Saturday, March 31, 2012

Fasting and No Meat of Fridays

No meat is eaten on Ash Wednesday and Fridays that follow during Lent in the United States of America.  Elsewhere, every Friday of the year may be a day of abstinence from meat.  The rules of fasting and abstinence are as follows:



The Code of Canon Law prescribes (Canons 1250-1252):

Can. 1250: The penitential days and times in the universal Church are every Friday of the whole year and the season of Lent.
Can. 1251: Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
Can. 1252: The law of abstinence binds those who have completed their fourteenth year. The law of fasting binds those who have attained their majority, until the beginning of their sixtieth year. Pastors of souls and parents are to ensure that even those who by reason of their age are not bound by the law of fasting and abstinence, are taught the true meaning of penance.


Abstinence from Meat - Ash Wednesday and Fridays of Lent and/or every Friday of the year
Those ages 14 and older

Fasting - Ash Wednesday and Good Friday
Those ages 18 to 59


Each diocese or conference of bishops may have different rules, so be sure to check with your local diocese. Those with medical conditions are exempt.  



Thursday, March 29, 2012

Pope Visits Mexico and Cuba

As Pastor of the Universal Church, there is no dispute that the Pope has to visit each local Church.  For centuries, Popes have traveled using the available technology.

The Pope has just visited Mexico and Cuba.  These are 2 Latin nations who suffer from political corruption but still maintain their faith and hope.

With the many chick ideas spreading all over the globe, it is important that the Pope visit nations and refresh the people's faith.

Mexico, the land where Our Lady appeared to St. Juan Diego is under heavy attack from secularism, the war on drugs, crime and other evils.  Cuba for over 50 years has suffered the oppression of Atheism and its communist propaganda.

Anyone who says Atheism and Communism are pro-human must visit Cuba and see the reality that it is not.  

However, these lands are not forgotten.  God has not forgotten the people of Mexico and Cuba.  They are important to Him and important to the Catholic Church.

It was great to see that Pope Benedict XVI asked Cuban president Raul Castro to make Good Friday and national holiday.  To the surprise of many, president Castro granted his request!  This was a surprise because the Cuban government is Atheist.  This shows that God's will always triumphs.


Take a look at the Pope's messages to the Mexican and Cuban people: http://www.ewtn.com/library/PAPALDOC/b16mexcubind.htm



Sources:

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1201322.htm

Trayvon Martin

A tragedy in the news that took place in February is taking the country by storm.  A young teen boy, Trayvon Martin was shot and killed by George Zimmerman, a "neighborhood watch captain."

The story goes that Zimmerman was patrolling the neighborhood and saw Martin.  He calls 911 and tells them that there is a suspicious guy (Trayvon) who is acting strange and is not from the neighborhood.  He tells the operator that he is following the guy and the operator informs him not to do that.  Eventually a scuffle took place and Trayvon was shot and killed by Zimmerman.

As these details were released by the media, an outrage began to pour throughout the African American community and eventually other minority groups.  Al Sharpton and others quickly rose to cry foul play and play the race card as usual.

Unfortunately, people easily manipulated by the media began to jump to conclusions without knowing the facts.  The ugly "R" word racism was the issue now being discussed.  The racial profiling of a black male wearing a hoodie became a focal point.  Many are now wearing hoodies to protest the killing and call for the arrest of Zimmerman who was not charged.

What's even more disturbing than this frenzy is the fact that some black celebrities began offering a bounty on whoever captures Zimmerman!  Movie producer Spike Lee even tweeted an address thinking it belonged to Zimmerman which in reality belongs to an elderly couple who are now being harassed.

This is just unthinkable!  How can someone complain about racism and hate but put a bounty on a man's life without knowing the facts?  In this country everyone is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Moreover, the media started to show Zimmerman in prisoner's attire which further added to the "guilty until proven innocent" frenzy that is going around.  This photo was being used until recent details surfaced claiming that Trayvon attacked Zimmerman and Zimmerman shot him in self defense.

What's interesting now is that Zimmerman claimed to have injuries from this attack but a recent video from the precinct shows Zimmerman with virtually no marks on his face or head.  The plot thickens...

In any even, we all should first wait until all the facts are in before making any conclusion.  None of us was there that night.  We cannot assume race was a factor nor can we assume Trayvon was some gangster with a hoodie looking for trouble.





Source:
http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2012/03/24/trayvon-martin-case-sanford-police-chief-threatened/
http://gma.yahoo.com/trayvon-martin-shooter-told-cops-teenager-went-gun-030349812--abc-news.html
http://news.yahoo.com/foxs-geraldo-rivera-im-sorry-hoodie-221726122.html
http://news.yahoo.com/trayvon-martin-video-shows-no-blood-bruises-george-194108003--abc-news-topstories.html
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/03/trayvon-martin-case-timeline-of-events/
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2012/0327/New-Black-Panthers-offer-reward-for-George-Zimmerman.-Who-are-they
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/320927/20120328/spike-lee-twitter-trayvon-martin-george-zimmerman.htm



***UPDATE APRIL 6, 2013***

Trayvon Martin's parents have settled for over $1 million dollars.


http://news.yahoo.com/trayvon-martins-family-settles-wrongful-death-claim-report-232428707.html

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

SCOTUS vs Obamacare


For 3 days the SCOTUS (Supreme Court of the US) will be hearing for 6 hrs arguments for and against the infamous universal health care law labeled "Obamacare."  This law was introduced to Congress in a dramatic fashion.  It was filled with promises of giving health care coverage to all Americans, lowering the age for children to remain in their parent's health coverage, low costs, etc.  However, the devil was in the details.

The bill itself is compose of thousands of pages!  It was funny and scary to see Nancy Pelosi say that "we have to pass the bill first to see what's in it."

Democrats and some Republicans blindly followed the promises of this bill and pushed it along.

College kids brainwashed by progressive and liberal professors quickly were calling Obama a hero.  

However, these people show how ignorant they really are.  They fail to see how this bill is unconstitutional and expensive.   It forces Americans to buy a product/service.  The Constitution prohibits the federal government from forcing Americans to purchase a product/service.

Moreover, there is no money to make this bill a reality.   Even if the USA was out of debt and had a surplus, there still would not be enough money to run this Obamacare as well as run other programs.
The whole thing is just a disaster.  



Here is some good advice to Democrats, Republicans, Liberals, Progressives, Professors and Students:  

READ A CONTRACT FIRST AND ASK QUESTIONS BEFORE SIGNING IT!    




Source:  http://www.npr.org/2012/03/27/149451224/weekly-standard-obamacare-on-trial-day-one

LGBT ask Bishops to defund NOM



There seems to be a sense of panic and paranoia among LGBT advocates.  Recently, accusations have been made that NOM or the National Organization for Marriage is using race as a tool to combat so-called "gay marriage."

In light of these accusations based on documents released by the HRC (Human Rights Campaign), the LGBT community is asking the Catholic Bishops to withhold funding to NOM.


It seems to me that the LGBT community knows they have a huge fight on their hands in regards to their attempt to distort marriage from a union between one man and one woman to an any-thing-goes invention.  They are now going after NOM and the Catholic Church in order to sway the minds of those who are still not convinced that so-called "gay marriage" is not good for society.  

Divide and conquer techniques have been used for ages.  This is nothing new.  It has been used in politics, in the conquest of natives during the Age of Exploration and in colonial times.  It is a tactic that often works.

It should come as no surprise that the Black and Latino communities do not see homosexuals in the same light as other groups.  They hold onto traditional values that were taught to them by their ancestors.  Many of these values predate the Christianization of Africans and Natives in the New World.

That being said, any group that is attempting to protect marriage will use this to their advantage.  The LGBT cannot force everyone to accept their opinions and views.   They cannot expect cultures who are deeply rooted in traditional values to throw them out for their sake.  That is cultural bullying.   

This tactic by the LGBT requesting the Bishops to defund NOM is a sign of weakness on their part.  In any case, the Catholic Church will defend marriage with or without NOM.  We have been doing this before Europe, the USA and other modern western nations even existed.  

      





Source:

http://www.hrc.org/nomexposed/entry/must-read#.T4UIN1FYvyi

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-becker/nom-documents-race-baiting_b_1382267.html

http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2012/04/10/Leading_Advocacy_Groups_Ask_Catholic_Bishops_to_Stop_Supporting_NOM/

http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/national-lgbt-groups-ask-cardinal-dolan-to-defund-nom/politics/2012/04/10/37829

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Reason Rally

The circus was in town today at Washington DC... well not the circus we're used to seeing, but one of so-called "rationalists."  On March 24, 2012, about 6000 Atheists, Secularists and Agnostics gathered at the mall to hold their "Reason Rally."

Anyone who saw the rally would noticed that it was more of a circus than a convention of intelligent honest people.  The rally had all kinds of people holding ridiculous signs exhibiting theophobia, paranoia, anger and hatred.

It had speakers such as Richard Dawkins, the so called "friendly Atheist" Hemant Mehta, impressionable youth such as Jessica Ahlquist who was given a check for scholarship money in the currency which says "In God we trust.  Videos were even sent in by Bill Maher and others.

Richard Dawkins as usual voiced his hatred toward religious people and called for the crowds to mock and harass them.  Hemant Mehta encouraged the crowd to obtain positions of authority in order to spread the message of Atheism and "Reason."

The rhetoric was clear:  Let us attack everyone with religious beliefs and take those beliefs away by aggressive means and replace them with our beliefs.

The rally had virtually no media coverage and was even mocked by many well known media personalities and rightfully so.  This rally was nothing but a circus of clowns and performers.  It cannot be taken serious, but must be a reminder that hate is still alive and well.

To tell people to bully, mock and harass others because they believe in God is hate.  This is hateful speech that will incite violence against religious people.  There is nothing rational about this.

Dawkins mocked the idea of Transubstantiation but fails to realize that the idea that a human being evolved from an ape is also far fetched based on the lack of solid evidence that this really happen.

All we have is speculation that this might have happened based on observable changes and similarities among all biological life.

The HAR1 gene is a clear indication of this.  This gene is solely found in human beings and its origin is unknown.  It is the gene that allows our brains to be so advanced as opposed to other animals.   The Higgs Boson is another example.  We think it exists but we can't prove it.  So Dawkins' mockery of religious beliefs is not one sided.  Science has its share of strange and irrational ideas as well.      

"Friendly Atheist" Mehta spoke on the premise that religious belief is a myth.  Yet he offers no reason or proof of this.  This is all speculation again.

We cannot call everything we don't agree with a myth unless we have hard concrete evidence to do so.  This is not rational thinking, but mental sloth.

Mehta is a math teacher and knows very well that numbers do not exist.  There is no such thing as a "1,2,3" etc in the physical universe.  This is an abstract concept made by man to describe quantity.

However, just because numbers do not exist does not mean they are a myth.  We see their representation in tangible objects when counted.  

Moreover, Atheists and others may try to obtain positions of power, but America is a country where the majority hold religious beliefs so it will be extremely hard to reach or hold onto any position of power.  Even if they do reach them, who are they to enforce their beliefs of no-god/no-religion on everyone else?  Isn't this what they accuse religious believers of doing?

The whole rally is an epic fail and has no purpose calling itself rational or for-reason.  It was just a congregation of people who have grievances against God and religion and want attention.  It was a prep rally for the ignorant who hide behind the guise of pseudo rationalism in an attempt to avoid the hard questions of teleology, metaphysics, ontology, science and religion.

Dismissing the questions and ideas of life, purpose and existence is not Reason.  It is intellectual cowardice.

Going around in public like this guy in this photo is not rational.  This is childish immature behavior.

Does this guy look like he can engage anyone in an intellectual discourse regarding teleology, metaphysics, ontology, science and religion?

Imagine if the Pope goes around dressed in Atheism garb in an attempt to mock its beliefs.  Would he have the respect and dignity he enjoys?  No, of course not!

This rally is a waste of time and money.  The latter could have been used to assist the poor and those who are out of a job in these though economic times.  Atheism prides itself in being about the human, but never does anything for the human.  


God and religion are not going anywhere despite these rallies.  Pope Benedict XVI, a true intellectual and rational man can gather hundreds of thousands, even millions in the name of Jesus.  This is proof that faith will always be around no matter the course the world may take.  
Atheism, Agnosticism and Secularism don't offer anything but negation, bitterness and irrational ideas presented as rational.  They are a fraud.  The reality is that there is no real reason not to believe in God.  One side says everything came into existence just to come into existence and the other side says it was an absolute being who caused it for a purpose.  Which sounds more rational to you?  Which makes more sense?  Think about it for a moment.   
Rallies like this are no different than the hateful "God hates f*gs" protests orchestrated by the Westboro Baptist sect.   They attract people such as liberals, progressives, ProChoice/Abortion advocates, gays and others who see egoism as the intended end of the human experience.  Rallies like this serve as a reminder that the delusion of man is god is still alive and must be challenged heavily.   

The rally was entertaining to watch and read about in a comic sense, but no one is listening to the message. We are smarter than this.    




           Source:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/guest-voices/post/reason-rallys-unreasonable-beliefs/2012/03/27/gIQAaVPZeS_blog.html

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/Religion/post/2012/03/-atheists-richard-dawkins-reason-rally/1#.T3dx_WEgfyg

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/author/hemant-mehta/

http://www.sbcbaptistpress.org/BPFirstPerson.asp?ID=37514

http://www.goddiscussion.com/94848/the-thinking-atheist-asks-why-so-little-news-coverage-of-the-reason-rally/

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/03/24/why-reason-rally-is-unreasonable/

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-q-a-nate-phelps-20120324,0,4407066.story

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-766329?hpt=hp_bn8

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/22/reason-rally-nonbelievers_n_1368252.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/under-god/post/reason-rally-on-national-mall/2012/03/23/gIQADzl3WS_blog.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/richard-dawkins-on-the-upcoming-reason-rally-338/2012/03/23/gIQANXnPWS_video.html

Christians Pay for Atheist's Medical Bills


Texas Christians have raised money to help an Atheist who has been going after them regarding Nativity scenes. When Patrick Green found himself in a predicament, the same people he went after came to his rescue.

God works in strange ways.  He will set the stage for conversion in any manner.  That is why we cannot give up even in time of persecution or evil.  God can bring Good out of anything.

Hopefully this Atheist will see what happens when you begin a conversion to Christ Jesus.  We change, we become different people.  We look to God and to one another greatly.  This is what Christianity is all about: To Love God above all and love neighbor as ourselves.

Unfortunately some Christians fail at this.  They become arrogant and turn others away.   This is why we must avoid scandal.  We must not become an occasion of sin.  As Seraphic Father said, "It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching."


Atheists and all others who reject God and religion will only know the Truth of our way by the way we present it to them.  So present it well as Christ would.  




Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/23/christians-pay-medical-bills-for-atheist-protestor_n_1375684.html?ref=good-news&icid=maing-grid10%7Clegacy%7Cdl2%7Csec3_lnk3%26pLid%3D146280

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Texas loses Woman's Health Program



Once again the Pro Abortion movement is using woman's health as a shield to protect their agenda.  Texas lost its medicaid coverage for women due to Governor Rick Perry's decision to block Planned Parenthood from using medicaid to charge for its "women's health services."  In retaliation, the Dept. of Health and Human services cut all funding for women's health services.

This is a shame.  Planned Parenthood is an evil institution that kills unborn children in the name of "healthcare."  Pregnancy is not a disease or a "condition."  It is a natural biological function that allows a species to continue by reproducing.

This exaggerated anthropocentric attitude from Feminists and others who support abortion must be stopped.  We are not the be all end all of nature.  We cannot decide who lives and dies, who is a person and who is not.  We have no such authority because we ourselves are subject to nature.  We are not above nature.

It is hard to believe that all health coverage for women is taken away only because of one issue: abortion.  Is aborting a baby more important that women getting cancer screening?  We live in crazy times.





Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/15/texas-loses-entire-womens_n_1349431.html?ref=mostpopular

St. Patrick's Day

Wishing all a great St. Patrick's Day.  St. Patrick was a great bishop who spread the Gospel throughout Ireland and other modern day UK lands.

Unfortunately the lies of atheism, humanism, relativism and other "isms" are attempting to undo the evangelization done by St. Patrick and his successors.

Faith is not total lost in the United Kingdom or Ireland.  God still has his modern day Patricks working the fields and tilling the hard soil in order for it to yield prosperous fruit.

Let us pray for Ireland and the UK.  May they hold unto their Catholic roots.  St. Patrick pray for Ireland and the UK and for all of us.


The Prayer of St. Patrick

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven;
Light of the sun,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of the wind,
Depth of the sea,
Stability of the earth,
Firmness of the rock.
I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me;
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's hosts to save me
Afar and anear,
Alone or in a mulitude.
Christ shield me today
Against wounding
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.
I arise today
Through the mighty strength
Of the Lord of creation


Condoms For 12-Year-Olds

Once again a policy is being pushed to distribute condoms to minors.  This is indeed unfortunate.  It shows how little some think of our young people.  To them, our youth are sexually frustrated animals who will succumb to lust and do whatever.

This is sad indeed for I know very well being young myself and working with youth that if young people are directed properly they will avoid making any mistake-sexual or non-sexual.

Condoms do not help anyone but its producers.  STD infection and pregnancies are on the rise according to the CDC.  See my previous blog post for more info: http://sacerdotvs.blogspot.com/2011/11/let-kids-be-kids.html

I hope parents protest this policy in Massachusetts.



Source:   http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/16/condoms-for-12-year-olds-_n_1354621.html?ref=topbar

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Babies are not Persons and can be Aborted



Philosophers -metaphysicians- are often known for fostering strange ideas.  They question and question and question so much that they lose touch with reality and create fantasies with their thought experiments that are not applicable to the here and now.

Well ethicists are not far away.  Francesca Minera, a Philosopher and Ethicist at Oxford recently wrote a journal claiming that newborns can be killed.  Yes, you read it correctly...

According to her, a baby can be killed if a mother cannot care for it, is disabled physically or mentally - the baby is not a "person."  This lady needs to be in a strait jacket.  She is delusional and out of touch with reality and science.

A person is a physical person from conception to natural death. No one has the right to dictate who is a person.  Personhood is already included in conception.  The only difference is the stage of development the person is in.

In my post ProChoice Debunked, I touched on this issue.   I wrote:


"5) The Unborn are not persons.

Bullies often attack smaller persons than themselves. They mock them, tease them, treat them as insignificant. Well the same is pretty much done by prochoice advocates. They claim that the fetus is not a person because he/she cannot "feel, think, or are sentient." Some go as far as to merely cite laws to claim their position is correct. However, let's study the issue. 

What does it mean to be sentient? It means: "responsive to or conscious of sense impressions <sentient beings> awareness> (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sentient?show=0&t=1314499397.) So to be sentient, that means we have to be aware, or conscious. We have to be able to feel and perceive. 

The real question that needs to be asked is: is sentience a prerequisite for a human being to be "human?" The answer is no. Human beings as highlighted in the previous answers do not appear fully developed. Each human person goes through a series of changes and growths. This starts from conception and ends at death. If death was non existent, then we would age and age and age. This is the normal stage of life. 

Whether or not a fetus is aware or sentient is inconclusive at the point. However, we do know that brain waves have been recorded as early as 5/6 weeks. (http://www.ehd.org/resources_bpd_illustrated.php?page=8) These brain waves demonstrate that this organism is not a "blob of cells," but rather, it is an organism of a particular species in gestational development. They show that there is brain activity. The fetus is alive! If uninterrupted, it will be born and will continue this development as it grows and changes. To say a fetus or younger is not a person because it is not sentient is erroneous and a conclusion based on lack of evidence. 

First, we do not have enough science to say this. Until we can decipher the brain waves detected in fetus's, we cannot assume they are not aware, are not thinking, and cannot feel. Second, human life is a process of development. We are not born with everything. Even an infant is not totally sentient. The phenomenon of Object Permanence shows this. Object Permanence is "a child's ability to know that objects continue to exist even though they can no longer be seen or heard." -http://psychology.about.com/od/oindex/g/object-permanence.htm 

When an infant is shown something in front of his/her face, he/she will respond as if he/she is seeing it or hearing it. However, when the sound is gone or the object is placed behind the infant or even on the side, he/she will think it disappeared from existence. An infant is not aware of the 3D environment he/she is living in. His/her perception is limited, that is to say, his/her sentience is limited. 

Now this begs the question: are infants human? According to prochoice logic, the answer is no. Infants are not fully aware or sentient, so they are not human. If anything, prochoice might claim they are "half human." This logic is fallacious. Sentience, awareness, and/or feeling are not requirements for human traits. Some infants, toddlers, children and adults have Congenital insensitivity to pain, or CIPA. In this disorder, those affected cannot feel pain or have sensation. They can touch scolding hot water and not feel it despite their skin boiling off. 

Now, by prochoice's logic, these people are not human either because they cannot feel or have sensation. Furthermore, some mentally challenged individuals are not fully aware and need help with even the most basic needs. Are they not human because of this? In reality all the above are human. Human life is a process. It begins at conception. A zygote, embryo, fetus and infant all have the same DNA - if not killed in abortion of course. When you and I were zygotes, embryos, etc, we just were at a different stage of development. We were not of a different species when we were in the womb. To claim a preborn human is not human or a person is absurd, just like thinking an infant is not a person because it is not fully aware.

A human is a person despite of what stage of development he/she is in or what state of health it is in. Laws cannot define personhood. In the USA, laws considered African Americans 3/5 human. Imagine that! Black people were only 3/5 persons/human beings, and people back then were pro and against this idea just like people are pro "preborn are persons" and against "preborn are persons" today. History seems to really do repeat itself. But just like this idea of blacks being 3/5 dissolved with protests, education and an end to the attitude of prejudice, so too will this discrimination towards the preborn end.  "


This lady and any contributors to this infanticide rhetoric must be fired.  I value academia greatly, but this professor has lost my respect as an academic.  She is pushing Leftist rhetoric, not academia.



Source:
http://jme.bmj.com/content/early/2012/02/22/medethics-2011-100411.full?sid=3722e1a3-a440-4c6d-8a75-f8af41eebe19#ref-3

http://jme.bmj.com/

http://www.ncregister.com/blog/ethicists-argue-for-post-birth-abortions/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2108433/Doctors-right-kill-unwanted-disabled-babies-birth-real-person-claims-Oxford-academic.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

Dawkins Not Sure if God Doesn't Exist


Infamous Atheist spokesman Richard Dawkins has done it again.  He has once again demonstrated to the world why the religion Atheism - that presents itself as rational - makes no sense.  During a debate at Oxford University with Dr. Rowan Williams, Anglican archbishop of Canterbury, Dawkins states that he is not sure if God doesn't exist.  

This goes to show that Atheism is nothing more than a contrarian presupposition which posits that there is no God without empirical evidence to support that claim.  It is a placebo for the one who is indignant at God and/or religion.  

Science has recently shown that the human being is "wired" to believe in God.  Some say this is a survival mechanism; however, that argument is not strong.   Suppose God is not real and is imaginary.  How can this figure of the imagination help humanity survive?  How can evolving man survive being hunted by larger animals, survive diseases without immunity and so on with the notion of an imaginary being called God?  It makes no sense.  It is like believing in a genie in a lamp.   

A more rational hypothesis is that we are "wired" to believe in God because there is a God and that is how He programmed our physical minds and bodies to seek Him.  Think about it.  When we are hungry and smell food, just the smell of food gets the digestive system going.  We salivate, our gastric pumps get busy.

Biologically speaking, our sense of smell is working alongside with the digestive system.  It tips off the stomach by letting it know food is around.   Now would it not be the same with this "wired" belief in God?  Since it is there, then it is there to serve a purpose of contact or awareness just like the sense of smell with food and the stomach.  

Philosophy reminds us that we have the rational capacity to question everything, even whether or not we are real.  It reminds us that we can think beyond the perceivable and try to find objective truth that eludes the senses which are subject to perception and malfunction.  Ratio and intellectus exist for a reason.     

Dawkins deep down knows there is a God, but he in his arrogance refuses to accept it.  He is an Agnostic.  Most Atheists are really Agnostics.  They do not comprehend the difference between the two.  








Source:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/24/richard-dawkins-famous-atheist-god_n_1299752.html

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Anonymous Thwarted


Hacker group "Anonymous" was thwarted once again by the Vatican.  The group which is known for hacking sites and posting their political messages still has not been able to attack the Vatican cyber-wise.

They go by the alias "Legion" which sounds like the demon Jesus cast out in the New Testament.  Well Legion was once again cast out of the Vatican's web space.  "Anonymous" has issue with the Catholic Church, its liturgies, doctrines and views on abortion and contraception and hoped to force the Vatican's website to fail.

This hacker group is hypocritical and pusillanimous.  They attempt to "punish" what they see as tyranny by being tyrannical and restricting free speech.  They do so by hiding behind masked IP addresses and other technical gimmicks.

Anonymous must know that the Catholic Church will never be silent.  No one can hack the mind, heart, soul and mouth.  God will never allow anyone to thwart His Bride the Church.  If hell cannot prevail against the Church, then no virus, no government, no hacker can stop The Catholic Church.

We are here to stay.  We are the Communion of Saints.  




Source:  http://ewtnnews.com/catholic-news/Vatican.php?id=5032

Tax Payers Have to Pay for College Promiscuity??

Sandra Fluke, a student at Georgetown recently went before a House Democratic committee to voice her concerns regarding Contraception coverage.  She claimed that it costs over $3,000 a year for women to have sex.  She wants tax payers to support women who go to college by paying for their contraception use.

When I saw her on the news at the hearing, the first thing that came to mind was, "this lady is crazy... how can she expect American taxpayers to pay for students to have sex?"    The audacity that this lady has to request money to have sex is beyond absurd.

This of course reached the ears of Conservative pundit Rush Limbaugh who went on air mocking this student and called her a "slut."   He is facing backlash because of this comment.  I am not condoning what he said, but I can see where he is coming from.

Sandra Fluke is presenting the college woman as an uncontrollable nymphomaniac.  She is doing a disservice to women.  Who has so much sex that he/she racks up a $3,000 a year contraception bill??

This of course is just a push for contraception to be paid for by taxpayers.  It is part of the Radical Feminist agenda which seeks to have everyone swallow their irrational views on sexuality.

Ironically, Sandra Fluke holds degrees in Feminist studies and sexuality.  This speaks volumes of her mental schema.

I am against Contraception.  I think it degrades people and takes away from the beauty of procreation.  It is "me" centered.  It closes the door to life in place of sexual pleasure.  However, I understand not everyone will agree with me.  Nevertheless, no one should have to pay for the sex lives of another.

Feminists often cry out the fallacious term "bodily autonomy" and in reply I shout, "wallet autonomy!"

To Sandra Fluke and other Feminists,  Be responsible for YOUR own decisions.  DO NOT rob us of our tax dollars to "fix" your sexual urges.  


Source:  http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/rush-limbaugh-democrats-demonizing-sex-comments/story?id=15834374

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/sandra-fluke-says-she-expected-criticism-not-personal-attacks-over-contraception-issue/2012/03/03/gIQAJq1UpR_story.html


http://cnsnews.com/news/article/pelosi-fluke-s-3000-contraception-testimony-factual-despite-9-month-birth-control-pills

Native Americans Given Permit to Kill Bald Eagles



Native Americans of the Arapaho tribe were given permission to killed American Bald Eagles as part of their religious rituals.  The American Bald Eagle is the United State's national bird.  It is used as a symbol of freedom in many seals.

While I respect all religions and their ways of worshiping, I feel any rituals that deal with killing animals just for the sake of killing them should be cast away as archaic.  Animals are God's creatures and we should only use them for valid needs such as food or clothing, not to just kill.


Source:  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46729054/ns/us_news-environment/#.T2FOHoEgeVU

http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2012/03/native_american_trible_in_wyom.html

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Mayan Kukulkan Temple Beam

A tourist captured a supposed light beam coming out of a Mayan Kukulkan Temple with his Iphone.  The human imagination...  Someone obviously needs to tell this tourist that cell phone cameras or cameras with poor CMOS/CCD sensors can pick up excessive lighting as a beam.

With all the talk about 2012 and the Mayan calendar, people are becoming paranoid.

Source:  http://news.yahoo.com/mayan-light-beam-photo-message-gods-iphone-glitch-145401585.html

Monday, March 5, 2012

Pope: No Artificial Procreation

The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI told married couples that artificial attempts at procreation are not permitted.  Marriage is the only place that is worthy of conception.  Children cannot be created in labs or by any artificial methods.

For more info on moral methods allowed see:  http://www.popepaulvi.com/



Source:
http://news.yahoo.com/pope-marriage-only-place-worthy-conception-140118361.html;_ylt=AoJ5htBu8c.CFRUq3xUromH09XQA;_ylu=X3oDMTRvMjhwZTQyBGNjb2RlA2dtcHRvcDEwMDBwb29sd2lraXVwcmVzdARtaXQDTmV3cyBmb3IgeW91BHBrZwM5MjU5Y2ExNC0xNjc4LTM0ZDAtOTlkMy1jYzdmZDRmYzY3ODQEcG9zAzgEc2VjA25ld3NfZm9yX3lvdQR2ZXIDNGU4YzFmYTAtNWZiOS0xMWUxLWI1MWYtMzhkNTBkNDE0OTRk;_ylg=X3oDMTJ2dHM2YXVtBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDMGU5MGQ5NWYtNDI5Ny0zMTZjLTg5ZDYtMGY1N2MwNDFkNmUwBHBzdGNhdANoZWFsdGgEcHQDc3RvcnlwYWdlBHRlc3QD;_ylv=3

http://news.yahoo.com/pope-tells-couples-shun-artificial-procreation-says-arrogance-143016607.html;_ylt=AocWs1sK6AePSJlbWgZyvHj09XQA;_ylu=X3oDMTRvcjJuc285BGNjb2RlA2dtcHRvcDEwMDBwb29sd2lraXVwcmVzdARtaXQDTmV3cyBmb3IgeW91BHBrZwM1MzM1NDQ1ZC0wMjBjLTM3OGMtYjk5Ni0yYjVmMjVmYThhMzgEcG9zAzkEc2VjA25ld3NfZm9yX3lvdQR2ZXIDNWE4NzljNDAtNWZiZC0xMWUxLWJlY2UtYWNhYmM2YzUxMjlh;_ylg=X3oDMTJ2dHM2YXVtBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDMGU5MGQ5NWYtNDI5Ny0zMTZjLTg5ZDYtMGY1N2MwNDFkNmUwBHBzdGNhdANoZWFsdGgEcHQDc3RvcnlwYWdlBHRlc3QD;_ylv=3

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Santorum Too Religious?

People on the Left attack Rick Santorum for being too religious.  They say "his inner priest" comes out trying to make the United States of America into theocracy.

This is Humanist Theophobia peaking its ugly head into the public square.  Rick Santorum is no different than any other President or Presidential candidate who mentions God or his/her faith as a basis to make decisions and run a presidency.

Religion is an important facet in American society.  The early settlers came to America to obtain religious freedom!  The Founding Fathers never said that religion and the state are opposed to each other.  They merely wished that neither would tell the other what to do.    


Source:  http://news.yahoo.com/santorum-commits-political-suicide-church-state-stance-195300647.html;_ylt=AqeOc0dInBvw65IoOND_dQcbANEA;_ylu=X3oDMTRvbXB1YXJiBGNjb2RlA2dtcHRvcDEwMDBwb29sd2lraXVwcmVzdARtaXQDTmV3cyBmb3IgeW91BHBrZwNlMTk5YTBlZC0xOTQ1LTNkYmYtODE0Ny1lNTViOTllNDA3ZDIEcG9zAzUEc2VjA25ld3NfZm9yX3lvdQR2ZXIDYmE1ODQyNDQtNjE4MC0xMWUxLTlkYjctNjdjMmYxNWUxMzJl;_ylg=X3oDMTMwZDFrZ2owBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDOGUwOTM2YTEtOTdmZS0zNjY0LTgyZWQtYjJjNmIwMGQyM2NmBHBzdGNhdANzY2llbmNlBHB0A3N0b3J5cGFnZQR0ZXN0Aw--;_ylv=3

Cell Phone Jammer on Bus

We all have heard of Batman - a billionaire who takes on a vigilante role - well Eric of Philadelphia has taken upon himself the role of bus vigilante in regards to cell phones.

The Cell phone may be a cool item, a cool accessory that was once a luxury but now almost everyone has one.  It keeps us connected to social sites like MySpace, Facebook, Twitter; we text, use Aim, Yahoo. MSN, Meebo or ICQ on it to keep in touch.  We email on it, even do work or homework on it.  However, these devices have been both a blessing and curse.

On buses while going to and fro, we become aware of everyone's business.  From day to day gossip, fights, crushes or marital problems.  We all hear the conversations loud and without reservation.   They are in one word: ANNOYING!

Well Eric seems to have a good idea.  He uses a cell phone jamming device to bring peace and quiet on the bus.

Maybe parishes should get this device to keep Mass quiet. :-)


Source:  http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/technology-blog/vigilante-jamming-cell-phone-calls-city-buses-help-010615245.html

Lesbian denied Holy Communion

Barbara Johnson, -a Lesbian - is criticizing a priest's action of denying her Holy Communion during her mother's funeral.  She contacted the diocese complaining about the priest and directly informed the priest that she would have him removed.



The priest Father Marcel Guarnizo denied her Holy Communion on the grounds that she is "living with a woman and in the eyes of the Church that is a sin."  The priest is 100% correct on this matter.  The Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist is the Body Blood Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ.  It is not symbolic but truly Christ Himself under the form of Bread and Wine.  No Catholic can receive this Sacrament or any Sacrament while living under Mortal Sin.  A Mortal Sin needs 3 criteria to be Mortal:


  • Serious Matter
  • Premeditation to commit the Sin with knowledge that it is immoral
  • Full Consent of the Will





One who goes for Holy Communion while in a State of Mortal Sin receives Christ's Body Blood Soul and Divinity, but does not receive His grace.  He/she commits the Sin of Sacrilege.  

A Lesbian living with another woman is a serious matter.  This lady knew this and still dared to receive the Blessed Sacrament.  Now she is attempting to politicize this Holy Sacrament meant to bring about Unity with God and one another in holiness.

The Scriptures speak of this clearly in 1 Cor 11:27-29.   It says:  "So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves."


One must be in the state of Grace to receive the Blessed Sacrament worthily.  I do not know the exact details of how the priest admonished this lady, but I do not think he did anything he should not have done.  She apparently introduced her "lover" to the priest prior to the Mass and he told her she could not receive Holy Communion.  Despite this warning, she approached during Holy Communion.

Canon law 915 specifically states that anyone who publicly continues causing scandal cannot be admitted to Holy Communion.  Can.  915 states: "Those who have been excommunicated or interdicted after the imposition or declaration of the penalty and others obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to holy communion."










Source:
http://www.cnn.com/video/?hpt=hp_c2#/video/us/2012/03/01/nr-lesbian-denied-communion.cnn

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/lesbian-woman-denied-communion-mothers-funeral-002433838--abc-news.html;_ylt=AsTRL0F9zox7cYGZ22vB7erNt.d_;_ylu=X3oDMTRzZmtkdjJ0BGNjb2RlA2N0LmMEbWl0A0FydGljbGUgTW9zdCBQb3B1bGFyBHBrZwNmNzQzMjZiNy0wNDQ2LTM2OTAtOTRmYS1iYTkzZTI0Y2UwMDUEcG9zAzIEc2VjA01lZGlhQkxpc3RNaXhlZE1vc3RQb3B1bGFyQ0EEdmVyAzVlZTEzMDExLTYzYTctMTFlMS1iZWZhLTM4ZjhhMTQ4NTg0MQ--;_ylg=X3oDMTNodHYyYmlqBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDZTg2ZjAwOTYtMDZjNy0zZjRlLWE5ZWYtOWNkYTYyNjgzNzUwBHBzdGNhdANwb2xpdGljc3xkZXN0aW5hdGlvbjIwMTIEcHQDc3RvcnlwYWdlBHRlc3QD;_ylv=3

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/gaithersburg-priest-defends-decision-to-deny-lesbian-communion/2012/03/14/gIQAJ5NwCS_story.html

http://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/otn.cfm?id=898

http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=13676&repos=4&subrepos=2&searchid=850862

http://www.catholicvote.org/discuss/index.php?p=27899

http://www.pewsitter.com/view_news_id_86857.php

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