Killing Children, Getting Paid

1. The National Institutes of Health issued new guidelines on embryonic stem cell research, permitting the destruction of young human beings whose parents no longer want them and who agree in writing that they can be dismembered for spare parts. Okay, the guidelines don't put it quite that plainly, but that's what it's all about. And the notion that this reflects some "ethical standards"? Please. See the commentary here and here. Meanwhile, our rulers, who believe in "science over ideology", continue to demagogue and propagandize about ESC research.

2. Maggie Gallagher lays it out very bluntly -- if opponents of same-sex "marriage" don't get organized, we are going to be marginalized and thrown out of politics and polite society. Think that's a scare tactic? Then read this op-ed from the Times, which doesn't even sugar-coat the thuggish threat: "It is justice, not a storm, that is gathering. Only those who have spread the poisons of bigotry and fear have any reason to be afraid." The Church's institutional opposition to this is not enough -- individual people (i.e., donors and voters) need to get organized on the grassroots level. Try the National Organization for Marriage.

3. Rudy Giuliani, an ally on same-sex "marriage"? Don't count on it. "Civil unions" are the Trojan Horse of the SSM movement -- if the legislature tries to be Solomonic and enact a CU law, just watch the "gay rights" advocates run down to court to transform it into marriage via the Equal Protection clause.

4. New poll shows very broad support for conscience protection for health care workers. Meanwhile, pro-life doctors talk about the dangers they face, and the effect it will have on their practices. This is a winning issue for us, and we need to push it hard against the faux "pro-choice" forces.

5. Our Daily Paper, with its usual filters on, continuing to prove that they just don't understand a Christian when they see one. Here, their coverage of Archbishop Dolan's Sunday homily. It is comforting, in a way, to see that some things never change, including the blindness of the Times.

6. Whenever the Devil advances on some fronts, he begins to plan his advance on others. Never forget that euthanasia is right around the corner, waiting for its turn. See here and here.

7. Ah, my alma mater, Harvard, not wanting to fall too far behind in the Abortion Apologist Commencement Speaker sweepstakes, has invited truth- and charity-challenged Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to give an address. Okay, it's the "Kennedy School", so what can you expect? But what will they do if the nomination crashes and burns before then? Maybe they could invite her pal George Tiller.

8. The papal Urbi et Orbi message went out in 27 languages, including Esperanto.

9. Yesterday was the fourth anniversary of Pope Benedict's election to the See of Peter. Please God, many more years of this pontificate! It was also Patriot's Day, the anniversary of the Shot Heard 'Round the World (the Battles of Lexington and Concord, not Bobby Thompson's home run). Please God, many more years of liberty!

10. Blogged over the weekend on intrinsic evil. I hope to blog today or tomorrow on the NIH guidelines.