Ten hard Keystone XL facts

10 days. That’s how long we have to flood the State Department with comments opposing Keystone XL.

For the next ten days our friends across the movement are coordinating a ‘Comment Sprint’ to submit hundreds of thousands of comments against the pipeline — hopefully hitting 1 million in total.

If you’ve already submitted a comment, keep reading: you’re able to submit more than one, and in fact, you should. We want to show that people are opposed to the pipeline for many reasons, all of them grounded in hard facts, so every day for ten days, we’ll focus on a new reason to oppose the pipeline and submit new comments.

The State Department’s review has been heavy on politics and light on science, so the more we focus on the facts, the stronger our case to the President and the public will be to stop the pipeline.

The first day of the comment sprint is today. The first issue we’re focusing on is how the pipeline undermines energy security. We need to clear about one thing: TransCanada wants this pipeline so they can get tar sands oil to export.

President Obama’s job is to decide whether the pipeline is in the US national interest. TransCanada has shown that it’s not. In filings to the State Department and contracts with refiners, they’ve spelled out their plans to pad their profits by exporting it to the international market where it will fetch a higher price — putting more money in the pockets of big oil and accelerating tar sands development in Canada.

Can you submit a comment to the President and State Department explaining the energy security case for stopping the pipeline? Click here to submit your comment: act.350.org/letter/kxl-sprint-day-1/

To hit a million comments, it will take a lot of us pitching in in different ways. At 350, we won’t email you every day for 10 days (more likely 4 or 5), but we will use social media and other tools at our disposal to promote the push every day between now and the 22nd. In particular, we will be relying on our Social Media Team to share crucial info about each day’s issue — if you’d like to join the Team and help super-charge key content over the next ten days, click here: act.350.org/signup/social/

Keystone XL is a climate disaster, and an economic loser. If built, it would carry 800,000 barrels a day of tar sands to export for the next 50 years, leaving a toxic legacy for communities along the route, and a massive carbon footprint on the atmosphere. And we’re going to do whatever we can to stop it.

Thanks for all you’ve done, and all you will do to stop the pipeline.

Duncan

The Oracle Report Saturday, April 13 – Sunday, April 14, 2013

LISTEN TO THE AUDIO RECORDING FOR 4/4/2013 REGARDING CHINNAMASTA

Saturday: New Moon Phase Sunday: Crescent Moon Phase – Moon in Gemini

This weekend the Moon moves into Gemini, joining the Black Moon in opposition to the Galactic Center. The transit of the Black Moon to the GC brings face to face encounters with shadow sides – others’ and our own. When we face shadow sides, we are staring directly at fear – nothing else.

We can stare at fear. We can stare it down actually. There is nothing we cannot face because we are cradled in the protection of the planet herself – a divine being embodied in physicality. We have direct interface with Sophia to face whatever comes our way. Sophia’s emissary, the aspect of her personality known as Chinnamasta blesses us with strength to see what we don’t want to see as the energy of the Black Moon works on us.

It is a good idea to learn about the core fear encapsulated by your natal Black Moon. You can look up your birthday in the Index of my book on the Black Moon (free on the “Books” tab) to see which sign your Black Moon is located in and then read the section about the Black Moon in that sign. This will unveil your shadow so that it can be integrated into consciousness.

I talk a lot about the personal power/resources that are tied up in our shadows. If we are unaware of the nature of our shadows, the slightest touch to it causes us to react very, very strongly, usually by projecting onto to other people. So knowing how much power is there tells us how intense situations can become this weekend. Things can go far out of bounds far too quickly.

To counter the intensity, keep things as simple and clear as possible. Communicate very specifically. If something triggers a strong emotional response in you, take time to sit with a while and let it marinate before you engage it. It is hard to do this under Black Moon transits, but it is the wise thing to do.

This transit will last one month. When we come to the other side of it, the metamorphosis/upgrade that ensued with the New Moon will be complete. Until then, we need to recognize that we are in transition and are adjusting to new levels of awareness, sensitivity, and wisdom.

How much light can we hold? We’re going to find out.

http://oraclereport.com/

US court told ‘we don’t want war’ after Akwesasne Longhouse’s lawyers tossed from casino case | APTN National News

To people raised in colonized society this may seem like a minor story, but I assure you it is not. The US and Canada have long sought(illegally) to rule over those First Nations with whom they have treaties of equality. They have proven themselves completely incapable of taking care of the land for hundreds of years-and yet still they seek to rule over those whose Nations were long established before they ever arrived?

Tho I can do little, aside from prayer, to support the people involved in this case, I publish this to show that I stand in solidarity with their truth.

All those who seek to overthrow the rule of the 1%, of the US Corporation and the rest of the cabals making such a mess of our world would be wise to also stand in solidarity with the First Nations people who are standing up for their legal rights under valid legally agreed upon treaties such as the Two Row Wampum.

US court told we dont want war after Akwesasne Longhouses lawyers tossed from casino case

National News | 10. Apr, 2013 by APTN National News | 3 Comments

( Karenahtiio, shortly after US federal court hearing held at Clinton County Jail. APTN/Photo)

By Jorge Barrera
ATPN National News
Moments after the U.S. Magistrate Judge tossed the Akwesasne Longhouses lawyers from the casino case, Karenahtiio, wielding a Two-Row wampum belt, stood and delivered a stark warning to a makeshift courtroom in a New York State county jail.

We dont want war, we want respect, said Karenahtiio, during Tuesdays hearing. You are making it very hard to remain peaceful; its crossing the line now.

Karenahtiio, known as Roger Jock to the authorities, is one of five people indicted by a federal Grand Jury on two counts related to the operation of a casino outside of New York State and federal laws. The counts include operation of an illegal gambling business and transportation, possession and use of gambling devices within Indian country.

The five defendants face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted on the first charge and up to two years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted on the second charge.

The case revolves around the now shuttered Three Feathers Casino which still stands along Hwy 37 that cuts through the U.S. side of the Akwesasne Mohawk reservation, about 120 km east of Montreal. Part of the case was heard in a boardroom at the Clinton County Jail in Plattsburgh, NY, for security reasons on the recommendation from the U.S. Marshals.

The casino was launched by the Mens Council of the Kanienekehaka Longhouse, one of two Longhouses in Akwesasne. The casino was raided by federal authorities, including investigators with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, this past December. The raid has spawned a case with a myriad of twists and turns with links extending all the way to Six Nations of the Grand River, the reserve with the largest population in Canada. which sits south of Hamilton, Ont.

One of the indicted men, Sakoieta, known to authorities as James Gray, is on the run and is believed by investigators to be in Canada.

Sakoieta, Karenahtiio, and a third man, Rarahkwisere, known as Thomas Square to the authorities, are members of the Longhouses Mens Council. The Longhouse hired a New York City lawyer named Scott Moore to represent all three who were initially tasked with running the casino.

A conflict of interest

The move triggered two hearings this month at the Clinton County Jail into whether Moore was in conflict trying to represent three clients on the same case. The first hearing was held last week.

The hearings were handled by U.S. Magistrate Larry Kudrle but the case is being tried by a separate judge in Albany, NY.

Heading into Tuesdays hearing, Moore was facing a number of potential conflicts raised by the Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Horsman, who is prosecuting the case. One of the main issues stemmed from a letter Moore wrote in 2010 advising the Longhouse it had a legal right to set up the casino. The letter essentially drew in Moore as a potential part of the case.

Kudrle, however, focused on whether Rarahkwisere, who has chosen to represent himself in the case, would waive any confidentiality and conflict-of-interest-issues around his client-lawyer discussions with Moore, who still planned to represent Karenahtiio.

Rarahkwisere, who has been imprisoned since his arrest in December and is the only one of the five defendants still in custody, refused to acknowledge any of Kudrles questions throughout the hearing. He instead repeatedly stated that he took exception, that the judge lacked jurisdiction and referred to himself as a public servant and lord of the soil.

Kudrle ruled Moore couldnt represent Karenahtiio because Rarahkwisere refused to verbally waive any conflict over confidentiality.

He is not willing to waive that any conflict exists, said Kudrle. Mr. Square is not willing to.

Kudrle was then interrupted by Rarahkwisere.

I am not Mr. Square I am the claimant, he said.

The ruling also knocked out co-council Brian Barrett, a lawyer from Lake Placid, NY, who represented Karenahtiio in the past and acted for Rarahkwisere during his arraignment this past December.

Moore said he would appeal the decision.

Corporation sole for Akwesasne

Rarahkwisere, also known as Salt in Akwesasne, has chosen to challenge the indictment through tactics echoing those used by those involved in the Freeman and Sovereign Citizen movements. Those helping Rarahkwisere with his case, however, say that he is actually following original ideas that were eventually distorted by Freeman and Sovereign Citizen followers.

These movements employ elaborate theories using terms like the strawman and claims that birth certificates register humans as corporations which are later traded on the stock exchange.

They also essentially espouse the belief that the authorities, which they say are employed by corporations disguised as governments, can only control their subjects if the subjects submit to their control.

Rarahkwisere has taken the position that he is a corporation sole for Akwesasne and an Embassador (sic) for Akwesasne. He also claims that New York State does not exist in the territory where the casino sits. He has also taken the position that the name under which he was indicted, Thomas Square, is a strawman fiction. He has filed a claim against the court and the county for 4,490,384 one ounce American gold Eagles for the over 2,712 hours of false imprisonment.

A separate filing has also been issued with the US Supreme Court claiming it is the only court with jurisdiction over Embassadors.

This may be the first time anyone has ever tried this type of defense in a U.S. federal court case.

A wrinkle in the case

Adding another wrinkle to the proceedings, four individuals claiming to be part of the Longhouse filed statements on Monday revoking Moores standing as the lawyer on the case.

Ihave just recently been informed of a document assumed to be filed with court pretending to give Power of Attorney to the People of the Longhouse at Akwesasne. I am part of the assembly of People of the Kanienkehaka Longhouse and have not been notified through my Clan or my Clan Mother of the attached document. I, revoke signature and power of Attorney, whether assumed or real as it applies to myself and my household, say the statements, which were signed by symbols, including one that resembled a tear-drop and another that resembled an eye.

APTN National News reached one of the individuals who submitted a statement. They would only identify themselves as Coming at You.

Coming at You said they submitted the document over the way that the document (which authorized Moore to represent the Longhouse) appeared to include all the people and that wasnt the case.

The filing, however, had little impact on Kudrles decision, which left the Longhouse, which was paying for Moore, and Karenahtiio without any lawyers.

Download (PDF, 312KB)

I would die for this

The ruling triggered Karenahtiios impassioned speech. As he grabbed the purple and white Two Row wampum belt with three white stripes and two purple stripes representing the ship and the canoe  Kudrle protested.

You cant take that belt, said Kudrle.

But Karenahtiio, holding the belt made of wampum shells, continued.

(The wampum belt represents the original relationship between the Iroquois and the Europeans, with the former staying in their canoe and the latter remaining in their ships heading in the same direction.)

This here is not a figment of our imagination. This here is the very foundation of our very existence on our land, said Karenahtiio. This here represents us and the United States. We do not mingle, we support one anotherThis is what is being jeopardized todayI would die for this.

The boardroom-turned-federal courtroom, with the jail guards, U.S. Marshals and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent posted around the room for security, remained silent.

This is real, as real as you looking at me, he said, with the wampum belt in his hand. This is what allows you to travel on our land.have you ever seen such a thing, Your Honour?

Kudrle responded, In court, judges dont answer questions.

Karenahtiio pushed on.

This isnt a game for us, nor should it be a game for you, he said.

After he finished, Karenahtiio sat down and held the belt out toward Rarahkwisere, who was sitting next to him in striped prison garb and shackles. Rarahkwisere reached out and squeezed the belt lightly with his right hand.

The case now moves to Albany, NY, for trial on May 13.

The two other individuals indicted in the case have been handled separately.

jbarrera@aptn.ca

@JorgeBarrera

http://aptn.ca/pages/news/2013/04/10/us-court-told-we-dont-want-war-after-akwesasne-longhouses-lawyers-tossed-from-casino-case/

[Tags: Akwesasne, NY, Plattsburgh, Three Feathers, Three
Feathers Casino, US Federal Court]

Supreme Court loss pushes Athabasca Chipewyan FN towards Sovereignty Summer campaign | APTN National News

Supreme Court loss pushes Athabasca Chipewyan FN towards Sovereignty Summer campaign

National News | 11. Apr, 2013 by APTN National News |

APTN National News
EDMONTON--The chief of an Alberta First Nations battling a tar sands expansion on its territory says he is considering joining Idle No Mores call for a Sovereignty Summer campaign after the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed its case.

The Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation went to the Supreme Court with a section 35 Constitutional challenge in hopes of forcing a regulatory review board to rule on whether there had been adequate consultation on Shells bid to expand its Jackpine tarsands project.

The First Nation turned to the courts after having its challenge were turned down by the Alberta Court of Appeal.

As is its practice, the Supreme Court gave no reasons as to why it refused to hear the Athabasca Chipewyans case.

Chief Allan Adam said the ruling leaves his First Nation with little options. With plans for an Idle No More-Defenders of the Land Sovereignty Summer campaign of direct action in the works, Adam said it may be the route his First Nation will have to take.

It is more than likely that it will probably head in that direction, said Adam. What else do you have left and if you are backed into a corner what do you do.

Adam said the First Nation is also considering taking legal action against the province of Alberta.

It puts the onus back on the province, he said. The province has to answer to our concerns.

The case dates back to October 2012 when the First Nation launched a constitutional challenge asking the Joint Review Panel to rule on whether the Crown had consulted enough on Shells application. The First Nation argued that the expansion would impact its treaty and aboriginal rights to hunt, fish and trap.

The panel ruled later that month it didnt have the jurisdiction to hear the challenge and then denied a motion by the First Nation to adjourn the hearings. The First Nation then went to the Alberta Court of Appeal, but had its application for appeal dismissed.

The First Nation then turned to the Supreme Court in January.

http://aptn.ca/pages/news/2013/04/11/supreme-court-loss-pushes-athabasca-chipewyan-fn-toward-sovereignty-summer-campaign/

[Tags Alberta, Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, Idle No More, Sovereignty
Summer, Tar
sands]

LAW OF ONE Lisa Renee

LAW OF ONE Lisa Renee

1.PRACTICE ONE: UNITY CONSCIOUSNESS The Law of One is the comprehension that all things are made of intelligent energy and are a part of the All-One. The Law of One is a Sacred Science of the mechanics of consciousness and are the Natural Laws governing our Universal Creation. All-One is the recognition that Eternal Truth is Eternal Love and Eternal Love is the organic consciousness of Infinite Creator, or God. Eternal Love consciousness embodied in a form is Unity intelligence, and simultaneously recognized as, the Inner Light of Christos. Unity consciousness is at One with God and Unity consciousness ignites the Inner Light of Christos. The Inner Light of Christos when actualized in form, is the embodiment of an Eternal God Human. Practice Unity Consciousness and One is directly reflecting the image of Gods Love, and is eternally protected. Be At One with All, as One is All with God. 2. PRACTICE TWO: LOVE YOURSELF Apply the practice of Unity with All-One as an extension towards loving, honoring and respecting yourself. Acknowledge the precious life force within by holding reverence and respect for yourself in all ways. Loving yourself is the action of Self Sovereignty, which is the natural state of embodying Gods Eternal Love. As a manifestation of Gods eternal spirit of Love, one has the ability to choose to create personal freedom without harming others. Have courage to remove the obstacles of pain and fear to become embodied Love, as Gods spirit is always found within.

3. PRACTICE THREE: LOVE OTHERS As you learn to love yourself, love others. Acknowledge the precious life force in others by holding love, reverence and respect for others. Loving others as you love yourself, is the natural state of Self Sovereignty as you give others the same reverence for their life, as you give your own life. Through practicing self-love and loving others, no approval, worth or esteem issues come into question, as all is loved equally. 4. PRACTICE FOUR: LOVE EARTH AND NATURE Loving the Earth and all her creations, the kingdoms of nature, plants, animals and mineral, which are all alive, conscious and intelligent energy beings. Acknowledge the precious life force present in all of Gods creation, by holding reverence and respect for nature. Doing so restores balance and harmony to nature, and the intelligent energy of all of earths creations will respond to cooperate with humankind. Humans living in discord with nature create many events that are considered to be at the mercy of the untamed forces. As humans learn to live in harmony with earth and the nature kingdom, the natural creatures will align to be in harmony and cooperation with all inhabitants.

5. PRACTICE FIVE: SERVICE TO OTHERS Upon firmly loving yourself and honoring your path, find methods to be of service to others that do not overstep personal boundaries of discernment. Being of service to others does not include consumptive modeling, such as victim-victimizer, parasitism or emotional vampirism. Being of service does not hold an ego perspective of entitlement, expectation or attachment. Practice being of service with unconditional love, and naturally flowing in the moment. The energy exchange made between participants being of service to others, amplifies and expands consciousness growth like no other method. The more you amplify the energetic field of being in service to others, the more joy, harmony and gifts will be brought into your life. The more service you dedicate to Gods plan, the Law of One, the more spiritual support and spiritual presence one can exchange with God Force.

6. PRACTICE SIX: CONSCIOUSNESS EXPANSION Learn to develop inner clarity and spiritual integrity by intending to develop personal consciousness and/or spiritual identity. To embody ones spiritual identity, ones mind must be initiated and disciplined. If the ego is in authority of the body it will repel the spiritual identity from embodiment. If the mental body creates obstacles to the spiritual identity, the spiritual identity, therefore the consciousness, will not be experienced. The first step to consciousness expansion is becoming aware of mind control and the quality content of thoughts and belief systems. The second step is to cooperate with the process of mental and physical discomfort by having patience and waiting in the void of silence. Learn to quiet the mind, sublimate the ego and be still. Once stillness, mental discipline and ego sublimation has been achieved, listen to your inner spirit to receive guidance. Inner Guidance will always lead to the process of re-education to experience continual consciousness expansion free of fear and dogma. The Inner Christos always guides one towards choosing more love and peace via consciousness expansion of the spiritual identity. 7. PRACTICE SEVEN: RESPONSIBLE CO-CREATION As one becomes more infused with the eternal love of the spiritual identity, the intelligent blueprint activates the divine purpose of being as a co-creator with God. The spiritual identity and the intelligent blueprint of divine purpose are one and the same. Clarity of purpose and direction becomes clearer and clearer as one commits to live in service to the principles of All-ONE or Christ spirit. Knowing and Living our purpose brings joy, peace and fulfillment, even when facing adversity or challenges. Once we achieve knowing, we are responsible for that knowing, and practice responsible co-creation with the All-One. A responsible co-creator knows all manifestations are in partnership with the All-One. We do not possess or control anything, so needs, desires and superimposing will, should be avoided. We are stewards of God Spirit to Serve Others in responsible co-creation with All-One. From this knowing, and living this principle, we are eternally free of karmic exchanges. GodSovereignFree Lisa Renee

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Why Jewish, Muslim, and Hindu Leaders Have High Hopes for Pope Francis by Chris Francis – YES! Magazine

Leaders from many faiths are expecting better relations with the Vatican under Pope Francis. Here YES! speaks to some of them about why that is.
by Chris Francis
posted Apr 09, 2013

Pope Francis waves to crowds as he arrives to his inauguration mass in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. Photo by Christus Vincit.

As the Catholic Church enters a new era of leadership under Pope Francis I, religious organizations around the world have congratulated and welcomed the new pope, hoping for a new era of interfaith cooperation. Several were willing to offer advice to both Pope Francis and the Catholic faithful that, if followed, could let Catholics, Muslims, Jews, and others better work together for a more peaceful world.

Pope Francis follows one of the most conservative and contentious popes in recent memory in respect to interfaith relations, and he may have his work cut out for him restoring the trust and mutual respect compromised by Pope Benedict XVIs approach toward Judaism, Islam, and Native American religions.

In 2006, Benedict gave a lecture at the University of Regensburg in which he quoted a 14th century Byzantine Emperor, saying, Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached. Benedict later explained the quote was for the purposes of the lecture and not his personal opinion. In 2007, Benedict lifted restrictions on the Tridentine Massa Latin liturgy banned by the Second Vatican Council that calls in part for the conversion of Jews to Christianity and an end to what it calls Jewish spiritual blindness. Also in 2007, Benedict claimed in an address to the Brazilian people that the Native Americans silently longed for Christianity, causing another storm of indignation and disappointment.

Pope Francis follows one of the most conservative and contentious popes in recent memory.

Pope Francis can certainly repair the damage, said Mike Ghouse, a spokesperson for the World Muslim Congress in Dallas, Texas. By distancing the modern church from the destructive closed-mindedness of the past and admitting wrongs in the humility of Jesus, Francis can help restore the relationship between Christians and Muslims, according to Ghouse.

Already, Pope Francis has displayed such humility. Last Thursday, he visited a jail in Rome where he washed the feet of prisoners, including a female Muslim convict. This marks a notable break with tradition, as Muslims are not typically included in clerical foot-washing ceremonies.

As far as Ghouse is concerned, both Christianity and Islam focus on serving mankind, [and] treating others as you want to be treated regardless of theological differences, and any violent conflict between the two is politics as a byproduct of fear and insecurity.

Ghouse, also president of the Foundation for Pluralism, believes the pope has the power to bring faiths together in order to achieve practical goals as well.

Pope Francis can call on Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Jews, Sikhs, Buddhists, atheists, and others to jointly serve, Ghouse said. Eventually the feeling of doing good things will minimize the conflicts to the back burner, and people will learn to respect the otherness of others without having to agree.

Pope Francis might be especially suited to changing education and practice, thanks to his career with the Jesuit clerical order

The Hindu American Foundation represents an inherently pluralistic faith and hopes that Pope Francis will reaffirm the churchs past commitments to respecting varieties of doctrine and celebrating similar values.

Foundation leaders expressed hope that the Catholic Church, under Pope Francis I, as he will be called, will respect and privilege pluralism and interfaith relations, based on earlier efforts with Nostra Aetate, the foundation said in a press release.

The Nostra Aetate is a proclamation, made by Pope Paul VI in 1965, that defines the Catholic Churchs relationship with non-Catholic religions. [The
church] considers above all in this declaration what men have in common and what draws them to fellowship, the Nostra Aetate says. It continues:

The Catholic Church rejects nothing that is true and holy in [non-Catholic religions]. She regards with sincere reverence those ways of conduct and of life, those precepts and teachings which, though differing in many aspects from the ones she holds and sets forth, nonetheless often reflect a ray of that Truth which enlightens all men.

Despite this official recognition of truth in other faiths, the Hindu American Foundation is concerned the Nostra Aetate doesnt go far enough. According to Padma Kuppa, a member of the foundations board of directors, Catholicism as a whole needs to better understand religious pluralism and the effect evangelism has on pluralistic faiths if Catholics are to mend damaged relationships.

Whenever a faith has a mission of conversion, thats something that needs to be examined, Kuppa said, referring to what she called predatory proselytizingeverything from social pressure to conform to forceful conversions throughout Western historyon the part of Catholics. Kuppa encouraged the church and its leaders to be conscious of the impact these practices had and have on non-Catholics throughout the world.

People will learn to respect the otherness of others without having to agree.

The American Jewish Committee, an organization devoted to global Jewish advocacy, is confident in Pope Francis ability to strengthen interfaith dialogue and collaboration, especially with the Jewish faith and community. There has never been a pope who has had so much personal experience, engagement, and involvement with a contemporary Jewish community as Pope Francis, said Rabbi David Rosen, the International Director of Interreligious Affairs for the committee and one of few non-Catholics to be awarded the title of Papal Knight. Considering the new popes immediate gestures of goodwill to Jewish and other faith communities, including letters and invitations to inaugural ceremonies, Rosen finds it easy to be confident in strengthening Catholic-Jewish relations.

When it comes to any unfinished business between the faiths, Rosen said, The major challenge is an educational challenge. Despite a massive shift in church culture over the past several decades, from discriminating against Jews to embracing Judaism as the theological root of Christianity, there are many places in the world whereJews do not appear on the Catholic radar screen and places where even bishops dont know the content of the Nostra Aetate, Rosen said. Pope Francis decades working with Jewish communities could provide a greater shift toward universal Catholic understanding of Judaism.

Pope Francis might be especially suited to changing education and practice within the wide variety of Catholic faithful, thanks to his career with the Jesuit clerical order, a catholic order known for their 16th to 18th century evangelism in Asia and the Americas. The Jesuits had some issues with the Vatican over questions of local adaptation of Catholic rites, said Dr. Jose Bento da Silva, a professor at Warwick University and author of the upcoming book The Government of the Society of Jesus.

Pope Francis I is not only a former member of an organization that knows several practices need to be adapted; he himself is quite a multinational figure. Francis was born to Italian parents in Argentina, where he was raised and served as Bishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio before being elected pope.

Regardless of past tensions between the Catholic Church and other faiths, all agree that whats done is done, Kuppa said. What we need to do is focus on the future.