Being! Or Nothingness

Who will save your soul?

The American Spectator has a pretty good article on Pro-Life Democrats and particularly Democrats for Life. I met Kristen Day, along with the leaders of Democrats for Life at the DFL event at the March for Life 2 years ago. Day is a particularly bright and committed Catholic pro-lifer as well as a true blue (or is that yellow?) Democrat. DFL is in good hands with her leadership. However, the question remains as to how you spread this message, especially to young people who are just becoming politically active?

Two sections stood out to me:

Democrats for Life of America, Inc., a pro-life group, had hoped to have one of their own speak at the convention this year. Instead, they were given the brush-off.

They were clearly disappointed. But they've come to expect that kind of treatment ever since the late Pennsylvania Gov. Bob Casey was blocked from giving a pro-life speech in 1992. For all its rhetoric about inclusiveness, the party shuns its own pro-life wing.

And yet these pro-life Democrats say they're not going anywhere. Former Boston mayor and ambassador to the Vatican Raymond Flynn said they would save the party's soul -- and perhaps it's life as well.

and

MTV's Rock the Vote released a poll Monday that found that 41% of first-time voters, an overwhelming plurality, think abortion should be legal only "in the most extreme cases."

Another 13% want it outlawed entirely. Overall 54% of first-time voters lean pro-life.

"It's more bad news for the pro-choice movement," said Hans Riemer, Rock the Vote's political director.

Lord Have Mercy!

It's Kuh-thol-i-siz-um not Kath-lick-iz-um!

;-)

Fr. Stan's "JP2 4 U"

By praying the Psalms as a community, the Christian mind remembered and understood that it is impossible to turn to the Father who dwells in heaven without an authentic communion of life with one's brothers and sisters who live on earth. Moreover, by being vitally immersed in the Hebrew tradition of prayer, Christians learned to pray by recounting the magnalia Dei, that is, the great marvels worked by God both in the creation of the world and humanity, and in the history of Israel and the Church. This form of prayer drawn from Scripture does not exclude certain freer expressions, which will continue not only to characterize personal prayer, but also to enrich liturgical prayer itself, for example, with hymns and troparia. But the Book of Psalms remains the ideal source of Christian prayer and will continue to inspire the Church in the new millennium.

Pope John Paul II
General Audience
Wednesday 28 March 2001

More Things the Democrats Don't Want You to Know

As if it wasn't enough that the Democrats capped off last night with a tame version of "Let's Get Retarded" I also noticed that the Rev. Al Sharpton received the most raucous and get up and dance response of anyone last night. His 'sermon' was so 'inspired' that the Rev. Al went over his alotted time . . . because "the spirit came over him."

Well, no one is talking about it (except Tim Graham at National Review Online) but the Rev. Al's speech was supposed to energize the "First Responders." Those men and women who made up the Police and Fire response to the 9/11 Attacks.

Funny . . . most police officers I know remember the Rev. Al for whole other issue: Tawana Brawley

That's when the Rev. Al was involved in a hoax to sully the reputation of several police officers for the "rape" or Tawana Brawley, a 15 year old Harlem girl. You see, it never happened. It was all made it up. Apparently the Rev. Al knew she was lying but ignored it. He lied, and lied, and lied again in order to go after those "evil" New York City Policemen. You see, in those days the Rev. Al was quite the street organizer. He was famous for organizing marches through Jewis neighborhoods and against the Police.

Of course, that's not being mentioned at the Democratic National Convention. They invite the Rev. Al to give his rousing "sermon" assuming you won't remember Tawana Brawley. They hope you won't know. They count on the fact that you won't know. They do this a lot. It's why I find them so dispicable.

Celebrity Death Match: Denzel vs. Meryl

This is an interesting article. Denzel Washington is a bit disturbed by Meryl Streeps theological refutation of President George W. Bush. My favorite line comes after she says "Would the Prince of Peace vote for the war candidate?" To which Denzel replies "You have to read the whole book."

Denzel sounds a little conservative. No surprise, really . . . well, maybe a little. I wonder if he's a Republican?

Tokein on the Mass

I find this both at once immediately attractive and one of the most difficult things in the world to do.

J. R. R. Tolkien said:

I can recommend this as an exercise: make your Communion in circumstances that affront your taste. Choose a snuffling or gabbling priest or a proud and vulgar friar; and a church full of the usual bourgeois crowd, ill-behaved children -- from those who yell to those products of Catholic schools who the moment the tabernacle is opened sit back and yawn -- open necked and dirty youths, women in trousers and often with hair both unkempt and uncovered. Go to Communion with them (and pray for them). It will be just the same as a Mass said beautifully by a visibly holy man, and shared by a few devout and decorous people. (It could not be worse than the mess of the feeding of the Five Thousand -- after which our Lord propounded the feeding that was to come.) - in a letter to Michael Tolkien - November 1, 1963

The Democrats and Black Eyed Peas

Did anyone notice? Most people are commenting on how Black Eyed Peas rocked the house at the Democratic National Convention. I know most bloggers are probably not very familiar with Black Eyed Peas, and so the wouldn't be familiar with the lyrics of this song . . . but while tonight Black Eyed Peas sang "Let's Get it Started in Here" the actual lyrics of the song say "Let's Get RETARDED in Here."

Now, I'm sure many a conservative blogger will have a field day with the jokes . . . I'm not laughing.

I hate that word. I find it offensive. As offensive as "nigger." The first time I heard the song I couldn't believe it. I know, I know in pop culture that word just means getting "crunk," letting loose, acting crazy . . . It's still offensive.

Where were the Kennedy-Shrivers? They still sit on the Board for the Special Olympics.

With all their Politically Correct garbage, their talk of rights, their talk of equality . . . they still manage to be offensive.

Of course, why am I surprised? They're just offending the "retarded." The weak and innocent who can't speak up for themselves. This would follow a pattern wouldn't it . . . the unborn are innocents who can't speak for themselves either . . .

Of course, the democrats know this is offensive . . . they're just counting on the fact that most people won't know. They count on that for a lot of things. That's why I find them dispicable.

Cool Conference for Youth and Families

What: Ars Conference
Where: South Bend, IN
When: Aug. 7-8, 2004
Who: High School Teens and their Families
How Much: $75 with discounts for families

This conference is gonna be sweet! It's named after the Cure of Ars, St. John Vianney and stands for America Returns to the Sacraments. The story goes that the Fr. Vianney was travelling to his first parish assignment (Ars) when he got a little lost. He found two shepherd boys out in a field and he said to them "My sons, show me the way to Ars and I will show you the way to Heaven." So this Conference is all about getting to Heaven, baby!

It's got Matt Smith from the Real World, Fr. Pontifex of Phatmass phame, the Pete Cornelius Band and Fr. Dan Sheidt who is so cool, there just aren't words for him.

Seriously, if you live near South Bend, IN (that means Chi-town all the way to Indy and back up to Cleaveland and around Detroit to Grand Rapids) you should make it a point to be at this Conference. It's gonna be great. I'm gonna be there. And well, a bunch of people cooler than me. Check it out!

Important Registration Information
Space is Limited!!
Check in is at St. Bavo School (524 W. 8th St. Mishawaka, IN. 46544) This is the only registration sight. The conference will begin at 12:30PM at St. Monica Gymnasium. There will be no on-site registration available. We are not able to reduce registration fees for those unable to attend all conference days or sessions.

The high demand for summer conferences and the need for advance planning require a definite commitment from participants. For this reason, all payments are non-refundable.

Email Registrations Must be received by Monday August 2nd, 2004
ars@weadore.com

Meals: will be provided for dinner Saturday evening; three meals will be provided on Sunday. No lunch on Saturday will be available.
Housing: A sleeping bag, pillow, etc. are required. You will be sleeping on the gymnasium floor. Men and women will be housed separately. No showers will be available.
Special Needs: One of the retreat buildings is not fully accessible for e people with disabilities. If you have special needs, please be sure to note that on the registration form and a conference staff member will contact you to try to meet your specific needs.
Attention Youth Groups/ Youth Ministers: One adult chaperone is needed per every eight youth attending.
Fees: Individuals -$75.00 Adult Chaperone -$25.00
Family rate: (Families of four or more): Each parent, $20; Each youth in household, $70

Make checks payable to ARS conference. (please inform us of any financial burden this may present a limited amount of aid is available.)

The Smoke of Satan in the Church: Literally

Satanism Linked to Priest's Murder in Chilean Cathedral

Assailant Invoked Devil's Name, Says Servite Superior

SANTIAGO, Chile, JULY 26, 2004 (Zenit.org).- The archbishop of Santiago decried the existence of Satanic groups in Chile in the wake of the weekend murder of a priest in the metropolitan cathedral.

Cardinal Francisco Errázuriz, archbishop of Santiago and president of the country's episcopate, made that observation Sunday, a day after Servite Father Faustino Gazziero de Stefani, 68, was slain after he had celebrated Mass.

The cardinal lamented that legislative proposals to curb Satanic groups have not been addressed with greater care.

"They have killed Father Faustino also for reasons of faith, for being a priest of Jesus Christ," the cardinal said.

"Satan, the prince of darkness, continues his struggle against the light, as though forgetting that he has already been defeated by Jesus Christ who resurrected after his death and is now the life, hope and light that illumines every human being," he added.

Authorities identified the assailant as Rodrigo Orias Gallardo, 25. Orias, who dressed in black, was armed with a knife, and wounded himself after attacking the priest, authorities said. Police said the assailant was not mentally disturbed or under the influence of drugs.

"It has been a terrible and unexpected tragedy," Father Bernardino Zanella, the vicar responsible for the Servites in Santiago, told the Missionary Service News Agency.

"This young man did not know Father Faustino," he said. "Inspired by the madness of Satanic groups, he attacked him, but he would have attacked anyone who was in that place at that time."

"A brother who was present in the cathedral told us that after killing Father Faustino, the youth knelt down by his side invoking Satan's name," Father Zanella reported.

The Servite vicar warned that "the phenomenon of Satanism in Chile, as in other countries of the world, is growing strongly. Numerous groups are active in the country, especially in the cities, although in recent years their presence has also spread to minor urban centers."

To date, these groups "had limited themselves to desecrate and commit acts of vandalism in sacred places and cemeteries, but it never happened that they attacked persons," the Servite added.

Father Gazziero was a native of Lozzo Atestino, Italy. He went to Chile in 1960, immediately after his priestly ordination.

For years he had been dedicated to education. He was president of the St. Teresa Foundation, which administers numerous schools in the country. He coordinated four schools of the Servants of Mary in Santiago.

He will be buried in the cathedral.

BLAZE 7-25-04

The Narrow Gate: Matthew 7:13

Talk
John W. gave a great talk about choosing the Narrow Gate. The fact is that Christ himself tells us that the road that we will travel is not always going to feel very easy and there won't be many people on the road with us. Our journey with Christ is a road with some bumps and some detours that we have to work to overcome. Still the greatest part of this message is that all along this road he is with us. He is a presence that seeks to make the journey of this road bearable. He does not leave us abandoned. He does not make us go it alone. Rather, Christ becomes a presence on this road so that we might have the strength to travel it.

Small Groups
"What are the bumps that we have experienced since Antioch? What are the bumps in our life that seek to take us off the narrow road? What are some big bumps we can see up ahead that we must be on the look out in order to get around?"

Praise and Worship:
Open the Eyes of My Heart
Sweet Wind
Refiner's Fire
Psalm 121 (I lift my eyes up)
Salvation Belongs to Our God
Unto the House of the Lord
Dive