I love Lent! I know that might sound strange, but I think it is truly the most wonderful time of the year. I think taking a few weeks to reconnect with God, to pray more, to sacrifice gears; us up for a year of living closer to God and living out His Will for us. It also is a nice way to count down to the start of spring - aka glorious sunny, warm, sandel-wearing weather!
After Lent comes, obviously, Easter. And Easter is my favorite holiday. I know there would not be a Easter without a Christmas, but I feel like Easter is the really the best day of the year. It is such a joyous, hope-filled holiday. I mean, the birth of a baby - esp. a baby who is God made man and here to save us, brings us abundant hope and joy, but I just know that all things are possible with God when we celebrate Jesus rising from the dead and fogiving us for all the terrible sins we commit, again and again. It also seems like Easter has not become as commercialized as Christmas. I feel like the day is still about going to Church, rejoicing, feasting and celebrating - the whole Easter bunny deal hasn't really seemed to catch on too well.
The mysteries of Easter are what we constantly turn to all year - the Eucharist is the center of the Mass and our lives.
Here's wishing you a very holy, blessed, transforming Lent!
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
Will The Real Catholic Christians Please Stand Up?
With all of the attacks on the Catholic Church recently, it has come to my attention, or more accurately, come to the front of my attention, not everyone sharing a pew with me in church shares my faith.
Nancy Pelosi claimed she is standing with her fellow Catholics and supporting the contraception mandate. That says to me, she is sadly mistaken that Catholics agree with the mandate or she is in good company with her support. Kathleen Sebelius, another self proclaimed Catholic, is also fighting in the opposite direction as the leaders of the Catholic Church in regards to the mandate. Obama loves to bring up the exorbitant number of Catholics who use birth control.
My question is, why do people, those in positions of power and regular ol' citizens, profess they are Catholic if they are not truly in their beliefs?
If you choose to be part of a religious group, as opposed to agnostic, it seems you would believe all of the laws/beliefs of that religion. Especially since agnostic is a possibly, and having a religion of any kind is not mandatory, I cannot imagine why you would choose - yes this is in fact a choice - to belong to a religion that had morals you did not agree with, believe or could follow. The issues of contraception and abortion are very huge in the eyes of the Church and really set her apart from other religions. In secular terms, would you belong to an organization that you did not agree completely with or at least, with all the major positions? I could, for example, never label myself a vegan if I could give up all meat but just could not deny myself dairy products.
I use to think that the reason might be that people wanted to have some solidarity to the older members of their family. I know no longer believe this though, because many people of the older generation also don't believe in the Real Presence in the Eucharist or are in favor of birth control, so my peers surely feel no pressure to attend church to give the illusion that they believe and follow the Church's correct teachings. No one seems to raise an eyebrow or whisper disapprovingly any more when a couple moves in together, a girl gets pregnant out of wedlock or a guy announces he is gay. These things have become acceptable, normal and just one of the many choices a young person can make in their life. I highly doubt that people are, simultaneously, afraid to no longer attend church or call themselves Catholic because of what their parents or society might think.
So why do they call themselves Catholics and even attend Mass when they whole heartily disagree with many big and important values of the Church? How can they even sit through Mass, thinking the whole time that the priest is making a big deal out of bread and wine? How can they listen to the priest preach on the importance of writing letters, praying, fasting, doing everything we can to help overturn the ridiculous contraception mandate, if they, in fact, are using contraception and find nothing wrong with it? I'm not referring to Catholics who are trying to understand what the Church teaches, and like everyone, fails at times, goes to Confession and tries again. I'm talking about the "Catholics" who think the church is wrong in their teaching, that are expecting her to change her stance.
These people are very confusing to me. They, evidently, are very confusing to Obama, the rest of the government and society. I don't know if requesting those next to us in the pews to shape up or ship out is the right approach - but will the real, true, faithful (though at times failing) Catholics please stand up! We need to know who you are.
Nancy Pelosi claimed she is standing with her fellow Catholics and supporting the contraception mandate. That says to me, she is sadly mistaken that Catholics agree with the mandate or she is in good company with her support. Kathleen Sebelius, another self proclaimed Catholic, is also fighting in the opposite direction as the leaders of the Catholic Church in regards to the mandate. Obama loves to bring up the exorbitant number of Catholics who use birth control.
My question is, why do people, those in positions of power and regular ol' citizens, profess they are Catholic if they are not truly in their beliefs?
If you choose to be part of a religious group, as opposed to agnostic, it seems you would believe all of the laws/beliefs of that religion. Especially since agnostic is a possibly, and having a religion of any kind is not mandatory, I cannot imagine why you would choose - yes this is in fact a choice - to belong to a religion that had morals you did not agree with, believe or could follow. The issues of contraception and abortion are very huge in the eyes of the Church and really set her apart from other religions. In secular terms, would you belong to an organization that you did not agree completely with or at least, with all the major positions? I could, for example, never label myself a vegan if I could give up all meat but just could not deny myself dairy products.
I use to think that the reason might be that people wanted to have some solidarity to the older members of their family. I know no longer believe this though, because many people of the older generation also don't believe in the Real Presence in the Eucharist or are in favor of birth control, so my peers surely feel no pressure to attend church to give the illusion that they believe and follow the Church's correct teachings. No one seems to raise an eyebrow or whisper disapprovingly any more when a couple moves in together, a girl gets pregnant out of wedlock or a guy announces he is gay. These things have become acceptable, normal and just one of the many choices a young person can make in their life. I highly doubt that people are, simultaneously, afraid to no longer attend church or call themselves Catholic because of what their parents or society might think.
So why do they call themselves Catholics and even attend Mass when they whole heartily disagree with many big and important values of the Church? How can they even sit through Mass, thinking the whole time that the priest is making a big deal out of bread and wine? How can they listen to the priest preach on the importance of writing letters, praying, fasting, doing everything we can to help overturn the ridiculous contraception mandate, if they, in fact, are using contraception and find nothing wrong with it? I'm not referring to Catholics who are trying to understand what the Church teaches, and like everyone, fails at times, goes to Confession and tries again. I'm talking about the "Catholics" who think the church is wrong in their teaching, that are expecting her to change her stance.
These people are very confusing to me. They, evidently, are very confusing to Obama, the rest of the government and society. I don't know if requesting those next to us in the pews to shape up or ship out is the right approach - but will the real, true, faithful (though at times failing) Catholics please stand up! We need to know who you are.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
My Two Cents on the Whole Contraception Mandate
Where do I even begin.......
My heart hurts to even write this. Contraception and abortion are issues so close to my heart; as a woman and as a mother, I cannot fathom how a woman could voluntarily put her body through the dangers and risks associated with the pill or murder her tiny baby, let alone support a government that is demanding this to be done. And I do mean, demanding.
Obama claims that 99% of women have used birth control at some point in their lives. WHO CARES! 100% of people use food and I don't see the government mandating that that be handed out for free. Not having food would actually kill you, whereas, despite what Obama might think, not having birth control would not kill you. Also, just because 99% of women do something, does not mean it is right or should be condoned. According to the CDC 45% of teens drink alcohol and 64% of those teens binge drink - that's a high percentage! Maybe we should lower the drinking age and hand out beers at the prom to accommodate those serious partiers and make high school more enjoyable.
Obama also claims that the use of birth control lowers the risk of ovarian cancer -WOW! I had no idea those little latex wonders (aka condoms) had the power to lower the risk of ovarian cancer. How does that work? Does the latex ooze some sort of magical chemical into the wall of the vagina and that chemical travels up a distant path where no sperm has ever traveled and deposit it's saving and healing powers into the ovaries? No, it's only a certain kind of birth control pill that claims to have such benefits to which he is referring. The truth is - taking oral contraceptive for pretty much the entire time you are fertile only reduces your risk of ovarian cancer by a really small percentage. Do you know what you can do to lower your risk of ovarian cancer by a higher percentage and never take oral contraception? You can have one baby and nurse that baby! One, one baby, not ten, but one. (Thank you to the person who had this fact on their blog. I forget where I saw it now, so I can not give you credit. But it is great information and much appreciated!) But since Obama is saying that making contraception so readily available will reduce the risk of ovarian cancer - that says to me that he expects all contracepting couples to use the pill (unless I really do not understand how those condoms work) and will only make the pill available for free. I see many problems with that. First of all, maybe contracepting women don't want to mess with their cycles so they only have four cycles of year. Maybe they don't want to increase their risks of breast cancer, or strokes or blood clots. Maybe they want a form of birth control they can stop at any time and try to get pregnant. Maybe they are allergic to an ingredient in the pill or for other health reasons, cannot take hormonal contraception. Maybe they are for birth control but are against abortion - and we all know that the pill does cause abortions. So why aren't more women upset that Obama not only wants to put all women on birth control, he also wants to dictate the exact form of birth control that you must use?
We all know the many many cons of using birth control. The risks that the pill poses to women - stroke, blood clots, breast cancer, etc. etc., etc. not to mention the decrease of respect for women and the break down of marriages. We also know that the pill causes abortions and leads to more abortions because, when people have it in their heads that pregnancy is a disease to avoid, once they "get it" they need another treatment, and thus turn to abortion. Pope Paul the VI predicted in Humanae Vitae the increase of abortions with the increase use of birth control - and that happened. He predicted more divorce and more abuse of women - all that happened. Can you imagine how much divorce, abortion and abuse of women there will be if everyone is expected to be using birth control? Also, can you imagine how much prostitution, STD's, teenage sex (and let's face it, people won't start using birth control with 100% accuracy just because it is free) teenage pregnancy and teenage abortion and abortion among older women there will be? By the time girls reach 30, they will have had so many abortions and STD's, hysterectomy will probably be commonplace operations. But I guess that won't matter. Those girls won't be interested in something so archaic as marriage and motherhood - and if they are they will marry their lesbian lovers (to stay in step with society) and adopt children from overseas. But maybe I should have more faith in almighty Obama's plan.
The other thing that really really bothers me about all this is, Obama claims providing free contraception is a form of preventive care. Pregnancy is not a disease or a disorder - even if it is unwanted at times, it is not something to be wiped out like the plague. Mankind will not survive without women getting pregnant - and getting pregnant more than once. I realize all of the prenatal visits, prenatal vitamins, a hospital birth, and then vaccines, etc. really adds up and is much more expense then providing contraception for a year. But with all those expenses associated with a baby you get a really nice prize for all your investments - a BABY - a productive member of society and most importantly, a wonderful human made in the image and likeness of God - and that my Mastercard caring friends, is truly PRICELESS! I wonder too, since I had a c-section with the birth of my baby, will I get any free preventive care with my next pregnancy? A c-section is a major operation that puts me and my baby at risk, it also costs the insurance company a lot of money. Will I get a doula, which are proven to reduce the need of having a c-section, paid for in full by my insurance? I'm betting not. I'm betting I will be told to take the free contraception - that that is the surest way to avoid a second c-section.
Obama's revised plan states no Catholic organization will have to "directly" pay for contraception or sterilizations. Oh well, as long as I can indirectly commit mortal sin, I guess I am in the clear. Is he serious?! Does he really think that is acceptable, that we will be appeased by this ridiculous statement, that we will stop fighting for what is right?
As I see the government reducing me and my fellow Catholics to second class citizens who are no longer protected under the Constitution, who no longer share the same liberties as everyone else; as I see the wise words of our Bishops mocked by a president of clearly no faith or fear of the Lord; as I see the government and women of power, who claim to be Catholic, all fighting for women to be reduced to sexual objects and have birth control pills shoved down their throats- free of charge- regardless of the tremendous costs it has on their health or on society; as I see abortion so ingrained into people's lives it's evilness needs to be debated, I have never been more ashamed to have to be labeled an American. But, as I hang my head in shame, I also note that I have never been prouder to be labeled a Catholic - which really is my true identity. I am so proud of all the bishops and priests. They are speaking out so courageously and leading us in the truth despite the demolishing of morals in society and as a nation. They are reminding us that Christ is King - it is His words we must follow and live by.
We need not be afraid, we know who will win this battle.
My heart hurts to even write this. Contraception and abortion are issues so close to my heart; as a woman and as a mother, I cannot fathom how a woman could voluntarily put her body through the dangers and risks associated with the pill or murder her tiny baby, let alone support a government that is demanding this to be done. And I do mean, demanding.
Obama claims that 99% of women have used birth control at some point in their lives. WHO CARES! 100% of people use food and I don't see the government mandating that that be handed out for free. Not having food would actually kill you, whereas, despite what Obama might think, not having birth control would not kill you. Also, just because 99% of women do something, does not mean it is right or should be condoned. According to the CDC 45% of teens drink alcohol and 64% of those teens binge drink - that's a high percentage! Maybe we should lower the drinking age and hand out beers at the prom to accommodate those serious partiers and make high school more enjoyable.
Obama also claims that the use of birth control lowers the risk of ovarian cancer -WOW! I had no idea those little latex wonders (aka condoms) had the power to lower the risk of ovarian cancer. How does that work? Does the latex ooze some sort of magical chemical into the wall of the vagina and that chemical travels up a distant path where no sperm has ever traveled and deposit it's saving and healing powers into the ovaries? No, it's only a certain kind of birth control pill that claims to have such benefits to which he is referring. The truth is - taking oral contraceptive for pretty much the entire time you are fertile only reduces your risk of ovarian cancer by a really small percentage. Do you know what you can do to lower your risk of ovarian cancer by a higher percentage and never take oral contraception? You can have one baby and nurse that baby! One, one baby, not ten, but one. (Thank you to the person who had this fact on their blog. I forget where I saw it now, so I can not give you credit. But it is great information and much appreciated!) But since Obama is saying that making contraception so readily available will reduce the risk of ovarian cancer - that says to me that he expects all contracepting couples to use the pill (unless I really do not understand how those condoms work) and will only make the pill available for free. I see many problems with that. First of all, maybe contracepting women don't want to mess with their cycles so they only have four cycles of year. Maybe they don't want to increase their risks of breast cancer, or strokes or blood clots. Maybe they want a form of birth control they can stop at any time and try to get pregnant. Maybe they are allergic to an ingredient in the pill or for other health reasons, cannot take hormonal contraception. Maybe they are for birth control but are against abortion - and we all know that the pill does cause abortions. So why aren't more women upset that Obama not only wants to put all women on birth control, he also wants to dictate the exact form of birth control that you must use?
We all know the many many cons of using birth control. The risks that the pill poses to women - stroke, blood clots, breast cancer, etc. etc., etc. not to mention the decrease of respect for women and the break down of marriages. We also know that the pill causes abortions and leads to more abortions because, when people have it in their heads that pregnancy is a disease to avoid, once they "get it" they need another treatment, and thus turn to abortion. Pope Paul the VI predicted in Humanae Vitae the increase of abortions with the increase use of birth control - and that happened. He predicted more divorce and more abuse of women - all that happened. Can you imagine how much divorce, abortion and abuse of women there will be if everyone is expected to be using birth control? Also, can you imagine how much prostitution, STD's, teenage sex (and let's face it, people won't start using birth control with 100% accuracy just because it is free) teenage pregnancy and teenage abortion and abortion among older women there will be? By the time girls reach 30, they will have had so many abortions and STD's, hysterectomy will probably be commonplace operations. But I guess that won't matter. Those girls won't be interested in something so archaic as marriage and motherhood - and if they are they will marry their lesbian lovers (to stay in step with society) and adopt children from overseas. But maybe I should have more faith in almighty Obama's plan.
The other thing that really really bothers me about all this is, Obama claims providing free contraception is a form of preventive care. Pregnancy is not a disease or a disorder - even if it is unwanted at times, it is not something to be wiped out like the plague. Mankind will not survive without women getting pregnant - and getting pregnant more than once. I realize all of the prenatal visits, prenatal vitamins, a hospital birth, and then vaccines, etc. really adds up and is much more expense then providing contraception for a year. But with all those expenses associated with a baby you get a really nice prize for all your investments - a BABY - a productive member of society and most importantly, a wonderful human made in the image and likeness of God - and that my Mastercard caring friends, is truly PRICELESS! I wonder too, since I had a c-section with the birth of my baby, will I get any free preventive care with my next pregnancy? A c-section is a major operation that puts me and my baby at risk, it also costs the insurance company a lot of money. Will I get a doula, which are proven to reduce the need of having a c-section, paid for in full by my insurance? I'm betting not. I'm betting I will be told to take the free contraception - that that is the surest way to avoid a second c-section.
Obama's revised plan states no Catholic organization will have to "directly" pay for contraception or sterilizations. Oh well, as long as I can indirectly commit mortal sin, I guess I am in the clear. Is he serious?! Does he really think that is acceptable, that we will be appeased by this ridiculous statement, that we will stop fighting for what is right?
As I see the government reducing me and my fellow Catholics to second class citizens who are no longer protected under the Constitution, who no longer share the same liberties as everyone else; as I see the wise words of our Bishops mocked by a president of clearly no faith or fear of the Lord; as I see the government and women of power, who claim to be Catholic, all fighting for women to be reduced to sexual objects and have birth control pills shoved down their throats- free of charge- regardless of the tremendous costs it has on their health or on society; as I see abortion so ingrained into people's lives it's evilness needs to be debated, I have never been more ashamed to have to be labeled an American. But, as I hang my head in shame, I also note that I have never been prouder to be labeled a Catholic - which really is my true identity. I am so proud of all the bishops and priests. They are speaking out so courageously and leading us in the truth despite the demolishing of morals in society and as a nation. They are reminding us that Christ is King - it is His words we must follow and live by.
We need not be afraid, we know who will win this battle.
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