Recently in Morality Category

I just finished watching Ben Stein's Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed. Despite the somewhat silly cover, this is a very serious movie that deserves your attention. Basically the movie starts by looking at the scientific community's view of Intelligent Design. But from there he delves deeply into Darwinism and ends by asking the question, "How would our society look if Darwinism where applied?"
 
I highly recommend you take the time to rent this movie (we got it from Netflix, so it's out there). At a minimum, it will make you think about the nature of Darwinism, God, and society. It really made me look at Ben Stein (Bueller, Bueller) in another light. And the movie is very well thought out. He builds his case in a logical way that makes a compelling argument. Even if you aren't an Intelligent Design proponent, it's worth your time. I want to say more about it, but I think it's much more interesting if you watch it yourself. If I simply tell you the conclusions, it wouldn't mean as much.
 
Clear enough? Don't miss it! You can buy it at Amazon.com here.
 
God bless,
Jay

What are the key issues in deciding who should be the next president? Promises are great, but what really matter is the character and moral strength of the person who we vote for. Anyone can promise tax breaks, new programs, etc, but as a Christian, I believe we need someone who has the moral character to choose what is right, even if it isn't popular. Here's a list of the moral issues in the next presidential election.

Issue	John McCain	Barack Obama
Abortion	Pro-life. Believes life begins at conception and should be protected.	Pro-abortion. 100% pro-abortion record in voting; even worked to block a bill that required doctors to provide medical care to babies born during a botched abortion.
Supreme Court Judges	Committed to adding strict constitutionalists to the Supreme Court who are pro-life	Committed to protect abortion rights in choosing Supreme Court justices
Euthanasia	Against Euthanasia.	Approves of Euthanasia
Gay Marriage	Against gay marriage or civil unions that are equivalent to gay marriage	Against gay marriage, but for civil unions that are "indistinguishable" from a heterosexual marriage
Death Penalty	Supports the Death Penalty	Supports the Death Penalty
Torture	Against torture of terrorists, others	Against torture of terrorists, others

Any other issues I should add? Who wins on the moral front? Certainly not the Democratic Candidate.

God bless,
Jay

This week - probably because of everything going on in the world - is a more serious collection of posts that I remember seeing recently. And it makes for compelling reading that really challenges you to think through your preconceptions and understand Catholic teaching. That's not to say there aren't a few lighter posts, but this Carnival is a little heavier than most! Enjoy:

Father Aloysius starts us off with Fundamental Truth at Life's Crosses. This post explores our reasons for being and why we reject the overtures from God so often.

Next we move to Mini Confessions at Quantum Theology where we hear the outcome of sending a 14-year-old to a face-to-face confession rather than a penance service.

Never forget that God Alone is Enough as explained on Thoughts on Grace. When you are filled with fear, remember St. Theresa's poem and know that God alone is enough.

Steven highly recommends him, so he reviewed J.F. Powers Bibliography at Book Reviews and More. Powers is an excellent Catholic short story writer that you should know more about. This is a good place to start!

Poetry speaks and convicts in Like Dinner on Wood at Long Skirts. It is a poem about how Catholics before us were willing to be served up Like Dinner on Wood to preserve the Faith.

Okay, I admit it at Homeschool Goodies takes us in a different direction: She admits being a "dance mom" and explains the benefits her homeschooled children receive from dance.

Keeping on that theme, Homeschooling: A Growing Trend at A Catholic Mom Climbing the Pillars explores the question of why people are homeschooling and paints a great picture of the homeschooling family.

Sarah makes grape jelly in The Color Purple at Just Another Day of Catholic Pondering. She also reflects on opportunities for prayer during her work. Wow - sounds delicious . . .

A Reflection . . . at Organ-ic Chemist ponders a homily on the reading from September 14 where the image of a snake is raised to save those who were bitten. What caught her attention was the pastor's reference to a snake being an ambivalent symbol.

Another reflection on the same readings: God's Punishment and Salvation at HMS Blog. As always, HMS Blog is definitely worth your time. It also focuses on the image of a snake prefiguring Christ.

Moving to politics, Over the Edge? at A Catholic View points out that Bishop Niederauer wants to speak with Nancy Pelosi about her recent misstatements on Catholic positions. Can we expect anything to come from this? Interesting comic included.

In a moving post, an Abortion Survivor Pleads with Obama in New Ad at Catholic Fire. Gianna Jessen survived when her mother's abortion was botched. She asks Senator Obama why he would vote against a bill requiring doctors to provide medical attention to babies born during botched abortions. It's a powerful ad.

Staying in politics, The Change We Need at Living Catholicism takes a closer look at Senator Obama's stance on abortion and how it matches up against Catholic teaching. Includes the USCCB's points from Faithful Citizenship.

Don't miss the Worldwide Rosary for Unborn Babies reported on at A Life of Benevolence. The event happens on October 18th and you can find the details in this post.

Serious issues continue with Suicide and Salvation at Aggie Catholics. Is it a sin to think about killing yourself? How about to try to kill yourself? This post explains Catholic teaching.

Notes from a Subculturist at The Catholic Journeyman explains what a subculturalist is and how they find balance, beauty, and battlescars in Catholic apologetics.

We finish up with Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard at Prepare for Mass offers a series of videos exploring the readings - it's a great way to get prepared for Mass!

God bless,
Jay

One thing you don't realize when you start a blog is the amount of obscene spam that you'll get. It's difficult to create a spam filter for a blog that will actually filter out everything, so some will make it through as a comment on your blog. This is expected. What isn't expected (or wasn't from me) is the level of obscenity and deviance involved in the comment spam. I'm a grown man, but as I'm going through and deleting it, I still get a little sick over the contents.

My concern is that this reflects in some way the acceptable deviance of society. Clearly we have a problem with pornography addiction in our country. There is now no stigma to walking in a store and trying to buy a porn magazine. You can simply go online, believing (wrongly so) that you are anonymous while surfing the internet. People who wouldn't have considered pornography ten years ago are surfing it regularly online.

How can we fix this? Or can we? Pornography is intrinsically dangerous to people and societies. It increases the violence against women. It hurts marriages and marital relationships. It changes the way the user feels about love. And it exploits women in unspeakable ways for money.

I really this this in part goes back to our loss of the sense of sin. I wonder how many who view pornography realize they are endangering their soul - for all eternity - for a small amount of pleasure that can't ever fulfill their desires. If only they felt that Jesus Christ was looking over their shoulder as they engaged in this. Or even better, picture the Virgin Mary crying at your side as you surf the dark side of the Internet.

If you have a pornography problem, do something about it. Know when you are tempted and stay away from the computer. Put software on your computer that will stop you from viewing it. If you have children, you should do this anyway - they certainly shouldn't be sucked in at a young age. And most of all, pray.

If you know someone who has problems with pornography, pray for them. And pray for the women of our society, who seem to be exploited more as every year passes.

According to an article from Catholic World News, a team of Harvard University researchers has found that condom-distribution campaigns in Africa have not significantly reduced the spread of the AIDS. They have concluded that efforts to curb the AIDS epidemic in Africa should concentrate on promoting sexual restraint.

Dr. Daniel Halperin, who led the research team from the Harvard School of Public Health, went as far as saying "We need a fairly dramatic shift in priorities, not just a minor tweaking". The group's report, released in Science magazine, found that male circumcision had a dramatic effect in curtailing the transfer of the HIV virus, while efforts to promote condom use did not affect the spread of AIDS in Africa.

The researchers discovered that programs designed to discourage sexual promiscuity had a strong positive impact in several countries. Uganda had the most successful program. Their government-backed campaign produced a reported 50% drop in the number of people reporting multiple sexual partners. Comparable programs led to a reduction in the rate of HIV infection in Kenya, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Malawi, and Ivory Coast as well.

I hope this is reported on all the major media networks, not just Science magazine and Catholic World News. The truth about the effects immoral behavior must be exposed.

In Christ,
Daniel

I'm always fascinated by the question of how many people would ever really believe in Christianity in general. And I think you can touch upon it by asking the question: what if Jesus appeared in the sky every night at 7:00 PM and explained why you should believe in Him. This would be the most blatant exposition of truth available. How many would believe?

The tendency is to say "almost everyone," but unfortunately this is not true. A segment of the population would suggest this nightly occurance was simply gas in space that seemed to look like Christ. Or another would suggest that it was mass hypnosis and we weren't really seeing Jesus. But the worst - the saddest - of God's creatures would admit that this was Jesus and proceed to twist His words in a way to suit their lifestyle. So that they do not have to change for any reason.

I think God believes (and knows) He has given us exactly the proofs we need to believe. He has appeared over time to His people culminating in an actual visit to earth in the flesh where He was killed for our sins. He left behind a Church which wrote a book explaining exactly what happened while Jesus was on earth. How much more should He do? God of course could make us believe, but we would then be robots incapable of truly and freely loving Him. And frankly, how many more would believe with anything short of making us robots? In our day and age faith is no longer a function of knowledge. You can read history, science, or philosophy and get to God. The information is available that will help you believe.

But ultimately faith is a function of morality: we don't want to believe because it would curtail our sins in an unacceptable way. We would rather not believe and keep on doing what we prefer, than to believe and be forced to change. Even among those who attend church and say they believe, so few are willing to actually make a sacrifice for God. To live a better, more holy existence because of their belief. Would an apparation in the sky help? I don't believe so, but if it would it has happened. Repeatedly. And been studied scientifically (many of the scientists studying the apparations have converted). So if that's what it takes for you, go look into it. Otherwise ask yourself: why do I expect so much from God and so little from myself?

God bless,
Jay

In an age when many chose to create their own code of ethics, of right and wrong, of good and evil, I thought it would be appropriate to reflect on virtue. What is virtue? Why is virtue necessary? Are there different virtues? As a "cradle Catholic" I grew up learning about the theological virtues, the moral virtues, and the cardinal virtues (also included in the moral virtues).

Before we consider the different virtues it is appropriate that we consider what Sacred Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church have to say about virtue in general:

1803 "Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."62

A virtue is an habitual and firm disposition to do the good. It allows the person not only to perform good acts, but to give the best of himself. The virtuous person tends toward the good with all his sensory and spiritual powers; he pursues the good and chooses it in concrete actions.

The goal of a virtuous life is to become like God.63
----------------------------------------------------------------------
62 Phil 4:8.
63 St. Gregory of Nyssa, De beatitudinibus, 1:PG 44,1200D.

Virtue, finding its origin in God, directs us back to God, to being and living as God's wills. The life of virtue is our imitation of Christ.

Yet even before the Incarnation we find this disposition towards the "good" as well as an understanding of the effects of virtue, Aristotle in his work Ethics stated:

...for the virtue of any being is that which makes its possessor good and also makes his work good.

Likewise, throughout the Old Testament we repeatedly hear the call to virtue. Yet in Christ the virtuous life was made new through His grace. The Catechism has this to say about the relationship between the virtues and grace:

1810 Human virtues acquired by education, by deliberate acts and by a perseverance ever-renewed in repeated efforts are purified and elevated by divine grace. With God's help, they forge character and give facility in the practice of the good. The virtuous man is happy to practice them.

1811 It is not easy for man, wounded by sin, to maintain moral balance. Christ's gift of salvation offers us the grace necessary to persevere in the pursuit of the virtues. Everyone should always ask for this grace of light and strength, frequent the sacraments, cooperate with the Holy Spirit, and follow his calls to love what is good and shun evil.

So what are these virtues that we are to pursue? Why are they important?

In another article posted on this site, A Bone To Pick With Dr. Dobson: Masturbation, quite a bit of controversy was stirred up over whether or not masturbation was an acceptable act. It amazes me that, although written almost two years ago, this article remains one of the most visited on our site and one that is constantly commented on. The comments are worth reading. My personal favorite was posted recently and basically said that we needed to "stop wasting so much time talking about masturbation, and more time worshipping and praying....Talk is cheap". I agree that talk is cheap, but this statement reveals the substantial lack of understanding that many have about the human person and, specifically, human sexuality. Worshipping God entails living moral lives in accord with His Will.

In this article I would like to focus on several things: 1. What the Catholic Church teaches about masturbation, 2. How masturbation is an "act of disregard", and 3. the moral and physcological dangers of masturbation.

1. What Does The Catholic Church Teach About Masturbation?

2352 By masturbation is to be understood the deliberate stimulation of the genital organs in order to derive sexual pleasure. "Both the Magisterium of the Church, in the course of a constant tradition, and the moral sense of the faithful have been in no doubt and have firmly maintained that masturbation is an intrinsically and gravely disordered action."138 "The deliberate use of the sexual faculty, for whatever reason, outside of marriage is essentially contrary to its purpose." For here sexual pleasure is sought outside of "the sexual relationship which is demanded by the moral order and in which the total meaning of mutual self-giving and human procreation in the context of true love is achieved."139
----------------------------------------------------------------------
138 Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), Persona humana 9.
139 CDF, Persona humana 9.

Here the Church insists on the proper playing out of human sexual action within the context of marriage and the proper nature of the human sexuality in general. It is important to understand that true love entails BOTH mutual self-giving and the possibility of human procreation. Masturbation prohibits both of these necessary aspects of true love.

As we’ve explained on this blog, contraception is a sin and always has been. Therefore the Catholic Church condemns use of the birth control pill, the patch, and condoms as it has since the birth of the Church in 33 A.D.

This now is spilling over into Africa. In Africa, as most are aware, there is a severe AIDS crisis; current estimates suggest 10% of the population is HIV-positive and it is now the leading cause of death. So the call is for the Catholic Church to approve the use of condoms to fight the AIDS crisis in Africa. Is this logical? In other words, if the Church approved the use of condoms, would it help stop the AIDS crisis?

There are some inherent myths in the African AIDS crisis that must first be dealt with. Such as:

• Myth: Most of African AIDS is transmitted sexually. Truth: Perhaps as much as 66% is transmitted through contamination primarily in medical or dental procedures.
  
• Myth: Condoms work. Truth: Condoms can’t stop the HIV virus – even conservative estimates put condom failure to stop AIDS at 10%.
  
• Myth: Catholics are spreading AIDS. This myth comes from the fallacy that the Church can stop the AIDS epidemic. Truth: The countries with the highest incidence of AIDS/HIV have a tiny Catholic population. Can the Church convince non-Catholics to use condoms?
  
• Myth: Abstinence can’t work in Africa. Truth: It is working extremely well in Uganda, where the AIDS epidemic is actually subsiding (see below).
  

There are many myths out there, which tend to skew against reason and against Christ’s Church. The truth is, the Church can help stop the spread of AIDS and HIV by teaching abstinence, rather than distributing condoms.

I recently read this article by Brian Saint-Paul that addressed it well. A few highlights:

One approach, of course, would be to explain the Catholic moral/theological position on why contraception is inherently evil. But while absolutely true, that approach isn't terribly convincing to a non-Catholic, let alone a non-Christian. After all, logic and philosophy are easily dismissed as abstractions when human life is involved.
But the debate over condoms in Africa need never get to that point. In fact, the whole matter can be settled without ever bringing in moral theology. You see, the fatal flaw in the pro-condom argument is both simple and devastating: Condoms aren't working to stem AIDS in Africa.
Take for example a March 2004 article in the medical journal, Studies in Family Planning (cited by the Zenit News Agency, June 26, 2004). Titled "Condom Promotion for AIDS Prevention in the Developing World: Is It Working?," the piece was a meta-review of the scientific literature on the question.
The results shocked condom advocates. In the article, researchers Sanny Chen and Norman Hearst noted that, "In many sub-Saharan African countries, high HIV transmission rates have continued despite high rates of condom use." In fact, they continued, "No clear examples have emerged yet of a country that has turned back a generalized epidemic primarily by means of condom distribution."

This is good advice for anyone who is sexually promiscuous: condom’s have a high propensity to fail in preventing disease. He goes on:

But while condoms clearly won't solve the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa (or anywhere else), there is an approach that will: abstinence. Indeed, in African nations — where HIV/AIDS is transmitted almost exclusively through sexual contact — abstinence is the obvious solution.
And better yet, it has been proven effective.
Uganda at one time had the highest rate of HIV/AIDS in the world. Starting in the mid to late 1980s, their government instituted a program to teach abstinence before marriage and fidelity to one's partner afterwards. They only reluctantly advised condoms for high risk groups (like prostitutes) whom they knew would not accept the other two approaches.
Billboards, radio announcements, print ads, and school programs all promoted the virtues of abstinence and fidelity to prevent HIV/AIDS.
The results were astonishing.
In 1991, the prevalence rate of HIV was 15%. By 2001, it had dropped to 5%. It was the biggest HIV infection reduction in world history.
Among pregnant women, the drop was even more dramatic (as reported by CNS News, January 13, 2003). In 1991, 21.2% of expecting mothers tested positive for HIV. By 2001, the number had plummeted to 6.2%. Compare this with the 2001 numbers from Kenya (15%), Zimbabwe (32%), and Botswana (38%). All three countries focus on condom distribution, and all three countries continue to see their rates rise.

Go read the whole article – it’s one of the better articles addressing this problem.

God bless,
Jay

Since the 1960’s, American Culture has been struggling with the notion of “free love” that has been translated into “free sex” by today’s Americans. Simply put, this notion suggests that sex is merely an act between two people that has no future consequences or ramifications.

The notion is wrong on several points. Even our personal experiences tell us that sex is much more than a singular act. Sex binds us emotionally to our partner in ways more complex than the simple physical binding that occurs during the sexual act. As Pope John Paul II used to point out, sex is a promise of love in physical acts, rather than words. Sex is a complete giving of yourself to the other person, which is why it is sinful when it occurs outside of marriage (only in marriage have the partners given the promise of permanent love that makes sex the complete act of that love).

In today’s world we have magazines elevating serial seducers to the level of a god. Men who sleep with a different woman each night are not viewed as if they have a psychological problem that makes them view women as sexual objects; rather they are viewed as the true measure of a man. This is far from the reality and these articles ignore the intense loneliness of these men (and women, of course) and the selfishness necessary to debase not only the other, but also yourself, in this way.

In some ways, protestant churches have accepted the notion of “free love.” They have accepted contraception as if the will of God was determined by the majority of His self-professed followers. Some have okayed abortion – both contraception and abortion are requirements of a culture that preaches “free love,” since they are necessary to get away from the realities of the sexual act (it is so powerful that it can produce the fruit of love – a child shared by two people). Many of these churches have accepted remarriage after divorce as if it were a natural dogma of life. It is only the Catholic church that sticks with the traditions of the last 2,000 years and says “No” to divorce, contraception, abortion, and free love.

In order to remove the cancer of “free love” as a personal creed from our society, we need to get back to preaching about marriage. In other words, we must show individuals that there is another option out there: marriage to a spouse you love that can never be broken up by anyone. A marriage so strong that you give everything to your spouse, which means no more contraception. A marriage that is based on the Truth that God put into our very souls.

To preach that we must live it first. So love your wife, love you kids, stop using contraception, and then tell others how they can have what you have - through Christ.

God bless,
Jay

Catholic morality is unquestionably good for society in practical terms. To non-Catholics, this may sound outrageous, but it is absolutely true – after all, Catholic morality is defined by God, rather than an individual person. So, I thought I would point out the clear benefits of a society abiding by the Catholic teaching. I obviously can’t cover every aspect, so I’ll just point out a few:

MORAL TEACHING: Birth Control is Sin
Practically, this is a slam dunk – even if you don’t like it. Let’s think of some of the practical realities of not having birth control available:

• Less adultery. There is a much greater chance that you’ll get caught!
  
• Less pre-marital sex. Serious consequences for this type of sin.
  
• A new appreciation for the reproductive mystery of women.
  

I know what you’re saying: “Yeah, but that means more children!” We’re so scientific in our age that we miss the Biblical teaching that God and only God opens the womb. Children are always a blessing. So, if no birth control means more children, that must mean God wants to bless us with more children now, but we’re not open.


MORAL TEACHING: Divorce is Not Possible
The Church teaches that marriage is a single choice that binds us before God forever. No one can tear apart what God has bound together in effect. So, marriage would be a single choice you make in your life – if you decided to leave your spouse, you could never marry again. What are the ramifications:

• Marriage would be taken more seriously. No more getting married with the thought in mind that you can just divorce if it doesn’t work out.
  
• Couples would work harder at marriage. If it doesn’t work, you’re going to suffer – literally. So couples would be less willing to simply pack it in and leave.
  
• Leaving your family would be the last option – and another attractive person would not be the impetus for you to leave (you wouldn’t be able to marry that person).
  

MORAL TEACHING: Life has Value from the moment of Conception through Death
Many Christian churches teach some aspect of this, but most have begun to comprise with some aspects of it. This belief would have drastic consequences in American life and for the better:

• Abortion would be made illegal. Thank God – why should anyone be able to kill another person?
  
• Euthanasia would be stopped. This provides even the elderly with a chance to come back to Jesus Christ. Everyone agrees suicide should be illegal for teenagers, why should it be okay for the elderly? They need God just as much.
  
• Embryonic Stem Cell research would go the way of the dinosaur. Thank God.
  
• The Death Penalty would be eradicated. Catholics agree that the state can impose the death penalty, but argue that we shouldn’t: this gives the worst sinners an opportunity to come back to Christ. In our day and age, we have the capacity to keep them in jail for life, while giving them the option of hearing the Good News.
  

MORAL TEACHING: We are called to Serve
Catholics have always lead the way in serving society and individuals, from starting hospitals and colleges to soup kitchens and homeless shelters. Imagine the power of a society convicted by this need to serve . . .

This is just a quick sampling of how a societal acceptance of Catholic teaching could change the world. It seems a dream, but it is possible for this to happen. Believe it or not, previous generations of the world have been completely under the thumb of an untruth, and Truth will always prevail. Much prayer is needed, but the fight has already been won! May Catholic teaching fill our lives with Love.

God bless,
Jay

I’ve always felt that New Year’s Resolutions are perfect for Christians: we try to improve little by little and resolutions are essentially worthwhile goals for improvement. Of course, Christians should make sure to specifically focus on improving their spiritual lives when making resolutions or the point is moot.

So what are some great resolutions you should consider? I think there are a few areas we can always improve in: Prayer, Bible Study, and Personal Holiness. So I try to make a resolution in each area (at least one). And I’ve put some thoughts on each:

Prayer
- If you aren’t praying before every meal, this is a great resolution.
- If you aren’t praying everyday, this should be your resolution. It’s not difficult or too time consuming and the rewards are great. In reality, if you can pray every day for two weeks, you begin to form a habit, which makes it easier from then on – so be sure to focus hard on this the first two weeks.
- If you are praying everyday, make sure each day starts and ends with prayer.
- Really concentrate on how you pray. Try to pray that God’s Will be done, rather than for a specific outcome. We have limited knowledge about ramifications of actions, so we should trust in God to choose the correct path. In addition, remember to praise and thank God in your daily prayer and to ask forgiveness for sins.
- If you are doing this, then try to incorporate prayer into your daily life. For example, remember to say a quick prayer when you meet someone new or when someone has a problem. When you have a task at work or home, say a quick prayer asking for God’s guidance or help.
- Consider saying the Our Father prayer every day. It is the prayer Christ taught us and is full of theological insight that can be applied to our daily lives.
- Keep a prayer journal where you simply jot down personal notes from your prayers. This helps you to realize when prayers are answered and what is important to you.
- Resolve to add a prayer of thanks when something you previously prayed for works out.

Bible Study
(Note: start each session with prayer – this is important for personal interpretation of Scripture)
- If you aren’t reading Scripture everyday, try to start here. Just a chapter a day only takes a few minutes and can dramatically improve your understanding of the Bible.
- To be more aggressive, try to read the entire Bible in a year. Here’s a great guide that will complete the entire Bible in one year (it starts in December, but you can start in January and simply read December at the end). It’s available in PDF or Word format.
- If you’re already reading Scripture everyday, try to supplement your reading with additional resources. For example, read an overview of what each book is about before starting it or read Bibles with study notes included.
- To take study to another level, began reviewing words used throughout Scripture. For example, when a verse uses an ambiguous term or doesn’t seem to make sense, see how the word or phrase is used throughout the rest of Scripture. This often proves very insightful and can clear up issues. There are a number of online resources (search “Bible Gateway”) that make this easy. This can be as indepth as you like.
- Remember to try and apply what you are reading to your daily life. I recommend reading Scripture in the morning for this very reason – it’s easier to remember and apply it if you haven’t slept overnight since reading it. This is ultimately why we read Scripture: application.

Personal Holiness
- There’s an old belief that each person really struggles with one type of sin. If they can overcome this, then the others are easier to manage. Often the biggie comes from the seven deadly sins: lust, envy, pride, greed (avarice), anger, gluttony, and sloth. Try to figure out which one you suffer from the most and stop doing it. This is tied intimately into prayer.
- There are also virtues which we should aspire to. Try to choose one or two virtues to improve upon this year (the ones you lack the most). The virtues are humility, generosity, love, kindness, self-control, faith, temperance, and zeal. To improve, try to practically change your actions. I also recommend reading books about the specific virtue and how to increase it (there’s much out there).
- Try to avoid the situations that make you most likely to sin. In other words, examine your life for any situations that make it very likely that you will commit a sin; then avoid these situations as if they were sinful in themselves.
- Faith, Hope and Love. We can all improve here. Start by praying the prayer from Mark 9:24 daily for each of these:

Lord, I have faith. Help my lack of faith.
Lord, I hope. Help my lack of hope.
Lord, I love. Help my lack of love.

We believe that God answers prayers, so this is the best start.
- Give generously. Try to increase the time, talent, and treasure you give to others in need. The act of giving benefits the giver as much as the receiver – our gifts are always returned to us. By doing this, you increase your love for others and your selflessness.
- Give up that which does not benefit your holiness. This is the ultimate act of dedication to God. For example, that reality tv show you love - instead spend time in prayer or Bible study. Those “R” rated movies? How do they improve your spiritual condition? Really analyze everything you do and ask: Would Jesus approve of this? This is a higher level of spirituality and is very difficult (I struggle here personally).

What are your spiritual New Year’s Resolutions? I’d love to hear suggested resolutions and especially those from past year’s that worked well. Ultimately, we’re all on the same quest for heaven and any help is appreciated!

God bless,
Jay

A friend of mine just had a discussion on Catholicism with a protestant that ended along the lines of “Nothing will ever convince me to become Catholic.” I actually have run across this attitude as well and (ahem) may have even said something similar to this at one point in my life. But the question is: Aren’t we all seeking the truth? Are we so enamored of our intelligence or our current way of life that we aren’t willing to change when presented with the truth? The worst part is, often at this stage the other party is no longer willing to discuss the subject with you.

To me this is a terrible problem. If you genuinely want to seek God, wouldn’t you be willing to discuss Him with anyone? If you believe you are following Him, wouldn’t you be open to discussion? I’m really trying to understand what point a man or woman is at when they reach this type of decision. Is it a stage where they realize, “Oh crap, this guy might be right!” and therefore end the discussion so that they can keep telling themselves, “Well, I would have been proven correct in the end”?

I have to say that there are different types of people in the world. We honestly appreciate those who are not Catholic and willing to dialogue with us on this blog. Most times, these are sincere Christians attempting to save our souls literally, and we appreciate the thought. In fact, we’re glad to see anyone who is “hot” rather than lukewarm. In our society, the terrible fact is that most people use religion to suit their personal needs and desires, rather than see the reality that it should drive their lives and their decisions. In other words, some would rather ignore the truth rather than change their life or (even worse) admit they were wrong.

May God grant all of us the humility to openly discuss our faith with others.

God bless,
Jay

I wanted to make everyone aware of a conference that is being held in Atlanta, GA this Friday and Saturday. It is the 2nd National Conference of the Theology of the Body. It is being put on by Family Honor, Inc., an organization committed to spreading the "good news" about "Sexuality, Marriage, and the Family in the Third Millennium."

To register or for more information visit:

The Family Honor Website

This year's conference will feature such speakers as: Bishop Victor Galeone from the Diocese of St. Augustine, FL, Mary Beth Bonacci, the author of Real Love, Fr. Richard Hogan, Ph.d, author of Covenant of Love, Deal Hudson, the editor of Crisis Magazine, Christopher West, the author of The Good News about Sex and Marriage and The Theology of the Body Explained, and many other speakers.

No Church has taken such measures as the Catholic Church to understand the intrinsic meaning of the human person, the body, marriage, and christian sexuality. Come and join us for an awesome event! I will be at the conference on Friday. If anybody is interested in meeting me there please just send me an email.

In Christ,
Joe

We have recently renewed some discussion about the use of contraception and the intrinsic evil of such as an action against the human person and God. I thought it would be good for all of our readers to become familiar with exactly what the Catholic Church has to say on this matter.

The fecundity of marriage

2366 Fecundity is a gift, an end of marriage, for conjugal love naturally tends to be fruitful. A child does not come from outside as something added on to the mutual love of the spouses, but springs from the very heart of that mutual giving, as its fruit and fulfillment. So the Church, which is "on the side of life," teaches that "it is necessary that each and every marriage act remain ordered per se to the procreation of human life." "This particular doctrine, expounded on numerous occasions by the Magisterium, is based on the inseparable connection, established by God, which man on his own initiative may not break, between the unitive significance and the procreative significance which are both inherent to the marriage act."

2367 Called to give life, spouses share in the creative power and fatherhood of God. "Married couples should regard it as their proper mission to transmit human life and to educate their children; they should realize that they are thereby cooperating with the love of God the Creator and are, in a certain sense, its interpreters. They will fulfill this duty with a sense of human and Christian responsibility."

The hot topic these days often centers on the sexual abuse cases of Catholic priests. We haven’t said much about this on our blog, but I felt it was important to at least detail that we understand the problem and aren’t unaware of its existence.

I believe that our Christian leaders are under more attack than ever by Satan and his demons (Eph 6:12). However, this means that before their ordination the Church must weed out those who cannot withstand the fight. The sexual abuse problems represent individual priests stepping outside of the Church, essentially leaving that which is holy for a temporal satisfaction that is very sinful. In the 70’s and early 80’s, psychologists taught that this was a “curable” problem. Catholic Bishops sided with the psychologists and attempted to move the priests to another area after treatment hoping that they were cured. We know now that this was very shortsighted and naïve of the Bishops, clearly some of these men were not cured and repeated these same offenses.

Some of the issues with these cases are not being dealt with honestly, however. The vast majority of these problems are not caused by pedophiliac priests, but by homosexual priests. Most of the cases involved teenage boys (pedophilia typically is defined using children who have not reached puberty). Over 90% of all cases involve boys, not girls – if this were normal pedophilia we would expect 50% of the cases to be girls. This does not make it better, but to solve the problem we must be honest about the results.

A second issue involves numbers. There are 50,000 Roman Catholic priests in the US. How many do you think have committed these horrific acts? You might be surprised that most put the number at less than 300 priests (most cite between 0.2% and 1%). Surveys done on protestant clergy have put the number between 2% and 3% - more the double the Catholic average. The average is even higher for married men, believe it or not. So the question is: Why the focus on Roman Catholic priests when others have bigger problems? I believe the answer lies in the Roman Catholic Church’s refusal to permit birth control, abortion, or any other sexual sin. No one likes the holy man who can condemn him/her for his/her sins.

In summary, I want to make clear that I believe these priests should face the same sentences that any other pedophile would face (possibly more because of their unique position of power). But I also want to point out that these priests are acting outside of their church – they know, even more than us, that the sin they commit is condemned and vile. They are not representative of the overwhelming majority of Catholic priests, which as a whole are less likely to commit this sin than others. And the problem is more accurately caused by homosexual priests that by pedophiliacs.

May God heal those whom they have hurt.

God bless,
Jay

I received via email a response from Sen. Chambliss' office in reference to a recent petition I filled out opposing same-sex marriages. Below I have copied that email and then my response. I sincerely believe that in these morally dark times that we live in it has become absolutely necessary for us to stand up for the truth. I can assure all of our readers of one thing....I will not be voting for Sen. Chambliss when his term is over. We need morally upright leaders and any politican who can be for such a thing does not need to be in a public office. The following is the email I received:

Thank you for contacting my office to share your views on same-sex marriages and S. J. Res. 26, a joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution relating to marriage (the Federal Marriage Amendment). It is good to hear from you.

In 1996, I co-sponsored the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which provided that each state could determine whether or not to recognize same-sex marriages, and that states were not bound by the decisions made by other states on this issue. The DOMA overwhelmingly passed both the House of Representatives and the Senate, and was signed into law by President Clinton.

Recent court rulings have given me concern that activist courts will not honor the DOMA. For example, last June the United States Supreme Court ruled that private, homosexual consent by adults is constitutionally protected. In addition, the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts recently decided that under the equal protection clause of the Massachusetts constitution, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts cannot bar an individual from the protections, benefits, and obligations of a civil marriage solely because that person married a person of the same sex.

On November 25, 2003, S. J. Res. 26 was introduced in the Senate and was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, of which I am a member. S. J. Res. 26 would add the following language to the U.S. Constitution as the Federal Marriage Amendment:

Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman. Neither this Constitution, nor the Constitution of any State, nor State or Federal law, shall be construed to require that marital status or the legal incidents thereof be conferred upon unmarried couples or groups.

I recognize that this is a very sensitive issue, which is why, as a co-sponsor of the original DOMA, I believe it should be left up to the elected representatives of each state. However, I will keep your comments in mind when the Judiciary Committee considers the merits of S. J. Res. 26 and the Federal Marriage Amendment it proposes.

I appreciate hearing from you. If I may ever be of assistance to you in the future, please do not hesitate to let me know.

Sincerely,

Saxby Chambliss
United States Senate

I recently finished The Truth of Catholicism by George Weigel (review to follow), but one passage was especially thought-provoking, particularly in light of the recent judicial decision in Massachusetts. First, Weigel quotes Pope John Paul II from Centesimus Annus:

Authentic democracy is possible only in a state ruled by law, and on the basis of a correct concept of the human person . . . Nowadays there is a tendency to claim that agnosticism and skeptical relativism are the philosophy and the basic attitude which correspond to democratic forms of political life. Those who are convinced that they know the truth and firmly adhere to it are considered unreliable from a democratic point of view, since they do not accept that truth is determined by the majority, or that it is subject to variation according to different political trends. [But] . . . if there is no ultimate truth to guide and direct political activity, then ideas and convictions can easily be manipulated for reasons of power. As history demonstrates, a democracy without values easily turns into open or thinly disguised totalitarianism.

That’s pretty powerful in itself, but Weigel’s analysis is compelling:

     The last word stung. Was the Pope suggesting that the democracies, which had twice defeated twentieth-century totalitarianisms, risked becoming what they had poured out lives and treasure to oppose? That was, in fact, what the Pope was suggesting, but with a crucial difference. John Paul did not fear a new outbreak of fascism, Nazism, or communism; these, he knew, were spent political creeds. The present danger was more subtle.

     A new kind of tyranny, all the more dangerous because it wasn’t visible as a Nazi tank or a Soviet missle, was encoded within the notion that democracy is a value-neutral machine that can run by itself – a machine that can do politics and public policy and legislating and judging and all the rest of it without transcendent moral reference points. The danger was a new tyranny of raw power. If a democracy banned any consideration of binding moral norms as a horizon for its public life, on the grounds that moral truth was either illusory or sectarian, then conflicts within that democracy could be resolved only by resort to force.

     One group, exercising its will through legislation, judicial fiat, or more coercive means, would impose its judgment on everyone else. The losers, in turn, would think, correctly, that their rights had been violated. The net result would be the breakdown of democratic political community – the civil society that makes democratic self-government possible. Chaos, leading to some form of tyranny, would certainly follow. A democracy without values is self-cannibalizing. Freedom, absent moral truth, becomes its own worst enemy.

Wow. In modern America this gives us pause for thought. The book, by the way, expounds upon some of this in the chapter and I recommend you get a copy. Are we at this point? I would suggest we are: “judicial fiat” is changing America in a way that makes both sides of the political battle feel “their rights had been violated.” What’s next?

I’m interested in your thoughts on this. May God bless our country and our people.

God bless,
Jay

I’ve considered this for about 24 hours now. First, a definition:

Right n.

1. That which is just, morally good, legal, proper, or fitting.
   
2.  
   
   
   
   • Something that is due to a person or governmental body by law, tradition, or nature.
     
   • Something, especially humane treatment, claimed to be due to animals by moral principle.
     
   
   
3. A just or legal claim or title.
   

I emphasized the part that’s important (and deleted the unrelated definitions for brevity). A right is something due to a person by law, tradition, or nature. So the Judges in Massachusetts have decided that those living the gay lifestyle have a “right” to marriage. Is this true? If so, that would indicate that everyone has a right marriage. How would we then handle the case of a man who no one would marry? If he has a right to marriage, then it’s up to a government body to enforce that right, correct? The judges are mistaking “right” for “privilege.”

Homosexual people have the ability to marry now, just as anyone else does: by selecting a partner of the opposite sex. Marriage entails an arrangement between two people of different sexes for the purposes of creating a family. The family is the basis of our societal system; even if you call a homosexual legal arrangement “marriage,” it is not so. You can say the sky is red if you like, but the reality remains the same.

In the end, the issue stems from the American belief that we should be able to do whatever makes us feel good. The reverse of this is that we shouldn’t stop anyone else from doing what makes them feel good as long as it doesn’t hurt others. The problem: we don’t really understand what makes us happy. The Ten Commandments aren’t ten rules designed to prevent us from finding joy and happiness, rather they guide us toward true happiness. The Beatitudes along with the Commandments teach us how to be holy, which leads to peace and joy. When the Church teaches the dangers of a society embracing homosexuality, it is the Holy Spirit teaching the wisdom of God through her. God desires that we all attain holiness that we may live with Him in heaven. So when a judge rules that we must allow homosexual marriage, I cringe. We are like the Jews of the Old Testament, given much and complaining loudly that we know best. The only difference is that we have the added gift of the Holy Spirit (it seems the Jews performed much better than we are). From the Catechism (1605):

Holy Scripture affirms that man and woman were created for one another: "It is not good that the man should be alone." The woman, "flesh of his flesh," his equal, his nearest in all things, is given to him by God as a "helpmate"; she thus represents God from whom comes our help. "Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh." The Lord himself shows that this signifies an unbreakable union of their two lives by recalling what the plan of the Creator had been "in the beginning": "So they are no longer two, but one flesh.

God bless,
Jay

We’ve written two other articles on this subject:

• Scriptural Basis for the Catholic Church’s teaching on Homosexuality
  
• Homosexual Acts and the Bible
  

Contraception has been a divisive issue between Catholics or Protestants in the last forty years or so. The question is: who is correct? What does the Bible say about contraception? Ultimately, what does God intend for our marriages?

To understand the issue, we should understand the history of contraception. Until the 1930’s, every Christian denomination condemned contraception. It was in the 1930’s that the Anglican church first approved of contraception in some cases. Since then, every Christian church has approved of contraception within the context of marriage with the exception of the Catholic Church. This approval includes the use of abortifacients, such as the pill, which may work in the way an abortion does – by killing the fetus after conception but before implantation in the uterus. We have discussed the birth control pill and abortion in this post.

But ultimately history doesn’t decide this: the Bible does. So let’s look at what the Bible says about contraception. I want to first point out that the family resembles the trinity in a very specific way. In the Trinity, the Holy Spirit “comes from the Father and the Son” – the love between the Father and the Son is so real that it forms another person (Eph 3:15). In the same way, the love between a husband and wife is so real that it forms another person: a child. As Fulton Sheen said, “All love tends to an incarnation, even God’s.” Marital love clearly tends toward an incarnation.

But perhaps one child is enough? Perhaps God intends for us to only have a few? There are two commands (with blessings) in the Bible for married people on this topic, the first is in the Garden of Eden:

Genesis 1:28. And God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it . . . “

The usual answer I get from this verse is, “But that was in the Garden of Eden, when things were perfect.” However, God reiterates this later:

Genesis 9:1. And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.”

Note that there is no end date, no specific time when we can stop being fruitful and multiplying. You can point to “fill the earth,” but we remain far from filling the earth – every person on earth in a family of four with one acre each would fit just in the U.S.! There’s more room for your children, don’t worry.

Even though I greatly appreciate most of the work Dr. Dobson has done over the years, I think his books on parenting especially those dealing with boys and teenagers should be avoided because he condones masturbation. As a former sex education teacher, who even used the Focus on the Family video regarding safe sex as being a lie for those engaging in premarital sex, I think his attitude on masturbation is troubling and to say the least gravely immoral. Below is an article I found posted on his website dealing with the issue.

Question:
My thirteen-year-old son is in the full bloom of adolescence. I'm suspicious that he may be masturbating when he's alone, but I don't quite know how to approach him about it. Should I be concerned, and if so, what should I say to him?

Dr. Dobson Responds:
I don't think you should invade that private world at all unless there are unique circumstances that lead you to do so. I offer that advice while acknowledging that masturbation is a highly controversial subject and Christian leaders differ widely in their perspectives on it. I will answer your question but hope you understand that some Bible scholars will disagree emphatically with what I will say.

First, let's consider masturbation from a medical perspective. We can say without fear of contradiction that there is no scientific evidence to indicate that this act is harmful to the body. Despite terrifying warnings given to young people historically, it does not cause blindness, weakness, mental retardation, or any other physical problem. If it did, the entire male population and about half of females would be blind, weak, simpleminded, and sick. Between 95 and 98 percent of all boys engage in this practice — and the rest have been known to lie. It is as close to being a universal behavior as is likely to occur. A lesser but still significant percentage of girls also engage in what was once called "self-gratification."

As for the emotional consequences of masturbation, only four circumstances should give us cause for concern. The first is when it is associated with oppressive guilt from which the individual can't escape. That guilt has the potential to do considerable psychological and spiritual damage. Boys and girls who labor under divine condemnation can gradually become convinced that even God couldn't love them. They promise a thousand times with great sincerity never again to commit this despicable act. Then a week or two passes, or perhaps several months. Eventually, the hormonal pressure accumulates until nearly every waking moment reverberates with sexual desire. Finally, in a moment (and I do mean a moment) of weakness, it happens again. What then, dear friend? Tell me what a young person says to God after he or she has just broken the one thousand first solemn promise to Him? I am convinced that some teenagers have thrown over their faith because of their inability to please God at this point of masturbation.

The second circumstance in which masturbation might have harmful implications is when it becomes extremely obsessive. That is more likely to occur when it has been understood by the individual to be "forbidden fruit." I believe the best way to prevent that kind of obsessive response is for adults not to emphasize or condemn it. Regardless of what you do, you will not stop the practice of masturbation in your teenagers. That is a certainty. You'll just drive it underground — or under covers. Nothing works as a "cure." Cold showers, lots of exercise, many activities, and awesome threats are ineffective. Attempting to suppress this act is one campaign that is destined to fail--so why wage it?

The third situation around which we should be concerned is when the young person becomes addicted to pornographic material. The kind of obscenity available to teenagers today has the capacity to grab and hold a boy for the rest of his life. Parents will want to intervene if there is evidence that their son or daughter is heading down that well-worn path.

The fourth concern about masturbation refers not to adolescents but to us as adults. This habit has the capacity to follow us into marriage and become a substitution for healthy sexual relations between a husband and wife. This, I believe, is what the apostle Paul meant when he instructed us not to "deprive" one another as marital partners: "Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control" (1 Corinthians 7:5).

As for the spiritual implications of masturbation, I will have to defer to the theologians for a more definitive response. It is interesting to me, however, that Scripture does not address this subject except for a single reference in the Old Testament to a man named Onan. He interrupted sexual intercourse with his sister-in-law and allowed his semen to fall on the ground to keep from producing offspring for his brother, which was his "duty" (Genesis 38:8). Though that verse is often cited as evidence of God's disapproval of masturbation, the context doesn't seem to fit.

So, what should parents say to their kids about this subject? My advice is to say nothing after puberty has occurred. You will only cause embarrassment and discomfort. For those who are younger, it would be wise to include the subject of masturbation in the "Preparing for Adolescence" conversation I have recommended on other occasions. I would suggest that parents talk to their twelve- or thirteen-year-old boys, especially, in the same general way my mother and father discussed this subject with me. We were riding in the car, and my dad said, "Jim, when I was a boy, I worried so much about masturbation. It really became a scary thing for me because I thought God was condemning me for what I couldn't help. So I'm telling you now that I hope you don't feel the need to engage in this act when you reach the teen years, but if you do, you shouldn't be too concerned about it. I don't believe it has much to do with your relationship with God."

What a kind thing my father did for me that night in the car. He was a very conservative minister who never compromised his standards of morality to the day of his death. He stood like a rock for biblical principles and commandments. Yet he cared enough about me to lift from my shoulders the burden of guilt that nearly destroyed some of my friends in the church. This kind of "reasonable" faith taught to me by my parents is one of the primary reasons I never felt it necessary to rebel against parental authority or defy God. Well, those are my views, for what they are worth. I know my recommendations will be inflammatory to some people. If you are one of them, please forgive me. I can only offer the best advice of which I'm capable. I pray that in this instance, I am right.

His response has several problems.

1. He begins his response by stating that masturbation is a highly controversial issue with several different biblical scholars but fails to list their names and positions. He admits and rightly so that many will emphatically disagree with him on this subject. I think this is a good example how the doctrine of Sola Scripture causes division and leads to moral relativism, because according to Dobson the Bible doesn't mention masturbation specifically and therefore he has the right to believe masturbation to be alright, an action having little to do with your relationship with God. The Catholic Church has always taught that masturbation is an intrinsically and gravely disordered action. CC pg.564 #2352 Masturbation, when done with full knowledge and consent of the will, is a sin. Now, please explain to me how a sin doesn't affect one's relationship with God.

2. He argues his case from a medical perspective stating a statistic with no reference as to who performed this survey and how it was conducted. His statistics prove that every man has masturbated. Jesus was a man, does this mean Jesus masturbated? Then he states that a significant number of girls engage in what was once called "self-gratification". I didn't realize this view had changed.

3. He then goes on to state that there are only four circumstances which cause only emotional consequences which parents should be concerned with. Notice he doesn't believe there are any moral or spiritual consequences when one practices masturbation. His first circumstance is oppressive guilt. Basically, his line of thinking here is that every teen is going to masturbate and their guilt can lead them into losing their relationship with God so don't make them feel guilty for their actions. Just because masturbation might be a universal problem doesn't dismiss the fact that it is wrong. I think universally man deals with the same types of several different sins - selfishness, pride, lust, lying, etc. and we feel guilt for these actions. Guilt should be felt and should lead us back to Christ no matter how many times we fail even if it is a 1,000 times if we ask, Christ said he would forgive us over and over again. There is no end to his mercy, love, and forgiveness.

4. His next circumstance is when masturbation becomes extremely obsessive. Again he offers a parent no guide to determine when masturbation reaches this point and in fact states they are going to do it anyway so why wage a war against it, there is no cure. What about prayer? Do you mean Christ can not give one the grace to conquer this sin? Apparently not, according to Dobson there is no cure so don't condemn the action to your teens. I find this attitude extremely disturbing because this is same attitude I was fed as a teenager regarding premarital sex. Everybody is going to do it so why wait? Teenagers have no control over their hormones so hand them condoms, they're going to have sex anyway. I know Dobson doesn't feel this way about premarital sex which baffles me why he views masturbation to be different.

5. His third circumstance for concern is when masturbation leads to pornography addiction. Again his advice is weak for parents. The crazy advice I find is that when masturbation leads to this action then it is O.K. for parents to condemn the action and to intervene. Wouldn't it be wiser to intervene before this becomes an issue? If I had a child who struggled with a weight problem, would I wait until he/she is 300 lbs. overweight to deal with the issue or would I teach them from a young age about proper nutrition and exercise? The same should be applied with our sexuality. If I know most or all male teens (according to Dobson) are going to masturbate, would I not teach my child from toddlerhood on about sexual morality? Would I not show them God's design for our bodies in regards to marriage and the sexual act and how other actions distort this act and hurt our relationship with God and others? Why would I wait until the issue was out of control as he suggests?

6. His fourth circumstance I find to be ironic considering his other advice, because would it not follow that if you condone masturbation to your teens, as he suggests, that this behavior would become habit as an adult and interfere with your marital relationship? In fact, masturbation began affecting your marital relationship from the moment you started practicing it, because it distorts God's design for sex. God designed sex to be an act of mutual self-giving, ever unitive and open to procreation. Masturbation distorts this act by being self indulgent and completely closed to life.

7. He then gives reference to spiritual implications by referring to the story of Onan in the OT (Genesis 38:8) however, he dismisses this reference as not applicable to the context of masturbation. However, he is wrong. The sin Onan committed was wasting "his seed", ejaculating outside of a woman essentially. What is masturbation for a male, but ejaculating outside of a woman and wasting "one's seed". It is considered wasting one's seed because semen is a life-giving substance with the ability of creating new life within a woman. Thus God created the sexual act to be open to life at all times. Hence, when Onan freely chose to indulge in sexual pleasure yet refused to be open to life, God disapproved. In fact if you read the story of Onan God disapproved so much that He killed Onan. So according to the Bible wasting "one's seed" is a serious offense against God with eternal ramifications. Something not to be dismissed, is it no wonder people deal with such guilt over the act of masturbation? Perhaps masturbation was never directly mentioned in the Bible because not that many people struggled with it at the time due to the fact that many married while in their teens unlike today.

In conclusion, I strongly disagree with Dobson as does the Church and believe parents should read his material with caution. Masturbation is a sin and wounds one relationship with Christ however, there is a cure and his name is Jesus. He can help you overcome any sin.

An excellent book on this subject is My Beautiful Feeling by Walter and Ingrid Trobisch.

Peace in Christ,
Maria

Tonight, the show Hannity and Colmes on Fox News Channel at 9 p.m. will feature Terri Schiavo's parents discussing the case and the facts about Terri. We've had a lively discussion board on this topic here, but it died out a bit when the facts of Micheal Schiavo's situation began spilling out (let's just say he has a vested interest in seeing his wife starved to death).

I think everyone should watch the show. It will be an interesting and very personal look at the politics of life in the U.S.

Jay

Apparently Laura, or one of her bigger fans, hacked Blogrolling last night and replaced all of the links with a link to Laura's Blog - how nice of them. Of course, Laura's blog is down, probably due to the sheer volume of traffic she now has!

We're being told this will be fixed soon. Thanks for your patience.

Jay

Here's an interesting article by Newsweek magazine on the still unfolding saga of Terri Schiavo. Here's a quote that got me:

Battered by the earlier court rulings, the Schindlers appealed to public opinion. They posted videos online showing Terri seeming to respond to her mother’s presence, her face flickering with glee. In others, she appears to follow the movements of a balloon. Doctors enlisted by her parents offer images like these as proof that Terri has flashes of awareness and could eventually recover.

In my mind, hope is the key ingredient. There is hope that Terri could recover (from doctors, not just her parents). Shouldn't this be enough to protect her life? There is no living will - we're taking Michael Schiavo's word that Terri would rather die than live like this. Why?

In the case of a person's life, I would suggest we need more than one person's word to decide upon death. Although I would argue that no one should be killed - they should naturally pass on - I'm surprised that so many want to allow Michael to kill his wife. What's pathetic is that in the US Micheal wouldn't be able to stop Terri from getting an abortion (killing his child), but because of a medical problem he can kill Terri without her obvious consent.

What's that joke about lawyers?

Jay

PS - Thanks to OpenBook for the link.

UPDATE: Also don't miss this article on the money involved in this debate over life. It's ugly.

The fight for Terri Schiavo has turned into a peaceful vigil seeking a miracle. Terri is now being deprived of food and water until the time of her death. It is a time for prayer and meditation.

For more information on the peaceful protests or legal proceedings, see TerrisFight.org or Times Against Humanity. Times also features links to various other articles and blogs concerning the situation.

Jay

UPDATE: By the way, this old post has resulted in an interesting discussion over whether Terri Schiavo should live or not. Be sure to add your thoughts.

After reading Krista’s article, I felt moved to contribute myself. Birth control was the most difficult thing for me to give up when I converted four years ago. I understood and accepted the church teachings on birth control, but wanted to