I thought some might find this interesting (a blessing)
Court clears way for abortion lawsuit
Wednesday, October 30, 2002
BY ROBERT SCHWANEBERG
Star-Ledger Staff
Opening the door to legal arguments about when life begins, a state appeals court ruled yesterday that a woman who had an abortion can sue her physician for emotional distress on grounds she was not properly informed of the consequences.
Rosa Acuna contends that her doctor failed to tell her that her 7-week-old fetus was "an irreplaceable human being."
A lower court threw the case out, reasoning that the U.S. Supreme Court's 1973 decision legalizing abortion had established that a 7-week-old fetus is not a "constitutional person."
But a three-judge appeals court ordered a trial on Acuna's lawsuit against obstetrician Sheldon Turkish, who advised her that she needed an abortion because of a kidney problem and terminated her pregnancy in April 1996.
A psychologist concluded Acuna suffered "severe emotional and psychological trauma" because of the abortion.
Acuna's lawyer, Harold Cassidy, said the trial will mark the first time "a jury has to determine whether this procedure (abortion) terminated the life of a living human being." He contends it did, and that Turkish had an obligation to tell Acuna "the truth" about the biological beginning of life regardless of the legality of abortion.
Cassidy said he has assembled a team of seven scientific experts to testify that Acuna's unborn child was "a living human being" just before the abortion. He called the ruling "a great victory for the rights of pregnant women."
But Talcott Camp, a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union Reproductive Freedom Project, said, "This case isn't about patient rights. It's about harassment of doctors.
"In fact, what this does is hurt women," Camp said. "It harasses doctors and discourages them from providing this constitutionally protected medical care."
During pre-trial questioning, Acuna testified that when she went to see Turkish, she asked him "if there was a baby already inside me," meaning a "human being," and that he replied "don't be stupid, it's only blood."
Turkish testified he did not remember Acuna asking such a question but would have advised her that "a 7-week pregnancy is not a living human being."
The appeals court said it will be up to Acuna to show at trial "that a prudent person under her circumstances would not have consented and submitted to the medical procedure had she been properly informed."
The court left for a jury to decide the "perplexing" issue of just what Turkish should have said to Acuna.
Appellate Division Judge James Havey said allowing Acuna to sue was the flip side of earlier rulings upholding lawsuits by parents who were deprived of their right to choose an abortion because they were not told the unborn child might suffer birth defects.
Havey was joined in the ruling by Appellate Division Judges Ariel A. Rodriguez and Edith Payne.
Turkish's lawyer, John Z. Jackson, was out of the office and could not be reached for comment.
Robert Schwaneberg covers legal issues. He can be reached at
rschwaneberg@starledger.com or (609) 989-0324.
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Astronomers discover a star of the 'Class of 13 Billion B.C.'
Thursday, October 31, 2002
BY RICK CALLAHAN
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Astronomers have discovered an ancient star near the center of our galaxy that may shed light on the universe's composition shortly after it was blasted into existence by the Big Bang.
This cosmic relic is more than 12 billion years old -- about a billion years younger than the universe itself. It also has an extremely low metal content, some 1/200,000th of that found in our sun. That is 20 times less metal than the previous lowest-metal star, found in 1977.
The star's age and composition place it among the second wave of stars that formed after the universe's violent creation, its discoverers said. Researchers had predicted this type of ultra-low metal star 25 years ago, but an example eluded them until now.
Michael S. Bessell, an astronomers at Australia's Mount Stromlo Observatory, said the newly discovered star arose from the debris of a first-generation star, so it contains only a very small amount of heavy elements.
"This really traces things back to the very early stages of the universe because stars are records of that time. This is an indicator of those times," said Bessell, the star's co-discoverer.
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Good news!
Miss World boycott is off after Nigeria vows to stop a stoning
Wednesday, October 30, 2002
STAR-LEDGER WIRE SERVICES
LAGOS, Nigeria -- Nigeria said yesterday it would never allow one of its citizens to be executed by stoning, repudiating an Islamic court verdict that had prompted a threatened boycott of the upcoming Miss World pageant.
Junior Foreign Minister Dubem Onyia singled out the case of Amina Lawal Kurami, a 31-year-old Muslim woman whose sentence for committing adultery sparked worldwide outrage.
Thursday, October 31, 2002
Wednesday, October 30, 2002
GM Targets Christians in Marketing Drive
Chevrolet is sponsoring an evangelical concert tour in an effort to reach some Christians, a move criticized by some as crossing the line between business and religion.
The "Chevrolet Presents: Come Together and Worship" stage show begins Nov. 1 in Atlanta and ends at the Palace at Auburn Hills, Mich., on Nov. 23.
Washington Post
New Status For Embryos In Research
The Bush administration has revamped the charter of the federal advisory committee that addresses the safety of research volunteers, stating for the first time that embryos in experiments are "human subjects" whose welfare should be considered along with that of fetuses, children and adults.
Survey Finds Black Voters Less Solidly Democratic
African Americans are becoming less likely to identify themselves as Democrats, and give Republican Secretary of State Colin L. Powell a higher approval rating than civil rights icon Jesse L. Jackson, according to an opinion poll released yesterday by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies.
The survey, which also bolstered previous findings that a majority of African Americans prefer school vouchers to other education improvement plans, is an indication of changing attitudes in a community that has long identified overwhelmingly with the Democratic Party and its agenda.
Here's a very funny (but true) Republican Halloween trick or treat flash presentation
Redistricting due to the 2000 census has changed the US Congressional House District I live in. I used to be in the 2nd District and now I'm in the 1st. The Republican Candidate for the US Congressional House Seat from Missouri's 1st District is Richard J. Schwadron
Here is how the districts changed:
Congressional Districts Pre-Redistricting
Congressional Districts Post-Redistricting- St. Louis County and Surrounding Area
The incumbent in the 1st District is Wm. Lacy Clay, son of Bill Clay, who had the office for a long time. Clay is a very liberal, pro-abortion Democrat. Unfortunately, I live in an area that is 66% Democrat territory. It looks like Lacy will win this seat again and be in for a long time due to redistricting.
Chevrolet is sponsoring an evangelical concert tour in an effort to reach some Christians, a move criticized by some as crossing the line between business and religion.
The "Chevrolet Presents: Come Together and Worship" stage show begins Nov. 1 in Atlanta and ends at the Palace at Auburn Hills, Mich., on Nov. 23.
Washington Post
New Status For Embryos In Research
The Bush administration has revamped the charter of the federal advisory committee that addresses the safety of research volunteers, stating for the first time that embryos in experiments are "human subjects" whose welfare should be considered along with that of fetuses, children and adults.
Survey Finds Black Voters Less Solidly Democratic
African Americans are becoming less likely to identify themselves as Democrats, and give Republican Secretary of State Colin L. Powell a higher approval rating than civil rights icon Jesse L. Jackson, according to an opinion poll released yesterday by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies.
The survey, which also bolstered previous findings that a majority of African Americans prefer school vouchers to other education improvement plans, is an indication of changing attitudes in a community that has long identified overwhelmingly with the Democratic Party and its agenda.
Here's a very funny (but true) Republican Halloween trick or treat flash presentation
Redistricting due to the 2000 census has changed the US Congressional House District I live in. I used to be in the 2nd District and now I'm in the 1st. The Republican Candidate for the US Congressional House Seat from Missouri's 1st District is Richard J. Schwadron
Here is how the districts changed:
Congressional Districts Pre-Redistricting
Congressional Districts Post-Redistricting- St. Louis County and Surrounding Area
The incumbent in the 1st District is Wm. Lacy Clay, son of Bill Clay, who had the office for a long time. Clay is a very liberal, pro-abortion Democrat. Unfortunately, I live in an area that is 66% Democrat territory. It looks like Lacy will win this seat again and be in for a long time due to redistricting.
Tuesday, October 29, 2002
Attention St. Louis voters:
Missouri Bar Association rates all those judges you'll see on the ballot next week. Most of the judges get very high marks, but a few are on the low side. Brenda Stith Loftin got only a 52% approval mark, Patrick Clifford got 58%, and Evelyn M. Baker, the judge who kept the polls open past closing time in St. Louis City in 2002, got only a 62% approval. So if you are in the mood to kick any one of the judges out, these should be the only ones to go.
To add to a previous post, Missouri Right to Life is against Proposition A. It says the money raised from new cigarette taxes would go to "health care for women ...and life sciences research" Life sciences research sounds like cloning to me. Think about it.
Missouri Bar Association rates all those judges you'll see on the ballot next week. Most of the judges get very high marks, but a few are on the low side. Brenda Stith Loftin got only a 52% approval mark, Patrick Clifford got 58%, and Evelyn M. Baker, the judge who kept the polls open past closing time in St. Louis City in 2002, got only a 62% approval. So if you are in the mood to kick any one of the judges out, these should be the only ones to go.
To add to a previous post, Missouri Right to Life is against Proposition A. It says the money raised from new cigarette taxes would go to "health care for women ...and life sciences research" Life sciences research sounds like cloning to me. Think about it.
Call Thomas reported this:
Catholic League Attacks DNC for Linking Website to Porn
Lawrence Morahan
Senior Staff Writer
(CNSNews.com) - The Democratic National Committee (DNC) "may have violated federal law" by linking its website to an Internet site depicting pornography, a prominent Catholic organization said.
The New York-based Catholic League found the link while examining a connection between the DNC and "Catholics for a Free Choice," a group denounced by the Catholic Church hierarchy as fraudulent.
Under the "links" section of the site www.dnc.org, visitors found a category called "Hispanic." The second to last entry in this category, "Willi Velasquez Institute," linked to a porn site.
A search by CNSNews.com confirmed the link to pornography. However, a search later Monday revealed the DNC had altered the link to connect to the William C. Velasquez Institute, a group whose mission is "to conduct research aimed at improving the level of political and economic participation in Latino and other underrepresented communities."
Calls to the DNC for clarification were not returned.
Catholic League Attacks DNC for Linking Website to Porn
Lawrence Morahan
Senior Staff Writer
(CNSNews.com) - The Democratic National Committee (DNC) "may have violated federal law" by linking its website to an Internet site depicting pornography, a prominent Catholic organization said.
The New York-based Catholic League found the link while examining a connection between the DNC and "Catholics for a Free Choice," a group denounced by the Catholic Church hierarchy as fraudulent.
Under the "links" section of the site www.dnc.org, visitors found a category called "Hispanic." The second to last entry in this category, "Willi Velasquez Institute," linked to a porn site.
A search by CNSNews.com confirmed the link to pornography. However, a search later Monday revealed the DNC had altered the link to connect to the William C. Velasquez Institute, a group whose mission is "to conduct research aimed at improving the level of political and economic participation in Latino and other underrepresented communities."
Calls to the DNC for clarification were not returned.
Monday, October 28, 2002
Proposition "A" on next week's election would raise Missouri's tax on cigarettes by 55 cents a pack. It would also raise taxes on other tobacco products. The money would go to health care, child education and prescription programs.
By "health care", do they mean "Planned Parenthood" and abortions? I get suspicious when I hear health care in the same sentence as politics.
By "health care", do they mean "Planned Parenthood" and abortions? I get suspicious when I hear health care in the same sentence as politics.
Inner Strength
If you can start the day without caffeine or pep pills,
If you can be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,
If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,
If you can eat the same food everyday and be grateful for it,
If you can understand when loved ones are too busy to give you time,
If you can overlook when people take things out on you when,
through no fault of yours, something goes wrong,
If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,
If you can face the world without lies and deceit,
If you can conquer tension without medical help,
If you can relax without liquor,
If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,
If you can do all these things,
Then you are probably the family dog.
CNN reports:
LEXINGTON, Kentucky (AP) -- A gay couple who became parents of quadruplets after enlisting the help of a surrogate mother had their 3-month-old children baptized Saturday in a Roman Catholic church.
Father Paul Prabell blessed the men, Thomas Dysarz and Michael Meehan, and baptized their daughter and three sons at Lexington's Cathedral of Christ the King.
"This is what Christ would do," said Meehan, the quadruplets' biological father. The babies "are God's children. That's how the church should view it."
Saturday's ceremony was attended by about 30 friends and relatives.
The mother, 23-year-old Brooke Verity, has said she thinks Dysarz and Meehan, a Lexington lawyer, will become great dads. She conceived Michael, Jacob, Tristan and Taylor through in-vitro fertilization in January and gave birth in July.
Prabell said no one had objected to the christening, although he expects that "some people would feel that the christening would be an endorsement of homosexuality and surrogate parenting."
Those issues did not enter into the decision to baptize the quadruplets. Prabell said he and the Catholic Diocese of Lexington agreed to the baptisms because Dysarz and Meehan said they will raise the children as Catholics.
The men expressed gratitude to the priest for his acceptance.
"I didn't expect him to bless us both. Just like any other couple," Dysarz said.
If you can start the day without caffeine or pep pills,
If you can be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,
If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,
If you can eat the same food everyday and be grateful for it,
If you can understand when loved ones are too busy to give you time,
If you can overlook when people take things out on you when,
through no fault of yours, something goes wrong,
If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,
If you can face the world without lies and deceit,
If you can conquer tension without medical help,
If you can relax without liquor,
If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,
If you can do all these things,
Then you are probably the family dog.
CNN reports:
LEXINGTON, Kentucky (AP) -- A gay couple who became parents of quadruplets after enlisting the help of a surrogate mother had their 3-month-old children baptized Saturday in a Roman Catholic church.
Father Paul Prabell blessed the men, Thomas Dysarz and Michael Meehan, and baptized their daughter and three sons at Lexington's Cathedral of Christ the King.
"This is what Christ would do," said Meehan, the quadruplets' biological father. The babies "are God's children. That's how the church should view it."
Saturday's ceremony was attended by about 30 friends and relatives.
The mother, 23-year-old Brooke Verity, has said she thinks Dysarz and Meehan, a Lexington lawyer, will become great dads. She conceived Michael, Jacob, Tristan and Taylor through in-vitro fertilization in January and gave birth in July.
Prabell said no one had objected to the christening, although he expects that "some people would feel that the christening would be an endorsement of homosexuality and surrogate parenting."
Those issues did not enter into the decision to baptize the quadruplets. Prabell said he and the Catholic Diocese of Lexington agreed to the baptisms because Dysarz and Meehan said they will raise the children as Catholics.
The men expressed gratitude to the priest for his acceptance.
"I didn't expect him to bless us both. Just like any other couple," Dysarz said.
Friday, October 25, 2002
President Signs Important Sudan Peace Act
On Monday, October 21, President Bush signed the Sudan Peace Act, which may become and important tool in the effort to bring the atrocities being committed against Sudanese Christians by the government of that country to an end. President Bush had this to say about the legislation, "I have today signed into law H.R. 5531, the "Sudan Peace Act." This Act demonstrates the clear resolve of the United States to promote a lasting, just peace; human rights; and freedom from persecution for the people of Sudan. The Act is designed to help address the evils inflicted on the people of Sudan by their government --including senseless suffering, use of emergency food relief as a weapon of war, and the practice of slavery -- and to press the parties, and in particular the Sudanese Government, to complete in good faith the negotiations to end the war." Pro-family group Family Research Council praised the move. However, FRC was also quick to state that the ultimate goal in the region should be not only peace, but also justice for the people of southern Sudan.
Go to Project Vote Smart to read responses from candidate surveys and who the candidates are in your area. Find out if the candidate is pro-life, pro-family, etc.
On Monday, October 21, President Bush signed the Sudan Peace Act, which may become and important tool in the effort to bring the atrocities being committed against Sudanese Christians by the government of that country to an end. President Bush had this to say about the legislation, "I have today signed into law H.R. 5531, the "Sudan Peace Act." This Act demonstrates the clear resolve of the United States to promote a lasting, just peace; human rights; and freedom from persecution for the people of Sudan. The Act is designed to help address the evils inflicted on the people of Sudan by their government --including senseless suffering, use of emergency food relief as a weapon of war, and the practice of slavery -- and to press the parties, and in particular the Sudanese Government, to complete in good faith the negotiations to end the war." Pro-family group Family Research Council praised the move. However, FRC was also quick to state that the ultimate goal in the region should be not only peace, but also justice for the people of southern Sudan.
Go to Project Vote Smart to read responses from candidate surveys and who the candidates are in your area. Find out if the candidate is pro-life, pro-family, etc.
Wednesday, October 23, 2002
Joke Day
A group of office co-workers decided one day to share a ride to work. But they did not realize that they also shared the same fear -claustrophobia. As they were driving through a mountain tunnel, they all began to scream wildly! The car went out of control, but finally, they were able to slow down and pull over to the side of the road.
A psychologist, who was driving behind the car, saw everything, and stopped to see if he could help. He immediately ascertained what the problem was -- they were suffering from carpool tunnel syndrome.
A group of office co-workers decided one day to share a ride to work. But they did not realize that they also shared the same fear -claustrophobia. As they were driving through a mountain tunnel, they all began to scream wildly! The car went out of control, but finally, they were able to slow down and pull over to the side of the road.
A psychologist, who was driving behind the car, saw everything, and stopped to see if he could help. He immediately ascertained what the problem was -- they were suffering from carpool tunnel syndrome.
Tuesday, October 22, 2002
Scholar Touts Oldest Link to Jesus
WASHINGTON –– A burial box that was recently discovered in Israel and dates to the first century could be the oldest archaeological link to Jesus Christ, according to a French scholar whose findings were published Monday.
An inscription in the Aramaic language – "James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus" – appears on an empty ossuary, a limestone burial box for bones.
Andre Lemaire said it's "very probable" the writing refers to Jesus of Nazareth. He dates the ossuary to A.D. 63, just three decades after the crucifixion."
In case you've never heard, there is a tradition that says Joseph was much older than Mary and may have had sons from a previous marriage. It says Joseph was a widower.
The Protoevangelium of James tells this story.
Also, The History Of Joseph The Carpenter tells about Joseph's other children.
WASHINGTON –– A burial box that was recently discovered in Israel and dates to the first century could be the oldest archaeological link to Jesus Christ, according to a French scholar whose findings were published Monday.
An inscription in the Aramaic language – "James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus" – appears on an empty ossuary, a limestone burial box for bones.
Andre Lemaire said it's "very probable" the writing refers to Jesus of Nazareth. He dates the ossuary to A.D. 63, just three decades after the crucifixion."
In case you've never heard, there is a tradition that says Joseph was much older than Mary and may have had sons from a previous marriage. It says Joseph was a widower.
The Protoevangelium of James tells this story.
Also, The History Of Joseph The Carpenter tells about Joseph's other children.
Thursday, October 17, 2002
St. Louis has a new auxiliary bishop elect! Fr. Bob Hermann was named as the bishop-to-be yesterday. Fr. Hermann was the leader of the Charismatic Renewal for several years. This pleases me and my Charismatic friends greatly. I don't know him very well, but every time I've heard him speak, he impressed me as a spirit-filled, holy man. One of the parishes where he was pastor continues to be a beacon of light to the Marriage Encounter and Life Teen groups in the St. Louis area. Fr. Hermann will replace Bishop Timothy Dolan, who is now serving as Archbishop in Milwaukee. Full story is in the Review.
Tuesday, October 15, 2002
Survey finds many Christians don't understand worship
Many people who call themselves Christians and even go to weekly religious services are "clueless" when it comes to what worship means, according to a study by Christian pollster George Barna.
Barna said he was concerned about the results that pointed to a "worship-challenged" America.
One in three adult regular attendees said they have never experienced God's presence while in church. Two in three were unable to describe to the survey-takers what worship is. Less than half reported that worship was a top priority in their lives. Only one in four described worship as something people do for God.
Americans make worship services a self-centered activity, he said. Of the reasons given to researchers on why they go to church, 47 percent were self-focused, 29 percent were God-focused and 2 percent had no focus at all, Barna said.
"We view ourselves first and foremost as consumers," he said. "Americans are always looking for a deal," or what's in it for them, he added.
I think catechists had better start explaining more of the basics, like "Why go to church?" and "What is religion for?"
Many people who call themselves Christians and even go to weekly religious services are "clueless" when it comes to what worship means, according to a study by Christian pollster George Barna.
Barna said he was concerned about the results that pointed to a "worship-challenged" America.
One in three adult regular attendees said they have never experienced God's presence while in church. Two in three were unable to describe to the survey-takers what worship is. Less than half reported that worship was a top priority in their lives. Only one in four described worship as something people do for God.
Americans make worship services a self-centered activity, he said. Of the reasons given to researchers on why they go to church, 47 percent were self-focused, 29 percent were God-focused and 2 percent had no focus at all, Barna said.
"We view ourselves first and foremost as consumers," he said. "Americans are always looking for a deal," or what's in it for them, he added.
I think catechists had better start explaining more of the basics, like "Why go to church?" and "What is religion for?"
Monday, October 14, 2002
Since I'm a Technical Writer, I enjoyed this.
You Know You're A Tech Writer When...
09 May 2001; by Danielle Preston, UWEC Senior
This page will show you whether you are a true technical writer (or a student thereof).
10. You bring a pen into public restrooms to punctuate the graffiti.
9. Style guides thrill, anger, and challenge you all at once.
8. You look forward to the upcoming workshop on the semi-colon.
7. People that misspeak English bring you to a boiling rage.
6. Your sarcastic wit (a survival tool of a technical writer) shows when you suggest a new title for the scientific manual: CBE: The Brink of Madness.
5. You start to question the political correctness of the ChiMan abbreviation.
4. You and your tech-writing friends have a great time thinking of new editing symbols and how to ‘edit the planet.’
3. It no longer bothers you that when you’re a writer, it’s your best work and when you’re the editor it always needs work.
2. Nothing in your world is edit-free anymore- including e-mails from your parents.
1. You’ve been mentally editing this page since you started reading it. *
*In fact, you noticed that one of the hyphens in #2 should be a dash.
You Know You're A Tech Writer When...
09 May 2001; by Danielle Preston, UWEC Senior
This page will show you whether you are a true technical writer (or a student thereof).
10. You bring a pen into public restrooms to punctuate the graffiti.
9. Style guides thrill, anger, and challenge you all at once.
8. You look forward to the upcoming workshop on the semi-colon.
7. People that misspeak English bring you to a boiling rage.
6. Your sarcastic wit (a survival tool of a technical writer) shows when you suggest a new title for the scientific manual: CBE: The Brink of Madness.
5. You start to question the political correctness of the ChiMan abbreviation.
4. You and your tech-writing friends have a great time thinking of new editing symbols and how to ‘edit the planet.’
3. It no longer bothers you that when you’re a writer, it’s your best work and when you’re the editor it always needs work.
2. Nothing in your world is edit-free anymore- including e-mails from your parents.
1. You’ve been mentally editing this page since you started reading it. *
*In fact, you noticed that one of the hyphens in #2 should be a dash.
Strange bed-fellows?
Pro-life students try for recognition
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
The Student Bar Association at Washington University's law school in St. Louis is scheduled to vote today on whether the institution should recognize a student pro-life group, which it has rejected twice already.
"It does not look good for us," said Jordan Siverd, a second-year law student who heads the group, Law Students Pro-Life.
"Almost all of the SBA members who spoke at a meeting last Thursday spoke against us. And some who had abstained in earlier votes said that they will vote against us, saying they don't like having the media or anyone else infringe on their power," he said.
The Student Bar Association has said Law Students Pro-Life is "too narrowly focused." SBA President Elliott Friedman has sent letters to the group, objecting to the fact that its constitution does not include opposition to the death penalty as one of its missions.
"It's as if the SBA is barring a Catholic organization because it believes in the doctrine of transubstantiation," he said.
However, the pro-life group gained another advocate as the American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri on Friday backed the cause of Law Students Pro-Life.
The two groups issued an "open letter" in which they urged the SBA to "recognize the right of your fellow students to organize in accordance with their own beliefs, even if you disagree with those beliefs."
----------
Poll finds support for Carnahan slipping
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Democratic Sen. Jean Carnahan is trailing former Republican Rep. Jim Talent in Missouri's closely watched Senate race, the latest poll shows.
The Zogby International poll of 800 likely voters, conducted Wednesday through Friday for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, shows Mr. Talent leading Mrs. Carnahan, 47 percent to 41 percent.
A Zogby poll last month showed 48 percent supported Mrs. Carnahan and 40 percent favored Mr. Talent.
Jim Talent is strongly pro-life. Since the Senate leadership is in the balance, his lead is good news for the pro-life cause.
GALLUP NEWS SERVICE
POLL ANALYSES
Religion clearly has an effect on Americans' political behavior, and may explain part of the existence of the marriage gap (since those who are religious are more likely to get married and stay married than are those who are not religious). There are large differences in voting intentions between those who attend church regularly (that is, on a weekly basis, among whom 62% favor Republicans and 38% Democrats) and those who attend less regularly (among those who attend nearly weekly or monthly, or those who seldom or never attend, roughly six in 10 plan to vote for Democratic candidates).
Protestants show a clear preference for Republican candidates, by a 58% to 42% margin. Catholics, a group that historically had been Democratic but has shown more competitive voting patterns in recent years, are among the more Democratic groups found in the poll, with 62% favoring Democratic candidates and 38% favoring Republicans. Preferences of practicing Catholics (those who attend church every week or nearly every week) are slightly less Democratic, 56% to 44%.
Since more Republican candidates are pro-life, why do Catholics vote for Democrats?
Pro-life students try for recognition
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
The Student Bar Association at Washington University's law school in St. Louis is scheduled to vote today on whether the institution should recognize a student pro-life group, which it has rejected twice already.
"It does not look good for us," said Jordan Siverd, a second-year law student who heads the group, Law Students Pro-Life.
"Almost all of the SBA members who spoke at a meeting last Thursday spoke against us. And some who had abstained in earlier votes said that they will vote against us, saying they don't like having the media or anyone else infringe on their power," he said.
The Student Bar Association has said Law Students Pro-Life is "too narrowly focused." SBA President Elliott Friedman has sent letters to the group, objecting to the fact that its constitution does not include opposition to the death penalty as one of its missions.
"It's as if the SBA is barring a Catholic organization because it believes in the doctrine of transubstantiation," he said.
However, the pro-life group gained another advocate as the American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri on Friday backed the cause of Law Students Pro-Life.
The two groups issued an "open letter" in which they urged the SBA to "recognize the right of your fellow students to organize in accordance with their own beliefs, even if you disagree with those beliefs."
----------
Poll finds support for Carnahan slipping
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Democratic Sen. Jean Carnahan is trailing former Republican Rep. Jim Talent in Missouri's closely watched Senate race, the latest poll shows.
The Zogby International poll of 800 likely voters, conducted Wednesday through Friday for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, shows Mr. Talent leading Mrs. Carnahan, 47 percent to 41 percent.
A Zogby poll last month showed 48 percent supported Mrs. Carnahan and 40 percent favored Mr. Talent.
Jim Talent is strongly pro-life. Since the Senate leadership is in the balance, his lead is good news for the pro-life cause.
GALLUP NEWS SERVICE
POLL ANALYSES
Religion clearly has an effect on Americans' political behavior, and may explain part of the existence of the marriage gap (since those who are religious are more likely to get married and stay married than are those who are not religious). There are large differences in voting intentions between those who attend church regularly (that is, on a weekly basis, among whom 62% favor Republicans and 38% Democrats) and those who attend less regularly (among those who attend nearly weekly or monthly, or those who seldom or never attend, roughly six in 10 plan to vote for Democratic candidates).
Protestants show a clear preference for Republican candidates, by a 58% to 42% margin. Catholics, a group that historically had been Democratic but has shown more competitive voting patterns in recent years, are among the more Democratic groups found in the poll, with 62% favoring Democratic candidates and 38% favoring Republicans. Preferences of practicing Catholics (those who attend church every week or nearly every week) are slightly less Democratic, 56% to 44%.
Since more Republican candidates are pro-life, why do Catholics vote for Democrats?
Friday, October 11, 2002
In The Detroit News:
Serious and silly, religious action figures are battling for new buyers
By Michael Yount / Scripps Howard News Service
Is nothing sacred?
The article discusses new religious toys. For example, "The Pope" action figures are for sale at JesusChristSuperStore
"his hardness, God's mortal messenger" includes Holy Cross Kali sticks, 'Meek and Mild' Walther PPK handgun, wearing blood red Vatican Assault uniform.
I don't see any action figure for Billy Graham or other Protestant religious leaders, yet they are selling Pope action figures. If this is suppose to be all in jest, why don't they spread the joke around?
Serious and silly, religious action figures are battling for new buyers
By Michael Yount / Scripps Howard News Service
Is nothing sacred?
The article discusses new religious toys. For example, "The Pope" action figures are for sale at JesusChristSuperStore
"his hardness, God's mortal messenger" includes Holy Cross Kali sticks, 'Meek and Mild' Walther PPK handgun, wearing blood red Vatican Assault uniform.
I don't see any action figure for Billy Graham or other Protestant religious leaders, yet they are selling Pope action figures. If this is suppose to be all in jest, why don't they spread the joke around?
Thursday, October 10, 2002
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Miss America 2003, Erika Harold, announced in Illinois yesterday that she has won her battle with pageant officials over the right to talk about teen sexual chastity.
"For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit." ~Romans 8:5
ORDEAL OF ABORTION
Woman left to discover jar containing her baby
A WOMAN who had an abortion was stunned to find the foetus left in a jar after a hospital blunder. Nicola McManus made the horrific discovery when she was left in a room to answer a phone call from her husband. The jar was labelled with her name. She said: "I fell apart. I couldn't believe anyone could be careless enough just to leave it lying there. That image will live with me forever." Mum-of-three Nicola, 27, received a a full apology from the hospital but plans to sue North Glasgow NHS Trust, claiming the handling of the abortion left her psychologically scarred. She took the RU486 abortion pill, which requires no surgery and is supposed to make terminations easier.
What did she think she was aborting? A frog?
Miss America 2003, Erika Harold, announced in Illinois yesterday that she has won her battle with pageant officials over the right to talk about teen sexual chastity.
"For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit." ~Romans 8:5
ORDEAL OF ABORTION
Woman left to discover jar containing her baby
A WOMAN who had an abortion was stunned to find the foetus left in a jar after a hospital blunder. Nicola McManus made the horrific discovery when she was left in a room to answer a phone call from her husband. The jar was labelled with her name. She said: "I fell apart. I couldn't believe anyone could be careless enough just to leave it lying there. That image will live with me forever." Mum-of-three Nicola, 27, received a a full apology from the hospital but plans to sue North Glasgow NHS Trust, claiming the handling of the abortion left her psychologically scarred. She took the RU486 abortion pill, which requires no surgery and is supposed to make terminations easier.
What did she think she was aborting? A frog?
Wednesday, October 09, 2002
THE WASHINGTON TIMES reports
Miss America 2003, Erika Harold, yesterday said pageant officials have ordered her not to talk publicly about sexual abstinence, a cause she has advocated to teenage girls in Illinois.
The WASHINGTON TIMES also says:
Abortion rates decline in late 1990s
By Cheryl Wetzstein
The U.S. abortion rate fell steadily during the latter half of the 1990s, with the steepest decline occurring among high-school-age girls, says a report released yesterday by a leading research group on abortion statistics.
Declines in abortions were also seen among women with high incomes, women with college degrees and nonreligious women, said the study by Rachel K. Jones, Jacqueline E. Darroch and Stanley K. Henshaw of the Alan Guttmacher Institute, which based its report on data from 10,000 women who sought abortions.
However, poor women — especially those on Medicaid — saw abortion rates rise.
Other groups of women cited in the study who were likely to get abortions are those ages 20 to 30, as well as those who are unmarried, black or Hispanic, already mothers, or Protestant.
•Women who identified themselves as Protestant had the highest proportion of abortions (43 percent), followed by Catholic women (27 percent), women of no affiliation (22 percent) and women of another religion (8 percent).
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported the same story, but did not give a breakdown on religious affiliation. "The study was based on questionnaires completed by more than 10,000 women who had abortions. Most of the women surveyed, 78 percent, said they had a religious affiliation."
I wonder why the Post-Dispatch did that. Could it be possible they don't want to say something remotely positive about Catholics having a lower rate of abortions?
Miss America 2003, Erika Harold, yesterday said pageant officials have ordered her not to talk publicly about sexual abstinence, a cause she has advocated to teenage girls in Illinois.
The WASHINGTON TIMES also says:
Abortion rates decline in late 1990s
By Cheryl Wetzstein
The U.S. abortion rate fell steadily during the latter half of the 1990s, with the steepest decline occurring among high-school-age girls, says a report released yesterday by a leading research group on abortion statistics.
Declines in abortions were also seen among women with high incomes, women with college degrees and nonreligious women, said the study by Rachel K. Jones, Jacqueline E. Darroch and Stanley K. Henshaw of the Alan Guttmacher Institute, which based its report on data from 10,000 women who sought abortions.
However, poor women — especially those on Medicaid — saw abortion rates rise.
Other groups of women cited in the study who were likely to get abortions are those ages 20 to 30, as well as those who are unmarried, black or Hispanic, already mothers, or Protestant.
•Women who identified themselves as Protestant had the highest proportion of abortions (43 percent), followed by Catholic women (27 percent), women of no affiliation (22 percent) and women of another religion (8 percent).
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported the same story, but did not give a breakdown on religious affiliation. "The study was based on questionnaires completed by more than 10,000 women who had abortions. Most of the women surveyed, 78 percent, said they had a religious affiliation."
I wonder why the Post-Dispatch did that. Could it be possible they don't want to say something remotely positive about Catholics having a lower rate of abortions?
Tuesday, October 08, 2002
Catholic World Report Editorial: October, 2002
The Pope's Burden
The American Church Needs a Strong Papal Hand
Just before World Youth Day, columnist Rod Dreher provoked a firestorm with a piece published in the Wall Street Journal, entitled, "The Pope Has Let Us Down." Dreher, a convert to Catholicism who writes regularly for National Review, argued forcefully that Pope John Paul II should have intervened, long ago, to curb the spread of the sex-abuse scandal in the United States.
The Pope's Burden
The American Church Needs a Strong Papal Hand
Just before World Youth Day, columnist Rod Dreher provoked a firestorm with a piece published in the Wall Street Journal, entitled, "The Pope Has Let Us Down." Dreher, a convert to Catholicism who writes regularly for National Review, argued forcefully that Pope John Paul II should have intervened, long ago, to curb the spread of the sex-abuse scandal in the United States.
DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE TARGETED IN TODAY’S ROLL CALL
The Catholic League continued its ad campaign against the Democratic National Committee (DNC) by placing a half-page ad in today’s edition of Roll Call, the influential D.C. publication. Catholic League president William Donohue said that nothing will stop the league from pressing the DNC to sever its association with an anti-Catholic organization. By providing a link to Catholics for a Free Choice on its website, the DNC is tacitly endorsing Catholic bashing.
The campaign against the DNC picked up steam last week when it was revealed that the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has also implored the DNC to break its support for Frances Kissling’s anti-Catholic group.
The league’s ad has already run in three Catholic weekly newspapers, the National Catholic Register, Our Sunday Visitor and the Wanderer; Roll Call marks the first secular publication to run the ad.
Let the DNC know of your outrage by calling them at 202-863-8000; fax at 202-863-8174; email at dnc@democrats.org or write to Democratic National Committee, 430 S. Capitol St. SE, Washington, DC 20003
For more information on CFFC, see http://www.catholicleague.org/cffc.htm
The Catholic League continued its ad campaign against the Democratic National Committee (DNC) by placing a half-page ad in today’s edition of Roll Call, the influential D.C. publication. Catholic League president William Donohue said that nothing will stop the league from pressing the DNC to sever its association with an anti-Catholic organization. By providing a link to Catholics for a Free Choice on its website, the DNC is tacitly endorsing Catholic bashing.
The campaign against the DNC picked up steam last week when it was revealed that the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has also implored the DNC to break its support for Frances Kissling’s anti-Catholic group.
The league’s ad has already run in three Catholic weekly newspapers, the National Catholic Register, Our Sunday Visitor and the Wanderer; Roll Call marks the first secular publication to run the ad.
Let the DNC know of your outrage by calling them at 202-863-8000; fax at 202-863-8174; email at dnc@democrats.org or write to Democratic National Committee, 430 S. Capitol St. SE, Washington, DC 20003
For more information on CFFC, see http://www.catholicleague.org/cffc.htm
Monday, October 07, 2002
New Jersey statutes say a political party may not replace one candidate with another within 51 days of the election. This prevents candidates who are losing as the race is drawing to a close from dropping out to make room for a different candidate. Torricelli was losing. This is a lot different situation than a candidate that died, like Mel Carnahan, or become disabled. Despite this, the New Jersey supreme-court justices ignored the law and enacted their own law from the bench.
Remember when Bill Webster ran for Missouri Governor ten years ago? He was losing because he was accused of illegal campaign fund raising. That's the same thing that is happening in New Jersey now. Did Bill Webster bow out of the race? No. I guess Missouri Republicans don't operate like New Jersey Democrats. If Torricelli and the Democrats get away with this, think of the precedent it will set for the rest of the nation.
Every Senate campaign will have an impact on the pro-life issues if Democrats continue to control the Senate. New Jersey Dems should not get away with this.
Remember when Bill Webster ran for Missouri Governor ten years ago? He was losing because he was accused of illegal campaign fund raising. That's the same thing that is happening in New Jersey now. Did Bill Webster bow out of the race? No. I guess Missouri Republicans don't operate like New Jersey Democrats. If Torricelli and the Democrats get away with this, think of the precedent it will set for the rest of the nation.
Every Senate campaign will have an impact on the pro-life issues if Democrats continue to control the Senate. New Jersey Dems should not get away with this.
Friday, October 04, 2002
CATHOLICVOTE.ORG reports:
"There were 75 members of the clergy convicted of sexual offenses between 1985-2000. Thirty eight were Catholic Priests.
According to the Christian Science Monitor, Non-Catholic churches are reporting an average of 70 incidents a week to their insurance companies.
There were 236,000 people in jail for sexual offenses in 2000 (38 priests), according to the Juvenile Bureau of the Justice Statistics. They have a 45 page report that goes into details about time of day, location, relationship etc.
Since 1960 there have been over 140,000 men ordained in the priesthood or as Brothers. Currently there are 46,075 priests. So far this year, 250 priests have been charged with an offense, some as long ago as 45 years ago. At least 3 have already been reinstated and exonerated.
Over 10,000 priests have left to get married in the last 30 years.
We do a great disservice to parents when we only warn them about priests. The largest group of the 236,000 offenders are relatives, in the victim's home, between the hours of 3-7 PM.
The majority of the 250 offenses have been homosexual liaisons, not pedophile with prepubescent boys. Milwaukee Bishop Weakland's victim was 32 at the time of the sexual assault.
We do a great disservice to the 45,800 + priests when we stereotype them as homosexuals. There is no evidence that there are more (or fewer) homosexuals than the general population in the priesthood.
It's good that the Catholic Church should be held to a higher standard of scrutiny. One victim is one too many, and we ought to do everything possible for them. But we ought not compound the problem by attacking the Church and the clergy by stereotyping them.
Individuals have sinned, some have committed crimes, and all of them should be punished. None should be persecuted. Priests who get out of jail need to be held to their vows of obedience in permanent penance. They need to continue to be insured so they can be treated, supervised, monitored and accounted for."
"There were 75 members of the clergy convicted of sexual offenses between 1985-2000. Thirty eight were Catholic Priests.
According to the Christian Science Monitor, Non-Catholic churches are reporting an average of 70 incidents a week to their insurance companies.
There were 236,000 people in jail for sexual offenses in 2000 (38 priests), according to the Juvenile Bureau of the Justice Statistics. They have a 45 page report that goes into details about time of day, location, relationship etc.
Since 1960 there have been over 140,000 men ordained in the priesthood or as Brothers. Currently there are 46,075 priests. So far this year, 250 priests have been charged with an offense, some as long ago as 45 years ago. At least 3 have already been reinstated and exonerated.
Over 10,000 priests have left to get married in the last 30 years.
We do a great disservice to parents when we only warn them about priests. The largest group of the 236,000 offenders are relatives, in the victim's home, between the hours of 3-7 PM.
The majority of the 250 offenses have been homosexual liaisons, not pedophile with prepubescent boys. Milwaukee Bishop Weakland's victim was 32 at the time of the sexual assault.
We do a great disservice to the 45,800 + priests when we stereotype them as homosexuals. There is no evidence that there are more (or fewer) homosexuals than the general population in the priesthood.
It's good that the Catholic Church should be held to a higher standard of scrutiny. One victim is one too many, and we ought to do everything possible for them. But we ought not compound the problem by attacking the Church and the clergy by stereotyping them.
Individuals have sinned, some have committed crimes, and all of them should be punished. None should be persecuted. Priests who get out of jail need to be held to their vows of obedience in permanent penance. They need to continue to be insured so they can be treated, supervised, monitored and accounted for."
Thursday, October 03, 2002
Renowned anti-Catholic, James White, has an argument against Transubstantiation on his web site. He leaves out some important stuff when he quotes Theodoret.
“The mystical emblems of the body and blood of Christ continue in their original essence and form, they are visible and tangible as they were before [the consecration]; but the contemplation of the spirit and of faith sees in them that which they have become, and they are adored also as that which they are to believers.” (Theodoret, Dialogue ii, Opera ed. Hal. tom. iv p. 126).
This sounds like Transubstantiation was not the teaching of the early Church fathers, right? Here is what Theodoret actually wrote:
Theodoret, Dialogue ii, Opera ed. Hal. tom. iv p. 126
Theodoret (c.393-466 CE),
Eran.-As, then, the symbols of the Lord's body and blood are one thing before the priestly invocation, and after the invocation are changed and become another thing; so the Lord's body after the assumption is changed into the divine substance.
Orth.-You are caught in the net you have woven yourself. For even after the consecration the mystic symbols are not deprived of their own nature; they remain in their former substance figure and form; they are visible and tangible as they were before. But they are regarded as what they are become, and believed so to be, and are worshipped128 as being what they are believed to be. Compare then the image with the archetype, and you will see the likeness, for the type must be like the reality. For that body preserves its former form, figure, and limitation and in a word the substance of the body; but after the resurrection it has become immortal and superior to corruption; it has become worthy of a seat on the righthand; it is adored by every creature as being called the natural body of the Lord.
I guess James White conveniently leaves stuff out only when it suits him. When one reads the whole thing, one comes to a different conclusion than White asserts.
“The mystical emblems of the body and blood of Christ continue in their original essence and form, they are visible and tangible as they were before [the consecration]; but the contemplation of the spirit and of faith sees in them that which they have become, and they are adored also as that which they are to believers.” (Theodoret, Dialogue ii, Opera ed. Hal. tom. iv p. 126).
This sounds like Transubstantiation was not the teaching of the early Church fathers, right? Here is what Theodoret actually wrote:
Theodoret, Dialogue ii, Opera ed. Hal. tom. iv p. 126
Theodoret (c.393-466 CE),
Eran.-As, then, the symbols of the Lord's body and blood are one thing before the priestly invocation, and after the invocation are changed and become another thing; so the Lord's body after the assumption is changed into the divine substance.
Orth.-You are caught in the net you have woven yourself. For even after the consecration the mystic symbols are not deprived of their own nature; they remain in their former substance figure and form; they are visible and tangible as they were before. But they are regarded as what they are become, and believed so to be, and are worshipped128 as being what they are believed to be. Compare then the image with the archetype, and you will see the likeness, for the type must be like the reality. For that body preserves its former form, figure, and limitation and in a word the substance of the body; but after the resurrection it has become immortal and superior to corruption; it has become worthy of a seat on the righthand; it is adored by every creature as being called the natural body of the Lord.
I guess James White conveniently leaves stuff out only when it suits him. When one reads the whole thing, one comes to a different conclusion than White asserts.
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