Monday, September 29, 2008

October is Respect Life Month in the United States...

...and has been since 1972. If you're in the Boston area, please consider joining parishioners at Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Sunday, October 5, for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass celebrated by Cardinal Sean O'Malley, at 11:30 AM.

I also look forward to seeing you at the Annual Respect Life Walk to Aid Mothers and Children sponsored by Massachusetts Citizens for Life. The pre-walk celebration begins at the corner of Tremont and Boylston Street at 1:30 PM, with the walk beginning at 2:30 PM.

If you'd like to share pro-life activities planned in other parts of the country, please do!

God’s creation is one and it is good. The concerns for non-violence, sustainable development, justice and peace, and care for our environment are of vital importance for humanity. They cannot, however, be understood apart from a profound reflection upon the innate dignity of every human life from conception to natural death: a dignity conferred by God himself and thus inviolable.

-Pope Benedict XVI, Sydney, July 17, 2008

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Sterilizing the poor? Huh???

Who can tell me why I'm thinking Rep. John Labruzzo's "proposal" sounds like deja vu all over again?

Sheesh.

Thank you, Archbishop Hughes.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

9 praying days left 'til Saint Francis of Assisi Day!

We celebrate the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi on October 4. Begin your Novena today!

Sunday, September 21, 2008

The inexplicable evil of Palin haters: and how to fight it

First, the disgusting part. A sampling from various, vacuous folk who really, really hate children (don't let them convince you otherwise) perhaps a tiny bit less than they hate moms like Sarah Palin:

The "Invisible Blog" (and if it weren't for my post, they would be)

I just received an e-mail with this brilliant plan to show Sarah Palin how the majority feels about her stance on sex ed, etc...

The "Huffington Post:" (huffin' and puffin', tryin' to imitate the big bad wolf)

...when you make a donation to PP in her name, they'll send her a card telling her that the donation has been made in her honor. Here's the link to the Planned Parenthood website:

The "Everywhere Girl:" (who seems to be a nowhere woman)

Make a donat​ion to Plann​ed Paren​thood​.​ In Sarah​ Palin​’​s name.​ And here’​s the good part:​ when you make a donat​ion to PP in her name,​ they’​ll send her a card telli​ng her that the donat​ion has been made in her honor​.

U.S. Politics "Tribe" (aka"barbarians are us")

Make a donation to Planned Parenthood in Sarah Palin's name. A Planned Parenthood donation is tax deductible, while a political donation isn't.

And here's the good part: When you make a donation to Planned Parenthood in her name, they'll send her a card telling her that the donation has been made in her honor.


"Feminist Philosophers" (who seem neither particularly feminine nor philosophic)

Instead of (in addition to?) us all complaining about how horrible she
is, let’s all make a donation to Planned Parenthood in Sarah Palin’s
name for reminding us of the importance of protecting our rights for
birth control, women’s health and reproductive choice. This is a
brilliant idea for $10, or even $5.

And here’s the good part: when you make a donation to PP in her name,
they’ll send her a card telling her that the donation has been made in
her honor.


And from "Positively Barack" (or perhaps, positively bleech)

Instead of us all sending around more emails about how horrible Sarah Palin is, let’s all make a donation to Planned Parenthood. In Sarah Palin's name.

Oh, it's all over the Internet. And yes, it's evil. It's also really lame. We can stamp our feet, we can fill their com boxes. That would be lamer. We can pray, of course, and we should.

And we can follow Rob Dreher's advice:

...donate to your local pro-life crisis pregnancy center to offset any contribution to the abortionists.

Even better, perhaps:

We can donate to Priests for Life. Please do this. You don't have to do it in Sarah Palin's name, but wouldn't that be a nice touch?

Thank you!

Friday, September 19, 2008

Obama: afraid of a woman who survived a saline abortion

First of all, abortion survivor Gianna Jessen and friends made an ad asking Senator Barack Obama to please support "born alive" legislation...acts that would protect infants who, by the grace of God, survived abortion. The ad clearly is a product of Gianna (whom I had the privilege of meeting in Washington years ago) and a group called BornAliveTruth. A few posts down, I directed readers to the website, its mission, and the ad itself.

In no way was the ad, as far as anybody can see, paid for, sponsored by, or, hell, even endorsed by the McCain campaign.

Yet, the Obama folk chose to attack this lady...and McCain. Here's the result:



Now, if anyone wishes to keep nestling in the comforting knowledge that "attack ads" is what politics is all about, feel free to do so. But you're going to have to go some to convince me that this ad is merely politics as usual.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Crashing the party — Mary Magdalene style

In today's Gospel (Luke 7:36-50), a pillar of society invited an itinerant preacher to a dinner party. As they ate, a lady, no doubt uninvited (even Luke identified her as a sinner) found her way into the host's house and made a beeline, not for the beautiful people but for the Beautiful Person, where she proceeded to wash His feet with her tears, anoint them with expensive oil, and dry them with her hair.

The host—who, in my mind, was probably not such a bad sort—nonetheless mentally raised his eyebrows while questioning the legitimacy of this rabbi everybody seemed to think was so terrific. "If this guy's such a mensch (I'm paraphrasing here) he'd know all about this broad."

Jesus, being God, knew the guy's thoughts and challenged him. I often wonder whether the latter got the point. In any case, here's the main point:

Jesus delighted in the woman's actions!

Why? Because He loved having his feet catered to? Nah. He's God, for Heaven's sake, and, yes, Man too, but the Perfect Man...and a Perfect Man doesn't need The Compleat Pedicure!

No, Jesus was delighted in the woman's repentance...and impressed beyond all get out that she'd crashed the party to get it.

By the grace of God, I live in an area that doesn't often require party-crashing.

What I mean is, I live in Boston, where there is ample opportunity to take full advantage of one of the greatest gifts God has given us: the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Which is a very good, good thing, since sin tends to be a daily activity for me. But you know what?

Some—many, actually—aren't given this amazing opportunity.

At least, not with the convenience I've been given.

I know too many people who live in areas where priests are few. Or where priests aren't that few, but the opportunities for Confession are. And I say to you:

CRASH THE PARTY!

You have the God-given right to beg for His everlasting mercy. You have the right to repent. You do not—nor do I nor did Mary Magdalene—have the right to receive forgiveness, of course. That's why it's called "mercy." But Jesus really, really, REALLY wants you to ask for it. And He really, really, REALLY wants to give it. Ask and you will receive...deservedly or not.

So, if you find yourself in the state of sin, please, please PLEASE do not wait for an earthly invitation to have your soul cleansed. Run—don't walk—to your nearest priest (or, if necessary, a priest who isn't as near as you'd like him to be) and beg for absolution. If you're miles away from a priest, call and demand an appointment. Do whatever it takes to get his attention. Crash the party.

Jesus will be delighted! And if that's not good enough, here's the kicker: you'll receive His Mercy!

Sacramental Confession. Go for it. Because the truth is, even if it might seem as if you're a party crasher? You really aren't.

You've got a standing invitation!

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

How to commit spiritual suicide...it's easy!


Dear friends,

Great news! We now have faith merchandise available for you to show your support for Barack Obama as a person of faith.

Check out the Believers for Barack, Pro-Family Pro-Obama, and Catholics for Obama buttons, bumper stickers and signs....

Believers for Barack rally signs and bumper stickers, along with all Pro-Family Pro-Obama merchandise, are appropriate for people of all faith backgrounds. We'll soon be rolling out merchandise for other religious groups and denominations, but I wanted to get this out to you without delay.

Take good care,

Paul Monteiro
Deputy Director of Religous Affairs
Obama for America

No, I'm not making this up.

We are killing BORN children. Vote Obama to continue.

BornAliveTruth.orgBornAliveTruth.org

Sunday, September 14, 2008

The Revenge of the Spam-Victim!

You get them all the time. Email notifications, cleverly written in broken English, promising you the moon, appealing with pitiful hope to your greed....and all you've got to do is nothing more than provide, oh, let's say your bank account number. I've got one sitting in my junk email box right now and while I'd normally delete it, this article by Boston Globe senior assistant business editor Mark Pothier might just inspire me to have some fun with it.

Enjoy!

Interesting site for Catholic voters

I don't know who's running the site but it's a thought-provoking one. The video was produced by my good friends at Grassroots Films.

The site contains many resources, but what I found most interesting was the various reactions to the video itself.

Worth a look-see.

Saturday, September 13, 2008

GOOD NEWS!

John 3:16

May God give you a wonderful day to rejoice in the exaltation of the Holy Cross.


McCain, Email, and Obama's latest goof

Sorry if this seems like it's turning into a political blog, guys...it's not, really. But some stuff is simply too much to pass by.

The Obama campaign just released a TV spot attacking McCain. Fair enough. That's so often what politicians who are running against each other do.

But this one pokes a spot of fun at McCain because "he's admitted he can't send email."

Now, why do you think Senator McCain finds it difficult to "send email"?

Well, here's an interesting chunk from a 2000 Forbes Magazine article, which discusses the then presidential hopeful's innovative use of the Internet to push his campaign (emphasis mine):

In certain ways, McCain was a natural Web candidate. Chairman of the Senate Telecommunications Subcommittee and regarded as the U.S. Senate's savviest technologist, McCain is an inveterate devotee of email. His nightly ritual is to read his email together with his wife, Cindy. The injuries he incurred as a Vietnam POW make it painful for McCain to type. Instead, he dictates responses that his wife types on a laptop. "She's a whiz on the keyboard, and I'm so laborious," McCain admits.

My friend Lisa sent me this paragraph and it took me maybe 5 seconds to track the source. Wouldn't you think that anyone aspiring to the highest office in the land, probably the world, would take the time to insure he wasn't doing something really stupid—like making fun of somebody's war injuries?

No, of course I don't think this latest gaffe was intentional. It is not fashionable, these days, to mock anybody's war record and Senator Obama, who wants to "make government cool again" is nothing if not fashionable.

However, somebody didn't do his or her homework when putting this spot together. And the Man Who Would Be President "approved this message."

TV ad here.

May 29, 2000 Forbes piece here.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Today is September 11. Today, we hear Jesus say:

"But I say to you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate
you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To him
who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from him who takes away
your cloak do not withhold your coat as well."

Luke 6:27-29

This notion is radical—insanely so— in the eyes of the world. In Christian hearts, the "radical" is, in fact, true sanity. True peace.

May God grant you His Peace, today and always.

Canadian doctor warns Sarah Palin's decision to have Down baby could (gasp!!!) reduce abortions

Like I said, you simply cannot make this stuff up.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Dem VP hopeful Biden knows Rep VP hopeful Palin will pick on him personally...

...so he's asked a Dem lady governor to "play Palin" with him as he practices for the debate.

At a fundraiser in Chicago on Tuesday night, Biden previewed the challenge of taking on Palin.

"Folks, look. I know what she's going to try to do," Biden said, according to ABC News. "She's going to try to make it as personal as she can. She's going to take a lot of straight lefts and jabs at me, she's going to try to get me to respond, she's going to try to get me to respond in a personal way. That's not my style. I'm not going to do it."

Let's get this straight. Biden is convinced that Palin is going to make personal attacks. "She's going to try to make it as personal as she can."

It is simply impossible to make this stuff up.

Tuesday, September 09, 2008

Pilgrimage of Hope in Boston: from those great folks who bring us the Magnificat monthly missals!

Looking for something magnificent to do this coming Columbus Day weekend? You might want to check out the Pilgrimage of Hope to be held in Boston on Saturday, October 11 and Sunday, October 12.

My friend Justin, who nudged me to remind y'all of this pilgrimage, is rightfully enthusiastic about the Dominicans fathers who make up such an important part of this event. But I hasten to point out the participation of at least two Oblates of the Virgin Mary—Fathers Tom Carzon and Dan Barron — two fine priests whom, incredibly enough to ME, I remember from their seminary days here in Boston!

In addition to workshops and inspiring speakers, pilgrims will find ample opportunities for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, Adoration, Reconciliation, Gregorian Chant and other sacred music...the experience promises to be an amazing one.

Do check out the website and consider participating in this pilgrimage. And may Mary, Mother of God and our own dearest Mother, whose nativity we celebrated yesterday, continue to pray for you and all of those you hold dear.

Saturday, September 06, 2008

When asked for prayers: Stop! Listen! Pray!

How many times have you been the recipient of this request:

"Pray for me!"

Or:

"Please pray for [insert vague intention here]."

Or:

"Remember me in your prayers."

Of course you promise to pray. And you mean it. And maybe more often than not, you remember, and you do pray. That's good.

Maybe this way is even better?

Stop, and ask the person about his or her intention. It needn't be all that specific, but if at all possible, get the gist of it.

Listen to what the person has to say.

Pray together!

Nobody's so busy that a minute or two can't be spared for a prayer together! It could be a simple "Hail Mary in the middle of a shopping mall." It could be another traditional prayer between sips of coffee. It could be, if you're up for it (and the more you do this, the better you'll get at it) a spontaneous plea to God, to One of the Three Persons, to Mary, and/or to any of the saints on this person's behalf...at a bus stop.

From Sunday's Gospel, Matthew 18:19-20:

"Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it shall be done for them by my Father in Heaven. For where two or three are gathered in My Name, there am I in the midst of them."

The next time someone requests your prayers, stop, listen...and pray together!

Monday, September 01, 2008

About the death penalty and abortion and voting

“There may be a legitimate diversity of opinion even among Catholics about waging war and applying the death penalty,” he said, “but not, however, with regard to abortion and euthanasia.”

Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger

Again, I am NOT for capital punishment. I hate the very notion of it. I hate war, too (who actually likes war?) but I DO support the war on terror.

But that's not the point of this post. I beg pro-life Americans who, with good reason (in my opinion) dislike the Republican candidates' positions on the death penalty, and with perfect reasoning (in the Church's opinion) are against the candidate's position on embryonic stem-cell research to nevertheless NOT sit out this election.

The alternative is so much worse it defies description.

Thank you. I'm Kelly Clark and I approve of this message.