Trading Women’s Rights for Political Power
By KATE MICHELMAN and FRANCES KISSLING
A grim reality sits behind the joyful press statements from Washington Democrats. [The health care bill passed. What is so grim?] To secure passage of health care legislation in the House, the party chose a course that risks the well-being of millions of women for generations to come. [Are women not being allowed to have health care coverage?]
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Uncategorized | Tagged: Abortion, Catholics For a Free Choice, Democrats, Health Care Reform, NARAL, Pseudo Feminism | 
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Posted by Eric Brown
Representative Todd Akin (R-MO) lead the Pledge of Allegiance at a rally protesting the Democratic health care reform bills. He gave a short statement beforehand on the importance of the phrase “under God.” He then invited everyone to join in the recitation of the Pledge because it “drives the liberals crazy.” This statement shouldn’t be surprising coming from a member of a party committed to nationalist overtones and calling into question the patriotism of anyone who dares to dissent from their claims of what is “patriotic.” Yet Rep. Akin made a fool out of himself when it was time to actually recite the Pledge.
Sure, he simply had an honest stumble. I am sure we all do it. But it is quite hilarious that it took place after he sanctimoniously claimed some sort of patriotic high ground for conservatives because liberals apparently hate our country. So much for his credibility. . .
Similarly, House Minority Leader John Boehner was fired up against the Democrats at a Tea Party rally. He went to invoke the Founding Fathers who wrote in the preamble of our Constitution: “We hold these truths to be self-evident…”
Oops.
Mr. Boehner does not appear to know the difference between the United States Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. Better luck next time.
5 Comments | 
Uncategorized | Tagged: Declaration of Independence, Humor, John Boehner, Pledge of Allegiance, Republicans, Tea Party Protests, Todd Akin, U.S. Constitution | 
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Posted by Eric Brown
Recently we at The American Catholic have debated, over the course of 140 posts, the topic of evolution. It doesn’t surprise me that a topic as controversial as evolution would generate so much discussion, but I do believe there is something missing from it, and which is partially addressed by fellow contributor Darwin Catholic.
What I notice, first of all, is that the comments fall into two categories: those in vigorous support of the theory of evolution, and those who just as vigorously reject it. In my view neither group is taking an approach to the question that I think is appropriate for Catholics. The problems with those who reject evolution are more obvious – the Church has declared that there is no necessary conflict between the theory and the faith, provided that philosophical materialism is removed as the only possible foundation for the theory. This is a good thing, for the scientific evidence for evolution is quite strong. While it is difficult for some opponents of the theory to think of it apart from materialism, I do believe it is possible.
37 Comments | 
Uncategorized | Tagged: Evolution, Faith, Science | 
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Posted by Joe Hargrave
The Democratic primary election rules direly need to be reformed. Admittedly, it would seem at first glance that raising this issue seems to be a bit premature. Yet the primary election rules that will affect 2012 and beyond will be set by the DNC at the 2010 convention. This is especially true since DNC Chair Tim Kaine has already created a Democratic Change Commission, which will recommend changes to the Democratic Party’s rules for the 2012 presidential nominating and delegate selection process so that 2012 and beyond never becomes the quagmire that 2008 was. The Democratic Change Commission will address three issues: 1) changing the window of time during which primaries and caucuses may be held 2) reducing the number of super delegates and 3) improving the caucus system. The Commission must issue its report and recommendations to the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee no later than January 1, 2010. Therefore criticism of the current system now is quite appropriate as it affects the future shape of a system that governs the way Americans may exercise their civic duties.
Looking back on the Election 2008, I fully agreed with Hillary Clinton supporters advocating for the abolition of the caucus system. At the time, of course, Obama supporters were suspicious that such criticism was due to anger that Clinton lost the Democratic presidential primary. This may have been true for some; but the evidence, I think, overwhelmingly shows that the caucus system is flawed. Read the rest of this entry »
11 Comments | Uncategorized | Tagged: Barack Obama, Caucus System, Democratic Party, Democratic Process, DNC, Elections, Hillary Clinton, Primary System | Permalink
Posted by Eric Brown
Some time ago, someone asked me:
Suppose–just for the sake of argument–you were convinced that an honest reading of the Tradition of the Church required you to believe that the initial chapters of Genesis were historical. Would you be able to do it, or do you think that Darwinism is so irrefutable that you would have to abandon or radically redetermine your faith?
I think this is the question that worries a lot of Catholics without a strong scientific background as they watch the evolution/creationist/ID debate on Catholic blogs. Here are these otherwise solid Christians taking common cause with the likes of the Richard Dawkins against their brother Christians. What gives? Are these folks really Christian? Do they care more about science than about faith? Do they only accept Catholicism so long as it agrees with science?
Read the rest of this entry »
18 Comments | Uncategorized | Tagged: Evolution, Genesis, Science | Permalink
Posted by DarwinCatholic
From the only reliable source of news on the net, the Onion. Actually it would be refreshing to have a White House press spokesman who was intentionally speaking gibberish.
5 Comments | Uncategorized | Tagged: Humor | Permalink
Posted by Donald R. McClarey
The Catholic Church has always had a bull’s-eye attached to it, and in truth many of us wouldn’t want it any other way, for when we are almost universally loved, as has happened a few times in the last 40 years we have become “of the world,” instead of suffering for the world.” Lately, during the pontificates of Pope John Paul II and now Pope Benedict XVI dark forces have gathered at the gates of truth attacking the Church for a variety of long held beliefs. These beliefs can range from the theological to the social. However, following the US Election of 2008 a tidal wave seems to have inundated the Church from the mainstream media, the political realm and even the entertainment world. The Church’s 2,000 year old teachings and beliefs have been attacked in the United States and Western Europe from elected officials, the mainstream media and well known entertainment celebrities. Some of the faithful have become discouraged and questioned me as to how the thesis of my book, The Tide is Turning Toward Catholicism, could possibly be true in light of this news.
The truth of the matter is that against this troubling backdrop the Church continues to grow around the world, especially in African and Asia but even in North America, where much of the onslaught against the Church has emanated. Seminaries and Mother Houses often have no room for those pursuing a vocation and those young African and Asian men and women are often sent to the US or Europe to explore their vocation. Even in the US and pockets of Europe seminaries are experiencing a mini boom. One seminary rector told me that in the 40+ plus years of being affiliated with the Church, he has never seen a longer sustained period of top notch orthodox minded young men coming in and being ordained as he has seen in the last 10 years. Perhaps this is why the powers that be are so angry.
It seemed the US midterm Election of 2006 emboldened the cause of those militant liberals and secularists who have contempt for much of what orthodox minded Catholicism holds dear. Following the results of the Election of 2008, many pundits proclaimed the results as a sea change for America. Agnostics and atheists gleefully announced that a world where religion and especially conservative or orthodox minded Catholicism held sway was being replaced by a humanist brand of religion where age old teachings were replaced by the ideas of “enlightened” religious leaders, agnostic thinkers, and pop culture celebrities. It seemed this new brand of liberal thinker was less idealistic than their 1960s peers and displayed an anger and hostility that was a far cry from the utopian idealism displayed some 40 years ago. Yet, beneath the surface and below the radar screens of many news organizations, lies the hope of the Catholic faithful who hold on to the ideas imparted by Christ, His Apostles, Popes, Bishops, Priests, Women Religious, Saints and holy laymen and laywomen throughout the centuries. Read the rest of this entry »
4 Comments | Uncategorized | Tagged: Birth Control, Catholic Church, French Revolution, Friedrich Engels, Hans Kung, Karl Marx, Martin Luther the Apostate, Pope Benedict XVI, Pope John Paul II, Pope John XXIII, Pope Pius XII, Protestant Reformation, Robert F. Kennedy, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Saint Catherine of Sienna, Saint Michael the Archangel, Saint Thomas More, Ted Kennedy, Vatican II | Permalink
Posted by Dave Hartline
Patrick Kennedy, a son of Ted Kennedy and a Democrat Congressman from Rhode Island, has been engaging in a very public conflict with the Bishop of Providence Thomas J. Tobin. Prior posts on this combative dialogue are here and here. Kennedy has now revealed that he is barred from receiving communion. The Bishop has responded by releasing this letter:
I am disappointed and really surprised that Congressman Patrick Kennedy has chosen to reopen the public discussion about his practice of the faith and his reception of Holy Communion. This comes almost two weeks after the Congressman indicated to local media that he would no longer comment publicly on his faith or his relationship with the Catholic Church. The Congressman’s public comments require me to reply.
On February 21, 2007, I wrote to Congressman Kennedy stating: “In light of the Church’s clear teaching, and your consistent actions, therefore, I believe it is inappropriate for you to be receiving Holy Communion and I now ask respectfully that you refrain from doing so.” My request came in light of the new statement of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops that said, “If a Catholic in his or her personal or professional life were knowingly and obstinately to repudiate her definite teachings on moral issues, he or she would seriously diminish his or her communion with the Church. Reception of Holy Communion in such a situation would not accord with the nature of the Eucharistic celebration, so that he or she should refrain.” (Happy Are Those Who Are Called to His Supper, December, 2006)
9 Comments | Uncategorized | Tagged: Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, Catholics in Political Life, Patrick Kennedy, Reception of Holy Communion | Permalink
Posted by Donald R. McClarey
My short answer is no.
Christ’s Kingdom is, as He says in today’s Gospel, “not of this world.” We are called to build Christ’s Kingdom on earth not by ruling the secular realm and enforcing Christian morality and charity with the force of law, but by living out of vocation as Christians and winning hearts and minds by word and deed. Christians are called to transform society from within – we are “the salt of the earth,” ideally bringing out the best in all of our various communities. In this way, Christians do not need the secular law to be successful. I do not mean to imply that the secular law is not necessary for social order; it is clearly a fundamental component of the common good. Catholics do and ought to work for the common good in our political life, but we should not seek this good in the name of Jesus (of course everything we do ought to be for Jesus). He Himself did not establish a political party or an Earthly kingdom. His Kingdom is “not of this world,” and it is our task as Christians to build this Heavenly kingdom here on Earth. The Heavenly kingdom is not one of coercive political force, but freely given sacrificial Love.
18 Comments | Uncategorized | Tagged: Catholic Action, Christian Democrats, Political Structures | Permalink
Posted by Zach
QUAS PRIMAS
ENCYCLICAL OF POPE PIUS XI
ON THE FEAST OF CHRIST THE KING
TO OUR VENERABLE BRETHREN THE PATRIARCHS, PRIMATES,
ARCHBISHOPS, BISHOPS, AND OTHER ORDINARIES
IN PEACE AND COMMUNION WITH THE APOSTOLIC SEE.
Venerable Brethren, Greeting and the Apostolic Benediction.
In the first Encyclical Letter which We addressed at the beginning of Our Pontificate to the Bishops of the universal Church, We referred to the chief causes of the difficulties under which mankind was laboring. And We remember saying that these manifold evils in the world were due to the fact that the majority of men had thrust Jesus Christ and his holy law out of their lives; that these had no place either in private affairs or in politics: and we said further, that as long as individuals and states refused to submit to the rule of our Savior, there would be no really hopeful prospect of a lasting peace among nations. Men must look for the peace of Christ in the Kingdom of Christ; and that We promised to do as far as lay in Our power. In the Kingdom of Christ, that is, it seemed to Us that peace could not be more effectually restored nor fixed upon a firmer basis than through the restoration of the Empire of Our Lord. We were led in the meantime to indulge the hope of a brighter future at the sight of a more widespread and keener interest evinced in Christ and his Church, the one Source of Salvation, a sign that men who had formerly spurned the rule of our Redeemer and had exiled themselves from his kingdom were preparing, and even hastening, to return to the duty of obedience. Read the rest of this entry »
Leave a Comment » | Uncategorized | Tagged: Christ the King, Pope Pius XI | Permalink
Posted by Donald R. McClarey
Today most of your parishes will be collecting for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD). Donald, Christopher, and I have written over and over again of where the money actually goes to, funding for abortions being the most grevious of the lot.
So think twice before donating anything.
(Biretta Tip: Paul Nichols)
3 Comments | Uncategorized | Tagged: Abortion, Birth Control, Catholic Campaign for Human Development, Communism, Homosexuality, Marxism, Socialism | Permalink
Posted by Tito Edwards
Democrat Party Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana cast her vote for Harry Reid’s health care bill and became the biggest purchased vote in American legislative history. She sold her vote for a cool $100 million in order to begin debate on the anti-life health care bill.
As of 24 hours ago Senator Landrieu was still wavering on whether to vote for the health care bill. But in a dark smoke filled room away from the lights and cameras of the media a deal had been struck which bought the senators vote. Surprising considering President Obama promised an open and lively debate throughout the entire process and he has failed miserably in delivering on this promise.
Lies, corruption, and blatant disregard for the American people, in this instance, the people of Louisiana was in full display as Senator Landrieu cast bought vote for the health care bill. She was so brazen about selling out her soul for money the U.S. government does not have that she proudly declared, “And it’s not a $100 million fix. It’s a $300 million fix.” Bragging that she was bought for $300 million. Some have called it the great new Louisiana Purchase.
19 Comments | Uncategorized | Tagged: Election 2010, Health Care, Louisiana Purchase, Mary Landrieu, Political Corruption, Senate Democrats | Permalink
Posted by Tito Edwards
One of the many unfortunate aspects of “cafeteria Catholicism” in our country today is that the Church’s social teaching has become virtually synonymous with liberal, quasi- or outright-heterodox forms of our faith. This should not be. The social doctrine of the Church is part and parcel of the deposit of faith, and those of us who embrace the truth of Catholicism must stop ourselves from assigning guilt by association with regard to social doctrine merely because its loudest proponents are very picky in the cafeteria line.
23 Comments | Uncategorized | Tagged: Caritas in Veritate, Catholic Campaign for Human Development, Catholic Social Teaching, Catholic Social Thought, Social Justice | Permalink
Posted by Chris Burgwald
A fascinating insight into the world of scientists who are advocates of the theory of man-made global warming was given by hackers who stole a huge amount of data and e-mails from the Climactic Research Unit at the University of East Anglia in England. To my complete non-surprise, in many of their e-mails the scientists seem to be much more concerned about advocating the “party line” of the reality of man-made global warming instead of engaging in disinterested science. John Hinderaker at Powerline has a fascinating look at some of the e-mails here. Ed Morrissey at Hot Air is on top of the story. A good overview is here.
37 Comments | Uncategorized | Tagged: Global Warming, Junk Science | Permalink
Posted by Donald R. McClarey
22,000 youth march through the streets of Kansas City during a Eucharistic procession. Jack Smith of The Catholic Key Blog explains:
4 Comments | Uncategorized | Tagged: Archbishop Joseph Naumann, Bishop Robert W. Finn, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Eucharistic Procession, National Catholic Youth Conference | Permalink
Posted by Tito Edwards
Something for the weekend. Bring Me My Bride, perhaps the funniest sequence, in what I regard as one of the funniest films of all time, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. A superb recreation of a comedy that could have been written by the Roman playwright Plautus. Wily slaves, braggart soldiers, dull-witted Senators, scheming wives, crazed soothsayers, they are all there, along with all the other stock characters that caused the Romans to roar with laughter.
5 Comments | Uncategorized | Tagged: Music Video | Permalink
Posted by Donald R. McClarey
Why am I not surprised.
Leave a Comment » | Uncategorized | Tagged: Barack Obama, Burger King, Dry Humor, Protocol | Permalink
Posted by Tito Edwards
Today Christians, Catholic, Evangelical and Orthodox, came together in the Manhattan Declaration to put the Obama administration and the Congress on notice:
“. . . We will not comply with any edict that purports to compel our institutions to participate in abortions, embryo-destructive research, assisted suicide and euthanasia or any other anti-life act; nor will we bend to any rule purporting to force us to bless immoral sexual partnerships, treat them as marriage or the equivalent or refrain from proclaiming the truth, as we know it, about morality and immorality and marriage and the family.”
Here is the text of the Declaration:
2 Comments | Uncategorized | Tagged: Christian Civil Disobedience, Homosexuality, Manhattan Declaration, Sacrament of Marriage | Permalink
Posted by Donald R. McClarey
I used to find the idea that conservatives and/or Republicans were somehow anti-science to be somewhat laughable. Lately, however, a lot of conservatives seem determined to live up to the stereotype.
* A lot of conservatives are skeptical of evolution. There’s nothing new about that, though I do consider it unfortunate.
* I do find it startling that so many conservatives still reject the idea that human activity is a major cause of global warming. Not only that, but in discussions about the subject people often will use arguments or bring up points calling into question the validity of scientific knowledge in general, or in areas completely separated from the subject (one person recently told me during a discussion about global warming that there wasn’t any evidence in favor of heliocentrism).
* I’ve noticed a recent uptick in skepticism among conservatives about vaccines. Scaremongering about the H1N1 vaccine is a recent example, but by no means is it the only one. During last year’s election, McCain seemed to endorse the idea that autism was being caused by vaccines.
181 Comments | Uncategorized | Tagged: Anti-Science, Conservatives, Evolution, Republicans | Permalink
Posted by Blackadder
According to the New York Daily News, former mayor of New York Rudy Giuliani who has ditched the idea of running for Governor of New York may opt to go national as a U.S. Senator from New York. The story goes on to assert that he might try to mount another presidential campaign. To make matters even worse, Giuliani is polling well against Senator Gillibrand who replaced Secretary Hillary Clinton after her appointment to President Obama’s cabinet.
9 Comments | Uncategorized | Tagged: Election 2010, Rudy Giuliani | Permalink
Posted by Eric Brown
Extremist Democrats and liberals are hailing Harry Reid’s Health Care bill as a victory for pro-abortion activists. Though 
the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has called it “completely unacceptable“.
…Richard Doerflinger, associate director of the bishops’ conference Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities, said Reid’s “is actually the worst bill we’ve seen so far on the life issues.”
He called it “completely unacceptable,” adding that “to say this reflects current law is ridiculous.”
7 Comments | Uncategorized | Tagged: Culture of Death, Douglas Johnson, Harry Reid, Health Care, National Right to Life, ObamaCare, Pro-Abortion, Richard Doerflinger, Senate Democrats, USCCB | Permalink
Posted by Tito Edwards
From the only reliable source of news on the net, the Onion. Actually, I can think of certain domestic situations where a teleprompter could come in handy. Son learning to drive hits a tree. I turn to the teleprompter and read through gritted teeth: “Don’t worry. I’m not mad. We just have to clarify the functions of the gas pedal and the brake. We will laugh about this in years to come!” I have a kidney stone. I turn to the teleprompter and read through yelps of pain: “Oh my, I am having another kidney stone! Gee that smarts! Well it should resolve itself in three or four days! Please ignore any screams I may make in the meantime!” Dog has an accident: “Another accident! I will just clean this up, and then we can go for another walk! We will get you house trained yet, you good Dog!” On second thought I think I will forgo the teleprompter.
Leave a Comment » | Uncategorized | Tagged: Barack Obama, Teleprompter | Permalink
Posted by Donald R. McClarey
Is one of the most recent columns over at Vox Nova prophetic? Has Senator Harry Reid set into motion what is to be the death of health care reform because of the abortion issue?
The Senate Majority Leader unveiled the health care legislation yesterday and it is already under attack by pro-life groups because it contains language strikingly similar to the Capps Amendment—the original abortion provisions of the House health care bill until it was removed and replaced upon the passage of the Stupak Amendment which explicitly prohibited the funding of abortion or subsidizing of insurance plans that cover abortions in what would be newly-created health exchanges. Read the rest of this entry »
13 Comments | Uncategorized | Tagged: Bart Stupak, Ben Nelson, Government-Funded Abortion, Health Care Reform, Pro-Choice, Pro-Life, Senate Democrats | Permalink
Posted by Eric Brown
Bishop Roger Morin is the Chair of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) Subcommittee that directs the CCHD. In theory the CCHD works towards ending poverty and injustice in the United States by basically offering grants to organizations that support these goals. But reality is far harsher than what is written.
Numerous organizations have investigated the CCHD and have uncovered many nefarious groups that are diametrically opposed to the teachings of Jesus. Many of these groups promote abortion to ‘gay marriage’. What is striking is that the CCHD doesn’t do anything to end the funding unless a very bright light is shined on them such as the case with ACORN.
Bishop Roger Morin continues to issue memorandums defending CCHD’s vetting process and grants. Yet time and time again he has been proven unequivocally wrong. From the Young Workers United to the Chinese Progressive Association, CCHD apparently sees no evil… anywhere.
Is Bishop Roger Morin being mendacious in his continual defense of the indefensible. I am having a really hard time believing that he could be so obtuse to such an important matter as this.
33 Comments | Uncategorized | Tagged: American Life League, Bishop Roger Morin, Boycott CCHD, Catholic Campaign for Human Development, Ralph McCloud, Saint Athanasius, Saint John Chrysostom | Permalink
Posted by Tito Edwards
The new American history blog Almost Chosen People reminds us that today is the anniversary of the Gettysburg Addess, delivered on Nov. 19th, 1863. The Gettysburg Address stands unique, to my knowledge, in the American branch of the English-speaking world as the only speech by a political leader which is widely memorized and quoted in its entirety long after the fact. There are some isolated famous sections of speeches by FDR, JFK and Martin Luther King which are widely remembered, but unless anyone else can think of anything I’m completely forgetting, the Gettysburg Address is uniquely treated as a piece of rhetoric which is remembered and memorized in its entirity. (I still recall it nearly word for word, having memorized it in fifth grade.) Indeed, the only other similarly treated piece of oratory I can think of is the (fictional) Crispin’s Day speech in Shakespeare’s Henry V.
Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting-place for those who here gave their lives that this nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate…we cannot consecrate…we cannot hallow…this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us, the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us…that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion; that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom; and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
From our international readers, I’m curious: What pieces of oratory are similarly remembered in the British-English world, or in other non-English-speaking countries?
4 Comments | Uncategorized | Tagged: History | Permalink
Posted by DarwinCatholic
Something cheerful for a Thursday morning! Click here to see the mandatory retirement dates of arguably some of the worst Catholic bishops in this country. Hattip to The Indentured Servant Girl.
52 Comments | Uncategorized | Tagged: Catholic Bishops, Retirement | Permalink
Posted by Donald R. McClarey
Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Senate of the State of New-Jersey: I am very grateful to you for the honorable reception of which I have been the object. I cannot but remember the place that New-Jersey holds in our early history. In the early Revolutionary struggle, few of the States among the old Thirteen had more of the battle-fields of the country within their limits than old New-Jersey. May I be pardoned if, upon this occasion, I mention that away back in my childhood, the earliest days of my being able to read, I got hold of a small book, such a one as few of the younger members have ever seen, “Weem’s Life of Washington.” I remember all the accounts there given of the battle fields and struggles for the liberties of the country, and none fixed themselves upon my imagination so deeply as the struggle here at Trenton, New-Jersey. The crossing of the river; the contest with the Hessians; the great hardships endured at that time, all fixed themselves on my memory more than any single revolutionary event; and you all know, for you have all been boys, how these early impressions last longer than any others. I recollect thinking then, boy even though I was, that there must have been something more than common that those men struggled for; that something even more than National Independence; that something that held out a great promise to all the people of the world to all time to come; I am exceedingly anxious that this Union, the Constitution, and the liberties of the people shall be perpetuated in accordance with the original idea for which that struggle was made, and I shall be most happy indeed if I shall be an humble instrument in the hands of the Almighty, and of this, his almost chosen people, for perpetuating the object of that great struggle. You give me this reception, as I understand, without distinction of party. I learn that this body is composed of a majority of gentlemen who, in the exercise of their best judgment in the choice of a Chief Magistrate, did not think I was the man. I understand, nevertheless, that they came forward here to greet me as the constitutional President of the United States — as citizens of the United States, to meet the man who, for the time being, is the representative man of the nation, united by a purpose to perpetuate the Union and liberties of the people. As such, I accept this reception more gratefully than I could do did I believe it was tendered to me as an individual.
Abraham Lincoln, February 21, 1861
Announcing a new blog, Almost Chosen People. It is a blog dedicated to American history up through Reconstruction. I am one of the contributors. A fair amount of my initial posts at this blog will be reposts of material first posted at The American Catholic, but they will be interspersed with new material. My fellow contributors, including Paul Zummo of the Cranky Conservative, and Dale Price of Dyspeptic Mutterings, will be providing posts that will be well worth reading, so please stop by. Needless to say, although I’ll say it anyway, this new blog will not lessen my posting frequency here at The American Catholic.
4 Comments | Uncategorized | Tagged: Abraham Lincoln, Almost Chosen People, American History, Blogging, Doings on Other Blogs, New Blog | Permalink
Posted by Donald R. McClarey
RealClearMarkets recently featured an intriguing article about taxpayer funded abortion. The author appears to be pro-choice or rather indifferent to the question of legal abortion. Regardless of his own view, his points and his conclusions are well worth the read. Read the rest of this entry »
4 Comments | Uncategorized | Tagged: Government-Funded Abortion | Permalink
Posted by Eric Brown
The Senate version of the health care reform legislation has been unveiled. It has been scored at $849 billion and Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid is expected to bring it up vote for its first procedural vote this Saturday.
If the Senate takes up the bill, the debate is expected to begin on November 30, after the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday next week, and last for at least three weeks. Senior Democratic senators, however, have said it is unlikely Obama will have a completed bill on his desk by the end of the year.
Click here if you wish to write your Senators and voice your opinion.
7 Comments | Uncategorized | Tagged: Health Care Reform, Senate Democrats | Permalink
Posted by Eric Brown
This past week, I began reading the novel 1984. For those who have not read it, it is a futuristic novel describing a society that lives under the rule of a totalitarian government described as “the Party.” The government controls and monitors every aspect of human life and even practices historical revisionism quite literally—burning books and re-writing history—to have everything reflect whatever it (the government) happens to be saying. The agencies within the government are all a blatant contradiction. The Ministers of Truth re-write history and instigate direct government propaganda through always-on “telescreens” found literally everywhere in society that don’t turn off; the Ministers of Peace advocate war; the Ministers of Plenty plan economic shortages, and the Ministers of Love carries out the government’s “corrective” punishment and torture of its rebellious citizens.
In one scene, there is a Hate rally (which occurs regularly to inspire hatred within the people for the enemies of the Party) and at the rally the Party shifts its diplomatic allegiance, so the nation it has been warring with is suddenly its ally, and the former ally is now the enemy. Despite the obvious contradiction when the speaker changes the nation he refers to as the enemy during his speech, the crowd simply accepts the change without question and even is embarrassed that they brought wrong signs to the event. Just in the same way people accept the ministries conducted by the Party aforementioned even though they blatantly contradict their titles in their action. What is with the collective intellectual schizophrenia? How can people look right passed the most obvious facts? This theme that runs throughout 1984 is about a troublesome little tendency to believe or argue for some truth that obviously and patently contradicts other truths.
In the ongoing health care debate, this same sort of schizophrenia has come about. I almost shouted “yes!” in a public library when finally I saw the political contradiction pointed out in the Washington Post:
After years of trying to cut Medicare spending, Republican lawmakers have emerged as champions of the program, accusing Democrats of trying to steal from the elderly to cover the cost of health reform. Read the rest of this entry »
9 Comments | Uncategorized | Tagged: Democrats, Health Care Debate, Hypocrisy, Medicare, Party Politics, Pro-Life Movement, Propaganda, Republicans, Socialized Medicine | Permalink
Posted by Eric Brown
Bishop Morin recently sent a memorandum to all the American Catholic bishops to support the CCHD. The issue is described, synoptically, here.
I have noticed that archdioceses across the U.S. have had similar language on their websites about this. In Houston, our Cardinal-Archbishop Daniel DiNardo has asked the faithful to support the campaign.
The archdiocese also links to:
This information hopefully may prove useful in weighing in on the moral decision to support, or not to support, the CCHD this weekend. May God bless His Church.
17 Comments | Uncategorized | Tagged: Catholic Campaign for Human Development, Controversy, USCCB | Permalink
Posted by Eric Brown
Should Chavez be taken seriously? Yes, says Maruja Tarre, former international relations professor with a degree from Harvard Kennedy School and now a Caracas-based consultant to multinational firms.With his revolution losing popularity amid rising inflation, rampant crime, a stagnant economy, and frequent water shortages and power outages, Chavez needs a galvanizing event, she says. A border skirmish, if not a full-fledged war, would solidify his support base ahead of next year’s legislative elections and give his Bolivarian Revolution the heroic episode that it lacks.
Tarre was interviewed Tuesday at her home in Caracas.
Verbal assaults by Chavez are nothing new. People usually react by saying it’s all talk. Should his threats be taken any more seriously this time?
Read the rest of this entry »
1 Comment | Uncategorized | Tagged: Colombia, Hugo Chavez, Venezuela | Permalink
Posted by DarwinCatholic
In the immortal words of Al Capone (Robert Dinero) in the movie The Untouchables, “Like a lot of things in life, we laugh because it’s funny and we laugh because it’s true.” Joe has lived up to the comedic potential recognized last year by Saturday Night Live here. Keep us laughing in these dark days Joe! You are our Three Stooges during this Obama-ession!
6 Comments | Uncategorized | Tagged: Humor, Joe Biden | Permalink
Posted by Donald R. McClarey
In recent days I have had a few arguments with fellow pro-lifers about the Stupak amendment in particular, and political strategy in general. While I see the victory of the Stupak amendment as a victory for the pro-life movement, they see it as an unacceptable compromise with the Culture of Death. Stupak makes exceptions, after all, for rape, incest and ‘life of the mother’, and does not address issues such as the use of embryos, euthanasia, etc.
Naturally I am not in favor of processes which require destroying embryos or euthanasia, nor do I accept that an unborn child loses its right to life because it is a product of rape or incest. When the life of the mother is at stake, as pro-life physicians point out, abortion is not necessary, even if the child will die as a result of the treatment needed to save the mother’s life. In a perfect would we would be able to enact the whole pro-life agenda across the board, and no one would be happier with that than me.
Unfortunately we live in a fallen world and a fallen society. Anyone who wants to wade through the mire of abortion politics as a pro-lifer must understand two political facts: 1) that the majority of Americans support more restrictions but not an outright ban on abortion, and 2) the majority of Americans, whether they are pro-life or pro-choice, do not place abortion anywhere near the top of the list of their political priorities.
The question that we all face, therefore, is whether it is better to compromise on the issue of abortion in order to win partial victories, or to reject compromise on the basis of pro-life principles. Some of the folks with whom I argued have crafted elaborate theological arguments (from Catholic and Protestant perspectives) against political compromise. Since I studied politics and not theology, I approach the issue from a political angle.
15 Comments | Uncategorized | Tagged: Culture of Life, political pragatism, Pro-Life Movement | Permalink
Posted by Joe Hargrave
Paul Krugman’s recent New York Times column opens by comparing the labor situation in the U.S. and Europe:
Consider, for a moment, a tale of two countries. Both have suffered a severe recession and lost jobs as a result — but not on the same scale. In Country A, employment has fallen more than 5 percent, and the unemployment rate has more than doubled. In Country B, employment has fallen only half a percent, and unemployment is only slightly higher than it was before the crisis.
Don’t you think Country A might have something to learn from Country B?
This story isn’t hypothetical. Country A is the United States, where stocks are up, G.D.P. is rising, but the terrible employment situation just keeps getting worse. Country B is Germany, which took a hit to its G.D.P. when world trade collapsed, but has been remarkably successful at avoiding mass job losses.
What Krugman fails to mention is that unemployment in Germany was high before the crisis. In fact, in many European countries unemployment has been at what in the U.S. would be considered dire levels for decades. Read the rest of this entry »
8 Comments | Uncategorized | Tagged: America, Budget Deficit, Economics, Europe, France, Germany, Labor, New York Times, Paul Krugman, Steve Landsburg, Unemployment | Permalink
Posted by Blackadder
I do not endorse some of the overheated added commentary, but I believe Friedrich von Hayek’s warnings of the long terms dangers of a planned economy are just as prescient today as when the book The Road to Serfdom was published in 1944. It is a short book and well worth the time it takes to read it. Some memorable quotes of von Hayek: Read the rest of this entry »
5 Comments | Uncategorized | Tagged: Economics, Friedrich von Hayek, Road to Serfdom | Permalink
Posted by Donald R. McClarey
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