Is Anybody There?

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says Yahweh Sabaoth" Zach 4:6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dio di Signore, nella Sua volontà è nostra pace!" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." Ben Franklin 1759

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

This Makes The Dissent in '68 Even Worse

So often today, many of us bemoan the silence by Bishops in the face of the evil of abortion. & we know the disasterous results of the failure to heed the warnings of Pope Paul VI in his encyclical Humanae Vitae. Well, it turns out that the defiance of Humanae Vitae by many priests & bishops was worse that we thought. Advance copies of the encyclical were sent out with a letter (text below) asking the Bishops Conferences for a "concerted effort on the part of the entire Catholic Episcopate, in order that the doctrine it contains be explained with care in full to the Christian people, and in order that it be courageously put into practice by all as, thanks be to God, it already is by many." He not only asked but said it was a necessity for them to do so. Well, we all know how well they listened then. & we are bearing the fruit of that now.
LifesiteNews broke the story about the recent unearthing of theis letter in an article yesterday. The article got it exactly right when it said: "The outright defiance of many priests and even bishops to Pope Paul VI's encyclical - which restated and reinforced the Church's long-time opposition to artificial birth control - is even graver in light of the carefully worded letter the bishops received specifically pointing to the urgent need for unity on the matter."
While I am glad this letter has been finally brought to light, I am puzzled as to why it stayed buried for so long. Surely at least 1 Bishop should have had the courage to speak out about this letter. As I have read & reread this letter, my heart is breaking. How many souls were lost due to the failure of the Bishops to do what this letter asked. How many people are in Hell today who wouldn't be if the truth had been proclaimed.
Lord, forgive us for failing to do as we should have. I thank you Lord that the message of Humanae Vitae is finally getting out. May we hear it, see how it proclaims Your message & obey Your call to live as we should.
From the Vatican, July 19, 1968
Segreteria di Stato di Sua Santita
To the Presidents of Episcopal Conferences
To Local Ordinaries
Your Excellency,
When directing me to transmit to Your Excellency the enclosed document, publication of which is imminent, His Holiness strongly recommended that I draw your attention to its importance, and to the necessity of a concerted effort on the part of the entire Catholic Episcopate, in order that the doctrine it contains be explained with care in full to the Christian people, and in order that it be courageously put into practice by all as, thanks be to God, it already is by many.
As you are aware, this is one of the most delicate questions of Catholic morals; it has been the object of numerous studies and controversies in recent years; and a reply in this matter was eagerly expected from the Sovereign Pontiff.
During all the period of preparation of this document, the Holy Father unceasingly kept in mind the mute imploration He felt was raised to Him by so many of His children, charged with families, and also by so many men of good will, desirous of a conjugal life conformed to the divine will. He felt acutely and painfully the conditions of life, lodging and work experienced by so many married couples in our day, and the difficult problems which the transmission of life consequently poses for them.
Yet it seemed more and more clear to Him every day that the greatest service He could render in this domain to Christendom and to all mankind was to re-propose in all its purity, with due consideration for recent scientific discoveries and the social evolution of our era, and the increasing appeal for "responsible parenthood", the constant teaching of the Church, for, seeking only the true good of man and of the family, she gives the problem in question its only true and profound solution.
The Holy Father knows full well the bitterness that this reply may cause many married persons who were expecting a different solution for their difficulties. It is precisely the solicitude for those souls in anguish, and the ardent desire to bring them light and solace, which caused the great delay in giving this reply. Mindful of the grave consequences entailed by a decision of this nature, the Common Father wished to study the entire question for Himself and in detail. For a long time He reflected, with respectful consideration, upon the results of the studies and discussions of the Commission charged with examining the various aspects of the problem; for a long time, He prayed. He consulted numerous wise and learned members of the Episcopate, of the clergy, of the laity; and all of this took months and even years.
And now He turns to His Brothers, the Bishops of the Catholic world, asking them to stand beside Him more firmly than ever in this circumstance, and to help Him present this delicate point of the Church's teaching to the Christian people, to explain and justify its profound reasons. The Pope counts upon the attachment of His Brothers in the Episcopate to the Chair of Peter, upon their love for the Church, upon their concern for the true good of souls.
He knows, as they do, the ideas and the practices existing in modern society in this regard, and He is fully aware of the efforts which will be needed to secure an evolution of thought on this point. He knows what sacrifices - sometimes heroic sacrifices - are entailed by the application of Catholic principles in conjugal morals. His desire would be that the Bishops, priests, Christian homes engaged in the various Catholic movements and organizations, should become in joyful docility the apostles of the teaching of their Holy Mother the Church, and succeed in finding the persuasive accents to make it acceptable.
May they strive to present this teaching in its true light, that is, to show its positive and beneficent aspect. What the Church wishes above all is to help Christian husbands and wives to perfect one another, to purify their love, to taste the happiness of a married life lived in the sight of God and in complete respect for His law.
They must be helped to understand all the spiritual enrichment represented by the effort of renunciation which is asked of them; they must be shown what a precious element it is in conjugal and social life, especially in times like ours which are invaded by hedonism, that great obstacle in the fulfillment of the evangelical ideal.
They must then be persuaded that it is possible, with the help of God - Who never exposes man to trials superior to his strength, to progress in chastity just as in the other virtues; and that possible failings, even if repeated, must not lead them to be discouraged, but much rather stimulate them to a methodical and loving effort towards self-mastery, and to more assiduous and confident recourse to the Sacraments.
Finally, it is necessary that both in the confessional and in the pulpit, in the press and by other means of social communication, every necessary pastoral effort be made that no ambiguity exists among the faithful or in public opinion concerning the Church's position in this serious matter. Faithful to the mandate she received to teach all nations, she puts her trust in Him who guides her, Whose will she is humbly confident of interpreting faithfully. She has no doubt that future generations will appreciate fully the importance and benefit of the service she renders to married couples, to the family, to all society, by defending this point of her doctrine without weakness.
Thus fulfilling the mission with which the Sovereign Pontiff has charged me, I assure Your Excellency of my prayers for your pastoral ministry, and remain with sentiments of high regard
Devotedly yours in Christ,
A.G. Card. Cicognani (Amleto Giovanni Cardinal Cicognani)

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Still Dreaming a Little Dream of You!

On this day in 1974 Cass Elliot (nee Ellen Naomi Cohen) passed as a result of "heart failure due to fatty myocardial degeneration due to obesity" in her London hotel room. (Sadly, to this day the false rumor about her chocking to death still floats around.) She had 1 daughter, Owen Vanessa Elliot.
I just recently learned that she auditioned for the roll that made Barbra Streisand a star, Miss Marmelstein in I Can Get It for You Wholesale. Talk about "What If????"
For me, she was The Mamas & the Papas. They made her, she made them. Their 4 voices blended as perfectly as possible.
So here is a little salute to her:
Dream A Little Dream of Me
w/ Tommy Smothers
Make Your Own Kind of Music
Leaving on a Jet Plane
w/John Denver
The Mamas & the Papas Montage
& finally, the big hit that was their bio:
Creeque Alley

I'm a Father!!!! Church Father That Is!


You’re St. Melito of Sardis!

You have a great love of history and liturgy. You’re attached to the traditions of the ancients, yet you recognize that the old world — great as it was — is passing away. You are loyal to the customs of your family, though you do not hesitate to call family members to account for their sins.

Find out which Church Father you are at The Way of the Fathers!



2008 Spirit & Truth Conference©

On 13 September 2008 Springtime of Hope will put on its 4th annual Spirit & Truth Conference© in the Marie Graber Ballroom in the Alumni Campus Center (ACC) @ Loras College, DBQ, IA. The doors open at 7:00 am There will be a Divine Mercy Chaplet at 7:45 am. The conference begins at 8:00 am. There will be a closing Mass at 4:00 pm. There will be oportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation throughout the day. There will be a break for lunch. You can buy a meal in the Cafe' or Pub. The C-Store will have snacks. They are all located in the ACC. There are also resturaunts nearby where you can get a meal.

This year's speakers will be Deacon Alex Jones & Father Peter Stravinskas. Deacon Jones' topics will be No Price Too High, Call to Conversion & Call to Evangelization. Fr. Stravinskas will give 2 talks on The Bible & the Mass.

The cost for the day is $30 for adults, $15 for full-time students or religious. The maximum cost per family is $75. This cost is for pre-registration. If you register the day of the conference there is an additional $10 charge.
To register you can go to the event website & print out a flyer or brochure. They have a registration form. Fill it out & mail it with your check to
Springtime of Hope
3089 Spring Valley Rd.
Dubuque, IA 52001
For more info go to the website or call 563-583-6117.
INFORMATION ON THE SPEAKERS
Deacon Alex Jones was an "on-fire" Pentecostal starting as a teenager and then a minister in inner-city Detroit through the tumultuous '60s and into the '90s when he began to long for more spiritual sustenance which led him to investigate the teachings of the ancient church fathers.
Alex and wife Donna entered the Catholic Church in 2001, along with 54 members of his former congregation. Since his ordination to the Permanent Diaconate, Deacon Jones has traveled and preached widely in many settings at home and abroad. A powerful and popular speaker who uses his gifts to expound the scriptures and bring enthusiasm to his listeners, Deacon Jones is sure to challenge you to grow in your own faith and to follow where Christ leads you.


Fr. Peter Stravinskas was ordained a priest on May 27, 1977. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy in School Administration and Licentiate of Sacred Theology. He has also earned a doctorate in Sacred Theology. He has taught in and administered Catholic educational institutions at the elementary, secondary and university levels.
Father Stravinskas has founded The Catholic Answer and The Catholic Response. He is the founder and superior of the Priestly Society of the Venerable John Henry Cardinal Newman and the executive director of the Catholic Education Foundation. He is also the author of thirty-four books and over 500 articles. He has conducted retreats and lectured world-wide.

Springtime of Hope© is a lay organization formed in response to Vatican II's call for the laity to be salt of the earth and leaven for the world, and in response to John Paul II's call for a "New Evangelization." Our mission is to provide the laity with authentic Catholic teaching through conferences, programs, activities, and continuing education. All is done prayerfully, with the help of the Holy Spirit, for the salvation of souls, the renewal of our dioceses, and the greater glory of God.
Springtime of Hope© is not affiliated with any diocese or organization.
___________
Note: I have attended several of these conferences. They provide an excellent opportunity for growing in your faith. The Springtime of Hope founders, Ruth Becker & Colleen Pasnik, do an excellent job of planning & organizing the day. They have brought in many excellent speakers for the various conferences over the years.
I must admit that I am friends with both Ruth & Colleen. I only say this to keep from being accused of conflict of interest in my promoting their conference. Yes, I want to help them, but that doesn't diminish the fact that I believe this conference is well worth attending. Nor does my working at & being an alumni of Loras College play a factor.

God's Divine Planning

I know that many a person would say that this is just pure coincidence. & from a human standpoint, it probably would be. However, I don't think it is.
So, what am I talking about?
I'm talking about Planned Parenthood's (PP) recent unsuccesful attempt find a place to open a site here in DBQ. An attempt that is ongoing.
& I am talking about 2 upcoming Pro-Life events in the area.
The 1st is a Pro-Life Mass at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in E. DBQ. On Tuesday, 5 August 2008 they will be the site for the monthly Rockford Diocese's Pro-Life Mass. The evening begins with a Rosary for Life at 6:40pm followed by Holy Mass at 7:00pm and veneration of an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. After Mass Patricia Bainbridge will speak on "Conscientious Voting". The evening ends with a social hour including refreshments, pro-life displays and pro-life literature.
6 days later on Monday, 11 August 2008 there will be a 2nd Pro-Life Mass in the area. This Mass will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Key West. Father Peter West from Priests for Life will be the main celebrant. The Mass starts at 7:30 pm. It will be followed by a processional to the Memorial to the Unborn at Mount Olivet Cemetery.
Like I said, I don't think this is coincidence in any way shape or form. I have said again & again that all Pro-Life activity needs to be undergirded by prayer. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is the most powerful prayer out there. God knew we would need all the spiritual help we can in this battle against evil. Armed with prayer, I believe we will win. PP will not succeed.
So, please join us in praying that PP will be kept out of the DBQ area. Esp pray that any attempts to sneak in using cover corporations or other subterfuge will be brought to light so it can be stopped. & if you can attend 1 or both Masses please do so.

Labels:

The Latest From Rome?

At least according to HWTN"s program The Daily Show with Henry Cardinal Stuart. (Friday 25 July 2008)

"...in recent Vatican news, Pope Benedict XVI ended speculation about Cardinal Arinze's replacement, announcing the new head of the Congregation for Divine Worship was an invincible Dalek warrior from the planet Skaro. Benedict explained this move would mark the beginning of a new era of decisiveness. When asked his opinion on the future of ICEL, the extraterrestrial prelate responded, 'Exterminate! Exterminate!' Commentators cautioned at reading too much into this statement, considering that is about the only thing Daleks say, until, when questioned about the USCCB, the new prefect responded 'Ineffable! Infeffable!'



The new "no-nonsense" head of the Congregation for Divine Worship
"...in other news, a mysterious priest calling himself only 'Father Qui' and wearing a cassock and converse sneakers has been sighted in the Rome area. It is thought his appearance has something to do with reports of a flying blue confessional box seen in the vicinity of St. Peter's. The new head of the CDW has not been available for comment on this matter..."

Monday, July 28, 2008

How Capitalism Saved America

The Untold History of Our Country, From the Pilgrims to the Present
by Thomas DiLorenzo

Hardcover: Crown Forum (August 10, 2004)
ISBN-10: 0761525262
ISBN-13: 978-0761525264
Paperback: 304 pages Three Rivers Press (August 23, 2005)
ISBN-10: 1400083311
ISBN-13: 978-1400083312



"The free market is an institution of social importance because of its capacity to guarantee effective results in the production of goods and services."

"“(T)he free market is the most efficient instrument for utilizing resources and effectively responding to needs.”"

"A truly competitive market is an effective instrument for attaining important objectives of justice." Quotes taken from Paragraph 347 of the Catholic Church's Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church


I know some people are wondering why I am starting out this review with quotes from the Official Teachings of the Catholic Church. Simple. This book demonstrates the truth of what the Catholic Church teaches on capitalism & the free market. Over the years you hear that the Catholic Church puts capitalism on the same level as socialism as an economic system. It doesn't. It approves as capitalism as these quotes show. It disapproves of mechantilism which often masquerades itself as capitalism. This book along with Thomas Woods' book The Church and the Market: A Catholic Defense of the Free Economy shows us what capitalism really is & how it is ment to function properly. (I will get to Thomas Woods book at another time.)

I just recently discovered this book. That is why I am just getting arround to reviewing it.

While Tom Woods' book debunks the "social justice" anti-capitalist views within the Catholic Church, this book sets out to debunk the myths that anticapitalists use to justify their attempts to turn America into their socialist nightmare. Another of Tom Woods' books, How the Catholic Church Built Western Civilization shows the origins of capitalism via the Catholic Church. In a sense this book is a sequel that shows how (when allowed to function properly) capitalism has lived up to its promise.
With so many myths about what capitalism is out there he starts out this book in the logical way, by explaining what capitalism really is. He then goes on to show the link between private property & capitalism.
Of course, after explaining what capitalism is, he then looks at anticapitalism. Obviously, that means he looks at socialism & what is wrong with it. But socialism isn't the only form of anticapitalism. There is another that often masquerades itself as capitalism, mercantilism.
After laying the groundwork he then takes us on an economic trip through the history of the USA, the good, the bad & the ugly. He shows that when capitalism is allowed to function properly, it has worked to bring about a better life for us all. But when socialism or mercantilism is in the ascent, then the results are not so pretty.
I won't go into detail about a lot of the things he looks at, why ruin your fun. But, I will look at a couple of things he talks about that I found especially interesting. Before I do, I have to comment on an arguement that I have seen by those who oppose his point of view, that he misrepresents history. In the areas where I am familiar with the historical facts he was very accurate. I feel it safe to assume that he got the rest as accurate.
1 chapter that esp caught my interest was his chapter on "robber barrons". I bet you think he is going to unconditionally defend all those who were labelled as 'robber barons". WRONG!!!! He shows the difference between the real market entrepenuers & the politcial entrepenuers that were the real "robber barons".
As a railroad buff, I knew that in the late 1800s railroads got a bad name. Sadly many of them deserved the bad name. They used government largesse to poorly build their roads while ripping off the public. But, there were the good guys. James J. Hill was 1 of those. He built the Great Northern RR without any government help. & unlike those railroads that got the land & cash, the GN never went bankrupt. Why? Because he knew that he had to provide a product at a reasonable price that would appeal to the consumer. In this case, a high quality railroad that charged reasonable prices & provided excellent service. Meanwhile we have the gang at the Union Pacific (UP) & Central Pacific (CP) who reaped the government largesse. Did they play fairly, or honestly? NO! CP's Leland Stanford used his politcal connections to create a monoply for the CP in California. & let's not forget 1 of the fruits of the UP's cupidity has gone down in history as the Crédit Mobilier scandal.
& while Hill's GN was charging fair rates, the others were ripping off consumers. The result, the government passed laws that punished Hill & forced the GN to charge higher rates. Yup, the villians who were overcharging the consumers were rewarded in the name of consumer protection. I especiall like how DiLorenzo sums up this section of his book. "(A)lthough this designation (robber baron) definitely does not apply to James J. Hill. It does apply to his to his subsidized competitors, who deserve all the condemnation that history has provided them. (Also deserving of condemnation are the politicians who subsidized them, enabling their monopoly and corruption.)" I couldn't agree more.
As I read thrugh the part on John D. Rockefeller & Standard Oil I began to wonder how much cheaper gasoline would be today if they had left him alone.
The other chapter that caught my interest in a special way was his look at the Great Depression. In particular what President Herbert Hoover did & didn't do. If you haven't guessed, the reason is because Hoover was from Iowa. (I'm a proud Iowa Boy, remember!) Hoover has been portrayed as being laissez-faire versus Roosevelt who was interventionalist & ended the depression. WRONG!!!!! on both counts. Hoover was just as interventionalist as Roosevelt, with just as disasterous results. The Smoot-Hawley Tarrif stands out as a prime example of Hoover's misteps. (Even Ben Stein said so in Ferris Bueller's Day Off. He was adlibing as the econ teacher beacuse he was an economist. & he talked about what a disaster it was.)
As for Hoover's false rep, I have to agree with DiLorenzo's opinion. "It is truly stunning and reflects a remarkable feat of propaganda." Although he doesn't say why Hoover got this rap, I have my suspicions. If the truth was out there then the myth of FDR would collapse from its own weight.
& the battles against capitalism continue to today. We have the real "stupid white man", Michael Moore spreading his lies. Ironically, as a socialist he has made a fotune using capitalist methods. he found a product that some people will buy & he has sold it. (As for how he & so many other big government socialists don't practice what they preach, I've already coverd that in another book review.)
The only people who will not like this book will be those who are out to destroy capitalism. For those who buy their message but are sincerely searching for the truth, this book will be uncomfortable & in the end, an eye opener that will make you angry, at the lies you were told in the past.
The new X-Files movie just came out. 1 of the TV series tag-lines was "The truth is out there." Well, the truth about capitalism is out there. & this book contains it. This is 1 of a much needed, but too few, books that have come out in recent years that stands up for the truth about capitalism. Thank God that he wrote it.
This book is a must read for those who want the truth. It is a primer to help anyone who wants to defend capitalism. Given that it is an overview, it doesn't cover everything in detail, it can't. But I hope it will inspire many more books besides those mentioned in his bibliography that will go into details of the various eras.
____________
Thomas J. DiLorenzo is an American professor of economics at Loyola College in Maryland. He is a senior faculty member of the Ludwig von Mises Institute and an affiliated scholar of the League of the South Institute, the research arm of the League of the South and the Abbeville Institute. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Virginia Tech. He has authored or co-authored over 10 other books on subjects such as antitrust, group-interest politics, and interventionism generally including The Real Lincoln.
________________
Note: As you can guess from the way I started this post out, I am not a "social justice" fan. I am for true social justice as really taught by the Catholic Church & found in the Cathechism & Social Doctrine Compendium. That is why I am a fan of Tom Woods book as well as this book. The socialists inside & outside of the Catholic Church may not want to hear the truth, but they are helping to get the truth out, if you really want to help the poor, help capitalism to work as it should.

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Maybe There is Hope for the Dems to Return to Being Pro-Life

The Wall Street Journal recently published an article by Steven Waldman entitled Obama Faces Tough Choice as Democrats Split on Abortion. In the article he discusses the split that is developing in the Democratic party between progressive evangelicals who want Obama to embrace an “abortion reduction agenda” & pro-abortion activists that say that agenda implies that “given the choice, having a baby is a more moral choice.”
I have a question, I thought the pro-choice (pro-abort) group wanting aboprtion to be safe, legal & rare. Isn't that what they claim. Yet, when given an oportunity to do so by an agenda aimed at "improving economic support for women so they won’t feel financially pressured into having abortions" they scream out against it. In no way, shape or form does it say having a baby is the more moral choice. It is saying that we want them to be able to make a decision without feeling pressured in any way, shape or form.
Pro-aborts, I've got news for you, having a baby isn't the more moral choice, it is the ONLY moral choice.
Progressive evangelicals, I also have news for you, anything that allows abortion to be considered a valid option is not of God. In supporting anything that does so, you are only deceiving yourselves & putting your souls at grave risk of eternal damnation. Abortion is intrinsicly evil. That is why the Church has always condemned the practice. If you doubt me, I'd advise you to read a writing from the Apostolic Fathers called The Didache (The Teaching of the 12 Apostles). Check out Chapter 2, verse 2 in particular. It was written about the year 100. The early Church in doing this was following in the teaching of the Jewish faith long before this.
There was 1 thing in this article I found sad. He wrote "Evangelicals and, to a lesser extent, Catholics tend to oppose abortion." Real Catholics oppose abortion, Catholics in Name Only (CINOs) don't. Mr. Waldman, CINOs are not really Catholic. Please don't make it sound like they represent a valid position within the Catholic Church. They don't!!!!!
& given some of Sen. Bob Casey's votes, I have a hard time considering him to be Pro-Life. He has betrayed his father & his faith by supporting birth control as well as continued funding of abortion.
Do I think that the Dems will return to being Pro-Life? No. But the split shows that the claim that there is overwhelming support for upholding Roe v Wade legalizing abortion isn't true as the pro-aborts say it is.
What I see happenning is that as more & more people come to understand what abortion is really all about, there will be less & less support for it. & as long as the Democratic party sells its soul to the pro-aborts it will continue to find itself losing support. That doesn't mean it will automatically go to the Republicans either. The support will go to those candidates that are unequivocally Pro-Life.
In the short run, the Dems may still win elections. In the long term, they will be on the losing side, just as they were when it came to slavery.

Maybe God Did Make Earth the Center of the Universe

News report: Solar Systems Like Ours May Be Rare

"As humans look farther into the universe and discover more and more planets beyond the sun, many wonder how typical our own solar system is. Often astronomers in the planet-hunting business say discoveries of Earth-like worlds are just around the corner.
But a new study indicates our setup may be rare indeed.
A group of astronomers surveyed sun-like stars in the Orion nebula open cluster and found that fewer than 10 percent have enough surrounding dust to make Jupiter-sized planets.
"We think that most stars in the galaxy are formed in dense, Orion-like regions, so this implies that systems like ours may be the exception rather than the rule," said researcher Joshua Eisner, an astrophysicist at the University of California, Berkeley.
That's important because giant planets like Jupiter may be instrumental in fostering life on rocky worlds like Earth.
Eisner and his team observed about 250 stars in the million-year-old Orion Nebula, looking for dense disks of dust surrounding the stars that could be forming planets. They found that only about 10 percent of the stars emitted radiation in the frequency that would indicate they have these proto-planetary disks of warm dust. And only 8 percent of the stars surveyed had dust disks with masses greater than one-hundredth the mass of the sun, a mass thought to be the lower limit for formation of Jupiter-sized planets.
These findings seem to agree with what planet hunters are finding so far when they use radial velocity studies to detect extrasolar planets around other stars. (The radial velocity approach involves looking for a wobble in a star's motion caused by the slight gravitational pull of an orbiting planet.)
"The current numbers are suggesting 6 to 10 percent of stars have Jupiter-sized planets, which is exactly consistent with our findings," Eisner told SPACE.com." (emphasis mine)

I have to start by saying that finding another planet with sentient life on it will not affect my faith 1 way or another. There is nothing in the Bible or Catholic teaching that says there cannot be life elsewhere. Of course, if you want to be technical, there IS life elsewhere besides Earth. There are angels in Heaven, souls in Heaven, souls in hell, demons in hell.

I also have to add that when I mean that Earth is the center of the universe, I am speaking figuratively. Given that the universe (cosmos) appears to be infinite, everywhere & nowhere are the center. What I mean by center is that we are the focus of God's purpose in creating the universe. Why?

Despite what some anti-God people claim, the facts are becoming more & more apparent that there has to be a purpose in why things are as they are. Given the fact that they haven't found any more places where human life can survive, it is looking more & more like Earth was designed specifically by God to hold human life.
If things popped up totally by chance, then why is it becoming apparent that the odds are against a Solar System like ours?
When you check out the variety of stars, there are quite a few like our Sun. There doesn't seem to be any special preference for or against that type (class G). Yet, while they have found what they call super-Earths they haven't found any twins to Earth.

Given the variety of planets & moons in our Solar System alone, I would expect there to be no less variety elsewhere. & as time goes on, there might even be 1 or 2 that might, just might, be somewhat similar to Earth. I won't close the door on the possibility. The ability to find even giant planets or super-Earths is fairly recent. As our technology improves they might find an Earth twin.
So, if we do find another Earthlike planet that doesn't mean there will be life on it. & if there is, that it will be sentient. Even more important than sentience is whether or not the beings have an immortal soul. If they do, then they were made just as much in the image & likeness of God as we were. Will our sin have affected them? I don't know! These are questions that don't really matter now. & when they do, we will already have the answers.
Whatever may, or may not, be out there, the fact is that God created it. & in the end, that is the biggest problem that most so-called atheists have. The existence of God. By so-called, I am refering to that group that claims God doesn't exist, yet everything they do seems to be a fight against God. They have a very visible hatred towards God. How can you hate something that doesn't really exist? You don't.
My answer is simple, & 1 they will deny. They know deep down that God really does exist. Because He does, that means there are some things that are intrinsicly sinful. & they don't want to give up their sinfulness. They are looking for any & every way to deny this. & they know that in the end they can't. God does exist, there is sucha thing as sin. Jesus died for our sins. & they will have to answer for their choice to accept or reject Him.
I am sure that some athiests can come up with answers to my questions. & some may be able to express themselves in a way that is much, much better than the poor job I have done defending my views in this post. But, will they be valid arguements, or wishful thinking on their part? I supect the latter.

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Care to Bet That Planned Parenthood Will Order This DVD for All Its Clinics?

I didn't think so, on both counts!



Labels:

A Traddy womynpriest?

Not really. There is an explanation for this oxymoron. Mac McLernon decided to have a little bit of fun with the ridiculousness of those so-called womynpriests who are playing at being priests. & playing is the right word as there is no way in the Theological Place of Eternal Damnation that they ever could be validly ordained. (Although unless the repent & are reconciled with the Catholic Church that is where they have a good chance of ending up.) So she wrote a post, I Have Seen The Error Of My Ways..., in which she explains, with tongue firmly planted in cheek, why she feels called to be a Traddy womynpriest.


"Having seen these photos on the Curt Jester's excellent blog, I have been inspired. I feel sure that I am called and chosen... I have a vocation to the ordained priesthood. YES ! I want to become a womynpriest.
BUT... not just any old womynpriest. I like Latin, and snazzy vestments, and I believe in Tradition, and so I am totally convinced that I am called to be a Traddy womynpriest."
Naturally she realizes her doing so raises some practical questions that need answers. Fortunately Fr. John Zuhlsdorf (What Does the Prayer Really Say?) heard about her dilemma & shared with her from his fount of wisdom, with his tongue just as firmly planted in cheek. (QUAERITUR: advice for a wymynpryst wannabe ) [Questions in blue, Fr. Z's answers in red]
So, I have a few questions for my soon-to-be-fellow clerics:
(1) Should I remove my mantilla while being ordained to the Minor Order of exorcist?
[Perhaps the best solution here is to handle the mantilla much as the real cleric would handle the amice. When you play dress up ... er um… vest for not-Mass, do as a real priest does. Before putting on the amice, place the mantilla over your … hair… and then, avoiding contact with earrings, shift it down to the neck reciting the following: "Sapiens mulier aedificavit domum suam insipiens instructam quoque destruet manibus". For the Novus Ordo the mantilla should be left abased…. but they don’t have exorcists, do they… never mind. For the TLM, however, in respect for Paul’s injunction, it should then be brought back up over the hair and bound down under the amice.]
(2) Does anyone know whether buckled shoes are available with stiletto heels?
[WDTPRS doesn’t know. Sadly, there are a few clerics who would gladly help you find some. There are also issues of silk-stockings to be considered. But that must be left for another day.]
(3) What action should one take when a false nail falls into the chalice after the Consecration? (Ditto for false eyelashes!)
[For heaven’s sake! This should be clear from our first principles. Noobies! The false nail should be fished out, burned, and the ashes put down the sacrarium. The eyelash, if possible, should be consumed, but, alternatively, it can also be burned, etc. It is advised that the nails be of the proper liturgical color for the Mass of the day, or at least of the season. CAVEAT: false nails and eyelashes should only be used for the NO. In the TLM, a certain measure of old-fashioned decorum should be observed. In olden days simple-clerics and Latin priests were not allowed to have facial hair (in this case the false eyelashes would apply… if you get my drift) or rings, jewelry, other vanities (such as false-nails). This would pertain to those groovy clerics who build up their nails with super-glue and tissue in order to play the guitar. NB: If a nail is broken playing guitar during Mass, the guitar should immediately be burned and the ashes dumped unceremoniously outside somewhere.]
(4) Would a clerical tonsure remove the need to have my roots re-touched?
[Depending on the size of the tonsure, obviously! However, in the case of the small tonsure remember the caveat about the nails: proper liturgical colors, please.]
(5) How can one remove lipstick stains from a purificator?
[Silly woman! Consult the women who clean the linens in those places where Unnecessary Ministers of "the Cup" are distributing the Precious Blood at Communion, and don’t waste our valuable time here. Sheesh!]
(6) Are tie-dye stoles obligatory? (because I really prefer embroidered ones!)
(7) Is it permissible to knit when assisting in choir?
[Knit? The well-trained cleric answers these questions based on sound principles. For example, every priest knows that while it is not permissible to smoke while reciting one’s Office, it is certainly permissible to pray while smoking. Thus, the two activities can occur simultaneously. The same would apply to the consumption of gins-and-tonic or perhaps hors d’œuvre. Knitting would be covered by the same principle. However, there is another problem with knitting. It would make the proper handling of the biretta very awkward. Knitting in choir is therefore imprudent. And think of all that non-rubrical clacking – even when it isn’t Good Friday, the digging in the bag - and how does one carry the bag in procession? – , the counting, etc! Problems abound and multiply. WDTPRS says "No!", and rather firmly. Don’t knit in choir.]
I'm sure that there are plenty of issues which need clarification... feel free to add them to the com-box.
UPDATE: It just occurred to me… this "Seal of the Confessional" thing… it doesn’t actually apply to really juicy bits of gossip, does it? I mean, what else can one talk about at the monthly parish coffee-and-cake mornings??

[My recommendation is – and this might be repeated frequently – repetita iuvant after all – "Keep your mouth shut!". After all, the whole ordination is against nature itself, so why not take it the next logical step? As a help in this surely difficult enterprise, perhaps it would be good to meditate at length on the words the real... er um… the priest says during the incensation of the altar at a Missa cantata or Missa solemnis: Pone, Domine, custodiam ori meo, et ostium circumstantiae labiis meis: ut non declinet cor meum in verba malitiae, ad excusandas excusationes in peccatis. A lot to chew over there, ... in silence of course. When these and other rubrical fashion problems are burdensome, it is recommended to repeat, together over coffee if necessary, the Ephipany Introit: Dum medium silentium tenerent omnia, et nox in suo cursu edium iter haberet, omnipotens sermo tuus, Domine, de caelis a regalibus sedibus venit. Dominus regnavit, decorum indutus est: indutus est Dominius fortitudinem, et praecinxit se.]
& the help doesn't end there. In a comment to the post Fr Steven Fisher helped out with some of his own answers:

1. Since a woman may not speak in Church (as St Paul says) it will be necessary to say Mass sotto voce (including the sermon)
2. Lipstick must be the colour of the Mass being said. If there are commemorations then it would be fitting to add the colour that one would be wearing were one to be saying a votive Mass of the one being commemorated as a vertical stripe down the mouth.
3. The hair must be tied back (same rules as to colour as number 2)
4. You will have to put on about 6 stone to get the right look of a womanpriest...and age a bit as well.
5. Remember that everything must be sung in Latin at a traditional Mass. Thus "we shall overcome" is not acceptable. May I propose "evincemus, evincemus, aliquando diem evincemus". You can sing it in the 7th mode.
6. Don't be silly. Tie die stoles aren't mandatory; just tie die maniples.
Some of her other readers offered some helpful comments as well:
japhy:
Please remember that, after having consumed the Precious Body and Blood, and before performing the ablutions and purification of the sacred vessels, you must turn to one of the altar servers and ask if you have anything stuck in your teeth.
Calvin Klein make some excellent incense fragrances; "Obsession" and "Jealousy" come to mind.
As far as undergarments are concerned, I understand fiddleback bras are preferred to racerback bras.
Finally, for modesty's sake, you may want to consider courtseying instead of bowing!
Mary in CO:
Mac, #5 is a question only a sensitive womynpriest such as yourself would raise. Pondered it a while and realized: Colorstay lip gloss, of course! And the trendy Traddy womynpriest will wear seasonal colors: Ordinary Green, Purgation Purple, Royal Red, Rejoicing Rose, and
"Why is this right?" White.
(She goes on to ask an excellent question)That photo had me wondering if the 3 womynpriests were ordained after a Vicar of Dibley marathon weekend?
Maybe, but at least everyone knew that show was ficticious as well as a comedy. These poncho ladies delusionally think they are seriously living in reality when they aren't.

On the 40th Anniversary of Humanae Vitae

The Catholic Church is in the process of celebrating the 40th anniversary of the prophetic and landmark encyclical of Pope Paul VI, Humanae Vitae, on human life. At the time the Holy Father promulgated the encyclical there was a general spirit of dissent in the air. This inspired document put the dissenters into yet a new orbit, even further from the center of Church teaching. Their lack of humility resulted in disobedience, ultimately resulting in moral death for them and countless others.
What has resulted from the rejection of the principles contained in this great document is a catastrophe of unprecedented proportions. “Life begins at conception. Abortion begins at artificial contraception.” Pope Paul VI prophetically predicted that if artificial contraception were to become generally acceptable in society, then abortion would inevitably become just another means of artificial contraception. Today, not only have what is approaching one billion children been murdered in the name of “choice” worldwide, but a host of incredible evils have followed in the wake of the rejection of the Holy Father’s teaching on life.
Pope John Paul II called abortion murder in the clear and inspired language of his encyclical Evangelium vitae. If a single abortion is homicide—and it is—then the cumulative result of abortion on demand is genocide. Numbers of innocent and helpless children totaling more than the population of large countries have been annihilated. Can a society that elevates such an outrage to the noble status of law be pleasing to God? Or, will God’s patience soon run out and visit an avalanche of natural disasters, wars, chaos, and economic collapse on the perpetrators of such violence and evil?
I have no doubt whatever that the Western world is headed for collapse and annihilation, and it will be by suicide, not at the hand of terrorists or enemy states—although that may well facilitate the demise. As Abraham Lincoln asserted, “If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide.”
The Western world’s wholesale rejection of the teaching of “Humanae Vitae” ushered in a death wish that is even now well on its way to completion. Pseudo-Christian Europe has had an extremely low birthrate for decades, while the burgeoning Muslim population is growing exponentially. With the average European family having less than 2 children and the average Muslim family having 8-10 children it won’t be long until Europe as we know it will be no more. Muslims vote and they will vote to radically alter laws that facilitate gross immorality. God may use them to chastise a decadent West. I assure you they will not need bombs and bullets; mathematics will more than suffice.
The unspiritual person cannot see reality as it is, hence they cannot discern the advancing disaster of our rejection of both common sense and proper morality. The spiritual person must pray fervently for the Spirit of God to discern reality as it is. (i.e., 1 Corinthians 2:12-16). Things such as artificial contraception, abortion, homosexual sex, and euthanasia all have something in common—They have no life in them. They are part of a death wish that when brought to its inevitable conclusion will result in the annihilation of the West as we know it, if something isn’t done to change course immediately.
Every one of us, as disciples of Christ, must pray and sacrifice for the cause of life, and do so with earnest. The hour is late and time is now short. The battle between truth and lies, good and evil, life and death rages on toward its consummation. We know the ultimate outcome—truth, the good, and life is victorious in Christ the Conqueror. We, however, must fight the good fight. How we shall live forever is determined by how we live now. We are being called upon by the Spirit of God to be the saints of these times. How we respond to the call will dictate the rise and fall of nations, and the eternal salvation of many.
“Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).
God bless you,
Fr. John Corapi

Friday, July 25, 2008

Maybe the Dems Do Have a Prayer. . . .

just not the 1 they hope for.

Several groups are organizing a demonstration for the 2008 Democratic National Convention. No, I am not talking about that group of retro moonbats that calls themselves Recreate 68. Nor am I talking about the ACLU (Anti-Civil Libeties Union) who is POed at the Dems & have actually sued them demanding info on the security arrangements for the convention.
In this case I am talking about an event called A Prayer for Change. & it is being organized by the Christian Defense Coalition, Survivors, Operation Rescue and other pro-life groups. There will be a series of prayer vigils, rallies, demonstrations, concerts and public events at the DNC.
Why are they doing this? Simple, they want to expose the radical pro-abortion of Senator Barack Obama at the Democratic Party. "The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, Barack Obama, is unashamedly pro-abortion. It would be tragic if the DNC were held, openly supporting a radical pro-abortion agenda, and the people of God did not respond with a strong Christ-centered public witness." "(T)he Democratic Party as a whole continues to embrace the lie of abortion, advocating death for American children."
Their reasoning is very much in line with what I have said time after time in this blog. "We know that history can be changed and attitudes shifted as Christians intercede for God’s power and mercy. We believe abortion will end in America as the Church repents and boldly works and prays to end the killing of these innocents." "(I)t is our responsibility to confront the Democratic Party with the truth of abortion, and call for an end to America’s war on the preborn at the Democratic National Convention."
I know that this is the very thing that the Dems don't want. But, so what? What God wants is more important. & what He wants is an end of abortion. But he also wants those who support abortion to turn from their sin, repent & turn too God. & it can happen. That is why I called for people to pray the Rosary (Playing With Fire?) for Obama's conversion.
The Church needs to repent of its part in abortion here in the USA & elsewhere. For many, it isn't because we directly support abortion, it is for the same reason Daniel said a prayer of repentance (Daniel 9), as a part of a nation that has sinned we have a part in that sin. So repentance needs to begin with us.
While they are basically Pro-Life, this doesn't absolve us from praying for the Republican Party either. The 2008 Iowa Republican Party Platform starts out with their 1st plank entitled A Right to Life, there are those on the National level who want to water down or remove any Pro-Life wording in the platform. There are a large number of strong Pro-Life delegates going to the convention in September. However, there are ways of sneaking things through that could happen if they are not alert. So pray that any attempts to make the party less Pro-Life will be thwarted.
Being involved politically is important. But prayer needs to come 1st. It is only through prayer & inviting God in to work that true & permanent change can take place. As Christians we DO NOT put our trust in any political party, we put our trust in Jesus Christ. Our prayer will call us to action, icluding political involvement. But our involvement needs to be with an attitude of letting Christ work through us to bring the change He desires about.
I wish I could be in Denver to participate in the events. I can't. If you can, please sign up & participate. If you can't go like me, then you can do what I am doing, repenting, praying, interceding & expecting God to move powerfully through our combined prayer during the 2008 Democratic Convention. Obama is promising change. Let's pray that change does come about, but not in the way he expects.

Humanae vitae - 40 Years later & Still Just As True

Humanae vitae was officially issued by Pope Paul VI on this day in 1968. From the start it generated a firestorm. & then it was promptly ignored by all those who think they know better than God what God's plans for sex & marriage are.
In preparing to write this post I dud out my copy of Humanae vitae to refresh my memory of what it said. As I read it, I was impressed with how fresh & vital a message for today that was contained within it.
Pope Paul made it clear from the start that what he was going to say was based on "natural law" established by God. "Marriage, then, is far from being the effect of chance or the result of the blind evolution of natural forces. It is in reality the wise and provident institution of God the Creator, whose purpose was to effect in man His loving design. As a consequence, husband and wife, through that mutual gift of themselves, which is specific and exclusive to them alone, develop that union of two persons in which they perfect one another, cooperating with God in the generation and rearing of new lives. " (emphasis mine)
OK, before I go any further, I am sure some of you who hav never read the encyclical still recognize what I emphasised. You should, esp if you know anything about Pope John Paul the Great's Theology of the Body. That series of talks took the heart of this Encyclical & gave it flesh & bones. But even more so, the reason why they are so similar is that the source of many of the arguements used was the writings of then Archbishop Karol Wojtyła, the future pope.
"The sexual activity, in which husband and wife are intimately and chastely united with one another, through which human life is transmitted, is, as the recent Council recalled, "noble and worthy.'' It does not, moreover, cease to be legitimate even when, for reasons independent of their will, it is foreseen to be infertile. For its natural adaptation to the expression and strengthening of the union of husband and wife is not thereby suppressed. The fact is, as experience shows, that new life is not the result of each and every act of sexual intercourse. God has wisely ordered laws of nature and the incidence of fertility in such a way that successive births are already naturally spaced through the inherent operation of these laws. The Church, nevertheless, in urging men to the observance of the precepts of the natural law, which it interprets by its constant doctrine, teaches that each and every marital act must of necessity retain its intrinsic relationship to the procreation of human life."
After making it clear that marriage is divinely ordered Pope Paul explains why artificial birth control is wrong, unconditionally. "If they further reflect, they must also recognize that an act of mutual love which impairs the capacity to transmit life which God the Creator, through specific laws, has built into it, frustrates His design which constitutes the norm of marriage, and contradicts the will of the Author of life. Hence to use this divine gift while depriving it, even if only partially, of its meaning and purpose, is equally repugnant to the nature of man and of woman, and is consequently in opposition to the plan of God and His holy will."
Pope Paul takes on some specific arguements in favor of birth control & shows why they are wrong. "Neither is it valid to argue, as a justification for sexual intercourse which is deliberately contraceptive, that a lesser evil is to be preferred to a greater one, or that such intercourse would merge with procreative acts of past and future to form a single entity, and so be qualified by exactly the same moral goodness as these. Though it is true that sometimes it is lawful to tolerate a lesser moral evil in order to avoid a greater evil or in order to promote a greater good," it is never lawful, even for the gravest reasons, to do evil that good may come of it—in other words, to intend directly something which of its very nature contradicts the moral order, and which must therefore be judged unworthy of man, even though the intention is to protect or promote the welfare of an individual, of a family or of society in general. Consequently, it is a serious error to think that a whole married life of otherwise normal relations can justify sexual intercourse which is deliberately contraceptive and so intrinsically wrong."
Yet over the years the very thing he warned about has come to be. & the evil consequences he predicted have come to pass. "Responsible men can become more deeply convinced of the truth of the doctrine laid down by the Church on this issue if they reflect on the consequences of methods and plans for artificial birth control. Let them first consider how easily this course of action could open wide the way for marital infidelity and a general lowering of moral standards. (Do I even have to point out how well this describes the current status of our society?) Not much experience is needed to be fully aware of human weakness and to understand that human beings—and especially the young, who are so exposed to temptation—need incentives to keep the moral law, and it is an evil thing to make it easy for them to break that law. Another effect that gives cause for alarm is that a man who grows accustomed to the use of contraceptive methods may forget the reverence due to a woman, and, disregarding her physical and emotional equilibrium, reduce her to being a mere instrument for the satisfaction of his own desires, no longer considering her as his partner whom he should surround with care and affection. (Anyone listened to much of today's rap lyrics that describe women in just sucah a way as this? & let's not forget the fact that most men have abandoned their responsibilities as fathers because of the attitudes arround abortion.)"
"Finally, careful consideration should be given to the danger of this power passing into the hands of those public authorities who care little for the precepts of the moral law. Who will blame a government which in its attempt to resolve the problems affecting an entire country resorts to the same measures as are regarded as lawful by married people in the solution of a particular family difficulty? Who will prevent public authorities from favoring those contraceptive methods which they consider more effective? Should they regard this as necessary, they may even impose their use on everyone. It could well happen, therefore, that when people, either individually or in family or social life, experience the inherent difficulties of the divine law and are determined to avoid them, they may give into the hands of public authorities the power to intervene in the most personal and intimate responsibility of husband and wife." (Communist China's population control policies, 1 child, forced abortion, forced sterilization illustrate the truth of this perfectly.)
Pope Paul even forsaw the arguements against what he said & made it clear that it wasn't his words but that he was merely fullfilling his role as cheif shepherd by proclaiming God's truth in this situation.
"It is to be anticipated that perhaps not everyone will easily accept this particular teaching. There is too much clamorous outcry against the voice of the Church, and this is intensified by modern means of communication. But it comes as no surprise to the Church that she, no less than her divine Founder, is destined to be a "sign of contradiction." She does not, because of this, evade the duty imposed on her of proclaiming humbly but firmly the entire moral law, both natural and evangelical."
"Since the Church did not make either of these laws, she cannot be their arbiter—only their guardian and interpreter. It could never be right for her to declare lawful what is in fact unlawful, since that, by its very nature, is always opposed to the true good of man."
"In preserving intact the whole moral law of marriage, the Church is convinced that she is contributing to the creation of a truly human civilization. She urges man not to betray his personal responsibilities by putting all his faith in technical expedients. In this way she defends the dignity of husband and wife. This course of action shows that the Church, loyal to the example and teaching of the divine Savior, is sincere and unselfish in her regard for men whom she strives to help even now during this earthly pilgrimage "to share God's life as sons of the living God, the Father of all men." "
Plain & simple: ""Human life is sacred—all men must recognize that fact," Our predecessor Pope John XXIII recalled. "From its very inception it reveals the creating hand of God."" That is why Pope Paul had no choice. He had to uphold the 2000 yr old teachings of the Church. As he points out early in the encyclical: "No member of the faithful could possibly deny that the Church is competent in her magisterium to interpret the natural moral law. (Sadly, there are many peole who do this very thing, claim to be faithful. Yet, by their very dissent to authentic teaching such as this prove they are anything but.) It is in fact indisputable, as Our predecessors have many times declared, that Jesus Christ, when He communicated His divine power to Peter and the other Apostles and sent them to teach all nations His commandments, constituted them as the authentic guardians and interpreters of the whole moral law, not only, that is, of the law of the Gospel but also of the natural law. For the natural law, too, declares the will of God, and its faithful observance is necessary for men's eternal salvation." (This is why all valid laws must be in conformity with "natural law", something clearly stated in America's Declaration of Independence.)
In recent years there has been a growing appreciation of the message of Humanae vitae among those in the Pro-life movement. American Life League, Human Life International & Priests for Life have all been encouraging people to read & study this watershed encyclical.
"As we know and have repeated many times over the past 29 years, Humanae Vitae's message is the core of our struggle to ending the culture of death not only in America, but in the world. Pope Paul VI's encyclical is profound, and the message cannot be repeated often enough, particularly in our age of rejecting God in favor of moral relativism. I think sometimes we fail to remember that even those in our midst who claim leadership roles can frequently, and with increasing bravado, claim to deny the fundamental facts as we know them. This is what we call moral relativism, and it is a cancer that has tragically attacked the body politic in America and in the Catholic Church in particular. " Judie Brown - American Life League
"Humanae vitae, the papal encyclical “on the transmission of life,” stands as a solid bulwark against the constant degradation of marriage and family in our modern age. Like Jesus, this teaching is indeed a “sign of contradiction” and even a reproach to those who wish to give human selfishness unbridled permission to wreak havoc on these divine institutions. The dissenters infiltrating our own Church say that this encyclical is “indicative of church hierarchical dysfunction” (National Catholic Reporter) or that millions are “dying as a result of the ban [on contraception]” (“Catholics” for a Free Choice), but in the face of all that dissent, we must say, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” And for those who do, in fact, “know what they do,” we offer prayer and fasting for their sins." Fr. Thomas Euteneuer - Human Life International
"Many know of Pope Paul VI's document Humanae Vitae as the "Birth Control" encyclical. Actually, it treats of "control" in a much broader sense than the regulation of birth. This is a document that addresses the question, Who is my God? Who is in charge of my life?
Humanae Vitae does not identify the key problem of our day in the realm of sex or birth or "the pill," but rather in the myth that we can be God. Pope Paul writes at the beginning of the document, "But the most remarkable development of all is to be seen in man's stupendous progress in the domination and rational organization of the forces of nature to the point that he is endeavoring to extend this control over every aspect of his own life -- over his body, over his mind and emotions, over his social life, and even over the laws that regulate the transmission of life" (HV #2).
The Pope here is painting a wider vision of the problem. We think everything belongs to us, but the reality is that we belong to God. "Humanae Vitae" means "Of human life." Human life came from God, belongs to God, and goes back to God. "You are not your own," St. Paul declares. "You have been bought, and at a price" (1 Cor. 6:19-20). Sex and having children are aspects of a whole cluster of realities that make up our lives and activities. We suffer from the illusion that all of these activities belong to us…"This is my life, my body, my choice…"" Fr. Frank Pavone MEV - Priests for Life
Before I conclude, I'd like to conclude this by echoing 2 things said about Humanae vitae by Fr. Euteneuer in a recent column of his:
"This Friday is the 40th anniversary of this marvelous encyclical, and it deserves a special remembrance in our hearts and lives. Please join with us, spiritually, this Friday or the following week, in offering some prayer or tangible sacrifice in reparation for the many sins of the dissenters always keeping in mind that dissent never has the last word. The Truth always wins in the end!"
Thank God, The Truth will win in the end. We need to truly give thanks to God for the gift of Pope Paul VI's Humanae Vitae & Pope John Paul the Great's Theology of the Body. & let us take up Fr. Euteneuer's challenge to offer up a prayer or sacrifice in reperation for the sins of those dissenters.
But that shouldn't be the end of it. "One final challenge: In our task of forming the “generation of assent” to Humanae vitae, the greatest thing we do on the encyclical’s anniversary is to actually read it! (Or read it again, as the case may be.) You will be amazed at its brevity, simplicity and beauty—it is a gift that keeps on giving, just like all the things of God. We have provided a printable version for you or you can read it on-line as you wish. Let us know what you think and your comments may make it into a future HLI publication—as a witness to the new generation of assent. Blessings to all!"
Read it or reread it, you will find what Father said is true. It is a gift of truth & beauty that keeps on giving. Read it, study it & take its message t heart. HLI & Priests for Life have several tools available to help you with this. Check out the following links for teachings as well as ideas on how to get the message of Humanae vitae out.
Generation of Assent’ to Humanae Vitae (This article links to Humanae vitae Priests. While its primary aim is to aid priests in proclaiming the encyclical's message, the articles & info are useful for all of us who want to learn more about the message & how to proclaim the message as well as live it out.)
Also, read & study Pope John Paul's Theology of the Body. Theology of the Body Institute & TheologyOfTheBody.net have plenty of excellent resources for the task of doing so. Christopher West is probably 1 of the foremost experts on this topic.
In the July-August 2008 issue ALL's Celebrate Life, Fr. Euteneuer wrote an article entitled Preaching Humanae Vitae. He said he would be celebrating the 4oth Anniversary of Humanae vitae even if he had to do so alone. Father, you are right, "there may not be much celebration of Humanae Vitae's 40th anniversary". There may not be many but some of us out here are celebrating it. We "love life" & "appreciate its wisdom". I challenge everyone who reads this to join those of us who are celebrating the gift of Humanae vitae to a world that needs its message. The message is not politically correct, but it is "eternally correct". With Fr. Euteneuer, I believe "it is the one document that stands as a beacon of light against the disintegrating attitudes and effects of the culture of death." & that is what makes it well worth celebrating!!!!!

McCain Gets an Important Pro-Life Endorsement

Release: Immediate
Contact: Kim Lehman
515.202.2517


IOWA RIGHT TO LIFE COMMITTEE ENDORSES JOHN MCCAIN


DES MOINES—July 22, 2008—The Iowa Right to Life Board of Directors voted to endorse John McCain for President at their Meeting of the Membership on Saturday, July 19.
IRLC refrained from endorsing any candidates earlier in the Presidential race, out of respect for the diverse pro-life candidates running for the Republican nomination. But now, with the race narrowed down to Senator John McCain vs. Senator Barack Obama, IRLC is getting behind McCain, whose pro-life record includes the following:
Voting against federal funding of abortion; supporting the Hyde Amendment
Voting for the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act
Voting for the Infants Born Alive Act, to protect infants born alive during an abortion
Voting for a Parental Notification bill that would have required abortionists to notify a parent before performing an abortion on a minor girl from another state.
“We want to recognize all of the pro-lifers in Iowa who worked so hard on the campaigns of the pro-life candidates in the presidential race,” said Kim Lehman, President of Iowa Right to Life. “We are proud of you and hope you will never lose that fire.”
“John McCain has a good pro-life record and he is committed to nominating judges who are strict constructionalists, in the model of Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito,” said Lehman. “We need pro-lifers to get to the polls in November and support McCain and all our local pro-life candidates.”
For more information on political candidates endorsed by Iowa Right to Life, please visit: http://irlc.org/get-the-facts/political-elections/
###
For More Information Contact: Kim Lehman, Cell 515.202.2517,
_______________
John McCain doesn't have a perfect pro-life record. It doesn't have a few flaws. However, Barak Obama has a perfect pro-abortion record.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Robert Cabot Sherman Jr. is 65 Today

For those of you who have no idea who I am talking about, he is better known as Bobby Sherman. For those of you who are still puzzled, he was a Bubble-gum Pop music star in the late 60s & early 70s.

OK, I'll admit that I am a fan of his. But, it wasn't because of his music that I became a fan. It was because of a TV series he was in, Here Come the Brides. In the series he played Jeremy, the youngest of the Bolt Brothers. (FYI The show has some Star Trek connections. Mark Lenard, semi-villian Aaron Stempel was Spock's father Sarak. Robert Brown, Jason Bolt, made a guest appearance as Lazarus & anti-matter Lazarus, The Alternative Factor. David Soul, Joshua Bolt, made a guest appaearnce as Makora, The Apple.)
He initially started out as a regular on ABC's music series Shindig! in the mid 60s. But it was Here Come the Brides where he hit the big time & the pop charts as well as attaining his Teen Idol status.
It is that Teen Idol & Bubble-gum Pop status that hurt his status as a serious musician. He was actually a lot more talented than people give him credit for. 1 of his hits, Easy Come, Easy Go was covered by Cass Elliot (The Mamas & the Papas).
He went on to appear in a couple of other short lived series as well as making guest appearances on several others. His was married to Patti Carnel in the 70s. He has 2 sons, Christopher and Tyler as well as several grandchildren.
He is now a trained EMT works for the L.A. Police Department as a specialist officer, assigned to the training department, where he is responsible for teaching thousands of cadets first aid and CPR.
While he didn't have a hit with it like Perry Como, he did record the theme song to Here Come the Brides.
Seattle
Little Woman
His 1st Gold Record
Easy Come, Easy Go
Hey Mr. Sun
The Drum

LifeSiteNews.com Headlines

↑ Grab this Headline Animator

Get this widget!
Visit the Widget Gallery
FaithMouse