Stupid and Horrible Way to Die of the Day. (Part Two)

UPI: Two killed while brawling on highway ramp

A wild fight in the middle of a Florida highway Thursday cost the two combatants their lives and held up traffic for hours, a report said.

The Florida Highway Patrol said the pre-dawn incident began when a man and woman got out of a car and began brawling on a ramp from State Road 7 to Interstate 595 in Davie and were then struck by another vehicle, The South Florida Sentinel said.

Ramon Perez and Marie Mary died at the scene when they were run over while wrestling on the pavement. They had been riding in a car driven by another woman.

The newspaper said the incident closed the ramp for several hours. It was not know what the pair was fighting about.

You know, Bono, $28.5 million would relieve a lot of third world debt...

Toronto Star: U2 makes $30M last year

U2 Ltd., the Irish band's music publishing company, raked in US$30 million-plus last year – and $25.8 million of it went to five unidentified "employees," according to documents obtained Friday by The Associated Press.

Ha! What was I thinking? Silly Fyodor.

It Takes A Village To Staff A Gestapo Unit Update.

Noted warmonger and vampire Senatrix Hitlery Schicklgruber (N-NY) devours a few babies [and $1.5 million in cash] to help her continue her relentless march toward total power over the likes of you...

New York Daily News: Happy 6ooth, Hitlery!

Rush & Molloy: At Hillary Clinton's 600th birthday bash, Democrats danced in the aisles of the Beacon Theatre Thursday night as Elvis Costello and the Wallflowers sang "Happy Birthday, Mrs. President."

Ah, Declan McManus...He is best known for referring to Ray Charles as a "blind, ignorant nigger." [There's that word again!]

It is nice to see ol' Hit running with the intellectualoids once again.

Senator Token Update.

KRLA: Liberal faith, Obama style?
by Harry R. Jackson, Jr.

After months of hearing Barack Obama opine about his faith and values, his priorities have finally been put to the test. Politically active gay leaders are asking that Obama remove popular gospel artist Rev. Donnie McClurkin from his “Embrace the Change” gospel tour. McClurkin, a powerful, award-winning, gospel singer has been impressed with Obama, whom he met at a fundraiser sponsored by Oprah Winfrey this year.

Gays quickly attempted to label the minister as homophobic. Nothing could be further from the truth. McClurkin told AP radio in a September interview that he was “once involved in those desires and thoughts.” Raped as a child and molested by family members, McClurkin had a great deal of baggage to overcome. Fortunately, McClurkin feels that God turned things around for him.

Amen to that, Brother.

Gays around the country have declared that he was molested by “straight relatives.” They want to distance themselves from the reprehensible thought of child abuse. Therefore, they seem to feel as though they must silence the testimonies of McClurkin and others.

Fascists.

In addition to the gruesome details of the singer’s family background, gay activists are probably more worried about his testimony of deliverance from the gay lifestyle. This is because McClurkin believes that gays can be cured. Ironically, McClurkin was open-minded enough to travel with Obama, despite a glaring difference in theology between them. Rev. McClurkin’s endorsement in black gospel circles is every bit as influential as that of Oprah Winfrey’s in society at large.

This week, Obama has caved in to gay activists’ desires for him to wave their banner. He added a less popular person – the Reverend Andy Sidden, an openly gay South Carolina pastor.
Although he has refused to remove Reverend McClurkin from the program, he has highlighted an inconsistency that I am sure he wanted to hide. To worsen matters, Obama is scheduled to appear on The Ellen Degeneres Show next week.

In case anyone wonders about Obama’s position, here’s what he says at his website:

“I have clearly stated my belief that gays and lesbians are our brothers
and sisters and should be provided the respect, dignity, and rights of all other
citizens. I have consistently spoken directly to African-American religious
leaders about the need to overcome the homophobia that persists in some parts of
our community so that we can confront issues like HIV/AIDS and broaden the reach
of equal rights in this country.

I strongly believe that African Americans and the LGBT community must
stand together in the fight for equal rights. And so I strongly disagree with
Reverend McClurkin's views and will continue to fight for these rights as
President of the United States to ensure that America is a country that spreads
tolerance instead of division." ~ Barack Obama 10/22/07

Although Mr. Obama claims to be a bridge builder, he failed to seize a great opportunity last week to talk about both his candidacy and his faith at the Washington Briefing, which my organization co-sponsored. I find it ironic that he ran from an occasion to present his views to an important and well-informed group of Christians. Similar to the front-running Republicans candidates who snubbed Tavis Smiley by not attending the debate at Morgan State University, I feel that Obama has snubbed conservative Christians by refusing to come and talk with them. On the other hand, he seems to be groveling to receive the acceptance of a much smaller, and may I add, much more hostile group.

Perhaps his waning popularity in the polls is driving him to attempt to go into churches in South Carolina in a desperate attempt to play both the race card and the faith card to make his candidacy more viable. At the end of the day, I believe that the mixed message that Obama is sending to the black community will set back his campaign instead of advancing it.

Last week, before the Washington Briefing, I made a last ditch attempt to get the Senator to respond to our invitation for him to speak. I was very disappointed that we did not receive a response of any kind and wrote a letter to Obama concerning his lack of response. It reads as follows:

“Since you claim to be a born-again believer, Scripture clearly states we are considered to be a part of the same spiritual family. Obviously, we may not agree on everything, yet your sincerity now is suspect for many in light of your recent social stances and the disrespect you have shown to many conservative clergy members, myself included.

Senator Obama, this begs me to ask the question: Are you fearful of being rejected by fellow, Bible-believing Christians?

Perhaps you fear rationalizing to fellow believers your attendance at the Gay and Lesbian Presidential debate this summer. And what did it garner you? On August 10, 2007, E.J. Graff, writing for The Nation, said this about your appearance in the Gay and Lesbian forum:

“Edwards hit it out of the park. Hillary got smartly on base, to wild--even
excessive--cheers. Obama struck out.”

It is inconceivable (and hypocritical) to me that you would go to great lengths to criticize black pastors and their biblical positions during the LOGO television debate – which, by the way, failed to impress this tiny segment of the electorate – and then to host a ‘gospel tour’ of southern black churches.

Senator, if you are sincerely reaching out to the faith community and intend on ‘uniting’ this country as you have claimed, perhaps you should reconsider your priorities.”

From my perspective, McClurkin (now a pastor) is courageously declaring the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ to change a person’s life. Maybe it’s Mr. Obama that needs to “embrace the change.”

Stupid and Horrible Way to Die of the Day. (Part One)

WCMH: Schoolboy Fight Leads To Death For Student's Father

The plan was simple: invite families feuding over problems between their fifth-grade sons to counseling sessions at different times.

When the first family took longer to leave school than anticipated, the plan went awry. Running into each other in the parking lot, the father of one boy and the boyfriend of the other boy's mother argued, then fought briefly.

Police say the father, 29-year-old Franklin Jude, was struck in the face and fell, hitting his head on the pavement. He died five days later and was buried Monday.

"Frank went down on the pavement and smacked his head really, really hard," said Joanie Parsley, the mother of another student at West Broad Elementary School.
"Frank didn't even have time to flinch -- that's how fast it was."

Franklin County Coroner Brad Lewis ruled Jude's death a homicide, but no charges have been filed. The case is under investigation, and a grand jury will hear evidence in the next few weeks.

Attorney Steven Larson says the boyfriend, Grant Reese, 23, was defending himself and gave police his shirt covered with his own blood to prove he was hit.

"As soon as he was hit in the nose he struck the fellow in the jaw which caused him to fall over," Larson said. "He said it was instantaneous -- 'I got hit, I hit back."'

Events leading to the Oct. 10 fight began the day before outside the school on the city's west side.

Witnesses say the two men had words after school let out, upset because one of the boys pushed the other. The school principal intervened, the police were called and meetings were set up for the following morning.

Violence is not uncommon in the area, a neighborhood of century-old homes struggling with poverty and drug abuse. A social worker was stabbed to death by a client in 2001 just a few houses away from the school. Last summer a 14-year-old boy was shot to death by a driver upset that his car had been egged.

On Oct. 10, Jude and his fiancee, Jhonda Phillips, arrived at the school for their 8:30 a.m. meeting with principal Peter Kurty.

A meeting with Reese and Star Caulley, the mother of the other fifth-grader, Kyler, was scheduled for about an hour later.

District spokesman Jeff Warner said the principal was careful to set up separate appointments because problems between the families over the boys and alleged bullying between them dated back to last year.

His meeting over, Jude waited in the parking lot with Phillips' brother, William Reed, while Phillips went back inside to give their son, Wesley, his lunch money, Parsley said.

Caulley and her boyfriend arrived in a van along with several of Caulley's other children.

What happened next is what police must figure out.

Parsley says Jude and the boyfriend began arguing and looked like they were going to start fighting. Before anything happened, the two calmed down.

Then, as the two men walked between their cars, Reese hit Jude in the face, Parsley said.

Larson says it happened the other way around and that Reese was rushed by Jude and others almost as soon as he pulled up in the van.

Reese was arrested the day of the fight on unrelated charges of burglary and possession of criminal tools. He was freed Thursday on a $25,000 bond. Larson is representing him only on the burglary charge but said he had talked to his client about the fight.

School starts at 9:30 a.m. and several children were around when the fight happened. Police and school officials said the adults should have done something to keep violence away from the schoolhouse.

"What kind of example are we setting when we fight in front of kids?" said Sgt. Rich Weiner, a Columbus police spokesman.

Jude worked in a warehouse and did construction, painting and other odd jobs. He and Phillips also had an 8-year-old daughter, Kaylie.

"He was a great guy. Just loved his family, loved doing stuff with his kids on the weekends and just worked during the week," said next-door neighbor Rob Hernandez, 40, a construction worker. "Just a regular kind of guy."

Wesley's grandmother, Gayle Gates, said the family disagrees with Reese's version of events and says Jude never had a chance to hit Reese.

"We want justice because my son-in-law was killed," Gates, 58, said Tuesday.

Parsley, 32, said Wesley hasn't been back to school since the fight. She said he made a brief phone call to her son, Justin; the two are best friends.

"He just wanted to know from my son, 'Did you watch the news because my daddy's dead,"' Parsley said.

From The Whistling Past The Ash Heap Of History Department:

One of Big Straight Mahmoud's* henchmen spouts off...

Detroit News: Iran confident U.S. won't launch attack

While the man himself battles snot-nosed brats who dare to hope to breathe free...

International Herald Tribune: Iranian president faces continued criticism following rare student protest
A day after Iranian students protested against hardline President Hungadunga*, official response was muted Tuesday, but the country's independent press and students continued to criticize the president.

*I am torn, kiddies, between calling him Hungadunga and Big Straight Mahmoud. I do love both sobriquets so.

What was he thinking?

The Altoona Herald-Mitchellville Index [!]: CR man arrested with inflatable doll

Police arrested a man after finding him in a government building restroom lying beside an inflatable doll.

Oh. The government. That explains it.

Cedar Rapids police charged Craig S. McCullough, 47, with indecent exposure after finding him Wednesday afternoon in the public restroom. He had his pants down and was "lying next to an anatomically correct inflatable doll," according to the criminal complaint.

He was found by an agent of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, which has an office near the restroom.

McCullough has a lengthy criminal record, including a 2004 conviction for burglarizing Just For Me bridal boutique in Cedar Rapids. Shortly after the burglary, officers found McCullough in a nearby alley, carrying a mannequin wearing a bridal dress.

Wow. I wonder if he grabbed a Vera Wang.

Anyone over age 10 who wears a Halloween costume is a moron.

WCBS: Long Island School Bans Costumes on Halloween

Call it the Misadventure of Captain Underpants and the Peeved Principal.

A suburban Long Island high school has banned all Halloween costumes after three senior girls showed up last year dressed as the underwear-baring subject of a series of best-selling children's books.

Long Beach High School Principal Nicholas Restivo, who sent the three seniors home to change last year, said the episode solidified his sense that the school's costume tradition was disruptive.

For the Captain Underpants costumes, the three girls donned beige leotards and nude stockings under white briefs and red capes to portray the superhero, who has battled such foes as talking toilets. To Restivo, the appearance was that the girls were naked.

Still, they sound very nice.

"I'm being a principal. I'm not being an ogre,'' Restivo said.

He added that some gory costumes could make some students uncomfortable.

Some students don't see it that way. They are circulating a petition opposing the costume crackdown.

"It's one thing if the school won't let us wear outfits that are revealing or inappropriate, but if it is an innocent Halloween costume, we should be allowed to wear it,'' said junior Meghan Beck.

Nigger Update. (If you think that is bad, kiddies, just wait until the next time I have to deal with the word nazis.)

Lancaster Ignorancer-Urinal: Downtown storefront art is fueling friction

A display in a downtown shop window has some city residents angry and offended.

But Sharyn Lesher, who has operated her vintage shop, Pop Deluxe, at 6 N. Prince St., for 14 years, said removing the art from her window would be censorship — even if that art makes her a little uncomfortable, too.

At issue is a piece by Lancaster artist Nikki Evans — specifically, a 40-ounce booze bottle with a red label that reads, "Nigga Killa, 33.3% mo crack." Under the writing is a sprawled-out figure.

Lesher said Evans, who could not be reached for comment Friday, is a friend who asked to display her art in the store window.

"It's been in there since First Friday," Lesher said. "I like to have art in the window. I don't particularly like the word either, but I wanted to believe people would have the ability to see past the word and think about what (Evans) was trying to get them to think about. I try not to suppress anyone's self-expression."

On Friday, Lancaster resident Tracy Lewis saw the display and was so upset by it that she called city police and confronted Lesher, who told her the artist is black.

What? She doesn't get a free pass because of her Melanin-American status?

"(Lesher) did explain that the artist is a black woman," Lewis said. "I said, 'I don't care who put it in there — it's wrong,' especially in this day and age. The word 'n-----' is not intelligent, no matter what color you are. That is very offensive. I was appalled."

Oh, right. She is not a famous Melanin-American like Snoop or Chris Rock. Only colored folks who rake in millions for white corporations can use "nigger" with impunity.

Dennis Johnson, an acquaintance of Lewis, said he also was outraged by the display, which includes several other pieces of Evans' work that reference black stereotypes.

"I'm probably taking it to the extreme, but I know racism is alive and well and living and breathing and walking amongst us in Lancaster," Johnson said. "And for it to be living and breathing and walking amongst us in Lancaster really gets me going."

"Probably"?

Lesher said some customers who "expressed concern" about the display were placated when she identified the artist as a black person.

See, kiddies? Many of us have internalized the double standard.

Friday, police took comments from Lewis and Lesher, but Lesher was not charged with any crime. Still, Lesher decided to add a note of explanation to the display after police left rather than remove Evans' art.

I wonder how many rapists and child abusers got away with it while Lancaster's finest were playing Word Police?

The sign quotes Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr., chairman of African-American Studies at Harvard University: "Censorship is to art as lynching is to justice."

EEK! He referred to lynching! Racist.

Lesher added a few words of her own to Gates' quote: "Art should never be allowed to be censored; words only have the power we give them. Look past the word and contemplate the message."

Always remember, kiddies: "FEAR NO ART EXCEPT THAT WHICH IS FUNDED BY MONEY COERCED FROM TAXPAYERS" .

"In deference to taking the art down, I put a sign up," said Lesher, who is white. "Taking it down would have been censorship. That would have been letting the small minds win. I believe in self-expression, and (Evans) is making a statement about the use of words."


Johnson and Lewis are black. Both said they don't condone use of the word in any context, regardless of what race the speaker is.


However, both qualified that statement, saying use of the word among African Americans has a less cutting effect than it has when spoken by whites. And both questioned Lesher's actions, although, when asked, they said Evans also was to blame.

"It's not about self-expression. It's disrespectful to black people for a white woman to have that in her window," Lewis said. "I understand (Lesher) was trying to drum up controversy, but you do it in a way that doesn't show you're racist."

Racist. How do you know that window is white? White people can't own windows of color?

Johnson said he contacted Mayor Rick Gray's office Friday. Gray could not be reached for comment by the Intelligencer Journal.

That is the smartest thing Mayor Bow Tie has ever done.

Johnson said what he finds most offensive is that Lesher offered no apology and is ignoring complaints from the community she offended by not removing Evans' art. "(Lesher) has had it up for weeks, and she's done nothing about the complaints? She's the small-minded one," Johnson said.

"Don't blow it off as art. It may be art, but it's offensive art. If you've offended your community and your community is upset about it, what are you going to do about it?"

While Lesher said the point of art is to generate open discussion, [HOLY CRAP! Talk about the Death of the West! - F.G.] Lewis and Johnson said they are concerned about other possible fallout from the display. "(Mayor Gray) needs to be aware of this, and what he's going to do about it is the question," Johnson said.

Yes, Virginia, there really are word nazis.

Sports Illustrated: Tribes to decide fate of 'Fighting Sioux' nickname

North Dakota officials have three years to persuade Sioux tribes to support the Fighting Sioux nickname, under a settlement approved Friday that the president of United Tribes Technical College says shows contempt.

The state Board of Higher Education settled a lawsuit with the NCAA over the nickname, voting unanimously Friday morning to approve the deal after a closed-door briefing from Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem.

David Gipp, president of United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck, said leaders of the Standing Rock and Spirit Lake tribes, as well as other tribes and groups, are on record opposing the nickname.

None dare call him The Gipper.

"Allowing a three-year period to influence the tribes leaves open the door for UND and its agents to continue their meddling in the social and political affairs of tribal nations, causing untold damage in the lives of good people and families who only wish to have their ways and heritage respected," Gipp said in a statement.

Stenehjem, who outlined the agreement earlier for tribal officials, said he believes negotiations over the nickname and logo should be led by top-level state officials.

Time to bribe the Sioux.

"There shouldn't be a huge number of people putting pressure on anyone," he said.

In 2005, the NCAA banned the use of the nickname in postseason play, labeling it hostile and abusive. UND sued to challenge the ban in October last year and got a temporary order allowing the continued use of the nickname and logo while the case moved through court.

"The settlement confirms that the Sioux people and no one else should decide whether and how their name should be used," Bernard Franklin, an NCAA senior vice president, said in a statement.

"The settlement is consistent with the NCAA's firm belief that Native American nicknames and imagery have no place in intercollegiate athletics," the NCAA statement said.

"We are not going to be fighting this in 10 years, in 20 years, in 30 years," Stenehjem said. "This is an issue that needs to be resolved, needs to be concluded."

If approval of the nickname is withdrawn later from either the Standing Rock or Spirit Lake Sioux tribes, the waiver will also be withdrawn, the agreement says. It also includes a statement by the NCAA saying UND is a "national leader in offering educational programs to Native Americans."

Sebastian Braun, an assistant professor in the UND Indian studies department, said the agreement seems reasonable.

"I don't think the tribes are going to change their minds on this, but it will perhaps give everybody some time to come to terms with the inevitable," he said.

Samantha Plante, a freshman from Brooklyn Park, Minn., says she hopes an agreement can be reached with the tribes.

"I personally don't think the school uses it as a demeaning logo," Plante said. "I hope something can be worked out, but this has been going on for a long time."

Jackie Stebbins, a second-year law student from Bowman, said the logo should be retired.

"I think our school has a dark cloud hanging over it because of the logo. It's time for it to go," she said.

Her name should be changed to Little Moron Who Senses Clouds.

Ron His Horse Is Thunder, [With a name like that, he should be a running back. - F.G.] chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, said he believed University of North Dakota officials should use the three years to plan for changing the nickname and dropping the logo, rather than trying to coax the Standing Rock and Spirit Lake tribes into accepting them.

The settlement will bring pressure to bear on the governing councils of the two tribes from UND alumni and others who support the nickname, His Horse Is Thunder predicted.

"That takes the onus off UND, in terms of Wayne Stenehjem having to battle a court suit, and it takes pressure off the NCAA ... and it puts all the pressure on tribes and tribal councils to somehow change their minds," His Horse Is Thunder said.

Previously, groups of tribal members have been bused to UND at the expense of nickname supporters for some lobbying, the Standing Rock Sioux tribal chairman said.

"They've thrown a lot of money at individual tribal members, by taking them up to a hockey game and putting on a good face, and offering scholarship dollars ... to try to convince tribal members to go home and then lobby the tribal council to change it," His Horse Is Thunder said.

Eighteen schools originally were on a 2005 list of NCAA offenders using offensive American Indian nicknames and logos. A number of schools made changes while some won appeals with support from area tribes.

"I think it's important to remember that without this lawsuit, we would have been immediately subjected to the NCAA restrictions," Stenehjem said. "We had no options but to proceed to court."

The North Dakota lawsuit has cost an estimated $2 million in legal fees and services. Stenehjem said UND's costs were paid with private donations and "in my estimate, was worth the money."

If the nickname is changed, UND would have to remove most of its Indian imagery on its campus in Grand Forks. It could keep historical items and items embedded in the architecture, under the agreement.

Officials have estimated UND's Ralph Engelstad Arena has at least 3,000 Fighting Sioux logos, including a 10-foot sketch of an Indian head embedded in the granite floor.

Stenehjem said brass medallions would have to be removed from the chairs in the arena. Some likely could be sold "for quite a bit," he said.

Board of Higher Education President John Q. Paulsen said he was pleased with the NCAA statement that UND was a leader in Indian education.

"The University of North Dakota deserves to have its honor restored in terms of its long-standing commitment to programs for Native American students," Paulsen said.

Saint of the Day and daily Mass readings.

Today is the Feast of the Blessed Martyrs of Douai (or Douay), a group of 160 priests trained at the English College of Douai, in France. They were martyred in England and Wales during the century following the foundation of the famed college by Cardinal William Allen in 1568. All perished at the hands of English authorities while laboring to reconvert the island. Eighty alumni of Douai were beatified in 1929. [Please pray for their canonization.] Pray for us, all you angels and saints.

Today's reading is Romans 8:12-17.
Today's Responsorial Palm is Psalms 67:3, 5, 7-8, 21-22.
Today's Gospel reading is Luke 13:10-17.

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
ZENIT - The World Seen From Rome


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.


Anima Christi

Soul of Christ, sanctify me; Body of Christ, save me; Blood of Christ, inebriate me; Water from Christ's side, wash me; Passion of Christ, strengthen me; O good Jesus, hear me; Within Thy wounds hide me; Suffer me not to be separated from Thee; From the malicious enemy defend me; In the hour of my death call me; And bid me come unto Thee; That I may praise Thee with Thy saints and with Thy angels Forever and ever. Amen.


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.


Prayer to End Abortion

Lord God, I thank You today for the gift of my life, and for the lives of all my brothers and sisters. I know there is nothing that destroys more life than abortion, yet I rejoice that you have conquered death by the resurrection of Your Son. I am ready to do my part to end abortion. Today I commit myself never to be silent, never to be passive, and never to be forgetful of the unborn. I commit myself to be active in the pro-life movement, and never stop defending life until all my brothers and sisters are protected and our nation once again becomes a nation with liberty and justice, not just for some, but for all. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.


Prayer For Vocations

Send forth your Spirit, Lord, into the hearts of your faithful people, that we may be conscious of our vocation to holiness and sevice to others. Grant that many of us may dedicate ourselves to You through the priesthood and the religious life.We pray especially for the needs of our own parish and diocese. Grant that we may always have sufficient good and holy priests, and dedicated Sisters to serve our commumities.We pray, too, for religious orders; that generous men may join them to become zealous missionaries in preaching the Gospel in word and action, especially to the poor and abandoned.We make this prayer through Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Redeemer. Amen.


Prayer Before The Crucifix

Behold, O kind and gentle Jesus, I kneel before Thee and pray that Thou would impress upon my heart the virtues of faith, hope, and charity, with true repentance for my sins and a firm purpose of amendment. At the same time, with sorrow I meditate on Thy five precious wounds, having in mind the words which David spoke in prophecy: "They have pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones."


Divine Praises

Blessed be God.
Blessed be His Holy Name.
Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true Man.
Blessed be the Name of Jesus.
Blessed be His most Sacred Heart.
Blessed be His most Precious Blood.
Blessed be Jesus in the most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.
Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy.
Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception.
Blessed be her glorious Assumption.
Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother.
Blessed be Saint Joseph, her most chaste spouse.
Blessed be God in His angels and in His saints.
May the Heart of Jesus in the most Blessed Sacrament
Be praised, adored and loved
With grateful affection at every moment
In all the tabernacles of the world
Even to the end of time. Amen.


Prayer to Saint Benedict

Sanctissime Confessor Domini, monachorum Pater et dux,
Benedicte, intercede pro nostra omniumque salute.

V. Domine Deus virtutum converte nos.

R. Et ostende faciem tuam et salvi erimus.


Oremus.


Excita, Domine, in Ecclesia tua Spiritum cui beatus Pater noster Benedictus Abbas servivit: ut eodem nos repleti, studeamus amare quod amavit, et opere exercere quod docuit.

Da nobis, quaesumus, Domine, perseverantem in tua voluntate famulatum: ut in
Diebus nostris et merito et numero populus tibi serviens augeatur. Per Christum Dominum Nostrum. Amen.



For those whose Latin is a bit rusty:

O most holy Confessor of the Lord, Benedict, father and guide of monks, intercede for our salvation and that of everyone.

V. Lord, God of armies, convert us.

R. Show us Thy Face and we shall be saved.


Let us pray.

Awaken, O Lord, in Thy Church the Spirit that our blessed Father Saint Benedict
obeyed, so that, filled with the same Spirit we may strive to love what he loved and practice what he taught.

Grant us the grace to persevere in the service of Thy will, so that our days maysee the people of Thy servants grow in merit and number. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Hollyweird hates America.

The Washington Times: Audiences reject Iraq war at box office

It doesn't matter how many Oscar winners are in front of or behind the camera — audiences are proving to be conscientious objectors when it comes to this fall's surge of antiwar and anti-Bush films.

Both "In the Valley of Elah" and, more recently, "Rendition" drew minuscule crowds upon their release, which doesn't bode well for the ongoing stream of films critical of the Iraq war and the Bush administration's wider war on terror.

"Rendition," which features three Oscar winners in key roles, grossed $4.1 million over the weekend in 2,250 screens for a ninth-place finish. A re-release of "The Nightmare Before Christmas" beat it, and it's 14 years old.

The Michael and Cathryn Borden Memorial Book of the Day.*

ZENIT.org: Catholic Tide Is Turning: Interview With Author David Hartline

Young people want something built on a solid foundation after seeing how the culture of death is destroying society, said author David Hartline.

Hartline is the author of the recent book The Tide Is Turning Toward Catholicism , published by Catholic Report.

In this interview with ZENIT, Hartline considers some of the changing trends in the Church that have come about through courageous Catholic leaders, seen especially in Pope John Paul II and Benedict XVI.


Q: What motivated you to write "The Tide Is Turning Toward Catholicism"?

Hartline: While working for the Church, I began to notice a series of hopeful trends in the Church that few were discussing.

I wrote an article for my Catholic Report Web site that was picked up by a number of Internet sites and publications. Because of its popularity, I decided to write a book filled with data and stories concerning my observations.

Q: In what ways do you see the tide turning?

Hartline: It is turning in many ways. In a nutshell, wherever Church orthodoxy is taught the Church is flourishing. This extends to the young and old. In the book, I note that in dioceses where Church orthodoxy is emphasized, we see increases in seminarians and youth involvement in the Church.

For example in the United States, the Archdioceses of Denver, St. Louis, and Omaha, along with the Diocese of Lincoln, known for their clear observance of Church orthodoxy, have the same number of men studying for the priesthood than less-orthodox led dioceses that have five to 10 times as many Catholics.

Yes!

We also see vibrant parishes involved in Scripture study, catechism courses, apologetics, Eucharist adoration, rosary devotions, as well as programs to assist those in need. This is the springtime of evangelization that John Paul II spoke of some years ago. Because of these efforts, we are seeing many converts embrace the Church.

There have been some well-known converts in the last 20 years, starting with Scott Hahn, Deacon Alex Jones, Francis Beckwith and even bishops from other churches. However, these are just a few illustrative examples; there are millions of converts who came into the Church in the last few years who were well versed in the teachings of their previous churches, some who were even proudly anti-Catholic. However in their quest to prove Catholicism wrong, many found the Catholic Church to be the one Jesus founded.

Often, converts approach me at the various talks I give and say three things kept them from Catholicism; the Eucharist, Mary and the papacy. When I asked what brought them into the Church they basically give the same answer, the Eucharist, the Blessed Mother and the Holy Father, or the magisterium.

These were all subjects they knew little about until the read the early Church Fathers and saw the continuum of 2,000 years of the Church's history and teachings.

While there are hopeful signs in the United States and Latin America, and even glimmers of hope in Europe, the most vibrant areas of the Church can be found in Africa and Asia. In 2006 alone, some 8 million converts came into the Church and 3,000 priests were ordained in Asia and Africa.

On these continents, the faithful often have many struggles, political and religious oppression along with poverty. However, "the least of these" sure seem to be showing the wealthier parts of the Catholic world how to live and practice their faith.

Recently, a priest originally from Uganda was visiting the United States to raise money for his parish in Sudan. This visiting priest told me he was taken aback by some in the Western world who verbally attack the Church, some of whom were even members of the Church. He said such a thing would be unthinkable in much of Africa, since the Church, its teachings and graces, such as the sacraments, are embraced with awe, wonder and gratitude.

Finally, one can't talk about the turning tide without mentioning the worldwide influence of Mother Teresa and Mother Angelica. One was called to help the forgotten and the poorest of the poor, while the other was called to launch a worldwide television and radio ministry to evangelize and defend the Church throughout the four corners of the earth.

Q: In the United States you trace this turning tide to World Youth Day in Denver that occurred in 1993. Why do you see this event as a catalyst?

Hartline: There are three events I believe helped turn the tide.

The first took place with the election of John Paul II in 1978, the second was World Youth Day in Denver in 1993, and the third was the huge outpouring of love from millions of people both in Rome and throughout the four corners of the world after the death of John Paul II and the election of Benedict XVI.

World Youth Day in 1993 was a stunning success. It almost had the quality of a biblical parable. There were some in the Church in the United States who warned John Paul II that the crowds would be small, since American youth and the Western world weren't very faithful.

However, the Holy Father knew that young people always desire the truth, which brought them in great numbers to Denver. After the stunning success of World Youth Day 1993, many vocations were realized along with a resurgence in youth ministry programs.

Additionally, the importance of the election of John Paul II cannot be understated. His strong leadership with emphasis on Church orthodoxy and Eucharistic and Marian devotions laid the groundwork for many, especially the young, to embrace these important gifts.

The travels of John Paul II gave him a platform to help spread the "good news" and to remind the faithful of the forgotten gifts of the Church. The death of John Paul II and the election of Benedict XVI gave the world an unscripted and powerful image of the 2,000-year-old Church.

The outpouring of love shown to John Paul II through the 5 to 7 million who came to Rome, about one quarter of whom were under 25, gave the world a view of the Church that had been scarcely seen in the world press. The beautiful liturgy, the ancient customs such as the transfer of the body of the pontiff to St. Peter's, accompanied by the chanting of the litany of the saints, provided the world with a powerful image of the ancient Church.

The election of Benedict XVI, a close confidant of John Paul II, is keeping the continuum in place. Many skeptics were surprised at the joy, admiration and love directed to Benedict XVI by the youth at the 2005 World Youth Day in Germany.

The same emotion from the young was seen again in Brazil earlier this year. Many young people have embraced Benedict XVI's warning against the "dictatorship of relativism." With their own eyes, the young have seen how relativism and the culture of death are destroying societies, especially those in the West.

These young people want something built on a solid foundation. The connection Jesus made with Peter being the rock and giving him the keys to the kingdom (Matthew 16:16-19) is a powerful example of apostolic succession to the youth so shaken by cultural and religious trends that come and go with the wind.

Q: One chapter of your book focuses on the Catholic vote. What are your thoughts about the Catholic vote and the upcoming U.S. presidential election?

Hartline: This question is a microcosm of the whole turning-tide phenomena. Many faithful Catholics were angered by politicians who spoke about the importance of their Catholic faith, only to denounce or ignore the teachings of the faith.

However, as more Catholic prelates have taken a courageous stance in defending the Church, it has inspired not only more clergy to the same, but lay people as well. There is still a long way to go in this effort, but at least the battle has been joined.

* Huh? Look here.

Catholic Charities responds to disaster.

ZENIT.org: Catholic Charities On-site in Fiery California

People from Catholic Charities offered hot meals and technical resources to some 15,000 people sheltered from raging fires in San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium.

Wildfires in Southern California have destroyed some 2,200 structures since Sunday. The flames burned through 431,000 acres, reaching from Ventura County in the north down to the U.S.-Mexican border. Though the strong Santa Ana winds and high temperatures that helped the fires to spread this week have died down, several blazes are not yet contained.

Catholic Charities reported that the agency also organized diocesan priests to provide spiritual and emotional care at the stadium. These and other aid efforts are being donated by the Catholic Charities organizations of California.

"Catholic Charities USA's Office of Disaster Response is working closely with local agencies to ensure that our network has the tools and resources it needs to respond to the fires," said Kim Burgo, director of disaster response.

Catholic Charities USA, which has been commissioned by the U.S. bishops to represent the Catholic community in times of domestic disaster, responds with emergency and long-term assistance as needed. Its Disaster Response Office connects the Church's social service agencies and disaster planning offices across the nation.


Catholic Charities USA, which has been commissioned by the U.S. Catholic Bishops to represent the Catholic community in times of domestic disaster, responds with emergency and long-term assistance as needed. Its Disaster Response Office connects the Church’s social service agencies and disaster planning offices across the nation.


From the Catholic Charities press release:

Southern California Wildfires 2007

Visit our wildfires update page.

Catholic Charities USA is collecting donations to support local agencies’ recovery efforts.

To contribute: Call (800) 919-9338

Donate online

Send checks to:
Catholic Charities USA
Southern California Wildfires 2007
PO Box 7068
Merrifield, VA 22116-7068

Catholic Charities USA is unable to accept contributions of food, clothing, blankets and other relief supplies.

From The Past Is Prologue Department:

Israelinsider: New satellite photos: Syria razed facility to hide nuclear evidence

Newly released commercial satellite images show a suspected Syrian nuclear facility has been razed to the ground and wiped clean since it was hit September 6th by an Israeli air strike. American experts say that the demolition and cleanup suggests that Syria tried to conceal evidence of the facility's purposes: ''It took down this facility so quickly it looks like they are trying to hide something,'' a US expert said.

Animal Flesh Recipe of the Day.

Want a new way to devour delicious tuna? Bobby Flay and Food Network proudly bring you

Tuna Burgers with Tapenade Aioli

For the Tuna Burgers:

1 1/2 pounds fresh tuna steaks, finely chopped
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon chipotle pepper puree
3 tablespoons canola oil
1 tablespoon honey
2 green onions, thinly sliced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 ciabatta rolls or French bread
Watercress


For the tapenade aioli:

1/4 cup kalamata olives, pitted and chopped
2 tablespoons capers, drained
2 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
1 lemon, zested 1/2 lemon, juiced
1/2 cup prepared mayonnaise
Salt and freshly ground black pepper


Combine the tuna, Dijon, chipotle, oil, honey and green onion in a bowl and season with salt and pepper. Shape the chopped tuna firmly into 8 round uniform patties about 1 1/2 inches thick. Place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. (The burgers must be very cold to hold their shape when cooking.) Grill burgers for 3 minutes on each side for medium doneness.

"Doneness"?

For the tapenade aioli:

Combine olives, capers, garlic, lemon zest and lemon juice in the bowl of a food processor and process until coarsely chopped. Add the mayonnaise and process until smooth, season with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Serve burgers with ciabatta rolls and aioli. Garnish with watercress.

From The Death Of The West Department:

KCTV: Company Offers Fake Excuses For Absences
Hooky Anyone? Fake Excused Absence For Sale;Fake Notes Going For $25

Feeling like playing hooky, but nervous about getting caught? The Excused Absence Network has got your back.

For about $25, students and employees can buy excuse notes that appear to come from doctors or hospitals. Other options include a fake jury summons or an authentic-looking funeral service program complete with comforting poems and a list of pallbearers.

Some question whether the products are legal or ethical -- or even work -- but the company's owners say they're just helping people do something they would have done anyway.

Those who choose jury duty as an excuse to miss work enter their county courthouse information on the form.

Though the company's disclaimer advises the notes are "for entertainment purposes only," its Web site shows pictures of people sunbathing and playing golf using the fabricated excuses.

One testimonial says: "I've managed to take the nine weeks off using these templates! It couldn't be any easier!"

I know what you are thinking: "I would never use one of these, but I can see the attraction..."

Actually, for one New Jersey woman it wasn't so easy. She was arrested this year after using one of the company's notes to support her claim that she was too injured to appear in traffic court for a speeding ticket.

She was caught after court officials called the chiropractor listed and he told them he never heard of the woman.

Vision Matters co-founder Darl Waterhouse said people looking to trick their bosses probably won't get caught because of federal restrictions on the release of patient medical information.
But some are concerned about potential problems.

If bosses find out the notes are not authentic, they might think the medical provider helped in the scam, said Dr. John Z. Sadler, a psychiatry and clinical sciences professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.

Reputations could be unfairly damaged, and accreditation or license problems could arise, he said.

"I can't speak for doctors in general, but for me this practice sounds awful," said Sadler, also the director of UT-Southwestern's Program in Ethics in Science and Medicine. "This business practice seems comparable to the ways `diploma mills' and `term papers online' are wrongful."

Sadler said people who skip work without a legitimate reason are burdening conscientious employees.

Bingo!

"If I was the co-worker, I'd turn the rascal in," Sadler said.

Many businesses require documentation if an employee misses work. But several companies declined to reveal their specific policies or say whether the possibility their workers might use fake excuse notes is a concern.

"At Lockheed Martin, we have a highly ethical culture and it is extremely unlikely any of our employees would use these kinds of services," according to a statement from Lockheed Martin Aeronatics Co. in Fort Worth, Texas.

An annual nationwide survey of more than 300 human resource executives found an absenteeism rate of about 2.3 percent this year. That's down from 2.5 percent in 2006, the highest rate since 2.7 percent in 1999.

The survey was conducted by the Harris Interactive consulting firm for CCH Inc., which provides employment law information.

The executives surveyed said that two-thirds of employees who call in sick at the last minute are really missing work due to family issues, personal needs, stress and an entitlement mentality.

Personal illness accounts for only 34 percent of the absences.

The Vision Matters founders said many employees are fed up with working long hours for little pay, then having no flexibility if they needed to tend to a sick relative or attend their children's school activities.

"If employers would treat people the way they need to be treated, people wouldn't be using these notes," Liddell said.

Liddell and Waterhouse met about four years ago while working in security for a manufacturing company. After seeing several employees write fake doctor notes, the men launched the Internet business on about $300 each.

Liddell runs the company from a laptop in his home in Thackerville, a town of about 400 located a few miles north of the Oklahoma-Texas line. He won't reveal sales numbers, but says the Web site gets about 15,000 hits a month.

Waterhouse said customers have used the notes not only to miss work but to get out of gym membership contracts.

"There's no way we could think of every way to use it," he said.

Saint of the Day and daily Mass readings.

Today is the Feast of Saint Quadragesimus, a confessor and a shepherd known for miracles. He lived at Policastro, Italy, and served as a subdeacon. According to Pope St. Gregory I the Great, he was responsible for the remarkable achievement of raising a man from the dead. Pray for us, all you angels and saints.


Today's reading is Romans 7:18-25.
Today's Responsorial Psalm is Psalms 118:66, 68, 76-77, 93-94.
Today's Gospel reading is Luke 12:54-59.


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
ZENIT - The World Seen From Rome


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.


Anima Christi

Soul of Christ, sanctify me; Body of Christ, save me; Blood of Christ, inebriate me; Water from Christ's side, wash me; Passion of Christ, strengthen me; O good Jesus, hear me; Within Thy wounds hide me; Suffer me not to be separated from Thee; From the malicious enemy defend me; In the hour of my death call me; And bid me come unto Thee; That I may praise Thee with Thy saints and with Thy angels Forever and ever. Amen.


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.


Prayer to End Abortion

Lord God, I thank You today for the gift of my life, and for the lives of all my brothers and sisters. I know there is nothing that destroys more life than abortion, yet I rejoice that you have conquered death by the resurrection of Your Son. I am ready to do my part to end abortion. Today I commit myself never to be silent, never to be passive, and never to be forgetful of the unborn. I commit myself to be active in the pro-life movement, and never stop defending life until all my brothers and sisters are protected and our nation once again becomes a nation with liberty and justice, not just for some, but for all. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.


Prayer For Vocations

Send forth your Spirit, Lord, into the hearts of your faithful people, that we may be conscious of our vocation to holiness and sevice to others. Grant that many of us may dedicate ourselves to You through the priesthood and the religious life.We pray especially for the needs of our own parish and diocese. Grant that we may always have sufficient good and holy priests, and dedicated Sisters to serve our commumities.We pray, too, for religious orders; that generous men may join them to become zealous missionaries in preaching the Gospel in word and action, especially to the poor and abandoned.We make this prayer through Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Redeemer. Amen.


Prayer Before The Crucifix

Behold, O kind and gentle Jesus, I kneel before Thee and pray that Thou would impress upon my heart the virtues of faith, hope, and charity, with true repentance for my sins and a firm purpose of amendment. At the same time, with sorrow I meditate on Thy five precious wounds, having in mind the words which David spoke in prophecy: "They have pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones."


Divine Praises

Blessed be God.
Blessed be His Holy Name.
Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true Man.
Blessed be the Name of Jesus.
Blessed be His most Sacred Heart.
Blessed be His most Precious Blood.
Blessed be Jesus in the most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.
Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy.
Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception.
Blessed be her glorious Assumption.
Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother.
Blessed be Saint Joseph, her most chaste spouse.
Blessed be God in His angels and in His saints.
May the Heart of Jesus in the most Blessed Sacrament
Be praised, adored and loved
With grateful affection at every moment
In all the tabernacles of the world
Even to the end of time. Amen.

Mmmm...hot redheaded Neanderthal babes...

AFP: Study: Some Neanderthals had red hair and fair complexions

Some of our cave-dwelling Neanderthal relatives probably had red hair and fair complexions, much like modern-day humans of Celtic origin, according to a study released Thursday.

The finding comes from the first such analysis of DNA evidence taken from Neanderthal fossils recovered from El Sidron in northern Spain and Monti Lessini, Italy.

An analysis of the DNA revealed that the ancient hominids carried a mutation in the MC1R gene that codes for a protein involved in the production of melanin -- a substance that gives skin its color and also protects skin against ultraviolet light.

Melanin, again.

In modern humans, primarily of European descent, mutations in the MC1R gene are thought to be responsible for red hair and pale skin by dampening the activity of the protein.

The mutation observed in the Neanderthal genes was different from the one documented in humans, but when scientists inserted the Neanderthal gene into cells in a test tube, it seemed to have the same effect on melatonin production as the modern human genes, according to the study published in Science.

The genetic analysis doesn't seal the deal, but since the fossil record of Neanderthals does not include any samples of skin or hair, it is the best guide available, said Michael Hofreiter, a paleogeneticist at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany.
Hofreiter said the number of red-headed Neanderthals was probably pretty small, possibly just one percent of the population.

But it was unlikely to have been tied to just a few ethnic groups and therefore red-heads might have been seen in any part of Europe or Asia where the ancient hominid lived.

Neanderthals, whose ancestors diverged from that of modern humans about 300,000 years ago, colonized Europe and parts of Asia, dominating Europe until about 30,000 years ago.
The study suggests that the genes that confer pale skin and red hair evolved separately in humans and our closest extinct relatives.

From The Franco Was Right Department:

AP: Beatification of 498 from Spain's civil war will be Vatican's largest

First the militia fighters thought of hacking the bishop to death with an ax. In the end, they showed pity and shot him — one of hundreds of executions of Roman Catholic clergy as civil war erupted in Spain.

The bishop and 497 other people will be beatified Sunday by the Catholic Church, the last step before possible sainthood. The ceremony — the largest mass beatification in Vatican history — comes as Spain is taking a closer look at its painful past.

Bishop Cruz Laplana y Laguna was taken prisoner by leftist militiamen two days after the war broke out on July 17, 1936. The mayor of this town in central Spain offered to free him with a ruse: send police into the seminary where he was being held, have the bishop dress as a cop and sneak out.

Laplana y Laguna declined — he would not shed his vestments. Two weeks later, the bishop blessed his killers as they took aim and opened fire. "May God forgive you, as I forgive and bless you," he said, according to a book published by the Spanish Bishops Conference.

I'll bet the commies laughed at these last words.

He will be beatified along with 497 other people the Catholic Church has declared victims of religious persecution just before or during the Spanish civil war.

The 1936-39 war pitted an elected, leftist government against right-wing forces that rose up under Gen. Francisco Franco, who went on to win and preside over a nearly 40-year dictatorship that was staunchly supported by the Catholic Church.

Violence against the clergy had been simmering since 1931, when a republic was declared in Spain. Leftist forces targeted the church as an institution they saw as a symbol of wealth, repression and inequality.

The violence was one of Franco's pretexts for launching his rebellion, and it intensified after the war started, with churches in government-held areas burned and more and more clergy attacked.

The Catholic Church says there is no official death figure, but estimates nearly 7,000 clergy were killed in Spain from 1931 to 1939.

Except for seven lay people, all of those being beatified Sunday were clergy — priests, deacons, seminarians, monks and nuns, ranging in age from 16 to 78.

Some in Spain question the beatification's timing — three days before Parliament is to pass a Socialist-sponsored law seeking to make symbolic amends to victims of the war and the Franco dictatorship.

The bill mentions people persecuted for their religious beliefs, but for the most part it is an unprecedented formal condemnation of the Franco regime, the executions of civilians by pro-Franco militia and summary postwar trials of people accused of opposing his regime.

Once a socialist, always a commie.

Critics say the Vatican, which since the late 1980s has beatified nearly 500 other clergy killed in the war, is now hitting back at the government by choosing to beatify so many more all at once.

Christian Networks, a grouping of lay Catholic organizations, said the church should apologize for supporting Franco. "As the church has not asked forgiveness for what happened, this beatification is inopportune," it said.

Franco was right.

The church insists research has been under way for decades, and the ceremony is being held now because Pope Benedict XVI finished signing the decrees only two months ago.

"The church works on this very slowly and with its own calendar, which is not shaped by any other calendar, much less the political calendars of any government," said Juan Antonio Martinez Camino, secretary-general of the Spanish Bishops Conference.

The government has clashed with the church by legalizing gay marriage and instituting other social reforms, but has taken care not to pick a fight this time.

Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero says he respects the beatification as much as he respects the civil war atonement bill.

Jose Andres Torres Mora, a Socialist lawmaker who sponsored the war amends bill, will be among those at the beatification ceremony in St. Peter's Square.

Torres Mora's great-uncle, Juan Duarte Martin, is being beatified. He was a 24-year-old deacon when the militia tortured and killed him. "I am honoring him both ways," the lawmaker said.