Muslim Scholars and the Pope

I sometime wonder, if we, Catholics, should always turn the other cheek. Maybe, just maybe, we should also take time to consider the consequences of being too nice. There are time we become victim of abuse. I know, Jesus said to turn the other cheek and be humble.

Take the case of the Muslim scholars offering to dialogue with the Pope, for not taking action right away, some news media, including Catholics, criticized the Pope. It was said the Pope missed the chance. The Pope is the head of the Catholic church, what is the position of these scholars?

In defense of the Pope, I think he was right to ignore the offer; or if he acknowledge the offer, let some other church officials handle the dialogue. Does these scholars represent any of the major Islamic sect? Will the violence being perpetuated by some clerics lessen by the agreements, if any, committed by the scholars? Are these scholars even have any relation to the clerics?

We all know, that if the Pope make an agreement with these scholars, it will be binding to the whole church. But what effect will it have to the Muslims? NONE! Just look at what is going on in the Middle East, Shiite killng Suni and Suni killing Shiite. Even before our soldiers went there, Iran and Iraq were mortal enemies. So, which side does the scholars represent? Will the agreement, if any agreed upon, be binding to either side?

Could it be these scholars are just making a name for themselves at the expense of the Pope? The Pope were called a lot of names, but DUMMY  is not one of them. After listenning to him while he was here, I am sure he did the right move.

God Bless the POPE!

My long absence

I apologize for not writing for a long time. The last one prior to the "Stubborn Pope" was "Have Gas Will Travel" almost a year in between. I stopped because I felt that I am just spinning my wheel and at times I sound angry and political, I don't mean to be. But there were times that I cannot help but respond, I am only human.

Now I am awake again. Thanks to the priest who officiated the Mass I went to last Sunday, April 20th. At first I really think highly of the man, he knows his stuff (I thought), until last Sunday's homily. He spoke so eloquently of the fact that Thomas and Phillip missed the Lord's message. He equated that fact beautifully to our daily life, and it really does. Then he ended his homily by saying: "The church will not loose it's non-profit status, because I am a Democrat. I hope this whole thing stop already so we can vote for either Obama or Clinton."

I was confused, because I thought church and politics should not mix, especially at the pulpit. I know he is an American and have every right to his opinion, but not how he used the church. To remind you last Sunday's Gospel was John 14:1-12, Thomas & Phillip were confused of the message. In defense of the Apostles, they don't have a doctoral education, like our priest now.

After the Mass I confronted the priest about his comment and asked him if he is really voting for pro-abortion candidate. He told me "Look at the big picture, there are more important thing." My answer to him was "Bigger than Life? How can there be anything more important than Life?" He did not answer me. and I walked away confused. I thought Life is Jesus, He said "I am the Life, the Way and the Truth!" Is it really alright to snap the life of an innocent child? While the church is fighting to preserve the life of a convicted criminal? And a priest is using our pulpit to promote candidates who are pro-abortion?

Sometime ago, I was reading a Catholic website and saw an article about the Pope missing the chance to dialect the Muslim scholars. I wonder what was missed? Will the process stop Muslims from trying to destroy Iraq or Afghanistan? As I have said earlier, everyone is entitled to their opinion, but those who can publish and broadcast, can  reach and influence more people.

We should go back to Faith 101.

God bless! 

Stubborn Popes

This is my response to Kathleen Parker’s commentary about Pope Benedict XVI. I give my 2 cents worth of thought. Thank you Ms. Parker for your keen observance of how many Catholics does not conform to the church teaching. I guess that is also the basis of your naming Pope Benedict XVI “stubborn”, and rightly so. And thank you for your praise for his stand, because if not for the “stubborn” stand of JPII and this Pope, who knows how civilization will continue.

You are very right in saying it is hard to follow the church teaching, it takes a lot of sacrifice. It also entails common sense. Your “Catholic” grandparents neglected the later part and so are millions of Catholics, then and today. The Church has always promoted the Natural Family Planning, which is not simple to follow, but easily abused. I heard this argument too many times to just keep my mouth shut.

The Catholic Church was and still is being blamed for having too many children, like you implied. This is where sacrifice is a necessity; men should control their urge to have sex.

But men are selfish, he has a wife and he wanted it now, regardless of consequences. Then blame the church for it, an easy way out. Remember, GOD HELPS THOSE WHO HELP THEMSELVES.

You said the central issue was “abortion”, that is where you are wrong; the central issue is “contraception”. We all know that sex act is pro-creation. Men, in his selfishness, ignore the consequence of his action, since he is not the bearer of it. Women, who bear the consequence, sometimes refuse. And we all know what happen next. Men will show his authority and force the issue, and conflict begins in the house.

Like it or not, there is a devil amongst us. Men created “contraception”, so they can have their way. Talked women into taking poison to prevent pregnancy and called it “choice”. The word “choice” gave women authority over their body. And “choice” also makes women a consenting toy of man’s desire. But the problem is, it is not guaranteed to work all the time. When it fails, then abort, kill the baby.

Let me describe this in another way. Government banned DDT because it poisoned the land, but will not banned birth control pills that poison the womb that carries the seeds of humanity.  Do you know how long it took the land to clear the effect of DDT? I am not a doctor, but to my simple mindedness, even after the woman stop taking the pills, the effect of the poison is still there. The land produce bad crop for sometime even after the ban of DDT, do I need to say more? We burn the crop for the foolishness of the farmer. We kill the baby for the stupidity of the adults, is that fair?

There is a saying that goes like this; “You created your bed, sleep on it!” It is said the children now a day are not as sturdy as the children of old. I wonder why? Down syndrome, autism, ADD and all other physical and psychological deficiencies prevalent today also exist before, but not to the number as we see it today. What can we attribute it to? Your guess is as good as mine. I can only think of thanking the “Catholic” politicians like, Senators Kennedy, Biden, Durbin and others for this. Forgive me for not mentioning Cong. Pelosi.

It is funny how we see all these “green revolution” to clean the environment. How people tend to buy food grown “organic”, free of chemicals. Then we popped pills directly into our body, not only for birth control, but for diet and other social needs. We are a bunch of hypocrites.

I can only say, “Thank God for stubborn Popes!”

HAVE GAS WILL TRAVEL

Wonder never cease to amaze. Last night in the news, a guy in New York said "These thing should never happen in America!" Meaning the GAS CRISIS. Amazing!!!

Why shouldn't it happen here? Does America have everything we need? Have we not been importing oil for sometime? For a long time, we all know the supply is dwindling. We all know that we were importing crude oil more and more every year. The problem also is our environmentalists will not allow the driller to drill in the pristine places like the Tundra and other national parks where oil are available. To which I agree, why ruin a beautiful place?

Yet, our auto manufacturers kept on producing big gas guzzlers. For comfort, showing off and keeping up with Jones'. Other country kept improving their little automobile and we kept importing them too. But lately, speed is more important than economy. So we import little cars with fast bigger engine, that are guzzlers too.

We have some of the best engineers in the world, yet we can not make a car that can run economically to suit our need. We have to make big trucks and cars that drink gas, burn a little and spit out a lot. Sounds good though, very macho.

What we are missing in this scenario is what we Catholic calls as "STEWARDSHIP". Americans tends to think we deserves the best of all the world can give, even at the expense of other. We tap the Arabs for oil, of course they will concur for a PRICE. Now the price is getting too high, we starts to complain. Their fault?

Maybe Detroit should think more for the good of the Americans than their pocket, because now this whole thing is hurting their pocket more than you.

God Bless!!!!

Should our church be involve in POLITICS?