Sunday, August 31, 2008

Attack the politics - not the person...

UPDATED: To rebut rumors, Palin says daughter, 17, pregnant

This is all so silly and really nobody's business. It actually speaks to the reality that many American families actually face everyday. Not the fairytale families that people like Dobson and Perkins promote.

Could you imagine the uproar over this, if Palin was a Democrat and Barrack Obama's running mate? The GOP would be in a frenzied furor. The tag "hypocrisy" can be added to this post now.

The judgment of McCain and Palin should be called into question here. Why did they seek to hide this and thus dragging this poor seventeen girl into this mess? There is plenty of stupidity to go around here. Over zealous bloggers, political operatives and campaigns that want to promote one version of a family when another is the reality. The question that now must be asked, why was the so called party and campaign of "family values" hiding this fact? Are they ashamed of a 17 year old girl who is pregnant?

Catholics will have more to consider this fall, especially in the arena of "family values". There is the Republican party which apparently is ashamed of teen pregnancies and the Democratic Party which is actually has policy in its platform to actually reduce the numbers of teen pregnancies through education. Studies confirm that teenagers armed with the appropriate information and with the involvement of parents, make better decisions.

Maybe more abstinence-only supporting politicians and wingnuts will realize the limits of such an approach. Our teenagers will do what they will do. Maybe Bristol Palin would've been benefited from a discussion about safe sex. Now at 17 she facing a wedding to a young man, who most likely has no job, no education and still lives with his parents.

ORIGINAL POST
Bloggers by the name of ArcXIX are just plain weird. What is ArcXIX? Go by your real name and do not hide behind Dungeon and Dragon names like ArcXIX.

Recently "ArcXIX" posted a blog entry over at Kos called "Sarah Palin Is NOT The Mother [Photos+Video]" The basic premise of this entry, complete with pictures and all, is that McCain's Veep pick, Sarah Palin is not the mother of her newborn son, but actually the grandmother and her eldest daughter is the actually the father.

Of course the pictures prove nothing and the supporting evidence supplied by "ArcXIX" provide no citations or verified sources - and of course as of today - the story has fallen apart. Surprised?

I believe that Senator Obama has called for a different conversation this year. One that goes beyond the politics of smear and destruction.

If there are reasons to throw a person under the bus along with their family, then the person doing the throwing had better have some facts beyond an opinion based a few unverified photographs.

Sarah Palin is not qualified for the position of Veep for many reasons. Nor is the ticket of McCain/Palin qualified for the highest offices in this land, nor do they deserve the support of Americans considering they support the past eight years of George Bush. However they do deserve to be treated with some respect and dignity, especially when it comes to their families.

Catholics will find plenty to disagree with McCain/Palin this election, but Catholics are also charitable people, and personal attacks on family members will not gain much traction in our communities. It is too bad that those on the ultra fringe of both political spectrum's often choose to play in the gutter.

Disagree with the politics. Disagree with the position and the policy, but leave the family out of it.

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Fr. Frank Pavone : Who is Catholic and who is not...

In a recent little known statement put out by Father Frank Pavone, the claim has been made that Sarah Palin is a "pro-life" Roman Catholic...

That contrast extends to Biden, said the Rev. Frank Pavone, a Catholic priest who heads of Priest for Life. “Here we have Sarah as a pro-life Catholic and Biden as a pro-abortion Catholic. The Catholic issue there is going to be very, very strongly in play,” Pavone said. read more


Interesting....

Meanwhile - from a 2007 story on Governor Palin....

Her Christian faith--Palin grew up attending nondenominational Bible churches--was a minor issue in the race. She told me her faith affects her politics this way: "I believe everything happens for a purpose. In my own personal life, if I dedicated back to my Creator what I'm trying to create for the good . . . everything will turn out fine." That same concept applies to her political career, she suggested. Read More....


Pavone has been famous for manipulating the facts in the past, now it appears he is converting folks to the Catholic Faith without their knowledge.

Friday, August 29, 2008

The Catholic Case Against McCain - Palin does not like Polar Bears, for drilling - bad steward of enviroment

Care for God's creation:

A Biblical vision of justice is much more comprehensive than civil equity; it encompasses right relationships between all members of God’s creation. Stewardship of creation: The world's goods are available for humanity to use only under a "social mortgage" which carries with it the responsibility to protect the environment. The "goods of the earth" are gifts from God, and they are intended by God for the benefit of everyone. Man was given dominion over all creation as sustainer rather than as exploiter, and is commanded to be a good steward of the gifts God has given him. We cannot use and abuse the natural resources God has given us with a destructive consumer mentality.

Catholic Social Teaching recognizes that the poor are the most vulnerable to environmental impact and endure disproportional hardship when natural areas are exploited or damaged. US Bishops established an environmental justice program to assist parishes and dioceses who wanted to conduct education, outreach and advocacy about these issues. The US Conference of Catholic Bishops Environmental Justice Program (EJP) calls Catholics to a deeper respect for God’s creation and engages parishes in activities that deal with environmental problems, particularly as they affect the poor.


Well right off the bat we find a huge Catholic problem with the pick of Palin as McCain's VP.

Apparently she has little regard for the survival of Polar Bears - Gods Creation...

And she wants to drill in Alaska - abusing the natural resources God has given us with a destructive consumer mentality.

Read AP Story....

Al Gore - Steward of the Enviroment

"I believe in recycling, but that is ridicules": Vice President Al Gore, referring to the prospect of of four more years of Bush and McCain....

I wanted to post our great former Vice President's speech last night, but I like every body else got caught up in the Obama speech and one of the greatest moments in American Political History.

Catholics had much to take away from last nights historic event in Denver, and Al Gore reminded us of a few. Catholics are charitable and Pro Family. Gore reminded us that Bush / Cheney who, indifferent to the facts, subordinated the good of the many for the good of the few.

As Catholics we are called to be good stewards of the environment and to care for Gods creation. This is a life issue. There are those forces of the status quo who are afraid of change, and want to distract Catholics from this prominent tenant of our faith.

Vice President Gore reminded us last night that Climate Change is a planetary emergency. It is also a national security issue as we will begin to see climate refugees destabilizing nations.

By addressing the Climate Change problem, investing in alternative energies and reducing carbon emissions, we can revive the economy and strengthen our nations security.

Stewardship of the environment and proactive action to address Climate Change is a life issue and it is a Catholic Value.

"Big Oil and coal have a 50 year lease on the Republican party and they are drilling it for all they are worth" - Al Gore - August 28th, DNC, Denver CO.

McLoserman?

Doubtful - but it would be interesting for sure... and a gutsy pick on behalf of the "Maverick". Catholics focused on single issues would have much to lament.....

The Catholic Case for Barrack Obama and the Catholic Case Against John McCain

In the coming days and weeks, I will focusing a series of posts making the Catholic Case for Barrack Obama and why Americans who are informed by their Catholic Faith should vote for the Obama/Biden Ticket and not for the McCain/Bush Ticket.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

WOW

There is so much in Barrack Obama's acceptance speech tonight. It was magnificent. This was the greatest convention speech ever. It spoke to the heart of America. There is much for Catholics in the speech, but so much more for America. I can not wait to get the transcript and go through this again. Tonight's speech is the foundation for the Catholic case for Obama to be our next President.

"The times are too serious, the stakes are too high for this same partisan playbook. So let us agree that patriotism has no party. I love this country, and so do you, and so does John McCain. The men and women who serve in our battlefields may be Democrats and Republicans and Independents, but they have fought together and bled together and some died together under the same proud flag. They have not served a Red America or a Blue America, they have served the United States of America." - Barrack Obama, August 28th, 2008 DNC, Denver CO.

This was a unifying speech, a liberating speech, a moral speech and a speech for the Common Good...
More to come.....

Fannie Lou Hamer's America, 44 Years Later (by Burns Strider)

I am overwhelmed at the historic nature of what's happening this week, and it's important that we all think about this. It's important for me as a Mississippian. For me, I can't stop thinking of the Mississippi Freedom Democrats and Fannie Lou Hamer. I wish Hamer could be here.

In 1964 the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP) arrived at the Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City with the goal of unseating the "regular Democrats" and representing their fellow Democrats from Mississippi.

The Freedom Democrats were civil rights pioneers attempting to engage the political process and give African Americans equal participation in our nation's democratic system. They wanted to vote. They wanted to participate. They wanted their voice to be heard.

The regular Democrats were the establishment. They were all white and were seeking to maintain the status quo, which was maintaining their control of the political process in Mississippi.

The Freedom Democrats stood for an America where everyone had a place at the table. The regular Democrats stood for an America where the white establishment had a place at the table while African Americans stood to the side taking what scraps were tossed to them.

Fannie Lou Hamer led the Mississippi Freedom Democrats. She was impoverished, a sharecropper with hands calloused from the back-breaking work of hand-picking cotton. She couldn't read. And she had lived a life with no say about her own choices. Speaking before the DNC credentials committee, Hamer proclaimed "Is this America?"

Hamer is also famous for telling America, "I am sick and tired of being sick and tired."

The Freedom Democrats were denied official recognition, but the MFDP kept up their agitation within the convention. The MFDP delegates borrowed passes from sympathetic northern delegates and took the seats vacated by the "regular" Mississippi delegates (most had left), only to be removed by the national party. When they returned the next day to find that convention organizers had removed the empty seats that had been there yesterday, the MFDP stayed to sing freedom songs.

This week, 44 years later, the Democratic Party at their national convention in Denver, Colorado, has nominated Sen. Barack Obama as their candidate for president of the United States.

The diverse Mississippi delegation of black and white, the heirs of the Freedom Democrats of 1964, many with direct connections with those who were there in 1964, cast their votes for this historic candidate.

Let's not forget the true nature of this historic week. Let's not forget the African Americans back in Mississippi who once couldn't vote, who lived under Jim Crow, and on Thursday night will watch a black man accept the nomination of the Democratic Party to lead this oldest active political party on the planet, to be their candidate for president of the United States. What will go through their minds?

Fannie Lou Hamer was right to ask in 1964, "Is this America?"

As I sit in my hotel room here in Denver, in 2008, I would love to be able to tell Hamer, "Yes ma'am it is. Yes, ma'am, this is America; it's your America. Yes, ma'am, because of your determination 44 years ago, in just a few hours a black man will stand on one of the globe's largest stages and demonstrate to us that this is indeed the America we hope for."

Burns Strider is former senior advisor and director of faith outreach for U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, former advisor to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and currently a founder and partner of The Eleison Group.

Catholic and Voting for Obama and Biden this November

With families struggling to survive, and both parents working jobs under threat of layoff, America needs new leadership. With healthcare costs soaring and millions of Americans without health insurance, America needs a new plan. With our country at war and relations with other countries strained, American needs a new strategy. With our educational systems failing and our children falling behind, America needs a new perspective. With our planet warming and energy costs rising America needs to show the way.

As a Catholic going to the polls this November, I am mindful of these shared problems we face as Americans. My faith and love for my country compel me to vote for a candidate that will bring a systematic reform of No Child Left Behind. As a Catholic I am called to vote for the candidate that will bring improved access to health care for the poor and working families. As a Catholic, I seek a candidate who supports a lowering of the federal deficit. I seek a candidate who seeks a realistic investment in alternative energy speaking to the call I have as a Catholic to be a good steward of the environment. As a Catholic watching my country from a world view, I seek a candidate that will end the harsh interrogation of detainees and restore our respect and relations globally. As a Catholic I seek a candidate who works to address the circumstances surrounding a woman’s decision to have an abortion and works to reduce and eliminate abortions in this country.

The possibility for a Barrack Obama Presidency brings the prospect of a national unity not felt since the presidency of JFK. Catholic social teaching proclaims that we are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, no matter if they are rich, poor, white or black. As President, Barrack Obama will tend to the dignity of the human person. We will hear his call to family, community and participation. Rights will become a priority as will options for the poor and vulnerable. As President, Barrack Obama will bring dignity back to work and secure the rights of workers. As our nation regains respect in the world, I believe an Obama presidency will bring solidarity to our planet as well as care for God’ Creation. These tenants and issues are part of my being, part of my faith narrative and the reasons I will vote for Barrack Obama and Joe Biden as a Catholic this November.

45 Years Ago............a Dream..... now a reality...

On the 45th Anniversary of the Rev. Martin Luther King's historic speech, Senator Barrack Obama will deliver his acceptance speech as the Democratic nominee. It has taken time, and time heals. God Bless America.

Catholics must take a special time to pause today and hold their heads high. One of the unknown stories of the civil rights movement was the unyielding support of Women Religious and Priests. As Catholics we responded to the call to serve the least among us 45 years ago, just as Barrack Obama has renewed that call in 2008.

Americans are capable of great things, and with Obama and Biden, this country will continue that long tradition.



I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we have come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.

In a sense we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds." But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this check — a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.
Martin Luther King, Jr., delivering his 'I Have a Dream' speech from the steps of Lincoln Memorial. (photo: National Park Service)

We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. They have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.

As we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied, as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their selfhood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating "For Whites Only". We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.

Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair.

I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."

And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!

Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!

But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"


---Dr. Martin Luther King

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

President Clinton at the DNC: "People the world over have always been more impressed by the power of our example than by the example of our power."

I will make no bones about it. Bill Clinton is my President. I have been an FOB since 1992 and will continue to be. They say the boss lady hit it out of the park last night, well Bubba ran the bases tonight.

President Clinton forcefully endorsed Barack Obama's bid for the White House, telling the assembled delegates to the Democratic convention that Obama is "ready to lead America and restore American leadership in the world."

"With Joe Biden's experience and wisdom, supporting Barack Obama's proven understanding, insight and good instincts, America will have the national security leadership we need," Clinton said.

The delegates stood on their feet and roared for nearly 3 1/2 minutes when Clinton walked on stage.

Another magical night at the DNC.... and Thursday night is yet to come.

“New study finds finds social and economic supports for women significantly reduce abortions”

I was going to write this outstanding study up, but David Gibson did such a great job over on Commonweal, that I am going to cross post his assessment.

“New study finds finds social and economic supports for women significantly reduce abortions”

That’s the promise of the new study released today by Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good. According to the group’s news release, the study is the first of its kind and looks at the “long- and short-term effects of public policy on the abortion rate over a twenty-year period. The findings reveal that social and economic supports for women and families dramatically reduce the number of abortions. As Democrats gather in Denver for their national convention, and as Republicans prepare to gather next week, the study offers compelling findings that pro-life and pro-choice leaders from both political parties can unite behind to reduce abortions.”

Indeed, if this holds true, the findings would (I would think) provide ammunition for those looking to move beyond the stalemate over Roe v. Wade. Apparently the findings were presented at a “town hall” meeting in Denver with Sen. Bob Casey, Rep. Heath Shuler and others, and sponsored by Democrats for Life of America. I haven’t seen a write-up, so don’t know what they may have added.

Catholics in Alliance commissioned the study, which was conducted by Joseph Wright, a political science professor at Penn State University and a visiting fellow at the University of Notre Dame, and Michael Bailey, a professor of American government at Georgetown University. You can read it here (in a 19-page PDF file). Tom Roberts at NCR also has coverage.

Americas Continuing Sin

Why is Chaput, Bill Donohue and Deal Hudson not speaking out on this life issue? Where is their charity and Catholic Faith concerning the least among us?

One of McCain's Catholic problems is that he sees no great problem with this. The view from one of his seven Condos is pretty rosy I would bet.

New numbers released by the the Census Bureau this morning indicate “the nation’s poverty rate held steady at 12.5%, not statistically different from the 12.3% in 2006. That meant there were 37.3 million people living in poverty in 2007.” The number of uninsured dropped to 45.7 million (15.3 percent of the population), down from 47 million in 2006.
More...

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

No Way, No How, No McCain!

Hillary Clinton at the DNC....

The Boss Lady has spoken. She was so graceful and beautiful as usual, and I do not believe there are any doubts left. For those on the fringes and the "PUMAs" - hey it's over. She said if you are in it for her, you are there for the wrong reasons. If you are in it for the least among us - then you are in it for the right reasons and you should vote for Obama.

Classic, graceful, witty, elegant and classy as usual.

Thanks Madam Senator!


"It's fitting that John McCain and George Bush will be meeting in the Twin Cities next week, because it's getting pretty hard to tell them apart." -- Hillary Clinton

Four more months..........

Senator Casey just completed his anticipated speech at the DNC. It was widely noted in the media that Senators pro life father was denied a chance to speak the 1992 convention.

Senator Casey, himself a pro life Catholic was expected by many to focus his chance to speak on the issue of abortion. Many will be disappointed.

The highlight from his speech was bringing the convention to its feet to chant "Four more months", regarding the Bush administration.

Red meat was offered as he defined McCain as a "sidekick" of Bush and not the maverick that McCain likes to define himself as. McCain voted with Bush policies 95% of the time in his Senate career.

CNN's Candy Crawley wanted to expand on the abortion debate after in her interview, but the Senator did not bite. Too bad as it would have been a great time to talk more about abortion reduction.

Crawley also asked what Obama needs to do to win Cathoic Vote. Sentor Casey indicated he did not believe there was such a thing as the "Catholic Vote" and "it is not much different than other voters" - he indicated that if Obama tell his story, shows his faith, how he is a father of good character and show human side and who he is, he will win the Catholic vote.

All in all the speech was simple, and just what the convention needed - direct, drawing contrasts, defining the race and going on the attack.....

Lets hope we hear more like it.

Catholics Have New Reasons to Rethink Abortion Politics

This is a great post over at Newsweek/ Washington Posts On Faith - Catholic America. by Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo

Both John McCain and the Democrats are giving Catholics reasons to reconsider which party can and will do more to reduce the number of abortions in America.

When on August 11, McCain told the Weekly Standard that he welcomed pro-choice Republicans, he articulated openly what has been obvious for some time: the GOP uses the issue to get votes, but will not outlaw abortion. In other words, it is foolish to think that voting for Republicans is the "Catholic" thing to do.

On the other hand, no less an expert than Prof. Douglas Kmiec, once professor of law at Catholic University, and a former Reagan Administration lawyer who wrote briefs for the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade, now says the Democrats have a stronger approach to reducing abortions.

Kmiec is a veteran of the pro-life cause and his reasoning is best explained in his own words, not in the shortened space of this column. Nonetheless, coming as it does so close to McCain's embrace of pro-choice Republicans, Kmiec's redefined position represents a significant shift in the abortion aspect of the "culture wars."


Read More.....

McCain Campaign is Sexist

Catholic Women Religious who supported Hillary Clinton in large numbers this past primary season should be outraged by the McCain campaign's treatment of Hillary Clinton. She is being used against her will by the McCain campaign and her words are being used out context in swiftboat style campaign ads by the McCain Campaign.

What part of Hillary's endorsement of Barrack Obama way back in June of this year did the McCain campaign miss?

Hillary herself said: "My name is Hillary Clinton, and I do not support this ad" - are the McCain folks deaf?

Catholic women and women all across America have much to consider this fall when going to the polls - do they continue with the same sexist polices of the Bush administration by voting for McCain? Policies that only talk about abortion and do to nothing reduce them by empowering women with other choices. Policies that keep the average salaries of women lower in the work force? Policies that try to keep women home and away from higher education and good jobs?

All indications are that they will vote for change and to move the country forward, and Catholic women and Women Religious will lead the way.

Denver Archbishop Chaput Should Resign

Pro Bush, Republican Archbishop Chaput of Denver should stop fooling himself and others and simply resign from his post and become a full time paid operative of the Republican Party, instead of the unpaid surrogate he is now.

Chaput has suggested that some politicians should forgo Communion due to their pro-abortion stance. Chaput has been a very staunch and partisan supporter of the Republican Party and George W. Bush. By doing so, Chaput has betrayed some of the very principles of the Catholic Faith and betrayed the flock he is entrusted with. Chaput should excuse himself from communion.

Instead of the Common Good and the tenants of Catholic Social Teaching, Chaput's partisan position supports Oil Companies and war contractors adding four trillion dollars to the national debt. He betrays his flock by supporting an administration that has the United States paying more for defense than anytime in history, and three times more for gasoline and home heating oil and twice what we paid for health care eight years ago.

The partisan agenda that Chaput supports has seen millions of Americans, many in Chaput's flock lose their jobs, homes, health care and pensions.

Chaput has been silent while an unjust war in Iraq cost thousands of American and Iraqi lives. The same war that has borrowed money from China to bomb bridges in Iraq, but has seen little money spent to build bridges at home.

Why has Chaput not spoken out about the torture and violations of international law that the Bush administration has supported, while alienating our allies and spending our children's inheritance?

Chaput should not be faulted for speaking out on abortion, but he should also speak out on other issues central to Catholic teaching and life. Instead Chaput seeks attention from the media for his ego and sales of his book. Instead of fighting for the rights of workers and fair wages, Chaput seeks photo ops with Bush and McCain. Instead of speaking out for fair trade, good jobs and rebuilding our infrastructure, Chaput sits by his phone waiting for a call from the Wall Street Journal.

Instead of working to protect our environment, health care for all, education for all and peace in our world, Chaput instead sides with the agents of the wealthy and big business while he betrays the Catholic Faith and flock he is charged with pastoral care.

If Chaput seeks to play politics,then he should indeed follow his vocation and step down as Archbishop and officially join the Republican party and thus ending the hypocrisy of his ministry.

The Lion Roars

Last night during the DNC, we were reminded by the great Lion of the US Senate, why we as Catholics should vote for Barrack Obama this November. Senator Ted Kennedy whose public service is well grounded in Catholic Social Teaching moved many to tears with his impassioned and inspirational speech to the DNC. Despite his illness, Senator Kennedy gave a thrilling speech that many claimed passed the torch to Barrack Obama.

Prior to the speech we were reminded by Caroline Kennedy of the Senators long commitment to the Common Good and the least among us. Nobody has fought for the rights of working Americans and those in need more than Senator Kennedy.

We are all reminded by Senator Kennedy's relentless fight for universal health care as a basic human right, his efforts to raise the minimum wage, to truly leave no child behind, to protect our troops with proper body amour and his commitment a better America, why we must elect Barrack Obama as President so Senator Kennedy can return to the Senate and be a part of a great progressive moment in this country.

Last night, Kennedy again challenged Americans to live up to the country's ideals:

"The work begins anew," he said, "the hope rises again and the dream lives on."

Monday, August 25, 2008

Italian priest organizes beauty contest for nuns

From the AP - this is a hoot! I love the Sisters, and they are beautiful!! - all of them - but - Mother Angelica in a bathing suit?? Will Inside Catholic and Deal Hudson run the Sisters Swimsuit Issue?


ROME (AP) -- An Italian priest and theologian said Sunday he is organizing an online beauty pageant for nuns to give them more visibility within the Catholic Church and to fight the stereotype that they are all old and dour.

The "Miss Sister 2008" contest will start in September on a blog run by the Rev. Antonio Rungi and will give nuns from around the world a chance to showcase their work and their image.

"Nuns are a bit excluded, they are a bit marginalized in ecclesiastical life," Rungi told The Associated Press after Italian media carried reports of the idea. "This will be an occasion to make their contribution more visible."

Rungi, a theologian and schoolteacher from the Naples area, said that visitors to his site will have a month to "vote for the nun they consider a model."

Nuns will fill out a profile including information about their life and vocation as well as a photograph. It will be up to them to choose whether to pose with the traditional veil or with their heads uncovered.

"We are not going to parade nuns in bathing suits," Rungi said by telephone from his town of Mondragone. "But being ugly is not a requirement for becoming a nun. External beauty is gift from God, and we mustn't hide it."

Rungi said the idea was first suggested to him by nuns with whom he regularly prays and works. He hopes there will be dozens of submissions once the Web site is started.

The contest drew criticism from the association of Catholic teachers.

"It's an initiative that belittles the role of nuns who have dedicated themselves to God," the group's president, Alberto Giannino, told Italy's ANSA news agency on Sunday.

Voting Catholic this November

With families struggling to survive, and both parents working jobs under threat of layoff, America needs new leadership. With healthcare costs soaring and millions of Americans without health insurance, America needs a new plan. With our country at war and relations with other countries strained, American needs a new strategy. With our educational systems failing and our children falling behind, America needs a new perspective. With our planet warming and energy costs rising America needs to show the way.

As a Catholic going to the polls this November, I am mindful of these shared problems we face as Americans. My faith and love for my country compel me to vote for a candidate that will bring a systematic reform of No Child Left Behind. As a Catholic I am called to vote for the candidate that will bring improved access to health care for the poor and working families. As a Catholic, I seek a candidate who supports a lowering of the federal deficit. I seek a candidate who seeks a realistic investment in alternative energy speaking to the call I have as a Catholic to be a good steward of the environment. As a Catholic watching my country from a world view, I seek a candidate that will end the harsh interrogation of detainees and restore our respect and relations globally. As a Catholic I seek a candidate who works to address the circumstances surrounding a woman’s decision to have an abortion and works to reduce and eliminate abortions in this country.

The possibility for a Barrack Obama Presidency brings the prospect of a national unity not felt since the presidency of JFK. Catholic social teaching proclaims that we are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, no matter if they are rich, poor, white or black. As President, Barrack Obama will tend to the dignity of the human person. We will hear his call to family, community and participation. Rights will become a priority as will options for the poor and vulnerable. As President, Barrack Obama will bring dignity back to work and secure the rights of workers. As our nation regains respect in the world, I believe an Obama presidency will bring solidarity to our planet as well as care for God’ Creation. These tenants and issues are part of my being, part of my faith narrative and the reasons I will vote for Barrack Obama and Joe Biden as a Catholic this November.

Friday, August 8, 2008

Does John McCain support Banning birth control?

The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that the Department of Health and Human Services is circulating the draft of a regulation that would allow health care professionals and institutions to refuse to provide women access to some of the most common forms of contraception, under the auspices that such contraception is a form of abortion. The purpose of the draft rule is to pre-empt state laws that have protected women's ability to get birth control at pharmacies where a particular pharmacist refuses to fill these prescriptions. Read more....

With over 90% of Catholics who have ever had sexual intercourse claiming to have used contraceptives at some point, the question has to be asked of Senator McCain, if he supports the latest draconian efforts by the Bush administration to push this country back to the stone age? Rather than try and help impoverished people and reduce the number of abortions in this country, will McCain continue this Bush policy as he has so many others?

Thursday, August 7, 2008

It is not fair to say that Senator Barrack Obama supports infanticide

Captain Infanticide, aka Deal Hudson, is at it again. In his latest round of published smears against Senator Obama, not only has he once again raised this issue, he has listed others who have also made the same charge against Senator Obama to buttress this silly notion. The motley crew he lists includes Rick Santorum, the failed Senator who lost re-election to an actual Pro Life candidate, Ultra Neo Conservative Terry Jeffries, extremist Jill Stanek, grumpy extremist Bill Donohue, Gary Bauer of the far Christian right, and Libertarian Nat Hentoff. Hardly a jury of peers to make such a charge, much less support it with any credibility.

As I reported earlier on this site, Webster’s defines "infanticide" as "the killing of an infant". To this date, there is no record of Barrack Obama killing any infants. The charge that Deal Hudson makes is about as silly as charging George W. Bush with “genocide”. However, could the case be made that Bush is guilty by association for “genocide” as he did nothing to stop the genocide in Darfur? From the extremist point of view, is it fair to say the George W. Bush supports genocide? Since infants are killed during genocide, infanticide takes place, so is it fair to say that George W. Bush supports infanticide? If he does, do his supporters such as Deal Hudson and Bill Donohue support genocide and infanticide? Well, you get the point.

This is the same crowd that supports Republican candidate John McCain and President George W. Bush, leaders of the Republican administration that has brought to America the missing “weapons of mass destruction”, the debacle of Hurricane Katrina, Alberto Gonzales, Walter Reed, Guantanamo Bay, the largest national debt ever, tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy, Dick Cheney, the Iraq war, the stolen election…the list goes on. They, along with the "the decider" and Candidate McCain, want Catholic Americans to once again buy this charge of infanticide to deflect the foremost issues that Catholic Americans and their families are really concerned about.

Catholics going to the polls this November will be compelled me to vote for a candidate that will bring a systematic reform of No Child Left Behind. Catholics will be called to vote for the candidate that will bring improved access to health care for the poor and working families. Catholics will seek a candidate who supports a lowering of the federal deficit. They seek a candidate who truly desires a realistic investment in alternative energy, who by the way speaks to the same call that they have as a Catholics to be a good stewards of the environment. Catholics watching their country from a world view, seek a candidate that will end the harsh interrogation of detainees and restore our respect and relations globally. Catholics seek a candidate who works to address the circumstances surrounding a woman’s decision to have an abortion and works to reduce and eliminate abortions in this country.

Several times, I have challenged Deal Hudson to debate that the abortion conversation at this point in time should be about offering policy solutions that promote life and the support of parents beyond the birth of their new child. The conversation must move beyond the question of the legality of abortion and move towards actually reducing the need for abortion by investing in programs that will for example offer educational opportunities to communities in need so that in time we can see a quantitative reduction in both unintended pregnancies and abortions.

Moreover, I believe instead of asking "gotcha" questions on where a candidate has voted in the past or arguing about the failed and divisive policies of the past thirty years, or in this case pinning an unrealistic and radical title on Senator Obama, we have a moral obligation to address the issues that all sides can agree on, whether pro-life or pro-choice. We have to come to the collective realization that if candidates and their supporters are serious about the desire to reduce and eliminate abortions in this country then we all must find a common ground to build upon that can eventually reverse the recent trends and reduce the ever increasing number of abortions in this country.

The George W. Bush Presidential Library

This was in the in box today. Thought it was funny enough to share.

The GEORGE W. BUSH PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY is now in the planning stages....The Library will include:

01. The Weapons of Mass Destruction Room, which no one has yet been able to find.

02. The Hurricane Katrina Room , which is still under construction.

03. The Alberto Gonzales Room, where you won't be able to remember anything.

04. The Texas Air National Guard Room, where you don't even have to show up.

05. The Walter Reed Hospital Room, where they don't let you in.

06. The Guantanamo Bay Room, where they don't let you out.

07. The National Debt Room, which is huge and has no ceiling.

08. The Tax Cut Room, with entry restricted only to the wealthy.

09. The Airport Men's Room, where you can meet some of your favorite
Republican Senators.

10. The Economy Room, which is in the toilet.

11. The Iraq War Room, after you complete your first tour, they make you to go back for a second, third, fourth, and sometimes fifth tour.

12. The Dick Cheney Room, in the famous undisclosed location, complete with shotgun gallery.

13. The Environmental Conservation Room, still empty, but very warm.

14. The Supreme Court Gift Shop, where you can buy an election.

15. The Decider Room, complete with dart board, magic 8-ball, Ouija board, dice, coins, and straws.

Additionally, the museum will have an electron microscope to help you locate the President's accomplishments.

Admission: Republicans - free; Democrats - $1000 or 3 Euros

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Sen. McCain: Take Down This Ad

Catholics are not so much concerned with the end of the world as we are with having said our last confession prior to the apocalypse.

As reported previously on this blog, the McCain campaign wants us to believe that Obama is somehow the anti-Christ. Are we sure it was not Dick Cheney??

From our friends at the Matthew 25 Project.

Dear Friends,

As Christians, we were appalled to see John McCain's recent ad entitled "The One."

This ad, released on the web last Friday, tries to portray Senator Obama as some kind of Messiah and mocks those who support him as cult-like followers looking for a new Savior. Even more troubling, many view the ad as a dark attempt to portray Senator Obama as an anti-Christ figure.

The McCain campaign has said that the ad is meant to be humorous. But make no mistake about it: this ad is targeted at Christian voters with a very dark message.

We reject this tactic of fear and distortion out of hand. This false, desperate, and insulting ad should be renounced and taken down immediately.

Tell Senator McCain to repudiate this ad and take it down. Sign our petition to Senator McCain today.

Please forward this email to as many friends and family as you can. We cannot let this kind of negative campaigning go unanswered.

Help us get thousands of signatures in the next 48 hours. Sign-here.

Blessings,


Mara, Sharee and Grant
Matthew 25 Network

Deal Hudson - "Captain Infanticide"

The 2008 Swift boaters have a new captain at the helm. His name is "Captain Infanticide", aka Deal Hudson. Being the ever divisive political hack that he is, Hudson has joined the swift boaters with false charges of "infanticide" against Barrack Obama. Websters defines "infanticide" as "the killing of an infant". To this date, there is no record of Barrack Obama killing any infants.

Instead of talking about ways to reduce the number of abortions, jobs, the economy, gas prices and the war, issues Catholics have a genuine stake in, Hudson would rather stay down in the divisive gutter and continue to run his smear campaign.

Seth Colter Walls article on the Huffington Post - The Next Smear Against Obama: "Infanticide" - not only highlights how Hudson is misleading people, but also once again reminds readers of his sordid past.

Catholics will not be fooled by this continued hypocrisy, when they cast their votes this fall.

Sunday, August 3, 2008

The Anti Christ!!

Now McCain wants Americans to believe that Obama is the Anti Christ. Funny - I was under the impression the Anti Christ was the Vice President? (disclaimer, I DO NOT BELIEVE, Dick Cheney is the Anti-Christ nor do I promote him as such - this is an attempt at humor)









The McCain Campaigns Sophomoric attempt at humor. Boorish at best...