Commercials on During Supernanny

I couldn't find anything to watch on TV so I turned on this show Supernanny. As I've been watching it and listening to the commercials something struck me. There seems to be an unusual number of birth control commercials on during this program. I probably wouldn't have noticed it because the NuvaRing commercial is on TV occasionally, but the previous commercial break had a commercial for Plan B which repulsed me. I think its terrible to have this show on showing the difficulty this family is having with a special needs child, then in-between having all this birth control commercials, especially PlanB. Its like 'gee you don't want to be bogged down like this family right? so birth control it up'. Thats how I took it anyway.

The Pope Is Not Alone

Berlusconi defends Pope's comments

Russian Orthodox back Pope Benedict on condoms/AIDS

Harvard AIDS Expert Says Pope is Correct on Condom Distribution Making AIDS Worse

Prominent Ugandan AIDS Activist Thanks Pope for Opposition to Condoms

Media Shocked That Pope Is Still Catholic

French Guy: This Pope is becoming a real problem

New York Times, others blast papal comments on condoms

Dutch condemn Pope's condom policies

Spain fires another shot across the Vatican's bow

Spain, in response to Pope Benedict's message that condoms are inadequate in fighting HIV/AIDS, is sending a million prophylactics to Africa.

Writer calls for Pope's impeachment: a punishable canonical offense?

German bishop warns against making a condom taboo

Sally Quinn Showcases Bigotry

Pope Ignites Condom Debate

World Leaders, Condom-Promoting Forces Attack Pope Over Condom AIDS Remarks

This Pope is Becoming a Real Problem - Good!

I take this as a good sign.

Former Prime Minister Alain Juppé (UMP), interviewed Wednesday by France Culture concerning the words of Benedict XVI denouncing condoms, said that "this pope is becoming a real problem" because he is living “in a situation of total autism."

“This Pope is becoming a real problem”

If the world were too comfortable with the message of the church and the Pope, we would be in trouble.

Pelosi: Birth Control Will Help Economy

Can we please stop calling her a Catholic politician now?

PELOSI SAYS BIRTH CONTROL WILL HELP ECONOMY
Sun Jan 25 2009 22:13:43 ET

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi boldly defended a move to add birth control funding to the new economic "stimulus" package, claiming "contraception will reduce costs to the states and to the federal government."

Pelosi, the mother of 5 children and 6 grandchildren, who once said, "Nothing in my life will ever, ever compare to being a mom," seemed to imply babies are somehow a burden on the treasury.

The revelation came during an exchange Sunday morning on ABC's THIS WEEK.

STEPHANOPOULOS: Hundreds of millions of dollars to expand family planning services. How is that stimulus?

PELOSI: Well, the family planning services reduce cost. They reduce cost. The states are in terrible fiscal budget crises now and part of what we do for children's health, education and some of those elements are to help the states meet their financial needs. One of those - one of the initiatives you mentioned, the contraception, will reduce costs to the states and to the federal government.

STEPHANOPOULOS: So no apologies for that?

PELOSI: No apologies. No. we have to deal with the consequences of the downturn in our economy.

Developing...

Drudgereport

Blagojevich

I haven't had a chance to write about Blagojevich on here before. I am obviously no fan of Blagojevich, he isn't just a standard Democrat, he has been very hard on the pro-life community here in Illinois. One of my favorite instances of the Bishops getting involved in current issues was when my Bishop, Thomas Paprocki, called out Blagojevich on legislation which would force pharmacists to dispense contraception even if doing so is against their conscience.

I think my family, like a lot of Illinoisans, has been waiting for the downfall of Blagojevich. There have been allegations of wrongdoing from Blagojevich for so long, it was only a matter of time. That being said, I find myself enjoying the show Blagojevich is putting on for the whole nation.

You'd think that I would be embarrassed by the spectacle that Blago is making Illinois into for the country and the world. But lets face it, I've already been thoroughly embarrassed for my state and the city of Chicago the whole time Obama was running for the Presidency. The thing about Blago is that he is being tossed under the bus by all the rest of the crooks in the state. This should prove the old adage that there is no honor among thieves. They've done everything they can to make old Blago go away, even calling him crazy. No way this guy is crazy, he's just a Chicago politician. The rest of the rats are trying to push him off the ship hoping that by dumping him over the edge they can stave off the sinking of the ship. Blago isn't going away easy though.

Some of the things Blagojevich has been accused of are just completely outrageous, the shakedown of the Children's Hospital I think ranks far above the allegations of selling Obama's senate seat. But I don't much appreciate all his old pals throwing him under the bus calling him crazy and saying they haven't talking to him in years. I don't buy it. My biggest hope, for better or worse, is that old G-Rod sticks around long enough to take down all the rest of them with him.

Whoa

This weekend at our parish we had a visiting priest who was doing a mission on NFP for the parish, Fr. Daniel McCaffrey from NFP Outreach.

Father Daniel McCaffrey was ordained in 1958. A year later he departed for the Muslim country of Pakistan where he served for over eight years as a missionary. Father holds a Doctorate in Sacred Theology from the University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicam) in Rome. In 1968, during the Vietnam Conflict Father joined the United States Army Chaplain Corps. During more than twenty years of active duty he served in Vietnam, Korea, Germany and Honduras, as well as numerous army installations throughout the United States.

During his ministry he has worked in the Apostolate of Marriage Enrichment establishing successful Natural Family Planning programs on the diocesan and parish levels. Father is a priest of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.

He also did each of the masses over the weekend. The homily he did... wow. First of all an average mass lasts, what about 50 minutes? Maybe a little more? His homily lasted for about 50 minutes. My Dad had gone to the earlier mass of the day, and I went to the one after CCD, so I knew to expect an exceptionally long homily. And I knew he was at the parish to preach about NFP. I wasn't all that thrilled, I was not that excited to hear a 45+ homily on NFP, that sort of thing just doesn't appeal to me. And usually I'm distracted 5 minutes into a homily. Not today though. I was absolutely engaged on everything he had to talk about for the whole 50 minutes.

He covered All Saints Day and All Souls Day, the culture of death, the media and the culture of death, the failure of priests to teach and preach, and our failure as the laity by contracepting ourselves away. I can't ever remember ever hearing anything like it before from the pulpit, and I suppose I won't again anytime soon.

I really can't do his talk any justice by writing about it, but if you ever hear that he is speaking near you go see him. It will be worth it.

The Hour Is Late…

The Hour Is Late… by Father John Corapi
Posted on June 27, 2008 by james mary evans

I have been celebrating Mass at a local parish while the pastor is away the past few weeks. Many of the readings during that time concerned the prophets and their message and trials. I was moved to reflect once again on the prophetic dimension of our Baptism in Christ-Priest, Prophet and King. Several decades ago, the great Archbishop Fulton Sheen said, “The prophetic voice of Christ has all but been stilled in the Church today.” To the degree we fail in this prophetic mission, the world will sink into oblivion under the increasing weight of its sins.In my lifetime, the United States has gone from quite a wholesome, rational, and moral country, to one that is largely decadent, irrational, and immoral. Most people seem to be hardened to it, unconcerned that we have a death wish in process.

First it was artificial contraception, then abortion, then partial-birth abortion, then infanticide (all of which have been supported by many liberal politicians at one time or another, even some running for president) not to mention euthanasia, and outright killing of the disabled and sick. Actually, it’s even worse. Terri Schiavo wasn’t sick. She didn’t die from an illness. They killed her by starvation, a very cruel way to die.

Now it’s same sex marriage (no transmission of life, no fruit of natural love) and we call it inclusive and just. It is yet another nail in the coffin of a society that is clearly dying. Every stage of life is under assault by the forces of death. From prevention of life through artificial contraception, to abortion-which is homicide by definition in each case (the taking of the life of an innocent human being), and genocide taken as a whole. Preventing life, ending life from the youngest to the oldest. We call it progress. It is a death wish, and we had better watch what we wish for.

“All that evil requires to prosper is that good men remain silent.” The hour is late. We have had years to change course. Instead, we have obstinately refused and gone from bad to worse. May God have mercy on us, and grant us the courage and strength to act in accordance with that truth.

God bless you,

Fr. John Corapi

Source

Humanae Vitae

Humanae Vitae

Dear Friends,

July 25, 2008 will be the 40th anniversary of Pope Paul VI’s encyclical letter Humanae Vitae. Beginning on July 25 of 2007, Priests for Life will launch a special year-long preparation for that anniversary and will call attention to the wisdom and insight of this important document. Respect for human life is the basis of civilization, and respect for life demands respect for the sources of life.

Many of my brother priests point to the failure of so many clergy to wholeheartedly embrace Humanae Vitae when it was issued, and say that this is the reason that so many were subsequently unwilling to address the abortion tragedy once it was legalized.

Now, however, we have a new generation of priests who are not caught in the dilemma of having to justify their past silence. They are ready, and are in fact engaged in, the mission of preaching and teaching the truth about human life and sexuality.

Please feel free to make use of the resources you’ll find at www.priestsforlife.org/contraception, and let’s spread the word!

Fr. Frank

Priests for Life

Stop wearing fur, activists tell Pope

I saw this article in the comments section over at Curt Jester, but I was also amused by the comment accompanying it.

Stop wearing fur, activists tell Pope

And the comment...

How about the activists listen to him tell them to stop using latex?

Is NFP Just Catholic Birth Control?

Is NFP Just Catholic Birth Control?

((VIDEO message))

Hello HLI Friends,

Our mini-catechesis on contraception this week continues on the topic of why the gift of Natural Family Planning is not tantamount to “Catholic birth control.” This is a common misconception about the practice, and it is good to hear the Church’s actual teaching on the matter! You may access the written script of this video on the side bar and, after viewing, please feel free to forward this email to others.

Blessings to you and your families!

Sincerely,

Rev. Thomas J. Euteneuer
President, Human Life International

HLI

Contraception the Love Killer

I thought this was a great article that I first saw on A Catholic Life.

Contraception the Love Killer
By John Mallon

Far too many Catholics think of the Church in terms of laxity or strictness, when in fact to do so is to miss the whole point. Morality is the fruit of love. Love of Christ, who said, “If you love me you will keep my commandments” (Cf. John 14:15). This was not a threat or some divine arm-twisting, but a statement of fact. Religious obedience is an act of great spiritual maturity and love. It is not that we love Him but that He first loved us (Cf. 1 John 4:19). He is our Bridegroom.

I would be worried about any engaged couple that was caught up in worry about fidelity instead of being so dizzy—or sanely—in love that infidelity was unthinkable. In theological terms we speak of fear of the Lord as a virtue—which of course it is—but it is not a craven timorousness, nor is it simply “awe,” as some proposed in the 60s and 70s to soften the blow of the word “fear.”

Proper fear of the Lord is the horror one feels at the thought of hurting, harming or even simply displeasing our beloved, be it a human love or God. This is called filial fear. Another kind of fear is called “servile fear” based more in fear of getting caught or being punished. While this is not altogether a bad thing, filial fear is superior as it speaks of a higher love.

Little girls do not grow up dreaming of hopping from bed to bed and contraception, they dream of a man who will sweep them off their feet, love them forever and having his many children. A cynicism born of the sexual revolution has brought emptiness to the hearts, wombs and lives of far too many modern women. This emptiness and pain can be avoided or redeemed and healed by the love of Christ and adherence to His teachings. The Catholic Church believes in such dreams because God wrote them on the human heart. And there are men who long for such a woman to love and cherish.

Real lovers want to give without reserve in God’s own superabundance creating more hearts and lives to love. Contraception is like kissing through a screen door and real love cannot tolerate obstacles. Contraception breeds selfishness and separation that drives a wedge between husband and wife that kills love. Real lovers want their love to explode into the posterity of future generations for all eternity. This is the kind of passion and fulfillment God wants for His children. Contraception limits what should be boundless. It spits in the face of this glorious passion and love’s true abandon; and that is why it is a sin. It seeks to “tame” love, thus killing it. The Catholic Church is the last bastion on earth of true romance. The modern world has suffocated love and made sex a thing of deadness.

I am thinking of all this because of the recent confrontation between Father Thomas Euteneuer and conservative talk show host Sean Hannity over Hannity’s public dissent on contraception. As Providence would have it, just days before this confrontation I was visiting with Father Euteneuer at the Headquarters of Human Life International discussing various ways to raise the profile of HLI in order to help the mission. Imagine my surprise a few days later when I looked up from my dinner at home to see the face of my host on a “coming up” announcement on Fox’s Hannity & Colmes program.

That confrontation is now history and, in my view, it is a milestone, a breakthrough for the pro-life movement because the evil of contraception is an essential element of the pro-life message. Contraception is the very core of the Culture of Death. With out “The Pill” in the early 60s there would have been no Roe v. Wade in the early 70s.

Until now it has been near impossible to break through the wall of silence the media has in place regarding an intelligent presentation of the Catholic position on birth control and the scandal that so many Catholics reject that teaching. Father Euteneuer, by the Grace of God, unexpectedly broke through that barrier.

What is shocking is that as a leader in American conservatism, Sean Hannity seems to have been blissfully unaware that there is a significant movement in the Catholic Church of people who refer to themselves as “orthodox” Catholics, meaning they accept Church teachings—all of them—not out “blind obedience” as is often charged, but out of love, conviction and principle. Not to mention coming to see the truth of them and agreeing with them through hard life’s experience. Many of these Catholics also refer to themselves, somewhat imprecisely, as “conservative Catholics” mistakenly using the terms “orthodox” and “conservative” interchangeably.

So it was a shocker to hear Sean, whom many of these Catholics may have seen as a champion, behaving in such a hostile way towards a priest presenting Magisterial Church teaching. It was also a shock to hear a professional debater stoop to the red herrings and other tactics Hannity resorted to in attacking the priest, barely letting him speak.

Further, orthodox Catholics had reason to think of Sean as “one of them” judging from this comment in an article by William F. Buckley:

Sean Hannity said that he was himself Catholic
and that he attends a church which on Sundays
is standing room only. He attributes this in part
to God, but mostly to his pastor, who, says
Hannity, is rigorous in his defense of Christian
doctrines, forswearing temptations to truckle
to modernism. (“Churchbound?” December
19, 2003, National Review Online,
http://www.nationalreview.com/buckley/
buckley200312191325.asp)

I wonder what Sean’s pastor is thinking now. Has he been rigorous in his defense of Humanae Vitae? If so, where was Sean?

But for all this, this is not about Sean Hannity. It is about the crisis of the Church in the West. It is a crisis that this current generation of affluent, educated Catholics can smugly think they “know better” than 2000 years of pastoral wisdom, Divine Revelation and the “expertise in humanity” of the Church of which the Second Vatican Council spoke. (Cf. Pope Paul VI— Address to the United Nations, 5 October 1965)

This is a crisis the Church Herself must answer for one day before the Lord.

The point is not to pick on Sean, who is a good man, albeit mistaken about his faith, but this incident throws into relief the problem of so many Catholics who share his view. The question for Sean and other Catholics, who are under the impression that this teaching is optional, is: If your moral compass is not calibrated to the True North of the Magisterium, what is it set to? From whom do you take direction? What is the authority you have set above that of the Church’s divinely established teaching authority? “Conventional wisdom?” A “climate of opinion?” Or is it a smug attitude of what C.S. Lewis called “chronological snobbery” following the naïve assumption that the Church is “behind the times” on these questions and needs to catch up with the “modern world?”) If nothing else, any conservative ought to recognize that the “modern world” is a train wreck, due what Pope Paul VI called “a general lowering of morality” that would ensue if contraception became widespread. (Humanae Vitae, No. 17)

In fact, the Church does not need to get into the modern world; the modern world needs to get into the Church if there is to be any true human progress rather than the decline and degradation we have witnessed over the last 40 years.

But it gets worse. Nothing could have vindicated Father Euteneuer’s questioning of the depth of Sean’s faith than remarks he reportedly made on his radio show:

"If that makes me unwanted in the Catholic Church, then I'll have to just call my buddy Jerry Falwell, and Thomas Road Baptist Church, here I come. I will accept that taking this position publicly could result in me being thrown out of the Church. If that's the case and they don't want me, that's fine."

The level of wrong-headedness this statement demonstrates, which is an attitude found in so many modern Catholics, is enough to make one hang one’s head.

No one is “unwanted” in the Catholic Church but this is a tiresome charge often made by those caught up in the ideologies of homosexual activism, feminism, and others who don’t wish to recognize that being Catholic means that we at least try to be in conformity to Christ. It is the first lesson of philosophy 101 that something cannot be and not be at the same time: the law of non-contradiction. Active homosexuality and its promotion, abortion advocacy and contraception all contradict the teachings of Christ as revealed to us by the Holy Spirit mediated through the Pope and Magisterium which Christ promised would be free from error in matters of faith and morals. One cannot be a Pagan and a Catholic simultaneously.

Furthermore, excommunication is not a statement that one is “unwanted” by the Church. On the contrary, it is an act of the Church’s pastoral love to warn a soul that he has strayed from the truth and is in deep water and needs to rethink some things. Being admitted to Communion means that one is in communion with the Church, not subscribing to some other gospel.

Whatever Sean studied in the seminary it clearly wasn’t ecclesiology or sacramental theology if he could so glibly abandon the Eucharist by going to a Protestant church over this matter. Indeed where does he take his cues? With all due respect to Protestants, Catholics do not “church hop” until they find one that suits them. A Catholic may seek out a Catholic parish they prefer, but no church not in communion with the Chair of Peter—the Pope—fulfills a Catholic’s Sunday obligation (with emergency exceptions for some Eastern Orthodox—capital “O”—churches). No Protestant church believes what the Catholic Church believes about the Eucharist. Does Sean believe in transubstantiation and the Real Presence? If so, is he prepared to walk away from the actual Body and Blood of Jesus Christ over this? It is a chilling thought for any believing Catholic to contemplate.

Why chilling? Consider the following quote from the Second Vatican Council: “Hence they could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse either to enter it, or to remain in it.” (Lumen Gentium, No. 14).

The question is, as a Catholic, is Sean a believer? Does he believe what the Church teaches about the Papacy, that Jesus established it when he told Peter “I call you Peter and upon this Rock I will build my Church. What you bind on earth is bound in Heaven” (Cf. Matt. 18:18)? Or when He promised the Apostles, “I will send you the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth” (Cf. John 16:13-15) and “He who hears you hears me” (Luke 10:16)?

Obviously, Protestants don’t interpret these verses as the founding of the Papacy and Magisterium, but does Sean? As a “seminary trained” “devout Catholic?” Being a devout Catholic involves a willingness to be taught by the Church, a willingness to change when mistaken, and above all, a willingness to repent. Contraception is a serious sin and to claim to be Catholic and publicly declare otherwise is to give serious scandal.

Many present day conservatives were once liberal and underwent a “conversion” to conservatism because they saw the error of liberalism’s inherent relativism, which rejects objective truth. It is no accident that there is an alliance between believing Christians (derisively referred to as the “Religious Right.”) My “conversion” to political conservatism followed upon a religious conversion, which convinced me of the Truth of the Catholic Faith in which I was raised. In the Hannity/Euteneuer confrontation Sean showed a serious inconsistency in the philosophy in which he makes his living, showing himself, to the dismay of his Catholic fans, to be politically conservative but a liberal—a dissident—Catholic.

I’m a Fox News junkie. I watch Hannity and Colmes nearly every night. When I see Sean on TV I see him as a friend. I agree with him and admire him on most things, but Sean, you’re wrong on this one.

Father Euteneuer is not your enemy. He is not an ideologue but good man and the kind of priest who genuinely cares for souls. Your soul. He has already proved that. He would be a great friend to you from whom you could learn much. He asked to speak with you in 2004, not to argue with you or embarrass you, but out of concern for you. Contraception does real damage and you owe it to yourself to hear him out, because you are a good man who would not wish to spread harm. True friends tell us the truth even when it hurts and it is a wise man that listens to such friends. These opportunities are all too rare in this life and I urge you to avail yourself of his friendship.

Fr. Euteneuer's Mini-Catechesis on Contraception

Fr. Euteneuer's Mini-Catechesis on Contraception

((VIDEO message))

Dear Colleagues,

As you know, the response to the Sean Hannity interview of March 9th was overwhelmingly positive in defense of the Church's teaching and the right/duty of a priest to defend it in public. To address the misconceptions of the cultural mindset of easy acceptance of contraception, I have created a mini-series on contraception to inject some basic common sense insight into the subject and create a modern tool for evangelization. There will be several more mini-catecheses after Easter so stay tuned!

Please click on the video icon, and then forward it on to someone else who may be in need of catechesis on the subject. Know of our prayers for you and your families.

Gratefully,

Rev. Thomas J. Euteneuer
President, Human Life International

Human Life International

The Church Will Not Be Hannitized

The Church Will Not Be Hannitized

To say that I am humbled and awed by the overwhelming response of the faithful to last Friday night's Hannity interview would be an understatement. To show my gratitude I have celebrated a Mass of thanksgiving for the literally hundreds of people who wrote emails, sent faxes and made phone calls in support of the Church's teaching, and for the unique opportunity to offer this witness to millions more. At the writing of this column, HLI has received more than 1250 emails and dozens of other communications which have run clearly 90-10 in favor of the Church's teaching - this is just incredible! I was aware that there were good Catholics out there who support the Church, but I didn't realize how many were willing to go to bat for the Truth. This gives me the greatest of hope for the future of the Church!

In light of this hope, I have to say that the "Hannitization" of the Church will not prevail! "Hannitization" is the stance that Mr. Hannity displayed on Friday night in his attitude toward infallible Church teaching. It is the curious fantasy of people who consider themselves devout Catholics in every way yet see no incompatibility between contraception and Communion. In this, he is just an icon of a whole sector of "Catholics" who live out of that template in public and private. Forty years of vigorous internal dissent against clearly-defined teachings on contraception have ceded the battlefield to the default cultural mindset that says contraception is not only morally justified, it is actually "a good thing," as Mr. Hannity has stated. We know that all chemical contraception actually causes abortions at the embryonic stage, but dissenters are rarely swayed by medical facts.

Our recent Popes call the "hannitization" phenomenon moral relativism and condemn it in the starkest possible terms as incompatible with the Faith of our Fathers. Pope Benedict has even used the term "dictatorship" to describe the arrogance with which such people tend to treat all who question their private judgments about objective truths.

This whole incredible episode has exposed, in a graphic way, the profound internal crisis of Catholicism in a post-Vatican II world. The battle is not at all between so-called liberals and conservatives. The poster boy for conservative values has just gone on record admitting that he is - obstinately - in denial of a truth of the Faith that must be believed, as the Catechism says, "with divine and catholic faith" (n. 2089). "Liberal" and "conservative" values must all be held up to scrutiny by the Church because no political ideology has the charism of infallibility. Only Christ's Vicar has that. Rather, the internecine battle within our own Church is between those who believe in objective right and wrong and those who believe that they, individually, are the arbiters of right and wrong.

This issue is not over, friends, because the battle lines are being drawn between the two worldviews and the stakes are high. Those stakes are the hannitized souls of this and the next generation of youth, and they are worth fighting for. For my part I have been deeply gratified to see evidence of the soldiers of the Church Militant who accept objective right and wrong about contraception and are quite fed up with the nonsense of the high profile dissenters who have done so much spiritual damage to souls. We stand together to defend our first love - Christ's Church! After all, it's not just Hannity's soul we are worried about. How many millions are potentially led astray by a man with that kind of platform? Keep in mind, though, that our project is much more than just objecting to dissenters in the media. We are to lead souls to the Truth through the media, or despite it. That is our common mission.

By the way, as Providence would have it, our Holy Father just this week issued a Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation on the Eucharist which will knock your socks off [See sidebar link "Sacramentum Caritatis"]. Read paragraph 83 to see whether denying a guy like Hannity the Eucharist would be something the Pope would agree with!

Now I need to ask you for a quick favor. Starting today there are nine days before our Church celebrates the Feast of the Annunciation - that day in history when Our Lord took on embryonic form in the womb of His most holy Mother. Pray with me a novena for the conversion of all those who have bought into the lies of the contraceptive culture - including Mr. Hannity. Then pray that he responds to my second request to meet with him privately. Who knows, we may de-hannitize our whole Church through his conversion!

Sincerely Yours in Christ,


Rev. Thomas J. Euteneuer
President, Human Life International

HLI

Hannity the Liberal

Hannity the Liberal by Fr. Euteneuer.

Sean Hannity's Gospel

Sean Hannity's Gospel

In an age of sophisticated dissent against Christ and His Church, the purity of the Ancient Faith needs defense so that people do not put their faith in "another gospel," says St. Paul (Gal 1:7). In the face of modern challenges to the Faith, Catholics who have a high profile in media, culture and government have a very grave responsibility to witness it correctly; otherwise, they will be held accountable in heaven for their anti-witness which affects the faith of millions.

For example, last Friday Sean Hannity took a few moments out of his afternoon radio show to make an apology. When I heard that the rather brash Hannity was actually going to apologize for something I was interested to find out what that would be. At first he sounded very
sincere in saying we have to take responsibility for our mistakes. Fine so far. Then he went on to tell his hearers that he had taken two bites of a chicken sandwich that day because he had been traveling and literally forgot it was a Friday of Lent. He stopped eating it when he
realized it was a Friday, but he used the opportunity on the show to make a fairly big deal about the "eat meat on Friday and you can go to hell" issue.

Well, even though he claims to be a "good Catholic," Hannity is hardly a credible commentator on Catholic matters. The chicken sandwich scandal was fairly trivial in the overall scheme of his show, but it said much more about the depth of his faith than anything else. I suspect that a great number of Catholics live their faith in the same
way - rule-bound and juvenile - but we need something better from a public "Catholic" like Hannity. We need a vibrant witness of someone who knows and embraces his Faith as deeply as he articulates his political passions.

Just for the record, he did not commit a sin when he ate the chicken sandwich - he had no intention to violate the Church precept, and he corrected himself immediately when he realized what he did. That's not a sin, and issuing a dramatic "apology" for doing that is, well, entertainment, not witness. This, unfortunately, is what passes for a deep discussion of the Catholic Faith in the public forum nowadays.

If apologies are the order of the day, then the repentance I would like to hear out of Sean Hannity's mouth is for his shameless - even scandalous - promotion of birth control. Yes, I have heard him personally say, "I have no problem with birth control. It's a good thing." (Another bit of profound theological reasoning.) Given the size of his audience and the importance of his status in pop culture,
Hannity's anti-witness to a fundamental tenet of Catholic moral doctrine is just devastating for the faith of others who may be weak or vacillating in this area. His impact is greater, and so his judgment will be stricter. "To those who have been given more, more will be required..."

The moral of the story is that Catholic men and women in the media need to be truly Catholic or at least stop being hypocrites. We have enough pretenders to the title of Catholic in public life without being treated to superficial assessments of profound moral issues. Rules are important, but Lent is not about rule-breaking, it's about conversion of heart; and on the most important moral issues of our day, public Catholics like Hannity have no right to profess "another gospel," or the faith of millions - and indeed their own souls - are in serious jeopardy.

Sincerely Yours in Christ,


Rev. Thomas J. Euteneuer
President, Human Life International

Roundup for Today

My internet was out from late afternoon yesterday to this evening so I haven't been able to get on until now. Checking in on the blogs I read though, I've seen some good things that I've missed already.

Rubber Soul at WardWideWeb.

The blood of martyrs at Orthfully Catholic.

Pro-Choice Violence and American Culture from Fr. Euteneuer at Spirit & Life.

Dad showed me this when I got home this evening, with the game coming up this weekend I'm giving it a post here.

Chastity Fights AIDS

Vatican Cardinal: Chastity Fights AIDS

Fidelity in marriage and premarital abstinence from sex are the key weapons in the fight against AIDS, a senior cardinal who prepared a study on condom use said Wednesday.

Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan, who heads the Vatican office for health care, told The Associated Press that it was not yet known if the Vatican would issue a document about the use of condoms after examining the study his office had prepared at the request of Pope Benedict XVI.

Cardinal Hits Back at Blair's Condom Comments

Cardinal Hits Back at Blair's Condom Comments
Posted on December 04, 2006

By The Universe: Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor has said the Prime Minister should spend more money on drugs to fight Aids in Africa rather than sending more condoms.

Speaking on the BBC’s Sunday AM programme, the cardinal said it would be “much better” if money for the increased distribution of condoms was spent on anti-retroviral drugs instead.

And he said Catholic bishops on the continent had told him their dioceses were “flooded” with condoms which had led to “more promiscuity and more Aids.”

More

The Role of Contraception in Increasing Abortion

The Role of Contraception in Increasing Abortion

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I upgraded to the new beta blogger, so I'll probably be changing the look of the blog around in the next couple of days.