Reflections on Bishop Naumann's Statement and the Problem of Equivalency

 Jill Stanek posted a weekend question asking what folks thought about Archbishop Naumann's public message to Gov Sebelius.

Most folks supported the Bishop and many remarked on how his message was pastoral and firm. Quite a few expressed a wish that other bishops would have the same backbone.

There were a few, like this ... which is unfortunately very typical.

Jill Stanek - Weekend question via kwout

There are several errors in this ... firstly, the Church recognizes that although not ideal there may be instances where the death penalty is justifiable in that a state has the obligation to protect all its citizenry. Pope JP II the Great went on, however, to teach that there are methods that protect a state without having to resort to capital punishment - such as life in prison without the possibility of parole.

So, the commenter above just got it wrong ... the Church recognizes the seriousness of capital punishment; however, she is not full-square against it as many might insist.

Another problem (and this is waaaaaay too frequent!) is making some equivalence of abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment, and any social issue that's the darling of the moment. After all, this is the hoop that many in the Dem party try to jump through - that there is a seamless garment where all issues, no matter how large or small, are wrapped together and viewed as one. This is wrong. And it is particularly despicable when used as an excuse for policy-making.

The intrinsic evil of abortion is nowhere near the same as other issues mentioned.  Abortion is, always has been, and will always be objectively evil - regardless of any attempt to justify it otherwise.

Ok - Yesterday was the last Religious Ed class of the year

We actually have one more session, but I don't have to teach that day. We are celebrating Mass, then the 8th-graders graduate, and we go home.

Whew!

I already opined about some of my challenges this year ... boy oh boy - this was a tough crowd this year, I must say.

I've always had students who voiced their opinions on matters - their opinions being very much a reflection of the culture at large. For instance, I can predict with near certainty that when we discuss the sacrament of Holy Orders there will be 1 or 2 young women who assert that the Church is being unfair and sexist because women are not ordained as priests.

And there are many other topics that always come up ... abortion, suicide, why are there different types of Christian churches, how can we know that the Bible isn't a bunch of stories, is there such a thing as a just war, what about acting in self-defense and you kill someone, and so on. I have a list.

But this year - in addition to these questions, so many of the students seemed intractable ... so obstinately resolute that they are right in spite of what the Church may teach. ... Okay - I'll admit that not every student was like this. Indeed I had some that were honestly looking for answers and the truth.

Yet this year saw some students who just 'knew' they were right no matter the evidence to the contrary. Made for quite a challenging year, to say the least.

Clear case of sin making one stupid ...

... or at the very least, one becomes such a dissembler that self-deception is the accepted doublethink.  Screwtape would be so pleased.

Question: Do you believe that life begins at conception? If you do not think at conception - then when? 

Simple enough ... and yet Obama is almost apologetic that he really doesn't know - with all the stammering and stuttering.

I'm willing to bet that had this not been the Compassion Forum, he would have been more sure of his answer ... he's changed his message here because he does have a specific record on issues of life and abortion. (hint - hint: Obama never saw an abortion he didn't like - for him the question of when life begins is irrelevant so long as the sacrament of abortion is never harmed in any way). Oh but wait - he's a nice guy ... and he stands for change ... and he says all sorts of really neat things ...

They both seem to be reasonably intelligent folks. I'd suggest that their handlers go get a middle-school science or health textbook and look it up. Surprise, surprise! A conceptus is alive! Would stand to reason, therefore, that if something were alive, then it is a life.

Oh - and as for this "potential life" nonsense ... it is, well, nonsense.

Joseph Farah has another good take on Mr. O's pathetic little performance.

Watch him melt. Watch him squirm. Watch him reach for words that fail him. Watch him admit he hasn't really come to grips with one of the very hottest public policy issues of our time. Watch him try to come up with an answer that won't offend anyone.

Now try to imagine this man going toe to toe with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad or Kim Jong-il or Hu Jintao or Vladimir Putin.

The man cannot even express coherently what he believes about when human life begins.

And despite the gibberish coming out of his mouth, he has studied this issue. He has been coached on it. He knows what he believes. He has voted on this issue as a state legislator in Illinois and as a U.S. senator in Washington.

(definitely worth reading his entire column)

 

The penultimate class - A reflection

Hot diggity! This year's religious education classes are nearly over ... yesterday was the second to last class. (We actually have two sessions left to go ... it's just that the last session is a Mass, so I only have one more actual class to teach).

Yesterday was the day of testing. Jeez - I hate testing. But our Diocese requires it. They kids did okay with it.

It just feels that this year was very very chaotic ... we were all over the place in our classroom discussions. Take yesterday as an example. We're discussing (okay - it was more of me talking) the Ascension. One of the students asked why the number 40 always seems to show up ... ya know ... 40 days of Lent, 40 days when Jesus was in the desert, 40 years of the Israelites wandering in the desert, and so forth.

Then a student chimes in with something about a Jehovah's Witness coming to their house and talking about the 144,000 ... this triggered another student hopping in with comments about the Mormons. So, I needed to answer their questions as quickly as possible so I could get them back to the topic of the Ascension.

But then it all just flew out the window. A student quoted the Apostles creed saying that Jesus is the only one we know of that descended to hell (okay ... mental note: need to clarify that next week), which prompted another student to ask about Judas wherein another student said that he is in hell because he killed himself.

This caused another student to ask if you really go to hell if you commit suicide. Then another asked, "well what about euthanasia?"

Honestly, these students don't ask these questions to purposely derail the day's lesson plan. They really do have questions that need to be addressed ... yet their minds just work in such hop-scotch fashion, it's hard for me to keep up sometimes.  I am always thankful that I remember to bring the Catechism of the Catholic Church to classes - so I can look things up as needed.

Yesterday just seemed typical of the year in general ... In years past I've exerted much more control with lesson plans and all that. But I was pretty much doing all the talking.

So, this year I tried something different - where I would prompt the kids with questions or scenarios ... and sure enough! they'd jump in with their questions and observations. Makes for a livelier class, certainly ...

... but I think I'm going to have to strike a better balance next year.

So, what's changed that's caused Obama's turnaround?

He's a pastor that O has known for nearly 20 years - known as his pastor, mind you.

There have been snippets shown on TV of the Rev Wright's incendiary speech.

Yet O says that he cannot disown the Rev Wright.

Now ... poof! It's all changed.

O is distancing himself and saying the he's disheartened and offended and all that.

But what exactly has changed with the Rev Wright's rhetoric? Was it just that he was viewed more as a fringe element before but is now something to focus on front-and-center? But why? All of a sudden the media is all over this man.

Did O just now realize that the Rev Wright is out of touch? Why so long? And what's so different with the man now?

Not all of us have agendas

I admit that when I read this post at Catholic Pillow Fight, a bit of my dander went up ... and I wanted to fire off a note admonishing the writer for saying

the more I become sure that those who volunteer to teach our children about the faith (especially sacramental theology) do so because they have an agenda that they want to inflict on our children.

This was part of the opening paragraph that referred to some really terrible stuff recounted at by Patrick Archbold. What happened during this first reception of the Holy Eucharist is nothing short of ridiculous, scandalous, bordering on sacrilegious.

Yet to say that one is convinced that those who volunteer to teach children have an agenda is too broad-brush-stroking. (I am one of those who volunteers to teach children and as such am part of a sacramental preparation team for Confirmation.)

Upon a bit more reflection some deep breaths I can see his point insofar as those of us who do volunteer to be catechists must know the faith and teachings of Mother Church ourselves.

before one teaches children, one must understand what the sacrament is all about.

Amen to that! There is really no excuse not to know and understand what with the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Catechism for US Adults and the numerous writings of Popes ... all available at our fingertips. First, we who teach have to admit that we don't know everything ... that (gasp!) our own education in the faith has been lacking and deficient. A good friend of mine and deacon is fond of saying, "I'm never impressed with what I know. But I'm always impressed with what I don't know."

It is a great responsibility to teach children - one that is so frighteningly serious. Indeed our Lord makes no bones about the scope and importance of such a responsibility when he says, "It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck and he cast into the sea than that he should lead one of these little ones astray." (Luke 17:2)

And anyone who ventures to be a catechist ought to reflect on this passage long and hard ...

Some other problems, however, are that many of the textbooks used are just not good ... and that the parents are woefully lacking in their own knowledge of the faith. As a result, they either hand on a greatly watered down version - or (more than likely) pass on their relativistic, politicized, cafeteria version of the faith. 

It would do well for parents to reflect on St. Luke's passage too.

people's souls are at stake, and especially in the case of first communion and confirmation, children's souls and the souls of young adults are at stake

As is my soul ... since I have stepped up to volunteer to teach children I am taking on a tremendous responsibility for which I will be held accountable when I stand before God.

Catholic New Media Celebration

 From the folks at SQPN ... June 22nd looks to be a pretty darned fun and informative day.

 

for More Information

With an obit like this who needs enemies

I had heard of Cardinal Trujillo's death ... but I came across this little gem titled: Anti-abortionist dies

Wow! To my mind, he was a Catholic - a Cardinal - who served the faithful. But then again, who am I compared to the insightful analysis of The Province.

Sheesh!

Other links of better quality:

NY Times

Wikipedia

 LifeSite news

Dear Senator Boxer ...

According to your spokeswoman, Natalie Ravitz, you are pleased ...

"we are very pleased we were able to reach an agreement with Senator Brownback to remove the political language and pass this resolution welcoming Pope Benedict"

What precisely is the political language in the following text, which you decided to fight against?

Whereas Pope Benedict XVI has spoken out for the weak and vulnerable, witnessing to the value of each and every human life;

No doubt you and your supporters may claim that there is some "code" in using the words 'weak and vulnerable,' or 'value of each and every human life.' I just do not know. Therefore, could you point out where this clause is blatantly political?

Perhaps it is the use of the word 'life' ... whereby, of course, everyone would know that this is some sinister codeword as in pro-life (which you glibly and erroneously mis-characterize as being anti-choice). If so, then what would be the alternative?

• Person ... that wouldn't work because you and your party oppose this word as it would require protection under the law. Okay - it can't be that.
• Creature ... that's probably not going to work either. I've not heard you or any of ilk characterize human life and persons as mere creatures. But I'm willing to hear your thoughts on this one.
• Being ... You'd likely have the same problems with this as you do with 'person.'

Frankly, I'm at a loss. Maybe it is the inclusion of the word 'human' as in 'human life.'  Though I would guess that you would still object to the phrase: "value of each and every life" (sans human).

Perhaps it is the word 'value.' If so, then what is the political nature of that word? Are you suggesting that only you and your cronies on the left side of the aisle value life any more or better? 

The fact of the matter is that this clause is political only because you chose to imbue it as such.  

 

Pope Benedict XVI is Catholic; and it's a safe bet that he's orthodox and believes in what the Church teaches.  One aspect of Church teaching is that (are you ready, Senator) every human life is indeed worthy of dignity (it is valuable).  Are you, therefore, shocked that the Pope is Catholic?  Are you so incapable of understanding that welcoming him could include some allusion to Church teaching? After all, isn't the promoting of the Gospel what Pope Benedict XVI focuses on primarily?

This would've been funny ...

... if it weren't sadly true as an indicator of some basic knowledge of the faith.

Overheard yesterday in class ...

A: "How come people don't believe in Jesus? I mean, like, he did all these miracle things. Like, you know, like separating the waters in that so people could go through it."

B: (quietly as an aside) "That wasn't Jesus."

Sweet! Online genealogy database is free for me now - because I live in New Jersey

and all you need is a library card!

I had heard about HeritageQuest before ... and just steered away from it because of it being subscription-based.  Although I'm quite interested in genealogy and family history - have been for quite some time; and made some rather interesting discoveries about my family - my free time to research comes in fits and starts.  There are times when I just don't have any time to delve into the latest puzzle before me about my great-grandfather's brother and the like. So, a subscription service is of little value to me because I'd be paying for something that I'm not likely going to use a whole lot.

I really do wish that I had more time to research the family history ... but just not in the cards right now.

Then I learn just yesterday that the HeritageQuest database is available to me - to all New Jersey residents with a library card - for FREE. I got this information from our local historical society.  I tried it just this morning; and I'm loving it. 

I used to live in Washington DC and would go to the National Archives to look at the microfiche of US census records and other documents. Now I can view much of that online from my home. Awesome!

Here's the how-to for us Garden State folk:

1. go to www.jerseyclicks.com
2. choose "custom search/choose your database"
3. enter your library card bar code number to sign in
4. scroll down to the genealogy heading and click "ProQuest Heritage Quest"

et voila!

Dangerouser and Dangerouser - Obama's gruesome record

Picture this ... an abortion is 'botched' ... the baby is born alive and viable.

Our Congress and current President both agree that the baby should be protected under law as a living, breathing person - because it is, well, indeed living and breathing on its own.

Obama would have it otherwise.

I mean, even Senator Barbara Boxer - a proud pro-choice legislator even stated on the floor that this does not infringe on Roe v Wade.

It is a gruesome fact that this junior senator from Illinois will cling to an ideology even in the face of infanticide.

A quiz I gave my students

By and large - they did well on this.

1) If you are bigger than another person, do you therefore have the right to hurt them simply because they are smaller than you?

2) If you are more mature - able to make decisions for yourself, do you therefore have the right to hurt someone who is less mature or developed than you?

3) If you live in a comfortable environment - one that nurtures you and helps you grow, do you therefore have the right to hurt someone who is in a different environment than yours?

4) If you are able to provide for yourself - where you are no longer dependent on another person for what you need, do you therefore have the right to hurt someone who still depends on another person for what they need to survive?

Me monk. Me meander.: On Sunday: several Christian places in Iraq suffered attacks

Something you'll never see in the main stream media.

On EWTN's Threshold of Hope program, Fr. Mitch Pacwa shared the news that the UNHCR (United Nations High Commission on Refugees) now believes that more than 50% of all Iraqi refugees are indeed Christians fleeing persecutions.

Please keep these people in your prayers. 

Obama: Save the horses; kill the babies ...

Reason #1132544321567789 not to vote for him ...

In response to a question about animal rights during a recent town hall meeting, Presidential Candidate and Senator Barack Obama said "How we treat our animals reflects how we treat each other."

Senator Obama, a co-sponsor of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act  in the US Senate, calls said cruelty to animals is "unacceptable on its own stead." He says that as president, he would "continue to make sure that we treat animal cruelty like the serious crime it is."  Yet Obama doesn't find unacceptable the cruel treatment of infants born alive and left to die via live birth abortions.

Praying for Fortitude - "Shut Me Out" - by Kutless

During these last several classes, we've been going over the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. The gift we focused on during the last class was Fortitude - and this is something that is often in short supply in this world. REAL courage - not something that is a disguised pride ...

Fortitude - the courage to live your life as a Christian should and the courage to remain faithful to Jesus and his church - is not something that's a result of your own wit or intelligence. It's not a result of your own so-called inner strength. No. It is truly a gift from God.

On the day of their Confirmation, these students will receive this gift and all the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  I pray that unlike me, when I was their age, that they actually unwrap the gifts.

 

Video & Music by Kutless:

(the news gave me chills) I am really afraid of Obama

On the heels of the news that Obama won the South Carolina primary - my stomach flipped in several knots and chills ran down my back.

Okay - I'm better now.

Last night I was talking with my wife about the primaries and caucuses and the field of candidates for President. ...

When it comes to either party - the choices seem to be getting rather poor (my opinion!). This is particularly true of the Dems - with an apparent showdown between Billary and The-Man-Who's-Never-Said-No-To-Any-Abortion-Procedure.

I can only suppose that O is completely morally blinded, because by promoting abortion and infanticide (which his record clearly shows!), he's actually helping to kill off African-Americans. I mean, why should we worry so much about white supremacist idiots? Obama and his Jonestown-like league of followers are happily mixing and drinking the cool aid for themselves and everyone else.

I shudder to think of what the US would be like with him in the Oval Office.

Insight Scoop | The Ignatius Press Blog: Sen. Barack Obama: "I don't know anybody who is pro-abortion."

Barack Obama ... a man who never said 'no' to any abortion.

And it seems that he's a man who's deluded as well. Ah yes ... the pretzels one has to twist into just to be 'electable' by the Party of Death.

Carl Olson has some great commentary here.

Highly recommend visiting and reading ... a choice one here by Carl:

such an argument is clearly absurd when applied to any other moral choice: killing someone, committing rape, using crack cocaine, drunk driving, robbery, making racist remarks, and so forth. For example, let's say that I want to use meth and attempt to argue that "It's my body" and "I'm following my conscience" and "I'm not hurting anyone else." Will anyone take that as a serious argument for using such a drug? But isn't the government, in making laws that prohibit using meth, unilaterally making a decision about it? Of course! The government does it all of the time, about all sorts of things. Again, this is pulled off only because the emphasis, wrongly, is on the woman, and not on the nature of the act and what that act does to the unborn child. (For a far more detailed and systematic elucidation of these basic arguments, see Defending Life by Dr. Francis J. Beckwith.)

American Idol is microcosm of the whole

Joy Behar (of The View) will probably the next to ridicule this guy.

Ok - I have sometimes watched American Idol mostly because I feel that I need to keep up with the kids I teach (since they talk about it). I know that the auditions have been showing on TV, but I've not seen any of those - too busy with other more important things to do.

Saw this post by Jean M. Heimann ... American Idol's Anti-Virgin Bias.

I was irritated by the Idol judges' reactions to 19 - year - old contestant Bruce Dixon.

What did this young man do? And what was the reaction of the judges?

Bruce is a virgin - practicing abstinence.

The judges - especially Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell - were not only incredulous. They were insulting.

Catholic News Agency has a story. A couple of real gems here ...

Sarah Preston, a writer and editor for Playboy’s web site, spoke about Dickson’s decision on Thursday on the “Fox Report” television show, asking how he could compete in the contest without “sex appeal.”

What planet does this person live on? But of course, 'sex appeal' is equal to sexual license.

"I'm not belittling Bruce's Christian beliefs, but I do think being in tune with one's own sexuality goes a long way in being confident with yourself," Preston said. "Confidence is key, especially for 'American Idol.'”

Yeah, right ... you're not belittling him, his beliefs, and the whole of Christianity ... yet you do so anyway.

And Bruce has to be SUPER CONFIDENT in himself in order to stand up to the ninnies like Sarah Preston, Randy Jackson, Simon Cowell, Ryan Seacrest, and - oh - a huuuuuuuge number of people who think like this.

I got new for you, Sarah Preston ... Bruce Dixon shows more confidence in himself than you probably have in any one of your body parts.

”These kids become sex objects, thrust into the spotlight," she continued. "And while I know they're all trying to stand out, especially during the audition period, using your Christian beliefs and the fact that you've never kissed a girl is not going to bode well for you while trying out to be America's next big sex object,” Preston said.

Bold emphasis is mine - It pretty much speaks for itself. But just remember that this fine, upstanding (ahem) journalist is not belittling Christian beliefs.

 

Dickson responded to some of the criticisms.  "I respect women and don't think of them as a sexual object, and I'm the freak?" Dickson said to Cybercast News Service

Well said, Bruce!

Ah yes ... you hear the constant drone of "all men are dogs," "it's so hard to find a good man" yada yada yada

And here's a young man who's got his head on straight, is strongly confident, has and uses the gifts of fortitude, wisdom, counsel ...

Bruce (and other young people like him who work struggle to be chaste) is a role model for others.

 

I'm waiting for Whoopi and Joy to go at this guy next.

Oh No She Didn't! - A Mis-Advice Column

The really sad part of this is that Margo Howard is probably read by many many many folks ... according to Bookreporter.com, her columns appear in over 200 newspapers in addition to several radio stations and online sites ... Which is a huge problem given that her [ahem] advice is anything but ... case in point (CAUTION: The enquiry and the so-called advice may not be suitable for younger audiences).

First and foremost, Ms Howard has it horribly wrong. The behavior discussed is every bit as dangerous (perhaps even more so ... to the tune of mortal) than some of the other examples she offers.  And the kicker is that the person is [ahem] advised to do nothing - to cut the parents out of what would be something they should know about.

Oh - and what are Ms Howard's qualifications to give such noteworthy and salient advice, you may wonder?!???

She's the daughter of Ann Landers.

What?!? Yep!

Here's more: "Her broad experience and understanding of human nature provide answers for the troubled — and entertainment for everyone else." 

This is truly tragic - in that her [ahem] advice is indeed dangerous to people.

As we come to Advent's end - a Reflection on the Nativity

TV Shows Are Driving Me Crazy

It never fails that during Christmas (and Easter) there are many TV shows that purport to offer some fantastic new insights into the so-called 'reality' of Jesus, the Bible, the early Church ... you name it. (How can we forget that nonsense about the Gospel of Judas?!?).

I'm not really surprised that these shows rear their ugly heads during these times of year - after all, everyone has Christmas on their minds so they have an interested audience ...

But these shows really do damage (I wonder if that is their intent) because I'm confronted by my students bringing these things up while in class.  Here we are in class going over the letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians and discussing the early Church ... a student chimes in and parrots something about how Mary Magdalene was really supposed to be the leader of the apostles but she was (ahem) victimized dismissed by Peter and Paul because she was a woman. UGH! ARRRRRGH!

So now our discussion gets fractured:

the so-named Gospel of Mary is not accurate

that Gnosticism was (and still is) wrong - dare I introduce the term "heresy"

that the Church is not sexist nor anti-woman (this is a big pot to stir)

... oh ... and let's get back to St. Paul's letter

Oops! Time's up ... class is ended ... see you next week.

 

Just from that one question or statement that was fed by those stupid TV shows, we're not able to address the issues, untruths, and half-truths that it raises AND finish the original lesson.  I feel more and more like Sisyphus these days.

I'm a Tree

This pretty much sums it all up - I Looooooooove Christmas and everything about it. 

You Are a Tree

You love every part of the holidays, down to the candy canes and stockings. And you're goofy enough to put a Christmas tree ornament on your tree!

What Christmas Ornament Are You?

How many we have lost

(Posted on Domus Dei)
Rev. Thomas J. Euteneuer,
President, Human Life International

The sports world recently greeted the news that this year’s Heisman Trophy Winner, Tim Tebow from the University of Florida, was almost a casualty of abortion.

Twenty-some years ago he was not the strapping 6’3”, 235 lb. beloved sports hero that he is today. At that time he was a one-inch-long unborn child whose existence, because of an amoebic infection, was defined as threat to his mother’s health. Pam Tebow, his mother, was told by a doctor that it would be in her best interests to abort this baby, and she refused. Her husband backed her up on that generous decision, and seven months later they gave birth to a perfectly healthy boy. Little did they know that twenty years later they would be standing on a national stage with a Heisman Trophy winner giving that magnificent witness to life. The world thanks you, Mr. and Mrs. Tebow! There cannot be a more touching Advent story than this.

I wonder if anyone has ever asked how many potential Heisman Trophy winners abortion has actually killed. The answer is, twelve. Reflect on that a bit as you read further because there is a larger lesson in the Tebows’ witness.

Dr. Brian Clowes, HLI researcher, has examined the data from the 2007 Statistical Abstract of the United States (most recent census data) and extrapolated the numbers of the various professions and categories of Americans who have been eliminated in the wake of nearly 49 million legalized abortions, one third of all Americans conceived since 1973. The following numbers are based on the actual government estimates of the professions represented in America. So then, who have we lost to abortion?

* 2 US Presidents
* 7 Supreme Court Justices
* 102 US Senators and 589 Congressmen
* 8,123 Federal, district and local court judges
* 31 Nobel Prize laureates
* 328 Olympic medalists including 123 Gold medalists
* 6,092 professional athletes
* 134,841 physicians and surgeons
* 392,500 registered nurses
* 70,669 priests, ministers, rabbis and imams including
* 6,852 priests and 11,010 nuns (vocations “shortage”?)
* 1,102,443 teachers (K-12)
* 553,821 truck drivers
* 224,518 maids and housekeepers
* 336,939 janitors
* 134,028 farmers and ranchers
* 109,984 police officers and sheriff’s deputies
* 39,477 firefighters
* 17,221 barbers, and
* 24,450,000…women (the gender of roughly half of all children aborted).

These numbers of course are only the tip of the iceberg. Keep in mind that we get our statistics about abortion from the abortion industry itself which has a vested interest in under-reporting the numbers. Likewise, these categories are only a few of the professions that Americans actually work in and are by no means a full portrayal of the total American workforce. What they represent, however, is the immense human toll that abortion takes on a society. Abortion-promoters present abortion as an exclusively private choice, but thirty-five years of abortion exposes the perniciousness of that lie. There is a social toll that comes from abortion which cannot easily be corrected.

For three and a half decades the feminists have reveled in a misleading “freedom to choose,” and on the basis of that false “right” have eliminated their children and done immense damage to the family as the basic unit of society. Those who respect these sacred realities, on the other hand, have their wives and husbands to grow old with, their children to enjoy and their grandkids to play with and spoil. The love of life, marriage and family never leaves its adherents penniless, lonely or abandoned, and every now and then God throws in a Heisman Trophy just to show the rest of us that it’s all worth it.

Sincerely Yours in Christ,

Rev. Thomas J. Euteneuer,
President, Human Life International

What Movie is your Christmas like?

 One of my favorite movies ... Perhaps my DW would agree that I might be caring (nearly most of the time), but sweet is probably a bit of a stretch (lol).

Your Christmas is Most Like: Miracle on 34th Street

Sweet and caring, Christmas is about helping for you. While Santa may not exist, you try to share his spirit.

What Movie Is Your Christmas Most Like?

Doing the Liturgical Dance

Today during our regular Religious Education class (what I used to call 'CCD' back in the day) we had our instructional Mass. Well done, very reverent, and the kids actually got into it.

Nothing fancy ... it was Mass. Plain and simple ... with Fr. Robert injecting commentary at appropriate moments ...

• Before Mass started he explained the meaning of the priest's vestments
• Before the readings he explained that mass is in two basic parts - the Liturgy of the Word and then Liturgy of the Eucharist

That was pretty much it ... the rest was Mass.

No hokey stuff - nothing outside the rubrics.

We danced the dance ... sitting, standing, kneeling, bowing, genuflecting ... standard fare.

It should not be astounding, though, that the teenagers GOT IT and got into it.

Crying out for human rights is false ... when ...

Just read a cool post by Fr. Frank Pavone over at Catholic Exchange ... "Cannot Be Right" ... way to go, Father!

From my perspective, even my 8th grade students understand the very simple and straightforward issue at hand ... abortion is taking an innocent life. That's it. Nothing less. Pretty direct.

If 8th-graders (13 and 14 year olds) get this, why is it that the supposedly older and wiser adults who are devoted to the killing of innocents don't get it?

a GREAT Advent Story

Found this at Alive and Young's blog ... the story of the Man and the Birds. You MUST read it!

I may - at times - understand an eensy teensy piece of the vast mystery of the Incarnation ... most of the time I'm more clueless.  This story helped me to understand a bit of the reason for the Incarnation.

I pray that our Advent is a great time of reflection, preparation and prayer as we await the birth of our Savior.

Talking Hope - the Encyclical to Speech

Way cool! Just saw on The Curt Jester's blog that he had converted the Holy Father's latest encyclical to speech ... and the files are made available online for others to download.

I have two versions of the file one as an mp3 that was converted using AT&T's Natural Voice Mike and the other in AAC format using the Alex voice that comes with OSX Leopard.

Link

Awesome - and thanks.

So, chastity is equivalent to extreme violence and hatred ... who woulda thought?

The question of so-called 'gay marriage' and 'gay rights' is something that my students (they're teenagers) have been discussing a lot. Their questions are very serious - some have told about family members or friends who have come out to them.  The students' questions and concerns fall around misinformation about what the Church teaches regarding those with same sex attraction.  They (incorrectly) believe that the Church is somehow against those individuals ... that the Church is discriminating in some way. 

Needless to say - these have been very animated and quite good conversations.  I learned several years ago to always have the Catechism of the Catholic Church with me in the classroom.  We spent the better part of two classes walking through Church teaching - and we made it clear that the call to chastity applies to ALL of us.

But the kids aren't helped by the likes of Nick Coleman who wrote a piece for the Minneapolis Star Tribune about the broo-ha-ha over  the bishop forbidding a presentation by a woman, admittedly active in a lesbian relationship, and her father to be held at a catholic parish.

The defense of the daughter/father team and the outcry against the bishop's letter and clear teaching is rife with hyperbole, unsubstantiated claims, and utter nonsense. For example, Mr. Coleman writes:

The catechism, in my reading, says homosexual acts cannot be approved but does not label them a "grave evil."

Mr. Coleman's copy of the Catechism may have paragraph 2357 removed or redacted. It is there that we can read: "... homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity."

Or perhaps Mr. Coleman is unable to recognize depravity and evil as being essentially synonymous.

Homosexuals, like all baptized persons, are "called to chastity."

Why, oh why, the "scare quotes" around the phrase called to chastity?  At least Mr. Coleman acknowledges that all persons are called to live a chaste life; but what is the purpose of the quotation marks around the phrase?

But somehow, the sins of homosexuals always get denounced before the sins of straight people.

This is a nifty little statement by Mr. Coleman that is merely a flight of fantasy. Hmmmm ... what evidence does Mr. Coleman provide? None, nada, ziltch, zip.  Sin is sin - and mortal sin is sadly the same no matter the sexual orientation of the person committing it. 

And if gays must be accepted with compassion and respect, those qualities seem notably missing from [Coadjutor Archbishop] Nienstedt's statement.

Huh - Mr. Coleman must have read a different statement from the one I did ... maybe he got his copy of the Archbishop's statement from the same group who provided his abridged copy of the Catechism.