This was written by a teacher at Roncalli, Mr. Jeff Small. Mr. Small was teaching at Roncalli when I first started, and has always been one of the most loved teachers at RHS. He sent me this poem, and I felt it needed to be shared. He maintains a blog at http://pilgrimsofthesacredheart.stblogs.com/author/pilgrimsofthesacredheart/ (Click here to access his blog)
The battle of freedom is about to begin
For the pilgrims of God stand firm against sin
The Empire tells lies without any regret
The death and darkness of mighty Molech
Their giant stands tall against the forces of Light
And did not expect the pilgrims to fight
But Truth will ring and have its day
And the pilgrims of God will have their say
With the Armor of Freedom pulled ever so tight
Into the valley steps the pilgrim knights
And just as David gathered his stones
The pilgrims prepare in the valley of bones
And with a rebel yell the charge is made
Light and darkness collide on this valley stage
There is no turning back, “fight for the King”
And with their shields held high they pull out their slings
And they rotate in orbit like the tick of a clock
Watch out mighty Molech, here comes the Rock
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Confused Nuns Embrace "accommodation"
Joining Sr. Carol Keehan and EJ Dionne on the list of people who are dumb enough to think that the President's "accommodation" was any different than the original mandate is the completely unhinged, theologically and politically irrelevant group of religious sisters that represents 90% of religious sisters in the U.S. (the 90% that is having to close up shop because no one is joining their orders) --- the Leadership Conference of Women Religious. Here is their statement:
The Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) is grateful that President Obama and the administration listened to the concerns raised about providing effective healthcare coverage in a way that respects and honors the conscience rights of religious institutions. We believe the resolution the President made is a fair and helpful way for us to move forward.
We are grateful to the many individuals and organizations who courageously voiced their concerns on this critical matter and worked together to find a resolution. Such collaboration and mutual respect model an effective way for our country to deliberate on the many complex issues we face.
LCWR supports the full implementation of the Affordable Care Act so that the urgent needs of the uninsured can be met.
Thanks sisters! 10 years from now, when all that remains of your ranks is located in one convent in Florida, hopefully you'll still be dropping great knowledge on us helping to enlighten us on these matters (sarcasm alert).
P.S. - Did the Prez promise to force the Church to start ordaining women if you betrayed the Church and joined his team?
The Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) is grateful that President Obama and the administration listened to the concerns raised about providing effective healthcare coverage in a way that respects and honors the conscience rights of religious institutions. We believe the resolution the President made is a fair and helpful way for us to move forward.
We are grateful to the many individuals and organizations who courageously voiced their concerns on this critical matter and worked together to find a resolution. Such collaboration and mutual respect model an effective way for our country to deliberate on the many complex issues we face.
LCWR supports the full implementation of the Affordable Care Act so that the urgent needs of the uninsured can be met.
Thanks sisters! 10 years from now, when all that remains of your ranks is located in one convent in Florida, hopefully you'll still be dropping great knowledge on us helping to enlighten us on these matters (sarcasm alert).
P.S. - Did the Prez promise to force the Church to start ordaining women if you betrayed the Church and joined his team?
Friday, March 2, 2012
Class on Contraception
Some thought it might be good to revisit this. I think it was a very good class and explains a lot.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Thumbs Up to Infanticide
A leading medical "ethics" organization has signed off on infanticide.
It is hard not to say to Catholics who have cozied up with the culture of death "We (conservative "wackos") told you so"
Click here to read the article
It is hard not to say to Catholics who have cozied up with the culture of death "We (conservative "wackos") told you so"
Click here to read the article
A King in the Ashes
A little levity in the midst of the battle - this is basically my homily from the school Mass this morning. It made me smile at least
"the king of Nineveh...rose from his throne, laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in the ashes." Jonah 3:6
When my brothers and I were kids we constantly were getting dirty...especially in the Summer. We'd swim in the creek, play in the mud, run around in the yard, climb trees, build forts, ride bikes, play basketball and football - in a word we got "filthy" almost every day.
We also considered it an extreme luxury (it was rare) where our Mom would overlook our nightly shower and we got to go to bed dirty!!!
Now, as an adult, the idea of getting dirty doesn't do anything for me, and I actually mostly try to avoid it.
Now to the King of Nineveh. He heard the preaching of Jonah about the need to repent, and he put on scratchy clothes and sat in the dirt.
Many people hear that story and think..."That's so sad...that poor guy...how depressing that he sat in the dirt and got all gross."
Many people, from the outside, say the same thing about Lent.
"How sad...how depressing...that a person would remember that they are sinners...what a downer!"
I want to offer a different way of looking at that king and also a different way of looking at Lent.
Perhaps it wasn't depressing or sad at all for that King. Perhaps he was thrilled to be in the dirt again, just like he was a little child. Perhaps, after he realized what really mattered, after he realized that his food and his robes had only been distracting him from the Truth, did he shed them like a kid and hop in the dirt.
Perhaps our Lent is the same way, if we only look at it differently. Lent can be a time of great joy, of remembering what matters, and thus the giving up of candy bars and TV, the giving up of video games and treating each other meanly, is not sad but can be a cause for celebration. Perhaps, if we only look at it differently, we can see Lent as it truly is.
Children love getting dirty. Most adults, like the king today, hate getting dirty. Perhaps that is one of the reasons why Jesus said:
"unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."
"the king of Nineveh...rose from his throne, laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in the ashes." Jonah 3:6
When my brothers and I were kids we constantly were getting dirty...especially in the Summer. We'd swim in the creek, play in the mud, run around in the yard, climb trees, build forts, ride bikes, play basketball and football - in a word we got "filthy" almost every day.
We also considered it an extreme luxury (it was rare) where our Mom would overlook our nightly shower and we got to go to bed dirty!!!
Now, as an adult, the idea of getting dirty doesn't do anything for me, and I actually mostly try to avoid it.
Now to the King of Nineveh. He heard the preaching of Jonah about the need to repent, and he put on scratchy clothes and sat in the dirt.
Many people hear that story and think..."That's so sad...that poor guy...how depressing that he sat in the dirt and got all gross."
Many people, from the outside, say the same thing about Lent.
"How sad...how depressing...that a person would remember that they are sinners...what a downer!"
I want to offer a different way of looking at that king and also a different way of looking at Lent.
Perhaps it wasn't depressing or sad at all for that King. Perhaps he was thrilled to be in the dirt again, just like he was a little child. Perhaps, after he realized what really mattered, after he realized that his food and his robes had only been distracting him from the Truth, did he shed them like a kid and hop in the dirt.
Perhaps our Lent is the same way, if we only look at it differently. Lent can be a time of great joy, of remembering what matters, and thus the giving up of candy bars and TV, the giving up of video games and treating each other meanly, is not sad but can be a cause for celebration. Perhaps, if we only look at it differently, we can see Lent as it truly is.
Children love getting dirty. Most adults, like the king today, hate getting dirty. Perhaps that is one of the reasons why Jesus said:
"unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
ENGAGE!!!
People have been asking me "what do I do to help fight this cultural war and return our country to sanity." Here is my answer...
ENGAGE!!!
First of all, we have to educate ourselves. What does the Church teach? Why? What are the pitfalls of contraception/abortion? What are the links between breast cancer and the pill and what are the links between abortion and breast cancer? Read up on the quick and VERY helpful handouts that the bishops have put on their website. You can find some of those links in the right hand column of this blog or visit www.usccb.org
When you are educated enough --- go out and ENGAGE these clowns that really are all bark and no bite. You'll find if you ask one or two intelligent questions of them they'll inevitably revert to something like "Well...you guys did the crusades!!" Which of course means that they have nothing of importance or substance to say.
Go watch my "I Have a Say" video, but click on the Youtube icon in the bottom right hand corner, which will take you to the actual Youtube site. You'll see on there that I've been trying to argue with 5 or 6 knuckleheads about substance.
This illustrates a key Planned Parenthood tactic - they send people after videos and into chat rooms to relentlessly be loud --- stupid and uneducated but loud, hoping to scare people off.
My challenge to you - leave a comment on a video. It doesn't take long to sign up to start responding to videos. Leave messages on Indystar after articles that are on important topics. If you follow a blog, leave a comment or two - engage these people on the internet and bring the fight to them. If you are tired of sitting back and watching other people fight --- hop in! It's easier than you think.
ENGAGE!!!
First of all, we have to educate ourselves. What does the Church teach? Why? What are the pitfalls of contraception/abortion? What are the links between breast cancer and the pill and what are the links between abortion and breast cancer? Read up on the quick and VERY helpful handouts that the bishops have put on their website. You can find some of those links in the right hand column of this blog or visit www.usccb.org
When you are educated enough --- go out and ENGAGE these clowns that really are all bark and no bite. You'll find if you ask one or two intelligent questions of them they'll inevitably revert to something like "Well...you guys did the crusades!!" Which of course means that they have nothing of importance or substance to say.
Go watch my "I Have a Say" video, but click on the Youtube icon in the bottom right hand corner, which will take you to the actual Youtube site. You'll see on there that I've been trying to argue with 5 or 6 knuckleheads about substance.
This illustrates a key Planned Parenthood tactic - they send people after videos and into chat rooms to relentlessly be loud --- stupid and uneducated but loud, hoping to scare people off.
My challenge to you - leave a comment on a video. It doesn't take long to sign up to start responding to videos. Leave messages on Indystar after articles that are on important topics. If you follow a blog, leave a comment or two - engage these people on the internet and bring the fight to them. If you are tired of sitting back and watching other people fight --- hop in! It's easier than you think.
HHS to Cancer and AIDS Patients: "Sorry!" --- Sterlization Patient: "You must be covered!"
Bishop Lori knocked it out of the park today. An excerpt:
Taking just one example of “essential health benefits”—prescription drugs—the state may define this category to require coverage of cancer drugs, AIDS drugs, and other life-saving treatments. But HHS has no quarrel with a state that decides not to require coverage of drugs like these. By contrast, HHS requires that state to cover drugs that, according to respected medical studies and the drugs’ manufacturers, may increase women’s risk of suffering from breast cancer, stroke and AIDS.
In this context, the rigid mandate to cover sterilization, contraception, and abortifacients is especially absurd. How would HHS respond to the claims of cancer patients that they are entitled to “free access” to cancer drugs, which can mean the difference between life or death? How would HHS respond to a state that did not include such life-saving drugs as an “essential health benefit”? Whatever HHS’s response is, we know it would have to be something far less than HHS’s full-throated demand for “free access” to contraceptives in every state and in every plan. Again, under the mandate, the world is turned upside down.
You can read his entire testimony by clicking here:
Taking just one example of “essential health benefits”—prescription drugs—the state may define this category to require coverage of cancer drugs, AIDS drugs, and other life-saving treatments. But HHS has no quarrel with a state that decides not to require coverage of drugs like these. By contrast, HHS requires that state to cover drugs that, according to respected medical studies and the drugs’ manufacturers, may increase women’s risk of suffering from breast cancer, stroke and AIDS.
In this context, the rigid mandate to cover sterilization, contraception, and abortifacients is especially absurd. How would HHS respond to the claims of cancer patients that they are entitled to “free access” to cancer drugs, which can mean the difference between life or death? How would HHS respond to a state that did not include such life-saving drugs as an “essential health benefit”? Whatever HHS’s response is, we know it would have to be something far less than HHS’s full-throated demand for “free access” to contraceptives in every state and in every plan. Again, under the mandate, the world is turned upside down.
You can read his entire testimony by clicking here:
Monday, February 27, 2012
When He Returns by Bob Dylan
when he returns from thessalonian on GodTube.
GREAT SONG and great lyrics as well! Listen along as you read the lyrics below.
The iron hand it ain’t no match for the iron rod
The strongest wall will crumble and fall to a mighty God
For all those who have eyes and all those who have ears
It is only He who can reduce me to tears
Don’t you cry and don’t you die and don’t you burn
For like a thief in the night, He’ll replace wrong with right
When He returns
Truth is an arrow and the gate is narrow that it passes through
He unleashed His power at an unknown hour that no one knew
How long can I listen to the lies of prejudice?
How long can I stay drunk on fear out in the wilderness?
Can I cast it aside, all this loyalty and this pride?
Will I ever learn that there’ll be no peace, that the war won’t cease
Until He returns?
Surrender your crown on this blood-stained ground, take off your mask
He sees your deeds, He knows your needs even before you ask
How long can you falsify and deny what is real?
How long can you hate yourself for the weakness you conceal?
Of every earthly plan that be known to man, He is unconcerned
He’s got plans of His own to set up His throne
When He returns
Sunday, February 26, 2012
"I Have A Say" - Send Me Your Stories!!! PLEASE!!!
Cecile Richards is the President of Planned Parenthood and she put out a video yesterday asking women to post videos titled "I Have a Say." Her stated rationale was to protest women not being invited to a recent House meeting on birth control. The meeting was on religious freedom, not birth control, so their lies continue.
Anyway, I've started a second blog called "I Have A Say" and I want to make it a place that is solely filled with YOUR stories. Stories about why your thankful you do have a say! Perhaps a thank you to your parents who, through their "yes to life" have given you a say. It could be a beautiful collection of stories and essays affirming life and all of its beauty.
Again..."Who are you thankful for giving you a say, and what does it mean to you to have a say."
Please send entries to fatherjohnhollowell@gmail.com. Let me know if you want your full name published, just your first name, or your entire name. Also, please give me a TITLE for what you write.
Spread this around; I'd love to get tons of stories on there. The address for the other blog is http://i--have--a--say.blogspot.com/ (or you can click here to visit the site)
Anyway, I've started a second blog called "I Have A Say" and I want to make it a place that is solely filled with YOUR stories. Stories about why your thankful you do have a say! Perhaps a thank you to your parents who, through their "yes to life" have given you a say. It could be a beautiful collection of stories and essays affirming life and all of its beauty.
Again..."Who are you thankful for giving you a say, and what does it mean to you to have a say."
Please send entries to fatherjohnhollowell@gmail.com. Let me know if you want your full name published, just your first name, or your entire name. Also, please give me a TITLE for what you write.
Spread this around; I'd love to get tons of stories on there. The address for the other blog is http://i--have--a--say.blogspot.com/ (or you can click here to visit the site)
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Cecile, Cecile!!!
Pt. 1: Cecile, the House meeting was on "religious liberty" not on "birth control"
Pt. 2: Roll back the tape on Cecile complaining about the media being uncooperative...Planned Parenthood has the media in their back pocket. Please, if you are going to complain about something, complain about something that doesn't make me laugh out loud when I hear you say it.
Pt. 3: sex-selective abortion is on the rise in countries all over the world. Thanks to Planned Parenthood, someday House hearings might not have women testifying because there won't be any if they keep "vacuuming uteruses." (not for profit, of course, because Planned Parenthood is all about helping women (wink wink!)
Pt. 4: In the White House meeting to decide on the HHS mandate, there were 10 people as reported here. Vice President Biden, Sebelius, other chiefs of staff...and Cecile Richards. That's how tight this woman is with the President of the United States...and she's trying to make it sound like no one hears poor little Planned Parenthood's cries for help?
Friday, February 24, 2012
Lenten Talk at Ball State's Newman Center
Thanks to Ambria Martin for the invitation to come and talk to the wonderful Communio group that they have going up at Ball State. It was wonderful and refreshing to be with great young and vibrant Catholics for dinner, reflection, and adoration.
Weekend Movie Reviews
Click on each title below to access their review
Wanderlust
Act of Valor
Gone
Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance
Coriolanus
Wanderlust
Act of Valor
Gone
Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance
Coriolanus
NPR News Story Illustrates Planned Parenthood Double Standard
Yesterday I was on the road and I did something I knew was going to likely get my blood pressure up - after every other station was on a commercial I switched over to NPR. Sure enough, as I switched over, a story was beginning on Virginia's law to require ultrasounds before abortions. Granted, without being an expert on ultrasounds, I'm not sure why Virginia was wanting them to be 'transvaginal' ultrasounds as opposed to a regular one, but that wasn't even the take on the story anyways. I list a few complaints with NPR
complaint 1 on the story: NPR refers over and over to two camps, the first being "anti-abortion" and the second being "abortion rights supporters." Really? Again, postmoderns have nothing substantive to fight with, they simply can try and change words around and try to reshape debates through labeling. Why not call one camp "anti-children" and the other "defenders and crusaders for the beautiful cause for life"? Wouldn't they moan and complain and whine like "babies"? (pun intended)
complaint 2 in this story: Look at what a Planned Parenthood rep from Metropolitan Washington D.C. said in the story:
"I don't think that any of us want politicians interfering with our medical decisions or the government mandating what is medically necessary...This has to do with...interfering with the patient/doctor relationship."
Ah, the irony!
Let's take it in two parts. Part 1 "I don't think any of us want politicians interfering with our medical decisions or the government mandating what is medically necessary"
I totally agree! I don't think so either. And where have we heard her word mandate before...hum...Oh, I remember, from President Barack 'Planned Parenthood' Obama. Planned Parenthood and I on the same page...this is a first!
Second part of her quote "this has to with interfering with the patient/doctor relationship." Hum, where have I heard that complaint recently...Oh, I remember, it has been from the Catholic doctors and patients who have been saying for several years to the government "leave our consciences alone."
It is sickening to watch the demonic wordsmiths at Planned Parenthood continue to utterly manipulate and misrepresent the truth. But you have to hand it to them (with an assist to their allies at NPR) they are very good at playing the victim while victimizing the rest of the country who doesn't buy in to their world view.
You can read the whole story here
complaint 1 on the story: NPR refers over and over to two camps, the first being "anti-abortion" and the second being "abortion rights supporters." Really? Again, postmoderns have nothing substantive to fight with, they simply can try and change words around and try to reshape debates through labeling. Why not call one camp "anti-children" and the other "defenders and crusaders for the beautiful cause for life"? Wouldn't they moan and complain and whine like "babies"? (pun intended)
complaint 2 in this story: Look at what a Planned Parenthood rep from Metropolitan Washington D.C. said in the story:
"I don't think that any of us want politicians interfering with our medical decisions or the government mandating what is medically necessary...This has to do with...interfering with the patient/doctor relationship."
Ah, the irony!
Let's take it in two parts. Part 1 "I don't think any of us want politicians interfering with our medical decisions or the government mandating what is medically necessary"
I totally agree! I don't think so either. And where have we heard her word mandate before...hum...Oh, I remember, from President Barack 'Planned Parenthood' Obama. Planned Parenthood and I on the same page...this is a first!
Second part of her quote "this has to with interfering with the patient/doctor relationship." Hum, where have I heard that complaint recently...Oh, I remember, it has been from the Catholic doctors and patients who have been saying for several years to the government "leave our consciences alone."
It is sickening to watch the demonic wordsmiths at Planned Parenthood continue to utterly manipulate and misrepresent the truth. But you have to hand it to them (with an assist to their allies at NPR) they are very good at playing the victim while victimizing the rest of the country who doesn't buy in to their world view.
You can read the whole story here
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