Stock in gun companies is going up, because of this gun-control thing. Pres. Obama has a jihad against guns… gun and ammo sales soar to record levels. In a gun shop I saw a photo of the President with the caption “Salesman of the Month”.
Please? Pretty please?
Pres. Obama can be our “New Evangelist of the Month”!
I must have walked through the wrong door and into Bearded-Spock Universe.
This isn’t a joke. Here is the link to the site of the White House.
Read the language carefully.
It’s supposed to be “Religious Freedom Day”, but the text starts out with “freedom to worship“.
From LifeNews.
Obama Declares “Religious Freedom Day” As His Admin Denies It
President Barack Obama declared today Religious Freedom Day as his administration is working overtime to deny religious freedom to pro-life Americans who do not want their companies, schools or businesses to pay for drugs that may cause abortions.
While the Obama Administration is furiously working to push the HHS mandate on religious employers, Obama issued a proclamation today calling religious freedom “sacred.” [Just when I thought I couldn’t be surprised by this man anymore.]
“Foremost among the rights Americans hold sacred is the freedom to worship as we choose,” the ironic proclamation reads. [THAT is the key, right there. The Obama Administration is twisting our 1st Amendment right. By emphasizing “freedom to worship“, they are forcing the exercise of religion and religious values out of the public square to be only behind the closed doors of your place of worship or your home. “Freedom of religion” is NOT the same as “freedom to worship”! Yes, the text comes back to the idea of “practicing openly” and so forth, but liberals work for their nefarious goals by creeping incrementalism.] “Today, we celebrate one of our Nation’s first laws to protect that right — the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. Written by Thomas Jefferson and guided through the Virginia legislature by James Madison, the Statute affirmed that “Almighty God hath created the mind free” and “all men shall be free to profess . . . their opinions in matters of religion.” [That is what the First Gay President is trying to erode.] Years later, our Founders looked to the Statute as a model when they enshrined the principle of religious liberty in the Bill of Rights.”
The remainder of the proclamation reads as follows:
Because of the protections guaranteed by our Constitution, each of us has the right to practice our faith openly and as we choose. As a free country, our story has been shaped by every language and enriched by every culture. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus, Sikhs and non-believers. Our patchwork heritage is a strength we owe to our religious freedom.
Americans of every faith have molded the character of our Nation. They were pilgrims who sought refuge from persecution; [My blood pressure is rising.] pioneers who pursued brighter horizons; protesters who fought for abolition, women’s suffrage, and civil rights. Each generation has seen people of different faiths join together to advance peace, justice, and dignity for all. [Except, Mr. President, for the unborn. And, oh yes, the just-born.]
Today, we also remember that religious liberty is not just an American right; it is a universal human right to be protected here at home and across the globe. This freedom is an essential part of human dignity, and without it our world cannot know lasting peace. [You would think you were reading one of Pope Benedict’s Messages for the World Day for Peace.]
As we observe Religious Freedom Day, let us remember the legacy of faith and independence we have inherited, and let us honor it by forever upholding our right to exercise our beliefs free from prejudice or persecution. [Except for when the Administration wants to tax you and your businesses to pay for intrinsically evil things.]
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 16, 2013, as Religious Freedom Day. I call on all Americans to commemorate this day with events and activities that teach us about this critical foundation of our Nation’s liberty, and show us how we can protect it for future generations at home and around the world. [One good way to commemorate the day would have been to go to the range and practice shooting. The 2nd Amendment protects the 1st.]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand thirteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-seventh.
[…]
Do you see how the left is hijacking language? This is what the National catholic Reporter crowd is doing too, by hijacking pro-life language, when they could care less about the unborn. Control language and you control thought.
I’d like to take a moment to thank all of you who refused to vote because the other candidate wasn’t perfect enough for you. Just… thanks.
Jesus did not found your parish.
Our Lord personally founded the Catholic Church and promised that she would prevail against the forces of Hell. He did not promise that the Enemy would not prevail where you live. He made no promises about the local Church of this or that nation. He said nothing about your parish.
Think of the once vital Church of North Africa in the time of St. Augustine. With his dying breaths, he witnesses the invasion of the Vandals.
A while back I was talking with a friend who was moved to another parish, because the diocese closed his church and merged the parish. Demographics shifted. Finances collapsed. There are fewer priests. Et cetera. When I raised the point that it could be ill-advised for dioceses to sell off churches and land, he countered – rightly – that if people want a church, they will build one and maintain it. That goes for nourishing vocations to the priesthood and not just paying mortgage, heat and light.
He is right. If people want a church badly enough, they will make it happen. Yes, the clergy can play a leadership role in this, but it is fundamentally the will of the people that make these things happen.
I was therefore pleased to read a story – with great photos – about the upgrade a Kansas community has accomplished.
In the Johnson County’s News Magazine we find, and these are but some highlights:
Latin Mass finds a new home in Johnson County
Story Brian Burnes
The Kansas City Star
At first, they couldn’t explain the voices.[…]
For 18 months members of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne have been working to turn the 1940s-era Protestant church into a new home for what sometimes is called the “old” Catholic Latin Mass.
[…]
And members of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, who had been meeting in leased space for about 10 years in a separate Kansas City, Kan., Catholic church, long had imagined a permanent home.
So they bought the old Lutheran church. Among their many improvements: an updated sound system.
While testing it, technicians kept getting a hum. They turned up the volume.
That’s when they heard the voices. But it proved to be nothing other-worldly.
They were picking up CNN. The Cable News Network.
[…]
“The most paramount aspect for me personally is the reverence,” said John Lewis, 58, of Lenexa.
“The Latin Mass is respectful, it’s beautiful, it’s holy. It allows me to worship without distraction. The focus is on the priest’s actions instead of the activity of the laity.
[…]
“I even ask myself, ‘What is it that is so wonderful?’ But it is just so darn serious. This is not frivolous; this is about one’s immortal soul and, if you believe in the hereafter, is there anything else more serious?”
The “old” Latin Mass has a new home in Johnson County.
Members of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne filled the renovated Spanish Mission structure Saturday to witness the building’s formal blessing by Archbishop Joseph Naumann of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.
“The pulpit arrived at 12:30 last night.”
[…]
[Archbishop] Naumann, in his homily, praised the renovated church and added that its fine furnishings “represent our striving to give God our very best.”
[…]
Some, such as church secretary Watkins, cited possible divine intervention, given that a church member saw the “For Sale” sign posted outside the church while driving by on Easter Sunday.
The community paid $600,000 for the building and invested $177,000 in exterior renovations.
[…]
At the time church officials anticipated needing $390,000 to renovate the interior of the church and another $150,000 to furnish it.
Watkins last week estimated that the final investment, including the church’s acquisition, was just more than $2 million.
While much of the renovated church today retains its Spanish Mission style, given its red-tile roof and new interior floor of Spanish-style pavers, it also emphasizes a Romanesque design, especially in its tall center altar.
“It’s a mixture of styles not unknown in the Catholic Church, as many churches were built over periods of centuries,” Fongemie said.
Parish officials, striving to renovate a church that might have been built in 1940, also have relied upon 21st-century technology to outfit it.
A sanctuary lamp, for instance, was found on eBay.
A long list of contractors contributed to the church’s renovation, among them representatives of Sacred Heart Church Art of Beatrice, Neb., which specializes in the restoration of altars and statuary.
The main altar, located in a Pennsylvania church, was taken apart, shipped to Johnson County and then reassembled after various sections had been stripped, primed, painted and then highlighted with gold leaf.
That was in October. The next month representatives of Quimby Pipe Organs in Warrensburg, Mo., assisted in moving the organ (which the previous owners had left) from the sanctuary area to the newly expanded choir loft.
[…]
The one hiccup in Saturday’s blessing ceremony involved — again — modern technology.
The amount of sacramental incense burned on Saturday morning produced enough smoke to trigger the church’s smoke alarms.
The solemn high Mass continued regardless.
“It was my first three-alarm Mass,” said Watkins.
Attendants and altar boys who had been responsible for the incense had, Watkins said, loaded up with enough charcoal to see them through the brisk and breezy outdoor portion of the ceremony.
“So we still had plenty of smoke when we got inside,” added Watkins, who promises adjustment of the church’s smoke-alarm system.
“If you noticed,” Watkins added, “that smoke alarm went off in Latin.”
A wonderful event for the Year of Faith.
Congratulations to the members of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne.
They wanted a new church enough to make it happen.
First, let me post a smile with my signature icon, so that you know that, even as I mean business, I am in a pleasant mood.
o{]:¬)
Once again, I am getting lots of registrations from spammers. I eliminated dozens of the damn thing today. Wicked fiends!
In the process of cleaning up the sewage these vile dogs leave, I may have I deleted legitimate and well-meaning registrations.
You may have to register again if you registered recently and nothing happened.
Take seriously that field where I ask for something about yourself. No. Really. Something generic like “I am a retired accountant”… no… just no. I WILL NOT approve a registration like that. You do NOT need to give me your life’s story, but give me something that will show me you are not an vile spammer.
Elements such as usernames you choose and that ABOUT field are really important. I don’t have a lot of time to spend on registration thing, so if I see something I am even a little suspicious about, I may just delete the registration. I hope you understand.
Sent by a reader.
This two-year-old has a bright future.
Ex ore infantium…
[wp_youtube]42Ud4YMmgVY[/wp_youtube]
I had a great day today with Minneapolis S.W.A.T.
This was built around a Ford F550.
As it happens, this here blog is known to a member of the S.W.A.T. unit of my native place. I had an invitation when in town to visit and get a little coaching and time at the range.
How could I pass that up?
One of the other members, a trainer, gave me some pointers while using sim rounds.
We identified two problems I had, one with arm position and one with my trigger pull.
After lunch (Thai) we headed off to the range. We were originally going to go to an outdoor range, but … hey… it’s winter.
I took my own Glock 19 (.9mm) and got it nice and warm, but I also had a chance to shoot a Sig P220 (.45) and this HK USP (.45).
Doing some double-taps, alternating to different targets, at 15″.
I know… I should have had my arms locked out straighter.
I haven’t done a lot of shooting for a very long time. It came back.
At 21 feet, isosceles stance with the Sig.
I pulled a little left on the first three in the first mag, and I started compensating on the second mag. But I don’t think I have to hang my head in shame.
And, yes, I know that the heart is the middle, not to the side. Just using more areas on the target, is all.
My friend caught the Glock’s muzzle flash in this one.
I am so grateful for what these guys do. When they are not dealing with the really big incidents, they are still dealing with bad guys and ne’er-do-wells every single day. It was wonderful to spend time with them, get the great coaching, and put a couple hundred rounds through my 19.
In time, I may post some pics of some of the equipment I saw, including very cool robots!
UPDATE:
The 19 has been cleaned. I could get used to Compline with the lingering scent of solvent… in the absence of incense.
Good news.
The monks from Fontgombault (who founded Clear Creek in the Diocese of Tulsa) are going to repopulate a French monastery.
Don’t you wish sometimes that you never… I mean never… saw or heard Hollywood stars when they weren’t actually in a show or movie?
Some of these people are getting into the gun-control issue. Strikes me as a bit hypocritical.
The original…
[wp_youtube]64G5FfG2Xpg[/wp_youtube]
How does that stack up with how they make their money? (WARNING: Some of the images in this video are pretty awful, but they make the point pretty clear.)
[wp_youtube]9wWs86inw_Q[/wp_youtube]
What are the image in movies and TV shows – and video games – doing to the minds of our children and young people.
Maybe that’s what they should be talking about?
Thanks to a reader I saw this at Eponymous Flower:
Pastor Determines Latin Mass “Disturbs” Tourists
Edit: We just received a discouraging letter from a friend about a Latin Mass Community in the Los Angeles, California area. There has been a Mass said for the last 15 years at a Mission of San Buenaventura in Ventura California. The parish resides in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and so is Archbishop Gomez’s responsibility. So far, Archbishop Gomez hasn’t shown any interest in expanding any more Latin Mass communities and it looks like this one will be moved because, it seems to us, that the church is more important as a museum and a tourist attraction than for the purpose which it was intended.
There’s no mention or apology about cultural treasures which have disappeared, or the alterations and damage which may have been done to the Church in the wake of the Second Vatican Council.
Here is part of a letter with contact information:
To the Faithful who attend and defend the Traditional / Extraordinary Form of the Mass
The Extraordinary Form Mass has been said every Sunday for 15 years at Mission San Buenaventura. Now it faces being moved, for reasons that do not make sense. Please find below the text of the notice letter that was issued without discussion or a chance to develop solutions. Included also is a summary of main points discussed at a meeting with the Mission pastor regarding his reasons for wanting to move the Mass elsewhere. The Latin Mass (TLM) community would like to make sure that Archbishop Jose Gomez knows of the situation and quickly brings it to an equitable resolution.
We ask that everyone concerned, please immediately write a short, concise letter to the Archbishop today requesting that the weekly offering of the Extraordinary Form Mass be preserved at the Mission. Please keep a copy for your records and if you would like, submit a copy to Una Voce Ventura for our files (email to info@unavoceventura.org or fax to 805-435-1654).
Archbishop Jose Horacio Gomez, Archdiocese of Los Angeles 3424 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90010-2202
Please find attached the following three documents for your reference: Apostolic Letter Summorum Pontificum of the Supreme Pontiff Benedict XVI Given Motu Propio Letter to Bishops regarding the Apostolic Letter Summorum Pontificum Universae Ecclesia of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei
Leo Raab, President Una Voce Ventura
www.unavoceventura.org
I don’t know what sense there is for someone in, say, Virginia to write.
However, everyone should know what is going on. FWIW
From Sr. Mary Ann Walsh at the USCCB HQ:
American Girl Catholic School Uniform
Catholic schools are in vogue. Proof: You can buy a Catholic school uniform for an American Girl doll. In your favorite plaid. You can find them for Barbie too. All the best dressed dolls are sporting them. They’re $25-$30 online.
However, though the dolls are going traditional, the Catholic schools are not. Catholic Schools are in transition mode.
[Isn’t it interesting that when even liberals want to sell something or raise money, they use more traditional imagery? Market forces!]
National Catholic Educational Association’s latest statistics for the 2011-2012 academic year note that nationwide there are 6,841 Catholic Schools: 5,636 elementary/middle and 1,205 secondary. More than 26 percent of them, 1,822 Catholic schools, have waiting lists for admission. Total school student enrollment is 2,031,455, with 1,440,572 in elementary/middle schools and 590,883 in secondary schools. Most students are Catholic, but more than 15 percent are not.
[…]
Today, school backers know that the common elements of a successful Catholic school include a strong Catholic identity, clear doctrinal teaching and sacramental focus, mission driven decision-making, a strong, vision-oriented administrator and faculty, active parent involvement, focused academic curriculum and an emphasis on community involvement. Soon another measure of success will be how schools provide Catholic education for the Hispanic community and otherwise support the nation’s new families and immigrants.
[…]
Read the rest there.
Coat of Arms by D Burkart
A Daily Prayer for Priests
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since Sat., 25 Nov. 2006:
The Kansas City Star
The outfitting of the older building with new technology had continued to be challenging. “We just finished putting in the sound 10 minutes ago,” Dan Himmelberg, project architect, said about 20 minutes before the 9 a.m. ceremony.