Monday, October 29, 2007
I have an update to the Prayer Request about a college aged girl considering abortion. Thank you all for the prayers, and if you could please remember her over the next several months.
She will not be having an abortion today. Her mother was told about the abortion, and came looking for the girl with flowers to welcome her off of a retreat (the girl did not know her mother was coming). She was still planning to have the abortion up until last night. Her mother talked to her, and the choice (for now) is for life.
However, the girl is having a hard time coming to grips with the fact that her life has changed, and some of her old dreams may need to be set aside to make room for this new life. It is hard for a college kid to leave the "me" stage so soon, especially in our selfish culture. Hopefully with support she will make it. Her life is not ruined, just on a different course than she planned.
Because this is difficult for her, and abortion is legal up until birth in the US, please pray that she remains firm in the decision to keep this new life, and that her support system stays strong. The self centered lure of this world is strong, much too strong for these young who disconnect sex from its consequences.
FURTHER UPDATE: I was able to touch base with my sister about an hour ago, and she tells me that everything is good right now. The girl is excited about the baby and what it means. My sis couldn't talk to me much (IM actually), but apparently after a lot of drama, the girl is embracing this new life inside her. Praise God!
Again, please keep her and her child in your prayers.Labels: Culture of Life / Culture of Death, Prayer |
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Read an article where the statistics underlying recent Planned Parenthood research arm (Guttmacher Institute) claims are uncovered as the nonsense they are. This was conducted by folks at Texas A&M. Here is the summary:
The Guttmacher "researchers" built their bias into the statistics (inflating numbers, making odd assumptions, imputing convenient values), and then, guess what.... They confirm their bias and called it truth!!!
WOW! Now that is research that only a politician or an organization with an agenda would use. This is how you lie now days, build a circular argument but hide it under the guise of science. Because secular society has adopted scientificism (what I define as the irrational belief in anything that even sounds scientific), people like this get away with it.
Here is where you get the article: Guttmacher Stats.Labels: Culture of Life / Culture of Death |
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Faith in Rudy? No!
Some pro-life voters are talking about how Rudy Giuliani is an acceptable candidate for which to vote. These are people who are pro-life and pro-family. Giuliani is neither. These are people for whom faith and faithfulness are paramount. For Giuliani they are not.
So how could these faith filled people consider voting for him? Because they are seeking an alliance against what some believe is an even worse choice - Hillary Clinton.
Myself, I am befuddled by the logic of selling out one's values. It reminds me of Judah at the time when Assyria was threatening, and people wanted to join the alliance with the northern kingdom and Syria. Isaiah spoke out against such an unholy alliance and bade the people have trust in God rather than ally with their old enemies. The faithful here are willing to have an alliance with one evil to try and prevent what is believed to be a larger evil. What they don't realize is that allying with Giuliani is worse than losing an election - at a moral level it betrays our core values while at a practical level it destroys our political voice.
The argument for Giuliani rests on an interpretation of something he said about the kind of supreme court justice he would appoint. We typically cannot trust what a politician says. Remember "read my lips"? So how can we trust what they are not even willing to say? How can we put faith in an innuendo? How can we make such a weak alliance?
What we need to do is take a page from the Clinton book. The Clintons are masters of compromise on a variety of issues WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ABORTION. They will harbor no compromise on this and related culture of death issues. This should be the position of pro-lifers. Never compromise on sanctity of life issue.
What does compromise buy us? Less than nothing. We get, not a promise, but an innuendo. On top of that, we teach the Republicans that they can ignore our concerns (a lesson we taught the Democrats in the 1976 election).
What does being faithful buy us? It allows us to maintain our integrity for one. It also teaches the Republican party that they cannot ignore us with impunity.
Remember, we are people of faith. Put your trust in God; not Rudy, not any political party, in God. Remember the words of Psalm 146:
Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no help. When his breath departs he returns to his earth on that very day his plans perish.
Happy is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith for ever; who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. Labels: Culture of Life / Culture of Death, Politics |
Friday, October 05, 2007
UNICEF joins in pro-abortion drive:
"Marketed as a campaign to raise awareness of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on maternal and child health, the agenda of 'Deliver Now' includes a call for “safe abortion'--which is treated as synonymous with legal abortion. The campaign is coordinated by The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health, chaired by Kul Gautam, the deputy executive director of UNICEF and assistant secretary-general of the UN. The group's members include among others the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, International Planned Parenthood Federation, and government development agencies from the US, UK, Canada, and Bangladesh, as well as the World Health Organization and UN Population Fund." I used to think the people who were banging the warning drum about the UN were nuts. I wonder now how crazy they were or are.Labels: Culture of Life / Culture of Death |
Monday, October 01, 2007
There will be a conference in San Francisco on November 28 and 29 called Reclaiming Fatherhood. It is about the effects of abortion on men. Check out the site at www.menandabortion.info. Here is a blurb from the page.
This conference is the first to focus on the effects of abortion on men. Speakers will cover the following topics: pertinent research, abortion as trauma, and counseling men who have experienced pregnancy loss through abortion. This is a unique opportunity for those who deal with men in pastoral or clinical settings to learn about this much neglected topic. Spread the word.Labels: Culture of Life / Culture of Death |
Thursday, September 27, 2007
From the Cardinal Newman Society (emphasis mine):
According to stories by Lifesitenews.com and the Georgetown University student newspaper The Hoya, the Georgetown law school has adopted a policy that will provide funding to law students to intern with public interest organizations regardless of their mission.
This change in policy was apparently made to accommodate students who had previously been denied funding for abortion advocacy work with Planned Parenthood. According to The Hoya report, Joy Welan, the president of the GeorgetownLaw Center’s student group Law Students for Choice, said “We think that this compromise is fantastic news, for students who are interested in pursuing careers in reproductive rights advocacy.”
Cardinal Newman Society Executive Vice President Tom Mead said of the abortion friendly policy, “I am absolutely stunned by Georgetown’s decision to fund abortion advocacy.
“Since the Catholic Church teaches that abortion is always wrong, perhaps a faithful law student can get an internship with a public interest organization that will sue Georgetown for false advertising regarding its Catholic identity.”
On behalf of its more than 20,000 members, the Cardinal Newman Society calls on Georgetown University President John DeGioia to exercise his authority as president of an institution that proudly identifies itself as a Catholic university and overturn this outrageous policy.Labels: Culture of Life / Culture of Death, News |
Sunday, September 02, 2007
160 Healthy Babies Lost for Every 50 Down’s Cases Detected with Amniocentesis:
The risks of amniocentesis to the unborn child have long been known but now a new analysis by a British doctor has shown that using the tests in seek-and-destroy missions for Down's syndrome and other genetic abnormalities results in the deaths of hundreds of healthy babies every year in Britain. ...
With about one in every 1000 children conceived having Down’s syndrome, and with amniocentesis carrying a one in 200 risk of miscarriage, Dr. Meire, wrote in the Journal Ultrasound that if all pregnant women took the amniocentesis test as many as 3,200 healthy babies could die by miscarriage every year. ...
In North America, earlier this year, both the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada (SOGC) has recommended that all pregnant women, not just those over 35, should be screened, including with amniocentesis. (Emphasis added) Get the whole story here.
Do you think they set out to ask how many babies they can prevent being born? Kind of reminds me of the Police song "Murder by numbers, one two three...."Labels: Culture of Life / Culture of Death |
Baby mistakenly aborted:
The Vatican daily, Osservatore Romano, has published a scathing editorial, condemning a double abortion performed in a Milan hospital.
The incident happened at the San Paolo Hospital earlier this summer but only emerged over the weekend in newspapers. A woman, carrying twins, decided to have one of her babies aborted after learning that it would have Down’s syndrome.
Doctors mistakenly aborted the healthy baby instead. After the mistake was discovered, the 38-year-old woman returned to the hospital and aborted the surviving fetus. She later went to police to report the doctors.
Doctors at the hospital said the two babies appeared to have changed positions in the mother's womb after the medical scan. Milan’s prosecutor's office has opened a file on the case, although no crime is suspected at present.
"It is the culture of perfection which forces people to exclude anything which does not appear beautiful, splendid and positive," read the Osservatore Romano editorial. "Nobody has the right to suppress another life. Nobody has the right to take the place of God. And yet the innocent continue to die."
(emphasis added)
Get the rest here.
Labels: Culture of Life / Culture of Death |
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Celebrity And The God Shaped Hole
Two stories that caught my attention in the past 24 hours:
Marinovich arrested in Newport - OCRegister.com:
"NEWPORT BEACH - Onetime standout USC quarterback Todd Marinovich faces the latest in a long run of legal troubles after being charged with felony drug possession and resisting a police officer. Marinovich, 38, allegedly ran from police who tried to stop him about 1:15 a.m. Sunday for skateboarding near the Newport Pier boardwalk, where skateboarding is prohibited. He was found hiding in a carport about 1:30 a.m., police Sgt. Evan Sailor said. After searching Marinovich, police found about one gram of methamphetamine, a metal spoon and a hypodermic needle, Sailor said."
Owen Wilson Was Hooked on Heroin, Cocaine - foxnews.com
"Funnyman actor Owen Wilson was hooked on heroin and cocaine, struggling with depression and hanging out with the wrong crowd in the months before his attempted suicide, according to a bombshell new report. ... And his friends are placing the blame squarely on Wilson's newfound best buddy, British actor Steve Coogan.... " Here are two boys (I choose the term purposely) who are about my age (Owen is 38 as well as Marinovich). By the standards of the world, they have it all. They have fame. They have made money in amounts I can only imagine. And yet there is something terribly missing. These boys have yet to become genuine men. Oh certainly they are men in the physical sense, but they are behaving as unruly rebellious children. They are trying to fill a whole. But it is a God shaped whole that cannot be filled with drugs or fame or money. Only God will satisfy. Only when they turn to Him can they put aside their childish ways and become genuine men.
Both of these reports call to mind the prodigal son who squandered the gifts of the father on having a good time before hitting bottom. I pray that like the prodigal son, these two will turn to God. Only He can fill the hole.Labels: Culture of Life / Culture of Death, Faith, Values |
Monday, August 13, 2007
Our friends at Amnesty International are at it again. They want to tell the world they support abortion. So here we go again.
United Press International - NewsTrack - Top News - Rights group at odds with Vatican: 'Our purpose invokes the law and the state, not God.'
While it is important that people of faith remember that Amnesty International is happy to tell you they are godless, it is entirely beside the point.
Hey, AI, here is the logic: 1. Killing innocent life is wrong, evil, bad. 2. Life starts at conception. At conception a new individual with a DNA profile different from the mother or father is created. At that point we have an unborn child. 3. Abortion kills the unborn child. It is wrong, evil, bad.
Therefore, abortion is wrong, evil, immoral, and the violation of the most fundamental human right there is - THE RIGHT TO LIFE!!!!!
Note - I did not refer to the existence of God in this argument. I only referred to the natural law truth that killing is wrong. Also note when the new human being is created (the only rational point for specifying the start to life).
Because there are some radical feminists who want to say that their right to kill is more important than the unborn child's right to life, AI was neutral on the abortion issue. That allowed them to focus on doing good without doing harm. It would have been better to stand for the rights of the innocent, but those with radical feminist agendas hold much sway here.
Alas, they are neutral no longer - and I'm going to help them out by letting you know that they want you to know that they stand with the godless who do not value all human life. No, they place other goods before the most fundamental good.
So if you believe in the most fundamental right of all, the right to life, do not support Amnesty International.
Instead, support groups like the organizations below:
Human Rights First 333 Seventh Avenue, 13th Floor New York, NY 10001-5108 Phone: (212) 845 5200 www.humanrightsfirst.org feedback@humanrightsfirst.org
Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition International (TASSC) 4121 Harewood Road NE ~ Suite B Washington, DC 20017 Phone: (202) 529-2991 www.tassc.org info@tassc.org
National Religious Campaign Against Torture c/o CCTPP 4500 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20016 Phone: (202) 885-8648 www.nrcat.org campaign@nrcat.orgLabels: Culture of Life / Culture of Death |
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Liberals like to claim all kinds of societal benefits from the ongoing holocaust. One problem - it's not true. The impact of legalized abortion may in fact increase crime by further breaking down family structures. Check out this link:
Abortion Raises Crime Rates, Economist Says -- 08/09/2007:
"Legalized abortion has led to increased crime, according to a recently published study of people born before and after the Supreme Court's 1973 Roe v. Wade decision." Labels: Culture of Life / Culture of Death |
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Planned Parenthood Boycott Update - Allstate Off List
Life Decisions International sent an email out about their list of companies to boycott because of their support of Planned Parenthood. The message is below. I am glad that Allstate is making the right moves!
The quote is from the email (emphasis mine).
The Boycott List and Checkbook List were sent via Bulk Mail the last week of July. We had planned to mail them no later than July 15, but sometimes (okay, almost all the time) things take longer than we anticipate. (One cannot reasonably predict how long it will take corporations to respond.) Please be extra patient as Bulk Mail can take a while to get to its destination.
We already have some good news to report regarding the new Boycott List. When the new edition arrives, please delete Allstate as it is no longer a boycott target.
Keep up the pressure folks. A lot of times it is about letting the right executives at these companies know what a maverick VP, director, or even a lower level employee is up to.
If you want information on the boycott list, click here for information on how to order.
Previous post on topic: Boycott Companies that Support Planned ParenthoodLabels: Culture of Life / Culture of Death |
Monday, August 06, 2007
Creative Minority Report - Pro-Death Groups Warn About Dangerous Cures: "Naral Pro Choice America spokesperson said they too were shocked to learn of the treatment that could immeasurably improve thousands of lives. NARAL said in a press release that it's a misconception that they're just interested in killing little babies. 'We're also interested in the death of big people now too,' said the release."
Creative Minority Report is one of those sites that I can't miss. Their humor is not the least of reasons for visiting on my list. Check out the article linked to above. A satire well worth the read.Labels: Culture of Life / Culture of Death |
Monday, July 30, 2007
Amnesty International defiant on pro-abortion stand, ridicules Catholic criticism:
Denver, Jul 29, 2007 / 11:07 am (CNA).- Amnesty International has remained defiant about its new pro-abortion stance despite receiving international criticism for their decision to abandon their long standing neutrality regarding abortion and embrace it fully as a human right.
Amnesty was founded in 1961 by a Catholic convert, the late Peter Benenson, and has enjoyed the support of Catholic organizations and individuals in its campaigns against torture and capital punishment. It has also received praise in the past for staying clear of the abortion issue, which the organization has viewed as 'outside its mandate' for the last 50 years.
However, after a two-year consultation process that many of the 2.2 million Amnesty member have described as 'biased,' flawed' and 'prejudiced in favor of abortion,' AI decided to turn abortion into a 'human right.' And the insanity continues. If you are a Catholic and you continue to support Amnesty International - YOU NEED TO STOP. Abortion is murder. Murder is wrong. It is not a human right. It is evil.
Every day we are confronted with forces that want us to harden our hearts. They trick us into sacrificing our soul by making us think we are doing good. Every day we must chose which side we stand on. The forces of good or the forces of evil. When a good organization goes bad, we can plead with it to turn back, we can pray for it, but we cannot support it. Doing so is to step down the wrong path.
The fight for human rights is noble. It is unfortunate that the forces of darkness have a victory here by infiltrating AI. However, the kind of work that Amnesty has done can be supported through organizations that do not condone the murder of millions of human beings every year. Do what is right.
Other Human Rights organization that do not endorse abortion include:
Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition International (TASSC) 4121 Harewood Road NE ~ Suite B Washington, DC 20017 Phone: (202) 529-2991 www.tassc.org info@tassc.org
National Religious Campaign Against Torture c/o CCTPP 4500 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20016 Phone: (202) 885-8648 www.nrcat.org campaign@nrcat.orgHuman Rights First 333 Seventh Avenue, 13th Floor New York, NY 10001-5108 Phone: (212) 845 5200 www.humanrightsfirst.org feedback@humanrightsfirst.orgLabels: Culture of Life / Culture of Death, News |
Friday, July 27, 2007
Life Decisions International has released information about those supporting planned parenthood.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Life Decisions International (LDI) will soon release a revised edition of The Boycott List, which identifies corporations that are boycott targets due to their support of Planned Parenthood, the world's leading abortion-advocacy group.
"As a direct result of the commitment, action and prayers of pro-family people, at least 153 corporations have stopped funding Planned Parenthood," said LDI President Douglas R. Scott, Jr. It is estimated that the boycott has cost Planned Parenthood more than $35 million since the Corporate Funding Project (CFP) began some 15 years ago. "This should be a testament to those who believe it is impossible to change corporate philanthropic behavior."
Corporations appearing on The Boycott List for the first time are Allstate (insurance), CCA Global (Carpet One, Flooring America, Flooring Canada, Flooring One, Lighting One, etc.), Chevron (fuel/energy; Xpress Lube, Texaco), Comcast (cable television, Internet, etc.), DuPont (chemicals), eBay (online marketplace; PayPal), Four Seasons Hotels (Regent Hotels), GlaxoSmithKline (over-the-counter medication, prescription drugs, etc.), Marriott (Courtyard Hotels, Fairfield Inn, Grand Residences, Hori-zons Hotels, JW Marriott Hotels, Renaissance Hotels & Inns, Ritz-Carlton Hotels, SpringHill Suites, TownePlace Suites), OSI Restaurant Partners (Outback Steakhouse, etc.), Sears (Kmart), Sonic (drive-in restaurants), and Wawa (convenience stores), among others.
Corporations continuing as boycott targets from the pre-viously released Boycott List are Basics Office Products, Adobe (software), Wachovia (finance), Nike (shoes/ap-parel, etc.), Time Warner (Cinemax, HBO, AOL, etc.), Bank of America, CIGNA (insurance), Walt Disney, Johnson & Johnson, Lost Arrow (Patagonia, etc.), Wells Fargo, Whole Foods Market, and Nationwide (insurance), among others.
The new Boycott List includes a revised and significantly expanded "Dishonorable Mention" section, which identifies charitable organizations that are associated with Planned Parenthood and/or its agenda. Among the groups new to this section is the Audubon Society, Alzheimer's Asso-ciation, American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), American Diabetes Association, Council of Churches (including Church World Service, and CROP Hunger Walks), Glaucoma Research Foundation, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, Leukemia & Lympho-ma Society, Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), National Education Association (NEA), National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Save the Children, and the Sierra Club, among others.
"The Pro-Life Movement will succeed only to the extent that pro-life people are willing to be inconvenienced," Scott said. "The very lives of children are worth that much effort and a whole lot more."
To find out more about the boycott list, you can go to a page where you can order information about the boycott list by clicking here. Don't forget to boycott Rudy Giuliani too - he supports abortion and personally gave money to Planned Parenthood.
H/T to Seminarian Matthew UPDATE 8/9/07 - Allstate has been removed from the boycott list. It is always wonderful to see progress!Labels: Culture of Life / Culture of Death |
Monday, July 16, 2007
Pro Ecclesia * Pro Familia * Pro Civitate: Giuliani to Reveal Five-Star Conservative Judicial Advisory Panel: "Conservatives who are pro-life and/or care about the future of the federal judiciary aren't going to buy this latest dog and pony show from Rudy." As always, read Jay at Pro Ecclesia * Pro Familia * Pro Civitate. He brings more slippery slime dog activities from the candidate from New York (the label applies to both New York candidates, but I mean the former mayor) to our attention.
Rudy is at it again. Trying to say one thing and be another. He hates abortion, but gives money to Planned Parenthood and acts to further the abortion agenda. He is trying to have it both ways. He wants to be a culture of death Democrat, but under the Republican banner. Don't be fooled! He is telling us who will be on his Judiciary Advisory Panel. The hidden message is that they will be conservative and more likely to be Pro-Life. Balogna! Sorry Rudy, you will do the nominating. It is YOUR values that we have to evaluate, not your committees (that don't exist).
If you want a true pro-life candidate, support Brownback!
And if we don't get a candidate that is clearly Pro-Life, vote third party.
Labels: Culture of Life / Culture of Death, Politics |
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Members of Congress urge US bishops to intervene in Iraq War:
"Washington DC, Jul 5, 2007 / 11:30 am (CNA).- Fourteen Catholic members of Congress released a letter on Tuesday, calling on the country's Catholic bishops to help end the war in Iraq. The letter urges the bishops to 'mobilize Catholic opinion on this, one of the most critical issues of our time.'" How is that for a joke? Catholic members of Congress don't want the Church to speak when it reminds them that abortion is wrong, but wants the Church to speak when it benefits there particular position.
As to the specific issue of Iraq.... When the country first decided to go to war, I strongly believed it a wrong and unjust decision - I still think so. I also believed then, and I believe now, that once we made the decision for war, we had to commit to finishing the job - no cowardly withdrawals. Going into Iraq was a mistake, simply pulling out without creating the real opportunity for stability would be an even bigger mistake.
I wish these Catholic members of Congress would start attending to how one lives with responsibility for making mistakes, not just the freedom to commit them. Pulling out of Iraq, like having an abortion would be seeking to avoid responsibility. Our nation must stop avoiding the consequences of our actions and do what it takes to set things right.
Shame on you "members of Congress" - stop the politics and do what is right.Labels: Catholicism, Culture of Life / Culture of Death, Politics |
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
A Catholic American or an American Catholic?
Tomorrow is the 4th of July. The day we Americans celebrate the birth of our nation. I have always been patriotic, and that increased after the 9/11 attacks. But what does it mean to be an American, and how does that fit in with being a Catholic?
I would consider myself patriotic, and believe that I live in one of the greatest nations that have ever existed. I have always loved the freedom afforded by my government. That freedom allows a man to live as his conscience dictates. We are free to do what we believe to be right. America is great because of the freedom and opportunity it affords.
And America has taken its responsibility as a member of the world seriously. While not perfect, I must say the world would be a very worse place without the United States in WWI, WWII, and standing up to the communists in the Cold War. I honor the brave soldiers who have answered the call to duty in all conflicts to defend the liberty we hold dear and extend hope to others.
America is a great country and I am glad I am an American.
But I am also Catholic. And the two sets of values - American and Catholic, are not always in sync. Modern American values see freedom as being free to do whatever you want, while Catholics see freedom as being free to do what we are called to do.
There are many "Catholic" politicians in America who are "cultural" Catholics. In fact, most Catholic politicians publicly espouse values that are counter what faithful Catholic believes. They do so, in the name of "freedom." They will not defend the life of an unborn child because women need to be "free." They are even willing to force those of us who believe differently to pay for these murders (poor women need to be "free" to murder their unborn children too). They undermine the sanctity of marriage because others should be "free" to have the government equate their sin with my sacrament. They argue that my voice has no place in the public square, unless I check my Catholicity at the door, as if it were a coat I could take off. These are Catholic Americans. They are Catholic to the extent that it describes their culture of origin, like an Irish American, Italian American, or Asian American. It is important to one's identity - but not the central component. It is the adjective, not the noun.
I value being an American, but for me, it is the adjective to the noun of being Catholic. Being Catholic is central to my identity. Being an American describes the culture I come from (to be accurate, I am and American Roman Catholic). More important than all of the freedoms, successes, virtues, and faults that come with living in the United States is my struggle toward heaven in the Church founded by Christ himself. If I had to give up either being American or being Catholic, the answer is easy for me. I will always be Catholic. What would your choice be?
Have a safe and happy 4th of July! God Bless America!Labels: Catholicism, Culture of Life / Culture of Death, Values |
Friday, June 29, 2007
village voice > news > Giuliani Campaigns as a Catholic, But He's on the Outs With God by Wayne Barrett: "The question, however, is not whether this church teaching is fair, or whether it's compatible with American social standards. The question is: Can Giuliani run for president as a Catholic—identifying with the swing vote that has picked the winner in virtually every modern presidential race—when he is so out of step with the church's code of personal conduct? We're all familiar with Catholic politicians who defy the church with their positions on issues like abortion or contraception. But Giuliani is the first major national figure to run for high office as a Catholic even though he has defied church law in his personal life." Outstanding article. This provides a picture of how Rudy is a manipulator and disingenuous. He is out of step with the Catholic Church in his public positions AND his personal life.
Faithful Catholics must stand together and point out that Rudy does NOT represent the views of Catholics. Just like Kerry doesn't. Just like Pelosi and her ilk in Congress don't.
Rudy, if you want to be a pro-death politician as a plain American, be my guest. If you want to live a secular life without the pesky teachings of the Church, that is completely legal in the US (and encouraged in most places). But stop representing that you are Catholic. Devout Catholics follow the teachings of the Catholic Church. If you don't follow (or even believe) the teachings, then you should stop representing yourself as a devout Catholic. Or, to be honest, call yourself a "dissident Catholic" or a "heretic Catholic." Then, at least, you would be honest.Labels: Culture of Life / Culture of Death, Politics |
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Giuliani woos conservatives wary of abortion view - washingtonpost.com:
"The former New York mayor, the leading Republican in most national polls, never mentioned abortion in his 30-minute speech at evangelist Pat Robertson's Regent University, nor was he asked about it in a brief question period."' How does Giuliani even get a chance to speak at a place like this? I guess it is kind of like how Nancy Pelosi gets to speak at a Catholic University. If you claim to be Republican, you get to speak where conservatives are, even if you miss the boat on the most important issue. Nancy claims to be Catholic even though she misses the boat on that one.
It seems people are gullible. All someone needs to do is say they are members of a group, and they get a free pass.
Will the religious right give a free pass to Guiliani? I hope not. Imo, we need to have a nation worth defending - not just a good defense. Guiliani wants a good defense - but of what? A nation that kills its children? A nation that does not value marriage? A nation that doesn't care for the poor and needy?
Guiliani is the WORST from both parties. Culture of Death married to a lack of compassion. His nomination would be a defeat in the cause of life. His election would be a blow to the moral fabric of our country for years to come.Labels: Culture of Life / Culture of Death, Politics |
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Leftist politicians push bill to legalize euthanasia in Mexico
OK, I have an idea. Mexico City has legalized abortion, is in the process of legalizing prostitution, is in the process of legalizing euthanasia. I would not be surprised if gay marriage wasn't too far behind. Now I find this extremely regrettable and ask Our Lady of Guadalupe to intercede for all of our nations in the struggle for life.
BUT, I also have another idea.
We have an illegal immigration problem. I tend to be more on the "let them stay" side of that argument, but I have a new solution. We can make a trade. The US can get hard working, industrious people willing to risk all for a better life. Mexico can have our liberal politicians - Hillary, Obama, Rudy, Nancy - the whole lot of them. The nice thing is that this is win-win-win. Those who are looking for a better life could make one here, we get rid of a liberal plague, the liberals get to live their noxious fantasies.
Of course Mexico ends up the loser in this one.
Well, it was a thought.Labels: Culture of Life / Culture of Death, Politics |
Bush vetoes stem cell bill:
"'Our innovative spirit is making possible incredible advances in medicine that can save lives and cure diseases,' the president told an invited audience in the East Room. 'America is also a nation founded on the principle that all human life is sacred. And our conscience calls us to pursue the possibilities of science in a manner that respects human dignity and upholds our moral values.'" Bush has made some awful mistakes as president, but his stand on life issues is exactly where it should be. I am not sure what Rudy or Hillary or Obama stand for. They would have passed this. They would also give money for abortions in foreign countries. They would also push the gay agenda.
Yeah, he has made some blunders, and I have disagreed with more than one decision. But on the most important culture of life issues he stands for what is right. But I'd rather have him than Rudy or Hillary or Obama or Nancy Pelosi.Labels: Culture of Life / Culture of Death, Politics |
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Clinton Campaign Removes Mother Teresa From Video Ad. Excerpts:
"Clinton spokesman Phil Singer confirmed that Mother Teresa's order had asked the campaign to remove the image, "So we did."
...
In the original version of a five-minute advertisement, Clinton's husband, former President Bill Clinton, said, "Hillary in effect, was the face of America - in Africa, in India" over a picture of Sen. Clinton waving alongside Mother Teresa.
... During the Clinton presidency, Mother Teresa addressed the 1994 National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., where she called abortion 'the greatest destroyer of peace today.'
'It is a war against the child, a direct killing of the innocent child, murder by the mother herself. And if we accept that a mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill one another?' she asked the gathering, which was attended by the Clintons and also addressed by the then president." While Clinton clearly doesn't get Mother Theresa (though she would like to use her memory), apparently she does get the idea that she does not want to get sued for the use of her image. I am glad it is off her ads, but I would rather Clinton listen to Mother Theresa's words.
We should all say a prayer to Blessed Mother Theresa for the conversion of all our hearts, but especially those politicians who would defend and extend the murderous reign of abortion in the United States and beyond.Labels: Culture of Life / Culture of Death, Politics |
Friday, June 15, 2007
Catholic World News : Massachusetts legislature kills pro-marriage amendment:
"Under the terms of the Massachusetts constitution, the proposed amendment needed the support of just 50 legislators in order to be placed on the ballot for a statewide vote in November 2008. Because the proposal did not reach that minimum level of support, the amendment is defeated." Truly a sad day for a MA. Not 50 out of the lot were willing to stand up for what is right. It is kind of like the the story of Sodom and Gomorrah (how fitting). I can hear Abraham say "But Lord, if I can find but 50 legislators...."Labels: Culture of Life / Culture of Death, News |
Pray for Mexico City
Mexico City Considers Legal Prostitution:
"The leftist party that has already legalized gay unions and abortion in Mexico City said Wednesday it wants to make prostitution legal in the capital of this overwhelmingly Roman Catholic country." I don't think the left wing leadership of Mexico City is worried about anything other than their agenda. I guess if your going to be evil, might as well go all the way.Labels: Culture of Life / Culture of Death, News |
I have blogged on the Amnesty International turn to the dark side before, but Cardinal Martino and others quoted in this NCR article are much more eloquent (and consequential).
National Catholic Register: No Amnesty For the Unborn Here are a few article quotes:
Amnesty International “has betrayed all of its faithful supporters throughout the years,” he said, “both individuals and organizations, who have trusted AI for its integral mission of promoting and protecting human rights.” The Church teaches that it is never justifiable to kill an innocent human life. Abortion is murder,” he said. “To selectively justify abortion, even in the cases of rape, is to define the innocent child within the womb as an enemy, a ‘thing’ that must be destroyed. How can we say that killing a child in some cases is good and in other cases it is evil?”
Said Father Berrigan, “One cannot support an organization financially or even individually that is contravening something very serious in our ethic.”
Labels: Culture of Life / Culture of Death, News |
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
A Stem-Cell Heretic Makes His Case - WSJ.com:
"Embryonic stem-cell researchers are prone to touting the potential of their work to treat all sorts of ailments, from diabetes to Parkinson's disease. Don't bet on it, says James Sherley, a stem-cell specialist himself, who has become a notable heretic in the field." How interesting that we see the language of faith applied to science. Modern secularists are more fervent in their "faith" than most, though they don't see it as such. Science is a method by which information can be gathered and hypotheses tested. It makes no claims that it can do all things or explain all things.
It is the science "faithful" who make the extraordinary claims. They claim that with science, all things will be explained and all ills cured. Those who question the faith, even just a small part of it, are now called heretics.
Hmmm.Labels: Culture of Life / Culture of Death, Faith, News |
Brownback stands firm against abortion - Yahoo! News
Not sure about you, but this is whom I will be voting for in the primary. Giuliani combines the worst of both parties together, and just because you were mayor of New York during 9/11 doesn't qualify you for president.
If I have a choice between Giuliani and any of the current list of Dems, I vote third party.
Check out Brownback - he is an authentic alternative. This is real compassion - not left wing pandering or right wing smoke screens.
His site is at: www.brownback.comLabels: Culture of Life / Culture of Death, News, Politics |
Friday, June 08, 2007
Catholic World News : Planned Parenthood budget rising; US taxpayers pay greater share: "Planned Parenthood's budget for 2005-2006 was $902.8 mllion, an increase of 2.4% over the previous year's figure. More than one-third of that figure, $305.3 million, came from public funding."
Yes sir, ladies and gents. That is about one billion (with a b) spent in this leading murder factory (PP accounts for 20% of abortions in the US), and those of us who pay our taxes are forced to pay for a third of it.
It is time for the government to stop forcing the American people to pay for the evil deeds and false propaganda put out by this nefarious group.Labels: Culture of Life / Culture of Death, News, Politics |
MPs who back abortion should be banned from Communion, says Catholic leader-News-UK-TimesOnline: "“The Catholic Church doesn’t bend or sway to meet the position of individual politicians, doctors, or anyone, when it comes to life issues. Why would anyone consider it unusual for the Catholic Church to reiterate its 2,000-year-old position?“"
Looks like Scotland has a stand up Cardinal. Kind of interesting that here in California I can hear this, but only a whisper about the USCCB response to the wayward Catholic politicians was covered by Catholic World News, and that's about it (of course, they didn't make much hay about it themselves). Perhaps Cardinals in the US should take Cardinal O'Brein's lead.Labels: Catholicism, Culture of Life / Culture of Death, News, Politics |
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Pope sends Mexico tough abortion message - Yahoo! News
Friday, May 04, 2007
Amnesty International Joins Culture of Death
Looks like Amnesty International has decided to side with the culture of death. Rather than fight against abortion, or at the least remain silent, the board has (incorrectly) decided that abortion is a human right (I guess they mean it is the "right to die" if you are a baby). If you support Amnesty International - it is time to send your support elsewhere - to an organization that values the fundamental right to life.
If you support Amnesty International, it is time to step up, show you support life and sever your links to that organization. Alternative organizations that respect life are listed below.
Here is the contents of an email I just received from Consistent Life on this issue. Check out the article in First Things mentioned below as well.
To: All those who signed the petition asking Amnesty International not to take a stand on decriminalizing abortion and pushing governments to allow access in certain circumstances.
From: Rachel MacNair, Vice-President, Consistent Life
The petition was hand-delivered to the hands of each member of the Board of Directors of the U. S. chapter of Amnesty International on March 23, 2007.
I am sorry to report that AI has indeed decided to take this step. You can get more information at http://www.consistent-life.org/ai.html and a good editorial on this at http://www.firstthings.com/onthesquare/?p=719.
The decision was made despite polling of members in the UK that went against it, despite a vote of US members the results of which were never reported, and included explicit censorship of someone wishing to leaflet at the U.S. national conference. Those of us AI supporters who are heartsick about this no longer have a voice, inasmuch as it can be said we ever did.
We encourage all US members of AI to telephone them at (212) 807-8400 and ask for the membership department. We have been told that they are keeping track of what this abortion policy decision does to their membership; they anticipate that losses may be offset by gains, so knowing of losses is important.
We also suggest the following organizations for those who wish to re-direct their human-rights donation budget:
Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition International (TASSC) 4121 Harewood Road NE ~ Suite B Washington, DC 20017 Phone: (202) 529-2991 www.tassc.org info@tassc.org
National Religious Campaign Against Torture c/o CCTPP 4500 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20016 Phone: (202) 885-8648 www.nrcat.org campaign@nrcat.org
Human Rights First 333 Seventh Avenue, 13th Floor New York, NY 10001-5108 Phone: (212) 845 5200 www.humanrightsfirst.org/ feedback@humanrightsfirst.org
Friends Committee on National Legislation (Issues of Torture and Civil Liberties) 245 Second St., NE Washington DC 20002-5795
It would be good to include a note to let these groups know that they are getting funds re-directed from AI and why, to make it less likely that they will move in a pro-abortion direction in the future.
Student groups who no longer wish to affiliate with AI but would like to continue their good work might consider setting themselves up as independent organizations, and using informational research from AI along with other human rights groups in order to continue acting and educating on these important issues.
Labels: Culture of Life / Culture of Death, News, Politics |
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Check out this post on Ginsberg and her dissent: America's Premier Holocaust Denier at The Lair of the Catholic Cavemen (warning: graphic images)
My thoughts: Being pro-life can be difficult in modern society. Most of the world does not want to deal with it. A good friend of mine - one of the keeper kind of friends - told me he just stayed out of it because it wasn't his body. Another good friend told me that no one had the right to tell her what to do with her body. It is not always easy to stand up when your friends expect you to sit down.
When I see the pictures side by side of abortions with Nazi holocaust images, it is impossible for me to remain silent. Most Germans in WWII sat back and stuck their heads in the sand as 12 million people were murdered. Well, more than 40 million dead babies since 1972 is a holocaust that no amount of denial can change. And if I sit back and say nothing, I am like those who allowed 12 million people to be murdered in WWII.Labels: Culture of Life / Culture of Death, History, News |
Friday, April 20, 2007
Pro Ecclesia * Pro Familia * Pro Civitate is a great site to visit nearly every day, but he is compiling some commentaries about the recent Supreme Court decision that are definitely worth looking at today. Click here to read more.
One of the pieces he has is part of an article by George Neumayr at Human Events about the Ginsburg dissent:Cut through all the pretentious padding and legal mumbo-jumbo and Ginsburg's dissent amounts to this: abortion is the sacred foundation of feminism, and Americans must never touch it; if this means permitting the skulls of unborn children to be crushed, oh well. Labels: Culture of Life / Culture of Death, Politics |
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Court upholds Calif. stem cell agency: "The 1st District Court of Appeal upheld a decision by a lower court judge who last year ruled in favor of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, which was created when Proposition 71 was passed by 59 percent of the electorate in 2004."
So, my tax dollars have pay immoral scientists to experiment on fetal stem cells (i.e., destroyed human beings). This whole issue continues to show the moral bankruptcy of science. Life begins at conception. At that point there is a new entity with its own genetic make-up (NOT the mothers). This is an different life. Destroying it is WRONG. It is MURDER. To experiment on the remains (or before they are remains) is a very Nazi-esque approach to science.
Why must my government force me to pay for such evil? Why does my government allow such evil to exist? I pray that the CA Supreme Court will rule against this lower court.Labels: Culture of Life / Culture of Death, News, Politics |
Monday, February 26, 2007
When do we get to see the REAL candidates?
The upcoming presidential race is already looking unfortunate.
The leading candidates on the Democratic side are woefully inadequate when it comes to pro-life and gay agenda issues - no surprise there. In fact, Edwards hired anti-Catholics and refuses to fire them. Obama is dangerous because he wants to talk like he has values, but wants to sell us a left wing agenda. Kind of like Bush's compassionate conservatism where there really wasn't any compassion - same thing, but from a liberal side. And Hillary is just Hillary - she is so pro-abortion it isn't funny. But be careful, she learned to dance around the truth from an absolute expert. I have no idea what I am going to do for the primary - write myself in I guess.
On the Republican side, Giuliani is basically a Democrat on life and gay agenda issues. Voting for him would be about as bad as voting for Hillary. Here is a something I got from ontheissues.org: “I’m pro-choice. I’m pro-gay rights,” Giuliani said. He was then asked whether he supports a ban on what critics call partial-birth abortions. “No, I have not supported that, and I don’t see my position on that changing,” he responded. Why would any pro-lifer vote for this joker. You get the worst of both parties - a culture of death social policy, with Republican disdain for the downtrodden. Sorry, this is the WORST of both worlds.
With McCain and Romney, at least they are saying the right things, but both are flip-floppers. We may end up with one of these as the Republican candidate.
Brownback? He is right on all the life and gay agenda issues! For everything else, he is terrible: environment, helping the downtrodden, etc. Unless you are a big corporation, Sam won't be there for your. Sorry, my pro-life agenda doesn't end at birth.
Basically, before it even starts I know there is no candidate that represents me. Gee, another election among people that I don't want. Great.Labels: Culture of Life / Culture of Death, My Perspective, Politics |
Thursday, February 22, 2007
I just watched Nightline (2/22/07), and there was a report of an organization that exemplifies the culture of death and the extreme selfishness in our culture. The company, ironically, is called Abraham Center for Life. This unethical company gets select (PhD) sperm donors, matches them to attractive egg donors and sends the donated eggs and sperm for in vitro fertilization. These are then sold to infertile couples. Aside from the fact that in vitro fertilization results in the deaths and freezing of countless embryos (i.e., human life), this procedure amounts to creating designer babies. This logical conclusion from the current system is abhorrent, and represent another step in the cheapening of human life. This is not about providing needed homes for unwanted children, this is about creating life for selfish ends.
The couple interviewed in the piece demonstrate how such a despicable organization can survive. This couple decided to not have kids because of career (read selfish), then found out they couldn’t have them. In the report, when asked why they want children, it came down to that it was expected, that it would be “nice to breastfeed and bond with a baby.” How can our society accept this? How are there people who would do this?
Lord, have mercy, for we are unworthy.Labels: Culture of Life / Culture of Death, My Perspective, Values |
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Monday, February 12, 2007
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Catholic World News : Strong Vatican support for death-penalty abolition
My thoughts: A pro-life position means consistency. Either human life is of inherent value and dignity or it is not. Some want to pick and choose (it is easier to love babies than criminals). I get the difficulty opposing the death penalty - I despise what these people have done. But we must let our reason and faith rule our emotion.
Now, in terms of priority - for the US, more than three times the number of abortions occur everyday than all of the executions in the past 30 years.Labels: Catholicism, Culture of Life / Culture of Death |
Pro-life not "Social Conservative"
The US presidential election is more than a year away, but we are already starting to hear the rhetoric. I was reading two news articles today. This one that describes pro-lifers as social conservatives and this one on some vulgar women who label us as religious conservatives. The problem is that the "pro-choice" fanatics use these labels, and the media follows right along. Sorry simple minded media folks, this labeling is wrong. I am pro-life, but I also want universal health coverage. I believe in easy access and extremely low cost higher education. I believe in anti-discrimination. I believe in preferential treatment for the poor. How is this "conservative?"
The thing is, the definition has come to rest on one set of issue "life issues," with abortion being the leading issue (but includes euthenasia and fetal stem cell research).
I have always thought abortion was wrong, but labeled myself as pro-choice for a time. I came with an argument that people believe differently, and that we must respect their beliefs. After all, since we Catholics have been well persecuted for our beliefs, I thought that we should not do the same to others. There is a certain logic here, but it falls apart when extended outside of the abortion debate. This logic rests on a faulty assumption - that all perspectives are legitamate. This is wrong. You see, Hitler believed that Jews weren't fully human. The Nazis believed that Jews (and others) were less than human. Hitler and the Nazis were wrong, just as abortionists are wrong.
If I want to be consistent with my "pro-choice" logic, I cannot condemn any genocide that is based on a belief that the "other guy" is less human. Because while it is wrong for me, heck it is just a choice for the other guy.
This moral relativism is ludicrous, but too many have been lulled asleep. I refuse to accept this. Genocide is wrong. The casual and massive murder of any group is morally ludicrous.Hitler killed about 10 million people as undesirable in the holocaust. We have killed more than 44 million in the US alone via abortion.
Sorry, pro-life isn't conservative - it is logically consistent. The murder of human life is wrong. No selfish "belief" can alter that.Labels: Culture of Life / Culture of Death, Relativism |
Friday, February 02, 2007
Catholic World News : UN presses Colombia on abortion access: "While commending Colombia for the recent court decision that decriminalized abortion in cases of rape, fetal malformation, or the endangerment of the health of the mother, CEDAW committee members were quick to ask the delegation what the Colombian government’s plans were to ensure compliance with the new constitutional decision; they asked about further loosening of abortion restrictions. "
My perspective: The UN needs to focus on solving real issues - not spreading the concept of murder. They can't seem to be relevant anywhere else, so they'll just aim at propogating evil. Hmmm.Labels: Culture of Life / Culture of Death, My Perspective, Politics |
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Death, Life & Choice - Statistics
I deal a lot with statistics in my line of work, creating and using them to understand people and behavior. I gathered some statistics with their reference sites and wanted to pull these together to look at our society and our values. People talk about a culture of death, but what does that look like in numbers? Well, here is what I found.
Abortion: There have been more than 45 million legal abortions since 1973 There are nearly 1.3 million abortions performed in the US every year That is more than 3,500 abortions per day in the US There is about 1 abortion for every 4 live births in the US Abortion data comes from pro-abortion sources - these are their statistics http://www.guttmacher.org/ http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0764203.html http://www.abortiontv.com
Death Penalty There were 1047 executions between 1976 and late 2006 http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/article.php?did=169&scid=12
Other murders: There were about 638,500 murders between 1973 and 2004 http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/homicide/tables/totalstab.htm
Iraq War Coalition forces killed in Iraq from 2003 through 2006: 3334 (3,081 US) Reported Iraqi civilian deaths due to military intervention from 2003 through 2006: 55,221 to 60,907 http://icasualties.org/oif/http://www.iraqbodycount.org/
All Deaths In 2004 there were about 2.4 million deaths in the US If abortions are included, we have about 3.7 million deaths Abortion is the leading cause of death in America representing 35% of all deaths http://www.cdc.gov/
The culture of death comes down to the fact that we, as a society, have perpetrated the greatest holocaust in history with the senseless murder of millions of our children.
May God have mercy on our souls. Labels: Culture of Life / Culture of Death |
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Back Online & Thoughts About Elections
I have been without internet connection since mid-day Monday. It is tough being disconnected, especially when you rely on the Internet so heavily. Working at home, being without it makes doing business that much harder. We also do not have any news on the arrival of the baby. We are waiting for her to decide to come - it is any day now. I'll keep all posted when she finally arrives. It looks like we all had a bit of bad news yesterday with the elections. I was disappointed that the three pro-life measures lost. The one in CA got 47% of the vote, and while that is a loss - it is not as bad as one might expect for liberal leaning California. It is also no surprise given how much money spent by Planned Parenthood trying to scare voters. I wish that the pro-life side was more sophisticated in marketing and convincing people. Grass roots is good, but a professional marketing can make a huge difference. As for the elections, I don't know what to think. I am a voter without a party. I am a registered Democrat, but I am pro-Life. That means, I can actually vote for very few Democrats. But it is hard to vote for Republicans. They get the pre-birth life issues and gay marriage correct, but are wrong on most of the rest of their platform. Aside from these issues, the Republican party is the party of big business and the rich. And the values of these two groups do not align with my values. But the ultra-left values of San Franciscan Nancy Pelosi don't align with my values either. In terms of why people voted the way they did, I am confused. I get the corruption issue, but I think most Americans are wrong about the war. People supported the war at the start, and now they don't. I am the opposite. I thought it was wrong to get into the war, but I also think that we have to clean up the mess we made - no matter how difficult. We may all agree that the current strategy is wrong, but a cut and run strategy would be rather irresponsible and (IMO) cowardly. It was wrong to start the war in Iraq, but it also would be wrong to leave the mess we created without a solution. Just my thoughts. Labels: Culture of Life / Culture of Death, My Perspective, News, Politics |
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
This is from Ironic Catholic by visiting blogger Jovial Catholic. Visit the site for the whole post - but I had to share this part! You shall not kill them in the rain. You shall not kill them on a train. You can not, will not, on a boat. You will not, will not, with a goat. Not in the womb! Not in a tree! Not in a war! You let them be! Do not kill them as embryos. Do not kill them with Cheerios. Do not kill them with a mouse. Do not kill them in a house. Do not kill them in the chair. You’re not God, so it’s not fair. Do not kill them here or there. Do not kill them anywhere! Remember how you killed the Lamb? So stop the killing, says the great I Am! (c.f. Dr. Seuss, “Green Eggs and Ham”) Labels: Culture of Life / Culture of Death, Fun |
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