Former Catholic theologian says much of the clergy is gay

Theologian David Berger, was correspondent professor for the Pontifical Academy of St Thomas Aquinas in the Vatican, where he said his academic work was watched and censored where it concerned homosexuality.

As a gay man himself, he told Der Spiegel in an interview that living among the Catholic homophobia was a nightmare.

“It must be acknowledged that a large number of Catholic clerics and trainee priests in Europe and the United States are homosexually-inclined,” he said.

He said when he was writing for theological magazines, he had to use phrases such as fornication-partner rather than life-partner, and that the neutral word homosexual could not be used, but gay men were described as perverse sodomites.

“The worst homophobia in the Catholic Church comes from homophile priests, who are desperately fighting their own sexuality,” he said.

“Obviously, those who follow their urges are repudiated more fiercely when one is so painfully repressing that disposition oneself.”

Now working as a teacher in Cologne, Berger outed himself as gay this April after the Bishop of Essen Franz-Josepf Overbeck described homosexuality as perverse and a sin during an appearance on a television chat show.

Berger’s book about his experiences within the Church The holy illusion – a gay theologian in the Catholic Church which is published this week.

The Local/hc

Kidnapping Plot Thwarted

Two weeks ago, the world woke up with the eminent threat of courier bombs through DHL and Fedex located in Dubai, Greece and UK from provenance of Yemen to United States, France and Germany. New tentacles of terror cells are on the rise using modern technology like Facebook, Skype, msn and others, to kidnap people who bear surnames of famous families and professional in the free-world. Their target is mainly high profile Israelis, Jews in the Diaspora and business related people.

Several months ago, a certain Xhemajedlin Mustafi also known as Xhemo, age 22 years, contacted me and presented himself as the Former Advisor and Friend of the Vice Prime Minister of the Republic of Macedonia. At first, I was hesitant to continue conversation but his attitude was very Pro-Western and Zionist which was intriguing for a young Macedonian of Albanian origin.

Over few weeks, he held discussion over how to improve collaboration between Muslims, Christians and Jews in Macedonia and how they can integrate the society as a united force for making the country as a vehicle of development for social upliftment.

The alleged “Advisor” had something else in his mind; he wanted to be in contact with Israeli Diplomats and wanted to meet them for holding bilateral talks to enhance cooperation between The State of Israel and the Republic of Macedonia. I told him that for such things, I can only advise which diplomatic channels to use as I do not get involved in state matters of countries. He was advised that the Macedonian Foreign Ministry to contact its embassy if any in Israel for holding an official preparation for the travel with the Israeli counterpart using all established protocols. Nevertheless, his plan was, inviting the Former Foreign Minister MK Tzipi Livni, the Head of the Opposition Party Kadima to Macedonia. I was clear to him that I cannot help him in such matters.

There were some doubts regarding the state of the continuous change in his plans and hence for coming few weeks he remained quiet. He surprisingly gave me his MSN live and Skype address and wanted to introduce his Advisor friends and also business circles which he did and I was perplexed that he was well conversant in English but his other colleagues could not speak English . At the same time he would use to call from France, Turkey and other European countries to inform that he is travelling on state matters.

He was quietly laying his traps for other professional and he contacted Ms Bat-Zion Susskind-Sacks who is ardent support of Israel and Friend. She is a professional in the Health Sector. The “Advisor” was not aware that Batzi is also a correspondent for Weekly Blitz. He held direct talks with Batzi and apparently, there was disagreement between them and Xhemo again contacted me to intervene as Batzi wrongly understood him and wanted to reaffirm that he is a very pro-Israel Muslim. I just conveyed the message to Batzi and they both resumed their talks to sign a proposal for health care reform in Macedonia and in last phone call, he announced the great news that the contract was signed.

The articles below are extracts of the investigation carried out by Ms. Bat-Zion and Shoaib Choudhury of Weekly Blitz.

Israel correspondent of Weekly Blitz, Bat Zion Susskind has successfully busted a huge crime racket inside the ministry of a member state of European Union. She spent several months in investigating the matter and finally was able to get the specific evidence of crime inside the Ministry of Health in Macedonia.

According to information, Xhemajledin Mustafi, introducing himself to be the advisor to the Ministry, offered job to many people in the ministry. Dr. Bujar Osmani is the minister in charge of the ministry. In an email to Blitz correspondent [Blitz correspondent did not disclose her real identity], Xhemajledin Mustafi wrote:

"We are looking for a foreign advisor with experience in the field of public health administration because now we are going to apply for EU funds on some certain important projects and we need your expertise. If you agree to work with us I will send you the contract of work and organize you a meeting with the Minister in Skopje, Macedonia."

According to Ms. Susskind, Mustafi, who also introduced himself as Jemo stressed that his government insisted on hiring an Israeli consultant with a "Western education" as they were interested in privatizing their health care system in the fashion of Israel and other developed countries. Mustafi also stressed that though he was a Muslim, he was a supporter of the State of Israel and the US.

Xhemajledin Mustafi would generally conduct the negotiations on Skype as he claimed to be travelling over Europe, as part of his Macedonian government business.

Subsequently, our correspondent continued to communicate with Xhemajledin Mustafi. Without knowing the identity of Weekly Blitz correspondent, Mustafi was continuing his fraudulent communications and were giving false statements related to the activities inside the Ministry of Health.

On October 24, 2010, Xhemajledin Mustafi wrote in an email:

"Today 24th of October 2010 the Government of the Republic of Macedonia in the session opened for the public has decided or saying more professionally has taken responsibility to implement the health care reform and engaging international consultants.

And according to this Governmental decision there will be a budget of 70.000.000 EUR for the implementation of the first stage of this national and top priority project!"

On November 1, 2010, Xhemajledin Mustafi sent a contract to Ms. Susskind by fax. On receiving the contract copy, which is made on the official stationary of the Ministry of Health of Macedonia, with signatures of the minister Dr. Osmani and so-called advisor to the ministry, Xhemajledin Mustafi, our Israel correspondent contacted the ministry and got it confirmed from the ministry that the document was forged one. The so-called contract came from fax number 02-322-8220, which is owned by MANERA COMMERCE, Macedonia.

It is learn from various sources that Xhemajledin Mustafi was continuing such fraudulent activities using the name of the ministry of health as well as other high officials and ministers of Macedonia. It is apprehended that, Xhemajledin Mustafi is a member of fraud racket in Macedonia, who was using ministry's stationary and minister's forged signature in befooling people.

Latest bust into the huge scam inside the ministry of health in Macedonia surely leaves alarming signal for the government of that country.

Ms. Bat Zion Susskind is continuing her investigation on unearthing the mystery behind suspicious involvement of Xhemajledin Mustafi, who claimed to be the advisor to the Ministry of Health in Macedonia. Meanwhile, Weekly Blitz is also investigating the issue through numerous channels.

The background of the story in brief is Xhemajledin Mustafi, introducing himself to be the advisor to the Ministry, offered job to many people in the ministry. Dr. Bujar Osmani is the minister in charge of the ministry of Health. Xhemajledin Mustafi would generally conduct the negotiations on Skype as he claimed to be travelling over Europe, as part of his Macedonian government business. He was frequently changing his cell phone numbers and skype addresses while contacting various Israeli nationals.

Xhemajledin Mustafi also introduced himself as the family friend of Musa Xhaferi, Albanian born Deputy Prime Minister of Macedonia, who earlier was the overseas representative of the National Liberation Army. The National Liberation Army [NLA] also known as the Macedonian UÇK, was a militant organization that operated in the Republic of Macedonia in 2001 and was closely associated with the Kosovo Liberation Army [KLA].

The NLA was founded in the fall of 1999, and was led by former KLA Commander Ali Ahmeti, nephew of one of the founders of the KLA. Ahmeti is known to Slav-Macedonian nationalists as the Macedonian version of Osama Bin laden. The Macedonian government claimed the NLA were an extremist terrorist organization seeking to separate Albanian majority areas and unites those territories with Albania. Beginning on January 22, 2001 the NLA began to carry out attacks on Macedonian security forces, using light weapons. The conflict soon escalated and by the start of March 2001, the NLA had taken effective control of a large swathe of northern and western Macedonia and came within 12 miles of the capital Skopje. In March 2001, NLA members failed to take the city of Tetovo in an open attack, but controlled the hills and mountains between Tetovo and Kosovo. On May 3, 2001 a Macedonian government counter offensive failed in the Kumanovo area. By June 8, the rebels took Aracinovo, a village outside of Skopje. On August 16, the two sides signed a peace deal ending the open conflict.

Although the conflict in Macedonia was brief, it was not scant of war crimes. According to Human Rights Watch, "Ethnic Albanian rebels in Macedonia tortured, sexually abused road workers after abducting them from the Skopje-Tetovo highway. Dozens of ethnic Macedonians were kidnapped. While many were released after a short time, 12 people apparently remained missing after the NLA released 14 others in late September. In October, reports suggested that the 12 may have been killed and buried in mass graves near Neproshteno. The case was referred by the Macedonian government to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia for investigation.

The KLA was regarded by the US as a terrorist group until 1998 when it was de-listed, and then the UK and the US lobbied France to do the same. The US then cultivated diplomatic relationships with the KLA leaders. In 1999 the KLA was officially disbanded and their members entered other armed groups such as various Albanian Macedonian rebels, the UCPMB in the Preševo Valley region and UNMIK instituted NGOs within Kosovo such as the Kosovo Protection Corps [in accordance with UNSC resolution 1244 which required the establishment of a civilian emergency protection body to replace the former KLA] and Kosovo Police Force. Some of the Kosovo Liberation Army leadership opted to enter politics, and by taking advantage of the 1999 confusion they still lead the Albanian faction of the partially recognized Kosovar government.

Xhemajledin Mustafi [22] and his 'family friend' Musa Xhaferi are 'former Mujahedins'. And most importantly, though National Liberation Army of Macedonia are disbanded, in reality, the terror outfits remains at the deep cover level enjoying silent support from various important and influential people in the Macedonian government. It may be mentioned here that, National Liberation Army is no exception than Revolutionary Guards in Iran or mega-terrorist outfits like Hamas and Hezbollah. Importantly, leaders in NLA, KLA and others are fanatic Muslims with Wahhabi indoctrinations of waging Jihad [Holy War] against non-Muslims.

According to our own findings, current and former leaders of NLA were planning to allure a number of Israeli nationals with job offers and ultimately make them captive in Macedonia with the target of using them as 'pawn' in getting released reveral Al Qaeda, Hamas and other Islamist militants in Israel and United States.

With this goal in mind, deep cover Jihadist of NLA, Xhemajledin Mustafi was communicating with Israeli nationals and offered them jobs with Health Ministry in Macedonia.

But, Weekly Blitz's Israel correspondent very effectively foiled the entire plot when she started getting several documents and information in hand from Mustafi. One of the documents was the official agreement letter issued by the Macedonian Health Ministry, where the emblem used in official stationary was not current one. It is understood that the plotters intentionally used the old emblem with the ulterior motive of denying any involvement of Macedonian government, once several Israelis were made captive by Islamist terror groups in that country.

Since publication of the first report in Weekly Blitz, Xhemajledin Mustafi went into hiding. It is believed that, Mustafi is sheltered by several influential people in the Macedonian government.

The investigation is still being carried and bits and pieces of the puzzle is being unearthed and it is apparently clear that the plan of the so called Advisor Xhemo was to invite High Profile Israelis (VIPs) and People belonging to famous families to Macedonia and hence kidnap them. It can also be assumed that he is being used and brainwashed by them for carrying out their operations or he might be a jihadist himself. In a conversation with a friend from Italy, whose parents lived in Macedonia during the Gulf war, confirmed that the Terror cells are hiding in Macedonia and said not to forget what happened in Kurdistan. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Macedonia was made aware of all these and apparently, this could an embarrassment for them as they have not still released any official statement regarding this issue. Had, Batzi not carried out this investigation in time, I could have been kidnapped during my travel there as I had accepted to visit Macedonia in March 2011 and had asked to be sent a detail list of programme where I would intervene.

Thankful to Ms Bat-Zion Susskind-Sacks and Shoaib Choudhurry for their investigation for exposing this plot.

Iran fails to get seat on UN Women board

Iran failed to secure a seat on a key board running the new UN super agency to improve women's rights as fierce lobbying by western nations and rights groups swayed an election Wednesday. Saudi Arabia, whose candidacy was also criticized, got an automatic seat and rights groups said they will now seek to put the spotlight on the kingdom's record.

Iran was beaten to an Asian seat on the executive board by East Timor, a late entrant to the contest, in a vote at the UN General Assembly. Four UN agencies were merged this year to set up UN Women under the leadership of former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet.

Iran had originally been guaranteed a place as the Asia region had put forward 10 candidates for 10 seats. Iran and Pakistan were on the agreed list. East Timor risked the wrath of its Asian neighbors by putting itself forward as a spoiler late last week, as controversy mounted over Iran's rights record, diplomats said. It won 36 votes against 19 for Iran.

The United States, European Union, Australia and Canada carried out an intensive diplomatic campaign to thwart Iran, diplomats said."It was an expression of disapproval of Iran's rights record," Norway's UN ambassador Morten Wetland told AFP, explaining his country's decision to back East Timor.

"They lost and they lost handily," commented US ambassador Susan Rice on Iran's defeat."We have made no secret of our concern that Iran joining the board of UN Women would have been an inauspicious start to that board," she told reporters.

'Shocking system of male guardianship'

Campaigners had highlighted Iran's treatment of women, including the case of Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani who was sentenced to be stoned to death for adultery. Though Iran has said this will not be carried out, reports say she could now be hanged after being found guilty of the murder of her husband.

"We are extremely relieved," said Philippe Bolopion, UN specialist for the Human Rights Watch group. "Iran has a catastrophic record on rights," he said."It is a country which has distinguished itself by actively repressing women's rights activists, they have harassed many and imprisoned some," he told AFP.

A resolution on Iran's human rights is to be voted at the UN General Assembly next week and is already the subject of intense new lobbying, diplomats said. Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi had said before the vote that having either Iran or Saudi Arabia on the board of UN Women would "a joke".Ebadi said that Saudi Arabia's record on women is worse than Iran.

In Saudi Arabia women are forbidden to drive and cannot take major decisions without the permission of a male relative. "They have one of the worst records in the world when it comes to women's rights. But by being on the board they have essentially put the spotlight on their own record," said Bolopion.

"We want to use this spotlight to push them to start making some significant progress. By working to put an end to the shocking system of male guardianship, by which women in Saudi Arabia cannot make any important decisions in their lives," he said. It secured an automatic seat from a group of donor countries for which there was no vote.

The US ambassador said that UN Women is "a vitally important institution", and questioned about the Saudi presence she added: "I am not going to deny that there were several countries that are going to join the board of UN Women that have less than stellar records on women's rights and indeed human rights."

The HRW specialist said that Saudi Arabia had "bought" a seat on the UN Women board. "They have one of the worst records in the world when it comes to women's rights. But by being on the board they have essentially put the spotlight on their own record," said Bolopion.

"We want to use this spotlight to push them to start making some significant progress. By working to put an end to the shocking system of male guardianship, by which women in Saudi Arabia cannot make any important decisions in their lives," he said.

Livni: Government suffers from political schizophrenia

"I heard (Foreign Minister Avigdor) Lieberman say that whoever thinks peace with Syria can be achieved is a political hypochondriac. If we're already talking in psychiatric terms, I think a government that says this one day and then talks of peace with Syria and the Palestinians the next day – this is a government of political schizophrenia," Opposition Chairperson Tzipi Livni said Friday.

During a meeting with residents of the Menashe Regional Council, the leader of the Kadima party said the government "is not being truthful with the public or with itself."

Addressing the bill granting yeshiva students millions in state funds, Livni blamed "the bad system of government and weak politicians" for creating a situation whereby haredi parties "have a monopoly on the issue of Judaism.

"The younger generation does not want to be connected to very problematic politics that take advantage of the ruling party's (Likud) weakness. The haredi parties must not be given a monopoly on the Jewish state," she says.

Crime inside EU ministry busted!

Israel correspondent of Weekly Blitz, Bat Zion Susskind has successfully busted a huge crime racket inside the ministry of a member state of European Union. She spent several months in investigating the matter and finally was able to get the specific evidence of crime inside the Ministry of Health in Macedonia.

According to information, Xhemajledin Mustafi, introducing himself to be the advisor to the Ministry, offered job to many people in the ministry. Dr. Osmani is the minister in charge of the ministry. In an email to Blitz correspondent [Blitz correspondent did not disclose her real identity], Xhemajledin Mustafi wrote:

"We are looking for a foreign advisor with experience in the field of public health administration because now we are going to apply for EU funds on some certain important projects and we need your expertise. If you agree to work with us I will send you the contract of work and organize you a meeting with the Minister in Skopje, Macedonia."

According to Ms. Susskind, Mustafi, who also introduced himself as Jemo stressed that his government insisted on hiring an Israeli consultant with a "Western education" as they were interested in privatizing their health care system in the fashion of Israel and other developed countries. Mustafi also stressed that though he was a Muslim, he was a supporter of the State of Israel and the US.

Xhemajledin Mustafi would generally conduct the negotiations on Skype as he claimed to be travelling over Europe, as part of his Macedonian government business.

Subsequently, our correspondent continued to communicate with Xhemajledin Mustafi. Without knowing the identity of Weekly Blitz correspondent, Mustafi was continuing his fraudulent communications and were giving false statements related to the activities inside the Ministry of Health.

On October 24, 2010, Xhemajledin Mustafi wrote in an email:

"Today 24th of October 2010 the Government of the Republic of Macedonia in the session opened for the public has decided or saying more professionally has taken responsibility to implement the health care reform and engaging international consultants.

And according to this Governmental decision there will be a budget of 70.000.000 EUR for the implementation of the first stage of this national and top priority project!"

On November 1, 2010, Xhemajledin Mustafi sent a contract to Ms. Susskind by fax. On receiving the contract copy, which is made on the official stationary of the Ministry of Health of Macedonia, with signatures of the minister Dr. Osmani and so-called advisor to the ministry, Xhemajledin Mustafi, our Israel correspondent contacted the ministry and got it confirmed from the ministry that the document was forged one. The so-called contract came from fax number 02-322-8220, which is owned by MANERA COMMERCE, Macedonia.

It is learn from various sources that Xhemajledin Mustafi was continuing such fraudulent activities using the name of the ministry of health as well as other high officials and ministers of Macedonia. It is apprehended that, Xhemajledin Mustafi is a member of fraud racket in Macedonia, who was using ministry's stationary and minister's forged signature in befooling people.

Latest bust into the huge scam inside the ministry of health in Macedonia surely leaves alarming signal for the government of that country.

Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury

November 6, 2010