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

Saturday, March 31, 2012

Everything You Need to Know About Saul Alinsky

Especially since both Obama & Hillary Clinton have bought into what he is selling.



H/T: Lake County Right to Life  (ALINSKY FOR DUMMIES)

Friday, March 30, 2012

Obama - Planned Parenthood Owns Him, Body & Soul

If anyone still doubts that Planned Parenthood owns Obama as well as Sibelius & others in his administration then this video Obama made for Planned Parenthood should put those doubts to rest:

Obama parrots every Planned Parenthood lie out there, including the discredited claim that they provide mammograms.
What amazes me is how he could say the following with a straight face: “For you and for most Americans, protecting women’s health is a mission that stands above politics. Yet in the past year you’ve had politicians who want to deny millions of women the care they rely on, and inject themselves into decisions that are best made between a woman and her doctor.”
On 2nd thought, maybe it isn't so amazing. When you have sold your soul to the Father of Lies & 1 of his prime organizations on Earth, then lying with a straight face comes easy.
1st of all, he knows full well that it is his administration & his fellow Dems in Congress who have put politics above women's health. & the fact that he is doing this ad for PP's PAC is more proof of that.
2ndly, he knows full well that most women who go to PP have NO relationship with any of the medical personnel. The see the abortionist right before the abortion. & if it is a telemed abortion they don't even do that as the doctor is somewhere else & only sees the faxed info sent to him or her.
Abortion is the only medical proceedure he seems to be worried about protecting from the government making decisions about. ObamaCare is rife with them, especially when rationing will inevitably set in.
With the changes in effect already he has alreay injected the government. The changes in Flex Spending that cut back how much a person can put in as well as taking away certain things that were previously covered is just 1 example.
As for the praising PP for providing contraception, we see why Obama is willing to shred the 1st Amendment. It is payback to Planned Parenthood by openning more sources of money for them at the expense of the Constitution. I am sure that PP also is pushing Obama to do it to get back at the Catholic Church & other Pro-life Christians.
Obama also has to know how many investigations into criminal actions, especially on the federal level, Planned Parenthood is facing. What I can see happenning after the election, should he win re-election, is Obama issuing a preemptive pardon a la that given by Ford to Nixon. & all the while claiming they have done nothing wrong. He will likely claim he did it to protect them from unjust persecution. I can see him doing it, even if he loses.
Obama also brags about facing down GOP leader John Boehner.By caving, Boehner gave Obama everything he wanted. He should have had the courage to stand up & do the right thing instead of the politically expedient. & not only that, taken on the main stream media for what it is, the American version of Stalinist Pravda, Obama would be having to sing a different tune right now. 
This is a reminder of why we need to do more than simply elect people who claim to be Pro-life & then don't follow through. We must work for those who will fight for the unborn & all threatened by the demonic "culture of death" agenda that is the Obama agenda.
This is also why our prayer efforts MUST continue unabated. Are we willing to lay down our lives for God as the early Christians did? We could very well face persecution as Cardinal Burke said a few months ago. In the end, it was the blood of those martyrs that put an end to the Roman Empire's evil. & it may just take that to put an end to the current reign of evil.

For more: Obama endorses Planned Parenthood: ‘you’ll never stop fighting for choice and neither will I’
Obama Praises Planned Parenthood Abortion Biz in New Video

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Why Is This OK???



But this isn't?



Oh wait, maybe it is because the federal government & especially the Obama administration condone the murder of unborn babies that it is OK to silence free speech.
Yet when a criminal organization actually wants to kill a hispanic man without a trial then we are supposed to look the other way.

Thursday, March 29, 2012

PETA Ad Doesn't Cut the Mustard

There are plenty of unusual museums dedicated to a variety of subjects, some bizarre, some that honor a person or event, some that look at some part of life in America. & then there are some that look at those little things in life we take for granted. The National Mustard Museum is one of them. 
I know some people will say why? I say why not. After all, what would a brat, hot dog or hamburger be without mustard?
Additionally, here in the USA we are finally waking up to the fact that mustard is much more than that yellow plastic bottle we usually think of. Yes, that everyday mustard does have its place. But there is so much more variety.
A few weeks ago I ist heard about this museum. It was started by Barry Levenson esq in 1992. But the roots go back to the 80s. & they have an Iowa connection. According to founder & curator Levenson, he "started collecting mustards on October 27, 1986. The story of the Mustard Museum traces its roots to a late night visit to an all-night grocery when Barry heard a deep, resonant voice as he passed the mustards: “If you collect us, they will come.”
He "bought about a dozen jars of mustard and at that moment resolved to amass the world’s largest collection of prepared mustards. He continued his work as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Wisconsin during his early years of collecting mustards. While in Washington, DC, to argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court, he spied a mustard jar on a discarded room service tray in the hallway of his hotel. He took it. “I argued a case before the Supreme Court with a mustard jar in my left pocket,” he says. “We won.” Moments like that cemented his unwavering devotion to mustard. In 1991, Barry left the law to devote his passions full-time to collecting mustards and mustard memorabilia."
For those of you who missed the Iowa connection as Levenson points out "his inspiration has always been the speech in the movie Field of Dreams in which James Earl Jones convinces Kevin Costner to keep his baseball field, telling him that people would come and gladly hand over money to share his improbable vision. “That was my inspiration,” says Levenson." So he started the museum, although not in Iowa but Wisconsin. (We'll forgive him for that small mistake.)
I finally got a chance to check their website out. & while there I discovered something to make me applaud the courage of museum founder, Barry Levenson esq. The museum was facing some financial difficulties & PETA saw that as an opportunity to co-opt the museum for their own agenda. PETA offered to give a donation if they would put up a poster telling people to NOT eat meat but veggie dogs instead. Of course PETA didn't wait to hear from Levenson. They sent out a press release as well.
Levenson just said NO. & for the right reasons. He refused to sell out those many meat eaters who would visit the musuem for a few dollars. He knew that he had to respect those who are meat eaters as well as vegetarians.
I suspect that PETA really didn't care about the museum. & by the timing of the press release that they were just using the museum for shameless self-promotion. If they were serious about helping the museum they would have privately contacted him & made him a solid dollar amount offer of a donation. I suspect that Levenson would have said no even with a specific dollar amount, but that they didn't. . . . That they didn't tells me the PETA gang weren't serious.
So again, I applaud Levenson for doing the right thing in saying no to PETA. & congratulations to the museum on their upcoming 20th Anniversary in April.

America’s Favorite Condiment Museum!




MIDDLETON, WI --

The National Mustard Museum has rejected a proposal from PETA ("People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals") to display a controversial PETA poster. A month ago, PETA sent the Museum a letter offering to help the Museum with its financial difficulties if it would post a PETA ad. The ad depicts a scantily clad woman holding a jar of mustard and an unidentified sausage with the message: "Meat Doesn’t Cut the Mustard. Try Veggie Dogs." At the same time it sent the letter to Mustard Museum Curator Barry Levenson, PETA sent copies to the media. The letter did not specify a dollar amount PETA would give to the Museum.
"Mustard certainly goes well with veggie dogs," says Levenson, "but it also is the perfect condiment for hot dogs, bratwursts, and other meat products. The PETA message, as amplified on its website, is one that we believe will offend many of our visitors. " Levenson points out that the PETA website characterizes meat eating as "support[ing] misery, violence, and bloodshed." Levenson adds, "While we respect those who choose a vegetarian diet for all kinds of reasons, including ethical concerns, the National Mustard Museum should not be used as a forum for questioning the morality of those who choose to eat meat. Neither would we allow the presence of an ad by a sausage company that insults vegetarians."

The Mustard Museum’s finances came under public scrutiny in early 2012 when it asked for and received a one-year deferral of loan payments from the Dane County Community Development Block Grant Commission. "We have experienced financial stress as a result of many factors, including the general downturn in the economy and significant unforeseen expenses. But the community has responded in a warm and positive way to support us. We’re going to make it, and we are not about to insult many of our guests for a fistful of dollars from PETA."

The gift shop at the National Mustard Museum offers visitors the opportunity to taste hundreds of mustards and provides recipe ideas for using mustards, including many vegetarian options. The museum part of the operations, holding the world’s largest collection of mustards and mustard memorabilia, split off from the business as a separate nonprofit organization in 2011. "This will relieve a lot of the pressure on the business," says Levenson, "as we raise money from foundations, corporations, and individuals who see our value of a unique food experience here in Wisconsin. We welcome donations from individual PETA members and everyone else, too."

The National Mustard Museum opened in 1992 and will celebrate its twentieth anniversary on April 5. "Meat eaters and vegetarians are always welcome," says Levenson, "and no matter what philosophical differences they may have, mustard can bring them together. The only smear campaigns allowed here are the mustards people smear on their food."

For more information, contact Barry Levenson at 608-831-2222 or curator@mustardmuseum.com

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Play It Sam





Play It once Sam! For old time's sake.





One of my favorite scenes


Finally, a colLection of the most famous quotes that are often misquoted:

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

I Have a Say.... Cecile Richards does NOT speak for me!

Thought for the Day - 26 March 2012

JMJ

"There are tens of thousands of people in the United States who are today going to psychoanalysts, when all they need is a good confession." - Fulton J. Sheen (23 April 1943)

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Sunday, March 25, 2012

Jimmy Carter Once Again Showing His True Colors

Back in 1976 I was still a Democrat & supported Carter because he was the only one to claim to be Pro-life. After the election he proved how Pro-life he wasn't. & that is why in 1980 I voted for Reagan. He was Pro-life & proved it as best he could.
A couple years ago he came out with a book of his White House diary entries. In it he claimed that he was personally opposed to abortion, but it was the law of the land, so he had to uphold it. I would love to ask him if he would say the same thing about slavery had he been president in 1850.
Then over the past few years he has alledgedly claimed to have left the Southern Baptist Church twice over that past decade or so. But he still goes to the same Southern Baptist Church.
Now he has come out with his own version of the Bible, sort of. Actually it is a version of the New International Bible with his commentary. In launching it, he made it clear that he supports same sex marriage. & wait until you hear his lousy exegesis to justify it. Speaking to told Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, senior religion editor of The Huffington Post:
"Homosexuality was well known in the ancient world, well before Christ was born and Jesus never said a word about homosexuality. In all of his teachings about multiple things – he never said that gay people should be condemned. I personally think it is very fine for gay people to be married in civil ceremonies."
Notice how conveniently he ignores what Jesus said about marriage being between a man & a woman. Sounds to me like Jesus did define marriage. & it doesn't allow for marriage between 2 men or 2 women. jesus made it clear it was only to be between a male & a female, as well as for life.
& while Jesus didn't condemn gay people, he did condemn sinful behavior by anyone, gay or straight. He called it sick & that He came as a physician to heal them. But they needed to repent of it.
Carter sure sounds a lot like the liberal "Catholyc" (aka Catholic in Name Only or Liberal Cafeteria Catholic) gang. In fact he would fit in perfectly because he went one better. Carter also the launch of his new Bible to attack Blessed Pope John Paul II.
 During the Pope's visit to the USA in October of 1979 he met with Carter. The public part of the meeting was a sugur & Carter's grins. But behind cloesd doors Carter said things were a bit different. Carter said that he complained to the Pontiff about the Church’s “perpetuation of the subservience of women” & “there was more harshness when we turned to the subject of ‘liberation theology.” Carter said that he classified the Pope as a “fundamentalist,” placing him in that category along with Iran’s late Ayatollah Khomeini. 
By calling Pope John Paul a fundamentalist, he is attacking Pope Benedict XVI, & those who support the authentic magesterial teaching of the Catholic Church. After all, if Pope John Paul is a fundamentalist, the Church is in the process of declaring him a saint & Pope Benedict is supporting that process, then we are also a bunch of horrible fundamentalists like the Ayatollah as well.
I have been called a fundamentalist other times for standing up for what the Church taught for 2000 years. So,  it is nice to know that I am in such good company as Blessed John Paul.
& may I remind Carter that Pope John Paul didn't encourage a bunch of Catholics to take control of a US embassy or kill anyone. Instead, working with President Reagan he helped bring about the downfall of communism in Poland & elsewhere that resulted in people living in true freedom.
Beyond that, we are seeing more & more of Carter's true colors. The show that he is a liar who is willing to say whatever it took to get himself elected. It shows that, despite his claims to be all about promoting peace, he is more concerned about promoting hatred & division. 
He knows full well that there is no way to put Khomeini & Pope John Paul in the same category. He is doing this to play to the anti-Catholic gang that makes up the Democratic party. He is doing this because, maybe, he has realized that people have finally seen through his phony balony claims to be a real Christian. 
Carter will go down in history as one of the worst presidents ever. But the more important judgment will come after he dies. &, unless he repents before then, Carter will find out what kind of a goat he really is. ( Matthew 25:31–46 ) Carter may make it look like he is doing good deeds, but he is heading for a millstone arround his neck for eternity instead. (Matthew 18:6 & Luke 17:2)

Friday, March 23, 2012

Thought for the Day - 23 March 2012, part 2

Speaking of double standards, yesterday I got an update from the Bishop Gassis Sudan Relief Fund with an update on the situation in the El Obeid diocese that he is head of.
He shares a story about the recent (January 2012) bombings of a refugee camp just south of the Nuba Mountains. these were just the latest in a long string of attacks on South Sudan by those in charge of the Khartoum government.
While this is being painted in the media as a disagreement about oil, history shows the truth to be something much different. What they fail to mention is why South Sudan came into existence & what is really behind the attacks.
South Sudan is populated with Christians (mostly Catholic) as well as some animists. Sudan is Arab & Muslim. & therein lies the rest of the story.
In 1983, President of Sudan Gaafar Nimeiry declared all Sudan an Islamic state under Shari'a law, including the non-Islamic majority southern region. This led to wholesale persecution of Catholics & animists is Southern Sudan. As Bishop Gassis points out, there was 20 years of religious persecution, enslavement, rape, torture, starvation & murder of those in South Sudan. The Sudan sponsored genocide has led to the murder of 2.2 million people. The Khartoum government has bombed churches, schools, hospitals & refugee centers.
The Arab, Islamic government in Khartoum's policies led to decades of civil war. & opposed all attempts to allow Southern Sudan its independence. & even after it happenned in 2011 they are continuing their efforts to eliminate those in Southern Sudan who are Catholic.
With a few exceptions, (Is Sudan committing another genocide – against the Nuba people?) this fact is being totally ignored.
But is that surprizing given how the media as well as the Obama administration refuses to acknowledge the truth about Islamic violence towards Christians for what it really is?

______________
As an aside Bishop Gassis was nominated by Portuguese MP Jose Ribeiro e Castro for the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize.  While he deserves it, don't hold your breathe as his winning it would point out the inconvenient truth about what is really behind the attacks on Southern Sudan by Khartoum. & especially point out how underserved Obama's winning of it was as well.

Thought for the Day - 23 March 2012

1st a little background - A few days ago I received my monthly audio CD from Lighthouse Catholic Media. The March CD has excerpts from Monsignor Georg Ratzinger's new book, My Brother the Pope. It was the excerpt from Chapter 3 that caught my attention & led me to come up with this thought for the day.
Monsignor Ratzinger was sharing about the Catholic Church's reaction to the rise of the National Socialist (Nazi) party. Arround 1930 the Bishops called Nazi tenents heresy because it contradicted Catholic doctrine, said no Catholic could be an active Nazi & banned anyone who belonged to the Nazi party from receiving communion.
I wonder how many of those same Pro-aborts who call any attempts to keep pro-abortion Catholics, esp politicians, from receiving communion politicizing the sacrament would say that the German Bishops were wrong to "politicize" communion back then????
& if they say it was OK back then to ban those who took a public stand against Catholic doctrine from communion, then why is it wrong to ban those who, in supporting abortion, take a public stand against Catholic doctrine?

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Some Thoughts On Tebow Heading (Maybe) To My Beloved Jets



As a Jets fan, I find the possibility of Tim Tebow becoming their quarterback fascinating. He is 180 degrees different from "Broadway" Joe Namath who, IMHO was their last great QB. (Although they have had a few good ones since. & 1 huge mistake in Brett Favre, an opinion I share about my other team, the Vikings taking Favre as well.)
1st of all, I think the Broncos & Elway are going to regret this move. If things follow true to form, they are overpaying for what will likely turn out to be an underperformer. Over the years that has often turned out to be what happens. The player doesn't live up to expectations. & with Manning being out all last season with his neck injury, that makes the odds even greater things won't work out, despite Elway's comments to the contrary. & I have yet to read  & let's remember, the Colts didn't think that he was worth the bonus they would have had to pay him should he play this year.
It is also known that Elway didn't exactly like Tebow. In part, I think it was ego on Elway's part. Tebow was stealing a lot of his past glory. & from what it sounds like, he is willing to throw the Denver fans under the bus to get rid of Tebow as well as attempt to make some big bucks with Manning. (Peyton Manning and John Elway are Pure Evil)
Like I said at the start, I find this possibility fascinating. He is the total opposite of Namath when it comes to living his faith. Namath was raised a Catholic, but early on turned his back to live the wild life he chose. (Note: I am praying for his conversion & return to the Catholic Church.) Tebow has lived his faith, which has angered some for him bringing it into the public square. But I say, get over it. 
Then there is the whole controversy of his pro-life stand with those who support abortion. He is proof that abortion is needed to save the life of the mother is a myth. Tebow is going to New York which is the abortion capital of the USA. That is a plus for pro-lifers & just his presence will help fight the pro-abort gang who have the mayor & city council in their corrupt back pocket.
Additionally, I see him helping Sanchez & the Jets win this Fall. &, God willing, they will give the Patriots 2 huge drubbings as well. I say this primarily as a Jets fan who knows how hard it is for the Jests to ever beat the Patriots. Then, add to that the fact that it was the Patriots who knocked the Broncos out of the playoffs (1 of the few times I wanted the Broncos to win), their losing to the Jets this year would be doubly delicious.
As I type this I am aware that there are some snags popping up  due to Tebow's current contract with the Broncos. I have no idea what that recapture language means. I just hope they work it out. & if they do, then I am very happy to welcome Tebow to the Jets & hope that the long Super Bowl drought will be over. (Now if only the Vikings could win a Super Bowl.)


For those of you who don't get the reference to Hans Christian Anderson's tale (which may be many of my young readers who are no longer introduced to dead white mail authors in school) you can read an English translation of The Emperor's New Clothes here. Or you can read the original DansK version here.

Source: For Whom the Polls Toll

Today Is World Down Syndrome Day



Currently, up to 90% of all women who have a diagnosis of Down syndrome for their unborn baby will terminate their pregnancy. This is absolutely untenable. No child should be aborted, NO CHILD!!!!!!!
Our society has bought into the "culture of death" lie that children with Down syndrome are NOT worthy of being allowed to live. The truth is different. Each child with Down syndrome is of great worth. Corrie ten Boom  told the Nazi Officer who called her time spent with teaching the Christian faith to mentally handicapped children in Haarlem a waste of time that in God's eyes one of them may be worth more than him.  We need to remember that fact, that our culture's values defining what gives a person worth are NOT God's values. 
When in high school & college I often worked with children & adults with Down syndrome through Buddy Club as well as other organizations. I never met a person who didn't deserve to live. They all had an intrinsic worth. So when I read stats about how many of those diagnosed with Down syndrome are killed via abortion, it makes my blood boil.
We must speak out. As Proverbs 24:11 says "Deliver them that are led to death: and those that are drawn to death, forbear not to deliver." (Douay-Rheims) This holocaust within a holocaust MUST be stopped.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

I Couldn't Put It Better, So I Won't Try

Jeff Miller over at The Curt Jester has come up with the perfect desription of how President Obama & his administration operates. No matter what, they ask themselves 1 question "What Would Planned Parenthood Do?" & then that is exactly what they do.

• WWPPD
I have come to the opinion that Obama can really best be described as the Planned Parenthood President. You don’t have to look very far to understand how he administrates and it comes down to What Would Planned Parenthood Do (WWPPD). It makes no difference between federal or foreign policy you find exactly the same key to understanding all actions. Whether it was pressure on Kenya to include abortion in their new constitution or the infamous HHS mandate it always comes down removing all limits on abortion. There is none of the Clinton obfuscation of “safe, legal, and rare” since just legal is good enough. We already knew he was the most pro-abortion President in history from day one and so this comes as no surprise.
From just a political point of view the narrowness of the religious exemption in the HHS mandate makes no sense pragmatically for a president up for election. But if you are the Planned Parenthood President than it makes perfect sense. Just use Planned Parenthood as a lens and everything becomes clear.
Headlines like Obama Admin OKs Using Aborted Babies’ Brains in Lab Tests are to be expected from the Planned Parenthood President. The Planned Parenthood President picked for himself what could also be called the Planned Parenthood Cabinet as the only litmus test for his administration seemed to be militantly pro-abortion and of course not paying their taxes.

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Spring Has Sprung

While I know that here in DBQ the weather has been Springlike for a long time, the Vernal Equinox (aka the start of Spring) is at 12:14 am CDT. This is the earliest Spring has arrived since 1896. & it would have arrivrd even earlier if it wasn't for the change of when DST started in the USA. It would have started yesterday, 19 March, like it did in Western parts of the USA, including Alaska & Hawaii, Canada & Mexico. 
We can put the blame for this early arrival of Spring to 2 things. This is a leap year which adds a day, thus moving things up afterwords. Additionally, unlike most years divisible by 100, 2000 was a leap year as well.
Equinox is derived from the Latin aequus (equal) and nox (night). In other words this is one of 2 days when day equals night.  Meanwhile, despite the fact that today (yesterday) was the equinox, the actual day that day equalled night was the 16th of March in DBQ & on the 16th or 17th for most places. (In the Fall it usually occurs on my birthday.)
& if that isn't confusing enough, for the USA the 1st day of Spring is normally not the 21st of March. The last time that happenned was 1980. & it won't happen again until 2103.
OK now that I have you all confused, relax. God is in charge & He will see that Spring gets here each year when He wants it to. He is the one who set everything in motion. There is nothing we can do to change that. For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, Spring is here & that is all that matters, so let us sit back & listen as the Voices of Spring sing their song:



Here are those Frühlingsstimmen as Johann Strauss II heard them in 1882 with the lyrics by Richard Genée:



Source: Spring Arrives With Equinox Tuesday, Earliest in Over a Century

Monday, March 19, 2012

San Giuseppe - Terror of Demons

Terror of Demons by Joseph Guardo

St. Joseph's Oratory

Today is the solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Virgin Mary. The Litany of St. Joseph lists several of the many titles given to San Giuseppe over the centuries. 1 of those titles is "terror of demons". It is that title I would like to meditate on in light of the escalating battle with the demonic "culture of death" here in the USA under Obama.
I have to start by saying that I have not been able to come up with any information on the origin of the title.  Venerable María de Ágreda in her  book The Mystical City of God does talk about 1 of the signal graces obtained through St. Joseph's intercession: "Seventhly, the demons shall have extreme dread of the glorious name of St. Joseph." (Note: This is a private relevation that has had much controversy over the centuries. You can read more here about how the Catholic Church views  private revelation.) But that seems to be more of a confirmation rather than the source.
But that title does make perfect sense when you think about it.  It ties in to his role as a head of the Holy Family, as Protector of the Holy Family, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Foster Father of Jesus & Redeemer of the Redeemer.
I can already hear some people scratching their head at the last title, "Redeemer of the Redeemer". Actually, that title has a very solid basis in Scripture. We start with Luke 2:22-23 that talks about Joseph observing what was written in the law. This is a reference to the requirement in the Mosaic law found in Numbers 18:15 that requires every firstborn son to be redeemed by his father. Joseph was given the responsibility of being Jesus' father on Earth so it was his responsibility to redeem Him would would one day die to redeem all of us.
Clearly, from this & the other titles related to his role as head of the Holy Family God has given San Giuseppe special graces & privileges to enable him to fulfill his responsibilities. San Giuseppe had authority over Jesus as His father & Jesus obeyed that authority perfectly. (Luke 2:51) As father of Jesus & spouse of Mary he had a greater responsibility than any other man, a responsibility that was his from before creation. (See St. Lawrence of Brindisi's sermons on St. Joseph for more.) He was to be a loving spouse to Mary, caring for & providing for her. He was to be a loving father to Jesus, caring for him, providing food, clothing & shelter as well as training Him. The largest part of that responsibility to care for & provide for was to protect his family from harm. That would include spiritual attacks from Satan & his followers (demons) to keep Jesus from growing up & dying to save us. Since part of that protection was in that spiritual realm, God clearly gifted Joseph with the needed authority over Satan & the demons to do so. & since God never revokes His gifts, that authority over demons continues to this day & will until the end of time. Like Mary's Immaculate Conception, this authority is tied into Jesus' death on the Cross & His shedding of His blood.
With the God given authority over demons vested in St Joseph, you can see why demons are terrified of him. & why he must play an important role alongside Mary in our battling the "culture of death".
Another reason why we need to call on St. Joseph is tied into another of His responsibilities, Patron of the Universal Church.  That title ties back to his responsibilities as head of the Holy Family & the other roles I mentioned as well.
Over the last few weeks a huge part of the efforts of the "culture of death" to promote its agenda has included the Obama administrations attacks on the Catholic Church (as well as individuals) to force it to pay for birth control & even abortions.  The Catholic Church is the Body of Christ, Jesus its head. We are all a part of Jesus' family. We are undergoing what is clearly an attack that is demonic in origin.
By now I hope you are convinced that we MUST bring San Giuseppe in to help us in this battle.
So how do we go about accomplishing this?
Well, the 1st thing is obvious. As individuals we need to start calling on San Giuseppe to add us in the battle. Some of what I am about to share is specifically aimed at battling the "culture of death", others specifically to call on San Giuseppe to protect the Catholic Church from harm, & some things will be a combination of the 2.
Asking San Giuseppe's intercession with God as well as his aide is something I have been doing for quite a long time. In particular, I have been saying a prayer asking him to bring about the closing of Planned Parenthood here in DBQ. That prayer is the Novena Prayer I received many years from the Josephites. (You can find it here with several other prayers to St. Joseph.)
Another prayer you can start praying is what is known as the October Prayer to St. Joseph. This prayer was written by Pope Leo XIII in 1889 & attached to his encyclical Quamquam Pluries. At that time the Catholic Church was under attack & Pope Leo knew we needed St. Joseph's aide. If that was true then, it is just as true today. The prayer is intended to be said at the end of the Rosary. While it was primaririy intended to be prayed in October, it can be used year round. While I am not able to always add it when I am praying the Rosary because of circumstances, I have been adding it when I can. Granted, lately I haven't done so as much as I could. So this is also a challenge to me to do more as well.
A couple years ago I posted 2 prayers to San Giuseppe during the time when the Catholic Church was coming under attack because of various scandals. 1 of those prayers was a Prayer for the Church & the Holy Father. I still occasionally pray them.
These are only a few prayers out there that could be used. An excellent resource is a small book put out by TAN Books called Favorite Prayers to St. Joseph. EWTN  & the Josephites have several prayers as well.
Additionally, we need to spread devotion to San Giuseppe & teach people about what God wants to do through San Giuseppe. Uniting devotion of St. Joseph to that of Mary, esp through the above suggestion of adding the above October Prayer at the end of praying the Rosary.
God has given us the gift of powerful intercessors in the saints in Heaven. Hebrews 12 starts out by reminding us that we are surrounded by them & that they are watching us as we complete the race here on Earth. Anyone who has been to a sporting event knows how the crowd cheers the athletes on. How much more are the saints willing to cheer us on by their prayers before the Throne of God?
& whose prayers are more powerful than those of Joseph & Mary. Mary as the Queen Mother & Joseph because he was Jesus' father here on Earth who He still honors as father in Heaven. Jesus can refuse them nothing they ask if it is according to God's will. & nothing they ask will be for anything but God's will to be done.
Since we are sure that it is God's will that the "culture of death" is defeated, we can feel safe in asking Joseph to aide us, to guide us & to protect us as we do our part in that battle.


VIVA SAN GIUSEPPE!!!!!

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Sunday, March 18, 2012

Pizza, I Don't Think So

Last Thursday the following piza won the title of "World's Best Pizza" at the International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas:


The "Tropical Pie" is a blend melted asiago & mozzarella cheese, topped with shrimps, thinly sliced & twisted limes, & a fresh mango salsa on a rich pineapple cream sauce infused with Patron.
While it may taste fine, it is NOT a pizza. Italy passed a law defining what a real pizza is some years ago. (English here, Italiano here) & while I am willing to allow some leeway, this goes far beyond that.
So, go ahead & enjoy it, but per favore, don't call it a pizza.

Source: The World's Best Gourmet Pizza: 'Tropical Pie' Wins Highest Honor

So, Does LarryD Have Any Good Recipes????

Some years ago I 1st learned that the guinea pig's biggest cousin, the capybara, had been declared a fish by the Vatican & it was OK to eat it on Fridays during Lent. & that permission may be worldwide, not just for Venezuela.



Now it turns out that there is another rodent that the Vatican has also declared OK to eat on Fridays during Lent, the muskrat.


Unlike the capybara, the permission to eat muskrat is limited to parts of the Archdiocese of Detroit. (Muskrat love? It's a Lent thing for downriver area)  In fact, it turns out 1 parish has an annual muskrat dinner fundraiser, much like many parishes have a Friday Fish Fry in Lent.
No thank you. I'll stick to tuna, salmon, shrimp, etc.  I agree with what then Diocese of Lansing Bishop Kenneth Povish put it "anyone who could eat muskrat was doing penance worthy of the greatest of the saints."
As for me, this is the way I prefer to enjoy  muskrats:


So Larry, how do you serve them up for your young 'uns????

H/T: The Badger Catholic (In Detroit, Catholics are allowed to eat muskrat on Fridays during Lent because of historical dispensation from 1700s. ) BTW Matt, please don't tell me Wisconsin has a similar permission for badgers!!!

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Why Aren't the Wacko Moonbat Environmentalists Screaming About This????



Oh yeah, they are big on things that have the appearance of being "GREEN"!!!!!!!!!!!!

San Patrizio

BUONA FESTA di SAN PATRIZIO!!!!!
 
 
Some thoughts to consider on his feast day:
1: He was of Italian descent.
2: He was born at Kilpatrick, near Dumbarton, in Scotland.
3: Blue is the color usually associated with him, not green.
4: Rather than corned beef & cabbage (which is NOT an Irish dish) & green beer to celebrate, a good Scotch Whisky & a lasagna would be more appropriate. The latter because "lasanum" was the ancient Roman version of lasagna.
5: Pray the entire Lorica of St Patrick aka St. Patrick's Breastplate

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through the belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness
Of the Creator of Creation.
I arise today
Through the strength of Christ's birth with his baptism,
Through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial,
Through the strength of his resurrection with his ascension,
Through the strength of his descent for the judgment of Doom.
I arise today
Through the strength of the love of Cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In prayers of patriarchs,
In predictions of prophets,
In preaching of apostles,
In faith of confessors,
In innocence of holy virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.
I arise today
Through the strength of heaven:
Light of sun,
Radiance of moon,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.
I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me:
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptations of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in multitude.
I summon today all these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.
Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me abundance of reward.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness,
Of the Creator of Creation.

Friday, March 16, 2012

Making Moviegoers An Offer They Couldn't Refuse

Yesterday, 15 March, marked the 40th Anniversary of the release of the 1st of the 3 Godfather movies based on Mario Puzo's novel of the same name.


 
The movie didn't reach my hometown of Oelwein until the summer of 1972. It was probably the most anticipated movie ever for those of us in Oelwein who were 1st & 2nd Generation Italiano-Americans. I was 16 at the time it came out. But that didn't mean I didn't get to see it even though it was rated R.* The movie was literally a famiglia affair as parents had no problem with taking those of us who were teens to see it. My mother, my 15 year old sister & many of our neighbors went that 1st night to see it when it openned at the Grand. In fact, one of our neighbors, Jabe Aversa, took me & my sister down early & Mom came down later. Since Jabe was an adult guardian we were let in with him.
I remember that I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. 1 of the fun parts was understanding a few words that were NOT translated. I am sure that a lot of non-Italians were puzzled about the teasing going on in the car before Paulie Gatto was killed. & no I won't tell you what was said. Nor will I translate the word Sonny uses earlier to describe Paulie.
But what made the movie (& its 2 sequels) more than anything was the accurate portrayal of the Italiano-American culture.   I have attended Italian-American wedding receptions like that of Connie's. Sunday  dinners were the centerpiece of weekly famiglia life. & the discussions could get quite lively.
In fact, over the years I have come to refer to the watching the 3 movies as watching home movies. I later found out this is something Francis Ford Coppola also says about them.
Additionally, IMHO, the movies are NOT 3 movies, but 1 movie in 3 parts.  While not quite as well done as the 1st 2, the 3rd movie does hold up as a fitting finale. & the weaknesses can be laid at the feet of the Paramount executives who didn't give Coppola & Puzo the time they needed to completely polish the script etc.  In fact, there are also a few scenes cut out of the 1st 2 movies that never should have been cut. I will talk about these as I take a look at all 3 movies. I am not going to rehash the entire storyline of the 3 movies. That would take too long. & by now most people should know the basic plots of all 3.
The Godfather
This is the movie that started it all. That it even got made as it did is something of a miracle & a tribute to the tenacity of Coppola & his willingness to fight to have it made as the period story it had to be made as. As you may know, the powers that be at Paramount wanted it to be filmed as a contemporary story. Coppola knew that it had to be filmed as written in the novel & that actual New York locations were key as well.
Additionally, Coppola had to fight to get Marlon Brando & Al Pacino cast in the roles that became so completely identified with them. & those are only 2 examples. Looking back, one has to wonder how blind the executives were to the people best suited to play the roles.
It is hard to pick out a favorite scene or 2. The opening contrasting the wedding to the dark deeds in the Don's study perfectly set the tone for the rest of the movie. "Leave the gun. Take the cannoli." was not in the book, but it is an absolute classic. It shows how the Corleone mafia famiglia had so hardenned themselves to evil that they couldn't see the villians they had become.
Sonny's death where he reaped all the violence he had sown, was very well executed. The following scenes where Hagan has to tell the Don about Sonny's death catches the relationship between Hagan & his adopted father very well. Don Vito's telling Bonasera to use all his skills so his mother wouldn't see him like that. "Look how they massacred my boy!" is 1 of the most emotionally powerful lines in the movie.
The Don's death scene is right up there though. It captures the Don as a loving grandfather that is somewhat reminiscent of the relationship I had with my grandpa Stasi. However, my grandfather was not the monster Don Vito was. Having Don Vito die as a monster being chased & killed by his grandson was poetic justice. It was pure chance the scene was even filmed. They were running out of time & nearly decided not to film a death scene. But because of an inspiration by Brando to do with Anthony what he did with his own grandchildren we have the ending of the Don that we do.
& the ending shows how Michael has so changed that is is now willing to lie to Kay & even start shutting her out. While not planned at the time, this scene & others with Fredo laid the groundwork for what would happen in Part II.
As good as the movie was, there are a few scenes that were cut completely, or partially, that should have been left in. The 1st is the scene where Don Corleone goes to visit the dying consigliere, Genco Abbandando, after the wedding reception. This scene lays the groundwork for a comment made by Sonny later when he criticizes Tom Hagan's actions as consigliere. It also answers the question of what happenned to Genco that arises as a result of the Young Vito scenes in Part II & explains who Dominic Abbandando is in Part III.
Part of Hagan's visit to Hollywood to talk to Jack Woltz to have him give Johnny Fontane the part he wants in an upcoming movie. By cutting these parts out Woltz come accross as more sympathetic than he deserves. The 1st scene that was cut is where we see Woltz giving a pony to 1 os his female child stars who is about 12 years old. A later scene shows Hagan seeing her after Woltz tells him to leave. At that point she looks very dishevelled. Hagan realized what happenned, that she was raped by Woltz. Later Hagan tells Don Vito about it.
Then there are a couple of deleted short scenes featuring Sonny after the Don is shot showing his actions when he goes over to Don Vito's study to take charge. These scenes show the love & respect Sonny has for his father as well as his reluctance to take over. They help round out Sonny's character as much more than the hothead he is usually seen as. But perhaps the most reflective of all of the Italiano mindset is what he does after he tells his mother about the Don's shooting.  She turns off the stove where she was frying peppers. As she goes to change Sonny makes a fried pepper sandwich. For Italians food acts as a way of dealing with shock in a way that sedatives never can.
Another part that was shortened was the killing of Paulie Gatto.  Besides cutting out part of Clemenza's conversation with Rocco, the scene where he gets the cannoli his wife told him to pick up is cut as well.
1 other cut scene was that of Michael killing Fabrizio in revenge for Appolonia's death. But I will deal with that in Part II.

The Godfather Part II

This film is really 2 movies in one. The 1st story is that of how Vito Andolini comes to America & becomes starts on the road to being Don Vito Corleone, 1 of the top Mafia bosses. The 2nd story is that of Michael & how things don't work out as planned for him.  Coppola suceeded in combining the 2 in a way that showed how the son's life mirrored his father's.
The scenes at Ellis Island capture what my grandparents, great grandparents & many other immigrants from Italia & elsewhere actually went through. It is a fitting tribute to all of our immigrant ancestors.
The young Vito scenes were based on the flashbacks in the novel with a few changes. Again the casting was excellent. Bruno Kirby had worked with Richard Castellano so he was able to capture what the young Clemenza was like. DiNiro was able to capture the young Vito without turning it into a pale imitation of Brando.
We see Vito go from an honest young man working for Genco Abbandano's father to the early days of his building his criminal empire. For the most part, the language used is the Sicilian dialect. This makes perfect sense as that was exactly how it was early on for Italian immigrants. Some of the later scenes have more English as they begin to interact with non-Italians. The scenes in Sicily with the start of the olive oil import business & where Vito kills Don Ciccio explain why Don Tommasino was entrusted with protecting Michael after he killed Sollozzo in Part I.
As I pointed out in Part I, Genco's death scene would help viewers understand the relationship of Vito & him better in Part II. As in Part I some scenes were cut that shouldn't have been. The scene where Vito meets Tessio is one of those. Another scene cut that shouldn't have been is the one where Hyman Roth becomes a part of the early Corleone gang. This help us to understand what happens later in both movies timeline wise. But perhaps the most important scene that shouldn't have been cut is that of the attempted murder of Fanucci by some young ruffians while Vito watches in the shadows. That scene explains why Vito is more willing than Clemenza or Tessio to take on Fanucci. The scenes where Vito kills Don Ciccio's men who were looking for him as a child may not be absolutely needed, but they do round out the complete revenge of Vito against those who killed his family.
The other movie tells the story of how things fall apart for Michael. Origially Clemenza was supposed to be a part of the story until negotiations with Castellano fell apart. IMHO that actually worked out for the betterment of the story. Pentangelli's turning federal witness is much more believable that if, as I suspect was planned, Clemenza did so.
The 1st Communion of Anthony sets the stage for what is to come. We see how far Michael has drifted from his Italian roots. We also see how the Corleone family (blood & criminal) have fallen apart from when Vito was in charge. Connie is doing all she can to destroy herself. Fredo has made a disasterous marriage. & Kay reminds us of how Michael has failed to keep his promise to take the crime family straight. Michael makes excuses that, as time goes on, Kay is less & less willing to buy. & rightly so. 
Fredo's setting the stage for an attempt on Michael's life has its roots in Fredo's actions in Vegas in Part I where he takes Moe Green's side. As the movie goes on, it becomes clearer & clearer that Michael has dangerously isolated himself, especially from those he should trust.
1 scene from the 1st Communion celebration that would have contrasted the deteriorated relationship between Michael & Connie was deleted. In that scene, Sonny's twin daughter Francesca asks for Michael's blessing to get engaged. He is very welcoming of her future husband, unlike Connie's new boyfriend, Merle Johnson whom Michael tries to buy off.
Otherwise, the only other deleted scene that should have been kept in is the killing of Fabrizio. The unused scene in part 1 has Michael shooting him. The scene of his death in this movie is much more appropriate. In this one his car is blown up when he starts it after getting off work.
1 of my favorite scenes in this movie is where Michael confronts Fredo in Cuba & tells him he knows it was Fredo who set him up for Hyman Roth. As an aside, that part of the story was based on actual mafia events in Cuba under Batista.  Roth's comments on Moe Greene are also revealing as it makes it clear, despite his claims to the contrary, that a part of this is an attempt to get revenge for Greene's death in Part I.
Another powerful scene is when Kay tells Michael she had an abortion. Michael's reaction, slapping her, is very much in keeping with what he has become. & in a sense, she deserved it for murdering her child. She had become just as much a cold blooded killer as Michael even if she wouldn't admit it.
Fredo's death after becoming more of a father to Anthony than Michael was sets the scene for the decisions made by Anthony in Part III. In Part II he wanted to help Michael, in Part III he no longer wants anything to do with Michael's business dealings.
By the end of Part II we see how completely Michael has isolated himself from what is left of his family. As it ended, the series had a satisfactory ending. But, eventually Coppola did film an even better ending in Part III.

The Godfather Part III

This is perhaps the most underrated & appreciated of the 3 movies. It has gotten a bad rap over the years. Part of it was because the initial expectations were too hight & Paramount's actions sabatoged any possibility of the movie being as good as it should.
That having been said, IMHO, the casting of Sofia as Mary was a much better choice than Julia Roberts or Winona Ryder. From the start Sofia came under attack for how she played Mary. 1 of those complaints was that she played Mary more as a Valley girl than a 2nd generation Italian American. Well guess what, I knew of more than one 2nd generation Italian-American female like that, including a few cousins. She was very believable to me.
1 of the other big complaints was how dependant understanding this movie was on familiarity with the other 2. The same could be said about Part II depending on familiarity with Part I.
I haven't seen most of what was deleted, so I can't comment much on what should have been added. I did see a scene where Don Altobello rushes back in to the Commission meeting to warn Michael & is pulled out. Having that in would have hilighted the later revealed treachery even more by adding to his attempts at misdirection. 
That Duvall didn't return to play Tom Hagan was a loss. But having George Hamilton as BJ Harrison was another example of how far things had drifted, even if the post Saint Sebastian recognition party did show a return to at least part of his roots.
Creating Vincent Mancini as Sonny's illegitimate son was also a good move. It created the logical successor to Michael. Overall, this was again a very well cast movie like the other 2.
1 of the best pieces of casting was Raf Vallone as Cardinal Lamberto. I love the explanation Lamberto gives about why some Church officials were as they were. I am refering to the part where he breaks open a rock from the fountain & shows how it is dry. Additionally, you can understand why Lamberto's priests often spontaniously wanted to go to confession. His attempts to get Michael to truly repent captured the spirit of a true priest who cares about the spiritual state of his flock.
I will admit that the slightly revised time line of Pope Paul's death & Pope John Paul I's election was a bit disconcerting at 1st. But to fit in with the story it made sense. &  it did put many of the other parts of the story line in the historical perspective they were based on. The events of the story led up to what happenned at Anthony's debut in Cavalleria rusticana at Easter time. Esp since the opera takes place at Easter. I still don't understand why Coppola rearranged a few of the scenes from the opera however.
While we are on the opera, I have to bring up Don Altobello's death by poisoned cannoli. Coppoli tells the story of how as a boy he was punished by his father 1 time by not being allowed to have a cannoli. So, I have to wonder if this wasn't a subconscious way of getting back at his father.
While there are many other things I liked about the movie I will now focus on the 1 part that I absolutely hated. That part is the scene where Mary gets killed by Mosca in place of Michael. I hate it because I hated the idea of Mary dying. However, I cannot think of a better ending to the movie than the very thing happenning tha Michael had been trying to prevent. I wouldn't change it in any way shape or form. Michael's failure to do what he really should have done results in his paying the ultimate price of that failure, his loss of everything he ever loved, his loss of his famiglia. In the end, he dies entirely alone as he so richly deserves.

Because of Puzo's death a Part IV was never made. The script had already been started & would have been a double movie like Part II. In this case, the total destruction of the mafia family under Vincent would have been 1 part & the rest of the story of the early days of the Corleone mafia famiglia would have been the other. Much of would have focused on Sonny, but the story of how Vito consolodated his power & organized his family would have been included as well. How Luca Brasi came to be a part of the Corleone organization would have had to be included as well. It is that untold part of the young Vito & young Sonny that is the biggest hole in the complete saga. 
40 years later, the Godfather has become an intregal part of our culture. & while there is so much more I could say, I will end by saying Coppola clearly made us an offer we have been unable to refuse.
_____________
* FYI: The Godfather was not the 1st R rated movie I saw. That honor goes to The French Connection which I was acoompanied by my mother.

Monday, March 12, 2012

Warning: Switching to Daylight Savings Time May Be Hazardous to Your Health

According to University of Alabama at Birmingham Associate Professor Martin Young "The Monday and Tuesday after moving the clocks ahead one hour in March is associated with a 10 percent increase in the risk of having a heart attack." He also reports that it affects your immune system as well.
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that the change lead to an eight percent increase in traffic accidents.

Last year Russia discontinued the switch over to DST because the "stress and illnesses" on the human biological clocks was too much according to President Dmitry Medvedev.
According to Young, here is 1 piece of good news however. "The opposite is true when falling back in October. This risk decreases by about 10 percent."
So, where are all those health wacko moonbats that want to tell us what to eat & drink on this?  Oh wait, they are usually the same wackos who want to go green & DST is supposed to be an energy saver. Maybe before air conditioning. But recent studies show that the savings in electricity at night may be more that offset by the increase use of it in the morning as well as an increased gasoline use & other factors.
If what is best for everyone is what is behind DST, it strikes me that we should drop it rather than continue it.
As an aside, last night a priest friend & I went out to supper. We were discussing the change to DST. I hadn't seen that bit about the recent studies, but as we discussed modern patterns of living we came to a similar conclusion, that it didn't save energy with today's lifestyles. & we both agreed it served no real purpose as a result.

Thought for the Day - 12 March 2012

"The result of the separation of religion and the world is that culture has been emacipated from Christ and become demonic." - Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen (1965)


Friday, March 09, 2012

What The Early Church Taught About Abortion

Obama Administration Wages Another Attack on the 1st Amendment


This was posted @ Jill Stanek's blog on 17 February, the day I had my knee surgery. That is why I am just posting about it now even though the story is 3 weeks old. It is a prime example of the Obama administration's attack on the 1st Amendment. & not just free expression of religion, but free speech as well. I couldn't pass it by as it shows where we are heading under Obama if he stays in power.
This should come as NO surprize to anyone who knows the anti-1st Amendment views of the Obama administration. Obama forbid that someone should exercise their right to free expression of their religion by praying in front of the White House. Yes I say "Obama forbid" since he sees himself as the Messiah. Forgive the sarcasm, but I am willing to bet that if it were a Muslim group praying, Obama would be right out there with them.
But since they are Christians & Pro-life then in the Obama administration's eyes they have no rights.  Again & again Obama has attacked our God given rights. How long before the arrests begin in earnest to put us away in concentration camps???? Don't think it can't happen. Remember the law Obama signed in December that allows him to arrest & indefinitely detain anyone he defines as a domestic terrorist. The Obama administration has declared Pro-lifers to be domestic terrorists. You do the math.  The 1 thing I am fairly sure of is it won't happen until after the election & then only if he gets reelected to office.
In the meantime, we must continue to speak out, including civil disobedience in some situations.


Photo of pro-lifers being arrested at the White House for prayerfully protesting Obama’s contraceptive mandate (click to enlarge)…



Yesterday six pro-lifers were arrested while praying in front of the White House to protest the Obama administration’s contraceptive mandate.
Those taken into custody were Father Denis Wilde, associate director of Priests for Life, Reverend Patrick Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition, Jeff White, executive director of Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust, White’s daughters Joanna and Jayne, and pro-lifer John Randy Corish, according to LifeSiteNews.com.
The pro-lifers were later released after each paid a $100 fine.
The interfaith group of Christians was standing in witness against Obama’s violation of the First Amendment’s guarantee of freedom of religion. Stated Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of PFL, in a press release:
The Obama Administration has attacked ideals, principles, and protections for which Americans have fought and died for. Therefore, the reaction is not only in the press, in the courts, and in the Congress. It is, should be, and will be in the streets. Civil disobedience must be a part of the response.
As I wrote previously, Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church has also vowed to go to jail rather than accept the mandate.
During Sean Hannity’s February 10 show, all but one in a group of national religious leaders that included Fr. Pavone, Rabbi Brad Hirschfield of the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, Fr. Jonathan Morris, a Fox News contributor, Reverend Jesse Peterson of BOND, and Dr. Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention, vowed civil disobedience if the contraception mandate goes into effect.
Dr. Land added, “But if they want to read my letter from the Nashville jail, I’m ready to follow in the footsteps of Martin Luther King, Jr., and write such a letter. I will not comply.” Hannity chimed in, “I’ll go to jail with you.”
Pro-lifers at the White House were told they needed to keep moving, although I myself have several times observed protesters parked in chairs and tents for hours on end on the north side of the White House.
In the end the pro-lifers were arrested for stopping to pray.
“Occupy Wall Street protesters have been occupying federal property for months, but when we kneel in prayer, the police are called in and we are arrested,” Father Wilde said. “We knew that was the risk when we gathered today, and we will do it again regardless of the risk. What people of faith – of every faith - need to do now is stand with us.”

Read more at LifeSiteNews.com, LifeNews.com, and Bryan Kemper’s StandTrue.com.



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Thursday, March 08, 2012

I Am Willing To Bet Archbishop Sheen Would Have Something to Say About Sandra Fluke

& I can guarentee you that it wouldn't be approval of her lifestyle.

While I have been recovering from surgery I have had an opportunity to watch come classic Life Is Worth Living episodes. 1 of those was from the 60s on False Compassion. As I was watching it, he used an example from a novel "where pity is shown to every kind of pervert." He shares the part where 1 girl is says to another "He called me a tramp! Imagine that! He called me a tramp!" To which the other girl responds "I don't understand it. Just because you go out and do everything a tramp does. . . doesn't mean that you're really not a nice girl."  The quote could almost be a description of the reaction of some to Fluke being labelled as a woman of loose morals by Rush Limbaugh.
This is not saying Archbishop Sheen would use the same word Rush used. But the word used in the quote does denote the same idea. My point is that all this pity shown toward Ms. Fluke is a modern example of the false compassion Archbishop Sheen is taliing about. Those pushing to force the Catholic Church as well as individual business owners who uphold the Catholic teaching on birth control to pay for it for people like Ms Fluke are the very people whose actions Bishop Sheen is condemning.
What we are doing this days in American society is equating the sin with the sinner. & this false compassion means we can no longer call sin sin. Even among certain groups of people who claim to be Catholic this attitude has become prevailent. I hear some of them point out how Jesus partied with sinners to justify approval of homosexual partnerships, marriage etc.. They ignore Jesus' explanation that he came as a physician. That they were spiritually sick, they were sinners & needed to be healed. In other words, he was NOT condoning their actions. He came to call them to repent & turn away from their sinful lifestyles, NOT continue.

I think Archbishop Sheen has the answer to all that those promoting this false compassion say in this video. Here is the entire show. The part I am refering to starts at about 1 minute 39 seconds into part 2.







This is just 1 example of why we need to promote what Archbishop Sheen had to say back then now more than ever. Plain & simple he was a modern prophet who told us what we needed to hear, not just what we wanted to hear. May God move things along quickly so that he is declared a saint (& a Doctor of the Church) ASAP.

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