SOMETHING DISTURBING/ SOMETHING WRONG

Posted Jan 24th, 2012

This morning President Obama called New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan to break the news.

Secretary of Health and Human Services and pro-abortion Catholic Kathleen Sebelius just announced that the proposed mandate requiring all insurance plans to pay for contraception, sterilization and some abortion drugs is official — and Catholics cannot escape.

…and the fig-leaf exemption for religious groups will not be modified, apart from allowing some groups an additional year to comply.

Cardinal-designate Timothy M. Dolan responded minutes ago, saying: “In effect, the president is saying we have a year to figure out how to violate our consciences.”Beginning August 1, 2012 (less than eight months from today), the insurance premiums we pay, including the insurance premiums paid by Catholics for employees of churches and schools — will be used to cover drugs and procedures that are in direct conflict with the teachings of our Church.

That’s right. Our government will now force us to pay for insurance coverage for birth control, sterilization and even some abortion drugs.

President Obama ignored the organized efforts of Catholics across the country, including bold statements from the Bishops, university presidents (including Notre Dame’s Rev. Jenkins), and even his Catholic allies like Sr. Carol Keehan.

Instead, President Obama stood with his real friends — Planned Parenthood.

Make no mistake, this decision is a direct attack on you, our Church, and the religious liberty of all Americans.

Just yesterday, Pope Benedict XVI addressed the bishops from the United States who were completing their “Ad Limina” visit in Rome. The Holy Father specifically cited the “grave threats” to the freedom of the Church in America, and urged the Catholic community to respond, especially with “an engaged, articulate and well-formed Catholic laity.”
He’s talking to you and me. The Holy Father’s brief address is a must read (link below).
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2012/january/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20120119_bishops-usa_en.html
Finally, today marks exactly one year from Inauguration Day. In exactly 12 months, America will welcome a new president, or usher in four more years of Barack Obama and his assault on our liberties. This irony is not lost on us.

We built CatholicVote into a movement to advance the cause of life, family, and freedom. Today’s decision is an assault on all three. And it MUST be defeated.

You have our pledge that we will do everything possible to educate and mobilize the Catholic vote in 2012.

For on a day such as this, we realize that elections indeed have consequences.

The Catholic vote must rise up like never before. 

Sincerely,

Brian Burch, President
CatholicVote.org

Not at Red’s on January 28th

Posted Jan 16th, 2012

For those of you who might have been planning to come to Red’s Wine Bar on the Saturday the 28th, I will not be appearing because of a scheduling conflict with an important church event with our Teen Group. I was very fortunate though to find an incredibly talented guy named Darrell Data who will be filling in for me on that night. I have appeared a few times with Darrell at the Muckleshoot Casino with the Oly and the Hydrants Band. he is a great guy and just an awesome performer. Darrell can usually be found at the 13 Coins (across from Seatac Terminal) on Thursday nights, Friday in Tacoma at Oscars, and on Wednesday nights in Burien (at CC’s Lounge I believe). I know you will like him very much so please try to make it down there and show him some love!!! haha!

2012 is off and running

Posted Jan 16th, 2012

Hi All,

Made it through the Christmas Season this year fairly unscathed. I was tired of course like we all are from activities including shopping, parties, school and church events, and shopping (I know I already mentioned that but my wife LOVES to shop).  Once she is in a store, with a shopping mission in her plans, she is not leaving until the lights are flickering to close.I don’t know how she does it. If it is Home Depot or Costco I am all in.  Other than those two stores I would almost rather have lepropsy than stand around looking at 7 different outfits (that are almost identical) then picking out one,  waiting in line at the register to pay,  then decide the next day to return it the next day because “I just don’t like the way it looks on me”.  It’s no secret that men and women have different mindsets when they go into a store to purchase something. Men, being the hunters and warriors, have a plan all laid out:  Me can picture pants, me know where pants are so me go directly to pants and pick them up. Then me go directly to pay for pants and return to car. Me keep my mind on pants and not look at anything else.

Women on the other hand, are gatherers. Cave women stayed around the camp talking and bonding with other cave women or went out gathering berries for a nice garnish for the meat the men would return with.  Me see berries over by rock. ooooh me not notice how berry stain go so nice with your pigskin dress.  What you do with your hair? Gonka did that to you, I wonder if Gonka can do that with my hair. Me tired of beehive -doo and need a change. honey drip in eyes from beehive but Klohnog like it like this. Hey speaking of Klohag Me think his brother Chuk-Chuk is cute and blah blah blah blah. Get the picture? It is like that when my wife shops she’l start a conversation with someone and it usally goes on forever (but always orbits around the “hair” topic, or at least comes back to visit it) and I’m given nasty looks if I so much as sigh a hint of boredom. Man I hate to Shop!

My son Riley gave his first large scale performance of a great poem he wrote for MLK day at his Kentwood High School.  He also played guitar while accompanying has friend who sang. I was so proud of him. He did both tasks flawlessly in front of about 2000 kids and was extremely well received. He is such a talented kid and I hopes he keeps the fire of passion with his music and poetry. I am so proud of all my kids as they go through life. I’m not so much concerned with their grades(which are all pretty good) as I am with their growing up to be good, kind, concerned people who know that part of their duty in life is to look out for their fellow man/woman. A good heart is much better to have than wealth and material things. If you have all of those, with the good heart above all, then you are truly blessed and I hope that you realize the material things can be taken in a blink of an eye. I know I am rambling here so I have to sign off. God Bless you in this new year and I hope that your dreams and prayers are answered. Later.