Catholics Reject Rudy on Abortion

The other night, Laura Ingraham and Kate O'Beirne, (author of "Women Who Make the World Worse" and frequent guest on "The World Over" on EWTN) conservative pundits for whom I have a lot of respect, sorely disappointed me when they agreed on her radio program that conservatives will just have to settle for Rudy, despite his pro-death opinions, oh, wait . . . he's coming around on Partial-Birth infanticide. . . Laura said we should be happy he's converting on that issue. Puuuuleeeeze!
Be happy he's starting to back off the slaughter of the nearly-born in an election year?! Just who is she kidding?! Convert, my foot, there are no converts in election years, only slippery politicians! Rudy has half of the Republicans thinking he's pro-life, however the more saavy Republican bloggers are on to him, and support Sam Brownback. Do your homework, people!
Thank Heavens, it seems that faithful Catholics have no such illusions about Rudy. I like what he accomplished in New York too, it is a much safer place, but he doesn't have any type of moral authority. In fact, the ladies accurately pointed out that, of the leading Republican candidates, the Mormon Romney was married the fewest times!
We can do better than Guiliani. We can support Sam Brownback for president. He was out in front as a pro-life leader before the national spotlight was on him as a presidential candidate. He supports human rights across the board, whether, the unborn, the elderly infirm, the disabled (here he is at the Blogs for Life Conference with my daughter). He has fought against the international trafficking of humans, and was among the first to raise his voice for the suffering in Sudan and Darfur, again, BEFORE it was the thing to do. See my letter to the editor of the National Catholic Register this week, as well as the support voiced by the newspaper's editor, Fr. Owen Kearns.
He has been called "the William Wilberforce Republican" for his outstanding moral character and courageous activism. He takes the Church's position on every social issue, whether or not his party does. His actions are prompted by his conscience, NOT the polls!
" In the 1990s, Brownback began to read everything he could find on Wilberforce, who used his public office to promote Christian morals. For Brownback, the attraction to Wilberforce and abolitionism was only natural: The senator grew up near Osawatomie, Kan., the town from which John Brown launched murderous attacks on pro-slavery men a century and a half ago, earning the pre–Harper’s Ferry nickname “Osawatomie Brown.” When Brownback learned that forms of slavery were still being practiced in Sudan and elsewhere, it outraged him. “I couldn’t believe this was going on,” he says. “It was just wrong, and we needed to do something about it".quotes John J. Miller of the National Review Online in May 2006.
Sam Brownback is endorsed by Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life, and Tom Monaghan of Ave Maria University. He is the only Catholic candidate.

Review of "Amazing Grace"

“William Wilberforce’s life and commitment is an example to all of us of the power of one man to change the course of human history,” said Traditional Values Coalition Chairman, Rev. Louis P. Sheldon. “His life was spent on the noble cause of ending the horrid slave trade in Britain – and his work inspired 19th century Americans to begin fighting against slavery in our own nation. He left a powerful legacy for all of us to emulate.”
On the 200th anniversary of the historic vote to end the slave trade in Great Britain, I saw "Amazing Grace", and learned history in a manner which was never taught in school. The nun who taught us US History in 11th grade told us, "you think of American history of John Wayne on his white horse, I'm going to tell you the REAL American history". She then began a course revealing the selfish motives, and personal flaws of America's leaders, such as the Thomas Jefferson's liaison with his slave, Sally Hemmings. The danger with teaching methods like this, so prevalent in education today, is that the student comes away quite cynical about human motivation, and has no positive role models.

In "Amazing Grace". William Wilberforce, the 18th century Member of the British Parliament, is presented as a war-weary champion of the oppressed, depleted in health and spirit. The film then flashes back to an exuberant 'Wilber', as he's known by his friends, in the springtime of his conversion to Christ. He's fascinated with the wonder of creation, and is carefully considering how to serve God best, when his good friend brings over some unusual dinner guests, who suggest that one can serve God and man by being active in the public square, using his influence in Parliament. They reveal to him in the horrors of the slave trade, and he's thrown into a crisis; he is aware that God is calling him to oppose the 300 member majority who favor, and profit from the selling of human beings. Although his abolitionist friends are faithful, his political friends are more fickle, causing him to lose heart just as the battle is about to turn in his favor. How he regains his sense of mission, and ultimately stops the trafficking in human beings from Africa, makes riveting viewing.
Wilberforce's struggle, a study in heroism, is an outstanding history lesson. Abraham Lincoln stated that every American schoolboy knows the name of William Wilberforce. This would be a healthier society if it were again true.
With the intensity of Ioan Gruffodd, who plays William Wilberforce, and the raw emotion of Albert Finney, who played John Howard the slave trader turned minister who wrote the hymn, "Amazing Grace", the story progressed in a manner that literally had me on the edge of my seat. Gorgeous cinematography, and historical detail added to the authenticity of the film

Take your older children(some frightening scenes of slavery and mild profanity) to see "Amazing Grace" and help them to find their voice for justice. According to the website, the struggle to end human trafficking is far from over; over 27 million men, women and children are still in slavery across the world. An outreach on the movie website will tell you how to get involved.

Prolifers take heart from "Amazing Grace"

While watching the movie, I was impressed at the overwhelming odds Wilberforce faced at the outset, the MPs were stacked 300 to 2, most of them owed their fortunes to the slave trade, and yet he and the abolitionists began with the grassroots campaign to change the minds and hearts of the British public, something which had never been tried before. And, after twenty years of hard work,and numerous apparent setbacks, they succeeded.
We are the third wave in the pro-life movement. We follow in the auspicious footsteps of the abolitionist, and civil rights movements, in the struggle against grave injustice in the world. Do you know what these three movements have in common?
They were all products of Christian faith. William Wilberforce was the classic Christian liberal; compassionate to the downtrodden, yet unwilling to sacrifice civil order when his more extreme friends, like Thomas Clarkson suggested revolution, in the footsteps of the American and French Revolutions. His calm, reasoned, lawful efforts prevailed, and so will ours.
Onward to victory!!

Biography of William Wiberforce as a follow up to "Amazing Grace"

To mark the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the British slave trade, HarperSanFrancisco and Bristol Bay Productions have joined together to commemorate the life of William Wilberforce in the feature film, Amazing Grace, and in a companion biography, Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery, written by Eric Metaxas. Eric is the author of Everything You Always Wanted to Know About God (but were afraid to ask). He is founder and host of "Socrates in the City" in New York City, where he lives with his wife and daughter. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, Washington Post, Books & Culture, Christianity Today, Mars Hill Review, and First Things. He has written for Veggie Tales and Rabbit Ears Productions, earning three Grammy nominations for Best Children's Recording.

Top Republican Picks are CODs

When the three top Republicans in the 2008 presidential race are Culture of Death politicians, it's time to reach back into the bag, and pick another one.

This is my Lenten Fast

Fast from judging others; feast on the Christ indwelling in them.
Fast from words that pollute; feast on phrases that purify.
Fast from discontent; feast on gratitude.
Fast from anger; feast on patience.
Fast from worry; feast on trust.
Fast from complaining; feast on appreciation.
Fast from negatives; feast on affirmatives.
Fast from unrelenting pressures; feast on unceasing prayer.
Fast from hostility; feast on nonviolence.
Fast from bitterness; feast on forgiveness.
Fast from self-concern; feast on compassion for others.
Fast from personal anxiety; feast on eternal truth.
Fast from discouragement; feast on hope.
Fast from facts that depress; feast on truths that uplift.
Fast from suspicion; feast on truth.
Fast from idle gossip; feast on purposeful silence.
Almighty God, during this season of fasting,
gift us with Your amazing grace, so we can carry out Your work.
Amen.

Who Was William Wilberforce?

Abraham Lincoln called him " the hero of every American schoolboy", he's the father of the anti-slavery movement, and was responsible for halting the British slave trade 200 years ago today, yet so many of us aren't familiar with his story, and remarkable faith.
Idle Speculations will enlighten us.
Now, go and see Amazing Grace, and learn some more about this true Christian hero!

Now, this is something I would have said!

ABC news is starting to think with the pro-lifers. Really!
Charles Gibson, in opening teaser:"Welcome to World News. Tonight, a baby born after just 21 weeks in the womb survives. A tiny miracle that raises big questions in the debate over abortion." (see that discomfort on his face!)
We pro-lifers have known that each time a child survives at a younger gestational age, our position that this child is a person deserving protection is strengthened, but to hear the other side recognize the significance of this tiny child's survival outside the womb from 21 weeks gestation, that is good news!
Of course, we'll be criticized for publicizing little Amilia Taylor's survival at 21 weeks, 6 days, but we've got them on the run!

St. Anselm's just broke my heart!

When I was 18, I had many options for higher education. My SAT scores got me letters from Ivy League schools, and my father urged me to accept an intvitation to be one of the first women at West Point, but what I longed for was an authentic Catholic, liberal arts education, integrated with, and not embarrassed by the Catholic Faith.
I searched long and hard, as options were scarce in 1980, and finally found small St. Anselm College in Manchester, NH. Steeped in the Benedictine tradition, proud of it's Catholic heritage, with an exceptional two year integrated Humanities Program, St. Anselm's was a jewel in the crown of the Church. I had a wonderful education there Freshman and Sophomore years, until illness forced me to study closer to home, but I have always been a proud Anselmian. Until now.

I read at Bettnet that St. Anselm's will begin co-ed dorms, due to the high number of students enrolling. How sad, since, for many of them, the main reason they are enrolling is because of the relatively strong Catholic identity there. This identity may now be on the wane. How tragic!

I remember the parietal system, which flushed out the opposite sex from the dorms after visiting hours on weekends (1 AM), so the dorm occupants could sleep. Did I ever break the rules? Naturally, many students did, but we still benefited from them. I never had to find a place to sleep while my roomie entertained a boyfriend, or left a shower in my robe to run into a guy in the hallway. I felt safe and enjoyed the company of other women, until the PA system would call down a happy girl who had a caller. We could focus on study, with no one to flirt with at 'home'. And if we needed to study with guys, there was a great library and coffee shop.

I remember studying for my Methods and Materials of Literary Analysis final with some friends in the library till it closed at midnight, and continuing our studies over pancakes at Bickfords. We had plenty of healthy interactions with men, but when we needed to have our privacy, we could. I'm so sorry this opportunity will be lost for many students at St. Anselm's College. I hope they will reconsider, and preserve their Catholicity.

American Papist on "Bella" the movie

Causa Nostrae Laetitiae has an early (rave) review of it (with some general thematic spoilers). She talks about it more here (though the site seems to be having some picture formatting difficulties). Some revealing words about the producer, Leo Severino:
He told of leaving a prosperous career as Latin American business mangaer at Fox studios to begin Metanoia Films (Greek for conversion). "I wanted to make films that if the Virgin Mary sat next to me during the screening, I wouldn't have to cover her eyes."
This film will be released in April, and we will be covering the premieres, as part of doing our best to promote this great, warm life-affirming story.

Cardinal Pell denounces, "global warming zealots"

Cardinal Pell of Sydney denounced the "nonsense about climate disasters" and the
"semi-religious" zealotry of those worried about global warming.

The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Sydney Australia wrote to his flock that
“doomsayers” and “zealots” who worry about global warming have subjected their
listeners to “a lot of nonsense about climate disasters”.

Noting that some opinion page editors and others have called for “Nuremberg-style
trials for global warming sceptics, while a USA television correspondent
compared sceptics to ‘holocaust deniers’”, Cadinal George Pell said “Christians
don’t go against reason although we sometimes go beyond it in faith to embrace
probabilities. What we were seeing from the doomsayers was an induced dose of
mild hysteria, semi-religious if you like, but dangerously close to
superstition.”

Writing on the Sydney Australia website on February
18, Cardinal Pell said that he is “deeply sceptical about man-made catastrophic
global warming, but still open to further evidence.” He noted that global
climate change, such as the Ice Age, had come about with or without human
intervention and that he would be surprised, however, if man-made pollution had
no ill effect at all."

HT Lifesite News

I've always admired the Cardinal's guts. Global warming is the liberals Holy Grail, and they are incredibly intolerant about it.

William Wilberforce Honored by Senator Brownback

A resolution honoring the life of William Wilberforce, who was instrumental in
the abolition of slavery in Britain, will be considered in the U.S.
Senate.
"Wilberforce's passion and commitment to end the British slave trade
and renew the culture solidified the inherency of human dignity and sanctity of
human life," said Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., a co-sponsor of the resolution.
"As the 200th anniversary of British slave-trade abolition approaches, we should
celebrate Wilberforce's victories and use his legacy as an inspiration to renew
our culture."
Wilberforce spent 20 years the British House of Commons
fighting slavery. On Feb. 23, 1807, Parliament banned the slave
trade.
"William Wilberforce's unmatched determination to end the British
slave-trade practice continues to inspire leaders and communities throughout the
world," said Sen. Mark Pryor, R-Ark., also a co-sponsor. "However, we
cannot turn a blind eye to how the slave trade has evolved into trafficking of
women and children."
The U.S. State Department estimated 600,000 to 800,000
people were trafficked internationally in 2006, Brownback noted.
"We must continue to follow Wilberforce's example and fight for the dignity and freedom of every person," he said. "It is intolerable that 200 years after Britain
banned its slave trade, there are still hundreds of thousands of victims of
human trafficking who are used as bonded laborers, sex slaves, and in other
horrifying capacities."
The story of William Wilberforce is told in the motion picture Amazing Grace, which opens in theaters Friday. The film, produced by Walden Media and The Samuel Goldwyn Company, focuses on the lives of Wilberforce and slave-ship-captain-turned-pastor John Newton, who wrote the hymn "Amazing Grace".
Abraham Lincoln is quoted as saying that evey American schoolboy knows of William Wilberforce. I hope, with the release of this movie, this becomes true again. This generation needs true heroes. Senator Sam Brownback has been compared with William Wilberforce, not only for his opposition to human trafficking, but for his desire to serve God through his elected office.

Meanwhile. . .a nightmare is happening in Italy

A thirteen year old girl is undergoing a forced abortion, forced by her parents and the courts. This coercion happens here in America as well, but at least if it gets to the courts, the girl prevails, and the baby is saved.
Are you fasting with us this Lent to end this nightmare?

The Church's Guidelines on Fasting

Are at Women for Faith and Family.
Let's do a good job of fasting this Lent. A group of bloggers from Texas are fasting on Fridays, for an end to abortion. "It began here, let it end here." they say, since Norma McCorvey who was shamefully used by abortion activists to push for a legalization of abortion in Roe v Wade in 1973, was fromTexas, they want Texas to be the place where it all ends. Good idea.
I will join this worthy cause, and if you want to, please leave a comment.
Remeber, Our Lord warned that some demons can only be cast out by prayer and fasting.
If abortion isn't demonic, I don't know what is.

Mother Teresa was right

I'll never forget when Blessed Mother Teresa said that the greatest poverty of America was spirtual poverty, as evidenced in the loneliness of the elderly.
A recent story in the local news is a shocking example of this; a 70 year old man's mummified body was found in his home this week in Hampton Bays, NY. He had been dead one year when they found him, yet his TV WAS STILL ON!!
Lesson here: if your electric bill is paid, nobody bothers with you.
How sad this story is, yet, I wish it were unique. My Latin American students were horrified when I told them about it, and agreed unanimously that this would NEVER have happened in there poverty striken villages in Central America and Mexico. Their poverty is different, and perhaps easier to remedy.

Secularism is Not the Answer for War on Terror

Great article by Dinesh D'Souza, who truly understands the nature of the clash of cultures. "Islamic radicals like Bin Laden make their case against America and the West on the grounds that these cultures have abandoned Christianity. In his May 2006 letter to President Bush, Ahmadinejad faulted America not for being Christian, but for not being Christian enough. Many years earlier, the radical theoretician Sayyid Qutb made the same point. The main reason for the West’s moral decay, Qutb argued, is that in the modern era “religious convictions are no more than a matter of antiquarian interest.”

I have no argument here: when you consider the filth of American culture which is pumped out of our country via TV, Hollywood, and the Internet, and that this is all the radical Muslim sees of our culture, and how this offends his religious sensibility, what reaction do you expect? Would that Americans could see how offensive we are to traditional cultures which respect the modesty of women, fidelity in marriage, the sanctity of human life, and the glory of large families.

I attended a series of lectures given by the priest who married my husband and I. He's laicized and married now, and a liberal college professor touting the greatness of Islam. He was defending the tradition of the man walking ahead of the woman, saying that, in the desert where brigands abound, this tradition arose to protect the woman from ambush. The room was full of liberal Catholics and conservative Muslims. I saw an opportunity and stood up, and said,
"that is why traditional Catholics represented by the Vatican at the Cairo Conference, stood together with the Muslim countries against the UN's attempt to force abortion upon them.We have our traditional morality in common, which is potrayed by the left as oppression of women, but is truly apprecitation of the sacred role of motherhood, and protection against their exploitation as sexual objects."
I sat down to smiles from the Muslims who surrounded me to congratulate me, and a very uncomfortable speaker. Liberals who think they embrace Islam don't share the morality of home and family. If a radical Islamist government ever takes over this country, they would be the first to be lined up and beheaded.

Letter to a Stupid Atheist

Mary Grabar has made my Sunday with this piece written to the author of "Letter to a Christian Nation" who propports to tearn down the last vestiges of Christendom in his New York Times bestseller. My librarian, a former traditional Catholic, proudly bears this book on her shelves, but when I requested Bill O'Reilly's bestseller, "Culture Warrior" which represents the other side of the debate, she refused to purchase it for the library. How long, O Lord, will the atheists, and former Catholics be the gatekeepers of culture in this society?
Wait, I think I hear the response. . ."as long as you let them without resistance. . ."

Time Magazine Cover is Pro-life?!

" Despite some examples of bias in the news story -- it erroneously says childbirth is riskier than abortion -- Care Net’s Vice President of Communications Kristin Hansen told LifeNews.com the article was a good start in acknowledging their positive work.
Hansen called the Time story a “long overdue recognition of the growth and impact of pregnancy centers."
"We’re encouraged to see the society at large take notice and ask tough questions," she said.
There are more than 2,300 pregnancy centers across the United States -- significantly more than the number of abortion businesses. Unlike abortion facilities, these centers help pregnant women with baby and maternity resources, parenting classes, adoption, medical and educational needs."
LifeNews.com

I would change that to numerous examples of bias, they allowed the pro-aborts to get away with all sorts of ridiculous statements, such as the whopper by the abortion clinic owner who,' turns away women who are unsure they want abortions'. Puuleeeeze!!
A recent statistic states that the majority of womena feel coerced into having an abortion, not necessarily by economics, but by loved ones. No one interviewed brought up the possibility of adoption, so underused as an option, that the average wait for adopting a white infant can be ten years. How many women go public saying they wish they'd aborted, versus those who regret their abortions? The best thing about this article is that it shows we have pro-aborts on the run, or they wouldn't have enlisted TIME to schill for them. Already crisis pregnancy centers outnumber abortion mills in this country. Truth will win out, as it did in the case of slavery. Here is a small example from my life.

I have two of the larger fetal models pictured on the magazine cover in my purse, of two different races, in case the subject of abortion comes up. Once, at the Baptism party of the sixth child of friends, I sat across the table from a 'zero-population growth' couple, who were aghast at such an affront to Planned Parenthood's marching orders.
Meanwhile, my daughter Isabella, who was 4 at the time, was playing 'baby' with the fetal model, giving 'Freddie', as we called him, a sip of tea. The woman was caught up watching her, and grew very quiet. I believe she learned a lesson in the humanity of the unborn that day.
And a little child shall lead them. . . .

Fr Tom Euteneuer's Lessons from Portugal

Spirit & Life
"The words I spoke to you are spirit and life." (Jn 6:63)Human Life International e-NewsletterVolume 01, Number 55 Friday, Feb. 16, 2007
...................................................................................
www.hli.org
Lessons from Portugal
As many of our readers know, the Portuguese referendum to legalize abortion failed to do so last Sunday due to small voter turnout. Had suppression of voter turnout been a strategy of the pro-life movement (like it was in Italy for the stem cell vote last year) it would have been a logical way to handle the situation. However, that was not the case here. People didn't turn out to vote pro-life in sufficient numbers either because they were apathetic or because they just didn't understand what was at stake. Either way, that lack of turnout could be a fatal mistake for one reason alone: namely, when the abortion demon knocks, you have to shut the door in his face and get him off your property or he just declares victory, pushes his way in the door and sets up shop. Then an unsuspecting public is left to deal with the consequences of their apathy.
This is exactly what happened in Portugal. The ink was hardly dry on the ballots when radical pro-abortion Prime Minister Jose Socrates declared that the people had spoken and wanted abortion. Hello? No, there were not enough votes to actually legalize it, but that did not matter to Socrates or his fanatical socialist party: Socrates will give the babies of Portugal his cup of hemlock anyway. Parliament will vote sometime in the near future to legalize abortion through legislation because the people have shown that there is no real political liability to being a pro-abortion politician. This is what happens when a nation refuses to reject abortion outright.
Then, the day after the referendum, plans were announced by a coalition of abortionists for the building of a huge $3.5 million abortion facility right in the center of Lisbon. Abortion is not legal yet but the world's baby-killers don't waste any time do they? This is also what happens when a life-loving culture will not insist on the right to life.
The first lesson from Portugal, then, is that apathy kills. If the people are not willing to stand up and reject abortion lock stock and barrel, then that is a vote for the other side. Whoever said that he was neutral on abortion was lying. Anything but a firm "No!" to abortion plays right into the abortionists' hands.
The second lesson is that abortion is rarely if ever asked for by the people of a country; it is almost always imposed by an arrogant elite who are servants of a fanatical ideology if the people don't resist their advances. Nations that haven't legalized abortion yet would do well to look carefully at these dynamics and prepare for battle.
Finally, while the Portuguese pro-life movement responded heroically to this challenge, there is simply no substitute for people of conscience standing up to face the problem of abortion as a people. We often complain that the leadership is lacking in our Church on this issue, but in Portugal this was not the case. Church leaders spoke out valiantly and the pro-life activists on the front lines were well-organized and dynamic. What was lacking? A passion for life. Contrast this situation to the almost visceral response of the Nicaraguan people to removing abortion from their criminal code last October, and you see the passion.
The moral of the story: a nation has to want to exorcise the abortion demon from their midst. Otherwise, even the best seeds of life planted by its leaders will fall on the footpath and be scooped up by the devil's servants.
Portugal's battle is not over. In some senses it has just begun. Let us accompany the people of Portugal with our prayers still longer.
Sincerely Yours in Christ, Rev. Thomas J. EuteneuerPresident, Human Life International

Preview of "Amazing Grace"

Take a look at this riveting scene from the upcoming movie, Amazing Grace, based upon the faith and leadership of William Wilberforce, the British member of parliament who began the abolitionist movement which outlawed slavery in Great Britain, on February 23, 1807. In honor of the bicentennial of this event, the movie will open in theatres next Friday, February 23rd.
Here is a review by the International Herald Tribune: Europe.

Michael Medved- Nationally syndicated radio host"A movie that dazzles the eye, touches the heart, and stirs the soul. Elegantly crafted and superbly well-acted, AMAZING GRACE is a remarkably uplifting, substantive contribution to the popular culture -- and to our crucial understanding of freedom's history."

There is a promotional event, "Amazing Grace Sunday" to be held this Sunday, February 18th, in Christian Churches throughout the US and Europe, to sing the hymn, "Amazing Grace" and learn the history behind Thomas Newton, the slave ship owner, who had a conversion to Christinanity, became a minister and wrote the "Amazing Grace". The intention, besides promotion of the film and it's namesake hymn, is to pray for the end of racism and modern day slavery.

Another Flip Flopper from Massachusetts

1994: Mitt Romney was pro-choice
"I believe that abortion should be safe and legal in this country. I have since the time that my mom took that position when she ran in 1970 as a US Senate candidate. I believe that since Roe v. Wade has been the law for 20 years we should sustain and support it." (Joan Vennochi, "Romney’s Revolving World," The Boston Globe, 3/2/06)
2001: Mitt Romney was not pro-choice flip
"I do not wish to be labeled pro-choice." (Mitt Romney, Letter to the Editor, The Salt Lake Tribune, 7/12/01)
2002: Mitt Romney was again pro-choice flop
"I respect and will protect a woman’s right to choose. This choice is a deeply personal one … Women should be free to choose based on their own beliefs, not mine and not the government's." (Stephanie Ebbert, "Clarity Sought On Romney’s Abortion Stance," The Boston Globe, 7/3/05)
2007: Mitt Romney acknowledges he was "effectively pro-choice," but says he "was always for life." flip-flop
January 2007: "Over the last multiple years, as you know, I have been effectively pro-choice." (Bruce Smith, "Romney Campaigns in SC with Sen. DeMint," The Associated Press, 1/29/07)
February 2007: "I am firmly pro-life… I was always for life." (Jim Davenport, "Romney Affirms Opposition to Abortion," The Associated Press, 2/9/2007) huh?

"Mitt Romney’s flip flops are enough to make John Kerry blush," Brownback for President Campaign Manager Rob Wasinger said. "It is absurd of Mitt Romney to compare himself to Senator Brownback on the right to life issue."

It's early in the game, let's get rid of all Culture of Death (COD) politicians now! Let's have a real, viable alternative to the liberal Democrats!

The Exorcism of Emily Rose

OK, I admit it, I sometimes get a bit obsessed with a film, and see it a dozen times. My excuse is that I may write a screenplay someday, so I have to study technique. Few films stand up to this kind of scrutiny, besides the awesome Passion of the Christ.
The Exorcism of Emily Rose, however, is so well-crafted that it bears repeat viewings. Based upon the true story of Annliese Michel, a college student in Germany in 1976, it's based upon the trial of an exorcist priest who failed to save Emily from death, or the devil. The film is centered on the trial, with flashbacks providing windows into the terrifying case of a pious young woman besieged by several demons. Even more unsettling is the fate that befalls those who defend Fr. Moore and the film builds slowly into a stunning climax.
The Exorcism of Emily Rose has none of the gore of The Exorcist, but just as much drama, and leaves you without a definite answer to whether the devil exists, something to ponder in the days which follow. Especially at 3AM.

Thanks, Bill!

Catholic League president Bill Donohue commented today on news that Melissa McEwan has quit the campaign staff of John Edwards:

"One of Yogi Berra's most famous quips is, 'It's not over till it's over." I have news for John Edwards it's over.

Review of Return to Me

One of the simple pleasures my husband and I have enjoyed since our courtship, is a good romantic film. Often we discover an overlooked classic on DVD, and make it our new favorite. Return to Me is one of the best romantic comedies we have ever seen; one we need to see every once in a while for a laugh, a tear and to relive it's celebration of family life.

Carroll O'Connor stars in a wistful final performance of his life as a doting Irish grandfather of Grace (Minnie Driver) who has suffered from a heart ailment all her life. Together with their friends they run the coziest restaurant in Chicago, O'Malley's Italian Restaurant.

A year ago, Gracie had a heart transplant which gave her a whole new life, yet she still pines for someone to call her own.

One Friday night, Bob, a grieving widower walks into the restaurant and their lives are never the same.

This is Bonnie Hunt's directing debut; the film is funny with scenes of her boisterous family life with her husband, played by Jim Belushi, nostalgic with the sentimental songs of Dean Martin, and infused with a sense that God loves these people, and is watching over them. The Church is portrayed with respect and affection, and love is seen as more than romantic, it's life-giving.

Cuddle up on the sofa, with your loved ones (yes, bring the kids!) and enjoy Return to Me.

Mild language.

Register Arts and Entertainment Editor Mentions this Blog

I was reading the National Catholic Register's Arts and Entertainment article, "What's Playing at St. Blog's Cinema?" which discusses various websites which review films, like the well-known DecentFilms.com by Steven Greydanus, who also writes for the Register. At the end of the article, Eric Sheske mentioned some of my favorite blogs: Happy Catholic, Standing on My Head, and Jimmy Akin as bloggers who review films. I was then thrilled to see this blog mentioned among them.
Perhaps it was my early reviews of The Nativity Story, Bella, Charlotte's Web, and A Distant Thunder
Thanks, for the mention, Eric; I hope I can live up to the notoriety.

Mitt Romney misleading Catholics about Abortion

Look at this beautiful church, St. Mungo's, during 40 hours adoration

Referendum Results in Portugal are Mixed

Although the majority of Portuguese voters(59%) approved abortion until ten weeks gestation, the turnout wasn't sufficient to approve the law change(only 40% of voters). Prime Minister Jose Socrates, however, says he will move to approve the law nevertheless.
I wonder whose payroll he is really on?
When delegates from Non-Governmental Organizations came to New York City to vote on a treaty involving the so-called "right to abortion", Planned Parenthood offered them a $ 200 daily allowance to vote to push abortion in poor countries. Their operatives have been at work, pushing abortion on poorer nations with the help of the vast Gates and Buffet donations. One pro-life organization member I met in Washington, DC told me they have funded these efforts in perpetuity. On our side is the wonderful Human Life International, headed by Fr. Tom Euteneuer, whose video on this subject I have posted.
Thanks to an Executive Order, issued on President Bush's second full day as president, the Mexico City Policy has been in effect, prohibiting our tax dollars to be used for such a purpose, as they had been under Bill Clinton, and most certainly would be under his wife or Obama.

A Challenge to Democrats to Stand up to Anti-Catholic Bigotry

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The national Catholic-based advocacy group Fidelis has sent
formal letters to Democratic presidential candidates Senator Hillary Clinton and
Senator Barack Obama calling on them to publicly
condemn the anti-Catholic and anti-Christian blog posts of Amanda Marcotte and
Melissa McEwan, who serve as the official bloggers for the John Edwards for
President Committee.
Fidelis President Joseph Cella stated:
“Senators Clinton and Obama must publicly condemn the hateful writings of these
bloggers and call for their dismissal. Anything less than a clear public
condemnation would significantly call into question their efforts to reach out
to religious voters, many of whom have felt alienated by the Democratic Party in
recent years.”
In the letters, Cella wrote: “You are in a unique position to
make clear that anti-Catholic and anti-Christian bigotry of any kind should not
be tolerated by any candidate. By taking up this issue publicly, you will
be able to distinguish your candidacy from Mr. Edwards, while acknowledging the
respect due people of faith in America, and in particular, Catholics and
Christians

Any guesses on how Hillary and Obama will respond?

Portugal Doesn't Legalize Abortion, Yet. . .

Pray for Portugal as they have their referendum on abortion today

Sr Lucia and Servant of God John Paul II, pray for Portugal that they remain pure from the evil stain of abortion on their land!
Sts Jacinta, and Francisco, pray for Portugal, to remain faithful to Our Lady of Fatima!

All of Portugal, remember Our Lady of Fatima, and vote like Catholics!

Pray for Portugal!

The Democrats are going after the human rights violators: Us

From Robert Novak:

Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey and Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas, Republican
members of the Helsinki Commission monitoring human rights, have written
protests to illegal firing of four Republican commission staffers after the
Democrats won control of Congress.
The commission's new chairman, Democratic
Rep. Alcee Hastings of Florida, began the firings under oversight of Spencer
Oliver, a longtime Democratic operative famed as a victim of the Watergate
burglary. Oliver, secretary general of an international body dealing with human
rights, was assisting the U.S. commission as an observer. Under the commission's
founding laws, three of the committee's four lawmakers must concur in any staff
firing.
Hastings is expected to change the commission's focus away from
religious freedom in Belarus and European sex trafficking and concentrate on
alleged U.S. abuses at Guantanamo.

What, the pina coladas too warm? The inmates at club GITMO are afforded priveleges of the free exercise of religion denied to the average American schoolchild. Puuuleeeze! I smell a witch hunt to provide fodder for Obama and Hillary's campaigns.

Update on Blogate: Edwards is "Stuck on Stupid"

President Bush Increses Funding for Abstinence Education

So called 'safe-sex' programs are still funded at a rate of 15 to 1, however, in the current budget, they received no increase, while abstinence programs did. This is for those disillusioned conservatives out there who stayed home in the last election. There IS a difference, though admittedly not enough, between Republicans and Democrats. Watch President Obama's funding of Planned Parenthood skyrocket, if, God forbid, we're foolish enough to elect him.
Check out my post at Cause of Our Joy about whose values are taught in public schools.

How Prolife Laws Decreased the Number of Abortions

With the dearth of pro-life publicity in the media,especially after the March for Life which drew 134,000 young, vibrant pro-lifers,and was virtually ignored by the media, we sometimes forget we are on, by pro-abortionist's own admission, the winning side.
"Unless drastic changes are made, American women will lose the right to abortion and the [U.S.] Supreme Court won’t be the cause of it ... the reason will be that physicians either can’t or won’t perform this essential service."
- Barbara Radford, Former Director
- National Abortion Federation
Read this article to see how abortion decreased by 18% in the 1990's thanks to grassroots efforts in the state governments, and how close we truly are to making Roe v Wade part of America's shameful past like the Dred Scott decision.

Liberals are the Least Tolerant

Go to this post to see a typical liberal move to disqualify meteorologists who 'don't believe' in global warming. I, like Sean Hannity, who also grew up on Long Island, remember when voodoo science in the 1970's told us we were entering an ice age, and we were all going to freeze to death in 20 years, that is if there wasn't mass starvation from the rampant overpopulation by then.
Best response to liberal nonsense:
A dear friend of mine reminded me that whenever ALGORE gets an environmental award, someone sends us a massive cold front, so she automatically grabs a comforter! I HAD noticed the frigid cold snap since the Nobel Nominations!

It's always Open Season on Catholics

Catholic League President Bill Donohue says,

John Edwards has apparently decided that there is more to be gained
by aligning himself with the cultural left than by standing on principle and
firing the Catholic bashers on his payroll. Had anyone on his staff used the
N-word, he or she would have been fired immediately. But his goal is to loot the
pockets of the Soros/Hollywood gang, and they like him aren't offended by
anti-Catholicism. Indeed, they thrive on it.

When Mel Gibson got drunk and made anti-Semitic remarks, he paid a price for doing so. When Michael Richards got angry and made racist remarks, he paid a price for doing so. When Isaiah Washington got ticked off and made anti-gay remarks, he paid a price for doing so. But John Edwards thinks the same rules don't apply to him, which is why he has chosen to embrace foul-mouthed anti-Catholic bigots on his
payroll.

Edwards said today that "We're beginning a great debate
about the future of our country, and we can't let it be hijacked." I have news
for him, the Catholic League, not Edwards will decide what the debate will be
about, and it won't be about the nation. It will be about the glaring double
standard that colors the entire conversation about bigotry.
We will launch a nationwide public relations blitz that will be conducted on the pages
of the New York Times, as well as in Catholic newspapers and periodicals. It
will be on-going, breaking like a wave, starting next week and continuing
through 2007. It will be an education campaign, informing the public of what he
did today. We will also reach out to our allies in the Catholic, Protestant,
Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist communities. They worked with us before on many
issues, and are sure to do so again. What Edwards did today will not be
forgotten.

Many Catholics are inclined to back off when attacked, this is NOT in accord with Catholic doctrine. When the Church is offended, Christ's Bride is offended, and we must defend her as He most certainly would want us to. Spread the word.

Catholic Matriarch has a post on who in the blogophere is taking a stand on this outrage.

Parents' Rights Lose but the Dems Stand Up for Chickens

From the Family Research Council:

Minority members of the House Judiciary Committee deserve high praise for
fighting to include some important pro-life issues in new legislation. Committee
members Reps. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and Steve King (R-IA) made a courageous
attempt to attach the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act (CIANA) to a
bill that prohibits the transportation of animals across state lines for the
purpose of animal fights (e.g., cock fighting). CIANA would make it illegal to
take a minor girl across state lines for an abortion to bypass the parental
involvement laws in her home state. During the mark-up Rep. Sensenbrenner said,
"I recognize we are meeting here today to consider a bill to protect chickens,
but isn't protecting our nation's young women... equally if not more important
than our dinner entree?" The pro-family amendment was tabled on an 18-14 party
line vote. Freshman Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) also offered an amendment to a
separate bill in committee that would have prevented taxpayers' money from
funding abortions. It was defeated on a 20-15 party line vote.

Once again, animals rights people show a stunning lack of compassion for humans.

Pro Ecclesia * Pro Familia * Pro Civitate: National Catholic Register Interviews Catholic Presidential Candidate Sam Brownback

Pro Ecclesia * Pro Familia * Pro Civitate: National Catholic Register Interviews Catholic Presidential Candidate Sam Brownback

Urgent Message from Fr. Tom Euteneuer to Save Portugal from Abortion

PLEASE watch a 3 minute video for an update about what Human Life International is doing to prevent Portugal, one of the last four countries of Europe to protect the lives of the unborn(Ireland, Poland, and Malta are the other three) from voting to legalize abortion through 10 weeks gestation.

The day of the national abortion referendum is the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, Sunday, February 11th. Pray, fast and forward this post to all faithful Christians who would help save thousands, if not millions of innocent lives. If we had done this 34 years ago, 49 million Americans would be enriching our lives today.
May Almighty God have mercy on us!
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us!
Our Lady of Fatima, pray for Portugal!

A Tale of Two Priests;Culture of Death Politician and True Shepherd

An excerpt from Nancy Pelosi's eulogy for Fr. Drinan at St. Aloyisius Church in Washington DC February 1st;

"That was Father Drinan – eager to help all in need, slow to accept credit.
I am particularly honored that earlier this month, Father Drinan celebrated a
Mass at my alma mater, Trinity College, before I was sworn in as Speaker. He
said that Mass in honor of the children of Darfur and Katrina, praying there
that ‘the needs of every child are the needs of Jesus Christ himself.’ "

He forgot the needs of the unborn child, as does Nancy and most Culture of Death so-called Catholic politicians in Congress.

Another priest writes to Nancy Pelosi here:
If you can kill a baby in the womb, Nancy, why not outside of it?”
Fr. John Malloy, pastor of Saints Peter and Paul Church in San Francisco, penned this
“Open letter to Nancy Pelosi,” which was recently published in the parish
bulletin. We reprint it here with Fr. Malloy’s permission. Nancy, you are
fooling yourself and I fear fooling many good Catholics. You are simply not in
sync with the Catholic Church. Until you change your non-Catholic positions, you
should stop calling yourself Catholic. Your record shows that you support
embryonic stem cell research, Planned Parenthood, contraception, family planning
funding, allowing minors to have an abortion without parental consent, and are
against making it a crime to harm a fetus, etc. etc. The fact that you favor
married priests and women priests certainly would not classify you as
conservative, but your answer to the question are you a conservative Catholic
was: “I think so. I was raised in a very strict upbringing in a Catholic home
where we respected people, were observant, were practicing Catholics, and that
the fundamental belief was that God gave us all a free will, and we were
accountable for that, each of us. Each person had that accountability, so it
wasn’t for us to make judgments about how people saw their responsibility and
that it wasn’t for politicians to make decisions about how people led their
personal lives; certainly, to a high moral standards, but when it got into
decisions about privacy and all the rest, then that was something that
individuals had to answer to God for, and not to politicians.” That sounds fair
and tolerant, but your record belies high moral standards. The NARAL rates you
100% pro-abortion. Your statement: “To me it isn’t even a question. God has
given us a free will. We’re all responsible for our actions. If you don’t want
an abortion, you don’t believe in it, [then] don’t have one. But don’t tell
somebody else what they can do in terms of honoring their responsibilities. My
family is very pro-life. They’re not fanatics and they’re not activists. I think
they’d like it if I were not so vocally pro-choice.” Do we not elect politicians
to make laws that help people honor their responsibilities, such as protecting
life itself? Can politicians not tell someone else not to kill? If you can kill
a baby in the womb, Nancy, why not outside of it? Oh wait, you are in favor of
partial birth abortion, so-called because the baby sticks out of the “mother”
about halfway, while the “doctor” sucks out the baby's brain. That seems
comparable to the choice the Nazis made killing six million Jews. Yes, Nancy, we
(together with your pro-life family) would all like it if you were not so
vocally pro-choice, i.e. pro-death. Until your choice is in line with Catholic
doctrine, please, Nancy, do not receive the Eucharist when you attend Mass.

Rev. John Malloy, SDB San Francisco, CA

Three Cheers for Culture of Life heroes like Fr. Malloy!

HT California Catholic Daily

Time for a Laugh; Worship Faux Pas

The Ironic Catholic , Un-muted mumblings, Christus Vincit, Happy Catholic, and the Curt Jester have compiled a list for RCIA candidates of Catholic Mass etiquette. Feel free to leave your favorite suggestions. I did. This is getting to be a Meme of pet peeves in Church!

22. To our elderly congregants who take up guard posts at either ends of the back pew: please have mercy on us parents of obnoxious toddlers! We have no crying room in our church, and the vestibule is cold and seatless, therefore please allow us the back pew for a few minutes of peace before we need a quick getaway!
23. To the young lector with the gorgeous body, who knows it. God has truly blessed you, but for the sake of the men in the church, DRESS MODESTLY so Christ can remain the center of the Mass, not your legs!

Add your own in the comments, I'll probably add more as I think of them!
These are getting to be a sort of meme of Americas Funniest Church Incidents!
Here's a good one for seniors from Plantlady. a commenter on the Curt Jester:

If you ride your electrified scooter up the aisle to receive Holy Communion, remember to brake BEFORE you reach the priest. (A lady actually drove into Father, who lost his footing and quickly handed me the chalice so he wouldn't drop it!)

Amy Welborn asks, "Why did you convert to Catholicism?"

And she got responses. Lots of them.

The Catholic Carnival is Up

Keeping your sense of humor is important

I recently read an article entitled "Wired for Merriment; what's so funny about faith, hope, and Catholic merriment?" in The National Catholic Register by Eric Scheske, and decided to start a new sidebar entitled, "funny blogs". He discussed Catholic blogs at St. Blog's Parish, and lamented the dearth of humorous blogs. I really enjoy the well-known comic blog, The Curt Jester, and highly recommend it, and have just discovered, Catholic Cartoon Blog which is a Catholic Thomas Nast. Eric Sheske recommended Cacciaguida, seizethedei, and epression. I have just discovered the humor of The Ironic Catholic .

Sheske closed the article with a quote from Hillaire Belloc, "laughers are crude cousins with the Most High". My favorite humor quote is, "from sour-faced saints, O Lord deliver me, " attributed to Saint Teresa of Avila. As Catholics we know Who has already won this cosmic battle in which we are so passionately engaged. We just need leave from the battle once in a while.
Try out these links and have a laugh on me!

Texas Governor Perry Orders Mandatory HPV vaccine for sixth graders

As I said in my earlier post about vaccination, our children are being used as guinea pigs, for vaccines which are NOT for their benefit, but for those whose immoral behaviour put them at high risk for diseases such as Hepatitus, or, in this case, Human Papiloma Virus.Many of these vaccines use aborted fetal tissue,which makes them abhorrent to many Catholics.
Why should my innocent daughter with Down Syndrome, whose immune system is weaker than average, be forced to risk a reaction to the HPV vaccine, when she will never be involved in the activity which contracts this disease?
This is ANOTHER reason to homeschool. No wrangling with authorities over this one.
Here's Family Research Council's take on Governor Perry's true motivation:

On Friday, the controversy surrounding mandatory HPV vaccinations reached a
new peak when Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX) issued an executive order requiring girls
who enter the sixth grade in 2008 to be immunized. Perry's action short-
circuited an issue that was currently before the legislature. Rather than allow
elected leaders to debate the bill and vote, Perry bypassed the legislature
altogether and imposed his will on the state's parents, many of whom object to
being sidelined on an issue that directly affects their children's health. Much
to the dismay of Texas conservatives, Perry's state will become the first to
require the vaccine. A series of strong-arm tactics is probably the last thing
the debate over this valuable vaccine needs. Merck and Co., the pharmaceutical company, which stands to make a considerable profit from the vaccine, has donated to various Lone State lawmakers and to Women in Government, an organization that has lobbied heavily for HPV mandates in a number of states.
Dawn Richardson, president of a citizens group, said of Perry's order: "There
are bills filed. There's no emergency except in the boardrooms of Merck, where
this is failing to gain the support that they had expected." Perhaps part of the
emergency is that rival company GlaxoKlineSmith is on the verge of releasing a
similar drug, Cervarix, which would create some unwelcome competition for Merck.
All of these tactics undergird why legislative debate, and not executive fiat,
is the right way to proceed. Preventing cervical cancer is a critical public
health goal; however, HPV is transmitted through sexual contact, making it much
harder for schools to justify mandating the vaccine as a requirement of public
school attendance. Parents should have had the opportunity to voice their views
to and through their elected leaders. By commandeering this issue, Gov. Perry,
who has championed family values, has only succeeded in arousing more mistrust.

Hillary is Getting Desperate for Attention

Go over to the funny blog, Alive and Well, to see what she has come up with to draw some attention from Obama.

A Pro-life Hero in Academia Dr. James L. Sherley

Professor James L. Sherley, whose field of study is biological engineering, was denied tenure at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He, the son of a Baptist Minister, opposes embryonic stem cell research, and human cloning. Do you see the connection? He's not in lockstep with the forces of death, so he must be silenced. I have seen the same thing happen in colleges and public schools, time after time. Only Dr. Sherley has refused to go quietly. He has promised to stand a hunger strike in February outside the offices of Provost L. Rafael Reif, until his denial of tenure is reversed. Sherley told the Globe that Douglas A. Lauffenburger, the director of the Biological Engineering division, told him that he had strong recommendations letters for tenure but that he was denied it because of his views on stem cell research.
The professor said he hasn't been a victim of overt racism but said he is frequently asked whose research lab he works in when he has his own. Apparently Academia, while frequently preaches against racism and in favor of freedom of speech is acting hypocritically. This is an internal memo from Dr. Sherley at MIT about his hunger strike. In it he states,

There were several damaging acts, motivated by my race, that I either
encountered or learned of as a member of the BE faculty. For example, I learned
that the reason I had never had full independent lab space was because future
Provost Robert Brown, who was the Dean of the School of Engineering at the time,
said that he was not going to give lab space to a Black man.

Unbelieveable! I think another prejudice afoot is that against a professor who dares to oppose the supremacy of science over morality. In other words, if we can do it (embryonic stem cell research, cloning, etc.) then we MUST do it, regardless of the possible moral implications.

Let's support Dr. Sherley's brave stand with our prayers and our voices. Spread the word!!

I couldn't find an email address for President Susan Hockfield (they're so clever over at MIT)
but you can write a greeting card, which just might contain a contribution, and wear them out that way. Here's the address:
President Susan Hockfield Phone:
Room 3-208 Fax:
MIT
77 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139-4307

Phone: (617)253-0148
Fax: (617)253-3124

Another view of the March for Life

Here are some photos from the March. We visited our rabidly pro abortion Congressman, Steve Israel's office, spoke to his designated staff members, and left some info. As usual, the march was an exhilerating and worth-while experience, especially because the average age ofthe Marchers drops every year! But it's exhausting!
Pray to end abortion!

John

Catholic Blog Awards Nominations

HT Curt Jester
Nominations for the 2007 Catholic Blog Awards are now being accepted. This year the categories have been streamlined and categories such as most bizarre blog have been removed. Also there are no seperate men and women categories this time.
1. Best Overall Catholic Blog
2. Best Designed Catholic Blog
3. Best Written Catholic Blog
4. Best New Catholic Blog
5. Best Individual Catholic Blog
6. Best Group Blog
7. Best Blog by Clergy/Religious/Seminarian
8. Funniest Catholic Blog
9. Smartest Catholic Blog
10. Most Informative & Insightful Catholic Blog
11. Best Apologetic Blog
12. Best Political/Social Commentary Catholic Blog
13. Best Insider News Catholic Blog
14. Most Spiritual Blog
Go and vote for your favorite blogs!

Novena for Life in Portugal

At Rorarte Caeli, they are saying a novena for Portugal, as the vote on legalizing abortion approaches, February 11th, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.

Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.

Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us.

Mommy Life's report on Sam Brownback at the March for Life

Princeton Student Group Holds Abstinence and Marriage Conference

Intercollegiate conference will prepare students to defend conservative values.
Princeton University's Anscombe Society will host a conference this month
called Making Love Last: Finding Meaning in Sex and Romantic Relationships --
designed to equip students with the arguments needed to stand up for their
values at secular universities.
Cassandra DeBenedetto, a senior at Princeton
majoring in religion, co-founded the Anscombe Society in 2005.
"We
recognized that stable, healthy, committed marriages form healthy and stable
families," she said. "Marriage and family is valuable not only to the
individual, but to society."
The group's members also wants to their show
peers the value of abstinence until marriage, DeBenedetto said -- a message that
isn't always popular.
"Because a group like this is so unique on a college
campus, we've received a lot of media attention," she said. "Students from a
variety of college campuses have contacted us wanting to know, 'How did we start
this group?' and 'How can they start a group?'

"

Deep in the Heart of Texas

There's a very good writer, Rene-Henry, who is also a rancher. He's a brand-new blogger, and a Brownback fan, so you know I like him!

More great articles on the Targeting of Down Syndrome children for destruction

Go to the New Oxford Review and Catholic Exchange where Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life is standing up for children like my Christina. I don't want her to grow up in a world where there are no other beautiful people like her. God bless you, Fr. Pavone, for alerting the Catholic world that they are coming for our children!

On this feast of Candlemas, or the Presentation of Our Lord, let us remember how Our Saviour was targeted for destruction as well. Where would we be if King Herod had succeeded?

Every time I think that I should send my 13 year old daughter to high school

I get reminded what a great idea homeschooling is.

I made up this quiz on the Baltimore Catechism: Try it and test your knowlege

Do You Know Your Baltimore Catechism? I made up this quiz after getting 100% on the Bible quiz, then checking the top quiz list, and seeing that there were no Catholic quizzes there (and some horrendous ones on the occult and sex). Thanks to savy, well-catechized Catholics, like you,"Do You Know Your Baltimore Catechism?" has made it to the top 40 quizzes!Well done!

You are a 100% traditional Catholic!

Congratulations! You are more knowlegeable than most modern theologians! You have achieved mastery over the most important doctrines of the Catholic Faith! You should share your incredible understanding with others!

Do You Know Your Baltimore Catechism?
Make Your Own Quiz

Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act S 358

Protecting the Unborn: It's Genetic!
Yesterday, a Senate bill called the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (S. 358) was passed out of committee to prevent health insurance companies and employers from discriminating against people who test "positive" for a genetic disease. A major concern of pro-lifers is that while it covers individuals and their families, it excludes unborn children. The definition of "family member" includes the individual and "a dependent child of the individual, including a child who is born to or placed for adoption with the individual." Family Research Council is extremely concerned that this definition would exempt unborn children and children in the process of adoption from the bill's protections. Research suggests that as many as 92% of unborn children who test positive for Down Syndrome are aborted, in many cases because the unborn child is denied, or subject to the denial of, health insurance. Health insurance companies and employers should not be allowed to use genetic information about unborn children to discriminate against their families or to pressure parents to abort them. We will continue to work with pro-life leaders such as Sens. Mike Enzi (R-WY), Tom Coburn (R-OK), Richard Burr (R-NC), and others to ensure that this loophole--which would victimize unborn children and their families--is closed.

How did we get attacked by Islamic Extremists?

Dinesh D'Souza states,

"During the mid to late 1990s, the radical Muslims tested America’s resolve by
launching a series of attacks on American targets. These were massive attacks,
unprecedented in the damage they inflicted. There was the Khobar Towers attack
on American facilities in Saudi Arabia, the bombing of U.S. embassies in East
Africa, the suicide assault on the American warship the U.S.S. Cole.
Yet in
every case the Clinton administration reacted either by doing nothing, or with
desultory counterattacks like a missile strike against largely unoccupied Afghan
tents and the bombing of what was reported to be a pharmaceutical factory in the
Sudan. Clearly these responses inflicted little harm to Al Qaeda and actually
made America look ridiculous in the eyes of the Muslim world. Consequently, Bin
Laden became convinced that his theory of American irresolution and weakness was
substantially correct. By his own account he became emboldened to conceive of a
grander and more devastating strike on American shores, the strike that occurred
on 9/11.
Even so, this strike could have been prevented had the Clinton
administration acted on intelligence leads and struck back at Bin Laden, when it
had the chance. Former CIA agent Michael Scheuer estimates that during the
second term of the Clinton administration America had approximately 10
opportunities to kill Bin Laden, and took none of them. Even Richard Clarke,
Clinton’s terrorism adviser and a Clinton apologist, admits he is mystified why
the American government did not go after and eliminate Bin Laden. After all Bin
Laden had already declared war on America and made war on American targets
abroad"

.