Luukas

The little guy is having trouble swallowing and is showing signs of pneumonia. Please take time to pray for Luukas and his family, as well as all children both born and unborn.

Previous posts about Luukas

Corpus Christi Homily

Very good homily from White Around the Collar

4 to 59 in four years

Interesting article about theDominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Founded by Cardinal O'Connor, invited to Michigan by Bishop Mengeling, and funded initially by Monaghan, the Dominican Sisters now number 59, a growth rate of 1400 percent. They are expected to be 70 in all by 2007. Sr. Joseph Andrew, speaking at the luncheon afterward, remarked that, "We are growing so fast we cannot assume a roof over our heads." She added that this was a "good problem" to have.

The average age of the professed Sisters is 28, and the average age of those in the novitiate is 24. Astoundingly, 173 young women attended their vocations retreat in February of this year. I'm sure I wasn't the only person in the room who compared this community to all of the religious orders that are dying because of a lack of vocations.

Mother Assumpta Long, the driving force behind the community, has a simple explanation for their success: "It all begins in the chapel. If it doesn't happen there, it's not going to happen. The most important thing is our religious life."

Hat tip to Matt at Absolutely No Spin

Update on Luukas . . . not good

From his godfather:

The situation is that Luukas breaths himself without ventilator. He looked awake when I have seen him 2 days ago. He is also not anymore in the intensive care. The doctors are however very pesimistic about the brain condotion as on Thursday there was not activity (EEG). So from this point of view there is almost no hope that baby will recover and live conscious life and i am affraid that parents also takes this as fact. I would say they would need now our prayers to recover their hope and trust in the miracle that we are all praying for. So far I understood they are tired but now it is up to us help we have to really believe and really hope instead of them. I personally dont give up and i hope that Luukas will be fine. I thank you also on behalf of parents for your prayers , but continue, we are praying for big miracle

Please remember to keep Baby Luukas and his family in your prayers.

More on Baby Luukas:

June 14
Juen 13
June 12
June 10

The Episcopalians are losing it . . .

From VirtueOnline:

The 75th General Convention of the Episcopal Church today passed a resolution essentially condemning the Bible as an "anti-Jewish" document. Not only does the resolution aim to address perceptions of anti-Jewish prejudice in the Bible and Episcopal liturgy, but it suggests that such prejudice is actually "expressed in...Christian Scriptures and liturgical texts."Originated in the Committee on Prayer Book, Liturgy and Music, Resolution C001 directs the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music to "collect and develop materials to assist members of the Church to address anti-Jewish prejudice expressed in and stirred by portions of Christian scriptures and liturgical texts, with suggestions for preaching, congregational education, and lectionary use, and to report to the 76th General Convention." Read Entire Article.

From Northwest Arkansas Times:

The recent ban on abortion in South Dakota is a victory for the "pro-life" movement — and thus, anti-abortionists claim, a victory for "the sanctity of human life." But is it? The South Dakota law bans abortions in all cases except saving the life of the mother. Consider what this would mean for human life — not the "lives" of embryos or primitive fetuses, but the lives of real, living, breathing, thinking women. It would mean that women who wanted to terminate a pregnancy because it resulted from rape or contraceptive failure — or because the would-be father has abandoned her — or because the fetus is malformed — would be forbidden from doing so. It would mean that they would be forced to endure the misery of unwanted pregnancy and the incredible burdens of child rearing. It would mean that women would be sentenced to 18-year terms of enslavement to unwanted children — thereby suffocating their hopes, their dreams, their personal ambitions, their chance of happiness.Read Entire Article

This bit of garbage appeared in one of my local papers, and several others across the country, on Friday. Mr. Beenfeldt, offers one of the most distasteful commentaries I have ever read. Here are a few of my favorite examples with emphasis added.

Consider what this would mean for human life — not the "lives" of embryos or primitive fetuses, but the lives of real, living, breathing, thinking women. It would mean that women who wanted to terminate a pregnancy because it resulted from rape or contraceptive failure — or because the would-be father has abandoned her — or because the fetus is malformed — would be forbidden from doing so.

The quotations around the word lives are Mr. Beenfeldt's. Would-be father? Biologically someone is the father whether they stick around or not. But I think he is using the term "would-be" because he doesn't few, in his words "embryos or primitive fetuses" as real and human.

It would mean that they would be forced to endure the misery of unwanted pregnancy and the incredible burdens of child rearing. It would mean that women would be sentenced to 18-year terms of enslavement to unwanted children — thereby suffocating their hopes, their dreams, their personal ambitions, their chance of happiness.

If this guy has or ever does father children, I wonder how they would feel readying how daddy thinks they are an "incredible burden" and equatable to "18-year terms of enslavement"?

According to a World Health Organization estimate, 110,000 women worldwide die each year from such illegal abortions and up to six times as many suffer injury from them. Clearly, anti-abortionists believe that such women’s lives are an unimportant consideration in the issue of abortion. Why?

Yes, I am rejoice when mother's die and their children grow up without knowing them. Don't critique that which you are ignorant of. And Mr. Beenfeldt, you are clearly ignorant.

Because, they claim, the embryo or fetus is a human being — and thus to abort it is murder. But an embryo is not a human being, and abortion is not murder. There is no scientific reason to characterize a raisinsize lump of cells as a human being.

This comes from a man with a degree in philosophy. Calling it an embryo is a clear indicator of trying to dehumanize and therefore justify your stance. It is a HUMAN embryo. It comes from humans, shares the DNA pattern of humans, and is in fact human.

Biologically speaking, such an embryo is far more primitive than a fish or a bird.

Analogously, seeds can become mature plants — but that hardly makes a pile of acorns equal to a forest.

You're kidding me right? Did he really just compare a human baby to a fish, bird, or pile of acorns? These two sentences alone make this one of most poorly written things I have ever read. I don't profess to be a great mind or a great writer, as evidenced by this blog, but I'm sure that I could have come up with something more intelligent that that. By far my vote getter for most moronic statement of the year.

The ultimate "justification" of the "pro-life" position is religious dogma. Led by the American Roman Catholic Church and Protestant fundamentalists, the movement’s basic tenet, in the words of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, is that an embryo must be treated "from conception as a person" created by the "action of God."

Let's just get one thing straight. There is one Catholic Church to which some if its members happen to live in America.

The article goes on with more rubbish writing by Mr. Beenfeldt expressing his view that a child isn't human while in the womb. I would like to be there one day when one of his children asks, "where you excited when mommy found out she was expecting me?" What is he going to say, "No, not really, I didn't think you where actually a human until you were five years old and would have preferred a fish or pile of acorns."

Opposition to the Church

In the encyclical letter Humanae Vitae Pope Paul VI says:

It can be foreseen that this teaching will perhaps not be easily received by all. Too numerous are those voices - amplified by the modern means of propaganda - which are contrary to the voice of the Church. To tell the truth, the Church is not surprised to be made, like her divine founder, a "sign of contradiciton," yet she does not because of this cease to proclaim with humble firmness theentire moral law, both natural and evangelica. Of such laws the Church is not the author, nor consequently can she be their arbiter; she is only their depositary and the interpreter, whithout ever being able to declare to be licit that which is not so by reason of its intimate and unchangeable opposition to the true good of man.

Pope Paul VI is of course speaking about human sexuality and artificial birth control, but this caught my eye in context of the seemingly unending flood of rhetoric calling for the Church to change it's teachings on abortion, contraception, homosexuality, ordination of women, etc. I see so many of these people saying that they really do know and love thier Faith and that is why they are advocating change in order to make the Catholic Faith better. I wonder how many of them really do know the Faith? How many love the Faith enough to pick up the writings of the popes and and Church Fathers?

I think this will be a good quote to keep in mind when having "discussions" on various topics with some of my peers.

New Mass translation approved

AP Wire | 06/15/2006 | U.S. bishops approve new Mass translation

LOS ANGELES - The
nation's Roman Catholic bishops signed off Thursday on a new English translation for the Mass that would change prayers ingrained in the memories of millions of American parishioners.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops voted at its biannual meeting for a new translation after a brief but vigorous debate overseveral small changes in wording. The 173-29 vote on the Order of theMass was aimed at satisfying Vatican calls for a translation that's closer to the Latin version.

Before Mass changes at the parish level, the Americans' version must go to offices in the Holy See for final approval. The bishops' leader on the issue said that process could take years.

"Without a doubt, this is the most significant liturgical action to come before this body for many years," said Bishop Donald Trautman, chairman of the conference's Committee on Liturgy.

"It will take some adapting, but it is not earth-shattering when you think of the changes we went through 40 years ago," he said, referring to the Second Vatican Council, where the Latin Mass was replaced by the vernacular languages in each country.

The new translation alters the wording of key texts spoken byCatholics during worship, including the Nicene Creed, the Gloria, thePenitential Rite, the Sanctus and Communion.

Worst design for a church ever...

... or at least worst one I've seen so far.

Check out this Dick Vosko creation.
The Cafeteria Is Closed: Dinner and a...Mass?
Hat tip: Gerald

What is the purpose of this? It makes no sense at all.

Update on Baby Luukas

The Catholic Message Board - View topic - Luukas' brain scan

From Luukas' dad:

We have now received the results of the brain scan. Unfortunately, it shows great damage in his little brain. He will be on anti-epileptic medication, and the doctors expect him to develop very slowly and have problems with both movement and intellect. He will most likely get off the breathing machine tomorrow, and leave the intensive care unit shortly. The doctors did not see any reason to keep him in the hospital very long, so it seems he is coming home in a few weeks, with periodic checkups and treatments in the hospital, as well as physiotherapy at home. It seems that his sight is OK, but they will run an EEG to check his brain and its reactions more tomorrow.

Please continue to pray for a miracle in the complete healing of Luukas.

Excuse the rant

CNN.com - FEMA hurricane cards bought jewelry, erotica - Jun 14, 2006

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A $200 bottle of champagne from Hooters and $300 worth of "Girls Gone Wild" videos were among items bought with debit cards handed out by FEMA to help hurricane victims, auditors probing $1 billion in potential waste and fraud have found.

The cards -- given to people displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita -- also bought diamond jewelry and a vacation in the Dominican Republic, according to the Government Accountability Office audit.

The GAO uncovered records showing that $1,000 from a FEMA debit card went to a Houston divorce lawyer; $600 was spent in a strip club and $400 was spent on "adult erotica products," all of which auditors concluded were "not necessary to satisfy legitimate disaster needs."

The rest of the article talks about the failings of FEMA in verifying and tracking claims.  I will concede that it was an emergency of unparalled proportions and the need to act quickly was great. 

But, my rant is not about FEMA.  It is about people who have no more respect for themselves and their fellow man than to use such underhanded, deceitful, cowardly, and shamful tactics. 

I'm going to expand this a little bit to talk about social welfare.  I am all for governmental assistance and social welfare programs.  I think we all have a responsiblity to stretch out a hand and lift up our fellow man.  However, by receiving said assistance I think individuals assume a responsibility to match or exceed those efforts to better their own situation.  I have known people my entire life who took advantage of the system.  People with no impediment to finding a job other than their own laziness who reach for every handout available drive me up the wall. 

I'm all for a matching type system.  You need $1000 a month to support your family.  Fine, do $500 worth a work and we'll give you the rest.  Can't get a job because you lack educational training? Fine, enroll in one of our educational training programs and put in $500 worth of education and we'll give you $1000 (of course, this requires some sort of competent educational training program).  Deal doesn't sound good to you?  Fine, better call your momma because you aren't getting money from us.

Of course, I'm not talking about people that need assistance due to an inability to work due to disability, age, ect.  I'd even go as far as to count actually being a parent and raising your children (something not near common enough today) as your work contribution in situations like suddenly widowed individuals who had been in a single income family.  I don't mind giving you money as long as you do SOMETHING to EARN it.

Anyway, not necessarily in with the theme of this blog.  But, I haven't had a good rant in a while.

The news is good today

FDA Rejects Abortion Group Petition to Have Morning After Pill Over the Counter

For five years, the radically pro-abortion lobby group, the Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR), has been petitioning the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to allow the abortifacient morning after pill, Plan B, to be dispensed as an over-the-counter drug without a doctor’s prescription or supervision. Now the FDA has announced that the petition has been rejected.

Elsewhere in the article the CRR staff attorney accuses the FDA of putting is mission to promote public health aside.  Last time I checked involuntary, imposed death wasn't very healthy for a child.

Comission Says Its OK for Christian Businessman to Refuse to Duplicate Gay Videos

The Commission has now rescinded its initial order against Bono and dismissed Ms. Vincenz’s complaint. There is no evidence that Bono ever discriminated against Ms. Vincenz based upon her sexual orientation, since Vincenz admits that she never actually discussed her orientation with Bono, reports ABC 7 News. Liberty Counsel, Mr. Bono’s legal counsel, will, however, proceed with a suit that challenges the Commission's authority to recognize "sexual orientation" as a civil right. Virginia law prohibits local government from passing or enforcing nondiscrimination laws that are not authorized by the state. The state does not list "sexual orientation" as a protected civil right or class. The Virginia Attorney General’s Office has already expressed its concern that local governments are stepping over the line by interpreting anti-discrimination laws as including “sexual orientation,” reports ABC 7 News.

At least they got it right the second time.

Australia Strikes Down Law Recognizing Same-Sex Unions

The Australian government has followed through on its pledge to quash a law recognizing same-sex unions in the Australian Capital Territory.

Atheist's Challenge to "In God We Trust" National Motto Dismissed by Federal Judge

A California federal trial judge has dismissed the lawsuit filed by Michael Newdow challenging the constitutionality of the American national motto, "In God We Trust." Newdow is the atheist who achieved national attention in his previous unsuccessful attempt to remove the Pledge of Allegiance from public schools because it includes the words "one nation under God."

Newdow, give it up already.  I saw something recently where someone stated that the agenda of GLBT activists isn't really equality in society but domination of society.  I won't go as far to say that applies to all homosexual people or athiests.  But, I do think it describes this guy pretty nicely.

Pro-life Groups Allowed to Defend Right To Refuse Abortion Says Court of Appeals

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ruled Friday that California healthcare professionals must be allowed to intervene in a lawsuit to defend their right to refuse to provide abortions and abortion referrals. Attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund and the Christian Legal Society represent members of the Christian Medical Association, American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Fellowship of Christian Physicians Assistants.

Update on Baby Luukas

From his dad:

Today's word: Luukas is showing great signs of progress. He breathes himself most of the time, and reacts to touching by moving his mouth, eyelids, fingers and legs. He even moved his eyes a bit today, though they do not react to light yet. These new signs of life almost invariably seem to start when his mother is touching him. The doctor said today that he still has a high content of thiopentane in his blood, and that it might take a week (from last Sunday) before he is fully awake. She estimated to have him breathe without the machine the day after tomorrow. Luukas has also been taken off almost all medication and his heart and kidneys are doing just fine. It seems that in a few days, he will be able to leave the intensive care unit. Tomorrow they are planning to run a magnetic scan of his brain (which was initially scheduled for Monday). Please continue praying that the results would be good and the recovery complete.

This little guy has been faced with the fight of his life, for his life, in his first week of life. Continue to pray that he continues to improve to a full recovery.

Spanish Government Funds Anti-Catholic Rally for Pope’s Visit

From LifeSite News:

VALENCIA, June 12, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The socialist government of Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero will be staging a homosexual conference on the day before the expected arrival of Pope Benedict XVI. The pope is to arrive in Spain July 8-9 to attend the 5th meeting of the World Family Forum in order to explore ways to bolster the integrity of the family, which the pope has said is under assault across the world.

A consortium of homosexuals and leftist anti-Catholic groups, with the help of €17,000 from the Employment and Social Affairs ministry, and the University of Valencia, have organized the conference to counter the Family Forum meeting organized by Spanish family supporters and the Vatican. Read Entire Article.

From the same article:

The pope will greet Premier Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero at the headquarters of the Valencia archdiocese, and not at any official government location. The move, some have speculated, is a signal by the gesture-sensitive Vatican to show the socialists and Zapatero where they stand in Benedict’s estimation.

To be the proverbial fly on the wall when Pope Benedict XVI detailed his estimation.....

Oh Canada. . .

From LifeSite News:

A telephone poll of 1,508 Canadian adults conducted in April found the following results.

Question: "Do you consider the following behaviour as immoral?"

Pedophilia: 81% yes, 11% no, 8% don't know or refused to respond.
Marital infidelity: 74% yes, 23% no
Divorce: 17% yes, 78% no
Prostitution: 68% yes, 29% no
Sexual activity before age 16: 65% yes, 31% no
Alchohol abuse: 65% yes, 33% no
Homosexuality: 31% yes, 63% no (the survey doesn't indicate if this is a perception of homosexual orientation or activity or if any distinction is made)

8% considered contraception immoral.

Interestingly, 51% considered blashpemy immoral, ranking it above abortion, homosexuality, divorce and contraception.

Read Entire Article.