Catholic Social Justice and the Economy

Mark Shea, a popular Catholic blogger, has written a very pertinent piece on Catholic social justice and the economy.

In it he says, basically, that among many who consider themselves serious Catholics, there are those who talk a lot about the efficacy of sacrifice for women experiencing an unexpected pregnancy, but nothing about the sacrifice the rich must make to serve the poor.

He quotes a reader who initiated the conversation:

We are a religion demanding that the now-pregnant mother of three others must be willing to risk her life during her pregnancy, or to carry to term the product of a rape.

But the 8 digit earning executive gets a pass in his responsibility to continue to create jobs because his taxes are nudged up a wee bit since that's the way the market works. This wealthy man could not possibly be expected to do such oddly heroic things as hire workers when his jets are getting extra taxes.

His enormous excess personal wealth must remain intact and this is held as morally acceptable and in some quarters morally commendable.

If a minor increase in taxes plagues those with excess luxury so much that they do not do what is right and just with their means, they are not living Christian lives.

Pope Benedict had this to say about economics and the Christian: (emphasis mine)

The dignity of the individual and the demands of justice require, particularly today, that economic choices do not cause disparities in wealth to increase in an excessive and morally unacceptable manner, and that we continue to prioritize the goal of access to steady employment for everyone. Lowering the level of protection accorded to the rights of workers, or abandoning mechanisms of wealth redistribution in order to increase the country's international competitiveness, hinder the achievement of lasting development.

Many of us have born the burden of a job loss brought on by a company paying a bit too much attention to "international competitiveness" and not to the larger picture.  The companies that survive (and they are few and far between) are those who look at the dignity of their workers and the integrity of their organization instead of short term (Pope Benedict says "sometimes very short term") profits for the few at the top.

The Uneasy Marriage of Religion and Politics
The difficulty in this country is one of melding religion and politics.  So far, in the United States, there has never been a political party that has followed all the teachings of the Church.  To be with the church on life issues, but not on poverty and social justice issues may be a "conservative" stance, but it is not the Church's stance. To work for issues of social justice while ignoring the pre-born is also not the Church's stance.

It presents a conundrum for thinking Catholics before every election, but our lives should reflect both life and social justice issues.  We should not just pull a lever (or fill in one of those damnable bubbles) every year (or every 4 years) and feel we've done our duty by the Church.  We need to write our representatives on both sides of the aisle and insist that they do what is best for the country, which includes a safety net for the poor and respect for all life.

A political party which hijacks one issue over another while ignoring an entire group of its constituents in need does not deserve to be held up as the only party for "real" Christians. Such Pharisaical attitudes were precisely the kind of thing Jesus spoke out against. Having the outward trappings of faith without the real concern and love for others is no faith at all.

We are in a crucial time in this country We need to pull together to make sure that all of us have a means to make an honest living and all of us have access to the basics: food, clothing, shelter and dignified healthcare.

No one political party will save you. Only God has done that.  We need to show His love to the world.

Catholic Social Justice and the Economy

Mark Shea, a popular Catholic blogger, has written a very pertinent piece on Catholic social justice and the economy.

In it he says, basically, that among many who consider themselves serious Catholics, there are those who talk a lot about the efficacy of sacrifice for women experiencing an unexpected pregnancy, but nothing about the sacrifice the rich must make to serve the poor.

He quotes a reader who initiated the conversation:

We are a religion demanding that the now-pregnant mother of three others must be willing to risk her life during her pregnancy, or to carry to term the product of a rape.

But the 8 digit earning executive gets a pass in his responsibility to continue to create jobs because his taxes are nudged up a wee bit since that's the way the market works. This wealthy man could not possibly be expected to do such oddly heroic things as hire workers when his jets are getting extra taxes.

His enormous excess personal wealth must remain intact and this is held as morally acceptable and in some quarters morally commendable.

If a minor increase in taxes plagues those with excess luxury so much that they do not do what is right and just with their means, they are not living Christian lives.

Pope Benedict had this to say about economics and the Christian: (emphasis mine)

The dignity of the individual and the demands of justice require, particularly today, that economic choices do not cause disparities in wealth to increase in an excessive and morally unacceptable manner, and that we continue to prioritize the goal of access to steady employment for everyone. Lowering the level of protection accorded to the rights of workers, or abandoning mechanisms of wealth redistribution in order to increase the country's international competitiveness, hinder the achievement of lasting development.

Many of us have born the burden of a job loss brought on by a company paying a bit too much attention to "international competitiveness" and not to the larger picture.  The companies that survive (and they are few and far between) are those who look at the dignity of their workers and the integrity of their organization instead of short term (Pope Benedict says "sometimes very short term") profits for the few at the top.

The Uneasy Marriage of Religion and Politics
The difficulty in this country is one of melding religion and politics.  So far, in the United States, there has never been a political party that has followed all the teachings of the Church.  To be with the church on life issues, but not on poverty and social justice issues may be a "conservative" stance, but it is not the Church's stance. To work for issues of social justice while ignoring the pre-born is also not the Church's stance.

It presents a conundrum for thinking Catholics before every election, but our lives should reflect both life and social justice issues.  We should not just pull a lever (or fill in one of those damnable bubbles) every year (or every 4 years) and feel we've done our duty by the Church.  We need to write our representatives on both sides of the aisle and insist that they do what is best for the country, which includes a safety net for the poor and respect for all life.

A political party which hijacks one issue over another while ignoring an entire group of its constituents in need does not deserve to be held up as the only party for "real" Christians. Such Pharisaical attitudes were precisely the kind of thing Jesus spoke out against. Having the outward trappings of faith without the real concern and love for others is no faith at all.

We are in a crucial time in this country We need to pull together to make sure that all of us have a means to make an honest living and all of us have access to the basics: food, clothing, shelter and dignified healthcare.

No one political party will save you. Only God has done that.  We need to show His love to the world.

A Franciscan Call for Civility

Lack of civility has recently reached epidemic proportions in the world. The Franciscan Action Network has recently developed a F.R.A.N.C.I.S. Commitment to Civility in Discourse. The 7 promises you take spell out the name Francis.

Take a minute and promise to work towards a greater degree of civility in discourse.

"I commit to:

FACILITATE a forum for difficult discourse and acknowledge that all dialogue can lead to new insight and mutual understanding.

RESPECT the dignity of all people, especially the dignity of those who hold an opposing view.

AUDIT one's self and utilize terms or a vocabulary of faith to unite or reconcile rather than divide conflicting positions.

NEUTRALIZE inflamed conversations by presuming that those with whom we differ are acting in good faith.

COLLABORATE with others and recognize that all human engagement is an opportunity to promote peace.

IDENTIFY common ground such as similar values or concerns and utilize this as a foundation to build upon.

SUPPORT efforts to clean up the provocative language by calling policymakers to their sense of personal integrity."

Look around the Franciscan Action Network website.  They are committed to a consistent ethic of life for all and stewardship for God's earth.  They promote peace, both individually and globally, and economic justice.

A Franciscan Call for Civility

Lack of civility has recently reached epidemic proportions in the world. The Franciscan Action Network has recently developed a F.R.A.N.C.I.S. Commitment to Civility in Discourse. The 7 promises you take spell out the name Francis.

Take a minute and promise to work towards a greater degree of civility in discourse.

"I commit to:

FACILITATE a forum for difficult discourse and acknowledge that all dialogue can lead to new insight and mutual understanding.

RESPECT the dignity of all people, especially the dignity of those who hold an opposing view.

AUDIT one's self and utilize terms or a vocabulary of faith to unite or reconcile rather than divide conflicting positions.

NEUTRALIZE inflamed conversations by presuming that those with whom we differ are acting in good faith.

COLLABORATE with others and recognize that all human engagement is an opportunity to promote peace.

IDENTIFY common ground such as similar values or concerns and utilize this as a foundation to build upon.

SUPPORT efforts to clean up the provocative language by calling policymakers to their sense of personal integrity."

Look around the Franciscan Action Network website.  They are committed to a consistent ethic of life for all and stewardship for God's earth.  They promote peace, both individually and globally, and economic justice.

Modern Culture--The Narcissistic Legacy

I read an article this morning which quoted Peter Hitchens, brother of the famous atheist Christopher Hitchens.  The quote is from his book, The Rage Against God.  In this quote he explains a bit about the mentality of the Baby Boomer 60's generation (of which I confess to being a member) who rebelled against their World War II era parents, and, who continue to shape politics and culture in the U.K. and the U.S. today.

We were differentiating ourselves from our parents--the denizens of a worn-down, seemingly defeated post-war generation, a crumbling empire, burdened with ancient and unexamined premises, weighed down by old songs and bored with ancient psalms, eager to cast off the dreary dross we associated with the glum burdens of adulthood. By rejecting our parents' half-hearted beliefs, and refusing ourselves to be parents, we were staving off in our own minds the march of time, the fact of aging, the grim biological fact of our own mortality. By remaining forever rebellious adolescents, we imagined that we need never grow old and die. Having children in itself is in some sense an admission that we must replace ourselves--because we were replaceable. And that is something our narcissistic generation could not admit. And so we didn't.

The entire culture today, with its in-your-face sex and its crude and aggressive stance against Christianity and especially Catholicism is in part, a result of the Baby Boomer generation's obsession with rebelling as a way to avoid the inevitable decline and death that comes for all of us.

This mind-set is ubiquitous; for years, the 60's generation have been making our movies, writing our songs, and filtering our news.  We are surrounded by one generation's sad attempts at living forever in this flawed and sinful world.

Today, there are few "stars" in their own right in the U.S.  People are famous for being famous.  Being on a reality show has become a goal and an aspiration.  Much baggage accompanies this new career.

We mustn't look old.  We mustn't let our children, if we have them, get in the way of our "lifestyle".  The many alternate "lifestyles" so aggressively advocated by today's media  are, in part, a response to and a defense of the lives already being lead by many who followed the Greatest Generation.

We must consciously avoid buying the lie that happiness and fulfillment exist in this life.  We must stop focusing on our own personal feelings and begin to live out the Gospel and spread the Good News to all.

Modern Culture--The Narcissistic Legacy

I read an article this morning which quoted Peter Hitchens, brother of the famous atheist Christopher Hitchens.  The quote is from his book, The Rage Against God.  In this quote he explains a bit about the mentality of the Baby Boomer 60's generation (of which I confess to being a member) who rebelled against their World War II era parents, and, who continue to shape politics and culture in the U.K. and the U.S. today.

We were differentiating ourselves from our parents--the denizens of a worn-down, seemingly defeated post-war generation, a crumbling empire, burdened with ancient and unexamined premises, weighed down by old songs and bored with ancient psalms, eager to cast off the dreary dross we associated with the glum burdens of adulthood. By rejecting our parents' half-hearted beliefs, and refusing ourselves to be parents, we were staving off in our own minds the march of time, the fact of aging, the grim biological fact of our own mortality. By remaining forever rebellious adolescents, we imagined that we need never grow old and die. Having children in itself is in some sense an admission that we must replace ourselves--because we were replaceable. And that is something our narcissistic generation could not admit. And so we didn't.

The entire culture today, with its in-your-face sex and its crude and aggressive stance against Christianity and especially Catholicism is in part, a result of the Baby Boomer generation's obsession with rebelling as a way to avoid the inevitable decline and death that comes for all of us.

This mind-set is ubiquitous; for years, the 60's generation have been making our movies, writing our songs, and filtering our news.  We are surrounded by one generation's sad attempts at living forever in this flawed and sinful world.

Today, there are few "stars" in their own right in the U.S.  People are famous for being famous.  Being on a reality show has become a goal and an aspiration.  Much baggage accompanies this new career.

We mustn't look old.  We mustn't let our children, if we have them, get in the way of our "lifestyle".  The many alternate "lifestyles" so aggressively advocated by today's media  are, in part, a response to and a defense of the lives already being lead by many who followed the Greatest Generation.

We must consciously avoid buying the lie that happiness and fulfillment exist in this life.  We must stop focusing on our own personal feelings and begin to live out the Gospel and spread the Good News to all.

The BBC on Why Egypt Matters

Lots is happening in Egypt, traditionally one of the most stable countries in the Middle East.  Everything is up in the air right now, and who ends up taking power there has far reaching implications for the entire world.

One concern is that the Muslim Brotherhood could fill the power vacuum. Interestingly, on January 22, the Obama administration decided to lift the ban on their leader entering the United States, a complete turn around from last March, when it asked the courts to uphold the ban begun in the Bush years.

Click here for the BBC's concise analysis.

Hat tip to Fiftysomething, and Lisa Graas.

The BBC on Why Egypt Matters

Lots is happening in Egypt, traditionally one of the most stable countries in the Middle East.  Everything is up in the air right now, and who ends up taking power there has far reaching implications for the entire world.

One concern is that the Muslim Brotherhood could fill the power vacuum. Interestingly, on January 22, the Obama administration decided to lift the ban on their leader entering the United States, a complete turn around from last March, when it asked the courts to uphold the ban begun in the Bush years.

Click here for the BBC's concise analysis.

Hat tip to Fiftysomething, and Lisa Graas.

Downsize DC!!!

Are you as tired of the government's antics as I am?  Would you like to see some legislation passed to force Congress to read the bills they vote on?!  How about making sure Congress writes its own laws and not delegate that job to unelected Executive branch bureaucrats?  (What ever happened to separation of powers?!)

Would you like to stop the government from seizing the assets of people who have committed no crime?

Is it important for you to continue to have access to vitamins and dietary supplements?

If any of these issues are important to you, join Downsize DC.  Their mission is to decrease the size of government, wasteful spending and  stop unconstitutional legislation. Visit their campaigns page to see what you can do to put power back into the hands of the individual and out of the hands of intrusive government.  They make it easy to send off e-mails to your elected officials stating your point of view regarding these and other important issues.

Fed up with politics?  Here's an easy way to do something about it!

Downsize DC!!!

Are you as tired of the government's antics as I am?  Would you like to see some legislation passed to force Congress to read the bills they vote on?!  How about making sure Congress writes its own laws and not delegate that job to unelected Executive branch bureaucrats?  (What ever happened to separation of powers?!)

Would you like to stop the government from seizing the assets of people who have committed no crime?

Is it important for you to continue to have access to vitamins and dietary supplements?

If any of these issues are important to you, join Downsize DC.  Their mission is to decrease the size of government, wasteful spending and  stop unconstitutional legislation. Visit their campaigns page to see what you can do to put power back into the hands of the individual and out of the hands of intrusive government.  They make it easy to send off e-mails to your elected officials stating your point of view regarding these and other important issues.

Fed up with politics?  Here's an easy way to do something about it!

FDR's Grandson Talks About the Depression

I came across this interview with Curtis Roosevelt from a Boston Television program. Roosevelt, the oldest grandchild of FDR, talks about his life in the White House with Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt.

From an historical point of view, Curtis Roosevelt is one of the last people alive who intimately knew FDR and ER and is full of personal anecdotes about specific people who surrounded his grandparents in the White House .

Thanks to the magic of the internet, I also watched Roosevelt, give an address at the FDR Memorial Lecture and Gala Dinner at Harvard in February of this year.  Yes, he is a Democrat.  Yes, FDR was a Democrat. Expect his opinions, and that of the audience to reflect that.

But, Roosevelt very calmly talks about his days in the White House (he lived there during 2 different times in his life during FDR's presidency) and compares and contrasts the years of the Depression and FDR's presidency with the current economy and administration.  

He talks about the level of collegiality between the two parties that no longer exists as well as the difference in "attitude" between FDR (and hence his popularity with the public) and Obama.  (Although he manages to do all this without actually saying what the "attitude" *is*. Quite the diplomat.)

He mentions that society seems less "engaged" with helping each other during this economic down turn than it was in the 1930's in spite of the implementation of his grandfather's welfare program.  He thinks "the churches" could be doing more, but admits that fewer people are going to church than they did in the 30's.  He talks a bit about how he thinks the UN could improve its effectiveness.

For many, this latter 2 part video will be slow moving and perhaps boring.  But, for those who enjoy history, especially World War II/Depression era/FDR history this is a good find.

FDR's Grandson Talks About the Depression

I came across this interview with Curtis Roosevelt from a Boston Television program. Roosevelt, the oldest grandchild of FDR, talks about his life in the White House with Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt.

From an historical point of view, Curtis Roosevelt is one of the last people alive who intimately knew FDR and ER and is full of personal anecdotes about specific people who surrounded his grandparents in the White House .

Thanks to the magic of the internet, I also watched Roosevelt, give an address at the FDR Memorial Lecture and Gala Dinner at Harvard in February of this year.  Yes, he is a Democrat.  Yes, FDR was a Democrat. Expect his opinions, and that of the audience to reflect that.

But, Roosevelt very calmly talks about his days in the White House (he lived there during 2 different times in his life during FDR's presidency) and compares and contrasts the years of the Depression and FDR's presidency with the current economy and administration.  

He talks about the level of collegiality between the two parties that no longer exists as well as the difference in "attitude" between FDR (and hence his popularity with the public) and Obama.  (Although he manages to do all this without actually saying what the "attitude" *is*. Quite the diplomat.)

He mentions that society seems less "engaged" with helping each other during this economic down turn than it was in the 1930's in spite of the implementation of his grandfather's welfare program.  He thinks "the churches" could be doing more, but admits that fewer people are going to church than they did in the 30's.  He talks a bit about how he thinks the UN could improve its effectiveness.

For many, this latter 2 part video will be slow moving and perhaps boring.  But, for those who enjoy history, especially World War II/Depression era/FDR history this is a good find.

The State as Religion

The Beacon Blog has a thought provoking post entitled, Nothing Outside the State, in which it postulates that for some people, the State has become their religion.  I agree with A Conservative Blog for Peace who says that this is true for both the right and the left.  There is no area of our lives in which the state does not have a say.  It regulates us from the moment we are born (and before) to the moment we die.  It makes common transactions  into unbearably complicated and frustratingly impossible labyrinths.

By becoming all-pervasive, the state leaves us unable to follow our own consciences and our own faith. The state makes our decisions for us, about what we teach our children, about life, and about death.

Over the years, there has been much hand wringing over the possibility of religion becoming (too) political.  I think, now, the opposite has happened.  (People's) politics has become (their) religion.  Most Americans are happy with neither party, and those who operate within the two party system are extremists who seem unable to work with members of the other party, and, often, with those in their own party as well.  They see their party and its platform as a kind of fundamentalist scripture from which they dare not deviate.  This does not bode well for the future of the United States.

The State as Religion

The Beacon Blog has a thought provoking post entitled, Nothing Outside the State, in which it postulates that for some people, the State has become their religion.  I agree with A Conservative Blog for Peace who says that this is true for both the right and the left.  There is no area of our lives in which the state does not have a say.  It regulates us from the moment we are born (and before) to the moment we die.  It makes common transactions  into unbearably complicated and frustratingly impossible labyrinths.

By becoming all-pervasive, the state leaves us unable to follow our own consciences and our own faith. The state makes our decisions for us, about what we teach our children, about life, and about death.

Over the years, there has been much hand wringing over the possibility of religion becoming (too) political.  I think, now, the opposite has happened.  (People's) politics has become (their) religion.  Most Americans are happy with neither party, and those who operate within the two party system are extremists who seem unable to work with members of the other party, and, often, with those in their own party as well.  They see their party and its platform as a kind of fundamentalist scripture from which they dare not deviate.  This does not bode well for the future of the United States.

Fr. Groeschel--Faith in the Midst of Politics

Fr. Benedict Groeschel is a Franciscan priest in New York City.  The order he helped to found, the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal serve "the materially poor" around the world, and Fr. Groeschel has amassed a very faith-filled perspective on life, including politics.

I was heartened and encouraged to read his take on the recent passing of the health care bill, and, especially his opinion on our current president.  The debate on both sides of this issue has been contentious to say the least, and some of us have avoided thinking much about it due to the nasty nature of opinions expressed.

Fr. Groeschel told Deal Hudson, "I think it's a mistake to impute any kind of invidious intent to Obama -- he's from Chicago, he's a pragmatist, a man who learned to be tough growing up."

Deal goes on to say,

There was something cathartic for me in hearing Father Groeschel speak about Obama without any of the rancor that has become common among many pro-life Catholics -- including myself. It's as if he were saying to me, "Deal, I've been around a long time, and known a lot of people; and this kind of man and these kinds of events are nothing new -- take a deep breath."

I deeply appreciate Fr. Groeschel's trust in the Almighty and his focus on what is important: the poor, life at all stages, and faith.

Fr. Groeschel--Faith in the Midst of Politics

Fr. Benedict Groeschel is a Franciscan priest in New York City.  The order he helped to found, the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal serve "the materially poor" around the world, and Fr. Groeschel has amassed a very faith-filled perspective on life, including politics.

I was heartened and encouraged to read his take on the recent passing of the health care bill, and, especially his opinion on our current president.  The debate on both sides of this issue has been contentious to say the least, and some of us have avoided thinking much about it due to the nasty nature of opinions expressed.

Fr. Groeschel told Deal Hudson, "I think it's a mistake to impute any kind of invidious intent to Obama -- he's from Chicago, he's a pragmatist, a man who learned to be tough growing up."

Deal goes on to say,

There was something cathartic for me in hearing Father Groeschel speak about Obama without any of the rancor that has become common among many pro-life Catholics -- including myself. It's as if he were saying to me, "Deal, I've been around a long time, and known a lot of people; and this kind of man and these kinds of events are nothing new -- take a deep breath."

I deeply appreciate Fr. Groeschel's trust in the Almighty and his focus on what is important: the poor, life at all stages, and faith.

Executive Order Gives International Police Immunity in the U.S.

On December 17, Barack Obama quietly signed an executive order giving the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) international immunity from search, seizure and confiscation. 

The U.S. government can now do anything it wants, whether constitutional or not, keep the file with INTERPOL and an investigative journalist (remember Woodward and Berstein?) can not have access. There is no Freedom of Information Act for them.  INTERPOL is now beyond the reach of even our own CIA or FBI.

We  have an international police organization who now is above the law in the United States of America!! They are no longer subject to search and seizure by our police. They can not be made to turn over their documents under the Freedom of Information Act.  Because of this, our own government can therefore transfer any documents it wants to and they are beyond our reach as American citizens--legally. 

Our constitutional rights as American citizens have been placed in the hands of an international police organization that has been given the power to act on American soil!

This is all being done in the midst of the fight on healthcare, not to mention during the Christmas season, so that no one notices. 

Hat tip to the Anchoress.

Executive Order Gives International Police Immunity in the U.S.

On December 17, Barack Obama quietly signed an executive order giving the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) international immunity from search, seizure and confiscation. 

The U.S. government can now do anything it wants, whether constitutional or not, keep the file with INTERPOL and an investigative journalist (remember Woodward and Berstein?) can not have access. There is no Freedom of Information Act for them.  INTERPOL is now beyond the reach of even our own CIA or FBI.

We  have an international police organization who now is above the law in the United States of America!! They are no longer subject to search and seizure by our police. They can not be made to turn over their documents under the Freedom of Information Act.  Because of this, our own government can therefore transfer any documents it wants to and they are beyond our reach as American citizens--legally. 

Our constitutional rights as American citizens have been placed in the hands of an international police organization that has been given the power to act on American soil!

This is all being done in the midst of the fight on healthcare, not to mention during the Christmas season, so that no one notices. 

Hat tip to the Anchoress.

On the Darkest Day of the Year, Where is Our Light?

This is the darkest day of the year, both astronomically, politically and spiritually. December 21 is, of course, the Winter solstice, when we in the Northern Hemisphere have the fewest hours of daylight. It is also turning out to be the darkest time in a spiritual and moral sense.
Last night it was reported in Great Britain that U.S. Major General Anthony Cucolo, head of the U.S. troops in Iraq has decided that any male or female soldier who are expecting a baby under his command will face court martial with a possible prison sentence!!!! 

Guess what the effect of *that* will be?  Yep.  Convenient, career saving abortions.  Kill your baby, keep your job.

And a little child shall lead them.  ~Isaiah 11:6

Increasingly, our society refuses to follow. 

On another front, there are more and more voices within the environmentalist community who want to bring China's one child policy here to the west.  It's necessary, they say, to combat shrinking natural resources and feed those of us lucky enough to have been born.

To these secularists, the solution is not sharing.  No.  That would be naive and stupid. The solution is not respecting and cherishing our Judeo-Christian heritage that asks that we feed the poor and take care of those who are more helpless than ourselves.  All that Christian stuff is just too oppressive. The obvious solution is to kill the children.

Let's wipe Christmas of its real meaning.  That will make everyone equal--everyone happy.  Let's take away the baby in the manger so we can go on killing the babies that are conceived today--in the most prosperous century mankind has ever seen. 

We are losing our grip as a nation and as a people.  We no longer have a moral compass.  We are orphans who have run away from the only Parents we ever knew and we think we are free.

Hat tip to Mark Shea.

On the Darkest Day of the Year, Where is Our Light?

This is the darkest day of the year, both astronomically, politically and spiritually. December 21 is, of course, the Winter solstice, when we in the Northern Hemisphere have the fewest hours of daylight. It is also turning out to be the darkest time in a spiritual and moral sense.
Last night it was reported in Great Britain that U.S. Major General Anthony Cucolo, head of the U.S. troops in Iraq has decided that any male or female soldier who are expecting a baby under his command will face court martial with a possible prison sentence!!!! 

Guess what the effect of *that* will be?  Yep.  Convenient, career saving abortions.  Kill your baby, keep your job.

And a little child shall lead them.  ~Isaiah 11:6

Increasingly, our society refuses to follow. 

On another front, there are more and more voices within the environmentalist community who want to bring China's one child policy here to the west.  It's necessary, they say, to combat shrinking natural resources and feed those of us lucky enough to have been born.

To these secularists, the solution is not sharing.  No.  That would be naive and stupid. The solution is not respecting and cherishing our Judeo-Christian heritage that asks that we feed the poor and take care of those who are more helpless than ourselves.  All that Christian stuff is just too oppressive. The obvious solution is to kill the children.

Let's wipe Christmas of its real meaning.  That will make everyone equal--everyone happy.  Let's take away the baby in the manger so we can go on killing the babies that are conceived today--in the most prosperous century mankind has ever seen. 

We are losing our grip as a nation and as a people.  We no longer have a moral compass.  We are orphans who have run away from the only Parents we ever knew and we think we are free.

Hat tip to Mark Shea.