So in the last week or so, I have been bombarded with lies, cover ups, hypocrisy and skulduggery--by the powers of government and media.
Let's start with the situation in Egypt. If you listen to the news, why, it's a triumph of Democracy! I'm not sure how though. Let's look at it. you have lawless mobs in the street, looting, violence and so forth. it culminates in the military seizing control of the nation,dissolving parliament, and promising elections at some future date, but at least a year into the future. Sounds really democratic to me, especially since the big winner in any political process that may occur is the Muslim Brotherhood--a group that isn't known for it's democratic sympathies.
Of course, the major networks are still talking like it's a replay of the Velvet Revolution. Weird, especially from CBS, considering that one of their people was separated from her security and gang raped by an anit Semitic mob as part of the "victory celebrations". And the press called it that. Such a peaceful, democratic, non-violent revolution.
Even the secretary of State, Hillary Clinton praised the peaceful movement--leaving out all the looting, rape, street fighting and involvement of the Egyptian Army--which was plainly seen on news videos. And while she praised all this peaceful raping, looting and street fighting, a 71 year old demonstrator was arrested before her very eyes. 71 year old Ray McGovern, a military veteran wearing a veterans for peace T-shirt was arrested by officers and an unidentified man in plainclothes and taken to jail. he was charged with disorderly conduct. photographs of him in jail show the bruises, and bleeding cuts on his writs from the hand cuffs. What Mr.McGovern did that was so disorderly was this: he stood up, and turned his back on Ms. Clinton. Despite the bruised and cuts, he offered no resistance to the police. As he was hustled out the door he was heard to say "So this is America?" All the while, Clinton praised free speech, free expression and claimed that the government had no designs on the Internet. (Of course, now you have both veterans groups and the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund making common cause--not a common occurrence!)
Moving on from there we have Jay Carney, the White House Press Secretary announcing that the stimulus package has succeeded. Odd--they promised it would keep unemployment below 8%, and the lowest estimate--the governments--says that unemployment is down to 9%. After exceeding 10%. And other estimates rate it at much higher--as much as 16%, after you figure in all those the government decided were not unemployed, but not part of the labor market. Sounds like BS to me! When asked about this very thing by a reporter, he said "We've said repeatedly that we don't want to relitigate (sic) the battles of the past." What an odd answer! Since answering a question isn't in any way litigation, I can only construe this to mean--"don't ask us about what we've actually done, but simply accept what we tell you". It is, in other words, a lie, and the Obama Regime will not respond to questions that point that out.
And then there are popular demonstrations in the US. When the Egyptian Mobs hold up signs supporting the mobs in Wisconsin, i have to say that something is dreadfully wrong. Lets get real--to pretend the demonstrations by union people are not leftists is simply either a lie, or an example of abysmal ingorance. Look at history--labor unions are by definition leftist organizations, and revisionist new speak can only cover that up. And to frame this as an outpouring of popular will is dissimulation. The people of Wisconsin voted for a Republican government, because they promised to rein in the entitlements and salaries of public employees because the state cannot afford them. These demonstrations are simply a group of people who wish to oppose the will of the electorate. And they're spreading. In DC, the mob has gone beyond protesting on the mall, or before the Houses of Congress, to surrounding the home of John Boehner. When that happens it's no longer protest--it's an attempt at mob intimidation---"You have to do what we want, because we know where you live". Considering the crime rate in DC, and the mind of mobs, were I Mr. Boehner, I would evacuate my family before someone kills them. Where are the forces of Law? And the Wisconsin state representatives who have left are have done so for two reasons--the law provides for their arrest and compulsory attendance in the legislature, precisely to avoid this sort of obstructionism, and because they know they cannot win a vote. I will not accept the democrats saying they just want to have a debate--they have gone so far as to pass laws without even a vote, when they could do it. Hypocrisy.
Finally, I'm sick of hearing abut the Governments attempts to protect our borders. First, Obama says he's going to authorize funds for National Guard troops on the border. Then he drags his feet. then when they get there, their hands are tied. They administration has been so bad on this problem, that the GAO now says that only 44% of our southern border is under positive US control, and that only 15% is completely secure. But if you ask the government, you get lies and a dick dance saying it's all good. And nobody in the Government, to include the Border Patrol and DOD is commenting on the Mexican Army Vehicle that was videotaped crossing into Us territory, stopping a southbound vehicle, and searching it, before returning to Mexico. The southbound part is important, because if they had been in hot pursuit, it would be a different matter, all things considered.
Sometimes I think this country is not only headed for breakdown, but deserves it. We actually elect these jackwagons, and tolerate their jackwagonry.
TRIUMPHALIST--YOU GOT A PROBLEM WITH THAT?
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Racist Fish Feces*
I can't believe the lack of outrage that someone would call a prominent Black political figure a "window monkey". And I can't believe the lack of outcry and outrage after this very public slur.
Oh Wait! it was about a Republican, made by a liberal. Of course I can believe it, because liberals seem to think that Black People can't think for themselves, or fend for themselves, without the Democratic party holding their hand. And when black people don't buy into it, the call them things like 'window monkeys'. That's what Chauncy DeVega called him. As well as referring to black conservatives as 'garbage pail kids'.
On the other hand, there's another kind of racism--the racism that give people a free pass when they do racist things because of the color of their skin. Like John Wiley Price. Court rules of the Dallas County Court of Comissioners for some inexplicable reason prevents constituents from referring to members of the court by name, and in a hearing that was discussing the departure of Elections Administrator Bruce Sherbet who said he felt he had been forced out by county judge Clay Jenkins and John W. Price. One constituent said he would refer to a particular member of the board as the "Chief Mullah". At which point price became angry, then began telling people to go to hell. The board adjourned, and price left screaming at the people "all of you are White-Go to hell! repeatedly.
Can you imagine the outcry if a white official said that sort of thing?
I am waiting for the outrage. But I hear nothing.
*Bass turds are fish feces!
Oh Wait! it was about a Republican, made by a liberal. Of course I can believe it, because liberals seem to think that Black People can't think for themselves, or fend for themselves, without the Democratic party holding their hand. And when black people don't buy into it, the call them things like 'window monkeys'. That's what Chauncy DeVega called him. As well as referring to black conservatives as 'garbage pail kids'.
On the other hand, there's another kind of racism--the racism that give people a free pass when they do racist things because of the color of their skin. Like John Wiley Price. Court rules of the Dallas County Court of Comissioners for some inexplicable reason prevents constituents from referring to members of the court by name, and in a hearing that was discussing the departure of Elections Administrator Bruce Sherbet who said he felt he had been forced out by county judge Clay Jenkins and John W. Price. One constituent said he would refer to a particular member of the board as the "Chief Mullah". At which point price became angry, then began telling people to go to hell. The board adjourned, and price left screaming at the people "all of you are White-Go to hell! repeatedly.
Can you imagine the outcry if a white official said that sort of thing?
I am waiting for the outrage. But I hear nothing.
*Bass turds are fish feces!
SITREP: Abortion
It's been awhile since I wrote post about the Prolife Movement Pro Human Life Movement. ( I did the strike through because after reading a piece about how pro lifers are not pro life, but only pro human--they didn't organize to defend endangered species or oppose Global Warming, etc. --I realized that the Moloch Worshipers are trying to steal the dialog by redefining the terms.) So here's where I see us standing.
Legislation: The first thing that stands out to me is the weakening of conscience protection for Health Care Workers. Interestingly enough, while the Obama Regime is weighing in on "workers rights" vis a vis the efforts of Wisconsin and other states to gain control over benefits and wages of public workers, they tried to slip through a weakening of protection for health care providers from being forced to participate in procedures, or distribute medications that are in violation of their conscience or religious beliefs. The USCCB has done it's usual double tongue dick dance to avoid saying anything of substance, simultaneously decrying the weakening of the regulations, while saying it has some hopeful elements. So much for the Courageous Leadership we all know and love from our Bishops. The Department of health and human services has issued a statement about the change: "Strong conscience laws make it clear that health care providers cannot be compelled to assist in an abortion. The rule being issued today builds on these laws by providing a clear enforcement process." But the statement does not mention that fact that although the new regulation specifies that one cannot be compelled to assist in an abortion or sterilization procedure, the protections against being forced to distribute "emergency contraception", hormonal contraceptives, chemical contraceptives, IUDs, and barrier method contraceptives have been removed. Health care workers may now find themselves in the position of having to choose between participating in acts that are against their religious or ethical beliefs, and having a job by which they can feed, clothe, and house their families. This is going to have the net effect of simultaneously weakening the adherence of health care workers to their religious beliefs, or driving segments of the religious population out of the health Care professions. Although no one would say that these are goals of the regulation, I believe that they are. The promulgators of these regs might or might not have this consciously in mind, but the demonic influence that led to their adoptions surely did. And yes--I believe that the whole abortion/contraception culture of of demonic inspiration. So sue me.
On the other hand, Planned Parenthood is having perhaps the roughest time they've had since the early 70s. The House of Representatives passed the Pence Amendment over overwhelmingly. This piece of legislation prevents federal funds being granted to PP, either directly, or by being granted by the various departments of the government as part of other programs. It doesn't affect funding levels for other programs, it just says that the money cannot go to Planned Parenthood. Interestingly enough, there was some party crossover in the vote. Seven Republicans voted against the bill, and ten Democrats voted for it. (It would be interesting to be a fly on the wall as the party whips discuss this!) This has stimulated a lot of discussion, and as always when the abortion issue is on the table, considerably more heat than light. But it is important to note that Planned Parenthood isn't going to be crippled by this. Remember, they post, every year, a considerable amount of "income in excess of expenditure."
Activism:
Abortion provides 37% of PP cash flow, while constituting 3% of the services it provides. That's what is called in a business model a profit center. And the mask that Planned Parenthood wears depicting it as an altruistic provider of affordable health care , and defender of womens' rights is slipping. With the defection of one of their facilities managers, and her frank statements that PP pushes abortion as profitable, one must wonder what is actually true about this group, and what is simply maskirovka. Abby Johnson has spoken about the pressure to keep the abortion number high, for financial reasons. She has also debunked the notion that Planned Parenthood is necessary to provide services for low income women, pointing out that things such as mammograms--a rallying cry for the defenders of PP--are available at other clinics and activities for lower cost, often for free.
This alternative availability of non-abortion services has surfaced as a scam for Planned Parenthood-essentially, moving less profitable service requests to other providers. Most despicably, it surfaced in the current crop of tapes from Live Action. In them, the question is raised, "What about the 1/3 of a Billion dollars that PP receives annually to 'provide care' for the poor?". Planned Parenthood caters to those with insurance, and cash. This has been made abundantly clear in the videos. In clinic after clinic, the staff try to divert people to other providers that will not cost them anything. In the worst of them, shot in Roanoke, shows a PP staffer, suggesting that a pimp can save money by sending his girls to donate blood--the blood bank will test for STDs, including AIDS/HIV. Never mind that the latency period between infection and detectable changes can be as long as three months, and that having prostitutes can be donating contaminated blood that will slip through the detection process. Prostitutes being in a very high risk group, that isn't supposed to donate blood anyway!
Live action, by the way, has hired Abby Johnson. that means they have an insiders knowledge of how PP actually do business, and how they cover their tracks. This does not bode well for the Abortion Industry.
Other Pro Abortion groups and providers are also under fire. The Horror Shop in Pennsylvania has lifted the veil on government collusion in the exploitation and endangerment of women by abortion providers, by giving "free passes" on professional standards, and on abortion groups attempts at "self regulation" when it came to light how many complaints there had been over malpractice, and the Abortion Providers own certification group's inspectors disgust at what she found--yet her failure to report the criminal activities to the appropriate authorities. NARAL isn't getting a go either; Kelli Conlin resigned from her position as president of NARAL New York after her misuse of funds, totaling well over $100K came to light. This is on top of a salary of $219K plus a $90k bonus in 2009. Not many opponents of Abortion are shocked, or even surprised--the Abortion lobby, and industry, is founded upon the premise that it's OK to be selfish to the extent of murdering an unborn person, why shouldn't we expect them to be selfish enough to play it fast and loose with money?
Cecile Richards, the CEO of Planned Parenthood has described the situation as "The worst attack on Planned Parenthood--ever!" She says that like it's a bad thing. PP is fighting back, and trying it's very best to distract the public from the evidence of ongoing corruption, criminal activity (and yes, failing to report sexual abuse, kidnapping, sex trafficking and illegal immigration are criminal acts--that is to say, they violate the letter of the law). They have been exposed abetting sexual abuse of minors, sex trafficking, and forcing immigrants into the sex trade--which is a form of slavery, both in fact and law--and are trying very hard to get out of the hole they have dug for themselves.
Some of this response is pretty scary.
You have the sudden and intense ad hominem attacks on Lila Rose--which have predictably intensified since her formal conversion to Catholicism--some of which are coming from within the Catholic Church. The new debate about lying in the course of investigative journalism is one example, and has gotten out of hand, considering that it was first published in the Dissenting CINO press, like America and the National Catholic Reporter. Worse yet is the action Raymond Gravel--a priest from Quebec who has filed a suit against Life Site News alleging libel for saying he is pro abortion. They did this by reporting things he has said and done. He is asking for $500K in damages--the yearly operating budget for the group. Even if he loses, he will cripple them. Raymond Gravel is a former homosexual prostitute, and has been a member of Parliament, (contrary to church discipline on priests holding political office). he was ordained a priest incontravention of Church directives dating to 1960. One wonders where his Bishop is, or if his Bishop is Catholic, or mearly being compliant because of some threat from Gravel. This is the nature of the battle, though. In his dissent and disobedience, he follows in the footsteps of Fr.Robert Drinan SJ, another priest/politician who voted for and supported abortion. Gravel was fired from his position as a Catechist in the Diocese of Joliette in 2010, and blames Life Site News--not his position on Abortion, Homosexual Activity, morality or his public statement that there wasn't a Bishop or pope who could prevent his going to communion.
Other aspects are come from outside the Church, but reflect the ongoing fascistic determination to silence speech that dissents from the pro-abortion narrative. At Mary Washington University in Fredericksburg, Virginia, vandals decided that pro-life speech was intolerable, and erased pro-life sidewalk signs. Not content to block someone else free speech, they then chalked over them the phrase "Death to Fascists". (Of course, it's always the pro-choice element that claims to be afraid and intimidated. Even though they're the ones calling for violations of enumerated rights, and violence.) On one site reporting this--and it for damned sure doesn't make the evening news, most places--the comments were interesting. One was from a sidewalk chalk activist who said that after the second time the 'security' people dumped water on her for it, she called the police and threatened to press charges for assault--that's how she managed to get some respect. Another pointed out that it's best to have someone recording everything you do--both to discourage those who will attack you, and to provide evidence when you are placed under false charges. (This last is something i can attest to--at the local abortion clinic the pro-murder folks come out to pick fights, by shoving or stomping on people--then claim that the prayers are "rowdy and disorderly". These people work--often for free--for serial killers, truth isn't important to them.) It's even worse in Kansas, where an attempt is underway to strip former State Attorney General Phill Kline of his liscense to practice law for investigating the practice of George Tiller and Planned Parenthood's mid-Missouri's overland park Clinic for covering up--in violation of law--cases of child molestation and statutory rape. The complaint maintains that since Kline is pro-life he should have recused himself from the investigation. simply put--they do not want anyone who is not on their side to investigate them, the desire no scrutiny from those who do not already believe they should be left alone. This comes after Stan Hazlett's own investigative team found the allegation to be unfounded--that there was no case against Kline. Hazlett is the State Disciplinary Administrator. And his own team has said there are no grounds. This is a common tactic--the procedure is in itself punitive, requiring the defendant to spend time and money protecting them self. That's the point to the exercise--the next time it comes up, the AG might not be willing to run the risk. This is simply using the process of justice to accomplish the kind of intimidation that would be mere thuggishness if done on the street. Similar moves are under way to get Clarence Thomas to recuse himself in several cases--because of his wife's political activities. They in no way wish that their cause should be judged by anyone other than their allies.
And finally, there are those actions which are simply dishonest--applications of political maskirovka by people who have no standing whatsoever. "Catholics for Choice" which has been declared--officially--to be non-Catholic, are running a piece on a site that appears to be news, but is actually run by a PR company, for pay, a piece claiming that "Catholics" are asking the Bishops to stop their attacks on planned Parenthood. Liars.
Moving away from abortion, we can now look at Rwanda. Apparently the explosion of genocide in the 90s wasn't enough for some people, from outside the country. The united States Agency For international Development--that's your tax dollars at work, people!--is prepared to implement a program of permanant sterilization in that country. They plan to start with young men, in the schools, and the Army. i got news for you--the army will not be doing "voluntary" sterilizations--when an officer suggests, or requests, that's an order. Moreover, the Hutu majority is already rumbling abut using this program on the Tutsi minority. This is simply going to be a less messy, quieter way to complete the genocide. On our dime.
There is one place of good new I want to share--HIV infection rates in Zimbabwe are way down, and even the UN is admitting that it's not due to condoms--it's due to an increase in monogamy and marital fidelity. This was found in a joint report by UNAID and UNFPA. This is twice now that in Africa the fact that condoms do not stem the increase in AIDS and STDS has been proven, but that monogamy and fidelity do. Zimbabwe has managed to cut it's infection rate by half. If you follow such things, you might recall that Uganda had a great success in cutting it's infection rate by pointing out that abstinence, monogamy and fidelity were the key, right up until the EU decided that those poor benighted black people couldn't do that, and linked all their aid to condom distribution programs, which say a rise in the infection rates. Maybe now the condom fanatics will look at facts, and quit facilitating a pandemic in order to further their own idolatry of sex.
So that's the Abortion and Pro-Life situation as I see it right now.
Legislation: The first thing that stands out to me is the weakening of conscience protection for Health Care Workers. Interestingly enough, while the Obama Regime is weighing in on "workers rights" vis a vis the efforts of Wisconsin and other states to gain control over benefits and wages of public workers, they tried to slip through a weakening of protection for health care providers from being forced to participate in procedures, or distribute medications that are in violation of their conscience or religious beliefs. The USCCB has done it's usual double tongue dick dance to avoid saying anything of substance, simultaneously decrying the weakening of the regulations, while saying it has some hopeful elements. So much for the Courageous Leadership we all know and love from our Bishops. The Department of health and human services has issued a statement about the change: "Strong conscience laws make it clear that health care providers cannot be compelled to assist in an abortion. The rule being issued today builds on these laws by providing a clear enforcement process." But the statement does not mention that fact that although the new regulation specifies that one cannot be compelled to assist in an abortion or sterilization procedure, the protections against being forced to distribute "emergency contraception", hormonal contraceptives, chemical contraceptives, IUDs, and barrier method contraceptives have been removed. Health care workers may now find themselves in the position of having to choose between participating in acts that are against their religious or ethical beliefs, and having a job by which they can feed, clothe, and house their families. This is going to have the net effect of simultaneously weakening the adherence of health care workers to their religious beliefs, or driving segments of the religious population out of the health Care professions. Although no one would say that these are goals of the regulation, I believe that they are. The promulgators of these regs might or might not have this consciously in mind, but the demonic influence that led to their adoptions surely did. And yes--I believe that the whole abortion/contraception culture of of demonic inspiration. So sue me.
On the other hand, Planned Parenthood is having perhaps the roughest time they've had since the early 70s. The House of Representatives passed the Pence Amendment over overwhelmingly. This piece of legislation prevents federal funds being granted to PP, either directly, or by being granted by the various departments of the government as part of other programs. It doesn't affect funding levels for other programs, it just says that the money cannot go to Planned Parenthood. Interestingly enough, there was some party crossover in the vote. Seven Republicans voted against the bill, and ten Democrats voted for it. (It would be interesting to be a fly on the wall as the party whips discuss this!) This has stimulated a lot of discussion, and as always when the abortion issue is on the table, considerably more heat than light. But it is important to note that Planned Parenthood isn't going to be crippled by this. Remember, they post, every year, a considerable amount of "income in excess of expenditure."
Activism:
Abortion provides 37% of PP cash flow, while constituting 3% of the services it provides. That's what is called in a business model a profit center. And the mask that Planned Parenthood wears depicting it as an altruistic provider of affordable health care , and defender of womens' rights is slipping. With the defection of one of their facilities managers, and her frank statements that PP pushes abortion as profitable, one must wonder what is actually true about this group, and what is simply maskirovka. Abby Johnson has spoken about the pressure to keep the abortion number high, for financial reasons. She has also debunked the notion that Planned Parenthood is necessary to provide services for low income women, pointing out that things such as mammograms--a rallying cry for the defenders of PP--are available at other clinics and activities for lower cost, often for free.
This alternative availability of non-abortion services has surfaced as a scam for Planned Parenthood-essentially, moving less profitable service requests to other providers. Most despicably, it surfaced in the current crop of tapes from Live Action. In them, the question is raised, "What about the 1/3 of a Billion dollars that PP receives annually to 'provide care' for the poor?". Planned Parenthood caters to those with insurance, and cash. This has been made abundantly clear in the videos. In clinic after clinic, the staff try to divert people to other providers that will not cost them anything. In the worst of them, shot in Roanoke, shows a PP staffer, suggesting that a pimp can save money by sending his girls to donate blood--the blood bank will test for STDs, including AIDS/HIV. Never mind that the latency period between infection and detectable changes can be as long as three months, and that having prostitutes can be donating contaminated blood that will slip through the detection process. Prostitutes being in a very high risk group, that isn't supposed to donate blood anyway!
Live action, by the way, has hired Abby Johnson. that means they have an insiders knowledge of how PP actually do business, and how they cover their tracks. This does not bode well for the Abortion Industry.
Other Pro Abortion groups and providers are also under fire. The Horror Shop in Pennsylvania has lifted the veil on government collusion in the exploitation and endangerment of women by abortion providers, by giving "free passes" on professional standards, and on abortion groups attempts at "self regulation" when it came to light how many complaints there had been over malpractice, and the Abortion Providers own certification group's inspectors disgust at what she found--yet her failure to report the criminal activities to the appropriate authorities. NARAL isn't getting a go either; Kelli Conlin resigned from her position as president of NARAL New York after her misuse of funds, totaling well over $100K came to light. This is on top of a salary of $219K plus a $90k bonus in 2009. Not many opponents of Abortion are shocked, or even surprised--the Abortion lobby, and industry, is founded upon the premise that it's OK to be selfish to the extent of murdering an unborn person, why shouldn't we expect them to be selfish enough to play it fast and loose with money?
Cecile Richards, the CEO of Planned Parenthood has described the situation as "The worst attack on Planned Parenthood--ever!" She says that like it's a bad thing. PP is fighting back, and trying it's very best to distract the public from the evidence of ongoing corruption, criminal activity (and yes, failing to report sexual abuse, kidnapping, sex trafficking and illegal immigration are criminal acts--that is to say, they violate the letter of the law). They have been exposed abetting sexual abuse of minors, sex trafficking, and forcing immigrants into the sex trade--which is a form of slavery, both in fact and law--and are trying very hard to get out of the hole they have dug for themselves.
Some of this response is pretty scary.
You have the sudden and intense ad hominem attacks on Lila Rose--which have predictably intensified since her formal conversion to Catholicism--some of which are coming from within the Catholic Church. The new debate about lying in the course of investigative journalism is one example, and has gotten out of hand, considering that it was first published in the Dissenting CINO press, like America and the National Catholic Reporter. Worse yet is the action Raymond Gravel--a priest from Quebec who has filed a suit against Life Site News alleging libel for saying he is pro abortion. They did this by reporting things he has said and done. He is asking for $500K in damages--the yearly operating budget for the group. Even if he loses, he will cripple them. Raymond Gravel is a former homosexual prostitute, and has been a member of Parliament, (contrary to church discipline on priests holding political office). he was ordained a priest incontravention of Church directives dating to 1960. One wonders where his Bishop is, or if his Bishop is Catholic, or mearly being compliant because of some threat from Gravel. This is the nature of the battle, though. In his dissent and disobedience, he follows in the footsteps of Fr.Robert Drinan SJ, another priest/politician who voted for and supported abortion. Gravel was fired from his position as a Catechist in the Diocese of Joliette in 2010, and blames Life Site News--not his position on Abortion, Homosexual Activity, morality or his public statement that there wasn't a Bishop or pope who could prevent his going to communion.
Other aspects are come from outside the Church, but reflect the ongoing fascistic determination to silence speech that dissents from the pro-abortion narrative. At Mary Washington University in Fredericksburg, Virginia, vandals decided that pro-life speech was intolerable, and erased pro-life sidewalk signs. Not content to block someone else free speech, they then chalked over them the phrase "Death to Fascists". (Of course, it's always the pro-choice element that claims to be afraid and intimidated. Even though they're the ones calling for violations of enumerated rights, and violence.) On one site reporting this--and it for damned sure doesn't make the evening news, most places--the comments were interesting. One was from a sidewalk chalk activist who said that after the second time the 'security' people dumped water on her for it, she called the police and threatened to press charges for assault--that's how she managed to get some respect. Another pointed out that it's best to have someone recording everything you do--both to discourage those who will attack you, and to provide evidence when you are placed under false charges. (This last is something i can attest to--at the local abortion clinic the pro-murder folks come out to pick fights, by shoving or stomping on people--then claim that the prayers are "rowdy and disorderly". These people work--often for free--for serial killers, truth isn't important to them.) It's even worse in Kansas, where an attempt is underway to strip former State Attorney General Phill Kline of his liscense to practice law for investigating the practice of George Tiller and Planned Parenthood's mid-Missouri's overland park Clinic for covering up--in violation of law--cases of child molestation and statutory rape. The complaint maintains that since Kline is pro-life he should have recused himself from the investigation. simply put--they do not want anyone who is not on their side to investigate them, the desire no scrutiny from those who do not already believe they should be left alone. This comes after Stan Hazlett's own investigative team found the allegation to be unfounded--that there was no case against Kline. Hazlett is the State Disciplinary Administrator. And his own team has said there are no grounds. This is a common tactic--the procedure is in itself punitive, requiring the defendant to spend time and money protecting them self. That's the point to the exercise--the next time it comes up, the AG might not be willing to run the risk. This is simply using the process of justice to accomplish the kind of intimidation that would be mere thuggishness if done on the street. Similar moves are under way to get Clarence Thomas to recuse himself in several cases--because of his wife's political activities. They in no way wish that their cause should be judged by anyone other than their allies.
And finally, there are those actions which are simply dishonest--applications of political maskirovka by people who have no standing whatsoever. "Catholics for Choice" which has been declared--officially--to be non-Catholic, are running a piece on a site that appears to be news, but is actually run by a PR company, for pay, a piece claiming that "Catholics" are asking the Bishops to stop their attacks on planned Parenthood. Liars.
Moving away from abortion, we can now look at Rwanda. Apparently the explosion of genocide in the 90s wasn't enough for some people, from outside the country. The united States Agency For international Development--that's your tax dollars at work, people!--is prepared to implement a program of permanant sterilization in that country. They plan to start with young men, in the schools, and the Army. i got news for you--the army will not be doing "voluntary" sterilizations--when an officer suggests, or requests, that's an order. Moreover, the Hutu majority is already rumbling abut using this program on the Tutsi minority. This is simply going to be a less messy, quieter way to complete the genocide. On our dime.
There is one place of good new I want to share--HIV infection rates in Zimbabwe are way down, and even the UN is admitting that it's not due to condoms--it's due to an increase in monogamy and marital fidelity. This was found in a joint report by UNAID and UNFPA. This is twice now that in Africa the fact that condoms do not stem the increase in AIDS and STDS has been proven, but that monogamy and fidelity do. Zimbabwe has managed to cut it's infection rate by half. If you follow such things, you might recall that Uganda had a great success in cutting it's infection rate by pointing out that abstinence, monogamy and fidelity were the key, right up until the EU decided that those poor benighted black people couldn't do that, and linked all their aid to condom distribution programs, which say a rise in the infection rates. Maybe now the condom fanatics will look at facts, and quit facilitating a pandemic in order to further their own idolatry of sex.
So that's the Abortion and Pro-Life situation as I see it right now.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
To My Gay Brethren
You have the right--you most assuredly have the right--to organize into groups for the purpose of conducting political speech. not only do you have that right, you should have that right. in fact, were someone to try and deny you that right, I would not only be disturbed, I would march with you in the attempt to preserve it. this is America, and everyone has that right. You have the right to lobby, to campaign, to participate in the public discourse.
The thing is, so do Catholics. Just as much as you. And just as much do I cherish that right on your behalf, I cherish it on my own.
Yet because the Catholic Church disagrees with you, you wish to silence us. And you sometimes use dirty tactics. Like on Sunday, when you protested outside of the Cathedral of the Holy Name in Chicago, timing your protest to be as inconvenient as possible for people who were just trying to go to Mass on Sunday. That was dirty pool. Especially since it violated a city ordinance against protesting at houses of worship. An ordinance that the City told you in advance it would not enforce in your case.
You are not a special class of people, whose rights trump those of all others. Sorry.
And then there is the question of iPhone Apps. You got one removed, The Manhattan Declaration, despite the fact that a counter petition to have it restored gathered something like four times as many signatures as the one to have it removed. That's disturbing--it is an attempt to prevent people from reading, signing or studying things you disagree with. It's censorship, in its own way, of political speech. now you're complaining again about an App--one that is designed to help people perform their Examination of Conscience before confession.
OK--straight up, it includes homosexual activity as a sin to be confessed. Well, if you are a practicing Catholic, having gay sex is a sin. Being a homosexual isn't. The activity is. yet you are incensed that someone doesn't think it's OK. Did you look at the other things listed? Like defrauding workers of their pay? Or having sex outside of marriage? Or Gossiping? You haven't been singled out as a group. An activity has been indicated as being sinful. Heterosexuals don't get a free pass for whtever they want to do either.
Calling it "anti-Gay spiritual abuse" is over the top too. How is it abusive? It's not. Moreover it applies to bisexuals, or even some straight kid who experimented. It's about an act that violates a religious precept. it's not about you. And saying that it creates "neurotic individuals" is simply displaying an ignorance of confession! Confession helps those of us who believe in it reconcile our failing with our ideals--it resolves the conflict between what we believe and what we do, it doesn't reinforce it. It helps us to conform ourselves and our behaviors to what we believe we should be. it doesn't promote neurosis--it helps resolve interior conflict, enables us to modify our behaviors and removes guilt. If anything, it reduces and relieves neurosis--that's why it's one of the Sacraments of Healing. And saying that it promotes the idea that being gay is somehow shameful is simply a lie--the app addresses an act, not ones sexual orientation.
Here's a radical idea--extend to Catholics the Tolerance and Acceptance you demand for yourselves.
The thing is, so do Catholics. Just as much as you. And just as much do I cherish that right on your behalf, I cherish it on my own.
Yet because the Catholic Church disagrees with you, you wish to silence us. And you sometimes use dirty tactics. Like on Sunday, when you protested outside of the Cathedral of the Holy Name in Chicago, timing your protest to be as inconvenient as possible for people who were just trying to go to Mass on Sunday. That was dirty pool. Especially since it violated a city ordinance against protesting at houses of worship. An ordinance that the City told you in advance it would not enforce in your case.
You are not a special class of people, whose rights trump those of all others. Sorry.
And then there is the question of iPhone Apps. You got one removed, The Manhattan Declaration, despite the fact that a counter petition to have it restored gathered something like four times as many signatures as the one to have it removed. That's disturbing--it is an attempt to prevent people from reading, signing or studying things you disagree with. It's censorship, in its own way, of political speech. now you're complaining again about an App--one that is designed to help people perform their Examination of Conscience before confession.
OK--straight up, it includes homosexual activity as a sin to be confessed. Well, if you are a practicing Catholic, having gay sex is a sin. Being a homosexual isn't. The activity is. yet you are incensed that someone doesn't think it's OK. Did you look at the other things listed? Like defrauding workers of their pay? Or having sex outside of marriage? Or Gossiping? You haven't been singled out as a group. An activity has been indicated as being sinful. Heterosexuals don't get a free pass for whtever they want to do either.
Calling it "anti-Gay spiritual abuse" is over the top too. How is it abusive? It's not. Moreover it applies to bisexuals, or even some straight kid who experimented. It's about an act that violates a religious precept. it's not about you. And saying that it creates "neurotic individuals" is simply displaying an ignorance of confession! Confession helps those of us who believe in it reconcile our failing with our ideals--it resolves the conflict between what we believe and what we do, it doesn't reinforce it. It helps us to conform ourselves and our behaviors to what we believe we should be. it doesn't promote neurosis--it helps resolve interior conflict, enables us to modify our behaviors and removes guilt. If anything, it reduces and relieves neurosis--that's why it's one of the Sacraments of Healing. And saying that it promotes the idea that being gay is somehow shameful is simply a lie--the app addresses an act, not ones sexual orientation.
Here's a radical idea--extend to Catholics the Tolerance and Acceptance you demand for yourselves.
Why Yes, I Am Pissed Off!
I am pissed off, and on so many level I don't know where to begin. I do know where I'm going to end.
First, I'm pissed that Lara Logan was gang raped by rioting fanatics. I'm pissed off enough about that that I would have no problem with some rather sever measures being taken, like hanging them. or even imposing sanctions against Egypt if they are not.
But I'm also pissed by the reactions I've seen on the 'Net. People commenting to the effect that what else could be expected--she was a hot blond chick. There have been articles and postings concerning her own sexual activities. And lots of things about how hot she is, complete with photos and videos. One of the worst things in this vein I read was a statement that if the person writing it were an Egyptian, he would have thrown her down too--she's hot! No matter how attractive a woman is, there is no excuse,can never be an excuse, for this action. To focus on her attractiveness is simply a way to place the blame for her rape on her. Let's all blame the victim is something we should have long ago outgrown.
Then again, there is the not too subtle schadenfreude that a "liberal journalist" got her comeuppance at the hands of the Muslims she was so quick to praise for demanding freedom--if in fact that's what she was doing, I don't wtch CBS so I don't know what her stories were like. I am not a fan of journalists, and I think modern journalism is pathetic, but that's an evil way to think. Disgusting.
Likewise disgusting is the several omissions to the story that are not being widely enough discussed in the conservative blogosphere. Although I have found references to the crowd shouting "Jew, Jew" during the rape, I have seen much fewer acknowledgments that she was rescued by--Muslims. Muslim women, and Egyptian Army Troops. Who waded in to save her at risk to themselves. These omissions are accompanied usually by racist comments about Egyptians and Muslims in general. They remind me painfully of our own past, when the rape narrative was used in the justification of the epidemic of lynchings in the US from 1890-1930. What a wonderful way to whip up hatred of a nation, of a religion. Just don't tell the whole truth.
I'm also pissed at those who are making a big deal about the fact that she was interned by the Egyptian government on suspicion of being a spy earlier this month. Both the extreme left and the paranoid right have focused on this. The Moonbats and Jackwagons of the unwashed and tinfoil hat brigades have opined that she was either targeted by the regime--then why did it's soldiers help rescue her?--for being a spy, or that it was a form of justice for involvement with a security contractor as in married to one--as if the rioters knew all about her. Both of these position are concerned with taking an outrage and using it to further their own agendas.
But the people I am most pissed at right now--pissed enough that I find I can't write about it for fear of departing completely from the bounds of charity, and therefore can't describe the degree of anger I feel, are some Catholic women. Who, unfortunately, are so very proud of their "traditionalism"and their status as 'stay at home moms'.
These women are blaming Ms. Logan for being raped by a gang of fanatical rioters. Their reasoning is twisted. Among the reasons they are blaming her is the fact that she is a mother. The idea being, she shouldn't be working outside of the home anyway. One described the outrage against Ms. Logan as a "betrayal"--her word--of Ms. Logan's child. That's right, that nice, Catholic Mom decided that Lara Logan, by being raped has betrayed her child. Others have said that she was obviously insane. It was said that she shouldn't have been there at all, that she shouldn't have the job of journalist. And through it all, easily discernible, is the subtext 'she deserved it'.
These women are no different than the radical feminists who think women who raise their kids are stupid, or insane, or weak. Ms. Logan made a different choice from them, so she is to blame. They are no different, really, from the fanatics who think rape victims should be stoned. After all, it's her fault she got raped. It's her fault. They seem to forget that not only are there women who must work outside the home there are those who choose to do so as well. And they forget that there are professional women who are not somehow less than whole, or not capable of being good, or worthy. I wonder what they think of St.Gianna Molla, a professional woman who worked outside the home while having children? They are blaming Lara Logan for being raped, saying it's her fault, for going into danger--that that was a betrayal of her child. Well, then, what do they think of female soldiers? Female cops? Female paramedics, or nurses who work treating those with communicable diseases?
The uber Catholic Moms who are condemning Ms. Logan are simply playing the I'm-so-righteous-look what-happened-to-you-game.
First, I'm pissed that Lara Logan was gang raped by rioting fanatics. I'm pissed off enough about that that I would have no problem with some rather sever measures being taken, like hanging them. or even imposing sanctions against Egypt if they are not.
But I'm also pissed by the reactions I've seen on the 'Net. People commenting to the effect that what else could be expected--she was a hot blond chick. There have been articles and postings concerning her own sexual activities. And lots of things about how hot she is, complete with photos and videos. One of the worst things in this vein I read was a statement that if the person writing it were an Egyptian, he would have thrown her down too--she's hot! No matter how attractive a woman is, there is no excuse,can never be an excuse, for this action. To focus on her attractiveness is simply a way to place the blame for her rape on her. Let's all blame the victim is something we should have long ago outgrown.
Then again, there is the not too subtle schadenfreude that a "liberal journalist" got her comeuppance at the hands of the Muslims she was so quick to praise for demanding freedom--if in fact that's what she was doing, I don't wtch CBS so I don't know what her stories were like. I am not a fan of journalists, and I think modern journalism is pathetic, but that's an evil way to think. Disgusting.
Likewise disgusting is the several omissions to the story that are not being widely enough discussed in the conservative blogosphere. Although I have found references to the crowd shouting "Jew, Jew" during the rape, I have seen much fewer acknowledgments that she was rescued by--Muslims. Muslim women, and Egyptian Army Troops. Who waded in to save her at risk to themselves. These omissions are accompanied usually by racist comments about Egyptians and Muslims in general. They remind me painfully of our own past, when the rape narrative was used in the justification of the epidemic of lynchings in the US from 1890-1930. What a wonderful way to whip up hatred of a nation, of a religion. Just don't tell the whole truth.
I'm also pissed at those who are making a big deal about the fact that she was interned by the Egyptian government on suspicion of being a spy earlier this month. Both the extreme left and the paranoid right have focused on this. The Moonbats and Jackwagons of the unwashed and tinfoil hat brigades have opined that she was either targeted by the regime--then why did it's soldiers help rescue her?--for being a spy, or that it was a form of justice for involvement with a security contractor as in married to one--as if the rioters knew all about her. Both of these position are concerned with taking an outrage and using it to further their own agendas.
But the people I am most pissed at right now--pissed enough that I find I can't write about it for fear of departing completely from the bounds of charity, and therefore can't describe the degree of anger I feel, are some Catholic women. Who, unfortunately, are so very proud of their "traditionalism"and their status as 'stay at home moms'.
These women are blaming Ms. Logan for being raped by a gang of fanatical rioters. Their reasoning is twisted. Among the reasons they are blaming her is the fact that she is a mother. The idea being, she shouldn't be working outside of the home anyway. One described the outrage against Ms. Logan as a "betrayal"--her word--of Ms. Logan's child. That's right, that nice, Catholic Mom decided that Lara Logan, by being raped has betrayed her child. Others have said that she was obviously insane. It was said that she shouldn't have been there at all, that she shouldn't have the job of journalist. And through it all, easily discernible, is the subtext 'she deserved it'.
These women are no different than the radical feminists who think women who raise their kids are stupid, or insane, or weak. Ms. Logan made a different choice from them, so she is to blame. They are no different, really, from the fanatics who think rape victims should be stoned. After all, it's her fault she got raped. It's her fault. They seem to forget that not only are there women who must work outside the home there are those who choose to do so as well. And they forget that there are professional women who are not somehow less than whole, or not capable of being good, or worthy. I wonder what they think of St.Gianna Molla, a professional woman who worked outside the home while having children? They are blaming Lara Logan for being raped, saying it's her fault, for going into danger--that that was a betrayal of her child. Well, then, what do they think of female soldiers? Female cops? Female paramedics, or nurses who work treating those with communicable diseases?
The uber Catholic Moms who are condemning Ms. Logan are simply playing the I'm-so-righteous-look what-happened-to-you-game.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
2012--Conservatives Will Do Poorly
I believe that conservatives will do poorly in 2012.
Partly, that will be because of a certain amount of Democrat skulduggery. Partly it will be because of the Democratic Bias of the press and television networks. But mostly it will be due to the "conservative movement".
Mostly, it will be due to the Conservative Factions in the US. Notice that I used the word "Factions'--the plural is the key. Obama has energized the conservatives in this country more effectively than anyone since Ronald Reagan. But being energized isn't going to be enough! And we shouldn't be too encouraged--or, if you're a progressive discouraged-- by the Republican gains in the 2010 election. it happened after Clinton was elected, and he served eight years.
The key to my thing is the the events a CPAC. They showed the greatest weakness of conservatives: They are unable to form stable coalitions. The rifts evident there were between the main varieties of conservatives, and the "mainstream' of the Republican party. (I put the word mainstream in quotes, because although they still have significant control of the machinery of the party, they don't seem to understand that they have lost most of the rank and file-they have compromised too much of what conservatives see as the non-negotiables of the conservative view.)
The Fiscal Conservatives are most concerned about taxation and deficit spending. Things to be concerned about indeed, but these are dry topics that are hard to sell to many plain folks. They rest on mathematics and the subtleties of the Dismal Science of Economics. Without entering into discussion of the merits of Fiscal Conservatism, it's a hard sell to many.
At the same time, we have a strong conservative group in the Social Conservatives. These are the people who are concerned with pro-life issues--abortion, euthanasia, OTC morning after pills, certain genetic experiments etc--Gay marriage, the Family, Divorce Rates, Pornography etc. This isn't marketable at all--either you believe in these causes, or you are opposed. Very few are neutral. however, the constituency of this faction is large, and vocal. It can make or break a conservative candidate, and this faction is feeling a little bit betrayed by the TEA Party Movement.
Then you have the Small Government, Checks and Balances Conservatives. They are concerned primarily with the threats they see posed by Government interference in the affairs of the States, the erosion of constitutional checks on executive power and what some see as Congressional usurpation of the prerogatives of other branches and levels of government.
There are also the Libertarian Conservatives, whose main interest is personal liberty, and a strictly constructivist interpretation of the Constitution. This group has some natural alliance with the Small Government Conservatives, and some with the Fiscal Conservatives and are in many instances opposed to Social Conservatives. this is the group most likely to support Gay Rights, Abortion, etc.
And we have a lose grouping that i will call the Nationalist Hawks, whose main concern is Us standing abroad, not as a trusted friend so much as the one group you don't mess with. They are likely to run head against the Fiscal Conservatives.
All of these groups are fired up. Each of them are upset, even outraged, by the actions of the Obama Administration. In fact, they are so fired up that they don't wish to cooperate with or compromise with other conservative groups to get part of what they want--they want it all.
And that's why Conservatives will do poorly in 2012. The Democratic party took it's worst drubbing in a presidential election, ever, in 1972, carrying one state. It reinvented itself by becoming a coalition of disparate, and sometimes conflicting, interest groups. I don't think that the Republican party will be able to do the same thing. I don't think the various factions of conservatives will be willing to compromise with one another enough to do it. The libertarians will not compromise with the Social Conservatives, and the nationalist hawks will agitate for high spending on defense and adventures abroad. And so on.
We Americans seem to have forgotten something in our political discourse--we are a Federal System, and a Republic. This means that if we are to be governed at all, we must be governed by coalitions of disparate interests. The inability of the Conservative movement's factions to stop shouting and waving their arms, and the unwillingness to compromise to attains some of their goals will cost them. it may well cost the attainment of any of their goals, and the further slide of the us into a Statist system. The CPAC Show more than anything else pointed this friction up.
Partly, that will be because of a certain amount of Democrat skulduggery. Partly it will be because of the Democratic Bias of the press and television networks. But mostly it will be due to the "conservative movement".
Mostly, it will be due to the Conservative Factions in the US. Notice that I used the word "Factions'--the plural is the key. Obama has energized the conservatives in this country more effectively than anyone since Ronald Reagan. But being energized isn't going to be enough! And we shouldn't be too encouraged--or, if you're a progressive discouraged-- by the Republican gains in the 2010 election. it happened after Clinton was elected, and he served eight years.
The key to my thing is the the events a CPAC. They showed the greatest weakness of conservatives: They are unable to form stable coalitions. The rifts evident there were between the main varieties of conservatives, and the "mainstream' of the Republican party. (I put the word mainstream in quotes, because although they still have significant control of the machinery of the party, they don't seem to understand that they have lost most of the rank and file-they have compromised too much of what conservatives see as the non-negotiables of the conservative view.)
The Fiscal Conservatives are most concerned about taxation and deficit spending. Things to be concerned about indeed, but these are dry topics that are hard to sell to many plain folks. They rest on mathematics and the subtleties of the Dismal Science of Economics. Without entering into discussion of the merits of Fiscal Conservatism, it's a hard sell to many.
At the same time, we have a strong conservative group in the Social Conservatives. These are the people who are concerned with pro-life issues--abortion, euthanasia, OTC morning after pills, certain genetic experiments etc--Gay marriage, the Family, Divorce Rates, Pornography etc. This isn't marketable at all--either you believe in these causes, or you are opposed. Very few are neutral. however, the constituency of this faction is large, and vocal. It can make or break a conservative candidate, and this faction is feeling a little bit betrayed by the TEA Party Movement.
Then you have the Small Government, Checks and Balances Conservatives. They are concerned primarily with the threats they see posed by Government interference in the affairs of the States, the erosion of constitutional checks on executive power and what some see as Congressional usurpation of the prerogatives of other branches and levels of government.
There are also the Libertarian Conservatives, whose main interest is personal liberty, and a strictly constructivist interpretation of the Constitution. This group has some natural alliance with the Small Government Conservatives, and some with the Fiscal Conservatives and are in many instances opposed to Social Conservatives. this is the group most likely to support Gay Rights, Abortion, etc.
And we have a lose grouping that i will call the Nationalist Hawks, whose main concern is Us standing abroad, not as a trusted friend so much as the one group you don't mess with. They are likely to run head against the Fiscal Conservatives.
All of these groups are fired up. Each of them are upset, even outraged, by the actions of the Obama Administration. In fact, they are so fired up that they don't wish to cooperate with or compromise with other conservative groups to get part of what they want--they want it all.
And that's why Conservatives will do poorly in 2012. The Democratic party took it's worst drubbing in a presidential election, ever, in 1972, carrying one state. It reinvented itself by becoming a coalition of disparate, and sometimes conflicting, interest groups. I don't think that the Republican party will be able to do the same thing. I don't think the various factions of conservatives will be willing to compromise with one another enough to do it. The libertarians will not compromise with the Social Conservatives, and the nationalist hawks will agitate for high spending on defense and adventures abroad. And so on.
We Americans seem to have forgotten something in our political discourse--we are a Federal System, and a Republic. This means that if we are to be governed at all, we must be governed by coalitions of disparate interests. The inability of the Conservative movement's factions to stop shouting and waving their arms, and the unwillingness to compromise to attains some of their goals will cost them. it may well cost the attainment of any of their goals, and the further slide of the us into a Statist system. The CPAC Show more than anything else pointed this friction up.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Oops!
I had a really great, incisive post about how the conservative movement will fail 2012, but then The Queen of the house came home and had ideas about wht i should be doing, and then i lost the post.
So I just have to leave you with this: I have no hopes for a conservative sweep in 2012, of the Senate, or of the House. And it will be our fault.
I also had some things to say about the "fairness doctrine" and other things political.
Maybe I'll remember them tomorrow or Wednesday--but then again, maybe not. At least the pruning is all marked out.
So I just have to leave you with this: I have no hopes for a conservative sweep in 2012, of the Senate, or of the House. And it will be our fault.
I also had some things to say about the "fairness doctrine" and other things political.
Maybe I'll remember them tomorrow or Wednesday--but then again, maybe not. At least the pruning is all marked out.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Gratification
YES! This year the Westminster Dog Show has both the Blue Tick and Redbone hounds as breeds acceptable to the show! Both are COON HOUNDS!
I hope they eat a toy poodle!
I hope they eat a toy poodle!
Even More Groovy Numbers!
The Schumann Center is our parishes outreach to the poor and homeless. I guess I should explain tht our church is an inner city parish, on the edge of an area known as "Smoketown" one of the most crime ridden neighborhoods in America--it's in the twenty most dangerous neighborhoods in the US, and has been chronically poor since 1865.
In 2010, the Schumann Center served 10,620 men, 4,499 women and 4,734 children directly. (They also do referrals.) It helped 602 families with food distributions--many of them multiple times and distributed 270 Christmas food baskets, that can feed a family of four not only Christmas dinner, but for several days of eating in honor of the Nativity--not just some low level you won't starve stuff.
(Some people object to giving "good stuff' that will last longer than Christmas dinner, but think--these are families, with kids. Those kids are not to blame for being poor, and by making Christmas a time with something good on the table, maybe these kids will remember Christ as more than a word for white folks.)
If you want to help, the Schumann Center is at this Address:
The Schuhmann Center, 636 S. Shelby St., Louisville, KY 40202. Tel. 502-589-6696. Jim Nix, the director, will happily receive donations! He ain't shy, either. He'll even receive vehicles, boats, campers whatever, and turn them into the needed resources. The center is about to celebrate it's 29th anniversary, BTW.
In 2010, the Schumann Center served 10,620 men, 4,499 women and 4,734 children directly. (They also do referrals.) It helped 602 families with food distributions--many of them multiple times and distributed 270 Christmas food baskets, that can feed a family of four not only Christmas dinner, but for several days of eating in honor of the Nativity--not just some low level you won't starve stuff.
(Some people object to giving "good stuff' that will last longer than Christmas dinner, but think--these are families, with kids. Those kids are not to blame for being poor, and by making Christmas a time with something good on the table, maybe these kids will remember Christ as more than a word for white folks.)
If you want to help, the Schumann Center is at this Address:
The Schuhmann Center, 636 S. Shelby St., Louisville, KY 40202. Tel. 502-589-6696. Jim Nix, the director, will happily receive donations! He ain't shy, either. He'll even receive vehicles, boats, campers whatever, and turn them into the needed resources. The center is about to celebrate it's 29th anniversary, BTW.
What a GREAT Mass!
Today, the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time, we had a wonderful Mass! The Music was taken from the Liber usualis, the Roman Graduale, and traditional hymnody. The organ prelude while the congregation gathered was "Fugue in C" by Charles Callahan, and the introit was from the Gregorian Corpus, proper to the day. The words, in English went : Be to me a protecting God and a house of refuge, to save me; for you are my support and my refuge; And for the sake of your name you will lead m and nourish me. In you O lord, do I trust: let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. Glory... . Since the Church is quite large, we also sang the hymn "Praise to the lord, the Almighty' (Lobe Den Herren).
Father censed the altar.
After the greeting--straight, no chaser from the Sacramentary, with no improvisation what ever--we did the Confiteor, in English. With a sung Kyrie.
The First reading was, of course, Sirach 15:15-20, and the Responsorial was sung, with the Antiphon being sung in the noelchanbanel tone, pattern A ord 06. The text was chanted using Meinrad tones. The second reading was 1 Cor 2:6-10. Then came the Gospel.
We used the Graduale proper for the day, in Gregorian mode, by the choir--in English it reads: You alone are the god who works wonders; you manifested your strength among the nations. With your arm you delivered your people, the sons of Israel and Joseph. then we moved into the Alleluia Verse, with the Choir leading the Alleluia, the congregation responding and the Cantor intoning the verse. The Deacon Incensed the Gospel. The Gospel was Matt 5:17-37. We did not use the short form. (Has anyone else noticed that the "short forms" seem to coincide with the hard sayings, and the mention of sin and immorality? And that these forms excise the hard sayings, or the "politically incorrect" teachings? They say that these are in the interest of brevity--I suspect they were sold to the Congregation for Divine Worship as such, but were a back door way to censor the Gospel!)
The came the Homily. The homily! You should just inset an exclamation or superlative here! Deacon Zoldak preached the Homily today, and a great job of it he did! he didn't shy away from the hard sayings--he embraced them. He used a homey metaphor, which I don't like, but it worked. He took Jesus' remarks about being angry, and that being a violation of "thou shalt not kill", and Jesus' remarks about looking with lust being adultery, and spun them out. He moved from we think we're OK because we don't kill people, but we gossip and "run down" those we don't like, and destroys part of their life, and the respect they are due. Then he went a little further--into territory that is not comfortable for priests, deacons and many of the faithful. He said we think we're OK because we don't abort, but we use contraception.
That's right--we heard a Homily about contraception. In church, no less. At the mass with the most young married couples in it. What courage! he also tied it into other things we do, and used the Epistle, comparing the values of contemporary society to "the wisdom of this age, doomed to pass away" Deacon Zoldak is a Soldier of the Lord! What's more, he did it without being angry, or confrontational. he simply explained that it was wrong. With compassion and tact. And this was all the more effective for coming from the mouth of a married man, who has raised children, and knows what a task that is. A truly counter cultural exhortation!
Thanks and Praise to our Lord for men like Deacon Zoldak. Today we saw a glimpse of the courage of Stephen and Lawrence, right up front, in our Church. (What was even more gratifying was that after Mass, many people stopped--the more committed people in the Parish--to thank him, to include women surrounded by kids! And people were stopping to comment to our Pastor, supporting Deacon Zoldak-and saying things that while polite and tactful evened out to "Don't you say a thing to him about this--we needed it preached!)
After the Creed (And yes, the people bowed before the mystery of the incarnation, at the words "...and became man.) we had the General Intercessions, to include a special request with an Ave for the people of Egypt.
Then came the offertory. The choir sang from the Liber usualis, in the Gregorian, the proper. In English: Blessed are you, O Lord, teach me your commandments. O Lord, you are blessed, teach me your commandments. With my lips have I declared all the judgments spoken by your mouth.
Then the gifts were brought up. This was very personal to me, because we were the family who presented the Gifts. That might not mean all that much to most people, but I almost shattered my own family, and at one point in my life I despaired of ever knowing family, or familial love again. Today, with my children and grandchildren, and the Mother of my children, we presented the gifts. And as we processed with them, the choir sang the piece 'Exultate Deo", by Alessandro Scarletti, a renaissance polyphonic piece on Psalms 81:1--
Rejoice to God, our helper, Alleluia! Sing Aloud to the God of Jacob, Alleluia! This went on during th preparation of the Alter and while Fr. Klotter censed the gifts. Then the ministers of the alter were censed, and the people, by one of the servers. Thus were marked the four ways Christ is present in the liturgy.
Father used the Third Eucharistic Prayer, and we had alter bells at all the appropriate places. By the way--the Church bells rang to call the faithful to Mass, before the service started.
During the Communion of the Faithful the hymn was "Humbly I Adore Thee", which is a traditional English language version of the Adoro Te Devote. Since the 9:30 Mass is popular, and it's a big church, it was followed by the Anthem "Bread of the World in mercy Broken", and organ music during the purification.
The concluding hymn was "Christ is Made the Sure Foundation".
So what was the special occasion? nothing--it was Sunday. This is what the liturgy is like in our Parish. With no improvisation in the ordinary or proper prayers, and according to the pertinent documents from Rome, and the Bishops, and our Archdiocese. At the 11:00 it is much the same, except the ordinaries--the Sanctus, the Agnus Dei, etc, are chanted by the congregation in Latin. If you are a fan of the Ordinary Form, but prefer a high standard of ars Celebrandi, and you happen to be in the Louisville Area, check us out at 9:30 or 11:00 on Sunday. If, on the other hand, you prefer the Extraordinary Form, the TLM, we have have you covered with the TLM Missa Cantata at 12:30.
Father censed the altar.
After the greeting--straight, no chaser from the Sacramentary, with no improvisation what ever--we did the Confiteor, in English. With a sung Kyrie.
The First reading was, of course, Sirach 15:15-20, and the Responsorial was sung, with the Antiphon being sung in the noelchanbanel tone, pattern A ord 06. The text was chanted using Meinrad tones. The second reading was 1 Cor 2:6-10. Then came the Gospel.
We used the Graduale proper for the day, in Gregorian mode, by the choir--in English it reads: You alone are the god who works wonders; you manifested your strength among the nations. With your arm you delivered your people, the sons of Israel and Joseph. then we moved into the Alleluia Verse, with the Choir leading the Alleluia, the congregation responding and the Cantor intoning the verse. The Deacon Incensed the Gospel. The Gospel was Matt 5:17-37. We did not use the short form. (Has anyone else noticed that the "short forms" seem to coincide with the hard sayings, and the mention of sin and immorality? And that these forms excise the hard sayings, or the "politically incorrect" teachings? They say that these are in the interest of brevity--I suspect they were sold to the Congregation for Divine Worship as such, but were a back door way to censor the Gospel!)
The came the Homily. The homily! You should just inset an exclamation or superlative here! Deacon Zoldak preached the Homily today, and a great job of it he did! he didn't shy away from the hard sayings--he embraced them. He used a homey metaphor, which I don't like, but it worked. He took Jesus' remarks about being angry, and that being a violation of "thou shalt not kill", and Jesus' remarks about looking with lust being adultery, and spun them out. He moved from we think we're OK because we don't kill people, but we gossip and "run down" those we don't like, and destroys part of their life, and the respect they are due. Then he went a little further--into territory that is not comfortable for priests, deacons and many of the faithful. He said we think we're OK because we don't abort, but we use contraception.
That's right--we heard a Homily about contraception. In church, no less. At the mass with the most young married couples in it. What courage! he also tied it into other things we do, and used the Epistle, comparing the values of contemporary society to "the wisdom of this age, doomed to pass away" Deacon Zoldak is a Soldier of the Lord! What's more, he did it without being angry, or confrontational. he simply explained that it was wrong. With compassion and tact. And this was all the more effective for coming from the mouth of a married man, who has raised children, and knows what a task that is. A truly counter cultural exhortation!
Thanks and Praise to our Lord for men like Deacon Zoldak. Today we saw a glimpse of the courage of Stephen and Lawrence, right up front, in our Church. (What was even more gratifying was that after Mass, many people stopped--the more committed people in the Parish--to thank him, to include women surrounded by kids! And people were stopping to comment to our Pastor, supporting Deacon Zoldak-and saying things that while polite and tactful evened out to "Don't you say a thing to him about this--we needed it preached!)
After the Creed (And yes, the people bowed before the mystery of the incarnation, at the words "...and became man.) we had the General Intercessions, to include a special request with an Ave for the people of Egypt.
Then came the offertory. The choir sang from the Liber usualis, in the Gregorian, the proper. In English: Blessed are you, O Lord, teach me your commandments. O Lord, you are blessed, teach me your commandments. With my lips have I declared all the judgments spoken by your mouth.
Then the gifts were brought up. This was very personal to me, because we were the family who presented the Gifts. That might not mean all that much to most people, but I almost shattered my own family, and at one point in my life I despaired of ever knowing family, or familial love again. Today, with my children and grandchildren, and the Mother of my children, we presented the gifts. And as we processed with them, the choir sang the piece 'Exultate Deo", by Alessandro Scarletti, a renaissance polyphonic piece on Psalms 81:1--
Rejoice to God, our helper, Alleluia! Sing Aloud to the God of Jacob, Alleluia! This went on during th preparation of the Alter and while Fr. Klotter censed the gifts. Then the ministers of the alter were censed, and the people, by one of the servers. Thus were marked the four ways Christ is present in the liturgy.
Father used the Third Eucharistic Prayer, and we had alter bells at all the appropriate places. By the way--the Church bells rang to call the faithful to Mass, before the service started.
During the Communion of the Faithful the hymn was "Humbly I Adore Thee", which is a traditional English language version of the Adoro Te Devote. Since the 9:30 Mass is popular, and it's a big church, it was followed by the Anthem "Bread of the World in mercy Broken", and organ music during the purification.
The concluding hymn was "Christ is Made the Sure Foundation".
So what was the special occasion? nothing--it was Sunday. This is what the liturgy is like in our Parish. With no improvisation in the ordinary or proper prayers, and according to the pertinent documents from Rome, and the Bishops, and our Archdiocese. At the 11:00 it is much the same, except the ordinaries--the Sanctus, the Agnus Dei, etc, are chanted by the congregation in Latin. If you are a fan of the Ordinary Form, but prefer a high standard of ars Celebrandi, and you happen to be in the Louisville Area, check us out at 9:30 or 11:00 on Sunday. If, on the other hand, you prefer the Extraordinary Form, the TLM, we have have you covered with the TLM Missa Cantata at 12:30.
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