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Wyoming Catholic College Liberty Lecture Series

7/31/2015

My thanks to Wyoming Catholic College for an interesting gathering Thursday evening in Cheyenne. The Liberty Lecture Series is certainly raising awareness about the issues we face in modern times. I am grateful for the presentation by Kyle Washut and for all of the interesting discussions following his presentation.

Speaking as Friends: Freedom of Association as the Peak of the First Amendment and the Foundation of Civil Society
Kyle Washut, Instructor of Theology

While freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and even freedom of the press are much discussed freedoms of the first amendment, the right to free assembly is often forgotten in the public mind. As pressures mount to force associations to be sufficiently inclusive of various identities and positions, the vibrant life that free association offers to civil society is being slowly smothered. Correctly considered, freedom of association is the right whereby men gather in community to speak freely with each other and lay claim to the public square in so doing. Such association is the very source of healthy democratic life, and it is essential in order to allow freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and the right to petition their full force.

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Anti-Choice Extremists and Misogynists

7/31/2015

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You never know what might pop up on your social media pages. Last night I received a link to an article on Facebook and was asked to comment. The article appeared on www.dailykos.com and was written by Leslie Salzillo entitled, Catholic Nun Explains Pro-Life In A Way That Will Stun Many (Especially Republican Lawmakers). The article goes on to quote Sister Joan Chittister, O.S.B. after a lead in sentence to let everyone know Sister Joan is going to expose the hypocrisy of the pro-life movement.

Sister Joan said,
"I do not believe that just because you're opposed to abortion, that that makes you pro-life. In fact, I think in many cases, your morality is deeply lacking if all you want is a child born but not a child fed, not a child educated, not a child housed. And why would I think that you don't? Because you don't want any tax money to go there. That's not pro-life. That's pro-birth. We need a much broader conversation on what the morality of pro-life is."

The author of the article then adds to Sister Joan’s comments with words like “anti-choice extremist” and referring to “misogynist laws.” No bias in this article, right? Sister Joan is lauded near the end of the article highlighting her accomplishments. She is the author of 50 books, holds a Ph.D., and has appeared on many major television shows. Sister Joan certainly has an impressive resume and is well-known for her stance on women’s issues. One thing the article didn’t point out is that Sister Joan also writes for the National Catholic Reporter. This is a publication which many have asked to please drop the word Catholic from its title because it frequently promotes agenda items clearly in defiance of Church teaching. Knowing this bit of information may assist in putting Sister Joan’s comments in larger context.

The paragraph-long quote from Sister Joan assumes many things and makes some generalizations that are simply not the reality of my own lived experience. My work and cooperation with pregnancy care centers has shown me that many people are striving to feed children, house them, and provide other material necessities to support parents in need of assistance. To make the assertion that these people in the pro-life movement have a “morality that is deeply lacking” is quite judgmental and inaccurate. The hours of volunteer work provided by well-formed Christians not lacking in sound moral judgment is phenomenal. Their direct financial support of these institutions reaching out to women in difficult pregnancies is also amazing.

How did Sister Joan reach her conclusion about people being pro-birth and not pro-life? Simply stated, “Because you don’t want any tax money to go there.” I have one question for Sister Joan. Why is the government viewed as the answer? We have all witnessed government waste and the ineffectiveness of government bureaucracy. Over a half billion dollars a year going to Planned Parenthood is not exactly providing the kind of help that feeds a child, houses a child, and educates a child. Why would Sister Joan believe that the only logical response to caring for children and families is through the institution of the government with direct handouts to anti-life organizations like Planned Parenthood? Where is the morality in that?

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Mainstream Media Is A Symptom Of Our Illness

7/30/2015

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Kill a lion and be prepared for some harsh consequences. Protests outside your place of business will make it impossible for you to stay open. Calls for your arrest and extradition will be made publicly and loudly and covered on every major mainstream media outlet.

Basically, life as you know it will never be the same.

On the other hand, kill a baby; get paid. Dissect the parts of the baby and sell them; get paid. Are there harsh consequences to be endured for this practice? Apparently not! Taxpayer dollars still flow to your organization at the tune of over a half a billion dollars per year.

An undercover video that released details regarding the practice of Planned Parenthood triple-dipping has brought the wrath of others down upon them for releasing the video rather than the organization engaged in the horrendous practice. Follow the money: (1) taxpayer funding; (2) abortions; (3) sell the body parts. Why is this less newsworthy than the death of a lion? Furthermore, why would we persecute the whistle-blowers?

This morning I realized it was even worse as I briefly watched one of the TV networks cover the top stories of the day. What can be worse than killing a baby or killing a lion? According to our major news outlets there is something even more devastating. Deflate a football and make headline news. Wow! We are in deep trouble in our country. Cling to Christ!

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Nashville Dominican Vocation Retreats

7/29/2015

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Are you a single woman, Catholic, and between the ages of 17 and 30? Have you considered a vocation to the religious life? If you are actively discerning God's call in your life, a vocation retreat may be helpful in your discernment process. The Nashville Dominicans are offering two vocation retreats in 2016 at the St. Cecilia Motherhouse. They are January 6--10, 2016 and May 25--29, 2016. Check out their website for more details.

http://www.nashvilledominican.org

After you click on "Enter Site" you will be taken to the home page. Put your mouse over the "Vocations" tab at the top of the page. A drop down box will appear. Click on "Retreats at the Motherhouse." Then click on "Vocation Retreats" to see the details.

Discerning God's call in our lives can seem like a daunting task at times. There are many resources available to aid us in our discernment process. This particular retreat experience is just one way of exploring the possibilities a little deeper. If you want more guidance or suggestions in this area, feel free to contact your local diocesan vocation director--or get in touch with me.

Here are some additional on-line resources.

http://www.religiousministries.com/

http://www.vocations.com/womenrel.html

http://www.vocationnetwork.org/directory/community_search

http://www.deoestgloria.com/us.o.master.html

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Wyoming Catholic College (Liberty Lecture Series)

7/28/2015

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If you live in the Cheyenne area make plans to attend the next presentation of the Liberty Lecture Series this Thursday evening (July 30) at the Laramie County Library.

Speaking as Friends: Freedom of Association as the Peak of the First Amendment and the Foundation of Civil Society
Kyle Washut, Instructor of Theology

While freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and even freedom of the press are much discussed freedoms of the first amendment, the right to free assembly is often forgotten in the public mind. As pressures mount to force associations to be sufficiently inclusive of various identities and positions, the vibrant life that free association offers to civil society is being slowly smothered. Correctly considered, freedom of association is the right whereby men gather in community to speak freely with each other and lay claim to the public square in so doing. Such association is the very source of healthy democratic life, and it is essential in order to allow freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and the right to petition their full force.

Cheyenne ~ July 30th, at 7:00pm in the Cottonwood Room at the Laramie County Library

Check out the flyer on the Wyoming Catholic College website for details.
http://www.wyomingcatholiccollege.com/data/files/gallery/ContentGallery/Liberty_Combo_2015.pdf

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Mass For Ranchers, Farmers,and Families

7/28/2015

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The Mass is this Sunday at noon in Powell, Wyoming. Even if you have not sent in an RSVP, make plans to attend and celebrate the rural way of life.

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Cheyenne Frontier Days 2015 Is In The Books

7/27/2015

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Did you attend any of the Cheyenne Frontier Days festivities? If not, here is what you missed.

A CFD release puts total attendance for 2015 at 266,030. This is the second largest ever and an increase of almost 16,000 over 2014.

The rodeo brought in 98,246 people. That is up almost 11,000 from the previous year.

Over 120,000 people attended the night shows. Miranda Lambert drew a crowd of 19,451. That was the biggest night show attendance for 2015.

Let's get to the pancakes. There were 25, 190 people at the pancake breakfasts. (Even though that is the three day total, I would have sworn 20,000 people were in line in front of me on Wednesday morning.)

There is no exact way to count attendance at the Frontier Days parades, but CFD officials are estimating total attendance at the four parades was in the 100,000 range.

Life goes back to normal now in the streets of Cheyenne. Oh wait, it is time for the Laramie County Fair August 1 through August 8--let the fun continue.

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Bread Of Life Discourse--John Chapter 6

7/26/2015

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How do we stay positive when many things around us seem to be collapsing right before our eyes? We look to the Bread of Life--Jesus Christ! Today's Gospel from the beginning of John chapter 6 reminds us of the abundant love of God. That should fill us with immense hope.

The multiplication of the loaves and fishes isn't just a nice story from many generations ago with no significant relevance for us today. It has the potential to speak to us in a profound way in modern times and is very applicable to our current circumstances. Put yourself in the story. Are you one of the thousands following Jesus? Are you the boy with the five barley loaves and two fish? Are you one of the disciples? Imagine yourself as Philip receiving the question directly from Jesus, "Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?" What are the emotions you experience as you role-play each of the parts?

A couple other components of the story also serve as good reminders. Jesus gave thanks. How faithful are we at being people of gratitude? Is a prayer of gratitude and blessing before each meal part of our regular routine?

There was food left over. Do we trust in the abundance of God's love or do we only see ourselves as lacking this or that?

What message is there for the Church in regard to caring for those who have needs--food, shelter, clothing? What is the message for us as individuals in regard to caring for those in need?

What does the Gospel account say to us in regard to approaching our Lord in Holy Communion? Do we believe in the True Presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist? Do we believe we are receiving the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ each time we receive Holy Communion?

I invite you to review your demeanor at church, especially at the time of receiving Holy Communion. How do you approach the altar? Are you distracted, nonchalant, unbelieving? Are you filled with wonder and awe that you have the opportunity to approach the table of the Lord to receive the King of Kings and Lord of Lords? Based upon what you experience in the depths of your being as you approach the communion minister, how humbly are you receiving our Lord? Did you truly mean it when you said, "Lord, I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof." Did you even give it any thought when you uttered the words?

We are going to continue to hear from John's Gospel chapter 6 for the next few weekends at Mass. I want to encourage you to take out your Bible at home and prayerfully read Chapter 6 in its entirety. Allow God to speak to you in the depths of your being. Know of His Presence in the Word and in the Eucharist. Experience the abundant love of God!

"I Am The Bread Of Life. He Who Comes To Me Shall Not Hunger."

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Center For Medical Progress Under Investigation

7/25/2015

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"Bridge Over Troubled Waters" may sum up the latest events in regard to the Planned Parenthood scandal. Rather than focusing on the hideous practices of Planned Parenthood, attention is turned instead toward the whistle-blowers from the Center for Medical Progress. Apparently, the U.S. Department of Justice is going to investigate to see if the videos were obtained illegally. Kamala Harris, the California Attorney General who happens to plan on running for the U.S. Senate in 2016, is also going to investigate the organization in her state.

All of this made me think of the bridge on The Mississippi River near Louisiana, Missouri. Swing to the side and let Planned Parenthood coast on through, and hopefully, the Center for Medical Progress will fall off the tracks and drown while the bridge is turned in favor of Planned Parenthood. There is a real disconnect in what is happening with this tide of events. Political power and money is having tremendous influence in attempting to cover up the real story. Abortion on demand continues to be the sacred ground of which Nancy Pelosi and so many others trod.

Harvesting body parts to sell is something I never dreamed would happen in our country. I was naively wrong. Watching a scenario like this in a horror film or science fiction theater would be difficult enough, but knowing it is happening in real life is almost more than I can fathom. If the Center for Medical Progress ends up being persecuted for their actions, and Planned Parenthood marches triumphantly forward to continue their destruction of the most vulnerable among us, we are in for some even darker days ahead.

What will it take for America to experience true conversion?

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Planned Parenthood Has No Plan For Parents

7/24/2015

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I have been struggling for days to write about the selling of body parts from Planned Parenthood. What can I express that has not already been said by some other pro-life news outlets? I am not sure I can add anything new, but I want to spend some time breaking it down a little to let it really sink into my innermost being. Prompted by the reality of the evil of abortion and the subsequent marketing of “fetal tissue”, what will I do going forward to address the sanctity and dignity of life in a more effective manner?

The horror of what has been revealed in these videos recently released is almost beyond comprehension, and yet, a significant portion of our population doesn’t see a problem. Some even want the activists to be investigated rather than Planned Parenthood. Explain the rationale behind that line of thinking. Our society has become desensitized to right and wrong and we are reaping what we have sown.

How do we lose our way—as individuals and as a society? How does a doctor use his/her skills to destroy life and not see a problem? What prompted the individual to become a doctor in the first place? I am assuming in most cases that the motives to become a doctor were noble. What went wrong? Was it money? Did the study of science eliminate faith? I don’t know. Sadly, every profession has those who wander from the path. Instead of doing “good” for others they choose instead to do “well” for themselves.

The recent shootings in Louisiana and Tennessee bring people out the woodwork to push particular agendas. Armed civilians now stand guard at military offices. How ironic is that? Gun control advocates are adamant that more restrictions on guns are necessary. These shootings, and all of the others like them, are devastating events. Unfortunately, homicides are prevalent in our major cities on a daily basis. Let’s face the fact that a portion of our society does not value human life. Are more laws going to do something to change this? Don’t we already have laws making it illegal to shoot and kill other people? What is missing?

As I watch horrible events unfold day after day it becomes quite difficult to not grow cynical. The social ills that afflict our society are immense, and our safety nets seem to be filled with holes. Highly publicized shootings are only the tip of the iceberg. The suffering and grief experienced in our major cities from poverty, crime, and hopeless desperation is tragic. These are all symptoms of a deeper problem. We need a renewed faith in God.

Since 1973 we have destroyed over 56 million babies in the womb. In some cases the baby was “accidentally” born alive. What a problem this causes! Whether you leave the baby in a nice room to die alone or choose to strangle the newborn infant, the end result is the same. We as a nation have allowed this practice to continue legally for 42 years, and we have repeatedly elected officials who see to it that it remains legal. However, this is not just a political or legal problem; it is a moral problem. If civilized people can stand by and allow this type of practice to continue unabated it really doesn’t matter what our politics are. Our politics are a reflection of our culture. Selling the body parts is a logical follow-up step to the horrendous practice.

Think about it. A teenage girl needs parental consent to get a tattoo but can have an abortion without parental consent. Does anyone else see that as being a little off-balance?

The secular media has largely ignored the Planned Parenthood story. Is that because it doesn’t fit an agenda that the progressives want to push? Is it true that the media protects certain politicians and ideologies? Is there a media bias? Is there a conflict of interest because of who people know?

I recently received an e-mail that tried to make that case. I verified that the information was mostly accurate although some of it is now outdated as people have moved to different positions. I leave it as originally written to just demonstrate the numerous connections between high ranking “news professionals” and high ranking “government officials.”

ABC News executive producer Ian Cameron is married to Susan Rice, National Security Adviser. (Outdated)

CBS President David Rhodes is the brother of Ben Rhodes, President Obama’s Deputy National Security Adviser for Strategic Communications.

ABC News correspondent Claire Shipman is married to former Whitehouse Press Secretary Jay Carney.

ABC News and Univision reporter Matthew Jaffe is married to Katie Hogan, President Obama’s Deputy Press Secretary. (Outdated)

ABC President Ben Sherwood is the brother of President Obama’s Special Adviser Elizabeth Sherwood.

CNN President Virginia Moseley is married to former Hillary Clinton’s Deputy Secretary Tom Nides. (It should state that Moseley is Vice President of CNN.)

Despite the obstacles and conflicts of interest in front of us, it is vital that people of faith live as faithful witnesses of Jesus Christ. We cannot cave in to those who seek to silence the Church. We must grow in wisdom, grace and holiness. We are called to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world.
The time to flavor and shine is now!

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