Have Some Pro-Life Pregnancy Centers Taken Leave Of Their Senses?

LifeSiteNews reports that some pro-life pregnancy centers are applying for Title X funding.  The HHS is withholding them from outfits that commit abortions and now some cpc directors are finding it difficult to resist the federal funding siren call.  The LSN article reports that pro-aborts are upset about this seeking after federal funding.  For vastly different reasons than those of the pro-aborts, I too look askance upon this funding endeavor.

First, let's be honest about the term "federal funding".  From where do these "federal funds" come?  Hint - take a look in the mirror.  That's right; federal funding really means that the money is taken from the pockets of each and every taxpayer in this country.  That is not a charitable donation, for the term "charitable donation" means a free-will gift.  Once upon a time, many decades ago, the federal government understood its constitutional limits.  It understood that it was not in the business of determining which endeavors deserved access to our wallets.  That understanding faded many years ago, and now has apparently faded from the understanding of otherwise good people.  This "federal funding" amounts to income-redistribution, teetering very close to socialism.  I am baffled that those who otherwise call themselves "conservative" let themselves be seduced by the easy lure of "free" money.

Now is that money really "free"?  Of course not!  There is a saying, "he who has the gold, rules".  That certainly is true when it comes to governmental grants.  Always there are strings attached - at least eventually.  Maybe the Trump administration will be relatively benign, but what would happen if these pregnancy centers became dependent on federal grants to fund their budgets - and another Clinton or Obama were to win the White House in future years?  How many attempts have we seen over the past several years to get Christian charities to hire LGBT people, to "tone down" their pro-life convictions, etc?  To be blunt, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops stands as a stark example of a Catholic organization that has literally sold its soul for federal dollars.  No other organization, should it start lusting after federal dollars, will be immune from that temptation.  Why are they literally courting disaster?

These pregnancy centers, if they go after federal grants, will be digging their own graves.  They will literally place themselves in a position of having to muzzle and compromise their beliefs.  They will also find themselves in the unenviable position of benefiting from the immoral confiscation of the hard-earned money of US citizens.  They need to abandon these foolish and fatal endeavors.

2013 And The Fiscal Cliff AND A Congressional Pay Raise

To all: my wishes and prayers for God's blessings on you and yours for a blessed 2013.

The news from Washington today, however, suggests that the year is starting off poorly.  The GOP on Capitol Hill (GOP = Gutless Old Poops) seem to be displaying their usual lack of spinal and intestinal fortitude.  From CNS News comes the report of the Senate's vote to "stave off the fiscal cliff".  In other words, the GOP is capitulating to the Messiah Most Miserable and to Dingy Harry and going along with their scheme to postpone real spending cuts.  Only 8 senators voted against it.  Some of those 8 were Democrats; good for them!

Now it goes to the House (by the way - aren't revenue bills supposed to originate in the House?).  We can pray for a New Year's miracle that John Boehner will actually conduct himself as a leader instead of the "Weeper of the House".  That would be a welcome surprise.

ADDENDUM
In the face of this "fiscal cliff" package that raises taxes by $41 for every $1 of tax cuts, the Messiah Most Miserable issued an "executive order" to raise the pay of Senators and Congresspeople (boys and girls, can we say "bribery"?  I salute Michele Bachmann for her move to reject that pay raise.  Click here if you can't see embedded video.