A message from Matt...

Download the song for free. (Right click and "Save target as")

This is Matt's gift to us.

Thanks Matt!!!

Blessing for new life...

A few years ago, eight to be exact, my wife was going through RCIA. As part of the program all the candidates travel to the Cathedral of Mary our Queen for the Right of Initiation. When we went to that ceremony Archbishop Cardinal Keeler placed his hand on my wife pregnant stomach and I am sure said some type of blessing. We always thought that was special. Now there is an official blessing for babies in the womb.

U.S. Bishops Approve New Blessing for the Child in the Womb

Concerns...

According to the article below, Catholic Charities have given money to ACORN. It is no wonder many Catholics voted for Pro-Choice Obama. Read the entire article below.

Catholic bishops fear pro-choice policies under new president

I am not sure how we can fix this problem at this point, but according to this article, no more funds are going to ACORN at this point.

Disney 2008

Ok, most of the pictures are ready. I know you don't want to watch them all, but here they are anyway.

Click here to see the Disney Photos (long slide show)

First Snow???

Wow, it's November 21st and we are having our first snow. I don't think it will add up to much, but comparatively speaking, it is early for snow.

The Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA)

This bill has been introduced and pro-choice President Elect Obama has promised to sign it as soon as it come across his desk. In fact he said he wants it to be one of the first things he signs in office. As you can see by the text, our representatives from Maryland, Mikuslski and Sarbanes both have their hands in this.

As Catholics, Christians and Pro-life, we can not let this bill get to Obama's desk. I encourage you to write, email and call your senators and congressman and let them know we do not support this bill.

We have already started to campaign against this bill, but we need your help.

An open letter to President Elect Obama

Barack Obama's "Freedom of Choice Act" Would Mean 125K More Abortions

Read the Myth

Legal Perspective

What can we do:

Download this form and have it placed in your bulletin

Sign the petition below

Write a letter letting your congressional leaders you oppose this bill (Find your Representative)

Tell a friend

We can stop this bill, we just need your help.

Peace.

Space Shuttle Launch

While we were in Orlando waiting for our flight home we were able to see the Shuttle launch. It's not much, but I was able to video it with my little camcorder. There is one part that is really cool. You have to watch until about 1:50 seconds.

Surprise...

Griffin (and Teaghan) don't know it, but he will not be going to school tomorrow. Instead, we will wake him up at 4:30am to catch a flight to Orlando. Maureen and I found a great deal for a few nights in Disney World. We made him go to bed early tonight. We told him since he did not get much sleep last night, he needed to "catch up" on some sleep. We are going to video tape him waking up and I am not sure how he will react. It is sure to be an interesting trip with Teaghan on board. Even with the challenges she brings, it will be a memorable trip. We will post pictures when we get back.

See you all soon.

Not much to say...

Wow...now that the election is over, what can I say...I don't really have much to say. I am disappointed that almost 50% of my Catholic brothers and sisters voted for, their false dreams of, a better economy instead of what matters most of all. We need to get back to the fundamentals of our faith. The foundation of truth. Without the foundation we as a society will crumble.

The inviolability of the person which is a reflection of the absolute inviolability of God, fínds its primary and fundamental expression in the inviolability of human life. Above all, the common outcry, which is justly made on behalf of human rights-for example, the right to health, to home, to work, to family, to culture- is false and illusory if the right to life, the most basic and fundamental right and the condition for all other personal rights, is not defended with maximum determination. (CHRISTIFIDELES LAICIOFHIS HOLINESS JOHN PAUL II)

Pope John Paul II is saying that without that foundational right (the right to life) you have no rights. This is basic and fundamental and should be first and foremost when it comes to selecting the people who govern. We need to start putting life issues in front of economic issues instead of behind. I hope and pray that we will make the best of the next four years, but make no mistake about it, we have taken a huge step back when it comes to life issues and protecting the most precious gift given to us by God. We must continue to pray that we bring an end to Abortion, bring an end to embryonic stem cell research, bring an end to cloning and continue to support and promote marriage between a man and a woman. These are the fundamentals of life. Remember, life first, everything else comes second.

Psalms 11 : 3
When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the upright do?

Have a great weekend.

Jim

Clean bill...

Although, I was not feeling well today and called in sick at work, I received a phone call from my oncologist's office today. I had my annual PET scan yesterday and the results are in...

I am still in remission and there is no cancer in my body. I was diagnosed in October 2003 and was in remission that next spring. I am now 4 1/2 years in remission and plan to stay that way for the rest of my life.

Thank God for modern medicine.

Purgatory?

All Souls day was Sunday. The homily was about the "Souls in purgatory" and in my Men's Bible study group today, purgatory was also mentioned. I thought I would take a moment and blog about the subject. Since I am no expert (far from it) I will point to other sources.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines purgatory as a "purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven," which is experienced by those "who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified" (CCC 1030). It notes that "this final purification of the elect . . . is entirely different from the punishment of the damned" (CCC 1031).

The purification is necessary because, as Scripture teaches, nothing unclean will enter the presence of God in heaven (Rev. 21:27) and, while we may die with our mortal sins forgiven, there can still be many impurities in us, specifically venial sins and the temporal punishment due to sins already forgiven. Read More...(Catholic.com)

Also, I found a great Podcast on the topic of purgatory. Many questions you may have can be answered by downloading this podcast. (55 min. program, but still really good, so give yourself some time to listen to this...right click on the link to download and "save target as" to your hard drive)

Hope this helps those who may wonder.