George Tiller Killed

Most of you will have seen the news that late-term abortionist George Tiller has been shot and killed.

The only correct response for a pro-life Christian is to pray for his soul, and I hope that we all would immediately do so. There certainly should be no statements such as "he had it coming" or "well, it's what he deserves". Obviously, no authentic Catholic would hold such views - but others may do. Please be prepared to rebuke fellow Christians who express them! We should pray for his soul, because he will certainly need it!

However, the main reason I am writing about this today is because of President Barack "Ooo, is that a place where I can advance my agenda? Gangway!" Obama's statement.

At time of writing, there is no evidence the shooter had any connection with the pro-life movement (or even claimed connection with the pro-life movement - the pro-life movement decries all murder, even that of abortionists!) Evidence is being looked for and - speaking candidly - it is likely the shooter was motivated by anti-abortion sentiment (although not pro-life sentiment).

However, there is no evidence at this stage - and saying or implying "George Tiller was shot by an anti-abortionist" is wrong and unfair. We should wait for a clear answer before making any comment.

Unless, of course, we are some sort of looney pro-abort, socialist politician seeking to make a fast buck. To quote our illustrious (or is that "ill-us and try-us"?) leader;

However profound our differences as Americans over difficult issues such as abortion, they cannot be resolved by heinous acts of violence.

Excuse me, Mister President? I'm sorry, I don't think I heard you right. Could you perhaps repeat that for this stupid pro-life Catholic your administration has defined as a potential terrorist?

However profound our differences as Americans over difficult issues such as abortion, they cannot be resolved by heinous acts of violence.

Yeah, that is what I thought you said. You total imbecile.

Point the first; we don't know this man was motivated by any issue connected with abortion. Sure, he might have been, but we don't know. And where I come from, we deal in facts, Mister President. Not speculation in order to advance a baby-killing agenda. Facts. I have, personally, crushed rumors you are a Muslim, Mister President - mostly because there was no evidence you were, not because there was evidence you were not. I did not speculate and spread rumors because that ain't nice, you fool!

Point the second; you mention "abortion" and "heinous acts of violence" in the same sentence, and imply they should not be connected? Is that some kind of attempt at being funny? I liked your self-depreciating quip about the Greek columns, and also your mockery of Joe Biden more, Mister President. You are suggesting that abortion should never be resolved by violence?

What else do you CALL an abortion if not an act of violence, Barry O? Seriously, dude - you do know what abortion entails, right? Hey, why don't you register for a premium account on RealCatholicTV.com and watch The Cost of Abortion which contains a lot of footage of actual abortions? For about a millionth of the price of your socialist bailout, you could learn something! What a concept!

ABORTION IS AN ACT OF VIOLENCE, MISTER PRESIDENT! IT KILLS PEOPLE! IT KILLS PEOPLE IN HIDEOUS METHODS INVOLVING SUCKING THEIR BRAINS FROM THEIR SKULLS AND THEN TEARING THEM LIMB FROM LIMB!

What was done to George Tiller was wrong. It was an act of violence. The fact he himself bestowed violence on thousands of human beings does not make it right. But your idiocy, Mister President, in decrying violence surrounding the issue of abortion is simply hypocritical.

It's kind of like cutting $100million of "pork" from the budget and then increasing spending by . . . . oh, wait.

Yeah.

Another article

I have read a few articles today, one of which I posted here earlier.

And here is another one - concentrating on so-called "gay marriage" in Mass-uh-chew-sits.

I found it very interesting and insightful - not a huge amount there I couldn't have guessed, but it is good to see the figures to back up my precognition.

Interesting article

Although not directly related to abortion and the pro-life movement, this article is interesting and I thought it should be shared with all.

It discusses the trend towards single-motherhood in the USA, and some of the reasons behind it. What is most interesting is the discussion of how this is bad for children, and also how single motherhood (in many ways stemming from feminist principles) is, in fact, hurting women just as much if not more as any cruel patriarchal oppression found in a "barefoot and pregnant" marriage situation.

So, read this article. It is not, directly, about abortion - but it speaks to many of the same issues which abortion stems from.

Yay Ned!

In a recent post, I wrote that the Archdiocese of Detroit had not effectively communicated the stance of their leader, Abp. Vigneron, on the Obama @ ND scandal. I pointed out the only reference to this I could find was in a buried press release on the AoD website. I bemoaned this state of affairs, saying the Communications Director hadn't sufficiently conveyed the (excellent) stance of the Archdiocese.

Well, it appears I must now withdraw any such criticism, because Ned McGrath has now not only communicated Abp. Vigneron's stance clearly to the local newspaper, but has also made a statement of his own (or, perhaps more accurately, said a statement himself in his capacity as Communications Director).

Here is the article and it is good.

Also referenced in the article are Michael Voris and Diane K., so we have three Metro-Detroit Catholics speaking up here, together with Abp. Vigneron (whose voice is not heard directly, but whose opposition is made clear).

This is an excellent thing, and I salute everyone for this clear stance. Seriously, check out Ned's words - those are pretty harsh and very clear. He mocks the words of Obama asking for a fair-minded debate by pointing out Obama's policies have slaughtered the opposition before the debate even began! That is a good tack and a good line, Ned - I applaud it unreservedly.

RealCatholicTV.com will be covering the Notre Dame protests and other events over the next few days (we had a cameraman down there doing the cameraman thing, together with Mike doing some on-camera work) so watch this space! Or, rather, watch this space.

Crossing the terminator into day . . .

A poetic title. Who can tell me where it comes from?

In any case, it is apropos. My wife found the following article;

This is a link. Click it, grasshopper, and you will be ENLIGHTENED.

For those of you with an aversion to clicking links, allow me to bottom-line it for you. There is a significant shift towards a pro-life stance by Americans. There are more people self-identifying as pro-life than pro-choice now, the first time such a thing has been since these questions were first asked.

Of course, a question must be asked - what does "pro-life" mean to the majority of people? Does it mean (as it should) "no abortions, no embryonic stem-cell research and no contraception"? No, it does not - this is a cafeteria style pro-life identifier. Still, this is a significant step - these are people who are saying, on balance, they support the life of a child more than they support the choice of a mother.

A good development, I think.

Associated polls (also available at the link above) suggest even more positive news; the number of people thinking abortion should be illegal in most or all circumstances is high - it is a figure which like the giant beanstalk in the eponymous tale of Jack has grown since we last looked. It appears we are exchanging sacred cows for some kind of useful magic bean.

That sentence really doesn't mean anything, it just sounds good.

So, all in all, a surprising poll result and one which I find encouraging. Is it the be-all and end-all of the situation? It is not - but this is how it begins. To belabour the metaphor (in fact, to drag it kicking and screaming and practically beat it to death) we have sold our sacred cow and bought magic beans. Now we need to climb the beanstalk and kill the giant who wants to grind our bones to make his bread.

Hey, this isn't actually a bad metaphor, now I look at it. Hi-ho-hi-ho, it's off to work I go . . .

More from the icon of Americana

As we reported (a fancy term when it just means I slammed something out in Blogger, really) a while ago, a Bishop with a supremely American name made a wonderful statement about Obama at ND and the various issues surrounding honoring a "homicidal" (his words, not mine - but only because he got there first) man who supports abortion at a soi dissant Catholic university.

Long link there, I know.

Anyway, some Liberal chap called Dionne wrote an op-ed piece at the Washington Post which was picked by the Sioux City Journal. This article basically said (and, please, read it rather than trusting my assessment, I don't mind) "Ha! In your face, Conservatives! The Pope likes Obama because L'Osservatore Romano says Obama is a-okay!"

Ooooo-kay. Where to begin?

Well, I would begin - but I am called Simon Rafe, which is perhaps about an un-American name as one can get and still be allowed in this fine country (p.s. it is pronounced Ray-f not Ra-fey and it is Old English, not Middle Eastern). Hence, my comments lack the "mom, flag and apple pie" quality I desire to provide here.

Enter like a red-white-and-blue bolt of lightning Bishop R. Walter Nickless of Sioux City!

Yes, Bishop Nickless writes a rebuttal to this poorly researched article where he makes it very clear the words of L'Osservatore Romano are NOT official Church teaching (any more than the op-ed pieces of the Washington Post of NY Times are official policies of the White House - although they usually are . . .) and cannot be treated as such.

An important article I think we should all read, as the matter of L'Osservatore's foolish article is not going to go away. We all need to know how to respond to this.

And for further information on how to better respond to questions about the faith, make sure you check out RealCatholicTV.com, where you can get daily news and commentary PACKED with Catholic information!

Internet Archaeology

Did you know the media - even some of the Catholic media - just can't be bothered?

There are some things I can't be bothered with - like, I can't be bothered to make coffee when I don't want any and everyone else does, but they all seem to be just bad at making coffee. Seriously, guys - lukewarm water poured over wet grounds from yesterday doesn't make coffee. It makes . . . I dunno what it makes, but it sure as sunrise ain't coffee.

Ladies and gentlemen, my co-workers. Loyal and faithful, can't make coffee for toffee.

BUT when it comes to reporting important news, we are TOTALLY down with that. Hence RealCatholicTV.com and it's FREE daily newscast! Get news! Every day! Catholic News! FREE! Some of my favorite words there (other favorite words are "chortle" and "defenestrate").

According to Diane K of the Te Deum Blog, Archbishop Alan Vigneron of Detroit (that is, our local Ordinary here in the D) made a statement concerning the Obama @ ND scandal. This statement has not (at time of press) been made very clear or open - certainly, I hadn't heard of it, nor had RealCatholicTV.com. Given the fact we are the people who break stories which happen on the other side of this country this seems to show the piece was buried.

And buried it was. Diane has put on her Indiana Jones hat and gone digging, however! (I would say she put on her Lara Croft shorts, but I know Diane - she has some sense of self-respect and would not dress as Her Grace Duchess Croft "dresses". Actually, if I recall correctly, Diane does own a hat not entirely unlike that of Indiana Jones!)

Anyway, internet archaeology by Diane K!

HERE IS THE LINK, long hidden from the eyes of man and now brought to light by Diane!

So, it seems that Abp. Vigneron HAS made a statement, but the statement is not clear and obvious. The director of communications for the AoD is one Ned McGrath (identified as such on the page linked to above).

Come on, Ned - people have been questioning Abp. Vigneron's stance on this issue because we all thought he was silent! He DID say something! You should have made it clearer - if we missed this press release, you could have made it more obvious!

So, hats off to Abp. Vigneron! Good man, making a clear statement on this matter AND writing to Fr. Jenkins in MARCH! But why didn't I know about this beforehand? It is a great shame people have not recognised Abp. Vigneron's principled stance for what it is (a good thing!) because we simply didn't know about it.

Thanks Diane K for her archaeology! Dum-de-dum-dum, dum-de-dum! Dum-de-dum-dum, dum-de-dum-diddle-de-dum!