordains men and women on an equal basis”.

That means that Sam Mawhinney belongs to a denomination that stoutly defies the Word of God, as the above statement from its general secretary indicates. It also means, should he become the new moderator in June of this year, he will lead a church in its determined defiance of God and His Truth!

Dr Mawhinney has said he recognised ‘there are people who disagree with me’ on the issue of women ministers. ‘I don’t want to make it a primary issue, but it is something that I hold,’ he added.

Dr Mawhinney is based at Adelaide Road Presbyterian Church in Dublin city centre and is the first moderator from the Republic of Ireland to be elected in almost a quarter of a century.

Standing up for what the Bible teaches on any subject ought to be a ‘primary issue’ for any who profess faith in Christ. However, in this ecumenical age, flexibility of conscience and pliancy of heart and mind when it comes to principles and obedience to God, are essential qualifications for a moderator of the PCI!!

The ‘settled’ doctrinal position of the PCI is anti-Bible on more issues than the ordination of women as elders and ministers. It long ago ceased to be faithful to the cardinal doctrines of the gospel. Back in the 1920s, almost one hundred years ago, it exonerated a man, a man of heresy, a professor in its theological hall, Professor J E Davey, when he denied the deity of Christ and atonement for sin by His blood.

Professor J E Davey was a graduate of a number of universities, including that of Heidelberg, from which he brought back to Belfast the false and destructive notions of ‘German Rationalism’. In June 1917, he became the youngest person ever appointed to a chair at Assembly’s College, the Presbyterian College in Belfast. It is now called ‘Union College’. He would subsequently hold chairs of Biblical Literature, Hebrew and Old Testament, and New Testament Language, Literature and Theology. (more…)