Been a While

A few folks -- a tiny remnant of the irregular readers of this blog -- have asked me why I haven't posted very much recently. Actually, they're very kind, because I really haven't posted a thing since June. The reason? I've simply been busy. 

I spent a lot of time preparing for a course on Biblical Typology that I'm now in the middle of conducting. The preparation demanded more time and effort than I had expected. And in the midst of it all, Diane and I went north for a couple of weeks to visit our children, grandchildren, and some old friends. I've also been wrapped up in some of the administrative details related to a pilgrimage to Italy that Fr. Glen and I will lead in January. So, you see, I have plenty of good excuses.

But I'm also disheartened by our nation's political landscape, and how things seem to be moving. And for weeks I've been left without words, wondering whether I should address the issues publicly. I guess I will. Please understand, though, these are my personal views, and I do not presume to speak (or write) for the Church. 

I look at today's Democrat party and wonder how it moved so far to the political left and so quickly. I've always believed that Marxism (and, folks, socialism and communism are both founded on solid Marxist principles) is attractive to two kinds of people. 

First, there are the "useful idiots" as Lenin purportedly called them. They listen to the false promises of an ideology that will never deliver, and they actually believe what they hear...at least for a time: 

"We'll pay off your student loans; we'll make the downpayment on your home; we'll guarantee wonderful healthcare that will cost you nothing; we'll bring true democracy and equity and diversity and inclusion and anything else you cry for..."  

The second, much smaller, group are the Marxist elites, those that feed the masses with all those promises. Ironically, few of the elites actually believe in Marxist ideology, because they're not hoping for equality or democracy or the people's happiness. No, they seek only one thing: power. And, conveniently for them, the consolidation of power into the hands of a few happens to be a guaranteed byproduct of Marxism's full implementation.

Marxists also despise religion...well, not all religion because they offer the masses their own version of religious faith. Perhaps more accurately, they despise the faith and values of Jews and Christians, and will join forces with anyone else who mirrors their hatred. After all, the enemy of my enemy is my friend...for a while.

To the Marxist, religion is a serious competitor because it shifts the allegiance of the individual from the state to God and His Church. They can't have that, and so they attack the Church, at first through the media and laws and regulations. But once they have power, the attacks become viciously physical. Just look at Marxism's history in the USSR, China, Cuba, etc.

Remember when Joe Biden told the TV host, Charlamagne Tha God, “I tell you if you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for me or Trump, then you ain’t black.”

Of course, it was just another of Joe's racist statements in which he assumes all blacks, really all minorities, must think alike, that they must hold identical political and moral beliefs.

So, let me one-up him, and tell the faithful: "If you vote for today's Democrats, you ain't Catholic." 

In this instance, though, I appeal to the deposit of faith, the Church's foundational beliefs, beliefs that are rejected by this political party. Not only do they support abortion and infanticide, but they also attack Church teaching on virtually every moral issue. And did you happen to hear how the Democrat vice presidential candidate, Governor Walz, called his opponent, Senator Vance, "Weird"? Why? Because Vance is an intelligent, religious, family-loving, pro-life, Catholic. Yep, all those traits really bother today's new Democrats.  

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm no big fan of the Republican party either. But at least their platform and values seem more closely to mirror my own. Yes, some of them wander off into the bullrushes and support that which helps them personally, forgetting the needs and freedoms of those they represent. But most appear to toe the line that runs between life and freedom.

I suppose the problem with politics is that it's plagued by politicians; that is, men and women who think of politics as a career instead of an opportunity to spend some time helping others live better and more rewarding lives. Term limits have always seemed like a good idea to me: ten years in the House; two terms in the Senate. After that, go back and do some real work in the world, growing our economy rather than draining it. 

And maybe Christians who fill political offices should also be thinking about how they can help others on their journey to salvation. After all, the First Amendment of our Constitution is very specific:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..."

So, if, like me, you are a believing, practicing Christian, feel free to exercise your religious beliefs whenever and wherever the need arises. Of course, the Constitution protects you only from government interference; you may have to deal with others who are not so open to expressions of religious beliefs. In those instances, I find actions are often more effective than words. Practice your faith and show the world what you believe. Let them see how a Christian lives.

God's peace...and don't forget to vote.

Catholic Bishops, Where Are You?

One senses that our bishops aren’t really too concerned about what’s happening in our nation or, more dangerously, in Washington, D.C., our own version of the ancient Sodom. Oh, they occasionally make a comment or send a “Tsk-tsk” note to our political elites, but all with little effect. So little that President Biden seems to enjoy telling our bishops how wrong they are about the full range of moral issues. For the president, Church teaching is optional, something that must change with the times. 

Of all the issues facing the country today, the most divisive and evident, of course, is abortion. For example, a few weeks ago, at a gathering of Florida Democrats, the president, who proudly claims to be a “practicing” and “devout” Catholic, made the Sign of the Cross during the pro-abortion speech of a fellow Democrat. (Read the article here.) Believe me, he supported everything his colleague said. Several Catholic organizations vehemently objected to this sacrilegious act, but to my knowledge I’ve heard no public comment from our bishops. If any said anything, they certainly didn’t say it very loudly. Often enough, bishops post their comments on diocesan websites, which, sadly, very few Catholics ever view. Why not call a press conference, or issue a statement to the local press, telling one and all what the Church teaches on abortion and other moral issues? Or send a teaching letter to pastors, instructing them to have it read at every Mass? Politicians provide excellent opportunities for teaching moments by our bishops, priests, and deacons. 

Even more despicable, though, the president has made abortion the key issue of his presidential campaign. For him, what it means to be a practicing and devout Catholic seems to have nothing to do with either faith or obedience:

“Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” [Mt 7,21].

Let’s face it, abortion is the moral issue of our time. Throughout the world several hundred million children are dead because of abortion. Each was slaughtered, and often painfully, as they were cut into pieces by those supposedly dedicated to healing. I can conceive of no modern crime more evil than abortion, the always willful destruction of the most innocent of human lives. The fact that so many people just accept it, as they would accept an appendectomy, tells us a lot about the moral degradation of our so-called civilized world. 

And yet we hear very little from our shepherds. What are the bishops afraid of? Is it a revenue issue? Can’t tick off the pro-abortion “Catholics” who would likely close their wallets and checkbooks. Or do they fear losing their tax-exempt status by wading into what the IRS considers political waters? But the IRS is wrong, deadly wrong. Abortion isn’t political; it’s moral and religious, two areas about which the Church must speak its mind. And thanks to the Holy Spirit, that mind, at least magisterially, always reflects the mind of God. 

Given the Church’s magisterial rejection of abortion, one would think the bishops might issue a public condemnation or two. Perhaps they believe that going public about the slaughter of millions of unborn children will jeopardize our moving forward on what some wrongfully consider more important issues, like climate change and immigration. After all, just this week Pope Francis warned that climate change has become a “planetary crisis,” and that billions of us earthlings face “an extremely high risk of climate-related devastation.” It would seem, then, based on the time the pope has expended writing and talking about climate change, it’s far more important to him than any other issue, including abortion.

Interestingly, when I read this, I emailed several old friends, all PhD meteorologists or climatologists, and asked them to confirm what they had told me earlier. All three again stated that the evidence for human-induced climate change is so minimal it can be ignored. One suggested that Pope Francis, who likely knows very little about climate change, is listening to advisors and “experts” who are reaping the financial benefits of choosing the politically correct side of the issue. “Follow the money,” he added, “and you can predict what the ‘experts’ will say.”

Sadly, too, the Biden administration has been active prosecuting (and persecuting) pro-life activists. Biden’s justice department brought conspiracy charges against a group of pro-life activists for a 2020 protest at a Washington, D.C. abortion clinic that specializes in late-term abortions. This Tuesday and Wednesday seven of these activists were sentenced to two years or more in federal prison. Just read about these “horrible criminals” that our devout Catholic president wants imprisoned. Here are some relevant links:

Imprisoned Pro-Life Activists Speak Out

Pro-Life Activists Sentenced -- combat veteran, 70-year-olds, and icon Joan Andrews, others

Diane and I were fortunate to meet Joan Andrews-Bell years ago when I chaired our Cape Cod parish's pro-life ministry. She has devoted her life to the cause and spent over 6 years imprisoned for acts of love. Now she will serve more time. Pray for all these courageous people. Joan considers her prison sentence as “a time of prayer and reparation” for the “sin of abortion in America.”

I've always believed that political approaches to life take us in the wrong direction. We must, instead, change hearts and minds, always speaking the truth and doing what is needed to instill once again in the people of this country a fervent love for God and His gift of life. It must always begin with prayer and will conclude when God acts to teach us His will.

Perhaps the bishops should also take a faithful and theological, rather than a political, approach and turn to the Nicene Creed in which the Holy Spirit is described as “Lord and Giver of Life.” If we support abortion, are we not then taking to ourselves the powers of the Holy Spirit, and assuming God-like authority over life and death? To usurp God’s power and authority is intrinsically evil, a form of pride almost beyond belief. Wouldn’t it set a wonderful example for the faithful if our bishops, as we approach the solemnity of Pentecost, turned publicly to the Holy Spirit in prayer? What a perfect time to ask the Spirit to bring about the conversion and ultimately the forgiveness for all those who have destroyed the many innocent lives He has given the world.

Being There…and Not Here

President Biden just spent a five-day family vacation in Ireland. I suppose he thought it a good time to get away from it all, to ignore all those pesky crises erupting across the globe, and to spend a little quality time with Hunter. 

I found it curious that the White House told the press the president hoped to enjoy his trip, so he would hold no press conferences or take any questions. If that’s so, why did the entire press corps bother to make the trip? Perhaps they, too, needed a little vacation in Guinness country. Or maybe they hoped the commander in chief might answer a few shouted questions about the quality of the fish and chips or whether Irish ice cream met his high standards. Such questions reveal the depth of investigative reporting focused on this president.

It’s would seem the president enjoyed himself, especially his time with his Irish counterpart, President Michael Higgins. I know little about the Irish president, but he seems to be a pleasant man with an infectious smile, although when standing alongside the tall Joe Biden, he looked a wee bit like a leprechaun. Of course, if you’re an Irish politician that might be a plus. 

Full disclosure: My roots are 100% Irish. Three of my four grandparents were born in Ireland, and my fourth grandparent was a second generation Irish-American. I can, then, appreciate the president’s desire to dig more deeply into his own Irish roots. Unlike many Americans of Irish descent, I have no particular love for Ireland, a nation that once kept the faith but today is largely faithless. I recall my father once being asked if he were proud of his Irish heritage. He responded with, “Not proud because I had nothing to do with it. But I am glad my ancestors left the blasted place and came here to America.” My parents were born in 1909 and my grandparents in the 1870s. Given how most poor Irish Catholics lived in those days, it’s no wonder they left their homes for the freedom and opportunity offered by the United States. For many of them, I suppose the old sod was indeed a “blasted place.” As for me, unlike most of today’s Europeans, I’m far more interested in celebrating my Christian roots.

Diane and I have visited Ireland only once, back in 2012. It was a delightful two-week trip, filled with castles, B&Bs, boutique hotels, charming pubs, friendly folks, remarkable scenery, and even an Irish Wolfhound named Mr. Higgins (no relation to the Irish president). And it was all made special because we traveled with our dearest friends, Nancy and Dave Lee. We also attended the Navy-Norte Dame football game played that year in Dublin. Despite the score, a wonderful time was had by all. 

Mr. Higgins Checking Out Diane

I hope the president truly enjoyed his Irish visit, although I think he could have spent those five days doing far more important things given the precarious state of the world. And unfortunately for Joe Biden, many of the problems faced by the United States today are directly attributable to his failed policies. Sadly, I don’t think he is aware of this, and it seems the leftist ideologues advising and guiding him seem quite pleased with the results of their work. If they intend to completely restructure our constitutional republic, and turn it into just another totalitarian state run by a cadre of inept elites, they’re well on their way. But I have faith in the American people, in their spirit, and in their love of freedom. I also accept that our God is in charge of His creation, and this nation and its people are certainly a part of it.

Pray for our nation, and pray for our world. And I can also still hope: Erin go brách.

Snippets of Sad News

Every so often, as I scan the daily news, I’m reminded of how much sadness there is in the world. Some of it is expected; for example, the death of a celebrity who has lived a long life. It’s saddest perhaps for family and close friends left behind, and I suppose for loyal, diehard fans, but for most of us it’s just another story touched with nostalgia, one that also reminds us of our own mortality. Other sad stories make us scratch our heads in wonder, as we try to fathom the motives that lead people to do strange and seemingly inexplicable things. I like to understand the motives of others, but today, although motives are often veiled, we can sense the presence of real evil. And some stories are sad for only a few, while others publicly celebrate the same news. 

Here are just a few stories that popped up on my iPad today, stories that generated sadness among some and other emotions in the hearts and minds of others.

Catholic Voters in Swing States. Here’s a story that generated sadness among some of my Catholic friends who reside on the political left. In a poll conducted by the Trafalgar Group in mid-October, Catholics in the key swing states of Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, Ohio, and Pennsylvania overwhelmingly rejected President Biden. The president’s average disapproval rating among Catholics in these states was 62.2%, while his approval rating was a mere 35.4%. For Democrats, who must ride his coattails even though they’d prefer to ride almost anything else, this news was especially troubling. I called one of my more liberal pals to get his reaction, and he simply asked, “Don’t they realize the president is a devout Catholic?” Perhaps, I suggested, he might want to listen to the American bishops who have come out strongly against the president for his rejection of almost the entire range of Catholic moral teaching. Maybe the results of this poll show us that many Catholics have listened to and agree with our bishops. I must admit, the news didn’t sadden me.

The Funeral of a Parishioner. Late this morning I assisted our pastor at the funeral of a parishioner, a woman named Carol Buyarski. It was a beautiful funeral Mass, attended by a large gathering of family and friends. There’s always an element of sadness when a loved one dies, the sadness of grief and separation, but never a sadness resulting from death itself. As Christians we believe our lives here on earth are simply the beginning. As T. S. Eliot once wrote, “In my end is my beginning,” a phrase I believe he borrowed from Mary, Queen of Scots. But whatever it’s source, it’s a wonderful phrase because it’s true. For the faithful, the end of this life is merely the beginning of something wonderfully eternal, a life in the Presence of God. As St. Paul reminds us: "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him” [1 Cor 2:9]. And so, at the funeral I found myself listening to others talk about Carol, this good woman who brought so much good and joy and peace to the lives of others. I thought how good it was that she had lived her 78 years well. But then I recalled that she and I were both born on September 13, 1944, a remarkable coincidence. Of course, I don’t believe in coincidence. Anyway, this brought to mind something my mother said to me years ago. I was probably 8 or 9 years old and we were attending the Irish wake of a relative, one of those older relatives whom I really didn’t know well. Looking at the old man lying peacefully in his casket, I turned to my mom and asked “What did he die of?” Her response meant little to me at the time, but I never forgot it. “Oh, I suppose he just died of old age.” You guessed it, he was 78. Now that’s sad.

Jerry Lee Lewis Dies Today at 87. Okay, I know, you don’t have to remind me, Jerry Lee Lewis was by no means a paragon of virtue. I believe he was married seven times and one of those marriages, his third, was to a cousin who was, as I recall, all of 13 years old. And throughout it all, drugs, booze, and infidelity were a major part of his life. Yes, indeed, Jerry Lee was a sinner, and a very public one. But if you’re a fan of true 50’s rock ‘n roll, you know full well you loved Jerry Lee’s music. Maybe I should say you loved his entire performance, something that was outrageously unique and virtually unrepeatable. At the age of maybe fifteen I managed to attend a “show” (that’s what we called concerts back then) that included Jerry Lee Lewis. It was a rollicking, absolutely amazing show. No one could imagine — I certainly couldn’t — that anyone could give us that kind of brash, wild and crazy experience. Everyone in the theater was on their feet, totally involved in the music, as Jerry Lee sang and pounded out “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” followed by “Great Balls of Fire.” He had managed to blend Gospel, rockabilly, Country-Western and ended up giving us the purist form of rock ‘n roll. Later in life he redefined himself as a Country-Western star. As for his lifestyle, yes, he was a sinner, but unlike most celebrities he admitted it. One thing you can say about Jerry Lee Lewis: he was no hypocrite. He also believed in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, and I hope spent some repenting time with his Lord during his last days. As Sr. Francis Jane, O.P. once told our eighth-grade class, “If you get there, you might be surprised whom you will meet in heaven.” I am saddened at Jerry Lee Lewis’ death because he will no longer play that piano as no one else ever has. May he Rest In Peace. 

It’s Time for Our Bishops to Act

The other day, during an appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” program, a senior White House official, Keisha Lance Bottoms (former mayor of Atlanta, but now the director of the White House Office of Public Engagement), was asked about the extent of President Biden’s support for abortion. The program’s co-host, Willie Geist, asked Bottoms, “Does the President, does White House, believe there should be abortion available without limits in the country?” As you might expect from this White House, Bottoms did not provide a clear “Yes” or “No” response, but instead said the following:

“What the president believes is that there should be a fundamental right for a woman to choose what to do with her own body and the President has said this time and time again, that there are basic, fundamental rights, access to health care, this access to health care includes women across this country. And what we expect to see is that, especially college-aged women, women who’ve had to face these very difficult choices will be reminded of this, especially during this season. And it’s something that we can’t ever put too far behind us because, again, we know that elections matter and we know that congressional Republicans want to take us back. I’m 52 years old. In my lifetime, I’ve always known that a woman has a right to make decisions about her own body and what we are seeing being put forth by congressional Republicans right now takes us back more than 50 years.”

It would seem her response confused even the folks at MSNBC; and Geist, trying to elicit a more definitive answer from Bottoms, asked: “So, does that mean the President supports abortion at any time during the pregnancy, whether it’s 3 weeks or 30 weeks?” To this, Bottoms replied: 

“What the President has said very publicly is that he supports a woman’s right to choose. I’ve never heard the President give a timeframe on that. But he has said that he believes that a woman has a fundamental right to make decisions about her own body and her healthcare choices.”

I’m pretty sure this is White-House-Speak for a “Yes” answer, that the administration is telling us President Biden supports abortion at any time during a woman’s pregnancy. Ms. Bottoms certainly didn't say otherwise.

The next question, then, should be asked of the Catholic Bishops of the United States. If President Biden, who frequently declares himself to be a "devout Catholic," absolutely denies the Church’s consistent magisterial teaching on life and a host of other moral issues, should he be allowed to partake in the Church’s sacramental life? Just consider the scandal the President causes as he publicly attacks the Church by denying its teachings and, as one parishioner remarked the other day, “…just gets away with it. Where are our bishops?”

Yes, indeed, where are our bishops? One priest told me they likely hesitate to get involved in what they view as political issues, something that might influence elections. I think my response surprised him. I simply said the Church has always taught that the goal of evangelization is to ensure the Good News of Jesus Christ reaches individuals and also penetrates and transforms cultures, highlighting and lifting up those aspects of culture relevant to the Gospel. 

Too often today we live our Christianity strictly as individuals. Even in societies with large and majority Christian populations, Christian influence on laws and institutions, on education, science, entertainment, sports, and the arts is lacking or completely absent. Some say that this is fine and in keeping with our Constitutional freedoms. And I agree, at least partially. Our Constitution guarantees our religious freedom, prohibiting the government from establishing a state religion, but also prohibiting that same government from "prohibiting the free exercise" of religion by the people. If that's the case, and it is, we can certainly exercise our Church's primary task: evangelization. As Jesus commanded the disciples right before He ascended to the Father:

"Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age” [Mt 28:19-20].

As Pope St. Paul VI reminded us:

“…The split between the Gospel and culture is without a doubt the drama of our time, just as it was of other times. Therefore, every effort must be made to ensure a full evangelization of culture, or more correctly of cultures. They have to be regenerated by an encounter with the Gospel. But this encounter will not take place if the Gospel is not proclaimed” [Evangelii Nuntiandi, 20]

This teaching was echoed by Pope St. John Paul II who wrote: 

“A faith that does not affect a person’s culture is a faith 'not fully embraced, not entirely thought out, not faithfully lived.'” [Christifidelis Laici, 59]

It’s time to act and restore a culture of life in our nation and in the world. We each have a part to play in this drama, but our bishops should lead the way and set the example for the faithful.

Rittenhouse Acquittal

If you read, watch, or listen to the mainstream media you will realize that none of their commentators, editorialists, reporters, anchors, or legal experts actually watched the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse. If you, on the other hand, took the time to follow the trial, you’ll likely conclude the jury delivered a just verdict. I’ve rarely seen a more obvious case of self-defense and for that we can thank the actual witnesses and the many videos taken that evening in Kenosha. Of course, the prosecution’s extraordinary blend of incompetence and malfeasance didn’t help their case.

The most remarkable aspect of the case, however, involved the media’s blatant lies regarding the defendant and his actions. Perhaps the most amazing example came from the UK’s leading on-line news source, The Independent. Even after the verdict, after all the evidence had been presented at trial, The Independent declared that Kyle Rittenhouse “shot three black men with rifle.” Of course it’s purpose in printing this lie was to create division along racial lines by ignoring the truth that all three men shot that night were white, not black. Here’s a clip from The Independent’s “story”:

Even much of the American media, through their distorted reporting and commentary, encouraged the depiction of Kyle Rittenhouse as a white supremacist intent on killing blacks. Unstated, of course, was the truth about the three men from whom Rittenhouse had to defend himself. These men were not victims, but were in fact all criminals. Their criminal pasts do not mean they deserved to be shot. No, it was their actions that evening that led to their sad fates. Who were these three men? 

Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, was a registered sex offender, a convicted pedophile who sexually molested and raped many young boys. He had an open case for bail-jumping and another open misdemeanor case for battery and disorderly conduct (both, domestic abuse). He was the man who chased Kyle Rittenhouse through the streets of Kenosha. Anthony Huber, 26, had several disorderly conduct convictions as a domestic abuse repeater for strangulation, suffocation, and use of a dangerous weapon. He also had a forfeiture case as a result of drug abuse. He was the man who bludgeoned Kyle Rittenhouse over the head with a skateboard and attempted to take his rifle. Gaige Grosskreutz, 28, had a range of felony convictions, including strangulation battery against his grandmother, burglary, and use of a firearm while intoxicated. As a convicted felon, he was illegally armed with a handgun which he pointed at the head of Kyle Rittenhouse, when he was shot and wounded. Note that all three were white, all convicted criminals. 

These were the men killed and wounded that evening by Kyle Rittenhouse. They were violent men, and like many of the rioters in Kenosha, were determined to burn down the city’s businesses and hurt any citizens who resisted them. These were the people who told Kyle Rittenhouse they intended to kill him. Kenosha was just an example of what BLM and Antifa hoped to accomplish across the entire nation. In this, they were encouraged by the mainstream media and many of our politicians. Even presidential candidate Joe Biden, long before the trial, before any evidence was known, had labeled Kyle Rittenhouse a “white supremacist.” That was, of course, a lie. 

Well, guess what? The nation won yesterday. A jury of Kyle Rittenhouse’s peers defied the hostility and threats of the mob, the media, and the self-serving politicians. God bless them and God bless America!

Kill the Babies Or Else…

President Biden and his increasingly far-left regime, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and most Democrat politicians have all proven one thing: they hate children. Why else would anyone actively promote the slaughter of unborn children and strive to stop any attempts to limit abortions? Remember, back in 2011, when President Obama threatened to cut off all Medicaid and related funding to Indiana when the state legislature and governor passed legislation to stop state funding of Planned Parenthood? Just think about that. If you don’t kill the unborn, Obama declared, we will cut medical funds to the poor. How nice...

Today is no different. As a result of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision not to overturn the Texan law that severely limits abortion in the state, Joe Biden has pledged a “whole of government” response. He has called on his evil but feckless attorney general, Merrick Garland, to “protect abortion rights” of all Americans by applying the 1994 Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act. HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra also chimed in saying, “…we are telling doctors and others involved in the provision of abortion care, that we have your back.” 

Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, reminds us that “There are no lengths the Biden administration won’t go to in their drive to prop up the abortion industry and impose abortion on demand up to birth nationwide, on a public that resoundingly rejects their agenda.” But note the change in the pro-abortion forces’ language. Once they wouldn’t utter the word, “abortion,” but instead used such euphemistic phrases as “reproductive health.” But no longer. Now they openly declare their intention to support “abortion rights” and “abortion care.” I find the latter particularly disgusting. For whom are they providing “care”? Certainly not the unborn child who is torn apart during this “safe procedure.”

\What disturbs me most, however, is the cowardice of our bishops. Few seem willing to openly and consistently confront the Catholic politicians who support abortion. There are, of course, exceptions and Nancy Pelosi’s bishop, Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, has been a true stalwart. The archbishop recently stated, “A conversion of heart of the majority of our Congressional representatives is needed on this issue, beginning with the leader of the House, Speaker Nancy Pelosi.” He then continued with more than mere words, but called for spiritual action on the part of the faithful: “I am therefore inviting all Catholics to join a massive and visible campaign of prayer and fasting for Speaker Pelosi: commit to praying one rosary a week and fasting on Fridays for her conversion of heart.” I intend to join Archbishop Cordileone and in my own small way, ask all those who read this blog to do the same. 

Another disturbing event, related to the slaughter of these modern day innocents, took place just the other day when Nancy Pelosi visited the Vatican on October 8. How ironic that this was the feast day of St. Simeon, who greeted the newborn infant Jesus when He was presented in the Temple in Jerusalem by Mary and Joseph. How many infants have never been presented in a church for Baptism, thanks to the child-hatred of Nancy Pelosi. 

More disturbing, however, was the reception the Vatican gave Pelosi. The Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development stated, “We welcome Speaker Pelosi from the U.S. House of Representative. We talked about caring for the environment, in the light of [Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical] Laudato si, migration issues, human rights, health in times of pandemic, and the work of the Vatican COVID Commission.” Note the one subject that apparently went undiscussed: abortion. Apparently the "human development" of the unborn does not merit any attention. This was especially troublesome given that Pelosi, along with the president, is among the most prominent Catholic politicians and has done all in her power to advance and encourage abortions in the U.S. 

Pope Francis and the Pelosis

Pelosi and her husband also had a private audience with Pope Francis, but the Vatican had no comment about any subjects discussed during their meeting. One can only hope the Holy Father explained Church teaching to this self-proclaimed “devout Catholic” who seems to consider herself holier and smarter than the Church. One wonders what Archbishop Cordileone thought of her Vatican visit.

Brothers and sisters, pray for the unborn, pray for those who seek and perform abortions, pray for those politicians who further the culture of death, and join the Archbishop of San Francisco by praying the Rosary and Fasting every Friday for the conversion of all.

Protecting Whom?

Our president is seemingly focused on getting everybody in the United States vaccinated against the COVID virus, an impossible and actually needless goal. It’s needless because so many Americans are now protected by a natural immunity which offers stronger protection than the vaccine. But if universal vaccination is really his administration’s aim, why on earth would he say what he said on September 10:

“We are going to protect the vaccinated workers from unvaccinated coworkers.”

What? This wasn’t just another of our president’s weird gaffes, another slip of the tongue, because he also tweeted these same words.

President Biden

@POTUS

United States government official

We are going to protect the vaccinated workers from unvaccinated coworkers.

9:40 AM · Sep 10, 2021

34.1K

See the latest COVID-19 information on Twitter

Uh, Mr. President, vaccinated workers are already protected; that’s why they got the shots. How does this comment possibly encourage the unvaccinated to do the same? It would seem to do exactly the opposite by telling the nation that vaccination offers no protection. But if we actually “follow the science,” we know the vaccines work. In other words, it’s the vaccine the vaccinated have already received that protects them from the unvaccinated. 

Those who resists vaccination, with the exception of those whose doctors advise against it for solid medical reasons and those who have natural immunity because they’ve already survived COVID, should get vaccinated. But their failure to do so does not threaten me and others who have been vaccinated. If the unvaccinated get the shots, that’s great for them, but it has absolutely no effect on me. When it comes to my health, I don’t worry about the unvaccinated. The only health about which I am concerned is theirs.

Oh, Yes, It’s Still All About Abortion

You might think that the key issue of our time centers on COVID, or Afghanistan, or China, or Russia, or immigration, or inflation, or taxation, or any of a dozen other issues…and you’d be wrong. There is really only one issue that definitively separates people politically, morally, and, yes, religiously: abortion. 

Not too many years ago, party politics was not divided on abortion. Many Democrats were openly pro-life, and consistently voted against legislation supporting abortion. And, yes, one also encountered Republicans who were openly “pro-choice” and voted accordingly. Things have certainly changed. Today’s Democrat Party universally supports abortion. To be a pro-life Democrat, an extremely rare breed of politician, is to be condemned by the party’s state and national leadership, to receive no party funding — really, to be cancelled by the party, to be purged. 

Last week the state of Texas banned abortion once a fetal heartbeat is detected, and the Supreme Court of the United States let it stand. The response from the left has been both predictable and horrendous. AOC was, of course, among the most predictable, as were the nation’s most prominent Catholic politicians, Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden. 

AOC — or as she’s sometimes called, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) -- was furious with those she labeled "Christian extremists." Her exact words: "Christian extremists are passing forced birth laws to intimidate and cut off abortion services – including for victims of rape, incest, and child abuse. While we fight back, know you still have options. Pills can be mailed to your home discreetly.” 

I guess “Christian extremists” is the new code word for faithful Catholics and pro-life Evangelicals, who actually represent a significant hunk of the nation’s population. In fact, I suspect they far outnumber the dwindling number of Americans who favor abortion under all circumstances. But for AOC everything is political; she has no moral foundation and seemingly is unable to discern either good or evil. 

Then we have the “devout Catholics” in powerful political positions. For example, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was almost apoplectic in her anger at both Texas and the Supreme Court. Check out her tweets:

“SCOTUS’s failure to block SB8 [the Texas law] has delivered catastrophe to women in Texas. This radical law is an all out effort to erase the rights and protections of Roe v Wade.”

She then added: "every woman, everywhere has the constitutional and moral right to basic reproductive hearth care. We will fight SB8 and all immoral and dangerous attacks on women's health and freedoms with all our strength."

Note her description of abortion as a "moral right" and her claim that any attacks on abortion are "immoral and dangerous." How despicable a charge from someone who just loves to describe herself as a "devout Catholic." She clearly demonstrates a complete lack of moral understanding. Sadly, Pelosi isn't alone here, but is joined by every other Catholic Democrat politician in Washington, including our president. (If anyone knows of a pro-life Catholic Democrat in either house of Congress, please let me know.)

What did President Biden have to say on the subject? His comments are also as predictable and despicable as the others. For a man who just a few years ago openly proclaimed that human life begins at conception, Joe Biden has certainly changed his mind. He called the Texas law "an unprecedented assault on a woman's constitutional rights under Roe v. Wade, which has been the law of the land for almost fifty years." He went on to say, "The most pernicious thing about the Texas law, it sort of creates a vigilante system," and then added, "It just seems -- I know this sounds ridiculous -- it's almost un-American, what we're talking about." Yes, Mr. President, it does sound ridiculous, as does so much of what you say.

The president, the speaker, AOC, and all the rest have been joined, perhaps not surprisingly, by the Satanic Temple in the fight against the Texas Law. On September 5th the Temple spokesman, Lucien Greaves (photo below) released the following statement on the Temple's letter to the FDA asking for support of their "abortion rituals."

“I am sure Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton — who famously spends a good deal of his time composing press releases about Religious Liberty issues in other states — will be proud to see that Texas’s robust Religious Liberty laws, which he so vociferously champions, will prevent future Abortion Rituals from being interrupted by superfluous government restrictions meant only to shame and harass those seeking an abortion.

“The battle for abortion rights is largely a battle of competing religious viewpoints, and our viewpoint that the nonviable fetus is part of the impregnated host is fortunately protected under Religious Liberty laws.”

Isn’t it interesting how the Satanists call a woman, who is the mother of an unborn child, an “impregnated host.” In truth, it sounds like one of the latest euphemisms that have rolled out of the CDC. Personally, I have always believed abortion is Satan’s work, that which he devotes most of the limited time that remains for him and his legions of demons. He apparently has plenty of helpers to further his nefarious work.

Others on the left describe the horrors that will surely afflict us because of the Texas law. In a Newsweek Twitter thread, one pro-abortion reader feared the consequences of the likely survival of so many disabled babies: "You can't screen for Down syndrome before about 10 weeks, and something like 80% of Down syndrome fetuses are aborted. If red states ban abortion, we could see a world where they have five times as many children with Down syndrome, and similar numbers for other disabilities." He went on to fret the reaction of the world's progressive nations if we don't kill these unwanted children in the womb. Can you just imagine how embarrassing that will be?

Beautiful Down Syndrome Twins

Of course, this man might have been influenced by those who blazed that horrendous trail decades ago. As Princeton Professor Robert P. George reminds us, "Sometimes it's worth remembering that what became known as the Holocaust did not begin with the murder of Jews, or Slavs, or Romani. It began with the killing of the disabled and cognitively impaired. They were regarded as 'useless eaters' and declared 'Lebensunwertes Leben' [lives unworthy of life]." Of course, millions of Jews came later.

And they call us pro-lifers, “fascists.” Remarkable isn’t? But the left always accuses its enemies of its own greatest sins.

In addition to the Texas legislature and governor, an archbishop has also stepped out in courage. In an Washington Post op-ed, San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone supported the Texas law and publicly chastised President Biden and Nancy Pelosi by declaring that Catholics cannot support abortion. In Archbishop  Cordileone's words: "You cannot be a good Catholic and support expanding a government-approved right to kill innocent human beings...This is hardly inappropriate for a pastor to say. If anything, Catholic political leaders' response to the situation in Texas highlights the need for us to say it all the louder." He went on to suggest that excommunication of Catholic leaders who publicly support abortion must be considered.

Brothers and sisters, pray for our country. We need the saving, merciful power of God.