Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Alarming Quote From Obama

I try to stay far away from politics… I didn't even watch the president speak last night. But I found a quote from him on an MSN front page story:

"We will root out the waste, fraud and abuse in our Medicare program that doesn't make our seniors any healthier…"

This ought to scare the devil out of people. Notice the goal here: to make our senior citizens healthier. It's that kind of talk that makes me think, "What about the chronically ill? Don't they need healthcare as well? They won't get any healthier, so is it a waste to spend money on them?"

Watch out folks… I'm telling you that his agenda includes NOT caring for the elderly.

You can see the whole story here:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29377101/?GT1=43001

Monday, February 23, 2009

Senator Questions Obama’s Citizenship

The question of whether or not Obama is eligible to hold the office of US President continues to build. Now Senator Richard Shelby from Alaska is jumping on the bandwagon, as reported by the World Net Daily:

http://wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=89704

I doubt this will ever change anything. Even if we could prove that Obama wasn't a US citizen, he'd still stay in office, and there wouldn't be any way to get rid of him. People are too proud of the fact that we have him. If anything, it would just get people more emotionally swept up. People would point and say, "See how tolerant we are—we have a president who's not even American. This is such a great historic moment."

Oh well, let's just pray that he doesn't do too much damage. I mean that. You should be praying.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Pope Sets New Rules?

Not likely. The rules have never changed.

What did happen, is that someone finally "got it".

What I'm talking about is the article that appeared in Time:

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1880977,00.html

They assumed that since the pope hadn't specifically addressed judges and their blatant violation against human dignity, then they weren't responsible for the Roe V Wade decision. They were responsible. They are responsible. And that hasn't changed and won't ever changed.

Even if they finally overturned the decision (which would be the correct thing to do, as the constitution clearly protects human life and doesn't support the right to take life before or after conception), the judges who allowed abortion on demand in America will always have their hands stained with the blood of millions of human beings.

Friday, February 20, 2009

Bishop Williamson Ordered To Leave Country

The Guardian reported that the Argentinean Government has ordered Richard Williamson to leave the country in 10 days because he believes the Jewish body count, during the holocaust, is closer to 300,000 than 6 million.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/feb/20/argentina-priest-expulsion

Big Brother must have a pretty big presence in this country. It's amazing to me that none of these stories, instead of just throwing out criticisms toward Williamson, have made any attempt to prove that he's wrong.

To tell you the truth, now even I'm starting to wonder—where did they come up with the number 6 million?

Not that I'm denying it. But since so many people are against this guy, and no one has shown us WHY they're against him, it should at least raise some questions in people's minds.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Catholic Schools Flying Downhill

Those of us who are Catholic (I mean REALLY Catholic—as in practicing) have been seeing a problem in the Catholic school system for quite some time. But the problem we see, apparently, is not the same kind of problem the bishops see.

I heard a caller on Patrick Madrid's show today talking about how her high-schooler was required to attend their pro-gay play. I can imagine the parent's frustration when she pays out the %$@ for a Catholic education and then has to deal with a heretical system. Fortunately for me, I don't have any in high school yet. When they do reach that age, you can bet home schooling will be my first consideration (the Catholic high schools in Cincinnati are pretty bad).

In the elementary schools, things are steadily getting worse also. The kids are being taught polygenism (the belief that we have more than two original parents and that we did not all descend from Adam and Eve) and I don't think one eighth grader out there can answer the simple question: Why did God make you?

The bishops, on the other hand, see an attendance problem. They see a money problem, as pointed out in this article in the Associated Press:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ghGk5Lj6-e5KJOZMpIzs-pBPVnTAD96E44OO0

I found this paragraph particularly amusing:

This academic year, Washington also took the unusual step of converting seven schools to a public charter group, which aims to maintain the high standards and values of Catholic schools without focusing on religion. Excluding the number of students lost through the conversion, enrollment in the archdiocese's schools was 2 percent lower this year.

Eventually, our bishops are going to have to return to teaching the faith and see that when the Catholic schools aren't much different than public schools (other than costing more money), Catholic parents will pick the one that costs less.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

A Direct Order From The Pope

Associated Press reported that the pope's private meeting with Pelosi had one central subject: Abortion Must Be Stopped! You can see the short little story here:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hy2Dm6iwRNfsDBZIQFLnTzi_CYBAD96E0L6G0

You have to wonder how it would be (as a Catholic) to get advice directly from the pope. I mean other religions would think of it more as a sign of status, but we believe this man is our direct link with the Word of God… the guardian of truth. He's also the head hancho in the Church, of which she's a member. That's like getting a directive straight from the top. I wouldn't ignore it. I have a feeling she will.

You gotta' love the last line in this story, though:

"A number of the bishops in the United States have questioned her stance on abortion."

As if any bishops in all the world could NOT question her stance on abortion.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Why Bishop Richard Williamson Bothers So Many People

Some day, I'm going to search the news for Catholic events, and maybe I'll see a nice little article pointing out all the good we've done in this world. But that's not today. Reuters just can't leave this whole holocaust denial go. Today, the Catholic Church in Austria is meeting to discuss the "crisis".

Here's the story if you can stomach such irresponsible reporting:

http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSTRE51C4PK20090213

Sometimes, my mind has a tough time wrapping around this weird obsession people have with finding fault in our church. But then I remember that Catholics are held to a different set of standards. Not because of any kind of conspiracy… just because the Church is our public link to God.

Did you ever have a job where it seemed like one of the other workers were always exalted by the boss? Where he would take their advice over anyone else's, and where he absolutely believed that they were the greatest employee ever hired at that company?

Even a true Christian gets tempted to despise that kind of attention. Even if you don't act on your temptation, you still find yourself looking for any little faults. And in the deep recess of your mind, you're hoping the boss notices and loses just a little respect for that person. It's wrong, I know. But it's human nature.

Now imagine if you weren't a Christian. Imagine how much that jealousy would eat you up inside, until you became obsessed with proving your boss' opinion wrong.

That's were the rest of the world is concerning the Catholic Church. They scrutinize the heck out of every move, and rightly so. We are, after all, supposed to give the very best example.

Now I'm not saying I agree that there's a crisis. I'm not saying that the pope did anything wrong when he lifted the excommunication (try to remember that he didn't give anyone any kind of authority—he just lifted the excommunication). But I am saying that people will naturally dig through our garbage and make a huge deal out of anything that can be misconstrued as sinful.

Let it be. Let them talk. Let them burn themselves alive in their hatred and jealousy. Say a quick prayer for them and don't let it get you down. After all, if this is the very worst thing they could find on our pope, I'd say we're doing pretty well.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Catholic Icons Cause Dissent in Catholic College

I'm not sure how some people come across these articles, but whenever someone sends me one, I start out as skeptical. You know, I want to make sure this isn't one of those Onion Spoof stories. But it looks like this one is real:

http://wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=88609

Some people might take this as a sign that Catholic colleges are really trying to be Catholic again. Some might take it as a sign that professors and any other college staff members really are crazy. I guess I see it as a sign of both.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Reuters Just Loves To Stir An Empty Pot

Sometimes you just have to wonder what it takes to become a reporter these days. Today Reuters published an article titled:

TIMELINE: Pope Benedict angers Jews

The timeline they provide shows a startling account of the apologies not sent to the Jewish community by Pope John Paul II and how our Pope Benedict has yet to make any clear amendments. The final blow is when Pope Benedict lifted the excommunication on a bishop who had denied the holocaust.

What I find so amusing about this is that excommunication is a religious penalty for certain crimes against morality. Hate to say this, but denying the holocaust isn't really a crime against morality. And it certainly isn't defined as a sin worthy of excommunication. I would think that the Jewish community would realize this. I suspect that they do, and they no more care about it than they care whether or not they get an apology from any of our popes.

You can read the full article here:

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsMaps/idUSTRE51A4Q720090211?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0

Friday, February 6, 2009

Reports on Father Marcial Maciel’s Sex Allegations

There was an article in Reuters the other day about the scandal involving the founder of Legionaries of Christ, Father Marcial Maciel. The headline reads:

"Catholic sex abuser fathered secret child"

I looks like Father Marcial fathered a kid some years ago. I don't quite understand how this confirms allegations that he is a sexual abuser. Of course, through the eyes of Catholic teaching, I guess any sex outside of marriage could be considered abuse of the gift. But the report wasn't written through the eyes of Catholic teaching… heck, I doubt Philip Pullella is even a Catholic. What's more, the term "sexual abuse" has kind of taken its own meaning to suggest molestation, so this whole article is garbage.

The report also suggests that Father Marcial abused both boys and MEN. Has any man out there ever been abused sexually? I imagine it happens in prison a lot, but I just can't see it happening in a seminary.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

New Eucharist "Mock-Movie" Makes Headlines

Patrick Madrid had a few choice words about the short on LinkTV.  You can read his blog here:

I can kind of see his point.  I mean when someone insults God, there's no defense for it.  And we do have an obligation to voice our opinions on it.  

The video he's talking aboput is 3 minutes long.  If I could understand what the video is about, I would tell you.  If I could find anything alarmingly evil about it, I would tell you.  But honestly, the video was boring more than it was offensive.

It's obvious that they meant for it to insult Christians.  I just can't figure out what the insult is.

You can see the video here: