Autistic Boy Banned from Catholic Church

I very much appreciate the mother's desire for her child to attend Mass. I also share the concern for the safety of other parishioners. We elected not to bring our youngest to Mass for over a year or more because of his unpredictable and volatile behavior. We probably would have had some things said to us if we didn't make that decision ourselves. But he's not yet 5, and he's been back in Mass for a few weeks now. We are working very hard on his behavior. I'm very happy to have him there through the whole hour. Our family continues to attend separately as the children together are dynamite. I hope as the children grow up we can be together again at Mass.

I feel for the boy and his family as well as for the difficult decision that the priest felt he had to make. The priest apparently had consulted with the diocese and has the support of the chancery.

Oh, Dear!

Now McVain is likened to Jesus Christ. How many messiahs do we need?

Subjectivism and the Liturgy

Fr. Rob Johansen up in Michigan has a good post discussing that there is more to personal taste in determining what is appropriate sacred music for the liturgy of the Church. Excerpt:

As the conversation has gone across the Catholic web about liturgy and music, a frequent thread or tendency of thought has surfaced repeatedly: that is, the idea that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder". An example of this kind of thinking was seen in the comments of a Catholic blog a while back:

And so I think that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so therefore if you consider something beautiful, that is your perorgative [sic]...

This attitude seems to me to sum up the thinking of many, if not most, Catholics, whether musicians or those in the pews. On numerous occasions, in my efforts to explain and promote the authentic vision of Vatican II regarding liturgy and music, I have heard from parishioners and others a response something like this:

Well, Father, you like all that classical music and chant, and the traditional hymns, and that's fine for you. But I [we] like [insert musical genre here], and, after all, it's all for God's praise. One kind of music is just as good as another.

Alasdair McIntyre, in his seminal book After Virtue, described this mode of thinking as emotivism, that is, the collapsing of all moral or qualitative judgments into mere expressions of personal preference. And this kind of thinking is the besetting sin of the post-modern West.

What is missing in the thinking illustrated above is any sense that the liturgy, and the music of the liturgy, has any objective quality whatsoever.
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Belleville Catholic Schools

FYI: If you're not working or can get off work--and are in the vicinity of Belleville, please come to mark the end of a great Catholic tradition in Belleville. The Catholic grade schools in Belleville will have their last parade downtown this Wednesday beginning at the Cathedral ending at Hough Park off North 3rd Street. [The public schools are making about the same march, starting elsewhere today.]

Parade begins at 10 am. It is suggested to arrive by 9:30 to find a place along the parade route. I wonder if there will be a big crowd given that this is the LAST CATHOLIC SCHOOLS PARADE.
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Also, Althoff held its graduation at the Cathedral last night. I haven't read anything about the other diocesan high schools. I understood that the bishop required all H.S. grads to take place at the Cathedral (which sounded like a burden for Gibault and especially Mater Dei). I know that many parents were not too happy about that.

Our Central Mission

Is not to save the planet. Frankly, as important as it is to care for the poor and sick; those are only secondary. Benedict reminds us that our primary mission is to evangelize. [Via STL Catholic again!]

The Roman Catholic Church has the inalienable right and duty to convert any person to Christianity, Pope Benedict XVI said Saturday.

Evangelism is a central mission of the Church, the pope told a Vatican body that encourages Catholic missionary activity.

The appeal for the conversion of "all nations," attributed to Jesus Christ in the Gospels, remains "an obligatory mandate for the entire Church and for every believer in Christ," the pontiff said.

"This apostolic commitment is both a duty and an inalienable right, the very expression of religious freedom with its moral, social and political dimensions," he said.

Like his predecessors, Pope Benedict is keen to promote missionary zeal among Catholics, most of whom live in a world of religious pluralism and other proselytising faiths such as Islam.

The pope's message was also addressed to the faithful in countries where religious activity is strictly controlled by the state or even relegated to the private realm.

In December, the Vatican published a doctrinal note reaffirming the mission of all the faithful to seek to convert non-Catholics including members of other Christian denominations, while avoiding placing undue pressure on them.

The note highlighted the need for respect and a spirit of cooperation in dialogue with other Christians, and rejected past accusations of proselytising that have been levelled against it by the Russian Orthodox Church.

****

Via STL Catholic

THE STL PD did a great story on Abp. Burke's personal efforts at and involvement in increasing and encouraging vocations in the archdiocese. The result is this year's class being the largest in the archdiocese in decades. [I think Bp. Braxton has spoken of sending our priest candidates to Kenrick-Glennon, where Abp. Burke visits apparently each and every student. (or only students from the STL Archdiocese?] So, is there wailing and gnashing of teeth among the dissident crowd?

Once or twice a year, each student at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary will drop by Archbishop Raymond Burke's residence in the Central West End at 4:30 p.m. From there, they set off down Lindell Avenue and into Forest Park..

"The walks," as the seminarians call them, are opportunities for young men to have heart-to-hearts with a man who regularly meets with the pope, a heady prospect for a young priest-in-training. The conversations are usually casual, and the seminarians get to see a more personal, human side of Burke — like when he gets a little skittish around off-leash dogs.

Kenrick officials organize the walks using time sheets. When the sheets are posted, there's a rush to sign on.

"It's like when you throw pellets at the Japanese fish at the Botanical Gardens," said seminarian Edward Nemeth, 26. "Guys falling over each other to get their names on the list."

On Saturday, Nemeth and eight of his colleagues at Kenrick will be ordained as priests in the St. Louis Archdiocese — the largest St. Louis ordination class in 25 years and one of the largest in the U.S. It's also the same number of ordinations in St. Louis as the last three years combined.
***

Politicizing the Children

I was at a hen party today among some relatives, including some cousins a few times removed. I was in one woman's wedding when I was about 6 years old. [That's where it all started. I want to rent 27 Dresses b/c I can relate!] It was nice.

I don't know how the topic came up, but one mom mentioned that her kid was shown Gore's An Inconvenient Truth [sic] at BTHS West in some science class. She was mortified as she doesn't believe in "climate change" bull-hockey. She discussed this with her son and explained that scientists are not in agreement. The boy replied that her disbelief was the stupidest thing he ever heard. I joked that perhaps we can arrange an intervention.

Then another mom brought up that, apparently in 2004 as the presidential election approached, Jerry Costello spoke to children at a Catholic school in Belleville, where some children in his extended family attend. The result was that this woman's daughter came home telling her parents to vote for the Democrat candidate.

Schools have to be called in these situations. We parents must speak up and not let our children be told what to think politically or what to tell us parents to do politically. How dare they get as us through our children. We are not safe even at Catholic schools. [I've seen environmental poster displays at our parish school. These kids think the most important thing is to save the planet, not to live by the Gospel.]

But Did He Feed Them All?

Obama attracts HUGE crowd in Portland, OR.

[On the other hand, maybe it was a miracle of sharing.]

Responding to the Need?

Fr. John Iffert, ordained in the Belleville diocese in 1997 and active as a Dominican from some years, has decided to return to serve his home diocese. We are blessed to have him return to serve our diocese. I am curious as to whether he concluded that the Order life was not for him, or he felt he was needed here in our diocese. My assumption, given the year of his ordination, is that he would be more tradition-minded, ie, not a liberal progressive priest. The information of his return was in our parish bulletin. His parish assignment has not been made yet.

Comment Moderation On

As I'm rather busy these days and the tenor of a particular commenter repeatedly crosses the line, I am now moderating comments here. Your comments will not be seen until I approve them. I apologize for the resultant lack of back and forth amiable discussion. I will try to update in a timely manner, but real life comes first. Go out and live. It's a beautiful day--finally!

Who Can Help Kill More Babies?

That's the dispute as NARAL Pro-Choice decides to endorse Obama. Feminists are ticked off because, likely, they prefer a woman candidate, Clinton. Funny, that the group also thought it needed to go beyond its white woman's organization stereotype. [See, abortion is for white up-and-coming women. I stand by that.] An interesting aside about Missouri:

The affiliates against the decision included those in New York, Mrs. Clinton’s home state, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington and Oregon, which votes Tuesday. Some said they saw no need to turn their backs on Mrs. Clinton now and would remain neutral.

Some abortion rights advocates in Missouri were so angered by the decision that the state affiliate made 8,500 automated calls declaring its neutrality, according to The St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

“In our membership demographic, a lot of longtime women’s rights supporters are strong supporters of Hillary Clinton,” Pamela Sumners, the executive director of the Missouri affiliate, told the newspaper. “If we had been consulted, we would have said, ‘Let this play out.’ ”

Summertime, Summertime, Summertime....

You get the idea, though the weather would hardly indicate so. Tomorrow is the children's last day of school. So, from then on I shall have 2 children on hand all day daily until the fall. [I will get a break while they are in a summer camp program at the same time of day (!) for a few days over weeks.] I have plans of activities, some fun and some not so fun. I am hoping to train the children into taking on some household chores this summer. I constantly hear the word "structure" in regard to rearing children. It makes sense to me, though it is hard work for parents as well.

The upshot is that blogging is likely to be less frequent--all right stop cheering some of you--over the summer months. I will try to stay on the case of the issues that affect our diocese and the Church in general, as well as other interesting issues, as I typically do. I am not going away, just not here as frequently or for as long periods as during the school year.

Folks are welcome to post links to or descriptions of stories of interest in comboxes as well. You might just use the most recent post if a relevant post to your topic is not at hand.

Katie Bar the Door

Too late. The horses are out of the barn. Now the deluge. [Enough maxims for ya?]

In the 4-3 decision, Chief Justice Ron George wrote for the majority that domestic partnerships are not a good enough substitute for marriage.

In striking down the ban, the court said, "In contrast to earlier times, our state now recognizes that an individual's capacity to establish a loving and long-term committed relationship with another person and responsibly to care for and raise children does not depend upon the individual's sexual orientation, and, more generally, that an individual's sexual orientation — like a person's race or gender — does not constitute a legitimate basis upon which to deny or withhold legal rights."

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Wash U-Schlafly Update

I just don't understand why Schlafly should be damned for her views. I think many of youngsters when they get out of the bubble of university life will find she's not that wrong. The profs will never outgrow their immaturity on these issues, I suspect. The chancellor distances himself from her "controversial views" like a coward. My guess is the University is pursuing this honorary degree in hopes of a posthumous endowment from her. Shame on them. She's 83. [Scuttlebutt on STL PD chats is that she's not a donor now.]

Some are claiming that Schlafly endorses marital rape. I have no idea how that came up but it's mentioned here. She says sex is part of marriage, so there's no rape in marriage. Perhaps the feeble minded at WU don't understand that Phyllis is a staunch Roman Catholic for whom marriage is about family. Sexual intercourse is generally a requirement for producing a family. So, when one marries, one says yes to sex. I don't think she'd advocate sex by force of violence, of course, as the children at WU conclude. My only thought is that she's getting at the unreasonable claims of rape made by some women who weren't "in the mood," regret sex with their husbands the next day or are mad they're pregnant???? I dunno.

You know few would protest a Mugabe, Ahmedenijad (spell?), or Mummia at a graduation. Lots of uneducated famous persons have been honored with degrees they didn't earn. So, why not an educated accomplished woman?


****From the Sun Journal, Lewiston Maine, where Schlafly gave a speech about a year ago:
At one point, Schlafly also contended that married women cannot be sexually assaulted by their husbands.

"By getting married, the woman has consented to sex, and I don't think you can call it rape," she said.

It was not a popular proclamation. But it was nothing out of the ordinary for the St. Louis homemaker who portrays her political stance as "pro-family" and has made a career of denigrating women who aspire to go beyond that role.

Schlafly herself holds a law degree from Washington University in her native St. Louis, as well as a master's degree in political science from Harvard. During the 1970s and 1980s, Schlafly played an integral role in defeating the proposed Equal Rights Amendment.

"The ERA was a fraud," she said, comparing it to the absurdities of the political correctness trend of the 1990s, which also preached gender neutrality. "(The ERA) pretended to benefit women, but it didn't. It was just the nuttiness of feminists who were promoting an androgynous society. They didn't put 'women' in the Constitution, they put 'sex' in the Constitution."

While Schlafly said she has no problem with women raising a family and pursuing a professional career, she said they can't be done at the same time.
****
I highlighted two contradictory statements. With her own statement, at the end, that she does not oppose women having careers--as she had herself--she says, as do many today, that the career and child rearing can't be done at the same time. She does not denigrate women's aspirations to more than motherhood, as the article claims just a couple para's above. She denigrates women trying to be something they're not: men. [Kinda like the priestesses.] There is nothing shocking or draconian in her statements.

Even Bill McClellan grants Schlafly her due. Wow! Take note you small-minded children.
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THURS EVENING UPDATE: Here in an interview with Wash U's student paper, Schlafly explains her position on "marital rape." I would say her approach is one of correct legal classification of the charges against a husband. If a husband is going to force his wife to have sexual relations she doesn't want, then he's going to have to hurt her to get what he wants. Her point is basically that "rape" is not the proper charge to level against the husband. The proper charges are assault and battery. It is not wrong for a husband and wife to have sex; it is wrong for a husband to hurt his wife physically. If the physical abuse is toward the goal of having sex, that is no different from the husband beating his wife because he doesn't like the way she cooks. I don't know whether she's right about women's manipulation of filing rape charges is correct,m but I understand her legal approach. Here is an excerpt:

Could you clarify some of the statements that you made in Maine last year about martial rape?

I think that when you get married you have consented to sex. That's what marriage is all about, I don't know if maybe these girls missed sex ed. That doesn't mean the husband can beat you up, we have plenty of laws against assault and battery. If there is any violence or mistreatment that can be dealt with by criminal prosecution, by divorce or in various ways. When it gets down to calling it rape though, it isn't rape, it's a he said-she said where it's just too easy to lie about it.

Was the way in which your statement was portrayed correct?

Yes. Feminists, if they get tired of a husband or if they want to fight over child custody, they can make an accusation of marital rape and they want that to be there, available to them.

So you see this as more of a tool used by people to get out of marriages than as legitimate-

Yes, I certainly do.
****
So, let's be clear. Phyllis Schlafly does not condone physical abuse of wives by their husbands. A husband may not take sex by force because of the wrongness of the force, although married couples are obligated to have sexual relations (our Roman Catholic approach to marriage and family). She's separating the violence from the sexual relations, folks. Sexual relations between spouses is not wrong or punishable, but violence is. Surely, married couples--unless one is a wife beater--can have a calm rational discussion as to how sexual relations should be approached within the marriage. Again, the problem is not the sex, but the violence. This should be no more than a quibbling of semantics.

Scuplture Donated to Althoff

From the BND:


A sculpture has been donated by to Althoff Catholic High School through the Sculpture in the City program.

A sculpture now has been donated to all three of the city's high schools. Belleville West and Belleville East high schools received statues last year.

All three statues are by the same artist -- Dale Rogers of Massachusetts.

Through the program, a total of 13 sculptures have been donated to locations throughout the city.

For more on this story, read the News-Democrat Thursday or go to www.bnd.com

Hats Off to TYR

TYR is a company that produces competitive swim suits. I have purchases almost exclusively competitive swim suits most of my life. That's my sport. I'm not any great shakes, but it's what I do for fitness--well, before the kiddies anyway. I purchased a much-needed new suit late 2007 since I was taking the kids to swim a couple times a week. By March, the fabric began to deteriorate, and seams frayed. I had never had a suit deteriorate so quickly. I have hardly given the suit the work-out I have given suits in the past with lap swimming. I can't recall whether I've purchased TYR previously. I have bought Speedo, of course, Arena brand, and have liked the quality of a few Adidas and Nike suits over the years. I picked TYR b/c it was reversible and looked more durable than a standard one-way suit. I was apparently wrong.

I sent an email to TYR, was invited to ship the suit back for consideration of replacement. I had even bought a cheap suit to get by in the interim. I had found on the clearance rack at Target, the only decent cut and pattern I'd consider for $8.97. It did it's job and remains available. I also have been eyeing a plain black tank (black and navy blue=best suits) at Walmart for $18 as well. [Is that a sad commentary that one covets an item at Walmart? There is also a pair of summer jammies I've been looking at.] We are in no position to waste money on another competitive suit right now.

The replacement suit came the other day. I was playing out back w/the boys when my huz brought the UPS package to me. I cheered and jumped up and down. I didn't think I'd get a replacement! Whoo hoo! Good on TYR!

Competitive suits are also great for their modesty in my view, though there are always some exceptions by some manufacturers.

We're trying out the new suit today! I hope it lasts.

I Probably Can't Avoid It

I want to ask a question but I know it will sound insensitive or uncharitable to those who dedicate their time and treasure to helping others in our diocese. God bless all who work for pay and as volunteers for our diocesan Catholic Charities and other social service agencies. God bless those who teach catechism classes and all other volunteering in their parishes. At least once a month it seems we have in the Messenger a report of a congratulatory meal/banquet honoring said volunteers.


Ok, my Q: How many breakfasts/luncheons/dinners occur each year in this diocese to heap praise and gratitude upon those many volunteers and other hard workers dedicated to spreading the Gospel and helping the poor among us? Does the diocese cover these costs? Do people pay to attend (to cover some/all costs)?

The Real "Uneducated" Are at Universities Today

I think I barely made it in the 80s, completing a college education before the universities became wholesale leftist brainwashing factories. I just don't understand the intellect behind the instructors and students who oppose Phyllis Schlafly receiving an honorary doctorate from Wash U, where she received a degree as well. She is not an uneducated rube (such as those the press is insulting throughout the Dem primary process--another issue). Here's from today's STL PD article, a summary of her academic and professional background. [Oh, I think she raised 6 children as well. Phyllis Schlafly (wiki link) is Roman Catholic. I think the next generation also has a variety of businesses in STL, including the Schlafly Tap Room.]

Besides, Gerard said, Schlafly obviously deserves the honor, having written 20 books as well as a weekly column she has penned for years. She worked her way through Washington U. by working at an ammunitions plant, earning a bachelor's degree in political science in 1944.

She then received a master's in political science at Harvard while on a scholarship, later earning a law degree from Washington U. in 1978.

Schlafly continues to work out of the Clayton office of the Eagle Forum, a conservative political group she founded in 1972. She also broadcasts on the radio five days a week.

She is perhaps best known for her successful efforts against the Equal Rights Amendment. She argued a couple of decades ago that the proposed constitutional amendment requiring equal treatment for both sexes would eliminate women's protections and preferences during divorce, force same-sex restrooms and prisons and subject women to the draft.
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Schlafly responds [to information regarding a planned protest by students] by simply saying that college students these days have too much time on their hands.

"If they make a scene, they just make themselves look ridiculous," Schlafly said. "It doesn't bother me. I'm not going to let a bunch of tacky women ruin my day."
*****
A lady with class. Quite accomplished as well. God bless her!

Let's Produce Our Own!

I have been thinking I need to come up with an appropriate novena or prayer idea to pray for lower gas prices. [Hey, why not pray? For the common good, after all.]

I heard a startling statistic on a radio show today. I've checked it out in this table here. In 1981, the US produced 8.597 M barrels of crude oil per day. In 2007, we are producing only 5.103 M barrels per day. We are only making 60% of what we used to make, with a larger population and likely more cars, trucks on the streets, more people flying since airline dereg. That is a drop of 40%!!! WHY? I'd like to know....I can't enumerate the reasons why we don't produce more in the U.S.--because I haven't researched it at all. My gut feeling is that a variety of environmental shackles has much to do with it. From curtailing production at existing facilities to preventing the construction of new facilities, is my guess. Specific roadblocks, I could not identify without some research.

From 1985 to 2007, average capacity of crude oil distillation increased by only about 2 M barrels per day (from 15.7M to 17.5M barrels). Also during that period, the utilization rate of that capacity increased from 77.5% to 88.5%. Capacity utilization exceeded 90% from 1993 to 2005. So, what caused the decrease in capacity utilization? Why? Do we need more refineries? Would we need them if we could establish more drilling sites and pull out more crude? ??? I really don't have answers, just lots of Qs. My industry has been telecom. But all economists care about petroleum and its effect on the general economy and prices.
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Finally, the US Senate GOP-ers are getting some balls to propose policy changes to increase domestic production. How far will they push it? Go, fellas, go!

It's Okay Mulder and Scully

If either character was Catholic, (s)he could comfortably remain faithful and still pursue "the truth" that's "out there."

Hagee to Catholics: "I'm Sorry, So Sorry"

I haven't worried too much about Hagee b/c McVain doesn't worship in Hagee's pews. McVain hasn't been overtly religious in his campaigning in any case. He's not pretending to be an evangelical. [I understand McV to have been raised Piskie and to now attend Baptist worship.] Anti-Catholicism by evangelicals is nothing new. I generally don't see McV as being a good candidate or having any sense as to what voters want to hear. So, his embrace of some wackadoo's on the Right is odd to me. I guess he thinks he's making up for his dissing of evangelicals in 2000? In any case, I don't know why these preachers are compelled to endorse candidates.

Hagee's support for McCain has drawn cries of outrage from some Catholic leaders who have called on McCain to reject Hagee's endorsement. The likely Republican nominee has said he does not agree with some of Hagee's past comments, but did not reject his support.

In a letter to William Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Civil and Religious Rights, Hagee wrote: "Out of a desire to advance a greater unity among Catholics and evangelicals in promoting the common good, I want to express my deep regret for any comments that Catholics have found hurtful."

Donohue, one of Hagee's sharpest critics, said he accepted the apology and planned to meet with Hagee Thursday in New York.

"I got what I wanted," Donohue said in an interview. "He's seen the light, as they like to say. So for me it's over."

The controversy had threatened to pursue McCain throughout the campaign, potentially hurting his standing with Catholic voters. A majority of Roman Catholics voted for President Bush in the past two presidential elections, critical votes in close elections.

The letter came after Hagee met Friday for lunch in a French restaurant in downtown Washington with 22 influential religious activists, virtually all of them Catholics.

Our Lady of Fatima

I almost forgot. Today is the optional memorial of Our Lady of Fatima.

The public message of Fatima recalls that of Lourdes. Through the children Mary urges prayer for sinners, recitation of the Rosary, and works of penance. On October 13 she said: "I have come to exhort the faithful to change their lives, to avoid grieving Our Lord by sin; to pray the Rosary. I desire in this place a chapel in my honor. If people mend their ways, the war will soon be over."

But Mary also confided several "secrets" to the children, some of which Lucy subsequently transmitted. Presumably there was prediction of another war in the near future and a request for special veneration of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The final secret Lucy is thought to have entrusted to Pope John XXIII.

As at Lourdes, the "apparitions" of Fatima have brought crowds of visitors. Pilgrimages, which began in the summer of 1917, have experienced growing success, not only among the Portuguese themselves but also among people from other countries, including the United States. The national pilgrimage following ecclesiastical recognition of the apparitions (May 13, 1931) is said to have drawn more than a million participants.

Popes have shown exceptional favor toward Fatima, Pius XII, Paul VI, and John Paul II in particular making a visit to the shrine. The papal interest has helped to swell the summer pilgrimages to Fatima and the basilica built at the site of the apparitions. Crowds comparable to and sometimes larger than those at Lourdes are not uncommon. In a rustic setting, pilgrims hear the message repeated that Mary spoke to the children: prayer, works of penance, recourse to her Immaculate Heart.

St. Louis Museums Need to Join the Act

Amy Welborn has links to two exhibits of Catholics in America. First one is for Catholics in New York 1808-1946; the other is for Catholic Chicago.

BND Letters

Two of interest today. The first is another great letter re: the structure of the Catholic Church and its authority. The second is from some one justifying homosexual activity. The error is that the writer assumes that it is not sinful to have heterosexual activity with the intent not to procreate. Well, for us Catholics it does remain sinful to have sexual activity without the openness to procreation. So, her false comparison does not work for Catholics.

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Catholics, unite

I was saddened to read a recent letter, "Cartoon gets high marks," in which the writer spoke of our bishop in disparaging and dismissive words. I am sorry the writer is having difficulties with our bishop and write the following in charity to her and all involved.

For us Catholics, our bishops are successors of the apostles. Our own bishop is our connection to the apostles and through them Christ and his church. He is not like a CEO in the corporate world but a shepherd of souls. When we honor and obey him, we honor Christ, who said to his apostles: "He who receives you, receives me." So what we do to our bishop we do to Christ.

It is with much fear that I see some people taking the authority upon themselves by standing in judgment of our bishop. Doing this is putting church unity and themselves at risk. The bishop represents Christ, the vine, and we know what happens to those branches that are not connected to the vine. No matter what we hold or feel about the bishop as a person or his style of ministry or even some of his actions, we are called in faith to respect and love him as Christ in our diocesan family.

Yes, there are problems, but they can be worked out in mutual respect and love. Our present problems can be occasions of love and witness to Christ by showing the world how we love one another in our difficulties.

Jim Rellihan

Centreville

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Outdated views

I have been assaulted, lost a job, and had mean things said to me because I am a lesbian, so the letter from Henrietta Harris was most heartening. I know she would never attack me. Yet by her beliefs, if I am sexual I will be sinning.

Is it also a sin for heterosexual couples to be sexual if they are not about creating a child? To be consistent, if one believes it is a sin to engage in same-sex behavior, then all the other outdated Jewish laws should be followed, like burning animals as a sacrifice to God.

Metro-East Gays and Straights offers an opportunity to continue dialogues in person. Call Janet Brannon at 277-1155 and arrange a time for your church, a group of friends, etc.

Jessie Mitchell

Belleville

Daisy Maisy

I saw this ridiculous photo on Drudge. I've never watched S&C, but I've seen ads and have always thought that Sarah Jessica Parker dressed horribly and ridiculously--at least for that show. I see she's not given it up.

I'm Going to Get a Fixation

When one starts getting obsessed and angry toward another person, it's time to pray for the the subject of obsession.
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I may have to avoid listening to the Laura Ingraham show. I am starting to get a fixation on criticizing her. Obviously, the child will have infinitely greater possibilities for life than she would have had at an orphanage in Guatemala. But the baby is being left already it appears with a nanny or in a day care, and Laura will simply seem like evening the caregiver, just like at the orphanage. If the child is in daycare, that would be horrible to take a child from one institution to plop them into another.

I went absolutely bonkers hearing that Laura had a party for the child over the weekend, with over a dozen kids, a bounce house thingie…The child needs about a month or more to bond uniquely with Laura–NO ONE ELSE. No excitement, no nothing, no Happy Meals, no abundance of toys; just love, security and a connection. There are many great professionals on this in DC. I hope she’s talking to at least one of them or to some more experienced friends.

I will pray for Laura to be blessed with a good husband for her and a father for her daughter.