A Christian Perspective On Life

SBA List Endorses Rick Santorum

2012-02-17T14:54:00.001-05:00

The nation's largest pro-life women's political organization SBA List has endorsed Rick Santorum in the Republican presidential primary. This is the first time the pro-life organization has issued an endorsement in a Republican presidential primary. This endorsement adds to the long list of Pro-Family and Pro-Life organizations that have endorsed Rick Santorum. Below are some of the other well known leaders and organizations that have endorsed or voted for Rick Santorum.

Catholic Vote

Georgia Right to Life

Tony Perkins president of Family Research Councel

James Dobson former president of Focus on the Family

Heritage House

Gary Beuer president of American Values

Abby Johnson Pro-Life Activist

Steven Ertelt founder and editor of Life News

We Deserve Better Leadership Mr. President

2012-02-15T13:10:00.003-05:00

President Obama said that “ALL women DESERVE FREE birth control” in his speech this past week on the HHS mandate to force all insurance companies to cover birth control free of charge. This is a slight departure from the earlier HHS mandate that all institutions regardless of religious beliefs except for a very, very restricted group must provide insurance that covered birth control. I’m sorry Mr. President, but all Americans deserve better leadership! President Obama is masterful at dividing our country, but he has yet to prove that he can get anything done to solve our country’s problems. This is only the latest example of his poor leadership.

The HHS mandate should also be a great concern to all Americans who value freedom. The HHS mandate to force all insurance companies to provide “free” birth control is a direct attack on the religious freedom of American Catholics. However, it is also an attack on any American citizen who does not believe that the government has the right to dictate to us every aspect of our lives, especially our healthcare decisions. There are numerous problems with the most recent HHS mandate.

First of all, the government has no right to declare such a mandate. President Obama thinks that he knows better than you and me how we should live our lives, and he thinks it is the government’s role to tell you how you must live. It is not enough that the government mandates things that go against our conscience, but now we must also pay for those things that go against our conscience. You think that this is bad? Just wait until the government mandates that “free” abortion services must be covered by insurance. You think I’m crazy? This current HHS mandate already includes some abortifacient drugs. In fact it is already happening in the state of Washington. Just this week, the Washington state house approved a bill that would require that any insurance policy sold to state residents for maternity coverage also must require policyholders to pay for coverage of abortions (Life News).

Let us briefly analyze what President Obama says regarding this HHS mandate.

“All women deserve free birth control”

· ALL women - I am not a woman so I will not speak on behalf of all women, but I would like to point out to President Obama that he does not speak for ALL women. To suggest that all women support this mandate for free birth control is misleading and untrue. Not all women take nor want birth control.

· Deserve – I deserve a free hamburger at Wendy’s every day for lunch. I deserve free college tuition, a high paying job, and a fancy sports car. It is this kind of talk that has led to an entitlement mentality in our country. It is destroying our country. I believe in free people to make free decisions and to work hard to earn what they receive. This president believes that the government must provide for our every need, want or desire. You are wrong Mr. President.

· Free – Anyone who has ever taken economics 101 knows that there is no such thing as a free lunch. I don’t know who President Obama thinks he is tricking. If I order a meal and the waiter says that the lunch is free is it really free? Maybe I don’t have to pay for the lunch, but someone had to prepare the lunch, and whoever prepared the lunch had to buy the ingredients to make the lunch, and the person or people who provided the ingredients had to harvest the food, etc. There is no free lunch. At the end of the day, when all insurance companies are forced to include anything in their coverage they will pass the cost on to the consumer. This will likely result in higher premiums for all of us, so that in the end even those that have religious objections to birth control, sterilizations, and abortifacient drugs will still end up paying for it.

· Birth Control – How and when did artificial birth control become a right? I have never gone shopping for birth control, but I hear that it is readily available virtually everywhere at a very reasonable price. Does this president ever mention say abstinence as a form of birth control? If he is concerned so much about the “cost” of pregnancy, maybe he should be open to embracing the birth control method that works 100% of the time; abstinence.

President Obama is a failure as president. He clearly lacks leadership qualities and this HHS mandate is only the latest example. He fills his cabinet with pro abortion, pro LBGT radicals and takes his marching orders from them regardless of the will of the people. He consults the CEO of Planned Parenthood when coming to an “accommodation” on this HHS issue, but he fails to consult the hierarchy of the Catholic Church who were the ones that had the greatest concern about the mandate in the first place. President Obama has no desire to compromise or lead. He does not care about religious liberty. He would rather promote “women’s rights” than uphold the first constitutional right of religious liberty. A leader finds ways to bring people, even people who strongly disagree with each other on certain issues, together for a common goal. This President instead tries to divide and conquer.

It is time for all Americans to stand up and say enough is enough. We want our president to be a leader. We have God given rights that no government can take away from us. We will not quietly sit by and watch as our rights are taken away from us. We have a conscience and no government can force us to violate that conscience. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are under attack. Do not let President Obama take these basic rights from you. Join me and countless other great American citizens that will hold President Obama accountable for his actions. He will not lead us; it is time for us to lead.

God bless,

Mike

Movie Recommendation: There Be Dragons (2011)

2012-02-12T16:29:00.001-05:00

There Be Dragons is not a movie about dragons. In fact, it is a movie based on Saint Josemaria Escriva, the founder of Opus Dei, during the Spanish Civil War. It reminds me very much of the movie The Scarlet and the Black in that it covers a time when the Church was being persecuted and priests were forced into secrecy. As much as I loved The Scarlet and the Black, I think There Be Dragons is even better! It may be a little dark and violent for young children, but it should be appropriate for teenage children and could make for a great family movie. It is also a movie that Christians and non-Christians alike should be able to appreciate and enjoy because it is not overly preachy or religious. It is just a really good story about a really courageous person played by really good actors under great direction. It is not all about Saint Josemaria Escriva though, as the main story is about a man writing a book on the saint and his father's knowledge considering his closeness to Josemaria Escriva. That story emphasizes the need for us to forgive. There are many great lessons and themes that can be taken from this movie. Below is the movie trailer for There Be Dragons. If you have not already, watch this great movie! When you are done, learn more about Saint Josemaria Escriva and Opus Dei. There Be Dragons

Rick Santorum Scores a Trifecta on Tuesday

2012-02-08T09:11:00.003-05:00

Rick Santorum had a HUGE night last night. He won decisively in the 'beauty contest' in MO, and the caucuses in MN. It is not too surprising he won those states, but what is surprising is how decisively he won. He received 55% of the vote in MO (winning in ALL 144 counties) and he received 45% of the vote in MN, which is more than double what Mitt Romney received! But even more surprising than those results, Rick Santorum also won the caucus vote in CO! This was totally unexpected as Mitt Romney won the state in 2008 with 61% of the vote! Rick Santorum clearly has momentum after these 3 wins. Help me get Rick Santorum into the White House. Below is my fundraising page. Please prayerfully consider making a donation. This is the most important election in our lifetime. All that is at stake is our very freedom. Vote Rick Santorum in 2012!

http://fundly.com/michaelduquaine

Thanks and God bless!

Mike

Assisted Suicide Ban Law Needed in Georgia

2012-02-07T09:19:00.000-05:00

I just became aware this week that there is no law banning assisted suicide in the state of Georgia. It was thought that there was a law that criminalized SOME assisted suicides, however this week the Georgia Supreme Court unanimously ruled to criminalize assisted suicide violates free speech. This is outrageous! The intentional killing of a person is not free speech and should not be tolerated in a civil and moral society. We need a law in Georgia banning all assisted suicides. My hope is that pro life citizens in Georgia in large numbers will immediately contact our elected representatives and encourage them to introduce a law banning assisted suicide in the state of Georgia. It is frustrating and sad to learn that a law is not already in place. Please take a few short minutes to contact your representatives and share this news with all your pro life friends. Below is a link to a news story from yesterday's AJC.

http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/court-strikes-down-georgias-1334712.html

Below is a link to easily and quickly contact your state representatives.

Contact your Representative

Below is the email I sent to my state representatives.

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Dear Sir,

I am deeply troubled by the news this week that the Georgia Supreme Court unanimously ruled that laws against assisted suicide is a violation of free speech. This is an outrageous conclusion! The intentional killing of a person is not free speech and should not be tolerated in a civil and moral society. We need a law in Georgia banning all assisted suicides. I am requesting that you introduce a law banning all assisted suicides in the state of Georgia. I look forward to hearing back from you on this most important issue and for your support for a ban on assisted suicide. Thank you for your time and consideration.

God bless,

Mike Duquaine

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Thank you for taking a couple minutes out of your day to write about this very important issue, and for sharing this information with family and friends.

God Bless,

Mike

Movie Recommendation: Soul Surfer (2011)

2012-01-28T15:43:00.001-05:00

Soul Surfer is the best movie that I have seen in a long time. It is a great movie for the whole family. It has strong Christian themes, and it is highly inspirational. The movie is well made as well. Great acting along with a great story. I can unabashedly recommend this movie to anyone and everyone. Below is the movie trailer. Enjoy!

Book Reflections: Through My Eyes

2012-01-27T15:25:00.001-05:00

My father-in-law, a huge Florida Gators fan (I try not to hold that against him), graciously allowed me to borrow Tim Tebow’s book; Through My Eyes. Although I am not a Florida Gators fan, I begrudgingly respected and dare I say almost rooted for their star quarterback Tim Tebow from 2006 – 2009. Once he graduated from Florida and got drafted by one of my favorite NFL teams, the Denver Broncos, it was much easier for me to openly root for this young man. This book was written by Tim Tebow to clear up some misconceptions about him, and also to simply give some perspective on his thought process during some of the most critical moments in his life.

I respect Tim Tebow greatly not so much because of his athletic ability or successful college football career, but for his character and his openness about his faith in God. He is humble despite his popularity and always remembers to give all the glory to God. His faith is real and he is a genuinely good human being. Ask anyone he has ever met. His actions speak much louder than his words. His service to God and to others, especially children in need, is so very impressive. Tim Tebow grew up in a very religious family. His father was a pastor of a church and a missionary who founded an orphanage in the Philippines. As a Catholic myself, I don’t necessarily agree with every belief or tenant of Evangelicalism, but I do admire people like Tim Tebow who are so passionate about their faith and so open and public with preaching the gospel. I think Catholics could learn quite a few things about evangelization from people like Tim Tebow.

Many sports fans are bewildered at the popularity and success of Tim Tebow. His mechanics just aren’t good they say. He doesn’t have half the talent as some of the other quarterbacks they say. It doesn’t always look pretty, but somehow the team Tebow quarterbacks usually find ways to win. Some people call it luck. Some people think he must be getting help from his God. I think the reason that Tim Tebow is successful on and off the football field is quite clear and evident; the man is a leader. He is fiercely competitive, sometimes maybe to a fault, and he works harder than most everyone else. He believes in the talents God has given him, and he works extremely hard to make sure that he does not waste those gifts but lets those gifts shine. Tim Tebow has been a fighting against all odds and defying critics his whole life; even before he was born.

The story of Tim’s birth is truly inspirational for all, especially those of us in the pro-life movement who are working every day to fight against the evil of abortion. I won’t go into all the details, but Tim’s mom was advised to abort him because of some difficulties; his mom and dad refused. Abortion was not an option. Had they listened to that advice, Tim Tebow would not be with us today. Just think about how many lives Tim Tebow has positively affected and even saved in some cases. All life is precious. Tim Tebow is a living example.

Below are some notes that I took while I was reading this book.

Pro-life story of Tim’s birth is inspirational.
Tim believes winning does matter. I agree!
Let others praise you. Good advice!
Competitiveness, determination, and perseverance are obvious traits at young age.
Faith has always played a very important part in his life.
Playing sports in the yard with his brothers sounds very similar to my own childhood experiences.
Tim learns best by doing because he is dyslexic, but he does not believe it to be a disability.
Tim’s dad founding an orphanage is another great example of the family’s pro-life beliefs put into action.
Prayer was regular in the Tebow household.
Parents encouraged kids to participate in a variety of activities and sports
Quote: “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”
There can be a downside to competitiveness. Sometimes you can take it too far.
Tim’s parents went to great lengths to give him an opportunity to fulfill his dream of being a quarterback.
Tim went on his first mission trip to the Philippines at age 15.
Tim had a prolific high school football career in addition to his most impressive college football career. His High School team won the Florida 4A State Title as a senior. He set many records and received many awards. He once played with a broken fibula – an example of his toughness and perhaps foolishness.
Tim was extremely close to choosing to go to Alabama, but decided at the last minute to go to Florida. The coaches were a MAJOR factor in his decision. He is very close with Coach Shula (former head coach at Alabama) and Coach Meyer (former head coach at Florida).
Probably unintentional, but Tim focusing primarily on his qualities and success sometimes comes off as being boastful. I would like to hear him talk a little bit more about some difficulties and failings.
Tim goes into great detail on some football strategies and techniques. This is great for football fans such as me, but I imagine some of that information might go over the head of or bore the casual fan.
Tim also talks a lot about and goes into great detail on his training regimen.
Be prepared to take advantage of your opportunities.
Final Note: Tim Tebow is a great role model for children, but I think he also has something to teach people of all ages.

I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone.

God bless,

Mike

ProLifeCon 2012

2012-01-23T11:53:00.002-05:00

I love Jesus Religiously

2012-01-16T15:34:00.002-05:00

Awesome response from a FOCUS Missionary to a video condemning religion.

Rick Santorum Town Hall Meeting: January 14, 2012 at Tommy's Country Ham House in Greenville, SC

2012-01-16T14:54:00.003-05:00

On January 14, 2012, I had the great honor and privilege to shake hands with a man who I believe should become the next President of the United States; Rick Santorum. I took some pictures and created video documenting my experience at the event. I had an outstanding time and the trip was totally worth it! Rick Santorum is a great man and his wife is a really nice and wonderful person as well. I have so much respect for them and how they have raised their family. My prayers are with them as they endure this rigorous campaign, and may the good people of South Carolina vote with prudence on Saturday. Vote Rick Santorum! God bless America!

Rick Santorum: Catholic or Conservative… or Both?

2012-01-06T14:03:00.000-05:00

In her most recent column, Ann Coulter criticizes Rick Santorum for being a faithful Catholic and not conservative enough for her liking. Here is a direct quote from Ann Coulter.

“Santorum is not as conservative as his social-issues credentials suggest. He is more of a Catholic than a conservative, which means he's good on 60 percent of the issues, but bad on others, such as big government social programs.”

My response to Ann Coulter’s criticism of Rick Santorum:

In the interest of full disclosure, let me start off by saying that I have never been a fan of Ann Coulter. I have never ascribed to her brand of conservatism. In addition, I have always found her to be an argumentative, arrogant, divisive, rude, and in general unlikable person. However, I believe that I can make an objective response to her criticism of the presidential candidate whom I support.

“Santorum is not as conservative as his social-issues credentials suggest.”

Ann Coulter seems to concede that Rick Santorum is a strong social-issues conservative. His strong defense of traditional marriage and the protection of the unborn are well known and unparalleled among his peers running against him in the Republican Presidential Primary. He is passionately pro-family and pro-life, and he is the only candidate who frequently makes the connection between these most important social issues with the issue many voters determine to be most important issue; the economy. He not only openly and publicly advocates for these social issues, but he shows consistency by living these values in his private life. He is the father of 7 children, the youngest of which suffers from a very serious condition called Trisomy 18, and he has been married to his one and only wife of 21 years. I have not met any of his children, but I have heard his oldest daughter and oldest son interviewed and they appear to be very impressive young people. Rick Santorum and his wife, whom he humbly gives most of the credit, have raised a very impressive, inspiring, and spiritually strong family.

“He is more of a Catholic than a conservative,”

This is a little like comparing apples to oranges. Catholicism is a religion whereas conservatism is a political philosophy. A person can be both a faithful Catholic and have a conservative political philosophy. The two are not mutually exclusive, and in fact I would argue most often the two align themselves together. However, Catholicism does not align itself completely with any political party or political philosophy. Catholicism is the foundation for WHAT Rick Santorum believes, and conservatism is the HOW Rick Santorum believes government best addresses and preserves the “what” it is he and his religion believes. Faithful Catholics point toward the Nicene Creed and the Catechism of the Catholic Church as guides to what we believe as Catholics. Conservatism does not have such clear, distinct, and universal guidelines, and therefore it is open to more interpretation. There are many different forms of conservatism as well; fiscal, social, etc. Apparently, Rick Santorum doesn’t fit into Ann Coulter’s definition of conservatism. I will discuss more on this later, but her above comment is more about a comparison between the beliefs of Catholicism and conservatism. What drives Rick Santorum? I believe that Rick Santorum does place more importance on being faithful to his religious beliefs than he does in politics or political philosophy. He has proven this in his private life, public life, and political career. He is not afraid to take politically unpopular positions on issues that are very important to him, his family, and his faith. As opposed to this being a point of criticism and contention, I think this is one of the greatest reasons to support Rick Santorum. His faith, not a political party or philosophy, forms his beliefs. I believe many politicians and political correspondents such as Ann Coulter make their political philosophy their religion. Not Rick Santorum, and to that I say bravo!

“Which means he's good on 60 percent of the issues, but bad on others, such as big government social programs.”

I am not sure how Ann Coulter comes up with the 60% number, but apparently she has an awful lot of criticisms of the Catholic Church. Interestingly, her father was Catholic. Ann herself is not very religious; she says she has general Christian beliefs but that she does not declare membership to any particular denomination. I only point this out to get some greater perspective on her comments. Ann’s conclusion is that Catholicism supports “big government social programs,” and leaves open the inference that there are other complaints she has with Catholicism. The problem with Ann’s comment is that her insinuation that Catholicism supports big government is untrue. As I noted earlier, the Church does not take political sides. The Church is concerned about the poor and vulnerable among us, but the Church remains neutral in how best to serve the poor. Some faithful Catholics may conclude upon their own deductions that big government social programs are the best way to support the poor. I would disagree. The great thing about Catholicism is that this is perfectly ok. You see, faithful Catholics can disagree on HOW to fix societal ills and problems so long as we acknowledge and agree upon the problems themselves and that our intentions to solve the problems are pure and real. Rick Santorum believes, as I do, that we can best help the poor by empowering them as opposed to making them slaves to the government through big social programs. Rick Santorum’s record favorably supports his statements on limited government. One of his greatest achievements as a member of the U.S. Senate was welfare reform, which encouraged poor people to work and helped lead to some of the lowest numbers of poverty in United States history. Rick Santorum’s concern for the poor is especially refreshing considering that his party is often criticized for not caring about the poor. “Santorum's driving interests: more efficient government and a keen interest in helping the poor — the latter motivated in part by his devout Roman Catholic faith” – USA Today. There are ways to help the poor, such as welfare reform, that are not at odds with the conservative philosophy of limited government intervention. In my opinion, Ann’s characterization of Rick Santorum as a supporter of big government social programs is a much distorted characterization of the man. It is also very hypocritical and ironic.

What makes Ann Coulter’s criticism of Rick Santorum for not being conservative so hypocritical and ironic? She is endorsing perhaps the most liberal Republican running for President; Mitt Romney. Enough said.

God bless,

Mike

Is Rick Santorum Catholic?

2011-12-19T21:52:00.000-05:00

Some Ron Paul supporters are questioning the faith and pro-life credentials of Rick Santorum. Here are just a few comments taken from Rick Santorum’s Facebook page.

1.) Sylvia You sir, are no CATHOLIC. Shame on you!

2.) Sylvia Pro life???????? You gotta be kidding. We are in so much trouble. Ron Paul help us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

3.) Jonathan he's anti god, anti love and he doesnt care if the old or poor has heating

4.) Scott ‎@Michael Yeah he's a great catholic if youre an american. but if youre muslim, hide your family. He's become just as big of a disgrace to the faith on the right, as pelosi has become to the left.
Sorry, but it had to be said.

Where do I even begin? First of all, I have nothing against Ron Paul personally. I disagree with some of his political views, but he seems a like a decent human being. However, some of his rabid followers and supporters are simply crazy. I believe the above comments only further confirm this conclusion. Let me address each of the comments above very briefly.

1.) Sylvia, who are you to say that Rick Santorum is not Catholic? Was he not baptized into the Catholic faith? Does he no longer attend mass or profess a belief in Catholicism? Your statement is untrue. Rick Santorum is a very faithful Catholic who frequently attends mass, and it is very evident that his faith is a very important part of his life. It would be one thing to say that in your opinion a couple of his political policies may not be consistent with the teachings of the Catholic Church. I would disagree with that assessment, but you would be free to your opinion. However, to say that the man is not Catholic is both insulting and flat out wrong! Shame on you, Sylvia, for your false accusation against of Rick Santorum.

2.) Rick Santorum is pro life. I really shouldn’t even have to address this because he has been so clear and outspoken about pro life issues, but for Sylvia’s sake I will say a few words. In fact, Rick Santorum is the one presidential candidate that time and again brings up pro life issues in debates, in town hall meetings, at crisis pregnancy centers, and virtually everywhere he goes. He is a pro life champion. It really is ridiculous to question his pro life credentials. Even Rick Santorum’s greatest critics will acknowledge that the man is passionately pro life. The plea for Ron Paul to help us really sounds desperate. It almost sounds like this lady worships Ron Paul. I hear this a lot from Ron Paul supporters; Ron Paul is the most pro life candidate because he delivered over 4000 babies. I think it’s wonderful that he delivered so many babies, and I don’t question that Ron Paul is pro life, but the fact that he delivered babies does not make him pro life. There are abortion doctors that also deliver babies. Does that make them pro life? Rick Santorum is a father of 7 children. To me, that is the most clear indication that a man is pro life. What are the candidate's policies and how will those policies help protect life? Ron Paul thinks these issues should be resolved by the state, but Rick Santorum believes that no state has the right to deny any person the right to life. Which of those beliefs and policies is more pro life? Rick Santorum is clearly the most pro life candidate in this Republican Presidential primary.

3.) Ok, this one doesn’t even warrant a response. Next.

4.) Scott is all over the place. Let me try to respond to each of his points individually. First, Scott suggests that Santorum is a great Catholic if you are American. This comment makes absolutely no sense. I guess I would say to Scott that I am an American, and I believe Santorum to be a good and faithful Catholic. I am not sure that the fact that I am American has anything to do with it, but other than the fact that his comment makes no sense I don’t really have anything else to say. Then Scott says that if you are a Muslim, hide your family. This is just a ridiculous statement that once again makes no sense whatsoever. Is he suggesting that you are either American or Muslim? I don’t get it. I happen to be a Christian living in America, but there are hundreds of thousands of Muslims that are also Americans. Additionally, it is absolutely ridiculous to say that Muslim families must hide in fear of Rick Santorum. He has no hatred or agenda against peaceful Muslims. He is very concerned about the radical element of Islam, which is determined to do any and everything to destroy and kill us who they label as infidels. The fact that Rick Santorum is aware of this threat and steadfast in protecting the citizens of the United States does not in any way suggest that he hates Muslims. Rick Santorum believes in the freedom of all people to freely practice their religion. Lastly, Scott attempts to compare the faith of Rick Santorum to Nancy Pelosi. This comparison is so off base. Rick Santorum does not defiantly, openly, and publicly state false beliefs and statements about Catholicism in direct conflict with the USCCB on the foundational teachings of the Catholic Church unlike Pelosi. Pelosi actively promotes abortion, gay ‘marriage’, and other anti-Christian positions despite the very clear teachings of the Catholic Church against these fundamental issues. She promotes these things while at the same time trying to justify her evil positions as ‘catholic’ positions. Pelosi dangerously tries to mislead Catholics and all voters, and she misrepresents the teachings of the Catholic Church even on the most important issues such as abortion and marriage. Rick Santorum does none of the above. It is so refreshing to have a Catholic politician like Rick Santorum who actually believes in the essential teachings of the Catholic Church and strives to live a Catholic life both privately and publicly.

I have no problem with people who disagree about a candidate’s political positions. However, it upsets me greatly when people make such false and completely ridiculous statements about a candidate’s faith. I find it amusing that Rick Santorum, who is the most consistent and passionate pro life social conservative, is being criticized by some as not being pro life. Rick Santorum is a faithful Catholic who actually believes in and promotes the essential teachings of the Catholic faith, unlike many politicians who tout their Catholic faith despite actively promoting agendas that are in direct conflict of essential teachings of the Catholic faith. My prayers go out to Rick Santorum as he continues his candidacy for the President of the United States. My God bless him and his family throughout this campaign. Rick Santorum is a trustworthy, social conservative family man, and I am praying that if it is God’s will that he will be our next President.

God bless,

Mike

Political Endorsement: The Case for Rick Santorum

2011-12-12T13:49:00.000-05:00

I have been paying very close attention to the Republican Presidential Primary nomination process over the past year. I have watched virtually all of the presidential debates. I have researched the history and positions of most of the candidates. I take my civic duty of voting very seriously. If you have read any of my previous political themed blog posts, you certainly know that I do NOT support the current President of the United States. President Obama has led the country in a very bad and wrong direction. I disagree most passionately and strongly on President Obama’s social agenda, but I also believe that his economic and foreign policies have been detrimental and even dangerous for our country. That being said, I am hoping the American people elect one of the Republican candidates to become the next President of the United States in 2012. So who do I endorse and support, and how did I come to that conclusion?

I am endorsing Rick Santorum for President of the United States!

Rick Santorum presidential announcement

Four years ago I supported Mike Huckabee, and I was hopeful that he would run again. However, when he decided to stay at Fox News and continue his awesome show, Huckabee, I knew that I needed to take a serious look at the other candidates. Fairly early in the process, I had a strong feeling that Rick Santorum would be my choice. Why have I chosen to support Rick Santorum, and why do I encourage you to support Rick Santorum? Let me list my top 10 reasons.

1) Rick Santorum is a man of character.

2) Rick Santorum is trustworthy.

3) Rick Santorum is a champion of pro-life and pro-family issues

Outside of the candidate’s character and trustworthiness, the most important issues to me when deciding on which candidate to support are his positions on social issues; most notably on issues of life and family. I believe that these are the most important issues, and I want a candidate that not only votes pro-life and pro-family, but someone who is a champion of these causes. Rick Santorum does not only say that he is pro-life and pro-family, he actively and passionately works to uphold these most basic Christian values. He lives these values. He is constantly talking about these issues when many other candidates would rather talk about the economy. For social conservatives such as me, no other candidate matches the passion and resolve of Rick Santorum. He will fight for the rights of the unborn, children with special needs, the elderly, and everyone in between. Below are a couple of powerful videos. You will see that these issues are more than just issues that Rick Santorum checks off to get some votes.

Rick Santorum debates partial birth abortion bill in Senate in 1998

Rick Santorum talking about his special needs daughter, Bella

4) Rick Santorum is a proven leader

5) Rick Santorum is authentic.

Rick Santorum speaks the truth, whether it is politically correct or not; popular or not. A rare trait these days, especially in politics!

6) Rick Santorum is concerned about the poor and less fortunate

Conservatives are often accused of caring only about the rich and ignoring the needs of the poor. In some cases and with some conservatives, this criticism is a valid. However, Rick Santorum is concerned about the poor and his policies reflect that. He is the only republican candidate talking about how to help people who do not have a college education and stressing the breakdown of the family as a significant cause of poverty. His economic policy to zero out corporate tax on manufactures and his desire to bring good paying manufacturing jobs back home for unskilled workers is unique in this republican primary field. He will also push for policies that promote the family, and encourage stability of families by promoting traditional marriage.

7)Rick Santorum is knowledgeable about the issues and has realistic solutions to the problems we face.

Rick Santorum is well known for his depth of knowledge and passion on social issues. However, he is also a very strong fiscal conservative who also has a great deal of knowledge about national security and the dangers we face from within and outside of our country.

8) Rick Santorum is a consistent conservative

Rick Santorum has been and continues to be consistent in his policy positions. While I believe that a person will make mistakes, can learn from them, and can change their opinion on certain issues, a lack of consistency does bring into question the trustworthiness of the candidate and the motives for their stated positions. Rick Santorum has not wavered in his conservative beliefs, and that consistency brings forth a sense of assurance and trustworthiness that not all of the other candidates possess.

9) Rick Santorum is a faithful Catholic

A politician’s faith may not be the most important deciding factor, but a candidate’s faithfulness to their religion and the way they live their lives says a lot about their character. Rick Santorum is a faithful Catholic, who not only goes to church on Sundays but it is said he tries to make it to daily mass, who lives out his life as best he can according to the beliefs of the Catholic faith he professes and believes. It is actually very rare these days to find Catholic politicians who actually believe and promote the teachings of the Catholic Church. Have you seen some of the things that “catholic” Nancy Pelosi has said and the things she has tried to push? Rick Santorum will fight for the values of faithful Christians, and that is important.

10) Rick Santorum can beat Barak Obama

Rick Santorum is a polar opposite of Barak Obama. Rick Santorum offers ideas of real, positive change. He can and will win if the people who share his values unite in support of Rick Santorum.

The Iowa Caucuses are just a few short weeks away. Rick Santorum is still fairly low in the polls. If you base your vote on public opinion polls, you will likely not embrace Rick Santorum. If however, you are like me and vote for the man or woman that best reflects your values and whom you believe the best qualified to be Commander in Chief, I believe that you will likely come to the same conclusion as I have that Rick Santorum is your candidate. I am not sure that I believe in these polls anyway. Who are they asking? I know I’ve never been asked who I support in one of these polls. These next few weeks are critical for Rick Santorum. He has spent far more time and worked far harder than any other candidate in Iowa, and for him to have a realistic chance of winning the nomination he must do well in Iowa. That is why I am asking you to go to www.RickSantorum.com to learn more about Rick Santorum and his policy positions. It is common knowledge that he has not raised much money. Unfortunately, to be successful in politics it requires money to get the message out to as many people as possible. He is making a big push this week to raise $250,000, and if you can provide financial support that would be a huge boost to his campaign. However, even if you are not able to support Rick Santorum financially there are several other ways to support him. For volunteer opportunities, please visit RickVolunteer.com. I like several candidates in the Republican Presidential Primary field, but I believe in Rick Santorum and trust that he is the best man for the highest office. I hope you will join me in supporting Rick Santorum. He is an underdog, but he is also a fighter. Please don’t give up on Rick Santorum. He will not give up on you and your values. Let’s nominate the best candidate this election. Let’s join together to help Rick Santorum become the next President of the United States!

God bless,

Mike

Book Reflections: The Problem of Pain

2011-12-10T14:20:00.001-05:00

C.S. Lewis continues his defense and explanation of Christianity in his book, "The Problem of Pain", by addressing a common difficulty all of us experience; pain and suffering. Many unbelievers point to pain and suffering in the world as proof that a loving God does not exist. Pain and suffering can even lead believers to start to question their belief in a loving God. On the surface it may appear to be contradictory that a loving God would allow suffering in the world, but this leads us to even deeper questions and contemplation. As a former atheist himself, C.S. Lewis understands the thought process of many unbelievers, and therefore he is very good at addressing common objections to Christianity in a very organized and thought-provoking way. We will probably never fully understand why there is so much pain and suffering in this world, but C.S. Lewis does a good job explaining how and why we experience pain, and how it actually is further proof that God does in fact exist.

When Lewis was an atheist, he pointed to all the evil, pain, and suffering in the world as proof that a loving God did not exist. The question he failed to ask himself was why if there is and has always been pain and suffering in the world would people since the beginning believe in a loving God? Could it just be that they are ignorant and unreasonable? Lewis explored this question and came to the conclusion that it would be an error to reply that our ancestors were ignorant. However, the reality still remains that pain exists. So what is the Christian's explanation for pain?

Christians believe in the omnipotence of God. This means that God has the power to do all things. If God could do anything and everything and he is all good, wouldn't he wish all his creatures to be perfectly happy? His creatures are not perfectly happy, so does this mean that God is not all good or not all powerful? It might seem this is a logical deduction, but upon further contemplation and reflection we discover a different conclusion. Perfect happiness and love requires free will. This gift of free will gives us the opportunity to love, but it also opens us up to the possibility of making bad choices and abuse of our free will. An all powerful God would have the power to correct abuses of free will, but such a world would deny our freedom to love by making evil an impossibility. So the fact that we are not perfectly happy here on earth does NOT deny the omnipotence of God, but is proof of his gift to us of freedom to choose to love or not to love. God has the power to deny us this great freedom, but has chosen not to do so that we might experience love.

If we have accepted that God is all powerful, is he then not all good? God is all good. You might ask how this can be? In one of the later chapters, Lewis talks about the fall of man; the story of Adam and Eve. Because of their disobedience to God, we are all stained with original sin; all of us except our Lord Jesus and his mother Mary. God made all things good. The free choice of Adam and Eve to question the goodness of God allowed evil to enter our world. Evil is not a creation of God, but a consequence of the free will of the first human beings to go against God's will.

Lewis goes into much more detail, but I would just like to state one more thought regarding pain and suffering. It would be wrong to suggest that pain and suffering are good in and of themselves, but it is without question that throughout history much good has come from pain and suffering. Pain and suffering presents us with an opportunity to better ourselves if we offer our suffering up to God. Many of the great conversions have been the result of the suffering of people. Jesus Christ himself suffered greatly. We are reminded every time we go to mass or any time we gaze at a crucifix of the great pain and suffering Christ endured for our salvation. Anytime we feel like our pain and suffering is too much to handle, we need only say a quick prayer and reflect on the passion of Christ and our pain will pale in comparison. Pain and suffering is a part of life, but if we respond to this pain with a loving heart we will be a better and stronger person.

I highly recommend "The Problem of Pain" for any person who struggles with the idea of suffering and for all believers who would like a greater understanding.

God bless,

Mike

Media Review: Mass Confusion

2011-11-29T15:16:00.000-05:00

I had been eagerly awaiting the premier of the pilot episode of Mass Confusion; Catholic TV's new sitcom starring a pair of Catholic couples and their children. The episode aired on Thanksgiving night, and is now available for viewing online. Below is the trailer for the pilot episode of Mass Confusion.

After seeing the preview, I was anxious and excited, but also a little hesitant to get my expectations up too high. Never before has Catholic TV attempted to produce a sitcom. Personally, I think it is a great idea! I think for far too long Catholics and Christians have been absent from the entertainment business. Being Catholic and being Christian is not about being a stick in the mud. As faithful Catholics and Christians we should be joyful, and our joy for life should be clear and frequently expressed for all to hear and see. We must engage the world and reach out to people where they are at, not hide from the world. We don't have to and we shouldn't evangelize in a monotone voice. Who wants to listen to boring radio or watch boring TV? Nobody! Unfortunately "Catholic" or "Christian" media has often been given the label, and often times rightly so, of boring or of poor quality. Just because a show has Christian values should not mean that the show lacks creativity, entertainment, or quality. It is possible to have an entertaining and funny show that at the same time promotes Christian values, but unfortunately the examples are few and far between. Why I remained hesitant about fully embracing this new show before seeing it is because I've never seen an entertaining and funny sitcom based on two Catholic families that faithfully practice their faith. It is a great idea and I want to support it, but the stars of the show are radio personalities, not professional actors, and they were basically working with no budget. Would this show look amateurish or would this look like a sitcom you might see on any given weekday night on NBC? I was anxious to find out.

I am happy to report that the pilot episode of Mass Confusion met and in many ways exceeded my expectations. I found it to be very entertaining and funny. The content was great and the plot was good. It didn't come off as a "Catholic" sitcom, but it was an entertaining sitcom that incorporated the Catholic life without coming off as preachy. The acting was actually much better than I anticipated for people who are not professional actors. The only critique that I had, and I mentioned this observation to one of the main actors Greg Willits, was that at times the audio wasn't the best; especially on a couple of dialogue scenes. Greg responded to me and acknowledged that there were some sound difficulties. Much of that had to do with the limited crew and lack of budget, but they did a very good job considering the limited resources. Despite the occasional audio problems, I saw enough in this episode to want more episodes. I think Mass Confusion is exactly the type of entertainment that families need. It is so hard to find quality family shows these days. I believe there is a big audience that wants this type of programming, but they have not ever been presented with a family friendly show that is actually entertaining and funny. I believe in this sitcom and I am confident if more people see it that they will want to see more too. However, it will not be a success without my and your help. Unless a great number of people watch this episode and contact the people at Catholic TV asking for more episodes, this sitcom will end after just one episode. Don't let that happen. I am asking each of my readers to do the following.

1) Watch the episode of Mass Confusion. Watch it multiple times if you love it like I do.
2) Share the link to the episode with all of your family and friends. If you are on social networking sites such as Facebook or Twitter, those are great places to share. If you are not on those sites, old fashioned emails work just fine.
3) Contact Catholic TV and express to them how much you enjoyed the show and that you are really hoping for more episodes. This is the kind of television that you have been looking for and this is the type of programming that families yearn for and need.
4) Pray for the success of Mass Confusion and other Catholic and Christian media.

There is very little entertainment options for families these days, but we are all partially to blame for that. If we would stop watching all these silly reality shows and other garbage and actually support good family friendly entertainment when it is presented to us such as Mass Confusion, we can and should expect more of the same type of TV programming. So again I ask you to do the four simple steps listed above.

After you have watched the episode, I encourage you to come back to this site and leave your comments. What did you think about Mass Confusion? What were your favorite parts? Who is your favorite character? Does anything in the episode bring back memories or remind you of yourself? Did you notice the sound issues or any other problems? I'd love to hear your thoughts. Thanks and God bless!

Watch the Mass Confusion Pilot episode here: http://www.catholictv.com/Mass-Confusion-Pilot.aspx

Contact Catholic TV: http://www.catholictv.com/utility/contact-us.aspx

Book Reflections: Death to the BCS: The Definitive Case Against the Bowl Championship Series

2011-11-14T21:52:00.001-05:00

In case you were not already aware, I am a college football fanatic. It is my favorite sport to watch. Every fall weekend I am excited to watch college football. I love virtually everything about college football. There is one little problem with college football however, and that is the Bowl Championship Series or the BCS. Fans from across the country argue every year over the BCS and what teams deserve to be in the BCS bowl games. I agree that the BCS is not perfect, so I was very interested to read what these sports writers from Yahoo had to say. What makes the BCS so bad and what playoff system would solve the problem so many fans have with the college football postseason? I was hoping that this book would have all the answers.

Well, unfortunately this book does not have all the answers. In fact, as far as I’m concerned it only brought up more questions. I believe that the writers could have done a much better job making a case against the BCS and I found the tone of the book off-putting. I guess I should have expected as much with the title, but it was clearly evident that the writers were angry; furious even at the BCS. I got the clear impression that the BCS is one of the worst institutions in the world. Worse and more corrupt even than the United Nations. I understand the frustration, but I believe it hurt the credibility and effectiveness of the argument against the BCS.

I really wanted to love this book. That’s the sad thing. These writers were preaching to the crowd. I wanted to support the destruction of the BCS and a move toward a playoff. There are several things in this book that I found I was in agreement with the writers. 1) The BCS clearly discriminates against smaller schools. It is virtually impossible for a school from a smaller conference to win the National Title and it is extremely difficult to even make it to one of the BCS Bowl games. Teams from smaller schools have to go undefeated to even have a chance to play in a BCS bowl game. 2) I learned that most schools actually lose money when they go to a bowl game. This is unacceptable. Making it to a bowl game should be a reward, not a penalty. Also, schools should not be required to sell a certain number of tickets to these bowl games or be forced to pay the tickets they are unable to sell. This practice is ludicrous. 3) The authors endorse a 16 team playoff. I like the idea, but believe it is highly unlikely. I would be happy with an 8 team playoff, but I tend to agree that 16 would be the best solution. I just have a feeling it won’t ever happen. 4) The writers made some fairly effective arguments to some of the common defenses that people in favor of the BCS use to justify not having a playoff. Most of those who defend the current system have very weak positions that I’m not even sure they truly believe. 5) If it is truly just about the money, the writers make a fairly good argument that a playoff would bring in more money and arguably much more money. Seems like a playoff is an obvious solution right?

I did find a couple of inconsistencies throughout the book. I also was confused at times. The writers were railing against bowl games in general and often used the absolute worst bowl games to defend their position. Ok. That has nothing to do with the BCS. I thought they were really making a case against all bowls, but then in their proposal they suggested keeping the bowls in addition to the 16 team playoff. So wait, let me get this straight. You guys just finished telling me how awful the bowls are and that most of the bowls actually lose money, then you turn around and say that you support bowls in addition to the playoffs? This contradiction I found very hard to look past. It left me feeling like the writers did not fully think through their plan and that they were just so unhappy with the way things are now that they didn’t care if their plan contradicted much of what they just said was wrong. I love the bowl games personally. I might be one of the few, but I really enjoy seeing some of the smaller bowl games. I do think that they have added too many bowls, but I enjoy the games. I’d be happy to have bowl games in addition to a playoff, but it just seemed like a huge contradiction when the writers suggested this after basically ripping apart the bowl system.

I read this book as a college football fan. I don’t care about the financial implications. I don’t care about the bowl executives and who gets rich. I don't care so much about TV contracts. I don’t care so much about the politics in college football. I know that all this goes on behind the scenes and is what is truly running the decisions surrounding college football, but I don’ t care about all that. I am a fan of college football. I enjoy watching the game on the field. I want a system that is fair to all FBS schools and gives all schools a chance at a National Title. If not all schools are eligible, then why are they even playing at the FBS level? I am a Ball State University alum and I follow the Ball State football team very closely. 99 out of 100 years Ball State will not have a team capable of beating the best teams in college football. However, there is the possibility that a senior dominated team could shock the world and go on an amazing run. This kind of Cinderella story where a team like Ball State could make the playoffs and make a run at the National Championship is missing in college football. It would make for a much more exciting ending to the college football season and it would be a much more fair system for all schools. It wouldn’t diminish the regular season and actually would probably make the regular season more interesting. I support the 16 team playoff as a fan of college football. Although I don’t necessarily like the approach of these writers and question the effectiveness of their arguments, we are in agreement that the BCS is not the best system. College football fans deserve a better ending to the college football season. I am hopeful that one day there will be a playoff in college football. Until then, I will enjoy watching college football and argue with anyone who is willing to listen over who I think deserves to play in the National Championship and other BCS games every year. I will continue to follow my Ball State Cardinals even though I know going into the season that our best hope is that we go to the Godaddy.com Bowl. God bless College Football.

Death to the BCS: The Definitive Case Against the Bowl Championship Series

The Penn State Scandal

2011-11-11T13:47:00.001-05:00

I listen to sports talk radio every weekday morning, so I am always aware of the top sports stories of the day. However, the recent child sex abuse scandal at Penn State has been a national news story extending beyond the sports world. I have heard a wide range of opinions. There is no question that this is a very disgusting and sad story that brings out very intense and real emotions from people. I have heard people call in to radio shows who had been abused as a child themselves. I have heard Penn State alums call into radio shows with mixed emotions. I have seen students riot in defense of their ex longtime coach Paterno. Their anger is misguided. While I don’t believe we should be vilifying Paterno, rioting in support of Paterno is just foolish and ignorant. Paterno was fired as head football coach of Penn State this week; an action that when considering all the information in the Grand Jury Report had to be taken for the betterment of the University. College kids often do dumb things that they later regret, so I hope that these students that have been rioting can step back and take a look at the bigger picture and realize that their actions are not justified. There are far too many different areas that could be discussed regarding this Penn State scandal, but I want to focus on how we can process this story and take it as an opportunity to educate ourselves and others about the issue of child molestation, and how everyone can better react and respond when they have knowledge of such a situation.

What Happened?

In case you are unfamiliar with the Penn State Scandal, you can find the Grand Jury Report on the Sandusky case HERE. One word of warning, the report is at times graphic and extremely disturbing. There are 8 victims listed in the report, but there is reason to believe there may have been many more victims. Most of the talk has been surrounding the story of victim #2, because witnessing the abuse was a Penn State Football grad assistant named McQueary. McQueary was disturbed at the sight and called his dad. His dad advised him to leave immediately and come home. The next morning McQueary notified head football coach Joe Paterno. Paterno passed the information on to his superior, the Athletic Director at Penn State. Apparently the AD sat on the information and failed to report to the police this criminal activity. Paterno failed to follow up on the situation. There was known child sex abuse that failed to get reported to the police; therein lays the great controversy.

Where is the Compassion?

I think far too many people hearing and reading about this story are looking for as many people as possible to vilify. There is no doubt that many people used very poor judgment at Penn State and those people should and are now being held accountable for their actions or inactions, but I am more interested in finding solutions to addressing the very serious problem of child molestation than I am in finding people to vilify. I think that many look at this story with hatred in their heart. I admit that the story is very frustrating and sad, and that it is natural for us to feel angry. In fact, I believe we all should feel some sense of righteous anger, because there are so many innocent kids who are victims to a terrible crime, and there were adults with knowledge of the situation that could have done something to stop the abuse. However, we must not harbor hatred in our heart for the people involved regardless of their actions or inactions. I understand that this can sometimes be difficult, but harboring anger only makes the problem worse for everyone including ourselves. We should have compassion first and foremost for the victims. No child should have to be subjected to what these poor kids were subjected to, and we must not forget the victims in the story. We should have compassion for the victims’ families. We should have compassion for the players on the football team, who through no fault of their own have had to endure a torturous week of media scrutiny and have lost their football coach. I also believe that we should have compassion for those at Penn State who displayed terrible moral judgment. Their failure to report the incident to police seems unfathomable, but they still are human beings. We also must pray for Mr. Sandusky who has very serious and sick problems. No question that what he did was terrible. Terrible! It is one of the worst acts that any person can do, and it was not a single act but a series of acts. No sane person can understand why he would do what he did. However, he also is a human being and I do not believe it is productive for us to wish this man damned to Hell even if it appears to many that his actions warrant that justice. In the end, God is the final judge. We should pray for this man. This in no way does or should diminish the compassion we have for the victims and their families. We must also pray that the victims receive the support that they need from family, friends and the entire community. With all this being said, I do think that there is some irony in the public’s reaction to this story.

The Irony of the Public’s Reaction

I do not want to minimize the very real tragedy of this scandal or the severity of the allegations, and I want to emphasize that the victims in this case have my full support and deepest sympathies, but I contend that we accept child abuse every day in this country because we accept abortion, the killing of innocent children in the womb, as a legal “choice” for pregnant women. Somehow the killing of a child is not nearly as disturbing to the majority of the public as the abuse of children who have been born. I guess it is much easier to accept and understand an injustice when we can see a face and acknowledge the humanity of the victim. Personally, I find both extremely disturbing. Doctors who perform the abortions are seen by many as “compassionate” to the women who find themselves in difficult situations. We can discuss the similarities between abortion and child abuse another day, but I did want to mention the irony in how we think of these two issues completely differently in our society.

Lessons Learned

At the end of the day, there is no turning back the clock. What has been done has been done. However, the future is ahead of us, and we can learn from this tragically sad story. We can let this story ignite hatred in our hearts, or we can look at this story with a compassionate heart. We can see the terrible mismanagement of this situation as a chance to condemn people, or we can use it as an opportunity to educate ourselves on the appropriate response to sexual abuse of children and reflect on how we would react if we were in a similar situation. It is easy to say now from the outside and after the fact that we would do the right thing to immediately stop the abuse, but are we absolutely certain that we would? Sometimes the right thing to do is not always clear to us especially in the moment. That is why it is so important that we property form our conscience. Hopefully, with a properly formed conscience we will know what the right thing to do is when we encounter such situations. We can become better people and a better society because of this story. The only way we can accomplish this is if we look at this story with a compassionate heart and with a determined resolve to take the news of this story to motivate positive change in a messed up world. My thoughts and prayers go out to all victims of child molestation, especially the victims in this case. May God grant them peace.

God bless,

Mike

Mississippi’s Vote on Amendment 26 Could Be Historic

2011-11-06T23:29:00.002-05:00

On Tuesday, November 8, voters in the state of Mississippi will have the opportunity to vote on Amendment 26. So what is the Amendment 26 and what is the significance of this vote?

Amendment 26: What it Says

Amendment 26: What it Means

That all human persons, no matter what stage in their development or the circumstances of their conception, will be protected and respected equally. For those concerned about the mention of cloning, please understand that this does not mean that cloning is endorsed or encouraged. In fact, Amendment 26 would in effect ban human cloning. For an explanation of why the word cloning was included in the Amendment, read HERE.

Amendment 26: Why This Would be Historic

Mississippi would be the first state to adopt a Personhood Amendment. Amendment 26 would effectively end the practice of abortion in Mississippi. It may help to eventually lead to the overturning of Roe vs. Wade. Mississippi was one of the last states to abolish slavery and give black skinned people the equal rights that they deserve. Ironically, just a few decades after the civil rights movement, Mississippi is now widely considered one of the most pro-life states, and if Amendment 26 is passed, Mississippi would be leading the way to addressing the greatest civil rights issue of our current day; abortion.

Amendment 26: Answering the Critics

Of course when there is something as important as defining the term "person" and taking action to protect the most vulnerable children in the womb, there will be fierce criticism from opponents. They know that this Amendment could have far reaching consequences. Those who support abortion don't want to think about when life begins or at what moment a human life deserves rights. The common tactic to dissuade voters on Amendment 26 is to use scare tactics. They use the same scare tactics to try to dissuade pro life people to pray at abortion clinics. I have bad news for the abortion supporters; pro-lifers are here to stay and we are procreating; we actually celebrate and welcome life. Below are some of the arguments against Amendment 26 and the rebuttals to those baseless arguments.

For more information on this most important vote in Mississippi on Amendment 26, please visit this website: VOTE YES TO 26

If you or someone you know lives in the state of Mississippi, please educate them on this issue and urge them to vote YES on Amendment 26 on Tuesday. Forward them a link to my blog. Share this post on your Facebook or Twitter. Please help me get the word out. We can end abortion in this country. Amendment 26 is a great start to accomplishing that goal. Thank you for educating yourself on this most important issue. I will leave you with a video of an OBGYN in Mississippi who supports Amendment 26.

http://www.youtube.com/user/YesOn26dotNet#p/u/2/fYGSm92aHE4

God bless,

Mike

Rick Santorum: A Family Man

2011-10-28T13:59:00.001-04:00

Check out this powerful video.

Division Among Christians

2011-10-28T13:20:00.000-04:00

Recently a friend of mine who video blogs at The Divine Science conducted an interview with a Baptist pastor of a small Christian church. The topic centered on the division of Christians specifically over the issue of the “Occupy Wall Street” protests. If you are interested in hearing the interview, you can find it HERE. I thought the interview brought up some interesting points, but I would like to offer my perspective on the division among Christians in general and then address the division of Christians on political issues.

There is no question that there is division among Christians. There are numerous reasons for this fact and there are many different forms of division. Unfortunately, there will always be division among Christians because Christians are human beings. The differences between different Christian denominations often center on theological beliefs. However, differences also exist between Christians who profess the same creed and these differences can be deep and vast. Although there will always be some division, I believe that we as Christians can and need to be much more united. In this post I hope to first address some of the causes of division and also offer some possible solutions.

In order for Christians to effectively address this issue of division in the Church, we must first acknowledge there is a problem, identify the problem, understand the causes and roots of the problem, and then search for solutions. We know that there is a problem with division among Christians. The question is how did this division occur and why does it continue to occur? For several centuries there was only one Christian Church; the Catholic Church. Undoubtedly, the Catholic Church has always been made up of many different individuals who have unique perspectives and thoughts. However, there was one Christian theology and one Church structure in place to help unite the faithful. After the Protestant Reformation, the Church split and new Churches were formed with new beliefs and new theologies. Then it split again, and again, and again. Individuals who disagreed with any of the teachings of the Church simply created their own Church which better reflected their own personal beliefs. This has led to the very dangerous idea of moral relativism which is pervasive today. Today, thousands of new Churches are formed each year and in the United States alone there are over 200 different Christian denominations. Within those 200+ different Christian denominations there are individuals who don’t even agree with some of the beliefs of the Church in which they are a member.

If we are to unite, we must have universal areas of agreement. The following are issues in which Christians cannot disagree. Let’s start at the very beginning. There is a God. If you do not believe that there is a God, you are not a Christian. Secondly, God is the creator of all things. If you do not believe this, you are not a Christian. If we wish to be called Christian, we must acknowledge that there is a natural moral law or truth. If you do not believe that Jesus was both God and man, and that he is our savior who died for our sins so that we might have eternal life, then you are not a Christian. If you do not believe that The Bible is the eternal word of God, you are not a Christian. I would also argue that if you do not believe in the doctrine of the Trinity, a description of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, then you are not Christian. If you do not believe in Heaven and Hell, then you are not Christian. These beliefs must form the foundation of all people to claim to be Christian. Without a foundation of beliefs, there is no possibility of unity.

I could write so much more on the division of Christians, but in attempt to keep this post somewhat short let me jump to the issue of division among Christians in politics. The reason that there is division among Christians in political issues such as the role of government and the best way to serve the poor is because Jesus never endorsed specific political policy or form of government. Jesus was not a socialist as many liberal Christians would like you to believe. Jesus was also not a capitalist despite what many conservative Christians would like you to believe. Jesus was not political. When asked specific political policy issues such as taxes, Jesus remained vague in his response, “give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's.” It is perfectly acceptable for Christians to disagree on certain political issues so long as that the goal and intent remains the same; to better society. Certain issues which have become political such as abortion, which is clearly against moral law, there can be no disagreement among Christians. However, how best to serve the poor or what is the best tax policy are areas in politics where Christians in good conscience may disagree.

In regards to the recent protests against Wall Street and millionaires, how should Christians respond? Should Christians support these protests or reject them? I think that question is too broad. Should Christian pastors encourage their faithful to take to the streets and support the political objectives of these protests? I don’t think so, but I think Christians can support certain aspects of these protests without supporting the protests as a whole. I also think Christians can speak out against much of what is going on at these protests and the problems they are causing. In my opinion, these “Occupy Wall Street” protests are causing much more problems than they are good. I personally don’t support most of the political objectives that these protests seek, but I don’t necessarily have a problem with some of the intentions of the protests, if these are genuine intentions, such as a concern for the poor. I certainly support the people’s right to protest so long as they are lawful and peaceful which has not always been the case. I just happen to disagree with these protestors on the solutions they are proposing to the problems facing our country.

Your comments and thoughts are encouraged and welcome. Simply click on the comment button below. Please note that any comments that are profane or do not add to the discussion will be deleted.

God Bless,

Mike

RIP - Aunt Mary

2011-10-10T08:51:00.000-04:00

I have sad news to report today. Last night at 10:00 PM, I learned that my Aunt Mary, my Godmother, passed away. She had been fighting ovarian cancer for 4 years. The family knew that Mary's time on earth was coming to an end so this was not unexpected, but it is still a hard pill to swallow. It is never to say goodbye to a loved one. However, our faith keeps us from despair. We believe in the afterlife, and have hope that through the mercy of God we will be together one day with our departed loved ones in Heaven. I imagine that the loss of my Aunt Mary is especially hard on my Grandparents who have lost their oldest daughter and have spent the last several weeks with Aunt Mary as her health deteriorated. Please keep my family in your prayers, but also keep my Aunt Mary in your prayers as well. She was a wonderful woman, but like all of us she was not without faults; most notably her falling away from the Church. Please pray for my Aunt Mary's soul, that God have mercy on her. In memory of my Aunt Mary I am posting the latest picture I have of her. I am also going to include a link below and on my sidebar for the Colorado Ovarian Cancer Alliance. This is an organization that Aunt Mary joined once she found out she had ovarian cancer. If you feel so inclined, please visit their website and support this great cause.

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May her soul, and the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Colorado Ovarian Cancer Alliance

God bless,

Mike

Book Reflections: The Great Divorce

2011-10-03T16:28:00.000-04:00

C.S. Lewis wrote “The Great Divorce” in response to William Blake’s book “The Marriage of Heaven and Hell.” This is a very quick read, but it is filled with spiritual content worthy of some serious reflection. C.S. Lewis clearly states in his prologue that this is a story about the afterlife and should not be read as if it is a factual account of the afterlife, but that does not mean that there are not moral and theological truths in this book. I think all people have a curiosity about the afterlife. Christian denominations have different beliefs about the afterlife especially regarding the idea of Purgatory, and C.S. Lewis acknowledges this in his story but does not let it become a divisive issue. Although C.S. Lewis himself was not Catholic, he seems to be very open to the Catholic teachings including the Catholic belief in Purgatory. C.S. Lewis suggests in this story that the Grey city is either Hell or Purgatory depending on where one ends up. The great lesson in this story is that in order to reach Heaven, we must reject Hell and all those earthly attachments that prevent us from completely loving God and reaching Heaven. C.S. Lewis is a master at stimulating the readers’ imaginations and getting the reader to really reflect on Christian beliefs. He does this through fictional story, but the spiritual lessons are not any less real. He tries to avoid addressing the specific differences between Christian denominations but focuses on their similarities and I believe this is reason for his widespread popularity. I highly recommend this book. It is a quick read, it is thought provoking, and it is interesting. Heaven or Hell? Which do you choose?

The Great Divorce

For more information on the Catholic Church’s teaching on Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory please read:

Article 12 in Catechism of the CatholicChurch

God bless,

Mike

Book Reflections: Sinner: The Catholic Guy's Funny, Feeble Attempts to Be a Faithful Catholic

2011-09-18T19:53:00.000-04:00

About the Author:

Lino Rulli is the host of the popular radio show, The Catholic Guy, which can be heard on The Catholic Channel on Sirius/Xm. If you have not had the pleasure of listening to Lino, do yourself a favor and tune in to his show. A word of warning, it's not the typical Catholic radio show. It's funny. No seriously, Lino is hilarious. He is going to talk about things you don't hear on other Catholic radio shows. He is going to be honest, sometimes awkward and embarrassingly honest. He can push the moral boundaries and occasionally may be borderline irreverent, but he speaks from the heart about issues that face most of us but most of us don't have the courage to speak about publicly. Lino has no shame. He airs out all his faults and failings for all the world to hear and often criticize. He is a pioneer in Catholic radio. I for one have great respect for this sinner named Lino Rulli.

About the Book:

Much like his radio show, Lino's book is a laugh from cover to cover, in a good way. Like his radio show, this book is not filled with spiritual quotes and words of wisdom. Lino prefers to evangelize in a more subtle way, by telling entertaining stories and being himself. His comedic personality comes out in his book just like it does on the radio. As Lino himself would probably say, this is not a Catholic book, it is not a Christian book, it's just a book. It's a wildly entertaining book that isn't a sermon, but you don't have to look too hard to find spiritual lessons in this book. Sometimes those lessons come from the mistakes Lino made. As the title of the book suggests, he knows that he is a sinner. However, he recognizes his sinfulness and frequently seeks forgiveness. He has three chapters that I can think of dedicated to the Sacrament of Confession. The refreshing thing about Lino is that from the very beginning he states that he believes in everything the Church teaches and believes (which is rare these days), he just struggles to live out his life as a Catholic. We all can relate to this struggle to be holy. All of us are sinners. What makes Lino such an effective voice in Catholic media is that he knows how to reach the younger people. The teen - 30s crowd. This is not to say older folks can't learn something from Lino, but Lino's blunt honesty and down to earth approach is very attractive to younger people. Sometimes I wish that Lino would address some of the more serious issues especially the pro-life issues of abortion and euthanasia, but I guess I can't really blame him. How in the world do you make comedy out of abortion? As a Respect Life Coordinator at my parish, I wish I could attract young people to the very important pro-life issues in a way that Lino attracts the youth. Maybe he can give me some pointers one day. There are too many great stories in this book to even begin to list. I recommend this book to Catholics, non-Catholic Christians, and non-believers. All people should be able to read and enjoy this book. Don't believe me? His book has been endorsed by the likes of Archbishop of New York Timothy Dolan, and the controversial radio personality Howard Stern. I give this book the highest rating I can think of; 5 noses! If you don't get that joke, start listening to Lino on the Catholic Channel. Oh and one more thing, read this book!

Sinner: The Catholic Guy's Funny, Feeble Attempts to Be a Faithful Catholic

The Catholic Channel

Book Reflections: The End and the Beginning: Pope John Paul II

2011-09-08T10:59:00.001-04:00

The End and the Beginning: Pope John Paul II -- The Victory of Freedom, the Last Years, the Legacy is George Weigel's follow up to the biography on Pope John Paul II he wrote over a decade ago; Witness to Hope. This book is over 500 pages, but that is half the size of Witness to Hope. I think that this was a good read, but if you have already read Witness to Hope there is not much new in this book. This book was written because new information had been obtained since the writing of Witness to Hope in regards to the Communists attempts to bring down Pope John Paul II. I found some of these stories very interesting. One thing I learned is that there is a lot more going on behind the scenes than most people realize. The Pope has a very difficult and huge responsibility. No matter how faithful a person is, someone will be quick to criticize any action or inaction even people within the Church. Pope John Paul II is undoubtedly one of the great people of the 20th Century. He inspired millions of people of all faiths. This book can get a little tedious at times, and if you want a more complete biography of Pope John Paul II I would recommend that you first read Witness to Hope. However, this book is a good supplement to Witness to Hope. Just make sure you set aside plenty of time. I wouldn't say it's a book you can't put down, but I would recommend to people who want to learn as much as they can about Pope John Paul II, and those who are interested in the inner workings of the Vatican.

God Bless,

Mike

Sign Petitions to Ban Human Cloning

2011-08-07T20:24:00.001-04:00

Please take a minute to sign the petition for a federal ban on human cloning. If you live in Georgia, I have also created a petition to the state of Georgia. Links are below.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/422/--if-gte-mso-9xml-oofficedocumentsettings-oallowpngoallowpng-oofficedocumentsettings-xmlendif----if/

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/423/--if-gte-mso-9xml-oofficedocumentsettings-oallowpngoallowpng-oofficedocumentsettings-xmlendif----if/

God Bless!