June 30, 2009

Obama champions Gay Rights

Courtesy of Catholic World News

Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots that marked the birth of the gay rights movement, President Barack Obama hosted an LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender) Pride Month Reception at the White House and told his guests-- including Episcopal Church Bishop Eugene Robinson-- that “there are still fellow citizens, perhaps neighbors or even family members and loved ones, who still hold fast to worn arguments and old attitudes; who fail to see your families like their families; and who would deny you the rights that most Americans take for granted. And I know this is painful and I know it can be heartbreaking.” [There is a complete failure of logic here. Our arguments are old, as old as creation. Our arguments are worn, because they work, and they are true. We don't need new arguments. Christians and other religious and secular groups seek not to strip any American of legitimate rights which are rightfully theirs as US citizens. We do seek though to protect the natural order of society and are accutely aware of the threats the LGBT movement presents to a healthy society and a civilization of love.]

After reiterating his opposition to the Defense of Marriage Act [Because Mr. Obama does not represent healthy values, but represents a system of thought that will eventually lead to anarchy and chaos as any well educated philosopher can tell you], the “don’t ask, don’t tell” military policy [We already have seen what kind of harm is possible by allowing gay men to openly serve in the military], and ‘the discriminatory ban on entry to the United States based on HIV status,” the president paid tribute to the birth of the gay rights movement:

Now, 40 years ago, in the heart of New York City at a place called the Stonewall Inn, a group of citizens, including a few who are here today, as I said, defied an unjust policy and awakened a nascent movement.

It was the middle of the night. The police stormed the bar, which was known for being one of the few spots where it was safe to be gay in New York. Now, raids like this were entirely ordinary. Because it was considered obscene and illegal to be gay, [It was considered obscene to have unnatural relationships that are not ordered to a procreative godly society] no establishments for gays and lesbians could get licenses to operate [How many hurt and broken people who engage in sinful behavior will it take and how many children will we corrupt before we realize there was good reason for it?] . The nature of these businesses, combined with the vulnerability [Violence against people who engage in the sin of homosexuality is never justified] of the gay community itself, meant places like Stonewall, and the patrons inside, were often the victims of corruption and blackmail.

It was at this defining moment that these folks who had been marginalized rose up to challenge not just how the world saw them, but also how they saw themselves. [People who practice sexual intercourse outside of marriage are not marginalized and have never been. Their behavior is simply no more condoned than premarital sex is.]

As we've seen so many times in history, once that spirit takes hold there is little that can stand in its way. [It's insulting and degrading to equate what people do to each other sexually with authentic civil rights movements. If I were black or a woman I would be profoundly insulted right now] (Applause.) And the riots at Stonewall gave way to protests, and protests gave way to a movement, and the movement gave way to a transformation that continues to this day. [A movement that is unhealthy] It continues when a partner fights for her right to sit at the hospital bedside of a woman she loves. It continues when a teenager is called a name for being different and says, "So what if I am?" It continues in your work and in your activism, in your fight to freely live your lives to the fullest. [The lack of pastoral compassion and true caritaus does not logically mean that there is any reason to actually tolerate sinful behavior.]

In one year after the protests, a few hundred gays and lesbians and their supporters gathered at the Stonewall Inn to lead a historic march for equality. But when they reached Central Park, the few hundred that began the march had swelled to 5,000. Something had changed, and it would never change back. [Mr. Obama, does that mean that pro-lifers are right because hundreds of thousands March on Washington every January?]

The truth is when these folks protested at Stonewall 40 years ago no one could have imagined that you-- or, for that matter, I-- (laughter)-- would be standing here today. (Applause.) So we are all witnesses to monumental changes in this country. [Changes that left uncheck will ultimately destroy the country as we know it. Islam is right around the corner to take over our broken European and American societies.] That should give us hope, but we cannot rest. We must continue to do our part to make progress -- step by step, law by law, mind by changing mind. [And we will be right there fighting for truth]. And I want you to know that in this task I will not only be your friend, I will continue to be an ally and a champion and a President who fights with you and for you. [This sir, is one more reason why you are not fit to be president.]

Thanks very much, everybody. God bless you. [Please do not take the name of my Lord in vain. I am highly offended.]


Layman's Laughs #70 - That was pleasing?

A Sunday school teacher was examining her pupils after a series of
lessons on God's omnipotence. She asked, 'Is there anything God can't
do?'

There was silence. Finally, one lad held up his hand. The teacher,
disappointed that the lesson's point had been missed, asked
resignedly, "Well, just what is it that God can't do?"

"Well, He can't please everybody!"

June 29, 2009

Prayers for Church Families

In most peoples budgets the tithe if the first thing to go, if it exists at all, in an economic downturn. I know more people in ministry than I can count who have lost their jobs, or have not been paid in months and their families are on the verge of homelessness and their children are going without healthy food. I know parishes who have stopped paying their mortgages and/or their utility bills to try desperately to pay their employees. One good friend of mine, an elementary school teacher, has not been paid in 3 months and yet he has still been working without pay.

Most lay catholic employees of the church that I know are willing to suffer the lose of a paycheck or other financial limitations in solidarity with those in their parishes who go without and are suffering themselves. However it is heart wrenching to see these mostly young families with terrible school debt who have already given up a life of material things see what little they receive for their thankless jobs serving the Lord taken away from them. Please pray for a generous spirit among those who are still financially blessed who do not give to their churches like they should. Please pray for the families who work for the church who are going without food because these churches have no money to pay their employees. The summer months and the poor economy are hitting parishes really hard.

In our own suffering we look to the cross of Christ, who died to redeem the world, and in our suffering we see hope and we know that our suffering is not in vain, but draws us closer to the Lord.

Vatican Investigates Post Christian Liberal Nuns

In an enlightening new feature article for the July edition of Catholic World Report the magazine reveals startling insights into the direction of the dying world of liberal women religious (Leadership Conference of Women Religious). We all know that formation houses of liberal nuns are emptying and dying off and those of traditional Catholic roots are overflowing with long waiting lines to get in. This article highlights many of the reasons why religious who are faithful and live in hope prosper and why those who insist on dissent and individualism are cut off.

Most revealing is this quote at the end of the article by keynote speaker Sister Laurie Brink, OP. She notes how some religious groups are "no longer ecclesiastical," having "grown beyond the bounds of institutional religion...religious titles, institutional limitations, ecclesiastical authorities no longer fit this congregation, which in most respects is Post-Christian. Who's to say that the movement beyond Christ is not, in reality, a movement into the very heart of God?"

Obviously it is clear why the Vatican is investigating, and if the Vatican is to protect Christ's flock it will have to issue severe canonical penalties against these women who have rejected our Lord's chosen vicars. The group is most popular for its rejection of the Catholic hierarchy, rejection of Catholic moral teachings on homosexuality, rejection of the authentic and godly role of women in the Church, and support of the liberalization and destruction of Christ's Church.

We can see in what these women intend for our Lord's flock within the transformation of their own group. If the Church as a whole accepted their heretical and blasphemous tenants the Church too would turn its back on Christ and indulge in sin.

This is the 8th day blog though and we see the positive side of the suffering taking place here: The Vatican is acting against those who seek to harm Christians and the Church everywhere and the Holy Spirit will protect his own flock. This is an opportunity, if and when canonical penalties are imposed for those to whom the Holy Spirit works to return to the Church in repentance and embrace God's mercy. We pray for all women and men religious involved with this un-loyal dissent (the LCWR considers itself a loyal dissident group, itself impossible) that they may see the will of God and follow it. It is these men and women religious that we want our children looking up to as heroes and models of virtue and faith. We need to call these religious back to following God's will for their live.

Boston Health Abortion Debate

Courtesy of Catholic World News

The Archdiocese of Boston has withdrawn from a controversial state contract, just days before the contract would have taken effect. The archdiocese announced on June 26 that the Caritas Christi health agency would not go forward with plans to enter a partnership that would have provided a broad range of state-subsidized medical services, because of concerns about involvement in abortion and other immoral practices (I'm impressed!). Instead, the announcement indicated that Caritas Christi would "maintain its important role as a provider of health care to many enrolled" in the state program.

In March, Caritas Christi had joined with a Missouri-based secular business, the Centene Corporation, in a partnership that won a lucrative state contract to provide health-care services for low-income Massachusetts residents. Pro-life activists in the area vigorously protested, because the terms of the government contract explicitly required coverage for abortion, sterilization, and other procedures condemned by Church teaching.

Pro-lifers welcomed the archdiocesan decision. Judie Brown, president of the American Life League, remarked: "Cardinal O'Malley's reaffirmation of the faith, when it would have been all too easy to compromise, is a sign of the vitality of United States Catholics’ commitment to human life and personhood."

Source(s): these links will take you to other sites, in a new window.

June 28, 2009

St. Paul's remains identified

Courtesy of Fox News:

ROME — The first-ever scientific test on what are believed to be the remains of the Apostle Paul "seems to confirm" that they do indeed belong to the Roman Catholic saint, Pope Benedict XVI said Sunday.

Benedict said archaeologists recently unearthed and opened the white marble sarcophagus located under the Basilica of St. Paul's Outside the Walls in Rome, which for some 2,000 years has been believed by the faithful to be the tomb of St. Paul.

Benedict said scientists had conducted carbon dating tests on bone fragments found inside the sarcophagus and confirmed that they date from the first or second century.

"This seems to confirm the unanimous and uncontested tradition that they are the mortal remains of the Apostle Paul," Benedict said, announcing the findings at a service in the basilica to mark the end of the Vatican's Paoline year, in honor of the apostle.

The pope said that when archaeologists opened the sarcophagus, they discovered alongside the bone fragments some grains of incense, a "precious" piece of purple linen with gold sequins and a blue fabric with linen filaments.

Monsignor Gianfranco Ravasi, presidente of the Vatican's culture department, said the discovery was an "extraordinary event" that was an "eloquent testimony" to the Christianity of the first centuries, L'Osservatore said.

The top of the coffin has small openings — subsequently covered with mortar — because in ancient times Christians would insert offerings or try to touch the remains.

Monday is the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, a major feast day for the Roman Catholic Church, during which the pope will bestow a woolen pallium, or scarf, on all the new archbishops he has recently named. The pallium is a band of white wool decorated with black crosses that is a sign of pastoral authority and a symbol of the archbishops' bond with the pope.

Movies and Catechetics: Gran Tornino

I was pleasantly surprised by this film. I picked it up as a rental on a lazy Saturday afternoon and was back by the end of the night purchasing it on blu-ray (as you will find out I'm a huge blu-ray fan. I think I would give up food before I gave up my blu-ray player).

The story is about Walt, a newly widowed real man with a bad attitude. Whatever you do - do not step on his lawn or you will find the business end of his shotgun in your face. After the death of his wife Walt finds a new group of people he did not expect in his life - a newly ordained Catholic priest, and new Hmong neighbors. After Tao, one of the young new neighbors tries to steal his Gran Torino his family makes him start working for Walt. Walk takes the young man under his wing and teaches him to grow up. A group of Hmong gang members starts bothering the family and Walt consistently stays by their side, though he is hard pressed to admit he might like the family. Matters take a turn for the worse when a young girl in the family is raped and beaten by the gang and Walt will have to face his faith and his desire for revenge. Ultimately Walt makes a decision about what to do about the gang that no one could have seen coming, and the audience is left realizing what chivalry is all about.

The movie has very rough language and is violent, but for adults the catechetical moments are almost endless all throughout the movie. I'm giving it 3.5 stars out of 4.0 and recommend renting it before you buy it.

Bishops Support Climate Change Bill

Courtesy of CWN

The US bishops have given their enthusiastic support to the Waxman-Markey bill, a piece of legislation designed to address climate change, which Republican opponents have characterized as entailing "the largest tax increase in American history."

It is sad that our bishops would support a bill that will have no environmental impact but force millions of more American families into poverty and on the bring of homelessness. This is one more step towards socialism that many of our bishops are supporting. Our hope though can be that if the US continues to lean in this socialist direction we can begin to learn to live off the land again and strip ourselves of our dependence on material possessions.

The Congressional Budget Office, in its analysis of the legislation, concluded that the Waxman-Markey bill would entail new costs of $770 a year for the average American family. A separate analysis by the Heritage Foundation suggested that this figure was grossly understated, and the actual costs would be closer to $3,000 per year for a typical family of four-- rising steadily up to $4,600 by the year 2035. The Heritage analysis added that the bill would increase gasoline prices by 58%, home heating oil by 56%, and electric rates by 90%. The total drag on the economy would likely result in a loss of over 1 million jobs, Heritage concluded. In spite of this enormous cost, the Foundation argued, the Waxman-Markey bill would produce only a miniscule effect on the process of climate change, producing a drop in world temperatures of "only hundredths of a degree Celsius" in the next 40 years.

Do you have an extra $3,000 that you can throw away each year for a bill that will accomplish nothing for the environment as a whole? We need to accept that the world climate goes through cycles of heating and cooling. Remember this bill is sponsored by the same politician that would protect public school pedophiles and would attack private schools allowing anyone nearly unlimited time to sue a private school for sexual abuse.

Sunday, 13th week in Ordinary Time

Wis 1:13-15; 2:23-24
Ps 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11, 12, 13
2 Cor 8:7, 9, 13-15
Gospel
Mk 5:21-43 or 5:21-24, 35b-43

5 Steps to Catholic Evangelization:

The Word Eternal - God's own existence transcends time.
The Word Incarnate - God accommodates man by descending to become man through Jesus Christ.
The Word Inspired - For the sake of our salvation the Word is consigned to writing by the Holy Spirit through the instrumental authors.
The Word Proclaimed - The Church faithfully listens to, protects, and preaches the Word throughout its history.
The Word Sacramentally Administered - The Church faithfully administers the sacraments to the world in obedience to the missionary mandate.

June 27, 2009

Pirate Hunting Cruises

Pirate Hunting Cruises

A Russian luxury yacht company is now offering pirate-hunting trips that promise the chance to be attacked by real sea bandits. The yachts cruise from Djibouti to Mombasa in Kenya at deliberately low speeds in the hopes of attracting pirates. Passengers pay $5,000 for the trip, and an extra $17.50 a day for an AK-47 and 100 rounds of ammo. The price includes free origami towels in the rooms.

At first I was going to say, what in the hell are they thinking, but then I saw they were throwing in the free origami towel. Now, it makes sense.

Amnesty and Abortion

In this story: Amnesty and Abortion we see an organization that should be protecting all life is intent on destroying it, reaping in a culture of death.

In its entry on Poland , Amnesty raps the country for its alleged "Denial of access to abortion for eligible women," citing criticism that Poland received from the Human Rights Council (HRC) in May 2008. It further faulted the government for failing to implement a 2007 ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), TysiÄ…c v. Poland, concerning a purported "duty to establish effective mechanisms for ensuring women have access to abortion where it is legal."

We pray that the country of Poland has the fortitude to ignore those who would seek to impose greater suffering and death on women, their children, and families across its nation. AI makes decisions based on popular society social beliefs rather than judicial policy. It tries to impose its own tyrannical beliefs on places open to the beauty of life.

Do Penguins Fly?

Looking at Headlines

It is easy to despair when looking at the secular (and often times, Catholic) headlines. "Bad news sells." Of the 20 major headlines for this morning on Fox News , 14 are 'bad news' headlines. 6 are neutral (they are not good or bad news).

Energy Bill Sticker Shock
5 Militants Killed in Shootout in South Pakistan
N. Korea Threatens to Shoot Down Japanese Planes
Madoff Ordered to Forfeit More Than $170 Billion
Karzai Invites Taliban to Vote in Afghan Election
Truck Slams Into Line of Cars in Oklahoma, Killing 9
Food Fight: Couple Accused of Assault Using Cheetos
Obama Eyes Holding Gitmo Detainees Indefinitely
Zimbabwe Diamond Mine Violates Human Rights
Sanford's Wife on Affair: I Told Him Not to See Her
Cheerleading Is America's Most Dangerous Sport
EXCLUSIVE: Treasury Considered AIG Bankruptcy
Search Under Way for Missing Crewman in Alaska
Baby Sitter, Boyfriend Accused of Ind. Girl's Murder

On Catholic World News there are 27 headlines on the homepage. Of those 17 are negative, while only a small handful are positive. While better than the secular news, its still overwhelmingly negative.

As Catholics though we should be spurred to pray for those who do evil or who suffer as a result of that evil in the world. Our goal should be to always rejoice in our own sufferings and not allow bad news to drag us down.

Fellow Bloggers

You've got some seriously cool blogs out there and you've incorporated all kinds of neat applications and formatting tools into your blogs. I'd love your suggestions and help to improve the format of this blog. I'd like to create a graphic banner for the top next and separate the bottom and side bars into their own outline boxes like on the phatcatholic blog without losing the overall "scribe" format of this blog.

Are there any really good blog application websites out there I should know about?

Layman's Laughs

I run a daily joke email group called Layman's Laughs. All you have to do to join is send a blank email to:
laymans-laughs+subscribe@googlegroups.com

If you groan more than you laugh, just add "un" in front of subscribe and it will take you off the list. But let's be honest here, that won't happen. I only post funny jokes!

June 26, 2009

The 8th Day Blog

The 8th day is the new day, the day of resurrection. The story of Sacred Scripture is the story of the 8th day, the new day. St. Paul stated that the letter kills, but the spirit brings life, and it is in spirit and truth that we worship Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 3:4). All of the old covenants, from Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, to David could only bring death. They were all incomplete. The new covenant in the blood of Christ (John 6:53-58) is the only way to enjoy the eternal participation in the divine life of God. Through the Word Eternal we approach God and dare to call him "Abba, Father", and in the 8th day we place all of our hope.

The Fathers saw the 8th day in the way in which it transcends time and space (the cosmos). Our worship is worship towards our natural end - eternal glory with the Father in heaven. Christ descends so that we may ascend to God. This is called divine accommodation. This is a blog of hope, of hope in our final and ultimate home and is written in light of that truth. What ever we suffer through today, we suffer in hope because it is in our sufferings that we unite ourselves to the cross of Christ and participate in his redemption (Col 1:24).

I hope to explore Catholic and secular news as well as work through the works of the Catholic Church in order to find that hope to which we cling.