Church Positions on Proposed Healthcare - NOGO

Washington D.C., Aug 8, 2009 / 08:00 am (CNA).- Tom Grenchik, director of the U.S. bishops’ Pro-Life Secretariat, has said that mandated abortion health care coverage and funding is “a line we can never cross,” charging that some U.S. leaders are threatening health care reform by forcing Americans to accept such mandates in proposed reform bills. Writing in a Friday column on the U.S. bishops’ web site, Grenchik said that health care proposals need to be examined during the congressional recess to see how well they provide affordable quality health care and how they impact immigrants and the poor.
(Entire article at: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=16798 )

“Health care reform is a good thing,” New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan told CNA on Wednesday during in interview in Phoenix, Arizona. However, if it “leads to the destruction of life, then we say it’s no longer health care at all - it’s unhealthy care and we can’t be part of that.” Responding to a question about the Catholic Church’s view health care reform, Archbishop Dolan explained to CNA that the Church regards health care reform as a good thing. ( Entire article at: http://clericalwhispers.blogspot.com/2009/08/church-will-have-no-part-in-health-care.html )

Bloodbath continues; Abp. Wuerl washes hands: "Not my people, not the law"

As soon as the dissidents barricaded themselves in a fort, government tanks headed towards it. Cardinal Jaime Sin came on the radio and called on the Church - the People of God to stop the impending bloodbath. Soon priests, nuns and lay folks blocked the streets and faced off with the advancing troops. And the rest is history.

Today, a different form of violence continues specially here in the USA as babies get aborted every minute. Church leaders like Arch. Wuerl are even willing to give Holy Communion to the politicians responsible for laws that support this in spite of a canon law prohibition. In an interview, Arch. Wuerl excuses his inaction by saying that the politicians in D.C. are just visitors and that he does not interpret the Church law in that way - even if the Vatican holds the contrary position. Read the entire interview here: http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/05/06/archbishop-wuerl-why-i-won-t-deny-pelosi-communion/

Just a Publican, not a Republican

With the Church, I take the preferential option for the poor when the choice between them and the rich has to be made. So, I am more like the DNC that way. However, I cannot in good faith be part of a party that supports the murder of babies. But that's not a GOP thing nor is it a Catholic pet peeve; it is a basic human right. So when I oppose Obama's health care plan, it is not because I am GOP.

I think the DNC is not being honest with the American people when they portray protestors as GOP. What is scary is that the DNC may use that pretext to bulldoze their agenda and railroad over all opposition. At that point, the administration will have ceased to serve all the people.

Work, dogs, law, neighbors, bishop, babies & praise

Are you unemployed, underemployed, furloughed, exploited or unfairly treated at work? Visit http://www.foodforthepoor.org for perspective.

Three days ago, I rearranged my lawn furniture and that got my dog all tangled up. Guess what, someone called the cops who took my dog. Since I worked late, I had to pick the dog the next day and pay close to a $100 for the dogs stay, transport and paperwork. I felt like donating the dog were it not for my kids. Now I keep the dog in the house when I leave and smile more at my neighbors.

Also, I didn't know that my dog had a chip implanted in her that let the cops scan her info. She was a gift but can you imagine that on a dog. It's wierd because over here, if a child has not yet taken a breath through the mouth, then it is OK for the doctors to crush her skull. And, there were cases when a child had been born then placed in a shoe box and left in the closet to die.

Back where I came from, the Church would have gone ballistic, nuclear even. But here, my dear Archbishop Wuerl is willing to give Holy Communion to legislators who support abortion despite a standing canon law prohibition. Search the web and see if I am making this up. I know it is hard to believe. It's even harder to put that in perspective. This closing song provides a way to cope.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHdcyue0bSw

Joy, golf, clunkers and hamstrings

Man comes home from a golf game exhausted and despondent. His wife asked, “What happened?” “It’s terrible”, the man says “Harry died at the 10th hole.” The wife exclaimed, “That’s horrible!” “It is” the man continued, “Can you imagine, I had to hit the ball then drag Harry, hit the ball then drag Harry.”

That was from Bo’s video in my post last month illustrating how the past can hamstring the present. Dwelling on past sins keep us from seeing the needs of others and prevent us from loving God in them. So, he says “Bury Harry, so that we can hit the ball, hit the ball, hit the ball.” You know what he means – repent the fall, renounce the sin, avoid the occasions that go there then move forward.

Going to confession is not like going to a body shop where the dings and dangs get tapped back into place, spackled, sanded and painted over. Going to confession is like going to the dealership and getting a brand new car. So if you have a clunker sitting in the garage, if you have given up on God’s forgiveness or on yourself because of repeated falls, then drive over for a new car and do it right next time.

Maybe you’ll recover if you focus on Jesus first, on others next and lastly on yourself last. If you forget, think of J-O-Y – Jesus first letter, Others next letter, Yourself last letter.

Best to stand down to help Iranian protestors

Acc. to this article, it is best to stand down and do nothing to help the Iranians.

" Yet, doing nothing seems better than the alternatives. The millions of people in the streets of Teheran
and other cities protesting the fraudulent election testify to the fact that the regime is far from stable.
And, the one way to strengthen the regime is to appear that we are backing its opponents. It is
troublesome to think that we must sit by and do nothing. But, it is less trouble than strengthening
Ahmadinejad and his fellow thugs." ( Source http://ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/iran-do-nothing )

And this seems to be confirmed from the chatter in Iran where one of the administration's talking points include the oppositions' collaboration with foreigners. Moreover, I saw videos where the ex-patriates seems not to want or expect a high-profile involvement from Westerners - like it would hurt their cause rather than help it. I'll bounce this to the Iranian sympathizers for confirmation.

For now, one can always pray.

More Macho to Heal than Kill

Whenever I write about Christians' love for enemies, I get feedback that questions my manliness - like I need to grow a pair. There had been 3 soldiers and 2 lawyers in my family tree, so the killer instinct runs through my blood. (The soldiers were with the Spanish Guardia Civil, the Resistance against the Japanese and the US Armny,.) And since I did not go to a junior seminary, I spent a few afternoons during my adolescent years trying to Kung-fu someone at the school backyard. I am now ashamed of what I have done and if I can do things over, I would walk away. So, I am not a wus nor am I gay. I want to be like Jesus; check him out then you'll get it.

Christians do not love their enemies as a cop out - like the "slave morality". Where I come from, Christians can obliterate all the Muslim villages because they have the upper hand and a rich uncle with lots of fire power. The government actually started an all out offensive with the war on terror after 9/11. (You do know that there are christians and there are Christians. Those who know Christ personally vs. those who take on the Christian culture.) That campaign stopped for whatever reason. After that, the real Christians went to the Muslim villages to rebuild homes and mosques and provide medical assistance.

Video source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=equPto3vcoU
Other reference: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleid=458555



It takes more gumption to restrain oneself in the face of someone who hurt your own. It takes self-mastery to pay back with good. So, when Christians love their enemies, they go above and beyond the natural tendency for revenge; they do something "super" natural. That takes more strength and power - more "machismo".