Sunday, December 31, 2006

New York Times Falsified Abortion Article

On April 9, 2006 the New York Time Magazine had an article that presented a homicide as an abortion in the case of Carmen Climaco in El Salvador. It stated that the pregnancy was aborted (sic) at 18 weeks. She was serving a 30 year sentence which of course painted her in a bad light in the fallen world. In my opinion that would have been correct, but this posting is about how the New York Times misled their readers in presenting a homicide as an abortion in order to stir up anti-pro life sentiment and promote the culture of death. Life Site News reported on November 28 relating to this New York Times article that the 'grey lady' was caught in a big lie in order to promote child murder. The headline read, "New York Times Caught in Abortion-Promoting Whopper — Infanticide Portrayed as Abortion." Reader complaints began pouring to the New York Times. Basically what happened was that the defenseless baby was choked to death after being born and medical documents have stated thusly and confirmed by a court ruling in the case. The New York Times called this a 'third ruling' and considered it politicized in El Salvador in order to protect pro-life laws. The condescension is amazing. Here we have liberal elites looking down their nose at a third world country in Central America to justify their lies to promote death.

Why do you not understand what I (Jesus) say? It is because you cannot bear to hear My Word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But, because I (Jesus) tell the Truth, you do not believe Me. Which of you convicts Me of sin? If I tell the Truth, why do you not believe Me? He who is of God hears the words of God; the reason why you do not hear Them is that you are not of God."

--The Holy Gospel of St. John 8:43-47

When liberals in America, especially on the losing end of a debate, attempt to promote their views (the culture of death), they resort to name calling and lies. Why do people and entities such as the New York Times continue with lies? Why do they want to they want to kill unborn children? Defenseless, unborn children?

And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.' Then He will say to those at His left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave Me no food, I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome Me, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.' Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to Thee?' Then He will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to Me.' And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

--Holy Gospel of St. Matthew 25:40-46

Liberals, the New York Times, Christian Socialists, and the culture of death proponents will continue down their path towards perdition unless they repent now. After an investigation by Byron Calame, the public editor of the New York Times, turned up evidence that showed the article to be grossly misleading to the editors of the damning piece written by Jack Hitt, here was their response:
The magazine’s failure to check the court ruling was then compounded for me (Byron Calame) by the handling of reader complaints about the issue. The initial complaints triggered a public defense of the article by two assistant managing editors before the court ruling had even been translated into English or Mr. Hitt had finished checking various sources in El Salvador. After being queried by the office of the publisher about a possible error, Craig Whitney, who is also the paper’s standards editor, drafted a response that was approved by Gerald Marzorati, who is also the editor of the magazine. It was forwarded on Dec. 1 to the office of the publisher, which began sending it to complaining readers. The response said that while the “fair and dispassionate” story noted Ms. Climaco’s conviction of aggravated homicide, the article “concluded that it was more likely that she had had an illegal abortion.” The response ended by stating, “We have no reason to doubt the accuracy of the facts as reported in our article, which was not part of any campaign to promote abortion.” After the English translation of the court ruling became available on Dec. 8, I asked Mr. Marzorati if he continued to have “no reason to doubt the accuracy of the facts” in the article. His e-mail response seemed to ignore the ready availability of the court document containing the findings from the trial before the three-judge panel and its sentencing decision. He referred to it as the “third ruling,” since the trial is the third step in the judicial process. The article was “as accurate as it could have been at the time it was written,” Mr. Marzorati wrote to me. “I also think that if the author and we editors knew of the contents of that third ruling, we would have qualified what we said about Ms. Climaco. Which is NOT to say that I simply accept the third ruling as ‘true’; El Salvador’s judicial system is terribly politicized.” I asked Mr. Whitney if he intended to suggest that the office of the publisher bring the court’s findings to the attention of those readers who received the “no reason to doubt” response, or that a correction be published. The latest word from the standards editor: “No, I’m not ready to do that, nor to order up a correction or Editors’ Note at this point.”
To read this investigate piece click here. To read the Life Site News piece revealing the hypocrisy of it all click here. The American Thinker has an excellent analysis of the NY Times lie, click here.
Thursday, December 28, 2006

The Imitation of Christ by Thomas À Kempis

The Imitation of Christ by Thomas À Kempis is one of the greatest books in Christianity. Written in the 15th century by the cloistered monk Thomas À Kempis, it expounds profound wisdom that resonates today just as it did back then. The book has been hailed as the greatest book of Christian wisdom right after the Holy Bible. I believe it is also the second most popular book of all time, again, after the Holy Bible.
Basically it is a manual on how to live a holy life by sanctifying yourself in word and action in every way. I myself am not a big 'spiritual' kind of Christian in the most strictest and narrow sense of the word, but I would highly recommend this book to every scholar, philosopher, regular-joe, layman, and religious alike.
Many saints have drawn, and given credit to, inspiration from this magnificent book of spiritual wisdom. This is a cornerstone of our faith that anyone wanting to learn more about devoting one's life to God should read this book.
Its author, Thomas À Kempis (1380-1471), had a wide knowledge of the Scriptures and classical philosophy, and although most of his life was spent in a Dutch monastery, he also possessed a deep understanding of human nature. His acquired wisdom convinced him of man's complete dependence on God's love and the empty futility of life without it. The book has exercised a profound influence for over 500 years, and Thomas More, Ignatius Loyola and John Wesley are among the many who have acknowledged their debt to it.
Here are some excerpts from this incredible book:
CHRIST. . . . Some are sorely tempted about faith and the Sacraments, but this is due to the Devil rather than to themselves. Do not be anxious; do not fight your thoughts, or attempt to answer any doubts that the Devil suggest: trust in God's word, believe His Saints and Prophets, and the wicked enemy will flee from you (James 4:7). Often it is very profitable that the servant of God should experience such doubts, since the Devil does not tempt unbelievers and sinners who are already his own; but he tempts and vexes the faithful and devout in every way he can. CHRIST. My son, you will be able to enter into Me in so far as you are prepared to forsake yourself. And as the absence of craving for material things makes for inner peace, so does the forsaking of self unite man's heart to God. I wish you to learn perfect self-surrender, and to accept My will without argument or complaint. Follow me,(Matt.9:9) who am the Way, the Truth and the Life. (John 14:6) Without the Way, there is no progress ; without the Truth, there is no knowledge; without the Life, there is no living. I am the Way you must follow; the Truth you must believe; the Life for which you must hope. I am the imperishable Way, the infallible Truth, the eternal Life. I am the most noble Way, the ultimate Truth, the true Life, blessed and uncreated. If you remain in My Way, you shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall set you free, (John 8:32) and you shall lay hold on eternal Life.(John 8:12; I Tim. 6:12) If you wish to enter into Life, keep My Commandments.(Matt.19:17) If you wish to know the Truth, believe Me. If you wish to be perfect, sell everything.(Matt.19:21) If you wish to be My disciple, deny yourself.(Matt.16:24) If you wish to possess the blessed Life, despise this present life. If you wish to be exalted in Heaven, be humble in this world. If you wish to reign with Me, bear the cross with Me ; for none but the servants of the Cross discover the Way of blessedness and true light.
I could list more but I think you get the picture. I have links below to previous postings of excerpts from this fine book. To read previous postings about this click here, here, here, and here. To read the book itself click here.
Wednesday, December 27, 2006

A More Liberal Church Fails to Fill Pews

Bending with the winds of change such as ordination of women to the priesthood, relaxing sexuality teachings, promoting Dorothy Day socialism, and liberation theology has failed to bring a new 'springtime' in many Catholic parishes and dioceses. One striking example is that in a new 'congregation' outside of Toronto, Canada. A renegade priest makes a public announcement of his support of the ordination of priestesses and then founds his own church, ie, Christ the Servant.
It shows that disaffected Catholics can pull together to find a path to God they believe is more community-oriented, inclusive and -- as the 13 parishioners interviewed for this story kept repeating -- more awash in joy than the official church. But the breakaway church's struggle to bring in fresh blood, and even retain its spiritual leader, also suggests that bucking the Vatican's hard line, discarding traditional teachings and generally going liberal is not a guaranteed way to fill pews. Although Christ the Servant has brought Mr. O'Dwyer (breakaway leader) and his fellow parishioners profound joy, the church has struggled to attract new members and has, in fact, lost members since its founding priest left in September to seek a reconciliation have been reared in the faith that even the disaffected are loath to switch to another church. The bottom line? A softening in the Vatican's stance on female ordination or other controversial issues would be unlikely to usher in a flood of converts to Roman Catholicism. "If there was a change there, the [women] who were already actively involved would probably feel more comfortable with where the church is relative to their particular views," Mr. Bibby says. "But I doubt very much we would suddenly see all kinds of people from the outside coming in."
Emotionalism, feel-goodism, socialist-leaning Catholic social doctrine is not what Jesus AND the Church serve. We serve God, not man. To read more on this click here.
Tuesday, December 26, 2006

Muslims Request Use of Cordoba Cathedral

Spanish Muslims are requesting the use of the Cordoba Cathedral for their prayers. Roughly two years ago a similar request was sent to the Vatican which was turned down for the obvious reason that history cannot be unwritten for obfuscate reasons.
The Vatican is against the Cathedral of Córdoba, the famous mosque, being used also by Muslims, and advises them to "accept history" without pretending to "take revenge," in the same way that Catholics don't reclaim buildings that have passed to Islam. Muslims have submitted a petition to the Vatican with this request. This is the statement of Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, who has recalled that in 2001 John Paul II visited the Omayyad Mosque in Damascus, which previously had been a Byzantine basilica, "and he did not ask to celebrate Mass there." "Some reflection is necessary. In the same way as in Córdoba, other buildings in the course of the centuries changed from their original use, like Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, converted into an Islamic museum," said the Archbishop.
Apparently our fellow Abrahamic brothers are pretty persistent on this matter because today they sent another petition to Pope Benedict XVI requesting the right to pray as Muslims in a Catholic (Christian) Cathedral. The Cordoba Cathedral was originally a mosque during the Muslim occupation of Spain, but prior to being a mosque, the Muslims destroyed a Catholic church in order to build their mosque.
Spanish Muslims said on Tuesday they had appealed to the pope to be allowed to prostrate themselves in worship in Cordoba Cathedral, which was built as a mosque during Spain’s centuries of Islamic rule.
Prior to this the Spanish Catholic Bishops Conference issued a statement saying it "did not recommend" that Muslims pray inside the Cordoba Cathedral.
I want to know if Muslims are willing to allow Christians to pray in the Hagia Sophia as a sign of reciprocity? I for one am still debating whether it is 'ok' for Muslims to pray in Catholic (Christian) churches but only if Christians are allowed to pray in former churches turned into mosques as well.
To read more about this Muslim request click here.
UPDATED: Catholic Bishop Juan Jose Ansejo has rejected the request of Spain's Islamic Board to use the Cathedral as a mosque. For the story click here.

Today's Role Models: Tara Connor

Tara Connor is the reigning Miss USA for 2006 and she was recently implicated in some sexual romps that is, ahem, unbecoming of Miss USA. While Tara Connor seems to be held as a role model in America today, Salon magazine is questioning why we hold her to such high standards. Former Miss USA Kate Shindle, who wrote this Salon article, says
"But is it fair to judge her so harshly for behavior that, when employed by far more famous celebrities, is often rewarded?"
My first thought is why are we holding up a beauty pageant contestant as a role model first of all. I won't even address the question that former Miss USA Kate Shindle brings up because it is a non sequitor. The Salon article is titled "Running low on role models". I personally respectfully disagree. Too many, probably the majority, of Americans are still looking towards role models other than their parents. And even that can be questioned when divorced, remarried, and unnatural (homosexual) marriages bring a lot of problematic issues to children. We as Americans are losing sight of what is important to us. Many hold up sports stars, super-models, you-name-it celebrity when we can already look at the Communion of Saints as worthy of role models. St. Francis of Assisi, St. Augustine of Hippo, and St. Gianna Beretta Molla to name just an iota of a fraction of the Communion of Saints that are available. This country, being 95% Christian, is living off their Judeo-Christian heritage and are not renewing their faith by taking it seriously. My point in singling out Tara Connor is that we should not lose sight of what is important to us and our children. Do we want our children to emulate people who have reached the pinnacle of holiness or do we want our children to emulate people who succumb to the worse of human nature? To read the Salon article click here.

Two Christmas Football Gifts

I've just had one of the most memorable Christmas' ever with my parents and two brothers. It could only get better if my nephew Alfredo was with us.
Well, in addition to a great family get-together, I received two football victories in two days that seemed improbably a few weeks earlier.
My hometown University of Hawaii Warrior crushed the Arizona State Sun Devils 41-24 in front of a lackluster home crowd of 41,000. 2007 Heisman Trophy front-runner Quarterback Colt Brennan just pulled off an incredible season leading the NCAA in several statistical categories (passing yards, passing efficiency, touchdowns passes, team-1st downs per game, team-3rd down conversions, team-scoring) as well as breaking the NCAA Division I single-season TD record by four (4) touchdowns, previously held by David Kingler of the University of Houston (yeah, I'm a homer) at 54 touchdowns.
Hawaii capped off an incredible 11-3 season record and topped it off with a bowl win. The only game Hawaii lost in the WAC was to BCS Fiesta Bowl-bound Boise State (12-0) (the other two to Alabama on the road by a touchdown and ranked Oregon St.). Hawaii beat two notables in Fresno State and Purdue.
If Hawaii gets a fast start next year, Colt Brennan should be in the heat of the Heisman Trophy race, if not leading it (my bias here, but it really isn't).
My other Christmas gift was my Philadelphia Eagles crushing the Dallas Cowboys 23-7... on the road no less! My Eagles only need is another win against the Washington Redskins and they get home field advantage in the first round of the NFL playoffs.
A great Christmas all the way around!
To read about my Hawaii victory in the Honolulu Advertiser (newspaper) click here.
To read about my Philadelphia Eagles click here.
Pictures courtesy ESPN.

The Christmas Truce of 1914

World War I, you are a British soldier in the infamous Western Front. You left home to serve your king and defend your country. You have endured the unendurable and you wait your fate in a curtain of machine gun fire that will end your life. You wait for the enemy and your commander, whichever comes first to begin what certainly will be your last steps on earth. You peek over the top of the trench and you see a lonely figure walking towards you holding a lampshade. You aim your rifle towards that lonely figure in no-man's land as he... walks slowly towards your trench? You hear Christmas carols in a foreign tongue and you think for a moment... It's Christmas Eve! You slide down your wet trench in mud and disbelief. You take a moment to reflect what you just witnessed and heard.
You are standing up to your knees in the slime of a waterlogged trench. It is the evening of 24 December 1914 and you are on the dreaded Western Front. Stooped over, you wade across to the firing step and take over the watch. Having exchanged pleasantries, your bleary-eyed and mud-spattered colleague shuffles off towards his dug out. Despite the horrors and the hardships, your morale is high and you believe that in the New Year the nation's army march towards a glorious victory. But for now you stamp your feet in a vain attempt to keep warm. All is quiet when jovial voices call out from both friendly and enemy trenches. Then the men from both sides start singing carols and songs. Next come requests not to fire, and soon the unthinkable happens: you start to see the shadowy shapes of soldiers gathering together in no-man's land laughing, joking and sharing gifts. Many have exchanged cigarettes, the lit ends of which burn brightly in the inky darkness. Plucking up your courage, you haul yourself up and out of the trench and walk towards the foe... The meeting of enemies as friends in no-man's land was experienced by hundreds, if not thousands, of men on the Western Front during Christmas 1914...
For a brief moment in the Post-Christian world there was peace. Machine gunfire, cries of mangled men, and artillery pieces go silent. The unthinkable occurs as both sides drop their weapons and what started out as a duel of Christmas carols breaks out in the Christmas Truce of 1914. A soccer game starts out, men start exchanging helmets, and even barrels of beer. Unfortunately the truce never held. Many parts of the Western Front held several variations of the truce. From grimmer episodes to collect fallen comrades to other episodes where not a single shot was fired but no contact was made. By the end of the day the war resumed unceremoniously... well almost...
'At 8.30 I (British) fired three shots in the air and put up a flag with "Merry Christmas" on it, and I climbed on the parapet. He [the Germans] put up a sheet with "Thank you" on it, and the German Captain appeared on the parapet. We both bowed and saluted and got down into our respective trenches, and he fired two shots in the air, and the War was on again.'
For a brief moment in late 1914 the last flicker of light shown brightly as the end of Christendom fell to the darker forces of Liberalism which began the Post-Christian world. Man, not God, was the ultimate answer. And thusly through the barrel of the gun the horrors of the 20th century began its road to perdition. To read more about the Christmas Truce of 1914 click here.

Pope's Christmas Message: Peace

Pope Benedict XVI is calling for the end of strife in the world and to begin a new era of peace. Pointing towards recent peace talks between Israel's Prime Minister Olmert and the Palestinian Authority's President Mahmoud Abbas as a sign of future possibilities.
In his Christmas Day address at the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI called for an end to conflicts across the globe and greater concern for the poor, the exploited and all who suffer. Speaking from a balcony overlooking St. Peter's Square, the pontiff called for peace in the Middle East, noting in particular the long war between Israel and the Palestinians. "I place in the hands of the divine Child of Bethlehem the indications of a resumption of dialogue between the Israelis and the Palestinians, which we have witnessed in recent days, and the hope of further encouraging developments," Benedict said in his annual address.
With all the conflict in the world this seems impossible, but we need to remember that all things are possible under God. With our constant prayer I believe we may see the conversion of many hearts towards peace as well as towards Christianity (aren't both one and the same anyways?). To read about this article click here.
Monday, December 25, 2006

Russian Orthodox Welcomes Unity

Well, they are certainly in agreement with the Holy See on the unnecessary divisions within Russian between Catholics and the Orthodox.
'We should not be rivals or enemies, as there is nothing we can divide in Russia. Mutual understanding of many global problems between our Churches we have at the official level should reach the level of simple clergymen,' the secretary for interchristian relations of the Moscow Patriarchate department for external church relations Fr. Igor Vyzhanov told at the Christmas meeting of clergymen and monastics of the Moscow Catholic archdiocese of the Mother of God. He said that the Orthodox were open and ready for cooperation with the Russian Catholics, in particular in social and charity programs.
Pope John Paul II is smiling from up above. For more on the story click here.
Saturday, December 23, 2006

Happy RamaHanuKwanzMas!

While we're in the ACLU holiday spirit of Vatican II I'd like to share this parody of a very Merry RamaHanuKwanzMas!

(Hat Tip: Squawkbox Noise at Lone Star Times)

To view the Lone Star Times posting of this click here.

To view the original at YouTube click here.

To read a Kwanzaa poem click here.

To view an ACLU Nativity scene click here. (warning graphic pic)

Christians Fear for their Safety in Bethlehem

Year in and year out our Catholic and non-Catholic Christian brothers in Bethlehem live in daily fear from their Muslim neighbors. Only 2% of all Palestinians are Christian. The Palestinian Authority, the de facto ruler of the West Bank and Gaza, offer limited protection to our suffering Christian brothers. This Advent and Christmas is no exception. Ask any Palestinian Christian if there is peace and harmony between them and their Palestinian Muslims and they hesitantly say 'yes'. As an Israeli Arab Christian and they say otherwise, safely from Israel where freedom of religion is actually practiced. This year let us pray for them in their time of suffering and need that they may find solice in our Lord and Savior. To read an article on Bethlehem's Christians click here.
Friday, December 22, 2006

Happy Kwanzaa

I'm reposting a previous entry from nearly a year ago today. First of all I would like to give full credit to Kathy Shaidle over at her Relapsed Catholic blog for penning this bit of truth. As I see our great nation battle itself in these culture wars I shiver at times to think that many good Americans of African ancestry are falling for baloney such as the false holiday named 'Kwanzaa'. Especially when President Bush sends out a Kwanzaa message, that is the epitome of ludicrousness. Anyways click here and here for Miss Shaidles original posting of this entertaining poem on Kwanzaa, or just scroll further down and read it here. To read the fall-out among guilty-white-liberals to Miss Shaidle click here. ...and without further delay, the entertaining and factually correct poem on Kwanzaa: 'Twas the night before Kwanzaa And all through the 'hood, Maulana Karenga was up to no good. He'd tortured a woman and spent time in jail. He needed a new scam that just wouldn't fail. ("So what if I stuck some chick's toe in a vice? Nobody said revolution was nice!") The Sixties were over. Now what would he do? Why, he went back to school -- so that's "Dr." to you! He once ordered shootouts at UCLA Now he teaches Black Studies just miles away. Then to top it all off, the good Doctor's new plan Was to get rid of Christmas and p*** off The Man. Karenga invented a fake holiday. He called the thing Kwanza. "Hey, what's that you say? "You don't get what's 'black' about Maoist baloney? You say that my festival's totally phony? "Who cares if corn isn't an African crop? Who cares if our 'harvest's' a month or two off? Who cares if Swahili's not our mother tongue? A lie for The Cause never hurt anyone! "Umoja! Ujima! Kujichagulia, too! Collectivist crap never sounded so cool! Those guilty white liberals -- easy to fool. Your kids will now celebrate Kwanzaa in school!" And we heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight: "Happy Kwanzaa to all, except if you're white!" (Hat Tip: Relapsed Catholic) For an excellent critique by La Shawn Barber on Kwanzaa click here. For my original posting click here and here.
For an ACLU holiday song click here.
UPDATED: For a great article by Ann Coulter on Kwanzaa click here.

School District Reverts Back to Christmas from Winter Break

Up until the 1980's the San Joaquin Valley school district near Bakersfield, California had Christmas and Easter breaks. In a ground breaking precedent riding against the tide of rampant secularism they changed their Winter Break and Spring Break session names back to Christmas and Easter.

"We're just trying to uphold American cultural and religious history," said Chad Vegas, a minister and member of the Kern High School Board of Trustees who proposed the name changes Dec. 6. The board representing a district of more than 30,000 students voted 5-1 to revert the names to their pre-1980s titles.

"It's not even the biggest item on the agenda, but the liberals are obsessing about it," Vegas said. The district struggles with students who are performing below grade level or need English-language skills, he said. Nationwide, the declining use of the word "Christmas" has been a hot topic. Several state leaders were urged to call their decorated evergreens at government buildings Christmas trees after trying to dub them "holiday trees."

Deo Gratias! To read the rest of this article click here.

Secular Anxiety

Where do the secularists think they get the idea of 'do not steal' and other basic (alleged) secular values? It comes from America's religious heritage. To be precise and politically incorrect at the same time, it is properly called America's Judeo-Christian heritage. It can be safely said that today atheists, secularists, and liberal Christians are having anxiety attacks as orthodox Christianity makes a resurgent comeback in the mainstream of American life. Why do these people, eg, secularists to be short, feel that it is absolutely necessary to separate faith from reason? To replace religion with humanism? Daniel Henninger of the Wall Street Journal addresses this in a finely written article today titled, 'Religion in the Modern Age'. Here's snippet:
They may think they represent the alternative: a higher, productive rationality. But they are underestimating their own secular competition--the many, often confused cultures loose in the U.S. now. Hip-hop culture, acquisitive consumerism, fashion, hipsterism, street gangs, mystical evironmentalism, Web-centered "reality" cultures. Where's the higher-level thinking here? And by way, the hobgoblin fear of bioengineered food doesn't reside in the American South but in agnostic Europe.

Yes, what an interesting find that Mr. Henninger has come across. Since the rejection of Christianity in public life around the French riots of 1968, europe has failed to produce a single scientific find or cultural advance at all. Why is that?

Do virtues matter as ballast in a dynamic, complex society? If yes, where will they come from? Do secularists simply expropriate them from religion? Or do they create their own, such as "do not oppress"?
Where will they come from indeed? From a foundationless secular mind that has rejected 5000 years of Judeo-Christian culture?
Atheists and the unchurched undervalue the extent to which they are getting a free ride on the social strength that religious-based virtue provides. It's one thing to write in a book that we don't need them. But I'd rather not run the real-world experiment of navigating without them. And this is why this weekend so many will spend an hour with virtue's originalists.
For the rest of the article click here.

Top 10 Notorious American Catholic Politicians

To qualify for this notorious listing an American needs to be a Catholic politician and pro-abortion (pro-choice). The rankings are based on what I perceive to be their influence in politics. This would include their celebrity, stature, and popularity among the American voting public. Thusly how they are able to influence the course of American in general. If they are more influential than others, they have a higher ranking. Why compile a list like this? Because we as Catholics who practice our faith need to be aware of those who claim to be Catholic but their actions say otherwise. Generally do we want to live in a country slouching towards Gomorrah or rising to a shining city on a hill? 1. Rudy Giuliani. Former Republican mayor of New York City. Possible Republican candidate for the 2008 US Presidential elections. Has high numbers from both liberals and conservative, Republicans as well as Democrats. He has no respect for the unborn as well as his Catholic faith. He is extremely dangerous due to his popularity as the leader of 9/11 New York City (and deservedly so), but his pro-choice (pro-abortion) politics will provide for a further erosion of the American experiment with his skewed understanding of Catholic Social Justice, eg, socialism for all. ONE BIIIG ADDENDUM: Assuming that Mayor Giuliani will appoint pro-choice (pro-abortion) Justices to the Supreme Court, appoint pro-choice (pro-abortion) cabinet secretary's, and push forward pro-choice (pro-abortion) legislation then he will remain number one (1). Otherwise, he drops completely from the poll. 2. Joe Biden. US Democratic Senator from Delaware and a far left Liberal. Claims to be a devout Catholic and even has his own convoy of Catholic priests that tag along with him to add alleged 'Catholic' gravitas. Wants only the wanton destruction of unborn children and has contempt for natural law along with a complete disregard for Catholic teachings. Is intelligent, sincere, photogenic, and savvy. Can create a great deal of damage to the culture of life by extending the half life of the culture of death that he represents. 3. Nancy Pelosi. US Democratic Congresswoman from San Francisco. Prototypical liberal. Abortion on demand, homosexual license for all, militant feminist and environmentalist agenda, and a complete lack of respect for Catholic teaching. Has not an ounce of Catholicism in her bones but carries great influence as the Ann Bolyn of the Democratic Party as Speaker of the House. 4. Ted Kennedy. US Democratic senior Senator from Massachusett's. The poster boy for liberals. Does lines of cocaine with his adolescent children, commits adultery at every turn, prays to the porcelain goddess each week, is a devout in his debauchery and gluttony, and is the epitome of a Catholic in name only. His family name pretty much carries him (his entire life come to think of it). Is incapable of original thought beyond deciding on what girl to hit on and what beer to drink. To continue would be uncharitable on my part. He carries a lot of power through the inertia that was once the great and mighty name of Kennedy. Completely brought down the Kennedy name (with some help from his cousins and nephews) from devout yellow-dog Catholic Democrats to the laughingstock of the Democratic party. 5. John Kerry. US Democratic junior Senator from Massachusett's. Lacks conviction, morals, and pride in his Catholic faith. Prays to the goddess of fame and fortune. Fortunately he is his own worse enemy. A wolf in sheep's clothing can still carry a lot of influence due to his expansive network of extreme social liberals and activists. 6. Bill Richardson. Democratic governor of New Mexico. Smart, bilingual, aggressive, articulate, and a Catholic in name only. Will do tremendous damage to the pro-life movement with his high popularity among Americans of Mexican descent. A former cabinet member of the Clinton administration, he has the gravitas on the national stage to make a run for the US presidency. 7. George Pataki. Republican governor of New York. The mini-me of Rudy Giuliani but the wherewithal to do damage to the pro-life movement on a national stage. Again, he is dangerous because he, like Mr. Giuliani, can go under the radar and sneak into the national presidential stage in 2008. 8. Mario Cuomo. Former Democratic governor of New York. He has a skewed understanding of Catholic social teaching as well as other tenets of the faith. He sincerely believes to be a practicing Catholic yet his actions exhibit otherwise. Fortunately, like John Kerry, he has no mastery of what comes out of his mouth and usually makes a fool of himself before the American public can realize for themselves how incompetent he is. Unfortunately he is the darling of the mainstream media which for all intents and purposes is liberal or very liberal. He still carries a national following and hence why he is at number eight (8). 9. Bob Casey, Jr. Democratic Senator from Pennsylvania. A practicing Catholic and a conservative. A rare yellow dog Democrat. Unfortunately he has made a deal with the devil and has begun to crack under intense lobbying pressure from the liberal activists and donors of the Democratic election machine. Has begun to rationalize his Catholic faith away and is heading down the dark path of relativism. Has fooled many good God-fearing Christians in western Pennsylvania in electing him over the orthodox Rick Santorum. 10. Patrick Kennedy. Democratic Representative from Rhode Island. Like uncle Teddy, the Kennedy name has basically carried this lightweight. When not crashing his car into barriers on Pennsylvania Avenue around midnight he parlays his family name and Catholic credentials to the Catholic in name only Catholic of Rhode Island. Dishonorable Mention: Arnold Schwarzenegger (GOP Gov of California), Barbara Mikulski (DEM Sen of MD), Dick Durbin (DEM Sen of IL), and Pat Leahy (DEM Sen of VT). For an excellent article on these Catholic politicians by Crisis Magazine click here. UPDATED: See number one (1). UPDATED AGAIN: Pat Buchanan has been removed from the dishonorable mention list. I cannot let my bias against his political maneuvering reflect that he is actually an advocate for western civilization.

Why Liberal Christianity is in Decline

As many in the know understand, the more orthodox the Christian and the parish, the greater the life of the community. Thusly creating more vocations, an increase in devotions, larger congregations, and more holiness overall. In contrast to the more liberal the church a drop in Sunday Mass attendance occurs as well as the practicing of our beautiful Catholic faith. An excellent example can be seen in our separated brethren the Episcopalians as they experience heterodoxy and watered down teachings, especially with the defections of the more orthodox (conservative) churches in the Episcopal Virginia diocese:

All those liberal strands of Christianity are paying the price for their devil's bargain with secularism in vastly diminished numbers, as members figure out that when a religion lets them do whatever they want, one of the things they don't want to do is go to church on Sunday. The mainline denominations, which once represented 40% of US Protestants, now represent only 12%: 17 million out of 135 million. To put it bluntly, liberal Christianity is in meltdown. The election of Jefferts Schori, a theological liberal who prayed to a female Jesus at last summer's bishops' convention, together with the bishops' vote not to endorse the bedrock Christian proposition that Jesus is Lord, proved to be the last straw for many Episcopalians who believe that the essence of their Anglican faith isn't "tension" but fidelity to the Bible and the Christian creeds.

In fact, those conservative Northern Virginia churches that split off on Sunday may be few in number, but they represent an island of vibrancy in an otherwise moribund denomination. They are large, prosperous, highly educated congregations in large, prosperous, highly-educated Washington, DC, suburbs: Fairfax, Falls Church, Sterling, Woodbridge. They join four other Northern Virginia churches that have similarly severed their ties with the Episcopal Church, and two more churches are likely to schedule similar votes in January. These 14 churches, together with a 15th that had been expected to announce a vote on Sunday but did not, constitute only 7% of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia's 197 parishes, but represent 11% of its baptised membership of about 90,000 and 18% of its average Sunday attendance of 32,000. Live people instead of dead people pay for their upkeep. What happened in Virginia is a sign of growing awareness among conservative Christians that they are not - contrary to the way they have been painted by the liberal denominations and their sympathetic friends in the liberal media - a theologically backward, inevitably diminishing minority of dissenters from the enlightened Christian mainstream. ...For years the wealth, historic prestige, and trendy theology of the Episcopal Church have secured it outsize press attention that has obscured its marginal status in worldwide Anglicanism and American Protestantism. The election of Jefferts Schori as presiding bishop and the pomp surrounding her installation at the National Cathedral in Washington seemed designed as displays of liberal triumphalism.

Sadly many of these same types of liberals infect our Catholic faith. Fortunately we have the Holy Spirit guiding the righteous into orthodoxy while the heterodoxical priests and bishops fall into heresy and indignity. For the article click here.

What Happens When Liberals Control the World

After 70 years of communism the Soviet Union imploded into oblivion. The liberal utopia of no unemployment, official atheism, suppression of freedom of speech, planned state-owned economies, a 100% welfare state, abortion on demand, morality extrapolated from society, and constant surveillance was a disaster from the get-go. The case in question is the great country of Russia today. Almost 20 years after the fall of this Hilliarian paradise of Obamaspeak the Russian people don't have hope for the future so they are immigrating to other countries in droves. 70 years of being brainwashed in Hillarian-Leninist-Marxist dogma has produce a people unable to fend for themselves with no hope for the future. 70 years of abortion on demand has created the habit of contraception-by-abortion because 70% of all births in Russia end in abortion, with many return visitors (sic) Official state atheism has removed the striving to please God to please man. With no hope of an afterlife in eternity with God, Russians live only for today and will seek all advantages to get ahead. Without wanting to please God by helping others, selfishness has lead to high rates of corruption that has practically paralyzed the economy. Drying up foreign investment and eliminating any hope for a prosperous tomorrow. With 70 years of state enforced social dogma, Russians are not having babies. Those that are are aborting them, and those that are left alive lead into despair and drink themselves to death. Russia has one of the highest mortality rates in the world. The Russian population has decreased on average by 700,000 Russians a year. With the decapitation of the Christian Russian Orthodox Church and the enforcement of Barakmorality, Russians lead uninspiring and empty lives. What they need is hope, hope for the future, for themselves AND their fellow man in Jesus. Is it to late? For the article that inspired this posting click here.

French Jokes for Friday

It's Friday, Christmas is almost here and I'm in a merry ole mood. So for your reading pleasure more jokes about our French cousins, those cheese-eating surrender monkeys: "France has neither winter nor summer nor morals. Apart from these drawbacks it is a fine country. France has usually been governed by prostitutes." --Mark Twain "I would rather have a German division in front of me than a French one behind me." --General George S. Patton "Going to war without France is like going deer hunting without your accordion." --General Norman Schwartzkopf "We can stand here like the French, or we can do something about it." --Marge Simpson
"As far as I'm concerned, war always means failure." --Jacques Chirac, President of France "As far as France is concerned, you're right." --Rush Limbaugh
"The only time France wants us to go to war is when the German Army is sitting in Paris sipping coffee." --Regis Philbin "The last time the French asked for 'more proof' it came marching into Paris under a German flag." --David Letterman "Only thing worse than a Frenchman is a Frenchman who lives in Canada ." --Ted Nugent "War without France would be like .. World War II." --Unknown "What do you expect from a culture and a nation that exerted more of its national will fighting against Disney World and Big Macs than the Nazis?" --Dennis Miller "It is important to remember that the French have always been there when they needed us." --Alan Kent "They've taken their own precautions against al-Qa'ida. To prepare for an attack, each Frenchman is urged to keep duct tape, a white flag, and a three-day supply of mistresses in the house." --Argus Hamilton "Somebody was telling me about the French Army rifle that was being advertised on eBay the other day --the description was, 'Never shot. Dropped once.'" --Rep. Roy Blunt, MO "Do you know how many Frenchmen it takes to defend Paris ? It's not known, it's never been tried." --Rep. R. Blount, MO "Do you know it only took Germany three days to conquer France in WWII? And that's because it was raining." --John Xereas, Manager, DC Improv ...and one more joke just to leave you on your merry way... "Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican national holiday celebrating an important military victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla. Yet one more reason for Americans to adopt and celebrate this great Mexican holiday. Because if the French would have won, we'd have Frenchman jumping, running, and swimming across the border into the United States instead of Mexicans." --Tito, CVSTOS FIDEI blogger
Thursday, December 21, 2006

The End is Neigh, Farewell College Catholic

Fidei Defensor over at the College Catholic blog is throwing in the the proverbial towel for good.
This young college student from the frozen tundra wrote exquisite postings of Catholic history intertwined with current social issues that made your jaw drop in its coherence and fluidity. He quickly became the staple of many a blogger. He was a bloggers blogger, eg, most (if not all) of his readers were bloggers themselves.
He has a passion for Jesus, old rifles, Spanish history, and our beautiful Catholic faith. He didn't identify any reasons for ending his blog but he hinted at a possible return in the future.
In my opinion he was a true blogger in the strict sense of blogging about his everyday life as a Catholic. With great insight on campus activities and history of Catholicism it was a joy to read whenever he posted his rare postings.
I'd like to say he was one of the best Catholic bloggers out there with the potential to be a major player in the Catholic blogosphere. A self described B-team blogger he was part of a small fraction of Catholic bloggers who enjoyed cult status on the fringes of the Catholic blogosphere. A diamond in the rough so to speak.
Farewell College Catholic, we barely knew ye.
Tito

Pope Benedict XVI on Secularism

In his speech Pope Benedict XVI argues that we as Christians need to help define what secularism is. That before having a social and political nature, secularism has a moral nature. Thusly we need to combat the post-Christian world in defining secularism as a complete break from God in all aspects of life. The following is a summary of a speech he gave to the Union of Italian Catholic Law Experts.
Catholics cannot accept a vision of secularism "as an exclusion of religion from various society environments and as its exile in the framework of the individual conscience." Benedetto XVI wanted to clarify this in a speech addressed today to the Union of Italian Catholic Law Experts. According to a certain vision, he explained, "secularism would be expressed in the total separation between the Church and State, and the Church would not any role of intervening on topics relating to the life and behaviour of citizens." Plus, he added, "secularism would even bring the exclusion of religious symbols from public places for the carrying out of the political community's functions: from offices, schools, courts, hospitals, prisons." The Pontiff stated, "Today there is talk of secular thought, secular morality, secular science, secular politics." A concept that must be rejected because it is based on "an unreligious vision of life, thought and morality: in other words a vision in which there is no room for God, for a Mystery that transcends pure reason, for a moral law of absolute value that is in effect all the time and in every situation." According to Benedetto XVI, "it is the task of all believers, in particular followers of Christ, to contribute to elaborating a concept of secularism that, on one side, acknowledges to God and its moral law, to Christ and to his Church their place in human life, individual and community, and on the other side, affirms and respects the autonomous legitimacy of worldly situations" that represent "a legitimate need, that not only is postulated by the men of our times, but is also conforming to the wishes of the Creator. In fact, from their condition as creatures, everything receives their consistency, truth, goodness, their own laws and their own order: and everything that men is obligated to respect, by acknowledging the needs of the methods of every single science or art." Ratzinger underlined, "Only if we realize this, we can measure the weight of the problems coming from a term like secularism, which seems to have become almost the qualifying emblem of post-modernity, in particular for modern democracy." To distinguish between secularism and laicism is for Benedetto XVI particularly necessary in "a historic time that is exciting because of the progress that humanity has carried out in many fields of law, culture, communication, sciences and technology. Some people attempt to exclude God from every part of life, presenting him as an antagonist of man." And it is up to Christians "to demonstrate that instead God is love and wants the goodness and happiness of all men," in other words, "to make people understand that the moral law given by God, and that comes to us with the voice of conscience, has the goal of liberating us from evil and making us happy, not to oppress us." The Pope concluded, "We must demonstrate that without God man is lost and that the exclusion of religion from social life, in particular the marginalization of Christianity, ruins the foundations of human coexistence," that "before having a social and political nature it has a moral nature." (AGI)
(Hat Tip: Mirror of Justice) For the original article by AGI online click here.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006

How we must Follow Christ's Way of the Cross in Self-Denial

I keep forgetting to post many passages from Thomas À Kempis' book, The Imitation of Christ. Today I actually remembered. Anyways, this is a powerful book that helps one to strive for holiness to sanctify ones life. The Voice of Christ: My child, patience and humility in adversity are more pleasing to Me than much consolation and devotion when things are going well. Why are you saddened by some little thing said against you? Even if it had been more you ought not to have been affected. But now let it pass. It is not the first, nor is it anything new, and if you live long it will not be the last. You are manly enough so long as you meet no opposition. You give good advice to others, and you know how to strengthen them with words, but when unexpected tribulation comes to your door, you fail both in counsel and in strength. Consider your great weakness, then, which you experience so often in small matters. Yet when these and like trials happen, they happen for your good. Put it out of your heart as best you know how, and if it has touched you, still do not let it cast you down or confuse you for long. Bear it patiently at least, if you cannot bear it cheerfully. Even though you bear it unwillingly, and are indignant at it, restrain yourself and let no ill-ordered words pass your lips at which the weak might be scandalized. The storm that is now aroused will soon be quieted and your inward grief will be sweetened by returning grace. "I yet live," says the Lord, "ready to help you and to console you more and more, if you trust in Me and call devoutly upon Me." Remain tranquil and prepare to bear still greater trials. All is not lost even though you be troubled oftener or tempted more grievously. You are a man, not God. You are flesh, not an angel. How can you possibly expect to remain always in the same state of virtue when the angels in heaven and the first man in paradise failed to do so? I am He Who rescues the afflicted and brings to My divinity those who know their own weakness. Taken from The Imitation of Christ by Thomas À Kempis of Chapter 57 in Book Three (3). For the book click here.

Quis ut Deus

QVIS VT DEVS is the inscription on the shield carried by the Archangel St. Michael, one of the seven before God. This inscription translated into English roughly says, "Who [is] as God?", or loosely, "Who is like unto God?". St. Michael the Archangel by having this inscription on his shield is saying who would have the audacity to compare himself to God.
His fame comes from defeating Lucifer himself in battle. Along with St. Gabriel and St. Raphael, they are the only three, of the seven before God, that are mentioned by name in the Holy Bible. He is often pictured slaying a dragon that represents Lucifer. Sometimes he holds scales in his free hand which represents bringing those that have left the earth to the judgement of God.
He is the prince of the Seraphs and all the other choirs of angels. He is also my guardian angel and the name of the church that attend. To the right is a stained glass window depicting the shield which he holds with the words Quis ut Deus.
To learn more about St. Michael the Archangel click here.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Bible Banned on British Airline

BMI, a British airline, has told BMI one of their stewardesses that her Bible isn't allowed on flights to Saudi Arabia due to anti-Christian laws in the backwards Islamic country.
The woman, who is understood to be a committed Christian, takes her bible everywhere she goes and is now set to take the airline to an industrial tribunal claiming discrimination on religious grounds. BMI, formerly British Midland Airways, said today it was merely following the Foreign Office advice that no non-Islamic materials or artefacts are allowed into the country. ..."She is saying she wants to carry her bible with her. We are saying we can't start designing rules around individuals when we've got several hundred members of staff. To take every personal preference into account would be impossible." On its web site the Foreign Office says of Saudi Arabia: "The importation and use of narcotics, alcohol, pork products and religious books, apart from the Koran, and artefacts are forbidden." BMI said it offered the stewardess the opportunity to transfer from long-haul duties to short-haul, but she refused.
'We can't start designing rules around individuals when we've got several hundred members of staff.'... what kind of double talk is this? This is clearly religious discrimination from a sovereign nation in the middle east. Saudi Arabia is a backwards Islamic nation that adheres to a faith stuck in the 8th century. A fine example (of their backwardness) of this stalwart ally of the U.S. is that just in 1975 did this nation abolish slavery! So Rosa Parks should have gotten on another bus route to accommodate the bigots of the day. To read more about this ridiculous double standard towards non-Muslims click here. To read a similar case from British Airways that suspended a stewardess for wearing a cross click here.

Amazon.com's Top 10 Catholic Books

This ranking in Amazon.com is based on customer reviews as of December 19, 2006.
1. The Lamb's Supper: The Mass As Heaven on Earth by Scott Hahn (Paperback - Oct 2007)
I've heard many good reviews by my friends on this book. Scott Hahn writes exceptional books on spirituality, which is not one of my favorite categories. Though I did enjoy reading Rome Sweet Home.
2. 101 Inspirational Stories of the Rosary by Sister Patricia Proctor (Paperback - April 1, 2003) 3. Hope for the Flowers by Trina Paulus (Paperback - Nov 1997) 4. Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen (Paperback - Mar 1, 1994) 5. Imitation of Christ by a Kempis Thomas (Paperback - Jul 1975)

I'm almost done reading this book and I would highly recommend this for anyone who wants to sanctify his or her life through the pursuit of holiness. The second most best selling book in the history of Man after the Bible.

6. The Road to Guadalupe: A Modern Pilgrimage to the Virgin of the Americas by Eryk Hanut 7. A Father Who Keeps His Promises: God's Covenant Love in Scripture by Scott Hahn 8. In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership by Henri J. Nouwen (Paperback - Mar 25, 1993) 9. 101 Inspirational Stories of the Priesthood by Sister Patricia Proctor (Paperback - Jun 15, 2005) 10. First Comes Love: Finding Your Family in the Church and the Trinity by Scott Hahn (Hardcover - May 7, 2002)

To view the current top 10 Catholic books by customer review on Amazon.com click here.

The Coming Christian Renaissance by Rene Girard

A well known French anthropologist predicts a Spring renewal of Christian culture that would make the Renaissance "seem like nothing".
In a book published recently in Italian, Verite o fede debole. Dialogo su cristianesimo e relativismo ("Truth or Weak Faith: Dialogue on Christianity and Relativism"), Professor Girard writes that "we will live in a world that will seem and be as Christian as today it seems scientific", Zenit reports. "I believe we are on the eve of a revolution in our culture that will go beyond any expectation, and that the world is heading toward a change in respect of which the Renaissance will seem like nothing," Girard says, who was elected in 2005 as one of the 40 "immortals" of the French Academy.
If this happens, in my opinion, it would occur after a great tumult of Christian persecution in Europe.
The book, which is the product of 10 years of discussion between the French thinker and Italian professor Gianni Vattimo, theorist of so-called weak thought, transcribes three debates between the authors on topics such as faith, secularism, Christian roots, the role of the Gospel message in the history of humanity, relativism, the problem of violence, and the challenge of reason. In the book, Girard argues that "religion conquers philosophy and surpasses it. Philosophies in fact are almost dead. Ideologies are virtually deceased; political theories are almost altogether spent. Confidence in the fact that science can replace religion has already been surmounted. There is in the world a new need for religion.
Seems like Islam fulfills this need with Christianity not far behind in the third world. Though I would disagree about ideologies being deceased since Islam can be termed an ideology. Unlike Christianity, Islam sees no separation between the realm of God and the realm of Caesar.
"In regard to moral relativism, which is defended by Vattimo, Professor Girard answers that "I cannot be a relativist" because "I think the relativism of our time is the product of the failure of modern anthropology, of the attempt to resolve problems linked to the diversity of human cultures." Anthropology has failed because it has not succeeded in explaining the different human cultures as a unitary phenomenon, and that is why we are bogged down in relativism. "In my opinion, Christianity proposes a solution to these problems precisely because it demonstrates that the obstacles, the limits that individuals put on one another serve to avoid a certain type of conflicts." The French academic continues: "If it was really understood that Jesus is the universal victim who came precisely to surmount these conflicts, the problem would be solved." According to the anthropologist, "Christianity is a revelation of love" but also "a revelation of truth" because "in Christianity, truth and love coincide and are one and the same." The "concept of love," which in Christianity is "the rehabilitation of the unjustly accused victim, is truth itself; it is the anthropological truth and the Christian truth," explains Girard.
Where have I heard this before? Hmmm, Catholicism? To read more about this fascinating interview click here.

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