Dick Durbin, pro-choice Catholic Senator

Dick Durbin, Catholic Democrat, is not just pro-choice, he's super charged with killing the unborn. The pope knows that, knows he violates long held Catholic moral teaching, and he waffled on being questioned. I have no horse in this race, but we hear enough blather from politicians--no reason to have it from the pope who probably has no problem speaking out about climate or immigration on which there is no Catholic dogma.

Pro-choice politicians, Catholic teaching and the lessons we still can’t learn - America Magazine

I also dislike the so-called moral equivalency of comparing the failings of Communist/socialist ideals with failings of free market/patriotic ideals. Illegal immigration also involves drugs, rape and trafficking. That straw man is also rampant in non-Catholic Christian groups who then equate violence against someone with words they don't like.

"Senator Durbin’s track record of supporting the human dignity of immigrants is worth celebrating, but it cannot erase the moral failure of his support for abortion. We also ought to be equally concerned about the many Catholic elected officials on the right who may accept church teaching on abortion but are even now cheering on, to use the Holy Father’s language, “the inhuman treatment of immigrants.” " (the article)

FACT and Kamala Harris and Walz and born alive

On June 26, 2018, the US Supreme Court voted 5 to 4 to strike down as unconstitutional the 2015 California Reproduction Freedom, Accountability, Comprehensive Care, and Transparency Act (the “FACT Act”). This law was co-sponsored by California's then Attorney General Kamala Harris. The law required crisis pregnancy centers that offer reproductive health services to inform clients, by posted notice or handout, about California’s public programs that provide low-cost or free contraception and abortion services. It also required that they post a phone number for more information, and that unlicensed facilities post a notice acknowledging that they are not a licensed health care provider. 

Just another example from the memory hole of how much Harris wanted women to get abortions instead of giving birth to healthy babies and how much she tried to destroy free speech.

And the record of her running mate, Tim Walz, on abortion and the value of babies born alive after an abortion is even worse.

"Minnesota was the rare state to require such born-alive abortions to be publicly reported, creating a powerful statistic for pro-life and anti-abortion forces to draw upon.

But in 2023, Walz worked with his new Democrat-controlled Legislature to eliminate both the REPORTING requirement and the state’s legal obligation for doctors, nurses and medical professionals to administer LIFE SAVING CARE to infants born alive during an abortion procedure. The governor-turned-vice presidential nominee signed an omnibus bill known as SF2995 that closed one of the few statistical windows on late-term abortions and the possibility that babies born alive were left to die."

Tim Walz Removed Born-Alive Abortion Reporting Requirements (dailysignal.com)

And this is the guy who called Vance weird?

Do Democrats ask questions about the direction of their party?

Anna at Facebook told me they don't, but I disagree.

"Some do. We were Democrats until 2000. It was their standing on the bloody corpses of the unborn that changed our minds about what else they stood for or who they were crushing. Others might just realize that the current trial could break the Constitution forever and wake up! Some could see that what is now the fringe (campus riots) could go mainstream quickly. Others will see that what was normal and accepted in science and society even 15 years ago is now an abomination to the Democrat party."

Norma

The Platform, 2000: "The Democratic Party stands behind the right of every woman to choose, consistent with Roe v. Wade, and regardless of ability to pay. We believe it is a fundamental constitutional liberty that individual Americans — not government — can best take responsibility for making the most difficult and intensely personal decisions regarding reproduction. This year’s Supreme Court rulings show to us all that eliminating a woman’s right to choose is only one justice away. That’s why the stakes in this election are as high as ever." Online NewsHour: Democratic Platform 2000 (pbs.org)

I'm glad we got out then. Now, in 2024, the party preaches and tries to force on us, death in the womb up to the day of birth, and some on the fringe go further suggestion a year or two after to make sure the child isn't a burden to parents or just not bright enough, and that killing child in the womb is OK if a defect is discovered. Even biological sex is a mystery to the party which can't define a mother, or a woman, which wants to jail people for using the wrong pronoun, and advocate for men using women's restrooms, sports events and scholarships.

Terrorists and treasonists among us marching in the streets

Right now, in the USA there are illegals, immigrants and US born terrorist supporters blocking federal and state highways flying the flags of our enemies and shouting death to America. There are Democrat members of Congress who support their efforts who also wish death on Israelis and Americans.

The protestors should be allowed to speak if they are Americans, and deported if not, but should be jailed for their behavior that is hurting others. If abortion protestors can't pray in front of PP clinics, then the pro-Hamas and pro-Hezbollah screamers can't block women on their way to the clinic. The Congress Squad should be charged with insurrection and treason.

Meanwhile an innocent man who is running for president is being held hostage by the Biden lackies and Obama appointees in the worst case of election fraud and corruption by the Democrats since 2020. Democrats ignore the crimes and warfare at our own border so they can thwart the will of the people. Biden jails his political enemies, and Trump lets his enemies use the Constitution in their effort to destroy him.

https://www.foxnews.com/us/anti-israel-agitators-block-golden-gate-bridge-traffic?

Pro-Palestinian Demonstrators Block Traffic At Chicago O’Hare Airport And Golden Gate Bridge (msn.com)

Millions of Democrat voters in Democrat run cities are being inconvenienced:

"In Chicago, protesters linked arms and blocked lanes of Interstate 190 leading into O'Hare International Airport around 7 a.m. in a demonstration they said was part of a global “economic blockade to free Palestine,” according to Rifqa Falaneh, one of the organizers.

Traffic in the San Francisco Bay Area was snarled for hours as demonstrators shut down all vehicle, pedestrian and bike traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge and chained themselves to 55-gallon drums filled with cement across Interstate 880 in Oakland. Protesters marching into Brooklyn blocked Manhattan-bound traffic on the Brooklyn Bridge. In Eugene, Oregon, protesters blocked Interstate 5, shutting down traffic on the major highway for about 45 minutes." Detroit News

Here's how Democrats will work the election

 

The State of the Union by Joe Biden

I didn't watch the SOTU, but here's what I gleaned from listening to podcasters who did. Joe's most popular programs are abortion, war, maiming children with the trans agenda, and invasion at our borders. (I heard the applause.) This is what he's asking Democrats to support. Oh yes, and he hates Donald Trump and thinks he's a Nazi, as well as half the country who support him. The only time he even mentioned the USA was when he was condemning Trump (or so I heard). Prove me wrong.

St. Mary's Summer School of Faith 2023 with Charles Craigmile

I'm a huge fan of Charles Craigmile's theology classes, and have followed him about 10 years now.  I'm usually a little behind. I just found the 2023 list of classes, but haven't watched them yet.  I wish St. Mary's would put the classes on a podcast, although he also has good visuals.

In 2023, Charles Craigmile presented a series of sessions at St. Mary’s in Lake Forest as part of their Adult Education program1. The sessions covered various topics related to the Catholic faith and were held weekly on Tuesday nights. Here are some of the topics that were covered: 

https://youtu.be/d9qpfZBFUU4?si=Y8GNDtyxN0ThOvAC  2023 Summer School of Faith

The Identity and Mission of the Catholic Church
Grace & the Sacraments and the Spiritual Life
Living a Moral Life and Contemporary Moral Issues (marriage, divorce, contraception, abortion, IVF, homosexuality, etc.)
Last Things: Death, Judgment, Heaven & Hell

Collecting My Thoughts: Summer School of Faith 2022, Vatican II

Restoring the sacred in a secular age.  Series for 2019   https://youtu.be/AcS6WXVr6GU?si=jykqmBkfm2WrC7QW

Collecting My Thoughts: Summer School of Faith-Sixth, 2018-Charles Craigmile, Culture Lost, Culture Reclaimed

Depolarization of Christians during this political climate

Our church is offering an educational unit on "Depolarization" to help members face the increasing divisions especially in the current election cycle using the Bible as a guide. Call it a polarizing subject, but abortion is at the top of my list. I don't want to nor will I attempt to bridge the gap between me and a Democrat, a Christian, a fellow member of the body of Christ, who voted twice to push through the abortion issues which passed this year in Ohio. A change in our state constitution to "protect the rights of women." And let's just throw in a recent side issue of men in women's sports and locker rooms bill, a bill which DOES NOT protect women, but which would allow continued mutilation of children, aka "affirming care." A bill which Republicans in the legislature needed to override the veto of our so called Republican governor, Mike DeWine.

Actually, I haven't heard too many conservatives complain about the divisions and polarization in our country--they seem to know that liberals are feeling some guilt and anxiety about the wars, the border, and abortion available to the last day, and THAT's causing them to see a profound chasm of the Democrats own creation. It's not the party they signed on to 30-40 years ago, nor the party I left almost 25 years ago. It's not for me to close the gap or wave the white flag.

I get offers in my e-mail

I get offers. 

1. Asking for money. 

2. Asking me to write a book review.

3. Asking me to promote a story on my blog. 

4. Asking me to interview someone and promote their ideas, candidacy or book.

Then there's the "loaded potato" tease.

"The first and only reproductive justice organization in Nebraska—a state ranked among the highest for its maternity care deserts—seeks to provide a long-term solution to this health crisis by creating a community of doulas and increasing access to doula care."

I say loaded because of the politically, economically or racially charged phrases: let me translate leftist gibberish.

 
1. "reproductive justice (aka abortion),
2. "maternity care desert" (aka rural, but could mean pockets of poverty)
3. "long-term solution" (aka government)
4. "health crisis" (obligatory political term used by all parties)
5. "create a community" (this is usually a progressive/socialist term, but increasingly used by conservatives just to keep up--may mean no spouse or children, so create a family/community)
6. doulas (feminist term to push men out of labor and delivery, and encourage home birth ala 19th century or birthing huts.

95% of doulas are female, but no one seems to be demanding equity for men in that field.

Anyway, by this point in the e-mail I've hit delete just based on the language, not the meaning.

It's true, I'm a one issue voter

"Mifepristone, also called RU-486, blocks reception of the pregnancy hormone progesterone, shutting off the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the baby in the womb. Forty-eight hours later, the drug misoprostol is taken to induce labor.

Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says the abortion pill is “safe and effective,” chemical abortion is four times more likely to result in complications than surgical abortion, [Dr. Christina] Francis said."

Women ‘Deserve Better’ Than Chemical Abortion, Physician Says (dailysignal.com)

Daily Signal is a media product of the Heritage Foundation.

Yesterday I listened to a September interview on the podcast Edify with Abby Johnson, who helps women give up a good income by leaving their jobs at Planned Parenthood. Making Abortion Unthinkable - EDIFY. Abby Johnson is a former Planned Parenthood clinic director turned pro-life advocate.

EDIFY is a Catholic podcast on hotly debated issues in our society. There's nothing I've heard that wouldn't benefit all Christians.

Abortion amendment to the Ohio Constitution should have been on every church's sermon list.

The Bible has several verses that mention the fruit of the womb. It's shocking the number of churches/pastors/Sunday schools that couldn't find a single Sunday or sermon to address "fruit of the womb" as a theme, topic, or even a footnote. Here are a few:

Sarah (Genesis 21:1): Sarah had a child when she was past the age; this means that she is post-menopause but our God can bypass menopause and do the impossible

Hannah (1 Samuel 1:20): Hannah also waited on the Lord before Samuel was born. She cried to the Lord year after year in Shiloh.

Racheal (Genesis 30:22): Racheal was loved by her husband Jacob, but she was barren. Her sister, Leah, who is also married to her husband, had children freely.

Elizabeth (Luke 1:36): Elizabeth and her husband were devout and blameless before God but they were barren. Elizabeth was now old but they continued in their devotion and duty to God.

Psalms 127:3-5: "Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward".

Psalm 127:3: "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward".

Luke 1:42: "And she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!”.

Exodus 1:7: "And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them".

Deuteronomy 7:13A, 144.
These verses highlight the importance and blessing of children, often referred to as the “fruit of the womb”. They also emphasize the power of God to bless individuals with children, even in circumstances that seem impossible.

This list was created by Bing Chat--and it didn't even go to seminary!

And then there's that cute little story in the Gospel of Luke about a young girl whose body gave us Jesus.  But never mind.

More on Issue one and the Ohio Constitution

Planned Parenthood, supported primarily by Democrats/Progressives, is a cash only lucrative business for abortion and has a special program (funded by Warren Buffet) for poor and minority women to kill their babies. Its other programs are supported by the government, including contraception. Among the young, contraception has a high failure rate and thus they create a market for the abortions. Clever.

Abby Johnson, a former PP employee, says the Ohio bill (Issue 1) to enshrine abortion in Ohio's constitution has all the earmarks of having been drafted by Planned Parenthood. The slick ads we're seeing on TV are manipulative and contain inaccurate information. (Thepublicsquare.com podcast, 60)

The abortion battle in Ohio

I've been watching all the classy pro-abortion ads on TV (trying to enshrine abortion up to the day of birth in our Ohio Constitution). Excellent production values and heart-rending stories. Mega doses of outside money. It has caused me to wonder about all the rights and choices the babies being aborted won't have in their future.

No, women will still be able to get treatment for miscarriages.

No, it will not affect removing a deceased unborn child.

When a woman's life is at risk and the baby is pre-term, medical intervention can possibly save both.

Ectopic pregnancy (embryo implants outside the uterus) interventions are still necessary.  This is not an abortion.

Don't forget, abortion is the direct and intentional killing of a baby in the womb.  In the past, both parties were champions of the weak and helpless.

Once to every man and nation, a great hymn

 I usually have a hymn in my morning devotions, and today it was "Once to every man and nation." I looked through my various hymn resources and couldn't find it, although I was almost marching and humming from the kitchen to the library. I knew it; why couldn't I find it?

That's not the title.  Actually, it's from a poem called "The Present Crisis," written by a very famous 19th century poet, James Russell Lowell, in protest of the Mexican War and slavery, published in 1845. Lowell was an ardent abolitionist.

For me, this hymn from "The Present Crisis" is the current crisis of life vs. death--abortion. Yes, the word slave appears a few times in the poem, but it could be slave to materialism, an ideology or "reproductive freedom."   Death is in every platform and policy of the Democrats, and although Republicans don't write it into their mission statement, many do support abortion. Imagine, a country hoping to succeed in economics, education, technology, safety and health, and virtue by destroying the weak and helpless? It should be our anthem, as it was for abolitionists in the 19th century, and for Martin Luther King, Jr. for civil rights in the 20th century. It speaks of man and nation, truth and falsehood, darkness and light. The hymn begins with the 5th stanza of the poem, so there is much more. East to west, hut and palace, right and wrong, conscious and unconscious, gain or loss, "Truth forever on the scaffold, Wrong forever on the throne," and "on the morrow crouches Judas with the silver in his hands." Listen closely.

 https://youtu.be/cSMqesZz3tU?si=alcdkTshtIDxjFal

Also wrote about this in 2020 Collecting My Thoughts: Once to every man and nation when I had a Methodist hymnal on hand.

Humility

We Christians need to be humble. Not "more humble," but humble. Jesus told them that when his disciples asked about which could be the hot shot in his kingdom. He put in their midst a person who was powerless and "simple." Not a government official or a scholar.  A child. The special vote in Ohio on August 8 is a reminder. Christians lost this one. Not Republicans, but Christians. And it's out there for all to see.  We keep looking for the world's approval.

We've done a really poor job on life issues like the right to life, but euthanasia for the sick and elderly is knocking at the door.  You can't wait for Roe v. Wade to collapse after 50 years before you get your local house in order. That sticky problem with the ease our state constitution gets changed has been a problem long before 2023, and both parties use it to their advantage (in 2011 it was a health insurance amendment). The percent of Christians who accept full legality of abortion even at full term is too high.  Twenty-four percent of white, evangelical Christians say abortion should be legal in all or most cases; 60% of white Protestants believe that; 66% of black Protestants. Catholics at least have a church teaching on abortion, which few Protestants do, and yet that is a whopping fifty six percent believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases.   See the Pew report Views about abortion among Christians - Religion in America: U.S. Religious Data, Demographics and Statistics | Pew Research Center  (although its definition may be a bit loose--that is explained in the report). Also see Public Opinion on Abortion | Pew Research Center

Christians are losing out to the world--the golden sex calf. One hundred years ago, Christians beginning with the Anglicans began to accept contraception because the world was doing it; then it was the hormone pill in the 60's and living together without marriage--movie stars and Phil Donahue recommended it; then it was abortion in the 70s and 80s; then same sex marriage, and now the transagenda movement with mutilation and cross sex hormones for children. We're moving quickly to socially accept pedophilia (renamed of course). 

Thoughts on the upcoming vote in Ohio--Matt. 18:1-9

In Sunday School today we were looking at Matthew 18:1-9 and other verses. Christians in Ohio are divided on what to do about Issue 1 on Tuesday. In fact, Christians are downright hostile towards each other on this issue. A look at these verses could speak to that.

First, Jesus sets a small child in their midst when his disciples (who seem to be slow learners) ask about who is the greatest in his Kingdom. Children in the ancient world had no standing unlike today when entire households and several generations will focus their lives and wellbeing around children and grandchildren, lavishing time and wealth on them. Jesus essentially told them to be needy, powerless and marginalized if they truly wanted status in the Kingdom. Think about it. Who is more needy, powerless and marginalized than an unborn child?

Second, Jesus then goes on to use hyperbole in showing what happens to those who would cause one of the little ones (his followers) to stumble. Really graphic and cruel--being drowned with a heavy weight attached to the neck, having limbs chopped off or eyes poked out. Again, in the ancient world, the disabled and blind would not have much social status.

 
Third, although Jesus is not referencing abortion, the cruel suffering depicted in his hyperbole, is real life and anguish for the unborn in the midst of an abortion. Right here in Ohio. Here in America. Limbs cut off and sometimes scissors jabbed into the skull to make the head small enough so the child is "still born," and not alive at birth. Late term abortion is rare in the U.S.--about 10,000 a year--some say less, some say more. That's a small city of dismembered babies!

 
When Dr. Kermit Gosnell was tried a decade ago for murdering babies in late term abortions who could have survived, only a few minutes (13 minutes and 30 seconds for a 58 day trial) of the grisly testimony ever made it to broadcast news. There will be Christians going to the polls on Tuesday who have no idea what they are voting for, enshrining abortion for any reason at any stage of the pregnancy in our Constitution. But even worse, there will be Christians who do know, yet still cling to the lie it's a "woman's right."

Cover of Architectural Digest--John Legend and Chrissy Teigen

The latest issue of AD (Architectural Digest) just dropped through the mail slot with the lovely cover photo of John Legend and Chrissy Teigen with 3 of their 4 beautiful children. I know nothing about him except lately he's been promoting abortion on demand for Ohio (they don't say that but there will be no limits if it is enshrined in our state Constitution, and I believe it includes rights for children thinking they were born in the wrong body). Something like $13 million by outside the state wealth has been poured into this campaign.

Legend and Teigen are certainly wealthy, although I assumed he was paid for grim advertising. The AD photos provide the brand names of the clothing they are wearing, the jewelry designers, the pendant above the dining room table, designer of the custom carpet, the slabs of custom marble in the kitchen (Calacatta Macchia Vecchia) are repeated in the bathrooms, names of the floor lamps, how the music room is wrapped in a de Gournay wallpaper, and the kids' room with full size stuffed giraffes with beds made to look like cars on a safari (a nod to an African heritage?). The sofa costs over $27,000 and who knows what that swimming pool cost them.

 
According to the CDC 39% of all women who had abortions in 2020 were non-Hispanic Black, while 33% were non-Hispanic White, 21% were Hispanic, and 7% were of other races or ethnicities. Yes, John and Chrissy are helping diminish the black race in the U.S. while choosing to raise 4 children in gob-smacking wealth. They are so wealthy, they could be providing for home care and parent training for many single moms, but how progressive would that be? It's not the Democrat way. 

Inside Chrissy Teigen and John Legend’s Loving Family Home | Architectural Digest

The algorithm game in the search engines

It's no secret. I'm a one issue voter. After I check off the pro-life issues, I can go from there--conservative candidates, environment, education, local issues, etc. But I also use the internet to research these issues because there aren't just 2 sides--there may be 10, and I also use the ballot funding record as a guide. Deep pockets, dark money, bad dudes like Soros and Son. You've heard that Google, Bing, Duck duck go, and Brave have algorithms which push the Democrat/Progressive/Socialist media and organizations to the top, and most people will only look at the top 3 or 4 (which will all agree).

So here's my last search. I was looking through the articles written by Suzanne Bell, quoted in JAMA, about the nearly 9,800 lives saved with the TX heartbeat bill. (She was against it and has done a lot of research in developing countries.) Since it's almost impossible to do any political issue without Trump's name popping up, I started following the term, Global Gag Rule. This refers to a 1984 bill preventing U.S. tax dollars from going to foreign NGOs if they offer abortion services used in foreign countries. It's the "Mexico City" rule, and it was used under Reagan, GHW Bush, GWBush and Trump; it was rescinded for Clinton, part of Obama terms, and Joe Biden. Of course, it was referred to as Trump's Gag Rule by angry pro-aborts. Anyway. That's not the point.

 
I went through perhaps 15 pages with 10-15 articles on each page, and found the same articles all the way through: The Guardian; Guttmacher; NPR; Reproductive rights; NCAC; Center for American Progress; Planned Parenthood; KFF; ACLU; Salon.com; Democracy now; Huffington Post; Open Society; Vogue; and so forth. In other words, it's not just a few swings to the left, it was ALL pro-abort arguments, with inflammatory words, data, medical articles, NGOs, politicians, sad stories, opinions, etc.

 
Not a single word defending a policy that keeps American colonial invasion dollars out of the wombs and families of third world women.

 
There are lots of issues here if you look closer. Why can't foreign NGOs survive without that small piece of American aid? What else is U.S. dollars controlling in their "aid." Is this tied to military bases in that country? Are there any journalists coming out of U.S. colleges and universities, or grad schools that are conservative, or are they eliminated before they ever get into the job market? If one or two slip through are there any corporations or businesses that would hire them if their ESG score isn't desirable. There is no diversity of thought or values now in the education system or job market. DEI is DIE.

So you see, an algorithm isn't just an algorithm. It's life from the beginning to end affecting thousands.

A disgusting misuse of crafters' big hearts for volunteering.

I was browsing a website I'd seen in a magazine that describes the activities and products of crafter organizations--people who knit, sew or craft materials that can benefit the less fortunate. I was shocked to see that one group was "helping" out the local Planned Parenthood agency--with heating pads for cramping from a chemical abortion. Wow. They just destroyed a human life so let's donate heating pads. Also little bags for personal items (probably need a lot of sanitary napkins for bleeding) and free birth control pills to take home for 14 year olds. It's the worst imitation of what churches and pregnancy centers do to help teen girls and young women get through some tough times, which includes counseling, clothing, household articles and presenting the gospel in a safe environment. 

The devil in drag pretending to be something else.

The CNN vs. Trump Town Hall

 I didn't watch the CNN "debate" between Trump and Kaitlyn Collins, the "nasty person" (he called her) Wednesday night, but I've heard clips, and with Michael Graham I'd say, "Donald Trump won the first debate of the 2024 presidential cycle, and it wasn’t even close."

Of course, for me, the number one issue is abortion. Trump said it.  He got it done.  For 50 years the Pro-Life movement had struggled, but he got the Court appointees that got it done.  Because he knows, "They want abortion at 9 months, 8 months, 7 months--they even want abortion after birth. THEY are the RADICALS." [paraphrase because the coverage by media is so screwed up I can't find the exact quote, although I've heard it on Jason Whitlock's podcast--https://www.iheart.com/podcast/175-fearless-with-jason-whitlo-83738276/episode/ep-443-donald-trump-crushes-114934651/]. 

Like it or not, Trump has defined the evil of the bed rock mission of the Democrat party. He might have convinced a few women on the margin who have believed the lie about a clump of cells.  Wake up, ladies, it's also killing late term and after birth babies (read the new* proposed legislation for New York, it's clear) unwanted for whatever reason.

*lines 19-21 of NY proposed amendment to the state constitution  "access to medical care, including gender affirming health  care, contraceptive or other birth control measures, abortion or other reproductive care, and reproductive outcomes, including live birth, stillbirth, miscarriage or any other pregnancy outcomes.  https://legislation.nysenate.gov/pdf/bills/2023/A6664#