03 November 2013 (14:28 UTC-07 Tango)/29 Dhu’l-Hijja 1434/12 Aban 1391/01 Gui-Hai (10th month) 4711

“Climb up, as did Zacchaeus, climb onto the tree of the desire of being forgiven. I will assure you that you will not be disappointed.”-Pope Francis, 03 November 2013 speech imploring people to ‘return’ to the Catholic Church

“The Vatican is taking the unusual step of conducting a worldwide survey on how parishes deal with sensitive issues such as birth control, divorce and gay marriage, seeking input ahead of a major meeting on the family that Pope Francis plans next year.”–Associated Press

The Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops will be held in October 2014.

“The Vatican’s new Apostolic Nuncio to Iran says Pope Francis seeks closer bilateral relations between the Catholic government and the Islamic Republic.”–Press TV

“To defend this economic culture, a throwaway culture has been installed. We throw away grandparents, and we throw away young people. We have to say no to this throwaway culture…..We don’t want this globalized economic system……At its center there should be man and woman, as God wants, and not money!…..I want this courage to come out from inside and push me to do all I can as a pastor, as a man. We must all face this historic challenge….Charity is not simply welfare…..Sometimes one finds arrogance, too, in those who serve the poor…….they fill their mouths with the poor; some exploit the poor in their own interests or those of their group!  This is a grave sin….”-Pope Francis, September speech to Sardinia’s working poor. Reportedly he threw away his prepared speech after witnessing the sufferings of the poor on the island, and gave a scathing rebuke to capitalism, globalization and liberal do-gooders

Japan’s NHK has recorded the first images of ISON: “Late last month, NHK attached a Super Hi-Vision camera and single-lens reflex to a one-meter diameter telescope at an observatory in Tottori City, western Japan.”-Nippon Housou Kyoukai/Japan Broadcasting Corporation

Astronomers say ISON should become visible, in the early morning hours from the Northern Hemisphere of Earth, at the end of November, when it becomes as bright as Venus.

“After its encounter with the sun Nov. 28, it will be ‘showtime’ for Comet ISON during the first fortnight of December. If the debris field holds together in a reasonable fashion, we will indeed be treated to a 1997 Hale-Bopp-like Comet of the Century in the early evening sky in December. If not, then a December 1973 Comet Kohoutek-like fizzle will be the order of the day.”–Roger Culver, Colorado State University

ISON refers to the International Scientific Optical Network.  In September 2012, Vitali Nevski and Artyom Novichonok discovered the huge comet using the Kislovodsk Observatory, which is part of the Network.  They thought it would be easier for people to remember ISON as the name of the comet, rather than the traditional way of naming of a comet using the names of those who discover it.

Pope Francis says ideological Christians are sick in the head!