Now that we have a Muslim apologist as President, it is no wonder that extremists like this can now meet in the open in America. Way to go, Homeland Security!

From Fox News

Why have American Citizens been targeted by law enforcement if they fly a Gadsden flag, but this group committed to establishing an international Islamic empire and reportedly linked to Al Qaeda is able to recruit members unmolested?

Whose homeland are we looking to secure?

I received this today via email.

One of the "Band of Brothers" soldiers died on June 17, 2009.

We're hearing a lot today about big splashy memorial services.
I want a nationwide memorial service for Darrell "Shifty" Powers.
Shifty volunteered for the airborne in WWII and served with Easy
Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, part of the 101st Airborne Infantry.

If you've seen "Band of Brothers" on HBO or the History Channel, you
know Shifty. His character appears in all 10 episodes, and Shifty himself is interviewed in several of them.

I met Shifty in the Philadelphia airport several years ago. I didn't know
who he was at the time. I just saw an elderly gentleman having trouble
reading his ticket. I offered to help, assured him that he was at the
right gate, and noticed the "Screaming Eagle", the symbol of the 101st
Airborne, on his hat. Making conversation, I asked him if he'd been in the 101st Airborne or if his son was serving. He said quietly that he had been in the 101st. I
thanked him for his service, then asked him when he served, and how many
jumps he made.

Quietly and humbly, he said "Well, I guess I signed up in 1941 or so, and was in until sometime in 1945 . . . " at which point my heart skipped. At that point, again, very humbly, he said "I made the 5 training jumps at Toccoa, and then jumped into Normandy . . . Do you know where Normandy is?" At this point my heart stopped.

I told him yes, I know exactly where Normandy was, and I know what D-Day was. At that point he said "I also made a second jump into Holland, into Arnhem." I was standing with a genuine war hero . . . . and then I realized that it was June, just after the anniversary of D-Day. I asked Shifty if he was on his way back from France, and he said "Yes. And it's real sad because these days so few of the guys are left, and those that are, lots of them can't make the trip." My heart was in my throat and I didn't know what to say.

I helped Shifty get onto the plane and then realized he was back in
Coach, while I was in First Class. I sent the flight attendant back to get
him and said that I wanted to switch seats. When Shifty came forward, I got up
out of the seat and told him I wanted him to have it, that I'd take his in
coach.

He said "No, son, you enjoy that seat. Just knowing that there are still
some who remember what we did and still care is enough to make an old
man very happy." His eyes were filling up as he said it. And mine are
brimming up now as I write this.

Shifty died on June 17 after fighting cancer.

There was no parade.

No big event in Staples Center.

No wall to wall back to back 24x7 news coverage.

No weeping fans on television.

And that's not right.

Let's give Shifty his own Memorial Service, right here, on this blog. Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments.

Thank you for what you’ve done. Some of us won’t forget.

Rest in peace, Shifty.

Awesome video illustration on the federal budget deficit and the shrieks about Bush and the shrugs over Obama. Who says math can’t be fun?

Have you seen folks this? These people toast my muffin....

Father Shelton has a nice new blog you all should check out. If this is the kind of priest that's coming up through the system these days, thank God! Go check him out, tell him I sent you.

My friend Fr. Bechtel got me all fired up writing to me about Communion in the hand just now. So I was going to post something on that, (one of my favorite topics!) when I remembered I was going to write something about another fine Catholic devotion: The Miraculous Medal!

So I'm gonna stick with the Miraculous Medal.


In Paris, on the night of July 18, 1830, a 24 year-old novice of the Daughters of Charity was awakened by her guardian angel, in the form of a beautiful child about 5 years old. The novice, who would later be known as Saint Catherine Laboure, heard the tiny angel softly say, "Come to the chapel; the Blessed Virgin is waiting for you."

As they entered the chapel, Catherine saw that it was brilliantly lit with candles, as if for Midnight Mass. She was led into the santuary and knelt by a chair. Soon after, Our Lady entered and sat down in the chair. The angel told Catherine, "This is the Blessed Virgin."

Our Lady spoke to Catherine, "My child, the good God wishes to entrust you with a mission." She pointed to the altar and said, "Come to the foot of the altar. Here favors will be shed on all who ask for them. Favors will be shed especially on those who ask for them." She then told Catherine that her mission would be made known to her in the future.

Catherine's mission was revaled to her on November 27, 1830. While attending afternoon prayers, she was visited by the Virgin Mary again. Catherine learned that she was to introduce the medal of the Immaculate Conception to the world.

On that glorious day, the Blessed Virgin appeared standing on a globe and holding another globe in her hands. Her fingers were covered with rings, some of which sparkled brilliantly and showered down rays of light on the globe beneath her feet. Catherine heard a voice say, "The ball you see represents the world...and each person in it. These rays symbolize the favors I shed upon those who ask for them. The Jewels that give no rays symbolize the favors that are not given because they are not asked for."

After a moment, the apparition changed. The Virgin Mary was now standing on a globe with a serpent beneath her feet. Her arms were outstretched. An oval shape framed the Blessed Virgin, and on it were written the words in gold: "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee." This was to be the front of the medal to be made.

Then, the vision revolved to reveal the reverse side of the medal. Catherine saw a cross with a bar at its feet that was intertwined with the letter "M." Beneath the letter were the hearts of Jesus and Mary, both surmounted by flames of love, one having a crown of thorns and the other pierced with a sword. Encircling all of this were 12 stars around the oval frame.

Catherine heard the voice tell her, "Have a medal struck after this model. All who carry this medal will recieve great favors...Favors will abound if this medal is worn with devotion." Saint Catherine Laboure now knew that her mission was to ensure that this "Miraculous Medal" was made, and to spread our Blessed Mother's message of love and compassion for all God's people.

It must be sad to see yourself become obsolete.

So it is with SDACT and Michael Milz, it's president.

Pope Benedict has released a new encyclical titled “Caritas in Veritate”, translated means “Charity in truth”. His Holiness spends much time writing about things such as marriage and abortion, and touches briefly on, for whatever reason, labor unions.

Ever the straw grasper, Milz released a statement “It seems that no matter what the Holy Father or his brother bishops (who only last week gave a ringing endorsement of the rights of church employees) have to say about workers rights, Bishop Joseph Martino will not relent in his harsh opposition to grant these very same basic human rights to those who work for him,”

Ok, Milz. Life is a basic human right. Not a labor union. You guys have obviously lost the fight, move on. Choose something new you can oppose, like abortion maybe. Work with the Church instead of against it, and maybe you can have relevance again.

and found I misssed letting you in on this:

Peter Singer is a Princeton professor who believes it is okay for parents to kill their kids until their offspring are 28 days old. He also believes in bestiality: dogs, he says, can convey to their master whether they consent to intercourse. Now he is pushing clam rights.

In today’s New York Times, Nicholas Kristof writes that because Singer is uncertain about the capacity of shellfish to suffer, he tends to avoid eating them. Which means that Singer apparently believes that newborn kids who are knifed to death don’t suffer, but clams on the half shell might. Whether clams can consent to sex, Singer does not say.

Heard today that Bishop Martino may very well be exiting our Diocese stage left.

Keep your ears to the ground and let me know what you are hearing, or what you may already know.....

Spent 1 1/2 hours today helping the economy by purchasing a new HDTV and stand. I won't go into the painful details, but needless to say WalMart should begin the distribution of IQ tests before they hire these dolts...

I am happy to hear Father Wilfredo Comellas is coming to Saint Aloysius in Wilkes-Barre. He said the Extraordinary Form in his Hazleton Church. I am looking forward to meeting him.

Whats with all this stupid rain? My garden is inundated with sogginess. I'm never gonna get my corn in at this rate. I may have already missed my window of opportunity as Fall will most likely begin the day after Labor Day...

That's all I have for now, I think. God Bless!

Bishop Joseph Martino announced extensive appointments of clergy throughout the diocese, with substantial shuffling in Luzerne County. Here is how the changes affect area churches.

Rev. Mark Balczeniuk will leave his post as pastor of Transfiguration in West Hazleton and become Eastern Pastoral Region Vicar, living at the Villa of Our Lady Retreat House, Mount Pocono. Rev. David Betts will leave his residence status at Sacred Heart of Jesus/St.John in Wilkes-Barre to become administrator at Transfiguration and St. Francis of Assisi, West Hazleton. Current St. Francis Pastor Rev. John Ruth will become administrator of two Scranton churches.

Monsignor Francis Beeda will change from pastor to pastor emeritus at St. Joseph and St. Stanislaus, Hazleton. Rev. Richard Cirba will leave his post as pastor at Holy Trinity, Swoyersville, to replace Beeda as pastor in the Hazleton parishes, and will be joined by Rev. Balireddy Ponnapati as assistant Pastor, who will leave St. Nicholas, Wilkes-Barre. The current assistant at the to Halzeton churches, Rev. Bryan Wright, will leave for a Mount Pocono parish. Rev. William Karle will leave his post as pastor at Holy Saviour, Wilkes-Barre, to become pastor at Holy Trinity and Holy name/St. Mary in Swoyersville. Current Holy Name pastor Rev. Louis Grippe will become pastor at Most Precious Blood, Hazleton. Current Most Precious Blood administrator Rev. Wilfredo Comellas will become assistant Pastor at St. Aloysius and St. Casimir, Wilkes-Barre, and Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Hanover Township. Rev. Kenneth Seegar will come from a church in Susquehanna County to be administrator at Holy Saviour.

Rev. Vincent Dang will move from pastor of Holy Family, Sugar Notch, to Pastor, Saint Frances X. Cabrini, Carverton, replacing Rev. James Shimsky who has been administrator. Shimsky is being assigned to two parishes north of Scranton. Rev. Joseph Kakareka will leave his post as administrator of Ss. Peter and Paul, Avoca, to take over as pastor at Holy Family. St. Mary, Avoca, Pastor Rev. Phillip Sladicka will also be pastor of Ss. Peter and Paul.

Rev. Joseph Evanko will leave his post as pastor at St. John Bosco, Conyngham, and Good Shepherd, Butler Township, to be pastor at St. Jude, Mountaintop. Current St. John, Stroudsburg Pastor Rev. John Lambert will be pastor at St. John Bosco and Good Shepherd. Current St. Jude administrator Rev. Michael Quinnan will be pastor in a Monroe County church.

Rev. Gregory Finn will leave his post as pastor at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Pittston, to be pastor, Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Harleigh, St. Gabriel, Hazleton, St. Nazarius, Pardeesville, and St. Mary, Lattimer The pastor at those parishes, Rev. Peter O’Rourke, will become pastor at St. Patrick, Scranton. Current St. Rocco, Pittston, Pastor Rev. Daniel Schwebs will be administrator at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. The four Hazleton area churches will also get two assistant pastors, Rev. Johnson Kochuparambil from Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Pittston, and Rev. Victor Leon, from Nativity of Our Lord, Scranton, and lose current assistant pastor Rev. Gregory Villaescusa to parishes near Towanda. The two Pittston churches will get Rev. Jackson Pinhiero as assistant pastor, from the St. Joseph’s Oblates Seminary.

Rev. Richard Fox, pastor at Holy Family in Luzerne, will move to St. Eulalia, Elmhurst. Rev. Michael Zipay will take over in Luzerne, arriving from a South Williamsport parish.

Rev. Duane Gavitt will leave his post as pastor at St. Aloysius and St. Casimir, Wilkes-Barre, to be pastor at Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Freeland, where current pastor Re. John Melnick is leaving for the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas. Eastern Pastoral Region Episcopal Vicar Rev. Andrew R. Sinnott will replace Gavitt at the two Wilkes-Barre churches and at Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Hanover Twp., where the current administrator, Rev. Paul Pudhota, will leave to become administrator at Holy Trinity, Wilkes-Barre and Holy Cross, Hanover Township. The current pastor there, Rev. Theodore Obaza, will become pastor emeritus.

Rev. Joseph Kearney, current pastor at Blessed Sacrament, St. Francis and St. John the Baptist in Wilkes-Barre will also be pastor at S. Dominic in Wilkes-Barre, where current pastor Rev. William Culnane will be pastor emeritus.

Rev. William Langan will leave his post as pastor at St. Francis of Assisi and St. Joseph, Nanticoke, to be pastor at St. John the Evangelist and St. Mary Magdalen, Honesdale. Rev. James Nash, current pastor of four other Nanticoke Parishes, will add St. Francis and St. Joseph to his list.

Rev. Michael Marchetti will leave a Montoursville parish to be pastor at Our Lady of Sorrows, West Wyoming, and St. Joseph, Wyoming, where the current pastor, Rev. James Walsh, will leave to be administrator of St. Francise of Assisi in Scranton.
Gate of Heaven, Dallas, pastor Rev. Kevin Mulhern will leave to be pastor at Our Lady of the Abingtons, Dalton. Rev. Daniel Toomey will leave a post in Montdale, to be pastor at Gate of Heaven and Our Lady of Victory, Harveys Lake.

The diocesan list of changes is here

The left sees an opportunity in the tragic death of Stephen Johns to score some political points. They are claiming that the suspect, 88 year old James von Brunn is a "right-wing religious whackjob" Why didn't they refer to Abdulhakim Mujahid Muhammad who killed Pvt. William Long in Arkansas as a "militant muslim jihadist"? Gotta wonder where their priorities lie.

Since the murder suspect of Stephen Johns was a WWII veteran, maybe DHS should add all of the surviving WWII vets to their latest watch list. I know I'd feel a whole lot safer.

Obama's New CEO of GM: "I don't know anything about cars. I do know about business and I know about big business. And, you know, employees and all that sort of thing."

Yesterday The Weekly Standard reported that our troops are are reading Miranda rights to suspected terrorists. Reading Miranda rights to non-American citizens. By the way, Sarah Palin told us this would happen last year: "Al-Qaeda terrorists still plot to inflict catastrophic harm on America, and he's worried that someone won't read 'em their rights."

Forcing a Pro-Choice Crisis: What About Third Trimester Abortions?

Fr. Frank Pavone
National Director, Priests for Life

What do LeRoy Carhart, Warren Hern, and George Tiller have in common? They are among an unknown number who perform abortions in the third trimester of pregnancy (the third trimester being the seventh, eighth, and ninth month!)

For two decades I have been proclaiming from the pulpits of America that abortions happen in the third trimester. Many Americans find it hard to believe. Now, in the aftermath of the death of George Tiller, this fact is getting a bit more attention.

The Associated Press reported on June 2 in an article by Eric Olson that physician LeRoy Carhart of Nebraska wants to continue performing abortions at this late stage, but he, as well as Warren Hern, also want to make sure enough physicians are trained in how to do so.

How many are we talking about? The AP story reported, "Carhart said 75 to 100 of the "several thousand" abortions he performs annually are in the third trimester."

Stanley K. Henshaw, a senior fellow at the Guttmacher Institute, the research division of Planned Parenthood, and the best source of these statistics, is quoted in a June 5 Washington Post article as saying, "The information just isn't available...This is an area that we just don't know much about."

The Guttmacher Institute does report in its official statistics, however, that some 13,310 abortions each year are at 21 weeks or more of pregnancy (that is, 1.1% of the 1.21 million abortions per year). Of the 40 states that reported in 2005 to the Centers for Disease Control, 32 states reported abortions of babies 21 weeks or older.

This means that every day, 37 babies the size of a large banana are dismembered and decapitated - and these include healthy babies of healthy mothers...and it's happening legally.

These are babies that the mother can already feel moving. According to MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, these babies are storing fat on their bodies, their heartbeat can be heard with a stethoscope, they can hear, they have eyebrows, eyelashes, fingernails and toenails. Incidentally, MedlinePlus calls them "babies." (See www.nlm.nih.gov/MEDLINEPLUS/ency/article/002398.htm ).

Many people wonder how they can get some traction in the seemingly intractable abortion debate. How can they get people to listen, or make pro-choice people believe that pro-life people have good reason to be against abortion?

My suggestion: start by discussing the facts I just mentioned.

It's morally legitimate to focus on late-term abortion; that doesn't deny that all abortion is wrong; it's simply a way to get the ball rolling, a pedagogical method of going from the most obvious to the less obvious, of starting with what people know and leading to what they don't know.

When people are astonished by these facts, as they will be, they are forced to re-evaluate just how much priority "privacy" and "choice" have over life. If they are "pro-choice," they are forced to figure out when in pregnancy the line is drawn - and why.

And now you're talking.

The text and audio of this column can be found online at www.priestsforlife.org/columns/columns2009/09-06-15-pro-choice-crisis.htm

Fr. Frank's columns are podcast. Click here for more information.

Comments on this Column?
Priests for Life
PO Box 141172
Staten Island, NY 10314

From the Citizen's Voice.

The Rev. Rayanna Narisetti did not eat for three days after he arrived at the Church of the Epiphany in Sayre in November 2006. Six months earlier, he had been instructed by his bishop in Southeast India to prepare to move to America. He left his role as the steward of a small Roman Catholic congregation and a 105-acre farm sown with sunflowers and black lentils.

In Sayre, he stared at a salad he was served in a restaurant.

“I said to myself, ‘Oh these leaves, I think the goat and sheep eat them in our country,’” he remembered. “I was longing, longing for the rice.”

One of 11 Indian priests currently working in the Diocese of Scranton, Narisetti had to adapt to an American diet, the Pennsylvania climate and a long distance from home even as he assumed responsibility for ministering to congregations facing a shortage of priests here.

For at least a decade, the Diocese of Scranton has partnered with the Diocese of Nellore to bring priests from two rural districts in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh to serve in local parishes. Dozens of the Indian priests have worked in churches in the Scranton Diocese for periods of two to four years before returning to their home diocese.

The program is part of a larger trend in American Catholic dioceses of recruiting priests from other countries to make up for a dearth of homegrown pastors. According to the 2006 study “International Priests in America,” one in six priests serving in American parishes, or about 5,500 priests, are foreign-born. Between 380 and 400 international priests enter the country each year and only about 100 of those return to their home dioceses.

The Scranton program, which was initiated by former Bishop James Timlin, began as an experiment to help mitigate the declining number of priestly vocations locally while giving the growing number of Nellore priests exposure to the world church. The bishop of Nellore at the time would make an annual visit to the diocese to ask for donations and he and Timlin began to discuss the idea of a temporary exchange.

“We didn’t have enough priests here and he had a superabundance of priests over in Nellore,” Bishop Timlin said. Read more