Vatican position on Kennedy's Demise

Those who wanted to make the late senator Ted Kennedy the poster child for Catholics who support choice or abortion rights have been waiving a letter from the Pope that referenced well wishes and a blessing.  They seem to suggest that the Pope's words indicated that Kennedy was going to "sail into a happy place" as stated by President Obama.  My opinion is that it is a typical form letter sent as a polite response.  

To remove any doubt of where the Church officially stood or what the Pope meant, the prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, Archbishop Raymond L. Burke, came to Washington, D.C. last Friday and referenced this matter.  "Neither Holy Communion nor funeral rites should be administered to such politicians," said Archbishop Burke. "To deny these is not a judgment of the soul, but a recognition of the scandal and its effects."  

He firmly held that when a politician is associated "with greatly sinful acts about fundamental questions like abortion and marriage, his repentance must also be public." He added, "Anyone who grasps the gravity of what he has done will understand the need to make it public."

So, it is more likely that Kennedy is condemned to an eternity in hell. 

Contrary to the suggestion of Cardinal O'Malley, it's not uncharitable to point out the scandal caused by these Catholic politicians.  "The Church's unity is founded on speaking the truth in love. This does not destroy unity but helps to repair a breach in the life of the Church."

For more details click here or type http://insidecatholic.com/Joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6902&Itemid=48 Deal W. Hudson's Charity, Civility, and Speaking the Truth  (HT to Jay Anderson from proecclesia.blogspot.com )

Ed McGlasson shares how he helped his daughter transition from childhood to womanhood during adolescence.

Former NFL lineman Ed McGlasson shares how he helped his daughter become a woman and taught her the virtue of chastity and preserving herself for marriage.



Click here to go to source or type http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYUFWonnhz4

Thoughts about common ground on abortion

On common ground about abortion

Short version, there is none.  Expanded version, the pro-abortionists want to have the license to kill unborn children.  Some of them from Chicago even allow the murder of fully born infants.  Pro-lifers hold that a human person is formed at conception.  Hence between life and death, there is really no middle or common ground.  Pro-aborts will then go for the split the difference argument i.e. to be able to abort in the first trimester but not afterwards.  They just don't get that a person, no matter how young, is still a person with the inalienable right to live.

Thoughts about bishops, health care proposal, criminalize abortion

If it is not in writing, then it does not exist.

In my few courses in law, this is one lesson that stuck with me. People can say anything you want to hear, but if it is not in the contract or the bill, then all those promises are not enforceable. Obama can vow or pledge that there will not be any federal funding of abortions in the health care plan, but unless and until it is explicitly proscribed and precluded in some amendment, that those words have no binding effect. Our Lord taught us to be cunning and shrewd like serpents while we keep our innocence like doves. He did not ask us to be gullible, credolous and naive.  Hopefully, the USCCB has some short term memory to consider the recent actions of the president as it relates to abortion.  His fancy rhetoric has not been substantiated by deeds.

Around the world...

In the Philippines, abortion is illegal.  In Poland, the bishops will excommunicate any politician who will support abortion laws.  In the US, bishops and a cardinal solemnized the funeral of the most pro-abortion politician in the past 40 years.  (An associate priest could have presided over a private Mass and burial - considering Kennedy's pro-abortion legislative decisions.)

A right to life constitutional amendment?

Is it possible to have an amendment in the constitution that will protect the right to life of unborn children?  If it cannot go through the normal channels, can it be done via a referendum?

Video: Life in Christ or death by Religion

This is just so perfect that I will replay it until I can transcribe the entrie talk.  I'll post it now for your benefit.  It is the difference between religion and a living relationship of Jesus, between a drab and lifeless body of laws and an exciting and fulfilling life of love.  Enjoy.

Find more videos like this on Catholic Mountain

For video source click here or type
http://www.catholicmountain.com/video/death-by-religion

Video: Just One Judge (Roe Vs Wade)

The video has a clever and surprising twist at the end - very insightful and hopefully provocative.
For everyone out there - specially those in the field of law and justice, there must be a way to fight this. Perhaps, you have the answer or something that will eventually lead to it.


Find more videos like this on Catholic Mountain

Video source click here or type http://www.catholicmountain.com/video/2308223:Video:2362

Video: The Miracle of Damascus (church approved)

Video links: for part one click  here or type http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOx_xBSn1Rk

Video links: for part two click here or type http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpUpgf8Ui1E

Video links: for part 3 click here or type http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOyNVfPjo7E



From video description by Mary Ann Button
May we all be one on Earth as Christ is One with the Father in Heaven. This begins with forgiving and loving one another.

Catholic Digital Studio has been given permission from Rick Salbato of Unity Publishing to re-produce and re-cut this 5 1/2 hour documentary series, The Miracle of Damascus, about a church-approved Marian apparition and a Syrian mystic named Myrna Nazzour. She has stigmata, experiences visions of both the Blessed Mother and Jesus, and exudes Olive Oil with healing properties, from her face, hands and eyes.

The Icon of Soufanieh also exudes the same oil, which has healed and blessed a vast multitude.

Myrna is from the Byzantine Rite of the Catholic Church, specifically Melkite. A Rite represents a church tradition about how the sacraments are to be celebrated. The Catholic Church has four major Rites: Roman, Antiochean, Alexandrian and Byzantine.

Byzantine.net defines the Byzantine Catholic Church and its history, "... As the disciples brought the Gospel to different parts of the world, they adapted ceremonies of the Liturgy to the customs and music of that people. In the end, four great centers of Christianity emerged with distinctive Christian customs, but the same faith. These centers were located in the great cities of Jerusalem, Antioch, Rome and Alexandria. A couple of centuries later when the capital of the Roman empire was moved to the Eastern city of Byzantium and renamed Constantinople, an adaptation of the Antioch way of celebrating Liturgy was made. Thus a new center of Christianity arose in Constantinople and her ritual became known as the Byzantine Rite. From Constantinople the Slavic peoples of Eastern Europe were converted by Sts. Cyril and Methodius and naturally followed the Byzantine Rite. Today the Byzantine Rite is subdivided into ecclesiastical jurisdictions based on ethnic groupings, such as Greek, Ukrainian, Ruthenian, Russian, etc."

The film has an Imprimatur and the messages have a Nihil Obstat (no error).

This story is very touching and is pertinent to the unity of all Christians. God wants Christians united under one flock, one visible shepherd, most especially Catholicism and Orthodoxy. The video teaches about love, prayer and forgiveness, living out the Gospel Message through a love-willed and love-centered life.

To learn more about Myrna Nazzour see
http://www.soufanieh.com/
http://www.unitypublishing.com
http://www.catholicdigitalstudio.com

The last site, Catholic Digital Studio, has a free Online Catholic Library, Myrna's videos and other Catholic Videos, apologetics resources, catechisms and Online Bible Catholic studies. Come and check us out.