"Things"

1. Sometimes, one statement can capture the entire essence of an issue or problem. Here is a medical researcher, talking about the use of human beings, conceived through IVF but now frozen in the embryonic stage of their development, for medical research purposes, which, of course, will result in their destruction: "It's really mind-boggling to me these things are going to be discarded and scientists haven't been allowed to use them to do research". You read that right. "Things". There is the Culture of Death, in all its utilitarian squalor. I'm going to blog about this later this week.

2. In the same vein, some researchers have developed a mathematical classification system to select the "best" IVF embryos for implantation. How much further alienated can assisted reproduction get from the intrinsic link between humanity and procreation, much less sex and marital love? This epitomizes the dehumanization of the whole process and industry.

3. More of the inside story about that awful Connecticut anti-Catholic bill, including an analysis of some of the forces behind it -- principally the dissident group "Voices of the Faithful" (sic), aided by some professors at universities in the Jesuit tradition. The agenda is way broader than mere financial "accountability" -- the goal is to usurp control of our parishes so that they become congregational in governance. Anybody check recently how congregational-style churches are keeping to the faith that comes to us from the Apostles? The Church in CT is mobilizing to fight this repressive legislation, but make no mistake -- I fear that this is just a trial balloon for bills that will come to other states too. St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More, please pray for our Church.

4. An excellent summary of the moral, scientific and political blunder by the 100% anti-life President's lifting of the limitations on funding for embryonic stem cell research. By the way, he also rescinded the executive order that required funding for ESC alternatives because, well, just because. Yeah, science over politics, that's surely what's going on. It has nothing to do with giving shovels full of money to the Cult of Moloch's biomedical research division. Isn't it finally time for his "pro-life supporters" to stand up and admit their error?

5. When you turn Catholic schools into public charter schools, guess what? Yeah, there's still an open school there, but it's stopped being Catholic. And that's somehow a good thing?

6. Sorry, it's been lots of bad news lately. But let's keep our eye on the ball -- it's Lent, and we're on our way to Calvary, which is the only way to the Empty Tomb. Keep up the good work.

7. I'm off to Albany today. I'm doing temporal punishment for my sins by lobbying the State Legislature on the Catholic Conference's Lobby Day. Yeah, it's about as miserable as it sounds, but at least I'll have a couple of the Sisters of Life with me. Please pray for us.