Mr Sammo

John Paul II, We Love You!

2011-04-25T17:29:00.002-04:00

Vatican site for the Beatification of Servant of God John Paul II

Obama: We Will Bury You!

2011-03-31T22:37:00.004-04:00

Gasoline Up 100% Under Obama

Food prices up.
Clothing prices up.
Civilian casualties in Afghanistan up.
Number of wars we are fighting up.
Unemployment up.
Deficit spending up.
Union thuggery up.
Groping at airports up.
Dis-respect for the law up.
Tyranny WAY up.

Somewhere Khrushchev is smiling....

2010-07-01T09:45:00.000-04:00

Oil Spill Timeline from RightChange on Vimeo.

When There Was A Bright Morning

2010-03-16T09:28:00.003-04:00

Another billboard mystery in Minnesota?

Victoria Jackson: "There's A Communist Living in the White House!!"

2010-03-05T11:24:00.000-05:00

Yes!

2010-02-09T20:27:00.001-05:00

Bush "Miss Me Yet?" Billboard Appears Near Highway

RIP Jack Murtha

2010-02-08T20:17:00.003-05:00

Rep. John Murtha dies at 77

Mr. Murtha was first hospitalized with gallbladder problems in December. He had surgery Jan. 28 at the National Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Md. He went home, but was hospitalized two days later when complications developed. According to a source close to Mr. Murtha -- confirming a report in Politico -- doctors inadvertently cut Mr. Murtha's intestine during the laparoscopic surgery, causing an infection.

Ever since the fall of Soviet communism, Murtha's political career became ever more dominated by leftists forces which paralleled the take-over of the Democrat party by the progressive radicalism.

My following post sums up Murtha's descent into madness. (from October 2008)

Murtha Calls Western PA Racist

Ronald Reagan's Birthday

2010-02-06T13:27:00.006-05:00

"To paraphrase Winston Churchill, I did not take the oath I have just taken with the intention of presiding over the dissolution of the world's strongest economy". -Ronald Reagan

Sadly Premier Obama took the oath for just that purpose.

RIP Bill Dudley

2010-02-05T19:30:00.003-05:00

Obituary: Bill Dudley / Versatile 'Bullet' did it all for the Steelers in '40s

RIP Ralph McInerny

2010-02-01T20:00:00.004-05:00

Ralph McInerny (1929-2010)
by Thomas S. Hibbs

BOSCH, Hieronymus
Paradise: Ascent of the Blessed
1500-04
Oil on panel, 86,5 x 39,5 cm
Palazzo Ducale, Venice

That's Not True

2010-01-28T10:02:00.002-05:00

What an actual Constitutional scholar, one who actually earned his way to law school and earned his law degree, thinks of Premier Obama's idiotic blathering.

Obviously Premier Obama wants to keep people from engaging in elections, he 'gamed the system' and spent his way to the top after breaking his promise and opting out of the public financing system. Premier Obama knows campaign finance laws do not effect him, so of course he opposes others fairly competing against him when he is up for re-election.

Crazy Train

2010-01-27T11:16:00.003-05:00

Obama to Announce High-Speed Rail Grants

Even experts who favor high-speed rail question whether the awards Obama will announce Thursday can turn into the job generators the administration is hoping for.

Hussein, We Have a Problem

2010-01-27T10:27:00.003-05:00

White House won't fund NASA moon program.

When the White House releases its budget proposal Monday, there will be no money for the Constellation program that was to return humans to the moon by 2020.
.
.
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The White House will direct NASA to concentrate on Earth-science projects -- principally, researching and monitoring climate change....

So we will cede space to the Chinese Communists so that we can continue to fund the bogus progressive climate change agenda. What a waste...of money...of national pride...of scientific inquiry.

Boston Tea Party Redux

2010-01-19T22:05:00.004-05:00

Scott Brown pulls off historic upset

State Sen. Scott Brown won a stunning victory over Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley Tuesday night, handing Republicans a 41st seat in the United States Senate and endangering health care reform by bringing an end to the Democrats’ 60-seat majority.

Wow! I guess your run of the mill leftist Democrats have their limits when it comes to sacrificing America to the totalitarian Progressive agenda of Obama/Pelosi/Reed. Of course the 'will of the people' is not all that relevant to the radical leftist three-headed dragon; who will certainly continue to try and remake America in the image of a communist banana republics.

More on Haiti

2010-01-18T21:43:00.003-05:00

For those who have ties to Holy Name Parish in Ebensburg, here is Monsignor Gaus' statement on Haiti from the most recent bulletin. Holy Name has had a sister parish in Haiti for many years.

HAITI - EARTHQUAKE
Your pastor is living with an extremely heavy heart. Extending a missionary hand to that country for thirty years, he never once heard the word EARTHQUAKE being mentioned by any Haitian resident. How frequently he has shared vocally and in writing to thousands of people that the nation of Haiti is the poorest of the poor in our Western Hemisphere. He never could have predicted that a nation with virtually nothing would experience the worst of nothing as a result of a 7.0 earthquake with dozens of after-shocks also being felt.
Millions of residents in Port-au-Prince without sanitation, water, electricity, food and medical attention becomes difficult to either realize or imagine. It is a country void of a building code, fire or adequate police protection. It has become an overwhelming task, because of the degree of devastation, for the international community to address. We do not want to hear in future weeks what additional punishment will be dumped upon these Haitian residents of Port-au-Prince.
Good news finally arrived on Thursday afternoon. Information was shared with us that Brother Francklin and the other Brothers and Sisters of the Incarnation in Port-au-Prince are alive. The majority of people there have abandoned their homes and are living under the stars. We are being told that greater than 60% of all church structures have been destroyed.
Hopefully within the next week we will have heard from Brother Francklin. An envelope will be attached to the bulletin next weekend to respond to the specific requests brought to our attention by Brother Francklin.

This week at Saint Paul's Cathedral parish in Pittsburgh, a special collection will be taken for the needs of Haiti. It will benefit Catholic Relief Services. Long after the modernist world once again forgets about Haiti, the Catholic Church and CRS will still be there, and so donations to them are for the long haul.

Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos Shrine

2010-01-17T06:25:00.004-05:00

Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos is the man represented in the statue, and Mr Sammo is at the Fr. Seelos Shrine in New Orleans, LA. Fr Seelos is known as the "Cheerful Ascetic". He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on April 19, 2000.

Fr. Seelos began his career as a priest at St Philomena parish in Pittsburgh, PA under the supervision of none other than St John Neuman. His ministry took him to Maryland, and he was proposed to come back to Pittsburgh as Bishop. Fr Seelos however pleaded with Pope Pius IX to allow him to forgo this honor and instead continue his ministry as a missionary preacher.

He ended his career as pastor of the Church of St Mary of the Assumption parish in New Orleans, LA (location of the shrine), where he contracted yellow fever in ministering to those suffering from the disease.

The Archdiocese of Baltimore is currently investigating a miracle being attributed to the intercession of Blessed Fr Seelos that could lead to his Canonization.

Bell Tower of St Mary's Assumption Church

The original coffin in which Fr Seelos was buried.

Relics of Blessed Fr Seelos

Who's Dat?

2010-01-15T20:45:00.003-05:00

Where is Mr Sammo in this picture? Who is the guy represented by that statue? Stay tuned to the blog for the exciting revelation this weekend!

No Catholics Allowed

2010-01-15T11:30:00.003-05:00

Martha Coakley, the leftist candidate for the United States Senate from Massachusetts, has just voiced her opinion that orthodox Catholic health care workers should not be allowed to work in emergency rooms. If big government gains control of health care distribution in this country the political left will either compel orthodox Catholics to provide immoral care that furthers the Culture of Death, or else force them to remove or deny themselves from practicing as a health care professional. (Remember that government in MA has already denied Catholics the ability to run adoption services because they will not support the Culture of Death.)

Meanwhile down in Washington, Obama's 'Faith Council' was debating whether or not religious institutions who receive federal money to provide services to the poor should be forced to cover up religious icons.

The War on Christian Charity is alive...

For More on Haiti

2010-01-15T07:24:00.002-05:00

I suggest following the The Achoress blog at "First Things". She has some good updates, links, and thoughts, mixed in with her usual blogging.

The Shame of Notre Dame

2010-01-14T17:32:00.007-05:00

And I am not talking about the football program...

The Notre Dame 88

President Fr John Jenkins refuses to expend any effort to alleviate the unjust suffering of the pro-life people who have been charged with "trespassing" on campus during the pro-abortion Obama event that Fr Jenkins orchestrated against the will of the American Catholic Bishops and the Virtue of Charity. Fr Jenkins instead prefers to gloat of his media accomplishment and mock the culture of life. He flaps his lips about creating dialogue and speaking openly about differences, but in the end he chooses to silence and persecute those who dared offer a differing opinion from his acquiescence to the pro-abortion policies of Obama.

Petition to Free the Notre Dame 88

Our Lady of the Gulf

2010-01-13T21:04:00.006-05:00

Here are some pictures from my visit to Our Lady of the Gulf Church in Bay St Louis, MS. It is a very pretty church that, as one might expect, had to overcome quite a bit of devastation after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the coast. Take a look at the youtube video of the damage Hurricane Katrina did to the church and the restoration. OLG Video

Earthquake in Haiti

2010-01-13T08:09:00.002-05:00

Major Earthquake Strikes Near Haitian Capital

A massive earthquake has struck near the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, causing damage across the impoverished region. It is the largest quake to hit the area in some 200 years.

It would be a good idea to say a prayer for the people of Haiti, and for all those people who work in that country as missionaries. One of the Nativity scene pictures I just posted was taken at Our Lady of the Gulf in Bay St Louis, Mississippi. I was there on Epiphany Sunday, and at the end of Mass a young women gave a brief talk about serving as a missionary in Haiti. I went back and found the online church bulletin for that day so that I could remember the young lady.

The Haitian Project
The Haitian Project is a Catholic Mission which
sup ports and operates Louverture Cleary School (LCS),
a tuition-free, co-educational secondary boarding school
for economically under-privileged Haitian children.
Elissa Kegosien, daughter of OLG parishioners Bill &
Carolyn Kergosien, will be speaking at the Masses
during the first weekend of January to share her
experience of volunteering in Haiti, and to give OLG
parishioners the opportunity to learn about ways they
can help support the work of the Haitian Project. To
learn more about The Haitian Project, visit their site at:

http://www.haitianproject.org

I remember Elissa spoke of how her experiences during Hurricane Katrina inspired her to want to want to give of herself and help those in need. I have no idea if she returned to Haiti before the earthquake, but I am sure she is suffering, at the very least emotionally, at the destruction and loss of life among the poor in Haiti. I hope and pray that she is all right.

Nativity Scenes

2010-01-12T07:46:00.007-05:00

I wanted to share with my readers some pictures of Nativity scenes found in the Churches in which I worshiped during this past Christmas Season. One of my parish priests urged us at the beginning of Advent to set as the background wallpaper on our cell phones and/or computer screens a picture of the Nativity to serve as a daily reminder of the approaching Christmas Event. This suggestion led to me being a bit more focused on these wonderful depictions of the birth of Jesus as found in the Gospels.

Christmas Day and the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.
Saint Paul Cathedral, Pittsburgh, PA
(my home parish)

Saint Louis Cathedral, New Orleans, LA
New Year's Day: The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

Our Lady of the Gulf, Bay St Louis, MS
Epiphany Sunday

St. Mary’s Assumption Church, New Orleans, LA
Visit to the National Shrine of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

2010-01-12T07:41:00.003-05:00

As the Christmas Season comes to an end, I wanted to thank all of those who read my blog this past year for their time spent, as well as express my hope that my hiatus did not cause too much consternation for you.

I feel somewhat ready to begin blogging a little bit again, so we shall see how things transpire over the next few weeks.

~Mr Sammo

Move Along, Nothing To See Here

2009-09-07T18:05:00.002-04:00

As one may have realized, I have not not been making regular updates to Mr Sammo. I have just simply lost the will to blog. Maybe I will be back at some point, maybe not.

I was kicking around the idea of starting a new blog at some point sharing various adventures to museums, historical sites, churches, ect; but we shall see if I feel like doing that.

For now, follow me on Facebook, or email me if you want to get in touch.

Feast of Our Lady of Czestochowa

2009-08-26T16:27:00.003-04:00

Mary, Queen of Poland, I am with you, I remember, I am on alert.

LITANY TO OUR LADY OF CZESTOCHOWAN
(By the Martyr Fr. Jerzy Popieluszko)

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us.

Christ,
graciously hear us.

God, the Father of Heaven,
have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the World,
have mercy on us.

God the Holy Spirit,
have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God,
have mercy on us.

Holy Mary,
pray for us.

Mother of God and our Mother,
pray for us.

Mother of those who place their hope God's providence,
pray for us.

Mother of those who are deceived,
pray for us.

Mother of those who are betrayed,
pray for us.

Mother of those who are arrested in the night,
pray for us.

Mother of those who are imprisoned,
pray for us.

Mother of those who suffer from the cold,
pray for us.

Mother of those who live in fear,
pray for us.

Mother of those who were subjected to interrogations,
pray for us.

Mother of those who are subjected to interrogations,
pray for us.

Mother of those innocents who have been condemned,
pray for us.

Mother of those who speak the truth,
pray for us.

Mother of those who cannot be corrupted,
pray for us.

Mother of those who resist evil and tyranny,
pray for us.

Mother of orphans,
pray for us.

Mother of those who have been attacked
or taunted because they wore your image,
pray for us.

Mother of those who are forced
to sign declarations contrary to their conscience,
pray for us.

Mother of mothers who weep,
pray for us.

Mother of fathers who have been so deeply saddened,
pray for us.

Mother of suffering Poland,
pray for us.

Mother of always faithful Poland,
pray for us.

We beg you,
O Mother in whom resides the hope of millions of people,
grant us to live in liberty and in truth,
in fidelity to you and to your Son.

Amen.

Government Run Death Care

2009-08-20T18:15:00.002-04:00

The Death Book for Veterans

An op-ed by Jim Towey, President of Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, PA.

If President Obama wants to better understand why America's discomfort with end-of-life discussions threatens to derail his health-care reform, he might begin with his own Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). He will quickly discover how government bureaucrats are greasing the slippery slope that can start with cost containment but quickly become a systematic denial of care.

Read it, and weep.

Send In The Clowns

2009-08-18T21:19:00.001-04:00

Creator of ‘Joker’ Obama image unmasked

It turns out that it is a liberal who created the original image (as a fake "Time" magazine cover) of Obama as the Joker, and not some 'racist right-wing nut job'. The state run media and Obama's fellow travelers are all sorely disappointed of course.

The person who appropriately created the famous "socialism Joker" is apparently still at large.

A clown, hiding behind a facade of make-up and cheap tricks, bent on destroying the pillars of society and furthering the culture of death.

Obama is no Chester Arthur

2009-08-17T09:40:00.002-04:00

Check out this AP article: Obama birthplace flap evokes Chester Arthur debate

How silly is it that the AP feels it must offer up this pathetic attempt to diffuse the Obama birth certificate controversy?

The main point about Chester Arthur is that there is no evidence anywhere as to where he was born. In the case of Barrack Hussein Obama, there is a claim of evidence of proof of birth, but there is an arrogant and disturbing refusal to produce such proof.

Perhaps the claims of Arthur's Canadian birth were nothing but 'political slander', but the same cannot be said about the Obama scandal. If Obama has the evidence he is a natural born citizen, and therefore eligible to be President of the USA ,he should simply allow the proof to made public. Why continue to spend over a million dollars in legal fees to hide the proof?

Viva San Rocco!

2009-08-16T15:12:00.005-04:00

Today is the feast day of San Rocco (Saint Roch). It is also the culmination of the San Rocco Festa here in Aliquippa which was marked with a beautiful liturgy at Saint Titus parish and a procession of the statue of San Rocco through town.

St Clare of Assisi

2009-08-11T19:50:00.004-04:00

Today is the feast day of St Clare of Assisi, friend of St Francis and Cofoundress of the Order of Poor Ladies, or Clares, and first Abbess of San Damiano

GIOTTO di Bondone

Legend of St Francis: 23. St. Francis Mourned by St. Clare
1300
Fresco, 270 x 230 cm
Upper Church, San Francesco, Assisi

Prayers For Pope Benedict

2009-07-17T07:03:00.002-04:00

Pope Benedict XVI taken to hospital after breaking wrist

According to the story, Pope Benedict twisted his ankle and broke his wrist in a fall while on vacation. Let hope it is nothing more serious, and that the Holy Father recovers quickly and properly.

Saint Katharine Drexel Shrine

2009-07-14T08:25:00.006-04:00

I had the opportunity to visit the Shrine of Saint Katharine Drexel this past Sunday, and would like to share some pictures of my visit with the readers of Mr Sammo. But first a brief introduction to Saint Katharine Drexel.
(Scroll down a little for the pictures.)

Saint Katharine Drexel, Virgin and Foundress, was born in Philadelphia, PA in 1858 and died in nearby Bensalem Township, Bucks County, PA at the age of ninety six in 1995. Katherine was the daughter of Francis Anthony Drexel, a wealthy banker, and his first wife Hannah Jane who died a month after Katharine's birth.

Katharine travelled widely in the United States and Europe, and she became acutely interested in the plight of the Native Americans and Blacks. When she inherited her fortune from her father and step-mother, she set about to use her wealth to help these disadvantaged people.

At an audience with Pope Leo XII, she inquired as to what religious congregations might be best to staff the institutions she was financing. The Pope suggested that she herself should become a missionary, and so in 1889 Katherine began her religious training with the Sisters of Mercy in Pittsburgh, PA.

Two years later, Mother Katharine founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament for Indians and Colored People, a title encompassing the two great loves of her life: the Holy Eucharist and the most deprived among us. During her lifetime over five hundred women joined the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, and over sixty schools and numerous mission centers were opened and operated by her congregation. After suffering a heart attack in 1935, and relinquishing her office of superior general, Mother Katharine devoted her last years to Eucharistic adoration.

Saint Katharine Drexel was canonized by Pope John Paul II on October 1, 2000, to be recognized as the second American-born saint.

Sam reading the PA Historical marker located at the shrine.

An absolutely beautiful picture in an alcove of the chapel of Saint Katherine surrounded by the faces of the disadvantaged that she loved so much, as well as the words from the Eucharistic prayer: "From age to age you gather a people to yourself, so that from east to west a perfect offering may be made to the glory of your name."

St Elizabeth Chapel
We had the unique joy of celebrating Mass here with Father Dennis this past Sunday. Saint Katharine had this chapel built in the memory of her sister Elizabeth. The chapel opened in 1892, and Saint Katharine's love of Jesus in the Eucharist still lives today as the Blessed Sacrament is exposed daily for adoration from 10:00am to 5:00pm.

Saint Katharine and her two sisters, Elizabeth and Louisa, received their First Communion and their Confirmation before this altar. Ultimately the altar was moved to Saint Katharine's sick room where Mass was said. Saint Katharine died before this altar on March 3, 1955.

A part of the shrine exhibit which tells the story of Saint Katharine.

In prayer before the tomb of Saint Katharine Drexel. Her tomb lies directly below the altar of St Elizabeth Chapel. (Thanks to Fr D. for taking the picture.)

The exterior of the Mission Center located at the Shrine. It includes some beautiful stained glass windows.

Saint Paul

2009-07-13T15:02:00.004-04:00

For all those out there who are suffering withdrawal from the ending of the Year of Saint Paul, this may help ease any symptoms for a bit.

First, a picture taken by Mr Sammo of a very nice statue of Saint Paul found on the grounds of Saint Paul Seminary in Pittsburgh.

Also, here are a couple interesting articles by Sandro Magister at chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it concerning Saint Paul. The first deals with why he was often portrayed as a philosopher in art work, and the second is about the restoration of the pope's private chapel in the Vatican.

New Discoveries. Why St. Paul Was Given a Philosopher's Face

The Pauline Chapel Reopened for Worship. With Two New Features

Wedding

2009-07-12T20:45:00.003-04:00

A heartfelt congratulations from Mr Sammo to Mark and Cindy on their marriage Saturday. It was a memorable weekend where love, God, family, and friendship, were manifest in a truly beautiful way.

BOSCH, Hieronymus
Marriage Feast at Cana
Oil on panel, 93 x 72 cm
Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam

2009-07-10T07:51:00.001-04:00

I hope everyone enjoyed Steubenville Week here at Mr Sammo. I will be away in Philadelphia for the weekend attending the wedding of a friend, so there will be no further posting until next week.

Fort Steuben

2009-07-10T06:43:00.011-04:00

Historic Fort Steuben was the gateway to the Northwest Territory. After America's War of Independence, Britain relinquished all holds on the territories of Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Illinois, and parts of Minnesota. Since the brand new United States had no power to tax or raise funds, the Continental Congress decided that this land be surveyed and sold as public lands to raise money. The area was to be laid out into townships six miles square by six miles square, and then further divided into thirty six one mile square sections. Did you ever look at a county map of a State and notice how uniform the western states are compared to the original thirteen colonies? See examples" PA, OH, VA, MI.

Fort Steuben became a necessity because there were hostile Indian tribes located throughout the Northwest territory who were not all that excited to see the land surveyors. Located next to Fort Steuben was the first Federal Land Office west of the Alleghenies, where settlers could purchase and register their land. The 'bill of rights' for the Northwest Territory contained practical steps for achieving Statehood, as well as guaranteeing certain civil rights such as trail by jury, the right of women and children to inherit property, public schooling, and the prohibition of slavery.

Sammo in the Fort

Blockhouse. This is where the soldiers were housed. Ever wonder why the top level overhangs the bottom? There are holes in the floor in the top along the edges that allow the soldiers to fire their guns straight down on attackers.

Interior of the Blockhouse where the enlisted men lived. Major John Francis Hamtramck had the Fort constructed to house up to 150 men plus the surveyors.

Steubenville, City of Murals

2009-07-08T18:56:00.009-04:00

I have already introduced you to a couple of the murals found in the city of Steubenville, OH, and there are twenty five in total from what I can tell. The use of these murals to tell the historical story of Steubenville is a visually pleasing concept. So here a few more pictures of murals from my jaunt about town.

Ohio Bell Telephone Exchange

Old Reliance Firehouse

River Reflections

Steel Mill Memories

Dean Martin, Son of Steubenville

2009-07-07T20:06:00.009-04:00

Steubenville week continues here at Mr Sammo with a nod to entertainer Dean Martin who was born Dino Paul Crocetti on June 7, 1917 in Steubenville, OH. Every year Steubenville celebrates Dino with a Dean Martin Festival.

The Ohio Historical Marker along Dean Martin Boulevard.

The Dean Martin mural.

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(If you are using Internet Explorer and the above embed video does not work, follow this link to see Dino singing Mambo Italiano. Then I suggest trashing IE and using Firefox or Safari.)

St Peter's Catholic Church, Steubenville

2009-07-06T23:01:00.006-04:00

I had the pleasure of attending Sunday morning Mass at St Peter's Church and Parish in Steubenville, OH. My original intent was to go to Mass at the cathedral, but the exterior beauty of St Peter's Church was so enticing that I had to stop and visit this church. The architecture is French Renaissance, and the interior is as pretty as the exterior. Renaissance architecture is known for its symmetry and proportion, and its orderly situation of niches, domes, ect.

The physical beauty of the church was not my only surprise, as the Liturgy surpassed all of my expectations. The church was full of parishioners, and I must use words such as 'piety', 'devout', and 'holy' to describe the Liturgy. I would later find out that St Peter's is home to at least an occasional Tridentine Liturgy, and I think the traditions of that helped shape such a traditional and beautiful Novus Ordo liturgy. I counted fifteen altar boys dressed in the black and white cassocks and surplices who knelt around the altar during the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Seemingly (if not actually) everyone received Holy Communion on the tongue. Incense filled the air, and of course bells were rung at the elevation of the Blessed Sacrament. The Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei were all sung. We even ended Mass with the prayer to St Michael Archangel before singing the Salve Regina. It truly was a blessed experience, and this visitor is very thankful for all those who by their faith and devotion made it so.

The large mural above the altar shows the Resurrected Jesus with his hands on the shoulders of St Peter and Pope John Paul II. St Peter is holding keys, and between Jesus and St Peter is the hill of Calvary with three crosses. There also appears to be some stone, which may represent St Peter as the Rock on which Jesus will build His Church. To the left of John Paul II is St Peters Basilica in Rome. It is a wondrous depiction of the Papacy.

Steubenville calls itself "The City of Murals", and in a future post I will introduce some of the murals that grace the city, but for now I would like to show the mural that is located next to St Peter's Church.

Portiuncula Chapel at Franciscan University Steubenville

2009-07-05T17:26:00.007-04:00

I made a drive to Steubenville, Ohio this morning to attend Sunday Mass, see Fort Steuben, view some of the murals in the city, and of course visit the Portiuncula Chapel on the campus of Franciscan University. The little chapel has been recently designated by the Vatican as a place where the faithful can receive a plenary indulgence. My intent today was to simply spend some time at prayer and Eucharistic Adoration at the chapel, walk and pray the Stations of the Cross, and pray at the Tomb of the Unborn Child. It was a beautiful time. I hope you enjoy the following pictures.

"A Mighty Wind"

2009-07-05T07:32:00.004-04:00

As part of relaxing 4th of July Holiday (which also included a little tatse of rye whiskey and some pipe tobacco) I took the time to watch my recent thrifty $3 dvd purchase of the mockumentary "A Mighty Wind".

There is much hilarity to be found in the movie, such as this from the Bohner's

(Laurie Bohner) Terry and I worship an unconventional deity. The power of another dimension. Now you are not going to read about this dimension in a book or a magazine because it exists nowhere... but in my own mind. Through our ceremonies and rituals we have witnessed the awesome and vibratory power... of color.

(Terry Bohner) This is not an occult science. This is not one of those crazy systems of divination and astrology. That stuff's hooey, and you've got to have a screw loose to go in for that sort of thing. Our beliefs are fairly commonplace and simple to understand. Humankind is simply materialized color operating on the 49th vibration. You would make that conclusion walking down the street or going to the store. (wav link)

The movie also has a couple of very pretty songs from 'Mitch and Mickey' such as the Academy Award nominated "A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow". The song "When You're Next To Me" was left out of the movie, but can be found on the dvd extras, is also very nice. The final two stanzas are sweet.

When I'm lying next to you
I hear Angels play
I see sweeter days
I see rivers wind
Through the end of time

I see hatred fall
From the highest hill
I see God's good grace
Shining in your eyes
That's what I see
When you're next to me

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Fun stuff...

Independence Day

2009-07-04T09:23:00.005-04:00

The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness.
You have to catch it yourself.
-Benjamin Franklin

Obama Meets Catholic Media

2009-07-03T17:05:00.003-04:00

Here is a link to the American Papist blog where Thomas Peters gives his take on Premier Obama's meeting with catholic newspapers. Not surprisingly, "Our Sunday Visitor" and "Catholic World Report" were excluded.

As Peters notes, it is a disgrace these 'leftist' catholic news groups allow Obama to distort Cardinal Bernadin's 'consistent ethic', and to continue to provide cover for this pro-abortion, pro-euthanasia egomaniac. When people abandon Christ our Hope for hope in structures of government, this is the incoherence that results.

In other distressing news,

Obama Picks "Pro-Life" Catholic Sellout Douglas Kmiec for Malta Ambassador

Seelos, Miracle Man?

2009-07-01T15:59:00.004-04:00

In Annapolis, a miracle worthy of sainthood?

The treatment for terminal cancer that Annapolis resident Mary Ellen Heibel took at Johns Hopkins Hospital in 2004 and early 2005 worked beyond any one's wildest hopes, wiping out malignant tumors in her lungs, liver, stomach and chest. Her doctor did not expect it, nor could he explain it.

Could the explanation be that her cure was brought about through the intercession of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos? (Follow the link to find out about this holy priest.)

This story caught me eye because of Blessed Seelos' connection to Pittsburgh. He worked for nine years after his ordination in St Philomena parish in the Strip District in Pittsburgh. The pastor at St Philomena parish at the time was none other than St John Neumann who would serve as Seelos' spiritual director. His gifts were well recognized in Pittsburgh, and he was suggested to become the Bishop of the Diocese, but he wrote to Pope Pius IX claiming calamity for the See becuase of his own inadequacies and was not given the responsibility.

"Paulo Apostolo Mart" (Apostle Paul, Martyr)

2009-06-30T08:59:00.004-04:00

Pope: Bones of the Apostle Paul Scientifically Verified

Pope Benedict brought the Year of Saint Paul to an end with a bang yesterday with the following announcement:

“…the tomb of St Paul has been subject to a scientific investigation. A small hole was drilled in the sarcophagus, unopened for centuries, and a probe was introduced. It found traces of a valuable purple fabric, in linen and gold layer-laminated, and a blue fabric with linen threads. Red incense grains and substances containing proteins and limestone were also discovered. Small fragments of bone were found and radiocarbon dated by experts who did not know their place of origin. Results indicate that they belong to someone who lived between the 1st and 2nd century A.D. This seems to confirm the unanimous and undisputed tradition according to which these are the mortal remains of the Apostle Paul. All this fills our soul with deep emotion.”

If that is not good enough, how about this?

Ancient St Paul icon unearthed in catacomb

...archaeologists discovered “the most ancient known icon” of the Apostle Paul, during routine restoration work at the Santa Tecla catacomb on the Via Ostiense in Rome.

Quote of the Day

2009-06-28T09:44:00.003-04:00

When asked why he read portions of the cap-and-trade bill on the floor Friday night,

"Hey, people deserve to know what's in this pile of shit."

-Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio)

The Economic Impact of the Waxman-Markey Cap-and-Trade Bill

Bust a Cap (and Trade) In Yo Azz

2009-06-26T20:21:00.006-04:00

Premier Obama and the Democratic politburo have scored a huge socialist victory crushing prosperity and freedom.

House passes climate-change bill

Enjoy paying higher energy bills, because the Obamessiah and his followers have just slapped a huge regressive tax on you...suckers.

Well I guess all the leftists out there just think of this as their tithe to the false religion of 'global warming', and for the rest of us, it is the jizra we must pay.

Fight those who believe not in Obama nor the socialism, nor hold forbidden that which hath been forbidden by Obama and His Messenger Pelosi, nor acknowledge the religion of Global Warming, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizyah with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.

Out of Town

2009-06-22T22:45:00.003-04:00

UPDATE: I returned safely to Pittsburgh, but I am just really tired and trying to still get back in the grove.

I guess I forgot to mention I am in Washington, DC this weekend to visit my godson for Father's Day. I am having a great time, and I will back in the 'Burgh Wednesday.

The Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle

2009-06-18T20:02:00.004-04:00

June 29th marks the end of this special Jubilee Year to the Apostle Paul. Unfortunately I failed over the past year to promote this as I had hoped on my blog. There is still time, however, to celebrate the Apostle Paul and to benefit from the special Plenary Indulgence offered by Pope Benedict.

Michelangelo Buonarroti
The Conversion of Saul
1542-45
Fresco, 625 x 661 cm
Cappella Paolina, Palazzi Pontifici, Vatican

"As I made my journey and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone about me. And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?' And I answered, 'Who are you, Lord?' And He said to me, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you are persecuting.' Now those who were with me saw the light but did not hear the voice of the One who was speaking to me. And I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me, 'Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.' And when I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus.

"And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, came to me, and standing by me said to me, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight.' And in that very hour I received my sight and saw him. And he said, 'The God of our fathers appointed you to know His will, to see the Just One and to hear a voice from His mouth; for you will be a witness for Him to all men of what you have seen and heard. And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.'

Obama is concerned...

2009-06-16T20:41:00.004-04:00

How about this quote from Premier Obama concerning the Iran election situation.

"What I will repeat, and what I said yesterday, is that when I see violence directed at peaceful protesters, when I see peaceful dissent being suppressed, wherever that takes place, it is of concern to me and of concern to the American people,"

Concern? Concern is all you can say? How about it is wrong, WRONG! How about challenging the mad Mullahs and their mad dog Ahmedinejad for their murderous response?

Perhaps he does not want the madness to stop. After all he opposed removing the tyrant Saddam Hussein from power, and then he opposed the Surge to remove the terrorist elements from power in Iraq. Maybe Barrack Hussein Obama just has a problem with freedom and democracy, which would explain his ties to ACORN and his usurpation of the Census.

Letterman Finally Apologizes

2009-06-16T20:31:00.005-04:00

And Sarah Palin accepts "on behalf of all young women, like my daughters, who hope men who 'joke' about public displays of sexual exploitation of girls will soon evolve."

Usually this type of ill-conceived bad humor from a 'joke maker' can be sloughed off, but Letterman has been a shill of the liberal/socialist propaganda, hate, and personal destruction machine for the past few years now, and he needed to accept some responsibility.

Ah Summer...

2009-06-16T18:52:00.002-04:00

OK, it is not officially Summer yet, but we have hit that time of the year where the beautiful weather outside makes it difficult to blog inside. Couple that with the Penguins playoff run taking up my time, and Mr Sammo must acknowledge his blogging has been quite thin lately. Please bear with me...

A New Power Has Ascended

2009-06-14T22:45:00.003-04:00

2009-06-12T14:03:00.001-04:00

"It's a Great Day for Hockey!"

Explorer Sucks

2009-06-10T20:30:00.001-04:00

It is a pile of crap compared to Mozilla Firefox or Apple Safari. Every once in while I just have to vent that.

Disgusting Humor by Letterman

2009-06-10T20:22:00.004-04:00

Of course plenty of sickos in the crowd clapped and laughed at his joke about raping a minor. When you have reached this low Dave it is well past time for you to retire.

Responses from Sara and Todd Palin:

"Any 'jokes' about raping my 14-year-old are despicable. Alaskans know it and I believe the rest of the world knows it, too."

- Todd Palin

"Concerning Letterman's comments about my young daughter (and I doubt he'd ever dare make such comments about anyone else's daughter): 'Laughter incited by sexually-perverted comments made by a 62-year-old male celebrity aimed at a 14-year-old girl is not only disgusting, but it reminds us some Hollywood/NY entertainers have a long way to go in understanding what the rest of America understands - that acceptance of inappropriate sexual comments about an underage girl, who could be anyone's daughter, contributes to the atrociously high rate of sexual exploitation of minors by older men who use and abuse others.'"

- Governor Sarah Palin

1,216 Years Ago...

2009-06-08T14:43:00.008-04:00

On June 8, 793 Northmen arrived at the island of Lindisfarne, Northumbria and attacked the famous monastery slaughtering the monks and pillaging the church. It is the earliest documented attack of the Vikings, and it would begin a time of terror of about three hundred years for not only the Anglo-Saxons in England but for all of Europe.

The Ancient Diocese and Monastery of Lindisfarne was founded by Saint Aiden in 632, and Holy Isle would become the center of missionary activity. It was under Saint Cuthbert that the monastery gained much of its glory.

When Cuthbert, therefore, came to the church or monastery of Lindisfarne, he taught the brethren monastic rules both by his life and doctrines, and often going round, as was his custom, among the neighbouring people, he kindled them up to seek after and work out a heavenly reward. Moreover, by his miracles he became more and more celebrated, and by the earnestness of his prayers restored to their former health many that were afflicted with various infirmities and sufferings; some that were vexed with unclean spirits, he not only cured whilst present by touching them, praying over them, or even by commanding or exorcising the devils to go out of them; but even when absent he restored them by his prayers, or by foretelling that they should be restored; amongst whom also was the wife of the prefect above mentioned.

St Bede the Venerable: The Life and Miracles of St. Cuthbert, Bishop of Lindesfarne,
Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation

The relics of Saint Cuthbert were moved to Lindisfarne where they were found to be incorrupt. There were so many miracles associated with Saint Cuthbert, that when the Northman arrived and sacked Lindisfarne it sent a bit of shudder throughout the faithful.

"...the calamity of your tribulation saddens me greatly every day, though I am absent; when the pagans desecrated the sanctuaries of God, and poured out the blood of saints around the altar, laid waste the house of our hope, trampled on the bodies of saints in the temple of God, like dung in the street.... What assurance is there for the churches of Britain, if St Cuthbert, with so great a number of saints, defends not its own? Either this is the beginning of greater tribulation, or else the sins of the inhabitants have called it upon them. Truly it has not happened by chance, but is a sign that it was well merited by someone. But now, you who are left, stand manfully, fight bravely, defend the camp of God."

Alcuin of York, Letter to the Bishop of Lindisfarne

Lindisfarne had become an exquisite place of learning and spirituality, as well as a repository for wealth and illuminated manuscripts. The wondrous Lindisfarne Gospel was created here by the the author and scribe Eadfrith, Bishop of Lindisfarne (698-721). The book itself was preserved by a miracle having been lost at sea for four days before being recovered as the monks fled before a second Viking raid. A monk by the name of Aldred added a gloss to the gospel in the mid to late 900s. This Anglo-Saxon/Old English gloss of the Latin text provides the oldest surving accounts of the gospel in Old English.

Saint Mark from the Lindisfarne Gospel

There is a wonderful web page called the Lindisfarne Gospel Tour that allows for exploration of this glorious work.

Why I am remembering a Viking raid on an island monastery over twelve hundred years ago? Because it should serve as a warning to us that terror can strike out of the blue, whether the ocean blue off the coast of Northumbria or the blue skies above New York City. When there are violent enemies about who wish to pillage, plunder, enslave, and kill, the response can not be to simply roll over and try and make nice.

As Christians we must also remember that our wealth, our learning, our churches, and our prayers will not take away the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus and His Cross. Too many today choose to abandon The Cross for political and social compromise. Let those faithful who remain hear the entreaty of Alcuin of York to "stand manfully, fight bravely, and defend the camp of God."

D-Day

2009-06-06T16:16:00.003-04:00

United States European Command
Commemorate the 65th Anniversary of D-Day

Army Soldier Murdered...

2009-06-01T20:29:00.005-04:00

...and another injured in a shooting at a Recruitment center in Little Rock, AK.

Gunman Shoots 2 at Arkansas Military Recruitment Center

Police in Little Rock, Ark., say a man who shot two new Army soldiers, killing one, at a military recruiting center likely had "political and religious motives."

And the suspect is...

Just after 5:00 this evening, Little Rock Police say Abulhakin Muhammad, also known as Carlos Bledsoe, will be charged with capital murder and 15 counts of terroristic acts after a shooting at an Army/Navy recruitment center on Rodney Parham Road in Little Rock.

Funny how Obama was so quick to issue a statement about the murder of partial-birth abortion doctor George Tiller, and yet has thus far failed to release any statement about the murder of one soldier and the attempted murder of another. Some Commander in Chief he is. The sad fact is that he will weep for the butcher Tiller, and take a swipe at the pro-life movement, in order to play to his pro-abortion minions and ease his diseased mind on the issue, but when a muslim of color murders an American soldier and wounds another one for political and religious reasons Obama is very, very slow to condemn...

GM, Garbage Motors

2009-06-01T19:49:00.003-04:00

GM Files for Bankruptcy Protection

After squandering about $50 billion in tax payer money in a futile effort to prop up General Motors, Premier Obama and the minions of big government control have now simply taken over destroying the last vestiges of what once was a great American company.

60% USA Government controlled
17.5% Union controlled (via health care fund)
12.5% Canadian owned
10% Bondholders

So who gets the shaft you ask?

100% Workers
100% Tax-payers
100% Investors
100% Consumers

Workers will lose their jobs, and the ones who remain will see their wages and benefits slashed. The consumer who already owns a GM product will find less suppliers, little recourse for defective vehicles, and ultimately limited choices on what type of vehicle will be available for purchase in the future. The investor who owns stock will get no recovery from the new-entity asset sale.

Premier Obama and his auto-task force have screwed over the American people so that the government can own a car company that will build cars no one really wants.

We have seen this before...

Veni, Sancte Spiritus

2009-05-31T09:36:00.003-04:00

DUCCIO di Buoninsegna
Pentecost
1308-11
Tempera on wood, 37,5 x 42,5 cm
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and kindle in them the fire of Thy love.

Rematch! Pens vs Wings

2009-05-30T15:37:00.003-04:00

Will the Stanley Cup join the Lombardi Trophy in the Steel City, or will it remain in the Motor City for another year? It should be a lot of finding out!

Murtha Knoes Nothing

2009-05-29T19:41:00.004-04:00

A testy Jack Murtha bristles at the questions about investigations of defense contractors he has funneled money to over the years, and they in turn have funneled into his campaign.

"Wait a minute. What do you think, I oversee these companies? That's the Defense Department's job. That's not my job. You guys write these stories [but] you don't have a clue what this is all about."

Maybe that is why people are investigating and asking question Jack, to find out what role you play with these companies, as well as their role in your campaign.

Kmiec Comedy Continues

2009-05-27T19:46:00.003-04:00

Douglass Kmiec has taken a brief break from excusing the pro-abortion policies of Obama administration to try and weaken marriage and banish it to the wilderness. I suspect Kmiec is just trying to provide more cover for Obama since he is coming under some fire from the political left for remaining silent of the issue of 'gay marriage'. After all, Kmiec has twisted his mind and soul into pretzels supporting Obama thus far, so the last thing he needs is Obama taking friendly fire from the Left.

Catholic Obama Campaign Adviser Wants to Replace All Legal ‘Marriages’ with ‘Civil Licenses'

“As awkward as it may be, I think the way to untie the state from this problem is to create a new terminology that they would apply to everyone--straight or gay-call it a ‘civil license. The net effect of that, would be to turn over--quite appropriately, it seems to me, the concept of marriage to churches and a church understanding,”

Fortunately for me, for the sake of brevity, Professor Robert George annihilates Kmeics nonsense:

“That is a terrible idea. The idea that the state would abandon its concern for the institution of marriage, that it would treat marriage as a purely religious matter, is I think a very bad one.”

Marriage is more than merely a religious institution. It’s not like baptisms and bar mitzvahs. It has profound social significance, public significance; it’s a pre-political institution. It exists even apart from religion, even apart from polities. It’s the coming together of a husband and wife, creating the institution of family in which children are nurtured.”

Kmiec's desire to apologize for Obama in all things is getting ridiculous. He has now basically said the universal objective essence of marriage is something we can ignore or brush aside. This will lead to the further deconstruction of marriage, just as his support for Obama has led to the deconstruction of the universal objective essence of the right to life.

So Sotomayor Saved Baseball

2009-05-26T18:54:00.003-04:00

During his media event in which he tabbed Judge Sonia Sotomayor as his nominee to fill the soon vacant seat on the Supreme Court, Premier Obama had this to say:

"During her tenure on the district court, she presided over
roughly 450 cases. One case in particular involved a matter of
enormous concerns to many Americans, including me, the baseball strike
of 1994-'95. In a decision that reportedly took her just 15 minutes
to announce, a swiftness much appreciated by baseball fans everywhere,
she issued an injunction that helped end the strike. Some say that
Judge Sotomayor saved baseball."

The story over at Time.com goes on to explain this statement a bit as an "exaggeration", and sheds more light on the subject. Her decision was ultimately one that favored the player's union.

So what did she save exactly by strengthening the labor union? Well she saved a system in which many players were free to use performance enhancing drugs (notably steroids) . By using these drugs, these players of the union produced unnatural statistics which they then in turn would use to secure larger contracts. Ownership in turn passed this added labor cost onto the fan attending a game in the ball park. The increasing need for new revenue streams also was an argument used for the building of new stadia, often times with funds taken from existing tax revenues or the implementation of new taxation. These unnatural statistics also deprived the fan of an honest and fair game, as well as creating a lack of continuity with the history of the sport. One may even look further and find that amateurs and minor league players would sense added pressure to use performance enhancing drugs to increase their opportunities to one day work for the union playing Major League Baseball.

Increased costs and taxes on the common man...Unnecessary building projects...Strengthened labor union...Misleading performances...Forced acceptance of unfair results...The ripping and tearing of history and continuity...

This sounds like how Obama wants to 'save' America.

Memorial Day

2009-05-25T09:37:00.006-04:00

Today is the day we put aside to remember fallen heroes and to pray that no heroes will ever have to die for us again. It's a day of thanks for the valor of others, a day to remember the splendor of America and those of her children who rest in this cemetery and others. It's a day to be with the family and remember.

I was thinking this morning that across the country children and their parents will be going to the town parade and the young ones will sit on the sidewalks and wave their flags as the band goes by. Later, maybe, they'll have a cookout or a day at the beach. And that's good, because today is a day to be with the family and to remember.

Ronald Reagan,
Memorial Day address at Arlington National Cemetery, 1986

Saint Bede the Venerable

2009-05-25T08:56:00.007-04:00

Today is the feast day of Saint Bede (~673-735), a Benedictine monk from Jarrow, Northumbria who was named a Doctor of the Church. St Bede's learning and writings were unrivaled in his time, and Christianity and the English people owe to him a great gratitude for his work.

Moreover, I beseech all men who shall hear or read this history of our nation, that for my manifold infirmities both of mind and body, they will offer up frequent supplications to the throne of Grace. And I further pray, that in recompense for the labour wherewith I have recorded in the several countries and cities those events which were most worthy of note, and most grateful to the ears of their inhabitants, I may for my reward have the benefit of their pious prayers.

(from his preface to his Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation.)

3 Hours!!!

2009-05-20T18:58:00.001-04:00

Ebensburg to Aliquippa this afternoon...ugh!

Construction and traffic crushed me.

Haranguing Imbecile Hurls Her Verbal Feces

2009-05-18T13:32:00.003-04:00

In Graduation Talk, Trinity Washington President Decries 'Religious Vigilantism'

Trinity President Patricia McGuire had some idiotic comments to yelp to her school's brain numbed peons who lapped up her spew with a round of applause.

"The real scandal at Notre Dame today is not that the president of the United States is speaking at commencement," McGuire said. "The real scandal is the misappropriation of sacred teachings for political ends. The real scandal is the spectacle of ostensibly Catholic mobs camping out at Notre Dame for the specific purpose of disrupting the commencement address of the nation's first African American president. This ugly spectacle is an embarrassment to all Catholics. The face that Catholicism shows to our new president should be one marked with the sign of peace, not distorted in the snarl of hatred."

"The religious vigilantism apparent in the Notre Dame controversy arises from organizations that have no official standing with the church, but who are successful in gaining media coverage as if they were speaking for Catholicism. . . . They have established themselves as uber-guardians of a belief system we can hardly recognize. Theirs is a narrow faith devoted almost exclusively to one issue. They defend the rights of the unborn but have no charity toward the living. They mock social justice as a liberal mythology."

No charity toward the living? How dare she vomit forth such lies. In case she has not noticed, devoted church-goers and conservatives give more in charity than their secular and liberal counterparts. She is the one who so wrapped in her own myth that political liberalism somehow equates with Christian charity that her mind has become diseased. So diseased in fact that she is willing to tolerate, defend, and support intrinsic evils such as abortion, embryonic stem cell destruction, and human cloning, just as long as she can pull the blanket of liberal social giving over her head every night.

If she does not recognize the Catholic belief system that abortion is an intrinsic evil, then she is embarrassingly ignorant of Catholic teaching or else simply does not accept the truth of Catholic teaching. It is also comical that as a president of a university she does not understand the meaning of the word vigilantism. None of the protesters at Notre Dame were taking the law into their own hands or acting in a violent manner without proper recourse. It was Notre Dame who violated the 'law' and went outside the proper procedures of the American Bishops by honoring Obama. If McGuire could control her emotions and biases for a moment and stop and think, she might not make such a fool of herself.

This is what the Fr Jenkins and Patricia McGuires of the Catholic univeristy world have achieved...

When hecklers interrupted Obama's speech yesterday with shouts of "stop killing babies," and "abortion is murder," the crowd drowned out these pleas of mercy with a chorus of "Yes We Can". Yes we can kill the helpless and innocent, yes we can kill the sick the elderly, yes we can, yes we can...

This is not Catholic education...this is not education at all...this is grotesque ignorance and it is diabolical!

The Soul and Mind of Notre Dame

2009-05-17T18:45:00.002-04:00

As opposed to the carcass and ignorance on display at the Obama ceremony.

Bishop D’Arcy speaks at Notre Dame

Although he had initially planned to stay away from campus today as President Barack Obama was honored at Notre Dame, Bishop John D’Arcy of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana changed his mind and spoke at a campus pro-life rally.

"John D'Arcy's not important, but the office of bishop if very important and it must always be like Pope John Paul II to stand up for life all the time, everywhere without exception."

Notre Dame History Professor speaks at campus rally, praises hard work of students

"These folk built Notre Dame into a distinctive place that nurtured its students’ religious and moral development, as well as their intellectual lives. Notre Dame challenged them to serve God and neighbor. And, as it did so, it proudly proclaimed its Catholic identity and its loyal membership in a Church that was and is unafraid to speak of moral truths and foundational principles and beliefs," the priest continued.

"Now friends, jump ahead to today. The formal leadership of the University still proclaims its fidelity to this vision," Miscamble said, however, "The words have not been matched by deeds. Instead of fostering the moral development of its students Notre Dame’s leaders have planted the damaging seeds of moral confusion."

Since I posted the statement from Bishop Trautman of Erie earlier today (see previous post), I would also like to link to the statements of the other three bishops here in Western Pennsylvania to show their unity in condemnation of ND's error.

Bishop David Zubik, Pittsburgh

Bishop Joseph Adamec, Altoona-Johnstown (pdf)

Bishop Lawrence Brandt, Greensburg

Notre Dame bears the blame for their shame.

2009-05-17T10:07:00.003-04:00

The university that bears the name "Our Lady" today makes it official that 'Their Ego' is more important than the respect due to the Mother of God who must see her name soiled by the honoring of this pro-abortion president. By honoring President Obama today ND has violated the teaching and will of the Bishops of the United States, caused divisions among the Catholic faithful, created scandal within the Church, and glossed over the intrinsically evil policies on abortion that Obama has already put in place. Their decision to arrest pro-life people who have come to protest their ugly decision, and their threats to cut media feeds of those networks showing any protests, only furthers shows that ND is not about dialogue or Truth.

Here is Bishop Trautman's recent press release which sums things up nicely.

TO: Media Outlets
FROM: Most Reverend Donald W. Trautman, STD, SSL, Bishop of Erie
RE: Notre Dame University’s Invitation to President Obama
DATE: May 12, 2009

ERIE, Pa. – The Golden Dome of Notre Dame, the long revered symbol of a Catholic university,
will be disgraced and dishonored on this coming May 17th, the commencement day of the
university. On that day the leaders of the university are giving a platform and honorary degree to an individual who is a relentless advocate of unrestricted abortion: President Obama. On his
fourth day in the White House he approved federal funding to perform private abortions in other
countries (the overturning of the Mexico City Policy). He restored to the United Nations
Population Fund monies to support abortions, while opposing federal funding for pro-life
pregnancy help centers. He authorized funding to conduct human embryonic stem cell research.
In the words of Mary Ann Glendon, professor of law at Harvard University who turned down
the prestigious Laetare Medal from Notre Dame University, President Obama is “an
uncompromising opponent of the Church’s position on issues involving fundamental principles
of justice.” May 17th will mark not just a bad decision by university officials, it will mark a day
of shame and blemish for the Catholic record and reputation of Notre Dame University. Its
relationship to the Catholic hierarchy and to the fundamental principles of the Church has been
fractured and will take new leadership to rebuild.

Many loyal alumni, students, and faculty will continually pray the rosary in reparation at the
Notre Dame Grotto during the graduation. They will give witness of what the real Notre Dame is
all about. What should be a day of joyous celebration for graduates and their families will be a
day of shame and dilemma as the university leadership moves away from its rich Catholic
tradition. Now must begin the work of bringing new luster to the Golden Dome. Now is the time for recommitment to being once again a great Catholic university.

Most holy Virgin and Mother, whose soul was pierced by a sword of sorrow in the Passion of thy divine Son, and who in His glorious Resurrection wast filled with never-ending joy at His triumph; obtain for us who call upon thee, so to be partakers in the adversities of Holy Church and the sorrows of the Sovereign Pontiff, as to be found worthy to rejoice with them in the consolation for which we pray, in the charity and peace of the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

If Only Teachers Could Marry...

2009-05-16T13:10:00.003-04:00

Remember the 'battle cry' of some during the Church sex-abuse scandal that if only priests could get married the abuse may never have had to happen? (Of course for one thing this always ignored the fact that the sex-abuse was over 80% same sex.) Well last time I checked there was no prohibition in the public schools against teachers getting married and having families, and yet sexual abuse of minors is far too rampant in this setting as the LA Times shows:

Accused of sexual abuse, but back in the classroom

In brief, teachers accused of molesting students were often moved to different schools without any knowledge of their past questionable antics being imparted to the new campus.

Sound vaguely familiar? Well you are lucky to even hear the story at all. Even though the main stream media went into uncontrolled spasms over the sex abuse in the Catholic church, it has utterly failed to track down and expose the sex-abuse going on in public school systems throughout the country.

Newsbusters makes note of this:

In the last several years, media outlets have endlessly ripped and tarred the Catholic Church for mishandling episodes from decades ago. Meanwhile, these episodes in LAUSD are all quite recent. One documented case dates back to just last year!

Where's the outrage from the rest of the media?

Where indeed! What this shows is that there was indeed a media bias, fueled by anti-Catholic bigotry, in the manner in which the sex-abuse scandal within the Church was portrayed. You see, the media and the anti-Catholic bigots did not necessarily care about the harm done to the children molested by priests, but rather cared mainly about the harm they could do to the Church. Exposing the sex-abuse in public school would cause far too much damage to these secularist institutions they use to indoctrinate children, so the story must be muted regardless of the welfare of children.

Murtha versus Russell

2009-05-14T11:12:00.003-04:00

Challenger: Congressman Murtha's aide made threats

William Russell, who will once again challenge Jack Murtha for PA's 12the District's seat in Congress, has made it known that an aide to Murtha threatened him with a forced recall to active service in order to have him face court martial for allegedly campaigning while he was on active duty.

Given that Murtha was willing to call Marines in Iraq cold-blooded killers and assume them guilty before they had a trail just so that he may might curry favor with radical leftists who may drop a coin or two into his campaign coffers; an overt threat such as the one Russell claims in order to scare or smear a political challenger is very believable.

It is worth getting this out in the open as much as possible because shining light on such potential abuses of power makes it less likely they will be attempted.

Murtha's Airport gets 'stimulated'.

2009-05-12T19:22:00.003-04:00

FAA Approves Plan to Give Stimulus Funds to Airport Named After Murtha

$800,000 of 'stimulus' money has been approved to repave the alternate runway at the Jackass Murtha Airport. Murtha has previously siphoned off $150 million in federal funds for the barely used (six flights a day) airport.

Murtha directed the Pentagon to give the airport a new, $8 million, state-of-the-art radar tower that has not been used since it was built in 2004, and $30 million for a new runway and tarmac so the airport could handle large military planes and become an emergency military base in case of crisis.

Palestinian Shiek insults Pope, Benedict walks out.

2009-05-11T19:45:00.006-04:00

**UPDATE** Here is a link to Jimmy Akin's take on this situation from his blog JimmyAkin.org.

An event on interfaith dialogue with Pope Benedict XVI at the Notre Dame Pontifical Institute in Jerusalem was hijacked by Sheikh Tayseer Tamimi, chief Islamic judge in the Palestinian Authority, who went on an anti-Israeli rant for over ten minutes.

Sheikh attacks Israel, pope walks out

Following the diatribe and before the meeting was officially over, the pope exited the premises. However, he shook Tamimi's hand before walking out.

The pope, speaking before Tamimi, discussed the importance of religion and truth for the advancement of humanity's mutual understanding.

He was visibly uncomfortable with the tone of Tamimi's discourse. Even those who did not understand his Arabic quickly understood that the Muslim cleric was giving a militant speech.

Several attempts were made by Latin Patriarch in the Holy Land Fouad Twal, a Palestinian, to politely stop Tamimi. But Tamimi would not be deterred from reading his written speech, apparently prepared in advance without the knowledge of the organizers.

It is a clear insult to Pope Benedict to usurp this religious event with a militant, political speech.

Lt Col Jeffrey Chessani Update

2009-05-11T09:33:00.003-04:00

Government Decides Not to Appeal Further in LtCol Chessani Case; Decision to Re-Charge Still Pending

ANN ARBOR, MI – A government official has informed the Thomas More Law Center that the government will not seek to appeal the recent unanimous decision by the Navy Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals (NMCCA) in favor of LtCol Jeffrey Chessani, USMC. The decision makes permanent the ruling by the trial court judge, Colonel Steven A. Folsom, USMC, dismissing the charges against LtCol Chessani – without prejudice – due to Unlawful Command Influence.

This 'witch hunt' against our Marines needs to stop once and for all. It is due only to the political grandstanding of John Murtha who ignorantly and falsely accused these Marines of killing civilians in cold blood. Murtha's delusions, fueled by his inane desire to be loved by the far left anti-American deranged Bush haters, smeared good men and pulled effective combat soldiers out of battle potentially endangering the operation in Iraq.

Murtha needs to stick to enriching his family members with Pentagon dollars without competitive bidding. Sucking off tax payer dollars for his own personal glorification is at least (unfortunately) something at which he excels.

Star Trek

2009-05-10T20:52:00.004-04:00

This afternoon I did something very rare for Mr Sammo, I went to see a movie in a theater. I was drawn out to see the new Star Trek movie, which is what people like to call a 'reboot' of an original concept.

The audience gets the opportunity to witness the very beginning of the famous crew of the Starship Enterprise. Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Uhura, Chekov, Sulu, and Scotty are all introduced and seem quite familiar to the viewer who knows about their futures; and yet they are fresh faces eager to strike out and make names for themselves in a future that is not as written in stone as one might think.

The movie shines in the interaction of these main crew members and how they work with each other as actors and as the character they play. Pittsburgh native Zachary Quinto is excellent as Mr Spock as he battles with his emotions to a near breaking point. Chris Pine as James T. Kirk is able to muster up the cockiness and recklessness that one would expect a young Kirk to show. Karl Urban's portrayal of Dr. "Bones" McCoy also deserves mention as his fast friendship with Kirk, and clashes with Spock provide for some good humor.

The plot of the movie is, however, a bit dull. An angry time-traveling Romulan with a personal grudge against the Federation sets out to create havoc and destruction and must be stopped. Fortunately there are plenty of special effects and action to keep one interested in what is happening on the screen. It also provides for a true 'reboot' of the Star Trek universe. Things are very much the same after the conclusion, but things are also very much different.

I look forward to seeing more Star Trek movies with this cast and their undiscovered futures.

Of interest, Steven D. Greydanus has his review up at Decent Films Guides.

Arlen Specter, Colossal Jag-off

2009-05-04T14:41:00.003-04:00

Senator Benedict Arlen this weekend continued his megalomaniac mental machinations in an effort to befuddle the witless who he will need to vote for him if he is to retain his throne on Capitol Hill.

Specter Claims Kemp Would Be Alive if Congress Better Funded Medical Research

Frankly, I was disappointed that the Republican Party didn't want me as their candidate. But as a matter of principle, I'm becoming much more comfortable with the Democrats' approach and one of the items that I'm working on ... is funding for medical research. I've been the spear carrier to increase medical research."

If we had pursued what President Nixon declared in 1970 as the war on cancer, we would have cured many strains. I think Jack Kemp would be alive today. And that research has saved or prolonged many lives, including mine.

So Specter thinks that Republicans not funding research is what killed Jack Kemp. And yet Specter also thinks that research has saved or prolonged many lives (just not Kemp's .) One does wonder how he blames Republicans for a lack of research spending when Republican W. Bush spent about $2 billion more a year on cancer research than Democrat Bill Clinton did. I guess the money Democrats spend on research is the money that saves lives, whereas the extra money Republicans spend on research kills people. This is lunacy!

Oh, and way to exploit a person's death for your own personal gain you jackass.

The Obama Media

2009-05-04T10:24:00.003-04:00

The sycophant propagandists of the Obama media laid bare for all to see...

From the Pew Research Center:
How the President Fared In the Press vs. Clinton and Bush

Overall, roughly four out of ten stories, editorials and op ed columns about Obama have been clearly positive in tone, compared with 22% for Bush and 27% for Clinton in the same mix of seven national media outlets during the same first two months in office,

The study found positive stories about Obama have outweighed negative by two-to-one (42% vs. 20%) while 38% of stories have been neutral or mixed.

Center for Media and Public Affairs and Chapman University
Boosting Obama

the nightly newscasts devoting nearly 28 hours to Obama's presidency in the first 50 days. (Bush, by contrast, got nearly eight hours.) Fifty-eight percent of the Obama evaluations were positive on the ABC, CBS and NBC broadcasts, compared with 33 percent positive in the comparable period of Bush's tenure and 44 percent positive for Clinton.

from the Media Research Center
The Media and Obama: 100 Days and Still Madly in Love

None of the three broadcast network aired a single story focused on whether President Obama’s economic policies were driving the U.S. towards European-style socialism. Not a single network news reporter used the term “socialist” to describe how Obama’s policies are shifting economic authority to the federal government, away from the free market. On only four occasions was the word “socialist” used on-camera at all – all by outside sources, once by a random man-on-the-street.

Amazingly, network reporters never called Obama or his agenda even “liberal.” NBC and CBS never used the word, and ABC only aired the term twice, citing Republicans using the word “liberal” to describe Obama’s policies.

On three of Obama’s major economic policies and plans - his banking bailout, his auto bailout and his plans for universal health care - the networks never had a single sound bite from a conservative or a free market expert.

What you hear and see in the majority of the media is nothing but Obama apologetics from a group of dullards who wish to push their own political agenda, and see in Obama a 'glorious leader' to make all their emotional and selfish policies come true. The funniest, and by that I mean most unreasonable, comments I ever hear are those of liberals who throw hissy fits about FOX News and talk radio being so biased for conservative ideology, and yet they can not see the overwhelming liberal-socialist bias in the vast majority of media outlets. Conservatives, of course, have no problem with the liberal media's bias simply wishing to allow the free market to weed out those radical views, and to provide for alternative means of free speech. Liberals, however, desire to destroy or ridicule any opinion or thought that is in opposition to that which they hold.

Jack Kemp has passed away.

2009-05-03T09:38:00.002-04:00

Former NFL quarterback (one time member of the Pittsburgh Steelers), Congressman, Cabinet Member, and Vice-President candidate, Jack Kemp has died of cancer at the age of 73. Jack Kemp

It is a shame that Ronald Reagan chose George H. Bush as his running mate instead of Kemp back in 1980, because eight years of a Kemp presidency from '88-'96 would have served this country very well and likely kept us out of the Clinton, W. Bush, Obama pit of despair in which we wallow. As it was, however, Kemp's presidential campaigns never gained any traction.

Kemp was true leader, and thinker, and an innovator. His championing of supply-side economics, free markets, enterprise zones for inner cities, pro-life views, and his "bleeding heart conservatism", was truly what main-stream American needed to survive. Unfortunately we instead have been given the inevitable march toward big government totalitarian socialism.

Rest in peace Jack...

Senator Judas Casey

2009-05-01T19:52:00.004-04:00

And now a little something about the other Senator from PA, Bob "Milquetoast" Casey

Scranton bishop threatens to deny sacrament to Casey

For the first time publicly, Diocese of Scranton Bishop Joseph F. Martino made it clear Wednesday that he might eventually bar U.S. Sen. Bob Casey from receiving communion if the senator doesn’t follow his advice on opposing abortion.

The bishop also said the senator should now think twice about receiving communion after voting Tuesday to confirm an abortion rights supporter, former Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, as Health and Human Services secretary

It is pathetic that this child Casey became Senator because of the reputation of his father Governor Robert Casey, the great pro-life champion, and has sacrificed those beliefs and principals in order to advance up the Democrat party ladder. The child Casey has succeeded in ensuring the legacy of father is dead in the Democrat Party.

Senator Benedict Arlen

2009-04-28T20:07:00.005-04:00

Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter has decided to switch party affiliation from Republican to Democrat in an effort to retain his seat on Capitol Hill. Snarlin' Arlen faced certain defeat in the PA Republican primary mainly due to his 'traitorous' support of Premier Obama's pork laden 'stimulus' bill.

Specter's statement: "Not defined" by party

What Specter is defined by is Washington, DC big government and leftist modernism ideology. The Republican Party has not moved to the "far right" as he says in his statement, but rather they have just moved more slowly to the socialist left than the Democrats. Specter's Party switch is all about making it back to DC where he can fiddle while capitalist democrat America burns under the heat of Obama and Democrat national socialism.

Specter is for crushing America under a mountain of debt as much as he is for crushing a baby's skull under the guise of choice. He will fit nicely with the Democrats.

Pennsylvania has a chance at redemption...Peg Luksik for Senate

White House Causes Terror Scare in NYC

2009-04-27T20:03:00.002-04:00

Obama Plane Photo Op Startles New Yorkers

The White House apparently is not 'in touch' with the sensitivities of the average New Yorker. The fear caused by the Obama White House is secondary in my opinion to the grotesque waste of fossil fuels and unnecessary increase in emissions that lead to global warming. Ha, Ha...

Mary Ann Glendon rejects ND's Laetare Medal

2009-04-27T10:43:00.004-04:00

***UPDATE*** Notre Dame's President Father John Jenkins has this to say about Glendon refusing this years medal:

“We are, of course, disappointed that Professor Glendon has made this decision. It is our intention to award the Laetare Medal to another deserving recipient, and we will make that announcement as soon as possible.”

It will be interesting to see who in their right Catholic mind will willingly accept the award from Fr Jenkins knowing that they were not the original choice, knowing that ND tried to use Glendon as cover for their unacceptable honoring of Obama, and knowing that this year's award is tainted by the ill-conceived obstinacy of Fr Jenkins and the Culture of Death policies of Obama.

-------

Wow! In a stunning development regarding the despicable decision by the University of Notre Dame to honor Premier Obama at this year's commencement, Mary Ann Glendon has decided to refuse Notre Dame's Laetare Medal.

Declining Notre Dame: A Letter from Mary Ann Glendon

...A commencement, however, is supposed to be a joyous day for the graduates and their families. It is not the right place, nor is a brief acceptance speech the right vehicle, for engagement with the very serious problems raised by Notre Dame’s decision—in disregard of the settled position of the U.S. bishops—to honor a prominent and uncompromising opponent of the Church’s position on issues involving fundamental principles of justice.

Finally, with recent news reports that other Catholic schools are similarly choosing to disregard the bishops’ guidelines, I am concerned that Notre Dame’s example could have an unfortunate ripple effect.

It is with great sadness, therefore, that I have concluded that I cannot accept the Laetare Medal or participate in the May 17 graduation ceremony.

In order to avoid the inevitable speculation about the reasons for my decision, I will release this letter to the press, but I do not plan to make any further comment on the matter at this time.

Yours Very Truly,

Mary Ann Glendon

What a tremendous virtuous decision by Ambassador Glendon to refuse to partake in the folly of Notre Dame's ill-fated decision regarding honoring Obama. Notre Dame's attempt to use her to try and obfuscate their errors in judgement and faith is laid bare for all to see. Notre Dame has chased away their own bishop, and now they have chased away their own choice as Laetare Medal honoree. If they will not revoke the invitation and honor to Obama and repent, then they have abandoned the Catholic Church.

Gettin Ziggy wit it

2009-04-26T22:00:00.003-04:00

The Super Bowl champion Steelers drafted Evander "Ziggy" Hood with the 32nd pick in this year's NFL draft.

The Steelers managed to secure four of the top one hundred picks in this draft thanks to a trade involving their second round pick. The second player they chose was Wisconsin guard KraigUrbik, who is a player I liked a lot in the third round. Hood will definitely work his way into the defensive line rotation this season, and I think Urbik can challenge Stapleton at right guard.

With their third pick the Steelers took wide receiver Mike Wallace out of Mississippi. I admit that I know very little about him, but he appears to have kickoff return skills, averaging over 23 yards per return over his junior and senior seasons. With the ninety sixth pick they grabbed corner back Keenan Lewis of Oregon State.

The picks...

32. Evander Hood, DE/DT, Missouri -- Fills a need of starting to find replacements for an aging defensive line.
79. Kraig Urbik, G, Wisconsin -- Big mauler type who hopefully can improve the power run game.
84. Mike Wallace, WR, Ole Miss -- Could help immeadiately with kickoff returns.
96. Keenan Lewis, CB, Oregon State -- Play-making ability with good size.
168. Joe Burnett, CB, Central Florida -- Another defensive back play-maker, could also be a factor as a return specialist.
169. Frank Summers, RB, UNLV -- Behemouth of a back who could the answer in short yardage situations.
205. Ra'Shon Harris, DE/DT, Oregon -- some guy, I would surprised if he contributed.
226. A.Q. Shipley, C, Penn State -- From Moon Township and Penn Stater. It would be a nice story if he can ultimately become the starting center for the Steelers at some point.
241. David Johnson, TE, Arkansas State -- some guy, I'm not sure what purpose he serves.

So it appears the Steelers addressed their needs in this draft on paper, but we will obviously have to wait until we see these guys in training camp and on the field to know if they will actually improve the team or not.

Off for the Weekend

2009-04-25T05:20:00.001-04:00

Mr Sammo is traveling back in time this weekend to his old hometown for a fund raising gala at his high school, so there will be no posting. I will also be celebrating the second birthday of my godson who turned two years old this past Thursday. Happy Birthday G!

9-6

2009-04-23T16:47:00.002-04:00

Sweep gives Bucs rare fast start

The Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball Club is off to a winning start this season, and since they have not had a winning season since 1992, I thought that it deserved a little notice.

Yep, It is politics over national security.

2009-04-21T19:57:00.004-04:00

***UPDATE*** More Proof it was all about Politics: Banned Techniques Yielded ‘High Value Information,’ Memo Says

President Obama’s national intelligence director (Admiral Dennis Blair) told colleagues in a private memo last week that the harsh interrogation techniques banned by the White House did produce significant information that helped the nation in its struggle with terrorists.

Admiral Blair’s assessment that the interrogation methods did produce important information was deleted from a condensed version of his memo released to the media last Thursday. Also deleted was a line in which he empathized with his predecessors who originally approved some of the harsh tactics after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

The Obama administration is full of bull shit (excuse my language) to suggest that they are 'exposing' these techniques to 'uphold the values' of the country, when they support such things as partial-birth abortion, abortion on-demand, and embryonic stem cell (farming) research.

So much for defending the United States of America from her enemies, it is all about consolidating political power.

----------------------------------------

So much for Premier Obama 'pragmatism' regarding national security.

First he releases the enhanced interrogation documents against the will of four former CIA directors, allowing enemies better information on how to train to resist such techniques.

Next, he uses these documents in an effort to politically smear the Bush administration, but does not release those documents that show the techniques provided information that saved American lives.

Then, after former VP Dick Chaney called him on this, the Obama administration attempted to deny that Chaney ever asked for these documents relating to successes of the techniques to be released. However, they got caught in their deception, and Chaney was indeed telling the truth.

And so in the end, Premier Obama is doing nothing here but playing politics, playing to the irrational hatred of the anti-Bush crowd at home and abroad. He does not care whether or not these techniques were torture, he does not care if these techniques worked or not, and he does not care if these techniques saved American lives in the past or potentially in the future.

Chaney Challenges Obama

2009-04-20T20:52:00.003-04:00

Drudge is reporting that former Vice President Dick Chaney is calling for Premier Obama to declassify "additional memos that confirm the success of the Bush administration’s interrogation tactics."

“One of the things that I find a little bit disturbing about this recent disclosure is they put out the legal memos, the memos that the CIA got from the Office of Legal Counsel, but they didn't put out the memos that showed the success of the effort. And there are reports that show specifically what we gained as a result of this activity. They have not been declassified.”

“I formally asked that they be declassified now. I haven't announced this up until now, I haven't talked about it, but I know specifically of reports that I read, that I saw that lay out what we learned through the interrogation process and what the consequences were for the country.”

“And I've now formally asked the CIA to take steps to declassify those memos so we can lay them out there and the American people have a chance to see what we obtained and what we learned and how good the intelligence was, as well as to see this debate over the legal opinions.”

This is an excellent point by Chaney. Obama has described himself as a pragmatist, talking about how his national security team shares "my pragmatism about the use of power", and not "get bottled up in a lot of ideology and 'Is this conservative or liberal?' My interest is finding something that works."

So is it not now incumbent of Obama to allow the America people see the results of the interrogations, to see if they were something that works? If Obama will not do this then clearly his point in releasing the memos he did was simply political, an effort to get the Bush haters frothing at the mouth yet again.

Obama does not have a problem with the potential farming of human embryos for destruction in scientific research, and he does not have a problem with the brutal killings of pre-born babies, so why would anyone really think he has a problem with torture? I say his comments and actions are nothing but politics. Since Obama wants pragmatism, since he wants an America of moral relativism, then he should give Americans all the information on these interrogations so that they can decide whether or not it is "something that works."

Internet Tax on the Horizon

2009-04-20T12:26:00.005-04:00

The New York Post is reporting that a bill will be introduced in Congress that will require on-line retailers such as Amazon and Overstock to start collecting state sales taxes from purchasers.

I suppose when Premier Obama signs this into law he will say he is not actually raising taxes on those earning less $250,000 a year, he is just making damn sure that he bleeds you out of every penny of taxes you should already be paying.

I wonder if Omamaniacs actually believe that the doubling of the federal cigarette tax also does not count as raising taxes on people making less than $250,000?

Just wait until his energy policies start to come into play...suckers...

Feast of Divine Mercy

2009-04-19T09:21:00.004-04:00

Jesus is commanding me to make a novena before the feast of Mercy, and today I am to begin it for the conversion of the whole world and for the recognition of The Divine Mercy...so that every soul will praise My Goodness. I desire trust from My creatures. Encourage souls to place great trust in My fathomless mercy. Let the weak, sinful soul have no fear to approach Me, for even if it had more sins than there are grains of sand in the world, all would be drowned in the unmeasurable depths of My mercy.
-from the diary of Saint Faustina Kowalska

Marians of the Immaculate Conception: DivineMercy.org

Nanny Pelosi Sinks to New Depths

2009-04-17T20:50:00.004-04:00

Pelosi rebuts critics of stem cell research

By 'rebut' one means vomits forth delusions and deceptions.

...under the Bush administration we've had a situation where it's faith or science - take your pick.

She is quickly out of the gate playing to the biases of the hate-Bush, hate-religion, crowd with an asinine statement playing to their prejudices.

It will take us to a place where we will have personalized, customized care... it will address disparities in health care that exist. And we need science, science, science, science, science in order to do that. So I'm standing my ground.

I would prefer "science, ethics, reason, humanity, compassion"...but I am sure those who just want "science, science, science, science, science" really are the ones who have a firm grasp on what is best for health care. /sarcasm

We're saying science is an answer to our prayers

It makes me wonder to whom this 'catholic grandmother' is praying to get the 'answer' that the cheapening and destruction of human life is a good thing? I am sure is not the Holy Trinity.

PONTIFICAL ACADEMY FOR LIFE: DECLARATION ON THE PRODUCTION AND THE SCIENTIFIC AND THERAPEUTIC USE OF HUMAN EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS

PA GOP race gets crowded.

2009-04-15T11:27:00.005-04:00

Pat Toomey has announced he will challenge incumbent Arlen Specter for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in the 2010 election. Toomey announces GOP senate bid

Peg Luksik, my personal choice, previously launched a campaign to challenge for the nomination.

Of course the big problem here is that Toomey and Luksik will potentially 'steal' conservative votes from each other allowing Specter to eek out a primary victory.

ND's Father Jenkins plays the Fool

2009-04-14T19:34:00.001-04:00

In case one missed it, Notre Dame's President Father John Jenkins attempted to justify his decisions to have Obama speak at commencement and to grant him a honorary degree. In short, Fr Jenkins is claiming that since Obama is not Catholic, he can not act in defiance of Catholic teaching, and therefore the Bishops have not prohibited ND from honoring him.

Why is Notre Dame, or any other Catholic institution, so eager to honor those who mock the Lord, His Church, and His teachings that they will grasp at any excuse or loophole they can think up. Why not simply defend the Truth?

I will turn this over to Canon lawyer Ed Peters who skillfully destroys Fr Jenkins absurdity. Fr. Jenkins discovers canon law. Not.

Is the man serious?

Does Jenkins really think that Catholic bishops would countenance a Catholic institution honoring a philanthropic murderer, or a free-speech crusading pornographer, or a right-to-privacy pimp, provided merely that the awardee was not a Catholic? Really, that's too bizarre for words.

Tony Blair urges God to 're-think' His creation.

2009-04-13T13:56:00.002-04:00

You see God is old, like at least as old as that meanie Pope Benedict. God is a 'fuddy duddy' stuck in a generational bias of fear. Sacred Scripture? The Holy Catholic Church? The Communion of Saints? Reason? Natural Law?...all colossal failures by God who clearly just got boozed up one night and created all these things with out really paying attention or thinking it all through.

Fortunately, today there are high-minded liberals like convert Tony Blair who posses the evolving attitudes necessary to show us all the errors of God's past. Blair speaks.

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T08:09:00.005-04:00

ANGELICO, Fra

Resurrection of Christ and Women at the Tomb

1440-41Fresco, 189 x 164 cm

Convento di San Marco, Florence

Resurrexit sicut dixit, Allelluia

Good Friday

2009-04-10T09:05:00.003-04:00

BURGKMAIR, Hans
Crucifix with Mary, Mary Magdalen and St John the Evangelist
1519

O my people, what have I done unto thee? I exalted thee with great power, and thou didst hang me on the gibbet of the Cross; I made thee higher than all nations, and thou hast loaded me with reproaches and curses; I opened before thee the Red Sea, and thou hast opened my side with a spear. What could I have done for thee, that I have not done?

2009-04-08T20:23:00.001-04:00

I am sorry for the blogging slow down the past couple of days, but I have been a tad busy and just have not had the chance to write much.

L'Aquila Earthquake

2009-04-06T19:27:00.003-04:00

A terrible natural disaster struck Italy last night, as an earthquake caused severe damage and loss of life in and around the town of L'Aquilla.

Some 5,000 rescuers are picking through rubble in the walled medieval city and nearby towns and villages, some of them said to have been virtually destroyed.

Tents are being put up in tennis courts and on football pitches to house some of the 30,000-40,000 homeless.

The number of people injured has been put at 1,500.

The BBC has extensive coverage for those who wish to follow the story.

Damage to the dome of the Cathedral

PAPAL TELEGRAM FOR EARTHQUAKE IN L'AQUILA

"The dramatic news of the violent earthquake which struck the territory of the archdiocese has filled the Supreme Pontiff's heart with consternation, and he charges Your Excellency to pass on the expression of his heartfelt participation in the suffering of the beloved people affected by the tragic event. Giving assurances of his fervent prayers for the victims, especially the children, His Holiness asks the Lord to bring comfort to their families and, while giving affectionate words of encouragement to the survivors and the people who in various ways are helping in the rescue operations, he sends everyone his special apostolic blessing".