Friday, October 22, 2010
Today on Kresta - October 22, 2010
Talking about the "things that matter most" on Oct. 22
Live from the campus of Ave Maria University in Ave Maria, FL
4:00 – Four Faces of Anger: Seneca, Evagrius Ponticus, Cassian, and Augustine
Sr. Gertrude Gillette brings to the modern age wisdom on the topic of anger by four ancient authors Seneca, Evagrius Ponticus, Cassian, and Augustine, whose feast we celebrate tomorrow. These authors broadly represent the classic views on anger and focus on how anger inhibits spiritual growth of the soul and its relationship with God. Sr. Gertrude joins us.
4:40 – First Things Magazine: Ave Maria University the “Most Catholic School in America”
Ave Maria University is "the most Catholic Catholic" college in the U.S., and has academics superior to almost all other Catholic schools, according to a survey of American higher education published by the respected religious journal First Things. First Things says it spent two years analyzing publicly-available data and conducting its own surveys on more than 2,000 U.S. colleges "to cast a light on the place of religion -- or lack thereof -- on American college campuses today." It published detailed rankings and descriptions of 105 schools in its November issue.The rankings by First Things come shortly after Newsweek Magazine named AMU one of its best schools in America and one of the 25 "most desirable rural schools" in the country. AMU Director of Marketing Deacon Forest Wallace is here to discuss it.
5:00 – Fr. Joseph Langford, MC: RIP
Father Joseph Langford, who, together with Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, founded the Missionaries of Charity Fathers, has died in Tijuana following a yearlong struggle with cancer. He was 59. In 1979, Father Langford sought Blessed Teresa’s approval for the incorporation of priests into the charism of the Missionaries of Charity. After a year of discernment, she agreed, and the Priest Co-Workers, later named the Corpus Christi Movement for Priests, began. In 1984, the movement became a religious institute and was renamed the Missionaries of Charity Fathers. We play portions of an interview Al did with Fr. Langford when he wrote the book “Mother Teresa: In the Shadow of Our Lady”
5:20 – Donahue Academy Begins Boarding Program
The Donahue Academy of Ave Maria has begun accepting Junior and Senior high school boarding students this fall. Freshman and Sophomore students will be considered for placement with a Host Family in the Town of Ave Maria. They estimate enrolling about 220 students next year, with about 65 in the high school program and 2-8 boarding students. The unique program and healthy academic and spiritual culture present at the Academy has been a strong draw for families not only from around Naples, but also from around the country. Here to talk about the new program is Headmaster Dr. Dan Guernsey.
5:30 – A Catholic View of Classic Literature: Macbeth
Acclaimed literary biographer Joseph Pearce is the editor of the Ignatius Critical Editions and has been our guide in looking at classical literature from a Catholic perspective. We will ensure that traditional moral readings of the works are given prominence, instead of the feminist or deconstructionist readings that often proliferate in other series of 'critical editions'. As such, they represent a genuine extension of consumer choice, enabling educators, students, and lovers of good literature to buy editions of classic literary works without having to 'buy into' the ideologies of secular fundamentalism. Today, we examine Shakespeare’s Macbeth.
Live from the campus of Ave Maria University in Ave Maria, FL
4:00 – Four Faces of Anger: Seneca, Evagrius Ponticus, Cassian, and Augustine
Sr. Gertrude Gillette brings to the modern age wisdom on the topic of anger by four ancient authors Seneca, Evagrius Ponticus, Cassian, and Augustine, whose feast we celebrate tomorrow. These authors broadly represent the classic views on anger and focus on how anger inhibits spiritual growth of the soul and its relationship with God. Sr. Gertrude joins us.
4:40 – First Things Magazine: Ave Maria University the “Most Catholic School in America”
Ave Maria University is "the most Catholic Catholic" college in the U.S., and has academics superior to almost all other Catholic schools, according to a survey of American higher education published by the respected religious journal First Things. First Things says it spent two years analyzing publicly-available data and conducting its own surveys on more than 2,000 U.S. colleges "to cast a light on the place of religion -- or lack thereof -- on American college campuses today." It published detailed rankings and descriptions of 105 schools in its November issue.The rankings by First Things come shortly after Newsweek Magazine named AMU one of its best schools in America and one of the 25 "most desirable rural schools" in the country. AMU Director of Marketing Deacon Forest Wallace is here to discuss it.
5:00 – Fr. Joseph Langford, MC: RIP
Father Joseph Langford, who, together with Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, founded the Missionaries of Charity Fathers, has died in Tijuana following a yearlong struggle with cancer. He was 59. In 1979, Father Langford sought Blessed Teresa’s approval for the incorporation of priests into the charism of the Missionaries of Charity. After a year of discernment, she agreed, and the Priest Co-Workers, later named the Corpus Christi Movement for Priests, began. In 1984, the movement became a religious institute and was renamed the Missionaries of Charity Fathers. We play portions of an interview Al did with Fr. Langford when he wrote the book “Mother Teresa: In the Shadow of Our Lady”
5:20 – Donahue Academy Begins Boarding Program
The Donahue Academy of Ave Maria has begun accepting Junior and Senior high school boarding students this fall. Freshman and Sophomore students will be considered for placement with a Host Family in the Town of Ave Maria. They estimate enrolling about 220 students next year, with about 65 in the high school program and 2-8 boarding students. The unique program and healthy academic and spiritual culture present at the Academy has been a strong draw for families not only from around Naples, but also from around the country. Here to talk about the new program is Headmaster Dr. Dan Guernsey.
5:30 – A Catholic View of Classic Literature: Macbeth
Acclaimed literary biographer Joseph Pearce is the editor of the Ignatius Critical Editions and has been our guide in looking at classical literature from a Catholic perspective. We will ensure that traditional moral readings of the works are given prominence, instead of the feminist or deconstructionist readings that often proliferate in other series of 'critical editions'. As such, they represent a genuine extension of consumer choice, enabling educators, students, and lovers of good literature to buy editions of classic literary works without having to 'buy into' the ideologies of secular fundamentalism. Today, we examine Shakespeare’s Macbeth.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Combative press conference highlights continued dispute on abortion in health care bill
Persistent questions about abortion funding in President Obama's Affordable Care Act arose again on Oct. 20 in a telephone press conference hosted by the bill's supporters at Catholics United. Heated discussion ensued between the organization's executive director Chris Korzen, and Douglas Johnson of the National Right to Life Committee over a controversial ad campaign targeting a Democrat who supported the bill.
Representative Steve Driehaus (D – Ohio) previously filed a complaint to the state's election commission due to a proposed billboard campaign by the pro-life Susan B. Anthony List. He claimed that the campaign would have illegally misrepresented his voting record by stating that “Driehaus voted FOR taxpayer funded abortion.” With a full hearing by the state's election commission scheduled for October 28, SBA List has filed its own lawsuit, alleging that Ohio's regulations of electoral advertising violate their right to free speech.
On Wednesday, Korzen accused the SBA List of “lying” to voters. The Catholics United leader reiterated his group's position that the bill “maintains current restrictions prohibiting taxpayer funds for abortions,” alongside the executive order of President Obama intended to prevent such funding.
But Johnson, the legislative director of the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), said Korzen's defenses of the bill ignored a series of omissions and loopholes that exist alongside those “current restrictions.”
By those alternate routes –such as federal funding for community health centers and payment of premiums for plans that include abortion-- Johnson said that the Affordable Care Act clearly authorized abortion funding.
While some participants in the telephone conference challenged his assertive participation, Johnson noted that he represented “over 300,000 readers” of his organization's National Right to Life News.
NRLC's director referred all participants in the conference call to the 23-page affidavit he filed with the Ohio Elections Commission on October 11, in support of the SBA List. He stated that the document, available on his organization's website, exhaustively vindicated the SBA List's attack on Driehaus.
That affidavit incorporated the objections of both the General Counsel of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and its Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities. The secretariat stated in April 2010 that the Affordable Care Act both “uses federal funds to subsidize health plans that cover abortions,” and offers other funds that “can be used for elective abortions.”
The general counsel has similarly maintained that President Obama's executive order is selective and limited in its restrictions on abortion funding.
A group supporting Driehaus and his legal challenge, Democrats For Life of America, also stated on October 15 that it had filed an affidavit with the Ohio Elections Commission, although it had not made the document available as of Wednesday evening. A federal judge is expected to rule on SBA List's counter-suit this week, to determine the constitutionality of Ohio's laws on political advertising.
Archdiocese of Washington D.C.to open new seminary
“At a time when the teachings of the Catholic faith seem counter-cultural, we are seeing an increased interest in the priesthood, particularly among younger men who want to be a part of a new evangelization in society. Until now, most of our new seminarians, especially those in college, have had to leave the area for their studies. Now, the men will begin their formation here and be an integral part of the local Catholic community from the beginning,” said Archbishop Wuerl.
Sixty-seven men are studying for the priesthood in the Archdiocese of Washington, including 29 in college and pre-theology studies. In the 2001-02 academic year, 11 of 44 seminarians were in college or pre-theology programs.
Monsignor Robert Panke, archdiocesan director of priest vocations and formation for the archdiocese and president of the National Conference of Diocesan Vocations Directors, is overseeing the development of the new seminary. He calls it “a real boost” to vocations efforts and notes that the archdiocese has accepted 9 to 15 men into formation annually in recent years. He attributes the numbers to efforts to encourage young men in high school and college to consider the priesthood.
Initially, the seminary will have space for 30 men who will attend The Catholic University of America while receiving their priestly formation at the seminary. Before ordination, they will complete an additional four years of theology studies at seminaries such as Mount St. Mary’s in Emmitsburg, MD; Pontifical North American College in Rome, Italy; and Theological College in Washington, DC.
Beginning stages in the renovation of the building are already underway and the work is being paid for by private donations. Constructed originally as a residence for a men’s religious order, the building currently houses archdiocesan offices and space for a few members of a religious community.
This will be the second seminary operated by the Archdiocese of Washington. The first, Archdiocesan Seminary Redemptoris Mater in Hyattsville, MD, opened in 2001 to prepare men from around the world to be archdiocesan missionary priests. Once ordained, they serve in the Archdiocese of Washington and missions worldwide.
Last year, 1,443 men were in college seminaries in the United States, and 3,483 in pre-theology or theology, according to Georgetown University’s Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate. After three decades of decline, seminary enrollment in the United States has stabilized over the past 15 years.
Ourtageous Event of the Day
Ousted NPR news analyst and Fox News contributor Juan Williams on FOX NEWS today revealing the behind the scenes details about NPR's decision to terminate his contract. Williams was fired yesterday for making remarks about Muslims on the O'Reilly Factor.
Here is the FULL SEGMENT of Juan's appearance on the O'Reilly Factor so you can see the comments in their full context.
Here is the FULL SEGMENT of Juan's appearance on the O'Reilly Factor so you can see the comments in their full context.
Forced Abortion in China
This is a truly horrifying story.
An 8 month pregnant mother dragged out of her house, kicked in the belly, held down, and then given a lethal injection which killed the defenseless human being inside her. Take note. Steve Mosher has been blowing the whistle on the brutality of the one-child policy for decades.
If the moral evil is not bad enough, they are demographically wrong. Phillip Longman, a fellow at the New America Foundation and author of The Empty Cradle just published an article in Foreign Policy entitled "Think Again: Global Aging." He argues that the world DOES face a population bomb - but of old people. Well worth a read.
An 8 month pregnant mother dragged out of her house, kicked in the belly, held down, and then given a lethal injection which killed the defenseless human being inside her. Take note. Steve Mosher has been blowing the whistle on the brutality of the one-child policy for decades.
If the moral evil is not bad enough, they are demographically wrong. Phillip Longman, a fellow at the New America Foundation and author of The Empty Cradle just published an article in Foreign Policy entitled "Think Again: Global Aging." He argues that the world DOES face a population bomb - but of old people. Well worth a read.
Today on Kresta - October 21, 2010
Talking about the "things that matter most" on Oct. 21
Live from the campus of Ave Maria University in Ave Maria, FL
4:00 – Fr. Joseph Langford, MC: RIP
Father Joseph Langford, who, together with Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, founded the Missionaries of Charity Fathers, has died in Tijuana following a yearlong struggle with cancer. He was 59. In 1979, Father Langford sought Blessed Teresa’s approval for the incorporation of priests into the charism of the Missionaries of Charity. After a year of discernment, she agreed, and the Priest Co-Workers, later named the Corpus Christi Movement for Priests, began. In 1984, the movement became a religious institute and was renamed the Missionaries of Charity Fathers. We play portions of an interview Al did with Fr. Langford when he wrote the book “Mother Teresa: In the Shadow of Our Lady”
4:20 – Don’t Ask / Don’t Tell: On Again / Off Again
A federal appeals court yesterday granted the Obama administration’s emergency motion for a temporary stay of a worldwide injunction barring enforcement of "don't ask, don't tell," the military's ban on openly gay service members. The 9th U.S Circuit Court of Appeals provided no reason for its action other than "to provide this court with an opportunity to consider fully the issues presented." This just two days after the military began admitting open homosexuals at recruiting centers around the country. Here to help us sort out this mess is Eugene Milhizer of Ave Maria Law School.
4:40 – TBA
5:00 – Direct to My Desk
Live from the campus of Ave Maria University in Ave Maria, FL
4:00 – Fr. Joseph Langford, MC: RIP
Father Joseph Langford, who, together with Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, founded the Missionaries of Charity Fathers, has died in Tijuana following a yearlong struggle with cancer. He was 59. In 1979, Father Langford sought Blessed Teresa’s approval for the incorporation of priests into the charism of the Missionaries of Charity. After a year of discernment, she agreed, and the Priest Co-Workers, later named the Corpus Christi Movement for Priests, began. In 1984, the movement became a religious institute and was renamed the Missionaries of Charity Fathers. We play portions of an interview Al did with Fr. Langford when he wrote the book “Mother Teresa: In the Shadow of Our Lady”
4:20 – Don’t Ask / Don’t Tell: On Again / Off Again
A federal appeals court yesterday granted the Obama administration’s emergency motion for a temporary stay of a worldwide injunction barring enforcement of "don't ask, don't tell," the military's ban on openly gay service members. The 9th U.S Circuit Court of Appeals provided no reason for its action other than "to provide this court with an opportunity to consider fully the issues presented." This just two days after the military began admitting open homosexuals at recruiting centers around the country. Here to help us sort out this mess is Eugene Milhizer of Ave Maria Law School.
4:40 – TBA
5:00 – Direct to My Desk
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Today on Kresta - October 20, 2010
Talking about the "things that matter most" on Oct. 20
Live from the campus of Ave Maria University in Ave Maria, FL
4:00 – Faith and the Rescued Chilean Miners
As the last rescued Chilean miner came above ground -- after spending 69 days deep in the lower reaches of earth and surrounded by 700,000 tons of unstable rock -- the world watched in awe and tears. Mario Sepulveda, the second to emerge from the bullet-shaped rescue tube, said, "I was with God. I was with the Devil. God and the devil were fighting over me, and God won. I always knew they would get me out. I always had faith in the professionals here in Chile and in the Great Creator."Chilean President Miguel Piñera declared that what "started as a possible tragedy" ended up "as a real blessing from God." We look at faith and the rescued Chilean miners with Janice Crouse.
4:20 – TBA
4:40 – Pope names 24 new cardinals – 2 Americans
At his regular weekly public audience today, Pope Benedict XVI announced his plan to elevate 24 new members to the College of Cardinals. Confirming the expectations of Vatican journalists, the Holy Father announced that a consistory will be held on November 20. He named 20 prelates who will become voting members of the College of Cardinals. Four others who will receive a red hat in recognition of their long service to the Church, but because they are over the age of 80 they will not be eligible to participate in papal election. The Americans are Archbishop Raymond Burke and Archbishop Donald Wuerl. We talk with Phil Lawler of Catholic World News.
5:00 – Cross International Catholic Outreach – The Kobonal Haiti Mission
Cross International Catholic Outreach is an international Catholic relief and development ministry that assists the poorest of the poor around the world, reaching countless souls with the love of Christ and the message of the “good news’ of salvation. They work in more than 40 countries throughout Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and Latin America. Cross International President Jim Cavnar is here to talk about their Kobonal Haiti Mission and Ave Maria Radio’s partnership with them to meet human needs there. The mission provides good schools and clean water. Teen pregnancy is down; Voodoo has disappeared; and the village enjoys a vibrant Catholic community. But there is still a long way to go. Jim is here with us in Ave Maria, FL to look at the progress that has been made and the work that remains.
5:20 – The Robin Hood Legend – What’s Fact, What’s Fiction, and What’s Just Plain Hollywood?
Legend has it that Robin Hood was an outlaw living in Sherwood Forest with his Merry Men who robbed from the rich and gave to the poor. There are several versions of the Robin Hood story. The Hollywood one is that of an incredibly handsome man - Errol Flynn - clothed in garments of Lincoln green, fighting and outwitting the evil Sheriff of Nottingham. However the first known literary reference to Robin Hood and his men was in 1377, and the Sloane manuscripts in the British Museum have an account of Robin's life which states that he was born around 1160 in Lockersley in Yorkshire. No such place exists in either Yorkshire or Nottinghamshire but there is a Loxley in Staffordshire. Another chronicler has it that he was a Wakefield man and took part in Thomas of Lancaster's rebellion in 1322. Medieval historian Dr. Jeff Hass is here to separate fact from fiction in Robin Hood lore.
Live from the campus of Ave Maria University in Ave Maria, FL
4:00 – Faith and the Rescued Chilean Miners
As the last rescued Chilean miner came above ground -- after spending 69 days deep in the lower reaches of earth and surrounded by 700,000 tons of unstable rock -- the world watched in awe and tears. Mario Sepulveda, the second to emerge from the bullet-shaped rescue tube, said, "I was with God. I was with the Devil. God and the devil were fighting over me, and God won. I always knew they would get me out. I always had faith in the professionals here in Chile and in the Great Creator."Chilean President Miguel Piñera declared that what "started as a possible tragedy" ended up "as a real blessing from God." We look at faith and the rescued Chilean miners with Janice Crouse.
4:20 – TBA
4:40 – Pope names 24 new cardinals – 2 Americans
At his regular weekly public audience today, Pope Benedict XVI announced his plan to elevate 24 new members to the College of Cardinals. Confirming the expectations of Vatican journalists, the Holy Father announced that a consistory will be held on November 20. He named 20 prelates who will become voting members of the College of Cardinals. Four others who will receive a red hat in recognition of their long service to the Church, but because they are over the age of 80 they will not be eligible to participate in papal election. The Americans are Archbishop Raymond Burke and Archbishop Donald Wuerl. We talk with Phil Lawler of Catholic World News.
5:00 – Cross International Catholic Outreach – The Kobonal Haiti Mission
Cross International Catholic Outreach is an international Catholic relief and development ministry that assists the poorest of the poor around the world, reaching countless souls with the love of Christ and the message of the “good news’ of salvation. They work in more than 40 countries throughout Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and Latin America. Cross International President Jim Cavnar is here to talk about their Kobonal Haiti Mission and Ave Maria Radio’s partnership with them to meet human needs there. The mission provides good schools and clean water. Teen pregnancy is down; Voodoo has disappeared; and the village enjoys a vibrant Catholic community. But there is still a long way to go. Jim is here with us in Ave Maria, FL to look at the progress that has been made and the work that remains.
5:20 – The Robin Hood Legend – What’s Fact, What’s Fiction, and What’s Just Plain Hollywood?
Legend has it that Robin Hood was an outlaw living in Sherwood Forest with his Merry Men who robbed from the rich and gave to the poor. There are several versions of the Robin Hood story. The Hollywood one is that of an incredibly handsome man - Errol Flynn - clothed in garments of Lincoln green, fighting and outwitting the evil Sheriff of Nottingham. However the first known literary reference to Robin Hood and his men was in 1377, and the Sloane manuscripts in the British Museum have an account of Robin's life which states that he was born around 1160 in Lockersley in Yorkshire. No such place exists in either Yorkshire or Nottinghamshire but there is a Loxley in Staffordshire. Another chronicler has it that he was a Wakefield man and took part in Thomas of Lancaster's rebellion in 1322. Medieval historian Dr. Jeff Hass is here to separate fact from fiction in Robin Hood lore.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Pope expected to name new cardinals tomorrow
At his regular weekly public audience tomorrow—October 20—Pope Benedict XVI will announce a consistory and name new members of the College of Cardinals, most journalists at the Vatican are convinced. The consistory will take place on November 20, Vatican-watchers agree. While the new cardinals will actually receive their red hats on that date, the Pope will reveal their names tomorrow.
Andrea Tornielli of Il Giornale, who has accurately predicted several important developments of this pontificate, reports that the Holy Father will name 19 new cardinal-electors. There are currently 102 cardinal-electors; since the maximum is 120, there are 18 openings—but that number will rise to 19 on November 15, when Cardinal Janis Pujats, the retired Archbishop of Riga, Latvia, reaches his 80th birthday.
The list of active archbishops who are generally expected to receive red hats is heavily weighted toward Italian prelates serving in the Roman Curia. The Pope’s selections are likely to include:
Running for Congress - Just to Show Pictures of Aborted Babies
THIS BLOG POST IS ENTIRELY FROM JILL STANEK AT JILLSTANEK.COM. Why try to replicate what she has said prefectly! :) I think this is a genius idea.
Norton is an entrenched incumbent in an overwhelmingly liberal district.
But the political contest is beside the point, although Missy has run a serious campaign, she tells me, making inroads at several black churches. Missy won the Republican primary with 87% of the vote.
Federal law mandates network stations must air candidate’s ads unedited. More on the law in the Politico story below.
Missy tells me at present she has contracted to air her ads a total of 15 times beginning October 18 on all the major networks – ABC, CBS, NBC – and several cable* outlets such as MTV. Missy is targeting youth audiences on such shows as David Letterman, Jon Stewart, and Stephen Colbert. (*Cable stations aren’t bound by the same federal laws as network stations, so Missy is currently in negotiations with them. But the network ads are definitely happening.)
Missy will continue to run ther ads as long as the money keeps coming in. She promises 100% of donations will go to fund airing them. Donate here. Reminder: DC is the belly of the abortion beast.
Not only will the ads themselves get attention, but our issue is getting attention. Missy called this morning to say the local ABC News affiliate was on its way to conduct an interview to air on its news show tonight.
Here are the ads. WARNING: Graphic.
Ben Smith from Politico explained the legal mandate to run the ads in a piece this morning:
Pro-lifer Missy Smith decided to run against pro-abort Democrat DC Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton for one reason: To air graphic abortion ads on tv.
Norton is an entrenched incumbent in an overwhelmingly liberal district.
But the political contest is beside the point, although Missy has run a serious campaign, she tells me, making inroads at several black churches. Missy won the Republican primary with 87% of the vote.
Federal law mandates network stations must air candidate’s ads unedited. More on the law in the Politico story below.
Missy tells me at present she has contracted to air her ads a total of 15 times beginning October 18 on all the major networks – ABC, CBS, NBC – and several cable* outlets such as MTV. Missy is targeting youth audiences on such shows as David Letterman, Jon Stewart, and Stephen Colbert. (*Cable stations aren’t bound by the same federal laws as network stations, so Missy is currently in negotiations with them. But the network ads are definitely happening.)
Missy will continue to run ther ads as long as the money keeps coming in. She promises 100% of donations will go to fund airing them. Donate here. Reminder: DC is the belly of the abortion beast.
Not only will the ads themselves get attention, but our issue is getting attention. Missy called this morning to say the local ABC News affiliate was on its way to conduct an interview to air on its news show tonight.
Here are the ads. WARNING: Graphic.
Ben Smith from Politico explained the legal mandate to run the ads in a piece this morning:
An anti-abortion candidate running for Washington, D.C.’s shadow Congressional seat will begin airing a harrowingly graphic campaign advertisement on local broadcast channels beginning next week.Why not, Ben? I thought journalists were supposed to pursue the truth, wherever it leads. Again, please donate generously to Missy Smith’s campaign here for a rare opportunity to get the truth of abortion out on network television – and in an urban area that desperately needs to see the truth.
The candidate, Missy Smith, is an ally of longtime hard-line anti-abortion activist Randall Terry, and her ad features horrifying images of aborted fetuses.
“I killed two of my babies by abortion,” she says in the ad. “Obama, Pelosi, Reid, [Rep. Eleanor Holmes] Norton – they all support the murder of babies.”
The ad, linked at the bottom of these items, contains extremely disturbing images, but a lawyer for Allbritton Communications, which owns the D.C. ABC affiliate WJLA (and also owns Politico) said the stations have no choice but to air it.
“Much as broadcasters may be repulsed by these graphic images and are sensitive to their viewers, Federal law requires stations to air the spots,” Allbritton general counsel Jerry Fritz wrote in an e-mail.
Fritz cited a similar 1992 GA case in which an anti-abortion candidate, Daniel Becker, sought to run a similar ad on an Atlanta station.
“The station asked the FCC for permission to channel the spot into time periods when children would be less likely to be in the audience – late night. Other broadcasters joined in and asked the commission for the right to refuse the spot altogether,” Fritz e-mails. “The FCC gave permission to permit the channeling, but Becker appealed. The D.C. Court of Appeals found for the candidate in a 1996 decision.”
The reason, per Fritz: The Communications Act requires broadcast stations to sell “reasonable amounts” of ad time to qualified Federal candidates, and bars stations from making any changes to those spots, in what’s known as the “no censorship” provision.
Fritz added that in his understanding, Smith requested ad time from WRC, WTTG and WUSA as well as WJLA.
The ad can be seen here, but I don’t recommend it.
Embryo Adoption?
-Over 400,000 tiny human embryos created through in vitro fertilization exist today.Dr. Scarnecchia will be on Kresta in the Afternoon later today from 5-6 p.m. Eastern Time.
-"Donum Vitae" was issued in 1987, the freezing of human embryos was condemned, in vitro fertilization was condemned, and surrogate motherhood was declared illicit and condemned.
-"Donum Vitae" principally addressed the coming to be of a human being through a conception that was not the fruit of a conjugal act of love between a husband and a wife, but occurred in vitro, that is, in a glass petri dish. This procedure was clearly condemned as was the freezing of "extra" or "spare" embryos.
-Thousands of frozen embryos have been created and the question was asked by many well intentioned persons -- can a woman, other than the mother, have a frozen embryo transplanted into her womb without becoming a surrogate mother?
-[Some bioethicists] say that woman would not become a surrogate mother, they argued, if she did not intend to give the child away after birth but intended to adopt him or her.
-[Other] bioethicists argued that if the transfer of a frozen embryo into a woman's womb was surrogacy per se, it would be intrinsically evil and it couldn't be done for any good motive, not even to save the life of the frozen embryo.
-That debate went on for 20 years, from 1987-2008. Then the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued "Dignitas Personae."
-Paragraph 19 said that those who are genetic strangers to the embryo, who through heterologous embryo transfer, become pregnant with a child genetically not their own, have engaged in acts similar to heterologous in vitro fertilization and/or surrogacy, and it was not a licit act. So it is not licit to adopt an embryo to fill out your family size.
-Following the publication of Dignitas Personae [snowflake baby adoption] would no longer seem to be an option a Catholic can in good faith pursue.
-Some bioethicists who argued against heterologous embryo transfer said that it was tantamount to a technological adultery; that for a woman to become pregnant with another couple’s child violates the unitive good of marriage
-Brian Scarnecchia, president of the International Solidarity and Human Rights Institute and professor of law at Ave Maria Law School says...
-My talk was about [the situation] of a mother who repents of the sin of in vitro fertilization and wants to take back or rescue her own frozen embryos.
-In 2006, my response was that the genetic mother could rescue her own frozen embryos, and not become a surrogate and, so, Catholic members of the European Parliament could advocate for this outcome in good faith.
-Parental self-giving has three phases.
1. Natural conception: Every child has the right to be conceived beneath his or her mother’s heart flowing from an act of parental conjugal self-giving.
2. Gestational phase: Every child has a right to be nurtured in his or her mother’s womb.
3. Formative: Every child after birth has the right to be raised by his or her parents until maturity.
-In my book, "Bioethics, Law and Catholic Social Thought" (Scarecrow Press, 2010), I argue that when the genetic mother takes her frozen embryo back into her womb, through homologous embryo transfer, that act affirms the child’s right to gestational parenthood beneath his or her mother’s heart. On the other hand, should a genetic stranger do so, the child suffers a second violation of its rights through heterologous embryo transfer, which "Dignitas Personae" makes clear is analogous to heterologous in vitro fertilization and surrogacy.
-Other bioethicists argue to the contrary that if every conception must be a result of a conjugal act of husband and wife, as "Donum Vitae" states, then every pregnancy must also flow from an act of conjugal union between spouses. Therefore, if the genetic mother would become pregnant through acts of technicians, they argue that this homologous embryo transfer would be a second violation of the rights of the embryo and the mother would, ironically, become a surrogate to her own child. It seems to me that if, by way of analogy, an ectopic tubal pregnancy could be resolved by successfully transferring the embryonic child from its site of implantation in its mother’s fallopian tube to its mother’s uterus, few would object that the child suffered violation because its life was saved through a uterine pregnancy begun by third parties through an act of homologous embryo transfer.
Read the entire Zenit article here.
Outrageous Event of the Day
While Barney Frank's opponent Sean Bielat was being interviewed by the media Barney's boyfriend showed up and heckled him. Bizarre.
Unseemly Attack on Fr. Sirico
"Let me first acknowledge that I consider Father Robert Sirico to be a great priest and a great friend. Anyone who knows him can testify to the depth and sincerity of his faith, as well as to his great sense of humor.
"In 2007, I gladly defended Father Sirico against an attack from the right that appeared in Culture Wars; the author, Thomas J. Herron, has since passed away. Now Father Sirico is being attacked from the left by Michael Sean Winters. The central issue in both cases is the same: Sirico's gay activist years before he became a priest.
"Winters tells us that in the early and mid-1970s, Sirico, who had quit Catholicism at the age of 13, became a minister and performed gay marriages. Then he had a conversion: he came back to Catholicism and eventually became a priest. No one, including Winters, has ever even hinted that he hid his past from those who accepted him back and ordained him. So what's the point? The point is that Winters, a Catholic dissident, is unhappy that Sirico is not in rebellion against the teachings of the Catholic Church. That's true, and that is why he doesn't write for the National Catholic Reporter.
"What seems to be bothering Winters the most is the prominence which Father Siricio has achieved, especially his appearances with Raymond Arroyo on EWTN. One can almost hear Winters say that if only the orthodox Catholics who watch EWTN learn that Sirico was once a gay-friendly guy, they'll throw him under the bus. Wrong. Orthodox Catholics actually believe in redemption."
Cathedral megachurch files for bankruptcy
The megachurch, birthplace of the "Hour of Power" televangelist broadcast, announced its filing as it struggled to emerge from debt estimated earlier this year at $55 million.
Church spokesman John Charles said the church owes about $7.5 million to a host of vendors for services such as advertising and providing the use of live animals for Easter and Christmas services.
The church was negotiating a payment plan with vendors but several chose to file lawsuits, the church said in a statement.
"We've always believed in a big God ... a God Who is greater than any problem or challenge we could ever face," Sheila Schuller Coleman, the Cathedral's senior pastor, said in the statement. "Our announcement today to file for the protection of Chapter 11 is just one more chapter in the book that He is continuing to write."
The Orange County-based church, founded in the mid-1950s by the Robert H. Schuller Sr., earlier this year ordered major layoffs. It also cut the number of stations airing the "Hour of Power" and sold property to stay afloat.
In addition, the 10,000-member church canceled this year's "Glory of Easter" pageant, which attracts thousands of visitors and is a regional holiday staple.
The church was founded at a drive-in theater and attracted congregants with its sermons on the power of positive thinking. Its worship hall features a soaring glass spire that opened in 1970 and remains an architectural wonder and tourist destination.
The "Hour of Power" telecast, filmed in the cathedral's main sanctuary, at one point attracted 1.3 million viewers in 156 countries.
Church leaders said the Crystal Cathedral's Sunday services and weekly-telecast "Hour of Power" will continue while in bankruptcy.
The church also said recent financial reports show good cash flow, but the financial woes were triggered by a drop in revenue in 2009 due to the recession.
The church saw revenue drop 27 percent from roughly $30 million in 2008 to $22 million in 2009. Leaders had projected an 18 percent revenue decline.
Other megachurches have also suffered from the downturn and reduced charitable giving.
Today on Kresta - October 19, 2010
Talking about the "things that matter most" on Oct. 19
Live from the campus of Ave Maria University in Ave Maria, FL
4:00 – Liturgical Music / Praise & Worship / Music in the Life of the Church
Martin Doman has always loved music. His home as a child was inundated with music, mainly the listening variety. His parents came to deep relationship with Jesus through the Catholic Charismatic Renewal and praise and worship was part of his life at a pretty young age. Thirty years later he has now recorded 6 CDs and is director of music ministry at Ave Maria University. We talk about liturgical music, praise and worship, music in the life of the Church and we listen to some of his music.
4:40 – St. Andre Bissette Canonized Sunday
Pope Benedict XVI presided this Sunday at the canonization of six new saints for the universal Church, including the first native Canadian male, St. André Bessette, a Holy Cross brother who gained international renown for holiness during his 40 years as the porter of the Notre Dame College in Montreal. 5,000 pilgrims came from Canada in the official delegation to recognize the beloved “brother Andre,” who had a reputation for healing as well as sound spiritual counsel, founded the magnificent Oratory of St. Joseph in Montreal. We talk to Holy Cross Fr. Kevin Grove about what this canonization means to him and the order.
5:00 – Bioethics, Law, and Human Life Issues: A Catholic Perspective on Marriage, Family, Contraception, Abortion, Reproductive Technology, and Death and Dying
Dr. Brian Scarnecchia draws on the Magisterial teaching of the Catholic Church to outline a Catholic response to a host of controversial issues related to human life. He lays out a Catholic moral theology based on the writings of Pope John Paul II and Thomas Aquinas, and he then applies those Christian moral principles to today's most contentious ethical issues, including reproductive technology, embryo adoption, contraception, abortion, family and same-sex marriage, and euthanasia and assisted suicide. This review of Catholic moral principles brings together an in-depth consideration of the central human life issues of our day with abundant reference to the Church's social teaching and to contrasting positions of today's leading ethicists. He joins us.
Live from the campus of Ave Maria University in Ave Maria, FL
4:00 – Liturgical Music / Praise & Worship / Music in the Life of the Church
Martin Doman has always loved music. His home as a child was inundated with music, mainly the listening variety. His parents came to deep relationship with Jesus through the Catholic Charismatic Renewal and praise and worship was part of his life at a pretty young age. Thirty years later he has now recorded 6 CDs and is director of music ministry at Ave Maria University. We talk about liturgical music, praise and worship, music in the life of the Church and we listen to some of his music.
4:40 – St. Andre Bissette Canonized Sunday
Pope Benedict XVI presided this Sunday at the canonization of six new saints for the universal Church, including the first native Canadian male, St. André Bessette, a Holy Cross brother who gained international renown for holiness during his 40 years as the porter of the Notre Dame College in Montreal. 5,000 pilgrims came from Canada in the official delegation to recognize the beloved “brother Andre,” who had a reputation for healing as well as sound spiritual counsel, founded the magnificent Oratory of St. Joseph in Montreal. We talk to Holy Cross Fr. Kevin Grove about what this canonization means to him and the order.
5:00 – Bioethics, Law, and Human Life Issues: A Catholic Perspective on Marriage, Family, Contraception, Abortion, Reproductive Technology, and Death and Dying
Dr. Brian Scarnecchia draws on the Magisterial teaching of the Catholic Church to outline a Catholic response to a host of controversial issues related to human life. He lays out a Catholic moral theology based on the writings of Pope John Paul II and Thomas Aquinas, and he then applies those Christian moral principles to today's most contentious ethical issues, including reproductive technology, embryo adoption, contraception, abortion, family and same-sex marriage, and euthanasia and assisted suicide. This review of Catholic moral principles brings together an in-depth consideration of the central human life issues of our day with abundant reference to the Church's social teaching and to contrasting positions of today's leading ethicists. He joins us.
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