Jake Plummer thinks Tim Tebow is too religious

http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/msn/jake_plummer_wishes_tim_tebow_would_shut_up_go_hug_his_teammates_instead_of_publicizing_religion/8244544

So Mr. Plummer seems to think Tim Tebow (who, by the way, did much better than Plummer in his starts), should just "shut up" and not be open about his faith?

May I ask, since when were you in any position to comment?  Mr. Tebow has every right to be open about his faith in the public square.  Christianity BELONGS in the public square, no matter what every single atheist "activist" group will tell you.

Apparently, the only thing that matters in the NFL to some is selfishness, ego, and hedonism, just like in modern society.  Can't have any of that pesky faith  in public now, can we?  Gotta keep it all in the churches where we don't have to look at those stupid Christians.

Give me a break!

LSN: Couple who would have aborted disabled son awarded $4.5 million for ‘wrongful birth’

If this one doesn't shock and horrify you, I don't know what will.

WEST PALM BEACH, FL, September 19, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A jury has awarded the West Palm Beach parents of a child born with no arms and one leg $.4.5 million. The couple claimed that had they known of their unborn son’s disabilities before he was born, they would have aborted him.

“I have no words,” an overjoyed Mejia said in her native Spanish. She and her husband said that the award would make a huge difference in their son Bryan’s life.

The jury of four men and two women found Palm Beach Gardens obstetrician Dr. Marie Morel and an ultrasound technician 85% and 15% negligent, respectively, for failing to properly read sonograms. The amount they awarded is half the $9 million Ana Mejia and Rodolfo Santana were seeking.

CIVB to the NFLPA and team owners: SHUT UP AND PLAY FOOTBALL!!!

Day in and day out for the past month I've heard no new football news other than the never ending "labor talks" between the NFLPA (aka the most pointless union ever formed) and team owners.  I've had to listen about the players whining that they're not making enough money besides having multimillion dollar contracts, and the owners calling a completely pointless lockout over something that should have been solved in an afternoon (other than no guaranteed contracts for rookies there's nothing wrong with the NFL).

I'm finally sick of it all.  The players need to sign the new CBA and get back to playing football or I'm not going to bother watching at all.  My mother just finally got to see her dream and got tickets to a Patriots game against the Redskins.  I want my mom to see that game. 

Plus, the greed is astounding to me.  What, the millions the players make a season aren't enough?  You want more?  What's it gonna be, contracts worth billions of dollars?  I can honestly foresee that happening someday, what with what the players are being paid now.  Most of us fans can see through the dog-and-pony show that the owners and players are putting on.  It's all about making money and nothing else.  I'm sick of it.  The fans who scrimp and save every season to go to one game a year deserve better than this garbage. 

If nothing comes of this, if the players refuse the new deal, I will not watch a single football game this season.  I mean not even one.  Not even when my Patriots are playing.  If the season is cancelled, I'm done with football forever.

What's it gonna be guys?  You gonna play or what?  Cuz I'm done with you.

Liberal Irish priests whine about the new improved translation

Someone should hand these guys a handkerchief already.

From Father Z's blog, his comments in brackets.

Press Statement from ACP: Monday, March 28th
Press statement from the Association of Catholic Priests responding to our meeting with a Commission of the Episcopal Conference and their response to our submission, on the subject of the proposed new Liturgical Texts [The texts are not "proposed" now.  They are "approved".  The ACP is operating, perhaps, on the foundation of fantasy.]
The Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) regrets the recent decision of the Irish Catholic Bishops, [And so they will make their regret public.] in response to a submission from the ACP, to press ahead with the implementation of the introduction of the new Mass texts as planned next November.
At a meeting in Maynooth on Monday, February 28th  a delegation from the ACP met the Episcopal Commission of Worship, Pastoral Renewal and Faith Development.  There were five members of the Bishop’s Conference and a number of others, including three women, present. ["including three women".... LOL!  Why make that point so pointedly?] The delegation from the ACP voiced the following concerns:
1. That the proposed texts [again with the "proposed", as if they can now be derailed.  Dream on.] are unsuitable and unacceptable in a number of respects:
(i) we believe that, as literal translations of the Latin, [No.  They are literal.  I work up "literal" translations all the time.  The new, corrected translation is not "literal".] they are too complex and too cumbersome.  [This is another way of saying that they think people in the pews - priests as well - are too stupid to use the new texts.] The guidelines state that they should be ‘comprehensible even to the faithful who have received no special intellectual formation”. This is clearly not the case. [This is clearly not "clearly" the case.  Moreover, we can't know this before the new translations are implemented.]
(ii) we have reservations as to their theological veracity, for example at the very heart of the Eucharistic prayers, the new text states that Christ died ‘for many’ rather than ’for all.’ [This could be a) dumb or b) heresy.  I don't think you can say that something theologically doubtful is to be found in the Roman Canon without running the risk of being a heretic.  As far as "dumb" is concerned, perhaps I should correct myself and say uninformed.  I direct them to the Roman CatechismPart II, ch. 4 (264.7-265.14), not to mention the decision of Pope Benedict - the only one with the authority to approve translations of sacramental forms - that pro multis is to be translated properly.]
(iii) we fear that their introduction will damage the present fabric of worship in our parishes, dissuade people from active participation and introduce annoyance, discontent, resentment and possibly anger into the unifying ritual of the Mass [Certainly there have never been any liturgical abuses in those parishes.  Nor is there any concern over the other problems that have abounded in the Church in Ireland... because of priests.]
(iv)we fear [There's a good start.  I fear that the Chicago Cubs might meet the Cleveland Indians in the World Series, thus sparking the Apocalypse. ] that the continued use of sexist language with its use of ‘man’, men’ and ‘brothers’ as generic terms will alienate some women and men, and is a very unfortunate reversal in an area where some progress had been made. [Man, what a good head of steam they have worked up!]
2.  We believe that the process by which the texts have been drawn up is seriously flawed.  There was no consultation with either priests or people and this is contrary to the teaching of the Second Vatican Council on the Church. [As dull as an Ambrosian Chant Credo... this again?  How would that "consultation" have taken place?] An instructive lesson the Church has learned in recent times is that decisions made by small groups and then visited on the Church as a whole without adequate consultation tend not to serve the good of the Church. [What small group is that?  What on earth does this mean?]
While the Association of Catholic Priests recognises the need for a new and improved translation of the liturgical texts, we believe that the proposed new texts are unsuitable and inadequate. Many priests will struggle with them and many people will regard them as unnecessary and unusable.  Consequently we believe it is unwise to proceed with them.
While the bishops listened to our concerns, we regret to say that, judging by their response, they failed to take on board what we said and did not furnish any reasons for not accepting the concerns that we raised with them. We do not regard this as an appropriate form of listening or dialogue.  [Do you suppose this group will eagerly defend the rights of Catholics who desire the older form of Mass according to Summorum Pontificum?]
We remain convinced that introducing the new texts next November will have serious repercussions for parishes. While some priests may welcome them, it is clear that others will resist them, while many, maybe the majority, will accept them with a sense of resignation and without enthusiasm. In such circumstances it is, we believe, unwise to introduce them. [And they have every intention to sow as much dissent and as many misgivings as possible.]
We will convene a meeting of our members on Thursday, June 2nd , at 2.30pm,  in the parish centre in Portlaoise to consider our response.  In the meantime we encourage our members to continue to discuss this matter with their pastoral councils, and indeed their parishioners generally.

Hmm, assuming that every layperson is dumb and needs to have the Mass dumbed down for them?  Complaining of "sexist" language that isn't even sexist?  Yada yada blah blah blah whine?  These priests have allied themselves with the Catholic left (who btw, sees their own Church as an unending nest of pedophilic vipers and sexist buffoons and therefore needs to be torn down and started anew), the "Spirit of Vatican II" crowd who are singlehandedly responsible for the near collapse of the faith in the West, and it's annoying to hear their endless and buffoonish pontificating.

Newsflash guys, it's not your decision, and the decision has been made.  I suggest you spend more time catechizing your parishes than whining and moaning like little girls.

AmP: LGBT-funded poll falsely claims that most Catholics support same-sex marriage

From the "what the heck are they thinking" files comes this courtesy of Thomas Peters.

You can read his evisceration of this pro-homosexual canard over at the posted link.

Pax Christi, and pray for the conversion of these poor souls.

Washington Examiner: Jihadis who fought U.S. in Iraq, Afghanistan now enjoy American support in Libya

Courtesy of The Washington Examiner.

Evidence is emerging that United States forces are waging war in Libya on behalf of rebels whose ranks include jihadis who fought against the U.S. in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq.
Britain's Daily Telegraph reports that Abdel-Hakim al-Hasidi, a leader of U.S.-supported rebel forces in the fighting around Adjabiya, went to Afghanistan in 2002 to fight against the "foreign invasion" -- that is, U.S. troops who invaded Afghanistan in retaliation for the September 11 attacks.  The Telegraph says al-Hasidi told an Italian newspaper, Il Sole 24 Ore, that he was captured in 2002 in Peshawar, Pakistan.  "He was later handed over to the U.S., and then held in Libya before being released in 2008," the Telegraph reports.  Al-Hasidi also told the Italian paper he recruited about 25 Libyan men to fight against U.S. forces in Iraq.

I wonder how the "Commander-in-Chief" will get himself out of THIS one?

More Debasement of Marriage: "McWeddings"

From out of Hong Kong comes this latest insult to the sanctity of marriage.

Imagine receiving a wedding invitation where the typical menu options of salmon, chicken, or beef are replaced with Filet-o-Fish, Chicken McNuggets, or a classic Big Mac.

If McDonald's catered nuptials are your idea of a dream wedding, you might want to consider a trip to Hong Kong, where the international chain has launched its first company licensed McWeddings.

No, actually, they're not my idea of a dream wedding; a reverent, holy Nuptial Mass is.

This whole thing strikes me as another ridiculous marketing gimmick by a major corporation.  Producing sexually explicit or disgusting ads is one thing, but using marriage, something that should be treated with absolute dignity and respect, to push your products is an insult.  I won't be buying from McDonalds anytime soon.

Are you kidding?

http://www.redstate.com/blogozoid/2011/02/18/democrats-unleash-their-secret-weapon/

Am I the only one who thinks children's show characters should NOT be politicized?  I hope not.

The Macy's Parade is Sexist?

From the liberal blowhards at the Huffington Post comes this guffaw-worthy piece.

I've never been big on parades. Crowds of people crammed together, inevitably sweating or freezing, no one under six feet tall getting a good view. But from the comfort of my parents' kitchen, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is a tradition even I don't like to forgo. I don't get up early to watch, but with my whole family crowded into the one room, all vying for counter space or the good knife, it's the only acceptable accompaniment.

The parade attracts over 3.5 million people to the often frigid streets of New York, plus over 50 million people who watch the performers and balloons from home. But no matter whether these observers are avidly engrossed or peeking up from their poultry prep, all of them are absorbing one simple fact: from cartoon cats to historical heroes, there aren't many female figures floating by.

Look, no lady balloons!

Holidays are an obnoxious time to pick a fight. The holiday spirit implies not kicking your brother under the table and leaving partisan politics outside the dining room so your relatives can digest their meal in peace. But not everyone can afford to take the vacation.

On November 10 of this year, Lynnette Long, president of Equal Visibility Everywhere--a not-for-profit charmingly acronymed EVE--published a blog on the astounding under-representation of female characters among the Macy's parade balloons. For a few key feminists, despite the holiday, it was a call to action.

In the 84-year, 129-character history of the parade, only 10 female characters have ever sailed down the avenues. "Parade balloons are not a trivial issue," said Long. "Every year millions of young girls eagerly attend Macy's and other parades, only to look up and see nothing but male characters float by." Long concluded with a latent call for action: "Hopefully, one day, the parade skies of the United States will be filled with an equal number of male and female characters."

But the call didn't stay latent for long. The blog post got the attention of Lyn Mikal Brown at Hardy Girls Healthy Women, a nonprofit devoted to the health, well-being, and empowerment of girls and women. HGHW, in turn, reached out to SPARK, a newly formed coalition of feminist organizations helmed by Deb Tolman, a professor at Hunter College. SPARK had its first event right before Halloween, a conference I attended and wrote about.

For every holiday there could probably be an anti-holiday of feminist grievances. SPARK's first event was timed to raise consciousness about the sexualization of Halloween costumes for women and girls. Now it's the lack of women in the Thanksgiving Day parade. I suppose you could ask what's next? An awareness day for Mrs. Claus? St. Valentine's girlfriend? The Easter Bunny's mom? In some ways, the last thing even I want with the turkey is a side of feminist frustration.

But the truth is, the lack of visibility of women and girls in our culture and the media--while a year-round issue--is more insidious during the holidays. These are the moments for the stories we love, the characters we identify with and want to celebrate. If the characters are overwhelmingly male, what do we internalize about who matters?

This isn't just important for young girls: how we see females portrayed and whether we see them featured at all affects how boys and men--how all of us--understand and relate to girls and women.

So SPARK decided to step up the call for equal balloon representation and set a date for the goal. How's 2012 sound?

The answer is up to Terry J. Lundgren, CEO of Macy's, Inc, and the designated recipient of SPARK's petition demanding balance among the balloons. Maybe it's up to you, too, if you want to sign.

"This isn't just about the Macy's Day Parade," says Brown. "This is part of a larger pattern of girls underrepresented in the media."

"The parade is a concrete way to see the issue," explains Tolman.

The ability to pick up on this item and run with it is central to SPARK's mission: to create a feminist network. By connecting big organizations with small ones, SPARK lends the power of a greater voice to grassroots groups that are not encased in bureaucracy and therefore may be more creative with their energies.

Like the can of cranberry sauce that's sitting directly in the center of the shelf, often the most difficult issues to see are the ones that are right in front of us. But just recognizing them is perhaps the most important step toward change.

There's no good reason why female characters can't be equally represented in the Parade. True, the lack of parity reflects the general state of the media, but with a history of only 129 balloons total, it doesn't seem like a lot to ask. Given TV, books, movies, and all of history, I think most of us could come up with 64 characters to fill the ranks. Who knows... maybe even 65.

Which women, girls, and female characters would you like to see in The Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade? Post your ideas in the comments section below!

I've pretty much come to expect liberal nonsense from the HuffPo, but this one takes that cake. Seriously, this isn't a joke? Young girls are being disempowered because there aren't enough female cartoon character balloons in the Macy's parade? I think I speak for everyone when I say piffle. A young kid isn't going to care about what balloons they have in the parade; they're too busy enjoying themselves to care about uber-feminist pontificating.

So, to the fine folks at the Huffington Post I say; give it up.

Pax Christi.

"Absurd overreach" is right!

I found this one in my e-mail inbox.

A school principal in California has filed a lawsuit against his school district, saying he's been punished and threatened with job termination for appearing in a video promoting a prayer breakfast to honor teachers.

Foothill Elementary principal Craig Richter is being represented by the Alliance Defense Fund. ADF senior counsel Joseph Infranco tells OneNewsNow the school district disciplined the principal, who is a Christian, for making a 30-second appearance in a video promotion of the event.

The principal wasn't proselytizing or promoting one particular form of prayer over another.  All he did was appear in a video promoting an event, one that happened to be a prayer breakfast.  How does THAT violate this "separation of church and state" folks keep talking about?

Just another example of how ridiculous PC lunacy has become in this country.

Pro-homosexual "marriage" blogger throws a nutty

http://themoderatevoice.com/82420/a-case-for-religious-history-classes/

So, the whole institution of marriage is an invention of the Catholic Church as a tool to defend itself from the Protestant Reformation?  That would be news to just about every single married couple in the history of the world, and not just Christians.

Ignorance of history serves no one, and certainly not this poor soul.