In today’s readings for Mass, we hear proclaimed both the apostasy of Solomon (1 Kings 11:4-13) and the casting out of the demon from the daughter of the Syrophoenician woman (Mark 7:24-30). In the first reading, we see the swapping of the one, true God for false Gods. In the Gospel reading, we see the… Continue reading Altars to Un-Religion?
Tag: birth control
Does the HHS Mandate Go Further than the States’?
The Obama Administration is seeking to defend the HHS Mandate by claiming that the federal government is doing nothing more than what the states are already doing. HHS Secretary Sebelius argued in USA Today: The 28 states, according to NARAL In choosing this exemption, we looked first at state laws already in place across the… Continue reading Does the HHS Mandate Go Further than the States’?
Outrageous Discipline-Only Health Education: Let’s Move!
The Obama Administration is celebrating the second anniversary of the controversial Let’s Move! campaign to combat the rise in obesity in the United States. If you don’t think it’s controversial, you should. Even a cursory glance at the many initiatives undertaken through the guidance of First Lady Michelle Obama should note a frightening trend: health… Continue reading Outrageous Discipline-Only Health Education: Let’s Move!
Religious Liberty: Mapping the Developing Landscape
As the debate regarding religious liberty gains attention and momentum, it is prudent to regularly examine the landscape and tone of this crucial discussion. Clarity and proper emphasis are of paramount importance when sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They are just as crucial in politics. The White House Blog has made one attempt to… Continue reading Religious Liberty: Mapping the Developing Landscape
A Disturbing New Day for American Religious Liberty
As I’ve mentioned previously, the federal government (specifically, the Department of Health and Human Services) is trying to force Catholic hospitals, charities, and schools to pay for abortion-causing drugs, sterilizations, and contraception — all of which directly violate our right to conscience. In my previous post, I compared it to a law attempting to force… Continue reading A Disturbing New Day for American Religious Liberty
The Prophetic Pope Paul VI, and the Consequences of Contraception
Pope Paul VI (1977) Pope Paul VI gets a lot of grief from both conservative and liberal Catholics. His pontificate, which lasted from 1963 to 1978, was at a particularly tumultuous time in the Church and the world. But whatever else may be said of Pope Paul, his encyclical on contraception, Humanae Vitae, seems downright prophetic.… Continue reading The Prophetic Pope Paul VI, and the Consequences of Contraception
Disturbing New Evidence on Contraception and AIDS in Africa
A few weeks ago, I wrote on the impact of Catholic social teaching on AIDS rates in Africa. I showed there that the most Catholic parts of sub-Saharan Africa tend to have lower (sometimes, dramatically lower) rates of HIV infection than their non-Catholic counterparts. This proved true both by region, and by country. There are… Continue reading Disturbing New Evidence on Contraception and AIDS in Africa
What Impact Does Catholic Teaching Have on AIDS in Africa?
Polly Toynbee of the Guardian has leveled one of the most serious (and irresponsible) charges against the Catholic Church: that She’s to blame for millions of dead Africans. In a 2005 article for the Guardian, she wrote: How dare Tony Blair genuflect on our behalf before the corpse of a man whose edicts killed millions?… Continue reading What Impact Does Catholic Teaching Have on AIDS in Africa?
Don’t be Shocked: Marriage Redefined
I still remember when I heard a clear defense for “same sex marriage” for the first time in college. The reasoning went along the lines of: “the only difference between same sex marriage and what is currently allowed is that some people think the sexual behavior of two men or two women is icky.” It… Continue reading Don’t be Shocked: Marriage Redefined
Why “Republican” Doesn’t Mean “Catholic”
Theologically-orthodox Catholics tend to be conservative. That’s sensible. The GOP, as a party, sees more or less eye to eye with the Catholic Church on the major issues of the day: abortion, gay marriage, etc., and Republican small government views work well with Catholic views of subsidiarity (if you’re not familiar, this is, in a… Continue reading Why “Republican” Doesn’t Mean “Catholic”