The World IMHO

Abstinence is Awesome, just hard to stick with

2011-12-05T14:07:00.001-08:00

At some point the Catholic church will come up with something else....well actually maybe they won't....http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2011/11/30/abstinence-only-sex-education-is-a-flopHere's the fact, abstinence education doesn't work to reduce sex in young people. Solution?Tough one. Here's the other fact, our culturally is insanely sexualized, overtly so, and our young people are growing up in that environment. It's not easy pill to swallow, nor is there an easy solution. Sexualization is rampant and fighting back doesn't seem to be working........... ideas?

If you’re attending Mass this weekend, here’s what you need to know:

2011-11-25T12:11:00.001-08:00

- The new Mass will first be celebrated at the Saturday vigil, to be followed by Masses on Sunday and thereafter.

- Priests are unlikely to interrupt the Mass with instructions, but instead will encourage congregants before the service begins to follow along to printed materials containing the new text.

- Some familiar Mass songs will change to accommodate the new translations.

- If you’re interested in the reasoning behind any specific word choice, you can read the commentary from the bishops’ conference at their Web site. Click on the ‘commentary’ links below the Mass part.

You can see some of the new language below.

(Source: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops/The Washington Post)

Pope wraps up Africa Trip

2011-11-22T13:17:00.000-08:00

Actually he didn't go to 'Africa', that's like saying, 'North America', he was in Benin. The Pope met with about 80k faithful and more importantly delivered "The Commitment to Africa".

What this will do to actually effect change in the continent is up in the air.... we can be cynical and say pretty much nothing.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/pope-benedict-xvi-calls-for-reconciliation-in-africa/2011/11/21/gIQAxEZmiN_story.html

Changes Coming to Liturgy

2011-11-09T18:39:00.000-08:00

In an age when Facebook changes every 6 months much to the chagrin of over 40-somethings, a new Roman Missal hits pews Nov. 27. The issue for many parishioners and priests is the plain fact most are over 40, probably 60. Change for an aging generation of churchgoers and leaders doesn't come easy at all.

English-speaking countries will begin to use a new translation of the Roman Missal, the ritual text of prayers and instructions for celebrating Mass. International committees of specialists worked under a Vatican directive to hew close to the Latin. After years of revisions negotiated by bishops' conferences and the Holy See, dioceses are preparing anxious clergy and parishioners for the rollout, one of the biggest changes in Catholic worship in generations.

Now, the power of liturgy in worship certainly can't be diminished, but if you rely so heavily on liturgy to encounter the Lord perhaps you need to rethink your spirituality.

I would hazard a guess the majority of clergy are going to be upset with 'new'. Calling it awkward and hard to understand is pretty standard for something NEW. But there are good arguments that there's a disconnect between what the new MIssal accomplishes and where the church is physically. If we're in a very clear religious dichotomy with culture, then big changes are not only annoying, but a challenge to faith as well.

Other factors push obvious Catholic theology, in the Nicene Creed, the phrase "one in Being with the Father," will change to "consubstantial with the Father." As for Holy Communion the priest will ask God for blessings "by sending down your spirit upon them like the dewfall."

Dewfall?

What's a dewfall? So much for connecting with anybody under 40.

The new missal grew out of changes in liturgy that started with the Second Vatican Council, the 1960s meetings on modernizing the church that permitted Mass in local languages instead of Latin. Bishops in English-speaking countries created the International Commission on English in the Liturgy to undertake the translation. The panel produced a missal by 1973, but that version was considered temporary until better texts could be completed. In some cases, the commission sought to use language that would be gender neutral.

The work took a new direction in 2001, when the Vatican office in charge of worship issued the directive Liturgiam Authenticam, or Authentic Liturgy, which required translations closer to the Latin. The Vatican also appointed another committee to oversee the English translation, drawing complaints from some clergy and liturgists that the Vatican was controlling what should be a more consultative process.

Ireland Closes Vatican Embassy

2011-11-05T16:48:00.000-07:00

Stemming from huge disconnect between state and church, Irish Vatican relations hit a new low with the closure of the Irish embassy. The blow comes on the heals of years of inability of the Vatican to properly deal with sexual abuse scandals that rocked the church. Of course, having a largely limp wristed church with little relevancy in everyday Irish lives certainly doesn't help. In a country where religion is merely a passing thought that your parents had to go to, the death of the Catholic church seems imminent ( at least in its current form).

Some kind of revival is in order, but there's a load of housecleaning to do first. One can fully expect, however, that this closure will be the first of many, and one that will be in all likelihood permeant.

Health Plan Changes Contraceptives

2011-08-30T15:40:00.000-07:00

Catholic media has picked up the brewing issue of the Department of Health and Human Services plan to include contraceptives and sterilization among the mandated preventive services for women under the new health reform law.The question remains: what will it include?Obviously the Catholic Church is opposed to all artificial forms of birth control and supports natural family planning as the only method of birth regulation that does not interfere with the unitive and procreative aspects of marriage.Does the new plan concern you?Full article here: http://ncronline.org/news/fda-approved-birth-control-includes-condoms-sterilization

Conservatives Punch the Other Cheek?

2011-06-26T10:25:00.000-07:00

On illegal immigration our Baptists friends are all in a tiffy after the President Al Mohler started to discuss the issue of homosexuality. Keeping to his conservative position, he did mention that Christians on the right-end of the theological--no wait--political spectrum haven't done a great job dealing with the issue. Essentially he said that Christians were more interested in severe condemnation/damnation.

Well the vitriolic replies came almost immediately from so called Christians attacking how Mohler is not catering to the gay agenda. Apparently violence is preferred over love for conservative Christians. So sad.

Another contentious issue is the same Conservatives fuelling tough and sometimes hate filled laws towards illegal immigrants.

http://www.patheos.com/community/rogereolson/2011/06/13/scapegoating-an-old-human-habit-still-around-in-attitudes-and-actions-towards-illegal-immigrants/

Christians can do better, Catholics are not immune to these issues either, we have our spectrums of positions that include fools too. Some growing needs to be done though especially on issues so contentious and filled with opportunity to do better.

Eye for an Eye?

2011-05-02T14:53:00.000-07:00

As Twitter buzzed last night after the sensational story of the death of Osama Bin Laden, equally disturbing were the claims of victory.

The world is a safer place, make no mistake. But to revel in safety as a result of death, and to justify it using Scripture. Well that's just too far.

I do'nt think God delights in death. Although this death may seem just, we need to be eerily careful to not fall into the trap of proof texting our way through an argument that says God not only happy to oblige our bloodlust, but his very nature permits our antiquated methods of problem solving.

We can do better. A mass murdered has been brought to justice, but there's little need to jump with joy over calculated death.

Organized Religion to Disappear?

2011-03-28T15:21:00.000-07:00

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/23/religion-to-go-extinct-in-9-countries-experts-predict/

Many nordic countries have little to no religious presence, they are in the simplest form a humanist country.

America may not be too far off, but close countries like Canada could be faced with the extinction of organized religions. Interestingly when we consider the mainline denominations in North America we have seen a decline. it's the evangelicals that think they're not going the same way many mainlines have gone.

So what's the solution? Well it's not going to be business as usual that's for sure. Bigger won't be better, and more influence wont come from better integration of church and state.

Faith won't disappear, but how that's expressed will, IMO, look far more organic than the cathedral model we're all used to here.

The Great Hypocrisy on Evangelicals

2011-03-12T15:43:00.000-08:00

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/phil-zuckerman/why-evangelicals-hate-jes_b_830237.html

Any thoughts from right wing fear mongers, or evangelicals, out there?

Keeping a Holy Lent

2011-03-04T12:16:00.000-08:00

The first Christians observed with great devotion the days of our Lord's passion and resurrection, and it became the custom of the Church to prepare for them by a season of penitence and fasting. This season of Lent provided a time in which converts to the faith were prepared for Holy Baptism. It was also a time when those who, because of notorious sins, had been separated from the body of the faithful were reconciled by penitence and forgiveness and restored to the fellowship of the Church. Thereby, the whole congregation was put in mind of the message of pardon and absolution set forth in the Gospel of our Savior, and of the need which all Christians continually have to renew their repentance and faith.

Observing Lent

The custom is to mark the season of Lent by giving up some things and/or taking on others. Both can serve to mark the season as a holy time of preparation. Some examples of things people give up for Lent include sweets, meat for all or some meals, and alcohol. In most cases, giving up something for Lent can be made more meaningful by using the money or time for another purpose. For example, meal times on fast days could be spent in prayer. If you give up meat during Lent, the extra money that would go to meat dishes can be given to a group that works to end hunger. Some things added during Lent are daily Bible reading, fasting on Fridays, times of prayer or taking a course of study related in some way to spirituality.

Note that the season of Lent is forty days plus the six Sundays. This is because Sundays are celebrations of Jesus’ resurrection and are always an appropriate day to lessen the restrictions of Lent. If you have, for example, given up chocolate for Lent, you could indulge in a weekly candy bar on Sunday. Lent is also an especially appropriate time for the sacrament of confession. While confession to a priest is not required to receive God’s forgiveness, it can be a meaningful rite of reconciliation with God.

Special Days and Services

Shrove Tuesday

This is actually the day before Lent begins. The day is named for the “shriving” or confessing that was traditional on this day before beginning Lent. This day is also known as Mardi Gras, or “Fat Tuesday,” because it was a time for eating the things from which one would abstain during Lent. Pancake suppers are traditional as they were a way of using up some of the ingredients not needed during Lent.

Ash Wednesday

The first day of Lent is marked with a special liturgy. The theme for the day, though not for all of Lent, is that we stand as sinners condemned to die, except for God’s grace. This is symbolized by the imposition of ashes on the forehead, with the words, “You are dust and to dust you shall return.” In the Old Testament, ashes were a sign of penitence (feeling regretful for offenses) and mourning. Ash Wednesday is one of two days of special observance (the other being Good Friday) for which fasting is recommended. While this usually refers going without food for the entire day, this practice is not practical for all persons, including, but not limited to, diabetics. Use your own discretion in determining how you can best observe this day.

Palm Sunday

This Sunday before Easter is the last Sunday in Lent. The day commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem with a blessing of palms and a procession in which the whole congregation carries palms. The day is also marked by reading the story of Jesus’ passion (the word used to describe Jesus’ death comes from “suffering,” which is one old meaning of passion). Some of the Palm Sunday palms are kept and used to make the Ash Wednesday ashes for the next year.

Maundy Thursday

This is the Thursday in Holy Week (the week leading up to Easter). The day is a time for remembering The Last Supper. The name comes from the Latin word “Maundatum” for “commandment” as Jesus said, “I give you a new commandment; that you love one another.” At the conclusion of this service, altars are stripped of any ornamentation and crosses are removed or veiled to mark the solemnness of the occasion.

Good Friday

The Friday in Holy Week is a time for remembering Jesus’ death. Traditionally there is a Good Friday service at noon as Jesus hung on the cross from noon until 3 p.m. There may also be an evening service. This is the second day of special observance for which fasting is recommended. One should use discretion in decided how best to observe this day. There is no celebration of Communion from Maundy Thursday until the Easter Vigil on late Saturday or early Sunday. However, it is customary in many churches to give out the elements of communion blessed during the Maundy Thursday service.

The Easter Vigil

This service is appropriate from after sunset on Holy Saturday until sunrise Easter morning. This was the traditional time of baptism in the early centuries of Christianity. This service begins in darkness and a new fire is lit, from which the Christ candle is lighted. It signifies the light of Christ coming into the world anew at the resurrection. This service ends the season of Lent and begins the joy of the Easter season.

Stations of the Cross

These are depictions of 14 incidents in the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ death from Pilate’s house to being placed in the tomb. They are used for the service called the Way of the Cross, which visits each station in turn with a brief reading, response, collect (prayer) and on some occasions, a meditation. This is particularly appropriate for Good Friday and all Fridays in Lent.

Refreshment Sunday

The fourth Sunday of Lent has long been observed as a day for completely relaxing the disciplines of Lent. It is also known as Mothering Sunday as this was the first Mother’s Day and a traditional time for remembering your mother.

Let us, therefore, join in the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's holy Word.

St. Thomas of Canterbury

2010-12-29T12:18:00.000-08:00

On this day when we commemorate Thomas a Becket and the murder in the Cathedral, I simply want to point you to a beautiful piece about him. I also find that it reminds me very much of what is going on in the Diocese of San Joaquin today. See if you agree.

The article is here.

If I don't write again before New Year's Eve, please be safe. I hope your new year is all you wish for it to be.

Merry Christmas

2010-12-27T10:25:00.000-08:00

Gear up for the New Year! Christmas marks the end of Advent (I'm a fan of that, not a fan of the consumeristic engine that we call Xmas).

Forget that we don't get Christmas right when it comes to theology, or the fact we don't even read the Bible story as it was presented. Let's talk about what's coming up--Epiphany. Something the early church found crucial--one of the 2 major feasts celebrated.

New Year = Advent launch. Epiphany = revelation of Christ to Gentiles.

Christmas = incarnation and I guess the push to join God in his plant o redeem the world. I can get with that, I can't resonate with the gift buying.......

Pope opts for Condom Use

2010-11-23T18:52:00.000-08:00

Looks like Catholics are finally getting into the 21st century. Well not quite. the Pope continues with the church's position on no-condom use for married couples (condoms are a form of contraception and thus banned).

However, the Pope has included the use of condoms as perhaps acceptable to combat the rampant spread of AIDS.

Can't see this as a bad thing overall in terms weighing the benefits (good) of the action. Now, whether behaviour will change is another story.

California Public School Teacher Placed on Leave After Showing Abortion Film

2008-02-13T10:57:00.000-08:00

This story was discussed at length on The Catholic Channel today, and I agree with the consensus of the people who discussed it: this was very inappropriate for several reasons: it was not age-appropriate, the parents were not consulted and were upset that this was shown to their kids without their knowledge or consent, and it was not part of the curiculum for the chemistry class. I am pro-life and I oppose all abortion, at any stage of pregnancy, for any reason...but this was over the line, and stunts like this give pro-lifers a negative reputation.

A California science teacher has been placed on administrative leave after coming under fire following the showing of a pro-life film, The Silent Scream, that details an abortion procedure. First-year teacher Randy Yang showed the movie to five eighth-grade classes at Russell Middle School.

Yang aired the film following completion of work in the chemistry classes he teaches and eighth-grader Xhynah Cabugao told the San Jose Mercury News that some of the students were upset by it.

He reportedly let his class decide on watching a film on the water cycle or on abortion and that the classes voted to see the pro-life movie.

"They're like, 'Ewww, that's gross, why do we have to see that?'" he said. "Everybody was kind of disgusted."

The newspaper said Yang is not a tenured teacher and indicated he told students to avert their eyes if they didn't want to watch the film.

Luis Gonzales, assistant superintendent of Milpitas Unified School District, told the newspaper that Yang has not been in class since the day he aired the movie.

story here

Pope denounces 'macho mentality'

2008-02-12T11:07:00.000-08:00

Pope Benedict XVI denounced a "macho mentality" leading to violence and discrimination against women in some cultures, while noting that "natural differences" exist between the sexes.

"There exist places and cultures where the woman is the target of discrimination, where she is underestimated for the single reason that she is a woman,'' Pope Benedict said during a meeting with secular participants of a pontifical council, in remarks that also touched on the importance of marriage and the family.

He urged Christians to engage "to promote a culture that gives a woman the dignity she is due, in law and in deed''.

But the Pontiff also said it was critical not to erase sexual differences created by God. I'm glad he clarified this. I think too many people confuse 'equal' with 'identical' and tend to forget the physical differences between the sexes.

"Woman must be able to contribute to the construction of society by emphasising her 'feminine genius','' Pope Benedict said.

story here

Catholics Who Attend Mass Are Divorced Less and Have More Children: USCCB Poll

2008-02-12T11:02:00.000-08:00

More reason to live our faith:

Last April the USCCB Subcommittee on Marriage and the Family Life commissioned a poll on marriage and family issues, to be conducted by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate. The final product, a poll of 1,008 self-identified Catholics, shows, as put by Archbishop Joseph Kurtz, the Chairman of the subcommittee, a "mixed picture." Amongst many other findings, the poll indicated that Catholics who attend Mass frequently are the least likely to get divorced and are more likely to have more children. Contrary to the culture of death that exists today, where so many babies are aborted.

"Not surprisingly, the study paints a mixed picture. It gives us reasons to be grateful and hopeful. It also raises concerns and presents us with challenges," said Archbishop Kurtz about the poll's findings.

What is most distressing, said Kurtz, is that the study shows that self-identified Catholics are just as likely as the overall population to obtain a divorce.

"In terms of marital status and certain attitudes about marriage, we see that Catholics are very similar to the general population. Sadly, this trend also holds true for divorce. Here both the good news and the bad news are the same: in general, Catholics are neither more nor less likely to get divorced than anyone else."

Nevertheless, said the Archbishop, an important fact revealed by the poll is that those Catholics who go to Mass more frequently, and demonstrate an overall higher level of commitment to the faith, generally have much lower rates of divorce and are much more familiar with the Church's teachings on marriage. On the other hand, those who rarely or never go to Mass are significantly more likely to obtain a divorce.

story here

Archbishop Burke seeks dissident priest's reconciliation

2008-02-11T10:58:00.000-08:00

Archbishop Burke really has his hands full, between the pro abort/pro stem cell coach Rick Majerus at St. Louis University, and this dissident priest.

Archbishop Raymond L. Burke of St. Louis said Feb. 5 that he is "safeguarding the unity of the church" by insisting that a suspended and excommunicated priest associated with the lay board of a suppressed parish meet with him. The archbishop and the priest, Father Marek Bozek, met later that day. Archbishop Burke would not discuss the meeting because he said it was private and pastoral. A priest of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, Father Bozek was suspended in December 2005 by his bishop for abandoning his assignment and his diocese to take a job as pastor offered to him by St. Stanislaus Kostka Corp. at their church in St. Louis. St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish was suppressed by the archdiocese over the governing board's refusal to bring parish structures into conformity with canon law. The corporation that runs it is considered to be functioning outside the communion of the church. In December 2005, Archbishop Burke declared that the six members of the lay board and Father Bozek were excommunicated.

story here

Polls: John McCain Trails Pro-Abortion Barack Obama, Leads Hillary Clinton

2008-02-10T11:09:00.000-08:00

I've been hoping that Obama would take Hillary out in the primaries, but I may need to reconsider that. I think Hillary would actually be easier to beat in a general election, because of the large negative turnout she would provoke.

Several new polls of the three most likely candidates to appear in the November presidential elections show John McCain ahead of Hillary Clinton, but trailing Barack Obama. McCain appears to be the likely nominee while Obama and Clinton are in a close race for the right to represent Democrats.

A new poll from Rasmussen Reports of registered voters nationwide shows McCain running three points ahead of Clinton, 46 to 43 percent, with 11 percent undecided.

However, he trails Obama by a 44 to 41 percent margin with 15 percent of Americans undecided.

McCain held a lead over Obama during the latter part of January but Obama's surge nationally and against Clinton in the Democratic race has helped his standing in comparison with the Arizona senator.

Six of the last seven national polls show Obama ahead with just one showing McCain with a one percent lead over his Illinois colleague.

A new Time survey has Obama ahead seven points 48 to 41, CNN has Obama leading by 8 with a 52-44 percent advantage and a Cook/RT Strategies poll has Obama ahead two percent 45 to 43.

On the other hand, McCain has a lead in five of the last surveys against Clinton with one from Time showing the two candidates tied at 46 percent apiece and the CNN survey having Clinton ahead by three percent.

story here

Our Lady of Lourdes

2008-02-10T11:08:00.000-08:00

February 11 is the Optional Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes

Catholic Culture has prayers, readings and activities for the day.

Today marks the first apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1858 to fourteen-year-old Marie Bernade (St. Bernadette) Soubirous. Between February 11 and July 16, 1858, the Blessed Virgin appeared eighteen times, and showed herself to St. Bernadette in the hollow of the rock at Lourdes. On March 25 she said to the little shepherdess who was only fourteen years of age: "I am the Immaculate Conception." Since then Lourdes has become a place of pilgrimage and many cures and conversions have taken place. The message of Lourdes is a call to personal conversion, prayer, and charity.

And don't forget the plenary indulgence!

PLENARY INDULGENCE FOR THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF LOURDES

Lawsuit after abortion survivor's speech banned

2008-02-08T11:11:00.000-08:00

Don't you just love how the pro-aborts constantly try to conceal the reality of abortion? I wonder why...

A lawsuit has been filed against the school district in Rapid City, S.D., after a facilities manager refused permission for a community group to use an auditorium to feature the testimony of an abortion survivor.

"We just don't like to encourage discussion of those types of issues in our facilities," the lawsuit says one of the defendants, Ronald Mincks, announced. Mincks at the time was assistant buildings and grounds supervisor. Yeah...we wouldn't want anything like, maybe, the truth about abortion getting out...

The dispute is over requests by members of the group Citizens for Life to be granted access to an auditorium for after-school events, just as other community organizations are allowed.

The action was filed by the Alliance Defense Fund, a law firm that defends the right "to hear and speak the Truth through strategy, training, funding and litigation."

"Pro-life groups shouldn't be discriminated against for their beliefs," said Byron Babione, senior legal counsel for the ADF. "They have the same First Amendment rights as anyone else in America.

"The equal access rights of Citizens for Life must be honored regardless of whether school district officials agree with the group's message," he said.

The complaint describes how school district policy, while allowing other community groups to use district facilities for a variety of meetings, twice denied Citizens for Life permission, expressly banning meetings with a religious purpose.

The complaint said Citizens for Life President Allen Carlson in August 2006 asked for permission for the group to meet at Dakota Middle School's auditorium to host a meeting at which Gianna Jessen, a survivor of a saline abortion, would speak.

story here

St. Teilo

2008-02-08T11:10:00.000-08:00

February 9 is the Feast of St. Teilo (Wales)

Catholic Culture has prayers, readings and activities for the day.

According to tradition Teilo, or Elios as he was sometimes known, was born about the year 480 AD at either Gumfreston or Penally in south Pembrokeshire. He studied under Paulinus at Ty Gwyn where he met Dewi (Saint David), the two becoming firm friends. Later, the two set out on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and en route were joined by Padarn.

Upon their return home, Teilo was given charge of the church at Llandaff and the surrounding area. Shortly afterwards there was an outbreak of Yellow Fever and Teilo led his followers to Cornwall to escape its effects. From Cornwall they travelled to Brittany where they were welcomed by Archbishop Solomon of the Church of Dol. They stayed for seven years, during which time Teilo and his followers are said to have planted three miles of fruit trees. He returned to Llandaff where he ministered for many years. He died in 566 AD.

Several churches in south Wales and Brittany are dedicated to St Teilo. He is depicted on a fifteenth century stained glass window in a church at Plogonnec, Finistére, and also in a statue in the Chapel of Our Lady, Kerdévot. In both cases he is shown wearing bishop's robes and mitre and seated on a stag, suggesting, as was the case with many other saints of the time, that he had an affinity with the natural world.

Condom Fallacies

2008-02-08T08:02:00.000-08:00

The only thing that mass-distribution of condoms does is to encourage sexually promiscuous behavior.

The issue of wide-scale distribution of condoms is in the news once more. In the days preceding Brazil's Carnival celebrations authorities announced they would be handing out 19.5 million free condoms, reported Reuters on Jan. 28.

A British medical journal, the Lancet, also recently criticized the Church for its opposition to condoms. An editorial in the Jan. 26 edition of the journal chided Benedict XVI for not changing Church teaching so that condoms could be used by Catholics in preventing HIV/AIDS infections.

The simplistic assumption that condoms are the solution to sexually transmitted diseases is, however, increasingly being proved false. In its Jan. 26 issue, the British Medical Journal published a forum on condoms, with contrasting articles for and against on the topic.

Even the article in favor of condoms, by Markus Steiner and Willard Cates, admitted that in addition to condoms there is a need for "risk avoidance and risk reduction approaches." Such measures, they explained, include delayed initiation of sexual intercourse, and mutual faithfulness. How about some 'self control'?

In his article putting forward the "no" case, Stephen Genuis clearly stated: "Firstly, condoms cannot be the definitive answer to sexually transmitted infection because they provide insufficient protection against transmission of many common diseases."

story here

Abortion-Survivor Finds a Home

2008-02-04T11:05:00.000-08:00

How cold... to abort a baby because he/she may be blind.

Just think about Helen Keller, Andre Bocelli, Jose Feliciano, Stevie Wonder and you see what a full life blind people can have... and who is anyone to play God and decide whose life is worth living?

A 15-month-old girl whose parents tried to abort her because she is blind, but survived the procedure, has been adopted by a John XXIII Community household in Rome.

The community announced in a Feb. 2 press conference that the baby was diagnosed with an eye condition that blinded her, and her parents opted for abortion. But the pregnancy was already in the 22nd week, and the baby was born alive. Doctors, following Italian law, thus tried to save her and succeeded.

She weighed only 562 grams (1.2 pounds) and had to have a heart operation when she was 10 days old. She had a brain hemorrhage, various infections and respiratory problems.

Her birth parents chose to give her up for adoption.

Now she is 15 months old and weighs 13 pounds; she has been with her new family for eight months.

Her adoptive parents are lay members of the John XXIII Community, and have three biological children, and two other adoptive children. There are 250 such households of the lay community; most are located in Italy.

story here

Great Resource for Great Triumph

2007-06-20T14:33:00.000-07:00

"Medical science has proven time and again that when the resources are provided, great progress in the treatment, cure, and prevention of disease can occur."
Michael J. Fox

Last week, President Bush issued the third veto of his presidency on legislation expanding funding for embryonic stem cell research, regardless of the fact that it passed Congress with an overwhelming, bipartisan majority.

The debate between those who want the government to fund the study of stem cells and those who think using these stem cells is equivalent to killing a baby has been a source of confusion for me and others who are grappling between the need to let science find a cure for horrible diseases, such as Parkinson's Disease and Diabetes and following Church doctrine.

The question of what is ethical is where many differ from the Catholic Church. Most Americans have had some sort of a biology course in high school and/or college. Few, however, have had specific courses in molecular genetics or bioengineering. We may have some general idea about this topic, but the average person cannot possibly grasp the core issues of stem cell research without the help of someone who has the education and knowledge to do so, scientists.

Over the last few decades the Catholic Church has decided that the human embryo is to be valued and, in effect, treated as a person from the time of fertilization forward. The Instruction from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, is careful to note that the Church has not taken a philosophical position on the time of ensoulment. However, "From the moment of conception, the life of every human being is to be respected in an absolute way…" (Donum Vitae, Introduction). The human embryo is not to be destroyed or seen as disposable tissue that can be used in research as any other tissue might be. Nor should such embryos be generated specifically for research purposes.

But how does that square with the Church looking the other way when it comes to in-vitro fertilization? Although the official word from Rome is that they are opposed to in-vitro fertilization in all instances, yet they have turned their head and will rarely make mention of it, knowing full well that the embryos that are no longer necessary after the mother becomes pregnant are disposed of by the labs. On the other hand, they will give passionate sermons at Mass, trot out hateful guys like Bill Donahue, and tell their congregations not to vote for a candidate who is pro-choice on the abortion issue, yet they support a president who started and supports a war that the Pope condemns? Is the Catholic Church sitting on the fence in the issue of the destruction of human embryonic stem cells? Are they silent in their condemnation for fear of losing the income of Catholics who can afford in-vitro fertilization? Also, why is the Catholic Church, especially the fundamentalists within the Catholic Church, backing George W. Bush even though he decided to continue to use particular lines of these embryonic stem cells that were available? Are those cells deemed not worthy of being respected as "life", as per the Catholic Church?

One Christian group had decided to start an adoption agency for these frozen embryo's and dubbed them "Snowflake Babies". Back in 2005, President Bush made quite a fanfare when he invited 21 families to the White House to honor them because they, "answered the call to ensure that our society's most vulnerable members are protected and defended at every stage of life." Well, that sounds nice, but doesn't he or the Catholic Church realize that when those embryos are implanted in the mothers womb, they are sent three embryos to implant? Once the embryo attaches and the woman becomes pregnant, the other two are thrown away. By the way, the reason I was thrown off Curt Jester's blog is because I asked how many of them have adopted "Snowflake Babies" and if not, why hadn't they? I guess I hit a raw nerve.

Like many Americans, I try to follow my instincts and educate myself as much as possible before making judgments on subjects such as this. I've also been a strong advocate of the separation of Church and State and feel that our government has no business dictating Christian ethics to all Americans, whether they are Christian or not, with their laws.

So, where does that leave us who want to follow the church doctrine and yet feel they have not explained their inconsistencies on the issue of embryonic stem cell research? I guess it leaves us in Limbo....wait a minute, the Catholic Church says that Limbo doesn't exist anymore. Dang!

PETA is NUTS

2006-06-18T11:14:00.000-07:00

It's official.

PETA has gone NUTS.

They have become some sort of terrorists, using guerilla tactics to advance their cause. All they have done is ruin their own credibility.

Recently, they basically 'ambushed' Beyonce Knowles and her mother and forced them to watch a gruesome video.

Terrrorist tactics like this won't work PETA...in fact, I am even more inclined to go out and buy a fur coat (on my way home from KFC, of course) just to show you that I don't care what your cause is, when you employ tactics like this.

"Beyonce Knowles and her mother were forced to flee a dinner fans won at an auction when the devotees turned out to be activists from People For The Ethical Treatment Of Animals (PETA). The PETA pair, who won the chance to dine with Beyonce at a VH1 Save The Music auction, bombarded the pop diva with questions about her decisions to wear fur and include fur in her clothing line, House Of Dereon."

"And the onslaught didn't stop there as Beyonce and her mum sat awkwardly at New York's trendy Nobu 57 on Thursday night - the unnamed PETA pair placed a portable DVD player and forced the Knowles girls to watch a video expose of the fur industry, narrated by Pamela Anderson, featuring footage of animals who are trapped, drowned, and electrocuted for their pelts."

"PETA spokesman Michael McGraw says, "PETA has contacted Beyonce numerous times over the years, begging her to stop promoting the violence of the fur industry."

"McGraw hopes that Beyonce's awkward dinner date has made her think twice about using and wearing fur"

How dare they 'terrorize' people to advance their cause?
IMHO, PETA has long-ago ceased to be about protecting animals.
They are nothing but terrorists.

Full story here.