Something's Rotten In Denmark

As an honest Canadian, I've been trying to put together what is coming to light from the Sponsorship Commission under justice Gomery. It should be noted that such corruption is rampant in many countries around the globe. There are places where without bribery of officials one can get nothing done in the business of government. But for this to be happening in Canada is lamentable.

One wonders from what is whispered about Quebec dealings, if bribery and corruption are not the way much gets done in Quebec both federally and provincially. The bribes and corruption under Duplessis were taunted all over Quebec. Many of us remember the financial sinkhole the Olympic Stadium became because of graft and underhanded dealings. The final bill was ten times what it intially was projected to be and the public in different ways are still paying for this monument to graft and corruption. Apparently the P.Q., while in office, made it a practice to smooth palms with government money whenever contracts were given out, too. Their Ottawa cousins, the Bloc Quebecois, really have nothing to be proud of in this area. They should turn red and keep their mouths shut! My mother taught me that people in glass houses should not throw stones! Why, then, should we be alarmed that under Prime Minister Chretien the ways that he learned from politics as a youth were reflected in the sponsorship set-up and how these millions were dispensed.

It is very hard for me to imagine that Prime Minister Martin knew little of what was going on when he was the Finance Minister at the time. Recently, he has at least apologized for his negligence while at the financial helm of the country. Would that Chretien would apologize to the Canadian people as well instead of showing the commission his private collection of golf balls!! What an insult!

Will this unmasking of "rottenness in Denmark" bring about the downfall of our federal minority Liberal government. It would not surprise me if it did. In fact, in some ways I would be happy to see the government fall. Contrary to what many of us hoped, our Prime Minister and his justice minister have espoused same-sex marriage and brought in a marriage bill that would enshrine such unions in the laws of our country. If the government falls suddenly before this bill can be fully passed by Parliament, it would die on the docket. Praise the Lord if that should happen. Perhaps this is the only way the governing Liberals will listen to an overwhelming majority of Canadians on this issue. A new parliament may bring a bill that will preserve marriage in Canada as it has always been, the union between one man and one woman.

Perhaps what happened through Watergate and its revelations in the U.S.A. (namely, the curbing of absolute power in America) will happen here. We can only hope and pray that the Gomery Commission will be stern enough to result ultimately in the prosecution of those in high places who are at fault here (the Prime Minister has promised this). In the future, such corruption may be much less probable than it has been up to now. So, while we weep over what is coming to light right now, we can pray that it will make politicians and others think twice before they gorge themselves so geedily at the trough of public finances!

The way our politicans can avoid all this moral filth is to follow what David said in Psalm 16: 8 "Ï have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken." Our Lord Jesus put it so well when he admonished, "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you" (Matthew 6: 33). Pray for our politicians earnestly and regularly. God bless Canada!

In conclusion, let me say that it is not my intention to single out Quebec in this article. Doubtlessly corruption, nepotism and patronage (for example, appointments to the Senate) exist right across our country. There needs to be a concerted effort not only in Quebec but other provinces, too, to put an abrupt end to such shady dealings by our elected officials. The Sponsorship Scandal, I fully agree, is not really a Quebec scandal, but a Liberal scandal in Quebec. God bless our Quebec fellow Canadians and make them more fully than ever an inseparable part of the Canadian fabric. They hide their heads in shame because of this scandal. One Quebecer said to me recently that she thought she would start saying she was from Europe rather than from Quebec. My heart goes out to her since Quebec is such a great and beautiful province (La Belle Province). May the Lord be with the many in Quebec who would never stoop to corruption, graft or patronage. We love them as fellow Canadians and pray for their prosperity.

Is Pope John Paul II In Heaven?

Is Pope John Paul II in Heaven? Many will think this is a strange question to ask. One headline at the death of the Pope quoted a devout German pilgrim to Rome who said, "Ï know he is in heaven". I have waited a number of weeks to put down my thoughts on this matter because the issue is so sensitive.

There can be no doubt that John Paul was one of the greatest popes. Through a great deal of personal sacrifice, he made it a point to travel more than any other pope so that people everywhere could call him their pastor. When he was shot by a would-be assassin and almost killed he bore his wounds nobly. Later he went to the prison where the young shooter was imprisoned and unequivocably forgave him just as Christ forgave his enemies from the cross. Apparently he was a man of prayer, a great communicator, a thinker and writer. The world seldom sees such a good man. In latter years, he suffered quietly with Parkinson's disease and at the end seemed to enter into the sufferings of Christ as his body broke down completely.

All of this is commendable, but cannot get one to Heaven according to the Bible. The litmus test for getting to Heaven is faith in Jesus Christ as one's personal Saviour and trust in His death on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. On one occasion in Scotland, the Pope said to young people: "Place your hands in the hands of Jesus. He will accept you and bless you, and He will make such use of your lives as will be beyond your greatest expectations."

My greatest dilemma with regard to Pope John Paul II was that, in spite of his noble qualities, as a spiritual leader he tenaciously held to a doctrinal system that is at odds with the Bible. For example, he was a strong mariologist and did much by example and teaching to encourage her worship (which is completely contrary to the Bible. In fact, on his simple wooden casket was carved a large "M" for Mary.) So, was he trusting at death in Mary or Christ for salvation?

I highly respect him for his stand against homosexuality, abortion and same-sex marriages. He had great moral courage on the international stage of public opinion. Why did he not speak out and try to influence the Roman Catholic Church when it came to unbiblical doctrines (eg. sacraments as a means of salvation, worship of Mary,infallibility of the Pope seaking ex cathedra, church council edicts on par with the Bible, eucharist including the body and blood of Christ, in fact, a whole means of salvation through the Church rather than through Christ). Surely as Pope he had a unique opportunity to bring his Church back to a much more biblical position on many of these matters. Why didn't he unless he felt these unbiblical doctrines were correct?

Far be it from me to judge John Paul II. This I know:
1) Jesus is the only way to Heaven (John 14: 6 "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"
Note also, Acts 4: 12 "Salvation is found in no one else (but Jesus),for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
2) While Mary was a wonderful young woman of faith, she was NOT the "mother of God" (she was the mother of the man Jesus Christ), she was not without sin (Luke 1: 47), and not to be worshipped (the worship of Mary is nowhere to be found in the Bible. We are to worship God alone (Jesus is God the Son, part of the holy Trinity, and therefore is worshipped freely in the Bible).
3) The Holy Spirit (not the Pope) is Christ's special representative on earth (cf. John 16: 5-11)
4) We are not eternally saved by the good works that we do, but by God's mercy extended to us in Christ Jesus (Epheseians 2: 8,9; Titus 3: 5,6). So the sacraments, saints, Mary cannot save us. Only Christ is the Mediator between God and man (I Timothy 1: 5). It follows that Pope John Paul's emphasis on beatification of saints was utterly wrong. It seems obvious that he himself will be venerated as a Roman Catholic saint soon. How sad!

As to whether Pope John Paul II is in Heaven or not, I leave it in God's hands. With Abraham I say, "Shall not the judge of all the earth do right?" (Genesis 18: 25)