Abbey-Roads2

This is important to consider. 

I’m publishing a comment from Lee Ann on my post, Feeding the Beast which dealt with the number of women in the UK who have had multiple abortions.  Lee Ann is responding to another commenter. 

Comment:

Newly pregnant by two months - eighteen - no means of support save my parents. Pregnant now for 16 weeks. My parents tell me I WILL go to a clinic and this “problem” will be taken care of.

Choice? What the hell are you talking about? I had no choice!

I am not a victim - I am victorious in Christ who has heard my cries, my sadness and my sorrow over the death of my baby, even though I had no idea what was going on in the medical procedure.

I have not lived one day without sadness since that day - that day that I was forced. Yes, I walked into the “clinic”, yes, I did what the doctor told me to do. I did what was demanded of me by my parents - and I won’t even go into the ways that they encouraged and sexualized me at an early age - there is just not enough space here.

I stopped thinking and feeling that day. I have lived in my own hell for years - hell of drug and alcohol abuse, hell of feeling worthless, hell of being unacceptable to myself.

What CHOICE?

No, I had no choice.

I HATE that I had an abortion - I hate to know that I was part and party to the death of my own child, but I will never understand why there are people who think that I, or any other woman who aborts felt they had a choice.

My son would have been 38 this fall - his name is Matthew Dean and you can read more on my blog about what it is like to be a post abortive woman.

For any of the readers who are post abortive, man or woman, please contact Rachel’s Vineyard, a post abortive healing ministry. RV will help you begin to heal from your abortion if you have not already done so.

Thank you for permitting me to speak out.

To God be the Glory - Lee Ann of Matthew’s Mom

Thanks Lee Ann.

Do we freely choose all the time?

If we know ourselves very well, we can understand if we have freely chosen to do this or that, or chose to be this or that.  But I don’t think we can ever say with any certainty, “she chose to do that”, or “he chose to be that.”  Not unless we have evidence, or the person tells us, “Yes, I chose to do this”, or “yes, I chose to be this.”

Without full consent of the will… 

Perhaps a choice, albeit unconscious, or constrained, or coerced, could be said to have been made in certain situations or lifestyles, albeit under duress.  In such a case I believe a moral theologian would say one’s freedom is limited, hence one’s culpability may be mitigated - although the consequences can be the same.  (Forced abortion = death of infant; freely chosen abortion = death of infant.) 

Whatever the case, it is important that we pray much for one another, since only God sees the conscience.    In such circumstances we do well to consider St. Paul’s words,  “I do not even pass judgment on myself.  The Lord is the one to judge me, so stop passing judgment before his return.  He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and manifest the intentions of hearts.” - 1 Corinthians 4: 3-5

Of course, St.  Paul’s admonition does not mean we are not allowed to judge between acts that are immoral and sinful, and those that are moral and good. 

“Shame on Oprah!” 

A Christian attorney for the Alliance Defense Fund is blasting Oprah for a show that aired last week entitled “237 Reasons To Have Sex”.  I didn’t watch it, but I did see the ads for the show.

ADFspecial counsel Pat Trueman says it is shameful that Winfrey would advocate destructive behavior on her national talk show. “Shame on Oprah!” says Truman. “There are lots of children who watch the show. Many adults; many, many Christians; she’s got a loyal following because she does have good things on her show.”

But he argues that because of Winfrey’s status, giving a forum to people with what he describes as “anti-Christian” and “sinful” values only serves to popularize such behavior — and that encouraging adultery and pornography can only harm marriages. - OneNewsNow

Huh?

Since when has anyone recognized Oprah as a Christian icon or role model?  She surely produces interesting TV, and does wonderful humanitarian work.  She is well known for her charity, her defense of women and children against abuse, as well as many other causes.  But she is not a saint.

The recent sex show isn’t anything new.  Last year she had Meg Ryan on talking about her work for the U.N. in India.  In the interview, footage was shown of Ms. Ryan talking to under privileged women and girls about the joys of masturbation.  Anyone who ever has watched Oprah knows she lives with her boyfriend, without benefit of marriage;  she’s pro-gay, pro-choice, pro a lot of stuff that isn’t exactly Christian.  She is also anti a lot of evil stuff - but that doesn’t make her an authority on anything - and her show, along with her philosophy is certainly not the gospel.

She seems to be a very good woman, sincerely desirous of helping humanity - yet her theology is more New Age than it is Christian.  She is really just the queen of pop-relativism.  That’s all.

[Thanks to Spirit Daily  for the news source.]

A pro-choice faith. 

I first heard the term Cafeteria Catholicism in the 1970’s, shortly after Paul VI released Humane Vitae.  It has been the perfect cliche to describe modern Catholics, who pick and choose what they will or will not accept as regards Catholic doctrine and discipline.

The other day, as Iwas getting a haircut, the woman I have gone to for years brought up the fact that she is sending her daughter to Catholic school this year.  In all the time I have known her we have never discussed religion.  I was surprised that she attends Mass regularly, goes to confession, and raises her kids strictly.  She told me her husband, who is Lutheran, is now going to come into the Church.  She explained that he always had gone to Mass with the family, but refrained from receiving Communion, now he believes and  wants to receive, so he is coming into the Church.

I feel like a stranger in a strange land.

I don’t want to make this too long, but let me explain that I’m something of a hermit.  I do not have that much exposure to average married couples and families who do the cafeteria thing.  Of course I read on blogs about non-Catholics going to Communion, and I know people pick and choose what they believe in, but I don’t really engage in conversations with anyone about it.  But it’s not like I’m unaware of people doing their own religious thing either - I know it exists.

To make a long story short, Linda (that’s her name) mentioned that their friends from Church were telling her that her husband could go to Communion, Catholic or not.  Her friend revealed that her husband, who is a member of the music ministry for the Church, is not Catholic, but he goes to Communion all of the time.  Linda said she doesn’t accept that, but did not want to get into a discussion with her friends about it.

Amazingly, Linda is rather orthodox in her faith, and does just about everything ‘by the book’.  For instance, she will not go to Communion if she missed Mass the previous Sunday.  She will go to confession first, and she doesn’t think Communal Penance without individual confession is valid.  I told her she was correct.

I accept everything but this and that.

I was impressed that Linda is so traditional in her practice of the faith.  Then she told me the one thing she doesn’t accept, which is the ban on contraception.  She used the pill until she had a tubal, despite the fact the Church teaches this is wrong.  So there she was after all, standing in the cafeteria line, even though her tray was full, she left out a very important piece of the pie.  My heart sank.

As we discussed other issues, I realized she didn’t accept a few other things.  I hid my disappointment and resolved to pray for her, recognizing she was convinced that she was right.  She was raised in the late 1970’s, attended Catholic school, and learned that it is nearly impossible for a person to commit a mortal sin and that conscience reigned supreme.  Linda is pretty much living what she was taught, although she obviously rejects some of the errors.

“Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.” - Luke 8

I know many of my readers and other Catholics would have tried to point out to Linda the error of her thinking, but I recognized she knew what the correct teaching is and decided to reject it.  There is little to be gained by arguing with a person. I explained that I agreed with what the Church taught, and she tried to justify why she rejected it.  Although she was a bit more traditional than her church friends, she nevertheless did not believe everything the Church teaches.  She simply refuses to accept it - I can’t make her believe.

Today’s Gospel reading about the seed and the sower helped me understand the situation in a new light.  Cafeteria Catholics “may look but not see, and hear but not understand.”  Indeed, the word of God is given to all, but not all accept it.  In the beginning, some accept it with joy and enthusiasm, “but the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts that they may not believe and be saved.”  Those on “rocky ground” may receive the word with great devotion, and accept many of the externals of religion, yet their enthusiasm is superficial and they abandon the faith as soon as temptation, challenges or difficulties come along.  

However, the real cafeteria Catholic is the one whose faith disintegrates, little by little, because of the anxieties of life.  (Anxieties over having too many children, or having found the person you love but are not able to marry because one of you is divorced, or you are same-sex, and so on.)  Oftentimes the cafeteria Catholic is rich in his own intellectual prowess, and knows more than the outdated ’medieval’ Church.  In other cases, his material wealth and luxurious lifestyle inform him  there is no need for religion - except that which suits him.  For one reason or another, the faith becomes just another aspect of one’s life, packaged and compartmentalized, placed on the shelf, and if it is convenient, to be taken out on Sundays.

“Are they few in number who will be saved?”

I’ll conclude with this story Linda told me.  She said that last spring, when her parish had Communal Penance, the new pastor  informed everyone that there would be no general absolution, that priests would be available for individual confessions at the conclusion of the service.  Linda said that in the past, the church was filled to capacity for Communal Penance, whereas this year, hardly anyone showed up - because they were expected to make individual confessions.  I said “That is good!  You see, the priests must correct the abuses with authentic catechesis and providing the sacraments as they are meant to be administered.  This will eventually get everyone on the same page.”

Linda protested, “But nobody showed up for the penance service.  That is what will happen if they try to enforce all of these rules on people.”  I think Linda is a very typical, average Catholic in the pews on Sundays.

Obviously, the cafeteria is not  closed.

Cause and effect. 

It strikes me as providential that the first reading of today’s Mass should mention the Cities of the Plain, Sodom and Gomorrah, having been Lot’s destination as he separated from Abraham - seeing it is the middle of Gay Pride week.

LifeSiteNews.com has an interesting article on America’s Rabbi, Daniel Lapin speaking about a chastisement or purification coming for this Country, because our sins rival those of the world before the flood, as well as those of Sodom and Gomorrah.  Interestingly enough, within the piece is a quote from the late Ruth Graham who said, “If God does not judge America soon, he will have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah.”  The Rabbi assures us he won’t have to do that:

As for God having to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah for not acting on America for its sins, Rabbi Lapin suggests God is in fact acting on
America.  “God doesn’t necessarily act towards every culture in the same way,” he said.  “Every culture that adopts abortion and homosexuality as normal is a culture that begins to decline and eventually vanish off the stage of world history - that is God acting.”“That is precisely the point.  It is not that hard to see in many ways the fortunes of the US of A are simply not where they were before these twin scourges became prevalent.  Yes, He is acting - He is not going to have to apologize to
Sodom at all.  He is being very consistent.  He may not be burying us in thunderbolts and mountains of salt but the damage that the US of A is enduring is no less fatal.”- LifeSiteNews.com

Deduction, my dear Watson.

St John of the Cross tells us reason and common sense ought to inform us that some chastisement awaits us.  He writes: “Supernatural events can also be known in their causes, since the divine Providence responds most certainly and justly to what the good or bad causes arising from some men demand.  One can know naturally that a particular person or city, or some other factor, will reach such a point that God in his providence and justice must respond in conformity with the punishment or reward that cause warrants.” - Ascent II, 21:9 

Sadly, abortion (murder) and sodomy are two sins that cry to heaven for vengeance.  The coming cataclysm will be good for some, very bad for others.  Someplace in the Gospel Jesus assures us, “By your patience you will save your souls.”  Today, he also instructs us as to how we should conduct ourselves:

“Strive to enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many.  How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life.  And those who find it are few.” - Matthew 7

However, just as in the days of Noah…

(Art: Destruction of the Cities of the Plain)

Is China our friend or enemy? 

Good headline huh?  No, I don’t have any official data on whether or not China is conducting a war on the U.S. - although reading weekly news articles about America’s trade partner - week after week for years now, suggests the Chinese are certainly not our allies.

Even if you ignore the fact that they are building up their nuclear arsenal to attack Taiwan and other points West, or turn a blind eye to their persecution of Catholics faithful to Rome, imprisoning bishops and priests, blowing up shrines to Our Lady…or ignore the fact they skin dogs and cats alive to supply fur to Western clothiers…or permit slave labor,  and don’t forget human organ harvesting, it seems to me China is a government the free world ought not to support.

Employing a sort of bizarre, eminent domain theory, the Chinese government is in the process of displacing hundreds of thousands to build Olympic facilities for the upcoming games to be held in 2008.  It is a government that has absolutely no regard for human rights, let alone human life.  And yet U.S. businesses and government supports this communist regime which is little more than a continual atrocity in action.

What’s up with that? 

Is it simply greed on our part, or do we approve of Chinese foreign and domestic policies.  But where is the evidence for a covert war on the West?  A report todayfocuses upon the tainted, if not deadly imports coming into our country  from China.  Most people know about the tainted pet food, which sickened and killed many of our pets, then came the tainted tooth paste.  But it’s more than that, it’s bogus pharmaceuticals, poisonous cosmetics, toxic fish and other food products, and the toxins don’t stop there - paints and finishes on toys and gift products, and so on.

What’s the message here?

Don’t buy Chinese!  Don’t support a government that exploits it’s own people for profit and gain, while denying basic human rights to their citizens.  They cannot even meet minimum business standards to make sure the goods they manufacture are safe for the consumers they export to - and they don’t care.  Greed calls out to greed in the roar of the Stock Exchange floor.

As Catholics, we should have understood this a long time ago, since the persecution of the Underground Church in Chinahas been no secret to us for years now - but we ignore our suffering brothers and sisters because we are so attached to inexpensive product.  Catholics are big-butt consumers too, you know - and Catholic merchants are not above unjust exploitation either.   Manufacturers and merchants are perhaps more culpable than the consumer, since marketing these goods could possibly be considered an act approaching collusion with an evil regime.  (IMHO)  (Of course all of us pay taxes,  from which a percentage goes to support Planned Parenthood, which in turn supports abortion, and so on - so what are you going to do?)

Next time you go into a Catholic religious goods store, take a quick inventory of all the products manufactured in China.  Currently, Roman Inc., the supplier for lines such as Fontanini (the well known Nativity manufacturer, whose figures are molded in China, along with all of their packaging), happens to be a major player in the Catholic gift market.  The Roman line includes other kitschy in-house product lines, developed and marketed to retailers across the country.  The Company has recently developed a new Renaissance Collection of lovely devotional statues - all made in China.  As I mentioned, this Company supplies other religious goods, as well as gift product, both to religious andsecular retail stores, and much of the product is made in China.

Care-full shopping. 

Check the product, or ask the retailer if something is made in China - if it is, don’t buy it and ask the retailer not to sell it.  If they won’t take it off the shelves - take your business to Aquinas and More - the company listed in  my sidebar - they refuse to sell products made in China.  You would be surprised to realize how much of the religious kitsch available for sale - novelty saint’s watches, book marks, cheap rosaries, etc., are made in China. 

Change can happen.  As Catholics, I believe we must be concerned about justice, we need to move away and detach ourselves from our consumer addiction and maybe learn to do without some of the superfluous junk we buy.  And of course, as Jesus warns in the Gospel, we must avoid greed in all of it’s forms.

Boycott Chinese products (read one family’s testimony), and boycott the 2008 Olympics while you’re at it.

(Art: Courtesy of Vultus Christi.)