Creative Minority Report

Today on CMR — March 16, 2010

2010-03-28T23:59:01.350-04:00

Forced Prison Conversions to Islam
—Islam grows in a sleeping Europe.

Obama Promises...er Threatens No Votes
—He really doesn't get it, does he?

Greatest Tennis Match...Evah!
—Gotta' see this.

Big Abortion Fundraises from Picketers
—Pledge a Picketer shows you how desperate Big Abortion really is.

Woe to Those Who Offend
—Maybe being offensive isn't the worst thing in the world.

Vid: Stupak as Braveheart
—Stand with Stupak.

NY Times Caption Contest
—You've got to see this pic.

Did You Hear About Healthcare at Mass?
—Did you get a bulletin insert?

Death and The Catholic Health Association
—Disgraceful CHA opposes Bishops and endorses Obamacare.

Creative Minority Reader

Compassion = Sterilization?
—Don't let a pregnancy get in the way of your crack habit.

Cindy Sheehan Can't Speak at Church
—She in turns calls Church not really pro-life.

Patrick Kennedy As Chris Farley
—The congressman soon to be living in a van down by the river!

Won't You Be My Neighbor?
—Please say hello to a new friend.

Forced Prison Conversions to Islam

2010-03-16T17:01:00.000-04:00

Weasel Zippers has a disturbing story about Muslims enforcing Sharia Law in prison and click the link to read about what happened to an imprisoned Catholic who wouldn't convert:

Just preparing them for the dhimmitude they will endure in British society once they're released...

(Telegraph)- Radical Muslim gangs are imposing a form of sharia law inside some of Britain's prisons, a BBC investigation has found.

Non-Muslim inmates at the high-security Long Lartin jail have been forced by the gangs to stop playing "Western" music and take down pictures of women from their cells, according to one former prison officer there. Prisoners at the jail, although allowed to cook their own food, are not allowed to prepare pork for fear of offending the Muslim inmates, the officer said.

The officer, speaking to Radio Five Live's Donal Macintyre show, told how younger prisoners were targeted for forced conversion to Islam by the gangs. "They went along because they were intimidated. They genuinely weren't of the Muslim faith," she said. "I knew one lad quite well, who was approached by the radical Muslims and he changed. He was being controlled and bossed around and he wasn't even allowed to look at me or speak to me.

Check out Weasel Zippers for the rest of the story.

Obama Promises...er Threatens No Votes

2010-03-16T12:31:00.004-04:00

In what is the equivalent of "Get off my property. You're not my friend anymore" President Obama is telling anyone who has the gall to vote against Obamacare that he won't play with them anymore.

The Telegraph reports:

Barack Obama has said he will not campaign for any Democratic congressmen who fails to support health care reform.

Hmmm. Isn't this a bit like Octomom threatening not to date you. Or your friends threatening to burn the video from your bachelor party.

Uhm. OK.

Let's go over some of the name of candidates who Obama did come to town to campaign for:

Sen. R. Creigh Deeds - Trounced
Gov. John Corzine - Beaten. Bad.
Martha Coakley - Embarrassed

So I'm wondering if Obama's threat is all that powerful. In fact, I'm wondering how many candidates are going to beg Obama to stay far far away from their home districts. Look, everyone knows Obama's going to hurt the Democrats this November. It's just a matter of limiting the hurt. So in the end his threat to stay away is more like Charlie Sheen promising not to foil up his knuckles before he marries your daughter. It's a small gesture of kindness in a really bad situation.

Greatest Tennis Match...Evah!

2010-03-16T09:36:00.002-04:00

Check out two prima donnas in Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras insult each other at a charity match and both get all hurt and snipe at each other like junior high school girls. (I'm not sure I get the Obama reference by Sampras but maybe you guys might)

But this definitely makes me think that microphones on tennis players might be the best innovation. You want ratings? Have Serena yelling at Venus that she borrowed and stretched out her favorite tube top. Instant cat fight. Mega ratings.

This could save tennis folks.

Big Abortion Fundraises from Picketers

2010-03-16T00:26:00.008-04:00

Standing outside of an abortion clinic with a sign or simply praying is an effective tool against the abortion industry. How do I know?

Because many abortion clinics are attempting to raise money based on the number of picketers that show up outside their clinic as a way to dispirit pro-lifers.

PledgeaPicket.org writes:

Pledge A Picket has been used to raise funds to help women fund abortions that they would not otherwise be able to afford. With the election of President Obama, anti-choice protestors, as well as fundamentalist religious terrorists, have stepped up their activities of protesting. Of course they state their goal is to reduce the number of abortions, by reducing the number of abortion clinics and abortion doctors.

Case in point, this video:

This video from Planned Parenthood was just posted yesterday claiming to thank the picketers for helping raise money for abortion.

The Nation wrote that one of the main goals of the scheme is to "deflate the energy of the protesters."

Ha! Do these people really think we're idiots? If the picketers weren't effective why would Planned Parenthood be going to all this trouble to defeat them? They're really getting desperate folks. We must really be getting under their skin. Good.

Woe to Those Who Offend

2010-03-16T00:00:00.000-04:00

Matt speaking here: Marcel from Mary's Aggies is guest posting here once a week for a month. We're happy to have him here. Here's Marcel's post:

“And seeing the multitudes, he felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and downcast like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.” (Matt 9:36-37)

There are many reasons why faithful Catholics don’t evangelize, but there is no reason more prominent than fear. Giving in to any fear is an impediment to our holiness. I challenge you to think of a parish where there is no fear. How much would we love? How much would we serve? How often would the truth be proclaimed? How many lives would be changed?

Fear is not consonant with the Gospel. The Bible repeatedly says, “be not afraid,” “have no fear,” and “fear not.” With God there should be no fear, but because we are human we must all battle with fears. Being afraid or anxious is natural, but allowing fear or anxiety keep us from loving another person is sinful.

We Catholics have lots of fear when it comes to evangelization (sharing our faith through witness of life and by word).

-Fear of rejection and hostility - what if they don’t accept me or my message?

-Fear of inadequacy – I am not good enough. I don’t know enough

-Fear of failure – what if I look like a fool?

In addition, many Catholics fear offending others.

In our society today offending another person is commonly seen as the vice of vices. We are supposed to let everyone do as they please as long as they are not hurting others – at least that is what is considered to be tolerance. This is actually an unchristian way of looking at the world. Every sin hurts every other Christian. As the Body of Christ, we are all joined together, with Christ as our head. (1 Cor 12: 26)

Furthermore, in many parts of the public square, religion has been pushed into the ghettos. It is uncivilized to speak of religion in public, because you may offend some people. But, not offending others is not a virtue. Certainly we shouldn’t seek to annoy or offend if there is not a serious reason to do so. But, sometimes there is a need to speak the truth whether it will be well received or not. When Christ commissioned the 72 to preach the gospel he told them they would be received in some places and rejected in others. (Luke 10: 1-12) Paul was lashed five times, beaten with rods three times, stoned once, shipwrecked three times, and went through many other hardships for Jesus. (2 Cor 11: 23-27)

What we must see from these hardships of preaching the Gospel is Christ pouring out abundant blessings upon us. We are blessed because when we are persecuted and thus we are sharing in the persecution of Christ who died for us. In this way we participate in our sanctification and the sanctification of others. “Blessed are they who are persecuted, for righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.” (Matt 5:10-12)

If we give in to the fear of offending other people, we will never speak of Jesus, the Catholic Church or truth. These absolutes are seen as offensive to the ears of many segments of our modern relativistic society. The only absolute the relativist believes in is there are no absolutes. As the parable of the sower in Matt 13 tells us, we are to sow the gospel and let the seeds fall where they may regardless of how it is received – even if another person is offended by it.

Do we see evangelization as something done only at church or on Sundays? Many Christians compartmentalize their lives into neat ways of seeing the world – church for these times and “real life” for others. For some, we cannot even hint at religiosity at work because we are being overbearing. For others, we are not to speak of God in public so we won’t “impose” our views on others. This attitude is erroneous in a Christian world-view. We are to proclaim and witness to Christ in all places and times.

Jesus sought to be accepted as well, but not at the cost of forgetting the good news. Jesus had the human desire to be accepted by others and sought this from those closest to him. But, he was rejected by many, including his hometown. The difference between us and Jesus is he never let his fear lead him into sin or a failure to evangelize.

Vid: Stupak as Braveheart

2010-03-15T15:16:00.002-04:00

Paramount Communications

NY Times Caption Contest

2010-03-15T13:23:00.003-04:00

This picture with the halo and the superimposed cross around Obama actually appeared in the New York Times yesterday. Their caption read "As Health Vote Awaits, Future of Presidency waits Too." But you can do better than that. You guys always come up with great captions. Have a crack at it now because media only gets this bias about once a week or so.

For some intelligent commentary on this you can check out Ed Morrissey at Hot Air but for some spirited snarky silliness head to the combox.

Did You Hear About Healthcare at Mass?

2010-03-15T09:24:00.002-04:00

I'm interested to know if any of you heard about healthcare at Mass. Please go over to the National Catholic Register and let us know.

The USCCB came out strongly against the current healthcare bill which is now being considered by the House of Representatives. You wouldn’t know this from the mainstream media coverage which has been too busy reporting (celebrating?) that the Catholic Health Association endorsed the healthcare plan.

The bishops did, however, put out a bulletin insert on March 11th asking Catholics to contact their elected representatives and urge them to protect life. The banner of the insert reads: “Stop Abortion Funding in Health Care Reform! Protect Conscience. Ensure Affordable Health Coverage. Allow Immigrants to Purchase Private Health Insurance.”

Did you get the bulletin insert? Or did your priest talk about healthcare at all. Go over to the National Catholic Register and let us know.

Death and The Catholic Health Association

2010-03-14T23:55:00.004-04:00

SR. Carol Keehan, DC president and Chief Executive Officer gave us this disgraceful endorsement of Obamacare even though the Bishops have come out four square against it.

As I watched our president present his plan to pass the health reform legislation, it was clear this is an historic opportunity to make great improvements in the lives of so many Americans. Is it perfect? No. Does it cover everyone? No. But is it a major first step? Yes.

The insurance reforms will make the lives of millions more secure, and their coverage more affordable. The reforms will eventually make affordable health insurance available to 31 million of the 47 million Americans currently without coverage.

CHA has a major concern on life issues. We said there could not be any federal funding for abortions and there had to be strong funding for maternity care, especially for vulnerable women. The bill now being considered allows people buying insurance through an exchange to use federal dollars in the form of tax credits and their own dollars to buy a policy that covers their health care. If they choose a policy with abortion coverage, then they must write a separate personal check for the cost of that coverage.

There is a requirement that the insurance companies be audited annually to assure that the payment for abortion coverage fully covers the administrative and clinical costs, that the payment is held in a separate account from other premiums, and that there are no federal dollars used...

Everybody, and I mean everybody, knows that this is just an accounting gimmick and this bill funds abortion, period. Even some democrats, when speaking to pro-abortion types, have admitted that this gimmick means nothing.

Such willful blindness is sickening. The organization should be disbanded immediately. Sr. Keehan was courted by the Obama administration for some Catholic cover and she gave it to them.

Joseph Bottum at First Things is perplexed. Why? Why now?

Even if she thought the Senate version of the bill doesn’t actually fund abortions—a dubious proposition—she would have to admit that Stupak’s amendment is an improvement. For what possible reason would she undercut the bishops—who generally favor major health-care reform—and the efforts of Stupak at this point in the process?

One reason and one reason only, to attempt to offset the Bishops opposition in order to give the impression that Catholics are not united in opposition.

Sr. Keehan is no true daughter of charity, she is a daughter of death.

Update: Check out Archbishop Chaput's statement.

Compassion = Sterilization?

2010-03-14T21:50:00.001-04:00

Have you heard about an organization called "Project Prevention" that offers $300 to drug addicts to sterilize themselves.

The BBC reports that the organization has been busy as it has paid money out to 3,242 addicts (mostly women) and 1,226 were permanently sterilised. They've operated in 39 states.

The Star Bulletin reports one disturbing story:

Mona Rodarte watched state authorities take away her third baby a few months ago, and the trauma was enough to motivate her to consider Project Prevention's offer to pay her $300 to get sterilized or start using long-term birth control.

Each child has a different father; two are in jail and all three are drug dealers. The 28-year-old Rodarte, who lives on Maui, had just graduated from a rehabilitation program. She had been clean and sober for six months. Determined to do things differently, she was looking forward to the birth of her baby.

But the change in environment, lack of structure and a return to what she described as a "dysfunctional" home sparked a relapse into her habitual crystal methamphetamine and alcohol abuse — two weeks before her baby was due.

That is when she lost her privilege to be a mother. Rodarte's older sister is now raising the child, and brought Rodarte to Oahu to encourage her to obtain some form of long-term birth control.

"How does it feel that I'm on my third baby and I don't have none of them, and I'm still doing the same thing?" Rodarte said. "It feels (frustrating)."

Though she was initially offended when approached with the sterilization/birth control offer, she gradually accepted its practicality.

"It was hard because I didn't want them to take my baby away. But if I'm not done running around, I cannot bring any more lives into the world. I need to stop having kids that I'm not going to take care of."

After talking with Barbara Harris, founder and director of the national nonprofit Project Prevention, and debating the issue for a time, Rodarte called a Maui clinic for Implanon, a long-term birth control device that is inserted under the skin and remains effective for years or until it is removed.

Surely this is a desperate situation but instead of pointing this woman to where she can find help she gives her money for long term birth control. Doesn't she realize that this money will make her spiral deeper into drugs and make it less likely that she'll ever be a mother to her children?

The organization goes around passing out flyers where they know drug use is high. Barbara Harris, the founder of the organization, has said she's aware that many will spend the money she gives them on drugs.

This is what passes for love and compassion nowadays? In the past, Harris has passed out flyers saying: "DON'T Let a Pregnancy get in the way of your crack habit".

"When I founded this organization, I never believed how big it would be," she said in recent news reports. "Every day I feel like we're making a difference."

A difference?

Cindy Sheehan Can't Speak at Church

2010-03-13T19:52:00.001-05:00

You remember Cindy Sheehan, the anti-war activist. Well, she was scheduled to appear April 9 at St. John the Evangelist Church hall in Scranton to speak with Pax Christi of Northeastern Pennsylvania. That is, until the Diocese of Scranton got wind of it. Then...not so much.

Never one to shy away from publicity, Sheehan, a former Catholic, now has plenty to say about the Church because of it. And as you can imagine, she's not being so nice. According to published reports she's calling the Church not truly pro-life and hypocritical.

The Diocese of Scranton issued this statement:

The March 11 issue of The Catholic Light contained a notice about an upcoming appearance by anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan, who was scheduled to speak at St. John Hall in Scranton on April 9.

This notice was published in error. Neither Cardinal Justin Rigali, Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Scranton, nor Bishop-elect Joseph C. Bambera had authorized the use of a Diocesan or parish facility to host this speaker. Although Mrs. Sheehan is well known for her anti-war stance against the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq , she also supports positions that are contrary to Church teaching regarding life and marriage issues.

Therefore, her appearance at St. John Hall has been cancelled and she will not be allowed to speak at any other Diocesan or parish facility.

And now it's like the diocese lit the Sheehan fuse because now she's attacking the Church calling it not really pro-life, hypocritical and not caring about people who have already been born.

The Standard Speaker reports:

She said this is the first time a diocese has banned her from speaking at a Catholic venue.

She has received awards from a Catholic organization because of her anti-war views and spoke inside a Catholic church in Columbus, Ohio, and at a Catholic church hall in Cleveland, Ohio, she said.

"Those bishops didn't make a big deal about it," she said.

Sheehan, a former Catholic parish youth minister, said she left the church years ago because of its willingness to cover up sexual abuse by priests.

"Every time the church does something like this, it enrages me because first of all I feel I've dedicated my life to peace," she said. "I don't go to my events and say, 'I'm for a woman's right to choose' or 'I'm for marriage equality.' That's not what I speak about. I speak about ending these unjust wars that killed my son."

The church has failed to "take a lead role in demanding the U.S. end its military misadventures around the world," which would be a pro-life position, she said.

"Whenever they do something like this, they just call more attention to the hypocrisy of their positions," she said. "To me, it's more like they want to protect the unborn than they want to protect the people who are already born."

So let me get this straight. She's telling a newspaper that she's for a woman's right to choose and gay marriage to explain that she never talks about a woman's right to choose and her support of gay marriage. That make sense to anyone?

I'm sure we'll hear more about this from Ms. Sheehan. I'm sure that if she thinks there's publicity to be had she'll show up at Cardinal Rigali's office like she did near Dick Cheney's house a few months ago.

Patrick Kennedy As Chris Farley

2010-03-13T00:27:00.001-05:00

The mashup that needed mashing up! The congressman soon to be living in a van down by the river!

Ht Hotair!

Won't You Be My Neighbor?

2010-03-12T23:55:00.003-05:00

Matt & I consider the Catholic blogosphere to be our neighborhood. Part of being a good neighbor is welcoming new friends to the neighborhood. We would like to introduce you to a new friend. Please say hello to Josie at "Upholding Purity in the Catholic Classroom." She is really just getting started and we want to encourage her. So be a good neighbor and please go say hello! Pie is optional.

"Upholding Purity in the Catholic Classroom"

Must Read of the Day

2010-03-12T19:50:00.004-05:00

Read this sickening piece about Bart Stupak and then go read the rest of this piece at The Corner. Democrats have argued to Stupak that abortion is good and necessary because real live kids cost money:

Stupak notes that his negotiations with House Democratic leaders in recent days have been revealing. “I really believe that the Democratic leadership is simply unwilling to change its stance,” he says. “Their position says that women, especially those without means available, should have their abortions covered.” The arguments they have made to him in recent deliberations, he adds, “are a pretty sad commentary on the state of the Democratic party.”

What are Democratic leaders saying? “If you pass the Stupak amendment, more children will be born, and therefore it will cost us millions more. That’s one of the arguments I’ve been hearing,” Stupak says. “Money is their hang-up. Is this how we now value life in America? If money is the issue — come on, we can find room in the budget. This is life we’re talking about.”

Read the whole thing at The Corner.

We've all known this was true but to hear it from a Democrat is still pretty shocking. Sooooo...now that we're all clear life has a pricetag, who wants to deny that Obamacare includes death panels now?

CNN on the Coffee Party and Tea Party

2010-03-12T10:57:00.000-05:00

Check out CNN's love letter to the left leaning "Coffee Party":

(CNN) -- In one chair sits a rural retiree, his financial security shot in the slump, a humble Southerner who's never thought much about politics. In another seat is a born Northerner, an inner-city native, a relative of a civil rights giant. And nearby, circling a table, are an economist, an artist, a onetime John McCain supporter and a long-haired guy who's rich in Woodstock memories.

Meet these members of the Coffee Party Movement, an organically grown, freshly brewed push that's marking its official kickoff Saturday. Across the country, even around the globe, they and other Americans in at least several hundred communities are expected to gather in coffeehouses to raise their mugs of java to something new.

They're professionals, musicians and housewives. They're frustrated liberal activists, disheartened conservatives and political newborns. They're young and old, rich and poor, black, white and all shades of other.

Born on Facebook just six weeks ago, the group today boasts more than 110,000 fans. The Coffee Party is billed by many as an answer to the Tea Party (more than 1,000 fewer fans), a year-old protest movement that's steeped in fiscal conservatism and boiling-hot, anti-tax rhetoric.

This new group calls for civility, objects to obstructionism and demands that politicians be held accountable to the people who put them in office.

Ha! They're really comparing the "Coffee Party" which barely exists on anything other than Facebook to a nationwide movement with hundreds of thousands participants. Now just for kicks. Let's compare that loving little piece to how CNN has treated the Tea Party.

After CNN’s senior political analyst David Gergen remarked that Republicans were “searching for their voice” after two electoral losses, Anderson Cooper lovingly remarked, “It’s hard to talk when you’re tea-bagging.”

HT Newsbusters

And then you've got to remember this classic CNN story about the Tea Party:

And how about this recent entry into subjective journalism by CNN labeling Tea Partiers "recession raging conservatives":

You know, I'm not a brilliant man. But if I were giving advice to the lowest rated cable news network I'd tell them to stop cozying up to made up pretend groups that don't have any real members and stop mocking and ridiculing millions of real Americans. Just an idea.

Obama At The Bat

2010-03-12T00:27:00.002-05:00

Wait 'til next year, Obama.

Assisted Suicide: Not Just for the Sick

2010-03-11T21:57:00.001-05:00

You remember all that talk that it was ridiculous for us to fret that legalizing assisting in the suicide of the terminally ill would lead to even greater calamities.

Well Holland is treating the slippery slope argument like its own slip-and-slide because they just got a running start by considering expanding the legalization of assisted suicide to the old.

You've gotta' love the Hollish for morphing their homeland into a testing ground of bad ideas.

Daily Mail:

Assisted suicide for anyone over 70 who has simply had enough of life is being considered in Holland.

Non-doctors would be trained to administer a lethal potion to elderly people who 'consider their lives complete'.

The radical move would be a world first and push the boundaries even further in the country that first legalised euthanasia.

The Dutch parliament is to debate the measure after campaigners for assisted suicide collected 112,500 signatures in a month.

Euthanasia has been available for the terminally ill in Holland since 2002 in cases of 'hopeless and unbearable suffering' certified by two doctors, but this would be a far bigger step.

Supporters say it would offer a dignified way to die for those over 70 who just want to give up living, without having to resort to difficult or unreliable solitary suicide methods.

The assistants who administered the deadly cocktail of sedatives would need to be certified, campaigners said.

And they would have to make sure that patients were not acting on a whim or due to a temporary depression, but from a heartfelt and enduring desire to die.

So Holland is considering "certifying" killers. This is essentially granting "Double O" status to sickos. But while 007 only takes out sexed-up members of evil syndicates with bad puns for names, these "certified" agents will be taking out old people for the crime of being old.

So instead of certifying...I don't know...Hollish folks to help other elderly Hollandites they're just certifying killers.

Will these Hollanders be paid by the suicide? A commission? In which case, you could imagine they'll be hanging out in bars and hospitals asking folks if they've had a bad day. They'll be advertising late night infomercials in the hope of catching some poor old guy who's having trouble sleeping. Maybe they should get a percentage of the money the government would have spent on the old person had they lived a longer life? Maybe they could collect scalps like cereal box tops and send them in to be paid.

So many possibilities. Gotta' love the Hollanders for giving us directions on the road to Hell.

An Unshocking Statistic

2010-03-11T19:26:00.000-05:00

Cassy Fiano has more on this unsurprising but deplorable statistic.

Heretically Correct

2010-03-11T13:40:00.001-05:00

The culturally corrosive effects of political correctness manifest themselves in many ways. Perhaps one of the more deleterious effects of this social tyranny is self-imposed silence when it comes to the truth. Many know the truth but seek to avoid confrontation in a world that abhors enlightening argument. Rather, certain opinions are deemed offensive by those who are the designated deemers of such things. End of story.

Most of us have learned to shrug off such things, we cannot single-handedly change our culture and there is life to be lived, so we move on. But the time for shrugging may be over. When political correctness does not just demand silence for the truth, but the active promotion of heresy, this is something no Christian should abide. This is never more true than for those who are charged with preaching God's truth.

Reverend Frank Wainwright, 48, a Deacon at St Gregory's Church in Cheltenham, Glos. UK, during a sermon on marriage, made the remark in a humorous aside that "Marriage is between Adam and Eve - not Adam and Steve." For this the Deacon has been accused of 'homophobia' after....Continue Reading @ National Catholic Register

Artist Leonard Porter Commissioned to Create a Set of Stations of the Cross

2010-03-11T11:45:00.000-05:00

Just in time for Lent, noted traditional painter Leonard Porter has completed a set of *sketches* for a full set of 14 stations of the cross. CMR readers may remember our post on his St. Therese of Lisieux, or his recent Christian paintings.
Some months ago, Porter started work on a set of stations for Christ the King Church in New Vernon, New Jersey. While most people simply buy stock sets of stations from catalogs for their churches, there are a few new commissions out there, including one by liturgical artist Davis D'Ambly. Porter's stations, however, like his other works, are loaded with complex and intelligent symbolism which works on many layers. The images shown here are simply his ink wash sketches--the final product will be in the vibrant color he has become known for.
Station One, for instance, Jesus Condemned to Death, shows the statue-like Pilate raised in pagan power with his feet on a stool, the very image of worldly authority, condemning the God of the universe. The single column in the rear not only signifies the place of Pilate, but prefigures the Scourging at the Pillar.
Porter's sophistication comes through also in the Nailing of Christ to the Cross, where the soldiers stand like statues, both in honor and like men devoid of divine life in a desolate, windy landscape. The Taking from the Cross shows a graceful composition of S-curves where the Crown of Thorns glows with a spiritual radiance.
Porter will spend the next year painting the final set in color, and I'll be adding updates as they come along.

Publish Post

Women Are Dying...But It's For a Good Cause

2010-03-10T23:46:00.001-05:00

Oh you brave women. Taking one for the team is sooo wonderful of you. Realizing that your life means so little when compared to the overriding issue of sexual liberation and consequenceless sex. Good for you.

What? Nobody told you about the consequences? Well, this is rather awkward then.

The International Agency for Research of Cancer recently concluded after a lengthy study that popular forms of oral contraceptives are "carcinogenic" to humans.

As the American Thinker says:

One can imagine that if, in the epigraph, the words "oral contraceptives" were replaced with, say, "peanut butter" or "Republican Party membership," the political posturing and shouting in the media would never stop.

But the individual lives matter not to the greater cause of sexual liberation. Why, we can't have women start thinking that there's consequences to sex.

Just yesterday the New York Times buried a story about a popular contraceptive (Deprovera) that causes an alarming loss of bone mass that could lead to broken bones and fractured hips, especially among smokers and women who don't take enough calcium. So what does the author of the study say at the end of the very short article. What's his remedy? This is brilliant. He tells womem not to smoke and be sure to take calcium because those are what he called "modifiable risk factors.”

As if taking birth control isn't modifiable? Is that how far gone we are? Is birth control a given?

Oh and more than two million American women use that form of birth control, according to The Times, including about 400,000 teenagers.

There have been numerous studies indicating a link between "The Pill" and breast cancer published in the most prestigious medical journals.

Whether women decide if birth control is worth an increased risk of cancer, depression, blood clots, or bone loss it should be an informed decision, shouldn't it? But we currently have doctors prescribing birth control for everything from acne to PMS to headaches making it the most widely used drug in the world. There seems to be a mad rush to have young women take birth control accompanied by a startling apathy concerning side effects.

I have to ask where is the National Cancer Institute on this information? Where is the Susan G. Komen Foundation on this? In fact, Komen donates hundreds of thousands of dollars to Planned Parenthood.

I can't imagine how so many obfuscate the truth that birth control has several serious and possibly lethal side effects. How many individual women must be sacrificed at the altar of radical feminism?

Six Year Old Suspended for Finger Gun

2010-03-10T21:42:00.000-05:00

Are we insane? Seriously. Has our entire country gone totally and irretrievably looney?

A six year old boy was just suspended for pointing a finger gun at other students. A finger gun. Unless this kid is like Chuck Norris Jr. his fingers aren't hurting anyone.

Come on. Really?

Here's the details from MLive:

To the little boy's mother, it was just a 6-year-old boy playing around.

But when Mason Jammer, a kindergarten student at Jefferson Elementary in Ionia, curled his fist into the shape of a gun Wednesday and pointed it at another student, school officials said it was no laughing matter.

They suspended Mason until Friday, saying the behavior made other students uncomfortable, said Erin Jammer, Mason's mother.

So that's the new standard, huh?

Look, the Pope even does finger guns.

Look out!!!! The Pope's about to go Boondock Saints on us.

Uh-Oh. Ghandi's got a gun!!!!!!!!!!!!

Watch out! Tom Cruise is dangerous! Well wait...bad example. He is actually kinda' crazy. But you know what I mean.

(Note: I know that's not Ghandi)

Planned Parenthood: Then and Now

2010-03-10T17:36:00.000-05:00

This is from a Planned Parenthood pamphlet from 1952:

Did the science change? Or did the organization's crazy thirst for abortion profit change?

HT Live Action

Child of Lesbian Couple Denied Entrance to Catholic School

2010-03-10T12:18:00.009-05:00

The case of a the kindergarten age child who was refused an opportunity to return to his local Catholic school because his parents are openly gay is creating a nationwide stir, and has even faithful Catholics on opposing sides in attempting to ascertain the right thing to do.

This is a sad situation because you're dealing with a child who is not at fault at all. If you're interested, here's some excellent thoughts on this issue from around the Catholic blogosphere:

In a post entitled "Moses and the Burning Bush" Fr. Bill Breslin, the priest who made the decision, writes about his decision making.

Jimmy Akin sees to the heart of the issue at the National Catholic Register.

Fr. Z writes at length about it at his blog. As always, Fr. Z is a great source for information.

Fr. James Martin has some pointed questions to ask because that's what Jesuits do. But in fairness they are good questions and ones I had to sort through as well.

One thought I saw mentioned in a few comboxes I found just laughable. A number of people have said that this case is exactly why Catholic schools are suffering from lack of admissions. Is anybody really arguing that Catholic schools are suffering from TOO MUCH adherence to Catholic doctrine? Come on.

The whole thing is a sad situation but unfortunately I think it's one we're going to be seeing increasingly.