Envirowhacko Elf Lobby Of Iceland

Yes, you read that headline correctly.  I too am having difficulty believing that people take this seriously.  In Iceland, a highway project was halted because the proposed highway because (wait for it!) elves living there might be disturbed.  When I first saw this on Facebook, I truly thought this was a spoof.  However, when I saw this in the Guardian and the Atlantic I realized this story was factual.

Of particular concern (?) to the group filing suit on behalf of the elves (are these elves paying nice retainers?), is a rock formation that the self-appointed elf guardians know to be an "elf church".  Howe do they know?  Why, they "sense the energy"!  Silly me, why didn't I think of that?

In Maryland, we finally saw the construction of the Intercounty Connector (MD Rte 200).  That too was held up for decades because of envirowhacko concerns.  To the best of my knowledge, zeal for elves never factored into the debate.  Because of all the new-agey schlock that oozes out of progressive pores everywhere, though, I wouldn't be a bit surprised to learn that elves were an unacknowledged motive for opposition to the ICC.

But we must consider another factor.  Iceland is close to the North Pole.  Maybe these elves are employed by Santa Clause!  After a busy season, these poor elves are in need of a little vacation.  Should a bunch of bulldozers disturb their "down time", perhaps these elves may be poorly disposed to make fun toys for us next Christmas!  Golly gee!  Maybe we should think twice about this???  (Yes, ladies and gentlemen.  You may regard this paragraph as sarcasm.)

I would say that is the comedy to cap off 2013 - if there weren't actually people who took it seriously.  That is a tad disconcerting.  Have a blessed New Year's anyway.

National Bishops' Conferences Presidents NOT Vice-Popes

From Lifesite News, we read the statements of the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Muller.  He is attempting to clarify misunderstandings brought about by Evangelii Gaudium.

When I think of the mess that is our own United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, I only have two words to say in response to Archbishop Muller:

DEO GRATIAS!

Melissa Harris-Perry And Pals Trash-Talk A Baby

Melissa Harris-Perry (hereafter referred to as "MHP"), an MSNBC fixture, hosted a panel of five like-minded progressives who thought it would be hilarious to mock one of Mitt Romney's grandchildren precisely because he's black and adopted.  What strikes me as particularly hypocritical is that the pro-abortion crown likes to throw in our faces the pre-programmed sneer "how many black children have you adopted"?  Well, in their eyes we're "damned if we do and damned if we don't".  Actually, they really don't care just as long as they think they can shut us up.

Now if you believe you've seen MHP's name on this blog in previous posts, you are correct.  MHP has quite the talent for opening her mouth and inserting both feet.  Please click here to read of previous antics of hers, for I will refer to them later in this post.

Consider two of those posts.  In one, it is revealed that she believes unborn children are "things in the uterus".  In another of those posts, she voices her belief that the already-born child is alive if and only if the parents feel he/she is alive.  So as we watch MHP and her equally heartless companions mock the little boy, we have good reason to wonder if they understand that they're mocking a real human being.  They remind me of a bunch of Nazi leaders chortling over the latest anecdotes about Jews executed in the death camps.

Another post shows a picture of MHP with tampons hanging from her ears.  One might be forgiven if they were to mistake them for the fluff from where her brain should be oozing out of her ears.  Now the video..

New Year's Resolutions?

It's that time of year, when we're taking stock of the year just past and contemplating some improvements and/or embellishments to our lives.  Those who've read this blog for some time may have gleaned my pro-life sentiments, so what I suggest should be no surprise.  Our civilization is going to hell in a hand basket.  We need more Catholics and people of good will to step up to the plate.

That said, here are some pro-life-oriented suggestions:

• Get out to your local abortion mill on a regular, committed basis to pray.  How about a minimum of once a month for an hour or so?  Please join with a pro-life presence already there, or bring a friend; never go alone.  Consider participating in 40 Days for Life nearby.
• Write a "letter to the editor" when abortion and/or gay-related issues arise in your community.  Be a voice for truth.
• If you have a solid candidate running for elected office, support him/her with your time: lit drops, phone banks, parade-walking, etc.
• Join or start a pro-life group at your church.

Of course this list is by no means exhaustive.  You probably have a few of your own.  Feel free to share them via the comment box. 

MSNBC Does Saturday Night Live

However, they really do believe that the pig-slop they produced is truly cutting-edge journalism.  Normal people would think this is the stuff of satire sites.  The comedienne news-anchor is Joy Reid.  As you watch this piece of crap news presentation, I advise you not to be eating or drinking; else you may spit all over your monitor as you laugh.  Pity the people who will take this seriously.

Bracing Ourselves For The Cleanup

My friend at The Tenth Crusade has some additional thoughts about Thomas Peters' recent plops of nonsense.  I want to focus on her thoughts in her final paragraph.  When she mentions the "donnybrook in the public square" she isn't whistling dixie.

Last week I alluded to some difficulties that faithful Catholics are having when it comes to seeing the ominous signs coming from the Vatican.  Much of it stems from a natural desire to believe the best of the Holy Father - a desire that I share and still entertain.  They recoil at the reality of the mixed signals coming from the Vatican, refusing to acknowledge them for what they are.  There is also the understandable confusion about the precise nature of papal infallibility.  They believe that the Pope is infallible in all matters when in reality papal infallibility is quite defined and limited in its scope.  Of course we are obliged to ascribe weight to his words, but in matters of prudential judgment we may - and sometimes must - take exception to words and actions that don't touch on matters of faith and morals.

Sometimes when we take exception, we must do so publicly.  We must do so with respect to the Holy Father and his office, but we must be very clear about our message.  That entails we speak boldly - and loudly if necessary.  No doubt we will face ridicule and rejection - and much of it may come from our fellow parishioners, our clergy, etc.  We may find ourselves expelled from roles and positions in our parishes.

Those are the breaks.  As Carol said, if the current trend continues, there will be a "donnybrook".  Will there be Catholics with the spiritual, moral and intestinal fortitude to see the battle through to victory?  The strength won't happen without prayer and the Sacraments.  Use your rosaries, scapulars, holy water, etc; you'll need all the help you can get.  Also make sure you are studying your Faith on an ongoing basis.

As a modern model, I recommend as examples the young men in Argentina who withstood the hordes of crazed feminists who wanted to vandalize the local cathedral.  We will need that some fortitude and determination here.  Watch the video below..

Reply To Tom Peters' Objections About Our Concerns

Two days ago Tom Peters posted a blog article in which he attempts to rebut concerns broached against an earlier post of his.  I would suspect that among the "reactions" to which he is, well, reacting is my post about the rose-colored glasses and/or the Vortex embedded therein.  I am somewhat taken aback by what appears to be judgmentalism and condescension regarding heartfelt concerns that motivate us.

His second paragraph begins with, "sure, I get it, it’s fun to be a cynic. It’s cool to be the one always predicting the next bad thing that’s going to happen."  Tom et al, I assure you that we are not having "fun" dealing with the messes that are issuing forth from the Vatican.  We see these "bad things" as causing confusion - the sort of confusion that can destroy faith and damn souls to hell.  We write to obtain clarification of these conundrums, not because we "enjoy the novelty of being papal skeptics".

Peters then lets off with "We must trust that when the cardinals chose Cardinal Brogoglio to be Pope, the Holy Spirit knew what He was doing. So let’s quit with the doom mongering."  Again, we are not "doom mongering" when we point out problems so obvious that one would have to be in active denial not to acknowledge it.  But let's look at the quote again.  Here we have him stating a premise then a conclusion.  However, the conclusion doesn't necessarily follow from that premise.  We trust that the Holy Spirit knows what he was doing; but that doesn't mean we should remain silent when there is cause for alarm.

Case in point.  No one denies that the Holy Spirit guided the Cardinal's actions many centuries ago when Pope Alexander VI ascended to the papacy.  No one can deny that Alexander's papacy was one huge debacle.  Hailing from the Borgia family, he brought with him some "family traditions".  He had people murdered, he fathered whole broods of illegitimate children and yes, he taught his children to be cut-throats as well.  Lucretia Borgia was his daughter via one of his concubines.  From another woman he sired Cesare Borgia - so ruthless was he that Machiavelli based his signature work The Prince on his chequered career.  Would Tom Peters have called it "doom mongering" to point out Alexander's foibles?   Yes, the laundry is indeed a tad spotty.

By the way - in the quote from Peters' piece that appears two paragraphs ago, I copied and pasted it from Peter's blog.  Thus the misspelling "Brogoglio" is Peters', not mine.  It should read "Bergoglio".

My friend at The Tenth Crusade put up an excellent rebuttal of Peters' piece.  I urge you to read it.  I need not rehash what she has said.  Rather, I'll direct your attention to this question that he poses in his second-to-last paragraph.  "If Pope Francis sees dissenting Catholics living more active lives of charity, showing more passion in their desire to fix the problems of the world, and being more vocal in the great debates of our time, what happens then?"   What Peters proposes is an impossibility.  Dissenting Catholics by definition are those who hold in disregard the Teachings of the Church that originate from Our Lord Himself.  In separating themselves from the Church, they cut themselves from the grace of truth and they usually attempt to draw others into their dissent.  Not only do they endanger their own immortal souls, but the souls of those whom they successfully seduce into their sinful patterns of belief and conduct.  Whatever else "charity" may mean, it does NOT mean the facilitation of the damnation of souls.  Charity leads to eternal salvation, not perdition.  Far from "fixing the problems of the world", they greatly exacerbate them owing to their disobedience to the Creator of the World.  For the life of me, I don't understand how Peters could suggest such an outlandish situation.  I might suggest a careful study of Pope Benedict's Caritas In Veritate.  As the title suggests, Pope Benedict made plain that there is no authentic charity without an adherence to truth.  And yes, truth does include (in many cases) "tradition" with a small "t", for those willing to disregard "tradition" are often quite willing to jettison "Tradition".

Peters, in the final paragraph, asks "So which is it going to be?"  I'll answer that.  As we see problems (and yes, Tom, they ARE problems), we will continue to bring them to light in order to bring about their rectification.  That's a part of "living the Gospel".  I for my part ask, "How much longer are you going to engage in denial and play the Three Monkeys?"

Reform At The NSA?

I bring you glad tidings of great joy!  We have a new NSA director who will really get that place into shape!  Here he is!   Trumpets and drum roll, please!

New Year's resolution - learn Photoshop!

The Christmas Sword

I appreciate how Voris can cut through the "church of nice" sentiments to keep the focus on the true spiritual warfare that enveloped the Birth of Christ.  Notice at 5:30 that he makes the point that only after the end of the world and final judgment will "the sword be beat into a plowshare" and not before then (Note: "Peace and justice" crowd, learn that once and for all.)

Epiphany For Barbara Walters??

I know the Feast of the Epiphany is on the tail-end of the Christmas Season, but it sure seems like Barbara Walters is on the verge of one - if she can let go of those last shreds of Obama-hype delusions.

Some of my liberal-troll commentators have chided me for referring to Obama as the Messiah Most Miserable.  They believe that I'm not doing proper obeisance to Dear Leader, uh, His Imperial Highness, uh, Obama.  Well, given the recent interview between Piers Morgan and Barbara Walters, maybe I was pretty much on the mark.  They are both commiserating about Obama's lousy poll numbers, the Obamacare debacles, etc.  Walters admits that they (liberals/progesssives) "thought Obama was the next messiah" and are so, so bummed that he has fallen short of expectations.  Her dejection is enough to make me want to shed a tear in sympathy - NOT!

I'll give credit where it's due.  Walters is a lot further along in the waking up process than many of her colleagues appear to be.  She admits it.  Now if she would only cease her denials of truth..

Here's the video.