Abbey-Roads2

You better work!

Sarah Palin.  Initially, I was disappointed - she wouldn’t have been my choice, neither would Tim Pawlenty have been.  It only matters what I think if I were to vote - and maybe I will now, and maybe I won’t.

So far what I’ve read of Mrs. Palin sounds good - especially her pro-life stance and proving it by giving birth to a wonderful child with Downs Syndrome.  (I love kids like that!) 

Catholics seem happy about her - Gerald keeps commenting on Vox Nova how hot she is and accuses others of being sexist if they treat that in the negative.  I think he’s sexist for continually pointing out how hot she is.  Just proves we all say stupid stuff - so I better stop while I’m ahead.

What she will not do is steal disgruntled Hillary supporters - she’s pro-life and Hillary isn’t - along with an entire set of other differences… is that really how dumb the Republicans think women are?

They are saying Biden will eat her for lunch - listening to her acceptance speech, I doubt anyone will be able to do that.  Others say she is another Dan Quayle - I think she is far beyond him.  The other question - is she presidential?  (McCain may not live out his term.)  So the question must be asked in response;  “What is presidential?”  George Bush winking at the Queen or massaging the back of Angela Merkl?  I love the video of him dancing with Africans - I could watch it for hours. 

Yeah, so I have one thing to say to Mrs. Palin:  “You better work!”  LOL!

(I think she is a wonderful choice BTW.)

I don’t know how I did it but I linked to Sancte Pater and got the video of President Bush dancing to work.  I hope that is okay Vincenzo.

By 2015 deaths will out number births in Europe.

Whenever I read news stories concerning the rapid decline in European population, I cannot help but wonder if Our Lady of Fatima may have been referring to de-population as a form of annhilation.  She obviously said “nations will be annihilated” and the recent study from Eurostat is concerned with the various nationalities of peoples.  As everyone knows, the influx of Muslims into Europe is growing, and will be capable of replacing not only people of European descent, but religion as well.

London, Aug 29, 2008 / 01:36 am (CNA).- Eurostat, the European Union’s statistical service, has released a report indicating that by the year 2015, deaths in the region will outnumber births, and that by the year 2060, for every person above the age of 65 there will only be two people of working age.

According to the BBC, this severe demographic winter, the result of the drop in the birth rate and the increase in abortions in many countries of the European Union, will lead to a continual decrease in Europe’s population starting in the year 2035. - CNA

“The Lord brings to naught the plans of the nations;  he foils the designs of the peoples.” - Psalm 33

Herod and the martyrdom of the Baptist.

The Gospel tells us Herod feared John, “knowing him to be a righteous and holy man.”  Which suggests that he had a great respect for the prophet as well.  We are told “When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him.”  Thus we know Herod admired John, and loved to listen to his preaching, perhaps enthralled with his wisdom and inspired by his spirituality.  Herod obviously liked the study of theology and religion.  Nevertheless, his conscience must have been uneasy at some of what John taught, and not just with the reprimand John gave as regards Herod’s adultery.  It seems to me if Herod had not been in an irregular relationship condemned by John, he perhaps would have been one of John’s converts. 

Obviously it was his self-indulgence and worldly cares that got the better of him, despite his liking for religious things and his brand of  idiorhythmic spirituality.  A man ruled by his lusts, anxious for the respect of men, he beheaded the Baptist because of a rash promise.  He eliminated his adversary.  Imprisoning John couldn’t silence him, or reverse the condemnation of Herod’s inordinate affections - it couldn’t change the fact that Herod was publicly living a sinful life.  Herod couldn’t amend God’s law.  The martyrdom of John verified the Truth even more explicitly, and revealed how debauched and pathetic the deluded Herod really was.  With the Baptist gone, Herod’s adultery went unchallenged, and a false freedom of conscience reigned in his court.

Compromise.

Today we have Catholics - many of whom are  out and out ‘dissidents’, who have the form of religion - in fact they love religion, theology and spirituality, with all the degrees to prove it - yet Church teaching and authority gets in the way of their lifestyle or agenda.  Their power is not absolute - so they can’t behead anyone who contradicts them.  Instead they work to twist the truth, preserving elements of what ‘works’ for their purposes, and strive to justify their immorality through compromise.

The preaching of John the Baptist, the message of Christ and the Gospel, now transmitted through the Church, is a call to repentance and conversion.  It isn’t an affirmation of sinful lifestyles and habits at variance with Natural Law and the Commandments.  We as individuals are called to change our lives, we cannot change God or His Law to suit ourselves.  No matter how intricate our theology, how enlightened our spirituality, or how much we enjoy liturgy and religious things, there is an obedience we owe to God, without regard to human respect.

Impenitence.

I find it interesting that Herod continued to be fascinated by religion after the death of John, which is demonstrated by his curiosity about Jesus.  He was anxious to see Jesus after Pilot sent the Lord to him during the Passion.  He was hoping to see some miracle.  Yet the blood of John sealed his heart in impenitence, and he was unable to recognize Christ - he couldn’t perceive even a glimmer of Christ’s holiness.  It is kind of frightening.

Some people love religion, without loving the Truth.