The Fetus Takes the Stand

An unborn child is going to take the stand as a witness to testify on behalf of a bill in the Ohio legislature outlawing abortion after the first detectable heartbeat.

WJTV reports:

Faith2Action, the anti-abortion group that has targeted Ohio to pilot the measure, called the in-utero witness the youngest to ever come before the House Health Committee at nine weeks old.

Faith2Action president Janet Folger Porter said the intent is to show lawmakers who will be affected by the bill, which is opposed by Ohio Right to Life and abortion rights groups as unconstitutional.

An aide to committee Chairman Lynn Wachtmann said a pregnant woman will be brought before the committee and an ultrasound image of her uterus will be projected onto a screen. The heartbeat of the fetus will be visible in color.

Is it a stunt? Sure. But why not? Aren't the unborn the ones who have the most to lose if this bill doesn't get passed.

I don't have great hope for this bill actually changing much in the short term but I like the idea of this bill in that it's based on science but it's science that everyone can relate to. Blobs of tissue don't have beating hearts.

And as a rule I think the more we put the unborn front and center in this debate the better off we'll be.

I especially like that so many states are passing pro-life legislation because it tells me that politicians, who are cowardly as a rule, aren't as afraid of being pro-life anymore due to the shifting polls toward the pro-life position.

Baby Laughing Hysterically

New Advent found this video of a baby laughing hysterically about his father ripping paper. Kevin Knight says it's proof of God and I'm inclined to agree. If you watch this without smiling you're dead inside and you're probably strangling hobos in the subway tunnels two nights a week. So watch this, brighten your day, and for goodness sakes stop strangling hobos.

I'd feel guilty just stealing it so I'll ask you to click this link and then click on the link at New Advent. Definitely worth it. It's great.

Two Years Later....

Want to see what a difference two years can make?

The Nobel Peace Prize for 2009

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009 is to be awarded to President Barack Obama for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples. The Committee has attached special importance to Obama's vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons.

Obama has as President created a new climate in international politics. Multilateral diplomacy has regained a central position, with emphasis on the role that the United Nations and other international institutions can play. Dialogue and negotiations are preferred as instruments for resolving even the most difficult international conflicts. The vision of a world free from nuclear arms has powerfully stimulated disarmament and arms control negotiations. Thanks to Obama's initiative, the USA is now playing a more constructive role in meeting the great climatic challenges the world is confronting. Democracy and human rights are to be strengthened.

Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world's attention and given its people hope for a better future. His diplomacy is founded in the concept that those who are to lead the world must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world's population.

For 108 years, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has sought to stimulate precisely that international policy and those attitudes for which Obama is now the world's leading spokesman. The Committee endorses Obama's appeal that "Now is the time for all of us to take our share of responsibility for a global response to global challenges."

As the world melts down, Obama meddles with Union issues in Wisconsin. The people of Iran were slaughtered, and Obama said nothing. His administration flip-flopped on Egypt until the outcome was clear while antagonizing both Israel and Saudi Arabia at the same time, no easy task. He wouldn't even pronounce Ghaddafi's name until 10 days after every of leader of the world condemned him. He supported a Marxist thug's unconstitutional power grab in Honduras. He has alienated most every ally that the U.S. has in the western hemisphere.

He has bowed to thugs and autocrats at the same time defying the expressed will of the American people. He has ignored human rights abuses in China because they fund his spending plans. Gitmo remains open, serving only to recruit more terrorists if memory serves, and troops remain in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Every industrialized nation on earth is fleeing the dollar as fast as they can. Climate change research is a laughing stock.

Good thing they didn't award him the Nobel prize for Physics, the universe would have ripped apart.

Aww. Planned Parenthood Gettin' Nervous

The poor dears at Planned Parenthood are in a tizzy. According to The Politico, in an emergency move they're purchasing $200,000 worth of ad time to beg for continuing their federal funding.

Imagine that, they're afraid they're not going to be able to rob from the rich to kill the poor. Awww.

Hmmm...but this ad makes me think Big Abortion is getting a little nervous.

Now, I've got to ask that since Planned Parenthood swears that none of the money they receive from the feds goes to abortion (haha) does the taxpayer money they receive go to buying television ads? Wouldn't that be ironic if they were using federal taxpayer money in order to buy ads begging for more taxpayer funding?

Here's their ad. Funny, no mention of abortion.



Jim Geraghty correctly points out "if you can afford to spend $200,000 on television ads, maybe you don’t need all of that federal funding."

Update 11:28: This is why I love the SBA List. This is the perfect response. PP puts up $200,000 and the SBA List does the same arguing for defunding and initiates a grassroots tour.

Today, the Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List) announced the launch of a 14-stop grassroots tour and $200,000 ad campaign in support of its efforts to defund Planned Parenthood in the Continuing Resolution (CR). Starting tomorrow, the “Women Speaking Out” campaign will launch a series of television and radio ad buys thanking Members of Congress who stood up for women, young girls and taxpayers with their vote for Rep. Mike Pence’s (R-IN) amendment to deny all taxpayer funding to Planned Parenthood

Here's the first:

Non Graphic But Horrifying Pro-Life Ad

Defund. Planned Parenthood. Now.



HT Jill Stanek

Liturgical Vigilantes

When one thinks of notorious vigilantes, several names and personality types come to mind. Perhaps Charles Bronson or Dirty Harry, or maybe even the Dark Knight, Batman. But personally, I have yet to run into tragic costumed figure or a rogue cop who has just had enough.

But I have met a person who has had enough and can't take it anymore, a person who has seen too much lawbreaking simply ignored by the competent authorities, a person who has finally decided to do something about it--to become a vigilante--Mrs. McGillicuddy. She sits in the third pew on the left.

As general rule, vigilantes are not born, they are made. Their steely resolve to right the wrong, forged in the fires of un-rectified lawlessness, transforms them into self appointed guardians of the good. They become--watchmen.

The Mrs. McGillicuddys of the world have had much to endure these last forty years. They sit in their pews and watch as liturgical experimentation and improvisation transform the holy mass into a vehicle of self expression for those who do not understand what it truly expresses. They sit and wonder, when will somebody do something about this? When? When they finally reach the reluctant conclusion of never, what follows results in either resignation or transformation.

Now a confession, I'm a Mrs. McGillicuddy. But I don't want to be.

Some years ago...Continue Reading @ National Catholic Register>>>

Brit Docs - Abortion is Safer Than Having a Baby

Culture of death, death of culture.

Nothing makes the case better than the recommendation of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that all pregnant women should be told that having an abortion is safer than having the baby. For real.

The advice, which would be given to women considering terminations, has caused anger, with anti-abortion campaigners accusing doctors' leaders of forcing an "absurdly liberal agenda" on women in a vulnerable situation.

The draft guidance from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists is for all doctors, nurses and counsellors advising women contemplating terminations.

Its first recommendation on "what women need to know" instructs health professionals: "Women should be advised that abortion is generally safer than continuing a pregnancy to term."

The guidance also says that women who are deciding whether to have an abortion must be told that most do not suffer any psychological harm. Until now, their advice has been that while rates of psychiatric illness and self-harm in women are higher among those who had an abortion, there was no evidence that termination itself was likely to trigger psychological problems.

While few dispute that terminations carry fewer physical risks to a woman than those of pregnancy, the impact of abortions on psychological health is highly contentious.

Never before has official advice to doctors and nurses in Britain instructed them to use such comparisons to help pregnant women decide whether to keep a child.

Sorry, leaving aside the mental health ramifications, the idea that abortions carry fewer physical risks to a woman than those of pregnancy is absurd, not only for the murdered baby, but the mother as well.

This is how muddled the thinking must become to continue to justify such an horrific act. When the necessary evil inevitably becomes a good in and of itself, Satan's face is revealed in full.

ht HotAir

Wretches & Jabberers

Inspiring.

ABC Pilot: "Good Christian B#tches"

A must watch for Christians is coming to television soon! Is there any doubt that with the title "Good Christian B#tches" that Christians all over America will be tuning in to really see themselves in this kind of art. Sometimes I just feel that Hollywood really gets us, you know. Like really understands what makes Christians tick. It makes me feel all gooey inside like the time I ate the green stuff inside my Stretch Armstrong.

Hollywood Reporter says:

Jennifer Aspen has been cast in ABC’s "Good Christian Bitches" pilot.

The dramedy, from Sex and the City executive producer Darren Star and based on Kim Gatlin’s book, follows a woman who moves back to her Dallas neighborhood after a divorce only to become the center of salacious gossip from the community’s church-going wives.

Can't. Miss. By only alienating about 50% of the country before it even films it's a sure fire success.

I'm thinking already about a crossover episode with the b#tches of "The View." You know, maybe the ladies of the View are all in a car and it breaks down in the town because dopey Elizabeth thought the "E" on the gas dial stood for "Enough" and then they run into these Christian b#tches. Hilarity ensues because remember Christianity is a punchline for the secular elite.

I can't wait for next year's (as of yet unannounced) spinoff "Muslim b#tches" that will make the catchphrase "Now, don't lose your head!" a household laugh line.

Oh boy, I'm getting my TiVo warmed up.

HT Big Hollywood

Dear Mr. Boehner: We're Not Here for Moral Victories

Marjorie Dannenfelser of the Susan B. Anthony List along with a number of other leading pro-lifers like Lila Rose and Brian Burch of Catholic Vote just sent a public letter to Congressman John Boehner thanking him for all he's done to get the House to successfully vote on a bill to defund Planned Parenthood.

But....(and this is kind of a big "but") the SBA List is also kindly reminding Congressman Boehner that they're not here for moral victories. Not now. Not ever. The days where pro-lifers thank elected officials for their good intentions are loooooooong gone. Symbolism isn't for people who are trying to save babies. The SBA List wants results, not truces, not promises. They're saying turn off the spigot of federal funds to the most corrupt organization in the United States, Planned Parenthood. Now.

Congress has never had such an opportunity. Seriously, if not now when? Lila Rose has outed them ON VIDEO as corrupt abettors of sex trafficking. Phill Kline has shown them to be performing and covering up illegal underage abortions. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has defunded them.

Now is the time. Don't poll it. Don't think of it as one option among many. Don't think of it as something to be traded for something else. Defund Planned Parenthood. Now.

Or else.

In the words of Arnold:


Here's the text of the letter with the list of signatories.

The Honorable John Boehner
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Speaker Boehner,
Planned Parenthood, a scandal-plagued abortion organization, must be held accountable for abusing innocent young victims while receiving hundreds of millions in federal dollars each year.

They must be defunded of federal tax dollars, and now is the time to do it. The House vote in support of Rep. Mike Pence’s Amendment No. 11 to the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011 (H.R. 1) to prevent government funding for the nation’s largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, is an excellent start.

However, the House vote on the Pence Amendment is nothing more than symbolic unless it remains intact through the legislative process. Defunding Planned Parenthood must be a non-negotiable in the Continuing Resolution and we urge you to accept nothing less than this outcome.

The fact that Planned Parenthood was caught aiding and abetting sex traffickers proves that it is not safe for women and young girls. What goes on in offices and clinics of Planned Parenthood, as Live Action's videos show is both saddening and shocking. That it has often been done using taxpayer dollars is indefensible.

As the largest abortion company in the United States, Planned Parenthood repeatedly refuses to comply with state statutory rape reporting laws, and often ignores parental consent laws.

Just this week, Phill Kline, former Attorney General of Kansas, testified under oath that Planned Parenthood of Overland Park and the late abortionist George
Tiller performed abortions on a combined 166 girls, age fourteen or younger. Out of the 166 cases of statutory rape, just two were reported to authorities, Kline testified.

As debate over the Continuing Resolution continues we urge you to do everything you can to ensure that the Pence Amendment remains intact in the final version of’ the Continuing Resolution. Planned Parenthood is not safe for women, it is not safe for young girls, and it must be defunded now.

For Life,

Marjorie Dannenfelser President, Susan B. Anthony List Torn McClusky Vice President for Government Affairs, FRC Dr. John Willke President, International Right to Life Federation David Bereit National Director, 40 Days for Life Phil Burress President, Citizens for Community Values Kristan Hawkins Executive Director, Students for Life of America Bradley Mattes Executive Director, Life Issues Institute Frank Cannon President, American Principles Project Steven W. Mosher President, Population Research Institute John J. Jakubczyk Former President, Arizona Right to Life Michael Gonidakis Executive Director, Ohio Right to Life Society Tim Broderick President, People for Life of Erie, Pennsylvania Kevin H. Smith Executive Director, Cornerstone Action

Lila Rose President, Live Action Penny Nance CEO, Concerned Women for America Brian Burch President, CatholicVote.org Phyllis Schlafly Founder and President, Eagle Forum Steven Ertelt Editor, LifeNews.coin Jill Stanek, RN JillStanek.com Gary Bauer President, American Values Cohn A. Manna President, Let Freedom Ring Erick Erickson Editor, RedState.com Mario H. Lopez President, Hispanic Leadership Fund Marie Tasy Executive Director, New Jersey Right to Life Jenifer Bowen Executive Director, Iowa Right to Life Mail Smith Vice President, Catholic Advocate

Your Chance to Retitle the Pope's Book

Dom Bettenelli tweeted something that got me thinking. I know that's dangerous but I'm left alone a lot so it's either do laundry or blog. Hmmmm...blogging wins.

The Pope's new book is going to be called something like "Jesus of Nazareth 2." And I'm like Yaaaaaaawn. Boooooooring. The Pope isn't as hep as he used to be and I guess he doesn't understand that sequels need exciting titles to make them marketable.

So I'm going to channel my inner Hollywood power player and help the Pope out. Benny baby, I'm here for ya'. In fact, not just me. I'm asking for all of us to use our collective intellect (which probably adds up to one very wise orangutan) to suggest some titles for the Pope's new book. We need something that'll fly off the shelves.

Dom suggested "Jesus of Nazareth 2: The Return of the King."

I'm thinking:
"Jesus of Nazareth 2: This Time It's Personal."
"Jesus of Nazareth 2: No More Cheek Turning."
"Jesus of Nazareth 2: Hard to Kill"
"Jesus of Nazareth 2: "Don't Cross him!"
"Jesus of Nazareth 2: The Flight of Pontius Pilate."
"Jesus of Nazareth 2: Die Really Hard"
"Jesus of Nazareth 2: Love in the time of Pharisees"
"Jesus of Nazareth 2: I Know What You Did Last Passover"
"Jesus of Nazareth 2: Unbroken."

The CMR Public Relations Agency (and Car Wash) is requesting your help too. Give us some suggestions to help the Pope out. The combox is yours.

Just to Annoy Pat

Here's CNN's video of a 103 year old nun polka dancing on her birthday. I think this might annoy Pat. Not that Pat doesn't like nuns and it's certainly not that he doesn't like the polka (who doesn't?) but when we started out this blog he said he didn't want to be one of those blogs that just puts pics up of skateboarding priests and nuns playing basketball all the time.

So she's not skateboarding or playing basketball so here it is. It's actually kinda' nice if your into this kind of thing.

Happy birthday Sister. Hope you have many more:

Gnarly Gnarlington Vatican Assassins

CBS just suspended Two and a Half Men. I think they did this because Charlie Sheen admitted he is a Vatican Assassin. I think I knew, I think I've always known.

Guys, it's right there in the thing, duh! We work for the Pope, we murder people. We're Vatican assassins. How complicated can it be? What they're not ready for is guys like you and I and Nails and all the other gnarly gnarlingtons in my life, that we are high priests, Vatican assassin warlocks. Boom. Print that, people. See where that goes."

Word is that Dan Brown is furious and suing Charlie for leaking the plot of his newest novel.

Let's face it, as bad as that may seem. It makes slightly more sense than a speech about Libya that doesn't mention Qaddafi.

Sheen went on to say "The only thing I'm addicted to right now is winning." Yeah, just like Mitch Daniels. Everything is a distraction to Mitch. Charlie's attention span is better. Do Governors submit to random drug tests?

Sheen's rant is obviously a desperate cry for help. He doesn't know that he has struck rock bottom. Which puts him in good company. Mitt Romney can't read the signs of the times either. He just defended RomneyCare, again!! I don't even know if there is a rehab for what's wrong with Mitt.

Mitt, remember, you are supposed to be pretending you are conservative now. Ya know, like this guy.

I cannot help but wonder if Charlie's behavior is the result of pounds of cocaine or global warming. Some things we can never know.

On that note, just let me say...

"I'm sorry, man, but I've got magic. I've got poetry in my fingertips. Most of the time--and this includes naps --I'm an F-18, bro. And I will destroy you in the air. I will deploy my ordinance to the ground."

I guess Charlie didn't get the memo about military jargon and how it contributes to incivility. Oh never mind, I forgot that civility is yesterday's news. Scott Walker Is Hitler!!!!!! Let's get bloody!!

I've got poetry in my fingertips, man.

Nap time. Peace Out!

Pro-Abort Harassment Leads to Pulling Abortion Billboard

All it took was some pro-abortion harassment, a threat of violence, and the prospect of an Al Sharpton led protest and now a pro-life billboard is being removed from Manhattan.

Yup, the billboard that showed a young black girl in a pink dress and the words “the most dangerous place for an African-American is in the womb” is gone. Mind you, nobody argued with the facts that the billboard presented. They just don't want the truth to be known. Remember, silencing opposition is their greatest weapon.

NY Times reports:

“It’s down, or at least it should be coming down soon,” Peter Costanza, the general manager for Lamar Advertising, said in a telephone interview on Thursday. “Why did I take it down? Yesterday, somebody came into the restaurant harassing the waiters and waitresses. I don’t want any violence to happen around the buildings there.”...

“It wasn’t about politics,” Mr. Costanza said, adding that it was more about safety...

Letitia James, a City Council member who represents parts of Brooklyn, said she was outraged that Life Always members had said they decided to post the billboard to coincide with Black History Month. Ms. James said she had talked to concerned citizens throughout the day and night on Wednesday, and she directed her staff to start an online petition. Ms. James said she asked MoveOn, the liberal activist group, to post the petition. It went online around 10 a.m. on Thursday, and included Mr. Costanza’s name.

Hal Kilshaw, a spokesman for Lamar Advertising, said that the advertisement had complied with the company’s policy. “It’s our belief that people have a right to express their message,” he said, adding that advertisers must have a disclaimer saying who is sponsoring the message.

“We would have left it up,” he added. “But Peter has become concerned because the wait staff in the restaurant below was harassed by people who objected to the message. There were talks about a protest tomorrow, and he was worried about their safety.”

Ms. James said that before Lamar had decided to pull the ad, she had planned to hold a news conference with the Rev. Al Sharpton on Friday under the billboard.

They posted Costanza's name on MoveOn.org's website and threatened an Al Sharpton protest and now the billboard is coming down because employees didn't feel safe.

Understandable in that Sharpton's protests in the past have led to murders including the Crown Heights Riot.

It's despicable what's going on. I hope and pray that Life Always, the group behind the billboard are able to place the billboard elsewhere because hey, there's a reason that pro-aborts are freaking out about this billboard and wanting it gone. It's because they know it works.

Pro-Lifers Are Always Over the Line

Lila Rose was over the line with her undercover stings on Planned Parenthood.
Pro-lifers holding up graphic abortion signs are over the line.
The Susan B. Anthony List pointing out in a billboard that a vote for Obamacare was a vote for federal funding of abortion was way over the line.
Trying to talk to women entering an abortion clinic is over the line.
Tim Tebow thanking his mother for choosing life in a SuperBowl ad was waaaaaay over the line.
And now, a pro-life organization erecting a billboard explaining that the abortion rate among African American women is at about 60% making the womb the most dangerous place for an African American baby is also way over the line.

Check out the outrage over the billboard in a local news story:

Nowhere is it mentioned that the abortion industry may be over the line when 60 percent of African American babies are killed in the womb. 60 percent!!!!

Who's really over the line here? We're constantly accused of being over the line when we simply point out the reality about abortion in America.

Pro-lifers have so much momentum right now. We are slowly winning hearts and minds but to win we must continue to advance our agenda. We must stay on the offensive while being accused of being offensive perpetually. Just know that every time Big Abortion yells that we've somehow crossed a line, we're probably making progress.

Keep it up pro-lifers!

Saudi Bomb Plotter Arrested, Targeting Bush

I wonder how this will become Sarah Palin's fault.

The New York Post reports:

A Saudi man has been arrested for allegedly buying chemicals and equipment to make a bomb and researching US targets, including the Dallas home of former President George W. Bush, the Department of Justice said Thursday.

Khalid Ali-M Aldawsari, 20, a Saudi national and a legal resident of Texas, was arrested late Wednesday and faces charges of attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction.

He is expected to make his first court appearance in Texas on Friday.

Gateway Pundit is reporting that "Aldawsari, who was lawfully admitted into the United States in 2008 on a student visa and is enrolled at South Plains College near Lubbock."

That should make us all feel really safe.

This is Why The Internet Was Created

If you've ever wondered to yourself if the internet serves any beneficial purpose to society at all, here's your answer. It doesn't. But it can be really fun. This is exactly what ET the sequel would look like if Hollywood made it.

Warning -Some gore.



HT HotAir

Real Collective Bargaining - Elections

Let me quote the innocuous Ann Coulter regarding government unions.

It used to be widely understood that collective bargaining has no place in government employment. In 1937, the American president beloved by liberals, FDR, warned that collective bargaining "cannot be transplanted into the public service." George Meany, head of the AFL-CIO for a quarter century, said unions were not appropriate for civil servants. As recently as 1978, the vast majority of states prohibited unionization of government employees.

The unholy alliance of government and union has reached its pinnacle. Your average government worker earns twice in salary and benefits than his private sector counterpart who foots the bill.

As the graph above shows, while the government salaries are substantially more than their private sector counterparts, benefits are up to 400% that of the private sector. This is obscene. So now finally the middle class taxpayer has had enough and in Wisconsin they have had enough. They elected a Republican legislature and a Republican governor who propose to put an end to collective bargaining for benefits. Seems reasonable, but you have seen the manufactured chaos that has ensued.

Let's look at this from another angle. Collective bargaining. In order to bargain, there have to be two parties seeking some mutually beneficial relationship. But for decades, this relationship and the ensuing benefits have all been one sided because the other negotiating party (Democrat controlled government) has been bought and paid for.

But the Democrat Party were only the negotiators. The real party involved here is the people. So, last November, the people exercised the only legitimate collective bargaining for government employees, they held an election. An election that threw the Democrats out, in large part specifically because of the unholy spending alliance they have forged with Unions. We can't afford it.

So, in effect, the union thugs protesting in Wisconsin are protesting against collective bargaining rights, the collective bargaining rights of the people. The people who have had enough and are no longer willing parties to this abusive relationship. No more.

Unions are not appropriate for government employees because the unholy alliance between union and party is unavoidable.

Elections are the only legitimate form of collective bargaining for Government employees and the people of Wisconsin have exercised that right in a very modest way. The Union response in Wisconsin serves only to bring awareness to other one-sided abusive relationships around the country. So now I suspect that their will be a lot more collective bargaining in the future, the kind of bargaining that says, "We will let you stay employed under these conditions..."

So look for the union label, the people's union label, it says "GOP."

Media Suddenly Loves Undercover Stings

A blogger put in a prank call to Governor Scott Walker while pretending to be a big billionaire donor. After reading the news reports I honestly don't see the news in this. The Governor said he was going to try to ram his legislation through? Gasp! He said he would likely start sending out pink slips to employees who didn't show up to work? Oh, the horror! And is it really a news flash that politicians will often take the call of billionaires?

But in just one day the media has run 521 stories in the past day about this prank call, according to Google News.

Now, compare this to Lila Rose's undercover videos which SHOW how Planned Parenthood, which receives over $350 million in taxpayer funding, is breaking the law by assisting in underage sex slavery at multiple locations.

According to Google News, there's been just 203 news stories on the Lila Rose videos when I use the term "Lila Rose Planned Parenthood."

I guess the media only likes certain kinds of sting operations, huh? Nah, no bias there.

When Churches Attack!!

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has recently seen a string of indictments from a grand jury report relating to the seemingly endless sex abuse scandal. To be sure, it is a sad time for the Catholic Church in Philadelphia leaving many Catholics confused and saddened.

But there are some who see the Church's problems as an opportunity. One church just outside Philadelphia seems to be taking advantage of this issue for their own gain in a pretty creepy manner. The Philadelphia Daily News highlights that a "reformed Catholic church" is using the sex abuse crisis to their advantage by running advertisements saying you should drop that old Catholic Church and come to their NEW AND IMPROVED "CATHOLIC" CHURCH because they don't have any sex abuse!!

Seriously. That's really what they're saying.

Continue reading at National Catholic Register>>>

Obama Kills DOMA?

The Obama administration will no longer defend the Defense of Marriage Act in court. This is bad.

President Obama, in a major legal policy shift, has directed the Justice Department to stop defending the Defense of Marriage Act — the 1996 law that bars federal recognition of same-sex marriages — against lawsuits challenging it as unconstitutional.

Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. sent a letter to Congress on Wednesday saying that the Justice Department will now take the position in court that the act should be struck down as a violation of same-sex couples’ rights to equal protection under the law.

“The president and I have concluded that classifications based on sexual orientation warrant heightened scrutiny and that, as applied to same-sex couples legally married under state law,” a crucial provision of the act is unconstitutional, Mr. Holder wrote.

The move is sure to be welcomed by gay-rights advocates, who had often criticized Mr. Obama for moving too slowly in his first two years in office to address issues that concern them. Coming after the administration successfully pushed late last year for repeal of the military’s ban on gay men and lesbians serving openly, the change of policy on the marriage law could intensify the long-running political and ideological clash over same-sex marriage as the 2012 presidential campaign approaches.

Ya think? Gay marriage just went to near the top of the list of issues that Republican Presidential candidates will be facing.

So I guess now the Justice Department only enforces the laws that the President likes?

Ya' know I'm starting to think Obama might be like reeeeeaaaaaaally liberal. Who'd a thunk it?

I'll keep updates coming on this.

Update #1: Maggie Gallagher, Chair of the National Organization for Marriage responds on Fox. She seems stunned but also said that this could be good news since the Justice Department was tanking the fight anyway. Look for the House to get involved in this.



Update 2: Bench Memos has solid info and interesting angles on all this.

Update 3 by Patrick.

Can somebody verify if either one of the Oaths Obama took included the language "I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States for only those Laws I like. "??

Separation of powers is not his strong suit.

Egypt is the New Nazi

Everything is "Egypt" all of a sudden. The Wisconsin protests are just like Egypt. Indiana is just like Egypt. And now it seems that the Catholic Church too is just like Egypt, according to one writer.

I'll get into the particulars in a sec but can we all just agree that nothing right now is like Egypt. We don't even know what's going on in Egypt yet but all of a sudden everything is being compared to Egypt. Anytime a few people have a gripe it's Egypt all over again.

At least the Nazi metaphor is getting a much needed break.

I guess it's no surprise that progressives in the Catholic Church who've been unhappy with the Church since the 1960's would like to compare themselves to the people in the streets of Egypt who toppled a dictatorship in a week. The progressives have been trying to topple the Church for 40 years but no dice. I shudder to consider the particulars of what a sit in at the Vatican by leftover hippies would look like. All the faded tie dye, walkers, canes, knee high socks crammed into Birkenstocks, attending nurses, and the dinner break at 3:30 p.m. would be just too horrendous to watch - even for C-Span. Something tells me the sitting-in would be easy but the getting back up could take a while. If these guys are like Egypt it's a really slow motion Egypt.

Anyway, this piece by Richard Taylor in the Philadelphia Inquirer is the official jump the shark moment for the Egyptian metaphor.

He writes:

The Catholic Church isn't an Egyptian dictatorship, but its authority structure has many similar features. It is autocratic and totally top-down. It fears and crushes dissent. It disdains democracy, at least in its own structures. It is not accountable to its members, nor does it consult meaningfully with them.

When Catholics try to offer helpful ideas, we are rebuffed or ignored. More often than not, our leaders treat us like children who are to be seen but not heard, rather than thoughtful adults with talents, intelligence, and experience that the church desperately needs. Our protestations about priestly sex abuse and leaders' cover-ups fall on deaf ears.

Won't our beloved church continue to be held up to scorn for its actions until this medieval structure changes?

I think we can all agree now that the Egypt metaphor has been beaten to death. To continually beat something over and over like this it's like...well...an Egyptian dictator...or something.

Reflections On 4 Years Of Blogging

Wow. I can't believe that Matthew and I started this thing four years ago. Them's lotsa blog posts between then and now.

So, anniversaries are natural times to reflect upon how you may have grown and what you may have learned over the years. So, what have I learned? Not much. But I have learned a few things about blogging and these have been codified in some personal guidelines. Further, there some things I have realized which I will now share.

Realization: After four years of writing whatever pops into my head, I can never ever run for elected office. The interwebs has a long memory.

Guideline: Don't fall in love with your posts, because if others don't, you will get bitter. If you write something you are proud of, good, now start writing your next stupid post immediately. Why because....

Realization: The attention your post will garner is inversely proportional to the actual thought you put into it. The posts of which I am most proud have disappeared quicker than cocaine at Charlie Sheen's house.

Guideline: Never ever take yourself seriously. It will show in your writing and always-serious people are boring people. People don't read boring people. Conversely...

Realization: If you don't take your blog seriously, why should other people?

Guideline: No matter what you write, no matter how trivial, seemingly inoffensive, silly, or inconsequential, somebody will call you out in the combox. Typically they will scold you for something you didn't even say. So let it go. Ignore the combox crazies that are just there to cause trouble. Let it go.

Realization: You know that saying "there are no stupid ideas?" That's not true.

Guideline: Blogging after 3 drinks is fine. Four, not so much.

Realization: Blog hits are like love. They are only useful if you spread them around.

Realization: Write about what you care about. Don't try to write what you think people want to read. Be yourself. Don't try to write like anybody else. If you're a sarcastic jerk, be a sarcastic jerk. Nobody will buy it if you pretend to be somebody else.

Guideline: Don't argue in your own combox. But if you do, don't write more than two comments arguing the same point or you're now part of the problem.

Realization: If you quote GK Chesterton more than twice a month, you're probably mailing it in.

Guideline: Bloggers (in particular Catholic bloggers) are a subset of a subset of a subset. It doesn't matter what Statcounter says, it's just a blog dude. Even if you manage tens of thousands of readers a day, 99.999999999% of the world will never know your name. It's just a blog. Get over yourself.

"Pro-Life" D and R Plead for Planned Parenthood

Planned Parenthood's YouTube channel is featuring two self identified pro-lifers pleading for government funding of Planned Parenthood.

To me, it's just two more Democrats doing their best to remind everyone there's no such thing as an elected pro-life Democrat. Like Bigfoot and Nessie, it's just a myth. Sure, sometimes people report seeing one or hearing one. But it's either a sham, a scam, or just imaginary.

Watch as these two self identified pro-life Dems plead for funding for their Planned Parenthood overlords all while promising that none of the hundreds of millions go to funding abortion- because they're against that, you know.

Remember, pro-life Dems don't want to subsidize abortion, just abortionists.



Update: The second guy is actually an R. My mistake. He's still completely disingenuous about being pro-life. But he's an R who's disingenuous about being pro-life.

Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Indifference

This is an amazing true story written by a man who unexpectedly faced the worst of the culture of death. It's the must read of the day. This is a man who never suspected he'd be on the front lines of the debate about end of life issues but that's what makes it such an honest and startling piece.

Please check it out at Zombie

Laughable Religion Reporting - Part MXVII

I know it is axiomatic that the Ordinary Ministers of the Media do not know how to report on religion. However, some examples are so laughable they need highlighting.

Check Out this WaPo story about a married Lutheran convert being ordained in Germany. Ho-hum, you say? This kind of thing happens with Anglican clergy, if not all the time, enough that it would hardly be remarked upon. (See that bald guy in the Carolinas) But it is not just the rarity the WaPo gets wrong, it's the remedy!

BERLIN -- In a rare move that needed the pope's approval, a Lutheran convert was ordained Tuesday as a Catholic priest in Germany and is being allowed to remain married to his wife - who has already become a nun.

Harm Klueting, 61, was ordained by Archbishop Joachim Cardinal Meisner in a private ceremony at the city's seminary, the Cologne archdiocese said.

Pope Benedict XVI gave Klueting a special permission to remain married to his wife Edeltraut Klueting, who became a Catholic Carmelite nun in 2004.

So the Pope allowed him to remain married? As opposed to what? Mandating a divorce? Huh?

Accurate reporting, of course, would state that the Pope allowed the man to be ordained, not that the Pope allowed him to remain married. That is laughably bad.

As for his wife being a nun, which would be the real story here were it the case, I suspect that she is a third order Carmelite of some sort, as this is not brought up again in the article.

There is bad religion reporting and there is this. Thank you WaPo, The Associated Press, and KIRSTEN GRIESHABER. You made me laugh.

Police Arrest 11 YrOld For Stick Figures

Are these people dain bramaged?

Police arrested an 11 year old boy for drawing stick figure with a gun shooting teachers. Inappropriate drawing? Yup. Jail-able offense? Are you kidding?

I can understand some concern about the nature of the drawing and/or perhaps the school mandating some sort of evaluation. But then the police show up to the kids home and arrest him, print him, and throw him in a cell for drawing stick figures? That is insane.

It seems that in this case, the school acted reasonably. The rest is jut insane.

 

What's So Great About Democracy?

Over at the National Catholic Register, I have a piece up that asks "What's So Great About Democracy?"

With dictator after dictator facing early retirement over the last month, we have heard a lot of talk about democracy.

We are told that protesters are seeking democracy. We should support democracy. The people deserve democracy. I say, so what?

What’s so great about democracy?

Please go check it out and tell me what you think.

7 Reasons the March for Life is Better Than Wisconsin Protests

There's all this fawning press about this amazing group of protesters in Wisconsin. I decided to compare that protest with the March for Life. And I've come up with:

7 Reasons the March for Life is better.

1) They say the crowds are huge in Wisconsin at about 25,000 but the March for Life is more than ten times that size.

2) Unions make up about 11.9% of Americans. Pro-lifers are about 50%. So Ha!

3) Pro-lifers show up knowing they're not going to get any media attention. Unions show up because they know that when one or more are gathered in the union name the media will be there.

4) Union members brag that they forced Democrats to leave the state. Ha! The March for Life chased the President of the United States (George W. Bush) out of D.C. for eight straight years because he didn't want to be seen with them. Now that's power!!!!

5) We both say it's about the children. But which one's really about the children. Come on. Really?

6) Who would you rather hang with?



7) Let's face it, if the unborn could pay union dues we wouldn't need a March for Life.

Joe Mantegna's Prayer

Most of you probably know the actor Joe Mantegna. Well, Tony Rossi wrote an excellent piece on Mantegna and his autistic daughter. Definitely worth a read.

"I went to the chapel. There was nobody else in there. I knelt and—I haven't been the most devout Catholic in my life, I'll be the first to admit, but we all tap into that which we know. And that is my spiritual connection to God, that's the channel it runs through—Catholicism. But I went in there and said, 'Look, I know I'm not on the A Team. I'm not one of the starters; I've been on the bench for a while. But please, if there's something that can be done for this child to live, I'm prepared to do whatever I must do.'"

Abortionist Threatens to Run Over Pro-Lifer

This is pretty self explanatory but pro-lifers were trying to get the mobile ultrasound truck a parking space in front of the Rockford Illinois abortion clinic but the abortionists had taken up all the spots. Finally, someone moved their car and the abortuary's landlord comes running out to his car to try to take up the spot. Suddenly and completely unexpectedly a poor pro-lifer's leg goes out and he falls right in front of the dude's car so he can't move his car for a minute while the ultrasound truck wrangles itself into the spot. Weird, huh?

But the landlord kind of freaks and bumps the car right up on him threatening to run him over. And from what I understand this isn't the first time this has happened.

Check out the vid at ProLife Corner. Mind you, there's some graphic abortion photos at the end.

Obama: Lila Rose is a Distraction

President Obama has called Live Action's video sting investigations into Planned Parenthood "manfactured" distractions.

Cubachi has the exact quote:

Via Foxnation and NBC 12

“I think sometimes these issues get manufactured,” he said “they get a lot of attention in the blogosphere…

“You know my bottom line is I think that Planned Parenthood in the past has done good work. If there was a specific problem at this center, it should be addressed, but we shouldn’t get so distracted with some of these issues.”

Mr. President, this wasn't just one little clinic we're talking about. I think there were seven different videos. Seven, never mind all the other videos Lila Rose has made uncovering illegal operations by Big Abortion.

And come on Mr. President, sex slavery is a distraction? Complicity in the rape of underaged prostitutes is a distraction? This White House is now showing itself to be a wholly owned subsidary of Planned Parenthood. By beclowning himself in such a manner Obama is degrading the Presidency into the "Baghdad Bob" of Planned Parenthood.

To this White House, anything they don't want to talk about is a distraction.

The relevant part starts about 2:15 in.

The Rebuilding Year--A Miraculous True Story

I have a favor to ask you.

Normally, when Matt or I write a post at the National Catholic Register, we put up the first few paragraphs and a link. If it catches your interest, you click over.

This time I am not gonna do that.

Matthew has written a post at the Register that is, in my estimation, just wonderful. Matt has personally interviewed everyone involved (except the dead monk, of course) and has crafted something beautiful.

It is the inspiring true and miraculous story of a boy who was never supposed to walk again and how prayer, the love of a mother, and love of a complete stranger, inspired a miracle.

So please, go and read "The Rebuilding Year--A Miraculous True Story."

And if you like it as much as I do, spread it around.

Forced Medical Care In Oregon

This story about Oregon removing legal protections for parents who rely solely on faith to treat their dying children leaves me conflicted.

Oregon lawmakers will take the first step today toward ending legal protections for parents who rely solely on faith to treat their dying children.

The bill targets the Followers of Christ, an Oregon City church with a long history of children dying from treatable medical conditions. A previous crackdown restricted but did not eliminate religious immunity from state criminal statutes.

Like I said, conflicted.

On the one hand, I think these people are probably all nuts. On the other hand, I don't like the government interfering with religious practices. On the one hand, we don't protect other religious practices that break the law. On the other hand, this is not an illegal practice but rather the neglect of available remedies.

On the one hand, I think I have to side with the government on this one. On the other hand, this IS Oregon we are talking about. The state where they can force you to seek medical treatment from a doctor, but the doctor can also kill you if you want.

In this schizo society, parents cannot say no to medical care needed to save a life, but the government can.

If only the Followers of Christ can get a death panel to declare their lives are not worth saving, then they should be good to go.

One Last Bit About Divine Deception

One last thing on this topic, and I promise I am done with it for a while.

Just in case you have not seen it, Dr. Peter Kreeft tackles this subject over at CatholicVote.org.

Dr. Kreeft agrees with me, but he is able to use all the smarty-pants stuff at his disposal of which I am bereft. That said, I think I got the philosophy right, but Dr. Kreeft explains why.

Please go read the entire article, but for those who will not. Here is a little take-away.

Similarly, when we discuss Kant and the issue of lying, most of my students, even the moral absolutists, are quite certain that the Dutchmen were not wrong to deliberately deceive the Nazis about the locations of the Jews they had promised to hide. They do not know whether this is an example of lying or not. But they know that if it is, than lying is not always wrong, and if lying is always wrong, then this is not lying. Because they know, without any ifs or ands or buts, that such Dutch deception is good, not evil. If anyone is more certain of his philosophical principles than he is that this deception is good, I say he is not functioning as a human being but as a computer, an angel, a Gnostic, or a Kantian. He is a Laputan, like Swift’s absent-minded professors who live on an island in the sky in Gulliver’s Travels, and who make eye contact with abstractions but not with human beings.

But can’t we solve the problem of the Dutchmen and the Nazis by saying that all lying is wrong but the Dutchmen don’t have to lie to save the Jews because they could deceive the Nazis without lying by a clever verbal ploy? No, because effective deception by clever verbal ploys cannot usually be done by ordinary people, especially by clumsy Dutchmen. I know; I’m one of them. Our moral obligations depend on abilities that are common, not abilities that are rare

Besides, the Nazis are not fools. They would suspect clever prevarications and sniff out duplicitous ploys. They could be reliably deceived and deterred from searching every inch of the house only by an answer like “Jews? Those rats? None of them in my house, I hope. Please come in, and if you find any, please give them rat poison. I hate those vermin as much as you do.”

You promised the Jews to hide them from their murderers. To keep that promise, you have to deceive the Nazis. Physical hiding and verbal hiding are two sides of the same coin, whether you call it lying, or deception, or whatever you call it. What it is, is much more obvious than what it is to be called. It’s a good thing to do. If you don’t know that, you’re morally stupid, and moral stupidity comes in two opposite forms: relativism and legalism. Relativism sees no principles, only people; legalism sees no people, only principles.

Yeah, what he said.

Sayed Musa to be Freed!?

This is great news. One for the good guys. Let's hope all goes well. Last week, I wrote a post at the National Catholic Register about Sayed Musa being put to death in Afghanistan for being a Christian.

Thanks to Kristi for the heads up from Senator Richard Lugar:

Thank you for contacting me regarding the reported detainment of Mr. Sayed Mossa (also spelled Mr. Syed Musa) in Afghanistan. I appreciate this opportunity to respond.

My staff recently participated in a conference call with Ambassador Jim Keith, Assistant Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, regarding Mr. Mossa. Ambassador Keith informed my staff that thanks to international pressure, particularly from the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, the government of Afghanistan has placed Mr. Mossa's prosecution on hold. Ambassador Keith believes that within a matter of weeks, Mr. Mossa will be quietly released and granted asylum in another country, possibly Pakistan where his family currently resides.

-Richard Lugar
US Senator, Indiana

Keep praying and contacting your legislators to ensure this comes off.

Sanctuary!!!!! Sanctuary!!!!

In perhaps the strangest turn in the weirdest story of the year, clergy from Illinois are offering sanctuary to Democrats who fled Wisconsin to avoid upsetting their union overlords, says the Lacrosse Tribune.

Seriously? Could this story get any weirder? I can't help but think of Quasimodo climbing Notre Dame and yelling "Sanctuary!!!! Sanctuary!!!!"



Except Quasi was trying to save a life. The Dems are just trying to stay elected which they know they can't do without unions pouring millions into their coffers.

Weasel Zippers reports:

Clergy from Illinois say they will offer sanctuary to Democratic senators who fled Wisconsin Thursday in an effort to stop Gov. Scott Walker’s controversial budget repair bill.

Catholic, Protestant and Jewish leaders from Wisconsin and Illinois plan a conference call with reporters this afternoon to discuss their support of collective bargaining rights for public employees.

More than 50 religious leaders have signed a letter in opposition to Walker’s plan, which would deny most public employees the right to collective bargaining.

Earlier this week Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki called on lawmakers to “carefully consider the implications of this proposal and evaluate it in terms of its impact on the common good.”

Wow. Just wow.

Euthanoodle - Let's Poison Ramen Noodles

In what will surely become one of the most infamous comments ever made about abortion, Rep. Gwen Moore of Wisconsin said yesterday that it is better to have an abortion than make a child be forced to live “eating Ramen noodles” and “mayonnaise sandwiches.”

So the CMR Institute for Advanced Suicidal Studies is now endorsing a plan for the government to poison all stocks of Ramen noodles so that the poor souls eating Ramen Noodles will find a merciful and quick end to their miserable existence.

CMR is calling this new form of euthanasia via noodles "THE EUTHANOODLE." (Patent pending)

The way CMR and Gwen Moore see it is we're doing them a favor because they don't even realize that their lives aren't worth living. The poor dears are so ignorant and clearly don't make enough money that we can even hand out Ramen noodles for free to people who look like Ramen noodle people, if you know what I mean. That way we can feel good about ourselves for our charity and they can feel...dead.

Hopefully CMR's endorsement of the euthanoodle will encourage others to have Ramen Noodle Parties where they'd invite the people they suspect of being miserable or living lives not worth living. Or if someone you know sometimes struggles at the end of a paycheck to feed their children, make it a EUTHANOODLE night.

Remember, they're better off dead than eating oriental pasta.

Come on America, let's EUTHANOODLE our way back to prosperity by ridding ourselves of anyone who might go hungry.

HS Wrestler Forfeits Rather Than Wrestle Girl

Because of his faith, state wrestling title contender Joel Northrup had to forfeit a match. It was either that, or wrestle a girl.

CNN A high school wrestler in wrestling-crazy Iowa forfeited a tournament match Thursday after refusing to grapple with a female opponent.

"As a matter of conscience and my faith, I do not believe that it is appropriate for a boy to engage a girl in this manner," Joel Northrup said in a written statement, according to the Des Moines Register.

Northrup is home-schooled but wrestles as a 112-pound sophomore for Linn-Mar High School in Marion, Iowa. He was a state title contender with a 35-4 record, CNN affiliate KCRG-TV reported.

His erstwhile opponent, Cassy Herkelman of Cedar Falls, advanced by default at Des Moines’ Wells Fargo Arena.

I don't have an issue if girls wish to compete head to head against boys in most sports, but wrestling is a different thing. It is a little too....ummm...physical.

Northrup, for his part, makes it clear that he respects these girls and their athletic accomplishments, but he cannot in good conscience wrestle a girl.

"I have a tremendous amount of respect for Cassy and Megan and their accomplishments. However, wrestling is a combat sport and it can get violent at times. ... It is unfortunate that I have been placed in a situation not seen in most of the high school sports in Iowa."

Good boy. There are some things more important than wrestling.

Anti Catholicism at Time Inc?

Did anti-Catholicism play a role in Time Inc forcing their CEO out the door?

This story in the New York Times might make you think so.

But the story is notable for a couple of reasons. The Times reports that company insiders criticized former CEO Jack Griffin for making politically incorrect remarks. But after reading Griffin's remarks I can't imagine how anybody even remotely sane could consider his remarks politically incorrect.

Check it out. The Times reports that Griffin, before working at Time, had headed up Meredith,a women's magazine publisher,:

Mr. Griffin also made what some executives considered to be the occasional impolitic remark. In one of his first mass interactions with Time Inc. employees at a town hall meeting, he told them, according to one executive there, that he was finally at a company “where I can actually read the magazines,” an apparent reference to the fact that Meredith publishes women’s magazines.

So the guy worked at a publishing house that printed women's mags and he said he didn't read them and that's offensive? How? In what world could that possibly be offensive that a man doesn't like reading women's magazines?

But here's the thing. After criticizing Griffin for his "impolitic" comments, the Times reports without any reservation that Griffin's Catholicism likely played a role in his getting forced out.

Check out this graph:

Mr. Griffin, a Roman Catholic, made some in the company uneasy by referencing his faith in meetings and interactions with subordinates, two company executives said. On at least one occasion, he compared Time Inc. to the Vatican as a way of illustrating its prestige and might, these people said. Mr. Bewkes personally intervened, asking Mr. Griffin to tone down the religious references...

Personally, I think if anything The Vatican should've been upset by a comparison to Time Inc. But maybe I'm biased.

But think about that. Griffin saying he didn't read women's mags is offensive but Time Inc. freaking out about a positive reference to the Vatican is perfectly fine and is actually used as evidence that Griffin needed to go?

I don't know who's crazier here, the ninnies at Time Inc or the clowns at the New York Times who don't seem to have a problem with it.

Note: This shouldn't come as much of a surprise in that in 2007 Time ran this story and pic with barely any facts to support it.

Awesomist Story Since Awesome Was Invented

This is the awesomeist story since awesome was invented. Democrats in Wisconsin, fleeing their responsibilities as legislators, have turned pathetic into comedy gold.

In order to flee a vote on a budget bill in the legislature to eliminate much of the collective bargaining power of unions, Dems jumped on a bus (when was the last time they did that?) to hightail it out of town. The Republicans sent the cops after them so that the could attain a quorum but the miscreants made to a Best Western in Illinois, outside Wisconsin jurisdiction.

Teapartiers found out where the socialists were holed up and chased them out. They are now tailing the bus of socialists wherever they go, which is reportedly back in Wisconsin.

You cannot make this up.

This story is awesome what is awesome!!!

UPDATE: AWOL Wisconsin Dems call in to CNN with their list of demands. This is the craziest story ever. And it seems to be getting crazier.

Judge Rules Life Support for Baby Removed, Against Parent's Wishes

What the heck is going on in Canada...oh wait it's the same thing going on right here in the United States. This is a truly horrifying story from LifeSiteNews.com. This is a death panel. Up and running right now. In fifth gear. So all you folks who giggled when we warned against death panels, well here they are:

One-year-old Joseph Maraachli of Windsor, Ontario will have his life support removed Monday at 10 am. after the Ontario Superior Court today rejected an appeal by the parents to bring him home where he can die under their care.

A leading anti-euthanasia advocate says the decision facilitates a system where doctors are authorized to force life and death decisions on patients, warning that this is, in fact, far worse than the “death panels” recently debated in the U.S. as part of the federal health care law.

“Monday at 10 am they will kill my baby,” Moe Maraachli, Joseph’s father, told LifeSiteNews shortly after the ruling. “There’s no more humanity. There’s no more chance. I’ve tried everything for him. No more appeals, nothing.”

“I asked them: why not send him to Windsor and let him die at home?” he continued. “They said they will give him injection, but I don’t want to.”

“I ask God, and maybe he breathe,” he added.

I can't even imagine what these parents are going through. These people want a tracheotomy done so they can care for the child at home but the hospital's saying the surgery is too risky so instead they'll just remove life support and let him die. Soooooo...what happens if the tracheotomy fails? He might die. So to avoid the possibility of death the hospital is going to ensure death.

Check out LifeSiteNews.com for more.

Scatter Us Out

The Blurb on this video says:

With the new Mass translations coming out this year, the "Gather" hymnal will sadly become obsolete. With that in mind, I composed a tribute medley to some of the best songs contained therein. Unfortunately, I didn't have a hymnal around when I was tracking this, so I did the best I could to remember the lyrics from memory. Enjoy!

So you know what you are getting. Good stuff.



Boy, I love singing as God in the first person. I am sure God does too. BTW, the Brady Bunch one made me laugh out load. And I would gladly be God's sherpa, or something.

Food Nazis Kill Ronald

These guys again. Look, I know these guys are all serious about this whole food thing but these guys are beclowning themselves. Something happens to people who are soooooo serious about something they end up not knowing when their actions begin to make them look foolish.

If you had a bunch of guys putting together a video to make fun of food Nazis this is the video you'd make. Personally, I'm hoping for a sequel -maybe a Grimace snuff film.



HT The Blaze

Is Deception Always Wrong? I'm Not Convinced

Ever since the release of the Lila Rose - Live Action videos that exposed Planned Parenthood for their illegal practices (beyond the obvious immoral practices,) I have been following the debate over the sinfulness of subterfuge with much interest.

My esteemed colleague Mark Shea has treated on the subject twice in the last week (here and here.)

I have to admit that after reading Mark's comments, the articles that he links to, and the catechism, the case seems cut and dry. And yet, I suspect that it is not. There remain some questions that I believe are unanswered.

I wish to be clear here before I continue; I am posing questions here, not making pronouncements. I am not making a defense of the particular actions of Lila Rose or Live Action. (Although I do suspect they may be justified.) Additionally, and please listen to me here, I am not advocating an ends justify the means defense. I wish to speak only about the idea that lying or deception is always wrong. The catechism seems, and may well be, complete and definitive on this point. Yet for me questions remain.

Continue Reading @ National Catholic Register>>>>

Abby Johnson Teams with Lila Rose

Pretty awesome:

Today Live Action announced the addition of Abby Johnson, former Planned Parenthood director and employee of eight years, to the Live Action team as Chief Research Strategist.

“Abby Johnson has seen the abuses inside Planned Parenthood with her own eyes and confirms the danger its clinics pose to women and young girls,” stated Live Action President Lila Rose. “She is a courageous trailblazer despite Planned Parenthood’s desperate attempts to attack her and silence the truth. We are thrilled and very thankful to have Abby join our team and are confident that her first-hand experience, conviction and guidance will provide invaluable counsel to Live Action as we advance our common goal of protecting women and children from the abuses of Planned Parenthood.”

Continue reading>>>

Battle Over a 25 ft. Cross in Suburbs

There's a lot going on in Baldwin, PA.

Normally, I'm not sure I'd side with a guy who lights up a 25 foot cross on top of his house in the suburbs. But there's something about this case that rankles me a bit. Maybe it's the woman calling the cross "obnoxious" and I just get the feeling she's not talking about the lights. Or maybe it's the township saying that it's against the township's lighting code that they just passed on the same night of the hearing on the cross. Now that's obnoxious.

The Blaze reports:

The disagreement centers on Carl Behr’s illuminated yard crosses, especially his giant, 25-feet tall one. Neighbors say the lights are blinding and want him to take them town, and the local city council agrees, having issued an order for Behr to remove the crosses on Monday.

But it’s an order Behr ignored and says is an assault on his faith.

“They’re not coming down,” he told KDKA-TV. “Somebody’s gotta make a stand against these people and I’m here to make it.”

“It’s been about the Lord since the beginning and if anyone tries to make me remove them, they will only anger the Lord,” he added:

Firstly, the lights aren't "blinding." OK? They're just not.

Look, living in a community you have to allow that you can't do whatever you want with your property. But like I said sometimes I just get annoyed at the people who get annoyed at 25 foot high illuminated crosses. Maybe I shouldn't. I just do. Maybe it's because I suspect they'd be just as annoyed by a five foot tall cross.



HT The Blaze

Anyone Taking Trump Seriously?

I've read in a number of places some guardedly positive feedback to Donald Trump's consideration of running for President. I've read how they're pleased that he's pro-life now. Please don't get sucked into any of this. This is all an ego trip for Trump. He gets a lot of attention for a few months for himself and his show. And that's his end game.

Sure, it's true that some of the things he says about China and Ron Paul's electability are correct but do we really want this guy even considered for a moment. Come on. The guy's currently on a television show with Gary Busey and Meatloaf for goodness sakes.

Was Trump showing off his presidential gravitas here?

What We Don't Know About The Brain

Watch this amazing video about a boy who doesn't know he is missing part of his brain.



As the doctor says, this case just goes to show what they don't know about the brain. So, can we all agree to stop starving people to death who doctors say "they are sure" have no chance of recovery? Please?

Well, That Didn't Take Long

Hooray for the Egytpian people. Well, except if you happen to be in the 20% of the population that is Coptic Christian. If you are part of that 20%, then sorry dude.

Look, you can't say you are surprised by this.

Egypt's military has struck a committee to write a new constitution. The exercise is expected to complete in ten days and brought before the Egyptian people for a vote in two months.

While the panel includes a member of the Muslim Brotherhood there are scarcely any Coptic Christians on the committee while women have been left off the committee altogether.

The exclusion of Coptic Christians is particularly galling when one considers the New Year's Massacre of Copts in Alexandria which resulted in the deaths of 21 people. It seems the Egyptian military and the Muslim Brotherhood are determined to keep Coptic Christians even more marginalized in a post-Mubarak Egypt.

Of course, President Obama, will demand proper representation for the Copts, just like he did the Muslim Brotherhood, right? Right?

We should remember that President Obama is the same guy who, when the New Year's Christians attacks occured, suggested that it was an attack on Muslims too. It wasn't.

So just as the the Egyptian people found that they were on their own in deposing Mubarek, Copts, you are on your own in not getting massacred. Have a nice day.

Ht GatewayPundit

Obama's Gift to the Egyptian People

This has to be one of the funniest things I've ever read. Honestly. It's been shown that President Obama's administration was all over the map on this Egypt thing, to the point of seeming foolish.

But Thomas Friedman of the New York Times said that because Obama's like the awesomest President like ever, even his incompetence gives gifts for millions. You've got to check this out. Friedman writes:

In the end, President Obama made a hugely important but unintended contribution to the democracy revolution in Egypt. Because the Obama team never found the voice to fully endorse the Tahrir Square revolution until it was over, the people in that square now know one very powerful thing: They did this all by themselves. That is so important. One of the most powerful chants I heard in the square on Friday night was: “The people made the regime step down.”

This sense of self-empowerment and authenticity — we did this for ourselves, by ourselves — is what makes Egypt’s democracy movement such a potential game-changer for the whole region.

Wow. That's all the NY Times could come up with? That's like me telling my kids, "Hey remember when I went missing all last month because I was on a bender, well that has taught you to make your own lunches and live with complete strangers in a foster care setting. So you see it's just a big ol' gift to you that you've learned to be independent. Come on kids, I didn't abandon you, I empowered you."

How do you think that would go over?

Ad: GOP Forcing Women into Back Alley

If the GOP has their way women would be forced into the back alley for abortions, according to a new ad from MoveOn.org. The ad stars some actress I don't know but is from the show "House." In the ad, she's walking down a hall and she opens the closet and...gasp...what's in there?

A COAT HANGER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I guess they're afraid any restriction on abortion might not keep abortion as safe as Dr. Kermit Gosnell's clinic. Oh wait...

The thing is that the whole back alley epidemic is a myth and they know it. Former abortionist (and pro-life Catholic convert) Bernard Nathanson admitted that he along with others completely fabricated the numbers of "back alley" abortions and that they laughed when their slogans were treated as scripture by the media.

Here's the ad from MoveOn:
Anyone else getting the sense that the left is really scared this time? With the Lila Rose videos, poll numbers skewing towards the pro-life side, all sorts of pro-life legislation popping up all over the map, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie defunding Planned Parenthood and now Mike Pence is attempting to defund Planned Parenthood on the federal level I'm thinking the left is scared, really scared for the first time in a loooooong time.

Good. Expect the rhetoric to get a lot crazier the more gains we make. Expect a lot more talk of coat hangers. In which case, here's my response:



HT The Blaze

Big Abortion vs. Phill Kline

Who is Phill Kline? He is the only prosecutor to ever bring criminal charges against Planned Parenthood. And now Big Abortion is coming for him. Big time.

I received an email the other day about how Planned Parenthood is attacking the Kansas prosecutor Phill Kline who dared to point out that late term abortionist George Tiller was breaking the law (a lot.) I was working on something else at the moment and I think that email got buried and I never got back to it.

But I'm diving back into it now and doing some research and darn it if this ain't an extremely important story going on right now. And of course, I'm just catching on to the tail of it. Because I suck.

Big Abortion in cahoots with Kathleen Sebelius initiated a string of investigations and ethics complaints into Kline. What Big Abortion (and Sebelius) is really doing here is sending a message to prosecutors all across the country that your life will be destroyed if you come up against us. And let's face it -if there's one thing Planned Parenthood does well it's destroy lives.

Jill Stanek is covering this story which is about to play out in a courtoom. I'm kinda' coming in late to the story so I'll do my best to catch up to this over the next few days.

But check out this story at Jill Stanek's excellent pro-life blog.

Jack Cashill of the great site American Thinker has all the facts and background in his piece called "Why Prosecutors Fear the Abortion Industry."

Does This Scare You?

Check out this video from Flopping Aces. It seems to me that this guy was speaking truth and then his superior off camera put the brakes on in a hurry.

Planned Parenthood Forcing Abortions?

You've got to read this. Seriously messed up. A Planned Parenthood employee was holding a 14 year old girl in a Planned Parenthood clinic against the father's wishes. A clinic employee even lied to police to keep the girl.

I guess it happened in 2008 but it flew under the radar of the media. Surprise. Surprise. The fact is the media is in bed with Planned Parenthood and won't do anything to hurt them. They've tried to ignore Lila Rose for years.

Our job (you too) as new media types is to keep pushing. If we want the feds to defund Planned Parenthood it's going to take a real push from all of us. If you know of lawsuits or horror stories about abortion clinics blog about it, send it to us, send it to LifeNews.com or LifeSiteNews.com. Get it out there.

We have momentum but so much is aligned against us. Please realize how damaging it would be to lose hundreds of millions in federal funding. And it's within grasp right now. Lila Rose's videos have started this ball rolling, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie showed it can be done. Now we need to keep the ball rolling.

Check this out from Life News.

On the heels of a slate of new videos showing Planned Parenthood centers in three states and Washington, D.C. assisting alleged sex traffickers in getting abortions for underage girls, a new report shows problems at a Washington state abortion business.

A newly-uncovered police report concerning a September 2008 incident reveals staff at a Kennewick, Washington Planned Parenthood doing everything possible to arrange an abortion for a 14-year-old girl who had been a victim of statutory rape by a 20-year-old man. The staff also try to keep the young girl at the Planned Parenthood center against her father’s will.

Continue reading at LifeNews.com

Also, you can check out a copy of the police report here.

I Am In Awe of Such Faith

An Afghanistan Christian and father of six, is imprisoned and scheduled to die. His crime? He believes Christ is his Savior. And he is scheduled to die because of it. No defense lawyer will take his case for fear of retribution. And he has been told that if he renounces Christ things would go easier. But he doesn’t. He won’t.

Said Musa, who lost his leg from a landmine in the 1990’s and has worked since then as a medical worker for the Red Cross fitting children with prosthetics, has been in jail for eight months. According to a public letter written by him and addressed to our President and the world community, he has been brutally tortured and abused in every way possible, both by guards and inmates.

As of yet the media and the world seem to have taken little notice of Said Musa. There are currently less than 100 mentions of Musa in the news and most of them are not considered part of the mainstream media, other than the Wall Street Journal.

Musa wrote a public letter which I will excerpt here, courtesy of The Barnabus Fund. The English is rough but I think you’ll understand what he’s saying:

Continue reading at the National Catholic Register>>>

Uhm...We're All Kinda' Doomed

Some are speculating that a horseman of the apocalypse can be seen at about 1:20 into this video. So either it's a lens flare or we're all doomed.

Good news is that we know that the world's not supposed to end until 2012 so we're like totally fine, I think. Bad news is that if I were one of the horsemen Egypt might just be where I'd show up right now.



HT The Blaze