We are blessed in the 21st century with crystal-clear photographs and action films of the living realities within their pregnant mothers. No one with the slightest measure of integrity or honor could fail to know what these marvelous beings manifestly, clearly, and obviously are, as they smile and wave into the world outside the womb. In simplest terms, they are human beings with an inalienable right to live, a right that the Speaker of the House of Representatives is bound to defend at all costs for the most basic of ethical reasons. They are not parts of their mothers, and what they are depends not at all upon the opinions of theologians of any faith. Anyone who dares to defend that they may be legitimately killed because another human being “chooses” to do so or for any other equally ridiculous reason should not be providing leadership in a civilized democracy worthy of the name.
Edward Cardinal Egan
Archbishop of New York
August 26, 2008
Abortion kills an unborn, developing human life. It is always gravely evil, and so are the evasions employed to justify it. Catholics who make excuses for it - whether they’re famous or not - fool only themselves and abuse the fidelity of those Catholics who do sincerely seek to follow the Gospel and live their Catholic faith.
The duty of the Church and other religious communities is moral witness. The duty of the state and its officials is to serve the common good, which is always rooted in moral truth. A proper understanding of the “separation of Church and state” does not imply a separation of faith from political life. But of course, it’s always important to know what our faith actually teaches.
+Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.
Archbishop of Denver
+James D. Conley
Auxiliary Bishop of Denver
linkage: The Catholic Thing
Categories: Faith
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America, I will miss you when you’re gone.
People grow old, things fall apart:
but, America,
there’ll always be a place for you in my heart.
I’ll miss you, America, when we say good night,
I’ll miss your bridges, and your city lights.
I’ll miss your schools, and your mountains,
And your big city-square fountains,
When they’re lit up in the spots just right…
You’ve got it all, America: the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Oh yes, I’ll miss you, America, when you’re done:
I’ll miss your smog-filled sunsets, America,
I’ll miss your solicitor’s calls and your iron-tarmac highways,
Your strip malls and your commercial holidays,
I’ll miss your fields, your farms, your wide welcoming arms,
Whatever they say about you, America, you’ve got your charms.
I won’t miss L.A., I don’t care what it pays,
Or arena rock or Times Square on New Year’s Day,
But I’ll miss Colorado, most of California,
The Lone Star state and the King’s Highway,
And probably Illinois ’cause it’s so much fun to say.
Oh America, somewhere within me, something dies
Whenever I look into your glazed-over eyes.
Somewhere within me, something dies,
America, every time I hear another one of your lies.
But forget all that. I love you, America, despite your mistakes,
Like chili-cheese fries and ketchup on steaks,
Somewhere you went horribly wrong,
But I’ll still miss you, America, when you’re gone.
- By me circa 2006
Categories: Traveling
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If you are dropping someone off at the airport, consider using the Kiss & Fly drop off and avoid airport traffic. Kiss & Fly is conveniently located at the AirTrain JFK Lefferts Boulevard Station where AirTrain service is free and travelers arrive at their terminal in just minutes.
I’m not really sure what the JFK officials think that they’re encouraging with this.
Categories: Traveling
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Well, my previous trip to the Italian Consulate revealing dramatic and heretofore unseen deficiencies in my paperwork, so I’ve spent the last two days running around a) trying to figure out what exactly I’m supposed to have, and b) getting all of that.
As of now, I have everything (and more) that I could possibly need, including airplane tickets for the 28th of August, except the second of the two (2!) notarized documents I’m apparently suppose to present to the Consulate, this one being an affidavit declaring that I will, in fact, purchase health insurance.
So I suppose this is a step forward in the entire disembarkation process.
Categories: Traveling
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