Pope Benedict XVI slaps the Slave China regime upside the head.

Holy Mother Church battles the remnants of a vile 19th century slave ideology as well as the xenophobia of evil and ignorant men in an effort to save the souls of Her children in China.

Pope's Choice of Cardinal a Challenge for China

(CNSNews.com) - In a decision highlighting his concern for China's persecuted Christians, Pope Benedict XVI has included in his papacy's first selection of cardinals a Hong Kong-based bishop who has been a thorn in Beijing's side.

The pope announced the elevation of 15 new cardinals - the "princes" who comprise the Roman Catholic Church's top hierarchy - including Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, the 74-year-old bishop of Hong Kong who was in the late 1990s forbidden to visit the communist-ruled mainland, his country of birth, after telling a Synod of Bishops at the Vatican there was no freedom of belief in China.

There was no immediate reaction from the Chinese government, and online versions of China's English-language media outlets appeared to be ignoring the news on Thursday.

Appointed as head of Hong Kong's 230,000 Catholics in 2002, Zen has been outspoken both about the plight of Catholics in mainland China and about Beijing's conduct towards Hong Kong, specifically its denial of full voting rights to the territory's seven million people.

Bless and protect your faithful servant, Lord.

Zen also took part in a mass protest against an attempt by the Hong Kong government, prodded by Beijing, to implement a highly unpopular anti-subversion law.

The protests were instrumental in the subsequent resignation of Hong Kong's chief executive, Tung Chee-hwa.

Zen's elevation to cardinal will focus anew a spotlight on the testy relationship between the government of the world's most populous country and a religious institution with more than one billion adherents worldwide.

China cut ties with the Vatican in the 1950s and established an official "patriotic" denomination that calls itself Catholic and boasts some five million members, but is shunned by Catholics obedient to the pope.

After 1958, the official denomination began to appoint its own bishops, without approval from the Vatican.

Roman Catholicism was driven underground and many priests have been jailed over the decades since, but an estimated eight million Catholics loyal to the Vatican continue to meet in secret.

Many Chinese priests, religious, and laymen have also been killed by those in rebellion against God and His good order.

Because of Hong Kong's special status - the former British colony reverted to Chinese rule in 1997, under an agreement promising the territory a measure of autonomy - the Catholic Church banned on the mainland is legal there.

China and the Vatican have in recent years felt out the possibility of re-establishing diplomatic relations but the move has been complicated by various factors.

Last April, China reiterated its stance, saying it would only establish ties with the Vatican if the Holy See pledged not to interfere in China's internal affairs, a reference not just to criticism of its policies but also to the church's universal practice of appointing bishops at the Vatican level rather than in individual countries.

Beijing also cited as another prerequisite the severing of ties with Taiwan. China regards the island as a rebellious province, and refuses to have diplomatic ties with any nation that recognizes Taipei.

Taiwan has around 300,000 Catholics and one cardinal, Paul Shan Kuo-his. The Vatican is its only diplomatic ally in Europe.

Zen told reporters in Hong Kong that his elevation showed that China was a "priority" for the pope.

China was also a priority for Pope Benedict's predecessor, who on several occasions expressed the desire to restore diplomatic ties with Beijing.

In 2003, Pope John Paul II named 30 new cardinals, and said a 31st would be a cardinal "in pectore" (in the heart), a term meaning the person would not be identified for his own safety, usually because he is living in a country where the church is oppressed.

The move sparked speculation that Zen may have been the secret cardinal, not named because of the sensitivity of the situation.

With the new pope's decision, however, the question of the unnamed cardinal's identity remains open. A Vatican spokesman said last year that the late pope had not revealed the name to anyone before his death.

As a young man, one of Zen's teachers was himself a cardinal "in pectore," chosen by Pope John Paul II just one year after his pontificate began in 1978, and only identified publicly by the pope 12 years later as Kung Pin-mei of China.

At the time Kung was secretly named cardinal, he was in prison. After 30 years in jail for his faith and a further ten years under house arrest, was allowed to travel to the U.S. for medical treatment in 1987, and died in 2000, aged 98.

I trust that Cardinal Kung's journey toward beatification continues apace.

The Catholic crackup continues apace.

DePaul has been Catholic In Name Only for years. The adminstration has now arrived at the point where the First Amendment means nothing. (BTW, does this mean Senator War Hero is on the Board of Regents?)

Update: DePaul Censures Anti-Affirmative Action Group

(CNSNews.com) - A conservative student group has been acquitted of a charge that it violated DePaul University's anti-harassment policy when it conducted a protest against affirmative action, the school announced Monday. However, the DePaul Conservative Alliance (DCA) was found guilty of violating the Code of Student Responsibility and censured.

In January, the DCA held an "affirmative action bake sale" to mock affirmative action policies in higher education. The protests, which have occurred on other college and university campuses, involve white and Asian students being charged more for baked goods than blacks and Hispanics. The mock bake sales are designed to criticize affirmative action policies, not to raise funds.

DePaul officials shut down the protest and opened an investigation to determine if the conservative group violated the university's Anti-Discriminatory Harassment Policy. In a letter to DCA co-founder Michael O'Shea on Feb. 20, DePaul Vice President for Student Advocacy Cynthia Summers wrote that the school found the group not guilty of violating the harassment policy. Nevertheless, she said, the group had violated the Code of Student Responsibility.

The code requires that student groups "exercise good judgment in planning and promoting their activities." In a statement released by the university, DePaul President Dennis Holtschneider explained that "the bake sale was a protest and was intentionally misrepresented by DCA in its promotion table application."

As punishment, the group is required to participate in or host "at least one university-wide event concerning affirmative action principles and practices," according to the letter. The university's letter does not dictate the nature of the event, except for requiring that it be an "educational opportunity."

The DCA will also be restricted from using university "promo tables" to advertise the club on campus for the remainder of the spring semester.

In his statement, Holtschneider wrote that DePaul "is committed to free speech, and as part of that commitment, we understand that we must allow even those activities that might startle or offend to take place, as long as those activities do not violate campus behavior policies."
Full Story

St. Vincent DePaul, pray for us.

Totalitarian Pennsylvania Update. (Part 3)

Behold Slow Eddie, Friend of Joe Sixpack and Fan of Losers!

Pittsburgh's other newspaper: Gov. Rendell says he will try to talk to NHL on arena
Gov. Ed Rendell may try to go directly to the National Hockey League to discuss ways to keep the Penguins in Pittsburgh.

Direct talks with the NHL is an option the governor is "strongly considering," said Kate Philips, Mr. Rendell's spokeswoman.

Mr. Rendell may turn to the NHL because the Penguins have refused to discuss with state and local officials an alternative plan for funding a new arena. Team officials said they are barred from doing so because of their agreement with Isle of Capri Casinos Inc., which is pledging $290 million toward an arena in its bid to win the Pittsburgh slot machine license.

The team's stance has frustrated Mr. Rendell, Mayor Bob O'Connor, and county Chief Executive Dan Onorato, who are trying to put together an alternate plan that likely would involve taxpayer funding and private funding from the Penguins.

I love the Penguins, but the Commonwealth's taxpayers have been screwed by their politicians, the Eagles, the Steelers, the Pirates, the Phillies, and several minor league teams.

Providing funding for new stadia to keep sports franchises from moving to other states is not a legitimate function of government at any level.

Totalitarian Pennsylvania Update. (Part 2)

Behold Slow Eddie, the Super Genius of International Relations!

Phillyburbs.com: Rendell says port may not renew lease of Philadelphia terminal
Gov. Ed Rendell says the commonwealth may take steps of its own to ensure port security in light of a deal allowing a company owned by the United Arab Emirates to manage ports in six U.S. cities, including one of the seven terminals in Philadelphia.

Totalitarian Pennsylvania Update. (Part 1)

The Daily News: Gergely cheers Rendell's veto of voting bill
A bill introduced by state Rep. Marc Gergely, D-White Oak, has been vetoed by Gov. Ed Rendell, and Gergely was on hand to cheer him on. Rendell went to Philadelphia and then to Pittsburgh's Hill House to announce his veto of House Bill 1318 in Presidents Day events.

Behold Slow Eddie, Constitutional Scholar!

As amended, H.B. 1318 became a "Christmas tree" for a variety of "ornaments." One required voters to bring photo identification to polls.

Rendell called that "ornament" a violation of the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. He said it could disenfranchise those living in nursing homes, displaced family members, and others who may not have government-issued identification.

"It places an unnecessary new burden on electors that will result in some losing their right to vote," Rendell said.

"And the dead shall rise uppa!"

"Hallelujah!"

"And they shall vote Democrass!"

"Hallelujah!"

Hollyweird: Where magic happens!

Kid Rock, Scott Stapp, and 4 chicks walk into a bus with a video camera...

...uh...No punchline for this one, kiddies.

LEFT: Living proof that, at least in some neighborhoods, money and fame are indeed aphrodisiacs.

Kid Rock has won an initial victory in his attempt to stop a California company from releasing an explicit sex video featuring the rap-rocker, former Creed singer Scott Stapp and four women.

Wasn't Stapp (from the band Creed) supposed to be some kind of Christian?

Well, I guess he is some kind of Christian...

U.S. District Court Judge John Feikens signed a temporary order that stops David Joseph and his World Wide Red Light District company from distributing or promoting any portion of the tape, including a 40-second preview clip of the video that was previously displayed on Red Light District's Web sites.

Saint of the Day and Daily Mass readings.

Today is the Feast of St. Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna and martyr. When faced with heresy, he showed the "candid face" that Ignatius admired and that imitated Jesus' response to the Pharisees. Marcion, the leader of the Marcionites who followed a dualistic heresy, confronted Polycarp and demanded respect by saying, "Recognize us, Polycarp." Polycarp responded, "I recognize you, yes, I recognize the son of Satan." Pray for us, all you angels and saints.

Today's reading for the Feast of St. Polycarp is Apocalypse 2:8-11.
Today's Responsorial Psalm is Psalms 31:3-4, 6, 7, 8, 17, 21.
Today's Gospel reading is John 15:18-21.



[Links to the readings will be from the NAB until I can find another chapter and verse searchable Douay-Rheims Bible on-line.]


Everyday links:

The Blessed Virgin Mary
The Rosary
Our Mother of Perpetual Help
Prayers from EWTN
National Coalition of Clergy and Laity (dedicated to action for a genuine Catholic Restoration)
The Catholic Calendar Page for Today


Just in case you are wondering what exactly Catholics believe, here is

The Apostles Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son Our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.He descended into Hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into Heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen.


Memorare

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that any one who fled to thy protection, implored thy help or sought thy intercession,was left unaided.Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins my Mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful; O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy clemency hear and answer me. Amen.


St. Joseph, her most chaste spouse, pray for us.


Prayer to St. Anthony, Martyr of Desire

Dear St. Anthony, you became a Franciscan with the hope of shedding your blood for Christ. In God's plan for you, your thirst for martyrdom was never to be satisfied. St. Anthony, Martyr of Desire, pray that I may become less afraid to stand up and be counted as a follower of the Lord Jesus. Intercede also for my other intentions. (Name them.)


PRAYER TO SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil; may God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the divine power, thrust into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

The Theology of the Body: 38. Meaning of Adultery Transferred from the Body to the Heart

In his General Audience of 3 September 1980, the Holy Father continued his catechesis on Theology of the Body, focusing on adultery, its place in the Wisdom tradition, and the change in emphasis introduced by Christ.



Meaning of Adultery Transferred from the Body to the Heart

Continuing his catechetical series devoted to the theme of adultery, the Holy Father delivered the following address at the weekly audience in St. Peter's Square.


1. In the Sermon on the Mount Christ limited himself to recalling the commandment: "You shall not commit adultery," without evaluating the relative behavior of his listeners. What we previously said concerning this theme comes from other sources, especially from Christ's discussion with the Pharisees, in which he hearkened back to the "beginning" (cf. Mt 19:8; Mk 10:6). In the Sermon on the Mount Christ omitted such an evaluation, or rather, he implied it. What he will say in the second part of the statement, which begins with the words: "But I say to you..." will be something more than the dispute with the "doctors of the law" or with the moralists of the Torah. It will also be something more with respect to the evaluation of the Old Testament ethos. It will be a direct transition to the new ethos. Christ seemed to leave aside the whole dispute about the ethical significance of adultery on the plane of legislation and casuistry—in which the essential interpersonal relationship between husband and wife was considerably darkened by the objective relationship of property— and it acquires another dimension. Christ said: "But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Mt 5:28: when reading this passage there always comes to mind the ancient translation: "He has already made her an adulteress in his heart", a version that perhaps better than the present text, this version expresses the fact that here it deals with a purely interior and unilateral act.) Thus, adultery committed in the heart is in a certain sense counterposed with adultery committed in the body. We should ask ourselves why the point of gravity of sin is shifted, and what is the authentic significance of the analogy. If according to its fundamental meaning, adultery can only be a sin committed in the body, in what sense does that which man commits in his heart deserve to be called adultery also? Christ posed the foundation of the new ethos with words which for their part demand a thorough grounding in anthropology. Before answering these queries, let us pause for a while on the expression that, according to Matthew 5:27-28, in a certain way effects the transfer or rather the shifting of the significance of adultery of the body to the heart. These are words which concern desire.

Requires special analysis

2. Christ spoke of concupiscence: "Whoever looks lustfully." This expression requires a special analysis in order to understand the statement in its entirety. Here it is necessary to go back to the preceding analysis that aims, I would say, at reconstructing the image of the lustful man dating back to the beginning of history (cf. Gn 3). In the Sermon on the Mount Christ spoke about the man who "looks lustfully," who is without doubt the concupiscent man. For this reason, because it is part of bodily concupiscence, he desires and looks lustfully. The figure of the concupiscent man, reconstructed in the preceding aspect, will aid us now in interpreting desire, which Christ spoke about according to Matthew 5:27-28. This concerns here not only a psychological interpretation, but at the same time a theological interpretation. Christ spoke in the context of human experience and simultaneously in the context of the work of salvation. These two contexts in a certain way are superimposed upon and pervade one another. This has an essential and elemental significance for the entire ethos of the Gospel, and in particular for the content of the word "lust" or "looking lustfully."

Relevant in every time and place

3. Using such expressions, the Master first referred to the experience of his direct listeners. Then he also referred to the experience and conscience of the man of every time and place. Evangelical language may have a universal communicativeness. Yet for a direct listener, whose conscience was formed on the Bible, lust must be linked with many precepts and warnings. These are present in the first place in the Wisdom books, which contain repeated admonitions about concupiscence of the body and also advice on how to preserve oneself from it.

4. As we know, the Wisdom tradition had a special interest for the ethics and morality of Israelite society. What strikes us immediately in these admonitions and advice, appearing for example in Proverbs,(1) Sirach(2) or even Ecclesiastes(3), is a certain one-sidedness they have in that the admonitions are above all directed to men. This can mean that for them they are particularly necessary. As far as woman is concerned, it is true that in these warnings and advices she appears most often as an occasion of sin or as a downright seducer of whom to beware. Yet one must recognize that besides the warning to beware of woman and the seduction of her charm which lead man to sin (cf. Prv 5:1-6; 6:24-29; Sir 26:9-12), both Proverbs and Sirach also praise woman who is the "perfect life companion of her own husband" (cf. Prv 31:10ff.). They likewise praise the beauty and graciousness of a good wife who can make her husband happy.

"A modest wife adds charm to charm, / and no balance can weigh the value of a chaste soul. / Like the sun rising in the heights of the Lord, / so is the beauty of a good wife in her well-ordered home. / Like the shining lamp on the holy lampstand, / so is a beautiful face on a stately figure. / Like pillars of gold on a base of silver, / so are beautiful feet with a steadfast heart. / A wife's charm delights her husband, / and her skill puts fat on his bones" (Sir 26:15-18, 13).

Warning against temptation

5. In Wisdom tradition a frequent admonition contrasts with the above praise of the woman-wife: it is the one that refers to the beauty and graciousness of the woman who is not one's own wife and is the cause of temptation and an occasion for adultery: "Do not desire her beauty in your heart..." (Prv 6:25). In Sirach the same warning is expressed in a more peremptory manner: "Turn away your eyes from a shapely woman, / and do not look intently at beauty belonging to another; / Many have been misled by a woman's beauty, / and by it passion is kindled like a fire" (Sir 9:8-9).

The sense of the Wisdom texts has a prevalent pedagogical significance. They teach virtue and seek to protect the moral order, going back to God's law and to widely understood experience. Moreover, they are distinguished for their special knowledge of the human heart. We can say that they develop a specific moral psychology, yet without falling into psychologism. In a certain sense, they are close to that call of Christ to the heart that Matthew has handed down to us (cf. 5:27-28), even though it cannot be affirmed that they reveal any tendency to change ethos in a fundamental way. The authors of these books use the conscience of human inner life to teach morals somewhat in the sphere of ethos historically in action, and substantially confirmed by them. Sometimes one of them, such as Ecclesiastes, synthesizes this confirmation with its own "philosophy" of human existence. However, if it has an influence on the method with which warnings and advices are formulated, it does not change the fundamental structure of ethical evaluation.

"Wisdom" a tradition of preparation

6. For such transformation it is necessary to wait until the Sermon on the Mount. Nonetheless, this very sagacious knowledge of human psychology present in wisdom tradition was certainly not without significance for the circle of personal and immediate hearers of this sermon. If by virtue of the prophetic tradition these listeners were in a certain sense prepared for adequately understanding the concept of adultery, likewise by virtue of the wisdom tradition they were prepared to understand the words that referred to the "lustful look" or alternatively to "adultery committed in the heart".

It will be well for us to come back again to analyze the concept of concupiscence in the Sermon on the Mount.

NOTES

1) Cf., e.g., Prv 5:3-6, 15-20; 6:24-7:27; 21:9, 19; 22:14; 30:20.

2) Cf., e.g., Sir 7:19, 24-26; 9:1-9; 23:22-27; 25:13-26, 18; 36:21-25; 42:6, 9-14.

3) Cf., e.g., Eccl 7:26-28; 9:9.

Big Babykilling Update.

South Dakota Lawmakers To Vote On Banning Nearly All Abortions...


FIREWORKS: Supreme Court takes up late-term abortion...

The Supreme Court said Tuesday it would consider reinstating a federal ban on what opponents call partial-birth abortion, (Its advocates call it happy-go-lucky sunsplash time. - F. G.) pulling the contentious issue back to the high court on conservative Justice Samuel Alito's first day.

Alito could well be the tie-breaking vote when the court decides if doctors can be barred from performing the abortion procedure.

It is the first time the court has considered a federal restriction on abortion, and conservatives said they expect the membership change to affect the outcome.

"This is the frontline abortion case in the country," said Jay Sekulow, chief counsel for the conservative American Center for Law and Justice, who represents members of Congress in the case.

Well, well, well...

It couldn't happen to nicer bunch of Slave Chinese enablers.

US Judge: Google infringed copyright by posting thumbnail porn photos

Internet giant Google Inc. infringed copyright rules by posting thumbnail-size photos from other websites on its search results pages, a US judge said in a ruling issued.

US District Judge Howard Matz's ruling, handed down in Los Angeles, stems from a lawsuit filed in 2004 by the pornography firm Perfect 10 Inc., which accused Google of breaching on its copyrights.

The type of search with which Perfect 10 took issue is Google's "Image Search" function, which returns a page with tiny images -- known as thumbnails -- that fit the searcher's query.

The image search function also allows searchers to view the image as it appears on the page.

The judge ruled that because Google receives advertising money from offering search functions, it is not entitled to the same level of free use of the images as other entities would be.

Much of Google's revenues come from so-called keyword searches that link advertisers to users by their search criteria.

It Takes A Village To Staff A Gestapo Unit Update.

Drudge brings us the latest triangulation strangulation.

Rights Group Criticizes Senator Clinton's Stance on Same-Sex Marriage...

Gays Rebuff Hillary...

NEWS FLASH! Catholics Put Bounty On the Heads of the Two Cretins Behind 'South Park'

Virgin Mary Cartoon Stirs Debate Over Freedom to Offend

(CNSNews.com) - While the Mohammed cartoon controversy rages around the world, a television channel in New Zealand was under fire Wednesday for a decision to show an episode of the South Park comedy series featuring a menstruating statue of the Virgin Mary. Full Story

Oops! I forgot. We don't do things like that.

May God have mercy on the souls of those too ignorant to care.

So...What exactly do you mean by "democracy"?

From The Washington Times comes the sound of birth pangs:

Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari yesterday angrily rejected U.S. warnings to the Shi'ite majority to embrace sectarian rivals in a new government.

Hours later, a car bomb exploded on a street packed with shoppers in a Shi'ite area of Baghdad, killing 22 persons and wounding 28, police said.

Speaking after talks with British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, who echoed the U.S. ambassador's call for a government of national unity, the normally calm and diplomatic Mr. al-Jaafari, a Shi'ite, said Iraq knew its own best interests.

"When someone asks us whether we want a sectarian government, the answer is 'no we do not want a sectarian government' -- not because the U.S. ambassador says so or issues a warning," he told reporters.

"We do not need anybody to remind us, thank you."

I still think they should divvy up the whole shebang into cantons, like the Swiss did. In several hundred years, you might have a civilized nation.

U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad warned Iraqis on Monday that they risk losing American support unless they establish a national unity government that takes the police and the army out of the hands of religious parties.

He reminded the Iraqis that the United States has spent billions to build up Iraq's police and army and said, "We are not going to invest the resources of the American people and build forces that are run by people who are sectarian" and tied to the militias.

Mr. Khalilzad's comments were echoed yesterday by Mr. Straw, who said after a meeting with Iraq's Kurdish president, Jalal Talabani, that Iraq's parliamentary election in December showed that no single group can monopolize power.

"No ethnic or religious grouping can dominate government," Mr. Straw said. "This, therefore, gives further impetus to what Iraqis tell us they want, which is a government of national unity bringing together all the different elements of Iraqi society."

Fyodor's Headlinks.

Stories that are not connected in any way...

Or are they?


Philadelphia Inquirer: Million-Dollar Message for Intelligent Design Advocates

DOVER, Pa. - The York County school district defeated in the first-ever lawsuit over the teaching of intelligent design has agreed to pay $1 million to cover the plaintiffs' attorneys' fees in a settlement lawyers said was designed to discourage school boards from considering similar action in the future.


Boston Globe:Ban on formula in gift bags for new mothers is put on hold

The panel that sets public health policy in Massachusetts put on hold yesterday a ban against distribution of gift bags containing infant formula to new mothers in hospital maternity wards.

Governor Mitt Romney, who said he believes that mothers should have a choice on how to feed their infants, had asked the Public Health Council to repeal the prohibition, which was set to go into effect in July. The panel voted unanimously yesterday to suspend its approval of the ban, while directing public health authorities to further review the proposal and report back in three months.

The board's action assures that the controversy over the gift-bag ban will remain alive at least until May, with proponents of breast-feeding and formula makers preparing for further battle.

Michelle Malkin on Democrass profiling.

Michelle's column on the Teaport Dome scandal deserves to be quoted at length:

Listen to Sen. Evan Bayh, Indiana Democrat: "I think we've got to look into this company. I think we've got to ensure ourselves that the American people's national-security interests are going to be protected. And frankly, I think the threshold ought to be a little higher for a foreign firm."

And Sen. Barbara Boxer, California Democrat: "It is ridiculous to say you're taking secret steps to make sure that it's OK for a nation that had ties to 9/11, (to) take over part of our port operations in many of our largest ports. This has to stop."

And Sen. Hillary Clinton, New York Democrat: "Our port security is too important to place in the hands of foreign governments. I will be working with [New Jersey] Senator [Robert] Menendez to introduce legislation that will prohibit the sale of ports to foreign governments."

And Sen. Charles Schumer, New York Democrat, who said the Dubai company's involvement "is enough to raise a flag-at least to do a thorough review, at minimum."

I wish these politicians luck in their quest to block the UAE transfer, shed light on the process led by the shadowy Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, and join with congressional Republicans to put American security interests first. But as they attempt to do their best Pat Buchanan impressions, let's not forget:

It was Democrats who tried to block Bush administration efforts to impose common-sense citizenship requirements on airport security workers in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.

It was Democrats who attacked the Bush Justice Department after the September 11 attacks for fingerprinting young male temporary visa holders traveling from terror-sponsoring and terror-friendly nations; temporarily detaining asylum seekers from high-risk countries for background screening; and sending undercover agents to investigate mosques suspected of supporting terrorism.

It was Democrats who secretly attempted to remove funding for the National Security Exit-Entry Registration System-the Justice Department program that helped nab at least 330 known foreign criminals, 15 illegal-alien felons and three known terrorists who attempted to enter the country.

And just one week ago, it was failed Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore who was in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, attacking the Bush administration's profiling and immigration enforcement against illegal aliens from terror-friendly countries as "terrible abuses."

Perhaps the UAE will be hiring Gore to condemn the "abusive" practices now being championed by his fire-breathing extremist Democrat colleagues?

After all, they are all red flag-raising, threshold-hiking, thorough review-espousing, foreign ownership-banning profilers now.

Let's see...Hitlery & Senator Ground Schmuck & Evan "I'm So Boring I Can't Qualify For a Nickname" Bayh are agin' it, but...

...King Goober I and Senator War Hero are for it.

On the other hand, it would be nice to see CuriousCowardlyGeorge FlyingBushMonkey stand up and veto something...

But, on the other other hand, Washington's other newspaper seems to be in favor. (It is often difficult to tell, considering its mind-numbing prose style.)

Washington Post: Security Programs, Unions Would Stay at Ports


"I have no hand. No hand at all."
Bush Unaware of Ports Deal Before Approval...





From CNSNews.com:

A 'Misguided Decision,' Say NY and NJ Residents

(CNSNews.com) - At worst, it's a security threat; at best, it's a public relations nightmare. Bush administration officials plan to brief the Senate Armed Services Committee Wednesday on a deal that would give a company owned by the United Arab Emirates operational control of terminals at six major U.S. ports. Full Story


Bush Threatens to Veto Any Attempt to Block Port Deal

(CNSNews.com) - President George W. Bush threatened on Tuesday to veto any legislation that would stop the deal for a state-owned Arab company to manage six major United States seaports, stating that the arrangement would not jeopardize U.S. security. Full Story


Commentary: Now the Dems Are Profilers, Too

(CNSNews.com) - Conservative columnist Michelle Malkin has been condemned as an "extremist" for advocating nationality profiling -- applying stricter scrutiny to terror-sponsoring and terror-sympathizing countries in immigration and security policies. Now some of the same Democrats who have blasted such profiling are rushing to the TV cameras to espouse these very same policies. Read the commentary


Commentary: Port Insecurity

(CNSNews.com) - This port deal is not a national security issue. It is an issue of this administration having a continuing problem with understanding how these things will play in the public's mind, writes columnist Rich Galen. Just 253 days away from the midterm election, this is not about port security -- it's about incumbent security. Read the commentary

You think?

Attack on Shiite Shrine May Be Intended to Incite Civil War

(CNSNews.com) - In Iraq, bombers destroyed the golden dome of a Shiite shrine, an attack apparently intended to divide the majority Shiite and minority Sunni populations at a time when they need to form a unity government to move the battered country forward.

I get mail from north of the border...

Responding to my post from the Canadian Front of the Great Cartoon War of '06



Ian said...

Good post. I couldn't agree with you more, especially your quote:

"Do I detect a whiff of leftist hypocrisy here? Or is it cowardice? It does not really matter. The cartoon they published is enough to get the Student Union torched."

Dead on.


Ian is obviously a man of taste and class. He likes The Pogues and Intellectuals by Paul Johnson (How about Walt Whitman's butterfly ring? He would so fit in on Oprah's show.) and who can argue with those choices? So what is he doing wasting his time in my idiot corner of Bloggerdom? Beats me, but I do appreciate it.

I suspect he is somewhere south of orthodoxy, (Instant Review: John Calvin is icky.) but that is ok for the purposes of this blog. I heartily embrace the concept of politically friendly forces.

Thanks for the kind words, Ian, and keep The Faith, baby.

Saint of the Day and daily Mass readings.

Today is the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter. Pray for us, all you angels and saints.

Today's reading for the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter is 1 Peter 5: 1-4.
Today's Responsorial Psalm is Psalms 23:1-3, 3-4, 5, 6.
Today's Gospel reading is Matthew 16:13-19.



[Links to the readings will be from the NAB until I can find another chapter and verse searchable Douay-Rheims Bible on-line.]


Everyday links:

The Blessed Virgin Mary
The Rosary
Our Mother of Perpetual Help
Prayers from EWTN
National Coalition of Clergy and Laity (dedicated to action for a genuine Catholic Restoration)
The Catholic Calendar Page for Today


Just in case you are wondering what exactly Catholics believe, here is

The Apostles Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son Our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.He descended into Hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into Heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen.


Memorare

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that any one who fled to thy protection, implored thy help or sought thy intercession,was left unaided.Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins my Mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful; O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy clemency hear and answer me. Amen.


St. Joseph, her most chaste spouse, pray for us.


Prayer to St. Anthony, Martyr of Desire

Dear St. Anthony, you became a Franciscan with the hope of shedding your blood for Christ. In God's plan for you, your thirst for martyrdom was never to be satisfied. St. Anthony, Martyr of Desire, pray that I may become less afraid to stand up and be counted as a follower of the Lord Jesus. Intercede also for my other intentions. (Name them.)


PRAYER TO SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil; may God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the divine power, thrust into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.