Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Barack Obama Helps Defeat Same Sex Marriage in California

Well, hey, connect the dots from this story.

In a crushing defeat for gay rights proponents the election yesterday supported Proposition 8; a ban on gay marriage.

Gay marriage was legal for about a year, and as many as 18,000 couples got married. But this will stop as soon as the new law takes effect.

The results were close, but in the end the measure was passed with a vote of 52% in favor. The Associated Press noted that ethnic origin had an impact on support Proposition 8, with the most support coming from the black community.

So Obama mobilized the black community to vote and they voted more decisively for Prop 8 than all those limp-wristed white people.

Exit polls showed Obama won among women



But I can't find one yet that breaks it into married and unmarried.

Mike Huckabee's Thoughts

"We will be back in strength," says the former Arkansas governor. Huck has a way with words, so I'll let his words be mine. Excerpt:

The campaign is over and now is the time for governing and leading. The Republican Party must now reassess where it is and where it is going. Our problem is not that our views aren't acceptable, it is that many in our party have abandoned the very principles that once drew Americans to trust us. Our party will be back with strength, but tonight we should all celebrate the historic nature of this election and put our country ahead of our party.

I must admit I'm not hopeful at all about an Obama presidency. I think could be the beginning of a 4-year "campaign" of sorts to right perceived wrongs Robin Hood-style while ignoring terrorism, property rights and not to mention the rights of the unborn.

That's all I'll say for now–it's probably early to make predictions about threats to the first two amendments, but others have done so. It doesn't bode well when an Obama ad uses an orange-vested hunter as an iconic backdrop for mention of the 2nd amendment in a TV ad. That right is not about going after 4-legged animals and then shooting them, it's about 2-legged animals coming after you and then shooting them. John Lott, Obama's former colleague at the University of Chicago, was on Medved's show last week recalling his first encounter with the President-elect:

Obama: Oh, You're the gun guy.
Lott: Yeah, that's right. We should get together and talk about it sometime.
Obama: (laughing and walking away) I don't think people should be allowed to own guns.

Well, we've survived that mentality in the past, let's hope we do again.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Fox News's Intense Interactive map

Check it out, way cool. Here's North Carolina

Here's Ohio.

Here's Cuyahoga County, blue as ever.

Neat-o.

Kucinich Robo-calls Disguised as Mortgage-Related

Check it out. I've gotten two calls from this number, 702-553-0580, and it's basically Mr. Urban DK himself telling me to vote for him. But here's the trick he pulls; the Caller ID shows up as "Mortgage".

Cute.

This is the first time in my 10-years in Ohio 10th that I've been robocalled by the little green man himself, so I'm hoping he really is worried and stretching a little bit. But this misleading Caller ID stunt could have a backlash and that's what I'm hoping for.

Election 2008: Guide to Watching the Returns

Via St. Louis Catholic, here's a guide to watching the returns tonight. Click picture for the full-size version.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Our Flag Speaks



H/T

Let's Bring Back the Leonine Prayers

You can read briefly about the history of these prayers which were commonly recited after Low Mass here. What everybody knows about them is that the intention was to convert Russia, but most don't realize that Pius IX actually originally prescribed the prayers and composed the collect. This is probably because Pope Leo XIII added the famous Saint Michael prayer which is a favorite with my kids since it features Satan receiving a royal ass-kicking from the famous archangel.


After Vatican II, the prayers after mass were discontinued. But there's no use crying over spilled milk. You can say them yourself after mass. And you had sure better start, dog. The enemies of the Church are gathering force.

Here they are—you now have no excuse.

THE LEONINE PRAYERS

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. (3 times)

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To thee to we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mouring and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this exile, show unto us the blessed Fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray. O God, our refuge and our strength, look down with mercy upon the people who cry to Thee; and by the intercession of the glorious and immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of Saint Joseph her spouse, of the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and of all the saints, in Thy mercy and goodness hear our prayers for the conversion of sinners, and for the liberty and exaltation of the Holy Mother the Church. Through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray: and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into hell satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Have mercy on us.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Have mercy on us.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Have mercy on us.

Bishop Richard Lennon Clarifies the Faithful Citizenship Document

In his pre-election message, my Bishop is basically saying what needs to be said at this point because people still don't get it, i.e., Catholics are still voting for Obama. Here's the whole thing:

While All Faithful Citizenship Issues Important, Not All Are Equal

by Most Reverend Richard G. Lennon
(Reprinted from the Catholic Universe Bulletin, 31 October 2008)

In the document Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship the Catholic Bishops of our country stated that their purpose in presenting this teaching to the faithful was “to help Catholics form their consciences in accordance with God’s truth.” The bishops further taught that in making choices in political life every individual Catholic is called to do so “in light of a properly formed conscience.” I am pleased to have been a member of the Bishops’ Conference that presented this document to our Catholic people, and indeed to all people of good will.

As we fast approach Election Day 2008, I am concerned about many things that are being said about the teaching of the bishops. From listening to many good and sincere people who are preparing to fulfill their duty to vote as Catholics and citizens, I realize they are confused in light of what is being said by certain people. For example, we hear from some that the issues and concerns raised in Faithful Citizenship are all equally important as they all impact human life. This is not at all what Faithful Citizenship taught.

While all the issues presented in the teaching of Faithful Citizenship are significant, they are not all equally significant. To suggest that all of the issues are of equal value is not what the bishops taught, nor what the Catholic Church has taught and continues to teach. The Church teaches that “there are some things we must never do, as individuals or as a society, because they are always incompatible with the love of God and neighbor.” This is taught because such actions go against the true good of persons; thus, “they must always be rejected and opposed and must never be supported or condoned.” This is why our Catholic teaching has labeled such actions as intrinsically evil. Certainly, abortion and euthanasia, direct attacks on human life, stand out as intrinsically evil actions among other attacks on human life.

This teaching on intrinsically evil actions admits of no exception or compromise for it is rooted in the moral law which is the very heart of our Catholic belief. God has taught through Revelation that human life is to be protected and respected, for it is gift from God.

Faithful Citizenship goes on to speak about other issues that may enhance human life, which are important matters. However, we need to first recognize that these issues only matter if human life itself is a value of fundamental priority and is always protected. If human life is expendable, then these other issues really lose much of their significance. Second, we need to appreciate that Catholic teaching on these life-enhancing issues admits to the legitimacy of different approaches in addressing a particular issue or of realizing a desired outcome. For example, the Church teaches the value of striving for an immigration policy that is responsive to the current situation, acknowledges our history as a country accepting “new people”, and asserts our responsibility to be a welcoming people for those who suffer greatly. Having presented such a teaching on the dignity of life, the Bishops encourage all to add their contribution to the public discourse striving to find a just resolution to this issue that affects so many people.

As you can see, this teaching of the bishops on immigration like the other life-enhancing issues mentioned in Faithful Citizenship fundamentally differs from that on abortion and euthanasia. The teaching on abortion and euthanasia are based on “God’s truth” regarding the dignity and sacredness of all human life, whereas the other issues, relying upon the acceptance “God’s truth” on human life, then strive to build it up, to enhance its quality, and further justice and peace. The first group of issues is essential and foundational and can never be compromised. The second group depends upon that foundation being securely in place, so that all human life which is sacred may be protected.

It is my hope that these few words may help dispel confusion flowing from misrepresentations stating or implying that all issues noted in Faithful Citizenship are of equal value. As we all prepare for Election Day let us be guided by our Catholic faith and teaching which respects the inestimable value and dignity of every human life, for without Respect for Life, what is there left to respect?

What is there left to respect if we don't respect life?

In regards to the Faithful Citizenship document, I feel it definitely needs clarification on how bad abortion is. Of course, the point isn't to merely discuss abortion, but as I've mentioned earlier, it is the defining issue in our time and our country and has been called so by our Bishops. But a line like "....A Catholic cannot vote for a candidate who takes a position in favor of an intrinsic evil, such as abortion or racism, if the voter’s intent is to support that position...." is a little unrealistic, in my opinion, in light of the times in which we live. Although racism is surely an abhorrent evil, no modern candidates are blatantly proclaiming a "right to racism". There is no Freedom of Prejudice Act (FOPA) which John McCain has promised to sign if he gets into the White House -- a faux pas, indeed -- but there is a Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) which Obama has promised to sign which drops many current restrictions on abortion, restrictions supported by many Democrats including Hillary Clinton. So while I view the USCCB document as extremely useful it doesn't really serve as a particular voting guide for the terribly misinformed and confused, which is how I would describe a Catholic electorate which could contemplate voting for Barack Obama.