SALTY
CONSIDERATIONS
for a 2020
WORLDVIEW

EPHRAIM CALLAHAN

GEORGE WASHINGTON

Copyright © 2021 – Kingdom Come
Pure Heart Culture
San Pedro River, Arizona
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Printed and Digitally Propagated in the U.S.A.

All rights reserved.

First edition, September 19th, 2016

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Present edition: March 23rd, 2023

In loving memory of my father, an English major who impressed me over the years with his knack for good conversation, a love for reading, knowledge and poetry, and an aspiration to write a book.

Whatever you do, work at it wholeheartedly as though you were doing it for the Lord and not merely for people.

–Colossians 3:23 (ISV)

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

            –Romans 8:38-39

Table of Contents

Preface

Choosing a Name, Title and Cover

Why me?

Why Bother?

Somewhere Holy, Please Take Me

Introduction

Becoming a Writer

Banned Content

Educational Websites

Spiritual but not Religious

Christ-Centered Community

Pure Heart Culture

Wickedness and Redemption

The 2nd Deepest Sorrow

The Glory of the Coming of the Lord

Demons and Dianetics, That Modern Science of Mental Health

Dreaming of a Perfect Number

Metamorphosis in High School

Finding Community

Falling Away in a Permissive Culture

The Guise of Scientific Authority

Breaking the Covenant

“Come Back to Me” on 7/7/7

10/10/10

11/11/11

Darkness Attacks?

Catholics and Christians: Home Is Where the Heart Is

Fellowship

The Mass as True Worship

Sola-Scriptura

Through Faith Alone

Good Leadership

Inquiring Minds Want to Know

Hello, St. Francis

His Precious Blood

The Priesthood of all Believers

Speak to the Rock

A Unifying Perspective on the Body of Christ

Am I a Cath or a Catholic, a Chris or a Christian?

Kingdom Living

Pure Heart Culture Mission Statement & Vision

Big Hairy Audacious Goal #1

BHAG #2

BHAG #3

BHAG #4

BHAG #5

BHAG #6

BHAG #7

BHAG #8

BHAG #9

BHAG #10

BHAG #11

Now and at the Hour of Our Death

Mom

The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

The Right of Every Woman

To be or Not to Be?

Discovering the “180 Movie” Comparing the Holocaust and Abortion

Breast Cancer and Abortion Facts

Oral Contraceptives and Breast Cancer

Oral Contraceptives and Conception

Evaluating Plan B as an Abortifacient

Should It Be Illegal for a Man or Woman to Seek an Abortion?

What Does It Mean to be a Virgin?

Why, of Course I Pray to Statues. Psyche!

For Suffering

Homosexual or a Child of God?

The Morality of Oral Sex

The Depths of God’s Knowledge

What Constitutes a Good Apology?

The Past is in His Hands

A Unifying Theory behind the Exodus of Israel and Archeological Evidence

Are All Religions Man-Made?

Did Jesus Have Biological Brothers?

You Can’t Be a Leader if You’re Dead, or Can You?

A President or a King?

Do We Need a New President or a New System of Government?

Humility

Mrs. Clinton vs. Mr. Trump vs. Another President

You vs. Another

The Baptized Party of America: A Solution to Diabolic Division in America, Solidarity Through Baptism!

Basic Questions

What are some of the potential benefits of being a member?

Aren’t most Americans already baptized?

Were the Founding Fathers baptized?

What are the benefits of Baptism?

Will being baptized change the way I see and experience the world?

Can the graces I receive through Baptism be lost?

What is sin and what are its effects?

What must I do to join?

Will I ever be quizzed on what I know?

True Religious Freedom

All Abstract Dispositions Require Belief, Belief is Religious by Nature

Innately Religious

Women’s Rights

The Right to Life

Contraception

Prostitution

Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights

Adoption

Education

Reforming Public Education

Co-Educational Environments

Are you a Responsible Consumer?

For Friendships

Is Capunism Good for the Soul?

Distasteful Communism

Reform through Knowledge of the Soul

The Soul, Economics and Government

Fear, Government and God

Nations Equipped to Lead

Just Economies

Challenges of Work

Apathy

Organizing Work for Basic Necessities

Crime and Punishment

Ora et Labora

Purity of Heart

Military of a One World Order

Trust, Talents and Treasure

Small Settlements

Self-Defense of Pure Heart Cities

Sacred Mist

Petition to the United States Congress: An Ode to Joy for America’s Missionaries and Her “Life-Affirming” Republic

Should I Smoke Marijuana on 4/20?

21st Century Babylonian Invasion

St. John’s Vision

Babylonian Towers

Humans “Suddenly” Appear

DNA and Mutations: The Wonder of Human Life and Reproduction

Does Mental Performance Provide Evidence of a Soul?

The Improbability of Unguided Life

Cavemen Were Brutal?

Pride Engineered

Babylon: Mother of all Harlots and Abominations of the Earth

Purity

All Abstract Dispositions Require Belief, Belief is Religious by Nature

Innately Religious

The Whore of Babylon

A Four Front Affront

A Response to Martin Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses

Body and Blood, Bread and Wine

Modern Day Israel: The Spirit is Willing but the Flesh is Weak

What’s Really Happening in Afghanistan

Reaching out to Muslims

Examining George Washington’s “Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation”

Rule 1 - 22

Rule 23 - 44

Rule 45 – 66

Rule 67 – 88

Rule 89 – 110

A Game of Cards with a Presidential Theme

My First Hand

Shuffle, Shuffle, Come Again

Commentary on the Proper Treatment of Those Who Support Sharia Law and Statements in the Quran concerning the Rape of Women

Examining the Bahá'í Faith on the Basis of Two Principles

Baptized with Fire and 501c3 Status

Stormy Weather

I Want, I Want, I Want

Spiritual Sunscreen

Success in the Interior Life

Faith Becomes Stronger

The Glorious Sabbath of February 27th, 2010

Persuasion through Aristotle’s Ethos When Ethos Represents the Holy Spirit

What Will You Do, Knowing What You Know Now?

How I Created Life in a Fishbowl

Jaclyn Glenn’s Rebuttal to Ray Comfort’s film, “Evolution vs God”

Kent Hovind vs. the United States

The Dialectic of Plato and Socrates on Arizona’s Controversial SB 1062

11,000 Stars at Your Fingertips!

Angel’s Beauty

Preface

Welcome! With interest in knowing more about me, the breadth of this undertaking, or how the book’s articles interrelate, feel free to wade through this exhaustive preface and introduction with gaiety. Otherwise, simply pick a juicy article from the Table of Contents. Eeny, meeny, miny, moe, catch a tiger by the toe. If he hollers, let him go, eeny, meeny, miny moe…is a fine way to go, if you know, you’re not likely to show, a taste for something juicy.

Choosing a Name, Title and Cover

Ephraim, one of the 12 tribes of Israel, means “doubly fruitful.”¹ You will be doubly fruitful if you’ve been grafted into the Israelite family through baptism and faith,² if you honor that gift by striving to abide in the 10 Commandments and the Beatitudes.

St. Ephraim (306-373) was doubly fruitful. Having completed an earthly metamorphosis and eventually being recognized by the Church as a butterfly (Saint), he was a poet, teacher, orator, and an ardent defender of the faith. “In spite of the gifts which God so lavishly bestowed upon him, St. Ephraim remained deeply humble. He even feigned madness so as to avoid being consecrated bishop and the glory that attends that position.”³ The only Syrian recognized as a doctor of the Church, he wrote apologetic hymns and poems defending the faith against the heretical teachings of his time.⁴ One of the first to introduce song into the Church’s public worship as a means of instruction for the faithful,⁵ he preferred a simple, austere life, living in a small cave overlooking the city of Edessa, where his earthly metamorphosis completed on 373. The exact date of his canonization is unknown.

Evangelists are ephraimatic, fruitful not only in being Christlike, they help to establish mature and responsible husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, couples who will love and care for each other until death to them part, and for their children, establishing families, the nucleus of society… can you imagine the far-reaching implications of planting the seeds of the Gospel?

Callahan is an Irish name, meaning ‘lover of churches.’ It comes from the reduced Anglicized form of Gaelic, Ó Ceallacháin, meaning descendant of Ceallachán', which is itself a diminutive of the personal name, Ceallach. A fitting last name for those ecumenical peacemakers who are often involved in, or have grown through, church involvement of various denominations.

The book title, “Salty Considerations,” reflects Jesus’ characterization of his disciples, “You are the salt of the earth.” As followers of Christ, we should reflect on this preserving characterization as our lives are turned upside down and shaken by the Logos⁶ Made Flesh. Salt sanitizes and aids the flow of energy; in society, we promote peace⁷ theology of the body,⁸ and aid in the recognition of human rights,⁹ thus enabling human flourishment, adding flavor and distinction to culture.

A “2020 Worldview” encompasses 2020, clear vision. And, at the time the title was chosen, America’s next presidential election was scheduled for 2020. I’ve often aspired to be a great leader, even President of the United States, arguably the most powerful office in the nation. If I had gotten my act together, perhaps I would have been on the ballot. Nonetheless, it’s a lofty goal, one that continues to motivate thousands in a land of opportunity.

Lastly, the cover-image of the human mind glorifies God as though a snapshot from the Garden of Eden, the first moments of our creation. Made in His image, marveling at the complexity of the human mind, a similar image came to me one morning as we drove to high school, my brother and I, in our “new” red and white Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, recently purchased from grandpa. The image remained with me as a pivotal moment in my life, a key moment of cognition. The sophistication of the human mind and our ability to grasp the universe is to me evidence of a Creator. But perhaps not as marvelous as the eye, depending on how you see things. And what about the complexity of every living cell, as has been eloquently discussed by Stephen Meyer in his book, “Signature in the Cell: DNA and the Evidence for Intelligent Design?”¹⁰

At any rate, the cover-image bears witness to a belief that the universe and life are not the result of random occurrences in a seemingly limitless expanse of space, space where matter naturally arises and harmonizes out of nothingness and chaos. To deny the possibility of Intelligent Design, or a Creator, or to fail to teach such a possibility in formal education systems, is to teach its opposite, a sin of omission. How many public-schools are guilty of this sin, possibly under the pretense of that world-renown, yet falsely construed notion of separation between Church and State? But, I digress…

Why me?

When Jesus had risen, early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. She went and told his companions who were mourning and weeping. When they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.

After this he appeared in another form to two of them walking along on their way to the country. They returned and told the others; but they did not believe them either.

But later, as the Eleven were at table, he appeared to them and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they had not believed those who saw him after he had been raised.
He said to them, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.” –Mark 16:9-15

Would you believe me if I told you I’ve seen Jesus in the flesh, in his resurrected body? Would you believe your best friend if he or she said that they’d seen Jesus and pressed their fingers into his crucifixion wounds?

I hope to convince you that I’m trustworthy, that I’m of sound mind and free from hallucinations. I haven’t a chip on my shoulder, nor grudges that might cloud or prejudice my judgment. For that openhanded disposition, opposing a defensive one, I thank God for the grace to practice, practice, practice forgiving others and receiving His forgiveness.

Nonetheless, you’ll likely want to know more about me. What means are available to establish what Solomon and Flores would describe as authentic trust in their book, “Building Trust in Business, Politics, Relationships and Life.”¹¹

When people talk about trust, the authors contend that they're often talking about "simple trust" or "blind trust." Simple trust is unconsidered, unconscious trust, trust that is never questioned because the possibility of betrayal is inconceivable. This is the sort of trust that some children have, or that one has that one's friend won't suddenly draw a knife and stab you. There isn't a conscious thought process behind the trust because it's never reached the analytical mind. This is the sort of trust that, once betrayed, cannot recover. In the authors' model, it is this trust that is the source of our sense of fragility about trust, the sense that once someone has violated our trust, they can no longer be trusted.

They define blind trust as trust that willfully ignores any reason not to trust. Blind trust is self-deceptive trust, the trust someone extends contrary to any evidence and clings to more tightly as evidence mounts against it. This is the sort of trust that too often people ask for when they say "trust me." A violation of simple trust can lead to distrust, or it can lead to blind trust where the person betrayed, in an effort to hang on to trust that they believe vital but also believe to be fragile, copes with the contradictory information by intentionally discarding it.

The argument in Building Trust is that both of these models of trust are at worst unhealthy and at best facile. The authors define "authentic trust" as a more complicated model, a type of trust that involves conscious evaluation and builds into the trust the possibility of betrayal. Authentic trust is when one takes into account the capabilities and history of the person being trusted, recognizes a risk, and makes the conscious choice to trust anyway. Unlike simple trust, it survives and even thrives on consideration. Unlike blind trust, it's not based on ignoring past experience, but rather based on weighing past experience against the value inherent in trusting and the possibility of change.

In building authentic trust, you might ask questions about a person’s work ethic, how they get along with family members, if they’re honest and consistent, whether or not they suffer from any addictions, what evidence there is that they’d be a good friend, if they have any educational achievements, what they do for a living, what they believe about life, its purpose and the kind of quality world they’re hoping to live in or build-up. Since these questions might help to establish your trust in me, I’m going to attempt to answer them briefly.

As for whether I’m hardworking or not… I’m a Doctor of Pharmacy and a Master of Business Administration. After graduating from the University of Arizona, I worked for several years as a hospice, long-term care traveling consultant, and Medication Therapy Management (MTM) pharmacist. I saved enough money to take time off from full-time work to focus on other projects, such as writing this book, helping to care for my mother, applying for a patent for a medical product, starting a business for it and developing two educational websites. I also volunteer at my church as a Sacristan, a Lector, in the choir, jail ministry and for street evangelization.

How do I get along with family members? I’m close to mom, who has a Type-B personality, slightly more melancholic than phlegmatic, which helps explain some of her puzzling reactions vis-a-vis my sanguine-choleric temperament. I get along well with my brothers, striving to keep the ground wet for new growth by reaching out with a phone call or a text message from time to time, hoping the feeling is mutual and our friendship becomes stronger. When holidays roll around, we usually gather together and share a meal. I’m thankful we’ve never punched each other as adults, nor have we ever verbally abused one another without some form of a successful apology. That’s a bit of an achievement for us considering that dad sometimes had the temper of a fire ant, which may have rubbed off on us more than we’d like to admit. Although a very loving father, faithful to my mother, principled, hard-working and supportive, he had a very difficult upbringing, being raised by a stepfather who was rarely accepting or loving of him. This translated into a low self-esteem throughout most of his life. He once said that if he could ever go back and change anything in his life, he’d never have taken his first drink. The drinking eventually caught up with him; he developed a beer belly and later, diabetes. He passed away a few years ago, on the evening of Thanksgiving. Thankfully, we were all present.

As for whether I’m honest, I acknowledge that we each have an individually formed conscience, serving as our truth meter. Perhaps we stretch the truth to avoid humiliation or offending someone when we believe their cooking or clothing choices aren’t as wonderful as they might otherwise believe, or we’re always blatantly honest. Perhaps one feels it is okay to lie to another when they don’t want the friendship while another would find another way to express disinterest.

I can honestly say that I wouldn’t be honest all the time. For example, if I were in Nazi Germany and soldiers were banging on my door to ask if there were any Jews, Poles, Gypsies, people with disabilities, anyone who identifies as homosexual, or any dissenter who would otherwise tell Hitler and the Nazis to jump off a cliff, I wouldn’t tell them if there were. Indeed, the legalization to murder innocent people based on their ethnicity, health, level of development, sexual or political orientation will always be unjust; such behavior cannot be conscientiously supported.

Holy Scripture informs us that Rahab lied to conceal two Israelite spies. Joshua had sent them to Jericho in preparation to overcome the city by marching around it seven times. The march ultimately caused a massive earthquake that decimated its protective wall.¹² The city of Jericho symbolizes the world, or worldliness,¹³ while Joshua prefigures Jesus. We may reasonably conclude that the injustices taking place in Jericho, which Rahab was either a victim of or not immune from, justified her cooperation with the Israelites.

With respect to honesty in our personal relationships, if healthy, uplifting, non-draining relationships were simply based on a rule of telling more truthful statements than dishonest ones, or of being consistent and competent most of the time, all the trust-building work that has gone into a relationship or a reputation wouldn’t be in jeopardy after one lie or failure to come through. However, it may take seven times the work remembering the good things a person has done, or any warm and fuzzy feelings we’ve had when interacting with them, to offset one bad act, and even then, the bad feelings may surface just as easily when remembering a perceived injury, overpowering all the good. Thus, one of our biggest challenges, given the likelihood of transgression and sin, is forgiveness, that open-handed disposition that so often requires practice, practice, practice and the grace of God. And still, such practice may be entirely an act of the will, with no amicable feelings flowing naturally. In this respect, as in the case of many enduring relationships, love is a choice sometimes accompanied by a feeling. Nonetheless, the value of striving for perfection can’t be overestimated, nor the honor associated with keeping one’s word, over-esteemed.

As for substance abuse, there was a time shortly after high school and while in college when I started to walk down a dark path. Thankfully, by the grace of God, which included a pivotal Hail Mary, I turned back to a brighter path. The Blessed Mother is a powerful intercessor!
      Nowadays, sometimes I must strive to overcome a desire to smoke a cigar or some pipe tobacco (grandpa smoked pipe tobacco and I always liked the smell), or a toke of marijuana (I still like the smell of a skunk, which is really unnatural). I’m not a big fan of alcohol since even a little can leave me feeling depressed the next day; I guess that makes sense it being a depressant and all. And yet, a routine of one or two drinks per day can be otherwise healthy for men –it can raise HDL cholesterol levels, the good cholesterol that helps the blood vessels stay clean. But such a routine may have little benefit for someone who already exercises regularly, which is the best defense against heart disease, cancer and diabetes, not to mention periodic fasting!¹⁴

As for whether I’d be a good friend, perhaps the best form of evidence I can present to you is a roommate with whom I’m still friends. I know, that’s not much of an achievement, but it’s not an easy achievement either… living with another can be difficult, especially when chores aren’t shared. Thankfully, we never tried to strangle each other, though we had several heated arguments involving how clean the apartment should be on the daily. Aside from him, I have a few other close friends with whom I stay in touch with and who I could rely on to open their doors if I needed a place to stay.

Suppose you now feel as though you can grant me authentic trust. What makes this book a good investment of your time?

Why Bother?

      Consider whether any of the following obtainments, views or achievements interest you:

Proof that every person has an immortal soul.

Evidence supporting Intelligent Design or the work of a Creator.

Salvation History, from a Judeo-Christian perspective, is the most important subject worth knowing.

Greater unity among those who would interpret the Bible freely and those who do so under the guidance of the Catholic Church.

Cultural transformation.

Ways to more effectively help those in need.

Grace to overcome struggles or temptations to become a more disciplined, trustworthy and competent person.

Becoming a part of a social network designed to build community, educational achievement and virtue.

Engagement in an economic system that creates happier and just communities while eliminating unfair competition and wages.

The elimination of child or slave labor.

Education that assists consumers in making more careful decisions when purchasing products or services in order to establish higher standards for ethical wages and work conditions.

If any of these things interest you, you should enjoy some of the articles in this book.

And yet, the question remains, why learn about them from me? What, if anything, makes me special? Could I have been chosen by God for something extraordinary?

I must confess an inclination to believe I’m special, even chosen. I can only offer you proof to support that view for as long as I have your attention. Unfortunately, without a preexisting good reputation, as soon as I say something you don’t agree with or say it in a way you don’t approve of, assuming I haven’t done so already and by some strange stroke of coincidence, you’re still reading, you’re likely to move on.

In being special, I hope all of my readers feel that way about themselves. A quote by Marianne Williamson comes to mind,

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

And another,

You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Neither do men light a lamp and put it under the measure, but upon the lamp-stand, so as to give light to all in the house. Even so let your light shine before men, in order that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. –Matthew 5:14-16

Jesus gives his disciples a bold statement, “You are the light of the world.” If there was ever a statement that could give way to grandiose thoughts or delusions, that would be it. Perhaps it would be wise to balance it with another,

The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted. –Matthew 23:11-12

      If I’m exalting myself by suggesting that I’m special, that I’ve been chosen, I have some humble pie to look forward to. Humble pie is not my favorite dish. In fact, I’m sure no one enjoys it, except the saints. And yet, that is the perfect goal, as Patrick Coffin, an exceptional magician,¹⁵ has often stated on the radio program, “Catholic Answers,” “Become a saint! What else is there?” Arguably, most of us still have some pie to look forward to.

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. –Matthew 18:1-5

      As an aspect of humility, even when we think we know a great deal about a certain subject, being Mensa members or Jeopardy champions, we should remain open to challenges from new information or a new perspective. Or, as Jordan P Peterson puts it, “Humility means to be deeply aware of your own ignorance.” ¹⁶
      As for learning from my perspective, surely God doesn’t need me to write about experiences that might suggest I’m chosen. History is filled with examples of great men and women who’ve prophesized, performed miracles and received stigmata, such as St. Paul, Joan of Arc, St. Francis and Padre Pio. Indeed, God knows how to draw attention to someone when He wants to. He often chooses those who have emptied themselves of the pleasures of this world, living in tune with the Beatitudes, filling themselves with the gifts of the Holy Spirit: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Knowledge, Fortitude, Piety and Fear of the Lord.

I can assure you, I have no visible stigmata and any miracles that have occurred because of my intercession have yet to be proven. If at some time God chooses to mark me with the gift of prophecy, miracles, or visible stigmata, perhaps then I’ll have the reputation worthy of a wider readership. In the meantime, assuming any hint of being chosen is more the work of my imagination than providence, I’m confident in the capacity He’s given me to address important issues, sufficient to accomplish a greater good, and certainly not through a violent or unjust manner. Besides, I suspect having stigmata can be debilitating; it’d be hard to give up hobbies like gardening, apiculture and carpentry. Additionally, if I’m ever blessed with children, which is a bold statement considering I’m currently single, it would be challenging to play with them while blood is oozing from parts of my body. Indeed, blood is a grave matter…

Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. –John 6:54

      Many left Him when he made this statement. But, He didn’t take it back. He didn’t say He was speaking symbolically, at least according to St. John and the tradition of celebrating the Eucharist in the Catholic Church, spanning close to 2,000 years from Pentecost, the birthdate of the Church, the inheritance of every Christian.

As someone who’s been involved with a variety of churches, including Pentecostal, nondenominational, Methodist, Baptist and Seventh Day Adventist, eventually coming to know “true food and true drink,” I hope you’ll explore the 2020 worldview I’ve come to embrace, one that welcomes His second coming, as soon as possible, holding dear the reception of Holy Communion, that moment when we’re most fully united with Him and in the Mystical Body of Christ, overflowing with love for our Bridegroom, a love that consumes our whole heart, mind, soul and strength, creating life, like lovers on their honeymoon!

Somewhere Holy, Please Take Me

And now, in a spirit of adventure, allow me to pretend I’ve reached my full potential… I’m a knight, a Don Quixote on a quest, a lord over castles, provinces and states, entrusted with responsibility to protect life, one who rules with a sword of truth and a rod of justice! Alas, I’ve found my Dulcinea…

…for it is imperative that every knight have a lady, for a knight without a lady is a body without a soul. To whom shall he dedicate his conquests as he sallies forth to do battle with evil and with giants?¹⁷

      And, my Dulcinea has not left me destitute, she has given me a token of her fair esteem, the standard I’ve carried into battle… a crown of roses, two hundred and twelve red roses and twenty white roses. And this…

Helmet of Mambrino

Helps me see, Helps me know

His crescent birth

Pure as snow

Awaken my soul

With Sacraments in time

I’ll wait like a lover

Bring good gifts to mind

More than a good prophet

Not merely Prince of Peace

Conceived in a Virgin

Come Magi due East

Swaddled and suckling

In a manger He lay

With ticklish pinky toes

On first Christmas Day

From this great moment

We have the guarantee

All faithful will grow

With Him eternally

      And thus, in a spirit of setting Big Hairy Audacious Goals, or BHAGs, an insight grafted during business school, I’d also like you to know that I’m not only a knight, but a prince, the son of a Mighty King. My largest castle, fortified with the latest technology, is located in the central birthplace of civilization, the fertile crescent valley, surrounded by modern-day Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Egypt, the southeastern fringe of Turkey and the western fringes of Iran. From there I shall travel to meet with the Vicar of Christ, plans in hand on how to make legally owned territories surrounding the castle subsidiaries of the Vatican state, helping to establish peace in the region through spreading the Good News of the Way, the Truth and the Life. I hope to take you there!

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.

What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

As it is written,

‘For your sake we are being killed all day long;
we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.’

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. –Romans 8:28-39

Introduction

Becoming a Writer

Perhaps the greatest inspiration I’ve received to become a writer came from a homeless man I sheltered on a bitter evening.

On June 28th, 2012, the US Supreme Court upheld the HHS Mandate as constitutional. This mandate threatens those who object to obtaining or providing insurance that subsidizes the costs of products or services that can lead to the loss of innocent human life through abortion.¹⁸

A few months later, during the weekend of September 29th, 2012, I attended the Catholic Medical Association’s 81st annual conference in St. Paul, Minnesota. The weekend coincided with the last few days of a 40-day Daniel fast I began in opposition to the HHS Mandate. That Sunday evening, having just returned from St. Paul, I attended Mass at my local parish.

Bitterly cold winds crashed into the sides of our church like salty water on the walls of an ocean vessel. A hot pink Arizona sunset faded into twilight as Mass began.

A courageous young man of the cloth, whose passion for the Gospel often presents itself through raised hands and loud, fiery sermons, spoke clearly about our need to practice the corporal works of mercy. And, he’s no hypocrite, having given his life to God through the vocation of the priesthood, choosing celibacy to help build the Kingdom of God, forsaking the joys and comforts of marriage, he also serves as the director for the André House of Hospitality, a charitable organization devoted to feeding the hungry and clothing the naked.

After the Eucharistic celebration, I had the opportunity to put his advice into action, helping someone in need, a young man named Ken.

Ken first approached the brave priest who appeared unable to help –I knew something was wrong when Ken turned away with a saddened expression, dragging his feet out of the crowd that surrounded the steps of the 110-year-old ASU Newman Center, starring off into a bone-chilling, pitch black night.

I introduced myself and inquired. Turns out he had no place to stay. He came to Mass after waking up at the bottom of a hill in a cemetery earlier that day, not remembering how he ended there. Atop the hill rests a statue of the Virgin Mary. He believed it was a sign that he needed to go to church.

If he had awoken at the Queen of Peace cemetery in Mesa, it would be the same cemetery where grandma and grandpa are resting. Grandma died on my 3rd birthday, continuing for seven hours off of life-support, with no brain activity, so my mother, her only daughter, who was then living three hours away, could make it to the hospital to say one last good-bye, her heart taking its last beat 15 minutes later.

I offered to buy Ken a sandwich. He accepted. We headed off to the nearby Subway.

About two weeks earlier I had the opportunity to help others in a crisis. I didn’t know their circumstances, whether they had loving parents, a good job, an addiction that left them unable to care for themselves, but I knew they were homeless –their disheveled and dirty clothes, dirt-speckled hands, hair and faces, gave them away. They did not speak a word as I offered them a sub –the expressions of thanks were more like guttural groans arising from somewhere deep in their famished, frail bodies. Yet, the gratitude and joy experienced was contagious, mesmerizing me for the rest of the week.

The smell of fresh baked bread greeted us as we strolled into the greens and yellows of the Subway off College Avenue. Since I was still on the Daniel fast, I ordered a vegetarian sub. He chose the same.

We continued conversing about our backgrounds as we took a seat at a yellow high table. A friend who also attends Mass with me, who has Asperger’s disease, a recent aerospace engineer graduate who was having trouble holding down a job, joined us within a couple of minutes.

Ken was astute and sincere. The rugged outdoors seemed to sharpen his intellect and strengthen his will. The more time we spent together, the more I perceived a special connection, supernatural, as though being in his presence was like being in the presence of the Lord.

I was predisposed to this sense. Having read Mother Theresa’s book, “Loving Jesus”¹⁹ while preparing for a mission trip to Haiti in 2011, orchestrated through Caritas in Veritate International, I strove to internalize her advice, helping me see the face of Jesus in others, especially those in need. And, it wasn’t hard to see the face of Jesus in Ken –he looked a bit like the Jesus that Akiane²⁰ had painted as an exceptionally young girl, the one displaying the same features identified by the boy in the movie “Heaven is for Real.”

The song “Mr. Jones,” by Counting Crows, began playing on the radio. It’s been a favorite since first hearing it. Hearing it that evening was a sign of Providence at work for me. Moreover, the band’s name reminds me of the many times I spent outdoors while growing up in the open expanses of Arizonas’ southwest, calling to mind the verse where Jesus describes another black bird, vultures, gathering, heralding the return of the Son of Man.

Then he said to the disciples, ‘The days are coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. They will say to you, “Look there!” or “Look here!” Do not go, do not set off in pursuit. For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. But first he must endure much suffering and be rejected by this generation. Just as it was in the days of Noah, so too it will be in the days of the Son of Man. They were eating and drinking, and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed all of them. Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot: they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but on the day that Lot left Sodom, it rained fire and sulphur from heaven and destroyed all of them —it will be like that on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. On that day, anyone on the housetop who has belongings in the house must not come down to take them away; and likewise anyone in the field must not turn back. Remember Lot’s wife. Those who try to make their life secure will lose it, but those who lose their life will keep it. I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. There will be two women grinding meal together; one will be taken and the other left.’ Then they asked him, ‘Where, Lord?’ He said to them, ‘Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.’ –Luke 17:22-37

      There were many warm summer mornings where I’d look up from studying Scripture and see large black birds circling overhead, causing me to think, ‘I’ve been chosen for something extraordinary!’

The song also reminds me of a time in my life 10 years earlier when I changed my focus from intensive studies in medicine to current events. This was shortly after 9/11. I had listened to the song many times afterwards. Feeling especially moved by the tragedy that struck America, it was then that I resumed writing about an organization I believed could make a lasting difference.

I began writing with this purpose while in high school as an honors English student. Towards the end of the class our instructor gave us the freedom to write about anything for our Final Essay. I wrote about human potential, focusing on realizations I’d made from reading Scripture, from Paul C. Bragg’s book, “The Miracle of Fasting,” and from “Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health,” by L. Ron Hubbard.

The essay was way too long for a high school English class. And, I refused to truncate my cherished masterpiece like a child refusing to tear down a lopsided sandcastle. I received an F. Fortunately, I passed the class with a D!

As the three of us continued munching on our subs, I knew I didn’t want Ken to stay another night in bitterly cold winds; I invited him to stay at my apartment. I knew it was risky. Nonetheless, having felt the Lord’s presence during our meal together and interpreting favorable occurrences as divine signs, I opened to the possibility that he wasn’t dangerous, simply one down on his luck and in need of a helping hand.

The supernatural presence continued to permeate the evening; solutions to problems in the back of my mind surfaced and were addressed, helping to cultivate a sense of peace. He was intuitive, personable and wise.

The night progressed as we conversed for a couple more hours to midnight. Not long after, he was fast asleep, snuggled under a heap of blankets on the pull-out couch-bed. Before long, I was too… locked away in my room.

Although I own several firearms, one of which is a Keltec 32, which I bought as preparation for self-defense vis-à-vis the tragic mass theater shooting in Aurora Colorado earlier that year, I decided to keep it locked-in my car for the night. That way, in case for some reason he went berserk, the presence of the gun wouldn’t complicate an altercation. Besides, we were about the same size. I figured if there were a struggle, I’d at least be able to get away and call for help. Not only that, but I believe he had already seen the gun while I was preparing to take it outside…

Shortly after we entered my apartment, I placed the gun on my bed in the red bag I received during target practice a few months earlier. He stood waiting in the living room as we conversed. The subject of him taking a shower came up and I realized there was no shampoo in the second bathroom. I stepped away from my bed to get some from the cupboard under the sink. As I knelt to reach way in the back, he walked into the bedroom and stood beside the bed. There I was, turned away on my knees with a gun in arm’s reach from someone who was nearly a total stranger. I can’t help wondering if there wasn’t an element of God’s irony in that moment.

Thankfully, we slept without incident.

That Sunday was the last day of the 40-day Daniel Fast. For Monday morning breakfast, I celebrated by preparing an omelet with tomatoes, onions, potatoes and cheese. We nearly inhaled it.

Sadly, however, it didn’t sit so well in his stomach, which gave me the opportunity to practice humility, honing my custodial skills.

During one of our conversations later that morning, somewhat out of the blue, he exclaimed,

“Beawriter!”

I turned to see him smiling.

“What’s that?” I asked.

“Beawriter. There’s a new word for you.”

I suppose he had seen one of the vocabulary books on the bookshelf and wanted to sound impressive. Nonetheless, as I prepared for work that morning, thoughts of my vocation were swirling.

For several months, I’d been considering the value of my work as a healthcare provider. Although I loved what I was doing, I was unsure if I was putting my time and talents to best use. I wondered if there was something more substantial I could be doing, something more important considering the HHS Mandate and the threat it poses to unborn children and religious liberty.

Ken’s exclamation struck a chord. It was one of many chords that had been strummed in the events of my life over the past few months, combining to produce a melody. The more I listened, the more my feet fell in tune.

Within two months I gave two weeks’ notice; I left the security of a lucrative full-time job with its self-affirming schedule and paycheck, turning my focus to several other projects, one of which has been this book.

Success as a Writer

I once wrote to the successful writer, J.A. Jance, inquiring if she had any tips that would help someone aspiring to be a writer.

She replied, “A writer is someone who writes today.” She continued, “So far I don't qualify, but it's only 6:59 AM, so there's time.”

Simple advice; true.

Although I’ve often aspired to write a science fiction novel that discusses an organization I’d first envisioned in high school, one that would ultimately have a huge impact on the world, I never intended this book. In that truth is often stranger than fiction, perhaps things turned out for the best.

Most of this book is the compilation of articles I’ve written on a blog, plus a few poems posted to Facebook. I’ve also included material from two of the websites I’ve developed, with the latter being the materialization of the organization first envisioned in high school. However, the encouragement to compile the articles into a book came from my mother.

Hours before New Year’s Eve, 2015, she was checked into a local hospital because of a complication with one of her medicines, a blood thinner intended to prevent blood clots. The effect of the medicine was too strong and she noticed blood in places it shouldn’t be, some internal bleeding. She was eventually transferred by ambulance to a larger hospital.

During her stay, I wrote an article entitled “The Glory of the Coming of the Lord,” a merciful account of what will happen on Judgment Day. Near the end of her stay, feeling relieved there were no other serious complications and the bleeding had stopped, I read her the article. She was so impressed, she suggested I publish it! Perhaps she was delirious. Nonetheless, I was inspired.

Banned Content

It’s sad that media describing the life of Jesus is banned in several countries, even under penalty of death.²¹ - ²² Even the most steadfast atheists would likely agree that we should protect the freedom to learn about the possibility of God, or different descriptions of Him.

Most of the articles in this book would be banned in such countries, and I’d likely end up dead or in prison for sharing it. They’re filled with insights of one who’s desired to know and love Jesus from a young age, insights made through involvement with both Christian and Catholic communities.

One of the most significant faith related experiences I’ve had was foreshadowed by a dream. I wrote about the dream in a diary I started keeping in 2003. The dream became reality on 7/7/7 through a festival dubbed “The Call,” which took place in Nashville TN. During the festival I found the book, “10 Commandments Twice Removed,” by Danny Shelton. That book ultimately led me to the Seventh Day Adventist church, the one place that helped me realize the importance of church doctrine, and from a community development standpoint, the importance of keeping the Sabbath set aside in a special and exclusive way for Him and for fellowship.

Nonetheless, the experiences surrounding that event, and those that followed, eventually led me back to the Catholic Church. I’ve turned that journey into a testimony, entitled “Dreaming of a Perfect Number,” which I’ve shared online and in this book. That testimony, as well as the numerous theological articles I’ve written, should be helpful for others evaluating various churches and their doctrine, especially since the SDA church provides great contrast from a protestant perspective vis-à-vis the Catholic Church.

Educational Websites

I’ve also included material from two educational websites I’ve developed. Construction of the first website, LifeisSacred.net, began shortly after changing my viewpoint as someone formerly prochoice in instances of rape or incest. This is a common orientation, one which our current president embraces. Of this commonality, a discussion of the reasons behind a no-compromise attitude is essential to a 2020 worldview. Moreover, a growing human being, complete with their own DNA, is a person, no matter how illegitimately they were conceived, and every person has a God-given, inalienable, right to life. Of course, the issue of respecting life from the moment of conception isn’t simply about addressing cases that involve rape, nor is it adequately defined by limiting choices through regulating “abortion rights.” Rather, it’s about culture that embraces “Theology of the Body,” a culture that respects intimacy within a sacramental marriage, an intuitive acknowledgment of the sacredness of the “one-flesh” union between man and woman, acknowledging the intrinsic evil of contraception and the blessings that flow through being open to new life. It’s about a culture that opposes the spirit of fornication, a grace originating in the love God has for each of us, as the bridegroom who gives Himself completely for his bride, the Church, just as He offered everything to us, His whole being, on Calvary.

My realization of the importance of this no-compromise attitude began through discussions with a Master of Philosophy and Theology, and through attending a meeting sponsored by Justice for All on Arizona State University’s campus. Following the meeting, our “homework” involved writing a few paragraphs about the impact the meeting had on our soul. Anyone who’s seen images of babies who’ve been torn to pieces based on whether they’re wanted or not, as though being wanted determines whether we have a right to live, feels an unforgettable heart-wrenching injustice. Those feelings and reflections led to the formation of the LifeisSacred.net website, containing many resources for building a culture of life.

About midway through development, an inspiration to organize pro-life Daniel fasts occurred. This inspiration came shortly after visiting the Desert Nuns convent in Arizona to receive a Plenary Indulgence, which had been granted by Pope Benedict XVI in honor of the 800th anniversary of the Poor Clare Nuns. Thank you, St. Claire!

The Daniel fast has its origins in the prophet Daniel, who began the fast during his captivity in Babylon as a challenge to authority. Daniel refused to follow the rulings of Nebuchadnezzar, ruler of Babylon, because they were contrary to his beliefs, i.e. that God is eternal, omnipotent and omniscient, and man is most certainly not. Refusing to kneel to Nebuchadnezzar, or a gold statue of him, put his life in grave jeopardy.

The fast is fitting in our time as many individuals and businesses face threats to liberty and their livelihood through government sanction, particularly the HHS Mandate, and it would seem, the majority of the democratic party. I hope the fast becomes popular as another means of showing solidarity throughout the year for those fighting for recognition of the sanctity of human life from the moment of our conception.

The second site, PureHeartCulture.org, contains the blueprints for a social media network designed to encourage, measure and reward achievement in education, especially theological, while also inspiring, orchestrating and rewarding the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. I will discuss that site in more detail shortly.

Spiritual but not Religious

Have you ever seen television ads for the popular online dating site, Match.com? The last time I visited the site I noticed most women consider themselves “spiritual but not religious.”

Describing oneself as spiritual shows some recognition that we live in a spiritual world, that there are unseen forces at work, like angels and demons. Such an acknowledgment hints at the reality that every person has an immortal soul. Arguably, it’s a better orientation than one suggesting a purely materialistic existence.

However, I wouldn’t agree that a person can truly classify themselves as non-religious. To hold any belief, whether there is a God or not, whether life arose through the act of a Creator or spontaneously and randomly, is a religious activity, a kind of interior ritual a person engages in that involves upholding that belief as a result of a feeling of wholeness associated with it or a rationale that seems most true and worthy to them when continuing to uphold it. I’ve explained this view in more detail in the article, “21st Century Babylonian Invasion” in the section entitled “All Abstract Dispositions Require Belief, Belief is Religious by Nature.” Nonetheless, in the context of viewing a religious person exclusively as someone who believes in God and regularly attends church services, an important question one might ask is,

      ‘Will those who consider themselves spiritual but not religious ever
      act on a need for spiritual development?’
Or,
      ‘Will they ever understand the benefits of being part of a community
      where all members actively pursue a love for God and each other?’

If the fundamental difficulties we face are spiritual, how can we overcome them without assistance towards spiritual development and regular prayer? How can we know how to best pray if we don’t know the nature of the one we pray to?

The great Apostle St. Paul, who wrote nearly half of the books of the New Testament, penned the following words in the Book of Ephesians,

For our struggle is not against enemies of flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Vis-à-vis Satan, a fallen angel who can masquerade as an angel of light, great among angels, how can we thrive spiritually without a background that challenges our view of a purely materialistic world? Moreover, how can we reinforce our need to pray, to search for truth and practice discipline?

Arguably, being a part of a strong and active Christ-centered community, one that has accurate and authoritative truth, is a big part of being spiritual. And yet, there is often an aversion in popular culture to being considered religious. Similarly, the word religious has become somewhat taboo, too easily associated with something ridiculous, or “religulous,” as Bill Maher puts it. And, this is despite the fact that any activity that would uphold a stereotype is itself a religious activity, a process wherein a person interiorly binds themselves to, or upholds, a predominant belief undermining the value of another person or an activity they engage in.

Reluctance to pursue God often develops out of a fear of being viewed as outdated, an attitude fostered through modernism, or post-modernism, i.e. that newer is always better, that past beliefs or traditions are no longer relevant or scientifically obsolete. Similarly, desiring God is often considered stigmatic. And yet, ironically, it was the devout nature of people like St. Paul, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Francis and St. Padre Pio that led to their developing stigmata, clear evidence that we live in a spiritual world, that an exclusively scientific attitude, one that can so easily lead to materialism or relativism, is inadequate for explaining the true nature of our reality. Moreover, the more one realizes that desiring communion with God as a husband with his wife or vice-versa is an expression of love, often one involving great and even heroic sacrifices, the more the stereotype or attitude of disgrace associated with the traditional understanding of what it means to be religious dissolves like fog in the morning sun. Accordingly, a traditional catechetical teaching defines religion as:

Acknowledging God by faith in Him and believing everything He has told the human race.

Loving God with a wholehearted love.

Glorifying God by doing His will, as taught by His words and example.

And yet, He was crowned with thorns by the rulers of this world. Should we expect not to suffer when standing up for Him, for love over hate, truth over lies, mercy over wrath, service over selfishness, especially in consideration of the ongoing work of Satan to cause division as a ‘murderer and the father of lies.’²³

Christ-Centered Community

Finding a Christ-centered community is not always an easy task, especially when you don’t realize you need one. Ideally, one will find a place where community and truth coalesce in the cultivation of virtue.

From a social development perspective, the Seventh Day Adventist community has been the best I’ve known. Saturdays, or Sabbaths as they’re referred to, are filled with activities such as hiking, book clubs, educational movies, pot lucks, choir, orchestra, play rehearsals and performances, healthy living seminars as well as volunteering to sing at nursing homes and cook and serve food for those who are homeless. The community revolved around the authority of the Word of God. The respectful and inclusive nature of the community, not too dogmatic or formal, was a key ingredient to my social and spiritual growth.

However, I eventually discovered misinterpretations of Scripture or half-truths; I eventually realized how these deficiencies hindered me in cultivating virtue, even though overall, the community fostered tremendous growth in Christ.

Furthermore, I noticed that nearly everyone in the community failed to evaluate some of the teachings of their church from other perspectives or within a different framework. From a young age many of these newly formed friends were brought up believing the Catholic Church is fundamentally evil, the “Whore of Babylon,” as mentioned in the Book of Revelation, with the Pope as the Antichrist. They’re strongly biased towards this orientation. It’s sad that someone might be led to feel so alienated from receiving the many gifts the Holy Spirit has bestowed upon and through the Catholic Church, despite the many failings of those who’ve served within her since Pentecost.

Arguably, the SDA church is the most “protest”-ant church. In this respect, many of my friends were insular, stunted in their growth towards the fullness of truth, greater consolation in the Body of Christ and virtuous living. And yet, in comparison to many Protestant communities where there is a lack of formal doctrine to study and evaluate, serving as tangible reference points for Scriptural understanding, they were further ahead in expounding truth in my experience.

Many nondenominational Protestant communities have leaders who are popular, persuasive and qualified, but lack formal doctrine. Thus, attendees can be limited in their understanding of God’s Word and its interpretation. Instead, they must rely on their own interpretation or the interpretation given by their leader as authoritative.

This would be fine if all of Scripture gave the same interpretation. Rather, there are many denominations today, each based on different interpretations, for example Lutheran, Anglican, Calvinist, Baptist, Methodist, Quaker, Amish, Mormon, Jehovah’s Witness, Seventh Day Adventist and Pentecostal. Indeed, this is part of the problem with Sola Scriptura thinking, i.e. that Scripture is the sole sufficient rule of faith, an idea that is itself is not found Scripture. Accordingly, without acknowledgment given to authority, such as the apostles, particularly St. Peter and the legitimate popes that followed, divisions occur.

If someone becomes comfortable in favoring a community because of its social value, whether for social events, friendships or opportunities for courtship, what will help them move out of their comfort zone if the fullness of truth and the cultivation of virtue are lacking?

How will they know if truth is lacking if they never have the desire to question what they’re accustomed with, especially if such formal inquiry is absent?

Similarly, if they have many strong friendships, even a healthy courtship, will they have the strength to go elsewhere, potentially severing relationships if facing obstinate friends or family?

Should they favor truth over friendships or a courtship? Should they need to?

Several of the articles I’ve written, as well as the testimony mentioned earlier, highlight the experience and doctrinal insights I’ve gained as someone with several years of involvement in both protestant and Catholic communities. It’s my hope that sharing these experiences and insights will help others make good choices.

Pure Heart Culture

Pure Heart Culture is a social media network, similar to Facebook, but designed to advance the Kingdom of God. Users start out answering a series of questions through a predesigned algorithm that helps to assess their current level of faith as it relates to theological understanding or misunderstanding. They are then directed to online videos, articles, courses, local seminars or book clubs. After finishing the material and demonstrating a sufficient understanding through an appropriate quiz, they may advance to higher levels and/or be rewarded with credits (halos). Credits can be exchanged for donated goods or services given by individuals and business sponsors who believe in the mission of the network. Advancing to higher levels corresponds with credence to belief in a Creator, not only as revealed from Divine Revelation and the theological insights of Church Doctors, but through philosophic argument and scientific evidence. The higher a user ascends, in theory, the closer they come to an understanding of the beatific vision. And, since the fruit of divine knowledge is love or charity, the network includes a means to orchestrate, inspire and reward charity work.

Even though the short-term cultural memories formed through social networks will never replace the long-term ones formed as we grow in healthy families, nor the value of face-to-face interactions, they can be helpful as a medium for encouraging virtue and sharing values, strengthening them while facilitating the exercise of free speech and the democratic, educational process. In many respects, they’ve replaced the forums of Roman antiquity and offer hope to those living in countries where freedom of speech and religion are absent or restricted.

With respect to values, a social network designed to promote purity of heart can help in creating opportunities for local faith-based, family-oriented, charitable events. It can help us focus on positive and encouraging news stories while keeping us accountable to one another and our convictions. It can also assist intellectual development through providing courses, quizzes and games whereby knowledge of important issues is refreshed, evaluated, recorded and rewarded. The results of these activities can reflect in a person’s profile, helping to build transparency and trust with one another.

With regards to free speech and democracy, America is behind in the use of electronic mediums during elections.²⁴ Perhaps with electronic voting, voter participation will increase –the last three elections averaged around 60% of eligible voter participation,²⁵ 21% less than the two most popular elections of 1860 and 1876,²⁶ with the former resulting in the presidency of Abraham Lincoln, “savior of the United States.” ²⁷ A system that allows a person to select a 12-digit alpha-numeric code (similar to a password), can be used by them when they cast their vote, and later reviewed on a list with all others in their district so that they can verify that the vote they cast was the vote tabulated alongside the complete tally online. This would increase trust so that no one would have to assume that someone or a machine didn’t change their vote.

A social network built on shared values can serve as a foundation for democratic growth, fostering accountability, even increasing voter turnout through trusted educational programs and electronically encrypted ballots. Finally, such efforts can help to strengthen a country rooted in the protection of human rights, rights endowed by a Creator, as stated in our world-renowned Declaration of Independence.

Indeed, many Americans share a sense of indebtedness for the democratic principles and traditional values espoused in America. This sense began for me while in high school. It was then that I aspired to be the vanguard of a great movement. The school newspaper even wrote a front-page article where I discussed this hope.

At the time, I admired the festival that took place at Woodstock, believing it was an epitome of how people can come together to promote peace and love of neighbor. Correspondingly, for a significant part of my youth, I believed that “recreational drugs” would help catalyze joy and peace in the world, helping to instigate great social movements. Indeed, such drugs were a notorious part of Woodstock; being “stoned” on marijuana, mushrooms or LSD can assist someone in temporarily showing greater empathy and compassion towards another by virtue of their ability to produce euphoria. Conversely, when we’re in pain, whether because of a common headache or a cold, we’re more likely to lose our patience with others and snap at them.

Nonetheless, as we grow older, we realize how often we’ve been wrong, we discover some areas aren’t in need of change. Thus, I eventually became aware that much of the free love going on at Woodstock and in the 60s, shortly after “the pill” became commercially available, wasn’t love at all. Moreover, when you know that oral contraceptives have a 9% typical-use failure rate,²⁸ free love is the opposite of love –it often results in the intentional destruction of human beings through abortion. Similarly, someone inebriated by alcohol or one of the substances mentioned earlier is more likely to experiment with sexual intimacy. This contrasts sharply with someone filled with the Holy Spirit, where love is true, for example, in seeking the long-term good of the other, a good that often involves embracing the covenantal aspects of love vis-a-vis matrimonial union.

The free love attitude that took off in the 60s is alive and well today. As a result, in 2010, over 760,000 unborn children had their lives taken. The U.S. birth rate has declined so much over the last 30 years that we’re no longer replacing the current population. Without a growing population, Medicare and Social Security won’t work. Meanwhile, divorce rates have increased. Arguably, divorce is the number one cause of poverty in America:

The Brookings Institution says that if we had the marriage rate today that we had in 1970, there would be a 25 percent drop in poverty. The Heritage Foundation says that marriage drops the probability of a child living in poverty by 82 percent.²⁹

      With respect to virtue and love, and in light of the knowledge I’ve gained as a healthcare provider, I’ve publicized research relevant to decreasing the use of hormonal contraceptives and the practice of abortion, particularly through the website LifeisSacred.net. Such a decrease will help foster a society where love is expressed through lifelong commitment and family, the nucleus of a healthy society. It will also help programs like Medicare and Social Security continue without interruption, programs which depend on a growing population.

Therefore, while my approach to having a positive impact on society has changed, vis-à-vis recreational drug use, the desire to do so hasn’t. That desire cultivated curiosity, encouraging me in the search for truth. Thankfully, I now know the Church is the best medium through which positive transformation occurs –she’s been divinely charged to target the source of so many evils in the world: the human heart. And yet, her primary focus is not changing the world, it’s preparing us as temples of the Holy Spirit, preparing us for our final destination.

You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
–Matt 5:14-16

And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
–Heb 10:24-25

He said to them, ‘When I sent you out without a purse, bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?’ They said, ‘No, not a thing.’ He said to them, ‘But now, the one who has a purse must take it, and likewise a bag. And the one who has no sword must sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you, this scripture must be fulfilled in me, “And he was counted among the lawless”; and indeed what is written about me is being fulfilled.’ They said, ‘Lord, look, here are two swords.’ He replied, ‘It is enough.’
–Luke 22:35-38

Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse! Its rider is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems; and he has a name inscribed that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, wearing fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron; he will tread the wine press of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name inscribed, ‘King of kings and Lord of lords’.
–Revelation 19:11-16

Let prayer delight thee more than disputations, and the charity which buildeth up more than the knowledge which puffeth up.
–St. Robert Bellarmine

To everyone who conquers and continues to do my works to the end,
I will give authority over the nations; to shepherd them with an iron rod, as when clay pots are shattered –even as I also received authority from my Father. To the one who conquers I will also give the morning star. Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.
–Revelation 2:26-29

Wickedness and Redemption

One of the biggest life attitudes people form depends on how they view the nature of human beings… are we fundamentally good or evil?

For those who come from a loving family, who’ve grown up in countries where there is justice and the rule of law, the attitude that people are basically good comes easily. Conversely, for those who’ve only known corrupt governments, who’ve been neglected, abused or mistreated, whether by loved ones or strangers, attitudes of distrust are likely, attitudes that people are basically evil.

What attitudes would be embraced by those who’ve been enslaved? How would the Israelites, who were enslaved for generations, view the rulers and sources of authority in Egypt? How would most Egyptians view the Israelites? What would formulate their viewpoint? Is one group better than the other? If so, why? If not, why?

What does it take to grow up in a loving family? What kind of sacrifices must parents be willing to make? How can future parents cultivate an attitude of sacrifice that is often necessary for children to grow up in a stable and loving home? Or, what common denominator exists in societies governed by law so that justice and inalienable rights prevail? Is it reasonable to say that those societies and families that are successful, always embrace an element of truth, and that this element is within the nature of God?

Conversely, given a natural order, beauty and harmony noticeable within life, and knowing that loving families and just societies are more beautiful and harmonious than those that are unloving and unjust, is it reasonable to say that God is love and that beauty and harmony are manifestations of His love?

Is there beauty and harmony in the love that occurs between a man and a woman when such love leads to an abortion? Can the taking of another human life be justified through a romantic experience a couple might have had? What about in relation to “adult entertainment” … is it justified in relation to the risk it presents in weakening the goodwill of marriage in society, leading to more abortions? If not, should it be illegal? Are not families the nucleus of good, functioning societies, a strong support for justice and the inalienability of human rights?

Is there beauty and harmony in the love that occurs when a man and woman are bound together through marriage, committing themselves to one another whether in sickness or in health, committing themselves to accept the responsibility that comes with sexual intercourse, honoring such intimacy by welcoming any children that may result? Would such couples be reflecting the beauty found in the order of nature? Who has the authority to determine what is natural and ordered with respect to human sexuality?

If a person believes or accepts that there is a Creator, if they know that this Creator began to reveal Himself through the people of Israel, ultimately preparing the world for the birth of Jesus, the only man conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of a virgin, a birth no less miraculous than the Big Bang, what is the likelihood that they will develop a proper attitude towards life, towards beauty and harmony in human relationships?

If this person, this Jesus of Nazareth who claimed to be one with God, made all human beings in His image, how does the concept of sin fit with an attitude that all human beings are basically good?

The 2nd Deepest Sorrow

She took a linen cloth and began washing the blood out of his hair.  His head lay in her lap.  With the cloth sopping wet she pressed it firmly against his head and stroked downward.  It began to soften the blood that had hardened in his long hair.

She thought of her son, a time when he was younger, the first time his hair had been cut, how beautiful each strand was as it fell to the ground.  He squirmed in the chair a bit as the steady hand of his father quieted him down.

After softening the blood and taking several strands of hair and pulling them through a folded section of linen, she returned it to the earthen jar filled with water.  It was dark out, the clouds covered the sun as a deep storm continued to pass over the horizon.  Had it been brighter, she might have seen the once clear water become cloudy red, though the tears pouring down her face would have likely prevented her.

She was careful in softening the blood all around his head as it lay in her lap, lifting his head and placing the cloth on one spot, then another.  Finally, she removed the crown of thorns, working it off gently to avoid tearing his skin or pulling any hairs from their roots.

As one last thorn resisted, one that had penetrated very deeply, nearly an inch beneath his scalp, rupturing nerves as the crown was thrust upon Him, she let out a sob from deep within, causing her stomach muscles to clench and taking the rest of her body with it, feeling the whole of her body wrench with sorrow.  She had been doing well, she had kept it together for a few minutes, but this thorn was too much, like a sword piercing deeper into an old wound.

Finally, the crown came loose.  Joseph of Arimathea took the crown and placed it beside the burial cloth, holding it for an extended moment and examining it as one might examine a piece of shrapnel that had ripped through their closest friend.

Next, she took his hand.  Black and blue, blood had pooled and dried, forming several layers that crusted and formed crevices, like mud dried in the sun.  She thought back to a time when she would offer a treat, how he’d stick out his little hands and smile.  She thought of how they’d grown, how they’d become so strong and muscular from his wood work.

First one hand, then the other, stroking from elbow to palm, then one finger at a time, wrapped in the cloth and pulling gently to soften and loosen the dried blood.  After the first hand, the earthen jar had to be emptied and refilled as the blood thickened the water, making it impossible to clean without new traces of blood leaking from the cloth and forming new streaks on his hands and arms.

“Why… why did they do this to my son!?”  She nearly let the frustration and anger overtake her.  She knew why, she knew why He’d come into the world.  Still, her sorrow and grief were overwhelming.

Slowly, they lifted his body and turned him on his left side, laying his left arm above his head as Joseph steadied his shoulders.  The weight of his head remained in Mary’s lap.  Slowly, she began to take the sopping wet cloth and rub it against his back.  Gobs of blood lifted as though pieces of flesh that had been torn from his back but forced deeper into his wounds.  She let out another sob, this one lasting longer than the one before, riveting her body to its core.

The cuts and bits of mangled flesh traveled down his back and to the top of his thighs.  Blood had hardened in many spots, taking several passes of the wet cloth to loosen and rub off.  Mary could feel the bits of sand and dirt that had accumulated in his wounds from the times he had fallen; they coarsened and roughened the cloth as she’d squeeze his blood from it.

Finally, she came to his feet.  How the pain must have been unbearable as he writhed to shift his weigh from one point to another, just a bit, here or there, trying to lessen the pain, realizing with each movement that things were only getting worse, stretching muscle, skin, tendon and bone around the iron nails.

She took one of his feet in her hands and gently began to stroke it with the linen cloth.  She remembered how she would tickle his feet after supper and how he’d nearly scream; his feet were so sensitive.  Tears rolled down her cheeks.

At last, with the help of John and Joseph, she laid his head down on the cloth and stood up.  With the sun nearly set, they wrapped Him in the burial cloth, lifted Him up and carried Him to the burial chamber, filled with the deepest sorrow they’d ever know.

If you’d like to know more about the deepest sorrow…³⁰

The Glory of the Coming of the Lord

Time stood still.  The earth unfolded, flat like a piece of paper.  The waters over the face of the earth vanished. The material surroundings barring one’s view from the sky melted away as though fog blown by the wind.

The bodies of all living souls seemed to grow small, like atoms on a pinhead, gathering together in the center of the face of the earth that had been unfolded like a paper ball.  The presence of the Lord appeared with great power and glory, brighter and brighter as though the sun were falling through the clouds.  For some, lightning and terrifying thunder accompanied His presence.

All who weren’t ready for this great moment, who mocked Him and the warnings of His return, fell on their knees in fear and reverence.  Those who had entered into the sleep of death were awoken –they arose from beneath the earth, gathering together with those who were still living, still awake.

The cries of those who had been unjustly treated, who had not known justice while living, were heard first.  Writhing screams echoed through the air, piercing hearts.  Those who had perpetrated their injustices grew cold, as though frost settled on the interior chambers of their heart, seizing its muscles and making their breath labored and difficult.

The cries of those who were sad, who felt downcast and neglected most of their life were heard next.  Those who had been given much but failed to give back, failed to love others as themselves, who continued living as though there were no God, greedy and possessive of everything they thought was their own… chills traveled down their spine as the time of their recompense had arrived.  They cried in fear and sadness as the hardness of their hearts dawned upon them, as the ignorance of their ways overshadowed them.

When the cries subsided, the saints, those who lived such holy lives that they passed directly from this life to the next, accompanied the angels that surrounded the Lord in His great glory.  The fragrance of their beauty and love filled the air.  They began ministering to those who were abused and sad and to those who were bent on wickedness, whose hearts were hardened.  The prayers these saints had made for those who had turned away from the Lord joined with those who were still living at the time of the coming of the Lord, who remained in the mystical Body of Christ, surrounding each of them as though radiant jewels, casting brilliant colors in every direction.

As the fragrance and radiance of the saints filled the air, the love of the Lord for all those who turned away from Him fell gently as drops of rain, soothing hardened hearts and warming those that had grown cold, ministering to those who were sad and those who had been unjustly treated, who had not seen justice while living.  Many turned their hearts towards the Lord as these final prayers drew out coldness and bitterness.  Many of those who were abused, unjustly treated and filled with melancholy were able to forgive those who had wronged them; many became cheerful.

Those who would not turn from their ways, who had grown so darkened by sin, who were unable to forgive those who had wronged them, who could desire nothing for anyone but themselves, were drawn away from those who were ready, from those who were willing to forgive and from those who could and did.  The darkness that enveloped them could not be pierced by the bright light that was before them, nor the beautiful arrays of colors and scents made by the prayers of the saints, and by those in the Body of Christ who offered their good works and their suffering for the release of sinners from darkness and sin.  The harmony of the choirs of angels could not move them.

Time stood still, love remained.  Lost loved ones were reunited.  Glorified bodies, free from death, not subject to the material world, though capable of experiencing it, emerged.  Joy replaced sorrow and the peace that transcends understanding saturated every doubt.  The brightness of the glory of the Lord was in the midst of all those who had been righteous, of those who feared the Lord.  They ascended to the mansions that had been prepared for them.

The light and love of the Lord continued to reach into the depths of darkness, reaching for those who were unable or unwilling to leave the darkness enveloping them.  From time to time, souls emerged, each according to a time set by the Lord, a time proportionate to the darkness that enveloped them, each according to their willingness to turn their hearts to light and love.

Lucifer, that fallen angel of light whose truth appeared true but was not, who was once so powerful and exalted, a leader among the choirs of angels, deceiving God’s children with clever sophistries that could convolute their minds like a baker folding a measure of dough, was banished forever, cast into the bottomless pit along with all his followers.

Demons and Dianetics, That Modern Science of Mental Health

As mentioned in my testimony centering around the date 7/7/7, one of the books I read during the summer of my transformation was, “Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health.”

I first heard about Dianetics through a television commercial. I was around 8 years old, playing with a superman action figure as the commercial aired. A man with a deep, resonant voice discussed how the knowledge contained in Dianetics will enable someone to unlock their hidden potential, as exhibited by a volcano exploding.³¹ As I continued flying with Superman, I was eager to discover this potential.

Mr. Hubbard begins Dianetics with an insightful consideration, ‘Is it more important to discover the uncharted territories of the universe, millions of light years away, or the unknown territory just two inches behind our forehead?’³²

This insight calls to mind something Jesus said about the Kingdom of God:

Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, ‘The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; nor will they say, “Look, here it is!” or “There it is!” For, in fact, the kingdom of God is within you. –Luke 17:20-21 NRSV

A young Baptist minister, surmising his understanding of the Kingdom of God during a sermon, stated,

The Kingdom of God is objective yet subjective, visible yet invisible, internal yet external, present yet waiting to happen.

The Penny Catechism teaches:

68. What is the sixth article of the Creed?
–The sixth article of the Creed is, “He ascended into heaven; sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.”

69. What do you mean by the words, “He ascended into heaven?”
–By the words, “He ascended into heaven,” I mean that our Saviour went up Body and Soul into Heaven on Ascension Day, forty days after His resurrection.

70. What do you mean by the words, “Sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty?”
–By the words, “Sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,” I do not mean that God the Father has hands, for He is a spirit; but I mean that Christ, as God, is equal to the Father; and, as man, is in the highest place in heaven. ³³

In light of these considerations, is the highest place in heaven somewhere in the universe or somewhere in our soul, i.e. somewhere in the midst of our memory, understanding and will?

Could it be both?

      From a young age I’ve been fascinated with the human mind. I’d known that superhuman feats appear possible through hypnosis. Moreover, deeply buried or hidden memories are often only accessible through hypnosis, or through techniques discussed by Francine Shapiro in “Getting Past Your Past: Take Control of your Life with Self-help Techniques from EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) Therapy.”³⁴

Much of the theory behind how Dianetics works is built on the idea that bringing hidden or trapped memories to the surface, to our “analytical mind,” frees up the awareness and reasoning ability of an individual. Mr. Hubbard describes these hidden or trapped memories or experiences of pain as “engrams.”

The title, Dianetics, means “through the soul.” According to Dianetic theory, engrams are charged painful experiences that become stored in the unconscious or subconscious mind. As long as they remain, they can hinder the optimum performance of the conscious or analytical mind.

Essentially, since these painful experiences contain sensory perception that occurred at the time the impression of pain was received, whether direct, such as the sound of a bird chirping, or meaningful, i.e. containing human language or spoken commands, they can trigger a reaction in the conscious or analytical mind when the same sensory or meaningful experience occurs later.

To further highlight this relationship, Mr. Hubbard uses an analogy of a fish getting bit on the tail by a larger fish while swimming through murky water. Next time the fish swims into murky water it reacts as though it’s going to get bitten again, as though the murky water was the cause or is directly related to the painful bite.

According to the theory, from a biological standpoint, we are like fish. Pain we experience can be stored in our unconscious or subconscious mind where it later inhibits, or forces itself upon, the conscious mind, leading to diminished performance through irrational emotions, thoughts or behavior. According to Mr. Hubbard, these painful experiences are stored in our “reactive mind.” From a more allopathic viewpoint, these reactions may comprise Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Arguably, our conscious or analytical mind is our greatest asset for survival. If it becomes inhibited, so do our chances for survival, and correspondingly, our happiness. Similarly, according to Dianetic theory, engrams stored in our reactive mind take away from our ability to be happy by impairing reasonable choices or the ability of our conscious mind to fully experience and appreciate each moment of our lives in a new and/or wonderful way, as a child might experience walking through a field of flowers for the first time. If this is how our minds work, we’re likely to react, overreact or become defensive in situations that are like those wherein we’ve previously experienced pain, whether or not we’re conscious of those experiences.

Being able to process those experiences is often a part of successful counseling, potentially aided through the EMDR techniques developed by Francine Shapiro. Therapy may also involve the use of medication, especially since some have a genetic predisposition to depression,³⁵ i.e. to low moods engendered through neurotransmitter activity, neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine. Similarly, medications like Cymbalta, Effexor, Prozac and Zoloft could help correct deficiencies, and may be appropriate despite adequate counseling.

Alternatively, according to Mr. Hubbard in the book Dianetics, those experiences that contribute to forming engrams can be dealt with exclusively through someone trained as an “auditor.” Thus, the use of medication and other forms of mental health treatment have been given a bad rap.³⁶ If Dianetic theory were 100% accurate, this attitude would be appropriate –all we’d need is to get “audited” to remove all engrams, the alleged cause of all psychosomatic disorders.

Once we’ve done that, we’d become what Mr. Hubbard describes as a “Clear,” a type of perfect human being with newfound powers of intellect, memory, imagination and will one might similarly ascribe to an angel. Mr. Hubbard makes the case that most if not all the problems in the world that are caused by humanity are the result of deficits of the analytical mind produced by engrams –when people are cleared of engrams and therefore exponentially smarter, we can end all poverty, war and suffering. Similarly, once someone becomes a Clear, they will naturally make the right choices and care about the suffering of others, putting their needs before themselves.

Since pain no longer has the same effect upon the mind of a Clear, once the very first engram a person has ever received is reached and processed, immortality seems within reach. Accordingly, in a diagram labeled “Descriptic Graph of Survival”³⁷ the concept of “Potential Immortality” lies beside “Ultimate Pleasure.” According to the graph, as one travels up the Y-axis, more and more pleasure is experienced; on the X-axis, the number of years’ a person may live. This X-axis descriptor is shown ending at less than 70 years for one person but continuing through their progeny. Nonetheless, a couple pages later, Mr. Hubbard writes, “Survival optimum –immortality –lies in terms of time to the right.”³⁸ It would appear in one sense that Mr. Hubbard’s concept of immortality relates to the immortality of the human genome, or at least the genetic material of one person being carried on through their children. Otherwise, if not examined critically, which I failed to do at the time, one might think individual immortality is a real possibility for a “Clear,” i.e. eternal life, a familiar idea to someone with a Christian upbringing whose likely celebrated Jesus’ resurrection from the dead on more than one Easter. If examined critically, one might become depressed in realizing that even though they may live on in the sense of having children, they are still bound to die.

To whatever extent Mr. Hubbard’s theory accurately explains sources of irrational feelings, thoughts or behavior, especially in light of other accepted theories describing the mechanisms behind PTSD and mental disorders, and whether or not auditing is more effective than more allopathically accepted forms of counseling and medicinal therapies, I’d disagree with his views on what survival consists of, especially given the backdrop of naturalism interwoven into the book, i.e. chance and evolution at the heart of material and biological existence.

Mr. Hubbard argues that our basic drive, the drive and command for all living things, is to “SURVIVE.” Moreover, he argues that survival is best understood from our experience of pleasure and pain –pleasure is the most concrete example of survival whereas pain is its opposite, corresponding to the bottom of the Y-axis in the above-mentioned diagram. According to this definition, the self or ego is the ultimate reference point for evaluating what survival consists of –the more egotistically gratified, the more alive. Is not egotistical gratification the same as pride, and wasn’t it pride that led to the rebellion of Lucifer?

For someone who thinks that human life transcends self, i.e. that human beings have an immortal soul, survival can’t be fully explained from a materialistic or biological standpoint. While a fish may rightfully react to murky water after having been bitten in a similar situation, human life is much more complicated, involving a spiritual dimension. Likewise, the things that happen to us, such as painful experiences, aren’t necessarily without just cause and therefore cannot be viewed simply as experiences that hinder our awareness or the full expression of our being. Rather, painful experiences often help us practice discipline, achieve self-mastery, and discover important insights about ourselves and life.³⁹

Our understanding and willingness to submit ourselves to painful experiences can help us in pursuing higher causes or even the obtainment of superhuman abilities, abilities one might otherwise ascribe to a “Clear.” Many saints and heroes have had lives filled with acute and chronic pain, even martyrdom. In many of these cases, they’ve courageously submitted themselves to suffering for a higher cause and this suffering coincided with supernatural occurrences, as evidenced by the miracles associated with their lives.

Consider St. Pope John Paul II and Padre Pio, two well known holy men who are well known for their ability to “carry the cross.” St. John Paul II is the man credited for healing Sister Marie Simon-Pierre of Parkinson’s disease⁴⁰ as well as the downfall of communism in Poland.⁴¹ He regularly wore a hair-shirt undergarment as an act of penance. Padre Pio, a man of great hope,⁴² submitted himself to an austere life of prayer and penance. He was instrumental in performing many healing miracles, such as the one of Gemma di Giorgio, who, having been born blind and without pupils, was able to see after visiting him, though she remained without pupils.⁴³ He’s also known for stigmata, ⁴⁴ bilocation, ⁴⁵ and the gift of reading hearts, or souls,⁴⁶ e.g. knowing whether a person gave a complete confession or not; his incorrupt body can be viewed in Italy even today, nearly 50 years after his passing.

Shortly before presenting the “Descriptic Graph of Survival,” Mr. Hubbard writes,

… on some observed evidence, pleasure seems to have a much greater value in the cosmic scheme than pain.⁴⁷

In talking about cosmic schemes, one delves right into the fabric of existence, our origin and destiny. On the opposite spectrum, we have Jesus, who claimed to be one with God, stating,

If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves?⁴⁸

Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.⁴⁹

These are not easy teachings to accept. But, in the cosmic scheme of things, we know Jesus suffered terribly on the cross to reconcile us with God. Therefore, how can it be that pleasure has the greatest value in the cosmic scheme of things?

One of the major problems with a strictly biological, naturalistic perspective for survival includes the likelihood that definitively good morals become maligned, i.e. when they’re formed strictly according to their ability to enable pleasure:

‘What is good is what’s good for me.’

‘What is true is true for me.’

This is relativism, the idea that there are no absolute truths, no authority for establishing right from wrong. Furthermore, according to Dianetics,

“…there are no real demons.”

Rather, a demon is

      “…a by-pass circuit in the mind, called ‘demon’ because it was so
      long interpreted. Probably an electronic mechanism.”⁵⁰

Conversely, if one accepts the authority of Scripture and the Church, one understands that Satan is real, not simply a concept or mythological creation; one accepts that there are evil spirits and that these spirits can possess human beings. According to Adam Blai, who trains priests in exorcism on a national level, having a Master’s degree in Science from Penn State for Adult Clinical Psychology,

Now the Catechism of the Catholic Church, for those of us that are Catholic, is very clear that this is real. We have 2000 years or more of experience of every major world religion and culture that says this is real. Now with the Catholic faith, we understand that we have the benefit of the full revelation through Jesus Christ and the Gospel, but every other religion in the world has encountered the same creatures, they have a lesser understanding of it, they call it different things, they have different labels for it –Buddhists call them animal spirits, there are Buddhist exorcisms, Muslim call them Jinn or Shaytan, and there are Muslim exorcists, the Jewish faith calls them Dybbic, and there are Jewish rabbi exorcists, there are Native American exorcists, there are Hindu exorcists, every culture and religion in the world has encountered the same troublesome deceptive spirits that con their way into people’s lives and try to destroy them.⁵¹

A well-documented case of possession occurred in Earling, Iowa, involving Anna Ecklund, a fictitious name given for reasons of privacy. Anna’s exorcism took 23 days, from September 1st 1928 to September 23rd, as discussed in Joan Carrol Cruz’s book, “Angels and Demons.”⁵²

In the mornings, when prayers began, Anna would enter into a coma. Prayers would commence, beginning with the Sign of the Cross, followed by the Litany of the Saints. As the litany began, the energumen would begin to growl. Though words would come forth from her, never once during the exorcism would her tongue or lips move. On one morning, during the early part of the litany, Anna rose in the air and seemed to attach herself to the ceiling.

Another case of possession involved two boys from Illfurth, Germany, possessed between 1864 and 1869.⁵³ These cases involved “terrible facial expressions, unusual strength, contortions and physical gymnastics…” If the boys were sleeping on their backs, “they would turn over and over at an incredible speed, like living tops.”

Other cases of possession have involved knowledge of foreign languages, knowledge not consistent with age, social condition or education, and/or knowledge of distant events, hidden sins and secrets. Such was the case for Antoine Gay (1790 – 1871), wherein a medical certificate issued by Dr. Picket on November 12th 1843 expressed the view that Gay enjoyed “…perfect health of body and mind” but was also “under the influence of some occult power, which we are naturally unable to detect by medical means” and that “we remain convinced that this extraordinary state can only be attributed to possession,” citing evidence as,

…the fact that during our first interview with Mr. Gay, that extraordinary thing which speaks through his mouth revealed our inmost secrets of our heart, told us the story of our life from the age of twelve onwards, giving details that are known only to God, our confessor and ourselves.⁵⁴

Adolphe Tanquerey, in his book, “The Spiritual Life: A Treatise on Ascetical and Mystical Theology,” informs us that the devil can act upon the external senses of sight, hearing and touch when permitted by God, but more often he acts upon our interior sense: the imagination, certain passions and the memory… “indirectly on the will, soliciting its consent through the sensitive appetite.”⁵⁵ Similarly,

Distressing and besetting images flit through the imagination and remain there in spite of every effort to expel them... One appears to have become prey to fits of anger, to the anguish of despair, to instinctive feelings of antipathy and dangerous sentimentality.⁵⁶

Louis Molden, a Jesuit theologian, suggests that one must have recourse to that “discernment of spirits which the Church has practiced throughout the centuries with spiritual care and a quiet tactfulness.”⁵⁷ Cruz paraphrases Molden, “according to the doctrine of the discernment of spirits, anxiety, uneasiness and confusion are Satan’s favorite weapons.”⁵⁸

Considering the two cases of possession mentioned, the long history of the Church in dealing with such cases, and the recognition of evil spirits in numerous religions and cultures, Mr. Hubbard is only partially correct in describing a demon as autogenic. He’s partially correct because through sin, through the exercise of free will in choosing to do something knowingly wrong, whether directly by giving into temptation, which may be less culpable, or through willingly involving oneself with Satanism, witchcraft, divination, mediums or séances, astrology, psychics, tarot cards, crystal balls, amulets, beliefs and practices associated with reincarnation, Silva mind control, automatic writing, Ouija boards, necromancy and some forms of rap and heavy metal music, a person opens themselves to evil, to being used by evil spirits, even to extreme cases of possession, such as those mentioned. However, he’s 100% correct in recognizing and classifying the activity produced by a demon as evil, as something abnormal, as the absence of a good that should be there, i.e. control of one’s own mind and body.

Returning to my earlier discussion of survival, as defined by Dianetics, and with respect to the tendency for definitively good morals to become maligned when they’re formed strictly according to their ability to enable pleasure, Mr. Hubbard broadened survival to include three other “Dynamics.” These other dynamics are one’s family, the group or groups one’s involved with, and all of mankind.

Nonetheless, as with many ideas that lack fullness of truth, thereby becoming heretical, harm can result. In this instance, because self is still the first point of reference, from a purely biological perspective, accumulation of wealth would seem the most logical pursuit of survival. Accordingly, when one is extraordinarily wealthy, how much more likely will they be able to help their family, their friends or associates, and all of mankind? In this sense, how likely may the road to hell be ‘paved with good intentions?’ Or, how likely will this belief eventually lead to the love of money? In contrast, consider what Jesus taught about money:

Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.’ –Mathew 19:23-24

And,

No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. –Matthew 6:24

The tendency to view money as the most logical pursuit of survival might explain why there’s such a high price tag associated with services obtained through the religion eventually founded by Mr. Hubbard, as further illuminated in the documentary, “Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief.”⁵⁹

When one is first concerned about the wellbeing of their soul, and as a result, abides in the knowledge that their life and soul are gifts from God, their values are transformed – grace imparts an ability to grow in trust. One may eventually come to know and completely trust the source of those gifts in the person of Jesus. Then, they may choose to follow His advice in a literal manner, selling all their possessions and distributing them to the poor, not living primarily for financial security and physical pleasures, but for eternal treasures, treasures that involve expanding one’s family with brothers and sisters, treasures that can’t be destroyed by radiation, corrosion, moth or mold. Of course, this first requires belief that the human soul is eternal, that there is a heaven and hell, that everyone will be held accountable for their thoughts and actions.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. –Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)

And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
–Hebrews 11:6

We were saved, and we have this hope. If we see what we are waiting for, then that is not really hope. People do not hope for something they already have.
–Romans 8:24 (ICB translation)

With respect to maligned morals vis-à-vis a broader reference for survival, consider families involved with organized crime, the Nazis, radical Muslims, or any ethnic or belief-centered group that believes they’re superior to another. Within this framework, killing under the pretense that one’s family or group will advance seems justified. Alternatively, when the ultimate command or goal in life is to abide in union with the Source of Life, killing an innocent person is always a definitive evil, regardless of the age, health, ethnic, political or theistic, polytheistic or atheistic belief background of the other person. This absolute truth is easy to uphold when one trusts that the Source of Life has already given proper laws for true survival, i.e. the 10 commandments, for example “Thou Shalt not Kill.”

The discoveries Mr. Hubbard advanced in Dianetics eventually led him to form Scientology, a legally recognized tax-exempt religion in the United States and several other countries. However, the survival Dynamics originally discussed in Dianetics are expanded and modified in Scientology to include four additional Dynamics for a total of eight.

When I started reading Dianetics, I wasn’t aware that the author was also the founder of Scientology. I wasn’t aware of Scientology or that it was considered a religion. However, there were several instances where I was afraid what I had been learning would be harmful; I had a subtle sense of fear but didn’t logically understand why. There were times I would consider the volcano on the cover of the book, with its molten hot lava, and draw an analogy that what I’d really be unleashing wasn’t my full potential but the gates of hell, a lake of fire! This fear often coincided with a loud bang coming from somewhere in the distance. It was supernatural, as were the many instances when the lights would dim or flicker in our house, seemingly in correlation to something I thought, felt or anticipated feeling, much like in the movie “Powder,” starring Jeff Goldblum.⁶⁰ There would also be loud clicking sounds that seemed to come from the walls, perhaps like those that have been ascribed to Margaret Fox Kane, as discussed in the book, “Understanding Miracles,” by Zsolt Aradi.⁶¹

Nonetheless, Dianetics intensified my desire to find solutions to human suffering, empowering me with a greater sense of mental health and compassion for others, especially with respect to how past painful experiences can lead to irrational thoughts, emotions or behavior. It intensified my desire to read and grow in knowledge, especially with respect to the importance of defining key words before proceeding in a sentence in order avoid losing interest or focus, a reading phenomenon Mr. Hubbard explained early on in Dianetics, as he does in many of his books.

Moreover, as I read Dianetics and Scripture during the summer of my transformation, as mentioned in my testimony centering around the date 7/7/7, I developed what seemed like a ‘big picture’ view on life. This view added significant depth to the summer between my sophomore and junior year, a year overflowing with a new sense of purpose and His presence, a presence coalescing with love and maturation.

Dreaming of a Perfect Number

I wrote the first draft of this testimony on the evening of 11/11/11.

      11/11/11 is now a memory. It’s the second to the last day of this century where the month, day and year will be the same, the last being 12/12/12. Not a big deal per say, maybe for one lifetime.  
      Of these types of dates, 7/7/7 was very significant for me. I often watch a video from that day where John Mark McMillan performs the song, “How He Loves,"⁶² in memorial. The lyrics provide great insight on His jealous, but unfailing love. 
      He revealed that day to me several years in advance through a dream. The actual dream occurred in 2003. I recorded it in a diary I had recently started.

In the dream, I was at a festival filled with music and dancing. The festival reverberated with the number seven, which I distinctly remembered and recorded in my diary. The dream also resonated with a sense of peace, completeness and perfection that saturated every thought and movement. 
      I started the diary about three months prior to the dream in order to record all the amazing things God was doing in my life. Starting the diary corresponded with the first time I was devoted to a prayer routine. Moreover, I had turned from sinful behavior and rededicated myself to Him; I kept a list of prayers for friends and relatives, keeping track of those that had been answered.

Metamorphosis in High School

My first experience of God’s ability to answer prayers occurred between my sophomore and junior year in high school. Although raised Catholic by one of my parents, for the most part, I didn't internalize what I knew of Him, allowing Him to be the center of my life. During that summer, through reading Scripture, I began to understand what mom had meant in stating that God desires a relationship with us wherein we communicate daily, like Adam and Eve before the Fall.

I’ve since realized that God desires this intimate relationship with us for our own good, not because He needs our love or attention.  Without prayer, we neglect Him, neither being conscious of His presence nor justly attributing all that is good to its proper cause. Without prayer, without a relationship with Him, we’re predisposed to disordered pleasures that can never fully satisfy. Similarly, living without prayer is like being married to someone you know you love, but never spending time together or doing anything for them. What a sad marriage that would be, the kind that often leads to divorce. Thankfully, His ways are not like our ways –He never leaves us, even when we ignore or hurt Him, others or ourselves. In many respects, this is the story contained in what Christians refer to as the “Old Testament” –God’s unfailing love for His people, people that regularly “cheated” on Him.
      The poem, “here is little Effie’s head,” by e. e. cummings,⁶³ helped catalyze the change I went through that summer. The poem grapples with the material of life, death and Judgment Day. I suddenly became awe struck at the meaninglessness of life if everyone simply dies in the end, and there is no other end. The typical concerns of a sophomore suddenly seemed remarkably irrelevant. 
      Shortly thereafter I had the inspiration to pray that I would be led to two books that would have a profound impact on my life. I wasn’t much of a reader, but I knew that needed to change. The two books I read that summer were Holy Scripture and “Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health,” by L. Ron Hubbard. 
      In reading Scripture, especially the New Testament, my heart took in a breath of the air of spring. Before long, raindrops fell on a lifeless valley. As the lifeless fruits of a bitter winter subsided, new life arose; the knowledge of His compassionate and miracle-filled life filled my soul and my cup overflowed.

A yearning for hope had been satisfied, one I hadn’t previously understood the need for. The insights I gained during previous catechism classes coalesced; not only could I put my thumb on what sin was, forsaking the 10 commandments for example, but for the first time, I desired to avoid sin and pursue righteousness. Or, as Edward Sri puts it,

When we encounter Christ's love in our own lives, it changes us, it changes our hearts; we become more compassionate and we desire to imitate Jesus Christ humbly and sacrificially, serving those around us.⁶⁴

Instead of simply gaining a sense of purpose, the grace I received through prayer, i.e. communion with the one who had risen from the dead, one conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of a consecrated virgin, one who gave his blood to ransom my life, penetrated the deepest parts of my soul. The fact that the Church He founded was still alive today, holding fast to the knowledge of His life and message, of the practice of charity and sacred traditions, strengthened that belief. And, even though it was subtle, I had a sense that I was with Him in the beginning, a time when there was absolutely nothing, nothing except a desire to create life, to share in being.

My confidence in the eyewitness testimony of His followers as recorded in Scripture helped me transcend the hopelessness or depression that follows on the heels of a belief that ultimately I don’t exist in the end, that nothing really matters. Similarly, the hope that resulted from an awareness of the promises Jesus made, particularly, ‘those who believe in Him will never experience death,’⁶⁵ contrasted sharply with the inclination to form a twisted and hollow outlook on life, one that often ends in pain and suffering.
      As my heart grew, significant areas of my life transformed. Instead of contesting with my parents, I desired to honor them. I began to value obedience, acts of service, quality time and honesty; I was more willing to acknowledge the good they’d accomplished and intended for me.

Likewise, rather than disliking dad for chores, I strove for obedience, hoping to show love and respect. This helped transform our relationship from one akin to slave and master to one of friendship.  Now that he’s passed on, I’m thankful that our time together was well spent, spent in communion rather than discord –I doubt that would have happened if I hadn’t desired to honor him, if my eyes hadn’t been opened.

When school restarted in August, my focus also changed –for the first time I was regularly excited to learn something new and earn A’s. I also sought to share what I knew about Him with friends and schoolmates, some of whom I knew were struggling with drugs and sexual vice. Eventually I started a Bible study during lunch.

During the first study, I decided to read aloud from the eyewitness account of St. John, one of Jesus’ most beloved disciples. There was a much larger turnout than expected. As I read the words in red, the words of Jesus, they changed color –they turned green!

This occurred as many of the attendees, most of whom were frequently getting into trouble, often suspended or in detention, scoffed and laughed. I could hardly believe my eyes… it was as though He was telling me I had a go, a green light!

Don’t get me wrong, I know there are alternative explanations for what happened that day. And yet, how often do we commit an injustice to the supernatural things we experience by explaining them away in nonchalant or materialistic ways? Luigi Guisanni does an excellent job explaining this tendency in his book, “The Religious Sense.”⁶⁶ The group that formed around his insights, “Communion and Liberation,” can help us grow in our daily encounter with Christ by encouraging us to observe these extraordinary occurrences without attempting to reduce them or explain them away and by better preparing us to share them with each other during weekly or monthly meetings.

Finding Community

God continued to answer many prayers during my transformation that summer, the most important of which was mom's complete recovery from breast cancer: she pulled through weeks of chemotherapy and many days spent weak and miserable, suffering in bed.

Other answered prayers included interceding successfully for friends (as exhibited by changes in their behavior and in reconciled relationships), finding an Audiovox car stereo with a 10-disc CD changer at ~20% the original price (I had just gotten my driver’s license), having the insight and strength to avoid relationships that were unhealthy, and building new and healthier friendships.

I also became involved in a Pentecostal nondenominational church. Members of this church frequently “witnessed,” i.e. shared their love of Jesus and how that love has transformed their life, at a nearby park. Our paths crossed during one of these witnessing events, which was shortly after I finished reading the New Testament. The timing was perfect –our vibrant and passionate love for Him was extraterrestrial!

Without a community where young adults can develop healthy friendships that reinforce the need for cultivating a relationship with Him, vice more readily sets itself against the cultivation of virtue. Out of loneliness, whether due to a lack of a genuinely caring family or community, many young adults commit suicide or care so little about themselves that they’ll resort to desperate measures to find love, acceptance and attention, even when that celestial voice known as conscience suggests otherwise. Sometimes the counterfeit is real enough, a short-term alternative to loneliness, feelings of insignificance, inadequateness or rejection.

Alternatively, when a person has a foundation in faith, a knowledge that a superabundant and loving God cares for them, when they know they’re able to communicate with Him through prayer and have some of their prayers answered, they’re not as likely to experience loneliness or self-destructive attitudes or feelings of hopelessness. And yet, even when unavoidable, those feelings of insignificance, inadequateness or rejection can be seen in a positive light, as redemptive suffering or a “cross” that must be carried on the way to one’s eternal destination.

Thankfully, the nondenominational church I encountered gave me a sense of community for the two years of high school that followed my metamorphosis.

Falling Away in a Permissive Culture

The two years of high school that followed my metamorphosis, though filled with their share of suffering, were very fruitful. After graduating high school, I left the small town I knew so well for a sprawling metropolis, searching for a job and a career path. 

During the search, despite of knowing how good He is, I stopped seeking Him. As the distance increased, I began to believe that only through separating myself from Him could I enjoy life –I set down the cross and succumbed to the “lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life.”⁶⁷ I failed to search for a community that could strengthen my walk with Him, one that would clearly remind me of that need for my eternal salvation.

Before long, I purchased my first pornographic video. Although I had been exposed to pornography at a young age, I was able to distance myself from it as I grew closer to Him in high school.

When I bought the movie, I wanted to believe there was nothing wrong with doing so; I wanted to live in tune with what much of our society often teaches about “adult entertainment” and premarital sex –harmless fun. And, if most people believe this to be true, it must be. Right? Isn’t truth established by the majority? After all, no one wants to feel at odds with society –everyone wants to feel connected, healthy, non-judgmental and free from prejudice.

If I had maintained a prayer life and stayed involved with a Christian community, my ability to overcome such temptations would have been stronger. While the pastor at the newly formed nondenominational church I attended in high school might have helped me develop a greater sense of conviction, I did not seek his help, either out of fear of embarrassment or pride.

It is great to know that the Catholic Church has clear teachings that can be found in the Catechism. Young adults are often too embarrassed to address the matter of self-abuse with someone. If they’re part of a mega-church, they may not have the individual assistance they need because the ministers and deacons are too busy or they’re afraid to impose on them or burden them. Turning to the internet in search for truth using a word like “pornography,” or “masturbation,” is likely to lead to images that add fuel to the fire.

It’s often easier to read about the subject than talk with someone, making the Catechism a great source for spiritual development. However, help in combatting this inclination or habit may take counseling and support from others who hope to hold each other accountable towards self-mastery. Moreover, confession to a caring and concerned priest may be most suitable and effective. Sadly however, many priests also struggle with self-abuse. Ideally, one will find a priest in whom they’re confident, who is caring and self-disciplined.

Our laws permit the freedom of expression found in pornography while neglecting to protect innocent human life and family values. Conversely, if the production of pornography were heavily taxed, fined or made illegal, if legislatures and county governments acknowledged the harm it causes⁶⁸ to those who become addicted to it or involved in making it, as well as the harm caused to the goodwill of family life, much of the bitter fruit it produces, fruit like fornication, abortion, sex trafficking, STDs and divorce, would diminish. Likewise, if our culture recognized these harms and helped prevent them through positive laws, more young adults would likely foster respect for the sacrament of marriage, for physical intimacy and the children that naturally result. Furthermore, such laws would help to correct the upcoming shortfalls facing Medicare and Social Security, systems that depend on a growing population. The U.S. birth rate is dangerously below replacement levels. (⁶⁹, ⁷⁰, ⁷¹⁾

If networks of families sued corporations and businesses that produce and distribute pornography, considering the damage they cause to the goodwill of family life, goodwill that should be treated the same way the goodwill of any other legal entity is treated, less might be produced. How often is prostitution promoted and produced under the guise of “adult entertainment?” How often are young adults lured into sex-trafficking and sold as sex-slaves? Many citizens aren’t aware of how large and tragic this problem is, both in the U.S. and abroad.⁷²

The success of these kinds of efforts isn’t as likely unless legislators and judges serving the public are themselves free from the corruption pornography causes –currently there are no laws that require public servants to be free from the use of “adult entertainment,” though similar activities known to cause harm or impair judgment, such as the injection of heroin, would prevent one from serving in office or result in a person’s termination if discovered and unsuccessfully treated. In some respects, progress is being made through the development of the “2016 Presidential Candidate Survey on Sexual Exploitation.”⁷³ Nonetheless, one of the ways an increased accountability of public officials may be accomplished is through software operating on our computers, whether serving in the office or at home, that alerts appropriate agencies when abuse has occurred. It is not impossible to rid a nation of pornography, or at least its influence on public servants, if such software were mandatory, and given the injustice and harms caused, it would be prudent in establishing a more just and virtuous society.

Thankfully, the Catholic Church has clear teachings on pornography, as well as self-abuse, which often accompanies it. As mentioned earlier, St. John Paul II has done an excellent job of discussing where true sexual health exists in his work, “Theology of the Body.”⁷⁴ I wasn’t aware of this source for truth when struggling with the temptation of self-abuse. However, as someone who knew Him and the danger of sin, who knew that our body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit, who knew I should have greater appreciation for modesty, I had little if any excuse. And yet, perhaps I didn’t want to know more, as is often the case when something stands in the way of what we want or think we need, even if somewhere deep down, we know it is wrong and a part of ourselves objects.

The Guise of Scientific Authority
      Many organizations and “experts,” under a guise of scientific authority, teach that masturbation and fantasy are a part of a healthy sex-life, a natural part of growing up. (⁷⁵, ⁷⁶⁾ Likewise, it has been argued that men need to regularly ejaculate to maintain prostate health. (⁷⁷, ⁷⁸⁾ In contrast, results from a 2004 study conducted in the US, involving 29,342 men, indicated a “suggestive decrease in risk of total and organ-confined prostate cancer among men in the lowest category of ejaculation frequency across a lifetime,”⁷⁹ and that young men (between the ages of 20 and 29 years old) who were somewhat sexually abstinent, having three or fewer ejaculations per month, possibly due to involuntary nocturnal emissions, had the lowest Relative Risk (Relative Risk = "P" of event when exposed / "P" of event when not exposed, where "P" = probability) for organ confined prostate cancer.⁸⁰ However, older men in the same study, men between 40 and 49, who reported the highest number of ejaculations per month, had the lowest Relative Risk.

Nonetheless, another study completed and published in The Journal of the British Association of Urological Surgeons in 2008, involving 840 men, reported,

The overall pattern arising from these results is that frequent SA [sexual activity] is positively associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer in younger men, but for men in their 50s there is evidence of an inverse association/protective effect of masturbation and overall sexual activity.

In the present results, a slightly protective effect in early adults applied only to moderate overall SA.

Masturbation activity in the 20s and 30s was consistently associated with high risk, but for the 40s there was no significant association with any kind of SA.⁸¹

Another study, published in the Journal of Surgical Oncology in 1981, reported that Catholic priests had a 30% lower prostate cancer mortality rate when compared to men of the same ethnicity and geographic location.⁸²

Future studies evaluating the relationship between ejaculation frequency and prostate health may show that men who live in accordance with the magisterium of the Church, thereby practicing natural family planning when not able to support children, which would involve abstaining from sexual activity around two weeks per month (periods of feminine fertility), have optimum prostate health.

While it is appropriate to understand that sex is pleasurable and not be ashamed of one’s body or have an attitude that sex is bad or dirty, helping to cultivate a healthy self-image, the Church teaches the following regarding offenses against chastity:⁸³

2351 Lust is disordered desire for or inordinate enjoyment of sexual pleasure. Sexual pleasure is morally disordered when sought for itself, isolated from its procreative and unitive purposes.

2352 By masturbation is to be understood the deliberate stimulation of the genital organs in order to derive sexual pleasure. "Both the Magisterium of the Church, in the course of a constant tradition, and the moral sense of the faithful have been in no doubt and have firmly maintained that masturbation is an intrinsically and gravely disordered action. The deliberate use of the sexual faculty, for whatever reason, outside of marriage is essentially contrary to its purpose." For here sexual pleasure is sought outside of "the sexual relationship which is demanded by the moral order and in which the total meaning of mutual self-giving and human procreation in the context of true love is achieved.”

To form an equitable judgment about the subjects' moral responsibility and to guide pastoral action, one must take into account the affective immaturity, force of acquired habit, conditions of anxiety or other psychological or social factors that lessen, if not even reduce to a minimum, moral culpability.

2353 Fornication is carnal union between an unmarried man and an unmarried woman. It is gravely contrary to the dignity of persons and of human sexuality which is naturally ordered to the good of spouses and the generation and education of children. Moreover, it is a grave scandal when there is corruption of the young.

2354 Pornography consists in removing real or simulated sexual acts from the intimacy of the partners, in order to display them deliberately to third parties. It offends against chastity because it perverts the conjugal act, the intimate giving of spouses to each other. It does grave injury to the dignity of its participants (actors, vendors, the public), since each one becomes an object of base pleasure and illicit profit for others. It immerses all who are involved in the illusion of a fantasy world. It is a grave offense. Civil authorities should prevent the production and distribution of pornographic materials.

2355 Prostitution does injury to the dignity of the person who engages in it, reducing the person to an instrument of sexual pleasure. The one who pays sins gravely against himself: he violates the chastity to which his Baptism pledged him and defiles his body, the temple of the Holy Spirit. Prostitution is a social scourge. It usually involves women, but also men, children, and adolescents (The latter two cases involve the added sin of scandal.). While it is always gravely sinful to engage in prostitution, the imputability of the offense can be attenuated by destitution, blackmail, or social pressure.

2356 Rape is the forcible violation of the sexual intimacy of another person. It does injury to justice and charity. Rape deeply wounds the respect, freedom, and physical and moral integrity to which every person has a right. It causes grave damage that can mark the victim for life. It is always an intrinsically evil act. Graver still is the rape of children committed by parents (incest) or those responsible for the education of the children entrusted to them.

As mentioned above, with regards to masturbation, there are certain circumstances that may lessen the gravity or mitigate the severity of the offense, not to mention its ability to separate us from Him and His designs for our life, designs that often involve a sacred union with the opposite sex, designs fulfilled in giving oneself completely to another, designs more readily achieved through cultivating the virtue of chastity.

For many, masturbation has become a way of reducing strain caused by the many stresses of life. Similarly, many young adults have difficulty sleeping. The relaxation and endorphins produced through sexual release can help induce a disposition that more readily induces sleep. Nonetheless, it is not good to develop a habit of self-abuse to fall asleep. Rather, if one is single or celibate, it is best to pursue stress management techniques, herbal or allopathic medicines that often help to overcome sleep difficulties. Even though many people are reluctant to take medicine, possibly due to pride related to the perception of being in perfect health as long as one doesn’t need medicine, it’s better to take medicine, whether muscle relaxants, anti-depressants, anxiolytics or sleep aids such as melatonin, Sam-E or diphenhydramine, than to sin.

You have heard that it was said, “You shall not commit adultery.” But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell. –Mt 5:29-30

Habitual fantasy often precedes immoral sexual behavior and fornication. Many children are conceived by couples who are unwilling to accept the responsibility that sexual intimacy entails. As mentioned earlier, oral contraceptives have a 9% typical use failure rate –there were 765,651 abortions reported to the CDC in 2010, corresponding to 7.1% of the 10.7 million women who used oral contraceptives that year.⁸⁴

Have you ever felt the injustice of having something you’ve adamantly cared for stolen? This is likely just an inkling of what Jesus feels when children are aborted. Each of us ultimately belong to God, our Heavenly Creator who made us in His image; no one has a right to mar or deprive the life of an innocent person, let alone tear them apart limb from limb long after they’ve able to feel pain.⁸⁵

Consider how many relationships that led to an abortion are the result of what initially seemed like harmless fantasies and self-abuse, both of which strengthen desire. Consider how many children have been abused and how many incestuous relationships result from “harmless” fantasies and masturbation. One study indicated 16% of males were sexually abused by the age of 18, another 14.2%.⁸⁶ A study by the CDC reports an overall prevalence of 1 in 5 children.⁸⁷ “The United States has one of the worst records among industrialized nations –losing an average between four and seven children every day to child abuse and neglect.”⁸⁸

Addiction to sexual pleasure is a genuine problem. Newsweek published an article in 2011 entitled, “The Sex Addiction Epidemic.” ⁸⁹

…compulsive sexual behavior, also called hypersexual disorder, can systematically destroy a person’s life much as addictions to alcohol or drugs can. And it’s affecting an increasing number of Americans, say psychiatrists and addiction experts. “It’s a national epidemic,” says Steven Luff, coauthor of Pure Eyes: A Man’s Guide to Sexual Integrity⁹⁰ and leader of the X3LA sexual-addiction recovery groups in Hollywood.

One man’s experience further elucidates the nature of the struggle,

Friendships suffered, and he felt “pathetic” about his sexual urgency. The worst part, he says, was that his sex drive ultimately changed “what I think is normal,” as his tolerance grew for increasingly hard-core forms of pornography. “It really is like that monster you can’t ever fulfill,” says Harper, 30, who has avoided dating for the past eight months and attends a recovery group. “Both with the porn and the sex, something will be good for a while and then you have to move on to other stuff. The worst thing is, toward the end, I was looking at pretend incest porn. And I was like, ‘Why is something like that turning me on?!’

In my struggle, feelings of guilt or shame were further from me as I distanced myself from Him. Moreover, as my prayer life diminished in the midst of searching for what I mistakenly believed was most important, I failed to search for a community that could help uphold and strengthen my relationship with Him, one that could help me in the cultivation of virtue.

Furthermore, a part of me felt that since I had already obtained a certain level of social fulfillment through being part of the nondenominational church in High School, I didn’t need that communion anymore and could now focus most of my energy on more important things, like building wealth. Similarly, since I knew the gist of what I needed to know about God through reading Scripture, or so I thought, I could now put Him on the backburner and follow other pursuits, as if knowledge of Him supersedes living in communion with Him, as though knowledge of one’s spouse supersedes spending quality time together.

Like a freed slave going back to his or her master, like an Israelite falling back into idol worship after a miraculous delivery from Egypt, I allowed the temptations of this world, “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life,” to sever my relationship with Him. Essentially, I succumbed to a man-centered lifestyle instead of a Christ-centered one.

Breaking the Covenant

It’s sad that after having been so close to Him, after having received so many blessings and answered prayers, I seemingly divorced. About half of all couples who were once in love and happily married, divorce. (⁹¹, ⁹²⁾ This is twice as many as in 1965.⁹³ If family is the nucleus of our society, our culture, despite our many technological advancements, are we getting better or worse off? Perhaps rather than indicating the state of our society, this situation indicates our wayward tendency constantly in need of Communion with Him, of grace. Is the Catholic Church, the first and only bride of Christ, off-course in the sanctity with which she regards marriage, even forbidding someone who’s been remarried, without having their first marriage legitimately annulled, from receiving Holy Communion?

Divorce is a major contributing force of a child experiencing poverty. An article published in the Journal of Marriage and Family reported that,

Children in non-intact families face a higher risk of poverty throughout childhood. By age six, 68 percent of children in non-married households had experienced at least one year of poverty, compared to 12 percent of children in married households. By age 12, 78 percent of children in non-married households had experienced at least one year of poverty compared to 18 percent of children in married households; and by age 17, 81 percent of children in non-married households had experienced at least one year of poverty compared to 22 percent of children in married households.

…children in non-married households who are one-year-old have exceeded the risk of poverty that children in married households experience during their entire 17 years of childhood.⁹⁴

An economics professor I had in college once joked about how being married is like having two jobs. Certainly, when we neglect our job or our marriage, they fall apart. Likewise, if we don’t cultivate our relationship with God, should we expect a different result?

And how likely is it that there’s an enemy working against us, a once exalted angel conspiring for human death and misery? If that’s the Truth, and our Lord clearly states that it is,⁹⁵ having overcome this adversary face-to-face in the desert before beginning His public ministry,⁹⁶ no matter how much control we have, no matter our mastery of the material universe, unless we acknowledge a spiritual dimension, we’re not likely to cultivate the kind of repentance and dependence on Him that’s appropriate for our salvation.

Rededicating Myself
      In 2003, about six years after moving away from home, I completely rededicated myself to Him. This was around the time I started to keep a diary.

Initially, some of the inspiration for this change came through the compassionate work of a campus missionary. His love for God and willingness to reach out to others deeply impressed me. Later on, I also received many graces from praying the rosary. In fact, it was mostly through the intercession of the Virgin Mary that I was able to overcome pornography and self-abuse, encouraging me to develop a healthier respect for myself, women and marriage.

Although both my parents had a deep respect for marriage, commensurate with the level of honesty and commitment it requires, I had limited knowledge of the opposite sex while growing up. My parents desired that my siblings and I were brought up in the Catholic faith, but encouragement towards marriage as a vocation was weak to non-existent. Rather, the advice I received around the onset of puberty was that if I was going to be sexually active, I should use a condom. Sadly, this is the extent of advice many young men and women receive when entering adulthood.

In relation to encouraging a proper attitude towards the sacredness of sexual intimacy, consider the Hebrew word that describes God’s oneness, echad, in the context of Salvation History. Accordingly, the most important verse all Israelites are expected to memorize comes from Deuteronomy 6:4:

"Hear, O Israel! Yahweh is our God, Yahweh is one [echad]!"

Israelites are called to recite this verse several times throughout the day; it is known as the Shema.

Echad is also the Hebrew word used to describe the oneness of a man and a woman as described in Genesis 2:24: "the two shall become one [echad] flesh."

Why is this Good news? The Creator of the universe desires to unite in an eternal loving embrace with each of us! Through the precious blood of Jesus, we can be redeemed from sin so that we might become righteous, pure and holy! God often refers to His relationship with His chosen people in terms of a marriage.⁹⁷ Union with Him results in eternal life!

The passion of Jesus, His entire life and mission, consummates in the Eucharist, Fruit from the Tree of Life, the Lamb of God who makes Himself available to us in the form of bread and wine, all-powerful yet presenting Himself to us as vulnerable as an infant! We can celebrate this union daily during the Holy Mass, the Marriage Supper of the Lamb!⁹⁸ We can celebrate oneness with all those living in a state of grace as members of the Body of Christ!

Consider our marital relationship further through the insights of Jeff Cavins and Thomas Smith in “Revelation: The Kingdom Yet to Come,”

The ancient title of Revelation is Apokalypsis, which literally means to “pull back the veil” or the covers. It is bridal language. The book of Revelation ushers the reader into the sacred bridal chamber of the Lord and his Bride, the Church. In fact, one may frame the entire book with this theme in mind. Revelation 1-11 is an “unveiling” of our Divine Groom, and chapters 12-22 lift the veil of his Bride, allowing us to see the nature and beauty of the Church.⁹⁹

Considering reverence for marriage, I’d submit that men who believe they’re called to the vocation of marriage and desire to enrich their spiritual life, as well as increase their ability to overcome sexual temptation, obtain a Shema prayer shawl for use to kneel on while praying. In accordance with Israelite custom, this shawl later forms the canopy under which the bride and groom are wed. Each of the four corners are held up by one of the four groomsmen.

Alternatively, two shawls, one used by the bride and one by the groom, can be laid upon one another to form the canopy, with each corner supported by both groomsmen and bridesmaids. This support may extend as far back as possible in accordance with as many who join hands with the groomsmen and bridesmaids, and each other, surrounding the bride and groom, protecting and strengthening them as they are formed into husband and wife, one flesh, echad, until death do them part. This canopy provides protection from the world and its corrupting influence, influence so strong that instead of distinguishing between right and wrong as easily as black from white, one sees shades of grey.

God has always desired His people, His bride, to be pure. He desires each of us to be free from sin, wrong beliefs, idols and vice, all of which keep us from experiencing the fullness of His presence and love in each moment, and not only with Him, but with each other, a kind of unity involving a vertical (Him) and horizontal (each other) relationship, one represented by the shape of the cross.

The first commandment is that we love Him first and foremost, with our whole heart, mind, soul and strength. He truly is jealous for each of us; He desires to love us as though we are in a matrimonial relationship with Him, in communion with us as with Adam and Eve before their disobedience, as with angels and Saints. 
      How easy is it, in today’s technologically and intellectually advanced society, to have various idols that take up our time, affections and attention before Him?¹⁰⁰

When we fail to love him first and foremost, either as individuals or as a people, we suffer. We’ve seen this throughout history, the Bible is filled with examples, including that of Solomon, who married many foreign women and connected Israel with the worship of idols…

…when Solomon was old his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not wholly true to the LORD his God. –1 Kings 11:4

      This attitude grew, eventually leading to division of the 12 tribes, resulting in the 10 Northern tribes, or "Israel," as they called themselves, and the tribe of Judah (which had absorbed the tribe of Simeon) and a portion of the tribe of Benjamin. Both tribes were exiled, the North under Assyria in 722 BC and Judah (the South) to Babylon in 587 BC. As Jeff Cavins, Sarah Christmyer and Tim Gray state in Session 15 of “The Bible Timeline: The Story of Salvation,” 

They left God for other gods, broke His commands, and ignored His prophets.  Seeking to be like other nations, "they went after false idols, and became false" themselves (2 Kings 17:15).  They went so far as to worship the stars, to worship Baal (the pagan god of nature and fertility) and to sacrifice their children in the fire; they practiced divination and sorcery and sold themselves to do evil.¹⁰¹

“Come Back to Me” on 7/7/7

“Come back to me.”  These were the words He spoke to me as I awoke on the cool morning of July 7th, 2007, in Nashville TN.  I had prepared for this day through a 40-day Daniel fast and I had written about it four years earlier through a dream, having known nothing about “The Call” festival.  

The day was amazing! We danced, prayed, sang and worshiped for ten hours in the shadow of a small traveling cloud. The atmosphere was filled with sincere repentance as over 70,000 enthusiastic Christians focused their hearts on God, His marvelous creation and His plan of salvation.

Though I danced for hours, I did not grow weary; the Daniel fast¹⁰² gave me great endurance, just as it had given Daniel and his follower’s great strength,¹⁰³ greater than the priests of Nebachenezzer who had eaten meat sacrificed to idols. As we sang and worshipped, the unity of our praises harmonized, flowing out of the Titan stadium to the streets below, drowning the neighborhood and the nation in tidal waves of Christ-centered joy. 

"The Call" was also where I found the book, “Ten Commandments Twice Removed,” by Danny Shelton.¹⁰⁴  Mr. Shelton is the founder of the “Three Angels Broadcasting Network,” and a Seventh Day Adventist. The book focuses on the cultural importance of displaying the 10 Commandments in schools and civil service organizations.

Finding and reading Mr. Shelton’s book helped strengthen my relationship with Him, especially since it led me to the Seventh Day Adventist church, a community that thoroughly enriched my life with numerous Christ-centered friends, while fostering a greater understanding of God’s work in Salvation History and Creation itself. I remained an active member of the SDA community for three years, until 10/10/10.

10/10/10
      October 10th, 2010 was the last day of a weekend retreat for young adult Catholics. The day marked my formal reentry into the Catholic Church.

      Having had doubts about some of the doctrines in the Seventh Day Adventist community, I couldn’t fully commit. And, not wanting to “date” her, but be fully committed, as a husband to his wife, I decided to check out the local Catholic community by attending this retreat. Even though there are many anti-Catholic teachings in the SDA community, I hadn’t lost my confidence in the power of the rosary, and I predominantly viewed the Catholic Church and the Pope favorably.

      During the retreat, I felt Him calling me to make a formal confession to a priest.  Having spent so many years in various Christian communities, I was accustomed to the peace I'd find through simply asking for His forgiveness with a sincere heart, being determined not to commit the same sins. This was often stressful though; I lacked the grace that confession before a priest confers, not only towards taking greater responsibility for avoiding the same sins, but for the sense of completion the act creates.

Rather, I’d often be left concluding that I’d received forgiveness through the ability of my own mind or the feelings of sincerity I could create. Moreover, in not having someone like a priest, someone who dedicates themselves to God, imploring God's mercy on my behalf, I’d often struggle to find determination not to commit the same sins. I’d come up with reasons and excuses why such and such is not really a sin, and sometimes even question my faith in God altogether, in order to ease my sense of guilt. That’s when someone like me is truly in danger of hellfire, as venial sin, or ‘lesser’ sin can lead to more serious, or mortal sin, such as denying God or refusing friendship with Him altogether, just as an unruly child might reject the guidance of a loving father.

Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. –St. Peter, 1st Pope

During the retreat on 10/10/10, I didn’t feel pressured to make a formal confession - none of the coordinators pressured anyone to do so. Rather, Jesus knocked lightly on the door of my heart... I could even feel pain in my right hand and foot, seemingly the same places the nails of the crucifixion pierced Him, giving a sense of being strongly connected to Him.
      As you might imagine, since this was the first formal Catholic event I’d attended in years, at least where confession was offered, and having spent so many years convinced that I could receive His forgiveness simply by asking for it with a sincere heart, finding the courage and conviction to make a formal confession didn’t come easily. However, the mild sensation of pain in my right hand and foot helped to empower me, ostensibly informing me that the Catholic Church is His "right hand" on earth. The pain also reminded me of the damage sin causes, just as a husband and wife would be hurt through infidelity.
      In addition to this experience, I remembered that Jesus Himself was baptized in order to “fulfill all righteousness.” If God felt the need to be baptized to "fulfill all righteousness,"¹⁰⁵ who was I, a sinner, to deny that a formal confession to Him before a priest, someone who has devoted their life to fulfill a call to chastity, obedience and sometimes even poverty, is not more righteous? I also received encouragement from a friend who referenced two Scripture verses, one of which was John 20:23,

Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’

The words strengthened my resolve, upholding the authoritative source of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. And, as expected, the confession went smoothly. I was a bit apprehensive that the priest might roll over with laughter, belittle me, or stampede around the room with anger, but I knew those were unrealistic fears. Before going in, I took advantage of a one page “Examination of Conscience” that was provided while waiting in line.

The confession lasted a few minutes. The priest was very loving, wise and understanding. The penance prescribed for me was to read part of the first chapter of St. John's gospel.
      Although we may not be able to the feel the changes that occur in our soul as we grow closer to our Creator, I felt refreshed. Receiving the Sacrament of Penance was wind beneath my wings.

The following morning, I was blessed with an opportunity to sing “Lead Me Home,” by Matt Maher. It was the first time I sang before a large group, about 70 people, at least nearly by myself (I also sang with the guitarist who led the song). This was a kind of answered prayer, an aspiration I didn’t expect to actually fulfill; the guitarist was the first person I met during the retreat who I hadn’t already known.  Afterwards, a few people gave compliments… one even said I sounded like Bob Dylan!¹⁰⁶

11/11/11
      And what of today, November 11th, 2011? Today I’ve been thinking much more seriously about my vocation and the possibility of entering religious life, becoming a priest or consecrated brother. These considerations are the result of reading Anne Frank’s diary. A diary written in 'The Secret Annex,' where the sounds of sirens and bombs sear the midnight air, sending shock waves through thin walls and tenuous dreams.

Today I read the entry Anne made on 11/11/43:

Ode to My Fountain Pen
      In Memoriam 

When I was nine, my fountain pen (packed in cotton) arrived as "a sample of no commercial value" all the way from Aachen, where my grandmother (the kindly donor) used to live.  I lay in bed with the flu, while the February winds howled around the apartment house. This splendid fountain pen came in a red leather case, and I showed it to my girlfriends the first chance I got. Me, Anne Frank, the proud owner of a fountain pen. 

When I was 10, I was allowed to take the pen to school, and to my surprise, the teacher even let me write with it. When I was eleven, however, my treasure had to be tucked away again, because my sixth-grade teacher allowed us to use only school pens and inkpots. When I was twelve, I started at the Jewish Lyceum and my fountain pen was given a new case in honor of the occasion. Not only did it have room for a pencil, it also had a zipper, which was much more impressive. When I was thirteen, the fountain pen went with me to the Annex, and together we’ve raced through countless diaries and compositions. I’d turned fourteen and my fountain pen was enjoying the last year of its life with me when…

It was just after five on Friday afternoon. I came out of my room and was about to sit down at the table to write when I was roughly pushed to one side to make room for Margot and Father, who wanted to practice their Latin. The fountain pen remained unused on the table, while its owner, sighing, was forced to make do with a tiny corner of the table, where she began rubbing beans. That’s how we remove mold from the beans and restore them to their original state. At a quarter to six I swept the floor, dumped the dirt into a newspaper, along with the rotten beans, and tossed it into the stove. A giant flame shot up, and I thought it was wonderful that the stove, which had been gasping its last breath, had made such a miraculous recovery. 

All was quiet again. The Latin students had left, and I sat down at the table to pick up where I’d left off. But no matter where I looked, my fountain pen was nowhere in sight. I took another look. Margot looked, Mother looked, Father looked, Dussel looked. But it had vanished. 

“Maybe it fell in the stove, along with the beans!” Margot suggested.

“No, it couldn’t have!” I replied.

But that evening, when my fountain pen still hadn’t turned up, we all assumed it had been burned, especially because celluloid is highly flammable. Our darkest fears were confirmed the next day when Father went to empty the stove and discovered the clip used to fasten it to a pocket, among the ashes. Not a trace of the gold nib was left. “It must have melted into stone,” Father conjectured. 

I’m left with one consolation, small though it may be: my fountain pen was cremated, just as I would like to be someday! 

Yours, Anne¹⁰⁷

Anne's entry on 11/11/43 is significant for me because I read it on the same day and month she wrote it, only 68 years earlier. It helps reinforce a pattern I've noticed where special events occur on certain dates. In this case, her writing about her pen inspired me to write this testimony.

Reading Anne's diary leaves an indelible mark on my soul; it breaks my heart to consider her youthful charisma, inquisitive nature and joy-filled aspirations colliding with the abhorrent reality of Nazism. And yet, it strengthens a desire to defend those whose rights have been violated. May compassion be kindled in each of us for those whose rights have been, or are being, violated. May this desire also be strengthened every time we see a cross or a crucifix! How unjust that the Creator of the universe should be tortured to death for six hours! And yet, as we believe, or know beyond reasonable doubt, He laid down His life intentionally as an offering to the Father for our salvation, fulfilling “353 prophecies,”¹⁰⁸ ultimately culminating in His rising from the dead, body and soul!¹⁰⁹ 

Anne’s indelible mark first began through watching, “Anne Frank: The Whole Story,” on YouTube.  It deepens my acceptance of Jesus' virgin birth because Mary, also Jewish, was around the same age as Anne when she said ‘Yes,’ or rather,

Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done unto me according to thy word. –Luke 1:38

      I've often questioned how Mary could be so young when the Word became flesh in her womb, perhaps too young to understand the implications of her yes response, her fiat. Although it may seem silly, now that I've had a much closer look into the development of someone at such a young age, it's not as difficult to believe. 

Learning about Anne has also fostered meditation on God’s chosen people, especially considering all the things I’ve learned over the last year by attending seminars on “The Bible Timeline: The Story of Salvation,” by Jeff Cavins. The study deepened my understanding of God’s amazing plan for us, how He prepared His people, the Israelites, for the advent of His Son. In following Him, these learning experiences foster consideration for the many people who are suffering, not just the orphans and displaced families I met in Haiti while on a mission trip this summer, not just the many Christians who were or are persecuted in countries where teaching about Him is forbidden, such as those I recently read about in Richard Wurmbrand’s free book, “Tortured for Christ,”¹¹⁰ but all those who stand up for human rights, who regularly suffer persecution, humiliation and violence for speaking the truth!
      I’m thankful to live in America, thankful for all those who've sacrificed so much for her, thankful that we acknowledge a Creator who has made us equal, endowing us with rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Nonetheless, I’m most thankful to live in Holy Communion with Him, to love completely, as the Father pours out love to the Son, and the Son to the Father, ‘and by way of this love the Third Person of the Holy Trinity, the Holy Spirit, proceeds,’ as Frank Sheed states in his book, “Theology and Sanity,”

The First Person knows Himself; His act of knowing Himself produces an Idea, a Word; and this Idea, this Word, the perfect Image of Himself, is the Second Person. The First Person and the Second combine in an act of love –love of one another, love of the glory of the Godhead which is their own; and just as the act of knowing produces an Idea within the Divine Nature, the act of loving produces a state of Lovingness within the Divine Nature. Into this Lovingness, Father and Son pour all that they have and all that they are, with no diminution, nothing held back. Thus this Lovingness within the Godhead is utterly equal to the Father and the Son, for they have poured their all into it. There is nothing they have which their Lovingness does not have. Thus their Lovingness too is Infinite, Eternal, Living, Someone, a Person, God. Observe that here again we are still within the Divine Nature. For love is wholly within the nature of the lover. But this love wholly contains the Divine Nature, because God puts the whole of Himself into love.¹¹¹

      Perfect love casts out fear. In response to this love, this entrustment of ourselves to Him who desires to love each of us spousally, ever faithful, may our lives and vocations reverberate praise to our beloved, to Jesus, son of David, a priest according to the order of Malchizedek, the bread from heaven, the unblemished lamb whose blood washes away our sins!  He is our beloved and we are His!

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne, steadfast love and faithfulness go before you. –Psalm 89:14. 

For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God. –Romans 14:11 

Darkness Attacks?

      Sometimes when I begin to fall asleep, I’ll awake in what might be described as a panic attack.  I'll feel like I'm passing through some part of hell; I’ll be feverish, itching and paranoid, like a deep darkness envelops me. It usually starts with the itching, especially in my ears. Then the room seems to be enveloped by a deeper darkness and I’m left in a state of dreadfulness, as though I'm going to be, or have been, swallowed by some foul, unholy beast.

Although these may be panic attacks, it wouldn’t surprise me to know that they’re an attack by Satan, that fallen angel who hates God, who’s destined to the bottomless pit along with all those who follow.  That would be a more accurate way for me to describe what these attacks feel like. Fortunately, when they occur, I receive benefit from praying the rosary.

Not long after the last attack, I remember having read about the concentration camp were Anne was eventually sent.  I couldn't help wondering, if but for a moment, what I felt was just a typical night for Anne, along with the many others who lived the rest of their lives in a concentration camp –half naked and freezing, starving and harassed by rats and fleas, stricken with scurvy and lice, emotionally distraught in being separated from family and treated as less than animals amidst the foul smells of diphtheria remnants and disintegrating or charred bodies.

What is going on here!!?  what is going on!!!

      It's a type of hell on earth –the dragon falling to earth, spreading his lies and 'raising hell,’ as described in St. John’s “Revelation.”

And what sort of evil do see a few decades later that parallels the Holocaust of Nazi Germany? It’s equally horrific, it’s crafty, invisible yet mainstream, it’s trendy in some places... it’s the murder, sometimes ripping apart, limb from limb, of unborn children through abortion!

As a healthcare provider, I should always have the right to refuse prescribing or dispensing products that can and do result in the loss of human life, from the moment of conception to natural death, holding steadfast to the knowledge that life is sacred, from the moment of conception to natural death.

All governments should always protect this right, regardless of our faith background or the organization we work for; it should protect the right to life!

Our constitution protects our religious freedom –as a disciple of Jesus, as a healthcare provider, I’m called to save lives, not destroy them.

Would each of us not cry "STOP" if someone tried to end our life?  

I've noticed that everyone who is for abortion has already been born.
      –Ronald Reagan

We were saved, and we have this hope. If we see what we are waiting for, then that is not really hope. People do not hope for something they already have.       
      –Romans 8:24 (ICB translation)

Catholics and Christians: Home Is Where the Heart Is

Fellowship

As discussed in my testimony centering around 7/7/7 (July 7th, 2007), I’ve been involved in a variety of Christian communities, including Pentecostal, nondenominational, Methodist, Baptist and Seventh Day Adventist.  I’ve also attended a couple Mormon services and had good discussions with Jehovah’s witnesses. These experiences fortified my relationship with Him, helping me grow in my understanding of His Word and how different interpretations of Scripture can lead to, or strengthen, different communities, while also giving me the opportunity to befriend many virtuous, Christ-centered men and women.
      Some of my most fulfilling experiences occurred in the Seventh Day Adventist church. Members of the SDA community commit to setting aside Saturday, the seventh day of the week and historical Sabbath, as a day devoted to spending time with Him and each other, turning away from unnecessary work and spending money. The commandment to hallow one day of the week is often neglected, even though “…the Sabbath was made for humankind, not humankind for the Sabbath.”¹¹²

An important balance exists in the midst of seeking truth, virtue and community. As someone who had recently moved from a nearby city, I needed community. I desired truth and virtue, but without community, feelings of loneliness often overcame desires for holiness. This imbalance was leading me to search for community in ways that often seemed superficial, such as visiting bars or night clubs with friends from work, places where a person is not as likely to encounter or practice good manners or discover truth and the cultivation of virtue. In contrast, the SDA community discouraged alcohol consumption. Thus, good manners were more readily observed during social events and the cultivation of virtue in the context of discipleship was more apparent. Moreover, friendships flourished through continuity, virtue, trust and good manners –there were many potlucks, book clubs, rehearsals for plays, orchestra and choir performances, times spent singing at nursing homes or playing board or card games, health seminars, movies, dinners, gift exchanges, fall festivals and days of hiking, swimming and camping.

The SDA church also helped me think critically about the importance of church doctrine. Not only did I learn about the prophecies Christ fulfilled in establishing His Church, as foretold by the prophet Daniel, helping to strengthen my faith in a Creator who’s intervened in human history, demonstrating His desire to redeem mankind, but I was given a glimpse of what it would have been like to live in a practicing Jewish family, being mindful of kosher foods and devoutly observing the Sabbath. I grew in holiness as I assimilated the Jewish lifestyle. I also grew in holiness as I sorted through the church’s treasure chest, brimming with Scriptural insights. Indeed, sorting through those pearls during Friday night bible studies became an adventure! And, as many of these newly formed friends were oriented towards the cultivation of virtue, they fortified my conviction to practice chastity during courtships. Prior to this, I was often unsure of how far I might encourage or allow things to develop in a relationship prior to marriage, once I actually met that special someone. Although a part of me knew that premarital sexual activity wasn’t going to be pleasing to Him, since many people don’t mind, some even professing a good relationship with Him despite engaging in such activity, with no immediately apparent evidence to the contrary, I sometimes thought, ‘Why should I be any different?’

Vibrant church communities, offering numerous social activities, often play an essential role in the nourishment of our faith. And yet, we shouldn’t ask ‘What can the church offer me?’, but ‘What can I offer my church?’ Thankfully, the SDA community was already vibrant; I’m grateful for the experiences I’ve had through the SDA church, despite the church's traditional anti-Catholic stance. February 10th, 2010, was an especially wonderful Sabbath spent together.

The Mass as True Worship

Jesus informs us that “God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”¹¹³ Finding a church community can be one of the most attractive aspects of being a Christian. It may be easier to find community through a church where services are informal; informal services can help newcomers feel more welcomed and peaceful. In contrast, the Catholic Mass is highly structured and there are parts where conformity is expected. Similarly, more traditional Mass services involve silence prior to starting. There is beauty in structure, there is beauty in the Sacred Liturgy, but it may seem like an acquired taste when compared to less structured, liberal or informal worship services.

All Christian communities emphasize the importance of reading and understanding Scripture, but those that have separated from the Catholic Church often treat this as the complete component constituting successful worship in truth. This orientation is in accordance with the theological doctrine, Sola Scriptura. Sola Scriptura implies that the Christian Scriptures are the sole infallible rule of faith and practice. Correspondingly, worship in protestant communities often coincides with everyone bringing their own Bible, highlighting, taking notes and orchestrating discussions in small groups.

In contrast, worship that takes place during Mass is only partially in accordance with how well we learn Scripture, how valuable the teachings are, or how well the sermon and worship music are orchestrated. In accordance with Sacred Tradition, Jesus did not prescribe pedagogy, Biblical exegesis or expository preaching as worship. Similarly, God prepared us for proper reverence and worship through the priesthood according to Malchizedek, an offering of bread and wine, first preparing us in proper reverence and worship according to the Levitical priesthood.

Jesus’ death was a sacrificial offering –He is the unblemished lamb. Thus, His life, His blood, is the only offering that perfectly atones for sin, sin that has been passed down to each of us through Adam and Eve, sin we often struggle with on a daily basis.

Now I must digress for a moment to note an important exception: there is one whose soul was not marred by the sin of Adam and Even –the Blessed Virgin Mary. She was Immaculately conceived, her soul being spared the effects of Original Sin by way of Christ’s application of the merits of His life, death and resurrection to her in advance. Holy Scripture foreshadows the purity and holiness of the Blessed Mother through the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark was so Holy that no man could touch it. The one who did touch it, Uzzah, died. Moreover, Mary referred to herself this way when speaking to Bernadette Soubirous on the dawn of March 25th,1858, stating, “I am the Immaculate Conception.”

Our Lady had also announced her Immaculate Conception to Sister St. Catherine Labouré during the apparitions at the Rue du Bac back in 1830. She also taught Sister Catharine the following prayer:

“O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee”

Our Lady gave Sister Catharine the miraculous medal, which was at first called: “the medal of Mary of The Immaculate Conception”, and told to spread the devotion. ¹¹⁴

There have been many miracles attributed to the miraculous medal!¹¹⁵

      Mary is, and always was, “full of grace,”¹¹⁶ just as the angel Gabriel exclaimed in greeting her. Her state of being “full of grace” is possible because our Lord applied the merits of His Life, Death and Resurrection to her in advance. Or, stated another way, “The fruit of Christ’s redemption was applied to preserve Mary from sin, as it is applied to us to remove sins contracted.”¹¹⁷ Her holiness as His first and closest disciple¹¹⁸ (described in great detail by venerable Mary of Agreda in “The Mystical City of God”¹¹⁹ and by St. Louis de Montfort in “True Devotion to Mary”¹²⁰), is an example for us all.

Returning to the Mass, the Passover, celebrated by our Lord as the Last Supper, was a ceremony involving the sacrifice of an unblemished lamb. For this memorial ceremony, the priest who presides over the offering in the home is the father of the home. The Passover memorial is one of many examples where God was specific in prescribing proper formalities for the Israelites during a ceremony. St. Paul affirms the memorial of the Mass, stating “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” ¹²¹ Just as the father of the home presides over the Feast of Passover, the Catholic priest presides over the Mass in accordance with proper ceremony.

In “Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist: Unlocking the Secrets of the Last Supper,”¹²² Brant Pitre explains the numerous ways God prepared the Israelites for the Mass, for the celebration and memorial of His son. How fitting that we be prepared for during the Mass an invisible miracle takes place –the substance of bread and wine are transformed into His Body and Blood, becoming Eucharist, Bread from Heaven, even though the appearance of bread and wine remain (the appearance of bread and wine remain on the molecular, subatomic and quantum mechanical level). And yet, there are examples in the Church where appearance matches substance. These miracles are known as Eucharistic Miracles, i.e. hosts that when studied reveal cardiac tissue, white and red blood cells, and DNA. One study has shown that blood type and DNA taken from two hosts of two Eucharistic Miracles, separated by 1,300 years, were identical.¹²³ If it were not for Divine Revelation, i.e. because He told us, we would have no way of knowing that the substance of bread and wine are changed to the substance of His Body and Blood, notwithstanding Eucharistic Miracles.¹²⁴

And yet, how can we properly take part in the Eucharistic celebration without inward holiness? Outward formalities do not necessarily produce inward holiness. To worship as He instructs, we must worship in spirit and truth. If we do not have a desire for holiness, we’re not worshipping in spirit. If we’re not worshiping according to proper ceremony, which entails accepting the authority given to the Apostles and handed down through Sacred Tradition, we’re not worshipping in truth; Jesus is the Way, the Life and the Truth, without the Mass, even if we have a desire for inward holiness, we’re can’t worship Him in the fullness of Truth in accordance with His instructions.

The Samaritans worshipped in spirit but not in the fullness of truth. They believed in the first five books of Scripture, known as the Pentateuch; they did not accept all the truth that had been revealed to mankind through the work of the Holy Spirit in the prophets. They excluded twelve historical books, five poetic books and seventeen prophetic books. Similarly, Protestants exclude seven Old Testament books from their version of the Bible. The Septuagint contains 46 books, the Hebrew canon contains 39.

The city of Alexandria in Egypt possessed the greatest library in the ancient world. During the reign of Ptolemy II Philadelphus (285-246 BC), a translation of the entire Hebrew Bible into Greek was begun by 70 or 72 Jewish scholars –according to tradition–six from each of the twelve tribes. From this Alexandrian translation (completed between 250-125 BC) we get the term “Septuagint,” Latin for 70 (LXX), the number of translators.

This Greek translation of the OT was very popular because Greek was the common language of the entire Mediterranean world by the time of Christ. Hebrew was a dying language (Jews in Palestine usually spoke Aramaic), and so it is not surprising that the Septuagint was the translation used by Jesus and the New Testament writers. The great majority of the OT quotations found in the NT are from the Septuagint. Protestant authors Archer and Chirichigno, for example, list 340 places where the NT cites the Septuagint but only 33 places where it cites from the Hebrew canon rather than the Septuagint.¹²⁵ By this count, the NT writers quote from the Septuagint over 90% of the time. Remember also that the entire New Testament was written in Greek.

…In 1529, Martin Luther proposed to adopt the 39-book canon used by rabbinic Judaism as the OT canon. Luther justified his decision to delete seven books from the OT by appealing to St. Jerome who, around AD 400, had expressed concerns that these Greek books had no Hebrew counterparts. However, research into the Dead Sea Scrolls found at Qumran has discovered ancient copies of some of the disputed books,¹²⁶ making their rejection unsupportable on those grounds. The principle reason Luther seems to have opposed the additional books of the Christian OT is that they taught doctrines he did not like, such as praying for the dead (2 Maccabees 12:42-45).

But here is the real question: Which OT would you rather use –the OT used by Jesus, the NT writers and the early Church, or the OT used by later Jews who had rejected Christ and persecuted Christians? ¹²⁷

As a corollary, just as the Samaritans rejected the prophets, protestants reject the workings of the Holy Spirit that have been exhibited in the Blessed Mother and the Saints, many miracles and inspired works, all of which help us grow closer to God and approach the Beatific Vision, which is…

The immediate knowledge of God which the angelic spirits and the souls of the just enjoy in Heaven. It is called "vision" to distinguish it from the mediate knowledge of God which the human mind may attain in the present life. And since in beholding God face to face the created intelligence finds perfect happiness, the vision is termed "beatific”.¹²⁸

However, someone with a poor understanding of the Gospel and Salvation may not desire to live a life pleasing to God. Thus, a Catholic who is poorly catechized and not involved in activities outside of the Mass, such as Bible studies and faith formation classes, may benefit from being involved in a Christian church where their understanding of Scripture is nourished, especially if they need community but are not able to find it, or create it, in their local parish. Accordingly, it is likely that a person will worship in spirit before worshiping in truth, especially when poorly catechized, and this principle also extends to those who do not know God as revealed through Divine Revelation, but desire to do what is good in accordance with the faith or understanding they have.

In the Catholic Faith, catechesis, or the Rite of Christian Initiation (RCIA), is practiced before a person makes their First Communion. Reception of the Eucharist, or Holy Communion, is the means whereby we may be most closely united with Him, for he is fully present in the Eucharist, Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity. Albeit, if the RCIA process is completed without familial support and reinforcement in the home, or without genuine interest on the part of the catechumen, because the Mass is structured and involves formalities, it can be easy to place too much emphasis on outward signs of holiness, being more focused on going through the motions correctly rather than appreciating the significance of the ceremony. The significance of the ceremony, of our worship, is to make an offering of ourselves, our bodies and our lives, with Jesus, as living sacrifices to God the Father in a sublime act of rational worship. This offering is the principal purpose behind the Mass,

…a sacrificial rite [described] in the institution narratives from the Synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke, where Jesus speaks about the Mass, saying, ‘This is my Body, which is broken for you… this is the chalice of the New Covenant in my Blood, which is poured out for you… offer this memorial sacrifice, in memory of Me.’¹²⁹

When the intention to offer ourselves with Jesus is lacking during the Mass, and we do not aim to unite our intentions with those of the priest as he goes through the Sacred Liturgy, it can be replaced with daydreaming or excessive attention to details, which can become an obstacle to peace, particularly if a person becomes defensive in presuming that those around them are conscious of their faults or shortcomings in not observing certain customs, even though some customs are not an official part of the Mass and can vary from parish to parish. Likewise, when this intention is lacking, an opportunity presents itself for the devil to attack someone otherwise hoping to become more involved in the Catholic faith, potentially intensifying such distractions. And yet, it is easier to become distracted when the ceremony seems to be repetitive, especially in comparison to other services where one is used to being entertained by worship music or a humorous or dynamic homilist. Nonetheless, it is generally more important to have an attitude of kindness and love than excessive attention to details or formalities, an orientation that applies to any setting where a meal is shared and where manners are important.¹³⁰

Arguably, protestants who come to the Catholic faith, as has often been shared on the EWTN program, “The Journey Home,” make the best Catholics, having a fuller appreciation for Scripture and Salvation History, and an attitude appropriate for developing inward holiness, before delving into the richness of the Eucharistic Celebration¹³¹ and Church history. Alternatively, with respect to Catholics who’ve later become Christian, many express concerns that they never fully understood their faith, connecting the dots, until they studied Scripture. Similarly, depending on how beautiful a chapel is, a person may be too caught up or culturally accustomed to the outward beauty of stained glass windows, gold-gilded-marble alters and adorned statues, associating worship with these things rather than one of the highest forms of beauty we can experience when we worship God together with true devotion, sometimes realized only in simple, rustic surroundings, where value transcending gold substantiates in our appreciation of each other through Him.

      Brothers and sisters:

You are God’s building.

According to the grace of God given to me,

like a wise master builder, I laid a foundation,

and another is building upon it.

But each one must be careful how he builds upon it,

for no one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there,

namely, Jesus Christ.

Do you not know that you are the temple of God,

and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

If anyone destroys God’s temple,

God will destroy that person;

for the temple of God, which you are, is holy.
      –1 Corinthians 3:9C-11, 16-17 ¹³²

‘Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?’

He said to him, ‘ “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’¹³³

There will be times when we desire to feel a transcendent connection, kindness and love, but only feel empty or dry. In these cases, it’s best to go through the outward motions of holiness as best we can, accepting that periods of dryness, or “desolation,” as St. Ignatius of Loyola refers to them in his Spiritual Exercises,¹³⁴ are opportunities to grow in devotion and piety. This is another beautiful feature of the Mass –for as I strive¹³⁵ to console the Sacred Heart of Jesus by participating in the Mass, there are likely going to be times when I’m not feeling as good as I should about this opportunity. Rather, I may feel the same sadness He feels with respect to the many people who’ve rejected His mercy, traveling down a wide path leading away from Him, even to hell. Nonetheless, such dry periods are often a part of the spiritual life, just as dry periods can be part of any relationship, thereby becoming an opportunity to show greater love for God, our brethren, family or spouse. Similarly, even though we may not be feeling the consolations He often gives us as we strive to worship Him in spirit and truth, or discern a proper way, which can challenge us with respect to understanding whether we love Him for the experience of love we have in loving Him, or for His own sake, as has been eloquently explained by St. Francis De Sales in his book, “Finding God’s Will for You,”¹³⁶ there is almost always room to grow in loving Him with our whole heart, mind, soul and strength, and others as ourselves.

Conversely, when one is accustomed to going to a church where the Eucharist isn’t celebrated, they may be going primarily to connect through worship music or an insightful or humorous pastor, or be more concerned about the relationships they have with others than with God. The celebration of the Eucharist helps us to make Him central to the experience, embracing by faith the fullness of His presence –Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity. And yet, one would hope that in surrounding oneself with other members of the Body of Christ, and celebrating with music and prayer together in harmony, a river runs through any dryness we’re going through. At best, these elements are interwoven –Jesus and His Word are central, worship is complete in spirit and truth, relationships are nourished, music and prayers unite beautifully, priest(s), pastor(s), deacon(s) and all members of the Body are delightful.

Another notable difference between Catholic and Christian worship services, as mentioned earlier, silence within the chapel before and after Mass out of reverence to be in God’s presence in a special way (He is present physically within the tabernacle) and vis-à-vis the prayers that coincide. This can limit some of the social interaction that might otherwise occur, being a source of difficulty for those accustomed to, or seeking, friendly conversations or fellowship activities before and after worship, activities that can help put people at ease, build friendships and help newcomers feel more welcomed. One way for Catholics to be more welcoming to the use of the chapel for this aspect of community, though still desiring prayer before or after Mass, is to wait a few minutes after Mass has ended and things have quieted down, or to arrive at Mass 20 to 30 minutes early. In any case, we should always keep in mind that the Mass is a celebration, a time to life our spirits! In fact, the literal meaning of Eucharist is thanksgiving!

For those who don’t know, there are essentially two parts to the Mass: the proclamation of the Word and the preparation of the Eucharist. The first part is similar to what you’d find in most Christian communities, helping us develop a desire for inward holiness. There are one or two readings from the Old and/or New Testament, a reading from a Psalm, and then another reading made by the priest or deacon that involves something Jesus said or did. The priest or deacon will then help to expound the meaning behind the Scripture versus and how they may relate to other verses, helping those in attendance stay motivated in their walk towards holiness.

The second part of the Mass is the re-presentation of the sacrifice of Jesus’ Body for His bride. As baptized Christians, we are His bride. And as you’d expect, this part of the Mass is the most solemn.

Even if a priest is living in sin, due to the nature of the important office they hold within the Church, they still have the power to confect the Sacrament, i.e. to change bread and wine into His Body and Blood, just as He commissioned His disciples to do during the Last Supper. Nonetheless, all those who are properly baptized and living according to His will share in His divinity¹³⁷ and are living in communion with Him. An attitude of reverence for this gift, for His sacrifice, is appropriate, which is why the Mass is structured and formal.

For those who are Catholic but are having trouble finding a satisfactory sense of community within one or more Catholic parishes, consider visiting another Christian community where the Word of God is rightly proclaimed. Of course, it’d be best to have a good understanding of Catholic apologetics in order to know whether or not the Word of God is being rightly proclaimed, but you may never feel a desire for that level of understanding unless you’re first in love with Him, which may not occur until you feel loved by His people and grow in love for them. Conversely, you may not have a desire for that level of understanding of doctrine until you realize how they are put into action and produce greater holiness. And, even in this latter case, you may find that doctrines taught at other churches, or emphasized more thoroughly, or lacking altogether, are more able to inspire holiness or closeness to Christ, depending on your current situation, background and predispositions.

While it is acceptable for a Catholic to join with other Christian communities in order to worship, pray, listen to the Word of God, sing, volunteer and fellowship, it’s not okay to receive communion as bread and wine / grape juice or to attend another worship service in place of Mass.¹³⁸ In this sense, should someone who is currently Christian become Catholic, aside from receiving communion at that church or attending it in place of the Mass, there is no reason why they can’t be as involved as before. Thus, it doesn’t have to be either-or, but can, and perhaps should be, both-and.

The reason for the restraint on not receiving communion as merely bread and wine / grape juice is because bread and wine are not merely symbolic, which is often taught in many Christian churches. Again, the bread and wine truly become the Body and Blood of Jesus. And, with respect to apostolic succession, only a minster that has been validly ordained can confect this Sacrament.¹³⁹

The reality of bread and wine becoming His Body and Blood is a source of consternation among many in the Body of Christ today, just as it was for many of His followers at the time He first explained it, as found in the sixth chapter of St. John’s gospel, wherein we’re informed many left Him because He said such things. If He were only speaking symbolically, it wouldn’t have been so upsetting to the many that left Him. Moreover, Scripture confirms His Real Presence.¹⁴⁰ And, there have even been many Eucharistic miracles, such as sacred hosts that have bled or been preserved through fire,¹⁴¹ further substantiating the truth of His words.¹⁴² ⁻ ¹⁴³

Sola-Scriptura

As much as I loved being a part of the SDA community, I couldn’t understand or accept some of the historical doctrines that surfaced from time to time, influencing the overall orientation of the community. Albeit, these differences didn’t prevent me from continuing to be involved and participating in various volunteer activities and growing deeper in my understanding of Scripture and Salvation History. However, I felt as though I couldn’t keep "dating" the SDA church, a notion I embraced after hearing about Joshua Harris’ book, “Stop Dating the Church!: Fall in Love with the Family of God.”¹⁴⁴ I wanted to be a part of a community where I could accept fundamental doctrine and be fully committed, like a husband to his wife, for life.
      Along these lines, I’m no longer of the Sola Scriptura mindset –I don’t believe the Bible is the sole rule of faith and practice. Rather, it is one of three principal fruits established by God, the other two being Sacred Tradition and the Magisterium.

It was the early followers of Jesus, and the traditions they established, that led to the production of the New Testament as we know it today. It doesn’t make sense to consider the writings they produced as authoritative without also acknowledging the oral traditions and wisdom that coincided. This is true even if leaders of the Church, or various members within her, have fallen short in living out what those writings and traditions declare.

No matter how perfectly the life of Jesus and the lives of His followers have been accurately recorded in Scripture, and debates can go on about this level of accuracy for centuries, and notwithstanding whether doctrine in one church is superior to another in uniting the community or furthering growth in virtue and holiness, those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God, who desire to be Christ-like and live Christ-centered lives, will strive to abide in His will as best they know how. That desire binds hundreds of millions of Christians together, whether Catholic or Seventh Day Adventist. Those who believe in Him will always seek to grow in truth and holiness.

If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.

I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.¹⁴⁵

And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth. I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.¹⁴⁶

      Although the truth that Jesus is the Son of God unites us and should leads us to greater truth and holiness, there still exists a problem in relation to proper doctrine, especially for those who desire to pursue righteousness with every part of their being, to have their righteousness exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees, as Jesus commends.¹⁴⁷ This problem centers around who has the authority to decide what doctrines are most appropriate in leading us to righteousness, as well as those that best reflect the reality of Jesus’ personhood and divinity. It also involves the authority to determine who is in good standing.¹⁴⁸

The Catholic Church rests comfortably on the authority given to her by Jesus and continued through apostolic succession. Thus, the Nicene Creed, which was formulated during the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, the same convention where much progress was made in deciding the official books of the Bible¹⁴⁹ states:

I believe in one God,

the Father almighty,

maker of heaven and earth,

of all things visible and invisible.

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,

the Only Begotten Son of God,

born of the Father before all ages.

God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;

through him all things were made.

For us men and for our salvation

he came down from heaven,

and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,

and became man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,

he suffered death and was buried,

and rose again on the third day

in accordance with the Scriptures.

He ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory

to judge the living and the dead

and his kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,

who has spoken through the prophets.

I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.

I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins

and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead

and the life of the world to come. Amen.

      This creed was formulated 65 years before the canon of official books of the Bible was finalized. This substantiates that it was a Church, the Apostles, that Jesus entrusted with responsibility for guiding the faithful, not the Bible alone, especially a Bible that has been altered by having words added and by having sacred books removed.

Through Faith Alone
      Two well-known doctrines that contribute to division among Catholics and Christians, aside from Sola-Scriptura, include:
1.) salvation through faith and works versus faith alone, and
2.) ‘once saved always saved’ versus salvation¹⁵⁰ as an ongoing process and a condition that can be lost or forfeited.

      Martin Luther taught salvation through faith alone, adding the word “alone” to Romans 3:28 to emphasize his doctrine; John Calvin advocated predestination, engendering a ‘once saved always saved’ mentality.

Of the many upsetting things Martin Luther wrote, he must have been particularly angry when he penned the following words to those expressing concern that he shouldn’t have added the word “alone” to Romans 3:28,

If your papist annoys you with that word (i.e. alone), tell him straightaway: Doctor Martin Luther will have it so: Papists and asses are one and the same thing. Whoever will not have my translation, let him give it the go-by: the devil's thanks to him who censures it without my will and knowledge. LUTHER WILL HAVE IT SO, AND HE IS A DOCTOR ABOVE ALL THE DOCTORS IN POPEDOM.¹⁵¹

Before reading Martin’s statement, I didn’t realize I had so much in common with the popes.¹⁵² However, in being consistent with the doctrine of salvation through faith alone, if a person has faith or confidence in Jesus, if they accept Him as their redeemer and savior, they’re saved from hell. Thus, many Christian communities reject the idea that there is a purgatory, a person either goes to heaven or hell –there is no in between, no place a person may go after death to be purged or purified in order to be ready for complete union with Him.
      With a mentality of salvation through faith alone, along with Sola-Scriptura, a person isn’t morally obligated to do anything beyond maintaining their faith, such as go to church once weekly, which would be the case in the Catholic Church unless certain circumstances prevent attendance, such as illness. This may be because such a formalized doctrine, the necessity of regular church attendance, is not found in the Bible. And yet, neither are the distinctions between mortal and venial sins, at least not explicitly. In the Catholic Church, a person would commit a mortal sin (grave, serious sin, capable of leading a person to hell) by not going to Mass on Sunday. In the Seventh Day Adventist church, although not expressed explicitly, attendance at church services on the Sabbath and abstaining from work, which often go hand-in-hand in our workaholic, consumerist culture, are treated as though morally binding, a grave transgression if not practiced. In part, this doctrine or mentality is important because we are so weak as human beings that we need regular spiritual nourishment to maintain our earthly walk with Him. Albeit, we shouldn’t need a formal doctrine indicating the need to celebrate our Creator once weekly. Rather, love, honor or the worship owed Him as a matter of justice should compel us, and if possible, to do so every day. This is especially given to us through the Mass, for just as God instructed the Israelites on the proper form of worship through Moses, being carried out through the Levitical priesthood, he instructed the Apostles through the things Jesus said and did, and through the Holy Spirit, on proper worship, giving guidance and authority, restoring the priesthood according to the order of Malchizedek, the first to make an offering of bread and wine.¹⁵³ Furthermore, in the Catholic faith, it is morally binding to go to confession once per year, to abstain from sexual intimacy prior to marriage and to attend Mass during Holy Feast days, such as Christmas and Easter. A breach in these “works” necessitate repentance, best represented by the Sacrament of Reconciliation, i.e. confession. These are expedient practices for our salvation. And yet, with a faith alone mentality, none of these works are necessary.

Perhaps it is true that these practices aren’t necessary for a person to be saved from hell and enter into heaven, whether immediately or eventually. However, if we know that the Church has been designed and guided by the Father, Son and Holy Spirit to help us reach heaven, to reach Him, and that He gave authority to certain people to morally “loose” and “bind,”¹⁵⁴ the question shouldn’t be whether I need faith alone or faith plus works, but how may I be more righteous, and who or what can help me with that?

…unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.¹⁵⁵

      Arguably, Martin Luther, John Calvin and other reformers may have helped many people become more righteous by encouraging greater access and personal possession of the Word of God. However, if every person is free to determine for themselves what is authoritative solely from reading Scripture, without the guidance of the Church and those who have been given the authority to determine what is morally binding, there is going to be disagreement and error.¹⁵⁶ Consider the following verse from one translation of Scripture:

For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let anyone accept this who can. —Matthew 19:12 (NIV)

If a man believes he’s free to determine what is applicable or binding for himself, as is often the case in communities that rely heavily on Sola-Scriptura reasoning, without the guidance of the Church and those who’ve been involved with her for close to 2000 years, he may take this verse to heart and castrate himself. Indeed, acting out this verse in a literal fashion was not unheard of. In fact, it was the case for Origin (185 – 254 A.D.). And,

…it seems that Origin was not alone in his zealous behavior because during a church council that met in 325 in Nicea, the practice of castrating oneself became prohibited.¹⁵⁷

Such was also the case for members of the late 18th century secret Russian sect, Skoptsy,¹⁵⁸ an offshoot of the sect known as the “People of God,” as well as for members of the Heaven’s Gate group,¹⁵⁹ which ended in a mass suicide in 1997.

In contrast, with the guidance of a priest, pastor, deacon or well-informed member of the Body, a man is more likely to consider this verse with respect to its ability to create a greater sense of discipline with regards to sexual desire so as to serve Him in a greater capacity. This degree of discipline may eventually lead a person to become a priest or enter into a consecrated community, not to mention develop a greater reverence for the vocation of marriage.

The same verse found in the book of Matthew from a Catholic translation reads:

Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it.¹⁶⁰

      Correspondingly, one of the earliest monastic communities was established by St. Benedict around the year 530.¹⁶¹ Members of that community, then and still today, often make formal professions or vows of chastity, poverty and obedience. With respect to the vow of chastity, those who choose this vocation are formally committed to celibacy. In so doing, they have more time to devote themselves exclusively to Him for the sake of the kingdom, more exclusively becoming, and serving, His Bride.¹⁶² St. Paul reinforces Jesus’ words, stating:

I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the affairs of the Lord, how to please the Lord; but the married man is anxious about the affairs of the world, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried woman and the virgin are anxious about the affairs of the Lord, so that they may be holy in body and spirit; but the married woman is anxious about the affairs of the world, how to please her husband. I say this for your own benefit, not to put any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and unhindered devotion to the Lord.¹⁶³

Ultimately, all those who believe and love Him are going to know Him in a very personal way, whether in this life or the next. Arguably, the more accurately we know who He is now, the better prepared we’ll be when we meet Him face to face. In light of this, consider the difference between Catholics and Mormons with respect to Jesus’ exclusive divinity.

The Mormon church has taught that Jesus and Satan are “spirit brothers,” that “Jesus Christ was the first “spirit child” born to God the Heavenly Father with one of his many wives.”¹⁶⁴ Similarly, according to the Mormon church, Jesus was the firstborn of Heavenly Father’s billions of spirit sons and daughters living in heaven. These spirit children included all those who would become human beings on earth as well as all of the rebellious spirits (demons) who would not have the opportunity to live mortal lives on earth. Rather,

He [Christ Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; by him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth. Visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. ALL THINGS were created through Him and for Him.¹⁶⁵

Furthermore, the Catholic Church continues to uphold that Jesus is God, one of the three persons of the Trinity, the same in nature, substance or essence, but different with respect to personhood, i.e., three separate and distinct persons. A helpful analogy might be found in the consideration of biologically identical triplets –they are the same in substance, nature or essence, but three distinct persons. Each triplet possesses the same nature. However, triplets are distinct and separate persons while the three persons of the Trinity are distinct but not separate, “three subsistent relations that obtain within the unity of God.”¹⁶⁶ Moreover, in contrast with biologically identical triplets having the same human nature, the Divine Nature is omniscient and omnipotent, knows infinitely and loves infinitely; there is an infinite loving relationship that comprises the divine life, one between the Father and the Son, wherefrom the Holy Spirit proceeds:

"The First Person knows Himself; His act of knowing Himself produces an Idea, a Word; and this Idea, this Word, the perfect Image of Himself, is the Second Person. The First Person and the Second combine in an act of love –love of one another, love of the glory of the Godhead which is their own; and just as the act of knowing produces an Idea within the Divine Nature, the act of loving produces a state of Lovingness within the Divine Nature. Into this Lovingness, Father and Son pour all that they have and all that they are, with no diminution, nothing held back. Thus this Lovingness within the Godhead is utterly equal to the Father and the Son, for they have poured their all into it. There is nothing they have which their Lovingness does not have. Thus their Lovingness too is Infinite, Eternal, Living, Someone, a Person, God. Observe that here again we are still within the Divine Nature. For love is wholly within the nature of the lover. But this love wholly contains the Divine Nature, because God puts the whole of Himself into love.”¹⁶⁷

Alas, “The Trinity is not a truth we cannot know anything about, but a truth we cannot know everything about. We cannot know God as he knows himself.”¹⁶⁸

Furthermore, with respect to Mormon beliefs, although every person and angel exist eternally in the mind of God, human beings and angels are distinct created beings. All angels are more excellent in their nature than any human being – “more intelligent, more strength of will, a higher form of created excellence,” ¹⁶⁹ as discussed by Dr. Mark Miravalle in his audio program, “Angels Explained: What You Should Know About the Nine Choirs.” Of course, no angel, however magnificent, is greater than their Creator. And, this is precisely where Satan fell from grace, in his selfish boast he rejected God as the Supreme Being. In a similar way, we do this when we become puffed up with intellectual pride, believing that our philosophies, our technological and scientific achievements, eliminate our need for, and subordination to, our Creator.

Meanwhile, a Jehovah’s Witness believes that Jesus was a man, but that before coming to earth, he was the archangel Michael. In contrast, all orthodox Christians believe that Jesus is true God and true man.¹⁷⁰

Notice the use of a capital “G” when we refer to God. A Jehovah’s Witnesses believes that Jesus is a god, not God as one of the three subsistent relations that obtain within the unity of God.

In the New World Translation, which is the translation of Scripture that Jehovah’s Witnesses use, John 1:1 has been changed to say, “the Word [Jesus] was a god.” However, other versus in the NWT provide irrefutable evidence of His Divinity, for example Mt 1:23; John 20:28-29; Col 2:9; Rev 1:8 juxtaposed with Rev 22:12-13; Deut 10:17 juxtaposed with Rev 19:16; Mt 28:19. Notice, with respect to this last verse,

“The disciples are commanded to baptize in the name (not names) of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Son and the Holy Spirit are listed as separate persons from the Father, yet they are given equal status with the Father. Note that the name is singular because there is only one God. We have in this verse a clear teaching of the doctrine of the Trinity: three distinct persons in one God.”¹⁷¹

As with most Christians and Mormons, JWs also do not believe the teachings of the Catholic Church with respect to the Eucharist, Purgatory, Confession, Intercession of the saints, the Seven deuterocanonical books of the Old Testament, and the Authority of the pope with respect to matters concerning faith and morals (acronym: EPCISA). Mormons (1830), Seventh Day Adventists (founded 1831) and Jehovah’s Witnesses (1872) can be classified together as Adventist religious movements; all three were preoccupied with the date of the Second Coming.

The authority to “loose and bind,” i.e. to lay down principles and doctrine for the preservation and practice of the faith, was given to the Apostles, and particularly to St. Peter, the first Bishop of Rome, whose name appears in the New Testament 195 times, followed by St. John with 48. All the Apostles acknowledged Peter’s authority from the start of the Church. Peter’s authority as the head of the Church is supported through numerous Scripture versus, many of which have been highlighted in Keven Vost’s book, “Memorize the Reasons!”¹⁷² Perhaps one of the most important passages supporting Peter’s leadership involves his nickname as “the Rock,” a passage fully explained by Jimmy Akin, an apologist who works for Catholic Answers, through his YouTube video, “Is St. Peter the Rock on which Jesus built his Church?”¹⁷³

However, there were times when St. Peter was in need of correction, as pointed out by St. Paul. One of these times occurred because Peter refused to eat with those who weren’t eating kosher food.¹⁷⁴ Even though God gave Peter a dream instructing him not to distinguish between clean and unclean food, he didn’t make a lasting change. Paul reprimanded him, giving what seems to have been a passionate ‘in-your-face’ correction. No one really prefers in-your-face corrections, if by in-your-face it is meant being obnoxious or rude, thus it may be that here too we see Paul in need of correction.

Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity. –1 Timothy 5:1-2

And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. –2 Timothy 2:22-26

Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. –Galatians 6:1

      If the first pope needed correction, it stands to reason that other leaders throughout the history of the Church would also need correction, and that God would inspire men and women to bring these areas to light. One of those who were used for this purpose was St. Francis.

“... in a dramatic moment of prayer in the abandoned Church of San Damiano, he heard a voice coming from the crucifix which challenged him to rebuild the church. At first he thought it meant that he should rebuild San Damiano. Gradually, Francis realized that God meant that he should "rebuild" the Church at large. From that moment he learned that living a Christian life would place him in opposition to the values of his society and set him apart from family and friends and many of his own age.”¹⁷⁵

      Towards the end of Francis’ life, he received the stigmata, i.e. marks of the crucifixion. He also is reported to have worked miracles on animals, such as a flock of birds that did not fly away as he preached to them, singing (chirping) afterwards, and the pacification of a wolf that had been killing livestock. There are also reports of people being cured of physical and mental diseases, as well as criminals repenting of their crimes, including three robbers who eventually returned what they stole from him and joined the Franciscan order.¹⁷⁶

Good Leadership

With respect to central administration, particularly concerning the promulgation of doctrine for the formation of faith and morals, the Roman Catholic Church has more of a monarchic form of government than a democratic one. This orientation has been preserved for close to 2000 years –the Body of Christ acknowledges the Bishop of Rome, the Pope, as her spokesperson, as the Vicar of Christ, St. Peter being the first. The Pope should be considered as first among equals:

A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. But he said to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.

–it is usually the result of a bishop’s exceptional service and humility that he is formally recognized as first among equals if elected Bishop of Rome.

The idea of a universal, or Catholic Church, is first found in the letter of St. Ignatius to the Smyrnaeans, written in Greek about the year 110:

'Wherever the bishop appears, there let the people be; as wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the universal [katholike] Church. It is not lawful to baptize or give communion without the consent of the bishop. On the other hand, whatever has his approval is pleasing to God. Thus, whatever is done will be safe and valid.’¹⁷⁷ 

      Leaders face special challenges, particularly leaders within the Body of Christ. We know that Satan is at war with the children of God. He knows that taking down a leader will be more disastrous, more scandalous, than taking down someone else. This is an important reason to pray for those in leadership positions, who are more likely to be attacked, whether through being exposed to more temptations or through the presentation or experience of injury, whether physical or psychological.

One of the things the Seventh Day Adventist church teaches well is how we should be vigilant in spotting a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Moreover, the SDA church spends a great deal of time discussing the prophet Daniel, whose life and dreams warn us of what happens when misguided or corrupt leaders steer an empire or organization the wrong way, like beasts that devour men, women and children, whether for the sake of maintaining power or for their own egotistical gratification. Sadly, even those in the highest offices of the Church can break our trust, becoming wolves in sheep’s clothing. But, that doesn’t mean the entire Church is wrong in what she has taught beforehand, or that we should follow such a leader when doing so goes against our properly formed judgment or conscience.

Thus, in addition to a different understanding of how grace is imparted and works in the soul of a believer,¹⁷⁸ a sense of mismanagement may have led Martin Luther to contribute to the Protestant Reformation, or what may more aptly be called the Protestant Revolution, since it didn’t really involve reforming the Church as much as it involved breaking away from it. If he and many others truly believed that the head of the Church and the majority of those in leadership positions were unrepairably off course, whether in neglecting to promulgate a greater understanding of Salvation History through translating the Bible into the spoken language common to the people (it had already been over 60 years since the first Bible was printed on the Guttenberg press), through consenting to sell indulgences, or illicitly using funds generated through charity, how culpable are they?

With respect to indulgences, although Scripture informs us that charity covers a multitude of sins,¹⁷⁹ it has never been the case that the Church has sold indulgences.¹⁸⁰ Although Pope Leo X (1475 – 1521) had many faults, selling indulgences wasn’t one of them. Albeit, some unscrupulous preachers may have misled some people into believing otherwise.¹⁸¹ An indulgence always has certain conditions that must be met for this form of spiritual currency to be effective, i.e. 1.) complete detachment from sin, even venial sin, 2.) sacramental confession, 3.) reception of Holy Communion, and 4.) prayer for the intentions of the successor of St. Peter.¹⁸² A person must be living in a state of grace to obtain an indulgence. Once these conditions have been met, and any other conditions specific to that indulgence, the indulgence, this spiritual currency, can benefit oneself or one who has passed from this life, such as a deceased relative or friend, or a poor and lonely soul in purgatory, but they cannot be applied to other living persons on earth.¹⁸³ Thus, the idea that a person can donate money to obtain salvation for themselves or another – “As soon as a coin in the coffer rings, a soul from purgatory springs!” – is false.

Perhaps, in Martin’s experience, as might be observed in current times, many were worshipping in truth but not in spirit, observing outward formalities without love or an inward correspondence, or an understanding of the significance of the Mass, thus quenching the spirit, which is a pharisaic tendency.

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. –Matthew 23:27

In speaking about worship in spirit, when a person owns a properly translated version of the Bible in a language they readily understand, they’re more likely to develop a personal sense of ownership and appreciation for one of the greatest gifts we’ve been given, i.e. His Word, not to mention a closer relationship with Him through reading about His will and Salvation History, thus being able to meditate upon it. Moreover, if a person’s understanding of God is limited to attending Mass and hearing it celebrated in a language they don’t understand, or understand poorly, with limited catechesis available, having the Word of God available to read in their native tongue can bring them further ahead, better enabling them to overcome the forces of evil working against them, even if they don’t fully understand the truths being presented.

Traditionally, the importance of understanding the Word of God and Salvation History, as enacted by the Israelites, involved wearing Scripture versus that had been written down on tiny scrolls, known as tefillin or phylactery. These tefillin were prescribed to be worn on a person’s forehead and hand (Exodus 13:1-16, Deuteronomy 6:4-9 & 11:13-21). Accordingly, the early Church encouraged everyone to read and understand Scripture. However, making it available to everyone proved difficult in that each verse, each book, had to be transcribed by hand.

By the middle ages, with the heresy of the Albigensians (the Albigensians believed that this material world was the product of the spirit of darkness, and therefore matter, and especially the human body, was intrinsically evil), two local councils, the Council of Toulouse (1220) and the Council of Tarragona (1234), forbade the laity to read vernacular translations; many translations were poorly completed or corrupt and some tried to influence others to judge the Church by their interpretation. Thus, when the printing press was available, the Church’s experience cautioned her against encouraging private possession and interpretation of Scripture without shepherdly oversight, lest more heresies like those of the Albigensians occur. Otherwise, when properly translated and understood in the context of the wisdom and oral tradition that had been handed on by the Apostles and their successors, which is the purpose of catechesis, the “Pearl of Great Price,” i.e. the message of salvation –God’s redemptive work in history and the truth that yields faith, hope and love– might have been more encouraged to be possessed and cherished by everyone, potentially avoiding so much of the splintering and blood shed that resulted from the Protestant Revolution.

Today, many Christian churches effectively succeed in imparting the Holy Spirit to those who hear the Word of God proclaimed, building the Kingdom of God on earth, because they’re exceptional in treating the Bible as the Pearl of Great Price, often focusing on the common pillars of faith.

Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! –Luke 11:11-13

Accordingly, possession of Scripture, the possession of its meaning on our hearts, is cherished as it should be when most readily understood. Recent estimates suggest that as many as five billion Bibles have been printed.¹⁸⁴ One may ask, ‘Would this have happened if the Protestant Revolution hadn’t occurred, if individuals were not empowered directly by the Word of God?’ Only God knows.¹⁸⁵

While it is true that God wants his children to be exceptionally loving, producing numerous good works, the fruits of a heart filled with love, He also wants us to be sharp:

See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. –Matthew 10:16

      Those who ignore or deny the truths that have been entrusted to and preserved in the Catholic Church, though they share the same basic pillars of faith, do themselves an intellectual disservice, even though they may produce numerous works of charity, perhaps even more than those who are familiar with those truths. Moreover, we are One Body and our collective history spans 2,000 years. Every member of the Body that the Bride has exalted, i.e. those formally recognized as saints, deserve our attention and respect if not a thorough study of their lives and how they contributed to the glory of God. Fundamental to this deficit is Sola-Scriptura reasoning, which itself is not Biblical, as Dave Armstrong has pointed out in his book, “100 Biblical Arguments Against Sola Scriptura.”

Moreover, in that many are now unaware of the history of the Church, of Her Sacred Traditions and the authority she’s been entrusted with in teaching on matters of faith and morals, Martin Luther and those like him, as well as others who followed, such as King Henry VIII of England, went too far in their degree of separation, holding Sola-Scriptura reasoning as the ultimate authority. Furthermore, Martin wanted to remove the books of Hebrews, James, Revelation, the 2nd and 3rd books of John and the 2nd book of Peter. Thankfully, Phillip Melanchthon, a friend of Luther and major proponent of the Reformation, dissuaded him. Phillip later wrote,

All the water of the Elba would not provide enough tears to weep over the disasters of the Reform: the ill is without remedy.

And, as stated by Diane Moczar in her book, “Ten Dates Every Catholic Should Know,” Martin himself, shortly before his death, wrote of his distress at the chaos and proliferation of sects that his teachings had unleased:

I must confess that my doctrines have produced many scandals. I cannot deny it, and often this frightens me, especially when my conscience reminds me that I destroyed the situation in which the Church found itself, all calm and tranquility, under the Papacy.

Arguably, education that teaches the distinctions the Church has made in understanding and applying Scripture, and not only Scripture, but traditions handed down directly from the Apostles, over her nearly 2000-year history, will help to restore her into a place of authority and respect in the minds of all Christians. The Church, with all the wisdom of experience and practice cultivated over nearly 2,000 years, including the many works and interactions our Lord has had with her saints, is the inheritance of every Christian –none should feel alienated from her. Accordingly, providing this kind of education, helping to share the fullness of the truth she contains, is one of the principal aims of the Pure Heart Culture social network, particularly with respect to organization, rewards and recognition according to credits, badges and levels of understanding.

And why is it so important that her place of respect and appreciation be restored? The answer is simple: to best enable us to become saints, to transform our culture into the Kingdom of God. Indeed, as John Henry Newman, a former Anglican priest who later became Catholic, has stated, “To be deep in history is to cease to be Protestant.”

Inquiring Minds Want to Know

With respect to The Inquisition, whenever an organized group of people impose on another, especially with the threat of persecution and death, there is likely to be revolt or revolution, if for nothing more than the sake of freedom. Nonetheless, sometimes this imposition is appropriate in order to maintain the safety, dignity and rights of others. With regards to the state, she has an obligation to defend her citizens against malicious foreigners and treason. In the case of the Church, she has an obligation to keep the truth she contains pure, free from false teachings or doctrine that can mar her image and the face of Him who founded her. And yet, there is reasonable concern that the two will become too closely intertwined, a situation that neglects the basic freedom a person has while growing up –to learn and discover alternative thoughts and teachings. Perhaps it was this close connection that inspired Martin Luther to write his two kingdoms doctrine,¹⁸⁶ and likely the situation that eventually led to America being founded as a state that respects freedom of religion, i.e. freedom to learn false or inaccurate teachings about the nature of God and His bride. Sometimes, as in my case, it’s only through contrasting various teachings or doctrines, and the effects they produce, that we gain an appreciation for those that contain the fullness of truth.

If the leaders of the Church believed that her goodwill, her public image, was endangered through beliefs or practices that have been rightfully and traditionally foreign to her, that go against the grain of authority she’s been entrusted with, it is rationale for her to defend herself and the truth she embraces, perhaps even offensively if the Church and State are so connected that the economic and social order are in danger unless a defense is given. This was likely the case as violent Islamic conquest continued to occur, i.e. not just alternative views about God and His nature, but a new system of government and justice.¹⁸⁷

Looking at this situation from a different perspective, when a corporation has a patent for a product and that product is stolen, changed and/or resold illegally, that corporation has a right to seek remedy. Similarly, if that corporation has false reports spreading about it, it has a right to sue whoever is responsible. However, how far such measures can go, particularly in relation to imposing on another, is not an easy issue to address, especially in an age where governments can be weakly established, the enforcement of law is weak to non-existent, information cannot easily be disseminated, and whole communities can be demolished through clandestine attacks, fire and war.¹⁸⁸

With respect to these kinds of circumstances, I’m thankful that the truths contained in the Catholic Church have been preserved, that the clear image of her bridegroom has remained intact. I’m thankful for people like St. Dominic, cofounder of the Dominican order, who worked extraordinarily hard to combat heresies like those of the Albigensians. Sadly however, many today believe false reports about the nature of the triune God, about Jesus and His bride, an example being those who only familiarize themselves with the teachings of the Latter Day Saints, Jehovah’s Witness or Seventh Day Adventist churches. While those in such communities may produce much of the same fruitful good works when compared to those in other communities containing greater truth, perhaps being even more fruitful, it is best that the nature of God be understood as He intended, just as you’d hope to explain the true nature of your best friend to another friend. Additionally, it would be better if the Body of Christ were more united.

In contrast, those who are raised in the Islamic faith may live in fear of learning about Jesus and becoming Christian altogether, a fear grounded in persecution, loss of life and/or faulty beliefs about such actions leading to hell.¹⁸⁹ In some cases, it may only be through a formal inquiry process that those who come from these areas can be assessed and cleared of their prejudice or ignorance, even move forward in being found trustworthy to live in areas where gender equality is not offensive, wherein a woman’s testimony is equal to that of a man’s, wherein rape and pedophilia are unequivocally unacceptable.¹⁹⁰ Correspondingly, it’s important to dispel myths about the Inquisition, an effort that has been spearheaded by the same filmmakers who brought us the EWTN blockbuster, “The Crusades,” with their new series, “The Inquisition.”¹⁹¹

In spite of how historical Seventh Day Adventist teachings portray the Catholic Church as a beast, the Whore of Babylon with the antichrist as her leader, any organization can be seen as oppressive, especially when its leaders are corrupt in some way. People favor leaders that are honorable and consistent.

In accepting the authority of the Catholic Church, I do so while acknowledging that she doesn’t have a history of perfect leaders. Similarly, St. Peter, our first Pope, had his share of faults, as St. Paul pointed out, “to his face.”¹⁹² And yet, she is still the Bride of Christ, the Body that established sacred Scripture and sacred Tradition, the one primarily entrusted by Him with this responsibility. Jesus stated that He would never leave His children orphaned; it would be a serious error to believe He abandoned the Church He founded through His Apostles. Thus, the Church should be considered not with respect to any of the people who have failed while serving as leaders under her umbrella, but through her capacity to raise men and women into saints, a capacity often exercised through her tenacity for orthodoxy.

Moreover, she encompasses an extensive history of individual victories and mistakes; she is best suited to lead us toward Him through these learning experiences. Also, our universal [katholike] Church has been responsible for passing on the deposit of faith; the Bible alone is not the complete deposit of faith, as John himself states,

But there are also many other things that Jesus did; if every one of them were written down, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. –John 21:25 NRSV

The Church plants each of us in fertile soil, soil that has been tilled for nearly 2000 years so that the storms of secularism, relativism and varying Christian doctrines, as set forth by those who see things differently, potentially establishing their own church, don't blow believers to and fro, potentially uprooting them altogether. We see many of these storms and their result in our world today –how many people are overwhelmed by the number of Christian churches, not knowing if this or that one is the right one, distancing themselves completely? The devil smiles at such division and at its potential to create confused, overwhelmed and wayward followers.

Hello, St. Francis

Contrary to what most Christian churches teach, the universal Church is in communion with Saints, i.e. those who are known to have lived extraordinarily holy lives and who’ve had at least two miracles attributed to them, miracles which has been verified by medical or otherwise appropriate experts. This communion means that the saint, when asked, may intercede for someone, just as members of the Body of Christ on earth may intercede for each other.

A recent example of this powerful intercession involved Blessed Pier Giorgio Frasati. In 2011, Keven Becker fell from the second floor of the house he shared with two college roommates, fracturing his skull in five places and damaging every lobe of his brain. He was unresponsive for nine days; the doctors thought he wouldn’t live, and if he did, he’d suffer from gross cognitive defects. During his coma, Kevin woke up in the house and heard someone downstairs, which was odd, because he’s usually the first one up. Upon investigating, he found a young man in his living room whom he didn’t know.

Who are you?

I’m George, your new roommate.

That can’t be. I already have two roommates.

They aren’t around anymore.

Oh.

      George kept Kevin company, adamantly instructing him not to leave the house, but be patient. Kevin also remembers biding his time doing schoolwork, which was unusual for him, and sitting on the couch playing the soccer video game “FIFA” together. Less than three weeks after his injury he left the hospital in great condition. He recognized George from a photo his mother showed him after he discussed his new roommate with her, calling him a “good spirit” –she had placed his photo next to Kevin’s bed the day before he awoke, taking the advice of her cousin to ask for Blessed Pier Giorgio Frasati’s intercession.¹⁹³

When discussing eternal life with the Sadducees, Jesus stated:

Now about the dead rising –have you not read in the Book of Moses, in the account of the burning bush, how God said to him, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. –Mark 12:26

He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive. –Luke 20:38

      The intercession of a saint who is believed to be in heaven is more powerful than those on earth by way of their being in the presence of God –they’ve already awoken from the “sleep” that follows death until Judgment day. In this sense of being awake, they’ve completely avoided, or have already completed, the time that would have been spent in purgatory for the necessary purification, time necessary before being ready to share completely in His presence, face to face. With respect to this, many of these saints have incorrupt bodies, the effects of death and decay has passed over them, sometimes for centuries, and still counting.

His Precious Blood
      Carrying my knowledge of the Catholic Church further, Jesus fulfilled what we consider the Old Testament, or Old Covenant, when He instituted the New Covenant, ending animal sacrifice for the atonement of sins, an atonement that was imperfect and needed to be repeated regularly. This new covenant, or shedding of blood, was fulfilled when Jesus spoke of and offered His Body and Blood under the form of bread and wine as the one perfect sacrifice during the Last Supper, fully fulfilled through His passionate death on a cross. This is a hard teaching for many to accept, both today and the moment He first shared it, i.e. many ceased to follow Him, as described in the 6th chapter of the Book of John.
      Nonetheless, the Catholic Church rightly carries on the tradition of consecrating bread and wine into His Body and Blood respectively, forming the Eucharist, whether received separately (His Body under the appearance of bread or His Blood under the appearance of wine) or together (Body and Blood). Indeed, Martin Luther attests to the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist:

…of all the fathers, as many as you can name, not one has ever spoken about the sacrament as these fanatics do. None of them uses such an expression as, “It is simply bread and wine,” or “Christ’s body and blood are not present.” Yet this subject is so frequently discussed by them, it is impossible that they should not at some time have let slip such an expression as, “It is simply bread,” or “Not that the body of Christ is physically present,” or the like, since they are greatly concerned not to mislead the people; actually, they simply proceed to speak as if no one doubted that Christ’s body and blood are present. Certainly among so many fathers and so many writings a negative argument should have turned up at least once, as happens in other articles; but actually they all stand uniformly and consistently on the affirmative side.¹⁹⁴

Of these fathers, around 110 AD St. Ignatius of Antioch wrote the following concerning heretics,

      They abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer, because they do not

confess that the Eucharist is the Flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ, Flesh which suffered for our sins and which the Father, in His goodness, raised up again.¹⁹⁵

Around 150 AD, St. Justin Martyr wrote,

We call this food Eucharist; and no one else is permitted to partake of it, except one who believes our teaching to be true… for not as common bread nor common drink do we receive these; but since Jesus Christ our Savior was made incarnate by the Word of God and had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so too, as we have been taught, the food which has been made into the Eucharist by the Eucharistic prayer set down by Him, and by the change of which our blood and flesh is nourished, is both the Flesh and the Blood of that incarnated Jesus.¹⁹⁶

The Eucharist is:

•      Bread from heaven, similar to the Manna the Israelites ate for 40 years in the desert after their miraculous delivery from Egypt while on their way to the Promised Land, bread that we ask to receive daily each time we recite the “Our Father,” the same bread that was preserved in the Ark of the Covenant, with the Ark now being Mary, the Holy Vessel chosen to carry our Lord, the Mother of our Lord and our Mother, the New Eve, as foretold in Genesis through the protoevangelium¹⁹⁷

•      the Body and Blood of Jesus, represented first by the lamb whose blood was placed on the front door of every Israelite home in order to save their firstborn child from death, now celebrated by as the Passover, which coincided with the Last Supper, wherein Jesus is the sacrificial lamb, as well as the lamb represented by Isaac who was going to be sacrificed on Mt. Moriah by his father Abraham, foreshadowing the true sacrifice of Jesus, God the Son, by God the Father, in order to redeem us from the effect of sin, which is death

•      the unifying Matrimonial Sacrament in the Body and Bride of Christ, which we ourselves are when we, as His beloved, participate in the Wedding Supper of the Lamb, also known as the Mass, a celebration also discussed in the Book of Revelation, wherein this Bride of Christ is unveiled

•      the fulfillment of Scripture as fruit from the Tree of Life

•      LOVE incarnate

Again, our Lord said He would not leave us, even unto the end of the age. Considering this, it is worthwhile to note some of the many signs He’s given us, signs which help to substantiate His presence in the form of bread and wine.

Accordingly, on August 15th, 1996, the feast day for the Assumption of Mary, a woman found a desecrated Host (the Eucharist under the appearance of bread) on a candle holder at the back of the parish of Santa Maria y Caballito Almagro in Argentina, after Mass. She reported it to Father Alejandro Pezet. Fr. Pezet followed canon law for a proper disposal, submerging it in a glass of water to dissolve it. Instead of dissolving, the Host appeared to turn into a bloody piece of meat.

On Sept. 6th, 1996, Cardinal Antonio Quarracino and our current Pope Francis, then-Auxillary Bishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio, had it photographed. The photographs present a fragment of bloodied flesh that had become larger than a host. As Patti Armstrong then explains in the December 27th 2015 issue of the National Catholic Register,

It was then placed in a tabernacle; and after three years, with no signs of visible decay, Bishop Bergoglio opened an investigation. On Oct. 5, 1999, in the company of witnesses, (renowned scientist Ricardo Castanon) Gomez sent a sample of the blood to the San Francisco Forensic Institute.

      The scientists were not told where the sample came from in order to avoid any bias. The results indicated that it was human blood, AB-positive, containing human DNA. Patti continues,

Tissue samples were then sent to Dr. Frederic Zugiba, of Columbia University in New York, a renowned cardiologist and forensic pathologist. His results on March 26, 2005, identified the sample as human flesh and blood. Zugiba testified that it was “a fragment of the heart muscle found in the wall of the left ventricle close to the valves.” Because white blood cells had penetrated the tissue, he stated that “the heart had been under severe stress, as if the owner had been beaten severely about the chest.

Author Tesoriero (mentioned earlier in the article as the author of Reason to Believe: A Personal Story) actually witnessed these tests, along with Mike Wilesee, a well-known Australian journalist. Wilesee asked the scientist how long white blood cells can remain alive from a piece of human tissue kept in water. Zugiba told them it would last a matter of minutes. When he learned it had been in water for more than three years, Zugiba was amazed and said that the cells from the sample were moving and beating as a heart would, so there was no way to scientifically explain his findings.

Then Gomez arranged to compare those lab results with the ones from the Eucharstic miracle of Lanciano, Italy. That miracle took place during the eighth century. A priest-monk suffered from doubts about Transubstantiation, wondering if the bread and wine really did become the Body and Blood of Christ. He prayed for help in believing it was true. At the Consecration of one of his Masses, the Host changed into a circle of flesh, and the wine became blood before the eyes of numerous witnesses. The Host-turned-flesh and the wine-turned-blood, without the use of any form of preservative, are still present more than 1,300 years later in a reliquary at St. Francis Church in Lanciano. They have been scientifically tested a number of times, with the last one being in 1970.

Again, without revealing the origin of the test samples, the experts compared the Buenos Aires lab reports with those from Lanciano. They concluded that the reports must be from the same samples. Both samples revealed an “AB”-positive blood type, which occurs in 5% of the population. The DNA is identical, and there are features to indicate that the man came from the Middle East. (It is also noteworthy that these lab results match up with those from the Shroud of Turin and the Cloth of Oviedo.)

The Priesthood of all Believers
2/13/17

      I recently listened to a sermon preached by James MacDonald while driving home from grocery shopping. James is a well-known evangelical Christian whose sermons are broadcast across the United States by radio. This sermon focused on the importance of the Sabbath, of keeping one day of the week set aside for rest.

As you may have already read, I’ve often experienced the blessings that coincide with keeping the Sabbath, having been an active part of a Seventh Day Adventist community. James’ sermon reinforced the benefits of setting aside one day for rest for our spiritual and physical health, how we’re designed for this, how even though we may sleep extra hours, we can still feel chronically fatigued if we’re always acting like busy-bodies.

      He also mentioned what he referred to as a Protestant doctrine, namely, the priesthood of all believers. He went on to indirectly criticize Catholics by stating how we don’t need to call anyone father, referring to the practice of a Catholic priest being addressed as father. As someone who’d identify as Catholic, I’ve felt the need to address his concerns.

      I want to begin by saying that I have a lot of respect for James and the work he’s doing. Anyone who listens to his sermons will quickly discover how often he’s feasted upon the Word of God, expressing himself so passionately. He’s helped many come, or return, to Christ. Nonetheless, his advocation of a doctrine on the priesthood of all believers as something distinct from Catholics is heretical, i.e. it lacks fullness of truth –there’s nothing in the Catholic church that denies this priesthood. Rather, the Church acknowledges that some are chosen to carry on a special ministry that not everyone is automatically able or equipped to perform, or at least as heroically when considering how those who have chosen celibacy, such as a Roman Catholic Priest, can be more available and fully present to help others and serve the community.

      As good fathers know, raising children is a demanding vocation –community and ministerial activities are often scheduled second, if at all. Nonetheless, the Catechism states that the laity should participate in Christ’s priestly office, as well as His prophetic and kingly office.¹⁹⁸ Those who are single serve in a priestly fashion by consecrating their bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit, abstaining from sinful behaviors, such as watching pornography, self-abuse and fornication. Husbands and wives serve in a priestly office by consecrating their bodies to each other, administering the sacrament of marriage in a way that is holy and open to new life, in a way that is in accordance with the magisterium or teaching office of the Church. It may come as a surprise to some that many married couples do not live in a way that is pleasing to God, despite their being married, but rather is harmful to each other, their marriage, and children.

      Scripture informs us in the Book of Hebrews that through Christ we can confidently enter the Holy of Holies, the holiest place in the temple, the center of Israelite worship, where only the High Priest could enter once per year.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. –Hebrews 10:19-22

      In accordance with the priestly prescriptions given to Aaron for the Levitical priesthood in the book of Leviticus, the High Priest would sprinkle the blood of the sacrificed bull on the altar of incense once per year on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). Then, after burning incense to create a veil of smoke, the priest would then sprinkle the sacrificial blood on the mercy seat itself.

The ark of the covenant, the chest containing the two stone tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments, was the most sacred object of the tabernacle and later in the temple in Jerusalem, where it was placed in an inner area called the Holy of Holies. Also within the ark were the golden pot of manna, such as was provided by God in the wilderness wanderings (Exodus 16:4), as well as the almond rod of Aaron that had blossomed (Numbers 17:1-13). On top of the ark was a lid called the mercy seat on which rested the cloud or visible symbol of the divine presence.¹⁹⁹

God said that He would appear in the Holy of Holies (Leviticus 16:2); hence, the need for the veil. There exists a barrier between man and God. The holiness of God could not be accessed by anyone but the high priest, and then only once a year. God’s “eyes are too pure to look on evil” (Habakkuk 1:13), and He can tolerate no sin. The veil and the elaborate rituals undertaken by the priest were a reminder that man could not carelessly or irreverently enter God’s awesome presence. Before the high priest entered the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement, he had to wash himself, put on special clothing, bring burning incense to let the smoke cover his eyes from a direct view of God, and bring sacrificial blood with him to make atonement for sins (Exodus 28; Hebrews 9:7).²⁰⁰

      The sprinkling of the blood of the bull on the mercy seat in the Holy of Holies once per year was in atonement for the sins of the people of Israel. As Christians, we know that Jesus, as the Son of God, was the perfect offering, or sacrifice, for sin. Jesus superseded the Levitical priesthood through His perfect offering, through His own blood poured out over Himself. What love He has for us as members of His Body, His Bride! How earnestly He desires to free us from the effects of sin, from death itself!

      Following His life, death and resurrection, as His followers, we’re all called to a priestly ministry, and we do this not only by living holy lives, but by interceding for others, acknowledging the goodness of the gift we ourselves have received –we pray that God will bestow this gift on others and that they’ll be willing to receive it. There is no greater gift than the Merciful Blood of Jesus in atonement for our sins.

      Christ’s entire life is an offering for His people. He calls us to be like Him –we’re all called to be like Christ in serving and praying for others, loving them as we love ourselves. Thus, we are all called to and take part in Christ’s priestly ministry by consecrating our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit, and through our prayers and acts of service –becoming the priesthood of all believers. There should be no distinction among followers of Christ in this respect, whether Protestant or Catholic, because all who live a holy life, pray for others and make offerings, whether corporal or spiritual works of mercy, serve in a priestly ministry and mediate as Christ mediates. Christ is the first mediator, others follow, striving to be like Him, to be Christ-like, Christian, to join their sufferings with Christ and offer themselves to save souls.²⁰¹

      Now some may fall into error by believing that because we too can mediate as Christ mediates, we take away from Christ’s preeminent role as the first mediator. This is like saying that one surgeon is more effective than a team performing the surgery together. While this may be true, depending on the competency of the other surgeons or nurses, all those entrusted to such surgery will work together in such a way that the surgery is more likely to be effective and efficient through collective cooperation. The co-surgeons Christ Jesus entrusted first were the Apostles. The Apostles then appointed others through ordination to serve likewise. However, it’s okay to give all credit to the principal surgeon, and in the case of Christ Jesus, since all things came into being through Him,²⁰² to suggest that another deserves more praise, respect or acclamation, would be foolish if not blatantly offensive.

      From the very beginning of the Church, followers of Christ have rightly believed that men and women who’ve lived exceptionally holy lives enter right into heaven after death. Thus, they are more capable of mediating for others by being more directly in the presence of God –many miracles have resulted because of requests for their intercession, confirming this reality. To deny the reality of these miracles in the history of the Church is like denying the sunrise. But this is not to say that we can’t mediate effectively for each other on this side of life, it’s saying that those who are on the other side, fully in the presence of God, are more effective in doing so. This knowledge comprises the Communion of Saints, a doctrine appropriately upheld in the Catholic faith, but deteriorating in Protestant communities. Why would God will that latter-day followers be denied the truth of this reality? Quite simply, He wouldn’t, just as He doesn’t will that His followers be divided into various denominations.

      With respect to the Roman Catholic priesthood, just as God first designated Aaron as a priest through the Levitical priesthood, He designated a new priesthood in the order of Malchizedek, who was the first to offer bread and wine. This offering, or sacrifice (poiein²⁰³ in Greek) of Malchizedek, foreshadows the sacrifice Christ offered at the Last Supper, where he took bread, blessed it, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” Then, after the supper, he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying “Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Christ Jesus is Himself the Passover Lamb that was sacrificed.²⁰⁴ The Apostles rightfully preserved these instructions through Sacred Tradition, from the beginning of the Church, and the Roman Catholic Priest rightly performs them during the Mass, when he blesses the bread and wine so that it becomes Christ’s Body and Blood, a process called transubstantiation, i.e. the conversion of the substance of the Eucharistic elements into the Body and Blood of Christ at consecration, so that only the appearance of bread and wine remains. Many Eucharistic miracles have confirmed the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharistic; more than 136 of these miracles were cataloged by Carlo Acutis, who is now a candidate for canonization.²⁰⁵

      The function that the Roman Catholic Priest performs does not take away from the priesthood of all believers. Moreover, St. Paul has stated that not all members in the Body of Christ perform the same works or have the same gifts.²⁰⁶ Thus, neither are all called to the form of priesthood that a Roman Catholic Priest observes. However, all believers can make a priestly offering of His Body and Blood, uniting in the Spirit of Christ’s perfect atonement, by reciting the Divine Mercy Chaplet... ‘Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, in atonement for my sins and the sins of the whole world.’ This prayer was given to St. Faustina Kowalska after she received visions detailing God’s unfailing love and mercy.²⁰⁷ This prayer reiterates one of the many ways that the laity are…

      “marvelously called and prepared so that even richer fruits of the
      Spirit may be produced in them. For all their works, prayers, and
      apostolic undertakings, family and married life, daily work, relaxation
      of mind and body, if they are accomplished in the Spirit –indeed even
      the hardships of life if patiently born –all these become spiritual
      sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”²⁰⁸

      As a Catholic who has been joyfully and fruitfully involved in various Protestant communities, I’m confident that a Roman Catholic Priest, who leads one or more parishes, is one of the clearest examples we have of the accomplishment of Christ’s missionary work. A properly ordained priest administers many of the sacraments of the Church. A sacrament is a means through which the grace of God is made visible; all sacraments involve an infusion of grace into the soul. The seven sacraments of the Church are Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Marriage and Holy Orders.

Holy Orders is “the sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time: thus it is the sacrament of apostolic ministry. It includes three degrees: episcopate [bishop], presbyterate [priest], and diaconate [deacon].”²⁰⁹ Through the sacrament of Holy Orders, a bishop lays his hands on a priest or deacon in accordance with apostolic succession to confer the power of administering sacraments. A deacon is empowered to administer baptisms and witness a marriage, while they may also perform funeral and burial services outside of Mass, distribute Holy Communion and preach the homily. Of sacramental powers entrusted to the laity, anyone who has been properly baptized can administer another baptism if it is not feasible for a priest or deacon to do so, such as in an emergency.

      And yet, ministers within various Protestant communities aim to enact some of these visible manifestations of God’s grace. However, they do so after breaking away from the authority that Christ Jesus gave to the Apostles for ordering His Church, ²¹⁰ particularly St. Peter our first pope,²¹¹ following instead the examples given through the Protestant Revolution in the wake of Martin Luther’s Reformation.

Perhaps the most remarkable example of this division is that where communion services are celebrated in Protestant communities, they are often celebrated symbolically. This opposes Christ’s words²¹² and the Sacred Tradition that has been passed down from the Apostles since the beginning of the Church²¹³, not to mention the many Eucharistic miracles that have confirmed His Real Presence.²¹⁴

The heart of liturgical worship is the Mass. Just as the redemptive work of Jesus reached its culminating point on Calvary by His death on the Cross, so too, the liturgical action, which continues His work in the world, has its climax in the Mass, which renews and perpetuates on our altars the Sacrifice of the Cross. Jesus has willed that the precious fruits of redemption, which He merited on Calvary for the whole human race, be applied and transmitted to each of the faithful in a particular way by their participation in the Eucharistic Sacrifice. This fountain of grace which Jesus opened on Calvary continues to pour over our altars; all the faithful are obliged to approach it at least once a week by attending Sunday Mass, but we may approach it even daily, each time we are present at the Holy Sacrifice. Holy Mass is truly the “fountain of life.” By offering and immolating Himself continually on our altars, Jesus repeats to us, "If any man thirst, let him come to Me and drink" (John 7, 37).

"The August sacrifice of the altar," says the encyclical Mediator Dei, "is not merely a commemoration of the Passion and death of Christ, but is a true and proper sacrifice, in which, by immolating Himself in an unbloody manner, the Great High Priest renews His previous act on the Cross." The Victim is the same, so is the Priest; nothing but the manner of offering is different –bloody on the Cross, unbloody on the altar. If we do not see in the Mass, as Mary did on Calvary, the torn Body of Christ and the Blood flowing from His wounds, we do have, by virtue of the Consecration, the real presence of this Body and Blood. Moreover, as this divine presence becomes actualized under two distinct species, the bloody death on Calvary is mystically renewed by the real separation of the Body and Blood of the Savior.²¹⁵

      Now it may be true that many priests are living unholy lives, living without charity and self-discipline, wherein ministers from other communities would seem more suited to perform sacramental functions. History has many examples of imperfect priests, and ministers, who have caused scandal and wounded the image of the Bride of Christ. In such cases, the priest, or minister, should be removed from office, and many practices are now in place to prevent such abuses of authority throughout Christendom. Nonetheless, even though a president of the United States may be the most corrupt citizen, for as long as they remain in office, they can perform the functions of it. Thus, even though a priest may be serving as a head of a parish while living in sin, the sacramental functions they perform are still valid because of the office they hold within the Church.

      As mentioned earlier, a Roman Catholic priest is celibate. This enables him to be more fully present and available to the people of God, just as Christ was to His people. This freedom enables the priest to have more time to perform works of mercy, whether corporal, such as feeding the hungry, or spiritual, such as spreading the Good News, whether through counseling the doubtful, instructing the ignorant or admonishing sinners. Addressing such a priest as father, or a sister who serves Him in a similar way through a consecrated life, potentially being called sister or mother, are terms of endearment. Indeed, these brothers and sisters are worthy of our extra respect because of their sacrifice, and our use of these terms of endearment shouldn’t be a stumbling block any more than referring to a physician as a doctor should be. Do not good physicians also serve in a fatherly or motherly role, and is not the title “doctor,” a title of respect and honor? Certainly, there are many academic disciplines that result in doctorate degrees, but we do not usually refer to these men and women as doctors unless they serve in a teaching and caring capacity. How much more important are those who address spiritual illnesses that infect us and jeopardize our opportunity for eternal life, that we may, if we choose, refer to them as Father or Mother, providing that they are in the same life-giving vessel as Christ?

      When Christ instructed someone not to call any man Rabbi, father or Master,²¹⁶ he intended to convey that God should be the ultimate source for authority in our lives, to Him alone must we answer in the end. Consider Fr. Mitch Pacwa’s discourse on the matter during a homily given on 3/14/17:

And the title of father… this was something used because the word, the terminology for a sect within the Pharisee movement, was to use the word House. A House was a sect. So there was the House of Shammai and the House of Hillel. These were the two great teachers at the time of Christ, and Gamaliel belonged to the House of Hillel. And, these two houses argued a fair amount between themselves on various points. And, the head of the house was therefore, the father. And what Christ is warning about in a Palestinian-Jewish context is that you don’t go around starting new sects. You don’t go around starting new religions where you get to be your own pope, for yourself and everybody else. One pope is enough, we don’t want another. And, starting your own sect and your own denomination, well that’s not what Christ wants.

The oneness of the Father, notice how He says that you have one Father in heaven. Later in the Last Supper discourse in John 17, Jesus says keep them one by your name Father. Calling God, Our Father, and recognizing Him as our One Father, this is meant to be a source of unity so that they may know that the Father sent Jesus. And that kind of division in the church is what Christ is speaking against with this title. That’s why later on when St Paul writes to the Corinthians, in 1st Corinthians 4:15, you have only one father, it is I who begot you, by my preaching of the gospel. There’s no problem in the Greek world with calling the leaders father, Paul insists on it. St. John writing to people in Asia Minor also said there’s a group of men that he calls fathers in Chapter 2 verse 12 and following, in his first epistle. So, they don’t have a problem with that. But what Christ has a problem with is those who would start other sects, with men who call themselves fathers of that new sect, because then that focuses the attention on their brand-new insight, their new movement, their new idea, their new theology. We don’t do that. These are the things that flow from human pride. And Christ wants all of us [to be faithful]; we are here because we have chosen to be faithful to Christ. But we have to remember the old adage, the higher we climb in the spiritual life, the higher the devil climbs after us. ²¹⁷

      Thus, Jesus didn’t intend that children cease from calling their dads father, or papa. Likewise, ordained priests and consecrated sisters who serve in fatherly or motherly roles can rightfully be called fathers or mothers. Are they the ultimate source of authority, are they God? Surely not. If they’re corrupt, should we respect and follow them? No! And this situation can apply to earthly parents as well. Moreover, in such cases, children can be removed from their parents by organizations like Child Protective Services.

      We know that Christ chose certain men to be disciples, to be co-surgeons in the work of restoring broken hearts. We know that he calls all followers to love Him first and foremost, and others as ourselves. Through the Holy Spirit, we enter His ministry of healing hearts, becoming co-mediators in the priesthood of all believers through our prayers and works of mercy, whether spiritual or corporal. However, while on this side of eternity, some are more visible and active while serving in this capacity by virtue of their sacrifices and desire to serve in a special way, some of these we may refer to as father or brother, sister or mother. And yet, the reality of this situation does not mean that others are less important or cannot become as visible and active in this capacity while not performing the same offering and presenting the same gifts. Nonetheless, we ought to respect those who have been ordained through the Sacrament of Holy Orders, who follow His example of celibacy, adhering to the leadership and authority of those He appointed first, as well as the right succession of those who followed, each in accordance with the laying on of hands, beginning nearly two millennia ago.

Speak to the Rock

      Do you remember that part of Salvation History where the Israelites wandered through the desert after a miraculous delivery from Egypt? Three years they had been wandering,

And the Lord spoke to Moses. Take the rod, and assemble the people together, thou and Aaron they brother, and speak to the rock before them, and it shall yield waters. –Numbers 20:7

As Scripture informs us, Moses disobeyed and he was punished. His punishment was that he would not live to see the Promised Land.

But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them." –Numbers 20:12

Let us stop for a moment to consider the consequences we might experience when we disobey God. Though Moses entered heaven, as known through his presence during Christ’s Transfiguration, along with Elisha,²¹⁸ he was punished.

St. Paul tells us that the rock that followed the Israelites in the desert was Christ, i.e. the rock was a typology for Christ. ²¹⁹

They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. –1 Corinthians 10:4

The rock in the desert speaks of the relationship God had with the Israelites in the Old Testament, from whom life-saving water flowed. Where is Christ for the Israelites today, i.e. the people of God? Where is the Body of Christ, where is this rock?

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. –Mathew 16:18

The Church is the Body of Christ, the rock that gives us life-saving water in the desert. And, though many have argued about this, Peter was the head of the Church that our Lord first assembled.²²⁰ Certainly, St. Peter’s name, the first Bishop of Rome, appears in the New Testament 195 times, followed by St. John with 48. All the Apostles acknowledged Peter’s authority from the start of the Church. Peter’s authority as the head of the Church is supported through numerous Scripture versus, many of which have been highlighted in Keven Vost’s book, “Memorize the Reasons!”²²¹

Now, if Moses deserved punishment because he struck the rock instead of speaking to it, as our Lord had instructed him according to the book of Numbers, will Christians and their ministers, who’ve made or have begun an exodus from worldliness, but who’ve separated from the authority Christ established through St. Peter, be punished when they neglect his instructions on how the life-saving waters are to be brought forth from the rock, perhaps striking or even slandering the rock during that Exodus? Are we not all called to be prophets who teach as Moses taught?²²²

Our Lord said, ““Take, eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying “Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” The Eucharist, His Body and Blood, is celebrated as He intended in the Catholic Church.

God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. –John 4:24

Had he only been speaking symbolically about the fountain that flows from Him, quenching every thirst, about our need to consume His flesh and drink His blood, just as the Israelites were instructed to consume the Passover Lamb in preparation for their delivery from Egypt, would as many followers have left Him, as described in John 6:66? Can one whose minds is accustomed to materialism, who symbolically bears the mark of the beast on his or her forehead, i.e. the numbers 666,²²³ easily abandon it and embrace Truth? If Jesus were only speaking symbolically, would we ever have had a Eucharistic Miracle with blood type and DNA that matches from one miracle to another, though separated by 1300 years?²²⁴

Consider the commentary found in the Douay-Rheims Bible concerning this subject of our faith,

"You have not believed" (Numbers 20:12)... The fault of Moses and Aaron, on this occasion, was a certain diffidence and weakness of faith; not doubting of God's power or veracity; but apprehending the unworthiness of that rebellious and incredulous people, and therefore speaking with some ambiguity.

We’re all unworthy to receive Him, Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity. We are unworthy to have Him die for us to as an offering to the Father for sin. And yet, He did die for each one of us. He did will that we consume Him, thereby being united more closely to Him than we can imagine, which is exactly what Satan doesn’t want. His will is our union, with Him and one another; knowing this is the responsibility of every prophet, of every follower of Him and the Apostles He selected, of every Moses who leads through the wasteland.

Let us no longer have the divisions we have today, let us unite together as He intended, acknowledging His Real Presence in the Eucharist. Let us acknowledge Sacred Tradition and the Magisterium. Let us be united in the Communion of Saints, in acknowledging Mary as the Queen Mother, our Mother, the new Ark of the Covenant, the New Eve, who, in perfect union and conformity to the Will of God, crushes the head of the serpent. Let us accept the reality of Purgatory, the power of the Sacrament of Reconciliation through confession to those who’ve been ordained to the priesthood, the seven deuterocanonical books of the Old Testament, and the authority of the pope with respect to matters concerning faith and morals, just as Our Lord intends. As leaders, let’s avoid the punishment that might await us for not following His Words as He intends –let’s enter the Promised Land together!

A Unifying Perspective on the Body of Christ

How awesome would it be if we all belonged to the same Church!? In what ways would our society be different? Would there be less division in government? Would education that leads to virtue be more widespread? Would drug abuse diminish and crime rates fall? Would there be more Adoration chapels than coffee shops?
      What is the Kingdom of God supposed to look like in this life? How do we measure its growth? Could individual growth in virtue be a better measure than church membership?

Friendships often precede conversion. What foundation is at the heart of all good friendships? As followers of Christ, if we do not share common doctrine for the practice of faith and morals, do we not all share a desire for growth in virtue? Such a desire would transcend all boundaries and unite all people of good will.

My local parish has around 900 registered Catholics. Around half of these attend services twice yearly, usually the Christmas and Easter Mass. About 20% attend Mass weekly and 1% attend Mass daily. Would we expect those who attend Mass yearly to give the same attention to growth in virtue as those who attend weekly? How about daily?

How would growth in virtue between weekly attendants of Protestant and Catholic services compare? Does the practice of good works always correspond with growth in virtue? Which doctrines result in virtuous growth? How important is prayer to virtuous growth? Would growth in virtue be more likely for those who go to confession, also known as the Sacrament of Reconciliation, twice per month versus those who never receive it? What about if we make a daily examination of conscience? When it comes to proper doctrine in faith and morals, who has the authority to establish the rubric by which we examine our conscience?

In the 15th chapter of the Book of Acts, we read how the Apostles and elders met together at the Council of Jerusalem in 50 AD to discuss what sort of guidance should be given for newly converted Gentile believers, particularly with respect to circumcision. Should all followers of Christ be circumcised? St. Peter, the first pope, stood up and said,

‘My brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that I should be the one through whom the Gentiles would hear the message of the good news and become believers. And God, who knows the human heart, testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us; and in cleansing their hearts by faith he has made no distinction between them and us. Now therefore why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? On the contrary, we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.’

St. James then replied,

‘My brothers, listen to me. Simeon has related how God first looked favourably on the Gentiles, to take from among them a people for his name. This agrees with the words of the prophets, as it is written,

“After this I will return,

and I will rebuild the dwelling of David, which has fallen;

      from its ruins I will rebuild it,

      and I will set it up,

so that all other peoples may seek the Lord—

      even all the Gentiles over whom my name has been called.

      Thus says the Lord, who has been making these things
      known from long ago.”

Therefore I have reached the decision that we should not trouble those Gentiles who are turning to God, but we should write to them to abstain only from things polluted by idols and from fornication and from whatever has been strangled and from blood. For in every city, for generations past, Moses has had those who proclaim him, for he has been read aloud every sabbath in the synagogues.’

It seemed “good to the Holy Spirit” and to the council “to impose no further burden” on these newly converted Gentile Christians than what St. James first articulated.

Should the same rubric of conscience apply to new believers today? Should we be accountable to someone to ensure our growth? If so, who would qualify? Should anyone with a degree in theology or who has undertaken a thorough study of Scripture qualify? Is someone disqualified if they fail to consistently grow in virtue, or willingly engage in wrongful behavior? Who decides such matters authoritatively?

Does anyone have the authority to act in the person of Christ? Catholic priests prepare for about eight years to devote their entire life to God, forsaking marriage or practicing continence²²⁵ for the sake of the Kingdom. In addition to celibacy, they take vows of obedience and sometimes poverty. Would they be the most prepared to teach, not only Scripture, but the oral traditions that were passed on from the Apostles through the centuries, guiding souls into a closer union with God, some of whom have had miracles attributed to their intercession?

If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax-collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.²²⁶

If the church we attend does not have a legitimate historical basis of authority for establishing proper doctrine in faith and morals, what basis do we have for resolution when we need to “tell it to the church?” If the church we attend doesn’t have formal doctrine but trusts entirely in Scripture as the sole rule of faith, how do we know if their or our interpretation is correct? If the Holy Spirit guides all interpretation, which itself seems contrary to Scripture,²²⁷ wouldn’t that prevent new churches from forming and instead lead everyone to the same church?

The Apostles were given special authority, Jesus having stated, “whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” It was their rubric that was decided and passed on through oral tradition long before Scripture was compiled; it was their authority that led to the ordination of bishops and priests in the Church to continue the teachings given by Christ long before the Bible; they determined what books should be included in the Bible according to whether “it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us.”

We are called to unity.²²⁸ All followers of Christ are called to take up their cross,²²⁹ to help in building the Kingdom of God on earth.²³⁰ We are called to love one another, not to enter into bitter arguments leading to hatred and divisions…

I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.²³¹

If sin is like a cancer that forms holes in our heart, preventing us from loving God and others as we should, who’s equipped to properly identify the cancer and help remove it in its earliest stages?

      The word diabolical means to divide. Jesus intends that we be united.²³² By whose authority would we argue or believe otherwise?

Consider again the Sacrament of Penance. If a person is struggling with a certain kind of sin that is addictive in nature but doesn’t seek help from another, the likelihood that they’ll continue to struggle is higher than for someone who holds themselves accountable to another, especially if they do so face-to-face. If the sin causes shame, confronting that shame in the presence of someone who has been entrusted with authority to forgive sin,²³³ who acts in the person of Christ, will help them overcome it the next time they face it, not to mention benefits received through the prayerful intercession of the person who was present when it was confessed.

How often do inappropriate fantasies and self-abuse lead to fornication? Fornication to contraception? Contraception to abortion? Abortion to self-hated? Self-hated to depression and even suicide? How likely is someone with self-control going to be faithful in marriage compared to someone who does not value it or has not practiced it? Shouldn’t marriage be an indissoluble union, wherein a man and woman striving to grow in virtue become one flesh, and in the children that result from that union?

Should not every Christian be encouraged to pray the rosary? The rosary strengthens belief in God, walking us through the joyful, luminous, sorrowful and glorious mysteries of the life of Christ. With regular focus on the purity and beauty of Mary, men who struggle with seeing the personhood and dignity of women can grow exponentially in virtue. Certainly, struggling with the virtue of chastity is not difficult in a culture permeated with attitudes of sexual permissiveness that promote fornication. If we treat every person with the respect and dignity they deserve, how much stronger will we be in establishing a culture of life, where the birth rate far exceeds the death rate, where programs like Medicare and Social Security can continue working?

The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news. –Mark 1:15

“Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.” –Matthew 5:8

      As followers of Him who is perfectly virtuous, we are united in our desire to grow in virtue. Just as plants grow towards light, all people are called to grow towards Christ, the Way, the Truth and the Life. To best accomplish this, we must realize and meditate on the importance of the authority that has been entrusted to the Apostles. It is they who were given authority to “loose and bind” by Christ Himself.

Sin clouds our judgment. Sin blocks the light of Truth. All followers of Christ need the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church to teach accurately and authoritatively on what constitutes sin before we can accurately strive against it. The more we strive against sin, frequently examining our consciences and confessing to someone who’s been entrusted with a special authority to absolve us, the more pure our hearts become, the more clearly we can see our Father, the more we can celebrate the Good News: the testimony of the Apostles is trustworthy, Salvation History is fulfilled in Christ Jesus, He ascended into heaven after rising from the dead after a brutal crucifixion, He is physically present in the Holy Eucharist and He desires our repentance so that we may grow in virtue, entering into perfect, holy communion!

Am I a Cath or a Catholic, a Chris or a Christian?

I was blessed to grow up with a Polish-German grandmother who lived through the Great Depression. She and her family learned to be so frugal that I grew up hearing stories about how bacon grease smeared on bread made for a good lunch. She shared many tidbits of wisdom over the years –her favorite book from the Bible was the Book of Proverbs. One of the tidbits she passed along one day, as I was helping with some housekeeping chores…

‘If you’re going to do something, don’t do a half-ass job –do a full-ass job or don’t to it at all!’

That little tidbit has stuck with me, much like the many bowls of mush she’d prepare for us at the crack of dawn, still sticking to my ribs today.

Considering this wisdom, let’s suppose for a moment that among Catholics there are Caths and Olics, and among Christians, Chrises and Tians. 

All Catholics would be Christians because they accept not only the authority of Scripture, i.e. the Bible, but the authority of the Church in applying and discerning the meaning of various Scripture verses in light of Sacred Tradition. Moreover, they would not adhere to the Sola Scriptura mentality, especially if they are deep in history, knowing that the Church preceded the Bible by around 300 years, knowing that the Bible benefits from authoritative interpretation, just as the Constitution of the United States benefits from the Supreme Court.  Because there are more than 6000 denominations that have grown from the Church since the Protestant Revolution, the time at which the Sola Scriptura mentality took root, it would be hard to argue otherwise. Not only that, but Jesus earnestly prayed that His disciples would remain united. Each of these branches, to a greater or lesser degree, has their own authoritative interpretation of how to apply and discern the meaning of various Scripture verses, and some have even added or subtracted words to Scripture as they’ve seen fit.

In contrast, few Christians would be Catholic; to call themselves so would involve knowing history and God’s Word well enough that they’d have no problem acknowledging the wisdom and authority of the Catholic Church, in which case they’d probably just call themselves Catholic.  Sadly, for the Catholics however, Christians often know their Bibles better, thus living and applying their faith more successfully. Indeed, they’ve often feasted upon God’s Word with greater regularity than those who would call themselves Catholic, who only feast upon His words on Sunday, if that, and aren’t involved in any “extra-curricular” evangelical activities or Bible studies.  It has wisely been stated that one of the best ways to learn about something is to teach it… Christians who attempt to teach God’s Word are more likely to understand and apply it to their life than those who don’t. Regardless of these considerations, whether Catholic or Christian, both are like trees, judged according to the good fruit they produce, whether corporal or spiritual works of mercy.

Corporal:

To feed the hungry;

To give drink to the thirsty;

To clothe the naked;

To harbour the harbourless;

To visit the sick;

To ransom the captive;

To bury the dead.

Spiritual:

To instruct the ignorant;

To counsel the doubtful;

To admonish sinners;

To bear wrongs patiently;

To forgive offences willingly;

To comfort the afflicted;

To pray for the living and the dead.

Some Catholics might call themselves Catholic Christians, hoping to lessen a sense of division between Catholics and Christians, knowing they have more in common than not, though they may argue over the importance of those areas of division.

Notwithstanding various works of corporal or spiritual mercy, would it be better to call myself a Cath or an Olic than to say I’m Catholic if I only accept half of what the Catholic Church teaches, or only take the time to learn about half and disregard the rest?  Likewise, would it be better to call myself a Chris or a Tian than a Christian when I only take to heart half of what the Bible teaches, or if I don’t apply the teachings to my life? Perhaps by doing this I’ll avoid misrepresenting what the Church or Bible teaches by saying “I’m Catholic” or “I’m Christian,” and then living another way, whether due to my ignorance of what the teachings actually are, my disagreement with the teachings, or my conscious decision not to apply them to my life. 

If I do this, perhaps others will more readily find me trustworthy in that I don’t take credit for a name I don’t deserve. Perhaps I’ll also help others avoid seeing those who do use the name properly as less trustworthy, since they might stereotype them when compared to me or others who have used the name incorrectly.

Of course, this shouldn’t suggest that any of us at our best deserves to call ourselves children of the Holy One, as being a Catholic or a Christian might suggest, at least not in the sense that we always do what is right –doing so might suggest that we’re not constantly in need of God’s mercy.  As His children, our attitude should always reflect the need for God’s love and mercy, as celebrated in each Mass and nearly every Christian song, even if we were to approach a level of holiness commonly associated with the saints whose deaths we celebrate as feast days. But, on the other hand, to say we’re a Catholic or Christian when we disagree with the models of holiness as presented by the Church and the Bible, we do an injustice to the Body of Christ, as marked by those believers who do accept such teachings and apply them as perfectly as they can in their daily lives.

As an example, suppose I consider myself Catholic but don’t fully agree with what the Church teaches regarding the following:

The Pope holds the keys to the Kingdom, first given to Saint Peter by Jesus, endowing him with a charism of infallibility when defining matters of faith and morals.  Considering this, when the Church, through its Magisterium, proposes a doctrine for belief as being divinely revealed, as though revealed directly from Jesus or the Holy Spirit, the doctrine must be accepted to live in full communion with the Body of Christ.

Abortion is always wrong, even in cases of rape or incest.  Any process that impairs a newly conceived human being from implanting in his or her mother’s womb, or outright aborts their normal growth and development, is evil, i.e. the absence of a good that should be there. All human life is sacred. Every innocent person, from the moment of their conception to the moment of natural death, has a right to life.

Contraception is never permitted. 

Periodic continents, that is, the methods of birth regulation based on self-observation and the use of infertile periods, is in conformity with the objective criteria of morality.²³⁴ These methods respect the bodies of the spouses, encourage tenderness between them, and favor the education of an authentic freedom. In contrast, “every action which, whether in anticipation of the conjugal act, or in its accomplishment, or in the development of its natural consequences, proposes, whether as an end or as a means, to render procreation impossible” is intrinsically evil: ²³⁵

Thus the innate language that expresses the total reciprocal self-giving of husband and wife is overlaid, through contraception, by an objectively contradictory language, namely, that of not giving oneself totally to the other. This leads not only to a positive refusal to be open to life but also to a falsification of the inner truth of conjugal love, which is called upon to give itself in personal totality…. The difference, both anthropological and moral, between contraception and recourse to the rhythm of the cycle… involves in the final analysis two irreconcilable concepts of the human person and of human sexuality.²³⁶ (CCC 2370)

Jesus is really present in the Eucharist, i.e. His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity become fully present under the appearance of bread and wine. Holy Communion is not merely a symbolic representation of Him, nor of our union with Him.

Premarital sexual activity is against the will of God, who has designed the gift of sexual intimacy between a man and woman to commensurate with pledging their life to one another, a giving of oneself totally to the other as Christ gives Himself to the Church.

Fornication is carnal union between an unmarried man and unmarried woman. It is gravely contrary to the dignity of persons and of human sexuality which is naturally ordered to the good of spouses in the generation and education of children. Moreover, it is a grave scandal when there is corruption of the young. ²³⁷

Some today claim a "right to a trial marriage" where there is an intention of getting married later. However firm the purpose of those who engage in premature sexual relations may be, "the fact is that such liaisons can scarcely ensure mutual sincerity and fidelity in a relationship between a man and a woman, nor, especially, can they protect it from inconstancy of desires or whim."²³⁸ Carnal union is morally legitimate only when a definitive community of life between a man and a woman has been established. Human love does not tolerate "trial marriages." It demands a total and definitive gift of persons to one another.²³⁹ (CCC 2391)

Mary was Immaculately Conceived.  The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of Original Sin.

A woman, though potentially very priestly, cannot become an ordained priest.  Only a baptized man can validly receive sacred ordination because the Lord Jesus chose men to form the college of the twelve apostles, and the apostles did the same when they chose others to succeed them in their ministry. Therefore, the Church recognizes herself to be bound by this choice made by the Lord himself, and for this reason the ordination of women is not possible.

If I disagree with any of the above, for example, I shouldn’t call myself a Catholic, maybe a Cath or an Olic, but not a Catholic.  If it’s simply a matter of not understanding why the Church teaches these things, then I should first seek to understand, and if I later agree, then call myself Catholic.

It’s important to point out at this point that not only will I be judged according to the fruit I’ve produced, but the fruit I didn’t produce when I could have.  If a cherry tree only bears fruit on half its branches, will it be found as worthy as the neighboring tree that produces fruit on all its branches?  Which is more likely to be fed and cherished by the owner?  If I call myself a Christian or a Catholic and don’t uphold that all life is sacred, from the moment of conception until natural death, will I produce as much fruit as a Christian or Catholic who does, who actively participates in pro-life ministries and civil activities?

Similarly, if I’m a Christian who doesn’t believe that premarital sex is a sin, will I produce as much fruit as a Catholic or Christian who practices abstinence or is committed to celibacy?  In this case, my absence of fruit would likely be evident through the consequences, i.e. less practice in self-control that could have led me to greater self-development and charity, as well as preparation for marriage, honoring my future spouse.  I may also have contracted an STD or had an unplanned pregnancy, possibly leading me to choose an abortion.  I wouldn’t want to admit that abortion is murder, I might try to convince myself that my child wasn’t really a child at all, perhaps just a fetus or a blob of tissue, in which case I’d be further from the truth and further from God.  If I refused to turn from sin and towards repentance, I would likely still know deep down that I’m wrong, at which point I might find myself struggling with guilt, which could lead to a host of other problems, mentally and physically.

Allow me to repeat at this point that I’m a huge sinner.  I’m not any better than anyone else regarding righteousness, whether or not they’ve been involved in an abortion –I have no desire nor right to point out, accuse or humiliate another because of sin. Rather, my sins are sufficient to establish my own need for Him and utter hopelessness without Him, my own wretchedness before that of any other. Please accept my apology if I’ve written something that offended you –my hope is not to offend because of sin but to help free us.

Let’s consider the saints for a moment. Most saints went to confession regularly.  If they went to confession regularly, surely I must have something, no matter how small, that I struggle with.  Even if I assume I had a really good day and was able to take all of my thoughts and wild emotions ‘by the horns,’ holding them captive to Christ, my attitude should still be reminiscent of my predisposition to sin, of my need for God’s constant guidance, grace and mercy.  Let me be mindful that He created the universe out of nothing, knowing in advance how He desires to find my heart… I should be prepared with oil in my lamp, like a bridesmaid awaiting the return of the groom.  Let my sense of self-righteousness be the size of the flame in my lamp, too likely to exhaust my store of oil before His return if not reduced to the bare minimum!

Now, if I don’t wholly agree with something the Catholic Church or the Bible teaches, and I might find there is far more agreement between the two than not, then I’ll call myself a Cath, Olic, Chris, Tian, Cathtian or Chrisolic, but not a Catholic or a Christian.  By doing this, I’ll give others a chance to assist me through a better understanding of those areas where I disagree.  But, if I participate without letting someone know where I’m having trouble, how will they know that I’m in need of help? Without consistency in my thoughts and actions, how can there be peace and trust that leads to genuine friendship?   If I’m a Cath or a Tian, and I know I’m not going to change or am apathetic about knowing differently, why deceive someone who is Catholic or Christian, hoping to gain their friendship, without them knowing that there are areas where I’m not unified?  Wouldn’t I be like a wolf going about in sheep’s clothing, benefiting from the healthier social life available to those who strive to love one another through Him, but potentially undermining the health of the Body, like a slow growing cancer? Do you remember the story of the Israelites in the book of Joshua, chapter 7, how they lost the battle with Ai, how their hearts turned to water? This happened because one of their members, Achan, had taken precious things that should have been destroyed, hiding them beside his tent. His disobedience impacted the whole body of Israelites.

Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant that I imposed on them. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have acted deceitfully, and they have put them among their own belongings. Therefore the Israelites are unable to stand before their enemies; they turn their backs to their enemies, because they have become a thing devoted for destruction themselves. I will be with you no more, unless you destroy the devoted things from among you. (Joshua 7:11-12)

How often do we allow a perceived need for freedom to become a devoted thing that separates us from the Body of Christ? How often do we disagree or neglect to learn about something the Church teaches because we’d rather do things our own way? How often has our participation with the Body, when we hide these devotions from her, weakened her?

If I’m one of those who hasn’t taken the time to learn more about those areas where I’m in disagreement, or I don’t currently understand the issues well enough to fully identify myself with the Body, I should make this change in how I’d refer to myself until I’ve taken the time to do the necessary research, and then make up my mind. This way, I don’t preclude myself from being a part of the Body of Christ righteously, because the Body knows I’m not in full agreement. Also, by doing this I help to avoid misleading those who are less developed in their faith, potentially leading them to error and sin. Similarly, if I’m not challenging myself to rethink my opinion, I should also make this change in how I would refer to myself. Doing elsewise could easily constitute being a wolf in sheep’s clothing, even if our motives seem pure at the outset.

If I simply don’t agree with something the Church teaches as infallible regarding faith and morals, and honestly believe that no amount of evidence will ever change my mind, which would make me especially closed minded, much like a few atheists I know, then I should never call myself a Christian or a Catholic.  In this case, I might say “I believe that Jesus is the son of God. However, I simply don’t agree with any organized religion, with any Church or denomination out there.” 

Now, in this case, I would likely end up feeling sorry for myself because I’d be, to a greater or lesser extent (depending on the church in question and how far they’ve deviated from infallible truth), separating myself from fellowship with the members of His Body, the saints on earth and those already in heaven. As a wise priest once said, heaven isn’t about real estate, it’s about relationships. If God has a plan for each of us, even before the first moment of our existence, undoubtedly that plan includes our union with Him in His Body. If only we could somehow know in advance all that we’d be missing when we turn from those teachings that He’s entrusted to us through Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition, as lived out within the Body of Christ!

For those of us who believe, one of the best things we can do to strengthen our resolve to stay united with Him, loving Him above all else, is to meditate on the realities of the Kingdom of God, as often exhibited by the supernatural gifts and miracles of Jesus and the saints. Meditating on the love between a holy mother and her child, as reflected in the rosary, is equally recommended.

Even though some difficult doctrines may not seem to bring joy when enacted, but rather, blessings in the form of suffering, our Lord desires that we are perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect.  Thus, if the Church teaches something for my perfection, I’d be wise to heed it, even if it doesn’t bring joy in the immediate sense.

If I’m a Catholic, and I read my Bible regularly, or know it from memory, then my name (I personally hope) might be found within the social network of Pure Heart Culture, as discussed elsewhere in the book, perhaps on the highest levels! Nonetheless, I would hope to be one of the saints on earth, an active member of the Church militant, armed with truth to correct every form of heresy with gentleness and love, ready to open the floodgates of heaven through that love united with prayer, works of mercy, and the intercession of those saints in heaven, as well as the angels!

Thankfully, I can honestly say that I can agree with everything the Catholic Church teaches; I can proudly call myself a Catholic.  I hope all those who diligently seek the truth will also find the fullness of Truth in her, His beloved bride from the beginning, from the moment of her birth, i.e. Pentecost.

Kingdom Living

“Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common.” –Acts 4:32

      Given today’s advancements in technology, it’s easier for us to dispose of our possessions for the benefit of others. Through pictures, videos and brief histories, we can present the things we own so that others may benefit from them.

Over the years I’ve collected many things. I enjoy shopping at yard sales and thrift stores, and stores like Costco and Walmart… I’m a sucker for a good deal! I also grew up in the country, where having space to store things wasn’t a problem. It’s amazing how cheap land can be in some of these areas!

I wouldn’t consider myself a hoarder. When I think of that, I think of someone who’s struggling with slothfulness, who has many things disorganized and in cramped spaces. And yet, it’s easy to be a squirrel and store up many nuts. Perhaps the freedom that comes from dispossessing our possessions can be more fully realized through Kingdom Living, through a willingness to share what we have with others. It would be yet another antidote to consumerism and an opportunity for new or better friendships. It might also help us make more informed decisions about the products we buy and whether they’re made in an ethical way.

Of course, many people who have close friendships already have a generous attitude and would lend something they have to someone else who could use it for some period of time. In some cases, trust is necessary, like when it is a new friend whom one doesn’t know as well, because if the friendship severs, you may never get your stuff back. There is no perfect way to avoid this, and it is best to be optimistic in trusting someone rather than assume otherwise, an aspect of the Golden Rule, unless you have good reason not to. However, technology also affords us a means to make more informed decisions about whom we may trust, and correspondingly, opportunities for more friendships and an ability to share or borrow things we might find useful.

A couple years ago, while moving from one place to another, I decided to make a list of things I’ve collected, storing these items in labeled bins. In some cases, I took photos of the items so I’d have a better listing. Currently, I’m wondering if it wouldn’t be a good idea to share this list with others, people I trust who may want to borrow something useful or interesting, even if it’s just something that sits on a shelf and adds a sense of joy from having, and even if only for a time. It could serve as a nice reminder of a friendship!

In a larger sense, assuming there was a good place where trust could more readily be established through learning about someone’s character, such as PureHeartCulture.org, I could share this list with everyone there, or at least those whom I’m disposed to trust based on shared values and/or service. This would be a nice step forward in Kingdom Living! And, perhaps a fun way for adult “show and tell.” Wouldn’t you agree?

Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved. –Acts 2:43-47

Pure Heart Culture
Mission Statement & Vision

Mission Statement

To enhance culture, one heart at a time, by embracing and developing new technologies and methods to teach about the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, His Church, and His people.

Vision

Big Hairy Audacious Goal #1

Development of an online social network comprising an educational curriculum and database used for:

Encouraging and enhancing local volunteer and
            charitable activities through

fostering recognition for outstanding
            service activities using said social media
            with an integrated database for keeping
            track of activities and awarding points
            (candles) for time spent volunteering or for
            money donated

awarding prizes for outstanding service activities, whether as donations from other members or from companies as sponsorships

encouraging fellowship and the formation of friendships through aligning members with mutual interests and service activities

Organizing members into levels based on their
            understanding of the life, death and resurrection of
            Jesus, His Church and His people, wherein

fostering recognition for growth using said
            social media with an integrated database for
            keeping track of activities and awarding
            points (halos) for time spent learning

promoting individual and group learning
            activities that encourage such knowledge

Assisting in the analysis and discussion of similarities and differences between Catholic and Christian communities and their respective doctrines, to reduce division within the existing “Body of Christ,” and to assist in the fortification of the Body as a whole through sharing successful methods, programs and resources towards the formation of virtue and a greater love for God and one another

Building accountability and support between members, particularly when facing difficult moral and ethical decisions, through online programs and resources as well as community activities such as book clubs, retreats, seminars, presentations and interdenominational events, including marches, conferences, debates, forums and public speaking activities

Supplementing and developing innovative educational tools, resources and media

BHAG #2

Support the implementation of Christian / Catholic theology courses as electives within young adult public education curricula,
including

Salvation History

Church History (encompassing an objective review of
            the Catholic Church and divisions thereto, including,
            but not limited to, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran,
            Anglican, Calvinist, Baptist, Methodist, Mormon,
            Jehovah’s Witness, Seventh Day Adventist and
            nondenominational)

Theology of the Body, as originally taught by St. Pope
            John Paul II

Intelligent Design knowledge and theories

BHAG #3

Support increased participation in, and knowledge of

Civic responsibilities, e.g. exercising the right to vote

Activities that help protect the rights of all human
            persons from conception to natural death

Freedom of Belief

Pure Heart Cities

BHAG #4

Increase appreciation for abstinence and the consecration of the individual to offer themselves more completely as a gift to another through marriage with the special intent of bringing forth new life, thereby helping to reduce

the use of contraception and demand for abortion

the incidence of breast cancer as it relates to
            the use of hormonal contraceptives

psychological and physical harms associated with
            abortion

the use of public tax money for products or
            services that promote the injustice of sexual immorality,
            often resulting in the loss of human life and an increase
            in individual adverse health risks

the production and consumption of pornography or
            behaviors that threaten the institution of marriage and
            weaken the bond of fidelity shared between spouses and
            their children

population stagnation, which undermines
            social welfare programs such as Medicare and Social
            Security

deficits in economic productivity that are the result of
            adverse health outcomes associated with hormonal
            contraceptives, such as heart attack, stroke, breast
            cancer, and in relation to abortion, depression and
            suicide, as well as the spread and treatment of STDs

the infringement of liberties for those business owners
            or healthcare providers who refuse to provide, prescribe
            or dispense products or services that result in the loss of
            human life or an increase in adverse health outcomes

the inclination to, and rate of, divorce

the incidence of homosexual behavior in instances
            where a young man or woman has a poor relationship
            with their same sex parent and/or experiences romantic
            or erotic inclinations towards the same sex and would
            otherwise choose to act that inclination, thereby leading
            to or reinforcing appetite formation for same-sex
            activities, whether through a lack of moral development
            or self-control, or, insofar as can be assumed, poor
            bonding experiences with the same sex parent, or a
            deficiency of parental and/or public guidance that might
            otherwise have helped that individual develop a
            stronger sense of natural gender identity, thereby
            helping to reduce:

the spread of STDs more commonly spread through same-sex behavior

the incidence of anal and oral cancers in men who have sex with men

suicide in those experiencing depression, shame or loneliness as a result of identifying as homosexual or acting on feelings of same-sex attraction

BHAG #5

Organization and Development of Retreats, wherein

Members may engage in spiritual exercises, faith formation and fellowship activities

Members struggling with addictions or other kinds of wounds may find repose and support from fellow community members, consecrated men and women and/or healthcare professionals trained to address their particular circumstances

Members may fast and build solidarity around a given cause, such as religious liberty, and participate in hands-on demonstrations of common recipes used in preparation for, or during, a fast, such as a “Daniel Fast”

BHAG #6

Reduce cultural obstacles to faith, hope and love, including

Addiction to licit or illicit drugs

Injustices committed through sexual immorality and
            pornography as well as unhealthy sexual attitudes and
            behaviors

DUIs and drug overdose

Incarceration

Gangs

Violence

Sex and drug trafficking

Human slavery

BHAG #7

Provide career workshops, internships and opportunities that allow and encourage integrity between personal beliefs and a person’s vocation, whether serving publicly or privately, whether by direct or indirect association with Pure Heart Culture.

BHAG #8

Encourage viewership of existing media channels and develop media distribution channels that help to promote faith and virtue, including

satellite TV and internet services

Pure Heart DVD kiosks,

BHAG #9

Develop educational role-playing software games that teach about the Catholic faith and the development of character through time-travel, Saintly characters, team-building skills, and virtuous friendship formation.

BHAG #10

Build the Baptized Party of America, canvassing for support and membership to officially register the party so as to build solidarity in accordance with our inheritance as children of God, and to strengthen one another in fulling civic responsibilities, becoming a registered party to influence elections, candidates and policy, having a first successful presidential candidate on the ballots in 2024. Furthermore, spearheading the development of transparency in elections through a patented process that enables voters to review their vote to ensure it is registered as cast.

BHAG #11

Reduce the incidence of terrorism and mass shootings by promoting love of God and love of neighbor.

Now and at the Hour of Our Death

      Jesus said that if we believe in Him, if we keep His word, we will not taste or experience death.²⁴⁰ This I believe. This, I hope. We’re called to trust Him, to accept His words with childlike faith, and faith as tiny as a mustard seed will do, just enough to cause a mulberry tree to uproot and replant itself in the sea,²⁴¹ or move a mountain.²⁴²

And yet, in the Holy Rosary, we conclude, “…pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.”²⁴³ Is it appropriate for us to say these words if we trust that Jesus will, perhaps by some transcendent experience apparent only to the person at the convergence point between this life and the next, regardless of the appearances received by others, cause us to avoid the experience of death?

We know that He offered Himself on the cross to reconcile us with God, giving us access to Fruit from the Tree of Life, Himself, the Eucharist, wherefrom we learn in yet another eyewitness account that we will not die in receiving Him.²⁴⁴ We know, or rather accept as dogma,²⁴⁵ that Mary was assumed into heaven. It follows logically that she did not herself experience death; Mary is the new Eve who has had the merits of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection applied to her in advance, being Immaculately Conceived²⁴⁶ and remaining perfectly faithful to God throughout her life. Mary’s Assumption is foreshadowed by the ascension of Enoch and Elijah into heaven.²⁴⁷

      In praying the rosary lately I’ve appreciated meditating on the intentions compiled by Fr. Dwight Longenecker before each Hail Mary, which can be found in his book, “Praying the Rosary for Spiritual Warfare.” The prayer after the fourth glorious mystery, just after the Fatima prayer, notes that Mary was assumed into heaven because she was the humblest person on earth. It is appropriate that the Ark of the New Adam, carrying the Lord Himself in her womb, be pure and free from the stain of any sin. Moreover, she received the full benefits of redemption, never tasting the sting of death…

Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?²⁴⁸

Accordingly, we should proceed with the last few words of the Holy Rosary carefully, mindful of a hope to trust Jesus’ words completely: He has said that we will not experience death if we believe in Him, and He has the power to save us from it. In this vein of thought, I submit for your consideration that we abstain from saying from those last few words for the first or second half of each decade of the rosary, focusing instead on the possibility that we too may be assumed into heaven, not trusting in our own merits but those of Jesus and Mary. But we need to remain humble, knowing that we are not worthy of that gift, especially without Him, without Him and the Sacramental graces we receive through His Body. Thus, we will most likely, notwithstanding His infinite Mercy, experience death, and are therefore, still most in need of our Blessed Mother’s intercession, “…now and at the hour of our death.”

Charity is patient, is kind; charity does not envy, is not pretentious, is not puffed up, is not ambitious, is not self-seeking, is not provoked; thinks no evil, does not rejoice over wickedness, but rejoices with the truth, bears with all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Cor. 13:4-7).

Mom

She makes things new

She'll lend a hand or two

She's selfless and humble

Never will she grumble

She thinks of you

Behold her grace

With smiling face

Flowers do trace

When we’re sad

Her warmth makes us glad

When we’re mad

Her patience we've had

Her radiance abides

Her joy’s inside

Wherever you go

Her love you’ll know

“THE most important person on earth is a mother. She cannot claim the honor of having built Notre Dame Cathedral. She need not. She has built something more magnificent than any cathedral – a dwelling for an immortal soul, the tiny perfection of her baby's body.

The angels have not been blessed with such a grace. They cannot share in God's creative miracle to bring new saints to Heaven. Only a human mother can. Mothers are closer to God the Creator than any other creature; God joins forces with mothers in performing this act of creation.

What on God's good earth is more glorious than this: to be a mother?”

                  – Joseph Cardinal Mindszenty

A capable wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.
      – Prov. 31:10

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.             
      –Prov. 31:30

The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

January 2nd, 2015

Grace is like water flowing over jagged stones whose edges represent our inclination towards evil (the absence of a good that should be there). Over time, the jagged edges disappear and our hearts become smooth and polished to perfection.

Grace is also like good windshield wipers, running fast and smooth in the middle of a raging storm. Without these, we’re more likely to hit something and sustain some kind of damage, if not die. You may get by at a slower speed, and if you run into something, you may not lose your way; you’ll eventually reach your destination, but such progress wouldn’t compare to having the fullness of His grace.

And yet, we must be careful… the road is slick as the world is full of temptations and the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, waiting to devour someone who is unsuspecting.

Grace imparts to us knowledge of spiritual things in addition to serenity that transcends understanding. We must cooperate with the grace that is available to us, traversing the way that became open when “the Word became flesh.”

Mary was immaculately conceived. She is “full of grace.” She was born with a smooth and polished heart. She can see clearly where our human nature is prone to fall. Comparatively, the rest of us were born with jagged windshield wipers, born in a storm that gets worse as relativism and secularism take root.

She cooperated with the divine plan, avoiding sin in the exercise of her free will.

The angels were in suspense as she gave her yes… “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to your word.”

My soul magnifies the Lord

And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior;

Because He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaid;

For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed;

Because He who is mighty has done great things for me,

and holy is His name;

And His mercy is from generation to generation

on those who fear Him.

He has shown might with His arm,

He has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.

He has put down the mighty from their thrones,

and has exalted the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich He has sent away empty.

He has given help to Israel, his servant, mindful of His mercy

Even as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity forever.

Happy Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God!

The Right of Every Woman

The gradual incorporation of women into public and collegiate educational programs is one of the key areas where Western culture has advanced, particularly in comparison to the Middle East.²⁴⁹ The historical norm has predominantly entailed women embracing the difficult job of being mothers, managing home life while their spouse would labor outside the home to support the family.

At the close of the 18th century, most boys in colonial America attended “dame schools,” defined as a school influenced by the English model of home instruction for small groups of children usually led by a woman in her home (Monaghan, 1988). These schools in New England prepared boys for town schools (Monaghan, 1988). Girls also attended dame schools, but only a small percentage attended town schools or academies. Educational institutions beyond the dame schools and single gender town schools were private, segregated by sex, and exclusive to wealthy families (Riordan, 1990).

The establishment of dame schools took place in the kitchens of older women in the community… The primary focus of the dame schools was to prepare boys for admission to the town schools which, until the 19th century, girls were not allowed to attend (Riordan, 1990).

Arguably, women who had the privilege of receiving education and learning to read and write were able to educate others and serve as teachers, and this has likely been the case since the dawn of literacy. Moreover, women who had received such instruction would be better suited to educate their children, and if able to stay home during their child’s formative years, likely provide means for greater personal growth through love and attention when compared to children educated outside the home, particularly in institutions that do not enshrine Love as Creator, wherein those members or teachers seek to follow Him as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, thereby learning how to love more efficaciously, and likely through prayer, Sacraments and the intercession of the Blessed Mother. With respect to the unavailability of such institutions, or rather Living Bodies, it may be wiser for parents to homeschool their children and to seek living arrangements wherein financial constrains don’t necessitate a dual income family, possibly until the child’s teenage years, and notwithstanding the need for the development of growth in manners and maturity through exposure to other children, or socialization, during the process.

      Sadly, western culture has reached a point where many view pregnancy as a disease, a condition in need of “healthcare” in the form of abortion services. And in this sense, the purpose of the article is to further illuminate the importance of protecting human rights and helping to build a society where such rights are naturally promoted.

      Phyllis Schafly, commonly known as the first lady of the conservative movement, a constitutional lawyer and activist, seemed to foresee the danger of “healthcare” being viewed as a means for abortion services, motivating her to lead millions in advocating for a pro-life, pro-family movement. She opposed the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), which almost passed in 1972, successfully arguing that the ERA would disadvantage housewives. She said that protecting family values is what led her to oppose the Equal Rights Amendment, not because she didn’t believe in equality between the sexes, but because she thought there was a hidden agenda for tax-funded abortions and same-sex marriages.²⁵⁰

Should not our government establish laws that promote virtue? Which comes first, moral goodness or laws that help to establish it? Do children naturally do what is right or must parents set certain rules and guide them?

When our morality is based on our laws, for as long as abortion is legal, killing an unborn child can simply be viewed as a choice that favors an education, a relationship, or the likelihood of future happiness. Our education and laws must reflect that it is unequivocally wrong to kill an innocent person, just as we’d expect good parents to teach their children. Do all children have the luxury of good parents, or parents at all? Shouldn’t the government we develop help in these circumstances, not only in terms of helping to meet material necessities, but in establishing rules of right conduct?

Although we have the freedom to have sex whenever, however, and with nearly whomever we choose, when new life results, as it naturally should, there is often no legal obligation to take responsibility for that newly conceived boy or girl as long as they continue growing in their mother’s womb. To contrast this situation, imagine a freedom where any parent can kill their child if they’re still living at home. Would some say, ‘Well, I’m against parents killing their children if they’re still living at home, but I don’t think government has a right to tell them what they can or can’t do in their own home with their own children.’ Is that okay?

Why does a child living at home still have a right to life even if their parents don’t want them? Is it relevant to consider the child’s level of physical development, their degree of dependency on their parents or how productive they’re expected to be? Are those not the same considerations often given to children still in their mother’s wombs when deciding when abortion should be legal?

With respect to laws protecting religious liberty, healthcare providers may jeopardize their job security when refusing to participate in an abortion or dispensing a product that can lead to one, such as hormonal contraceptives or Plan B. If there is no automatic protection by law, their ability to exercise their beliefs may depend on the business they’re working with. Should healthcare providers be in this situation?

The retail pharmacy profession is now dominated by large national chains, such as Walgreen and CVS. Many mom-and-pop pharmacies went out of business because they couldn’t compete with large-chain wholesale drug discounts or start their own drug manufacturing companies. Should conscientious pharmacists now be forced to find work elsewhere if such chains don’t also acknowledge the harm caused by forms of hormonal birth control in contributing to the number of abortions occurring every year,²⁵¹ ²⁵² not to mention the direct harm caused by abortifacients like Plan B? Should the shareholders care? Should pharmacists form a labor union for that kind of protection? Many chose the health profession because they care about people and want to save human life, not destroy it.

Imagine if a lifeguard decided that they had too many things to do than save the life of a person who was drowning. This is what we’re doing as registered voters when we place issues like the economy, healthcare and border security above the protection of innocent human life. Nonetheless, the right to life shouldn’t depend on a majority vote. Some rights are God-given, according with natural law and the dignity of the human person. Government doesn’t establish these rights but should protect them. For as long as the injustice of this situation continues, voters must not favor issues like healthcare, immigration and the economy over the right to life. The right to life is preeminent over all other rights.

The U.S. birth rate has declined over the last 30 years while divorce rates have increased. Medicare and Social Security depend on a growing population. The number one cause of poverty is divorce. Why is there so much divorce?

Americans are saturated with cultural attitudes favoring quick hook-ups, where sex is seen as one of many recreational activities, something to be enjoyed as one “test-drives” a person while pursuing a career in the pursuit of happiness. Because there is less value placed on abstinence and purity, the bonding that intimacy should create in the context of marriage is weakened. Many are deceived into believing that as long as sex is consensual, there’s no real harm.

Our culture has suffered greatly and is likely in its final hour. Instead of a culture that embraces courtship as the proper means to discerning suitability towards marriage, one that treats sex as an activity exclusive to couples who have committed their lives to each another, who respect the possibility of new life and family, we have a culture where abortion mills operate adjacent to fast food restaurants. Instead of more churches that help to establish the sanctity of life and the importance of family, we have pornography outlets and divorce courts. Just as church and family go hand in hand, so does pornography and abortion.

If Americans are leading the world, what legacy are we establishing towards the intrinsic dignity of human life? In our fast paced, technological savvy way of life, we think we have the right to advocate on behalf of other countries for truth, justice and freedom. And still, we take for granted or deny the very foundation that has established those values. An integral part of America’s foundation is the belief that every innocent person is endowed by their Creator with an inalienable right to life. Is a country that legalizes the murder of millions of helpless human beings really fit to lead the world?

Regardless of how advanced our knowledge of science and technology become, Truth that leads us to practice love for one another will never become “outdated.” Last year’s TV, car and phone are another story. For how long will the latest version of these products be our first concern? When will we value our spiritual development as a nation over our GDP? When will we see that the “evolution” of mankind is not in scientific and technological achievement but in moral perfection?

If the presence of a Starbucks near a home increases its resale value, how much does the presence of a church increase family values? When will adoration chapels be more popular than coffee shops?

      Did you know that the gender of a person can be determined from the moment of their conception? The right to life of every woman is preeminent.

To be or Not to Be?

or,

Where do you draw the line?

      This latter question recently faced college students strolling through campus during the first week of spring semester, thanks to Justice for All, a pro-life organization that trains thousands to make abortion unthinkable for millions, one person at a time.  The purpose of the question: stimulate discussion on human rights and abortion.

Many Americans are in favor of pro-choice legislation, especially from the compassionate perspective of averting one of the potential injustices of rape –a woman being required to give birth to a child that she did not willingly consent to conceive.  Up until 2011, I was also. 

I've never favored abortion, hardly anyone does.  Most people agree it’s a difficult and unpleasant choice.  Nonetheless, I couldn't see myself as someone wholly pro-life.  My main hang-up was the thought of forcing a daughter who had been raped to go through a pregnancy.  What I failed to think about was the life of the child.  What about his or her life?  Do they have a right to choose?  

Although evil can never become good, good can come from evil.  A child coming into the world, a child that is in no way at fault for the wrongful act of his or her biological father, is an example.  

"You saw me before I was born." Psalm 139:16 (NLT)

      Thankfully, a Master in Theology and Philosophy explained his position as someone pro-life.  Our discussions shed light on the importance of defending the unborn. I also had the opportunity to attend a training session hosted by Justice for All.  Through this session, I became aware that only two percent of abortions are the result of rape.  What about the other 98%?     

Rape is a terrible occurrence. Those who commit this crime should rightfully be punished.  Those who have been through such an experience should receive our consideration, love and support.  

For the purposes of discussion, let's suppose a woman who has been raped, conceives, and decides to keep the child.  The child grows to the age of two but then mom decides she doesn’t want the child anymore due to financial strain and unaccepting parents. She decides to end the child’s life.  Would this be acceptable?  Of course not, it would be considered murder and she would likely go to jail.  

If it is not okay in the above example, how long after a child is conceived, but still in his or her mother's womb, should it be legal, if at all?  

Where do you draw the line?

      Perhaps a person would propose that the time when an abortion is acceptable should be based on degree of development.  A child that is five years old and can play a game of baseball is certainly more developed than a five-month old baby still in his or her mother's womb.  But is not a fifty-year old adult more developed than a five-year old child?  Of course, yet both have the same right to life.  That same five-year old most likely possesses within their body the capacity for reproduction, but that part is not yet fully developed –a child, from the moment of conception, has all the DNA necessary to become an adult.       

Perhaps a person would say that the time when an abortion is acceptable should be based on size, for example before three weeks of development, or three months.  Does this mean that a person who is taller or larger should have more rights?  Does this mean that a three-week old baby, who would just begin to have a beating heart, should have fewer rights than a three-month old baby?      

Perhaps a person would state that the time when an abortion is acceptable should be based on degree of dependency: since the child is still connected to his or her mother’s body, and could not live without her, he or she does not have a separate life, and therefore, separate rights. Essentially, the child is dependent on mom and since her body belongs to her, she should be able to choose when an abortion is acceptable.

Let’s suppose you work as a lifeguard. You’re closing for the day when you suddenly hear a splash.  You look over your shoulder and see a three-year-old has fallen into the pool. You’re the only one present; the child is dependent on you or they will drown.  Is it okay to walk away? Of course not, it would be a crime, and in some jurisdictions, even if you weren't a lifeguard.  If we care about others as we care about ourselves, especially those at the earliest or final stages of human life, we can acknowledge that degree of dependency doesn’t nullify a right to life.
      I’m glad that in America women have nearly the same privileges and opportunities as men.  These equalities have been achieved over many years of entrenched inequalities.  Notwithstanding misfortune, women in America can pursue any future that fulfills their hopes and dreams.  But what about the woman still in her mother’s womb?  A person’s gender can be determined from their DNA from the moment of conception.  What about her privileges and opportunities? What about the hopes and dreams she’ll have? 

If a woman and her unborn child were murdered, the person who committed the crime would likely receive two murder indictments, one for the woman and one for the child.  Is it reasonable for our society to treat men and women at their earliest stages of development as though they don’t have rights because they’re unwanted?   

There are around 3,700 abortions in America every day, 3,700 Americans who were denied their rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, rights endowed by a Creator who made them in His image. 

Discovering the “180 Movie” Comparing the Holocaust and Abortion

AUGUST 14, 2013

Last night I began working on a new article.  I hoped to describe how abortion is like the Holocaust of World War II.  I had a title in mind: “How Voting Anything but Pro-Life Is like Being a Member of the Nazi Socialist Party”.  My first paragraph would look something like this:

The Catholic Church considers abortion one of five non-negotiables when casting your vote.²⁵³ Catholics must form their consciences by Church teaching. This obligation flows from the virtue of faith, since belief in Christ is also belief in the Church and Christ’s promises to the Church.²⁵⁴

I began listing areas I wanted to discuss:

Catholic voters in 2012

Absolute Relativism

Non-negotiable values versus economy, national defense, foreign policy, etc.

Nazi practices towards the weak or infirmed

Nazis beliefs towards Jews

Treatment of Jews under Nazi socialism and treatment of unborn children today

      I also planned to incorporate a quote from one of the Nazi soldiers who described one of his experiences on the BBC series, “Auschwitz: The Nazis and the Final Solution.” It’s a revolting and sad glimpse into a living horror…

It was not long before I was assigned to supervise the luggage connection of an incoming transport.   When this was over it was just like a fairground, there was lots of rubbish left, and amongst this rubbish were ill people, those unable to walk, and the way these people were treated really horrified me.  For example, a child who was lying there naked was simply pulled by the legs and chucked into a lorry to be driven away, and when it screamed like a sick chicken… then they bashed it against the edge of the lorry so it shut up.

I started researching polls describing how Catholics will likely vote in the upcoming election. I came across one article stating only 54% of Catholics preferred Romney, a pro-life candidate.²⁵⁵  This reminded me of another article I started writing a month earlier, entitled “Am I a Cath or a Catholic, a Chris or a Christian?”  I decided to finish that article before working on this one, which took me at least an hour.  By the time I finished it was midnight and I was exhausted. I decided to call it a night.

After a good night’s rest and morning prayers, I resumed researching. But, I decided to begin by researching whether someone has already completed this kind of comparison.  I should have done this in the first place but sometimes only after a good night’s rest does our brain fire on all cylinders. It was then that I discovered the 2011 film, “180: Changing the Heart of Nation,” by Ray Comfort.

Ray takes the battle to the streets as he interviews young adults, assessing their knowledge about Hitler and Nazism, filling in the gaps as necessary. He uses the Socratic method to illuminate pitfalls we’re prone to fall into when neglecting to see and respect the rights of others, whether Jews or unborn children.

If you decide to watch the video, be forewarned, you’ll likely feel nauseas afterwards.  I know I did.  But I’m not sure if that was due to overexcitement at the possibility of sharing it with everyone I meet, or lingering disgust at how easily we can believe lies and treat fellow human beings so terribly.

      So without further ado, and with sincere gratitude for Ray Comfort’s work… the 180 Movie: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7y2KsU_dhwI.
You may also watch it on his website: http://www.heartchanger.com/

      If after watching it, you still think any issue is more important than voting pro-life, perhaps rephrasing your views would be appropriate, like “Hail Wealthier Economy” or “Hail Healthcare Reform,” or “Hail Immigration Reform,” and to a lesser extent, “Hail Hitler.”  For some people, it’s become “Hail Satan.” ²⁵⁶

As for me, with gratitude in overcoming my ignorance, I’ll vote pro-life, reciting these words: “Hail Mary, Full of Grace, The Lord is with thee.²⁵⁷ Blessed art thou among women,²⁵⁸ and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.²⁵⁹ Holy Mary, Mother of God,²⁶⁰ pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of death.”²⁶¹

All human beings begin their life from the moment of conception. All human beings are made in the image of God. No belief can justify killing a human being; no belief about Jews or other races can justify the murdering frenzy of the Nazis.

“When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.”” ²⁶²

Breast Cancer and Abortion Facts

      An estimated 10.7 million women between 15 and 44 years old used oral contraceptives in 2010.²⁶³ Oral contraceptives have a typical use failure rate of 9% per year.²⁶⁴ At that rate, with 10.7 million using for contraception, 963,000 "unwanted" children are conceived. There were 765,651 medical and surgical abortions reported to the CDC in 2010.²⁶⁵ With continuous OC use, 1,844 women between 15 and 34 develop breast cancer every five years in the U.S. compared to 638 when not using.²⁶⁶

"Since 1975, the incidence of non-invasive breast cancers has gone up 400%" --Angela Lanfranchi , M.D., FACS

 Oral Contraceptives and Breast Cancer

      Estrogen-progestin oral contraceptives and combined estrogen-progestin menopausal therapy are carcinogenic to humans.²⁶⁷ Before age 36, the Relative Risk (RR) for developing breast cancer is 2.1 for four or more years of estrogen-progestin contraceptive use, compared with shorter use.²⁶⁸  

Thus, if the normal rate of breast cancer for women between the ages of 20 and 35 is roughly two per 100,000,²⁶⁹ if the same 100,000 women take estrogen-progestin contraceptives for four or more years, four will develop breast cancer.  Estrogen-progestin contraceptive use before the age of 20 is associated with a higher relative risk (RR increase of 1.44 per year).  

Putting this into a larger perspective, if the estimated 8.5 million women between the ages of 15 and 34 that were using oral contraceptives in 2010 had been using continuously for at least four years, 369 will likely develop breast cancer every year compared to 128 if none were using, an additional 241 women. If use continues for five more years, 1,205 women will have developed breast cancer, and so on.

Similarly, an assessment of twenty-three studies evaluating the correlation between breast cancer and the use of oral contraceptives has yielded an Odds Ratio of 44% for pre-menopausal women who use oral contraceptives before their first full-term pregnancy. According to the results of this study, if the normal rate of breast cancer for women younger than 35 who have not had their first full-term pregnancy is two per 100,000, an additional woman would develop breast cancer when the same 100,000 women are using oral contraceptives. The Odds Ratio decreases to 15% after the first full-term pregnancy.    

Although estrogen reduces the risk for ovarian and endometrial cancers, 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer during their lifetime compared to 1 in 72 for ovarian cancer and 1 in 38 for endometrial cancer.²⁷⁰  For a comparison of survival rates according to stage of cancer, see Additional Resources below: #7 breast; #8 ovarian; #9 endometrial.
      Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women of all ethnicities.²⁷¹

Oral Contraceptives and Conception

Perhaps the most important concern with the use of oral contraceptives, in terms of endangering human life, relates to how often they fail. With a 9% typical use failure rate,²⁷² of the 8.5 million women between 15 and 34 years old who used oral contraceptives to prevent pregnancy in 2010, 765,000 unwanted children would have been conceived. There were 765,651 medical and surgical abortions reported to the CDC in 2010.

The second ingredient in the pill, synthetic progesterone derivatives, the same ingredient that is many times stronger (more potent) when found in Plan B, can act as an abortifacient.

Additional Resources:

1. How “The Pill” works as an Abortifacient. Seng, Rich. YouTube. 21 May 2007. Online. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiCU46_lWeE

2. The Postovulatory Mechanism of Action of Plan B, A Review of the Scientific Literature. Peck, Rebecca, MD; Valez, Juan R, MD. NCB Center. Online. http://ncbcenter.org/document.doc?id=584

3. The Pill Kills webcast –Dr. Angela Lanfranchi. Accessed 2/13/15. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCYxZ8ceccc

4. Understanding Relative Risk. Accessed 2/13/15. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relative_risk

5. Understanding Odds Ratio. Accessed 2/13/15. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odds_ratio

6. 2010 Breast Cancer Incidence per Year per Age Group with Respect to OC Usage. Accessed 2/13/2015. http://lifeissacred.net/2010-breast-cancer-incidence-per-year-per-age-group-with-respect-to-oral-contraceptive-use.pdf

7. Survival Rates by Stage of Breast Cancer. Accessed 2/13/15. http://www.cancer.org/cancer/breastcancer/detailedguide/breast-cancer-survival-by-stage

8. Survival Rates by Stage of Ovarian Cancer. Accessed 2/13/15. http://www.cancer.org/cancer/ovariancancer/detailedguide/ovarian-cancer-survival-rates

9. Survival Rates by Stage of Endometrial Cancer. Accessed 2/13/15. http://www.cancer.org/cancer/endometrialcancer/detailedguide/endometrial-uterine-cancer-survival-rates

10. Link Between Breast Cancer and Contraceptives Now Too Big to Ignore. Denise Hunnell, MD. 7 September 2014. Online. http://www.aleteia.org/en/health/article/link-between-breast-cancer-and-contraceptives-now-too-big-to-ignore-5849301875949568

11. Abortion Facts. Accessed 2/13/15. http://www.abortionfacts.com/

12. AbortionBreastCancer.com Commercial #3. Accessed 2/13/15. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSmma0COO1E

13. The Reasons Hormonal Contraceptives and Induced Abortion Increase Breast-Cancer Risk. Accessed 2/13/14. http://www.abortionbreastcancer.com/download/Lanfranchi_The_Linacre_Quarterly_2009.pdf

14. Abortion Risks: A list of major physical complications related to abortion. Accessed 2/13/14. http://afterabortion.org/1999/abortion-risks-a-list-of-major-physical-complications-related-to-abortion/

15. Projections of Shortfalls in Social Security, Medicare Ignore Massive Impact From Abortion. Accessed 2/13/15. http://www.lifenews.com/2013/10/28/projections-of-shortfalls-in-social-security-medicare-ignore-massive-impact-from-abortion/

16. Catholic Medical Association. Association of North American Catholic physicians, medical students, health care professionals, and clergy promoting Catholic values in medicine. Use the CMA website to find a caring Catholic physician in your area. Accessed 2/13/15. http://www.cathmed.org/

17. Novuscor. Novuscor is a software company specializing in couples' fertility management and reproductive health. We are devoted to research and application development surrounding fertility cycles and their complexities. Novuscor was established to help people understand and embrace their fertility. Novuscor is proud to introduce FertileView a Biomedical Informatics program for natural fertility. Accessed 2/13/15. http://www.fertileview.com/

18. Couple to Couple LeagueCouple to Couple League. We are an interfaith organization dedicated to teaching Natural Family Planning (NFP) to married and engaged couples. CCL also has audio-visual and printed materials on several related subjects: pre-marital chastity programs for primary and secondary students (approved by the Catholic Church), ecological breastfeeding, natural child spacing, full-time mothering, and much more. Accessed 2/13/15. http://www.ccli.org/

19. CycleSense. Fertility tracking software adhering to the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. It was developed by a team of medical software developers, using FDA approved standards for software development and production, overseen by Jack Geoghegan, MD, former vice-president of Connecticut Right to Life. Accessed 2/13/15. http://cycle-sense.software.informer.com/

20. Father McCaffrey's Natural Family Planning Outreach. Father McCaffrey travels the United States conducting parish missions, clergy and catachetical conferences, preaching and teaching Humanae Vitae. The Church's teaching regarding the Sacramental nature of marriage and family life as it relates to true love and responsibility is taught in the full context of the Gospel of Life. Accessed 2/13/15. http://www.nfpoutreach.org/index.htm

21. My Fertility Charts: Ovulation Calendar. Software tools to help couples use Natural Family Planning methods to achieve or avoid pregnancy. http://www.myfertilitycharts.com/

22. Gift Foundation. Non-profit organization dedicated to ending contraception, promoting chastity, and establishing a pro-life society. Accessed 2/13/15. http://www.giftfoundation.org/

23. Life Issues. Clear Catholic thinking on current life issues. http://www.lifeissues.net/

24. Love and Responsibility Foundation. The Love and Responsibility web site is dedicated to increasing understanding of Pope John Paul II's teaching on human love and sexuality. The Pope has written with deep beauty on this all-important topic, and we are motivated by thought that it is possible to read what he has written, learn from it, and share what we learn with others! Accessed 2/13/15. http://www.catholicculture.com/

25. Midwest Vasectomy Reversals. Our mission to make vasectomy reversal an affordable option for all families who consider their vasectomy choice a mistake. We charge $3200 total for a reversal done under local anesthesia in our outpatient office. Dr. Thomas Sommers had a vasectomy reversal done under these same conditions and has been blessed with a reversal baby. We are honored to offer this service to couples to help restore the gift of fertility and return to God's Grace. Accessed 2/13/15. http://www.midwestvasectomyreversals.com/

26. One More Soul. One More Soul is a non-profit organization dedicated to spreading the truth about the blessings of children and the harms of contraception. We have distributed, for free or at cost, over 60,000 copies of the powerful audio tape by Dr. Janet E. Smith, "Contraception, Why Not?" We carry a wide variety of educational resources, including tapes, videos, books. Accessed 2/13/15. http://www.omsoul.com/

27. Adam and Eve after the Pill. Accessed 2/13/15. http://www.ignatius.com/promotions/adam-and-eve-after-the-pill/

Evaluating Plan B as an Abortifacient

Yesterday (March 25th, 2014), the United States Supreme Court began a case evaluating whether an employer can opt out of a mandatory insurance requirement, refusing to be even remotely involved with offering products that can result in the loss of an unborn child. These objections are considered Christ-centered in nature as many employers, such as Hobby Lobby, strive to live by what they believe are divinely inspired laws, for example, “Thou shalt not kill.”

In opposition, there are three main arguments. First, some argue that an unborn child is not a child but a zygote, blastocyte or fetus, and therefore no killing of a human person occurs so there are no grounds for a Christ-centered objection. Secondly, some in the same camp argue that the choice should be up to the individual and that neither an employer nor government should deny the right to this choice. Thirdly, some argue that the products in question don’t result in the loss of a newly conceived child because they only prevent conception and do not impair or prevent implantation into the womb, nor disrupt normal growth. However, this last argument doesn’t address any right to avoid cooperating in any way with insurance plans that include certain elective medical procedures, i.e. surgical abortion.

The Obama Administration currently requires that all plans subsidized on the public Healthcare exchange include abortion as an elective medical procedure –no one can choose a plan on the exchange that doesn’t include this option.  In contrast, members of Congress can choose a plan that doesn’t include abortion as an elective medical procedure, but only nine of the 112 plans have this option:

Health plans that do not provide coverage for elective abortions include all Aetna health plans, as well as the multi-state plans (MSP) offered by CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (only the plans that include ‘Multi-State Plan’ in their name). All health plans offered by Kaiser Permanente, United Healthcare, and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield plans that do not include ‘Multi-State Plan’ in their name include coverage for elective abortions… ²⁷³

In this article, I examine the previous three arguments that aim to void a legal right to refuse involvement with a government managed healthcare system or mandate, as well as some of their implications.  In addressing the last argument, I’ll discuss whether products, such as Plan B (aka the Morning After Pill), cause an abortion.

The first argument is based on misunderstanding, ignorance or failure to accept when human life begins.  It is rooted in the idea that a person is human according to their level of development. It is a logical fallacy of ambiguity, aiming to nullify the humanity of a human being by referring to him or her in a way that might suggest they are not fully human, for example a zygote, blastocyte or fetus.

Rather, whether a person is in their first hour, day or month of development, they remain a human person possessing their own DNA. Every person goes through different stages of growth and can be classified according to those stages throughout their lifetime.  The terms infant and toddler refer to different stages of development, but both address a stage in the development of a human being.

George Washington was only one cell big at the earliest moment of his life, but no less the person who we now know as George Washington; that cell contained all the DNA that made George Washington from the moment of his conception. Likewise, Jesus, who some believe never truly existed in the flesh, began his earthly life when chromosomes from Mary’s oocyte combined with chromosomes of the Holy Spirit.  So close is Mary to God that we may speak of her as Mary of Jesus, or speak of Jesus as Jesus of Mary, as well as Mary as the spouse of the Holy Spirit, or vice versa.

Additionally, the hypostatic union, as the Catholic Church teaches, might be easier to accept than a version of the Big Bang where something came from nothing without the influence of a Creator, or Unmoved Mover, as Aristotle would have stated it.  Belief in the hypostatic union is also arguably easier to accept than a theory of origins where life’s basic building blocks formed, organized and reproduced through random, unguided occurrences in a primitive mixture of minerals, gases, gas-electric byproducts and water.  This ease of acceptance is especially true for those who have a complete understanding of the complex machinery and processes taking place in a living cell, further elucidating the unlikely probability that those numerous and complex processes would come together simultaneously on their own or eventually lead to human consciousness.

Theologically speaking, every person is made in the image of God. Philosophically speaking, should we think of a person according to their appearance and level of development or according to their potential?   I believe most Americans would say according to potential.  Thus, most Americans would oppose healthcare programs, whether government or private-sector, that use a portion of their money to pay for surgical and medical abortions or drugs that induce abortion; they would resent being forced to opt-in or otherwise support or be involved with such programs. Many private-sector healthcare programs have become large and impersonal; many do not embrace the value of the human person from the moment of their conception to natural death and will exclude new members based on pre-existing conditions unless forced to do otherwise by government. Nonetheless, as more and more Americans discover the truth and act diligently by lobbying and being involved exclusively in morally sound healthcare programs, other programs will change, or shrink and die.

      The second argument addresses whether the choice to have an abortion should be exclusively up to the individual so that neither an employer nor government can impede or prevent it. Likewise, only the mother or couple responsible for the child should have the right to determine when that boy or girl is human and has an inalienable right to life; prior to the time they decide, stopping or aborting his or her life (“his” or “her” because a person’s gender can be determined from the moment of their conception), should be legal.

Regarding this argument, there is no doubt that everyone prefers to live in a world where we all make the right choices, not because laws prohibit the opposite, but because our conscience accurately dictates to us what is right and wrong. Moreover, as James Madison has stated, “If men were angels, no government would be necessary.”

Rather, laws often serve as guidelines for establishing what is right and wrong, helping to direct us down a noble path, a path best for ourselves and society. This direction is especially helpful while we’re young and impressionable, a time when we’re ignorant of many truths, especially if we don’t have good parents to guide and inform us.

Regarding the potential for laws to serve as guidelines, many of those who believe in God would argue that one of the greatest gifts we’re received from God is the 10 Commandments –Divine Laws that help to reveal our fallen nature, a nature tainted by Original Sin, as the Catholic Church would teach, which so often clouds our intellect and judgment, hindering us from choosing what is good.  Whether as individuals or civilizations, we’re often ignorant of what is good, and even when we know what is good, we’re often too self-absorbed, concerned with fitting in, or hard-hearted to practice what is good.

So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God in my inmost self, but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So then, with my mind I am a slave to the law of God, but with my flesh I am a slave to the law of sin.²⁷⁴

Evil can be defined as the absence of a good that should be there.  It is evil for us to allow the right to life of an innocent human being to be trampled upon, even if it means less freedom for those who would otherwise desire to trample on them.

One of the pillars of America, as found in our Declaration of Independence, is the acknowledgment that our rights come from God, not our government.  America is at her best when she respects that every person has a God given right to life.

Killing innocent people is unlawful.  It is considered murder. Laws that help prevent the loss of human life, at all stages of development, are an integral part of a society that aims to direct citizens towards that which is good.

Should there be exceptions?  For example, when the life of a mother and her child are in danger due to birth complications or abnormalities? Should we resign to Providence in these situations, as St. Gianna Beretta Molla did?²⁷⁵ I believe that a woman should be free to preserve her life over the life of the child. However, I also believe that a healthcare provider should not be forced to take the life of an innocent child.  Similarly, he or she should not face termination of employment for exercising conscientious objection to ending the life of an innocent human being. Our government should protect a hospital or healthcare provider from being forced to perform an abortion or prescribe or dispense products that can lead to an abortion or the intentional loss of life; it should not force employers to offer healthcare insurance that cover abortion related products or services nor should it subsidize such health insurance plans and penalize those who don’t want to take part in them due to conscientious objection.

In retaining the right of a healthcare provider to conscientiously refuse to prescribe or dispense products or services that result in the loss of human life, providers are given a chance to advise and guide those who are seeking such help, potentially informing them of the risks associated with such products and services while remaining unbiased by the potential for financial gain, which may not be the case should they seek help elsewhere, such as Planned Parenthood.  Presently, such conscientious providers face losing their job or not being hired, likely because their employer would lose business, get sued or find themselves in a political hotbed. Thus, legislation needs to be passed that acknowledges and protects the right of an individual healthcare provider to conscientiously refuse to perform abortion related services, or dispensing abortion related or life-ending products, without being discriminated against during the hiring process or while remaining employed. And, the government needs to protect businesses from lawsuits by those who would seek to deny a right of conscientious Christ-centered expression, especially when that expression accords with natural law, i.e. it is wrong to kill an innocent person.

With respect to the third argument, invoking the knowledge I’ve gained in science and medicine as a healthcare professional, I make the case that the morning after pill does not simply prevent conception, but can and does result in the loss of a conceived child, particularly when administered after the normal time of ovulation or one to two days beforehand.

In addressing the evidence for this conclusion, first consider the following online post from Yahoo Answers:

How long does the Plan B pill effect your cycle?

NM asked 10 months ago

 last updated 1 week ago

so my now ex boyfriend and I had unprotected sex April 5th he didn’t ejaculate in me but I was still worried about it so I went and bought the plan b pill April 6th and took it about 19 hours after sex. April 6th was also my ovulation day according to my period tracker. then I was supposed to get my period April 19th but instead I got it from April 16th- 20th which is a normal amount of time. I read that the pill can cause your period to come early or late depending on when you take it in your cycle. so I guess that’s why I got it early. also my period was really light for the first few days then got so heavy I bled through my pants. now I was supposed to start my period again today May 12th but no sign of it. could I be pregnant or is it the pill still messing with my period cycle? please answer. 

ps: I have not had sex with him or anyone else since April 5th. also I took a pregnancy test May 5th exactly a month after sex and it came out negative.

Best Answer: Asker’s Choice

BB answered 10 months ago

Dear NM, Taking Plan B will affect your menstrual cycle. By taking EC, you are forcing the lining out of your uterus prematurely. You will probably experience spotting and bleeding immediately after taking Plan B. This is completely normal and it means that the pill has worked. Do not be alarmed if you don’t experience bleeding. Do not be alarmed if you experience menstruation-like bleeding after taking Plan B–but if it lasts for longer than your normal period. Yes the hormone can make you start earlier or later. Also because your egg could have been in the process of fertilization (but you took the morning after pill to stop it) it would imminently dispose of the egg and shed the lining meaning you would come on earlier and shorter. Taking Plan B creates a hormonal imbalance in your body. While that sounds like a bad thing, it really isn’t. Basically, Plan B contains high levels of progesterone. Progesterone is a hormone that naturally occurs in a woman’s body when she is pregnant. Progesterone slows down the ovulation process or stops it entirely which is why it occurs in such high levels while a woman is pregnant. You certainly don’t want to be ovulating while you’re already carrying a baby. When you take Plan B, you are getting a high dosage of that hormone which in effect tricks your body into thinking it’s already pregnant which stops the ovulation process. When the hormone level begins to decrease rapidly (not long after you’ve taken your medication), your body then thinks you’re no longer pregnant and begins the ovulation process all over again. This is also why some women experience bleeding or spotting after they take Plan B. Your body passes the blood rich uterine lining and bleeding may occur at this point. This is where the confusion may come in.Because you’ve created that imbalance and the internal confusion, your period could easily be delayed after you take Plan B. Sometimes it’s just delayed by a few days. Other times, it may be delayed by a week or more. For some women, it takes two or three months for their menstrual cycle to get back on track. You would still get your period in that time, but it could be later or earlier than it normally would be.

________________________________________________

Note BB’s response,

By taking EC (Emergency Contraceptives), you are forcing the lining out of your uterus prematurely… because your egg could have been in the process of fertilization… it would imminently dispose of the egg and shed the lining….

A comprehensive review of the effects of Emergency Contraceptives on pregnancy may be found in the online article produced by the National Catholic Bioethics Center, “The Post Ovulatory Mechanism of Action of Plan B.”²⁷⁶

Below is a graph showing normal hormone levels during menstruation:

Graph 1: Days of Menstrual Cycle vs. Estradiol, FSH, LH and Progesterone levels²⁷⁷

Per Wikipedia:

After ovulation, the anterior pituitary hormones FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) and LH (Luteinizing Hormone) cause the remaining parts of the dominant follicle to transform into the corpus luteum. It continues to grow for some time after ovulation and produces significant amounts of hormones, particularly progesterone,[2] and, to a lesser extent, estrogen.

The hormones produced by the corpus luteum suppress production of FSH and LH, which the corpus luteum needs to maintain itself. With continued low levels of FSH and LH, the corpus luteum will atrophy.[4]

The death of the corpus luteum results in falling levels of progesterone and estrogen. These falling levels of ovarian hormones cause increased levels of FSH, which begins recruiting follicles for the next cycle. Continued drops in levels of estrogen and progesterone trigger the end of the luteal phase: menstruation and the beginning of the next cycle.[3]  —²⁷⁸

A newly released egg, or ovum, can survive for 12 to 24 hours without fertilization while sperm can survive for up to five days after intercourse. It takes seven to 10 days after fertilization for the small body of a newly conceived child to travel down the fallopian tubes for implantation into the uterine lining. Notice from the graph that progesterone levels increase for nearly seven days after the ovum is formed and are maintained at that level for two to three days before beginning to decrease.

When fertilization occurs, under normal circumstances, progesterone activity or levels never decrease. This change is critical as, 

progesterone serves to maintain the integrity of the uterine lining by enriching the uterus with a thick lining of blood vessels and capillaries so that it can sustain the growing fetus.²⁷⁹ 

This normal process of increasing progesterone is made possible through human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)…

…a hormone produced by a component of the fertilized egg, medically known as the syncytiotrophoblast. The syncytiotrophoblast promotes the maintenance of the corpus luteum during the beginning of pregnancy, allowing the corpus luteum to secrete progesterone during the first trimester, i.e. the first four months of pregnancy.²⁸⁰

And,

The syncytiotrophoblast itself secretes progesterone but is not mature enough to secrete enough progesterone to support pregnancy until the fourth month of embryonic development. ²⁸¹

      When a woman takes Plan B, the level of the active ingredient, which mimics progesterone, rises rapidly. Here are measurements of the levels of levonorgestrel following administration of Plan B.

Table 1 – ²⁸²

Note the Cmax (concentration) of 14.1 ng/mL after 1.6 hours.

In addition to the first graph, the graph below shows normal concentrations of progesterone during the menstrual cycle:

Graph 2: Days of Menstrual Cycle vs. Estradiol, FSH, LH and Progesterone levels²⁸³

Note from Graphs 1 & 2 that progesterone levels don’t increase beyond 10 ng/mL (nanograms per milliliter). Consider how sensitive these levels are… there are 1 trillion nanograms in a gram. When a woman takes Plan B, the amount of progesterone activity increases rapidly and reaches a peak level 1.6 hours after administration (Tmax = 1.6 h).  Note that at that time the maximum concentration of the progesterone-like, levonorgestrel, reaches 14.1 ng/mL.

Now consider that after reaching this peak, progesterone activity levels begin to fall and that falling levels of progesterone activity cause an increase in levels of FSH.  This change begins a process that generates follicles for the next cycle, causing the current corpus luteum to atrophy.  As mentioned previously, 

Continued drops in the levels of estrogen and progesterone trigger the end of the luteal phase: menstruation and the beginning of the next cycle.[3] ²⁸⁴

Regarding conception, one of two likely possibilities occur when Plan B is taken after ovulation AND intercourse where ejaculation has occurred within the preceding five days (since sperm can live for around five days), or within one day after ovulation (since the egg can live for up to 24 hours):

1.  A child has been conceived but cannot implant into the uterine lining because abnormal changes in progesterone activity caused by the levonorgestrol from Plan B have prevented the development of a suitable environment for implantation

2.  A child implants in the uterus but is lost because the rapid increase and decrease in progesterone activity caused by the Plan B triggers an increase in FSH, which causes new follicle recruitment, atrophy of the existing corpus luteum and eventually, menstruation.  Again,

Continued drops in levels of estrogen and progesterone trigger the end of the luteal phase: menstruation and the beginning of the next cycle. ²⁸⁵

In the case of the young lady who posted her concerns on Yahoo, she had intercourse with her boyfriend the day before her ovulation day. If sufficient sperm had been discharged during intercourse, and partial ejaculations during intercourse aren’t uncommon (remember she said her boyfriend didn’t ejaculate inside of her), a newly conceived child would most likely have been formed. On her ovulation day she took Plan B, which she described as about 19 hours after intercourse. LH and FSH would already have been released over the previous two days, completing the follicular phase of her cycle for the release of an egg/ovum. As mentioned earlier, it takes around seven days for the newly formed child to travel down the fallopian tube and implant into the uterine lining. During this time the progesterone and estrogen produced by the corpus luteum, and to a lesser extent, the syncytiotrophoblast, prepare the uterine lining for implantation.

Since the young lady took Plan B, the rapid increase and decrease in progesterone would cause an increase in FSH, causing new follicular recruitment and menstruation. Levonorgestrel has a half-life of about 24 hours, meaning in one day only half of the concentration of Plan B will still be distributed throughout her body, after four days, the amount in her system will be around 6.25%. Since it takes seven to 10 days for a newly conceived child to travel down the fallopian tube for implantation, the changes caused by the altered progesterone levels would already have produced significant effects on the uterine lining.

Also, in assessing the effect of the levonorgestrel on progesterone receptors, we may assume a 1:1 potency when compared to progesterone, but the actual potency may be much higher. If more potent, the progesterone activity when compared to natural progesterone would also be several times higher.  It is well established from a chemistry standpoint that small changes in the atomic composition of a molecule can have drastic effects on the potency of the molecule when interacting with target receptors.  Below is the molecular image of progesterone and levonorgestrel, respectively.

progesterone –²⁸⁶

levonorgestrel –²⁸⁷
      From this example, levonorgestrel appears less polar than progesterone, which would make it more lipophilic (oil or fat loving), thereby improving the ability of the molecule to travel through fat tissue, including cell walls, potentially increasing its interaction with the progesterone receptor and accordingly, potency.  In discussing lipophilicity, keep in mind that oil and water don’t mix.  This is because water is polar, or charged, and oil is not.  All molecules may be classified according to the degree they absorb into oil or water.  More polar molecules, i.e. charged, absorb more readily into water while more lipophilic (fat loving) molecules absorb more readily into oil.  These considerations have large implications when considering how molecules behave in the body –small changes in the molecule can have tremendous effects on distribution and potency.

In theory, the light bleeding that began in the young lady about 10 days after taking Plan B was the result of the surge in progesterone activity, which likely caused rapid growth in her uterine lining. Note that her bleeding started three days before the normal date for her period. If the sensitive layers of uterine lining are formed progressively as a direct result of a gradual increase in progesterone, involving a sensitive regulation of progesterone receptors, her early menses may be explained by an attempt of her body to normalize uterine thickness with available progesterone. Since this abnormality caused a type of early menses, stability was not achieved and eventually the uterine lining was shed completely, resulting in heavy bleeding, or as she stated, “bleeding through my pants.” In this case, whether or not a newly conceived child had implanted into her womb, the uterine lining was too unstable for successful growth.

A variation of this theory would include an analysis of the effect of falling progesterone levels on FSH and new follicle recruitment, assessing the extent that the decrease in progesterone receptor activity caused by the rise and fall of levonorgestrel triggers the newly developing corpus luteum to atrophy.  Once the corpus luteum atrophies, growth of new uterine tissue would nearly cease as progesterone levels would only coincide with those produced by the syncytiotrophoblast, signaling that no pregnancy has occurred and causing any uterine lining that had developed in the interim to be shed, i.e. menstruation.

Similarly, in situations where Plan B is taken at least seven to 10 days after ovulation and fertilization, allowing time for the newly conceived child to travel down the fallopian tube for implantation, menses could be triggered by the rise and fall in progesterone activity, causing an abnormal acceleration of uterine lining development and a later drop in progesterone receptor activity, which would trigger FSH release and new follicle recruitment, leading to atrophy of the existing corpus luteum.

In further evaluation, suppose a newly conceived child is formed and successfully implants into the uterine wall seven to 10 days after fertilization, but after several more cell divisions, something goes wrong naturally and the child cannot grow any further, possibly due to a chromosomal abnormality. In this scenario, hCG production would cease, causing progesterone production from the corpus luteum to decrease, which would then cause FSH to increase, leading to menstruation.  This scenario would result in a woman having what appears as a normal period, though it would likely involve heavier bleeding and be delayed from her anticipated date.

In conclusion, Plan B does not simply prevent conception but can and does result in the loss of a newly conceived child when administered after ovulation and fertilization, with pregnancy termination caused by a rise and fall of progesterone activity, where the sudden decrease in progesterone activity triggers a non-repairable disruption of normal uterine development, leading to menses, and/or an increase in FSH that leads to new follicular development and atrophy of the developing corpus luteum.

One last closing thought, which further illuminates the wisdom of the Church’s magisterial teachings against the use of contraception: 3 in 1000 women taking hormonal contraception, for example Apri, Yasmin, Trivora and Ortho-Novum, regularly and correctly for one year, will still become pregnant due to their “perfect-use failure rate,”²⁸⁸ despite the abortifacient capability²⁸⁹ of these substances.

Suppose you, your girlfriend, or your spouse, are taking contraception and a pregnancy occurs… are you willing to have an abortion?  If not, why take the chance?  Consider only being intimate when you’re prepared to accept the new life that may result.  Taking it a step further, only have intercourse when you know you’re in a committed relationship, such as marriage, helping to confirm that the person you’re with will be by your side and taking on the responsibilities of caring for the child, a child of infinite worth and potential, a child in the image of God who has a God-given right to life.

Should It Be Illegal for a Man or Woman to Seek an Abortion?

“He who hates the law is without wisdom, and is tossed about like a boat in a storm.”
(Sirach 33:2)

      This article was written in response to Donald Trump’s recent statements that there should be some form of punishment for women who’ve had an abortion. Although Mr. Trump later recanted his statement, I argue that there are good reasons for making abortion illegal in every state once again,²⁹⁰ and that breaking such a law should involve some form of punishment for both the man and the woman. The success of such an argument rests on the degree of concern each reader has with truth, love and justice. Are your primary concerns truth, love and justice? According to St. Thomas Aquinas,

the proper effect of law is to lead its subjects to their proper virtue: and since virtue is that which makes its subjects good, it follows that the proper effect of law is to make those to whom it is given, good, either simply or in some particular respect.²⁹¹

Of course, we must be careful that our laws don’t become ends in themselves so that the values they intend to promote are overlooked. However, we must also guard against going to the opposite extreme and see laws as useless or something to be lightly regarded. “Laws ideally state those things that are for the best interests of everyone and make sure the rights of all are safeguarded.”²⁹² When abortion is illegal, we have another reason to take responsibility for our sexual behavior and to not think of abortion as a solution. Additionally, we may avoid the mistake of thinking that other tax payers should pay for such services, and that healthcare providers shouldn’t have the right to conscientiously object to performing them or dispensing products that produce them.

I want to clarify that this article is not about advocating punishment.  Certainly, there are circumstances where a woman may be coerced into having an abortion by a man, whether incestuously related or not. In these cases, of course, she should not receive any punishment. There may also be cases where a young woman is involved with an older man, though not in a coerced or forced manner, but because of her young age, she is less culpable. And yet, in many other circumstances, when someone consents to have an innocent person killed, it is fitting that such behavior is illegal and there are punishments associated with breaking the law. 

If we revert to St. Augustine’s thinking on when human life begins, which took place over 1500 years ago, a person doesn’t have sensation or a soul until their 40th day after conception.²⁹³ Now however, we know all human beings begin their life from the moment of conception, having fully intact DNA, which can be assessed to determine their gender from the moment of their conception.

Since it is true that the same DNA we have in nearly every cell in our body is the same DNA we received at the moment of our conception, and that we all began our life at conception, it follows that millions of people have had their lives ended through abortion. This is a hard truth for many to accept. But looking at the facts, there is no doubt that we all began our lives at the moment of conception. Whether or not you believe in the eternal nature of the human soul, our science establishes without a doubt that we began our lives at the moment of conception.

For those women who are remorseful from having had an abortion, and are offended by this truth, I’m truly sorry.  It is not my intention to offend.  However, with respect to those who would express no remorse for such an act, why defend what cannot be defended? A person begins their life at the moment of conception… terminating that life is ending the life of a unique, never to be created again, human person.

Our laws help to establish a just society.  Laws that protect the rights of those who haven’t been born are just as important as those that protect the handicapped or the elderly, who might otherwise be killed when seen as unwanted or an inconvenience.

If we lived in a society where the infirm, elderly and handicapped are regularly killed to justify the bottom line of economic expenditures, as was the case when socialism began in Nazi Germany, people might be desensitized to the point of objecting to laws suggesting that these people have rights and that violating them should result in punishment.  Thankfully, we don’t live in such a society; hopefully, we never will. However, with respect to abortion, we are now living in such a time of desensitization.

I recently read an article on LifeNews.com, which argued that Donald Trump’s statements hurt the pro-life cause.²⁹⁴  I disagree.  The aspects of the pro-life movement that are focused on mercy and comforting those who’ve had an abortion are as active as they were before Donald’s statement.  Those in the pro-abortion party who see this as the heart of the pro-life movement, i.e. advocating protection of the unborn for the sake of punishment for those who would otherwise believe they have a right in relation to their privacy or something else to kill an innocent person, and would use it as ammunition to attack the character of those in the pro-life movement, are mistaken. The issue is about the inalienability of the right to life of the unborn from the moment of conception, a right that should never be trampled on for the sake of economic expenditures, universal healthcare, or women’s rights.

      The right to life is a fundamental, God given, right.

No law that allows abortion is a just law.

If laws are made that fine or imprison men, women, or doctors, or those who would coerce a man or woman into having an abortion, there’d be less abortions and arguably, a more virtuous society. And as stated in St. Aquinas’ quote above, the purpose of all laws is to promote virtue and goodness.

Consider that if there were no punishment for driving while intoxicated, more people would do so.  And yet, it’s still a bad situation, people still break the law.  Arguably however, less people drive while intoxicated and as a result, roads are safer places. DUI laws help to promote the virtues of prudence and temperance, virtues easy to acknowledge as good, according with natural law, whether a person is an atheist or a believer.

When laws are passed that punish those involved with abortion, thus promoting the virtues of chastity, prudence and temperance, less abortions will occur. And yet, just as in the case of DUIs, they’re still likely to occur.  In such cases, we hope that the act will end in sorrow, the kind that leads to repentance, to being embraced in the loving and understanding arms of Jesus, just as it should.  Often, its only through the hurt caused by our sins that we recognize our need for a Savior.

When society reflects justice for the rights of the unborn, there will be less of a need for the merciful, nurturing aspects of the pro-life movement, i.e. those aspects that focus on the recovery process after the tragedy. There would also be less suicide, which occurs at a higher rate for those who’ve had an abortion.²⁹⁵

Laws help to create a just society; punishment is often a viable deterrent to committing a crime.  Conversely, in a perfect society where men and women are angels, no laws, police, or government, would be necessary.

When abortion is not seen as a solution to sexual irresponsibility, those prone to irresponsible behavior, which includes each and every one of us in the wake of Original Sin, must find strength and encouragement for being responsible with the gift of sexuality and where it’s designed to lead –the sacred union of man and woman and the creation of human life.  Otherwise, we ought to face the punishment and be thankful for it.  After all, its punishment in the next life that we really want to avoid.  Moreover, if the laws we have in place in this life help us cultivate an attitude of virtue and just behavior, and correspondingly, repentance when transgressions are committed, allowing us to be better prepared for the next life, to fall gracefully into the loving arms of Jesus without remorse, without purgatory, thanks be to God.

In this sense, I applaud Donald for being brave enough to speak up for justice, justice for the unborn.

For those in the pro-life community who believe that there shouldn’t be laws to prevent the rights of the unborn from being trampled over… please reconsider your view, especially considering the above quote by St. Aquinas.  If laws are broken, punishment is often appropriate. Most of all, please continue to cultivate an attitude of mercy, love and acceptance for those who acknowledge their conscience and wish to address the sorrow of having had an abortion.  They need you today as much as they did yesterday.

Perhaps one of the largest obstacles to upholding justice for the rights of the unborn comes from the divisions among followers of Christ. Perhaps if there was less of a mindset that a person can determine what is right from wrong without the guidance and authority of the Church our Lord founded through St. Peter, there would be less of an uproar to comments like those that Donald made.  The Bride of Christ teaches clearly on the need to defend the rights of the unborn, as well as on the use of contraceptives, which, in the case of oral contraceptives, correlate with the number of abortions every year due to a typical use failure rate of 9%.²⁹⁶

Defending the rights of the unborn through laws that involve some form of punishment when broken, in defense of those whose rights have been violated, is a reasonable and just pro-life position.  From the Catechism of the Catholic Church regarding Respect for the Dignity of Persons, starting with section 2286,

Scandal can be provoked by laws or institutions, by fashion or opinion. Therefore, they are guilty of scandal who establish laws or social structures leading to the decline of morals and the corruption of religious practice, or to "social conditions that, intentionally or not, make Christian conduct and obedience to the Commandments difficult and practically impossible."²⁹⁷ This is also true of business leaders who make rules encouraging fraud, teachers who provoke their children to anger,²⁹⁸ or manipulators of public opinion who turn it away from moral values.²⁹⁹

What Does It Mean to be a Virgin?

Being a virgin has more to do with being charitably disposed towards the wellbeing of others than being in a certain state commonly associated with not having done something. Thus, it is not an irreversible condition as the result of whether we’ve done something, but a challenge rooted in seeking the good of others.

Consider the following excerpt from School of Community notes with Father Julian Carron on Luigi Giussani's book "Is it Possible to Live This Way? Vol. 3: Charity”:  

"What is poverty?  It is detachment from a certain way of possessing things.  What is virginity?  It is detachment from a certain way of possessing people. "Poverty is revealed as being free from things, since it is God who fulfills desires, not the particular thing that you admire."  You can be free, because God is the One who fulfills.  You can be free, because you have this experience of overflow; and this freedom brings the seed of gladness along with it.  Virginity is poverty at its utmost level, and so you can treat things with this freedom because you lack nothing.  If this is critical for treating things with this freedom, imagine what kind of experience is needed to treat people with the same freedom, with the same selflessness, to be able to look at them for their destiny and not for something in return for the relationship! This is impossible without Him, because the One who introduced this freedom from things into the world is Jesus Christ, and the One who introduced this freedom in the relationship with people is Jesus Christ. This is why it is impossible to speak about these things without referring to the complete experience that Father Giussani described in the chapters on faith, hope, and charity. What does freedom in our relationships mean? It means that the relationship rests on something that lasts, that is, on the Divine, who lasts forever. Thus, poverty means affirming Someone else as the meaning of the self. (The same is true of charity: we can only have this charity for the other person through the experience of that overflow, of that passion that the Mystery has on our nothingness, because “I loved you and I had pity on your nothingness.”) We can love only when we overflow with what we receive. This is why he says that virginity requires one to recognize destiny as present, that is, Jesus present in history. The last chapter is the verification that we have travelled this journey as the path of our experience. Now, perhaps, there is someone who can tell me the logic of the entire text, but if it has not become flesh for him, he can dream on about his experience, since it is not the product of reasoning (even if reasoning is essential to it) but of an experience that only He permits. It is because of His imposing experience that I can relate to things with His Presence in my eyes, by virtue of being moved; only if I am taken over by His Presence can I have a true relationship with people and things. He alone makes it present; without Him we go back to our usual refrain: “I'm incapable; it's impossible.” It is impossible for anyone who does not have a Christian experience. It is very possible as gift, as grace. On what basis? That a man live Christianity as an experience, as an experience – not as a speech or as ethics, or as a thought, or as a feeling. So what is the point? That we need to be very loyal to our “I,” to our heart; otherwise, it will always be impossible."

A priest once mentioned during a homily that true virginity is about being in a state of charity towards others, an openness and a readiness to love. How can we cultivate purity considering this explanation of virginity?  

If we truly love others in light of their eternal destiny, how can a man or women who has a “crush” on another justify feeling possessive of them? If we find ourselves feeling possessive of someone, or feeling as though our happiness will only result through them, can we not remedy this “love-sickness” with a disposition of love that embraces their eternal destiny, and with a charity for others?

Additional resources for consideration:

Virginity, Celibacy & the Preservation of the Faith. Sensus Fedilium. YouTube. 26 January 2017.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSLDGKBk8uU

Celibacy for the Sake of the Kingdom

http://www.catholiceducation.org/en/marriage-and-family/sexuality/celibacy-for-the-kingdom-amp-the-fulfillment-of-human-sexuality.html

https://www.ewtn.com/library/PAPALDOC/jp2tb72.htm

http://www.ourladyofloreto.org/RCIA/03_DOCTRINES/celibacy_for_the_sake_of_th.pdf

Why, of Course I Pray to Statues. Psyche!

Pope Francis prays in front of the original statue of Our Lady of Fatima during a Marian vigil in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Oct. 12. The statue was brought from Portugal for a weekend of Marian events culminating in Pope Francis entrusting the world to Mary. (CNS photo/Paul Haring) (Oct. 14, 2013) See POPE-FATIMA Oct. 14, 2013.

August 9th, 2016

      After Saturday evening Mass, I found it necessary to leave my car on the side of the road and take a ride from a total stranger.  She was very polite, although at first, as I began to get out of my car, hoping to indicate I was in need of help, she just drove past me.  About a minute later she came back.  She said she was having a bad day and at first decided to drive by.  But, as she later stated, she wasn’t going to let that stop her from helping someone in need. Remind you of a certain Samaritan?

      She happened to be on her way back from a yard sale.  A close friend had recently passed away and she was in the process of cleaning out her home.  After a minute of shifting various books and other items to the back seat, we were traveling down the road steeped in a conversation.

      I mentioned that I was on my way home after Mass, having served as a Sacristan.  She said she was a Christian and had two older siblings who received their First Communion.  She knew of my Parish before, having attended weddings and funerals there.  Seeing that I’m always happy to share my faith to enliven another, and knowing we were getting closer to home, though we always are, I decided to share how praying the rosary has helped me through many tough times.

      She replied, “Oh that’s right, you guys pray to statues, right?”

      “Well, not exactly.”

      I tried to explain that we believe Mary is in heaven, RIGHT NOW, how very blessed she is to be the mother of our Lord, too blessed to be ‘left behind.’

      “I know but that’s what you guys do, right?”

      So, I began to talk about the Ark of the Covenant, the holiest object in Jewish history, the vessel the Israelites used in order to carry:
      1.) the stone tablets of the Law that God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai
      2.) the bread from heaven that nourished the Israelites as they wandered in the desert after leaving Egypt and
      3.) the rod of Aaron that had produced blossoms and yielded ripe almonds, signifying Aaron’s position as the first High Priest of the Israelites, as explained in the 17th chapter of the Book of Numbers. There God gave detailed instructions on the Ark’s construction: it had to be made from acacia wood (supposedly incorruptible), and plated inside and outside with pure gold.  It had to be kept free from all impurity and profanation.  So holy was the Ark of the Covenant that God struck a man named Uzzah dead because he dared to touch it (2 Samuel 6:6-7).

      I then began to talk about how the Ark foreshadowed Mary, the Ark of the New Covenant, the vessel chosen by God to bring the Word made Flesh into the world, God Himself in the person of the Son.

      Surely if I could get her to understand that she would understand how holy Mary is and how it wouldn’t be fitting for her to be anywhere but in heaven right now.  Once she understood that, surely she wouldn’t believe I was merely praying to a statue any more than someone holding Scripture while praying to God is praying to the ink on the page –God is a living, triune being, not ink on a page; Mary is a living person, not a statue.  And yet, the ink that forms the words of Scripture helps us to understand who God is, just as a statue of a loving mother holding her son in her arms, nourishing Him, helps us to understand who Mary is.

      As we continued driving, I wished I had a copy of “My Ideal: Jesus Son of Mary,” by Fr Emil Neubert, S.M. to share with her. I would have read the following passage to her, entitled Contemplate and Admire:

JESUS:
Contemplate now what my filial love has inspired Me to do for My Mother.

From all eternity I thought of her and loved her, for from all eternity I saw in her My future Mother.
I thought of her when creating the heavens and the angels; I thought of her as I formed the earth and the human race.
I thought of her as I pronounced sentence against your first parents; I thought of her as I revealed Myself to the ancient patriarchs and prophets.

Out of love I heaped privileges upon her, each of which exceeds the greatest of My bounties towards other creatures. I exempted her from laws to which the whole human race is subject: her alone did I make Immaculate in her Conception, free from all concupiscence, unsullied by any imperfection, more full of grace than all the angels and Saints, Mother of God and ever a Virgin, glorified in her body, even as I was, before the general Resurrection.

Although I came on earth to redeem the human race, I gave thirty years of My life to Mary alone and three years to the rest of humanity.

Nor was I content to have her share My privileges and live in intimacy with Me; I willed that she should also have a part in the very mission which My Father had entrusted to Me. I, the Redeemer, determined that she should be the Co-Redemptrix with Me, and that everything which I merited for the Salvation of the world because it was strictly due to Me, she should merit too because it was supremely fitting.

I also willed that she should be associated with me even in Heaven. I willed that, as I am an advocate with the Father, she should likewise be an advocate with Me, in order to distribute all graces to men, because she cooperated with Me in gaining them.  For, in Heaven even as on earth, I am her Son, and I am infinitely happy to reward her liberally for all that she formerly suffered and did in love for Me.

Listen further: I live in the Church; that is, in My Mystical Body directed by My Spirit. What the Church does is really done by Me; what the Church does for My Mother, is really being done for her by Me.  Think of all the veneration and love the Church has shown her: the defense and proclamation of her privileges, the institution of feasts and devotions in her honor, the approval of confraternities and consecrated societies destined to serve her.  Think over the piety of the Church’s children; of the Saints, who were all so devoted to My Mother; of fervent souls, who are drawn more and more to honor her in a special way; of the ordinary faithful themselves, who are so watchful over her honor, so clear-minded in recognizing her privileges (sometimes even more so than learned men), so enthusiastic the moment there is question of giving her some special mark of affection.  What is all that if not a grand and yet quite imperfect manifestation of My own incomparable filial love toward My Mother?
To all that the Church Militant has done and will do for Mary down to the end time, add what the Church Triumphant does for her throughout eternity; for I live even more in the Saints of Heaven than I do in the faithful on earth.  Imagine the gratitude, respect and love which the blessed unceasingly manifest to their Queen and Mother, to whom they owe their eternal felicity.  In them and by them, remember it is always I who honor and love My Mother.

Pass in review these proofs of My filial love; delve into them, sound their depths, try to understand all you can about them, and notice that what you cannot understand surpasses infinitely anything you will ever understand of them. Then, say to yourself that it is this infinite filial love which I wish you to share.

      But, I didn’t have it with me.  And besides, the conversation shifted to how she thought she knew my mother and father.  Apparently she had been in an accident and believed my mother was the one who had come to her home to provide support and counseling.  That is a very kind and motherly thing to do –that is exactly what Mary does for us when we ask for her intercession!  But, I digress.  She was correct in recognizing my father as a counselor, but that my mom had done that sort of work as well was news to me, that and that they often rode a motorcycle together.

      As we pulled into the driveway, I invited her inside.  Surely my mom would appreciate seeing her again if all she’s said is true.

      As it turns, she had my parents confused with another couple.

      After kind greetings and apologies for a misunderstanding, I walked her back to her big red truck.  With the engine running and her foot on the brake, I tried to finish where I left off.  I told her that if she researched the Kings in Scripture, she’d eventually discover the special role their mothers had.  Jesus descended from King David –the kings of Judah, who were from David’s lineage, prefiguring Jesus’ kingship.  Accordingly, the wife of the king of Judah was not the queen, the queen was the king’s mother.  She was known as the Queen Mother and had great honor and authority in the kingdom.

      The title Gebirah (Gebira), meaning “Great Lady” or “Queen Mother” was a royal title and an office which was bestowed upon the mothers of the Kings of Israel, but limited to those Queens who were mothers of kings in the line of King David.  When the monarchy divided into the two kingdoms of Judah in the south and Israel in the north, the institution of the Gebirah was not practiced in the Northern Kingdom of Israel.  The Northern Kingdom was ruled by 9 ruling houses (dynasties) but Judah continued to be ruled by the House of David. The Hebrew word, gebirah, is found fifteen times in the Old Testament.

      Sacred Scripture indicates that the Gebirah assumed a throne alongside her son [see 1 Kings 2:19] and exercised her role as counselor [2 Chronicles 22:3] and intercessor to the king [1 Kings 2:13-21].  In times of conquest both the king and his mother represented royal power and both were deposed [2 Kings 24:12]. 

      The Gebirah was clearly the most important woman in the Kingdom of Judah; a king had many wives, but only one mother.  The Gebirah of the eternal Davidic Kingdom of Jesus Christ is Mary of Nazareth.  Upon her Assumption into heaven Her Son placed her in her well-deserved place beside His throne as mother of the King of kings.  She appears in this role in Revelation 12:1 ‘clothed with the sun and standing on the moon.’  As Christ’s mother, she reflects His light just as the moon reflects the light of the sun. And, she calls all her children in the family of the Church to follow her Son, and to do, as she advised the servants at the wedding at Cana, ‘whatever He tells you.’ [John 2:5].³⁰⁰

      The following day, I attended Mass again (this time to serve in the choir).  Afterwards, I went to visit her at the yard-sale she was hosting.  I told the deacon about the encounter and he suggested I visit the bookstore to see if there were any apologetic works I might share with her, in defense of Mary’s honored position within the Church.  I took two pamphlets on the rosary (one was in Spanish), and a beautiful green rosary.  When I arrived, she was pleased to see me and introduced me to her sister (the one who had received her First Communion at the same Parish).  She kindly accepted the pamphlets and rosary and I stepped away to search for something useful.  As I admired several nice tools, one of which was a finely crafted rock hammer, probably used in the mine, I overheard her sister instructing her on how to pray the rosary!

      There are other Scriptural foundations for Mary as our spiritual mother, referred to as typology.  I would encourage anyone hoping to enrich their life with her graces to research the evidence supporting her intercessory ability for you, i.e. her love for you, right here, right now.

Here are some of those resources:

Venerable Fulton J Sheen –The Blessed Virgin Mary –The Woman I Love³⁰¹

Beginning Apologetics 6: How to Explain and Defend Mary³⁰²

Top 15 Catholic Books About Mary, Mother of Our Lord Jesus³⁰³

For Suffering

If suffering's the season

I know there's a reason

To grow and mature

Be filtered and pure

With the right attitude

A touch of beatitude

I'll rise from below

So on with the show

I can't always know

How things will go

So I hope, reach, and sow

Let good ends come slow

Each seed lay dormant

Asleep in a dream

But with just a drop

It skips and it hops

It peeks through the earth

With all that it's worth:

Two tons of sweet fruit

But now small and cute

Arise in each moment

You're gracefully given

With love and enthusiasm

Know you're forgiven

He'll never let you down

But always encourage

So ask and receive

And roll up your sleeve!

Homosexual or a Child of God?

I’ve personally known three people who’ve committed suicide. Two of them identified as homosexual. One was a good friend.

Without conviction leading towards continence, feelings of same-sex attraction (SSA) a person may have while growing up can reinforce the idea that they’re homosexual, as though a definitive condition, though there is no solid proof that a person is born that way. ³⁰⁴

The search for a single dominant gene--the "O-GOD" (one gene, one disorder) hypothesis--that would influence a behavioral variant is likely to be fruitless. Many different genes, together with many different environmental factors, will interact in unpredictable ways to guide behavioral preferences. Each component will contribute small quanta of influence. One result of such a quantum theory of behavior is that it makes irrelevant the overstretched speculations of both Hamer and LeVay about why a gene for homosexuality still exists when it apparently has little apparent survival value in evolutionary terms. The quest for a teleological explanation to identify a reason for the existence of a "gay gene" becomes pointless when one understands that there is not now, and never was, a single and final reason for being gay or straight, or having any other identity along the continuum of sexual preference. ³⁰⁵

However, young adults who have mental fantasies or view pornography that involves the same sex, especially when accompanied by masturbation, foster an appetite towards same sex behavior.

Our [sexual] appetite is very similar to our food appetite. No one craves something to eat that they’ve never been exposed to. You tend to crave and desire that which you’ve been exposed to… the first part of what you desire is exposure. ³⁰⁶

SSA is fairly common in young adults: "By age 26, 10.7% of men and 24.5% of women reported being attracted to their own sex at some time.”³⁰⁷ The attraction may be related to hormones. However,

Regardless of the role that genetics play in the development of sexual attractions, people who experience these attractions can make conscious choices about their behaviors. Although researchers have found a certain gene present in 77% of the alcoholic patients (Dallas, 1992, pp. 20–23), we know that alcoholics can control their behavior and lead productive lives. You have control over your destiny. You have moral agency and can determine the course of your life. ³⁰⁸

When a person acts on feelings of SSA, it is more likely they will conclude that they are in fact homosexual, or perhaps bisexual, as a way of self-identifying, especially while young and forming a sense of self-identity. Although feelings of SSA can be predominately related to sexual appetite, such feelings can also be romantic or sentimental if cultivated, i.e. such feelings are not necessarily separate from a greater desire for increased interpersonal connectedness.

Feelings of SSA can stay with a person past adolescence once they’ve first experienced them, just as easily as those initial feelings can be recalled and considered in the context of their ability to result in excitation, romance, chemistry, greater interpersonal connectedness and/or sexual pleasure. To some extent, a person who can recognize those inclinations within a broader context of psychological and social development, and to the extent they view sexual inclinations within a moral and spiritual framework that encourages marriage and children, the less likely such feelings are going to be a source of consternation later in life. Conversely, when a person refuses to accept any feelings of SSA they’ve had, viewing such feelings in a totally negative framework, a.k.a. homophobic, they may become irrational or aggressive, potentially behaving obnoxiously to compensate for their own sense of insecurity or a perceived deficiency in masculinity or femininity.

If a person has feelings of SSA while growing up, they may have a sense of being frowned on, ridiculed or rejected if publicly considered gay. This can lead to a greater reluctance to act on such feelings. Arguably, this is an environmental influence involved with the stigma of being categorized as homosexual, which discourages young adults from acting on feelings of SSA. Or, with respect to the derogatory and belittling slang associated with such behavior, an aversion to being considered a fairy, fag, dike, fruitcake, and so on. Nonetheless, acting on such feelings is more likely when a person doesn’t have a good relationship with their same sex parent,³⁰⁹ from whom they may assimilate and embrace either masculine, fatherly characteristics, or feminine, motherly ones, and from whom they may find quality friendship when many others, including same-sex siblings, are indifferent.

While the gender of a person usually determines sex preference, likely due to the predominant hormones produced by genes of the sex chromosomes, as well as the cognitive recognition of the design of one sex to naturally compliment the other, feelings of wellbeing and acceptance through same-sex friendships can tip the balance. Same sex friendships are usually easier to form while young, especially among those with developmental differences or delays, who may feel less comfortable around others, especially the opposite sex.³¹⁰ These same-sex friendships are likely to have a deeper sense of connectedness when there has been a poor or absent relationship between that person and their same-sex parent. Even when that is not the case, as the sexual appetite begins to emerge, the closeness experienced through these friendships can culminate in sexual experimentation, especially when parental supervision or guidance towards heterosexual orientation is absent.

Intoxicants such as alcohol will also increase the likelihood that a young adult will act on feelings of SSA as psychological inhibitions are lifted and desire is unabated or increased. Furthermore, same-sex childhood experiences wherein a person is manipulated by someone older, or by one who’s been sexual manipulated themselves, increases the likelihood of developing an appetite for same-sex sexual experience as well as the likelihood of self-identifying as homosexual.

Part of corrective efforts aimed at lessening SSA, when understood and accepted as a condition wherein change is favored, involves understanding that,

…one does not deliberately choose to have this kind of attraction and that one can learn to reduce its power –and even, in many cases, to get rid of it…

In helping persons with SSA to be chaste (which is the principal goal of Courage), I have found Moberly’s view [homosexual orientation “does not depend on a genetic dispositional hormonal imbalance or abnormal learning processes, but on difficulties in the (same sex) parent-child relationship, especially in the early years of life.”] most helpful. Seeking chastity is the necessary first step away from SSA. The individual may not be able to recover completely his natural heterosexual tendencies, but he or she is moving in the correct spiritual direction. With God’s grace, he or she will be able not only to avoid same-sex sins but also to develop interior chastity.³¹¹

Beyond first seeking chastity, corrective and preventive efforts could also involve understanding the connection between exposure and appetite formation. Additionally, acknowledging that homosexual behavior has been associated with a higher incidence of suicide³¹² and depression,³¹³ and among men, rectal cancers³¹⁴ and sexually transmitted diseases,³¹⁵ may be beneficial.

If things were always as simple as intellectually choosing which sex to be attracted to, heterosexual relationships would likely be chosen all the time, not only because of the procreative aspects of sexual intimacy and the blessing that children are, but because of the risks mentioned above, particularly fear or depression related to being ridiculed or unaccepted, whether by one’s own family members, a group, organization, or the public in general. But, sadly, things are not always that simple. Similarly, with respect to this latter risk, despite secular advances in establishing the normalcy of homosexual relationships, as seen through the legalization of same-sex marriage, there will always be some degree of discomfort for someone who believes themselves to be definitively homosexual when publicly identifying themselves as such. Conversely, there will always be a tendency for someone who believes themselves to be unchangeably homosexual to find ways of establishing the normalcy of homosexuality.

A person’s primary form of self-identifying should not be based on sexual orientation. Rather, it should be based on their relationship to their Creator, i.e. as a son or daughter. Moreover, to the extent that a person with SSA views their Creator as antagonistic towards those who are homosexual, as opposed to being antagonistic towards the sexual activities that can result from SSA, the less likely they’re going to view themselves as a daughter or son of God, according to a Judeo-Christian understanding of Him.

The use of parts of the human body contrary to their intended purpose, which is not a situation limited to homosexual relationships, can contribute to a sense of shame or discomfort.

Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. –Romans 6:13

The excitation associated with the prospects of sexual gratification can overpower reservations one might otherwise have due to shame arising from the use of body parts in ways contrary to their design, which is especially true if one is drunk or otherwise inebriated by a mind-altering substance. Correspondingly, for those who distance themselves from knowledge or experience suggesting that there is a Creator, or from those who believe in Him, such feelings of shame are less likely. Similarly, if one believes that life and existence occurred randomly, that the human body is a product of chaotic and unguided occurrences, often involving cut-throat “survival-of-the-fittest” mechanisms, they’re less likely to experience shame for using parts of their body in a way contrary to design since there’s no basis for design, no “Designer.” Likewise, the public acceptance or licensure of homosexuality through the legalization of same-sex marriage makes it easier for young adults to accept those forms of sexual behavior as a cultural norm.

‘The digestive system was designed for absorbing fluids; it was designed to disperse them throughout the body. The penetration of the cells of the tonsils, tongue and throat has led to 64% of the cancers of the head and neck, from using the digestive system for sexual purposes, the penetration of those cells, the transmission of the HPV virus.’³¹⁶

However, feelings of same-sex attraction can be seen as a gift, one that helps to counteract emotional imbalances formed in families where a son or daughter perceives themselves as being mistreated or neglected by the same sex parent. Feelings of SSA can allow closer connections between same-sex friends. One aspect of this gift is that women, who tend to be more comfortable expressing physical signs of affection in friendships, for example hugs, holding hands or kisses, may feel more connected through that expression, and therefore more likely to experience closer friendships than men. Men, however, more easily equate signs of physical affection as effeminate behavior or weakness. Thus, these stronger friendships in women can help to correct an imbalance created through a lack of bonding with the same sex parent, which may explain why there are more gay men than women, 10% vs. 5%, respectively.³¹⁷

Arguably, men are more discouraged, fearful of rejection and/or ashamed of showing signs of physical affection with the same sex, such as a hug or a kiss on the cheek. Therefore, when such feelings are present, there is a greater tendency to overcorrect and take things beyond such simple gestures that so easily communicate love and acceptance. And yet, what son who has a good relationship with his father has not received a tender embrace, a hug or a kiss on the cheek, and without fear of being labeled homosexual?

Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings. --Romans 16:16

Feelings of SSA can also be seen as a gift in that they have the potential to work against attitudes of hostility or dependency engendered through a Darwinian mindset involving survivalist, “cut-throat,” sexual competition or fulfillment. Likewise, negative emotions that result from such a Darwinian perspective involving reproductive success abate in relation to acknowledging the reality of same-sex attraction, attraction which can be cultivated to form complex, satisfying, interpersonal unions very similar to those upheld through traditional marriage. Similarly, dispositions engendered through the reality of SSA can exist in a healthy tension that sets itself against a Darwinian mindset, with the often-associated excesses of bravado and corresponding social debts. Arguably, pride and bravado can stunt the natural formation of friendships; all lasting relationships are built on our capacity for friendship.

A phenomenon involved with SSA involves involuntary muscle contractions, likely related to sexual tension. These contractions can encourage a young adult to confirm an identity of being homosexual, especially when such contractions occur in close proximity to a person where there is potential for a relationship involving sexual pleasure to exist. Such contractions can be misunderstood by the individual as “repressed” homosexual tendencies. Thus, those who experience this phenomenon around the same-sex are more prone to anxiety when they are juxtaposed with a desire to “repress” them, which is more often the case among men who are especially sensitive to being seen as effeminate or weak. As you can imagine, this can lead to feeling very frustrated, even powerless. Therefore, a person may believe that they’ll find more relief in acknowledging the tension as though it’s a clear indicator that they’re homosexual, eventually leading them to publicly “come out” as someone who is gay, with the hope of no longer experiencing the “repression.” This of course would be contrary to seeing these occurrences as factors involving complex social, psychological, sexual and even spiritual tensions, a cross that one must, at least for a season, carry. Furthermore, because the presence of such tensions can transcend common forms of communication, a kind of telekinetic / telepathic phenomenon, or a transcendent experience where both people might acknowledge it without fear, they can lead one to more easily embrace a homosexual lifestyle because we’re more likely to resonate with personal experience than deny it, more likely to be genuine and honest with ourselves than not.

Nonetheless, feelings of same sex attraction should not result in sexual gratification, whether through fantasy, masturbation or experimentation with a partner. If a person is unable to practice sexual continence with respect to fantasies and/or masturbation, notwithstanding an innocent process of self-discovery, even though a person is actively seeking encouragement and assistance with self-control, such fantasies and/or masturbation should always be directed at the opposite sex. Albeit, some habits are very difficult to break and may require additional support from trusted counselors or priests, friends, meditative guides / prayer warriors, and/or family.

Additionally, no government should incarcerate, torture or kill those who would publicly identify themselves as homosexual, which has been the case in Nigeria since colonial rule.³¹⁸ Such treatment is a huge injustice to the freedom of expression and dignity of the human person. However, the cultural or social unacceptance of homosexuality as a lifestyle can help to deter young adults who are more prone to experience same sex attraction from acting on those feelings, thereby reducing the number of individuals likely to self-identify as homosexual.

Such unacceptance forms part of the basis for opposing state recognition of gay marriage. Such unacceptance also helps to reduce the number of children being created through surrogacy and the exploitation of poor women, or adopted by gay couples, especially when such adoption is facilitated through marriage, even if such couples can provide more support than those who would serve in this capacity through social services, or as traditionally married foster parents. This is because, to the extent that SSA leads to homosexual behavior as a result of being believed to be involuntary and unconditional, or definitive, as though genetic, the likelihood that a child who has been adopted into a same-sex household will eventually identify themselves as homosexual, as though a finite condition, is higher. Thus, it’s an injustice to the child. However, it may still be better that those children who are not able to receive individual love and attention while being cared for by the state, are adopted into such homes. Better still, the state relinquishes it’s assumed superiority in caring for children through various secular social service organizations, giving them back to those original homes who were the first to take on this responsibility through providence, wherein members already go by the name of Mother and Father, Sister and Brother, providing the state continues to provide protection for children against abuse, as would be the case for any other situation children may be in, including with their biological parents or relatives.

Ideally, children will be raised by their biological mother and father where they will “benefit from the love and care of both mother and father, and from their parents’ committed and exclusive love for each other.”³¹⁹ Moreover, “an extensive body of research tells us that children do best when they grow up with both biological parents in a low-conflict marriage.³²⁰

A persuasive article by Matt Walsh, “blogger, writer, speaker and professional truth sayer,” suggests that “gay adoption might be good for gay activists, but it’s terrible for children.”³²¹ His argument appears related to concerns involving a higher incidence of promiscuity,³²² disease³²³ and drug addiction.³²⁴ However, about half of the six million children in the United States who are being raised by a parent who identifies as homosexual, have that parent as their biological mother or father.³²⁵

In viewing oneself as homosexual, a person may feel unworthy or incapable of a relationship with God, whether through:

a poor sense of self-worth, which could be a problem associated with a genetic predisposition to depression,³²⁶ further compounding the complexity of the issue

considerations in light of Biblically inspired animosity towards the enactment of homosexual behaviors

a lack of the internal reward system associated with practicing the virtues of chastity and continence

a lack of knowledge of personal infinite worth in consideration of the ultimate destiny of the soul

fear of being ridiculed or unaccepted at social events or in communities where acting on SSA is discouraged

A sense of incompatibility with God for having experienced same-sex attraction, or for having acted on those feelings, whether through fantasy, masturbation and/or experimentation with a partner, is likely compounded through the work of evil spirits, i.e. the work of the devil and the fallen angels who follow him. Similarly, the devil will do everything within his power to put enmity between creature and Creator. The accuser will belittle and put you down, whenever the opportunity arises, unless perhaps you’re indifferent or actively taking sides with him. Then he’ll encourage you, but ultimately leave you empty, lifeless. Realizing this source of demonic influence better prepares a person to overcome the wickedness and snares of the devil, which are always aimed at creating distance between creature and Creator, son or daughter, with loving Father.

Sin separates us from God, who is being itself, perfectly good, loving and holy, and such sin is often the result of our own weakness and concupiscence. In either case, angst should be directed at the behavior,³²⁷ not at oneself, whether in relation to the identity one may have falsely formed in viewing themselves as homosexual or in relation to having had feelings of SSA. Similarly, anger shouldn’t be directed at those who choose not to accept or embrace homosexual behavior or the related lifestyle, whether or not involving immorality or promiscuity, which is certainly not always the case, nor same-sex marriage and adoption.

The more a person is aware that SSA can be a natural part of growing up, and that appetite for homosexual experience may be strengthened through behavior that reinforces that appetite, the more likely a person will be free to love Him, uninhibited by considerations that he or she was made in a way contrary to being loved by Him from birth, or for acting in a way that seems natural in response to an inclination. Building this kind of love between creature and Creator, between son or daughter and eternal Father, is the primary purpose of this life, best preparing us for eternal life. In this light, living in this world can be compared to living in a womb… sooner or later, often through many labor pains, our birth to eternal life occurs.

When we see ourselves as a child of a loving God, first and foremost, we’re better equipped to overcome depression, especially when genetically prone to it and when that depression is compounded through a sense of shame or public rejection. Likewise, our relationship with God increases our ability to pursue happiness, if not simply through having greater freedom from vice, through knowing we’ll never be completely alone, that we can be embraced by Him here and now, as often experienced through prayer and through support from members of the Body of Christ, i.e. His bride, the Church.

Although labels or stereotypes shouldn’t change the way we behave, they often do. A person may judge, stereotype or label another person, but how that label effects another has more to do with the intention of the person giving it, i.e. whether it was used in a spiteful, sarcastic or mean way, intending to hurt. Nonetheless, all labels are superficial, as discussed exceptionally well by Artie, in “Shrek the Third.”³²⁸

Moreover, because human beings are so dynamic, having a wide range of emotions and inclinations, attempting to understand someone or oneself through a label is likely to be erroneous. This may seem trivial for an adult, but young adults, whose minds are not as well developed, can be obsessed with how they’re viewed by others. A label such as dork, nerd, geek, fatso, weakling, fag, loser, etc., can be a basis for forming a low sense of self-worth. And yet, even as adults, as discussed by Fr. Robert Spitzer in his DVD, “Virtue, Freedom and Faith,”³²⁹ excessively comparing ourselves with others can be a disease of living an ego-centric lifestyle wherein happiness is commensurate only when perceiving oneself as having things better off than another. Quite simply, as St. Augustine puts it, and as Fr. Robert Barron expounds exceptionally well when discussing the Beatitudes in his DVD, “Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith,”³³⁰

You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.

To the extent that a person can combat fear of being labeled and its ability to undermine free expression, the less likely they’re going to overreact, whether consciously or unconsciously. Moreover, fear often diminishes one’s ability to live fully in the present, especially during social situations where one is more concerned about their reputation. It is for this reason that many utilize drugs, legal or illegal, as a means of dulling or alleviating the fears associated with being judged by others, helping us to loosen up and have a good time during social events. Conversely, when one is surrounded by good people who are caring and aren’t prone to belittle others, one discovers they don’t need mind-altering substances to have a good time. This is one of the many blessings of a good Christian community, one where good manners are regularly practiced, and conversely, why many young adults who are ignorant of, or walk away from the faith, find they need to go to bars or parties and utilize drugs in order to loosen up and have a good time. Eventually, the situation can become so bad that a person goes out simply to use drugs, or simply stays home and does so.

A person’s reputation is their most valuable social possession; if a threat related to being perceived as untrustworthy or unworthy of respect presents itself, one is likely to fight against it. Moreover, every person has a right to a good name. Without it they cannot function in society: people will not trust them, will not talk to them, will despise them, etc. Every person thus has a right to a good name and we do not have a right to take this away from someone. Even when we are accurately describing someone's bad characteristics, though not necessarily bad things a person has done that may be important to share with others to protect them, we are still depriving them of the good name they have a right to.

The kind of popularity and reputation I valued while going through public school, prior to my transformation, would have done little good for me beyond school. In contrast, when identifying as a Christian, the ego is wrestled with so that it becomes more and more subservient to a desire to serve and love God, and others as oneself, even esteeming others as better than oneself. This can be a huge transformation for anyone who comes to know Christ at a young age in that they can be relieved from the struggle involving popularity or reputation, particularly in relation to demeaning, false or trivial allegations that can influence a person’s ability to form friendships. Accordingly, one learns to embrace attitudes consistent with the Litany of Humility:

O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed, Deliver me, Jesus. (repeat after each line)
From the desire of being loved,
From the desire of being extolled,
From the desire of being honored,
From the desire of being praised,
From the desire of being preferred to others,
From the desire of being consulted,
From the desire of being approved,
From the fear of being humiliated,
From the fear of being despised,
From the fear of suffering rebukes,
From the fear of being calumniated,
From the fear of being forgotten,
From the fear of being ridiculed,
From the fear of being wronged,
From the fear of being suspected,
That others may be loved more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. (repeat after each line)
That others may be esteemed more than I,
That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease,
That others may be chosen and I set aside,
That others may be praised and I unnoticed,
That others may be preferred to me in everything,
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

And two more petitions that might also be appropriate for someone like me:
From the fear of being considered a goofball, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being considered a loser, deliver me, Jesus.

For those hoping to follow Jesus, reputation isn’t as important as kindness, mercy and the cultivation of virtue. And still, persecution for His sake is welcomed.

In a public school, a person is more apt to suffer when being identified as Christian, and for this reason, more likely to experience personal growth, providing they’re steadfast in their faith. Conversely, being Christian takes on less personal meaning in a private ecclesiastical school, because it’s taken for granted that most already are, or appear to be. Therefore, there is less of a need for evangelization and the development of courage, less of an opportunity to be different through Christ, to observe the contrast between those who love Him and those who don’t, to realize the need for Christ and an appreciation and respect for those who are brothers and sisters because of Him.

Also, since a person is more likely to compare themselves with their peers, as opposed to various saints who’ve preceded them, there is a greater chance for feeling scandalized or demoralized in a parochial school as many are still unable to practice self-discipline and receive the associated graces in accomplishing the work associated with the redemption of the body, as discussed in “Theology of the Body,” especially while young. Alternatively, in a public school, immoral sexual behavior isn’t as likely to cause scandal because most young adults simply accept it as a part of growing up, being in accord with the tenets of naturalism. With respect to this, it may be better for a child to go to a public school where they can encounter Him, observing a greater contrast between believer and unbeliever, unencumbered by outward formalities of devotion, rather than grow accustomed to inappropriate behavior and accept it as a standard for manners, a norm for holiness, or as a mode of habitually presuming upon God’s mercy, thereby weakening trust among peers that would otherwise form through individual consistency and competency.³³¹

Furthermore, since Christians are called to be engaged in culture, when more Christian parents choose to send their children to public schools, more parents will be concerned with helping to ensure that some degree of Christ-centered education is available to their children, such as the education provided by Jeff Cavin’s in, “The Bible Timeline: The Story of Salvation.” Such an inclination helps to create more opportunities for others who have no knowledge of Him to grow in such knowledge, even though no student should be required to enroll in such classes unless instructed by their parent to do so. Additionally, those who study theology and salvation history as a career choice, hoping to teach such knowledge, would thereby have more opportunities to do so, leading more to choose such a vocation, further helping to transform our culture. Indeed, Christians are called to be in, but not of, the world.

Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. –1 John 2:15

In closing this section on SSA, I want to emphasize how love causes vulnerability. The more we love someone, the more we can get hurt. Relationships that involve a sexual dimension have the potential to be the closest relationships we’ll ever form. Because of this, there’s often no greater pain than the experience of separation from someone you love, from someone you’ve been so close to. When such love is built upon trust and that trust is broken through infidelity, the pain can be excruciating.

Considering this, how much more vulnerable are those who love Him in the eyes of the world when that love is based on faith? How much faith is required by those who continue loving Him when they were not actually there to witness Him walking and talking after His resurrection? How vulnerable are those who rely on the eyewitness testimony of His mother and close friends, friends like St. Peter, James and John?

A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” – John 20:26-29

Would those who are Christian go on being Christian if all they had to rely on was the testimony of eye witnesses? Or, do those who continue believing and loving Him do so because He’s present to them in a special way every day? Or, perhaps because they’ve witnessed supernatural events as a result of being in a relationship with Him, one that can grow every day?

Those who believe Jesus rose from the dead are often seen as weak in the eyes of the world, a world where repeatability is often considered the only basis for truth, a world where faith is seen as a kind of opium for the pains of reality. And yet, while studies have shown that faith filled people tend to be happier and have more ‘life satisfaction,’³³² while Scripture study and a supportive community prevent many alternative, pain-filled realities, while the health preserving and healing power of prayer has been scientifically proven³³³… in our poverty of spirit, in our persecution, He is stronger within us.

That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. –2 Corinthians 12:10 (NIV)

As someone who believes, coming to terms with this vulnerability and opening oneself to the ridicule of the world is often a vital part of spiritual growth, a kind of “coming-out,” a cross that should be carried and a battle that must be fought. Evangelization opens a person to the possibility of rejection and ridicule. When that occurs, a person grows stronger in overcoming fear of rejection. And yet, they can take delight in knowing they’ll be blessed for having been persecuted because of Him, because they embrace love over hatred, virtue over vice, service over selfishness, generosity over jealousy or envy, forgiveness over resentment or a grudge –things people can struggle with day after day.

When someone is willing to suffer for Him, their faith grows. He reveals Himself more and more, as a lover to her husband. That person becomes more aware of the spiritual battles taking place. Similarly, without taking part in this battle, in this aspect of the cross, the gift of faith a person has received can become weak; it can die. As St. James puts it, “faith without works is dead.” Evangelization is one of the works associated with the Gospel… after all, when you’re in love, when you have good news, you want to share it!

Evangelism is part of the commission of all baptized believers. It is strengthened by the Sacrament of Confirmation. St. Thomas Aquinas informs us,

The perfection of spiritual strength consists properly on a man's daring to confess the faith of Christ in the presence of anyone at all, and in a man's being not withdrawn therefrom either by confusion or by terror, for strength drives out inordinate terror. Therefore, the sacrament by which spiritual strength is conferred on the one born again makes him in some sense a frontline fighter for the faith of Christ. And because fighters under a prince carry his insignia, they who receive the Sacrament of Confirmation are signed with the Sign of the Cross by which he fought and conquered. This sign they receive on the forehead as a sign that without a blush they publicly confess the faith of Christ.

This signing takes place with a mixture of oil and balm which is called chrism, and not without reason. For by the oil one designates the power of the Holy Spirit, from whom Christ, too, is called “anointed” (Ps. 44:8; Luke 4:18); and consequently from Christ they are called “Christians” (Acts 9:26), so to say, as fighting under Him. And by the balm, through its fragrance, good repute is indicated. For the public confession of faith in Christ this good repute must be had by those who dwell among men of this world, brought forth, so to say, from the hidden recesses of the Church onto the field of battle.

Suitably, too, this sacrament is conferred only by bishops, who are in some sense the leaders of the Christian army. For even in secular military forces it is the prerogative of the army leader to select some men to be enrolled; so, also, those who receive this sacrament seem to be enrolled somehow in the spiritual military forces. Hence, also, a hand is laid upon them to designate the derivation of manliness from Christ.³³⁴

With respect to same-sex attraction, men and women should grow in authentic masculinity ⁽³³⁵, ³³⁶⁾ and femininity (³³⁷, ³³⁸⁾, though they can overlap, leveraging these strengths while sharing the Good News of His resurrection.

A faithful Catholic is obliged to aim and to tend toward Christian perfection. Jesus said, “Be perfect, as your holy Father is perfect.”

Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus will help us in this direction. Because Holiness is not for weaklings, for softies, for sissies, the worshipper of comfy repose, but for people of a manly heart who are determined to follow our Supreme King, our Prophet, our Priest, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.³³⁹

      The true measure of a manly heart can be assessed by our ability and willingness to carry the cross we’re given, to accept and even look forward to pain in the service of others. Surely we can see, in beholding Jesus on the cross, who’s the manliest among us.

He’s coming soon, and yet, He waits for us!

My virginal brothers and sisters, keep some oil in your lamp!³⁴⁰

      “For the LORD your God is a devouring fire, a jealous God.”³⁴¹

The Morality of Oral Sex

      Do men often fantasize about having oral sex?  According to a study of 1,516 men between 18 and 77 years old, with an average age of 30, the most common sexual fantasy involves oral sex.  87.6% of the men studied responded that they have this fantasy.³⁴²

      Oral sex has traditionally been esteemed as sodomy.  Sodomy was treated as a felony in every US state prior to 1962.  In 1779, Thomas Jefferson wrote a law in Virginia which contained a punishment of castration for men who engage in sodomy, which he intended to be a liberalization of the laws in Virginia at that time.³⁴³  Certainly castration is a lesser punishment than the death penalty.  Around 1962, punishment involved a lengthy term of imprisonment and/or hard labor.

      One of the advantageous of holding such behavior in disdain, regardless of any inherent truth involved with classifying it as fundamentally immoral, is the greater ease with which one can maintain chaste thoughts; when one regards such behavior with disdain, there is one less avenue for the mind to be carried away with.  Is it easy to be held captive by lustful thoughts?  If so, would not cultivating an attitude of disdain for such behavior help to prevent the mind from being carried away so easily?

      For a moment, let’s assume that it is true that such behavior is immoral.  This would mean the laws of our society have become increasingly tolerant of immoral behavior.  Let’s also assume that one is bound to be more healthy and sane when they embrace truth.  Similarly, as with many lies wherein basic truths are lacking, or where there are half-truths, a.k.a. heresies, one is bound to be healthier and saner when they embrace the fullness of the truth.

      “What is truth?” you might ask in a sarcastic tone, as if to say there is no absolute truth.  Interestingly, that is the same question Pontius Pilate asked Jesus as He was on trial for blasphemy, for claiming to be God,³⁴⁴ a crime punishable by death according to Jewish law.  Thus, Pontius Pilate is the patron of relativism,³⁴⁵ that there is no absolute truth.  In contrast, Jesus said, “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life.” With regards to lust, He also said,

You have heard that it was said, “You shall not commit adultery.” But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell. –Matthew 5:27-30

      In order to bolster the truth of the statement that sodomy is immoral and that such behavior should be held with disdain, consider it in the context of the addictive and harmful nature of pornography.  In late 2011, Newsweek published an article entitled, “The Sex Addiction Epidemic,”

…compulsive sexual behavior, also called hypersexual disorder, can systematically destroy a person’s life much as addictions to alcohol or drugs can. And it’s affecting an increasing number of Americans, say psychiatrists and addiction experts. “It’s a national epidemic,” says Steven Luff, coauthor of Pure Eyes: A Man’s Guide to Sexual Integrity and leader of the X3LA sexual-addiction recovery groups in Hollywood. ³⁴⁶

One man’s experience further elucidates the nature of the struggle,

Friendships suffered, and he felt “pathetic” about his sexual urgency. The worst part, he says, was that his sex drive ultimately changed “what I think is normal,” as his tolerance grew for increasingly hard-core forms of pornography. “It really is like that monster you can’t ever fulfill,” says Harper, 30, who has avoided dating for the past eight months and attends a recovery group. “Both with the porn and the sex, something will be good for a while and then you have to move on to other stuff. The worst thing is, toward the end, I was looking at pretend incest porn. And I was like, ‘Why is something like that turning me on?!’

      As a single person hoping to embrace the virtue of chastity, not only for a healthier, saner and self-controlled mind, but for the sake of the cross of Christ in uniting our suffering with His and being an active source for truth in the world as a member of His Body, consider the possibility that a stronger love for God, a more productive disposition, and greater respect and love for oneself and others will ensue as one views sodomy with disdain.

Should this view change in the context of marriage?

      For an act to be moral, it must satisfy three elements: 1) the objective act (what we do); 2) the subjective goal or intention (why we do the act); and 3) the concrete situation or circumstances in which we perform the act.

All three aspects must be good –the objective act, the subjective intention, and the circumstances –in order to have a morally good act. ³⁴⁷

The Holy Spirit has inspired the Catholic Church to teach that for a sexual act to be moral, it must be marital, unitive and procreative.  It must be all three.  Thus, in addition to not being directly procreative, if we consider oral sex ordinarily unnatural, except in the context of sexual arousal involving intense feelings of attraction and a strong desire to please the other, we may also agree that,

Unnatural sexual acts are not truly unitive (even if there is a type of mere physical union) because this is not the type of union intended by God for marriage. ³⁴⁸

      Arguably, many married couples engage in oral sex.  Arguably, there is a unitive element inherent to such acts.  Since the act itself cannot directly be procreative, which it must be in order to be moral according to the requirements above, the question can then become one of context… is this behavior necessary as part of an overall procreative act?

      Without giving this question further consideration, are there negative consequences that couples don’t foresee when engaging in such behavior?  Might this create enmity between them in their ordinary day-to-day interactions?  Would such behavior increase the likelihood of one demeaning the other, or developing a pattern or mindset of “using” them rather than truly appreciating them?  Conversely, how might such an act impair romance?  Similarly, could the act impair an element of tenderness that would otherwise occur during intercourse?  How about tenderness during day-to-day interactions?

Consider the following question:

In the post-revolutionary world, sex is easier than ever while _____ is nowhere to be found.

Pornography
B. Divorce
C. Dissatisfaction
D. Romance
E. None of the above

Romance is a tenderness, a caring, a “sacredness” to the physical and emotional behavior between a couple. Sex between the spouses is one of the natural ends of romance.  This end is thwarted by pornography and a contraceptive mindset because sex becomes “safe” in this mentality, but sex is inherently wild and creative by nature, procreation being an aspect of that. ³⁴⁹

According to Christopher West in his book “Good News about Sex & Marriage,”

There’s nothing that singles out the genitals as being “unkissable” as part of a husband and wife’s foreplay to intercourse.  The term “oral sex,” however, most often refers to an act in which orgasm is sought and achieved apart from an act of intercourse.  Indeed, many couples consider such behavior a desirable alternative to normal intercourse. And, yes, this is wrong, even for married couples – though the clarification made above regarding female orgasm is applicable here as well: It’s not objectively wrong if the wife achieves climax as a result of oral stimulation, so long as it’s within the context of a completed act of intercourse.

Conversely, according to Alice von Hildebrandt,

Having acquainted myself (reluctantly) with Popcak’s Holy Sex, I do not believe it merits the extravagant praise West grants it. I do know that my husband would never write such a review. For one thing, he would have strongly objected to the book’s graphic, explicit nature, which West mistakenly sees as “boldness” rather than vulgarity. For another, Dietrich would have vigorously opposed Popcak’s so-called “one rule”—that married couples “may do whatever they wish,” as long as they don’t use contraception, “both feel loved and respected,” and the marital act culminates within the woman. (p. 193). As another reviewer commented, this reduces marital love to a lowest common denominator, where “everything else can be left to the judgment of each couple. A variety of sexual positions, oral sex, sexual toys, and role playing are all judged permissible as long as couples follow the ‘one rule.’ (Catholicbookreviews.org, 2008)

These ideas would have struck Dietrich von Hildebrand as abhorrent. It is precisely because the marital bed is sacred that one should approach acts within it with enormous reverence. Degrading and perverse sexual behavior– even it is it done by a married couple, who do not practice contraception– should be condemned, as an assault on human dignity. The “pornification” of marriage should be resisted as vigorously as the pornification of our culture.

I cannot describe what Dietrich thought of pornography: the very word triggered an expression of horror on his noble face. The same thing is true of sodomy. He had such a sense for the dignity of human persons that any posture, which sins against this dignity, was repulsive to him. It is in this context, that we should judge Popcak’s shocking suggestion (p. 248) that “as Christopher West has noted in his book, Good News About Sex and Marriage, there is nothing technically forbidding a couple from engaging” in sodomy (provided the husband culminates the normal sex act within his wife); and that, while he discourages the practice of marital sodomy, “nevertheless, following Augustine’s dictum and in the absence of greater clarification from the Church, couples are free to exercise prudential judgment” in this regard.

That a Catholic author would cite “Augustine’s dictum” (presumably the much-misinterpreted “Love, and do what you will”) as a justification for sodomy would have broken my husband’s heart. Furthermore, the fact that an act is not formally condemned does not entitle us to believe that it is right or good. When Cain murdered his brother, he was not disobeying a formal order from God, but he knew he was committing a grave moral evil — against the Natural Law — already written on mankind’s heart. Similarly, petri dish “conception” is an abomination in and by itself, even though it is not in the Ten Commandments. It is against the dignity of a person to be “made” in a laboratory. “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (Mathew 11: 15)

In this context, it is important for couples to avoid what Canon Jacques Leclerc calls “any corruption of love” in the marital bed. He writes: “There are many who believe that once they are married, they may do whatever they like.” But “they do not understand,” he continues, that “the search for every means of increasing pleasure can be a perversion.” He cautions: “Now, there are even among the most Christian young people many who know nothing of the moral aspect of the problem and have only the rudimentary idea that everything is forbidden outside marriage, but that within marriage everything is allowed. It is thus a good thing to remember that the morality of conjugal relations does not allow that pleasure should be sought by every means, but calls for a sexual life that is at the same time healthy, simple and normal.” (Marriage: A Great Sacrament, 1951, p. 88). These are sentiments which my husband, Dietrich von Hildebrand, would have thoroughly approved.³⁵⁰

According to St. Thomas Aquinas:

And since the man who is too ardent a lover of his wife acts counter to the good of marriage if he uses her indecently, although he be not unfaithful, he may in a sense be called an adulterer; and even more so than he that is too ardent a lover of another woman.³⁵¹

      In this sense, St. Thomas is referring to viewing and treating one’s spouse as an object for sexual desire, rather than a person.  This type of objectification, common to lustfulness, is contrary to the dignity of marriage, contrary to the tenderness and respect with which spouses should treat one another.  St. Thomas goes on to say,

Lastly comes the sin of not observing the right manner of copulation, which is more grievous if the abuse regards the ‘vas’ than if it affects the manner of copulation in respect of other circumstances.³⁵²

      When a person views their spouse as an object of sexual desire, rather than as a person, they’re more likely to treat them inappropriately.  St. Thomas addresses this when referring to abuse wherein other body orifices are used as a “vas,” or vessel, for sexual acts.

      St. Paul informs us that we should keep the bedroom clean and undefiled.  Does oral sex promote a disposition of temperance, modesty and a reverence for intimacy in the context of its innate nature to lead to life, as our loving Creator has intended?

      Are couples more prone to view one another shamefully the next morning when compared to more reserved acts of intimacy?  If not, could there be a kind of numbness hindering spiritual growth?

      Do traditional forms of intimacy promote greater appreciation and tenderness for one’s partner, not only during the act itself but the next morning and throughout the rest of the week?  How about towards children, other family members or friends? Is the duration of the act likely to last longer when these other alternative forms of intimacy are not practiced, if not in the immediate sense, after a routine has been established, potentially creating greater fulfillment?  Could any of the suffering or sacrifice involved in living without these forms of intimacy better dispose the soul towards salvation?

      In closing, please also consider the following article written by the highly esteemed Monica Breaux, a Catholic social worker and PhD who has spent more than 15 years collecting research that validates the wisdom of the Catholic vision of sexuality.

      ON MARITAL CHASTITY

Published March 2, 2006 in The Catholic Sun as Humanly Possible column

Making good sexual choices in our lives (part 1)

Once upon a time there was a young man who felt called to the priesthood. He struggled against the same temptations to sexual sin that every young man must face in spiritual combat. With the help of grace, he lived in holiness. He prayed, volunteered in the church and served God lovingly in his work. He entered the seminary, but within a few years he left because he fell in love and married a young woman. They were virgins on their wedding day and remained faithful to each other, just as they had promised in their marriage vows.

The man believed that impure thoughts were sinful, so when he was tempted to indulge in sexual fantasy, he distracted himself with prayerful service to his family and church. He maintained “custody of the eyes” as he had been taught, which means he simply looked away from things that caused sexual arousal. He prayed with his wife each day for God’s grace to avoid sin by resisting temptations. Their marriage did not include contraception, abortion, pornography, masturbation, adultery, or fantasy affairs with other people. His wife felt desirable and well loved by him.

They accepted their fertility as a good gift from God, so they practiced Natural Family Planning. Their lovemaking was always open to God’s will and they welcomed each child He sent. When they discerned in prayer to abstain from sex during fertile times to space their children, they returned to the joys of courtship that they had known prior to marriage. Having a monthly courtship (by abstaining from sex) and honeymoon period (by returning to sexual loving) kept their romance alive and well. They had children and grandchildren and recently she died. Her last words were, “Honey, I love you much.” He responded, “Sweetie, you were my only girl.” The man’s name is Vernon Broussard and he is well known in Louisiana where he serves God lovingly. Sexual expression faithful to God’s design is humanly possible.

God invites us into a life of sexual purity that allows us to love fully and naturally and also satisfies the deepest longing of our hearts to be truly loved as we are. When we reject the purpose of our maleness or our femaleness, we reject God’s plan. When we reject our fertility or any aspect of our bodies, we reject God’s gift. Why do we insult God who designed human beings and human sexual desires? Will we eventually choose one flower in the world as the best one, fixate ourselves on it, and then try to make them all look like that? Until we thank God for the design of our own body, we will never feel loved and accepted by another person.

Every day we make sexual choices. Before we make behavior choices, we first make choices in our minds that shape our own desires. When a thought pops in our head, we have free will to distract ourselves with other thoughts or behaviors. Choosing our thoughts is how we form our habits of desire. Our sexual appetite can be formed to desire any person or thing.  Indulging in sexual fantasy connects our sexual appetite to unreal people and unreal situations. Sexual fantasy interferes with our ability to enjoy real life people and situations and it can lead to addiction.

In the Alcoholics Anonymous program, people learn to call another person (sponsor), go to a meeting, or use slogans or reading materials to distract themselves from destructive ideas that lead to loss of self-control. Repeating new ideas helps to alter our brain and helps to form new habits. Changing the brain by changing what we think about, in order to change what we desire and what we do, is the basis of therapy. We are not victims of our sexual appetite.

The Depths of God’s Knowledge

FEBRUARY 21, 2015

One of my Lenten observances this year is to listen to Catholic Answers on the radio for one hour every week day.

I decided to divide my Lenten observances into basic and “above and beyond.”  Those things on my basic list, like abstaining from chocolate, learning about and spending time with a saint, going to bed around nine and fasting one day per week, I hope to complete rigorously, while those on my “above and beyond” list, I hope to incorporate if I’m able, but am not going to be too concerned with if I don’t.  Listening to Catholic Answers is on my “above and beyond” list.

Yesterday, while listening to Catholic Answers, a caller inquired about whether or not God would form someone differently in knowing that if he didn’t, that person would end up going to hell.  Essentially, since God is all-knowing, if he knows that making a person a certain way will result in them going to hell, would he make them differently?

The response given to the caller was carefully thought through, highlighting God’s mercy and our free will.  Unfortunately, however, I couldn’t listen as intently as I’d hoped, at least beyond the first minute.  What I did hear during that first minute gave me the impression that the answer wasn’t as clear and succinct as it could have been.  Rather, I thought about a response I might have given, an analogy I’ve reflected on several times in the past when considering God’s omniscience.

When I was around seven years old my father taught me and my brothers how to play chess.  Chess is a fun game.  It’s not only fun, it’s addictive!  Although I’m not currently suffering from an addiction, suffice to say that there have been times when abstaining from chess was a basic Lenten observance.

Chess is challenging because to be good at it you have to consider many options, not only those involving possible choices you might make, but those of your opponent as well.

Advances in technology have allowed us to design electronic chess games with varying levels of difficulty.  At the most advanced level, the computer can analyze all the possible choices a person might make and all the possible choices it might make in response, right down to the last move.

This is how I consider God’s omniscience with respect to our free-will:

In a sense, God doesn’t know the exact choices that we’ll make since we haven’t made them yet.  Rather, he knows all the choices that are available to us and all the possible variations in outcomes that might occur in response to that choice and in relation to the choices others might make at the same time.  All the factors surrounding our genetics and environment play a role, functioning as sources of influence and playing a role in the nature and extent of the outcomes.

Factors such as these, and all the options available, He is fully aware of.  However, the choices we’re actually going to make, are yet unknown, even to Him, in the sense of us, as free agents, having 100% free will, have only actually made some of the choices that we’re ever going to make, the rest still being undetermined, with the number available depending on how much longer we’ll be alive. And is not our lifespan most often dependent on our previous choices, for example whether we make dietary sacrifices to live a healthier lifestyle?  However, as consistency builds trust, so does our character suggest the likelihood we’re going to make certain choices, and therefore, our future is discernible.  Nonetheless, if this freedom to choose, even to choose in a manner contrary to His will, didn’t exist, there could be no real separation from Him, no room for transgression or reconciliation, no room for personal responsibility.

Since there are no limitations on the extent of God’s knowledge, it’s not unreasonable to assume that there is a version of our existence within his purview for every possible choice we could make, and all those that follow it, including all the variations that result from the choices of others and changes in the natural world. The past that we have is the version of our existence that is actual and no longer hypothetical to Him, wherein we made a certain choice or were acted upon by others or natural forces, in a fallen world, in ways that precluded our exercising a certain choice. And, this same scenario applies to those choices that preceded our being born to the extent that there were versions of existence for our parents, and theirs, and on and on, wherein we, or they, never came into existence.

Essentially, we share in creation and are co-creators, either for good or evil.  We must cooperate with His will, learning about Him and what He has revealed to us, thus helping to ensure we’re on the path of salvation towards eternal life.

When we’ve fallen, we must accept His grace, His all-encompassing mercy and love, with humility, getting up, dusting ourselves off, continuing to reach for what is good, perfect, holy and just.  This is what separates us from sainthood, not that any of those who’ve gone before us, becoming saints, haven’t fallen, but that they’ve gotten up and kept going, kept carrying the cross, accepting the difficulties of a Christ-centered life.

If everything is predetermined, how could there be an authentic and personal sense of growth towards perfection?  Similarly, no athlete would ever feel a sense of fulfillment from winning a difficult race if he or she hadn’t voluntarily applied themselves.  Loving God with our whole heart, mind, soul and strength, and others as ourselves, studying Scripture, receiving the Sacraments, performing good works and engaging in prayer help us to unite with His will, potentially mitigating factors related to genetics and environment so that we may achieve righteousness and perfection. And, while it is true that a person can be forgiven for a lifetime of sinful behavior, and have some, or all the penalty due to sin remitted by the infinite merits of Jesus’ blood, it can take a lifetime to cultivate virtue and appreciate all the rewards that come from such cultivation. Would this not then mean that those who elect to live such a life and ask for mercy on their deathbed, should they have the option, merit less glory in heaven, assuming they are not still going to spend a good amount of time in purgatory?

Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.  For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.       –Matthew 5:1-20

You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.       –Matthew 5:43-48

Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.

From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

–Matthew 24:32-36

What Constitutes a Good Apology?

      Forgiveness is the corner stone of a thriving civilization. On the individual level, it’s the corner stone of a good disposition towards others to set the stage for working relationships and love. Why is this the corner stone? Because we are human and we all make mistakes. If we can’t forgive, we end up living with a spirit of hatred, seeking justice and revenge.

      Do you know what the study of anthropology is? According to Merriam Webster,

the science of human beings; especially : the study of human beings in relation to distribution, origin, classification, and relationship of races, physical character, environmental and social relations, and culture

      How about theology? Arguably, theology deals with the origin, nature, and destiny of human beings. In some respects, theology and anthropology are related.

      Are you fascinated with the study of human cultures? What I like most about learning anthropology and theology are those things that help us feel connected and fulfilled. My spirit cries out with joy to Jesus in light of His ability to connect people, to help us put aside ego issues and selfishness! God has given us our culture through the generations; from it, we can learn about those things that build or divide our unity.

      In Eskimo culture, if one on a trek runs out of food, it’s considered acceptable to go into another igloo, even one of a total stranger, and eat whatever is available. In America, that would be considered breaking and entering. Arguably, without the grace of Jesus Christ, who can multiply loaves of bread, if there was a shortage of food, we can’t feed everyone, even if only those in our own community. Thanks be to God, we don’t face that situation.

      Would you consider a food pact with friends? I encourage each of us to make an agreement with a few of our friends, to embrace an aspect of unity that is common in the Eskimo culture. Say to your friend, ‘You are welcome to come to my house anytime, whether I’m home or not, and eat something. Here is the key to my house.’ How much would our relationships grow and be challenged if we embraced each other in that way? How tight would our hugs to one another be? How much would God bless us with His spirit if we were to do that with our closest friends? Matthew 10:42 states,

…and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward. ³⁵³

Let us prophesize over one another towards the glory of God!

      As you might be able to tell, I’m excited about enhancing our culture. I yearn for connections to people. I believe we all do, that God made us social creatures above all. The Holy Spirit encourages each of us to take advantage of the opportunity to spend a day in fellowship with each other and our Lord! (Hebrews 10:25)

      Anthropology encompasses a study of our behaviors. We all form a sense of right and wrong. Our sense of injustice when we are wronged helps form the basis of our judicial systems. For the sake of analogy, imagine a pyramid. Let our sense of injustice form the base, the very foundation. Let this base be Pathos, the Greek word for feeling or emotion.

      How we feel towards one another is perhaps the single most important aspect of our natural lives that determines the success of our relationships. Before we ever knew Christ, we knew how we felt about other people, and we often used that as a barometer for how we would get along. As we carry on in our lives, and as we ascend the pyramid towards heaven, the Logos allows us to transcend our natural dispositions so that our behavior is kinder than it would otherwise be, so that our feelings may be a spring of water welling up to eternal life, a never-ending spring that Christ wants us to share with Him and others. This same Logos is the word used in Greek to describe the Word made Flesh,³⁵⁴ whose Ethos is given to us, in part, by St. Matthew³⁵⁵ and St. Luke.³⁵⁶

      Tying things back to forgiveness, how can we use the art of apology, whether in our thoughts or our words with another, as a confession for a mistake we may have made? How may we apply the Logos, the Word of God, into our lives for better relationships, to expand the Christian frontier?

      When we are angry at someone, our first instinct is to cry out for justice. We want that person to experience our pain, to know that they committed a wrong-doing. Chimpanzees are notorious for seeking revenge.³⁵⁷ In many respects, when it comes to revenge, we can be very similar. Conversely, the ultimatum of both John the Baptist and Jesus of Nazareth is to repent of sin, to cultivate an attitude of repentance that encompasses forgiving others as we’d like to be forgiven.
      What does it mean to repent? To repent is to apologize.

      We want love, but we also want justice. The need for apology permeates all human relationships. Marriage, parenting, courtships and all sorts of human interactions within a variety of vocations require apology to continue working.

      What does it mean to apologize? It means to confess our mistakes and seek correction of our behavior in order to be forgiven. It is a spiritual thing when we confess and the gates of heaven open up. When we confess to our priest, minister or friends (as suggested in James 5:16), we allow that person into a portion of our soul, where they may mediate just as Jesus mediates for us to the Father. In this, we truly share in His Divinity, sons and daughters of God.

      Suppose I’m preaching to a crowd of 2000 people. If the physical person of Jesus stood before me today, and He certainly is here with us today, i.e. His Holy Spirit, he may not be able to sit down with each of us in His physical person, for an apology. But, He would still be present through His Holy Spirit. Yet, we shouldn’t stray from His words about the importance of speaking to one another in confessing our sins, and not necessarily the person who has wronged us, or the one whom we’ve wronged. How many people know that when we confess our sins to one another, the gates of heaven open up?

      Think about it… we pray and we see results. We think of someone and then we see them the next day. God speaks to us and gives us direction… how much more powerful is our prayer for forgiveness when we enable someone to pray on our behalf, to focus on exactly what our sinful nature might be and ask God to help us. I tell you it’s greater than the greatest dream we’ve ever had! It opens the floodgates of heaven. I can earnestly say that Jesus Christ will return in our lifetimes, and His return will be directly connected with us, each and every one of us, baptized with fire and the Holy Spirit, as we enact this form of apology for our sins!

      When we serve others, we are enacting forgiveness, to give something to someone in advance before they ask for it. It is an act of love. But is forgiveness the same as an apology? I say ‘no,’ at least not entirely. The movie, “Pay It Forward” exemplifies how we can behave with an attitude of forgiveness. It’s this spirit that Christ calls us towards, to demonstrate our love for one another, not just through forgiveness when wronged, but through showing mercy in advance.

      Conversely, an apology is an act of restitution to the wronged for mercy and reconciliation. It is an act which states, ‘I know I was wrong and I want to stop this behavior.’

      The person who has been wronged may then give to that person the reconciliation they desire, either through a hug, an invitation for a meal, or an opportunity to spend time together through a shared hobby, such as rock collecting or climbing, working on a puzzle, sewing, knitting, cooking, painting, hiking or singing. It may mean restored intimacy. We should let our actions speak louder than our words when we try to emulate His holiness and avoid hypocrisy.

      Healthy families are remarkable because of a willingness to forgive. We often forgive our siblings more than seventy-seven times, more than seven hundred times if you know what it’s like to live with siblings.

      According to the book, “The Five Languages of Apology,” by Gary Chapman and Jennifer Thomas, when we sincerely apologize, we try to speak the following five languages:

“I am sorry.”

“I was wrong.”

“What can I do to make it right?”

“I’ll try not to do it again.”

“Will you please forgive me.”

Let us not neglect the importance of speaking these languages when we apologize; let us embrace forgiveness by paying it forward!

The Past is in His Hands

We live in a world where the imprint of the devil, the "Father of Lies," is so deep, that it often escapes our grasp. Perhaps we forget that the past we’re prone to accept with respect to the origin of life, a past that often seems very logical and scientific, as opposed to miraculous and occurring in a literal seven days, as described in Genesis, is not the past that God wills.  We tend to view the world as purely natural and unalterable in many ways.  

Ironically however, when we look deeply at the origin of the universe, the conditions that allow life to grow in a cold and sterile universe, and the fascinating intricacies of DNA and life itself, it seems... well, natural, to accept that things could not have happened through chance alone, that they only could have occurred through divine intervention.  Moreover, our faith, often spread and handed down at the expense of human life, teaches us that Love took on flesh in the form of a human being, entering the world through a miraculous birth, a birth prophesized about many, many years before. This Love-incarnate changed water into wine, healed lepers and those who were deaf, maimed and blind, cast out demons, calmed storms, walked on water and taught about God as his father, with authority, even claiming to be God Himself. Best of all, this man conceived in the womb of a virgin through the power of the Holy Spirit conquered death, rising from the dead and appearing to many over a 40-day period, and long afterwards. 

Out of love, God allows the terrible things we see in this world to happen.  It’s not His will, but often a result of the rebellion of Satan and our own disobedience, our own concupiscence.  

A quote comes to mind from the book "1984," written by George Orwell: "He who controls the present controls the past, he who controls the past controls the future."  

Out of love, God does not "control” things. For now, He allows Satan and his followers to continue existing, and therefore, to continue deceiving mankind, continue to exploit our weaknesses, continue to destroy the good things God has created.  And yet, God the Father, who is the creator and master of time, purportedly the only one who knows when the end will come,³⁵⁸ is in no way incapable of traveling through time, at least in the sense we understand it, to intervene as He wills.  

Considering this, I can't help but wonder, when the time comes for us to share fully in His presence, as we did in Eden before the fall, will He not heal, restore all the wounds of the past, giving us the capability to correct, perhaps as brilliantly radiant angels, things that had once gone wrong?  

It’s truly wonderful to know that the past itself is in His hands, that it is capable of being altered according to His will, capable of transformation beyond our imagination, without necessarily compromising our own unique knowledge of a past we once accepted without question, a past that reminds us of His goodness and our need for Him.  

A Unifying Theory behind the Exodus of Israel and Archeological Evidence

When you think of the Exodus do you think of a cute children’s story to be told around corresponding holidays?

Have you ever investigated whether the account of the Exodus given in the first few books of the Bible is a highly reliable record of human history?

A friend of mine recently gave me a book entitled “Reading the Bible: A Study Guide,” by Timothy R Carmody. It’s been a very informative read so far.  However, I hesitated to continue when I came across the following:

In about 1200 B.C.E. several tribes and groups of Semitic peoples formed a confederacy in the highland areas of Palestine and thus formed the Hebrew people who will be the nation of Israel.  There are many possible reconstructions of who they were and where they came from.  It is widely agreed that the biblical account of the premonarchical history is artificially unified, oversimplified and exaggerated.  …Most likely the tribes of Israel were groups or nomads from the desert who decided to settle in the highlands of Canaan, groups from the Philistine city states who wanted to start their own lives outside of that strict class system, and groups of ex-slaves from Egypt and other lands who settled down between the great highways from Egypt to Mesoptamia.³⁵⁹ 

My friend was teaching a class in theology. The students were being instructed in the knowledge of God. Are they to believe that the knowledge of God in the Bible is half-truth?

The author of the book states that it is “widely agreed.” That can be a bias inducing statement. If something is widely agreed upon, does that make it truth?

What concerns me about this explanation of Israelite history is that the Exodus event is central to Israelite worship (for example the Passover, the Feast of Weeks, i.e. Shavout) and Christian Salvation History (for example the Last Supper, the institution of the Eucharist as the memorial of His passion, and Pentecost ³⁶⁰). Believing that a loose confederacy of tribes was unified by a story about a departure from Egypt, with little reason to believe that the story is accurate or true, undermines a providential understanding of God’s intervention in human history.

For one thing, the Passover lamb has sacrificial elements that correspond to the Body and Blood of Christ.  The blood placed on the door of the Israelite home caused the angel of death to pass over and spare the first-born child. Moreover, it is the blood of Christ that delivers those who believe in Jesus from sin and the death it causes.  Similarly, the blood of the sacrificed animal sprinkled in the Holy of Holies once every year gave atonement for the sins of Israel.

One aspect of the Exodus story, the placing of blood on the doorpost, could have represented a symbolic escape from the indoctrination that occurs from parent to child, leaving the child predisposed to sin, a consequence of the Fall of Man, known as original sin –he or she cannot escape from idolatry and paganism, except by the grace of God, grace that was given to the people of Israel. In this sense, all those that did not have the blood of the lamb on the entrance to their house experienced the death of their firstborn child.

Moreover, those who believe that Jesus is the Messiah have been instructed to reenact the Passover that corresponded with the Last Supper –we follow his instructions in consuming His Body, just as the people of Israel were instructed to eat the whole lamb that had been sacrificed for the Passover.

If the Passover is only a story of deliverance from Egypt, made up to unify a confederacy of tribes, the foundation of Salvation History is seriously weakened. How can a solid background in theology be built on such a lame foundation?

The Last Supper, and the Passover, were historic events, as real as the holocaust and the wanderings of the Israelites in the desert, as real as the Shekinah glory that surrounded the Ark of the Covenant and the bread from heaven that fed the Israelites for 40 years in the desert, as real as the receiving of the 10 commandments and the laws given to Moses to guide covenant life, especially towards the proper worship of God, who, as our Creator, is rightly owed our worship, in spirit and in truth.

Accordingly, in this article I argue that the Hyskos and the Hebrews are one in the same. I present archaeological evidence in support of this theory with appropriate explanations for connected events.

The Hyksos rulers of the fifteenth dynasty of Egypt were of non-Egyptian origin. Most archaeologists describe the Hyksos as a mix of Asiatic peoples, suggested by recorded names such as Khyan and Sakir-Har that resemble Asiatic names, and pottery finds that resemble pottery found in archaeological excavations in the area of modern Israel. The name Hyksos was used by the Egyptian historian Manetho (ca. 300 BCE), who, according to the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus (1st century CE), translated the word as “king-shepherds” or “captive shepherds.” Josephus himself identified the Hyksos with the Hebrews of the Bible.³⁶¹

The theory that the expulsion of the Hyskos and the Exodus is the same event is not a new theory.³⁶²

The entrance of the Hyskos into Egypt corresponded with the entrance of Joseph, favored son of Jacob, hated by his brothers who dumped him in a well and later sold him as a slave to travelers on their way to Egypt.  In spite of starting his sojourn in Egypt as a slave, Joseph became great, finding favor in the eyes of the Pharaoh and the Egyptians.  Joseph kept his relationship with God sacred; he saved many from famine through the interpretation of a dream, just as Daniel later found favor under Babylonian rule through the interpretation of a dream –he kept his relationship with God his first priority, just as we’re called to do today.

Pharaoh acknowledged that Joseph’s proposal to store grain during the abundant period was very wise. Pharaoh then released him from prison and put him in charge over “all the land of Egypt” as Vizier. The Pharaoh took off his signet ring and put it on Joseph’s hand, then clothed him in fine linen and put a gold necklace around his neck. He was then renamed Zaphnath-Paaneah and was given Asenath, the daughter of Potipherah who was the priest of On, to be his wife. At the age of 30, Joseph was the most powerful man in Egypt, next to Pharaoh. During the seven years of abundance, Joseph ensured that the storehouses were full and that all produce was weighed until there was so much that it became immeasurable. In the sixth year, Asenath bore two children to Joseph: Manasseh and Ephraim. When the famine came, it was so severe that people from surrounding nations “from all over the earth” came to Egypt to buy bread. The narrative also indicates that they went straight to Joseph or were directed to him, even by Pharaoh himself, so as to buy from him. (Genesis 41:37-57)

The seven-year famine became so severe that toward the later period, even Egypt was feeling the effects. Because the Egyptians had used up all of their money to buy grain in the previous years, they began to pay with their livestock. As a last resort, all of the inhabitants of Egypt, less the Egyptian priestly class, sold their properties to Joseph for seed. As this land now belonged to Pharaoh, Joseph set a mandate that because the people would be sowing and harvesting seed on government property, a fifth of the produce should go to the Pharaoh. This mandate continued down to the days of Moses. (Genesis 47:20-31)³⁶³

      During the famine that swept across Egypt while Joseph ruled, there was likely still a great deal of starvation, whether distant or local, which caused strife and bloodshed.  Consider the following depictions of Egypt from the Ipuwer Papyrus:

Plague is throughout the land. Blood is everywhere. (2:5)

The river is blood (2:10)

That is our water! That is our happiness! What shall we do in respect thereof? All is ruin! (3:10-13)

Trees are destroyed. (4:14)

No fruit or herbs are found . . . (6:1)

Forsooth, grain has perished on every side. (6:3)

The land is not light [dark]. (9:11)

Nile overflows [bringing the harvest], yet no one ploughs for him. (2:3)

No craftsmen work, the enemies of the land have spoilt its crafts. (9:6)

Gold and lapus lazuli, silver and malachite, camelian and bronze . . . are fastened on the neck of female slaves. (3:2)³⁶⁴⁻³⁶⁵

This papyrus described the famine that struck Egypt during the reign of Joseph.  The Ipewer 

Papyrus has been dated by several scholars as having been written between 1850 -1600 BC.  Assuming the later date of 1850, there would have been many generations before the Exodus.

Then Joseph died, and all his brothers, and that whole generation. But the Israelites were fruitful and prolific; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them.  -Ex 1:6-7

I propose that the Exodus occurred at a time between 1600 and 1529.

1529 is the earliest date given for the end of Hysko rule in Egypt.  Also, by 1550 the Palace of Rameses would have been completed.  This palace is recorded as having been built by the Israelites (Gen 47:11; Ex 1:11; 12:37).

Most likely several years before 1550, Egyptian authorities began realizing the threat posed by the Hyskos.  This explains why the firstborn of every Hebrew family was being killed –genocide, which gives credence to the story behind the birth of Moses.

Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. He said to his people, ‘Look, the Israelite people are more numerous and more powerful than we. Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase and, in the event of war, join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.’ Therefore they set taskmasters over them to oppress them with forced labour. They built supply cities, Pithom and Rameses, for Pharaoh. But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread, so that the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites. The Egyptians became ruthless in imposing tasks on the Israelites, and made their lives bitter with hard service in mortar and brick and in every kind of field labour. They were ruthless in all the tasks that they imposed on them.

The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, ‘When you act as midwives to the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstool, if it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, she shall live.’ But the midwives feared God; they did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but they let the boys live. So the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and said to them, ‘Why have you done this, and allowed the boys to live?’ The midwives said to Pharaoh, ‘Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.’ So God dealt well with the midwives; and the people multiplied and became very strong. And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families. Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, ‘Every boy that is born to the Hebrews you shall throw into the Nile, but you shall let every girl live.’ –Exodus 1:8-22

The change of Egyptian rule from the 17th to the 18th dynasty occurred in 1550 BC.

At this time, under Ahmose I (1570-1544), the Hyskos were allegedly expelled from Egypt.  While this may be partially true, i.e. there may have been Egyptian victories, whether through genocide or military force, they may also be exaggerations entered into history at a later date to help bolster the Egyptian pharaoh into a greater position of honor and esteem in the annals of Egypt—the idea of anything less than victory would have been embarrassing for a living god who ruled the superior people of the earth.  A more accurate explanation may be that many Hebrews were expelled from parts of Egypt while others remained in servitude.

“At the time, Ahmose’s elder brother, Kamose, had become king following the death of their father, Seqenenre Taa I. The Hyksos had brutally killed Seqenenre Taa I, along with his entire army.

Kamose was keen to avenge their father’s death and reunite Egypt. To have foreign occupiers on their land was a humiliation they could not bear. Although many Egyptians did not want to fight, war became inevitable after Kamose’s men intercepted a message from the Hyksos to the Nubians, inviting them to join forces and conquer what was left of Egypt. 

Only 10 years old, Ahmose watched Kamose lead the Egyptian army north against the Hyksos. They captured the first Hyksos town they encountered and headed on to the Hyksos capital, Arvaris. But just when they were about to push the Hyksos out of Egypt, Kamose died, leaving the Hyksos in northern Egypt.”³⁶⁶

The Israelites, composing many of the descendants of Jacob and most likely other Semitic people, were not one of the military conquests of the Egyptians.  Rather, the departure from Egypt likely began during the end of the reign of Kamos or Ahmose I and continued as the Israelites wandered through the desert during some of the reign of Amenhotep I, who was the son of Ahmose I.

Rather than records of the events of the Exodus in Egyptian history, which would have reflected that a god-pharaoh had experienced defeat and humiliation, as well as any miracles that would have been attributed to a foreign god, there are records of the military conquests of Ahmose I.  History does suggest that Amenhotep I,

…inherited the kingdom formed by his father’s military conquests and maintained dominance over Nubia and the Nile Delta but probably did not attempt to keep power in Syrio-Palestine.³⁶⁷

Ahmose I was most likely the pharaoh in power during the Exodus.  Both his father (Seqenenre Tao) and his brother (Kamose) were killed by the Hyskos.

Ahmose I likely resided, at least for some of the time, in the Palace of Rameses described in Exodus 10, now known as Avaris or Arvaris.

Moreover, in Exodus 10 we are told that Moses could have face to face contact with the pharaoh and that he was able to wander from there to the area where the Israelites were laboring.

During the 1990s an enormous royal compound was discovered on the southern bank of the eastern branch of the Nile River.  The use of this compound is well established during the Eighteenth Dynasty (1550-1292 BC). 

Moses probably meandered the halls of these buildings, and the pharaoh quite likely mobilized his 600 chariots to pursue the Israelites from this location.³⁶⁸

This location would have been near Qantir, the most likely location for ancient Rameses.

Qantir is a modern village in Egypt. Qantir (Khatana-Qantir) is believed to mark what was probably the ancient site of Ramesses II’s great capital, Pi-Ramesse or Per-Ramesses (“House or Domain of Ramesses”). This city is situated about 9 kilometers (5.6 mi) north of Faqus in Sharqiyah province of the eastern Nile Delta, about 60 miles north-east of Cairo.³⁶⁹

      If Qantir eventually became the residence of Ramesses II, substantiating the name used in the book of Genesis and Exodus, it could also have been a location where Ahmose I resided during his reign. Alternatively, Avaris may also have been the location where Ahmose I resided while working to expel the last of the Hyskos –both of these locations are more probable then the neighboring city of Memphis, some 70 miles away.  70 miles is a fairly long way for Moses to wander back and forth.

Avaris (/ˈævərɨs/; Egyptian: ḥw.t wr.t, Budge notation: Hut-waret, Greek: Αὔαρις,Auaris) was the capital of Egypt under the Hyksos. It was located at modern Tell el-Dab’a in the northeastern region of the Nile Delta, at the juncture of the 8th, 14th, 19th and 20th Nomes. As the main course of the Nile migrated eastward, its position at the hub of Egypt’s delta emporia made it a major administrative capital of the Hyksos and other traders. It was occupied from about 1783 to 1550 BC, or from the Thirteenth Dynasty of Egypt through the second intermediate until its destruction by Ahmose I, the first Pharaoh of the Eighteenth dynasty.³⁷⁰

Since Hyskos influence “overlapped with those of the native Egyptian pharaohs of the 16th and 17th dynasties of Egypt, better known as the Second Intermediate Period,” it is not improbable that at some point in that interval, well prior to the reign of Ahmose I, the Hyskos were successfully subdued and forced into slave labor, though fighting and uprisings continued.  The end of this period would have coincided with the lifetime of Moses and the Exodus.  “The first pharaoh of the 18th dynasty, Ahmose I, finally expelled the Hyksos from their last holdout at Sharuhen in Gaza by the 16th year of his reign.”³⁷¹ ⁻ ³⁷²

Three other aspects of archaeological evidence that corroborate the theory that the expulsion of the Hyskos and the Israelites is the same event:

The destruction of Jericho

An attempt at a monotheistic reform in Egypt under Ahmehotep II.

The peace treaty between Egypt and Palestine, which may have included Solomon’s marriage to an Egyptian princess, the daughter of the Pharaoh, likely Ramesses II the Great.

Regarding the first, Jericho is one of the most documented and celebrated sites of Israelite victories in Joshua (2, 6-8:29).  The text is explicit about the cities being burned (Josh. 6:24; 8:28).  Jericho should serve as a test case for the historicity of the Joshua narratives.  John Garstang, a Liverpool University archeologist, excavated Tell es-Sultan (Jericho) from 1930 – 1936.  City IV had undergone a massive destruction and conflagration.  Based on the ceramic and scarab evidence, Garstang dated this destruction to approximately the 14th century.  This date would not fit with the theory that the expulsion of the Hyskos and the Exodus are the same event, occurring at some time between 1600 and 1529.

However, this 14th century date has been contested by the highly respected archeologist, Dame Kathleen Kenyon, whose work demonstrated that the destruction occurred c. 1500.  Nonetheless, her findings, which were accepted immediately by a majority in the archeological community based on her reputation, weren’t satisfactory for Bryant G Wood, who has reassessed the Jericho material by comparing Garstang’s publications, the material in excavations at Jericho volumes three through five, and unpublished Jericho ceramics.³⁷³  Moreover, the presence of Egyptian scarabs that date from between mid-fifteenth through mid-fourteenth century, found in Jericho tombs, cannot be ignored.³⁷⁴

For the second reason, there is good indication to consider a causal relationship between Ahmenhotep II’s attempt at deistic reform and the influence the Israelites would have had in Egypt.  That the attempted reform occurred, a huge deviation from the previous Egyptian rule of nearly two millennia, is indicative that the monotheistic beliefs of the Israelites had a lasting impression on the people of Egypt long after the Exodus. Ahmenhotep II’s reign started at least 98 years after the date of the suggested Exodus.  His attempt at reform may also suggest that the political union of Egypt was less stable than other authorities desired to reveal to history.

Interestingly, from Wikipedia,

Osarseph /ˈoʊzərˌsɛf/ or Osarsiph /ˈoʊzərˌsɪf/ is a legendary figure of Ancient Egypt who has been equated with Moses. His story was recounted by the Ptolemaic Egyptian historian Manetho in his Aigyptiaca (first half of the 3rd century BC); Manetho’s work is lost, but the 1st century AD Jewish historian Josephus quotes extensively from it.

The story depicts Osarseph as a renegade Egyptian priest who leads an army of lepers and other unclean people against a pharaoh named Amenophis; the pharaoh is driven out of the country and the leper-army, in alliance with the Hyksos (whose story is also told by Manetho) ravage Egypt, committing many sacrileges against the gods, before Amenophis returns and expels them. Towards the end of the story Osarseph changes his name to Moses.[1]

Also much debated is the question of what, if any, historical reality might lie behind the Osarseph story. The story has been linked with anti-Jewish propaganda of the 2nd and 1st centuries BC as an inversion of the Exodus story, but an influential study by Egyptologist Jan Assmannhas suggested that no single historical incident or person lies behind the legend, and that it represents instead a conflation of several historical traumas, notably the religious reforms of Akhenaten (Amenophis IV).[2] ³⁷⁵

      Another theory behind the Osareph legend is that Manetho was simply reiterating propaganda that was fed to the Egyptian people, namely that those who had risen against a pharaoh did not have favor from the gods, hence their state of leprosy.  That the legendary figure was originally an Egyptian priest who changed his name to Moses would have helped to quiet any rumors circulating about the identity of Moses and whether his god really was greater than all the other Egyptian gods –it would be better that an Egyptian priest be associated with great deeds.  This kind of propaganda would have helped to explain away any miracles associated with Moses as though due to anything other than Egyptian worship practices.

The stories and rumors about Moses could easily have been circulating as a legend 100 years after the Exodus, culminating in the attempted monotheistic reforms of Akhenatin II.   Grant it, the reforms leading to the worship of the one true God, who had revealed Himself to the people of Israel, would have taken many years for assimilation in Egypt if the attempt had been successful.  But, reform from a polytheistic religion to a monotheistic one would have been a huge step in the right direction for Egypt, one many Egyptians may have been yearning for after the events of the Exodus.

For the third reason, in the description of the Battle of Kadesh, which occurred around 1274 BC, according to Wikipedia:

[Seti I] …made an informal peace with the Hittites, took control of coastal areas along the Mediterranean, and continued to campaign in Canaan.  …There is no consensus on the outcome of the Battle of Kadesh. Views range from an Egyptian victory, a draw, and, according to the view of Iranian Egyptologist Mehdi Yarahmadi, an Egyptian defeat (with the Egyptian accounts simply propaganda).³⁷⁶

Moses lived to be 120 years old and the Exodus is reported to have occurred when he was 80 years old, at which time Joshua began leading.  There doesn’t appear to be any Biblical account of Joshua’s descendants.  However, from Judges, we know that after Ehud slays Eglon, king of Moab, he judges Israel for 80 years (Judg 3:12-30).  Then, Jael slays Sisera, captain of the Canaanite armies, and Deborah and Barak judge Israel for 40 years (Judg 4 -5).  Then, Gideon defeats the Midianites with a small army and judges Israel for 40 years (Judg. 6-8).  Jephthah defeats the Ammonites and judges Israel for six years (Judg. 11-12).  Samson begins to deliver the Israelites from the Philistines and judges Israel for 20 years (Judg. 13-15).  Ruth marries her kinsman Boaz, the grandparents of King David (Ruth 1-4).  The son of Ruth and Boaz was Obed –Obed had a son name Jesse who had a son named David, David had Solomon.

40 +80 +40 +40 +6 +20 + (assume 15 to 40 years before R&B have Obed) + (assume 15 to 40 years before Obed has Jesse) + (15 to 40 before Jesse has David) + (15 to 40 before David has Solomon) = 286 years using the youngest age Ruth would have been for the birth of Obed, and assuming the young ages for his descendants.

The dates that the judges ruled are likely approximations, especially since five of the six end by the decade.  They could have been rounded upward, thus 31 years could have been rounded to 40 years.  This would allow for a margin of error of 45 years.

Without making this assumption, subtracting 1550 from 286 we can arrive at the year 1264 for the birth of Solomon, which is a bit late to suggest an alliance being formed through Solomon’s marriage to an Egyptian princess, forming an indirect alliance between Seti I and the “Hittites.”  Alternatively, an alliance may have been formed under David’s rule.  This would have been possible in assuming that years had been rounded up, yielding a date as late as 1309.  This date also allows enough time for Solomon to have been both the one who formed the alliance and ratified the peace treaty:

The running borderlands conflicts were finally concluded some fifteen years after the Battle of Kadesh by an official peace treaty in 1258 BC, in the 21st year of Ramesses II’s reign, with Hattusili III, the new king of the Hittites.³⁷⁷

If Egyptian propaganda was at work in the alleged victories, then one of the conditions of the peace treaty, since it was the Egyptians who acquiesced, might have included a daughter of the Pharaoh.  This date could have corresponded with the reign of Solomon and his marriage to the daughter of a Pharaoh (1 Kings 3:1).

In conclusion, while there are many possibilities for when the Exodus occurred, and at what time the Hyskos were completely subdued by the Egyptians and forced into labor, there is considerable evidence that Joseph’s rise to power and Moses’ institution of the Passover and subsequent Exodus are real and historically believable accounts of Salvation History.

Are All Religions Man-Made?

I recently asked a Facebook friend whether he considered himself a spiritual person.  In the inquiring message, I shared a YouTube video where Fr. Robert Barron discusses “Who is Jesus and what makes him unique?” ³⁷⁸ It’s an excellent video that discusses some of the key differences between Jesus and other religious leaders. 

My friend replied, “All religion is man-made… a sham.”

The concern that all religion is human-made is very reasonable.  If all religions are human-made, how can any of them contain binding truth that one can’t ultimately discover on their own?  Why believe the truth presented by one over another?  Is the ‘truth’ presented the same?  If not, how different?

Just how important is this issue? From a leadership and political influence standpoint, very important. Consider the implications with respect to the current U.S. president, Barrack Obama:

Barack Obama has an unconventional background which includes relatives from three different continents and personal experiences with several different faith traditions. ―He spent his early years under the influence of atheism, folk Islam, and a humanist’s understanding of the world that sees religion merely as a man-made thing, as a product of psychology,” according to Mansfield (Mansfield, 4). In fact, Obama is the first President to not have been raised in an explicitly Christian home. On the contrary, he was exposed to the teachings of all major religions since his mother thought it was important that he be well versed in the faith traditions of other people. Not only did his mother introduce him to other religious viewpoints, but the faith of his closest relatives was a diverse mix and affected his early thinking about religion. ³⁷⁹

      In order to adequately address whether religion is human-made, one would first need to address what religion they’re talking about, because many religions are in fact human-made and those who adhere to them wouldn’t attempt to dissuade you otherwise.  For example, few would question that Buddhism is a human-made religion established by Siddhartha Gautama, a prince who renounced worldly wealth out of compassion for the poor, embracing and teaching a way of life that could allow one to better connect with a transcendent reality.

Most Hindus would probably not deny that Hinduism is also human-made; Hindus believe that the gods embodied by their religion, and perhaps religions in general, are paths developed to understand ultimate reality: Atman.  Similarly, various pagans who “worship” aspects of nature probably wouldn’t deny that the personification or deification of nature is a human-made endeavor.  Many educated Greeks and Romans who visited temples or shrines built to honor Zeus, Apollo or Jupiter may have been aware that these gods were human-made, the result of synthesizing imagination, reality and awe into poetry and myth, just as someone educated today would be.

Daoism / Taoism and Confucianism would more easily be considered human-made than Jainism, Gnosticism and the Baha’i faith with respect to their claims of divine origin within their sacred texts. And yet, in any case where God is not reported to have manifested to a wise man or woman in a real and tangible way, in that God made humankind in His image, which is in the domain of belief, those can who believe that there is a Creator can conclude that deep spiritual insights or truths about reality ultimately have their origins in Him. Accordingly, any human derived or human-made systems of belief may have elements of “divine” truth capable of being revered in a rigorous or devout way. Nonetheless, religions with notable distinctions with respect to reporting God Himself, or a close agent of His as having appeared and provided the claimed truths include Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Mormonism.

Adherents of Judaism believe that their ancestry can be traced back to the first man and woman, who were made directly by God.  Their history involves Adam & Eve, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, who later become Israel, and Joseph, up to the time of Moses, where God, or an angel of God, appeared to him in a burning bush and gave the 10 commandments, followed by instruction on how to govern his people and perform proper worship.  As the history of the Jewish people continues, God works with his people through those commonly known as prophets, to teach, correct, prophesize and forewarn.

Adherents of Christianity believe that the work God started in the Jewish people was brought to fulfillment in the birth of His son, Jesus, through the Virgin Mary.³⁸⁰  The prescriptions given to Moses for worship and obedience, and through subsequent prophets by the Holy Spirit, were to prepare His people to receive Jesus, the Word or Logos made Flesh,³⁸¹ fruit from the “Tree of Life” that leads to immortality, which many of His followers now receive in physical form as the Eucharist under the appearance of bread and wine.  Jesus’ offering of Himself on a wooden cross, reconciles the severance caused by Adam and Eve’s sin of disobedience –no longer would the Levite priests of the Jewish faith be required to perform blood-shedding sacrifices in the Holy of Holies as recompense for sin –a perfect victim offers Himself once and for all. This victim, Christ Jesus, opens the path, the Way for all to be redeemed, for the Angel of Death to “Passover.” Additionally, Jesus gave instructions on how to stay on the path of eternal salvation and established what is now known as the Catholic Church, giving authority to loose and bind,³⁸² i.e. to establish teachings for sound faith and moral doctrine, first to the Jewish fisherman named Simon, a.k.a. St. Peter, thus setting a precedent for authority and organization in His Church, often referred to as the Bride of Christ. 

Jesus, in several ways, claimed to be God, to be one with Him, and spoke authoritatively when discussing the 10 commandments, the Beatitudes, and proper worship. This distinction about Jesus, in comparison to other religious leaders, is one that Fr. Barron highlights exceptionally well in the video mentioned earlier.

Adherents of Islam believe that the angel Gabriel appeared to Muhammad and instructed him on the nature of God, or Allah, and how people should behave towards Allah and one another, and what consequences are appropriate if they do not.  Regarding Mormonism, adherents believe God the Father and God the Son appeared to Joseph Smith and informed him that all other religions had it wrong and that he had been chosen to correct things and restore true worship.  Joseph was then able to recover plates of gold and a seer stone that allowed him to recite the story of early inhabitants of America who were remnants of the lost tribe of Israel, who were at war with Native Americans and eventually killed off by them.

All four of these religions teach that, to a greater or lesser extent, the truths they contain are not human-made but were received from God Himself, or through an angel.  Each respective claim may be more or less believable to one person than another, often influenced by the environment they grew up in and how insular those environments were/are.  Likewise, instructions on how best to live may seem harder to follow for one person than another, if in fact they’re stirred in such a way that they cannot easily dismiss the faith as being predominantly human-made.

Perhaps what is most important in addressing whether a religion is human-made is whether it contains a universal truth, an absolute truth.  In that human beings are capable of reasoning, human-made religions may contain great truths.  Some of the claims may be so striking, so profound if true, that they warrant more reverence or research.

One might also expect that those religions which contain truth about ultimate reality are marked by greater adherents and/or supernatural phenomenon such as miracles, which tend to increase the number of adherents as they stir up our generally perceived notions of reality.

If I could prove beyond a doubt that Christianity is not a human-made religion, “faith” wouldn’t be necessary.  If I could prove that there is a Creator and that our solar system and life didn’t happen by chance, faith wouldn’t be necessary, even if these explanations make the most logical sense. Moreover, despite scientific evidence that proves our universe has a definite beginning and that life can’t be recreated in a test tube, let alone produce the diversity we see around us today, all randomly or by chance, it’s still possible to believe other explanations about the origins of our universe and life.

In this sense, faith entails the transmission of knowledge that can’t be proven.  Likewise, if I tell you about something that happened to me yesterday, you would need to ‘have faith’ to believe that it actually happened to me and that I’m not lying to you, though such a process is often not a conscious one.  That conscious or unconscious faith would coincide with any trust you have that I’m an honest person.  If you had doubts, I could establish my testimony through several witnesses, but even in that case, you’d have to believe that they’re also telling the truth.  Nonetheless, the more witnesses I have, and the further removed from knowing me they are, lest we be conspiring together, the more likely the circumstances I’m relating to you are actual and not made up and the more likely you’d believe I’m telling the truth.

Regarding Christianity, in order to have sufficient conviction to follow the instructions given by the Church for living a holy and righteous life, you would need to have faith that the stories of Jesus presented by the eyewitnesses of his life are trustworthy and retold accurately, as recorded in the New Testament.  The New Testament contains not only instructions on living a holy and righteous life, but the life of Jesus who gave those instructions and all the miracles that accompanied him, not the least of which is the report of his resurrection from the dead. Of course, there were no video cameras at that time to provide additional evidence that it actually happened, but even if there were, that they were actual and not created in a computer lab could still be disputed.  Thus, we’re might ask, ‘Do the people who tell the story of his life seem trustworthy?’ Even if a person believes they weren’t, there are many followers of the teachings of Jesus who have become known as Saints.  Their lives are often filled with miracles also, supernatural phenomenon that stirs up our notion of ultimate reality. Two saints who lived and “died” recently are Padre Pio and Pope St. John Paul II.  The facts and miracles surrounding their lives should inspire us to search more deeply about the authenticity of the life of Jesus and any truths He revealed, truth which may be shared in some ways and degrees in other beliefs, whether those beliefs are knowingly human-made or claimed of divine origin.

Work with anxious concern to achieve your salvation. It is God who, in his goodwill toward you, begets in you any measure of desire or achievement. In everything you do, act without grumbling or arguing; prove yourself innocent and straightforward, children of God beyond reproach amid a twisted and depraved generation –among whom you shine like the stars in the sky while holding fast to the word of life. As I look to the Day of Christ, you give me cause to boast that I did not run the race in vain or work to no purpose. ³⁸³

Did Jesus Have Biological Brothers?

One of the largest sources of division between Catholics and Protestants involves Mary.

This is due to belief surrounding:

1.) her perpetual virginity, and

2.) her intercessory ability.

If Joseph had marital relations with Mary after Jesus’ birth, Mary would not have remained a virgin according to the biological understanding of what it means to be a virgin.  Moreover, Jesus would likely have had biological brothers.  This is the belief held by many Protestants.  It is supported based on an understanding of the passage of Matthew 1:25, which might suggest that after having given birth to Jesus, Joseph “knew”Mary:

And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus. King James Version

Regarding the second belief, if one believes that after a person dies, they fall asleep until the resurrection, and that this applies to everyone regardless of how holy they lived their life (except Enoch,³⁸⁴ Moses,³⁸⁵ and Elijah, with the latter being brought up to heaven in a whirlwind³⁸⁶), then Mary would not be in heaven where she may be able to intercede on our behalf.  Similarly, if she was not taken to heaven then she could not intercede for us.  This is the belief held by many Protestants.

Catholics believe that Jesus did not have biological brothers and that mention of his brothers in Scripture is because either 1.) the Semitic (Hebrew, Aramaic) word for brother and cousin can be used interchangeably or 2.) Jesus had stepbrothers in that Joseph was a widower who had children from his previous marriage.  With respect to the former view, any cousins Jesus had would have been known as his brothers and sisters.  In the latter view, Joseph betrothed Mary with the understanding that she desired to remain a virgin consecrated to God.  This would have been countercultural to the extent that Judaism teaches that the soul of one person is only half a soul –when a man and woman marry, they form one complete soul.  As a consecrated virgin, Mary unites herself fully to God.  God honors her choice through the hypostatic union, where her seed unites with the Holy Spirit, “and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”  This fulfills the prophecy of Genesis 3:16, “I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; he will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”  Accordingly, Mary is seen by Catholics as the New Eve, just as Jesus is seen as the New Adam (1 Corinthians 15:22, 45-49).

Additionally, with respect to Mary being a consecrated virgin, when the Angel Gabriel visited her announcing that she was called to be the mother of our Lord, she responded, “How shall this happen, since I know not man.”³⁸⁷

If Mary and Joseph were just an ordinary couple embarking on a normal married life together, there would be no reason to ask the question. Mary would have known very well how it could be that the angel was saying she would have a baby.

As St. Augustine said it:

Had she intended to know man, she would not have been amazed. Her amazement is a sign of the vow (Sermon 225, 2).

There was no such thing as engagement (as it is understood in modern Western culture) in ancient Israel. ³⁸⁸

Regarding the passage from Matthew 1:25 mentioned earlier, Catholics believe it stresses that Joseph didn’t know Mary prior to her having conceived Jesus, not that he eventually did.  The Biblical exegesis for this reasoning can be supported in that making a statement with regards to a period of time doesn’t necessarily suggest that prior to or after that period of time the issue in question will cease or begin to exist.  For example, in Matthew 28:20, “… behold, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age.”  Surely Jesus will still be with us even after the end of the age.

Catholics also believe that those who live exceptionally holy lives are brought directly to heaven after they die.  These members of the Body of Christ are known as Saints, having earned such recognition through an official screening process that verifies the holiness of their lives, often marked by inspired writings, martyrdom, visions believed to be from Jesus or members of His body, and at least two miracles, such as subsisting on nothing but the Eucharist for periods of time scientifically impossible based on the bodies apparent need for food and water and/or the healing of an incurable disease following a request for intercession.  Moreover, Catholics believe that Mary was an exceptionally holy member of the Body of Christ, having born Christ Himself in her womb and having been faithful to Him her whole life.

Ideally, there would be no division in belief among those who strive to follow Jesus, members of the same body. Moreover, it is not His will that we be divided, but that all members of the Body of Christ work together.³⁸⁹ And yet, in our Lord’s infinite wisdom, given our fallen nature, perhaps He has intended division for the time being so that those from different backgrounds may be reached more effectively when one form of worship is more suitable to them, just as a child may respond more aptly to guidance from their father than their mother, or vice versa, at various times of their development.

Certainly, there is an absolute fact to the matter, a definite truth.  Either Jesus had biological brothers or he didn’t.  If we accept that he didn’t, Mary’s perpetual virginity should be embraced by everyone who strives to follow Jesus.

We’re told that ‘the truth will set us free.’  Since we all want to be free, we should approach this matter with fear and trembling, with a willingness to reevaluate any beliefs we currently hold considering the evidence that may be for or against that belief.

In the 4th century, St. Jerome proposed that James and John were Jesus’ cousins.  This made sense in that the Aramaic and Hebrew language didn’t have a word for cousin so the word for brother would have been used to mean the same thing.  This would have also made sense because at that time the Church believed Jesus was an only child and that Mary remained a virgin.  This belief would have been passed on by oral tradition through the Apostles.  Protestants who hold to Sola Scriptura reasoning do not consider oral tradition as a valid source of information.

In relation to this reluctance, I propose the following theory:

Zebedee was another name used to describe
                  Joseph as the husband of Mary.

Joseph had at least two sons before remarrying.
                  His first wife fell into the deep sleep known as
                  death and when he later became betrothed to Mary,
                  he did so with the understanding that she would
                  remain a virgin consecrated to God.

Joseph’s first son was named James and his second
                  was named Joseph, but was also known as John.

According to the 2nd oldest New Testament text (Sinaiticus manuscript), the name John is used instead of Joseph when describing the two sons of Mary, the other being James, when she is discussed as one of the women present during the crucifixion by Matthew, Mark and Luke, just after Mary Magdalene.

The older manuscript, known as the Vaticanus manuscript, uses the name “Joseph” as one of the sons of Mary, the other being, of course, James.

Name changing is frequently going on in Scripture.  Since the apostles were often being hunted and persecuted, using alternate names could have been a method of staying alive.  Matthew was also called Levi, Peter was known as Simon, Paul as Saul, and John, also as Joseph. This practice was also observed by Christians who were persecuted in the Soviet Russian state, as described in the free-to-order paperback, “Tortured for Christ,” by Richard Wurmbrand.

We know that John was with Mary at the crucifixion but this was not reported by Matthew, Mark or Luke according to their crucifixion narrative.

We also know that there was tension among the apostles regarding who was the greatest (Luke 9:46), or who was loved / favored the most by Jesus.  John describes himself as the one whom Jesus loved.  He also reports that he rested upon Jesus’ breast at the last supper.  Furthermore, there may have been a bit of an altercation between Peter and Jesus after the resurrection, as reflected in the discussion over John’s destiny.³⁹⁰

This tension may explain why John was left out of the crucifixion narrative as reported by Matthew, Mark and Luke.  Moreover, the “jealousy” that Peter, and perhaps other disciples, demonstrated, may have been like the jealousy Joseph of Egypt experienced by his brothers when favored by God in the dream he had, which he retold to his father Jacob and his brothers. Note that Jacob’s name was changed to Israel after he wrestled with the angel of God throughout the night.³⁹¹

This explanation is also probable in that Matthew, Mark and Luke do not mention Mary, mother of Jesus, present at the crucifixion except as the mother of James and Joses (aka Joseph in the Vaticanus manuscript, aka John in the Sinaiticus manuscript), who would have actually been Jesus’ stepbrothers if Joseph was in fact a widower who was betrothed to Mary with the understanding that she desired to remain a consecrated virgin unto God.  One may reasonably argue that it would have been odd for Matthew, Mark and Luke to omit her presence at the crucifixion if she were actually there, just as it would have been odd for her not to have actually been there and for only John to have reported it.

Interestingly, the meaning of the Hebrew names Joseph and Zebedee are similar in that they both signify something being added or bestowed, such as a gift, by God.  In this light, Joseph was still alive at the time that Jesus called James and John to be disciples, at which time they left the boat where they were fishing with their father Joseph, aka Zebedee. Although Joseph was a carpenter, he likely fished with his sons, who may have worked as both fisherman and carpenters.

Joseph may have been alive at the time of the crucifixion.  If so, it might help explain why Jesus emphasized John’s relationship to Mary as her son in John’s gospel, at which point he took her into his home.  Prior to this, Mary would have been staying in the home where she raised Jesus, either with or without Joseph, depending on whether he was still alive, or with James, John’s older brother.  If Joseph weren’t alive, the custom may have been for the older brother, James, to take care of her.  That James was the older brother is based on the fact that he is most often presented before his brother John, for example Mark 3:17, Matthew 10:3 and Luke 6:14.

However, it is possible that Jesus chose John to take care of Mary, as opposed to his older brother James, because James was one of the family members who tried to restrain Jesus when he began to grow in popularity, “…for people were saying ‘he has gone out of his mind’” as opposed to John (see Mark 3:21 and John 7:5).  However, these members of Jesus’ family, in the passage found in Mark’s gospel, may also have referred to his uncles and their children, such as James the son of Alpheus.  This would seem more likely since Mark had just reported to us that James and John were among the apostles who began following Jesus.  Although it is possible, with regards to John 7:5, that James the brother of John was one of the brothers who didn’t believe in Jesus, as well as James the son of Alpheus, this does not mean that John didn’t equally disbelieve at that time or that either of them wouldn’t have believed to a greater extent at the time of the crucifixion.

Whatever the case, in accordance with Catholic theology, Jesus’ need to emphasize the special relationship between John and Mary stresses our need to receive Mary into the home of our heart as mother if we are to be one of Jesus’ most beloved, one of his closest followers and disciples.  Moreover, Mary is your mother and you are her child.

Accordingly, if you enter a man’s home and show his mother love and respect, you will score points with her son.  Therefore, in following Jesus, we needn’t worry about loving Mary too much… we’re not going to love her more than He does.  And, she’s not the possessive type… she’s going to lead you back to Him.

Many exceptionally great men have been “Momma’s boys.”  For an example of these great men, consider reading the short story, “Moma’s Boys,” as found in Paul Harvey’s book, “The Rest of the Story.”

St. John is a Momma’s boy. And, in accordance with this theory, he was named after his father… for if Joseph, being a good and gentle man, passed those traits onto the son who shared his name, the wisdom of providence is further reflected. Nonetheless, providence is also reflected in James, who was also one of the three in Jesus’ closest circle, the other being Peter (see Matthew 17:1-13). And, it is not improbable that Joseph, being a humble and gentle man, allowed his first wife to name his first son, i.e. James, a gesture reflecting his selflessness, putting his spouse’s wishes first.

Returning to the crucifixion, the other woman present was Salome, as mentioned in Mark 15:40.  She was Zebedee’s sister and her husband was Cleophas or Clopas, also known as Alphaeus.  Alphaeus was the father of Levi, also known as Matthew, author of the first gospel.  Salome has another son named James, but not the aforementioned James, i.e. the who would have been the stepbrother brother of Jesus in accordance with this theory, though he is his brother in the Kingdom of God sense. This James, son of Salome, is James the Younger.  

One can reasonably ask, ‘If this theory is true, why aren’t Joseph’s children mentioned during Jesus’ youth, particularly during the trip to Bethlehem for the census or when Jesus stayed in the Temple and Mary and Joseph couldn’t find him?’

On one hand, for the former question, it may have been that they were very young and bringing them along for the journey would have proved too difficult.  On the other hand, for both questions, perhaps they were a part of the journey but their mention wasn’t considered significant, given other aspects of the gospel narrative.  It may also have been that mention of their closer relationship to Jesus may have further endangered their lives.

What do you think?

Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell.  Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you.  –2 Corinthians 13:11-12

You Can’t Be a Leader if You’re Dead, or Can You?

      A friend and I recently discussed the tragic event that occurred in Kenya where at least 39 people were killed, allegedly because they refused to state they were Muslim.  Had they said they were Muslim, they would have been able to go free. 

Who has the greater sin, the one who kills and threatens to kill if you don’t believe the same as they do or the one who lies and says they do so that they can go free?  Conversely, how great is the good of not denying your faith? Is lying hereby a justified form of self-defense of your life?

Having completed research on the Catholic position about whether lying is ever right, such as when protecting someone Jewish from a Nazi, I argued that it would have been okay for those in Kenya to lie to go free, primarily because no one has a right to threaten your life based on your beliefs.  One of the articles that really stood out during my research was, “Is Lying Ever Right?, by Jeffrey A. Mirus.³⁹²

My friend argued conversely, recalling the Scripture verse where Jesus states that anyone who denies or disowns Him before men would be denied by the angels and by His Father in heaven.  He also argued that if there were no martyrs there would be no Church, as it has often been their blood that draws people to the Church, the very seeds of new disciples. 

Certainly, my friend is right, and those who have died through not denying their faith have acted honorably and with nobility beyond measure –they’ve forfeited their very life as a witness to the Son of God, Jesus our Lord.  What more could they possibly give of themselves?

In addition to the heroic deeds of the martyrs, I believe the soldiers who have and are dying to protect the freedoms we often take for granted in America also die in a noble and honorable way, for beliefs that we all benefit from, beliefs that uphold God given rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Looking back nearly 250 years, in part, it was the massive amount of bloodshed between Catholics and Protestants that led to our country being formed in such a way that a person would be free to have their own beliefs, providing they don’t harm another person.  And yet, nowhere in the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is it even remotely suggested that the growth of His Church be based on killing others… in fact, it’s quite the opposite –Jesus said that he who lives by the sword dies by it, and when James and John asked Jesus if they should call fire down from heaven to destroy the Samaritan’s who opposed them on their way to Jerusalem,³⁹³ Jesus rebuked them and they went on to another village.

The Gospel of Love inspired many of our founding Fathers, including George Washington.  A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of visiting his home in Mt. Vernon and being a part of the wreath laying ceremony. There we said the pledge of allegiance, read a prayer he wrote and laid a wreath upon his tomb.

During my visit, a friend and I discussed Masonic beliefs.  I brought up the discussion because awhile earlier it was brought to my attention that those who practice Freemasonry are taught to deny any belief except that of brotherhood.  I’m not sure if this is true, but it seems to make sense, especially in a world where Catholics and Protestants are killing each other.  This was precisely the atmosphere Europe was emerging from when America was founded.  In this regard, while acknowledging the brotherhood of mankind, would it make sense to say that you’re Muslim if put in a situation like those in Kenya were, to avoid having someone kill you?  Does the person holding the gun have a right to threaten your life while asking you what you believe?

Jesus offered Himself, His Passion and Atonement, in self-sacrificial love to the Father for the sins of all men. He was obedient even unto death. He died profession that he was the Son of God, which was the offense or crime that led to His crucifixion.  He lives on, not only as a leader, but as the person He claimed to be –He lives in and through me and all those who believe in Him, He lives because He is the author of life itself.  No power or principality will ever change that.

I’m prepared to die, knowing that Jesus is the Son of God.  But, I would argue that those who would deny this in the clear face of death, so that they may live another day and profess the Gospel and potentially put an end to the injustice that would put them in that type of situation in the first place, will do fine.  They may be thought of as cowardly and dishonest, they may despise and hate themselves for the rest of their life, but who are we to judge them and dispute their right to protect their own life?  St. Peter denied Jesus three times.  Later, he affirmed his love for Him three times. It was St. Peter who was chosen to become the first head of the Church, first among equals.

Those who have given their life for Him, those who will do so tomorrow, they are assuredly welcomed into His loving arms.  Whether a non-Muslim would lie and walk away deceptively as a Muslim or tell the truth and be killed, we will each face some kind of end, some kind of transformation that may occur in the blink of an eye.  For those of us who believe in Him, He has assured us we will never taste death.³⁹⁴

We live in a fallen world.  I believe America has the capacity to change the world for the better by helping to protect our God given rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness / right to own property.  No one can totally fix this fallen world, no one but Jesus, who starts by fixing the human heart at the deepest levels of brokenness.

A President or a King?

I recently began reading Eric Metaxes’ book, “7 Men and the Secrets of their Greatness.”  In the introduction, he speaks about how George Washington refused to become king as an act of selflessness, one that was ultimately better for the people.  I certainly didn’t know that about our first president.

Shortly thereafter, I began to think of the alleged abuses of executive power in our current administration.

Has President Barack Obama abused executive power, acting more like a king than a member of a tertiary government designed to have checks and balances to prevent abuse of power?

What do you think?
Have you considered the views of these experts:
http://www.usnews.com/debate-club/is-president-obama-abusing-executive-power

Do We Need a New President or a New System of Government?

When the American Founding Fathers designed our triad system of government, they did so without the knowledge of the capabilities of modern communications, i.e. radio, television and internet, and without a method of ascertaining the intellectual capabilities of individual citizens.  Such technologies can better enable a government “of, by and for the people.”

Imagine a country where citizens weigh in on important issues after reviewing facts surrounding those issues, where their votes matter directly, rather than through a mayor, governor or senator they’ve elected, who may only represent one of many important issues they favor.  Moreover, imagine important issues being divided among literate and mature citizens throughout all states such that at least one hour per week, for as many weeks as are necessary, they learn about those issues and then propose a solution or vote on one already presented.

When will collaboration among citizens occur in such an efficient manner that networks of connected citizens and/or statesmen can join on important decisions and take those votes to the halls of their local governments, and then to the nation’s capital if appropriate, whether in Washington DC or elsewhere?  If our current federal government is largely ineffective as partisan loyalties extensively divide and hinder progress, cannot important decisions be made through tallying majority votes among states according to its citizens, where such citizens can learn the facts surrounding important issues, and in an efficient manner through modern information technology?

Regarding national protection, states could be united with other states in forming a national military capable of protecting the basic rights of all innocent people, whether citizens living within those states or abroad, whether against tyranny or injustice. Should not a national act involving a just war, where the need to defend those who cannot defend themselves is clearly evident, when involving other nations, be supported by an educated majority?

Perhaps not everyone is suitable to be engaged this directly in government. Perhaps mental illness will prevent some from prioritizing other important parts of their lives, or behaving rashly when things don’t go the way they believe they should. Perhaps many do not wish to be involved at all. However, given the difficulties we’ve had with collaboration in our federal government, having at one point nearly shut itself down, and considering religious liberties that have been encroached upon in states by certain branches, as seen through policies that aim to prevent the retention and expression of a belief that all innocent human life is sacred and should be protected from the moment of conception, such a government would best represent the true interests of the people.

Humility

This morning I awoke

Lying on my side

A most unusual surprise

With whom to confide?

Suddenly realizing

One foot without a sock

A most peculiar thing

A key without a lock

When I went to bed

I wore one on each

T’was such a cold evening

A lesson I can’t teach

Lifting up my blanket

And there to my dismay

Not far from my left foot

My little sock did lay

The morning carried on

I continued on my way

Soon off to church

To hear the Pastor say

‘Today we’ll take up humility

And wash each other’s feet

From John 13 we learn

This tradition so sweet.'

And so to my surprise

And without much else to say

I wonder who visited me last night,

To prepare me for this day

Mrs. Clinton vs. Mr. Trump vs. Another President

Like a boxing match, in our political climate, punches are thrown… a left hook in the form a past failure, a right uppercut from something said way back when.

Ultimately, one candidate will prevail as the winner; the other will face some degree of humiliation. Imagine earning such a degree… no university can grant it; what courage these two have, and the many who’ve run the race with them. Who wants to receive so much attention and be simultaneously loved and hated by so many?

Nonetheless, the punches will only be as strong as the weight “we the people” give them. Hundreds of punches have been thrown… which will land? Will they result in a K.O.?

In choosing a candidate, all of us having failures, though few will ever have them so publicly paraded, which failures indicate an inferior ability to lead? Setting all the political issues aside, if but for a moment, which candidate has shown the strongest work ethic? How have they performed in the roles they’ve played? Looking at their Curriculum Vitae… which one shows the most promise as a potential employee?

While running for office, you can say whatever you want to attract a certain number of voters. While sizing up these contenders, can you discern whether their motive stems from a true conviction, rooted in some higher principle? If so, is there one principle that shines forth above the rest?

Is not the primary role of our government to preserve and defend our God given rights… rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? Of these three, have they already been arranged in order of importance, providentially? Assuming both candidates desire to defend these rights equally, and in order of importance, do their words match up with their deeds? If so, what remains to determine the better candidate?

What about their family? What values are represented? Is not the family the nucleus of society? What can we gleam about the character of these candidates based on their family life? Do they stick to their commitments even when the going gets tough, even in the midst of infidelity? How do they view the opposite sex with respect to authentic masculinity and femininity? Do they lead by exemplifying good character?

If another war begins, which is best going to rally the allies and persuade the enemy towards peace? What principles will guide that leader? Which candidate is going to uphold and defend standards of human decency in the midst of warfare? Is not the use of torture reprehensible? Has either shown some degree of love for the enemy, a love that might limit the use of dishonorable technology, technologies that can kill with little regard for civilian life or fail to uphold the traditional means through which men gain valor and show courage?

Putting aside all levity, which can you trust? If you believe that neither are trustworthy, what can you do but pray for something better? Perhaps a new system of government in the United States that replaces the office of the presidency would appropriate, a system with greater subsidiarity, where collective votes of several entities from each state determine matters of national importance, in cooperation with Congress and the Supreme Court?

Additional resource:

“Should I Vote for Cyrus or Antiochus? Trump or Clinton?”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3b-gYneqU6Y

You vs. Another

Allow me to share some insights about relationships. When someone treats you poorly, when they’re mean, disrespectful or inconsiderate, and when you know yourself, when you know that you’re caring, forgiving, considerate and good-mannered, someone who is usually joyful and fun to be around, it’s not you or anything about you that is causing that person to behave the way they’re behaving. Rather, there is something wrong with that person.

This something may be diabolical, i.e. they may not have much control over the way they’re acting. To the extent that it might be diabolical, remember that Satan is a powerful angel. As much as we think we’re in complete control of our lives, such may not always be the case.

Keep in mind that all angels are more magnificent in their nature and stronger in willpower than any human being. However, an exception to this limit of magnificence in a human being can be found in the Blessed Mother, the “Immaculate Conception,” as she referred to herself when appearing to Bernadette Soubirous in the vicinity of Lourdes, France.

In fact, it is known that Satan turned against God with greater fury when the plan of human salvation was manifested to the angles,

When it was revealed to the angels that they would have to obey the incarnate Word, another, a third precept was given them, namely, that they were to admit as a superior conjointly with Him, a Woman, in whose womb the Onlybegotten of the father was to assume flash and that this Woman was to be the Queen and Mistress of all the creatures. The good angels by obeying this command of the Lord, with still increasing and more alert humility, freely subjected themselves, praising the power and the mysteries of the Most High. Lucifer, however, and his confederates, rose to a higher pitch of pride and boastful insolence. In disorderly fury he aspired to be himself the head of all the human race and of the angelic orders, and if there was to be a hypostatic union, he demanded that it be consummated in him.³⁹⁵

So exalted is the mother of our Lord in the hierarchy of creation, she is crowned as Queen of Heaven. This infuriates Satan, a once highly exalted angelic leader who was so self-absorbed at his apparent magnificence that he dared to compare himself with God, believing himself above his own Creator. Since the intellect of an angel is not darkened by circumstance, mortality, ignorance or emotion, when he made the decision to exalt himself above God, there was no going back. A third of the angels followed.

And yet, returning to human relationships, even if the person who’s treated you poorly is influenced by something diabolical, you can’t expect that God will withdraw from that person as they continue to behave the way they do, nor can you expect that He will punish them, especially if they are one of His children through baptism. Like a good father, it is not in His nature to stop loving his children. Thus, it is best for you to strive to follow His nature as best you can, trying to remain open handed towards that person, even though they’ve treated you in ways undeserving of kindness or prayers on their behalf. Such an attitude of forgiveness is key to success in every relationship since no one is perfect. Thus, such a situation gives rise to opportunities to practice forgiveness!

Yet, I remind you, if a person continues to treat you poorly, especially as a child of God, there is something wrong with that person. They may seem to have the whole world on their side; many others may treat you the same way and believe they’re right in doing so, even if you’d expect otherwise from them based on a way of life they proclaim to uphold. Similarly, the way that person treats you may lead others to treat you the same way, as though they’re following that person’s lead. But still, there is something wrong with that person or those people. It’s not you.

You are a wonderful creation. No matter how imperfect you think you may be based on things you’ve had little or no control over, you’re perfect in His eyes. He sees you as a loving mother sees her precious child, as Mary sees her child Jesus. You have qualities and gifts that others may never realize or appreciate. Any weakness or “defect” you think you have now is merely something He is working through you for greater glory, and not only now, but especially in the life to come where you’ll have a glorified body, free from imperfections, scars or the weaknesses that sin causes.

If someone turns away from you, denying you their friendship, it is their loss. Though this lack of kindness may cause you to mourn, be mindful of the first beatitude,

Blessed are those who mourn.

Though you may be sorrowful, don’t forget all the ways you’re wonderfully made.

We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.  –Romans 8:28

There’s reason to hope that at some future time, things will be better between you and that person or those people, even if it’s not in this life. In the meantime, continue loving Him with your whole heart, strength, mind and soul and others as yourself, as best you can.

      In keeping this attitude, perhaps you’ll be as Elton John was in his exceptional song, “I’m still standing,” carrying the blue, white and red flag of love in your heart! While such an attitude may not assist in meekness or humility, nor the video in chastity or modesty, it could help alleviate feelings of self-defeat or pity that prevent you from being the best you know yourself to be.

The Baptized Party of America:
A Solution to Diabolic Division in America, Solidarity Through Baptism!

I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves.
–Matt. 10:16

Once more into the fray…
Into the last good fight I’ll ever know.
Live and die on this day…
Live and die on this day…
–The Grey

Basic Questions

What must I believe to become a member of the Baptized Party of America?

Although baptism is not required to become a member of our party, it is highly encouraged, as well as an affirmative response to the following questions:

Do you reject Satan?

Do you reject all his works?

Do you reject all his empty promises?

Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth?

Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary was crucified, died, and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father?

Do you believe in the Holy Spirit?

Do you believe that it is the will of God that the Bride of Christ, His Church, be united, if only at least, through baptism?

Do you believe in the power of prayer?

Do you believe in the resurrection of the body and life everlasting?

Do you believe that God, the all-powerful Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, has given us a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, and forgiven all our sins?

May he also keep us faithful to our Lord Jesus Christ for ever and ever! Amen!

What are some of the potential benefits of being a member?

Our goals include:

Working together to promote candidates and solutions to issues that best reflect our views and values as a result of the super infusion of grace we’ve received through the Sacrament of Baptism

Building a greater sense of unity in America by virtue of our Baptism

Providing solutions to the division resulting from America’s two-party dominated system, which has been written about in Federalist Papers No. 9 and No. 10 by Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, respectively, concerning the dangers of domestic political factions.

Aren’t most Americans already baptized?

65% of Americans describe themselves as Christian; arguably,³⁹⁶ 65% of Americans are baptized. We believe there is no better basis for unity. Nonetheless, a person does not have to be baptized to join the Baptized Party of America; we encourage Baptism and hope all members, or potential members, appreciate baptism more than anything in the world! Moreover, we hope that forming this party will help in that realization!

Were the Founding Fathers baptized?

      We believe the vast majority of Founding Fathers were baptized. Moreover, “…approximately 98 percent of the colonists were Protestants, with the remaining 1.9 percent being Roman Catholics.” ³⁹⁷

What are the benefits of Baptism?

Baptism is more than an outward ritual that marks the entrance of a person into the Christian faith. Rather, a properly performed Baptism results in an infusion of grace into the soul, making us an adopted member of God’s family, allowing the Holy Spirit to transform our treacherous hearts.³⁹⁸ We can’t simply pull ourselves up by our bootstraps, we need God’s grace; the more we learn to trust in His grace and mercy, the higher we ascend in the spiritual life!

The Bible is clear that all people are God’s creation (Colossians 1:16), and that God loves the entire world (John 3:16), but only those who are born again are children of God (John 1:12; 11:52; Romans 8:16; 1 John 3:1-10).³⁹⁹ Baptism is necessary to be born again.⁴⁰⁰

Will being baptized change the way I see and experience the world?

We believe the supernatural infusion of grace received through baptism transcends natural understanding. Those who are not baptized, who have not received the infusion of grace that follows,⁴⁰¹ experience less of the action of the Holy Spirit in their life and are more prone to make errors of judgement and understanding. Moreover, the Sacrament of Baptism leaves an indelible mark on each person’s soul, helping us to see this world as it is and as it should be, helping us to build a better world and build one another up.⁴⁰² As adopted children of God, we can choose to stay on the narrow path that leads to eternal life, honoring our baptism.

Can the graces I receive through Baptism be lost?

      God is just so if we choose to stray from Him, He allows us to do so; yes, the graces of baptism can be lost. Without regular effort to maintain and nurture the grace bestowed on our soul through baptism, without regular effort on our part to avoid sin and abide in His will, the supernatural benefits of baptism can be lost. Thankfully, we can repent of sin, even small sins that can add up and separate us from God, and restore the graces lost through Baptism. Just like the father of the prodigal son,⁴⁰³ our Lord’s arms are always outstretched to welcome our return!

What is sin and what are its effects?

Sin wounds our nature and our relationship with God. Sin also weakens solidarity with other members of the human family. Stated another way, sin creates little black holes in our heart that prevent us from loving God first, and others as ourselves, which are the two most important Commandments He has given to us.

What must I do to join?

      Simply send us a message with your email to subscribe to our listserv and eventually become a registered member of the Baptized Party of America. As soon as we receive a sufficient number of interested potential members, we will officially register our party! Let’s make a huge impact on the next election!

Will I ever be quizzed on what I know?

Absolutely! Looking back historically, can you answer the following two questions about political parties?

Did the Founding Fathers originally intend for American politics to be partisan?

What were the names of the two parties of the First Party-System in the US?

Answers:

No. “The Founding Fathers did not originally intend for American politics to be partisan. In Federalist Papers No. 9 and No. 10, Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, respectively, wrote specifically about the dangers of domestic political factions. In addition, the first President of the United States, George Washington, was not a member of any political party at the time of his election or throughout his tenure as president. Furthermore, he hoped that political parties would not be formed, fearing conflict and stagnation, as outlined in his Farewell Address.” ⁴⁰⁴

The Federalist Party and the Democratic-Republican Party

True Religious Freedom

      All Abstract Dispositions Require Belief, Belief is Religious by Nature

      It probably goes without saying that members of the Baptized Party of America esteem and prioritize religious freedom. But just what does it mean to be religious? Does holding a belief constitute a religious activity?

      Some of the deeper questions we often ask are, ‘How did life begin and what is the purpose, if any?’ And, ‘What is the age and origin of the universe, or (according to some) multiverse?’ The answers embraced constitute beliefs and beliefs vary widely from one person to another. Even among those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God, that He arrived through the womb of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried, ultimately rising from the dead, there are many, many divisions⁴⁰⁵ despite being called to unity.⁴⁰⁶

      Amidst these divisions, we must note that the term religious has fallen into a narrow definition. This definition leads to a false separation in the treatment of those who believe in a transcendent Creator and those who do not, especially with respect to what constitutes legitimate operation in the public sphere i.e., those spheres under government oversight, such as public education, even if rightfully appropriated more and more to each state⁴⁰⁷ in accordance with subsidiarity.

Most people believe in something transcendent. Our practices and rituals often point towards the transcendent, whether the result of a numinous experience⁴⁰⁸ or an experience involving ultimate Truth or a Supreme Being. Nonetheless, every thinking person can become devoted, committed or faithful to a belief, and by extension therefore, religious, even if their beliefs entail that nothing is worthy of belief or that nothing is transcendent. In any case, assent is given to the belief as credible and there is usually a system of practices and rituals associated with it whereby it is promoted or sustained in the face of criticism, even if entirely subjective or internal.

Arguably, the word religion comes from the word religare, meaning to bind, a definition that can be traced back to Lactantius (c. 250 -c. 325). Accordingly, anyone who binds themselves to a belief or set of beliefs as credible and belief-worthy is acting in a religious manner. Another definition comes from the Latin religiō, defined by Cicero (106 – 46 BC) as, to treat carefully⁴⁰⁹ or choose to go over again, or consider carefully.⁴¹⁰ Similarly, no one binds themselves to a belief or set of beliefs without going over them carefully, arguably more than once, choosing one or those that seem most true, accurate and beneficial.

Materialism, the belief, theory or attitude that the material world is all that is and that physical well-being and worldly possessions constitute the greatest good and highest value in life, is a belief, even if it has less philosophic, historical and scientific substantiation.⁴¹¹ With respect to the public sphere, particularly public education, the reason why education that promotes Christian virtue isn’t as widespread is because the religion of materialism or scientism⁴¹² receives preeminence.

The second law of thermodynamics establishes that energy in the universe is going from a higher state to a lower one, i.e., entropy, a gradual decline. This implies an extremely high energy state at the beginning, or Big Bang. A person should remain free to believe that all this energy suddenly appeared from nothing without being brought into being and acted upon by a Supreme Spirit⁴¹³, First Cause, Unmoved Mover, Creator, etc., but it is quite another thing to impose that belief on others as though it is factual, suggesting that theistic beliefs are irrational or should not be explored or considered. This is often the case in public schools as a result of a false understanding of what it means for church and state to remain separate. The result is that, since church is commonly associated with religious activity, theistic beliefs must be kept out of state regulated activities while any other kinds of beliefs are acceptable. Of course, this is an erroneous situation since embracing any belief constitutes a religious activity and cannot be endorsed by the state over any other belief. Ironically, embracing belief in a Big Bang without any considerations of causation is arguably less likely to advance scientific inquiry than considerations that the first supreme act of creation occurred and is sustained by a Divine Will.

This false understanding of what it means to be religious has also led some to believe that the only way someone holding public office can perform their duties appropriately is if they have no theistic beliefs, or that public places or services should not reflect the fact that the majority of citizens believe in God, i.e., through maintaining times set aside for prayer or an acknowledgement of God through the Pledge of Allegiance (“…one nation under God…”) and the display of the 10 Commandments. Moreover, since materialism or scientism are beliefs, and thereby constitutes a religious activity in those who uphold or bind themselves to them, their implementation over other beliefs conflicts with 1st Amendment freedoms that prohibit government from endorsing one religious belief over another. Essentially, materialism or scientism have no superior right to be taught exclusively in public schools over beliefs that are theistic, just as those who are devoid of theistic beliefs are not automatically best suited to serve in public office; arguably, they are less suited, given the history of atrocities that took place under materialistic leaders like Joseph Stalin (around 40 million ⁴¹⁴), Adolf Hitler⁴¹⁵ (over 12 million murders⁴¹⁶) and Mao Zedong (65 million murders⁴¹⁷).

Materialism or scientism often leads to two other related beliefs, religions, or attitudes, one that presupposes to practice freedom from religion, and one that formally treats all beliefs as though equal, as though man-made and reducible to alternative sources of potential wisdom, poetry, story-telling, etc. This latter belief leads to an approach that aims to glean what is best from each distinct set of beliefs as it applies to the individual and their circumstances. However, the belief that all beliefs are man-made promotes a type of utilitarianism of moral principles likely to lead to confusion, or in Hebrew, balal, (“to mix, mingle, confuse, confound” ⁴¹⁸), which is similar to the word Babel, (“confusion” ⁴¹⁹). Arguably, this confusion leads to laxity in the practice of any one belief since none are morally binding or authoritative –why would a person submit to the teachings of a man-made belief unless there is understandable personal benefit? Or, why would the 10 Commandments be morally binding unless actually given by or through a Transcendent Creator? As a result of moral utilitarianism, a type of fornication of beliefs occurs, one that is ultimately devoid of commitment to any. Nonetheless, a person should remain free to treat all beliefs as though man-made and practice moral utilitarianism, albeit guided by laws that uphold the public good, and it is the duty of our government to protect this freedom, protect the opportunity for exploration and personal growth, one that, hopefully, leads to ultimate Truth.

Innately Religious

Human beings are innately religious insofar as they can uphold an abstract disposition; all abstract dispositions require belief of actuality or truth, at least insofar as they are intangible. For example, one might believe in “the law of gravity” as an indisputable fact of life. However, once they’ve witnessed someone levitate, they may then believe that gravity is not a natural law but a common phenomenon associated with the present order of the universe. Of course, they may already believe that natural laws are not unbreakable as a result of forces they don’t understand, and therefore not classify natural laws as unbreakable but as phenomenon in the first place. In either case, upholding gravity as a phenomenon rather than an unbreakable natural law is an internal shift in abstract disposition that requires an act of the will and can be classified in the realm of belief. In the case of witnessing a person levitate with no scientific or observable explanation, the change would be the result of a tangible experience, i.e., the person witnessing the act may have been able to reach out and touch the person levitating if they were close enough and have no reason to doubt their senses as though hallucinating. Nonetheless, a person is capable of believing that reports of levitation are true without having witnessed it themselves.⁴²⁰ In that case, the person would be holding an abstract disposition concerning the true nature of gravity as a result of an intangible experience, i.e., they weren’t physically there when it happened but believe the reports of its occurrence as trustworthy. “Jesus said to him [to “Doubting Thomas” after he placed his finger in the wounds of His palms and his hand in the spear wound that pierced His Sacred Heart], “You have believed because you have seen me. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”⁴²¹

All beliefs have a religious nature insofar as one upholds that belief through conscious or unconscious patterns or rituals of behavior. This entails even a most basic and often unconscious belief that there will be a tomorrow. Elsewise, without a tomorrow, the abstract dispositions or beliefs formed today might have less or little significance.

The rituals and practices associated with remaining faithful, devoted or committed to a certain belief or attitude can be entirely interior, making it more difficult to categorize a person a certain way. Nonetheless, each of us naturally gravitates towards rituals and practices that place us more in touch with what we believe to be ultimately true, divine or transcendent. This may be found in any of the world’s theistic beliefs, encompassing beliefs about the origin of the universe and life, the work of Providence in history, or in an atheistic context within a framework of scientism, materialism, hedonism, modernism (defined as optimistic presumption, or the prejudice of optimism⁴²²), utilitarianism, etc. Thus, even if there is an absence of outward rituals or practices, this in no way precludes a person from being defined as religious or engaging in a religious pursuit; a person’s faithfulness, devotion or commitment to a belief or attitude always requires some degree of effort on the part of the will, and this is always associated with an interior ritual or practice to the extent that a person may feel best about one belief or attitude, or reason from one side of an argument to the other, habitually placing themselves on one side of that argument. In summary, if a person can feel best about and/or reason and stand for one viewpoint (abstract disposition) over another, which can lead to favoring and practicing one kind of behavior over another, they are demonstrating their religious nature and exercising a religious freedom when upholding it as best or binding themselves to it as best. This is an entirely interior practice. If the belief results in observable behavior, it would involve an exterior practice; we can say the result or fruit of the belief is manifested.

Saying something like, ‘I don’t believe in anything,’ is a contradiction. A person who would say that believes that there is nothing worthy of belief and applies themselves to the belief that nothing is worthy of belief. Or, they may be implying that what they know through scientific study is ultimate truth, potentially implying that there is no such thing as philosophical truth, which would be a contradiction since the disposition or attitude that the results of scientific study are the only observations or considerations worthwhile is itself a philosophic attitude or belief.

A religious belief that there is no truth, divine, and/or transcendent, likely includes the belief that there is no ultimate accountability or responsibility for one’s actions, nor any need to act when action would otherwise be appropriate. This would still result in an interior act through continued consent of the will in sustaining such a belief. For example, if a person is drowning and someone nearby believes that human life isn’t worth saving when all they’d have to do is throw the person a lifesaver, and no action to save the other person’s life commences, an internal action is most certainly taking place and would likely continue to take place if that person experiences a sense of guilt and rationalizes their decision. Furthermore, we often see that this type of belief can involve a substantial amount of work, such as the work of imposing that belief on others, whereby the prohibition of other forms of religious expression can ensue. This seems to be the work associated with organizations that espouse freedom from religion, which seek to endorse a belief in the separation of church and state according to their definition of what constitutes religious activity.⁴²³ This belief would entail the presupposition that their beliefs are not themselves religious and therefore not inappropriately interfering with that supposed “wall of separation,”⁴²⁴ all the while speaking of this wall as though foundational to America, as though anyone can actually be separated from their religious nature, whether serving in public office or not. Clearly, they themselves would not be, since endorsing such a belief is itself derived from a religious nature. Perhaps you have seen what may appear as a religious work or exterior act in the form of television commercials and/or lawsuits against public schools with members who have different beliefs and hope to celebrate and share them with others.⁴²⁵

If it were necessary to fight for religious freedom in the United States, we believe a class-action lawsuit of the people versus the federal government, or any lackadaisical state government, may solve the problem caused by the imposition of the beliefs of freedom from religion groups to effectively prohibit any of their lawsuits, or those that are similar, as unconstitutional. Certainly, the freedom to practice one’s religious beliefs shouldn’t depend on how much money is available to defend them through expensive legal services. Moreover, most public schools do not have extra money to defend themselves against law suits brought by such groups of people. Thus, a lawsuit would entail that the respective government protect groups by prohibiting lawsuits from those who claim to have no religious belief, but are actually imposing their own beliefs, beliefs entailing there are no rational grounds for any other religious beliefs according to their definition of what constitutes being religious, or that government, and by extension the people, should not hold any differing beliefs while serving in public office or while working within a facility receiving government funds or subject to government oversight.

If such a class-action lawsuit prevailed and protection resulted, those whose belief in God involves a desire for their children to embrace the same faith, could fulfill this desire through the availability of appropriate classes in public schools. Many youth leaders, pastors, priests and deacons would love to teach a class at a public school (70.6% of Americans define themselves as Christian⁴²⁶), but are unable to do so out of fear that the district will be sued by those in the ‘freedom from religion’ camp, who are themselves engaging in a form of proselytization and attempting to have the federal or state government enshrine their “freedom from” beliefs as though constitutional, despite how much they discourage virtue, which is contrary to the public good, by overlapping with hedonism, scientism, materialism, etc.

Learning about Jesus and practicing virtue should be a lifelong endeavor, and it makes sense that a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, would desire the cultivation of virtue; the practice of virtue leads to stable families. Families are the nucleus of society. “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.”⁴²⁷ Education that includes a history of the Word of God as revealed to humankind through the work of the Holy Spirit towards our salvation, along with classical philosophy and a historically accurate presentation of the Church, not to mention how theology has developed and differed over the years, can, arguably, help students grow in virtue. Those students who desire to know more, or who have parents who desire them to know more, will have many opportunities to excel, while those who do not, should not have to take the classes that are available unless their parents insist that they do, as would be the case for any other class while they are under 18 years of age.

In contrast, through diminishing belief in a Creator who providentially paved the way for government’s acknowledgment of inalienable human rights, particularly through His only begotten Son, a belief we are encouraged to embrace as members of the Baptized Party of America, the most perfect image of the Father,⁴²⁸ we open the doors to fornication with idols and foreign ideologies, to Babylon.⁴²⁹ To correct this trend, we believe that all able citizens must vote for leaders who publicly acknowledge Jesus in word and deed (meaning they are living a life observably filled with the works of the Holy Spirit). We must encourage the development of positive laws that promote virtue. It’s not wrong to encourage the display of the 10 Commandments in public places whenever at least one American in that locale believes in the God who wrote them. Moreover, we must welcome the name of Jesus, Scripture and prayer in public schools. We must act when the servants of God are killed, when saints who share the Good News in foreign lands are captured, imprisoned, tortured and/or killed; we must defend them, we must not turn a blind eye! We can’t have it both ways, one way or another, one religious belief receives preeminence! That there is good inherent in the absence of theistic beliefs is itself a religious belief!

Last but certainly not least, members of the Baptized Party of America are encouraged to carefully consider and believe the following religiously, i.e., habitually and in a binding manner, often substituting their own name in place of the Word, Love:

Love is patient; love is kind.

Love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude.

Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable –or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong but rejoices in the right.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love is a patient heart. Love never ends.⁴³⁰

Women’s Rights

Gender discrimination can occur in situations such as employment, education, housing and lending / credit. Current Federal laws that prohibit gender discrimination include the Civil Rights Act of 1964: Title VII (Equal Employment Opportunities); the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA); the Fair Housing Act (FHA); the Equal Pay Act of 1963 (EPA); the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA); the Pregnancy Discrimination Act; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; and U.S. Code Title 42, Chapter 21 - Civil Rights. We support these laws; we do not support gender discrimination.
      With respect to healthcare, we do not believe a right to privacy exists within the context of due process that legitimately legalizes the termination of unborn persons. In this respect, we believe that the Supreme Court ruling in the matter of Roe v. Wade was correctly overturned in 2022. We cannot support the ratification of CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women), as promoted by the Green Party, nor the Equality Act, as promoted by the Democratic Party, insofar as they purport to define women’s healthcare as including a right to terminate the life of an unborn person. While we can acknowledge that unplanned pregnancies are less than ideal (cause of 98% of abortions) and that rape is a grave injustice (cause of 2% of abortions), but neither of these situations justifies taking the life of an unborn person; every person has a preeminent right to life, in accordance with natural law, which is guaranteed by the 5th and 14th amendments. We believe, paraphrasing the words of Fr. Robert S. Spitzer, S.J.,

      'Every human being, because of their intrinsic dignity, deserves minimum justice, and therefore, possesses inalienable rights (life, liberty, property). These rights are a universal obligation and belong to every person by their very nature. No court, legislature or state body can take that away.
      The most objective and fundamental definition of a human being that we can come to, that cannot be challenged on the level of objectivity and is not subject to whim or the clarity criteria (only in the eye of the beholder), is the full human genome, which includes the mitochondrial DNA, i.e. the Eve gene.
      This definition is fundamental enough that we don’t deprive anyone of their inalienable rights. Thus, every human being that possesses a full human genome has intrinsic dignity that goes beyond all appearances and is irrespective of their stage of development, of whether they have a manifest IQ or not, and of their projected opportunities and potentials.
      Every single solitary being with a full human genome possesses inalienable rights. The possession of those rights must be guaranteed by every state, every court, every legislature and every law. If they are not, that court is invalid, that legislature is invalid and they give an unjust law.'⁴³¹

The Right to Life

With respect to the protection of unborn children, we uphold, in accordance with scientific fact, that the life of a human person begins at the moment of conception. At any moment thereafter, the gender of a person can be determined, including dual genders (true hermaphroditic conditions⁴³²). We believe that all future men, women and dual gender persons of America have a natural right to life; it is the function of a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, to protect innocent human life, especially during the most vulnerable stages of our development.
      We do not support termination of the life of an unborn person. However, in instances of pregnancy complication wherein the life of the mother is in danger, the mother and father of the child, or the mother’s family if no father is present and the mother is incapacitated, may legally choose an act to preserve the life of the mother that has the unintended consequence or secondary effect of ending the life of the child. Nonetheless, we do not support policies or laws that would penalize healthcare providers who might conscientiously object to such an act. In this respect, if complications persist and no healthcare providers are available or willing to perform an act that may result in ending the life of that child or children, nor automated technologies that might carry out the procedure through initiation by the mother, father and / or responsible family member(s), both mother and child / children may pass from this life. In this respect, and in accordance with our beliefs, it is important to keep in mind that we are all passing through this life, sooner or later, our soul will meet its Creator.

Contraception

We acknowledge that hormone-based “birth control” can and does result in the destruction of a newly conceived person, with an estimated abortion of undetected pregnancy rate around 5%⁴³³, and a typical use failure rate of 9% for oral contraceptives,⁴³⁴ which has closely correlated with the number of abortions occurring in the United States each year (971,032 estimated pregnancies based on oral contraceptive use in 2010 (an estimated 971,032 pregnancies based on the 9% typical use failure rate with 765,651 medical and surgical abortions reported to the CDC from 49 reporting areas that same year). ⁴³⁵

      Because all human life has intrinsic dignity, even at the earliest stages of its development, we support the development of educational programs that discuss these risks, and knowledge concerning the sacredness of human life, and in so doing, discourage the use of hormonal contraceptives. We further support teaching programs that highlight the connection between contraceptive failure rates and abortion rates. We hope to promote the development of positive laws in society that encourage virtue, particularly the virtue of chastity, which we believe will lead to a greater appreciation and respect for marriage, marriage that consistently expresses the language of love through being open to new human life.

      We also hope to become the premiere party in recognizing the sacred beauty of women. As stated in “Let Freedom Ring: A 40-Day Tactical Training for Freedom from the Devil,”

“Woman is the crescendo… … the last and greatest of all God’s creation! More than a beautiful sunset or starry night or any cascading waterfalls or picturesque mountain range… God has created nothing more beautiful, more loving, more tender hearted, more nurturing. That is why women are perfectly positioned to be wife and mother. And, because women are the pinnacle of all God’s creations, they too, like the Blessed Mother⁴³⁶, should be esteemed as sacred. They have been given a special role of being the tabernacle of God’s next love interest.”⁴³⁷

      On October 13th, 1917, a crowd of 70,000 people gathered to see a miracle outside the tiny village of Fatima in Portugal. The event that took place later became known as the “Miracle of the Sun.”⁴³⁸ The lady who appeared to the three shepherd children, announcing the miracle a month before its occurrence, later told one of them, “More souls go to Hell because of sins of the flesh than for any other reason.”⁴³⁹ According to Thomas Aquinas, the daughters (consequences) of lust are “blindness of mind, thoughtlessness, inconstancy, rashness, self-love, hatred of God, love of this world, and abhorrence or despair of a future world.”

It’s more than interesting to note that Margaret Sanger opened the first birth control clinic in 1916, just as the angel first appear to the children in Fatima. The “roaring 20s” would then burst onto the scene shortly after Our Lady’s dire warning, which seemed to be “a leak in the dike” of a more debased view of sexuality.

But the dam would burst wide open with our modern-day sexual revolution. It was in the 1965 case of Griswold v. Connecticut that the Supreme Court would strike down state laws prohibiting contraception. This would be quickly followed in 1973 by the infamous Supreme Court case of Roe v. Wade, which legalized the killing of pre-born children in all states.

Once the “consequence of conception” seemed to be removed, or the legal right to kill pre-born babies was made available, the sexual revolution flooded into our culture. Now, we are seeing the “normalization” (socially acceptable) of sex for pleasure outside the bond of holy matrimony and the explosion of easy access pornography.

Fr. Robert Fromageot, F.S.S.P. writes, “The leading lights of our age often claim to champion the rights of women, and in certain respects the claim is legitimate. At the same time, however, our age has clearly not sought to protect and foster the sacred dignity of women. On the contrary, society would have us remove our wedding garment, divest ourselves of Christ, and put on the ‘old man’⁴⁴⁰ and make ample provision for the flesh. Men are practically encouraged to treat women as mere objects of pleasure, and women are encouraged to seek this degrading form of attention and accept it as normal and compatible with their dignity.”⁴⁴¹

Prostitution

We do not stand with the Libertarian party in the legalization of prostitution, instead working to promote education and positive laws that engender virtue. Furthermore, we stand with the Constitution Party in seeking to enact additional measures to protect against the production and distribution of pornography, especially those forms that are already illegal but poorly enforced. The production of pornography often is, with respect to monetary reimbursement, the same as prostitution but performed and recorded under the misleading title of “adult entertainment,” as though children should look forward to this form of entertainment as adults, or as though children or young adults are incapable of sexual activities.

      Such additional measurement will likely include ensuring that civil servants are free from the use of pornography, just as we hold them to a higher standard in being free from other forms of harmful addiction, such as drug addiction, which can impair the ability to carry out one’s responsibilities justly and in accordance with upright behavior and good judgment.

Embryonic Stem Cell Research

In further respect to the sanctity of human life at its earliest stages of development, we oppose embryonic stem cell research and the use of such cell lines in the production of vaccines. We thus intend to work towards dignified cell lines used in the production of vaccines, whether through sanctions against companies that use opposing cell lines and/or the creation of ethically sound vaccines through government funded projects to not only give consumers greater access to products that promote human dignity, but to promote a culture of life.
      In speaking of vaccines, we wish to emphasize that we support their use, providing all risks and benefits are discussed with those receiving them. Similarly, we advocate for educational programs for vaccines, such as those that may be found on the CDC website, possibly providing tax reduction incentives for those who’ve completed them, so that all may be aware of the risks and benefits and judiciously apply them to their circumstances.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights

      We support engendering kindness and consideration for those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. However, we believe that redefining civil marriage is unnecessary, unreasonable, and contrary to the common good in accordance with the reasons discussed in the book, “What Is Marriage? Man and Woman: A Defense.” ⁴⁴²
      We support a citizen’s right to pursue happiness so that if they are convinced that in the operation of their business or organization, either of which may be recognized as a legal entity, they can conduct it in accordance with their beliefs in the pursuit of happiness and in accordance with their convictions. Therefore, organizations entrusted with the care of children who believe it is an injustice for a child to be adopted into a same-sex household, can exercise their belief through their organization by preventing such adoptions. Similarly, those who operate bakeries who believe it is wrong to celebrate a same-sex “marriage” can exercise that belief by refraining to bake a cake for that couple. In essence, we support conscientious, responsible decision making that takes into account a person’s gender identity or sexual orientation, believing that to ignore these kinds of attitudes or dispositions with respect to lifestyle choices is unreasonable and unrealistic, and an impediment to free speech.
      We believe that while the gender of a person is determined by nature, except in cases of hermaphroditism, which occurs in one in 83,000 births,⁴⁴³ whether or not due to genetic chimerism, a person may choose a gender contrary to their biological gender or choose a sexual orientation contrary to the natural complementarity of the sexes with respect to procreation. In this respect, a person should be responsible for their choice and accept any negative consequences that follow; we do not believe it is just for a government to silence the speech or deny the pursuit of happiness to those who believe that certain lifestyle choices are unnatural, wrong, immoral, bad for the common good, or otherwise unhealthy, living and speaking so not only in their private life, but through the operation of their business or organization. Thus, while we do not support unkindness or violence, we support conscientious, responsible decision making in response to the lifestyle choices others have made with respect to gender identity and sexual orientation.       
      The outcomes we hope to obtain in policy and law are the result of our beliefs, beliefs we uphold as the result of Divine Revelation spoken throughout the history of human kind concerning human nature, a nature prone towards disordered thoughts and actions that distance a person from their Creator. We believe the spirit of the present age is hedonistic, suggesting that happiness is the ultimate goal or should be the god of one’s life, and the god enshrined in government policy and law as though itself not religious in nature with respect to a person binding themselves to hedonistic beliefs. We oppose this spirit as it works to become integrated into society through policies and laws under the guise of freedom, growing at the expense of the ability of others who oppose this spirit to exercise their beliefs and speak and act freely in their private and public life in accordance with what they believe is best and fruitful for the common good.
      With respect to gender identity and sexual orientation as a choice rather than a condition a person is born with, we submit the following considerations as worthy of belief and in accordance with the beliefs of the Baptized Party of America:

Without conviction leading towards continence, feelings of same-sex attraction (SSA) a person may have while growing up can reinforce the idea that they’re homosexual, as though a definitive condition, though there is no solid proof that a person is born that way. ⁴⁴⁴

The search for a single dominant gene--the "O-GOD" (one gene, one disorder) hypothesis--that would influence a behavioral variant is likely to be fruitless. Many different genes, together with many different environmental factors, will interact in unpredictable ways to guide behavioral preferences. Each component will contribute small quanta of influence. One result of such a quantum theory of behavior is that it makes irrelevant the overstretched speculations of both Hamer and LeVay about why a gene for homosexuality still exists when it apparently has little apparent survival value in evolutionary terms. The quest for a teleological explanation to identify a reason for the existence of a "gay gene" becomes pointless when one understands that there is not now, and never was, a single and final reason for being gay or straight, or having any other identity along the continuum of sexual preference. ⁴⁴⁵

Young adults who have mental fantasies or view pornography that involves the same sex, especially when accompanied by masturbation, foster an appetite towards same sex behavior.

Our [sexual] appetite is very similar to our food appetite. No one craves something to eat that they’ve never been exposed to. You tend to crave and desire that which you’ve been exposed to… the first part of what you desire is exposure. ⁴⁴⁶

SSA is fairly common in young adults: "By age 26, 10.7% of men and 24.5% of women reported being attracted to their own sex at some time.”⁴⁴⁷ The attraction may be related to hormones. However,

Regardless of the role that genetics play in the development of sexual attractions, people who experience these attractions can make conscious choices about their behaviors. Although researchers have found a certain gene present in 77% of the alcoholic patients (Dallas, 1992, pp. 20–23), we know that alcoholics can control their behavior and lead productive lives. You have control over your destiny. You have moral agency and can determine the course of your life. ⁴⁴⁸

When a person acts on feelings of SSA, it is more likely they will conclude that they are in fact homosexual, or perhaps bisexual, as a way of self-identifying, especially while young and forming a sense of self-identity. Although feelings of SSA can be predominately related to sexual appetite, such feelings can also be romantic or sentimental if cultivated, i.e. such feelings are not necessarily separate from a greater desire for increased interpersonal connectedness.

Feelings of SSA can stay with a person past adolescence once they’ve first experienced them, just as easily as those initial feelings can be recalled and considered in the context of their ability to result in excitation, romance, chemistry, greater interpersonal connectedness and/or sexual pleasure. To some extent, a person who can recognize those inclinations within a broader context of psychological and social development, and to the extent they view sexual inclinations within a moral and spiritual framework that encourages marriage and children, the less likely such feelings are going to be a source of consternation later in life. Conversely, when a person refuses to accept any feelings of SSA they’ve had, viewing such feelings in a totally negative framework, a.k.a. homophobic, they may become irrational or aggressive, potentially behaving obnoxiously to compensate for their own sense of insecurity or a perceived deficiency in masculinity or femininity.

If a person has feelings of SSA while growing up, they may have a sense of being frowned on, ridiculed or rejected if publicly considered gay. This can lead to a greater reluctance to act on such feelings. Arguably, this is an environmental influence involved with the stigma of being categorized as homosexual, which discourages young adults from acting on feelings of SSA. Or, with respect to the derogatory and belittling slang associated with such behavior, an aversion to being considered a fairy, fag, dike, fruitcake and so on. Nonetheless, acting on such feelings is more likely when a person doesn’t have a good relationship with their same sex parent,⁴⁴⁹ from whom they may assimilate and embrace either masculine, fatherly characteristics, or feminine, motherly ones, and from whom they may find quality friendship when many others, including same-sex siblings, are indifferent.

While the gender of a person usually determines sex preference, likely due to the predominant hormones produced by genes of the sex chromosomes, as well as the cognitive recognition of the design of one sex to naturally compliment the other, feelings of wellbeing and acceptance through same-sex friendships can tip the balance. Same sex friendships are usually easier to form while young, especially among those with developmental differences or delays, who may feel less comfortable around others, especially the opposite sex.⁴⁵⁰ These same-sex friendships are likely to have a deeper sense of connectedness when there has been a poor or absent relationship between that person and their same-sex parent. Even when that is not the case, as the sexual appetite begins to emerge, the closeness experienced through these friendships can culminate in sexual experimentation, especially when parental supervision or guidance towards heterosexual orientation is absent. Accordingly, in opposition to the hedonistic spirit of the present age, we do not support CDC recommendations⁴⁵¹ that parents should be supportive of their children with respect to identifying as homosexual or in acting on those feelings, which is not to say that they should cease to be supportive and loving as parents in general.

Intoxicants such as alcohol will also increase the likelihood that a young adult will act on feelings of SSA as psychological inhibitions are lifted and desire is unabated or increased. Furthermore, same-sex childhood experiences wherein a person is manipulated by someone older, or by one who’s been sexually manipulated themselves, increases the likelihood of developing an appetite for same-sex sexual experience as well as the likelihood of self-identifying as homosexual.

Part of corrective efforts aimed at lessening SSA, when understood and accepted as a condition wherein change is favored, involves understanding that,

…one does not deliberately choose to have this kind of attraction and that one can learn to reduce its power –and even, in many cases, to get rid of it…

In helping persons with SSA to be chaste (which is the principal goal of Courage), I have found Moberly’s view [homosexual orientation “does not depend on a genetic dispositional hormonal imbalance or abnormal learning processes, but on difficulties in the (same sex) parent-child relationship, especially in the early years of life.”] most helpful. Seeking chastity is the necessary first step away from SSA. The individual may not be able to recover completely his natural heterosexual tendencies, but he or she is moving in the correct spiritual direction. With God’s grace, he or she will be able not only to avoid same-sex sins but also to develop interior chastity.⁴⁵²

Beyond first seeking chastity, corrective and preventive efforts could also involve understanding the connection between exposure and appetite formation. Additionally, acknowledging that homosexual behavior has been associated with a higher incidence of suicide⁴⁵³ and depression,⁴⁵⁴ and among men, rectal cancers⁴⁵⁵ and sexually transmitted diseases,⁴⁵⁶ may be beneficial.

The use of parts of the human body contrary to their intended purpose, which is not a situation limited to homosexual relationships, can legitimately contribute to a sense of guilt or discomfort.

Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. –Romans 6:13

Sexual excitation associated with sexual gratification can overpower reservations one might otherwise have due to guilt arising from the use of body parts in ways contrary to their design, which is especially true if one is drunk or otherwise inebriated by a mind-altering substance. Correspondingly, for those who distance themselves from knowledge or experience suggesting that there is a Creator, or from those who believe in Him, such feelings of guilt are less likely. Similarly, if one believes that life and existence occurred randomly, that the human body is a product of chaotic and unguided occurrences, often involving cut-throat “survival-of-the-fittest” mechanisms, they’re less likely to experience shame for using parts of their body in a way contrary to design since there’s no basis for design, no “Designer.” Likewise, the public acceptance or licensure of homosexuality through the legalization of same-sex marriage makes it easier for young adults to accept those forms of sexual behavior as a cultural norm.

‘The digestive system was designed for absorbing fluids; it was designed to disperse them throughout the body. The penetration of the cells of the tonsils, tongue and throat has led to 64% of the cancers of the head and neck, from using the digestive system for sexual purposes, the penetration of those cells, the transmission of the HPV virus.’⁴⁵⁷

If things were always as simple as intellectually choosing which sex to be attracted to, heterosexual relationships would likely be chosen all the time, not only because of the procreative aspects of sexual intimacy and the blessing that children are, but because of the risks mentioned above, particularly fear or depression related to being ridiculed or unaccepted, whether by one’s own family members, a group, organization, or the public in general. But, sadly, things are not always that simple. Similarly, with respect to this latter risk, despite secular advances in establishing the normalcy of homosexual relationships, as seen through the legalization of same-sex marriage, there will always be some degree of discomfort for someone who believes themselves to be definitively homosexual when publicly identifying themselves as such. Conversely, there will always be a tendency for someone who believes themselves to be unchangeably homosexual to find ways of establishing the normalcy of homosexuality.

A person’s primary form of self-identifying should not be based on sexual orientation. Rather, it should be based on their relationship to their Creator, i.e. as a son or daughter. Moreover, to the extent that a person with SSA views their Creator as antagonistic towards those who are homosexual, as opposed to being antagonistic towards the sexual activities that can result from SSA, the less likely they’re going to view themselves as a daughter or son of God in accordance with the Judeo-Christian faith.

Feelings of same-sex attraction can be seen as a gift, one that helps to counteract emotional imbalances formed in families where a son or daughter perceives themselves as being mistreated or neglected by the same sex parent. Feelings of SSA can allow closer connections between same-sex friends. One aspect of this gift is that women, who tend to be more comfortable expressing physical signs of affection in friendships, for example hugs, holding hands or kisses, may feel more connected through that expression, and therefore more likely to experience closer friendships than men. Men, however, more easily equate signs of physical affection as effeminate behavior or weakness. Thus, these stronger friendships in women can help to correct an imbalance created through a lack of bonding with the same sex parent, which may explain why there are more gay men than women, 10% vs. 5%, respectively, ⁴⁵⁸ despite a higher reported incidence of SSA in women.

Arguably, men are more discouraged, fearful of rejection and/or ashamed of showing signs of physical affection with the same sex, such as a hug or a kiss on the cheek. Therefore, when such feelings are present, there is a greater tendency to overcorrect and take things beyond such simple gestures that so easily communicate love and acceptance. And yet, what son who has a good relationship with his father has not received a tender embrace, a hug or a kiss on the cheek, and without fear of being labeled homosexual?

Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings. --Romans 16:16

Feelings of SSA can also be seen as a gift in that they have the potential to work against attitudes of hostility or dependency engendered through a Darwinian mindset involving survivalist, “cut-throat,” sexual competition or fulfillment. Likewise, negative emotions that result from such a Darwinian perspective involving reproductive success abate in relation to acknowledging the reality of same-sex attraction, attraction which can be cultivated to form complex, satisfying, interpersonal unions very similar to those upheld through traditional marriage. Similarly, dispositions engendered through the reality of SSA can exist in a healthy tension that sets itself against a Darwinian mindset, with the often-associated excesses of bravado and corresponding social debts. Arguably, pride and bravado can stunt the natural formation of friendships; all lasting relationships are built on our capacity for friendship.

Feelings of same sex attraction should not result in sexual gratification, whether through fantasy, masturbation or experimentation with a partner. If a person is unable to practice sexual continence with respect to fantasies and/or masturbation, notwithstanding an innocent process of self-discovery, even though a person is actively seeking encouragement and assistance with self-control, such fantasies and/or masturbation should always be directed at the opposite sex. Albeit, some habits are very difficult to break and may require additional support from trusted counselors or priests, friends, meditative guides / prayer warriors, and/or family.

No government should incarcerate, torture or kill those who would publicly identify themselves as homosexual, which has been the case in Nigeria since colonial rule.⁴⁵⁹ Such treatment is a huge injustice to the freedom of expression and dignity of the human person. However, the cultural or social unacceptance of homosexuality as a lifestyle can help to deter young adults who are more prone to experience same sex attraction from acting on those feelings, thereby reducing the number of individuals likely to self-identify as homosexual. Nonetheless, unacceptance of acting on same-sex attraction forms part of the basis for opposing state recognition of gay marriage. Such unacceptance also helps to reduce the number of children being adopted by gay couples, especially when such adoption is facilitated through marriage, even if such couples can provide more support than those who would serve in this capacity through social services, or as traditionally married foster parents. This is because, to the extent that SSA leads to homosexual behavior as a result of being believed to be involuntary and unconditional, or definitive, as though genetic, the likelihood that a child who has been adopted into a same-sex household will eventually identify themselves as homosexual, as though a finite condition, is higher. Thus, it’s an injustice to the child. However, it may still be better that children who are not able to receive individual love and attention while being cared for by the state, are adopted into such homes. Better still, the state relinquishes it’s assumed superiority in caring for children through various secular social service organizations, giving them back to those original homes who were first to take on this responsibility through providence, wherein members already go by the name of Mother and Father, Sister and Brother.

Ideally, children will be raised by their biological mother and father where they will “benefit from the love and care of both mother and father, and from their parents’ committed and exclusive love for each other.”⁴⁶⁰ Moreover, “an extensive body of research tells us that children do best when they grow up with both biological parents in a low-conflict marriage.⁴⁶¹

Adoption

      We aim to help ensure that adoption services are available through faith-based organizations unfettered by state-imposed restrictions related to theological beliefs grounded in the integrity and dignity of the human person. We recognize that children are impressionable and that widespread societal acceptance of an identity contrary to the natural design of the complementarity of a man and woman as the natural means through which human life continues can be harmful. We further acknowledge the supernatural means through which the love of God for man is made visible, i.e., the Sacrament of Marriage. Thus, while we do not seek to prevent domestic partnerships, we do not support the legal recognition of same-sex unions as marriage, reserving that word for the union of one man and one woman; we believe in prioritizing the adoption of children into traditional home environments. While we acknowledge that there may be circumstances where the best available option for a child is adoption into a same-sex union household, it is our hope that children who do not have a traditional home into which they may be adopted will find a similarly joyful upbringing in a religious order wherein members already go by the name of mother or father, sister or brother, being the traditional source of care for orphaned children in western society. Furthermore, we give preference to religious orders composed of women.

Education      

Coming soon! ⁴⁶²

Reforming Public Education

Considering the importance of a good relationship between children and their parents, it makes sense for parents who aren’t able to homeschool to send their children to schools that teach, or reinforce, that children should honor their parents. Many religious-oriented schools incorporate this teaching, and in the case of Judaism and Christianity, through the 10 commandments. In the latter, obedience and respect towards one’s parents are more firmly rooted in the well-articulated knowledge that cultivating such an attitude leads one closer to God and to heaven.

God sets a father in honor over his children;
a mother’s authority he confirms over her sons.
Whoever honors his father atones for sins,
and preserves himself from them.
When he prays, he is heard;
he stores up riches who reveres his mother.
Whoever honors his father is gladdened by children,
and, when he prays, is heard.
Whoever reveres his father will live a long life;
he who obeys his father brings comfort to his mother.

My son, take care of your father when he is old;
grieve him not as long as he lives.
Even if his mind fail, be considerate of him;
revile him not all the days of his life;
kindness to a father will not be forgotten,
firmly planted against the debt of your sins
—a house raised in justice to you.
–Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14

Generally, public schools serve the public by teaching skills in reading, writing, history, arithmetic, science and applied science / technology, skills that help to prepare a person for a variety of jobs or a trade, such as carpentry or data entry, or even a career, such as a professor, physician or lawyer. However, with this orientation, education that explores culture and religion, or the classical humanities that assist in the formation of virtue, is weak to non-existent. This may explain why many are opposed to Common Core standards, being seen as further deviation from studies in classical humanities exploring culture and religion and their connection to the formation of virtue.

Public schools, which have gravitated away from teaching that there is a Supreme Being as the cause and center of creation, may aspire to, or understand and esteem, the value of teaching children to honor their parents, but lack a framework for instilling such values, at least one that is beyond the naturally evident advantages, i.e. a continued source of food, clothing and shelter. Furthermore, there is often a false conflict perceived between faith and science, disfiguring the beauty of faith and leading to poor intellectual formation. Conversely,

The top three scientists of the modern era, Newton, Maxwell and Einstein, all said the reason they did physics was to get to the beauty and intelligibility of God.⁴⁶³

Other notable scientists who believed in God include Nicholas Copernicus, Sir Francis Bacon, Johannes Kepler, Galileo Galilei, Rene Descartes, Blaise Pascal, Robert Boyle, Michael Faraday, Gregor Mendel, William Thomson Kelvin and Max Planck.⁴⁶⁴

Currently, the public education system is permeated with the tenets of naturalism. Naturalism is synonymous with scientism or positivism, belief systems that entail viewing the scientific method as the sole means of understanding and discovering truth and reality. These systems reject philosophical or religious truth. This is perhaps because such truths are not subject to verification through repeatability under a microscope, through a telescope, an NMR⁴⁶⁵ machine, etc. And yet, such belief systems fail to measure up to their own tenets, as one of the fundamental prerequisites required for such a world view, though rarely articulated, is that rocks, gasses and chemical liquids will eventually organize logically, allowing the formation of life. Since no such postulate has ever been observed or repeated in a lab, the prevailing counterargument is that one only needs more time, whether millions or billions of years, to make the impossible possible. Thus, assessment of beliefs or theories in secular schools that challenge the idea of an existence made through apparent scientific impossibilities (something from nothing), and random chance or mutations leading to more sophisticated life forms, i.e. evolution of one species to another through survival of the fittest mechanisms, is absent.

As noted by CreationToday.org,

Some say the [US] government interceded in the teaching of evolution in the schools because the Soviet Union had launched Sputnik in 1957, and Americans felt threatened that the United States might lose the race into space. It was thought that the Soviets were teaching more math and science, including evolution (considered “science”), to further their space program and other technology. The reaction was to load up the number of words on evolution in the textbooks; after 1963, the amount of content declined due to no new information available on the topic –typical of a knee-jerk reaction—lots of bluster at first, fizzling down to nothing!

…Dr. Kent Hovind of Creation Science Evangelism, a former science teacher for 15 years, author and developer of numerous YouTube videos, says in his Creation Seminar:

Evolution believes that these five major events took place without God:

Time, space and matter came into existence
            by themselves

Planets and stars formed from space dust

Matter created life by itself

Early life forms learned to reproduce
            themselves

Major changes occurred between these
            diverse life forms (i.e., fish changed to
            amphibians, amphibians changed to
            reptiles, and reptiles changed to birds and
      mammals).⁴⁶⁶

Arguably, those who are exposed exclusively to the teachings of naturalism are robbed of opportunities to explore other explanations behind reality and the origins of life. Sadly, when those so sheltered are exposed to knowledge surrounding the Word made Flesh, which probably occurs for most around Christmas and Easter, that time of year when most of the world celebrates Him who was conceived in the womb of the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit, they’re more inclined to conclude they’ve encountered a myth, not accepting or understanding that they live in reality that doesn’t makes perfect sense, i.e. matter doesn’t come from nothing, nor does it organize itself logically into living things on its own, even if given trillions times exponentially trillions of years. If a person is free to believe those things, they should also be free to believe the counterargument, i.e. Intelligent Design. And yet, how can they believe that if they’re taught nothing of it? Thus, there is an injustice in the public education system. Truly, life is the most sophisticated example of organized matter; human beings are the apex of logical organization in the visible world, made in the image of God. Perhaps the second-best example is a computer, and everyone knows computers don’t assemble themselves.

Interestingly, naturalism appears to be the predominant world view enshrined in Freemasonry, as discussed by Bro. Charles Madden in “Freemasonry: Mankind’s Hidden Enemy.”⁴⁶⁷ Similarly, it appears that the philosophic orientation of freemasonry, or of naturalism, it to view all religions as man-made, which in the case of Christianity, more readily implies that the Word, or Logos, never became flesh in a literal and tangible way in the person of Jesus, the Christ, the anointed one. Therefore, naturalism is consistent with the spirit of the anti-Christ, i.e. the Logos never became flesh and blood. This spirit is alive and well in today’s secular schools.

Accordingly, public schools have little basis for teaching the principle that one should honor their parents because they’re not able to teach it in the greater context of Salvation History. Thus, young minds aren’t as likely to embrace such a principle, minds so often occupied by mainstream cultural influences and a variety of entertainment options.

Concomitant with beliefs systems like naturalism and scientism is an attitude of arrogance, of being stubborn and unteachable in other areas, such as philosophic or religious truth. And yet, Jesus taught about the tendency to become intellectually prideful when associating the inquisitive and teachable nature of children with greatness,

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

      It is likely because of this attitude that public schools fail to teach or explore the existence of an eternal human soul, as Plato, one of the most notorious intellectuals, had taught.⁴⁶⁸ This situation is despite evidence supporting an afterlife, evidence that has been well documented through “near-death” experiences, i.e. those experiences involving clinical death for a certain period of time. During these times of clinical death, i.e. no pulse or signs of brain activity, a person can be “separated” from their body. When those who’ve had these experiences have been resuscitated, they’re able to describe things they’d have no way of knowing, for example characteristics of things in other rooms of the hospital or someone who’s been born blind being able to describe what it’s like to see for the first time. Fr. Robert Spitzer, author of “New Proofs for the Existence of God: Contributions from Contemporary Physics and Philosophy,” has done an excellent job compiling research of near death experiences, research conducted by MD’s and Ph.D.’s, and sharing it on his website: Magiscenter.com.⁴⁶⁹

Likewise, because of the influence of naturalism in public schools, there is no presentation of evidence supporting an “Unmoved Mover,” as Aristotle taught.⁴⁷⁰ This Unmoved Mover is like the modern notion of an Intelligent Designer, of a Creator. This situation exists even though the majority of tax payers, who support such schools through a portion of their taxes, believe there is a Creator, believing that reality more than one suggesting a purely random existence arising by and through itself, or through chance.⁴⁷¹

Furthermore, even though the cellular machinery necessary for a fully functioning organism can’t come together of its own accord, especially with respect to the level of informational-organization contained in RNA/DNA, as has been eloquently discussed by Stephen Meyer in his book, “Signature in the Cell,”⁴⁷² little room is given for young adults to explore the reality of a Creator. Correspondingly, many children in these environments lack motivation for learning, as well as skills for the cultivation of virtue, because much of what they learn fails to stretch beyond natural limits. Thus, what is the point of prayer if all that is real is what I can observe or see, even if only through a microscope or telescope?

Consider the First Amendment of our Constitution's Bill of Rights:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. ⁴⁷³

There should be access to knowledge of the Word made Flesh, this access should include free exercise through prayer and study when the students desire it, or when parents desire it for their children.

This first amendment was intended to prevent the state from recognizing any denomination as superior to another, through the establishment clause, which was largely in response to the marriage of church and state found in Great Britain through Anglicanism. It was also intended to preserve the free exercise of faith, through the free exercise clause, unless such expression causes harm to another person.

Separation of church and state is a phrase that has been taken out of context and often used to justify the exclusion of faith-based cultural activities in buildings, functions or activities that are in some way associated with government. We can find the phrase of separation of church and state in a letter written by Thomas Jefferson, where he responded to a concerned Baptist minister, assuring him that no infringement by the state would occur towards his freedom of worship, specifically stating that there is “a wall of separation between church and state.” ⁴⁷⁴

Arguably, public schools, as institutions of education, are representative of places where a person can explore ideas and evaluate their validity. Any exclusion of religious activities and access to religious knowledge at public schools is not supported by the constitution. Rather, such exclusion would be an injustice, especially to those who, as loyal tax payers, desire that their children have access to such knowledge. Moreover, providing access to such knowledge violates neither the establishment clause, providing a fair and truthful presentation of religious faiths or denominations is present, along with their associated teachings, nor the free exercise clause of the First Amendment, providing students and teachers are free to exercise their faith through prayer and worship. Thus, prohibiting teachers or students from praying at school would violate the free exercise clause, providing such prayers or worship do not disrupt other students while in class or studying.

It should be easy to acknowledge the importance of Sacred Scripture, particularly the New Testament, in the classroom. It was the most influential religious text in the minds of the Founding Fathers.⁴⁷⁵ It does not support violence as a means to an end. Arguably, it supports separation of church and state,⁴⁷⁶ though not necessarily as positive sources of influence toward one another, for example instilment of moral values and protection of human rights. Furthermore, it helps establish the framework for inalienable human rights, rights endowed by a Creator whose image we are in, the foundation for the Declaration of Independence.

Sadly, however, legislative changes have slowly resulted in the federal government limiting the rights of individuals and the state. For example, in a case before the Supreme Court in 1947, Everson vs. Board of Education, the court ruled,

The First Amendment has erected a wall of separation between Church and State, that wall must be kept high and impregnable. We could not approve the slightest breech.

      Again, a wall of separation between Church and State was never stated or implied in the First Amendment of our Constitution's Bill of Rights. However, the Federal government has an implied obligation to preserve the Union of the states. This obligation surfaced most notably when the federal government overrode the legislative activities of southern states after the Civil War. As Tim Staples discusses in his DVD, “Catholics and the Culture War,” ‘the 13th Amendment was not sufficient to prohibit southern states from passing laws that denied emancipated slaves certain rights, including property ownership.’⁴⁷⁷ Therefore, the 14th Amendment was passed, stating,

"No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."⁴⁷⁸

      This executive function set a precedent for the federal government in overriding state laws. However, when such power is exercised, it suggests a superior role of the federal government in establishing the laws, and potentially, the culture of states, thus dangerously concentrating power. When federal laws or mandates impede the expression of religious faith, the federal government, in accordance with the 1st Amendment, oversteps its jurisdiction, unless however, such expression encourages or results in harm to another, or suggests trampling upon the rights of others.

Perhaps the best example of the federal government overstepping its jurisdiction occurred when the Affordable Care Act, containing the HHS Mandate, was upheld by the Supreme Court as constitutional on June 28th, 2012. This HHS Mandate requires that those who believe in the sacredness of life from the moment of conception should abandon that belief to comply with the mandate, thereby providing products or services that result in the termination of a pregnancy. Arguably, this is not providing healthcare in the form of saving human life, but rather, is complicit in destroying it. Thankfully, after a myriad of legal battles, the ability of some businesses and non-profit organizations to uphold such a belief while operating their business or organization, has been restored.

If Christian values are the foundation of western culture, as argued by Harvard professor Christopher Dawson in his book, “The Crises of Western Education,” how can that culture triumph over naturalism unless there is freedom to learn about Christ, especially during an adolescent age, when the formation and practice of virtue are so important?

In discussing a second renaissance that took place in the Italian cities of the mid-15th century, which resembled the city states of ancient Greece in their intense political life, artistic impulse and keenness of intellectual interests, Dawson writes,

Hellenism brought back into higher education the aesthetic and moral elements which had been lost in the scientific disputations of the schoolman, although it survived on the vernacular level in the courtly culture. Now the humanists learnt from Xonephon and Plato and Isocrates that education was an art which should aim at the harmonious development of every side of human nature, physical, moral and intellectual. Thus they gained an awareness of the unlimited possibilities of the enrichment of personal life by art and literature and social intercourse.

It was in the light of these ideas that the tradition of humanist education developed, and for more than a century from the beginning of the 15th century to the middle of the 16th, there was more thinking and writing on educational subjects than at any time since the great age of Hellenic culture. But though this movement was inspired by an intense devotion to classical culture it was not conscious of any disloyalty to the Christian tradition. The great humanist educators, like Leonardo Bruni, Guarino of Verona, Vittorino da Feltre, P. P. Vergerio and Mafio Vegio were themselves devout Christians who wished to unite the intellectual and aesthetic culture of Hellenism with the spiritual ideals of Christianity. This Christian aspect of the Renaissance culture has been seriously underestimated by the 19th-century historians of Renaissance culture, and especially by the greatest of them, Jacob Burckhardt, and this has evoked a somewhat exaggerated reaction on the part of modern writers like Conrad Burdock and G. Toffanin.

Perhaps the most moderate and just statement is that of an English educationalist scholar, the late W. H. Woodward, who made a special study of the educational aspects of humanism. “It cannot be too strongly affirmed,” he writes, “that a close acquaintance with the actual work of Vittorino and Guarino, and with the aims of Vergerius and Vegio, reveals a sincerity of religious conviction which permeates all their educational practice. Vittorino’s great achievement was to affect a reconciliation between the Christian life and humanist ideals; in this he was followed by other masters, though rarely with the same unfaltering consistency. It is a fair description of the motive underlying Vittorino’s method that he regarded Humanist education as the training for Christian citizenship. He himself took a leading part in the religious teaching of the school; and by addresses, by private conversations, and above all by his own example, he brought the full force of his personal character to bear upon his pupils in the critical years of their life. He expressly encouraged a sense of responsibility towards the poor and suffering and never forgot his civic obligation, and its religious sanction.⁴⁷⁹

      Again, as stated earlier, Sacred Scripture, i.e. the fullness of revelation as revealed in the New Testament, helps establish the framework for inalienable human rights, rights endowed by a Creator, the foundation for the Declaration of Independence.

In the Introduction to Dawson’s work, Glen W. Olson writes,

The American fourth, contemporary, age, has more realized the idea of higher education for all that has any country in the world. Although an elite system of education can resist conforming to the society around it, a democratic system cannot, and in the American context inevitably education became oriented toward technology and vocationalism. Dawson thought a great question looming over his fourth, cosmopolitan, urban, age was whether America could continue to develop in that direction it had been, with urban life ever more separated from rural, and this urban life exorbitantly consuming natural resources in a life of “luxury for all.” Could a land in which autonomy and freedom are chief virtues, take up the burdens of history and see itself as, like all the others, implicated in Original Sin?⁴⁸⁰

…Dawson saw the study of Christian culture to be primarily sociological and historical in character and does not equate it with reading a list of Christian classics, though such would be read. The goal is to understand the process by which a culture and its institutions are built-up.⁴⁸¹

…Dawson insisted that the function of any educational system was to create a common world of moral and intellectual values, a common memory which helped a given culture maintain itself. To say that such a common educational tradition has no longer disappeared is to say that our culture is under threat of dissolution. What is today called multiculturalism, that is, the idea that a society can be built around a plurality of cultures, with no single one of them dominating, presumably for Dawson would be a prescription for cultural disintegration, and one question is whether in any respect he would be wrong.⁴⁸²

      The Christian faith is self-affirming. Thus, when we come to accept that God is love, such belief empowers us as individuals, enabling us to accept suffering for its redemptive value, as love often involves sacrifice and suffering, helping us to forgive, helping to create a society where the intrinsic rights of others are respected and preserved. Therefore, any nation that has freedom of religion whereby the Christian faith may be freely taught, is a nation that puts the individual needs of its people first, endowing them with a self-affirming faith. In contrast, a “me-first” nation, which does not allow freedom of religion so that Christianity may be freely taught, has become so, especially vis-à-vis this age of technological advancement, as a result of previous leaders who sought to suppress Christian missionaries due to concerns about losing their position in society.

For example, consider a society with a caste system, where those who have much are believed to have been favored and deserving of what they have while those who are poor or infirmed deserve to be, and nothing should be done to change their state because ‘they’ve done something to deserve it.’ To teach Christianity is to empower every person as a child of God who is loved, loved by a merciful parent who regularly forgives wrongdoing, who is no more or less deserving than another to enjoy good things, to have opportunity, i.e. life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness / right to own property. Moreover, to be a Christian means to strive towards the ideal to put others before oneself, to ensure that their needs have been met even before one’s own. In this sense, you can begin to understand why many nations oppose freedom of religion with respect to Christianity –those in positions of power stand to suffer greater loss, whether through the strain of conscience or the uprising of people in the face of gross injustices committed against basic human rights. Sadly, however, if Christianity cannot be freely taught, and human rights are not blatantly violated, the people of a given nation are not as likely to revolt, not knowing what they are missing, perhaps accepting that the material universe is all that is real, though often confronted with spiritual realities and interpersonal connections that point to the existence of the soul, realities that don’t make sense if everything is simply material, guided by chance. As stated in The Declaration of Independence,

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.

With regards to freedom of religion, and particularly in public schools, no religion should be precluded if a sufficient number of parents desire to have such material taught to their children, providing such material does not inspire bias or hatred of others, especially through prejudice or ignorance. However, since America’s cultural heritage rests with the Christian faith, it is fitting that the opportunity to learn about Salvation History from a Judeo-Christian perspective is available at every school. And yet, no child should be forced to learn these truths, rather, it would be a voluntary choice. Furthermore, no parent should be able to prevent his or her child from learning these truths if he or she wants to while attending a public school in a nation such as America, a nation that can attribute its values and cultural heritage to this God of love, who Himself claimed to be the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Let the child be free to decide whether this statement is true or not, but do not deny them the opportunity to evaluate it.

Currently, in modern secular schools, instead of exploring and potentially accepting the truth of the Word made Flesh, the one event in western history that has overshadowed the definition of western history itself, i.e. B.C. to A.D., it’s treated as a kind of fable, on the same plane as unicorns and fairies. And yet, St. Peter addresses this reductionist tendency directly when he states,

For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain.

So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. –2nd Peter 1:16-21

      For the child who learns to love God, reinforcement for cultivating a positive attitude towards honoring one’s parents often takes place during prayer. This kind of prayer serves as an excellent example of our free will in practice, as well as the execution of reason, two of the sweetest gifts God has given mankind –Free Will because true prayer is more often internal and private, and Reason because a child more readily understands that living in harmony with their parent(s) is better than living at odds, unless there is obvious misconduct on the part of the parent.

Prayer is often the leg-work involved with embracing the right attitude, not to mention the help that such prayer results in when heard by those heavenly resources from whom grace is requested! Sweet Jesus, may your reality become mine!

Accordingly, if a public school in a free, and predominantly Christ-centered, town, city, county, state, or nation, teaches that God and love are synonymous, even though proof of love does not exist (and therefore cannot be taught through naturalism), at least not concretely, i.e. only through its absence, for example in children who are purposefully neglected, it would be easier to teach children to honor their parents through the 10 Commandments, since they’re oriented towards love, towards peace and harmony. Accordingly, St. John informs us, “God is love.”

Perhaps the best example of this love occurs when we cultivate love for our enemies.

‘You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax-collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
–Matthew 5:43-48

      A child who learns to practice humility can more readily see the value of obedience and discipline. Such a child is more likely to succeed in life and more likely to find true love, even God’s sacrificial, agapic love!

Arguably, children who do not have loving parents are best provided for through an orphanage where holy men and women act as family members, where they already go by the name Brother or Sister, Father or Mother. However, the state seems to have taken over the care of children. Thus, when these services are organized through the state, where the primary incentive is seen as a paycheck, though certainly that is not always the case, children are more likely to be neglected in receiving the kind of love they’re made for, i.e. to share and develop in families, even, in light of the teachings of the Christian faith, in the Body of Christ.

Imagine how many more men and women might answer a call to Religious Life if they knew they’d have the privilege of spending a significant amount of their time with children, who are naturally so wonderful they can warm the coldest heart or transform the intellect of a steadfast atheist, as was the case for Jennifer Fulwiler, author of “Something Other Than God: How I Passionately Sought Happiness and Accidentally Found It!”⁴⁸³

Co-Educational Environments

      Arguably, coed environments can stunt mental development as a result of sexual tension between adolescent men and women, especially when guidance towards abstinence is absent. And yet, access to knowledge that honors the most important vocation in the world, i.e. motherhood, accompanied by vocational preparation, i.e. skills in support of the noble and worthy vocation of being a mother, can help to correct this situation. However, public education systems with a predominantly secular orientation have little collective or cultural basis for esteeming motherhood and the sanctity of marriage. Therefore, during the transformation from adolescence to adulthood, public schools are often left promoting sexual experimentation conjoined with contraception, in the form of “sex education,” whether through direct encouragement or an absence of morally sound teaching on the nuptial meaning of the body, as has been eloquently discussed by St. Pope John Paul II in “Theology of the Body.”⁴⁸⁴ Dr. Richard Wetzel has also done an excellent job of discussing the importance of sex education in light of traditional wisdom through his book, “Sexual Wisdom: A Guide for Parents, Young Adults, Educators and Physicians.”⁴⁸⁵

With respect to direct encouragement of sexual exploration, “sex education” often contributes to viewing the use of contraception as a cultural norm, paying little if any attention to the 9% typical use failure rate of hormonal contraception (oral forms, i.e. “the pill”) and its close correlation with the number of abortions occurring each year, for example 971,032 “unwanted” children conceived in 2010⁴⁸⁶ with 765,651 medical and surgical abortions reported to the CDC,⁴⁸⁷ not to mention the social and psychological risks of premarital sex, as thoroughly discussed by Dr. Wetzel.

Sadly, respect for the vocation of motherhood, which often coincides with teaching resourcefulness, culinary arts and how to best nurture and raise children, as had been the case for women in the early 20th century, is now less prevalent and less appreciated.⁴⁸⁸⁻⁴⁸⁹ However, part of the reason for this change has involved an increasingly strong orientation towards an urban lifestyle.

The smith Hughes vocational act of 1917 pledged federal funds to public school homemaking programs. This vocational act defined homemaking as an unpaid vocation, and for many years, the secondary education homemaking programs receive special funding as a separate line item within the vocational budget. This level of funding allowed for funds to go directly to homemaking programs at the local level with no state reallocation of the money.

…Each renewal of the Smith-Hughes act and subsequent vocational acts brought new mandates for vocational homemaking programs. In the second half of the 20th century, the federal vocational mandates began to recommend and then insist that the home economics and family and consumer sciences programs train students more for careers and less for homemaking. This trend reflected the changes in society and the need for everyone to develop job skills.

As the first decade of the 21st century comes to an end, the new career and technical education act is the Carl Perkins act. In home economics and family and consumer sciences, the curriculum interprets the act by emphasizing career paths and outcomes. The programs continue the trend toward career development and away from homemaking. Many state curricula utilize the national family and consumer sciences standards developed in 1998.⁴⁹⁰

      The freedom through financial savings that can be realized through living in rural areas, areas where land is fairly inexpensive, is often not realized. Such settings could allow a young family to own a small hobby farm or be part of a cooperative farm. Environments such as this can aid in contemplation and appreciation for creation, and the Creator, environments that can be less stressful as a result of a growing appreciation for the beauty of nature. Additionally, because it’s generally less expensive to raise a large family in a rural setting, as parents age, children may be more willing and able to care for their parents. Nonetheless, even if placement in a nursing home is eventually necessary to address advanced caretaking needs, it’s more likely that parents will be able to stay at home longer. This scenario often helps to alleviate loneliness and depression, a situation that may otherwise explain why antidepressants are currently the second most-prescribed class of medications in the US.⁴⁹¹ Arguably, good companionship is the best anti-depressant.

Are you a Responsible Consumer?

What if I told you it’s a grave sin not to be a responsible consumer?

Having read about distributism and how it advocates a just society where workers are partial owners of the means of production, entitled to a living wage, it becomes clearer just how important it is that we’re responsible consumers.

And yet, many would argue about what constitutes a living wage?  If a person works 12 hours a day and must sleep in a room the size of most closets, not able to save enough money to ever retire with a home of their own, let alone raise a family, can that be considered a living wage?

Consider Long, the 18-year-old daughter of peasant farmers from Guizhou, China. She works 13-hour days, which includes 5 hours’ overtime, to make roughly $16 per day.⁴⁹² The cost of a Big Mac Meal where she works is $3.50.⁴⁹³

Awhile back I watched a Civil War miniseries starring Patrick Swayze, called “North and South.”  I distinctly remember a fight that broke out with a fellow soldier wherein the soldier was storming mad because of what was going on in the south.  Namely, slavery was disrupting the fair price of tobacco such that he and his father couldn’t make a living.

This is exactly how it is today when, as consumers, we purchase goods made through slave labor or unethical work standards.  Other businesses are forced to source cheap labor or go out of business. Moreover, businesses in today’s world find it increasingly difficult to ethically produce a product and pay a living wage when they must compete with similar products produced through slave labor or unethical work practices.

The reality of this situation has become clearer to me as an entrepreneur developing a product.  It’s tempting to have it developed in China to make a more price-competitive product, in spite of all the American engineers who’ve helped me develop it.  Furthermore, I know that in having the product produced in China, I’ll be taking work away from Americans, who can enjoy religious freedom, even if often taken for granted and under pressure by the government.  This is not to say that I care less for the Chinese.  Certainly, it’s not their fault that their government prevents freedom of religion or allows poor working conditions and unfair wages.  However, I’d rather help an American family who has a much greater opportunity to learn about Jesus and therefore a greater chance of eternal salvation, not to mention missionary activities that could help countries like China move in the right direction.

Consider the following list of countries where children are put to work or slave labor takes place:  http://www.dol.gov/ilab/reports/child-labor/list-of-goods/

As responsible consumers, we should be aware of where products are being produced and, more importantly, whether ethical work standards are in place, even if that ultimately means paying more for them.

If I’m ever elected president, rather than ensuring products are stamped with their country of origin, for example “Made in China,” I’m going to work to ensure that all products sold in America contain, or do not contain, an acronym, such as: CIFWELS: Created in a Fair Wage, Ethical Labor Society 

If it doesn’t have that stamp, don’t buy it!

God bless us in our freedom from slavery, and most importantly, our freedom from sin, capable through the knowledge and redemptive work of Jesus Christ.

Dear Lord, deliver the captives from Egypt.

Additional Resources:

Foxconn: Working Conditions in Chinese Factories⁴⁹⁴

China once again has its hackles up over a U.S. report criticizing the country’s violations of religious freedom, and is insisting that America stop interfering in China’s internal affairs under the pretext of defending religious liberty.⁴⁹⁵

For Friendships

A new day pours out

Coldness grows thin

An exciting chapter unfolds

Tis the season to win!

Oft’ friendships begin

With a laugh and a grin

Get lost in the moment

Unaccountable for it

The darkness does fade

As hope and trust grow

Our hearts set aflame

Our joy not in vain

There's no time for tears

Just fruit juice or beers

We sing or shout, "Cheers!"

For kindness towards peers

Is Capunism Good for the Soul?

The Parable of the Dishonest Manager

Then Jesus said to the disciples, ‘There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. So he summoned him and said to him, “What is this that I hear about you? Give me an account of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.” Then the manager said to himself, “What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do so that, when I am dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes.” So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he asked the first, “How much do you owe my master?” He answered, “A hundred jugs of olive oil.” He said to him, “Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.” Then he asked another, “And how much do you owe?” He replied, “A hundred containers of wheat.” He said to him, “Take your bill and make it eighty.” And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes.

‘Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own? No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.’ –Luke 16:1-13

      A friend and I recently discussed this parable. We’d both wrestled with it before. It’s difficult because it can be interpreted to imply that it is acceptable to obtain wealth unethically, even prudent or shrewd to do so, providing one ultimately obtains friends or performs acts of charity afterwards, which in addition to subverting honesty, would imply that the means justifies the end. When thus interpreted, it can be a stumbling block for faith, a source of inconsistency for establishing Jesus’ character to the extent that He’s seen as embracing dishonesty / unethical conduct. Similarly, why come to Jesus for that kind of instruction, why not simply remain in the world, in naturalism and the brutish disposition towards survival it often engenders? Should our righteousness be limited to the extent that it advances our interests or to the extent our friendships grow? Expositor’s Greek Testament puts the incongruence as follows,

These two parables, the unjust steward and Dives, bear such a foreign aspect when compared with the general body of Christ’s teaching as to give rise to a doubt whether they have any claim to a place in an authentic record of His sayings.

In favor of the authenticity of the first of the two parables is its apparently low ethical tone which has been such a stumbling-block to commentators. Who but Jesus would have had the courage to extract a lesson of wisdom from conduct like that of the unrighteous steward? ⁴⁹⁶

      Whether a person is now honest or dishonest in their financial affairs, our Lord asserts that we ought to make friends for the evil day that awaits, the day of death, that we may be welcomed into eternal homes. Certainly, the Kingdom of God is not about real estate but relationships. Nonetheless, it is possible to imitate the steward’s prudence while keeping clear of his iniquity. Moreover,

…it must be possible to make friends against the evil day by unobjectionable actions. The mere fact that the lesson of prudence is drawn from the life of an unprincipled man is no difficulty to anyone who understand the nature of parabolic instruction. The comparison between men of the world and the “sons of light” explain and apologizes for the procedure. If you want to know what prudent attention to self-interest means, it is to men of the world you must look. ⁴⁹⁷

How can we make friends for the evil day or what kinds of friends might these be?

…the friends are not named, but the next parable throws light on the that point. They are the poor, the Lazaruses whom Dives did not make friends of –to his loss. The counsel is to use wealth in doing kindness to the poor, and the implied doctrine that doing so will be to our eternal benefit. Both counsel and doctrine are held to apply even when wealth has been ill-gotten. Friends of value for the eternal world can be gained even by the mammon of unrighteousness. The more ill-gotten the more need to be redeemed by beneficent use; only care must be taken not to continue to get money by unrighteousness in order to have wherewith to do charitable deeds, a not uncommon form of counterfeit philanthropy, which will not count in the Kingdom of Heaven.⁴⁹⁸

But is there still confusion?

“Vv. 10-13. These verses contain not so much an application as a corrective of the parable. They may have been added by Lk. (so J. Weiss in Meyer, and Holtzmann, H.C.) to prevent misunderstanding, offence, or abuse, so serving the same purpose as the addition “unto repentance” to the saying, “I came not to call,” etc. (v. 32); another instance of editorial solicitude on the part of an evangelist ever careful to guard the character and teaching of Jesus against misunderstanding. So viewed, their drift is: “the steward was dishonest in money matters; do not infer that it does not matter whether you be honest or not in that sphere. It is very necessary to be faithful even there. For faithful in little faithful in much, unfaithful in little unfaithful in much. He who is untrustworthy in connection with worldly goods is unworthy of being entrusted with the true riches; the unjust administrator of another’s property will not deserve confidence as an administrator even of his own. In the parable the steward tried to serve two masters, his lord and his lord’s creditors, and by so doing promoted his own interest. But the thing cannot be done, as even his case shows.” This corrective, if not spoken by Jesus, is not contrary to His teaching. (Ver. 10 echoes Mt. xxv. 21, Lk. xix. 17; ver. 13 reproduces verbally the logion in Mt. vi. 24). Yet as it stands here it waters down the parable and weakens the point of its teaching. Note the epithets applied to money: the little or least, the unjust, and by implication, the fleeting, that which belongs to another (τῷ ἀλλοτρίῳ). Spiritual riches are the “much,” the “true” τὸ ἀληθινὸν, in the Johannine sense = the ideal as opposed to the vulgar shadowy reality, “our own” (ἡμέτερον)⁴⁹⁹

      With respect to prudent financial management, what challenges exist between community and corporate interests?  Do for-profit corporations consider the needs of the working family?  Which or how many for-profit companies strive to spread ownership throughout the community, especially if working wages are too low for one worker to support a family? Many would argue that corporations predominantly serve shareholders and executives, and that more government oversight is necessary to ensure community interests are addressed, but that government officials themselves are too heavily influenced by corporate lobbying.  If that’s true, are cultural changes warranted?

Arguably, those striving for a pure heart, who desire to “see God,” ⁵⁰⁰ develop a special kind of culture –the disposition, goods and activities they create and surround themselves with. The characteristics involved with the exchange of goods and services within a given city, state or nation constitutes its economic system.  If most of those living in a given area are striving for a pure heart, what would their economic system look like?

I argue in this article that such an economy would be capunistic, and that such an economy is best to the extent that it acknowledges the transcendent dignity of the human person, made in the visible image of the invisible God.

I thought of the term capunism shortly after graduating high school, combining the cap of capitalism with the unism of communism. I had hoped to highlight, and in some way, combine the positive economic aspects of capitalism and communism. At the time, I didn’t know much about communism, but generally held it in a positive light through a believed connection to the word community. Nonetheless, for many, communism is held with disdain.  This disdain comes from its historical connection with atheist and/or racist ideologies, wherein the transcendent dignity of the human person, made in the visible image of the invisible God, is denied, resulting in the murder of millions of innocent people, for example 60 million under Joseph Stalin through the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. This has also been the case with various forms of socialism, for example 50 million under Mao Zedong through the People’s Republic of China and 20 million under Adolf Hitler through the National Socialist German Workers’ Party. 

To the extent that a communist or socialist economic system simultaneously encompasses atheist and/or racist ideologies, wherein basic human rights are trampled over, such disdain is appropriate. In such cases, I’m not attempting to dissuade anyone from this disdain, but would encourage it.

However, with respect to building community through an economic system that encourages greater social harmony, for example collective compassion in ensuring that the basic needs of others have been accounted for, needs such as food, clothing and shelter, and even basic healthcare and education, I examine the potentially beneficial aspects of communism / socialism. Helping to ensure that the basic needs of others have been accounted for comprises the bulwark of most religious and non-profit activities. Generally, no one in their right mind opposes community and social work that helps to empower people.

Interestingly, if the preeminent message of St. John the Baptist were enacted universally, “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand,” less charity work would be necessary,

But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” –Luke 1:14-16

In that the Kingdom of God is at hand, could that kingdom, in addition to encouraging agapic love, encompass greater economic order? Does agapic love foster a certain kind of economy? Consider the following verse from the Book of Acts in the New Testament, taken from three different translations of the Bible, reflecting the economic community of the early Christian Church:

All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. –NRSV

And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. –New Living Translation

And all those who believed were together and everything they had was communal. And those who had a possession were selling it and distributing to each man according to whatever was needed.
–Aramaic Bible

Rather than a system where segregation occurs based on ethnic background or conformity to a naturalist / atheistic viewpoint, where one may more readily hate their “enemy” than love them, believers in the early Christian Church, believers in a God of Love, who saw their Creator as having made each person in His own image, as a person of infinite value, made their priority caring for one another.

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Likewise, in addition to a water baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, each member was immersed in a belief that every person has a soul, fashioned in the image of the Creator and of infinite worth.

Dripping from this immersion, I hereby attempt a vision for the Kingdom of God that would entail greater central planning. Again, I aim to disassociate the historical aspects of communism and socialism from their degenerative nature insofar as they encompass teachings that aim to dissolve the fundamental rights of the human person and the value and dignity of family life, as otherwise embodied and uplifted through the Church, the Bride of Christ. Similarly, I stand against critical theory, a neo-Marxist philosophy that would teach that Christian family values are the principal obstacle to human liberation, thus engendering the strategies of the sexual revolution rooted in Sigmund Freud’s pansexualism, i.e. the search for pleasure that would exploit the differences between the sexes to incite gender conflict and exploit their commonality to incite gender confusion.⁵⁰¹

I stand apart from Antonio Gramsci, an Italian neo-Marxist theorist and politician whose vision for socialism sought to revolutionize religion in culture –the Catholic Church was Gramsci’s prime target –his socialist view was designed to destroy belief in God and to deny the reality of the supernatural life by changing the existing Christian mind into an anti-Christian mind through a false Marxist humanism which encourages the entire effort to be solely by man and for man’s sake, thus attempting to overthrow Judeo-Christian moral and spiritual values.

Lastly, I stand against Fabian socialism, whose symbol is the wolf in sheep’s clothing, reminiscent of their predatory strategy of concealed stealth and deception, having a stated aim of, ‘the reorganization of society by the emancipation of land and industrial capital from individual and class ownership –the extinction of private ownership of property in land.’

Conversely, I stand with the Catholic Church, with the statements issued by the Holy See through Pope Leo XIII in his encyclical on socialism,

‘…family life itself, which is the cornerstone of all society and government, necessarily feels and experiences the salutary power of the Church, which redounds to the right ordering and preservation of every State and kingdom. For you know, venerable brethren, that the foundation of this society rests first of all in the indissoluble union of man and wife according to the necessity of natural law, and is completed in the mutual rights and duties of parents and children. You know also that the doctrines of socialism strive almost completely to dissolve this union, since, the stability which is imparted to it by religious wedlock is lost. Thus, it follows that the power of the father over his own children, and the duties of the children toward their parents, must be greatly weakened. But the Church, on the contrary, teaches that "marriage should be honored by all" [Hebrews 13:4], God Himself having instituted marriage in the very beginning of the world, is indissoluble for the propagation and preservation of the human person, and more binding and holy through Christ, who raised it to the dignity of a sacrament, and chose to use it as the figure of His own union with the Church.’⁵⁰²

With respect to Providential guidance towards a superior economic system, consider the warnings given to the children of Fatima by Our Blessed Mother,

…she [Russia] will spread her errors throughout the world, causing wars and persecutions of the Church…

These warning have been excellently discussed by Warren H. Carroll, founder of Christendom College, in his book, “1917: Red Banners, White Mantle.” I propose that these warnings were oriented towards the atheistic nature of the Russian Revolution along with its abolition of private property and its class warfare, rather than those intentions encompassing efficient central planning to create an optimal economic system.  Moreover,

The Church …condemns only those systems which deny the legitimacy of [private] property, not those which utilize central planning.  In fact, …central planning is positively supported by the Church, though always subject, of course, to the principle of subsidiary. ⁵⁰³

      The extent that a society regulates its economy with oversight, principles and laws, is the extent that it may be viewed as socialist or communist, insofar as such terms do not encompass anything other than economic terms that contrast with capitalism –such measures are aspects of central planning. Conversely, without such order, laissez faire capitalism dominates, i.e. the market continues unchecked by any principles, laws or guidelines developed through society. It was this laissez faire nature of capitalism that led to the “Mephistopheles of Wall Street,” who nearly corned the gold market in 1869,⁵⁰⁴ and later, the first economic collapse of 1929, i.e. the Great Depression.  And more recently, the Great Recession of 2006, leading to the Occupy Wall Street movement, which focused on “social and economic inequality, greed, corruption and perceived undue influence of corporations on government –particularly from the financial services sector.” ⁵⁰⁵

Arguably, America has economic elements of communism / socialism woven into the fabric of her economy.  Examples of this can be seen through the availability of Medicaid, unemployment compensation, HUD housing, food stamps, subsidized farming and educational loans, government bailouts, FDIC insured banks as well as fines or penalties for unethical conduct.  Perhaps one of the best recent examples includes the government’s intervention in the healthcare market to ensure that those with preexisting health conditions can still obtain healthcare coverage. The collective values of a society are reflected in its economic order –the American people care for those who don’t or are unable to care for themselves –American society is formally organized to help provide for those less fortunate and to promote the common good.

Thus, in viewing capitalism and communism as economic systems, each on opposite sides of a spectrum, within the context of one constituting no central planning (capitalism) and the other being complete central planning (communism), one might view capunism in the middle, with socialism also near the middle, or located closer to communism, depending on the number of industries that function per centrally planned guidelines. Furthermore, in this article, I write about capunism as a system where basic necessities, such as food, clothing, shelter, education and basic healthcare, are provided to all citizens. And yet, I do so with an awareness that such a system is doomed to fail as a result of our fallen human nature, a nature prone to abuse good things, especially without regular upkeep made possible through the redeeming blood of Jesus and the numerous fruits of His Church and all those who seek Truth, Justice, Mercy and agapic Love.

Drawing upon the idea that neither capitalism nor communism are balanced or complete economic systems in themselves, capunism is similar to distributism.  Moreover, distributism seeks to subordinate economic activity to human life as a whole… to our spiritual, intellectual and family life. G. K. Chesterton, the “prince of paradox” was an advocate of distributism.

Chesterton’s opening line in his book about his visit to America was this: “I have never managed to lose my conviction that travel narrows the mind.”  As with all his paradoxes he points to a truth that is the opposite of what we expect. The man in his field, the man in his garden, thinks about everything. The man who is traveling thinks about only a few things. He is distracted not just with details but with destinations. He thinks the thing he has come to see is the only important thing and this makes him narrow. The real purpose of traveling is to return. The true destination of every journey is home. That is the main idea behind Distributism.

The distributist ideal is that the home is the most important place in the world. Every man should have his own piece of property, a place to build his own home, to raise his family, to do all the important things from birth to death: eating, singing, celebrating, reading, writing, arguing, story-telling, laughing, crying, praying. The home is above all a sanctuary of creativity. Creativity is our most Godlike quality. We not only make things, we make things in our own image. The family is one of those things. But so is the picture on the wall and the rug on the floor. The home is the place of complete freedom, where we may have a picnic on the roof and even drink directly from the milk carton. ⁵⁰⁶

      Distributism has also been written about by Pope Leo XIII in his encyclical Rerum novarum, meaning, of revolutionary change, and by Pope Pius XI in Quadragesimo anno, which addresses the reconstruction of the social order. I had written about capunism before learning about distributism.  Nevertheless, according to Donald P Goodman, author of “Distributism: A Catholic System of Economics,”

Any economic system purporting to advance the economic vision of the papal encyclicals must employ these five principles (productive property, distributive justice, subsidiarity, the preferential option for the poor, and solidarity) toward the restoration of property.  This restoration is the single most important task for the economic reformer; if he cannot accomplish that, he can accomplish nothing. ⁵⁰⁷

Societies benefit most from an order that is subjected to our spiritual, intellectual and family life.  Establishing such an order follows in the wake of acknowledging the eternal human soul, i.e. the infinite worth of every person. Thus, if there is one idea I hope to be most associated with capunism, it is an intention for the universal acknowledgment that every person has an eternal soul. Moreover, the desire to help those who cannot help themselves is most vigorously cultivated through an understanding and acceptance of the inestimable worth of every human person, a worth grounded in an eternal perspective through awareness of the human soul.

With greater public recognition of the eternal human soul comes an economic system that embraces productive property, distributive justice, subsidiarity, the preferential option of the poor and solidarity. Such a system involves some degree of central planning so that a person’s basic needs can be met, if only for a certain time, ensuring that, at the very least, those who are less fortunate for some reason or another, do not die of starvation or go without clothes, shelter and basic healthcare and education, and where ownership of the means of wealth generation is widespread. And all of this, my beloved reader, takes us back to the two most important commandments… LOVE God with your whole heart, mind, soul and strength, and others as yourself!

Distasteful Communism

Notwithstanding the atheistic and/or racist ideologies historically associated with communism or socialism, they can be distasteful for many followers of Christ Jesus because if they functioned perfectly in ensuring that all citizens have their basic needs met, there would be fewer opportunities for individual acts of charity.  Accordingly, charity plays a large role in salvation.  Consider the following quote from the Book of Matthew:

The Sheep and the Goats

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.  –Matt 25:32-46

Eschatologically speaking, when Jesus returns, He will reign as king over Israel as well as all the nations of the world for 1000 years (Isaiah 2:4, 42:1; Revelation 20:4-6).  His reign will result in divinely orchestrated harmony –the world will live in peace (Isaiah 11:6-9; 31:18), Satan will be bound (Revelation 20:1-3), and at the beginning, everyone will worship God (Isaiah 2:2-3).

Under His reign, is it unreasonable to assume that charity won’t play as large of a role in salvation?  If so, assuming His reign does not automatically correspond with having glorified bodies that experience impassibility, subtlety, agility and clarity,⁵⁰⁸ free from sadness, suffering and death, it will be because He so perfectly administers His kingdom, establishing balance in labor, land ownership, resource development and the production of goods and services, that no one is without housing, food, clothing and other basic necessities, such as healthcare and education.

Is this an unreasonable hope, that He who created all things can order the nations so that all can live in peace and with abundance?  This order, however, corresponds with Satan being bound. ⁵⁰⁹ Moreover, there is a danger in hoping for such a world without emphasizing the need for repentance and redemption through the Body and Blood of Jesus, the one sacrifice capable of atoning for the injustice of sin. To believe otherwise would entail embracing millenarianism in a negative context, wherein such a change occurs through natural means, i.e. without the grace of God, grace that is capable of being imparted where it is needed through the redemptive work of Christ and through the prayers and miracles of the members of His Body, His Bride.

Material poverty and consumerism are not the primary cause of the family crisis.

The primary cause of the sexual and cultural revolution is ideological.

Our Lady of Fatima has said that Russia’s errors would spread all over the world.

It was first done under a violent form, classical Marxism, by killing tens of millions.

Now it’s being done mostly by cultural Marxism. There is continuity from Lenin’s sex revolution, through Gramsci and the Frankfurt school, to the current-day gay-rights and gender ideology.

Classical Marxism pretended to redesign society, through violent take- over of property.

Now the revolution goes deeper; it pretends to redefine family, sex identity and human nature.

This ideology calls itself progressive. But it is nothing else than the ancient serpent’s offer, for man to take control, to replace God, to arrange salvation here, in this world.

It’s an error of religious nature, it’s Gnosticism.

It’s the task of the shepherds to recognize it, and warn the flock against this danger.

“Seek ye therefore first the Kingdom of God, and His justice, and all these things shall be added unto you.”

The Church’s mission is to save souls. Evil, in this world, comes from sin. Not from income disparity or “climate change”.

The solution is: Evangelization. Conversion.

Not an ever-increasing government control. Not a world government. These are nowadays the main agents imposing cultural Marxism to our nations, under the form of population control, reproductive health, gay rights, gender education, and so on.

What the world needs nowadays is not limitation of freedom, but real freedom, liberation from sin. Salvation.”⁵¹⁰

Reform through Knowledge of the Soul

      There are several sources of evidence supporting the belief that all human beings have a soul. Fr. Robert Spitzer has done an excellent job exploring these sources in his book, “The Soul’s Upward Yearning: Clues to Our Transcendent Nature from Experience and Reason.” Such evidence includes,

‘…transphysical consciousness capable of surviving bodily death in the form of near-death experiences; the human capacity for trans-algorithmic mathematical intelligence (beyond rules and programming) from Gödel's proof; our capacity to experience ourselves experiencing (Chalmer’s hard problem of consciousness), and our capacity for syntactically meaningful language (beyond higher primates according to Chomsky’s test) presumably coming from an innate awareness of heuristic notions.’⁵¹¹

Human beings have an innate sense of justice and fairness, historically referred to as “Natural Law.” C.S. Lewis explored this truth in his book “Mere Christianity,” in the chapter, “The Law of Human Nature.”

Many injustices appear to go unpunished in this world. Even without believing in something as elementary as Intelligent Design or as advanced as Divine Revelation, in light of evidence in support of the existence of the soul, as well as supernatural occurrences, hope for ultimate justice is not unreasonable.

In light of ultimate justice, truth that leads to spiritual development, to preparation of the soul for eternal life, is the most important undertaking. Thus, in accordance with Divine Revelation, such preparation prepares us to be found worthy of eternal life with God, the First Cause and Source of Life, or, conversely, to be found dissolute and, to some degree, whether temporarily, as in the case of purgatory, or permanently, separated from Him.

Intellectual development coincides with spiritual development to the extent that it encourages or strengthens an understanding and relationship with the First Cause and Source of Life, with Truth and Love, and, in accordance with appropriate development, the exercise of self-control, i.e. the cultivation of virtue over vice, often brought about through a willingness to suffer, especially for the good of others –the torture and death of Jesus being a prime example of altruistic or agapic suffering.  All Christians, all followers of Christ, are warned by Jesus, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”⁵¹² Is there any greater opportunity in life than to follow Him who is the author of all life, even to unite our sufferings with His?

Plato, one of the greatest intellectual minds of western civilization, taught of the existence of the human soul.  Accordingly, the most refined use of human reason should lead a person to eternal truths and spiritual insights. Nonetheless, some truths require revelation, i.e. they cannot be realized through human reason alone.  In light of such revelation, which will be discussed shortly, one doesn’t need great intellectual ability to live in a way that prepares the soul for eternal life.

In relation to a superior economic system, when a person has more time to devote to intellectual and spiritual development, the wellbeing of their soul can improve. Sadly, however, there is no way to ensure that if an economy were functioning so well that a person had all the freedom they needed for intellectual and spiritual development, they’d pursue such development.

Members of the early Christian church shared their resources with one another, helping to ensure that no one was prevented from intellectual and spiritual development due to having unmet basic needs. It is not unlikely that many in the community were previously in some form of bondage or slavery, being freed from that condition when entering the community through the practice of distributive justice. In some respects, this kind of compassionate attitude already exists in America, not only through the socialist activities mentioned earlier, such as HUD housing, food stamps, Medicaid and tax-funded public education, but through incentives for practicing charity, such as tax deductions. However, as America becomes increasingly secular, such activities do little to ensure that the Source of all human rights, i.e. the Creator, Truth and Love, having made us in His image, is honored, and that the agapic love that He exemplifies, is embraced. In this sense, it may be better that such programs are reduced and eliminated so that charity, when practiced, receives recognition in originating from its proper source, i.e. those who know and practice Love, rather than being forced through taxation, thus enabling greater spiritual development for those who come to know and follow that Source. This would be superior to an approach that aims to simply eliminate temporal forms of poverty but does nothing to curb the source of immoral behavior, the darkness that dwells in every human heart, the result of Original Sin, which itself contributes to intellectual, spiritual and material poverty.

The Soul, Economics and Government

Concerns regarding the health and destiny of the human soul involve economic and government organization.  Similarly, how we conduct ourselves collectively should reflect our beliefs about the intrinsic dignity and worth of every person.  In a democracy, this collective is exercised through those who are old enough to reason and vote.  In a republic, monarchy or totalitarian state, the group or dignitary is enabled to make executive choices for all other persons, whether deemed most suitable and elected into office, as in a republic, or made so through force, divine right or inheritance, as in a totalitarian state or monarchy.

In light of these forms of government organization, one can acknowledge that in a democracy, or electoral republic, when so many individuals are apathetic or have work schedules so demanding that they preclude intellectual development towards making informed votes, whether directly through malnutrition, an extreme example, or indirectly, through excessively demanding schedules, democratic governments will likely malfunction in securing the basic functions of government. Similarly, if many of the constituents of a democracy are highly misinformed on issues surrounding the commonwealth, the government will be divided and function ineffectively.

According to James Madison, our second president, there are five basic functions of government:

To establish justice – This is the goal of the passages in Romans 13 and 1 Peter 2:14, which say that government is to punish evildoers and protect those who do right.

To insure domestic tranquility – This phrase comes from the focus of prayer for government, which Paul urged in 1 Timothy 2:1-2. The New American Standard Bible says to pray for government “in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.”

To provide for the common defense – The protection of innocent human life is at the base of not only capital punishment (Genesis 9:6), but also in the provision of an army for protection from external threats.

To promote the general welfare – Romans 13:4 says that civil rulers are servants “to you for good.” The common good of all classes of citizens must be promoted by government passage of laws guaranteeing equal opportunity. It is not proper for government to provide money and aid to special interest groups. It is to promote, not provide, and to do so for all people in general, not for special people.

To secure the blessings of liberty – Blessing are a gift of one’s Creator, not a privilege granted by government. These blessings include life, liberty, and property. A biblical view of government sees that it cannot provide these, only secure them. ⁵¹³

      Truly, the success of a democratic government rests on the intellectual and spiritual development of its citizens, and there is no better democracy than a monarchic one, wherein Christ, the source of all virtue, is King, ruling in the heart of every person! Again, in a democracy or electoral republic, when a person is apathetic or works so hard to obtain basic goods involved with survival, or is too concerned with acquiring goods in excess of what they need, such that intellectual and spiritual development are neglected, a problem exists towards the efficient operation of their government because they’re poorly informed about important issues effecting their society and their future, especially those concerning their eternal destiny.  Moreover, when this neglect concerns the dignity and fundamental rights of persons, as is frequently the case when the Source for those rights is neglected, i.e. if spiritual development is poor, then as a whole, such a government will fail to uphold one or more of the functions described by James Madison.

In looking to America, is there sufficient evidence that the majority of citizens already believe in the existence of an immortal human soul?  Do the majority of her citizens believe in life after death?  The answer is, Yes!

…seven-in-ten (72%) Americans say they believe in heaven – defined as a place “where people who have led good lives are eternally rewarded,” according to the Pew Research Center’s 2014 Religious Landscape Study. ⁵¹⁴

       Should America, wherein most citizens believe in the existence of the soul, govern authoritatively with respect to such belief? If so, in what way with respect to her economy? Should the state help to provide a formal means for the development and refinement of resources directed towards housing and clothing, education and basic healthcare, so that no one dies of exposure or preventable diseases, or because of ignorance or starvation? Vast expanses of land are owned by the U.S. government. If FDR could employ citizens for the development of parks and recreation during the depression of the 30s, helping to simulate the economy and provide work, couldn’t our government also employ her citizens for the development of self-sustaining communities, and even for surplus, especially for those who are now having trouble finding regular and satisfying work? Would it not be better for us to use the land of this great nation for such a purpose than to sell it to another country to pay debts that keep getting bigger because root problems haven’t been addressed? And yet, it is admirable that in having less, we can come to appreciate the things we already have, even simple things like the gift of sight, hearing, taste, touch and smell.

Having established that how we conduct ourselves collectively should reflect our beliefs about the intrinsic dignity and worth of every person, to what extent is intellectual development necessary for the recognition of the human soul, and in accordance with spiritual development, the salvation of the soul?  And, what can be done to foster such growth?

With respect to the religious beliefs of most Americans (70.6% of Americans can be classified as Christian per the Pew Research Center⁵¹⁵), if God is impartial, such that fear of Him and doing what is right is all that is necessary for salvation, as St. Peter, the first Pope, stated in the Book of Acts,

I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.  (10:34-35)

…then intellectual development would not be necessary towards salvation except to the extent that it encompasses knowing about this God who should be feared and knowing between what is right and wrong.

St. Peter’s statement has been reaffirmed in a recent Papal Encyclical, entitled Lumen Gentium,

Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience – those too may achieve eternal salvation.⁵¹⁶

Since government has a primary role in influencing public awareness of right and wrong, often reflected indirectly through laws enacted, and more directly through public education, particularly education concerning what is good and evil, government influences the state of the soul.  Clearly, a government that prevents such intellectual development negatively impacts the souls of her constituents.

In order for there to be right and wrong, there has to be absolutes.  Such absolutes regarding human behavior, behavior which is nearly always under the control of free will, can only be absolute if they’re established from a position of authority.  Otherwise, such concerns are relative, depending on the perspective of those involved.

From a Judeo-Christian perspective, the authority for establishing right and wrong rests in the hands of Jehovah or Yahweh, the God of the Israelites, who gave the 10 Commandments through Moses.  For those who believe, this same God further revealed His nature through His Son, Christ Jesus.  Of these, most of the world’s population (1.4 billion ⁵¹⁷⁻ ⁵¹⁸ vs. 900 million⁵¹⁹) believe He established the Catholic Church, and that He established her with St. Peter in authority, as the rock,⁵²⁰ - ⁵²¹ the visible head of the Church, the Vicar of Christ on earth, with today’s Vicar being Pope Francis.

Thus, in further respect to the second component of salvation according to St. Peter, i.e. being found righteous in His eyes, those who know more about Him are best suited to grow in righteousness as He reveals what this righteousness consists of.  Accordingly, all countries wherein the majority of constituents believe in the existence of the human soul, of heaven, should be interested in ensuring that this righteousness is known.

Fear, Government and God

With respect to the first component of Peter’s statement, i.e. fear of God, there often needs to be a rational source of fear, i.e. there must be some kind of power or authority that can hinder or endanger one’s life or the destiny of their soul as a consequence for a wrong committed.  In a spiritual sense, many refer to this as Karma.  Oftentimes however, the concrete reality of punishment for wrongdoing, as often reflected through known laws and the consequences for breaking those laws, helps to establish fear, and accordingly, there should be someone, or a group, who has been given such authority, e.g. the police.

‘Rulers do not engender fear in those who do right but in those who do wrong; if you don’t want to live in fear of those in authority, do what is right and you will be commended. Those in authority act as servants of God for the good of society. But if you do wrong, you should be afraid, for rulers do not enforce the law without good reason, serving as agents of justice. Therefore, submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but as a matter of conscience.’ –Romans 13:3-5

In any government, a rationale fear exists in cases where one violates the laws of that government, at least to the extent that such laws are enforced and the punishment is loathsome.  However, when such government does not exist with respect to any higher authority, but rests solely on the reason of human beings, laws can become perverse, especially if the reason called upon is underdeveloped in a certain sense, often a sense only understood through the light of Divine Revelation.

Nonetheless, to the extent that such basic human laws are noble and assist in protecting the rights of all in the community, such fear is good –the state has a right to protect and preserve the wellbeing of her citizens.  And yet, if such fear exists in relation to an unjust law, such as one that would inhibit freedom of speech or freedom of religion, and thereby, inhibit intellectual development towards understanding truth and righteousness, then such a government would not be in the true service of her constituents.  Similarly, if fear exists because those in authority endanger, hinder or kill those they should serve because they believe, according to their reason, that those they rule over are endangering the greater system of government when they seek to know truth, such a system is corrupt.  People should have the liberty to learn about alternative forms of truth, even if such “truths” are incomplete or inaccurate, enabling them to form their own conscience. However, it makes sense that the government the people set up provides an overarching medium for discerning and realizing the truth. This is the government we look forward to in Christ at His return. Nonetheless, unless the fundamental human rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness / right to own property are acknowledged, such a government does not serve its constituents as it should.

With respect to protecting innocent human life, does a majority need to agree that it is always wrong to kill an innocent human being?  Similarly, if killing an innocent person is wrong all the time, should it take a majority vote to substantiate this wrong?  Certainly not.  This truth is absolute, ascertainable through reason and natural law. Otherwise, if it is okay in some circumstances to kill an innocent person, such as when they’re dependent on you for some reason, what will stop one from killing those who are disabled or unable to care for themselves, or from killing one who is seen as an inconvenience? Thus, if there is no absolute truth that it is never okay to kill an innocent person, then killing an innocent person is okay, depending on the circumstance and/or perspective of those involved.

Sadly, in America, the wrongfulness of killing innocent human beings has often been put to vote, though this was not the case in 1965, when all 50 states had made abortion illegal. ⁵²²  Is it not hard to fathom how America does not formally recognize that all human beings begin their life at the moment of conception, that aborting the growth of that person is a violation of that person’s right to life, a right established not by government, but by the Creator of Life, especially in light of the advances in science and technology that can firmly establish facts about that person growing in his or her mother’s womb, such as their unique, never to be created again, genetic identity?   It is sad that America has come to the place where she allows the rights of unborn children to be trampled over, where it is legal to crush the skull of an unborn child in his or her mother’s womb and rip them apart limb from limb.

Who has the right to end an innocent human life?  If such a right is subject to agreement from a majority, as opposed to being established through a Creator, will the majority ever come to an agreement that destroying innocent human life is an absolute wrong?  If they did, would they then be justified in imposing that “belief” on those that don’t agree?

Accordingly, if it is an absolute truth that directly ending the life of an innocent human being is always wrong, any nation that allows such a wrongful practice to go unpunished, either by refusing to allow education that helps reduce the practice, or refusing to create and enforce laws against it, cannot rest with the favor of that Creator who embodies absolute Truth and who has unequivocally declared that it is always wrong to kill an innocent human being.  Nor can the individuals who compose such a government rest with the favor of such a Creator if they do not work to prevent the wrong, whether by serving in public office directly or by fulfilling their civic responsibilities through being informed about those running for public office and voting appropriately. Better yet, they establish their government so that those serving the public testify that they will always defend the rights of every innocent person before being eligible for such an office.⁵²³

In a simple society, such as a third world country, one may know very little of what is right or wrong with respect to revealed Biblical truths, possibly due to illiteracy or a lack of missionaries who would provide such education, but know deep in their heart that it is right to practice charity towards their neighbor when the need arises and to abhor harming others.  According to St. Peter, one who does this would likely find favor with God.  However, this assumes that the fear of God is of negligible importance when it is impossible due to a lack of access to revealed knowledge about Him.  In that case, fear of those in positions of authority, whether parents, servants of the public, such as police officers, or political rulers, would suffice in place of the fear of the Lord.  Even though such a substitution is imperfect, it enables the practice of virtues such as obedience, honor, loyalty and courage… admirable virtues, even if the temporal sources of authority are corrupt.

Understanding the reality of corrupt temporal authorities helps to substantiate just war theory as well as the instructions the Israelites received to take possession of the Promised Land under Joshua’s leadership.  The Israelites were chosen by the Creator Himself; it is through the Israelites that the Life, the Truth and the Way, the Logos, became flesh in the womb of a virgin; it is through divine grace that the Hebrews were given knowledge of Him.

In situations that involve corrupt authority, we can hope the individual’s conscience, or their guardian angel, comes to their aid, leading them to the best choice, whatever that might be.  With regards to corruption, does a nine-year-old child who is sexually abused know that such treatment is wrong, especially if they’re manipulated into believing elsewise or terrified of speaking out?  Does a nine-year-old child who is taught to hate someone from another religion or area know that such hatefulness is wrong unless taught so?

It would be better for you if a millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea than for you to cause one of these little ones to stumble. –Luke 17:2

According to America’s founding fathers, people are more likely to suffer injustice, especially when it is widespread, becoming a type of norm, than attempt to avail themselves of such suffrage.  In today’s age of technological advancement, those who’ve been suffering injustice at the hands of their government over the last one hundred years, without overthrowing that government and establishing a new and just one, are even less likely to do so, however justly, because military power is in the hands of that state, power that is far more advanced than it was 100 years ago.  In these cases, cooperative efforts among nations may be necessary.

Nations Equipped to Lead

What countries or principalities are fit to lead with respect to having laws that protect the rights of all human beings, particularly the rights of the unborn?  Djibouti, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Somalia, South Sudan, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, São Tomé and Príncipe, Egypt, Libya, Lesotho, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Sri Lanka, Brunei Darussalam, East Timor, Myanmar, Philippines, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Andorra, San Marino, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Suriname, Venezuela, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Palau, Tonga and Tuvalu recognize the rights of the unborn in law and deed.⁵²⁴ 

Where does the authority to rightfully teach children about true love, marriage and loving others, even one’s enemies, come from?  If parents do not teach what is right and wrong with regards to cultivating true love, whether due to ignorance or indifference, should the state have the authority to do so?  Let us assume that it does not, but that a majority of people wish to live in a state that does, ultimately granting their state such authority.  Where does such a state exist?  Should such a state of, by, and for the people, not have the freedom to teach such truths in their public or state schools?

With regards to economics, a state that evaluates the possibility of providing for the basic needs of its citizens could help encourage a balanced system of resource use and independence from cooperative corruption, helping to avoid waste, especially with regards to the advent of modern computing and the ability to accurately forecast demand.  And, if appropriate, such a system could further encourage innovation by providing additional incentives for efficiency. In contrast, a for-profit company that owns the rights to such resources has the primary incentive to make a profit, not necessarily concerned with damage to the environment when processing the resource, or the proper disposal of the resource after it has left the factory, unless fined or taxed.

This is not to suggest that good leaders in many companies are not concerned about these things, certainly, many are.  However, as the saying goes, one bad apple can spoil the bunch because when one cuts corners to provide a lower price, pressure exists on the others to do likewise or go out of business. This is where people, government, must step in.

Just Economies

In a capitalist economy, when corners are being cut to reduce costs, that company can often offer their product or service at a lower price.  This compels competing companies to do the same, potentially unethically, potentially harming the environment, or go out of business.  With respect to human rights, many products are produced in areas where fair wages aren’t enforced, enabling forms of exploitation or slavery.  Thus, other businesses hoping to produce the same product ethically are not able to compete.  In these cases, a just government is necessary to regulate the production and distribution of products and services.

Similarly, regarding products or services procured unethically, such as cocoa beans through “slave labor,” only when consumers are informed about which products and services are procured through acceptable means, and are able and willing to act on that knowledge, will good companies survive while bad ones die.  Thus, people need to be willing to suffer without having certain “wants” met when no companies offer similar products or services acceptably.  Arguably, it is the function of a just government to ensure its citizens are aware of how products are being produced in order to ensure basic human rights are upheld, and even to tax or otherwise punish individuals or companies that do not respect these rights, which could include rights violated through willful ignorance.  Such measures can help reduce injustice.  For example, imagine “mandatory” education programs that inform citizens on the production of just products and services.  Thus, all would be required to know where products are being made unethically.  And, those who choose not to complete the programs could face higher taxes or fines.

On the bright side, the owners of unethical companies may participate in providing for the needs of a given country or locale through a charity or foundation.  However, the people of that society are at the mercy of that company or individual when no positive government infrastructure intervenes to ensure such measures.  If the company were running only for profit, the natives could be in bad shape.

Challenges of Work

Parents who work incessantly to provide for the basic needs of their family have greater challenges to overcome in meeting civic responsibilities that could help to address issues existing in unjust economies, especially when related to intellectual and spiritual development.  Similarly, if they choose such development over work, they may not survive, living on the street or under a bridge. ⁵²⁵  In this cycle, assuming it is not related to consumerism or materialism, i.e. working for goods and services far in excess of what one needs, those who do not vote due to a lack of adequate education surrounding relevant issues are somewhat blameless.

Alternatively, those who work at least a 40-hour work week and have families ought to have at least one day per week to review concerns related to issues surrounding injustice and poverty, though they’re likely exhausted or busy with catching up from the last week and preparing for the next. Thankfully however, many do have that day off, and sometimes they have two, but they may not use it for that purpose. And, who among us can blame them?  Who doesn’t want to simply unwind after a long week, enjoying many of the recreational or entertainment options available?

Apathy

Sadly, many of us are apathetic.  Rather than seriously investigating sources of injustice and poverty, with ease, life can become solely about recreation and entertainment.

Although we may not be able to make the kind of sacrifices those who are living completely for Him do, such as those living in religious orders, working as missionaries or volunteers, we may be able to help support them.

How many people would rather give some of their income to charities than pay taxes, especially when they don’t support certain tax-budget expenses, such as paying for contraception and abortion services, nor a government that favors naturalism over faith in a Creator within public schools or at public activities, nor restrictions on freedom of expression for non-profit companies with respect to endorsing political candidates or leaders?  Should changes to taxation occur so that greater benefits accrue for those who give to charity, so that public schools favoring naturalism no longer receive money from the government, so that non-profit companies may endorse political candidates or leaders without losing tax-exempt status? 

If it’s righteous to give 10% of one’s income to charity, what portion of taxation already counts towards that righteousness to the extent that the money is used for charitable programs? Should certain charitable activities be run through the state or through religious organizations?  Consider an orphanage –is not a child more apt to receive the proper level of love and attention when members of the community already go by the name Mother and Father, Sister and Brother? What right does the state have to deny funding to such a religious organization, providing it operates legitimately and does not inspire hatred or prejudice, i.e. that form of prejudice resulting from ignorance after having been taught only one side of the story or one version of the “truth,” simply because it is religious? If the majority of citizens believe God’s nature to be a certain way, such as revealed through the Judeo-Christian faith, is it unreasonable that the government they set-up favor such organizations, or at least not discriminate against them because they are religious? Likewise, what right does the state have to tax or fine a religious organization when they choose not to show any support for abortion or similar products or services, thereby threatening their freedom of belief and expression?

Many of the those who work in areas of social justice and for temporal and spiritual works of mercy live on less than $20,000 per year.  With more charitable support, they can have a retirement to look forward to.  And yet, often these kinds of people enjoy working too much to retire!  Sadly, this is often the opposite for those who are living for recreation and entertainment, who often complain about work instead of seeing it as something that can be an offering to Him.⁵²⁶

When apathy is dominant, democracy malfunctions.  Apathy and ignorance are the hidden enemies of a democracy.  Sadly, those who do wish to educate themselves about important issues can easily be misinformed, whether due to human error or unethical practices in the production and distribution of information. ⁵²⁷  With busy work schedules, and so many competing sources for recreation and entertainment, many lack the time to evaluate the truthfulness of political statements or to seek out opposing views.  Sadly, only 54.9% of eligible voters cast their vote in the 2012 presidential election.⁵²⁸

Organizing Work for Basic Necessities

One possible solution to the problem of being stuck in an overly-demanding work schedule for basic survival, to mechanized automation replacing human jobs, to unfair wages and escalating costs of healthcare, education and housing, is to transform the economy so that all citizens can have their basic needs met through the cooperative efforts of those in that society.  Consider a government that employs workers to develop, mine and/or refine natural resources that contribute to having basic necessities met, with each organization or group of people responsible for a given resource in a given area taking on more ownership and potentially benefiting more directly through working harder and having the option to sell some of those resources to those who have the means and a desire for greater abundance. And yet, most people won’t be satisfied living in a tent-like dwelling and eating bread and beans, and yet, many will, not that such a lifestyle would be necessary, except perhaps initially in some areas.

If the backbone of a society is composed of righteous people who are content in having little, but who are fiercely discontent in the face of injustice for those who cannot help themselves, would such a society not be better off than one where constituents are dissatisfied without having the latest phone or TV, caring little about injustice and the protection of basic human rights?  Certainty there is tension between having something we want and first ensuring that the basic needs of others have been met, needs which include the protection of basic rights.

Assuming more people wanted to live in a society where justice was the first concern of the majority, even if such justice had to be legislated and enforced, for example higher fines or taxes for imports produced unethically, the reshaping of an economy to reflect a greater sense of collective ownership and orientation towards the satisfaction of basic needs, would need to be voluntary –no one could be forced to participate.  This was the opposite situation under Joseph Stalin, where land was confiscated from the people for the government and those who dissented were killed.  Instead, social pressure, when the good principles of the system are realized by the majority, should be enough.  Even if it is not, the change should never be enforced.  This is not to say that there aren’t causes for a just war, i.e. when there are systematic, gross injustices to the dignity and God-given rights of persons, but rather, that in a given economic system, though imperfect, one can never necessitate a change involving violence when those living within that system at least have fundamental human rights preserved and upheld.  Similarly, it would be better to continue within the imperfect system than to take the life of another in the hopes of realizing a better economic system. Moreover, an unjust means never justifies an intended end.

With respect to voluntary enactment, change would need to come through a majority who see the advantages to this type of system and would vote in favor of it, or would vote to have a larger portion of their tax dollars used for such purposes.  Of course, if no one is working, but only collecting basic needs, such a system would only be sustainable to the extent that production, refinement and distribution of such commodities can be automated, which, given the extent of our technological advancement over the last 100 years, is not unreasonable. Are not robots capable of making and maintaining robots for planting, watering and harvesting potatoes, fueled by solar or wind energy?

Conversely, suppose a man and his family of four loves almonds,⁵²⁹ especially almond milk and honey.  He owns one acre of land (43,560 square feet) and plants trees on most of the land with 10 x 22-foot spacing, eventually yielding 17,500 pounds of almonds.  His bees produce many gallons of honey from the almond blossoms.  His family and he only want/need 500 pounds of almonds for the year, supplying he and his family with two gallons of almond milk per week.  They keep much of the honey for themselves, sweetening the almond milk and preparing champagne mead for wedding celebrations.  He trades or sells some of the remaining almonds and honey to his neighbors and the rest to the government such that he can purchase other needs, and some wants, for his family.  Another man loves oranges and does the same.  Another loves cattle and does likewise, another poultry. The government helps ensure that enough men or communities plant enough trees or manage enough livestock so that enough food is available for those who desire it, and that the price of the commodity they produce, for example, almonds, is not undermined by companies who employ unethically, i.e. fail to fairly distribute the wealth or means of production, or otherwise employ slave labor. If the area where the family is living is arid, and enough families are also living in that area, the government may also help to ensure that water is available, such as ocean water that has been desalinated and piped into that area, or rain water that has been harvested from other areas where there is greater abundance.

While the kind of record keeping and coordination that would allow a government to forecast demand and production of commodities may not have been possible 100 years ago, with today’s advancement in computers, anyone owning a computer or even a smart phone could perform the calculations necessary, even seamlessly applying various variables to mitigate risk and ensure a regular supply of basic commodities are available.

It is known that America needs at least a million new farmers in the next decade.  Nearly 70% of all farmers in the U.S. are over the age of 55 and only 4% of farmers are younger than 35.  The USDA is now pushing for 100,000 new farmers every year for five years.  Interestingly, 45% of the military comes from a rural background.

One way we can help make a difference today is to support programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which was evaluated by Congress for budget cuts in 2015.   SNAP is a crucial part of the Farm Bill.  Cuts or structural changes to the program will harm poor and hungry people; SNAP helps relieve pressure on overwhelmed parishes, charities, food banks and other emergency food providers who struggle to meet the needs of hungry people.

Returning to our example of an almond farmer, and taking that example to an extreme, did you know that every person living in the world today could own one acre of arable land?  However, that may not be the case in 25 years, at least according to some estimates.⁵³⁰  Nonetheless, such estimates do not take into consideration the possibility of creating more arable land through modern technological advancements, such as the possibility of desert-like areas being converted into arable land through the processing of ocean water into usable water, whether distilled through wind and solar energies, or desalinated and piped to appropriate areas much like oil is today.  Or, mountains and rocks being crushed and colonized by plants that later break down to produce usable soil, or being moved⁵³¹ to areas where there is such a need. Similarly, such efforts don’t consider the possibility of government incentives for companies and households to recycle organic waste into usable compost. Lastly, such estimates do not consider the possibility that many people would prefer to live in high-rise buildings, thereby allowing more people to live on less land, potentially alternating their locations at various times of the year to experience nature in all its forms, with different climate and geographic landscapes as well as nearby fauna and flora, not to mention alternating agricultural activities.

Long-term, however, given a worse-case scenario, some people may not be able to become property owners, thereby becoming envious or jealous of those that are, potentially resulting in violence, though never justifiably.  This worse-case scenario may occur when those who already have a claim on certain natural resources or land, whether owned by an individual or collectively by a corporation, do not want to forfeit what they own, even at a reasonable price.  And, they should not be forced to.  Again, the notion of enforcement is one of the biggest fears associated with communism, i.e. ‘Buy into the system or die.’  Such an approach is inescapably orientated towards failure –you cannot justify stealing from one person, family or company to give to others who don’t have the same or similar enough, especially when those who have more have worked very hard to achieve their surplus. And yet, the King gives a warning to those who store up the treasures of this world but neglect charity:

The Parable of the Rich Fool

The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’

Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.’

But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God. –Luke 12:16-21

Crime and Punishment

Since a successful capunist or distributive system is voluntary, those who do participate, but act contrary to the good of society in some way, for example committing a crime, would lose the privilege of being able to receive benefits.  If such a person is dependent on such a system, having no means to provide for themselves for some reason or another, and they’ve lost the benefits of receiving food, clothing and shelter, they’d likely end up on the streets or in an abandoned barn, potentially passing away unless others show them mercy.  This is a real example of an opportunity to show compassion, and this situation exists already with many who are homeless, unable to find work because of a crime on their record.  Such situations could lead to great friendships.

Nonetheless our society shows mercy to those who have committed a crime that necessitates incarceration in that they’re able to have their basic needs met.  Without these basic needs being met, those who are unable to find work but are starving are more likely to commit another crime to have their basic needs met, i.e. going back to the penitentiary.  Sadly, however, many countries are much less merciful in dealing with those who commit crimes.⁵³²

Arguably, the death penalty is only justified in cases where incarceration isn’t possible, where letting those proven guilty go free would likely result in similarly heinous crimes being committed.  This is because judgment of such a severe nature ultimately rests with God, who alone can judge with complete fairness and justice.  And yet, the arm of His mercy is longer than the arm of His justice.  Will we not be judged for the apathy we show when by our inactivity we allow a failing system to continue, a system that fails to provide educational development for spiritual growth through a false sense of a need for separation of church and state, which when appropriately orchestrated, for example no endorsement of any denomination by the state, would otherwise help to prevent crimes that might suggest the appropriateness of the death penalty from occurring in the first place? How often do survival-of-the-fittest notions factor into crimes committed?

Since our government currently regulates wealth creation, ⁵³³ it can just as easily create and fund jobs so that no citizen is impoverished in the sense of having no place to live, no clothing to wear, no food to eat.  Of course, this requires that these citizens are of sound mind and choose to live indoors rather than outdoors, stay clothed rather than walk around naked, and eat nutritious food rather than consume alcohol or other kinds of drugs.  These latter cases that are indicative of mental disorder often require proper treatment, such as counseling, medication and/or substance abuse treatment, which should be subsidized through the government, and is likely to be most effective when combined with spiritual growth.  However, such subsidization, when involving centers that include spiritual oversight, shouldn’t be obstructed by concerns over separation of church and state, especially when evidence indicates that spiritual growth, even exorcism, is a vital part of a complete recovery.

Additionally, if economies were orchestrated to ensure that the basic necessities of food, clothing and shelter could be met for citizens, industry oriented towards developing products that become obsolete from one year to the next (though not necessarily because the technology isn’t advancing, but because change is necessary for employees to continue making a living), might adjust to develop products that are built to last many years past their date of manufacturing. Isn’t it sad when something is designed cheaply so that it breaks down after a few years so that the consumer must purchase another? Currently, engineering for durability can be neglected to promote industry, contributing to waste of finite resources. However, a capunist economy could contribute to job creation through recycling useful parts of some of these products, rather than having them end up in a landfill. Similarly, capunist economies could provide more incentives for consumers to deliver failed products to recycling centers rather than dumping them in the trash. How much collective orchestration must occur for this to be successful? Must large cities shelter smaller ones –do large cities that benefit from certain natural resources have an obligation to help smaller cities that surround them, and is not national cooperation capable of assisting in this kind of distributive justice? Conversely, should wealthy cities continue to develop concentrically, potentially resulting in less property ownership and greater concentration of wealth?

Ora et Labora

The motto of the Benedictine religious order, one of the earliest religious orders, is Ora et labora, which means, 'You work, you pray.'  

Is it unreasonable to hope for a society where mechanized labor (automation) is reduced, particularly in areas where human labor can create a better system of exchange?

The value of work towards the development of the human person, towards the development of character, can’t easily be overstated, especially for our youth.  Accordingly, when profit isn’t seen as the primary motive behind work, but rather as a means towards human fulfillment, systems of automation could be replaced, allowing more people who are currently unemployed the opportunity to experience a sense of fulfillment from a job well done.  But, this isn’t likely to occur when such systems aren’t helping to distribute wealth, when efficiency and profit are the primary motives behind industry.  Accordingly, this is an area where a capunist oriented government may be able to help by protecting certain jobs, i.e. by establishing and paying wages for certain kinds of work, for example work that helps provide basic necessities.  Wouldn’t jobs provided to help support those in a distributive economic system be a superior option to collecting welfare from unemployment, especially if such welfare discourages work? Furthermore, some kinds of jobs, i.e. those involving physical labor, help a person stay in shape, and there are few things more valuable than the optimum performance of the body we’ve been given… how much more important is work that helps to maintain its beautiful function and reduce the risk of cancer? Did you know that regular exercise is the best preventative means of fighting cancer?

Arguably, economic change won’t occur when production from the private sector is favored over centrally planned production, particularly with respect to commodities that satisfy basic needs.  However, in the case of an economic system that favors corporate ownership, when profit is the primary motive behind production, which encourages machines over human labor as well as wage reductions, a person is less likely to obtain a sustainable wage for a day’s work, wages that may be necessary to support a family, if they find work at all. And yet, that worker may be aided in having a suitable wage if they are member of a union or minimum wage laws are in place. Conversely, unions and minimum wage laws won’t work for small businesses unable to meet those demands unless they are part of a larger system of cooperation and exchange.

Thankfully, in many areas of work, there is a need for human labor where mechanized labor is unavailable or unsuitable.  Nonetheless, such work often doesn’t pay well enough for a person to support themselves, let alone a family. This is often the work involved with agricultural production. How can a capitalistic, market-based, laissez-faire system correct this situation? If it cannot, because such a system is inherently profit-motivated, a system with greater central planning is favored, one where certain kinds of work are centrally planned, where such work helps to assure the availability of basic necessities, where the overall good of society may be promoted in that such work allows a person to eventually own a home and support family, not to mention have adequate time for spiritual and intellectual development. Thus, without central planning in the development of such jobs, within a distributive approach that values the growth of individuals more than corporations or measures of wealth within a country, such as its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), such distributive justice may never come to fruition.

While American government subsidizes crop development, it does not do so with any oversight for the distribution of this means for generating wealth. Accordingly,

Since 1995, 75 percent of federal subsidies [for food crops] have gone to 10 percent of farms.⁵³⁴

This indicates that rather than numerous small farms, which would be more in tune with distributive justice, wherein a greater number of people are directly benefiting and owners or co-owners, there are several large farms generating a lot of wealth. Should the size of large farms continue to grow as smaller farms are gobbled up? If our government is contributing to this process, and it is better that more people be allowed ownership of this means of wealth generation, potentially allowing more people a living wage in replacing automation, should there be a change?

Purity of Heart

The hope for the transformation necessary for reform first occurs in the heart. It is this transformation that motivates a person from apathy to compassion for those less fortunate, a compassion inspired by Him who views Himself as “the least of these.” ⁵³⁵

It is this transformation that could motivate an individual, family or company to forfeit control over excess resources, property or wealth that they might otherwise possess to help those in need, whether directly through donations or through helping to distribute wealth / the means of wealth generation.  But, if they wish to do the latter, to whom, or where, might they give such excesses, even as much as everything they possess, should they choose a radical approach in trusting when this transformation of the heart occurs?

Could it be the Church?

Could some already be waiting for this kind of system?

Is this the system we shall expect to see when Christ Jesus returns and rules the nations with an iron rod? ⁵³⁶

Sacred Scripture informs us that the first followers of Christ Jesus forfeited their property to the Church for the good of all who were baptized members.  If they had not banded together this way, would the early Church have grown as she did?

Taking this model of communal living further, is it unreasonable to assume that Christ, our King, will govern all citizens fairly and effectively?  Eschatologically speaking, we know that this government will eventually exist and reign supreme for 1000 years,⁵³⁷ a time in which Satan will be bound in the bottomless pit.

Presently, for a given society to balance resource use and production, education that eliminates ignorance must also exist, especially ignorance that can lead to prejudice, greed and crime.

When children were “educated” in Nazi Germany, they were taught to foster hate for Jews, to view Jews as lesser human beings.  Today, in other areas of the world, education systems are in place that foster hatred for others based on religion, party affiliation, ethnicity or creed.  In this regard, a state fostering freedom of religion must be careful in ensuring that the beliefs do not inspire hatred or prejudice.  Similarly, the state must protect the right to life of others in defending against false teachings that inspire hatred.

No society can thrive when they’re under threat of military invasion or takeover.  In such cases, it is difficult to justify missionary work and humanitarian aid for the development of that society, one that might otherwise recognize fundamental human rights.  Moreover, if that society is later invaded and members are killed for refusing to accept another form of government with an absent or alternative description of God’s nature, the temporal benefits developed through such work are more readily lost.  However, the spiritual benefits gained for those who received the knowledge that leads to the practice of virtue, even the knowledge of Christ Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior, the source of all goodness and virtue, are eternal.

And yet, until those who are already indoctrinated into some form of fostering hatred for others, even believing they’re doing good deeds by committing horrendous crimes against many innocent people, are subdued and incarcerated, educational and economic gains in such lands will be minimal.  Nonetheless, given a military force and well-educated citizenry, such lands may actually be the best place to begin the aforementioned economy, perhaps as an extension of the Vatican state, not only because many are already willing to give their life for their heartfelt belief in human dignity and equality before our Creator, but because those effected by such violence are most in need of this kind of change.  Some of the lands that have been so effected, are the lands promised to the Israelites under the Palestinian, or Land Covenant. ⁵³⁸

In speaking of education which eliminates those forms of ignorance leading to prejudice, greed and crime, such an education should include a philosophical and theological framework, in addition to those parts aimed at helping in the development of skills necessary for various jobs and trades, especially those that assist in the production, refinement and/or distribution of resources that satisfy basic needs.  With respect to this latter orientation, more students could become educated to be land owners, working in unsettled areas where land is relatively inexpensive, alongside those trained in those areas necessary to complete basic functions of the community.  These areas would eventually become cities, and depending on the amount of surrounding land, future generations would also be able to become landowners without taking on huge amounts of debt in the form of educational loans or home mortgages.

Notice however that the philosophical and theological parts of the education are mentioned first.  It is these areas that lead to a reduction in prejudice, greed, drug abuse and crime.  The lack of recognition and support for these areas is one of the major problems with America’s system of public education, as discussed by Harvard Professor Christopher Dawson in “The Crises of Western Education.” ⁵³⁹

Without the intellectual and spiritual development that coincides with studying classical humanities and theology, young adults are less likely to acknowledge the existence of the human soul and embrace religious or family life.  Family life is the nucleus of every functioning society.

Such an education also helps abate the effects of advertisements fostering a materialist / consumerist lifestyle.  Sadly, many Americans feel as though they never have enough, though they often have much more than they need.  Similarly, many Americans are not as concerned as they should be with where the products they use came from, such as whether slaves were used to produce them, or whether fair wages were paid and workers were treated with dignity.  Along with this mentality, many don’t see the harm involved with the commercial exploitation of sex, prostitution and fornication, not only regarding the harm inflicted on the goodwill of family life, but on their own soul with respect to the ability of such behavior to separate a person from God and His Church.

Considering these forms of negligence within a failing system, it is understandable why America might be seen by many as the Great Satan. ⁵⁴⁰  When so many lose sight of the values commonly taught through religious education, evil more easily supplants right conduct, where evil is defined as the absence of a good that should be there.   Nonetheless, it is always the individuals that compose a society and make up its overall nature.  Have most Americans dismissed the Judeo-Christian roots of their country?  Have they bought the lie of secularism and atheism, a lie that suggests people aren’t wounded in the very core of their being, wounded to such an extent that they too often fail to choose what is good over what is evil, even when they know the difference, and despite the suffering such a choice might entail?

Military of a One World Order

If there were one government that ruled the world, wherein standards were enforced that protect basic human rights and the management of natural resources so that basic necessities can be met, there would be less tax expenditures on national defense.  In America, military expenditures consume close to 20% of every tax dollar.  For one thing, reducing the defense budget is one long-term approach to increasing Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid budgets so that they may not run out in the next few decades. ⁵⁴¹

By changing an economy to free up time for individuals towards spiritual development, or not preventing classical humanist and theological education in public schools, a government would assist in the overall morality of its citizens, thereby improving quality of life in areas where deficits occur due to extreme poverty and crimes relating to ignorance, prejudice, drug abuse and the injustices of sexual immorality.

If human beings are basically good, this work wouldn’t be much of a problem.  But, this is not the case, human beings are stained with Original Sin, our intellects are darkened and we’re prone to use others and things for our own gain, to want far in excess of what we need, to hate our parents and others when we don’t get what we want, to be jealous of the good things others have and potentially kill or steal to obtain them.  We are disposed to indulge in the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of riches.

Accordingly, a system like this is doomed to failure without the grace of God, without a revealed knowledge of what is right and good and the gift of the Holy Spirit to seek and enact it.  This type of knowledge and spiritual assistance would correct the crime of abortion, as more and more people realize that every person is made in the image of God, that taking the life of an innocent person is always wrong, a violation of the commandment, “Thou Shalt not Kill!”

Similarly, for the development of the soul, economic and educational reform can go hand in hand, being vital towards the development of the whole person, especially in that they could help reduce the time a person spends in purgatory, i.e. the place of purification after death for those who fear the Lord and do what is right, but only to the extent of the right they know and in relation to whatever lack they have from not welcoming assistance from the Holy Spirit.

Trust, Talents and Treasure

There are two parables that might be worth considering in relation to reform:

The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30)

“For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

After a long time, the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ But his master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. — Luke 14:28-32

Interestingly, as I was writing this article, shortly after including the above parable, I proceeded to go to Mass, the day being August 11, 2013.  Being conscious of the potential implications of the article, I prayed for guidance.  Here is today’s Gospel reading, taken from Luke 12:32-48, where Jesus said:

Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.

Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?” And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and prudent manager whom his master will put in charge of his slaves, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions. But if that slave says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and if he begins to beat the other slaves, men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and put him with the unfaithful. That slave who knew what his master wanted, but did not prepare himself or do what was wanted, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know and did what deserved a beating will receive a light beating. From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.”

The first parable seemed to affirm my considerations with respect to capunism.  With that kind of economic system, people would be able to sell their possessions and have no worry about their basic necessities, being more disposed to take up the cross of discipleship and work as missionaries, at home and perhaps abroad.

However, they would not truly have a dependence on the Lord, unless we consider that our Lord would be responsible for helping them through the generosity of those who support a system like capunism, or without it, those who help support their church and the missionaries that serve to share their knowledge of Him, even if that knowledge is partial or partially incorrect.

Without a system such as capunism fully functioning, would you be willing to depend on Him or on the hospitality and kindness of others, potentially receiving a few coins now and then as a mendicant Franciscan, Dominican, Carmelite, or Augustinian?  Are you ready to depend entirely on God’s providence, perhaps as exhibited by the kindness of others, though other supernatural means are possible?  Either way, our hope should always be to store up those treasures that do not fade away.

If we’re firm in our belief that every person has an immortal human soul, and if we’re confident that the Creator of that soul is fully revealed in the person of Christ Jesus, are we sure we have our priorities straight, as individuals and as a country?

When I heard the second parable, I thought about how the master, who allots a portion of food for the slave, also helps affirm an alternative economic system, like capunism or distributism, wherein the parable applies not only to those of St. Peter’s generation, but to ours as well. Whether I or someone else supports this kind of economic system, someone somewhere would oversee allotting a ration of food.

Alternatively, looking back 200 years, might this second parable have been used by a slave owner to continue in the practice of slavery?  Perhaps, but it would not justify treating someone in a way contrary to their dignity and basic rights, one of which is liberty itself.  The U.S. Constitution upholds liberty for all.  Arguably, this is a freedom inspired under God, under Him who made us in His image.

With respect to liberty however, only the saints, particularly those who can subsist on the Eucharist alone, such as Alexandrina de Costa, or perform bilocation, such as Padre Pio or Catherine de’ Ricci, are truly free.  They’re not limited by the physical laws of this world, by basic human needs.

After the Gospel reading, Father went on to discuss a short story by Leo Tolstoy, entitled “How Much Land Does a Man Need?”

This story describes a man who, in the midst of a wealthy land owner, feels great anguish over having so little, not realizing the blessings of a simple life, such as a home and a family full of love.  In his anguish, he is visited by the devil.  The devil tells him he can have as much land as he wants, all he has to do is circumscribe it by walking around it, starting at sunset, providing he is able to return to where he started, by morning.

The man agrees.  However, in his greed, in walking for so long to cover so much distance while walking east and north, by the time he turns west the morning is almost upon him.  He runs hard until he reaches the southern corner and then sprints at full speed, as fast as his legs can carry him.  He gets closer and closer to the finish, so close he can almost taste all the wealth he’ll have.  But, his body has something else in mind.  Being overwhelmed by physical stress, the man collapses, his heart stops, he dies.

In the end, Tolstoy tells us how much land a man really needs, about three by six feet, underground.

Father continued his homily.  After reinforcing the importance of placing our priorities on the things of God, as opposed to accumulating wealth and the material things of this world, all of which will eventually perish, he went on to reread the Gospel from last week:

Someone in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.’ But he said to him, ‘Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?’ And he said to them, ‘Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.’ Then he told them a parable: ‘The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself, “What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?” Then he said, “I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich towards God.’ (Luke 12:13-21)

A very fitting reading to help motivate each of us to evaluate our priorities, wouldn’t you agree?  Perhaps it’s best to keep things simple, reaching out to those in need in some way each day.  Perhaps if we take an annual vacation, we’ll consider combining it with a mission trip, visiting a new area with people who are in need of assistance.  Maybe we can help by building a home for someone homeless.

It would take “a clear and conscious philosophy” to build a distributist society, not a philosophy of broken and leftover ideas. The first clear and conscious idea would be to recognize that money is not the most important thing. It is the means and not the end. The end is a quiet, happy home. It is many small places with many local heroes. ¹⁸⁶

Small Settlements

Perhaps you agree with much of what I’ve written.  Perhaps you plan to make a difference in a small way today.  Perhaps, however, you’re also interested in building a home amidst like-minded neighbors.

From a small-scale enactment standpoint, new settlements could be started throughout the United States and abroad where land is available and inexpensive, where the laws and economic system may be designed to better reflect the culture of the individuals who compose it.  Likewise, interested parties can pool their wealth together to purchase inexpensive land and the resources necessary to develop their own cities, thereby retaining a larger share of ownership, which is another aim of distributism. Generally speaking, the more land you buy at one time, the cheaper it is.  Thus, singles, families and those devoted to religious life are better off joining together in establishing new communities.  Furthermore, within the next century, as oil and gas resources are diminished, assuming Jesus does not return beforehand, city planning that allows for alternative forms of transportation behooves us.  Should we be prepared to saddle up?

Consider that if a student can take out a loan for thousands of dollars to get an advanced education, they may also be granted a loan to be an active part of a developing community, perhaps learning a trade or vocation important for that community.  As they exercise their skill, the wealth of the community increases.  With such an endowment, not only would they avoid accumulating excessive debt they may not be able to begin paying off until long after graduation, but they could secure for themselves land and property so that they’d never be homeless.

With respect to employment, is a low unemployment rate more important for a society than its church attendance rate?  If a society develops around the belief that every person has a soul, is not the church attendance rate more important than the unemployment rate?

With respect to the capabilities of a social network, Pure Heart Cities could first develop virtually.  Such networks could assist in the formation of settlements by matching a person’s talents, skills, education and interests with the needs of a developing city.  Such a network could aid in the formation of trusts geared towards the purchase of land, equipment and other resources necessary for land, residential and commercial development.

Since land would be relatively inexpensive in an unsettled territory, many families would be able to own homesteads or cooperate in tending large pieces of land agriculturally, allowing many to grow their own fruits, nut, vegetables, even tend livestock.  These kinds of experiences are valuable in providing insights into the majesty of the Creator and the beauty of His creation, and they often provide a source of physical labor that keeps the body in shape.  In contrast, the cost of living in an established city often precludes land ownership beyond a fourth to an eighth of an acre, with the cost of an education and a decent home prohibitive for many without assuming significant, even life-long, debt.

With respect to declining population growth, as discussed by George Friedman in “Global Decline and the Great Economic Reversal,” agriculturally based societies offer hope.

In agricultural and low-level industrial societies, children are a productive asset. Children can be put to work at the age of six doing agricultural work or simple workshop labor. Children become a source of income, and the more you have the better. Just as important, since there is no retirement plan other than family in such societies, a large family can more easily support parents in old age. In a mature urban society, the economic value of children declines. In fact, children turn from instruments of production into objects of massive consumption.   . . . Children cost a tremendous amount of money with limited return, if any, for parents.  Thus, people have fewer children. ⁵⁴²

Arguably, most parents would prefer to stay at home while working through the challenges of advanced age, being cared for by their children, or trusted loved ones, when necessary, rather than strangers while living in another home or long-term care facility.  In Pure Heart Cities, social services for aging loved ones could be subsidized through the wealth of the city.

Debatably, with dwindling Social Security and Medicare funds, younger generations would be wise to plan for retirement through participating in self-sustaining communities where children and those of religious orders might assist one another as advanced age sets in.  Similarly, if those with a desire for a pure heart coalesce, singles, families and religious communities would have the benefit of living with likeminded neighbors.  Eventually, the benefits readily available in well-established cities, such as access to various restaurants serving different cuisines, entertainment choices, products and services, would emerge as the city develops.

Furthermore, laws regulating the local economy could be enacted to protect in-network farmers and small business owners from being consumed by competition with large-scale corporations, many of which do not otherwise care about the servile labor involved with producing their goods, which undermines fair competition with those producing goods ethically.⁵⁴³  Additionally, guilds could secure many of the benefits corporations experience through strong purchasing power and community recognition.

With respect to conscience protection, laws could be enacted so that workers in executive positions don’t have to jeopardize their livelihood.  This would help to correct those situations where business owners or healthcare providers are faced with fines or unemployment for failing to conform to government mandates or corporate policies that require performing services or dispensing products that can result in the destruction of innocent human life.

Similarly, positive laws could be enacted to uphold the values of citizens.  Such laws could include outlawing the production, distribution or use of immoral or unethical products or services, such as those involving pornography, fornication, exploitation, or slavery-like work conditions.⁵⁴⁴  They could also regulate usury, encourage stock ownership for guilds or businesses that pay dividends and operate according to principles aligned with the Magisterium, such as those that may be found through Ave Maria Mutual Funds.  Such laws could also govern the extent of property ownership and use, in order to benefit all members of the city, as well as education about God and Salvation History in “public” schools.

Self-Defense of Pure Heart Cities

Considering basic human rights, rights endowed by a Creator and shared among all human beings, if Pure Heart Cities are established in areas where there is political or economic disorder, where crimes against human rights are frequently committed, a strong militia will be necessary to defend the city and potentially establish order in the surrounding areas.  Such a mentality offers a long-term solution to areas ravaged by violence and greed, where material and educational resources are lacking.  Similarly, unless there is a vested interest in establishing order in these areas to correct deep seated errors rooted in ignorance and prejudice, attempts at reform are often futile.  This futility can be seen in many areas of the Middle East where more violent groups replace those preceding them.

In many respects, a mentality of establishing order through a militia is similar to that of the “Machine Gun Preacher,” a construction worker who’s labored to establish an orphanage where Sudanese children may be safe from rebel forces led by Joseph Kony.  While the long-term success of his endeavor may be limited due to a lack of support and a vested interest in establishing communities surrounding the orphanage, the need for a military for defense in areas like these is made apparent through his documentary. ⁵⁴⁵

With respect to this consideration, if someday there are Pure Heart Cities established in the most terrorized, crime ridden area of the world, perhaps they’ll also be known as Republics of Glorification, a name reminiscent of the hope that all citizens can freely glorify their Creator, free to learn and study His nature from different viewpoints, free to sanctify each day’s work to Him, i.e. to love.

Additional Resources. ⁵⁴⁶ ⁵⁴⁷ ⁵⁴⁸ ⁵⁴⁹

Sacred Mist

Oh mist that forms from all our tears

Formed beyond the broken years

As morning fog we rise to know

Whither now will you go?

Enter our dreams, moment or two

Then hills and valleys, gently through

Soften petals with silver dew

And lush green grass that once we knew

Kneeling beneath sharp stones and cracks

Beside mountains, beyond the maps

You sailed vast seas, above the trees

Enriching the sap, of countless bees

You fell at once upon your knees

When hot nor cold despite His pleas⁵⁵⁰

So soak the earth and dress the wind

You silken veil that none yet mend

Petition to the United States Congress: An Ode to Joy for America’s Missionaries and Her “Life-Affirming” Republic

We the people of the United States acknowledge a need to protect innocent members of the public who are being killed.  

America currently treats some people inconsistently, depending on whether or not that person is wanted.  Evidence for this inconsistency exists in:

1.  Cases where the legality of taking the life of a human being is determined based on age, often varying from state to state.  

2.  Homicide cases where an injury to a pregnant woman causes death, wherein the person who has committed the crime is charged with two counts of homicide.  

3.  Medical cases wherein the loss of the life of a pregnant woman has occurred due to negligence, wherein legal damages account for the loss of two separate lives, mother and child.  

Because we believe every human life is sacred, regardless of whether a person is wanted by his or her parents, we acknowledge the need for legal reform that allows for consistent treatment of human persons.  

Accordingly, we believe the best means to accomplish this reform is to require that all citizens who desire to serve the public must attest that they believe that all innocent human life is sacred. Thus, while exercising their duties in office, all people, particularly unborn children, have great assurance that their right to life will be preserved.

Insofar as a true democracy is subject to whatever forms of ignorance dominate the majority, we declare it a priority to educate all those who are unaware or would deny facts surrounding the intrinsic dignity of all human beings.  Such education would naturally result in a democracy wherein all elected leaders recognize the rights of every person.

However, insofar as this education has not or cannot be achieved, we declare the need for ascension to a form of government ruled by a republic, where such public servants embrace and naturally uphold laws that allow for the protection of the dignity and rights of all human beings, from their moment of conception to natural death.  Accordingly, the right to life shall not be subject to one or more judges or democratic vote, especially since it is clear that widespread ignorance or indifference hinders our government from protecting the most basic right of all, the right to life.  

It is a known scientific fact that every human person begins their life at the moment of conception. Accordingly, we assert that a person is created and takes their earliest identifiable form at the moment of conception, the time at which he or she has a full human genome, which includes mitochondrial DNA, i.e. the Eve gene. 

Although such a person would be incapable of demonstrating their personhood at such an early stage of development, except by the possession of a full human genome and by continuing to grow and develop, such a person shall receive full protection of their rights under law, in particular, the right to life, i.e. to continue growing.  However, if the continued growth of this person should threaten the life of his or her mother, only the mother and her family or husband shall decide whether or not to attempt delivery of that child in a manner that may result in loss of life. Furthermore, no healthcare provider shall be forced to make an attempt to deliver the child if they believe such an act will undoubtedly and directly result in the loss of that child or mother. Similarly, while every effort should be made to save both mother and child, a healthcare provider’s right to conscientiously object to carrying out an act they believe will directly result in the loss of human life, shall be retained. Thus, in situations where neither mother nor child’s life can be spared without directly terminating one or the other, and no healthcare provider is willing to terminate the life of the mother or child due to a conscientious objection, we believe it is right to leave the result to Providence, providing palliative care as appropriate.

Although we know that rape and associated cases of incest are terrible occurrences, the right to life of any child conceived during such an act shall be protected. 

We acknowledge there are many beliefs that are life-affirming and reflect the sacredness of life, and in particular, human life.  Some people hold such beliefs without necessarily believing in a higher power or God.  For many however, this truth is affirmed in the knowledge that every person is made in the image of God, and in having a soul, is of infinite, eternal value. 

We know America’s foundation rests on the belief that human rights have been given by a Creator, a Creator who has endowed every person with the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness / right to own property.  Therefore, it follows that those who would affirm that life is sacred, that every innocent human person has a right to life, would also be fit for public service. 

In contrast, we believe one who does not believe that every innocent human person, from the moment of their conception, has a right to life, is unfit to hold public office, regardless of whether or not they’re agnostic or would deny the existence of a God who has made mankind in His image. 

In conclusion, upholding the dignity of every human person flows from a government composed of leaders who recognize the sanctity of human life, who will create and support legislation that protects those who cannot protect themselves, exemplifying that they are fit to act in the best interest of the public. 

Furthermore, we maintain that eliminating the option to kill an unborn child through abortion promotes the development of a virtuous society, one that respects life, marriage and family –the nucleus of civilization.  Additionally, the number one cause of poverty in America is divorce.  In that we believe the day of becoming “one flesh” is less hallowed through the injustices of sexual immorality, laws that protect the rights of unborn children deepen the bonds and value of marriage, helping to establish a culture of life and a healthy civilization. Lastly, ensuring public servants respect and uphold the belief that human life is sacred not only helps to foster a society built around family values, it helps ensure programs like Social Security and Medicare will continue as the birth rate exceeds the death rate.  

Dear congress, please revise the qualifications for public service within the United States to include testimony of belief in the sacredness of human life, endowed by the Creator with inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, from the moment of conception to natural death.

Should I Smoke Marijuana on 4/20?

      April 20th is a favorite day among marijuana aficionados. Its origins are not entirely clear but one plausible origin comes from the 1939 book “In the Walls of Eryx,” by H.P. Lovecraft and Kenneth Sterling, wherein “curious mirage-plants” fairly similar to marijuana appear to get the narrator high at, according to his watch, 4:20.⁵⁵¹ Whatever the case may be, with many states legalizing marijuana, the question of whether to get high on that day is being asked, and not only on 4/20, but any day of the week.

      Is there anything inherently wrong with the recreational use of marijuana to feel better? Can it be used legitimately to reduce pain or our perception of it by inducing elation? Do we run the risk of psychological dependence instead of better coping mechanisms or medicines that better treat or completely correct underlying pain problems?

      Consider the following thought experiment, though potentially false and offensive, which could only make sense from the perspective of a Christian worldview, ‘The majority of regular marijuana users are going to hell.’ Though potentially false, why might this be true?

      In the context of a Christian worldview, every human person has a soul, a non-material essence of the individual self that comprises the intellect, memory and will. Our souls are passing through this world to an eternal destination. However, that destination can be hell, and sadly, people are going there.

      Jesus said, “…the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”⁵⁵² And, “…the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it.”⁵⁵³ So, if we assume “destruction” is another word for hell, why might the majority of those who regularly use marijuana be on the road that leads to hell?

      I submit for your consideration that this is the case because marijuana causes fuzzy thinking and an artificial form of contentment that doesn’t reflect reality. If we’re not made for this world, it follows that we should often feel unrest. Arguably, using marijuana covers this sense of discontent and results in us not seriously examining our situation. Arguably, we’re intended to develop a relationship with God, our Creator. Relationships involve certain responsibilities or expectations in order to thrive. Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only one who does the will of my Father in heaven.”⁵⁵⁴ If we have feelings of contentment when we should feel unrest, what will motivate us to examine the will of the Father so that we can strive to abide in it? If our thinking or judgment is fuzzy, how can we expect to think earnestly about the reality of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection,⁵⁵⁵ and the implications of that reality?

      If we’re a follower of Jesus, we’re called to carry our cross.⁵⁵⁶ We can offer suffering or unrest as penance, praying that it is used in combination with the suffering of Jesus’ passion. This intention strengthens our love for Him and gives us greater assurance of our salvation and even the salvation of others.⁵⁵⁷ This opportunity, which angels envy because can’t experience suffering as we can,⁵⁵⁸ transcends a scientific evaluation of the risks and benefits of marijuana. And yet, given the historical evidence for Jesus’ life, death and resurrection,⁵⁵⁹ it may be the only consideration that puts marijuana use in the proper perspective.

      Not too long ago I attended a men’s retreat that featured the prolific writer and speaker, Jesse Romero. After a galvanizing presentation I had the chance to meet with him and buy one of his books, “What Is Wrong with Marijuana: 50 Questions and Answers,” which he autographed for me.

      Having a loved one who regularly smokes marijuana, who’s referred to it as a miracle drug, I thought they might appreciate this book, possibly seeing marijuana as an obstacle to a deeper relationship with Jesus. So far that hasn’t happened. Hopefully these considerations will help.

According to Jesse, smoking marijuana is wrong because it “alters you mind, alters your judgment and alters your ability to think clearly and soberly.” Quoting Scripture, Jesse informs us that we are to be transformed by the renewal of our mind (Rom. 12:1-2), have the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16), and take every thought captive in obedience to Christ (2 Cor. 10:5).

Research has shown that marijuana use results in:

Impairment of attention and concentration 30 minutes after administration in non-regular users⁵⁶⁰

Slower decision making,⁵⁶¹ greater risk taking⁵⁶² and a lower likelihood to make correct decisions⁵⁶³

Increased impulsivity⁵⁶⁴

Impaired working memory⁵⁶⁵

Long-term effects on executive functions⁵⁶⁶

      In the Our Father prayer that Jesus taught us, we pray that our heavenly Father doesn’t lead us into temptation.⁵⁶⁷ Similarly, we pray that God doesn’t let us fall into temptation or that the Holy Spirit doesn’t leave us during those times so that we are strong and overcome. Jesus overcame the world;⁵⁶⁸ as we follow in his footsteps, we’re called to do likewise.

      I’ve spent considerable time contemplating the goodness of God. I’ve been enriched by a devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I often visualize his heart pieced by a lance, releasing his Precious Blood as an offering to reconcile me to God... “Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”⁵⁶⁹

      I’m convinced that marijuana would taint or impair my ability to experience the love and presence of God, those movements of the Holy Spirit, especially consolations, which we should seek to receive at all times.⁵⁷⁰ I don’t want those experiences to be tainted any more than a couple in love joyfully discerning a lifetime of commitment would want the experience of their love for each other tainted as though artificial, especially in a world where so many marriages end in divorce. Why expose ourselves to something that can interfere with the authenticity of our feelings when they lean toward complete satisfaction and fulfillment, or create bad ones, such as those of a panic attack?⁵⁷¹

      A caring Catholic doctor shared a related insight with me concerning intimacy. Whenever someone uses a drug that can be habit-forming by virtue of causing elation, such as opioids in the treatment of pain, there’s a greater risk of breakdown to intimacy in their relationships through a lack of mutual suffering, which binds us closer together. Everyone suffers. Some suffering is so bad that the use of medicine is appropriate. Nonetheless, he’s witnessed many marriages fall apart because of this breakdown and is therefore reluctant to prescribe controlled substances, such as opioids, except in cases where the pain is so significant that it jeopardizes our health and livelihood e.g., prevents us from getting a good night’s rest or from carrying out our daily responsibilities.

      Returning to marijuana, Jesse argues that the recreational use of drugs that alter the mind is a form of sorcery or magic, quoting from the book of Galatians and Revelation (5:19-20; 9:21, 18:23, 22:14-15). He further points out that the word sorcery is translated from the Greek word pharmakeia.

“In sorcery, the use of drugs, whether simple or potent, was generally accompanied by incantations and appeals to occult (demonic) powers.”⁵⁷²

      We’re called to love God first, with our whole mind, heart, soul and strength.⁵⁷³ This love is “right and just.”⁵⁷⁴ We should honor our Creator and Redeemer every day if not at least one day of the week, entering into the New Covenant, our Sabbath rest, as Fr. Mike Schmitz explains on the 220th day of the Bible in a Year podcast.⁵⁷⁵ Anything that stands in the way of the primacy of our relationship with God should be eliminated or kept in check as a potential form of idolatry. Similarly, every person capable of reason should strive for a morally ordered life; a life that values created things over the Creator is inherently disordered. Arguably, and respectfully, anything pleasurable can enslave us, trapping parts of our awareness, identity and attention span, contributing to psychological dependence. Oftentimes, we can’t overcome an addiction except by turning to God in prayer and relying on the graces given.

      With regards to sorcery, I’m fairly sure that neither I never consciously used marijuana with incantations or appeals to occult powers. And yet, on one occasion while camping with a high-school friend, we thought it was funny to chant “Bru-ha-ha-ha… Bru-ha-ha-ha” while high. It came up randomly. I later learned that Bruja means witch or sorceress.

      Any substance that can affect our psychological state, including alcohol, can dispose us to evil (the absence of a good that should be there), increasing our likelihood for disordered behavior. The evidence for this is apparent upon investigating the background behind many crimes i.e., an altered mental state often accompanies them and fuels their intensity. We sometimes ask ourselves after watching the evening news, ‘How could anyone do something so horrendous!?’

In question 15, Jesse points out a well-known connection between marijuana use and schizophrenia:

Marijuana is considered to be a hallucinogen and recent studies done in the U.S., Sweden, New Zealand and Holland that spanned as much as 15 years, demonstrate a strong correlation between marijuana use in youth and the development of schizophrenia later in life. An article in the British Journal of psychiatry concluded that marijuana is a “causal component” in the development of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders.⁵⁷⁶

      How many young people are prone to psychological disorders as a result of being abused, coming from a broken home, or simply being lonely so often? Does it make sense for our society to increase access to substances that increase the likelihood of psychologically disordered states or conditions through their legalization? In a perfect world, this wouldn’t be a problem… no one would suffer neglect or emotional or physical abuse. And even though Jesus, Most High King and Author of All Creation, is willing and ready to embrace us here and now, we’re still far from home. Doesn’t it make the most sense to have an attitude of disdain towards recreational marijuana use for the sake of a morally ordered life and the preservation of the health of those at higher risk for negative outcomes? Doesn’t it make sense to look to the life of Jesus?

The entire life of Jesus Christ on earth had no other object than the Redemption and restoration of the human race. It was a life of abasement in His Incarnation, in His Birth, and in His hidden and public life, which terminated in His Passion and Death. By the agonizing tortures and most profound humiliations of His Passion, and especially by His Death on the Cross, Jesus became our Redeemer who rendered super abundant satisfaction for our sins. Even though the sins of mankind are almost infinite in number and enormity, and an infinite offense against God, yet the Life, Passion and Death of the God-man have made perfect reparation for these offenses. He was able to do this in our stead because He is our Head and we are His members, and whatever He has done in satisfaction for our sins will be considered by God as though we ourselves had done it. Still, we must not forget that despite this perfect and superabundant satisfaction, the gift of the Death of Christ will be beneficial only to those to whom the merit of His Passion is applied, only to those who cooperate with the graces of Redemption. These are applied principally through the holy Sacraments, whereby Sanctifying Grace is either imparted to us or increased.⁵⁷⁷

Instead of devotion to marijuana, consider devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus:

By this devotion, Holy Church desires to reveal to the faithful the most holy affections, desires and movements of the Sacred Heart, through which our Saviour honored His Heavenly Father, sanctified the faithful and presented Himself to mankind as the perfect model of eminent sanctity. These emotions of the Heart of Jesus are:

a burning zeal for the glory of His Father,

a boundless love for all mankind,

a most profound humility,

an unconquerable patience,

a total sacrificing and devotion of self to the will of the Father,

a perpetual adoration of God’s sovereign Majesty, and

an unceasing act of thanksgiving...

All these emotions and affections were present even at the first moment of His Incarnation; they animated His Heart to the last moment on the Cross and will continue to animate His Heart in the Blessed Sacrament to the end of time.⁵⁷⁸

21st Century Babylonian Invasion

St. John’s Vision

Do you believe the world will come to a cataclysmic end? Have you ever read the last book of the Bible? Have you heard about the Whore of Babylon? The Apostle St. John, banished by Roman authorities to the island of Patmos, was taken into heaven where he witnessed the end of the present age. An angel said to him,

‘Come, I will show you the judgement of the great whore who is seated on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and with the wine of whose fornication the inhabitants of the earth have become drunk.’ So he carried me away in the spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her fornication; and on her forehead was written a name, a mystery: ‘Babylon the great, mother of whores and of earth’s abominations.’ And I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of the witnesses to Jesus.

When I saw her, I was greatly amazed. –Rev 17:1-6

      What does it mean to be drunk with the wine of fornication? If we’re already intoxicated, how can we sober up? I propose that we can start by studying Salvation History,⁵⁷⁹ carefully examining the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist⁵⁸⁰ and Church History,⁵⁸¹ encompassing the Protestant Reformation.⁵⁸² We should also make it our priority to understand the Sacraments of the Church so as to appreciate and receive them as often as appropriate. The graces we then receive will equip us to discern and not only overcome the forces of darkness present in our time, but to thrive as disciples of Christ! And, as discussed herein, if we take Scripture literally, if we accept the miracles of Scripture as genuine accounts of supernatural occurrences, if we can ask the question “Is Genesis History?”⁵⁸³ and answer with an enthusiastic “Yes!”, we can be strengthened even further!

Many theologians would not agree that a literal interpretation of the Book of Genesis can strengthen us. And, I wouldn’t disagree that some parts of Scripture are not intended to be interpreted literally. I certainly wouldn’t argue that we need more than a good understanding of Salvation History and regular reception of the Sacraments for our salvation, thereby participating in God’s grace. And we may avoid hell even without understanding and reception because who can probe the depths of God’s understanding and mercy as it applies to each person of good will?⁵⁸⁴

However, given our tendency to choose bad over good, to be caught in the riptide of deism, polytheism, secularism and atheistic attitudes that undermine the authenticity and authority of Scripture, or explain parts of it away as though literary fiction, the more Truth we know that strengthens us, the more likely we’ll choose to grow in our knowledge of God and Salvation History, the more likely we’ll choose frequent reception of the Sacrament, choose to fulfill all righteousness!⁵⁸⁵

So, if you desire more Truth and an even stronger faith, keep reading! I’ll start by discussing what universal Christians are expected to believe about the origin of the human person, particularly with respect to the human soul, how contemporary notions of evolution tend to muddy the water, and how that dirty water is flooding our public education system, often under the guise of separation of church and state within the contemporary perspective of what it means to be religious. This flood is a part of the Whore of Babylon’s invasion, often under the pretense of scientism, a form of deism, or evolutionary deism.

Babylonian Towers

Have you ever been to the city of Babylon in Iraq? If you were to travel back in time 2,600 years, there you could see the Hanging Gardens, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Not far from the Hanging Gardens was a tower with the inscription, “Tower of Babel Stele,”⁵⁸⁶ whose foundation is still visible today.

Ancient cities were dominated by a temple complex, including a tower. The typical Mesopotamian temple tower, known as a ziggurat, was square at the base and had sloping, stepped sides that led upward to a small shrine at the top. Ziggurats were dedicated to particular deities. Their design made it convenient for a god to “come down” to his temple, receive worship from his people and bless them…

Mesopotamian ziggurats were given names demonstrating that they were intended to serve as staircases from earth to heaven: The House of the Link between Heaven and Earth (at Larsa), The House of the Seven Guides of Heaven and Earth (at Borsippa), The House of the Foundation-Platform of Heaven and Earth (at Babylon) and The House of the Mountain of the Universe (at Asshur).⁵⁸⁷

      What is the significance of the Tower of Babel Stele? Is it the same tower mentioned in the Book of Genesis, the same location where God confused the only existent human language, scattering our earliest ancestors over the face of the earth?⁵⁸⁸ If so, how can we reconcile a literal account of Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, which encompasses a genealogy that goes back about 7,540 years,⁵⁸⁹ with migratory patterns suggesting that the first humans “ventured out of Africa 60,000 years ago?”⁵⁹⁰ Can both be correct? Yes!! But how?

Humans “Suddenly” Appear

The contemporary human timeline indicates that modern looking humans emerged “200,000 years ago.” ⁵⁹¹ These first humans hunted and harvested together, drawing fresh water from the same rivers and streams. Perhaps most importantly, they spoke the same language.

The Church and evolutionary-theory teach us that we all share the same common “fully human” ancestor. From an evolutionary perspective, this occurred after many mutational transformations, starting with something like bacteria or an amoeba, progressing up to primates and the first human being. From a literal interpretation of Scripture, Adam and Eve were our first parents; they were created almost instantly without any reliance on a gradual transformation of one species to another. How might both be accurate?

According to the Genesis account, both Adam and Eve demonstrated remarkable intelligence from the very beginning of their creation. Nonetheless, because their intelligence was instantaneous following their creation, we can reasonably conclude that such intelligence was the result of having received a human soul, that principle part of the human person distinctly made in the image of God. We are told that Adam was formed from the earth, from clay, as one might form a sculpture out of marble, and that God then breathed life into him, giving him a human soul.⁵⁹² Essentially, Adam’s body and soul were formed at the same time! Moreover, human beings don’t just have a body and a soul, we are a body and a soul united into one! And, the soul is eternal and nonmaterial; it can be described as the intellect, memory and will, the innermost part of a person. There is good evidence for the eternal and non-material nature of the human soul; every person should be aware of this evidence!⁵⁹³

What must we believe about our origin? We must believe that the human soul is created directly by God and that it did not evolve from the material world… “the human soul is specially created; it did not evolve, and it is not inherited from our parents, as our bodies are.”⁵⁹⁴ More specifically,

the Teaching Authority of the Church does not forbid that, in conformity with the present state of human sciences and sacred theology, research and discussions, on the part of men experienced in both fields, take place with regard to the doctrine of evolution, in as far as it inquires into the origin of the human body as coming from preexistent and living matter.⁵⁹⁵

Since the soul did not evolve, the question can become when did the first fully human body receive a soul? If we accept that human history spans millions of years, accounting for pre-human evolutionary forms, as opposed to a Scriptural account of our origin occurring when Adam and Eve were created, which includes a genealogy up to the time of Christ,⁵⁹⁶ then when would the first modern looking humans have received a soul?

As believers faithful to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church, we are not required to believe the story of Adam and Eve in a literal sense. However, it is more difficult to assent to the human soul having been created directly by God if we do not take the story of Adam and Eve literally. Moreover, if we define the soul as the intellect, memory and will of a person, their innermost self and ability for self-awareness, we may, by extension, with respect to progressive brain or mental changes that occurred in the apparent evolutionary history of mankind through genetic mutations, fall into the trap of seeing the soul as the result of a progressive or advancing consciousness. How likely would this extension be for those in public schools who are taught the theory of evolution but not specifically taught by catechists to make a distinction with respect to the origin of the human soul? Also, if we do not believe in a literal Genesis account of human creation but believe that mutations in the human genome led to more and more “advanced” human-like creatures, and that these mutations were not random but first set in motion by God, we may say that the soul did not arise by chance, but make the mistake of believing that it is the result of an evolutionary process that God first set in motion, a kind of timer wound up and waiting to go off at a preselected time. This would be similar, in an evolutionary sense, to deism.⁵⁹⁷

In order to defend ourselves against the influence of deism, polytheism, secularism and atheistic attitudes, and to best approximate observable reality, consider the possibility of two separate timelines. The first timeline corresponds with the account of Adam and Eve, as preserved in Holy Scripture and believed by many Hebrew scholars to be written as a factual narrative account and not a story,⁵⁹⁸ while the second contains an apparent cosmological and evolutionary history going back billions of years. Now, imagine that this second timeline came into existence and converged with the first timeline after the Fall of Man, possibly as one of the consequences of disobedience. The second timeline appears to present the emergence of the human body from earlier and “less sophisticated” life forms, at least less sophisticated in an intellectual sense, thus appearing to present macroevolution of one species to another, beginning from the first lifeform that came into existence from non-living matter. When did human death enter the world? Which timeline is replete with human death while offering no explanation for it? Where is the good news?

The Good News is that human death is the consequence of sin; sin and death were ultimately defeated through Christ Jesus! Is anything too difficult for Him, who made the heavens and the earth from nothing, who respects our free will so much that we may sin and experience death? Surely, he who controls the present controls the past. If I create a perfect painting of an old man, perhaps one with a long and curly white beard, so perfect it looks like a Polaroid picture, you might believe the man in the picture is actually real… perhaps 70 or 80 years old. In reality, he’s only as “old” as the painting! Were the depths of an ancient universe created in a moment? Could this be the true nature of the second timeline?

Tying things back to mankind’s free will and fallen nature, why would God create a second timeline? Is its existence a part of His Sovereign Will or His Permissive Will? Furthermore, why would God, following our construction of the Tower of Babel, scatter us over the face of the earth and confuse our sole existent language?

DNA and Mutations: The Wonder of Human Life and Reproduction

There are roughly 19,500 protein coding genes in the human genome.⁵⁹⁹ A human intergeneration mutation rate has been estimated as ~1.1 × 10⁻⁸ per position per haploid genome,⁶⁰⁰ or one in one-hundred and ten million per position per haploid genome. Haploid human genomes consist of three billion DNA base pairs⁶⁰¹ –the DNA in a female-egg and the DNA in a male-sperm cell that combine at the moment of conception to create a new human being. Every person started their life at the moment of conception. Prior to that moment, roughly one-hundred million sperm cells raced towards one egg. According to the above mutation rate, around 11,000 of these sperm cells had a gene containing an “abnormal” DNA base-pair or mutation.

Most mutations have no impact on health or development.⁶⁰² This is in part because many amino acids result from more than one combination of base pairs –it takes three base pairs to form a codon,⁶⁰³ each codon forms an amino acid. Through the work of a ribosome, each codon binds a specific amino acid to form the chain of amino acids that become a specific protein, such as one of the four subunit proteins that form hemoglobin. So, even though a three-base-pair combination or codon may be different than “normal,” the same amino acid can be bound by the ribosome and result in the same protein as though there were no change or mutation at all. However, when mutations do impact health or development, they are usually harmful, rarely if ever providing a survival advantage. And yet, evolutionary theory rests on the premise that evolution occurred through mutations that were positive, leading to entirely new features and organisms.

The major premise of an atheist Darwinian framework is an unguided or godless process, i.e. “random” mutations led to all of life’s variety. Thus, the atheist Darwinian framework for the mechanism of evolution suggests that changes within a species or from one species to another occurred and are occurring as a result of random genetic mutations. However, before one can reasonable consider the theory of evolution, he or she has to factor into the equation the law of biogenesis⁶⁰⁴ and the complexity of a living cell, which was unknown at the time Darwin articulated his theory. The deeper knowledge a person has about the complexity of a living cell, the easier it becomes for them to appreciate the law of biogenesis and to dismiss the theory of evolution, particularly macroevolution, i.e. one species to another. An atheist who holds a Darwinian framework as a true explanation for life’s variety of organisms, including therefore that one species can evolve into another, has to first successfully argue that a living cell can arise from non-living matter through natural processes. The law of biogenesis has never been disproven, despite all of the scientific advances of the last 100 years.

In contrast, a theist or deist Darwinian framework for the mechanism of evolution, which is now held consciously or unconsciously by many universal Christians, suggests that although a pre-human ancestor existed, the changes leading to the first human being with an eternal human soul weren’t random but intended by God from the beginning, i.e. a guided process for the first living cell and a sequential progression of organisms, eventually leading to the first fully human being. According to this line of reasoning, the human soul was introduced or infused into one or more of these anatomically complete human beings who had eventually emerged through a process of guided evolution involving genetic mutations over millions of years.

With respect to this process, “newer” pre-human relatives eventually ‘outlived’ or ‘outperformed’ all competing pre-human or transitional relatives and managed to do so without their population numbers increasing to the levels we’ve seen over the last 7,500 years –there are currently 7.53 billion people in the world. Population growth has steadily increased over the last 5,000 years despite the major achievements in technology and medicine that occurred in only the last 100 years. Thus, if modern humans emerged 200,000 or even 60,000 years ago, how can one rationally explain a lack of exponential growth mimicking today’s population, except to acknowledge that they did not possess the intelligence present 7,500 years ago, which would, after all, correspond genealogically with the appearance of Adam and Eve? Was there a mutational change for intelligence that took place roughly 7,500 years ago that effected every human at the same time?

Within the Darwinian framework, the guided or unguided mutations effected not only the brain, and therefore mental performance, but areas such as the jaw bone, teeth, facial structure, skull, growth of body hair, arm length and gait. Accordingly, if we define the soul as the intellect, memory and will of a person, their innermost self and ability for self-awareness, we may, by logical extension, with respect to brain or mental changes, believe that mutations led to a progressively advanced consciousness. This is not consistent with what the Church requires us to believe insofar as the soul, the center of our own unique consciousness, is created by God and did not arise through a material or chronological process. Thus, if one imagines that God intended the progressive development of human consciousness through mutations, we would be prone to view the soul as a product of inheritance from our parents, just like the body. The Church teaches that we do not have a body and a soul but that we are a body and a soul… the two are one undivided whole; we can’t have one without the other. Should we believe that the moment the final mutation occurred that resulted in a fully human being was the same moment God infused the human soul to make the human person? If this were the case, why and how did human death enter into the world? Why would God wait 193,000, or even 53,000 years, to become involved in human history?

In light of these concerns, I believe it is best for universal Christians to not accept what would appear to be a gradual emergence of the human soul as coinciding with the human body, even as though in sync with a process of guided or non-random mutations, as though a “wound-up-clock.” We are required to believe that God created the eternal and nonmaterial human soul; it did not arise through a material or chronological process.

Jesus was fully human and fully God, his resurrection from the dead, body & soul, not to mention all the miracles He performed and those of the Apostles and Saints that followed, attest to the fact that the human soul is an eternal, nonmaterial entity. An eternal, nonmaterial entity does not arise from random mutations. We should hold fast to the belief that the Genesis account is an accurate account of the creation of the first man and woman, as directly from the hands of the Lord. This understanding further supports the Church’s evangelical work by overcoming a pervasive contemporary secular or atheist worldview, a view that does not acknowledge and properly understand the nature of the human soul and its relation to God.

We should be careful not to fall into the trap of seeing the world in an overly materialistic sense… be careful not to act as though our hands are clean of the worldview of a godless universe when speaking about creation but not referring to Scripture. Otherwise, we may only be using a hand sanitizer... disinfecting our hands but only rubbing dirt around. We shouldn’t overlook the logical contradictions to the law of biogenesis, macroevolution, and the appearance of a progressive mutational process leading to human consciousness as though there is no eternal soul or as though those progressive mutational changes led to it. Similarly, we shouldn’t overlook how something supposedly came from nothing, which tends to be mixed into the theory of the Big Bang when a Creator is not an integral part of the discussion. Rather, we should feel comfortable referring to Scripture, divinely revealing the situation mankind is in, one that directly addresses the sin and death problem that He redeemed us from through His precious blood. Moreover, we need to be wise as serpents in the midst of wolves though harmless as doves, feeling confident when discussing the first man and woman, whom He Himself referred to when discussing marriage: “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.”⁶⁰⁵

Knowledge of Adam and Eve places our Creator at the heart of the matter of our origin, the same Creator we now know as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who made us in His image. This knowledge reasonably encompasses the existence of a second timeline that appeared after the Fall of Man, involving a more ancient world, a world containing all the modern results of science and speculation about the origin of life, about evolution, about a godless universe, multiverse, etc. One does not have to deny any of the facts derived from good science as contained within the second timeline while acknowledging the existence and preeminence of the first. Moreover, it is this second timeline which contains death for human-appearing or pre-human species as well as all those marked with Original Sin who came after the convergence of these timelines, notwithstanding our ability to receive fruit from the Tree of Life, i.e. the grace of salvation obtained and offered to us through Christ Jesus. Those who have done this successfully during their lifetime often avoid the decay and decomposition otherwise common to the human body, among many other miracles associated with their life.⁶⁰⁶

Does God need to create a second timeline with the appearance of a gradual process for the cosmos, let alone for human intellectual development? Arguably, no. But can good come from it? Yes! Why? Because the appearance of such a possibility can benefit our free will so that we may love Him more freely, making it easier to disbelieve, to choose to separate from Him rather than stay close out of fear. God doesn’t desire us to feel coerced or to love and abide in His will out of fear, but rather, through sincere love, which requires freedom, often leading to repentance, leading to awareness of our need for a Savior. Consider that the evidence for God was undeniable to our first parents, but they still made the choice to disobey. Would any of us choose any different?

“…if evolution happened, organisms (such as bacteria) that quickly produce the most offspring, should have the most variations and mutations. Natural selection would then select the more favorable changes, allowing them to survive, reproduce, and pass on the beneficial genes. Their offspring should tend to inherit short reproduction cycles and produce many “children.” We see the opposite. In general, more complex organisms, such as humans, have fewer offspring and longer reproduction cycles. ⁶⁰⁷

Does Mental Performance Provide Evidence of a Soul?

Although progressive anatomical changes eventually resulted in the first fully human being, an important question to ask in examining our origin in light of contemporary views is whether language develops the brain, just as working out might develop a muscle or group or muscles, or if it is necessary for the brain to already be sufficiently developed for human language to exist. If the latter is true, it would imply within the context of contemporary views that all the genetic mutations already occurred when the first fully human being appeared. How about the former… can it be true?
      We know that acquired characteristics are not passed on from a parent to their child. Just as a giraffe’s long neck did not result from progressive stretching of a pre-giraffe animal to reach for leaves over many generations, the large muscles of a father, any knowledge of the world, fine skills in riding a bike or doing income taxes, are not passed on directly or instinctively to their children. Thus, if the first fully human being could use one spoken word successfully, the machinery would be in place for multiple words, and there would be nothing stopping him or her from using multiple words except the limits of his or her imagination and memory.
      Although spoken communication has progressed to become more and more complex (there are more than a million words in the English language), the only tangible historical evidence for it corresponds to the written word, first recorded around 5,000 years ago. Egyptian (2690 BC) and Sumerian (26th century BC) languages are the first known in the historical record, followed by Akkadian and Eblaite.⁶⁰⁸ Nonetheless, Egypt’s “proto-hieroglyphic” inscriptions are noted from about 3300 BC while Sumerian’s “proto-literate” period begins from 3500 BC. Accordingly, although the first anatomically fully human being appeared around 200,000 years ago, it took 194,500 years for the development of a pictographic system. Is it possible that fully human beings were able to speak intelligibly for 194,500 years without developing a system for pictographically recording their words? If all of the other anatomical changes were present, i.e. normal jaw bone, teeth, facial structure, skull, growth of body hair, arm length and gait, why would the changes corresponding to an ability to create symbols representing spoken words be delayed for over 194,500 years?
      If the ability to create symbols for words is seen as evidence of a distinct stage of human development, then the historical record suggests the last one occurred about 5,500 years ago. With respect to the earliest known stage of advanced mental function, the first stone tools appeared three-million years ago and the use of fire appeared 750,000 years ago. This was followed by the collection and heating of ochre, shell jewelry and the painting of cave images around 100,000 years ago.⁶⁰⁹ But do these provide evidence of a human soul? Many species have advanced means of communicating, some can even be taught American Sign Language,⁶¹⁰ others can be taught to play the American Star-Spangled Banner. ⁶¹¹
      In contrast, only the human person is capable of grasping philosophical and spiritual truths that accompany existence and self-awareness, let alone having a meaningful conversation about them. Where do these abilities come from? Arguing for the existence of an Unmoved Mover, Supreme Intelligence, or Creator, can even the conception of comprehension come from nothing?

Then Job answered:

‘How you have helped him who has no power!

How you have saved the arm that has no strength!

How you have counselled him who has no wisdom,

and plentifully declared sound knowledge!

With whose help have you uttered words,

and whose spirit has come forth from you?

The shades below tremble,

the waters and their inhabitants.

Sheol is naked before God,

and Abaddon has no covering.

He stretches out the north over the void,

and hangs the earth upon nothing.

He binds up the waters in his thick clouds,

and the cloud is not torn under them.

He covers the face of the full moon,

and spreads over it his cloud.

He has described a circle upon the face of the waters,

at the boundary between light and darkness.

The pillars of heaven tremble,

and are astounded at his rebuke.

By his power he stilled the sea;

by his understanding he struck Rahab.

By his wind the heavens were made fair;

his hand pierced the fleeing serpent.

Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways;

and how small a whisper do we hear of him!

But the thunder of his power who can understand?’
             –Job 26

If our first fully human ancestors comprehended and used the first language together, wouldn’t they also be capable of building the first feat of architectural achievement, i.e. a tower?

The Improbability of Unguided Life

Considering random progression of organisms to higher life forms, two of the smallest known genomes can be found in Nasuia deltocephalinicola and Carsonella ruddii bacteria. Nasuia deltocephalinicola consists of 137 protein-coding genes derived from 112,091 base pairs⁶¹² or ‘letters’ of DNA while Carsonella ruddii consists of 159,662 base pairs, enabling 182 protein-coding genes.⁶¹³ These genes allow the organism to complete tasks like metabolism, reproduction, movement, defense and all the features involved with the formation and function of a molecular and biological infrastructure. However, both of these organisms are dependent on another organism to survive. Carsonella ruddii thrives in sap-feeding insects while Nasuia deltocephalinicola thrives in leafhoppers and other phloem and xyle-feeding insects.

Researchers in the United States have modified the genome of Mycoplasma genitalium, a type of bacteria that can cause a Sexually Transmitted Disease, to a “synthetic cell” that can double in volume in three hours with just 473 genes and 530,100 DNA base pairs.⁶¹⁴ The original organism has 482 to 525 genes and doubles in volume over several weeks.⁶¹⁵ Historically, the genome of Mycoplasma genitalium was compared to that of H. influenzae, the first bacterial genome sequenced, leading to a predicted minimal genome for a bacterial cell of 375 essential genes.⁶¹⁶

The researchers refer to the newly synthesized cell as a ‘minimal bacterial cell’ because the minimum number of genes needed depends on both the environmental circumstances and metabolism of the organism. In the experiment, the organism was grown on static liquid culture,⁶¹⁷ which likely included B vitamins. If an exact genetic replica of this “simple” organism were to somehow come together “randomly” in an early earth atmosphere at least 3.5 billion years ago⁶¹⁸, the same 530,100 base pairs would have had to come together in the same order as those present in the newly synthesized ‘minimal bacterial cell.’ There are variations to the same genetic code that could produce the same organism, but we would still need the other machinery necessary for the organism to function. This includes machinery for gene expression, genome preservation, membrane structure / function and cytosolic metabolism, not to mention other organic molecules that may be necessary, but are only produced by other living things, such as B vitamins. Moreover, the experiment was only possible because it involved incorporating the newly synthesized strand of DNA into a “genetically empty cell.” This scenario should remind us of that timeless question, “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?” Or rather, ‘Which came first, the machinery for a cell to function or the genome that produces that machinery?’

The smallest known functional gene requires 76 base pairs.⁶¹⁹ This gene results in a transfer ribonucleic acid molecule, or transfer RNA, also known as tRNA.⁶²⁰ The vast majority of genes result in a protein that has a specific function. Suppose a gene is like a concept. An understandable concept can be formed from a letter, a word or a sentence. Thus, each gene is like a concept in that it is functional or logical for the organism. Whereas in the English language, a concept may be formed by as few as one letter, for example the letter “I,” a functional combination of base pairs of DNA or RNA requires a combination of at least 76 base pairs, which are the basic letters of genetic language. These basic letters are composed of hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon and phosphorus; they are known as nucleic acids and together form what is known as DNA and RNA.

By comparison, if each gene were equivalent to a concept, whether one letter, word or sentence, to randomly form one of the above-mentioned organisms, say Carsonella ruddii, you’d have to mix 182 conceptual letters, words or sentences into a bag and pour them out multiple times until you form an understandable or meaningful paragraph. Perhaps if you did that a billion times, you’d form the logical paragraph that equates to Carsonella ruddii. However, as in the case of the previous analogy drawn from the chicken and the egg question, it doesn’t sufficiently address the probabilities of leading to a living cell because you’d still have to have the other cellular components in existence for the genome to function, i.e. the machinery for gene expression, genome preservation, membrane structure / function and cytosolic metabolism.

One of these cellular components that are necessary for a cell to function is the ribosome. Ribosomes are made up of about 55 proteins⁶²¹ and require an additional 20 proteins for functionality. These additional 20 proteins are involved in attaching the 20 different types of amino acids to transfer RNA molecules. So, these 75 proteins, in addition to the other necessary cellular components that comprise a functioning cell, would need to already be present and working in harmony together for a cell to function.

It is believed that cyanobacteria are one of the earliest life forms. This is because stromatolites, which are made by cyanobacteria, are the oldest known fossils. Cyanobacteria have a genome comprising 3,573,470 base pairs, forming an estimated 3,168 potential protein coding genes.⁶²² Notwithstanding the impossibility of the other necessary cellular machinery already being conveniently present,⁶²³ what are the odds that a random mixing of 3,573,470 base pairs will result in 3,168 “concepts,” with each concept an estimated 978 base pairs,⁶²⁴ organized logically into a meaningful essay, or in this case, a living organism?

Remember that most genes result in functional proteins. In order for the genetic material of a cell to function, there would need to be proteins already in existence in order for a cell to stay alive. So just how likely is it that these proteins would have formed on their own?

Living matter is composed largely of proteins –long chains of amino acids. Since 1930, it has been known that amino acids cannot join together if oxygen is present. In other words, proteins could not have evolved from chance chemical reactions if the atmosphere contained oxygen. However, the chemistry of the earth’s rocks, both on land in below ancient seas, shows that the earth had oxygen before the earliest fossils formed. Even earlier, oxygen would have been produced by solar radiation breaking water vapor apart into oxygen and hydrogen. Then some hydrogen, the lightest of all chemical elements, would have escaped into outer space, leaving behind oxygen.

To form proteins, amino acids must also be highly concentrated. However, the early oceans or atmosphere would have diluted amino acids to the point where the required collisions between them would rarely have occurred. Besides, amino acids do not naturally link up to form proteins. Instead, proteins tend to break down into amino acids. Furthermore, the proposed energy sources for forming proteins (the earth’s heat, electrical discharges, or the sun’s radiation) destroy the protein products thousands of times faster than they would have formed.⁶²⁵

Also keep in mind that the theory of evolution suggests progressive change of an organism’s genome. These changes imply that there was initially one genome from which all other organisms developed through a process of random mutations. Since that one genome would have contained specific amino-acid sequences leading to proteins, we should find similarities between organisms. However…

Techniques now exist for measuring the degree of similarity between life forms. These “genetic distances” are calculated by taking a specific protein and examining the sequence of its components. The fewer changes required to convert a protein of one organism into the corresponding protein of another organism, supposedly the closer their relationship. Similar comparisons can now be made between the genetic material (DNA and RNA) of different organisms. The results of these studies seriously contradict the theory of evolution. There is not a trace of evidence at the molecular level for the traditional evolutionary series: simple life → fish → amphibians → reptiles → mammals. Each category of organism appears to be almost equally isolated. One computer-based study, using cytochrome c, a protein used in energy production, compared 47 different forms of life. If evolution happened, this study should have found that, for example, the rattlesnake was most closely related to other reptiles. Instead, based on this one protein, the rattlesnake was most similar to man. Since this study, hundreds of similar contradictions have been discovered.⁶²⁶

      If anatomically modern humans came about as a result of genetic mutations from a series of pre-human relatives, it follows in an unguided universe, with respect to probabilities, that they occurred one pre-human relative at a time through a haploid mutation. A mutation would change the genotype, which would in turn affect the phenotype. “In a complex manner, the genotype governs the phenotype, which is the ensemble of all traits of the organism's appearance, function, and behavior.”⁶²⁷

According to Mendelian inheritance, mutations effect either a dominant gene phenotype or a recessive gene phenotype. In order for an immediate advantage to occur to an organism receiving a mutation, it would have to affect at least one dominant gene phenotype so as to be expressed within the lifetime of the creature receiving the mutation. If it affected a recessive gene phenotype, it would have to occur in the other pre-human relative or mate (either the mother or father) prior to fertilization in order to be expressed in their offspring, and then there would still only be a 50% chance of it being expressed since gamete cells derive new sperm or egg cells from the chromosomes of both parents. The only way there would be a 100% chance of it being phenotypically expressed when recessive is if all four grandparents had the mutation effecting the gene for that phenotype. This is an extremely unlikely scenario because, as mentioned earlier, a human intergeneration mutation rate has been estimated as ~1.1 × 10⁻⁸ per position per haploid genome,⁶²⁸ or one in one-hundred and ten million per position per haploid genome. Furthermore, because many genes are often involved in the expression of a given phenotype (for example skin color is likely the result of at least four different genes⁶²⁹), mutations which occur and are not directly harmful are not likely to produce significant changes, let alone the development of entirely new features or organisms. Likewise, the many experiments conducted on over 1,500 generations of fruit-flies resulted in distorted, damaged fruit flies, e.g. shriveled wings, crooked bodies, weak eyes, no eyes, their legs growing out of their heads, sterility –never was an improved fruit fly produced, much less a new kind of creature!⁶³⁰

Given the complexity of advanced functional features, for example the eye from an organism that never had one, several mutations would have to occur simultaneously for this wholly new functional feature to work –several types of proteins and functional molecules have to work together to impart even basic sight functions, with each protein or molecule being the result of one gene. As mentioned earlier, the smallest known gene is 76 base pairs long. If a mutation were to occur to this gene and it was involved in producing a protein, a change to at least one of these 76 base pairs would need to occur in a such a way that it produced a different protein (as mentioned earlier, some amino acids, the basic building blocks of proteins, can be made from more than one combination of base pairs⁶³¹). Additional mutations could occur, but their occurring more than one at a time is even more improbable. Thus, the first functional “eye” had to occur through many mutations occurring simultaneously for functionality to exist.

As another example, there are at least five genes involved in the production of proteins and molecules involved in photosynthesis. At least one gene of at least 76 base pairs produces the envelope of the organelles called chloroplasts. Chloroplasts contain peripheral membrane protein complexes necessary for photosynthesis. The molecule chlorophyll must be produced by at least one protein, each at least 76 base pairs long, though several proteins may be necessary, each working together in logical sequence. Once chlorophyll is produced it is capable of carrying a photon and losing one electron.⁶³² The lost electron is passed to a modified form of chlorophyll called pheophytin, likely the result of at least one other protein and a carrier complex that transports it to the appropriate location in the electron transport chain. The electron transport chain also includes a quinone molecule. ATP synthase is also necessary. Each of these proteins and molecules are the result of at least one gene that is at least 76 base pairs long, and all of these proteins and molecules are necessary for photosynthesis to occur; any random mutation process that might lead to just one of them would confer no advantage to a prior existing organism hoping to develop photosynthesis for a survival advantage unless all the others are present. Similarly, any slow and unguided or random progression would not confer any advantage to the organism, but likely the opposite as energy would be expended for a feature that has no life enhancing value. What are the odds that five 76 base pair genes are going to come into existence on their own, or result from an existing strand of DNA with the appropriate combination derived from mutations from a prior organism that did not have this feature, at the same time, to produce the proteins and molecules necessary for photosynthesis to confer survival advantage? And, this is a simplified example… the production of energy from chlorophyll involves more than five proteins and molecules in cooperation, derived from strands of DNA larger than 76 base pairs. Then there’s the final results of the energy made and all of the genes necessary to produce bananas, peaches, oranges, maple syrup, walnuts, pecans, tomatoes, cucumbers, apples, grapes, peanut butter and so much, much more! Videos such as “Evolution: The Grand Experiment,” directed by Carl Werner,⁶³³ and “Incredible Creatures that Defy Evolution,” by Reel Productions LLC⁶³⁴ provide further examples casting doubt on the plausibility of evolution.

As you can see, the odds of multiple mutations occurring simultaneously to produce a new organ, complex feature or species are astronomically improbable. Differences between species involve multiple genetic changes corresponding to different functional molecules, proteins, glycoproteins, and/or lipoproteins. One mutation would not be sufficient to “ever produce any new organs –especially those as complex as the eye, the ear or the brain. For example, an adult human brain contains over 10¹⁴ (a hundred thousand billion) electrical connections, more than all the electrical connections in all the appliances in the world. Just the human heart, a ten-ounce pump that will operate without maintenance or lubrication for about 75 years, is an engineering marvel.”⁶³⁵

Whether one embraces 1.) a Scripturally-literal creationist belief, 2.) a belief involving human ensoulment occurring at some point in the evolutionary history of the origin of human beings, or 3.) completely unguided cosmic and evolutionary history, it is still highly probable that the entire human family existed at one time in the same geographic location and spoke the same language, potentially leading to the construction of a tower, i.e. the Tower of Babel.

Cavemen Were Brutal?

      At this point, I believe an excerpt from G.K. Chesterton’s “Everlasting Man,” which addresses common notions of the caveman, is appropriate. Meanwhile, I submit for consideration the possibility that the mark Cain received after killing his brother Able was a mark on his forehead metaphorically similar to the cranial robusticity⁶³⁶ noted in Aboriginal man. Note that in the fifth and sixth chapters of the book of Genesis, a distinction is made between Seth’s lineage, which is in the image of Adam and Eve, who are in the image of God, and the lineage of Cain, which is described in chapter six as the Nephilim, meaning the fallen in Hebrew. This distinction of lineage between Seth and Cain with respect to the union of the sons of God (Seth’s lineage) with the daughters of men (Cain’s lineage), is explained in the book, “Walking with God,” by Jeff Cavins and Tim Gray, as well as in Day Three of the Bible in a Year podcast series with Fr. Mike Schmitz.⁶³⁷

Today all our novels and newspapers will be found swarming with numberless allusions to a popular character called a CaveMan. He seems to be quite familiar to us, not only as a public character but as a private character. His psychology is seriously taken into account in psychological fiction and psychological medicine. So far as I can understand, his chief occupation in life was knocking his wife about, or treating women in general with what is, I believe, known in the world of the film as ‘rough stuff.’ I have never happened to come upon the evidence for this idea; and I do not know on what primitive diaries or prehistoric divorce-reports it is founded. Nor, as I have explained elsewhere, have I ever been able to see the probability of it, even considered a priori. We are always told without any explanation or authority that primitive man waved a club and knocked the woman down before he carried her off. But on every animal analogy, it would seem an almost morbid modesty and reluctance on the part of the lady, always to insist on being knocked down before consenting to be carried off. And I repeat that I can never comprehend why, when the male was so very rude, the female should have been so very refined. The cave-man may have been a brute, but there is no reason why he should have been more brutal than the brutes. And the loves of the giraffes and the river romances of the hippopotami are effected without any of this preliminary fracas or shindy. The cave-man may have been no better than the cave-bear; but the child she-bear, so famous in hymnology, is not trained with any such bias for spinsterhood. In short these details of the domestic life of the cave puzzle me upon either the revolutionary or the static hypothesis; and in any case I should like to look into the evidence for them; but unfortunately I have never been able to find it. But the curious thing is this: that while ten thousand tongues of more or less scientific or literary gossip seemed to be talking at once about this unfortunate fellow, under the title of the cave-man, the one connection in which it is really relevant and sensible to talk about him as the cave-man has been comparatively neglected. People have used this loose term in twenty loose ways; but they have never even looked at their own term for what could really be learned from it.

In fact, people have been interested in everything about the cave-man except what he did in the cave. Now there does happen to be some real evidence of what he did in the cave. It is little enough, like all the prehistoric evidence, but it is concerned with the real cave-man and his cave and not the literary cave-man and his club. And it will be valuable to our sense of reality to consider quite simply what that real evidence is, and not to go beyond it. What was found in the cave was not the club, the horrible gory club notched with the number of women it had knocked on the head. The cave was not a Bluebeard’s Chamber filled with the skeletons of slaughtered wives; it was not filled with female skulls all arranged in rows and all cracked like eggs. It was something quite unconnected, one way or the other, with all the modern phrases and philosophical implications and literary rumors which confuse the whole question for us. And if we wish to see as it really is this authentic glimpse of the morning of the world, it will be far better to conceive even the story of its discovery as some such legend of the land of morning. It would be far better to tell the tale of what was really found as simply as the tale of heroes finding the Golden Fleece or the Gardens of the Hesperides, if we could so escape from a fog of controversial theories into the clear colors and clean cut outlines of such a dawn. The old epic poets at least knew how to tell a story, possibly a tall story but never a twisted story, never a story tortured out of its own shape to fit theories and philosophies invented centuries afterwards. It would be well if modern investigators could describe their discoveries in the bald narrative style of the earliest travelers, and without any of these long allusive words that are full of irrelevant implication and suggestion. Then we might realize exactly what we do know about the cave-man, or at any rate about the cave.

A priest and a boy entered sometime ago a hollow in the hills and passed into a sort of subterranean tunnel that led into a labyrinth of such sealed and secret corridors of rock. They crawled through cracks that seemed almost impassable, they crept through tunnels that might have been made for moles, they dropped into holes as hopeless as wells, they seemed to be burying themselves alive seven times over beyond the hope of resurrection. This is but the commonplace of all such courageous exploration; but what is needed here is some one who shall put such stories in the primary light, in which they are not commonplace There is, for instance, some thing strangely symbolic in the accident that the first intruders into that sunken world were a priest and a boy, the types of the antiquity and of the youth of the world. But here I am even more concerned with the symbolism of the boy than with that of the priest. Nobody who remembers boyhood needs to be told what it might be to a boy to enter like Peter Pan under a roof of the roots of all the trees and go deeper and deeper, till he reach what William Morris called the very roots of the mountains. Suppose somebody, with that simple and unspoiled realism that is a part of innocence, to pursue that journey to its end, not for the sake of what he could deduce or demonstrate in some dusty magazine controversy, but simply for the sake of what he could see. What he did see at last was a cavern so far from the light of day that it might have been the legendary Domdaniel cavern that was under the floor of the sea. This secret chamber of rock, when illuminated after its long night of unnumbered ages, revealed on its walls large and sprawling outlines diversified with colored earths; and when they followed the lines of them they recognized, across that vast void of ages, the movement and the gesture of a man’s hand. They were drawings or paintings of animals; and they were drawn or painted not only by a man but by an artist. Under whatever archaic limitations, they showed that love of the long sweeping or the long wavering line which any man who has ever drawn or tried to draw will recognize; and about which no artist will allow himself to be contradicted by any scientist. They showed the experimental and adventurous spirit of the artist, the spirit that does not avoid but attempts difficult things; as where the draughtsman had represented the action of the stag when be swings his head clean round and noses towards his tail, an action familiar enough in the horse. But there are many modern animal-painters who would set themselves something of a task in rendering it truly. In this and twenty other details it is clear that the artist had watched animals with a certain interest and presumably a certain pleasure. In that sense it would seem that he was not only an artist but a naturalist; the sort of naturalist who is really natural.

Now it is needless to note, except in passing, that there is nothing whatever in the atmosphere of that cave to suggest the bleak and pessimistic atmosphere of that journalistic cave of the winds, that blows and bellows about us with countless echoes concerning the CaveMan. So far as any human character can be hinted at by such traces of the past, that human character is quite human and even humane. It is certainly not the ideal of an inhuman character, like the abstraction invoked in popular science. When novelists and educationists and psychologists of all sorts talk about the cave-man, they never conceive him in connection with anything that is really in the cave. When the realist of the sex novel writes, ‘Red spark danced in Doubledick’s brain; he felt the spirit of the cave-man rising within him,’ the novelist’s readers would be very much disappointed if Dagmar only went off and drew large pictures of cows on the drawing-room wall.

When the psychoanalyst writes to a patient, “The submerged instincts of the cave-man are doubtless prompting you to gratify a violent impulse,’ he does not refer to the impulse to paint in water-colors; or to make conscientious studies of how cattle swing their heads when they graze. Yet we do know for a fact that the cave-man did these mild and innocent things and we have not the most minute speck of evidence that he did any of the violent and ferocious things. In other words the cave-man as commonly presented to us is simply a myth or rather a muddle; for a myth has at least an imaginative outline of truth. The whole of the current way of talking is simply a confusion and a misunderstanding, founded on no sort of scientific evidence and valued only as an excuse for a very modern mood of anarchy. If any gentleman wants to knock a woman about, he can surely be a cad without taking away the character of the cave-man, about whom we know next to nothing except what we can gather from a few harmless and pleasing pictures on a wall.⁶³⁸

Chesterton published this piece after the first quarter of the 19th century. Since then, evidence has suggested that some “cavemen” practiced cannibalism. And yet, cannibalism is not limited to cavemen. We can examine the historical documents of Bernal Diaz, going back 500 years to the South American jungles of the Aztec, and read about the practice.⁶³⁹ And yet, it may still be taking place in some areas of the jungle and further into the wild or lawless areas of the world. Furthermore, if we’re talking about violations of human rights, we certainly don’t need to go into prehistoric times, going just 80 years back to the Nazi concentration camps will suffice; inhumane and unjust treatment of others doesn’t depend on a prehistoric level of development. Moreover, we don’t know that the cannibalism practiced by “cavemen” wasn’t practiced as an act of love, acknowledging that life outside the Garden of Eden, a life far from the Tree of Life,⁶⁴⁰ is a life involving scarcity of food –the will to offer oneself for the benefit of loved ones, so that they may stay alive, may have been a deeply ritualistic and loving thing to do in some families or tribes on the verge of starvation. It’s not a pleasant thought, and some may prefer to starve rather than eat the flesh of a loved one who might offer their body as food, but nonetheless, plausible. It is interesting to note here that for a healthy person, after two to three days of abstaining from food though still drinking water, one’s appetite dissipates while they retain or have more energy (the energy expenditure involved with digesting food is no longer present). Thus, if one merely gets weaker and weaker after several weeks of feeling mostly normal, starvation may not be such a bad way to pass over. Indeed, Gandhi came fairly close on at least one occasion.⁶⁴¹ And yet, there is certainly food that we may starve from and eventually die without, not feeling much of a desire to eat it though noticing more and more weakness, namely food from Heaven, like the manna the Israelites ate while roaming through the desert on the way to the Promised Land, the Body and Blood of Jesus the Christ fully present in the form of bread and wine, i.e. the Blessed Sacrament, Holy Eucharist, Fruit from the Tree of Life.

Pride Engineered

The Tower of Babel was likely a magnificent accomplishment of civil engineering. It would have been a source of great pride, likely leading to an attitude of arrogance and defiance. Remember the names of the ziggurats at the start of this article: “The House of the Link between Heaven and Earth (at Larsa), The House of the Seven Guides of Heaven and Earth (at Borsippa), The House of the Foundation-Platform of Heaven and Earth (at Babylon) and The House of the Mountain of the Universe (at Asshur).” The Tower of Babel Stele is also known as a ziggurat by the name of Etemenanki,⁶⁴² meaning “temple of the foundation of heaven and earth.” Can we really form the foundation of heaven and earth? Can a man-made temple or tower satisfy our desire for the transcendent?

The Tower of Babel Stele was eventually dedicated to the Babylonian god Marduk, chief god of the empire. Marduk used a divine weapon called Imhullu to savage the earth goddess Tiamat in the Mesopotamian story of creation, Enuma Elish.⁶⁴³ Imhullu is “the atrocious wind, the tempest, the whirlwind, the hurricane, the wind of four and the wind of seven, the tumid wind worst of all.” Accordingly, the Mesopotamian story of creation is filled with upheaval, even savagery. If savagery is inherent to creation, what does that imply about God? In contrast, consider how the God of Israel revealed Himself to Elijah… as a gentle whisper,⁶⁴⁴ a gentle breeze.⁶⁴⁵ This was shortly after Elijah had slaughtered 450 priests of Balal on Mt. Carmel, and after that, feeling horrible, “wishes to die.” ⁶⁴⁶

When God saw the city and the tower the people made, He said:

‘Look, they are one people, and they have all one language; and this is only the beginning of what they will do; nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. Come, let us go down, and confuse their language there, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.’ So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. Therefore it was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.⁶⁴⁷

      Why would God thwart human development? Could it be because of pride? Pride hinders growth, makes us unworkable, like hardened clay. Pride caused Satan to exalt himself above God… he could not accept his limitations, namely, that he is not God, not almighty. Filled with envy, ⁶⁴⁸ Satan desired to exalt himself to the highest place in heaven. Satan’s pride was instrumental in leading to our present condition, a state marked by the stain of Original Sin.⁶⁴⁹ Now that we are marked by this stain, how much easier is it for us to turn from God, marveling at the splendor of our own achievements? Are we not tempted to utter…

‘There’s no God! Even if He does exist, I don’t need Him! Look at our science, our magnificent buildings and businesses, our technology… we hardly suffer compared to our forebears. God had nothing to do with it! The thought of God only thwarts our life and development! There’s no God!’

Many do not realize how instrumental the Church has been in building western civilization. ⁶⁵⁰ Sure, technology is great. It allows us to communicate with anyone anywhere in the world, even auto-translated into our own language at the push of a button. But without Truth to guide us, to direct how we should live in communion with God and one another, technology can be used for terrible purposes. Our communication technology enables us to have few language barriers. Will this achievement be used to break down other barriers, overcome prejudice and ignorance, to establish peace in the world? Is such an achievement the result of chance in a random universe or is it rather a means to bring the Gospel to every nation, to usher in a time of fulfillment for Christ’s return?⁶⁵¹

What happens when we become too comfortable with our wealth and achievements, when we forget our Creator? If we believe in Him, how easily might we also say that we were made for a time of comfort? This would imply that he loved our forebears less to the extent that they endured more suffering because modern medicine and technology were not available to them. Does this sound like something God would do? If we really believe that, why not eat, drink and be merry⁶⁵²… ‘isn’t that God’s will for me in this age of comfort and techno-achievement?’

Does God favor those who are wealthy while forsaking the less fortunate, those prone to suffer? What happens when we fail to acknowledge God and embrace responsibilities towards those less fortunate, responsibilities to love our neighbor as we love our self, or more importantly, as Christ loves us?

What can we learn from Scripture with respect to past leaders who were in similar circumstances? Let’s consider the actions of king Hezekiah…

At that time King Merodach-baladan son of Baladan of Babylon sent envoys with letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick. Hezekiah welcomed them; he showed them all his treasure house, the silver, the gold, the spices, the precious oil, his armory, all that was found in his storehouses; there was nothing in his house or in all his realm that Hezekiah did not show them. Then the prophet Isaiah came to King Hezekiah, and said to him, “What did these men say? From where did they come to you?” Hezekiah answered, “They have come from a far country, from Babylon.” He said, “What have they seen in your house?” Hezekiah answered, “They have seen all that is in my house; there is nothing in my storehouses that I did not show them.” Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord: Days are coming when all that is in your house, and that which your ancestors have stored up until this day, shall be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left, says the Lord. Some of your own sons who are born to you shall be taken away; they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.” Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the Lord that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “Why not, if there will be peace and security in my days?”⁶⁵³

      Consider for the sake of argument that Babylon is our enemy, not just a foreign enemy that seeks to plunder, but an internal enemy that grows stronger within us as we exalt in our wealth and achievements, turning away from God or explaining Him and all of creation away as though life can come into being from nothing and progress through random events. How would America fare as a nation… how would the American citizen fare against such an enemy? Which nations acknowledge a Creator in their founding documents… where can we read of a Creator who endowed mankind with inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness / right to own property?

Historically, Americans were heavily influenced by the Word of God. The truth of this influence has been well established through David Barton’s “American Heritage” series.⁶⁵⁴ And while being careful not to endorse utilitarianism, even if many of America’s founding fathers denied the truths presented in Scripture, such as Thomas Jefferson’s denial of all supernatural occurrences,⁶⁵⁵ their knowledge of Him served as a reference point for decision-making, helping them grow in wisdom. This influence helps to establish a people of God. Going back to an earlier time, the people of God could be found under Hezekiah’s reign. For Hezekiah …

…did what was right in the sight of the Lord just as his ancestor David had done. He removed the high places, broke down the pillars, and cut down the sacred pole. He broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the people of Israel had made offerings to it; it was called Nehushtan. He trusted in the Lord the God of Israel; so that there was no one like him among all the kings of Judah after him, or among those who were before him. For he held fast to the Lord; he did not depart from following him but kept the commandments that the Lord commanded Moses. The Lord was with him; wherever he went, he prospered. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and would not serve him. He attacked the Philistines as far as Gaza and its territory, from watch-tower to fortified city.⁶⁵⁶

If it’s easier to find the people of God under Hezekiah’s reign as a result of the policies and practices he enacted, how important is it that our leaders help to establish policies that promote truth, beauty and virtue? Most Americas describe themselves as Christian,⁶⁵⁷ but do they acknowledge the responsibilities such belief entails? Do they show love for Him by abiding in His will, by following His commands and the teachings of the Church He established through His Son? Who but the Son of God has the right to establish authority in passing on the Word of God and the things He did (Sacred Tradition⁶⁵⁸) through Apostolic succession (the laying on of hands⁶⁵⁹)? Consider again what Isaiah said to Hezekiah,

“Hear the word of the Lord: Days are coming when all that is in your house, and that which your ancestors have stored up until this day, shall be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left, says the Lord. Some of your own sons who are born to you shall be taken away; they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.”

Could this also be the fate of the American people? Will America’s lands continue to be mortgaged to foreign countries? As national debt increases, will America continue borrowing from Babylon? Will the children of God, adopted sons and daughters through baptism, be neutered as indebted servants, forced to tolerate their master’s unfair and unjust practices and policies?

What happens to nations that fail to honor truth, beauty and virtue? What happens when a nation’s public servants cease fighting for religious freedom, for freedom to teach and learn about Him whom most Americans already believe is the Source of truth, beauty and virtue? Are peace and security more important, as they were to Hezekiah, than our historical identity as a people of God?

Babylon: Mother of all Harlots and Abominations of the Earth

How does St. John describe Babylon in the Book of Revelation? Babylon is described as the Mother of all Harlots and Abominations of the Earth.⁶⁶⁰ She fornicates with the kings of the earth.⁶⁶¹ Do we follow where the knowledge of a Creator leads, i.e. the protection of basic inalienable rights, locally and abroad? How can a person be free to pursue happiness if they’re not allowed to learn the truths contained within our Salvation History?

Earlier in the Book of Revelation, on the streets of Jerusalem, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt,⁶⁶² the bodies of two witnesses will lay for three and a half days.⁶⁶³ Both Sodom and Egypt reveal the results of fornication with false gods: iniquity (Sodom) and violations of human rights, violations that lead to human slavery (Egypt). Do Americans engage in trade with countries whose governments protect basic rights and human dignity? Do we support businesses that pay unfair wages and allow work in unsafe environments where sexual harassment goes unpunished? Do we trade with countries that do not actively work to prevent prostitution and sex-trafficking? Will these forms of injustice continue as though our only concern is a low-priced product or service, as though our only concern is the economy?

Throughout the Old Testament, God reveals His desire for our purity, a purity that results in our seeking Him exclusively. As His people, we are often described as His bride.⁶⁶⁴ He is jealous for us.⁶⁶⁵ The 1st Commandment speaks of God’s jealousy for His people, admonishing them not to place anything [idols] before Him. In love, He will never abandon His bride. But will the marriage be joyful if the bride regularly neglects the bridegroom? Will strife and separation not prevail?

The One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church founded through Christ teaches that marriage is one of the seven Sacraments. Accordingly, she treats the bond of marriage as indissoluble. Sacraments are tangible means through which the grace and love of God is made present or revealed in our world. As we contemplate the love intended for and through marriage, we can begin to understand the offensiveness of sin; a pure bond between husband and wife can scarcely tolerate infidelity. Nonetheless, imagine the length a person in love will go to correct the injustice of infidelity while hoping to restore that bond: imagine Jesus suffering for three hours on the cross to reconcile us with God, giving His blood as an offering to atone for our sin.

Our habitual shortcomings, our tendency to treat wealth, health, travel, sports and accessories as though more important than our relationship with Him are forms of idolatry, forms of infidelity, weakening the bond of love He desires with each of us, a bond like marriage. It should not be surprising then that the more we neglect to love Him (1st Commandment), the more easily we neglect to love our fellow men (2nd Commandment), men who may find themselves living in nations that fail to protect their basic rights, working for an unfair wage and without recourse for harassment. If we do not love our bridegroom, we are less likely to love our neighbor, also formed in His image, wherein we might find the strength to defend him when he cannot defend himself. Would America not benefit and be more united, as other nations are, by several calls to prayer throughout the day, calls for prayer to the one True God? Can we not learn from this example of national solidarity? And how much more powerful when praying to the Blessed Trinity?

Purity

Consider how the Israelites lost the battle with Ai.⁶⁶⁶ During this battle their confidence melted away like water. Why did this happen? It happened because one Israelite, Achan, had taken devoted things [idols] that should have been destroyed, hiding them beside his tent. His disobedience impacted the whole body of Israelites.

“Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant that I imposed on them. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have acted deceitfully, and they have put them among their own belongings. Therefore, the Israelites are unable to stand before their enemies; they turn their backs to their enemies, because they have become a thing devoted for destruction themselves. I will be with you no more, unless you destroy the devoted things from among you.” (Joshua 7:11-12)

God desires a loving relationship with each of us. This relationship requires purity, purity like you’d expect between a husband and wife who are devoted to each other, desiring to bring life into the world, intolerant of fornication or adultery. And yet, how many of us can relate to Achan? How many of us have things we’re devoted to before our devotion to God, leading us to break the 1st Commandment, to weaken our relationship with Him, a relationship that requires daily prayer? Again, if we do not love our bridegroom and put Him first, we are less likely to love our neighbor, who is also formed in His image, wherein we might find the strength to defend him when he cannot defend himself. Accordingly, the Israelites, under Joshua’s leadership, were called to conquer Ai.

If a nation regularly permits or itself perpetrates the violation of human rights, a war may justly result to liberate those whose rights are being violated, who cannot defend themselves. What is the price of defending God-given human rights? Is any price too high? Human history is filled with bloodshed… how much of this bloodshed would have been avoided if human rights were protected by those endowed with positions of power and authority?

Americans often pride themselves on freedom of religion, yet few have the confidence to exercise that freedom by speaking the Truth openly. And yet, in America, land of the free, home of the brave, the ability to exercise this freedom in most public schools has been thwarted or is constantly under attack. If most Americans are Christian, they should desire that some degree of knowledge of Jesus be imparted through public schools to their children, schools that promote Christian virtue. In contrast, consider what might have been taught in a public school by one sex educator if it were not for a lawsuit by concerned parents…

“One-night stands can be exciting. They allow you to explore new positions and techniques, not to mention new people… If you insist on having sex while drunk, you should be comfortable staying safe while drunk. Next time you are a little tipsy, grab that condom and a banana or sex toy and practice putting it on.”⁶⁶⁷

      This is not the kind of education most parents desire for their children. It is not even safe as sexually transmitted disease can be spread if condoms break, leak or slip. Similarly, while teens “explore new positions and techniques,” some sexually transmitted diseases can spread through alternate routes. Such education does not promote virtue that leads to healthy marriages, marriages that respect the sanctity of life through being open to it, to family, to commitment. The contraceptive mindset has permeated, invaded society.

All Abstract Dispositions Require Belief, Belief is Religious by Nature

There is a dominant reason why public education that promotes Christian virtue isn’t widespread. Namely, another religion receives preeminence –the religion of scientism. This religion often leads to two other related religions, beliefs or attitudes, one that practices freedom from religion and one that formally treats all beliefs as equal, as though man-made and simply reducible to alternative sources of potential wisdom, poetry, story-telling, etc. This latter attitude generally leads to an approach that hopes to gleam what is best from each distinct set of beliefs as it applies to the individual and their circumstances. It is a type of utilitarianism likely to lead to confusion, or in Hebrew, balal, from where the word Babel originates. This confusion leads to laxity in the practice of any one religion since none are morally binding or authoritative –why would anyone submit to the teachings of a man-made God unless there is understandable personal benefit? Or, why would the 10 Commandments be morally binding over any other set of man-made rules that might govern and direct how we live our lives? As a result, a type of fornication of beliefs or ideas occurs, one that is devoid of commitment to Truth, to God.

Most people naturally believe in something transcendent, and nearly all of man’s religious practices and rituals point towards the transcendent, whether as a personal experience of ultimate Truth or towards a Supreme Being, or Beings. Nonetheless, every thinking person can become, to some degree, devoted, committed or faithful to a belief, and by extension therefore, religious, even if their beliefs entail that there are no such things as ultimate Truth, the divine, the transcendent, a Creator, Intelligent Design, Unmoved Mover, etc. In such cases, intellectual assent is given to such a belief and there is usually a system of practices and rituals associated with it whereby it is promoted or sustained in the face of criticism, which may further strengthen resolve to support it. With respect to scientism, to believe that the material world is all that is, and that everything randomly came from nothing, is still a belief, even though there is less philosophic, historical and scientific substantiation for it.

The second law of thermodynamics establishes that energy in the universe is going from a higher state to a lower one, i.e. entropy, a gradual decline. This implies an extremely high energy state at the beginning. A person should remain free to believe that all this energy suddenly appeared from nothing without being brought into being and acted upon by a First Cause, Unmoved Mover, Creator, etc., but it is quite another thing to impose that belief on others as though it is factual, suggesting that theistic beliefs should not be explored or considered. This is often the case in public schools as a result of a false understanding of the separation of church and state. This false understanding has also led some to believe that the only way someone holding public office can perform their duties appropriately is if they have no theistic belief, or that public places or services should not reflect the fact that many members of the public believe in God, i.e. through prayer and a display of the 10 Commandments. However, since scientism is itself a belief, and thereby denotes a religious activity in conflict with the idea of a government that does not endorse one religion or belief over another, it has no superior right to be taught exclusively in public schools over beliefs that are theistic, just as those who are devoid of theistic beliefs are not better suited to serve in public office.

Innately Religious

We are innately religious because all abstract dispositions require belief. All beliefs have a religious nature insofar as one upholds that belief through conscious or unconscious patterns or rituals of behavior. This entails even a most basic and often unconscious belief that there will be a tomorrow. Elsewise, without a tomorrow, the abstract dispositions or beliefs formed today would have less or little significance.

The rituals and practices associated with remaining faithful, devoted or committed to a certain belief or attitude can be entirely interior, making it more difficult to categorize a person a certain way. Nonetheless, each of us naturally gravitates towards rituals and practices that place us more in touch with what we believe to be true, divine or transcendent. This may be found in any of the world’s theistic beliefs, encompassing beliefs about the origin of the universe and life and the work of Providence in history, as well as in scientism, materialism, hedonism, utilitarianism, etc. Thus, even if there is an absence of outward rituals or practices, this in no way precludes a person from being defined as religious or engaging in a religious pursuit; a person’s faithfulness, devotion or commitment to a belief or attitude always requires some degree of effort on the part of the will, and this is always associated with an interior ritual or practice to the extent that a person may feel best about one belief or attitude, or reason from one side of an argument to the other, ritually placing themselves on one side of that argument. In summary, if a person can feel best about and/or reason and stand for one viewpoint over another, which can lead to favoring and practicing one kind of behavior over another, they are demonstrating their religious nature and exercising a religious freedom when upholding it as best or binding themselves to it as best. This is an entirely interior practice. If the belief results in observable behavior, it would involve an exterior practice.

Saying something like, ‘I don’t believe in anything,’ is a contradiction. A person who says that believes that there is nothing worthy of belief and applies themselves to the belief that nothing is worthy of belief. Or, they may be implying that what they know through scientific study is ultimate truth, potentially implying that there is no such thing as philosophical truth, which would be a contradiction since the disposition or attitude that the results of scientific study are the only facts worthwhile is itself a philosophic attitude or belief.

A religious belief that there is no truth, divine, and/or transcendent, likely includes the belief that there is no ultimate accountability or responsibility for one’s actions, nor any need to act when action would otherwise be appropriate. This would still result in an interior act through continued consent of the will in sustaining such a belief, which often occurs when a person experiences a sense of guilt, i.e. rationalization. Nonetheless, we often see that this type of belief can involve a substantial amount of work, such as the work of imposing that belief on others, whereby the prohibition of other forms of religious expression can ensue. This is the work associated with groups that espouse that ideology of freedom from religion, who seek to endorse a belief in the separation of church and state,⁶⁶⁸ which entails the presupposition that their beliefs are not themselves religious and therefore not inappropriately interfering with that “wall of separation,”⁶⁶⁹ and speak of this wall as though foundational to America, as though anyone can actually be separated from their religious nature, whether serving in public office or not. Clearly, they themselves are not, since endorsing such a belief is itself derived from a religious nature. Perhaps you have seen what appears as their religious works or exterior acts in the form of television commercials and/or lawsuits against public schools with members who have different religious beliefs.⁶⁷⁰

If it were necessary to fight for religious freedom in the United States during our time of division, a class-action lawsuit of the people versus the federal government may solve the problem caused by the imposition of the beliefs of groups that espouse freedom from religion by prohibiting their lawsuits. Certainly, the freedom to practice one’s religious beliefs shouldn’t depend on how much money is available to defend them through expensive legal services. Moreover, most public schools do not have extra money to defend themselves against law suits brought by such groups. Thus, a grand public lawsuit should entail that the federal government protect public groups by prohibiting lawsuits from those who claim to have no religious belief, but are actually imposing their own beliefs, beliefs entailing there are no rational grounds for any other religious beliefs according to their definition of what constitutes being religious, or that government, and by extension the people, should not hold any differing beliefs while serving in public office or while working within a public facility.

If such a class-action lawsuit prevailed and protection resulted, those whose belief in God involves a desire for their children to embrace the same faith could fulfill this desire through the availability of appropriate classes in public schools. Many youth leaders, pastors, priests and deacons would love to teach a class at a public school (again, 70.6% of Americans define themselves as Christian), but are unable to do so out of fear that the district will be sued by those in the “freedom from religion” camp, who are themselves engaging in a form of proselytization and attempting to have the federal or a state government enshrine their “freedom from” beliefs as though constitutional.

Learning about Jesus and practicing virtue should be a lifelong endeavor, and it makes sense that a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, would desire the cultivation of virtue; the practice of virtue leads to stable families. Families are the nucleus of society. “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.”⁶⁷¹ Education that includes a history of the Word of God towards man’s salvation, along with classical philosophy and a historically accurate presentation of the Church, and how theology has developed and even differed, can help students grow in virtue. Those students who desire to know more, or who have parents who desire them to know more, will have many opportunities to excel, while those who do not, should not have to take the classes that are available unless their parents insist they do, as would be the case for any other class while they are under 18 years of age.

In contrast, through diminishing belief in a Creator who providentially paved the way for government’s acknowledgment of inalienable human rights, particularly through His only begotten Son, the most perfect image of the Father,⁶⁷² we open the doors to fornication with idols and foreign ideologies. To correct this trend, voters must vote for leaders who publicly acknowledge Jesus in word and deed (meaning they are living a life filled with the works of the Spirit). We must encourage the development of positive laws that promote virtue. It cannot be wrong to encourage the display of the 10 Commandments in public places when the majority of Americans believe in the God who wrote them! Moreover, we must welcome the name of Jesus, Scripture and prayer in public schools. We must act when the servants of God are killed, when saints who share the Good News in foreign lands are captured, imprisoned, tortured and/or killed; we must defend them, we must not turn a blind eye! We can’t have it both ways, one way or another, one religious belief receives preeminence! That there is good inherent in the absence of theistic beliefs is itself a religious belief!

The Whore of Babylon

Babylon represents polygamy to false ideas and gods, a type of religious belief that all religious beliefs, with their varying views of what is sacred and desirable, should be treated equally regardless of the verifiable truth they contain and whether or not they promote virtue, human dignity and the protection of basic human rights. Babylon represents ideological tolerance at the expense of Truth, encouraging a man-centered lifestyle over a Christ-centered one, a lifestyle of vice over virtue. This life leads to constructing a man-made tower as the “Foundation of Heaven and Earth.”

It should come as no surprise that the longer we deny Truth, the longer will our debts accrue as our assets are carried off to foreign nations, as our people become spiritually neutered and indebted, afflicted with crime, immorality, and the systematic violation of human rights. And, in no way is this violation more visible in our time than through the future men and women of America… the same innocent men and women who many of our soldiers bled and died for so that they might be born in a country free from tyranny… a place where human rights are protected. But are they really being protected if our laws allow them to be ripped apart on a daily basis in their mother’s wombs? How can this injustice to the dignity of the human person remain legal? Are we not drunk with the Whore’s wine of fornication? How can such a terrible and violent act be permitted in a nation that acknowledges a Creator in her founding documents, a Creator who has made each person in His image, a Creator who has given each of us inalienable rights?!

Have you noticed the fruit of the Mother of Harlots? She’s too drunk to tell when life begins and she continues to intoxicate the inhabitants of the earth. The hands, toes and fingers that have been ripped off the bodies of little boys and girls aren’t enough evidence! Do these boys and girls not have a right to life? No one in their right mind would be okay with someone terminating their own life and donating their organs for scientific research. Every person should abhor government funding of facilities performing partial birth abortions and harvesting organs so that they can obtain monetary reimbursement.⁶⁷³ There can be no rights before the right to life!

Salvation History encompasses the knowledge that human death entered the world through sin, that mankind was not created to toil and suffer. It entails the knowledge that Jesus’ atonement or offering of Himself redeemed humanity from sin and its effects, namely spiritual and physical death. With this knowledge we must guard ourselves against the seductive nature of the Whore of Babylon, we must pray and receive the Sacraments often. We must not be confused about what it means to be religious. And, because a literal creationist view is reasonable, we should embrace it while still acknowledging the existence of a separate timeline appearing to contain vast amounts of time wherein spontaneous generation, macroevolution, and the gradual appearance of human intelligence seems to occur, yet ever guarding ourselves against these improbabilities that would otherwise suggest that an actively involved and loving God is not the Source of all matter and life itself... the source of our ongoing salvation, yesterday, today and tomorrow!

A Four Front Affront

To summarize much of the material presented in the three volumes of this work, there are four major themes running throughout. To a militant atheist, or devout secularist, the four themes focused on building a Pure Heart Culture are likely an affront –like blowing smoke in the Whore of Babylon’s face after she asked you to extinguish your cigar.

It would be naive to think a battle isn’t raging, that there isn’t a going to be a winner and a loser. Anyone who regularly attends Christ-centered educational services is aware of this battle. Moreover, Scripture confirms it, not only through the battle of the Israelites with the Philistines, where Samson killed 1,000 with the jawbone of an ass and David killed Goliath with a carefully aimed stone, but through the casting out of demons, the curing of blindness, paralysis, disfigurement and hard-heartedness, i.e. manifestations of darkness that have been cured by works of mercy at the hands of the Word Made Flesh and His chosen people. Truly, those who see the Christian faith as the enemy of the human race, responsible for all sorts of maladies, will go home losers when His Spirit is predominant in people of every race, nation and language.

Military generals planning to win a battle know that the more battle fronts they can cover, the more likely the victory. The Church Militant is positioned to win more battles for culture when all four fronts are addressed and managed, strategically.
So, what are these four fronts, all of which can and should be first united with prayer, which is an essential part of success in ther interior life?

Defense of Intelligent Design and the freedom to learn about Jesus and Salvation History in public schools

Legal protection of the unborn –the Right to Life, helping to establish a culture of life and the sacredness of marriage, as well as the continued success of programs like Medicare and Social Security so that citizens can look forward to retirement

Distributism –helping to establish:

widespread ownership of the means of production

the encouragement of ethical standards in the production and distribution of goods and services

suitable living wages

Greater union in the Body of Christ, i.e. ecumenism

      These four fronts also help to promote the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience, which are, in accordance with a certain theological tradition, the means to perfection… (Mt 19:21):

It follows that a person who does not live in the state of perfection (that is, in an institute that bases its life plan on vows of poverty, chastity and obedience), or in other words, who does not live in a religious institute but in the "world," can de facto reach a superior degree of perfection – whose measure is charity – in comparison to the person who lives in the state of perfection with a lesser degree of charity. In any case, the Evangelical councils undoubtedly help us to achieve a fuller charity. Therefore, whoever achieves it, even if he does not live in an institutionalized state of perfection, reaches that perfection which flows from charity, through fidelity to spirit of those councils. Such perfection is possible and accessible to every person, both in the religious institute and in the "world."⁶⁷⁴

      Disobedience, first through Adam and Eve in eating from the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, leads to the barren deserts caused by sin. Conversely, the obedience of the New Adam and Eve, i.e. Jesus and Mary, through the example of baptism and Mary’s fiat,⁶⁷⁵ frees humanity from the effects of sin, crushing the head of the serpent,⁶⁷⁶ furthering the multiplication of good works, the fruit of our salvation.

Greater union in the Body of Christ requires obedience, obedience to those who have been given authority to govern the Church universal. Conversely, without obedience, one is free to interpret Scripture as they choose, without any guidance by those who’ve been entrusted with that authority, the authority to morally “loose and bind.”⁶⁷⁷

We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness and deceitful scheming. But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.⁶⁷⁸

Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show every courtesy to everyone. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, despicable, hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is sure. I desire that you insist on these things, so that those who have come to believe in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works; these things are excellent and profitable to everyone.⁶⁷⁹

However, there is much to learn from Scripture, and many, because they’ve broken away from the Catholic Church, have delved deeper into these treasures towards the multiplication of various good works, writing the Spirit upon their hearts through the memorization of His Sacred Words, a practice that is often poorly embraced by Catholics who may find it easier to show outward signs of holiness due to the organized structure of the Mass, while suffering inward spiritual decay.

This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.⁶⁸⁰

      Additionally, those who rest on the inspired nature of Holy Scripture are more inclined to believe in a literal seven-day creation, not obfuscating the possibility that God, in His infinite wisdom, can create the universe in a literal seven days, while allowing the appearance of the universe as though having unfolded over billions of years, or allowing such an appearance solely after the Fall of Man. Moreover, success in the first front, which does not necessitate belief in a literal seven-day creation, but bolsters support for belief in God’s omnipotence as Creator, corresponds with a greater awareness and appreciation for those arguments and forms of evidence in support of Intelligent Design / a Creator, which are now predominantly excluded from public education; evidence for Intelligent Design is too often ignored or explained away as random chance over time.

In summary, with respect to the first front, the weight given to truths contained in Scripture builds evidence towards the validity and importance of teaching Salvation History, acknowledging the preeminent nature of Scripture in preserving and presenting moral and salvific truth, serving as the most effective means to combat the pervasive teachings of naturalism that have permeated public education.

With respect to the second front, legal protection of the unborn leads to a greater appreciation for the sanctity of sexual intimacy, marriage and family, which is itself a byproduct of a greater union within the Body of Christ, corresponding to obedience to the moral teachings of the Catholic Church, His one true Bride. The moral teachings of the Church with respect to the use of contraception and the sacredness of human life from the moment of conception, strengthens the enactment of the evangelical counsel of chastity. And how is it possible for so many Christians of various denominations to embrace this moral doctrine, which has been upheld from the very beginning of the Church,⁶⁸¹ when their leaders are themselves divided on it? How may they call themselves true followers of Christ when they usurp this basic teaching of the 12 Apostles He appointed?

The long-term success of programs like Medicare and Social Security requires a growing population –without greater unity within the Body of Christ, which leads to a greater respect for sexual intimacy, the sacredness of human life, marriage and family, population growth in the US and many other countries will continue to decline and such programs will fail. Again, the number of deaths in America currently exceeds the number of births; the long-term solution to our survival must entail a growing respect for the dignity and rights of the human person from the moment of conception.

In regards to the third front, and with respect to the evangelical counsel of poverty, as the ideals of distributism, as written about by Pope Leo XIII and Pope Pius XI,⁶⁸² are embraced universally, less will be forced to live in poverty, though they may choose to live a simple and frugal lifestyle so that the Kingdom of God may be theirs: “Blessed are the poor, for the Kingdom of God is theirs.”⁶⁸³

Sadly, there is a tendency for those who’ve broken away from the Catholic Church, interpreting Scripture without her guidance and sometimes forming their own church, to create a kind of health and wealth gospel, thereby obfuscating the redemptive value of suffering and poverty. And yet, it is not the goal of the Church for people to live in a state of perpetual poverty as though no other option is available. Rather, in societies that embrace distributism, wealth is more fully shared, i.e. the means of production are more widespread and fair wages readily paid, allowing parents to care for their families as they strive to build their home, the nucleus of healthy societies. Furthermore, as more people become aware of which products are being produced through child or slave labor, or through wages insufficient for a person to own property and raise a family, more businesses that produce products ethically will thrive while those that do so unethically will fail as fewer and fewer people will do business with them, even if their products are cheaper.

With respect to the fourth front, as stated by Alexander Hamilton,

“If men were angels, there would be no need for government.” Similarly, if men were angels, there would be no need for priests.

All who’ve been baptized, thereby receiving adoption as Sons and Daughters of God, are called to a priestly life, not only through consecrating themselves as temples of the Holy Spirit, but through offering the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus to the Father through praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Likewise, evangelization is not just for those ordained to the priesthood, it’s for all who’ve been baptized.

Arguably, an ordained priest who lives a sinful life is less qualified to lead a parish than a married man who lives a holy life. However, by virtue of the endowment of Holy Orders a priest has received, they’re able to perform Sacramental functions, even if living in grave sin. And yet, in some Eastern Catholic Churches, married men perform all the Sacramental functions of celibate men in the Roman rite. Nonetheless, a priest who is celibate, in accordance with the Roman rite, creates more space in their life to minister to others, making themselves more open for the benefit of others. However, in a perfect world, there would be no need for the Sacrament of Reconciliation / Confession, no need to minister to others due to brokenness or sickness, no need for such an extraordinary sacrifice as celibacy entails.

A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. But he said to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.⁶⁸⁴

      There will always be tension between priest and laity, shepherd and sheep, when the shepherd is called to serve as though one of the least, though possessing greater knowledge, authority and responsibility in matters of faith and morals. And yet, in a perfect world, it is the Body of Christ as a whole that confects the bread and wine, themselves forming His Body and Blood, through the Holy Spirit, uniting Bride and Groom, Children and Parents, in Holy Communion.

‘But when you see the desolating sacrilege set up where it ought not to be (let the reader understand), then those in Judea must flee to the mountains; someone on the housetop must not go down or enter the house to take anything away; someone in the field must not turn back to get a coat. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that it may not be in winter. For in those days there will be suffering, such as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, no, and never will be. And if the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would be saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he has cut short those days. And if anyone says to you at that time, “Look! Here is the Messiah!” or “Look! There he is!”—do not believe it. False messiahs and false prophets will appear and produce signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. But be alert; I have already told you everything.

‘But in those days, after that suffering,

the sun will be darkened,

and the moon will not give its light,

and the stars will be falling from heaven,

and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

Then they will see “the Son of Man coming in clouds” with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.⁶⁸⁵

A Response to Martin Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses

To follow along with the responses below, download the Ninety-Five Theses as prepared by Barry Waugh.⁶⁸⁶

Agree.

Disagree. The authority of the Magisterium can impose a definition for “repent” that it deems appropriate to the time period the Bride of Christ finds herself in with respect to the degree of current understanding of the Sacred Deposit of Faith. Grant it, the Sacrament of Penance is not necessary for the remission of venial sins and possibly even mortal sin (during those times before the Sacrament of Penance was instituted, our Lord applied grace sufficient for redemption to each soul asking in accordance with the sincerity of their repentance, just as He is capable of doing so today in the absence of availability of this Sacrament or for lack of knowledge of it). Nonetheless, those who know of it and refuse to receive it neglect His intentions and thereby do Him some degree of disservice in that He has made it available to each of us and because it affords us greater grace through the formality of the act, or ex opere operato, and through the intercession of the priest.

Agree. The word “Mortification,” means “putting to death,” and is used in a Christian context to describe putting to death the desires of the flesh.

Disagree. The eternal or spiritual penalty of sin is alleviated in accordance with the sincerity of repentance through the merits of the life, passion, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus. The temporal effects of the sin may remain and require repairing by the works of the penitent. Thus, if a child breaks a window and asks his father for mercy, the father may grant mercy and reconcile the child against the just anger of the father (eternal or spiritual penalty), but the effects of the act remain and the window (the temporal penalty) must be repaired.
The author submits that catechetical descriptions of indulgences (CCC 471) as applied to the “temporal punishments due to sin” apply to the eternal or spiritual effects of sin, and where applicable and appropriate in the eyes of the Lord, the temporal effects that are of a spiritual nature, e.g. recalcitrant anger or unforgiveness arising in those who have been offended or directly affected by the sin. Thus, the remaining temporal effects are the responsibility of the penitent to attempt to make right, e.g. cleaning up the glass from the old window, buying a new window and safely installing the new window. However, although unlikely, it is not impossible that our Lord could miraculously restore the window.

Disagree. The Apostles were given the authority to “loose and bind”⁶⁸⁷ and this encompasses the eternal or spiritual penalties of sin.

Disagree for the reason described in #5. Not only the pope, but all successors of the Apostles, i.e. all ordained priests, act in persona Christi when declaring and affirming that guilt / penalty for sin has been remitted. This authority is in the hands of each priest but rests further in the hands of the pope who declares from the chair of St. Peter, ex cathedra, those matters in faith and morals that relate to sin and remission thereof. The Holy Spirit often inspires the Church, ex cathedra, so in this sense, remission is ultimately provided through God, but not without cooperation of the Members of His Body in accordance with Apostolic succession.⁶⁸⁸

Disagree. This was more likely the case prior to the Protestant reformation, but prior to and in current circumstances, wherein people, who are ignorant of Divine Revelation, act from good will and out of a fear of God, or fear of those in authority, in accordance with natural law, experience remorse and will to choose the good in any future similar occurrence, thus resolving not to commit the same offense, may receive God’s mercy. To state otherwise would limit God’s mercy to those who through no fault of their own do not have access to the grace provided through Divine Revelation.

Disagree. Praying for those who have passed from this life without certainty of their being brought into the presence of God, as would otherwise be the case for those who’ve been canonized through evidence of their intercessory ability, i.e. miracles following prayers for their intercession, is not an imposition, but an act of good will for their deliverance from a purging / distancing from God.

Disagree. It is not appropriate to consider any act of the Holy Spirit through the pope as an exception, but one of the principle means through which the Body of Christ is led, nor would it be appropriate to consider death an article (death entered the world through sin, the result of evil, i.e. the absence of a good that should be there), or anything a true necessity except “our Daily Bread,” i.e. food from heaven, the Eucharist. Moreover, it is always an understatement to speak of the kindness of the Holy Spirit, who is Love Itself, subsistent with the Father and the Son, obtained within the unity of God.

Disagree for the reasons stated above. Priests can be ignorant and wicked, just as any person can be, and we have seen much ignorance and wickedness in our time, but they would not be so in the application of penances for the dying or those who have already died. All of the baptized are called to priests, prophets and kings, and can most certainly offer sacrifices and prayers for the dying and the deceased. Recitation of the Divine Mercy Chaplet is an excellent prayer in this regard, offering the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Disagree. Is it any wonder that the Bride of Christ should represent and formulate the application of the mercy of God? “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” –Matthew 9:13

Disagree. Although the Bride may revert to imposing canonical penalties before absolution, inward repentance is not necessarily complete before or after completion of canonical penalties, being merely works or outward signs. True contrition rests in the heart of the individual and since the confessional is a place where the sick go to be healed, just as they go to a hospital for treatment and not a courtroom for sentencing, it follows that those seeking healing should find no obstacles in their path.

Disagree. There is no evidence that the experience of death liberates a soul from penalties incurred through unjust, wicked acts performed while in this life. Moreover, it appears to those in this life that even the holiest souls experience death.
The soul of a person may or may not be aware of and living in conformance with canon laws. Canon laws derive from the works of the Holy Spirit in the Bride of Christ and are intended for edification and guidance of the Body.
Those who would seek to be liberated from edification and guidance towards growth in holiness and union with Christ would seek to separate themselves from Him and His Body.

Agree. This ought to be true, but it is likely that those who are ignorant of Divine Revelation do not think about death in these terms, and therefore, may or may not experience fear.

Disagree. The experience of death, including fear in relation thereto, likely pales in comparison to the pains of purgatory wherein the soul faces the possibility of complete separation from God and experiences sorrow for the sins they’ve committed.

Disagree. We should be weary of attaching subjective experiences to eternal realities.

Disagree. Love is an act of the will whereas fear is involuntary insofar as the will cannot control it. It is more reasonable to say that fear decreases as love increases. Thus, people whose lives are filled with works of love develop habits of virtue that cast out all sorts of fears and cowardice.

Agree.

Agree. The uncertainty of salvation likely accords with greater sorrow for sins that have been committed as the soul in purgatory experiences the offenses those sins have caused, followed by greater certainty as the merits of our Lord and the prayers of the faithful who are living in His grace are applied as intercessory salves / balms.

Disagree. The pope, acting as the principal treasurer of the merits and treasures of the works of the Body of Christ, is capable of applying those treasures and merits to souls in purgatory, as are those who, in a state of grace, perform the works necessary for the obtainment of an indulgence, uniting their prayers and offerings/sacrifices/sufferings with those of Christ.

Disagree. However, it follows logically that the ultimate authority in the dispensation of treasures and merits is in the hands of the King and Queen of Heaven, who may, for reasons not currently understood by the Body, withhold, in part or in full, treasures and merits for a period deemed fit. In these cases, the intercessory salves may be applied to another, but are never wasted. Nonetheless, we have no reason to doubt in the authority of the Magisterium in trusting that merits and treasures are applied as requested.

Disagree for the reasons discussed previously, e.g. response 20.

Disagree. A priest can grant remission of sins through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, not by their own merits or virtue, but in accordance with the office they hold within the Body of Christ. It follows that all those who are members of the Body of Christ who, in accordance with the magisterium, fulfilling the requirements of an indulgence, may request the benefits therefrom to those who’ve passed from this life whom they love, which should include even their enemies.

Disagree as explained previously.

Disagree. All members of the Body of Christ can pray and make sacrifices for the souls in purgatory.

Agree. However, I would add that since the pope holds the keys,⁶⁸⁹ he also makes determinations in matters of faith and morals that determine whether or not a soul may be in a state of grace depending on their response to the issue in question.

Agree. Any preacher who stated something like this would be in error and do a great disservice to the person who would think that they can purchase their own or another person’s salvation. This is not to say that giving alms is not a charitable activity that merits reward,⁶⁹⁰ but that giving by itself does not determine the state of the heart with respect to loving God with one’s whole heart, mind, soul and strength and believing all that He has revealed to the human race for salvation, including the authority given to the Church to decide authoritatively in matters of faith and morals.

Disagree. For the first point, in general, almsgiving is most likely to increase charity and reduce greed and avarice, which is in accordance with Scripture. The second point is partially false for the reasons described in questions five and 26, and therefore cannot be fully agreed with; God has entrusted great authority to the Apostles to “loose and bind”⁶⁹¹ so that whatever they loose on earth is loosed in heaven and whatever they bind on earth is bound on heaven. It follows that intercession made on behalf of a soul to “loose” her or him from the consequence of a sin is in accord with authority that has already been given in addition and in harmony with the treasury of graces that may be bestowed through the Church. Also consider Abraham pleading with God to relent from the punishment intended for Sodom as a result of the wicked behavior of the majority of the inhabitants.

Agree. It would make sense that if Jesus allows souls to merit grace in purgatory, it follows that some souls may wish to continue suffering for as long they may gain merit through that suffering. He did not say that whatever you (the Church, the Bride) bind in purgatory is bound in heaven, so we may assume that purgatory is exclusively His domain with respect to whether or not merits may be gained through continued suffering. However, Scripture suggests that purgatory is a place of trial, and possibly, repayment.⁶⁹² Our own sense of justice suggests that those who died outside a state of grace, but not completely or in a manner suggestive of complete voluntary rejection of God and His goodness, will be accountable and suffer in some way for their transgressions, while the good that they have done may be magnified through that suffering in a type of overlap.

False. The man whom Jesus healed, the one paralyzed who was lowered from the roof by his friends, was clearly healed and forgiven, without asking, but on behalf of his friends who helped him. Jesus was clear that the Son of Man has been given this power, and insofar as the Gospel of John is trustworthy, we have full assurance that “Whoever’s sins you forgive, they are forgiven them.”⁶⁹³

Disagree. There are many exemplary holy people. Not everyone who lives with heroic virtue as a saint is formally recognized as one. Nonetheless, those who have received such recognition are proof enough of a life lived in accordance with the decalogue, the beatitudes and the teaching authority of the Church, which would thereby include genuine repentance for venial and mortal sins.

Disagree. An indulgence is an extension of grace, but just as a father may accept the apology of a disobedient child and grant clemency for future transgressions, it follows that there may be a limit to that extension if the transgression is continued, which would seem to nullify the apology as sincere, proving it through the works as disingenuous.

Disagree. Not only the pope, but all those who have been ordained priests and can therefore legitimately administer the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Disagree. The Sacraments are instituted by Christ and administered by the members of His body, the Church, which is united with Him through the Holy Spirit, which continues to inspire and lead her to this day and to the end of this world, wherein the Church Militant wholly becomes the Church Triumphant.⁶⁹⁴

Agree. One of the conditions for an indulgence is that the person receiving it be in a state of grace, which requires contrition for any sins committed; it would be a mistake to believe that a soul can be purchased out of purgatory or that a soul can purchase salvation; any indulgence granted to a soul would be a dispensation of grace in accordance with the spiritual treasures entrusted to the Church through the many offerings and sacrifices of Her members and the blood of Christ Himself that was poured out on the altar of the cross for her, sanctifying Her.

Agree. However, an indulgence is a more systematic approach for obtaining grace conferred through genuine repentance, which includes a special dispensation or enrichment through satisfying the conditions that go above and beyond sacramental confession, such as praying for the pope’s intentions and giving alms. Nonetheless, mortal sins must be forgiven through the Sacrament of Reconciliation in the Roman Rite, and a dispensation of grace can be obtained not only for oneself but for another who may not have been in a state of grace at the time of their passing from this world, thus being in a purgative state and benefiting from the indulgence granted.

Agree. However, being a baptized member of the Church and thus receiving all the benefits of His adopted children does not preclude a person from future sin and losing the graces that have been bestowed nor from distancing oneself from that grace, from the love of God, and from good will towards one’s neighbor. Moreover, “once saved always saved,” is not a valid doctrine. A person can lose their salvation by not abiding in Christ, by not loving Him as exhibited by obeying Him with respect to the decalogue, beatitudes and teaching authority entrusted to the Church in matters of faith and morals.

Agree. Would that the entire Christian community were likeminded. However, with respect to thesis six, vis-à-vis “as I have said,” refer to the previous response.

Disagree. I would argue that it is no more difficult than it is to teach any other doctrine of the Church, which often depends on the state of the person receiving, or ex opere operantis.

Disagree. The first part of the thesis can be agreed to with respective to an opportunity to commune with the Lord and unite our sufferings or penance with His suffering. In our time, the type of penance determined is usually simple and easy, such as saying a prayer or two. However, the relaxation of penalties is not likely to cause hatred, and there is nothing preventing a person from making separate offerings or sacrifices in union with Christ for the benefit of His Body, the Church.

Disagree. All works of love have value and are pleasing to God, but God’s paradise is to dwell in the human heart. Thus, while a person may be demonstrating love of neighbor through various works of love, he or she may also be committing many sins, publicly or privately; the most important and valuable work is the interior work of preparing the heart for God, purifying the temple of the Holy Spirit in the perfection of virtue. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Moreover, nothing is more rewarding than the beatific vision.

Disagree. The granting of an indulgence is itself the granting of a spiritual work of mercy, i.e. the forgiveness of an offense willingly, and can also be a participation in the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. If giving alms is a requirement for a particular indulgence, it can thereby involve participation in a corporal work of mercy, whether feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, sheltering the homeless, enabling another to visit the sick or imprisoned, or burying the dead. These are the works that are often performed through the Church as a result of the gifts others have made as alms. With respect to the spiritual works of mercy, by praying for the pope’s intentions, a person can participate or unite themselves with spiritual works of mercy, whether admonishing sinners, instructing the ignorant, counseling the doubtful, bearing wrongs patiently, forgiving offenses willingly, comforting the afflicted and/or praying for the living and the dead. However, with respect to alms being used to adorn a chapel with various works of art, an argument can be made that those funds could be spent in better ways, depending on the economic condition of the artists employed in the process, i.e. they may be those in need of income / employment.

Disagree. An indulgence cannot be bought or sold. Nonetheless, the parable of the Good Samaritan provides an example of the one who is most pleasing to God. If caring for those in need who are still in this world is pleasing to God, it is not unreasonable to conclude that caring for those in need who have passed through this world but are not yet in full union with God is also pleasing to God. This can be accomplished through our prayers and sacrifices.

Disagree. The first part of the thesis is correct but the second is false in view of the responses to 40-42. Response 40 is included in view of the malformed attitude that punishment is necessary to benefit the person and the Church. Similarly, a prescription to say one Our Father and/or three Hail Marys as penance following an act of contrition would not be viewed as punishment by someone who has already demonstrated their love for God by obtaining the Sacrament of Reconciliation and desires full communion with Him. Rather, the only consequence or “punishment” that would be truly unbearable to a person desiring full communion with God would be the denial of that communion.

Disagree. There has never been a certain amount of almsgiving required for an indulgence. Thus, a person who wishes to obtain an indulgence that involves almsgiving, wherein the contribution is used for a purpose other than corporal works of mercy, such as the construction of a beautiful house of worship, may give a trivial amount, such as one cent, obtain the indulgence, and give in some other fashion to a corporal work of mercy.

Disagree. Surely, we should be responsible in caring for ourselves and our families. However, the same principle discussed in the answer to response 45 submits that one need not give a significant amount of money to obtain an indulgence should almsgiving be involved.

Agree. Any member of the Church that teaches indulgences are commanded would need correction.

Disagree. Not only the Pope may grant pardon of sin in persona Christi, but any properly ordained priest who administers the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Does this mean that God does not forgive those who sincerely repent, or that a person cannot confess his or her sins to another member of the Body of Christ and have that person successfully implore God’s mercy on their behalf? It does not. But this fact does not nullify the value of the Sacrament of Reconciliation as a visible and formal sign of Christ’s presence, thus, a Sacrament. Moreover, only when this sacrament has been administered through a validly ordained priest can a person be assured that their sins are forgiven, a fact stated by Christ Himself as reported to us through St. John (Jn. 20:23).

Disagree. A person can trust in the office of the priesthood that Christ Himself ordained. Even when a minister is living a sinful life, whenever they properly perform the responsibilities of the office they have been entrusted with, a person can rest assured that any merit attached to the performed rite is obtained. This is much to be thankful for, i.e. His infinite mercy and the salvation we’ve obtained through the blood of the Son of God poured out on the altar of the cross.

Agree. Whenever a minister falsely represents an opportunity within the Church, or any authoritative doctrine concerning faith or morals, not only the pope, but bishops, priests, deacons and/or the laity should correct that minister as far as is necessary for them to remain in good standing with the Church (see Matt. 18:17).

Agree. Whenever funds are gained illicitly, they should be returned to those who were deceived in providing them. This applies to any situation inside or outside of the Church.

Disagree. Any person can be pardoned through the infinite love of our Lord, save those who blaspheme the Holy Spirit.⁶⁹⁵ His ways are not our ways.⁶⁹⁶ This means that even if a person lived a destitute life and sincerely repented of their sins on their death bed, Christs assurance of salvation could be given to them, just as it was given to the good thief on the cross. It follows that those souls who are not condemned but now reside in purgatory may receive assurance of salvation through the good works of those in this world who seek to merit on their behalf, providing that they are able to receive it, which is a mystery with respect to timing, known to God alone.

Disagree. Preaching about God’s mercy is preaching His Word, or rather, His Life, Passion, Death and Resurrection.

Disagree. If Martin is referring to Mass, the celebration of the Mass is more about the celebration of the Incarnate Word of God made fully present, Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity, on the alter during the memorial of His passion, than about the preaching quality or content of one sermon compared to another, even if that sermon were focused entirely on the availability of God’s mercy as obtained through an indulgence. Thus, it would not be possible in the context of the Mass for more quality time to be spent spreading the news about a new indulgence than what has already been accorded to the Word Made Flesh through the celebration of the Mass, which would nonetheless always include Scripture readings, which contain instruction in themselves.

Disagree. The celebration of God’s mercy is not an insignificant thing, should always be celebrated graciously, and is itself the culmination of the Gospel message.

Disagree. The rich treasures of the Church with respect to the lives of her Saints and the teachings of the Magisterium, are readily accessible. However, this may not have been the case at the time of Martin Luther in accordance with the number of those who were serving the Church by accurately teaching about her.

Disagree. The merits of mercy of Christ’s life, passion, death and resurrection are treasures that are freely given to those who receive Him and abide in His love through the obedience of faith.⁶⁹⁷ These merits directly benefit the temporal world, but especially the spiritual.⁶⁹⁸ “Spiritual riches are the “much,” the “true” τὸ ἀληθινὸν, in the Johannine sense = the ideal as opposed to the vulgar shadowy reality, “our own” (ἡμέτερον)…⁶⁹⁹

Disagree. The Body of Christ is one Body and the Bishop of Rome is her temporal head, thus capable of promulgating authoritative doctrine in matters of faith and morals, just as was the case for the first temporal head, St. Peter, who was crucified upside down out of humility for Christ. Furthermore, answering the call to carry the cross(es) we’ve been given is possible through grace, further adding grace and merit to the Body. This carrying of the cross is an inward and outward act and it involves the whole person, often with ongoing support from the Body. Additionally, knowledge of death and hell are capable of conditioning the soul to receive grace, albeit through imperfect contrition. Nonetheless, these also affect the whole person, inward and outward.

Agree. The Kingdom of God is about relationships, not real estate. Nonetheless, the gaining of an indulgence furthers relationships, not only between the person and our Blessed Lord when the indulgence is sought for oneself, thus better enabling love of neighbor by strengthening them through grace and furthering the person from sin / desire to sin and the harms sin causes,⁷⁰⁰ but in benefiting souls in purgatory when obtained for their sake, who are not yet members of the Church Triumphant but are members of the Church Suffering.⁷⁰¹

Disagree. The scope is too narrow. Yes, members of the Church as members of His own Body are the most important part of the Church, but the keys entail also the power bestowed by Christ through breathing the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles in the upper room, granting them simultaneously the authority to loosen and bind.⁷⁰² In particular, authority has been entrusted to St Peter / the Chair of St. Peter, thus further ensuring authoritative promulgation of doctrine in matters of faith and morals. Of note, St. Peter is mentioned four times more than any other Apostle in the New Testament: 195 times followed by 48 times for St. John.⁷⁰³ It follows in the path of obedience that special attention and reverence be given to the head of the Church Militant,⁷⁰⁴ providing he himself is free from error with respect to Sacred Tradition, Sacred Scripture and the Magisterium. It also follows that if the elected head of the Church is living a sinful life in some manner, the likelihood of his being in accord with Sacred Tradition, Sacred Scripture and the Magisterium decreases. In that case, should the errors be egregious, the remnant faithful should follow the path of holiness set forth by the previous head, working out their salvation with fear and trembling,⁷⁰⁵ working and praying in the example of St. Catherine of Sienna for reconciliation and restoration of the Church.

Agree. However, though a man may be elected as pope or the Bishop of Rome, he is still a man, still capable of sin. As with all members of the Body of Christ, whether entrusted with many responsibilities or few, fraternal correction may be appropriate. Reform is appropriate whenever abuses continue to occur and wherein members entrusted with restraining or removing the perpetrator(s) from high positions fail in that responsibility. However, this reform should not involve separating from the teachings of Sacred Tradition, Sacred Scripture and the Magisterium, nor changing doctrine except as pertains to help prevent such abuses from recurring.

Disagree. Agreeable, but again, too narrow. The treasure of the Church is the Bride of Christ, or rather, the Bride is His treasure.

Disagree for the reasons stated above. However, clericalism must be opposed.⁷⁰⁶

Disagree for the reasons stated above. Here Martin appears to be addressing the ease with which sins may be forgiven, e.g., sincere repentance or through the merits of an indulgence applied to another who, for reasons to God alone, did not live a life worthy of immediate entrance into heaven, as has often been indicated through miraculous occurrences following their death. It is possible that while this thesis was written, Martin had hatred in mind for those who were committing clerical abuses and the thought that they could so easily be forgiven was repugnant. In this case, we must look to the mercy and justice of God, as we know that those who know the good but don’t actually do it will be “judged more strictly.”⁷⁰⁷

Disagree. Not sure what Martin is talking about here… possible strawman proposition. Jesus told St. Peter and St. Andrew, who were fisherman who worked with nets, to follow him and that he would make them fishers of men. However, the Gospel message is available to all, whether wealthy or not. Moreover, the parable of the wedding feast⁷⁰⁸ indicates that it is not the wealthy or those who are otherwise doing well who are most likely to respond.

Disagree for the reasons stated earlier, e.g., response 45.

Disagree. All of Salvation History pertains relates to the gain of mankind through the mercy of God. Not only the Sacrament of Reconciliation, but all seven Sacraments are great graces.

Disagree. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is not an insignificant grace, being a part of the obtainment for a plenary indulgence. Furthermore, although God loves a cheerful giver, almsgiving can be difficult and therefore a cross to bear, thus being a measure of piety or devotion in the obtainment of an indulgence.

Agree. The unity of the Church flows from the accordance of the bishops and priests with the authority of the Chair of St. Peter, whom Christ entrusted with the keys to the kingdom in a similar manner as the key of the house of David was given to Eliakim, son of Hilkiah.⁷⁰⁹

Agree. Had there not been abuses in the preaching of how an indulgence is granted, there may never have been a 95 Theses nor a protestant ‘revolution.’

Agree and in accordance with responses 69 and 70.

Agree and in accordance with responses 69 and 70.

Agree and in accordance with responses 69 and 70.

Agree and in accordance with responses 69 and 70.

Disagree. It is quite likely that Uzzah, who touched the Ark of the Covenant and thus foreshadowed the gravity of profaning something holy, received the mercy of God post-mortem, since his intention was not to profane the Ark, but to prevent it from falling. I’m not able to comment on the possibility of someone violating the Mother of God, and it is odd for Martin Luther to have done so, as it pertains not only to her free will, which was in full conformance to the will of God, but to His Sovereign will in directing the course of events in her life so that Salvation History would be fulfilled in the birth of Christ and in the giving of the Bride of Christ in the sense of her spousal relation to the Holy Spirit, as well as in the giving of her to St. John at the foot of the cross in the last moments of His agony, symbolizing our reception of the Mother of God as our mother whom we ought to take into the home of our hearts to abide in His will.

Disagree for the reasons previously stated. Keep in mind that there is a sufficient infusion of grace for venial sins to be forgiven through reciting certain prayers or the sprinkling of holy water.⁷¹⁰

Disagree. The argument could be made that any hyperbole with respect to the mercy of a given pope is greater than that showed by St. Peter, but the argument is really not that important and would be hard to prove with respect to the existing knowledge available concerning the mercy implored by St. Peter. It would also serve to take away from the mercy that is ultimately granted as a gift to mankind through the offering of Christ Jesus, though entrusted to His Church for the purpose of community, edification and fulfillment in all righteousness, not to mention Sainthood. An indulgence is an assurance of receiving that mercy and it comes through the Church, not the least of which is in accordance with the chair of St. Peter.

Agree. It follows in the wake of graces bestowed upon each generation following the Resurrection, that the work of the Holy Spirit would continue to enrich the Bride.

Disagree. It was Christ Himself who instituted the authority of the Apostles in binding and loosening and teaching with certainty in matters of faith and morals, all of whom acknowledged Peter as the rock, Petros / Petra, head of the Church. Furthermore, in accordance with over 99% of scholars who agree that Jesus spoke Aramaic, there would have been no way for Jesus to have differentiated between the two forms of rock that were expressed in the Greek language, meaning Jesus did intend to entrust the keys or authority of the Church to Peter.⁷¹¹

Disagree. They will have more likely by now raised their glasses high during many of the banquet feasts held in the Church Triumphant as it celebrates the works of the Church Militant, which it simultaneously intercedes for.

Disagree. Sadly, many learned men do not care for the honor and dignity of the pope, but perhaps for their next sinful indulgence, and more division in the church gives them cause for celebration as they continue in the path of scoffers, whom the children of God are encouraged to avoid, as declared in the first Psalm of St. David.

This is a good question and in fact, a good pope would desire to deliver all souls from purgatory, just as our good and gracious Lord desires that no soul should spend time away from Him. However, given that people have free will, the time they spend in purgatory may be related to their own desire not to have lived in accordance with Him, the consequence of which is itself, time away from Him. Thus, the pope cannot change the free will of any person. Rather, a soul in purgatory likely experiences the sadness caused by their separation from God, the injury to their own dignity and to others, all the while drawn by the fragrance, light and beauty of those who are seeking to deliver them from those injuries, but most of all from Christ Himself, who made the perfect offering for sin and cannot be exceeded in mercy nor the granting of it. It is not unreasonable to consider that the nature of time in purgatory is not the same as we consider the nature of time in our present state. Thus, while a plenary indulgence grants full remission before God of the temporal effects due to sin, the timing of the remission is a distinct matter.

This is another good question but unfortunately the Church Militant does not always have assurance of the state or condition of a passing soul. Those instances wherein a soul has appeared to a someone and communicated the state they’re in, can be considered a private revelation, and the Church would be reluctant to rule with certainty that the state of the soul in question is exactly as the Church and our Lord Himself desires it, that is, partaking in the beatific vision. Thus, the Church proceeds optimistically in an area of uncertainty, keeping in mind that all things are possible for God,⁷¹² and that we ought to have faith for the salvation of those we might otherwise think damned, faith even as small as a mustard seed, being mindful of our need to love our enemies. Again, God does grants us free will and the ultimate destiny of a soul is within their own choosing, regardless of all the prayers of all the angels and saints and members of the Church Militant, not to mention the will of the Blessed Trinity that none should perish.

“A sower went out to sow.” It is not in the hands of a minister to determine what souls shall be saved. Both kinds of works of love can have the same intention, whether almsgiving while maintaining the other necessary requirements for receiving an indulgence, which may only be applied to oneself or a soul in purgatory, or preaching, praying and performing sacrifices, the first of which could only benefit those still in this world.

Acts of penance always have value when made sincerely and with the intention of uniting them with the sufferings of Christ, whether according to an older formula or one more recent and possibly simpler.

Agree. It can certainly be argued that a pope should use his own money first, and then the wealth of the Church, to build a more beautiful place to worship, if there is in fact any left over after performing what could be considered more important works, i.e., works of mercy, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting those imprison, caring for widows and otherwise following the example of the good Samaritan. There is no reason why Rome should be filled with more beautiful and elaborate churches than one’s local parish. Moreover, both parishes contain that which is most beautiful, namely, the Word made Flesh. Additionally, because the greatest among you must be your servant,⁷¹³ it follows that Rome should be the least decorated as other parishes are built up first, because indeed, Rome contains the greatest amongst us, namely, the successor of St. Peter.

Agree. Those who already have perfect contrition would not need an indulgence for themselves and could offer it for a loved one or anyone who they’d consider in need of such beauty, fragrance and light in the bowels of purgatory.

Agree. Let the pope grant at least one hundred remissions per day to those who sincerely repent and conform with the requirements of an indulgence!

If a person does not know that a formula for receiving an indulgence is no longer valid and performs the indulgence with full sincerity, our gracious Lord would likely look with mercy on their intentions. That being said, it is important that the declarations made from the chair of Peter are communicated and upheld within each parish, and a lack with respect to this continuity may explain the dilemma addressed by this question, which continues to the present day because we are often self-centered and fallen creatures, despite the salvific work of Christ, whether as laity or clergy.

Agree. The laity should not fear to question authority when there is sufficient evidence of abuse or negligence. Each person is ultimately accountable to their own conscience and should make it a priority to iron out any deformations with fear and trembling.⁷¹⁴

Agree. However, should the pope himself be given over to self-absorption and fallen behaviors, these questions may still need to be asked.

Agree. It is a form of false compassion to strive for reconciliation in the midst of error or wrongdoing without first addressing them, or between two extremes wherein both extremes are themselves wrong, e.g. puritanism vs. pornography.⁷¹⁵

Disagree. Those who deceive or lead others astray should be reprimanded as graciously as possible, not blessed; following Christ involves carrying one’s cross(es), but we can take comfort in knowing that the yoke He makes specifically for us is “easy,”⁷¹⁶ sweetened by our Blessed Mother, as St. Louis de Montfort would argue in his work, “True Devotion to Mary.”

Agree. He is our king and we should go so far as to think of ourselves as His slaves. Moreover, He has entrusted Himself to us as a friend and even an infant, as helpless as a grain of wheat or the fruit of the vine. However, in accordance with this attitude of reverence and obedience, we should abide within the teaching authority of the Church with respect to Sacred Tradition, Sacred Scripture and the Magisterium.

Disagree. We can be confident of entering heaven because of our trust in His mercy and the merits He and the Bride have obtained for us, trusting that although we may strive to ascend, we need His assistance to carry us up, just as St. Therese of Lisieux has eloquently described and embraced throughout her life,⁷¹⁷ and as beautifully discussed by Fr. Gaitley in his book, “33 Days to Merciful Love: A Do-It-Yourself Retreat in Preparation for Consecration to Divine Mercy.”

Body and Blood, Bread and Wine

St. Thomas Aquinas is considered an authority on the mystery of transubstantiation, where the substance of bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ through an ordained priest during a Catholic Mass, although the appearance of bread and wine usually, though not always,⁷¹⁸ remain. Having recently had questions on this mystery, I’ve turned to the Summa Theologica, particularly, “Question 75: The change of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ.”
      Chemistry was my strongest academic subject, eventually leading me to a career in pharmacy. All College of Pharmacy applicants are required to take the PCAT, the Pharmacy College Admissions Test. There are several areas tested on the PCAT: verbal ability, biology, reading comprehension, quantitative ability, chemistry and writing. Not only did I score highest in the chemistry section of all the others, I scored in the 99% percentile of all the applicants for that year. I seem to have an extraordinary skill in visualizing and understanding chemical principles. Perhaps this knowledge will help me in expounding what I believe to be true about the substance of the Body and Blood of Christ, and in light of St. Thomas Aquinas’ insights.
      When we speak of the accidents of bread and wine, we’re referring to their appearance. We can classify bread as bread according to its perceptible qualities, qualities like smell, taste, texture, density, feel, and even the sound made when we rub two pieces together. The same for wine… we know it by its physical properties as a liquid, sometimes red in color, by its aroma, sense of buttery or zesty characteristics across our palate, taste of cherry, chocolate, citrus, etc. How can these accidents or appearances remain if the substance has been changed?
      In a purely material sense, we know that ordinary bread is composed of molecules of water, protein, fiber, fat, complex and simple carbohydrates. These are what we may think of as the substance or matter of bread, which are themselves molecules or specific combinations of molecules, with molecules being specific combinations of atoms. We also know that atoms are composed of electrons, protons and neutrons, with the latter two capable of being subdivided further into quarks of the up and down variety, with two up quarks and one down quark comprising a proton and the opposite for a neutron.⁷¹⁹ Quarks and electrons make up atoms, atoms make up molecules, ratios of molecules in specific arrangements give us what we know as bread; the molecules of bread are “woven” together in a specific way in a grain of wheat that makes wheat, wheat.
      When we grind whole wheat to make flour, we are mixing the different molecules together and making smaller versions of the same woven pattern. Some of these particles make look visibly different than others, for example the shell of the wheat, known as bran, has more fiber than the germ and endosperm, and is typically darker, an exception being white wheat.⁷²⁰ In either case, the constituent parts will exist in the same ratios in whole ground wheat.
      When we prepare wheat for baking into bread, we add water, producing chemical changes, the most renown of which is the formation of the protein gluten.

Gluten is a mixture of hundreds of distinct proteins within the
same family, although it is primarily made up of two different classes of proteins: gliadin, which gives bread the ability to rise during baking, and glutenin, which is responsible for dough's elasticity.⁷²¹

The accidents or appearance of bread are derived from the molecular structures of H₂0, amino acids, fats, simple and complex carbohydrates, and carbohydrates our body can’t break down, commonly known as fiber; the substance, at the most elementary known level, is composed of quarks and electrons. Most Eucharistic hosts are tan in color with several dark speckles mixed throughout while gluten free hosts are white, having been made from wheat starch (wheat flour from which much of the gluten protein has been removed (less than 0.001% or 10 ppm of gluten remains in the Benedictine Sisters’ low-gluten altar breads)).⁷²² In either case, after a priest consecrates the bread of a host, wherein transubstantiation occurs, the substance of the bread is no longer the substance of bread but the substance of Christ’s body, though the original appearance or accidents of bread usually remain. This would seem to imply that the change from bread to the Body and Blood of our Lord occurs at the level of quarks and electrons, the most elementary level of known particles or mass of a substance, though their arrangement as bread remains.
      At this point we may make two mutually exclusive presuppositions: 1) for as long as the accidents or appearance of bread remains, the substance of Christ’s body is present, or 2) transubstantiation occurs at the atomic or subatomic level so that even if the accidents or appearance of bread changes, the most indivisible or elementary particles are still particles or elements of our Lord’s body.
      In the case of the first presupposition, which is consistent with what the Catholic Church currently teaches, once the appearance of bread or wine is no longer present, meaning a natural or digestive process has occurred that has changed the molecular appearance of the bread or wine to such an extent that the chains of molecules can no longer be identified as bread or wine, the substance of Christ’s Body is no longer present: Jesus Himself is no longer physically present. In this case, we may say that the molecules, whether comprising water, sugars, fats, amino acids, or even as smaller particles of quarks and electrons, have returned to being ordinary molecules, ordinary quarks and electrons. This would seem to imply that any substance, examined on the most elementary level of its particles, is always ordinary and may only be extraordinary or divine in the context of what the particles are as a whole. Similarly, there is no imprint or blueprint of the nature or substance of something that is retained on every quark and electron in accordance with where they came from, what they are or once were, as a whole or in final form. In contrast, when water has been blessed to become holy water, we may say that every particle has been changed from an ordinary particle to a particle endowed with a certain divine property. St. Teresa of Avila in her autobiography states,

I have found by experience that there is nothing from which the devils fly more quickly than from holy water. They also fly from the cross, but they return almost immediately. Certainly, the power of holy water must be great; for my part, my soul feels particular comfort in taking it, and very generally a refreshment and interior delight which I cannot express.

Every cell contains DNA. DNA is a blueprint for or imprint of the entire organism. Is it possible that when things become blessed, they enter in some mysterious way into the Body of Christ, becoming a part of that living organism, such that every particle receives an imprint or is incorporated in some way into His blueprint of salvation? In any case, according to our first presupposition, if the appearance of bread or wine remain after transubstantiation, as opposed to a change involving a Eucharistic Miracle (wherein the appearance matches the substance), once that appearance is lost, so is the physical presence of Jesus.
      For the second presupposition, I submit for consideration a phenomenon that would seem to cast doubt on the first presupposition, and this phenomenon is the reality of Eucharistic miracles. We know that after some kinds of Eucharistic miracles, the appearance of bread physically changes to match the appearance of flesh and blood, our Lord’s Flesh and Blood, verified through studies of blood type and DNA, as well as the presence of other miraculous conditions, such as cells that remains viable despite being outside of the body, i.e. white blood cells, red blood cells, and cardiac muscle cells that retain qualities normally or naturally lost within a short amount of time when outside a living body.⁷²³ In these instances, would we still conclude, should one of these Eucharistic hosts be consumed, that the substance of Christ’s Body and Blood is lost when the molecules of Body and Blood are no longer identifiable as molecules of Body and Blood, for example if they are broken down into separated molecules of water, carbohydrates, lipids and amino acids, or even quarks and electrons?
      I would submit that the substance is not lost, but that even if these molecules are changed through a natural or digestive process to the extent that they are no longer identifiable as molecules of flesh and blood, they are still divine, still retaining some currently unidentifiable imprint or blueprint of the divinity; they remain electrons and quarks, atoms and molecules of Christ’s Body and Blood. Accordingly, since consecrated bread and wine that do not coincide with an observable Eucharistic Miracle wherein the appearance matches the substance, are no longer bread and wine in substance but appearance only, it would seem reasonable to conclude that even after natural or digestive processes have occurred, even the smallest identifiable particles according to our current means of particle identification remain the Body and Blood of Christ our Lord.
      Within this vein of thought, it is not unreasonable to believe that every particle of Christ’s Body and Blood is cared for, whether naturally as particles that also have wave properties (m = e/c²), knowing that light has particle and wave properties, and are assimilated into or leave the body at some point in time, or supernaturally, for some of us are fully convinced while others yet believe in the reality of angels, and it would seem fitting that every particle of Christ’s Body and Blood is cared for in a manner worthy of His dignity by these superior beings, whether first in contact with the pure gold of a chalice or paten, or with the assimilating parts of the human body. These assimilating aspects may seem undignified, should we have little respect for the miracle of life and all of the processes that take place within our bodies for assimilation and growth, processes that appear⁷²⁴ in themselves to sustain us, but we should also remember that our Lord chose to enter our world in a manger. If entering our world in a human body, having a human body, and spending his first hours or days outside the womb in an animal stable wasn’t sufficiently dignified for the King of the Universe, He certainly could have chosen another way. Rather, the circumstances of our Lord’s birth give us proof of His desire to enter fully into our condition, that we would not feel unworthy to approach Him, to realize and receive His love, even in our most dirty and sinful condition, though maintaining caution to avoid displeasing or even angering Him by presuming upon His mercy.

Is not the moral purity of our soul more important than any condition our body or its parts may be in? In the words of our Lord, “It is the Spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless.”⁷²⁵ And yet, it was His flesh, His Body and Blood that was presented to the Father as an offering or sacrifice for us on the cross of Calvary… certainly His flesh is not useless. No, on the contrary, it is His flesh that gives eternal life,⁷²⁶ His flesh that is fruit from the Tree of Life, every particle, charge or waveform thereof, eternally present and sustaining the world and yet constantly entering into it through the Holy Mass, celebrated everywhere throughout the world.
      Accordingly, regardless of whether the appearance of bread or wine remains, we must treat every particle with reverence, disposing of them in a manner appropriate to any other consecrated Host or particles of Host that will not be consumed. Thus, if a Host is retained in a Tabernacle for at least 550 years and later turns to dust, as was the case for the Host of the Eucharistic miracle of Braine France,⁷²⁷ wherein numerous Mass attendants, whether practicing Catholics or those soon to be, thereafter demanding Baptism, saw a small child at the time of the Host’s Elevation, we should treat that dust with the same reverence as the Host from which it came because the dust is composed of the transformed substance, yet still free to believe that much or all of the Sacred Host was either carried off by angels or transformed from matter into energy or light through a natural process, perhaps radiating into the Tabernacle. These two possibilities seem likely given that the Host had already lasted for 550 years without being degraded by yeast or bacteria, though undoubtedly introduced to them during formation and through the priest who first handled Him. However, we may also observe that the weight of the dust, if it were collected, is the same as the weight of the original host. Such a possibility would seem to shed light on the reason why the five nuggets of congealed blood from the Eucharistic miracle of Lanciano, Italy, occurring around 700 AD, had a combined weight equal to the weight of any of one of them, with that aspect of the miracle being last noted in 1574.⁷²⁸
       In closing, perhaps we may find additional proof of our second presupposition of the Eternal Life giving Fruit in the lives of those Saints who have been able to subsist on Him alone, noting that every particle is assimilated into their body, transformed into light, which He has been described as,⁷²⁹ or otherwise carried by an angel to the Ancient of Days.⁷³⁰ Perhaps the more we receive Him, the more we are transformed, primarily our soul, but also our bodies, becoming incorruptible long after our death.⁷³¹

Modern Day Israel: The Spirit is Willing but the Flesh is Weak

      The Holy Sepulchre recently shut down. This is the holy site containing the places of Christ’s crucifixion, burial and resurrection. Catholic, Greek Orthodox and Armenian leaders united to close the holy site in protest of a land bill and taxation policy that was under consideration.⁷³²

The closure of the church comes at a highly sensitive time after President Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv. On Friday, the U.S. Embassy said that move could happen as soon as May, when Israel celebrates its 70th anniversary.

Local Muslims and Christians have said that such a move could upset the religious balance in Jerusalem, a city holy to all three Abrahamic religions. And Palestinians have said that formal recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and transferring the embassy there makes it impossible for the United States to be a fair broker in any future peace process between them and Israel.⁷³³

How often are the cultural practices and traditions we receive from our family more important than our relationship with God? How can we know if they are in opposition to God’s will? This is one of the most important questions we can ask. For, according to Fr. Rutler of EWTN’s series “Christ in the City,” ‘nothing is more pleasurable in this life than knowing we live in conformance to His Will, in accordance with His good pleasure.’ ⁷³⁴ Would you agree?

In this article I discuss the practices and traditions that define the children of Abraham, heirs to the Promised Land. According to Scripture, these descendants will be “as numerous as the stars in the sky…”⁷³⁵ And just how many stars are there? Astronomers estimate that there are 100 billion galaxies, with one hundred thousand million stars in our Milky Way galaxy alone!

Speaking of the Promised Land, God said to Abraham, “…[I] will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed…” Why did God bless Abraham and promise to bless all his offspring? “…because Abraham obeyed me and did everything I required of him, keeping my commands, my decrees and my instructions.”⁷³⁶

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said to him, ‘I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless. And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will make you exceedingly numerous.’ Then Abram fell on his face; and God said to him, ‘As for me, this is my covenant with you: You shall be the ancestor of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the ancestor of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your offspring after you throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. And I will give to you, and to your offspring after you, the land where you are now an alien, all the land of Canaan, for a perpetual holding; and I will be their God.’⁷³⁷

      In return, Abraham had to keep God’s covenant, which entailed the circumcision of every male.

“My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant.”⁷³⁸

Are the descendants of Abraham, who are to receive the blessing, including the land of Canaan, descendants according to the flesh or the Spirit?

Abraham had two sons according to the flesh, Isaac and Ishmael. Isaac is the miraculous son, the son Sarah conceived miraculously because she was 90 years old.⁷³⁹ Ishmael is the descendant of the illegitimate union between Abraham and his Egyptian handmaid. Ishmael…

shall be a wild ass of a man,
      with his hand against everyone,
      and everyone’s hand against him;
      and he shall live at odds with all his kin.⁷⁴⁰

Ishmael, in many respects, represents each one of us. For who among us cannot relate to acting as an ass at various times in our life? Who among us cannot relate to harboring anger for another, or being disliked by another? Do we always get along with our family members?

Ishmael represents a kind of life lived according to the flesh. He can represent those who deny the supernatural and the immortality of the soul. When we live without principles, without a sense of accountability, without awareness of a final judgment at the end of our life, we can more easily live at odds with others, being cantankerous and belligerent. Ishmael represents yielding to concupiscence without remorse, never growing beyond childish ways, being enslaved by the desires of the flesh, confined to Egypt by the hardness of our hearts, falling headlong to our destruction.

Abraham, however, remained faithful. He was faithful when tested, being asked to sacrifice his legitimately begotten son Isaac.⁷⁴¹ This test foreshadows the offering of Jesus, the only begotten Son of the Father, nailed to a wooden pole and raised up, enabling our redemption.⁷⁴² The more we look to Him the more we are healed from the bite⁷⁴³ of the ancient serpent Satan, just as the Israelites while traveling out of Egypt, through the desert to the Promised Land, received healing from snake bites when looking upon a bronze serpent mounted on a pole and raised up.⁷⁴⁴ It was the bite of that ancient serpent Satan that led to Original Sin.⁷⁴⁵

      God later directed Isaac, “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live.”⁷⁴⁶ Isaac’s faithfulness led to the birth of Jacob, who after having wrestled all-night with an angel, was bestowed with the name Israel. All who search for Truth and find it in the Word of God, wrestling in faith towards understanding, remaining faithful, are Israelites, God’s Holy people, heirs of the promise through the miraculous son, Isaac, whether or not circumcision is present,⁷⁴⁷ which is merely a sign of the covenant. Would circumcision alone change the heart of Ishmael? Would it heal us from Satan’s bite?

Finding and abiding in Truth is challenging. We’re called to be in but not of the world… free from the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life.⁷⁴⁸ Our world is marked by the curse that flows from Original Sin.⁷⁴⁹ Satan has been described by our Lord as the “ruler of this world.”⁷⁵⁰ To engage in warfare and take the Kingdom of Heaven by force,⁷⁵¹ we must strive to overcome our flesh, cutting away or circumcising our sinful desires. Thus, the circumcision of every male transcends a literal cutting away of flesh, it’s a cutting away of those unbridled passions that so often lead to death, both individually and culturally, both physically and spiritually. The battle with ourselves, with concupiscence, is often the battle we face as we grow in our salvation, in our relationship with our Savior, wrestling with Truth, practicing Lectio Divina,⁷⁵² beholding those Truths, grasping hold of them as our lives are turned upside down and twisted in a reality marked by a curse, a curse where most of us earn our livelihood by the sweat of our brow, experiencing spiritual and even physical death.⁷⁵³ We must be Battle Ready,⁷⁵⁴ yearning for the love of God. Although love for God and neighbor is greater than any sacrifice, there will still be a need for sacrifice, for carrying our cross,⁷⁵⁵ which may leave us walking with a limp just like it did Jacob, who became Israel.⁷⁵⁶

Egypt, that place where the Israelites suffered most dearly before being miraculously delivered to the Promised Land, is symbolic of our battle with our fleshly passions, where we may remain enslaved by our sin, even grumbling and turning back, just as the Israelites did.⁷⁵⁷ The Israelites’ miraculous delivery from Egypt coincided with the Passover, a feast of lamb commanded through Moses to be celebrated annually in commemoration of their miraculous delivery. And this feast commemorating Israel’s delivery from Egypt was the same feast our Lord celebrated as the Last Supper,⁷⁵⁸ becoming the lamb that was slain, or as St. John the Baptist stated, the Lamb of God,⁷⁵⁹ the same Body and Blood raised up by a Catholic priest during every Mass, nearly always retaining the appearance of bread and wine.

The Israelites consumed the lamb that was slain during the Passover feast; if we live in a state of grace, free from mortal sin, we have the privilege of sharing a thanksgiving meal where we can wholly and substantially receive Jesus in the form of bread and wine. Just as the blood of the lamb that was placed on the entrance⁷⁶⁰ of every Israelite home in Egypt caused the angel of death⁷⁶¹ to pass over, the literal and real blood of Jesus, “true drink,”⁷⁶² saves us from death…

I, the LORD, am your God, 
who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery.
You shall not have other gods besides me.
You shall not carve idols for yourselves 
in the shape of anything in the sky above 
or on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth; 
you shall not bow down before them or worship them.
For I, the LORD, your God, am a jealous God, 
inflicting punishment for their fathers' wickedness 
on the children of those who hate me, 
down to the third and fourth generation; 
but bestowing mercy down to the thousandth generation 
on the children of those who love me and keep my commandments.⁷⁶³

Out of Egypt I called my son.⁷⁶⁴

According to the promise, the descendants of Abraham are those who come out of Egypt, that place of slavery to sin. The descendants of Abraham are victorious through faith, not according to their flesh or DNA. St. John the Baptist points out this truth, proclaiming that God can raise descendants of Abraham from stones...

But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. ⁷⁶⁵

How much of the hatred and violence in the Middle East is the result of disputes over who are the legitimate heirs of the promise made to Abraham? Are these heirs the recipients of the promise according to the flesh or according to faith? Is the promise fulfilled through land or through an eternal, heavenly dwelling?

As Christians, we believe Jesus came to fulfill the law of Moses and the inspired words of the prophets. His taking on human flesh through the Virgin Mary eventually resulted in our receiving the Holy Spirit, 40 days after His resurrection at Pentecost. Was He merely a prophet? Did He come so that we might be further bound to fulfill the 613 Mosaic laws⁷⁶⁶ in order to be seen as worthy or righteous in His eyes? St. Paul labored intensively throughout his letter to the Romans, as well as to the Galatians, to describe the freedom we have through the Holy Spirit, the freedom of adopted sons and daughters, free from the curse of the law as it pertains to the means for understanding our worth or righteousness in His eyes,⁷⁶⁷ a curse we could not overcome. Moreover, we are enriched by His life, it is not the other way around, though our righteousness and suffering benefits His Body, the Church, the bride of Christ.⁷⁶⁸

Certainly, God is displeased when hatred and murder result from disputes over who is rightfully entitled to land and various holy sites in the Holy Land. Moreover, we know that the temple He is most concerned with is not one composed of marble and stained-glass windows, which we may pass through though our hearts remain hard. Rather, the temple He is concerned with is our body, a temple that can be filled with the Holy Spirit so that our hearts overflow with love for Him and one another. The Holy Spirit softens our hardened hearts, giving us strength to overcome our differences, to overcome fear so that we may love even those who profess themselves our enemies. This work requires grace, grace that we can receive through the Sacraments, particularly the Eucharist, the bread from heaven that is similar to the manna of the desert, sustaining us Israelites as we wander out of Egypt to the Promised Land, flowing with milk and honey.

All of the sites in the Holy Land are holy because of Him who first gave the promise, fulfilling the words of the prophets and the laws of Moses, rising from the dead on the third day.⁷⁶⁹ The many followers who witnessed firsthand His miracles and resurrection, often giving their lives for Him through torturous deaths rather than deny Him and all that they witnessed, testify to His life, death and resurrection. The teachings from the Sermon on the Mount, the Beatitudes, testify to His holiness and make up for what was lacking in the 10 Commandments and the laws of Moses as means for our sanctification, as does the teaching authority of the Church. The Shroud of Turin and the many miracles documented throughout the life of the Saints in the Church, testify to His holiness.

What would happen if all the world’s inhabitants agreed to vote on who has the right to enter the holy sites in the Holy Land? Christians compose 33.51% of the world’s population, compared to 24.1% for Muslims and 0.20% for Judaism.⁷⁷⁰ Does it follow that Christians have safe passage to those holy sites where they hope to grow through pilgrimage? Should not the sites associated with the Life, Death and Resurrection of Jesus be owned and managed by His followers, by the Church He founded, by His Bride?⁷⁷¹

Many have argued that there are three great Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. But how likely is it that there is only one according to His consequent dispensational⁷⁷² will: Christianity, heirs of the promise according to the righteousness gained through faith in Jesus and a burning desire to abide in His will? While through the flesh of Isaac one may argue that many Hebrews, and by extension, those who practice Judaism and are circumcised, are heirs of the promise as descendants of Abraham, and through the flesh of Abraham, many Arabs, and by extension, those who practice Islam, are heirs of the promise as descendants of Abraham (which is consistent with many contemporary religious curriculums), I submit that the promise culminates in followers of the Way, ⁷⁷³ those Israelites who wrestle with the Truth, knowing they are still in the desert but coming out of Egypt on their way to the eternal promised land, concerned primarily with a temple not made of concrete and rebar, marble and stained glass, but of flesh and blood, made in the Image of God, one that shall be restored to perfection on the last day, a resurrected body,⁷⁷⁴ capable of entering into an eternal heavenly dwelling, one currently comprising at least 100 billion galaxies… the same heaven Jesus ascended into!

“In his inaugural address in the Gospel of Mark, Jesus says, simply enough, metanoiete, which is usually rendered as “repent” (Mark 1:15). But the word literally means “go beyond the mind you have.” And St. Paul urges the earliest Christians, “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:5).⁷⁷⁵

“The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”⁷⁷⁶ The heirs of the promise live according to the Spirit; the “carnal man does not believe anything beyond his senses and reason.”⁷⁷⁷ Similarly, “the Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing.”⁷⁷⁸ The third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, works in our hearts to liberate us from Egypt so that we may enter the land flowing with milk and honey, liberating us from slavery to sin so that our gaze is fixed towards heaven, towards the Milky Way, towards our Creator, towards Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, towards His individual and collective plans for us, eternal plans, plans involving the mansions of our Father’s house!⁷⁷⁹

What’s Really Happening in Afghanistan

Disclaimer: This article is fictional, a work of satire.

      Many people believe that America’s current administration under president Biden made a mistake by pulling out of Afghanistan. I submit that what these folks don’t realize is that this has been in the works for quite some time, extending into the last two administrations. We are on the road to peace.

You see, our government realizes that it is not possible to culturally transform another country except by the overthrow of the current culture. Simply occupying a country does not alter the cultural practices and beliefs of the people who live there. Thus, it follows that upon leaving a country that was only occupied, things will return to the way they were. The only exception to this transformation is through brute force, wherein those who dissent are jailed or murdered, which of course, is not the way our blessed American government works. No, our government is rooted in democracy and freedom, and the preservation of basic human rights, rights given to us by our Creator.

Therefore, I submit to you that what has actually happened in Afghanistan is that those who were working with America and her allies received special education that, while certainly not neglecting the many good characteristics of Islam in helping people live virtuous lives, did not fail to point out the inconsistencies and areas where people could be led into vice and sin. Of course, the concept of sin had to be resurrected from a fallen state and restored to the context from which it originated, namely the Judeo-Christian origin. This involved a great deal of peaceful work to undermine any brainwashing that may have been done that led to hating Jews and Christians, to fear learning about what they actually teach, how they intertwine, and about the true, loving and merciful nature of God, who, as adopted children, we may call Father –a nature so loving as to permit evil and sin in a person’s life so that they might exercise their free will and ultimately choose good, choose God, choose to love God in total freedom. Without this freedom, authentic love, which is what God wants, cannot arise, for it cannot grow from fear, cannot develop without freedom.

      Once these folks had received this special education and were personally convinced of the Truth, they entered into an arrangement of operative skills training that enables them to identify those who refer to themselves as certain types of fundamentalists, whether of the Taliban, Al Qaeda and/or Isis, but who are actually functioning as villains and criminals by usurping the freedom of others, even violating the rights of women and children. They were further trained in special ways to approach these fundamentalists for conversion, but were willing and able to defend the rights of others if needed.

      And so, what is happening is what America has been planning for quite some time. It will take time to weed out the criminals who brandish guns and verses to justify evil actions, but it will be done, and over time, the country will be culturally transformed, even becoming a leader in human rights and peacekeeping, preserving certain cultural norms that go against the grain of materialism and modernism.

      I know this. I know this because America’s administration can’t be as shortsighted as it might otherwise appear. And so, may God bless the United Stated of America, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Reaching out to Muslims

Hello fellow lover of God, of virtue, truth and beauty,

I appreciate that you believe in Allah. Your devotion shows great awareness of truth; you acknowledge a higher power behind our existence. Also, Muhammad accomplished great good for the people of pre-Islamic Arabia,

In the strongest terms, (the Qur’an, and thus) Muhammad decried the mistreatment and exploitation of the weak and unprotected. He called for an end to false contracts and the practice of usury that had made slaves of the poor. He spoke of the rights of the underprivileged and the oppressed, and made the astonishing claim that it was the duty of the rich and powerful to take care of them. “Do not oppress the orphan,” the Quran commands, “and do not drive away the beggar” (93:9-10).⁷⁸⁰

Similarly, Abdullah Yusuf Ali, in his commentary on the Quran, expounds on God’s Grace and Mercy,

Mercy may imply pity, long suffering, patience, and forgiveness, all of which the sinner needs and God Most Merciful bestows in abundant measure. But there is a Mercy that goes before even the need arises, the Grace which is ever watchful, and flows from God Most Gracious to all His creatures, protecting them, preserving them, guiding them, and leading them to clearer light and higher life.⁷⁸¹

However, I have difficulty accepting that Allah correctly represents God’s nature. And yet, the 99 names of Allah are mostly correct in describing the nature of God: He is All-Powerful (Al Jabbaar (الجبار)), All-Knowing (Al-Alim (العليم)), The Exceedingly Merciful (Ar-Rahman ( الرحمن)), The Loving (Al-Wadud (الودود)). Moreover, many of the moral teachings of Islam are like those given to the Israelites through the 10 commandments and the laws given to Moses, given by God through Moses to guide mankind, to bless the numerous descendants of Abraham.

Nonetheless, in reading the Quran, have you ever thought to yourself, ‘Why would God instruct Muhammad to do certain things that would go against those teachings?’

Perhaps if a society were very wicked, as the Philistines might have been, or the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, overtaking their land would be justified. But why target people who are not doing evil things, but striving towards holiness and perfection, towards virtue and truth? Does it seem reasonable that God would pervert his own laws, laws that lead people to righteousness, by instructing others to kill those who are living righteously?

Have you ever felt afraid to learn how others view God, from a Christian or Jewish standpoint? Perhaps you experience fear of being rejected by family, friends or even being injured by those who would enforce a law that makes learning about Jesus forbidden.

We’re called to know, love and serve God. This should be our first priority in this life, and out of that love, to love others as ourselves, even if they’re our enemies. Is not a greater demonstration of the virtue of kindness exhibited through love of one’s enemies? Do good parents not continue loving their children even though they make mistakes, knowing they often don’t have the knowledge and practice of self-control?

Jesus taught his disciples to pray to God, starting their prayer with “Our Father.” Muslims are not taught that Allah is like a Father, a personal loving God. Would a loving Creator bring mankind into existence and then be too far in the heavens to be concerned with them? Would such concern be impossible for the All Powerful (Al Jabbaar (الجبار)), the Ever Providing (Ar Razzaaq (الرزاق)), the Omniscient (Al Alim (العليم)), the All Encompassing (Al Wasi' (الواسع))?

We know love through human relations, through being spouses, parents, and children. Would the one who created such love not seek to share in it Himself, just as parents love their children? Are we not in His image through our ability to understand and practice such love, to comprehend, create and exercise willpower?

Suppose that Allah is personal, suppose He desires to live in a relationship with us daily, even with such a depth of love as a husband might experience with his wife, and vice-versa. This is a remarkably different relationship from one that only encourages obedience, as though between slave and master. Do not husband and wife both desire to be honored and served, cherished and forgiven when there has been wrongdoing? And yet, obedience is a part of love, I don’t mean to suggest otherwise. But, this kind of love is elevated beyond servile obedience to one of friendship, to one of matrimonial union. Does not every person wish to be free, to be trusted so that they may experience vulnerability, and yet, be similarly capable of hurting the beloved, though ultimately to love without injury, as opposed to be being forced to? Should not the motive to love be stronger than any fear of hell or punishment?

As you know, prayer is an essential part of our relationship with God. In many respects, Muslims live more righteously in their attitude towards prayer than many Christians and Jews. As our Creator, it is right and just for us to love Him, to enter into a relationship with Him through prayer, expressing reverence and desire for obedience to all things holy and good, not because He requires it, as though it adds anything to His stature, but for our own good. However, it would be inaccurate to believe that God requires prayer rather than asks it of us. Thus, love is exercised through the freedom not to love. Similarly, without the freedom for a person to say, “There is no God,” there can’t also be the freedom to sincerely state that “He is,” and to choose to love without fear of not doing so. Accordingly, consider this verse from the Quran, 8:12:

[Remember] when your Lord inspired to the angels, "I am with you, so strengthen those who have believed. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieved, so strike [them] upon the necks and strike from them every fingertip.

      How can these be His words? Surely this verse inspires fear for not believing. And, this is not a fear that concerns a person’s eternal destiny, which should be our ultimate concern, but is a fear in other believers actually hurting those who disbelieve. Should we not be free to disbelieve so that when we do choose to believe we do it out of love rather than fear?

Consider these words of Jesus:

Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. –Matthew 10:28

      Our fear should not be based on those in this world who would punish us for not believing, but on the reality of God’s existence, who can punish both body and soul. However, this is not to suggest that there shouldn’t be laws that establish protection of human rights, and punishment for those who break those laws. Certainly, that is true, and perhaps some of the laws in Muslim countries are more fruitful in helping to establish crime-free societies and the promotion of virtue, such as in Qatar. And yet, there needs to be freedom to learn about God, especially from the perspective of Jesus, as recorded by his close followers, such as Peter, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Many Muslims live in fear of converting to Christianity because the two primary sources of Sharia, the Quran and the Hadiths, require the death penalty for apostasy.⁷⁸² Their families often will reject them and in some Islamic countries, they could be killed. That is not freedom of religion or freedom to love, but is coercive and estranging. Why should the use of reason be diminished? Surely our Creator gave us our mind to use it in our fullest capacity, discerning truth and love from falsehood and hatred. How can this be so if one lives in fear of converting?

In that Islam has developed to become intertwined with the state, i.e. a theocracy, freedom to believe anything other than those things presented in the Quran is stifled, because to do so would be a kind of treason. Clearly this damages the ability of our minds to grow. Truly, such a situation stifles reason, our ability to discover and accept truth, truth that can lead to love, to love freely. Similarly, if you are confined out of fear, how can you evaluate other claims concerning God’s nature, and thereby, love freely as your reason would incline you?

Since God embodies truth, people should be free to learn about the possibility that Jesus is the Father’s son, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. Would you not agree that the freedom to learn this possibility should exist?

Truly, freedom of speech and religion are necessary and must be protected by government, by the state, for this knowledge to be accessible without fear, without living in fear of one’s rights being violated, especially the most basic right, the right to life, to live without fear of injury or torture.

From the very beginning of the Quran, Jews and Christians are ostracized and treated as though of lesser value. This is not expressing an openness to learn about others and their faith, but is prejudiced and likely to inspire hatred. To hate others, even with a just cause, is sinful. Rather, a merciful parent, in hoping to keep his family members in a state of peace, teaches forgiveness and love, even of one’s enemies. Is that not the nature of The All-Merciful (Ar Rahman (الرحمن))? Should we not be like our Creator?

I admire many teachings and customs of the Islamic faith, especially how many virtues are extolled, such as modesty and purity. I appreciate the calligraphy and the architecture of Islamic mosques, the holiness of many practices and that God is a central part of the culture.

Truly however, the angel Gabriel, who supposedly appeared or inspired Mohammed, cannot be the same angel that appeared to the Virgin Mary heralding the birth of Emmanuel, “God with us.” How could the same angel later appear to Mohammed with instructions to supplant, belittle, ostracize and even kill those who follow Jesus, son of the Blessed Virgin?

Behold! the angels said: "O Mary! Allah hath chosen thee and purified thee – chosen thee above the women of all nations. –Quran 3:42

      Certainly, consistency helps to establish trust. Therefore, why would God send confusion and mistrust through the same beloved angel? Surely God would not teach his children to deceive one another, as might be suggested in the Quran, verse 2:225. Should we not be attentive and thoughtful in our oaths, neither vain nor deceitful? Does not this help to establish trustworthiness and friendship among all His children?

Suppose with me for a moment that Islam has been constructed through knowledge about God that was already present at the time Muhammed began his work, present to him through the divine revelation given to the Israelites, and through God Himself in the person of Christ Jesus, the Word made flesh. You may not presently believe this, or live in fear for entertaining the thought, but allow me to indulge you in such an idea, to pretend that such really is the truth.

As a devout Muslim, I’m sure this would not be easy for you to accept. As someone who likely grew up in a good home where love for Allah was central, where the customs of your parents reinforced that love, it would be hard to accept that Islam is not truly given to mankind through an angel, as though through God.

Sadly, while still pretending as above, those who’ve been deceived by the false representations of God as discussed in the Quran and through Islamic rule, feeling inspired to commit horrendous acts of violence, engendering suffering and the murder of innocent people all over the world, do so believing they’re doing the will of Our Heavenly Father. Suppose that Muhammed, embracing the doctrine of Jihad that he created, pillaged the people surrounding him, murdering them because they did not agree with him. There appears to be good evidence that this happened. ⁷⁸³⁻⁷⁸⁴ Even today, there are efforts to suppress the truth of unjust conquest known as the Armenian genocide.⁷⁸⁵ Nazi Germany fell into similar error, having a doctrine similar to Jihad, that Jews were second class citizens, though not as though God had made them so, but nature as though through evolution, and their extermination was ultimately good for the state and the first-class citizens of Germany. Sadly, in some middle Eastern governments, including Iran and Syria, the truth of the holocaust that took place in Nazi Germany is denied.⁷⁸⁶

How can killing innocent people in the name of God represent a Loving Father who wishes his children to live in peace with one another? Such would not be the work of a loving God, The Most Holy (Al Quddus (القدوس)), Peace and Blessing (As Salam (السلام)), who desires access to truth, who desires that we live holy lives.

If your parents, grandparents and great grandparents, and even further back, were forced to believe in Islam, because in not doing so, they’d become second class citizens, possibly enslaved or killed, it is not your fault or the fault of your parents that you were brought up in an Islamic nation or home. And yet, who can blame them or you for not wanting to convert if doing so leads to persecution and death? Truly, if you believe in God, and that His nature is just and good, you should not fear man but Him who can destroy both body and soul.

Terrorism is surely a form of forcing indoctrination, brought about through fear of suffering and death. If people do not have the freedom to learn for themselves the truth about God’s nature, how He loves us fiercely and desires us to love Him with our whole heart, soul, mind and strength, and others as ourselves, even our enemies, they cannot be blamed for wanting to remain alive, thereby converting, or to believe whatever is necessary to preserve their life, especially when there is much good to believe in.

God has made us in His own image, from the beginning. It is through this love in Christ Jesus that America built her foundation for basic human rights, and hopefully someday, from the moment of our conception. May the values of America, upholding the freedom to learn about God and choose to love Him or not, spread like a raging fire throughout the world. May we live in hope that more and more will choose to love and abide in His love through obedience, reverence and prayerful desire for Holy Communion, for service and good works.

Examining George Washington’s “Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation”

February 18th, 2015

In 2013 I became aware of Mr. Washington’s “Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation.”  Shortly thereafter, I had the privilege of participating in a wreath laying ceremony at the tomb of this well respected and beloved man who’s contributed so much to our country. This ceremony included the recitation of a prayer he had written. 

Mr. Washington completed these rules of civility when he was a young man.  They became very popular and helped set the stage for the man he would eventually become.

I had hoped to review these rules back in 2013, but only found the time to review the first 40 or so.  Yesterday, President’s Day, I was grateful to run across them again and make sufficient time for each of them.

A knowledge of good manners is helpful when we don’t know others, helping to ease the tensions often associated with meeting new people or spending time with those highly esteemed; not having a sense of good manners can worsen the tension.⁷⁸⁷

Sadly, many of us do not receive any formal education for good manners.  We’re left learning from our mistakes if we’re unable to learn those around us, or from what we might learn and enact from television.

Regrettably, we may demonstrate a kind of spiritual immaturity in mimicking the behavior of certain primates, furthering a sense of segregation wherein one member of the group seems to have been ostracized or shunned, acting towards them as though they have leprosy.  Perhaps that person is unable to hide that they’re not feeling included and others respond as if there’s a genuine reason for it, avoiding that person like they’re contagious.  This, sadly, may reinforce a person’s tendency for low self-esteem, causing them to feel as though they’ve been irreversibly shunned due to the initial impression others might have received from them, which may further contribute to poor health status. ⁷⁸⁸

However, we know from genetic advances, as well as from studying environmental influences, particularly those related to post-traumatic stress disorder, that there can be a biological predisposition towards these kinds of feelings, as though a person has been ostracized. Moreover, even if they haven’t been treated poorly, they may internalize things happening around them as though they’re indicative of reproof or failure.  Thankfully, when this pattern emerges, medical treatment in the form of serotonin and/or norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors can help that person feel more naturally included, more spontaneous, creative, up-beat and joyful, the person they know themselves to actually be.

Coffee and alcohol both help increase the effects of these neurotransmitters, whether directly or indirectly, helping to explain why they’re often a welcomed part of social get-togethers.  Caffeine tends to increase norepinephrine activity while alcohol influences serotonin and dopamine.  Unfortunately, when the underlying causes of feeling unwell are the result of poor manners and crass behavior, no amount of alcohol can brighten a person up, though they may drink more and more, potentially develop an unhealthy pattern of doing this during social events in order to feel good.

Regarding those situations where one may feel shunned, and there is neither a biological reason nor a sound sociological one, instituting Christ’s message of inclusiveness, openness and forgiveness can help to restore that person, strengthening one another.

This enactment of love was the focus of this Sunday’s homily, following the oration of the following passages:

First Reading: Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46

The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:

When a person has on the skin of his body a swelling or an eruption or a spot, and it turns into a leprous disease on the skin of his body, he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons the priests.

[If] he is leprous, [if] he is unclean… The priest shall pronounce him unclean; the disease is on his head.

The person who has the leprous disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head be disheveled; and he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean.’ He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease; he is unclean. He shall live alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp.

Gospel reading: Mark 1:40-45

A leper came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to him, ‘If you choose, you can make me clean.’ Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I do choose. Be made clean!’ Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. After sternly warning him he sent him away at once, saying to him, ‘See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.’ But he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the word, so that Jesus could no longer go into a town openly, but stayed out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter.

Good manners provide comfort when we feel unsure of how we should behave, helping us treat others respectfully, even if they seem to have caught some form of social leprosy.  However, such guidelines are not without need for reproof and reevaluation, especially in the context of living out a call to a higher purpose.  Similarly, some situations require reassessing how we’d respond, not because doing what everyone else does comes easily when socially acceptable, or because they’re contained within these rules of civility, but because acting a certain way contrary to the norm may be more in accordance with the divine. 

Thus, it is good and appropriate to have proper manners for those situations where rank, dignity, affluence, and wealth commensurate with greater respectfulness, but it is negligent of a good-mannered person not to apply those manners to everyone, particularly to all members of the Body of Christ, which when understood in an optimistic sense, could be every person you meet.

In light of these considerations, where deemed appropriate, I’ve revisited George Washington’s “Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation,” and included comments under those rules that require extra consideration, whether in light of living in accordance with a divine purpose or with respect to customs prevalent today.

Rule 1 - 22

1st          Every Action done in Company, ought to be with Some Sign of Respect, to those that are Present.

2nd        When in Company, put not your Hands to any Part of the Body, not usually Discovered.

You’ll notice sometimes that people will cross their arms, tucking their hands under their arms.  Crossing one’s arms might suggest being closed off from those nearby.  Conversely, lettings one’s arms dangle at the sides, folding one’s hands in front or in back of oneself, or placing them in one’s pockets, might convey a greater sense of relaxed openness. In a spirit of good-natured humor, follow the example of that person who you look up to the most. Conversely, in a spirit of inclusiveness, follow the example of that person who seems least at ease. In mimicking their body language, you may help them feel more included.

3rd         Show Nothing to your Friend that may affright him.

4th         In the Presence of Others Sing not to yourself with a humming Noise, nor Drum with your Fingers or Feet.

5th         If You Cough, Sneeze, Sigh, or Yawn, do it not Loud but Privately; and Speak not in your Yawning, but put Your handkerchief or Hand before your face and turn aside.

It is generally a good idea for a gentleman to carry a handkerchief.

Sometimes men have an extremely loud sneeze.  A person may not be able to control this, but as someone whose been able to reduce the loudness of sneezes, it’s likely worth a closer look for those who sneeze loudly.

It is possible to yawn without opening one’s mouth, inhaling from the nose while only partially opening the jaw.  This milder form of a yawn can help avoid offending someone presenting or speaking, but might take a bit of practice and doesn’t feel quite as fulfilling as a regular one.

6th         Sleep not when others Speak, Sit not when others stand, Speak not when you Should hold your Peace, walk not on when others Stop.

It is not always easy to know when to hold your peace. Conversations tend to be dynamic, with interjections ebbing and flowing.⁷⁸⁹  A balance and rhythm can usually be discerned, helping one to avoid being offensive. However, those who have Asperger’s disease do not easily sense that another may have lost interest in a conversation, and so continue talking and talking, or may speak at times or about matters that are inappropriate for the situation.  Be as merciful to these folks as you’re able.  If it is understood that a person has this disorder, it’s easier not to become offended when inappropriate comments or lengthy conversations emerge.

Interrupting a speaker or event, should you feel your comments cannot wait or be addressed in a more appropriate manner, may end with you being asked to leave the event or being forcefully removed if you’re so passionate so as to lose control.

7th        Put not off your Cloths in the presence of Others, nor go out your Chamber half Dressed.

8th        At Play and at Fire its Good manners to Give Place to the last Commer, and affect not to Speak Louder than Ordinary.

9th        Spit not in the Fire, nor Stoop low before it neither Put your Hands into the Flames to warm them, nor Set your Feet upon the Fire especially if there be meat before it.

10th       When you Sit down, Keep your Feet firm and Even, without putting one on the other or Crossing them.

11th        Shift not yourself in the Sight of others nor Gnaw your nails.

Don’t draw too much attention to yourself.

12th       Shake not the head, Feet, or Legs roll not the Eyes lift not one eyebrow higher than the other wry not the mouth, and bedew no mans face with your Spittle, by approaching too near him when you Speak.

13th       Kill no Vermin as Fleas, lice ticks &c in the Sight of Others, if you See any filth or thick Spittle put your foot Dexterously upon it if it be upon the Cloths of your Companions, Put it off privately, and if it be upon your own Cloths return Thanks to him who puts it off.

If someone has food stuck in their teeth, politely notify them.  If they have sticks, leaves or twigs stuck in their hair, or if a bird has answered the call of nature upon their head, without them knowing, politely notify.

14th       Turn not your Back to others especially in Speaking, Jog not the Table or Desk on which Another reads or writes, lean not upon any one.

Don’t kick the back of the chair of someone sitting in front of you.  Don’t rock back and forth if chairs are connected so that everyone rocks with you.

15th      Keep your Nails clean and Short, also your Hands and Teeth Clean yet without Showing any great Concern for them.

16th      Do not Puff up the Cheeks, Loll not out the tongue rub the Hands, or beard, thrust out the lips, or bite them or keep the Lips too open or too Close.

17th      Be no Flatterer, neither Play with any that delights not to be Play’d Withal.

If someone is glum, not in their usually cheerful disposition, you might be able to cheer them up, but if you act frivolously, goofy or flighty in the hopes of cheering them up, you might offend or annoy them.

18th      Read no Letters, Books, or Papers in Company but when there is a Necessity for the doing of it you must ask leave: come not near the Books or Writings of Another so as to read them unless desired or give your opinion of them unasked also look not nigh when another is writing a Letter.

Be careful using your cell phone in the company of others, it may be taken as a sign of disrespect.

19th       Let your Countenance be pleasant but in Serious Matters Somewhat grave.

20th     The Gestures of the Body must be Suited to the discourse you are upon.

21st        Reproach none for the Infirmities of Nature, nor Delight to Put them that have in mind thereof.

Don’t laugh if someone puts another down.  Consider gently correcting that person towards greater empathy.

22nd    Show not yourself glad at the Misfortune of another though he were your enemy.

Rule 23 - 44

23rd     When you see a Crime punished, you may be inwardly Pleased; but always show Pity to the Suffering Offender.

24th      Do not laugh too loud or too much at any Public Spectacle.

Be careful not to cough or clear your throat loudly so as to draw attention to yourself or show your approval or disapproval. Most likely you can hold that sense of an itch in the back of your throat or gently clear it without making much of a sound.

25th      Superfluous Complements and all Affectation of Ceremony are to be avoided, yet where due they are not to be Neglected.

Affectations can be made simply to draw attention to oneself, they can easily be misinterpreted as being overly sincere in order to impress, thereby bordering on flattery.  Be mindful to make others feel comfortable, not outdoing others in gestures of kindness or respect to draw attention to oneself and with concern for not making another feel as though their gesture(s) were insufficient or less valuable.  Build up one another.  Avoid flattery.  Consider abstaining from comments about a person’s physical characteristics, such as how tall they are.  There’s a fair chance that this person hears enough about how tall or different in some way that they are, and would rather talk about something else.

26th      In Pulling off your Hat to Persons of Distinction, as Noblemen, Justices, Churchmen &c make a Reverence, bowing more or less according to the Custom of the Better Bred, and Quality of the Person. Amongst your equals expect not always that they Should begin with you first, but to Pull off the Hat when there is no need is Affectation, in the Manner of Saluting and resaluting in words keep to the most usual Custom.

27th       Tis ill manners to bid one more eminent than yourself be covered as well as not to do it to whom it’s due Likewise he that makes too much haste to Put on his hat does not well, yet he ought to Put it on at the first, or at most the Second time of being asked; now what is herein Spoken, of Qualification in behavior in Saluting, ought also to be observed in taking of Place, and Sitting down for ceremonies without Bounds is troublesome.

If you’re going to shake hands with someone or hug someone while greeting or leaving a group of people, where some may not be as well acquainted, be mindful that doing so may be seen as ostentatious, though not necessarily intended. Or, consider not shaking hands or hugging someone unless planning to do so with all who are present... this may be awkward at first, but it could also lead to better friendships and a sense of inclusion. Also, it is reasonable to assume that a friend of your friend is your friend. This can be difficult, at least with respect to hugs, if there are members of the opposite sex, though it probably shouldn’t be if a lady is properly escorted by a close friend or brother, so as to help her avoid feeling pressured into forming a friendship that overlaps with potential sexual interest, when she’s not interested in that way.

Also, consider stopping a conversation when someone new enters the vicinity and shows interest, making it easy for them to join in the conversation. This might include briefing them on the discussion and then resuming when appropriate.  The person speaking should “have the floor,” and be attentive to those who might be interested in joining in the conversation. With this orientation, it can help to avoid the disrespect of interrupting someone who is speaking in order to invite another. However, the one who greets the newcomer should introduce them to the others if they’re unacquainted, using the name of each person in the group before that of the newcomer, for example if Simon is the newcomer, Robert this is Simon, Mike… Simon, Mark…, Abel…, etc.

When a group reaches around seven people, newcomers should attempt to find another group so as to avoid excessive interruptions and allow for conversation tone to remain natural, i.e. with everyone still able to hear without the circle becoming too large.  Also, with a larger number, it is more likely that one or two will lose interest in the conversation and leave, allowing some cycling.  In this case, it is generally okay to casually exit without saying goodbye. 

Turning your eye contact away from the person speaking can be interpreted as not being interested.  When conversation seems to be dragging on, when your patience is running thin, this gesture is a polite way of signaling for an exit or another conversation subject. 

Try to smile or in some way politely acknowledge those you meet, even if in a hurry. Similarly, try to spend a minute or two conversing with someone as a gesture of kindness, especially if they seem in need of one.

28th     If any one come to Speak to you while you are Sitting Stand up though he be your Inferior, and when you Present Seats let it be to every one according to his Degree.

Because different degrees or accomplishments may have varying levels of value according to the person hosting the event, he or she may choose to organize seating arrangements according to degree or accomplishment, depending on the nature of the visit, or may find a less hierarchical manner, such as according to alphabetical order of name or time of arrival, providing arrival times aren’t intentionally staggered, so as to avoid offending one arriving at a later time. This latter arrangement may be more appropriate within the Body of Christ, where distinctions of rank based on achievement may be less important, or rather, subservient to fostering love as brothers and sisters, recognizing different gifts within the Body.

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot were to say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body’, that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear were to say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body’, that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many members, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’, nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’ On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those members of the body that we think less honourable we clothe with greater honour, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honour to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honoured, all rejoice together with it.

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.” –1 Corinthians 12:12-31

There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. –Galatians 3:28

When you are invited to a wedding feast, do not recline in the first place, lest perhaps one more distinguished than thou have been invited by him, and he who invited thee and him come and say to thee, ‘Make room for this man’; and then thou begin with shame to take the last place. But when thou art invited, go and recline in the last place; that when he who invited thee comes in, he may say to thee, ‘Friend, go up higher!’ Then thou wilt be honored in the presence of all who are at table with thee. For everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted. –Luke 14:8-11

      29th     When you meet with one of Greater Quality than yourself, Stop, and retire especially if it be at a Door or any Straight place to give way for him to Pass.

Respect your elders and those deserving of great respect.

30th     In walking the highest Place in most Countries Seems to be on the right hand therefore Place yourself on the left of him whom you desire to Honor: but if three walk together the middest Place is the most Honorable the wall is usually given to the most worthy if two walk together.

If walking with a lady, a gentleman should take the side closest to the street.

31st       If any one far Surpasses others, either in age, Estate, or Merit yet would give Place to a meaner than himself in his own lodging or elsewhere the one ought not to accept it, So he on the other part should not use much earnestness nor offer it above once or twice.

Consider declining a gesture of kindness, such as a friend offering to pay for your meal, accepting only if they offer twice or otherwise insist.  Remember to offer first next time, should you meet again, and be willing to insist.

32nd    To one that is your equal, or not much inferior you are to give the chief Place in your Lodging and he to who ‘is offered ought at the first to refuse it but at the Second to accept though not without acknowledging his own unworthiness.

33rd     They that are in Dignity or in office have in all places Precedency but whilst they are Young they ought to respect those that are their equals in Birth or other Qualities, though they have no Public charge.

34th     It is good Manners to prefer them to whom we Speak before ourselves especially if they be above us with whom in no Sort we ought to begin.

35th       Let your Discourse with Men of Business be Short and Comprehensive.

The greater your vocabulary and practice in speaking to someone of great achievement or position, in the hopes of impressing them or securing a contract, the more likely you’ll avoid superfluity.

36th     Artificers & Persons of low Degree ought not to use many ceremonies to Lords, or Others of high Degree but Respect and highly Honor them, and those of high Degree ought to treat them with affability & Courtesy, without Arrogance.

37th      In speaking to men of Quality do not lean nor Look them full in the Face, nor approach too near them at lest Keep a full Pace from them.

Show respect for another’s personal space, generally the length of one’s arm.

38th     In visiting the Sick, do not Presently play the Physician if you be not Knowing therein.

Don’t pretend to know something you don’t know, or don’t know very much about, especially to seem impressive or to avoid being seen as ignorant.  No one knows everything, except God, and perhaps then, only God the Father.⁷⁹⁰  Be kind in acknowledging someone who may be more of an expert than yourself. 

In practicing humility, if you make a mistake, consider accepting responsibility for it rather than attempting to cover it up, thereby reducing the potential to insult the intelligence of others as though they’re supposed to believe you knew what you were attempting to talk about at first. And yet, don’t be excessive in acknowledging responsibility, or beat yourself up. A simple “Oops, my bad.,” should suffice.

39th     In writing or Speaking, give to every Person his due Title According to his Degree & the Custom of the Place.

40th      Strive not with your Superiors in argument, but always Submit your Judgment to others with Modesty.

Arguing can get you in trouble.  Consider these insights from the book of Proverbs:

Those who ignore instruction despise themselves,
but those who heed admonition gain understanding. -–Proverbs 15:32

A fool despises a parent’s instruction,
but the one who heeds admonition is prudent. –Proverbs 15:5

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but those who hate to be rebuked are stupid. –Proverbs 12:1

And the words of Christ Jesus,

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. –Matthew 5:3

And those of St. Paul,

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. –Philippians 2:3

41st       Undertake not to Teach your equal in the art himself Professes; it Savours of arrogance.

42nd    Let thy ceremonies in Courtesy be proper to the Dignity of his place with whom thou converses for it is absurd to act the same with a Clown and a Prince.

Try not to take situations too seriously, but be mindful of the setting.  A prince can be disguised as a clown and vice versa.  In the Body of Christ, distinctions such as these can dissipate for the sake of unity within the Body; every person should be treated with the same graciousness and respect.  Nonetheless, those who clown around excessively or inappropriately are likely to be regarded unfavorably.  Alternatively, too much seriousness is burdensome.

43rd     Do not express Joy before one sick or in pain for that contrary Passion will aggravate his Misery.

44th      When a man does all he can though it Succeeds not well blame not him that did it.

Rule 45 – 66

45th       Being to advise or reprehend any one, consider whether it ought to be in public or in Private; presently, or at Some other time in what terms to do it & in reproving Show no Sign of Cholar but do it with all Sweetness and Mildness.

46th      Take all Admonitions thankfully in what Time or Place Soever given but afterwards not being culpable take a Time & Place convenient to let him know it that gave them.

Appreciate constructive criticism.  If undeserved, find a suitable time and place to inform the giver of wrongfully directed advice.

47th       Mock not nor Jest at any thing of Importance break [n]o Jest that are Sharp Biting and if you Deliver any thing witty and Pleasant abstain from Laughing thereat yourself.

Many jokes are offensive, avoid approving through laughter those that are inappropriate.

48th      Wherein you reprove Another be unblameable yourself; for example is more prevalent than Precepts.

49th     Use no Reproachful Language against any one neither Curse nor Revile.

50th      Be not hasty to believe flying Reports to the Disparagement of any.

51st        Wear not your Cloths, foul, ripped or Dusty but See they be Brushed once every day at least and take heed that you approach not to any Uncleaness.

If an article of clothing has even the slightest unpleasant odor that you can detect, best to choose another.  Be considerate to those who smell less than wonderful, whether related to poor hygiene stemming from an untreated mental condition, such as depression or bipolar disorder, financial difficulties, halitosis (bad breath arising from a bacterial condition not easily treated), sweat unmitigated due to allergies from antiperspirants, hemorrhoids or other pathologic conditions.

52nd      In your Apparel be Modest and endeavor to accommodate Nature, rather than to procure Admiration keep to the Fashion of your equals Such as are Civil and orderly with respect to Times and Places.

53rd      Run not in the Streets, neither go too slowly nor with Mouth open go not Shaking your Arms kick not the earth with R feet, go not upon the Toes, nor in a Dancing fashion.

54th       Play not the Peacock, looking every where about you, to See if you be well Decked, if your Shoes fit well if your Stockings sit neatly, and Cloths handsomely.

55th       Eat not in the Streets, nor in the House, out of Season.

56th       Associate yourself with Men of good Quality if you Esteem your own Reputation; for ‘is better to be alone than in bad Company.

Be careful not to hold in contempt those you deem unworthy of yourself.  The ugliest piece of coal can contain the finest diamond; the finest steel goes through the hottest fire.  In the interest of bringing greater glory to God through His bride, the Body of Christ, treat others with equal kindness, building up one another.  Be considerate of the feelings of those who have made seemingly unforgivable mistakes or are less fortunate, as though downcast with leprosy.

57th       In walking up and Down in a House, only with One in Company if he be Greater than yourself, at the first give him the Right hand and Stop not till he does and be not the first that turns, and when you do turn let it be with your face towards him, if he be a Man of Great Quality, walk not with him Cheek by Joul but Somewhat behind him; but yet in Such a Manner that he may easily Speak to you.

If you’re walking up the stairs with George, offer to shake his hand, don’t be the one to let go until he does and keep turned towards him as best you can as you walk together.  Let him be the first to turn away.  Then, let him go ahead a bit, but not too far so that he can still speak softly to you and you’ll hear him.

58th       Let your Conversation be without Malice or Envy, for ‘is a Sign of a Tractable and Commendable Nature: And in all Causes of Passion admit Reason to Govern.

Friendships thrive on trust; trust involves consistency –rash or vindictive behavior hinders trust and can be the source for feelings in a relationship that are draining rather than uplifting.⁷⁹¹

59th       Never express anything unbecoming, nor Act against the Rules Moral before your inferiors.

Set a good example, whether in public, entertaining friends, or on Facebook.  If drinking alcohol causes foolish and crass behavior, don’t drink so much or allow others to do so.  Write down problem behavior that surfaces while intoxicated, or around those who are, so you’ll be sure to remember the next morning and strive to behave differently next time, or approach another who may be in need of such encouragement.

60th      Be not immodest in urging your Friends to Discover a Secret.

Be respectful and considerate of other people’s privacy and shortcomings and don’t talk about them in a derogatory manner when they’re not around.  Try to hold them in high regards in your thoughts.  If you have something you hold against another, gently approach them at an appropriate time and place.  If they’re ambivalent, seek to approach them with another friend whom you both share.  If they remain inclined to disregard your concern, if they’re recalcitrant and the friend with whom you previously shared the matter agrees that it’s worth further consideration, discuss the matter with a superior whom you both know and look up to.  Be careful in forming friendships so that if a matter such as this arises, you’ll have recourse to amends. 

Iron sharpens iron, don’t be afraid to call someone out if their actions are inappropriate.  If they care about being the best they can be, they’ll appreciate your rebuff, providing you do it appropriately, at the right place and time, and without malice or anger.  If you can’t move past feelings of malice or anger, and praying hasn’t helped, consider finding a friend who can approach them on your behalf, someone who you would trust with such information who would want to help.

61st        Utter not base and frivolous things amongst grave and Learned Men nor very Difficult Questions or Subjects, among the Ignorant or things hard to be believed, Stuff not your Discourse with Sentences amongst your Betters nor Equals.

62nd    Speak not of doleful Things in a Time of Mirth or at the Table; Speak not of Melancholy Things as Death and Wounds, and if others Mention them Change if you can the Discourse tell not your Dreams, but to your intimate Friend.

If Jesus is your most intimate friend, and rightfully so, and you believe He exists also in the Body of Christ, meaning the Church, you may share your dreams with these members if you so choose, providing, of course, they’re not of a private matter that may offend or confuse. And yet, you may also share them with those who are not yet so inclined to be members of the Body of Christ, given that you hold an optimistic attitude that they may become so if your dream so inspires them!  If you offer to share such dreams and they decline to listen or show no interest or appreciation, strive not to take offense nor be pushy.

63rd      A Man ought not to value himself of his Achievements, or rare Qualities of wit; much less of his riches Virtue or Kindred.

Know that you are loved and valuable not because of what you’ve accomplished, whether spiritual or material, or who you know, your status or the things you possess.  Know that you are loved because you are a child of God; you were carefully, wonderfully made by a loving Creator, made to be with Him, first and foremost.

64th     Break not a Jest where none take pleasure in mirth Laugh not aloud, nor at all without Occasion, deride no mans Misfortune, though there Seem to be Some cause.

65th      Speak not injurious Words neither in Jest nor Earnest Scoff at none although they give Occasion.

66th     Be not froward but friendly and Courteous; the first to Salute hear and answer & be not Pensive when it’s a time to Converse.

Try not to talk too loudly or seem abrupt in speech or mannerisms so as to come across in a pushy manner.  Chill out if the conversation is light and airy and you’d rather talk about what seems more thoughtful and important.

Rule 67 – 88

67th       Detract not from others neither be excessive in Commanding.

Try to be inclusive of everyone.  Be gentle in speech and mannerisms when attempting to urge another to something seemingly right or nobler, and do so privately if possible so as to lessen the perception of embarrassment or need for submissiveness, especially if the person seems prone to disdain correction and/or humility.

68th      Go not thither, where you know not, whether you Shall be Welcome or not. Give not Advice without being Asked & when desired do it briefly.

Constructive criticism is more welcomed by some than others, and better to give and receive after a friendship has been formed.  Sometimes you must press forward, allowing some discomfort, before knowing where a boundary in a friendship might exist.  Perhaps friendship is not always possible with those whom you’d prefer friendship with, even within the Body of Christ.  Rest assured, this is likely the work of the Lord leading to something better.  Don’t give up, stay optimistic. 

“We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”  –Romans 8:28

69th      If two contend together take not the part of either unconstrained; and be not obstinate in your own Opinion, in Things indifferent be of the Major Side.

70th      Reprehend not the imperfections of others for that belongs to Parents Masters and Superiors.

Notwithstanding or superseding previous advice aimed at reducing imperfections, don’t take on more than you can chew and become overwhelmed when, as a member of the Body of Christ, you hope to sharpen and build up one another.  Ultimately, the one with whom you’ll have the best influence over, and perhaps the one who needs it most, stares back at you in the mirror.

71st        Gaze not on the marks or blemishes of Others and ask not how they came. What you may Speak in Secret to your Friend deliver not before others.

There is nothing hidden that will not someday be revealed.

“Nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. ³Therefore whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed from the housetops.”  –Luke 12:2-3

      Be mindful to speak highly of others as best you’re able, whether in words shared with another or in your thoughts.  Pray for those in need.

72nd      Speak not in an unknown Tongue in Company but in your own Language and that as those of Quality do and not as the Vulgar; Sublime matters treat Seriously.

If you’re inclined to express your love and adoration for Him through words unintelligible to nearly everyone else, as perhaps the case in Pentecostal communities, do so in a place that would not provide suspicion or consternation to those listening, especially those who’ve never known the Holy Spirit.  Do not look down upon those who decline to express their love for Him in this way, even though it may at times be more effective and efficient than intelligible language or even songs.

Avoid speaking with a potty mouth.

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.  –Colossians 4:6

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.  –Ephesians 4:29 ESV

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.  –Exodus 20:7

But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.  –Colossians 3:8-10

From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.  –James 3:10

A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit. –Proverbs 15:4

For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.  –James 1:20

You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people.  –Exodus 22:28

But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.  –James 3:8

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?  –Jeremiah 17:9

      73rd      Think before you Speak pronounce not imperfectly nor bring out your Words too hastily but orderly & distinctly.

74th       When Another Speaks be attentive your Self and disturb not the Audience if any hesitate in his Words help him not nor Prompt him without desired, Interrupt him not, nor Answer him till his Speech be ended.

To improve on the ability of speaking publicly, consider joining a Toastmasters club.

75th       In the midst of Discourse ask not of what one treateth but if you Perceive any Stop because of your coming you may well intreat him gently to Proceed: If a Person of Quality comes in while your Conversing it’s handsome to Repeat what was said before.

There aren’t to be distinctions among members of the Body of Christ, all are to be treated with graciousness and dignity, feeling welcomed and appreciated.  If one is involved in a discourse, and a newcomer should come along, the one speaking should first consider pausing so as to introduce that person to those unacquainted, particularly if he or she knows the newcomer.  Thereafter, brief the newcomer on the topic and resume as before.  The newcomer should be careful not to begin a new conversation unless knowing the previous one was finished.

If a group stands at about seven or so and is talking together undivided, and you are a newcomer, consider searching for another group if one is available so that interruptions are kept at a minimum and all may stand close enough together to hear one another while speaking comfortably.

If Simon or George walks into the general vicinity of where people are meeting and greeting, and says, stand on one leg, don’t do it.  This is because he didn’t first say “Simon says.”

I’d imagine that last piece of advice might sound a bit condescending, but I hope you will find it a little amusing. Humor can be a great way to loosen up, especially amidst manner-tensions!

76th       While you are talking, Point not with your Finger at him of Whom you Discourse nor Approach too near him to whom you talk especially to his face.

77th       Treat with men at fit Times about Business & Whisper not in the Company of Others.

If you’re celebrating a day of rest together, such as the Sabbath day, be mindful of it and consider not talking about work related activities unless you know the other(s) might enjoy doing so also.

78th       Make no Comparisons and if any of the Company be Commended for any brave act of Virtue, commend not another for the Same.

Try to treat people equally kind.  When someone has received special recognition for something they’ve done, let them enjoy a few moments of recognition if they don’t become too embarrassed, as many don’t like to be the center of attention. Know how to receive a compliment and aim to receive it well; do not readily pass attention to another, especially if it is for the same thing. Assuredly, everyone has a place and a time to be rewarded for the good they’ve done.

79th       Be not apt to relate News if you know not the truth thereof. In Discoursing of things you Have heard Name not your Author always A Secret Discover not.

80th      Be not Tedious in Discourse or in reading unless you find the Company pleased therewith.

81st        Be not Curious to Know the Affairs of Others neither approach those that Speak in Private.

82nd     Undertake not what you cannot Perform but be Careful to keep your Promise.

It is better to under-promise and overdeliver.  Don’t be afraid to say no.  Often you can change your mind later.

83rd     When you deliver a matter do it without Passion & with Discretion, however mean the Person be you do it too.

84th     When your Superiors talk to any Body hearken not neither Speak nor Laugh.

85th      In Company of these of Higher Quality than yourself Speak not til you are asked a Question then Stand upright put of your Hat & Answer in few words.

86th     In Disputes, be not So Desirous to Overcome as not to give Liberty to each one to deliver his Opinion and Submit to the Judgment of the Major Part especially if they are Judges of the Dispute.

87th       Let thy carriage be such as becomes a Man Grave Settled and attentive to that which is spoken. Contradict not at every turn what others Say.

88th      Be not tedious in Discourse, make not many Digressions, nor repeat often the Same manner of Discourse.

Rule 89 – 110

89th      Speak not Evil of the absent for it is unjust.

90th     Being Set at meat Scratch not neither Spit Cough or blow your Nose except there’s a Necessity for it.

91st        Make no Show of taking great Delight in your Victuals, Feed not with Greediness; cut your Bread with a Knife, lean not on the Table neither find fault with what you Eat.

92nd     Take no Salt or cut Bread with your Knife Greasy.

93rd     Entertaining any one at the table, it is decent to present him with meat; Undertake not to help others undesired by the Master.

Manners observed while sharing a meal together have a great deal to do with helping everyone feel at ease.  Excessive attention to manners can be unkind.⁷⁹²

94th      If you Soak bread in the Sauce let it be no more than what you put in your Mouth at a time and blow not your broth at Table but Stay till Cools of it Self.

95th      Put not your meat to your Mouth with your Knife in your hand neither Spit forth the Stones of any fruit Pie upon a Dish nor Cast anything under the table.

96th     It’s unbecoming to Stoop much to ones Meat Keep your Fingers clean & when foul wipe them on a Corner of your Table Napkin.

97th       Put not another bit into your mouth till the former be swallowed. Let not your morsels be too big for the jowls.

98th     Drink not nor talk with your mouth full; neither gaze about you while you are drinking.

99th     Drink not too leisurely nor yet too hastily. Before and after drinking, wipe your lips; breath not then or ever with too great a noise, for its uncivil.

100th    Cleanse not your teeth with the table cloth napkin, fork, or knife; but if others do it, let it be done without a peep to them.

101st     Rinse not your mouth in the presence of others.

102nd   It is out of use to call upon the company often to eat; nor need you drink to others every time you drink.

103rd    In the company of your betters, be not longer in eating than they are; lay not your arm but only your hand upon the table.

104th    It belongs to the chiefest in company to unfold his napkin and fall to meat first, but he ought then to begin in time & to dispatch with dexterity that the slowest may have time allowed him.

105th    Be not angry at the table whatever happens & if you have reason to be so, show it not; put on a cheerful countenance especially if there be strangers, for good humor makes one dish of meat a feast.

106th   Set not yourself at the upper of the table; but if it be your due or that the master of the house will have it so, contend not, least you should trouble the company.

107th    If others talk at the table, be attentive but talk not with meat in your mouth.

108th    When you speak of God or his attributes, let it be seriously & with reverence. Honor & obey your natural parents although they be poor.

109th    Let your recreations be manful not sinful.

110th     Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience.

A Game of Cards with a Presidential Theme

How wonderful are Mr. Washington’s rules?! 

As you might imagine, I especially liked the last three.

      I began these considerations yesterday, President’s Day.  A couple days earlier I invited a few friends to come over for a friendly game of poker using a deck of “The Presidents,” playing cards, which I had bought while visiting George Washington’s Mount Vernon home. 

After everyone had arrived, we each chose a card from the deck.  That would be our president for the evening.  We could impersonate that president or go by their name or an associated nickname.

I had hoped to draw George Washington’s card, having spent much of the day on these considerations.  Instead, I drew William McKinley.  He was president during the Spanish-American war, which resulted in Spain ceding the islands of Guam and Puerto Rico to the USA. 

President McKinley was assassinated six months into his second term. 

Should I someday serve the public in a direct capacity, or for simply being a follower of Christ Jesus, I might share a similar fate.  I don’t welcome death, but I’m willing to die for His sake and in doing what’s right.

There is no greater love than this: that a person would lay down his life for the sake of his friends. –John 15:13

One of my closest friends drew one of the cards for James Madison, the Father of the US constitution and first author of the Bill of Rights.  I’ve mentioned this friend in another article.  He is the one who has a degree in Theology and Philosophy, who assisted me in changing my view from one who was pro-choice, or pro-abortion, in cases of rape.  This aspect of the issue may be the biggest reason why we don’t live in a pro-life culture, i.e. people don’t want to infringe on the rights of their fellow Americans, on a woman who doesn’t want the child conceived in her womb because of rape.

Only 2% of all abortions are related to this tragedy, which would include incestuous relations. In either case, too easily we fail to think about the rights of the child, who is not to blame for a horrible act of rape committed by his or her father.  Moreover, all unborn children, whether conceived because of rape or not, have an inalienable, God-given, right to life.  This right should be protected.

Below are a few excerpts from the Bill of Rights proposed by James Madison:

First. That there be prefixed to the constitution a declaration that all power is originally vested in, and consequently derived from the people.

That government is instituted, and ought to be exercised for the benefit of the people; which consists in the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the right of acquiring and using property, and generally of pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.

That the people have an indubitable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to reform or change their government, whenever it be found adverse or inadequate to the purposes of its institution.

Fourthly… The civil rights of none shall be abridged on account of religious belief or worship, nor shall any national religion be established, nor shall the full and equal rights of conscience be in any manner, or on any pretext, infringed…

The people shall not be deprived or abridged of their right to speak, to write, or to publish their sentiments; and the freedom of the press, as one of the great bulwarks of liberty, shall be inviolable.

The people shall not be restrained from peaceably assembling and consulting for their common good, nor from applying to the legislature by petitions, or remonstrances for redress of their grievances…

The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed; a well armed, and well regulated militia being the best security of a free country: but no person religiously scrupulous of bearing arms, shall be compelled to render military service in person…

The exceptions here or elsewhere in the constitution, made in favor of particular rights, shall not be so construed as to diminish the just importance of other rights retained by the people; or as to enlarge the powers delegated by the constitution; but either as actual limitations of such powers, or as inserted merely for greater caution.⁷⁹³

Here is the First Amendment, having been finalized:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. ⁷⁹⁴

My First Hand

After discussing the cards we had picked, my friends sat down at the table while I finished adding mushrooms, olives and pepperoni to several cheese pizzas from Costco.  My roommate was unfamiliar with Texas hold’em so a few minutes were spent explaining the rules.  Before long my first hand was dealt.  One card was a king of diamonds, proudly displaying George Washington, the other, a six of diamonds, proudly displaying John Quincy Adams.

John Quincy Adams was the son of the first Vice President, John Adams, who eventually became the second President. Moreover, John Adams delivered the first presidential speech ever given in the U.S. Capitol. According to the records of Congress, John Adams prayed,

May this territory [Washington D.C.] be the residence of virtue and happiness! In this city may that piety and virtue, that wisdom and magnanimity, that constancy and self-government which adorns the great character whose name it bears, be forever held in veneration! Here and throughout our country, may simple manners, pure morals, and true religion flourish forever!

John Quincy Adams is the only president ever to have gone from the Presidency to Congress. Several of the speeches he gave while a member of the House come closer to sermons than speeches, like this one, given on July 4th 1837,

Why is it friends and fellow citizens that we are assembled here?

And why is it that entering on the 62nd year of our national existence, that you have asked me to address you?

Why is it that next to the birthday of the savior of the world, one of our most joyous and venerated festival occurs on this day?

Is it not that in the chain of human events that the birthday of a nation is indissolubly linked with birthday of the Savior, that it forms a leading event in the progress of the gospel dispensation?

Is it not that the Declaration of Independence first organized the social compact on the foundation of the Redeemer’s mission on earth, that it laid the cornerstone of human government on the first precepts of Christianity? ⁷⁹⁵

      JQA was an avid student of the Bible and made it a practice to read through it once per year. He was also the author of a book on how to study the bible, entitled “Letters of John Quincy Adams to His Son on the Bible and Its Teachings.” He issued a prayer proclamation on March 23, 1798, declaring May 9th, 1898, a day of fasting for the nation.⁷⁹⁶

The quote for the JQA playing card:

“The best guaranty against abuse of power consists in the freedom, the purity, and the frequency of popular elections.”

In consideration of this quote, if the majority of American’s are pro-life, and a recent CNN poll suggests that is the case, ⁷⁹⁷ but several major corporations and wealthy business owners stand to gain from the sale of products or services that lead to abortion, i.e. those that encourage sexual permissiveness, for example “adult entertainment,” or through products or services that are directly related, whether through increasing the incidence of “unwanted” children, for example hormonal contraception,⁷⁹⁸ or through ending the life of a child, such as the same hormonal contraception⁷⁹⁹ and Plan B in some cases ⁽⁸⁰⁰, ⁸⁰¹⁾, are our elections free from abuse? Are they pure when these groups can lobby or contribute to political campaigns for candidates who are pro-choice, or to campaign programs that would oppose candidates or legislation that would otherwise support and enforce a right to life?

Even though the right to life of an innocent human being shouldn’t require a majority to vote for protection, one might ask, ‘how long will it be before federal legislation reflects that the majority of American’s are pro-life,’ even if some of these would allow abortion in some circumstances, such as when the life of the mother is in danger?

As mentioned in a previous article, I’m not in favor legislation that would incriminate a mother when choosing her own life over the life of a child if such a difficult situation presents itself.  While she may choose to sacrifice her life for the child, and such an act is saintly,⁸⁰² legislation shouldn’t force her to make that choice. However, if all healthcare providers at the hospital where she is receiving services are pro-life, and their right to conscientiously object such an act is preserved, she may not have the option.

It is fitting to acknowledge that Providence already knows the extent of our technological ability to save the life of both mother and child.  When both cannot be saved, He knows. A mother should declare in advance, using “Advanced Directives,” how such a situation should be handled if there are complications during birth. However, should the mother be unconscious, not having made Advanced Directives, the decision as to whether one life might be preserved as another is terminated, might be made by the family in accordance with how they believe the mother would choose. And yet, her spouse, who would be the father of the child, would have a closer relationship to her than any of her family members, and would be more responsible for her than her family, and should be entrusted with such a choice. However, if the couple is not married, the family should decide. This would be to protect the mother, should the father of the child be indifferent, a situation less likely in being commensurate with the responsibilities of marriage, i.e. “until death do us part.” Again, ideally, such matters should be addressed by the mother prior to delivery. Nonetheless, there may not be a healthcare provider available to perform such an act when conscience protection is rightly upheld.

Shuffle, Shuffle, Come Again

Returning to the game, in the second hand I was dealt, and both were thoroughly shuffled, each by a different friend, in addition to receiving George Washington’s card again, this time an Ace of Clubs, I received Ronald Reagan’s, an Ace of Diamonds.

Mr. Reagan is the oldest person ever elected president.  With age comes wisdom.  Perhaps it was wisdom that led him to state, “I’ve noticed that everyone who is for abortion has already been born.”

Without life, there can be no rights or violation of rights –the most basic and fundamental right is the right to life.

I placed his quote at the end of the testimony I’d written on 11/11/11; it was especially meaningful for me to have been dealt his card.

As you might also imagine, I was ecstatic that I received George Washington in both my first and second hands.  The odds of receiving him in both the first and second hands were slim, even if he is in the deck twice.  There were also two cards for Theodore Roosevelt, Grover Cleveland, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, John Adams, Rutherford B. Hayes and Abraham Lincoln.

Awhile back I entered a discussion on an online atheist forum.  One of the defendants of atheism claimed that America doesn’t have a religious background.  He was responding to a claim that I had made regarding the opening statement in the Declaration of Independence, namely,

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.”⁸⁰³

This was my reply,

Dear Zack,

I wanted to take another moment to add comments to my last response in regards to your previous response,

“I’m American and I know it (The Declaration of Independence) well, most of the founding fathers are as Jason said, Agnostic, Deist, and Atheist.”

There were 56 men who signed the Declaration between August 2, 1776 and January 22, 1777, including two future presidents, three vice presidents, and ten members of the United States Congress.  George Washington, our first president, did not sign it, however, he did sign the Constitution.  Nonetheless, he was unanimously elected as our first President, the only president to have unanimous support. 

He was decidedly a religious man, and those who knew him best confirmed he was Christian. 

For information supporting this view, consider the following reference:  http://christiananswers.net/q-wall/wal-g011.html

For a broader examination of the religious background of many of the Founding Fathers, consider: http://www.amazon.com/American-Heritage-Series-David-Barton/dp/B001RJ78TE/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

In that examination, David Barton expounds on their faith, stating,

“There are over 200 individuals who we call Founding Fathers.  Overwhelmingly they were Christian.  Probably 95% of that group were Christians… signors of the Constitution, signors of the Declaration, etc…  they were not only active in their own faith, they were active in helping spread that faith to others.  They saw the Bible as the basis of so many of their ideas, so many of those ideas were incorporated into their documents… that’s clear in their documents, it’s clear in the books that they use.”

‘When they met in Congress for the first time in September of 1774, they opened with prayer.  Not a routine prayer like we might have today, rather it was momentous as well as extended.  Not only did they pray, but the delegates studied four chapters of the Bible in Congress.  John Adams even wrote a letter to Abigail his wife telling her,

I never saw a greater effect upon an audience.  It seemed as if heaven had ordained that Psalm to be read on the morning… I must beg you to read that Psalm… [R]ead this letter and the 35th Pslam to [your friends].  Read it to your father.

Her father was the pastor of the local church.   The prayer was supposedly so powerful, “Even the Quakers shed tears.”  –Silas Deane

In Washington’s famous farewell address of 1796, he declared, “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.”

Those who formed the first bible society in America, The American Bible Society, were all founding fathers.  Elias Boudinot, first president of the society was also president of Continental Congress from 1782 – 1783.  He singed the final peace treaty with Great Britain to end the revolution and helped frame the Bill of Rights.  He published the book: “The Age of Revelation: Or the Age of Reason Shewn to Be an Age of Infidelity.”⁸⁰⁴

I’m glad I bought two of these card decks in 2013. I’ve been planning to send one to the friend who accompanied me at the wreath laying ceremony for George, for his birthday. This friend was born on February 29th, technically he’s only eight!

Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone celebrated President’s Day by reading about one of our great Presidents, breaking out a deck of these cards and playing away …even if only solitaire!

And just in case you’re wondering… I ended up winning the game!

God bless you dear readers and friends, and God bless America!

Commentary on the Proper Treatment of Those Who Support Sharia Law and Statements in the Quran concerning the Rape of Women

In 1612 a Jesuit priest by the name of Francisco Suarez wrote authoritatively on basic human rights.

Having refuted the divine-right theory of kingly rule, he declared that the people themselves are the original holders of political authority; the state is the result of a social contract to which the people consent. Arguing for the natural rights of the human individual to life, liberty, and property, he rejected the Aristotelian notion of slavery as the natural condition of certain men. He criticized most of the practices of Spanish colonization in the Indies in his De Bello et de Indis (“On War and the Indies”). The islands of the Indies he viewed as sovereign states legally equal to Spain as members of a worldwide community of nations.⁸⁰⁵

Many people now live in countries where basic, God-given rights are a priority. These rights are the foundation of good governments. Many often take it for granted that they live under a government where human beings are seen as equal through the eyes of God. Some would even go so far as to recognize Eve, i.e. the first woman, as the crowning achievement of God’s work in creation.

With respect to these basic rights, it is important to understand the teachings of the Koran, or of Sharia law, which indicate that the unjust treatment of women, such as rape, is acceptable or should not be treated fairly with respect to fair acknowledgment and appropriate punishments. With respect to these teachings, consider the following quotes from the Quran and commentary: ⁸⁰⁶

Quran (2:282) - …a woman's testimony is worth only half that of a man's in court (there is no "he said/she said" gridlock in Islam).

Quran (24:4) - "And those who accuse free women then do not bring four witnesses (to adultery), flog them..."  Strictly speaking, this verse addresses adultery (revealed at the very time that Muhammad's favorite wife was being accused of adultery on the basis of only three witnesses coincidentally enough).  However, it is a part of the theological underpinning of the Sharia rule on rape, since if there are not four male witnesses, the rape "did not occur".

Quran (24:13) - "Why did they not bring four witnesses of it? But as they have not brought witnesses they are liars before Allah."

Quran (2:223) - "Your wives are as a tilth unto you; so approach your tilth when or how ye will..."  There is no such thing as rape in marriage, as a man is permitted unrestricted sexual access to his wives.

Hadith and Sira

Bukhari (5:59:462) – The background for the Quranic requirement of four witnesses to adultery. Muhammad's favorite wife, Aisha, was accused of cheating [on her polygamous husband]. Three witnesses corroborated the event, but Muhammad apparently did not want to believe it, and so established the arbitrary rule that four witnesses are required.

Notes

Rape of Muslim women is against Islamic law. However, the rape of non-Muslim women is not if they are 'captured in battle' or bought as slaves.  Even the rape of a Muslim woman is almost impossible to prove under strict Islamic law (Sharia).  If the man claims that the act was consensual sex, there is very little that the woman can do to refute this.  Islam places the burden of avoiding sexual encounters of any sort on the woman.

A recent fatwa from a mainstream Islamic site echoes this rule and even chides a victim of incest for complaining when she has no "evidence":

However, it is not permissible to accuse the father of rape without evidence. Indeed, the Sharee’ah put some special conditions for proving Zina (fornication or adultery) that are not required in case of other crimes. The crime of Zina is not confirmed except if the fornicator admits it, or with the testimony of four trustworthy men, while the testimony of women is not accepted. 

Hence, the statement of this girl or the statement of her mother in itself does not Islamically prove anything against the father, especially when he denies it. 

Therefore, if this daughter has no evidence to prove that her accusations are true, she should not have claimed that she was raped by her father and she should not have taken him to the court.⁸⁰⁷

Since it is incredibly unlikely that a child molester will violate his victim in front of "four trustworthy men", Islamic law amounts to a free pass for sexual predators.

Islamic law rejects forensic evidence (such as DNA) in favor of testimony.  An interesting situation thus sometimes develops in cases where a victim alleges rape and the man denies that sex even took place.  In the absence of four male witnesses, rape cannot be proven.  The woman's testimony then becomes a "confession" of adultery.  She can be stoned, even though the male is unpunished, since he never admitted to a sexual act.

Some clerics blame rape on the woman.  Australian Sheik Feiz recently said a rape victim "has no one to blame but herself.  She displayed her beauty to the entire world... to tease man and appeal to his carnal nature." ⁸⁰⁸   Even his successor, who was brought in to mitigate the backlash, compared⁸⁰⁹ unveiled women to "sweet pastries" tempting hungry men.

One of the world's most respected Sunni scholars, Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, recently told an audience on his al-Jazeera television show that "To be absolved from guilt, the raped woman must have shown some sort of good conduct."⁸¹⁰

Dr. Abd al-Aziz Fawazan al-Fawzan, a professor of Islamic law said that "If a woman gets raped walking in public alone, then she, herself is at fault. She is only seducing men by her presence. She should have stayed at home like a Muslim woman."⁸¹¹  

This was echoed by the imam of a Salafist mosque in Cologne, Germany in the wake of the shocking sex abuse rampage by recently arrived Muslims on New Year's Eve in 2015.  He explained that "the events" (which included rape) "were the girls' own fault because they were half-naked and wearing perfume."⁸¹² 

When it came to light in 2016 that a 13-year-old British girl had been abused by a dozen Pakistani rapists, certain members of the Muslim community said they believed the victim "played her part."⁸¹³

In 2013, Syria's chief Mufti, Sheikh Abd al-Rahman Ali al-Dala, issued a statement that gives soldiers religious permission to rape the women they capture.⁸¹⁴

There can be also no such thing as rape in a Muslim marriage, even if the husband has to hit the wife in order to bring about her submission.  Another recent fatwa reminds a woman, she "does not have the right to refuse her husband, rather she must respond to his request every time he calls her." (Islam Q&A, Fatwa No. 33597).⁸¹⁵

Keep in mind that most Muslim countries do not operate under strict Islamic law, but rather under legal codes copied from the West.  Therefore, rape victims in these countries can - and often do - receive justice under more reasonable standards of proof.

How can societies and governments address those who may embrace maligned attitudes concerning the rights and dignity of women? Would a formal process of inquiry be appropriate to determine who embraces these attitudes? Consider the possibility that those who embrace these attitudes should receive educational treatment that helps them to understand the importance of treating all persons with equality, respect and dignity, regardless of gender. Consider the possibility that those who embrace these attitudes while living in countries that have a foundation in human rights, rights established by an omnipotent Creator, a Creator best represented by His Son Jesus Christ, should receive educational treatment that helps to highlight the differences between Jesus and Muhammed, while not belittling the virtues extolled in parts of Islam, such as mercy, chastity, alms giving and self-control, as often exhibited through prayer and fasting, nor suggesting that all the other great things associated with Islam, such as the architecture, calligraphy and the Arabic language, cease to be understood and appreciated.

As an example, considering educational programs built around the following truths surrounding, or taught by, Jesus and Muhammed:

JESUS

A.      God is your father; He desires a personal relationship with you as a groom with his bride; He loves you no matter what and desires for you to enter into a perfect union with Him, i.e. heaven. However, if you choose evil and turn away from Him, who is love and goodness itself, you will go to hell, not because that is what He wants, but because without Him, there is no salvation or life because He is the author and source of life. However, there is a place called purgatory where those who have passed from this life without appropriate regard to Him have hope that they will at some point enter heaven. Purgatory is a place of purification, its desolation, most desolate, its fires, hotter than any fires on earth.

B.      Jesus is the Son of God. He taught his followers to love enemies, and that God the Father loves the just and the unjust, gives them both rain and sunshine. Reality reflects that God does not instantly punish those who do evil, but permits it out of His gift of free will. He taught his followers to respect civil authority. Over time, civil authority became more Christianized and in 1612 Francisco Suarez, a Jesuit priest, wrote about basic human rights, which highlight a right to life and the right not to be controlled unwillingly by others. Jesus was celibate, he gave his time and his life in total surrender to God for the good of building the Kingdom of God, just as many priests and religious do today. Christianity has spread through evangelization, i.e. preaching the Good News that Jesus taught, the cornerstone of which can be found in the Sermon on the Mount. Many of those who follow Jesus have faced persecution and death at the hands of tyrannical governments, as was the case in Rome when the first Apostles eventually gave their life for Him. Countries that can trace their roots back to Christian governments predominantly embrace human rights.

C.       Following Jesus is not an easy task. It is not an opium for reality but an openness to a life of self-denial and hard work. However, it is proven that those who have faith and pray cope well with stress and do better in life, whether through having less addictions, being better children, mothers or fathers, carrying their crosses and offering their sufferings with His for its redemptive value, and much more. Those who continue in their faith do so through their free will. The cross symbolizes freedom, freedom to love God (vertical direction) and others (horizontal direction).

Muhammed

A.      Although there is some division between Shia and Sunni Muslims with respect to the following idea, generally speaking, Allah is not a personal, loving God, like one might consider a father. The relationship between him and believers is similar to one between a slave and his or her master; a praiseworthy life is one of total submission to the will of Allah. There are different degrees of greatness and depravity in paradise and hell, respectively. In Islam, there is no purgatory, no hope for those in hell, no encouragement to pray for those who passed from this life unworthy of paradise. With respect to apostasy, according to the Hadith (Sahih al-Burkhari, 4:52:260), the Prophet (Muhammed) has stated, ‘If somebody (a Muslim) discards his religion, kill him.’⁸¹⁶

B.      Muhammed is Allah’s prophet. He taught his followers that those who resist Islam should be fought against and subdued in what is known as Jihad. Christians and those living in areas controlled by the teachings of Islam are not given equal rights and they must pay a tax. It is forbidden to teach of Jesus in many of these areas or criticize the government –no freedom of speech. If foreigners are caught during battle, it is okay to enslave them unless they convert to Islam. Captives can be used as sex slaves.⁸¹⁷ Women who are Muslim have a testimony that counts as half that of a man’s testimony; if she is raped, four men must verify that her statement is true. Muhammed had several wives, one of whom, Aisha, was as young as nine years old. He fondled her in the bathtub;⁸¹⁸ pedophilia is legal in many Muslim countries.⁸¹⁹ Many of those who are now Muslim can trace their history back to periods where Muslim conquest resulted in their ancestors being forced to accept Islam or be subjugated or murdered.

C.      Many of those who continue to follow the teachings of Islam do so because if they convert they may face punishment or death. Similarly, many believe that if they leave Islam they will not enter paradise. However, the good teachings of Islam, many of which were taken from Christianity and Judaism, exhort followers to virtuous behaviors, such as alms giving, care for the poor and chastity. Also, some moderate Muslim countries have lower crime rates, depending on what you define as crime (rape and child abuse may not be considered, or easily proven, criminal activities), possibly because punishment for some crimes is more severe.

How many men are like Muhammed? How many can relate to a desire to have several lovers, even very young ones? How many men can relate to a desire for more and more earthly power and wealth? As for myself, I’m not much different. However, I realize I’m a sinner in need of a savior; I recognize Jesus as my savior as well as the authority He gave to the Church in teaching about matters of faith and morals, i.e. what constitutes sin.
      The pyramid symbolizes enslavement, enslavement to Allah, to passions, or to others, some of whom practice and spread Islam through grievous acts of terror, who falsely believe that in doing such acts they’re accomplishing something righteous for the Almighty.

Consider the possibility that those who hold the aforementioned beliefs concerning the treatment of women, as inspired through certain verses of the Quran and Sharia law, should be incarcerated if they resist educational treatment, until such a time as it can be firmly established that they realize the harm and injustice such teachings engender. Thus, the sooner they’re willing to approach educational materials suggesting they might be wrong, that Muhammed was wrong in what he taught about the dignity and equality of women, the sooner they’re be able to live freely among others in a just society.

What would it be like to live in a world where it is illegal for any person to support the aforementioned verses of the Quran, and corresponding parts of Sharia law, which engender an attitude of neglect towards the rights of women? How many people would need to be trained to conduct such a formal inquiry process, wherein a person may state they support or oppose such teachings? What should happen if a person under inquiry forcefully resists? Should the use of force be justified in subduing such a person?

If a country fails to correct such attitudes through appropriate recognition of women’s rights, wherein the statutes, policy, laws and the due processes involved with the enactment of such statutes, policies and laws is evidently negligent, should it be recognized as being in a state of opposition to those who uphold such an attitude? Would war be justified to establish a just society in these countries?

Should the illegality of such views and the ramifications thereof apply to individuals as well as individuals organized into legal bodies capable of influencing policy and government? Should they also apply to those directly involved in hearing cases where the alleged violation of the rights of a woman has occurred?

When should a formal inquiry process begin? For example, is it warranted if there is clear evidence suggesting an attitude inconsistent with the equality and dignity of women, such as a proven statement a person has made? Should such a process begin simply when probable cause exists, such as when an individual is more likely to hold such an attitude as a result of being a devout Muslim? In either case, if formal inquiry indicates such attitudes and beliefs are held, should the individual be incarcerated and receive the option for educational treatment until their beliefs change, at which point they may be set free? Or, should they have the option to begin such programs while still carrying on with their daily life, as might be the case if they’re taking night classes at a college or university? Should the completion of such education coincide with citizenship in those countries already embracing the rights of women?       

If there is forceful resistance to a formal inquiry process, what is the most humane manner of restraining someone? Should the endeavor to restrain include the possibility of using lethal force if necessary, for example if lethal force is directed in opposition to the treatment? Certainly, if it did, and such an individual were killed, and they had no loved ones, family or friends to care for their remains, they should be given a proper burial.

What should happen in instances where one or more persons presides over a case wherein a woman’s rights have been allegedly violated, to ensure that a woman receives fair testimony, that her word counts in equal proportion to that of one man, and that all appropriate evidence, such as DNA evidence, has been entered into such a case, so that the judge, organized body or jury may deliberate fairly?

Should the denial of the presentation of such evidence, wherein such evidence is legally permissible, i.e. obtained legally and in a manner that is not fraudulent, serve as evidence that such a person, jury or organized body does not uphold an attitude commensurate with the just treatment of women? Should someone who holds such views be allowed to serve as a judge or on a jury?

Consider the possibly that a prior refusal to acknowledge the truth and validity of accusations, where such truth and validity exists, wherein a second trial consisting of a judge, jury or organized body, well-known to have no sympathies or predilections for those attitudes engendered through the Koran and/or Sharia law with respect to the treatment of women, determine that such truth and validity does indeed exist, which would indicate a crime has been committed, serving as evidence that the person, jury or organized body originally overseeing the case does not uphold the truth regarding the equal dignity and rights of women, necessitates a formal inquiry into those responsible for the wrongful conclusions of the first trial.

In such cases, should such a person, or persons, be incarcerated, until such a time as a formal inquiry process can be made, but not longer than five days? If the inquiry indicates that treatment is warranted, should treatment continue until it is determined effective in correcting such attitudes, which might consist in the testimony of valid professionals, properly trained in making such determinations? Should a lie detector test be involved?

These are the kinds of questions that should be answered as an increasing number of refugees enter countries that have a foundation in human rights, rights founded on Judeo-Christian principles, i.e. that we’re made in the image of God, that we are made to love God with our whole heart, mind, soul and strength, and others as ourselves.

Examining the Bahá'í Faith on the Basis of Two Principles

A couple months after graduating from college, having moved to a new city, I decided to visit a Bahá'í community. I wanted to learn more about their faith and possibly even form a few friendships. I first became familiar with the Bahá'í faith in high school as several Bahá'í’s visited our school to hand out brochures and discuss their beliefs. I enjoyed learning about their vision for a universal faith embracing peaceful relations.

Walking out onto the patio I met a friendly, enthusiastic and slightly rotund fellow, who I’ll refer to as Boman. A few years older than me, he was very contemplative and well versed in the beliefs of the Bahá'í faith. He was very involved with the community and sponsored several radio ads, which eventually led to his nomination as Director. Our friendship grew as I attended a couple more Bahá'í services, which included reading sacred texts from various faiths and philosophies, singing and silent reflection.
      A few years later, around 2009 Boman moved to another state for his career as a computer programmer. We communicated by phone a couple times before he returned, seven years later. He reached out and we decided to meet for lunch at his favorite Mexican restaurant.       

Before he left around 2009, I had been involved with the Seventh Day Adventist church. This led to several conversations where I shared my Christian beliefs with him, discussing how much I strived to love Jesus and how much I had been learning about Salvation History through the SDA church. When we met again seven years later, I had been involved with the Catholic Church for several years and had made much progress in the faith, discussing those details as he was curious to learn more. To help in this regard, I decided to invite another friend to lunch, the same friend I’ve mentioned elsewhere in this book (the one with master’s degrees in theology and philosophy), who I’ll refer to as Mendel. I was confident that Mendel’s expertise and witness would help our discussions be even more fruitful.
      During the discussion, Boman gave me a book containing the writings of the founder of the Bahá'í faith, Baha'u'llah. Later that night I read several pages. Below is a slightly revised version of a letter I later sent Boman as a critique of what I read and in defense of the Christian faith.

I argued in the letter that the Bahá'í faith could be considered in relation to the Christian faith on the basis of two principles. The first principle highlights the importance of understanding God’s mercy over His justice, whereas the Bahá'í faith declares that the most beloved precept for our meditation on God is justice. The second principle addresses the inaccuracy of statements made by Baha'u'llah, arguing that if the Bahá'í faith were truly from God, and therefore deserving our utmost consideration, respect and honor, the founder would, as a matter of principle, accurately represent other faiths when discussing them to allow potential followers to make informed decisions, i.e. he or she would be well informed and truthful.

Dear Boman,
      I have read a few pages of the book you gave me and would like to respond as graciously as I can, focusing on two principles worth consideration.       With respect to the second precept in “The Hidden Words of Baha'u'llah,” Baha'u'llah teaches as though in the person of God, stating that God esteems justice as the most beloved precept. ⁸²⁰ However, consider Psalm 89:14, where the psalmist Ethan the Ezrahite, exclaims the following about God:

"Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you."⁸²¹

      Both Baha'u'llah and Ethan acknowledge the preeminence of God’s justice. From a sense of divine justice, whether referring to Karma or judgment day, we ought to aspire to have genuine fear of the Lord. In fact, Solomon, who has been described as one of the wisest men, teaches us the following in the Proverbs:

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.⁸²²

      Let us suppose that wisdom is knowledge of good and evil, while justice, righteousness, or fairness, can be viewed in relation to their being consequential of good or evil behavior, or flowing from it, and in accordance with logic or harmony. In this respect, Ethan the Ezrahite appears to emphasize God's love and faithfulness as preceding His justice, and in this respect, I would argue that His mercy is what we should consider and meditate upon the most.

      Of course, I do not mean by this that God is not just. Surely the righteousness of His judgement is a source of awe and something we should revere. However, in that His mercy, as derivative of His love and faithfulness, precedes His justice, I submit for your consideration that His true nature is most revealed through the person of Jesus Christ, whom I believe is true God and true man, and His most beloved attribute, or at least the one we should be most thankful for.

In studying the Christian faith, we learn about God’s tender mercy through Jesus, His only begotten Son. Jesus was filled with mercy, compassion and understanding. In fact, He only became angry on two occasions, once with the moneychangers who were selling things in the temple area,⁸²³ and as a result of the Pharisees’ hardness of heart,⁸²⁴ which preceded His healing someone with a withered hand on the Sabbath day. Good parents love their children, so much so that it is often only when they’re really angry that they’re just, giving the children what they arguably deserve for misbehavior, such as giving them a time out, spanking them, denying some treat or otherwise grounding them.

Throughout the Old Testament, God’s love and faithfulness is revealed through the people of Israel.⁸²⁵ After countless transgressions, idolatry and neglect, God forgives and welcomes them back into his loving arms, just as a good parent forgives and loves his or her children though they disobey time and time again.

The book of Genesis gives us an account of the early relationship between humankind and God and how an act of disobedience, an act of great significance given Adam’s possession of Sanctifying Grace and the Preternatural Gifts of Integrity, Immortality and Infused Knowledge,⁸²⁶ fell from that relationship and lost Sanctifying Grace and these three Preternatural Gifts. The consequence of the act and of the loss of said grace and gifts is a life marked by suffering and death. The act of disobedience is known as Original Sin. The Good News is that the effects of Original Sin are washed away through the Sacrament of Baptism, where we are made heirs of Christ, though already Children of God –every individual is a creation of God and can loosely be called a Child of God, but this does not imply a right relationship with Him.⁸²⁷

From the time of the apostles, becoming a Christian has been accomplished by a journey and initiation in several stages. This journey can be covered rapidly or slowly, but certain essential elements will always have to be present: proclamation of the Word, acceptance of the Gospel entailing conversion, profession of faith, Baptism itself, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and admission to Eucharistic communion.⁸²⁸

God’s justice, which we might generally refer to as Karma (remember that Mendel mentioned how divine justice, or cosmic justice, played a huge part in his eventual belief in God), necessitates repentance. Through repentance we are able to be reconciled with Him, just as in any relationship wherein mercy is sought through forgiveness. Being made in His image, made for perfection, we regularly transgress because of our disordered passions and inclinations toward evil, a consequence of Original Sin, also known as concupiscence. Similarly, even when we know what is good, we often do that which is evil.

We should strive to live righteous lives. When we abide in His will and live righteously, we show our love for Him. And who could be more deserving of all our love than the One who made us and everything that exists? Unrighteousness offends our Creator, or more accurately, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, who, with the Father and Holy Spirit, is deserving of all our love and adoration. The first commandment is that we put Him first in our life, that we love Him with our whole heart, mind, soul and strength?⁸²⁹

So, while the Baha'i faith in its latest revelation from Baha'u'llah teaches justice as the most beloved precept, I believe it is His mercy, His love and faithfulness, that we should meditate on most in order to know who He is, in order to build our relationship with Him, our loving Creator, to help us fulfill the first commandment. Also consider that children do not readily love cold and heavy-handed parents, nor would they be likely to grow in love by meditating on their justice. Rather, our love grows when they are understanding, generous, patient and forgiving, when we acknowledge the suffering and sacrifices they have made for us; love is mercy when it is underserved, which is not a function of justice.

The ultimate penalty for sin is death, which is the result of the sin of Adam and Even. Their experience of death is justice in proportion to the transgression made from the state of grace they were in. Although it is not something we readily understanding, sadly, we have inherited that curse and our bodies are subject to deterioration, aging, sickness, pain, death. The Good News is that Jesus delivers us from this justice through His offering of Himself, or in the words of St. John, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”⁸³⁰ This is at the heart of Scripture’s revelation, and it is revealed fully by God Himself in the person of His Son, not simply as an idea, though still an idea that is perfect harmony in all things, or the Logos, but as a life lived and offered for us, Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity, a life offered on the cross of Calvary as though an unblemished lamb whose blood causes death to Passover.⁸³¹ This gift of His life for our sins is the means that saves us from the clutch and grasp of death and the devil, who is a liar and a murderer from the beginning,⁸³² who hates God and always seeks our ruin. “Sin is an offense against reason, truth, and right conscience; it is failure in genuine love for God and neighbor caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods. It wounds the nature of man and injures human solidarity.”⁸³³ The devil knows this and beyond our own concupiscence, tempts us to sin. Therefore, “Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour.”⁸³⁴

I believe the Baha'i faith has many pearls of wisdom and truth capable of inspiring virtue. But I don't believe it contains the fullness of the truth about God’s personhood and nature in accordance with what has already been revealed through Divine Revelation. The simple truth that our sin separates us from our Creator provides us all the more reason to dig deeper into that truth so that we may truly love and serve Him by abiding in His will, walking away from sin through grace, especially the graces received through the Sacraments of the Catholic Church. It is through this knowledge that our highest purpose can be reached, experiencing Him fully in each moment and in the life to come. And, it is this kind of knowledge that will guide us away from a mentality that it is okay to presume upon His mercy, or that sin is okay as long as we ultimately end up happy in this life.

Lastly, with respect to the second principle worthy of consideration, there is a real problem when a person or faith system distorts the things Jesus said or did. And yet, this requires trust that those who reported His sayings and deeds, did so accurately, namely, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, throughout the four canonical Gospels, as well as Peter, James, Paul and the other Apostles who were eyewitnesses and who have shared their witness and insights with us through Holy Scripture and Sacred Tradition.

During our first conversation, when Mendel spoke about human sexuality, he brought up the notion of plurality in marriage, or polygamy, and you shook your head.

      We know that Baha'u'llah had three wives, and has written, in note 89 of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas:

Polygamy is a very ancient practice among the majority of humanity. The introduction of monogamy has been only gradually accomplished by the Manifestations of God. Jesus, for example, did not prohibit polygamy, but abolished divorce except in the case of fornication;⁸³⁵

However, this is not accurate. Rather, consider the following words Jesus spoke,

When Jesus finished these words, he left Galilee and went to the district of Judea across the Jordan. Great crowds followed him, and he cured them there.

Some Pharisees approached him, and tested him, saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?”

He said in reply, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, no human being must separate.”

They said to him, “Then why did Moses command that the man give the woman a bill of divorce and dismiss [her]?” He said to them, “Because of the hardness of your hearts Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) and marries another commits adultery.”

[His] disciples said to him, “If that is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” He answered, “Not all can accept [this] word, but only those to whom that is granted. Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it.”⁸³⁶

And these words,

You have heard that it was said, “You shall not commit adultery.” But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell. –Matthew 5:27-30

In the first passage Jesus talks about monogamy as the condition God intends from the beginning, a union that results in one flesh. The Hebrew word for oneness is echad. Echad is also the Hebrew word used to describe God in the Shema prayer, which is central to Israelite worship, prayerfully recited twice daily:

"Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God, the LORD is one."

"Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God, the LORD is echad."

      Thus, every Israelite would have known that in accordance with the sacredness of God's oneness is the sacredness of the one-man and one-woman union, a bond so strong that divorce is not permitted. Furthermore, in accordance with the second passage, Jesus’ raises the moral standard; adultery is not simply having relations with someone already married but objectifying or looking at another with disordered sexual desire. Would it be possible for a man or woman already married to look at another potential spouse without it being a disordered desire in the context of Echad, in the context of “the two shall become one flesh?” Not three, not four, but the two shall become one.

Half-truths are dangerous; inaccuracy is dangerous. A half-truth or inaccuracy about God is known as a heresy. Heresy disfigures the Truth that God has revealed, Truth that reveals His image, an image which we have been made in. Jesus is not simply a prophet, but the full manifestation of God, true man and true God in the second person of the Holy Trinity. It’s a profound mystery difficult to understand. Moreover, to skew His words, to twist them to our own liking or understanding, undermines His authority and misrepresents Him, even though we may not understand the mysteries presented. This misrepresentation of God is the trick Satan used at the dawn of mankind, deceiving Eve into disobedience by inciting her to question the truth He revealed.⁸³⁷

Thus, the Bahá'í faith should be considered in light of at least two principles:

If the Bahá'í faith is in fact a revelation from God, its most beloved precept would be His mercy. Salvation History predominantly reveals His mercy, a mercy that consummates in a graphically visible expression of love for the salvation of all people, a mercy that can supersede the justice we deserve, a mercy exemplified through Jesus’ offering of Himself on the cross, a bloody atonement for the justice of sin, which is death.

If the Bahá'í faith is in fact a revelation from God, its founder would more accurately represent what Jesus taught, not appear to distort his teaching to his own liking or seem to justify a lifestyle he desires. Similarly, if the great aim of the Bahá'í faith is to unify the world’s religions, without imposing uniformity, it would appear the founder should better represent the teachings of different faiths more accurately. A leader who is not trustworthy (trustworthy as it relates to being competent enough to study what Jesus actually taught and relate it accurately) or honest, cannot be from God, nor would they be closer to the “The Real”⁸³⁸ as a result of their attempt at syncretism. Moreover, “The Real” has already revealed Himself as the Way, the Truth and the Life.⁸³⁹

      Thank you for your consideration. I hope I have not offended you but merely challenged you to reconsider your allegiance to the Bahai faith in favor of the Son of God, Jesus the Lord who has risen from the dead!

Baptized with Fire and 501c3 Status

If you’ve ever seen The Matrix, starring the exceptionally talented Keanu Reeves, you’ll remember early in the movie that Neo’s phone is frequently ringing. And, these aren’t ordinary phone calls; ultimately, Neo’s being “called” to save humanity.

What a purpose, what a mission! Neo’s call is to liberate mankind from the matrix, a kind of beast like the one Daniel the prophet dreams about and later confronts in the Persian Empire, a behemoth that enslaves people by keeping them ignorant of the truth.

This kind of ignorance was also addressed by Plato in “The Republic,” where shadows cast on the walls of a cave are the only things most people see in this world, phantoms of the truth. Outside the cave, things exist as they truly are.

Is it possible that celibate priests and pastors who answer Jesus’ “call,” following closely in His footsteps, focusing their entire lives on saving souls through administering sacraments and teaching about the Truth, are weakened because they must work within 501c3 status, a status that prevents them from commenting, either positively or negatively, on political candidates? Is it possible that this status “quenches” the fire that Jesus’ baptism engenders?

I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. –St. John the Baptist

If you’re familiar with the Good News that men and women are more than matter, that we all have an eternal soul, that there is a Judgment Day and that Jesus did in fact rise from the dead… you might also recall that St. John the Baptist was beheaded for speaking out against a political ruler of his day, Herod Antipas. In essence, John called upon Herod Antipas to repent of adultery, i.e. to repent of the affair he had with his sister-in-law, Herodias, who he eventually married after divorcing his first wife.

What does it mean to be baptized with the Holy Spirit and with fire? There are several explanations. According to GotQuestions.org:⁸⁴⁰

Some interpret the baptism of fire as referring to the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was sent from heaven. “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them” (Acts 2:2-3). It is important to note that these were tongues as of fire, not literal fire.

Some believe that the baptism with fire refers to the Holy Spirit’s office as the energizer of the believer’s service, and the purifier of evil within, because of the exhortation “Do not quench the Spirit,” located in 1 Thessalonians 5:19. The command to the believer is to not put out the Spirit’s fire by suppressing His ministry.

A third and more likely interpretation is that the baptism of fire refers to judgment. In all four Gospel passages mentioned above, Mark and John speak of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, but only Matthew and Luke mention the baptism with fire. The immediate context of Matthew and Luke is judgment (Matthew 3:7-12; Luke 3: 7-17). The context of Mark and John is not (Mark 1:1-8; John 1:29-34). We know that the Lord Jesus is coming in flaming fire to judge those who do not know God (2 Thessalonians 1:3-10; John 5:21-23; Revelation 20:11-15), but praise be to God that He will save all that will come and put their trust in Him (John 3:16)!

This latter explanation appears further supported vis-à-vis several Scripture versus:⁸⁴¹

But he knoweth my way, and has tried me as gold that passeth through the fire (Job 23:10)

And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined: and I will try them as gold is tried. They shall call on my name, and I will hear them. I will say: Thou art my people: and they shall say: The Lord is my God. (Zacharias 13:9)

As silver is tried by fire, and gold in the furnace: so the Lord trieth the hearts. (Prov. 17:3)

That the trial of your faith (much more precious than gold which is tried by the fire) may be found unto praise and glory and honour at the appearing of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:7)

For gold and silver are tried in the fire, but acceptable men in the furnace of humiliation. (Eccl. 2:5)

Many shall be chosen, and made white, and shall be tried as fire (Daniel 12:10)

As baptized Christians, we’re called to be Priests, Prophets and Kings.⁸⁴² Moreover, we’re called to herald the Kingdom of God on earth. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

897 The term ‘laity’ is here understood to mean all the faithful except those in Holy Orders and those who belong to a religious state approved by the Church. That is, the faithful, who by Baptism are incorporated into Christ and integrated into the People of God, are made sharers in their particular way in the priestly, prophetic, and kingly office of Christ, and have their own part to play in the mission of the whole Christian people in the Church and in the World.⁸⁴³

898 By reason of their special vocation it belongs to the laity to seek the kingdom of God by engaging in temporal affairs and directing them according to God’s will. . . . It pertains to them in a special way so to illuminate and order all temporal things with which they are closely associated that these may always be effected and grow according to Christ and may be to the glory of the Creator and Redeemer.⁸⁴⁴

899 The initiative of lay Christians is necessary especially when the matter involves discovering or inventing the means for permeating social, political, and economic realities with the demands of Christian doctrine and life. This initiative is a normal element of the life of the Church:

Lay believers are in the front line of Church life; for them the Church is the animating principle of human society. Therefore, they in particular ought to have an ever-clearer consciousness not only of belonging to the Church, but of being the Church, that is to say, the community of the faithful on earth under the leadership of the Pope, the common Head, and of the bishops in communion with him. They are the Church.⁸⁴⁵

900 Since, like all the faithful, lay Christians are entrusted by God with the apostolate by virtue of their Baptism and Confirmation, they have the right and duty, individually or grouped in associations, to work so that the divine message of salvation may be known and accepted by all men throughout the earth. This duty is the more pressing when it is only through them that men can hear the Gospel and know Christ. Their activity in ecclesial communities is so necessary that, for the most part, the apostolate of the pastors cannot be fully effective without it.⁸⁴⁶

It’s interesting that at the end of the Matrix trilogy, Neo flies triumphantly into the sky. It reminds me of how Padre Pio is known to have bilocated, i.e. to be able to be in two places at once. This is a funny connection, but it comes in light of a dream I had last night, one where I was flying around a gigantic apartment complex trying to find where I had parked a white shuttle van I seemed to have rented. I made the connection because, for the first time in a dream, I could be in two places at once. It appears I’m gaining “supernatural” abilities in my dreams –I can be invisible when wanting to go undetected; I can pass through walls.

At any rate, while I was at the front desk trying to find a map of the complex (to no avail I might add –something was fishy about this complex, which I eventually exposed at the end of the dream), I met a nice looking blond woman. After having exchanged a few words with her, we kissed. Wow… talk about a fast pace! However, since I was on a mission to find this shuttle, and not wanting to leave her, I managed to divide myself and continue listening to her talk while I also continued flying around this mega-apartment complex. Sadly, I don’t remember anything she talked about.

But, I digress… an example of Padre Pio that I remember reading about, where he bilocated, involved hearing a confession of a young lady who was visiting Rome. She became very discouraged because she couldn’t find an available priest to hear her confession. Later, she found out it was Padre Pio –he introduced himself when she finally visited San Giovanni Rotondo. He stated that he had first met her in Rome and heard her confession, though he had never “actually” left San Giovanni Rontondo during the time he heard her confession. Of course, there are other examples of this phenomenon in the life of Padre Pio, some of which can be found in the little booklet, “Padre Pio: A Holy Priest”, by Jim Gallagher.

It’s interesting for me to consider answering a call to be a priest or pastor in light of a fiery baptism. On one hand, it would be an exceptional way to serve, to be “the hands and feet” of Christ on earth. And yet, I can’t help wondering if it would also stifle a ministry, a fiery one where I’d have greater freedom in being able to endorse or refute a political candidate, one that may help or hinder the establishment of God’s Kingdom, here and now.

Blessed Mother, pray for us.

St. John the Baptist, pray for us.

Padre Pio, pray for us.

Stormy Weather

Passing through a storm

Your ship tossed to and fro

Will it ever stop?

Can you take the next blow?

Clouds are thick and black

The waves are crashing down

All is cold and wet

You’re trying not to frown

Stranded at Sea

Your S.O.S. goes out

Everything’s overboard

No one hears you shout

Then you call to mind

The disciples at Sea

Jesus calmed the storm

Trusting sets you free

I Want, I Want, I Want

What is the subconscious mantra of a consumerist culture?  Is it not ‘I want the nicest house, I want the biggest TV, I want access to all the best shows and movies, I want the nicest clothes, the nicest car, the best furniture, kitchen items and yard, I want many good friends and to be invited to all the popular events… I want, I want, I want.’

Don’t get me wrong, wanting these things isn’t wrong, nor is having them.  What is wrong is putting them above all else –making “things,” “respect,” or “popularity” the god of our life.

True freedom is the absence of all slavery, both obvious and subtle forms.  When Moses freed the Israelites from Egypt, an obvious form of slavery had been overcome.  This freedom is symbolic of the freedom we gain when we acknowledge Jesus as God and live as though He is the King of our life.  Then we start to realize the subtle forms of slavery that often cause suffering and anxiety in our lives and that of others.  Our will begins to become aligned with His will, we continue to experience His mercy and grace, we learn to love Him more and others as ourselves.  This is the only solution to a consumerist culture, a culture of death that treats human life as an inconvenience, aborted and thrown in a dumpster or flushed down a toilet when standing in the way of our wants.  Around 4000 children are aborted in America every day.  God have mercy on us.

Are those who sacrifice a family in favor of a career, possibly neglecting a healthy attitude towards sex and marriage, working incessantly so that they may have the nicest house and car, truly living in freedom and with joy?  Are the compromises they make along the way really worth it? Are those addicted to pornography truly free?  How about those addicted to alcohol, opioids, marijuana, cocaine or heroin?

If there is a Supreme Being who will weigh the actions of our life someday, rewarding us in accordance with it, will those in bondage obtain the same reward as those who are not?  Will their works of goodness measure equally?  If not, could they successfully convince Him that their actions were out of their own control?  Who can help someone who doesn’t realize their suffering from an addiction or want to change?  Our Lord once said that only by fasting and prayer can some demons be case out.⁸⁴⁷

What causes apathy towards the freedom we gain when we love Jesus and His Bride first and foremost?  Is it a lack of knowledge?  If so, what prevents us from learning more?  What prevents us from sharing our knowledge of Him, and the good things He has done in our life, with others?

What causes apathy towards regular participation in the activities of His Church?  Is it pride or a sense of embarrassment from going to Church, possibly concerns over what others might think?  What stops us from putting a bumper sticker on our car that shares the news about a local Catholic or Christian radio station, church, or pro-life candidate?  Is our car so nice that the sticker might damage the paint or embarrass us at work?

Can I be right with God if I love Him but do not practice loving those around me?  If someone around me is living in sin and I don’t gently inform or correct them, believing that they’re on their way to meet the Supreme Being, do I really love them? If I do not participate in civic activities that help to create a culture of life, do I really love my neighbor, especially the one yet to be born?

Can the extravagance of our food make us lazy and indifferent? If so, perhaps fasting can help.  Having you ever considered joining in a Fast for Life event? (http://lifeissacred.net/Fasting.html)

When I have met my needs and work towards my wants, do I too easily forget that others are lacking in their spiritual and physical needs, that they might be caught up in addictions or live under governments that don’t respect freedom of religion or the press?

If I could help these who are in need, what would I do today and why might that be a good first step?

Spiritual Sunscreen

The presence of the devil in our lives is often like being in the sun on a cloudy day.  We can’t feel the heat of the sun’s rays like we normally would, we think everything is beautiful.  Before long, without sunscreen, we realize we’ve been burned.

The presence of the devil in our lives can be very subtle.  The culture we live has many products and services that act as clouds, masking the heat of the sun.  How many times, whether while watching TV, shopping, walking or driving down the street at a nearby strip mall, do we forget the presence of a spiritual battle, as though all in the world is good?  …as though children are not being aborted or kidnapped and sold into slavery, as though the prisoners in North Korea are imprisoned justly or being treated humanely, as though freedom of speech and religion are not suppressed in many places throughout the world? 

How often are we consumed with concerns relating to whether or not we have enough possessions?  And, when we seem to have enough for the moment, seek nothing further?  Often it is not until we are faced with the loss of a loved one, the threat of financial insecurity or ill health, that we realize our need to cry out for help to Him who has made all life possible.  Sometimes it’s only during those times that we ask the serious questions on how we’re living and whether or not we’re acceptable to Him.

When we trust that the eyewitness testimony of the Apostles is true, that unlike any other renowned religious leader, Jesus actually claimed to be God, that the things He did and said were accurately reported to us by these witnesses, we can more readily accept that there is in fact a devil and a spiritual battle taking place.  Jesus Himself declared it, and the lives of many holy men and women who’ve had personal encounters with Satan or evil spirits, as described in John Carroll Cruz’s book, “Angels and Demons,” confirms it.  This battle won’t be over until the end of this age, when Christ Jesus returns in glory to judge the living and the dead.  At that time, the devil will be thrown into a bottomless pit with all his followers.

In the meantime, adequate spiritual sunscreen is important.  This sunscreen can take the form of living a holy life, as exemplified by Jesus and the saints, which generally requires active involvement in a Church where we can receive the Sacraments and form accountability partners, strengthening one another in our spiritual walk with Christ, and by prayer, especially, in my experience, prayers of the rosary.⁸⁴⁸ I’ve also found wearing a brown scapular⁸⁴⁹ very helpful.

Success in the Interior Life

Success in the interior life often involves overcoming a certain self-perception of ourselves in relation to who or what we should be like.  Moreover, we’re often presented with things in the media that are sensationalized, even though they’re often harmful.  In many cases, this perception of how we’re supposed to “fit-in,” forms the basis for our self-esteem.  Consequently, when we feel bad due to lack of fitting into that false sense of identity, we’re more susceptible to giving into temptation.  How often do feelings of being alone or rejected, or the fear of those feelings, overcome the will to put God first in our thoughts and actions?

In many instances of temptation there is an inflammation of our desire for fortune and fame, for the marvelous and for status.  We’re often presented with an image of having the things we want, permeated by a sense of permissiveness.  Permissiveness is one of the three tactics the devil uses to foster disdain for the cross of Christ, according to the venerable Fulton Sheen in his YouTube video, “The Devil & the Diabolic.”⁸⁵⁰  The other two tactics involve marvel and status. Together they form an easy-to-remember acronym, PMS.

To overcome this strategy of darkness, we must learn to embrace and love the cross we’ve been given.  We may need to desire the feelings that on the surface seem ugly or bad, feelings which the world often shuns entirely.  Put another way, we sometimes must desire being unpopular instead of popular, poor over rich and simple over sophisticated, to maintain our relationship with God.

Jesus summarizes this attitude within several of the beatitudes, for example “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”  Fr. Robert Barron paraphrases this beatitude in his DVD series “Catholicism,” stating “Blessed are those who aren’t addicted to good feelings.”

Indeed, how great we feel when we seem like the center of attention and believe everyone wants to be around us, when we’re frequently invited to popular events and parties, when we “win” friends and influence people.  The desire for these feelings can be so strong that many abuse alcohol and other drugs to produce them.  Of course, there is nothing inherently wrong with feeling good, the problem arises when producing these feelings is more important than anything else, especially our relationship with Him –how easy it is to forget about Jesus and the mission of the Gospel, how easy we become permissive towards sin so that we may feel better.

Jesus also stated, “Blessed are those who suffer persecution for righteousness’ sake.”  Fr. Barron paraphrases this beatitude by stating, “Blessed are those who are not attached to honor.”  Mediating on the crown Jesus received, a crown of thorns, can become a source of strength and courage to overcome an attachment to honor.

Another beatitude that can help us overcome our attachment to honor: “Blessed are those who are poor in spirit.” 

Being held in high esteem by others can easily be misplaced as the source for our self-esteem.  Not surprisingly, those who embrace poverty of spirit are not addicted to a high self-esteem or to pride.  Rather, they can embrace feeling vulnerable and weak, like a homeless person begging for food, like a lamb amid wolves, trusting in their shepherd for protection.  Moreover, His power is made perfect in our weakness.

Indeed, Satan lurks like a lion at the door of our heart, waiting to devour all that is good.  How many suicides are the result of an emotional breakdown, a fall with an inability or unwillingness to get back up?

By embracing an attitude of poverty in spirit we may more aptly embrace humility, a disposition which prepares us to be in the presence of our Heavenly Father, the Alpha and Omega, who is omniscient and omnipotent.  This disposition is akin to one appropriate towards repentance, contrasting sharply with pride and self-righteousness.  Moreover, consider the lives of St. John Paul II and Mother Theresa –they went to confession weekly.

To allow a certain amount of detachment from the things of this world and abide in His love, we must embrace the beatitudes.  One of the strategies Satan uses to deter us from the cross involves presenting certain activities as marvelously fun, so much so that we should abandon our restraint.  How many spring break beach parties reveal immodesty and drunkenness as the ticket to having a good time?  Perhaps this is why The Book of Revelation, The Apocalypse, speaks of Satan as standing on the sands of the seashore.⁸⁵¹ Similarly, how many young adults turn to drugs, even selling them in pursuit of money and status, while picturing themselves on a beach drinking a Mai Tai, an epitomy of success? How many rap songs glorify such a lifestyle? Did you know that many who are in gangs look up to those known as a “G?” A “G” is someone who’s killed another person, a prime example of lawlessness, or should I say godlessness?

This allure of status, fame and fortune was the focus of the last temptation of Jesus, where Satan vainly attempted to offer Jesus the world and all its kingdoms in exchange for his obeisance.  Jesus wisely responded,

Away with you Satan! for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’⁸⁵²

How many who are esteemed by the media have succumbed to the allure of fame and fortune at the expense of their relationship with God?  How many will pose nude or in their underwear, a.k.a. a bikini, for fame and fortune? How many become idolized?

St. John of the Cross has expanded on our need to embrace the beatitudes through his “Graph of the Mount of Perfection,” assisting us to not only embrace bad feelings over good ones when appropriate, but to correct our tendency to overshoot, being more attracted to the bad ones than the good, especially in our desire for spiritual reward. 

‘In order to enjoy, know, possess and be everything, desire to enjoy, know, possess and be nothing. You must continue on the way without enjoying, without knowing, without possessing; you must follow the path on which you are nothing.’

Can we be so bold as to let go of our attraction to enjoy, know and possess, even spiritual things?

We should learn to find comfort in our relationship with God, in our contemplation of His goodness and the blessings He has promised to those who persevere in righteousness and holiness.  And yet, not excessively, as though our sense of worth derives from our works, accomplishments and growth. 

Indeed, if Jesus didn’t rise from the dead, our faith is in vain, but if we trust that the testimony of the Apostles is true, if we remember the good things He has done for us and for others we know, then we can hold fast to His promises, fully embracing the hope that we have much more to look forward to than even our best moments of consolation here might suggest.

Consider the change of heart and transformation that takes place when a young adult, or a person of any age for that matter, puts the Will of God first in their life, when the seeds of the Gospel take root.  No longer is the natural man overly concerned with what others think of them, nor is he so easily influenced by peer pressure, a desire for popularity or excellence according to a standard set by the world –no longer is their primary pursuit disposed to fame and fortune.  Rather, he or she starts looking for the deeper meaning behind the events of life, looking for God’s signature in everything, even when it seems obscure and surrounded by evil.  It’s as though they’re one of those in the cave discussed by Plato in “The Republic,” finally coming out of the cave and realizing that the things seen inside were only shadows of true forms, shadows of a true reality.

This true reality can be found in Him who is “the way, the truth and the life.” He leads us out of the world (lust of the eyes), out of addictions (lust of the flesh) and out of Satan’s snares (the pride of life).

Faith Becomes Stronger

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.  –Hebrews 11:6

Because we love him and want to please him, it is vital to find ways to practice faith, ways of demonstrating and strengthening our belief.  Here are some methods to consider:  

Bible study. Hearing, reading, understanding –this helps us to know His redemptive plan for mankind as it has unfolded in history.  It is easy to sense His presence in the Word, when He grants it to us, which strengthens faith.  This is His crowning achievement for us as His sons and daughters, that we may feast on the bread of understanding, on His plan for our eternal life. However, it does not free us from temptation.  And yet, as Paul has stated, in 1st Corinthians 13:2, “If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.”   

Love others.  To love those I don’t know, those who are not my family, friends or co-workers, especially my ‘enemies,’ requires discipline and is an act of faith. To do so, at least in the case of my enemies, is contrary to my sinful nature that naturally seeks revenge or self-gratification.  In this way, by loving the, ‘least of this world,’ and those who I would naturally hate, I elevate my mind to the things of heaven, the things beyond this age that are passing away. 

Prayer. To pray to God is to acknowledge that He exists, that he cares, and that He is capable of answering prayer.  The act of prayer itself is an act of faith, and with practice, should naturally be strengthened.  Nothing is impossible with Him.⁸⁵³  “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”  --Matthew 5:45

Fasting. Fasting has the potential to deepen our sense of communion with God when we pray. It helps us practice discipline, strengthening our will to cling to Him in the battle to overcome temptation. Humility can come more easily when we’re weakened through being in a fasting condition, i.e. we’re less combative. Furthermore, Jesus taught that some demons could only be cast out by fasting. 
      However, fasting can be dangerous and should be done under the supervision of a healthcare provider, especially for those who have diabetes, nutritional disorders, kidney or liver disease or would otherwise need closer supervision due to a health condition. Some people may not be able to safely fast from food. However, there are often other things that can be fasted from, such as television, music, candy, entertainment or relationships.

Spend time with the Body of Christ. Fellowship with those who share the same faith and conviction helps to strengthen our resolve by building community and through providing an opportunity to hear about the many wonderful, even miraculous things that He has done for us. We often become stronger by seeing others pass through struggles, endure pain and stay the course.  Similarly, when others fall, we can become stronger by helping them up.  As a body, we are stronger when united in the same doctrine. 

Receive the Eucharist, which is an act of faith. This act requires believing that God is present in the Eucharist through transubstantiation.  It also helps to confirm His work in human history through:

The relationship it upholds to the Passover, the fruit from the Tree of Life, as foretold in Genesis,

the manna that was placed in the Ark of the Covenant,

the bread of the presence ⁸⁵⁴

the first miracle of Jesus’ public ministry, i.e. changing water into wine at a wedding feast, though in the Eucharistic feast, a.k.a. The Marriage Supper of the Lamb,⁸⁵⁵ wine into His blood, which atones for our sin.  

Read the book, “The Five Love Languages,” by Gary Chapman, considering what Jesus’ Love Languages might be.

The Glorious Sabbath of February 27th, 2010 

I awoke around 7am, my stiffened neck refusing to rise an inch after yesterday’s three-hour drive in a 4x4 truck, the cold morning pushing me deeper into soft cotton blankets, the sunshine bending its way through the beige folds of my apartment window blinds. I knew the moment I awoke that a glorious Sabbath was on its way, despite the butterflies bouncing around in my stomach.

‘More rest, need more rest!’

It was all my mind could conjure up. I turned on my side and snuggled deeper into the folds of the blankets, wondering if the dream was true.

I had never dreamt of the president before, even though I’ve said many prayers on his behalf and for our country.

For an instant, I passed over him. He was sitting in what seemed like the front of a classroom. His thoughts became apparent to me: “I can’t take this anymore. I don’t even know how she’s doing.”

What did it mean? I couldn’t help thinking about what kind of pressures the president must be working under, 16 hour days and probably barely able to keep up with family as the father he’d hoped to be. Was it Sasha? Was he wondering how she was doing in her schoolwork?

After snoozing for another hour, I finally clambered out of my cotton nest, the excitement of the day stronger than the cold stale air of my apartment, air that lingered with the foul aroma of yesterday’s garbage, garbage that should have been taken out before leaving for work, work that left me an hour short of rest and in a hurry.

Out and into the kitchen I sauntered, wandering from there to my office, debating whether to start my computer and read email or find something to eat, slumping down into my black ergonomic chair then standing up again and heading for the kitchen, the desire to eat eventually outweighing all other concerns. With eyes still puffy I reached into the pantry closet digging for an orange box of high fiber almond-cluster cereal, delicious and healthy. It was baked in sugar and packed with crunch, a crunch that could only be softened by cold and creamy milk, whether hazelnut, almond, soy or dairy.

I sauntered back into my office. Picking up the choir music I sat down in front of my computer and crunched away, reading the words for today’s performance, “Wade in the water. Wade in the water. Wade in the water.”

I started my computer and launched my Facebook account, inspired by a new activity post, “God’s gonna trouble the wadda ya’ll!” Crunch, crunch, crunch. 

It wasn’t until later in the day I realized just how literally the water had been troubled, though this time, not in a good way and probably not by God –the seventh largest earthquake in quake history had affected Chili and already taken at least 200 lives.

Spending a good 50 minutes rehearsing I finally convinced myself it’d be better to show up and sing imperfectly than not show up at all. My friends apparently agreed, showing up one by one and piling into the couch room of the rustic brick church.  We barely had time to run through all three songs: "Were you there?", "Wade in the Water," and "Dry Bones."

The jitters seized us, our warm-up went terribly. We were off key, out of tune, too high, too low, the wrong beat, the wrong time… close to a total disaster and far from encouraging. The only thing that seemed to go right was the closing prayer. It was a fitting prayer, fitting because it testified not only to the unknown moments that lie ahead through our tenuous voices, but to the theme of our music selections, the theme of black history month. No matter how hard the struggles we face, through thick and thin, highs and lows, freedom and slavery, slavery that once stained a nation before its civil war and its Martin Luther King, slavery that still exists today in our ‘modern’ times, whether behind closed doors, nearby or across oceans, we will shine, shine for Him.

It was ten-till-eleven when we marched confidently from the couch room into the brightly lit sanctuary, our heads held high, our smiling red lips and bright shining eyes complementing our neatly pressed red, white and black outfits. First were the announcements then beautiful hymnal praises followed by baby dedications, children’s stories, garden prayers, tithes and offerings, special music performances and prayers for evangelism as well as upcoming conferences. Then there more beautiful hymns and at last, introductions to our first performance.

The tensions swelled, our small talk and whispers to each other seemed punctuated by clandestine bursts of excitement as though we were newlyweds about to spend our first romantic evening together.

We climbed to the top of the stage, uncoordinated, each from a nearly different direction. As we took our places the sanctuary fell completely silent. Our breathing was the only sound, breaths that hoped to keep up with our racing hearts and still have enough left over to sing.

Our eyes fixated on our conductor, her face overflowing with amazement, confidence and a bit of fear, fear as though last night’s nightmare was about to become a reality –a swoop of her hand and we break into the wrong song!

One, two, swoop… ‘Werrrre Youuuu Therrrrre?’

We broke out triumphantly, on key and resounding. The flood of our harmony filled every part of the sanctuary like a raging river bursting over its banks, swelled from torrential rains over mountains and valleys. Sweet to the last drop we carried on with jovial expressions, swaying back and forth, our hands open and raised proudly at chest level as they held the precious words and notes of our first song. 

“Were you there? Were you there?”

We finished feeling confident and secure, impressed that our hard work and dedication paid off so handsomely. We exited the stage and took our seats.

Our first song was followed by one of the most eloquent and symbolic speeches I’ve ever heard, every word rang out triumphantly, blooming with simple truth and beauty like a gorgeous lily in a fertile earthen field.

“Amen! Amen!!”

Joyful exclamations sprang from the audience like hungry hands across a banquet table filled with colorful, decadent foods. Even the birds outside seemed tuned in as they broke forth with songs of their own, complementing various dishes along the way... ‘Freedom! Freedom through Christ!’ they seemed to chirp.

Once again, we took our places on stage. Thankfully, the beauty of our voices as we sang ‘Wade in the Water’ was no less magnificent than its flowery introduction. Though a difficult piece with a few strenuous moments to the summit, it proved a surmountable mountain. And yet, with only a second or two away from the apex, our voices fell out of tune.

Our blunder so near the end shook our audience with surprise, upsetting the gleeful ambience. Alas, after a coordinated ascent marked with pulsating staccatos like properly spaced pegs guiding us further upward, snapping rhythmically into place, supporting our bodies as they cleaved to the rocks and each other should the arduous climb prove too difficult, we reached the pinnacle, out of sync but safe at last. Our ears were left feeling hungry, a hunger as though the last bite of a delicious meal had been swiped-away by an amateur waiter.

Alas, spirits quickly brightened as dessert was on the way!

Following a candid and insightful preparatory speech by a fellow choir member, the vanguard of our young adult ministry, we took our places on stage for the last time. Once again, the sanctuary fell silent. Our eyes fixated exclusively on our conductor as we waited for the signal, the signal that was going to initiate the story of Ezekiel’s summon by the spirit of the Lord to bring life to dry bones, bones that formed the very body of Israel during a time of false worship and confusion, confusion over how it all began and who was responsible for this thing called life, life that in its finest image formed the reflection of its own creator, life that had left the body leaving nothing behind except dry bones.

The shadow of death had vanished from the valley, our song lifted splendidly to our Creator, our hearts pouring out every ounce of feeling we could put into it, the audience answering with applause and “Amen!” “Amen!”

Life filled the body.

We’d done it! We’d completed our program and achieved personal bests! We stuck together over the preceding weeks, setting aside time to rehearse and rehearse, laughing until our sides hurt on several occasions, arguing over sequence and tempo, colors and locations, pulling through, sometimes alone, sometimes dry, wading and wading, constantly lifted by His grace and kindness as we crossed the finish line.

Oh how wonderful were the hours that followed, filled with feasting, laughter and prayer! There were meatballs made with nuts, oats and parsley and covered in creamy mushroom gravies, spicy pastas accentuated by textured soy-protein chicken pieces, fresh salads, veggie burgers, cheddar creamy potatoes twice baked, mini chocolate and vanilla lemon cheese cakes, rice pudding with toasted coconut and even caramel chocolate chip cookies that somehow survived the rehearsal and Bible study the night before. There were naps and snores followed by strolling around fields burgeoning with dark green shades of alfalfa, our laughter combining with the sun’s golden rays through a gentle breeze. Finally, we closed the Sabbath together with more laughter, music and prayer.

And yet, this Sabbath-rooted stream of consciousness wasn’t over yet. To finish things off we headed to a bonfire where we’d enjoy veggie dogs, chili, jalapeño cornbread, homemade cookies and brownies topped thickly with chocolate fudge icing.

The flames danced high into the night. Embers broke free with a crackle, sending redish-orange trajectories to and fro. The full moon seemed to carry them even higher as it crept in and out behind feathery clouds that at one point seemed to form finger bones, finger bones connected to a hand bone. Then the weary hand stretched outward in a curved motion as though backhanding the moon, pushing her aside as though saying ‘You’re not worthy of worship!’

Slowly the nimbus-like fingers and hands formed arms and a torso, the torso connected to a waist and hips, hips connected to legs and feet and before long this creature spoke. At first it was just a whisper as sprinkles dotted our freshly combed and curled strands of hair, sliding down our necks and raising the hairs on our arms. We didn’t listen, carrying on with laughter and conversation.

Eventually the old man stopped whispering and fell asleep, snoring loudly. Sprinkles turned to drops that seemed to fall faster and faster. Coats and vests became saturated. Curls went flat and freshly combed hair went wild as disheveled strands fell left and right. The old man turned out to be a blessing as we clambered into the warm house.

Embers in the fireplace seemed to smile sinisterly, their sparkling orange colors now the only supply capable of satisfying the demands of thirsty eyes, as though they knew their outdoor competition was being snuffed out, smothered by the old man.

Conversations quickly ebbed and flowed and rumors of games floated from one side of the room to the other. Much to the chagrin of many weary hands, a clearing was made near the fireplace for a game of Slapjack. The children, uncontained with enthusiasm, quickly slid between the cracks of adult knees and hips, finding themselves perched at the card table, starring back into each other’s smiling faces as the adults looked around with amazement and expressions of ‘What just happened to our game?’ Laughter poured out in all directions. Before long a separate game of Attack Uno was set-up for the youngsters who were no less enthused and bewildered as colorful cards were laid out in front of them. Although the laughter of the adults poured out at various times much louder than that of the kiddos, their little faces teemed with just as much joy and excitement.

The minutes rolled away, forming a mist that seemed to hover over the close of the evening. One game finished, another started. Conversations ebbed and flowed and before long groans of laughter turned to yawns and weary eyes. Soon came cordial goodbyes, followed by hugs, smiles and waves.

An effervescent Sabbath had taken its course, wadding through waters brimming with love and hope, atop mountains that had once looked way too daunting, through valleys reminiscent of darker days, yet with wayward paths over the horizon. It was a truly amazing day, bubbling like a spring that tickled our hearts and souls, encouraging our minds yet leaving us satisfied. It was a hallowed day, foreshadowing a way to deeper and deeper intimacy with our Creator through appreciating His creation, a preordained day, restful and shared, equally and alike.

My country tis of thee,
God blessed us joyfully,
may He bless our president,
and all those,
great and small,
forever yearning to bring us,
closer and closer,
higher and higher!

      May He bless all nations joined together against tyranny, abuse and oppression! May voices and flags representing freedom and respect for basic human rights rise higher and higher and fly forevermore!

May He bless those being affected by earthquakes and tsunami’s, those who have lost or are now losing loved ones, and especially, those who have yet to know Him and be welcomed into His loving arms!
All glory be to His holy name. Amen.

Photo Source ⁸⁵⁶

Great Negro Spiritual by Whitney Phipps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNuQbJst4Lk

Persuasion through Aristotle’s Ethos When Ethos Represents the Holy Spirit

      In relation to the art of persuasion from Aristotle’s perspective, with regards to Ethos, assuming Ethos may be represented by the Holy Spirit, consider the following quote:

Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.  –John 16:7-11

      Arguably, before a person can have conviction in accordance with the Holy Spirit, he or she must have love for God. Alternatively, before a person can “see” the Kingdom of God, he or she must be baptized. It is this love that leads to an openness to doing His Will in all things.  Love will commensurate with obedience,

Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.  –John 14:23.

No longer can one ask why so many don’t seem to live in obedience to Him. The answer is simple, they do not know Him.  If they knew Him, they would love Him, for no one in their right mind would resist perfect beauty. And can we see His Kingdom if we have not been baptized?

A desire to love God with our whole strength, mind, body and soul is commensurate with an appreciation for creation and ourselves in relation to it.  This awareness is available to everyone, as St. Paul has stated,

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, that people are without excuse.  –Romans 1:20

How can one oppose thinking that worships a vague god-like sense of science as the solution and answer to every mystery of creation?  Does the person beholding the beauty of a sunset attribute such beauty to a personal and transcendent Creator who made such beauty possible through the sun, earth, life, and eye that can behold it? Or, to a random arrangement of particles that created themselves out of nothing and arranged themselves without any exterior direction or guidance?  Sadly, in many of our institutions of higher learning, mention of a Creator as the source for life is absent, despite the many statements made by leaders in the scientific community, including one of the most esteemed geniuses, Albert Einstein, who said, “God does not play dice with the Universe.”⁸⁵⁷   

Eventually, contemplation of creation with acknowledgment of a Creator leads to conviction, in accordance with the Holy Spirit, over a whole range of issues that lead to holiness, to love, obedience, and devotion.  Furthermore, the gift of contemplation leads us to greater love for Him, and from this, a desire to obey, bringing us closer to realizing the Kingdom of God while on earth, but still preparing us for Heaven, for eternal bliss with resurrected bodies in a new creation no longer subject to death and the effects of Original Sin.

What are obstacles to contemplation?  Perhaps the most obvious are those self-seeking behaviors that place pleasure as the ultimate reward of living.  Are not the seven cardinal sins (lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy and pride), to a greater or lesser extent, obstacles to contemplation, vices that compete for our time and attention?

Likewise, without setting righteousness as a priority over pleasure, over our own happiness, we won’t grow deeper in contemplation of those things that lead us to a greater love for God –the eye of our mind will remain closed, and though we appear to see, we will be blind:

Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains. –John 9:41

…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,  –Romans 3:23

But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.  –Matt 7:14

      If you are on the path that leads to life, if you’re aware of the evidence in favor of a Creator and the authenticity of the message He’s entrusted to his chosen people, the Israelites, a message fulfilled through His son Jesus, how far are you willing to go for Him?

So don’t be afraid of your enemies. Everything that is secret will be brought out into the open. Everything that is hidden will be uncovered. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight. What is whispered in your ear, shout from the rooftops. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but can’t kill the soul. Instead, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.  –Matt 10:26-28

Let us contemplate that our struggle is,

…not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. –Ephesians 6:12

What Will You Do, Knowing What You Know Now?

Suppose I told you that Christianity was made up by some very intelligent Jews who were tired of being oppressed by Greeks and Romans. These Jews believed they could make the good qualities of their religion more accessible to the Greek and Roman barbarians by writing an inspiring history about the life of a fictitious man named Jesus, and in so doing, convert some of them. By doing this, they believed they’d make the world a better place for themselves, especially as a place where their beliefs receive greater attention and respect.

Would you believe me? Do you already believe this, or sometimes wonder if that’s really what happened?

If you don’t believe that Jesus of Nazareth really walked the earth, you’d probably believe that frustrated Jews conspired to write an inspiring history about the life of fictitious man they named Jesus. This belief is consistent with the spirit of the antichrist.⁸⁵⁸ The antichrist is a man of lawlessness.⁸⁵⁹

Conversely, if you believe that Jesus really lived, as most historians do, but don’t believe much else regarding the claims commonly associated with him as made by the Church and the Bible it later composed (such that He was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried, and that on the third day He rose from the dead), you might believe that these Jews and early believers simply learned from his teachings and created a system of beliefs that fulfilled prophecies written of in years prior, as well as fabricated miracles, all of which would seem to make their claims more believable.

In either case, you may have already developed some level of faith or confidence in your belief, and your belief likely affects your outlook on the world. Nonetheless, a world where a loving Creator comes to redeem his fallen creation, fallen through disobedience that leads to death, leads to a more positive outlook on life compared to one that was made by random collisions of particles, where there is no absolute truth, purpose or justice.

Even if you recalcitrantly believe that random collisions of particles provide the only believable story behind life, could you still be persuaded that believing the authentic teachings of Christianity makes the world a better place?

Suppose you’re presented with evidence that indicates all the ways that those who received the teachings of Christianity, as revealed from Sacred Tradition and Scripture, and lived those truths authentically, made a difference, whether by starting orphanages, working for human rights or even performing superhuman feats.  Now suppose you took those facts and compared them to the less favorable outcomes you believe Christianity has had on the world. If the former outweighed the latter by a significantly large margin, indicating that it is good for someone to believe and live out the authentic teachings of Christianity, i.e. about who Jesus claims to be and how he advised his followers to live, would you be persuaded to believe that it is good for someone to believe the teachings of Christianity, simply because they help make the world better place?

Likewise, suppose you believe that there is no life after this life but because Christianity has made the world a better place, you’re going to support it in some way, whether through preserving liberty of belief in areas where it’s practiced or by donating money to help those who are on the front lines in areas where resources are scarce or where such liberties doesn’t yet exist.

      What will you do?

Have you ever been to Discerninghearts.com?  You might find the information there helpful in encountering some of those men and women who lived extraordinarily lives, as though Jesus authentically lived, died and rose from the dead, as well as some of the miracles that have been attributed to them. More specifically, visit: http://www.discerninghearts.com/catholic-podcasts/saint/

Also consider: http://www.miraclesofthesaints.com/

How I Created Life in a Fishbowl

I was feeling a little bored today, in between getting ready for a local football game and paying the bills, so I decided to run an experiment to see if I could create life. You'll never believe the results!

I took a fish bowl and added some water from a nearby mining field that had lots of elements and minerals in it, especially sulfur, iron and phosphorous. Then, I added a bit of ammonia I sometimes use to scrub my floor, as well as a few capsules of amino acids from the health food store. After that I added a few drops of hydrocarbons, a.k.a. oil, corn oil actually. Then, I rubbed a balloon against my hair to generate static electricity and dunked part of the balloon in the bowl!

In about a minute I noticed some swirling and some bubbling and before long perfectly round little bubbles were floating all around the edges! Using a microscope that I found at a local thrift store awhile back, I noticed the amino acids in the little bubbles grouped together in very consistent ways, later folding into just the right shapes that fostered the replication of nucleic acids that had also formed alongside the amino acid formations, a.k.a. proteins!

Before long, some of the other amino acid formations worked like little factories to produce new amino acid formations that corresponded with the nucleic acid sequences that were being replicated! This allowed some of the little bubbles containing the nucleic and amino acids to replicate into new bubbles with exactly the same amino acid formations and nucleic acid sequences as their parent!

Fortunately, my dad works for NASA. When he found out about the activity taking place in my fishbowl, he was able to get approval to send the fishbowl into space in a stable environment at a super-fast speed, basically accelerating the passage of time! Then, using sophisticated equipment, we could observe various bacteria forming. First some of the bacteria formed into snails, and then little fish. Each time they got bigger and bigger and eventually… a beluga whale popped right out of the aquarium and onto the floor. Fortunately, the robots promptly but him in another aquarium. But, he eventually got too big so we had to toss him out into space. Perhaps someday some traveling astronauts will need a frozen beluga whale, maybe they’ll even be able to resuscitate it!

At any rate, some of the other bacteria went on to form algae, some weeds, and then palm and pecan, almond and walnut, cherry, apple and pomegranate trees! Others mutated to form birds and bees, turtles and frogs, cows and monkeys... it was so amazing to see how the machinery that started in the little bubbles “mutated” so harmoniously to form more and more sequences of nucleic acids that would eventually lead to so many amazing features among all these creatures! In fact, some of the mutations occurred simultaneously so that certain complex features were possible right at the start of the new organism being formed! And, instead of these mutations causing harm, as most mutations do, they helped the little bubbles and allowed them to form more and more amazing things, even cucumbers, radishes and peach trees! Dad said the chances of this happening all on its own were astronomically improbable, but there it was! Eventually he passed out.

Before long, some of the monkeys lost a lot of their hair. Soon afterwards they were speaking complex languages, writing poetry and composing symphonies!

At last, the theory of how random elements can come together to form living things has been observed! Macroevolution, one species changing into another, has now been observed!
      And yet, there are still some unsolved mysteries. For example, it has been calculated that about 40,000 tons of interstellar dust enters the earth’s atmosphere every year.⁸⁶⁰ Based on the size of the moon relative to the earth, and factoring in a lower gravitational pull, we should be able to make informed calculations of the age of the moon based on the amount of interstellar dust that has accumulated on it. It is estimated that the moon is 4.53 billion years old. Thus, we might expect to find many layers of dust that have accumulated over the years. However, the first pioneers to land on the moon found only a few inches of loose dust. Nonetheless, a recent evaluation of data from NASA’s Apollo missions more than 40 years ago has helped scientists answer the question of how fast moon dust builds up. According to those results, it takes 1,000 years for a layer of dust 1 millimeter (0.04 inches) thick to accumulate.⁸⁶¹ Even at a rate 1,000,000 times slower than that rate, over a period of 4.53 billion years, we’d expect to find a layer of dust a little over a foot and a half thick.

Well, at any rate, after my experiment, it was abundantly clear that life can develop randomly and that biological macroevolution is a fact, a fact as true for us today as the one involving the flatness of the earth a few centuries ago!

I bet guys like Stephen C. Meyer, Curtis White, Robert J. Spitzer, Francis S. Collins, Kent Hovind and his son Eric, Roger Gallop and Michael J. Behe will having something to say about this experiment!

What do you think of it? Give it a try!

Jaclyn Glenn’s Rebuttal to Ray Comfort’s film, “Evolution vs God”

I spent some time today watching Jacyln Glenn’s rebuttal to Ray Comfort’s film, “Evolution vs God.”⁸⁶²

I frown at the numerous insults she directed at Ray –such coarse treatment of another person or their art tends to hinder good discussions, suggesting a person side with another out of a fear of being ridiculed.  A person can be wrong, but that doesn’t make them, or their art, stupid, just wrong or misinformed.

Regarding her comments about the banana, it appears as though there was one mutation that occurred in 1836 that resulted in the sweet yellow bananas we have today, a mutation noted by Jamaican Jean Francois Poujot.⁸⁶³

      It would be interesting to study the genetic differences between the yellow sweet banana and the green or red bananas, in that the mutation resulted in not only a change in color, but a change in carbohydrate composition (more sugary, less starchy), or a change in ripening characteristics.  Was the enzyme that caused the greater sugar over starch content the same enzyme that gives the banana the yellow color?  Was there a change in one or more carbohydrate processing organelles?  Were these two separate mutations?  If so, it would give more viability to the belief that evolution is guided by Intelligent Design, or rather, the hand of God, as the change of two mutations occurring at the same time is less likely through random chance.

Considering random chance, two of the smallest known genomes can be found in Nasuia deltocephalinicola and Carsonella ruddii bacteria. Nasuia deltocephalinicola consists of 137 protein-coding genes derived from 112,091 base pairs⁸⁶⁴ while Carsonella ruddii consists of 159,662 base pairs or ‘letters’ of DNA, enabling 182 protein-coding genes.⁸⁶⁵ These genes allow the organism to complete tasks like metabolism, reproduction, movement, defense and the formation and function of a molecular infrastructure. However, both of these organisms are dependent on another organism to survive. Carsonella ruddii thrives in sap-feeding insects while Nasuia deltocephalinicola thrives in leafhoppers and other phloem and xyle-feeding insects.

Remember that age-old question, “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?” The same question might be asked about the first organism, e.g. ‘Which came first, the cytoskeleton and protein machinery for a cell to function or its genome that produces them?’ It not a realistic question though because in order for a genome to function, the cytoskeleton and protein machinery already have to be in place. Neither can function without the other.

Researchers in the United States have modified the genome of Mycoplasma genitalium, a type of bacteria that can cause a Sexually Transmitted Disease, to a “synthetic cell” that can survive and double in volume in three hours with just 473 genes and 530,100 DNA base pairs.⁸⁶⁶ The original organism has 482⁸⁶⁷ to 525 genes and doubles in volume over several weeks. The genome of Mycoplasma genitalium was first compared to that of H. influenzae, the first bacterial genome sequenced, leading to a predicted minimal genome of 375 essential genes.⁸⁶⁸ The researchers refer to it as a ‘minimal bacterial cell’ because the minimum number of genes needed depends on both the environmental circumstances and metabolism of the organisms. In the experiment, the organisms were grown on static liquid culture, which likely included B vitamins. If an organism this “simple,” were to come together randomly in a prebiotic earth atmosphere, aka elemental rock soup (no B vitamins would have been present), 530,100 genetic letters would have to come together in the same order as those present in the newly synthesized “minimal bacterial cell.’ However, the other components necessary for the organism to function would have to already be present. These include machinery for gene expression, genome preservation, membrane structure / function and cytosolic metabolism. Similarly, the experiment involved incorporating the newly synthesized strand of DNA into a “genetically empty cell.”

The smallest known functional gene requires 76 base pairs.⁸⁶⁹ For purposes of analogy, suppose a gene is like our notion of a concept. An understandable concept can be formed from a letter, a word or a sentence, wherein each concept can be understood, i.e. each is functional or logical. Similarly, each gene is functional or logical for the organism. Whereas in the English language, a concept may be formed by as few as one letter, for example “I,” a functional combination of base pairs of DNA or RNA requires at least a combination of 76 of the basic elements of the language. Furthermore, these basic elements are themselves composed of the building blocks of hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon and phosphorus.

Nonetheless, by comparison, if each gene were equivalent to a concept, whether one letter, word or sentence, randomly forming one the above-mentioned organism, say Carsonella ruddii, would be like mixing 182 letters, words or sentences, where each individually is capable of forming a concept, into a bag and pouring them out multiple times, eventually forming a logical paragraph. Perhaps if you did that a billion times, you’d eventually form a logical paragraph. However, that is still isn’t a good analogy because you’d still have to have the other cellular components in existence for the genome to function, i.e. the machinery for gene expression, genome preservation, membrane structure / function and cytosolic metabolism.

Jaclyn is right when discussing genetic changes taking place in a species, to such an extent that two divisions of the same species can no longer interbreed, giving rise to a new “kind,” based on the Biblical definition of what constitutes a “kind.”  She uses the Greenish Warbler as an example.

However, it can also be argued that while extensive mutations of two separate divisions within a species can give rise to two different creatures so remarkably different that they cannot interbreed, it still does not account for the variety of plants and animals we have today.   The Greenish Warbler and the Green Warbler are still both birds, just different kinds of birds, having adapted different traits to better suit their environment.  Put another way, the Green Warbler and the Greenish Warbler adapted in remarkably different ways, so much so that they can no longer interbreed. But, they are still birds.

When speaking about molecular genetics, Ms. Glenn discusses genetic similarities between chimpanzees and humans, suggesting that this evidence establishes that humans evolved from chimpanzees.  While physical evidence could support this truth, I believe we should be careful in how we present such information, as the assertion encompasses a level of simplicity that undermines the mind-blowing complexity of living organisms. Such oversimplification negates a healthy belief in Intelligent Design, i.e. the same Being that created something from nothing in setting the Universe in motion, a reality that can’t be oversimplified. Moreover, this same Being had in His mind the creation of the human being, who bears a resemblance more closely to the Creator than a Chimpanzee.

Also, while a human being and a chimpanzee may look alike, only the human being has a soul.  This broader contextual understanding of the similarities between chimpanzees and human beings reveals a more complete truth.  The human soul did not develop from random mutations in the chimpanzee genome.

Interestingly, Chimpanzees are 96% to 98% similar to human beings based on their genome, with the variation depending on how the similarities are calculated. Meanwhile 75% of mouse genes have equivalents in humans.  Looking at a mouse and a human, would you say they are 75% similar?  Would you say a human and a fruit fly are 60% similar? ⁸⁷⁰

Some questions worth considering:

When does the fish, frog or lizard that becomes a snake realize a survival advantage from losing its legs or fins? At some point in the history of a snake… a fish, lizard or a frog lost its “legs.” Did that mutation correspond with an immediate advantage? If it is caused by a mutation, did the mutation happen gradually or all at once? If all at once, wouldn’t the creature have to instinctively know where to go for food to survive and reproduce? If gradually, wouldn’t it no longer be a mutation but a gradual change in genetic expression? What would guide such an occurrence? How can environment cause a creature to change its genome and pass on any advantages to its offspring?

Similarly, does the flying lizard develop wings in one mutation or did skin from its legs gradually grow and attach to its body? If gradual, how is that a survival advantage that would be passed on? If all at once, why not grow feathers to and realize an even greater advantage? In the case of such a change, does the lizard start out with one feather on a specific area of its body or does the mutation for feathers all over the body happen all at once?

Do scales precede feathers?  How genetically similar are they?  What is the molecular process of forming a feather versus a scale? Is it a difference of one nucleotide?

In the case of feathers from scales or extended patches of skin connecting a leg to a body part to form a bird, for example the flying lizard, gradual changes seem more probable than several mutations happening all at once. However, the change might need to be rapid for a survival advantage to be realized, elsewise that creature has the same chance at survival as all the others who are the same when they started out. In the case of the flying lizard, there would have to be a significant growth of skin connecting the leg to the body to achieve flight. Likewise, a significant number of feathers would have to appear all at once for a fish, frog or lizard to realize and advantage in being a bird. Also, if such a change is the result of a mutation, it would also seem that it would have to occur in the opposite sex at the same time, as one doesn’t often see “birds” mating with lizards. Or rather, would a lizard who can fly have changed so remarkably that it can no longer mate with lizards similar to the original? If gradual changes between warblers eventually lead to them not being able to interbreed, wouldn’t this also be the case for a lizard with wings? If so, why did so many lizards similarly develop wings such that they could breed and continue their kind? Perhaps these lizards have willpower to grow wings so they can catch more insects, and so they eventually did.

If a lizard or fish becomes a snake, how can one random mutation correlate to an extended abdomen and the loss of legs or fins? Wouldn’t it need to be a bunch of random mutations occurring at once? Moreover, if it isn’t a gradual process that a lizard’s legs become shorter and shorter, or fins weaker and weaker, wouldn’t the growth in body size also have to occur at the same time? Similarly, wouldn’t the muscles involved with slithering need to come into existence at the same time? If gradual, in the case of a snake from a fish, wouldn’t the fish need to breath air at the same time to realize an advantage over fins? Again, what would guide such an occurrence? How can environment cause a creature to change its genetic expression and pass on any advantages to its offspring, unless it’s already designed to have that capacity? Can a lizard’s awareness of its inability to slither into a hole because it has legs suggest that it should have offspring that don’t have legs? 

How does the frog or lizard or fish transform into the elephant, the cat and the panda bear?

How does the bacteria or fungi or protozoan transform into the cock roach, the lady bug and the grasshopper?

How can sea moss or algae become a palm tree, a sunflower and a tomato?   When do they become a banana?

Explaining these changes and the remarkable diversity we have on earth by attributing them to random mutations, time and a willingness of an organism to change its genome seems like over-simplification, though still complex. Such a scenario reminds me of an analogy that Kent Hovind gives in one of his Creation videos, namely that the way the theory of evolution is presented is similar to a fairy tale; instead of “Once upon a time, long, long ago…,” we have, “Millions and millions of years ago…”

Nonetheless, this kind of questioning is healthy, something that students should be encouraged to do while going through school. Moreover, the theory of Intelligent Design should be taught alongside the theory of evolution.  Likewise, let us continue to ask questions rather than suppose we know the answers by repeating a theory that is supposed to account for the diversity and beauty of life on earth, especially with those who would shriek at the belief that God is directly responsible for this beauty and remarkable diversity. 

As for those who believe in a Creator, lets grow in solidarity through knowing that attributing the diversity of life to His designs does not make us stupid. And, for those who also share the Christian/Catholic faith, we have even more solidarity through our confidence in the existence of absolute truth, a soul and judgment day, matters that are most important, regardless of whether you side with dear Ms. Jaclyn or Mr. Comfort.

Kent Hovind vs. the United States

Having watched, enjoyed and appreciated many of Kent Hovind’s Creation Science YouTube videos, I was alarmed by an email from a friend, a fellow Creation enthusiast, discussing how Kent Hovind has been in prison for nearly 10 years. As the shock and dismay subsided, I followed a link in the email directing me to a YouTube video ⁸⁷¹ discussing 20 reasons why Kent Hovind has been treated unjustly. The reasons are compelling, at least without further background information.

However, having reviewed the transcript of Mr. Hovind’s case, it seems to me that Mr. Hovind did conspire to avoid paying taxes and encouraged employees to do the same.

Mr. Hovind is passionate in the belief that this country is heading downhill. Honestly, I’m not too surprised that this passion translated into tax evasion. Many Americans are dissatisfied with American government and would prefer to see their tax dollars used in other ways. However, such an orientation doesn’t justify avoiding taxes.

Pay to all what is due them—taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due. –Romans 13:7

As bad as things may be here, there are many good services that all citizens benefit from through paying taxes. Furthermore, the alternative is unrealistic –a form of anarchy that increases the vulnerability of this sovereign land to foreign attack. In this respect, Mr. Hovind was rightly treated in a criminal fashion. Hopefully more American executives who avoid taxes by funneling income through offshore accounts will be treated similarly.

The transcript⁸⁷² points in favor of the U.S. –Kent was out of line. Moreover, we should pay our taxes,⁸⁷³ even if we live under unjust policies and practices. However, there may be legitimate exceptions for evangelical organizations and those who work for them. Whether this was one of those cases, I’m not sure. Consider this excerpt from the blog of New Vision Ministries,

The Church was once a great influence on our nation and its government. However, that all changed in 1954 when churches were added to the 501(c)(3) section of the IRS tax code (IRC). The 501(c)(3) church has been stripped of its freedom of speech as a result of its partnership with the government. They have voluntarily silenced themselves concerning anything touching politics and the government, even in spiritual matters important to believers. If the Church had not lost its freedom of speech to influence the government, maybe prayer would have not been removed from schools on June 25, 1962. It was at this point the nation began a huge spiritual spiral downward, the statistics are staggering.⁸⁷⁴

Thankfully, our freedom of religion and speech allow us to attempt to correct unjust practices in government, and to persuade others to do the same. And yet, avoiding taxes may be like throwing your hands in the air and giving up on all the good because you can’t help but focus on the bad.

This is a common condition, commonly known as pessimism. Thankfully, there is a solution for this tendency. It’s called prayer. Yes, thank goodness for prayer! Indeed, trust the eyewitness testimony of numerous people alive at the time of Christ Jesus, and acknowledge the reality of His Church, living and breathing today, alive as He continues to reveal Himself in special ways to each of us every day. He really did rise from the dead! Anyone who contemplates that reality for a while, perhaps reading Scripture and saying a rosary while meditating on the Glorious Mysteries, can’t help but be uplifted in spirit, can’t help but think about the good parts of creation and not be overly consumed with the bad aspects, those often associated with “The Fall of Man.” Perhaps a preponderance towards pessimism is one of the spiritual repercussions of The Fall, one that must be fought against through prayer and meditation on His Word.

Pray as though everything depends on God. Work as though everything depends on you. –St. Augustine (354-430)

Given Mr. Hovind’s passionate beliefs concerning the presence of bias in our public education system, one that leans incessantly on evolutionary theory at the exclusion of Creationism or Intelligent Design, the court could have been more lenient in its sentencing. And, how much more so in an American court, a court upheld in a country with a lavish history encompassing the positive influence of religious belief, a history wrought with blood in the preservation of religious freedom?

Are not crimes of passion capable of influencing a court’s decision? If evolutionary theory is incomplete or unsatisfactory vis-a-vis evidence found in Creation science, shouldn’t Mr. Hovind’s passion receive more respect, especially with the undertones that connect such a science with religious freedom and a country headed the wrong direction? Moreover, presenting truth is a public service; the nature of Mr. Hovind’s work, which led to his passionate refusal to pay taxes and cooperate with the IRS, should have factored into a lenient sentence.

Sadly, if a judge is biased in favoring evolutionary theory, or is prone towards animosity when judging issues involving religious freedom, leaning towards the harshest penalties and strictest enforcement of competing liberties, shouldn’t a citizen have a right for a retrial from another judge who may have a different viewpoint and be prone towards a more lenient sentence? Is it possible that a judge with a biased orientation would allow feelings of animosity to hinder the jury and appeal processes?

Accordingly, if eight witnesses signed an affidavit indicating that information was removed from the court transcript, and that the transcript was withheld for 16 months when Mr. Hovind had only 12 months for an appeal, Congress, or a superior judicial or legislative body should step in and potentially take criminal action against the court for withholding information from the public. Such intervention would help to preserve public trust in our judicial system, exposing bias where it exists, and potentially providing a just penalty for negligence or illicit activity in the jury and appeal processes.

In light of these allegations against the court, I believe that non-biased judicial oversight is necessary for Mr. Hovind’s situation. Moreover, 100 years in jail for attempting to preserve the public service ministry he worked so hard to establish, which has the support of many creation-minded Americans, is outlandish.

If he was able to appeal his case, and potentially find a more lenient judge, which in this case seems most appropriate given the alleged failures of the court, failures which would lend credence to the claim that he was unjustly treated, that his case was processed in an illegal and unprofessional manner, the lis pendens mailing would not be seen as a further violation of a criminal case, but a reasonable act well within the rights of any religious citizen who is seeking justice and mercy in the preservation of his or her ministry, a citizen potentially overwhelmed by pessimism vis-a-vis a failing, “scientifically oriented” education system, a system supported by a significant portion of every tax dollar. Additional Resources: ⁸⁷⁵ - ⁸⁷⁶

The Dialectic of Plato and Socrates on Arizona’s Controversial SB 1062

Socrates: Worst case scenario if the bill would have passed, those who identify themselves as homosexual hate all religious people and all businesses owned by religious people while religious people hate all those who identify themselves as homosexual.

Plato:  Well, the problem with this possibility is that in the case of the latter, if they’re truly practicing their religion, and their religion is the Catholic/Christian one, this wouldn’t happen because they’re called to love everyone, even those that hate and persecute them.

I believe that if a photographer, baker or wedding host doesn’t want to provide service to a couple because doing so connotes their support or blessing of a union or lifestyle they don’t approve of, they should have the right.

Not all businesses provide the same touch of personal service… being serviced for a wedding is not the same as ordering food from McDonald’s or going to an auto mechanic to get your car fixed. Also, the person who provides the service in those cases isn’t faced with making an ethical or moral decision in providing that service.

Socrates: Actually, those providing these other services you mention could face such a dilemma… suppose someone who is very overweight orders three Big Macs every day for a month and the cashier eventually decides that selling them would be against their better judgment or religious belief because in doing so they’d be assisting in a slow form of suicide.

Or, suppose an environmentally conscious auto mechanic refuses to repair SUVs because he believes they consume excessive amounts of finite resources.

Suffice it so say that anyone could discriminate for valid reasons or deeply held beliefs that might seem trivial to another.

Plato: Yes, those are good examples, but shouldn’t some constitutional rights receive a higher value? Since when does helping to prevent suicide or protecting the environment receive constitutional protection? Do you suggest that defending a traditional view of marriage is the same as fighting obesity or protecting the environment? These aren’t constitutionally protected rights.

Socrates: Yes, this is true, it’s not likely that a court of law would take the side of the business if a lawsuit ensued, mostly because they’re not constitutionally protected rights. The constitution never treats a business as a person.

Plato: Yes, but should a business owner have the right to express their religious beliefs through their business? Should a magazine printer not have the right to print information about his or her beliefs? Should an employee have the right to exercise his beliefs, even if they conflict with the right of the business owner?

Socrates: Yes, I believe it would seem just and fair to allow the business owner and magazine printer such freedom. A society should allow each individual freedom of expression, not only through art and worship, but through their potential source of income as well, or are we to assume that the only purpose of a business is to increase one’s livelihood? As for the employee, I suppose it would be appropriate if laws otherwise support such expression for the overall good of society, and perhaps more so when profit motives tend to limit or reduce those goods.

Plato: Surely the pursuit of happiness includes more than increasing one’s livelihood, we can agree on that.

Socrates: Certainly. But what happens when service is denied based on differing ethnicity or religion, and doing so gives the business owner a greater sense of pursuing happiness?

Plato: Perhaps in those cases the principal of human equality must hold more weight than religious freedom, otherwise such forms of discrimination when widespread in every sector could transgress upon a person’s ability to survive –their very livelihood would be threatened since very few can live without relying to some extent on the services of others. And, such discrimination, in the case of ethnicity, would be a violation of a basic right in that America is founded on the belief that all people are created equal, regardless of ethnic differences. To do otherwise might suggest they are not a person, not human.

But, shouldn’t a business have a right to distribute their gift to others or not, providing such discrimination doesn’t jeopardize a person’s equality in terms of being human, since no one chooses their ethnicity? Should a business be forced to serve or share their gift with everyone if they don’t want to?

Socrates: Oh, I can only imagine the carnage that might result!

Plato: Well sure, some people may try to seek revenge for being denied service, but isn’t it true that we live in a world where we can’t always have things our way? Are there not many businesses to choose from in Arizona, and many others in other states as well… aside from having feelings hurt, can’t a potential customer go somewhere else?

Socrates: I see what you mean… segregation based on race and sexual orientation aren’t the same, one is established from birth and should have legal protection while the other, as evidence suggests, can be based on poor childhood bonding experiences with the same sex parent, hormonal changes during adolescence that effect sexual appetite, environmental influences or appetite formation through repeated sexual experiences with the same sex.

Plato:  That is correct.  However, many do not agree on whether sexual orientation is established from birth or if it is part of a process as you’ve described, despite the latest evidence.

I believe that many suppose that if this bill passed, and one baker could then rightfully deny service to a homosexual couple based on their beliefs about homosexual marriage, assuming they’re baking a wedding cake, every form of business-related segregation will pour forth like unprecedented evils from Pandora’s Box.

Socrates:  Yes, that does sound like what might be happening.  I suppose there are many valid economic concerns as well… perhaps some people will even refuse to do business with all businesses in Arizona.

Plato:  That could hurt many people who live in Arizona.

Socrates:  It probably would indeed, but doesn’t the pursuit of happiness for the baker still have value, not to mention their right to work in a way that doesn’t violate their religious beliefs?

Plato:  Yes, that does seem important, especially since many believe that upholding their religious beliefs are more important than anything else in this world of forms.  Rightfully, perhaps they’re simply choosing to believe in a world where the forms of this world are mere shadows compared to those that are true and real, perhaps those that only the soul can see.  Perhaps they hope to uphold and share those beliefs with as many as they can, and such would constitute their pursuit of happiness.

Socrates:  Well, no government should deny them that right, especially one that purports to support such a freedom from the time of its birth.  Yes, unfounded assumptions like opening Pandora’s Box simply must be done away with.

Plato: I agree.  And, a free market can sort many things out. No one is forcing all Arizona business owners to segregate based on their beliefs about sexual orientation so boycotting all Arizona businesses wouldn’t make sense.  Why should all businesses suffer because the state elects to supports the right of a business to deny service to someone based on that owner’s religious beliefs that may have more to do with nurturing the good than with nature?

Socrates:  It appears the governor of Arizona has decided in favor of economic interests or out of fear of unfounded consequences like Pandora’s Box rather than supporting religious freedom when it entails expressing itself through one’s business.

Plato: Yes, I agree.

Tell me Socrates, considering this discussion, do you believe that the baker who refuses to bake a cake for a homosexual couple’s wedding is going to have an impact on the couple? Do you believe they’ll have a conversion experience, cancel their wedding and hold all homosexual behavior in disdain?

Socrates: Ha, that is laughable! Certainly not. However, I believe the baker should have a right to express his or her disapproval or refrain from providing service when doing so suggests approval.

Plato: But in doing so, couldn’t this principle also be used by a member of one religion to deny service to a customer based solely on being of another religion?

Socrates: Yes, I suppose it would. However, in a free society, one would expect truth to prevail, and from this truth, compassion, even if it means believing one religion is superior to another. If a person of one religion never denies service to another, what else might cause them to question whether their religion has the truth? Couldn’t such a situation lead to a discussion wherein one becomes more enlightened than they were beforehand?

Plato:  I agree. And yes, I believe it could lead to such a discussion, providing that when refusals still occur, they don’t lead to violence, and the state doesn’t favor one faith over another, providing that both faiths promote love in some way, even love of one’s enemies, that there is no forced coercion or fear of death for refusing to believe one way or the other, and that they adhere to truths that protect and uphold the dignity and fundamental rights of all persons.

Well, we’ll see what happens next.

Socrates:  At least this way Arizona is more likely to host the Superbowl next year!

Plato:  True, and with Steven Seagal helping with law enforcement, perhaps they’ll catch all those supposedly drawn to it for sex trafficking, or prevent it altogether!

Socrates: So be it!

11,000 Stars at Your Fingertips!

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. –Matthew 18:1-5

We’re made to see, hear, smell, touch and taste.

We can feel love, joy, anger, peace, fear and frustration.

We can think about complex calculations or about what we’ll have for lunch tomorrow.

All our senses, feelings and thoughts involve or help to engage our imagination, harnessing the three powers of our soul: memory, understanding and will.

Using our imagination, we can build ourselves up or tear ourselves down, conjure up feelings of happiness or sadness. If we have a positive self-image, we’re more likely to be happy… a negative one, more likely to experience sadness or anger.

The words of Stuart Smalley might come to mind when we’re feeling under the weather: I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and people like me!

Those who often focus on the reasons they have to be happy, cultivating an attitude of gratitude, are better equipped to get through tough times. Studies have shown gratitude improves our immune system, mental health and lowers blood pressure, improves social integration and can strengthen existing relationships, helps us sleep better, helps us become better a friend to others, helps us feel less lonely and isolated, reduces the risk of sudden death in patients with congestive heart failure, results in higher levels of positive emotions and protects against negative emotions associated with extreme loss.⁸⁷⁷⁻⁸⁷⁸

Along these lines, here’s an exercise in praise and thanksgiving that engages the imagination amidst a vast and expanding universe.

First, draw a five-sided star, the same kind you might draw as a kid, scribbling in your notebook instead of paying attention in class.  You should be able to draw a star without lifting your pen or pencil off the paper, starting at one corner and moving through the others. It should look something like this:

We’ll call this a macrostar. Now, imagine that each of the five points is a star and that each place where the lines intersect is a star, for a total of 10 microstars.

Of note, the inside shape is called a pentagram. The pentagram is often used to represent the five wounds Jesus received during His passion, one on each hand and foot and the one that pierced his heart.  Should you grow in faith and understanding of the significance of His sacrifice, your gratitude will increase!

Now, imagine 9 macrostars to the right and nine macrostars below each of those stars, for a total of 100 macrostars and 1000 microstars.

To aid in imagining this arrangement, engage other parts of your imagination. This may seem strange to most of us but did you know that those who have mild forms of autism are often able to complete very complex calculations because they’re able to engage many parts of their experience and imagination? For them, numbers can take on colors, feelings and shapes. Similarly, those who have this condition can often remember vast amounts of information, such as what day of the week you were born based on your birthdate! Daniel Tammet, an autistic savant, entitled one of his books, “Born on a Blue Day.” Each of us may have the ability to use our mind in a way we haven’t even dreamed of yet!

Now, imagine 9 more macrostars behind or in front of the first 100 macrostars. These would flow out on the Z-axis.

Y

                  X

             Z

It may help to imagine touching or flying through each of the different layers.  

Congratulations! You've just imagined 11,000 stars! You might not be able to think of all the stars shining at once, but you could imagine traveling through various parts of your own star matrix! Perhaps some stars shine brighter than others? Perhaps some shine with different colors?

Now suppose that each of these stars has an inhabitable planet or two in its orbit, and each planet has a moon or two. There’d be vast amounts of resources and you’d have plenty of beaches and waves for surfing! What would you do with a million tons of gold? How about a house made of gold, diamonds, sapphires, garnets, emeralds and rubies? Talk about beautiful!

Did you know that the square shape of the star matrix you’ve just imagined is similar to the square shape of the New Jerusalem, as described in the 21st chapter of the Book of Revelation?

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
‘See, the home of God is among mortals.
He will dwell with them;
they will be his peoples,
and God himself will be with them; 
he will wipe every tear from their eyes.
Death will be no more;
mourning and crying and pain will be no more,
for the first things have passed away.’

And the one who was seated on the throne said, ‘See, I am making all things new.’ Also he said, ‘Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.’ Then he said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life. Those who conquer will inherit these things, and I will be their God and they will be my children. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the polluted, the murderers, the fornicators, the sorcerers, the idolaters, and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulphur, which is the second death.’

Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, ‘Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.’ And in the spirit* he carried me away to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. It has the glory of God and a radiance like a very rare jewel, like jasper, clear as crystal. It has a great, high wall with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates are inscribed the names of the twelve tribes of the Israelites; on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city has twelve foundations, and on them are the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

The angel who talked to me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width; and he measured the city with his rod, fifteen hundred miles; its length and width and height are equal. He also measured its wall, one hundred and forty-four cubits by human measurement, which the angel was using. The wall is built of jasper, while the city is pure gold, clear as glass. The foundations of the wall of the city are adorned with every jewel; the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth cornelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. And the twelve gates are twelve pearls, each of the gates is a single pearl, and the street of the city is pure gold, transparent as glass.

I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. Its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. People will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will enter it, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Did you know that Jesus told His Disciples He was leaving in order to prepare a place for them?

‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling-places. If it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.’

Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’

Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.’ –John 14:1-7

If our Lord, Creator of the universe, is going to reward us for our service, can you think of a better paycheck than a planet or two? How about 22,000, vibrant with plants and animals? There will probably be creatures that are now extinct too! Maybe you’ll befriend a pterodactyl and take a ride over the sea like in the movie, “Avatar!”  

Now, consider a game, a virtual world, designed to prepare you for the next, hosted online with access through PureHeartCulture.org, where you can gain stars and planets through your knowledge of godliness and through your virtuous and heroic deeds, and where you can visit the solar systems of your closest friends!

Is it not truly amazing that we live in a galaxy with 200 to 400 billion stars, a universe with 140 billion galaxies?  

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."  –John 3:16

Now there’s something to be happy about!

Angel’s Beauty

Cool wind blowing through our hair

The scent of a rose caresses the air

Curls and waves flow with flair

Smiles and radiance everywhere

Simple hearts, warm with care

Kind, sweet and always there

Our gentle speech, near and sweet

The finest places, ever we meet

We fill our hands with gracious love

Working jobs from heaven above

We soar above silken skies

Wings spread open, far and wide

We have no place to call our home

Travel the earth, though never alone

We worship Him, day and night

Surrounded by, heaven’s light

For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. –Matthew 22:30

Notes

[←1]

Ephraim meaning. Abarim Publications. Online. http://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Ephraim.html#.WTiXI2jyvcs

[←2]

Romans 11:17-24

[←3]

St. Ephraim the Syrian. Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. Online. http://antiochian.org/saint_ephraim

[←4]

M.S. O’Brien. Ephrem’s Anti-Heresy Alphabet Hymn. Aliens in This World. Online. https://suburbanbanshee.wordpress.com/2012/10/09/ephrems-anti-heresy-alphabet-hymn/

[←5]

PTISH. The Great Lenten Prayer of St. Ephraim. YouTube. Mar 13, 2008. https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL58g24NgWPIzvBk2IQVES_xC4WTm6-CDI&v=LgQiOpCbEQc

[←6]

“Logos, (Greek: “word,” “reason,” or “plan”) plural logoi, in Greek philosophy and theology, the divine reason implicit in the cosmos, ordering it and giving it form and meaning... The idea of the logos in Greek thought harks back at least to the 6th-century-BC philosopher Heracleitus, who discerned in the cosmic process a logos analogous to the reasoning power in man.” ENCYCLOPÆDIA BRITANNICA. https://www.britannica.com/topic/logos

[←7]

Pope John Paul II. FOR THE CELEBRATION OF THE

WORLD DAY OF PEACE: “No Peace Without Justice, No Justice Without Forgiveness.” Vatican: the Holy See. Vatican Website. 1 January, 2002. https://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/messages/peace/documents/hf_jp-ii_mes_20011211_xxxv-world-day-for-peace.html

[←8]

Theology of the Body. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/marriage-and-family/natural-family-planning/catholic-teaching/theology-of-the-body.cfm

[←9]

Francisco Suárez, SPANISH THEOLOGIAN AND PHILOSOPHER. WRITTEN BY: The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica.

Online. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Francisco-Suarez.

[←10]

Meyer, Stephen. Signature in the Cell. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. 23 June 2009.

[←11]

Solomon, Robert, and Fernando Flores. Building Trust in Business, Politics, Relationships and Life. Oxford: University Press, 2003.

[←12]

Wood, Bryant G. Did the Israelites Conquer Jericho? A New Look at the Archeological Evidence. Online. http://www.biblearchaeology.org/post/2008/05/Did-the-Israelites-Conquer-Jericho-A-New-Look-at-the-Archaeological-Evidence.aspx#Article

[←13]

EWTN. Holy Mass from EWTN Chapel. 11-20-2017

[←14]

Richards, Dr. Jay. Eat, Fast, Feast: Heal Your Body While Feeding Your Soul. Harper One. New York, NY. 1st edition, 2020.

[←15]

Coffin, Patrick. Distributing Good Magic for San Diego, on a Comedy Bun. Online. http://www.coffinmagic.com/videos

[←16]

Peterson, Jordan B. Psychology of Redemption in Christianity. YouTube. 26 January 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtiRzQMgBDM

[←17]

Man of La Mancha. Hiller, Arthur (director & producer). O’Toole, Peter; Loren, Sophia (actors). MGM. 1972.

[←18]

As of February 2nd, 2016, only 27 states have laws that prevent abortion subsidization. Those living in other states or providences may be helping to fund abortion, depending on which insurance plan they choose. (See: Abortion in Obamacare: Get Ready for 2016 Coverage. A Joint Project of Charlotte Lozier Institute. Online. http://obamacareabortion.com/ )

[←19]

Loving Jesus: Mother Teresa. Servant. 1 June 1991. Print.

[←20]

Prince of Peace. Akiane on the Katie Couric Show. YouTube: 8 January 2014. Online. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6HLg2XUFOg

[←21]

Ilbo, JoongAng. North Korea publicly executes 80, some for videos or Bibles, report says. Fox News. 12 November 2013. Online. http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/11/12/north-korea-publicly-executes-80-for-crimes-like-watching-films-owning-bible.html

[←22]

Smith, Samuel. Saudi Arabia's New Law Imposes Death Sentence for Bible Smugglers? Christian Post. 18 December 2014. Online. http://www.christianpost.com/news/saudi-arabias-new-law-imposes-death-sentence-for-bible-smugglers-131352/

[←23]

John 8:39-59 http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=442587838

[←24]

Zakaria, Fareed. America’s election process an international embarrassment. 14, November 2012. Online / Video. http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2012/11/14/americas-election-process-an-international-embarrassment/

[←25]

Wilson, Reid. New report finds that voter turnout in 2016 topped 2012. The Hill. 3/16/17. Online. http://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/324206-new-report-finds-that-voter-turnout-in-2016-topped-2012

[←26]

Wikipedia contributors, 'Voter turnout in the United States presidential elections', Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 11 December 2017. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voter_turnout_in_the_United_States_presidential_elections#cite_note-electproject.org-9 Accessed 19 December 2017.

[←27]

Catholic Clips. Life of Abraham Lincoln (Part 1) – Archbishop Fulton Sheen. Published 3-31-2010. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUdQFf0Ybm0 Accessed 12-19-17

[←28]

How Effective are Birth Control Methods. CDC. Online. http://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/contraception/index.htm

[←29]

Weber, Shelia. Here’s a secret –marriage is America’s most effective anti-poverty program. Fox News. 13 February 2013. Online. http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/02/13/why-marriage-is-best-anti-poverty-program.html

[←30]

Meditations on the Mysteries of the Rosary. R. J. Miller; C.SS.R. http://www.pureheartculture.org/Meditations-on-the-Mysteries-of-The-Rosary.pdf

[←31]

YouTube. Television Commercial, Dianetics: The Owner’s Manual for the Human Mind. Uploaded 3 October 2007. Lurker, Internet. Online. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIdZKygW8vY

[←32]

Hubbard, Ron L. Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health. Bridge Publications. 1992.

[←33]

Anonymous. The Penny Catechism: A Catechism of Christian Doctrine. TAN Books. Reprint edition (1 January 2009).

[←34]

Shapiro, Francine. Getting Past Your Past: Take Control of Your Life with Self-Help Techniques from EMDR Therapy. Rodale. 26 March 2013.

[←35]

The Biology of Depression: The Affects of Stress. University of California Television (UCTV). YouTube. 17 December 2009. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gFVQGD-aB8

[←36]

Alex Gibney. Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief - The HBO Special. FilmRise. 6 October 2015. Video.

[←37]

Hubbard, Ron L. Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health. Bridge Publications. 2007. Pg. 29

[←38]

Ibid. Hubbard, v.2007. Pg. 32.

[←39]

Pope St. John Paul II. Encyclical: Salvifici Doloris (on the Christian Meaning of Human Suffering). 1984. Accessed 2/17-2019. Online. http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_letters/1984/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_11021984_salvifici-doloris.html

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Corky Siemaszko. ‘Miracle Nun’ says Pope John Paul II healed her from Parkinson’s Disease. New York Daily News. 26 April 2014. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/miracle-nun-john-paul-healed-parkinson-disease-article-1.1769668 (Last accessed 1-23-2016)

[←41]

Peggy Noonan. ‘We Want God!’ When John Paul II went to Poland, communism didn’t have a prayer. The Wall Street Journal. 7 April 2005. Online. http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB122479408458463941

[←42]

Allegri, Renzo. Padre Pio: Man of Hope. Franciscan Media. 2000. Cincinnati. Print

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Br. Lawrency Mary, M.I.C.M, Tert. The Miracles of St. Padre Pio. Basilica.org. Online. http://www.basilica.org/pages/ebooks/Brother%20Lawrence%20Mary-The%20Miracles%20of%20Saint%20Padre%20Pio.pdf

[←44]

Fr. Charles Mortimer Carty. The Stigmata and Modern Science. TAN Books. 1 January 1992. Print.

[←45]

Voice of Padre Pio, November 1998, Friary of Our Lady of Grace, 71013 San Giovanni Rotundo, (FG), Italy. ETWN. Online. https://www.ewtn.com/padrepio/mystic/bilocation.htm

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Miracles of the Saints. Mystical knowledge in the Saints –Reading into the heart and souls of men. Online. http://www.miraclesofthesaints.com/2010/09/mystical-knowledge-in-saints-reading.html

[←47]

Ibid. Hubbard, v.2007. Pg. 28.

[←48]

Luke 9:23-25 NRSV, 1989.

[←49]

Matthew 10:37 NIV, 2011.

[←50]

Ibid., Hubbard, v.1992. p. 86.

[←51]

Blai, John. Exorcism in the Catholic Church and how to Keep the Doors to the Demonic Close. 13th Annual Ignited by Truth Catholic Conference. EWTN. 1 January 2016. Video.

[←52]

Joan Carroll Cruz. Angels & Devils. Rockford IL: TAN BOOKS AND PUBLISHERS. 1999. Print. p. 245

[←53]

Christiani, Leon. Evidence of Satan in the Modern World. ETWN. Online. https://www.ewtn.com/library/NEWAGE/EVIDSATN.HTM (Last accessed 1-23-16)

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Wikipedia Contributors. Antoine Gay. Wikipedia, The Free Enchyclopedia. 8 March 2015. Online. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antoine_Gay

[←55]

Very Reverend Adolphe Tanquerey, S.S., D.D., The Spiritual Life: A Treatise on the Ascetical and Mystical Theology. Westminister Maryland: The Newman Press, 1930. Pgs. 115-116

[←56]

Ibid. Tanquerey, p. 119.

[←57]

Louis Molden, S.J., Signs and Wonders. New York: Desclee Company. 1996. Print. Pgs 163-164.

[←58]

Ibid. Molden, pg. 238.

[←59]

Ibid, Gibney.

[←60]

Jerzy Zielinski. Powder. Hollywood Pictures Home Entertainment. 10 August 1999. Video.

[←61]

Aradi, Zsolt. Understanding Miracles: How to Know if They Are from God, the Devil, or the Imagination. Manchester: Sophia Institute Press. 30 August 2012. Print.

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The Story Behind How He Loves (legendado) [by John Mark McMillan.] Upload by Rebecca Monteiro. YouTube. [Live on 7/7/7 at Titan Stadium up to 4:36] https://youtu.be/DiXaliyKXyI Accessed 9-2-2020. For more on the story behind the song, see https://youtu.be/M6wl3uqfbYQ

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cummings, e.e. e.e. cummings a selection of poems. Marion Morehouse Cummings. 1965. Print. p. 46-47

[←64]

Symbolon: The Catholic Faith Explained. Sri, Edward. Augustine Institute. DVD. Episode 9, Catholic Social Teaching –Building a Civilization for Love. 0:04.

[←65]

John 8:51

[←66]

Guissani, Luigi. The Religious Sense. McGill-Queen’s University Press. 16 October 1997. Print.

[←67]

1 John 2:15-17. “Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world; for all that is in the world—the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches—comes not from the Father but from the world. And the world and its desire are passing away, but those who do the will of God live for ever.”

[←68]

Porn Harms: A Collection of peer-reviewed research on articles, along with current news and opinion articles about the harms of pornography. Morality in Media. Online. http://pornharmsresearch.com/

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Ertelt, Steven. U.S. Population Falls to Dangerous Levels Below Replacement Rate. LifeNews.com. 10 Septebmer 2013. Online. http://www.lifenews.com/2013/09/10/u-s-population-falls-to-dangerous-levels-below-replacement-rate

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Kavoussi, Bonnie. U.S. Birth Rate Not High Enough To Keep Population Stable. Huffington Post. 18 August 2012. Online. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/15/us-birth-rate_n_1779960.html

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Overberg, Paul. As U.S. birth rate drops, concern for the future mounts. USA Today. 13 February 2013. Online.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/02/12/us-births-decline/1880231/

[←72]

Pornography Statistics. Family Safe Media. Online. 2016. http://familysafemedia.com/pornography_statistics.html

[←73]

National Center on Sexual Exploitation. 2016 Presidential Candidate Survey on Sexual Exploitation. 2016. Online. http://endsexualexploitation.org/presidentialsurvey/

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John Paul II. The Theology of the Body: Human Love in the Divine Plan. Boston: Pauline Books & Media. 1997. Print

[←75]

WebMD Medical Reference. Your Guide to Masturbation. 21 November 2014. Online. http://www.webmd.com/sex-relationships/guide/masturbation-guide

[←76]

Masturbation. Planned Parenthood. 2016. Online. https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/sexuality/masturbation

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Reyes, Maridel. 5 Reasons You Should Masturbate Tonight. Men’s Health. 4 January 2016. Online. http://www.menshealth.com/sex-women/5-reasons-you-should-masturbate-tonight

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Warner, Jenniver. Frequent Ejaculation May Be Good for Prostate: Sexual Activity Doesn’t Raise Prostate Cancer Risk, May Have Protective Effects. WebMD Medical Reference. 6 April 2004. Online. http://www.webmd.com/prostate-cancer/news/20040406/frequent-ejaculation-prostate

[←79]

Ejaculation Frequency and Subsequent Risk of Prostate Cancer. Leitzmann, M, et al. JAMA. 2004;291(13):1578-1586.

[←80]

Ibid., Table 3

[←81]

Dimitropoulou P, et al. Sexual activity and prostate cancer risk in men diagnosed at a younger age. BJU Int. 2009 Jan; 103(2): 178-85.

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Michalek AM, Mettlin C, Priore RL. Prostate cancer mortality among Catholic priests. J Surg Oncol. 1981;17(2):129-33.

[←83]

Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd Edition. Offenses against chastity (2351 – 2356). 8 September 1997. Online. http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s2c2a6.htm#II

[←84]

Effectiveness of Family Planning Methods. CDC. Online. http://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/UnintendedPregnancy/PDF/Contraceptive_methods_508.pdf

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Fact Sheet: Science of Fetal Pain. Charlotte Lozier Institute. February 19, 2020. https://lozierinstitute.org/fact-sheet-science-of-fetal-pain/

[←86]

The 1 in 6 Statistic. Online. https://1in6.org/the-1-in-6-statistic/

[←87]

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study. Online. http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/acestudy/#1

[←88]

Child Abuse Statistics and Facts. Child Help. Online. https://www.childhelp.org/child-abuse-statistics/

[←89]

Chris Lee. The Sex Addiction Epidemic. New Week. 25 November 2011. Print / Online. http://www.newsweek.com/sex-addiction-epidemic-66289

[←90]

Gross, Craig; Luff, Steven. Pure Eyes: A Man’s Guide to Sexual Integrity. Baker Books. 1 September 2010. Print.

[←91]

Divorce Statistics. www.Divorcestatistics.org Online. (Last accessed 1/23/2016)

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Dr. William H. Doherty. How common is divorce and what are the reasons? Extension | Utah State University. Utah Divorce Orientation. Online. http://divorce.usu.edu/files/uploads/Lesson3.pdf (Last accessed 1/23/16)

[←93]

Audrey M. Jones. Historical Divorce Rate Statistics. LoveToKnow. Online. http://divorce.lovetoknow.com/Historical_Divorce_Rate_Statistics

[←94]

Marriage and Poverty. FamilyFacts.org. Online. http://www.familyfacts.org/briefs/8/marriage-and-poverty

[←95]

John 8:44; 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; Matthew 13:19; Luke 10:18; 22:31-32; Mark 3:23-27; 1:27; Revelation 20:10. (also see: Bishop Barron on the Devil. YouTube. Bishop Robert Barron. 7/25/12. WordOnFire.org. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IED3S-vJ5AU )

[←96]

Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13

[←97]

What are some of the parallels between Jewish wedding traditions and our relationship to Christ? Compelling Truth.org, a ministry of Got Questions.org. https://www.compellingtruth.org/Jewish-wedding-traditions.html Accessed 9-5-20.

[←98]

Hahn, Scott. The Lamb’s Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth. Random House. 1999. Print.

[←99]

Cavins, Jeff & Smith, Thomas. Revelation: The Kingdom Yet to Come. Ascension Press. 2007. Print.

[←100]

Man Uses Ping Pong Balls And Water To Share A Powerful Message. FaithPot. 10-10-18. https://www.faithpot.com/michael-todd-sermon/

[←101]

Cavins, Jeff, et al. The Bible Timeline: The Story of Salvation. Ascension Press. 2007. Print & DVD.

[←102]

The Daniel Fast: Consecrate Yourself unto the Lord through Extended Prayer and Fasting. Online. https://danielfast.wordpress.com/daniel-fast-food-list/

[←103]

Guznik, David. Daniel 1 - Keeping Pure in The Face of Adversity. EnduringWord. 2013. Online. http://www.enduringword.com/commentaries/2701.htm

[←104]

Shelton, Danny; Quinn, Shelly. Ten Commandments Twice Removed. Remnant Publications. April 2006. Print.

[←105]

Matthew 3:14-17 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

[←106]

Bishop Robert Barron. Bishop Robert Barron on Bob Dylan. YouTube. May 28th, 2008. Online. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sF0JNwud9K0

[←107]

Frank, Anne. The Diary of Anne Frank. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. 19 October 2010. Print. p. 122-123.

[←108]

353 Prophecies Fulfilled in Jesus Christ. According to the Scriptures. Online. http://www.accordingtothescriptures.org/prophecy/353prophecies.html

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Hahn, Scott. Jesus Didn't Just "Die for Our Salvation": Why He Rose from the Dead. St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology. 26 April 2011. Online. https://stpaulcenter.com/blog/jesus-didnt-just-die-for-our-salvation-why-he-rose-from-the-dead/

[←110]

Wurmbrand, Richard. Tortured for Christ. Bartlesville: Living Sacrifice Book Company. 1998. Print.

[←111]

Sheed, Frank. Theology and Sanity. San Francisco: Ignatius Press. 1993. Print. p. 105-106.

[←112]

Mark 2:27-28

[←113]

John 4:24

[←114]

Kathleen. “I Am the Immaculate Conception”, Our Lady told St. Bernadette. Catholicism Pure & Simple. Online Blog. November 20, 2013.
https://catholicismpure.wordpress.com/2013/11/30/i-am-the-immaculate-conception-our-lady-told-st-bernadette/

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Galeone, Christine. 7 Amazing Miracles of the Miraculous Medal. beliefnet.com https://www.beliefnet.com/faiths/catholic/7-amazing-miracles-of-the-miraculous-medal.aspx

[←116]

“Full of Grace” translates [from Greek] kecharitōmĕnē the perfect passive participle of charitŏō. It denotes one who has been and still is the object of divine benevolence, one who has been favored and continues to be favored by God, one who has been granted supernatural grace and remains in this state.” Full reference online @ http://kecharitomene.com

[←117]

Fr. Chacon, Frank; Burnham, Jim. Beginning Apologetics 6: How to Explain and Defend Mary. (San Juan Catholic Seminars, NM. 2012.), 23.

[←118]

Luke 1:38

[←119]

The Mystical City of God: Complete Edition: The Divine History and Life of the Virgin Mother of God, by Venerable Mary of Agreda. Catholic Way Publishing. 2013.

[←120]

Louis de Montfort, Saint. Treatise on True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin. EWTN. 1998. https://www.ewtn.com/library/Montfort/TRUEDEVO.HTM

[←121]

1 Cor 11:26

[←122]

Pitre. Brant. Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist: Unlocking the Secrets of the Last Supper. New York: Random House. 2011. Print.

[←123]

Fitzgerald, Ryan. Two eucharistic miracles 1,300 years apart show same blood type and DNA. Church Militant. April 24, 2016. Online. https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/eucharistic-miracles-confirm-real-presence-of-jesus-christ

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See, The Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of the Eucharist: Basic Questions and Answers. http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/order-of-mass/liturgy-of-the-eucharist/the-real-presence-of-jesus-christ-in-the-sacrament-of-the-eucharist-basic-questions-and-answers.cfm

[←125]

Gleason Archer and G.C. Chirichigno, Old Testament Quotations in the New Testament: A Complete Survey (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1983), xxv-xxxii.

[←126]

New Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1975), 22. Dead Sea Scroll expert James C. VanderKam says Hebrew versions of Tobit, Sirach, and Psalm 151 (found only in the Septuagint) were discovered at Qumran. The Dead Sea Scrolls Today (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1994), 34-36.

[←127]

Fr. Chacon, Frank; Burnham, Jim. Beginning Apologetics: How to Explain and Defend the Catholic Faith. (San Juan Catholic Seminars, NM. 2010.), 11.

[←128]

Pace, Edward. "Beatific Vision." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 2. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 9 May 2018 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02364a.htm>.

[←129]

Anders, David. PhD. Called to Communion. EWTN. 5/20/17. 0:42. Also listen to, The Eucharist. Online, mp3: http://www.streetevangelization.com/docs/talks/mp3s/TheEucharist.mp3
For related resources: http://streetevangelization.com/resources/

[←130]

Peter Post. Essential Manners for Men: What to Do, When to Do It and Why. William Morrow. October 21st, 2003. Print.

[←131]

“When preparing a meal for our family or friends, we take into consideration many things: what will be served, who will be present, how will we gather, and what will connect us together. We prepare ourselves and our home for the gathering… We prepare ourselves to participate in the Eucharist by praying and reflecting on Scripture readings and participating in singing and prayers. Liturgical ministers prepare the celebration on behalf of the community, the liturgy itself connects us as the body of Christ gathered to participate in the paschal mystery –God’s redemption of humanity from sin through Jesus’ life, death, resurrection and ascension into glory. It takes all of us to prepare for the celebration of the Eucharist.” –The Catholic Faith and Family Bible. 2010. p. 1264. (See Mk 14:22-24; Lk 22:30-35; John 6; 1 Cor 10:14-18; 11:23-30)

[←132]

Daily Readings. Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. 9 November 2016. Online. http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/110916.cfm

[←133]

Matthew 22:36-40

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Gallagher, Fr. Timothy. The Discernment of Spirits –Setting the Captives Free. Discerning Hearts: Catholic podcasts dedicated to those on the discerning journey. Online. DOS#6. http://www.discerninghearts.com/catholic-podcasts/fr-timothy-gallagher-discernment-of-spirits/

[←135]

live + strong = strive

[←136]

St Francis De Sales. Finding God’s Will for You. Sophia Institute Press. October 1st 1998. Print. Chapter 6.

[←137]

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 1 Peter 1:3-4

[←138]

Attending a Protestant Service. Catholics United for the Faith (CUF). 26 September 2007. Online. http://www.cuf.org/2005/07/attending-a-protestant-service/

[←139]

Code of Canon Law, c. 900 in The Code of Canon Law: Latin-English Edition. Washington, DC:

Canon Law Society of America. 1983. Online. http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/_P38.HTM

[←140]

Barrack, Marty. The Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist: The Eucharist in Scripture. 2001. Online. http://www.therealpresence.org/eucharst/scrip/a6.html

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Amsterdam, the Blessed Sacrament. Meertens Institute: Research and documentation of Dutch language and culture. 2013. Online. http://www.meertens.knaw.nl/bedevaart/bol/plaats/30

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The Eucharistic Miracles of the World. Online. http://www.miracolieucaristici.org/en/Liste/list.html

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Real Presence –John Levi (Catholic Hip Hop) (Catholic Rap) https://youtu.be/rF54I_hsV34 #realpresence

[←144]

Harris, Joshua. Stop Dating the Church!: Fall in Love with the Family of God. Multnomah Books. 23 September 2004. Print.

[←145]

John 14:15-21

[←146]

John 17:19-21 (NRSV)

[←147]

Matthew 5:20

[←148]

Matthew 18:15-18

[←149]

The Council of Hippo (in North Africa) approved the present OT and NT canon of 73 books in AD 393; the Council of Carthage (in North Africa) approved the same OT and NT canon in AD 397; Pope St. Innocent I (401 – 417) approved the same 73-book canon and closed the canon of the Bible. The canon of most protestant bibles reject the books of Wisdom, Sirach, Judith, Baruch, Tobit and 1 and 2 Maccabees (as well as portions of Daniel and Esther).

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Salvation = Justification, Sanctification and Glorification. Wordpress: Daily Truth Pills (Hosea 4:6: My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…). Online. https://truthpills.wordpress.com/spiritual/salvation-justification-sanctification-glorification/

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Gray, David L. 500 Years of Protestantism: The 38 Most Ridiculous Things Martin Luther Ever Wrote. 11 September 2013. Online. http://www.davidlgray.info/blog/2013/09/500-years-of-protestantism-the-33-most-ridiculous-things-martin-luther-ever-wrote/

[←152]

If only I had a nickel for every time I behaved like an ass. And yet, sometimes our Lord has need for an ass. See Luke 19:29-36, Douay-Rheims translation, and “In Need of the Colt of an Ass,” by Henry M. Morris, Ph.D. Evidence for Creation. Online. http://www.icr.org/article/need-colt-ass

[←153]

An offering of bread and wine was observed in the Levitical priesthood through the Bread of the Presence, or Bread of the Face (of God), which rested on a golden alter in the Holy Place, the inner sanctum of the Tabernacle, along with the golden Lampstand, or Menorah, and the Ark of the Covenant. The Bread of the Presence was brought out three times a year during the festivals of Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles, where the priests would declare, “Behold, God’s love for you!” This connection has been exceptionally explained, as well as the connection of the Eucharist to Passover and the manna the Israelites received for 40 years in the desert, by Brant Pitre, in his book, “Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist,” a MUST READ for every person seeking truth.

[←154]

John 20:19-23; Matthew 18:17-18

[←155]

Matthew 5:20

[←156]

First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. –2 Peter 1:20-21

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Brozyna, Martha. 6 Famous Eunuchs. MentalFloss. Online. http://mentalfloss.com/article/22367/6-famous-eunuchs

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Wikipedia contributors. "Heaven's Gate (religious group)." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 13 Oct. 2016. Web. 13 Oct. 2016.

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Matthew 19:12. The New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE). United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. 9 March 2011. Online. http://www.usccb.org/bible/matthew/matthew19.htm

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Cook, William R. The Lives of Great Christians. The Teaching Company. 2007. Audio CD. Lect.08

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West, Christopher. Celibacy for the Kingdom and the Fulfillment of Human Sexuality. Catholic Education Resource Center (CERC). Online. http://www.catholiceducation.org/en/marriage-and-family/sexuality/celibacy-for-the-kingdom-amp-the-fulfillment-of-human-sexuality.html

[←163]

1 Corinthians 7:32-35

[←164]

Are Jesus and Satan Brothers?. GotQuestions?org. Online. http://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-Satan-brothers.html

[←165]

Colossians 1:15-16

[←166]

Bishop Robert Barron. Understanding the Holy Spirit. 5-4-20. YouTube. https://youtu.be/wD71MBo5gBA (9:35-17:07 @14:03)

[←167]

Ibid, Sheed.

[←168]

Conlin, Fr. Richard. Summary of Theology for Beginners by Frank Sheed. 7/27/14. https://fatherconlin.com/2014/07/27/theology-for-beginners-by-frank-sheed-chapters-1-6/

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Miravalle, Dr. Mark. Angels Explained: What You Should Know About the Nine Choirs. Lighthouse Catholic Media. Audio CD / Mp3. https://www.lighthousecatholicmedia.org/store/title/angels-explained-what-you-should-know-about-the-nine-choirs

[←170]

Fr. Chacon, Frank; Burnham, Jim. Beginning Apologetics: How to Answer Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons. San Juan Catholic Seminars, NM. 2007.

[←171]

Ibid. Chacon & Burnham.

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Vost, Kevin. Memorize the Reasons: Defending the Faith with the Catholic Art of Memory. Catholic Answers. 28 September 2013. Print.

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Akin, Jimmy. Is St. Peter the Rock on which Jesus built His Church? JimmyAkin.com. Online. http://jimmyakin.com/2012/10/is-st-peter-the-rock-on-which-jesus-built-his-church.html

[←174]

Galatians 2:11-13

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St. Francis of Assisi, Charismatic Penitent. The Franciscan Friars, TOR. Online. http://www.thefranciscanfriars.org/stfrancisofassisi

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What miracles did Saint Francis of Assisi perform? Reference. Online. https://www.reference.com/world-view/miracles-did-saint-francis-assisi-perform-1fa9e0a24aea3d12#

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Armstrong, Dave. Luther’s “Snow-Covered Dunghill” (Myth?). April 7th, 2016. Patheos. http://www.patheos.com/blogs/davearmstrong/2016/04/luthers-snow-covered-dunghill-myth.html

[←179]

1 Peter 4:8

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Schmitz, Fr. Mike. A Proof That the Catholic Church Did Not Sell Indulgences. Defending the Bride. January 6th, 2016. https://www.defendingthebride.com/mc/did/catholic/church/sell/indulgences.html

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PiousTemplar. Why did Pope Leo X Sanction the selling of indulgences? Catholic Answers. Online. (see the response by Jaypeeto4, Oct '11) http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=608196

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Indulgences –General Conditions. EWTN. Online. https://www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/indulgences_conditions.htm

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See, “Indulgences: Luther, Catholicism, and the Imputation of Merit,” by Mary C. Moorman. Emmaus Academic. August, 2017. (At the five-hundredth anniversary of Martin Luther's Ninety-Five Theses and the dawn of the Protestant movement, Indulgences: Luther, Catholicism, and the Imputation of Merit sets forth a revised theological interpretation of the Church's practice of indulgences. Author Mary C. Moorman argues that Luther's sola fide theology merely absolutized the very logic of indulgences which he sought to overthrow, while indulgences in their proper context remain an irreducible witness to the Church's corporate nuptial covenant with Christ, by which penitents are drawn into deeper fellowship with the Church and the Church's Lord.)

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Best-Selling Book of Non-Fiction. Officially Amazing: Guinness World Records. Online. http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/best-selling-book-of-non-fiction/

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Wikipedia Contributors. Two kingdoms doctrine. Wikipedia, The Free Enchyclopedia. 25 January 2016 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_kingdoms_doctrine#In_Martin_Luther.27s_thought

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Fire and Sword: Crusade & Inquisition. Arnold, Matthew. Saint Joseph Communications. DVD or Mp3 Download. CD: https://www.lighthousecatholicmedia.org/store/title/fire-sword-crusades-inquisition-reformation MP3 Download: https://saintjoe.com/products/fire-and-sword-crusade-inquisition-reformation

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To develop a thorough appreciation of the Church’s contribution to Western Civilization, read “How the Catholic Church Built Western Civilization,” by Thomas E. Woods, Jr., Ph.D. Regnery Publishing, Inc. Washington, 2005.

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The levels of Jahannam (Hell Fire). Ummah: The Online Muslim Community. 3 November 2014. Online. http://www.ummah.com/forum/showthread.php?394533-The-levels-of-Jahannam-(Hell-Fire) ,

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See chapter entitled, “Commentary on the Proper Treatment of Those Who Support Sharia Law and Statements in the Quran concerning the Rape

of Women”

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The Inquisition. EWTN original mini-series. EWTN. Online. https://www.ewtnreligiouscatalogue.com/the-inquisition-dvd/p/HV000TID

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Galatians 2:11: But when Cephas [Peter] came to Antioch, I [Paul] opposed him to his face, because he stood self-condemned; for until certain people came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But after they came, he drew back and kept himself separate for fear of the circumcision faction.

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Duquette, Will. Stunning story: Miraculous recovery attributed to Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. Aleteia. 3 November 2016. Online. http://aleteia.org/2016/11/03/miraculous-recovery-attributed-to-blessed-pier-giorgio-frassati/

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Luther’s Works (St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing, 1961), Volume 37, 54.

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Letter to the Smyrnaeans 6, 2; William A. Jurgens, The Faith of the Early Fathers (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1970), Volume 1, #64.

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First Apology, 66, 20; Jurgens, #128.

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Genesis 3:15

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The Catechism of the Catholic Church. Paragraph 4. CHRIST’S FAITHFUL –HIERARCHY, LAITY, CONSECRATED LIFE. Online. http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P2A.HTM

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What is the mercy seat? GotQuestions.org. Online. https://www.gotquestions.org/mercy-seat.html

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What was the Holy of Holies? GotQuestions.org. Online. https://www.gotquestions.org/Holy-of-Holies.html

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See 1 Timothy 4:16; James 5:20; 1 Corinthians 9:22; Colossians 1:24; 2 Corinthians 1:6; Acts 19:12

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See John 1:3 and Colossians 1:16

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Evert, Jason. Is the Mass a Sacrifice. Catholic Answers. March 14, 2016. Online. https://www.catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/is-the-mass-a-sacrifice

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See Exodus 12 and John 1:29

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Cassandra, Adam. Young Creator of ‘Eucharistic Miracles’ Exhibit Can Be a Role Model for Students. The Cardinal Newman Society. December 9th, 2016. Online. https://cardinalnewmansociety.org/young-creator-eucharistic-miracles-exhibit-can-role-model-students/

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Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31

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The Chaplet of Divine Mercy. EWTN. Online. http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/Mercy/dmmap.htm

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The Catechism of the Catholic Church. Paragraph 4. CHRIST’S FAITHFUL –HIERARCHY, LAITY, CONSECRATED LIFE. Section 901. Online. http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P2A.HTM

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The Catechism of the Catholic Church. Part Two, Section Two, Chapter Three, Article Six, #1536. Online. http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p2s2c3a6.htm

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See Matthew 18:18

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See Matthew 16:18 (see also: Akin, Jimmy. Is St. Peter the Rock on which Jesus built His Church? JimmyAkin.com. Online. http://jimmyakin.com/2012/10/is-st-peter-the-rock-on-which-jesus-built-his-church.html

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See John 6:54-57; Matthew 26:26

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See 2 Thessalonians 2:15

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John Levi. Real Presence - @ijohnlevi (Eucharist Song) (Catholic Rap). April 9th, 2014. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rF54I_hsV34

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Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, O.C.D. Divine Intimacy. Print. Baronius Press Ltd. London, 2008. Pg. 478.

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See Matthew 23:8-10

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Today’s Homily. Daily Catholic Mass -2017-03-14 -Fr. Mitch. EWTN. Online. http://www.ewtn.com/multimedia/video.asp

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Luke 9:30

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A type is an OT foreshadowing of an NT fulfillment.

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Akin, Jimmy. Is St. Peter the Rock on which Jesus built His Church? JimmyAkin.com. Online. http://jimmyakin.com/2012/10/is-st-peter-the-rock-on-which-jesus-built-his-church.html

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Vost, Kevin. Memorize the Reasons: Defending the Faith with the Catholic Art of Memory. Catholic Answers. 28 September 2013. Print.

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The Catechism of the Catholic Church. Paragraph 4. CHRIST’S FAITHFUL –HIERARCHY, LAITY, CONSECRATED LIFE. 904-907. Online. http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p123a9p4.htm

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Revelation 13:18

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Fitzgerald, Ryan. Eucharistic Miracles Confirm Real Presence of Jesus Christ. Church Militant. April 24, 2016. Online. http://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/eucharistic-miracles-confirm-real-presence-of-jesus-christ

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The Truth About Priestly Continence and Celibacy in the Early Church. http://www.unamsanctamcatholicam.com/history/79-history/465-celibacy-in-the-early-church.html

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Matthew 18:15-17

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“First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” 2 Peter 1:20-21

[←228]

1 Corinthians 1:10

[←229]

Mark 8:34-38

[←230]

James 2:14-24, 26

[←231]

John 13:34-35

[←232]

John 17:21

[←233]

Mark 2:1-12; Matthew 9:2-8; Luke 5:18-26; John 8:1-11

[←234]

John Paul II, Humanae Vitae [Encyclical Letter on the Regulation of Birth], sec. 14, accessed July 17, 2016, http://w2.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-vi_enc_25071968_humanae-vitae.html

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Ibid. JPII, HV (14)

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John Paul II, Familiaris Consortio [Encyclical Letter on the Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World], sec. 32, accessed July 17, 2016, http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_jp-ii_exh_19811122_familiaris-consortio.html

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Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd Edition. Offenses against chastity (2353). Online. http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2c2a6.htm

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Catholic Church. Persona Humana: Declaration on Certain Questions Concerning Sexual Ethics. 29 December 1975. Online. http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19751229_persona-humana_en.html

[←239]

Ibid, Familiaris Consortio, sec. 80.

[←240]

John 8:51; 11:25-26

[←241]

Luke 17:6

[←242]

Matt. 17:20

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The Holy Rosary. https://www.theholyrosary.org/

[←244]

John 6:54

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Gassner, Dom Jerome, O.S.B. The Vatican Council on the Assumption of Our Lady. https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=6065

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Connell, Rev. Francis J., C.SS.R. Historical Development of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception. https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=9070

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Where is Mary’s Assumption in the Bible? August 14, 2020. https://stpaulcenter.com/where-is-marys-assumption-in-the-bible/ (cf. last paragraph)

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1 Corinthians 15:55

[←249]

se where ejaculation has occurred within the preceding five days (since sperm can live for around five days), or within one day after ovulation (since the egg can live for up to 24 hours):

1.  A child has been conceived but c

[←250]

ely possibilities occur when Plan B is taken after ovulation AND intercour

[←251]

of the luteal phase: menstruation and the beginning of the next cycle.[3]

Regarding conception, one of two lik

[←252]

um concentration of the progesterone-like, levonorgestrel, reaches 14.1 ng/mL.

Now consider that after reaching this peak, progesterone activity levels begin to fall and that falling levels of progesterone activity cause an increase in levels of FSH.  This change begins a process that generates follicles for the next cycle, causing the current corpus luteum to atrophy.  As mentioned previously, 

Continued drops in the levels of estrogen and progesterone trigger the end

[←253]

e are 1 trillion nanograms in a gram. When a woman takes Plan B, the amount of progesterone activity increases rapidly and reaches a peak level 1.6 hours after administration (Tmax = 1.6 h).  Note that at that time the maxim

[←254]

ograms per milliliter). Consider how sensitive these levels are… ther

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Kaleem, Jaweed. American Values Survey Finds Sharp Contrasts Among Catholic Voters on Politics, Religious Freedom. Huffington Post. 22 October 2012. Online. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/22/american-values-survey-obama-romney_n_1997805.html

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‘Hail Satan!’: The new ‘pro-choice’ mantra. LifeSite. 8 July 2013. Online. https://www.lifesitenews.com/opinion/hail-satan-the-new-pro-choice-mantra

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Luke 1:28

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Luke 1:41-42; Luke 1:48

[←259]

Luke 1:42

[←260]

Luke 1:43

[←261]

Luke 2:35; John 2:5; 2 Maccabees 15:11-14; Luke 9:29-32, 16:26-31, 20:37-38

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Luke 1:41-42

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2010 Breast Cancer Incidence per Year per Age Group with Respect to OC Usage. 11-7-17. LifeisSacred.net. http://lifeissacred.net/2010-breast-cancer-incidence-per-year-per-age-group-with-respect-to-oral-contraceptive-use-11-7-17.pdf

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Press Release No. 167, "IARC Monographs Programme Finds Combined Estrogen-Progestogen Contraceptives (the "pill") and Menopausal Therapy Are Carcinogenic to Humans," World Health Organization International Agency for Research on Cancer, July 29, 2005. See

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Rookus MA, van Leeuwen FE. Oral contraceptives and risk of breast cancer in women aged 20-54 years. Netherlands Oral Contraceptives and Breast Cancer Study Group. Lancet 1994;344:844 – 51.

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Foley & McCloskey. Saint of the Day. Franciscan Media. Cincinnati, OH. 2013. p. 11 (January 7th, St. Raymond of Peñafort.)

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Wikipedia contributors. "Revenge." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 5 Sep. 2016. Web. 16 Sep. 2016.

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Matthew 24:36 (But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.) NRSV

[←359]

Reading the Bible, Timothy R. Carmody, Paulist Press, 2004. Pg 26.

[←360]

Fr. Damick, Andrew Stephen. The Descent of God as Fire: Pentecost and the Exodus. June 7th, 2017. Ancient Faith Ministries. https://blogs.ancientfaith.com/asd/2017/06/07/descent-god-fire-pentecost-exodus/

[←361]

Wikipedia contributors. "Origins of the Hyksos." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 22 Feb. 2016. Web. 17 Jun. 2016.

[←362]

Archeological Study Bible, The Zondervan Corporation, 2005. Pg. 99.

[←363]

Wikipedia contributors. "Joseph (patriarch)." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 15 Jun. 2016. Web. 17 Jun. 2016.

[←364]

When was the Exodus? OU Staff. Orthodox Union. June 29, 2006. https://www.ou.org/holidays/passover/when_was_the_exodus Accessed 6/17/16.

[←365]

The Ten Plagues –Live from Egypt. Rabbi Mordechai Becher. Pesach. http://ohr.edu/838 Accessed 6/17/16.

[←366]

Egypt’s Golden Empire. PBS. http://www.pbs.org/empires/egypt/newkingdom/ahmose.html Accessed 6/17/16.

[←367]

Wikipedia contributors. "Amenhotep I." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 8 May. 2016. Web. 17 Jun. 2016.

[←368]

Archeological Study Bible, The Zondervan Corporation, 2005. Pg. 103.

[←369]

Wikipedia contributors. "Qantir." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 10 Jun. 2016. Web. 17 Jun. 2016.

[←370]

Wikipedia contributors. "Avaris." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 7 Jun. 2016. Web. 17 Jun. 2016.

[←371]

Grimal, Nicolas. A History of Ancient Egypt. p.193. Librairie Arthéme Fayard, 1988.

[←372]

Redford, Donald B. History and Chronology of the 18th Dynasty of Egypt: Seven Studies, pp.46–49. University of Toronto Press, 1967.

[←373]

Wood, Bryant G. Did the Israelites Conquer Jericho? A New Look at the Archeological Evidence. Online. http://www.biblearchaeology.org/post/2008/05/Did-the-Israelites-Conquer-Jericho-A-New-Look-at-the-Archaeological-Evidence.aspx#Article

[←374]

Bryant Wood, “Did the Israelites Conquer Jericho: A New Look at the Archaeological Evidence,” BAR 16 no. 2 (1990) 44-59.

[←375]

Wikipedia contributors. "Osarseph." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 8 Sep. 2015. Web. 17 Jun. 2016.

[←376]

Wikipedia contributors. "Battle of Kadesh." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 13 Jun. 2016. Web. 17 Jun. 2016.

[←377]

Ibid. Battle of Kadesh.

[←378]

Fr. Barron: Who is Jesus and what makes him unique? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Y4xacvLUXo YouTube. Oct 26, 2010

[←379]

Ross, Zachary. The Audacity of Faith: A Study of Barack Obama's Religious Views and How they could Shape his United States Presidency. Georgia State University, Department of Religious Studies. Online. http://scholarworks.gsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1022&context=rs_theses

[←380]

Hebrews 1:1-6

[←381]

The Word made Flesh, or in Greek, the Logos made Flesh, Logos being a term used by Heraclitus (c535 – 475 BCE), denoting a principle of order and knowledge, by Aristotle in referring to “reasoned discourse,” by Stoic philosophers as the divine animating principle pervading the Universe. For St. John, Jesus is the Logos, through which all things are made.

[←382]

Matt. 18:15-18

[←383]

Philippians 2:12b-16. The New American Bible. Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. Washington D.C. 1970.

[←384]

Genesis 5:24

[←385]

Hebrews 11:5

[←386]

2 Kings 2:9-11; note further that the double portion of Elijah’s spirit would only be given to Elisha if he acknowledged that Elijah would not leave Elisha (2 Kings 2:1-10), this alludes to the ongoing presence of the Saints in heaven with those on earth, e.g. as the Saints currently intercede for the body of Christ and those in the Body who request their intercession, such as during a Novena, in accordance with Catholic Sacred Tradition.

[←387]

Luke 1:34 (Douay Rheims, Confraternity Edition)

[←388]

Staples, Tim. When Were Joseph and Mary Married? Catholic Answers. September 20th, 2013. Online. http://www.catholic.com/blog/tim-staples/when-were-joseph-and-mary-married

[←389]

Ephesians 4:16

[←390]

John 21:20-23 (Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”

Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”)

[←391]

Genesis 32:22-32

[←392]

Mirus, Jeffrey A. Is Lying Ever Right? Catholic Answers. Online. http://www.catholic.com/magazine/articles/is-lying-ever-right

[←393]

Luke 9:51-56 (When the days for Jesus to be taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, and he sent messengers ahead of him. On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, but they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they journeyed to another village.) Online: http://usccb.org/bible/readings/092716.cfm

[←394]

John 8:51 (Very truly, I tell you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.) NRSV

[←395]

Venerable Mary of Agreda. The Mystical City of God: Complete Edition: The Divine History and Life of the Virgin Mother of God. Catholic Way Publishing. Kindle Edition. 14 October 2013. Loc 1612 of 34340.

[←396]

Striking Findings From 2019. Factank: News in the Numbers. Pew Research Center. 12/13/19. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/12/13/19-striking-findings-from-2019/

[←397]

Barry A. Kosmin and Seymour P. Lachman, One Nation Under God: Religion in Contemporary American Society (New York: Harmony Books, 1993), pp. 28–29.

[←398]

Jeremiah 17:9

[←399]

Are we all God’s children, or only Christians? Got Questions: Your Questions. Biblical Answers. https://www.gotquestions.org/all-God-children.html

[←400]

John 3:1-17; 1 Pet. 3:21; Acts 2:38, 22:16; Rom. 6:3-4; Col. 2:11-12; Mark 16:16. Also see the writings of the early church fathers: https://www.catholic.com/tract/the-necessity-of-baptism

[←401]

Romans 6:4

[←402]

1 Thess. 5:11

[←403]

Luke 15:11-32

[←404]

Wikipedia contributors. (2021, February 17). Political parties in the United States. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 16:21, February 19, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Political_parties_in_the_United_States&oldid=1007318307

[←405]

Wikipedia contributors. "List of Christian denominations by number of members." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 2 Apr. 2021. Web. 10 Apr. 2021. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Christian_denominations_by_number_of_members

[←406]

”I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” –John 17:20-21; “Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.” –1 Corinthians 1:10

[←407]

Why call a convention of States in accordance with Article V of the US Constitution? https://conventionofstates.com/

[←408]

The Numinous Experience (Indication of the Interior Sense of God: #1). Magis Center of Faith and Reason. Jan 04, 2017. https://blog.magiscenter.com/blog/numinous-experience

[←409]

Aiken, Charles Francis. "Religion." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 12. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. 3 Apr. 2021 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12738a.htm>.

[←410]

Wikipedia contributors. "Religion." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 21 Mar. 2021. Web. 4 Apr. 2021. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion

[←411]

https://pureheartculture.org/scientific-resources.html ; Also see “ The 7 Essential Modules” for videos on “Evidence of a Soul from Medical Studies; Evidence of God’s Existence from Science; Proof of God’s Existence from Philosophy and more at: https://www.crediblecatholic.com/the-7-essential-modules/#ages-15

[←412]

“The promotion of science as the best or only objective means by which society should determine normative and epistemological values.” (Wikipedia contributors. "Scientism." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 6 Apr. 2021. Web. 15 Apr. 2021. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientism )

[←413]

Note from Frank Sheed’s book “Theology for Beginners,” a spirit has no parts and a being which has no parts does not occupy space (Anything that you see, anything that occupies space, must have parts because “space is simply what matter spreads its parts in. Since spirit is a being with no parts, it has nothing in common with space; “it is spaceless; it is superior to the need for space”). Summary available @ https://fatherconlin.com/2014/07/27/theology-for-beginners-by-frank-sheed-chapters-1-6/

[←414]

How Many People Did Joseph Stalin Kill? International Business Times, 3/5/13. https://www.ibtimes.com/how-many-people-did-joseph-stalin-kill-1111789

[←415]

Was Hitler religious? The Nazi leader hated Christianity as well as Judaism. - The Washington Post, 4/20/2019. https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2019/04/20/hitler-hated-judaism-he-loathed-christianity-too/

[←416]

Documenting Numbers of Victims of the Holocaust and Nazi Persecution. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/documenting-numbers-of-victims-of-the-holocaust-and-nazi-persecution

[←417]

The Legacy of Mao Zedong is Mass Murder | The Heritage Foundation

[←418]

Balal. The KJV Old Testament Hebrew Lexicon. https://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/hebrew/kjv/balal.html.

[←419]

Babel. https://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/hebrew/kjv/babel.html Also see: The Blessings of Babel. Thomson Memorial Presbyterian Church. Online. http://www.thomsonmemorial.com/files/Acts_2_1-13_The_Blessing_of_Babel_1-26-10.pdf Last accessed 4/3/21.

[←420]

Longnecker, Fr. Dwight. Did St. Joseph of Cupertino Really Fly? N.C. Register. 9/18/19. https://www.ncregister.com/blog/did-st-joseph-of-cupertino-really-fly

[←421]

John 20:29

[←422]

Pearce, Joseph. What is Modernism? The Imaginative Conservative. 4/9/16. Online. https://theimaginativeconservative.org/2016/04/what-is-modernism.html

[←423]

Voris, Michael. The Vortex –Separation of Church and State. November 12th, 2015. Online. https://www.churchmilitant.com/video/episode/vort-2015-11-10

[←424]

De Feo, Joseph A. P. Thomas Jefferson and the Wall of Separation Between Church and State. 3/2003. Catholic League For Religious and Civil Rights. https://www.catholicleague.org/thomas-jefferson-and-the-wall-of-separation-between-church-and-state/

[←425]

Ongoing Lawsuits - Legal - Freedom From Religion Foundation. Online. Accessed 8-6-18. https://ffrf.org/legal/challenges/ongoing-lawsuits

[←426]

Pew Research Center: Religion & Public Life. Religious Landscape Study. Online. http://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/

[←427]

Frederick Douglas

[←428]

John 14:9

[←429]

See article in this book entitled “21st Century Babylonian Invasion”

[←430]

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

[←431]

In Defense of God’s Likeness. DVD. Media by Fr. Robert Spitzer. EWTN Home Videos. https://www.ewtnreligiouscatalogue.com/in-defense-of-gods-likeness-dvd/p/HV00DGLD

[←432]

Wikipedia contributors. "True hermaphroditism." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 24 Nov. 2022. Web. 10 Jan. 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/True_hermaphroditism

[←433]

Wilks, John., B.Pharm. MPS MACPP. “Written Opinion on Contraceptives.” 12/7/2017. https://www.academia.edu/36631983/John_Wilks_B_Pharm_MPS_MACPP_Written_Opinion_on_Contraceptives

[←434]

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Appendix D: Contraceptive Effectiveness: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr6304a5.htm

[←435]

2010 Breast Cancer Incidence per Year per Age Group with Respect to OC Usage. (pg. 4) https://lifeissacred.net/2010-breast-cancer-incidence-per-year-per-age-group-with-respect-to-oral-contraceptive-use-11-7-17.pdf

[←436]

Concerning the blessedness of the Mother of Jesus, Robert Bellarmine exclaimed, ‘And who, I ask, could believe that the ark of holiness, the dwelling place of the Word of God, the temple of the Holy Spirit, could be reduced to ruin? My soul is filled with horror at the thought that this virginal flesh which had begotten God, had brought him into the world, had nourished and carried him, could have been turned into ashes or given over to be food for worms.’ In like manner Francis de Sales, after asserting that it is wrong to doubt that Jesus Christ has himself observed, in the most perfect way, the divine commandment by which children are ordered to honor their parents, asks this question: ‘What son would not bring his mother back to life and would not bring her into paradise after her death if he could?’ Alphonsus Liguori writes that ‘Jesus did not wish to have the body of Mary corrupted after death, since it would have redounded to his own dishonor to have her virginal flesh, from which he himself had assumed flesh, reduced to dust.’ https://www.ncregister.com/blog/70-years-ago-pius-xii-proclaimed-assumption-and-saw-miracle-of-the-sun

[←437]

Altman, Rev. James, et al. Let Freedom Ring: A 40-Day Tactical Training for Freedom from the Devil. Mater Media. 2021. p 73-74.

[←438]

Arcement, Katherine. Our Lady of Fatima: The Virgin Mary promised three kids a miracle that 70,000 gathered to see. The Washington Post. Oct 13th, 2017. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/retropolis/wp/2017/10/13/our-lady-of-fatima-the-virgin-mary-promised-three-kids-a-miracle-that-70000-gathered-to-see/ [last accessed 4/15/2021]

[←439]

Sr. Lucia of Fatima said this refers primarily to sins against chastity, also called sins of impurity. The reason for this statement is not because sins against chastity are the most grievous sins, but the most common and because of conscience and shame. Why? Because of conscience and shame, sins of impurity are less likely to be repented of and confessed than other sins. See: Our Lady of Fatima’s PLEA FOR SACRIFICE. Catholic-Saints.net. http://www.catholic-saints.net/our-lady-of-fatimas-plea-for-sacrifice/

[←440]

Colossians 3:9-17: Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. In that renewal* there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all! As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord* has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

[←441]

Ibid Altman, p 71-72.

[←442]

Girgis, Sherif, et al. What Is Marriage? Man and Woman: A Defense. Encounter Books. NY, NY. 2012.

[←443]

Wikipedia contributors. "Hermaphrodite." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 3 Mar. 2021. Web. 1 Apr. 2021. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermaphrodite

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Horton, Richard. Is homosexuality Inherited? Frontline: PBS. 1995. Online. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/assault/genetics/nyreview.html

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Breaux, Dr. Monica. Sexual appetite formation 2/4 & 3/24/12. The Good Fight. Radio. 15:00-15:35 http://ewtn.edgeboss.net/download/ewtn/audiolibrary/gf_02042012.mp3

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What is the Prevalence of People with Same-Sex Attraction. ProCon.org. Online. http://borngay.procon.org/view.answers.php?questionID=000013

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Biological Causes of Same-sex Attraction. SameSexAttraction.org. Online. http://www.samesexattraction.org/biological-causes-homosexuality.htm

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Sweeny, Kathleen Curran. A Study of Psychological Insights. Humanum: Issues of Family, Culture & Science. Fall, 2012. Online. http://humanumreview.com/articles/moberly-a-study-of-psychological-insights

[←450]

Tammet, Daniel. Born on a Blue Day: Inside the Extraordinary Mind of an Autistic Savant. Free Press. 16 October 2007. Print.

[←451]

CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. LGBT Youth. https://www.cdc.gov/lgbthealth/youth.htm

[←452]

Harvey, John F. O.S.F.S. Homosexuality and the Catholic Church. West Chester: Ascension Press. 2007. Print. p. 7

[←453]

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Anal Cancer, HIV and Gay/Bisexual Men. National LGBT Cancer Network. Online. http://www.cancer-network.org/cancer_information/gay_men_and_cancer/anal_cancer_hiv_and_gay_men.php

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How Common is Homosexuality? The average ratio from several studies is that 9.61 percent of men identify as homosexual and 4.58 percent of women identify as homosexual. Yahoo Answer’s Best Answer: Χριστοφορος. 2008. Online. https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=A86.J5GGeKZWzxYAsMUnnIlQ;_ylu=X3oDMTByNWU4cGh1BGNvbG8DZ3ExBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzYw--?qid=20080822150229AAV7oaG

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Nossiter, Adam. Nigeria Tries to ‘Sanitize’ Itself of Gays. The New York Times. 8 February 2014. Online. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/09/world/africa/nigeria-uses-law-and-whip-to-sanitize-gays.html?_r=0

[←460]

Girgis Sherif, et al. What is Marriage? Man and Woman: A Defense. New York: Encounter Books. 2012. Print. p. 14-16

[←461]

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[←462]

In the meantime, consider the article in this book entitled, “Reforming Public Education.”

[←463]

EWTN News, 11 February 2016. Interview with Anthony Rizzi circumscribing the discovery of gravity waves. Broadcast.

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[←472]

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[←473]

"The Constitution of the United States," Amendment 1.

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[←475]

The American Heritage Series with Historian David Barton. David Barton. Aledo: Bridgestone. 29 June 2009. DVD. Disc 2: The Faith of our Founding Fathers.

[←476]

Matthew 22:21

[←477]

Staples, Tim. Catholics and the Culture War. San Diego: Catholic Answers. 2012. DVD.

[←478]

"The Constitution of the United States," Amendment 14, Section 1.

[←479]

Dawson, Christopher. The Crises of Western Education. New York: Sheed and Ward, 1961. Print. p.24-35

[←480]

Ibid. Dawson, p. xv

[←481]

Ibid. Dawson, p. xvii

[←482]

Ibid. Dawson, p. xix

[←483]

Fulwiler, Jennifer. “Something Other Than God: How I Passionately Sought Happiness and Accidentally Found It! Ignatius Press. 29 April 2014. Print.

[←484]

John Paul II. The Theology of the Body: Human Love in the Divine Plan. Boston: Pauline Books & Media. 1997. Print

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Wetzel, Richard, MD. Sexual Wisdom: A Guide for Parents, Young Adults, Educators and Physicians. Huntington Beach: Sex Education for Advanced Beginners. 1998. Print.

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Life is Sacred. LifeisSacred.net 2010 Breast Cancer Incidence per Year per Age Group with Respect to OC Usage. 29 September 15. Online. http://lifeissacred.net/2010-breast-cancer-incidence-per-year-per-age-group-with-respect-to-oral-contraceptive-use-5-21-16.pdf (Last accessed 9-7-16)

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Pazol, Karen, et al. Abortion Surveillance –United States, 2010. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 29 November 2013. Online. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss6208a1.htm

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Hilary Dowdle. "Bring Back Home Economics in Schools! Cooking and nutrition skills are crucial to a happy, healthy life. So why don't schools teach them?" Cookinglight.com. http://www.cookinglight.com/eating-smart/nutrition-101/school-home-economics

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Arlene D. Holzman. "What's Taught in Schools" The New York Times. 12 September 1982. Online.

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Kathlyn Stone. “The Most Prescribed Medications by Drug Class. About.com. 16 December 2014
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Blanding, Hael; White, Heather. How China is Screwing Over its Poisoned Factory Workers. Wired. April 6th, 2015. Online. https://www.wired.com/2015/04/inside-chinese-factories/

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Williams, Thomas D. China once again has its hackles up over a U.S. report criticizing the country’s violations of religious freedom, and is insisting that America stop interfering in China’s internal affairs under the pretext of defending religious liberty. Breitbart. 16 October 2015. Online. http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/10/16/china-lashes-u-s-religious-freedom-report/

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Rev. Bruce, Alexander; Dods, Marcus; Nicoll, Robertson. The Expositor’s Greek Testament. Volume 1 & 2. Hodder and Stoughton. London, NY, Toronto. Pg. 583. Also online: https://books.google.com/books?id=G5cRAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA583

[←497]

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[←498]

Ibid. pg. 586

[←499]

Ibid. pg. 586; Also: http://biblehub.com/commentaries/luke/16-10.htm

[←500]

Matthew 5:8 (Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.)

[←501]

A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing. EWTN DVD. 2016

[←502]

Pope Leo XIII. Encyclical: On Socialism. sec. 8. Accessed 10/29-2016. Online. https://w2.vatican.va/content/leo-xiii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_l-xiii_enc_28121878_quod-apostolici-muneris.pdf

[←503]

Goodman, Donald P. Distributism: A Catholic System of Economics. Goretti Publications. 2006. Online. http://mtm.ufsc.br/~mcarvalho/DISTRIBUTISM.pdf

[←504]

Gordon, John Steele. Mephistopheles of Wall Street. American Heritage. December 1989, Volume 40, Issue 8. Online. http://www.americanheritage.com/content/mephistopheles-wall-street

[←505]

Wikipedia contributors. "Occupy Wall Street." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 27 Feb. 2016. Web. 11 Mar. 2016.

[←506]

Ahlquist, Dale. G.K. Chesterton’s Distributism. The Distributist Review. 11 August 2011. Online. http://distributistreview.com/g-k-chestertons-distributism/

[←507]

Ibid, Goodman.

[←508]

Marshall, Dr. Taylor. Do You Know the Four Properties of a Glorified Resurrected Human Body? 10/2012. TM PhD: Stay Salty My Friends. https://taylormarshall.com/2012/10/do-you-know-four-properties-of.html

[←509]

The Book of Revelation, 20:3.

[←510]

Dr. Cernea, Anca-Maria. Address to the bishops at the Vatican’s 2015 Ordinary Synod on the Family.

[←511]

Spitzer, J. Robert, Ph.D. Suffering, Love and Eternal Life. Magis Center of Reason and Faith. Online. http://www.magiscenter.com/pdf/Suffering_Love_and_Eternal_Life.pdf

[←512]

Matthew 16:24, cf. 10:38; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23, 14:27.

[←513]

The Five Functions of Government. The Mandate. 22 April 2008. Online. http://www.forerunner.com/mandate/X0043_Five_Functions_of_Go.html

[←514]

Murphy, Caryle. Most Americans believe in heaven… and hell. FactTank: News in the Numbers, PewResearchCenter. 10, November 2015. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/11/10/most-americans-believe-in-heaven-and-hell/

[←515]

Pew Research Center: Religion & Public Life. Religious Landscape Study. Online. http://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/

[←516]

Lumen Gentium, Chapter II (Section 16) in Vatican Council II Vol. 1: The Conciliar and Postconciliar Documents trans. by Austin Flannery (Northport, New York: Costello Publishing Company), 1975, p.376. (Encyclical Online: https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19641121_lumen-gentium_en.html)

[←517]

How many Roman Catholics are there in the world. BBC. 14 March 2014. Web. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-21443313

[←518]

Wikipedia contributors. "Eastern Orthodox Church." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 4 Feb. 2016. Web. 6 Feb. 2016.

[←519]

Wikipedia contributors. "Protestantism by country." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 16 Jan. 2016. Web. 6 Feb. 2016.

[←520]

Akin, Jimmy. Is St. Peter the Rock on which Jesus built His Church? JimmyAkin.com. Online. http://jimmyakin.com/2012/10/is-st-peter-the-rock-on-which-jesus-built-his-church.html

[←521]

Keating, Karl. Peter the Rock. Catholic Answers: To Explain & Defend the Faith. Online. http://www.catholic.com/tracts/peter-the-rock

[←522]

Should Abortion Be Legal? ProCon.org http://abortion.procon.org/#Background

[←523]

See “Petition to the United States Congress: An Ode to Joy for America's Missionaries and Her "Life-Affirming" Republic” (Vol. 1)

[←524]

Wikipedia contributors. "Abortion law." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 26 Jun. 2019. Web. 30 Jun. 2019. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abortion_law
It should be noted here that the majority of these countries do not make it illegal for a woman whose life may be compromised during a complicated pregnancy to end the life of a child. However, a healthcare provider should never be forced to perform such an act when their conscience objects. If a woman does not wish to sacrifice her own life, should that situation present in order to save the life of the child, and there is no healthcare provider willing to take the life of a child, she may have to resign to Providence. It would not be appropriate to force her to sacrifice her life nor would it be appropriate to force a healthcare provider to take the life of a child. As more and more women develop properly formed consciences, when such difficult circumstances arise, it is likely they will follow the example of St. Gianna Beretta Molla. (https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/saints/gianna-beretta-molla-589)

[←525]

Shadow, Crimson 1999. City of Angels –Lyrics (Under the Bridge) Red Hot Chilli Peppers. YouTube. Online. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uruBMEookc

[←526]

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. –Colossians 3:23-24

[←527]

Pacepa, Lt. Gen Ion Mihai; Rychlak, Ronald. Disinformation: Former Spy Chief Reveals Secret Strategies for Undermining Freedom, Attacking Religion, and Promoting Terrorism. WND Books. 25, June 2013. Print

[←528]

Wikipedia contributors. "Voter turnout in the United States presidential elections." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 26 Jan. 2016. Web. 11 Feb. 2016.

[←529]

Numbers 17:8

[←530]

One-Simple-Idea. Environment. Online. http://one-simple-idea.com/Environment1.htm

[←531]

Matthew 17:20

[←532]

Newsweek Staff. The World’s Most Barbaric Punishments. Newsweek. 7 August 2010. Online. http://www.newsweek.com/worlds-most-barbaric-punishments-74537

[←533]

Investopedia. What methods can the government use to control inflation? Online. http://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/111314/what-methods-can-government-use-control-inflation.asp

[←534]

Urry, Amelia. Our crazy farm subsidies, explained. Grist. April 20th, 2015. Online. http://grist.org/food/our-crazy-farm-subsidies-explained/

[←535]

Matthew 25:40

[←536]

The Book of Revelation, 2:26-27.

[←537]

What is the purpose of the thousand-year reign of Christ? GotQuestions?org. Online. http://www.gotquestions.org/thousand-year-reign-Christ.html

[←538]

What is the Palestinian Land Covenant? GotQuestions?org. Online. http://www.gotquestions.org/Palestinian-covenant.html

[←539]

Dawson, Christopher. The Crises of Western Education. New York: Sheed and Ward, 1961. Print.

[←540]

Wikipedia contributors. "Great Satan." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 23 Jan. 2016. Web. 6 Feb. 2016.

[←541]

Lange, Jason. Main fund for Medicare program to run out of money in 2030: trustees. Reuters. 22 July 2015. Online. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-fiscal-health-idUSKCN0PW21720150723

[←542]

Friedman, George. Population Decline and the Great Economic Reversal. Geopolitical Weekly. 17 February 2015. Online. https://www.stratfor.com/weekly/population-decline-and-great-economic-reversal

[←543]

See previous article, “Are You A Responsible Consumer,” for examples and additional research on unethical business practices.

[←544]

Slave-Made Goods by Country: A List from the Department of Labor. United States Department of Labor. Online. http://www.dol.gov/ilab/reports/child-labor/list-of-goods/

[←545]

Machine Gun Preacher. Act: Butler, Gerard; Monaghan, Michelle. Dir: Forster, Marc. Relativity Media. 5 June 2012. DVD

[←546]

Catholic Economics, Part 1: The Distorted History of Capitalism. DANIEL SCHWINDT. org, Accessed 2-19-15. http://www.aleteia.org/en/politics/article/catholic-economics-part-1-the-distorted-history-of-capitalsim-6091003333181440

[←547]

Note on financial reform from the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. 2011-10-24 Vatican Radio. Accessed 2/19/15. http://www.news.va/en/news/full-text-note-on-financial-reform-from-the-pontif

[←548]

The Pope, the President, and Social Doctrine. RUSSELL SHAW. org, Accessed 2-19-15. http://www.aleteia.org/en/politics/article/the-pope-the-president-and-social-doctrine-5778473763209216

[←549]

Distributism 3. The third installment on Distributism, the socio-economic movement started by G.K. Chesterton and Hilaire Belloc, inspired by the Catholic social encyclicals. GenFerrer1 on YouTube, Accessed 2/19/15. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOFvZO3CRko

[←550]

Rev. 3:16

[←551]

Lopez, German. 4/20, the marijuana holiday, explained. Vox. 4/20/21.

[←552]

Matt. 7:14

[←553]

Matt. 7:13

[←554]

Matt. 7:21

[←555]

Pitre, Brant. The Case for Jesus: The Biblical and Historical Evidence for Christ. Image, New York. 2016.

[←556]

Lk. 9:23

[←557]

On the Mystery of Offering Up Our Sufferings. The Divine Mercy. May 23rd, 2007. https://www.thedivinemercy.org/articles/mystery-offering-our-sufferings

[←558]

Bianchini, Davide A. To Love and To Suffer: The Science of The Saints. Religious Vocation. https://www.religious-vocation.com/redemptive_suffering.html

[←559]

Ibid Pitre, Brant.

[←560]

Morrison PD, Zois V, McKeown DA, et al. The acute effects of synthetic intravenous Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol on psychosis, mood and cognitive functioning. Psychol Med. 2009;39(10):1607–16. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19335936/

[←561]

Ramaekers JG, Kauert G, van Ruitenbeek P, Theunissen EL, Schneider E, Moeller MR. High-potency marijuana impairs executive function and inhibitory motor control. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2006;31(10):2296–303. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16572123/

[←562]

Lane SD, Cherek DR, Tcheremissine OV, Lieving LM, Pietras CJ. Acute marijuana effects on human risk taking. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2005;30(4):800–9. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15775958/

[←563]

Vadhan NP, Hart CL, van Gorp WG, Gunderson EW, Haney M, Foltin RW. Acute effects of smoked marijuana on decision making, as assessed by a modified gambling task, in experienced marijuana users. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol. 2007;29(4):357–64. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17497559/

[←564]

McDonald J, Schleifer L, Richards JB, de Wit H. Effects of THC on behavioral measures of impulsivity in humans. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2003;28(7):1356–65. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12784123/

[←565]

Hart CL, van Gorp W, Haney M, Foltin RW, Fischman MW. Effects of acute smoked marijuana on complex cognitive performance. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2001;25(5):757–65. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11682259/

[←566]

Crean RD, Crane NA, Mason BJ. An evidence based review of acute and long-term effects of cannabis use on executive cognitive functions. J Addict Med. 2011;5(1):1-8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3037578/

[←567]

Matt. 4:1

[←568]

Jn. 16:33

[←569]

Jn 15:13

[←570]

Read Consoling the Heart of Jesus by Fr. Michael Gaitley, esp. pg. 252.

[←571]

Weed & Panic Attacks: Why They Happen & What to Do. Delphi Behavioral Health Group: Addiction and Mental Health Treatment. https://delphihealthgroup.com/marijuana/panic-attacks/ Last Accessed 8/18/21.

[←572]

Vine, W.E., Merrill F. Unger, and William White. Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words: With Topical Index. Nashville: T. Nelson, 1996. Print.

[←573]

Mk. 12:30

[←574]

Order of Mass: The Eucharistic Prayer. https://www.universalis.com/static/mass/orderofmass.htm

[←575]

The Bible in a Year (With Fr. Mike Schmitz). Day 220 (19:48 - 23:15). Ascension Presents. https://media.ascensionpress.com/podcast/all-bible-in-a-year-episodes/

[←576]

Rey J M, Tennant C C. More evidence establishes clear link between use of cannabis and psychiatric illness.

BMJ 2002;325:1183

[←577]

Devotion to the Sacred Heart. TAN Books. 8th Edition, November 1949. Charlotte, NC. Pgs. 7-8. TANbooks.com

[←578]

Ibid. Pgs. 4-5.

[←579]

Cavins, Jeff, et al. The Bible Timeline: The Story of Salvation. Ascension Press. 2007. Print & DVD.

[←580]

Pitre. Brant. Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist: Unlocking the Secrets of the Last Supper. New York: Random House. 2011. Print.

[←581]

Weidenkopf, Steve. Epic: A Journey Through Church History,20-Part Study. First published October 1, 2013. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19924519-epic

[←582]

Sims, Luma. Interaction and review: Mary Eberstadt’s “How the West Really Lost God”. The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. 11-8-13. https://erlc.com/resource-library/articles/interaction-and-review-mary-eberstadts-how-the-west-really-lost-god/

[←583]

Purifoy, Thomas, Jr. Is Genesis History. Starring Del Tackett DM & Kevin Anderson PhD. 2017. Virgil Films. https://isgenesishistory.com/

[←584]

“Nor does Divine Providence deny the helps necessary for salvation to those who, without blame on their part, have not yet arrived at an explicit knowledge of God and with His grace strive to live a good life.” –Pope Paul VI. Encyclical: Lumen Gentium (Chapter II § 16). Accessed 3/9/2020. Online. https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19641121_lumen-gentium_en.html

[←585]

But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. –Matthew 6:33; But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” –Matthew 3:15–17

[←586]

Tower of Babel. (2018, February 14). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 18:47, February 15, 2018, from  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_of_Babel

[←587]

Archeological Study Bible, The Zondervan Corporation, 2005. Pg. 20.

[←588]

Genesis 11:8-9

[←589]

To Autolycus, Book III. Chapter 28. Translated by Marcus Dods. From Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 2. Edited by Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson, and A. Cleveland Coxe. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1885.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/02043.htm>.

[←590]

Map of Human Migration. Genographic Project, National Geographic. https://genographic.nationalgeographic.com/human-journey/ Accessed 6/6/19

[←591]

Wikipedia contributors. "Upper Paleolithic." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 8 Aug. 2018. Web. 11 Sep. 2018. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_Paleolithic

[←592]

Genesis 2:7

[←593]

Miller, Joe. The Remarkable Evidence for the Human Soul. November 30th 2017. Video presentation by Fr. Spitzer during 2016 Napa Institute Conference. Magis Center. https://www.magiscenter.com/the-remarkable-evidence-for-the-human-soul/

[←594]

Adam, Eve, and Evolution. Catholic Answers. 2004. https://www.catholic.com/tract/adam-eve-and-evolution

[←595]

Pope Pius XII, encyclical letter Concerning Some False Opinions Which Threaten to Undermine Catholic Doctrine, Humani generis, in AAS 52 (1950), n. 36. [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/ encyclicals/documents/hf_p_xii_enc_12081950_humanigeneris_en.html] (July 12, 2003).

[←596]

Luke 3:23-28

[←597]

Deism: belief in the existence of a supreme being, specifically of a creator who does not intervene in the universe. The term is used chiefly of an intellectual movement of the 17th and 18th centuries that accepted the existence of a creator on the basis of reason but rejected belief in a supernatural deity who interacts with humankind.

[←598]

Ibid. Purifoy. “Is Genesis History” 18:03-24:40

[←599]

Wikipedia contributors. "Human genome." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 3 Feb. 2019. Web. 9 Feb. 2019. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_genome

[←600]

Roach JC, Glusman G, et al. "Analysis of genetic inheritance in a family quartet by whole-genome sequencing". Science. 328 (5978): 636–9. April 2010. http://science.sciencemag.org/content/328/5978/636.abstract

[←601]

Wikipedia contributors. "Human genome." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 26 Jun. 2019. Web. 26 Jun. 2019. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_genome

[←602]

Do all gene mutations affect health and development? Genetics Home Reference. USA.gov, U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/primer/mutationsanddisorders/neutralmutations

[←603]

Wikipedia contributors. "DNA codon table." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 22 Jun. 2019. Web. 8 Jul. 2019. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA_codon_table

[←604]

The Law of Biogenesis: Living things only arise from other living things, they do not arise from non-living matter through natural processes.

[←605]

Matthew 19:8 (for further discussion of this verse, read “The Theology of the Body: Human Love in the Divine Plan,” by St. John Paul II)

[←606]

Kosloski, Phillip. 7 Incredible Incorrupt Saints. Aleteia. Jul 10, 2018. https://aleteia.org/2018/07/10/7-incredible-incorrupt-saints/

[←607]

Brown, Walt. In the Beginning: Compelling Evidence for Creation and the Flood.” Center for Scientific Creation. 1995. Page 6. Print.

[←608]

Wikipedia contributors. "List of languages by first written accounts." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 30 Jun. 2018. Web. 16 Jul. 2018. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_languages_by_first_written_accounts

[←609]

The Modern Mind May be 100,000 Years Old: New Fossil Evidence Shows Sophisticated Thought Began Earlier than We Though. Genevieve Von Petzinger. Nautilus: Biology, Archaeology. 29 September 2016. http://nautil.us/issue/40/learning/the-modern-mind-may-be-100000-years-old

[←610]

Wikipedia contributors. "Washoe (chimpanzee)." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 13 Sep. 2018. Web. 19 Sep. 2018. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washoe_(chimpanzee)

[←611]

Patriotic Chicken Playing “America the Beautiful” on Keyboard Piano. Two Creative Chicks. YouTube. 31 January 2017 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfPBfMGLf9Q

[←612]

Wikipedia contributors. "Nasuia deltocephalinicola." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 17 Jun. 2019. Web. 28 Jun. 2019. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasuia_deltocephalinicola

[←613]

Ball, Phillip. Smallest genome clocks in at 182 genes. Nature. 12 October 2006. Online. http://www.nature.com/news/2006/061009/full/news061009-10.html

[←614]

CORDIS. Scientists create the smallest known genome to support a living cell. Phys.org, April 5th 2016. https://phys.org/news/2016-04-scientists-smallest-genome-cell.html

[←615]

Gil, Rosario & Pereto, Juli. Small genomes and the difficulty to define minimal translation and metabolic machineries. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. October 28th, 2015. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2015.00123/full

[←616]

Sleator, Roy D. JCVI-syn3.0 –A synthetic genome stripped bare! Bioengineered. 2016 Mar-Apr; 7(2): 53–56. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4879981/

[←617]

Wikipedia contributors. "Microbiological culture." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 26 Apr. 2019. Web. 28 Jun. 2019. Wikipedia contributors. "Microbiological culture." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 26 Apr. 2019. Web. 28 Jun. 2019.

[←618]

Wikipedia contributors. "Earliest known life forms." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 8 Jul. 2019. Web. 8 Jul. 2019. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earliest_known_life_forms

[←619]

Wikipedia contributors. "Transfer RNA." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 19 Feb. 2016. Web. 25 Feb. 2016. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transfer_RNA

[←620]

Wikipedia contributors. "Transfer RNA." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 21 Jun. 2019. Web. 27 Jun. 2019. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transfer_RNA

[←621]

Wikipedia contributors. "Ribosomal protein." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 24 Jun. 2019. Web. 8 Jul. 2019. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ribosomal_protein

[←622]

Kaneko, Takakazu; Tabata, Satoshi. Complete Genome Structure of the Unicellular Cyanobacterium

Synechocystis sp. PCC6803. Plant Cell Physiol. 38(11): 1171-1176(1997). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9435137

[←623]

Also keep in mind that DNA and RNA are “right-handed” molecules, meaning they causes a beam of polarized light to turn clockwise. However, nucleotides that might have formed before life appeared would have been both right and left-handed, and therefore unsuitable for use –no known natural process can isolate either the left or right-handed variety. Similarly, essentially all amino acids used in living things are left-handed while sugars used in living systems are all right-handed. (See Brown, p. 13)

[←624]

The results from Kaneko and Tabata’s study indicated that 326 amino acid residues composed the average length of translated gene products. Each amino acid requires three base pairs to form, forming a codon. 326 x 3 = 978. For a list of possible codon combinations, refer to a DNA codon table, as found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA_codon_table

[←625]

Ibid Brown. 12.

[←626]

Ibid Brown. 13

[←627]

Scientific Frontiers in Developmental Toxicology and Risk Assessment. Chapter 5: Human Genetics and the Human Genome Project. The National Academy of Sciences. Online. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK225676/

[←628]

Roach JC, Glusman G, et al. "Analysis of genetic inheritance in a family quartet by whole-genome sequencing". Science. 328 (5978): 636–9. April 2010. http://science.sciencemag.org/content/328/5978/636.abstract

[←629]

Wikipedia contributors. "Mendelian inheritance." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 25 Jun. 2019. Web. 8 Jul. 2019. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mendelian_inheritance

[←630]

Petersen, Dennis R. Unlocking the Mysteries of Creation. Creation Resource Foundation. El Dorado, Ca. 1986. Print. Page 84.

[←631]

Wikipedia contributors. "DNA codon table." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 22 Jun. 2019. Web. 8 Jul. 2019. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA_codon_table

[←632]

Wikipedia contributors. "Photosynthesis." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 27 Jun. 2019. Web. 27 Jun. 2019. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photosynthesis

[←633]

Evolution: the Grand Experiment. Dr. Carl Werner. New Leaf Publishing Group. 1 June 2009. DVD.

[←634]

Incredible Creatures that Defy Evolution. Reel Productions. 2006. ExplorationFilms.com

[←635]

Brown. p 7.

[←636]

Curnoe, Darren. A 150-Year Conundrum: Cranial Robusticity and Its Bearing on the Origin of Aboriginal Australians. International Journal of Evolutionary Biology. Volume 2011, Article ID 632484, 18 pages. https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijeb/2011/632484/

[←637]

Fr. Schmitz, Mike. The Bible in a Year. Ascension: The Faith Formation Leader. https://media.ascensionpress.com/category/ascension-podcasts/bibleinayear/

[←638]

Chesterton, G.K. The Everlasting Man. Sublime Books, 2014. p.18 of Kindle edition.

[←639]

Wikipedia contributors. "Cannibalism in pre-Columbian America." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 1 May. 2019. Web. 11 Jul. 2019. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannibalism_in_pre-Columbian_America#Controversy

[←640]

Miracle of the Eucharist –Total fast from food in the lives of the Saints. Miracles of the Saints. http://www.miraclesofthesaints.com/2010/10/miracle-of-eucharist-total-fast-from.html

[←641]

Attenborough, Richard. Gandhi [Film]. 1982. International Film Investors, et al.

[←642]

Etemenanki. (2018, January 31). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 18:51, February 15, 2018, from  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etemenanki

[←643]

Marduk. (2018, January 20). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 18:49, February 15, 2018, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marduk

[←644]

New International Version of 1 Kings 19:12

[←645]

Contemporary English Version of 1 Kings 19:12

[←646]

Bishop Barron, Robert. The Worse of Religion, the Best of Religion –Bishiop Barron’s Sunday Sermon. YouTube. August 9th, 2020. https://youtu.be/O0Q7u75C_gk

[←647]

Genesis 11:6

[←648]

Book of Wisdom 1:13-15; 2:23-24

[←649]

Genesis 3

[←650]

Woods, Thomas E. How the Catholic Church Built Western Civilization. Regnery Publishing, Washington DC. 2005.

[←651]

Matthew 24:14

[←652]

Matthew 24:32-35

[←653]

2 Kings 20:12-19

[←654]

The American Heritage Series with Historian David Barton. David Barton. Aledo: Bridgestone. 29 June 2009. DVD.

[←655]

Wikipedia contributors. "Jefferson Bible." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 4 Jun. 2019. Web. 27 Jun. 2019. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_Bible

[←656]

2 Kings 18:1-8

[←657]

70.6% of Americans can be classified as Christian (Pew Research Center: Religion & Public Life. Religious Landscape Study). Online. https://www.pewforum.org/2015/05/12/americas-changing-religious-landscape/

[←658]

Catholic Answers. Sacred Scripture Depends on Sacred Tradition. 3/1/2000. https://www.catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/sacred-scripture-depends-on-sacred-tradition

[←659]

Catholic Answers. Apostolic succession. https://www.catholic.com/tract/apostolic-succession

[←660]

Revelation 17:5

[←661]

Revelation 17:2

[←662]

Revelation 11:8

[←663]

Revelation 11:9

[←664]

Ezekiel 16:8-14; Jeremiah 31:32; Isaiah 54:5; Jeremiah 2:32; Ephesians 5:25-33; Revelation 21:2

[←665]

How He Loves. John Mark McMillan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0luHiWwi08 Published by Tyler Parsons on August 28th, 2009.

[←666]

Joshua 7

[←667]

From the desk of Tom Brejcha, Founder and Chief Counsel… Thomas More Society. A national public interest law firm defending life, family and religious liberty. June 27th, 2018.

[←668]

Voris, Michael. The Vortex –Separation of Church and State. November 12th, 2015. Online. https://www.churchmilitant.com/video/episode/vort-2015-11-10

[←669]

De Feo, Joseph A. P. Thomas Jefferson and the Wall of Separation Between Church and State. 3/2003. Catholic League For Religious and Civil Rights. https://www.catholicleague.org/thomas-jefferson-and-the-wall-of-separation-between-church-and-state/

[←670]

Ongoing Lawsuits - Legal - Freedom From Religion Foundation. Online. Accessed 8-6-18. https://ffrf.org/legal/challenges/ongoing-lawsuits

[←671]

Frederick Douglas

[←672]

John 14:9

[←673]

Dalieden, David. With firm's prosecution, Planned Parenthood's house of cards is starting to fall. The Hill. December 14th, 2017. Online. http://thehill.com/opinion/civil-rights/364998-with-firms-prosecution-planned-parenthoods-house-of-cards-is-starting-to

[←674]

John Paul II. The Theology of the Body: Human Love in the Divine Plan. Boston: Pauline Books & Media. 1997. Print. p. 277

[←675]

Fiat means quite simply, "yes." Mary's "yes" leads to the birth of Christianity. See Luke 1:38.

[←676]

Wikipedia contributors. "Protevangelium." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 3 Apr. 2016. Web. 13 Jun. 2016.

[←677]

John 20:19-23; Matthew 18:17-18

[←678]

Ephesians 4:12-15

[←679]

Titus 3:1-8

[←680]

Hebrews 8:10 NIV

[←681]

Instruction Dignitas Personae on Certain Bioethical Questions. Excerpt from: The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles: The Didache (1st Century AD). Online. http://www.priestsforlife.org/magisterium/didache.htm

[←682]

Wikipedia contributors. "Distributism." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 12 Jun. 2016. Web. 13 Jun. 2016.

[←683]

Luke 6:20

[←684]

Luke 22:24-27 NRSV

[←685]

Mark 13:14-27

[←686]

https://fellowshippres.org/wp-content/uploads/My-PDF-95-Theses-Martin-Luther-9-25-2017.pdf Uploaded 9-25-2017. Last accessed 12/15/20.

[←687]

John 20:22

[←688]

International Theological Commission: Catholic Teaching on Apostolic Succession. 1973. http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/cti_documents/rc_cti_1973_successione-apostolica_en.html

[←689]

Akin, Jimmy. Is St. Peter the Rock on which Jesus built His Church? JimmyAkin.com. Online. http://jimmyakin.com/2012/10/is-st-peter-the-rock-on-which-jesus-built-his-church.html

[←690]

1 Peter 4:8

[←691]

Matt. 16:19

[←692]

1 Cor. 3:11-15; Matt 5:26; Luke 12:59.

[←693]

John 20:24

[←694]

Kosloski, Philip. The visible Church on earth is only one part of a much larger reality. 10/22/17. Aleteia. https://aleteia.org/2017/10/22/the-visible-church-on-earth-is-only-one-part-of-a-much-larger-reality/

[←695]

Matt. 12:31; also see: Bishop Barron, Robert. Bishop Barron on Blasphemy. Jun 17 2010. https://youtu.be/h00e2ooLMmw

[←696]

Isaiah 55:8-9

[←697]

Rom. 1:5; 16:26

[←698]

Lk 17:21; Jn 18:36

[←699]

Rev. Bruce, Alexander; Dods, Marcus; Nicoll, Robertson. The Expositor’s Greek Testament. Volume 1 & 2. Hodder and Stoughton. London, NY, Toronto. Pg. 586. Also online: https://books.google.com/books?id=G5cRAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA583 Furthermore: http://biblehub.com/commentaries/luke/16-10.htm

[←700]

Menezes, Fr. Wade L.J. Four Categorical Consequences of Personal Sin. Legatus. 11/1/2018. https://legatus.org/news/four-categorical-consequences-of-personal-sin

[←701]

Ibid. Kosloski.

[←702]

Jn 20:22

[←703]

Vost, Kevin. Memorize the Reasons: Defending the Faith with the Catholic Art of Memory. Catholic Answers. 28 September 2013. Print.

[←704]

Ibid. Kosloski.

[←705]

Phil. 2:12

[←706]

Senz, Nicholas. What is “clericalism?” Aleteia. 8/23/18. https://aleteia.org/2018/08/23/what-is-clericalism/

[←707]

James 3:1; Hebrews 10:29

[←708]

Luke 14:15-24

[←709]

ChurchPop Editor. Where the Papacy is Hidden in the Old Testament. 28 August 2017. https://www.churchpop.com/2017/08/28/where-the-papacy-is-hidden-in-the-old-testament/

[←710]

Aquinas, St. Thomas. Question 87: The remission of venial sin. Summa Theologiae, 3rd Part. https://www.newadvent.org/summa/4087.htm#article3

[←711]

See the video listed as a reference to response 26.

[←712]

Matt. 19:26

[←713]

Matt. 23:11

[←714]

Phil. 2:12

[←715]

The insight is from Alice von Hildebrand during her interviews with John Henry Crosby in, “He Dared Speak the Truth: Dietrich von Hildebrand vs Adolf Hitler.” https://www.ewtnreligiouscatalogue.com/he-dared-speak-the-truth-dvd/p/HV00HVHD Also see: http://www.hildebrandproject.org/

[←716]

Matt. 11:28-30

[←717]

Between Friends: St. Thérèse’s Stairway Spirituality; Society of the Little Flower. 4/28/15. https://blog.littleflower.org/between-friends-magazine/stairway-spirituality/

[←718]

Cruz, Joan Carroll. Eucharistic Miracles. Tan Books and Publishers. P. 19. Rockford, Illinois. 1987

[←719]

Atom Builder. The Atom Builder Guide to Elementary Particles. PBS. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/tryit/atom/elempartp.html

[←720]

Whole White Wheat FAQ. Whole Grains Council. https://wholegrainscouncil.org/whole-grains-101/whats-whole-grain-refined-grain/whole-white-wheat-faq

[←721]

Bradford, Alina. What is Gluten? Live Science. 11-18-2017. livescience.com/53265-what-is-gluten.html

[←722]

Statement Regarding “On the bread and wine for the Eucharist” Letter Sent by Vatican and Made Public July 8, 2017. Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. https://altarbreadsbspa.com/low-gluten-use-storage/

[←723]

Fitzgerald, Ryan. Two eucharistic miracles 1,300 years apart show same blood type and DNA. Church Militant. April 24, 2016. Online. https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/eucharistic-miracles-confirm-real-presence-of-jesus-christ (also check out: Eucharistic Miracles by Joan Carroll Cruz. Tan Books and Publishers. Rockford, Illinois. 1987)

[←724]

Miracle of the Eucharist –Total fast from food in the lives of the Saints. Miracles of the Saints. http://www.miraclesofthesaints.com/2010/10/miracle-of-eucharist-total-fast-from.html

[←725]

John 6:63

[←726]

John 6:53

[←727]

Ibid. Cruz, page 19.

[←728]

Ibid. Cruz, page 3.

[←729]

1 John 1:5

[←730]

Daniel 7:9

[←731]

Kosloski, Phillip. 7 Incredible Incorrupt Saints. Aleteia. Jul 10, 2018. https://aleteia.org/2018/07/10/7-incredible-incorrupt-saints/

[←732]

Holy Sepulchre shut down to protest ‘alarming’ Israeli policies. EWTN. 2-26-18. Online. http://www.ewtnnews.com/catholic-news/World.php?id=17057

[←733]

Eglash, Ruth. Sacred Jerusalem church to reopen after Israel backtracks on taxing properties. The Washington Post. Online. 2/27/18. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/israel-backtracks-on-plan-to-tax-church-properties/2018/02/27/3c2ccdaa-1bce-11e8-98f5-ceecfa8741b6_story.html

[←734]

“Pleasing God.” Christ in the City, starring Fr. George Rutler. EWTN. First aired Tue, Oct. 21st 2008.

[←735]

Genesis 26:4

[←736]

Genesis 26:5

[←737]

Genesis 17:1-8

[←738]

Genesis 17:9-14

[←739]

Genesis 17:15-22; Genesis 21:2

[←740]

Genesis 16:12

[←741]

Genesis 22:1-19

[←742]

John 3:16

[←743]

Genesis 3:1

[←744]

Numbers 21:9

[←745]

Harent, Stéphane. "Original Sin." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 11. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. 4 May 2018 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11312a.htm>.

[←746]

Genesis 26:2

[←747]

Deut. 10:16, 30:6; Jer. 4:4, 9:25-26.

[←748]

1 John 2:16

[←749]

Genesis 3:16-24

[←750]

John 14:30; John 12:31-33

[←751]

Matt. 11:12

[←752]

Wikipedia contributors. "Lectio Divina." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 15 Mar. 2020. Web. 20 Mar. 2020. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lectio_Divina

[←753]

Genesis 3:23

[←754]

Barry, Doug. Catholic Speaker. Battle Ready. https://www.battlereadystrong.com/

[←755]

Matthew 16:24

[←756]

Genesis 32:22-32

[←757]

How Israel Complaining 14 Times Mirrors Your Christian Journey. One Lord One Body Ministries: Becoming the People Jesus Prayed We Would Be. WordPress Blog. https://onelordonebody.com/2014/02/27/how-israel-complaining-14-times-mirrors-your-christian-journey/

[←758]

See “What is the meaning and importance of the Last Supper?” Got Questions. Online. https://www.gotquestions.org/Last-Supper.html

[←759]

John 1:29

[←760]

Exodus 12:5-8

[←761]

Exodus 12:23

[←762]

John 6:55

[←763]

Exodus 20:1-17

[←764]

Matthew 2:15 (see also Revelation 11:8; Hebrews 3:16, 8:9, 11:26-27; 1 Cor 10:1-13)

[←765]

Matthew 3:7-10

[←766]

Wikipedia contributors. "613 commandments." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 18 Feb. 2018. Web. 5 Mar. 2018. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/613_commandments

[←767]

Galatians 3-4

[←768]

Colossians 1:24. See also: Pizzalato, Brian. “St. Paul explains the meaning of suffering.” Catholic News Agency (CNA). Online. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/resources/sacraments/anointing-of-the-sick/st-paul-explains-the-meaning-of-suffering

[←769]

Matthew 16:21, 17:9, 20;19, 26:32; Luke 9:22, 18:33, 24:46; Mark 8:31, 9:9, 9:31, 10:34; John 10:17-18, 20:9.

[←770]

Wikipedia contributors. "List of religious populations." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 22 Feb. 2018. Web. 4 Mar. 2018. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_religious_populations

[←771]

Wikipedia contributors. "Custody of the Holy Land." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 12 Feb. 2020. Web. 30 Mar. 2020. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Custody_of_the_Holy_Land

[←772]

Truglia, Craig. God’s Antecedent and Permissive Wills in the LXX and the Fathers. 8/25/17. Orthodox Christian Theology. https://orthodoxchristiantheology.com/2017/08/25/gods-antecedent-and-permissive-wills-in-the-lxx-and-the-fathers/

[←773]

Acts 9:2

[←774]

Marshall, Dr. Taylor. “Do You Know the Four Properties of a Glorified Resurrected Human Body?” https://taylormarshall.com/2012/10/do-you-know-four-properties-of.html

[←775]

Barron, Bishop Robert. Letter to a Suffering Church. Word on Fire, Park Ridge, IL. 2019. p.64

[←776]

Matthew 26:41

[←777]

Fr. Chacon, Frank; Burnham, Jim. Beginning Apologetics: How to Explain and Defend the Catholic Faith. (San Juan Catholic Seminars, NM. 2010.), 8.

[←778]

John 6:63

[←779]

John 14:2

[←780]

Ericksen, Adam. Who is Allah? #BringBackOurGirls. Raven Foundation. May 8th, 2014. Online. https://www.ravenfoundation.org/allah-bringbackourgirls/

[←781]

Ibid. Ericksen.

[←782]

Wikipedia contributors. "Apostasy in Islam." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 17 Jun. 2016. Web. 20 Jun. 2016.

[←783]

Muhammad: A Looter. FaithFreedom.org. Online. http://www.faithfreedom.org/challenge/looter.htm

[←784]

What Makes Islam so Different. Myths of Muhammad. Online. https://www.thereligionofpeace.com/pages/muhammad/raid-caravans.aspx

[←785]

Ottoman Empire and the Armenian Genocide. Armenian National Institute. Washington DC. http://www.armenian-genocide.org/ottoman.html

[←786]

Wikipedia contributors. "Holocaust denial." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 13 Sep. 2016. Web. 15 Sep. 2016.

[←787]

Ibid. Post.

[←788]

Archie, Elizabeth, et al. Social status predicts wound healing in wild baboons. 8 February 2012. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. Online. https://amboselibaboons.nd.edu/assets/81990/223.pdf

[←789]

Shepherd, Margaret. The Art of Civilized Conversation: A guide to Expressing Yourself with Style and Grace. Broadway Books. December 27th, 2005. Print.

[←790]

Matthew 24:36

[←791]

Ibid. Covey. The Speed of Trust: The One Thing That Changes Everything.

[←792]

Ibid. Post.

[←793]

Amendments Offered in Congress by James Madison, June 8, 1789. Constitution Society. Online. http://www.constitution.org/bor/amd_jmad.htm

[←794]

"The Constitution of the United States," Amendment 1.

[←795]

History of Separation of Church and State, Part II. Legal, Governmental and Biographical Evidence. Online. http://lawandliberty.org/chu_sta2.htm

[←796]

Proclamation –Humiliation Fasting and Prayer –1798. WallBuilders. Online. http://www.wallbuilders.com/libissuesarticles.asp?id=44

[←797]

Andrusko, Dave. CNN Poll: America Becoming More Pro-Life, 58% Oppose All or Almost All Abortions. LifeNews. 14 September 2015. Online. http://www.lifenews.com/2015/09/14/cnn-poll-america-becoming-more-pro-life-58-oppose-all-or-almost-all-abortions/

[←798]

Oral Contraceptives and Conception. LifeisSacred.net. Online. http://lifeissacred.net/Oral-Contraceptives-and-Breast-Cancer.html

[←799]

Seng, Rich. How “The Pill” works as an Abortifacient. YouTube. 21 May 2007. Online. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiCU46_lWeE

[←800]

Peck, Rebecca, MD; Valez, Juan R, MD. The Postovulatory Mechanism of Action of Plan B, A Review of the Scientific Literature. NCB Center. Online. http://ncbcenter.org/document.doc?id=584

[←801]

Efrem, Callahan, PharmD. Evaluating Plan B as an Abortifacient. 26 March 2014. Online. http://lifeissacred.net/Evaluating-Plan-B-as-an-Abortifacient.pdf

[←802]

Cf. St. Gianna Beretta Molla https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/saints/gianna-beretta-molla-589

[←803]

Declaration of Independence. 4 July 1776. Online. http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html

[←804]

The American Heritage Series with Historian David Barton. David Barton. Aledo: Bridgestone. 29 June 2009. DVD. Disc 2: The Faith of our Founding Fathers.

[←805]

Francisco Suárez, SPANISH THEOLOGIAN AND PHILOSOPHER. WRITTEN BY: The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica.

Online. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Francisco-Suarez.

[←806]

Rape and Adultery. What Makes Islam So Different. Online. http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/pages/quran/rape-adultery.aspx

[←807]

IslamWeb: English. Fatwa No : 156817: A daughter accusing her father of sexual abuse. Online. http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/index.php?page=showfatwa&Option=FatwaId&Id=156817

[←808]

Sydney cleric Sheik Feiz Mohammed stirs the hatred.

The Daily Telegraph. September 18, 2012. Online. www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/sydney-sheik-stirs-the-hatred/story-fndo317g-1226476066456

[←809]

Auerbach, Taylor; Benns, Matthew. The Grand Mufti: Ibrahim Abu Mohammed’s book An Invitation to Contemplate describes western women as ‘sweet pastry’. The Daily Telegraph. November 19, 2015. Online. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/lifestyle/the-grand-mufti-ibrahim-abu-mohammeds-book-an-invitation-to-contemplate-describes-western-women-as-sweet-pastry/news-story/fc57f784f603fe812c7a1fbec4421a3b

[←810]

Crimi, Frank. Al Jazeera Star: Death to Apostates. While Glenn Beck's views scared Al Gore, Sheikh al-Qaradawi's jihadist vision rings just right.

February 19, 2013. Online. http://frontpagemag.com/2013/frank-crimi/al-jazeera-star-death-to-apostates/

[←811]

Hotheads: Islamic Quotes. Online. http://www.hotheads.com.au/islamic-quotes.htm

[←812]

Oliver, JJ. Cologne Imam: Girls Were Raped Because They Were Half Naked And Wore Perfume. Breitbart. January 19, 2016. Online. http://www.breitbart.com/london/2016/01/19/salafist-cologne-imam-at-terror-mosque-girls-were-raped-because-they-were-half-naked-and-wore-perfume/

[←813]

Branagan, Mark; Bracchi, Paul. Twelve rapists, a 13-year-old victim and a terrifying truth Britain still won't face: The disturbing full story behind the gangs of Pakistani men who target white girls.

The Daily Mail. February 12th, 2016. Online

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3445065/Twelve-rapists-13-year-old-girl-terrifying-truth-Britain-won-t-face.html

[←814]

Halevi, Dalit; Yashar, Ari. Israel's Barbarian Neighbors: Syrian Mufti's Aide Gives Army Permission to Rape. February 1st, 2014. Arutz Sheva. Online. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/175856

[←815]

http://www.islam-qa.com/en/ref/33597

[←816]

Wikipedia contributors. "Apostasy in Islam." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 19 May. 2017. Web. 25 May. 2017. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostasy_in_Islam

[←817]

What Makes Islam So Different? What does Islam Teach About... Slavery. Online. http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/pages/quran/slavery.aspx

[←818]

Reason. Muhammad in Islam’s own writings: His sex-life, sexual abuse and pedophilia. Islam Watch: Telling the Truth Islam; Islam Under Scrutiny by Ex-Muslims. 18 Mar, 2008. Online. http://www.islam-watch.org/Larry/Muhammad-in-Islamic-writings-sex-life-sexual-abuse-pedophilia.htm

[←819]

WikiIslam. Islam and Pedophilia: Contemporary Pedophilic Islamic Marriages. Online. https://wikiislam.net/wiki/Islam_and_Pedophilia#Contemporary_Pedophilic_Islamic_Marriages

[←820]

The Hidden Words and Selected Holy Writings of Baha'u'llah. Bahá'í Publishing Trust of the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'í of Malaysia. (Kuala Lumpur, 1999) 10. “O SON OF SPIRIT! The best beloved of all things in my sight is Justice; turn not away therefrom if thou desirest Me, and neglect it not that I may confide in thee. By its aid thou shalt see with thine own eyes and not through the eyes of others, and shalt know of thine own knowledge and not through the knowledge of thy neighbor. Ponder this in they heart; how it behooveth thee to be. Verily justice is My gift to thee and the sign of My loving-kindness. Set it then before thine eyes.”

[←821]

NRSV, 1989. (all Biblical quotations in this chapter are from this translation, available online at oremus.com)

[←822]

Proverbs 9:10

[←823]

See Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-18; John 2:13-22.

[←824]

Mark 3:5. See also, “Was Jesus ever angry?” Got Questions. Online. https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-angry.html

[←825]

See, God’s Mercy Towards Israel. The Herald of Christ’s Kingdom. Pastoral Bible Institute. Online. http://www.heraldmag.org/2011/11jf_3.htm

[←826]

Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J. God the Author of Nature and the Supernatural, Part Two: Creation as a Divine Fact, Section Two: Supernatural Anthropology,

THESIS VIII: Before the Fall, Adam Possessed Sanctifying Grace and the Preternatural Gifts of Integrity, Immortality and Infused Knowledge. The Real Presence Association. Lombard, IL. http://www.therealpresence.org/archives/God/God_013.htm

[←827]

Commentary on, “By baptism we become the adopted sons and daughters of God, and heirs with Christ.” Response provided by John C. DiMascio. Askacatholic.com. Accessed 1-9-2020. https://www.askacatholic.com/_webpostings/Answers/2000_08AUG/2000AugTheTermAdopted.cfm

[←828]

The Catechism of the Catholic Church. Part Two, Article 1, Section 1229. https://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p2s2c1a1.htm

[←829]

Exodus 20:1-7; Matthew 22:38

[←830]

Isaiah 53:5

[←831]

What is Passover? Got Questions. Online. https://www.gotquestions.org/what-is-Passover.html

[←832]

John 8:44

[←833]

The Catechism of the Catholic Church. Part Three, Article 8, Section 1849. https://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s1c1a8.htm

[←834]

1 Peter 5:8

[←835]

Wives of Baha'u'llah. Bahá'í Library Online. 1995. https://bahai-library.com/uhj_wives_bahaullah

[←836]

Matthew 19:1-12. The New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE). United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. 9 March 2011. Online. http://www.usccb.org/bible/matthew/matthew19.htm

[←837]

Genesis 3:5

[←838]

Smith, Phillip R. Bahá'í Faith and Religious Diversity. Published in Bahá'í Studies Review, 1991. https://bahai-library.com/smith_religious_diversity

[←839]

John 14:1-7

[←840]

What is the baptism of/by/with fire? GotQuestions.Org. Online. http://www.gotquestions.org/baptism-fire.html

[←841]

Catholic Forums. Baptism of fire? Submitted by, Top. June 22 2005. Online. http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=406730

[←842]

Testimonies. Submit your Testimony. LifeisSacred.net. Online. http://lifeissacred.net/Testimonies_.html

[←843]

Pope Paul VI. Lumen Gentium. sec. 31. Accessed 9/9/16. Online. http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19641121_lumen-gentium_en.html

[←844]

Ibid. Pope Paul VI. Lumen Gentium. sec. 31 § 2

[←845]

Pius XII, Discourse, February 20, 1946:AAS 38 (1946) 149; quoted by John Paul II, CL 9.

[←846]

Ibid. Pope Paul VI. Lumen Gentium. Sec 33

[←847]

Matthew 17:21; Mark 9:29

[←848]

Rosary Testimonials –Miracle Stories and Signal Graces. http://www.erosary.com/index.php?option=com_miracles&Itemid=83
Famous Rosary Miracles. http://miraculousrosary.blogspot.com/p/famous-rosary-miracles.html

[←849]

http://www.sistersofcarmel.com/brown-scapular-information.php

[←850]

Fidelium, Sensus. The Devil & the Diabolic –Venerable Fulton Sheen. YouTube. 24 January 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpGm9pVHkc0

[←851]

Revelation 12:18 NRSV

[←852]

Matthew 4:10. http://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Matthew+4

[←853]

Luke 1:37

[←854]

Ibid. Pitre.

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Revelation 19:7-10

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Javier Ordovas. 25 Famous Scientists on God. Aleteia. June 26th, 2014. Online. http://www.aleteia.org/en/religion/article/25-famous-scientists-who-believed-in-god-5883191927767040

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1 John 4:2-3

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2 Thessalonians 2:3

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Zook, Herbert. Chapter: Spacecraft Measurements of the Cosmic Dust Flux. Pp 75 -92. Book Title: Accretion of Extraterrestrial Matter Throughout Earth’s History. 2001. Accessible Online: http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-1-4419-8694-8_5

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Gannon, Megan. Moon Dust Mystery Solved With Apollo Mission Data. Space.com. 3 January 2014. Online. http://www.space.com/23694-moon-dust-mystery-apollo-data.html

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JaclynGlenn. Evolution Vs. God –An Atheist Review. YouTube. 14 August 2013. Online. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0k9NyHh7TQ

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Fillippone, Peggy. Banana History: Cultivation of bananas pre-dates that of rice. 16 December 2014. About Food. Online. http://homecooking.about.com/od/foodhistory/a/bananahistory.htm

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Ball, Phillip. Smallest genome clocks in at 182 genes. Nature. 12 October 2006. Online. http://www.nature.com/news/2006/061009/full/news061009-10.html

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CORDIS. Scientists create the smallest known genome to support a living cell. Phys.org, April 5th 2016. https://phys.org/news/2016-04-scientists-smallest-genome-cell.html

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Gil, Rosario & Pereto, Juli. Small genomes and the difficulty to define minimal translation and metabolic machineries. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. October 28th, 2015. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2015.00123/full

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Sleator, Roy D. JCVI-syn3.0 –A synthetic genome stripped bare! Bioengineered. 2016 Mar-Apr; 7(2): 53–56. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4879981/

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Wikipedia contributors. "Transfer RNA." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 19 Feb. 2016. Web. 25 Feb. 2016. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transfer_RNA

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Maciamo. Percentage of genetic similarity between humans and animals. Eupedia. 7 October 2009. Online. http://www.eupedia.com/forum/threads/25335-Percentage-of-genetic-similarity-between-humans-and-animals

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TigerDan925. 20 shocking attacks on Kent that North Korea would welcome. URGENT! 25 January 2015. YouTube. Online. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwsDA-qivok&feature=youtu.be

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Hovind – 1-19-07 – Sentg. TRANSCRIPT OF SENTENCING PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE HONORABLE M. CASEY RODGERS, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE. Online. http://freekenthovind.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Complete-Kent-Hovind-Sentencing-Transcript-01-19-07.pdf

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Mark 12:13-17

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508(c)(1)(A) Free Church vs. 501(c)(3) State Church. New Vision Ministries: Grasping the Father’s Vision. Online. http://www.newvisionministriesonline.org/508c1a-free-church-vs-501c3-state-church/

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http://www.forbes.com/sites/peterjreilly/2015/03/20/breaking-kent-hovind-will-face-a-new-trial/

[←876]

http://freekenthovind.com/2016/06/17/kent-hovind-structuring-overturned-irs-apologizes-and-pays-americans-back/

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