Best OTAAAC Speech Ever

It's from Gov. Casey, Sr. Why can't junior live up to this?

Address by Governor Robert P. Casey
Delivered at the University of Notre Dame in 1995

Just a part of it...

Prior to 1973 [and Roe v. Wade] - just think about this for a minute - the laws of America reflected an overwhelming pro-life consensus that children before birth deserve the protection of the law. That consensus was a secular consensus. Those laws were not written by clerics, or in monasteries, or by the great organized religions of America. They were written by people who respected the truth. And that secular, pro-life consensus was both popular and national. And those two words are important. Popular because it came directly from the people, and national because it was not sectional or regional. It covered the entire country .. not unique to any one class or any region, but embodied in the laws of virtually every state in our nation. Not unique to our left or to the right, Democrats or Republicans, Liberals or conservatives, it represented the mainstream of America. My friends, it still is the mainstream of America, so don't be fooled.

The American people have not accepted abortion on demand. They've been hammering away for twenty-one years, but they're hammering a square peg into a round hole. It's like a bone in our throat. We can't swallow it. We cannot assimilate it. We cannot become comfortable with it, because it's fundamentally contrary to what we believe as Americans. It's in our history. Every poll shows a vast and growing unease with the abortion license and the industry that serves it. I believe a pro-life consensus already exists in America. And it grows every time someone looks in a sonogram.

USCCB Strongly Worded Marriage Document

On 17 November 2009, USCCB put out the document:

Marriage:
Love and Life in the Divine Plan
A Pastoral Letter of the
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

There is some strong language regarding same-sex "marriage" and Natural Family Planning. Please see below.

About same-sex "marriage":

Today, advocacy for the legal recognition of various same-sex relationships is often equated with non-discrimination, fairness, equality, and civil rights. However, it is not unjust to oppose legal recognition of same-sex unions, because marriage and same-sex unions are essentially different realities. "The denial of the social and legal status of marriage to forms of cohabitation that are not and cannot be marital is not opposed to justice; on the contrary, justice requires it." To promote and protect marriage as the union of one man and one woman is itself a matter of justice. In fact, it would be a grave injustice if the state ignored the unique and proper place of husbands and wives, the place of mothers and fathers, and especially the rights of children, who deserve from society clear guidance as they grow to sexual maturity. Indeed, without this protection the state would, in effect, intentionally deprive children of the right to a mother and father.
(original emphasis)

About Natural Family Planning (NFP; not the traditional rhythm method):

Natural family planning (NFP) methods represent authentic family planning. They can be used both to achieve and to postpone a pregnancy. NFP makes use of periodic abstinence from sexual intercourse based upon the observation of the woman‘s natural signs of fertility, in order to space births or to limit the number of children when there is a serious reason to do so. NFP methods require that couples learn, accept, and live with the wonders of how God made them. This is essentially different from contraception. (emphasis added)

Openness to procreation in the marital act involves "acknowledg[ing] that one is not the master of the sources of life." Using the technology of contraception is an attempt at such mastery. By contrast, couples using methods of NFP do nothing to alter the conjugal act. Rather, they abstain from conjugal relations during the portion of the woman‘s menstrual cycle when conception is most likely. This practice fosters in couples an attitude of respect and wonder in the face of human life, which is sacred. It also fosters profound respect for one‘s spouse, which is necessary for the mutual enjoyment of authentic intimacy.

As Pope John Paul II observes, any couple who tries to live out this openness to procreation will find that it requires a sacrificial love. At certain difficult times in life, the procreative meaning of marriage may seem to be at odds with the unitive meaning. Though this can in fact never be the case, preserving unity may in some cases require a considerable sacrifice by couples. They should take heart from St. Paul‘s assurance that God will not test us beyond what we can endure: "God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength; but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it" (1 Cor 10:13).

I fully agree with the above analysis.

Phillies in It for Me

Last year, the Phils (Philadelphia Phillies baseball) were in the world series. Unfortunately, my back was in really bad shape last year, so when my first born's Godfather called me when they won the world series (he's a real, real fan), my wife had to tell him that I was asleep in bed.

I thought it was a once-in-a-lifetime-event that I would regret for a long time, if not the rest of my life.

Well, you know what, the Phils had to come back to the world series just so I could redeem myself and have a second chance to watch as much of every game as possible, no matter what the cost (yes, woman; I hope she doesn't read this).

Let's Go Phils! (I do root for the Phils no matter what game I'm attending including the Pirates and Orioles. I'm not weird, I'm a Phillies fan. )

(PS: my full-of-myself wonderings above have been inspired by the full-of-themselves players that we're watching. My wife and I really love Derek Jeeter's aura.)

Amateur Catholic Post

Below is listed at Amateur Catholic (14 May 2009). I spent a while writing it, so I thought I would post it on this blog:

Hello Amateur Catholics,

I would like to join your list of Amateur Catholics.

Who would you list among Professional Catholics? I would like to argue that there is only one Professional Catholic.

I would say that individuals who make a living from their Catholic writings and speaking engagements are professional writers and speakers. They just happen to know a bunch about Catholicism.

Many Catholic bloggers have the same knowledge and devotion to the Church and its teachings, but they just can't write or speak as well.

What we have in common is that we love the Church in which Jesus lives that is directed by the Holy Spirit for the Glory of God the Father. We are all Amateur Catholics, save one, since amateur means one who loves.

The only Professional Catholic is Jesus Himself. He worked in order to purchase the Church, us, at a very high price.

1 Cor 6:17-20
http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/1corinthians/1corinthians6.htm

But whoever is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Avoid immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the immoral person sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body.

One thing we Amateur Catholics do is glorify God in our bodies by blogging for Christ and His Church.

May we always work for our Lord in the whatever we do, say, think, or write.

Oh Lord,
save us all from the powers of hell,
and bring us together in Your Spirit,
Amen.

Wondering Zygote Emeritus
http://wonderingzygoteemeritus.blogspot.com/

Anti-Personhood Arguments

Below, you'll find the written testimony against the Maryland personhood amendment (2009 MD HB 925).

If anyone is available for commenting against the con-side below, please by all means do so. I'll be doing it soon.

Thanks in advance.

Two New Motet Recordings

Below are two motets I recorded with some great singers.
Many thanks to Robin, Jamie, and Craig.
My musical CV/Resumé

Une Voix dans Rama

This Christmas Joy



Une voix dans Rama s'est fait entendre,
pleur et longue plainte:
(et d'abondants sanglots amers)
C'est Rachel pleurant ses enfants;
et elle ne veut pas qu'on la console,
car ils ne sont plus.

A voice was heard in Ramah,
sobbing and loud lamentation;
(and profuse bitter weeping)
Rachel weeping for her children,
and she would not be consoled,
since they were no more.

Matthew 2: 18

Bible verses taken from la Bible du Semeur. (text in parenthesis)
Copyright © 1992, 1999 Société Biblique Internationale. With permission.

Bible verses taken from la Bible de Jérusalem. (text without parenthesis)
Copyright © 2003 Les Éditions du Cerf. With permission.
---

This Christmas Joy
by Gerald McClain

In swaddling clothes to us arrive,
This Jesus Christ, our hopes revive!
In Marys arms, her little boy:
This tiny babe, death to destroy.

Was not in clouds, come down to reign
But from a girl in labor pain; (Revelation 12: 2)
Not in a throne was he to lay
But in a manger full of hay.

Welcome to Him from us today,
This Christmas joy, in us to stay.

From foreign lands their homage paid:
To Bethlehem, the star did say.
Fall prostrate where did shepherds come;
Laid out their gifts a costly sum.

Then in a dream: from Herods gaze,
Another path to home was made.
A furious king proclaimed forthright
That innocents shall loose their life.

Though in a world with evil known,
This Christmas joy, Love has outshone.

Give glory to the Fathers Son:
Begotten of the Holy One.
Though evry part is from the same,
The Word to us in flesh he came.

A preview of the coming years,
A final act to wipe all tears:
From nursling small to mature man,
Fulfillment of the Godheads plan.

All praise and laud and glorious powr,
This Christmas joy, tis Jesses flowr.

Gerald McClain
© 2005 Musique de McClain
8-19-05

Nobody for Chatting?

I just discovered that my only follower, Pro Life Girl, took me off her list to follow my blog. Might it be that I'm on the fence about healthcare?

I'm not for government climbing into and devouring our wallets from the inside out, but government does take our money for everyone's use on roads and for defense.

I'm a Republican for one issue only for the most part (I am also against overspending/borrowing), but I would love to join the Democrats if only the new feminazis would stop pushing baby killing (for all four trimesters).

The thing is, it seems that only people who agree with you 100% follow what you have to say. I think it's important to discuss through or chat about our disagreements. Maybe we'll dispose with some nonsensical heresies theological and otherwise.

(How can one be against abortion and for torture? Does Judie Brown really believe this? What's here definition of torture?)

Obamacare Oxymoron?

Last night during [Pres] Obama's congressional healthcare speech, US Rep. Joe Wilson of SC yelled out that [Pres] Obama lies. He tweeted (according to govtrack.us),

Happy Labor Day! Wonderful parade at Chapin, many people called out to oppose Obamacare which I assured them would be relayed tomorrow to DC. (Sep 7, 2009)

Some would say that this outburst during the speech would end his career, but I think it will galvanize his electorate to vote for him. (Is it a coincidence that he was a staffer for Senator Strom Thurmond of SC?)

Yes, Obama lies out of both sides of his mouth all the time, but what politician doesn't? I'm not excusing [Pres] Obama; he just wants to do a good job in his latest drive-by position (he spends very little time in his jobs; would a HR manager hire him now for a union position if s/he saw his resume?).
---

About Obamacare as an oxymoron, does [Pres] Obama really care about people and/or their intelligence when he lies so much, though. Is he just pandering to the health insurance industry to get them more business on the taxpayers dime, no 3/4+ paycheck? Is he just a moron to think people don't realize that he lies so blatantly? If he told the truth more often and/or care about people's intelligence, would he get more done (am I just naive)?

Just wondering.
---

Despite all the lies from the left and fear mongering from the right, I'm still on the fence if a public option is the way to go. Actually, I think the main problem is tort law: the amount of money from lawsuits is astronomical. Also, the pay for service system is fishy.

Nonetheless, people I know who don't have jobs and are mid-aged or less can't get health insurance. Yes, rationing may well happen under a public option but rationing also happens now. Those without a job or extra money to burn are out of doctor offices and into ER's (what if they might have (early stage?) cancer?).

My stance now is simple. I will stay out of the debate unless abortion is to be mandated, because I don't assume to know all the answers about health care/health insurance.
---

One last question, if Obama thinks that pinpointing the starting point of human life is above his pay grade (he knows as much now about this question as he did before he became (perhaps legitimately) US President), how can he think that figuring out how to (solve forever, supposedly) the healthcare system (and all the other issues) is within his paygrade?