Friday, October 29, 2010

The Catholic Defender Introduces Dr. Gregory Thompson

Every now and then, you get the chance to meet someone who is very special in their love for the Lord, their desire to follow God's will in their life.

I want to introduce to our audience Dr. Gregory Thompson. He has previously been featured on our radio show.

I encourage you to check out this two part show that discusses his involvement at Notre Dame.

He also gives his testimony of his return back to the Catholic Faith.

Dr. Thompson continues to have a national presence speaking before many groups on behalf of the unborn child. The following article comes from Dr. Thompson:

Joshua 1:9, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go".


No matter who wins the November, if we do not turn back to Jesus, and with honor and glory to the King of Kings, stop murdering the babies, and stop thinking we are smarter than God as we do what is right in our own eyes, know that our nation will continue to deteriorate into a moral cesspool that will continue to murder children and worse.

God is sovereign, so we have to hope, and it is only because of HIS love and mercy for us that we have an opportunity to turn things around. So we need to put on our Breastplate, and prepare for war, with a perseverance that will never Retreat. Those of you that HE has put into my path, have many different gifts, and your love, prayers, and support are what brings our work for lives and souls into the streets. Because each of you know and love Jesus, you understand the beauty of that special gift, and as it says in Luke 12:48, "For everyone to whom is given, from him much will be required". With that knowledge, I pray that all of our efforts to bring souls to HIM, and save His children physically, mentally, and spiritually will increase because of our hearts and our efforts to serve Jesus. I love and pray for each of you daily, in the name of the Son of God.

Now, how do we prepare for the war ahead? We must start by asking for God's wisdom, and if you have not repented and done that yet, then get to it, NOW. With that wisdom will come knowledge and understanding, which you will need for discernment and preparation. Now, like Gideon's 300 that were hand picked by God, we must be ever vigilant and prepared to fight the enemy at any moment. We must put on the armor of God every day, and wear it all day long, or we leave ourselves and our family defenseless. With our Shield of Faith, we must carry our Sword, the Bible. Study God's Word to show yourself approved to God, a workman that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15, humble ourselves and pray, seek HIS face, and turn from our wicked ways. Are you Ready?

Why am I telling you these things, because some people in our land are preparing to go back to sleep, thinking that if the Republicans win in November, that we don't have anything to worry about. I know that you know this, but we keep going backwards at different paces, but continually backwards and downward, and it is no accident. Satan uses people in both parties as his dupes, and he never sleeps. Stay awake, fight, and contend for the faith, and in doing so, good things will happen, and your God will smile.

Pray daily, for the Lord to protect the children's souls, and for the workers to stay in His will, and that Jesus will expand the word across this land for His honor and glory. Prayer is our most effective tool and weapon to bring change in this world, as it will bring the power of the Holy Spirit and will do more in a week than what can happen through men in government or education in years and years of work.

If you do not do everything you can do in your area of influence there will be people that go to hell. Your God says, "I think...thought of peace, and not affliction" (Jeremiah 29:11). And, "For I desire not the death of a sinner, saith the Lord God, but that he be converted and live" Ezekiel 18:32). Also, we have heard God speak in Psalms 102:17, "The mercy of the Lord is from eternity and unto eternity upon them that fear HIM". In other words, God did not create anyone to go to Hell, but it is His will and His tender mercy that everyone be saved and spend an eternity of joy with Him and all the angels and saints.

If your heart is for Jesus, and you open the door to Him, He says he will come in and sup with you, so be at peace if your heart hungers after Jesus. He is your hope, and tells you not to be afraid, that He has not given you a spirit of fear. Please continue your love, prayers and support of the service for Jesus to bring souls to Him. But when you can do more personally in your area of influence, please, please do it. Because there are so many that don't know to even ask the question, "Just what is it, therefore, that we have to do to save our souls"? Think about it, that is the ultimate question of life, for if we fail to save our souls and attain Heaven, what will life have been worth? I know I would not want the words Jesus spoke in Matthew 26:24 to apply to me, "It were better for him if that man had not been born".

Pray with fervent prayer, because we will be in churches, revivals (Missions), schools, in the weeks to come, and pray for those that indicated they would do a "Shake The Nation" after the first of the year. Pray a special prayer each day, that when we go to the Secretary of State, and legislators after November 2, election that our petitions and ballot issues will be accepted, and that God will work through our efforts to find a true man/woman of God in the legislature that is willing to help us with an act of interposition for the sanctity of all human life (persons) from their biological beginning (conception) to natural death. Know that Satan will hate for this and throw everything at us, and so we need many prayer warriors, that the people and resources are put before us to do His will in this battle.

Please also pray for Missy Smith in Washington D.C. running for congress, she went to jail with me in Notre Dame a couple of times, and she is showing abortion pictures as part of her campaign, openly on the TV airwaves, with a good message for the honor and glory of God. Support her if you can in the time remaining, as she is a servant warrior for Jesus.






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Thursday, October 28, 2010

The Catholic Defender: Catholic Voters Get Guidance From Rome

The following is an article sent to me by Lisa Wheeler of "The Maximus Group". Please consider when you vote:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Lisa Wheeler, The Maximus Group

lwheeler@maximusmg.com; 678-990-9032

Catholic Voters Get Guidance From Rome

Cardinal-designate Raymond Burke in exclusive new interview, “There is a discrimination which is perfectly good and just”

San Diego, October 27, 2010 – As Americans approach the eve of election week, U.S. Cardinal-designate Raymond Burke is reminding Catholics in an exclusive 25-minute video interview that they are bound in conscience to vote for political candidates who oppose aborting babies, embryonic stem cell experiments, euthanasia and so-called homosexual "marriage."

“Millions of Catholics have no idea it’s a sin to vote for candidates who favor these grave evils, which attack the very foundations of society,” said Thomas McKenna, President of Catholic Action for Faith and Family. "This matter-of-fact, pointed interview granted to me by Archbishop Raymond Burke in Rome last week makes it very clear what the responsibility of every American Catholic will be next Tuesday."

In recent years Archbishop Burke, who is prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, the Church’s “supreme court,” has taught repeatedly that Catholic politicians who support abortion rights may not receive Holy Communion and that Catholics who know of the politicians’ voting record on these issues cannot vote for them and retain “a clear conscience.”

McKenna interviewed Archbishop Burke in Rome on Oct. 20 literally hours after it was announced he would be elevated to Cardinal. The 25-minute interview is being released to help inform Catholic voters before the U.S. elections on Nov. 2nd. Some of the points the Archbishop makes are:

“As a bishop it’s my obligation in fact, to urge the faithful to carry out their civic duty in accord with their Catholic faith.”

“You can never vote for someone who favors absolutely the right to choice of a woman to destroy a human life in her womb or the right to a procured abortion.”

“So, the Catholic Church in teaching that sexual acts between persons of the same sex are intrinsically evil, are against nature itself, is simply announcing the truth, helping people to discriminate right from wrong in terms of their own activities.”

Today, McKenna’s CatholicAction.org will launch two five-minute video on YouTube, and a 25-minute Q&A video interview that is available for broadcast. The three videos all feature Archbishop Burke teaching Catholics about voter responsibility, including key points from his pastoral letter, "On Our Civic Responsibility for the Common Good." The interview can be seen at CatholicAction.org.

For more information about the Archbishop Raymond Burke videos or to interview Thomas McKenna, please contact Lisa Wheeler with The Maximus Group at 678-990-9032 or by email at lwheeler@maximusmg.com.

Catholic Action for Faith and Family is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and promoting Catholic principles.











Tuesday, October 26, 2010

The Catholic Defender checks out the Tea Party Express

Yesterday, I was at the 58th street Chapel on Fort Hood looking for the Catholic Coordinator when I picked up a copy of "Our Sunday Visitor" that caught my eye.

It was dated Oct 17, 2010 so it was recent. On the cover of the issue it questions the "Tea Party Movement: How Catholic is it"?

It refers to an earlier poll conducted by McLaughlin and Associates for the National Review Institute.

This is suppose to have been a Catholic view to the Tea Party Movement showing 59% of those polled felt the Tea Party was "driven by legitimate concern over the U.S. economy's future", 21% felt the movement was "driven by failure". What surprised me from this poll was that only 8% would vote for a congressional candidate represented by the Tea Party?

If you count those who vote for the Republican party that would be another 28% for about 36% combined. 28% was solidly behind the Democrats and 36% were undecided.

As a Catholic, it appears we are all over the map? Just toss a dart and there you have it? As I thought about this for a few minutes, I couldn't help thinking about what this all means.

I have to ask: "How Catholic is the Democratic Party"?

How many Catholics are supporting Chris Coons from Delaware over Tea Party's O'Donnell?

Mr. Coons represents the high tax and spend policy of the present administration. He also does not understand the Constitution as evident through the debates with Ms. O'Donnell. Mr. Coons is one of the most devout liberals as he was refereed by Senator Harry Reid of Nevada to be "his pet"?

He is an ardent pro-abortionist, supporter of Gay rights, supporter of the ACLU, Planned Parenthood, just looking at this Mr. Coons will be a rubber stamp of the Obama machine?

I would be able to say the same thing about any of the races out there across America. The powerful Unions have always been solidly behind the Democratic Party.

In the 1940's that might have been important for the common worker, but today, they do not have the same dedication. The Unions are not exactly looking out for Christian causes?

I think some people confuse Gay rights with a false sense of compassion for the gay individual. Love and compassion does not equal toleration and acceptance.

Today, there are Judges legislating from the bench wanting to over turn "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", the Military should not be a ground for social engineering?

The Military has always had rules that prevented people from entering the Army. Those who are to fat and out of shape, those who are underweight, those who have AIDS and other health conditions, those who are too short, those who are too tall, and those who have had sexual relations with the same sex.

I believe many Christians will not join the Military if the Gays are allowed to be open among them. Practicing Christians cannot co-exist with practicing homosexuals. There will be friction no matter what you do. If you call active homosexual unions and lifestyles as sinful, that could be targeted by "Equal Opportunity", this would definitely have friction with Christians who are in the Military. This is also putting Chaplains in a delicate situation.

The Gay Activists have already approached the Military Chaplaincy telling them they will have to modify what they preach from the pulpit? Does that concern you? It does me!

I compare this with the spiritual blindness in England when the Catholic Bishops caved in to King Henry VIII and abandoned the Catholic Faith.

Abortion is another problem, I served as the Medical NCOIC of the MEPS in New Orleans. I was in charge of all the physicals conducted there.

If a female applicant was found to be pregnant, they were not allowed to join the Military (another disqualifier), that same applicant many times would be back a few months later after they aborted their child. That would always break my heart.

From our position, we could never comment on it. It is these very issues that make me question, "How Catholic is the Democratic Party"?

This November election will be closely watched, I can't help follow the daily polls on FOX News. I guess that would tell you I am conservative, but in reality, Fox does a great job providing both sides of the issue. The drive by media is about 70% liberal or higher. I would not be able to listen to that for very long.
Back to the original question, "How Catholic is the Tea Party"? It is a conservative wave that I hope brings in a needed breath of fresh air. Most of the Tea Party candidates are strongly pro-life, supportive of traditional marriage and family life. Smaller Government and less taxes. They want to save Social Security.

To bring back common sense to American Politics and put a stop to Obama's health care law.

Talk about a back room deal? What happened to the so-called "pro-life" blue dog Democrats who were suppose to hold out against the health care bill because of abortion?

That was a ruse deceiving the American people. Obama and the liberal agenda wants to ensure that abortion is covered in this bill so they would get our Federal tax dollars to support it. Catholic Hospitals would be forced to conduct abortions, Catholic professional medical personnel would be forced to participate in abortions.

That is how far they want to go with this. Catholics should vote against this in droves. The ultimate question finally becomes, "How Catholic are American Catholics"?




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Monday, October 25, 2010

*BEST OF DTB #35* The Catholic Defender: The Anointing of the Sick


While stationed at Fort Campbell Kentucky, I use to go to St. Michael's Catholic Church in Oak Grove just outside of the Military post.
I was very involved with the Parish through the Knights of Columbus, the RCIA, the Youth Group, CCD, Bible Studies, I even would take my 53 inch TV to present good Catholic programs after the Saturday Mass.
Without a doubt, one of the greatest honors I was given by Father David (Who had left but is now back), the opportunity to go with him when he would go on a call to administer the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.
Because I was in the medical field, he liked having me along with him. In the ancient world, oil was used for medication. Through Father's Ministry, the Lord worked miracles of healing.
I first remember this great Sacrament offered to my Mother when I was in college. My Mother in the latter 1960's was hit by a car broad side as it went through a red light.
My Mother had her back broke in a number of places and for about a year I had to live with relatives while Mom recuperated. For years my Mother suffered from severe headaches, spinal taps, and loss of mobility.
I remember Mom would be in her garden moving from one plant to the next kind of scooting along making her way. She could barely walk. One day at Mass Father invited anyone who had been sick to come up for this great Sacrament.
Mom went up along with about 12 other people and when Father came to her, she later explained she felt a warming sensation that went throughout her body. From that time on, Mom was able to move around at a much greater mobility and she never complained again of the headaches.
That was the first time I was exposed to something that God sometimes does to intervene in the life of His people.
James 5:13-15 states, "Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone in good spirits? He should sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the Church, and they should pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven".
This certainly gives greater light to Mark 6:13 which says, "They (the Apostles) drove out many demons and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them".
James is recognizing the presbyter as a true agent of God in the Ministry of the 12 Apostles. That is the connection between St. James and Mark's context. Father David (and all Catholic Priests) whom I served holds the same Apostolic Ministry.

This Sacrament is the true extension of the Lord's healing hand. Jesus is working within His Ministry.
I have long seen this scripture as important to Catholic teaching the need of the priesthood. It is quite noticeable that a presbyter is called upon to offer this great Sacrament.
Hence, the dreaded middle man some of my Protestant friends would reject? Also, through the action of the Priest, the person's sins are forgiven, just as in the Sacrament of Confession. What a great blessing we have in this great Sacrament.
My Mother was able to do far more in her 50's than she ever was in her 40's. When I lived in Harrison Arkansas in the early 1980's, the Catholic Priest of the Parish there told me of the time he was just ordained a priest serving in northern Arkansas in a mission territory.
He was instructing an elderly lady who was coming to him learning about the Catholic Faith. One night he receives a call from a daughter of this lady who asked for him to see her Mother.
She had been in a coma for five days, had not eaten anything or had anything to drink. When Father arrived, he administered Baptism to the Lady and then administered the Sacrament of the Anointing of the sick.
Just as he completed the task the lady opened her eyes and sat up saying "Thank God thank you Father"!
This totally surprised him as well as the family. Helping Father David at St. Michael's only reinforced my beliefs. I would see this great Sacrament offered for both my Mother and also my wife. In our time, this Sacrament is being offered for those who are not only dying or very sick, but also for those preparing for a major surgery.
From the "Fish Eaters":
The blessing of oils is performed by the Bishop of each diocese on Holy Thursday (Holy Week) in the Cathedral during the Chrism Mass. The oils are maintained in either metal or glass bottles called "Chrismatories". These vessals are then stored in a cabinet called an "Anby" which is usually fixed to the wall of the sanctuary. Priests also have a portable "oilstock" which has a section for each of the three holy oils.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zR99DpcaFcc&feature=BF&list=MLGxdCwVVULXd-3KO_75ylz9uCkR3woIot&index=5




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*BEST OF DTB #34* The Catholic Defender goes on the offense against Pornography


It was August 22, 1984, I was rather anxious about this particular evening. The past year I was part of a Charter member of Council No 8410 (Harrison Arkansas), the Grand Knight was a good friend of mine, Walter Israel.
This evening was specific to me because I was being honored as "Knight of the Year" by the Council.
I was a committee chairman who was responsible for a number of volunteer work: orchestrating prolife events, conducting presentations on contemporary music, fighting pornography, fund raising, putting together the local bulletin, established a church softball team, organizing Christian music concerts for our youth, and several other tasks for the Council.
Looking back, I can see where the experience helped shape me from being an energetic young college guy to being a community organizer, a leader representing the Church. The fight against pornography was one that was very rewarding to me because of the impact we had for the community.
At this time, pornography was working itself into the minute marts, the video stores, and ordinary outlets. I was able to get a number of these x-rated videos from such outlets and through the (then)Prosecuting Attorney, Gorden Webb.
We were successful in getting the pornography out of these stores. I would have women showing up to my door with pornography to give to me to help fight porn. They began finding this porn in their homes after discovering their husbands had been hiding it between the mattresses under their beds. So my name was getting out there in the public eye.
Letters to the editer began showing some discontent with the success we were having. There is no question that pornography plays a vital role in the destruction of the moral foundation of America, the moral decline of America.
Pornography has played a role in attacking marriage causing untold divorce. Romans 1:20-27 states, "Ever since the creation of the world, his invisible attributes of eternal power and divinity have been able to be understood and perceived in what he has made. As a result, they have no excuse; for although they knew God they did not accord him glory as God or give him thanks. Instead, they became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless minds were darkened. While claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for the likeness of an image of mortal man or of birds or of four-legged animals or of snakes. Therefore, God handed them over to impurity through the lusts of their hearts for the mutual degradation of their bodies. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and revered and worshiped the creature rather than the creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. Therefore, God handed them over to degrading passions. Their females exchanged natural relations for unnatural, and the males likewise gave up natural relations with females and burned with lust for one another. Males did shameful things with males and thus received in their own persons the due penalty for their perversity".
So much of the Scripture speak of the poison that we place in the heart, the obvious results. Ephesians 5:1-5 warns, "So be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma. Immorality or impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is fitting among holy ones, no obscenity or silly suggestive talk, which is out of place, but instead, thanksgiving. Be sure of this, that no immoral, or impure or greedy person, that is, an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God".
During the middle 1990's, while stationed at Ft. Campbell Kentucky, I became involved in a fight against pornography. There was a porn store opening up in the Clarksville community near a park, a school, and a church.
In a 90 day period, I would go stand at the sidewalk arm in arm with several other groups carrying signs saying "Pornography destroys". I stood out there in the rain and heat making a difference in this fight.
I would bring my video camera which really thwarted many who did not want to be pictured in front of this store. The local college, Austin Peay University held a debate about pornography and my video camera became a sore subject of discussion for the pro-porn crowd.
We were able to get passed into legislation that no porn store could open up within 2,000 feet of a park, a school, or a church. "What it takes for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing".
This is a major fight for the soul of America. The past few years we have been conditioned by the media and the liberal outlets i.e. higher places of learning, judicial system, politicians with no backbone, and the destruction of the family contributes to the problem.
We are fast moving to a society that is seeing porn and homosexuality as rights while the Church is being pushed more and more into a corner. If we do not wake up soon, we may find ourselves in a very different America.
St. Paul encourages us writing, "Working together, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says: 'In an acceptable time I heard you, and on the day of salvation I helped you'. Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold now is the day of salvation".
Do not put off for tomorrow what should be done today. We need to strengthen our families, teach our youth the ways of the Lord or else they will fall into an others manipulation with impure motives.
It was an honor to have received this "Knight of the Year" award from among my peers but the fight is far from over. We must work to reverse the gains that the porn industry has made.
Women are enslaved by it, it creates an underworld where people lurk in the darkness destroying untold lives robbing them of their youth. Families are torn apart by human trafficking, this must be stopped and the laws enforced.







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Sunday, October 24, 2010

*BEST OF DTB #33* The Catholic Defender defends the Sacrament of Marriage


Marriage is one of the seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church.
It is really the first Covenant between Adam and Eve (Covenant of marriage).
Genesis 2:23-24 states, "the man said: 'This one at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; This one shall be called woman, for out of her man this one has been taken'. That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body".
In the Old Testament, a Covenant is an exchange of persons in contrast to a contract which is an exchange of things. Marriage fits this perfectly as it mirrors the Covenant God makes with his people. It is interesting that God referred to Israels unfaithfulness to Him as adultery when they chose to follow false gods.
The Israelites were allowed to marry anyone they pleased, "provided they marry into a clan of their ancestral tribe so that no heritage of the Israelites will pass from one tribe to another, but all the Israelites will retain their own ancestral heritage" (Numbers 36:6-7).
Moses will eventually grant a written bill of divorce because of the hardness of heart. Deuteronomy 24:1-4 states, "When a man, after marrying a woman and having relations with her, is later displeased with her because he finds in her something indecent, and therefore he writes out a bill of divorce and hands it to her, thus dismissing her from his house: if on leaving his house she goes and becomes the wife of another man, and the second husband, too, comes to dislike her and dismisses her from his house by handing her a written bill of divorce; or if this second man who has married her, dies; then her former husband, who dismissed her, may not again take her as his wife after she has become defiled. That would be an abomination before the Lord, and you shall not bring such guilt upon the land which the Lord, your God, is giving you as a heritage".
Jesus refers to this speaking to some Pharisees who had approached Him. He was asked about divorce, Jesus responded, "Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female' and for this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, no human being must separate. They said to Him, 'Then why did Moses command that a man give the woman a bill of divorcee and dismiss her'? He said to them, 'Because of the hardness of your hearts Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) and marries another commits adultery" (Matthew 19:3-9).
This is a very important scripture here! Who is it that declares a marriage "unlawful"?
Can any husband call his marriage unlawful?
No, he or she cannot make that claim. The "annulment" of a marriage is not a divorce, it is a marriage that is dissolved because it was found to be unlawful. It was never a true Sacramental marriage.
What is the process to obtain an annulment?
What is the base for having an annulment?
A man or woman is not capable of declaring whether a marriage is annulled or not. It has to come from the Catholic Church who provides a tribunal to investigate if a marriage can be annulled.
Matthew 18:15-18 states, "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. If he does not listen to you, so that 'every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell the Church. If he refuses to listen even to the Church, treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector. Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven".
You take the matter to the Church and the tribunal will decide. Today, there are allot of annulments taking place, it is like Canon Lawyers have taken this scripture "unlawful marriage" and builds each case just like a regular case in court.
It has a feel very much like a court. You have a Canon Lawyer who defends the marriage while you have an advocate who tries to prove your case based on the evidence. It can take sometimes more than a year or longer for such a decision.
If there has been no remarriage, the individuals involved are not banned from the Sacraments. If there has already been a "remarriage" the individuals cannot receive the Sacraments until a positive decision has been reached and the current marriage validated.
We are living at a time when marriage is being attacked as divorce is more than 50% in the United States, there are Socialistic teachers and followers who are wanting to change what marriage is.
There are liberal Judges who are legislating from the bench trying to justify homosexual marriage. This is becoming a threat to the Sacrament of marriage.
Pope Pius XII in 1950 at the canonization of St. Maria Goretti warned that in the future the attacks on marriage would be great. The creation of the Birth Control Pill had much to do with the advent of the sexual revolution.
Pope Paul VI recognized the threat as the attack on the family became evident. Not all marriages are blessed as many are conducted outside the Church. Jesus warns, "For as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. In those days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day that Noah entered the ark. They did not know until the flood came and carried them all away. So will it be also at the coming of the Son of Man".
We know that Jesus blesses valid marriages such as the wedding feast of Cana (John 2:1-12).
Jesus is clearly referring to a secular humanistic condition of many in the last days.
Many times I have spoken to couples encouraging them with my triangle formula. Christ is at the top of the triangle, both spouses are at either end of the other two points.
The closer they move towards Jesus, the closer they move to each other building that foundation that will help them through any valley or any mountain they have to cross over. Not a day goes by that my wife and I tell each other of our love for each other. She is God's greatest gift to me.
To many times people are quick to abandon their vows. Marriage is a gift to His people. It is the perversion of this gift that is the problem. The Lord wants to bless you abundantly but many times because of our hardness of hearts, we fall into sin many times leading us into a spiritual condition where we are out of the Church.
There are those who have abandoned the Catholic Faith because they are divorced and remarried who rejects the authority of the Church. There are those who forsake marriage for a life of immorality, for orgies, and the like.
There are those who want to make homosexual union a "marriage" which is an abomination against God. All of this us unlawful, St. Paul warns, "We know that the law is good, provided that one uses it as law, with the understanding that the law is meant not for a righteous person but for the lawless and unruly, the godless and sinful, the unholy and profane, those who kill their fathers or mothers, murderers, the unchaste, sodomites (homosexuals), kidnappers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is opposed to sound teaching, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which I have been entrusted" (1 Timothy 1:8-11).
The gospel St. Paul was entrusted has been given to us through this ministry. The (Catholic)bishops today is the authority for us to believe the gospel message. Let us pray for all Christian men and women that their marriages will be built upon the foundation of the gospel of peace. That children will be raised in loving households being shown good examples of what a father and mother should be. Let forgiveness be center for all of our faults.


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Saturday, October 23, 2010

*BEST OF DTB #32* The Catholic Defender looks at demon possession

A couple of days ago I was watching on the Discovery channel, a story of the original exorcist.

The story is actually based on a boy from St. Louis taking place in 1949. I use to have a video on the subject but this episode was an update that had been recently documented.

From this presentation, it gave both sides of the commentary, those who believe it to be fact and those who tried to give a humanist answer to the symptoms of the boy.

This is a subject that is rarely seen in our day and time. With modern medical evaluations, demon possession is not high on the list for diagnosis. I think most people would categorize the subject as "superstitious" or "medieval".

If you have seen the movie, "The Exorcism of Emily Rose", this issue is debated in a dramatic court scene.

A Catholic Priest is standing trial for the death of a young woman who was demonically possessed. This movie is unique in that it presents the Catholic Church in a favorable light as you watch the movie. The woman in which the movie was based actually becomes seen as a heroine for God.

That was something I really enjoyed about the movie. Pope Paul VI was quoted by the Catholic Magazine "Immaculata" from a book they produced called "The Devil and Exorcism" (April 1974) saying, "show the devil to Christian souls as he really is, and his ugliness will not attract them; hide the devil and in ignorance they will follow him. The devil has been hidden too long. Not by the Church but by those who have little faith or no faith in the supernatural. The power of the devil weakens as soon as his pretenses are exposed".

St. Paul sees this problem as very important as he states, "Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for because of these things (sin) the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient. So do not be associated with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth. Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness; rather expose them" (Ephesians 5:6-11)...

In an age when the supernatural is being explained by humanist reasoning, you can certainly loose the devil in the details. I see a bigger problem than demon possession, something I will call "demon oppression".

This is where a person is not demon possessed physically, but a person becomes so blind to the truth that they can't see the gospel. It is bondage from personal ignorance or willful refusal to follow God. We consent to this when we turn our back on God and willfully choose to walk away from God.

Demon possession we can see the biblical accounts throughout Jesus public Ministry. Matthew 17:14 -20 says, "When they came to the crowd a man approached, knelt before him (Jesus), and said, 'Lord have pity on my son, for he is a lunatic and suffers severely; often he falls into fire, and often into water. I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him'. Jesus said in reply, 'O faithless and perverse generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you? Bring him here to me'. Jesus rebuked him and the demon came out of him, and from that hour the boy was cured. Then the disciples approached Jesus in private and said, 'Why could we not drive it out'? He said to them, 'Because of your little faith. Amen, I say to you, if you have the faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you".

St Mark (Mk 9:29) adds Jesus saying, "This kind (demonic possession) can only come out through prayer".

Jesus gives the Catholic Church this power and authority to cast out demons as a sign of His presence, "These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages" (Mark 16:17).

Acts 5:12-16 shows this is what the Apostles did, "Many signs and wonders were done among the people at the hands of the apostles. They were all together in Solomon's portico. None of the others dared to join them, but the people esteemed them. Yet more than ever, believers in the Lord, great numbers of men and women, were added to them. Thus they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on one or another of them. A large number of people from the towns in the vicinity of Jerusalem also gathered, bringing the sick and those disturbed by unclean spirits, and they all were cured".

These signs and wonders were becoming known throughout the area. Acts 19:13-20 gives an interesting account of those who wanted to imitate the authority of the Apostles: "Then some itinerant Jewish exorcists tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those with evil spirits, saying, 'I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches'. When the seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish high priest, tried to do this, the evil spirit said to them in reply, 'Jesus I recognize, Paul I know, but who are you'? The person with the evil spirit then sprang at them and subdued them all. He so overpowered them that they fled naked and wounded from that house. When this became known to all the Jews and Greeks who lived in Ephesus, fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in great esteem. Many of those who had become believers came forward and openly acknowledged their former practices. Moreover, a large number of those who had practiced magic (the occult) collected their books and burned them in public. They calculated their value and found it to be fifty thousand silver pieces. Thus did the word of the Lord continue to spread with influence and power".

It is interesting to note that the boy from the documentation on exorcism on the Discovery channel had an Aunt who introduced him to the Ouija Board where they spent hours seeking the spirits of the dead. The family were not Catholic, but they were Lutheran who through their traumatic experience converted to the Catholic Faith.

A good question has been asked of me about non-Catholic groups and some of them such as Pentecostals believe in demonic possession. Just as the demons messed with the Jewish sons of Sceva, they play havoc with those who cast out demons from these groups, yet the individual in question has more demons or are left in the false doctrines of those influencing exorcisms.

Sometimes this itself can be confusing when you see people no longer bound by alcohol, cigarette, or drug addictions. False doctrines also come from demonic instructions.

As Catholics, no one should attempt to speak with demons or cast them out unless you are authorized by the Catholic Church to do so. Each Diocese should have a Priest appointed to do such work, though the incidence of demonic possession has been greatly decreased.

The Devil casts out his many webs of deception so that people place themselves under demonic instructions (1 Timothy 4:1) hence, "demonic oppression". People are lured by the fascination with the Occult or any false philosophy. Today, we have many voices out wanting to sell a "product" that sells, sex, the Occult, Secular Humanism, Indifferentism, Modernism are powerful heresies of our time. My Rock is founded from Christ who is the Master Builder. He established the Church upon the foundation of St. Peter and the Apostles. This is the only safe ship to pass on stormy seas!
The Catechism reminds Catholics to put all their faith totally in God:
“2110 The first commandment forbids honoring gods other than the one Lord who has revealed himself to his people. It proscribes superstition and irreligion. Superstition in some sense represents a perverse excess of religion; irreligion is the vice contrary by defect to the virtue of religion.”








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Monday, October 18, 2010

The Catholic Defender with a quick word on friendship

Life sometimes can be like a mindfield, it can certainly have many rabbit trails that can get you lost very quickly. You got to keep your sites straight and your azmuth true. Sometimes it is tough to tell the difference from your friends and your enemies. Some might say you need to keep your enemies close so you can keep an eye on them. Sometimes, mans best friend might be your only friend. So, sometimes to keep your eye trained on the enemy, it is good to have a good friend next to you that you can trust.




May your acquaintances be many but your most confident few.














Saturday, October 16, 2010

The Catholic Defender proud of Soldiers

My last deployment with the 2-5 CAV (Feb 09 - Jan 10) was very rewarding in many ways. I had several of my Soldiers get promoted from PFC to SPC, I had a number who were sent to the E-5 Board and were promoted to Sergeant. Before we went on this deployment I had two of my E-5 Soldiers promoted to SSG (E-6). Both of those I placed in charge of my Main Aid Station (MAS) and my Forward Aid Station (FAS). They did an outstanding job. Their support and loyalty helped our Unit profoundly. I couldn't be more proud.

I had two Soldiers that supported the Scouts Platoon which in effect, was our PSD. They served to support the Battalion Commander. The Soldier on the far right in this picture was one of my Soldiers who was recently honored "Soldier of the year" (USO) for his bravery and quick action that gave LTC Timothy Karcher a chance at survival. SGT Dispennette represents several people who had a hand in saving the Battalion Commander's life. We were fortunate to have one of the best Doctor/Physician's Assistant in Division.

Prayer was my motivation and the Lord's presence among us was a huge factor in our success. Several Soldiers to include SGT Dispennette are studying and preparing for their entrance into the Catholic Faith. I was blessed to have had the ability to conduct Catholic Services in the absence of a Priest. The Picture on the left I was honored to support our Priest when he was able to visit our JSS. Most of us were out in small bases where the Iraqi people were. Few of us were on a major Camp. I have two Son's deployed to Afghanistan, please keep all our troops in your prayers.

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Wednesday, October 13, 2010

The Catholic Defender remembers Catholic School

When I was young, I went to this School through the 1960's, I was Baptized and Confirmed here! (Blue Springs Missouri just outside Kansas City).

I think it is really great to see them with their Web site. I still remember the Sisters I had especially Sister Bernadette!

I am so thankful for my Mother for giving me this heritage. I appreciate the fact that she worked hard to send me there.

The Priests, the Sisters, the Lay Leaders and volunteers all of them had a great impact on me. I credit them for giving me a great foundation in sports. Something that still resonates in me. Because of their example in my life, I have wanted to try and give something back in the Parishes I have been. This article is on their web page:

In the summer of 1636, 202 years before the founding of our parish, French Jesuit missionary Father Isaac Jogues saw North America, the rock cliff of Quebec, for the first time from the sea.

It was a kind of spiritual statue of liberty. “A century ago,” Father Isaac told his companion,” a Norman sea captain gave this place its name. He was on a ship here in the harbor, just as we are—only his ship was carrying the first white men to come up the Saint Lawrence River.

‘When he saw the cliff there,’ Isaac went on, ‘the captain of that little ship was amazed. He cried out in his rough farmer’s French, “Que bec!’ meaning ‘what a rock!’” (Saint Isaac and the Indians, Milton Lomask, p. 10).

Metaphorically, one of the first stones of our parish, our “rock,” was placed by this Isaac, named for Isaac son of Abraham, and human symbol of the Covenantal relationship of God with His people. Father Isaac Jogues had left for the New World from Dieppe, France, John La Lande’s hometown.

Other heroic missionaries including de Brebeuf, Lalemant, and Champlain had also left from Dieppe. In an article entitled “Teenage Martyr of America,” (Liguorian) Precious Blood Father Joseph Adamec tells us how powerful the stories of these missionaries were for John La Lande:

“Tales of the harrowing experiences of these men in their efforts to bring the gospel message to the savage natives of the New World were, to the little boys of Dieppe, adventures such as dreams were made of. As soon as he was old enough, John La Lande signed on one of the ships to the New world. He came as a donne' , a lay missionary.

His enthusiasm for God’s work intensified with every report of heroism and martyrdom in Indian territory” (p. 1). Father Ademec continues: “For four years the Quebec mission had buzzed with tales of Father Isaac Jogues and his captivity by the Mohawks.

Every detail of the holy man’s torture was well-known to John. The boy could hardly believe his ears when the superior requested that he accompany Father Jogues on a return trip into Mohawk territory.

When Father Jogues arrived at the mission, John La Lande was packed and ready to go. “The veteran Jesuit missionary spoke openly about his own experiences and about the martyrdom of his last lay assistant, Rene Goupil. He tried to prepare the young Le Lande for what could happen if they were captured. ‘They went so far as to tear out our hair and beards,’ Jogues told John. ‘They burned one of my fingers and crushed another with their teeth.

The others they so twisted that even now they are crippled and deformed. Jogues warned his young donne' to be ready for the same treatment. Jogues was convinced that he himself would not return alive. ‘If you have any fear,’ he concluded, ‘don’t come.’ John listened.

The stories he had fed on for so long came alive when told by the man who had experienced them. The young missionary looked steadily at Father Jogues and answered simply, ‘I’ll go with you.’” Fr. Jogues, John La Lande, and three Indians set out by canoe from Quebec on September 27, 1646 for the Mohawk village of Ossemenon.

Two Huron Indians accompanying the missionaries abandoned the party upon hearing that the Mohawks were once again on the warpath.

Once the missionaries had landed they were captured, stripped, beaten, and taken to the village where on October 17 strips of flesh were cut from Fr. Jogues’ neck and arms.

The natives blamed a chest of religious articles which Fr. Jogues had left in the village on a previous visit for an epidemic which had caused them to lose their corn crop.

While recovering from the wounds, Fr. Jogues was invited to a feast in one of the Indian lodges. As he entered the lodge he was struck by a tomahawk and killed.

He was then decapitated, and his body was dragged through the village.John La Lande was held in another lodge and advised to remain inside.


However, intent on finding Fr. Jogues’ body, La Lande left the lodge and was tomahawked to death on October 18, 1646 by an Indian guard who had been set to watch the lodge.

Both Fr. Jogues and John La Lande were beatified by Pope Pius XI on June 21, 1925 and canonized on June 29, 1930. John La Lande’s feast day is October 19, the day he was martyred.

So this is the story of the first canonized American saints and of the foundation stone that was put in place by a French Jesuit named Isaac and the one named John who followed him faithfully.

Now our story moves ahead to 1938 when a Catholic priest was posted to Blue Springs, Missouri, a rural town some 25 miles east of Kansas City along old Highway 40.

According to Father Michael Coleman, author of This Far by Faith, Volume II: The Facts, a history of the parishes in the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph published by the Diocese in October 1992, Father James Walton was the first pastor of the parish.

He was appointed at the end of May, 1938, and the first parish meeting took place in the home of Edwin Boserine at Lake Lotawana. On June 17 in a downtown brick building at 1133 Main Street, Blue Springs, the new parishioners gathered for their first Mass as a parish.

They remained there for about a year in that same building, purchased by Daniel and Steve Donovan on May 23, 1938, and later donated to the Diocese. Owned by a Mr. Stanley and known as “Stanley Hall,” the building cost $3400. Legend has it that a number of Ku Klux Klansmen lived in Blue Springs and that the Donovans had sworn that they would see to it that there was a Catholic church on the main street of the town. Patrons Daniel and Steve Donovan were willing to make a rather strong statement in the midst of such persecution.

They were taking a big risk that the building and perhaps the homes of parishioners who worshipped in that building would burn. Daniel and Steve Donovan were living stones, witnessing their faith, handing on the tradition of such witness to us.Another important reality in the creation of our parish is this fact from p. 7 of Coleman’s history:

“The parish was originally established primarily for the convenience of Catholics visiting Lake Tapawingo and Lake Latawana during the summer. Otherwise, there were only about 15 permanent Catholic families and almost all of these were scattered outside of Blue Springs. . . the Donovans, who lived on the edge of town, were the only residents of Blue Springs at the time who were Catholic.”

So besides the fact that the church appeared on Main Street as a witness against the KKK it was also a convenience for weekend Lake traffic, country excursionists on holiday—two radically different purposes—serious and playful at once. And so from these facts and knowing that there is much that we don’t know, let us try to tell the story of why our parish was named for St. John La Lande.

Perhaps it was our first pastor Fr. James Walton, who remembered from his ordo, the stories of feast days associated with the daily office, the feast of the American Martyrs on September 26 (now Oct 19) and perhaps the story of one of those 8 martyrs stood out to him. This was Jean de La Lande—in English, John of the Land, the 19-year-old Jesuit lay minister who had joined with Fr. Isaac Jogues to bring the gospel message to those same Indians who had tortured the Jesuit priest just a few years before.

Father Isaac and Jean de La Lande met their deaths at the same time and in the same place. They were distinctly American martyrs—foreign born Catholics who died in what was later the town of Auriesville in Montgomery County, New York.

They had fought for a cause in which they believed strongly. Jean de La Lande, the obscure young French woodsmen, was a fitting image for the name of a church and practitioner of a religion persecuted by the fears of staunchly anti-foreign and anti-Catholic terrorists.

And perhaps he appealed to the weekend country excursionists who may have felt that they, too, were woodsmen—at least on the weekends. But most interesting of all is that John La Lande was a layman. We are unique in that regard; few if any parishes in our Diocese, or even in the country are named after a lay American martyr.

Certainly no other church is named after a lay American martyr who was also a teenager at his death. To my knowledge, the name of our church is quite unique and certainly must have been so at its founding over 65 years ago.


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Tuesday, October 12, 2010

The Catholic Defender looks at American politics

I have always been a fiscal/social conservative and my faith helps keep me on solid ground.

The past 24 hours I was in charge of the Hospital where I am stationed and I was able to talk with other Soldiers I shared duty with.

People are talking about the upcoming elections coming up this November. I remember studying the political circumstance in Europe in 1910.

In those days, socialism was a revolution, the Socialists destroyed the Monarchy by the power of the gun. One of the first things they did was to work against the Church. Personal liberty was just not there. Priests were put in prison, Churches were closed. World War I was in full swing, there was much uncertainty.

Jack Leone of Wantagh, NY 10/19/2006 wrote Catholic News Agency (CNA)
"Freemasonry via the Lusitanian Grand Orient Lodge was responsible for making marriage a civil affair during the revolution around Portugal in 1910. Abortion is also another thing it promotes. Abortion is always something governments try to rationalize and make as if it's okay. Abortion clinics are Satan's churches of human sacrifice. I simply can't believe that Portugal of all countries is considering this".

In the Western world, Socialism was always viewed as negative, much like Marxism and Communism. Watching our political season the past few weeks and watching several of the State polls almost on a daily basis, something has been on my mind about this.

The Democratic Party the past few years have been pushing a Socialistic agenda. They have been pushing hard left for so long they have really become out of touch with the American Culture.

I would say that the liberals have been trying to change America taking over our higher places of learning. They have certainly taken over much of the news media.
An example of this happened today in New York when Carl Paladino (running for Governor) spoke before a group of Jewish conservatives said, "I just think my children and your children would be much better off and much more successful getting married and raising a family, and I don't want them brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid and successful option".

He is concerned that young minds are being manipulated by those who have this agenda as a goal. The picture above is from Reuters.

The Liberals have been pushing the gay agenda in schools wanting to begin with kindergartners. His opponent marched in a pro-gay parade receiving praise from pro-gay activist's.

"It is unfathomable that Carl Paladino could espouse the homophobic position that the lives of gay New Yorkers are not as valid as his," said Ross Levi, head of the Empire State Pride Agenda and Foundation, a gay rights organization.

These Socialists have taken over much of our Judicial system blocking elections that have voted against the gay agenda. Going back to the polling of these races, I can't help but wonder how we got to this point where we have allowed ourselves to drift so far from our roots?

How could any Socialist be close to any Candidate that stands up for the Constitution, for traditional family values, for a balanced budget. I wonder if this is part of the intent of the Liberals, to crash our system to make our people dependant to entitlement programs?

It's hard for me to fathom the extent of all this. How can 91% of Blacks vote for the Democrats and better than 50% of the Hispanics? I know that many within both of these groups say they are Christian, yet they support the gay agenda, abortion, taking Christ out public life, music and art that is anti-christian, the ACLU, and Planned Parenthood?

To some people, if you criticize President Obama they call you a racist? Has America lost her soul? Are we to far gone?

I do not believe so, there is still much opportunity and I think we can turn things around. I encourage everyone to get out and vote! This is very important.

Deeper Truth wrote an excellent article called "Micro vs Macro (Which 94)" which tells us how we can follow the political environment. We have a great opportunity to do what the founders of our Country intended, to safeguard the Constitution and to stand up for liberty.

This morning I heard Radio Talk Show Host, Laura Ingraham who was on Fox and Friends tell everyone "when the government acts without the consent of the Country, this is a bad thing". How true this is especially when the current administration is 'in your face' with their liberal agenda's.

A frustration to me is for people who calls themselves "Christians" who vote the Democrats in office like "Barney Franks" of Massachusetts who had sex with male Pages who worked for his office. He left his wife and family life for his attraction to older boys. How can they keep voting for him? Why is he not in jail?

It's like we don't mind spitting in the wind?





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Saturday, October 9, 2010

*BEST OF DTB #30* The Catholic Defender takes a look at signs and wonders


As I was working on the "Last Daze" series focusing on the last times, I was looking at something St. Paul had said.
2 Thess 2:9 states, "...the one whose coming springs from the power of Satan in every mighty deed and in signs and wonders that lie...."
I couldn't help but think about the great fear people have of the Catholic Faith. They fear the supernatural and because of this, they end up taking positions that are not biblical.
How many times have they attacked religion denying the importance of the practice of it? Speaking of the biblical importance of religion, St. Paul refers to a number of terrifying signs of the end times.
Irreligious is listed among those signs. According to the Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary, a person who is irreligious is "Neglectful of religion: lacking religious emotions, doctrines, or practices, that they exploit popular religion for professional purposes".
I would say that some oppose religion because they cannot accept the truth of the Catholic Religion so they are vocal against religion yet they create their own personal religion calling it a 'relationship'.
St. Paul goes on to say, "they make a pretense of religion but deny it's power. Reject them" (2 Timothy 3:5).
St. Paul says that such people "oppose the truth , are people of depraved mind, unqualified in the faith".
That is an amazing thing he says. I think there is a connection of those who oppose religion with those who have problems with 'signs and wonders'.
If you do not believe in the Catholic Religion, your going to challenge it's "signs and wonders" because of 2 Thess 2:9.
Does this mean that "signs and wonders" are evil?
Is there a means to know what is true from false?
Jesus established the Church giving it the truth with the ability to test the spirit (1 John 4:1), the gates of hell would not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18), that he would remain with the Church (Matthew 28:20).
Concerning the last times, St Luke quotes the prophet Joel, "It will come to pass in the last days, God says, 'that I will pour out a portion of my spirit upon all flesh. Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. Indeed, upon my handmaids I will pour out a portion of my spirit in those days, and they shall prophesy. And I will work wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below; blood, fire, and cloud of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the coming of the great and splendid day of the Lord, and it shall be that everyone shall be saved who calls on the name of the Lord" (Acts 2:17-21).
Because people hear of supernatural occurrences, they let their bias against 'religion' affect their understanding of the signs and wonders of the Lord.
Yes, there are supernatural signs that we should be concerned about such as those who claim witchcraft, those who dabble in the Occult, those who believe in reincarnation, false religion is everywhere.
I will tell people that I only believe in one religion, I may respect other people in their religion, but only one do I recognize because Christ is the founder of that one Religion.
The Catholic Church investigates all these miracles to ensure for the faithful that the event is not from the Devil or his minions. We can trust the Lord's promise.



Micro vs Macro (Which 94?)

In recent weeks, Liberals ( and their willing accomplices in the media) are finally admitting that 2010 is an anti-Liberal Macro ( wave ) election.
To understand a wave election, consider two field goal kickers who kick the football equally well. In a normal game, 50 yards is about the top of each kickers range. Now, enter a strong wind, north to south. The kicker on the team heading north will see his range drop dramatically- perhaps down to 40 yards. On the other hand, with the wind at his back, the other kicker might be able to hit from 60 yards out. This 20 yard advantage is attributable, not to either kicker, but to the wind. In fact, it was just this fact that caused the NFL to institute a rule that flips the direction a team goes in after each quarter.

The wind in this year's mid-term elections can be measured in a number of ways. The Partisan Voter Index (PVI) is one, Job approval numbers is another. A third is the enthusiasm gap, another is the Generic Congressional Ballot. Finally, and ultimately,that wind is registered by actual turnout.
When an election is decided by local issues and local candidates, that election is considered to be a micro election. Most elections are microelections. However, when local candidates are swept away in races they would normally have won, the election is a wave or Macro election.

Now, I am not a fortune teller or a prophet and, as such, I cannot tell you exactly what will occur on Nov 2nd. What I can tell you is that those who are predicting a historic rout of the Democrats by the Republicans, are doing so because of the results of the metrics I have listed above. There are only two ways to interpret the data;

1) The data is correct and the Democrats are going to suffer losses like we have never seen.
2) The data is not correct.

Anyone telling you that the data does not point to huge Democratic losses is delusional.

Data can be wrong and Dems could surprise us on election day. If that happens, however, I want to be clear. The blame would fall on those who produced the data, not those who interpreted it. In this article, I will tell you what to expect, IF the information it is based on is correct. This is what the numbers say. If the NUMBERS wind up being in error, don't blame me, I am just the messenger.

To put it in simple terms, the more Macro this election is, the more it benefits Republicans (the party trying to pick up seats). The more Micro this election is, the more it benefits Democrats (the party trying to defend seats). All the data suggests a very, very, very Macro election. Historic, even.

The Partisan Voter Index (PVI)

Democrat Alexander Scott is running against Republican Scott Alexander in a hypothetical race. They are identical in every way. It is a totally ordinary year with no overarching national issues. Democrat Scott wins the election by 3 points. This district has a PVI of D+3.

Of course, the Republican could overcome the PVI with a strong campaign or by other factors. On the other hand, the Dem could run a strong campaign and win by 6 points. However, if you examined 100 races that averaged a PVI of D+3, in a typical year, you would expect to find that the average margin of victory would be a 3 point win for the democrats. This is a pretty reliable indicator, that is why people like Charlie Cook use it.

Given this fact, examining current polling of House and Senate races, you would ordinarily expect to see Democrat leads as you cross over from R+1 to 0 to D+1. Yet, Sean Trende of Real Clear Politics has pointed out in the seven senate races that are between PVI 0 to D+6, Republicans are leading in 6 of the 7 races. Further, the GOP is competitive in 3 of the 4 races (leading in 1) that are D+7 or D+8. Only in states D+9 or higher, does the Democrat appear safe. In the house, Trende relies on polling of more than 50 competitive races and finds the same result- Democrats being safe in only races of D+9 or higher. In fact, in races in districts that are 0 to D+5, the Democrat pulls an average just 44% of the vote!

What this means.

Look at the PVI as the height of a wall in feet. If the PVI is D+5, it takes a 5 foot wave to breach the wall. If Sean Trende is correct, any Democrat with a wall less than 9 feet high is in flood danger.

If these numbers hold sway, the Democrats will lose Senate seats in North Dakota, Arkansas, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Illinois, Nevada, Washington and Colorado. Indeed, Republicans currently lead in all 10 of those states.

In the House, the picture is worse. How many current Democratic seats have a wall of less than 9 feet? Answer: 121. A gain of 1/3 of those seats would give the GOP the majority. Half would give us a gain 60 seats. If Trende's numbers are accurate, the 70 or 80 seat gains or more, some have talked about are not flighty in the least.

Job Approval numbers. In an ordinary election year, the job approval number of an incumbent is a good indicator of how he will do on election day. For example, in the 1992 election, George Bush 41 had a job approval number of 38% and that is just what he got on election day. In 2004, George Bush 43 had an approval number of 52% and again, that is exactly what he received on election day.

When a candidate (or someone running to succeed him) under-performs his/her own approval ratings, it is because the election was decided by other factors. Although most politicians, of both parties, are very unpopular, there is one very notable exception. West Virginia's Joe Manchin is one of the most popular Governors in America with a 69% Job approval number. Yet, in his Senate race against John Raese, he is losing by 5 points and polling just 43% That means that Manchin is under performing his own job approval by a staggering 26 points. Is this the only example? No. Independent Charlie Crist has a 51% approval rating as Florida's Governor yet he is polling only 25% in the latest poll. The difference is, again, 26 percentage points. In Wyoming, Democrat Dave Freudenthal is not running for reelection but, with a 73% approval rating, you would think the Democrat's would be well positioned for a retention, right? You'd be wrong. The Republican running for this race currently has a lead of better than 35 points. Is this a fluke? No, it isn't. In Tennessee, the Democratic Governor also has a 73% Job approval rating but the Democrat running to succeed him (the son of a former Governor) is losing by 25 points. These 5 Governors are only a few examples of many races in which the popularity of an individual Democrat cannot compete with the unpopularity of the party. This is clear evidence of a wave.

The Enthusiasm gap.
The enthusiasm gap has been the story of 2010. Who are the people who probably won't vote, who might vote and who are the broken glass voters.
Broken glass voters are those who-if necessary- would crawl on their hands and knees over a mile of broken glass to get to the polling place. There is no denying it, the most enthused voter this year is likely to be male, white, 30+, married, Christian and Conservative. The most dispirited voter is young, female, black/hispanic/other, 29 or less, atheist and liberal. In other words, the segment of electorate that is most excited about voting in 2010 is the one that was most demoralized in 2008 and the one that was most excited in 2008 is the most demoralized in 2010.

How excited? How Demoralized?

In polling among registered voters, Republicans have routinely held 3-4 point leads this year. However, when the polls were narrowed to the voters who said they were enthusiastic or very enthusiastic about voting, the lead has stretched to as much as 16 points. The point is simple. An excited voter is far more likely to show up than a dispirited voter.

How much difference could this make?

Let's discuss our hypothetical PVI district from above where the Dem wins by 3%. In this scenario, let's assume that the ideological breakdown in the district is as follows;

Liberal: 35
Moderate: 33
Conservative: 32

Let's also assume that there are exactly 100,000,000 voters in this district who vote exactly in this proportion.

On election day, the Democrat would get 350,000 votes from the Liberals and 165,000 votes from the moderates for a total of 515, 000 votes. The Republican would get 165,000 of the moderate vote and 320,000 of the Conservative vote for a total of 485, 000 votes.

Now, let's skew the enthusiasm gap with some of the numbers being suggested. Let's say that the 16% enthusiasm gap results in half that much of a change in turnout. In this case, 80,000 fewer voters show up for the liberals.

On election day, the Republican gets the same 485,000 votes he got before but the Democrat gets only 435,000. Thus, the Republican wins by about 5% because his voters were more enthusiastic about voting.

Make no mistake. It has been a lack of enthusiasm that has killed Conservatives in off-year elections and given Democrats victories in scores of places they had no business even being competitive. How could Kathleen Sebelius become Governor of Kansas?

Generic Congressional Ballot

The Generic Congressional Ballot is the answer to a simple question. Which part are you planning to vote for in your district? The Generic Congressional ballot can go hand in hand with the enthusiasm gap to an extent but it is also influenced by other things. The first are party identification and ideological identification. Changes in the percentage of those who are identifying themselves as Republicans, Democrats and Independents or Conservatives, Liberals and Moderates can show who is winning the arguments with the American people. In 2006 and 2008, Democrats were winning that argument but Liberals were not. Democrats actually enacted a strategy of running to the ideological right in Senate and Congressional elections by running scores of candidates on pro-life, pro-gun, fiscal conservative platforms. The wins of 2006 and 2008 for Democrats were actually not based on ideology at all. They were based on competence and effectiveness. The democrats never drew a line connecting conservatism or conservative policies to the violence in Iraq, corruption in congress, rising oil and gas prices, foreclosures and unemployment. In fact, the entire Democratic campaign was a post hoc fallacy. Democrats argued that since the violence in Iraq, corruption in congress, rising oil and gas prices, foreclosures and unemployment happened after the reelection of President Bush, they happened because of the reelection of President Bush. This is roughly like saying that since the stock market crash of 1929 and 9/11 were on Tuesdays, that Tuesdays cause disasters.

But I digress....

The reason that the Post hoc strategy was a stupid one for Democrats is that it set up a nasty little syllogism for Democrats in the minds of voters.

A) Problems all result from Republicans in power.
B) Republicans voted out of power.

Therefore,

C) Problems vanish

Democrats have clearly made our problems worse but Republicans, rather than simply engaging in ad hominem attacks, are making the case that it is specific policies that have us where we are today and that those policies must be changed and not just personnel.

Grass roots Conservatives have known this for some time, and that frustration has led to the rise of the Tea Party The Republicans have wisely embraced this growing force while Democrats have derided and slurred it- to their own detriment.

All of this has resulted in a shift in the political makeup of the country that- unlike the 2006 and 2008 shifts- has the potential to be enduring. That is because the Conservatives have made this case brilliantly. The issue was not that the Republicans were too Conservative, it was that they were not Conservative enough. Republicans have won a second chance with the American people because they have shown a willingness to clean up their own houses. Chasing long time Rinos from the party like Arlen Specter, Charlie Crist, Lisa Murkowski, and Mike Castle have convinced many American swing voters that the real hope and change is on the GOP side because it has separated the distinction between what it means to be a and what it means to be a Republican and what it means to be a Conservative. This is a critical part of the equation. The American people are very ready to get rid of what we have now but they are in no mood to go back to what we had in 2006. The embrace of the Tea party by the Republican party cannot be overestimated, especially in contrast to the arrogance and derision of the Democratic party.

The Democrats have come off as irresponsible, reckless, tin-eared, arrogant, smug and over bearing while the Republicans have come off as the party that has learned it's lesson. While the Democrats are perceived as ramming their agenda down America's throats, the Republicans are coming off as the party that hears the American people, knows what they want and knows how to deliver it for them.

In a sense, the Republicans have triangulated. "No, we are not the liberal Democrats" they are saying, "but we are not the same Republican party either". Incredibly, Democrats are saying the same thing about Republicans! Politicians like Bill Clinton and Joe Biden have been deriding the so-called Republican-Tea party as something very different, thus, reinforcing the very thing that is giving it appeal!

How does all this tie in to the Generic congressional ballot? After all, Democrats point out that the fall in the number of people declaring themselves to be Democrat has not resulted in a corresponding rise in those claiming to be Republicans. True enough. The largest growth has been among Independents. However, the issue isn't America becoming less Democratic and more Republican, it is in becoming less Liberal and more Conservative.

No, the Party affiliation survey has shown no great surge in the numbers of people willing to call themselves Republicans but the generic congressional ballot has seen a massive swing in the number of people willing to vote for Republicans.... but only If those Republicans are conservatives. The political graveyard is littered with establishment Republicans that didn't get the message. As a result of cleaning their own house, the Republicans have led in the Generic Congressional Ballot for a year and a half even during the times when approval of the party itself was in 3rd place behind Democrats and the Tea Party. In fact, leads in the Generic ballot have been as high as 13 points for Republicans- levels never seen before.

Turnout.

All of these things are wrapped up in one thing- turnout. All of the metrics I have given you are ways of trying to guess who will turn out on election day. There is one more. You can try to determine who will turn out by who has turned out. In 2008, approximately 120 million people turned out to vote and Barack Obama had about 8 million more of those people turn out for him than did John McCain. However, in the 2010 primary season, Republicans turned out 4 million more voters than Democrats did. Those numbers represented the largest number for Republicans in 40 years, the first time they out numbered Democrats in 70 years and the lowest Democrat total on record.

If the Republican advantage on election day is similar to this, the question is which '94 this will look like. Will it be like 1994, when Democrats lost 52 seats in the House? Or, will it be more like 1894, when they lost more than 100?







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