Archives for 2016

Our brave new world

Tuesday, January 19, 2016 A.D. Leave a Comment

Consider…

Women in the United States of America are forced by law to a life of servitude in support of unwanted biomass known as “toddlers.” Yes, small pre-person clumps of tissue who contribute nothing to society but who pollute the environment and tax the healthcare system. Enslaved women suffering loss of time, space, financial resources, sleep and emotional distress are forced to turn to illegal methods of post-birth abortions to free themselves of these burdens.

The Supreme Court must act to stop this war on women! It is truly uncivilized to recognize the right to terminate these things at any point prior to their emergence from the birth canal, then arbitrarily criminalize the same termination methods upon exit. Compassion, not prosecution; healthcare, not judgment!

Yes, these are difficult decisions women must make, but no one has the right to infringe on their lives. It is their choice. Once legalized, healthcare professionals will be able to safely provide the same full spectrum of pregnancy services both before and AFTER the pregnancy period ends. Pharmacies will stock “Plan C” (those who refuse to will be swiftly punished). This is basic healthcare and as such, will also be mandated for all government sanctioned health plans.

OK, that is not literally a manifesto of most pro-choice supporters — yet. Pro-life readers are horrified at such an outrageous idea while more than a few on the “pro-choice” side see some sense in it. This lady for instance:

It has been 4 years since the Journal of Medical Ethics published an academic paper on the topic. The abstract explains:

Abortion is largely accepted even for reasons that do not have anything to do with the fetus’ health. By showing that (1) both fetuses and newborns do not have the same moral status as actual persons, (2) the fact that both are potential persons is morally irrelevant and (3) adoption is not always in the best interest of actual people, the authors argue that what we call “after-birth abortion” (killing a newborn) should be permissible in all the cases where abortion is, including cases where the newborn is not disabled.

After-birth abortion: why should the baby live?

If this idea only popped-up once, we could dismiss it. It is persistent and a logical, progressive step. 50 years ago no one thought abortion would be legal, sodomites would be celebrated (and legally marry), or discrimination against Christians would be essentially legalized and encouraged. If the pro-life movement fails, expect this next.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92VOxknTtlM

Planned Parenthood, the abortion industry’s most enthusiastic promoter and largest beneficiary, sees the obvious business opportunity. Here, their lobbyist testified that PP believes (post birth abortion) should be left up to the woman and her abortion doctor. Of course.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyNVQ2fdOyU

We need to get back to a point where movements such as this, all abortion and all euthanasia are inconceivable.

March for Life 2016

…this Friday

Filed Under: abortion, essay

From the archive (set #14)

Friday, January 15, 2016 A.D. Leave a Comment

My bucket of 7QTF items is too low for that today, so instead I would like to bring to your attention 3 original, brief essays that you may have missed. If you don’t have time to read all three, I especially recommend the first one — Some leave the Church.

The Mass is sacred and conducted with reverence. While it includes worship, it is much, much more than that. Every Mass is a supernatural mystery where heaven and earth touch, angels and saints join us as the Last Supper and Calgary are made present. The body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus is literally confected in the Eucharist — in which we are united with Christ and each other through all time and space. The worship services of other Christian communities, however holy and reverent, are not remotely comparable to the Mass.

…read it all: Some leave the Church

As interesting as it may be to ponder the rapture or to consider science fiction stories, we would be missing the big picture. People have been waiting for the rapture for 2,000 years and may be waiting for another 2,000 – or 10,000. The possibility of these science fiction scenarios during our mortal lives is even more remote. What is not remote and quite sure is an end to our individual exiles here on Earth. We do not know when, but we know its certainty.

…read it all: Are you ready?

The consequence of sin, against God (as all sin is), is clearer. The God who has literally given me everything. The God who hears and answers every prayer. This is the God whom I sin against. My focus shifts from how this sin effects me to the sorrow rightly due to sinning against God Himself. The contrition I feel becomes “more perfect.”

…read it all: Prayer and contrition

Filed Under: archive

Elsewhere: what do saints fear?

Tuesday, January 12, 2016 A.D. Leave a Comment

Msgr. Charles Pope posed this intriguing question recently on his blog (aside: Msgr. Pope is a regular contributor to New Evangelists Monthly and is among the very best Catholic bloggers anywhere, IMHO).

OK, saints have the beatific vision and are beyond the fears we experience. Perhaps the question would be better phrased “what do the most ‘saintly’ people fear the most?” It could be the injustice of violence. Maybe it is the struggles of the poor. The desperation of those fleeing war is a possibility. Even mundane things like our pedestrian worries and concerns could be shared through their love for us.

Nope. None of the above.

The saints know better. Those, be they trivial or severe, are all earthly concerns. While valid, they pale in the scope of eternity.

The saints fear for bad Catholics.

Msgr. Pope recounts the words of St. Bernadette. Here is the context followed by the quote (from Fr. Rene Larentin’s book Bernadette Speaks. A Life of St. Bernadette Soubirous in Her Own Words):

Napoleon III had surrendered to the Prussians, bringing on the disaster. The Mother General put the sisters at the disposition of the Ministry of War. A field hospital was installed [at the convent for the retreating and battered troops] … Military uniforms mingled with the black and white silhouettes in the courtyard and corridors of the Motherhouse … the sick and the wounded were [all about] the convent. Twenty-five novices were sent to communities in the south and the postulants were sent home to their families. The Prussians were coming and all the area was on alert … Cannons were installed on the inner terrace of the motherhouse and in the novitiate gardens … On the night of October 24, 1870 … a strange phenomenon appeared in the sky. The horizon was all ablaze … you might have thought it was a sea of blood … [but it was] an aurora borealis … a very impressive display … The Prussians were at the borders.

[And here is the question posed to our saint, who was considered by many to be a visionary]:

“The Prussians are at our gates. Don’t they inspire you with terror?”

“No.”

“So there is nothing to fear then?”

“I fear only bad Catholics.”

“Do you fear nothing else?”

“No, nothing.”

A conquering army was approaching the motherhouse / field hospital. They were not inclined to be kind. The remaining sisters had taken the precautions they could, but they would be futile. As the inevitable was about to be realized, bad Catholics was Sr. Bernadette’s true fear.

Read Msgr. Pope’s comments in his full piece: What Do Saints Fear?.

Filed Under: elsewhere

7 Quick Takes Friday (set #191)

Friday, January 8, 2016 A.D. Leave a Comment

This week: The latest issue of New Evangelists Monthly awaits your perusal. The annual March for Life is almost here. A child at the brink of death is saved by the intercession of her guardian angel and the Communion of Saints. A woman remembers her child on her wedding day. A desperate father saves his son from premature organ harvesting. Burglars star in a restaurant’s new TV ad. Secular Christmas classics re-imagined in light of contemporary headlines.

— 1 —

Issue #37, January 2016, of New Evangelists Monthly is ready for your enjoyment! Scores of faithful Catholic bloggers have contributed their very best pieces from December. Contributing authors this month include:
Fr. Stephen Morris, Stephen Korsman, Virginia Lieto, Ellen Kolb, Dave Wanat, Susan Fox, David Wong, Edwin Rodrigues, Ellen Gable Hrkach, David Cooney, Fr. Ben Hadrich, Devin Rose, Jamie Jo, Shannon Vandaveer, Melanie Jean Juneau, Allen Hebert, Nancy Shuman, Chris Capolino, Fr. Errol Fernandes, Dn. Scott Dodge, Melissa Overmyer, Larry Peterson, Robert Collins, Kathleen Laplante, Carolyn Astfalk, David Torkington, W.L. Grayson, Bartimaeus Timeo, John Schroeder, Mike Landry, Birgit Jones, John Donaghy, Vinny Carr, Suzanne Carl, Eric Johnston, Leslie Klinger, John Russell, Matthew Plese, James Milliken, Brian Mullins, Debbie Gaudino, Tony Agnesi, Fr. Tucker Cordani, Michael Seagriff, Laura Pearl, Rich Maffeo, Lianna Mueller, Barbara Hosbach, Margaret Felice, Fr. Adrian Danker, Rae Stabosz, Denise Hunnell, Brian Gill, Kathryn Cooper, Monica McConkey, Kirby Hoberg, Lyn Mettler, Erin Cupp, Joseph Shaw, Matthew Coffin, Justin Soutar, Dn. Greg Horton, Tom Perna, Drusilla, Rita Buettner, Rose O’Donnell, Adam DeVille, Sr. Anne Marie Walsh, Reese Cumming, Msgr. Charles Pope, Rick Becker, Elizabeth Reardon, Alexandrina Brant, Jeff Walker, Frank Rega, Fr. Juan Velez and Jennifer James.

This monthly “meta-magazine” showcases faithful Catholicism from theology to family life and “everything in between.” Enjoy it now at NewEvangelists.org.

— 2 —

The 2016 March for Life is just 2 weeks away – January 22, 2016.

— 3 —

The flu can be deadly for the young and old. It is not just a bad cold. 4 year old Gemma Botelho almost died. Thanks to her guardian angel (nudging her parents to choose the emergency room) and through the intercession of the Communion of Saints, she survived. It is a miracle, but not an unexplainable one!

— 4 —

Some weddings are bitter-sweat, such as that of Amanda Freebird. Two years ago her 6 year old daughter Azalee died from cancer. Amanda wanted, in some way, to include Azalee and photographer Ashley Frantz did just that in a touching image. The story is at People.

— 5 —

George Pickering III is a happy, healthy young man working with his dad in a small electrical engineering business and in building a new house.

Last year this time, a Texas hospital decided the time was right to harvest his organs. George was terminal with no hope for recovery. His dad disagreed, but there was nothing he could legally do to stop them. Legally, he could do nothing. The story is here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhp5ugWIUNk

— 6 —

Frijoles & Frescas was burglarized a week before Christmas. They decided to fight back, turning their surveillance video into this commercial:

— 7 —

Finally, as my wrap-up to the Christmas season, I present these secular stories… updated.

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!