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Aditya Shankar came to see a program at The CineForum (located in my home in Toronto). He asked if he could live here. Aditya was the head of Gay Youth India. The battle between conventional religion in India over LGBTQ rights was fought in Toronto from my home. We are called to welcome the stranger. I do.
In Toronto there is a man who posts flyers as a business. He posted flyers saying he is a Christian. In 2009 he posted anonymous flyers that said one of his former employees was a rat, a police informant. The subject of the flyers had given me no reason to help him and every reason not to. However I reflected on the words of the last judgment. “As you did (did not) do to the least you did (did not do) to me.” I bought my first video camera, filmed this video and posted it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=an6wuSoPjlc .
Then I contacted the Mayor’s office, every city councillor, MPs, MPPs, the media, you name it. All but the then Mayor’s office (David Miller) said there was nothing they could do. Media people said the story was too small. Miller’s office got it stopped. Then in 2012 anonymous posters went up attacking another ex-employee and myself. THE GLOBE AND MAIL did a story on it stating the posters seemed meant to incite violence upon their subjects: Toronto alternative-theatre founder stands up to bullying threats – The Globe and Mail
The police told me there was nothing they could do. They needed proof he was posting them.
Then I reflected on the words of the Last Judgment.
By chance I got the proof. He was arrested and charged with criminal harassment. While in custody he told the police I was exploiting children, making child porn and distributing it. That led to my arrest. THE TORONTO SUN and THE TORONTO STAR did a story on it. I hired and fired three lawyers the two of whom wanted me to plead guilty to avoid going to jail. Finally I trusted the teachings of Jesus. Staying here were two a man who had been made homeless by the police. One described my last lawyer as a shyster. The second said he was a dump truck. I looked up the meaning of dump truck lawyer. The Crown withdrew the charges. The court was informed no evidence had been found after a thorough search of the computers and hard drives seized here.
The posters continue to go up. I warned people not to talk with the man should they see him. Naturally one person ignored the warning. He has now found his picture being used on the flyers attacking me this week.
St. Paul wrote in 1 CORINTHIANS 6:7 “Now therefore, there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one against another. Why do ye not rather accept wrong? Why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?”
I asked myself who was more wronged than Jesus? We are called to forgive. If we refuse we can’t be forgiven. I know a little bit about how hard it is to forgive.
Read The Legal and Medical Aspects of the Trial and Death of Christ by Robert Bucklin, M.D., J.D. : https://www.shroud.com/bucklin2.htm .
I have here a full sized authorized replica of the Turin Shroud. For myself it is the Fifth Gospel: https://www.catholicregister.org/itemlist/tag/Reg%20Hartt . We are called, like Jesus, to let ourselves be wronged. We are called to pray for those who persecute us. I have learned first hand how impossible that is but with GOD all things are possible. We are told the kingdom of Heaven is like leaven in bread. If we have baked bread we know that when the dough rises we have to pound it down again, again, again and again until it achieves the right density. So too we must allow ourselves to be pounded down again, again, again and again until we too have achieved the desired density. As for the man who says he is a Christian who is slandering myself and others (the word “blaspheme” is Greek for “slander” unless he has a change of heart for the better Jesus makes clear what his end will be: Matthew 18:21-35
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
21 Then came Peter unto him and said: Lord, how often shall my brother offend against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith to him: I say not to thee, till seven times; but till seventy times seven times.
23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened to a king, who would take an account of his servants.
24 And when he had begun to take the account, one was brought to him, that owed him ten thousand talents.
25 And as he had not wherewith to pay it, his lord commanded that he should be sold, and his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.
26 But that servant falling down, besought him, saying: Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
27 And the lord of that servant being moved with pity, let him go and forgave him the debt.
28 But when that servant was gone out, he found one of his fellow servants that owed him an hundred pence: and laying hold of him, throttled him, saying: Pay what thou owest.
29 And his fellow servant falling down, besought him, saying: Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he paid the debt.
31 Now his fellow servants seeing what was done, were very much grieved, and they came and told their lord all that was done.
32 Then his lord called him; and said to him: Thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all the debt, because thou besoughtest me:
33 Shouldst not thou then have had compassion also on thy fellow servant, even as I had compassion on thee?
34 And his lord being angry, delivered him to the torturers until he paid all the debt.
35 So also shall my heavenly Father do to you, if you forgive not every one his brother from your hearts.
We are called to forgive those who wrong us.
That ain’t easy.
Neither was getting crucified.
The media reported the charges against me.
Most of the media have ignored the attacks on myself and others.
None of the media have reported that the charges against me were withdrawn.
“The media’s the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that’s power. Because they control the minds of the masses. The press is so powerful in its image-making role, it can make the criminal look like he’s a the victim and make the victim look like he’s the criminal. This is the press, an irresponsible press. It will make the criminal look like he’s the victim and make the victim look like he’s the criminal. If you aren’t careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed and loving the people who are doing the oppressing.”―
We are called to pray for our persecutors.
I AM.–Reg Hartt
A full sized authorized replica of the Turin Shroud hangs in my home. For myself it is the 5th Gospel.
