Archives for August 2015

7 Quick Takes Friday (set #181)

7 Quick Takes Friday

This week: Two more videos have been released to further document Planned Parenthood’s highly immoral and illegal practices. How would defunding Planned Parenthood actually impact women’s healthcare? Logically, from a secular and non-religious perspective, is abortion moral? Lutheran Satire looks at the “great apostasy.” Jeff Harris illustrates the key to sin’s shackle. Millennials explain the difference between Democrats and socialists. A magic carpet (sort of).

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The Center for Medical Progress has been more effective in budging public opinion on abortion and Planned Parenthood then most recent pro-life efforts. The horror is not of organ harvesting but in the taking of innocent lives. We must not forget that or accept this as business as usual.

The CMA has released the 7th and 8th videos. The 7th documents the “harvesting” of a baby’s brain (while still alive). The indifference to human life is astounding.

In the 8th video, we see how the baby organ selling business at Planned Parenthood is thriving. The buyers want to bump their order by another 50 livers per week.

Pro-aborts, particularly pro-abortion politicians, still refuse to watch these videos.

BONUS: if you know someone who has not watched these but who might watch a summary, CMA has also released such a video:

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There are SO MANY lies told by PP (and repeated by their admirers) that it is almost overwhelming. One lie is the catastrophe we will bring upon women who will lose healthcare in many areas served only by PP. Or so they claim, falsely, over and over.

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Dennis Prager looks at the morality of abortion, in a secular, logical, non-religious way. Additionally, for this argument, he also sets aside the issue of legality. This asks only: is it moral?

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Our friends at Lutheran Satire make many good points. Why they made this video confuses me. To my Catholic eyes, it indicts them almost as much as the more recent Protestant denominations.

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Jeff Harris at Sword of Peter illustrates a simple truth:

Sword Of Peter Confession

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This is an interesting video. Millennials are asked to differentiate between Democrats and socialists. I appreciate the difficulty in answering that. Draw your own conclusions.

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Segways are really cool, but expensive and not portable. The perfect Segway would be only the platform under your feet. It would be thin, easily portable, and look more like a MacBook Air than a transportation device. It might be this:


Some random thoughts or bits of information are worthy of sharing but don’t warrant their own full post. This idea was begun by Jennifer Fulwiler and is now continued by Kelly Mantoan. So, some Fridays I too participate when I have accumulated 7 worthy items. Thank you Kelly for hosting this project!

Walk on Water

Walk On Water

Sometimes I walk on water and I hope that you do too! It is real, supernatural and can be trusted 100%. Yes, yes, I am speaking figuratively but it is very real none-the-less.

We walk on water when we trust in the Lord completely. The more saintly among us do this routinely. For the rest of us, it is still a more conscious choice. We particularly experience this when we are unable to be in control, turning ourselves and our problems over to Him. We do not abandon the problem and step back into the boat. Rather we trust Jesus, work as His instruments and accept the direction He takes us.

This is easier said than done. We try to be self-reliant and solve problems ourselves. As complications increase we can start to sink before we realize it. Knowing when we are in too deep and asking God to take this increasing burden from us might not occur to us. So we too often keep control as we sink toward the bottom. It takes humility to see when this is happening. Peter trusted the Lord and didn’t hesitate to give up control (his will to keep a solid, if wobbly, platform beneath himself). Nothing he could do would change his buoyancy, yet he did not sink. Miracles work when faith is present.

Even when we do place our trust in the Lord we can be tempted to interfere. That is, attempting to reassert some control. Our trust then becomes conditional, subject to our will — effectively we revoke trust. You know how that works out. Peter discovered those consequences as he doubted the miracle he was in. The more he doubted, the more he sank. His faith – his trust – was waning, he was taking back control and sinking.

Jesus does not give-up on us when put our faith on ourselves. He is still there by our side waiting to extend His saving hand when our sometimes prideful freewill gets us into trouble. As Peter sank, he turned back to Christ and embraced His outstretched hand. He didn’t drown, but I bet he got soaking wet.

Think about that big problem you are currently dealing with. It might be publicly known like an issue at work or perhaps a very private matter known only to you. Do you really want to “go it alone”? For that matter, is there ever a time that you should? Trust in the Lord with all your heart.

When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear.

At once [Jesus] spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”

Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”

He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.

But when he saw how [strong] the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

7 Quick Takes Friday (set #180)

7 Quick Takes Friday

This week: Some smart, questioning, people who became Catholic anyway – Don Johnson’s new film: Convinced. My Catholic Tube has launched a new show with interviews of converts. A look at The Sisters of Life, founded by John Cardinal O’Connor to protect and enhance the sacredness of human life. Larry D illustrates the concept of “instant Catholic.” Science can not prove God’s existence…   or explain 95% of the universe. The Iran deal accommodation – Dennis Prager explains why. Tesla gets weird in charging station design.

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Why would anyone “voluntarily” become Catholic? It is so counter-cultural, swims against the current, and sadly is increasingly despised by the world (spoiler: it is the truth). Speaking as a convert myself, let me assure you that we don’t just wake up one day and say “why not?”. Don Johnson has released a wonderful movie that will strike a chord with many who are curious. In their own words, non-Catholics who became Convinced:

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My Catholic Tube is a well executed Catholic portal / aggregator to faithful video content. They also include some of their own content, including a new show call My Catholic Conversion. The first installment features Katrina Fernandez (The Crescat) interviewed by David L. Gray.

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The Sisters of Life is a contemplative / active religious community of women founded by John Cardinal O’Connor in 1991 for the protection and enhancement of the sacredness of every human life. Like all religious communities, they take the three traditional vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. They also are consecrated under a special, fourth vow to protect and enhance the sacredness of human life.

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Instant Catholic
From Larry D

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Those who question God’s existence often lean on science. Science, after all, gives us proof to support its claims. The problem is, science explains very little. See this video for some basic things that are beyond science.

That science can not prove God’s existence then is no surprise considering these monumental limitations. God, of course, is the uncreated creator of everything including the universe itself. It is true that science is blind to God’s existence, but it is also blind to 95% of everything in the universe. It calls these unknowns “dark matter” and “dark energy” (which loosely means “we have no idea”):

Since science acknowledges aspects of the universe it does not understand as “dark matter / energy,” perhaps it should acknowledge God as “white spirit.” Works for me.

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Nothing less than thermonuclear destruction, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of thousands (or more) is at stake with the Iran deal. This can NOT be compared to previous deals (e.g. with the Soviets) for many reasons, but particularly the EXTREMELY limited verification and Iran’s objectives. MAD (“mutually assured destruction”) is not a deterrent to them. What is being called a “deal” is an accommodation that will lead to nuclear disaster.

Dennis Prager puts this “deal” in a historical perspective:

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From the Convert Journal automotive desk, a look at EV (electric car) charging technology. Tesla was apparently inspired by either an octopus or a scene from the movie Aliens in the design of this automatic car charging station:


Some random thoughts or bits of information are worthy of sharing but don’t warrant their own full post. This idea was begun by Jennifer Fulwiler and is now continued by Kelly Mantoan. So, some Fridays I too participate when I have accumulated 7 worthy items. Thank you Kelly for hosting this project!

Elsewhere: coming persecution

Elsewhere

People roll their eyes when told of Christian persecution in the Western world. It is already happening but at a modest level. We all know about florists, bakers and other small businesses being targeted then punished with draconian fines. That is just the start.

Expect to see greater indoctrination of children on the virtue of abortion and “gay marriage,” with little recourse for parents to “opt-out.” Expect greater restrictions not only against practicing the Christian faith, but also in simply teaching it. For example, saying that “gay marriage” is immoral will be considered hate speech with serious repercussions. Forget everything you have known about freedom of religion and freedom of speech.

This has already begun in Europe as Bishop Vitus Huonder has found. Speaking at a Christian symposium on marriage, his Excellency quoted Holy Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. For this, he is being charged with a hate crime and if convicted (it could go either way, for now) he faces 3 years in prison. Let that sink in. Incarceration for 3 years for faithfully teaching the Catholic faith. If not convicted, he can expect civil suits for the pain and suffering his (truthful) words had upon the psyche of fragile homosexuals.

Deacon Keith Fournier covered this for The Stream:

On Friday, July 31, 2015, the bishop spoke at a symposium in Fulda, Germany, entitled “Marriage: Gift, Sacrament and Commission.” In the context of explaining the background of the Christian moral teaching, he referenced two passages from Leviticus (Lev. 18:22, 20:13). He used them as examples of Scripture’s rejection of same-sex relationships and proof that same-sex marriages were an attack on creation.

“There is no plurality of models for marriage and family,” he told the conference. “To even speak of such is already an attack on the Creator, as well as on the Savior and Sanctifier, that is, on the trinitarian God.”

In the presentation the bishop had also explained that “pastoral care must orient itself according to the divine order. Its mission, undertaken in awareness of the salvation of souls, that is, in pastoral love…   is to free mankind from the condition of a fallen nature and raise it to life as children of light.”

Showing pastoral care for those who struggle with same-sex attraction, he said, “The Faith is to everyone, even to those with homophile tendencies, a source of comfort and can lead to a redirection of such an orientation, to a governing of sexual urges, and to an ordering of one’s own life according to the divine command.”

Because the second half of the second passage instructed Israel to put to death people who have sexual relations with someone of their own sex, Pink Cross claimed that Bishop Huonder was sowing hatred and inciting violence against homosexual people. He violated both German and Swiss law, they declared, as well as the European Convention on Human Rights.

It should have been obvious to anyone why he quoted those two passages and that he did not endorse the execution of homosexual people. That didn’t matter to Pink Cross, who saw a chance to attack a major Christian figure for his defense of marriage.

The bishop responded to the protests with a statement stressing that he was not endorsing violence against homosexual people. “During the lecture I quoted several uncomfortable passages from the Old Testament to do with marriage, sexuality and family,” he said. “I want to clarify that I would in no way wish to diminish homosexual people.”

The head of Pink Cross rejected the response: “There is no question in this case of what he was talking about — there was no misunderstanding. We don’t need charity or mercy from the Church at all; we don’t accept his apology.”

The Bishop simply expressed the teaching of the Catholic Church he serves. He cited the pertinent sections of the Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church (2357-2359). The actions of the homosexual activists who filed this spurious criminal complaint is one more sign of growing efforts to use the police power to prevent the Church from proclaiming the message of true liberation in Jesus Christ.

Read the whole store: Bishop Faces Three Years in Jail for Defending Marriage.

7 Quick Takes Friday (set #179)

7 Quick Takes Friday

This week: The national 54-day rosary novena for the family begins tomorrow! Video #6 documenting Planned Parenthood’s baby organ sale business has been released, contradicting their assertion of mothers’ permission. Andrea Bocelli’s view on abortion. A video introducing the excellent Council of Majors Superiors of Women Religious. Guardian angels in action. The Admiral X Force 145, a seagoing vessel for the whole family. Finally, we find out what really happened to Hillary’s missing e-mail messasges.

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54day Rosary

Tomorrow, Saturday August 15th is the beginning of a 54-day rosary novena for family and marriage. Many dioceses around the country are urging their flock to participate in this initiative ahead of the fall’s continuing synod on the family. Details are at 54days.org. Their poster is here.

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The 6th video on Planned Parenthood’s widespread sale of baby organs has been released. It directly refutes PP’s claim of harvesting organs from freshly killed babies only with the mother’s consent.

PP’s political and media backers continue to parrot what PP tells them to say. Part of that is to claim they have not seen the videos. Instead, they are told to remind us of the important role PP plays in women’s health, such as life-saving mammograms (a service PP does not offer anywhere, BTW) and that abortion is only 3% (of a large number PP fabricated) of PP’s “services.”

Eye of the Tiber (a Catholic satire site) makes a poignant observation in their piece: World Somehow Shocked After Sting Operation Reveals Corporation Widely Known For Murdering Helpless Babies Involved In Unethical Practices.

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The very troubled Leadership Council of Women Religious (LCWR) is having their annual get-together this week. They are continuing their prideful march to oblivion since the Vatican has effectively given-up on them.

In contrast to the new-age focused LCWR, the faithful and obedient women of the other US council is thriving. Here is an overview of the Council of Majors Superiors of Women Religious:

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Yup, sure, there is no such thing as a guardian angel. I suppose these people were just “lucky”:

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Yacht

I need to relax more and a little bit of sailing might do the trick. I have recently had my eye on this little beauty, the Admiral X Force 145. It looks comfortable enough. Why don’t you pick one up and we could sail together? Details and plenty of pictures are here.

If you put aside just $1 per day, you will have enough for this in no time (about 3 million years actually).

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A popular Internet meme (one I featured aspect here several times) takes a movie of Hitler in his bunker, speaking in German, but “translated” to something hilarious. Finally, a spoof based on a different (but still Nazi) movie segment. This one explains what happened to Hillary’s missing e-mail messages:

Spotted by my friend Tom.

Some random thoughts or bits of information are worthy of sharing but don’t warrant their own full post. This idea was begun by Jennifer Fulwiler and is now continued by Kelly Mantoan. So, some Fridays I too participate when I have accumulated 7 worthy items. Thank you Kelly for hosting this project!

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