News Fortiane - No 05

Magazine Overview

Title: NEWS FORTIANE
Issue: Anno 1 Numero 5
Date: 21 Maggio 2008
Publisher: www.centrostudifortiani.it
Focus: The world of mystery, including UFOs, crop circles, and paranormal phenomena.

Crop Circles in Italy: Riesi and Rho

The issue reports on the 2008 crop circle season opening in Italy. The first Italian crop circle of the year was discovered in Riesi, Sicily, in the contrada Figotto area. This location had previously registered a crop circle in 2007. Notably, the discovery of the first English crop circle on April 19th, 2008, meant that both the English and Riesi circles could be considered the first European crop circles of the year. The Riesi crop circle is described as having a larger development than the 2007 one, featuring a central circle and many rhombuses or segments.

Subsequently, a second Italian crop circle was found in Rho, in the province of Milan, on April 26th, 2008. This formation was located in a barley field that had previously hosted crop circles in 2004 and 2006. The Rho circle was reported to be larger, approximately 40 meters in diameter.

UFO Sighting in Alabama: A Pearlescent Sphere?

The magazine details an incident near Decatur, Alabama, where witnesses reported seeing a strange object on the night of Friday, May 2nd, 2008. Cody Terry, a guide at the Aquadome Recreation Center, described the object as pearlescent, silent, and descending rapidly at an estimated speed of 200 miles per hour. He compared it to a giant pearl. WAFF 48 confirmed that a Med-Flight helicopter was in the area, and one of their pilots also reported seeing a meteorite. Further information on the recovery of an enigmatic sphere, possibly related to the 'MoonDust Project', is referenced, with details available from Linda Moulton Howe.

UFO Immortalized in Derry

Another report concerns a photograph taken near Derry, Northern Ireland, on May 6th, 2008. The witness, driving on Prehen Road, noticed an unusual object in the sky and took a photograph with his mobile phone. The image appears to show a suspected UFO, described as a flying disc, not far above the houses.

San Gennaro: New Investigations into the Blood Miracle

Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, the Archbishop of Naples, announced in 2008 that new scientific investigations would be conducted in 2009 into the contents of the ampoules containing the blood of San Gennaro. These studies would occur twenty years after the previous ones conducted in 1989 under Cardinal Michele Giordano. The issue references a 1989 spectroscopy analysis by professors Felice D' Onofrio and Pierluigi Baima Bollone, which confirmed the presence of hemoglobin. Earlier tests were also conducted in 1902. The article notes a 1991 controversy involving the Cicap (Italian Committee for the Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal), who presented a chemical compound that dissolved under heat, which the Curia of Naples refuted by pointing to instances where San Gennaro's blood did not dissolve despite heat exposure.

UK Government Releases 'X-Files'

Great Britain has begun making its 'X-Files' on UFO sightings public. The National Archives in London has released an initial set of documents from the Ministry of Defence concerning unidentified object incidents between 1978 and 1987. This release is part of a four-year program to digitize and make accessible a vast collection of UFO-related information. The article mentions cases involving pilots reporting being chased by flying discs and alleged encounters with extraterrestrials. Nick Pope, who worked on these issues for the Ministry of Defence for 21 years, suggests that most sightings are likely aircraft lights or meteorites, but acknowledges that some cases are harder to explain. The article also notes a surge in UFO sightings in Britain in 1977 following the release of the film 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'.

Vatican Astronomer on Extraterrestrials and Faith

Father José Gabriel Funes, director of the Vatican Observatory, stated in an interview with L'Osservatore Romano that it is possible to believe in God and extraterrestrials simultaneously. He suggested that the existence of other intelligent beings, created by God, does not contradict faith, as God's creative freedom is limitless. He posited that if such beings exist, they might not need redemption if they have remained in full communion with their Creator, or they too could count on God's forgiveness if they have sinned. Funes also addressed the relationship between astronomy and faith, countering the myth that astronomy promotes atheism, and affirming that astronomers often provide strong evidence for belief in God.

Durga Maa: A Two-Faced Baby in India

A report from northern India describes a baby born with two faces, believed by locals to be the reincarnation of the Hindu goddess Durga Maa. The child drinks milk with both mouths and opens and closes her four eyes simultaneously. Villagers are visiting the family, offering money and seeking blessings, and plan to build a temple dedicated to the child.

Shirley Mac Laine on Reincarnation

Actress Shirley Mac Laine discusses her strong belief in the paranormal and reincarnation. In a recent interview, she claimed to be the reincarnation of Ramtha, a Cro-Magnon warrior from 35,000 years ago. She also recounted remembering other past lives, including being a court jester in the 18th century who was beheaded for an impudent performance. Mac Laine reportedly showed an identikit of the warrior and shared a note from Alfred Hitchcock praising her sincerity.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of News Fortiane revolve around unexplained phenomena, including UFO sightings, crop circles, and alleged paranormal events. The magazine also explores religious mysteries, such as the San Gennaro miracle, and the intersection of faith with scientific inquiry, as seen in the Vatican's stance on extraterrestrials. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these subjects, presenting reports and witness accounts while also referencing scientific investigations and official releases of information, such as the UK's 'X-Files'. The magazine aims to inform readers about mysteries and the unexplained, encouraging curiosity and discussion.