Catholic Bishops oppose Catholic pro-abortion politicians.

I gratefully applaud those bishops who are showing some spine in this business of "Catholic" politicians and so-called abortion "rights".

Understanding abortion.

"The appellee...argues that the fetus is a "person" within the language and meaning of the Fourteenth Amendment...If this suggestion is established, the appellant's case, of course, collapses, for the fetus' right to life would then be guaranteed... All this...persuades us that the word "person", as used in the Fourteenth Amendment, does not include the unborn."
-Roe v. Wade

The question of abortion is not a religious issue. It is a secular one. To understand this, one must understand the question that the 1972 Supreme Court decision known as Roe v. Wade was answering. The question decided by Roe was simply this: can the Federal Government define and identify a group of human beings to whom the legal rights and protections of personhood do not apply? This question is manifested in Blackmun’s own words, which form the header of this piece, and which bear repeating: "The appellee...argues that the fetus is a "person" within the language and meaning of the Fourteenth Amendment...If this suggestion is established, the appellant's case, of course, collapses, for the fetus' right to life would then be guaranteed..." What was the point of this phrase?

On March 6, 1857, United States Supreme Court Chief Justice Taney handed down the Court’s decision regarding the case of one Dred Scott, a black slave who had sued for his freedom based on his residence for a period of time in the free territory of Wisconsin. The Court’s decision was that Dred Scot was, and had always been, property, and the fact that his owner had temporarily resided Scott in the free territory of Wisconsin did not change that. The central point in all this was not whether Scott was a human being, a person – the Court clearly said that he was, and referred to him as such. The question was whether this person could also be property and as such be ineligible for full protection under the laws of the United States. The Court’s answer was, “yes”, as long as he is a member of a particular subset of persons, specifically, blacks of African descent. Further, the Court endorsed the right of a person to choose to own a member of this particular subset of persons. One of the central disputes in the Civil War was the issue of states’ rights vis a vis the Federal Government: the Confederacy had some very legitimate beefs regarding the expanding powers of the Federal Government. Unfortunately, the right that the Confederate States chose as a vehicle to launch what was, in principle, a legitimate complaint was the right to choose to own another human being, provided he was a member of a defined subset of human beings.

Subsequent to the Civil War, the Congress recognized this problem, and the 14th Amendment was born. It goes like this:

Section 1.

All persons born or naturalized in the United States... are citizens of the United States and the States wherein they reside... nor shall any State deprive any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

And so the matter stood in our nation for 104 years. Not all persons were citizens, but all persons were given equal protection under law. Thus, a man who climbs over the border fence into Texas is not a citizen (not as of this writing, anyway), but he is a person. As such, if I shoot him I am just as liable to prosecution as I would be if he were a citizen and I shot him. That the framers of the 14th Amendment simply assumed that the definition of “personhood” extended to include unborn babies is supported by the simple fact that virtually all the States in the Union already had laws outlawing abortion and there is no record that anyone in the late 1860’s felt any need to alter that. By 1973, though, things had changed: the power elite wanted abortion legal. Justice Blackmun realized that he couldn’t do this because the 14th Amendment stood in the way. Notice that nowhere here is anyone talking about whether the unborn child is human or not, or alive or not, because it so obviously is both of those things. So, to get around the question of personhood, the Court simply, unilaterally, declared the unborn child an unperson to whom the protection of the law did not apply. As Justice Byron White noted in his written dissent, this was an exercise in raw judicial power.

Consider these two statements, both from the United States Supreme Court, the firts from Roe v. Wade, the second from Scott v. Sanford:

"All this...persuades us that the word "person", as used in the Fourteenth Amendment, does not include the unborn."

"A free negro, of the African race, whose ancestors were brought to this country and sold as slaves, is not a "citizen" within the meaning of the Constitution of the United States."

What both Scott v. Sanford and Roe v. Wade were about was deciding whether the Government could identify groups of biological human beings who were not protected under the law. In both instances, the Court’s answer was, “Yes, we can. We can identify subgroups of human beings to whom the protections of the law do not apply." This point cannot be overemphasized. In the 19th Century the identified subgroup was blacks of African descent. In the 20th, they were unborn children unwanted by their mothers. At the dawn of the 21st Century – who knows? Anyone can be an unperson. There is no meaningful logical difference between a man’s right to choose to own a member of a specified subgroup of humans, and a woman’s right to choose to kill a member of a specified subgroup of human beings. Indeed, as evil as slavery is, abortion is even more evil. In slavery, the slave is not condemned to death. In abortion, the child will die.

The question of abortion is not a religious issue, but a secular one. The question, simply, is this: do the legal protections of “personhood” extend to all biological human beings, or can some groups be exempted? How we answer this question has profound implications for the society our children will inherit.

Thought you'd like to know.

President-elect Obama's transition chief said Sunday the incoming administration is looking to reverse President Bush's executive orders on stem cell research, oil and gas drilling and other matters.

St. Charles Borromeo and the USCCB

“St. Charles, Cardinal Archbishop of Milan, was one of the greatest and holiest prelates of the years when the great Council of Trent was being completed and its enactments put into execution. He reformed the clergy and renewed the spirit of the monasteries in his diocese. He died A.D. 1584.” (The Daily Missal and Liturgical Manual, Baronius Press, 2004)

The other day, while in discussion with a colleague, the subject of religion came up. He asked if I was Catholic.
“Why, yes,” I quipped. “Can’t you tell? All those children (we have five).”
“Oh,” he said, “but the American Church allows contraception.” It is worth noting here that my colleague is also Catholic, of the “cradle” variety.
“No,” said I, “that’s not correct. The Church does not allow contraception, and the ‘American Church’ would have no authority to do such a thing.”
“Well, I didn’t know that,” he replied. “But”, he observed, “everyone does it anyway.”

That, of course, is true. Contraception rates among Catholic women are actually slightly higher than among women at large, 70% among Catholic women according to a 1995 study, compared to 64% among women at large.[i] A pretty sad state of affairs, but similar trends are seen regarding divorce and remarriage (everyone knows that “annulment” is simply “the Catholic divorce”), abortion and, if the composition of our elected officials is any indication, willingness to continue with abortion as the law of the land. In short, Catholics look no different demographically than any other identifiable group in this land.

I write this the morning after the election. The reason, the pundits say, that the Republicans have lost it all is because they have not been true to their base, trying to curry favor with the opposition by disregarding traditional conservative principles. It is certainly possible that if the Republicans had remained true to themselves they would have lost the elections anyway – after all, the opposition has a well documented abhorrence of those principles, and they won a majority – but at least the Republicans could look at themselves in the mirror. Currently, they have the worst of both worlds: abandonment of their principles, and loss of the election. So be it.

There is a parallel with the Catholic Church. The Church has largely abandoned her principles, at least for purposes of public discourse, anyway, and tries to appease her opponents, who have no interest in being appeased. This represents a failure in leadership. Starting at the top, with the Pope, and proceeding down throughout the ecclesial chain of command (bishops are, after all, put in their positions by the Pope) the hierarchy has diluted Church teaching and in so doing she has lost her ability to speak definitively and clearly to the Catholic on matters of faith and morals, matters which in turn guide the Catholic in the choices of day to day life. None of this is to say that the current Pope, any of his predecessors, or any of the bishops are in any way illegitimate. They are not. They are duly and legally appointed, and regardless of whatever shortcomings they may have as men, we owe them all the respect due their offices. But the simple fact is the recent Popes have appointed to high authority men who are, more often than not, incompetent to do their duties, and the Church and the faithful have suffered for it.

However, the Church is not a political party or a secular government, superficial resemblances notwithstanding. The Church is instituted by God, and is protected by Him from destruction, despite the foibles of the weak and willful men entrusted with her care. No political party, and no nation, can make the same claim. That doesn’t mean God won’t allow the men of the Church to make some grievous mistakes before things are set right. After all, it was decades of bad judgment by Church leadership which led to the Protestant Revolt and, only after this pain was inflicted did the Church right herself with the Council of Trent. Which brings us to St. Charles Borromeo and the American Church. St. Charles was one of the many true leaders of that time, the time of the dissolution of Christendom, who stepped forward and helped right the Church with clear and uncompromising teaching on matters of faith and morals. The Church had nothing to lose, after all; the fracture had happened, and was (and remains) beyond the grasp of men to correct. But the Church could to her own self be true, and that she did. Today the Church lacks true leaders, men who can stand unflinchingly against the forces arrayed against her. At least, she doesn’t have very many. There are a few, to be sure, and they deserve our support. But for the most part we have got not leaders in the USCCB but administrators and politicians, men who are primarily concerned with preserving their personal offices. Most are incompetent. And now we in the United States are faced with an Administration and a Congress which plans to make a centerpiece of the devaluation of human life, the redefinition of a legal person from a human being to an entity defined by the State, and to force those who would oppose these things to legal sanctions under the Freedom of Choice Act. And, the Vice President-elect, and the Speaker of the House, major architects of the monstrosities which await us, are Catholic. They were voted in by American Catholics. The Speaker received the Blessed Sacrament at the Papal Mass in the United States this past summer, and bragged about it. One hopes, and wonders, and prays, that the US Council of Catholic Bishops will have the stones to directly and clearly confront these people in their iniquity.



[i] Data from the National Center for Health Statistics, published in Fehring, R. and Schlidt, A.M. "Trends in Contraceptive Use Among Catholics in the United States: 1988-1995" The Linacre Quarterly - Journal of the Catholic Medical Association Vol.68 No. 2, May 2001. Pp. 170-185.

NSF

Perhaps now we shall find out exactly what he means by this.

Flu vaccines 2008

Ever since I first became aware of the vaccination question, I have dreaded the arrival of the "flu season", and its attendant, required flu shots. Some sort of flu vaccine, either the shot or the snorted version, is required for pretty much anyone who works in a hospital, whether you're a physician, nurse, or work in the laundry. Getting the shot per se doesn't bother me. It may even almost make sense from an epidemiologic standpoint. What bothers me is the fact that - sooner or later - the shot is going to be manufactured using cell cultures derived from aborted babies, and that will put it on the "morally tainted" list. When this happens, I will no longer be able to passively roll up my sleeve and let the corpsman jab me in the arm (full disclosure: I'm too old for the snorted version). Rather, I shall have to refuse on moral grounds and this shall jam me up with my bosses for sure: I have no doubt that I will find myself standing, not sitting, in front of the big boss's big wooden desk, trying to explain why, as a Catholic, I should refrain from partaking of a vaccine whose manufacture involved the use of cell lines derived from aborted babies. Not being of martyr material, I dread that this day may come, as I have many mouths in my house who depend on me for their daily bread. So, for the past year or two have found myself reviewing the package inserts for all the year's current crop of flu vaccines so as to see where I stand. This year is no different. I went to the FDA's "Resources for health professionals" and obtained the list of all the vaccines and inhaled mists for this flu season. Then I checked their package inserts, generally a pretty good way of finding out what you need to know about a thing. Whew! They're all manufactured the good ole' fashioned way, culturing the viri in embryonated chicken eggs. That's bad news if you're a chicken embryo, but it's good news for me: I can put off doing the rug dance in the boss's office for another year.

Obama's abortion stance sends young evangelicals to McCain

So reads the header of a story in the 30 October edition of the Washington Times. The centerpiece of the article is a Greenberg Quinlan Rosner poll which says that two thirds of all Catholics and white evangelical Protestants of all ages oppose funding for poor women overseas, and 70% of evangelicals say abortion should be illegal in all of most cases. The implication is that these people will vote for McCain over Obama, though I was unable to convince myself that the poll results say precisely that.

Evangelicals, in general, take their religion far more seriously than Catholics do theirs. It is the evangelicals, not the Catholics, whom the abortionists fear. While a few Catholic groups and some individual Catholics (and the all too rare Bishop) are quite staunch and heroic in their opposition to the murder of unborn children, as a group, American Catholics are, well, toothless. Certainly the hierarchy is wishy-washy: if the Catholic hierarchy were starched regarding settled issues of the faith (including, but by no means limited to, abortion), the elite and the media would be ridiculing the US Council of Catholic Bishops as fiercely as they do Focus on the Family, and Nancy Pelosi would not have received the Blessed Sacrament at a Papal Mass. But they don't, she did, and Catholic Church parking lots are filled with cars sporting Obama bumper stickers. Just so we're clear - Hussein Obama is arguably the most radical, pro-abortion politician to have ever held office, and will far and away be the most pro-abortion President if we are so unfortunate as to have him elected. And, if that misfortune befalls us, Catholics will have contributed greatly to his victory.

Daylight Savings Time 2008

For those of you who, like me, can never remember this stuff, I have the following from our friends at the U.S. Naval Observatory:

"Starting in 2007, daylight time begins in the United States on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. On the second Sunday in March, clocks are set ahead one hour at 2:00 a.m. local standard time, which becomes 3:00 a.m. local daylight time. On the first Sunday in November, clocks are set back one hour at 2:00 a.m. local daylight time, which becomes 1:00 a.m. local standard time. These dates were established by Congress in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Pub. L. no. 109-58, 119 Stat 594 (2005).
Not all places in the U.S. observe daylight time. In particular, Hawaii and most of Arizona do not use it. Indiana adopted its use beginning in 2006.

In 2008, daylight time begins on March 9 and ends on November 2.

In 2009, daylight time begins on March 8 and ends on November 1.

Many other countries observe some form of "summer time", but they do not necessarily change their clocks on the same dates as the U.S.
Daylight time and time zones in the U.S. are defined in the U.S. Code, Title 15, Chapter 6, Subchapter IX - Standard Time.
History of Daylight Time in the U.S.
Although standard time in time zones was instituted in the U.S. and Canada by the railroads in 1883, it was not established in U.S. law until the Act of March 19, 1918, sometimes called the Standard Time Act. The act also established daylight saving time, a contentious idea then. Daylight saving time was repealed in 1919, but standard time in time zones remained in law. Daylight time became a local matter. It was re-established nationally early in World War II, and was continuously observed from 9 February 1942 to 30 September 1945. After the war its use varied among states and localities. The Uniform Time Act of 1966 provided standardization in the dates of beginning and end of daylight time in the U.S. but allowed for local exemptions from its observance. The act provided that daylight time begin on the last Sunday in April and end on the last Sunday in October, with the changeover to occur at 2 a.m. local time.
During the "energy crisis" years, Congress enacted earlier starting dates for daylight time. In 1974, daylight time began on 6 January and in 1975 it began on 23 February. After those two years the starting date reverted back to the last Sunday in April. In 1986, a law was passed that shifted the starting date of daylight time to the first Sunday in April, beginning in 1987. The ending date of daylight time was not subject to such changes, and remained the last Sunday in October. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 changed both the starting and ending dates. Beginning in 2007, daylight time starts on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November.
For a very readable account of the history of standard and daylight time in the U.S., see
Ian R. Bartky and Elizabeth Harrison: "Standard and Daylight-saving Time", Scientific American, May 1979 (Vol. 240, No. 5), pp. 46-53."

Freedom of Choice Act

I will admit, I've been pretty discouraged about the current election. It's true, I am not a huge fan of John McCain. Many years ago, while going through the Naval Flight Surgeon training program down at Pensacola, we had a lecture from one of the long term Hanoi POW's from the Viet Nam war (this particular speaker is since deceased). One of the people who came up in his talk was Naval Aviator John McCain, a man whose story is pretty well known now. McCain was a true hero in those days, meaning one whose actions put him in danger of immediate damage or death, and he was an inspiration to his fellow prisoners. What happened to those most heroic and admirable traits once he became a politician I do not know (I am reminded of John Glenn, another man with admirable qualities in his youth which were shed in the interest of politics) but J. McC. is, for better or for worse, the Republican candidate. Whatever his shortcomings, though, I believe in my heart of hearts that John McCain believes in his heart of hearts that he is, in the final analysis, a man, nothing more.

I do not believe that's true of B. Hussein Obama. I believe that he believes that he is not just a man, but perhaps something more. Certainly great heaps and piles of his fawning disciples believe that. Make no mistake, a man who is both President and under the impression he is more than a mere man is a dangerous combination, especially when he has as compliant and radical a Congress as BHO is likely to have. Whether it will be as grim as Mr. Buchanan predicts predicts remains to be seen, but make no mistake, change we foolish Americans want, and change we shall get.

What affect us Catholics, though, in an immediate way, is the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA). All the details are available at the USCCB website here. Read about it. I am appalled at the number of Catholics who are voting for BHO despite his oft repeated support for so many "causes" so strongly in direct opposition to settled Church teaching, but this reflects the sad times in which we find ourselves. Nevertheless, educate yourself, on this and all the other issues, before you pull the lever.

Feast days of the week 3-9 August, A.D. 2008 (1962 liturgical calendar).

Saturday, 9 August 2008
THE VIGIL OF ST. LAURENCE, Martyr (II)
“St. Laurence, Deacon, is one of the most famous Martyrs of the innumerable Roman persecutions Uniquely among feasts of the second class he has a vigil Mass which follows:”

Collect: O Lord, give ear to our prayers, and by the intercession of blessed Laurence, Thy Martyr, whose festival we anticipate, graciously bestow upon us Thine everlasting mercy. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end.

ST. ROMANUS, Martyr (Comm.)
“St. Romanus, a Roman soldier, converted by St. Laurence, was cruelly beaten, and beheaded A.D. 261.”

Second Collect of St. Romanus: Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God: that through the intercession of blessed Romanus, Thy Martyr, we may be delivered from all harm to the body and all uncleanness of mind. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end.
Lesson: From the Book of Ecclesiasticus, 51:1-8, 12.
[The Church, in union with the Virgin martyrs offers to the Lord praise and thanksgiving.]
Gospel: Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, 16:24-27.
[All the followers of Christ must, like the martyrs, deny themselves.]

Remarks are abstracted from The Daily Missal and Liturgical Manual, from Editio Typica of the Roman Missal and Breviary, 1962 (Baronius Press Limited, London, 2004, in conjunction with the Fraternal Society of St. Peter, www.baroniuspress.com)

Feast days of the week 3-9 August, A.D. 2008 (1962 liturgical calendar).

Friday, 8 August 2008
ST. JOHN MARY VIANNEY, Confessor (III)
“The Cure d’Ars was born at Dardilly, near Lyons, in 1786. The sanctity of St. John Vianney gives to the obscure village Ars a universal fame. As parish priest he converted sinners and directed souls, not only those of his own flock, but people of all nations and conditions who came to consult this Spiritual Director. He died on August 4, A.D. 1859, and was canonized A.D. 1925.”

Collect: Almighty and merciful God, who didst make St. John Mary wonderful in his pastoral zeal and constant prayer and penance: grant, we beseech Thee, that by his example and intercession we may be able to win the souls of our brethren for Christ, and together with them attain to everlasting glory. Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who livest and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Spirit, now and forever.
Lesson: From the Book of Ecclesiasticus 31:8-11.
[The just man that hath not gone after earthly things is praised on earth and shall have glory everlasting.]
Gospel: Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Luke 12:35-40.
[Christ admonishes all to watch and be ready for His coming.]

SS. CYRIACUS, LARGUS AND SMARAGDUS, Martyrs (Comm.)
“St. Cyriacus, Deacon, and his two companions, Largus and Smaragdus, were put to death in the persecution of Diocletian A.D. 303.”

Collect: O God, who dost gladden us by the yearly festival of Thy holy Martyrs Cyriacus, Largus and Smaragdus: mercifully grant, that we, who celebrate their heavenly birthday, may also follow the example of fortitude they showed in their martyrdom. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end.
Epistle: From the First Letter of Bl. Paul the Apostle to the Thessalonians, 2:13-16.
[St. Paul was gladdened by the fortitude of the Christians.]
Gospel: Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Mark, 16:15-18.
[“Preach the Gospel of peace throughout the whole world.”]

Remarks are abstracted from The Daily Missal and Liturgical Manual, from Editio Typica of the Roman Missal and Breviary, 1962 (Baronius Press Limited, London, 2004, in conjunction with the Fraternal Society of St. Peter, www.baroniuspress.com

Feast days of the week 3-9 August, A.D. 2008 (1962 liturgical calendar).

Thursday, 7 August 2008
ST. CAJETAN, Confessor (III)
“St. Cajetan founded the Order of Theatines, who endeavoured to imitate the Apostles in absolute poverty, trusting alone in the divine Providence. The “Hunter of souls” as he was called, died A.D. 1547, after a life of extraordinary austerity and mystical experiences.”

Collect: O God, who didst grant to blessed Cajetan, Thy Confessor, grace to lead the life of an Apostle: grant by his intercession and example that we may always trust in Thee and desire only heavenly goods. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end.
Lesson: From the Book of Ecclesiasticus 31:8-11.
[The just man that hath not gone after earthly things is praised on earth and shall have glory everlasting.]
Gospel: Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, 6:23-33.
[“You cannot serve God and mammon.” “Therefore be not solicitous for your life … nor for your body … for your Father knoweth that you have need of all these things Seek ye therefore first the Kingdom of God and His justice.”]

ST. DONATUS, Bishop, Martyr (Comm.)
“St. Donatus, Bishop of Arezzo, in Tuscany, was beheaded under the Emperor Julian the Apostate A.D. 361.”

Collect: O God, the glory of Thy priests, grant, we beseech Thee: that we may experience the aid of Thy holy Martyr and Bishop Donatus, whose feast we are keeping. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end.
Epistle: From Bl. James the Apostle, 1:2-12.
[The benefit of tribulations. Prayer with faith.]
Gospel: Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Mark, 13:33-37.
[Take ye heed, watch and pray.]


Remarks are abstracted from The Daily Missal and Liturgical Manual, from Editio Typica of the Roman Missal and Breviary, 1962 (Baronius Press Limited, London, 2004, in conjunction with the Fraternal Society of St. Peter, www.baroniuspress.com)

Feast days of the week 3-9 August, A.D. 2008 (1962 liturgical calendar).

Wednesday, 6 August 2008
THE TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST (II)
“The Gospel of this Mass gives a full description of the wonderful Transfiguration of Our Lord on Mount Thabor.”

Collect: O God, who in the glorious Transfiguration of Thine only-begotten Son didst confirm the Mysteries of the faith by the witness of the fathers, and in the voice which came down from the shining cloud, didst wondrously foreshow the perfect adoption of sons: vouchsafe in Thy loving kindness, to make us coheirs with this King of glory, and to grant that we may be partakers of that same glory. Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who livest and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Spirit, now and forever.
Epistle: From the Second Letter of Bl. Peter the Apostle, 1:16-19.
[The Apostles were eyewitnesses of the majesty of our Lord at the transfiguration.]
Gospel: Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, 17:1-9.
[Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ on Mount Tabor; manifestation of the divinity of Jesus.]

ST. SIXTUS II, Pope, Martyr and SS. FELICISSIMUS and AGAPITUS, Martyrs (Comm.)
“St. Sixtus (or Xystus) II and two of his deacons, St. Felicissimus and St. Agapitus, were martyred during the persecution of Decius A.D. 258.”

Collect: O God, who dost permit us to celebrate the heavenly birthday of Thy holy Martyrs, Sixtus, Felicissimus and Agapitus: grant that we may rejoice in their fellowship in everlasting bliss. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end.
Lesson: From the Book of Wisdom, 5:16-20.
[The reward of the just and the reprobation of the wicked.]
Gospel: Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Luke, 6:17-23.
[The persecuted disciples of Christ will be rewarded in heaven.]

Remarks are abstracted from The Daily Missal and Liturgical Manual, from Editio Typica of the Roman Missal and Breviary, 1962 (Baronius Press Limited, London, 2004, in conjunction with the Fraternal Society of St. Peter, www.baroniuspress.com)

Feast days of the week 3-9 August, A.D. 2008 (1962 liturgical calendar).

Tuesday, 5 August 2008
THE DEDICATION OF THE CHURCH OF ST MARY OF THE SNOWS (III)
“This Basilica of Our Lady of the Snows, called also St. Mary Major, was built on the Esquiline at Rome by St. Liberius, Pope from 352 to 366. Popular tradition relates that the site was traced out by a miraculous fall of snow on this date, which is that of the Church’s dedication.”

Collect: Grant to us Thy servants, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, that we may enjoy perpetual health of mind and body: and through the intercession of blessed Mary ever Virgin may be delivered from present sorrow and possess eternal joy. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end.
Lesson: From the Book of Ecclesiasticus, 24:14-16.
[Wisdom (here a figure of the Blessed Virgin) speaks of herself: her origin, her dwelling, her dignity and her fruits.]
Gospel: Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Luke, 11:27-28.
[The holy Mother of God is blessed among women.]

Remarks are abstracted from The Daily Missal and Liturgical Manual, from Editio Typica of the Roman Missal and Breviary, 1962 (Baronius Press Limited, London, 2004, in conjunction with the Fraternal Society of St. Peter, www.baroniuspress.com)

from LifeSiteNews.com

I have heard it said that the true key to power lies in the ability to form the minds of the young. The powers that be wish to form the minds of our young in the modernist worldview, and so homeschooling represents to them a very grave threat, because they have little or no control over the formation of young minds. That power, instead, resides precisely where it belongs: with the parents. Homeschooling is far more accepted than it was 20 years ago, but the battle for the minds of the children is far from over. Perhaps it is just warming up. - TC

D.C. State Board of Education Approves New Restrictive Homeschool Regulations
By Thaddeus M. Baklinski

WASHINGTON, D.C., Aug. 1, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The State Board of Education in the District of Columbia has approved the State Superintendent of Education's final draft of home education regulations that significantly increase restrictions on homeschooling families.
The proposed regulations have been a controversial topic since January, when the State Superintendent's Office created a first draft of new rules that sought to heighten restrictions and regulations on parents who choose to homeschool their children. The first draft included regulating the subjects parents must teach their children and a requirement that parents must permit home visits by D.C. school officials.
The Home School Legal Defense Association, spearheaded by HSLDA Staff Attorney Mike Donnelly and Senior Counsel Chris Klicka, launched a nation-wide campaign requesting homeschoolers across the country contact the D.C. State Board of Education (SBOE) and the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE).
According to an HSLDA communiqué, thousands of families responded with calls and emails to the mayor, SBOE, and OSSE.
After three public sessions held to discuss the regulations, which resulted in some of the stricter proposals being removed by the OSSE, the Board passed the new regulations.
Among other things, the new regulations require annual notification of a parent's intent to homeschool on a form to be developed by the OSSE, maintenance of a portfolio of schoolwork, and up to two annual portfolio reviews by the OSSE to determine whether a homeschool program, in OSSE's opinion, is providing "regular, thorough instruction" in the required subjects.
“The participation of the homeschooling community was a very significant component of this process. The voice of the community helped to ensure that we approved regulations which are sound and balanced. We must make sure that our work with the community continues on this issue,” said DC State Board of Education President Robert Bobb.
However, some homeschooling groups who were heavily involved in the process of developing the regulations, including HSLDA, say they are far from satisfactory.
According to an HSLDA report, no guidelines are provided by the Board on the regulations, giving the OSSE arbitrary discretion to implement these new provisions.
Chris Klicka of HSLDA, testified before the board against the document, stressing the fact that homeschooling has a proven track record of success and therefore does not require further government interference.
"Homeschoolers throughout D.C. and the 50 states in scores of studies and surveys have scored 20 to 30 points above the national average, on the average, on national standardized achievement tests. Also, the publishers of the SAT and ACT College Entrance Exams have tracked homeschoolers for the last 10 years and found that on average they score above the national average. Furthermore, homeschool graduates who enroll in universities also do above average as the various studies and surveys in universities of their student body have shown," Mr Klicka said in his statement.
He also emphasized that parents should not be further burdened with arbitrary, overly intrusive, vague or restrictive rules.
Mike Donnelly, a staff attorney at HSLDA, added, "These regulations create situations where educational bureaucrats are violating the fundamental constitutional rights of parents, and are unnecessarily broad and difficult to manage. They have breached the trust between the District's government and its citizens."To read Christopher Klicka's written testimony go to: http://www.hslda.org/Legislation/State/dc/2008/NewRegs/Klicka_testimony_7-16.pdf
To read the new regulations go to: http://newsroom.dc.gov/show.aspx?agency=seo&section=2&release=14329&year=2008&file=http://www.osse.dc.gov/seo/lib/seo/notice_of_proposed_rulemaking__dc_home_schooling_062708.pdfBack to Top Print this Story Email to a Friend View Story on LifeSiteNews.com

Feast days of the week 3-9 August, A.D. 2008 (1962 liturgical calendar).

Monday, 4 August 2008
ST. DOMINIC, Confessor (III)
"Dominic Guzmanan, born in Spain, opposed the errors of the Albingenses. He founded the Order of the Friars Preachers, contributing to devotion to the rosary, saving the Western Church from heresy and anarchy. He died A.D. 1221.”

Collect:O God, who has vouchsafed to make Thy Church illustrious by the merits and teaching of blessed Dominic, Thy Confessor: grant that, through his intercession, she may not be deprived of temporal help, and may ever advance in spiritual increase. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end.
Epistle: From the Second Letter of Bl. Paul the Apostle to Timothy, 4:1-8.
[St. Paul admonishes Timothy to hold firmly the sound doctrine of the Gospel. The Doctors of the Church were also renowned for their orthodoxy and their theological learning.]
Gospel: Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Luke 12:35-40.
[Christ admonishes all to watch and be ready for His coming.]

Remarks are abstracted from The Daily Missal and Liturgical Manual, from Editio Typica of the Roman Missal and Breviary, 1962 (Baronius Press Limited, London, 2004, in conjunction with the Fraternal Society of St. Peter, www.baroniuspress.com)

Latin Mass in Ireland

The following came to me as a comment, but I thought I would put it out there as a separate post. -TC

"Saint Conleth’s Catholic Heritage Association invites you to honour the Holy Year of St. Paul by attending Holy Mass in the Traditional Latin Rite (Missal of Blessed John XXIII) on Saturday, 30th August, 2008, at 11 a.m., in St. Paul’s Church, Emo, Co. Laois, Ireland, followed by a tour of Emo Court House and Gardens.

For the past 15 years, St. Conleth’s Catholic Heritage Association has been working prayerfully for the provision of the Traditional Latin Liturgy in the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin.

Please confirm your attendance to: catholicheritagegroup@catholic.orgFor further details consult:www.catholicheritage.blogspot.com"

Humanae vitae at 40: the words of Pope Benedict XVI (courtesy of Rorate Caeli)

Sunday, 3 August, 2008
TWELFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENECOST (II)

"We have been initiated into spiritual life by the sacrament of Baptism, and strengthened, perfected, by the Sacrament of Confirmation. The Feast of Pentecost has celebrated the efficaciousness of Baptism and Confirmation: the graces and fruits given by the Holy Ghost. The Church recalls in the Liturgy today the duty of charity which derives from them."

Collect: O almighty and merciful God, of whose gift it cometh that Thy faithful do unto Thee worthy and laudable sThe Daily Missal and Liturgical Manualervice: grant us, we beseech Thee, that we may run without stumbling towards the attainment of Thy promises. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end.
Epistle: From Bl. Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians, 3:4-9.
[The law of our Lord Jesus Christ is the perfect development of the Law of Moses. Let us not follow a pharisaical interpretation of the law which reduces our religious duties to a few outward practices. “The letter killeth, the spirit quickeneth”.]
Gospel: Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Luke, 10:23-37.
[The parable of the good Samaritan shows us that our neighbor is every man, known or unknown, friend or enemy, to whom we are united by the bonds of Christian charity.]

Remarks are abstracted from The Daily Missal and Liturgical Manual, from Editio Typica of the Roman Missal and Breviary, 1962 (Baronius Press Limited, London, 2004, in conjunction with the Fraternal Society of St. Peter, www.baroniuspress.com)

Notes from the Roman Missal (1962): Season After Pentacost (The Easter Cycle)

SECOND PART OF THE LITURGICAL YEAR: THE EASTER CYCLE (MYSTERY OF THE REDEMPTION).[i]
III. SEASON AFTER PENTACOST

This season begins with the Feast of the Blessed Trinity and is the longest of the Liturgical Year. It may comprise from twenty-four to twenty-eight weeks and differs considerably from the other liturgical seasons.

In the Liturgical Year there is a historical progression, beginning in Advent with the waiting for the coming of the Messias, followed by His birth at Christmas. During the Sundays after Epiphany, the Holy Childhood is commemorated, while during Lent we are reminded of the fasting in the desert and the Passion of Our Lord. The sacred cycle is completed at Eastertide, when we celebrate the Resurrection and Ascension of Our Lord and the Descent of the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles.

In this last part of the ecclesiastical year, the Church, guided by the Holy Ghost, continues the work of redemption, realised during the preceeding part of the Liturgical Year.

“The Holy Ghost, whom the father will send in My Name, He will teach you all things, and bring all things to your mind whatsoever I have said to you.”

This last season of the Liturgical Year is filled with feasts of major importance: those of the Blessed Trinity, Corpus Christi, the Sacred Heart, the Assumption and Nativity of Our Lady, All Saints and All Souls.
[i] Remarks are abstracted from The Daily Missal and Liturgical Manual, from Editio Typica of the Roman Missal and Breviary, 1962
(Baronius Press Limited, London, 2004, in conjunction with the Fraternal Society of St. Peter, www.baroniuspress.com)