Friday, September 23, 2011

GOP Debates - WestCoastCatholic Opinion

Okay so this is the first of the 3 debates I've half listen to half viewed.

I listen to part of it on the way home from work and the other while eating Chinese takeout.

So here's my initial thoughts, before I listen or read any of the analysis.

Tomorrow's headlines will pronounce Mitt Romney the winner, but that's not the whole story.

Well, I thought that Romney showed himself well, a lot better than Perry to my chagrin. I was really hoping Perry would make this debate his best of the three...and well I don't think he did that well in the others.

Perry seemed tongue tied every time he tried to make a point or to tangle with Romney. But to be honest Romney seemed more at ease, more fluid.

Perry blew it on the immigration issue. While I think we need to reform immigration laws and provide illegals with an amount of care for them and their children, giving them College money and privileges for first class choice over U.S. citizens is a no go for me. I have college kids and know the situation well.

Now, to be up front, I'm not a Romney fan. Frankly I still remember his down right anti-Catholic stance with his Romney-Care which specifically wouldn't allow Catholic Hospitals to opt out. They were forced to provide the morning after pills and Catholic Orphanages to allow Gay couples to adopt. The Catholic Orphanages decided to close.

I don't trust him, Perry is right to point out Romney's flip-flop history. I also want to bring attention to Mitt's claim that he stayed in the private work force out of choice. The real reason is he wasn't elected (2002 US Senate) to the positions he ran for including a bit for the Presidency (2008) . It wasn't out of choice so much as the  voters didn't want him.

I do like Rick Santorum but I really don't think people will give him the vote.

Gingrich is a veteran politician and has some great ideas, but I think his time as come and gone. Maybe a VP slot.

The one that impressed me the most was Herman Cain. I don't know, I'm still not knowledgeable in all his view points but he did impress me.More than all the others tonight.Better than Romney in my opinion.

Michele Bachmann is not for me.I think after tonight Michelle and Perry are tied, which means at this point not a primary win for either.

Jon Huntsman and Gary Johnson are off my list. Aside from a couple of good one liners they're out. The neighbor with 2 dogs and shovel ready jobs was a good one though. That will circulate the media for sure.

Anyways these are my first thoughts on tonight's debate. A long way to go, but still anyone tonight would do a better job than Obama... well almost everyone. I'm sorry but the youth are infatuated with Ron Paul but an absolute no for me.

Love to hear you thoughts....

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Megyn Kelly on the Wrong side of Bono Issue

Megyn Kelly is one of my favorite commentators. I like her spunk and legal knowledge. She's not afraid to confront and stand up for what she believes.Her experience as a lawyer shows that she is not just another pretty face on TV.

Of late, Her lawyer smarts seem to be getting in the way of her moral judgement. I see her  more and more putting aside that which is very essential in faith and reason mainly just that, 'faith and morals'.

Pope Benedict and Social Doctrine says that a good society can not be accomplished if there are not virtuous people in that society.

And that word virtue(ous) is not one mentioned very much anymore and even less when it comes to judging whether something in society is right or wrong.

Tolerance is a word which seems to be taking it's place."You mustn't judge [something to be right or wrong]".
I don't thing that is a good message to teach. we make judgements thousands of times a day.

I wonder if Ms Kelly, a new Mom, will go the strictly "the law says" when raising her children.

The law says "abortion is legal"

The law says "gay marriage is legal"

The law says "schools can hand out condoms and take you child to get an abortion" without a parents consent.

The law says that you have a right to mutilate your body in a transgender operation.

...and if you disagree with any of this you insight violence and intolerance.

I wonder if as a parent how far Ms Kelly will go when applying her parental guidance?

"Gee, I guess your right child of mine. If the law says it's legal to do any of these and numerous other things, I shouldn't discourage you from gong for it."

As a parent and now a grandparent, I know a little about raising children and yes children are influenced by everything around them. They will imitate whatever they see, whether it's Wrestle Mania or violent video games to smoking, swearing, dressing, and what they eat and drink. It's not unusual to see younger than teenage kid drinking energy drinks or asking Mom or Dad to order them a Star Bucks...as if they are lacking in energy. or need the caffeine.Hey everyone's doing it. It's legal and it's advertised everywhere.

That's why we are parents, so we can guide them through the minefields. Just because you bring that guidance to your children doesn't mean you're telling your kids that they should hate those that do those things. That they should bring violence into the situation whenever you confront those participating.

In fact it's more prevelent that if you disagree with these practices you will encounter violence from those that support them.

It's not uncommon when I visit an abortion clinic for a prayer vigil I will be cursed at 'flipped off' , even spit on (this hasn't happened to me..spitting that is,  but I know of those that this has happened to).

All Doctor Ablow is saying is that celebrating the decisions of Chaz Bono and let's use her real name Chastity Bono, is not what I would say is a growing moment in a child's life or a Teen's life for that matter. That's when the real parenting needs to be strong.

I think Ms Kelly as a Mom has a lot to learn. As a commentator lawyer, she is just wrong to say Dr  Ablow is insighting  violence.

As for Chasity (Chaz) Bono, I will pray for her. I pray that God will protect her and shower her with his graces, that she may see the error of her ways. I realize she as lead a very troubled life. I do wish her the best.

And I hope and pray for Ms Kelly. I still like to hear her point of views.

Fox's Megyn Kelly: Disapprove of Chaz Bono? You're Pushing for Violence 

Kelly said Ablow's science was "way off base," but O’Reilly pressed Kelly to say Ablow wasn’t a bad guy, but she insisted he could cause violence. “That doesn’t mean his own words won’t lead to that.” The column “was irresponsible and dangerous and could lead to some real problems. Listen, this group of people already undergoes enough discrimination and isolation and violence. “

O’Reilly suggested she was on a “slippery slope” insisting criticism equals violence, and she shot back, “No, don’t talk over it! I’m telling you! This group of people is persecuted already, and now you’ve got Dr. Ablow telling people that if your kids sees one in a manner that’s something akin to a celebration, your kid may wind up being one of them! Now there are people in this country that will react to that, and the next time they see a transgender at the McDonald’s or at some group event, and that’s irresponsible."  MORE 

Sunday, September 11, 2011

9/11 Anniversary - 2011

Lot's of memories of that day. We had just moved to the home I'm presently in with my family. The chaos at work with everyone trying to find out what was happening.

Calling home to check in with the family, just to hear my wife's voice telling me everything is okay at home and discussing what was happening in New York.

(Google Photos: Towers)

The prayer services we attending that were arranged ad hoc.

The fears the day after for me here in So.Cal and for millions of others around the nation; President Bush had just announced that the nation was under attack. Should I go to work and leave my family. Should we be preparing for more attacks.

We should all continue to remember.                                         (9/11 Firemen)

It's interesting to note that today's readings for this Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time on the Catholic readings calendar, focus on 'Forgiveness', 

Fr. Barron has an appropriate video on reflections of 9/11: 'Anger & Forgiveness'

The continued vigilance at today's memorials services is a reminder how the world and especially here for Americans will always be changed.

Let us remember, let us forgive, but let us never forget. Let us continue to be prepared. 

(Fr. Mychal Judge)

God Bless the soul's lost, God Bless the families that Survived. God Bless our 1st responders and military.

God Bless America.

Friday, September 09, 2011

Fr. Barron: 9/11 Anger & Forgiveness

Father Barron gives a wonderful lesson on Anger & Forgiveness. As he points out, Sunday's readings are on forgiveness.so this is a good way to prepare.

Monday, September 05, 2011

Everything About Us .... For God's Glory

Voris (Controversial as some say he is) has a very good message.Everything I do say act think feel, act on react to...everything should be for God's glory.

A lengthy talk but well worth the listen.


This program is from RealCatholicTV.com

Labor Day Featured Blog - Accepting Abundance

Perusing the web briefly this morning, well what's left of the morning.

Reading anything and everything on Catholic Social Doctrine.Found this blog 'Accepting Abundance' with an interesting post.

Thought I'd pass it on. I'll be bookmarking this one

Enjoy the read.


Science Came From Catholic Doctrine    

I read the first part of St. Thomas Aquinas' Summa Theologica the other day for a course I started, Norms of Catholic Doctrine. I didn't even know what that meant. It's a course that teaches how doctrine was developed from the three integrally connected foundations of Catholic theology – Sacred Scripture, Tradition, and the Magisterium over the last 2,000 years. I always am amazed at how coherent the Faith is; solid, logical and consistent however far you dive into it.

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Labor Day - Movies of the Summer

Well, here we are at labor day. Just a hop-skip and a jump from October and Halloween and from there the year seems to slip by.

So it's probably one of the last weekends to take advantage of seeing some of the latest summer movie hits.

One of those that I saw and highly recommend is 'Rise of the Planet of the Apes'.

Now this is obviously coined from the 70's Planet of the Ape movies which were a great hit, so I went with some hesitation. I ended up enjoying the movie and give it a thumbs up.... a must see.

Having said that I was interested in hearing what other people had to say about the movie and if they liked it as well.

Father Barron is a person who's opinion and thoughts I love to hear and his movie reviews sometimes give great insight.

Here's his latest review and it's on 'Rise of the Planet of the Apes'.

Saturday, September 03, 2011

Pinhead for the Month of September: Mayor Bloomberg

As we get closer to the date September 11th, a number of programs on cable and the local channels are scheduled to be aired.

Every time I see such programs I can't help but fill that lump in my throat at the lose of life and how that lose took place. All those feels are just automatically brought to the surface again.

I remember the vigils at church, street corners, night time candle vigils, speeches, talks from lay people, priests, pastors, government officials.

In every one of those talks there was an appeal to God or at least His name was mentioned or just the term "God Bless America" was proclaimed or sung.

Mayor Bloomberg's rational for his decision to eliminate religion from the 9/11 remembrances  is just totally off base, in every aspect. This article addresses only a few but they are made in charity and to the point.

Blomberg’s 9/11 Gag Rule Insults Catholics    

Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s handling of the 9/11 memorial ceremonies:

Last year, Mayor Bloomberg sought to justify his support for building a mosque near Ground Zero by recalling the bravery of the firefighters on that fateful day. “In rushing into those burning buildings, not one of them asked, ‘What God do you pray to?’” He added, “We do not honor their lives by denying the very constitutional rights they died protecting.”
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A Walk Down Catholic Lane: Why We Need the Catechism

A Blog well worth a visit, Catholic Lane (CL), brought me to this article on the topic of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

It use to be that the argument "We don't need your Catechism" was mainly a Catholic Protestant debate, however more and more this argument is being heard among Catholics themselves.

Imagine that, there is no longer an understanding that there is a need for the Catechism within the our Church menbers who's benefit it was written for. This may be because for many reasons, ignorance of what it contains, how to use it, maybe understanding it and refusing to apply it in our own lives because it means changing how we live.

CL's article brings this in light of the author  teaching to catechism teachers in his parish.

He made me aware of a few techniques on how to properly instruct, namely presentation and questions to reinforce what's been taught. Many times, maybe because of time constraints one concentrates on just getting out the information and not much on if the audience understands the material.

Good article...great blog 'Catholic Lane'   


I Don’t Need your Catechism!

A couple of years ago, a pastor asked me to provide a catechetical training day for teachers in his Catholic school and CCD program. One of my first questions to him was what issues had developed that required my assistance. The Pastor voiced to me his concern over poor doctrinal formation he suspected the children were receiving. I asked him how he finally came to this point. He said, “I knew things were off when all I saw was glue, crayons, construction paper and scissors during an eighth grade religion class.” Right there and then I realized what I had to work with

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