Random Thoughts On Abortion, Truth, and Other Stuff...

Democrats on an Escalator.

Fri, 3 Sep 2010 17:35:10 -0500

One of the most common arguments people make to differentiate Democrats (Liberals) from Republicans (Conservatives) is to claim that Democrats want the government to solve problems, while Republicans want to encourage people to help themselves.

You know, it’s the old, “Give a man a fish and he eats for a day, but teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime” concept. Or, as Jack Kemp once put it when talking about giving people a hand up, not a hand out: “Conservatives don’t measure compassion by how many people they help, Conservatives measure compassion by how many people don’t need their help any more after helping themselves.”

This video presents the difference better than any words I could write. It is priceless! Enjoy!

Do you play golf?

Thu, 2 Sep 2010 11:39:06 -0500

If so, this very simple tip will really help you game.

To my Kids...

Wed, 1 Sep 2010 20:49:49 -0500

Just for this morning, I am going to step over the laundry, and pick you up and take you to the park to play.   Just for this morning, I will leave the dishes in the sink, and let you teach me how to put that puzzle of yours together.   Just for this afternoon, I will unplug the telephone and keep the computer off, and sit with you in the backyard and blow bubbles.   Just for this afternoon, I will not yell once, not even a tiny grumble when you scream and whine for the ice cream truck and I will buy you one if he comes by.  
Just for this afternoon, I won't worry about what you are going to be when you grow up, or second guess every decision I have made where you are concerned.   Just for this afternoon, I will let you help me bake cookies, and I won't stand over you trying to fix them.   Just for this afternoon, I will take us to McDonald's and buy us both a Happy Meal so you can have both toys.   Just for this evening, I will hold you in my arms and tell you a story about how you were born and how much I love you.   Just for this evening, I will let you splash in the tub and not get angry.   Just for this evening, I will let you stay up late while we sit on the porch and count all the stars.   Just for this evening, I will snuggle beside you for hours, and miss my favorite TV shows.   Just for this evening when I run my finger through your hair as you pray, I will simply be grateful that God has given me the greatest gift ever given.   I will think about the mothers and fathers who are searching for their missing children, the mothers and fathers who are visiting their children's graves instead of their bedrooms, and mothers and fathers who are in hospital rooms watching their children suffer senselessly, and screaming inside that they can't handle it anymore. And when I kiss you good night I will hold you a little tighter, a little longer. It is then, that I will thank God for you, and ask Him for nothing, except one more day…

Some People are Sick

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:04:45 -0500

For all the kooks who think prolifers are extreme, odd, or somehow “off base,” or, worse, that Planned Parenthood is a mainstream group with good intentions, you may want to think again. You see, Planned Parenthood endorses THIS SICK BOOK. You will not - truly will not - believe that this book is real; that is, if you are normal.

I don’t know where to start. The book promotes abortion, listing nine reasons to have an abortion!

The book promotes homosexuality in two places!

The book lists the anus - of men AND women - as a sex organ! CLICK HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE.

To read more about this book, CLICK HERE and HERE and HERE

Does any normal person want their child to read this trash? What is the world coming to?

Speaking of only one Church...

Sun, 29 Aug 2010 02:27:53 -0500

In Matthew 16:18, Jesus says to Peter, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld SHALL NOT prevail against it.” Not “may not for a long time,” not “probably won’t,” not “will not likely” - SHALL NOT. Never. Ever. Period.

Jesus makes it clear that his church (the Holy Roman Catholic Church, by the way) will NEVER, EVER, EVER fall to the gates of hell.

Well the Baptist pastor Todd Thomason apparently thinks Jesus is a liar. Why? Well, in a newspaper article in the Houston Chronicle (CLICK HERE and HERE), he is, evidently, fearful that his church “is dying.” If his Baptist ecclesial community is Jesus’ church, and if Jesus tells the truth, how can this be?

But, old Mr. Tomason has a solution - Change the name! Yeah, that’s it - a new name will do the trick. Great thinking!

Even better, how are they going to decide on a new name? You guessed it - take a vote! They may even change denominations, like a “steadily growing number of Christian churches” are doing. Wow, what will they think of next? Maybe coffee shops at the church? Oh, wait, they already thought of that.... Sorry....

It’s not just the small time guys like Mr. Thomason. Even the Southern Baptist Convention - “the nation’s largest Protestant group - has “hosted church-naming seminars asking the question, “To Baptist or Not to Baptist.” Again, wow, what will they think of next? Maybe they’ll change some of Jesus’ doctrines, like the Eucharist or the regeneration of Baptism or some other stuff. Oops, there I go again... they did that, too.... Sorry....

And finally, you gotta love Roger Oldham, the “vice president of convention relations” for the Southern Baptist Convention.” (Do we have one of those departments in the Catholic Church?) He says, ”We’re entering into a nondenominational era.”

Well, now I get it. I’ll bet this is exactly what Jesus wants. Indeed, this is just what he says in John 17: 20-23, where he says that he wants his followers to become non-denominational, not belong to his church. Wait, darn it, that’s not what Jesus said. He said that he wanted his followers to be brought to perfection as ONE, just as Jesus and God are one. Unified. Together. Same beliefs.

Oh, well, what do I know. I thought Jesus told the truth. Silly me....

There is only one Church

Sat, 28 Aug 2010 14:09:09 -0500

Jesus Christ started ONE Church. That one Church is the Holy Roman Catholic Church.

The truth notwithstanding, I never cease to be amused by the names some ecclesiastical communities give themselves.

The place in the picture above is a real place in Spring, Texas. I can just imagine the guys who started this place sitting around a table trying to figure out a new name. One guy says, “I GOT IT!!! Let’s call it “Servanthood Fellowship, a fellowship of foolish people”!!! And everyone else says, “YES, that’s IT!!! Great job, Charlie, now let’s go get a beer.”

Strongest Dad in the World

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 09:20:00 -0500

Hearing the recent story about Tom Morrison and his son Logan Morrison who plays for the Florida Marlins brought a tear to my eye. (CLICK HERE for that story.) It also reminded me of another story that really moved me.

Sometimes you read a story that really touches your heart. CLICK HERE for a story that will really amaze you. Be warned - have a tissue box nearby!

You can also CLICK HERE for a video of this.

Katrina Anniversary...

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 13:56:33 -0500

The five year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina is coming up this Sunday. For those of us who lived through it, it’s not a happy memory. This video explains why we all “know what it means to miss New Orleans.”

Enjoy.

The Contempt Shown Large Families

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 18:57:46 -0500

As we await our sixth child this fall (seventh, actually - one is in heaven), the contempt we face from strangers, acquaintances, and friends is, at times, amazing.

You know, comments like, “Why don’t you get a television set?”

Well, I have never met anyone who ever said one of the following two statements;

1. “Gee, I sure am glad that I didn’t have any more kids. 
1. “I am really ticked off that I had so many kids.”

Wonder why that is...

In any event, CLICK HERE for a GREAT article on this topic written by a Jewish rabbi. He really “gets it.”

Things getting better out there?

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 11:09:03 -0500

I got the following funny story from a friend:

While dining in Nashville this past weekend, I noticed that my waiter had on an "Obama 08" tie. I decided to test his commitment to his candidate’s “redistribution of the wealth” philosophy.

When the bill came, I explained to him that I was going to explore Obama’s redistribution of wealth concept. He stood there with his mouth slightly agape as I told him that I was going to “redistribute” his tip to someone who I deemed more in need--the homeless guy outside. The waiter stormed from my sight.

I went outside, gave the homeless guy the $20 gratuity and told him to thank the waiter inside (because the waiter had actually earned the money) but I had decided that HE could use the money more. The homeless guy seemed grateful; although I didn’t have time to wait around to see if he actually did go inside to thank the waiter.

At the end of my rather unscientific redistribution experiment, it appeared to me that the homeless guy really was grateful for the money he did not earn; but the waiter was incensed that I had given away money he had earned, in spite of the fact that the actual recipient probably did need the money more.

What I take from this admittedly unscientific experiment is that “redistribution of wealth” is an easier thing to swallow in theory than in practice.

“Political Correctness” gone haywire

Sun, 15 Aug 2010 23:34:41 -0500

I was at a very nice Bar Mitzvah in New York recently. Terrific Rabbi, holy service, and, overall, a fine time.

One thing surprised me, though. Above is the brochure for the Temple. While the inclusive language is certainly “feel good” stuff and, rather obviously, politically correct, I can’t help but wonder if they REALLY mean it.

The troubling part to me is the welcome to “gender identity or expression.” Think about this: What would have happened if the Bar Mitzvah boy showed up in a dress and make-up? Or maybe his grandfather showed up looking like his grandmother? Would the Congregation really - REALLY - not mind, not notice, or otherwise be FULLY welcoming? I doubt it....

The point is, why say this silly “politically correct” stuff if you don’t mean it? How is anyone’s life made better by a lie?

Something got you down?

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 15:13:47 -0500

Let us remember the words of St. Theresa of Avila. “Let nothing trouble you. Let nothing frighten you. Everything passes. God never changes. Patience obtains all. Whoever has God, wants for nothing. God alone is enough”

More on Gay Marriage

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 15:55:29 -0500

When is this stupidity about homosexual “marriage” going to stop?
CLICK HERE for a terrific (and sad) video about this evolving issue.

Lesbians Having Babies?

Mon, 9 Aug 2010 04:17:54 -0500

Good grief. What’s next?

Abortion Video

Sat, 7 Aug 2010 22:15:35 -0500

Eduardo Verastegui, the star of the amazing movie Bella, has put out an amazing video on abortion. CLICK HERE, and choose the English or Spanish version. Be warned, it’s graphic. But, it’s also important and true.
By the way, in case you think he has some kind of ulterior motive for publicity or otherwise, let me quickly disabuse you of this notion. I’ve met the man several times, and spent some quality time with him. Trust me, he is the real deal. CLICK HERE for a photo (that’s me on the left, in case you couldn’t tell us apart...) taken when Eduardo came to Houston to help Fullness of Truth support Bella.

Gay Marriage in California

Thu, 5 Aug 2010 18:12:22 -0500

Who knows what will happen next on this explosive issue. In looking back over some old stuff on the topic, I found this old post:

CLICK HERE for a great video on the failure of gay “marriage” in California. Thanks to Michael Barber and John Paul the Great Catholic University in San Diego for his work, and generally “keeping the faith.” 

What is the point of high school?

Tue, 3 Aug 2010 11:06:04 -0500

My oldest child is 15 and going into tenth grade. She started high school last year, but the school closed and we had to find a new school. We are thrilled to have found Faustina Academy in Irving, Texas.

My wife and I scoured brochures, talked to parents, and even considered moving in order to give her the best experience possible. Needless to say, it is easy to become overwhelmed with statistics, test scores, and other mundane details.

My wife, God bless her, brought the issue clearly into focus when she stopped one day and said, “Hey, what is the whole point of this exercise?” I said, “Well, it’s obvious - to get her the best education possible.” My wife replied, “Wrong.” I was surprised and said, “Wrong, what do you mean?” She said, “Our goal is not to get our kids into Stanford, our goal is to get them into heaven.”

Wow, she was exactly right! It was right in front of me, and I missed it. We have since reordered our thinking, with faith formation now clearly at the top of the list.

Isn’t it amazing how some of the most important things are the simplest, and right in front of our noses? We need to realize that more often, and let God guide us, not society.

Remember the Holocaust

Sun, 1 Aug 2010 15:04:29 -0500

Remember the holocaust? CLICK HERE for a great reminder on why we can’t ever forget...

Katrina Recovery?

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 13:00:28 -0500

Think New Orleans is all back to normal?

We just got back from a visit there yesterday. On Sunday, July 18, I took this picture. This school is UNTOUCHED since the storm.

Amazing. And sad.

Condoms for Elementary School?

Sun, 27 Jun 2010 05:10:25 -0500

Yes, the title is correct. Don’t believe me? CLICK HERE.

Good grief...

A Glass of Milk

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 13:06:32 -0500

One day, a poor boy named Howie Kelly was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school. He found that he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house.

Howie lost his nerve, however, when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of asking for a meal, he asked only for a drink of water.

The young lady thought Howie looked hungry, so she brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, “How much do I owe you?” “You don't owe me anything,” she replied. “Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness.” He, replied, “Then I thank you from my heart.”

As young Howie left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was stronger also. He had been ready to give up and quit, but the young lady’s kindness rejuvenated him.    Many years later, that same young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease.  
Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room.

Dressed in his doctor’s gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day on, he gave special attention to her case. After a long struggle, the battle was won.

Dr. Kelly then asked the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, and then wrote something on the edge, and the bill was sent to her room.

The woman feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill. She read these words: “Paid in full with one glass of milk.” (Signed) Dr. Howard Kelly.

Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed: “Thank You, God, that your love has spread broad through human hearts and hands.”   There's a saying that goes something like this: Bread cast on the water comes back to you. The good deed you do today may benefit you or someone you love at the least expected time. If you never see the deed again, at least you will have made the world a better place.

And, after all, isn't that what life is all about?

Television - Good or Bad?

Tue, 8 Jun 2010 12:44:13 -0500

Here is a great article from Dr. Ray Guarendi, who has helped me and my family immensely, and who I am proud to call my friend:
Though youngsters will urgently argue the point, children don’t need television.
They may want it, crave it, even suffer withdrawal during a power outage, but healthy social development is not linked remotely to the number of channels your set receives.
Television is not inherently bad. Unlimited and unscreened, however, it is destructive.
It erodes family life, promotes passive existence, and relentlessly beams distorted reality and morals at children. The key to making the medium work with your parenting goals rather than against them lies in how wisely it is controlled and dispensed.
Awareness of what’s coming into your living room is critical to responsible TV guidance. Filtering out graphic violence or inappropriate sexual content is basic. But don't stop there.
Even seemingly benign sitcoms and cartoons may contain themes and messages that run completely counter to your values. Many parents confess to me that when they finally saw what their children were routinely watching, they sat stunned. They had no inkling of the amount of junk in their kids’ viewing habits.
Even closely screened television should limited. Otherwise, TV can become an addiction that encroaches upon a well-rounded family existence. Here are some possible ground rules:
1. Television is available only after homework and chores are complete. Responsibilities preempt privileges.
2. No television on school nights. This ruling evokes comebacks from kids like these: “There’s not another kid in the whole school whose parents do this. What am I going to talk about on the bus?” Even if that’s true, it’s irrelevant. How your family views television is your decision.
3. Programming can be rationed. Limit commercial stations to half an hour per night. More educational public television shows may be viewed up to an hour and a half.
4. Develop your own version of pay TV. Each half hour costs, say, ten cents. A PBS half hour costs a nickel, not because it’s worth less, but because it’s usually worth more. The money can be accumulated to help pay for a family outing.
One mother told me of an unexpected advantage of closely monitoring her kids’ television, especially on Saturday mornings. They asked for fewer toys because they didn’t see the ads that suggested they needed more.
The family also got to talk over a leisurely breakfast and found they actually liked one another.
Wonders can occur when you turn off the tube.

CLICK HERE for the Internet link to this article, and HERE for Dr. Ray’s website.

No More Big Macs for Me.....

Tue, 8 Jun 2010 10:58:04 -0500

Can this be true? This is a new McDonald's ad in France that appears to support teen homosexuality. Good grief - what’s next?

Strongest Dad in the World

Mon, 7 Jun 2010 17:04:44 -0500

Sometimes you read a story that really touches your heart. CLICK HERE for a story that will really amaze you. Be warned - have a tissue box nearby!

CLICK HERE for a downloadable link to the story.

A question for public dissenters...

Sun, 6 Jun 2010 14:03:08 -0500

For all the Catholic public dissenters - you know the crowd, Pelosi, Biden, Shriver, Hannity, Giuliani, Kerry, Arnold, Landrieu, etc. - I have one real simple question:

WHY DO YOUR REMAIN CATHOLIC IF YOU DON’T BELIEVE WHAT CATHOLICS BELIEVE?

Great picture

Sat, 5 Jun 2010 21:11:16 -0500

A friend sent me the picture above. I could write a lot about it, but I think it speaks for itself...

Makes you wonder: Who are the real heroes in our great country? Sports players? Nope. Politicians? Give me a break.

CLICK HERE for the “back story” on this great picture.

Liberal Catholic Education

Fri, 4 Jun 2010 03:57:25 -0500

My daughter’s high school closed down, and we have been looking for a new one. I am stunned by how some Catholic High Schools just don’t “get it.” Is it too much to ask of a Catholic High School to just “Be Catholic”? Evidently... read on.

The Catechism says this about homosexuality:

Chastity and homosexuality
2357 Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex . . . Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity . . . tradition has always declared that “homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered.” They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.
2358 The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial . . .
 While we should, of course, “hate the sin and love the sinner,” it is rather obvious that the Church has a disdain for homosexual behavior. Why else would it use words like “grave depravity,” “intrinsically disordered,” “contrary to natural law,” and “objectively disordered” when describing it?

So, what’s the point? A local Catholic High School in Houston - St. Agnes Academy - presents some PowerPoint presentations on “Sexuality.” CLICK HERE for the link. These PowerPoints contain the above slides.

While the PowerPoints do talk about chasity and respect for people with homosexual orientation, the language used, IMHO, downplays the issue far more than the words of the Catechism would seem to warrant.

For example, one slide says, “Orientation is not chosen,” while the Catechism says, “Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained.” So, which is it, “not chosen” or “largely unexplained”? It cannot be both.

Similarly, why would anyone tell a high school student that it is “okay to disclose” an “inclination that is gravely disordered”? To a psychiatrist, yes, but that’s not what the PowerPoint says.

Further still, the PowerPoint says that homosexual “orientation is not sinful.” While this is true so long as the inclination is not acted upon, when coupled with the rest of the statements made, the milquetoast nature of this statement is disheartening.

Finally, the PowerPoint says, “It’s hard to figure out sexual identity.” While this may be true, it is also true that God and the Church tell us, very clearly, what proper and correct sexual identity and behavior are.

The bottom line (in the event you think I am being too harsh) is, when one waters down clear Church teaching in order to be “politically correct,” the real message can be lost. Reading the slides above collectively presents the message (at least it did to me) that, “Hey, look, homosexual activity is wrong, but, you know, you can’t do anything about it, so why not claim a few symbols related to your orientation, disclose it appropriately, and all will be well.”

If this causes nothing else, it will surely lead to scandal. Why not just teach the kids the truth bluntly, but pastorally?

What say you?

Good Video...Watch to the End

Thu, 3 Jun 2010 14:54:30 -0500

Email anecdotes can be annoying, but I got this one (and, amazingly, actually watched it), and found it interesting. Who thinks of this stuff?

P.S. Please watch until the end, otherwise it will not make much sense...

A Great Story....Read to the End

Wed, 2 Jun 2010 11:48:57 -0500

KURTIS THE STOCK BOY AND BRENDA THE CHECKOUT GIRL  
In a supermarket, Kurtis the stock boy was busily working when a new voice came over the loudspeaker asking for a carryout at register 4. Kurtis was almost finished and wanted to get some fresh air, but decided to answer the call.

As he approached the checkout stand a distant smile caught his eye. The new checkout girl was beautiful. She was an older woman (maybe 26, and he was only 22) and he fell in love.  
Later that day, after his shift was over, he waited by the time clock to find out her name. She came into the break room, smiled softly at him, took her card and punched out, and then left. He looked at her card . . . BRENDA. He walked out only to see her start walking up the road.

The next day, he waited outside as she left the supermarket, and offered her a ride home. He looked harmless enough, and she accepted. When he dropped her off, he asked if maybe he could see her again, outside of work. She simply said it wasn't possible.  
He pressed and she explained she had two children and she couldn't afford a baby-sitter, so he offered to pay for the baby-sitter. Reluctantly she accepted his offer for a date for the following Saturday.  
That Saturday night he arrived at her door only to have her tell him that she was unable to go with him. The baby-sitter had called and canceled. To which Kurtis simply said, "Well, let's take the kids with us." She tried to explain that taking the children was not an option, but again not taking no for an answer, he pressed.

Finally Brenda brought him inside to meet her children. She had an older daughter who was just as cute as a bug, Kurtis thought, and then Brenda brought out her son, in a wheelchair. He was born a paraplegic with Down Syndrome.

Kurtis asked Brenda, "I still don't understand why the kids can't come with us?" Brenda was amazed. Most men would run away from a woman with two kids, especially if one had disabilities . . . just like her first husband and the father of her children had done. Kurtis was not ordinary, however - he had a different mindset.  
That evening Kurtis and Brenda loaded up the kids and went to dinner and the movies. When her son needed anything, Kurtis would take care of him. When he needed to use the restroom, he picked him up out of his wheelchair, took him, and brought him back. The kids loved Kurtis.

At the end of the evening, Brenda knew this was the man she was going to marry and spend the rest of her life with. A year later, they were married and Kurtis adopted both her children. Since then they have added two more kids.

So what happened to Kurtis the stock boy and Brenda the checkout girl? Well, Mr. & Mrs. Kurt Warner now live in Arizona, where he is currently employed as the quarterback of the National Football League Arizona Cardinals and has his Cardinals in the Super Bowl. Previously, he quarterbacked the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI, and has been the NLF's Most Valuable Player twice and the Super Bowl's Most Valuable Player.

Is this a surprise ending, or could you have guessed that he was not an ordinary person?

Abortion Advocate? Take a Deep Breath...

Tue, 1 Jun 2010 20:32:09 -0500

Every once in awhile, one needs to take a step back and focus on things that we all take for granted. A great example is: what, exactly and precisely, is happening during an abortion? Exactly and precisely, what “choice” do the pro-abortionists, er, the pro-choicers want to have?
The answer is: the choice to kill their children.
Don’t believe that? Well look at THESE PICTURES and see for yourself. Be warned, it will not be pleasant.

Cool Meeting on an Airplane

Mon, 31 May 2010 15:30:35 -0500

I recently flew from New Orleans to New York for business. As I got on the plane, I saw one of my two favorite singers of all time, Aaron Neville, putting his bag in the overhead compartment.
Aaron did an AMAZING CD with Fr. Jeff Bayhi (CLICK HERE) called “Doing it Their Own Way, A Contemporary Meditation on The Way of the Cross.” Listening to this CD is truly a mountain top experience, and I couldn’t help but tell Aaron, “Hey, it’s Aaron Neville, we have a mutual friend - Fr. Jeff Bayhi!” He said, “Sure, I love Fr. Bayhi.” CLICK HERE to read about this CD, CLICK HERE to buy it, and CLICK HERE to read a little more about Aaron.
Well, lucky me, my seat was right next to him. What a thrill... Before we took off, I asked him if he would be so kind as to say “hi” to my wife on the phone (she loves him, too). He graciously agreed, and my wife was thrilled.
Long story short, the next three hours were a real blessing. Aaron is a STRONG and happy Catholic. He prayed for a little while during the trip, let me listen to some new songs on his iPod, and even gave me a Rosary.
What a wonderful man and what an angelic voice. Thanks, Aaron, and God bless you! (The picture above left is one I took on the plane with my iPhone, and the picture above right is one I took at a Christmas concert.)
P.S. For those of you who are curious, my other favorite singer of all time is Jimmy Buffett!

A New York Lawyer in Texas

Sun, 30 May 2010 08:26:02 -0500

A New York lawyer runs a stop sign and gets pulled over by a sheriff”s deputy in Texas. The lawyer thinks he is smarter than the deputy because he is both from New York and a lawyer, and, of course has a much better education than any cop from Texas. He thus decides to prove this to himself and have some fun at the Texas deputy’s expense.

The deputy says, “License and registration, please.”

“What for?” says the lawyer.

The deputy says, “You didn’t come to a complete stop at the stop sign.”

The lawyer answers, “I slowed down, and no one was coming.”

“You still didn’t come to a complete stop,” says the deputy, “license and registration, please.”

The lawyer says, “What’s the difference?”

“The difference is you have to come to complete stop, that’s the law. License and registration, please!” the Deputy repeats.

The lawyer says, “If you can show me the legal difference between slow down and stop, I’ll give you my license and registration; and you give me the ticket. If not, you let me go and don’t give me the ticket.”

“That sounds fair. Please exit your vehicle, sir,” the deputy says.

At this point, the deputy takes out his nightstick and starts beating the daylights out of the lawyer and says, “Do you want me to stop, or just slow down?”

Think I'll get a tattoo...

Sat, 29 May 2010 05:38:48 -0500

How come this video is not on Miami Ink?

Partial Birth Abortion versus Murder

Sat, 29 May 2010 05:16:41 -0500

What is the difference between Partial Birth Abortion and Murder? Think just asking the question is like angels “dancing on the head of a pin”? Then read this:

On October 20, 1998, Dana Deegan secretly gave birth to a baby boy in the bathroom of her home. The baby was alive and breathing when he was delivered. Deegan had kept her pregnancy hidden, and no other adult was present at the time of the delivery. Deegan’s three other minor children were in the home, but they were unaware of the birth.

Two hours after delivering her son, Deegan fed, cleaned, and dressed him, and then placed him in a basket. She then left the house with her three other children, intentionally leaving the baby alone without food, water, or a caregiver.

Deegan did not return to her home for two weeks! When she returned, she found the baby dead in the basket where she had left him. She put his remains in a suitcase, and deposited the suitcase in a rural ditch area near her residence.

So, what’s the point? Deegan was subsequently convicted and plead guilty to second degree MURDER. (CLICK HERE to read the entire court decision.)

This is a serious question: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MURDERING YOUR BABY DURING A DELIVERY AND MURDERING IT TWO HOURS AFTER?

Knights of Columbus - I Quit

Fri, 28 May 2010 17:29:23 -0500

I joined the Knights of Columbus in 1998. I enjoyed my time in the Knights, and served as a three-time Grand Knight (twice in new councils that I helped form), and was a Fourth Degree Sir Knight.

Today, I quit. Why? Solely and exclusively because of Supreme’s decision to refuse to allow suspension of members who promote abortion and gay marriage. I find that position unsupportable, and evidence that the Knights are no longer committed to the core value of life.

You see, it all comes down to this: There are only two options regarding the commitment to a core value. You are either in, or you are out. There is no in between.

We now know where the Knights stand. Where do you stand?

Stop with Priestly celibacy already...

Thu, 27 May 2010 04:04:26 -0500

Cardinal Schonborn is the latest voice speaking out about priestly celibacy. CLICK HERE for an analysis of his, uh, off-the-mark remarks.

When is this drumbeat going to stop? CLICK HERE for a GREAT commentary by a priest who truly “gets it.” I am proud to call Fr. James Farfaglia my friend, and I encourage all of you to visit his blog by CLICKING HERE and to join his “e-parish” by CLICKING HERE. He also wrote a terrific book called “Man to Man: A Real Priest Speaks to Real Men about Marriage, Sexuality, and Family Life.” You can get the book HERE.

God bless Fr. James.

G.K. Chesterton

Sun, 23 May 2010 19:01:51 -0500

I’ve always liked reading G. K. Chesterson. CLICK HERE for an interesting article about him.

Remember Humanae Vitae?

Sat, 22 May 2010 16:18:31 -0500

Every once in awhile, I am reminded how great Humanae Vitae is. I came across The Catholic Leadership Conference’s an amazing paper issued in 2007. It’s called “Humanae Vitae at 40: Why The Church Lost The Battle; How She’ll Win The War.” To see a copy, CLICK HERE.

And, if you can’t read the awesome letter above, click on it (it’s a hyperlink).

Are the Knights of Columbus Still Catholic?

Fri, 21 May 2010 23:34:33 -0500

I joined the Knights of Columbus in 1998. The Supreme Council has now decided to refuse to allow suspension of members who promote abortion and gay marriage. I can’t believe this. I thought we stood for life?

It reminds me of a great conference I was asked to speak at a few years ago. It was the first annual Reclaiming Fatherhood Conference in San Francisco, and was co- sponsored by the Knights. Below is a “cut and paste” from one of my original blog entries on that event (the original blog entries have all since been archived.)

Check out these articles on the Reclaiming Fatherhood Conference in San Francisco November 27 and 28, 2007:

Catholic News Service

Boston Pilot

Oakland Catholic Voice

The Brown Pelican

Deacon’s Bench

Catholic San Francisco

A very interesting article on men and abortion appeared in the L.A. Times today (January 7, 2008). CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE ARTICLE. I was privileged to be interviewed for, and featured in, the article.

Although the article has only been out for several hours (at the time I write this), I have already received more than 20 emails and several phone calls about it. (I am amazed at how resourceful people are!) Several interesting questions were asked, and I thought I would address them here, to the extent anyone else has the same questions. I am also happy to answer your questions, if you will just EMAIL ME

1. Is the article accurate?

Answer: While I would not have used some of the phrases the author used, the article is, for the most part, accurate, at least insofar as it pertains to me.

2. Why hasn’t this issue come up earlier?

Answer: I can’t answer that; perhaps our “politically correct” society was not ready for it earlier?

3. Do you think what you are feeling is a medical condition or some kind of illness or psychiatric syndrome?

Answer: I am not smart enough to put a label on it, and I don’t think the label really matters anyway. From my perspective, it is a grief issue, and all I can tell you is how I feel. For example, if a man voluntarily goes out and gets drunk and then voluntarily gets behind the wheel of a car and kills someone, my suspicion is that he feels grief as a result. Indeed, feeling grief in such a situation would seem to me to be quite normal. Yet, having never killed anyone while driving drunk, I don’t know how or what he feels. But, I can tell you that I am the only person on the planet who knows how I feel about voluntarily participating in killing two of my own children through abortion.

4. Do you think there is a political overtone to this issue?

Answer: Not for me. If you think it is fun, entertaining, easy, or thrilling to tell such an intimate story to, in some cases, 1,000 people, you should try it sometime. You will quickly be disabused of that thought. As for others in the pro-life movement, their motives, to me, are not relevant. They are trying to stop the slaughter of the most helpless people in the world – innocent little babies - and if they do it for political reasons, I have no problem with that.

5. Do you think having men involved in the abortion debate will help or hurt the pro-life cause?

Answer: I can’t imagine how it could hurt the cause. How could more information and evidence ever be worse than less information and evidence? The truth is, men suffer after abortions, no matter what the pro-abortion crowd wants us to think.

6. Do you think that Roe v. Wade will ever be overturned?

Answer: Absolutely. As time passes and science gets better, it is harder and harder to ignore what I saw when I looked at the first ultrasound of my daughter. That was a baby in there, and that baby had rights, including the right to life. That’s the end of the discussion, as far as I am concerned. Anyone who is intellectually honest has to agree, and, as such, almost by definition, Roe v. Wade will have to be overturned; that is, assuming that the Supreme Court is intellectually honest.

7. You’re just a Christian wacko.

Answer. Thank you for that kind comment, but I was Jewish when I had my epiphany that killing babies through abortion was morally wrong.

8. In the article, you are quoted as saying you wouldn’t have the blessings you now have had you not aborted, and as being startled when asked about the women and saying, “I never really thought about it for the woman.” Does this mean that you think the abortions were, in some way, good?

Answer: No. First of all, the comment about the blessings is simply like contemplating how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. Everyone in life, I think, at times wonders “what if”? What if my mother never met my father? What if I had gone to a different college? What if I had taken that other job? What if Gore had won Florida? These are just intellectual exercises, as I mentioned in the article. Having the thought or doing the mental gymnastics does not mean that I am happy, in any way, about the abortions. I am not.

Second, as for thinking about the women, my point was, I had never considered whether they had the same intellectual thoughts I did. It is not good or bad that I never considered this, I just never did. In this regard, I think the questioner’s point is that, somehow, I did not care about the woman. To the contrary, my concern was 100% for the women. They brought up the abortions, they suggested the abortions, and they encouraged the abortions. I was never asked my opinion, and I never gave my opinion. I never gave my opinion because, I am embarrassed to admit now, I didn’t have an opinion at the time – I couldn’t have cared less. You see, I was ignorant of the truth, and, worse, I was ignorant that I was ignorant.

Third, I find the author’s statement, “But would his long-ago girlfriends . . . also consider the abortions a choice that set them on a better path?” The author’s use of the word “also” is completely inappropriate, and she should be ashamed. The use of this word suggests that I think my abortions set me on a better path. I do not think that, I have never thought that, I did not say that, and I reject that conclusion categorically.

Fourth, and finally, the point of the entire interview is summed up fairly when the author writes or correctly quotes me as saying: “I struggle with it (the intellectual issue)”; in the end, my “moral objection to abortion always wins”; If I could go back in time, I “would try to save the babies”; and “I have this stain on my soul and it will always be there.”

Why all this stuff matters...

Thu, 20 May 2010 10:13:58 -0500

Why do so many people write Catholic blogs and have websites? Because our faith should be at the center of our lives. Not on the edge, not near the edge, and certainly not on the outside. It needs to be in the dead center, with everything else revolving around it. Ask yourself this question: Is your Catholicism a matter of entertainment or a matter of salvation?

When will ALL these voices be heard?

Tue, 18 May 2010 08:19:46 -0500

How many people will have to come forward and say that they regret their abortions before America will “get it”?

I don’t know who this is, but Rozanda “Chilli” Thomas, evidently, is a hip-hop singer who has now gone public about how she regrets her abortion. I could go on and explain this, but her own testimony (above) says it best of all.

God bless Rozanda Thomas.

P.S. Click HERE and HERE for two more videos from Flipsyde and Nick Cannon about black singers who have the same view. These are GREAT videos.

The Invisible Mother

Mon, 17 May 2010 13:37:09 -0500

I have a great wife. Really, I don’t deserve her. She does so much that she never gets credit for, and I don’t tell her often enough how grateful I am that she married me. She gave me the following story recently, which she got from a woman at Church. I thought it was a terrific story, and worth sharing here. Enjoy:

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, “Can't you see I'm on the phone?'”

Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all.

I'm invisible.

Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more! Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this?? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, “What time is it?” I'm a satellite guide to answer, “What number is the Disney Channel?” I'm a car to order, “Right around 5:30, please.”

Some days I'm a crystal ball; “Where's my other sock?,” “Where's my phone?”, “What's for dinner?” I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history, music and literature. But now, they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again.

She's going, she's going, she's gone!?

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. She had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when she turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, “I brought you this.”

It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: “With admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.”

In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work:

• No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names.
• These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished.
• They made great sacrifices and expected no credit.
• The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A story of legend in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, “Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof - no one will ever see it?” And the workman replied, “Because God sees.”

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, “I see you. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, no Cub Scout meeting, no last minute errand is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.”

I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on.

The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree. When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, “My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for 3 hours and presses all the linens for the table.” That would mean I'd built a monument to myself.

I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, he'd say, “You're gonna love it there...”

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but also at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible mothers.

Run, Shay, Run...

Sat, 15 May 2010 16:18:42 -0500

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question:

“When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?”

The audience was stilled by the query.

The father continued. “I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.”

Then he told the following story:

Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, “Do you think they'll let me play?” I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.

I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, “We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.”

Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.

In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again.

Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.

At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?

Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.

However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.

The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed.

The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay.

As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.

The game would now be over.

The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman.

Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.

Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all teammates.

Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, “Shay, run to first! Run to first!”

Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base.

He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.

Everyone yelled, “Run to second, run to second!”

Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.

By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball. The smallest guy on their team now had his first chance to be the hero for his team.

He could have thrown the ball to the second baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head.

Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.

All were screaming, “Shay, Shay, Shay, all the way Shay!”

Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, “Run to third! Shay, run to third!”

As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, “Shay, run home! Run home!”

Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team!

“That day,” said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, “the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world.”

Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

Rachel Welch?!

Thu, 13 May 2010 08:31:45 -0500

Wow, even Raquel Welch “gets it” about contraception and the decline in morality. CLICK HERE for a great column she wrote for CNN.

Kagan and Abortion...

Wed, 12 May 2010 11:11:21 -0500

CLICK HERE for a great article from the May 11 issue of the Washington Post. It predicts that the abortion issue might be a “sleeper issue” in the confirmation hearings of Elena Kagan. Let’s hope so!

What's next? A Cannibal?

Mon, 10 May 2010 13:53:29 -0500

The world’s political correctness is getting out of hand. Now we have the first lesbian Supreme Court justice. Besides being in favor of same sex marriage, Elena Kagan supports abortion on demand, taxpayer funded abortion, and a host of other non-Catholic things. (CLICK HERE and HERE for more information.)

Good grief. Does even single fringe group need representation on the Supreme Court?

What’s next, the first cannibal on the Supreme Court?

It's not a baby, huh?

Sat, 8 May 2010 09:17:34 -0500

As many of you know, we are expecting our seventh child this fall. We went for an ultrasound on Monday, May 3. Above is the VIDEO copy that they gave us.

It’s amazing. You can see the heart beating, the arms and legs moving, the spine, and everything else. This is about 14 weeks gestation, so arguably still the first trimester.

How in the world can the pro-abortion crowd say this is not a baby???? Would SOMEONE please help me out on this? Maybe we ought to send this to the Supreme Court...

Oklahoma gets it right!

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 14:01:09 -0500

The Oklahoma Senate this morning voted to overrode Governor Brad Henry's veto of two pieces of anti-abortion legislation.

Specifically, House Bill 2780 requires that women be given an ultrasound within an hour of a scheduled abortion and that the ultrasound technician explain the results of the scan to the mothers.

House Bill 2656 prohibits those goofy “wrongful life” lawsuits in which women sue their doctor after their child is born with an abnormality that the mother says would have caused her, had she known in advance, to murder - oops, abort – her child.

Governor Henry had vetoed both bills Friday, before the House overrode the veto yesterday. With the Senate’s override, both bills have now become law.

Way to go, Oklahoma!

CLICK HERE for the full story.

Gosh, I don't like some lawyers...

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 08:56:02 -0500

When lawyer advertising because “cool,” Justice William Rehnquist said, “Just because it’s legal doesn’t mean you have to do it.” Similarly, in law school, I was talking to a judge about a particularly odd case, and I asked him, “Judge, can you really sue for that?” His response was classic: “Chris, you can sue for anything you want. The right question, however is, ‘can you win’?”

Well, my latest “lawyer of the month” (clearing throat, ahem...) is Jeffrey Anderson of St. Paul, Minnesota.

He is the idiot, er, I mean, lawyer suing the pope. (CLICK HERE to learn more about this, uh, interesting member of the bar.) How absurd is that? Can you imagine the pope - the vicar of Christ on earth - sitting in a courtroom reading the newspaper, waiting for the judge to finish up a few pretrial conferences before taking the bench? Crazy.

Yet, yes, you can sue for anything. Do you have a chance of winnnig this one, Jeffrey? Actually, yes, you have two chances: zero and none.

Good luck, jerk...

P.S. CLICK HERE for a little more info on why this dopey lawsuit is nuts.

Serenity Prayer

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 09:28:55 -0500

I have a lot of trouble sometimes with the world. Things that happen around me, decisions that other people make, and other stuff over which I have no control. I struggle with this personality trait, but I guess “it is what it is.”

I got a new car recently and I stuck to the dashboard a little thing that has the Serenity Prayer on it. I read it again this morning while stopped at a traffic light, and I realized, once again, what a really great prayer it is.

For those of you that don’t know it, or don’t remember it, here it is: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.”

Be reminded, too, of Proverbs 3:5-6, which reads: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths.”