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Archbishop of New Orleans criticizes ‘blatantly anti-life’ sterilization proposal

Louisiana’s Rep. John LaBruzzo, a Republican from Metairie, last week said he is studying a plan to pay poor women $1,000 to have their Fallopian tubes tied.

His proposal would also cover other forms of birth control, such as vasectomies for men, and could also encourage tax incentives for college-educated, higher-income people to have more children, the Times-Picayune reports.

Speaking of demographic trends, LaBruzzo said: “We're on a train headed to the future and there's a bridge out… And nobody wants to talk about it.”

LaBruzzo said he is concerned that people receiving government aid such as food stamps and subsidized housing are reproducing at a faster rate than the more affluent, better-educated people who presumably pay more taxes to the government.

I don't even want to comment. This acceptable disdain for the poor that is starting to enter everyday language is scary.

HT:Curt Jester

To me, this video says it all about who we are, and who we need to be:

I apologise if it violates Church policy.

Joe Shriner

Joe on the economy:

National Debt :
~ Tighten our belts and pay it off so our children don't inherit it.

Work Life :
~ Push for a shorter work week and/or more job sharing. (This will provide more time for God, family, community.)
~ In tandem, promote the Voluntary Simplicity Movement, with a focus on cutting back lifestyle wise.
~ Improve work place environments.
~ Fair wage for all.

Joe on Iraq:

the plan
*A growing negative could be turned into a tremendous positive -- for world peace.
~ As president, I would extend a formal, and heartfelt, apology to the Iraqi people (and the world) for starting the war, for killing civilians and military, and for destabilizing the country. (I told the Athens (OH) Post that these types of civilian deaths aren’t “inevitable collateral damage,” they are Moms, Dads, children…)
~ Set up an Iraq War Victim’s Fund intended for families of war victims, including for families of those who died from the U.S. urged, and U.N. backed, 12 year sanctions against Iraq before the war. (An estimated one million Iraqis died as a result of these sanctions, some 500,000 of them children.)
~ As president, I would also formally apologize for starting a pre-emptive war predicated on finding weapons of mass destruction. I would also admit there is a tremendous duality in telling other nations they can’t have WMD’s -- when we have the biggest arsenal of nuclear weapons in the world.

(lots more)

Joe on Life Issues:

~ No abortion.
~ Many more local safety nets for moms & dads in crisis pregnancy.
~ No death penalty, no euthenasia.
~ No embryonic stem cell research and no cloning.
~ Respect for God's sovereignty and natural order.

Joe on Immigration:

~ amnesty for illegal immigrants and family reunification.
~ “living wage, optimal working conditions, benefits, adequate housing… for all new arrivals.

Thanks to Mark Shea for bringing this to my attention.

I don't know if I would ever be brave enough to vote third party, but I have considered writing in someone if I decided to go that route because well, many of the third party candidates are exactly what you expect of third party candidates-more of the same with a tweak on one more issue. Or someone really, well, "kooky" comes to mind. Mr. Shriner seems as good, if not a better choice than any of them. He kind of inspires me to make that jump.

A few weeks ago, I was reading about how Joe Eszterhas converted back to his Catholic faith. Neat story considering he wrote some of the most offensive screenplays. I mean Showgirls, bad on so many levels. In the article, I thought what he said was actually kind of funny:

He said that living in the heartland, he sees how much Hollywood producers are out of touch with most Americans.

"I find it mind boggling that with nearly 70 percent of Americans describing themselves as Christians, and witnessing the success of The Passion of The Christ and The Chronicles of Narnia, that Hollywood still doesn't do the kinds of faith-based and family-value entertainment that people are desperate to see," Mr. Eszterhas said.

Hollywood is so dang obnoxious, they not only don't get it, they don't care to get it.

Exhibit A:

Burger King feels they can sell me burgers by staying open late-not a bad marketing ploy, I've been known to wake up at 1AM desperately hungry. But by telling me I need to go to BK at 1 AM because Diddy said so. Are you kidding me? Now I never want to go to BK again. Ever. I find this man so offensive. They keep giving us reality shows where he treats people like complete garbage, yet despite all their shoving down our throats I Want to Work for Diddy (another show where he gets to belittle people for our entertainment), no one can figure out why people would actually rather see New York and her control-freak mother for another round of breast augmented antics than Mr. Oh-He's-Such-a-Good-Business-Man-and-a-Snappy Dresser!

Last but not least, the You Tube political rant, Diddy Blog Number 16-"John McCain, you are buggin' da f%^k out!" In case you do want to witness this great display political insight due to foul language (consider yourself warned) or simply because it might no longer be there in 5 minutes (these videos keep disappearing), let me give you some of the highlights:

Attention, John McCain, Attention John McCain, my name is Diddy! You may know me by my government name, Sean Combs, but my friends and my family call me Diddy, A.k.A. Sirach Obama.

So Janice and Melvin Combs were forced by the government to name him Sean and give their child their last name?

I don't even understand what planet your on right now! This is the job to be the leader of the free world. No disrespect, I love ya, I want ya to live to be 110...

Showing he has no party bias.

but things happen, like what if God forbid! You got a running mate, you become president...Alaska?!? Alaska, Alaska, Alaska! Alak-c'mon Man. I don't even know if there any black people in Alaska!

I don't even know if there are any Eskimos is Mt. Vernon. Not that if I did, it would be significant, just sayin'.

Ima calling all this...all colors, all youth voters! November 4th! We have to protect our future because John McCain is buggin' the f%^k out!

To spare you, he goes on with some other stuff about how Sarah Palin doesn't represent black people and that's disrespectful. Yes, because there is no such thing as a young minority who wants to protect their future by voting against a pawn for PP as Barack Obama. Why would there be? It goes against stereotypes, and because Diddy says so (it worked for BK).

Exhibit B:

Matt Damon's political commentary.

He is worried about Sarah Palin coming to office and burning books, if she believes dinosaurs roamed the earth 4000 years ago. "It's absurd and I don't understand why more people aren't talking more about how absurd it is." Because, Matt, people are talking about how absurd this YouTube clip is about how the worst case scenario is a really, bad Hockey Mom Disney movie. These are your issues. Gosh, this could be a bad script. Not that.

Exhibit C:

Someone had a great idea: The MTV VMAs and the cleverness of an unknown British comedian mocking our government and the average citizen's ability to vote 9you know, the kid who would be watching the VMAs)! Hilarity ensues!

Some people, I think they’re called racists, say that America is not ready for a black president. But I know America to be a forward-thinking country, right. Because, otherwise, you know, would you have let that retarded cowboy fellow be president for eight years?

As always, he managed to get to the heart of the people and truly understands our reasoning. It's like he's psychic, or even better-asked someone!

Exhibit D:

John McCain on The View

Whoopi: Do I understand you are a strict constitutionalist? Should I be worried about becoming a slave, because somethings in the Constitution had to be changed.

Man, it amazes me how she goes straight to the heart of the issues in a manner the way the rest of us are afraid! Abortion-non issue! The idea that me and mine are going to round up after January 20th and put to work in the fields-that's the issue! And no, I am not mocking for five seconds, what my-what our, because we are all Americans, ancestors went through. But to even consider such a thing as a concern when deciding who to vote for, not in the top 10 or 20 of my concerns.

Why do celebrities think that by virtue of being in bad, Disney movies, their vapid opinions on nothing (again, note not one true issue was addressed) is all it takes to strong arm us into voting the way they want? I cannot even gather what it is they want except for, like everything else in Hollywood, some type of appearance.

The funny thing is, I am still not sure I am even voting for McCain. I still have some issues I have to decide on (none of which are whether I am concerned about a revival in the plantation system, if Sarah Palin believes in dinosaurs were here 4,000 years ago, or because Diddy said so). as much as I like Sarah Palin, I am still not 100% decided (I probably won't be for a long time). But I tell ya, this stuff makes me so darn angry that it makes me want to vote McCain for no other reason besides spite for insulting my intelligence.

LA Times: Canadian doctor warns Sarah Palin's decision to have Down baby could reduce abortions

But a senior Canadian doctor is now expressing concerns that such a prominent public role model as the governor of Alaska and potential vice president of the United States completing a Down syndrome pregnancy may prompt other women to make the same decision against abortion because of that genetic abnormality. And thereby reduce the number of abortions.

Published reports in Canada say about 9 out of 10 women given a diagnosis of Down syndrome choose to terminate the pregnancy through abortion. [emphasis added]

...Dr. Andre Lalonde, executive vice president of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in Ottawa, worries that Palin's now renowned decision may cause abortions in Canada to decline as other women there and elsewhere opt to follow suit.

He says not every woman is prepared to deal with the consequences of Down babies, who have developmental delays, some physical difficulties and often a shortened lifespan.

I don't even know what to say...Is this all reactionary, or were people this sick before and now they feel the right to vent their evil?

HT: Catholic and Enjoying It! combox

So: keep it up Team Obama. You're cracking up and you don't know what to do. I'll tell you what not to do: stop attacking Palin and her family. Get your mind off her fecundity, her kids, especially the disabled one who fills you with shame for your bloody advocacy of his extermination. Try to focus on the issues. Ignore the guilt you feel for 40 years of fanatical zeal for putting kids like him to death and pressuring women like her to kill him. Beat down the voice of your conscience while you yammer something about "integrity". Ignore the compulsion to call her a Pig in Lipstick. Muscle down the revulsion/shame/hate and fear that you feel when the damn kid who should have been killed in any truly hygenic society is loved by another member of that disgusting swarming brood of breeders. Be cool. Keep it together.

Suppress. The. Scream.

But you can't.

The transcript to Sarah Palin's speech.

After all that, this moment says it all:

and saw this on there:

Hip Hop Republicans. I thought this was interesting. The young men who host the site stated they identify with the republican party and hope to break the black=democrat stereotype.

Jill Stanek Has excellent commentary surrounding the announcement of Bristol Palin's pregnancy:

The announcement was wonderful, in sharp contrast to Obama's thought of his own grandchild who might be conceived in a similar situation:

Our beautiful daughter Bristol came to us with news that as parents we knew would make her grow up faster than we had ever planned. We're proud of Bristol's decision to have her baby and even prouder to become grandparents. As Bristol faces the responsibilities of adulthood, she knows she has our unconditional love and support.

Bristol and the young man she will marry are going to realize very quickly the difficulties of raising a child, which is why they will have the love and support of our entire family.

I keep coming across comments such as these (I quote The Superficial because it's not as if I read The Daily Kos, or any other such stomach turning website):

I know the knee-jerk reaction will be to point out the hypocrisy of Governor Palin's faith-based public views on supporting abstinence-only education and overturning Roe v. Wade.

So what's hypocritical exactly? Do we know for a fact that Bristol only attended abstinence-only schools and only associated with people who attended abstinence only schools, from families with the same values? Somehow from the tone for her boyfriend, truly doubt it:

Johnston, 17, who is entering his senior year at Wasilla HS, plays on the school hockey team and was once teammates on a youth squad with Palin's older brother, Track, 19, now in the Army.

Despite suffering a cracked bone in his shin last season, Johnston scored 24 goals in 24 games.

"We don't want to talk about this," said a woman who answered the phone at the Johnston home.

On a MySpace page subsequently taken down, Johnston boasts, "I'm a f - - -in' redneck" who likes to snowboard and ride dirt bikes.

"But I live to play hockey. I like to go camping and hang out with the boys, do some fishing, shoot some s- - - and just f - - -in' chillin' I guess."

"Ya f - - - with me I'll kick [your] ass," he added.

He also claims to be "in a relationship," but states, "I don't want kids."

As horrible as it is to state, speaking from experience, this sounds like the same Mr. Wonderful that have been getting 17-year old girls in trouble since the advent of high school. Which is the reason why we still need abstinence-only education. Cassanova doesn't get, if he doesn't want kids, don't have sex. 12 years of school, somewhere he missed that lesson. Besides is the guarantee of abstinence-only education simply that no teen will ever make a mistake again? So are we trying to claim the traditional PP sponsored sex ed programs are so effective?

Also, what is hypocritical about Sarah Palin being pro-life, and her daughter keeping the baby?

Both major U.S. political parties have good people in their ranks. Neither party fully represents a Catholic way of thinking about social issues. One of the lessons we need to learn from the last fifty years is that a preferred American "Catholic" party doesn't exist. The sooner Catholics feel at home in any political party, the sooner that party begins to take them for granted and then to ignore their concerns. Party loyalty is a dead end. It is a lethal form of laziness. Issues matter. Character matters. Acting on principal matters. The sound bite and the slogan do not matter. They belong to a vocabulary of the herd and human beings deserve better.

~Archbishop Chaput in Render Unto Caesar

I hate when books start giving you good quotes in like the first three pages.

Palin named as McCain running mate.

I have to say I had many reservations about McCain for a long time, but little by little, he starting to win me over.

Dear Mr. Luse was the first person I thought about when I heard about this.

The Global War Against Baby Girls

If you were asked to name the technologies whose proliferation inadvertently threatens the human race, what would you include? IEDS? Assault rifles? Nuclear warheads?

Add this one to your list: the sonogram machine...

Eberstadt explains that there is a "slight but constant and almost unvarying excess of baby boys over baby girls born in any population." The number of baby boys born for every hundred baby girls, which is so constant that it can "qualify as a rule of nature", falls along an extremely narrow range along the order of 103, 104, or 105. On rare occasions it even hovers around 106...

...Yet in a number of Chinese provinces--with populations of tens of millions of people--the reported sex ratio at birth ranges from over 120 boys for every 100 girls to over 130 boys for every 100 girls. Eberstadt notes that this is "a phenomenon utterly without natural precedent in human history."

One commenter to the article notes:

I've said it over and over again, those 30 million Chinese men WILL find mates. If they have to invade India, Iran or wherever.

HT:This One Goes to 11 by Margaret Cabaniss

Dawn Eden proposes we start a campaign telling Senator Biden to Keep your rosaries off my uvula!"

This is bad. If Obama is elected, this adds the the mistaken notion that you can be Catholic and extremely pro-choice. Perhaps I shouldn't worry as practicing Catholics know the difference and this would not change their minds. This is starting to truly look more like a spiritual war and less like a political election. Tells me I have to step up the prayers.

This is a comment from Fr. Joseph on the Inside Catholic article "Obama Flunks Rick Warren's Abortion Question" by Deal Hudson:

I think it's about time we, as a culture, stop bad-mouthing people who have the humility to know that ONLY GOD knows the answer to some questions. Thank you for stating the case for pluralism, tolerance, and civility so well.

For instance, it's about time we recognize the humility displayed by Mr. Hitler and all those good Christians in the S.S. who run the gas ovens. NOBODY (except God) can know when Jews REALLY have human rights. Only the most arrogant, shallow people would dare to step in and IMPOSE ONE THEOLOGICAL OPINION regarding this question. In a modern, pluralistic society, we have separation of Church and State. It would be arrogant in the extreme for the Catholic Church, for instance, to insist that its own FAITH-BASED position on the question of gassing Jews should be IMPOSED on people who don't share the Catholic belief system.

Anyone who would arrogantly shut down the gas ovens in the name of a sectarian, theological viewpoint is breaking the social compact by which ALL religious viewpoints are welcome in our society. If you try to shut down the gas ovens, people will STILL kill Jews in back-alleys and basements, under dangerous, unsanitary conditions.

Gassing Jews is not a decision that Mr. Hitler and his Party ever take lightly. It is demeaning and insulting to suggest that they ever gas Jews CASUALLY. Although some people think the gas ovens ought to be BOMBED, violence is NOT the answer. Trying to force a ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL Jew-gassing policy on people who do not share our faith tradition, and who never take this decision frivolously, assumes that some BUREAUCRAT IN WASHINGTON knows best when Jew-gassing is appropriate and when it isn't. I thought Americans stood for LESS government, LESS bureaucracy, not more.

Surely, we can find COMMON GROUND on this issue. We should stop the sectarian bickering, and work together on reducing the NEED to gas Jews. If we put Catholic Social Teaching into practice, we can accomplish a lot more toward reducing the poverty, hunger, and lack of education that LEAD to Jew-gassing. Greater access to modern methods of preventing the BIRTH of Jews would greatly reduce the NEED to gas adult Jews.

There are good people on both sides of this issue--people of many faiths, or of no faith--but ALL points of view on Jew-gassing should be welcome in the American Tapestry. Once we start down the road of forcing our own religious tenets on those who do not share them, we put our society on the road to a Taliban-style theocracy!

Finger-pointing, scape-goating, demonizing our opponents--these strategies have never worked, and they never will.

Written by Fr. Joseph