Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Warning Against 'Spriit of Adulation surrounding Obama - Archbishop Chaput

I saw this on the Drudge Report this morning a day after President Obama addressed the Congress last night. I heard him on the Sat. radio on my way home from work.

Archbishop Charles Chaput gave a public lecture about his fabulous book "Render Unto Caesar". A must read.

He also provided a critique of Mr. Obama that needs to be hear.

Denver archbishop warns against 'spirit of adulation' surrounding Obama

Canadians packed St. Basil’s Church in Toronto on Monday evening to hear Archbishop Charles Chaput speak about how Catholics should live out their faith in the public square. He warned that in the U.S., Catholics need to act on their faith and be on guard against "a spirit of adulation bordering on servility" that exists towards the Obama administration.

The public lecture by Archbishop Chaput took place on the campus of the University of Toronto at St. Basil’s Church and was attended by an overflow crowd of more than 700 people.
After giving a sketch of the basic principles in his New York Times Bestseller "Render Unto Caesar," the archbishop offered his insights on the need for an honest assessment of the situation of the Church in the public square.


"I like clarity, and there’s a reason why," began the archbishop. "I think modern life, including life in the Church, suffers from a phony unwillingness to offend that poses as prudence and good manners, but too often turns out to be cowardice. Human beings owe each other respect and appropriate courtesy. But we also owe each other the truth -- which means candor."
The Denver prelate then provided his critique of President Obama.


"President Obama is a man of intelligence and some remarkable gifts. He has a great ability to inspire, as we saw from his very popular visit to Canada just this past week. But whatever his strengths, there’s no way to reinvent his record on abortion and related issues with rosy marketing about unity, hope and change. Of course, that can change. Some things really do change when a person reaches the White House. Power ennobles some men. It diminishes others. Bad policy ideas can be improved. Good policy ideas can find a way to flourish. But as Catholics, we at least need to be honest with ourselves and each other about the political facts we start with."

Yet this will be "very hard for Catholics in the United States," Chaput warned.
According to the archbishop, the political situation for Catholics is difficult to discern because a "spirit of adulation bordering on servility already exists among some of the same Democratic-friendly Catholic writers, scholars, editors and activists who once accused pro-lifers of being too cozy with Republicans. It turns out that Caesar is an equal opportunity employer."

MORE

I love this guy. What a leader.

Can I get an AMEN.

...more later on the blog-a-sphere response.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Trojan Horse 'Stimulus Package' - Fr. Mitch Pacwa

(Stimulus Package)
"The sky is falling!"

So Chicken Little proclaimed to her companions, Lucy Goosey, Cocky Locky and the rest...

Fr. Mitch Pacwa makes the comparison with his thoughts on the today's situation.

This month the House and Senate have approved an economic stimulus package in response to the great difficulties in the job market and economy. The political pundits continue to argue about its probable success or failure, disagreeing strongly and certainly not knowing for sure how it will affect the economy in fact. The results remain to be seen, and we all hope that the results help not only our whole nation but the rest of the world that depends on us.

However, as a priest I have some comments to make on the stimulus bill because it contains elements which have nothing to do with stimulating the economy. First, so many of our nation's leaders have taken the Chicken Little approach, claiming that the economic sky is falling. They frighten the press, who help spread the fear by taking on the roles of Lucky Ducky, Goosey Lucy, and Cocky Locky. The reason for fear of complete economic catastrophe may well be real - I do not know enough about the actual state of the economy to make such a claim. However, the fear engendered by our national leaders cries of "Crisis! Crisis!" have energized such a speedy passage of the bill that one begins to fear that haste makes waste.

Of far greater concern is the enormous length of this bill - hundreds and hundreds of pages, with many elements crossed out and new ones printed by hand as compromises and arguments were made in the House and the Senate. However, the senators were not given enough time to read it, even though the Chicken Littles and Lucy Goosies were demanding haste to pass it. They could not know everything that was included, and some of these elements were made known to the legislators only after it had passed.

Among these components is a requirement to computerize the medical records of all our citizens. This would be online with the Federal government, who would then require all doctors to agree to Federal regulations on health care treatment. Any doctor who did not go along with this program would be penalized - though the penalties have not been spelled out.

I am amazed that politicians who demand privacy when it comes to the right to an abortion which had been created by the Supreme Court are now willing to terminate our rights to privacy in regard to our medical records. They will penalize a doctor who does not go along with applying medical procedures legislated by the Federal government, but not penalize a doctor who cuts an infant in the womb to pieces in order to abort it. They have twisted their authority from the protection of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness into a control of lives and the ability to prevent medication and, thereby, terminate some person's lives. This is triage legislation.

Of course, if the politicians promise total medical care, but they cannot supply it, they need to perform triage - choosing who will get medicine and who will die without it. They usurped this power without a public debate on the subject. Inserting it into an urgent and hastily passed economic stimulation bill became a trick worthy of Odysseus - the king who devised the Trojan Horse that destroyed Troy. I do not know what we can do to stop this, but we all need to stand guard against it. We must defend our true right to medical privacy. We must stand up not only for the lives of the unborn but now for our own lives and health. This task is extra difficult because Congress has already rolled the Trojan horse into our law.

Our source of strength this Lent will be our praying, fasting and abstaining to return our laws to a proper relationship with the God given rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The government did not ever give us those rights; they cannot take them away. Therefore, let us turn to God their Author for the strength, wisdom and courage to prevent our government from taking them away.

Fr. Mitch Pacwa

Subsribe to his newsletter HERE

New American Tea Party - The People Rise Up!



A new movement is afoot.

The people maybe coming to their senses... I hope.



As in our nations beginnings, the people had enough. At the Boston tea party, the people acted to show their outrage of 'taxaton without representation'.



Today, in an era that may someday be called the 'The Great Hand-Out', once again the people may have to take matters into their own hands (legally of course).



Today they are taking to the electronic media by-ways. The internet, blogs and chat-lines to organize.



Obama used it to gather his millions to sponsor his election.



Now these same methods may prove the double edge sword.

Visit the NEW AMERICAN TEA PARTY

Kmiec' s Fatal Flaw

AmP has a points out the 'fatal flaw' in Kmiec's argument against the Vatican's Pelosi statement.


giuristi vs. giudici

Monday, February 23, 2009

Prof. Kmiec - Pope Benedict XVI's words to Nancy Pelosi were "intrusive" in legal matters

Prof. Kmiec of Pepperdine University has decided to weigh-in on B16's talk with Ms. Pelosi.

In his piece Prof. Kmiec implied that the Pope exaggerated or at least did not measure the consequences of his words when he told Nancy Pelosi that "jurists," in addition to legislators, must work "in cooperation with all men and women of good will in creating a just system of laws capable of protecting human life at all stages of its development."

In other words....." one doesn't need to over emphasis one's Catholic beliefs while holding office.
Find the least common denominator and go with that...

Hmmm... part-time catholic.

.....NOT

One is fully Catholic whether you a Legislator, a member of the U.S. Supreme Court, Bus Driver, School Teacher, Mom, Dad, Brother or Sister.

Professor Kmiec calls Pope's clarification to Pelosi 'intrusive'

Professor Douglas Kmiec, the scholar who provided a justification for allowing Catholics to vote for Barack Obama, despite the president's consistent pro-abortion track record, wrote last week on Time Magazine's website that Pope Benedict XVI's words to Nancy Pelosi were "intrusive" in legal matters, because they put the whole judicial system in an impossible moral dilemma.

In his piece Prof. Kmiec implied that the Pope exaggerated or at least did not measure the consequences of his words when he told Nancy Pelosi that "jurists," in addition to legislators, must work "in cooperation with all men and women of good will in creating a just system of laws capable of protecting human life at all stages of its development."

According to Kmiec, such a statement “has the potential, at least theoretically, to empty the U.S. Supreme Court of all five of its Catholic jurists, and perhaps all other Catholics who sit on the bench in the lower federal and state courts.”

The Pepperdine professor suggests the Pope, instead, could take "a different, less intrusive course," by "continuing to observe the difference between a jurist and a legislator."
MORE

Carl from InsideScoop has the rebuttal

If I understand Douglas W. Kmiec's argument correctly...

John Angotti - At St.Paul the Apostle Church


If you're in the Los Angeles, South land on Saturday, March 1 2009 for the Catholic Conference in Anaheim, don't miss the FREE Concert with John Angotti & JAMM, at our parish, just a short drive from the Anaheim Convention Center.


Also our very own, home grown band, 5 Damascus Road will be opening for John.
Those attending the Conferences will be paying a fee to get in to see John Angotti play. It's FREE at our parish.
Hamburgers and Hot Dogs will be served as well as cookies, coffee and other refreshments. So come one come all enjoy an evening of some great contemporary Christian Praise and Worship music.
JOHN ANGOTTI BIO:
Saint Paul the Apostle’s Men’s Fellowship is working on a wonderful project that we hope you will want to be a part of!

On Sunday March 1, 2009 Saint Paul the Apostle will host a lively and captivating musical concert featuring an array of contemporary Christian and secular favorites as performed by musical artist John Angotti. He will be performing songs from all five of his CDs currently available for sale at www.JohnAngotti.com.

John Angotti as a full time music missionary travels throughout many parts of the world providing
inspirational music to all ages through concerts, workshops, retreats, missions, conferences, and worship.
John has won numerous awards including, "Male Vocalist of the Year," "Pop/Contemporary," and "Praise and Worship Album of the Year" from the United Christian Music and Video Association. His powerful voice and writing style includes contemporary rock, pop, and Latin rhythms, along with his ability to give new life to traditional classics in chant and classical genres. Recently, as Pope Benedict XVI visited Washington D.C., John was invited to perform "Stand in the Light" for the pre-Mass celebration, the title of one of his latest recordings.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

D'Souza vs. Hitchens Debate Video - CU Boulder, Colorado


The video is up on the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Center website

I haven't had a chance to view it yet, however I wanted to pass the word.

Pelosi back to CCD class...

Well, Ms. Pelosi attended CCD yesterday and guess who the teacher was?

Yup! Non other than our Holy Father Pope Benedict. Actually she's very fortunate in that any catholic would love to have the Holy Father as their personal instructor.

She's quite lucky it wasn't Sister Mary Eleen from the 1950's. That ruler could be painful on the knuckles.

Amp - Pelosi gets more than a photo-op

Vatican released statement

Pope tells Pelosi Catholics oppose abortion

Benedict XVI vs. Nancy Pelosi

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Lincoln's Birthday - 200 yr Celebration


Many, as I do, look to President Lincoln as a true source of leadership in the office of the U.S. Presidency. The hard administration he lead, the Civil War, the divided nation.

Yet with his leadership, the nation showed it's ability to weather a major turning point, a mere 100 years from it's founding.

While many today, especially in the MSM, have and will continue to force a resemblance of President Obama with that of President Lincoln, that illusion is just that... an illusion.


President Lincoln stand by himself, a model for all those that hold the office of the people.


Take a few minutes on this 200 yr birthday of Abraham Lincoln to review three of his greatest speeches. We need more leaders like him. A man not only of words but of substance.










Tuesday, February 10, 2009

AP wants compensation for Artist rendition of Obama

(PHOTO: AP & Shepard Fairey...p.s. please don't sue me)


Most everyone has seen this artistic rendition of Obama (... usually on the back of a Prius).

Well it appears that the Artist, Shepard Fairey from Los Angeles, who created the colorful creation from an AP photo taken by a Mannie Garcia, is being sue by.... well the AP.

Seems the news agency want it cut of this pie from this overnight sensation image.

Should they? Did the artist change the photo enough?

Calif. artist sues AP over image of Obama



An artist who created a famous image of Barack Obama before he became president sued The Associated Press on Monday, asking a judge to find that his use of an AP photo in creating the poster did not violate copyright law.

Stimulus Bill - Health Care Provision

This is really scary.

Yesterday I listened to President Obama give his first press conference since entering office. He generally beat the bully-pulpit with his 8 minute speak and about 55 minutes of Q&A, supporting the passage of the proposed Stimulus bill.

He basically said, there is no reason not to pass this bill and those that don't want to are ones that want to do nothing.

There many be some that have this ideology, that is to do nothing and let the crisis work itself out.

I am not one of those.

I do believe like the majority opposed to the immediate passage of this bill, that more time is needed to see what exactly is in it.

With a read of this article, I bring to your attention why congress needs to vote NO on this stimulus bill, until we have a full understanding of it's contents.

Just one example of what's deep inside this bill is a provision for health care.

Ruin Your Health With the Obama Stimulus Plan: Betsy McCaughey
...

Senators should read these provisions and vote against them because they are dangerous to your health. (Page numbers refer to H.R. 1 EH, pdf version).
The bill’s health rules will affect “every individual in the United States” (445, 454, 479). Your medical treatments will be tracked electronically by a federal system. Having electronic medical records at your fingertips, easily transferred to a hospital, is beneficial. It will help avoid duplicate tests and errors.


But the bill goes further. One new bureaucracy, the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology, will monitor treatments to make sure your doctor is doing what the federal government deems appropriate and cost effective. The goal is to reduce costs and “guide” your doctor’s decisions (442, 446). These provisions in the stimulus bill are virtually identical to what Daschle prescribed in his 2008 book, “Critical: What We Can Do About the Health-Care Crisis.” According to Daschle, doctors have to give up autonomy and “learn to operate less like solo practitioners.”

Keeping doctors informed of the newest medical findings is important, but enforcing uniformity goes too far.
New Penalties
Hospitals and doctors that are not “meaningful users” of the new system will face penalties. “Meaningful user” isn’t defined in the bill. That will be left to the
HHS secretary, who will be empowered to impose “more stringent measures of meaningful use over time” (511, 518, 540-541)

What penalties will deter your doctor from going beyond the electronically delivered protocols when your condition is atypical or you need an experimental treatment? The vagueness is intentional. In his book, Daschle proposed an appointed body with vast powers to make the “tough” decisions elected politicians won’t make.

The stimulus bill does that, and calls it the Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research (190-192). The goal, Daschle’s book explained, is to slow the development and use of new medications and technologies because they are driving up costs. He praises Europeans for being more willing to accept “hopeless diagnoses” and “forgo experimental treatments,” and he chastises Americans for expecting too much from the health-care system.

The elderly will be hit the hardest. And Catholic Hospitals will feel the hand of the government is regards to the abortion issue.

Friday, February 06, 2009

Another West Coast Blogger... one I Love Dearly

Introducing another West Coast Blogger that I LOVE Dearly..

My daughter has started her own blog. She's a resent college grad with a promising future... and lots to say.


So give her a shout at West Coast Girl 09

WCC +<><

Legionaries of Christ - Father Marcial Maciel

There is lots on the web on the news of the founder of the Leagions of Christ, Fr. Maciel. And there are analysis and chat about it.

I'll just list some of the source:

Catholic Exchange "..dropping of the other shoe" Part I

Legionary Priest Interview - Patrick Madrid blog


AmP - Day 4

Legion regrets Founders conduct - National Catholic Register

Monday, February 02, 2009

Morning Read - Cup of Joe

With the a 'cup of joe' we begin our Monday.

Articles:

Super, Super Bowl - Got to start out with this one...amazing 35 seconds left.

Pro-Life Super Bowl Ad Sacked - Missed opportunity

Obama demands 10% defense cuts - Let's jump into the hard core stuff, better have a donut ready with this article

Two Children Should be Limit, says Green Guru - Jonathaon Porritt, pin-head?

Enrollment in faith-based schools down nearly 20 percent - This was mentioned in our parishes Sunday homily.