Odds and Ends 7/15/10

Ateneo University appoints new president

MANILA, July 14, 2010— Jesuit-run Ateneo de Manila University has appointed a new president who is set to take over the helm of the academic institution early next year.

Fr. Jose Ramon Villarin, SJ was elected during a special meeting of the university’s board of trustees last June 29, 2010 as next president of the Ateneo de Manila, according to a memorandum circulated to the university community.

Villarin, who holds a doctorate in Atmospheric Physics from Georgia Institute of Technology completed his Bachelor degree in Physics magna cum laude at the Ateneo de Manila University in 1980 and M.S. in Physics in Marquette University, 1991. He finished his STB in Theology summa cum laude from Loyola School Theology, also in 1991. Ordained priest in April 1991, Villarin took his final vows as a Jesuit in January 2005.

Congratulations Fr Villarin. Such great credentials much worthy of a great Catholic institution. It remains to be seen however, whether such credentials are enough to crack the whip on Ateneo Theology professors who publicly advocate against Catholic Theology.
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Bishops tell DOH chief Ona: Avoid Onan's sorry fate in the Bible

MANILA, July 15, 2010— Two Catholic prelates have advised Health Secretary Enrique Ona to learn the lesson on Biblical character Onan, who was punished by God for practicing withdrawal to prevent conception...

Catholic bishops said that in the Church today, the practice of preejaculatory withdrawal during intercourse, which the church opposes, is also known as “Onanism.”
The reminded Ona that Onanism is against the Holy Teaching.
“So the better thing to do for Mr. Ona is to review (the Scripture). It’s clear that God don’t allow onanism,” said Oscar Cruz, retired archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan...

Secretary Ona earlier expressed the government’s support for the use artificial contraceptives to prevent unwanted pregnancies and the spread of sexually-related diseases. The chief of the Department of Health also vowed a “population policy that prevents abortion and unwanted pregnancies."

Ona. Onan. Hmm, just one letter off. In the Scriptures, Onan was slain by God for his grievous misdeed, although I am certain the Bishops were not alluding that DOH Secretary Ona is bound to be physically slain if he leads his department to propagate millions of Filipino Onans. Definitely not. The bishops were alluding to a fate much worse.
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Singapore needs 100,000 workers as economy sizzles

SINGAPORE – Singapore will need 100,000 new foreign workers this year to keep on track an economy enjoying a stunning rebound, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in remarks published Thursday.

Rich but worker-starved Singapore has historically rolled out the welcome mat for foreigners, whose numbers rose dramatically in the boom of 2004-2007.

But with one in three of the five million people living on the tiny island now a foreigner and citizens complaining about competition for jobs, housing and medical care, the government has been looking anew at its open-door policy.

Nonetheless Lee said the need for more overseas labor was unavoidable despite efforts to slow the influx after complaints from citizens facing tougher jobs competition during last year's recession.

"If we don't allow the foreign workers in, you are going to have overheating," the Straits Times quoted him as telling Singaporean media during an ongoing visit to the United States.

Well, well. Mortality rate: 2.2. Total fertility rate: 1.22. What do you expect??
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