www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall World Cup prayers

Okay, since I started this topic, everyone praying for any other country except for England (which I support), will be considered off-topic. So please start praying so that England win the World Cup.
You know they will!!!

I pray that the World Cup be conducted in a fair and charitable manner. Dear Lord, please grant mercy and insight to those who feel the need to proclaim racist propaganda find Your Truth in the commandment of "Love thy neighbor".

Ahem... And that England may lift the World Cup trophy without any trouble from the Brasilians.
Amen!

Lord, if it be your will,

fill up the World Cup with peas.

That we may enjoy World Peas!

Lord, may the World finally apreciate YOUR Love of Baseball!!!

Booooooooooooooo Yankees!

Ahem...Baseball is cricket copycat...Cough*Cough

I see Australia beat Lichtenstein 3-1.

As I already can see that this thread is going to stray away from the area of prayer. Half the post of this thread have nothing to do with prayer. This is even before the finals begin!

This thread is being moved to the Town Hall section so that that variety of comments, most of which have nothing to do with prayer can be posted.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+
Administrator/Moderator

Well, it is with great sadness to inform you all that I don't mind about the world cup much anymore... I just can't wait to go visit Istanbul. If you want to know why, remember what I said in the "Have I told you I love God?" topic... ;-)

Let's just pray that all the Catholic countries win and that Protestant England does not!

"Muslim England" will do too!

Logos Teen

I've heard a lot of talk about child trafficking and sexual exploitation being expected at the World Cup. I pray that God deliver these women and children from harm--physical, mental, and spiritual--and protect their bodies and souls from violation and impurity. I pray also for the people who would do such things that they turn from their ways and come to know and love the risen Christ. I ask God to watch over the players while they practice and perform and keep them from injury, as well as over the travellers to keep them safe and secure. I pray that the recent news from Iraq inspires peace and not revenge during this exciting time of camaraderie and celebration. Lastly, I pray for the public, that they may be polite and charitable, cautious and concerned for the well-being of each other, and gracious winners and losers--whichever side of the equation they fall on.

I hope there are no riots or anything this year that could harm people. I also hopes to USA does well because they are up against some tough competition. And for Armando.... I hope England will win the world cup.

Katie g

Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY � A Vatican official has joined a chorus of criticism against the promotion of prostitution during the World Cup in Germany.

Prostitution is legal in Germany, and experts say an estimated 40,000 additional women will be engaged in prostitution during the soccer tournament.

"Many of them are forced into this activity. They are doing it against their will, they are trafficked. This is a fundamental human-rights violation," Archbishop Agostino Marchetto, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Travelers, told Vatican Radio June 8.

"Women have become market commodities, which can be bought. And they cost less than a ticket for a football match," the archbishop said.

The World Cup is being held in 12 German cities June 9-July 9. The event is expected to attract 3 million sports fans.

German newspapers have reported that wooden "sex huts," equipped with condoms and showers, have been erected for the World Cup in Dortmund and Cologne. A newly opened brothel in Berlin next to the World Cup stadium can accommodate 650 male clients.

International nongovernmental organizations and church groups have said many of the additional women brought in as prostitutes will come from the poorer countries of Eastern Europe or from Europe's immigrant population.

Archbishop Marchetto, whose council has campaigned against sex tourism for years, said that in this case German authorities have a special responsibility to curb the practice.

A year ago, the archbishop said, the Vatican sponsored a meeting to examine the growing connection between prostitution and human trafficking. In a final declaration, participants said the church needs to defend these women and their rights and support them economically, in education and in formation.

Already in Italy, more than 200 nuns are working with women who ended up in prostitution through trafficking, he said.

Archbishop Marchetto said the church should also give more attention to the clients of prostitutes, examining their motives and educating boys and men in healthy human sexuality.

As for those profiting through the sex industry and trafficking, Archbishop Marchetto said they should be prosecuted and severe financial penalties should be imposed on them.

In a separate interview, Msgr. Aldo Giordano, secretary-general of the Council of European Bishops Conferences, said the prostitution promotion during the World Cup was a "scandal."

"The churches want to challenge this with all their strength, because it is a real sign of decadence in Europe," he said.

Msgr. Giordano said this type of exploitation was totally against the spirit of the World Cup. He said he hoped Europeans in general � and especially women � would strongly react against the marketing of prostitution during the tournament.

It looks like the Dutch, the Mexicans, and the Portuguese are doing well so far. Thank you Monk Silouan for the article. I am unable to find any online updates since the tournament started. They remain in my prayers.

Here is a Zenit story which describe's the German goverment's position on the issue.

And this from a Government headed by a woman? :rolleyes:


... The article recounted the experience of a 25-year-old woman who, after turning down a job providing "sexual services" at a brothel in Berlin, faced possible cuts to her unemployment benefits.

Brothel owners enjoy access to official databases of those registered for unemployment benefits. The woman, unnamed in the article, had said that she was willing to work in a bar at night and had worked in a caf�. Later she received a letter from the job center saying that an employer was interested in her and that she should ring them. Only then did she realize that she was calling a brothel.

Germany's welfare laws oblige woman under 55 who have been out of work for more than a year to take an available job -- including in the sex industry -- or lose benefits, the Telegraph reported. The government had considered making brothels an exception, but eventually ruled this out.

Brunhilde Raiser, director of the National Council of German Women's Organizations, declared that in her country, "Forced prostitution has yet to become a public issue of concern as a severe violation of human and women's rights." Her remarks appeared May 5 in the Christian Science Monitor, ahead of the June 9-July 9 World Cup. ...


http://www.ewtn.com/vnews/getstory.asp?number=68364