Rick Santorum is right

Presidential candidate Rick Santorum is taking criticism for saying that birth control hurts women. He is being called an extremist, and the MSM is using this as a way to attack him and undermine his credibility.

What's being ignored is - he's right.

He was addressing more the social consequences: the cheapening of sex, the separation of sex from family and marriage, increased exploitation of women, and the rise in the number of single parent homes being among some of those effects.

That's reality.

But there are also psychological effects, including the lowering of self esteem, later regrets about not having children, and a decrease in the ability to commit to and sustain relationships.

And then there are the physical effects. It's not a coincidence that the "sexual revolution" that accompanied the availability of birth control has coincided with a dramatic rise is venereal diseases, for example. Some methods of birth control provided some protection from these - the myth of "safe sex" - but the increased sexual activity and in the number of partners ironically leads to increased chances of infection.

And when it comes to the pill, the long term effects are proving deadly.

Even Planned Parenthood acknowledges that the pill leads to increased risk form blood clots, strokes, heart attacks, liver tumors, gallstones, and jaundice.

Meanwhile, more and more studies are showing that the pill is linked to increased chances of developing cancer, particularly breast cancer. Doctors now include it as one of the significant factors for cancer. The World Health Organization lists the pill as a Class 1 carcinogen.

You don't see a lot of this in the MSM. Women are not being informed: Not a great sign of concern or respect for them.

I'd like to see Santorum cite some of the medical statistics when he talks about birth control, otherwise the media will continue to label him as extremist.

Because, I suspect, they are terrified at the thought of having to call him "President"

Pax et bonum

This is the Stuff (Rock of Faith cover)

My ukulele debut last August.

Pax et bonum

Lent is almost here

With Ash Wednesday coming next week, I've been thinking about what I'll do for Lent this year.

Traditionally, people make sacrifices - giving up something they like. Chocolate, coffee, television, whatever.

Nothing wrong with that - and sometimes giving up those things is really good and needed. I once used Lent as a way to begin a diet. (Hmm, maybe I need to think about doing that again!)

Years ago I also heard of a different approach: Taking on something new to help with spiritual growth. That's how I got in the habit of saying the rosary, for example.

This year, I'm going to try a combination.

I'm giving up Facebook for Lent. I spend too much time reading posts, responding to posts, composing my own posts, and so on. Plus, sometimes the things I see or read make me angry, and I find myself if not responding unkindly - though I sometimes do - at least thinking unkind thoughts.

Instead, I will use some of that time to become more regular about my Bible and spiritual reading. So in the morning, instead of turning on the computer after walking the dog I will sit down and begin my day with the Bible. And when I get home from work, I will grab some spiritual work and read for a few minutes.

Pax et bonum

A Message to Secular Franciscans on HHS

Pax et bonum

Franciscan meeting: Growth

Tonight, two people began formation, and we had a visitor, a Catholic revert, who seems interested in continuing.

Alleluia.

It is good to see new growth or potential growth in the group. I believe that in these troubled times we need the prayers of groups like my little Franciscan Fraternity to help our nation and out world.

Pax et bonum

Obama vs. Catholics

Back in 2008, I warned my fellow Catholics about Barack Obama's positions on abortion, embryonic stem cell research, and other moral issues. Given his track record, there was little doubt about what he was going to do - except on the part of some Catholics co-opted and deluded by Obama and his promises.

At the time, I said I can't imagine how any Catholic could in good conscience vote for him.

Sadly, the majority of Catholics who voted did vote for him.

We have in the three years since he took office seen him implement more and more of the Culture of Death. This HHS mandate is just the latest - and it won't be the last. I'm optimistic that when the HHS decision gets into the courts it will ultimately be ruled unconstitutional. But it will take a fight, and there will likely be other rulings by this administration that will challenge people of conscience.

As for this fall, I repeat my 2008 observation even more emphatically: I can't see how any Catholic can vote for him this year. But there will be Catholics who are not paying attention, who don't care, who are Catholic in name only who will still vote for him.

Hopefully, this latest move - and the resulting backlash - will open enough Catholic voters' eyes that he will lose the Catholic vote and the election. (Keeping in mind that I'm not a fan of the man who appears on track to be the Republican nominee, Mitt Romney.)

Or maybe the reaction will open Obama's eyes enough that he will repent and change his policies.

Pax et bonum

Gandhi's Seven Deadly Social Sins

Wealth without work.
Pleasure without conscience.
Knowledge without character.
Commerce without morality.
Science without humanity.
Religion without sacrifice.
Politics without principle.

- Mohandas Gandhi

Should he be considered an honorary Franciscan?

Pax et bonum