CONTRA MUNDUM: Against the World

Truth and Charity

2011-05-14T15:43:00.000-07:00

"Charity in truth, to which Jesus Christ bore witness by his earthly life and especially by his death and resurrection, is the principal driving force behind the authentic development of every person and of all humanity."-Pope Benedict XVI, Caritas in Veritate, 1.

One of the distinguishing characteristics of Catholic theology is the "both...and" as opposed to the "either...or". Faith AND works. Scripture AND Tradition. Revelation AND reason. To divide these into "either...or" propositions is to miss out on the fullness of truth. One area in which I see this today is in the attempt to divorce truth and charity.

There are many in the Church today who are uncomfortable with proclaiming anything controversial for fear of offending others. They will either downplay what the Church teaches or actually seek to distance themselves from it. I'm sure from their perspective, this seems like a form of charity- to not ruffle any feathers, to avoid causing unpleasant feelings. But is this charity? "Charity" devoid of truth is little more than sentimentality. Our modern society tends to define love as being a pleasant feeling for another. But love is not a feeling, it is an action. Love is desiring the good of the other. Love is the willingness to suffer for that good. Our ultimate example of love is found in the Crucifixion- Christ laid down His life out of love for us. What He did not do was to run from the Cross, to say to the scribes and Pharisees "you're entitled to your opinion". He spoke the truth, would not deny who He was or what it meant to live in charity, and He died for it. He spoke the truth, even when it was unpleasant. The Pharisees did not want to hear what He had to say. But who loved the Pharisees more than Jesus? He spoke the truth to them, knowing it would be difficult for them to hear and that He would be rejected for it.

The Pharisees show the other side of the coin- truth without charity. In belief, Jesus was close to the Pharisees, but not in practice. The Pharisees knew they had the truth from God and sought to justify themselves because of it. But simply believing correctly is not enough. "Truth" without charity is oppressive; we see how in fundamentalist cultures, the "truth" is used as a whip. When the love of Christ is proclaimed but not lived, it does great damage to the Body- people are driven away, are turned off, and leave believing that all Christians are just hypocrites. And is this really truth? When we present a Christ without mercy, without forgiveness, a judgmental rather than a loving Christ, we are presenting a false image of Him.

Ultimately, all truth leads to the one who is truth: the Divine Logos, the author of truth. Truth leads us to a Person, and that Person is Love. Truth and charity meet in the Person of Jesus Christ; to divide one from the other is to separate oneself from Him.

Back in the swing of things

2011-05-14T15:39:00.000-07:00

Well, obviously this blog has been pretty much dead for a while now, because of things going on in my life. But now I should have plenty more time for posting random thoughts and rants and whatnot.

Looking for a volunteer opportunity this summer?

2011-05-12T12:22:00.000-07:00

St. Ann's Summer Camp in Belcourt, ND, serves the youth of the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation. People come from all over to serve at this camp, and we are looking for more counselors this summer. A typical camp day involves Adoration and Mass, Canoeing, Archery, Sports, Arts and Crafts, and much more! Orientation starts June 6, and camp goes to July 28. If you are only able to serve a few weeks, that's fine too. For more information, contact us at 701-278-2500, or email stannsyouthministry@gmail.com.

A bit more personal...

2010-09-14T20:05:00.000-07:00

I haven't written very much on this blog in recent months as I have a lot going on my life. Namely, being a candidate for The Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (the first step towards the priesthood.) You can follow my progress at my other blog, Duc in Altum.

Repentance

2010-02-22T09:16:00.000-08:00

When we in our modern society hear the word "repent", it tends to conjure up images of a fanatic on the street preaching fire and brimstone. It is not a word that hits our ears well nowadays. In fact, in a culture that embraces individuality and relativism, it is a foreign concept. How can one turn from sin if we don't acknowledge sin? If a celebrity or politician does "repent", it is normally done to get back into the good graces of the public eye. Tiger Woods needs to apologize so he can get back to playing golf. A politician caught in a scandal needs to make a teary-eyed confession in order to have a chance at winning public office again. This "repentance" isn't a sorrow for the wrong that has been committed, but rather for the loss of some temporal good due to that behavior. Repentance loses all meaning and becomes simply a means to an end.
Yet here we are in the Catholic Church, at the beginning of a whole liturgical season devoted to repentance. But how many of us truly understand Lent? Most of us will give up something for Lent, be it chocolate or soda or television. But these sacrifices have no meaning in and of themselves. Separated from the goal of repentance, they are absurd. If we give something up just for show, then we are even further from the goal of true repentance than those who "repent" for personal gain, for we gain nothing. We offer up these insignificant sacrifices to detach ourselves from the things of this world, and to focus on God.
The Greek word for repentance is metanoia. It does not simply imply sorrow for the wrong committed, but a fundamental change. To repent, we must change our hearts. Lent is a period for us to reflect on our lives. We must search our hearts and be truly sorrowful for the times when we have sinned. This is not something that should be done out of fear that an angry God will punish us. God loves us and wants what is best for us. He wants us to be all that He created us to be. But when we sin, we distort the image of God in our souls. We become something less than what we were created to be. More importantly, in sin we turn away from the God who loves us. We choose worldly things over the love of the Creator, and our priorities become confused.
We must recognize that we have done wrong, that we have allowed ourselves to become something less than God made us. We must be truly sorry for our sins. But it does not end there. God does not wish us to wallow in self-hatred because of our sins. Rather, we must turn to Him in His mercy. God will forgive us, but we must seek His forgiveness and trust in that forgiveness. Peter and Judas both felt intense sorrow for what they had done to offend the Lord, but Peter trusted in His mercy, while Judas went and hanged himself because he did not trust in that mercy. Peter trusted, Judas feared.
Finally, we must let God transform our hearts. We must let His grace change us so that we desire the good rather than the evil. That we seek His will rather than ours. And to do this, we must deny our own will. That's what the discipline of Lent is about.
Repentance is about freedom. The freedom from sin. The freedom to be who we are in Christ. In Jesus, there is not fear, but freedom. So let us go to Confession. Let us give up those things that hold us back from God. Let us delve into this season of Lent, and ask the Lord to free us from the chains into which we have put ourselves.

Help the North Dakota Mission Trip!

2010-01-21T19:16:00.000-08:00

Hey, everybody,
For the third straight year, I'm planning on going on the North Dakota Mission Trip through Franciscan University of Steubenville. We will be going to Turtle Mountain Reservation, which is an Ojibwe (Chippewa) reservation. The poverty there is extreme- I believe unemployment's over 50% when the economy's GOOD. There are high rates of alcoholism and abuse. However, they are the kindest, most welcoming people I have met. I have made many good friends through these mission trips (and helping out with their summer camp last year) and it is truly where my heart lies. The Holy Spirit is truly at work there. While the population is mostly Catholic, many do not practice their faith (although all are spiritual in some sense.) We go to catechize and more importantly to show them the love of Christ. We work with the SOLT community (Fr. Corapi's order) to make a difference in their lives. We do things such as jail and nursing home ministries, helping with the school, talks and skits for the youth, as well as whatever manual labor needs to be done.
Please help in whatever way you can. Even if you can only give $5, that's fine; more importantly, I ask for your prayers. You can go to this link to donate, and be sure to specify "North Dakota" under Designation. Thanks and God bless!

Stories to watch in 2010

2009-12-31T17:09:00.000-08:00

A few of the stories that are going to be big in 2010:

1. The Health Care Bill: Will the Democrats succeed in pushing through this legislation despite the wishes of the vast majority of the American people? Will the Stupak language remain in, or become a bone of contention that makes the whole bill fall apart? How many more sweetheart deals will be put in to entice any legislators that might be wavering? My prediction: the Dems pass the bill, committing political harikari in doing so.

2. The Midterm Elections: Will the discontent showcased in the Tea Party Movement translate into votes on Election Day? Will the Democrats maintain their leads in the House and Senate, or are we witnessing a repeat of 1994? My prediction: Republicans gain control of the House, narrow the gap in the Senate. Nancy Pelosi sacrifices the Blue Dogs as both parties reject moderates.

3. Iran: Will civil unrest lead to change, or more government crackdown? Will the US or Israel take action against the regime? My prediction: Obama is unwilling to support Iranian dissidents, which only serves to embolden Khameni. Israel decides it must take action on its own.

4. Government Spending: Will Congress put the brakes on its reckless spending? Prediction: Not anytime soon.

5. Economy: Will we finally see a recovery? Will the unemployment rate go down? Prediction: Any recovery is likely to be short-lived, as the government continues to pursue disastrous policies.

6. Afghanistan: Will the troop surge be as effective as the one in Iraq? Or is Afghanistan beyond saving? My prediction: Never underestimate our troops. Unfortunately, the rules of engagement are such that they can't effectively do their jobs, so either those need to change or we're going to have big problems.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of what lies ahead in the new year, but it's a pretty safe bet that these issues will loom large. Let's hope 2010 turns out better than any of us expect.

What issues do you think will be important in the new year?

Happy New Year!

2009-12-31T17:06:00.000-08:00

Here's wishing everyone a safe and happy 2010. Blessings on all of you throughout the new year.

What I Want This Veterans Day

2009-11-11T12:36:00.001-08:00

Note: This article comes from fellow CM contributor Chris Nelson, aka Right Field.

I have made a list, similar to a Christmas list,of things that I would like this Veterans Day. I do not expect to get these, but a man can dream.

1) First, I would like for politicians to stop making military decisions in Congress. One politician is prescribed by the Constitution to make decisions for the US military, and that is the Commander in Chief. When we end the war, how many troops are deployed, what equipment they have, and how we fight is at the discretion of the President and his generals exclusively. We live in a republic as far as legislation is concerned, but no war was ever won by committee.

2) The same as above goes for editorialists and authors, who are journalists not veterans. When the country goes to war, the time for debate over its mission is over. If you oppose a war, contact your representative or make your editorial statement before war is declared.

3) When you say something like "I support the troops, but I do not support the war" or "Support the troops, bring them home" drop the last part. Or if you must, make it two separate statements. With no other profession would someone, in a single statement, express an admiration for the professional and then disparage his mission. "I support lawyers, but I hate lawsuits." "I support our police, but I don't support enforcing the law." The statements may not be entirely illogical, but it is at least disingenuous.

4) Reform voting processes so that military turnout is encouraged, and their votes are counted. I have never been out of the United States and I have been unable to vote at least twice because of confusion over my status as a voter (Absentee vs. In person), or a misdirected absentee ballot. I cannot imagine how our soldiers vote in war zones. Well, I don’t have to imagine, I know that the Federal Election Commission has stated that deployed soldiers don't vote. The completed received ballots from the 2006 election totaled 5.5% of the overseas military electorate. Congress has not made any serious effort to address this problem.

5) I want everyone who has ever bought a meal for me or my brethren in uniform to know what a deeply moving gift they have given. It is the epitome of human kindness to give such a gift to military member. I would like to thank all of YOU for this service to our country.

6) I would like to see the men and women who have been mentally or physically scarred in the service to our country to be taken care of by the selfsame nation. The veterans hospital system is entirely inadequate and I would like to see the public and private healthcare system band together to ensure that the best possible care, both mental and physical, is given to wounded soldiers.

7) I want everyone who is considering military service to be able to do so. I do not enjoy how politicized certain issues have become in regards to recruitment. Public universities should not be able to refuse military recruiters nor should they allow the harassment of recruiters. I know much of the anger directed at the military by certain groups is over the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy. But the decision on this policy is entirely the domain president and congress. Direct the anger there.

Tangentially, if a member of your family decides to join the military please support them in their decision.

I may not get everything on my list this Veterans day, but making you aware is really my only goal today.

What Can We Learn From The Fort Hood Massacre?

2009-11-10T08:09:00.000-08:00

All the warning signs were there, clear as day. It was obvious that Nidal Malik Hasan was dangerous. This man openly stated his support for murder in the name of Islam. He referred to himself as a "soldier of Allah." He even attempted to contact Al-Qaeda. It's not as if he were some evil mastermind hatching his plot in the shadows. It was all out there in the open. People knew about it. And did nothing.
The obvious question is, "why?" Was it the fear of being labeled a hatemonger? Was it fear of being accused of profiling? Fear of an ACLU lawsuit? Whatever the Army and the FBI's reasons for inaction, it seems to me to have been based in fear.
One of the things we pride ourselves on in this country is our openness. We want to believe the American dream is open to everybody, regardless of their religion or ancestry. We want to believe the best about our fellow Americans. It is one of the strengths of our country. However, it is exploited by terrorists as a weakness. They will use our assumptions of human decency against us. In Hasan's case, there wasn't much more he could have done to make us aware of his intentions. But no action was taken.
So what are we to do, then? Should our basic trust in humanity give way to paranoia or suspicion? No. But neither should we allow ourselves to be naive. We fear to be thought of as prejudiced, biased, and judgmental, and rightly so, because ideally we are none of these things. But when we are confronted with an unpleasant truth, we must act upon that truth rather than pretending it isn't real. To paraphrase Fulton Sheen, let's not be so open minded that we let our brains fall out.

Scozzafava bows out

2009-10-31T09:21:00.000-07:00

Aw, shucky darn.

Proving that voters, unlike Newt Gingrich, are able to see beyond the R after someone's name and into her ACORN-supporting, Planned Parenthood-endorsed liberalism, Dede Scozzafava dropped out of the NY-23 Congressional race after sinking like a stone in the polls for the past several weeks.

This is great news for the conservative movement. The path should now be clear for Doug Hoffman, a true conservative, to win the race. What's of greater importance, however, is the message that was sent to the Republican establishment; namely, that principles are more important than party. They can no longer assume that the base will turn out for the Republican candidate, no matter who they nominate. Voters are fed up with choosing between the lesser of two evils. If the Republican party wants to win in the future, it must put forward principled candidates who offer a clear alternative to what the Democrats have to offer. If they choose to nominate candidates who are carbon copies of the Democrats, many more RINOs will go the way of Dede Scozzafava.

"A Bridge Across the Tiber"

2009-10-24T18:02:00.000-07:00

It was announced this week that there will soon be a way for Anglicans who so desire to achieve full communion with the Catholic Church. They would be able to preserve many of their traditions and operate in "Personal Ordinariates". This is welcome news for many faithful Anglicans who have grown disillusioned with the denomination's acceptance of homosexual marriage, contraception, and the like. It is welcome news to Catholics who will be enriched by the reverence, zeal, and traditions of former Anglicans. This is one of the most significant events in the quest for Christian unity since the Reformation. It forces no one to leave, but gives a home to those who have long felt estranged. As a Catholic, I wish to joyfully welcome home those brothers and sisters of mine who will come into the Church.
It is estimated that 12 bishops and 1,000 priests will enter the Church. It is hard to guess just how many lay people will join them, but the number is sure to be significant. The Church already has many former Anglican priests who now serve as married Catholic priests. I have known some of these priests and they are simply amazing. If all of the priests that will join the Church are like them, we are in for an incredible period in the Church.
The press will focus on the question of what this will do about the Church's rules on priestly celibacy. Indeed, a sudden influx of married priests will be significant, but I don't think that celibacy is likely to go anytime soon; the Church has long recognized the great benefits of priestly celibacy. Anyway, to focus on that issue is really missing the point of a reunion longed for for a very long time.
As for the future of the Anglican Communion, that remains to be seen. I would think that there will be two camps- traditionalists who are wary of a reunion with Rome, and liberals such as the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams. The extreme liberals among the Anglicans seem to be steering away from everything for which the Church of England once stood. In my view, they are building on pillars of sand, and they will not be vital for very long. The others, I believe, will eventually join the Church when they see a mass movement towards it, or continue in a significantly smaller Anglican Communion. That's just my view.
The great hope, of course, is that this will facilitate unity with other denominations. I believe that some degree of reunion with the Orthodox churches is possible within our lifetimes, and although there is still a wide gap between Catholics and Protestants in terms of belief, those gaps are much more narrow as we have come to understand each other more and work together in the cultural battles of our day.
Converting to the Catholic Church is often referred to as "crossing the Tiber." Thanks to Pope Benedict, there is no longer a need to swim, because as Fr. Dwight Longecker puts it, the Holy Father has "built a bridge".

Ditherer-In-Chief?

2009-10-24T14:57:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week, former Vice President Dick Cheney launched a scathing attack on President Obama's war strategy (or lack thereof), accusing him of "dithering" on Afghanistan. The war was seemingly the one issue for which he could count on the support of conservatives, but he has lost that support over the last several months by placing his focus on other issues at the expense of the War on Terror...er, I mean, Overseas Contingency Operation. Afghanistan has taken a back seat to Health Care, the Olympic debacle, and the administration's Nixonian attempt to silence Fox News. Indeed, if Fox News had attacked us on 9/11, we could say Obama was doing a magnificent job as Commander-in-Chief. But it was Al-Qaeda, who had been allowed to flourish under the Taliban. Now we have our President telling us with a straight face that the Taliban's not really our enemy.
General Stanley McChrystal was hand-picked by Obama for Afghanistan. When he stated that we could lose if we didn't get 40,000 additional troops soon, you would think that the President would take that seriously. Instead, in only his second meeting with the President, McChrystal received a dressing-down for daring to speak out against the President's delay in making a decision. The President is so thin-skinned that any criticism whatsoever must be met with an immediate response; unfortunately, that seems to be the only way to get him to talk to the generals.
Obama has talked ad nauseum about the problems he "inherited." Well, every President inherits problems. You don't solve them by just wishing them away. All of us want the war to be over, but ending it in a positive way requires leadership and decisive action. If we dither, then the enemy will determine how it ends. As Gen. McChrystal said, "You can't hope to contain the fire by letting just half the building burn." Our troops are waiting, Mr. President. Waiting, and waiting, and waiting...

Founder of Life Teen Excommunicated

2009-10-13T14:16:00.000-07:00

The founder of Life Teen, a youth "movement" within the Church, Fr. Dale Fushek was excommunicated. This may seem like old news to many of us, but as is the existence of my life I'm hearing this for the first time. This arouses in my mind many of the objections I have to the Life Teen program.

My Experiences As A Participant

During my high school years I attended a Life Teen group at a local parish. At the time I was more or less agnostic and mostly attended for the free food they offered after Mass. The Mass itself I must admit was not attractive to me at all. I was agnostic and even then thought it was ridiculous that at a sacred event, such as Holy Mass, there was rock style music played.

It was only thanks to another participant in the group befriending me that I regained my faith and began to grow in faith. Believe it or not the topics at the youth group were presented with such watered down quality that I found that the only reason I was there was to make friends.

My Experiences As A "Core Team" Member

After graduating from high school I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life so while attending the local junior college I assisted with the Life Teen program at the same parish as a member of the "core team." I was still growing in my faith and every now and then was granted the opportunity to share my faith with the teens.

Then came the day I attended Holy Mass in the Extraordinary Form. I as a Roman Catholic saw no harm in what I was doing. I attended a Mass that was not only valid but was in Latin (well, except for the Homily) and not only did I attend but I thoroughly enjoyed it! My fellow "core team" members were not thrilled and banned me from speaking at "Life Nites." At the time I was scheduled to talk about the Mass and it was conveyed that my new found interest in the tradional Mass was a threat to the teens faith. After a while I had to resign my position on the "core team" because of the constant harrassment I was receiving regarding my occasional visit to the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. I was also labeled as a "traditionalist" and a possible threat to the teens.

The straw the ultimately broke the camel's back was when I was told in these words: "We shouldn't teach [the teens] about all this reverence and devotion because they won't get it. That and it's not that important."

In regards to Fr. Dale Fushek we must all pray for his soul. It is a shame that Life Teen as it exists does not cultivate any long lasting spiritual formation but only satisfies the emotions and passions and leaves the teens faith lives virtually empty and dry. However terrible it is I must say that the program is salvagable and we must pray for all who are involved and I think we ought to be especially cautious of it.

Related article: http://www.catholicculture.org/news/features/index.cfm?recnum=55749

Book: Hell's Toilet

2009-09-10T10:48:00.000-07:00

I'd like to encourage everybody to read my cousin Tom's new book, Hell's Toilet. (Only he could call it that!) It describes his incredible battle with ulcerative colitis. Our family witnessed Tom's health decline rapidly to the point where his only option was to have his colon removed. Tom did not allow his illness to hold him back and only a few months after his surgery was able to run in a half marathon. Tom's story will inspire you! Check it out today!

It's been awhile

2009-09-10T08:32:00.000-07:00

Sorry this blog hasn't gotten updated much lately- we have two contributors in grad school, one in law school, and one entering religious life, so you can imagine we don't have time for much else! We'll try and get back to regular posting when we can.

Pallin' around with dictators

2009-04-17T22:17:00.000-07:00

In the Presidential campaign of 2008, Sarah Palin angered many on the left when she accused then-Senator Obama of "pallin' around with terrorists." Almost immediately, the media rushed to explain away Obama's relationship with William Ayers, either saying there was no relationship, or just as ridiculously claiming that whatever Ayers had done in the past, he was now rehabilitated as a "respected educator". Of course. We all have our youthful indescretions. Some of us smoked. Some of us stayed out way past curfew. Some of us bombed the Pentagon. Ah, to be young again.

The whole point of the criticism was that you can tell a lot about a man by the company that he chooses to keep. Many of Obama's associations were troubling because they appeared to indicate that he was comfortable in radical circles. I mean, if I were good friends with Ted Kaczynski (aka the Unabomber), that might possibly affect your opinion of me. Despite the fact that he, too, was once a "respected educator."

Fast forward to the present. Obama pledged in his Inauguration Speech to "extend the hand of peace" to those willing to "unclench their fist." Who has he reached out to since then? Well, we all know about his bow to the Saudi king. Perhaps he just lost a contact lens. Then, he sought to undo decades of American policy towards Cuba and ease restrictions on the Castro regime. And now, he appears to be on friendly terms with Venezuela's Hugo Chavez.

That's a lot of fist unclenching for three months. What, if anything, has led the Obama administration to believe that any of these regimes have changed their ways?

Even if Obama has good intentions, these actions show that he is naive at best. A dictator like Chavez isn't going to suddenly change his ways because we started being nice to him. It will only embolden him. No matter how friendly Obama is to the Castros, the Cuban people will continue to starve as long as they are in power. They're not going to change. Period. We worked with Stalin in World War II, but that didn't stop him from killing his own people. We supported Saddam Hussein against the Iranians, yet that didn't stop him from using chemical weapons on the Kurds and invading Kuwait.

It is a noble goal to desire peace with everybody, but sometimes it's just not reasonable. Human nature being what it is, there will always be those who seek to take advantage of others' good intentions. Dictators simply don't change. It is a mistake to make overtures like this, because they will only be used for propaganda and serve to legitimitize these regimes. Our President needs to learn that some people, it's better not to be friends with.

Obama's Diplomatic Brilliance

2009-03-07T23:09:00.000-08:00

After being savaged for his gift of 25 DVDs to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Obama is carefully planning what he will give to French President Nicholas Sarkozy by checking Amazon.

*4-30-09. Looks like they changed the video on me. Way to kill my joke. :(

After the March

2009-01-25T16:51:00.000-08:00

So this year's March for Life has come and gone. Thankfully, I was able to attend this year- I knew this would be an important March and I didn't want to miss it. I have to express my great pride in my fellow pro-lifers. Despite all that was working against us, we actually ended up with one of the largest turnouts in the history of the March!
What was more impressive was the prayerful atmosphere of the marchers. Many prayed Rosaries, others sang songs; it was all done in the awareness that only God will be able to get us out of this, only God can stir the hearts of those in power to protect life rather than to destroy it. There was an atmosphere of joy that couldn't be shaken even by the most unspeakable evil. Kathryn Jean Lopez has a great article on the March that you should check out.
Despite the positive witness and the wonderful experience of the March, however, I was struck by a couple of sobering thoughts. The first was before Mass at the Basilica. I looked at the music handout and glanced at the front where it said "36th March for Life". That just really struck me, how it's been so long since Roe vs. Wade, and how most of this year's marchers, myself included, have never known a world without Roe. Then my mind went to Psalm 95:10-11: "Forty years I endured that generation. I said 'they are a people whose hearts go astray and they do not know my ways', so I swore in my anger 'they shall not enter into my rest.'" If the Lord endured that generation for forty years, how much longer can he endure this generation, which slaughters its young and disrepects human dignity so much?
Then after the March, I read the words of our new President to mark the occasion of the 36th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade. He almost seemed to think that his stance on abortion was protecting families! I couldn't understand how he could be so blind, so callous, so cold.
But in the midst of these thoughts, I was reminded again of how God is merciful. For all of those people to be out there at the March, God had to have done something powerful in their lives to lead them to witness as they did. And if God can work in our hearts, he can work in the heart of our new President. There is no need for despair, because God desires to save His people. An evil like abortion cannot stand forever. The victory may not come quickly, but it will come.

On the Eve of the March for Life

2009-01-21T11:33:00.000-08:00

Two days after a massive crowd of people gathered for the inauguration of Barack Obama, another large group will take to the streets of Washington for a different reason. The March for Life takes place tomorrow, January 22nd, the 36th anniversary of the catastrophic Roe vs. Wade decision. The March generally draws large crowds of pro-lifers from all across the country, but tomorrow's will have a new significance. This year's marchers will not receive a message of support from their President, as they have for the past eight years. In fact, they will be marching largely to protest the proposed policies of the new President. This year's march takes place at the beginning of the term of a President who seemingly spells the defeat of the pro-life movement. Never has there been a President as extreme on abortion as Barack Obama, who even voted against the Born Alive Infant Protection Act. Obama came to office on the themes of hope and change, but what hope is there for the pro-life movement? With our government so firmly in the grasp of those who want abortion to remain legal, what possibility is there of change?
Now is not the time to despair. The pro-life movement has made tremendous strides over the last several decades. Legislatively, yes, we will suffer setbacks; much of the progress made over the last 8 years will soon be lost. However, we must remember that the pro-life movement is not as dependent on the changing of laws than on the changing of hearts. Millions of Americans have come over to the pro-life side, and we must continue to speak to those who are willing to hear. An evil such as abortion cannot stand forever, and eventually the consciences of Americans will be stirred to rise above the evil of abortion just as we rose above the evil of slavery. How pro-lifers conduct themselves, especially at the March tomorrow, will provide a glimpse to others of what we have to offer. If we are angry about our situation and disrespectful of those who disagree with us, we will never win them over. If we behave as we have in Marches past, with love and joy in our hearts despite the darkness of the situation, we will prevail.

President Barack Obama

2009-01-20T12:02:00.000-08:00

Barack Obama was sworn in today as the 44th President of the United States. He comes into office with high expectations as well as great challenges. In the coming days, he will be making decisions that will affect this nation greatly, and some of the things he has promised to do should be of concern, particularly to pro-lifers. In the meantime, however, let us pray for our new President and our great nation. The fact that this nation has been able to progress morally from slavery to electing a black president should give us hope that other challenges, such as abortion, will eventually be overcome as well.

Ad Orientem Or Not Ad Orientem

2009-01-08T13:18:00.000-08:00

As a Catholic with a rather traditional leaning I cannot help but pose six reasons traditionalists say facing "ad orientem," or "to the east," is better than the more recent and modern "ad populus," or "to the people." I see the benefits of both but for arguement sake I post the six reasons why facing ad orientem is better in my opinion.

I. It binds the priest and people together. The priest is doing as the people do. Both priest and people face the same direction. Seeing ranks of priests confronting the people over an altar can create the image of a two class system.

II. It recalls Mosaic and Old Testmanent typology. The priest leads the poeple to the place of meeting at the altar where he offers the sacrifice. From there the priest returns to the people with the body and blood of Christ.

III. It also recalls typlogoy of the resurrection.The early Church Fathers likened the rising sun in the east with the Rising Son of the Father at the resurrection. The east was the source of new light, as Christ is the source of light to the workd Thus creation itself witnesses to the life of Christ.

IV. The priest is the mediator. By leading the people to God, the priest also brings God to the people. This emphasizes the ontological nature of the priesthood.

V. Christ completes the Eucharistic Community. When priest and people face the same way, there reamins something of an incomplete circle in the worship. However, after Christ becomes present on the altar, He completes that circle and, as such, the Eucharistic community, which is His mystical body. If the priest is already behind the altar, this valuable image is destroyed.

VI. The Mass does not rely on the priest's personality and whims. By turing to the altar, the priest has fewer opportunities of showing off. Too often, masses become the Father.... show. While this can be fun and seemingly more people friendly, it can also distract the faithful. The priest is not the leading part; Christ is!

So, your opinion?

As We Come Closer to Christmas

2008-12-21T23:25:00.000-08:00

Believe it or not Christmas is just three days away. In the next two days people will be preparing gifts for loved ones, hustling to the store to buy that last gift, and some people may even be freaking out about preparing a Christmas dinner, decorating the house, and making sure everything is just right. Except that is, for their souls.

One of my observations of this Advent season is when I recently traveled to the mall to perchase a gift for my girlfriend. There were two teenage girls who were fighting over a set of earrings. I found this disturbing and as I went about making my purchases I found similar scenes. What have we become as a people? Have we become so materialistic about Christmas that we cannot love our brothers and sisters in Christ? Yes we must prepare for Christmas. But I must stress that in these next two days we focus on preparing the soul as well as our house.

Let us remember that Christ did not come to be born in a palace with the Pharisees and Sadducees and the High Priest of the Temple tending to His every need. Jesus humbled Himself and was born in a stable. He chose to be born amidst animal feces and hay and was placed in a manger or in other words a feeding trough. Jesus Christ, God incarnate, whom the the universe cannot contain, became humble to the point of being born in the most unsanitary of conditions. He chose to humble Himself even further "to the point of death, death on a cross. Because of this God exulted Him and gave Him the Name above all other names, so that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bend."

So what is Christmas all about? What are we celebrating? We celebrate when He came and we prepare for His second coming when He will come in glory to judge the living and the dead. So with what is left of this Advent season let us prepare our souls to receive the King of kings, the Lord of lords, and the Prince of peace. Let us celebrate that hour when the Blessed Virgin Mary gave birth to our Redemption and became the Mediatrix of all grace. Then let us rejoice with the Angels and give thanks and adoration to God. Most of all, while we are decorating our homes let us decorate them as if Christ Himself were coming over to stay and eat with us as he did with Zacheus the tax collector.

Pope Benedict on Population Control

2008-12-14T10:48:00.000-08:00

In the Pope's message for the World Day of Peace (January 1st, 2009), he discusses the relationship between poverty and population control. He rejects the widely held belief that higher population leads to more poverty; in fact, he says, the evidence shows otherwise. He points out that there are four billion more people than at the end of World War II, yet many nations have managed to come out of poverty.
A LifeSite article explains that rather than coming out of altruistic motives, developed nations developed a strategy in the 1970's to reduce the birth rates around the world so as to limit competition. This strategy was drafted by Henry Kissinger, and in many ways has been realized through the promotion of abortion and contraception abroad.
Pope John Paul II spoke of this in Evangelium Vitae:

The Pharaoh of old, haunted by the presence and increase of the children of Israel, submitted them to every kind of oppression and ordered that every male child born of the Hebrew women was to be killed (cf. Ex 1:7-22). Today not a few of the powerful of the earth act in the same way. They too are haunted by the current demographic growth, and fear that the most prolific and poorest peoples represent a threat for the well-being and peace of their own countries. Consequently, rather than wishing to face and solve these serious problems with respect for the dignity of individuals and families and for every person's inviolable right to life, they prefer to promote and impose by whatever means a massive programme of birth control. Even the economic help which they would be ready to give is unjustly made conditional on the acceptance of an anti-birth policy. -Pope John Paul II, Evangelium Vitae 16

A way in which this plan has backfired is the demographic decline of the Western world. The birthrates of European nations have fallen below replacement levels. The European average of 1.3 children/woman falls well below the 2.1 needed to sustain the population. The Russian population is expected to decline by a third by 2050. Here in America, it's right at 2.1, but that is largely due to higher birthrates among immigrants. At some point in this century, the world's population is going to plummet dramatically. Economies will follow if there are not enough people to sustain them. Our own country's strategy could prove to be its undoing. This topic is explored in the documentary Demographic Winter.

Whether it is in developed or developing countries, we should not view this decline as a positive. All should be welcome at the table of life, and policies that attack human life will have disastrous results.

Persecution of Christians is Alive and Well

2008-11-16T10:25:00.000-08:00

AsiaNews reports that 50,000 demonstrators marched last weekend in India to protest a murder which, although the police have pointed to Maoist groups as the culprit, has been unfairly blamed on Christians. The marchers called for an end to Christian conversions in their country.
A Zenit report shows that there was an intimidation campaign against Catholic churches ahead of Venezuelan elections. Vandals spraypainted "Homeland, socialism, or death" on the walls of churches in the state of Barinas.
Add that to Christian persecution in the Middle East and China, and we see a pretty grim picture.
I think that we in the Western world, however, have long felt that this a distant concern. Sure, we may suffer ridicule for our beliefs, but at most it is a soft persecution; our society's belief in human rights and religious freedom should protect us from anything like this happening here. And in that sense of security, we ignore what is happening before our very eyes.
Look at how many reacted after Proposition 8, which banned gay marriage, passed in California. There was a website created as a blacklist of those who supported the measure. An elderly woman holding a cross at a protest had it knocked out of her hands, before it was trampled on. A group of Christians praying were threatened and abused just for being in a "gay" district.
Look at the fight over abortion. Many bishops are concerned that if the Freedom of Choice Act (which Barack Obama has promised to sign) passes, Catholic hospitals will be forced to choose between performing abortions or losing their funding. If this were to happen, a large number of Catholic hospitals could shut down rather than comply with the new law.
Look at some of the more militant atheists, such as Richard Dawkins. Some atheists have taken on a new approach, promoting atheism with a "missionary" zeal. As they attack faith in God as unreasonable, they cling to a far more unreasonable faith in "chance".
There is a split in our culture between two irreconcilable ideologies. The truths of Christianity cannot be changed because they are out of favor with the public (although many try to do so). "Fallacies do not cease to be fallacies just because they become fashions," as GK Chesterton said. But those fallacies ARE the fashions today. Abortion, euthanasia, gay marriage, etc., will continue to be promoted as "rights", and anyone who attacks these so-called "rights" will be painted as intolerant, unreasonable, and fanatical. This is where we are today- we are marginalized for our belief in absolute truth. The relativistic society of today promotes the idea that there are no absolutes as an absolute truth. It says with Pilate, "what is truth?"(John 18:38)

I feel we are coming to a time of a more overt persecution of the Church in the West. The world is moving in a direction that is incompatible with the Gospel, and I feel that we will only shift course with great difficulty. Human rights are no longer to honor and protect the dignity of the individual, but the desires of the individual. Freedom of religion is giving way to freedom from religion. Everything is being redefined.
I have felt in recent months that something is coming that we need to be prepared for. That Christians can no longer be complacent. That we need courage for the future. I'm sure this sounds odd to a lot of people, but I know there are many out there who feel the same way.
Whatever happens, we can't face it with fear. Today we celebrated the Feast of Christ the King. Christ is Lord over all, and we need to give all to Him. We need to allow Him to reign over all of our selves, to claim His dominion over our weaknesses and failings as well as our strengths. We cannot give in to fear, for Jesus is the Lord of love, and "perfect love casts out all fear." (1 John 4:18) But we have to be aware of what is going on around us, as well, and awake from our slumber.

We are now standing in the face of the greatest historical confrontation humanity has gone through. I do not think that wide circles of the American society or wide circles of the Christian community realize this fully. We are now facing the final confrontation between the Church and the anti-Church, of the Gospel and the anti-Gospel. This confrontation lies within the plans of divine providence. It is a trial which the whole Church . . . must take up. —Cardinal Karol Wotyla, reprinted November 9, 1978, issue of The Wall Street Journal

From Pro-Abortion to Pro-Life

2008-11-13T20:06:00.000-08:00

LifeSite has an article about an abortionist and his profound conversion. Stojan Adasevic was the most well-known abortionist in Serbia for decades, performing 48,000 abortions. He had a dream where he saw a large group of children in a field, along with a man who identified himself as St. Thomas Aquinas. The saint told him that these children were the victims of the abortions he had performed. This led Adasevic to profoundly change his life and start advocating pro-life causes.

This is a great story and calls to mind Norma McCorvey, the Roe in the Roe vs. Wade decision, who became a committed pro-life activist in the 1990's. She entered the Catholic Church and now has her own pro-life ministry. This was an incredible conversion and a moment of rejoicing for the pro-life community.
I bring these up because a lot of us, myself included, have been demoralized about the future of the pro-life movement after the election of Barack Obama. His campaign promises and previous votes on the issue should be cause for concern for all who believe in the sanctity of human life. However, as the above stories demonstrate, we should NEVER UNDERESTIMATE GOD'S POWER TO WORK MIRACLES. God can work wonders in a person's heart, and we need to pray for this to happen with our President-Elect and all elected officials. We need to pray for those who provide abortions, that God may touch their hearts and awaken them to what they are doing. We need to pray for all those who advocate abortion, that they may instead seek to promote a Culture of Life. We need to pray for women who have had an abortion, that they may find the healing they need. Now do I think it's likely that all of the sudden Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi are going to start being pro-life activists? Of course not, because in human terms, it's impossible. But then again, nobody thought it was possible for Dr. Adasevic or Norma McCorvey, either.

Armistice Day- 90 Years Ago

2008-11-11T18:38:00.000-08:00

This Veterans Day marks a special anniversary- it was ninety years ago today when hostilities ceased and the armistice was signed in the First World War. People today seem to know very little about World War I; it is not portrayed nearly as much in movies as World War II or Vietnam. Yet this was the conflict that ushered in a new era. At the onset of the war, Europe was still ruled by Kings, Emperors, and Czars; by the end of the war the Bolsheviks had seized power in Russia, America had asserted itself as an integral part of the world stage, the political landscape of Europe was changed, and at Versailles the seeds of the next war were sown. This was the most terrible war that mankind had known to that point, and the world saw unimaginable horrors such as the Armenian holocaust, chemical warfare, and a war of attrition that claimed a generation of young men. It saw aerial warfare, unrestricted submarine warfare, and massive government propaganda efforts. It saw Christian nations slaughtering each other, and a Pope whose pleas for peace went ignored. It was a global nightmare. Those who fought endured terrors few can imagine. Let us remember them today as well as thank those who currently serve us.

Do We "Go To" or "Attend" Holy Mass?

2008-11-11T14:48:00.000-08:00

This is a blog entry taken from my Myspace blog dated April 21, 2008.

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JMJ

I would like to bring about to the forefront of our minds a thought that provoked me about a week ago and hasn't left my mind since. This may seem like a semantical discussion of sorts but I think it is worth talking about. The question is do we as the Church the people of God go to Holy Mass, or attend Holy Mass? I believe there is a difference and I hope to arouse our thoughts to probe deeper into own individual lives as Christians.

First, it must be said that the Holy Mass is the greatest act the Church does. Therefore, our attitude must reflect the solemnity of the occasion. As a cradle Catholic I grew up sometimes dreading Sunday mornings when my mother would call me into the kitchen for Sunday breakfast. I knew that once I finished breakfast I would be asked to put on my "Sunday best." Eventually I grew out of this stage that we all experience from time to time as children and I realized the importance of Holy Mass. It is the holiest thing I do as a Catholic.

Now most people will use the terminology, "I'm going to Mass." There is nothing wrong with this but this does raise the question in my heart: "Am I just going to Holy Mass, or am I attending Holy Mass?" The difference between going to and attending Holy Mass is HUGE.

If I were to just go to Holy Mass I'm probably missing out on the point. The point of Holy Mass is to give thanks to God for having sent His only begotten Son into the world to die for our sins. We give thanks to God the Father for His infinite mercy in forgiving us of our sins and we offer our gifts upon the altar through the Priest. If I'm just going to Holy Mass I'm not letting God show me His love through the Holy Mass. The other problem this poses is that it provides a situation where I as a Christian may begin just "going through the motions" and not actively pursuing my faith.

On the contrary, if I am attending Holy Mass, then I am completely disposed to receiving grace upon grace poured out during Holy Mass. I am fully active in giving glory to God for His infinite mercy, love, and forgiveness. I am completely contrite and sorrowful for my sins and attentive to everything that is happening at Holy Mass. As I receive Holy Communion I am completely aware that I am truly receiving Jesus Christ in His Body and Blood, soul and divinity. When I consciously set my gift upon the altar through the Priest I am giving my cares, my anxieties, my intellect, and my whole being unreserved and unconditionally to Jesus who will return grace upon grace.

So let me come out of the clouds for a minute and speak on practical terms.
The difference between going to and attending Holy Mass is not a semantical diologue but rather an examination of our attitudes. We must be completely disposed to receiving Holy Communion by making proper examination of ourselves and preparing prayerfully to receive God - Jesus Christ made manifest before our very eyes at each and every Holy Mass. Every Sunday we ought to both go to and attend Holy Mass.

When we rise each and every Sunday morning our first thoughts should not be, "I have to go to Mass today," but rather, "I get to attend Mass today." Our whole day then should revolve around preparing for Holy Mass. It is one of the blessings of living in a nation that allows for religious freedom. We ought to eat it up. We get to attend Holy Mass. We get to approach the altar of God and receive the very Flesh and Blood of God and to adore Him. It is the holiest act we as Christians do. The very action of the Holy Mass confers upon us as laypersons the graces necessary to perform our daily tasks with love and devotion, whether it be as students, parents, teachers, or even scientists.

I ask you to consider within yourself whether or not you simply go to Holy Mass (which is awesome) or whether or not you attend Holy Mass (which is greater).

New Blogger....

2008-11-11T14:37:00.000-08:00

Hello and greetings!

After much prayer I humbly accept the invitation to write for this blog. I suppose I should introduce myself as well. My name is Kevin (otherwise known as Kwilk) and for a time I discerned the possibility of the Holy Priesthood and the Religious Life. I have been Catholic for over 24 years and as of a year ago began studying Meteorology at Illinois Central College. I look forward to contributing my thoughts in this blog.

Happy Veterans Day

2008-11-11T13:27:00.000-08:00

Thank you:

To all our veterans.

To all who have worn the uniform.

To all who have sacrificed.

To all who have defended freedom.

To all who have fought for our country.

To all who faced incredible danger far away to ensure security at home.

To all whose courage has made liberty possible.

Where Does the Pro-Life Movement Go From Here?

2008-11-07T13:53:00.000-08:00

A lot of us are disappointed over the outcome of the election. This country elected the most pro-abortion president in its history at the worst possible time for that to happen. With one more pro-life Supreme Court justice, Roe vs. Wade could have been overturned. Now, since it is likely that at least two justices will retire over the next four years, the people that the new President will choose to replace them with will assuredly not be pro-life. This is a devastating blow to the pro-life community; now it could be another generation before Roe vs. Wade is overturned.
Any hopes of advancing pro-life principles through legislation will have to be put on hold, too. Nancy Pelosi, who has distorted Church teaching on abortion, is unlikely to change her tune. During the Bush administration progress was made, but if Obama keeps his campaign promise of signing into law the Freedom of Choice Act all restrictions on abortion would be overturned. What are we to do?
It is NOT the time to give up. The pro-life community needs to step up its efforts more than ever. As it says in the John Paul II movie, we must "meet this abyss of hate with an abyss of love." We need to step up efforts in any way we can. When women are faced with fear because of an unwanted pregnancy, let our love guide them to embrace life rather than our indifference guiding them to the abortion clinic. We are not defeated, because Christ has conquered death!
Here's Father Pavone's take on the election results:

What do you feel are some ways in which the pro-life community can respond to this election?

Thank You From Cindy and John McCain

2008-11-07T10:39:00.000-08:00

Cindy and John McCain sent this letter out today to their supporters thanking us for our hard work and dedication to their Presidential campaign.

I thought it was well thought out and very well said:
====================================

Cindy and I would like to take a moment to thank you for your loyal and steadfast support during the course of this campaign. Governor Palin, her husband Todd, our families, friends and campaign staff extend our deep appreciation for your tireless dedication, support and friendship.

It is the end of a long journey and your support through the ups and downs has meant more to us than you may ever know.

Although we were disappointed with the results, we must move beyond this campaign and work together to get our country moving again.

It is our sincere hope that you will join us in putting our country first and continue to work to keep our nation safe, free and prosperous.

We urge you to join us in not just congratulating Senator Obama, but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together as a nation. Whatever our differences may be, we are all fellow Americans.

We are truly blessed to live in this great country and call ourselves Americans, and we will forever be her loyal servants.

Today, let there be no reason now for any American to fail to cherish their citizenship in this, the greatest nation on Earth.

With warm gratitude,

Cindy and John McCain

Iowahawk on the Election

2008-11-06T20:01:00.000-08:00

Iowahawk offers his hilarious take on the election here. Gary Coleman/Emmanuel Lewis in 2012!

"Whatcha talkin' bout, Barack?"

The Blame Game

2008-11-06T12:11:00.000-08:00

It's interesting seeing people's reactions to the election results. A lot of people want to find a scapegoat. Within 24 hours of voting for the man, many conservatives were bashing John McCain. Fox News reported that sources in the McCain campaign were blaming Sarah Palin for the loss and portraying her as an idiot. And of course, everybody points the finger at George W. Bush, which is nothing new.
While there certainly were failures that need to be noted, I think it's wrong to find someone to whom we pass the blame. Rather, we need to learn from our failures and the Democrats' success. We need to look at why Reagan was so successful in 1980 and 1984 and why the Republicans took the House in 1994. We can't criticize the Democrats for "throwing people under the bus" and then turn around and do it ourselves. Was McCain a perfect candidate? No. He wasn't my first choice for the nomination, and I'll admit I was a bit disappointed that he won it. However, though I may have disagreed with him on some policies, he was and is a man of honor, and was a far better option than Barack Obama. Pointing fingers gets us nowhere; we need to move ahead.
There are many Republicans out there who represent hope for the future leadership of the party and the country. In the future, we will be doing profiles on some of these Republicans to give you a better idea of where the party is going. That's where we need to look- the future. Scapegoating is not the answer.

What I am going to take away from this election

2008-11-05T20:23:00.000-08:00

Thank you to Kevin for allowing me to blog for him. I promised that I would help out as soon as the 2008 Election was complete.

Now that the election is over, I think its appropriate to transition to this blog as I discuss what I took from the this election:

In 2006, I became involved with politics at a state and nationwide scene. My commitment to the pro-life movement no longer was shuttered, but became wide open once I realized the political forum which its played in.I learned of Senator Sam Brownback Presidential Campaign from Billy Valentine and Terry Schilling, two great pro-life student champions.

Sam was raised in Kansas from very rural roots, and has defied all odds to become one of best senators of all time. Brownback's commitment to protecting life was not just merely opposing abortion, but became a pro-life, whole life philosophy, something that I really liked. I decided to extern for his campaign last spring. Little did I know that this would be one of the most grueling, yet most enjoyable times of my life. Our work was all grassroots, working to identify like-minded voters and converting them to support Senator Sam Brownback. We never ran on television or radio ad, funnelling our money in phone calls, door to door, and get out the vote efforts for the Iowa Straw Poll. We were able to deliver a hard fought 3rd place victory for Sam. Although this was well earned, I couldn't bring myself to help with the caucus team, since this would've take me away from my classwork, and I was only a year away from graduating.

It was difficult thereafter for Sam to take off due to the lack of fundraising and lost momentum after the straw poll.When Sam dropped out on October 21, 2007, I immediately supported Mike Huckabee, a evangelical Christian leader from Arkansas. While I respected Brownback's decision to support John McCain, I felt that my true loyalty lies in the pro-life movement, and that we need to elect the best pro-lifer into office. I never seriously worked on his campaign due to time constraints, but I made phone calls in a couple of key states, such as Iowa, South Carolina, and Florida.

Fortunately for pro-lifers, Mike's victory in Iowa helped to pave the way for Mitt Romney's downfall out of the race and prevented a flip flopper from receiving the nomination. While many conservatives criticized Mike for staying in the race longer than he needed to be, it helped to keep John in the news. I knew Mike wasn't going to win, but it prevented the Democrats from taking over the debate.

Therefore, it was easy to choose John McCain because of his pro-life values, conservative principles, and he was definitely the best candidate to go against the Democrats. However, the catch-22 for McCain was George Bush. Either Bush's endorsement was a no-win scenario in this election.My support for McCain early on was minimal at best. I was never really that excited about John McCain until Sarah Palin was chosen as his VP, an event I had the opportunity of witnessing. Once McCain wised up and felt we needed to energize the conservative base was when I really was brought on board. I signed up to volunteer 3 times a week at the local Victory Center, and decided to establish the College Republicans at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa. I knew that we had hope for once, and it actually came in the polls in September when McCain was leading. However, the financial crisis became too much to bear. It was difficult for McCain to cut himself loose from the strains of the economy as well as the general dissatisfaction of the campaign. Obama and the Democrats prevailed.

What are the essential items that I will take away from this election:

1. Its not the most electable candidate, but the best candidate who will prevail. This was certainly true as all the front runners: Giuliani, Romney, Thompson; all were denied the nomination for the GOP. McCain was nearly bankrupt and totally out of it. Brownback had more money at one point. It goes to show that the American people can't be bought in any election.

2. The pro-life movement is down, but not out. Our nation is moving towards the center-left in this election, and that we are going to miss some more pro-life leaders. However, we still have much hope in state and local offices which will promote pro-life candidacies.

3. McCain's call to serve. John McCain called for a generation of Americans to put country above self, that we need to have a leader who won't merely satisfy the selfish desires of Americans, but bring about a commitment to serve our country. He was successful in instilling that in me, as I learned about McCain's service to America, and our duty to serve her country, to cherish and respect her for who she is.

4. While I don't support Barack Obama, I do believe that his election represents the breaking down of tremendous walls that at one point seemed impossible to scale. Many never thought that they would see a black man become President one day. His election represents the walls tore down, and that blacks have opportunities they thought they would never have had.

This election really brought me into the realm of the conservative movement. It also comes when the conservative movement has hit rock bottom. But I have hope that we can prevail, when we can broaden our base and reorganize.

Ballot Initiatives: Mixed Bag

2008-11-05T15:30:00.000-08:00

In addition to the Presidential and Congressional contests, several states held ballot initiatives yesterday. Overall, voters rejected pro-life issues but upheld traditional marriage.

Gay Marriage Bans: (results from CNN)
Arizona: 56% Yes, 44% No
California: 52% Yes, 48% No
Florida: 62% Yes, 38% No

Gay Adoption Ban:
Arkansas: 57% Yes, 43% No

Abortion Limits:
California: 52% No, 48% Yes
South Dakota: 55% No, 45% Yes

Human Life from Conception:
Colorado: 73% No, 27% Yes

Embryonic Stem Cell Research:
Michigan: 53% Yes, 47% No

Assisted Suicide:
Washington: 59% Yes, 41% No

All of the votes on the life issues are troubling. Washington has become the second state to allow assisted suicide, and I fear this will have a domino effect on other states. However, the fact that people stood up for traditional marriage is the silver lining in this election. Unfortunately, judicial activism seems to trump the will of the people, so expect the push for gay marriage to continue.

Democrats Widen Leads in House, Senate

2008-11-05T14:30:00.000-08:00

In other election news, the Democrats gained five seats in the Senate and seventeen in the House, widening their leads in both. However, they fell short of the 60 seats which would have prevented filibustering. Still, it will be easy for the Democrats to pass their agenda with Obama in the White House. I sincerely doubt that there's going to be much bipartisanship going on. Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi will simply be able to push forth whatever legislation they want to without having to worry about the Republicans.

In the Senate races, some key Republican losses included John Sununu of New Hampshire and Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina. There are currently four races where the results are not yet official. The contest in Minnesota between Norm Coleman and Al Franken is headed for a recount, with Coleman enjoying a slim lead. Alaska Senator Ted Stevens also leads by a thin margin, although in my opinion it would be better if he lost; I think a corrupt Republican in office does more damage to the party than losing a seat. Then again, since he may be headed to prison, perhaps a decent replacement will be found.

In the House, the Democrats surpassed Pelosi's prediction of 250 seats, having 254 at the present moment. The one that most boggles my mind is John Murtha's victory over Bill Russell. At times it appeared Murtha was trying to lose that election by mocking his constituents, but they decided they wanted more. I was happy to see, however, that in my home district Aaron Schock won the seat vacated by Ray LaHood. I've seen his rapid advancement from being on the school board at age 19 to where he is today. He's one to watch, and I must say it's strange having a Congressman who's younger than I am.

Overall, though, it was a disappointing night. We'll see where they go from here.

Obama Elected 44th President of the United States

2008-11-05T12:53:00.000-08:00

Barack Obama won the election last night in convincing fashion. Not only did he win all of "blue states" from 2004, but he managed to win in states like Ohio, Florida, and Virginia. With more money, an adoring media, and a very unpopular Republican President, Obama was able to ride the wave to the White House.

Now the question is: what kind of President will Barack Obama make? Will he be as liberal as many fear he will be, or will he govern from the center? How will he perform in a crisis? What kind of people will he have in his cabinet, and more importantly, what kind of person will he nominate for the Supreme Court?

As a pro-life conservative, I am very disappointed that we have elected what may turn out to be the most pro-abortion president ever. I am disappointed that a man with ties to radicals who hated their country defeated a man who suffered for five and a half years for his country. I am disappointed that a man who has disparaged our military will now be Commander-in-Chief of that military.

But that being said, he will be our President. And the fact that this nation has progressed to the point where an African-American can be elected is something to celebrate. He fought hard and he won it, pure and simple. I don't think America will be better off after an Obama presidency, but I do think that America is resilient and will go on.

However, we must hold our leaders accountable. Obama won more of the popular vote than any Democrat since Lyndon Johnson, but he cannot interpret that or the Democratic majority in Congress as a license to do whatever he wants. There is still a large group of Americans who oppose his agenda.

I know I probably won't like Obama's Presidency, but I wish him well. We'll see how he does now that he no longer has to talk, but act.

Now That It's Over...

2008-11-05T12:17:00.000-08:00

As political as I tend to be, the main purpose of this blog is to proclaim the Good News and help bring about a Culture of Life. So while the focus up to this point has mostly been political matters, that's because so many issues that affect us as people of faith are decided within the political realm. So while I'll still be discussing politics, now that the election's decided I want to focus more on the spiritual side of things and pro-life issues. Some of the people I'm trying to bring in to contribute will help out immensely in that department. So that's what's ahead.

New Contributor to CM

2008-11-05T10:05:00.000-08:00

Hey, folks, I'm going to be allowing a few friends of mine to contribute to this blog. The first to join us is Mike M. He's been very active in getting out the Catholic vote for McCain. Mike is someone who can give a perspective from the frontlines of the political battle. So let me say to Mike, welcome!

America Officially Goes Insane

2008-11-04T20:08:00.000-08:00

Barack Obama is President-Elect. God help us all.

Mark Mallet on the Election

2008-11-01T20:22:00.000-07:00

From Mark Mallet, a plea to America and a powerful pro-life testimony. I highly recommend his blog, which is brilliant in its insight into the spiritual danger the West is in.

The Hour of Decision from Mark Mallett on Vimeo.

Obama in His Own Words on The Born Alive Infant Protection Act

2008-11-01T17:48:00.000-07:00

A very powerful and moving video. What he callously describes as a "burden" to the doctor is a living, breathing human being. This shows how the Culture of Death has taken hold here in America, and how we need a Culture of Life to replace it. This is why we can't give up in the pro-life movement. As I've said in a previous post, if this is where we are now, where will we be in ten years?

"Fight With Me!"

2008-11-01T16:58:00.000-07:00

Another video clip to get you pumped up for the election. Remember, this isn't an ordinary election; rather, it is a battle for the future of America. Barack Obama isn't an ordinary Democrat; he's an extremist and a radical. Will we decide to defend the unborn in this election, or will we ensure they have no chance of being protected for at least a generation? Will we uphold the values set forth by our Founding Fathers in the Constitution, or will we hand over more control to an already corrupt government? Will we make a stand for freedom, or will we accept the media's claim that this is already over? We MUST fight for America this election; we will fight, or we will fail.

I’m going to fight for my cause every day as your President. I’m going to fight to make sure every American has every reason to thank God, as I thank Him: that I’m an American, a proud citizen of the greatest country on earth, and with hard work, strong faith and a little courage, great things are always within our reach. Fight with me. Fight with me.

Fight for what’s right for our country.

Fight for the ideals and character of a free people.

Fight for our children’s future.

Fight for justice and opportunity for all.

Stand up to defend our country from its enemies.

Stand up for each other; for beautiful, blessed, bountiful America.

Stand up, stand up, stand up and fight. Nothing is inevitable here. We’re Americans, and we never give up. We never quit. We never hide from history. We make history.

Thank you, and God Bless you.

-John McCain's Address to the Republican National Convention, September 4, 2008

A Little Ah-Nuld to Pump You Up

2008-11-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

The Governator spoke passionately yesterday on John McCain's behalf. In it, he talks about his own experience of socialism and the opportunities he found in America. He also hits Obama hard on the "spread the wealth" comment. Enjoy.

Some Good News to End October

2008-10-31T19:09:00.000-07:00

According to Drudge, John McCain has taken a 48-47 lead in one-day polling by Zogby. Yes, it's only one poll, but it seems like ages since McCain's been ahead. He has the momentum, now it's up to all of us to VOTE!

Just a few notes on what's going on with this blog: you've probably noticed a few changes, from the name to a few more ads. (Google controls the ads- I need to figure out how to block some of them, because I certainly don't think you should support Dick Durbin.) November will bring more changes; I plan on adding a few extra contributors to this blog, which I feel will greatly improve the quality of this site. Plus we'll definitely have reaction to the election. So stay tuned!

"The Price of Freedom is Eternal Vigilance"

2008-10-30T17:40:00.000-07:00

Thus spoke Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States and the man who gave us the Declaration of Independence. He understood the cost of complacency. When we the people take our liberty for granted, we risk losing it.

I think if we're honest with ourselves, a lot of us have grown complacent. Now there's obvious exceptions to this, particularly the brave men and women of our armed forces. But I think many of us are content to stay uninvolved, to stand on the sidelines and watch. We see the world around us changing for the worse and accept it as an inevitability.

We can't do that. We have to guard our freedom and hold it dear to our hearts. We have to call our leaders to task when they abuse their power, rather than reelecting them to office. The vast majority of this country believes we are headed in the wrong direction, yet we tend to elect people that will keep us going in that direction, if not worse.

We risk the possibility in this election of giving MORE power and control to an already corrupt government. More taxes. More of our money being spent. And in all likelihood, more corruption.

We have a choice. Pay attention to what your elected representatives are doing, and write or call their offices when they have gone against sanity and common sense. The government works for us, not the other way around, and don't let them forget that. Most of all, make your voice heard at the voting booth. VOTE FREEDOM. VOTE LIBERTY. VOTE McCAIN/PALIN!

"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them."-Thomas Jefferson

John Paul II, We Love You!

2008-10-30T14:58:00.000-07:00

Thirty years ago this month, the Polish Cardinal Karol Wojtyla was elected Pope. His papacy had a profound impact on the Church and on the whole world. Whether helping to bring about the end of the era of Communist domination in Eastern Europe and Russia or speaking out against the dangers of materialism and the "culture of death", Pope John Paul II proved a worthy successor to the chair of St. Peter, "the Rock". He was firm in his faith and convictions and would not yield, despite overwhelming pressure to do so. He stood AGAINST THE WORLD.

He revolutionized Catholic teaching on sexuality in his Theology of the Body, which author George Weigel referred to as a "theological time bomb". He demonstrated true ecumenism without watering down the teachings of the Church. He canonized more saints than any Pope in history, believing that the modern world needed these examples of holiness. He helped to foster devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and recommended to the Church the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary. For all of his accomplishments, he is surely worthy of the name "John Paul the Great".

However, his greatness was not due to the number or magnitude of his accomplishments. It was due to his WITNESS. He defended the truth because he loved the truth. He was beloved by millions, not so much because of who he was but because of who he loved: he radiated the JOY of Christ, the joy of one in love with Christ. And he helped millions, myself included, to see what a wonderful thing God's love is. I believe that not only will he eventually be canonized a saint, but due to the vastness and the impact of his teaching, I believe he will one day be a Doctor of the Church.

Anyway, I'm going to be doing a series of posts on Pope John Paul II, his life, his writings, and what it all means to us today. I will be talking about pro-life issues, the Theology of the Body, and various theological concepts. Stay tuned!

UPDATE:Yes, I liked that picture so much that I put it at the top of the site!

The Obama Infomercial- Revealed!

2008-10-29T07:19:00.000-07:00

So everybody's dying to know what Barack Obama's going to say tonight in his half hour special airing on NBC, CBS, Fox, Telemundo, History, Nickelodeon, Animal Planet, SciFi, and the Home Shopping Network. (And I think a few others.) Well, wonder no more! For the One has blessed us here at CM with an advance transcript. Enjoy!

Hey, folks! Barack Obama here, with a fabulous new offer! Are you tired of George Bush causing every problem in the world, from the stock market drop to your soup being cold? Wouldn't you rather have a President who's fresh, clean, and articulate? Don't you wish you could just STOP THE INSANITY?

Well, you don't have to wish anymore! That's because I'm offering you a brand-spanking new OBAMA PRESIDENCY! That's right, I want to be your President for the next eight to ten years. If you elect me, you'll get HOPE! And CHANGE! And all you have to do is VOTE!*

But gird your loins, there's more! If you act now, I'll stop the rise of the oceans! I'll be able to convince Iran and Israel to become best buddies, using nothing but my smile! I'll heal your souls! I'll even give everybody a teddy bear!**

But don't take my word for it; hear it yourself from my supporters!

"I felt a thrill go up my leg!"- Chris Matthews

"He's an evolved leader!" - Oprah Winfrey

"The Messiah is absolutely speaking!"- Louis Farrakhan

Folks, what have you got to lose? Vote now, it's easy! ACORN representatives are standing by to help you get registered.*** But don't stop at just your vote! Tell your family!**** Tell your friends!***** Tell McCain supporters and get in their faces! Be sure to tell them, "Hope: it really works!"

*-Additional costs may include military defeat, removal of all restrictions on abortion, and a crippling payment every April 15.
**-Teddy bear may have hidden camera installed to monitor your conversations.
***-As many times as possible.
****-Living or dead.
*****-Real or imaginary.

Another Name Change

2008-10-28T20:30:00.000-07:00

OK, I know, this is the second time already. But hey, this is a fairly new blog.

I'm changing the name of this blog to Contra Mundum, which is Latin for "against the world." This is a phrase that is associated with St. Athanasius, who stood strong against the Arian heresy when it seemed like the whole world had gone after it. Athanasius would not yield in his belief in the divinity of Christ. He said, "If the world is against truth, then I am against the world."

In the same way, we face opposition every day to our belief in the truth. The world tries to entice us with a myriad of pleasures and diversions that cause us to lose focus of what is real, what is true. We are assaulted on all sides, but we must stand contra mundum. I hope to be able to do this in some small way on this blog by proclaiming the truth, especially about Christ and the Church, as well as the sanctity of life and threats against it, but also by delineating my belief in conservative principles and exposing the political fallacies that are prevalent today. Hopefully this is the last name change; I think the new name is apt for what I want to do with this blog.

Fred Thompson Talks About the Election

2008-10-24T09:59:00.000-07:00

Here's a new video from the RNC. Fred Thompson discusses what will happen if we have an Obama presidency with a Democrat-controlled House and Senate. If the Democrats were to reach 60 Senate seats, they could pass anything they wanted without worrying about filibustering. While the Republicans controlled the White House, the House, and the Senate for a few years, they never had anything approaching that kind of power. Checks and balances are essential to our system of government, but what happens when they disappear? Don't wait to find out, and don't accept the media mantra that it's already over.
There are several signs of hope in this election. While Obama's already planning his victory party, McCain and Obama are virtually tied in a new poll. The Obama campaign is getting worried about Pennsylvania. Things aren't so bad in the Congressional races, either. John Murtha has fallen behind in the race to keep his House seat. This is good news- if anyone deserves to be voted out of office, it's him; partly for referring to his constituents as racists and rednecks, but more so for making false accusations against our Marines. The man doesn't deserve to be elected dogcatcher, let alone another term in the House.
I think the American people are smarter than the media gives them credit for. I think people are starting to wake up to Obama's socialism. I think people are starting to see that government is part of the problem, not part of the solution. I really don't think people in this country are stupid enough to elect Al Franken to the Senate. America can choose to implement policies that have failed everywhere they've been tried, or America can choose to be that "shining city on a hill". America is still the greatest country in the world, even with all the flaws of its leaders. I trust that we have it in us to keep on defending freedom.

Obama on Taxes

2008-10-14T09:44:00.000-07:00

Barack Obama often touts himself as the champion of the ordinary worker and claims that he will give tax cuts to 95% of people. Now, being that a large number of those don't pay income tax in the first place, that's a somewhat dubious claim. Now here's someone who will be affected by tax hikes that Obama's proposing:

He's flat out saying he believes in redistribution of wealth. For those of you who don't understand economics or history, that's an idea that has been tried before.

Fulton Sheen on Our Lady of Fatima

2008-10-13T02:44:00.000-07:00

This is very powerful, and definitely worth seeing as we mark the 91st anniversary of the miraculous events at Fatima.

Fatima's importance cannot be overstated. We are living in what theologians call "the Age of Mary", a period of time in which Marian apparitions have gained in frequency and urgency. The apparitions before Fatima seem to point forward to it, while those that have taken place afterwards point backwards to it. Fatima was witnessed by tens of thousands of people, believers and non-believers alike. Pope John Paul II attributed his survival of the assassination attempt on him to Our Lady of Fatima. For myself personally, I learned about Fatima at a point in my life plagued with doubt and despair, and it showed me that God is real and that He speaks to us today. Fatima showed me the importance of praying the Rosary, a prayer that is so strong and that has led me closer to Jesus.
Our Lady calls us to turn from sin and to come to her Son, because He loves us and wants us to experience freedom! Mary warned of the Second World War two decades before it began, because she knew that the consequence of our sinfulness is violence. "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."(Rom. 6:23) Through Mary, God is calling us to come out of the darkness and to live in His light!
Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us!

Sarah Palin on Abortion

2008-10-12T10:48:00.000-07:00

Sarah Palin talks about her son, Trig, and the decision to choose life. This is a very moving testimony to the preciousness of each life. She understands- we have more to learn from Trig than what he has to learn from us.

Pray the Rosary for the Election

2008-10-12T10:03:00.000-07:00

I want to take the time and call upon all those who read this blog to pray for this election. The stakes have never been higher in an election because we have never had a clearer choice between the Culture of Life and the Culture of Death. Make no mistake: if we don't elect pro-life leaders this election, we will not be able to end abortion for decades. If we have extremely pro-choice Justices on the Supreme Court, Roe vs. Wade will not be overturned. Period. If we have an extremely pro-choice Congress, they will do away with any limits on abortion. Period. If we elect the most pro-abortion candidate we've ever had for President, he will sign the "Freedom of Choice Act", doing away with any pro-life laws that have been passed. Period.
This is not only a time to be concerned about America's future in regard to energy, the economy, foreign policy, or things like that. We need to be concerned about where we are going spiritually. I feel that if we are to elect a President that has supported infanticide, we will have crossed a serious line that will spell disaster for our country.
That's why I ask everyone who reads this to offer up a Rosary for the election every day from now to November 4. The Rosary is a powerful spiritual weapon and when people pray it with devotion God will work wonders. Pope Pius XI said, "if I had an army reciting the Rosary, I would convert the whole world." So imagine the power that prayer could have in this election. Pray the Rosary. If you can, fast a day each week. If you're not Catholic, maybe spend an extra 15 minutes a day reading Scripture. And pray about your vote. (Don't forget to vote, either- that part's important!)
I think we've seen the results of putting our country in the hands of politicians. This time, let's put it in God's hands.

Father Frank Pavone- "Risk It!"

2008-10-12T09:53:00.000-07:00

Fr. Frank is the head of Priests for Life, which is one of the most powerful pro-life organizations in America. He makes it simple- though we may struggle in getting out our pro-life message, what we have to lose is nothing compared to what we have to gain; namely, life. Don't sit on the sidelines! Don't wait around hoping somebody else will change the culture! Do your part! RISK IT!

CNN on Obama and William Ayers

2008-10-07T09:14:00.001-07:00

It's kind of surprising to see something like this from CNN, who's been totally in the tank for Obama for a long time now. Covering more than one side of an issue- what a concept!

To me, the fact that Obama would associate with this man is truly despicable. But at best it shows poor judgement on the part of Sen. Obama. Since Obama can't run on experience, he's been running on judgement in this campaign, but this undercuts his basic argument. How can we trust the judgement of a man who has close associations with a domestic terrorist (Ayers), a convicted slumlord (Tony Rezko), and a racist pastor (Rev. Wright)? This is not a distraction, as the Obama camp claims. This is a foundational issue, or as Joe Biden would say, FUN-damental.
A little side note- I am sick of hearing that every criticism of Obama is racist. When Sarah Palin said this, the first thing Obama's campaign said was that it was racism. The fact of the matter is that Obama is a man of questionable character and people should be troubled by many things in his past. It's simply an attempt to get people to look away from his flaws by appealing to a sense of guilt. It's shameful. Where genuine racism exists, yes, it needs to be condemned. But to simply resort to calling people racists as a knee-jerk response to any criticism is reprehensible. The vast majority of conservatives would be ecstatic over the concept of someone like Michael Steele or Bobby Jindal running for president. But the issue for them isn't their race, it's that they uphold conservative principles. Questioning Obama's principles shouldn't be treated as an attack on his race.

Abortion and the African-American Community

2008-10-04T17:20:00.000-07:00

All of us are affected by abortion. One third of my generation isn't here because of it. More children are aborted each day in the United States than people who died in the 9/11 attacks. Abortion not only destroys life in the womb, but it destroys families, hurts women, and helps fathers to avoid responsibility. Even if we don't know anyone who has had an abortion, we see its effects around us.

Perhaps most shocking is how it has decimated the African-American community in this country. 3 out of 5 pregnancies in the African-American community result in abortion. Blacks once were the largest minority group in the country, but no longer; if those children had lived, that would not be the case. A disproportionate number of Planned Parenthoods exist in black neighborhoods as compared to the rest of the population.

This is no mistake, and not something that can simply be dismissed by saying that poverty rates have something to do with it. Margaret Sanger founded the Birth Control League, later Planned Parenthood. She was extremely racist. She considered blacks to be "human weeds." In 1939, she started the "Negro Project" and said "we do not want word to go out that we want to exterminate the negro population". She hoped through contraception and sterilization to reduce the number of those she considered "unfit." Abortion has simply carried on that vision in a horrifying way. Planned Parenthood has not changed its tune at all.

Here is a message that I think people need to hear:

He talks about the death penalty, which I have my own different opinions on that I'll talk about sometime, but the basic point is right: that killing a handful of guilty people, the morality of which can be debated, is nowhere near the gravity of taking the lives of millions of innocent people, which cannot be debated. The Culture of Death is all about blurring the lines. But we need to draw a line and say that ALL life is precious, regardless of a person's race, religion, or socioeconomic status. We need to wake up: abortion does not empower anybody. It hurts women, and it hurts the African-American community.

Broken Escalator

2008-10-03T10:49:00.000-07:00

Just a bit of humor. I think this captures the essence of liberals well.

Vice Presidential Debate Analysis

2008-10-03T09:49:00.000-07:00

I had a dilemma last night- whether to watch the debate or to watch the Cubs in the NLDS. I'm glad I picked the debate, because that way I got to see my team hit a home run.

The last few weeks have been bad for the McCain campaign and for Sarah Palin in particular. Sub-par performances in interviews with Charlie Gibson and Katie Couric and a Saturday Night Live sketch had created a caricature of Palin as a dim-witted bumpkin. She needed to rise above that last night.

She did more than rise above it. She shattered it. Sarah was brilliant. She made her points well, spoke with intelligence, and used humor to her advantage. She hammered Joe Biden and his positions; while Biden was pessimistic and looked tired, she exuded optimism and energy. She got in her digs at the media and spoke directly to the people- the media didn't matter, the people did.

This was great. This was the Sarah we saw at the convention. Was she perfect? No; she could have hit hard on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, where the Democratic campaign is more vulnerable than many realize. She wasn't perfect on every detail and occasionally changed the topic. But all in all, she reminded us why she energized people in the first place. She was in charge of the debate; she owned it.

Will this translate into momentum for the McCain campaign? It certainly won't hurt. Polls right now are definitely not in his favor, but there are signs of hope- one poll shows him up by one in Minnesota, which didn't even go to Reagan. I think McCain's slide in the polls has a lot to do with the fact that enthusiasm for Palin has died down somewhat. This will reverse that trend and fire people up again. Hopefully that spells good news for McCain. Hopefully this changes the momentum.

Sarah was a clear winner.

Unlike my Cubbies :(

St. Therese of Lisieux: "The Little Flower"

2008-10-01T20:33:00.000-07:00

If I were to recommend one book besides the Bible that every Christian should read, it would be Story of a Soul, the autobiography of St. Therese. So many lives have been changed by this simple Carmelite nun who died 111 years ago yesterday. She is one of only three women to be declared a "doctor of the Church". She is one of only two Western saints (the other being St. Francis of Assisi) to be recognized as a saint by the Eastern Orthodox Churches since the split with the Roman Catholic Church. She has been called by popes "the greatest saint of modern times." But what is so remarkable about this frail little nun who died at the age of 24?

What is so remarkable is how unremarkable she was. She didn't possess any great skills, or have any great knowledge. What she did was simply to love- and to love to her heart's fullest. In Story of a Soul, she outlines what she calls her "little way", her "elevator" to Heaven- by doing small acts of great love. This is how she advanced in holiness; she did not preach in the streets, travel to distant lands (although she is patroness of missionaries), or perform great miracles (while she was on earth). She simply loved Jesus in all the actions of her daily life. She recognized that something as simple as a smile when you didn't feel like smiling could be as heroic as any martyrdom. She saw that the Lord does not look so much at our actions as He does the love with which we do them. St. Therese is proof that ALL of us can be saints, by showing love to others in our daily lives.

There's a whole lot I could write about Therese, being that she is my favorite saint. But I think I'll just give you some quotes from her:

Prayer is, for me, an outburst from the heart; it is a simple glance darted upwards to Heaven; it is a cry of gratitude and of love in the midst of trial as in the midst of joy! In a word, it is something exalted, supernatural, which dilates the soul and unites it to God.

Even now I know it: yes, all my hopes will be fulfilled... yes... the Lord will work wonders for me which will surpass infinitely my immeasurable desires.

Love!...that is what I ask...I know but one thing now - to love Thee, O Jesus! Glorious deeds are not for me, I cannot preach the Gospel, shed my blood...what does it matter? My brothers toil instead of me, and I, the little child, I keep quite close to the royal throne, I love for those who fight.

I know of one means only by which to attain to perfection: LOVE. Let us love, since our heart is made for nothing else. Sometimes I seek another word to express Love, but in this land of exile the word which begins and ends (St. Augustine) is quite incapable of rendering the vibrations of the soul; we must then adhere to this simple and only word: TO LOVE.

But on whom shall our poor heart lavish its love? Who shall be found that is great enough to be the recipient of its treasures? Will a human being know how to comprehend them, and above all will he be able to repay? There exists but one Being capable of comprehending love; it is Jesus; He alone can give us back infinitely more than we shall ever give to him.

St. Therese is such a wonderful example and I have a great love for her. If you don't know about her, read her book because you will experience the love of Christ through it. St. Therese, pray for us!

The Consequences of the Culture of Death

2008-10-01T19:44:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, a young man from Derby, England, was standing at the top of a parking garage threatening to jump. His peers encouraged him to do so, shouting for him to jump and even asking if he could bounce. When he did jump and fell to his death, people gathered around him- to take pictures on their cell phones. (This is from an article in the Daily Mail, but be warned before you click on the link that occasionally some of their advertising is inappropriate. Article)

The obvious question in this is: how can something like this happen? To me, it seems clear that it is simply another symptom of the Culture of Death. I don't think the story I told you about a few days ago is unrelated. If children, unborn or born alive, are disposable, and the elderly are disposable, then why not people with mental illness? If we have embraced death at those stages of life, what is to stop us from embracing it in between? What does it say when someone's death is a form of entertainment? Why, in a culture of death, does it surprise us that someone feels their life has no worth?

Shaun Dykes needed to be told that his life was worth living. He needed to know that others valued his life when he had difficulty valuing it. Instead, he was given nothing positive to turn to in his despair. He could not see that his life was a gift from God. This is a tragic reminder to us that being pro-life isn't only about abortion or end-of-life issues. A Culture of Life celebrates the whole of life and respects its dignity throughout. Let us pray for Shaun and his family, and pray for mercy for those who cheered on during his final moments.

Martin Sheen Speaks Out Against Assisted Suicide

2008-10-01T19:15:00.000-07:00

In a recent LifeSite article, we learn that Martin Sheen is starring in a new radio spot voicing his opposition to Washington's I-1000 ballot initiative, which would legalize assisted suicide. Many pro-euthanasia activists are hoping that passage of the initiative would lead to other states accepting the practice.

Martin Sheen has a deep faith and named himself after Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. He was heavily influenced by Dorothy Day and is very interested in Catholic social justice. I was surprised to find out that he is, in fact, pro-life and has supported Democrats for Life.

Sheen does lean heavily to the left in his political views and usually supports pro-abortion candidates. So I do have my issues with him. But he is fighting for the right thing in this situation and is to be commended for it.

The Cult of Obama Part I

2008-10-01T13:58:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I posted a video of children singing songs about Barack Obama. (Just a quick note on that- NBC denies that it was their Jeff Zucker that was involved, but apparently another Jeff Zucker in the entertainment industry.) This video was quite disturbing as it highlighted the fanatical devotion among some of his followers. (I use the word "followers" because there are some who see him in nearly religious terms.) The children, of course, can't be blamed, but their parents obviously made them practice these songs and dress in those shirts.

It's not a bad thing to be excited about a candidate, but when that excitement turns into a quasi-religious devotion, that becomes a huge problem. And when children are taught to share in this, it becomes downright disturbing.

Don't believe me? Look at this video. Notice the kids chanting "Alpha, Omega".

Now, I can understand if these children are inspired by Obama being the first African-American nominated for the presidency. Nothing wrong with that, and the fact that we have progressed to that point in America is something to celebrate. But when we hear "Alpha and Omega", Barack Obama should not be who comes to mind. (I'll give you a hint who should- Revelation 1:8)

Some may scoff at the notion my discussion of a "quasi-religious" devotion among some to Obama. But consider some of these quotes:

Many even see in Obama a messiah-like figure, a great soul, and some affectionately call him Mahatma Obama.- Dinesh Sharma

Many spiritually advanced people I know (not coweringly religious, mind you, but deeply spiritual) identify Obama as a Lightworker, that rare kind of attuned being who has the ability to lead us not merely to new foreign policies or health care plans or whatnot, but who can actually help usher in a new way of being on the planet, of relating and connecting and engaging with this bizarre earthly experiment. These kinds of people actually help us evolve.- Mark Morford

{Obama} seems to come along and he has all the answers. This is the New Testament. Chris Matthews

There's plenty of other quotes like this. This is just a start. I'll be writing more about just how deep this is, and why we should be concerned. Meanwhile, you can read a little more on a blog specifically about the belief that Obama is the Messiah. I'm not the only one who's noticed it.

UPDATE: Reposted the video- original had been taken down, but someone else put it up.

Singing the Praises of Obama

2008-09-30T11:11:00.000-07:00

Here's a video of a supposed "grass-roots" gathering of children singing songs about Obama:

Am I the only one who finds this creepy? This is America- since when do we put elected officials on this kind of pedastal? This is reminiscent of Mao or Kim Jong-Il. And apparently it wasn't really grassroots, but it was organized by the president of NBC. This is just disturbing to me, and it's not just because I don't like Obama- I'd be creeped out if they did this for McCain, too.

We can't place all of our hopes and dreams in one man, because all of us are imperfect. Obama, as we have seen, is very flawed and has accomplished very little. But people tend to get swept up in movements based on emotion, and that tends to lead to disaster. People are swept up into Obamamania, and refuse to acknowledge that he is not perfect. I will write more in the future on the Myth of Obama.

How Did the Financial Crisis Come About?

2008-09-30T08:00:00.001-07:00

Here's a good video from youtube that explains it. It's about 10 minutes long.

26th Sunday of Ordinary Time- "Fairness" vs. Mercy

2008-09-29T16:20:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to reflect a little bit on yesterday's readings.

The first comes from Ezekiel:

Thus says the LORD:
You say, "The LORD's way is not fair!"
Hear now, house of Israel:
Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair?
When someone virtuous turns away from virtue to commit iniquity, and dies,
it is because of the iniquity he committed that he must die.
But if he turns from the wickedness he has committed,
he does what is right and just,
he shall preserve his life;
since he has turned away from all the sins that he has committed,
he shall surely live, he shall not die.

This calls to mind a homily that a heard years ago from the same priest at the Mass I went to yesterday. He said that of all of God's attributes (love, mercy, wisdom, etc.) one that is never listed is fairness. If God were fair, we wouldn't deserve our next breath. Given how much we offend God on a daily basis, wouldn't it be "fair" for God, who is all-good, to wipe out all of us who are wicked? But thankfully, although God is just, which isn't the same as being fair, He is merciful. And how great is that mercy! We hear about it in our second reading:

Have in you the same attitude
that is also in Christ Jesus,
Who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
something to be grasped.
Rather, he emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
coming in human likeness;
and found human in appearance,
he humbled himself,
becoming obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross.
Because of this, God greatly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name
which is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Was the Cross "fair"? Of course not. Jesus was without sin and had done nothing to deserve the cruel death He suffered. The Cross was the result of our false concept of fairness, that those who pose an inconvenience for us should pay. But He endured it, not because we deserved to be saved, but because in His mercy He desired that we be saved.

We have our own concepts of fairness, of who is just and unjust, and who is worthy and unworthy. But we cannot see into a person's heart. Look at the example of this Sunday's Gospel:

Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people:
"What is your opinion?
A man had two sons.
He came to the first and said,
'Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.'
He said in reply, 'I will not, '
but afterwards changed his mind and went.
The man came to the other son and gave the same order.
He said in reply, 'Yes, sir, ‘but did not go.
Which of the two did his father's will?"
They answered, "The first."
Jesus said to them, "Amen, I say to you,
tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.
When John came to you in the way of righteousness,
you did not believe him;
but tax collectors and prostitutes did.
Yet even when you saw that,
you did not later change your minds and believe him."

Now, did the Pharisees think it was "fair" for Jesus to welcome tax collectors and prostitutes into His Kingdom? No. They felt that as strict observers of the Law they were above criticism, while those who broke the Law were inhuman. They could not see the wickedness in their own hearts, nor could they see the good in others' hearts. But God knows our hearts, and desires to show us mercy if we will just seek it. The Pharisees couldn't seek it because they didn't think they needed it. They didn't think the sinners Jesus embraced deserved forgiveness- and in that respect they were right. None of them did, nor do we. But God gave it to them, and gives it to us, in His infinite mercy.

No, God isn't "fair", or what we would define as fair. But as that priest who gave that homily said, "Thank God God isn't fair!" We don't need fairness- we need mercy.

Election Analysis, 9-29

2008-09-29T09:15:00.000-07:00

A whole lot can change in two weeks.

Two weeks ago, McCain had the advantage and was even competitive in blue states. Now, the momentum is clearly in Obama's favor.

That doesn't mean this election is over- not by a long shot. There's still well over a month left, and during that time we'll see furious campaigning, wild accusations, and "October surprises". The Vice Presidential debates will take place this week, and there are still two Presidential debates remaining. Expect the momentum to shift several more times.

Of course the big issue at the moment is the financial crisis and the proposed bailout package. Since we have a Republican president, this tends to help the Democrats who can blame it all on Bush. Of course, it is much more complicated than that- this crisis has been brewing for a long time, and both Republicans and Democrats are complicit. McCain really needs to hammer the point home that he warned about this back in 2005 and people like Barney Frank said there was no problem. McCain made a bold decision to suspend his campaign to return to Capitol Hill to work on this deal. Unfortunately, this came off as a stunt, as did his call to postpone the debates. I don't think it necessarily was- the bill as it was was horrible, and McCain helped to get some necessary changes made. (I still don't like it, though- there's no rhyme or reason to the $700 billion price tag, as you can see in this article.) McCain was the only one to show any sort of leadership here. When Obama, McCain, and others met with President Bush, Obama took control of the meeting and it quickly collapsed- McCain was the only one keeping his cool.

The debate seemed to me to be a clear victory for McCain, although the polls show it as Obama winning slightly. After starting off poorly, McCain was on message, knowledgeable, and hitting Obama hard, while Obama stammered and tried to avoid answering the questions. There was no real K.O. moment, though, so it probably won't affect the polls too much.

There is a real possibility Obama will win, but it is not yet inevitable. McCain has a lot of ammo left and Obama's got a lot of flaws that haven't been highlighted as they should be yet. It could still go either way.
So, you get two electoral count predictions-
OhNoObama'sGoingToWinTheSkyIsFalling Prediction: Obama 306, McCain 232.
Don'tWorryThere'sPlentyOfTimeLeftMcCainCanStillTurnThisAround Prediction: McCain 310, Obama 228.

The False Idol of Convenience

2008-09-26T17:10:00.000-07:00

In yet another attack on the sanctity of life, British moral philosopher Baroness Mary Helen Warnock said that elderly with dementia have a "duty to die." Her reasoning is that they are creating a burden on the health care system by using resources that could be used for others. In her warped view, ending these lives would help to save lives of those who are more "valuable" to society by freeing up more resources to them.

Leaving aside the issue of socialized medicine and its flaws, we need to examine what leads to a mindset like this. How do people cease to believe that a sick elderly person has dignity? How can we say that one person's life is worth saving while another's is not?

The answer is relativism. This mindset exists because the lines have been blurred. If you ask the question, "do you support ending the life of a human being because it poses an inconvenience?", any sane person would say "of course not." So how is abortion justified? The definition of when life begins is blurred. We say that that child in the womb is not a life, merely a blob of tissue, or even a "parasite", as I have heard some pro-choicers say. We blur the lines on what is human. As we begin more and more to value "convenience", we adjust our definitions on what is human to fit our concept of convenience. In a generation, abortion went from being outlawed to being allowed in the first trimester, then for virtually any reason at any time in a pregnancy, to the horror of partial-birth abortion, until we reach the point where we are now where a presidential candidate of one of the two major political parties votes against providing medical care for children born after a failed abortion.

In the same way, the lines have been blurred at the end of life. It used to be that a person was to be cared for until the very end. A false concept of mercy started the ball rolling down the slippery slope. People believed that mercy was the ending of a person's suffering, or inconvenience. And this has had disastrous results. It wasn't too long ago when Dr. Jack Kevorkian was seen as a lunatic, a killer, a monster for "helping" people to die. But as the concept of "convenience" gradually became more prevalent, attitudes have changed. This happened first in Europe but is spreading here. From assisted suicide and euthanasia, we moved to the killing of Terri Schiavo and Baroness Warnock's comments.

This is where we are now in our culture: the concept of the sanctity of human life has been replaced by the concept of the sanctity of convenience. Nobody can be allowed to inconvenience me, be it a baby or an elderly relative.

Maybe we should ask ourselves these questions:

Why is my convenience more important than the life of another person?
Will the lines continue to blur at the beginning and the end of life?
If so, what comes next? What will we accept in the name of "convenience" 10 years from now?
What is to stop someone from saying my life is inconvenient?

St. Januarius (Sept. 19)

2008-09-26T16:45:00.000-07:00

Every year, the faithful in Naples gather in the cathedral to witness an astounding event: the liquefying of the blood of St. Januarius. Once again, the miracle has taken place this year. This repeated miracle amazes both believers and skeptics.

St. Januarius was martyred around the year 304. Numerous attempts were made on his life before his decapitation: he was thrown into a fire yet unharmed, then unharmed again when thrown to wild beasts. When the man who ordered his decapitation was blinded, St. Januarius healed him and thousands were converted before he eventually died. His relics, including his blood, were taken to Naples, and the miracle of his blood was first recorded about a thousand years later.

This annual miracle is a reminder to us, not only of God's power, but of the fact that the saints are alive in Christ. St. Januarius is more alive today than the time he walked the earth, because in Christ we experience the FULLNESS of life. May we all strive to enter into that fullness!

Catching up

2008-09-26T16:41:00.000-07:00

My apologies for no new blog posts this past week; my father was in the hospital with blood clots in both of his lungs. He's out now and is doing better, but please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.
Anyway, a whole lot has happened this last week, so I'll try to catch up as best I can.

John McCain and Sarah Palin Town Hall

2008-09-18T07:31:00.003-07:00

Video of McCain and Palin's first joint town hall appearance.

A lot of it's short on specifics, but I'm glad that they're doing this together.

More on the Born Alive Infant Protection Act

2008-09-18T07:31:00.002-07:00

Glenn Beck interviews David Freddoso and discusses the Born Alive Infant Protection Act, and Obama's opposition to it. Click here for the interview.

An Illustration of the Fallacy of Liberalism

2008-09-18T07:31:00.001-07:00

This is pretty funny, and applies to more than just education.

Democrats "don't know what to do", may soon adjourn

2008-09-18T07:31:00.000-07:00

The Democrats have hyped the current economic situation as "the worst since the Great Depression", a line they seem to use every time the Dow goes down a point. Granted, things aren't good. So what is Congress planning on doing to fix the problem? According to Senate Majority leader Harry Reid, "no one knows what to do." So, they'll probably just adjourn in the next couple of weeks. Bravo! Although, on the plus side, if they're not in session they can't do anything to make it worse, which any solution by Reid and Pelosi would certainly do.
Nancy Pelosi already shut off the microphones and the cameras in the middle of a debate on energy earlier this year so she could go beg people to read her book. (How's that selling, by the way? Right now it's number 38,540 on Amazon.) Do they really want to shut down in the middle of a crisis AGAIN? They're just proving they're incapable of doing anything, and most of these people will probably be re-elected!
It's time to wake up and get mad. Write your Senator or Congressman and tell them to do their job. Most of all, don't re-elect these people.
Oh, and by the way: John McCain warned about what would happen with Freddie Mac and Fannie May a couple of years ago, but people wouldn't listen. Barney Frank said they weren't facing any crisis. And Barack Obama was getting big donations from them and Lehman Brothers. Of course, to all of our Democrat friends, this all somehow translates to: it's all Bush's fault.

St. Robert Bellarmine

2008-09-17T09:44:00.000-07:00

Today is the feast of St. Robert Bellarmine. St. Robert was a Jesuit cardinal who took the controversies of his day head-on. He delivered a series of lectures that reverberated throughout Europe. He served on the commission to revise the text of the Vulgate, dealing shrewdly with errors initiated, but not officially promulgated, by Pope Sixtus V. St. Robert had one of the most brilliant minds the Church has ever seen and was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XI in 1931. He is the patron saint of catechists.
What we can learn from St. Robert is fearlessness in proclaiming the truth. St. Robert was not afraid to deal with the controversies of his day, but met them in a spirit of both charity and intellectual honesty. St. Robert Bellarmine, pray for us!

NO, RALPH, STAY AWAY FROM THE PANDAS!!!

2008-09-16T23:06:00.000-07:00

I'd never vote for him, but I'll show Ralph Nader a little love. Probably about the most bizarre political ad I've ever seen. Right up there with Mike Gravel.

McCain slams Obama

2008-09-16T20:33:00.001-07:00

McCain takes Obama to task for taking undeserved credit.

Examining McCain's "Education" Ad

2008-09-16T16:46:00.000-07:00

Last week, John McCain ignited a firestorm with this ad:

Obama's campaign slammed the ad as "shameful and downright perverse". They claimed that the bill was simply to protect children from predators. Most people accepted that explanation, and assumed McCain was lying.

Indeed, if it that were the intent of the bill, this ad would be shameful. But what is the truth?

Here's the actual text of the bill. Included in the bill:
"Each class or course in comprehensive sex education in any of grades K through 12 shall include instruction on the prevention of sexually transmitted infections, including the prevention, transmission and spread of HIV."
I'm not sure we need to be talking about STD's to children that young. The bill was changed to include kindergartners through sixth graders. One of only four other state senators who supported the bill, Iris Martinez, affirmed that it was not merely about protecting them from child predators. She confirmed that the bill had been pushed by Planned Parenthood. Byron York has more in a piece on National Review Online.
Now would this mean teaching first graders about condoms? One would assume not. The big phrase that Obama's people point to in the bill is "age-appropriate". But I ask- what is age appropriate for a child that young? In the past, talking to children that young about sex at all would be considered a form of child abuse. Now wanting to protect against child predators is a noble goal, but the bill seems to go beyond that. What is age appropriate? That should be for the parents to decide. As insane as it sounds, there are schools that have books like "Heather Has Two Mommies" on the reading list.
Do you think the following are "age appropriate" for 5 year olds?
-Homosexuality
-Vaginal intercourse
-Masturbation
Now, Obama couldn't possibly support that, could he? Think again. Those are recommend for 5-8 year olds in the curriculum of the Sexuality Information And Education Council of the United States (SIECUS), which the Obama campaign cited as a guideline last year. Here's a link to SIECUS's curriculum- it's pretty long, but the relevant things start on page 24.
SIECUS's curriculum
I'd like to give Mr. Obama the benefit of the doubt, that he didn't know this stuff was included. But I have yet to hear him denounce it. Look into this issue, what you find out may shock you.

Fulton Sheen on False Compassion

2008-09-15T23:26:00.000-07:00

In my post Utilitarianism vs. the Culture of Life, I mentioned the false compassion that is prevalent in today's society. Here's the great Archbishop Fulton Sheen on the subject:

I'm a big fan of Fulton Sheen (I hope he'll be beatified soon) and may post more from him in the future.

Powerful New Ad on Born Alive Infant Protection Act

2008-09-15T19:27:00.000-07:00

Life is precious.

Hear her story:

Did Obama break the law in Iraq?

2008-09-15T16:53:00.000-07:00

For all of his talk about getting the troops out of Iraq, Obama's actions in Iraq show a different mindset. Amir Taheri reports that Obama tried to convince Iraqi leaders to wait until after the US election before agreeing to bring down the number of troops. He believed that the Bush administration could not make such an agreement due to its "weakness."

Leaving aside the hypocrisy of all of this, there is one hugely important fact that Obama ignored when making this request- ONLY Bush had that authority. There are many who see Obama's actions as a violation of the Logan Act. Obama did not have the authority to undermine the US government's official position, whether it was right or wrong. Of course, this demonstrates the whole failure of Obama's foreign trip to begin with: he seemed to think he was President already.

Name Change

2008-09-15T13:52:00.000-07:00

I decided I'd change the name of this to simply "the Ashbrook blog." Hobbly Wobbly Blog sounded a bit too goofy for some of the stuff I'm talking about here. And as we all know, I'm all about seriousness.

Our Lady of Sorrows

2008-09-15T10:27:00.000-07:00

Today the Church celebrates the memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows. We recall how Mary suffered with her Son at the foot of the Cross. This was predicted by Simeon at the Presentation of the Lord: "And you yourself a sword shall pierce." (Luke 2:35) Imagine her sorrow at seeing her Son stripped, beaten, mocked, scourged, crucified and killed. Imagine the pain in her heart as the spear drove through the Sacred Heart of Christ. Imagine her holding her dead Son in her arms, looking upon His bloody face, and recalling when she cradled Him at Bethlehem at looked upon His face for the first time. Does not this sorrow also pierce our hearts? And that is the point of this feast- we are all called to share in the sufferings of the Cross. To unite our pain with Christ's pain, to suffer with Him. Why? Does God like to watch us suffer? Of course not. Christ wants us to love as He did. But true love always involves sacrifice. A love that is not willing to suffer for the beloved is not really love at all. That is what this feast is about. If we unite our sufferings with those of Christ, as Mary did, we are united with Him in love. And remember: after the Cross comes the Resurrection. So to love Christ in this way is to enter into new life in Him.

Can McCain win New York?

2008-09-15T10:06:00.000-07:00

According to Hot Air, New York has suddenly turned competitive. If McCain can win New York, Obama is toast. Pure and simple. I highly doubt it will happen. However, I'm still going to factor New York into my overly optimistic prediction, and revise it to: McCain 405, Obama 133. (Will that happen? Probably not. But that's what will happen if McCain wins every state in which he's competitive. Hence the name, overly optimistic prediction.) So, do you think Hilary's enjoying this?

UPDATE 11-05: Yes, I know how ridiculous this sounds, especially in hindsight. But at the time it was within 5. And besides, I said I highly doubted it would happen anyway.

Utilitarianism vs. the Culture of Life

2008-09-14T14:47:00.000-07:00

The nomination of Sarah Palin has raised awareness of the issue of children with disabilities and of the sanctity of life in general. Pro-lifers were inspired by her refusal to have an abortion when informed that her child had Down Syndrome. This was a strong affirmation of the most fundamental tenet of the pro-life movement, namely that all human life has great value. In other words, she refused to see her baby as a burden but as a blessing.

Contrast this with the attitude of Barack Obama. He famously said that he didn't want his daughters "punished with a baby." More importantly, he voted against the Born Alive Infant Protection Act- denying medical care to babies ALREADY BORN after a failed abortion attempt.
Apparently, convenience is more important than life.

This great divide was further evidenced in two stories this past week relating to children with disabilities. In one story, a man named Thomas VanderWoude jumped in after his son with Down Syndrome fell into a septic tank. VanderWoude held his son above his head for twenty minutes before help arrived. By the time it finally did arrive, VanderWoude had died, but his son survived.

On the other end of the spectrum, there was the case of the woman in the UK who drowned her 4-year-old daughter in a bathtub because she was "embarrassed" by her child's cerebral palsy. Again, this shows an attitude that favors "convenience" over life, that views children (particularly disabled children) as a burden or a punishment.

How have we come to this point, where whole groups of people are seen as "inconvenient"? How have we decided that certain lives are not worth living? Occasionally, you will get an answer like, "who are we to let these children suffer?" But this is a false compassion. Everybody suffers- it doesn't make us less human. If anything, it makes us more human. We've gotten to the point in this culture where we want to eliminate all suffering, all inconvenience. That's why 90% of children diagnosed in the womb with Down Syndrome are aborted. That's why some who support abortion think Palin made the wrong choice in keeping her son Trig. These people cannot see the value in these lives. Perhaps it is because their measure of a person's worth is how much money they can potentially make, or how good-looking they are, or other superficial criteria. Certainly, in their viewpoint, someone like Terry Schiavo had no worth. What was she able to contribute to society?

But those who support life know that a person's worth is based on the fact that they are made in the image and likeness of God. Millions of us were touched by the story of Terry Schiavo, just as we are by that of Trig Palin. Even if a person is in such a state that they are unable to show love to others, they are able to BRING OUT the love in others in a special way, by virtue of their humanity, by virtue of their being children of God.

Whenever we say that any human life is inconvenient, or undesirable, it is a dangerous road to walk down. People should know- we walked down this road before in the 20th century, and saw the greatest horrors in human history. We need to celebrate life. ALL life. Because it all has value. America has an opportunity to look at herself and see this, and thus become an example to all the world. Here's hoping we open our eyes.

UPDATE: This T-Shirt demonstrates what I'm talking about from those who do not respect life.

Election Analysis, 9-14

2008-09-14T12:17:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, this election was Barack Obama's to lose. Now it's John McCain's. McCain has clearly captured the momentum and has no intention of letting it go.

I disagree with the notion that the pick of Sarah Palin was what changed the momentum of this race. It had a huge impact, no doubt, and McCain certainly wouldn't be in nearly as good a position as he is now if he had picked someone else, but the tide was already turning over a month earlier. McCain started off the campaign looking lifeless, but when he started to hammer Obama on energy and when he mocked Obama's celebrity image, McCain began to find his voice. His performance at the Saddleback forum further shifted the momentum his way, with McCain familiar with his positions and able to clearly articulate them, while Obama stumbled, stuttered, and generally showed that addressing these issues was "above his pay grade".

So McCain had the momentum beforehand. The Democratic convention saw a shift back toward Obama in the polls, but it was short lived. The pick of Sarah Palin was like a nuclear (or should I say nucular?) bomb to Obama's campaign. It wasn't what changed the momentum, but it secured McCain's hold on it. And Obama has been perplexed about what to do ever since. The argument that Palin is inexperienced only served to highlight Obama's own inexperience. The attacks on her family and the army of lawyers coming into Alaska expose the emptiness of Obama's claim to be a new kind of politician. Instead of focusing on McCain, Obama has focused on his Vice Presidential candidate, making Obama look desperate and leaving McCain untouched.

Now, everything looks different. The South, in which Obama once thought he could be competitive, has shifted to McCain. Indiana and Florida are, for the time being, strongly leaning toward McCain. Even the battle for Congress, which once looked like a cakewalk for the Democrats, is nearly tied.

But what has to have Obama terrified is his sliding support in traditionally Democratic states. New Jersey and Washington show only slim leads for Obama. McCain even has a small lead in Michigan in one poll. Pennsylvania is close. In Minnesota, which not even Reagan won, a new poll has them tied.

A lot of this is Obama's own doing. He foolishly believed that he could be competitive in all 50 states, rather than focusing on the swing states. He has struggled to find a coherent message since his "change" theme was successfully taken by McCain and Palin. His latest ad mocked McCain for not knowing how to send an email. When I first saw this, I thought this was the lamest political ad I'd ever seen. Then it came out that the reason McCain doesn't use computers is because of his injuries in Vietnam. That couldn't possibly have blown up in Obama's face more.

There's still a lot of time left, and a whole lot can happen. McCain is perfectly capable of screwing this up, but I think Obama and Biden will keep supplying us with enough gaffes to balance out anything McCain does.
My overly optimistic prediction for the electoral count: McCain 342, Obama 196.

Welcome!

2008-09-14T12:08:00.000-07:00

Hey, everybody, and welcome to my blog! Here you'll find my thoughts on what's going on in the world these days. A little bit about me so you know where I'm coming from on these musings:
I'm Catholic, pro-life, and conservative. I'm a big fan of the Chicago Cubs, Bears, and Bulls, as well as being a fan of the Duke Blue Devils. The title of the blog comes from a comic that I drew back in school called the Hobbly Wobbly Zog. It was pure weirdness, which you will see from me occasionally in this blog. Anyway, enjoy!