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Gentle Reader:



I realize my opinions and the wording used to express them may cause tender souls some distress. Therefore, in the spirit of brotherly concern for my fellow man, I advise anyone who takes offense at any portion of this blog to go piss up a rope.



About Me

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The title of this blog refers to the routine evolution of pressurizing & emptying to sea a human waste tank of an American submarine built prior to the mid 70's. If you don't do it right you wind up covered with excrement. The same can be said for blogging at times. Been there, done that, got the tee shirt. I'm a retired Senior Chief A-ganger from the US Submarine Service. Revert back in the Catholic Church. Recovering alcoholic. Living in Texas. 59 years old, happily married with three children, all eight years of age or under. Fully "retired", the wife works while I take care of the kids and home.

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Friday, February 27, 2009

Fr. Moonbat on the Pope...

Theologian's criticism of pope draws Vatican response

By John Thavis, Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The dissident theologian Father Hans Kung has criticized Pope Benedict XVI as isolated and unable to take creative steps to deal with a series of internal church questions, including priestly celibacy and birth control.

Father Kung said the pope's recent lifting of the excommunications of four traditionalist bishops illustrated the pontiff's desire for a smaller and purer church, and his inability to make necessary reforms.

"The church risks becoming a sect. Many Catholics no longer expect anything from this pope. It's very sad," Father Kung said in an interview published by the French newspaper Le Monde Feb. 24.

His remarks drew a sharp comment from the dean of the College of Cardinals, Italian Cardinal Angelo Sodano, who told Vatican Radio he felt "wounded" when he read the interview.

"Fraternal criticism has always been possible in the church, from the times of Sts. Peter and Paul. Bitter criticism, on the other hand, especially when it's so broad, does not contribute to the unity of the church, for which Pope Benedict is working so hard," Cardinal Sodano said.

Father Kung, who has taught in Germany for decades, has frequently challenged official church positions on papal infallibility, birth control, priestly celibacy and the all-male priesthood. In 1979 the Vatican withdrew permission for him to teach as a Catholic theologian, although it did not restrict his ministry as a Catholic priest.

Father Kung has known Pope Benedict for some 50 years, and the two met in 2005 for what the Vatican described as a "friendly" encounter.

In the interview with Le Monde, Father Kung noted that one of the four traditionalist bishops whose excommunication was lifted by the pope has minimized the Holocaust, provoking widespread criticism. The pope's misjudgment on such an important issue, Father Kung said, reflected his own isolation.

"Benedict XVI has always lived in an ecclesial environment. He has not traveled much. He's always remained closed in the Vatican -- which is quite similar to how the Kremlin was at one time -- where he is safe from criticism," Father Kung said.

In any case, he said, the lifting of the excommunications was not a mistake in communications or tactics, but an error in church governance. He said it was "scandalous" that on the 50th anniversary of the convening of the Second Vatican Council Pope Benedict moved to reintegrate people who were opposed to the council's teachings.

Father Kung said that in his nearly four years in office the pope has shown a lack of pastoral courage and a lack of awareness of the "profound crisis" in the church. He suggested that the pope could make several important gestures:

-- Allow divorced and remarried Catholics to receive Communion in some circumstances.

-- Take steps to "correct" the 1968 encyclical "Humanae Vitae" and allow use of birth control in some cases.

-- Abolish the rule of priestly celibacy in the Latin-rite church

.-- Institute a new way of electing bishops with the involvement of local Catholics.

Father Kung said it would be helpful to call a third Vatican council to deal with these and other issues.

I've read several works by Kung. They impressed me and, although his distaste for the Vatican and every inhabitant it's had since John XXIII was evident, I can state they helped in my return to Catholicism. Really.

That aside, someone should check his meds. He's under the delusion we should become like the Anglicans/Episcopalians.

This one is for the birds...

I apologize in advance for the title. Couldn't resist.

I found this article at Breitbart.com. Whenever I come across some euthanasia-endorsing nitwit who spouts off about losing a "quality of life" and therefore someone should just pull the plug, I think of stories like this one;

When US fireman Brian Wilson had a traffic accident 14 years ago, medical experts said he would spend the rest of his days in a nursing home, unable to speak or do much besides stay in bed.

But some chattering parrots made liars of them all.

"Two birds taught me to talk again," Wilson told AFP as he walked through the kitchen of his modest home in this rural suburb of Washington, which he currently shares with around 80 brightly plumed exotic birds, from snow-white cockatoos to scarlet or blue and green macaws to African grey parrots.

"I had such a bad head injury I was never supposed to talk any more than a two-year-old," Wilson said.

But two of the birds he had as pets since he was a child "just kept talking to me and talking to me.

"Then all of a sudden, a word popped out, then two, then more." And not from the beaks of the birds, but from Wilson's mouth.

To show his gratitude to the birds who helped him on the path to rehabilitation, Wilson has devoted his life to feathered pets whose owners are no longer able or want to keep them.

"I do whatever I can, whenever I can for them," Wilson said.

"They get everything they could ever want or desire.".

When a bird first comes to the brightly painted home with parrot-image wallpaper friezes, it is quarantined in what used to be a garage, checked by an avian vet and then either goes to a good family or joins the dozens of birds already at home in Wilson's suburban house.

It all costs money -- 6,000 dollars a month, says Wilson -- and with the US economy in a tailspin, the bird man of Damascus is struggling to cope, especially as he just took in more than 80 birds from a man who was no longer able to cope with them.

At the moment, Wilson is having to turn away birds at the rate of at least three a week.

Wilson has set up a foundation called the Wilson Parrot Foundation and relies on tax-deductible donations to try to make ends meet.

He also offers the services of the birds to entertain at birthday parties and corporate events.

And he teaches fire, gun and seatbelt safety using the birds.

Under Wilson's coaching, one of the parrots has learned to roll over and play dead when she's shot with a plastic toy gun.

Wilson was not wearing a seatbelt when he had his life-threatening accident in 1995.

"I'd planned on being a fireman and rescuing people until I was 98 years old and I would do anything to do it again," but his accident put paid to that idea, Wilson told AFP.

"You wonder why I rescue birds? They helped me to talk again, so now I take care of them," he said.

God bless the man. It wasn't just the birds, he had to have a hell of a lot of guts too. But if our healthcare is ever turned over to the beancounters you can just bet stories like this will disappear. Anyone suffering injuries such as he did will be given the dirt nap.

Parental Consent Required For Tattoos in Maryland, But Not For Abortion

By Thaddeus M. Baklinski

BALTIMORE, February 26, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Maryland House of Delegates has unanimously approved a proposal to require "parental consent" for tattoos and body piercings done on minors. However, the state still only requires that one parent be notified that a minor is going to have an abortion, with no need for the parent's consent. (Something about a sense of priorities runs through my mind now.)

Republicans in the House tried and failed to amend the "tattoos and body piercing" measure to include parental consent for abortion when Del. Gail H. Bates, a Howard County Republican, asked to have the measure include parental consent for "other invasive surgical procedures."

However, House Speaker Michael E. Busch declined to consider the proposed amendment, arguing that it changed the purpose of the bill and was, therefore, out of order, according to a Baltimore Sun report. (Parlimentary procedure trumps a child's right to life. Noted.)

Maryland's Parental Notification for Abortion Law (Article 20-103) requires that one parent or guardian be notified before a minor has an abortion. The parent/guardian does not need to consent to or agree with the minor's choice, but does need to know the minor is planning to have an abortion. (Hey Mom/Dad, I'm killing what would have been your grandchild. Gotta go now, bye!)

Maryland's parental notification law also says specifically that no notification is required if, in the judgment of the doctor performing the abortion: the minor is mature and capable of giving her informed consent to the procedure, or notification would not be in the minor's best interest, or notice may lead to physical or emotional abuse of the minor, or the minor patient does not live with her parent or guardian, or a reasonable effort to give notice has been unsuccessful. (Now just how the hell is that determined!)

Scott Davis of National Pro-Life Radio commented that the Maryland parental notification law is so full of loopholes that it is rendered practically meaningless. (Ya think?)

"This gives the abortionist sole and unreviewable discretion in regards to parental rights," Davis explained. (Ah yup. Not to worry, "Do no harm" is still taught, right? Right? Hey, how come I only hear crickets chirping?)

"The physician may perform the abortion, without notice to a parent or guardian of a minor if, in the professional judgment of the physician, notification would not be in the interest of the minor.

"So a teenage girl's parents could be kept in the dark about an abortion, a medical procedure with grave physical and psychological risks, simply because the abortion provider thinks it's a good idea." (And if you don't think there are risks involved I suggest a casual perusal of this website.)

Davis also pointed out that each year approximately 22.6% of Maryland abortions are performed on girls 16 and under. (How many are the victims of statuatory rape? Damnit, there go those crickets again!!)

"Pornography now threatens to redefine the way this society views sex itself."

Full disclosure; while I was on active duty, porn was a normal feature underway. There were Playboy pinups posted on much of the machinery, many boats had a "smut king" who maintained his own "library". He didn't carry "Winnie The Pooh", at least not the version written by A.A. Milne. One CPO quarters to which I belonged even had a selection of smut flicks. Kipling had it right when he stated, "Single men in barracks don't grow into plaster saints..."

Despite that, if I had to do it over again I'd be the boat Puritain wherever I was stationed. Seeing how society has evolved over the years changed my views. You're a part of the solution or a part of the problem.

Here's an article that sums it up neatly; http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/feb/09022601.html

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights of the Unborn

Found this via Priests For Life;

Speech by Dr. Alveda C. King,

Date: February 26, 2009

“The Negro cannot win if he is willing to sacrifice the futures of his children for immediate personal comfort and safety.” “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 1929-1968

“I say today that we as Christians must press on, in the conviction that we are ‘a colony of heaven,’ called to obey God rather than man. Small in number, we must remain big in commitment. We must be too God intoxicated to be ‘astronomically intimidated.’ By our effort and example may God use us, as imperfect vessels that we are, to bring an end to such ancient evils as infanticide, abortion, racism, and oppression.” Dr. Alveda C. King, reflections on “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”

In 1939, Margaret Sanger, founder of Planned Parenthood, outlined her plan to eliminate the Black community: “The most successful, educational appeal to the Negro is through a religious appeal. We do not want word to go out that we want to exterminate the Negro population, and the minister is the man who can straighten out that idea if it ever occurs to any of their rebellious members.”

Dr. King was among a select group of Negro leaders hand-picked to promote a seemingly beneficial plan to promote healthy family planning. It was a plan of wolf in sheep’s clothing and Trojan Horse proportions. Dr. King, a man of love, peace, non-violence and strong Christian faith would be assassinated before the truth of the Planned Parenthood map for genocide would be made public after the passage of Roe v. Wade. The abortion agenda is in direct conflict with the teachings of Dr. King.

In 1966, Martin Luther King, Jr., a non-violent supporter of natural family planning, received the Planned Parenthood Margaret Sanger Award. In his acceptance speech, Dr. King pointed to the benefits of family planning among Negro families and the "kinship" between the civil rights movement and Margaret Sanger's early efforts. His hopeful speech would not include abortion: "Our sure beginning in the struggle for equality by non-violent direct action may not have been so resolute without the tradition established by Margaret Sanger and people like her."

As Dr. King’s niece, I too once accepted the lies of Planned Parenthood until the truth of the violence of abortion was revealed to me. If Planned Parenthood had announced that over 50 million babies would be aborted in the onslaught of their agenda, I would never have aborted a child. Dr. King would never have agreed with the violent violation of the civil rights of the millions of aborted babies, and Planned Parenthood’s subsequent blitz of women’s health problems related to chemical and artificial birth control methods.

This conclusion leads me to remind my readers that I too have a dream. It’s in my genes. How can the dream survive if we murder the children?

How much is your life worth?

I mentioned this in an earlier post today. Seems we're closer to it than I thought.

The federal government may be taking a step toward deciding which lives are cost-effective Cal Thomas

Cal Thomas isn't some moonbat who routinely hysterically hyperventilates about liberals under his political bed. He's pretty solid.

FWIW, it's not uncommon for the elderly in the Netherlands to fear doctor visits. Seems all too often they find themselves "persuaded" to go the euthanasia route so as not to be a "burden" on their loved ones & society.

Bet they started out pretty much the same way we're going.

Math teacher vs. Planned Parenthood.

Found via Pewsitter.com

February 26, 2009 - An Oregon high school math teacher will face an attack Friday from an affiliate of the nation’s largest abortion business.

Planned Parenthood of Columbia/Willamette wants Bill Diss’ teaching license revoked. Diss heads Precious Children of Portland – a pro-life organization working to halt construction of Planned Parenthood’s new mega-abortion facility in Portland’s poorest neighborhood.

"Bill has organized one of the most effective efforts against Planned Parenthood in the country," said Jim Sedlak, vice president of American Life League. "It’s no surprise Planned Parenthood will resort to anything – even going after his teaching license – in order to silence him."

Diss opposes, on his own time, outside of any school activities, the construction of a Planned Parenthood killing center in an African American neighborhood in Portland. The new Planned Parenthood business will target minority women for abortions.

According to Sedlak, Planned Parenthood has a history of using such strong-arm tactics against its opponents.

Planned Parenthood threatened to sue UCLA student Lila Rose after she went public with footage of the organization covering up statutory rape.

Planned Parenthood libeled Eric Scheidler of Pro-Life Action League after he mounted an effective campaign against the organization in Aurora, Illinois. As a result, Planned Parenthood is currently defending itself in a lawsuit.

As long ago as 1986, Sedlak said, Planned Parenthood tried to get him fired from his job with IBM in New York State because it viewed him as a threat.

"Diss is one of the finest teachers I’ve met. His devotion to the children in the classroom naturally extends to the children in the womb," Sedlak said. "I pray the Teacher’s Standards and Practices Commission recognizes Planned Parenthood’s hate-filled claim as a vitriolic, self-serving and groundless attack by the nation’s number-one killer of future students."

I've opined before that the persecution of devout Christians will be ramped up in the next few years. This story illustrates why I have that thought.

Do you ever hear of someone coming down with both feet on a proabort teacher? Unless they're teaching in a private school (where the rules are different than a public facility) that ain't happening.

As goes England, so may we....

I've noted before that what goes on in Europe, particularly England, is important in that it warns us of whats down the road if we continue following their lead. And follow we do, for some reason many influential Americans have some sort of inferiority complex about their country. These self-hating twits would have us blindly go off the same cliff as the Eurolemmings.

So heres a few stories, found via The Drudge Report, dealing with child rearing:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1152021/Parents-NOT-tell-children-right-wrong-having-sex-say-ministers.html

And for some reason, I feel theres some sort of tie-in to this story;

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-wellbeing/health-news/under16-pregnancy-rate-soars-1632669.html

Not to worry just when you think it can't get any worse, it does;


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1056415/Teach-pleasure-gay-sex-children-young-say-researchers.html

Theres an old legend that says when England is in it's most dire hour of need, King Arthur will come again. Hope he's saddling up, wherever he's at!

Establishing another beachhead for the feminazis...

Found this via LifeSiteNews.

(NEW YORK – C-FAM) At a forum hosted by the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs in New York this week, a former top United Nations (UN) official criticized the UN’s “deplorable” record on women and the “the hypocrisy within the UN” on gender. In a presentation entitled “The United Nations and Gender: Has Anything Gone Right?,” Stephen Lewis promoted a radical overhaul of the United Nations, starting with a the creation of a new, billion dollar gender office. (And whose tax dollars would be given to support this crap? Two guesses...)

Lewis, the former UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa and a former Deputy Director of UNICEF, has long been a vociferous supporter of the creation of a “fully-resourced” women’s agency. Such an agency could change the UN and end the “suffocating patriarchy” (doesn't that bilge just make you want to gag?) with a new “sensibility of collaboration.” Lewis continued that this, “would not only help women but rescue the UN from some of its worst behavior.”

One audience member questioned the necessity of a new billion dollar agency. (Uh-oh. Security screwed up and let a rational human being in. Somebody will pay for this one!) There are already several UN bodies which focus on issues affecting women, including the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW), Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues (OSAGI) and the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW). Lewis said, “Rendering little agencies is not enough. There is not enough staff, not enough resources and no mandate.” (Translation: not enough bureaucracy and not enough justification for this twit to continue breathing.) He viewed the proposed agency as the UN’s “one last chance” to advocate for women multilaterally the way UNICEF does for children with a staff and budget to match.

It was during Mr. Lewis’ stint at UNICEF that the Vatican decided to withdraw its annual symbolic donation because of mounting evidence that the agency was promoting abortion. (Follow the money trail on this guy, wanna bet he's on the payroll for some far out proaborts?) Critics fear that a new agency would not advocate for women but for certain ideologies espoused by those in charge, particularly for a universal right to abortion.

In pushing for a “gender” office, Lewis joins radical feminist non-governmental organizations such as Equality Now and the Women’s Environment and Development Organization (WEDO). Last year, WEDO commenced a formal campaign for Gender Equality Architecture Reform (GEAR), lobbying for a “stronger, consolidated, higher status women’s entity.” 275 organizations have signed onto the GEAR campaign and WEDO is slated to host two events at the UN headquarters during this year’s annual Commission on the Status of Women meeting in an attempt to rally more support for the new agency.

Lewis said he was heartened by the quick action that the UN is taking on making the new agency for women a reality. (So this isn't just some fool making a wish, it's on it's way to reality.) In 2008, the General Assembly passed a resolution by consensus calling on the UN to initiate planning for such an agency. According to Lewis, the ambassadors of Spain and Namibia have already been engaged to lead the UN “gender architecture” planning process and he expects to see the new agency established as early as the end of this year. (And we thought we had enough problems just in this country...)

And here goes the "conscience clause"...

From The Washington Post, found via Insight Scoop;

By Rob Stein Washington Post Staff WriterFriday, February 27, 2009; 11:41 AM

The Obama administration has begun the process of rescinding sweeping new federal protections that were granted in December to health-care workers who refuse to provide care that violates their personal, moral or religious beliefs. (That didn't take long, did it?)

The Office of Management and Budget announced this morning that it was reviewing a proposal to lift the controversial "conscience" regulation, the first step toward reversing the policy. Once the OMB has reviewed the proposal it will be published in Federal Register for a 30-day public comment period. (See my comment at the end)

"We are proposing rescinding the Bush rule," said an official with the Health and Human Services Department, which drafted the rule change.

The administration took the step because the regulation was so broadly written that it could provide protections to health-care workers who object not only to abortion but also to a wide range of health-care services, said the HHS official, who asked not to be named because the process had just begun. (What horseshit!)

"We've been concerned that the way the Bush rule is written it could make it harder for women to get the care they need. It is worded so vaguely that some have argued it could limit family planning counseling and even potentially blood transfusions and end-of-life care," the official said. (Hey genius, healthcare is still a for profit enterprise. At least until it gets run by the government. That means the less services offered, the less profit. This is what makes following your conscience more difficult that picking out what color shoes to wear in the morning. If these "services" are no longer offered it would be indicative of a major sea change in our culture. You'd probably find the demand for such "services" long gone before ALL the health care professionals give them up.)

After the 30-day comment period, the regulation could be lifted entirely or it could be modified to make the protections more specific, the official said. (Folks, keep those cards and letters coming!)

"We support a tightly written conscience clause. We recognize and understand that some providers have objections about abortion, and we want to make sure that current law protects them," the official said. "We want to be thoughtful about this." (I'll just bet!)

The new rule empowers the federal government to cut off federal funding for any state or local government, hospital, health plan, clinic or other entity that does not accommodate doctors, nurses, pharmacists or other employees who refuse to participate in care they find objectionable.

The Bush administration adopted the rule at the urging of conservative groups, abortion opponents and others in order to safeguard workers from being fired, disciplined or penalized in other ways. (Some might refer to it as safeguarding someone's freedom of choice. That term can be used for purposes other than baby killing.)

Women's health advocates, family planning proponents, abortion rights activists and others (the usual suspects) condemned the regulation, saying it would create a major obstacle to providing many health services, including family planning, infertility treatment and end-of-life care, (all of which might be found objectionable by devout Catholic health care workers) as well as possibly a wide range of scientific research. (Like what? Embryonic stem cell research?)

The move marks the latest challenge to the Obama administration's attempt to find more of middle ground on issues related to abortion. (Doublespeak at it's finest. How do you find "middle ground" on killing children?) President Obama has said repeatedly he hopes those on both sides of the issue can work to reduce the number of abortions by preventing unwanted pregnancies and by offering support to women who do get pregnant and want to continue their pregnancies.

That approach has already been tested. Obama angered abortion opponents when he lifted restrictions on federal funding for international family planning groups that promote abortion. (Yeah, that showed a hell of a lot of effort towards reaching "middle ground". He did it on a Friday afternoon, after working hours with no press present. Sneaky twerp.)

The next closely watched decision will be whether Obama lifts federal restrictions on federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research. (Something to look forward to, now where in hell did I put my rosary?)

Well, the OMB hasn't reviewed the regulation yet. But the old webpage for it can be found here; http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocumentDetail&d=HHS-OS-2008-0011-4155 . I've posted it with the thought that someone else will be following it and may pick up on it if I miss it (unfortunately I don't live online.) Once the OMB has published their review for comment, I'll follow up on this. Remember folks, the bastards work for us but they only respond to the voices they hear. Lets have ours be heard.

The enviornmentalists hit bottom...

I recall an Austrailan bishop said enviornmentalism is the new religion. It makes sense, substitute carbon credits for indulgences, the constant examination of conscience for transgressions against Gaia, realize that eating organic is right up there with religious dietary restrictions and voila!, all they need is a Pope-like leader. Maybe thats what Al Gore is striving for.

Here's the latest insanity; http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/feb/26/toilet-roll-america The quote I just love is, "Future generations are going to look at the way we make toilet paper as one of the greatest excesses of our age. Making toilet paper from virgin wood is a lot worse than driving Hummers in terms of global warming pollution."

These people are flat nuts. This is just one of the more laughable examples, past lunacies have included a bioethicist in the UK advocating suicide for the terminally ill and I'm not even going into the growing fad of determining if specific medical procedures are "cost effective" when weighed against the probable lifespan of the patient. That latest has been happening in Oregon, so the idiocy doesn't stop at the other side of the pond.

The thing I find frightening? These ideas are treated as logical, commonsense proposals!

God help us.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Alternative Ash Wednesday liturgy.

It starts:

"For this liturgy the celebrator shall wear a black overall with a day glo work vest to identify with the working people of God. On his head he shall wear a black hard hat with purple trim. (A purple pompom may be added by Monsignore)"

It get better, the rest is here http://gkupsidedown.blogspot.com/2009/02/alternative-ash-wednesday-liturgy.html

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Promise them anything, but give 'em the shaft.

The following were links to stories on Drudge;

Obama Says USA will rebuild and emerge stronger...Obama vows to increase number of soldiers...Obama vows to seek cure for cancer 'in our time'...Obama says bank bailout may cost more than expected...Obama promises universal EDUCATION THROUGH COLLEGE...Obama promises universal health care...

What, no world peace? This guy sounds more and more like a clueless, bloviating loudmouth. And there's still a cult of personality surrounding him? Boy are we in big trouble!

Monday, February 23, 2009

Texas prolife legislation, HB822

HB822- Relating to gestational agreements. The bill can be read by going here;
http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/Text.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=HB822

This bill deals with the legalization of surrogate mothers. It should be loudly protested. Currently the bill is before the Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence Committee. The members of that committee are;

The hyperlinks in each representative's name will go to their respective webpages where email & snail mail information can be obtained. I strongly urge all Texans reading this blog to contact these senators and urge this bill die in committee.

Texas prolife legislation SB641

SB641-Relating to the regulation of the use of human cells and tissue, including a ban on human cloning; providing penalties. The bill can be read in it's entirety here;


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to prohibiting human cloning; providing a penalty.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subtitle H, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Chapter 174 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 174. USE OF HUMAN CELLS AND TISSUE
Sec. 174.001. HUMAN REPRODUCTIVE CLONING. (a) A person commits an offense if the person places in a woman's womb a human embryo created by a method other than fertilization.
(b) An offense under this section is a felony of the first degree.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.


This bill is currently before the Health and Human Services Committee. The members of that committee are;
Clicking on the hyperlink for each senator's name will take you to their Senate web page which contains links to email & snail mail information.
I strongly urge all Texans reading this blog to contact the members of this committtee and urge forwarding of this bill for Senate vote on it's passage.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

R.I.P.

Please pray for the peaceful repose of the souls of those who served our nation and the coalition with honor. Remember also those who mourn their loss.

Spc. Christopher P. Sweet 28 HI
Lance Cpl. Kevin T. Preach 21 MA

May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Two good movies rolled into one!

"You find some weird shit!", the War Department. Wonder what she meant?



I showed her this right after watching, "The Lady In The Water". Maybe it was too much of a good thing.

Gotta love those Baptists!!

Seems they're right up there on the front lines, here in the Dallas area they alternate with the Catholics on holding a prayer vigil outside a local abortion clinic/slaughterhouse. One recent Saturday, right after B.O. rescinded the Mexico City Policy, both groups were there. At first I found myself amongst the Baptists, holding my rosary out and praying while they sang. They were cordial enough, especially considering their beliefs concerning rosaries. It wasn't till after they left (with best wishes expressed) I located the other Catholics.

But they're out there and they're doing what they can.

I really love this guy;

Oakland, Calif., Feb 21, 2009 / 08:41 pm (CNA).-

A Baptist pastor from Berkeley, California has been fined and sentenced to 30 days in jail for violating Oakland’s “bubble law” which restricts pro-life counselors from approaching women who are entering abortion clinics.

In addition to the 30-day sentence delivered on Thursday, Alameda Superior Court Judge Stuart Hing placed Rev. Walter Hoye on probation for three years and fined him $1,130, the California Catholic Daily reports.

The pastor had rejected a plea bargain offered by the district attorney before trial, guaranteeing no jail time in exchange for a guilty plea to one count.

Operation Rescue President Troy Newman criticized the decision, saying "This is an unjust sentence for an unjust conviction that cannot be allowed to stand.

"We stand behind Rev. Hoye one hundred percent and pray for his speedy exoneration on appeal.

“Every American should be alarmed by Rev. Hoye's conviction and this unconstitutional ordinance.”

Rev. Hoye had initially been charged with violating four counts of the “bubble law”: two counts of “unlawful approach” and two counts of using “force, threat of force or physical obstruction”
against escorts at the Family Planning Specialists Clinic in Oakland.

The pastor has regularly stationed himself near the clinic and has no prior criminal record.

The charges concerned two separate incidents on April 29, 2008 and May 13, 2008, respectively.

In the May 13 incident, Rev. Hoye was arrested after a clinic staff member called police. He had been attempting to hand out pro-life literature and was carrying a 40-inch sign that read “Jesus Loves You & Your Baby. Let Us Help You.”

Before the trial Judge Hing dismissed one count of using “force, threat of force or physical obstruction,” while the jury found Hoye not guilty on the other count. The jury returned guilty verdicts on the two counts of “unlawful approach.”

Prior to his arrest, Rev. Hoye, an outspoken opponent of the “bubble law,” had filed a federal lawsuit challenging the law’s constitutionality.

Concerning his sentence, he questioned whether the jury had been given an adequate definition of what constituted an “approach.”

Video evidence presented by the defense showed that clinic employees approached Howe, the California Catholic Daily says.

Katie Short, an attorney with Life Legal Defense Foundation which represented Rev. Hoye, also questioned the sentence.

“The ordinance prohibits approaching within eight feet of someone entering an abortion clinic, without their consent, for the purpose of... let’s call it ‘communication’,” Short told the California Catholic Daily. “The clinic director and escorts took this to mean that Walter could not approach them without their consent, even though they were not entering the facility and he was not trying to communicate with them.”

Mike Millen, another defense attorney, said the sentencing threat was “potent” but added, “My client is more interested in getting the truth out, both on the sidewalk and in the courtroom.”

Before the sentencing, Attorneys for the Life Legal Defense Foundation asked Judge Hing to grant a motion for a new trial, arguing that the jurors had not been adequately instructed and violated Rev. Hoye’s right to due process. Judge Hing denied the motion.

The judge said Rev. Hoye could serve his sentence “by alternative means.”

Defense attorney Dana Cody said Rev. Hoye has the right to challenge an “onerous condition” of his probation requiring that he stay away from the clinic, arguing this restriction was a violation of his right to free speech.

A hearing next month will consider the probation sentence.

On being Catholic...

Found this over at Verbum Veritatis, it evidently came from another site. I REALLY wish I could write like that!

We have to make a choice...all of us.

As Catholics, the world hates us with a passion of hatred we cannot fathom. It's everywhere. We see it in popular media in the ongoing and obviously biased articles about the Church in which they can't write about something positive without focusing on whatever is wrong. We see it in movies and television programs that paint all of the priesthood with a brush that labels ALL of them as drunk, unhappy pedophiles. Religious sisters or nuns are shown as either complete idiots or women bearing scowls and rulers used to beat children into submission.

In general, as the Catholic laity, we are called upon to defend our Faith, but where to begin? The hatred attacks us from all sides. And people we think are our friends buy into the hype of mainstream media (MSM), and assume the worst of us, and assume our positions on any given thing.

We are rendered voiceless because of their inability to listen.

We find this even WITHIN the Church, from people who are otherwise good Catholics, but cannot intellectually separate themselves from their own personal pain, and instead choose to hold on to the bonds of emotion without understanding what it is they are really grasping.

We see this in those "Catholics" that argue for the "right to abortion" and "right to use contraception"; those who argue for such "rights" outright refuse to see the harm done to the woman who kills her child, refuse to see the physical effects of contraception on the woman who takes those poisonous chemicals into her body and the subsequent damage to her and her entire family.

We also see a problem in our society of pluralism; many Catholics don't understand that the fullness of Truth resides in the Catholic Church, period. This is not triumphalism. There are those I know who grew up hearing that those "outside the Catholic Church can't be saved."

The fact is this: those baptized in the name of the Father, of the Son, and the Holy Spirit are inducted into the Catholic family, even if they don't attain the fullness of the Faith by virtue of the other Sacraments and full Communion with the Church. Thus...they are coming to God through Christ, and thus, they CAN be saved.

The ONLY way to get to Heaven is through Christ. If we are baptized Catholics, we are OBLIGATED to believe this.

No, we don't know what happens to people who aren't baptized, or were never given that option. We can't speak for centuries of pagans who were perhaps better people than we are. We entrust them to the Mercy of Our Lord. Can they be saved? We can't say...God can, and He alone has the authority to judge the salvation of souls. We certainly can't claim our own salvation, no matter how holy we think we are, for we are all sinners.

At work, I've had to fight this battle...the claim of some that can't understand that to claim to be a member of the one True Church isn't triumphalism..it's Truth. Period.

Often simple definitions are needed, so here they are:

Catholic: Those who profess the Catholic Faith (to include many Rites...Byzantine, Maronite, Ukranian...etc.) and believe and follow all that the Church teaches with regard to faith and morals. (In other words...Pelosi is a declared Catholic, but not in full communion because she dissents...thus she is not really Catholic. All who follow her typology...likewise)

Non-Catholic: Anyone who does not profess the Catholic Faith: to include other Christian religions, all pagan religions, secularism, atheism, etc

Christian: Catholic and Christian religions who recognize the Trinity, recognize that Christ died for our sins. This is a very broad category.

Time and time again, I run into people at work (in a Catholic Church), and in my real life who profess Catholicism but embrace pluralism; they have tight bonds to their non-Catholic friends and family, and so fear offending them that they nearly canonize them even as they live. Teens and adults alike have a hard time articulating it's OK to profess the Faith of Christ and understanding true ecumenism involves bring OTHERS into our Faith...whether they be Baptist, Wiccan, Muslim, Amish, Mennonite (my cousin * ahem *), Lutheran, Bah'ai, etc.

Ecumenism isn't triumphalism and it isn't pluralism...it is entirely geared towards conversion of ourselves and others into what is the TRUTH, and that ENTIRE Truth is found in the Catholic Church.

Period.

I'm not going to apologize for that fact. If you're looking for one, go elsewhere.

As a Catholic, I am an enemy of the world. Not because I choose to be, but because the WORLD chooses me as it's enemy, just as it chose Our Lord whom I follow. They killed Christ, and He was under threat from the beginning of His life...but did not compromise. There are many ways to follow Him, many manifestations, and I've met people of many different Christian religions who love Him and follow accordingly. We are ALL enemies of the world, because we refuse to engage the world on its terms; on that of the Church.

We of many religions stand together in love of Christ, enemies of the world that rages around us, at us, condemning us, vilifying us.

And I, for one, wouldn't have it any other way.

Hollywood can do what it wants; it doesn't affect my faith, but makes it stronger. The culture of atheism can sue us all they want...we won't acquiesce to their doctrine. Planned Parenthood can shout us down all they want; we'll continue to have children even if we have to do so illegally.

Our Bishops will continue to ordain new Priests, ESPECIALLY under persecution, for that very persecution is what most inspires Vocations...for we all desire a love for which we are willing to die.

Christianity sprouted from the side of Christ, from His Sacrifice on the Cross...why should we, as His Mystical Body expect to do any different? Just as He set the example in life, He set it in his Death, and invites us to the Resurrection.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I'm Catholic before anything else. I'm Catholic even before I'm woman. Everything else comes second. And I don't care who is offended by that fact. Our forebears died for the Truth...we can withstand a little light persecution, can't we?

That's not to say we should not defend our Faith...indeed we should, and without compromise!

But we should not be so surprised that we are reviled. We should not be surprised when our friends leave us, we should not be surprised when trolls spam our blogs with profanity.

I've lost friends in the embrace of the Truth, and I'll no doubt lose more or put off more in the years to come. So be it. I belong to Christ first...everyone else in my life, in comparison, is incidental.

Don't take that personally.

I am NOT willing to compromise my Faith in order to keep a friendship. I will discuss, I will explain, I will listen, I will enjoin...but I will not compromise. Period.

Our Faith does not come from us, it comes from God; those who have a problem with our Faith have a problem with God and they take it out on us. That's a fact.

So when we become Christian, we are, in a sense, agreeing that this is going to happen and we're willing to suffer it.

We must also be willing to fight it, in charity, in Truth, and always in seeking a deeper understanding.

I am an enemy of the world. I'd be a friend if I could, but the world won't have me, just as it wouldn't have Christ.

What do YOU choose?

Friday, February 20, 2009

About that monkey cartoon...

How stupid can some people get?

Anyone with two brain cells working in series would know this would be taken as a slam against Obama. C'mon, mentioning black folk and monkeys in the same breath is a racial slam, no two ways about it.

I've heard some lame defenses so far. The best one brought up the "Chimpy McBush" cartoons of the past eight years. Sorry, that dog won't hunt.

It was a direct slam against Obama, period. I don't like the man, his policies or anything about him. But some things are just off limits. This was one of them.

Are we going to have four years of conservatives proving they can be as venial and petty as the libs?

Yea and verily, the stupid shall be punished!

Found at Breitbart.com;

VERNON, B.C. - Members of the Vernon RCMP detachment in British Columbia's North Okanagan are used to seeing crooks hauled through their doors.

But they aren't used to seeing a suspect dragged in, almost by his ear, after being corralled by a small, irate woman furious about the theft of her pickup truck.

Mounties admit they had trouble keeping straight faces as they rescued the suspect from his captor early Friday morning.

The woman says she was sitting in a nearby car, waiting for her truck to warm up, when the man jumped into the pickup and sped away.

She followed in the car and, when the suspect realized he couldn't shake his tenacious tail he ditched the pickup - a block away from the Vernon RCMP detachment.

That's when the truculent truck owner collared the man who, it turns out, was not sober. (or overly bright either!)

B.O.'s administration shows it cares...or not!

Found at Breitbart.com;

Amnesty International said Friday it was "extremely disappointed" after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton vowed not to let human rights concerns hinder cooperation with China.

Paying her first visit to Asia as the top US diplomat, Clinton said the United States would continue to press China on long-standing US concerns over human rights such as its rule over Tibet.

"But our pressing on those issues can't interfere on the global economic crisis, the global climate change crisis and the security crisis," Clinton told reporters in Seoul just before leaving for Beijing. (Translation: Never mind about your stinking mandatory abortion policy and other minor items, it's all about the Benjamins baby!)

T. Kumar of Amnesty International USA said the global rights lobby was "shocked and extremely disappointed" by Clinton's remarks. (What did he expect?)

"The United States is one of the only countries that can meaningfully stand up to China on human rights issues," he said. (We do when we have an Administration with strong moral beliefs, kinda like that guy who just left. You know, the one everyone thought of as a stupid religious fundie cowboy.)

"But by commenting that human rights will not interfere with other priorities, Secretary Clinton damages future US initiatives to protect those rights in China," he said. (Hey Slick, you ain't seen nothing yet.)

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch had sent a letter to Clinton before her maiden Asia visit urging her to raise human rights concerns with Chinese leaders.

Before she left, State Department spokesman Robert Wood said human rights would be "an important issue" for Clinton and that she would "raise the issue when appropriate." (Guess it just wasn't appropriate. Gotta keep those greenbacks in mind.)

China has greeted President Barack Obama's administration nervously, believing he would press Beijing harder on human rights and trade issues than former president George W. Bush. (You're kidding. Somebody's been spiking their fortune cookies over there!)

Remember how Bush was always portrayed as the lapdog of capitalists, willing to throw the little guy under the bus at the drop of a hat? Isn't it grand we now have such a compassionate and caring Chief Executive?

"Sign" of the times?

OKLAHOMA CITY, February 19, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - An Oklahoma City police officer last week pulled over a truck displaying a sign that read "Abort Obama, not the unborn," confiscated the sign, and reported the driver to Secret Service. (Anyone wanna bet that cop doesn't have an "Obama For President" bumper sticker on his car?)

The police officer said he had interpreted driver Hal "Chip" Harrison's sign as a threat to President Obama's life. (Get real! Check out some of the bumper stickers about Bush that've been seen the past eight years.)

"I pulled over, knowing I hadn't done anything wrong," Harrison said in a recent phone interview with the McClatchy-Tribune. The officer informed him that the sign was the reason he had stopped Harrison.

"It's not meant to be a threat, it's a statement about abortion," said Harrison, who is pro-life. "I asked the officer, 'Do you know what abort means?' He said, 'Yeah, it means to kill.' I said, 'No, it means to remove or terminate.'"

The policeman then confiscated the sign and informed Harrison he would be subject to an investigation as a possible threat to the president. (We're talking about a brain surgeon here!)

"I thought, 'this is something from Nazi Germany, not in Oklahoma,'" Harrison told the Associated Press (AP). (Cue "Twilight Zone" music)

Some time later, Harrison says he received a call from the Secret Service saying they were at his house to "make sure I wasn't a part of any hate groups." Harrison came home and allowed the agents to walk through the house. The agents reportedly questioned Harrison for about half an hour before leaving, convinced that there was no threat. (I think I'd have gotten a lawyer first, but thats just me.)

Captain Steve McCool of the Oklahoma City Police Dept. told an Enid, OK news service that the officer should not have confiscated the sign, and another local captain acknowledged that it was outside the officer's jurisdiction to have done so. (Wonder if the officer in question is now updating his resume?)

Harrison is not sure whether he will file a complaint. "I am trying to pursue it, because I've always been kind of a loudmouth," (big surprise here!) Harrison said. "If I can find a lawyer who will take the case, I probably would."

Adrian Andrews, head of the Secret Service's Oklahoma City field office, told the AP that the "Abort Obama" language would "get our attention every time." (Understandable, they had to go through the routine, dot the "i's" and cross the "t's")

"We'd rather be safe than sorry," he added.

IMHO we can expect more of this crap soon. Hang onto your hats folks, gonna be a long four years.

Taking proabort politicos to task.

February 17, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - In the lead-up to Speaker Pelosi's meeting with Pope Benedict XVI, a nationwide petition project was launched requesting the Catholic Bishops of the United States to withhold Communion from her and other prominent Catholics in public life that obstinately persist in their dissent from Catholic teaching on serious moral issues.

This nationwide Withholding Communion petition was launched by Pewsitter.com, a Catholic News Portal. The goal of the petition drive is to gather a least 1 million petitions for presentation to the U.S. Bishops and the Vatican.

The basis for withholding communion is Canon 915, which stipulates that those "obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to Holy Communion." Archbishop Burke, the head of the Church's highest court, reiterated his view on this subject in a recent interview with LifeSiteNews dated January 30, 2009, in which he stated, "The person who persists publicly in grave sin is to be denied Holy Communion, and it [Canon Law] doesn't say that the bishop shall decide this. It's an absolute."

Most Catholics don't know that in addition to Canon 915, Canon law also compels Catholics to take action. Canon 212 S3, states that the Catholic faithful have "the right, indeed at times the duty, in keeping with their knowledge, competence and position, to manifest to the sacred Pastors their views on matters which concern the good of the Church."

According to a Pewsitter.com release, "While the Catholic faithful understand and support the behind-the-scenes dialogue and diplomacy that goes on with prominent Catholics, by the Bishops, to reconcile them with the Church, when such dissent continues for years and in some cases decades … then it becomes necessary for a Bishop to take a formal public stand to prevent further scandal.

"Unfortunately," continues the Pewsitter release, "what has happened is that prominent, dissenting Catholics, in public life have continued to receive communion with impunity-and this has led to the false impression that the Church condones or at least tolerates such dissenting opinions on serious moral issues such as abortion, euthanasia, and embryonic stem cell research to name a few.

"Not only do these prominent Catholics disregard the Church's teachings, but in many cases they actively and publicly promote policies and legislation that undermines, opposes and contradicts the Church's teachings. Examples of such Catholics include Speaker of the House - Nancy Pelosi, Vice President - Joseph Biden, Senator Ted Kennedy, and Senator John Kerry, to name a few."

(For more information or to complete the petition go to http://www.pewsitter.com/petition/)

For the perspective of a canon lawyer (yep, the Church has 'em) go to Dr. Edward Peters' blog here; http://www.canonlaw.info/2009/02/pewsitter-petition-on-canon-915.html

"Personhood", knocking the props out from under Roe v. Wade?

The way its been explained to me, if from the point of conception a baby is considered human, it obliviates a woman's right to privacy to abort. Maybe we'll see the proof of that soon.

BISMARCK, North Dakota, February 19, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The rights of unborn children gained a victory in North Dakota on Tuesday, as the state House of Representatives voted to recognize the personhood of all human beings, from conception.

"For purposes of interpretation of the constitution and laws of North Dakota, it is the intent of the legislative assembly that an individual, a person, when the context indicates that a reference to an individual is intended, or a human being includes any organism with the genome of homo sapiens," reads part of The Personhood of Children Act (House Resolution 1572).

Led by American Life League Associate group North Dakota Life League, North Dakota's Personhood Movement celebrated the passage of the bill, introduced by State Rep. Dan Ruby, in a 51-41 vote. A grassroots personhood campaign had spurred the outcome, with thousands of calls asking legislators to support the bill in its unaltered form.

"We are very excited about the personhood movement in North Dakota - which has the chance to become the first state to protect the rights of all its citizens from their biological beginning," said Jim Sedlak, vice president of American Life League.

"North Dakotans have gotten used to cold temperatures like -44 degrees, but they haven't gotten used to child-killing," said Cal Zastrow, a North Dakotan who took part in the grassroots personhood campaign along with his family. "We applaud and support their efforts to protect every baby by love and by law."

Fifteen other states are currently pursuing personhood legislation.

The Senate vote is expected in the next two to three weeks. North Dakota will become the first state in the Union with personhood legislation if the measure passes the Senate.

On Monday the state House of Representatives also approved an informed consent law requiring any woman seeking an abortion to be informed that the procedure kills a "whole, separate, unique, living human being." HR 1445 passed in a 61-31 vote.

"The North Dakota House did the right thing by strengthening the informed consent law," stated Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life. "The state's last abortion mill will not, of course, be happy.

Their business depends upon covering the truth, not conveying it."

The prolife group bust video & my comments.

Okay, here's the video from that bust of the prolife group outside the Birmingham, AL. high school. I found it today on ProLifeblogs.com



I don't see anything wrong with what the cops did. Period. They were courteous, spoke more then once to the prolifers about the need to move (thus giving them the chance to go across the street), I didn't see anything wrong with the actions of the police on the scene.

Were the prolifers breaking the law? Well according to initial article they consulted with their attorneys by phone and were assured their actions were legal. Did they give enough information to the attorneys to get a correct determination? I ask that question because they staged themselves right on the sidewalk outside the school. IMHO, (and I'm certainly no legal expert) standing on that particular sidewalk is a whale of a lot different than going directy across the street from the high school.

The prolifers DIDN'T even ask if going across the street was an option. That should have been done IF THEY WEREN'T HOPING FOR A CONFRONTATION!

I have a lot of respect for cops (big surprise). They get to routinely see the seamy side of life. Their lives are always on the line when they put on that uniform and there always seems to be some asshole trying to make a name for themselves by getting in a cop's face.

I've been busted a few times, being an active alcoholic insured that! From my limited experience I've learned a few things;

a) Don't start spouting off about your rights. You're not a lawyer and neither is the cop. Save it for the courtroom where the real experts will hash that out (For a purely nominal fee. Right!).

b) Don't resist, all you'll do is piss off the cops and make your own situation worse (and those handcuffs WON'T snap open no matter how hard you try.)

c) When they state that everything you say can be used against you, believe it (Shaddup-a-you-face!)

d) Courtesy and consideration goes a long way. When the cop shows up he'll appreciate them. I was taken in for booking one time and as I was led to the car the cop said I'd been so cooperative he saw no need for handcuffs on the ride. They got put on before entering the station, but that was for the sake of appearances. Hell, after the booking I was even given a ride back!

FWIW here's another story. Prior to becoming a stay-at-home dad there was a period of about three months where I got stopped for speeding at least six times. It wasn't a speed trap, yours truly just had a lead foot. Everytime I was stopped the same scenario played out;

STATE TROOPER (ST)-Good evening sir, may I see your driver's license & proof of insurance?

SUBVET (SV)-Yes sir officer, my driver's license is in my wallet in my right rear pocket and I'm reaching for it now (pull out wallet & license). My proof of insurance is in the glove compartment, I'm reaching for it now (pull out insurance card, hand everything over).

ST-Mr. Subvet, you were doing sixty in a forty-five mile an hour zone, where have you been and where are you going?

SV-Officer, I work the graveyard shift at Acme Enterprises, I'm heading home.

ST-I'll let you off with a verbal warning this time sir, please keep the speed down in the future.

SV-Thank you officer.

ST-Thank you for your courtesy sir and have a nice day.

Most time someone gets stopped by the staties in this area, they get a ticket. The War Department was up the wall because I never got one, she figured I needed a lesson. After a while I decided not to push my luck any further.

Enough of my life, IMHO the prolifers in this video were pushing the limit to see how far they could go. That is flat wrong. It's wrong for anyone. Period.

So flame away folks, I'm wearing rhino hide underwear!

Cowards?

Jungle Mom has the post here; http://jungle-hut.blogspot.com/2009/02/just-bunch-of-cowards.html

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Now THAT had to hurt!!

Found at Breitbart.com

SALT LAKE CITY - It took a wedgie and a headlock to pin down a man suspected of breaking into a car in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Yvonne Morris, a technician at the Brickyard Animal Hospital, says she chased a man who broke into a co-worker's car, but he kept squirming away from her. Morris eventually grabbed the man's boxer shorts and pulled.

Salt Lake City police say she then she put a headlock on the man until help could arrive.

The man was booked into the Salt Lake County jail on suspicion of vehicle burglary, possession of stolen property and outstanding warrants.

Pelosie and the Pope, episode 2

So now the meeting has taken place. I'll make my own comments at the end but for now direct everyone to Fr. Z's blog for this piece where he makes his own commentary (wish I could write like that!), here; http://wdtprs.com/blog/2009/02/john-allen-on-the-papal-audience-and-pelosi/

For another posting where Pelosi's spin is added and then dissected, go here; http://wdtprs.com/blog/2009/02/pelosi-instructed-by-pope-benedict-xvi/

So now we can all wonder if the Pope and Pelosi went to the same meeting. Maybe her neglect to mention anything regarding statements on the sanctity of life shows she got her panties twisted for her. We can only hope, but since the Pope is Christ's Vicar on Earth it's a safe bet it was done gently and with love.

Speaking for myself, I'd rather he got a copy of Humanae Vitae and a quart of holy water, pureed them in a blender and then had the Swiss Guards hold her spreadeagled while he administered an enema.

But thats just me.

Monday, February 16, 2009

I think I'm gonna hurl!

Here's a story found via Religion and Morality; http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/TV/02/16/soap.same.sex.wedding/

There is just no getting away from this crap, is there? It's shoved in our faces 24/7/365.

Look, a sizeable portion of the USA DOES NOT condone the gay "lifestyle". That same portion DOES NOT condone gay marriage. It has to do with our moral beliefs, ya know? The things for which there should be no compromise.

Yet these assholes are walking all over those beliefs for no other reason than they can. Thats it.

Remember when the Danish press published cartoons of the pedophile prophet a few years ago and riots broke out all over the world? Remember how our MSM refused to show those cartoons, ostensibly because THEY DIDN'T WANT TO OFFEND ANYONE'S SENSIBILITIES!!

So how come the sensibilities of Mo's follwers trump mine and other Catholics/Christians?

Never mind the threat of violence from the Muslims, theres something else working here.

Damn! How the hell do you raise children to be decent in this cultural cesspool?

Pelosi and the Pope.

She's going to see him in his capacity as a political head of state. So the Pontiff would really be out of line confronting her on the "pro-choice" stance she has. Just the way it is. While excommunicating her to her face would be grand, it ain't happening. Not under these circumstances.

But I really wish she tries to receive the Eucharist from him. That would be an entirely different kettle of fish. Either way he responds it would tell those of us in the pews a lot.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Texas prolife legislation SB208

SB208-Relating to the regulation of the use of human cells and tissue, including a ban on human cloning; providing penalties. The bill can be read by going here; http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/Text.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=SB208 Currently this bill is before the Health & Human Services Commission.

IMHO this bill has a serious flaw that can be found under Sec.176.151 (a) This portion of the bill statesthat "A person may donate an embryo created in the course of fertility treatment for the purpose of assisted reproduction, as defined by Section 160.102, Family Code, to be used in scientific research or to be used by an intended mother for the purpose of conceiving a child." (emphasis mine).

I urge all Texans reading this blog to contact the commission and urge the amending of this bill to delete the emphasized portion. The commission members are;

The listed senators can be contacted via the links provided.

The IR on religious persecution...

Here's a snippet;

...And this insidious persecution is alive and well in America today. Take a good look at how Christians and Catholics in particular are depicted in the press, on TV, in movies. It's not often that you see a balanced presentation, let alone a positive one. And it's damned rare that any kind of historical treatment is accurate. (I'm thinking of the History Channels treatment of the Crusades: not so much that they put in things that weren't true, but that they left out major incidents and actions that tended to make Islam look bad, or the Crusades look justified on any grounds....)

Lots more where that came from, just go here.

R.I.P.

Please pray for the peaceful repose of the souls of those who served our nation and the coalition with honor. Remember also those who mourn their loss.

Ch. Warrant Offcer Matthew G. Kelley, 22, MO
Ch. Warrant Officer Joshua M. Tillery, 31, OR
Ch. Warrant Officer Benjamin H. Todd, 29, WA
Ch. Warrant Officer PhilipWindorski Jr., 35, MN
Sapper Sean Greenfield, 25, CANADA
Cpl. Daniel "Danny" Nield, 31, ENGLAND
Ch. Warrant Officer Milton E. Suggs, 51, LA
Sgt. Trevor J. Johnson, 23, MT
Sgt. David W. Wallace III, 25, PA

May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Morals? We doan need no steenking morals!

"It's pretty bad when the U.N. has higher moral standards than we do!"-The War Department (aka my wife)

New York City, N.Y., Feb 15, 2009 / 07:08 pm (CNA).- Despite an opposing vote from the United States, the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Committee responsible for approving U.N. NGOs has rejected the application of a Brazilian homosexual group because of questions concerning the group’s position on pedophilia.

The Brazilian Association of Gays, Lesbians and Transgendereds (ABGLT) faced scrutiny because of allegations that one of the group’s founders was being investigated for posting pro-pedophilia essays on his blog, the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute (C-FAM) reports.

“The UK pushed hard for the group to be accepted,” C-FAM President Austin Ruse said in a statement. “The Obama administration also voted in favor of granting official status to the group.”

The 19-member NGO Committee is a subcommittee of the U.N. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) which uses various criteria to decide whether to recommend official status for NGOs.

Accredited organizations are invited to participate in U.N. meetings. They may deliver oral and written reports and may organize events on U.N. premises.

According to C-FAM, the committee voted against deferring a decision on AGBLT and rejected the application in a vote of eight to six. The Russian Federation, China and Pakistan were among those who voted to reject the application, while the United States, the United Kingdom and Israel were among those voting against its rejection.

The NGO committee member from Egypt urged that the committee not make a rushed decision on any group where there was even the “slightest shadow of doubt” about its involvement in pedophilia. The committee member charged that the answers provided by AGBLT were not yet sufficient to clear the case and assure committee members that the NGO did not have any members or associates involved in such a “deplorable act.”

After the vote, the representative from the U.K. said she deeply regretted the committee’s decision and claimed the vote reinforced the view that the committee could not properly undertake its assigned work.

The observer from the Czech Republic, speaking on behalf of the EU, agreed with the U.K. statement, arguing that the committee acted in a “discriminatory manner” against the AGBLT, claiming the group “has every right to participate in the work of the U.N.”

The observer for Brazil, who had vouched for the organization, charged that the committee failed to evaluate the merits of the organization and had acted as a “censorship chamber.”

C-FAM says that debates in NGO Committee meetings over applications from homosexual rights groups have become “increasingly heated” in recent years. While ECOSOC almost always accepts subcommittee regulations, it has made exceptions in order to accredit radical homosexual groups. Two homosexual rights groups have received a negative recommendation from the NGO committee, only to have that decision overturned by ECOSOC.

According to C-FAM, the ECOSOC council is expected to review the NGO Committee recommendations at its July session in Geneva.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Texas prolife legislation HB36

HB36 relates to the informed consent of a woman seeking an abortion and is a companion bill to SB182. It mandates the physician performing the abortion make available information regarding health risks to the woman and alternative to abortion. That's the CliffNotes version of the thing, for more information, the bill can be read here; http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/text.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=HB36

This bill is currently before the State Affairs Committee. The membership for that committee is;


I urge any Texans reading this blog to contact members of this committee and ask for passage of this bill. Contact can be done via the hyperlinks provided.

On the paranoia of Christian persecution.

Via the Ignorant Redneck I found this post; http://blog.beliefnet.com/crunchycon/2008/11/kill-a-christian-earn-250.html#more

What got my attention were the comments. If the majority of those made about Christians were made concerning any ethnic minority or any group in a sexual minority the words "hate crime" would fly out so fast it would make your head spin. Granted the commenters are probably permanent adolescents but the level of vitriol gets my attention.

I don't watch TV. Did this ever make the evening news? It's been floating around since the end of November.

Some days I wonder if I might be getting just a wee bit paranoid about the future persecution of the truly Christian amongst us. Then I read crap like this.

As the old joke has it; "Even paranoids got enemies."

On a lighter note...

Go to the Ignorant Redneck's blog for a political poll regarding the 2012 election. It's in the upper righthand corner. Definetly a wide range of choices there.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Prolifers busted near a high school.

We may see more incidents like this in the future. The attitude that prolifers should be ignored and they'll quietly go away seems to be disappearing. More and more of the proabort crowd seem to be a tad bit upset with them.

Birmingham, AL (LifeNews.com) -- Local officials in the largest city in Alabama arrested a group of pro-life advocates who were sharing a message against abortion outside Parker High School.

Nine college-aged participants in the Survivors Campus Life Tour were arrested on a public sidewalk while distributing literature to students Thursday. (College-aged? Used to be the prolife crowd was stereotyped as middle-aged religious fundies, so much for any truth in that one.)

The group of pro-life youth activists quietly held signs, distributed literature and peacefully dialogued with students on the public sidewalk.

Local officials threatened the pro-life advocates with arrest and they contacted their attorneys, who informed them that their location on the public sidewalk and their free speech activity was legal according to local and state laws. (Eh, don't look for that to stop any intimidation. "We made a mistake" is always spoken AFTERWARDS, when the message has been delivered.)

Once the members of the pro-life team finished distributing their literature and were loading their van in preparation to leave, officers handcuffed and arrested all nine pro-life advocates without warning.

One of the team members who did not assist in the distribution of literature was also arrested and handcuffed so tightly that it caused her to cry in pain. (I take this one with a grain of salt, playing to the gallery isn't something confined to liberal moonbats. Yes, I do sympathize with the cops who were probably just caught in the middle of it all.)

Kortney Blythe, Director of Survivors Campus Life Tours, told LifeNews.com that she repeatedly asked Officer Cooley, one of the arresting officers, the reason for the arrests.

He kept assuring the team that they were not arrested, they were only being detained, (Hey Officer, a rose by any other name... ya know?) and he did not know on what basis they would be charged. (I tend to believe that one.) Police officials never informed the group the reason for their arrest as they were being handcuffed, and the team said one officer questioned his superiors, "What are we arresting them for again?" (This goes back to my feeling that the cops were just caught in the middle. Sue me.)

The police confiscated the team's video cameras and personal belongings, and impounded and searched their van. They also asked the location of their hotel so that could be searched as well. (This wasn't just a complaint of trespass, someone had a bug up their ass.)

The pro-life advocates are now being held in Birmingham City Jail, the jail from which Martin Luther King, Jr. issued his famous letter condemning apathy and injustice. (Not to worry, anyone who's ever spent a night in the local lockup knows that most times it will just amount to some free room & board. Not a biggie, although the threat of arrest is oft used as a bogeyman to the uninformed.)

The group is scheduled for an early Friday morning hearing, and have been informed the pending charge is "criminal trespass." (Kinda hard to believe this would justify a search of their hotel rooms.)

Allison Aranda, a staff attorney with the Life Legal Defense Fund who is handling the case, told LifeNews.com, "I am in shock and disbelief that a person can be arrested for simply standing on a public sidewalk and handing out literature." (Get used to it lady, theres a lot more of that coming down the pipe.)

"If there is any principle that is so deeply rooted in this nation's history it is the right of free speech, and it is shameful that those charged with upholding the law are in fact the ones that violated the highest law of the land today," Aranda said. (C'mon, the cops are just doing their job. Start looking for who gave them their marching orders and follow the money trail from there.)

IMHO we'll see more of this in the near future. The proaborts have learned their prolife counterparts aren't fading away. As an example, the Catholic Church seems to be getting more vocal on the topic since the election campaign. You can bet the higher visibility isn't too comfortable for those who endorse killing a child in the womb.

Texas prolife legislation: SB182

SB182 relates to the informed consent of a woman seeking an abortion. It mandates the physician performing the abortion make available information regarding health risks to the woman and alternative to abortion. That's the CliffNotes version of the thing, for more information, the bill can be read here; http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/text.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=SB182

This bill is currently before the Committee of State Affairs. The membership of that committee is:


Member
Chair:
Sen. Robert Duncan
I urge any Texans reading this blog to contact members of this committee and ask for passage of this bill. Contact can be done via the hyperlinks provided.

Texas prolife legislation: SB73

SB73 is relating to the establishment of an adult stem cell research program. This bill is currently under review by the Health & Human Services Committee of the Texas Senate.The text of the bill can be accessed here; http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/text.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=SB73

The members of this committee are:

I urge any Texans reading this blog to contact this committee and ask for the passage of this bill.
Contact may be done via the hyperlinks provided.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

New stimulus-generated currency.


Click on the bill for more information.

Been there & done that...



Cheerfully stolen from Cookie at The Cookshack!

The consequences of porn...

Remember all the commercials on TV for cigarettes? Remember them being pulled, in a large part because of the influence they were claimed to have on youngsters? So should anyone be surprised at this article dealing with porn, it's prevalence in our society and the rise of perversion? Found this via the Catholic News Agency . The article starts off with an almost gratuitous swipe at law enforcement. Perhaps the author should spend some time with his local police force, it might give him a better understanding of their problems.

Despite that shortcoming, I feel it cites a lot of valid information.

"When you dance with the Devil, he doesn't change. You do." From the film "Eight millimeter"

Quotations compiled by: Robert Peters, President of Morality in Media

At both the federal and state levels, law enforcement agents and prosecutors are working hard to stop sexual trafficking. In large measure, these individuals are also turning a blind eye towards the ever-expanding problem of “adult” obscenity that helps stimulate the demand for both adult and child prostitutes. “Adult” obscenity does not depict actual children, but it does include hardcore pornographic depictions of sex with persons who look like children, sex with barely legal teens, sex with urine, feces or vomit, sex with dominatrixes, rough sex, unsafe sex, and the degradation, rape and torture of women. Except for pay, many men would find it difficult if not impossible to find a woman who would consent to participate in such activities. What the agents and prosecutors fail to see (or refuse to acknowledge) is that by ignoring the explosion of “adult” obscenity, which helps drive the demand for adult and child prostitutes, they are undermining their efforts to curb sexual trafficking. The evidence set forth here is the tip of the iceberg.

Jan Macleod, Melissa Farley, Lynn Anderson and Jacqueline Golding, “Challenging Men’s Demand for Prostitution in Scotland,” Women’s Support Project, April 2008 [Published at: http://www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk/documents/Challenging_Men%27s_Demand.pdf]:

We found a statistically significant association between these punters’ pornography use and the frequency of their use of women in prostitution. We compared men who were high frequency users of prostitutes (once a month or more) to those who were low frequency users (once or twice, ever) with respect to their use of print, video and Internet pornography. Those who were the most frequent users of pornography were also the most frequent users of women in prostitution.

John W. Kennedy, “Help for the Sexually Desperate,” Christianity Today, Mar. 2008
[published at http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/march/18.28.html]:

Viewing pornography is nearly always accompanied by masturbation…“If a guy masturbates to something it would take a prostitute to do, he’s more likely to find one.”

Finlo Rohrer, “The men who sleep with prostitutes,” BBC News Magazine, Feb. 22, 2008
[Published at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7257623.stm]:

Management consultant Pete…is blunt about his motivation for buying sex. “I’ve not had sex with my wife for at least five years,” he says…Having visited prostitutes for 18 months, Pete says he was attracted while surfing on the Internet. “I’ve been leading up to it; using pornography and looking at various websites. Rather than being a fantasy it was someone you could have sex with.”

Melissa Farley, “Renting an Organ for Ten Minutes: What Tricks Tell Us About Prostitution, Pornography, and Trafficking,” in Pornography: Driving the Demand in International Sex Trafficking 145 (David E. Guinn and Julie DiCaro, Esq. eds., 2007):

Interviews with 854 women in prostitution in 9 countries…made it clear that pornography is integral to prostitution. In 9 countries, almost half (49%) told us that pornography was made of them while they were in prostitution. Forty-seven percent of our respondents were upset by tricks’ attempts to make them do what the tricks had previously seen in pornography.

“Online porn addiction turns our kids into victims and predators,” Sydney Sun-Herald, Aug. 14, 2005 [published at: http://www.smh.com.au/news/miranda-devine/online-porn-addiction-turns-our-kids-into-victims-and-predators/2005/08/13/1123353539758.html]:

But as Internet pornography becomes increasingly pervasive, making every home computer a potential red light district, Australian parents, in particular, are becoming alarmed. Enter American sex abuse expert Dr Mary Anne Layden, who visited Sydney last week to address a forum on sex trafficking at NSW Parliament House. Layden, a psychotherapist at the University of Pennsylvania, has testified before the United States Senate on the dangers of online porn, gleaned from her experience treating sexual violence victims and perpetrators for 20 years… The connection to sex trafficking is that increased use of pornography leads to increased demand for prostitution. When demand outstripped supply of local prostitutes, women and children were brought in from overseas, often against their will, Layden told the forum…

Martin Monto and Nick McRee, “A Comparison of the Male Customers of Female Street Prostitutes With National Samples of Men,” International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 49(5), 505-529 (2005):

Repeat users reported greater participation in all aspects of the sex industry than did non-customers. They were much more likely to report having purchased sexually explicit magazines or videos, and they were more than twice as likely to have visited nude establishments.

Vernon Geberth (a retired NYPD Lieutenant Commander of the Bronx homicide squad): “Sex-Related Homicide and Death Investigation,” CRC Press (2003):

In many cases, the offenders use their girlfriends or prostitutes to act out their sadistic fantasies…This case involved a serial killer who was killing prostitutes…Once he completed the sex act, he stripped and tortured them for hours…The significance of fantasy in this case was graphically revealed when…detectives went to the killer’s home and retrieved a number of items, including one pornographic videotape…This videotape contained a number of scenes that were similar to what the offender was doing to his victims. The breast assault and paddling activities appeared to be based upon this sadomasochistic videotape, which seemingly fueled his increasingly sadistic activities.

Dr. Victor B. Cline, “Pornography’s Effects on Adults and Children,” Morality in Media (2001) [published at: http://www.obscenitycrimes.org/clineart.cfm]:

As a clinical psychologist, I have treated, over the years, approximately 350 sex addicts, sex offenders, or other individuals (96% male) with sexual illnesses. This includes many types of unwanted compulsive sexual acting-out…With several exceptions, pornography has been a major or minor contributor or facilitator….

The first change that happened was an addiction-effect. The porn-consumers got hooked. Once involved in pornographic materials, they kept coming back for more and still more. The material seemed to provide a very powerful sexual stimulant or aphrodisiac effect, followed by sexual release, most often through masturbation…Once addicted, they could not throw off their dependence on the material by themselves, despite many negative consequences such as divorce, loss of family, and problems with the law….

The second phase was an escalation-effect. With the passage of time, the addicted person required rougher, more explicit, more deviant, and "kinky" kinds of sexual material to get their "highs" and "sexual turn-ons." It was reminiscent of individuals afflicted with drug addictions…Being married or in a relationship with a willing sexual partner did not solve their problem…The third phase was desensitization. Material (in books, magazines, or films/videos) which was originally perceived as shocking, taboo-breaking, illegal, repulsive, or immoral, in time came to be seen as acceptable and commonplace….

The fourth phase was an increasing tendency to act out sexually the behaviors viewed in the pornography, including compulsive promiscuity, exhibitionism, group sex, voyeurism, frequenting massage parlors…. [Underline added]

Melissa Farley and Vanessa Kelly,“Prostitution: A Critical Review of the Medical and Social Sciences Literature,” Women and Criminal Justice, 11(4): 29-64 (2000):

Women in prostitution have described pornography’s role in their being coerced by pimps or customers to enact specific scenes… Customers show women pornography to illustrate what they want…Thirty-two percent of 130 people in one study had been upset by an attempt to coerce them into performing what customers had seen in pornography.

“A facilitator's guide to Prostitution: a matter of violence against women,” WHISPER [“Women Hurt in Systems of Prostitution Engaged in Revolt,” Minneapolis, MN] (1990):
[published at http://www.prostitutionresearch.com/factsheet.html]

80% of prostitution survivors at the WHISPER Oral History Project reported that their customers showed them pornography to illustrate the kinds of sexual activities in which they wanted to engage in.

M. Corwin, “Life on the Street: New Wave of Prostitution With More Violence Is Overwhelming L.A. Authorities,” Los Angeles Times, 12/8/85):

In a room in the back of a Studio City restaurant, about 30 madams and call girls gathered to discuss a significant change in their business…[[A] North Hollywood madam told the women that a number of customers had asked her to procure 12- or 13-year-old girls. And more customers, she said, were beating, torturing and even killing out-call prostitutes.

An increasing number of customers are requesting violent or kinky sexual service and seeking younger girls, prostitutes and call girls say…

Experts have many theories why violence and fetishism are on the rise, but few know what to do about it. Most of the women who have worked the streets for any length of time have also been assaulted and tortured. Although there are no exact statistics on prostitute killings and abductions, most law enforcement officials agree that the problem has worsened.

The sexual revolution has contributed to the change prostitutes have seen, said Dr. Michael Grinberg, a psychiatrist, sex therapist and chairman for the Society for the Scientific Study of Sex…“Prostitutes have always been around to provide any sexual behavior that is not generally available,” he said. “At one time, for many men, that could have been just intercourse or oral sex. But with a lot of sexual freedom, there is no need for those men to go to prostitutes. So many of the men who began seeing prostitutes wanted things that were considered impermissible with other partners.”

There are no definitive studies, but Grinberg is convinced that kinky sexual behavior is generally on the rise…There are several possible reasons for the change, Grinberg said. Our society is more violent now… Pornography is more graphic and readily available and some behavior displayed “can become incorporated in one’s sexual fantasies.”

Silbert, M. and Pines, A., “Pornography and Sexual Abuse of Women,” Sex Roles, 10:857-868 (1984):

The present study…was aimed at studying sexual abuse of street prostitutes both prior to and following entrance into prostitution. Yet…unexpected information emerged…that was unfortunately not studied in a systematic manner…Such was the case in the present study with regard to the relationship between sexual abuse and pornography…Two-hundred juvenile and adult, current and former, women street prostitutes in the San Francisco Bay area participated in the study…The study generated an enormous amount of data, quantitative as well as qualitative documenting stunning amounts of sexual abuse of street prostitutes as part of their job, outside their work environment and in their childhood prior to entering prostitution. Many of the open descriptions of these sexual assaults made reference to the role played by pornography. These references were unsolicited by interviewers…Out of the 193 cases of rape, 24% mentioned allusions to pornographic material on the part of the rapist. This is even more significant when it is understood that these comments were made by respondents without any solicitation or reference to the issue of pornography by the Interviewer. The comments followed the same pattern: the assailant referred to pornographic materials he had seen or read and then insisted that the victims not only enjoyed rape but also extreme violence.

Printed with permission from Morality in Media, Inc.

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