For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. ---Ephesians 6:12
"The age of casual Catholicism is over; the age of heroic Catholicism has begun. We can no longer be Catholics by accident, but instead must be Catholics by CONVICTION." ---Fr. Terrence Henry TOR, Franciscan University of Steubenville
Here's another CatholicVote.org video that rises to the occasion and hits a home-run. In this video a young girl asks President Obama, very politely, to stay out of her religion. It's kind of like Cindy Lou Who asking the Grinch why he's stealing the Christmas tree...but this Cindy Lou Who is not so naive. She knows all about the HHS mandate forcing catholic hospitals and schools to fund birth control and abortion drugs, and she knows who's behind it all.
Even Father John Jenkins, President of Notre Dame University, who boldly gave President Obama an honorary degree and allowed him to give their graduation commencement address, has signed his name to the letter presented by the USCCB to the president expressing opposition to the HHS mandate.
These days I seem to only find the time to blog when I am extremely inspired by something... like a news occurrence, a new movie coming out, a great speech, or an enlightening homily. The most recent speech given by Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput (SHAP-yu) at the University of Pennsylvania is one such example. It has a copyright at the Witherspoon Institute, which explains why the length of it on this post has been reduced to a few paragraphs, rather than the whole speech. Ryan Anderson contacted me today (11-14-11) and very politely requested I limit my usage to excerpts rather than the entire item. Seems they want readers to click on the link and come see the rest of it at Witherspoon. Fair enough. I have linked to them for almost two years now because they publish such great material. Please visit them online and donate if you can. They are a largely undiscovered treasure trove of great finds.
It's very hard to pick just a couple of paragraphs, as the Archbishop was making FOUR important points in defense of human dignity. But here are a few paragraphs to whet your curiosity:
America could afford to be secular in the best sense, precisely because its people were so religious. The Founders saw religious faith as something separate from government but vital to the nation’s survival. In his Farewell Address, Washington famously stressed that “religion and morality are indispensable supports” for political prosperity. He added that “reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.” For John Adams, John Jay, James Wilson, Alexander Hamilton, Charles Carroll, George Washington, and most of the other Founders—including Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin—religion created virtuous citizens. And only virtuous citizens could sustain a country as delicately balanced in its institutions, moral instincts, and laws as the United States.
Here’s my purpose in mentioning this. The American Founders presumed the existence of natural law and natural rights. These rights are inalienable and guaranteed by a Creator; by “nature’s God,” to use the words of the Declaration of Independence. Such ideas may be out of fashion in much of legal theory today. But these same ideas are very much alive in the way we actually reason and behave in our daily lives.
Most of us here tonight believe that we have basic rights that come with the special dignity of being human. These rights are inherent to human nature. They’re part of who we are. Nobody can take them away. But if there is no Creator, and nothing fundamental and unchangeable about human nature, and if “nature’s God” is kicked out of the conversation, then our rights become the product of social convention. And social conventions can change. So can the definition of who is and who isn’t “human.”
How's that for a tease? There's a lot more to read by clicking on the links above or right HERE. Okay, one more paragraph. This one is really important:
It’s important for our own integrity and the integrity of our country to fight for our pro-life convictions in the public square. Anything less is a kind of cowardice. But it’s even more important to live what it means to be genuinely human and “pro-life” by our actions—fidelity to God; love for spouse and children; loyalty to friends; generosity to the poor; honesty and mercy in dealing with others; trust in the goodness of people; discipline and humility in demanding the most from ourselves.
There. That should be enough to get you interested.
Thirty-one years ago Milton Friedman appeared on Donahue and explained the necessity of capitalism to a hushed audience. He spelled it out so clearly as to leave Phil at least somewhat speechless. And what he explained is what President Obama and conspirators on the Left will never understand: Capitalism is the ONLY thing that works. This video is priceless.
A good explanation for All Souls Day, and a website to visit!
Also, if you live in or are passing through the Chicago area you might wish to stop by St. Odilo's church in Berwyn, IL where the National Shrine of Lost Souls is located to offer a prayer for deceased friends and/or relations. St. Odilo is the patron saint of lost souls. Fr. Anthony Brankin is the pastor and gives impressive homilies.
Click on picture above for information about the author.
Also, I want to add that not everyone I link to below marches lock-step with me on every issue. But I link to them nonetheless because I think they are righteous. They have taken sides in their respective battles, political and/or religious, and have chosen wisely. May you do the same.
