St. John Bosco's Spirit of Change

St. John Bosco (1888) may have scandalized others in his efforts to attract and educate boys. Rather than detaching himself from the world and limiting himself to priestly work, he got involved in contract negotiations with the employers of the exploited boys who flocked into the city from the countryside. Rather than wait for them to knock at the Rectory, he went out to find them in the alleys near liquor stores. Rather than keep himself so prim and proper with well starched vestments, he pulled his cossack up as he raced in the town square with the boys.

His attitude of change has been immortalized in the Rules of the Salesians. This has been why his order has thrived and grown to be the third largest in the world today.

To adapt to the needs of times requires the ability to read the “signs of the times“. Being stuck in age old ways is not fidelity; it can be blindness. If one is wearing shades, then everything is seen in that hue. When something fails, it is blamed on everything other than oneself.

I remember meeting two Salesians back in the 80s. The younger talked about the modem setup in the school while the older talked about the book binding shop. It is not good when people get stuck in a rut; because, if all they have is a hammer, then everything else looks like a nail.

To innovate is risky. It is safer to be reactionary, to sit back and wait for the innovator to fail. But as St. Theresa of the Avila wrote, “One who makes no mistakes, makes nothing.” People nowadays are severely criticizing the experiments and abuses brought about by the second Vatican council. But some of these activities were attempts to respond to situations that have never confronted the Church before.  People made it up as they went along.

In the past St. Thomas Aquinas integrated Catholic faith with Aristotelian philosophy and produced the classical Scholasticism that is still taught in the seminaries. But it was radical to use a pagan philosophy to explain the revealed truth in Salvation history. 

More recently, there were some who took the Catholic faith and blended it with the Marxist dialectical thought to produce Liberation theology. They thought that since Communism was inevitable, they might as well Christianize it. And that turned out to be tragic mistake. However, I doubt if the liberation theologians were men of prayer because, it is hard to believe how that approach can come from above. And that is the difference between a faithful innovation versus a reckless change.

Prayer makes one honestly accept his ineffectiveness and consider others’ ideas. Prayer brings courage to risk making mistakes and being criticized. Courage comes the cour meaning heart, the symbol of charity. Prayer cultivates one’s love for God and neighbor that makes one reach beyond his comfort zone and find the second wind to start all over.

If the Church is to address the needs of our days, they may need that gift of adaptability given through St. John Bosco.

Upcoming Superbowl Ad Scares Pro-Choice Mob. Their Slander Refuted.

Pro-choice mob tries to block Pam Tebow from sharing her dangerous choice to keep Tim.  Pam is scheduled to talk about the abortion recommendation in a Superbowl ad and her detractors call her a liar because, it is improbable for the doctor to suggest an abortion - an illegal procedure where they were, the Philippines.

While I am unaware of the facts behind Pam's medical case, I know that in Catholic moral theology, there is the principle of double-effect where some actions may be considered moral even if they have two effects - one good and the other evil.  For example, operating on a cancerous uterus would kill the fetus attached to it or taking metronidazole can have the side-effect of a miscarriage.  So, that is the context where Catholic doctors might have advised "abortion".  It is not exactly "abortion" that was recommended but a procedure that can have that side-effect.  It is a subtle difference but it is one that is consistent to the condemnation of abortion in all cases.

Update from an intro to her speech at Louisville Women's Ministries.
More than 21 years ago, she and her husband, Bob, were serving as missionaries to the Philippines and praying for a fifth child. Pam became ill and was treated with strong antibiotics before discovering she was pregnant. Doctors urged her to abort the baby for her own safety. She refused. 

Update from Gainesville Sun.
Just before her pregnancy, Pam fell into a coma after contracting amoebic dysentery, a bacteria transmitted through contaminated drinking water. During her recovery, she received a series of strong medications. And even though she discontinued the regimen when she discovered the pregnancy, doctors told Pam the fetus had been damaged.  "They thought I should have an abortion to save my life from the beginning all the way through the seventh month," she recalled.  In her seventh month of pregnancy, Pam traveled to the country's capital, Manila, where she received around-the-clock care from an American-trained physician.


Creative Minority Report: Pro-Choicers Call Tebow's Mother A Liar:
Video about the ad.

Source: click here or type http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwccS-TS8tk

Tim unafraid to live for God even publicly.

Source for virgin interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HS8qqNnR3aM

Tim a missionary in the Philippines.
Publish Post
Source for mission work:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUc_JO7A6OU

Video: 2010 Right to Life March - a Jewish Cause too

The cause of defending preborn children is not defended by Christians alone.  As you can see from the video, it is also promoted by the Jewish people.  Watch Rabbi Yehuda Levin speaking at the anual March for Life in Washington, DC and listen to his suggestions on how to stop this holocaust.

Source:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfB-zfrItSg
Read also: The Real March For Life (350,000 in 2010) in http://divine-ripples.blogspot.com/2010/01/video-2010-right-to-life-march-300000.html

Video: 2010 Right to Life March ~350,000. US media did not report.

When it comes to covering pro-life activities, the US mainstream media either ignores or distorts the story.   In the video below, Rick Sanchez gives the impression that the pro-choice crowd is just as active and numerous.  Truth and objectivity is compromised or sold out to the sponsors.  But what is mind boggling is despite the over-whelming numbers of pro-lifers, the media still sides with the abortion supporters;  that does not make much business sense.  Wouldn't  there be more viewers or papers sold if they reported the story fairly?  The video below documents the death of journalistic integrity when it comes to this issue.  The mainstream media, MSM, has become part of the government propaganda machinery.  But the truth cannot be hidden and it shall set people free. 


Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8knMYK-IX4U or click here.

Video description: At the 2010 March for Life the media set new standards for journalistic fraud. In its lead photo, CNN showed five pro-abortion picketers, all that could be found, and ignored the 300,000 pro-life marchers. CNN's Rick Sanchez wondered out loud which group dominated. Newsweek claimed that most participants were in their 60's when, in fact, most were under 25. This video sets the record straight.

Video: Patriotism and Pride for America

Last night, the president claimed that last week's Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. FEC, "open[ed] the floodgates for special interests — including foreign corporations — to spend without limit in our elections. Well I don't think American elections should be bankrolled by America's most powerful interests, or worse, by foreign entities."  

But that is a lie. 

The Court held that 2 U.S.C. Section 441a, which prohibits all corporate political spending, is unconstitutional. Foreign nationals, specifically defined to include foreign corporations, are prohibiting from making "a contribution or donation of money or ather thing of value, or to make an express or implied promise to make a contribution or donation, in connection with a Federal, State or local election" under 2 U.S.C. Section 441e, which was not at issue in the case. Foreign corporations are also prohibited, under 2 U.S.C. 441e, from making any contribution or donation to any committee of any political party, and they prohibited from making any "expenditure, independent expenditure, or disbursement for an electioneering communication... ." (1)

And since he wanted other ideas sent his way, I thought I'd post this.
(2)  source http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeYscnFpEyA or click here

Video description:  Bob Basso author of "Common Sense" plays the role of Thomas Paine to ignite the fire of change in America. Patriotism and Pride for America lead Thomas Paine to help take back America! (2)

(1)  Bradley A. Smith.  National Review Online.  http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ZTVkODZiM2M0ODEzOGQ3MTMwYzgzYjNmODBiMzQzZjk

Creative Minority Report: Join The Non Nobis Network

An invitation from Patrick Archibold

Excerpt:
In a way that seemed almost impossible, the entire battle has turned. I need not go into detail here, you all know the story. We understand that the war on life is far from over, but today, at least for a while, by the grace of God, we have avoided institutionalized and tax-payer funded abortion. There will be other battles and perhaps they will be very soon, but it is incumbent upon all of us to acknowledge the great miracle that we have witnessed and to thank God for delivering us from this evil.So what I propose is that we Catholic, Christian, and pro-life bloggers everywhere give thanks to God by way publishing the Non Nobis in gratitude for this wondrous day.
Non nobis, non nobis, DomineSed nomini tuo da gloriam.Not to us, not to us, o Lord,But to your name give glory.I ask that any blogger interested in showing their gratitude for this victory, print the Non Nobis. I will also encourage you to also link or show your favorite version of the Non nobis. Mine is the scene from Henry V after the battle of Agincourt.

Read complete post at link:

Creative Minority Report: Join The Non Nobis Network

Light a candle series*: Privatize mass transit.

Why don’t we privatize sections of mass transit that make sense. There can be more buses and more routes. There can be mini-buses faring on shorter circuits. This will encourage people to take mass transit and reduce the cars on the road. With more buses, the wait time is less. It contributes to national security by reducing dependence on foreign oil. It promotes health and preserves the environment by reducing carbon emissions. It creates jobs for drivers, conductors, mechanics, supervisors and support personnel. It’s been done abroad and it works.  
* It is better to like a candle than to curse the darkness.