Fr. Barron on Original Sin, with My Reflections

 

Secularism reduces all things to matter and removes God from the equation.  When Satan tempts us and we give in we separate ourselves from God.  There is a bit of the enduring influence of Satan in every person who follows in the example of The Original Sin, by their own will ascribing what they deem to be good and evil.  Adam and Eve were tempted by the serpent.  They failed to follow God’s only command, to not eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Instead of trusting in God’s will Adam and Eve gave into temptation.  When they disobeyed God’s will, bit into the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge they used their wills to decide what was right and wrong. Adam and Eve’s actions showed that they thought they knew better than God.  People today who ignore God’s will and believe it is their prerogative to decide with their own will what is good and bad are following in the footsteps of Adam and Eve.

Father Barron directly quoted an infamous passage in the Supreme Court’s decision in Planned Parenthood v. Casey – “At the heart of liberty is the right to define one’s own concept of existence, of meaning, of the universe, and of the mystery of human life…”, words specifically attributed to Justice Anthony Kennedy,  citing it as a perfect example of persons trying to play God in determining what is ethical or unethical according to their own will.  Does liberty give us the right to do wrongs? Evil?  Participate in moral relativism? Going by the quote above it is reasonable to extrapolate that it is acceptable for each of us to try everything regardless of whether it is moral or immoral just so we are able to experience it, so we are able to feel it.  According to Justice Kennedy his concept of liberty would give us the right to try theft, assault, or murder just to find out what it is like. Huh?  Using our conscience we should be able to know that some things are obviously wrong so there would be no need to experience that which would harm our soul.  It is unethical to harm others in the name of liberty.

After Adam and Eve sinned they felt shame.  In addition to feeling shame it makes sense that they would also feel uncomfortable and exposed. When each of us sins we feel exposed and uncomfortable.  That little voice inside each of us tells us that we did something wrong.  The voice inside then tells us to correct the wrong.  The voice also tells us to avoid committing the same sin in the future.  When Adam and Eve felt uncomfortable and exposed this let them know that they had sinned. We experience the same thing.

 

 

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Hobby Lobby — A Family Business Fighting For Freedom Of Conscience

God Bless the Green family.  Please support Hobby Lobby.

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Priests may be arrested if they minister to faithful in military during government shutdown

Priests who are contracted out to minister to the lay faithful may be arrested if they minister to Catholics in the military during the government shutdown.   Even if a priest volunteers he may be arrested. So if they practice their faith priests could be arrested.  Why the heck should a government shutdown determine whether a priest can say Mass, pray, do weddings and funerals, and hear confessions?  This is clearly a violation of the First Amendment. 

This was brought to my attention by Maggie’s Notebook yesterday.  This is from Maggie’s Notebook: 

Obama still has 129 staffers working directly for him during the shutdown. Biden has 12. Most don’t know how to do the lesser jobs that need doing – like send a news release! And that’s okay, but when it comes to the spiritual needs of our troops, contracted priests have been threatened with arrest if they voluntarily (unpaid) tend to the troop’s spiritual needs. Some Priests are “contracted” due to a “lack” of active-duty Catholic priests, so there is likely a shortage of Protestant pastors as well, although I can’t confirm it. Shutting down the Washington Mall Memorials and Monuments, which can cost nothing to keep open if done properly: post a few signs saying there is no security, you are responsible for your own safety, and ‘hey, please take your trash with you,’ could work. Just as Obama refused to divert funding to the Military during sequester, the goal seems to make those who give the most for their country, the least.

“With the government shutdown, many [government service] and contract priests who minister to Catholics on military bases worldwide are not permitted to work – not even to volunteer,” wrote John Schlageter, the general counsel for the Archdiocese for the Military Services USA, in an op-ed this week. “During the shutdown, it is illegal for them to minister on base and they risk being arrested if they attempt to do so.”

According to its website, the Archdiocese for the Military Services “provides the Catholic Church’s full range of pastoral ministries and spiritual services to those in the United States Armed Forces.” Read more at The Daily Caller

 

While it is not concrete that the priests will be arrested for practicing their faith the fact that it is a possibility really irks me.

From The Blaze: 

The arrest claim is a bold one — but is it true? Recently, Politico did report that furloughed federal workers could be fired for using their BlackBerry phones during the shutdown. One warning noted that there could be penalties for conducting any work outside of the office during this time.

“Due to legal requirements, working in any way during a period of furlough (even as a volunteer) is grounds for disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment,”read a recent letter from the House Administration Committee to nonessential employees. “To avoid violating this prohibition, we strongly recommend that you turn your BlackBerrys off for the duration of the furlough.”

Technically, this would translate over to faith leaders as well. As for events that might be scheduled on military bases — baptisms, weddings, etc. — unless a priest who is not contracted is found, Schlageter said that the event would potentially have to be canceled.

From CatholicVote: 

Our government is out of control.

First, it was the World War II veterans who had to break down barriers to see the open air, un-attended memorial erected in their honor.  A memorial which is on public land but is supported – including the National Park Service fee – with private funds. This week there was more security surrounding this memorial — just to keep elderly veterans out — than there was at our embassy in Benghazi the night it was attacked.

And for what? To inflict as much pain as possible through this government shutdown. It’s called Washington Monument Syndrome, and it’s pure political theater.

But now there’s a story just coming to light that takes things even further. According the Archdiocese for Military Services, GS and contract priests (who are paid by the federal government as independent contractors in places where there aren’t enough active-duty priests to meet the needs of Catholics in military service) are being forbidden from celebrating Mass, even on a volunteer basis.

If they violate this restriction, they face possible arrest. FOR CELEBRATING MASS. 

This shutdown impacts Catholics in the military worldwide. In the DC-metro area, it specifically impacts bases like Quantico. On the Facebook page for the Archdiocese, Catholic military members commenting on the story are not happy. Comments include:

“This is outrageous!!! Especially threatening them with arrest to voluntarily do their job.”

“Unbelievable! I was worried about this because our priest is contracted as well. It is bad enough to be furloughed but to not have a Mass to attend, is a real downer,”

“Just one example, a couple is getting married tomorrow at a large Air Force Base that is staffed by a Contract priest. That priest did all of their marriage prep, and has gotten to know the couple very well over the past few months. But with the shutdown, he cannot perform their wedding. Instead of the priest that the couple has come to know and love, an active duty priest has to be sent in to perform the wedding of two people who are strangers to him and he to them.”

” Is anyone up there going to start a protest?! A rosary ?!?!? A nice Catholic riot maybe?! PLEEEAAASSEEE?! SOMEONE?! ANYONE?! Any real Carholics out there?!!!!???!”

This is outrageous. It is a violation of the First Amendment. It is a prohibition of the free exercise of religion to order priests under penalty of arrest that they cannot volunteer their time to offer Mass to the faithful on base. This cannot be allowed to stand.

CatholicVote has a couple updates on this unconscionable situation.  Our government is indeed out of control. 

 

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Open Thread: Are we fighting evil?

Glenn Beck claims that we are fighting evil in the United States. Evil of Islamofascism.  Evil of Communists.  Evil of Socialism.  Evil of immorality. Evil of tyranny. Evil of chaos.  Evil of Obamacare. There is definitely evil within Obamacare.  The HHS mandate is one element that is evil. That garbage needs to be repealed or defunded.  He says that we aren’t fighting either the Democrats or President Obama, but in fact we are fighting evil forces.  I’m sure this can be applicable to Canada and a number of other nations.  Do you think that we are fighting evil?  I do.  May we all wear the armor of God as we fight against Satan and all his evil works.  God Bless.

Ephesians 6: 10-18

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God,so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

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An apology letter to Mr. Obama

The Matt Walsh Blog

Dear President Obama,

I’m reaching out to you as a friend. I know you must be deeply hurting after what happened at the Missouri State Fair. Sure, you probably try to avoid watching the news while you’re on vacation, but I’m sure the pilot who airlifted your dog to your rental mansion in Martha’s Vineyard probably caught you up to speed (that guy is such a chatterbox). Your jaw must have hit the floor when you heard the news: A rodeo clown in Missouri poked fun at you. Yeah, I know, almost impossible to believe. The gall! The gumption! The racism! Don’t worry, the entire country erupted in outrage, Democrats and Republicans issued statements of condemnation, and now the offending clown has been banned for life from the Missouri State Fair. There will likely be “action taken” against the Missouri Rodeo Clown Association, and I do hope justice is visited…

View original post 830 more words

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GAO to Investigate Planned Parenthood’s Use of Taxpayer Funds

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has verified that they are going to be investigating Planned Parenthood’s use of taxpayer funds.  GAO agreed to this after getting a petition requesting an audit of Planned Parenthood. signed by 72 members of Congress.

From Newsmax: 

In 2010, the GAO released a report that indicated significant discrepancies in Planned Parenthood’s reported spending and funding.

In the Republican-sponsored letter to the GAO, the lawmakers called on the agency to provide an update on how federal funds are being spent by organizations that provide abortion services.

“Planned Parenthood and other organizations who provide abortions are dependent on Uncle Sam, but there is no accounting with what they are actually using the money for,” said Louisiana GOP Sen. David Vitter, who along with Tennessee GOP Rep. Diane Black, is leading the push of an audit. 

Last year, clinics affiliated with the Planned Parenthood Federation of America performed a record 333,964 abortions and reported a record $1.2 billion in revenue generated, according to a report by Life Decisions International. 

Taxpayer funding of the organization reached $538.5 million last year and accounted for 45.2 percent of Planned Parenthood’s total annual budget in 2011-2012.

Meanwhile, the organization is under renewed scrutiny after its Texas affiliate was forced to pay a $4.3 million at the end of July to settle a whistle-blower lawsuit alleging that the organization fraudulently billed Medicaid over $30 million, according to the Houston Chronicle. 

“Federal and state auditors and investigators have specifically tabbed Planned Parenthood affiliates with at least $12.5 million in waste, abuse and ‘fraudulent overbilling’ of taxpayers. Former Planned Parenthood employees and others allege many millions more,” Casey Mattox, a lawyer for Alliance Defending Freedom, said after the settlement. 

The alliance group has filed lawsuits against Planned Parenthood and has produced a report that it claims tracks the organization’s waste. 

It’s about time.  This investigation is way past due.  Citizens should not be funding an abortion provider via taxes.  If persons want to commit murder and support that immoral cesspool then they should do that on their own dime. Not using taxpayer’s money.  And certainly not misusing taxpayer’s funds.  Planned Parenthood needs to be held accountable for fraud or the misuse of taxpayer’s funds.

 

 

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Human Life: Controversial?

To progressives yes.  For conservatives no.  Pro-choicers yes.  Pro-lifers no. I really hope that we can all agree that each of our lives started in our mothers’ wombs and that if our mothers had aborted us we would not be living today.  For some reason the pro-choice crowd views unborn babies as life that is less worthy of living, so much so that they believe that they have the right to choose to end human life in the womb for whatever reason they deem fit.  Pro-lifers believe that every human life is precious, worthy of human dignity, and that the human life in the womb has just as much of a right to live as persons outside the womb.  Pro-choice individuals by advocating for abortion rights are denying human beings the right to life which is guaranteed in our Constitution.

Question:  Pro-choicers do you believe that you were less of a human being while you were in your mother’s womb?

Tim Kowal at League of Ordinary Gentleman gathered data from a survey which reveals that a majority of Americans are for making abortion illegal after the first trimester.  In his post “Human Life is not too controversial” Tim focuses on the Texas bill which bans abortions after the embryo is 20 weeks. This bill just passed the Texas House and is now onto the Senate.  There is already a Texas law which requires women who are  seeking an abortion to have an ultrasound and listen to a description of what it shows.  Tim says, “the rhetorical case for protecting the unborn has succeeded.”  I agree with that for the most part.  I would add that the medical evidence supports that human life exists in the womb during pregnancy and that biology also recognizes that a new human life begins at the moment of conception.  So why is abortion still legal? I agree with Tim when he argues that the media has much influence over the abortion debate.  Since most of the media is pro-choice there hasn’t been a change with regards to abortion on the national level.  I would also add that over half of the members of Congress support abortions.  The media and pro-choice lawmakers have a way of appealing to women’s emotions, justifying abortion on this basis instead of looking at the reality, that two human lives are involved and that abortion kills an innocent human life.  In addition, pro-choice supporters refuse to look at the harmful physical and/or psychological effects that women go through after having had an abortion.  These two have a great amount of power and that is the reason why there hasn’t been a piece of legislation passed limiting abortion, amending Roe v. Wade.

Knowing when human life begins is not complicated and is not controversial either. When the male gamete and the female gamete, the sperm and oocyte, unites this is called fertilization. At the moment of fertilization a new cell called a zygote is formed and human development begins.  There are a number of biology/embriology texts that support this scientific fact.

“Human development begins at fertilization, the process during which a male gamete or sperm (spermatozoo development) unites with a female gamete or oocyte (ovum) to form a single cell called a zygote. This highly specialized, totipotent cell marked the beginning of each of us as a unique individual.”

“A zygote is the beginning of a new human being (i.e., an embryo).”

Keith L. Moore, The Developing Human: Clinically Oriented Embryology, 7th edition. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders, 2003. pp. 16, 2.

“[The zygote], formed by the union of an oocyte and a sperm, is the beginning of a new human being.”

Keith L. Moore, Before We Are Born: Essentials of Embryology, 7th edition. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders, 2008. p. 2.

“It is the penetration of the ovum by a spermatozoan and resultant mingling of the nuclear material each brings to the union that constitutes the culmination of the process of fertilization and marks the initiation of the life of a new individual.”

Clark Edward Corliss, Patten’s Human Embryology: Elements of Clinical Development. New York: McGraw Hill, 1976. p. 30.

At fertilization a new human being starts developing. This human being will grow and thrive if allowed.  For pro-lifers such as myself the fact that a new life begins at fertilization is not a hard concept for us to grasp. The fact that this new human life is precious, is developing and has the right to survive, the right to life as the Constitution states, is not a hard concept for pro-lifers to comprehend.  We understand that abortion means the death of the embryo/unborn baby.  There is nothing that justifies the direct purposeful killing of an innocent life, an innocent unborn baby.

For some reason many pro-choice individuals are unable to grasp the fact that the embryo is in fact a human life and that every human life in every stage of development has the right to live, the right to be given a chance to live.  They want to make the abortion issue about “choice” and doing whatever women want with their own bodies.  The major problem with that saying is abortion is not primarily about their own bodies.  Abortion affects the new living human being that is developing.  Why should an individual be given the choice to kill another life, another human being?  Just because it is dependent on the mother? If that is the case why not the justification to kill babies outside the womb who are dependent on their mothers?  Pro-aborts treat new human life so callously that they treat the unborn like disposable waste. To pro-aborts the unborn fall way down low on the totem pole in terms of importance and value compared to finances, believing that pregnancy will ruin the mother’s life, the mother’s choice not to take the unborn baby to term for a number of reasons, thinking that women should have control over their own bodies (when this isn’t the case; it involves two bodies the mother and baby),  and believing unborn life is less important because of the unborn baby’s size and the baby is still developing.  I cringe when I hear these words.  It saddens me that some people choose might over what’s right. There are so many couples waiting to adopt a baby but due to abortions there is a long wait list.  Making a sacrifice of self and doing what is good and right for the unborn baby is the ultimate act of love.

Here is a video which shows amazing medical visualization from conception to birth.

The miracle of life.  Say yes to human rights for the unborn.

 

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Mixed Messages,The War On Terror, and Privacy

Is there still a “war on terror”?  President Obama has given mixed messages on this.  A couple weeks ago the President declared the “War On Terror” over.   The Obama administration called the shooting at Ft. Hood “workplace violence” even though Hasan yelled Allahu Akbar before going on his shooting rampage at the military base. Nidal Hasan plans to argue that the shooting was in defense of the Taliban. Sound like terrorism, anyone? From the beginning the Obama administration has renamed the “Global War On Terror” Overseas Contingency Operations.  I guess the peace prize president didn’t want to sound warlike. Or something like that.  On the other hand President Obama sent drones overseas to pick off terrorists, among them were four Americans.

Now we have a huge NSA leak which revealed spying on the American people on a massive scale.  Is the guy who leaked this information a traitor or a patriot?  If the spying domestically on this massive scale violates our privacy rights and is unjust then I consider the guy to be a patriot.  Now citizens can have an important conversation as to security versus privacy, and how much of our privacy should we be willing to give up for national security purposes.  If the “war on terror” is over why has Obama doubled down on and expanded Bush’s policies?

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Misc. News Links

The trustees have chosen a new president to succeed Fr. Terence Henry at Franciscan University of Steubenville.  His name is Father Sean Sheridan.  He has a strong legal background which will help in the fight against the unjust HHS mandate which does not respect conscience rights or citizens’ religious liberty.

“I am honored to serve as the next president of Franciscan University,” Father Sheridan said in a statement. “It is inspiring and truly humbling for me to be here at Franciscan University with the students who are pouring their hearts into their education and their prayer life, falling in love with God and the Church and striving to become saints.”

Here is a little bit about Father Sheridan’s credentials:

Father Sheridan entered the Franciscan Third Order Regular in 2000, leaving behind a career as an attorney focused on health-care litigation. He made his solemn profession of vows in 2005 and was ordained to the priesthood the following year. Father Sheridan continued his legal education in the Church, earning a doctorate in canon law from Catholic University of America in 2009. He wrote his dissertation addressing seven challenges — and potential solutions — to implementing Ex Corde Ecclesiae (From the Heart of the Church), Pope John Paul II’s 1992 apostolic constitution for Catholic higher education.

Father Sheridan served as an assistant professor of canon law at CUA from 2009 until last fall, when he became a professor in Franciscan University’s theology department.

“He’s got the right mix of academic, pastoral and professional experience,” Hernon said. “He’s got the mission of the university in his heart, and he wears it on his sleeve. We know he’s going to continue to see how the university can respond to the call St. Francis received from Christ, to ‘Go, rebuild my Church.’”

We have a story of authentic courage of someone who has stuck by their beliefs even among pressure in these ever changing times of what our culture deems as acceptable.  Chris Broussard is the ESPN analyst who was asked to comment on on the NBA basketball player Jason Collins who announced that he is gay for all the world to hear.  Broussard said that homosexuality is a sin. He went onto say:

“If you’re openly living in unrepentant sin, whatever that may be,” including heterosexual sex outside of marriage, you are “walking in open rebellion to God and to Jesus Christ.”

Instead of being respectful and tolerant of his point of view some people have taken to twitter to call for ESPN to fire Chris Broussard.

It looks like the Southern Poverty Law Center has some explaining to do.  It appears that the SPLC influenced a domestic terrorist attack by labeling the Family Research Council as a “hate” group.  Seeing this information on the SPLC’s website spurred Floyd Lee Corkins to shoot at innocent workers at the Washington-based Family Research Center. Corkins has pleaded guilty to a charge of domestic terrorism and will be charged in June. Lives were spared as a result of the heroic actions of Leonardo Johnson, the security guard/building manager. 

Apparently religious freedom for Christians in the military will not be tolerated.  Here our military men and women are fighting to protect our freedoms which are outlined in the Constitution and yet their rights won’t be protected while serving.  Geesh! This is disgraceful. Totally unconscionable!  

From ChristianPost: 

President Obama’s new “religious tolerance” consultant to the Pentagon, Mikey Weinstein, wants Christian military service members who openly talk about their faith in uniform to be charged with treason, which is a crime punishable by death according to military law.

By employing his consulting services, and as Commander-in-Chief, President Obama is effectively endorsing Weinstein’s recently voiced and written views such as: “Today, we face incredibly well-funded gangs of fundamentalist Christian monsters who terrorize their fellow Americans by forcing their weaponized [sic] and twisted version of Christianity upon their helpless subordinates in our nation’s armed forces.”

President Obama is someone who claims that he is a Christian.  If he is a Christian why would he employ a “religious tolerant” consultant that calls Christians “monsters who terrorize their fellow Americans”?  By “fundamentalist” does Weinstein mean, actually follows the Bible and adheres to timeless biblical truths?  So I guess he thinks modernism and moral relativism “true Christianity”?  This administration has been the most hostile to Christians (traditional Christians) in recent modern history.  This is not only intolerance but is persecutory in nature. And some people wonder why we a number of say that Obama is shredding the Constitution. It is obvious that he has no respect for the Constitution or citizens’ rights.  He acts as if he were king.  I do pray for his conversion of heart and soul.  

Israeli President Shimon Perez has invited Pope Francis to visit Israel.  Pope Francis has accepted the invitation “with willingness and joy” .  No date has been set for the visit. 

A Vatican statement said they discussed prospects for a resumption of negotiations for a solution that would respect “the legitimate aspirations of the two Peoples, thus decisively contributing to the peace and stability of the region.”

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Links, Bits, Pieces — Politics and Faith Edition

Apparently there has been some hullabaloo about news sites claiming that Pope Francis as Cardinal Bergoglio endorsed civil unions back in 2010. That’s a bunch of hooey. According to one of the Pope’s confidants Francis was faced with gay “marriage” being thrust upon citizens in Argentina so he offered the lesser of two evils as to have further discussion on the matter. It is the same when voting for a piece of legislation. Canon law allows for the politician voting for the legislation that is the lesser of two evils when there is no good option.

Woites’s statements contradict a New York Times article published yesterday stating, “Faced with the near certain passage of the gay marriage bill, Cardinal Bergoglio offered the civil union compromise as the ‘lesser of two evils,’ said Sergio Rubin, his authorized biographer. ‘He wagered on a position of greater dialogue with society.'”

Here is the article http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/bergoglio-didnt-suggest-endorsing-homosexual-civil-unions-in-2010-says-conf

Fr. Orsi at Ave Maria is taking bishops to task for being unwilling to refuse Holy Communion to politicians who are in grave sin those who support abortion and euthanasia.  I’d add being in support of same-sex marriage to the list. Both Biden and Pelosi received Communion at Pope Francis’ installation mass. These type of politicians have been obstinate for so long and the bishops’ pastoral approach hasn’t worked over a lengthy period of time that a more visible act of standing for the faith and against scandal is necessary.  Here is a bit of what Fr. Orsi has to say:

Politicians such as Biden and Pelosi have been stubborn and contumacious in their pro-abortion policies and in presenting themselves for reception of the Eucharist. They know that the American bishops, for the most part, prefer a “pastoral approach,” which means basically let’s talk to them and help them to see the error of their ways. It has not worked, and there is no indication that it will. The topic of this essay is proof enough! They also know that Catholic priests are instructed not to cause a scene on the Communion line and that the person be permitted to receive. Thus, they opt to take advantage of these charitable loopholes.

There is a solution and perhaps some hope for stronger enforcement of Church policy on offending pols. The Vatican should clearly state that politicians who promote a culture of death, abortion, and euthanasia, are subject to excommunication by their bishop. Pope-Emeritus  Benedict XVI  made an unofficial statement on a trip to Mexico, in 2007, stating  that excommunication for pro choice legislators was not arbitrary and is part of canon law.  This would strengthen Canon 915 and some bishops’ backbones.

It is well known that Pope Francis forbade pro- choice politicians from receiving Holy Communion in his diocese, in Argentina.  Perhaps the new Pope can move this project along?

By the bishops refusing to take strong action, such as excommunication, politicians will continue their “in your face” attitude toward the church and her leaders. Such a failure will also continue to allow Catholics and people of good will to be scandalized. Even worse, it gives the impression that others may follow the behavior of wayward  politicians with impunity.

Biden and Pelosi only did at the Vatican what they have been allowed to do at home.  As the great Lutheran pastor Dietrich Bonheoffer stated so well, dear bishops;  Not to act is to act!

http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/ave-maria-law-priest-takes-bishops-to-task-for-failing-to-deny-communion-to?utm_source=LifeSiteNews.com+Daily+Newsletter&utm_campaign=80c9604d99-LifeSiteNews_com_US_Headlines_03_20_2013&utm_medium=email

Dang those sequester cuts. Bang. Bop. That hurts… Wait!!! Hold on… stop listening to the MSM meme. Were there really cuts to government agencies because of the sequester? To Find out you can visit The Sequester Lies: Where are the Republicans? at Conservative Hideout. It’s all laid out neatly in a graph.

The Conservative Lady has a post titled A New “Most Dangerous” Man in America?   This person is a mayor of a major city but he has much influence over national politics.  He is a radical who wants to change (er take away) your rights using force.  He is not only against illegal guns but is also against legal guns.

1CatholicSalmon has a good post called Palm Sunday – the day after tomorrow, and Holy Week begins. Doesn’t it seem like Lent has flown by? Hard to believe it’s already almost one day before Holy Week begins.

Biltrix has a great post called Father, Forgive Them!  Fr. Jason Smith explains about having the urge to throw away his anger toward Judas betrayal when he hears the words “Father forgive them.”  This had me questioning, should we really be angry at Judas? Wasn’t he apart of God’s divine plan? An essential part? Without Judas would Jesus have died to save our sins? Possibly…. but since this is what happened in God’s divine plan to save all of humanity from sin wouldn’t giving thanks to Judas be more appropriate?  We all sin and whether the sin be big or small if we ask for forgiveness God will grant His mercy and forgive us. For this reason and with there being conflicting accounts of Judas’ death  I do believe that it is possible that Judas repented before his death. This would mean that Judas would have been forgiven by God just as the rest of us are forgiven when we repent in Reconciliation.

 

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