This week: Live Action’s Planned Parenthood video highlights – see for yourself their real nature. Chris Stefanick looks at the life of St. John Paul II. Social media, anything but. Comcast, Verizon, et al want to erect Internet toll booths (hint: they get more of your money in the end). Boko Haram and our decisive (non-)response. Milton Friedman helps us understand the economics of immigration. You may be a racist – Andrew Klavan explains how and why.

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Live Action has done much to expose the true nature of Planned Parenthood over the years. This new video pulls together poignant clips that tell the story of lies, corruption and scandal:

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Chris Stefanick has a wonderful video looking at the life of St. John Paul II:

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“Social media” is often anything but. This video makes the case for some moderation:

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In the US, unregulated monopolies control Internet speeds and pricing. It is much better in other parts of the world, but at least we have gotten a usable service for our money. A huge push is on to change that. While no one would describe me as liberal, a big part of the problem is Republicans who think “market forces” should be allowed to do whatever they want in all circumstances. Clearly they are ignorant of what monopolies are and how damaging their activities are to the public good.

The issue is net neutrality, well understood in technical circles but not appreciated by the public at large. John Oliver has done a good service:

Please, let the FCC know what you think: FCC.GOV/COMMENTS (proceeding 14-28 ).

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Boko Haram has been in the news lately for their increasingly outrageous actions (murder and kidnapping). After the taking of 270 young girls, we have responded forcefully and decisively through “hashtag diplomacy.” I am certain this has caused Boko Haram to reconsider its actions…   (warning: some inappropriate language)

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Nobel Prize winner (economics) Milton Friedman made some good, common sense observations on immigration. Nothing here helps us solve the very bad situation we are in, but it does help to understand the big picture. At one time we welcomed all with open arms, that has changed because the situation has changed and the motivations of some immigrants has too.

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Are you a racist and how can you tell? Andrew Klavan offers some help:

Some random thoughts or bits of information are worthy of sharing but don’t warrant their own full post. This idea was started by Jennifer Fulwiler at Conversion Diary to address this blogging need. So, some Fridays I too participate when I have accumulated 7 worthy items. Thank you Jen for hosting this project!

This week: Denzel Washington offers surprisingly good advice to young actors. Chris Stefanick has a new video on Korean war hero Fr. Kapaun. A Google map on where the Apostles died. A toddler falls off a second story ledge. A blunt sermon on the worship of false idols. The story of two close friends, their separation and reunion. Gaslighting has been refined to an art form by some politicos – Bill Whittle takes a look.

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A rich Hollywood actor gets on a soapbox to influence young actors. We don’t expect anything of value and certainly no mention of God. That would just seem so unenlightened and politically incorrect. What a surprise then to here this from Denzel Washington:

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Chris Stefanick has a new video on Servant of God Fr. Emil Kapaun, a hero of the Korean war and Medal of Honor recipient (posthumously). This is a truly inspiring story:

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Where did the Apostles die? Blogger Catholicgauze has put together this Google map. Blue markers are generally accepted locations, yellow ones indicate some dispute. Click on the marker for details (or click here for a large, annotated map):

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A 1 year-old baby in Xiaolan (southern China) fell from a 2nd story window while looking for his mother during a thunderstorm. This is what happened:

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Video Sancto creates video versions of the faithful, orthodox sermons published by Audio Sancto. This one addresses (in essence) false idols, a topic I write about often. Fair warning, it is not politically correct, but is the unvarnished truth:

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Two friends spend a lifetime together, struggling through neglect and abuse. The authorities rescue them but they are separated into new homes. Missing his friend and companion so much, one goes on a hunger strike for 6 days. This is their story:

More details and background are here. Spotted by by my friend Tom.

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Bill Whittle talks about the technique known as gaslighting. At its essence, it amounts to rewriting history and trying to get people to doubt their recollections by repeating the revisionist version over and over. It is an interesting technique and used increasingly in politics.

Some random thoughts or bits of information are worthy of sharing but don’t warrant their own full post. This idea was started by Jennifer Fulwiler at Conversion Diary to address this blogging need. So, some Fridays I too participate when I have accumulated 7 worthy items. Thank you Jen for hosting this project!

This week: Kevin Durant – (first) class act, (second) MVP. You are probably more familiar with Dies Irae (“song of the dead”) then you think. It is graduation time again. Fr. Barron reviews the movie Noah. New evidence shows the convicted Philadelphia priests were probably innocent. Which makes sense, ad orientem or versus populum? Tara — one fast thinking, brave cat.

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25 year-old Kevin Durant is a class act. At a time when some other professional athletes grab the spotlight to promote their sexual perversions or are otherwise recognized for their criminal activities, he earns it as MVP and uses it thus:

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Dies Irae, the “song of the dead,” is an 800 year-old hymn. The lyrics describe the final judgment, the separation of the saved from the damned before the throne of God. It is part of the Requiem Funeral Mass. It has also been borrowed for many secular uses, as this surprisingly interesting video explains:

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Last Friday, my daughter graduated from UGA, with honors and 2 bachelor degrees. We are very proud of her!

It was a long day. The ceremonies and speeches were better than I had hoped for. As well they should be — not platitudes and feel-good time wasters. Two years ago, Wellesley High School English teacher David McCullough gave this speech to their graduating class:

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Have you seen Noah yet? Fr. Barron has and offers this analysis:

He likes it for its biblical basis, both factual and creative. There is apparently a lot of creative parts (not actually in the Bible) so be forewarned. However, those parts are congruent in Fr. Barron’s view with the Bible.

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We were all saddened to see Philadelphia priests convicted of sex abuse crimes. These were alleged to have happened decades ago, but justice was finally served. The media was all over it, as they always are. Hashing and rehashing to keep our shame in the spotlight as long as possible. The left-leaning mainstream media will always attack the Church by all means at their disposal.

Now evidence has come to light showing wrongful convictions (of innocent priests). Of course, the media will suppress this even more than they do of the massive, annual March for Life. It doesn’t fit their narrative and would be a setback in the war they wage against truth, chastity and life.

See: Philly BOMBSHELL: New Evidence Further Exonerates Wrongfully Convicted Clerics; Will Justice Be Served? Will the Media Ever Take Notice?.

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Contrary to popular assumption, Vatican II did not change the Mass to have the priest (turn away from God to) face the people (versus populum). In fact, the missal still assumes the priest is facing in concert with the people (versus orientem). Fr. Dylan James needed to explain the proper symbolism to his young altar servers and made this this visual aid:

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A neighbor’s dog sees a target of opportunity, a young autistic boy on his bike. He attacks, dragging the boy several feet before (out of nowhere, like a rocket) Tara, the boy’s *CAT* counter attacks. I am not a cat person, but this is a great one:

The boy required stitches but is OK. The mom was also attacked when she went around the car to locate the animal. The footage is from security cameras.

Some random thoughts or bits of information are worthy of sharing but don’t warrant their own full post. This idea was started by Jennifer Fulwiler at Conversion Diary to address this blogging need. So, some Fridays I too participate when I have accumulated 7 worthy items. Thank you Jen for hosting this project!

This week: The May issue of New Evangelists Monthly is ready and calling you. The Third Way, a beautiful film on Catholic teaching on same sex attraction, is out. Busted Halo offers a primer on how Saints are canonized. Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles were featured aspect in a segment on CBS Sunday Morning. A Christian response to an atheist video on the afterlife. Who are the “good guys” – a video. Something different, simple and complex.

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Issue #17, May 2014, of New Evangelists Monthly is ready for your enjoyment! Scores of faithful Catholic bloggers have contributed their very best pieces from April. This month brought these great topics: Chastity book, mystical union, God wins, unraveling, blessed failures, Your joy, Easter storm, beasts, blooming, Emmaus, music, parking lot, Papa Johns, entry points, book and blood, faithful, ever after, life coach, depth, adoration, lex orandi, divine surgeon, BNW technology, a wall, dark caves, learned, toxic, RIP Fr. Glidden, journey home, Oxford NRSV, reclaim, St. JPII, Ember & Rogation, St. Catherine, they did, read JPII, current milieu, stubbornness, Jesus’ brides, equality, unconditional, just Catholic, Jesus’ tears, courage, justice, St. Tychicus, wounds, His Presence, Sacred Heart, Friday penance, do good, simple choice, Bible study, poetry, painting Jesus, family abuse, trust, battles, Stations, popes, on love, canonizations, holy priests, Polish, morning offering, Kirsten is right, above the fog, victories, belief, IUD danger, the kiss, our mother, Mary in May, conflict logic, a reflection, Holy Saturday, Corpus Christi, His tears, objections, imbued Catholic, illogical, Lenten goals, beloved and satisfaction.

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

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The Third Way is Blackstone Films‘ beautiful 38 minute presentation on the teaching of Holy Mother Church on homosexuality — with personal stories told by Catholics with same sex attraction. Powerful, heartfelt, loving, honest…   truth.

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A nice primer from the folks at Busted Halo on how Saints are canonized:

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CBS Sunday Morning produced a surprisingly good piece (for a secular, often hostile source) on the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles.

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Atheists (in 2012) made a video on the Afterlife (here ). I am sure not all atheists would agree with some of the perspectives. It seems to me that they are seeing the clues, but just falling short of the meaning. This video was made in response to theirs:

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Who are the good guys? They are those who know right from wrong and that it matters. As a Christian, this is a message we agree with. You may or may not be surprised who sponsored it.

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This is fascinating and mesmerizing. Very simple and complex.

Some random thoughts or bits of information are worthy of sharing but don’t warrant their own full post. This idea was started by Jennifer Fulwiler at Conversion Diary to address this blogging need. So, some Fridays I too participate when I have accumulated 7 worthy items. Thank you Jen for hosting this project!

This week: The latest issue of New Evangelists Monthly is ready and calling you. Continuing my focus on confession with 4 videos: contrition / confession / satisfaction, why we confess to a priest, sacraments 101 / penance and the scriptural basis. Another look at the possibility of Hell – very remote or potentially common? Fr. Barron on the practices of Lent.

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Issue #16, April 2014, of New Evangelists Monthly is ready for your enjoyment! Scores of faithful Catholic bloggers have contributed their very best pieces from March. This month brought these great topics: Spring again, praying, union, accountability, seasons, converts, chastity, metaphysical, death penalty, not a diet, the well, all failures, uniqueness, prayer bell, Propers, faithfulness, book reviews, humility, purity, children, courage, LDS, great race, seeking, blindness, cleansing, wounds, busy, chaff, disguised, loving Lent, scandal, action sites, priests, World Vision, diabetes, Aquinas, female dotc, Lent sacrifice, holiness, saying no, faith and mood, spiritual-hood, Man of Sorrows, trust Him, a poem, hope, thankful, Mother Theresa, evangelism, appearances, on the tongue, coming home, Come Spirit, fidelity, NABRE, not vending, creation, qualities, Lenten grace, follow, fasting, spread light, trust, water jar, renewal, Medjugorje, posture, veiling, miracles, molding, no zombie, Fred Phelps, Tolkien, long retreat, Laetare, her tears, not reformed, maturity, impostors, watered, trusting Him, the culture, mission trip, choices and Saints.

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

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The days of Lent draw short, so if you have not already been…   go to confession. Marcel LeJeune (Aggie Catholics) has posted an excellent overview: 21 Reasons To Go To Confession & Why Catholics Confess Sins To Priests.

Along with his post, Marcel includes the following 4 videos:

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Father Barron explains why we confess our sins to a priest:

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Sacraments 101 – Penance:

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Tim Staples looks at the scriptural basis for confession:

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Is Hell a possibility? Of course. However, is it a slim, technical, remote possibility for only an extremely few, if any, maybe no one at all? Absolutely not and that kind of “positioning” of Hell is exceedingly dangerous. I wrote about this almost 2 years ago in Is Hell empty?. With all due respect, I emphatically disagree with Fr. Barron’s presentation of this one (but very important) point, as do many others including Michael Voris in this recent video:

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Other than on the “likeliness” of Hell, I remain a long-time fan of Fr. Barron. See for example, item #3 above and the following on the practices of Lent:

Some random thoughts or bits of information are worthy of sharing but don’t warrant their own full post. This idea was started by Jennifer Fulwiler at Conversion Diary to address this blogging need. So, some Fridays I too participate when I have accumulated 7 worthy items. Thank you Jen for hosting this project!