Category: Uncategorized

“All I want for Christmas is a family.”

December 26, 2012 9:35 am December 26, 2012

2 min read

1995 views

The Telegraph, a UK news publication, reports that the top ten things that children put on their Christmas lists, included siblings and a dad. The number one gift children requested…

The Telegraph, a UK news publication, reports that the top ten things that children put on their Christmas lists, included siblings and a dad. The number one gift children requested was a baby brother or sister. But it’s their number ten request that speaks volumes: a dad. In my book, that’s something that a child shouldn’t have to put on a Christmas list. That should be a given, no pun intended.

And yet, the fact that a sibling and a dad ranked so high on wish-lists gives me great hope. Even though we can see many sociological indicators that suggest all is not at all well with the world, these children seem to suggest that they know it should be better, starting with their own families.

In his homily for Midnight Mass, Pope Benedict, reflecting on Mary and Joseph as they are turned away from every inn, asks, “[W]hat would happen if Mary and Joseph were to knock at my door. Would there be room for them?” He ties the situation of Mary and Joseph to our own lack of willingness to open the doors of our hearts to God, including “children, the suffering, the abandoned, those who are excluded and the poor of this world,” in whom God is reflected.

While these children may not all be writing the type of Christmas letter that the Pope wrote when he was a boy of 7, I find at least two of their requests to be profound and a hopeful indication that their hearts are very generous. And without wanting to suggest that children cast off all their lessons on stranger danger, I think they would open their doors to Mary and Joseph. They’d know a family when they saw it.

No Comments

Uncategorized

What does Sandy Hook have to do with abortion?

Pia de Solenni

December 17, 2012 11:54 am December 17, 2012

5 min read

1729 views

No Comments

On Friday, we were all shocked and stunned to hear of the massacre in Newtown, Connecticut. It was an unspeakable crime. Every time I see a headline of human tragedy,…

On Friday, we were all shocked and stunned to hear of the massacre in Newtown, Connecticut. It was an unspeakable crime.

Every time I see a headline of human tragedy, particularly involving large numbers of innocent people, I can’t help putting it in the context of abortion. There’s a noon Mass that I sometimes frequent and one of the attendees, when asked to share additional prayers for the faithful, always reminds us to pray for the 3,000 innocent, unprotected, unborn babies who will be aborted that day and to pray for their mothers. It chokes me up. These children have lives full of promise and hope before them and they are killed in their mother’s womb, what should be the safest place they will ever experience.

Ben Stein has a good piece reflecting on Friday’s tragedy. He asks a provocative question which reinforces my focus on the abortion discussion:

[Why] are these killers always men? What is it that we teach our young men in this world that makes them think it’s a mark of manliness to kill the unarmed and innocent? Whatever it is, it’s disgusting. It’s not manly to kill any unarmed human. It’s miserable, crawling cowardice.

What is it that we teach them? Mo. Teresa answered this very question in 1994 when she spoke at the National Prayer Breakfast. She stood before President Clinton and the First Lady, both outspoken supporters of abortion and she said:

But I feel that the greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion, because it is a war against the child, a direct killing of the innocent child, murder by the mother herself. And if we accept that a mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill one another?…

By abortion, the mother does not learn to love, but kills even her own child to solve her problems. And, by abortion, that father is told that he does not have to take any responsibility at all for the child he has brought into the world. The father is likely to put other women into the same trouble. So abortion just leads to more abortion. Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use any violence to get what they want. This is why the greatest destroyer of love and peace is abortion. [Full text here.]

Almost as soon as the news of the shootings broke, there were calls for increased gun control.

I suggest, instead, that we look at our broader cultural experience. Not only do we, as a nation, protect the so-called right of women to kill their unborn children; but we glorify random violence. The perpetrator of Friday’s massacre was an avid player of violent video games. Surely, his thinking had to have been shaped by countless hours spent in front of a screen where he mindlessly murdered human looking forms.

And then, there’s also the family. I’ve yet to hear of anyone involved in a killing spree like this who didn’t have some serious family dysfunction at home. Yes, having divorced parents is a form of family dysfunction. Sometimes a divorce may be necessary, but the point is that there are hundreds of thousands of children experiencing family breakdown or “incomplete families” as John Paul II put it. I’m not suggesting that we blame the family of Adam Lanza; I’m assuming they did the best they could. I am suggesting that we examine what we can do to strengthen families.

The family is a child’s first experience of reality. If the family cannot offer that foundation, the child is already at a disadvantage, especially if the child is also suffering from a mental illness. Then put the child in a world where he learns at an early age that the most innocent human beings are not protected. Add to that a steady diet of violence, particularly in video games where he himself commits the violence, and you’ve got a recipe for destruction and dysfunction that has little to do with guns. It’s about evil. And evil will use whatever means necessary to accomplish its goal.

For the record, the internet abounds with all sorts of instructions on how to wage mass destruction without guns. Are we going to call for a ban on the internet?

Abortion has created a society with multiple personality disorder. On the one hand, we proclaim that every person is created equal and has equal rights under the law, unless of course that person has not been birthed and is not wanted. However, if that person’s mother wants him, then many states will protect the right of that person to be free from harm even before birth.

We are a society that places our hope in its youth, as long as we allow them to be born, meeting some arbitrary standard.

If one doesn’t have a strong personal grounding, things can become very confusing and that’s all that evil needs to take root: confusion.

It is my hope and prayer that the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary will at least teach us to better love and protect innocent human life. However, it’s a lesson that comes at a dear, dear price.

No Comments

Uncategorized

It’s NOT the economy, [stupid].

Pia de Solenni

November 7, 2012 9:45 am November 7, 2012

2 min read

1674 views

No Comments

For several years, the conventional wisdom has been that conservatives who are Republicans should keep quiet about social issues since their positions are not mainstream enough. Instead, they have been advised to talk about the economy. Well, for the second presidential election in a row, we see where that got us.

In 2000 and 2004, it was widely acknowledged that value voters drove the election results. They turned out like Ronald Reagan was running for office. In 2008, they clearly stayed home. I’ll leave it to the experts to analyze what happened this year, but values were not front and center.

When we suffer defeat, we can always learn from our opponents. They did something better than we did. As Tom Peters and others have noted, they ran on social values: abortion, contraception, and gay marriage. Those “in the know,” i.e. those of us who tend to be more of the activist type, got the message that Romney was running on our issues, cloaked under the assumedly more palatable guise of the economy. But we activist types are the minority.

Unemployment and the fiscal mess that we seem to be heading into did not do enough to move voters.

I have supported Republican candidates because I believe that the social values issues, as set forth by the Catholic Church, are core to our society and the most prominent Democrat candidates have been explicitly opposed to the most fundamental of these same values. I don’t think that a society/government/economy will function well if human dignity is not respected at all levels. Looking back at history, I have yet to see one that did.

As Catholics, we have just begun the Year of Faith. If anything, this election tells me that we need to proclaim the truth that our faith teaches, particularly as it concerns the dignity of the human person. Let’s not try to sanitize the values issues with talk of the economy. It hasn’t worked. At the same time, there are a lot of Catholics voting who don’t understand or accept the Catholic Church’s consistent teaching on social values. That’s a great place to start our Year of Faith. As a church, we need to teach. As citizens, we need to voice our opinions, even when we fear that they might be unpopular.

Playing it safe just got us four more years of unprecendented support for the victimization and destruction of the least among us. It just guaranteed us a long, uphill battle to protect our freedoms of religion and conscience. What better way to start this next four years than with the Year of Faith?

No Comments

Uncategorized

Catholics in Washington State Defend Traditional Marriage in The Seattle Times.

Pia de Solenni

November 1, 2012 12:32 pm November 1, 2012

2 min read

1788 views

No Comments

If you live or have lived in Washington state, particularly the western side of the state, you know what’s it’s like. You’re warned that we are the least churched state…

If you live or have lived in Washington state, particularly the western side of the state, you know what’s it’s like. You’re warned that we are the least churched state in the nation (a positioning we may have recently lost), that unless you’re using NARAL talking points there’s no place for your voice in a state that voted to make abortion legal before Roe v. Wade, and then voted at least two more times to confirm that vote. Despite the fact that you meet wonderful people both of faith and not of faith, who all share common human values, the secular progressive values are so pervasive that it can be daunting to even consider speaking out with a divergent view.

One of my favorites from the local Corgi Halloween Parade.

In my three years living in Seattle (yes the city where there are rumored to be more dogs than children) I’ve met enough people to realize that this conventional wisdom denies the reality.

This week a group of us, all lay leaders from across the state, decided that it was time to respond to a group of Catholics speaking out against the Church’s teachings on marriage. Sure, they have a right to voice their opinions; but it’s our responsibility to make clear that they don’t speak for us.

So here’s our op-ed in The Seattle Times. I expected the negative comments, but I wish we could have a civil conversation despite the disagreement on some very big issues. However, that problem is not particular to Seattle or Washington. It’s rampant just about everywhere.

We have a FaceBook page where you can see the list of leaders and sign on to show your support. We are joined by several groups including the Knights of Columbus for Washington State (17,000 members) and the Seattle Archdiocesan Council of Women.

No Comments

Uncategorized

“We have no king but Caesar.”

Pia de Solenni

November 1, 2012 11:26 am November 1, 2012

2 min read

1904 views

No Comments

Bishop Jenky of Peoria has an excellent letter that will be read at all the Masses this weekend in his diocese. It’s too good to just cite one part so here…

Bishop Jenky of Peoria has an excellent letter that will be read at all the Masses this weekend in his diocese. It’s too good to just cite one part so here it is in toto:

Dear Catholic Believers,

Since the foundation of the American Republic and the adoption of the Bill of Rights, I do not think there has ever been a time more threatening to our religious liberty than the present. Neither the president of the United States nor the current majority of the Federal Senate have been willing to even consider the Catholic community’s grave objections to those HHS mandates that would require all Catholic institutions, exempting only our church buildings, to fund abortion, sterilization, and artificial contraception. This assault upon our religious freedom is simply without precedent in the American political and legal system. Contrary to the guarantees embedded in the First Amendment, the HHS mandates attempt to now narrowly define and thereby drastically limit our traditional religious works. They grossly and intentionally intrude upon the deeply held moral convictions that have always guided our Catholic schools, hospitals, and other apostolic ministries.

Nearly two thousand years ago, after our Savior had been bound, beaten, scourged, mocked, and crowned with thorns, a pagan Roman Procurator displayed Jesus to a hostile crowd by sarcastically declaring: “Behold your King.” The mob roared back: “We have no king but Caesar.” Today, Catholic politicians, bureaucrats, and their electoral supporters who callously enable the destruction of innocent human life in the womb also thereby reject Jesus as their Lord. They are objectively guilty of grave sin. For those who hope for salvation, no political loyalty can ever take precedence over loyalty to the Lord Jesus Christ and to his Gospel of Life. God is not mocked, and as the Bible clearly teaches, after this passing instant of life on earth, God’s great mercy in time will give way to God’s perfect judgment in eternity.

I therefore call upon every practicing Catholic in this Diocese to vote. Be faithful to Christ and to your Catholic Faith. May God guide and protect His Holy Church, and may God bless America.

Most Reverend Daniel R. Jenky, CSC

Catholic Bishop of Peoria

No Comments

Uncategorized

Presidential Debates Reveal Two Clashing Views Of Women

Pia de Solenni

October 18, 2012 7:01 am October 18, 2012

1 min read

2066 views

No Comments

Just before yesterday’s debate, a USA Today/Gallup poll showed Gov. Mitt Romney taking the lead over President Barack Obama. The lead was largely attributed to more women giving their support to…

Just before yesterday’s debate, a USA Today/Gallup poll showed Gov. Mitt Romney taking the lead over President Barack Obama. The lead was largely attributed to more women giving their support to the governor. As I wrote yesterday, this suggests that maybe, just maybe, women care about more than “pelvic politics” (abortion, contraception, abortion and abortion).

The debates gave considerable evidence of each candidate’s view of women.

What Women Want: Romney Leads Obama

Pia de Solenni

October 16, 2012 7:33 am October 16, 2012

1 min read

9801 views

No Comments

An outside observer, say an anthropologist hundreds of years from now, might survey the evidence of our conversations and conclude that women were only concerned about their genital regions. Look…

An outside observer, say an anthropologist hundreds of years from now, might survey the evidence of our conversations and conclude that women were only concerned about their genital regions. Look no further than the so-called war on women, just another version of pelvic politics. You know, abortion, contraception, abortion, and, oh yes, abortion. As if women have no other concerns.

Well, a USA Today/Gallup poll now shows Gov. Romney taking the lead over Pres. Obama precisely because more women are opting for the Governor. In other words, women think about more than contraception and abortion, even those who support either or both. They think about the economy, national security, education, religious freedom, and a whole host of other things.

“In every poll, we’ve seen a major surge among women in favorability for Romney” since his strong performance in the first debate, veteran Democratic pollster Celinda Lake says. “Women went into the debate actively disliking Romney, and they came out thinking he might understand their lives and might be able to get something done for them.”

I’m encouraged and hope that this could be a sign of expanding the conversation when it comes to women’s issues. Also, it’ll be interesting to see the debates tonight to see which questions women ask the candidates and how they interact with them.

No Comments

Uncategorized

Yes, We Can

Pia de Solenni

September 27, 2012 6:19 am September 27, 2012

3 min read

1750 views

No Comments

Over the past few months, I’ve participated in several events on the topics of religious freedom and faithful citizenship. Repeatedly, I’ve been asked what Catholics can do to promote conversations about voting in line with one’s professed Catholic faith. There’s a general sense out there that the laity can’t say or do much unless an effort is spearheaded by a pastor or a bishop. This is just another face of clericalism, but more on that another time.

It’s true that there are no specific action items from the USCCB or many individual bishops right now. That doesn’t mean that the laity can’t or shouldn’t get involved with local efforts, even within the parishes. And it’s certainly not right for us to sit back and wait for “someone else,” whether a cleric or not, to organize something.

Here are some quick ideas:

Voter Registration. This should be done earlier than now, but there’s still time to register voters in some states. So long as you pastor agrees, this can be done at your parish. The Knights of Columbus have organized this in some parishes. Priests For Life also has some good resources for this. Statistically, people who attend religious services overwhelmingly vote pro-life, pro-family; sadly, many of these church goers are still unregistered to vote. [Update – You can also register to vote at CatholicVote.org. And they have a feature where you can consult a public database to see if your friends and family are registered. In other words, you don’t even need a bunch of voter registration forms. Just set up your laptop or tablet (with a wi-fi connection of some sort), and you’re set to go. You could even register yourself or someone from a smart phone!]
Ask your pastor if the one-pager from the USCCB, “Current Threats To Religious Liberty,” can be used as a bulletin insert during the month of October. Better yet, see if he’s willing to preach on it or volunteer to organize several lay people who would read it at the end of Mass during the announcements. This is the same flyer from the Fortnight for Freedom, but it has been updated even though the top still reads “Summer 2012.” If your parish is cash strapped, offer to pay for the printing costs.
Organize a discussion group at your parish or elsewhere in your community, even an informal potluck with friends, to discuss the upcoming elections and the importance of voting. Many states have critical issues on their local ballots. The redefinition of marriage is on the ballot in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, and Washington.
Pray. I’ve seen a lot of informal prayer campaigns starting up around the country. Find one of those to participate in or start your own. Many parishes are organizing a day of Adoration and prayer for November 6. You can help to bring this about in your parish if it’s not already happening.

Catholic teaching is clear that we have an obligation to vote. (CCC 2240) I’ll be writing more about this obligation and the role of conscience in the next few days.

It’s important that we do everything we can to vote ourselves and to motivate others to vote as well. Feel free to add your own suggestions in the comments section. By no means are the above suggestions the only viable ones.

No Comments