In today’s Christian news, find out if it’s okay for Catholics to believe in aliens, read about the $30M GLC invested in the Christian version of YouTube, check out Televangelist John Hagee’s apology to Catholics, and learn about the dentist who was fined $10,000 for offering unwanted spiritual advise/prayers. Okay, let’s get to the links…
Is it a sin or unfaithful to believe in extra terrestrial aliens? Not so according to the Vatican’s chief astronomer, Rev. Jose Gabriel Funes.
“How can we rule out that life may have developed elsewhere?” Funes said. “Just as we consider earthly creatures as ‘a brother,’ and ‘sister,’ why should we not talk about an ‘extraterrestrial brother’? It would still be part of creation.”
As such, belief in alien life does not contradict the faith in God. How about the Big Bang theory, the universe beginning billions of years ago, and more?
Read the AP article by Ariel David entitled Vatican: It’s OK to believe in aliens.
GLG Partners, one of the largest alternative asset managers in the world, has reportedly invested $30 million in GodTube — a Christian version of YouTube.
GodTube, which is run by co-founder and former CBS television producer Chris Wyatt, is aimed at creating an online Christian community. Their mission statement is perhaps most descriptive of what they’re about:
GodTube is a video-driven social network that enables people to connect and share with friends, family, co-workers and ministries. The community of Christian and non-Christian people use GodTube to upload, imbed and share videos, upload and share photos, create their own blogs and forums, seek answers and explore their faith.
The GLC investment is apparently part of a $150 million fundraising effort. For the full scoop, read GLG invests $30m in Christian version of YouTube.
Televangelist John Hagee has made an apology to Catholics Tuesday. Hagee is an influential Texas televangelist who endorsed John McCain. According to an Associated Press article,
“Hagee has cited the Inquisition and the Crusades as evidence of anti-Semitism within the Catholic church and has suggested that Catholic anti-Semitism shaped Adolf Hitler‘s views of Jews.”
With that comes the potential for political fallout. In his apology, Hagee wrote,
“In my zeal to oppose anti-Semitism and bigotry in all its ugly forms, I have often emphasized the darkest chapters in the history of Catholics and Protestant relations with the Jews. In the process, I may have contributed to the mistaken impression that the anti-Jewish violence of the Crusades and the Inquisition defines the Catholic Church. It most certainly does not.”
The entire article may be read by following Televangelist John Hagee apologizes to Catholics.
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) found dentist Paul Gardner guilty of professional misconduct and fined him $10,000. Why?
Apparently Dr Gardner told a schizophrenic patient that she was oppressed by “spirits of fear” and should go to his church for “spiritual healing”.
In a letter to the VCAT board, Dr Gardner said he had administered “simple command” prayers to patients for two-and-a-half years and had helped people overcome gagging, a fear of needles, anxiety, crying and vomiting.
There’s more to this than meets the eye. Read ‘Spiritual’ dentist fined $10,000.
That’s it for today. See you tomorrow!