Oil and Water Can Mix



God is a fixed point. As we grow closer to
God, we grow closer together.

 During our recent wedding in the Catholic Church, my wife and I had chosen a reading from the Book of Tobit...Tobit 8:4-8 to be exact.

This is where Tobiah told his wife, Sarah, to get up out of bed and pray with him.  We chose this reading for our wedding because we have always prayed together and we thought it fit us.  We had told our priest about our prayer life, so when he came to the sermon during the wedding, he focused on this reading.

He told us of how if you were to take a bottle and fill it half full of water and then fill the other half with oil, the two would remain separated.  If you shook the bottle, the oil and water would mix together temporarily, but if you let it rest, the two parts would once again separate.  But if you added a few drops of glycerin, the water and oil would join together and become the same liquid.  Three liquids become one.

God is the glycerin in a marriage.  Without him, a man and a woman are like oil and water.  They never truly come together in the most intimate way.  Add God into the marriage, and the man and the woman will form a bond together that truly cannot be broken by any man.  Three people become one.

It felt good to hear the priest say that he truly believed this marriage would be a strong one...because it was being held together by God.

If your marriage is in need of some glycerin...it is free and plentiful...you only need to ask for some.

I Saw God Today...and Ignored Him

We are constantly told that we should look for God in everyone, everywhere, and in everything.  Recently, God showed up in my life, and even though I had heard the sermon about serving others just a short time prior, I missed my chance.

When Selena and I had gone up to Philadelphia for a presentation, we ran across a guy in a wheelchair who asked us for a couple dollars.  I told him I would give him some money if he could tell me where to find the best cheese steak sandwich.  He told us where to go and as we got a few blocks down the road, it was like a lightning bolt hit me.  I asked Selena, "Why didn't we just ask him to show us where to get one and then buy him a meal"?  I completely blew my opportunity to treat that man like one of God's children.  I saw God...but not until he had already left me.

Again, more recently, while we were in a Barnes & Noble having some coffee, a man came through the Starbucks area and was asking people for change.  My first reaction...how inappropriate for someone to be panhandling in here and harassing customers.  Management should do something about it.  When he came to me, I gave him nothing.  Of course, I also had nothing in my pockets to give him, but that is not the point.  I probably would not have anyway, because after all, he had interrupted our coffee to beg for money.  It was not until after he had left the store and Selena and I were talking that we realized that we had once again had a visit from God in our lives...and we had told Him to go away.

This had happened the Sunday of the Gospel reading where Jesus told the people that "whatsoever you did for the least one of my people, you did it for Me".  The least of His people had visited us and instead of asking him if we could buy him some food or a coffee, we sent him on his way with nothing.  After that day, we decided to make a concerted effort to never allow that to happen again.

During this Advent Season, as we prepare for Christ's birth...look for God in the people you meet as you go about your business.  Yes, people can be mean and rude this time of year, but God may be the person you talk to after your run-in with the rude shopper.  Don't carry the rudeness over to Him...and maybe offer Him a cup of Pumpkin Spice!

Obama turns his back on Catholics

This story was published in the Washington Post:

By Michael Gerson, Published: November 14

In 2009, the University of Notre Dame set off months of intra-Catholic

controversy by inviting a champion of abortion rights to deliver the

school's commencement address. When the day arrived, President Obama

skillfully deflated the tension. He extended a "presumption of good faith" to his pro-life opponents. Then he promised Catholics that their pro-life convictions would be respected by his administration. "Let's honor the conscience of those who disagree with abortion," he said, "and draft a sensible conscience clause, and make sure that all of our health-care policies are grounded not only in sound science but also in clear ethics, as well as respect for the equality of women."

Catholics, eager for reassurance from a leader whom 54 percent of them had supported, were duly reassured. But Obama's statement had the awkward subordinate clauses of a contentious speech-writing process. Qualifications and code words produced a pledge that pledged little.

Now the conscience protections of Catholics are under assault, particularly by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). And Obama's Catholic strategy is in shambles.

Shortly before Obama spoke at Notre Dame, the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts brought suit against the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), seeking to eliminate a grant to programs that aid victims of human trafficking. Because Catholic programs don't refer for abortions, the ACLU alleged that public support amounts to the establishment of religion.

The Obama Justice Department defended the grant in court. But last month, HHS abruptly ended the funding. It did not matter that an independent review board had rated the bishops' program more effective than those of its competitors - or that career HHS employees objected to the politicized handling of the grant. HHS announced it was giving preference to grantees that offer "the full range of legally permissible gynecological and obstetric care." This was described by one official as "standard procedure." So it is now standard procedure in the Obama administration to deny funding to some Catholic programs based solely on their pro-life beliefs.

The process that produced the HHS decision remains murky. The USCCB has

filed a Freedom of Information Act request for more details. But it is

difficult to imagine that HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius was not involved in a matter of this much obvious controversy. Sebelius - an outspoken pro-choice Catholic - has a long history of conflict with Catholic authorities.

Broadly applied, the HHS policy would amount to systemic anti-Catholic bias in government programs. And the provocation is one in a series. HHS has drawn conscience protections so narrowly that Catholic colleges,

universities and hospitals - any Catholic institution that employs and

serves non-Catholics - will be required to offer health coverage that

includes contraception and drugs that cause abortion. In global health

grants, new language is appearing that requires the integration of family planning and "reproductive health" services, effectively barring the participation of Catholic institutions. Archbishop Timothy Dolan, president of the USCCB, calls these policies an "assault which now appears to grow at an ever-accelerating pace in ways that most of us could never have imagined."

The main victims of this assault are not bishops but the poor and

vulnerable. USCCB-sponsored human trafficking programs, for example, provide employment assistance, legal services, child care and medical screening. But because case managers won't refer for abortions, HHS would rather see these programs shut down in favor of less effective alternatives. This form of anti-religious extremism counts casualties.

It is also politically incomprehensible. Obama's Catholic outreach is being revealed as a transparent ploy a year before he faces reelection. A portion of the Democratic coalition - including civil libertarians and pro-choice activists - has decided to attack and marginalize Catholic leaders and institutions. And HHS is actively siding against Catholic organizations.

"We are in a war," Sebelius told a recent pro-choice meeting. Opponents of the administration, she said, are trying to "roll back the last 50 years in progress women have made in comprehensive health care in America." This is no longer the "presumption of good faith." It has all the hallmarks of a vendetta.

How will the White House respond? More specifically, how will the Catholic chief of staff and America's first Catholic vice president respond? They gave up their own adherence to Catholic teaching on abortion long ago. But are they really prepared to betray their co-religionists who still hold these beliefs?

Sebelius is becoming a political embarrassment at an inconvenient time. It will be significantly harder for Obama to repeat his appeal to Catholic voters while a part of his administration is at war with Catholic leaders and Catholic belief.

Questions Answered



Anna Grace

 Back in January of this year, my wife came to me with tears in her eyes and said, "I'm pregnant".  Now, why would a woman, who wanted to have a baby with me so badly, have tears in her eyes.  One reason...and one reason only...she knew I didn't really want more children.

I had told her that at my age I really didn't want any more children, that I really just wanted to raise the three boys we had at home and enjoy life.  We were able to do the things we wanted to without too much hassle.  She would tease me about having more children, how we could have a whole bunch and she wouldn't care.  But as I approach retirement from the military, I just didn't think that was a good idea.  My position was...I don't want us to try, but if God says we are going to, then so be it.  Well, God said we were going to have a baby.

So as she tearfully told me we were going to have a baby, there was no hesitation as I hugged her and said, "OK, we are going to have a baby".  Not one thought of getting rid of the child I really didn't want to have.  We were going to have a baby, and the excitement in her eyes was radiant.  Unfortunately, I just couldn't share that excitement.  Even as we found out we were having a girl and began shopping for girlie things, that excitement just didn't show.

As the months went on and we approached the delivery date, I still was not getting real excited.  Selena was getting jitters and had a 3-D ultrasound done so she could get an idea of what our baby girl was going to look like.  I did not want to know, I was getting interested in this baby, but wanted the look of our girl to be a surprise.

Well, delivery day came and as I held my wife's hand on the table as she had her C-section, I heard that little girl cry her first cry and the tears flowed.  I was so very proud of my wife and felt so blessed that God thought I still deserved to be a new daddy.  I leaned into my wife and tearfully told her how very much I loved her.  I was excited!!!

We are now just over two weeks from Anna's arrival.  She has blessed us with a unity that is unlike any other.  She is the most beautiful little girl and so special to me.  I may not have been excited we were having a baby, but I am thrilled we have one.

Today we are in Day 9 of the 40 Days for Life campaign against abortion.  My mind cannot fathom that anyone would kill such a wonderful gift.  God felt I was worthy enough to raise another child for Him.  With Selena as my wife, I can easily get by any questions I had about being too old, too impatient, or not good enough as a father. 

Was I excited nine months ago about a new baby...no.  Am I excited now...not really....I am ecstatic!!!!  I love my life right now.  Everything is going well and I have God to thank for all of it.  He decided that all of my past mistakes did not disqualify me from continuing to receive His blessings.  Selena already wants another one...and honestly, I can't say it would be so bad.

Rediscover Catholicism

Today I began to read the Matthew Kelly book, Rediscover Catholicism.  He offers this book at very reduced prices to churches who wish to give it out to every member.  You can even get 6 free copies yourself for only $18 S&H.  I will post late about what I learn.

This post isn't just about the book, though.  The first few pages do, however, speak to what I saw today in a news story.  A story that honestly made my heart hurt.

It was a story on CNN.com about the Pope's visit to World Youth Day in Spain.  Now, the substance of the story is irrelevant to my writing, for what pained my heart so badly were the comments after the story.  Every one of the comments spewed hatred and insults toward the Pope, the Church, and Christianity in general.

This writing is not a defense of the Catholic Church.  It is not even a defense of Christianity or religion as a whole.  It is an observation about how much people have lost their faith in any kind of religion.  Here is where what I read in Rediscover Catholicism today comes into play.

Matthew Kelly basically states that part of the disenchantment with Christianity today is because people see it as no different than any other establishment.  People want to see truth, integrity, goodness, and love.  People have left the Church or don't bother with religion at all because they don't see the "churchgoers" as being any different than them.  Why should I go to church when all I see is hypocrites?  Now, granted, churches are filled with sinners and hypocrites...that is why they exist.  To help us become better people.  But if we don't become better people, then what good are they? 

Kelly says "Our siblings, parents, and children are sending us this message, as are our friends, neighbors, and colleagues.  They are saying, whispering, crying out, 'Don't tell me--show me!'"  We need to stop talking about our faith and our belief in God and start living that belief.  We need to show people our Christianity by what we do on a daily basis, how we act and treat people.  Words are empty if not followed with actions...sincere actions.

I think that is why whenever there is a story that has anything to do with religion, and especially so the Catholic Church, the comments are simply evil.  I believe that society has heard the Christian churches talk a good talk, but their walk seems to follow a different path.  Ever wonder why Muslims speak of how the Muslim faith teaches peace but no one believes them?  We need to start really following our beliefs if we really believe them.

In the Catholic Church alone, we have politicians who are pro-choice when the Church obviously is not.  We have members of congregations who use birth control, promote homosexuality or other teachings that are not in line with the Church because they don't want to follow those teachings.  Cafeteria Catholics, those who pick and choose the teachings they will follow, set a bad example for society and especially their children.  The same goes for any denomination.  If your church teaches one thing, and you do another, then you are not a good example.

Society has come to view religion as useless because no one follows what they are supposedly "believing" anyway.  It is time to do some soul-searching and decide...what do I believe and then be an example of that belief.

Very Sad Times...

This evening while sitting in my hotel room, I saw a story on Facebook that had been on Huffington Post.  It was in their "Religion" section, a section title that could actually be called the "anti-Catholic" section, and was about Father John Corapi and how on his way out, he had blasted the Catholic Church.  I listened to his press release, and I did not hear him "blast" the Church.  While most of the article was a fairly accurate portrayal of the event, you could see how it was another attempt by the Huffington Post to smear the Catholic Church.

My main reason for posting is not because of the story itself, but because of the comments that were under this story and so many of the stories that have to do with the Catholic Church.  Here is one from this article, it mirrors those from other stories I have read:  "What's sorely needed for the entire Catholic church is a dose of REALITY!!! And the reality is...... the time has come for this despicable church to breather its last gasp!' 

It is so sad to see how the comments about the stories quickly turn into hateful, vicious attacks against the Church itself.  This story was no different.  Father Corapi was called many names and very few remarks were favorable.  Though I do not agree with how he handled the situation, it does not warrant him being attacked.  I am having a hard time understanding why these attacks on the Church happen, many from members of other Christian faiths!  I cannot remember the last time I heard a Catholic attack another denomination.  I understand there is the whole sex abuse scandal, but name one denomination out there that doesn't have a scandal of some sort of their own.   In those, the person is the subject of the abusive comments and it goes away.  For some reason, if the Catholic Church is involved; a priest, nun, deacon, lay person., the attacks go on for a long time, often by the mainstream media with little regard to facts.

As the Church stands against topics it has stood against for many years, abortion, genetic engineering, protection of the Sacrament of Marriage as being between a man and a woman, the names have been flung again.  The Church is only following what it believes to be natural and intended by God.  There is no hatred or bigotry being spewed by the Church, but those people who have waged war against the family would have you think so. 

We truly are at war within our own country.  The very moral fiber of our country is being torn apart by the senseless killing of our own children, interfering with the reproductive process (birth control), and the destruction of the natural family.  Our children are under attack by garbage being sold to them in the form of games and music and television that would have given our grandparents heart attacks.  We have, for some horrible reason, kicked God out of many aspects of our lives, and then have the nerve to wonder why life seems so tough and with so much suffering.  These truly are sad times.