Degree of Madness

Hillary Clinton: Who painted it?

Unbelievable.  The Secretary of State of the United States of America shows an amazing degree of ignorance in Mexico.  Hillary Clinton leaves flowers for Our Lady of Guadalupe, asks 'Who painted it?':

During her recent visit to Mexico, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made an unexpected stop at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe and left a bouquet of white flowers “on behalf of the American people,” after asking who painted the famous image.

The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was miraculously imprinted by Mary on the tilma, or cloak, of St. Juan Diego in 1531. The image has numerous unexplainable phenomena, such as the appearance on Mary’s eyes of those present in the room when the tilma was opened and the image’s lack of decay.

Mrs. Clinton was received on Thursday at 8:15 a.m. by the rector of the Basilica, Msgr. Diego Monroy.

Msgr. Monroy took Mrs. Clinton to the famous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which had been previously lowered from its usual altar for the occasion. After observing it for a while, Mrs. Clinton asked “who painted it?” to which Msgr. Monroy responded “God!”
…

After placing a bouquet of white flowers by the image, Mrs. Clinton went to the quemador –the open air area at the Basilica where the faithful light candles- and lit a green candle. Leaving the basilica half an hour later, Mrs. Clinton told some of the Mexicans gathered outside to greet her, “you have a marvelous virgin!”

How appropriate that after her visit to Mexico Hillary went to Texas to accept an award from Planned Parenthood:

Nice Deb points out that after visiting this Patroness of the Unborn (and of the Americas) Mrs. Clinton went off to receive Planned Parenthood’s highest award:

I can tell she was very affected by her encounter with the Protectress of the Unborn. Last night, Clinton received the highest award given by Planned Parenthood: the Margaret Sanger Award, named for the organization’s founder, a noted eugenicist.

At least she was back on familiar ground.  

Michael Dubruiel, R.I.P.

Very sad news today from Amy Welborn.  Her husband, Michael Dubruiel, died today:

Michael collapsed this morning at the gym and was not able to be revived despite the efforts of EMTs and hospital personnel.

We are devastated and beg your prayers.

Michael Dubruiel, November 16, 1958 - February 3, 2009.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord

and let perpetual light shine upon him. 

May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed,

through the mercy of God, rest in peace.  Amen.

Catholic Voters...Vote your Conscience

CatholicVote.com:   

(Via Hot Air)

Mine eyes have seen the glory

The U.S. Army Chorus:

His truth is marching on.

Via:  Cassy Fiano blogging at Right Wing News.  " I don't think you could find a better example of God-loving patriotism than that."

"A democracy without values can lose its very soul"

Kathryn Jean Lopez reports on Pope Benedict's speech at the White House. 

In the South Lawn this morning, Pope Benedict XVI reminded all Americans so much of what is at the core of American excellence. He said (in part):

In the next few days, I look forward to meeting not only with America's Catholic community, but with other Christian communities and representatives of the many religious traditions present in this country. Historically, not only Catholics, but all believers have found here the freedom to worship God in accordance with the dictates of their conscience, while at the same time being accepted as part of a commonwealth in which each individual group can make its voice heard.

As the nation faces the increasingly complex political and ethical issues of our time, I am confident that the American people will find in their religious beliefs a precious source of insight and an inspiration to pursue reasoned, responsible and respectful dialogue in the effort to build a more human and free society.

Freedom is not only a gift, but also a summons to personal responsibility. Americans know this from experience — almost every town in this country has its monuments honoring those who sacrificed their lives in defense of freedom, both at home and abroad. The preservation of freedom calls for the cultivation of virtue, self-discipline, sacrifice for the common good, and a sense of responsibility towards the less fortunate. It also demands the courage to engage in civic life and to bring one's deepest beliefs and values to reasoned public debate.

In a word, freedom is ever new. It is a challenge held out to each generation, and it must constantly be won over for the cause of good. Few have understood this as clearly as the late Pope John Paul II. In reflecting on the spiritual victory of freedom over totalitarianism in his native Poland and in Eastern Europe, he reminded us that history shows time and again that "in a world without truth, freedom loses its foundation," and a democracy without values can lose its very soul. Those prophetic words in some sense echo the conviction of President Washington, expressed in his Farewell Address, that religion and morality represent "indispensable supports" of political prosperity.

Here is another excerpt from Sr. Lorraine:

"The Church, for her part, wishes to contribute to building a world ever more worthy of the human person, created in the image and likeness of God. She is convinced that faith sheds new light on all things, and that the Gospel reveals the noble vocation and sublime destiny of every man and woman. Faith also gives us the strength to respond to our high calling, and the hope that inspires us to work for an ever more just and fraternal society. Democracy can only flourish, as your founding fathers realized, when political leaders and those whom they represent are guided by truth and bring the wisdom born of firm moral principle to decisions affecting the life and future of the nation."

God Bless America:

"Mr. President, dear friends: as I begin my visit to the United States, I express once more my gratitude for your invitation, my joy to be in your midst, and my fervent prayers that Almighty God will confirm this nation and its people in the ways of justice, prosperity and peace. God bless America!

"Catholic" Democrats dispute Pope Benedict

Some Democrats in the House don't like what Pope Benedict had to say about "Catholics" who support abortion.  From USA Today:

A group of 18 Catholic House Democrats publicly disputed Pope Benedict XVI's recent condemnation of politicians who support abortion rights, saying that "such notions offend the very nature of the American experiment."

On Monday (May 14), Catholic House Democrats said Benedict's comments "do a great disservice to the centuries of good work the church has done."

"The fact is that religious sanction in the political arena directly conflicts with our fundamental beliefs about the role and responsibility of democratic representatives in a pluralistic America — it also clashes with freedoms guaranteed in our Constitution," a statement from the 18 lawmakers said.

Sorry, Dems, you can't dictate Church doctrine.  The Pope is right, as you all well know.  The Catholic Church considers abortion a grave sin, if you disagree, find another church.

Two tiny feet

Alicia Colon's column today in the New York Sun is about miracles.  Tiny miracles and a priest.  The tiny miracles are Amilia Taylor, "born four months ago at 22 weeks gestation, weighing only 10 ounces. She is believed to be the only baby born at less than 23 weeks to have survived."  And another tiny baby Alicia held that had escaped abortion:

Last Saturday, I held a baby that looked very much like tiny Amilia. She was just as much a miracle — she had escaped being aborted thanks to Father Benedict Groeschel.  The world-renowned Catholic priest was the guest speaker at a fund-raiser for Good Counsel Homes, which he cofounded with Chris Bell in 1985 to help single pregnant women choose life for their babies and themselves. The group's five residences have provided shelter for more than 3,500 women and children.

Father Groeschel is a living miracle himself:

In 2004, Father Groeschel was hit by a car and gravely wounded in Orlando, Fla. He miraculously survived, but none of us at the luncheon knew how close he had come to dying. Looking somewhat frail but with a strong voice, he said: "The night of the accident, I had no blood pressure, heartbeat, or pulse for about 20 minutes. The doctors were understandably going to give up, but the priest with me, Father Lynch, begged them to go on and after a while, they found a heart beat and kept me going. A few days later, I almost died of toxins that spilled into my system. Then two weeks later, I suffered heart failure while I was on a respirator."

Then he laughed and continued: "The doctors said I wouldn't live and I lived. They said I wouldn't think, and I think. They said I wouldn't speak, and I speak, They said I wouldn't walk, and I walk. They said I wouldn't dance, but I never could anyway, so that was all right." His survival is truly a miracle.

If you've never seen Father Groeschel on EWTN, you are missing a real treat.  He's a wonderful priest who tells it like it is with conviction and humor.  His work is truly a blessing.  And so is Alicia's story. 

Anglicans and Roman Catholics to reunite?

From the Times (UK):

Radical proposals to reunite Anglicans with the Roman Catholic Church under the leadership of the Pope are to be published this year, The Times has learnt.

The proposals have been agreed by senior bishops of both churches.

In a 42-page statement prepared by an international commission of both churches, Anglicans and Roman Catholics are urged to explore how they might reunite under the Pope.

The statement, leaked to The Times, is being considered by the Vatican, where Catholic bishops are preparing a formal response.

[...]

The report adds that special “protocols” should also be drawn up to handle the movement of clergy from one Church to the other. Other proposals include common teaching resources for children in Sunday schools and attendance at each other’s services, pilgrimages and processions.

Anglicans are also urged to begin praying for the Pope during the intercessionary prayers in church services, and Catholics are asked also to pray publicly for the Archbishop of Canterbury.

I will pray for this, and also that I live to see it.