Rush Limbaugh, Intellectual

from American Thinker.com: James Lewis

Rush is the sharpest political commentator we have today. He is a public intellectual in the old sense: A fine, original thinker who constantly reveals new truths that slip past the mindless media. He can communicate with whoever bothers to listen, as tens of millions of people do every week, throwing a sharp light on the biggest questions we face. And he's entertaining and funny.

another clear minded Catholic priest...

Parishioners of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Modesto have been told they should consider going to confession if they voted for Barack Obama, because of the president-elect's position condoning abortion.
"If you are one of the 54 percent of Catholics who voted for a pro-abortion candidate, you were clear on his position and you knew the gravity of the question, I urge you to go to confession before receiving communion. Don't risk losing your state of grace by receiving sacrilegiously," the Rev. Joseph Illo, pastor of St. Joseph's, wrote in a letter dated Nov. 21.

Rev. Stephen Blaire, bishop of the Stockton, Calif., Diocese is wrong and one of the the reasons fifty four million Catholics voted for Obama.
Bishop Blaire, Obama terminate America one baby at a time.

Pope Benedict & capitalism, Adam Smith style

from IBDeditorials.com...

Amidst all the panic-induced foolishness, it's worth considering that Benedict XVI is the second pro-capitalist Pope in a row. Like the free market's greatest defenders, however, he simply recognizes that it — like most of man's worthwhile endeavors — fails without a religiously-rooted ethical foundation.

grandmothers helping raise grandchildren...

If a daughter, daughter in law or parent of a child allow you to help raise a child, the grace of God is with you. The blessings of the Lord are bountiful and undiscernable.
For menopausal, post menopausal and way post menopausal grandmother, there is a hormonal benefit of taking care of a baby.

Something Catholic about Thanksgiving...

by Taylor Marshall... ht: headlinebistro.com & Eric Wilson

An interesting bit of trivia is that the first American Thanksgiving was actually celebrated on September 8, 1565 in St. Augustine, Florida. The Native Americans and Spanish settlers held a feast and the Holy Mass was offered.
A second similar "Thanksgiving" celebration occurred on American soil on April 30, 1598 in Texas when Don Juan de Oñate declared a day of Thanksgiving to be commemorated by the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
The Catholic origins of Thanksgiving don't stop there. Squanto, the beloved hero of Thanksgiving, was the Native American man who mediated between the Puritan Pilgrims and the Native Americans. Squanto had been enslaved by the English but he was freed by Spanish Franciscans. Squanto thus received baptism and became a Catholic. So it was a baptized Catholic Native American who orchestrated what became known as Thanksgiving.
All that being said, Thanksgiving is traditional Protestant and marks the tradition of religious toleration (something in which the Puritan pilgrims did not actually believe - they set up a "theocracy").

Anti-Cancer Foods

aol article here...
I eat and use some of these...
ginger
japanese green tea
pomegranate
chocolate
garlic, onions, leeks, shallots, chives
fatty fish
Turmeric in curry powder
berries
oranges,lemon, grapefruit, tangerines
soy products
Brussels Sprouts, Bok Choy, Chinese cabbage, Broccoli, and Cauliflower

Blessings before and after meals

Prayers before meals here...

BLESS us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts which we are about to receive from Thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

After meals...

WE give Thee thanks, almighty God, for all Thy benefits, who livest and reignest for ever and ever. Amen.

my first American Thanksgiving, 1969

Thanksgiving Day, 1969, I worked my regular 3p-11pm shift at Passaic Beth Israel Hospital, a small 200 bed community hospital in a 3 hospital city of Passaic. My hospital had the best free meals on Thanksgiving of the three local hospitals. Hospital provided foods were kosher complaint. My friend Eria works the am shift at St. Mary's Hospital and said so. Passaic General don't gave out free meals, I'm told.
Best free meal or not, turkey with all the trimmings just do not taste good to my two month old just arrived via TWA from the Philippines tastes bud. Ham was more acceptable but not kosher. Chicken in a salad was just as nauseating to a pregnant 23year old.
Atr had the day off and spent the afternoon with friends at Gregory apts. Some friends had already spent previous year Thanksgiving in America.
This unique American holiday has a Filipino Catholic equivalent of celebrating thanksgiving on the feast day of a saint. The difference is Filipinos as a community in barrios or towns celebrate different days of feast for saints. My barrio's saint is Our Lady of Fatima celebrated on May 13. Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church walking distance from out efficiency three floor walk-up is close enough in symbolism and spiritual affinity. Besides the feast day, July 16 is near my birthday.

Thanksgiving 2008, November 27,

American Thanksgiving Day celebrated fourth Thursday of the month of November.
History of Thanksgiving Day here...
George Washington's Proclamation here...
Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation here...
Benjamin Franklin's real story of Thanksgiving here...
Rush Limbaugh's 'The Real Story of Thanksgiving here...
President Bush proclamation here...

Penance before communion

A married Catholic priest - Fr. Dwight Longenecker of South Carolina.

Brought up in an American Evangelical home, I went to Bob Jones University--the jewel on the buckle of the Bible Belt. While there I came down with a severe case of Anglophilia from reading too much C.S.Lewis and Tolkien and T.S.Eliot. I went to study theology at Oxford, was ordained as an Anglican priest and stayed in England for twenty five years. After ten years wearing a dog collar I was received into the Catholic Church. I spent ten years as a layman writing articles and books no one reads. Then the call came to return to the United States. In December 2006 I was ordained as a Catholic priest. I am now chaplain at St Joseph's Catholic School in Greenville, South Carolina, and I am on the staff of St Mary's Greenville.

We support you, Fr. Longenecker and Fr. Newman, in words and prayers.
God have mercy on us.

apo #2 birthday today!

Today is Presentation of Mary.

Hail, holy Mother! The child to whom you gave birth is the King of Heaven and earth forever.
Lord, may the prayers of the Virgin Mary bring us protection from danger and freedom from sin that we may come to the joy of your peace. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Act of Contrition

O, my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you. I detest all my sins because of your just punishment, but most of all because they offend you, my God, who are all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin.

prayer after confession or reconciliation...

Parable of the Talents

Jesus told his disciples this parable:
"A man going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one--to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, 'Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy.'"
Matthew 25:14-15, 19-21

Parable for a capitalist...
not so, says Fr.Ignatius at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church Talent during our Lord's time represents currency. However, talent represent our lives, how we reproduce our lives on earth...

Nature's God in first paragraph of ...

The Declaration of Independence,
Action of Second Continental Congress, July 4, 1776.
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen United States of America.
When in the Course of human Events, it becomes necessary for one People to dissolve the Political Bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the Earth, the separate and equal Station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent Respect to the Opinions of Mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the Separation.

I am church going Catholic, registered Democrat until ‘o8 primary election, has not voted a Democrat president since Carter and intensely Pro-Life.
No avalanche of words from anyone can change my heart and mind.
For Catholics, this ‘Nature’s God’ the forefathers of the USA mentioned is the same God, the Father, God, the Son and God, the Holy Spirit, we love, adore and worship. The same God, the Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, Christianity and Christian morality emanate.
America is a Christian Country!
For Catholic statistics in USA...
67,117,016 Catholics (22% of the U.S. population) half voted for Obama and Biden, a non-conforming, supposedly practicing, rosary carrying catholic.
We, Catholics are, will and must continue the Pro-Life movement to ensure there will be progeny and legacy for the future of the USA.
God have mercy on us.

Obama, most extreme pro-abortion candidate ever!

From Catholiconline.org by Robert P. George

Sen.Obama's views on life issues ranging from abortion to embryonic stem cell research mark him as not merely a pro-choice politician, but rather as the most extreme pro-abortion candidate to have ever run on a major party ticket.

Sarah Palin: Pro-Life in words and in deeds!

“In this same spirit, as defenders of the culture of life, John McCain and I believe in the goodness and potential of every innocent life. I believe the truest measure of any society is how it treats those who are least able to defend and speak for themselves. And who is more vulnerable, or more innocent, than a child?
When I learned that my son Trig would have special needs, I had to prepare my heart for the challenges to come. At first I was scared, and Todd and I had to ask for strength and understanding. But I can tell you a few things I’ve learned already.
Yes, every innocent life matters. Everyone belongs in the circle of protection. Every child has something to contribute to the world, if we give them that chance. There are the world’s standards of perfection … and then there are God’s, and these are the final measure. Every child is beautiful before God, and dear to Him for their own sake.
As for our beautiful baby boy, for Todd and me, he is only more precious because he is vulnerable. In some ways, I think we stand to learn more from him than he does from us. When we hold Trig and care for him, we don’t feel scared anymore. We feel blessed.
It’s hard to think of many issues that could possibly be more important than who is protected in law and who isn’t – who is granted life and who is denied it. So when our opponent, Senator Obama, speaks about questions of life, I listen very carefully.
I listened when he defended his unconditional support for unlimited abortions. He said that a woman shouldn’t have to be – quote – “punished with a baby.” He said that right here in Johnstown –“punished with a baby” – and it’s about time we called him on it. The more I hear from Senator Obama, the more I understand why he is so vague and evasive on the subject. Americans need to see his record for what it is. It’s not negative or mean-spirited to talk to about his record. Whatever party you belong to, there are facts you need to know.
Senator Obama has voted against bills to end partial-birth abortion. In the Illinois Senate, a bipartisan majority passed legislation against that practice. Senator Obama opposed that bill. He voted against it in committee, and voted “present” on the Senate floor. In that legislature, “present” is how you vote when you’re against something, but don’t want to be held to account.
Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, a Democrat, described partial-birth abortion as “too close to infanticide.” Barack Obama thinks it’s a constitutional right, but he is wrong.
Most troubling, as a state senator, Barack Obama wouldn’t even stand up for the rights of infants born alive during an abortion. These infants – often babies with special needs – are simply left to die.
In 2002, Congress unanimously passed a federal law to require medical care for those babies who survive an abortion. They’re living, breathing babies, but Senator Obama describes them as “pre-viable.” This merciful law was called the Born Alive Infants Protection Act. Illinois had a version of the same law. Obama voted against it.
Asked about this vote, Senator Obama assured a reporter that he’d have voted “yes” on that bill if it had contained language similar to the federal version of the Born Alive Act. There’s just one little problem with that story: the language of both the state and federal bills was identical.
In short, Senator Obama is a politician who has long since left behind even the middle ground on the issue of life. He has sided with those who won’t even protect a child born alive. And this exposes the emptiness of his promises to move beyond the “old politics.”
In both parties, Americans have many concerns to be weighed in the votes they cast on November fourth. In times like these, with wars and a financial crisis, it’s easy to forget even as deep and abiding a concern as the right to life. And it seems our opponent hopes that you will forget. Like so much else in his agenda, he hopes you won’t notice how radical his ideas and record are until it’s too late.
But let there be no misunderstanding about the stakes.
A vote for Barack Obama is a vote for activist courts that will continue to smother the open and democratic debate we need on this issue, at both the state and federal level. A vote for Barack Obama would give the ultimate power over the issue of life to a politician who has never once done anything to protect the unborn. As Senator Obama told Pastor Rick Warren, it’s above his pay grade.
For a candidate who talks so often about “hope,” he offers no hope at all in meeting this great challenge to the conscience of America. There is a growing consensus in our country that we can overcome narrow partisanship on this issue, and bring all the resources of a generous country to the aid of both women in need and the child waiting to be born. We need more of the compassion and idealism that our opponent’s own party, at its best, once stood for. We need the clarity and conviction of leaders like the late Governor Bob Casey.
He represented a humanity that speaks to all of us – no matter what our party, our background, our faith, or our gender. And no matter your position on this sensitive subject, I hope that spirit will guide you on Election Day. I ask you to vote for McCain-Palin on the November fourth, and help us to bring this country together in the rational discussion of compassion and life.”

Governor Sarah Palin, Johnstown Pennsylvania, 10/11/08
via Brody File - cbn.com
HT- hotair.com

Obama, community organizer & Catholic charity

While he was in Chicago Obama was trained by the top Alinskyian organizers. One mentor was the ex-Jesuit, Greg Galuzzo, lead organizer for Gamaliel. The Developing Communities Project operated under the Gamaliel Foundation, a network of Alinskyian organizations that receive 4-5% of all Catholic Campaign for Human Development grants each year.
The Developing Communities Project, which hired Obama as lead organizer, was an offshoot of Jerry Kellman's Calumet Community Religious Conference. Kellman, another of Obama's mentors, was himself trained by Alinsky. The network of community organizations Alinsky founded, the Industrial Areas Foundation, receives about 16% of all Catholic Campaign for Human Development grants annually.

My contribution to Catholic charities is limited to weekly envelopes, EWTN, K of C fundraising, parish related fundraising and a few specific Catholic fundraising. I contributed to an annual bishop appeal, its first year but has not contributed since because I feel their end recipients are too broad.
Full article at CatholicCitizens.com. tip: michellemalkin.com

Every nation need a Sarah Palin...

From Asia Times Online, this is for all Americans!

What does America have that Asia doesn't have? The answer is, Sarah Palin - not Sarah Palin the vice presidential candidate, but Sarah Palin the "hockey mom" turned small-town mayor and reforming Alaska governor. All the PhDs and MBAs in the world can't make a capital market work, but ordinary people like Sarah Palin can. Laws depend on the will of the people to enforce them. It is the initiative of ordinary people that makes America's political system the world's most reliable.

Toqueville analyzed America the same way too in 1848.
Capitalism works in America because of the Sarah Palins of America from the first successful pilgrims to the newest legal immigrant today! America survive for over two centuries because of the Sarah Palins of America from George Washington to the G W Bush of today!
On Nov 4, 2008, voters of America will decide if the Sarah Palins of America will have a political voice for all the world to see.

Democrats, the 'Party of Death'...

Archbishop Burke Laments the 'Party of Death'
10/3/2008, Zenit News Agency (www.zenit.org)

With a heavy heart, Archbishop Raymond Burke acknowledges that the U.S. Democratic Party is quickly moving to become the "party of death."

I don't read any newspaper anymore for a couple of years now and I'm sure above headline will never see the light of the day in any major daily across the country.
via CatholicOnline, catholic.org

Respect Life Sunday, Oct 5, 2008, statements from Catholic hierarchies

Cardinal Rigali Statement for Respect Life Sunday
Zenit News Agency (www.zenit.org, 10/3/2008)

We face the threat of a federal bill that, if enacted, would obliterate virtually all the gains of the past 35 years and cause the abortion rate to skyrocket. The "Freedom of Choice Act."

Bishop Finn Warns of 'Freedom of Choice Act'
By Hilary White, 10/3/2008, LifeSiteNews (www.lifesitenews.com)

When a candidate promises to 'sign immediately upon taking office' the Freedom of Choice Act, Catholics and all people of good will have cause to question the sincerity of the candidate's determination to reduce abortions.

Obama said, "The first thing I will do as President is sign the Freedom of Choice Act" at a Planned Parenthood event, July 17, 2007.
New York Bishops: 'View Politics through Lens of Faith'
By Kathleen Gilbert, 10/3/2008, LifeSiteNews (www.lifesitenews.com)

The right to life is the right through which all others flow.

Kansas Bishops Address Voting as Faithful Catholics
Rev Joseph F. Naumann, Rev Robert W. Finn
9/18/2008, Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph (www.diocese-kcsj.org/)

What could possibly be a proportionate reason for the more than 45 million children killed by abortion in the past 35 years? Personally, we cannot conceive of such a proportionate reason.