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1. I give thanks that the God I know is loving and not punishing

   Posted By: joan

2. This sort of turgid theology is precisely what the Church doesn't need at this point in time or ever! Crawl back into the dark crevice of ignorance and give relief to those faith-filled people who worship and love a forgiving and loving God. If this quote is correct, it is a real shame that such drivel comes from ordained ministers of the Church - no wonder people vote with their hearts and feet and walk away.

   Posted By: macanduff

3. This is a similar story that Albert Camus told in "The Plague". The rats appeared, the plague struck and Panlelou, the Jesuit preacher, storms in the cathedral about God's punishment on the people for their immorality. The local doctor listens in the background and cannot understand what he is talking about. He knows the victims as simple ,good people.
   However Panelou catches the plague and he says in his next sermon he is smitten by God's love!
   Perhaps this young priest should reflect on the nonsense he is uttering
   

   Posted By: bill

4. Where do people like Fr Wade Menezes come from and why do we give them any attention at all? Fr Menezes would do well to reflect more on the Gospels and leave medical and geographical phenomena to the experts. At least they may be more understanding and compassionate.

   Posted By: Peter Murphy

5. Why do our Archbishops and Cardinals not censure this type of ridiculous comment?
   
   It does nothing for the Church, nor for its mission, to propagate this sort of nonsense.
   
   We are not in the dark ages any more. We understand that earthquakes are caused by tectonic movements and viruses are microorganisms capable of evolving and being transmitted. Most are able to understand such ideas while keeping their faith.
   
   Attempting to attribute supernatural moralistic causes to natural events is a cheap shot at people we should be comforting.
   
   If Fr Wade's theology was correct, then surely the paedophile priests in my home Diocese and the retired bishop who had a policy of moving them from parish to parish enabling re-offending, should have caught some horrible disease. Of course, this didn't happen because judgment does not come in these natural forms.
   
   I hope, for the good of the Church, that Archbishop Coleridge stands up and publicly rebukes this man and his position.

   Posted By: Brendan

6. How can a christian fundamentalist, God judge and punish, instead of revealing Himself as "God is Love" which is what Christ showed us. Can be allowed to preach in Canberra at the cathedral? What view of God is it?

   Posted By: curtis

7. Archbishop Coleridge was reported in the Canberra Times today as having "clarified" Fr Menezes' comments. Coleridge said Menezes' example of the swine flu and earthquake was poorly chosen - "one of those things said in the fun of rhetoric but regretted later". The best that Coleridge can say about cause and effect is "all reality is connected in ways we can scarcely imagine". Now, that's a comment with which I can agree.

   Posted By: Peter Cartwright

8. These comments about God's punishment like the comments about God's retribution on Victoria with bushfires over new abortion laws, I find deeply offensive and insensitive, even if I find abortion itself unacceptable. These comments are totally devoid of theological credibility or "proof" and way outside any compassionate even Christian sentiment for the innocent victims.
   In the bushfires, I noted, in one town, all the Christian churches were burnt to the ground and the Buddhist Temple was saved. On the 'logic' of God's punishment etc. above, surely this "proves" God demands we all turn away from the churches and turn to Buddhism. Australians here at the Repat in Adelaide use down to earth comments about bovine manure to describe the opinions above.
   John Virgin RC Chaplain Repat SA
   

   Posted By: John Virgin Repat Chaplain

9. If this is the action of God - I'll take the devil any time; at least you know where you stand with the devil.

   Posted By: Roxy

10. Hmmmm, I have a toothache! Fr Wade Menezes could you tell me why god (deliberate lower case g) hates me? .... GROW UP FATHER WADE: people need us!
    Fr Greg

    Posted By: Fr Greg

11. Send him express to Mexico; he can obviously do anything as he has God's confidence!
    Ian

    Posted By: Ian Maitland

12. The comments that I read here point towards an Australian Church that is utterly infested with dissent and anticlericalism. Disturbingly, it would even appear that chaplains ('John Virgin Repat Chaplain' and 'Fr. G'] are fostering such an environment where we refer to our priests in terms of animal 'excrement.'
    
    The comment that most reveals the widespread theological illiteracy of Australia’s laity (due to unorthodox and uninspiring catechesis) is 'Roxy's' comment:
    
    'If this is the action of God - I'll take the devil any time; at least you know where you stand with the devil.'
    
    That would rank among the most moronic statements I have ever come across on the hotbed of dissent that is CathNews!
    
    The fact that this matter was taken to the media is shameful - if parishioners took issue with the words of their pastor, they should have expressed that to him, not the Canberra Times. I personally disagree with Fr. Menezes opinions, but that does not require me to launch into embarrassing invective, like so many of you have done here. It’s somewhat amusing to picture the rapidly-maturing Irish-Catholic Australians wailing over this here at CathNews, completely ignorant to the probable fact that they have failed to impart the Catholic faith to their children.
    
    Finally, I also detect an enormous sense of arrogance and professed all-knowingness among all of you. You each appear to have set stringent limits on God's capacity to act and understand yourselves as God's personal prophet and agent on Earth. Who are you to say what the Divine can or cannot do? Though He has revealed to us His Laws and Sacraments, He is not necessarily bound by them.
    
    In truth, most of you belong in the decaying mainstream Protestant communities - while they may not currently have your membership, they certainly have your minds.
    
    

    Posted By: Aquino

13. Why are such inexperienced priests being foisted on \the Australian Church?.It Is the 21st Century and such ideas as expressed by this young yankie are 2 centuries behind the times.

    Posted By: Peg Saunders

14. That's a worry! To still "see" God as up there, getting-out the big stick when we humans don't adhere to His (note "His") laws!! I totally reject pro-abortion, and fully support human life from conception. But the above doesn't square with God's unconditional love, providential care, present and inspiring us at the heart of our being - closer than the air we breathe ... but always respecting God's gift of freedom to us, to hopefully choose with the dignity of humans. There is plenty of good,
    forward-looking literature, as well as post Vat II theology courses available, to affirm that. I keep searching, and know miniscule about the Mystery of God, but I do know that a "big stick" God isn't the One Jesus revealed.
    

    Posted By: Fr Terry Herbert msc

15. How on earth did you get as far as Ordination let alone through it. Take your comments and go back to where you come from. Down under we believe in a loving compassionate God and not a revengeful punishing God that you obviously believe in. Did no-one ever tell you that God is Love and wherever Love is found - there God is found?

    Posted By: Maggie Reynolds

16. So many self-righteous comments. God is loving, but the bible is full of faithless people abandoning God and His ways and suffering the consequences. Are our times any different? We wonder at the scourge of AIDS and yet say nothing at the homosexual/ promiscuous lifestyle encouraged by the culture. We turn our backs on God's commandments and then wonder why things go wrong.

    Posted By: Sherelle

17. "Fr" Greg, if you don't believe in God, perhaps you should stop calling yourself "Father".

    Posted By: Ronk

18. Did anyone else actually follow the link to the Canberra Times story? It's not journalism, it's gossip and hearsay. No direct quotation and taken from an unknown (and possibly unreliable) source. What happened to rigorous reporting standards?
    From Archbishop Coleridge's reaction, it seems the comment was taken out of context. Better to approach the actual priest involved and get his opinion before publishing such trash. Then we'd know if there were truly a theological/pastoral problem.

    Posted By: Mikayla

19. The Canberra Times can't even quote what he said exactly - why on earth does this finish up in the news as it seems to be just malicious gossip.
    Words taken out of context often have a different meaning and unless somebody was there and found whatever he said offensive, we should just shut up and not judge the guy on whatever the Canberra Times prints!
    

    Posted By: annemie

20. All lefties that claim that God is a 'loving' God, could they please explain why the Virgin Mary's message at Fatima and Lourdes always proclaim that God is angry with man's sins and in order to escape His just punishment, we must repent.
    
    God is not a softy, he is loving and JUST.
    
    Love and discipline go hand in hand

    Posted By: Uncle Chop, Chop

21. I was in the congregation and heard Fr Wade preach. The remarks attributed are out of the actual context in which Fr was explaining that sin has personal, social, ecclesial and cosmic consequences.
    
    His example may have been poorly chosen, and created controversy but for want of a better word I consider that he has been slandered.
    
    Perhaps, if he had used an example of the sinfulness of humans who cause environmental damage no-one would have cared less.

    Posted By: Graham

22. Fr Menezes' comment is scandalous. It betrays such poor theology.

    Posted By: John Murray

23. What did he actually say? Canberra Times? One of the most overtly anti-Christian, anti-Catholic rags you will ever pick up. Hold your judgments until you find out the truth, I say!

    Posted By: c.d.

24. Which god is he talking about? Not the God of great love that I know. God help us!

    Posted By: Cheryl Screen

25. The spiritual comes before the natural. The natural realm is but a reflection of the spiritual. Note that due to one man's sin, all of creation is affected. The Catechism reminds us that due to sin "Harmony with creation is broken; visible creation has become alien and hostile to man" CCC400. Prior to the fall, Adam and Eve would not have experienced illness, yet now they do. This is a punishment that we all incur.
    
    While it is not binding on Catholics to believe in apparitions such as Fatima, the Church allows us to believe in what may have been revealed because there is nothing contrary in the message to the Gospel as it is revealed in Scripture and Tradition. Our Lady of Fatima warns us that our sin causes suffering in this world. Surely this is manifested in a multitude of ways including Swine Flu, bushfires and global warming.
    
    A merciful god can only be merciful if there is a punishment due that can be taken away. Do we deserve punishment? Yes, because our sin offends God. God is merciful towards the REPENTANT sinner not the sinner who persists in his sin. Bushfires, Swine Flu and global warming each bring us to our knees as we realise our dependence on God's love. It would not surprise me if God permits these for this very reason.

    Posted By: David Chaston

26. Australia is on record as having the strictest Quarantine regulations in the world, in terms of human,animal and plant species.
    
    ( 1)Consequently,how is it that Fr. Wade Menenzes was able to enter and circulate Australia?
    (2) One wonders if perhaps Fr. Menenzes should advise the World Health Organization of his mode of thinking...Virologists and Epidemiologists may consider his ideas regarding the aetiology of Swine Influenza and mode of transmission "CHALLENGING"!!
    
    Maureen T. Couch
    
    

    Posted By: Maureen T.Couch

27. This sort of heretical nonsense, contrary to all Catholic teaching, along with the odd comments of Fr Flader, which you publish, discredit the Church. I speak for many theologically competent clergy and laity whom I teach or work with.

    Posted By: Cormac Nagle OFM JCD

28. If what has been reported in respect of rhe utterances of Wade Menezez is correct, one can only wonder why Mark Coleridge had to go offshore to find him.
    Mark, Australia has plenty of home grown clerics who can always be relied upon for absurd illustrations of the wrath of God.

    Posted By: David Reardon

29. I was horrified when I read this nonsense in yesterday's C.T.It is fundamentalist clap trap!
    I did write a letter to the Editor but it was not published although several others were.I was less then impressed by the Archbishop's response in today's C.T. (1st May). I agree with the comments already expressed above.These insensitive remarks do little to improve the efforts of the Church's Mission.
    I am not holding my breath in expecting a sensible response from the leaders of the Church.
    I too just wonder how much more I can take before I too leave the Church in disgust.
    Gavin

    Posted By: Gavin

30. I wonder if this man would still believe in what he said if he were now struck with swine flu? Anything is possible!

    Posted By: van dinh

31. As usual Cathnews quotes a secular media's take on Catholic issues, in a most anti-Catholic way, and we Catholics jump up and down as if what they wrote was gospel... "The Canberra Times says that although the exact words used by Fr Menezes cannot be quoted.." yeah right!

    Posted By: Fr B

32. Well, there is a clear natural explanation, even a probabilistic prediction that a flu epidemic occurs.
    
    However, I would not be so ready to dismiss the possibility of natural disasters also constituting divine punishment for temporal evils.
    
    Scripture assures us that Christ will come again to judge the quick and the dead. He indeed offers us his love and mercy but if we fail to heed that offer then the price may be great indeed.
    
    I also note that a number of approved Marian apparitions warn of chastisement if the truth of Christ is not listened to.
    
    Of course, at the very least we might all consider that a flu epidemic might unexpectedly result in our particular judgment and we should prepare ourselves accordingly.
    
    I've recently heard confession referred to as the 'forgotten sacrament'. I wonder if that is because an unreal emphasis on the love of God, which effectively negates a sense of sin, has resulted in a general presumption on God's mercy.

    Posted By: Peter

33. This whole incident brings up once again two issues for me.
    1. What's going on in Catholic seminaries that young priests can seriously say this kind of thing? Are they still being taught orthodox theology? Thomas Aquinas would roll over in his grave! (And I know Fr. Menenzes may well have been misquoted - look at the hatchet job the ABC recently tried to commit on Bishop Chris Saunders - but unfortunately I've heard similar things spoken by priests, which may explain why we tend to believe reports like this).
    2. Given that misreporting is well known to occur, how is the Church dealing with this? At the very least individual priests should be careful that they say what they can support and defend later. We do need to be in conversation with the rest of the world - let's do it right!

    Posted By: Joan Seymour

34. Fr Nagle, Please point out where, as you absurdly claim, "all Catholic teaching" says that anything that Fr Menezes said is "heretical nonsense". The Church has consistently taught that Man's sins cause death and disease.
    
    The ignorant, abusive comments of some here, especially those claiming to be clergy, who should know better, are appalling. No doubt most or all of them are ageing baby boomers who never took to heart the popular Sixties' saying "tell it like it is", preferring to "run dead" on Catholic theology and simply float along with the tide of secular political correctness. Thank God the future of the Church is in the hands of more theologically competent priests like Fr Menezes who are not afraid to state publicly ALL the truths taught by the Church, even those which the secular world condemns as politically incorrect.

    Posted By: Ronk

35. Yes, but David Reardon, fire and brimstone and wrath of God sermons usually sound better and more convincing with an American accent LOL.
    

    Posted By: Michael Webb

36. Commentators are brash in predicating what God may or may not do. Our Lady at Fatima asked for penance to be done, noting that unless the World changed, Our Lord would send chastisements in the form of wars, disasters and plagues. As the World has continued to become less and less moral, God can be expected to send chastisements.

    Posted By: Ray

37. If Fr Menezes said what was reported in the Canberra Times then he is preaching superstition rather than the gospel. It is disappointing that a priest, or for that matter anyone, could publicly display such ignorance in 2009. His God and his church are not my God or my church!

    Posted By: peter thomas

38. I'm just hoping against hope that Fr Wade was misquoted. If that's not the case, I hope he is severely censured and sent to help out in the hospitals in Mexico!!!

    Posted By: Kathy

39. I am also troubled by how quickly we Catholics deride our Bishops. Firstly, the story is pretty thin and shonkily reported, but sadly, people here on this comment site, quickly start to attack Archbishop Coleridge. What is it with you?!
    
    There is a pessimism and misery in the tone of people's comments that is depressing. Guess what - every Bishop I have ever met and worked with has surprised me with their strength, courage, intelligence, genuine pastoral love for their people. Believe it or not, they are not stupid, not pushing their own agendas. Mostly, they are hyper-vigilant about hearing God, being true to the Gospel, upholding the teachings of Christ expressed in our Church and doing what is right for God's people.
    
    I think your pessimism is unfounded. Cheer up!
    
    My advice: bless your Bishops, maybe even affirm them and thank them. Shock them!! Write to them and find something good to say about what they have done!
    

    Posted By: c.d.

40. tp RONK: the small g in God was with reference to a god who sents illness etc as a punishment: that is not the God of unconditional love and tenderness that I preach. Bless you RONK.
    
    to Aquino: I do not regard and brother priest as 'excrement'. I find the tem personally offensive. "I also detect an enormous sense of arrogance and professed all-knowingness among all of you", I trust you include yourself in that! Nonetheless, Bless you Aquino.
    
    Until my next comment, Grace and Peace to all!
    Fr. Greg
    
    ps: Aquino ,I was raucght theology by Dominicans!!! hehehehe. Bless ya!

    Posted By: Fr Greg

41. One cannot help thinking that underlying this belief in God's punishment is a secret desire and delight that it happens - and with a vengeance - but none will ever admit to that, that would be sinful even if psychologically accurate. All those horrible sinners are making the believers' lives a misery and when such things do happen it then also has a double whammy impact in that it also 'confirms' the supposedly orthodox Catholic beliefs that such people desperately hold on to for meaning and structure in their psychological lives. No wonder they defend such statements, whether Fr Menezes said them or not, it seems.
    
    I can cope with certain ill-thought out or 'sin-based' actions coming back to haunt us, personally and naturally, but in such things neither God nor the devil are to blame, just us. We need to take responsibility for our own actions and their consequences. A priest once told me, "you know what original sin is? Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the snake".
    
    And in the end, we are all in this together, 'saved' or 'unsaved', devoted to Our Lady of Fatima or not, priest or lay, atheist or Christian or Buddhist or calathumpian.
    
    So, in honour of the God of love and on behalf of God's poor confused human creation (excluding those who are in the know of course - no actually including even them - remember the wall in Heaven joke);
    
    Oh yet we trust that good
    shall be the final goal of ill
    to pangs of nature
    sins of will etc, etc.

    Posted By: Oh Yet We Trust

42. Graham Downie usually writes fairly unbiased articles and I respect him for them. I do not believe the C.T. has an axe to grind...
    As I wrote in my Letter to the Editor (not published),I was concerned that Father Menezes was alleged to have made such a remark - more so that the story seemed to be hearsay. I expressed the view that Downie should have clarified the story first before publishing it.
    If, as it seems, Father Menezes did indeed make that comment, then we do have a major concern.
    I have a Masters in Theology myself,I am not a "leftie" (whatever that is) . In my view there is no place for such comments by the clergy as there is no scriptural foundation for such a view of God. Anyway who are we,clergy or laity, to say we know the mind of God? We are searching still!
    I express the hope that Father Menezes will himself explain what he said,otherwise this issue and other ill-conceived utterances will continue to damage the Church in the World.
    Gavin

    Posted By: Gavin

43. 'Fr Greg'
    
    I'll wilfully acknowledge that you did not use the said word (animal excrement or 'bovine manure') in reference to the opinions of clergy - that was 'John Virgin Repat Chaplain.'
    
    Apologies for not making that explicit.
    
    However, I am concerned that you appear to be encouraging an atmosphere of disrespect and dissent for clergy – for instance: 'GROW UP FATHER WADE.'
    
    From memory, you have made similar comments on other articles.
    
    Given that you claim to be a priest (though I'm unaware whether you have been laicised since you have admitted to being married) I feel you should know better. If you disagree with Fr. Menezes - who has been misquoted, I might add - then instead of providing cheap analogies, give us some intelligent substance that is decisive but respectful. If you've been trained by the Dominicans, I'll be expecting good things!
    
    

    Posted By: Aquino

44. Mexico publicly 'declared' the swine flu 24th April 2009. Abortion legalised in Mexico exactly to the day 2 years earlier i.e. 24th April 2007. Coincidence?
    Scanning these posts, I wonder what would be the observation of Sodom & Gomorrah? Our Lady has stated that she can 'No longer hold back Her Son's arm'. Our Blessed Mother as a mother does, has been trying repeatedly to warn US to stop offending Our Lord! Do we listen? No! In fact we've upped the ante led (looking at the comments) by members of the clergy. Australia, can you not see the signs of the times? Look around you. Will you not repent? Are our hearts so hard? Nature will bring us to our knees. We will pray that the days be shortened.

    Posted By: mark

45. Fr. Greg. Mercy is the 'greatest attribute' of Our God for he is a loving God. Amen. You forget to add that he is a God of Justice. Out of curiosity, do/did you preach the 4 Last Things i.e. Death, Judgement, Heaven, Hell and the reality of these things?

    Posted By: mark

46. Well said Fr Greg.
    
    Unfortunately when people put a logical and theologically correct view, those who cannot put forward a counter logical case, often revert to "criticism and nastiness."
    
    Keep spreading the truth about a loving God

    Posted By: Chris

47. An American priest! Oh, no. Please remember we do not all believe as he does!
    Most of the priests I have ever known are wiser and better shepherds.
    A Chicagoan

    Posted By: Rita

48. Phew! Doesn't the old good and evil mystery show us up! Wow! I am stunned at how it gets us "digging in" to defend our positions.
    Does it reveal how much we try to "force others to see it our way?"
    

    Posted By: The old Good and Evil

49. I was at the mass when Father Wade made his comment. His sermon was about an hour long and was VERY WELL delivered. He spoke extremely well. It was very unfortunate that the secular press chose to focus on one very minor point of an otherwise splendid sermon.
    The point of his comment was that he noted that Catholic Mexico had done something very bad by voting to allow abortion. Within six months there had been an Earthquake and Swine Flu.
    A lot of the secular world, including the press, don't like hearing that people can't do whatever they want in this world, and they get very annoyed and try to ridicule people who try to tell them what is right and what they believe in is wrong. Father Wade was one such target.
    By the way, regarding whether or not the above 2 disasters were consequential or not - I seem to recall two years ago watching TV and hearing a Sydney horse trainer complaining about the then planned World Youth Day at Randwick Race course that had been planned, and complaining about all of the racing revenue that he and his fellow trainers would miss out on. I also recall that within a few weeks of his public outburst on TV, there was an outbreak of horse flu which stopped the Australian racing industry for the first time in its history for many months. That made me stop and think a bit about whether or not a higher power may possibly have been a bit annoyed by the very public outburst of this particular horse trainer. It also made me think on Tuesday night that there might have been an element of truth in what Father Wade had said - even if some people in the secular world deeply resent being told that abortion is morally wrong, and will try to ridicule such opponents of abortion!

    Posted By: Bruce Murray

50. Greg, sorry for misunderstanding you. Perhaps you should have said "a god hates me" instead of "god hates me" to make yourself clear.
    
    (Gavin) "I have a Masters in Theology .... there is no scriptural foundation for such a view of God."
    It's hard to believe that even the slackest institution could award a MTheol to somebody who is so profoundly ignorant of such a frequent theme in Holy Scripture.

    Posted By: Ronk

51. Greg, you may not be aware, but it has become a fashionable affectation among some militant atheists to write “god” when they mean "God".

    Posted By: Ronk

52. Bishop Coleridge has now stated that Fr Menezes was misreported...as would have been blidingly obvious to all who actually thought abuot it and read the "article" in the Canberra Times.
    To all those who are quick to judge based on slanderous secular reports let this be a lesson to you. The evil one works in many ways...in recent years through the secular media...and has sucked in a great many of you on this one simple issue.
    How on earth can so many catholics accept what is reported in the secular anti-catholic media to the point that they actually attack fellow catholics.
    For the record I consider the expression "secular anti-catholic" to be a redundant tautology :-) All secular reporting is anti-catholic as and where it can be.

    Posted By: blairy

53. I'm no theologian but I doubt whether the messages attributed to Our Lady Of Fatima can be considered to be Divine Revelation.

    Posted By: Bill Brady

54. If you would keep abreast with such news stories published originally on 1st May you would see that very shortly after the report appeared, Archbishop Mark Coleridge issued a very strong statement defending just what Fr Menezes ACTUALLY said, quite different from the Report 4 May). Father Menezes has been badly maligned and those responsible should be at least gracious enough to offer a public apology.

    Posted By: Frank Swarbrick

55. Bill Brady, you are within your rights as a Catholic to doubt the Divine origin of the messages of Fatima. The other side of the coin is that as a Catholic you must accept and respect the rights of your fellow Catholics to believe and promote the messages of Fatima, which the Church has accepted as genuine and fullly in accord with the Catholic Faith; though of course containing no NEW dogmatic Divine Revelation. Whether you are wise to disregard the messages is another question.

    Posted By: Ronk

56. We will see the results of the greatest evil of all time -abortion, the murder of the most innocent among us- bring about more horrors. How can rational people think they can go on violating God's laws without retribution? We need more priests to speak out against abortion and other evils of society worldwide! Yes, I will be mocked for what I believe, but so be it. God's law is law, the only law that matters.

    Posted By: L.G.

57. I have been thinking the same thing. Thank God for good and holy priests like Fr. Menezes who are not afraid to speak truth! I didn't realize how liberal this website is, but judging from most of the vitriol aimed at good Fr. Menezes, I will be avoiding CathNews in the future.

    Posted By: Mom of 8

58. Right on, Father. What's with you people? When's the last time you read your bibles? God punished people all the time for far less than we're guilty of today, yet you think He would never punish us?
    
    It's not all hugs and kisses with Him, you've gotta follow His commandments, too, don't forget. I suppose you don't believe that hell exists either?
    

    Posted By: Zeebus

59. What is the nonsense about God is love and only love?
    
    The modern world has no clue about Biblical truths, they hold onto only the things they feel comfortable with. Read the book of Revelation, read the Prophets, read the Gospel of Matthew, etc...God is love, yet He is also a jsut God and He will judge us in the end!
    
    The priests might be wrong about his comments, yet it is nowhere near as out of the question as so many here think.
    
    People were laughing and sneering all the way up to the point when the flood waters washed them away...

    Posted By: Tom

60. Father Wade has discerned the root cause of this latest flu breakout.
    Through the intercession of Our Lady of Guadelupe, may abortion be removed from the face of the earth.
    Yours in Christ through Mary,
    Susanna Maria Ax
    Hayward, California USA

    Posted By: Susanna Maria Ax

61. DO YOU PEOPLE THINK IT'S POSSIBLE TO CHASE GOD, THE LOVING FATHER and CREATOR, OUT OF YOUR COUNTRY?
    Do you think you'll continue to prosper while the unborn are BEING TORN TO PIECES in the womb?
    
    REJECT THE CREATOR AND YOU FORCE HIM TO LIFT HIS PROTECTION. REJECT THE CREATOR AND YOU'LL WELCOME THE DESTROYER; satan.
    
    Read the Old Testament folks. GROW UP.

    Posted By: Maureen

62. When a person sins or does evil,which is breaking God"s commandments, they throw God out of their life and the devil comes in so there is the punishment for abortion (murder) and other sins. The devil and the person committing the sin is responsible for the bad things that happen. God loves all humans no matter how evil they are because he wants all humans to be with him for all eternity.

    Posted By: Viola Aldridge

63. Thank you Fr. for the truth and the warning to repent. Most of the complaints below are probably what they were saying outside the Ark as Noah and his family entered.

    Posted By: Tony R

64. The people of Australia should be the last to throw stones. Unfortunately that country is becoming more and more secular and it may be that they don't seek God in their lives. The majority of Australian have fallen asleep when it comes to faith. As such I am not surprised about how they are treating Fr. Menezes. Their ignorance and biased views are clear. The people of Australia need to be woken up.
    
    We don't know why bad things happen. But if you go back to the story of Creation you will see that we are a fallen and sinful people. As such the world is not perfect and bad things do happen. As sinners we need God and we need his Mercy. We also need to recognize that everything God allows is for a particular good purpose. God is a good and loving God and we have to accept that he loves all his children. With this love he wants good to come out of everything. I cannot explain the horrible events that happen throughout the world and to people but I can accept them and also try to look at the good that may come from them. God does not punish but He lets certain events occur in order that we as his children may turn to Him, realize we need Him and come to a greater understanding of the suffering of others and of His suffering.
    
    Four years ago I was diagnosed with cancer. I did not blame God. I just accepted it and fought it. At the same time as a Catholic who trusted in God I looked for the good in what had happened to me---and I found it. I learned that God was letting me know that He loves me so much but that at times I was not always loving Him back. I was starting to fall asleep and he woke me up.
    
    It's been four years and the cancer has not come back. But more importantly, for the last four years I have loved God more than ever. And in loving Him I have become a better person. Was the cancer Gods way of leading me closer to Him? I don't know. Is Father Menezes intended message to the people of Mexico similar to what happened to me? The people of Mexico need to love God more than ever. But how can they truly love him if they accept and condone the type of abortion laws currently in place. The events in Mexico are not a punishment but they may be God's indirect way of waking up the Mexican people in order to seek their true love.

    Posted By: EVM

65. Joan and all you "Thomas doubters", read the Bible. It's full of God sending chastisements to turn people away from sins i.e. abortion being the big one.

    Posted By: Katie

66. HOW WELL THE PRINCIPLES OF THE WORLD YOU UNDERSTAND: TO PLACE ONE'S HAND ON A HOT STOVE THE HAND WILL BURN...WHY IS IT YOU HAVE NO UNDERSTANDING OF PROVIDENTIAL GRACE OR ITS PROTECTION??? IF YOU REMOVE THE ARMOUR OF GOD'S GRACE FROM YOUR COUNTRY WHAT IS LEFT TO PROTECT ITS CITZENS AGAINST THE BLOWS/ATTACKS OF THE ENEMY(SATAN)? THE SHELTERS OF GOD: ITS TEACHINGS, TRUTHS, AUTHORITY DID NOT MOVE...BUT THE PEOPLE HAVE ABANDONED THEIR SHELTER.

    Posted By: THE SHEPARD PROTECTS W/THE ROD OF TRUTH

67. In the state of Sonora, Mexico where abortion is illegal there are no cases of swine flu that being reported. Anytime you break God's law you also lose his protection. When the supreme court rule made abortion legal in the United States the President of the United States fell from power during that time.
    
    Any person who does not believe that we can lose God's protection - you'd better start reading the Old Testament and not just only the good parts of the bible. God loves us very much that he gave us His only Son to die on the cross so that we may attain everlasting life with Him. And don't forget to read the Book of Revelations. Thou shalt not kill is not on top of the ten commandments, but it is the most deadly of sins.

    Posted By: Bruce Botzet

68. God is love and mercy. His ultimate goal is our salvation. He wants us with Him in heaven. He is also a just God. It is also in suffering that we are like Jesus. How long do you think He will stand by and watch his innocent children being slaughtered?

    Posted By: child of God

69. Yes, God is Love and is concerned about our physical well being, but God is most concerned about our spiritual well being. If God sees that his people are heading in the wrong direction, along the road of perdition, is it far-fetched to see that in His great Love, he would allow or even send certain sufferings to wake us up so that we can be with him forever in eternity?
    
    We tend to think only of the now; God sees everything as related to eternity.
    As any loving parent, God sometimes chastises us to teach us and wake us up. But He always does this in Love and always with the goal of our eternal welfare.
    
    Our Lady of Fatima told the children that war is a punishment for sin. She warned that God would penalise the world for its disobedience to His will through war, hunger, and persecution of the Catholic Church, the Pope, and the faithful.
    
    God's Mother prophesied that Russia would be God's chosen "instrument of chastisement," spreading the "errors" of atheism and materialism across the earth, fomenting wars, annihilating nations and persecuting the Faithful everywhere.
    
    So my dear friends, why is it hard to believe that our Dear Lord permits and sometimes ordains certain sufferings for our good? It seems than many of us will not turn to God unless we are put in a situation that tests the limits of our strength.
    

    Posted By: Tom

70. My,my,my. What a lot of anger when the truth is spoken. Remember Jesus too spoke strongly about cities that rejected the truth. "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida..." God is love indeed but God is also a God of justice and when, like rebellious children we go our own way, He sometimes has to shake us to get our attention.

    Posted By: Marianne Johnpillai

71. They can see and yet they are blind to the signs of the times. Our Lady at Fatima said that war is a punishment for sin. Do all of you let your children get away with murder without punishment. Abortion is one of the seven deadly sins that cry out to God for justice and His justice is forthcoming. Repent or be punished.

    Posted By: Joe Johnson

72. Father Wade is spot on- The blindness and indifference of this generation is shocking.

    Posted By: Father Joseph McShane

73. This pompous cleric is on ewtn and comes out with this drivel in his sanctimonious effeminate prattle. Jesus covered this when asked: "Who sinned the sick one or his parents?"

    Posted By: harry

74. To those who protest about Father Menezes' words...
    
    Don't you read your Bible? Scriptures are full of warnings that sin brings its own punishment. It is not God who does it but the rejection of God that brings down calamities upon people by their own hand. Have you not seen enough evidence of this in our culture or are you completely blind to cause and consequence? I am tired of Pollyanna theology that gives the false notion to "live and let live" because God loves you. What a platitude with no substance!It is true God loves you, except the question remains, "Do you love God?" Christ said, if you love me, you will obey the Commandments. He equated love for God first and foremost with obedience. (Jn 3:36)God left us with directions for living, clear and concise, all things which lead us to truth in loving. Love is supposed to go both ways. Do you think you can get away with saying "I worship an all-loving God but I need not heed the Commandments that the Church continues to interpret for our time. I can pick and choose what I think is good or not good?"
    Abortion, fornication and every kind of lasciviousness, arrogance, violence, child pornography, exploitation of life - it continues to go from bad to worse. Our culture is littered with the refuse of sin and it is the rock of pride and arrogance that resists repentance and behavioural change even when chastisements are as obvious as the nose on your faces.
    I commend our priests that have the holy audacity to speak out in truth knowing they will be crucified for it. Perhaps one lost sheep may hear the Master's voice and save themselves. God bless you and thank you for your courage Father Menezes!

    Posted By: Lorraine

75. Yes I Believe Father is right. It is a punishment & look out USA because of all the gay marriages ,abortions, stem cell experiments and the murder of innocent children

    Posted By: JMJ

76. Father Menezes is a wonderful priest - if only all men were as holy/devout/traditional! I agree with the comment that his name has now been slandered (via the article AND these comments). For shame, he is quite outspoken about Divine Mercy, which contradicts this portrayal of him.
    FYI - it was April 24th, 2008 when Mexico City's abortion law, supporting abortion, passed. If only a coincidence, it is still worth noting.
    
    
    

    Posted By: tricia

77. GOD DOES NOT PUNISH US, BUT WE PUNISH OURSELVES THROUGH ALL THE SELFISH CHOICES WE MAKE IN THIS LIFE. GOD PERMITS THINGS TO HAPPEN LIKE THE SWINE FLU TO BRING US BACK TO THE TRUTH. WE ARE LIVING THE LIES THE WORLD IS FORCING UPON US. ABORTION IS NEVER A GOOD CHOICE BECAUSE WE PUT OURSELVES FIRST AND THE BABY LAST SO PEOPLE CAN LIVE IN SIN AS THEY WISH. GOD LOVES US MORE THAN ANY OF US KNOWS, BUT HE GIVES US CHOICES TO CHOOSE HIS WAY, OR OUR WAY. MANY MORE THINGS ARE COMING OUR WAY BESIDES MEXICO. KNOW THE TRUTH!

    Posted By: Theresa

78. Many would believe that God would not send punishment to those who break his laws. God sets up governments and tears down those that stray from his love.
    Take a look at recent so called natural disasters, like Katrina, spawned the very day Gaza was abandoned.
    Wake up church, yes God does send warnings through natural disasters so people will wake up.
    Why not start keeping track of disasters and see what the affected area is up to, as far as following Gods laws. I think you will be surprised.
    The economic downturn also is a warning from God to show man his dependency on money instead of Him.
    In The book of Revelation The last church is lukewarm and Jesus will vomit it out of His mouth.
    We need to be vigilant in knowing God's will in these times we live in. Yes God does still give us signs as a proof to His love for us when we stray from Him.
    Also remember when Mexico passed the abortion law what happened to the picture of Our Lady Of Guadalupe?
    Don't follow the broad path and say a loving God would not do this, just the opposite - he send us warnings and tests to those He loves.
    May we all learn His perfect will for us.

    Posted By: Paul Calleja

79. Thank you Fr Wade Menezes for boldly speaking the truth!
    
    Mexico's decision, centred in Mexico City, to legalize abortion cries out to Heaven calling upon the justice of God.
    
    The comments I have read below are from those ignorant of the bible and to those who are ignorant of the bible are those ignorant of God and the way God thinks.
    
    Pick up the bible and read about God's justice done to those who were defiant of His Laws and just decrees.
    
    God's mercy is for those who try to live God's word and repent of past faults. For those who change their way of life to be in accord with Him.
    
    Not for those who 'spit in His face'!
    
    Blow the dust of your Bible if you have one, and read it!
    
    I shall continue to pray for the conversion of those who propagate the laws of death, selfishness and immorality and for those who do not yet know God.
    
    
    
    
    

    Posted By: Diane Michali

80. When you smoke there is a strong possibilty you will get lung cancer-- is this a punishment from God or the natural consequence of your "choice"? of course God created us to use these lungs in a healthy way. All sin carries its own result. When you turn your back on God and turn towards evil-- there is no in between-- you are no longer under His protection. You are with satan. He can be recognised by his sign-- death,and eternal death. you are free to choose-- God didn't create robots, He wants human love. why vilify someone telling you the truth? Fr. Menezes is is pointing you toward eternal life. The resentment you feel is satan's hold. Turn back toward God and your mind will clear and death will not seem to make sense anymore.

    Posted By: kelleenas

81. Jesus is Mercy and God is Justice. God loves everybody, but everybody does not Love God.
    
    Did not Jesus say, "if you Love God the Father , you will keep His Commandments"? "anyone that says they Love the Father and does not keep His Commandments is a liar".
    
    Tell me how abortion is keeping God's
    Commandment? First of all you are having sex for your own pleasure and selfishness, not for God. If God happens to give you a gift of Life (baby) you'd better accept this stranger or you will be punished.
    God only responds to "Yes I will serve". If you think for one minute that God will accept your "No, I will not serve", you have a rude awakening. (Lucifer did not get away with it, so why do you think you will?)
    Also, God will punish the people that "Promote and Perform" abortions, because they are the ones teaching society to be a "Culture of Death" instead of a "Culture of Life". They will be judged even harsher and for good reason.
    
    God intervenes throughout our lives, He will allow all kinds of disasters. The children and people that seem to live a faithful life will be killed along with those who do not live a faithful life. Jesus even told us that the weeds will be culled out and put on a pile and burned. What do you think that means? Sounds pretty straight-forward to me.
    
    To all the people, who are so sure, that this is "not a warning or punishment" by God. I would like for you to prove that it isn't.
    
    What Father Wade may or may not have said is correct. I know and have listened to Father Wade's missionary sermons and I am confident that what he said would be proper Catholic teaching.

    Posted By: Margaret

82. The Message of Fatima is a sober one. Fatima has been approved by the Church. I would recommend all those who have commented on Father Menezes sermon to read up on Fatima. Yes, our God is a loving Father and like a loving father he wants us to mend our ways and if we have strayed from Him and His teachings to repent and come back to Him. Jesus came to show us the way to the Father and he said: "whoever loves Me will keep my commandments". It seems to me that Father Menezes' comments are meant as a "wake-up" call.

    Posted By: kathleen

83. We will be punished for our sins because not only is God a merciful God, He is an equally Just God. That means we will get what we deserve in the end regardless of what we believe.

    Posted By: Fran

84. Thank God that there are some Catholic priests who can read the Signs of the Times. The Blessed Mother is appearing worldwide pleading for everyone to convert, for the time is short. Yes, God is merciful, but He is also a just God. For those who in their ignorance of Sacred Scripture do not believe this, they need to read both the Old and the New Testament. Did Jesus not state that if anyone leads His little ones astray, it would be better if he had a boulder around his neck and were cast into the sea? Jesus is Love, but He did not mince words or mess around. He is and was just, read how He addressed the pharisees. Being called a "white sepluchre" is/was no compliment. Did not Pope Paul VI state that the "smoke of Satan" had entered the Vatican? Finally, for all of you who are so critical of this young priest, read the approved messages of Fatima, LaSalette, and the Diary of Saint Sister Faustina to name a few. Instead of criticising Father Menezes, maybe you better start heeding his warnings.

    Posted By: Ellen pERRY

85. Our God (everyone's God because there is only one God) is a loving God, no doubt. But HE is a just God. How else would a loving God get our attention? HE loves us so much, he gave us a free will. It's rather simple. We can believe or not believe. Yes-no. White-black. In-out. Good-evil. Very simple. Read the Bible.

    Posted By: Paulette

86. If you were God, and saw you people murdering innocent children, would you communicate with your people that what they are doing is wrong? If so how?

    Posted By: Chris

87. I can scarcely belive the comments I'm reading! Have you people EVER EVEN PICKED UP A Bible, let alone read one? Do you leave no possibility for the concept of divine retribution or punishment/chastisement? It's all over BOTH the Old and New Testaments. This good and holy shepherd is absolutely right, but gee, sometimes the Truth is inconvenient or uncomfortable to hear. Do you really think that God turns a blind eye to flagrant immorality and debauchery? Sometimes the good are in the line of fire with the evil...that's also explained in Scripture if you take the time, and HAVE THE FAITH to look! You should be cheering and championing this young priest. The gift of prophecy has quite evidently been bestowed upon him. Would that we had ears to hear it!!!

    Posted By: Susan McCready

88. We all know that God is love and that He has great mercy for mankind. Why do we think that we think that a loving Father would not correct his erring children if they are on the wrong path? He is also a just judge. Did he not punish the world once before with a flood? Is not the bow in the sky a sign of his promise not to punish the world with a flood again? He never said he would not use other things to get our attention to draw us back. I think it is time for us to get off our high horses and search for humility. The spirit of offence is alive and well all over the world. What ever happend to tolerence?
    God is trying to get our attention. It is time for all of us to get our heads out of the sand. As far as God punishing, He has an eternity with which to do that.

    Posted By: Nancy

89. Medjugorje:
    On Saturday, (May 2, 2009) there was this sobering message reputedly given by the Blessed Mother to a seer named Mirjana Dragivecic Soldo at the famous apparition site of Medjugorje:
    
    
    "Already for a long time I am giving you my motherly heart and offering my Son to you. You are rejecting me. You are permitting sin to overcome you more and more. You are permitting it to master you and to take away your power of discernment. My poor children, look around you and look at the signs of the times. Do you think that you can do without God's blessing? Do not permit darkness to envelop you. From the depth of your heart cry out for my Son. His Name disperses even the greatest darkness. I will be with you, you just call me: 'Here we are Mother, lead us.' Thank you."
    
    *** *** ***
    Father Wade has excellent credentials and has been given the great gift of discernment of spirits. It would be well with your souls to listen to him.
    
    

    Posted By: Mavis Hucker

90. "The God You Know"... Is it the same God of the Old and New Testament that struck down Sodom or Nineveh? The same God predicted in the Book of Revelation? The same God who plagued Egypt? Yes God is a loving and kind Father but He's also a Just Judge (refer to the Divine Mercy Devotion and Revelations). When we offend God with our laws which legitimise the slaughter of the innocent and laws which legitimise blatant sin, God acts how He chooses to. Maybe this priest lacked some discernment, but I think he had a valid point. We punish ourselves when we stray away from His Loving Commandments. There are too many people out there who call themselves Christian and then accept sin.

    Posted By: Mike

91. I've said the same thing as Fr. Wade Menezes, and I believe it is true. In a country where the majority of its people are Catholic, yes, I believe God is trying to get their attention.

    Posted By: Mrs. Janet Glendening

92. God is a just God. If you violate His commandments, your own blood will flow. Read the Old Testament. Read what Jesus said in the New Testament. A loving Father (God) will correct His children and will go to any lengths to do it. A loving Father always corrects His children.

    Posted By: Tish Silveira

93. Amen Amen it is true! It was my initial reaction also upon hearing of the outbreak. I thought - it is truly God's judgment and put upon Mexico City as a 'sign of the times' for the reversal of the so called Mexico City Policy by the arch-Liberal Left.
    For those with eyes to see, ears to hear, wait, watch, listen, for when Obama and his henchmen sign into law FOCA, there will be so much more to come from our saddened Father in heaven for these horrid transgressions of his once righteous America.

    Posted By: Greg

94. If you believe, and have ever read, the Bible you will see that God does allow things to happen because of sin. He caused a flood to cleanse the Earth and, yes, some good people got wiped out too. He would not have let that happen if the people were keeping His Commandments. Why should it be any different today? God does not want to punish us but if we sin against Him, how do expect Him to protect us from "natural" disasters? You may have a different opinion and it is your God given "Free Will". However, you are not in line with true Catholic teachings. That's how Protestantism came about. And who do you think created the Earth and its tectonic plates, etc.? Don't you think God, who created everything, can control everything?

    Posted By: I still Believe

95. Good heavens! In America we are constantly bombarded by Rev. Wade Menezes and the like on the television network EWTN.

    Posted By: augustine serafini

96. To all those who made negative comments about Fr. Wade and his observations, I say, wake up folks, can't you see that God is not happy with the condition of the world and is reacting to it in many ways? This is not to be taken lightly. Yes, God loves us, but what does a loving parent do to misbehaving children? Corrects them, of course.

    Posted By: Anita

97. Thank you Father. Please stay with us!
    
    So many of us forget our God is a loving God, but He is also a just God!

    Posted By: Emily Dopheide

98. I've been reading these comments, and I must say, some of them are quite disturbing, especially from a priest. Can you honestly say that we won't be punished for our sins of abortion, homosexual marriages, pedaphilia, etc, etc? Satan is on his last leg, and he knows it. I've been reading and studying on the Visions of Garabandal, Betania, and other historic places. The Blessed Mother has been warning us of these things for YEARS!!! They are just now coming to pass. We AIN'T SEEN NOTHIN YET! the good news, God wins!

    Posted By: Nancy

99. I agree with Fr. Do you not as parents allow your children to go thru trials knowing this is the only way he-she will wise up? If you don't then I am sure your children are in deep trouble. Pampering and catering to their every whim will eventually be their fall. God is a LOVING Father and wants the best for us. Sometimes this means ALLOWING things to happen that hopefully will wake us up. We are so full of pride that we cannot see or hear the TRUTH.Why should God come to the rescue when we have no intention of following his Commandments? We are spoiled brats who want to be rescued. Well all those aborted babies would like to be rescued and what are any of you doing to change that? I am afraid things are going to get a lot worse because of our attitude and when it does it will be, because God is Good and will not be mocked. God Help us ALL. Kay

    Posted By: Kay

100. Father knows exactly what he is speaking. People have lost all sense of good and evil. They go to the extent of killing babies and say it is lawful - just to cover their shameful deeds.

     Posted By: Irene

101. Swine flu and the quake - neither is man-made. So, I would agree with Fr.Menezes. Read the Book "Sent to Earth, God and the Return of Ancient Disasters". For anyone who would disagree, answer this question: just how many times do you think a nation can spit in God's face before He will release His Justice? What has occurred in Mexico is sad. What the United States is in line to receive from God's hand in Justice is yet to be seen. Throwing away babies through abortion, through fetal embryonic stem cell research, and the proposed cloning from our scientific community, changing the definition of marriage to match behaviour patterns that were condemmed in the Old Testament, abuse of all sorts, refusing to recognize the Ten Commandments and stripping God from our schools, our children, our nation. Justice from God is occurring and will continue to occur. Fr.Menezes is right. America, look at yourself in the mirror. Then, get on your knees and beg for God's forgiveness and mercy before it is too late!

     Posted By: Marie Gassinger

102. Jesus was angry with the money changers in the temple wasn't he? God is merciful and He is also just. In our world today sinfulness abounds. It is amazing if we are not punished. Do we want the truth from our pastors or just something that sugar coats our sinfulness? If you are without sin.....there is nothing to worry about.

     Posted By: Della

103. For all the people who posted here yelling at this priest for speaking of the recent disasters as the judgment of God, I would like for you to do two things:
     1) Read the New Testament carefully and notice that the deeply loving Jesus warned people to repent or they would BURN in Hell. Don't believe me? Look it up!
     2) Now ask yourself, why in the world would Jesus tell us in Matthew 25 that people who refused to do acts of Mercy were going to Hell, if that wasn't so? Also ask yourself why this same loving Jesus would tell us that anyone who hurts a little one is better off being tossed in the ocean with a millstone around his or her neck than to face His Wrath?
     
     Jesus took Hell seriously enough to come and die for the sins that could send us there. Could it be that these posters have lost all respect for God and think that the Lord is some sap Who can be treated any way, talked to any way, punked any way and then dumped any way without any consequences?
     
     "I would that you were either hot or cold, but since you are neither, I will SPIT you out of my mouth."
     Sounds like disgust to me!
     JESUS the Loving said that.
     

     Posted By: Trimelda

104. It's obvious most people here can't respect the opinions of a priest or put two and two together. Mexico City announced its abortion stance on the 24th of April two years ago. On the 2nd anniversary, 24 April 2009, the Mexican authorities announced the infection. In addition, as witnessed by many people, in response to the abortion change in the city, Our Lady's image began to glow in the area of where her fetus would be. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRXUCqiBKP4
     God is indeed merciful; sending us signs of his displeasure of the Mexican courts is not beyond his ability because after all, he IS GOD and that would be part of his mercy. It's unfortunate that many would trivialize this issue with sarcasm particularly those who haven't stepped inside a church in years.

     Posted By: rbosque

105. Fr. Wade could be right. The world needs to turn to God's Love and show it with its interiority. It is true that this could be chastisement from God. Christians, lets pull together in prayer, asking our beloved Mother most virgin Mary, to intervene for us. More could be on the way but prayer can stop it.
     Susan Wasike, Nairobi, Kenya

     Posted By: susan Wasike

106. All of you that have attacked Fr. Menezes, have you read the bible? Read the book of Revelation. The angels are waiting for God's command.
     
     Rev 16: 5-7:
     Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say: "You are just, O Holy One, who are and who were, in passing this sentence." For they have shed the blood of the holy ones and the prophets, and you (have) given them blood to drink; it is what they deserve." Then I heard the altar cry out. "Yes, Lord God almighty, your judgements are true and just."
     
     Those of you who attack Fr. Menezes unfortunately do not have the eyes to see or the ears to hear. We all need to pray for God's mercy, we are in the Great Apostasy. Our Lady of Medjugorje has just warned us that our sins darken our ability to discern and that we need to be aware of the signs of the times.
     
     God Bless Fr. Menezes for his courage to be a testimony to the truth, he is a good and holy man. He, in his love, it trying to warn us of our errors, trying to save our souls.
     
     Instead of attacking him, please pray honestly to God to give you the true discernment of God's will.
     
     God Bless and have mercy on us one and all!

     Posted By: Julie

107. Ronk,
     I can assure you that the University that awarded my Master's is quite rigorous and my lecturers were well versed in their areas of teaching.
     My response to comments since my post?
     I think the point I was trying to make was that God in his love and goodness does not bring calamity on the world.We by our wrongdoing do .Of course earthquakes and other natural (if destructive events) are necessary for life on earth to continue.
     It seems that there was misquotation and I am not pleased with the misreporting of the issue either! The lesson is that anyone preaching these days has to make sure that all 'i's are dotted and 't's crossed!
     My last point; evil has always been part of our human condition .I doubt we are morally any worse than our ancestors. While I deplore absolutely abortion, and other evils, I think there are far greater evils being committed by us , the 'well off' against those living in poverty(Mexico). WE do need to get our priorities right.
     I have been to Lourdes and do accept Mary's advice to the human race.
     Gavin

     Posted By: Gavin

108. Mom of 8: every time an orthodox Catholic "switches off" - and I fully understand why you would wish to do so - it clears the way for another dissenting posting, contributing to the impression that there is no such thing as orthodox belief and few Catholics who take the natural law, scripture and Church teaching seriously.

     Posted By: Madeleine

109. The ACT decriminalised abortion on 9 Sep 2002; on 18 Jan 2003 the ACT lost 4 people and 500 houses to the worst (at that time) bushfire in Australia's history. Victoria decriminalised abortion on 22 Oct 2008; on 7 Feb 2009 Victoria suffered the worst bushfires in the history of the world with a death toll in excess of 200.
     Is a pattern evolving? Can we continue to ignore these 'co-incidences'? I don't believe that God sends punishment. I believe that we bring these disasters on ourselves. I seem to recall sacred scripture quoting something about the 'very stones crying out'.

     Posted By: CarPark711

110. Its seems that many of the responses are saying that there is no consequence for sin. God is an all forgiving God, yes, but don't we have to want forgiveness? God may not send punishments, but he allows us to experience just a little bit of the consequences of our own sin. He doesn't want suffering, but we cause that to happen when we choose sin as the law of our land. We are not robots, we are free created beings that are asked to follow the natural order that God created; and when we choose to manipulate that for our own ends we will experince nature rebelling against our actions. WE cause these things to happen. I really believe that God is in fact protecting us from utter destruction at all times even though we keep turning our backs on Him. But as any good parent will do, He allows us to feel the consequences of our actions. This way we have a chance to see and turn back to Him. That IS Love.

     Posted By: Geri

111. I AGREE WITH FR WADE MENEZES, he is very much enlightened by the Holy Spirit. THERE’S A DEEPER MEANING TO WHAT HE SAID. Most people would argue that God will not punish people. But if anyone read the Bible, in the Old Testament, entire cities are being punished like Sodom and Gomorrah because of the sins of immorality, homosexuality and atrocities. It is the same with the city of Jerusalem which has fallen under the hands of the gentile world - Muslims, because they denied & cursed Jesus Christ and persecuted many Christians. What about the city of Nineveh – they repented and they were spared. We will be punished and will be accounted for all the sins too in the afterlife.

     Posted By: Ruby

112. Fr Menezes is a wonderful priest and preacher. He is of the breed of new fearless priests which the church so desperately needs right now. Gone are the days of "anything goes". If you don't like the Catholic Church and her laws, go join some other church. The people love these priests, who are not afraid to preach the truth strongly. These are the kind we love and need. The young especially love the challenge. God Speed Fr Menezes.

     Posted By: kathleen bernal

113. God Bless Fr. Menezes. He is being persecuted for speaking the truth. Joan is right: God is loving but He is also just and merciful. Joan and others who seem not to understand the message Fr. Menezes was giving need to read the Bible. Read the Prophets and read what Jesus taught. The Catechism of the Catholic Church needs to be read too. Watch EWTN - it's God's gift to the Church in this day and age; we need it desperately when the Word of God and the teachings of His Church are often misrepresented. In this month of May, let us beg for Mary's intercession for all of us and the world so desperately in need of healing.

     Posted By: kathleen

114. May God Bless you, Fr. Wade, in honour of the Most Holy Trinity. Our world and our hearts need Truth and thank you for speaking so.
     
     Yes, the Father forgives our sins and is merciful. But as a loving child, we must atone for those sins out of this love. Because of His love, He is purging us so we can be closer in union with Him.
     
     How can His people ask for grace, if we are not is the state of grace?
     
     May we all soften our hearts and allow the Lord to heal us.
     

     Posted By: Nicole

115. I am not surprised that this poor priest is being persecuted for telling the truth; after all, Christ was! Those who think God does not punish are fooling themselves - the Old Testament is full of examples of God's Justice: the Flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, and, almost, Nineveh; the New Testament foretells punishments to come. The Blessed Mother in church-approved Marian apparitions such as La Salette and Fatima has repeatedly warned us that are sins are trying God's patience, and this began over 100 years ago! if we cannot see this evidenced in the world we live in today, then it is simply because we do not wish to. Of course God loves and forgives, but what happens when we ignore Him, disbelieve in Him, and have lost the concept of sin? When He does punish us, it will be out of love: to save us from our very selves, and then the veil of self-deceit will be lifted for good.

     Posted By: Catherine Bissonnet

116. WOW! Many of you who have commented on this article are vicious. I’m guessing many of you are either not Catholic, or marginal, lukewarm Catholics, or are very ignorant of scripture. God is absolutely a loving God. And to say He (God) would not, or does not chastise those He loves is heretical and blasphemous. Reference Acts 12:23, “At once the angel of the Lord struck him down because he did not ascribe the honour to God, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.” Or how about Revelation 3:15 – 19, “I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, 'I am rich and affluent and have no need of anything,' and yet do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire 14 so that you may be rich, and white garments to put on so that your shameful nakedness may not be exposed, and buy ointment to smear on your eyes so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and chastise. Be earnest, therefore, and repent.”
     
     Is the swine flu a chastisement sent by God? I am not saying a definite ‘yes’ because I try hard not pretend to know the mind of God. But in light of these current times of rampant evil everywhere, sex outside of marriage (marital infidelity, premarital sex, homosexual activity and having sex with practically anything that moves), and the evil fruits of sexual sin like abortion, I’d say it is plausible that God is, out of love, trying to send us a definitive message. Up until now, He has been gently warning us. But we’re so thick skulled, that we need a two by four smack over our heads before we’ll listen to Him. If we don’t listen to God and his messages to us; for those who don’t will surely perish into the abyss of eternal damnation. So is this swine flu pandemic a message from God? For the sake of our souls, I certainly hope so.
     

     Posted By: Mister Beee

117. "The Canberra Times says that although the exact words used by Fr Menezes cannot be quoted,"
     
     This is what is called a hack job. The state of the media is, shall I say, LAZY!
     
     For all the gullible morons in Australia, Fr. Menezes is much more astute than this.
     
     That said, it is quite ironic that the Swine Flu epidemic officially began in Mexico City on April 24, 2009. On exactly the same date two years ago, Mexico City legalised abortion...
     
     Our loving God will discipline His flock to bring them back to the fold. Only an idiot would think otherwise.
     
     Boanerges

     Posted By: James

118. These are my thoughts too. It's time for people to wake up to the Truth. Our Lord is a loving God but He is also just. As God as our loving Father, as any father on earth would discipline their disobedient children, so to does our Heavenly Father disapline us. If he didn't what kind of love would that be? These are not medieval thoughts but Truth. We have lost our sense of what sin really is. If you think we are not going to pay for the sin of abortion--the genocide of our time, the holy innocents, murder of the life in the "womb" -or now even if at the last moment the mother decides she doesn't want this life, she can have the baby terminated by partial-birth abortion at the time of birth. People this is truth, it is going on. I can only pray for the mercy of God to pour upon this earth, even though we so do not deserve it. I hope more priests and ministers speak up for the Truth the Word of God in any christian bible.

     Posted By: Dawn

119. I am surprised by people's ignorance and attack on this priest. He actually has a point. It's noteworthy to note that April 24th of last year abortion was legalised in Mexico and April 24th of this year the Swine flu appeared. He definitely has reason to speak in this manner. The problem with you people out there is you don't know who God is and how he works. Yes, our God is a loving and merciful God but he also like a loving parent needs to correct his unruly children. When we choose the brutal and evil abortion then we have chosen death and this is definitely the result of abortion. Choose life then God is pleased he sends his blessings to us and go against God suffer the consequences. People often forget that the Lord Jesus did say some strong words too he was not only loving and gentle. God is strict but because he wants us to live a holy life where true freedom exists. It's either God's way which lead to life and happiness or our way which leads to death. Heaven, after all is God's kingdom not ours. We didn't achieve this by our own doing but Christ who suffered willingly out of love for us. It is God's goodness that we can enter Heaven. Remember God sends us suffering too.
     Peace.

     Posted By: Maria

120. The other day at work, I was talking to my great friend and I said, Sue' It almost feels like this swine flu could be linked to abortions. In Revelations it talks about plagues, earthquakes and such.. Things that people bring on themselves not God! The earth is a mess because we pollute it, so it shakes, just as if we polluted a child. People are getting sick (swine flu) through animals because they eat the polluted chemicals that go into their food which makes us sick. Things aren't as clean anymore because today we have this and have that. And yes I also believe our God is a just God. He teaches his children, they way a mother or father would teach their children. And when they disobey they are disiplined. Its all a mystery! But makes sense! Thanks Father Menezes it's great to be on the same page as a priest! God bless the world and everyone living in it!

     Posted By: Christina

121. Fr Menezes is a holy and humble servant of the Lord. He is telling the truth out of love and conern for the children of God. Our society is so well educated today we no longer understand the words of St. Paul from Eph 6:10-12
     
     Brothers and sisters:
     Draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power. Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the Devil. For our struggle is not with flesh and blood
     but with the principalities, with the powers,
     with the world rulers of this present darkness,
     with the evil spirits in the heavens.
     
     Evil abounds in the world today and we no longer recognize it. We would do well to pay attention to the word of God and to pray for the Holy Father, our priests and bishops. Like us they are only human and under constant attack from the evil one. They need our heartfelt prayer and petitions that the Lord protect and preserve them.

     Posted By: Lee

122. Amos 3:6 If a trumpet is blown in a city, will not the people be afraid? If there is calamity in a city, will not the Lord have done it?

     Posted By: Truthteller

123. It seems to me from what I am reading that the supporters of Father Wade's comments believe that God punishes whole cities or counties for the sins of those who "break his laws". I am fascinated by the concentration on abortion and sexual immorality that God seems to be so fixated on. What I can't see nor comprehend is why in the process many many innocent , God- fearing people are punished too!
     As I wrote earlier none of us can presume to know the mind of God! As Andrew Hamilton has written in another place and I quote;
     "The idea that we might know the mind of God who sends disasters as punishment for sin is sub-Christian and sub-rational" ("Eureka Street" May 06,2009.)
     
     Gavin

     Posted By: Gavin

124. What are you talking about Gavin? None of the dozens of commenters here has claimed to know the mind of God. What I cannot comprehend is where you get your absolute certainty that God would NOT do what He clearly does do as He has emphasised countless times in His inerrant Word. None of us is totally innocent, and those who suffer unjustly in this life will be compensated a hundredfold in the next.
     
     You are “fascinated by the concentration on abortion and sexual immorality” because you have immersed yourself in the Godless spirit of this age which accepts abortion and gross sexual immorality as an acceptable part of life. Read the Bible, read the Early Church Fathers, read the entire history of Christianity and you will find that this current age is the absolute anomaly in this regard. I would say that to deny these obvious facts is “sub-Christian and sub-rational”.
     

     Posted By: Ronk

125. I believe in the Holy Catholic Church and its teachings. I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, creator of Heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus, the Son of God. I believe in the Holy Spirit. I have read the Bible, and for those individuals as well as those spiritual leaders of their respective denominations, the Bible clearly identifies each time God has punished us humans.
     Adam and Eve were removed from the garden of Eden (because of disobedience). Moses was not to enter the Promised Land and the Jews were to wander the earth until all those who disobeyed God were destroyed, and then finally the Jewish nation could enter Israel's Promised Land. Lot's wife turned to a pillar of salt (disobeyed the instruction of "do not look back"). Sodom and Gomorroh were
     destroyed (for abberant forms of sexual behavior,
     again disobedience), but God's mercy allow Lot to escape the destruction because he obeyed God's laws. Remember the flood that destroyed all inhabitants of the Earth, except for Noah and his family upon the Ark that Noah built. Again, God saved the person who was obedient to his laws and commandments and punished all who disobeyed God.
     In the new Testament, Jesus, Son of God the Father Almighty, in anger threw the tables of the money changers out of the Temple. Jesus was merciful and ministered to many, yet clearly identified our sins of pride, conceit, and of our disobedience. He told us to repent and sin no more.
     He sent the Holy Spirit to remain with us until the end of time, to help us, to be our guide until we each return and stand before the throne of God the Almighty Father.
     Look into your life! Rid yourself of this pride that you hold onto that makes you believe that you can do anything you want that literally goes against the
     Ten Commandments of God. Do this before it is too late, and repent. Fetal stem cell research and abortion have one thing in common---they both allow God to be crucified (remember we are made in the image of God) again and again and again.
     God is merciful, but God is far from stupid.
     
     

     Posted By: Marie

126. What a vicious, un-Christlike punitive God some believe in.....a god, I suspect, who is simply a projection of their own anxieties. Does a just God punish little children for the sins of the parents? Does Jesus connect illness, disease, disaster with God punishing? (Luke 13:4. Also, who sinned; this man or his parents that he was born blind? Does the Catechism?

     Posted By: Francis

127. Fr Wade is a noted speaker and defender of Holy Mother Church's teaching ....I have watched several of his programmes on EWTN .....He is among the most authentic and outspoken priests that I've ever heard who is really passionate about his God-given ministry.I am sure that whatever he has spoken is from his heart and in line with the teaching of the Church.God Bless his efforts and I wish more would stand up for Jesus!
     
     PS- I'm sure he didn't mean anything in the negative sense and I encourage you to look beyond and read his literature/ view his programmes if you are interested in the Truth...

     Posted By: Sherry

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