Saint of the Day and daily Mass readings.

Today is the Feast of St. Maharsapor, a Persian martyr. Pray for us, all you angels and saints.


Today's reading is Galatians 1:13-24.
Today's Responsorial Psalm is Psalms 139:1-3, 13-14, 14-15.
Today's Gospel reading is Luke 10:38-42.


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.

Father Bernard Quinn, Requiescat in pace.

Please pray for the soul of Father Quinn, and for the complete recovery of Archbishop Keeler of Baltimore and Monsignor Smith of Lancaster.

Harrisburg Patriot-News: Local clery involved in auto accident in Italy

The Rev. Bernard Quinn, a priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg, was killed Saturday in an automobile accident near Terni, Italy. Details of the accident were not available.

Cardinal William H. Keeler, 75, archbishop of Baltimore, and Monsignor Thomas H. Smith, 75, pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Lancaster, were injured.

The three clerics were traveling together on a holiday. Keeler suffered a broken ankle in the accident while Smith suffered cracked ribs. Both have been treated for the injuries and are planning for their return to the United States.

Quinn, 78, was in residence at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Lancaster, where he assisted with parish duties. Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of the Harrisburg Diocese described Quinn as "a faithul and holy priest of our diocese."

Funeral arrangements have not been announced.

The Israeli crack up continues apace.

Israelinsider: Why a Jewish state?
by Gary Rosenblatt

It's a question our enemies have been asking for decades. But now, as the exhaustion and frustration over this summer's month-long war with Hezbollah sinks in, it is creeping into the thoughts of some Israelis as well.

Many are still reeling from the trauma of living under siege from missile attacks. There is a growing sense of frustration with a government and military whose leaders seem more concerned with holding onto power than using it in ways that will help the security and daily lives of their constituents.

The leadership of Israel is in free fall. The president may be brought up on charges of rape, the justice minister has stepped down to face sexual harassment charges, and the prime minister and defense minister face sharp criticism for their management of a war that seemed to proceed in fits and starts, with no clear strategy or imagination.

The soldiers fought bravely and the populace was incredibly committed to the cause, but those at the top seemed lacking in vision and a greater sense of purpose.

Particularly for the Israeli left, there is a questioning going on that is deep and disturbing, not only about the war itself, but about the concept of a Jewish state that must defend itself with alarming frequency on the battlefield and continually prove the legitimacy of its existence.

Hmmm...That must be a disease of leftists everywhere.

Moti Bar-Or, the founder and director of Kolot, an educational organization in Israel dedicated to bridging the gaps between the secular and the religious, said he has heard a number of people asking about the war, "b'shvil mah?" For what purpose was it fought? Bar-Or says he would like to see the people of Israel come up with a mission statement for their country, one that would take into account the growing gap between the rich and the poor, the ethical imperatives of helping the downtrodden (like foreign workers and young women trapped in the sex trafficking trade) and the fact that after enduring for centuries in foreign lands, Jews must deal with the responsibilities of wielding power in their own state.

At the core of such a discussion is the question of whether Israel should strive to be like any other state, as many of its secular founders dreamed, or to be "a light unto the nations," as the prophets dreamed?

Some weeks ago Prime Minister Ehud Olmert spoke about Israel's vision of being a normal state like Sweden, he said. Such sentiments are understandable, of course. Indeed, while Theodor Herzl and the founders of Israel saw the state as a refuge for Jews around the world facing anti-Semitism, the generation that followed wrote of the "New Jew," envisioning a society where Jews ran the government and cleaned the streets, and where Jewish policemen arrested Jewish prostitutes.

The longing for Israel to be accepted in the international community is powerful, but how does the quest for ordinariness correspond to the religiously inspired concept of an Israel that fulfills a biblical promise from God to Abraham and successive leaders? The Torah and the writings of the prophets are filled with descriptions of a land and people suffused with holiness, instructed to be an ethical and moral model to the world.

Standing amid the estimated 35,000 people gathered across from the United Nations last Wednesday in support of Israel and against the aggression of the president of Iran, I was heartened by the diplomatic, religious and moral leaders who gave voice to the crowd's moral passion. What brought us together was the common belief that Israel has the right to exist and defend itself, that the leaders of Iran should be held accountable for their support of international terror and that the United Nations has abandoned its noble goals.

Elie Wiesel, the Nobel Peace laureate, spoke of what unites Jews of conscience. "We must be worthy of our mission," he told the crowd. "Our mission is to preach ahavat Yisrael."

One could interpret those words simply as "love of Israel," or more broadly as caring for one's fellow man, a concept rooted in the Bible. Either way, they resonated with me in light of those who are asking, "b'shvil mah?"

As we approach Yom Kippur, the holy day that most reminds us through its liturgy not only of the fragility of our lives but of the comfort of feeling connected to a larger group, we have the opportunity to reflect on our mission, and embrace the ties that bind us.

We must not be worn down by our enemies and their senseless hatred. We defeat them through living fully, committed to seeking peace even as we protect all that is dear to us. And for all its faults, no other country better embodies that ideal than the State of Israel.

Speaking of women and the voodoo they do so well...

She Who Must Be Obeyed has discovered a new way to drive me insane and entice me to do her bidding at the same time.

Lately, when she puts her hair up, she has left a few wisps of her raven tresses dangling down the back of her neck. She says she has always done this, but I think I would have noticed something so incredibly sexy much sooner. I may be an idiot, but I'm not blind.

The bottom line? Now I can't keep my hands off her when she puts her hair up. (And I am definitely a long tresses cascading past the shoulders kind of guy.) She protests when I start kissing her neck for no apparent reason, but I have noticed she has not ceased fixing her hair in this provocative manner.

Women.

BTW, kiddies, here is another bit of personal news from Flyover, USA: Mr. Pink, Mrs. Pink and the cute-as-buttons little Pinks are leaving our small cluster of dachas and moving to North Carolina, of all places. Good luck and may God bless you all.

Applications for the position of Mr. Pink are now being accepted here in my idiot corner of Bloggerdom.

What's the price of airfare to Tel Aviv compared to the good I could do for a fellow human being?

Ha! Just kidding, babydoll. (She Who Must Be Obeyed could probably beat Orit in a fair fight. And while it would be icky and wrong for me to enjoy such a tawdry spectacle, enjoy it I would.)

I Hate Sukkot
by Orit

I hate the holidays. I really do. I know you're supposed to be happy on Sukkot, it's the "time of our rejoicing," but I'm not. I usually get depressed in Israel during the damn seasons -- Sukkot, Pesach, whatever -- all of those long holidays when you're supposed to feast with friends and family or take time off to go on outings or trips. While most of Israel is together with family or friends -- eating, traveling, hiking, or what not -- I'm alone with myself and my computer.

Yes, holidays in Israel suck for singles, or at least for me. Holidays remind me how alone I am here -- no family, no major cadres of good friends, and of course, no boyfriend. I hate feeling like a want a boyfriend -- I like to feel self-sufficient and happy from within, but, invariably, these are times when I want to be in a relationship. These are times when I want someone to call up and say, "Hey, let's go to up north or Turkey or Greece." For singles, the Jewish liturgy should describe Jewish holidays are "remembrances that thou art alone."

A holiday in Turkey or Greece? Heck, I think Bed & Breakfasts in Maryland are creepy.

When I open the paper, I see there is so much to do in this country. What a wonderful time to explore the beauty Israel has to offer. In every city or town there seems to be some concert, some festival, some olive or grape harvesting or something like that. And whom do I have to go with? No one. Maybe that's my fault, I don't know. Maybe I don't "put myself out there" like I should.

But I know that being single at 29 is not easy, especially during the festive seasons. Most of my single friends are equally depressed so we make bad company for each other. Most of my hitched friends are busy with their significant others. A lot of my sabra friends are hanging out with their folks and/or siblings traveling with them for the holidays. And the rest of my friends are the fair-weathered type.

On holidays we are supposed to rejoice in Israel. But I know I'd be rejoicing much more if I were in the States with my parents and sisters under the sukkah. These are times when I wish Israel didn't have so many long national holidays. At least in the States, there is non-Jewish bustle which doesn't make me feel so alone. I don't know, maybe I should spend my next few days in Ramallah or something.

So, for now I'll try my best to make it through. Next year in Jerusalem (hopefully with a boyfriend).

God willing, baby. God willing.

The good news? Orit has no problem with dating older men of the gentile persuasion.

The bad news? She won't take them home to meet her parents.

My Date with Chris from Isrealinsider.

He was standing next to a print of Chagall in a large reception hall at the Beverly Hills Hotel. He was 35-ish, good-looking with a Jewish nose and had serious expression on his face. He wore a copper blazer that matched his hair.

I was there covering a fancy fundraising event for the local paper, and I was bored, so I went over to him and commented on the artwork.

Turns out he was the curator of an informal exhibition, and I told him that I painted racy Biblical portraits. He expressed interest in my work and soon we began discussing where I was from: Israel.

I was pleased by how much he knew about Israel and its identity crisis. We asked questions like: What does it mean that Israel is a "Jewish state"? Does it mean its citizens must be racially Jewish? Does it mean the country's culture derives from Jewish holidays and traditions? Does it mean Jewish law is imposed upon its citizens?

We concluded that there is no easy answer. He gave me his card so we could be in touch. When I looked down at his card I saw, to my surprise, that he didn't have a Jewish name. For the purpose of this article, I'll call him Chris.

Books and their covers, baby. Why, if I had a nickel for every hot Italian-looking babe who turned out to be a wiccan...

I kept in touch with Chris, through e-mails and visits to his gallery, until he asked me out on a real date. I didn't care that he wasn't Jewish. I was too impressed by his maturity, intelligence, and interest in me as a person, thinker and artist.

Aside from that, he was a chivalrous mentsch, certainly more so than those secular Tel Aviv Jewish guys I dated, who were far more interested in my sexual expression than my Jewish expression. Chris' genteel probably comes from his Southern Baptist roots, although he considers himself agnostic. Yet, we had long conversations about the state of the world, the nature of God, and the nature of man.

Despite some of our divergent beliefs and political opinions, he was always ready to listen to me with a full heart and mind to understand me, and I felt free in sharing with him ideas that were important to me. He didn't always agree, but I felt that he informed his own outlook with some of my perspectives, as I did with his.

I had one of the more positive dating experiences I've had in a long time: filled with good communication, intellectual stimulation, laughter, fun, depth and intelligence. It was refreshing not to play Jewish geography on our first date and instead talk about ideas without any preconceived notions about what either of us should or shouldn't be or think. Of course, I couldn't introduce him to my parents, and the danger and short-term nature of our relationship probably added to the pleasantry and excitement.

But dating Chris has helped me answer questions we discussed when we first met.

Now we can get to the point of all this for both Orit and Your Humble Servant. (Surprise! It isn't How To Hook Up With a Hot Jewess in Ten Easy Lessons.)

What is a Jew and, hence, a Jewish State? A "Jew" denotes too many things for the idea of a Jewish state to have a clear definition.

The mainstream notion, taken from the Orthodox camp, is that a Jew is someone born to a Jewish mother. This is a racial distinction, but it says nothing about the character or belief system of a person or a nation. If Chris were the exact same person with a Jewish mother, could I then have introduced him to my parents?

I don't know about you, kiddies, but that whole "Jewish Race" thingee always sets my spidey senses a-tingling. (See Germany, Nazi.)

On the other hand, most streams measures someone's "Jewishness" by his or her level of Jewish observance and knowledge. But then how can one define "observance", especially when there are so many streams of Judaism and so many "pick and choose" Jews? Is a Jew who eats non-kosher but who performs the mitzvah (commandment) of living in Israel more "Jewish" than a Jew who eats kosher in, say, Australia? Is a Jew who dons tefillin but who cheats in business more "Jewish" than a Jew who doesn't daven but who is meticulously honest in business?

Then there are so many Israeli secular Jews -- bus drivers, CEOs of high tech companies, or bums on the street -- who are born to a Jewish father and mother but who have no Jewish affiliation aside from being Israeli. Are they "Jewish?"

It probably will not surprise you to learn the Jews have a whole bunch of problems. It may surprise you to learn many (if not most) of them are not the result of some pinheads trying to murder them all.

To an idiot such as myself, the answer lies in their failure to recognize the Messiah. But this isn't about me, after all.

Chris embodied many qualities we don't discuss as Jewish values, but which should be: spiritual sensitivity, intelligence, creativity, and honesty. He treated people, particularly me, with respect and generosity.

I admit I haven't got it all figured out yet, but I'm coming to the conclusion that maintaining the Jewish race for maintenance sake is not a value in and of itself. Maintaining a people that is wise, happy, and free is.

A nation? Give it a few more generations...

I like to see myself as a member of the nation of Israel. A nation involves a history, culture and system of ethical law flowering in a specific geographic location. I view myself as a "Jew" to the extent that I embrace the positive, ethical and life-giving values of my tradition, which I hope will underlie my nation. Race is a dimension that takes on ethical meaning to the extent that the nation provides refuge from racism. However, being born "Jewish" does not give anyone metaphysical or innate holiness or virtue. That Chris wasn't racially "Jewish" doesn't make him less worthy to date or marry me.

Yippee!

Chris and I are still in touch, but ultimately we know that a long-term relationship is a mute prospect. Chris appreciates my vision more so than many of my Jewish friends, but he loves Los Angeles. For us to be deeply compatible, my soul-mate has to share my vision for my nation and also be a part of it, which means, living in Israel.

Ah, c'est la vie. Cherchez la femme...

Yet I will always think of Chris as a fine human being and a "good Jew" in my book.

BTW, much hotter is a hot babe with an inquiring mind and a beautiful soul? You boys out there need to learn something as soon as possible: Adjust your attitude because everything except her soul will quickly sag, fade, and wrinkle. (You fabulous babes could use this knowledge as well.)

In vitro, no one can hear you scream...

Convert to reality Eric Pavlat (Welcome home, Mr. Pavlat.) lays down a whole bunch of real science you can use on your Democrass buddies who have not completely drowned out their consciences with the cries of tortured children.

Crisis Magazine: How to Talk to Democrats About Embryonic Stem Cell Research


"The record shows that as the need for medical experiments grew, many physicians and others treated institutionalized infants, dying patients, and mentally impaired individuals as not quite persons in the moral sense. Moreover, indigent patients in hospitals were often treated in a similar fashion. . . . "

“Clearly, these ‘vulnerable' individuals were thought of as not quite eligible for the moral consideration we would feel obliged to extend to those who were, in our judgment, full persons in the moral sense. They were, our practices suggested, not entitled to the same rights and respect that others enjoyed.”

—Harold T. Shapiro, President Emeritus,
Princeton University and the University of Michigan,
from a lecture given at the University of Michigan,
December 5, 2001


Few people are aware that there were no federal laws or regulations governing medical research until Senator Edward Kennedy cosponsored the National Research Act in 1974, which created the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects. The passage of that bill meant that the conditions described by Shapiro could not recur, and that all persons would be granted protection from being turned into “human guinea pigs,” regardless of their social status.

Times have changed. Once again, medical experimentation is being carried forward on those who are not judged to be “full persons” and are not granted “the same rights and respect that others [enjoy].” This time, though, it's performed on those whom the legal system won't even grant a lawyer: the human embryo.

Because embryonic stem cell research (ESCR) doesn't have the starkness of other pro-life issues, some people may not realize what an urgent issue it is. My wife, a former AIDS and cancer-research technician at Johns Hopkins University, put it simply: When it comes to ESCR, “the problem isn't the cells, it's the person you have to kill to get the cells.” And that's what's wrong with embryonic stem cell research as it stands today: It's fatal. This research doesn't use human beings as guinea pigs, but rather as clay pigeons.

Many senators and representatives with otherwise impeccable pro-life records—such as Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah)—actively support ESCR. As Senator Hatch put it, “Human life begins in the mother's womb, not a petri dish or a refrigerator.” For others, there's an admittedly uncomfortable trade-off at work—a utilitarian belief that since benefits will (we're assured) result from ESCR, it is therefore morally acceptable, especially since the embryos are “going to be destroyed anyway.” And, of course, those who are already pro-abortion are going to dismiss those who oppose ESCR as religious fanatics.

As with abortion and euthanasia, those most likely to support ESCR are Democrats. And, like the other life issues, it can be a thorny subject for debate. As I wrote before (“Pulling the Plug: Five Strategies for Talking to Democrats About Euthanasia,” April 2006; and “How to Talk to Democrats About Abortion: Five Strategies for Making the Pro-Life Case,” October 2005), the most important thing you can do when discussing the issue is pray—for your state and country; for your apostolate; for humility; and especially for your discussion partner.

The other main strategy is to locate common ground you hold with your friend and work from there. It doesn't have to be about stem cell research; it doesn't even have to be about politics. It could be any number of issues, even something as light as recent films or baseball scores. It's a simple truth that we are more likely to listen to those with whom we feel some sort of rapport. To forestall any snap judgments about you or your position, it's best to cultivate some conversation that will create a bridge between you and your interlocutor.

But even more than that, you must be empathetic yourself. You have to be able to see and understand that your debate partners really are trying to do what they think is right, and appreciate that they might not have been presented the truth in a way they can understand. You have to love them as Jesus did when He wept for them—to see them with His compassion when He said they were “like sheep without a shepherd” (Mk 6:34).

After preparing yourself spiritually, it's best to familiarize yourself with the important terms of the debate. Here are a few to get you started:

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are cells from a several-days-old human embryo (called a blastocyst). Researchers covet these cells for the often-fascinating insights they provide into the development of human beings, but even more so for their highly promising therapeutic benefits. There are three basic traits that make them such a commodity: They are pluripotent, or able to develop into any kind of cell in the body; they have an astonishing ability to self-renew, defying age; and, less frequently mentioned but of vital importance, they are human, which means that tests on these cells could provide more accurate results than those on animal cells. In order to research these cells, scientists must “harvest” them from the blastocyst, a lethal procedure.

Human cloning is the process by which an embryo is formed outside the body. First, the 23 chromosomes from an egg cell are removed. Next, an adult's DNA (all 46 chromosomes) is transferred into the egg cell, which would then divide as if it had been fertilized by a sperm cell. The developing embryo would therefore be genetically identical to the DNA donor, having none of the egg donor's original chromosomes. This process is called somatic cell nuclear transfer. As of this writing, human cloning has never been successfully accomplished (not even in South Korea, where Dr. Woo-Suk Hwang's infamously fraudulent research was both completed and exposed). Without human cloning, nearly all ESCR treatments will prove extremely difficult due to the risk of tissue rejection (e.g., the patient may need to take immunosuppressant drugs for the rest of his or her life).

Adult stem cells (ASCs) is the blanket term given not only to the cells in adult bone marrow, fat, and throughout the rest of our bodies, but umbilical cord and placental stem cells as well. The greatest benefit of their use is that tissue rejection is impossible, since the stem cells would (except in the case of placental stem cells) come from the body of the actual patient. Bioethicists of all stripes are united in their support for human adult stem cell research. Scientists, however, are more divided, as many claim that adult stem cells lack the pluripotency of embryonic stem cells, though promising new research may change some minds.

For pro-lifers, the basic message is simple: ESCR is bad; ASCR is good. The former is unacceptable because of the person who must be killed to obtain the cells, whereas the latter is completely non-lethal—the only morally acceptable form of research in this area.

For more information on this rapidly changing field of science, visit the following sites on the Web: www.stemcellresearch.org, www.bioethics.com, and www.lifenews.com/bioethics.html;
for a secular perspective, see www.sciencedaily.com/news/health_medicine/stem_cells/.

First Strategy: Compare the Success of ESCR and ASCR

Last year I spoke with a pro-life legislator about the ESCR bill. I was surprised to hear that he was supporting it; when I asked why, he said that whenever he thought about it, he couldn't get the picture of his six-year-old niece out of his head. His niece has juvenile diabetes, and he said that voting against ESCR would feel like voting to keep the little girl diabetic for the rest of her life.

I wish I'd replied with what Ian Wilmut—who cloned the sheep Dolly—wrote in the British Medical Journal : “Several of the conditions that are mentioned as candidates for cell therapy are autoimmune diseases, including type 1 [juvenile] diabetes. In such cases transfer of immunologically identical cells to a patient is expected to induce . . . rejection.” In other words, tissue-rejection issues exclude ESCR and human cloning from being candidates for the successful treatment of juvenile diabetes.

On the other hand, the recently developed Edmonton protocol uses islet cells (from the pancreas) to treat juvenile diabetes. The most recent data indicate that 80 percent of those patients treated require no insulin shots a full year after the treatment. While the islet cells are, unfortunately, hard to come by, adult stem cells from the child's own body can be used to “cause pancreatic tissue to repair itself, restoring normal insulin production and reversing symptoms of diabetes” ( JDRF Countdown ). What the legislator really should have done was push for increased funding for adult stem cell research.

Like my legislator friend, most supporters of ESCR honestly want to help people who are suffering. The most effective way of reaching out to them is to show that you share their goal of funding medical research—but explain that ESCR simply isn't the best way of discovering cures.

There are two main reasons to support adult stem cell research over the alternative: the success rate of ASCR and the incredible obstacles blocking ESC treatments.

There isn't enough space here to describe all that ASCR has accomplished. It has already successfully treated or cured more than 70 diseases and conditions (see www.stemcellresearch.org/facts/asc-refs.pdf), including some “miracle cures” of those who were previously paralyzed. Further, it avoids tissue-rejection problems. ASCs have already successfully developed into nerve, brain, and heart tissue, thought to be the hardest tissues to replicate; in fact, scientists' opinion of the overall pluripotency of ASCs, especially from bone marrow, has been upgraded substantially (American Society of Hematology, December 12, 2005, press release). New methods of multiplying ASCs “allow [them] to be grown in sufficient quantities to permit far more research—and allow faster growth of tissues that can be transplanted into patients” (“From One Cell, Many Possible Cures,” Florida State University press release). And new sources of adult stem cells, some with the same pluripotency and self-renewability of ESCs, are being discovered all the time.

With embryonic stem cell research, we have the opposite problem. First, ESCs have neither cured nor treated any diseases or medical conditions in human beings to date. In order to avoid tissue rejection with ESCs, human cloning would be necessary. Somatic cell nuclear transfer is an eight-step process, meaning that there are more opportunities for error to be introduced into the process than with ASCs—not to mention that human cloning has never yet been successful, nor is likely to be successful without literally dozens of donated eggs per attempt. (Bioethicist and ESCR supporter Art Caplan admits that, in cloning three dogs—only two of which survived to birth—Dr. Hwang used 1,000 dog egg cells.)

Peer-reviewed research in the journals Somatosensory and Motor Research and American Journal of Pathology indicates that embryonic cells injected into mice often do not cure them, but instead create tumors. Even when they don't directly form tumors, the journals Nature Genetics and Nature Biotechnology note that they still develop genetic abnormalities associated with cancer—partially the result of their energetic ability to develop into many different cell types, which can be hard to control.

Finally, James Sherley, associate professor of biological engineering at MIT, points out that ESCs are not able to survive the body's cell turnover (where older cells are replaced with new ones), whereas ASCs are made to survive the process (“To Clone or Not to Clone,” www.mercatornet.com). The obstacles facing those pursuing medical treatments using ESCs are so great that Dr. Douglas W. Losordo, chief of cardiovascular research at Boston's Caritas St. Elizabeth's Medical Center, said, “I think embryonic stem cells are going to fade in the rear-view mirror of adult stem cells.” Michael Fumento, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, agreed: “Embryonic stem cell research is so far behind it's like a joke. . . . We're getting everything we need out of non embryonic stem cells, and what we're getting is incredible.” To date, there have been nearly 1,200 human trials (either active or completed) with ASCs, but zero—none even in the planning stages—for ESCs (www.clinicaltrials.gov).

The logic is simple: If a non-destructive option exists and has proven successful, isn't it better than one that is destructive, unpredictable, and as yet unsuccessful?

A final caveat: There are some newly proposed methods of ESCR that are non-fatal; Crisis columnist Senator Rick Santorum, in fact, recently co-sponsored legislation that would increase funding for this avenue of research. There isn't the space here to go into the details of these studies; see “‘ Ethical' Embryonic Stem Cell Research?” on the Web at www.cbhd.org/resources/stemcells/mcconchie_2005-06-10.htm
for more information, or “Anti-Science? Pro-Life Dream Team Confronts Embryonic Stem Cell Juggernaut” in the January 2006 issue of Crisis . Suffice it to say that in the future, scientists may be able to harvest embryonic stem cells without destroying the embryo. While there is some controversy over the process, some prominent Catholic bioethicists are cautiously optimistic that at least one of these new theories could prove morally acceptable.

Second Strategy: Debunk the Common Myths

Be aware of what your partner may be assuming. A lot of false information is circulating, and stem cell facts may be hard to come by through the popular media. Be aware that your interlocutor may be proceeding on false assumptions.

MYTH: Embryonic stem cell research is illegal.

FACT: As pro-ESCR journalist William Saletan wrote on Slate.com, “No such ban exists. Embryonic stem cell research is unrestricted in the private sector.” The point is that private researchers are choosing not to proceed without federal funding—they're too afraid of getting stuck with the bill if the research fails to pan out.

MYTH: Scientists only want to do research on leftover embryonic cells from in vitro fertilization (IVF) that would be destroyed anyway.

FACT: Howard Dean made this case on the presidential campaign trail, saying: “Embryonic stem cells come from embryos which have been created for the purpose of helping infertile couples have children. In this process . . . embryos will be frozen for future use. The vast majority of these will ultimately be discarded. But, these discarded embryos can produce something good, they can potentially save the life or health of a stranger.” It sounds nice in theory but is completely untrue.

We've already seen that nearly all ESC treatments would involve human cloning, which is a far different thing than using leftover cells. In fact, not only the treatment but even the research would involve cloning, including the creation of new stem cell lines. The California ESCR law specifies that women are not to be paid for egg donations beyond reimbursement of expenses, while both New Jersey and Maryland's laws were written specifically to permit implantation of a cloned embryo into a human womb, as long as it is removed and destroyed before birth. Why would these laws have been written with legal language referring to egg donors and cloned embryos if the intent were solely to use leftover frozen embryos?

MYTH: Embryonic stem cells are not human.

FACT: While ESCR supporters may dance around the question of where life actually begins, Professor Sherley puts it bluntly: “There is no credible scientific debate on whether human embryos are alive and human.” Embryology textbooks universally agree: “The development of a human begins with conception” ( Langman's Medical Embryology ); “the time of fertilization represents the starting point in the life history, or ontogeny, of the individual” ( Patten's Foundations of Embryology ); “the [zygote] results from the union of an oocyte [egg cell] and a sperm during fertilization. A zygote is the beginning of a new human being” ( The Developing Human: Clinically Oriented Embryology ).

Princeton University Professor of Jurisprudence Robert P. George writes, “The embryonic, fetal, infant, child and adolescent states are stages of development of a determinate and enduring entity—a human being—who comes into existence as a zygote and develops by a gradual and gapless process into adulthood many years later.” And after all, if the cells aren't human, what else could they be? Butterflies? Worms? Goats? If they aren't human, what good would the research do? The answer is obvious once the question is stated plainly, and objections simply fall apart.

MYTH: Cures from ESCR are coming soon.

FACT: ESCR supporter Professor Lord Robert Winston, at a special lecture, admitted, “I am not entirely convinced that embryonic stem cells will, in my lifetime, and possibly anyone's lifetime for that matter, be holding quite the promise that we desperately hope they will.” Columnist and ESCR promoter Cynthia Tucker freely admits that “some of those cures could be decades away.” South Korean ESCR expert Curie Ahn is quoted as saying that cures might take “three to five decades.” Smart money is on the probability that successful ESC therapies will be nowhere near ready for literally decades, if at all—while successful ASC therapies are already in use. For example, people in the advanced stages of Parkinson's are being told that there is no cure, when ASCR has already lead to a reduction of symptoms, according to two articles in the journal Nature Medicine . Victims of diseases like Parkinson's and juvenile diabetes shouldn't be forced to wait for ESCR to play catch-up.

MYTH: A majority of Americans support taxpayer funding of ESCR.

FACT: Poll results are frequently used in support of this argument, and yet questions in these polls are often misleading to the point of rendering their results meaningless. The U.S. Newswire , for example, reported in May 2006 that “nearly three-quarters of Americans support embryonic stem cell research,” but this doesn't address whether they support taxpayer funding for it—an important distinction. Additionally, many poll questions about ESCR include a preface that inflates the research's possibilities, falsely claims that ESCR will only involve “leftover” embryos from fertility clinics, or fails to mention that the research destroys human embryos. What's more, some poll questions ask about “stem cell research” instead of “embryonic stem cell research”—a crucial distinction.

When all is said and done, only 39 percent of voters actually support taxpayer funding of embryo-destructive research, according to an International Communications Research poll from May of this year. Another question in the same poll revealed that 81 percent of Americans oppose using human cloning techniques to create embryos fated to be destroyed for the sake of science.

MYTH: ESCR is a promising avenue of research for Alzheimer's disease.

FACT: ESCR is extremely unlikely to be successful in treating Alzheimer's. Stem cell therapies are envisioned for use when one particular set of cells isn't functioning properly, as in the case of diabetes or Parkinson's disease. But as Dr. T. John Martin, emeritus professor of medicine at the University of Melbourne, points out, “Alzheimer's is a global condition of the brain and its causes are unknown. . . . It is virtually impossible to conceive that any form of cell therapy could be helpful with Alzheimer's disease.”

On the other hand, ESCR could be useful in terms of discovering how Alzheimer's develops— if you're willing to create ESC lines, change their genes so that the lines develop Alzheimer's, turn them into brain cells, and watch them deteriorate, like a modern-day Tuskegee experiment. Alternatively, you could develop a library of stem cell lines—perhaps a thousand or more—and turn all the lines into brain cells, and then observe them to see which ones actually develop Alzheimer's, thus isolating the genetic component behind the disease. You could also add chemicals to various petri dishes to try to induce Alzheimer's in the healthy lines.

Of course, you would have to kill thousands of human embryos to develop that library, but that's no obstacle to researchers like Larry Goldstein, the chairman of the International Society for Stem Cell Research's Government Affairs Committee, who proposed these two research methodologies to Congress on June 8, 2005. Another suggested method is to create mouse–human combinations, called “chimeras,” by injecting about 100,000 human ESCs into the brains of mice to study how human brain cells will respond to various procedures.

But none of these ideas implies a “cure” for Alzheimer's. So why, if no cure is forthcoming, is Alzheimer's routinely mentioned as a disease likely to be cured by ESCR? National Institutes of Health stem cell expert Ronald McKay puts it bluntly: “People need a fairy tale.”

MYTH: Most ESCR bills ban human cloning.

FACT: A few states do ban somatic cell nuclear transfer. However, a referendum on stem cell research in Missouri, for example, claims to outlaw human cloning by redefining the term as “implant[ing] in a uterus or attempt[ing] to implant in a uterus anything other than [IVF results] . . . for the purpose of initiating a pregnancy that could result in the creation of a human fetus, or the birth of a human being.” But this narrow definition doesn't include somatic cell nuclear transfer. In other words, the bill says human cloning is acceptable as long as you kill the clone and harvest its cells before it becomes a fetus. What's actually illegal is letting it live.

MYTH: ESCR is pure science.

FACT: While scientists are indeed fascinated by the potential of ESCR, there are also huge financial possibilities at stake. Research advocate and biotech writer James P. Kelly of the Seoul Times explained one of the reasons why he no longer supports ESCR: “I overlooked the fact that the scientists and industries urging us to travel the longest, most problem-filled paths to treatments and cures depend on the continued existence of disability and disease for their funding, profits, careers, and existence.”

A Web site sponsored by the Human Genome Project points out that, since ESCR involves the creation of cell lines, those lines “are technically patentable. . . . Patents could . . . discourage product development because of high royalty costs owed to all patent owners of that sequence; these are costs that will likely be passed on to the consumer.” On the other hand, ASCR involves techniques that can be repeated on different patients. Techniques are non-patentable—you can only patent a product or a design—so there is no potential for price-gouging with ASCR.

If ASCR and ESCR both result in treatments and cures, but only ESCR results in patents and profits, which would big business likely support? This is an example of the health-care industry's obsession with profits over patients—a theme that will resonate with many Democrats.

Third Strategy: Oppose the Exploitation of Women

When it comes to second-wave feminism, one of the movement's most important texts was Judy Norsigian's Our Bodies, Ourselves , which was especially concerned with the exploitation of women's bodies. Norsigian has now quite logically applied her concern to include the exploitation of women for the sake of medical research.

In a 2005 editorial in the Boston Globe (“Risks to Women in Embryo Cloning”), Norsigian mentions the ESC controversy, noting, “Omitted from the polarized debate is any discussion of the thousands of women who will need to undergo egg extraction procedures for such embryo cloning. A primary concern is the substantial risks to women's health posed by the extraction procedure and the inability to obtain true informed consent from egg donors given the current lack of adequate safety data.”

Getting more specific, she points out that 3 percent to 8 percent of women who take drugs to stimulate egg production—as women do when donating eggs— develop Ovarian Hyper-Stimulation Syndrome, a condition that can be not only painful but occasionally fatal within “days after completion of egg collection.” A study published in the journal Animal Biology suggests the troubling possibility that ovarian hyper-stimulation treatments may lead to stillbirths and birth defects in future pregnancies. Additionally, the drug Lupron, which is “used to ‘shut down' the ovaries before stimulation,” produces side effects including bone loss, liver problems, and acute pain. Finally, she discusses the philosophical issue of treating women's eggs as commodities, a stance that objectifies women as mere producers of biological goods. “This is very much a women's issue,” Norsigian says elsewhere; “there is a very strong pro-choice liberal contingent that believes there is something wrong with embryo cloning.”

Among that “contingent” was California's Pro-Choice Alliance Against Proposition 71 (referring to the ESCR funding bill that eventually became law). The alliance points out that thousands of women will need to donate eggs to keep up with demand from researchers, a fact that “raises troubling questions about the exploitation of women, especially those who are young and poor.”

The feminist organization Hands Off Our Ovaries (www.handsoffourovaries.com) has as its slogan, “Because losing even one woman's life is too high a price to pay.” They note that there have been “25 deaths and over 6,000 complaints of medical complications attributed to Ovarian Hyper-Stimulation Syndrome” and urge the FDA to investigate the possibilities of ovarian cancer, infertility, and birth defects that may also result from this procedure. Medical sociologist Diane Besson said in congressional testimony that in pursuing ever-increasing demands for human eggs, “We are being asked to make women the servants of biotechnology.” This idea should appall any Democrat concerned with women's health issues, especially when he or she realizes that Dr. Hwang's unsuccessful experiments into human cloning used 2,221 female egg cells (“Beyond Embryo Politics,” The Women's Health Activist ).

Fourth Strategy: Discuss Business Ethics

Most all Democrats are alike in their suspicion of big business. It makes a good debating point, then, to emphasize that the same ethical behavior we expect from our business leaders should apply no less to our scientists.

Compare it to a Democrat's opposition to animal testing, especially for non-medical purposes. Democrats believe that if there are two options—one destructive, one non-destructive—and both achieve the same ends, one should favor the non-destructive option. This situation could also apply to polluters, tobacco companies, sweat shops, and employers who fail to attend to gender equity issues.

The parallel holds for scientific research: If there are two avenues of medical research available, where one is very possibly fatal and the other is always non-fatal, to deliberately choose the former constitutes unethical behavior.

Fifth Strategy: Tug at Their Heartstrings

We can't help but shudder when we hear of forced organ harvesting from prisoners on death row in China. Human-rights activist Harry Wu describes how this situation came to be: “The materialistic philosophy of the Communist Party sees human life as coming from matter. They think life has no value. . . . This is the basic perspective of [the] Chinese Communist regime's use of the organs of death row inmates.” To the Communist Chinese government, human bodies are merely useful objects, and the human person becomes nothing more than a commodity. The same could be said of the attitude that supports ESCR.

Don't be afraid to mention Tuskegee, Willowbrook, the Thalidomide trials, and the Cold War radiation experiments—all carried out on human subjects—or the medical research routinely performed on the poor, the dying, and the mentally retarded in the 1800s. The comparison is apt: Once we decide that other people are actually less than people, we tend to use them as tools for our own benefit. To a Democrat championing the rights of the disenfranchised, this mindset should be unconscionable.

In the debate about ESCR, the life-and-death urgency of the issue is often lost—it is, after all, hard to put a face or a name to a blastocyst. For that very reason, an argument drawing on these emotional cues can be a good way to remind your interlocutor of the gravely important ideals that are at stake here.

Framing the Choice Clearly

While debates about abortion and euthanasia often take center stage, legislation expanding ESCR is quietly but steadily surpassing them both. Arguments about ESCR on the federal level overlook the fact that the issue is already being pushed through in the legislatures of state after state, and even normally pro-life Republicans are advocating for funding.

With the issue advancing ahead of public debate, it is imperative that we ask ourselves the question suggested by Shapiro's observations: Who is a person? Our answer will say much about society, and just where it is heading.

Eric Pavlat is a convert from pro-choice agnosticism whose conversion story was printed in Surprised by Truth 2 . Pavlat is a board member of Democrats for Life of Maryland, Inc. He can be contacted at Maryland@democratsforlife.org .

Jerry Brown is running for California Attorney General...

...Sick joke or crime against humanity?

Contra Costa Times: Attorney general
Though Democrat Jerry Brown is better known, has more money and has enjoyed a double-digit lead in the polls, a state Senate Republican is making a serious bid to defeat him for the office of state attorney general.

Sen. Chuck Poochigian of Fresno is warning that Brown is too "flaky" for the job of the state's top law enforcement official. The senator principally calls Brown soft on crime and cites his opposition to the death penalty.

"Jerry Brown is the last person who should have the responsibility of protecting California's families as attorney general," said Poochigian spokesman Kevin Spillane.

But Brown, a former California governor and now Oakland's mayor, is saying Poochigian is "too extreme" for the state, considering his opposition to gun control and abortion rights.

Brown campaign strategist Ace Smith said Poochigian is "trying to pass himself off as a moderate when in fact he's an extremist."

Ah...It is morning in Jerry Brown's Amerika. I can smell the brimstone from here...

Golly, kiddies, I sure am glad the Slave China regime is really, really, REALLY uspset with the Slave Korea regime!

USA Today: Analysis: North Korea-China ties strained by nuclear test vow
China responded to North Korea's warning that it will test a nuclear bomb with some of the sharpest rhetoric Beijing has used against its longtime communist ally. But would China punish Pyongyang if it goes nuclear?

Ha!

AFP: US may push China, neighbours to reign in North Korea: experts
North Korea's announced nuclear test is likely to prompt the United States to pressure China and other regional states to rein in Pyongyang and possibly even seek a new regime, some experts said.

The Old Gray Whore: North's Test Seen as Failure for Korea Policy China Followed
China denounced North Korea's reported nuclear test and demanded it stop any actions that might make the situation worse.

Roto-Reuters: China denounces "brazen" North Korea nuclear test
China said on Monday it firmly opposed North Korea's nuclear test, denouncing it as "brazen" in unusually strong language, and demanded Pyongyang stop any action that could worsen the situation.

EEK! Look at that Fearless Leader! We have been denounced by other mass murderers!

Support hot Turkish babes: Azra Akin, Miss World 2002.

From the pages of The King Abdullah Gazette:

I can't wait for ABC to put Mark Foley on America's Funniest Home Videos...

The City of Our Lady of the Angels Daily News: Cops stop John Mark Karr, 'GMA' TV crew near school

SODOM BY THE BAY, CALIFORNIA - John Mark Karr, the one-time suspect in the slaying of JonBenet Ramsey, was briefly stopped by police on Friday when the former schoolteacher was spotted wandering near the classrooms of a school where he briefly worked years ago.

Why would this creepy, pesky, and evil man who is hated by all good Democrasses because of his sins (real and imaginary) be hanging a round a school?

Sgt. Steve Mannina said a limousine carrying Karr, 41, and two producers from ABC's "Good Morning America" show was stopped shortly after the reported sighting. Police took the names of Karr and the producers, but no one was arrested because no laws were broken.

Of course! The AmericaLast media wants to feed his diseased ego even more!

Police said an employee of the Convent of the Sacred Heart school in San Francisco, where Karr worked briefly as a teacher's aide in 2000, called police when she spotted Karr near the school.

May God have mercy on us all.

"He stepped out of the limo and stood (outside the school) for two or three minutes, walked down the sidewalk, went up to the door and looked in the window," Mannina said of Karr.

Karr was giving the ABC producers a tour of the neighborhood where he used to live and work when he suddenly exited the limo and approached the school, said Jeffrey Schneider, senior vice president of ABC News.

"His behavior gave us serious pause, and ABC decided not to proceed with the interview," Schneider said.

No! "Serious pause"? HE gave YOU serious pause?

DAY 47: PLUTO HELD HOSTAGE

Results of this weekend's football picks.

I picked college ballgames played on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday October 6 through 8. I was a respectable 17 and 8.

I was an almost respectable 7 and 5 plus 2 pushes picking NFL games on 10/8 and 10/9.

Death of the Repansycans?

Robert Novak: GOP hopefuls hope Hastert stays away

The survival of J. Dennis Hastert as speaker of the House of Representatives will produce an uncomfortable scene Thursday at the Hilton Chicago. President Bush is the principal attraction at a reception to fund congressional candidates in two suburban Chicago districts -- once thought safely Republican but where Democrats now lead. In the wake of the Mark Foley scandal, Hastert's presence at the reception will be an embarrassing distraction.

"We look on this as a Bush event, not a Hastert event," an aide to one of the Republican candidates told this column. But the invitation to the $1,000-a-ticket Chicago fund-raiser lists Hastert, in large type, as its principal host. The speaker seems certain, unwittingly, to take attention away from the congressional candidates. As the most prominent Republican officeholder in Illinois, Hastert could not be removed from this event, as he has been from five congressional campaigns as of this writing.

The spectacle of Hastert showing up at political events across the nation where he is not wanted is a by-product of his survival. Early last week after the Foley scandal broke, the buzz on Capitol Hill was that he would be gone within hours. By week's end, however, Republicans were acting more like Republicans. They had decided Hastert must stay, because it was both fair and politically prudent. House GOP leaders, who had started the week shooting at each other, now were on the same page.

"It's really moot," one of Hastert's most severe Republican critics (who would not be identified) told me. "We are sure to lose the House, and Denny never would want to be minority leader." (Ouch! - F.G.) With Hastert's last performance as speaker coming in a predictably do-nothing lame-duck session after the Nov. 7 election, the month of October will be challenging for him and his party as he decides what to do with plans to campaign for challenged House candidates.

Hastert was supposed to campaign for two endangered Republicans: freshman Rep. Mike Sodrel in Indiana and Rep. Ron Lewis in Kentucky. Hastert canceled the Sodrel visit, and Lewis disinvited the speaker. The speaker also decided against a scheduled visit for Joy Padgett, replacing the disgraced Rep. Bob Ney in Ohio. Rep. Jim Gerlach in Pennsylvania and Shelley Sekula-Gibbs, attempting a write-in campaign to replace the resigned Rep. Tom DeLay in Texas, asked Hastert not to come. Democrats may win in all five districts.

Mr. Gerlach deserves better, but he is in a Democrass district.

The embarrassment of a House speaker rejected by candidates who most need help would have been avoided if Hastert had been pushed out last week. He was not, mainly because the man who has been speaker longer than any previous Republican is popular with his colleagues, who wanted to be fair to him. Furthermore, they determined the political fallout from his resignation would be worse than his retention.

Rank-and-file Republicans do not blame Hastert for the failure of the House leadership and its staff to heed excessive attention paid to male pages by closeted homosexual Foley. "Foley should have been tossed out years ago," said a Republican congressman who is a close ally of Hastert. "It's sickening." The broader question asked by thoughtful Republican House members is whether the sloppy treatment of Foley's conduct reflected the same leadership problems in failing to make tax cuts permanent or even to address the coming crisis in Social Security.

Exactly! Repansycans are all wet and squishy soft. Is anyone surprised they hesitated to jettison a sodomite from their ranks?

On the other hand, at least the Repansycans eventually did jettison said pervert. The Party of Blasphemy, Buggery, and 'Bortion would have given him a medal.


Nor has Hastert supported spending reform. While he is not one of the Appropriations Committee "Cardinals" who pile up earmarks to the dismay of conservative voters, he and his staff are earmarkers. Four months ago, it was revealed that Hastert earned nearly $2 million in a 2005 land deal that might have been made possible by a $207 million highway earmark by the speaker.

Here's a big surprise: Repansycans are not conservative.

The decision to stick it out with Hastert postpones what House Republicans will do about leadership in the wake of probable defeat Nov. 7. Will they look for leaders unafraid of tax and spending reform and who will be more watchful of aberrant behavior by their colleagues?

I would not hold my breath, Bob.

Food For The Poor

Food For The Poor, Inc.

Food For The Poor (FFP) ministers to spiritually renew impoverished people throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Established in 1982 as a 501(c)(3)corporation, our goals are to improve the health, economic, social and spiritual conditions of the men, women and children we serve.

Food For The Poor raises funds and provides direct relief assistance to the poor, usually by purchasing specifically requested materials and distributing them through the churches and charity organizations already operating in areas of need. In this way, the organization serves the poor with dignity and ensures the most appropriate use of donors' funds.

Since its founding in 1982, Food For The Poor (FFP), a Christian international aid organization, distributed more than $2.3 billion in food, medical, educational, building and small business supplies to 16 countries in the Caribbean and Central America. The organization maintains an average administrative overhead of 4 percent -- ensuring the poor receive 96 percent of all donations.

Food For The Poor follows the principle that education and self-help must fortify charity work so recipients learn to break the cycle of poverty. FFP supports programs to teach recipients how to raise livestock, develop small businesses and provides agricultural assistance to independent farmers.


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Those folks on the Gulf Coast are our neighbors. You know what to do.

Does everyone now see the futility of government action?

No, of course not.

After more than a year of vote-buying and blame-assignment, at least $110 billion US taxpayer dollars (We have got off light - so far. See below.) have been spent and the region is still a mess. That is no surprise to TheChurchMilitant.

People are the most important resource in the world, and not only cannot government EVER meet the needs of ANYONE, ANYWHERE, at ANYTIME its actions are ALWAYS destructive and corrupting.

For the past year I have given you an opportunity to TRULY help our brothers and sisters in Christ who have suffered from the effects of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita through Catholic Charities USA.
While not perfect (What endeavor of man is?) Catholic Charities USA is infinitely better than the vile slavery offered to the poor and forgotten by our moral and intellectual superiors.

I would like to request another prayer from you, Gentle Reader, as the second year of recovery continues. Please pray to Almighty God that all men may throw off the shackles of ignorance and servitude that demean them and stifle their immortal souls.

First, last, and always, PRAY. Pray for the survivors. Pray for the repose of the souls of those who were killed. Pray for the families and friends. Pray for the relief workers, the cops, the firemen, the troops, and the technicians. Pray for the volunteers.

It is time to step up once again, kiddies. "Do unto others", "I was naked and you clothed me", et cetera.

As time passes, the memory of these disasters will fade for those of us fortunate enough to live outside the devastated areas, but recovery and restoration will take years.

Please, whatever you do, don't become a cynic. (I know, I know. But I just play one on the computer.) Of course there will be more horror stories like the abuse of the debit cards and that $250-odd billion federal package will produce insane amounts of corruption, but our fellow Americans will be suffering from Katrina for a long time.

True charity, (News Flash! Taxes ARE NOT charity.) like the money you donate to Catholic Charities will help the truly needy and will not foster dependency.

Catholic Charities USA is collecting financial donations to Catholic Charities agencies’ emergency and long-term recovery efforts in the wake of both Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. Catholic Charities USA is consistently ranked among the highest and most efficient organizations across the country. Approximately 96 percent of contributions made to the 2005 Hurricane Relief Fund will be used for emergency response and recovery efforts.


Mail Checks To:

Catholic Charities USA
2005 Hurricane Relief Fund
PO Box 25168
Alexandria, VA 22313-9788

Call: (800) 919-9338

Contribute Now Online


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FAQ - Donations
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Agencies Impacted:
Catholic Charities of Miami
Catholic Charities of New Orleans
Catholic Community Services of Baton Rouge
Catholic Social Services of Houma-Thibodaux
Catholic Social and Community Services of Biloxi, MS
Catholic Charities of Jackson, MS
Catholic Social Services of Mobile, AL


How you can help:
Unfortunately, Catholic Charities USA is unable to accept contributions of food, clothing, blankets and other relief supplies. Monetary donations will be used to provide for the emergency relief and long-term recovery of Katrina's and Rita's victims. Catholic Charities USA is consistently ranked among the highest and most efficient organizations across the country.
Approximately 96 percent of contributions made to the 2005 Hurricane Relief Fund will be used for emergency response and recovery efforts.


About the Disaster Response Office

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.

And, as always, give generously to the special collections for hurricance disaster relief in your local parish.

Pray for the souls of the dead and comfort the living.

From the Lancaster New Era:

Tragedy spurs funds, other aid to Amish
(All emphasis below is mine.)

Ken Sensenig, assistant director of the Mennonite Central Committee East Coast, visited the Nickel Mines Amish and said he found families coming together in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, such as milking cows so parents could go to hospitals.

He also saw non-Amish neighbors driving people to hospitals or helping in other ways, he said in a prepared release from MCC and the Mennonite Disaster Service.

For those unable to help in that way, MCC and MDS are accepting financial contributions to help the Amish community. Donations can be made by phone at 859-1151, or (888) 563-4676; online at www.mds. mennonite.net; or by mail to MCC U.S., 21 S. 12th St., P.O. Box 500, Akron, Pa., 17501-0500.

Donors are asked to write “Amish School Recovery Fund” in the check memo line.

The Pennsylvania Dutch Convention & Visitors Bureau has called on its members to offer transportation, meals or lodging to the families of the Amish victims and their extended families who may be traveling to the area.

The tourism bureau will be working with someone close to the closed Amish community to coordinate services. Anyone who wants to help can contact Janet Wall at the PA Dutch CVB at jwall@padutchcountry.com or 391-6005.The bureau will also be working with its partners in Philadelphia and Hershey to offer lodging to families visiting victims in hospitals in those places.

The visitors bureau, which has long promoted Amish tourism, called on its members to donate to funds established on behalf of the victims.

One fund, coordinated through Herman Bontrager, secretary/treasurer of the National Committee for Amish Religious Freedom, has been established at the Strasburg office of HomeTowne Heritage bank, a division of National Penn Bank.

Donations to that fund can be mailed to:

Nickel Mines School Victims Fund, HomeTowne Heritage Bank, 100 Historic Drive, P.O. Box 337, Strasburg, Pa., 17579. They may also be taken to any division of National Penn Bank.

Two other funds have been established through Coatesville Savings Bank.
Contributions to either the Nickel Mines Children’s Funds or the Roberts Family Fund may be sent to the Coatesville Savings Bank, 1082 Georgetown Road, Paradise, Pa., 17562.

The Roberts Family Fund was set up to benefit the family of the gunman, who had a wife and three children under age 8.

The New Era has received electronic messages from people as far away as Alaska offering to donate funds to the victims.

Capital Blue Cross has also created a $500,000 medical fund to pay the costs of urgent and ongoing care for the victims.

“Our hearts go out to the victims of this terrible tragedy and to their families,” said Capital Blue Cross CEO Anita Smith in a prepared statement.

“We want to do what we can to help our neighbors and their community as they recover and heal.”

Capital Blue Cross is also offering the services of medical care case managers to assist the families during their children’s hospital stays and afterwards.

Nonmonetary aid is also being offered by Upward Care Counseling Services in New Holland and Georgetown. That organization is offering two weeks of free counseling to victims and their families.

“We counsel many people in the Plain community,” said counselor Drew Metcalf. “We walk humbly with the Amish community, and they trust us.”

Metcalf said he and others from Upward Call spent much of Monday talking with the families of victims at the Levi King farm in Nickel Mines, where the families gathered in the wake of the tragedy.

He said Upward Call also will serve as a “link” between the Amish and other Christian counselors who wish to volunteer their services.

Anyone wishing to send cards or letters of condolence to the families may do so in care of the Bart Township Fire Company, P.O. Box 72, 11 Furnace Road, Bart, Pa., 17503.

Bontrager said the Amish are overwhelmed and appreciative of the outpouring of help.

“They feel so humbled by it,” he said.

The Korean War continues apace...

********UPDATE*********************************************

Despite the squeals of those pesky Russians, it might be continuing with conventional explosives...

AFP: US may never know whether N. Korea tested nuclear bomb
A senior US intelligence official said earlier the explosion registered in North Korea had a yield of less than a kiloton, unusually small for a first-time nuclear test. Scientists from other nations estimated the yield to be higher.

The low yield has put a premium on other confirmatory evidence to determine whether the test fizzled, or even whether the blast was produced by conventional explosives as part of a ruse.
*************************************************************

AP: Russia says N. Korea nuclear test greater than reported

AP: N. Korea claims nuclear test
International community condemns North Korea after small underground atomic blast.

Just because you don't get any mail today, it doesn't mean it is Columbus Day.

Saint of the Day and daily Mass readings.

Today is the Feast of St. Denis, missionary, martyr, and the patron saint of France and his companions, St. Rusticus, and St. Eleutherius. Pray for us, all you angels and saints.


Today's reading for the Feast of St. Denis and his companions is 2 Corinthians 6:4-10.
Today's Responsorial Psalm is Psalms 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6.
Today's Gospel reading is Matthew 5: 13-16.



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.