[uc]
I am parked in front of the TV watching the returns.
So far the electoral votes (270 needed) are projected as:
McCain 13
Obama 03
I am thinking about supper.
I just had a micro portion of spaghetti aglio olio pepperoncino to use up some cooked pasta.
Now I am fully hungry.
But I really won’t bite my nails.
Coat of Arms by D Burkart
on Your Sunday Sermon Notes: 3rd Sunday after Easter (N.O. 4th of Easter) 2024: “I remember only the joke at the beginning of the homily: Priests get four weeks of vacation per year. Some…”
on “you must not remember your forefathers…” Wherein Fr. Z rants.: “My children at one of the solid Chesterton Academies have been taught science and theology by an amazing young Catholic…”
on Three items of interest: a conversion, a connection, and a con job: “What is it that changed about the Catholic Herald? Interesting interview by George Farmer. (If only the faithful could be…”
on Three items of interest: a conversion, a connection, and a con job: “Wonderful news about Candace Owens and George Farmer. Thank you for continually pointing out that Holy Orders is one Sacrament.…”
on ROME 24/4– Day 31 (-10): The Parish™…. what’s next?: “Just Some Guy: Perhaps others will get back to you before twilight’s last gleaming.”
on ROME 24/4– Day 31 (-10): The Parish™…. what’s next?: ““This beautiful sunny yet cool Roman day started by the sun’s rising at 06:19 and it will end at 19:59.”…”
on Your Sunday Sermon Notes: 3rd Sunday after Easter (N.O. 4th of Easter) 2024: “We are in the process of moving to the Lehigh Valley so this Sunday after the closing on our new…”
on Your Sunday Sermon Notes: 3rd Sunday after Easter (N.O. 4th of Easter) 2024: “So, I usually attend a TLM at an FSSP parish at home. I was traveling this weekend, however, and opted…” on ROME 24/4– Day 32 (-9): Happy Birthday Rome!: “acard: That’s fettucine alla bolognese. And they were good with a Lazio Syrah. The addition of the rosemary was a…”
on ASK FATHER: Kissing the priest’s hand in the Latin Mass v. the liturgical spirit of Judas. Wherein Fr. Z rants.: “It seems more likely that medieval court rituals were based on the Mass, rather than the other way around. That…”
on ASK FATHER: Kissing the priest’s hand in the Latin Mass v. the liturgical spirit of Judas. Wherein Fr. Z rants.: “Excellent overview Fr. Z! For those who are interested in a defense of the royalism or courtliness of the TLM,…”
on ROME 24/4– Day 32 (-9): Happy Birthday Rome!: “That pasta dish looks yummy! What is the name of that and ingredients?”
on Faith practice declining far and wide…. except…: “Charivari Rob – Unfortunately I have been forced to switch computers twice recently and have lost the reference. The numbers…”
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A Daily Prayer for Priests
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I am remembering pictures from “Super Tuesday” of your impressive “Command Centre”… monitors and books everywhere!
Fingers crossed and prayers going up that the Culture of Life wins tonight!
Veni Creator Spiritus! Fiat volutas tua! Our Lady
of Guadalupe, Madre de las Americas, pray for us.
McCain won Tennessee!
Oremus pro invicem!
God help our country….we are in serious trouble.
Keep Praying!!!
we definately are in REALLY SERIOUS trouble…It’s like waking up to a bad dream.
I am not glued to the TV. Obama is going to win big, the Democratic party is going to win big, and the pro-abortion agenda is going to win big. I am going to bed early and I will digest the bad news in the morning with my coffee. My only hope is that Proposition 8 (against gay marriage) will win in California.
Well, my wife is Polish and I guess we could always find a safe haven away from the Obamamaniacs over there if we needed to….
This is pretty frightening, Father. Please, God, spare us.
Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us…
Well…we might as well consider it a test. Does God permit evil to triumph, though in the short term, it seems to have an advantage? No. Does he give us free will to make a free choice? Yes.
By their actions, you will know them.
Pray hard. Life is short. And, while not a millenialist…I’m Catholic…one can’t help but wonder if this is the start of the chastisement.
Pray Hard. Life is short.
This was expected. There’s no reason to stop working for the protection of life though. Abortion would have still gone on even if McCain would have won. Shape the culture, not Washington. The Culture shapes Washington. So let’s get to the source. I think a strong Church will provide a strong source.
Father,
So, how does one go about getting a passport from Vatican City?
I seem to be in need of a country.
Your pal,
Philip Nolan
The wrath of God is upon us. I suppose we deserve what we’re getting.
Interesting article: http://seanmalstrom.wordpress.com/2008/11/03/toast/
CNN et al say Obama 174, McCain 49; but on every state that has reports and isn’t asigned McCain is winning.
They just called Ohio for Obama. Not good, folks.
Looking at the results map on CNN it’s evident that Obama will be the next pres., with Ohio, N. Carolina and Fl. tilting blue. It’s sureal. I don’t understand why people can’t see through this guy. Not to mention that most of my “Catholic” family members have voted for him.
Our Lady of America – Pray for Us.
If the vast majority of U S Catholics eligible to vote had voted (and it appears they did not) in accord with Church teaching and the recent (too recent) exhortations of some courageous Bishops the culture of death would not have won this election (it appears they have). This is the logical and inevitable result of 40 + years of the U S Catholic Church failing to teach, failing to discuss moral obligation and responsibility from the pulpet, and failing to mention the grave consequences of sin.
The leaders of the U S Catholic Church have, over that period, engaged in far too much “feel good” religion, far too much emphasis on “can’t we all just get along”, and have made social justice issues (not that they are unimportant) more important than life issues. More damaging they have contributed to the “average” Catholic thinking that social justice equals life.
It is time for the leadership of the U S Catholic Church to abandon its liberal theology and focus on the essentials. We have our work cut out for us. We need to gird for the battle over the next four years. If the recently vocal Bishops will remain so, if they are joined by others, if they begin for the first time in decades to hammer home not politics but moral principles from the pulpet we have a chance maybe as soon as the midterm elections of 2010 to begin the process of turning this country around. It will not be easy. The devil and his henchmen, one of which is our presumed next President, will do their best to silence those who oppose them. Look for the Church and Catholic professionals like doctors and teachers to be forced to choose between following government mandates (abortion, teaching that homosexuality is “normal” and “OK”, etc) or following their consciences and the teachings of the Church.
The most devastating effect of this election will be a persecution of the Catholic Church in this country. Short of slaughtering Catholics, which likely will not happen, every effort will be made by the atheistic government establishment to suppress those religions which take a stand. We have an opportunity to be martyrs. The question is whether the Church in this country is up to that. Without leaders (read Bishops) willing to suffer the consequences it will never happen.
Catholic leadership in the USA was duped, successfully, by the enemy into thinking that if they kept quiet and did not make waves all would be well….everyone would “like them”. Were the martyrs of old slain because “everyone liked them”? I think not. They were martyred as some of us will be because they took a stand.
They said on FOX News that the only group in PA that went for McCain were the White Catholics. That was encouraging, but then they showed the numbers. 51% of Catholics in PA for McCain, 49% for Obama. Pretty sad.
Wait for Florida and Virginia…
As noted above, one of the bright spots is that at least 51% of white Catholics in Pennsylvania voted for the more pro-life candidate. Another bright spot has been the more rigorous tone of so many of the bishops, led, of course, by the redoubtable Archbishop Chaput, in teaching about the requirements of a well-formed conscience in voting on the most important of issues, the right to life. Of course the possible downside of this is that it will identify to the apparent winners ever more clearly who their “enemies” are, and so the persecution is likely to be increased; look for attacks on the Church’s tax exemption to follow promptly.
The whole tax exemption politics limitation is a bogus, and I would think (I have not looked to see if there ever has been a ruling by the Supremes on it) unconstitutional provision (you recall that “the power to tax is the power to destroy”, and taxing religious bodies, or qualifying their tax exemption on grounds of restriction of speech, would seem to me to be a clear violation of the free exercise clause of the First Amendment). My friend Patrick O’Daniel wrote the definitive law review article on this in the Boston College Law Review some years ago, showing that the whole non-political restriction was put into the Internal Revenue Code in 1954 by Lyndon Johnson in order to punish some of his political opponents here in Texas, amongst whom were some early Religious Right types (not to mention the legendary H.L. Hunt).
So let’s pray for the bishops’ spines (and those of the rest of us, too) to be stiffened further for the fight ahead. But also let’s not be too worried about the money, and more worried to remain faithful.
The whole thing is sickening. As Bette Davis said in All About Eve: “Fasten your seatbelts! It’s going to be a bumpy night!” In this case, I think this might be better: “Fasten your seatbelts! It’s going to be a bumpy four years!” The smoke of Satan is alive and well in this country, and he isn’t done yet. That might sound extreme to some, but Catholics are in for some serious persecution and backlash from this election. We need a miracle.
We think it’s bad now? Wait until they sign off on FOCA and the wholesale slaughter of defenseless unborn babies begins in earnest.
Geoffrey,
Even with Florida and Virginia, McCain can not win unless he takes OR or WA.
Rancher,
Show some faith in the Providence of God. He is in charge, and He knows what He is doing. All things work to the good for them that love God. People that love God are better off because Obama won. Do I know how? No. But I do know that it is so, and I will find out how in eternity. It is now clear that it is God’s will that we be ruled by Obama, as Catholics we need to conform our will to His. Obama may be a chastisement from God, and if he is, I accept it for my sins and the sins of my country. Trust in God and His providence, not in the Republicans (or Democrats for that matter) and their politics.
I’d rather suffer and die in the domain of a holy bishop than not.
Christopher
I’m not disheartened though I am disgusted. My point is that things will not change for the better unless Catholics collectively do the right thing as difficult as that may be…and we are not likely to do it without leadership. I think this may be God’s way of unmistakably showing us what happens when His Church fails to focus on what He taught us. I think it is fair to say that for over 40 years, as a whole, the U S Catholic Church HAS failed. We are now faced with a choice. Mine is to pray and continue to fight for what is right. Certainly prayer and trust in God is important but prayer without action is of minimal value.
More aborted souls in heaven, coming up.
Gracias a Dios for this. But I weep for all those who will walk the opposite path because of this same act.
Sigh. History is about to be made, and the most undeserving of any will make it.
Mostly I am just sad because I am so unwilling to accept the scourge we are about to receive from God.
Kyrie eleison !
Christe eleison !
Kyrie eleison !
May the Divine assistance remain with us always.
Tomorrow I need to find my copy of ‘Father Elijah’ and start rereading…
Good reading for tomorrow (or tonight for that matter):
http://www.theworkofgod.org/Library/Books/Ligouri/UniGwill.htm
St Alphonsus Ligouri, Uniformity with God’s Will
“The essence of perfection is to embrace the will of God in all things, prosperous or adverse.” (Chapter 2)
Rancher,
I agree, pray and work, but perhaps it is time we worked for the full message of the Gospel. Perhaps it is time we realized that only by converting ourselves and our neighbors, will things change. Christ must reign in the hearts and minds of Americans if we have any chance. But Christ must also reign over the system of government and laws and culture. God does not really care about who is a republican and who is a democrat and to be frank both parties have worked to weaken the faith of Catholics – to make Catholics put their party before God. However, He does care if Americans are Catholic, and if our nation is a Catholic nation. If Christ does not reign in our nation, the devil will. Christ has never reigned in this nation, and it will only get worse. Catholics need to forget about working within the two party system, that promises no victory, but only a delaying of defeat at best. Work for the reign of Christ the King, and everything else will follow.
Weep awhile, then be determined to pray, to fast, and to pester your elected
representatives. Why not pick one person in office to pray for, someone
from your state and/or someone who share’s your last initial (unless your name
begins with X, then maybe your first initial).
I only hope Alan Keyes has a stronger campaign in four years.
“Work for the reign of Christ the King, and everything else will follow.”
Sign me up!
Jacob wrote:
“Tomorrow I need to find my copy of ‘Father Elijah’ and start rereading…”
)(
OMG, Jacob, I thought I was the only one whom ever read that book. What a great story and oh how prophetic. Scary.
======
Well, folks, our polls in California and much of the West, including Hawaii, will close in about thirty minutes. 8:00PST. There’s an agreement with the networks to wait until then to begin calling the election.
As an update ( since Father Z hasn’t yet :) ), the other side already has 200 Electoral Votes, yet the Western half of the country has not even finished yet. There is still hope!!
My TV is dying, so I can’t see the maps there (perhaps just as well)
What’s driving me nuts is the news websites aren’t keeping up. Fox News, in particular. I found electoral maps in two places on their website, each showing different totals and both different from what was being said on TV.
Yeah, at this point, McCain needs to take everything else he’s leading or is close and needs to flip something that’s been called for Obama already or is projected for Obama.
Bad news for this election and for many many babies. Limbaugh is announcing th reorganiztion of the Conservative Movement. If this is to have any real meaning we as Catholics must bring ALL the GOSPEL to the table. We must move the Conservatives off the issue of personal greed and embrace some form of true Charity that helps with more than Hope for the American dream. Make no mistake if the numbers hold up the new president will have an almost impossible task and virtually no hope of delivering on any of his promises except to kill babies. Our goal must be to recover the hearts and minds of Americans accross the board and stop the derogatory attitudes that dominate Conservative talk shows. The Poor are still our brothers and sisters and we have an obligation to them in spite of the urge to hold on to what we’ve got because as God has just shown us; we don’t have much to hold on to. President Kennedy reminded us long ago that if we could not help the many who are poor we cannot save the few who are rich. We need to acknowledge that more must be done for children who survive birth. If we do not we will be living in caves almost as exiles. It has taken 35 for our bishops to speak up in any great numbers. That is deplorable. But now they have spoken and we must go foreward. To do less invites the judgement of God.
‘Father Elijah’ was prophetic. I wish I had the funds to pick up and move to a remote portion of Turkey and hang out with Mrs. Cohen to wait out the End Times while engaging in solemn prayer.
Larry, socialism is not charity. It is an entirely different thing, and embracing it will not make Republicans more Christ-like.
We need more actual charity in all things, and then we will be able to help the poor.
Christopher Sarsfield wrote:
“However, He does care if Americans are Catholic, and if our nation is a Catholic nation. If Christ does not reign in our nation, the devil will. Christ has never reigned in this nation, and it will only get worse. Catholics need to forget about working within the two party system, that promises no victory, but only a delaying of defeat at best. Work for the reign of Christ the King, and everything else will follow.”
)(
Chris, I understand the gist of your comment but there are a few things I disagree with.
Christ has reigned in this country before and even through the 1950s. There was a great many social factors which added to the decline of God in this country and the false interpretations coming from the Second Vatican Council didn’t help.
Insofar as parties are concerned, you’re incorrect there. The Republican Party officially has a pro-life position in its platform while the Democrats have pro-choice. Both Presidents Bush and Ronald Reagan have asserted their pro-life positions and have banned abortions in different forms at the Federal level. There is a big difference between the two.
I do give you the fact most Catholics don’t live up to their Faith ( and I pin a great deal of the election on Catholics ). That does affect the way others see us and react to us, possibly make decisions based upon our witness or lack thereof. The touching story Father Z posted about the “atheist” who is looking into the Church, possibly wanting to join. He said in part it was based upon the fact those with faith were the ones he respected.
Practicing our Faith does matter, and it does not only mean just going to Mass on Sundays.
God bless us all.
Larry wrote: “We must move the Conservatives off the issue of personal greed and embrace some form of true Charity that helps with more than Hope for the American dream.”
What a crock. Conservatives give more to charity than liberals by a country mile. What we don’t want to do is to give it to the government to take its cut and turn around and give it to ACORN or Catholic Charities.
In general conservatives don’t need to do more on “social justice” issues — it’s the “social justice” crowd that must become pro-life.
So, to put it in your terms: We must move the Liberals off the issue of socialized charity and embrace some form of true Charity [c.f. Catechism of the Catholic Church] that helps with more than making them permanent wards of the state.
Let’s leave the prudential decisions for the laity and our elected representatives and focus on the faith.
Matt Q,
I am sorry, I must have missed that part of the Constitution, could you show me anywhere in our laws where the government says this:
“In the Name of the Most Holy Trinity, from Whom is all authority and to Whom, as our final end, all actions both of men and States must be referred,
We, the people of Éire,
Humbly acknowledging all our obligations to our Divine Lord, Jesus Christ, Who sustained our fathers through centuries of trial,
Gratefully remembering their heroic and unremitting struggle to regain the rightful independence of our Nation,
And seeking to promote the common good, with due observance of Prudence, Justice and Charity, so that the dignity and freedom of the individual may be assured, true social order attained, the unity of our country restored, and concord established with other nations,
Do hereby adopt, enact, and give to ourselves this Constitution.”
-Preamble to the Irish Constitution
Read Leo XIII and Pius XI on the reign of Christ the King, our nation does not and never has qualified.
With regard to the Republicrats and Demicans, God does not care and He has shown so by choosing Obama to be the leader of this nation. Having a pro-life plank that is largely not acted upon is not Catholic Social teaching. Bush gave 2.2 billion to planned parenthood over the last eight years, some of which was used to set up an abortion mill in Alaska. He also gave a ton of money to family planning agencies in South America to suck more Catholics into the Culture of death. God does not care if you if you belong to either party. Both are evil, and both are unworthy of Catholic membership.
Christopher, and others
Not to belabor the point and I don’t entirely disagree with you. But I am also a realist. Up until now we, in effect, had a two party system. We are now about to be dominated by one party which is without question a proponent of the culture of death. The first step to re-directing this nation to once again be (and I argue that even in my lifetime it once was)one nation under God we must have leadership. Unless and until the Bishops as a unified group provide that leadership to Catholics we have no hope of success. Then, assuming a vast majority of Catholics are commited to supporting life issues, we have a very practical question to answer. One, do we then collectively try to fight and out vote the party of death or do we become members of that party and change it from within. Again, I do not purport to have the answer…but I am convinced that there will never be an effective answer without Bishops obeying the Pope, Bishops uniting in one message, Priests obeying their Bishops, and all Catholic clergy TEACHING what the Church holds true rather than the feel good stuff that has predominated for decades. Enough said. Time to pray and retire for the evening.
“Larry wrote: “We must move the Conservatives off the issue of personal greed and embrace some form of true Charity that helps with more than Hope for the American dream.”
What a crock. Conservatives give more to charity than liberals by a country mile. What we don’t want to do is to give it to the government to take its cut and turn around and give it to ACORN or Catholic Charities.
In general conservatives don’t need to do more on “social justice” issues—it’s the “social justice” crowd that must become pro-life.
So, to put it in your terms: We must move the Liberals off the issue of socialized charity and embrace some form of true Charity [c.f. Catechism of the Catholic Church] that helps with more than making them permanent wards of the state.
Let’s leave the prudential decisions for the laity and our elected representatives and focus on the faith.
Comment by ArlingtonDIo
)(
This is true. In fact the the Conservatives have actually lost their way. They try too hard to appease the opposition and thus become like them. They end up giving in to their votes and thus pass poor legislation which otherwise would not have seen the light of day.
It also began with the 1994 revolution when for the first time in fifty years the Republicans controlled both the White House and Congress. The Dems whined about “bipartisanship” and the GOP gave them seats on committees they had no business having. When the Dems speak of “bispartisanship,” it means siding with them, never siding with the GOP on anything meaningful. If the GOP is to have any meaning in the future, it needs to return to its core principles and platform.
UPDATE: The media has just declared Obama has been elected the 45th President of the United States. Woe to the unborn and the pro-life movement. Once he signs FOCA on the day of Inauguration, that’s it.
Larry never mentioned socialism anywhere. It is a sad day when Catholic Americans, misrepresent the Catholic Social teachings as socialism. It just shows that liberals are not the only Catholics willing to sell out their faith, for a Godless philosophy, in this case that of Smith, Riccardo, Von Mises, etc.
The “Yahoo Dashboard” just called the election, granting Obama 324 electoral votes.
I find this fascinating, as in many states, 50% or less of the precincts are in.
It will be over when it’s over, and not sooner. I am, however, digging through my closet for sackcloth to wear to work tomorrow.
I don’t mean to be flip about this, because I’m truly frightened for our country.
I am a convert from Episcopalianism. There’s a concluding collect for one of their sets of intercessions which I think is timely. It reads, “Hasten, O Father, the coming of thy kingdom; and grant that we thy servants, who now live by faith, may with joy behold thy Son at his coming in glorious majesty; even Jesus Christ, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.
Perhaps the coming of the kingdom will be hastened.
You are all welcome to come join us up here in Canada.
Please bring some of your courageous Bishops.
I just heard John McCain’s concession speech.
I am now assuming the fetal position…a very dangerous position in the upcoming Obama administration.
Lord have mercy…
Fr. Deacon Daniel
The only way I can think of this is 4 years of Lent. Our Lady watch over us in this time of need
John McCain is a gracious man.
How about Keyes/Palin 2012
And they will say to the mountains, fall on us
and to the hills, cover us.
I spent the last nine days saying the Novena to Our Lady of Victory… This sort of thing kind of tries your faith. I know to despair is a sin, but it does make me despair of the power of prayer. Still, one just has to remember that ultimately God leaves us free to choose good or evil. And that, from the beginning, us human beings have preferred the evil over the good.
Needless to say, with total freedom over Supreme Court appointments, we can expect the holocaust of abortion to continue for a long time. If Doug Kmiec is right, Obama’s social policies will reduce the number of abortions. So we’ll have, what 1 million fetuses killed per year instead of 1.3 million? How wonderful. As far as gay marriage goes, we have a ballot measure here in California to undo the decree of the CA Supreme Court that gay marriage is a right. Does it really matter now? The USSC will declare gay marriage a constitutional right as soon as Obama gets an appointment or two.
What have we done?
Or, they will call upon the name of the Lord, and stay in their country, and work against the forces of evil.
Or are there not ten righteous left here?
Don’t give up hope and jump ship. Geez.
It is finished.
It was a bad idea for him to concede. A number of states are still in play. It could all still turn out for McCain. But I guess good political manners are more important to some people than saving babies….
Let’s see . . . he promised to “spread the wealth” . . . “bankrupt the coal industry and any energy company that relies on coal, and your energy bills WILL go up” . . . pass FOCA, guaranteeing the wholesale slaughter of the innocent unborn . . . his VP guaranteed that within 6 months the world would test him . . .
Yep, this is definitely a ship I want to stay on.
Sic transit gloria mundi
Yeah, it looks like it has turned out the way the forces of evil have long been predicting. That blood-red sickle moon I saw on the way home from work couldn’t help but remind me of that ancient Old Testament sign of God’s wrathful judgment coming upon a sinful people. God help us — and He will. The world may well not be able to endure four years of further misrule, but we can’t predict the future. Things may get a lot worse before they get better, or they may just keep getting worse, but God won’t abandon us, so let’s not abandon Him.
The Deluge
~ GK Chesterton
Though giant rains put out the sun,
Here stand I for a sign.
Though earth be filled with waters dark,
My cup is filled with wine.
Tell to the trembling priests that here
Under the deluge rod,
One nameless, tattered, broken man
Stood up, and drank to God.
Sun has been where the rain is now,
Bees in the heat to hum,
Haply a humming maiden came,
Now let the deluge come:
Brown of aureole, green of garb,
Straight as a golden rod,
Drink to the throne of thunder now!
Drink to the wrath of God.
High in the wreck I held the cup,
I clutched my rusty sword,
I cocked my tattered feather
To the glory of the Lord.
Not undone were the heaven and earth,
This hollow world thrown up,
Before one man had stood up straight,
And drained it like a cup.
In the end, the Mass will save us… let us redouble our efforts at bringing back the Gregorian Mass everywhere, that its fruits may begin to transform the world. Christ is King, and He will reign triumphantly through His Holy Catholic Church, even if we have to first pass through Calvary…
I refuse to be jerked around by the press. I have had enough political season of being told half-truths and spins and outright lies that I’m not going to sit through hours of people telling me what to think.
I’m boycotting the news tonight. I’ll check the results in the morning.
No sense worrying, all is in God’s hands. Whatever comes, comes.
“I tell you naught for your comfort,
Yea, naught for your desire,
Save that the sky grows darker yet
And the sea rises higher.”
sed et si ambulavero in valle mortis non timebo malum quoniam tu mecum es virga tua et baculus tuus ipsa consolabuntur me
Suzanne–Keyes/Palin 2012?! That’s what I call a dream ticket. Optimism, I like that.
It helps to think that 1000 years is but a day to God, and that He often tolerates evil to bring a greater good. The “conservative” party in this country is anything but. Our nominee was the weakest in the field, and not particularly outspoken on social issues. Our congressmen fed at the trough like pigs. Our leaders frequently resorted to the language of the enemy, instead of standing on principle. Maybe this defeat will force a reinvention of the conservative movement. Maybe we will stand a chance in four years after the damage is done.
I think the biggest concern is that the hard Left will now use the government as a tool to silence us. Chuck Schumer was comparing the “Fairness” Doctrine to the regulation of pornography the other day. In the view of the hard Left, dissent=hate, and hate is not constitutionally protected speech. We can expect to be prosecuted for our views. This is not alarmist–look at the case of Mark Steyn in Canada, where courts are set up specifically to prosecute dissenting speech as “hate crimes”. Still, I think we need to at least try to be optimistic that God will bring some good out of this eventually, even if we can’t see it.
The current economic crisis is barely a blip on the radar compared to the moral fallout from the “Freedom of Choice Act” when it is rammed through the legislative process by either Congress, Executive Order or, God forbid, the Supreme Court with 2 appointees from the incoming administration. (Chief Justice Roberts, don’t fail us now.) These are scary times to be alive, especially if you happen to reside in the womb. Now more than ever we need to pray and offer Masses for our poor country.
I think this is a good opportunity to pray. For better or worse, we have a president now. All we can do is offer it up to Almighty God to do as he sees fit. Who knows, maybe there is a greater plan here. I am sure there is
I just posted a comment for my colleagues over at another discussion board that deals with issues of liturgical music.
Basically I asked what difference it makes how many verses of a psalm we sing at Mass in the OF in face of the fact that our country just elected to power a man who has vowed to pass FOCA, thus guaranteeing that the wholesale slaughter of the defenseless unborn will go on without hinderance, making three million dead look like a drop in a bucket, and guaranteeing the unbridled wrath of God?
Our world has changed in the blink of an eye.
As Patrick F said above, a new president has been elected for good or for ill. But, democracy still lives, which means we can continue to pray and campaign for Truth. As Catholics, we cannot lose on this earth for our Redeemer has given us a great promise. Therefore, avoiding despair, we will turn to prayer and work so that the new president’s heart and mind may be turned towards Truth and good.
This election has certainly given new voice and courage to some bishops, for which we can render great thanks.
Prayers from a northern neighbour.
St Joseph, pray for us.
St Jean de Brebeuf, pray for us.
Holy Canadian martyrs, pray for us.
Who was it who said that God gives us the leaders we deserve?
I know I need to repent now more than ever!
Andrew said: As Patrick F said above, a new president has been elected for good or for ill. But, democracy still lives
I know. Don’t remind me . . . .
My priest here in Raleigh, NC has said not one word about the election. In last week’s homily, he saw fit to discuss the time he took driver’s ed. Bishop Burbridge put out a letter reminding Catholics they must vote for life. That letter was neither read nor put in the bulletin. Our priest has been against the Iraq war from the beginning, maybe his pride made him choose to ignore the unborn babies whose life were at stake in this election. I have been praying for him. I admit, I am angry about his actions, but I know what I really need to do is keep on praying.
How about Palin-Jindal 2012?
“How about Palin-Jindal 2012?”
Ah! There IS hope!
Jacob wrote:
“Tomorrow I need to find my copy of ‘Father Elijah’ and start rereading…”
)(
OMG, Jacob, I thought I was the only one whom ever read that book. What a great story and oh how prophetic. Scary.
Guess what book I got in the mail today! (I ordered it after seeing Mr. O’Brien on EWTN.) A rare bright spot today, I guess.
How long will the (mainstream) media now be more unbearable than usual (if that’s possible)? Before their death?
As always, we have gotten the government that we deserve. There is the distinct possibility in the near future for a far left totalitarian police state, justified of course by some “crisis” or another which may or may not be a false flag operation.
God help us.
Any government that is not Roman Catholic will eventually turn against God, because it is guided by men and not by God… our nation is not Catholic and never was. The majority of the people have now rejected God and His Church, and we have ended up with the most pro-abortion government in the history of civilization, a government whose leaders have promised to sweep away all laws that might put any limit whatsoever on the DAILY SACRIFICE of over 3000 innocent human victims, all sacrificed to the gods of pleasure and convenience. May God have mercy on us all.
Charity is the greatest of virtues, so say the Scriptures and Catholic Social teaching is significant. Christian Charity involves many aspects of our human existence, not just economics.
Charity is not Socialism. But if you want to tell me how charitable Conservatives are I must ask why are there so many more poor today than 20 years ago? Interstingly enough I help take up the collection at a major parish with a very mixed population. It is almost always the elderly who are poor themselves or a few young people who have gotten the message who throw in a $10 or $20. The young affluent if they give anything it is a $1. On average we are as cheap as every other group. Then we get someone like Rush who kicks several million dollars to one charity and boosts the average way up. What I am tlking about is doing more to eradicate some of the causes of poverty. There is no one preventing busniness men/women from mentoring and even sponsoring new businesses. How many of us who are employers ever consider a “just wage” or a “living wage” without some government program sponsoring it? How many of us workers consider the duty of doing a days work for that pay? How many grandmothers ever consider helping new mothers in crisis situations or grandfathers for that matter? We Catholics account for 25% of the population. Surely we can organize better programs than Catholic Charities and do so without government money. It is past time for us to bring our lives and all that means into living the Gospel. Everything Jesus tells us HE will judge us for is based on service to our neighbor, the “least of our brothers.” If you call that Socialism then take it up with Jesus Christ. He might like to discuss just what “a crock” is and who our brother and sister are.
Larry, socialism is the forcing of the citizens to “spread the wealth.” With God, we have free will, it is up to us to help our brothers. Socialism and Jesus are incompatible.
Does anyone know what happened with Proposition 8 and the other amendments at the poles? With a completely liberal government with no checks and balances, we really need them to come through.
The difference between socialism and charity is “taking” and “giving”.
Of course we have a duty to care for those in need.
Taking MY money and handing it around, or putting me to forced labor ain’t right. Encouraging me to give it up freely to help others is another thing entirely.
Once we put our kings to death and left the model of government that mirrors our relationship with God, we were on our way to this today. Power from below works as long as there is charity and order entwined with the Judeo-Christian ethic. Along with this loss went “noblesse oblige” of the wealthy class. It is too impractical for government to fill in as that nobility which fed the poor, funded orphanages and hospitals, educated the lowly, etc.
But back to the discussion at hand, it appears that we are now on our own to live rightly. We may no longer have laws that reflect justice and charity, or protect. Its up to us on an individual basis to live the best way we can.
Speaking of books, this recent turn of events reminds me of ‘The Lord of the Flies’.
There is the distinct possibility in the near future for a far left totalitarian police state, justified of course by some “crisis” or another which may or may not be a false flag operation.
If you’ll remember, four years ago leftists were saying that President Bush would claim a “crisis” and cancel the 2008 elections. I think your prediction is no more likely to be true than theirs was.
I think the hard core republicans commenting here ought to recognize that Barack Obama is not the reincarnation of Joseph Stalin. In western Europe, Obama would be right in the middle politically.
That is not to say that Catholics should not be concerned about Obama’s election. We are going to have to fight harder than ever for the unborn children. That presumes, of course, that we have been fighting for them up til now – which many of us have not been, including myself. If you haven’t been doing your part, it’s time to start.
For the most part, I have refrained from engaging in these combox discussions. I am uneasy about some of the rabid partisanship on both sides displayed by presumably Catholic commenters. As a non-Catholic young man, I was a committed republican, member of the young Republicans, huge fan of Newt Gingrich, listened daily to Sean Hannity before he moved to Fox. When I became Catholic, I lost my love for the republican party. I still vote more republican than democrat, but now I vote for candidates despite their party affiliation, not because of it. I voted for McCain, because I cannot vote for a pro-abortion candidate, but I know that, had McCain won, he would also have disappointed Catholics in many ways.
Catholics need to vote based on their Catholic values, not based on party affiliation. Life must be the primary issue, then marriage, and then other issues. If I ever have the choice between a pro-life democrat and a pro-abortion republican, I will gladly vote for the pro-life democrat – something that would have been unthinkable for me in the 1990s.
Finally, do not despair. The Church was founded by Christ and can not fail. The Church was founded and grew in a pagan empire that hated and persecuted Christians. We are much better off today than the first Christians were. Maybe that will change – but then again maybe the Church needs some persecution to strengthen it.
What makes this election so sad is the fact that too many Catholics are more than willing to suspend truth and faith for frightening left wing agenda.
And what is so painful is that many, many Catholics will be emboldend to use this election as \’hope\’ for \’change\’ in the Church\’s teachings and doctrines.
As Malachi Martin wrote in his book \’Vatican\’, too many of us have signed the \’Bargain\’ with the world and the primordial evil.
Ultimately, Christ alone is our hope, and to quote Martin\’s character Papa Valeska and the way he faced the long winter in the Church: My czekamy, \”we are waiting\”. And never surrender.
May I offer a different approach to the situation: Let us pray that President-Elect Obama can see the errors of his ways, And maybe he starts attending Mass with his VP Biden. And in doing so, the most holy Mother of God touches his heart. Then, Maybe, just maybe he will be converted to the true faith and govern accordingly. (After all he is a smart man by all account). But no matter what the new President and the country will need our prayer. The Pro-Life movement has been dealt a devastating blow but it is not the end. In the meantime (Prolife aside) let us just hope that the next 4 years are better than the last 8. People in this country are suffering; it was never a good year for the Pro-Life movement. Economy will always trump any other issues: People eventually vote with their pocket. And Obama, rightly or not, was seen as the one that can deliver on that front. As for Me I will offer a lot of prayers for him.
May God Bless him and May God Bless America.
Well, folks, just got up here in Europe to this bad news. One guy here commented that his wife is Polish and thus he might flee to Poland from Obamistas. Well, I’m here, and this is definitely not the place to flee socialism to. It is more socialist than US, though not as socialist as Sweden or France. Poland’s prime minister, Donald Tusk, is in many ways a “prototype” of Obama – younger than others, with no real achievements, big ego but smooth talker, inflated way out of proportion by liberal media before last elections. The only real differences are that Tusk is white, is not adamantly pro-abortion and has more political experience having been a politico most of his adult life. Judging by his example Obama will now go on to deliver nice speeches, which surprisingly to him won’t cure economic crisis nor change other unpleasant aspects of reality around him. About 1.5 – 2 years from now the crowd that elected him will be bitterly disappointed with their choice – and the disappointment will be as strong and emotional as is their irrational love for “the one”. Which may be a good thing in 4 years from now. I don’t expect 8 Obama years.
I just hope Republicans are regretting now they booted Ron Paul. He would have stood a chance against Obama, because he had appeal in the young generation McCain couldn’t have. And he was the only Republican candidate to offer a realistic program for true change for the better. Paul knows more about finance, economy and how to handle the crisis we face than McCain and Obama combined. He is also anti-abortion, he is the only candidate who wanted to obey the Constitution and stop the power grab by the government. Let’s hope there will be someone to carry on in 4 years when Paul will be too old to run.
Let us hope and pray that the US bishops do not sink back into their customary posture of being the Democratic party at prayer, but start exercising the muscles which they surprisingly rediscovered during the Pelosi/Biden nonsense. A strong Church is now needed – giving clear, intelligent and forthright alternative moral leadership to counteract the anti-life views of what appears to be an overwhelmingly popular president-elect and to stir the conscience of the nation.
“But it comes as no surprise to the Church that she, no less than her divine Founder, is destined to be a “sign of contradiction”(Luke 2:34). She does not, because of this, evade the duty imposed on her of proclaiming humbly but firmly the entire moral law, both natural and evangelical. (from Humanae Vitae §18)”
May God Bless him and May God Bless America.
God will not bless someone who deliberately signs the Freedom of Choice Act.
Well, we’ll just _all_ have to go to the March for Life this January, that’s all. And maybe hold a march before that, too.
Let us not despair of the power of the Holy Spirit to change his heart. He may yet be brought face to face with the reality of the beloved child of God within the womb. May Our Lady protect him from the assaults and lies of the devil that this may be accomplished.
Maureen, good idea. I’ll meet you there. The March for Life gets bigger and bigger every year. How will I find you?
—–
Well at least the Republicans have held on to their filibuster power.
I agree with other posters that dire circumstances such as this can open people’s eyes and cause conversions. Let us thank God for His Will [even though this may be a case of permissive will].
In my funk early this morning I remembered that, although we can point fingers at bad Republicans, people who disdain God’s laws, and irresponsible Church hierarchy, and our own sins, we are really at war with Dominions and Principalities. The plot was hatched by the Evil One, and man has complied.
I await the head crushing by the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Let us continue to pray and do penance.
I wouldn’t run to Poland just yet. Russia may still invade.
I was watching this on TV untill Obama had 103 and McCain had 37 the went to bed (It was about 1 AM here in England). ‘Tisn’t good at all.
You’ll have to get priests into every hospital so they can qickly baptize all the aborted babies.
Larry,
It’s one thing to choose a worthwhile cause for yourself and donate money, goods or time. At least in that scenario you have a reasonable chance of insuring that your gift does the maximum good.
It’s quite another thing to hand over money to a bloated and inefficient government with a horrible track record as a steward and questionable motives and judgment.
It is also my view that there is greater virtue and therefore greater benefit to both the benefactor and beneficiary when charity is voluntary. (Just an opinion) You don’t say it outright; but, I sense that you believe that since people aren’t choosing to be charitable on their own, looking to the government is a reasonable option. (Forgive me if I have assumed too much.) I couldn’t disagree more. If people aren’t applying charity in their lives the solution is certainly NOT to say “fine, we’ll have the government do it for you”. That does nothing to address the individual’s lack of charity and its effect on his or her soul. A far better solution would be to encourage individual charity in all the ways prescribed by the Church.
McCain did not lose because he was a centrist, McCain lost because his campaign was not as astute or as well-organized as Obama’s was. He lost because people freaked out enough over the economic crisis, and ubelievably decided to elect “change” over substance and proven leadership as a remedy to this crisis…and yes, we can admit that he may have lost millions of votes due to a repudiation of some of the abuses and corruption we have seen creep into the administration over the last eight years (and I say that as a proud Bush supporter). What we saw in the McCain campaign over the last week came about seven weeks too late. This election was won sadly over image, not issues, and that image proved to be the right sell for those who think the Presidency is about image and not governance and leadership. Senator McCain is a class act, we saw that in his concession speech last night. We need to pray hard for the Nation, and specifically that we win back Congress in two years, that no Supreme Court justices (or not many) retire in the next four years, and that we win back the White House in 2012. Bill O’Reilly was right this morning in saying that it was the HARD left that helped Obama rise to power, and now they will be hungry to get what they feel is their due. Obama will make the Clintons look like republicans. Heaven help us in the times ahead.
I have decided to do the only thing I can for my to-be Commander in Chief: I’m offering a Mass for him.
We struggle not against flesh and blood, but Principalities and Powers.
A Jindal/Palin 2012 bumper sticker will be on my car today. Time is NOW to stop the culture of death in 2012.
“If you’ll remember, four years ago leftists were saying that President Bush would claim a ‘crisis’ and cancel the 2008 elections. I think your prediction is no more likely to be true than theirs was.”
The worst of the “Left Behind” scenarios are probably untrue. However, just because the left was mistaken about Bush does not logically mean the right is mistaken about Obama. With the hard left in total control there will almost certainly be a crackdown on political freedoms, namely:
– Regulation of free speech via, inter alia, the “Fairness Doctrine.” It is a staple of the Left that dissenting speech is hate speech, and that hate speech is not protected by the first amendment. Chuck Schumer explicitly said this. Canada has courts that prosecute dissenting political speech as “hate” speech, so it’s not alarmist to think it could happen here.
– Restriction of the democratic process via the courts. The Left is all for democracy when they agree with the outcome. If they don’t, they have the oligarchic court system to override democracy. Expect gay marriage to be declared a right under the federal constitution because of the “equal protection” clause of the 14th amendement.
– Redistricting. With a stranglehold on the federal government they will gerrymander congressional districts to ensure their maintain this stranglehold. Republicans would do this too, of course.
– Forced unionization of workplaces under a “card check” system. This will allow unions to intimidate people into unionizing their companies, taking away the right to secret ballot. Expect union coffers to swell with the increase in membership, and all that money goes straight to the Democratic party.
Pardon me folks. Precisely where did I say that government is to be vehicle of Charity? I didn’t and I am not a socialist. Yes we are “on our own” as regards what we give and how we give it. That is called “Free Will”. The fact remains that 25% of the population of the US is “Catholic”. It seems clear to me that if we all walk down the street and throw a buck or two to the local drunk and feel “we’ve given to the poor, Lord did you see us?” we are kidding ourselves when the poor pregnant girl in the door way got nothing and will kill her child. Wake up people. We are not living some agrarian fantasy land. We have large urban populations because we have become a nation based on commerce and industry of many types that demand workers live in close proximity. Years ago it might have been enough to go to a neighbor either to seek help or more likely give assistance. Things are much more complicated today. Catholics must adapt the Gospel to this new model of society. No you should not be forced to help. But if you are Catholic you are bound by the Gospel to do so. God sees and knows your heart. Because the problems in society are directly related to our economic model it is necessary that the solutions take on a socital margin. It is the height of Capitalism to pool our resources or money to accomplish a goal. So if you want to be Catholic it is time to sign on to notion that on Judgement Day God will be looking at how you shared the blessings HE GAVE YOU. “What do you have that you were not given?”
Read “Lord of the World” by Robert Hugh Benson.
“God will not bless someone who deliberately signs the Freedom of Choice Act.”
(Comment by Ottaviani)
I don’t think that’s for you to decide, my friend…
Lucia,
Well, let’s just say, if the past is any indicator, God appears greatly disinclined to bless those who pass laws which facilitate the increase and exportation of the destruction of millions of innocent lives.
Unless you read a different Bible? Or perhaps are familiar with a different god?
Fr. Deacon Daniel
Fr Deacon Daniel–
I didn’t say whether God would or wouldn’t bless such a person. I simply said it isn’t for any of us to decide.
I’m not condoning Obama’s actions obviously.
It’s just a personal peeve of mine when people blatantly speak in God’s name. Perhaps I mistook Ottaviani’s comment. My apologies.
“Lucia,
Well, let’s just say, if the past is any indicator, God appears greatly disinclined to bless those who pass laws which facilitate the increase and exportation of the destruction of millions of innocent lives.
Unless you read a different Bible? Or perhaps are familiar with a different god?”
Wow!!! Father Daniel, wow so much for forgiveness. Isn’t it presumptuous to assume the role of God….Are we to assume that God would never forgive President-Elect Obama if he sincerely asks for it. Well I guess that must some kind of Greek Catholic teaching I did not know about. So why don’t we leave the role of God to…Let’s say…..God. I guess we have a couple of choices as Catholics: we can either complain about what could have been with a McCain election from a Pro-Life standpoint (not much really he was not really 100 percent Pro-Life)or we can help spread the truth to those who most need it. As far as Mrs. Palin herself, do we really think she had what it takes to be in the highest office in the land? Yes she has more executive experience than Mr. Obama, however does she have the intellect?
read for yourself :
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/05/palin-didnt-know-africa-i_n_141653.html
Father, your doing our Church a disservice by denying God’s Forgiveness to Mr. Obama, that would be God’s Job (Only Him)…as some might think since he is not worthy of it maybe they should not try preaching to him (would be pointless)
Michael Gerrain
I meant Geek Catholic Teaching in the above statement.