Federal Judge in Florida Strikes Down Parts of Obamacare as Unconstitutional

A federal judge in Florida says the Obama administration's health overhaul is unconstitutional, siding with 26 states that had sued to block it.

U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson on Monday accepted without trial the states' argument that the new law violates people's rights by forcing them to buy health insurance by 2014 or face penalties.

Attorneys for the administration had argued that the states did not have standing to challenge the law and that the case should be dismissed.

The case is likely to go to the U.S. Supreme Court. Two other federal judges have upheld the insurance requirement, but a federal judge in Virginia also ruled the insurance requirement unconstitutional.

While Cairo Burns, Obama Parties

From White House Dossier

By Keith Koffler

The Emperor and His Court

The Washington A-List was out in force Saturday night at the farewell party for senior adviser David Axelrod, with a roster of guests featuring Cabinet secretaries, big shot journos and – President Obama.

As revolution threatened to sweep Egypt and possibly other allies – with the horrifying prospect of Islamism replacing reliable friends – the president was on view partying with the IN crowd.

The skepticism beyond the Beltway about whether Washington is just one big Love-In certainly gets fed by the sight – as conveyed by the press pool report – of reporters like ABC’s Jake Tapper, NBC’s Chuck Todd, National Journal’s Major Garrett, and John Harwood of CNBC and the New York Times emerging from a bash with the president that was held to toast his chief political fixer and leading spinmeister.

The Egypt Crisis in a Global Context: A Special Report

From Stratfor Global Intelligence

By George Friedman

It is not at all clear what will happen in the Egyptian revolution. It is not a surprise that this is happening. Hosni Mubarak has been president for more than a quarter of a century, ever since the assassination of Anwar Sadat. He is old and has been ill. No one expected him to live much longer, and his apparent plan, which was that he would be replaced by his son, Gamal, was not going to happen even though it was a possibility a year ago. There was no one, save his closest business associates, who wanted to see Mubarak’s succession plans happen. As his father weakened, Gamal’s succession became even less likely. Mubarak’s failure to design a credible succession plan guaranteed instability on his death. Since everyone knew that there would be instability on his death, there were obviously those who saw little advantage to acting before he died. Who these people were and what they wanted is the issue.

Let’s begin by considering the regime. In 1952, Col. Gamal Abdel Nasser staged a military coup that displaced the Egyptian monarchy, civilian officers in the military, and British influence in Egypt. Nasser created a government based on military power as the major stabilizing and progressive force in Egypt. His revolution was secular and socialist. In short, it was a statist regime dominated by the military. On Nasser’s death, Anwar Sadat replaced him. On Sadat’s assassination, Hosni Mubarak replaced him. Both of these men came from the military as Nasser did. However their foreign policy might have differed from Nasser’s, the regime remained intact.

Mubarak’s Opponents

The demands for Mubarak’s resignation come from many quarters, including from members of the regime — particularly the military — who regard Mubarak’s unwillingness to permit them to dictate the succession as endangering the regime. For some of them, the demonstrations represent both a threat and opportunity. Obviously, the demonstrations might get out of hand and destroy the regime. On the other hand, the demonstrations might be enough to force Mubarak to resign, allow a replacement — for example, Omar Suleiman, the head of intelligence who Mubarak recently appointed vice president — and thereby save the regime. This is not to say that they fomented the demonstrations, but some must have seen the demonstrations as an opportunity.

Institute of Catholic Culture: Forming Disciples in the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia

There is, perhaps, no better place to be a Catholic than the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia.  Its founding bishop, Thomas J. Welsh, established a solid foundation at its creation in 1974.  He invited contemplative orders to the diocese to pray for the local church, welcomed evangelists of the media age, like the Daughters of St. Paul, assisted in the founding of solidly Catholic Christendom College, and ensured priests of the diocese received an orthodox, fully Catholic formation.  The diocese's reputation for orthodoxy has attracted an abundance of priestly and religious vocations, and many parishes have had to expand rectories to accommodate at least three or four resident priests.  

This blog has featured the homilies and sermons of two of the finest, holy and most knowledgeable priests of the Arlington Diocese, Father Franklyn McAfee and Father Paul Scalia.  

A key to the diocese's success has been a rich array of parish-based adult catechesis programs.  Pastors have recognized that two generations of American Catholics have suffered from poor formation in the faith.  Many Catholics who have moved to the Northern Virginia diocese have discovered a fullness of the faith that they had not even known existed.  

Among many great new cathechetical apostolates in the diocese, forming Catholics more knowledgeable and faithful to Jesus Christ and His Church, is the Institute of Catholic Culture.  Founded by Sabatino Carnazzo, a recent graduate of Christendom College, the Institute sponsors lectures on Catholic history, philosophy, and theology "as a way of healing the wounds in the Body of Christ, and reaching out to those who seek knowledge of the Truth."  The Institute regularly draws hundreds to hear the best teachers and provides "a social setting where the Faith is not only learned, but lived." 

Audio tapes of the Institute's programs are available on its website, and we will be featuring these exceptional lectures on this blog in the weeks ahead.

Mr. Carnazzo was recently interviewed by Father Benedict Groeschel on EWTN's Sunday Night Live program.  It provides a great insight into this needed and extraordinary new apostolate and its founder.

Atlanta Symphony Chamber Chorus - 'The Heavens Are Telling' - Franz Joseph Haydn

From the Pastor - 'Pruning Away Hesitant Christianity'

A Weekly Column by Father George Rutler

The first protocol of any bureaucracy is to delay action. “Someday” is the bureaucrat’s avoidance of “today.” Our Lord is not a bureaucrat. His demands are immediate: “Today if you will hear his voice . . .” (Hebrews 3:15). He told Zacchaeus that they would dine not someday, but “today” (Luke 19:5). As one maxim has it, “someday” is not a day of the week. There is only one way to follow Christ, and that is right now: the apostles followed Christ “immediately” (Matthew 4:20, 22).

As Our Lord passes by, He calls each of us by name. He does not loiter, and if we do, His figure grows fainter and farther away. As “perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18), so the peremptory appeal of Christ eliminates the two causes of procrastination: fear of failure and fear of success. If a man fears failure, he may not lose, but neither will he gain, and if he fears success, he may bask in complacency but never change and grow.

The educational establishment is not innocent of bureaucracy and seems increasingly interested in preparing for someday instead of today. A dean at a prominent Catholic university recently said an astonishing thing: “Our job as educators and as priests is not to bring God to people, or even to bring people to God. God’s already there, and the people are already there. Our job, our way of living out our educational vocation is to ask the right questions and to help young people ask those questions.” That seems consoling at first, but then it becomes more like the Wonderland world of the White Queen, where the rule is “jam tomorrow and jam yesterday – but never jam today.” Christ did ask questions, but always with answers. His cross looks more like an exclamation point than a question mark.

Pope Benedict XVI has said that it is time for pruning away the hesitant Christianity that has forgotten its purpose, fears action and avoids decisions. Cardinal Newman, no bureaucrat, preached: “Our duty lies in risking upon Christ’s word what we have, for what we have not; and doing so in a noble, generous way, not indeed rashly or lightly, still without knowing accurately what we are doing, not knowing either what we give up, nor again what we shall gain; uncertain about our reward, uncertain about our extent of sacrifice, in all respects leaning, waiting upon Him, trusting Him to fulfill His promise . . . in all respects proceeding without carefulness or anxiety about the future.”

The politician and novelist, Edward Bulwer-Lytton, with his prodigious and sometimes mocked gift for turning a phrase, said that punctuality is “the graceful courtesy of princes.” The Prince of Peace is the most gracious of princes, and thus the most punctual. He is always on time for us, and He only asks that we be on time for Him, not someday but today.

Fr. George W. Rutler is the pastor of the Church of our Saviour in New York City. His latest book, Coincidentally: Unserious Reflections on Trivial Connections, is available from Crossroads Publishing.

Vienna Boys' Choir - 'Agnus Dei'

This recording is from a performance in 1998 celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Vienna Boys' Choir.

A Reagan Forum with Steve Forbes

A Reagan Forum with Steve Forbes on January 28, 2011.

For more information on the ongoing works of President Reagan's Foundation, please visit http://www.reaganfoundation.org

Feast of Saint Thomas Aquinas

Angelic Doctor

From Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist

Saint Thomas Aquinas, O.P. is arguably the greatest theologian God has given to the Church. He is an incomparable philosopher and teacher, and a radiant light among the illustrious saints of the Order of Preachers.

To this gentle saint, however, there is a depth and holiness that is present yet often overlooked. When one peels off centuries of commentary and interpretation, the person and sanctity of this great saint emerge. So often Catholics and non-Catholics alike associate St. Thomas with a motionless placid-like spirituality. On the contrary - St. Thomas' spirituality was one of vitality and ardent longing for God. The question of his childhood: "what is God" was the throbbing force in his life, compelling him toward union with the Beloved.

His was a Eucharistic spirituality, evident in his hymns that were, in effect, love-poems to the Hidden God. And what zeal for souls - his entire life was given to the good of souls by the preaching of Truth.

The Angelic Doctor has much to teach us still, nearly 800 years after his death, by his writings, preaching and teaching. His title was "Master" in all these aspects.

We can also learn from him as "Master of the Spiritual Life." These are St. Thomas' most difficult lessons to learn, because he teaches by silence and humility, the watchwords of his spirituality.

Adoro te Devote

House GOP Considers Privatizing Medicare

From Fox News

Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis.

Months after they hammered Democrats for cutting Medicare, House Republicans are debating whether to relaunch their quest to privatize the health program for seniors.

House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., is testing support for his idea to replace Medicare with a fixed payment to buy a private medical plan from a menu of coverage options.

Party leaders will determine if the so-called voucher plan will be part of the budget Republicans put forward in the spring.

"No decisions have been made on the details of our House GOP budget." Michael Steel, a spokesman for Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said Thursday. "There are a lot of ideas out there, and we're going to listen to our members and the American people."

Read the rest of this entry >>

French Watchdog Says No to Same-Sex Marriage

France's law prohibiting gay marriage does not violate the constitution, the country's top constitutional watchdog ruled Friday, all but challenging parliament to debate overturning the ban.

Read the rest of this entry >>

DeMint is Iowa Bound, Aide Hints at Presidential Run

Fox News has reported that an aide to Senator DeMint has  suggested that South Carolina's junior Senator is "open to a presidential run if none of the other contenders proves sufficiently popular - or conservative - enough."

It is also reported that Senator DeMint will visit Iowa on March 26.  DeMint plans to keynote a conference sponsored by Iowa Congressman Steve King.  Iowa, of course, is home to the first presidential preference caucuses.

Christianity the Last Bastion Against European Secularist ‘Totalitarianism’: Austrian Think Tank

From LifeSiteNews

By Hilary White

EU president Herman Von Rompuy

An Austrian think tank and non-governmental organization is warning that freedom of religious expression is “at risk” in Europe from secularist intolerance on the left. While Islamic extremists continue assaults on Christian communities in Egypt, Iraq, Pakistan and around the Middle East and Asia, restrictions on public expressions of religious belief by Christians are growing in Western Europe, the cradle of Christendom. 

 

“You cannot compare injustices here with the situation in, for example, North Korea, India or Pakistan,” observed Gudrun Kugler, a lawyer and director of the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians in Europe. “The Christians who are there in spite of fierce persecution are our great models.”  

Nevertheless, in Europe Christianity is hated because it is “the last obstacle to a new vision of secularity which is so politically correct that it verges on totalitarianism,” she said.

“Christians are increasingly marginalized and are appearing more often in courts over matters related to faith. So I think that we are heading for a bloodless persecution.”

How the Chinese Must See Us

By Patrick J. Buchanan

“O would some power the gift to give us to see ourselves as others see us,” wrote the poet Robert Burns.

As Hu Jintao wings his way home, America’s hectoring still ringing in his ears, he must be thinking that maybe we Americans should stop lecturing them and take a closer look at ourselves.

Revalue your currency, we demand of the Chinese, stop running these trade surpluses at our expense, start practicing free trade, and abandon these mercantilist and protectionist policies.

But why should they? Why should China abandon a trade policy that is working marvelously well for them, and adopt a trade policy that is failing dismally for us? Does that make sense?

Why should any nation emulate the U.S. trade policy of the Bush-Clinton-Bush era that has stripped us of a third of our manufacturing jobs and made us dependent on China and the world for the needs of our national life and the borrowed money to pay for them?

New President Says Catholic University Should Unite Intellect with Virtue

John H. Garvey, J.D., President of The Catholic University of America

John H. Garvey, J.D., was inaugurated yesterday as the 15th President of our alma mater, The Catholic University of America.  He has very big shoes to fill and we wish him well.

Garvey's inaugural address, in which he reflects on Blessed John Henry Newman, suggests that he has thought seriously about not only the distinctively Catholic culture on the campus of America's pontifical university, but the importance of integrating virtue with the intellectual life and thus transforming and renewing the culture.  His inaugural address is here, and the  beautiful  Mass and installation ceremonies can be seen in the video below.

DeMint Introduces Obamacare Repeal in Senate

Senator Jim DeMint

Senator Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina) introduced legislation today to fully repeal the Democrats’ government health care takeover that President Obama signed into law March 23, 2010. 

Thirty-four Republicans have already cosponsored this bill.

The Senator's news release follows:

“Republicans are standing with the American people who are demanding we repeal this government takeover of health care,” said Senator DeMint. “Repealing ObamaCare is vital to the future of our nation and the health of our people. ObamaCare will raise health costs, reduce choices, ration care, hike taxes, cut jobs, increase the national debt, and put bureaucrats between patients and their doctors. It’s time to start over and implement commonsense solutions that allow Americans to choose affordable plans across state lines, end frivolous lawsuits that drive up costs, and gives equitable tax treatment to those who don’t get insurance from their employer.”

Cosponsors of the repeal bill include Senators Kelly Ayotte (R-New Hampshire), John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Roy Blunt (R-Missouri), John Boozman (R-Arkansas), Richard Burr (R-North Carolina), Saxby Chambliss (R-Georgia), Dan Coats (R-Indiana), Tom Coburn (R-Oklahoma), Bob Corker (R-Tennessee), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), John Ensign (R-Nevada), Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), James Inhofe (R-Oklahoma), Johnny Isakson (R-Georgia), Mike Johanns (R-Nebraska), Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin), Jon Kyl (R-Arizona), Mike Lee (R-Utah), John McCain (R-Arizona), Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), Jerry Moran (R-Kansas), Rand Paul (R-Kentucky), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), James Risch (R-Idaho), Pat Roberts (R-Kansas), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Richard Shelby (R-Alabama), John Thune (R-South Dakota), Pat Toomey (R-Pennsylvania), David Vitter (R-Louisiana), and Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi).

“Economists have described ObamaCare as ‘fiscally dangerous,’ warning it will create barriers to job growth and increase costs at a time of great economic uncertainty,” said Senator DeMint. “American families and businesses are struggling and it’s our duty to respond quickly to their calls to repeal this bill and push for solutions that will make health care more affordable.”

• Leading Economists project that ObamaCare will add roughly $500 billion in new health care taxes, passing those costs to patients and will raise the federal budget deficit by more than $500 billion over the next 10 years and by nearly $1.5 trillion in the following decade.
• According to the Congressional Budget Office, ObamaCare will increase health care costs to families by $2,100 per year.
• The Heritage Foundation estimates that the economy will lose 670,000 jobs under the new law, many of them in the health care industry.
• An American Action Forum study finds that employers will be forced to drop employer-sponsored health care coverage for as many as 35 million Americans.
• An analysis from HSA Consulting Services concludes the new law restricts the use of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and reduces the amount of money that can be contributed to Flexible Savings Accounts (FSAs).
• As of Dec. 3, 2010, 222 waivers from ObamaCare’s annual limit requirements had been granted to businesses, labor unions, and insurers, affecting 1.5 million enrollees.
• On Dec. 13, 2010, a U.S. district court ruled that it is unconstitutional for the government to impose an individual mandate to buy health insurance.

The Obama Electoral Strategy: Public Education and Open Asylum Doors

Here are some of Barack Hussein Obama's voters who are unable to read and distinguish between his statist economic policies and his "home country."  If a driving test is required before one is allowed to operate a motor vehicle, shouldn't a civics test be required before one is allowed to choose America's leaders?

Bachmann and Ryan Respond to State of the Union

Nearly Half of NH College's Student Body Travels to DC, Marches for Life

Nearly half of the student body from the Thomas More College of Liberal Arts made the 10 hour trek south to Washington, DC to attend the 2011 March for Life.

“Students left campus at 6:30 last night and arrived in Washington early this morning,” said Annie Clark, Thomas More College’s Director of Student Life.  “We are returning to New Hampshire in just a few hours.  We will be away from campus for 36 hours, and 21 of those hours will have been on a bus—all because we think it is vitally important to stand for life.”

“I am proud of our students,” said Thomas More College President Dr. William Fahey. “This is a tremendous act of bearing witness to the culture of life.  Our College’s commitment to defend the sanctity of life can be clearly seen in the actions of its students.  I am confident that young people like this will lead in our country the renewal of culture.”

Spirits High, Crowds Huge in DC for 38th March for Life

From Catholic World News

38th Annual March for Life in Washington, D. C.

Braving bitter cold in Washington, DC, and virtually ignored by America’s mainstream media, hundreds of thousands of pro-life activists joined in the 38th March for Life. 

At a rally on the Mall before the March itself began, enthusiastic participants heard members of the newly installed Republican majority in the House of Representatives pledge their support for the pro-life cause. “Without respect for life, freedom is in jeopardy,” said the Speaker of the House, John Boehner.

Rep. Eric Cantor, the majority leader, told the cheering crowd that a bid to ban taxpayer funding for abortion would be the “number one priority” for Republicans in the House. Democratic majorities have steadily advanced abortion funding in past years, he said, but “now the tide has turned.”

An estimated 10,000 people had packed the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception for a vigil Mass on the evening before the March. Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, of Houston, the chairman of the US bishops’ pro-life committee, was the main celebrant; 4 other cardinals and 39 bishops concelebrated with hundreds of priests. Remarking on the heavy proportion of young people in the congregation, Cardinal DiNardo said: “We your elders become exhausted just watching you.”

Source(s): these links will take you to other sites, in a new window.

• GOP House Leader at March for Life: permanent ban on taxpayer funding of abortion top priority (LifeSite News)
• 5 Cardinals, 39 Bishops, 10,000 faithful pack basilica for Vigil for Life Mass (LifeSite News)

Michelle Bachmann Should Not Be Overlooked

Minnesota Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann

It was an oversight to have not included Michelle Bachmann in our currently running poll on possible 2012 Republican presidential primary candidates.  

We have great admiration for Mrs. Bachmann and will certainly include her in any future polls.  We could not agree more with the following column.  A Bachmann candidacy could be the spark for a greatly needed re-dedication to Constitutional government.

Bachmann: Reagan in Pumps

From CNSNews

By J. Matt Barber

From the instant his fruitful eight-year reign ended, Republicans have pined for the next Ronald Reagan. To date, no man has succeeded in filling the conservative standard-bearer's legendary boots. Well, maybe it's time to swap boots for pumps. Could he be a she?

Sarah Palin, you say? Perhaps, but there's actually another outspoken, attractive, fearlessly conservative Tea Party favorite firing up the center-right grass roots: Rep. Michele Bachmann, Minnesota Republican.

Forget a Senate run. The buzz inside the Beltway is that Mrs. Bachmann may be looking to add a woman's touch to the Oval Office (beyond just sprucing up its temporary occupant's eyesore decor). Her spokesman, Doug Sachtleben, has confirmed to media that the congresswoman is considering a potential presidential run, saying: "Nothing's off the table."

Mrs. Bachmann also hinted at the possibility, recently telling MinnPost.com: "We're going to have a deep bench for 2012, I have no doubt, and I think what people are asking for is a bold, strong, constitutional conservative."

Mrs. Bachmann is all that and more. Let's put aside for a moment the delightful prospect that the mere chance of a President Bachmann would be worth the price of admission if only to watch Chris Matthews' punkin burst about the set of his ratings-scraping MSNBC sideshow. The truth is that a Bachmann presidency could be just the shot in the arm Republicans - and our worse-for-the-wear republic - desperately need.

Mrs. Bachmann has shown unwavering commitment to the same conservative precepts - be they fiscal, national defense or social - held near and dear by the Gipper himself. Precepts that, when properly applied, took us from a deep Carter recession - a tiny scale model of the Obama recession - to abiding prosperity.

Abiding, that is, until the Reagan Revolution dust settled and godless, big-government "progressives" wormed their way back into leadership.

Mrs. Bachmann has been a stalwart in advocating on behalf of constitutional conservatism. She's chairman of the House Tea Party Caucus and has put her money where her mouth is, voting consistently in Congress to limit the size and scope of government, fortify national security and protect life, liberty and the natural family. National Journal rated Mrs. Bachmann among the most conservative members of Congress in 2009.

Moreover, as with Reagan, it's principle over popularity with the feminine firebrand. She's evidently indifferent to what the moonbat media and the larger loony left think about her. This is an indispensable quality in a leader "We the People" can get behind. She's a maverick's maverick, not the media's.

Still, Mrs. Bachmann is not afraid to shake things up in her own Republican Party. What she lacks in physical stature, she makes up for in - to borrow one of the mainstream media's favorite terms - gravitas. If it takes a step stool to kick a moderate Republican in name only's tail into line, the counterestablishment lawmaker will climb it and kick it.

True, a House member hasn't been elected president since James Garfield, and a woman never has. But as Barack Obama, our first black president, might tell you: We live in an age of firsts.

And speaking of Mr. Obama: In the unlikely event that you could untether him from his tele-prompter binky long enough to debate Mrs. Bachmann, I'd bet my share of the stimulus money that she'd mop the floor with him.

Will she run? Could she win? It remains to be seen. But one thing's for sure: The fireworks leading up to the 2012 presidential election will be something to behold. Based on her penchant for telling it like it is, her existing widespread Tea Party support and her fast-growing national popularity, if this intelligent, principled, bomb-dropping bombshell were to run, I suspect her campaign might just catch fire.

China's Coming Fall

Like the Soviet Union before it, much of China’s supposed boom is illusory — and just as likely to come crashing down

A police building burning in Weng’an County in Guizhou Province, China.  Other government buildings have also been burned by rioters.

From the National Post (Canada)

By Lawrence Solomon

In 1975, while I was in Siberia on a two-month trip through the U.S.S.R., the illusion of the Soviet Union’s rise became self-evident. In the major cities, the downtowns seemed modern, comparable to what you might see in a North American city. But a 20-minute walk from the centre of downtown revealed another world — people filling water buckets at communal pumps at street corners. The U.S.S.R. could put a man in space and dazzle the world with scores of other accomplishments yet it could not satisfy the basic needs of its citizens. That economic system, though it would largely fool the West until its final collapse 15 years later, was bankrupt, and obviously so to anyone who saw the contradictions in Soviet society.

The Chinese economy today parallels that of the latter-day Soviet Union — immense accomplishments co-existing with immense failures. In some ways, China’s stability today is more precarious than was the Soviet Union’s before its fall. China’s poor are poorer than the Soviet Union’s poor, and they are much more numerous — about one billion in a country of 1.3 billion. Moreover, in the Soviet Union there was no sizeable middle class — just about everyone was poor and shared in the same hardships, avoiding resentments that might otherwise have arisen.

A Sermon by Father Jay Scott Newman - 'Developments Important to the Universal Church'

Sermon of Reverend Jay Scott Newman
 
Pastor

St. Mary's Catholic Church

Greenville, South Carolina

January 16, 2011

The Philippine Madrigal Singers - 'Anima Christi'

The Anima Christi, sung here by The Philippine Madrigal Singers, is often said after receiving Communion and dates from the early 14th century.  The translation given below is by Blessed John Henry Newman. 

Soul of Christ, be my sanctification;
Body of Christ, be my salvation;
Blood of Christ, fill all my veins;
Water of Christ's side, wash out my stains;
Passion of Christ, my comfort be;
O good Jesu, listen to me;
In Thy wounds I fain would hide;
Ne'er to be parted from Thy side;
Guard me, should the foe assail me;
Call me when my life shall fail me;
Bid me come to Thee above,
With Thy saints to sing Thy love,
World without end. Amen.

From the Pastor: 'A Sign of a Special Relationship'

A Weekly Column by Father George Rutler

Pope Benedict XVI baptises a newborn baby in Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel

IN Baptism, the Holy Spirit unites our pasts and futures with Christ who is the Beginning and the End. Our baptismal name is a sign of that relationship. Parents choose a name for their child because they are procreators on behalf of the Creator. This is indicated in the Creation narrative when the first man and woman are allowed to name every living creature. This taxonomy is a sign of cooperation with God's plan of salvation. So the authority to name is more significant than the name chosen, but the name also is important because it symbolizes an appeal to God.

In the Bible, names are changed to signify a new circumstance. Abram became Abraham in the old dispensation, and in the new covenant Saul became Paul. The first pope to change his name was John II in 533. His name had been that of the pagan god Mercury, whose figure sculpted by Jules Coutan faces us each day over the façade of Grand Central Terminal, a fine symbol for travel as he represents speed, but not suitable as a name for a Bishop of Rome, where time is measured in centuries rather than minutes. It is not clear why his father Projectus named him Mercurius, save that it might have been fashionable. By being fashionable, fashion quickly becomes unfashionable.

Joseph Ratzinger had one of the best Christian names, but he called himself Benedict as pope in tribute both to St. Benedict, whose monasticism became a core of European civilization, and to Benedict XV, who desperately tried to save Europe from self-destruction. When he baptized 21 infants this month in the Sistine Chapel, Benedict XVI remarked on the importance of names as signs of divine adoption: "Every baptised child acquires the character of the son of God, beginning with their Christian name, an unmistakable sign that the Holy Spirit causes man to be born anew in the womb of the Church.”

There is a tendency to name children now for perfumes, celebrities and sports equipment. The retired bishop of La Spezia in Liguria, Italy, remarked that in 2008, of 500 girls baptized in his city, "not one was registered or baptized with the name Maria." Any decent name can become Christian, but the Catechism teaches that names not be given that are "foreign to Christian sentiment," and that the names of saints are models for children. "The name is the icon of the person. It demands respect as a sign of the dignity of the one who bears it" (#2158). Whatever our name, may we be faithful to our Lord who has a plan for each one of us: "To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it” (Rev. 2:17).

Fr. George W. Rutler is the pastor of the Church of our Saviour in New York City. His latest book, Coincidentally: Unserious Reflections on Trivial Connections, is available from Crossroads Publishing.

Dr. Larry Arnn Opening the Hillsdale College Kirby Center

Dr. Larry P. Arnn, President of Hillsdale College, delivers the opening address of the Allan P. Kirby, Jr., Center for Constitutional Studies and Citizenship in Washington, D.C., December 3, 2010.

What Reagan Thought His Kids Should Know; What Obama Thought His Kids Should Know

From American Thinker

By Ed Lasky

 

The mark of a leader is what he believes. Beliefs are the foundation of his life. This is one reason presidential biographies are so revealing and why so often they serve as guides to explain presidential actions. This is often why candidates have their lives examined -- or why they should be examined, since the principles they hold dear are talismans regarding how they will govern as presidents. What a father teaches his kids can be the distillation of the best of these beliefs -- the ones they consider the most vital, if not sacred.

I kept this in mind when reading Peggy Noonan's book on Ronald Reagan, When Character was King: A Story of Ronald Reagan.

Eduardo Verastegui: A Pro-Life, Counter-Cultural Hero

European Parliament Adopts Resolution Condemning Attacks Against Christians

From Vatican Radio

Members of the European Parliament today adopted a resolution condemning persecution and discrimination based on religion. In particular MEP’s condemned attacks against Christians in countries including Egypt, and Iraq.

They also called for a strategy to enforce the human right to freedom of religion, including a list of measures against states who knowingly fail to protect religious denominations.
Lydia O’Kane spoke to MEP Mario Mauro, who is head of the delegation of the EPP group in the European parliament.

He says there is now a growing awareness in Europe of the plight of Christians in many countries.

“I think we are in a very significant moment in the history of the European institutions, because for the first time we declared this kind of judgement, the fact that there exists the problem of persecution of Christians.”

MEP’s also want the forthcoming External Affairs Council of 31 January 2011 to discuss the persecution of Christians and respect for religious freedom. 

Listen to Mario Mauro's interview with Lydia O'Kane. 

Schedule of Events for National March for Life

From LifeSiteNews

By Matt Anderson

In order to help pro-life pilgrims plan their trip for the upcoming national March for Life in Washington D.C., LifeSiteNews.com has compiled a list of events in and around D.C. Please check back frequently as this list will be updated as more details become available. If you know of an event that is not included on this list, contact us here.

 

For Listings of local pro-life marches, as well as bus trips going to the national March for Life from your area, please see: www.marchforlife2011.com 

Saturday, January 22

Mass for Life - Georgetown University
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. 

March for Life Convention
12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Hyatt Regency Hotel, Washington D.C.
LSN’s Matthew Anderson and Caitlin Bowers will rotate their presence at the LSN booth in the displays area. Stop by to say hello! 

Sunday, January 23:

Cardinal O’Connor Conference on Life
8:00 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.
Georgetown University, Washington D.C.
See full schedule.

March for Life Convention
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Hyatt Regency Hotel, Washington D.C 

Students for Life of America National Conference
8:00 a.m. -  9:00 p.m.
North Bethesda Marriott
5701 Marinelli Road
Bethesda, Maryland 20852

March for Life White House Mini-Rally
3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Lafayette Park, Washington D.C. 

Opening mass for National Prayer Vigil for Life
6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C.
All night prayer vigil to follow. See schedule for details. 

Monday, January 24

Giant 2010 Youth Rally and Mass for Life
7:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Verizon Wireless Center - Washington, D.C.

Closing mass for National Prayer Vigil for Life
7:30 a.m.
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington D.C.

Lutherans for Life Worship Service
Immanuel Lutheran Church
1801 Russell Rd.
Alexandria, VA 22301 

March for Life Convention
8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Hyatt Regency Hotel, Washington D.C.
Rally for Life
12:00 p.m.
National Mall and 7th Street
Washington D.C.

March for Life
1:00 p.m.
Washington D.C. National Mall
See details and route map.

National Pro-life Youth Rally
2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Silent No More Awareness Campaign - testimonies
4:00 p.m.
Steps of the Supreme Court, Washington D.C.
Immediately following the March women from the Silent No More Awareness Campaign will be giving testimonies of their experiences with abortion. 

March for Life Rose Dinner
6:00 p.m.
Congresswoman Michele Bachmann to Deliver Keynote Address
Hyatt Regency Hotel, Washington D.C. 

The Eight States Running Out Of Homebuyers

From 24/7 Wall Street

The single biggest problem in the U.S. real estate market is simple: There are very few homebuyers.

That seems obvious, but the "buyers' strike" has caused house prices to drop, along with an epidemic of foreclosures. What's worse, the long depression in real estate is probably not over. S&P has forecast that home prices will drop by 7% to 10% this year. The S&P Case-Shiller Index has dropped for most of the 20 largest real estate markets over the last several months. RealtyTrac recently reported that more than 1 million homes were foreclosed upon in 2010.

Many economists argue that the housing market may take four or five years to recover. Even if that's proven to be true, the all-time highs of 2006 may never be reached again.

The devastation in some regions will never be repaired. Parts of Oregon, Georgia and Arizona have become progressively more deserted. Since jobless rates may never recover, there is little reason to hope that the populations in these areas will ever rebound. Some homes will be torn down in these pockets of high foreclosures in the hopes that reducing supplies will boost prices. Whether that idea will work in hard-hit areas such as Flint, Mich., and Yuma, Ariz., remains to be seen.

Has RomneyCare Put ObamaCare on a Path to Repeal?

Investor's Business Daily has an excellent article by Sally Pipes on what RomneyCare has done to Massachusetts and why that experience underscores the urgency of repealing ObamaCare.

The Heritage Foundation provides the following snapshot of how Mitt Romney's plan is destroying Massachusetts:

Of the 410,000 newly insured in Massachusetts, three in four are either paying nothing or very little for their insurance and spending has exploded. 

• The health overhaul was really Medicaid expansion, and with the rolls up nearly 25 percent since 2006, Massachusetts is struggling to pay the bills.
• Despite the near-universal insurance, the state still spends $414 million on uncompensated care, an expense that was promised would disappear.
• Emergency room use has not dropped as predicted --from 2006 to 2008, emergency room use under Mass Care increased by 9 percent.

In addition, private employer insurance costs, far from dropping, have continued to increase.  A 2010 study published in the Forum for Health Economics and Policy found that health insurance premiums in Massachusetts, prior to its overhaul, increased at a rate 3.7 percent slower than the national average.  Post-overhaul, they are increasing 5.8 percent faster.  The individual mandate, as onerous as it is, is set at a level to encourage gaming the system, says Pipes.

• A family with an income of $55,000 in 2014 will face the choice of paying $4,428 a year for health insurance or a $550 fine.

• Given that insurance will be available on demand, it is rational to pay the fine until a serious illness strikes.

Ed Secretary: States ‘Dummied Down’ Standards Because It ‘Was Good For Politicians’ Seeking Re-election

When speaking before Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan charged politicians with “dummy-ing down” state education standards under the No Child Left Behind Act to increase their chances of being re-elected.

“Historically in our country, I think particularly under the current law, No Child Left Behind, lots of states dummied down standards,” said Duncan at the National Action Network’s Martin Luther King, Jr. day prayer breakfast on Monday.  “They reduced standards. Why? Wasn’t good for children; wasn’t good for education; wasn’t good for the country -- was good for politicians.”

Read the rest of this entry >>

Sunlit Uplands Now Available to Kindle Readers

 Sunlit Uplands is now one of a select number of blogs available to readers using the amazing, new Amazon Kindle!

The revolutionary reading device is Amazon's #1 bestselling item for two years running. It’s also the most-wished-for, most-gifted, and has the most 5-star reviews of any product on Amazon.  

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