Charles Lewis  October 9, 2010 – 8:05 am

The Synod of Bishops for the Middle East begins Sunday and runs through Oct. 24 in Rome. Archbishop Thomas Collins of Toronto has been appointed to this synod that will look at the plight of Christians in the Middle East. The struggle of Christians to maintain their dwindling communities has been an issue for decades, but that problem is often overshadowed by the conflict between Muslims and Jews.

The synod is mainly made up of bishops from the region as well as outside bishops who can bring another perspective and perhaps learn more ways to help Christians in the Middle East. Archbishop Collins, who is now in Rome, explained why the work of the synod is so important to the future of the region and what his own diocese is doing to help Christian refugees.

The synod will begin with a mass at St. Peter’s Cathedral on Sunday morning in Rome.

HP: What is a synod? read more »

Stay behind the curtain. It is Friday the 13th, the day in history (1789) when Benjamin Franklin wrote to a friend: "In this world nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes." Whatever you today, do NOT walk under a black cat.

Susan Boyle, the frumpy church woman who stunned the world with her singing, has officially arrived. She has a stalker and now has police protection. A real sign of the times is that.... the stalker is a....woman!

This week we have been celebrating the fall of the Berlin Wall while the ACLU is trying to put a wall around us...in Ireland, Grand National Award winning jockey, Paul Cranberry, was banned from jokeying for 30 days for riding a racing horse while drunk. It's the second time....he's Irish for corn sakes!

In Germany (According to the German paper,The Local) a Mexican, a Texan and an Australian put their enchildas together to open Germany's first 'Authentic Mexican Food Restaurant.'....a tip of the Sombrero to that.

Obama sitting in the Oval Office, who stated that we "should not jump to conclusions" after a committed Muslim was shot with his gun in his hand after he had killed 14 military personnel and wounding 35 others (how's that again?), just signed a bill to open our borders to HIV carriers and to welcome foreigners with AIDS into our country...but he won't let that Irishman in. read more »