Jerry Douglas' Blog

The Pope's  surprise resignation  will put the world's attention on Nigeria's Cardinal Francis Arinze. Not so long ago, the candidates would all be Italians. Now, the odds on a Pope from the developing nations are quite srtong. There is an old saying in the Vatican:  young cardinals vote for old popes . This bodes will for the 80-year-old Cardinal Arinze, an Igbo Nigerian who spent 25 years in the Vatican. He was, once, the world's youngest bishop. He is quite conservative, as the last two Popes were, and was regarded as a candidate in the 2005 conclave. The liberal Cardinals will like the idea of a Pope from the developing world. The new rules mean a new Pope needs the votes of two-thirds of the Cardinals, so one faction cannot impose its will over another. Since no one expected Benedict's resignation, it could well be that the Cardinals are not ready to come up with a long-term solution. Older popes are, historically, a form of compromise. Arinze himself ...

Chapter 1 1 I, Stephen, was on the Island of decision, after my sojourn in wilderness of Togo and Mali. 2 And I heard the Lord saying, "Go back to the land of your birth and answer the call of service. For this purpose have I sent you to the wilderness all these years, to teach you endurance and to equip you." 3 Say to the nobles and princes of the 'glass house', "The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, to mend the broken glasses. Influence me not in this assignment, for I shall only do the bidding of the Lord. 4 "That I may choose those in whom the lord has put the spirit and skills of soccer. To build a great army for the land." 5 To the king and princes in the palace, even Aso Rock, shall you say, "The Lord has called me to show you the way by which things can work in this land flowing with milk and honey. To show you that men called to serve do not stain their hands with filthy lucre. And that this assignment shall reveal to the l...

Pope Benedict XVI will resign on February 28, 2013, a Vatican spokesman said today Monday February 11th. The 85-year-old German-born Pope said he was resigning because he no longer has the strength to fulfill the duties of his office.  If the Pope resigns February 28th, he will be the first Pontiff since Middle Ages to quit   See the Pope’s full resignation statement after the cut...   Dear Brothers, I have convoked you to this Consistory, not only for the three canonizations, but also to communicate to you a decision of great importance for the life of the Church. After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry. I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only with words and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering. However, in to...

Three South Korean doctors have been killed in the north-eastern Nigerian state of Yobe, officials say. Residents said they were killed during the night in the town of Potiskum. Two of them had their throats slit while the third was beheaded, they added. RELATED:   Three Doctors Slain in Yobe Officials said the victims had been working at a government-run hospital.   No-one has said they were behind the attack, but it happened in an area where the Islamist militant group, Boko Haram, has been active in recent years. More than 600 people were believed to have been killed in 2012 by the group, which is fighting to overthrow the government and create an Islamic state in Nigeria's predominantly Muslim north. Yobo state police commissioner Sanusi Rufai said it was nevertheless too early to know who was behind the attack, which happened either late on Saturday or before dawn on Sunday. Police have begun an investigation. The victims were reportedly found in...

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Archbishop Justin Welby on Sunday in London condemned the attack on the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, describing it as “disgraceful” and “atrocious”.   Welby said this when he paid a sympathy visit to the royal father, who was flown to London following the attack in Kano by unknown gunmen. The gunmen attacked the emir’s convoy along Zoo road, near Sahad Stores, last month, killing his driver, his orderly and a traditional guard who tried to protect him. The emir’s two sons who were also in his convoy, were injured. “I am here to bring my condolences on the disgraceful and atrocious attack on His Royal Highness. And on the loss of some of his staff, which is something that is a great shame and I rejoice that His Royal Highness himself was unharmed in the attack. ”I pray for you and all those in Nigeria who carry out the work of peace, reconciliation and seek to bring Nigeria to the place where it is supposed to be in strength ...

The Confederation of African Football has selected five members of the Super Eagles for the Best Eleven after Nigeria defeated Burkina Faso 1-0 on Sunday to lift the Nations Cup title for the third time. Goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, defender Efe Ambrose, midfielder Mikel Obi and forwards Victor Moses and Emmanuel Emenike were selected to complete a team which also has Cape Verde Island’s Nando Maria Neves, Mali’s Seydou Keita, Burkina Faso’s Jonathan Pitroipa, Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan and Ivory Coast’s Arouna Koné and Siaka Tiéné. Emenike, who won the Top Scorer award with four goals, was elated after the victory despite not playing in the final game due to injury. He said, “Even though I did not play, I felt the pressure as if I was on the pitch. Starting from the beginning, Nigerians didn’t believe in us but I thank God today that we’re the champions. I’m so excited right now. I just want Nigerians to give us more time to get stronger.”

Let's hope this news flying around is not true. Talented song writer, and singer Tiwa Savage and her five-day-old fiance Tee Bills are in the news again! According to the gist making rounds on the internet, Tee was dating the said lady in the picture above, he got her pregnant and she had a baby, but he wasn't ready to commit. Three years later he still didn't commit to her and got her pregnant again! He meets another lady (Tiwa Savage) who has a bright future and he wastes no time in putting a ring on her finger. Related Article:   PHOTOS and VIDEO: It's Official! Tiwa Savage Is Getting Married What this story teaches us is that having babies for a man doesn't keep him for you - you just have added responsibilities taking care of the kids with a future of uncertainty.