Monday, October 31, 2011

Halloween "Hallow's Evening"

It is October 31st, and this day brings many memories to me and possibly you reading this blog as well.  It is "Halloween."  In America and other nations, many young people dress up in different costumes and go "trick or treating."  The holiday seems innocent enough, but of course there are the dangers of knocking on stranger's doors, receiving candy and other treats from strangers, and becoming a victim of a prank or more recently, gang initiations.  

Many Catholics and other separated Christians wonder if it is ok to celebrate this day since most of it seems to be about evil, death, darkness and violence.  All throughout television scary movies about psychopathic serial killers, zombies, ghosts, and monsters are being played in syndication.  There are even ghost shows out there having live ghost hunting sessions.  The question that comes to mind on this day is: 


Is this day all about a glorification of evil?

Well let's briefly look at the origin of this holiday.  Some claim that this day originated in the Pagan Celtic harvest festival called Samhain.  The Catholic Church purposely moved All Saints day and All Souls day to coincide with this celebration in order to drain Paganism and convert it to Christianity.  


However, that is disputed because there seems to be no evidence that Pope Gregory IV was aware of this Pagan celebration.  Nevertheless, the Universal Holy Day of All Saint's day was added the day after the 31st and hence the 31st became to be known as, "All Hallow's Eve."  


In the Liturgy, Solemnities begin at the vespers (Evening Prayer) before the actual day of the Solemnity.  So in effect, All Saint's day begins at the vespers of October 31st.  Moreover, All Soul's day follows All Saint's day.  This further adds to the speculation that the Catholic Church did this on purpose to convert Pagans to Christianity.  


During the Reformation, ultra conservative and fundamentalist sects attacked the idea of Saints, praying to saints and of course celebrating them.  Groups such as the Puritans forbade the celebration of Hallow's Eve and anything that was suspected as Catholic, Pagan, or Satanic.   However, while in America the Puritans did not prevent Hallow's Eve from "evolving" to its present form.  Many cultural elements were added to it such as the Jack o' Latern, Trick or treating, dressing up in costumes etc.  


Like any Holy Day, society often twists the purpose/meaning of it.  Hallow's Eve became Halloween and now is celebrated as a day when people just dress up, trick or treat and just enjoy themselves as someone/something else.  


While these celebrations seem strange and "evil," but also are fun, we have to thank the Catholic Church for the fun part, so to speak.  The trick or treat part derives from the Medieval practice of young people going door to door collecting, "Soul cakes."  For each cake, the child prayed for a soul in Purgatory.    Instead of the jingle, "trick or treat, gimme something good to eat"  kids said, "A soul cake! A soul cake! Have mercy on all Christian souls, for A soul cake!"  


In my opinion, Catholics and other Christians should not fear Halloween, but try to re-Christianize it.  Remember that this day belongs to the Lord and us.  Do not let secularism or paganism claim it as their own.  Have fun with it, but always keeping in mind that evil is evil and is something that is real and must be avoided.   


Parents: If you let your kids dress up as monsters or violent characters, explain to them that what these characters represent or do in movies or shows must remain fiction and not become reality.  


We must strive for a world where monsters, violence, murder only exist in fiction.  


We must also remember to be proud of who we are.  Dressing up as a monster, character or whatever must be done just for fun and not to "feel" like someone else.  You are a unique individual.  No one else will ever be LIKE YOU!  Appreciate that!  


It is up to you if you wish to celebrate this day or not in the way secular society celebrates it now.  Instead of having kids dress up as violent things, one can try dressing them up as saints, angels or positive people as well.  



  • Say a pray before going out to Our Lady, St Michael and your Guardian Angel.  Pray for each home you visit.  


  • Check the sex offender's list to make sure you know who you are visiting.  


  • Check the treats before letting your children eat them.     

  • Check your surroundings. Try to be with a crowd, not alone.  




  

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Happy Birthday Lady Liberty! 125yrs




The Statue of Liberty has just turned 125 years old.  It is probably the most well known modern statue on Earth.  Given as a gift from France, she has welcomed immigrants from Europe with the words penned by Emma Lazarus:

"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door"


May God bless the United States of America, and may this great nation continue to be a beacon of hope and freedom for all.

OWS Hypocrisy




The so called "Occupy Wall Street" movement is seen by some as a movement seeking equal rights in regards to the equal distribution of wealth and goods.  The "99% vs 1%" is often used to highlight this issue.   However, they are being hypocritical.  As you may know, thousands have taken over a private park in Manhattan.  While camping there, certain businesses have donated food to the protesters.  The food is cooked and given to protesters.  

Homeless people as well as recently released convicts have flocked there to get a free meal.  The OWS movement now is trying to prevent this.  What?!?  I thought you were for "equality" and the "equal distribution of wealth/goods?"

Why are you denying human beings -who are part of the 99%- the basic necessities of life?  You claim the wealthy (1%) do this to you, yet you are doing it to the homeless and those who have come out of jail!  

Why the double standard?  



Source

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/zuccotti_hell_kitchen_i5biNyYYhpa8MSYIL9xSDL?utm_source=SFnewyorkpost&utm_medium=SFnewyorkpost#ixzz1bzDBgr6R

Atheism Blunder

Atheists often present themselves as being "intelligent," "rational" or some how "enlightened."  They go about criticizing religion and calling those who believe unintelligent, primitive, delusional and what not.  However, recently an atheist group called "Backyard Skeptics" caused another "foot in mouth" moment for the atheism belief cult.    

The California based group paid for a billboard with the image of the third President of the United States of America, Thomas Jefferson with the quote, 'I do not find in Christianity one redeeming feature. It is founded on fables and mythology.'  This quote according to the atheist group was thought up by President Jefferson; however, historians have corrected them by stating that this is not the case at all.  President Jefferson NEVER said or wrote this quote which the atheist group falsely attributed to him.

Once again, atheists have shown their dishonesty by using false propaganda to spread bigotry against God and religion.  They misinterpret facts and/or fabricate them in order to cause division, confusion and scandal.  By doing so, they commit a huge blunder and are made to look like morons - ironically the word they use to describe theists.


On Twitter I have had my share of encounters with atheists who try hard to make themselves feel educated and correct by presenting a nonsensical spin on history, facts and by using a play on words.  Some memorable moments were with tweeters: @askegg @steviebryant @SkepticalSkotty @_7654_ @sapient_ape @heathen_chick @RosaRubicondior @dredpiraterob and others who tweet some ridiculous fallacious ideas regarding science and religion. Some were not even aware that it was a Catholic priest (Fr. Georges LemaĆ®tre) who formulated the Big Bang Theory! :-)  So much for "reason..."


Hey atheists let President Jefferson speak for himself!


"I am a real Christian – that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus Christ."
The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, p. 385.



Source:
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/orange_county&id=8408874
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2054893/Atheist-group-Backyard-Skeptics-unveils-billboard-Thomas-Jefferson-anti-Christian-quote--NEVER-said-it.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2054893/Atheist-group-Backyard-Skeptics-unveils-billboard-Thomas-Jefferson-anti-Christian-quote--NEVER-said-it.html

For truthful information regarding President Jefferson, contact: http://www.monticello.org/site/research-and-collections/jefferson-library

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Adding gas to the flame...

NYC's Public schools are now adding a very aggressive "sex ed" curriculum.  This curriculum has come under fire after parents and other groups were informed of the content.

Students as young as 11 yrs of age (possibly younger) will be learning about how to have sex, oral/anal sex - even if a child has braces; how to masturbate, mutual masturbation, about bestiality, porn stars, vibrators, phone sex, fetishes, french kissing, sadomasochism, the list goes on and on.

There are even activities such as going to a store and writing down the names of condom distributors, visiting clinics that provide abortion, birth control and STD testing (Planned Parenthood of course).  

This is just sickening.  Why did we let society collapse to this all time low?  These are children we are talking about!

What is NYC and the public school system thinking?  Are they even thinking!?!

This curriculum will add gas to the flame in young people's bodies; the flame that is naturally triggered by puberty and hormonal changes.  By presenting this disgusting material to kids, the promoters are encouraging promiscuity and licentiousness.

Kids struggle as is with new feelings and attraction to the opposite sex, even same sex ones during puberty.    This curriculum will add to this struggle and give the ok for kids to go against reason and act on instinct alone.

Parents in NYC and all over the USA, please write and protest to Mayor Bloomberg and the Chancellor of the Board of Education to have this curriculum removed.  


Parents are the primary educators of children, and in regards to sexuality, this discussion should be done among the family.  Parents should be the ones to teach their children about sex, marriage, love.  Older siblings can also contribute since they too went through/or are going through puberty and are aware of the struggles.

Parents are the ones who teach their children how to speak, behave, eat, use the potty, dress themselves, bathe themselves, so it is logical that parents should teach their children about sex and no one else.  A stranger should not be the one educating children about sex and sexuality.  This is a private matter and should be done solely by parents.  

This program will corrupt our youth who already face the temptations of sex through movies, music, and other media which uses sex to sell things.

Do we really need/want, 11 yr olds, 15 yr olds, 17 yr olds out there experimenting with sex and other perverted things?   

They should be in libraries studying, in after school programs, or sports programs.  The money for this program could be used to fund education related things, not attempts to socially engineer the youth to become promiscuous irresponsible people.  

This program is destructive to the youth and must be ended immediately!  



http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/24/public-school-sex-ed-class-could-teach-on-oral-sex-and-bestiality_n_1028670.html


Public School Sex Ed Class Could Inform On Oral Sex And Bestiality (VIDEO) (POLL)

Free Condoms
The Huffington Post    First Posted: 10/24/11 01:23 PM ET Updated: 10/24/11 01:51 PM ET
Sexual education classes at NYC public high schools and middle schools might feature some usually unmentioned lessons next year.
Among those lessons? Bestiality, anal sex, oral, sex, phone sex, porn and more, WSBT reports.
According to the report, the Department of Education has recommended students learn "everything there is to know about sex" in the new curriculum.
The New York Post reviewed the potential workbooks and posted a list of some of the lesson assignments:
  • High-school students go to stores and jot down condom brands, prices and features such as lubrication.
  • Teens research a route from school to a clinic that provides birth control and STD tests, and write down its confidentiality policy.
  • Kids ages 11 and 12 sort “risk cards” to rate the safety of various activities, including “intercourse using a condom and an oil-based lubricant,’’ mutual masturbation, French kissing, oral sex and anal sex.
  • Teens are referred to resources such as Columbia University’s Web site Go Ask Alice, which explores topics like “doggie-style” and other positions, “sadomasochistic sex play,” phone sex, oral sex with braces, fetishes, porn stars, vibrators and bestiality.
This comes after Deputy Mayor Linda Gibbs commended the DOE in August for giving students the necessary information about sexual activity, and what choices are available to them, NBC New York reported.
Lesson plans will also talk about french kissing, condoms and lubricants, and mutual masturbation.
While some parents worry that the curriculum could make some sexual activities seem appealing, one New York City father told WSBT that he doesn't see a problem with it.
"I think it's a good idea," he told the station. "They're going to have sex. They know it exists. Teaching them about it in my mind doesn't sanction it or encourage it."
The new lessons could make their way into classrooms as soon as this spring, as well as a free condom program at every NYC public school, as sex education is becoming more commonplace in schools -- and among younger students. D.C. Public Schools announced last month, in a move that's the first of its kind in the country, that students in grades 5, 8 and 10 will be administered standardized tests on sexuality, contraception and drug use.
Quick Poll

Does this take sexual education too far?

Yes, it will encourage bad behavior
55.31%
No, they need to be exposed to it.
44.69%
WATCH:
 


 

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