A man in London, after an auto accident, was thought to be in a comatose state. In reality he was simply unable to communicate. Another auto accident victim was thought to be brain dead. She woke up - just as doctors were starting to harvest her organs. A 39-year old woman suffered a stroke and was thought to be brain-dead. She could hear everything and feared that her life support would be removed.
There are many stories like these. But these are the lucky ones, the ones who came out of their comas (some just in time) and/or had loved ones who refused to give up on them (like Aden Hailu, mentioned a few days ago). Countless others haven't been so lucky. With a medical system that is shifting its focus from treating people to increasing their bank accounts, we have well-founded reason to fear that our loved ones - and ourselves - may be deemed "too expensive" or our organs deemed "useful" and will be euthanized. The following is another talk, this one given by Dr. Paul Byrne, a physician who has faced down this aspect of the culture of death. His website is www.lifeguardianfoundation.org.
Showing posts with label culture of death. Show all posts
Showing posts with label culture of death. Show all posts
Thursday, November 26, 2015
Monday, September 15, 2014
Cultures Of Sex And Death Go Hand In Hand
In today's Vortex, Voris deals with the Culture of Sex. Yes, that is going on too (besides the Culture of Death), if you haven't already noticed a long time ago. The late Fr. John Hardon wisely stated that "sins against the Sixth Commandment lead to sins against the Fifth Commandment".
He upbraids the Catholic clergy who allow it to fester in the Church. He's correct, although I will fill in some "gaps". We certainly are "accommodating the culture of sex". He could well have in mind the landmark disgrace that Cardinal Dolan heaped upon his own vocation as he gleefully announced he'd be leading the charge at the St Patrick's Day parade and its celebration of gross perversion. He could well be talking of Cardinal Wuerl as he punished Fr Guarnizo when the latter refused Holy Communion to practicing lesbians. He could also be talking about those parishes that allow engaged couples to cohabitate and fornicate as they (pretend to) prepare for Catholic marriages.
He says the leaders of the Church are accommodating this mess because they are weak. I think that's true for many of them. But quite a few of them actually revel in the debauchery themselves and they lust after the Culture of Sex/Death. We're certainly seeing that in the sex abuse scandals from which we are still reeling.
He upbraids the Catholic clergy who allow it to fester in the Church. He's correct, although I will fill in some "gaps". We certainly are "accommodating the culture of sex". He could well have in mind the landmark disgrace that Cardinal Dolan heaped upon his own vocation as he gleefully announced he'd be leading the charge at the St Patrick's Day parade and its celebration of gross perversion. He could well be talking of Cardinal Wuerl as he punished Fr Guarnizo when the latter refused Holy Communion to practicing lesbians. He could also be talking about those parishes that allow engaged couples to cohabitate and fornicate as they (pretend to) prepare for Catholic marriages.
He says the leaders of the Church are accommodating this mess because they are weak. I think that's true for many of them. But quite a few of them actually revel in the debauchery themselves and they lust after the Culture of Sex/Death. We're certainly seeing that in the sex abuse scandals from which we are still reeling.
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Father Marcel Guarnizo: We Must Defend Life And Family Openly
Father Marcel Guarnizo (yes, the same who was expelled from the Archdiocese of Washington because he withheld Holy Communion from a practicing lesbian two years ago) gave an interview to Zenit that was released today. Father is now working with the World Congress of Families and is focusing on training Catholic leaders in central and eastern Europe.
In this interview, Father expressed hope that he sees in Russia and other eastern countries that have suffered under tyranny for much of the twentieth century. He believes that signs of vitality that he sees there might offer some hope for western Europe and the United States of America, both writhing in the throes of the culture of death and the resulting demographic winter.
Let's take Father's words to heart. Everyone of us - particularly the ordained - has a responsibility to speak out in defense of faith and life.
In this interview, Father expressed hope that he sees in Russia and other eastern countries that have suffered under tyranny for much of the twentieth century. He believes that signs of vitality that he sees there might offer some hope for western Europe and the United States of America, both writhing in the throes of the culture of death and the resulting demographic winter.
Let's take Father's words to heart. Everyone of us - particularly the ordained - has a responsibility to speak out in defense of faith and life.
Saturday, May 31, 2014
How Groupthink And Political Correctness Are Damaging Faithful Catholics
Last Thursday at Our Lady of Lourdes in Bethesda, I attended a fascinating talk given by Stella Morabito-Green. It was entitled "Living Faithfully In A Culture Of Fear", and it dealt with the threat of political correctness. Her focus was on political correctness as it exists in secular culture and the very real threat it poses to faithful Catholics who seek to integrate their faith in all facets of their lives. As I listened to her talk and related it to discussions I had been having on Facebook and elsewhere, I could see how even some faithful Catholics were embracing and even using some tenets of political correctness interlaced with groupthink.
Progressives have been quite adept at using political correctness, by seizing control of language and vocabulary to shape public thought. Largely they've been successful because 1) most folks (including most faithful Catholics) don't understand the dynamics of group-think even though 2) they latch onto group-think as a means of social survival. As she spoke, however, I could understand well what she was saying. A little over twenty years ago, I had been involved with a "charismatic" group that had more and more assumed the characteristics of a thought-reform cult. After many of us started questioning things AND the local church forced leaders to step aside, I left the group and started reading voraciously about thought-reform techniques, mostly from the Cultic Studies Journal. Most cults exhibited similar behaviors. The late Dr. Robert Lifton listed eight such characteristics. As you read them, recall how the politically-correct left has hijacked certain words and phrases: "freedom of choice", "bigot", "homophobe", etc. This is what Dr. Lifton would have called "loading the language". Here is another summary on characteristics of cults. As I go through the discussions in which I participated, I'l try to remember to point out these cult characteristics as I saw them at play. You might want to keep these pages open and refer to them as I relate the examples in following paragraphs.
Progressives have been quite adept at using political correctness, by seizing control of language and vocabulary to shape public thought. Largely they've been successful because 1) most folks (including most faithful Catholics) don't understand the dynamics of group-think even though 2) they latch onto group-think as a means of social survival. As she spoke, however, I could understand well what she was saying. A little over twenty years ago, I had been involved with a "charismatic" group that had more and more assumed the characteristics of a thought-reform cult. After many of us started questioning things AND the local church forced leaders to step aside, I left the group and started reading voraciously about thought-reform techniques, mostly from the Cultic Studies Journal. Most cults exhibited similar behaviors. The late Dr. Robert Lifton listed eight such characteristics. As you read them, recall how the politically-correct left has hijacked certain words and phrases: "freedom of choice", "bigot", "homophobe", etc. This is what Dr. Lifton would have called "loading the language". Here is another summary on characteristics of cults. As I go through the discussions in which I participated, I'l try to remember to point out these cult characteristics as I saw them at play. You might want to keep these pages open and refer to them as I relate the examples in following paragraphs.
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Melissa Harris-Perry, Roman Empress
Remember Melissa Harris-Perry, the MSNBC host who managed several months ago to make a fool of herself at least twice? Here's a memory-refresher.
The poor dear must have felt that fellow MSNBC host Martin Bashir upstaged her with his vile crack regarding Sarah Palin, for once again she has demonstrated how to insert both feet into her mouth. But first a history lesson, from the days of the Roman Empire.
Infanticide was an accepted practice among the Romans. Indeed, it was almost expected that a weak or deformed newborn be drowned or taken out of the city to be exposed. And yes, sometimes that happened if the newborn was a girl rather than a boy. Naturally the father had final say, acting as his own little household despot. The Christians of that time, of course, banned that practice in their circles, seeing it rightly as murder. They were also known to have rescued many infants abandoned in the city outskirts.
It seems that Melissa Harris-Perry would like to reinstate that less-than-delightful Roman custom. From RealNews, we read that Harris-Perry believes that the infant is alive if and only if the parents feel the child is alive. "Feel"??!!?! What the hell does that mean???? Moreover, according to that article, some progressives believe the "window for feeling-decision" should be as long as three years! Why stop there? Why not just go to seventeen and close the window when he/she is eligible to vote?
How can anyone deny that a culture of death has permeated society? Go back and read Humanae Vitae. It was written forty-five years ago, but as you read the list of consequences to usurping God's authority and laws, you might think it was written just a few months ago. We need to wake up - most especially our bishops - and start proclaiming God's moral law and obeying it, lest our culture fall into the ash heap of history as did the Roman Empire and countless souls be damned to hell.
The poor dear must have felt that fellow MSNBC host Martin Bashir upstaged her with his vile crack regarding Sarah Palin, for once again she has demonstrated how to insert both feet into her mouth. But first a history lesson, from the days of the Roman Empire.
Infanticide was an accepted practice among the Romans. Indeed, it was almost expected that a weak or deformed newborn be drowned or taken out of the city to be exposed. And yes, sometimes that happened if the newborn was a girl rather than a boy. Naturally the father had final say, acting as his own little household despot. The Christians of that time, of course, banned that practice in their circles, seeing it rightly as murder. They were also known to have rescued many infants abandoned in the city outskirts.
It seems that Melissa Harris-Perry would like to reinstate that less-than-delightful Roman custom. From RealNews, we read that Harris-Perry believes that the infant is alive if and only if the parents feel the child is alive. "Feel"??!!?! What the hell does that mean???? Moreover, according to that article, some progressives believe the "window for feeling-decision" should be as long as three years! Why stop there? Why not just go to seventeen and close the window when he/she is eligible to vote?
How can anyone deny that a culture of death has permeated society? Go back and read Humanae Vitae. It was written forty-five years ago, but as you read the list of consequences to usurping God's authority and laws, you might think it was written just a few months ago. We need to wake up - most especially our bishops - and start proclaiming God's moral law and obeying it, lest our culture fall into the ash heap of history as did the Roman Empire and countless souls be damned to hell.
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Father Guarnizo On Gosnell And Banality Of Evil
On CNSNews.com appears an article that Father Marcel Guarnizo wrote to explore how Kermit Gosnell is simply symptomatic of the culture of death in which the western world now wallows. Granted, Gosnell is a rather stark symptom but he's not the root. Please read the article here and share widely.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Baby Joseph Maraachli - Requiescat In Pace
Baby Joseph Maraachli, who defied the mongers of death in the Canadian health and legal system (aided by the determination of his parents and pro-life leaders, most notably Father Pavone), died peacefully at home yesterday. LifeSite News gives the final details; they too have been instrumental in spreading the news of Joseph's plight several months ago and caused an outcry that helped save him from a brutal and inhumane death.
He died in peace and dignity, surrounded by his family who loved him. Most importantly, he was baptized in the Catholic faith. Having been incapable of sin in his short life, he is now in heaven - by definition, he's a saint.
We pray for God's consolation for his family and in gratitude for their struggle - a struggle that will benefit those who will find themselves in Joseph's shoes as they face down the culture of death. Let us also ask little Joseph's intercession for this, and for his intercession for Father Pavone and his current predicament.
He died in peace and dignity, surrounded by his family who loved him. Most importantly, he was baptized in the Catholic faith. Having been incapable of sin in his short life, he is now in heaven - by definition, he's a saint.
We pray for God's consolation for his family and in gratitude for their struggle - a struggle that will benefit those who will find themselves in Joseph's shoes as they face down the culture of death. Let us also ask little Joseph's intercession for this, and for his intercession for Father Pavone and his current predicament.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Another Baby In A Dumpster
I remember when the pro-aborts were trying to convince us how abortion would solve so many problems. Among the ills to be solved was child abuse. Well, guess what? It hasn't worked the way they said it would. In fact, child abuse and even child murder accounts have skyrocketed since abortion became ensconced in our culture, putrifying everything around it. Hardly a month goes by anymore where we don't read of some account of newborns being left in dumpters, toilets, trash cans, wooded areas, etc. Why? It's a no-brainer. With the lessened regard for pre-born children, we see lessened regard for born children, elderly, infirm, etc. We are now living in a culture of death, as the late Pope John Paul II stated.
Here we read of a case in North Carolina where a woman disposed of her dead child in the trash. She was sentenced to - are you sitting down? - 36 months of probation. She's not seeing one day of jail, apparently. Now what kind of message does that send? Answer - the exact kind that Roe v Wade and dopey officials such as the Messiah Most Miserable send.
I'm sure before January is out, we'll hear of another similar situation. God have mercy on us!
Here we read of a case in North Carolina where a woman disposed of her dead child in the trash. She was sentenced to - are you sitting down? - 36 months of probation. She's not seeing one day of jail, apparently. Now what kind of message does that send? Answer - the exact kind that Roe v Wade and dopey officials such as the Messiah Most Miserable send.
I'm sure before January is out, we'll hear of another similar situation. God have mercy on us!
Monday, September 20, 2010
We Must Be Doing Something Right!
At least that can be said about the upcoming conservative candidates who are besting long-entrenched pro-abortion incumbents. Christine O'Donnell of New Jersey comes to mind. Planned Parenthood is all atwitter about her and her counterparts across the country, as you can see from this "action alert" (posted on Jill Stanek's blog).
Got that? They are so shocked that they're...asking for money ! Who'da thunk it? They're even frightened! Eeek! Eeek!
But it ain't over until it's over! And no, I don't mean that a successful November election will mean that we're done. After that election, we need to plod ahead and not stop "for a breather". Turning this Culture of Death into a Culture of Life will require a lifetime of prayer and work from each and every one of us while we're still in the realm of the Church Militant.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
With This Vortex, I Take Exception
It isn't often when I disagree with Michael Voris, but on this occasion, I have to raise a "sed contra". (Click here if you can't see embedded video).
"The hellish, downward spiral is simply irretrievable", opines Voris. That's his opinion, but we need not take this as fact indelibly written in stone. In fact, I opine that this statement may well fly in the face of the virtue of hope.
Recall what Pope John Paul II said at the Denver Youth Conference in 1993. He told his audience, and us, "Woe to you if you do not stop abortion!" Notice that he did not say, "...if you do not put up a heroic fight if ony to defend the faith." No, the Holy Father clearly laid upon us all the onus for clear, unmistakable, measurable SUCCESS in turning this current morass into the Culture of Life. Regretably, Voris is creating yet another "escape clause" for lack of success. (The other is the constant bastardization, the popular misquote of Mother Teresa's "we're called to be faithful not successful" statement, but that is its own rant.). Consder also that if the Holy Father didn't think success was possible, he wouldn't have said what he said.
As I heard this, I thought of Moses leading the Israelites into Canaan. As they approached Canaan, Moses sent twelve scouts ahead to assess the situation and the prospect for conquest of the Promised Land. Ten of the scouts said "it couldn't be done, the enemy is too big, etc, etc". Two of the scouts, Joshua and Caleb, understood that they were the Chosen People, and more importantly, that their God could overcome all the odds. They were right. Joshua went on to lead the people after Moses' death and Caleb was an anscestor of Jesus. The Israelites had a struggle, to say the least, but as they were faithful, the Lord walked with them.
Shall we be as the ten scouts, and accept this sanctimonious fatalism, or shall we grow some backbone and be as Joshua and Caleb? Let's do the latter and get in the fight!
"The hellish, downward spiral is simply irretrievable", opines Voris. That's his opinion, but we need not take this as fact indelibly written in stone. In fact, I opine that this statement may well fly in the face of the virtue of hope.
Recall what Pope John Paul II said at the Denver Youth Conference in 1993. He told his audience, and us, "Woe to you if you do not stop abortion!" Notice that he did not say, "...if you do not put up a heroic fight if ony to defend the faith." No, the Holy Father clearly laid upon us all the onus for clear, unmistakable, measurable SUCCESS in turning this current morass into the Culture of Life. Regretably, Voris is creating yet another "escape clause" for lack of success. (The other is the constant bastardization, the popular misquote of Mother Teresa's "we're called to be faithful not successful" statement, but that is its own rant.). Consder also that if the Holy Father didn't think success was possible, he wouldn't have said what he said.
As I heard this, I thought of Moses leading the Israelites into Canaan. As they approached Canaan, Moses sent twelve scouts ahead to assess the situation and the prospect for conquest of the Promised Land. Ten of the scouts said "it couldn't be done, the enemy is too big, etc, etc". Two of the scouts, Joshua and Caleb, understood that they were the Chosen People, and more importantly, that their God could overcome all the odds. They were right. Joshua went on to lead the people after Moses' death and Caleb was an anscestor of Jesus. The Israelites had a struggle, to say the least, but as they were faithful, the Lord walked with them.
Shall we be as the ten scouts, and accept this sanctimonious fatalism, or shall we grow some backbone and be as Joshua and Caleb? Let's do the latter and get in the fight!
Monday, July 26, 2010
Contraceptive Mentality Is Deadly
Here's a brief refresher regarding this undeniable truth. (Click here if you can't see embedded video)
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Catholic Standard Acquieces to Pop (Or Slop) Culture
Perhaps one hallmark of today's Culture of Death may be the fascination of teens and young people in the occult. Anyone with an iota of sense understands that occultish accrutements often serve as sedgeways into satanic dabblings. The so-called "goth" subculture is one facet. In the 1960's we saw this creep in with TV shows such as "Bewitched" and "Dark Shadows". Nowadays we see fascination with vampires and such, with shows such as "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and the "Twilight" movies. Again, it is the oblivious fool who holds these things to be nothing more than harmless fads.
Unfortunately, this week the Catholic Standard joined this less-than-stellar crowd of fools with its review of the movie "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse". I won't go into all the details of the storyline and various characters. Suffice it to say that I cannot fathom how an ostensibly Catholic newspaper can be so neglectful as to make no mention of the spiritual perils inherent with this "goth" culture. In fact, I'd say this review could only serve to whet the curiousity of the youngster with this movie. More disgustingly, the Catholic News Service rates this movie as A-II (adults and adolescents). Why this isn't considered "morally objectionable" I'll never know.
Let me bring in other considerations, if spiritual matters are of no interest to supposedly Catholic news media. It seems that many teenagers, due to direct influence of these "twilight/vampire" things, are now biting each other - all in the name of "love", of course! Mothers! Don't you remember having to teach your toddlers that biting others was mean and unaccepable? I'm sure that biting was grounds for some "time-outs" sitting in a corner. And now some very mixed-up kids are claiming that to be "love and affection"? Well if that's "love" I wouldn't want to see "hatred". Besides most folks with common sense know that's a great way to spread disease.
Many young people are very misguided. The Catholic Standard and Catholic News Servicee, with this review, are exacerbating the problems of young people. Shame on them.
Unfortunately, this week the Catholic Standard joined this less-than-stellar crowd of fools with its review of the movie "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse". I won't go into all the details of the storyline and various characters. Suffice it to say that I cannot fathom how an ostensibly Catholic newspaper can be so neglectful as to make no mention of the spiritual perils inherent with this "goth" culture. In fact, I'd say this review could only serve to whet the curiousity of the youngster with this movie. More disgustingly, the Catholic News Service rates this movie as A-II (adults and adolescents). Why this isn't considered "morally objectionable" I'll never know.
Let me bring in other considerations, if spiritual matters are of no interest to supposedly Catholic news media. It seems that many teenagers, due to direct influence of these "twilight/vampire" things, are now biting each other - all in the name of "love", of course! Mothers! Don't you remember having to teach your toddlers that biting others was mean and unaccepable? I'm sure that biting was grounds for some "time-outs" sitting in a corner. And now some very mixed-up kids are claiming that to be "love and affection"? Well if that's "love" I wouldn't want to see "hatred". Besides most folks with common sense know that's a great way to spread disease.
Many young people are very misguided. The Catholic Standard and Catholic News Servicee, with this review, are exacerbating the problems of young people. Shame on them.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Saint Robert Byrd????
Well, according to West Virginia's Bishop Bransfield, he is! Hear how the bishop delivered his final boot-licking to Robert Byrd. As you listen to Voris scold the bishops for literally kissing the hands that strike at the Church, think also of Cardinal McCarrick toadying up to Ted Kennedy and Sister Carol Keehan. Think of all the bishops who refuse to obey Canon 915 for fear of offending powerful CINO pro-aborts. Well, at least I hope it's fear and not outright agreement with the CINO's dissident positions!
(Click here if you can't see embedded videos)
What can we do? I suggested below participation in a picket of the Knights of Columbus Supreme Council Meeting. They too behave as wimps - at least their top leadership does.
A special note about the picket - If you are planning to participate, please let Mr Fisher know (contact info in original post). He has to have at least 10 firm commitments to have maximum impact; else he may have to cancel. Thanks for considering this important effort.
(Click here if you can't see embedded videos)
What can we do? I suggested below participation in a picket of the Knights of Columbus Supreme Council Meeting. They too behave as wimps - at least their top leadership does.
A special note about the picket - If you are planning to participate, please let Mr Fisher know (contact info in original post). He has to have at least 10 firm commitments to have maximum impact; else he may have to cancel. Thanks for considering this important effort.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
The Broadening Scope of Child-Killing
Comes now Ozzy Osbourne, a heavy metal rocker, who wrote a song about the very topic (inspired by a Canadian convicted of murdering his 13-year old daughter with cerebral palsy). Get what he says. "To put your child to death is a big decision. I'm not one to go, 'You're wrong, you shouldn't do that,' or 'You did the right thing. I'm in the middle of the road. I question myself, thinking 'How would I deal with that?' It's a very big decision to make."
He'd better keep on questioning himself. Some questions he ought to ask are:
"How could I have taken leave of common sense and morality?"
"Since when is murdering your child a big decision? You simply don't murder other people! That is not rocket science!"
The folks who mocked our concerns in 1973 knew damned well that this was just a matter of time. This is how the culture of death proponents planned this, to allow for (not so) gradual dulling of consciences and stupifying of intellects. As I look at Osbourne's picture to the upper right, it would appear that he is indeed a few sandwiches shy of a picnic. By the way - I understand he has a new album coming out, entitled "Scream"; rather makes sense, doesn't it?
Ladies and gentlemen, we have a lot of work. Do we all realize that the groundwork for Osbourne's macabre beliefs are ensconced in the current Hell Bill (the one that Sr Carol Keehan and other CINO's are so gaa-gaa over)? It's the death panels. We have elections coming up this November. They are critical as we try to stop the train wreck that is even now underway in our civilization. We must work for decent candidates and then hold their feet to the fire. We must pray for God's mercy on our nation as never before. Let's get going!
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