Sorry I Haven't Been Posting Much Lately

The only thing that has been going on worth posting is the Gosnell trial. But there is just so much there, I have not known where to start. So I have just left it to LifeNews & LifeSiteNews to do the reporting. Hopefully you have been following it there.
My last post did point out the lack of coverage by the Main Stream Media. For the most part the MSM has remained silent. While covering the Boston Bomber was important, the MSM has still found time for other stories. Here are a few of them:

As has been pointed out by so many, the reson for this is simple. The MSM & Obama are pro-abortion, Obama believes it is OK to let babies who survive an abortion die, & what Gosnell did is more the norm than an aberration. So reporting on it would show the true face of the abortion industry. That would turn more people against abortion & the abortion industry. So rather than admit the lie that abortion is a good thing, they cover up the truth by ignoring it.

So, please get the word out about Gosnell & his ilk. The truth will come out & shine on their lies. & when it does, the already low credibility of the MSM will sink even lower.

The Main Stream Media, the New Media & Kermit Gosnell

In 2011, when the news broke, I wrote a huge number of pieces about the shop of horrors that was the abortion mill run by Kermit Gosnell in West Philadelphia.

His trial began about 5 weeks ago. I will admit I haven't really posted about it. In part because I have not been posting very regularly due to personal situations. But also in part because every time I looked at the articles put up by LifeNews or LifeSiteNews as well as Newsbusters, I was at a loss for where to start.  Normally for a trial like this, one or two articles a day would be the norm, making it easy to know where to start. But in the case of the Gosnell trial 5, 6, 7 or even more articles each day was the norm. 

The horror stories have been such that you would expect the Main Stream Media to be giving this coverage like it would for any mass murderer like a John Wayne Gacy. However, the MSM has mostly ignored the story. Given that the Gosnell story shows the truth about the abortion industry, it is no wonder the MSM has mostly ignored it. Abortions are supposed to be safe, done in clean facilities & nothing like those horrible back alley abortions before Roe v Wade. What Gosnell shows is that the reality about abortion is those back alley abortions are the norm because of Roe v Wade. Legal abortion didn't stop them, it encouraged them instead.
So last week, Pro-lifers decided to go   around the MSM & use Twitter & Facebook to get the word out. On Friday, 12 April 2013, Pro-lifers sent out tweets with the hashmark #Gosnell.  Because I was waiting for installation of my new W-Fi at home, I was unable to participate during the main time set aside. I did do a couple things on my Facebook page before the date as well as since.
The 1st TweetFest was so successful that a 2nd TweetFest has been called for tommorrow, 17 April 2013. This time arround I will be able to participate & am calling on all those who have a Twitter account or Facebook page to participate as well.

The process is simple. Send out as many tweets as you can as well as put up as many posts on your Facebook page about who Gosnell is & the evil he has perpetrated.
For more information on how to do this, you can go to the Join the TweetFest page @ the Who Is Gosnell website. You can also sign up on their Facebook page.
The 1st Tweetfest has forced the MSM to start paying some attention. Now is the time to keep the pressure up so that people will see what abortion, as well as the abortion industry is really like. Evil thrives in darkness. When those who should, don't speak up, they become cooperator in that evil. We saw that in Nazi Germany when people who knew what was being done to the Jews in the prison camps stayed silent because they didn't want to get involved.
We can't allow the same to be said about us in the USA by those who will follow after us.

Former Abortionist to Be Speaker @ 2013 DCRTL LIFE Dinner

On 26 April 2013, DBQ Co. Right to Life will have its twenty-first annual L.I.F.E. Dinner. The speaker will be Dr. John T. Bruchalski. Dr. Bruchalski is a former abortionist who is a leader in  showing what authentic health care is. Health care that doesn't include abortion but does have a place for Jesus' healing presence.

Dr. Bruchalski was raised a Catholic, but like so many people, he began to drift away from the faith when he left home. The Catholic college he attended, like so many then (& still now) didn't  help to build his faith. Instead, many professors convinced him the Church would change to conform to modern values on abortion, birth control, homosexuality, etc.
In 1983 he entered medical school at the University of Southern Alabama. In order to be what he thought would be the best gynecologist he could be, he learned the different methods there were for abortion, sterilization & artificial reproduction. During his residency he began providing them. He did so because abortion etc seemed to be "the way to promote health and happiness and wholeness in a woman's reproductive life."
But the results seemed to prove just the opposite, so doubts began creeping in.  At the same time, the call to return to his Catholic faith began.
Right before he entered residency he took a trip to Mexico with a friend. At Guadelupe, he says he heard Our Lady of Guadalupe ask him "Why are you hurting me?" Between his 2nd & 3rd years of residency he went with his mother to Medjugorje.* There his conversion was complete. He returned, & although it took a year to completely extricate himself, he did get out of doing the proceedures he was involved with.
At the same time, he began reading the writings of Blessed John Paul, especially his Theology of the Body. He also began learning about natural family planning as well as studying the advances in natural reproductive technology made by Dr. Hilgers, founder of the Pope Paul VI Institute for the Study of Human Reproduction in Omaha.
In 1993 he received board certification. In 1994 he founded the Tepeyac Family Center in Fairfax, VA. You can read more about what he has done since then in two posts I wrote, here & here.
Since I have posted about him before, obviously I am excited that he will be speaking in DBQ later this month. In the past few years we have seen the way health care has embraced the "culture of death" agenda more & more openly, especially under ObamaCare. His story shows us that there is a better way. The way God intends health care to be operating, as a part of a "Culture of Life".
So if you are able to attend the 2013 L.I.F.E. Dinner please do so.
The event begins @ 5:30 pm with a social hour. The complimentary dinner begins @ 6:45 pm. Dr. Bruchalski will speak @ &:45 pm. The dinner is being held at the Grand River Center, 500 Bell ST in DBQ.
Reservations are needed in order for DCRTL to be able to order the proper number of meals. You can contact DCRTL @ 563-556-5960 from 9 am to 4 pm CDT, Monday through Friday. Their e-mail address is dcrtl@dcrtl.org . The date for responding by is 19 April 2013. After that date reservations cannot be guarenteed.
I hope to see you there.

________________________
* The Church has yet to rule on Medjugorje. Until that time I make no judgment either way. All I will say is his conversion is just a small part of the good spiritual fruit born in the lives of many who go there.

60 Years of "Bond, James Bond"

 

James Bond as envisioned by Ian Fleming

Today marks the day it all started. On this date in April 1953, Jonathan Cape, a London based publisher, released the 1st James Bond novel by Ian Fleming, Casino Royale.

Original dust cover designed by Ian Fleming

As is the case with all novels, there is a gestation period that includes not only the actual writing of the novel, but the prep work & the inspiration to write it in the 1st place.

In the case of Ian Fleming, his desire to write a spy novel went back to World War II. But what motivated him to actually begin writing was his pending marriage to Ann Charteris with whom he had had an affair. She was awaiting her divorce from her 1st husband. He needed something to relieve his mind from "the shock of getting married at the age of forty-three." So on 17 February at his estate in Jamaica, Goldeneye, he typed out the 1st 2000 words. 

Up until this time Fleming had been known as a journalist. But his experiences in World War II gave him plenty of experience to draw on in writing the story.

In 1939, the director of Naval Intelligence, Rear Admiral John Godfrey recruited Fleming as his personal assistant. So Fleming became a lieutenant (later commander) in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve (RNVR). His codename was "17F".  He worked out of Room 39 in the Admiralty. Fleming's duties included acting as Godfrey's liason with other government sections like the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), the Special Operations Executive (SOE) & the Joint Intelligence Committee. 

Fleming never participated in active operations, just the planning. He did go to France in 1940 to report on & help with the evacuation of France by Biritsh citizens. 

In 1941 he went to America with Godfrey to help develop the blueprint for what would become the Office of Strategic Services, later the CIA. He also spent some time in Lisbon with Godfrey before heading to the USA. While there they went to the Estoril Casino. Because Portugal was neutral, spies from many of the warring nations were there. Fleming played Chemin de Fer.

Anyone familiar with James Bond can begin to see the roots of the Bond universe already.
Godfrey is supposedly the basis for M. The time at Estoril laid the groundwork for what happened at Casino Royale. Obviously Bond was a commander in the RNVR because of Fleming's knowledge of how the RNVR worked. Other parts of the story were based on real events. In the case of the failed Bulgarian assassination attempt on Bond, it was based on an identical failed attempted by Bulgarians against Franz von Papen, Vice-Chancellor of Germany.
Fleming's choice of the name James Bond has a much less romantic origin. His eyes lit upon the book Birds of the West Indies by Caribbean bird expert James Bond.  He later told Bond's wife that the name struck him as "unromantic, Anglo-Saxon and yet very masculine", or as he explained elsewhere "the simplest, dullest, plainest-sounding name I could find."
Bond's looks were inspired in part by those of Hoagy Carmichael.
The book was accepted for publication by Jonathan Cape in October 1952. It came out on this day with a fleming designed dust cover (above) & sold for the price of 10s, 6d. In less than a month the initial run of 4728 copies sold out, as did a 2nd run that May & a 3rd run of about 8000 copies in May 1954.
Casino Royale didn't do so well in the USA. Three publishers turned it down before Macmillan Publishers offered a deal. The book sold only 4000 copies. A 1955 paperback edition renamed You Asked for It & renamed James Bond Jimmy Bond didn't do much better. In the USA Bond didn't take off until JFK listed From Russia With Love as one of his favorite novels.
The book came out to mostly positive reviews on both sides of the Atlantic.
In 1954 CBS paid Fleming $1000 adapt the book as a part of it's series Climax. It aired live on 21 October 1954. Barry Nelson played "Card sense" Jimmy Bond & Peter Lorre played LeChiffre. Bond was an American not British. Instead Clarence Leiter (Felix in the book) was the British agent sent to help him. Two characters were combined, Rene Mathis of the Deuxieme Bureau & Vesper Lynd became Valerie Mathis.
The teleplay focused on the battle in the Casino & what happened immediately after. The  adaptation didn't do very well. While it is obviously not the same James Bond we all know & love, the show was well done for its time. The story does hold up & the actors do a good job with the script despite some weaknesse. It is worth watching, if just to see the original James Bond.
Fleming sold the rights to Gregory Ratoff. After his death Charles K Feldman obtained the rights. After being turned down by Eon Productions to co-produce it, Feldman decided to turn it into a satire. David Niven was hired to play Sir James Bond. Interestingly, in You Only Live Twice, David Niven is mentioned. Also, Niven was Fleming's first choice for play Bond in Dr. No.
Ursula Andress (Honey Rider in Dr. No) played Vesper Lynd. Orson Welles played LaChiffre, Woody Allen played Sir James' nephew Jimmy Bond & Peter Sellers played Evelyn Trimble who impersonated Bond at the Casino. The movie must be taken for what it is, a spoof. Yes, it is overblown, but it does have a plot line, many funny scenes & great soundtrack written by Burt Bacharach, featuring Dusty Springfield & Herb Albert & the Tijuana Brass.  What it really makes fun of is not Bond. It mocks all those who tried to imitate Bond & top him.
After Eon regained the rights, a 3rd version of Casino Royale starring Daniel Craig was released in 2006. This movie served as a reboot of the movie series.
So here we are, 60 years later. Casino Royale spawned an addtional 11 novels by Fleming as well as 2 collections of short stories; many continuation novels featuring Bond, a young Bond & even Moneypenny; comic books, a comic strip, a TV production, 25 movies so far; many hit songs & great soundtracks. Bond has become a huge part of our culture. All as a result of Ian Fleming trying to calm his nerves because he was getting married.
So raise a martini, shaken not stirred, to Bond, James Bond. & wish him a Happy 60th Birthday!
___________________
As a footnote, IMHO some of the best scenes in the books are those with Felix Leiter. It is clear that they are the best of friends, deeply loving & caring for each other as brothers, carrying on a friendly rivalry as well. Felix is what makes Bond truly human rather than the cold killing machine he usually appears to be. The scenes where they try to one up each other when it comes to food & drink are especially rich.
We are allowed an insight into how much Bond values Felix's friendship in chapter 21 of Diamonds are Forever. Bond has just said goodbye to Felix. We read: "Bond felt a lump in his throat as he watched the lanky figure limp off to his car after being warmly embraced by Tiffany Case. 'You've got yourself a good friend there,' said the girl.
'Yes,' said Bond, 'Felix is all of that.'"
Up to the reboot the only 2 movies that really captured their relationship were Live & Let Die and License to Kill.

There's a New Sheriff in Town

Actually, there is a new Archbishop for the Archdiocese of Dubuque.
This morning it was announced that Papa Francesco has accepted the resignation of Archbishop Jerome Hanus OSB & has appointed Bishop Michael Jackels of the Diocese of Wichita as his successor. He will be the 12th Bishop & 10th Archbishop of the DBQ Archdiocese.

Archbishop Hanus submitted his resignation last year due to health reasons. He was appointed co-adjutor Archbishop in 1994 & became the head of the Archdiocese in 1995 when Archbishop Daniel Kucera resigned, also for health reasons.
Of course, as soon as I found out, I began to see what I could find out about Archbishop-elect Jackels. Naturally, I went to the Wichita Diocesan website. I liked what I saw.
He has issued several statements for the year of faith. One of those statements was aimed at encouraging every Catholic to participate in Eucharistic adoration. In it he encouraged perpetual adoration as well as making visits to the Eucharist in the tabernacle.
Another statement called for Scripture study, studying the Catechism, deepening of a persons prayer life & confession at least once a month. In another he encouraged the faithful to service of their neighbors. In another he focused on praying for the souls in purgatory.
Wichita is the site of the recently opened South Wind Women's Center. This was formerly the site of Tiller's abortion clinic. The new owners will be offering abortions as well. Beginning 4 May the monthly 1st Saturday rosary will resume in front of the clinic.
Archbishop-elect Jackels is very active in the Pro-life movement. Each year he accompanies the students who go to the Annual March to Life, riding in the buses with them. He has also prayed in front of abortion clinics. He has spoken out against those politicians who claim it OK to be Catholic & still support abortion, calling them "wrong". He has spoken out in support of organizations like Project Rachel that provide post-abortion healing as well as reminding women that they can receive forgiveness through the Sacrament of Confession.
He has been outspoken against so-called "same-sex marriage", which is anything but marriage. Additionally, he has been critical of the HHS mandate & its attack on the religious freedom. With his fellow Kansas Bishops in issuing a pastoral letter opposing embryonic stem cell research.
The diocese currently has about 48 seminarians, one of the highest per capita numbers of any US diocese.
Marian Bourek, executive director of DBQ Co Right to Life is especially excited about Archbishop-elect Jackels appointment. She has known him since her school days & her family is friends with him. She confirmed his commitment to the Pro-life movement.
Archbishop-elect Jackels was born 13 April 1954 in Rapids City, SD. Because he was in a military family he spent time in Spain, Wyoming & California before ending up in Nebraska.
He attended Mt. Saint Mary's Semenary in Emmitsburg, MD. He was ordained a priest in 1981. Among his various duties & assignments, he was the chaplain for the School Sisters of Christ the King. (Note: The School Sisters are faithful to the Magesterium & the Holy Father & are a member of the Counsel of Major Superiors of Women Religious.)
From 1997 to 2005 he worked under then Cardinal Ratzinger at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. In 2005 he was the of the last American Bishops appointed by Blessed Pope John Paul II. Only 2 were appointed after him. He was told of his appointment by Cardinal Ratzinger. He was ordained a Bishop on 4 April 2005.
Archbishop-elect Jackels will remain as apostolic administrator of the Wichita diocese until his installation as Archbishop of DBQ on 30 May 2013. Until then, Archbishop Hanus will be the apostolic administrator of the DBQ archdiocese. After the installation Archbishop Hanus plans to resume life as a monk in Missouri.
I want to voice my welcome of Archbishop-elect Jackels to the Archdiocese of DBQ. I am excited to have him as our new shepherd & promise him my prayful support of his ministry.
May God bless Archbishop Hanus as he returns to monastery life.

Sources: Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier
Archdiocese of Dubuque website
Diocese of Wichita website

3 Out Of 3 Popes Agree. . . .

the Mystery of Repentance/Sacrament of Confession is good for the soul.

This Sunday, 7 April 2013, is the Feast of Divine Mercy. Do your soul a favor, take advantage of this special day of God's grace. Jesus gave St. Faustina the following promise to those people who participate in this feast: "I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy.The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day all the divine floodgates through which grace flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet." (emphasis mine)

Jesus is waiting with open arms. Receive His Mercy.