What we think about

From The Spirit's Sword

I think of the Read Report from the early seventies. The report was commissioned by the federal governement to look into the influence of newspapers on Canadian society, specifically, did newspapers control what Canadians thought? The answer to that question, according to the report was, in paraphrase: no, not exactly. Canadians often disagreed with the opinions they found in the papers. So newspapers did not control what Canadians thought. But on the other hand, Canadians debated the news they were presented endlessly, and they got that news from the papers. Therefore, while newspapers did not Control what Canadians thought, to a great degree they did control what Canadians thought about.
And here we are. Corpses and haircuts, stars on red carpets, who is in rehab and who is not in rehab and who is back in rehab, and the affairs and breakups, followed by more affairs, and more breakups. It is like living in a sewer, surrounded by filth and rats. At most I feel pity for the people involved, and offer prayers that they may turn and see the Truth. But to know about these people and to know why we know about these people is to be degraded.

Yeah, that is thought control. You can have your opinion, but they control the topics. And as noted, the topics usually are nothing but gossip.

You know

It is going to be a good article when a Canon Lawyer starts off with

I was sitting in what could only be described as a tree-house. The platform stood eleven feet off the ground, outside of cell-phone range, and surrounded by a forest of poplar, maple and pine. A twelve-gauge shotgun rested to my left, and on the bucket to my right lay some spare ammunition and a rosary.

Pete Vere's article is about St. Gabriel Possenti and his model for the Church Militant. To paraphrase Kenny Rogers, "You've got to know when to turn the other cheek and know when to stand and fight." As the father of boys, I have worked that dilemma over quite often. How can I raise my sons to be courageous men, defenders of the faith and yet not end up with hoodlums looking for a fight. Well, the answer is that it is okay to fight to protect someone. Or as my 6 year old put it, "to keep from sinning". Bingo. Fight when those behind you need defending. Fight for your soul, not your ego.

Which brings up the second incident in which St. Gabriel Possenti demonstrated the virtues of Catholic manhood. Again it involved a potential rape, but this time the victims were a couple of young virgins. The perpetrators were two soldiers-turned-brigands who were part of a larger gang pillaging the village.

Rather than hide in the monastery like the rest of the clergy, St. Gabriel Possenti approached the rapists and grabbed their revolvers. With a pistol in each hand, he ordered the brutes to unhand the crying maidens.

The bandits laughed. The rest of their gang came over and mocked St. Gabriel's cassock bearing our Lord's Sacred Heart. They pointed out that a single seminarian was no match for over a dozen battle-hardened soldiers.

Just then a small lizard dashed between the saint and the brigands. With a pinch of the trigger, the seminarian shot the lizard dead. "The next one will be through your heart," he told the gang's leader.

The soldiers let go of the young ladies, returned the stolen loot and extinguished the fires they had lit, then fled the village. They knew better than to test the manly virtue of this man of God. For St. Gabriel Possenti did not abuse his strength, but rather he used it to defend the weak against unjust threats of violence.

The Gorean Creed

From small dead animals: The Gorean Creed via relapsed catholic

We believe in Global Warming
the Sea-Raiser, the All-Powerful,
maker of tsunami and hurricane,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
...

For us and for our salvation
Gore came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Nader
and the Virgin Chomsky
and became truly political.
For our sake he was un-elected
under Pontius Harris;
he suffered defeat and was retired.

On the third year he rose again
in accordance with the Documentatrians;
he ascended into Hollywood
and is seated at the right hand
of the Film Executives.
He will come again in glory
to judge the polluting and the recycling,
and his kingdom will have a biodegradable end. ...

I'm not surprised they are surprised

I saw an article in the local paper about the fight over the Texas governor's executive order requiring all girls to be vaccinated against HPV. Aside from the political kickback angle between Gov. Perry and Merck, there is something deeper that many people fail to understand. One of the comments in the article expressed surprise at the furor over mandating this vaccine. They could understand the social conservatives resisting abortion or some other cause, but they just didn't see this one coming.

That is what comes from reading the world through their own slanted vision. They think everyone reacts like they do. They have their agenda and they stick to it while it suits them.

But most pro-life people don't have the politically-correct list of buzz words that we find offensive. We don't read the news while looking at a check list to know what offend us.

Some things are just offensive to those who value life and love the gift of freedom. Yes, abortion is offensive. For those who understand the ties to abortion and the devaluation of life, contraception is offensive. So is the affront to parental rights and the general concept of liberty. The state doesn't know what is best for the child. The state is supposed to represent the citizens.

The reason for law is to protect the freedom of the people from those who would abuse or restrict the freedom of others. Law is not about legislating how a parent must be a parent.

Seat belt laws fall into the same category, just less offensive than forcible vaccination. I use my seat belt. I remind my kids to buckle up every time we are in the car. They ARE a safety device that can save lives. But again, the state should not fine me if I choose not to wear it. Or if I chose to comfort my young child on a long trip.


Remember, Freedom is a Christian concept. Those who seek to remove our freedoms, do not understand the meaning or the source of freedom. Freedom is a gift from God, so today, thank God for the freedoms we have. And let us protect that gift.

The spider gets religious

Crowhill Weblog: Thou shalt not …

… believe anything you get in email.
I got an email that began “I did a lot of searching, fasting and prayers before … ” and I figured, shoot heck, this is some over-zealous internet religious fanatic who read some dumb thing I wrote in the past and wants to set me straight.

The email continued, “… choosing your contact from your country’s website.” It then went on with the standard “somebody’s died and we need to transfer a gazillion dollars out of the country and need somebody we can trust” scam.
Who falls for these things?

I believe the spider that filched his email address off the website did a lot of searching, but am I too believe it was hungry and of a religious nature?
And how did he get so important to be on our "Country's website"?

I always enjoy the humor in these "Nigerian" email scams. Here, I got one.

I am the first cousin, not removed, of the third wife of the 8th richest man in America. (seriously) When he dies, I can hope to get nothing from him, but if you will kindly send me $10,000 US dollars, I will promise upon my misspelled word that I will do my best to spend the money while thinking of you.

Objects in need

Another fabulous spoof from The Curt Jester: L-Mart

His Lenten store has some objects I could use this Lent. The Inward Binoculars for example.

Instead of training your eyes on others these Binoculars focus inward to reveal your faults. First start at the lowest magnification levels since it is more than likely your faults will be easily seen at this level. As you progress in the spiritual life you can increase the magnification. The fault comparison algorithm is not computed on others compared to yourself, but yourself compared to Jesus. The inward binoculars work best when you keep your eyes on Jesus.

The good news is that we won't be needing the Portable Font for Holy Water. Our parish has decided to keep the water this year. I guess prayer does work. Pray, Hope and don't Worry.

Learn something every day

I was listening to Archbishop Fulton Sheen's recording of the Voice from Calvary. One of the topics is Christ's words "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do."

I always liked these words and how they show the radical forgiveness of Jesus. But through all the years of hearing these words, I never related that He was also speaking to me. Sheen commented that it is only by our ignorance of what our sins do that we are able to be forgiven. If only we knew how grievous our sins truly are.

But it blew me away that I never realized how those words belong to me.

A new (to me) blog

Welcome to the Bear-i-tones from The Spirit's Sword.

I read two lines on their recent post and knew I was going to love their blog. And on the response from their bishop, I had to laugh when I read

I argue that inherent in his assurance that we have fulfilled our duty, is the unwritten statement of "and there is no reason to contact the Holy Father, as the above document says you can do, regarding this matter."

Hooray, hooray, again I say hooray.

Vatican official acknowledges liturgical crisis

In an unusually candid conversation with the monthly Inside the Vatican, the secretary of the Vatican’s Congregation for Divine Worship concedes that liturgical reform after Vatican II “has not been able to achieve the expected goals,” and indicates that Pope Benedict XVI is determined to address the crisis in Catholic liturgy.
...

The fundamental challenge, the archbishop said, is stop what he called “freewheeling” liturgical innovation, and to recover the sense of the sacred. Steps in that direction, he said, would bring Catholics back into more active practice of the faith.[emphasis added]

Archbishop Ranjith was unsparing in his analysis of the crisis facing Catholicism today. Noting the decline in active Mass attendance, he said: “We have to ask ourselves what happened in these churches and then take corrective steps as may be necessary.”

The archbishop refused to accept some common explanations for the decline in Catholic practice. “I do not think that this situation is attributable to secularization only,” he said. “A deep crisis of faith coupled with a drive for meaningless liturgical experimentation and novelty have had their own impact in this matter.”

See, they do know of the frustration of the pew sitting Catholic. And they are prepared to deal with it.

War powers

White House opposes war authority limits - Yahoo! News

Several Senate Democrats have called in recent days for revoking the original authorization that Bush sought and won from Congress in the months before the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.
That measure authorized the president to use the armed forces "as he determines to be necessary and appropriate ... to defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq" and to enforce relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.

Just to quell the "patriotic" folks that claim any opposition to the war is, well, un-patriotic. Congress abdicated its constitutional duty regarding war powers when it gave them to President Bush. And for what cause? To enforce a U.N. resolution!

No, this police action has never been about protecting the U.S. from terrorism. So I would be happy to see Congress reclaim its constitutional duty. Even if it is the Democrats. A broken clock can be right twice a day, and this would set a great precedent the Congress still knows its duty.

Orans, a rant.

Chris cites some good articles Holding hands and the Orans position

So there you have it. If you are a hand-holder or use the Orans posture during the Our Father and ever find yourself standing next to me during Mass do not be alarmed or offended that I do not participate. I am simply trying to follow the rubrics of the Mass as prescribed by the Holy See.

Chris puts it bluntly here, but that is how many non-hand-holders feel. I tell my kids to fold their hands, bow their head and close their eyes. That way there is no awkward feeling when someone doesn't take the hint and stands there reaching.

Imminent from Rome, and it isn't the motu proprio

Catholic World News : Apostolic exhortation on Eucharist is "imminent"

Pope Benedict XVI (bio - news) has announced that he will soon release the apostolic exhortation summarizing the work of the Synod on the Eucharist, which concluded its deliberations 16 months ago. The appearance of the apostolic exhortation is “imminent,” the Holy Father told priests of the Rome diocese, during a traditional early-Lenten meeting in the Hall of Benedictions at the Vatican on Thursday morning.

I can hardly stand the wait!

Contrary to the sign of contradiction

Catholic Wrestlers Forced to Remove Ash Crosses | Christianpost.com
via Bettnet

Catholic high school wrestlers will have to remove ashes from their forehead when the state wrestling tournament begins Wednesday.

The start of this year's competition falls on Ash Wednesday. Catholics typically apply ash crosses on their foreheads in observance of the first day of Lent.

But Iowa High School Athletic Association officials banned the practice for wrestlers when they hit the mat, saying the ash could get into an opponent's eyes or mouths.

"There's no disrespect to Catholicism,'' said Bud Legg, an athletic association spokesman who also is Catholic.

He said all wrestlers undergo a skin and nail check prior to competition.

Rev. Kenneth Kuntz of St. Mary's Church in Iowa City, says he doesn't agree with the decision but won't challenge it because applying ash is optional.

"There are some hills worth dying on, and some that aren't,'' he said. "For me, this isn't that big of a deal.''

Love that last line. And it is fairly consistent with wrestling regulations. It is more likely that the ashes would get into the eyes and mouth of the Catholic wrestler. Ashes and sweat combined with getting a forearm across the face could cause some discomfort.

Another note on Wrestling and Ash Wednesday. I feel for the Catholic boys. Imagine fasting and cutting weight before Lent. (missing Fat Tuesday) And then on the day you get to weigh in and finally eat, you have to fast and abstain from meat. Yikes. Washing off ashes is the least of their worries.


I wonder if that was the reason this guy got so upset.

Note on the video. The reporters have no clue about wrestling. The boy is on his hands and knees and they say he was pinned. And the dad exaggerates immensely by saying his son was "thrown 5-10 in the air." But needless to say, the guy in the video needs to step back and evaluate why he has his son in wrestling.

Termin-ology *Updated*

The Living Lexicon: Church Terms That Oughta' Be

Here is a partial list from Allen's Brain. Via Ironic Catholic

Biblidue: The build-up of bookmarks, bulletins, notes, and other miscellanea that collects in one's Bible.

Hymnastics: The entertaining body language of the song leader.

Narthexegesis: Unsolicited post-sermon commentary given the preacher by armchair biblical theologians.

Pewtrify: To occupy a precise spot in the sanctuary for more than 15 years without once showing signs of sentient life.

Ministereotype: A common myth or misconception about any ordained person.

Hymnprovisation: The abrupt and unannounced transition from one song to another, usually a chorus unfamiliar to most present.

Proliferation: An abundance of anti-abortion activists.

I know there is a technical name for this, but I can't think of it right now. I humor the kids by making up new words quite often, so here is my contribution to this cause.


St. Francis some more: The ongoing quoting of St. Francis of Assisi while failing to heed his advice to preach the Gospel always, and IF necessary, use WORDS. [corrected]

Tiptation: The desire to comment on the poor sermon or music by putting pennies in the collection.

A-Pox-alyptic: A curse put upon someone who ignores the end-times warnings of the Left Behind disciple.

Epi-crisis: The use of invalid words for the invocation of the Holy Spirit before the consecration of the Eucharist.

EMC: The use of so many Extraordinary Ministers that one of them has to function as the MC and direct traffic.

Talking signs

Kansas City Catholic: Lenten Fare
via Bettnet

A Fat Tuesday special

Ask the Readers: What Are You Giving Up for Lent? | Agnus Daily

Today, we’re asking the question that’s weighing on everyone’s mind, “What are you going to give up for Lent?” For those who aren’t Catholic and don’t know what Lent is, it’s a time when Catholics are called to fast and sacrifice in preparation of the crucifixion and rising of our Lord. It’s Ramadan-Lite

Since Jesus asked us the give up everything for the kingdom, I am going to give up all things. Failing that, I will try to stop judging people. Most of them are such losers anyway and it is just a waste of my time.

The popularity trail

Looks like McCain is "firming" up his base more than firming up his stance on life.

John McCain Favors Overturning Supreme Court's Roe Abortion Decision

McCain appeared then to be changing his position from a 1999 statement he gave to the San Francisco Chronicle in which he said he didn't support repealing Roe.

"I'd love to see a point where it is irrelevant, and could be repealed because abortion is no longer necessary," McCain told the newspaper at the time. "But certainly in the short term, or even the long term, I would not support repeal of Roe v. Wade, which would then force X number of women in America to [undergo] illegal and dangerous operations."

Sounds more like "I say I am pro-life right now so I can get your votes. But please don't make me think about it too much.

McCain has typically voted pro-life on abortion-related issues while serving in the Senate, including voting in March 2003 against an amendment to the partial-birth abortion ban that endorsed the Roe v. Wade decision.

However, McCain voted last year in favor of a bill forcing taxpayers to fund embryonic stem cell research and he upset pro-life groups by sponsoring a major campaign finance reform bill that contained several restrictions on what they could do during elections.

Enter this as evidence that words don't mean anything without the actions to back them up. It is easy to vote for a pro-life bill that is not going to pass anyway. But the true colors show on the more obscure bills.

Meanwhile, according to an AP report, during his campaign stop over the weekend, McCain also appeared at an abstinence education rally with more than 1,000 participants. He said that today's youth face more pressures than he and his generation did when they were growing up.

This is a positive note, but again, when one sponsors a bill that will restrict how pro-life groups may participate in campaigns, it rings a bit hollow.

Ready for Lent

As I often mention, I love the liturgy as setup by the Church. The cycle of readings ties the Old Testament, Epistles and the Gospel together, shining light on how the Bible was meant to be read. Another wonder of how the cycle of readings benefits the Church is shown in today Gospel. Take a normal Sermon centered Protestant church and their Bible readings are dependent upon the preferences of the pastor. And consider how many priest today would be willing to tackle the difficult message of Luke 6.

Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.... Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.

I was particularly challenged by the Gospel and even the first reading from 1 Samuel 26. How often I fall into judging others much more harshly than I could stand to be judged. The Psalm reminds us that the Lord is kind and merciful. How often I need to be reminded that when it comes to judging others, Justice is God's, mercy is ours.

Congratulations to the winners

2007 Catholic Blog Awards Results

I was nominated in the Best Individual Catholic Blog Category. Amy Welborn of Open Book won that category.

It is an honor just to be mentioned in the same category as her. I didn't garner a single vote, but on the flip side, at least it shows I didn't vote for myself.

Congrats to Amy and all the winners

No to federal ID

SR.com: Committee says 'no' to standardized federal ID

A House committee unanimously passed a North Idaho legislator's resolution Wednesday prohibiting Idaho from implementing new federal driver's license standards.

The joint resolution by Rep. Phil Hart, R-Athol, would also ask the state's congressional delegation to advocate repealing the Real ID Act of 2005 – legislation requiring states to issue new IDs that opponents say severely threaten Americans' personal privacy.

The act passed without a hearing and is a "backdoor approach" to making a national ID card, Hart said. Required by spring 2008, the new IDs would be tied to a national database and be needed to board airplanes and enter some federal buildings.

via Huckleberries.

Glad to hear that 17 states are working to stop this Federal government power grab. Repeat after me:

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

FindLaw: U.S. Constitution: Tenth Amendment

Running interference

Crowhill Weblog: U.S. out of the U.N., U.N. out of the U.S.

“That no child is subjected to corporal punishment.”

“Public [i.e., government] education for the first time would be a ‘right’ to all children of the United States under the UN Convention. Parents interfering with the child’s right to choose [government] education would be violating his rights and could be subject to prosecution.”

The odds that something like this would ever be adopted in the U.S. are close to zero, IMO, but this kind of thing shows the kind of socialist nonsense that comes out of the U.N.

It’s a useless organization and it’s past time for us to get out.

That pretty much sums it up. I would disagree that the odds of adoption are close to zero. The fact that this garbage is pushed through the liberal states first and then as it becomes "the accepted norm" by the media, other states are beaten into submission. See California and Corporal Punishment.

It is worse than useless and its wares are not just nonsense. It has a purpose, one that it tries so hard to hide.

Too much climate change

True Irony: House Global Warming hearing canceled due to ice storm

he Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality hearing scheduled for Wednesday, February 14, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. in room 2123 Rayburn House Office Building has been postponed due to inclement weather. The hearing is entitled “Climate Change: Are Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Human Activities Contributing to a Warming of the Planet?”

tip to Huckleberries

My take on the Edwards blogger hoopla?

I don't really have one. Or haven't wasted any time putting anything to the keyboard. And mostly because I don't care about their little rants. So a pro-abortion candidate chose some rabid leftist bloggers with little to say. And when they try to say it, they don't have the vocabulary or intellect to say it well.

As the Leaning Straight Up blog says it so well, save the outrage for "people who are intellectually insulting." and don't run from their words.

Amanda Marcotte resigns and whines

Now let’s clear one thing up: She doesn’t particularly offend me. Her posts are juvenile and obviously designed to get attention, in a teenage "your not the boss of me" method. She honestly bores me with her diatribes and rants about men, white men, white catholic men and anyone else she can attack.

Daily Kos at least has people who are intellectually insulting.

Chinese Patriotic Association struggling

Catholic World News : Chinese Patriotic Association struggling to retain influence

The Patriotic Association is working feverishly to shore up its influence in China, Father Cervellera reports in an in-depth analysis of the situation there. The AsiaNews director says that many Chinese government leaders have come to see the Patriotic Association as an obstacle to progress in relations with the Holy See.

Although the Catholic Church is theoretically under the control of the Patriotic Association, in practice virtually all Chinese Catholics prefer to align themselves directly with the Holy See. “The Patriotic Associations,” writes Father Cervellera, ”have, by now, become useless instruments, given that a very large majority of believers refuse to adhere to them.”

Pro-abortion plates

The Curt Jester has some license plates that didn't make the cut for the Pro-abortion Plates that Florida has released. I figured I would add my contribution.

Filtering out

Zenit News Agency - The World Seen From Rome

Homosexuality in the Bible Interview With Authors of Exegetical Work
ROME, FEB. 12, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Three exegetes have published a new book in which they conclude that the Bible clearly teaches homosexual practices are wrong.

Intended consequences?

Veritas: Minimum Wage & Unintended Consequences Via the Curt Jester

The minimum wage increase that took effect in Arizona last month has brought with it some unintended consequences — many teenagers are losing their jobs. The Arizona Republic reports some employers say payroll budgets have risen so much since the minimum wage went from $5.15 per hour to $6.75 — they have had to cut jobs and hours.
The owner of one Phoenix pizza restaurant says his payroll has shot up 13 percent and he's had to lay off three teenagers and cut hours for others. Another shop owner said expenses rose by $2,000 a month.
A Federal Reserve study showed that for every ten percent increase in the minimum wage — there is a corresponding two to three percent decrease in employment.

Makes one wonder, do the minimum wage proponents just fail to do their homework? Blindly pander to the emotion-voter? Or plan this so more people will be un-employed so they can pander to the welfare-voter?

Who will the actors be?

‘Screwtape Letters’ to be released on film

The company that produced The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is planning to adapt C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters into a major motion picture that will open in theaters nationwide in early 2008.

I've been nominated

For a Catholic Blog award. Thank you to whomever the nominator was. I am humbled and yet proud of this nomination. Thank you.

If you desire to vote for these awards, you have to sign up. You can find my nomination under the "Best Individual Blog" section.

Thanks again.

exceptions

I typically don't like the "except in the case of rape and incest" exemptions in reference to abortion. But in this case, I may concede the exception. Why? Because it would be tough to lose the momentum that South Dakota has gained in the fight against abortion.

South Dakota House Committee Signs Off on Second Abortion Ban

Abortions in cases of rape and incest are very rare -- accounting for less than one percent of all abortions according to the Alan Guttmacher Institute
...

Kate Looby, state director of Planned Parenthood in South Dakota, says her group is opposed to the bill and complained about the rape reporting provisions, saying they are too much of a burden for women who are victims.

I love when the PP people refer to victims. They forget that abortion also has victims. Two of them; one dead, one wounded.