Hosea

Folks,

The other evening at Eucharistic Adoration I had the opportunity to read the 14 chapters that comprise the Book of the Prophet Hosea. It should take the average reader less than an hour to go through it, and I heartily recommend it. Though I had been taught about Hosea and Gomer, and their children Jezreel (a boy - God Plants), Lo-Ruhamah (a girl - Not Loved), and Lo-Ammi (a boy - Not My People), and though I understood the analogy between Hosea and Gomer, and the Lord and Israel, reading the story from beginning to end really made me think about the depth of God's love for us.

Hosea was ordered to marry a harlot and love her as his wife:

Again the LORD said to me: Give your love to a woman beloved of a paramour, an adultress; Even as the LORD loves the people of Israel, though they turn to other gods and are fond of raisin cakes. (Hosea 3:1)

In spite of this, the Lord loved Israel with all His Heart:

When Israel was a child I loved him, out of Egypt I called my son. The more I called them, the farther they went from me, Sacrificing to the Baals and burning incense to idols. Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, who took them in my arms; I drew them with human cords, with bands of love; I fostered them like one who raises an infant to his cheeks; Yet, though I stooped to feed my child, they did not know that I was their healer. (Hosea 11:1-4)

However, there were unavoidable consequences for Israel's idolatry and worship of Ba'al, and in this case that meant annexation by Assyria. Yet this grieved the Heart of the Lord:

How could I give you up, O Ephraim, or deliver you up, O Israel? How could I treat you as Admah [sister town near Sodom], or make you like Zeboiim [sister town near Gomorrah]? My heart is overwhelmed, my pity is stirred. I will not give vent to my blazing anger, I will not destroy Ephraim again; For I am God and not man, the Holy One present among you; I will not let the flames consume you. (Hosea 11:8-9)

Ezekiel 18:32 comes to mind at this point:

For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies, says the Lord GOD. Return and live!

This is why Exodus 34:14 states:

You shall not worship any other god, for the LORD is 'the Jealous One'; a jealous God is he.

The Lord doesn't want any of us to suffer punishment. He wants us for Himself, in His loving and caring arms. But idolatry brings separation from His loving arms and hence the suffering of punishment. It enslaves and imprisons in unending torture, hence God being jealous for us, for our well-being. God has planted us (Jezreel). We alone get to decide if we will be Lo-Ruhamah (Not Loved) and Lo-Ammi (Not My People).

Photos of the Day

Folks,

Here are today's photos.

Quote of the Day

Folks,

Here is Plato's quote of the day:

Mankind censure injustice fearing that they may be the victims of it, and not because they shrink from committing it.

That's a sad commentary on our motivations. It's like saying we chose God for fear of the punishment of Hell, not for desire of the good of Heaven.

National Health Care Bill

Folks,

The following news advisory on the Health Care Bill being debated by Congress is from the Diocese of Raleigh. The full text of HR 3200 may be read by simply left clicking your mouse cursor on the aforementioned web link. The text of all bills before Congress may be found in the Thomas database maintained by the Library of Congress. A partisan overview of HR 3200 has also been compiled by Liberty Counsel, a part of the Christian fundamentalist Liberty University. I normally do not take much stock in the ravings of our fundamentalist brothers and sisters; however, much in their analysis concerning HR 3200 seems to be correct.

I also encourage the reader to review what Dr. Pounrelle says about this in his article Rationing Health Care at his Chaos Manor web site. Mark my words: under Obamacare, there will be publicly financed abortions, embryonic stem cell research, euthanasia of the elderly and rationing of health care only for those whom the government deems useful to society.

Furthermore, I remind readers (particularly those enamoured with the false gospel of social justice and the common good) that it is NOT the job of Caesar to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, care for the sick, clothe the naked, visit the imprisoned and welcome the alien. That is OUR job as members of the Body of Christ and every time we abdicate our divinely appointed responsibility to Caesar, we sacrifice to Satan the very freedom from sin that we have in Christ Jesus.

Now for the advisory from our Bishops. They are the Lord's Anointed. Hear and obey their words.

NEWS ADVISORY

July 31, 2009

To All Registered Participants of Catholic Voice North Carolina:

As the United States Congress debates the complex issues surrounding a reform of our health care system, we direct your attention to a letter written by Most Reverend William Murphy, Chairman of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The letter outlines the position of the Catholic bishops and urges Congress to enact a reform that will offer “accessible, affordable and quality health care that protects and respects the life and dignity of all people from conception until natural death.” Among its many requests for consideration, it notably asks that any legislation remain “abortion-neutral” and that the poor and legal immigrants be provided with decent health care.

You may read this letter by clicking here.

Congress begins its summer recess on August 1. This is an opportunity for voters and other interested citizens to contact their representatives and senators in their home districts to discuss pending legislation and to express their views on the topics addressed in Bishop Murphy’s letter and other issues related to health care reform. You may do so by contacting their district offices, e-mailing them or by attending meetings they may hold in their districts.

You may send your Representative and Senators an e-mail by following this link below.


Catholic Voice NC

Click the link below to log in and send your message:
http://www.votervoice.net/link/target/cvnc35986079.aspx

Loyalty

Folks,

Why is it that a mere dog can be what God wants him to be, but we humans can't?

Indeed, the exchange in Matthew 15:21-28 between a Canaanite woman and Jesus involving a reference to dogs may have more meaning than what first glance may tell us.

Then Jesus went from that place and withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, "Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon." But he did not say a word in answer to her. His disciples came and asked him, "Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us." He said in reply, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." But the woman came and did him homage, saying, "Lord, help me." He said in reply, "It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs." She said, "Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters." Then Jesus said to her in reply, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed from that hour.

Perhaps we have been interpreting this passage of Scripture incorrectly all these years and we ought to be more like loyal, faithful dogs. That's how this Canaanite woman was towards her daughter who was tormented by demons. She brazenly sought out the King of kings and Lord of lords for help. What's our problem, then?

A Thank You

Folks,

I have three really great lady co-workers who have been of invaluable help to me this past week in getting a report ready for our civil masters in Washington, DC to review. I can’t talk about any specifics or violate anyone’s anonymity or privacy at this forum, but sometimes I think we do not appreciate our co-workers enough. Each of these ladies did twice the work in half the time with twice the quality than a man could have done, and kept me honest in getting the aforementioned report ready in spite of all the last minute document changes, schedule pressure, and stress. On top of that, they put up with my excitability, irritability and just plain old general confusion with great decorum, patience and diplomacy.

Therefore, I am grateful to God for my co-workers. Thank you, Lord Jesus!

Dear Loving and Compassionate God,

Giver of all gifts,
we pray especially today for the mercy and love You give us.
Open our hearts and minds to You.
Give us the grace to accept your mercy.
As we live each day,
we pray especially for our co-workers,
particularly those who are stressed and under pressure at work or at home.
May Your Holy Spirit console, comfort and protect them and their families.
Help us become involved in ways that show them how deeply we care.
Give us the personal courage to listen to their concerns
and help them find the solutions to which they are entitled
as Your children and our brothers and sisters.

Amen.

Avē Marīa,
grātia plēna, Dominus tēcum.
Benedicta tū in mulieribus,
et benedictus frūctus ventris tuī, Iēsus.
Sancta Marīa, Māter Deī,
ōrā prō nōbīs peccātōribus,
nunc et in hōrā mortis nostræ.

Āmēn.

Catholic Medical Association - Statement on Health Care Reform

Folks,

The Catholic Medical Association has issued a Statement on Health Care Reform. As the Catholic Culture web site points out:

“The CMA is particularly concerned about two significant ethical issues (1) respect for the conscience rights of health-care providers; and (2) a mandate to finance and provide abortion,” the statement continued. “Unprecedented powers are entrusted to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (as evidenced by over 1,120 references to the ‘Secretary’ and his/her powers in the House bill) and to a new authority-- the ‘Health Choices Commissioner.’ Moreover, a Federal Coordinating Council on Comparative Effectiveness was created and funded, without adequate debate, by the Stimulus Bill; and there are valid concerns that the FCCCE could soon start regulating medical treatments based not only on clinical, but also ‘economic’ criteria.”

Obamolech will use the federal govenment health care program to murder unborn babies (called the right to chose), perform fatal experiments on unborn babies (called embryonic stem cell research), and put senior citizens to death for being old and useless to society (called death with dignity). There is NO difference between what Obamolech wants and want his spiritual forefathers (Hitler, Stalin and Robespierre) wanted.

This is the work of Satan.

Kitty vs Roll of Toilet Paper

Folks,

My friend Linda had a difficult day today, starting with her kitty and a roll of toilet paper. See "So Confuzed :(".

I hope this cheers her up (no, it's not the actual incident, but perhaps a faithful rendition nonetheless). And don't forget to say a "Hail Mary" for her!

Young-Earth Creationism: A Literal Mistake

Folks,

This is a followup post to my entry entitled, "Correlation of Creation Days with Universe Time Scale ". As some of you may realize, there are some difficulties with Dr. Schroeder's equation in correlating Genesis Days with Earth Days:

A = [(-Ao/ln(2))*e^(-ln(2) * t)] / 365.25

where:

Ao = proton threshold temperature (1.09E+13 Kelvin) / the current microwave background temperature (2.725 Kelvin).
ln(2) = natural log of 2 or 0.693
e = 2.71828
t = the Genesis day
A = the number of years into the past (will be a negative number)

NOTE: We divide by 365.25 to convert days to years.

The difficulties I see are listed below:

1. Genesis Day 6 lasts from 247 million years ago to 123 million years ago when Genesis Day 7 starts. There were NO hominid species on Earth 123 million years ago. Indeed, Homo Sapiens and Homo Neanderthalensis did NOT develop from Homo Habilis until about 130 to 70 thousand years ago and this would be equivalent to Genesis Days 18 to 20.
2. 6000 years ago (i.e., 4000 BC or so) starts between Genesis Day 21 and Genesis Day 22; this is the generally accepted time that Young Earth Creationists use for the arrival of first Adam and Eve. Of course we know from mitochondrial DNA that Eve appears about 70 thousand years ago (hence comment 1 above).
3. The formula does not take into account the hyper-inflation that occurred immediately after the Big Bang where space time stretched fatser than light speed to give us the relative homogeneity of the cosmic microwave background.
4. The formula posits a Big Bang at 15.8 billion years ago, but the latest estimates based on the microwave background radiation is 13.7 billion years ago. This might be within an acceptable range of accuracy for the large numbers we are dealing with, but normally in physics everything fits like clockwork and this doesn't.
5. Genesis days and Earth days local time don't match until after day 33; one might expect them to match after day 7, but that's not how the equation works.
   

Now all these things being said, I agree that looking at the Universe from the standpoint of Someone sitting at the place in space time where protons initially coalesced out of the Big Bang is very different than looking at the same thing at the place in space time which Earth occupies. This makes perfect sense. The universe was denser then, gravitational bend of space time was stronger, so billions of years look like 24 hour days - that's pure Einstein. I just can't make all the numbers work right, and I don't see how this equation from Einstein's theory (below) can produce the Schroeder equation above.

t = to * [SQR(1-(v^2)/(c^2))]

where:

to = elapsed time on Earth
t = elapsed time at proton coalescence
SQR = Square Root
v = proton velocity at formation
c = light speed = 2.99792501E+08 meters/second

However, I DO think that Dr. Schroeder is onto something here. Indeed, perhaps a better explanation (without the math) is given by Dick Fisher in his article "Young-Earth Creationism: A Literal Mistake" at the web site of the American Scientific Affiliation: A fellowship of Christians in Science.

I have never found "Young Earth Creationism" or a "Universal Noahic Flood" to be either tenable or credible interpretations of Sacred Scripture, and Mr. Fisher ably explains why those who pride themselves on being literalist in their interpretation are actually gravely in error.

By the way, in case anyone has any doubts about the Catholic view of this subject, I encourage everyone to read and study Pope Pius XII's encyclical, "Humani Generis", and to research the works of Fr. Georges LeMaitre, Belgium priest, cosmologist and astrophysicist who first posited the idea of a Big Band having occurred billions of years ago. It is no coincidence that atheists fought against this idea tooth and nail until the cosmic background microwave radiation predicted by Fr. LeMaitre's theory was discovered in 1965.

Holy Mother Church is right again! Could you ever imagine a different outcome?

Today's Quotes - from Lucius Annaeus Seneca

Folks,

Lucius Annaeus Seneca was a Roman Statemenan who lived from 5 BC to AD 65. He said:

I don't trust liberals, I trust conservatives.

I couldn't agree more.

He also said a few more things that are quite appropriate to be reiterated in our post-modern, neo-pagan age:

• In war there is no prize for runner-up.
• In war, when a commander becomes so bereft of reason and perspective that he fails to understand the dependence of arms on Divine guidance, he no longer deserves victory.
• A sword never kills anybody; it is a tool in the killer's hand. (The same is true of guns)
• Be wary of the man who urges an action in which he himself incurs no risk. (Beware of Obama-care; it's a no risk scenario for him and his family)
• If a man knows not what harbor he seeks, any wind is the right wind. (Hence the fickle wind of popular opinion in Obama's National Demokracy)
  

Office of Readings for Tuesday, 17th Week in Ordinary Time

Folks,

I was really touched by today's Office of Readings from the Liturgy of Hours. The readings first began with 2nd Corinthians 9:1-15. This was followed with Luke 6:38 and then the following sermon by St. Basil the Great entitled, "De Caritate". I think is appropriate that we should re-read this ancient sermon in light of Pope Benedict XVI's recent encyclical, "Caritas in Veritate". Truth has not changed one iota.

Sow integrity for yourselves

Man should be like the earth and bear fruit; he should not let inanimate matter appear to surpass him. The earth bears crops for your benefit, not for its own, but since the reward for good deeds goes to those who perform them. Give to a hungry man, and what you give becomes yours, and indeed it returns to you with interest. As the sower profits from wheat that falls onto the ground, so will you profit greatly in the world to come from the bread that you place before a hungry man. Your husbandry must be the sowing of heavenly seed: Sow integrity for yourselves, says Scripture.

You are going to leave your money behind you here whether you wish to or not. On the other band, you will take with you to the Lord the honour that you have won through good works. In the presence of the universal judge, all the people will surround you, acclaim you as a public benefactor, and tell of your generosity and kindness.

Do you not see how people throw away their wealth on theatrical performances, boxing contests, mimes and fights between men and wild beasts, which are sickening to see, and all for the sake of fleeting honour and popular applause? If you are miserly with your money, how can you expect any similar honour? Your reward for the right use of the things of this world will be everlasting glory, a crown of righteousness, and the kingdom of heaven; God will welcome you, the angels will praise you, all men who have existed since the world began will call you blessed. Do you care nothing for these things, and spurn the hopes that lie in the future for the sake of your present enjoyment. Come, distribute your wealth freely, give generously to those who are in need. Earn for yourself the psalmist's praise: He gave freely to the poor; his righteousness will endure forever.

How grateful you should be to your own benefactor; how you should beam with joy at the honour of having other people come to your door, instead of being obliged to go to theirs! But you are now ill-humoured and unapproachable; you avoid meeting people, in case you might be forced to loosen your purse-strings even a little. You can say only one thing: "I have nothing to give you. I am only a poor man." A poor man you certainly are, and destitute of all real riches; you are poor in love, generosity, faith in God and hope of eternal happiness.

The readings then end with this exhortation from Isaiah 58:7-8. However, to put this in proper context, we'll start with verse 6 and end with verse 11:

This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; Setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; Sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own. Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your wound shall quickly be healed; Your vindication shall go before you, and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer, you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am! If you remove from your midst oppression, false accusation and malicious speech; If you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted; Then light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday; Then the LORD will guide you always and give you plenty even on the parched land. He will renew your strength, and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring whose water never fails.

It is NOT the job of nanny government to provide health care for all. It is NOT the job of Caesar to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, care for the sick, clothe the naked, visit the imprisoned, and welcome the alien. It is OUR job as members of the Body of Christ, and everytime we abdicate our God-given responsibility to Caesar Augustus, we replace the eternal authority of God Almighty with the temporal authority of mere mortal man.

Why is America in debt to the tune of 3 trillion dollars? Why is our economy faltering and people beginning to starve? Because WE the members of the Body of Christ have abdicated our responsibility to Caesar, expecting to escape accountability before the Lord God of Hosts. It doesn't work that way. As 2nd Corinthians 9:6-7 states:

Consider this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Love - and Some Humor

Folks,

My friend Linda has a great entry at her Offer It Up! blog site entitled, "Tuesday Pondering Pages". In it she describes four kinds of love:

• Lazy
• Anxious
• Satiated
• Dead

I encourage everyone to read it.

However, just to add a little humor, the kind of love my two cats, Shoot and Worf, experience from their ever adoring master is this (which perhaps doesn't quite fit ANY of the categories):

Leviathan: Influence of Satan in Our Accumulation of Debt

Folks,

Given Obamolech's multi-trillion dollar debt with which he is saddling the country, thereby increasing our indebtedness to our creditors, the Red Chinese, I though the following article from the Catholic Online web site to be most appropriate:

Leviathan: Influence of Satan in Our Accumulation of Debt

I also find the web site that the author, Sonja Corbitt, has developed to be very good:

Pursuing the Summit

We sadly live in the day and age of Maximillen Robespierre, except his current name is Barack Hussein Obama.

Humor - Why No One Holds Up a 7-11 in Israel

Folks,

Steve Ray's Catholic Convert blog site has a great photo which explains in masterful simplicity Why No One Holds Up a 7-11 in Israel.

As the Second Amendment to the US Constitution states:

A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

Remember: dictators such as Stalin, Hitler, and Mao Tse Tung first made the right to keep and bear arms illegal. The dissolution of the right to have a Bible followed closely afterwards. Know therefore what Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Joe Biden and all the rest support.

Thought for the Day

Folks,

Here is today's thought (the author is unknown):

If sin is the root of all evil, then pride is the reservoir of sin.

Correlation of Creation Days with Universe Time Scale

Folks,

If any of you are mathematicians or physists out there, your input would be interesting to receive.

There has been a great deal of debate between Young Earth Creationists and Old Earth Theistic Evolutionists about the proper interpretation of the first chapter of Genesis. The young Earth theorists maintain a literal interpretation of the six days of creation some 6000 years ago. The old Earth theorists maintain that the word day is not be interpreted literally. In actuality, both the first chapter of Genesis and the modern estimates for the age of the universe are correct. A certain physicist - Gerald Schroeder - has attempted to reconcile these as described below.

The reason for the difference between the two time records (Genesis chapter 1 and recent scientific discoveries) is the standpoint from which time is being measured. We know from Einstein's Theory of Relativity that as an object's velocity increases, the time it experiences with respect to an object at standstill decreases. Therefore, time is NOT constant for everyone everywhere. Indeed, the only thing that is constant is the speed of light. The equation for a spaceship in flight at velocities approaching lightspeed is:

t = to * [SQR(1-(v^2)/(c^2))]

where:

to = elapsed time on Earth
t = elapsed time on spaceship
SQR = Square Root
v = velocity
c = light speed = 2.99792501E+08 meters/second

As v goes up, (v^2) goes up.
Thus, (v^2)/(c^2) goes up.
One minus that goes down.
The square root of that goes down.
Elapsed time on the spaceship goes down.

Thus, elapsed time on Earth becomes far longer than elapsed time of the spaceship as it approached light speed. Indeed, if the spaceship were going at light speed, then it would become light itself and experience no elapsed time. That, of course, is impossible because no matter can go at light speed.

Indeed this same thing is true for the passage of time as the gravitational bending of space-time increases near objects of great mass density. No mass density was greater than what occurred at the Big Bang (or a Black Hole, which is why not even light can escape a Black Hole - but that's a discussion for a different day). Thus, we would expect the passage of time to have occurred at a different rate then in the Early Universe moments after Creation than what we preceive today in our local space-time curvature of Earth.

Now the reader should recall (from above) that for pure energy (i.e., the photon, a particle of light) time is at a stand-still. Time began to progress when the first particles of matter coalesced out of the Big Bang. Without matter, there is no time. As the density of the mass in the early universe decreased with the expansion that occurred after the Big Bang (and we know the universe is expanding because of the famous Hubble red shift of starlight the further away a star is from Earth), the rate of the passage of time changed locally. The equation for this can be given as:

A = [(-Ao/ln(2))*e^(-ln(2) * t)] / 365.25

where:

Ao = proton threshold temperature (1.09E+13 Kelvin) / the current microwave background temperature (2.73 Kelvin).
ln(2) = natural log of 2 or 0.693
e = 2.71828
t = the Genesis day
A = the number of years into the past (will be a negative number)

NOTE: We divide by 365.25 to convert days to years.

A graph and a data table (given below) show this. The x-axis of the graph is days as measureed from someone existing at the instant protons coalesced out of the Big Bang. The y-axis is years as measured locally here on Earth.
























The graph and data table show that if we measure time at the rate at which it had passed when the first particle of matter appeared (i.e., the proton), then we find a natural log relationship between this and the rate at which time currently passes in our present epoch on Earth. The first six days of creation described in Genesis are measured with respect to local time when protons coalesced out of the primordial Big Bang. This allows billions of years to transpire until the present with respect to current local time on Earth while preserving the veracity of the ancient record that the Universe was created in six 24 hour days.

Said another way, the six days are told from the standpoint of Someone (i.e., God) at the beginning when protons first appeared. That Someone, being outside space and time, saw the whole saga unfolding over a duration of six primordial 24 hour days as measured locally to the Big Bang.

Now there are several problems with this little mathematical exercise.

1. Nothing after six days of creation produced by the equation matches observable phenomena - in fact, we don't know when the sixth day stops and the seventh begins.
2. Current estimates for the age of the universe give 13.73 billion years as its age, NOT 15.8 billion years. This may be due to inaccuracies in the measurement of the cosmic microwave background or in the temperature that is postulated for proton coalescence after the Big Bang.
3. This analysis does not take into account hyper-inflation, a theory which suggests that the space-time fabric of the universe expanded faster than light speed during its early formation. This theory was proposed to accomodate the seeming homogeneity of the microwave background radiation.

Nevertheless, this little exercise does demonstrate that Genesis chapter 1 can be literally true from the standpoint of Someone who existed at the instant protons appeared, and current scientific estimates of the universe's age can also be true (within a certain limit of accuracy). Time is relative depending upon one's position in the fabric of space-time. Only the speed of light is constant.

Looking for Common Ground on Abortion

Folks,

The Zenit News Service has a report entitled, Looking for Some Common Ground on Abortion. The one tried and true method for preventing unintended pregnancies - chastity, self-control - is missing from all the Democrat's proposals in supposedly seeking "common ground" with pro-life supporters.

At this point we need to remember what Genesis 3:1-5 records:

Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the animals that the LORD God had made. The serpent asked the woman, "Did God really tell you not to eat from any of the trees in the garden?" The woman answered the serpent: "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; it is only about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, 'You shall not eat it or even touch it, lest you die.'" But the serpent said to the woman: "You certainly will not die! No, God knows well that the moment you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods who know what is good and what is bad."

This is exactly how it is with so-called Catholic Democrats who defy the Church's teaching against artificial contraception.

"Did God really tell you NOT to use artificial birth control? Go ahead and do it! Nothing bad will happen. Besides, the sex feels good and there are no consequences. You'll be like God - controlling when to create life and when to stop life from being created."

We who call ourselves Catholic can NEVER have common ground with the Devil. We are either completely obedient to God and Holy Mother Church, or we are allied with the forces of antichrist. There is NO in-between, middle, "common" ground. That's a lie from the pit of hell.

I Am Ashamed of Kristen Day

Folks,

On July 16th I made an entry entitle I Am Proud of Kristen Day because this lady pointed out how Democrat Congressman is losing his way in caving in to the pro-abortionists. Today I received an e-mail from this lady acting as the Administrative head of the organization called, "Democrats for Life of America" or DFLA. This e-mail provides the following clarification:

CLARIFICATION #1: CONTRACEPTION

DFLA does not take a position on contraception. Despite rumors to the contrary, we do not oppose contraception. We believe that preventing pregnancy is an important part of reducing the abortion rate in America. There are several ways to address prevention, but there is no clear consensus because of ethical, religious or personal reasons. We are focused on helping pregnant women carry their pregnancies to term and making sure that families have affordable health care, a living wage and the means to support their children during the pregnancy and beyond. The Pregnant Women Support Act, introduced by Congressman Lincoln Davis (D-TN) and Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) will support these goals.

What Kristen Day supports is in direct and complete opposition to the teaching of Holy Mother Church. The solution to unwanted pregnancy is simple: NO SEX! Chastity, righteousness and holiness are NEVER mentioned by the Democrats as THE means of reducing unwanted pregnancy. God Almighty gave us brains and He expects us to use them instead of caving in to wanton animalistic pleasure. We are NOT supposed to be wild beasts subject to the passion of the moment. It appears, however, the Democrats are.

Now Humanae Vitae (Pope Paul VI's encyclical on Human Life) states in section 14:

Therefore We base Our words on the first principles of a human and Christian doctrine of marriage when We are obliged once more to declare that the direct interruption of the generative process already begun and, above all, all direct abortion, even for therapeutic reasons, are to be absolutely excluded as lawful means of regulating the number of children. (14) Equally to be condemned, as the magisterium of the Church has affirmed on many occasions, is direct sterilization, whether of the man or of the woman, whether permanent or temporary. (15)
Similarly excluded is any action which either before, at the moment of, or after sexual intercourse, is specifically intended to prevent procreation—whether as an end or as a means. (16)
Neither is it valid to argue, as a justification for sexual intercourse which is deliberately contraceptive, that a lesser evil is to be preferred to a greater one, or that such intercourse would merge with procreative acts of past and future to form a single entity, and so be qualified by exactly the same moral goodness as these. Though it is true that sometimes it is lawful to tolerate a lesser moral evil in order to avoid a greater evil or in order to promote a greater good," it is never lawful, even for the gravest reasons, to do evil that good may come of it (18)—in other words, to intend directly something which of its very nature contradicts the moral order, and which must therefore be judged unworthy of man, even though the intention is to protect or promote the welfare of an individual, of a family or of society in general. Consequently, it is a serious error to think that a whole married life of otherwise normal relations can justify sexual intercourse which is deliberately contraceptive and so intrinsically wrong.

Section 17 in this prophetic encyclical explains WHY artificial birth control is inherently immoral:

Responsible men can become more deeply convinced of the truth of the doctrine laid down by the Church on this issue if they reflect on the consequences of methods and plans for artificial birth control. Let them first consider how easily this course of action could open wide the way for marital infidelity and a general lowering of moral standards. Not much experience is needed to be fully aware of human weakness and to understand that human beings—and especially the young, who are so exposed to temptation—need incentives to keep the moral law, and it is an evil thing to make it easy for them to break that law. Another effect that gives cause for alarm is that a man who grows accustomed to the use of contraceptive methods may forget the reverence due to a woman, and, disregarding her physical and emotional equilibrium, reduce her to being a mere instrument for the satisfaction of his own desires, no longer considering her as his partner whom he should surround with care and affection.
Finally, careful consideration should be given to the danger of this power passing into the hands of those public authorities who care little for the precepts of the moral law. Who will blame a government which in its attempt to resolve the problems affecting an entire country resorts to the same measures as are regarded as lawful by married people in the solution of a particular family difficulty? Who will prevent public authorities from favoring those contraceptive methods which they consider more effective? Should they regard this as necessary, they may even impose their use on everyone. It could well happen, therefore, that when people, either individually or in family or social life, experience the inherent difficulties of the divine law and are determined to avoid them, they may give into the hands of public authorities the power to intervene in the most personal and intimate responsibility of husband and wife.

I have become convinced that while I find the Republican Party to be quite unsavory, the Democrat Party is clearly the party of the antichrist - of that there is no doubt. It is obvious that one cannot be a Catholic Christian who really KNOWS his Faith and a Democrat. I am NOT saying that the Republican Party is the party of God. Personally, I prefer the Constitution Party. What I am saying is that Satan is clearly in control of the Democrat Party.

WRAL TV Interview with Bishop Burbridge

Folks,

I received this in an e-mail from a friend:

Please check out the WRAL TV interview with our Bishop. As we talked with Bishop Burbidge today, we told him how we enjoyed the interviews and he is always in our prayers. We are so blessed! Please view the interviews and keep Bishop Burbidge in your prayers. We are so blessed, indeed! Pass the links on to your friends. What an inspiration for all of us and such a humble, loving servant!

http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/5634837/
http://www.wral.com/news/local/video/5635276/
http://www.wral.com/news/local/video/5635684/

Web only: Bishop Burbidge discusses work, faith

Bishop Michael Burbidge of the Catholic Diocese of Raleigh talks about his hectic daily schedule and his steadfast beliefs.

Racial Justice Act - Call to Action

Folks,

The following is a message from the Bishops of North Carolina. They are the Lord's Anointed. Hear and obey their words.

July 24, 2009

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

We seek your assistance in getting the NC Racial Justice Act passed through the Senate of the North Carolina General Assembly.

Sadly, racial discrimination has played a role in determining who is charged with capital offenses, sentenced to death and actually executed in our state. This bill, which is supported by many in the legal profession, would move us one step closer to a judicial system of true equality. It simply asks for an end to racial bias in the distribution of justice for capital crimes; nothing more, nothing less. We believe this is a good law for our state.

Church leaders from several denominations have joined us in asking the Senate to vote to concur with the present edition of the bill, including the bishops of the Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist and Moravian traditions. We ask you to join us in our effort to remove any vestiges of racial discrimination in the administration of the death penalty.

The bill is tentatively scheduled for a concurrence vote on Tuesday, July 28. Please contact your Senator by clicking the link below and ask them to concur with the present edition of SB461, the NC Racial Justice Act.

Sincerely yours,

Most Reverend Peter J. Jugis
Bishop of Charlotte

Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge
Bishop of Raleigh

Click the link below to log in and send your message:
http://www.votervoice.net/link/target/cvnc35773862.aspx

More Humor - Who Brews the Coffee?

WHO DOES WHAT?

A man and his wife were having an argument about who should brew the coffee each morning. The wife said, 'You should do it because you get up first, and then we don't have to wait as long to get our coffee. The husband said, 'You are in charge of cooking around here and you should do it, because that is your job, and I can just wait for my coffee.' Wife replies, 'No, you should do it, and besides, it is in the Bible that the man should do the coffee.' Husband replies, 'I can't believe that, show me.' So she fetched the Bible, and opened the New Testament and showed him at the top of several pages, that it indeed says . 'HEBREWS'

Humor - Today's Alliteration

Folks,

Today's humor comes from a student in a class I am teaching this week. Enjoy!

Barely Understandable Liberal Lunacy
Sometimes Has Infinitessimal Thought

Abortion mandate in health bill

Folks,

The following message was received in an e-mail from the Knights of Columbus:

Urgent Pro-Life Alert
July 22, 2009

Abortion mandate in health bill

The healthcare reform legislation currently before Congress contains an abortion mandate that is a grave threat to human life. The bill's language will result in federally mandated abortion coverage by nearly all health plans, recruitment of abortion doctors into local health networks, and the nullification of many state laws that place reasonable limits on abortion.

The National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) has called this legislation the "largest expansion of abortion since Roe v. Wade."

We urge you to write to your senators and congressman today. Click here where you can learn more about the health legislation and send a message to your two senators and congressman.

To read a letter from 19 House Democrats who insist they will not support a health bill unless it explicitly excludes abortion, click here.

Time is of the essence as congressional leaders want to pass the bill in the Senate and House by the end of July.

A coalition of prominent pro-life leaders have arranged a Stop The Abortion Mandate live webcast for the public this Thursday, July 23rd, 2009, at 9 PM Eastern (8PM Central, 7 PM Mountain, 6 PM Pacific).

Please go to www.stoptheabortionmandate.com to register.

The Bible is for Catholics

Folks,

The USCCB web site has a great article entitled, Bible Is for Catholics, by Mary Elizabeth Sperry. This article lists and elaborates on the following 10 important points:

• Bible reading is for Catholics.
• Prayer is the beginning and the end.
• Get the whole story! When selecting a Bible, look for a Catholic edition.
• The Bible isn't a book. It's a library.
• Know what the Bible is – and what it isn't.
• The sum is greater than the parts.
• The Old relates to the New.
• You do not read alone.
• What is God saying to me?
• Reading isn't enough.

I read the Bible every day. I even have one in my work brief case, another one at my desk at work, and several different translations (including the Latin Vulgate) on my PDA / cell phone gadget. The two most important "things" I possess are my Bible and my Rosary Beads. When I die, I want to be buried with them. They are the only material things that really matter to me.

That being said, I probably violate point number 3: I read not just Catholic editions (e.g., NAB, Duoay-Rheims, New Jerusalem Bible, Catholic RSV, etc.), but also a variety of Protestant ones (KJV, NKJV, NIV, NASB, TNLB, etc.), and I routinely refer to the original Greek and Hebrew texts using Strong's Concordance. So I suppose I can be forgiven for fudging on number 3 a little.

But the point is this: no one has to be a Bible scholar. Just set aside a half hour to an hour to pray the Rosary and do the Daily Scripture Readings. If nothing else, then simply say a "Hail Mary" and read the Daily Scripture Readings first thing in the morning. It'll take even the slow reader all of five minutes per day. They are readily available right here at this web site:

http://www.usccb.org/nab/today.shtml

Surely each of us has five minutes per day for the good Lord Jesus and His Blessed Mother?

Obama's Health Care Plan - Abortion AND Euthanasia

Folks,

I just read at Catholic Online an article entitled, Is Euthanasia Included in National ‘Health Care’ Reform? According to the article, senior citizens above a certain age would be required to undergo every five years mandatory counseling that would include a discussion of what are euphemistically called “end of life” options.

Barack Hussein Obama says that failing to pass his health care plan will deny children needed health care coverage, but the coverage he offers in his plan is aborting the children before they are ever born, and now he wants to terminate the old who can no longer contribute to his grand Demokratik society.

As 2nd Thessalonians 2:3-4 (KJV) states:

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

Tonight's Humor - Futility

Folks,

Here's tonight's humor, a portrait of me after trying to talk some sense into a liberal Demokrat "Catholic." I know, I'm bad - time for the Confessional again!

Alcoholism and Drug Addiction

Folks,

I rarely discuss the topic of alcoholism and drug addiction, and instead have been focusing on the political, social and moral degeneration of our nation as it transforms itself from a Constitutional Republic into a National Demokracy, but a recent event gives me pause for concern.

Now there certainly is nothing intrinsically evil about alcohol or even medicinal drugs for that matter. Indeed, Jesus Himself partook of wine at the Wedding Feast at Cana and was accused by the Pharisees of being a glutton and drunkard because He ate and drank with sinners and publicans. Yet we know that while Jesus would enjoy a cup or two of wine, He was no drunkard.

However, many people in these United States are alcoholic, and as a disease addiction to alcohol and / or drugs is a very serious matter. I have heard and read of statistics being as high as 20% of Americans who are affected by this malady. It is then small wonder that our nation is in such dire straits. Therefore, if any reader is affected in any way by this scourge of humanity, please check out the appropriate web link below:

Al-anon and Alateen: for the family of the alcoholic
Alcoholics Anonymous: for the alcoholic
Cocaine Anonymous: for the cocaine addict
Gamblers Anonymous: for the gambling addict
Nar-anon: for the family of the drug addict
Narcotics Anonymous: for the drug addict
Overeaters Anonymous: for the food addict

The Twelve Steps practiced by these groups were originally formulated by Bill Wilson, Dr. Bob and the first 100 members of Alcoholics Anonymous in the 1930s. These steps are reprinted below and have a clear Biblical basis as the text at the following web link demonstrates:

http://christians-in-recovery.org/12steps/bibref-l.shtml

1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol ... that our lives had become unmanageable.

2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of GOD as we understood Him.

4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

5. Admitted to GOD, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

6. Were entirely ready to have GOD remove all these defects of character.

7. Humbly asked Him to remove all our shortcomings.

8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.

9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.

11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with GOD as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will, and the power to carry that out.

12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and practice these principles in all our affairs.

-----

No one should have to go through this alone. If a reader or a loved one is in trouble, then let him or her seek out help. Jeremiah 23:6 says, "'The LORD our justice." It does NOT say, "'The LORD my justice."

Quotes of the Day

Folks,

During his homily on Ephesians 2:11-22, the priest at St. Peter the Fisherman today gave two most noteworthy quotes:

The measure of the worth of a person is not what you can get out of that person, but what that person can draw out of you.

You cannot love someone whom you idolize.

I shall leave the reader with those thoughts.

Christians are called to ‘Hold up the Sky’

Folks,

Deacon Keith Fournier at Catholic Online wrote a great essay entitled Christians are called to ‘Hold up the Sky’. Each reader is encouraged to read this article.

We need to remember (as Father Corapi often says) that we as Catholic Christians know the end of the story: Jesus wins. Indeed, He has already won the victory at the Cross.

GE-Healthcare's Press Release on Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Folks,

My response to GE's initiative to begin embryonic stem cell research is in green italics below. The actual press announcement is in blue italics. Warning: I am about as diplomatic as a skunk off-gasing at Sunday morning Mass.

I absolutely oppose human embryonic stem cell research. It is nothing other than fatal experimentation on unborn babies. Human life starts at conception and ends at natural death. The right to life is a God-given right and no one has any right to take the life of an unborn baby (whether the baby be a fertilized egg or a fully formed fetus) even to save his own life or the life of another. Embryonic stem cell research murders babies and is inherently immoral. This is a non-negotionable position.

PRESS RELEASE of June 30, 2009

GE Healthcare and Geron announce exclusive global agreement to commercialize stem cell drug discovery technologies

CHALFONT ST GILES, UK & MENLO PARK, CALIFORNIA, 30 JUNE 2009 - GE Healthcare, a unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), and Geron Corporation (Nasdaq: GERN) today announced that they have entered into a global exclusive license and alliance agreement to develop and commercialize cellular assay products derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) for use in drug discovery, development and toxicity screening. Financial terms are not being disclosed.

“This agreement marks a further step in GE Healthcare’s cell technology strategy aimed at addressing the potential of stem cell applications in the drug discovery and therapy markets,” said Konstantin Fiedler, General Manager, Cell Technologies, GE Healthcare. “Combining GE Healthcare’s reach into the drug discovery and research markets, as well our expertise in cell manufacturing, with Geron’s expertise and IP in hESCs, means that together, we will be able to accelerate the development of hESC-derived products for drug discovery and development.”

“Geron is intensely focused on developing hESC-based cell therapies, and the expertise that we have developed in scalable manufacturing and differentiation of hESCs to specific cell types is directly applicable to the production of these cells for drug discovery,” said David J. Earp, J.D., Ph.D. Geron’s Senior Vice President of Business Development and Chief Patent Counsel. “In GE Healthcare we have found the ideal partner with whom to develop this near-term commercial opportunity. There is much anticipation of the availability of hESC-derived cells for drug discovery applications within the pharmaceutical industry and we look forward to working closely with GE Healthcare to deliver these promising products.”

Under the terms of the agreement, GE Healthcare has been granted an exclusive license under Geron’s extensive intellectual property portfolio covering the growth and differentiation of hESCs, as well as a sublicense under Geron’s rights to the foundational hESC patents held by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation. GE Healthcare and Geron have established a multi-year alliance program under which scientists from the two companies will work closely together to develop hESC-based products for drug discovery. The program will use stem cells derived from hESC lines listed on the NIH Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Registry. GE Healthcare will fund the R&D program and will be responsible for manufacturing, sales and distribution of products developed under the agreement.

Up to three quarters of toxicity problems are not detected until preclinical or later stages of drug development and this significantly increases the cost of developing new drugs. Earlier detection of toxicity problems could reduce both overall drug development costs and potentially harmful patient exposure in clinical trials. The GE Healthcare – Geron alliance aims to develop cellular assay products derived from hESCs that could be used in early in vitro screening of drug candidates.

Cells derived from hESCs have similar attributes to their counterparts in the body, and can therefore be used to predict many pharmacological characteristics of a drug candidate. Cardiotoxicity and hepatotoxicity are the most common causes of drug safety liabilities and withdrawal of drugs during development. Derivation of functional cell types from hESCs, in particular hepatocytes of the liver and cardiomyocytes of the heart, could provide a reliable supply of cells to perform metabolism, biodistribution and toxicity testing of drug candidates.

The combination of GE Healthcare’s Cell Factory capability for cell reproduction and manufacturing with Geron’s hESC technology will make it possible to generate a large scale supply of hESC-derived cells which retain normal cellular functions and could address bottlenecks in new drug research and accelerate the drug development process. The first products developed in the GE Healthcare and Geron alliance are expected to be available by early 2010, with a pipeline of products to follow.

Under the terms of the agreement, intellectual property rights arising from the alliance program research will be shared, with GE Healthcare receiving rights for the development of drug discovery technologies, and Geron receiving rights for cell therapy applications.

Update on DFLA

Update: Please see I Am Ashamed of Kristen Day.

Folks,

In a previous blog entry at this web site, I had stated that I am Proud of Kristen Day, the Administrator of Democrats for Life in America (DFLA), because of her criticism of Congressman Ryan for capitulating to the pro-abortionists. However, some clarifying information has come to light to temper my enthusiasm for DFLA. Indeed, I am disturbed by what a commenter pointed out at this blog, that Rep. James Langevin (D-RI) supports fatal experimentation on unborn babies, and that he is on the Federal Advisory Board for DFLA

Web page http://www.democratsforlife.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=49 verifies the statement that Rep. Langevin is on the DFLA's Federal Advisory Board.

Web site http://www.ontheissues.org/House/James_Langevin.htm verifies the statement that Rep. Langevin is pro-embryonic stem cell research.

Kristen Day, the Administrator of DFLA, needs to respond to this. One cannot claim to be pro-life and vote in favor of fatal experimentation on unborn babies - Period.

On a side note, I am beginning to wonder if it is any longer possible to be Democrat and completely pro-life. I am not enthused with the Republican Party since they have their own scandals. But the position of the Democrat Party is particularly heinous in openly supporting infanticide in its official platform.

Humor - The Ten Commandments According to Obama

Folks,

This is from the Patriot Update web site:


I. Thou shalt have no God in America, except for me. For we are no longer a Christian nation and, after all, I am the chosen One. (And like God, I do not have a birth certificate.) SOURCE
II. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, unless it is my face carved on Mt. Rushmore. SOURCE
III. Thou shalt not utter my middle name in vain (or in public). Only I can say Barack Hussein Obama. SOURCE
IV. Remember tax day, April 15th, to keep it holy. SOURCE
V. Honour thy father and thy mother until they are too old and sick to care for. They will cost our public-funded health-care system too much money. SOURCE
VI. Thou shalt not kill, unless you have an unwanted, unborn baby. For it would be an abomination to punish your daughter with a baby. SOURCE
VII. Thou shalt not commit adultery if you are conservative or a Republican. Liberals and Democrats are hereby forgiven for all of their infidelity and immorality, but the careers of conservatives will be forever destroyed. SOURCE
VIII. Thou shalt not steal, until you've been elected to public office. Only then is it acceptable to take money from hard-working, successful citizens and give it to those who do not work, illegal immigrants, or those who do not have the motivation to better their own lives. SOURCE
IX. Thou shalt not discriminate against thy neighbor unless they are conservative, Caucasian, or Christian. SOURCE
X. Thou shalt not covet because it is simply unnecessary. I will place such a heavy tax burden on those that have achieved the American Dream that, by the end of my term as President, nobody will have any wealth or material goods left for you to covet. SOURCE

GE subsidiary to use human embryonic stem cells for drug testing

Folks,

It appears that a GE subsidiary to use human embryonic stem cells for drug testing. Please left click your mouse cursor on the aforementioned web link to read the new article. The subsidiary in question is GE-Healthcare.

When Fox News revealed that Jeff Immelt, GE CEO, had not stopped dealing with Iran until 2005, one could begin to suspect that his concerns were with money and not morality. This latest merely confirms the obvious.

No government and no corporation can possibly succeed and prosper when it performs fatal experimentation on unborn babies. Dealing with mad dictators in Islamic fascist regimes is one thing. Murdering babies is even more heinous.

I Am Proud of Kristen Day

Please see Update on DFLA and I Am Ashamed of Kristen Day.

Folks,

If we had more Democrats like Kristen Day, then I could be encouraged to vote Democrat (instead of being a supporter of the Constitution Party). Please read SPECIAL REPORT: Democrats for Life: Congressman Ryan Losing His Way? to see why Kristin Day is the type of Democrat that my father and maternal grandfather were. Where is the Party of our forefathers?

(P.S., Don't forget to visit the DFLA web site.)

You go, girl!

Today's Humor - What to Carry onto a Bus

Folks,

This graph is so true, especially in our post-modern, neo-pagan society. Praying the Rosary on a bus will work just about as well for social ostracism, too.

The Lord's Anointed

Folks,

With all the insanity going on nowadays over dissent within the Church, particularly with regard to Catholic politicians in opposition to the Church’s teaching on abortion, gay marriage, etc., it is appropriate to emphasize the respect that is due to the Lord’s Anointed. Many of you may recall that Saul was the first anointed King of Israel, but because of his disobedience towards God, the Kingdom had been given from Saul’s progeny to David, and as a result, Saul often pursued David to kill him. Yet whenever David had Saul within his grasp, he refused to lay his hands on the Lord’s Anointed. 1st Samuel 24 records how Saul went into a cave in search for David in the desert near Engedi, and even though David (hiding in the cave) could have overpowered Saul, he did not. Instead, he secretly cut a piece of Saul’s mantle off and said, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD'S anointed, as to lay a hand on him, for he is the Lord's anointed.”

1st Samuel 26 records how Saul once again went in pursuit of David on the hill of Hachilah. During the night, when Saul was asleep, David entered his camp under the cloak of darkness and again had a chance to overpower him. Even though David’s companion, Abishai, urged him to strike Saul down, David replied, “Do not harm him, for who can lay hands on the LORD'S anointed and remain unpunished? As the LORD lives it must be the LORD himself who will strike him, whether the time comes for him to die, or he goes out and perishes in battle. But the LORD forbid that I touch his anointed!” So David took only the spear and water jug beside Saul’s sleeping head and left Saul alone.

Sadly, as 1st Samuel 31 records, both Saul and his son Jonathan were killed by the Philistines (actually Saul was morally wounded and he fell on his sword rather than be taken alive by the Philistines). But this did NOT occur because of David, but because of the justice of the Lord for Saul’s previous disobedience. 2nd Samuel 1 records how David grieved over the deaths of Saul and Jonathan. Now while David and Jonathan had been best-friends, there was vast enmity between Saul and David, and it would have been entirely understandable if David had expressed relief – even a sort of satisfied vengeance – at Saul’s death. But that is NOT what happened. In fact, an Amalekite immigrant falsely bragged to David that it was he who killed Saul in order to give the Kingdom to David. David’s response is so very telling, “How is it that you were not afraid to put forth your hand to desecrate the LORD'S anointed?” Then David ordered one of his attendants to execute the Amalekite and declared, “You are responsible for your own death, for you testified against yourself when you said, 'I dispatched the LORD'S anointed.’” David then sang an eulogy for Saul and Jonathan.

There was then battle between the remaining House of Saul and the incoming House of David. 2nd Samuel 2 though 4 record that each time someone tried to do evil against the House of Saul, David opposed him and acted with justice. Abner, one of Saul’s generals, originally opposed David and killed one of David’s servants, Abishai, to escape pursuit by Joab and Abishai. But Abner came to his senses and made peace with David. Yet Joab would hear nothing of it and went to kill Abner in vengeance for the previous killing of Abner’s brother Asahel. 2nd Samuel 3 records how David mourned over the death of Abner and placed full responsibility on Joab.

2nd Samuel 4 records how Rimmon, Rechab and Baanah slew Ishbaal, one of Saul’s sons, and brought his head to David in glee. David had these wicked men slain, cutting off their hands and feet and hanging them up near the pool in Hebron. David, though chosen by God to replace Saul, would neither lay his hands on the Lord’s Anointed nor desecrate the memory of the Lord’s Anointed.

Today in this post-modern, neo-pagan early 21st century, we think nothing of reviling, condemning and disobeying our Bishops, Priests and Deacons. If this were the time of David, then we would be slain for such apostasy. We have become complacent in the presence of God’s mercy and have forgotten what God’s justice really entails. As a deacon declared during Mass at St. Peter the Fisherman last Sunday, if God has to impoverish us to cause us to repent of our idolatry and disobedience, then He is willing to do exactly that.

The Next US Surgeon General

Folks,

The latest nomination from Barack Hussein Obama is for the office of US Surgeon General. He has chosen Dr. Regina Benjamin, an ostenisbly Catholic person who has done much laudable work in the deep south. However, like most of Obamolech's other choices, she appears to be pro-death:

Open topic: Is Obama's (Catholic) pick for Surgeon General pro-abortion?

White House: Catholic surgeon general nominee supports Obama on abortion

Surgeon General Pick Already in the Hot Seat

We can only wait and see what unfolds, but one thing is certain: Obamolech is paying scant heed to Dignitas Personae, the 2008 Vatican document on bioethics and the right to life, a copy of which Pope Benedict XVI gave to the President during his recent visit to the G8 Conference in Italy:

Pope gives Obama 'unannounced' gift: Vatican document on right to life and bioethics

Kathlene Sebelius is a pro-abortion Catholic and now Health and Human Services Secretary. Sonia Sotomayor is a pro-abortion Catholic and now headed as Associate Justice to SCOTUS. Joseph Biden is a pro-abortion Catholic and Vice President of these United States. So the candidate for US Surgeon General being another pro-abortion Catholic does not surprise me in the least. The reason why we have pro-abortion Catholic politicians and civil servants is because we wanted it that way; we failed to vote for the Truth, and instead accepted a lie - the lie of the false gospel of social justice and the common good instead of the Eternal Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Personally, I think that as long as Catholic politicians and civil servants publicly and knowingly hold positions in opposition to the teaching of the Church, then they should be publicly excommunicated. Until this is done, we will continue to see apostasy and heresy grow and grow like an ugly cancer. The USCCB has to stand on its own two feet and start acting with authority and leadership. But far more importantly, we as the laity have to start being true to our Catholic Faith. We must submit to the teachings of Holy Mother Church. We must support our Bishops, Priests and Deacons, even when we disagree with them for they are the Lord's Anointed. We must learn our Faith - the reasons for which we believe - but be able to give intelligent answers for the critical questions asked of us. We can no longer sit idly by as spectators at Holy Mass. We must be engaged: Ephesians 6:10-20.

ECUSA Approves Gay Ordination

Folks,

Sadly this news is hardly startling:

Episcopal Church approves resolution to ordain gay clergy

The Epsicopal Church continues to move away from the Holy Gospel: female clergy, gay clergy, gay marraige. We need to pray for our separated brethren, and that their presiding "bishop" Katharine Jefferts Schori repents.

Today's Plato Quote

Folks,

This quote from Plato is most timely:

We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.

The Audacity of the Pope

Folks,

I am usually loathe to ever cite anything written by the liberal NY Times (Obamolech's premier liberal newspaper mouthpiece) to the gentle reader, but the following opinion piece is worth reviewing:

The Audacity of the Pope by Ross Douthat

I do not agree with what Ross Douthat states about redistribution of wealth; forcibly taking wealth from those who earn to give to those who do not earn is stealing and is always immoral. Furthermore, Pope Benedict XVI never suggested any such thing in his encyclical, Caritas in Veritate, the topic of Mr. Douthat's opinion piece. BUT, nevertheless, in spite of this error, Mr. Douthat's little essay deserves every consideration, and overall, he is basically correct (truly an anomaly for the NY Times).

By the way, for the readers in Wilmington, NC, the NY Times owns Wilmington's Star News. That explains a lot of things about the Star News' liberal bias.

Today's Gospel Reading from Matthew 10:34 - 11:1

Folks,

Many (especially in the crowd enamored with the false gospel of social justice and the common good) think (quite erroneously) that Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, came to bring peace upon Earth. However, as today's Gospel message makes quite clear, that is NOT what Jesus Himself declares in Matthew 10:34-11:1:

Jesus said to his Apostles:"Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth.I have come to bring not peace but the sword. For I have come to seta man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one's enemies will be those of his household.

"Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his crossand follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it,and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

"Whoever receives you receives me,and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is righteous will receive a righteous man's reward. And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because he is a disciple–amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward."

When Jesus finished giving these commands to his Twelve disciples, he went away from that place to teach and to preach in their towns.

Reader Response

Folks,

Below is a reader's response to the post at this blogsite entitled, "Statement by Supreme Knight Carl Anderson".

"I am skeptical that there was anything genuine in Obama’s intentions when he said he respects the Catholic church’s positions…that to me just means he agrees to disagree. In any event, the bottom line is and always will be, to ensure that the 'common ground' between the pro-life and pro-choice sides is to support women in crisis pregnancy, regardless of whether or not abortion is legal. The far bigger issue is how men and women are cheapening one another regarding sex in our society, but this teaching has to begin in the home. I am curious to see how well received a chastity speaker might be..."

I agree 100% with this reader. The answer to the problem of abortion is chastity, holiness and righteousness before the Lord, but words like those are unpopular nowadays in our society of instant gratification of one's lusts. Indeed, there can be NO common ground between Christians and the license for pleasure without responsibility and accountability.

Let us remember the story of John 8:2-11, and pray for those women who do face crisis-pregnancies, who have been unable to make the right choices in the past, who have been denigrated and abused and cast aside by today's society which cheapens and demeans the God-given gift of human sexuality:

Ave, Maria, gratia plena;
Dominus tecum:
benedicta tu in mulieribus,
et benedictus fructus ventris tui Iesus.
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei,
ora pro nobis peccatoribus,
nunc et in hora mortis nostrae.
Amen.

And better yet, let us actually help them (Matthew 25:40).

Catholics and the "Fourth Estate"

Folks,

Here is the web link to the July 8th address by Archbishop Chaput to the Archdiocese of Denver:

Catholics and the "Fourth Estate"

It will take about five to ten minutes for the average reader to read this. It is well worth the reader's time.

The First Amendment to our Constitution protects the Press from Government control. There is, however, no protection of the Government from control by the Press and that is exactly how Obamolech got elected.

Statement by Supreme Knight Carl Anderson

Folks,

The statement by the K of C Supreme Knight Carl Anderson on the meeting between Pope Benedict XVI and President Barack Hussein Obama may be found at the following web link:

Statement by Supreme Knight On the Meeting Between Pope and POTUS

The Supreme Knight explained at the end that, "The following issues will help provide a true gauge of the progress made on achieving common ground with the Catholic community:

1. Adoption of a federal conscience clause regulation that gives real protection to Catholic institutions and individuals;
2. Health care legislation that does not contain a back door mandate for abortion;
3. Abortion reduction programs that respect pro-life crisis pregnancy and teenage abstinence programs;
4. Preservation of the pro-life riders that currently exist in the annual appropriations legislation. These riders, which restrict federal abortion funding, also raise conscience protection issues, since their removal would force tax payers to pay for abortions against their conscience.
5. Dropping any attempts to codify by statute the president’s rescission of the Mexico City Policy, which allows international abortion funding by the United States."
   

Today's Plato Quote

Folks,

Once again, Plato's wisdom proves sadly true:

Only the dead have seen the end of war.

Tonight's Humor - Watering the Garden

Folks,

For all you dog lovers out there, here's tonight's humor:

Obama Delivers Letter to Pope from Ted Kennedy

Folks,

According to the Catholic Culture web site, Obama delivered a letter from Senator Ted Kennedy to Pope Benedict XVI. There are scant details in the news article entitled, Pope challenges Obama directly on life issues. Aside from being a rabid pro-abortionist "Catholic", Senator Kennedy was also involved in that infamous incident at Chappaquidick wherein Mary Jo Kopechne died from drowning when the Senator drove his car off a bridge into the water, and managed to extricate himself, but was apparently too inebriated from that evening's party (so the story goes) to rescue his "travelling companion". In 2008 Senator Kennedy collapsed and was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor.

One can only guess what is in his letter to the Holy Father. We should pray for the Senator, for his time with us on this Earth may be more limited than our own:

Avē Marīa, grātia plēna, Dominus tēcum.
Benedicta tū in mulieribus,
et benedictus frūctus ventris tuī, Iēsus.
Sancta Marīa, Māter Deī,
ōrā prō nōbīs peccātōribus,
nunc et in hōrā mortis nostrae.
Āmēn.

Photographs of the Pope and POTUS

Folks,

Below are photographs of Pope Benedict XVI and President Barack Hussein Obama within the Photo Essay: From the Vatican off the White House's web site:

The Truth Behind the Obama Photo?

Folks,

Apparently our liberal news media has seen fit to correct that lone photograph of Obama leering at a young lady at the G8 summit in Europe (see this blog's entry entitled Our President). The link below will lead the reader to the media's video correction:

Truth behind Obama photo

Now why couldn't this same news media have been forthcoming when photographs of George Bush were taken and published out of context? Is it possible that the news media of this nation is biased? Oh say that it ain't so! Yes, sarcasm is intended.

I will note that the video whose link is provided above comes from ABC News, the same organization that recently camped out at the White House to see Obama's national health plan that is sure to increase our already gargantuan debt of 3 trillion dollars to the Red Chinese. But in the interest of fairness, I figured that letting the reader be aware of ABC News' attempt at a correction is the right thing to do.