New Book: the Crucified Rabbi

I've just ordered this new book from Taylor Marshall entitled 'The Crucified Rabbi: Judaism and the Origins of Catholic Christianity'.

I'm really looking forward to reading it.

Also see: The Crucified Rabbi

Taylor is a former Anglican/Episopalian priest (married). If you've read some of my previous post and other blogs, you know about the decision of B16 to welcome Anglican into the Catholic family.

Taylor has some great resources on his blog 'Canterbury Tales'.

Pay him a visit.

No Apologies Video: Once Saved Always Saved

'No Apologies' website has a number of cool video about the Catholic faith.

Check them out. This ones on the topic 'Once Saved Always Saved'.




More videos: Catholic Online

Obama Admin: EEOC Chai Feldblum

The nomination of Chai Feldblum seems to be adding on to the long line of Obama appointees and administration nominees that have a cloudy view of reality.

Ms. Chai Feldblum has been nominated by Obama for the position of one of five Commissioners on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Check out Ms. Chai's views on Marriage.

In her essay called "GAY IS GOOD: THE MORAL CASE FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY AND MORE," Feldblum wrote:

I, for one, am not sure whether marriage is a normatively good institution. I have moved away from the belief that marriage is clearly the best normative way to structure intimate relationships, such that government should be actively supporting this social arrangement above all others.
MORE

Where does he get these people and why is he surrounding himself with them?

Polygamy as well? Yikes!

EEOC Nominee signed 'Manifesto' that Praised Polygamy

The manifesto’s signatories said they proposed a 'new vision' for governmental and private recognition of 'diverse kinds' of partnerships.

A law professor nominated by President Obama to become a commissioner for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission was a signatory to a radical 2006 manifesto which endorsed polygamous households and argued traditional marriage should not be privileged “above all others.”

MORE

Anglicans Come Home - Continuing Coverage

More coverage on the (Traditional) Anglican entrance into full communion with the Catholic Church.

Some say Yea, some say Nea...

I'm all for it!

Three dubious and curious conclusions - InsideScoop

Yesterday's announcement from Rome was quite stunning and historical, and much ink is being spilled, opinions rendered, and spleens ruptured (at last metaphorically) as every stripe of Catholic, Anglican, human, and other biological life form takes aim, makes claim, and—in some cases—cries, "Shame!" Amid the spilling, rupturing, and aiming, here are three negative, even sulking, pieces that caught my attention: MORE

Benedict XVI opens door wide to Anglicans seeking full communion...

In a meeting with journalists held this morning in the Holy See Press Office Cardinal William Joseph Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and Archbishop Joseph Augustine Di Noia O.P., secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, presented a note on a new measure concerning "Personal Ordinariates for Anglicans entering the Catholic Church".
MORE

Open Thread: Anglican-Catholic Reunification - AmP

Here are the posts AmP published yesterday on the issue of the Vatican announcing special pastoral provisions for traditional Anglicans to be received back into the Catholic Church: MORE

Anglicans Coming! - Catholic Culture

The Holy See took the ecumenical imperative out of the hands of ecumenists, with the result that the reunion of Christians -- at least in one limited area of schism -- ensued. From the Vatican website:
MORE

Fr. Pacwa - Nobel Peace Prize

Father Mitch Pacwa weighs in on the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to President Obama.
Sign up for his newsletter: Fr. Mitch Pacwa

Peace, Peace (Jeremiah 6:13) A variety of arguments have been made about President Barak Obama's surprise reception of the Nobel Peace Prize. Arguments, both from the conservative and liberal sides of the political spectrum, mostly concern themselves with the small amount of time he has been president and the prestigious quality of the award.I, for my part, strongly object to his being awarded the Peace prize because of his policies to spread violence to the most peaceful places on earth.Remember that Mr. Obama was nominated for the Nobel Peace prize in early February, about two weeks after his inauguration as president. What has he actually done in those two weeks that might make him unworthy of this peace prize? Among his very first executive orders was his decision to allow the federal government to fund abortions and abortion counseling on January 23, 2009, the day after the thirty-sixth anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision to decriminalize abortions. In fact, on the actual anniversary of Roe v. Wade Mr. Obama wrote, "We are reminded that this decision not only protects women's health and reproductive freedom but stands for a broader principle: that government should not intrude on our most private family matters. I remain committed to protecting a woman's right to choose." He highlighted that commitment while a member of the Illinois State Senate, when he refused to vote for a law protecting children who survive an abortion; even though Roe v. Wade recognized that once a child is outside the womb, he or she is a person and deserves the protection of the law. We would do well to remember that on March 9, 2009, one month after his nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize, Mr. Obama signed another executive order permitting embryonic stem cell research. Not only does he support the killing of children in the womb but also the use of their bodies for research.In a normal world, the womb is one of the most peaceful places on earth. The child within the womb is not hungry, thirsty, or in need of any other shelter. Life exists without conflicts and an amazing unfolding of incredibly complex growth and development takes place. The only conflict comes from outside that safe haven, as when an abortionist wields a knife to dismember the otherwise peaceful and defenseless child.As far as I am concerned, the last award I would bestow on someone who signs orders to spread an inevitable deadly violence against content, safe, and defenseless children in wombs throughout the world is a peace award. I cannot help but take to heart the words of Jeremiah the Prophet: "For from the least to the greatest of them, every one is greedy for unjust gain; and from prophet to priest, every one deals falsely. They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, `Peace, peace,' when there is no peace. Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed; they did not know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time that I punish them, they shall be overthrown," says the Lord. (Jer. 6:13-15)

In Christ Jesus

Health Care: ABC Poll Deceptive

1. 57 % of Americans favor the public option in the health care bill - ABC poll

2. 54 % of Americans DON'T favor the public option in the health care bill - Rasmussan poll

Which on do we believe?

Hugh Hewitt tell the tale of two polls:

Hoaxes and Busted Polling. Just another day in MSM

Take, for instance, the ABC/Washington Post poll out Tuesday morning in the Post. The headline reads Public Option Gains Support - CLEAR MAJORITY NOW BACKS PLAN, by Dan Balz and Jon Cohen. The report on the poll goes into a lot of the breakdowns of how Republicans, Democrats and independents think about the health care issue plodding through Congress by percentage, but the key takeaway from this, which you will see all over MSM news outlets all day, is in this paragraph.

On the issue that has been perhaps the most pronounced flash point in the national debate, 57 percent of all Americans now favor a public insurance option, while 40 percent oppose it. Support has risen since mid-August, when a bare majority, 52 percent, said they favored it. (In a June Post-ABC poll, support was 62 percent.)

57-40 now support a public option? I read that and thought there is no way this can be true, especially when we just read from Rasmussen Reports, the polling outfit that actually got the closest to predicting the real outcome of the election last year, that their brand new poll shows support for Obamacare has slipped to 42-54 against the plan.
MORE

Traditional Anglicans Come Home to Catholic Church!

Fantastic news from the Vatican. B16 has announced a 'structure' in which Traditional Anglicans can enter into full communion into the church!


In a press release from the Vatican the announcement came:

“In this Apostolic Constitution the Holy Father has introduced a canonical structure that provides for such corporate reunion by establishing Personal Ordinariates which will allow former Anglicans to enter full communion with the Catholic Church while preserving elements of the distinctive Anglican spiritual and liturgical patrimony.”

This is monumental. Stay tuned for more details.

Los Angeles - New Football Stadium

I haven't been following this very closely. In fact not at all.

So I was surprised to find that this stadium is a 'rocks throw' from where I live. For those in L.A. I'm all for a stadium however to be completely honest.... just not near me.

Sorry for that, but it goes deeper. For anyone who lives in this proposed area, you know what traffic congestion there is where the 60 freeways and the 57 freeways meet. Right now it's a bottle neck, not to mention that the 60 fwy is a parking lot already coming from downtown.

No wonder Gov. Terminator is signing a 'Wavier' for an environmental study. The word wavier implies 'there's a mistake and we plan to override it'.

Does L.A. deserve a stadium? Sure why not. But as a potential fan I'd be concerned about getting to the game before the second half and home after midnight.

Freeways aren't free way's anymore.

Los Angeles Football Stadium

Are You Ready For Some Football.. Walnut?

Legalizing Marijuana - One Step Closer

The Obama administration is all about change.

But is it change for the good? For me this issue isn't a slippery slope, it's a cliff. For me this is not a change for the good.

Feds to issue new medical marijuana policy

Federal drug agents won't pursue pot-smoking patients or their sanctioned suppliers in states that allow medical marijuana, under new legal guidelines to be issued Monday by the Obama administration.
Two Justice Department officials described the new policy to The Associated Press, saying prosecutors will be told it is not a good use of their time to arrest people who use or provide medical marijuana in strict compliance with state law.
MORE

41.6 Million Annual Worldwide Abortions

This number is down from 45.5 million in 2003.

This is good news? 41 million? We should be happy?

Most of these occur in China... no suprise there.

Worldwide annual death toll from abortion: 41.6 million

A new report by the pro-abortion Guttmacher Institute-- named after a president of Planned Parenthood-- has found that the worldwide number of abortions fell from 45.5 million in 1995 to 41.6 million in 2003, a decline of 8.6%.
MORE

Remember that number when you ask yourself if you support this new health bill.... which supports abortions paid for by you and me.

Abortion is the New Big Mac

President Obama and his pro-abortion acolytes often say things like "I believe that most women don't make that (abortion) decision lightly."

Can we just be done with that one? Really.
MORE

Global Warming - Not Evil Just Wrong

It rained on Monday and Tuesday and today it's 100 degrees outside.

Weird.

The weather has been colder of late on the east coast. Snow, rain, even the hurricane season has been milder.

Al Gore is still proclaiming doomsday as he rakes in millions of dollars into his bank account. His latest challenge came this week by a gentleman named Phelim McAleer. He was cut off while asking Gore to explain the untruths of his film.

His microphone was cut...

... but McAleer's new film may have the last word.






Not Evil Just Wrong: LINK HERE

Obamageddon - Yikes!

interesting video...


Pray for America

Mayan Calendar - Dooms Day Prediction

I read an article on this the other day and didn't think to much of it. I thought of it as just a bunch of hype.

Ends up that I was right. Tim Jones on Jimmy Akin blog sets the record straight.

Maya to Doomsayers: Feel Free to Shut Up

You know, I've always thought, even before I was a Catholic, that if you want to find out what Christians believe and why, you ought to ask Christians before you take too much to heart what is said about their beliefs by critics or cranks or even professors.
I have come to apply that same approach to the beliefs of other groups, as well. So, for instance, if I want to know what Buddhists believe, I favor asking Buddhists, rather than some expert in comparative religions who studies Buddhists like insects pinned to a card.
The same courtesy ought to be extended to the modern descendants of the Maya, who would like to make it very clear that they - none of them - are lying awake nights wondering if the world will end in 2012. Not according to this AP article from Yahoo News, anyway.

MORE

Tom Cruise Child at Catholic School

This was a pleasant surprise.

Katie Holmes, Tom's wife has insisted the Suri, their 3 year old attend Catholic school. I'm thinking, Baptism, Reconciliation, Eucharist, Confirmation...

YES!

Suri Cruise at Catholic School

In response to pressure from his wife, Katie Holmes, Tom Cruise reportedly has allowed the couple’s 3-year-old daughter, Suri, to attend a Catholic preschool in Massachusetts.
Cruise is a high-profile member of the controversial Scientology sect.

Mail Online Link: Suri plays hide and seek in the park as Tom Cruise agrees to send her to a Catholic school

U.S. Nuclear Shield Inspection by... Russia

You've got to be kidding!!!???

Tentative Inspection Program Would Allow Russia to Visit U.S. Nuclear Sites

Russia and the United States have tentatively agreed to a weapons inspection program that would allow Russians to visit nuclear sites in America to count missiles and warheads.
The plan, which Fox News has learned was agreed to in principle during negotiations, would constitute the most intrusive weapons inspection program the U.S. has ever accepted.
MORE

... why don't we just give them the keys for safe keeping?

St. Damien Relics to Tour California

St. Damiens relics will be in San Francisco and near Oakland. For those that can attend please say a special prayer for our State.

Ask St. Damien to intercede on our behalf.

Relics of St. Damien making short U.S. tour on way back to Hawaii

The nineteenth century Belgian priest of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary ministered to those isolated to the Molokai leper colony in Hawaii. After sixteen years in service to them, he died of leprosy at the age of 49.
His canonization took place on Sunday.
"Not without fear and loathing," Pope Benedict XVI remarked at the canonization, "Father Damien made the choice to go on the island of Molokai in the service of lepers who were there, abandoned by all. So he exposed himself to the disease of which they suffered.
“With them he felt at home. The servant of the Word became a suffering servant, leper with the lepers, during the last four years of his life."
"To follow Christ, Father Damien not only left his homeland, but has also staked his health so he, as the word of Jesus announced in today's Gospel tells us, received eternal life."

MORE

Health Care a Step Closer to Obama's pen

Well, we knew it was inevitable. The Senate (with Sen Olympia Snowe in tow) passed their version of the bill through the committee.

None of our Catholic concerns were addressed of course and the thought of the House bill and this bill being merged in my own mind leads me to believe the final bill will move further away from Catholic teaching.

American Spectator outlines what comes next.

Now Comes the Hard Part

In all the euphoria over the news that the Senate Finance Committee has approved its version of health care legislation, some context was missing. With a 60-vote majority in the Senate and a 79-vote advantage in the House of Representatives, it was all but assured that some sort of health care bill would clear the Democrat-dominated committees. It just wasn't supposed to take this long.
MORE

Frontline (PBS) Tonight: Obama's War - Afghanistan

Watch tonight on 'Frontline' (PBS).

Obama's War - Afghanistan

Father Morris vs Michael Moore - Capitalism

Father Morris of Foxnews takes Michael Moore to task for Moores pronouncement that the church is against capitalism.

While many mainstream media types are calling Michael Moore’s new film both moral and “Christian,” others aren’t convinced that Moore’s view is correct.
In the accompanying video, Fox News’ Father Jonathan Morris takes on Moore’s assertions that “the Church is universally against capitalism.”
MORE

Afghanistan - A First Hand Look

If you want to get a real understanding of the conditions in Afghanistan you have to visit Michael Yon's blog.

Yon has been reporting from Iraq and Afghanistan for years. He's almost daily diary of what's happening there is more than you'll ever find on any TV, Cable channel or newspaper.

Reading through some of his reporting, makes me wonder if this President has the fortitude, the right inner circle advising him to deal with Afghanistan. I don't mention experience because, well he doesn't have any He's delay to make a decision on troop levels is sending a very big signal not only to our allies, but to the enemy.

Michael Yon Blog

Kandahar City, Afghanistan
Slowly, surely, the city is being strangled. Signaling the depth of our commitment, security forces are thinner in Kandahar than the Himalayan air. During the days and evenings, there were the sounds of occasional bombs—some caused by suicide attackers, and others by firefights. The windows in my room had been blown out recently and now were replaced. We came here to kill our enemies, but today we want to make a country from scratch.
MORE


also...

Here's a post from American Thinker

Capitalism - A Catholic Invention

I want to see Michael Moore's movie on 'Capitalism' but I just can bring myself to hand over $9.00 into his account.

I'll have to wait until I can rent it from the library (I'm sure there will be plenty of copies there) for $1.00.

Meanwhile, it make perfect sense to me why someone like Mr. Moore and others with his mind set would want to proclaim to the world the evilness of 'Capitalism' (aka: America, aka: Catholicism). With Europe making it's shift away from it's Christian roots it seems that there are those that would like to see the United States follow suit.

From what I've read about Moore's movie, capitalism seems to be the prime culprit to poverty in the U.S. and the cause of the poor in the world.

"Why can't we be more like Cuba?" is the call of the movie. Like I said, I haven't seen the movie but clips on the internet show this.

People from Haiti make their way across treacherous waters in small boats and even dingies to escape the poverty of their land.

Let's see, do they stop off in the Bahama's?.....NO!

Do they stop off in any of the Virgin Islands..... NO!

Do they STOP OFF IN CUBA?! ....... Absolutely NOT!

They come to America which is over 500 miles from their homeland. All those other places are closer but they know where to come to escape poverty and Cuba is not a place to escape anything.

It seems Mr. Moore has put is eggs in the basket of man. He doesn't realize that the idea of capitalism is not to blame but the people who apply capitalism. The greed of individuals is to blame, not capitalism itself.

There isn't any other country that can match America and it's capitalistic structure. But like any good thing it can be use for evil self interest.

The American system with it's three branch government is a good example. We may be disappointed from time to time with our politicians (an understatement today) but we don't throw out our system for any other way of government in the world.

Do we want to be like Europe? I think not.

How about Venezuela? I don't think so.

China or Russia... absolutely not.

Capitalism has it's beginnings in Catholicism. I've enclosed a couple of good articles and a blog posting to convey this thought.

Michael Moore's (Catholic) attack on Capitalism - American Catholic

How Christianity Created Capitalism

How Christianity Led to Freedom, Capitalism, and the Success of the West

A Decaf Morning: Article Roundup

Got in a little late this morning. This cold I have has found a home in my chest and doesn't want to leave. Week two of coughing up my lungs.


I blasted it with antibiotics and a couple of cups of decaf java. We'll see have I feel mid-day.


Morning Artcles:


Debate Over Effects of Leno’s Show - New York Times
I don't watch 'Jay' anyway...


What happened to global warming?- BBC
How can it be that the weather is colder? They seem so confused. Here's an idea. "MAYBE YOUR WERE WRONG!"


Fr. Moloney's melodramatic malarkey - InsideScoop
Fr. moloney's, Bologna

Pope canonizes Father Damien, four others as models of Christian love - CNS
Saint Damien pray for us...

Columbus, Catholicism and courage - American Catholic
Sailed the ocean blue... in 1492.

13th Day - Fatima Movie

1st Showings of the new Fatima movie will be showing next week, Tuesday, Oct 13th.

Check out the trailer: THE 13TH DAY

Pelosi, Reid Transparency Clear as Molasses

The administrations call for 'Transparency' I guess has not been heard in the congress. Or maybe it has and these resent actions is a redefinition of the word.

There is an effort to have bills available for 72 hours before they are voted on. The fight is on by the majority in congress to NOT let this happen.

Transparency clear as molasses...

Congressional leaders fight against posting bills online

...
At town hall meetings across the country this past summer, the main topic was health care, but there was a strong undercurrent of anger over the way Congress rushed through passage of the stimulus, global warming and bank bailout bills without seeming to understand the consequences. The stimulus bill, for example, was 1,100 pages long and made available to Congress and the public just 13 hours before lawmakers voted on it. The bill has failed to provide the promised help to the job market, and there was outrage when it was discovered that the legislation included an amendment allowing American International Group, a bailout recipient, to give out millions in employee bonuses.

"If someone had a chance to look at the bill, they would have found that out," said Lisa Rosenberg, who lobbies Congress on behalf of the Sunlight Foundation to bring more transparency to government.

The foundation has begun an effort to get Congress to post bills online, for all to see, 72 hours before lawmakers vote on them.
MORE

Morning Article Round Up:

Ahhh October and the turning of seasons... as far as Los Angeles goes anyway.

Critics Assail U.S.O.C. After Chicago’s Loss - TimeOnline

IG Report Finds Paulsen, Bernanke Misled Public on Bank Rescues - FoxNews

The stark contrast between authority and authoritarianism - InsightScoop

Norway best place to Live, China moving up - Mail Online
China moving up? You've got to be kidding....

Senate Finance Committee Completes... Only You Can't See New Bill

The W.H. is lauding this as health care progress with the Senate finance committee completing work on their portion of the bill.

However one thing they're not telling you is that...

...YOU AND I ARE NOT ALLOWED TO READ THE BILL THEY CAME UP WITH!

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/10/02/obama-hails-health-legislation-developments-milestone/

Rare Ann Frank Video

Wow, 1941 footage of Ann Frank watching a wedding has been uncovered.

http://www.youtube.com/annefrank#play/uploads

Does God Exist?

AmP has this posted on his blog

A Short Political Quiz...

This was sent to me via a close friend... thanks Paul.

Check it out : World's Smalllest Political Quiz

Sept 30 - Articles of Interests

Okay, I'm switching to Decaf this morning but it still goes well with this list of articles....

Does the Left Have a Sense of Decency? - American Spectator

Obama Administration Condones Sex With Minors. As Long As It Is Just Buiggery With the Boys. - RS RedState

Eliminating Left And Right: An Economic First Step - Catholic Culture

Reason To Believe 'Why Faith Makes Sense' - Book Review, Ingatius Insight

The Patron in Chief's Copenhagen Surge - American Thinker

Roman Polanski

With the arrest of Roman Polanski....

Imagine.....if he were a priest....

Just for a moment I want you to imagine that Roman Polanski was a priest. Frightening, yes? But for the sake of my point imagine that he's a priest who drugged and raped a thirteen year old.Imagine he's a priest who fled to France so as to avoid punishment for his crime. Imagine that he flaunted his freedom in America's face for decades.Now imagine that Roman Polanski as a priest was apprehended by the police after all those years. Now, imagine what the media would be saying.
MORE

Empire State Building Lights Up for China

Why are we doing this? This is a communist state.

Will this appease them enough to buy more of our debt?

Empire State Building turns red-yellow for China's 60th

NEW YORK — New York's iconic Empire State Building will light up red and yellow Wednesday in honor of the 60th anniversary of communist China.
The Chinese consul, Peng Keyu, and other officials will take part in the lighting ceremony which will bathe the skyscraper in the colors of the People's Republic until Thursday, Empire State Building representatives said in a statement.
MORE

Ridiculous

Former President Carter - What's the....?

Carter: "I think an overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity toward President Barack Obama is based on the fact that he is a black man, that he's African-American," Carter told NBC News. "I live in the South, and I've seen the South come a long way, and I've seen the rest of the country that shares the South's attitude toward minority groups at that time, particularly African-Americans."

"That racism inclination still exists, and I think it's bubbled up to the surface because of belief among many white people -- not just in the South but around the country -- that African-Americans are not qualified to lead this great country. It's an abominable circumstance, and it grieves me and concerns me very deeply,"

MORE

For a Former President of the United States to say such nonsense is very disappointing. He can't see into the minds of individuals and make the claim of racism.

What he's really saying is 'if you disagree with President Obama you're a racist'.

If anything he is only stoking the fires of racism and encouraging those advocates of using such language to further divide the nation. The cries of racism is the new political tool for those that want to silence ANY opposition to this present administration's agenda.

President Obama should come out publicly and condemn such talk.

The use of the 'race' card by anyone including the MSM and especially the former president will be disastrous for the nation.

The more Carter expresses his thoughts like these, the more I'm disillusioned and the less I hold this former president Carter as a credible representative of the United States.

Boy Flay and Father Patalinghug 'Throwdown'

Father Patalinghug pitted his culinary skills against the Food Channel Chef Bobby Flay.

Father mentioned to Flay, “Do you know who taught me how to cut?” he asked Flay. “Mother Teresa. When I was a seminarian, I’d go to the soup kitchens, and Mother Teresa said, ‘Okay, Brother, your job is to cut vegetables.’”

Oh, Oh Bobby, I think you're in trouble....

Priest Wins Against Iron Chef

The Great Speech... again

First impressions:

The beginning and the end were inspirational in content. Obama is known for his flowery rhetoric. Not much in meat but heavy on the sugar.

As far as everything in between, well lets say we've heard it all before. He stated that the bickering games are over, then he went on to call congress members, cable and talk show host liers.

He calmed that the 'do nothing' crowd must join the team. "My door is always open" was the line. Yet, conservatives have been trying to meet with his for month only to be ignored.

Obama claimed he was going to change health care without adding a cent to the deficit. He would pay for it by cutting waste. How do you do that.

Finally, he said that abortion would not be paid for with government money, but over 8 times proposed language was put forth to specifically say that, only to be rejected along party lines.

What did I get out of the 50 minute speech?

That the course is the same. He will try to ram the bill through before the end to the year. Whether by reconciliation vote, or what ever means.

...he will ram it through no matter what.

For me there was nothing new of substance. Just the same old speech.... again.

Abortion and Health -Care Reform: the Truth, Please - Catholic Culture

Obama's Big Gamble - Human Events

Time to Get Out the Iron - American Spectator

Joe Wilson Was Right - Creative Minority Report

WCC: 9-9-09 Posts

Obama's, two strikes, last inning speech is the talk of the town. Lot's to read out there.

Hard to believe that the President is going to change every ones mind on the health care bill with one magical speech, but the MSM is hyping hoping to cash in on the viewership.

Thought I'd same thoughts until after the dust has settled and offer up some article as the witching hour approaches.

Whether you watch the speech, hear the speech or plan on poping in a DVD tonight, we should at least offer up a prayer for our nation.

... may we follow on the path the Our Lord intends us to follow for his glory and in his name we pray. AMEN.

Will We March with the Death Cult - Cretive Minority Report

Barack Ozymandias - American Thinker

The Audacity of Refusing to Be Stampeded Into Obamacare - American Spectator

Senate Minority Leader on the President's Address to Congress - Human Events

Boehner: GOP leaders haven't net Obama for health talks since April - The Hill

Health Care - 'Political' Right Not a "Natural' Right

Bishop Nickless of Iowa give a lesson on "Prudental Judgment' on the health care issue.

Does God Favor an Unlimited State?

...
As a prudential judgment, the Bishop said Catholicism does "not teach that government should directly provide health care." Unlike national defense, for which "government monopolization is objectively good" because it limits violence and deters abusive private armies," health care should "not be subject to federal monopolization." The bishop cited preservation of "patient choice" through a "flourishing private sector" as the "only way to prevent a health care monopoly from denying care arbitrarily." He warned that a "government monopoly would not be motivated by profit" but would be motivated by "bureaucratic" quotas and self-defined "best procedures" over which most citizens would have little influence. Government should properly regulate the private sector "to foster healthy competition and to curtail abuses," Nickless wrote. But "any legislation that undermines the viability of the private sector is suspect," he said. And special protections are needed for private, religious hospitals that "most vigorously [are] offering actual health care to the poorest of the poor."
MORE

Thanks bishop, I wish our priest would give us a Sunday lesson this 'prudential judgement'.

Interview: Health Care Protest Scufflle

Video interview with victim of health care scuffle

AP Takes Side of Violent Protester

Reading the Associatated Press posting of this news event (Pro-Health Care protester bites finger off of 65 year old opponent of the health care bill), I see twisting of the facts of the event. I re-direction of the focus.

I say in the Title "AP Takes Side of Violent Protester" because AP makes it a point that the victim has Medicare.

What does that have to do with the violent reaction of the pro-health care protester. It takes the focus off of him and puts the focus on the fact that the victim (a 65 year old man) had Medicare and got his finger re-attached. So what's the victim protesting for, is the message I take away from the article.

Read the article, what do you think?

Finger bitten off during California health portest

B16 - “Jesus in fact is not contented by a merely superficial or formal belonging; an initial and enthusiastic adhesion is not enough for him,”

Benedict XVI on the 'Paradox of Faith'.

“On the one hand, there are philosophies and ideologies, but also on an increasing scale, ways of thinking and acting that extol the freedom of man as the only principle, as an alternative to God, and thus transform man into a god, whose system of behavior is of an arbitrary nature,” Benedict XVI explained. “On the other hand, we note the saints, who, practicing the Gospel of love, make reason of their hope, show the true face of God who is love, and at the same time, the true face of man, created in the image and likeness of God.”

Substituting God for an ideology of 'Man can do anything', that there is no longer a need for God and man can control his own destiny, his own greatness is false.

It will only lead to his demise.

“Jesus in fact is not contented by a merely superficial or formal belonging; an initial and enthusiastic adhesion is not enough for him,” he said. “On the contrary, we must take part in ‘his thinking and his will’ throughout our entire life.”

At the same time we can't just belong to the Catholic church without living the faith. We can't just pick and choose what teachings we want to follow and ones we don't.

We need to use the lives of the saint as an example of how to live out our faith in our daily lives.

Benedict nails it again. What a teacher.

Benedict and the Paradox of Faith

White House Contractor - Data Collecting from Facebook,Twitter,MySpace,YouTube

Oh Boy, our White House hard at work for the people.

This article on the collecting of data from popular social websites. It may or may not happen. Scary non the less.

On Facebook, Myspace? Obama's got our email.

The White House is hiring a contractor to harvest information about Americans from its pages on social networking websites such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.
MORE

Last picture from Mount Wilson Webcam...

This might be one of the last pictures from the WebCam on top of Mount Wilson due to the fires which threaten the communication towers on the mountian top.

(Picture Source)

Biggest Fire Extinguisher... in the World!

The Biggest fire extinguisher ever and it flys.

This was first used on our fires here in Los Angeles and we sure need it. It's really smokey out here.

Separation of Church and ..... Space Alien?

Now I've heard everything.

Okay, listen up fellow Christians.

ABSOLUTELY NO PROSELYTIZING SPACE ALIENS!

You stop that right now! Leave poor ET alone.

You might upset the Terrorist for goodness sakes.

Creative Minority Report has the heads-up.

Ridicules? What say you?

Now We Can't Even Evangelize Space Aliens

An Atheist-First Amendment public policy group charged last week that NASA is violating the separation of church and state by permitting a "space missionary" memento on the latest Discovery Space Shuttle Mission.

On board the shuttle is a piece of an airplane that crashed in Ecuador in 1956 that carried members of the Missionary Aviation Fellowship. One of the shuttle astronaut contacted the Idaho-based group proposing that the item be taken into space as part of a government-funded exploration project. The event has re-ignited enthusiasm by religious groups for "space missionary" proselytizing.

"This is an inappropriate and unconstitutional use of resources," charged Dr. Ed Buckner, President of American Atheists. NASA is a scientific and exploratory agency that is funded by taxpayers. Its mission should not include religious grandstanding, or efforts to use outer space as a pulpit for religion."...
MORE

Religion: Is It a Public or a Private Thing?

Jeff Mirus of Catholic Culture has a good piece on the subject.

For the most part we're told that we should keep our faith to ourselves... unless its politically advantageous.

A Simple Guide to Faith, Culture and Public Life

Bishop Joseph Martino Resigns: Just the facts please

I've been reading all kinds of stuff on the reasons why Bishop Martino is resigning. Some of the speculation is bordering on gosship.

So I turn to AmP to set the records straight...

We should be informed of the real story before the rumor mill get out of hand.

Open topic: Bishop Joseph Martino resigns

ObamaCare Abortions: A Case For Sherlock Holmes

The push is on to brush aside the concern of us pro-lifers that the proposed health care bill provides for abortions to be paid by every tax payer regardless of their stance on the life issue.

"There is nothing in the proposed bill that says it will pay for abortions"

And you know, they are correct. It doesn't spell out if it does or if it doesn't.

But along with that factoid is another fact they will not mention. The fact that 'eleven times, pro-life amendments were offered in committee, amendments were voted down. Pro-life Democrats joined Republicans in voting for these protective amendments. But they could not prevail.' They were voted out.

This looks like a case for Sherlock Homes.

The Case of the Non-Barking Dog or Obama's Dog Didn't Bark:

Many of us remember the Sherlock Holmes story we read in high school. A famous racehorse is stolen from a barn at night. The barn was guarded by a dog.

Scotland Yard, England's famous police headquarters, sends Inspector Gregory to investigate, but Sherlock Holmes was on the case.

Inspector Gregory: "Is there any other point to which you would wish to draw my attention?" Holmes: "To the curious incident of the dog in the night-time." Gregory: "The dog did nothing in the night-time." Holmes: "That was the curious incident."

MORE

A Bit of Ted Kennedy History... well hidden

Here's a Bit-O History you won't find reported by the MSM.

Teddy is buried in Arlington along with other national hero's. This story sends shivers down my spin...

Kennedy and the KGB - American Thinker


Shortly after the announcement of Ted Kennedy's death, I had already received several interview requests. I declined them, not wanting to be uncharitable to the man upon his death. Since then, I've seen the need to step up and provide some clarification.

The issue is a remarkable 1983 KGB document on Kennedy, which I published in my 2006 book, The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism (HarperCollins). The document is a May 14, 1983 memo from KGB head Victor Chebrikov to his boss, the odious Soviet General Secretary Yuri Andropov, designated with the highest classification. It concerns a confidential offer to the Soviet leadership by Senator Kennedy. The target: President Ronald Reagan. (A pdf file of the original Russian language document and an English translation is available here.)
MORE

Ted Kennedy - Reflection

The funeral for Ted Kennedy was perplexing to me. The sorrow of losing a prominent figure in politics, of a family leader as he was, well I understand that.

I found something odd about such an elaborate news coverage on the event though, from the motorcade departing Boston to the Arlington resting place.

You'd have thought it was a President being buried. The Catholic blessing, the Archbishop there presiding, ok I understand.

But in the back of my mind I kept thinking "made for TV".

I'm still reading articles on the absent voice of Benedict the XVI on the passing of Ted Kennedy. Most of it is negative, " Why hasn't Benedict responded? Where is the Vatican's voice in this matter"

What is it that they are expecting? What do they want Benedict to say?

Do they want a verbal from B16 that he lived a good life and will enter the gates of heaven.

That judgement will be made by God himself.

Before his death the news mentioned a personally written letter from Ted to the Pope and hand delivered by President Obama himself.

Supposedly it was a personal note, yet it was read at the funeral ceremony.

Why? I'm not claiming anything I just have the question why?

A personal note is just that, a personal note. A note you don't want just anyone to see.

Meanwhile, the efforts are underway to continue the legacy of Ted... I guess that means his support for abortion, stem cell research and gay marriage.

I think the press coverage of 'the end of Camelot' ...whatever that means' has said it all and them some.

Kennedy Catholicism

"I have always tried to be a faithful Catholic, Your Holiness," Ted Kennedy wrote to Pope Benedict XVI, in a letter dramatically read by Theodore Cardinal McCarrick at the senator's burial, "and though I have fallen short through human failings, I have never failed to believe and respect the fundamental teachings."
MORE

Fidelity Fiduciary Bank - Old lesson on Today's Banks

As the song begins the banking system sound pretty good.. but as the last lines of the song outline, well it's the same mess we see in our banks of today.

Well, we voted this administration in and now it's time for that spoon full of sugar to help the medicine go down...

KennedyCare - Told you it was coming

Ya know, it didn't take long for the Dem's to take advantage of a dead colleague.

Very tacky and I think it adds that politicizing of the life of a Senator with a lengthy career. It's not about honoring their colleague, it's about selling a health care bill that shouldn't be passed.

I don't care what you call it, what you name it, it's the same bill with all the same faults.

This move is as plain as the nose on your face.

Very Sad

'Win one for Teddy!" Say Dem's...

Democrats are hoping that the memory of Sen. Ted Kennedy will revive the Democratic Party's flagging push for health care reform.

"You've heard of 'win one for the Gipper'? There is going to be an atmosphere of 'win one for Teddy,'" Ralph G. Neas, the CEO of the liberal National Coalition on Health Care, told ABC News.
MORE

Rename Health Care Bill for Kennedy

You know this kind of irks me.

Sen. Byrd backed by Pelosi have suggested to renaming the Health Care bill in whatever form it takes for Sen. Ted Kennedy.

Does this really mean they are trying to honor the man or is there some political playing going on here?

Excuse me for being cynical but I'm feeling the latter. Political playing.

Is it a play to twist the arms of the Blue-Dog Democrats into voting for a bill named after there fearless leader of Congress?

'If you're a real Dem you can't vote against a bill named after a member as prominent as Ted Kennedy!'

Or if you're on the other side how about 'A vote against the HC bill is a vote against Camelot!'

It just smells funny..

Byrd: Rename health care bill for Kennedy

Ailing Senator Robert Byrd, one of only two to have served longer than Kennedy, suggests in an emotional statement renaming the pending health care legislation for the late Massachusetts Senator:

In his honor and as a tribute to his commitment to his ideals, let us stop the shouting and name calling and have a civilized debate on health care reform which I hope, when legislation has been signed into law, will bear his name for his commitment to insuring the health of every American.

Bob Novak - What was he really like?

Michelle Oddis's piece on Bob Novak, was genuine. Casting a subtle light on the office life of Bob Novak.

Thanks Michelle (Maxine).

I thought it might be interesting to share. I'd like to read his memoirs.

Maxine in Bob Novak's Office.

It was a windy day -- late fall of 2006 -- as I waked past the White House headed to the Kinkos/FedEx store on K Street, I was carrying the final galleys of Robert D. Novak’s memoirs to send them to the publisher. His story of 50 years of journalism -- all 940 pages -- was gripped tightly in my arms. As a 25 year old fresh out of college, it was surreal, much like most of my experiences working for the “Prince of Darkness.”
MORE

Website of the Mid-Week: Pundit & Pundette

I thought I'd start something new on my blog.

I run across some websites of note that catch my interest in content and presentation. Since I'm starting this new WCC feature in the middle of the week I thought it apropos to name it as such.

So here is the first featured website of the 'Mid-Week'

Pundit & Pundette

News points of the day with a little nostalgia. A duo team reminiscent of the 40's movie 'His Girl Friday'. Great movie by the way.

Anyways, a good site to book mark. Pay them a visit and tell me what you think.

Stay tuned for a new site every Wednesday... Mid-Week

WCC +<><

Senator Kennedy

RIP Sen. Kennedy

Converting a Church into a place of Residence...

I don't know but there's something unsettling about this.

Actress Ronnie Claire Edwards, most know for her appearances on the TV show 'The Waltons' has found her dream home.

Where, in the Hollywood Hills?

No

Let's see, Hmmmm, in a Manhattan Skyline penthouse?

No.

I'm I close?

Not even close!

How about an old Catholic Church you might say?

Why yes, that be the place.

I don't know, looking at the pictures of the old church, now actress haven just makes me sad.

Here's the story.

Q & A With Ronnie Claire Edwards

Health Care 'Common Ground' - Archbishop Chaput "a lie"

Archbishop Cahrles Chaput tells it like it is. I love this guy. Not afraid to speak the truth.

"Common ground" is a phrase the President Obama and some of his supporters have been using to describe their efforts to work for health care reform. But Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver is taking them to task for abusing the Catholic concept, calling any labeling of the current reform proposals as common ground "a lie."
MORE

Here's his article: Denver Catholic Register - Common Good

"Hey, Who you gon'a Believe, Me or Your Own Eyes?"

This morning while driving into work, I listen to President Obama on the radio. He was listing his accomplishments in turning the economy around and gave an overall rosy picture of our credit markets.

'We are on the road to recovery' was the message of the day.

Let's celebrate! Wooo hooo!.

Boy for a minute there, I thought we were on the brink of economic collapse. From what I've seen the deficit is going through the roof.

We have a proposed health care bill that we don't know how we're going to pay for (actually we do. We're all going to pay for it we just don't' want to admit it and we are told everyone else is paying for it).

We're paying China Billion and Billions of interest payments PER WEEK!

But, now lets see. I'm guessing I should ignore all that and believe what the President is saying.

Pay no attention to the smoke in the room, there's no fire. Really?

I'm reminded of a scene in an 80's animation picture called An American Tale. It's about Fievel Mousekewitz immigrant family of mice coming to America to live the dream of living a life of freedom from the persecution of Cats.

"There are no Cats in America and the streets are lined with Cheese!" is the song they sing.

Only thing is when they arrive in America, they are targeted by a Cat (Warren T. Rat) disguised as a mouse. He tells them lies and tries to control them and decieve them, taking what little they have.

At one point in the movie, the gig is up. The fake 'cone' nose he uses to disguise himself to look like a mouse is removed from his face, exposing his true identity as a Cat to the astonishment of the crowd of mice at hand.

The Cat's only comment is "Hey, who you gon'a believe? Me or your own Eyes?"

Let's open our eyes people. We can't go on ignoring what right in front of us.

After I heard the President's talk this morning it was immediately followed by Breaking News that the White House budget office forsees a cumulative $9 trillion deficit from 2010-2019.

That's 9 trillion on top of the already, what 10-11 trillion we are over spending now!

Who are you going to believe?

Your own eyes or what they tell you to believe?

White House projects bigger deficits, bigger debt

The federal government faces exploding deficits and mounting debt over the next decade, White House officials predicted Tuesday in a fiscal assessment far bleaker than what the Obama administration had estimated just a few months ago.

Figures released by the White House budget office foresee a cumulative $9 trillion deficit from 2010-2019, $2 trillion more than the administration estimated in May. Moreover, the figures show the public debt doubling by 2019 and reaching three-quarters the size of the entire national economy.

Obama economic adviser Christina Romer predicted unemployment could reach 10 percent this year and begin a slow decline next year. Still, she said, the average unemployment will be 9.3 in 2009 and 9.8 percent in 2010.

"This recession was simply worse than the information that we and other forecasters had back in last fall and early this winter," Romer said.

The grim administration projections came on a day of competing economic news. The Congressional Budget Office, which has predicted less economic growth than the White House in the past, was also scheduled to announce revised budget projections on Tuesday.

Obama himself may have drowned out the rising deficit news with the announcement Tuesday that he intends to nominate Ben Bernanke to a second term as chairman of the Federal Reserve. The Bernanke news could neutralize any disturbance in the financial markets caused by the high deficit projections.
MORE

Morning Java Aug 24 - A Slow Return to Blogging...

I had to take a short break from posting...

However I'm slowly easing back into it.

How about some articles I'm reading this morning?

Some Walk Away - Creative Minority Report

Introducing the 'New Mass' - Whispers In The Loggia

Side by Side Comparison of New Mass - USCCB

Being Catholic Now by Kerry Kennedy - Reviews by Francis

A Presidential Learning Moment - American Thinker

Editorial: Obama's mad science adviser - Washington Times

New, Old Web Site: Sing'n In the Reign

One of my favorite websites is Sing'n in the Reign, the home of Michael Barber and Brant Pitre.

Well, it has a new face lift..sort of and a new contributor to the blog, John Bergsma. All three are highly qualified professors of the faith.

Old blog: Singing In The Reign (formerly: www.signinginthereign.blogspot.com)
New & Improved Blog: The Sacred Page

They have some good stuff, a bit deeper material than yours truly. But I'll be pointing to this site from time to time.

Pay them a visit...oh and bookmark them.

Abp. Dolan - Difficulties of the Church Today

Archbishop Timothy Dolan outlines the challenges the church is faced with today.

They are 4 fold in his assessment:

1) the vocation to marriage

2) the state of Catholic parishes and schools

3) the great number of lapsed Catholics

4) the difficulties in a culture desperate to keep the Church and morals out of the public square

N.Y. Archbishop take stock of challenges in the American Catholic Church

...

“Oh, there’s tons of challenges, my Lord, there’s never any dearth of challenges,” the archbishop began, explaining that the basic challenge for all Catholics is the same one that Jesus gave on Pentecost Sunday: “Go out to the world and preach the Gospel.”

MORE

White House's Robert Gibbs - The Man with NO Answers

You've got to see/hear this exchange between Fox News Major Garrett and Robert Gibbs concerning emails from David Axelrod to unknowing recipients.

Mr. Gibbs has no answer... only side stepping.

These kind of "side-stepping" exchanges his happening more and more. At townhall meetings especially. The Hard questions never get answered.

And these questions are NEVER asked by the MSM.

Here's the Video of the exchange

Here's the followup Video

Etiquiette Czar?

I guess there's a wrong way and, well I guess a wrong way to voice your opposition to anything proposed by the present W.H. administration.

Especially at townhalls.


The Etiquiette Czar's Rules for Patriotic Protest
...
What constitutes "spirited"? How do they define "vigorous"? When does forceful dissent become intolerable disruption? Herewith, the Obama Etiquette Czar's Official Rules for Patriotic Protest. Keep this guide with you at all times to avoid being flagged by the Democratic politeness monitors.
MORE

Kennedy's of Old vs. Kennedy's of New

As you probably have already heard, Eunice Kennedy Shriver recently pasted away, God Bless her soul.

She was part of the Kennedy's of Old, namely economically liberal and culturally conservative as described in this article at the NCReg.

The Kennedy's by contrast have taken a different road, economically liberal and culturally libertine.

TwoVery Different Kennedy's

The Shrivers were devout Catholics who lived their faith with integrity privately before bringing its implications to the public square. Before Alzheimer’s took its toll on Sargent, he was a daily communicant, attending Mass either in Maryland or in Hyannis, Mass., a well-worn rosary often in hand. He shared his Marian devotion with his wife; in a statement upon Eunice’s death, her family noted that “she was forever devoted to the Blessed Mother. May she be welcomed now by Mary to the joy and love of life everlasting, in the certain truth that her love and spirit will live forever.”

Such lines will not be written of Ted Kennedy who, as one of America’s most prominent Catholics, blazed the trail of making religious belief an entirely private matter. His debauchery was the opposite of the Shrivers’ piety. Having broken up his own family, he degenerated into a dissoluteness that reached its nadir on Good Friday, 1991, when instead of doing the Stations of the Cross at the local parish, he took his son and nephew out for a night of bar-hopping and skirt-chasing. The details of Ted’s behaviour that night were embarrassingly sordid. It gave rise to the joke that Senator Kennedy’s religion was so private he refused to impose it on himself.
MORE

Abp. Chaput - Natonalized Health Care

Archbishop Charles Chaput weighs in on the national health care issue. AmP adds his comments...

Where are all the Catholics in the U.S.?

AmP points to an article at The Boston Globe web site, which sports a map of the States the and their population by religion.

Interesting...

Articles of Faith

...

The geographic concentration of Mormons in and around Utah reflects the cross-country migration of that group in the mid-1800s from Illinois and other Eastern states to their new home. The fact that certain states like Oregon and Vermont consist disproportionately of residents with no religious identity is more difficult to explain, with hypotheses focusing on the particular and idiosyncratic cultures of those states and/or the migration of certain types of Americans to those states over the decades."

MORE

I find it interesting that the most Catholic populus states like New York, Mass. have a high Obama support group, so does California for that matter.

One would think abortion would be a factor in these States and indeed it is. Just not in the direction one would expect from a large Catholic concentration.