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| THE MOTHER TERESA STAMP IS ON THE WAY [Rachel Watkins] |
| 5/10/2010 |
Due in September, it is coming with some flack as there are people who see it as a problem when it comes to church and state (seemingly forgetting that Martin Luther King, Jr. was a minister).
While we don't mail alot anymore - on-line bill pay, emailing, etc. - I am reconsidering that in order to use this stamp frequently.
Each time I use it, I would hope others would be inspired to care a little bit more for others, I will be praying for those seeing it to consider the poor more kindly and even pray that those seeing it might consider changing the world just as Blessed Teresa did. |
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| FOLLOWING THE MONEY - ABORTION INDUSTRY [Rachel Watkins] |
| 5/10/2010 |
We do know it makes a lot of money - A LOT of money.
Now, we can actually site some of this money -
Vicki Evans of the Archdiocese of San Francisco has presented her thesis in this regard -
http://www.catholic-sf.org/news_select.php?newsid=&id=57168
What i find especially disturbing is the use of fetal cells in makeup and anti-aging products. Vanity of the death of a baby... |
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| WORKING PARENTS ARE A REALITY [Rachel Watkins] |
| 5/11/2010 |
And I know many who do it very well, for the right reasons and out of true family commitment and obligation.
But this recent study should make every working parent (especially part-time) think about their choices and actions.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/2010-05-11-column11_ST_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip
What I really liked from the article is this quote:
"Kristen Burris, a licensed acupuncturist in Eagle, Idaho, opens her practice later so she can spend the early mornings with her 2- and 3-year-old sons. "I don't cook, clean or talk on the phone" during that time, she says. "Every second is focused on hugging and loving and playing with them."
Do even at-home mothers do this? Do we take for granted that by being with the kids all the time we don't need to focus only on them?
This is a real struggle for some moms, who even though they are home, spend more time cleaning, talking on the phone, on the computer and otherwise 'engaged' than doing something dedicated and specific for their kids.
Now, I am not talking about anything more involved than sharing a conversation or snack with them. Don't let the computer or TV babysit them all day while you do your thing. Make sure your paths intersect during the day.
Being at home mom offers your child huge benefits as studies will attest but it does require that you are actually involved. |
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| OKAY - IF YOU ARE SINGLE, HOW BUSY CAN YOU BE?? [Rachel Watkins] |
| 5/11/2010 |
I do not want to make any critical judgements that single people have more time on their hands than married folks or even people with children. However, it does make sense that when you do not have anyone else relying on you for food, clothes or even just time together as comes with a marriage and family - you just might have a bit more time than I do.
But, it seems that some singles struggle with time so much that they are now outsourcing their DATES!!!
I can understand wanting someone else to perhaps screen your on-line choices to 'cull the herd' so to speak but come on!!!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36926587/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets/
It seems to me that is just one more 'genius' idea that someone had for making easy money. Pay me to check out the losers out there and only send you the cream of the crop. Or just pay me to read the rejections you are bound to encounter.
If you are single, I suggest you do all the work yourself. All of it - including seeing everyone faces and profiles and more. I would hate to wonder if my hired help rejected my possible future spouse because they are looking at them with money in mind instead of love.
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| REPENT, RELEARN JUSTICE [Rachel Watkins] |
| 5/11/2010 |
Surely we knew this call would be coming. Surely we have been doing it already.
But if you have not make an effort to increase your own sacrifices and acts of repentance in regard to the scandals - both large and small - our Church is dealing with our Holy Father has now called us to it.
We have our marching orders from our leader and they are very, very clear -
From coverage on his journey to Portugal:
Benedict said the Church has "a very deep need" to acknowledge that it must do penitence for its sins and "accept purification."
"Today we see in a truly terrifying way that the greatest persecution of the Church does not come from outside enemies but is born of sin within the Church," he told reporters on the plane taking him to Portugal, in response to a question about the scandal.
We may not want to accept his harsh words. We may want to deflect all the sins of the Church onto the perpetrators and we would be right to do so. We, after all, did not abuse anyone.
However, to do that without seeing how our prayers, sacrifices and efforts can help to heal the wounds caused by their evil leaves that wound without much needed medicine and grace.
Our prayers, our sacrifices and efforts sent out to God with humility recognizing our own sins can do such great work.
Take some time to see where you can offer up concrete sacrifice and efforts for the scandals. Will you now begin a meatless fast on Friday year round? Water for every meal? Forgo coffee out and drink from the communal office pot?
Every one of us can help ease the pain of the scandal by our efforts.
Over at the Register, our good friend, Mark Shea explains the Church's teaching regard to doing penance for others. If you aren't sure why/how he's got the answers:
http://www.ncregister.com/blog/doing_penance_for_others/ |
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| LOVE THE EARTH? HAVE A BABY! [Rachel Watkins] |
| 5/12/2010 |
This column, from the Ottawa Citizen, will not get the coverage it should (outside of the hate mail, the author recognizes).
What Mr. Gardner says is true not only for Canada but for the United States and most of Europe.
Love the earth? Have a baby! I would happily join in that effort, but sadly, I think those days are behind me.
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/technology/Babies+good+planet/3001776/story.html |
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| SATURDAY AFTERNOON MOVIES AND RAY HARRYHAUSEN [Rachel Watkins] |
| 5/12/2010 |
When I was a kid, I loved Saturday in the winter. After getting my morning chores done, getting in some sled riding and snowman building, I would settle into Saturday afternoon movies. A plate of cookies, hot chocolate and movie escapes - perfect!
There was a TV station either from Rochester or Buffalo who would show movies during those months when there didn't seem to be anything else to show. No roller derby, no wrestling - so it was B-Flick movies.
I watched Godzilla, Abbott and Costello, the Three Stooges which all were good in their own right but I really liked any and all of the Greek epics, the Hercules movies, and would fairly rejoice when it would be a Ray Harryhausen!
I loved, loved, loved Jason and the Argonauts, The Golden Voyage of Sinbad, and more.
Mr. Harryhausen (given a tribute in Pixar's "Monsters, Inc. as the name of the swanky restaurant), is unpacking his monsters for a tribute at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Hollywood.
I'm tempted to make the trip to Hollywood to see it. As they say, they just don't make movies like that anymore! |
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| KAGAN AS A SUPREME COURT NOMINEE [Rachel Watkins] |
| 5/12/2010 |
Like this op-ed piece which talks of the silly way (my words) we pick a Supreme Court Justice. Including some harsh words from Ms. Kagan herself.
There is even a reference to how we pick our Pope!
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/2010-05-12-column12_ST2_N.htm |
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| WE'VE SAID BEFORE AND WE'LL SAY IT AGAIN - [Rachel Watkins] |
| 5/12/2010 |
PORNOGRAPHY IS BAD
It is highly addictive, destructive to marriages, degrading to all women and harmful to an individual's psyche.
Now, science is backing us up.
After avoiding the issue for years, under the faulty premise of free speech or, worse yet, what happens behind closed doors doesn't affect anyone else - the APA is tackling it.
http://www.ncregister.com/register_exclusives/new_report_confirms_pornographys_devastating_impact_on_society/
But don't expect it to get any press as the Register was the only place I found this news.
I guess the other sites were busying cruising the internet....
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