Church Father's

I've been studying up on the Church Father's in preparation for our upcoming Men's Fellowship fall session at our parish.

I've been reading a book by Mike Aquilina I hope to use. "The Fathers of the Church - An Introduction to the First Christian Teachers"

The book is great, not too heady and easy to read... right up my ally. The Church Fathers bring so much depth and insight to how the early church formed. Boy, talk about standing on the shoulders of giants, those first eight centuries were so crucial.

With the guidance of the Holy Spirit and Jesus' promise to protect his church "and no evil shall prevail over it", these men of God kept the gospel true.

Another source that's come to my attention is the new video/study guide by Steve Ray " The Apostolic Fathers".

(Steve Ray's Blog)

It's still hot in my hand - right off the press, well, right out of the DVD burner! The Apostolic Fathers, Handing on the Faith is done and I am on my way to Ignatius Press to show it to them and get their final approval before we make copies for everyone else! Here is what the cover will look like.
I showed this DVD to family and friends last night. They all praised it as our best one yet. My daughter is a philosopher and her husband a theologian. They both said it was great. It is 93 minutes long, very fast-paced, full of information, humor, good music, interesting effects and bloody martyrdoms.
The Study Guide will be finished this week and I expect to have this DVD ready for delivery no later that October 1. I think it is our best documentary yet and my prayer and expectation is that it will make many Catholics confident and excited about the Catholic Church and it will also bring many others home. It will be a great gift for Protestants to help them understand their roots and why it is the Catholic Church that has the continuity all the way back to the Apostles. I am very anxious to get this one out there.

Update 8/4/07: Ignatius Press loved it! It is approved and going to captioning, printing and replication. I just finished writing the Study Guide - 28 pages!! Watch for this one some time in September 2007.

Sounds promising. Hope to pick this up when it comes out. The Book is good though. Pick up a copy. Over at amazon.com you can read an excerpt...

Prayers....

Thank you so much for your prayers for my friend who pasted away last week.

... I also took my Father in for surgery on Thrusday and on Friday my wife's grandfather pasted away as well.

... that's the reason for the spotty blogging.

thank you

WestCoastCatholic +<><

Sacraments!

I found this nifty sacraments chart over at Steve Ray's blog. It's pretty cool, check it out...

(LINK)

Bridge Tragedy

Prayer's for the victims of the Bridge tragedy...

...I ask for your prayers for a friend of mine that will pass away anytime now.

WCC +<><

Priest Arrested in China..

More persecution in China..

XIWANZI, China, JULY 29, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Four priests have been arrested and detained for refusing to join the Patriotic Association, the government body that oversees religious practice in the country.

Three of the priests were arrested July 24, at the home of Catholic faithful in the Ximeng region of Inner Mongolia, the Cardinal Kung Foundation reported.

Father Liang Aijun, 35, Father Wang Zhong, 41, and Father Gao Jinbao, 34, were hiding in order to avoid arrest, but were finally caught by eight plainclothes men.

During the initial phase of the arrest, the priests were locked up in a cage, prohibited from talking to anyone and refused water. They have now been transferred to an undisclosed location.

The fourth priest, Father Cui Tai, 50, of Shuangshu Village, Zhuolu County, was detained after a minor motorcycle accident in early July. He has been detained at the public security and religious bureau since the accident.

Father Cui, of the Diocese of Xuanhua, Hebei, has also refused to register with the Patriotic Association.

According to the Cardinal Kung Foundation, at least five bishops are in jail and others are under house arrest and surveillance. About 15 priests and an unknown number of laypeople are also jailed.

My parents use to live in a city 25 miles outside of Los Angeles up until 2 years ago. I lived their with them as I grew up from third grade until I got married.

As I would visit them I was often asked to go down to the corner store to refill their 5 gallon water container for the week.

There was this purified water store there run by an elderly North Korean man. A Christian man. It was his own business which he started and ran mostly by himself. He had these giant metal canisters set up behind this glass walled partition, with various pipes and hoses resembling some sort of purification system. How purified was the water, only God knows, but my parents swore their allegiance to this gentleman. The point seemed to them that his purified water was just as good if not better than the bottled water we could buy in the store. They could actually see the filtration system behind the window.

He would take your empty water container. Rinse it and clean it before refilling it with fresh water.

Parents are wise that way sometimes. What seemed to me as being a bit naive at that time seems all the wisdom today in light of just what was revealed by the "Aquafina" bottled water fiasco reported in the news last week.

"IT'S JUST TAP WATER!"

My parents to me are wiser than I gave them credit for..... boy I'm I ashamed.

Anyway, I think the interaction between them and the 'water man' was more about relationships than it was about purified water. That's a lesson they taught me too.

They befriended him and would often converse with him on many visits about his country back home and the family he still had there.

On one occasion as I picked up water for them, the elderly man and I managed a conversation, he in is broken English and I in my attempted sign language. Looking back I don't know why I tried to use sign language. It seems rather dumb now but he didn't let on how dumb I must have really looked. He taught me a lesson in kindness that day as well.

Anyway, he told me how he planned to get back to his country at the end of the month to visit his congregation.

Congregation?

It ends up he was a pastor of a local church in the area of his old home. He was going back to bring bibles and various gift. He was going back to pray with them. This is illegal in North Korea as you know.

He knew the dangers of sneaking back into North Korea and especially dangerous if caught with bibles in ones possession. He had a comfortable life he in the U.S. , however he was determined to go back with his gifts to visit his congregation. He was their pastor and he knew they were waiting for him.

I never found out how that elderly man made out with his journey. My parents have since moved out of that city and closer to me.

I don't know what prompted me to remember this story, but I felt compelled to share.

This persecution in China, Iraq, North Korea and elsewhere. Even in our own news media.

We must not be afraid to be that Light in World our Lord needs us to be.

Let us pray for those being persecuted for the faith..

May the Lord protect them and guide them

Iraqi Christians...

This article from The National Catholic Register.

Carrying the Cross in Iraq:
Christians in Iraq are today facing serious persecution, as detailed in a number of recent reports, including in this publication.

Predictably, some of these accounts are filed by sources that were against the war in Iraq, dislike President Bush at a level bordering on hatred, and are more than happy to revel in another example of where they believe the White House has failed in Iraq.

On the other hand, to be sure, many of the accounts come from fair-minded observers with no political agenda — such as this publication — not to mention the actual victims of the repression.
MORE...

It's easy to forget that there are Christians in Iraq. We may have the impression that everyone in Iraq is Muslim and that Muslims are just killing other Muslims.

Not true. The violence is also being directed toward our Christian brothers and sisters. How much of that violence happened before the war during Saddam's rule?

What will happen to them if we leave?

National Catholic Register: The Kitchen Church

This editorial in the National Catholic Register:

Imagine a father calling his many children to sit with him in the kitchen. A few, when they hear his call, come and gather around.

“But where are my other children?” he asks.

Then they hear the voices of the other children in the dining room. Together, they are saying out loud, “We love you, father, and we are so glad that you’ve called us together today.”

The father smiles and says to one of his sons, “Go tell them I want all my children together, in the kitchen, with me.”

This is a short ed on the reactions of the media and others concerning the new Congregation for theDoctrine of the Faith document.

post Vatican II - "total chaos"

I read this yesterday and again today. B16 gives some great insights o the postconciliar period following Vatican II.

A must read...

The period following Vatican II reminds Benedict XVI of the "total chaos" after the Council of Nicaea, the first in history. But from that stormy Council emerged the "Credo." And today? Here is the pope’s response to the priests of Belluno, Feltre, and Treviso.
MORE...

...unjust law?

This article from the California Catholic Daily on the women priest ordained in Santa Barbara this past week.


An ersatz woman “bishop” ordained a woman “priest” and two women “deacons” in a July 22 ceremony at an undisclosed interfaith center in Santa Barbara. Present at the ceremony were over 100 invited guests, including, it appears, some “Catholic” nuns.


The story even claims a Catholic bishop of a diocese in full communion with Rome offered her episcopal consecration.


Fresen then went to Germany, where she lived with “woman bishop” Gisela Forster. Fresen claims a Catholic bishop of a diocese in full communion with Rome offered her episcopal consecration. “This is not being done for you,” he supposedly said. “It is so this work of justice [women’s ordination] may continue in the Church.” Fresen accepted the bishop’s offer.


According the Women’s Ordination Conference web site, “several other bishops” consecrated Fresen and two other women in 2005. “Film and documentary evidence of that ceremony is being kept hidden by a notary public,” said the Independent, “not to be released until the deaths of the male bishops.”

more...


As one of the commenter's to the article said in response to the statement "..not to be released until the deaths of the male bishops."

...a bit late to seek absolution at that point, eh?

Amnesty International takes a left turn....

Looks like Amnesty International is standing by it's decision to back the Pro- Abortion cause. At one time they had the support of the Catholic Church, however I don't think that will continue to happen in light of this development.

A. I. has been critical of the Catholic Church's plea to the organization to support life.

In fact, Amnesty's deputy secretary-general, Kate Gilmore, has angrily accused the Catholic Church of misstating the facts.

"We have the dirt under the nail and the blood and pain of the people that we are responding to. The Catholic Church, through a misrepresented account of our position on selective aspects of abortion, is placing in peril work on human rights."

Gilmore said Amnesty defends the right of the Church to address moral beliefs, but "our purpose invokes the law and the state, not God. It means that sometimes the secular framework of human rights that Amnesty upholds will converge neatly with the standpoint of certain faith-based communities; sometimes it will not."

Those who donate to this organization will have to decide for themselves whether they will continue to do so.

Christian Hostages...

I've been following this story from last week and things aren't looking good.

South Korean Hostages, 22 of them, are being held by the Taliban in Afghanistan. The Taliban have been demanding the release of Taliban prisoners in exchange for the South Koreans freedom. One has already been murdered.

We definitely need to keep them in our prayers

Seeing Stars - Lohan DUI

Looks like L.A. is in the news again by way of Lindsay Lohan.

Another DUI arrest and the sad story continues. Being a father of 2 young Ladies of Lindsay's age ( and a teen Son), this story rather makes me sad.

To see a young talented (some would debate this) life, with all the benefits of celebrity, slowly go down the tubes is a sad thing indeed. So much to live for and at 21 yrs it seems she has no guidance in her life.

With Mom & Dad missing in action and her inner circle on her payroll, the picture doesn't look promising. You'd think maybe her buddy Paris would give her a ring and tell her " the food in jail stinks!"... or something like that.

Alas while I anticipate many will be chanting "Jail, Jail, Jail" I'm going to devote some serious pray for her.

So young.... :-(

Wassup! Tribe

(Photo: CNN)

Yesterday's Democrat debate was labeled as the Youtube crowd, the 'you and I' crowd the "Wassup!" tribe.

Because the questions were take from the YouTube website (and selected by CNN), this was suppose to reflect the America public getting involved. The real people. Today's voters asking the questions instead of the media.

Well, trying not to sound too cynical, I don't buy it. I don't consider myself part of the YouTube crowd.

Do I visit the site occasionally? Yes I do. Do I consider youtube the main stream people of America?

No, I do not.

It might be cool to say that you are, but is that what it's all about? Being cool?

That's what I feel that this approach to tonight's debates represented. If you don't consider yourself apart of this CNN/YouTube club you are not part of the real people.

How about looking at the real issues of Abortion, Marriage between a man and a woman, yes health care and the war & environment, but also immigration, poverty, education and euthanasia?

While some of the questions where asked on these issues ( a gay couple, a gun toting guy, a snowman) it all seemed like a show. The Candidates did their usual song and dance routine around the questions. And it seemed it came down to whose personality did you like best?

The next President shouldn't be about personality. It should be about real issues. And for me the next President should reflect my Catholic beliefs, whether they may be cool or not. How the next Pres. is going to handle some real hard issues.

I'm still undecided myself and I'm NOT looking specifically at any 'one' party.

So I'll continue to hear all sides...

P.S.> I expect the local talk shows (TV & Radio) to mimic this format in the day's to come.... after all... it's cool.

Signs, Signs & Apologetics

This was posted on the Catholic Report website (great website to visit) and I thought it was cool...

SIGNS AND APOLOGETICS

I don't know if this is an actual dialogue but it is fun anyway.

Thanks Evangelical Catholicism

I'd like to thank Michael & Katerina of Evangelical Catholicism for their web postings. I looked forward to visiting their site daily for some very informative faith social issues from a Catholic perspective.

I wish them all the best in all they do.

Vox Nova is where you can still keep in touch with them.

Thanks you...
WCC+<><

Alaskan Vacation

Just back from a wonderful vacation Cruise to Alaska.

My wife and I celebrated our 25th anniversary and this get-away to this beautiful State was a fabulous way to commemorate this special date.

The was the usual food feast that all Cruise's are known for but I was more impressed with the spectacular views from our balcony ... in fact this photo was taken from our room view at Glacier Bay.

We took about 250 photo's and about 2 1/2 hrs of video so we'll have some memories.

Just a couple of more photo's to share:

These next two photo's are from Victoria Island's Bushart Gardens. I thought this was just another place with lots of flowers, however I was blown away by this place.

Anyways, I'm back and I hope to post more regularly.

... I still can't get over the fact that it was still day light at 12:00am !

Happy 4Th of July

May God Bless this Great Nation,
May He bless and protect our Troops and all his people.
May we always do his will.

WWC +<><

Lean Blogging

I'm feeling the pressures of work with many deadlines and nail-biting engineering analysis to sift through.

This has affected my blogging time, but I hope to continue soon.

I'd like to ask for your prayers... I'm under a tremendous amount of stress presently.

... offering it up for the glory of God.

WCC +<><

Pushing Abortion Globally...

The U.S. House is pushing the Abortion agenda on a global basis now.

US House votes to fund abortion abroad, cut funding for abstinence-education

The U.S. House of Representatives narrowly approved legislation on June 21 that would provide certain types of U.S. government assistance to private organizations that promote abortion as a method of family planning in foreign countries.

The legislation, authored by Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY), was approved as part of the State-Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill (H.R. 2764). Pro-life Representatives Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Bart Stupak (D-Mi.) offered an amendment but it failed by 13 votes.
President George Bush has threatened to veto the bill unless the pro-abortion provision is removed.

Under the Lowey provision, the U.S. Agency for International Development would be required to provide contraceptive supplies to any overseas private organization even if that organization promotes abortion as a method of family planning.

The provision would gut a vital pro-life policy, called the Mexico City Policy, which was created under President Ronald Reagan was re-instated by Bush by executive order after having been suspended by President Clinton. This policy specifies that federal funds for family planning are not available to non-governmental organizations that perform and promote abortion as a method of family planning in other countries. MORE

I don't know how many more veto's will hold off this agenda of Death. Whom ever gains the office of the Presidency next year will have the crucial say.

Anti-Catholicism is Okay

With the advent of Don Immus (whom I don't listen to) or a number of mis-speaking bigot comedians, entertainers, Politicians, who we see apologizing on TV or on the radio for remarks that seem to offend someone; or even the hint of an offense to the Muslim people, we have the "it's okay to bash the Catholics" side of things.

Robin Williams' resent comedian stick on Jay Leno is just one recent demonstration of anti-Catholic bigotry that no one seems to think is wrong. You can see the recent rant at NewsBusters

Left to Tell

(photo: CBSNEWS)

Carl Olsen of Insight Scoop as a post on this subject. There will be a re-airing of a Decembe 3, 2006 edition about Immaculee Ilibagiza.

For those who are not familiar with who she is, she is a survivor of the 1994 massacre in Rwanda. You can find her book 'Left to Tell' at you nearest book store.

The re-airing will be on Sunday, Jun 24th on CBS's "60 Minutes". I'm scheduling my DVR.

Carl has all the bio, info links on his sight, but here's one he points to.

READ.

Cardinal battles the Austrialian Parliment

The Australian Parliament is trying to place some secular pressure on Cardinal Pell for his remarks on Stem Cell Research and those that vote to further it's cause. He has reminded those Catholics in the Parliament about their Catholic Identity.

The Parliament has taken those remarks as intimidation.

During a radio interview on June 17, Cardinal Pell added that he "never threatened anybody with a public excommunication." He continued to say that politicians who support cloning should recognize the moral consequences of their actions. And he declined to offer a direct answer to the question of whether he would refuse Communion to a politician who voted for the pending legislation.

Archbishop Barry Hickey of Perth, who had also been accused of threatening lawmakers by his public statements on the cloning proposal, took a different posture in his latest comments. In a letter to the Catholic newspaper The Record, he observed that his published statements might have inadvertently put pressure on Catholic politicians who were already planning to cast their votes in accordance with Church teaching. "They may feel compromised and be accused of voting at the bidding of the Church. If this is so, I owe them an apology because I have always admired their courage," Archbishop Hickey said.

Blessed are those that are persecuted for mysake
The Kingdom of heaven this theirs.

What an example to follow. I pray there will be more Catholics willing to stand up for the unborn as Cardinal Pell.... at least with their vote.

Stem Cell Veto

Bush will veto the Stem Cell bill on his desk, while Hilary decries that it's against the" needs of our families" that the President will use his veto power for the third time.

"This is just one example of how the president puts ideology before science, politics before the needs of our families, just one more example of how out of touch with reality he and his party have become," Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., told the Take Back America conference of liberal activists Wednesday.

This seem to be a deliberate path that those who lead our congress want to make some headway on. The lives of the innocent hanging on a veto. And Hillary has the guile to say this is what our families need.

That Presidential vote next year will be a crucial one...

Iwo Jima ... Iwo To?

Uhh?

TOKYO, June 19 (UPI) -- Japan has changed the name of the Pacific island of Iwo Jima to Iwo To.

The Japanese Geographical Survey Institute announced the name change on Monday for the island that was the site of a famous World War II battle between Japanese and U.S. forces in 1945, the Mainichi Daily News reported.

Iwo To is the island's original name given to it by its inhabitants, the Daily News reported.
Iwo To will appear on a map that will go on sale Sept. 1. Both "jima" and "to" mean island in Japanese, the Daily News reported.

Iwo To is one of the Ogasawara islands, which are part of Tokyo.

It will always be Iwo Jima to the United States Marines

What happened to Boston?

I'm at a loss for words after reading this story yesterday...

In Boston, a devastating loss for marriage and the Church

Boston, Jun. 14, 2007 (CWNews.com) - The fight is over here in Massachusetts. We lost. Again.

Meeting in a constitutional convention on June 14, the state legislature defeated a proposed constitutional amendment that would have defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman. That amendment-- the only realistic hope for reversing a decision by the state's highest court-- is now dead. Same-sex marriage is here to stay. MORE

When I think of Boston I think of it's Catholic Universities, it's large Catholic population. So What happened?

Amnesty International is Pro-Abortion?

I didn't know this. I thought this organization fought for human rights.

This story from the National Catholic Register: No Amnesty For the Unborn

LONDON — Abortion has driven a wedge between the Catholic Church and an organization that began as an ally.

Amnesty International (AI) was founded in 1961 by Peter Benenson, a British convert to Catholicism. But today, as a result of Amnesty International’s recent decision to promote abortion rights, Church leaders say that Catholics should withdraw all financial support from the London-based human-rights organization.

“I believe that, if in fact Amnesty International persists in this course of action, individuals and Catholic organizations must withdraw their support, because, in deciding to promote abortion rights, AI has betrayed its mission,” Cardinal Renato Martino, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, said in an e-mail interview.

The abortion policy has already cost Amnesty International the support of one long-time Catholic backer: Jesuit Father Daniel Berrigan.

Said Father Berrigan, “One cannot support an organization financially or even individually that is contravening something very serious in our ethic.” More

"Do not be afraid to Imitate Francis..."

Wish the MSM news sites would print this instead of that 10 commandment story...

Our youth would benefit more from this story...

Pope tells the youth to imitate the example of Francis’ radical conversion:

Assisi, Jun 18, 2007 / 08:56 am (CNA).- Departing from the cathedral in Assisi, Benedict XVI traveled by car to meet the youth at the basilica of St. Mary of the Angels. Along the route he blessed disabled people from Assisi's Seraphic Institute.
The Holy Father greeted the young people awaiting him in the square of the basilica with a message of encouragement and challenge.
Benedict’s challenge to imitate the life of Saint Francis began with a small biography of the saint.
"It was here," said the Pope, that Francis "established the 'headquarters' of his order, where the friars could come together, as if in a maternal bosom, regenerating themselves before starting out again full of apostolic energy.”

Francis' conversion at the age of 25 "came about when he at the peak of his vitality, his experiences, his dreams," said Benedict XVI. He also dwelt on Francis' character before his conversion, describing him as a "carefree and generous," person "who wandered the city of Assisi day and night with his friends."

"How can it be denied," the Pope went on, "that may people are tempted to follow the life of the young Francis before his conversion? That lifestyle hides the desire for happiness that dwells in every human heart." Yet the saint did not find "true joy" there, because "the truth is that finite things can give glimmers of joy but only the infinite can fill the heart."

10 Commandments for Motorist

For some reason the Press seems fascinated by this story. I've read it at more that one MSM news site.

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Thou shall not drive under the influence of alcohol. Thou shall respect speed limits. Thou shall not consider a car an object of personal glorification or use it as a place of sin.

The Vatican took a break from strictly theological matters on Tuesday to issue its own rules of the road, a compendium of do's and don'ts on the moral aspects of driving and motoring.

A 36-page document called "Guidelines for the Pastoral Care of the Road" contains 10 Commandments covering everything from road rage, respecting pedestrians, keeping a car in good shape and avoiding rude gestures while behind the wheel.

Island of Dr. Moreau...

This reminds me of an H.G. Wells book I read as a lad.

The Island of Dr. Moreau
A scary story as a kid.... even more scary as an adult.

This Story from Catholic World News:
A British medical body has thrown its support behind legislation that would allow the creation of "hybrid" embryos combining human and animal tissue.

In a report released on Sunday, June 17, the Academy of Medical Sciences endorsed the government's proposed Human Tissue and Embryos Bill, which provides for hybrid cloning.
The medical advisory group also endorsed the legislation's stipulations that the embryos created by the cloning technique must not be implanted in a woman's womb or allowed to live beyond than 14 days.

If those conditions are met, said Martin Bobrow, who chaired the Academy's panel investigating the question, "There are no substantive ethical or moral reasons not to proceed with research on human embryos containing animal material." (CWN)

... no regard for Human life.

IRS Probe or Rhode Island Bishop for Giulini Comment

A political watchdog group asked the Internal Revenue Service yesterday to investigate whether a Roman Catholic bishop in Rhode Island broke the law by writing a scathing column in a church newspaper condemning presidential contender Rudy Giuliani's abortion views.

Since when does wearing the collar of a Catholic Priest/Bishop prohibit him from having a political opinion?

Providence Bishop Thomas Tobin blasted Giuliani in the May edition of the Rhode Island Catholic, criticizing the Republican candidate for saying he personally opposes abortion but wouldn't support an outright ban if elected president.

In the column, Tobin called the former New York City mayor's position pathetic, confusing and hypocritical. He even drew a parallel to Pontius Pilate.

The good Bishop didn't say this in a homily during Mass. And he didn't say "Don't vote for this individual". He merely pointed out the inconsistencies of Rudy Giuliani's stand on abortion compared to true Catholic teachings. Being a Bishop in the Catholic Church does qualify him as knowledgeable in the teachings of the church and that is his job. To teach and instruct the flock in the churches teachings.

You can read his full article HERE

Those comments broke federal laws banning tax-exempt religious groups such as the Diocese of Providence from endorsing or opposing political candidates, said Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which filed the complaint.
"The bishop is not a political boss, and he shouldn't be telling his flock with church resources which candidate to oppose," Lynn said. "This letter is a completely over-the-top example of a politicization of the pulpit of the bishop." Tobin's spokesman said the complaint lacks merit.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State? A political watchdog group?

Oh... I get it.

One of those "1st amendment for everyone except", kind of organizations.

So what about when we see other candidates, who shall be nameless but we see HER giving speeches in front of congregations.... I mean... groups of individuals with choir outfits on?

I'm sure we'll be reading more on this in the news.

What do you mean 'God is not Great'?

One of my favorite past times is to wonder the floor of nearest Barns and Noble bookstore, settle into a very worn over stuffed chair, may be even sip on a Frappuccino (hold the whipped cream)and read a chapter or two from the stack of books I gathered from the store of the latest releases.

One book that I haven't been able to peruse through yet is one by Christopher Hitchens entitled " God is not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything".

It's one of those books that catches your eye but the title just kind of makes you cringe with disgust, anger, dis-belief. You want to pick it up but you don't want to authorize it's legitimacy by acknowledging it's existence.

But I like to hear all the arguments and I'll probably pick it up and thumb through a few chapters on my next visit to the bookstore.

Fortunately, Mark D. Roberts has read it and is in the process of dissecting it on his blog. It's very well analysed by Mark and he's actually debated Mr. Hitchens on the radio on the Hugh Hewitt Show. You can hear the debate HERE in 3 parts.

In case you haven't guessed Mr Hitchens is no fan of the Christian Faith or any faith for that matter.

There seems to be growing number of books with an Atheist bent to it or a "bad Christianity" message. 'Misquoting Jesus' is another that comes to mind.

Anyway, I sure do learn a lot from scholars like Mark and I hope you get a change to read some of his analysis.

Prius vs. Hummer....the myth?

All those Prius drivers out there might find this to be an eye opening article. I'm not against the Toyota Prius itself (it's a pretty good car for long commuters), but if you're buying it because it's envirornmentally safe, you might want to reconsider that thought after you read this...

Over the past year, there has been an explosion of stories raising questions about the real environmental cost of hybrids.

Here are two sides to the story:

1. Prius Outdoes Hummer in Environmental Damage:

The Toyota Prius has become the flagship car for those in our society so environmentally conscious that they are willing to spend a premium to show the world how much they care. Unfortunately for them, their ultimate ‘green car’ is the source of some of the worst pollution in North America; it takes more combined energy per Prius to produce than a Hummer.

Before we delve into the seedy underworld of hybrids, you must first understand how a hybrid works. For this, we will use the most popular hybrid on the market, the Toyota Prius.

MORE...

the other side...

2. Prius Versus HUMMER: Exploding the Myth

One of the most misleading ones, which has been spread by countless blogs over the past several weeks, and cited without verification by several sources that appear reputable, looks to have originated in a story last November in England's Daily Mail, a right-leaning, British tabloid paper, which bore the gleefully spiteful title 'Toyota factory turns landscape to arid wilderness.' An editorial, published last month in a newspaper for a small state university on the East Coast, helped bring this misleading report a new life.

But it isn't a Toyota factory at all. The automaker has, in fact, only been purchasing significant amounts of nickel from the Sudbury , Ontario , Inco mine for its batteries in recent years, while the environmental disaster the headline is referring to largely occurred more than thirty years ago.

And that ore is at the core of a semi-urban legend that leads to dumb headlines like "HUMMER Greener than Prius," and others we've seen recently.

MORE...

Here's where to find the "Dust to Dust" report from CNW

You decide...

Fr. Pavone, Senator Brownback & Rudy Giuliani

An interesting post at 'Catholics in the Public Square' (thanks for the tip, Carl Olsen) on Voting on the Abortion issue as Catholics.

Mr. Brownback's name has descended down my list of "most likely candidates I'm considering voting for". His answers during the debates left me with a "...is that it? .....is that all you have to say?" taste in my mouth.

Anyway the post is a good read. I hope you find it interesting and informative.

A topic that seems to be on many a Catholic mind this week is the potential emergence of Rudy Giuliani as the GOP presidential candidate in 2008. A self-proclaimed "pro-choice, pro-gay rights" Catholic, conservative voters are finding themselves faced with the moral equivalent to Senator Kerry (also a self-proclaimed "pro-choice" Catholic) on their side of the political isle.
More..

B16 Speaks with Bush

President Bush resently spoke with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican.

So what did they talk about?

Bush and Benedict: First Meeting
The Pope's chief concern? The survival of the Christian communities of the Middle East

A Blair Convertion?

(photo: Daily Mail)

There is talk that Tony Blair will announce his conversion to Catholicism when meeting with the Pope at the Vatican.

And he will announce his intent to become a Catholic Deacon! Well, considering the source "The Daily Mail", not one of my favorite sites (the site advertisement is too risque for me) to visit for news, I rather doubt this would happen.

Anyway, I have read this report on other sources, the part of Mr. Blair becoming Catholic that is. I thought his wife is Catholic, however I remember him talking about his pro-choice stance.

So I guess will just have to wait and see.

Ethical Stem Cell Research...

...This might be an ethical alternative to embryonic stem cell research.

According to the scientific journals Nature and Cell Stem Cell, researchers have succeeded in reprogramming ordinary cells from the tips of mouse tails so they are virtually indistinguishable from embryonic stem cells.

Three research groups said they accomplished their feat in mature cells by turning on four genes that are always active in days-old embryos. Some of the rejuvenated cells were able to mature into new mice, demonstrating the cells' ability to create every type of tissue in the body.

Researchers are optimistic that the discovery can be applied to human cells, which would offer an ethical way to create a limitless supply of cell lines tailor-made for patients

Wow. Hope this works out.

VETO!

Looks like our 'Baby Friendly' House of Representatives is at it again with the passage of a bill on June 7, which would allow federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.

On the day before the vote, Cardinal Justin Rigali issued yet another message, urging lawmakers to reject the legislation. Cardinal Rigali, archbishop of Philadelphia, is chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee for Pro-Life Activities.

In his June 6 letter to House members, Cardinal Rigali referred to two bills — S.5, on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, and H.R. 2560, also referred to as the DeGette bill, which would allow human cloning.

The cardinal warned that embryonic stem cell research would require lawmakers and others to embrace “more and more egregious violations of moral norms in the effort to bring its ‘promise’ to fruition.” The cardinal was referring to the DeGette bill.The DeGette bill, he said, “allows unlimited cloning of human embryos for research – and then makes it a crime to transfer the embryo to a womb to allow the new human being to survive.

“What it actually prohibits is the act of becoming pregnant – a kind of law seen chiefly until now in the People’s Republic of China, where women can be punished for carrying an unauthorized child,” he wrote. “For the first time in U.S. law, Congress would define a class of new developing human beings that it is a crime not to destroy,” he stated.

Thank God a Presidential Veto will stop this dead in it's tracks...

...More things to do...

Have you ever heard of a Chalk Art Festival?

If you haven't seen one, you can check out some of the kind of art you may see at one..HERE

I mention this because over in Pasadena, California there is such a show coming to town.

If you're in the area around Father's Day, here the website for more information

Enjoy your weekend

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An L.A Weekend....

Things to do this weekend in Southern California...

I saw this advertised in the L.A. Times and I thought about going. It's called "Into the Abyss"

Here's the description from the article:

As dusk settles on Huntington Beach tonight, 25 8-foot cubes dotting the sand near the pier will light up to reveal some of the best action photography in the world.

The traveling art exhibit has drawn thousands of spectators on the first two nights of the free Red Bull Illume exhibition to see 50 backlit photographs mounted on the cubes.

"It's kind of Stonehenge-esque," professional kayaker Steve Fisher said of the circular arrangement of steel-and-glass cubes. "They've taken our activities and added a real artistic twist."Fisher, from Durban, South Africa, was in Huntington Beach to see a photo his girlfriend, Desré Pickers, shot of him from a helicopter while he kayaked in Zambia.

In the photo, titled "Into the Abyss," Fisher and two other kayakers stand on a rock outcropping peering over the edge of Victoria Falls.

Okay, so they do art a little different here in So. Cal. .... but if you can imagine a little stroll down at Huntington Beach at dusk and viewing an art show on the sands with the waves in the background. Temps during the day should be in the 80's inland and maybe in the high 70's by the beach. There's some good restaurants around the Pier area and plenty of fastfood, ice cream type foods there.

Here's the website for more info..

Also some awesome video of what you can expect HERE

And the Events Calendar for Huntington Beach

This sounds cool. And it's free!

Duck Power....

(Photo: SI)

Yep, you hear the sports newscaster correctly.

The Mighty Ducks (of Anaheim, California) are the Stanley Cup Champions of '07. The first California team to take the Stanley Cup...final game score: 6-2.

Ducks get last laugh -- and Cup to show for it

Quest Complete

I will have to admit though, The Honda Center (ex-The Pond) is about 20 minutes down the freeway from me.....and I haven't seen a game there yet. I'll have to change that next season.

(Photo courtesy: Google Earth)

In fact it's right across from Edison Field home of Angels baseball. I will be attending a night game there shortly. Disneyland is at the top of the picture....

Kelsey Smith - RIP

I too have young adult age daughters whom I constantly worry about when they are out and about.

My prayer go out to Kelsey's family and friends. I will pray and fast tomorrow for Kelsey.

I pray that she may rest peacefully in Our Heavenly Father's arms....

Kelsey Smith Website

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Be careful what you wish for.....

(photo courtesy CNA)

This from catholic lawmakers in Australia...

Catholic lawmakers in Australia said yesterday they will vote in favor of therapeutic cloning regardless of the directives or warnings issued by the archbishop of Sydney. Tony Stewart of the ruling Labor Party in the New South Wales state parliament, said he would rather go to hell than take orders on how to vote from Cardinal George Pell. "Maybe I'll go to hell, but if I go to hell I'm going to do so by saving a lot of lives, because that's what this bill is about," Tony Stewart said in a radio interview.

... Lawmakers are being allowed a conscience vote on a bill to bring the country's most populous state into line with the federal government, which overturned a ban on the so-called therapeutic cloning last year.

The new law would allow excess human embryos from in-vitro fertilization treatment to be used to create stem cells for research.

Both state premier Morris Iemma and his deputy, John Watkins, are Catholics who have said they intend to vote for the bill.

"I've already thought seriously about this legislation, and it passes all the ethical and moral issues that I need passed, and gives people hope," said Watkins, who admitted he is upset about the cardinal’s recent statements.

The Anglican Church is also asking lawmakers to vote against the bill.

More...

Be Careful what you wish for Tony.

Food for thought on Abortion & the Candidates

This from Catholic Exchange website.

What If There is No Good Pro-life Presidential Choice in '08?

and another article from Catholic Answers.

Explaining Ratzinger's "Proportionate Reasons- Abortion Is the Black Hole of Morla Issues"

just one more..

Limiting the Harm of Abortion Laws

Rudy and a Bolt of Lightening...

The Republicans had another one of their debates last night and a very curious event happened while Rudy Giuliani responded to a question on Abortion.

Lightening struck the outside antenna of the building they were in and zapped the electronics so that Rudy's response was interrupted by static. His answer could not be heard.

He seemed to connect the interrupted abortion answer with the lightening strike and after commented '...this is a scary moment' or something like that.

I think it's rather funny myself, however on a serious note, Rudy's stance on abortion is no laughing matter.

The Bishop of Rhode Island had a few thoughts on this matter.

Bishop of Rhode Island condemns Giuliani's abortion Stance

Providence, Jun 5, 2007 / 09:48 am (CNA).- Bishop Thomas Tobin of Providence, Rhode Island received an invitation in the mail recently from none other than Rudy Giuliani. The politician was inviting the bishop come to a fundraising dinner for his presidential campaign, but Bishop Tobin did more than just politely decline.

Instead of sending a non-descript RSVP to inform Giuliani that he would not attend, the prelate wrote him a scathing letter to turn down his offer.

I'm not impressed with any of the candidates so far... and I will not vote for anyone who is for abortion.

Scary moment for the Pope..

It appears that an individual tried to hop on board the Pope Mobile as it made it way thru the crowds at the Vatican today.

(photo courtesy of AP)

B16 was not hurt a it looks like he was even unaware of the incident, from what news reports say. I don't' know what his motive were, however it looks like everything turned out for the better. It will be interesting to find out more when they question this guy.

I notice from photos of recent addresses by B16 that he rides in an open Pope Mobile as opposed to the closed bullet proof mobile that JPII rode in. I wonder if we will begin to see a change to this vehicle in the near future.

CNA

CWN

Drudge Report

Fr. Regheed Ganni -- RIP

Fr. Ganni and three other deacons were murdered in Mosul, Iraq June 3 after they had finished saying Mass.

This is a great man who's work in Iraq will have a deep impact for many years to come. The Christians as well as non-Christians of Mosul have a wonderful example of Christ's love in the example of Fr. Ganni.

This by Fr. Kearns of National Catholic Register 'A Victory i Iraq'

(photo source: www.ankawa.com)
In deciding what to write for Corpus Christi Sunday, I concluded that nothing could improve on these words of Father Ragheed Ganni.

“Mosul (Iraq) Christians are not theologians; some are even illiterate. And yet inside of us for many generations one truth has become embedded: Without the Sunday Eucharist we cannot live.

“This is true today when evil has reached the point of destroying churches and killing Christians, something unheard of in Iraq till now. On June 2004 of last year, a group of young women was cleaning the church to get it ready for Sunday service.

“My sister Raghad, who is 19, was among them. As she was carrying a pail of water to wash the floor, two men drove up and threw a grenade that blew up just a few yards away from her.

“She was wounded but miraculously survived. And on that Sunday we still celebrated the Eucharist. My shaken parents were also there. For me and my community, my sister’s wounds were a source of strength so that we, too, may bear our cross.

“Last August in St. Paul Church, a car bomb exploded after the 6 p.m. Mass. The blast killed two Christians and wounded many others. But that, too, was another miracle — the car was full of bombs but only one exploded. Had they all gone off together the dead would have been in the hundreds since 400 faithful had come on that day.

“People could not believe what had happened. The terrorists might think they can kill our bodies or our spirit by frightening us, but, on Sundays, churches are always full. They may try to take our life, but the Eucharist gives it back. …

“There are days when I feel frail and full of fear. But when, holding the Eucharist, I say ‘Behold the Lamb of God, behold, who takes away the sin of the world,’ I feel his strength in me. When I hold the Host in my hands, it is really he who is holding me and all of us, challenging the terrorists and keeping us united in his boundless love.”

Father Ragheed Ganni was shot dead in Mosul on June 3.

Fr. Ganni... RIP.

Gov. Terminator

Our fearless leader in our States Capital is at it again. Pointing out his catholicism while pontificating on his latest cause and money 'black hole' for Stem Cell research.

“I am a Catholic and a very dedicated Catholic, but that does not interfere with my decision-making because I know that stem-cell research, the way we are doing it in California ... is the right way to go and will save, very quickly down the line, lives and cure a lot of these illnesses,” said Schwarzenegger, referring to embryonic stem cell research. (CNA)

After signing a $30-million research agreement with Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, Schwarzenegger told the Star his support for stem-cell research was based on his father-in-law’s struggle with Alzheimer's.

He referred to his father-in-law, Sargent Shriver, as having had “one of the most brilliant minds in the world.” Shriver worked under the Kennedy and Johnson administrations, and began the Peace Corps.
The newspaper said McGuinty, who is also Catholic, shared Schwarzenegger’s views on faith and politics.

“I would argue... there's one moral imperative that transcends all faiths, all culture and all traditions, it would be this fundamental desire to relieve pain and suffering and death where we find it,” McGuinty told the Star.

What about the pain and suffering of the unborn baby?

That 30 million is just a drop in the bucket to the 10 billion the Gov. is spending in our good State toward embryonic stem cell research. 'It's good for business...' he once said.

Sometimes I get so frustrated hearing fellow catholics justify their actions which go against the teachings of the Church.

Answering the Call...

This article on Dr. Francis Beckwith's interview with Ignatius Press.

'Answering the Call To Full Communion'

This has the majority of links addressing this coming home. Dr. Beckwith has some great insights...

Another Convert to the Faith...

Most have heard the buzz on the Internet about Francis Beckwith, Philosopher, Professor and ex- President of the Evangelical Theological Society, coming home to Catholicism.

However, there is more joy to announce. I found this on Steve Ray's blog about Matt Enloe, leaving the Baptist Tradition to become a Catholic.

What I like about reading their conversion stories is 'Why', which is what everyone wants to know, but I also look at 'What" from their protestant background's they can teach us Catholics.

Reading through the number of blog entries from Francis Beckwith was some insight as to what us cradle Catholics (...as I categorize myself) seem to miss or rather take for granted. It's like talking with a new U.S. citizen from a foreign country. They seem to point out some of the freedoms that born U.S. citizens seem to take for granted.

As an example, I spoke with a work colleague of mine that came from Russia. She said the first time she entered a supermarket to shop, she cried. She had never seen a store with so much food. With all the shelves full.

Mr. Beckwith points out his love of scripture as an example. If some of you are like me, I love scripture but many times I struggle with "where is that specifically in the Bible". I may know the passage but the exact book and verse I don't have memorized.

Virtual Rosary

VIRTUAL ROSARY

This is a cool little 'FREE' program for those that need a tutorial on how to say the Rosary

It has all the Mysteries including the Luminous

Some of the features include:

Trinity Sunday

Carl Oslen at Insight Scoop has a terrific post on one of the best explanations on the Trinity I've ever read.

Sheed on the Trinity

A must read...

Missing Madeline

The fact that Madeline is still missing is just breaking my heart.

Late last week Madeline's parents visited Pope Benedict, requesting his intercessions for their missing daughter.
Parents of missing Madeline to receive support from Pope

My prayers are with Madeline as well as her family.

I pray they find her soon.

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