Wear your Easter Lily
Posted by Jim on March 20, 2019
Britain sees Brexit violence as option for treaty breach
Posted by Jim on
A return of loyalist violence in the north of Ireland could help Britain
wriggle out of its international treaty obligations in regard to the
border and the Good Friday Agreement, according to its Attorney
General.
AG Geoffrey Cox has delivered his latest legal advice to help convince
unionists and racist Tories to support the current Brexit deal and its
‘backstop’ provisions, which are intended to prevent a remilitarisation
of the border.
Cox’s new advice may be enough to squeeze the deal through parliament
after it was rejected by British MPs last week. Amid a mounting sense
of crisis in London, other divisions at Westminster also saw them reject
a crash Brexit, and seek an extension to the Brexit deadline, currently
set for March 29, until June 30.
In a desperate gambit, Cox has now claimed that Britain could legally
resile from the ‘backstop’ provisions, intended to prevent a
remilitarisation of the border, if they are considered by London to have
a “socially destabilising effect on Northern Ireland”.
Such a ‘destabilisation’ in the north of Ireland would facilitate the
British government to trigger Article 62 of the Vienna Convention, he
argued, which allows international treaties such as the Brexit deal to
be broken in “exceptional” cases.
That appears to suggest that loyalist violence, or merely disturbances
similar to the flags protests of 2012, could be used as a pretext for
Britain to abandon the backstop and restore spy-posts and other military
infrastructure to the border area.
The idea that loyalist paramilitaries could play a role in reinforcing
the partition of Ireland appears to have won favour with the DUP, who
remain closely allied with loyalist hardliners across the north of
Ireland. DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds has described the discussions as
“constructive”.
However, Cox’s legal advice received criticism from other quarters. Some
commentators noted that it would actively encourage loyalists to use
violence to achieve their goals, while other legal experts pointed out
that by advising of the idea, Cox had already ruled out that it could be
considered ‘exceptional’ or ‘unforeseen’, as required under the Vienna
Convention.
One hardline unionist politician has already warned that the border
through Ireland could be “maintained by the gun”. In a Facebook video
late last year, loyalist pastor Barrie Halliday said “men and women…
paid for that line to remain where it is by laying down their lives. It
was defended by the gun and will be maintained by the gun.”
Brexit has also been linked to a degree of social destabilisation and
violence in Ireland already. Last week, a series of package devices were
sent from Ireland to Britain, including two posted to military
recruitment offices. None of the devices exploded, but they were claimed
in the name of the New IRA, their first parcel bomb attack in five
years. The same organisation in January detonated a large car bomb at
Derry’s courthouse, without causing injury.
Discussions between the DUP and the British government are to resume on
Monday ahead of an expected third Westminster vote on the Brexit deal
next week. Sinn Fein’s Chris Hazzard has called on the DUP and Tory
Brexiteers to step back from the “cliff-edge” of a “crash-out”.
“After yet another week of chaos in the British Parliament with
ministerial resignations and bizarre and delusional votes, the north of
Ireland is still facing the possibility of being dragged out of the EU
and over an economic cliff edge in a no-deal Brexit,” he said.
“There is no such thing as a good Brexit but crashing out with no deal
would have dire economic consequences for the north.”
Archdiocese of New York
Posted by Jim on
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Dear fellow Catholics, The Spring 2019 edition of Archways, the quarterly magazine of the Archdiocese of New York, is now out. You can view or download it here. This edition is also coming out in print – so expect it in mailboxes around March 23. In these difficult times, when we are bombarded by reports of a new abortion law in New York and continuing revelations about sexual abuse in the Church, it’s important to remember why we are Catholics. We must not lose sight of the blessing of our community and the critical services parishes, priests, parishioners and Catholic organizations perform every day. In this issue of Archways, we hope you will find inspiration in our cover subject, Dorothy Day – a laywoman of extraordinary talent, energy and compassion who became a Catholic at age 30 and went on to co-found the Catholic Worker movement during the Great Depression. Over the next five decades, her works of mercy and devotion to the poor and oppressed reached around the world. The archdiocese is now promoting her cause for sainthood. Elsewhere in the issue, you’ll find articles about: The many mercies of ArchCare, the health-care ministry of the Archdiocese of New York The athletic, spiritual and community benefits of CYO, whose competitive programs teach values of fairness, kindness and inclusiveness Pioneering parishes using digital tools to build community and spread the GospelHow to prepare kids for first communion beyond religious education classes, including with bedtime questions about thankfulness, personal accountability and charityInsights and information on the archdiocesan Office of Black Ministry and, as always, notable events around the archdiocese The Archdiocese of New York Safe Environment Program, developed in 2002 in response to the sexual abuse crisis. You’ll learn how the program works and how you can help ensure it remains effective. Archways is published digitally four times per year at archny.org/archways; two issues per year are distributed in print. I hope you will find valuable information and inspiration in the Spring 2019 edition, and that you will look forward to our next issue, Summer 2019, due out at the end of May. Yours in Christ, Michael S. CainManaging Editor, Archways |
Official Communication from the UFA
Posted by Jim on March 19, 2019
PLAQUE DEDICATION
On Saturday, March 23, 2019, at 1100 hours, a Plaque Dedication will be held honoring the memory of Firefighter Michael R. Davidson, E-69, who died on March 23, 2018. The dedication will take place in the quarters of E-69 and L-28, 248 West 143rd Street, New York, NY. All off-duty members and their families are invited to attend. Members are requested to attend in dress uniform.
PLAQUE DEDICATION
On Saturday, March 30, 2019, at 1000 hours, a Plaque Dedication will be held honoring the memory of Lieutenant Christopher J. Raguso, E-302, who died on March 15, 2018. The dedication will take place in the quarters of E-302 and L-155, 143-15 Rockaway Blvd. Queens, NY. All off-duty members and their families are invited to attend. Members are requested to attend in dress uniform.
MEMORIAL MASS
Rescue 4 invites you and your family to attend their annual Memorial Mass on Thursday, April 4, at 1:00 PM. Mass will be held at St. Sebastian Church, 58-02 Roosevelt Ave, Woodside, NY 11377. Lunch to follow.
ANNUAL FF MICHAEL J CAWLEY MEMORIAL FOUNDATION BENEFIT
The 18th Annual Firefighter Michael J Cawley Memorial Foundation Benefit will be held Saturday, April 6, at Mulcahy’s, 3232 Railroad Ave, Wantagh, NY, from 3:00-8:00 PM. The event will feature live music, raffle prizes, a live & silent auction, complimentary buffet and drink specials. A $25 donation is recommended. For more information, go to www.ffmichaeljcawley.org or call 718-359-8430.
FDNY PHOENIX SOCIETY
The FDNY Phoenix Society invites you to their 3rd Annual Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Celebration Awards and Scholarship Banquet on Friday, April 26, at 7:00 PM, at Jing Fong Restaurant (20 Elizabeth Street, New York, NY 10013). Ticket price is $100 per person. Visit www.eventbrite.com and type in FDNY Phoenix Society under event search for more information and to purchase tickets, or click here: https://bit.ly/2AgBh3C. All proceeds will go toward 2020 Scholarship Award. 50/50 raffle and raffle prizes are also available. For more information, contact David Lin, President, at FDNYPhoenixSociety@gmail.com.
METS GROUP DISCOUNTS
2019 FDNY group discounts are available for any Mets game (excludes Opening Day and Subway Series)! 2019 features two new bar packages, a newly renovated hospitality space, and inventory specifically held back for groups during the Subway Series. There are still M&M Sweet Seats & Suites available for Opening Day. EMS Night is May 20th, First Responders Night is June 13th, and First Responders Day is July 28th. Contact Max Johnson at MJohnson@nymets.com or 718-559-3031 if you have interest in bringing a group of 15 or more to Citi Field