Archive for January, 2012

Transhumanism's Roots in Eugenics
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Transhumanism’s Roots in Eugenics

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I talk about transhumanism a lot because I believe it is the greatest threat to humanity that no one knows about.  Transhumansim is a philosophy that wants to use technology to surpass treating or preventing disease and use it to enhance otherwise healthy humans beyond natural capabilities.  They envision a world where you can leave […]

The Folly of God-denial
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The Folly of God-denial

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As the political season heats up it occurs to me that, as important as elections are, unless the hearts of men are changed, the heart of a nation cannot awaken. Our nation is experiencing heart failure. It needs an awakening – a spiritual awakening. Desperately. Every year secular-“progressives” and obnoxious atheist pressure groups exponentially ramp […]

Christmas Has Prepared Us For Elections
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Christmas Has Prepared Us For Elections

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We have just concluded the Christmas season, and find ourselves immersed in the election season. And so it should be. Christmas is actually the best preparation for elections. It is the feast of God becoming human, and thereby joining all humanity to himself. Each person, in Christ, has immediate access to God, and has a […]

How I Met St. Jude
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How I Met St. Jude

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My own life did not take on a deep spiritual dimension until I was pregnant with my fourth child.  But, once I turned seriously to prayer and saw the results, I became hooked.   It began when my husband Mark lost his job.  For the first time we consciously put our lives in God’s hands.  Whenever […]

True Faith and False Freedom: On John Courtney Murray (Part II)
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True Faith and False Freedom: On John Courtney Murray (Part II)

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Careful examination of Fr. Murray’s corpus reveals that he takes great liberty (no pun intended) in his treatment of the traditional teaching on religious freedom. However, he does so in such a way that the casual observer may either miss it altogether, or may perhaps just consider it so subtle as to be irrelevant to […]

All Gifts That Are Given
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All Gifts That Are Given

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The most prevalent mantras I’ve encountered in the “parenting magazine” world have to do with “gifts.” “Gifted children.” “We need to discover our gifts.” “Moms need to have their own time to use their own gifts.” “Time! Talent! Treasure!” (That’s from my “Catholic pew” world.) “Everyone is special.” “Allow the child to explore her talents.” […]

Poem: "Ezekiel's Vision"
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Poem: “Ezekiel’s Vision”

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Ezekiel’s Vision The creatures of the vision of the wheels Adamant and powerful and real Turned not but to go they would proceed At some immeasurable, unhurried speed Then there were the eyes within the round Rims that rose and fell above the ground, Amber was the radiance they shed, Woke the life within the […]

Spain’s New Government Remains Curiously Silent on Defense of Traditional Values
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Spain’s New Government Remains Curiously Silent on Defense of Traditional Values

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It was predictable that Spain’s parliamentary elections last November would end in victory for Spain’s conservative People’s Party after the abject failure of the Spanish Socialist Party in combating rising unemployment and languid economic growth during the economic crisis. Similarly, it was thought to be predictable that a conservative victory would yield major gains for […]

God Can Transform the Worst Sinners into Saints
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God Can Transform the Worst Sinners into Saints

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Things designed for good can be used for bad purposes. Art in its proper context captures images of beauty in the world or perverted to promote evil such as pornography. Books can teach and enlighten while others promote falsehoods or hatred. (Be careful what you read or watch.) Sometimes that which is life affirming in […]

Collecting the Debt to Society
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Collecting the Debt to Society

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Repeatedly, the US Catholic Bishops have issued their plaintive calls, asking us to fix our “broken and destructive” criminal justice system here in America.  Most of us paid this call no attention at all.  Perhaps this was to be expected; I’m afraid the USCCB’s recommendations have not always been free from a certain tincture of […]

Distributism Starts in the Home
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Distributism Starts in the Home

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My mother was the first one of us to encounter Distributism. (She’ll find that out when she reads this article!) But when she made the decision to cast aside a job title and paycheck, in the eyes of the world, to begin the world of our family with my father, she was on the path. […]

2012: A Year to Spend More Time in Prayer with Jesus
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2012: A Year to Spend More Time in Prayer with Jesus

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The LORD came and stood there, calling out as before: Samuel, Samuel! Samuel answered, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” (1 Samuel 3:10) Jesus  said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was […]

Reflections for Sunday, January 15, 2012
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Reflections for Sunday, January 15, 2012

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Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (1 Samuel 3:3-10,19; Psalm 40:2,4,7-10; 1 Corinthians 6:13-15,17-20; John 1:35-42) Saying Yes to Jesus’ Invitation to Make Him Our Lord and Savior  “Behold, the Lamb of God.” (John 1:36) Most of us became Catholics as infants, when our parents presented us to the church for baptism. That […]

True Faith and False Freedom: On John Courtney Murray (Part I)
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True Faith and False Freedom: On John Courtney Murray (Part I)

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Everyone knows that religion is noble, and since no one in his right mind would possibly argue that liberty is not a precious right, it only stands to reason that “religious liberty,” as it is so often invoked these days, must be especially good! Now, it’s just a hunch mind you, but I suspect that […]

CL18 -hbratton notxt
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Imitating the Holy Family

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This is the time of year when Christians are most focused on the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Reflection on the Holy Family is more than just the Nativity scene. Naturally, Christmas focuses on the birth of the Saviour, and Mary and Joseph play key roles in this most important event. But, there […]

Christian University Joins Monks in Fight Against Fed's Contraception Mandate
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Christian University Joins Monks in Fight Against Fed’s Contraception Mandate

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Last month, Colorado Christian University (CCU) became the first interdenominational Christian college to challenge in federal court a new “Affordable Care Act” (aka “Obamacare”) mandate for abortifacients (drugs which induce abortions). Colorado Christian joins the monks at Belmont Abbey College pushing back against government intrusion into personal religious convictions that is unprecedented in the health […]

Top SEO Companies Not Likely to Deliver Good Content
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Top SEO Companies Not Likely to Deliver Good Content

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A well-established copywriting colleague of mine was approached by one of the top SEO companies in the nation. They wanted her to assist their clients by writing web pages. Web pages need to … Grab attention Understand the reader’s desire or pain Present a concept or solution Move the reader to a next action Be […]

Immigration: The Distributist Solution
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Immigration: The Distributist Solution

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There is one thing…that must strike all Englishmen who have the good fortune to have American friends; that is, that while there is no materialism so crude or so material as American materialism, there is also no idealism so crude or so ideal as American idealism. America will always affect an Englishman as being soft […]

Poem: "To Men of Good Will"
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Poem: “To Men of Good Will”

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To Men of Good Will There can be no peace If not of good will. There can be no race For those who stand still. Only she – Full of grace Was the miracle Set in place. To magnify Her soul prepared By God, her spirit – Never ensnared. “Blessed art thou…” Gabriel hailed, And […]

Extraordinary Things Happen When You Bring 40 Days for Life to Your Community
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Extraordinary Things Happen When You Bring 40 Days for Life to Your Community

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Should your community participate in the next 40 Days for Life campaign — from February 22 to April 1? Ask Gerry Brundage. He would probably say YES. Gerry lives in Sherman, Texas. He had thought about applying to lead a 40 Days for Life campaign in his town in the fall of 2010 but, in […]

Food Fights and Free Enterprise
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Food Fights and Free Enterprise

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It is sometimes said, following Milton Friedman’s insight, that business is not a friend to the free market, and the truth of this is no more evident than in recent battles between established restaurateurs and operators of mobile eateries. Once a business becomes established and enjoys a measure of success, a narrow view of its […]

Iowa's Wild Ride
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Iowa’s Wild Ride

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The surprising results of Tuesday’s Iowa caucuses have reinforced the conventional wisdom about this season’s Republican primary battle: Nothing about this race is conventional. Presumptive frontrunner former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney won Iowa — but by only eight votes. Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum stole Romney’s thunder with a come-from-behind quasi-victory that catapulted him from […]

Muslim Persecution of Christians: November 2011
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Muslim Persecution of Christians: November 2011

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The so-called “Arab Spring” continues to transition into a “Christian Winter,” including in those nations undergoing democratic change, such as Egypt, where the Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafis dominated the elections—unsurprisingly so, considering the Obama administration has actually been training Islamists for elections. Arab regimes not overthrown by the “Arab Spring” are under mounting international […]

Do You Reject Dates Based on Family Background?
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Do You Reject Dates Based on Family Background?

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The Christmas season brought an influx of articles and posts about family.  Normally, “family” is one of those words that evokes that warm, toasty feeling.  When dating, family can cause much anxiety, though. Not only do people assess individuals as spousal material based on their own merits, but they also critique their family background.  My observation is […]