Day 1 - 40 DAYS FOR LIFE

Intention:

That we may use these 40 Days for Life to plead for God's mercy and grace upon all those involved in the sin of abortion.

Scripture:

Blow the trumpet in Zion! Proclaim a fast, call an assembly. Gather the people, notify the congregation. Assemble the elders; gather the children and the infants at the breast… Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep and say, "Spare, O Lord, your people."

-- Joel 2:15-17

Reflection:

The toll of abortion cannot be measured. We hear estimates of almost 50 million innocent victims, but that's only one aspect of the harm that has unfolded in abortion's wake. There are also the mothers and fathers of these millions, as well as the grandparents, brothers and sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins. Unborn lives destroyed. Lives of the living shattered.

It's overwhelming and depressing, but even in the midst of such unfathomable darkness, the church teaches us to have hope. Yes, it was indeed Calvary that followed Christ's 40 days in the desert, but without Calvary there would have been no Resurrection - His victory over death that opened the gates of heaven to those who believe in and follow Him.

The psalmist encourages us to go humbly before God as we seek His will: "A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me… Give me back the joy of your salvation and a willing spirit sustain in me… O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise" (Psalm 51:12, 14, 17).

We are called to be God's messengers; or as the Apostle Paul told the Corinthians: "We are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: be reconciled to God" (2 Corinthians 5:20). That is the true message to all we encounter at the abortion centers and in our communities who have been deceived by the Culture of Death. We don't bring condemnation; we bring God's good news.

Prayer:

Lord, we ask for the strength, courage, wisdom, determination and stamina to carry out this mission according to Your will. Guide us, we pray, as we go forth and proclaim Your truth, always doing so with a spirit of love and compassion, as was demonstrated to us by Your Son, Jesus Christ. In His name we pray, amen.

David Brandao
Communications Director, 40 Days for Life

"The EU Loves Control..."

Coir is a grassroots volunteer organization campaigning to educate people about the power lust of the EU and the risk to democracy and Irish independence in a vote for the Lisbon Treaty. You may recall that the Irish already, recently, voted against this treaty. Apparently the 'new age' democracy is little more than 'vote until you get it right'!

Of special note on Coir's webpage is an article explaining the threat to Irish independence regarding abortion.

Americans know the power of grassroots movements, and everyone knows how the Irish love a cuppa...

GO IRISH!

College Bound Catholics

The new Newman Guide is out . Those going to college and seeking an authentic Catholic environment need to read this list. Just because a college has a history of being Catholic doesn't mean its current incarnation is faithful. Many universities have a Catholic 'tradition' yet they promote secular philosophy, even anti-catholic dogma, while marketing themselves as 'Catholic'. Buyer beware!

For the young college bound Catholic, Matthew Warner has some very sensible tips at 'Fallible Blogma'.


Here are a few suggestions for participation on campus. Of course, each group is only as good as its members...

The Cardinal Newman Society

College Student Prolife Websites

Catholic Campus Ministry

Heroes in Our Neighbourhood

The poster (shown left) that Jim Pouillon was holding was an affirmation of Life. Mr. Pouillon held human life to be sacred, in even measure for everyone. He was a hero from our neighbourhood, someone known and respected for his persistent loving message of our own value. He valued us ALL. He quietly gave his life in the hope that we would value ourselves and each other. A neighbourhood Hero.



We all need to be 'neighbourhood heroes' in our own way. We need to know our own value and that of every other human life, and defend it. A great opportunity to do so is just around the corner with this season's '40 Days For Life'. This fall's campaign from Sept 23 - November ,will be carried our by 'neighbourhood heroes' in at least 212 cities internationally.

More than 200 cities in 45 American states, 5 Canadian provinces ... plus Denmark ... are poised to launch 40 Days for Life campaigns... [David Bereit, 40 Days for Life's national director] "Last fall's campaign was conducted in 177 cities. This shows that support for the pro-life message is spreading — and that 40 Days for Life continues to have a positive international impact."

Find a way to reaffirm the value of LIFE. EVERY life. ALWAYS.

Intolerance at SMU Re-Dux

The students' union at Saint Mary's University in Halifax, hosts a 'society fair' each fall, the purpose of which , is to give their members the opportunity to acquaint themselves with the various student groups on campus. This year's event was marred by the theft of ALL the materials from the 'Students For Life' display.

It may seem like a small thing, but looking around society today, I'm pretty sure its indicative of an underlying problem with veracity. Liars are intolerant. The truth is an inconvenience they cannot bear.

Here is a letter from a student regarding the unfortunate disruption of the student event :

Crime & Drama at the Fair - Students For Life:
Last Thursday at the SMU Society Fair, one small display was targeted. Someone secretly watched the table, and at the first opportunity, tore down the sign, and stole clip-boards sign-up sheets, pens, and personal documents. You might be thinking... what could possess someone to go to such extreme (not to mention illegal) lengths to prevent students from seeing, hearing or thinking about something? It’s a mystery to me, and I was manning the display, but maybe it was the name that set them off...
Name: “Students For Life”.
Right... the same as the name of the article, and since you’re reading this it doesn’t seem to be as offensive to you as it was to the thief. On the other hand, maybe it was the idea behind the group that was so terrifying and offensive...
Founding Principal: “Every human life has equal value”

Uh... that’s pretty much of the foundation of civil society. Not scary stuff. Maybe the society was planning dangerous and offensive activities of some sort. What is the society going to do?...

Planned Activities: 1. Come together as a group.
2. Provide volunteer opportunities.
3. Discuss value-of-life issues.

I take it you’re still reading, and have somehow managed to avoid destroying and /or stealing anything. You may even want to consider participating in some way down the line. We aren’t completely up and running, but if you send an email with your first and last names to smu.studentsforlife@gmail.com we’ll give you a heads-up when we’ve got something on the go. Students are busy people, so participation will be on an event-by-event basis. Show up when you can, and make Saint Mary’s University (and the world) a better place.

Note: Students who have already signed up are asked to re-submit their names by email.

Thank you for your time,
Paul Mullen
SMU student & member of Students For Life

The usual suspects (see this post on SMU's 'free-speech' travails last winter) were reminded by campus police ahead of time to follow 'rules of good behaviour', sat themselves directly beside the 'Students For Life' table, and left as soon as the display had been stolen. Witnesses say that as soon as Paul Mullen had stepped away a few feet to the trashcan, a man in a 'hat' came and took everything and left. Apparently he had been waiting for his chance!

Mr. Mullen has a very good point in his letter. What exactly is so disturbing and scary about 'Students For Life'? Can it be that the mere idea that everyone have access to the truth, is so threatening to some that they can't allow it? Can people really be rationalizing their actions this way? Knowing that a group exists that cares whether babies, elderly, handicapped and...well, everyone, lives or dies, is REALLY a threat to ...whom?

To liars. Only those protecting their own lies are threatened by the truth.

Father McBrien, Notre Dame and Eucharistic Adoration

My daughter's birthday shares Our Lady's feast on September 8. In dismay I read Fr. Richard McBrien's gift to Our Lady in the form of an article in the National Catholic Reporter. In dismay I read that not all the commentors are dismayed by his article! Such is the state of the Catholic church in America today. Dissident, incorrect and heretical priests are given forum in a magazine put forward as Catholic.

Lukewarm Catholic? American Catholic? Not quite Catholic?

(Anyone looking for a more reliable source of faithful Catholic articles might try National Catholic Register.)

Ah well. Someone else to add to my prayer list, to offer up to the mercy of God during Mass and before the Blessed Sacrament.

I am grateful for those faithful Catholic universities that never compromise Truth for expediency or popularity. Places like Ave Maria University in Florida, Franciscan University in Ohio, and Our Lady Seat of Wisdom in Ontario. They are welcome respite from confusing and confused institutions with questionable leadership and mixed loyalties. (Yes, I mean Notre Dame)

I am grateful for the opportunity that I have to worship, pray, think, find peace in the Real Presence of God. Many Americans share this wonderful opportunity.

I am thankful for all the faithful priests and bishops, their many hours of prayer and devotion on our behalf, their inspired instruction and their faithful service to Christ in the Eucharist.

God help those who work against Him.


More at Te Deum

Words To Live By : Ted Kennedy

Of course, Edward Kennedy did not actually live by these words, and these words contain only a portion of the Catholic belief in the sanctity of life.

While the deep concern of a woman bearing an unwanted child merits consideration and sympathy, it is my personal feeling that the legalization of abortion on demand is not in accordance with the value which our civilization places on human life. Wanted or unwanted, I believe that human life, even at its earliest stages, has certain rights which must be recognized - the right to be born, the right to love, the right to grow old.

On the question of the individual's freedom of choice there are easily available birth control methods and information which women may employ to prevent or postpone pregnancy. But once life has begun, no matter at what stage of growth, it is my belief that termination should not be decided merely by desire....

When history looks back to this era it should recognize this generation as one which cared about human beings enough to halt the practice of war, to provide a decent living for every family, and to fulfill its responsibility to its children from the very moment of conception.

(Ted Kennedy, April3,1971)

HT Jill Stanek

Ah Yes...'Catholic' Charities!

Fresh from battle with the inconsistencies of Canadian Catholic charity, Development and Peace, Catholics may feel weary and discouraged. I do. Everywhere we turn, news breaks of one or another Catholic charity or institution supporting distinctly un-Christian endeavors.

American Life League

Three of the top lay Catholic organizations have divorced themselves from Catholic teaching by supporting the Obama health-care plan, which would foster a culture of mandatory abortion coverage, contraceptive services, and permissive sex education, euthanasia and eugenics.

Catholic Charities USA, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and the Catholic Health Association are joining together to push the current version of the plan through Congress.

"There is no social justice in rationing charity," said Judie Brown, president of American Life League. "Millions of taxpayers will be forced to subsidize abortion, contraception, euthanasia and bureaucratic denial of health care to the poorest of the poor."

Many Catholics are used to trusting these institutions as being ACTUALLY charitable, full of the substance of God's love, along the lines of Pope Benedict's latest encyclical. If only those making decisions for Catholic charities WOULD read 'Caritas Veritate' , and take its core message to heart. The entire fullness of God's vision is our goal...not to be traded off time and time again for temporary relief in one area or another.

THE WHOLE TRUTH . Working to uphold the whole truth, we can TRUST GOD to ameliorate our temporal sufferings in a way that benefits us eternally.

ETERNITY. Something Catholics believe in, and Catholic institutions should have in their sights.


(h/t Catholic Fire)

STOP OBAMA FROM PUSHING ABORTION WITH YOUR MONEY

'No health care reform plan should compel us or others to pay for or participate in the destruction of human life' (USCCB)

36,000 life advocates came together online Thursday night to participate in a "Stop The Abortion Mandate" webcast, to discuss the urgency of stopping President Obama's abortion promotion, contained in his 'healthcare reform'.

Summary of the event by LifeSite News.

Audio of the webcast

Action Guide

Obama's Anti-Life Record

USCCB Statement on Healthcare Reform

The WholeTruth in Caritas Veritate - Michael O'Brien

Lifesite News carries an article by well known Canadian Catholic author and artist, Michael O'Brien, in which he comments on the 'Development and Peace' scandal in the context of Pope Benedict's latest encyclical Caritas in Veritate. In "Split In Conciousness - Split In Conscience" O'Brien goes to the root message of the encyclical, the necessity for a fuller understanding of truth in global economics and governance. He also comments on some other reviews, notably that of George Weigel....

The presence of irritable unwarranted phrases in Weigel’s commentary is symptomatic of something; it may mean something naïve or dumb, but on the face of it, it is impossible to know what exactly Mr. Weigel means. At the very least one can guess that he is not happy about this encyclical. He does not find it helpful. But helpful to what and to whom?

He concludes:

“Benedict XVI, a truly gentle soul, may have thought it necessary to include in his encyclical these multiple off-notes, in order to maintain the peace within his curial household. Those with eyes to see and ears to hear will concentrate their attention, in reading Caritas in Veritate, on those parts of the encyclical that are clearly Benedictine, including the Pope’s trademark defense of the necessary conjunction of faith and reason and his extension of John Paul II’s signature theme — that all social issues, including political and economic questions, are ultimately questions of the nature of the human person.”

A nod towards Benedict’s gifts does not ease the overall effect of Weigel’s critique. It is, in fact, condescending and patronizing. How does he know that the encyclical is a “duck-billed platypus” made to placate in-house tensions at the Vatican? Perhaps he has not considered the possibility that the Pope actually believes what he is writing, and is opening up the paradigms, cracking the templates, expanding the range of vision and dialogue so that something more truly just and humane may develop, may have what he calls “breathing-space” in the current world situation. As it stands, Mr. Weigel has said, in effect, “We love Papa, he is a sweet old soul. He is very good on religion but, alas, muddled on economics.”

It brings to mind the objections that arose after the publication of Centesimus Annus in 1991. From numerous neoconservative commentators we heard, “Oh, yes, John Paul II is a great personalist, a great pope, but, well, he is no economist.” Correct. He was no economist. And Benedict is no economist. Neither was Paul VI nor John XXIII, nor Pius XI nor Leo XIII. But they were men of vast understanding, and they expressed the Mind of Christ on these matters in terms of first principles, the context in which truly human economies can develop. So let’s put our coloured editorial pens back into the inkwells for a bit, and let’s give it time and give it thought—especially let all men of good will engage their rational intellects with the spirit of humility, and see if there is something to be learned from the Vicar of Christ —something new and yet something old because it is something eternal.

Caritas in Veritate is lucid, anointed, prophetic. It is a sign of contradiction, a challenge to every system of government and economics. It is a call to truth and charity for all human beings. Minimizing the real import of this encyclical is symptomatic of perceptual as well as intellectual difficulties.

It behooves us all to take the time to read the whole encyclical with O'Brien's comments in mind. The encyclical was not written to please a secular, political world. It was written to expand all our visions towards God's ultimate vision for us. We need to be open to that expansion of heart, mind and soul if we are truly interested in the welfare of mankind.

Are we?

As a social and mostly fiscal conservative, who puts a lot of stock in personal freedom and responsibility, I have to read the encyclical first with a complete openness to hear an expanded perspective. I have to read it secondly with the purpose of finding my personal responsibility in the Pope's message of Truth. Thirdly, and perhaps least important, I must read 'Caritas In Veritate' with a practical mind - how do I fit the Truth, my personal responsibility, and an expanded vision of humanity into my day to day life on earth.

Quite a challenge!

Strong And Free ?

Steven Crowder's guerilla-style documentary on socialized health-care in Canada

(h/t Kathy Shaidle)

"LIFE - IMAGINE THE POTENTIAL part 3"

Happy Birthday Canada

2,889,679 Canadians have been 'therapeutically' eliminated via abortion from 1970 - 2005. (Stats Can)

Share the Love. Make abortion your 'area of interest' and inform your MP. He needs to know you care whether Canadians live or die.

Truth Seekers And Obfuscators

Many Catholics worldwide have been following the scandal, broken by Lifesite News earlier this year, of Catholic charity Development and Peace funding groups that are involved in abortion promotion. Particularly disturbing is the breach of trust between the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Canadian Catholic sitting in the pew, donating to 'a good cause' .

One reaction to the news coverage and investigation by Lifesite News, the many letters from concerned Canadian and international Catholics, the pleading of Bishops whose efforts to stop abortion in their own countries are being undermined, and the just decision of some Canadian Bishops to discontinue support for Development and Peace, might have been for the CCCB to take steps to end the duplicity of a Catholic charity funding groups who participate in direct opposition to Catholic social justice.

Instead, and shamefully, they have chosen to whitewash and deny, maligning Lifesite News in a published report that perpetuates a misrepresentation of the facts. Also maligned publicly by President of the CCCB, Archbishop James Weisgerber ,are the Catholics in the pew who take enough interest in their church to keep up to date on Catholic news, good and bad.

One wonders why an organization such as the CCCB, with no 'church' authority itself, would take it upon itself to chastise the honest and forthright efforts of regular Catholics to understand, share, and follow the Catholic faith.

Then again, this is the same organization which produced and has yet to regret the Winnipeg Statement. Thank God for those Canadian Bishops who are faithful shepherds. Canada needs all the help it can get.


LifeSiteNews Detailed Account

Some letters from Catholics in the pew...

letter from Archbishop Jose Eguren of Peru, to Archbishop Weisgerber

update on the Winnipeg Statement

Tiller Death

The murder of George Tiller has, in spite of the fact that his killer acted alone, encouraged a vitriolic condemnation of all who have opposed abortion and abortionists. Seems the 'culture of death' is not above using the death of one of its own as a catapult for pro-death hysteria. No doubt an increase in abortion friendly money, elections and legislation is in the future. The red-herring of 'pro-life terrorism' will be haunting us for a while.

Father Frank Pavone has some guidance for those of us who continue to insist that EVERY HUMAN LIFE IS SACRED:

The biggest danger right now to our movement, in the light of the killing of Dr. Tiller, is the enemy within. I'm talking about the fear, the self-doubt, the little voice inside of us that makes us feel guilty now for saying that abortion is murder, that might make some people feel guilty for being too aggressive in the effort to stop the killing of children, maybe make them afraid of going out in front of the abortion facilities to intervene peacefully for the lives of those children. The enemy within that would make some people believe what the other side is trying to say, that somehow we in the pro-life movement are responsible for this violence because of our violent rhetoric and because of our decades of efforts to expose the reality of what abortion is.

Because I am a believer in the loving mercy of our Lord, I am including Dr. Tiller in my prayers. If he made it to purgatory, we can use his prayers also!

'Oh my God, forgive us our sins. Save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of thy Mercy.'

Amen

Notre Dame - A Clash Of Cultures

I love how the media keeps trying to frame the scandal as 'Catholics against intellectual discourse'. With the help of President Jenkins , of course.

Commencement speeches are not 'intellectual discourse'. They are an honour bestowed upon the speaker by the university. So is an honorary Doctorate of Laws (laws made and to be made against life by Obama?). The Catholic disgust and shame comes from the honour bestowed on the man who stands out as being most radically opposed to Catholic doctrine and teachings on the inherent value of every human life . You'd think the value of human life would be obvious to all (humans, anyway!) but it isn't. Some humans only recognize value in human lives that are not inconvenient, needy or unloved. This way of living, thinking, believing, is the antithesis of Christianity. The ANTI CHRIST.

That's what the BIG DEAL is folks. It's not about a speech, and its more important than a president. I am grateful for those who risked ridicule and jail to stand up for truth today. So few universities are engaged in the pursuit of truth these days, that there really should be a new name for most post-secondary institutions. Perhaps we could call them politically correct finishing schools - where one goes to complete the process of numbing the spirit.

And could Notre Dame please change its name to 'Sebelius U.'? Our Lady deserves better.

Scott Richert has excellent commentary on the 'speech' and link to the text.

What's Up?

Regular readers may have noticed I haven't been posting much lately. It's not for a lack of interesting things to post about! A lot is happening, everywhere - including here!

For the next month or so I will be mostly occupied with finishing the school year and traveling up to PEI for the summer season. Right now we are getting ready to drive up from Tampa, with a short stop in Panama City. We will be settled in Miscouche by June 8 and staying until about Sept 20, when we will begin our journey southward again!

You may have noticed the long column of links on the left. Try a few. Nothing helps the culture of life more than sharing our lives with others.


Here is a little fun sharing. Locals (in Cayman!) found an ambitious snake trying to swallow a green iguana. (I'm not sure how the snake convinced the iguana to crawl in there...)

Fun With The Flu

More at Second Hand Smoke

Tea Party Tutorial For CNN Reporters...and others

Freedom depends on the ability to be INDEPENDENT. Governments that seek control of 'worker drone' citizens, reduce freedom by increasing taxation, and rendering more and more of the population DEPENDENT on government 'largesse'.

The (media supported) attitude towards the 'Tea Party' movement is indicative of a government that has scorn for workers, feels entitled to their incomes and demands their unquestioning fealty. A government of one hundred days that already has this 'attitude', totally unearned, shows unspeakable audacity. The kind of audacity that shows up infamously throughout history . The audacity of totalitarian elites who 'govern' to control.

Control over income spending.
Control over life and death.
Control over speech and thought.

Stand up for yourself. Every day, stand up. Every day talk back to the paid commercials calling themselves 'news'.(Better yet,find some actual news.) Every day make up your own mind. Question every authoritative decree that comes down the chute - from your kid's school, to your local government. Stand up. Go with that patriotic feeling churning in your gut. Put yourself on the list of people who make their own decisions about education,religion,belief,and family. (You know, that list of potential problems for totalitarian governments). Stand up. Speak up. Raise up a large patriotic American family. Teach them the virtues of true freedom.

Be Independent. Be American!


(This rant might seem strange coming from an ex-pat Canadian, but I'm really counting on Americans to BE AMERICAN. There are far too many polite sheep in the world already.)

Notre Dame Dishonour

Dr. Mary Ann Glendon, America's most respected* Catholic layperson, refuses top honour from Notre Dame.

Catholic World News:

Mary Ann Glendon has announced that she will not accept the Laetare Medal-- the highest honor conferred by the University of Notre Dame-- at this year's commencement exercises.

Glendon-- the Harvard Law professor who recently stepped down from her post as US ambassador to the Holy See-- has indicated that she decided to decline the Laetare Medal because of her concerns about the commencement address that will be delivered by President Barack Obama. In an April 27 letter to Father John Jenkins, the president of Notre Dame, she wrote that a prospect "that once seemed so delightful has been complicated" by the Obama appearance and by Notre Dame's response to criticism from the American bishops.

In her letter Glendon expressed dismay that Notre Dame chose to honor the President despite his clear public stand against Catholic principles on key moral issues. She also voiced her discomfort with the university's suggestion that her own speech at the commencement exercises might counterbalance the Obama appearance. A commencement celebration, she said, "is not the right place, nor is a brief acceptance speech the right vehicle, for engagement with the very serious problems raised" by Notre Dame's decision to invite Obama in defiance of clear guidance from the US bishops.

Dr. Glendon's Letter

( * Fr. Jonathan Morris, Fox News )

Rosaries For Life

On May 3rd a 'prayer-a-thon' to end abortion is happenning. The St. Michael the Archangel Org. is rounding up a million rosaries to be prayed beginning 9am May 3.

Our parish is participating starting on May 1. It has been highlighted in our parish bulletin the past two Sundays, and the 'sign -up' sheet is in the Adoration Chapel. We will have many many rosaries to add to the petitioning of Heaven for the lives on the unborn.

Another prayer initiative upcoming is 'prayer week' in Cayman. Different churches in the Cayman Ministers' Assoc. are making consecutive 24 hr. prayer vigils ,for the spiritual health of our country. St. Ignatius kicks it off April 30 at 7pm until May 1, 7pm. "Pray 2009" will continue until May 9.

These two events are part of our Christian experience in Grand Cayman, and that Christian experience is the main part of why we live thousands of miles from family, at lesser salary and with 'island inconveniences'.

We love Canada, and we certainly miss our families. But we love our God, and we want our children to grow up free to express and live that love daily, in their everyday world. Cayman allows us that freedom.

I thank God for the Cayman Islands - a beautiful little country not yet overwhelmed by the 'anti-God'.

Notre Dame - The Bishops' Line Up

If I were 'Father' Jenkins, I wouldn't want to play against this team...

(LifeSiteNews)
1. Bishop John D'Arcy - Fort Wayne-South Bend, IN
2. Bishop Samuel Aquila - Fargo, ND
3. Bishop Gregory Aymond - Austin, TX
4. Bishop Gerald Barbarito - Palm Beach, FL
5. Bishop Leonard Blair - Toledo, OH
6. Archbishop Daniel Buechlein - Indianapolis, IN
7. Bishop Robert Baker - Birmingham, AL
8. Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz - Lincoln, NE
9. Archbishop Eusebius Beltran - Oklahoma City, OK
10. Auxiliary Bishop Oscar Cantú - San Antonio, TX
11. Bishop Paul Coakley - Salina, KS
12. Cardinal Daniel DiNardo - Houston, TX
13. Archbishop Timothy Dolan - New York, NY
14. Bishop Thomas Doran - Rockford, IL
15. Auxiliary Bishop John Dougherty - Scranton, PA
16. Bishop Robert Finn - Kansas City-St. Joseph, MO
17. Bishop Victor Galeone - St. Augustine, FL
18. Cardinal Francis George - Chicago, IL; President, USCCB
19. Bishop Gerald Gettelfinger - Evansville, IN
20. Archbishop José Gomez - San Antonio, TX
21. Bishop William Higi - Lafayette, IN
22. Archbishop Alfred Hughs - New Orleans, LA
23. Bishop Joseph Latino - Jackson, MS
24. Bishop John LeVoir - New Ulm, MN
25. Bishop Jerome Listecki - La Crosse, WI
26. Bishop William E. Lori - Bridgeport, CT
27. Bishop Paul Loverde - Arlington, VA
28. Bishop George Lucas - Springfield, IL
29. Bishop Robert Lynch - St. Petersburg, FL
30. Bishop Joseph Martino - Scranton, PA
31. Bishop Charles Morlino - Madison, WI
32. Bishop George Murry - Youngstown, OH
33. Archbishop John J. Myers - Newark, NJ
34. Bishop R. Walker Nickless - Sioux City, IA
35. Archbishop John C. Nienstedt - St. Paul-Minneapolis, MN
36. Archbishop Edwin O'Brien - Baltimore, MD
37. Bishop Thomas Olmsted - Phoenix, AZ
38. Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk - Cincinnati, OH
39. Bishop Kevin Rhoades - Harrisburg, PA
40. Bishop Alexander Sample - Marquette, MI
41. Bishop Edward J. Slattery - Tulsa, OK
42. Bishop Richard Stika - Knoxville, TN
43. Bishop Anthony Taylor - Little Rock, AR
44. Bishop Robert Vasa - Baker, OR
45. Bishop Thomas Wenski - Orlando, FL
46. Bishop David Zubick - Pittsburgh, PA

"Can Humanity Survive Without Religion?"

Kind of an interesting discussion at The Corner. Mark Krikorian asks what the future of society can be without at least SOMETHING to believe in. Can hmanity even survive, long term, without religion? John Derbyshire responds with "Plenty of civilizations — China and Japan, to name two — have got along for millennia without it.".

Seems to me that this is a question only a non-believer would waste any time on at all.

Surely the 'survival' of humanity depends on God?

"Freespeechapalooza"

Kathy Shaidle, Ezra Levant and Salim Mansur spoke at a 'free speech' event in Canada last week. A Catholic, a Jew and a Muslim explain to Canadians the dangerous restriction of freedoms being imposed by Canadian Human Rights Commissions.

Kathy Shaidle has published her entire speech on her site, and Roy Eappen has video coverage on his site.

Although this was a Canada specific event, it certainly isn't a unique problem. Human rights commissions around the world are doing their best to force 'correctness' on unruly citizens. Freedom is no longer a Western value, but a hindrance to Western governments seeking to align their legislation to conform to UN standards of 'proper belief'. That 'proper belief' would include state imposed syncretism, and total submission to the 'culture of death'. One writer at Brussels Journal concludes that we are now 'post democracy', citizens having become subjects in a 'global' construct run by 'expert elites'.

One wonders who ultimately will remain to benefit , and what the benefits will be in a soulless world of no democracy, no free speech, no children, no elderly, no families or marriage, and no faith?

Encouraging, if for no other reason than the joy of witnessing free expression, are the recent 'tea parties' in the US. Having followed this idea/event online since its inception a few months ago, I can state positively that there is a broad range of political and other 'beliefs' represented by these protesters. Something democratic has been unleashed, and the surest sign of this is the reaction of the media. (Even David Frum can't bring himself to really like the protests - not quite up to his standards of 'articulation'!)

Its going to take a lot of tea to reverse the stifling effect of the 'latte' drinkers, but is it impossible?

Not quite yet.

Books worth reading:
Tyranny Of Nice- Kathy's book
ShakeDown- Ezra's new book on his HRC experience.
America Alone by Mark Steyn

Perspective: Same Sex Marriage

Will The Gays Win? No.

(By Mike McManus April 15, 2009)

Gays have won significant victories in the last couple of weeks. First, there was the unanimous decision by the Iowa Supreme Court to legalize same-sex marriage. There have been other top state court decisions but they were always 5-4, barely enough to win. It was also the first state to take this step in the Midwest.

Second, Vermont not only became the first state to legalize gay marriage by the Legislature, but also without pressure from a court case, as in Massachusetts. Third, the governor vetoed the bill, but the Legislature overrode the veto.

Fourth, the Washington DC City Council voted unanimously last week to recognize same-sex marriage performed elsewhere. All recognize this is a half step toward legalization.

However, I believe the battle will ultimately be won by supporters of traditional marriage. Remember that the Germans were ahead in 1943.

Take Iowa, where the Supreme Court declared there was no "constitutionally adequate" justification to prevent "same-sex marriage" Iowans disagree. A February 2008 Iowa Poll showed 62 percent of Iowans believe marriage should be only between one man and one woman, with only 32 percent saying it should not.

Who will lead the opposition? Start with religious leaders.

Within hours, Iowa's Catholic bishops "strongly disagreed" with the decision, calling it "unwarranted social engineering" weakening the relationship between marriage and parenting. "This decision rejects the wisdom of thousands of years of human history. It implements a novel understanding of marriage, which will grievously harm families and children," they wrote. The rights of marriage "are not something that the state creates or may redefine."

Religious leaders have had many victories hardly mentioned in recent weeks. In California, for example, evangelicals joined Catholics to lead a 52-48 percent victory for Prop 8's limit of marriage to joining a man and woman. And that was the 30th state constitutional amendment limiting marriage to heterosexual couples. Only three states have gay marriage.

The good guys are winning by a 10-1 margin.

Maggie Gallagher, President of the National Organization for Marriage, quotes Vaclav Havel saying "Truth and love will prevail over lies and hate." She adds, "On that basis Havel took on the Soviet empire. Where is the invincible empire now?"

"Same sex marriage is founded on a lie about human nature: 'There's no difference between a same-sex and opposite sex unions and you are a bigot if you disagree.' Political movements can - sometimes at great human cost and with great output of energy - sustain a lie but eventually political regimes founded on lies collapse in on themselves."

She asks, "What does losing marriage mean? First, the rejection of the idea that children need a mom and dad as a cultural norm...Second, the redefinition of traditional religious faiths as the moral and legal equivalent of racists. The proposition on the table right now is that our faith itself is a form of bigotry."

The Washington Post, hardly a conservative paper, published examples recently: "A Christian photographer was forced by the New Mexico Civil Rights Commission to pay $6,637 in attorney's costs after she refused to photograph a gay couple's commitment ceremony.

"A psychologist in Georgia was fired after she declined for religious reasons to counsel a lesbian about her relationship. Christian fertility doctors in California who refused to artificially inseminate a lesbian patient were barred by the state Supreme Court from invoking their religious beliefs in refusing treatment.

"It really is all about religious liberty for us," said Scott Hoffman, chief administrative officer of a New Jersey Methodist group, the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, which lost a property tax exemption after it declined to allow its beachside pavilion to be used for a same-sex union ceremony. "The protection to not be forced to do something that is against deeply held religious principles," reported the paper.

This sort of honest reporting will awaken a sleeping giant, millions of Americans who believe deeply in traditional marriage and who resent any trampling of people because of their deeply held religious convictions.

Wednesday's Washington Post even published a column by 1,000 retired generals and admirals who argue that if Obama repeals the law stating that homosexuality is incompatible with military service, it "would prompt many dedicated people to leave the military."

They cite a poll that 10 percent would not reenlist and 14 percent would consider leaving. Even the lesser number means 228,600 would exit, more than all active-duty Marine Corps.

Some battles have been lost, but this war is not over.

(Michael J. McManus is a syndicated columnist writing on "Ethics & Religion". He is President & Co-Chair of Marriage Savers.)


I think that something not discussed much in this debate, is the injustice of redefining marriage to suit a group that wants to usurp its 'meaning'. Same-sex marriage is all about 'pretending' to be an actual married couple.

Advocates of same-sex marriage need to step back and face themselves in the mirror. They will see someone willing to take away from someone else what they themselves can not have. Same sex marriage does not make two men or two women married. It makes marriage meaningless. Its purpose cannot be to accomplish the physically impossible. The real purpose must be to exact a price on society for a non-crime ...namely not being able to fabricate a heterosexual normalcy for gay couples.

Why Traditional Families Must Survive - Julie Culshaw

Slippery Slope