This story makes me feel a chill.
Take note those of you who are convinced that global warming will soon make Colorado ski resorts beaches in the next decade
Front and center in today's Denver Post is a "chilling" article chronicling the demise of the coal-fired boiler at the k-12 public school in Silverton. I am not sure how many of you have ever ventured through this beautiful mountain town, nestled high in the San Juan mountains of southern Colorado. But, I have been there and I can tell you that its cold there even in the summer.
My point in all of this is not to make light of shivering kids dressed in parkas in their classrooms.
But, my point here is to shed a little reality in the midst of the global warming hysteria. This town has had record snowfall (roof-high according to several locals) this year.
Perhaps, we should put away the sun tan lotion and buy a snow shovel?
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Making Ends Meet-Balancing Colorado's Budget
Hello Governor Ritter...Ritter and his Democratic allies in the legislature just do not get it.
The latest chapter in the state budget saga is a dubious effort on the part of the state legislature to fill the budget shortfall by raiding a worker's compensation fund! Read a link here about this idea. By the way, if this scheme doesn't work, then plan B will be to plug the budget holes with federal stimulus money! (By the way, I thought the purpose of the stimulus was to create jobs?)
All over Colorado, most families are cutting their spending. Yet, our legislative majority, including the Democrats, continue to spend and tax. Guess who will carry that burden: you, the Colorado taxpayer.
Stayed tuned...
The latest chapter in the state budget saga is a dubious effort on the part of the state legislature to fill the budget shortfall by raiding a worker's compensation fund! Read a link here about this idea. By the way, if this scheme doesn't work, then plan B will be to plug the budget holes with federal stimulus money! (By the way, I thought the purpose of the stimulus was to create jobs?)
All over Colorado, most families are cutting their spending. Yet, our legislative majority, including the Democrats, continue to spend and tax. Guess who will carry that burden: you, the Colorado taxpayer.
Stayed tuned...
Monday, April 13, 2009
Last week, we commented on the firestorm that Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church and best-selling author of The Purpose Driven Life made on the CNN show Larry King Live. Here is the link to that blog-http://rockymountainfamilycouncil.blogspot.com/2009/04/rick-warren-needs-to-resign.html
In fairness to Pastor Warren, his folks released the following statement, clarifying what Warren said. Here it is:
Throughout his pastoral ministry spanning nearly 30 years, Dr. Warren has remained committed to the biblical definition of marriage as between one man and one woman, for life — a position held by most fellow Evangelical pastors. He has further stressed that for 5,000 years, EVERY culture and EVERY religion has maintained this worldview.
When Dr. Warren told Larry King that he never campaigned for California’s Proposition 8, he was referring to not participating in the official two-year organized advocacy effort specific to the ballot initiative in that state, based on his focus and leadership on other compassion issues. Because he’s a pastor, not an activist, in response to inquiries from church members, he issued an email and video message to his congregation days before the election confirming where he and Saddleback Church stood on this issue.
During the King interview, Dr. Warren also referenced a letter of apology that he sent to gay leaders whom he knew personally. However, that mea culpa was not with respect to his statements or position on Proposition 8 nor the biblical worldview on marriage. Rather, he apologized for his comments in an earlier Beliefnet interview expressing his concern about expanding or redefining the definition of marriage beyond a husband-wife relationship, during which he unintentionally and regrettably gave the impression that consensual adult same sex relationships were equivalent to incest or pedophilia.
Okay. I say that in light of this information, Pastor Warren needs to be exonerated. We need to take his word that his apology to gay leaders was not a mea culpa for traditional marriage. However, engaging the secular media can be a quagmire and I think that's what happened here. All of us who have done this kind of work with the secular media can relate to Warren's experience.
In fairness to Pastor Warren, his folks released the following statement, clarifying what Warren said. Here it is:
Throughout his pastoral ministry spanning nearly 30 years, Dr. Warren has remained committed to the biblical definition of marriage as between one man and one woman, for life — a position held by most fellow Evangelical pastors. He has further stressed that for 5,000 years, EVERY culture and EVERY religion has maintained this worldview.
When Dr. Warren told Larry King that he never campaigned for California’s Proposition 8, he was referring to not participating in the official two-year organized advocacy effort specific to the ballot initiative in that state, based on his focus and leadership on other compassion issues. Because he’s a pastor, not an activist, in response to inquiries from church members, he issued an email and video message to his congregation days before the election confirming where he and Saddleback Church stood on this issue.
During the King interview, Dr. Warren also referenced a letter of apology that he sent to gay leaders whom he knew personally. However, that mea culpa was not with respect to his statements or position on Proposition 8 nor the biblical worldview on marriage. Rather, he apologized for his comments in an earlier Beliefnet interview expressing his concern about expanding or redefining the definition of marriage beyond a husband-wife relationship, during which he unintentionally and regrettably gave the impression that consensual adult same sex relationships were equivalent to incest or pedophilia.
Okay. I say that in light of this information, Pastor Warren needs to be exonerated. We need to take his word that his apology to gay leaders was not a mea culpa for traditional marriage. However, engaging the secular media can be a quagmire and I think that's what happened here. All of us who have done this kind of work with the secular media can relate to Warren's experience.
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
Rick Warren Needs to Resign
Monday night's edition of Larry King Live was a black-eye event for the marriage movement.
Larry King's guest was mega-church Pastor Rick Warren, invocator at the Obama inauguration.
During his interview, Warren committed an embarrassing mea culpa, renouncing his support for Proposition 8, the voter approved California constitutional amendment banning homosexual marriage.
If you flip the pages back to last fall though, Warren was an ardent supporter. Here's the link for the whole ugly story.
Wow. This one blind-sided me. It saddens me that a pastor of such national prominence commits an embarassing mea culpa on a national show like Larry King. I am hopeful that Pastor Warren had a "deer in the headlights" moment and misspoke.
If he has truly recanted his support for biblical marriage, he needs to resign from his church.
Larry King's guest was mega-church Pastor Rick Warren, invocator at the Obama inauguration.
During his interview, Warren committed an embarrassing mea culpa, renouncing his support for Proposition 8, the voter approved California constitutional amendment banning homosexual marriage.
If you flip the pages back to last fall though, Warren was an ardent supporter. Here's the link for the whole ugly story.
Wow. This one blind-sided me. It saddens me that a pastor of such national prominence commits an embarassing mea culpa on a national show like Larry King. I am hopeful that Pastor Warren had a "deer in the headlights" moment and misspoke.
If he has truly recanted his support for biblical marriage, he needs to resign from his church.
Thursday, April 02, 2009
Respect the "King"
You know that its going to be an interesting day when God hits you between the eyes on one of your shortcomings. One of the things that I know is that when God wants my attention, His Word leaps off the page at me. Today was such a case...
I have struggled greatly with the election of President Obama. I have written here and have spoken elsewhere of my convictions towards this end. I still believe that he is unfit and unqualified to lead our nation.
However, today's scripture in my personal devotions steered me to 1 Peter 2:13-17. In particular, verse 13 and 17 jumped at me. These verses are not opaque, and I quote: "submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men...show proper respect to everyone. Honor the king."
Ouch! For whatever eternal purposes, God has ordained Barack Obama as our nation's president and top ruling authority for now. The recipients of Peter's letter had similiar yet more severe struggles in the first century with their ruling authorities. It was common place for Christians then to be brutally executed, denied economic benefits and in general, marginalized from the society at large.
Peter's point here hits the nail on the head. Subjecting myself and respecting the ruling authority of President Obama is not just an exercise in futile servitude or blind obedience. We do it for the Lord's sake (verse 13). God wants me to respect the governing authorities he has placed in power. Its a matter of obedience and witness.
We live in a time where its sheik to diss our political leaders. The blogs, the internet and the cable news networks pump this poision 24/7. But, Scripture tells us to take a different tact. Respect and honor the king just as we would respect and honor the King of Heaven. We don't need to agree with Obama's policies but we need to avoid disrespect and dishonorable acts.
Your thoughts?
I have struggled greatly with the election of President Obama. I have written here and have spoken elsewhere of my convictions towards this end. I still believe that he is unfit and unqualified to lead our nation.
However, today's scripture in my personal devotions steered me to 1 Peter 2:13-17. In particular, verse 13 and 17 jumped at me. These verses are not opaque, and I quote: "submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men...show proper respect to everyone. Honor the king."
Ouch! For whatever eternal purposes, God has ordained Barack Obama as our nation's president and top ruling authority for now. The recipients of Peter's letter had similiar yet more severe struggles in the first century with their ruling authorities. It was common place for Christians then to be brutally executed, denied economic benefits and in general, marginalized from the society at large.
Peter's point here hits the nail on the head. Subjecting myself and respecting the ruling authority of President Obama is not just an exercise in futile servitude or blind obedience. We do it for the Lord's sake (verse 13). God wants me to respect the governing authorities he has placed in power. Its a matter of obedience and witness.
We live in a time where its sheik to diss our political leaders. The blogs, the internet and the cable news networks pump this poision 24/7. But, Scripture tells us to take a different tact. Respect and honor the king just as we would respect and honor the King of Heaven. We don't need to agree with Obama's policies but we need to avoid disrespect and dishonorable acts.
Your thoughts?
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Passing Out Condoms in Church? Give Me A Break...
What do you think about the latest idea in "church growth?" One denomination believes that condoms should be available to churchgoers in the United Church of Christ denomination.
Here's the link.
Recently, the HIV and AIDS Network of the United Church of Christ (UCC) said condoms should be handed out at places of worship. The statement was issued during a presentation to the denomination's Wider Church Ministries Board and also advocated making condoms available at faith-based educational settings...What they forget is that condom distribution is akin to fuel on a fire. By giving folks condoms you give them society's tacit permission to engage in illicit sexual relationships.
Calling it the denomination's "moral responsibility" to make condoms available, the UCC's executive for health and wellness advocacy said "people of faith make condoms available because we have chosen life so that we and our children may live...Another little ugly fact is that condoms often fail in preventing sexually transmitted diseases.
I guess I just live in a different universe. Besides the obvious "bad message" that will be sent to the youth of these churches, its the low regard these churches have for the capacity of folks to chose abstinence or marriage.
The sad fact remains that the United Church of Christ has completely broken away now its historic Puritan roots. The forefathers of this historic denomination must be rolling over in their graves.
Here's the link.
Recently, the HIV and AIDS Network of the United Church of Christ (UCC) said condoms should be handed out at places of worship. The statement was issued during a presentation to the denomination's Wider Church Ministries Board and also advocated making condoms available at faith-based educational settings...What they forget is that condom distribution is akin to fuel on a fire. By giving folks condoms you give them society's tacit permission to engage in illicit sexual relationships.
Calling it the denomination's "moral responsibility" to make condoms available, the UCC's executive for health and wellness advocacy said "people of faith make condoms available because we have chosen life so that we and our children may live...Another little ugly fact is that condoms often fail in preventing sexually transmitted diseases.
I guess I just live in a different universe. Besides the obvious "bad message" that will be sent to the youth of these churches, its the low regard these churches have for the capacity of folks to chose abstinence or marriage.
The sad fact remains that the United Church of Christ has completely broken away now its historic Puritan roots. The forefathers of this historic denomination must be rolling over in their graves.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Obama's Cap and Trade Scheme: More Taxes for Your Family
You need to know about the latest Obama plan to raise your taxes. This is another bad idea.
Here's the link.
The bottomline: this will raise your family costs and taxes. The climate change science behind it is dubious at best.
Just remember that Denver got 14-16 inches of snow!
Here's the link.
The bottomline: this will raise your family costs and taxes. The climate change science behind it is dubious at best.
Just remember that Denver got 14-16 inches of snow!
Friday, March 27, 2009
Kids May Get New "Rights" From United Nations
This has not been a good month.It seems that everywhere you look, anti-family, anti-life forces are on the march.
The latest is the resurrection of a new international treaty from the United Nations. This treaty would enshrine children's rights internationally. This is a Clinton-era relic which had been moth-balled since the late 1990's. Here's a good link for more information.
For some Utopians it sounds like shangri-la, but it's flaws are numerous:
-Creates a government agency to supervise parents and to ensure that children are given the opportunity to have binding arbitration to resolve disputes. You have to love this one. For example, your minor daughter wants to have sex and you say no. Hypothetically, she could sue you and be given that freedom. Access to abortion, religious freedom and any other issue could be arbitrated. Essentially, children would be owned by the state and indoctrinated in state ideology. Parents would become temporary custodians of their children.
-Imposes upon "national governments to ensure children's rights and that they have agreed to hold themselves accountable for this commitment before the international community." Yikes. What kind of international "supervision" will that entail? Ever heard of "Big Brother?"
This radical treaty pushes child autonomy. Its bad news for our nation, for parents and children.
The latest is the resurrection of a new international treaty from the United Nations. This treaty would enshrine children's rights internationally. This is a Clinton-era relic which had been moth-balled since the late 1990's. Here's a good link for more information.
For some Utopians it sounds like shangri-la, but it's flaws are numerous:
-Creates a government agency to supervise parents and to ensure that children are given the opportunity to have binding arbitration to resolve disputes. You have to love this one. For example, your minor daughter wants to have sex and you say no. Hypothetically, she could sue you and be given that freedom. Access to abortion, religious freedom and any other issue could be arbitrated. Essentially, children would be owned by the state and indoctrinated in state ideology. Parents would become temporary custodians of their children.
-Imposes upon "national governments to ensure children's rights and that they have agreed to hold themselves accountable for this commitment before the international community." Yikes. What kind of international "supervision" will that entail? Ever heard of "Big Brother?"
This radical treaty pushes child autonomy. Its bad news for our nation, for parents and children.
Why Colorado Senate Bill 88 Is A Bad Idea
Health care is not a civil right. The "list" of civil rights are based on immutability, in essence those personal characteristics which cannot be changed: eye-color, gender, height and ethnicity. Martin Luther King advocated that civil rights embraced concepts such as liberty, freedom of expression, freedom of worship, freedom of speech, economic prosperity for all. Our nation's founders would agree.
The latest Colorado advent of "civil rights" for homosexuals is encapsulated in Senate Bill 88 which is working its way to Governor Ritter's desk. Here's its synopsis:
For state employee group benefit plans issued or renewed on or
after July 1, 2010, adds a state employee's domestic partner to the list of
dependents eligible for coverage under state employee group benefit
plans. Defines "domestic partner" for purposes of qualifying as the
dependent of a state employee.
Here are several problems:
-This new law will cost a lot of money for a small group of folks. Budget experts estimate that taxpayers will be charged nearly $120,000 in its first year of implementation in 2011. I don't want my tax dollars ensuring this high-risk community.
-In 2006, Colorado voters overwhelmingly defeated Referendum I. This referendum would have given homosexuals these same benefits. By legislative fiat, homosexuals and their Democratic legislative allies are trying to accomplish this despite the will of voters.
If passed, expect this same cabal to attempt to force this concept in the Colorado private business community in 2010.
The latest Colorado advent of "civil rights" for homosexuals is encapsulated in Senate Bill 88 which is working its way to Governor Ritter's desk. Here's its synopsis:
For state employee group benefit plans issued or renewed on or
after July 1, 2010, adds a state employee's domestic partner to the list of
dependents eligible for coverage under state employee group benefit
plans. Defines "domestic partner" for purposes of qualifying as the
dependent of a state employee.
Here are several problems:
-This new law will cost a lot of money for a small group of folks. Budget experts estimate that taxpayers will be charged nearly $120,000 in its first year of implementation in 2011. I don't want my tax dollars ensuring this high-risk community.
-In 2006, Colorado voters overwhelmingly defeated Referendum I. This referendum would have given homosexuals these same benefits. By legislative fiat, homosexuals and their Democratic legislative allies are trying to accomplish this despite the will of voters.
If passed, expect this same cabal to attempt to force this concept in the Colorado private business community in 2010.
Friday, March 20, 2009
2007 Brings Record Number of Babies
2007 was a fertile year for American women having babies.
Thursday's issue of the USA Today reported a baby boom!
In 2007, 4.3 million new babes were born to American women, reaching near historic levels. Opinions for this surge vary among pediatric experts. But one chilling aspect of this story is the huge increase of babies born to unwed mothers.
Childbearing by unwed mothers accounted for nearly 40 percent of total birth- about 1.7 million. Since 2002, birth rates have dramatically accelerated among unwed mothers, dispelling much of the taboos of having children out of wedlock.
The group having the most kids out of wedlock-young women aged 20-24.
These numbers are cause for great concern. One of the highest predictors of poverty are families headed by a single parent, more often than not by women. While many of these mom's may have the income stream to support their new child or a live-in boyfriend, there remains the glaring fact that many kids will slip into impoverished homes.
This story proves again the value of marriage. Children thrive in a married home with both of their biological parents. Married families have higher income, lower levels of mental health issues, more stabilit and less domestic violence.
Thursday's issue of the USA Today reported a baby boom!
In 2007, 4.3 million new babes were born to American women, reaching near historic levels. Opinions for this surge vary among pediatric experts. But one chilling aspect of this story is the huge increase of babies born to unwed mothers.
Childbearing by unwed mothers accounted for nearly 40 percent of total birth- about 1.7 million. Since 2002, birth rates have dramatically accelerated among unwed mothers, dispelling much of the taboos of having children out of wedlock.
The group having the most kids out of wedlock-young women aged 20-24.
These numbers are cause for great concern. One of the highest predictors of poverty are families headed by a single parent, more often than not by women. While many of these mom's may have the income stream to support their new child or a live-in boyfriend, there remains the glaring fact that many kids will slip into impoverished homes.
This story proves again the value of marriage. Children thrive in a married home with both of their biological parents. Married families have higher income, lower levels of mental health issues, more stabilit and less domestic violence.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Taxing Colorado Marriages
A bad piece of Colorado public policy is making its way through the 2009 state legislature.
Senate bill 68 would impose a $20 tax on new marriage licenses in Colorado, to fund domestic violence programs.
This is a bad idea on a couple of fronts. First, marriage is an antidote to domestic violence. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) notes that the vast majority of violent domestic incidents are among live-in boyfriends and girlfriends. When couples marry, they make an emotional and physical investment for the long-term, reducing the risk of domestic violence. This hedge is not present in cohabiting relationships. And, the DV (domestic violence) factor increase exponentially if children are included into the cohabitation mix. Imposing this type of tax sends a subtle and false message: if folks didn't marry domestic violence would end.
RMFC supports DV programs. But taxing the societal entity that bulwarks against this behavior is the wrong policy road to travel down. Engaged couples don't need additional tax burdens imposed by the state. Instead, we need to encourage more couples to take the right step by marrying.
Perhaps a tax break to marry would be a better idea.
Everyone wins in this equation.
Let the sponsor of this bill, State Senator John Morse know your views at 303-866-6363.
Second
Senate bill 68 would impose a $20 tax on new marriage licenses in Colorado, to fund domestic violence programs.
This is a bad idea on a couple of fronts. First, marriage is an antidote to domestic violence. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) notes that the vast majority of violent domestic incidents are among live-in boyfriends and girlfriends. When couples marry, they make an emotional and physical investment for the long-term, reducing the risk of domestic violence. This hedge is not present in cohabiting relationships. And, the DV (domestic violence) factor increase exponentially if children are included into the cohabitation mix. Imposing this type of tax sends a subtle and false message: if folks didn't marry domestic violence would end.
RMFC supports DV programs. But taxing the societal entity that bulwarks against this behavior is the wrong policy road to travel down. Engaged couples don't need additional tax burdens imposed by the state. Instead, we need to encourage more couples to take the right step by marrying.
Perhaps a tax break to marry would be a better idea.
Everyone wins in this equation.
Let the sponsor of this bill, State Senator John Morse know your views at 303-866-6363.
Second
Monday, March 09, 2009
Let's Stay With What Works-Obama Lifts Stem Cell Ban.
Mr. President, no more smoke and mirrors.
Let's be honest. Lifting the Bush-era prohibition on embryonic stem cell research has little to do with finding "cures" but more with paying off political allies like Planned Parenthood and other abortionist supporters.
No cures have ever been found with embryonic cells. However, real treatment progress is being made with though with adult stem cells.
While Obama's decision will not provide new lines of embryonic cells it will make available older preserved cells for research.
Our problem with this decision is that it gives the camel a chance to gets its nose under the tent. Once the door is opened to this type of unlimited federally funded research, "Pandora's box" will open wide.
Here is the full story.
Let's be honest. Lifting the Bush-era prohibition on embryonic stem cell research has little to do with finding "cures" but more with paying off political allies like Planned Parenthood and other abortionist supporters.
No cures have ever been found with embryonic cells. However, real treatment progress is being made with though with adult stem cells.
While Obama's decision will not provide new lines of embryonic cells it will make available older preserved cells for research.
Our problem with this decision is that it gives the camel a chance to gets its nose under the tent. Once the door is opened to this type of unlimited federally funded research, "Pandora's box" will open wide.
Here is the full story.
Monday, March 02, 2009
Protect Your Right to Homeschool
We knew that this day would come somewhere. The public school bureaucracy hates homeschooling. The advent of the Obama administration will embolden these bureaucrat's to launch legal and legislative initiatives to gut homeschooling under a variety of guises.
Here's the first salvo in New Hampshire.
Here's the first salvo in New Hampshire.
Denver's Archbishop Chaput in the National Crosshairs
I think the Archbishop's comments are right on. See what you think...
Chaput calls Catholics servile toward Obama
By Electa Draper
The Denver Post
Posted: 02/26/2009 12:16:17 PM MST
Updated: 02/26/2009 03:56:32 PM MST
Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput (Post file)
Denver Catholic Archbishop Charles Chaput, on a book tour in Canada this week, stirred controversy with remarks about U.S. Catholics, who he says exhibit "a spirit of adulation bordering on servility" toward President Barack Obama, an abortion-rights advocate.
"In democracies, we elect public servants, not messiahs," Chaput told more than 700 people in St. Basil's Church on the University of Toronto campus, the Catholic News Agency reported.
Reaction lit up cyberspace, and it ranged from admiration for his defense of Catholic doctrine on sanctity of life to furious perceptions that Chaput is insulting Catholic Democrats and improperly meddling in politics.
Chaput's speech focused on his new book on faithful citizenship, "Render Unto Caesar."
He called Obama "a man of intelligence and some remarkable gifts" who has great ability to inspire.
"But whatever his strengths," Chaput said, "there's no way to reinvent his record on abortion and related issues with rosy marketing about unity, hope and change."
Chaput said that modern society has "a phony unwillingness to offend that poses as prudence and good manners but too often turns out to be cowardice."
Echoing remarks Chaput made before Obama's election in November, the archbishop said that Catholics must form a strong and genuinely Catholic conscience and follow that conscience when they vote. He has called opposition to abortion the litmus test for being Catholic.
"Tolerating grave evil within a society by itself is a form of serious evil," Chaput said.
Many Colorado Catholics reacted angrily during the election season to what they perceived as church attempts to coerce them into being one-issue voters.
Chaput said Americans focused on one issue, the economy.
"It's worth recalling that despite two ugly wars, an unpopular Republican president, a fractured Republican Party, the support of most of the American news media and massively outspending his opponent, our new president actually trailed in the election polls the week before the economic meltdown," Chaput said.
"Americans, including many Catholics, elected a gifted man to fix an economic crisis. That's the mandate," Chaput said. "They gave nobody a mandate to retool American culture on the issues of marriage and the family, sexuality, bioethics, religion in public life and abortion."
Chaput calls Catholics servile toward Obama
By Electa Draper
The Denver Post
Posted: 02/26/2009 12:16:17 PM MST
Updated: 02/26/2009 03:56:32 PM MST
Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput (Post file)
Denver Catholic Archbishop Charles Chaput, on a book tour in Canada this week, stirred controversy with remarks about U.S. Catholics, who he says exhibit "a spirit of adulation bordering on servility" toward President Barack Obama, an abortion-rights advocate.
"In democracies, we elect public servants, not messiahs," Chaput told more than 700 people in St. Basil's Church on the University of Toronto campus, the Catholic News Agency reported.
Reaction lit up cyberspace, and it ranged from admiration for his defense of Catholic doctrine on sanctity of life to furious perceptions that Chaput is insulting Catholic Democrats and improperly meddling in politics.
Chaput's speech focused on his new book on faithful citizenship, "Render Unto Caesar."
He called Obama "a man of intelligence and some remarkable gifts" who has great ability to inspire.
"But whatever his strengths," Chaput said, "there's no way to reinvent his record on abortion and related issues with rosy marketing about unity, hope and change."
Chaput said that modern society has "a phony unwillingness to offend that poses as prudence and good manners but too often turns out to be cowardice."
Echoing remarks Chaput made before Obama's election in November, the archbishop said that Catholics must form a strong and genuinely Catholic conscience and follow that conscience when they vote. He has called opposition to abortion the litmus test for being Catholic.
"Tolerating grave evil within a society by itself is a form of serious evil," Chaput said.
Many Colorado Catholics reacted angrily during the election season to what they perceived as church attempts to coerce them into being one-issue voters.
Chaput said Americans focused on one issue, the economy.
"It's worth recalling that despite two ugly wars, an unpopular Republican president, a fractured Republican Party, the support of most of the American news media and massively outspending his opponent, our new president actually trailed in the election polls the week before the economic meltdown," Chaput said.
"Americans, including many Catholics, elected a gifted man to fix an economic crisis. That's the mandate," Chaput said. "They gave nobody a mandate to retool American culture on the issues of marriage and the family, sexuality, bioethics, religion in public life and abortion."
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Colorado's Marriage "Lite"
Colorado has a determined and well-financed homosexual community.
Led by gizillionaire software designer Tim Gill and State Senator Jennifer Veiga, Colorado homosexuals continue to chip away the the public will. Three years ago, Colorado voters tweeked the ears of homosexual zealots by passing Amendment 23, which defined marriage as an exclusive relationship between a man and a woman. The "two-fer" was completed with the simultaneous voter rejection of Proposition I, the civil union flat tire.
Well, they're back and they haven't read the public memo of three years ago
Led by State Senator Jennifer Veiga, State Senate bill 88 would require the state to pay insurance for the partners of unmarried adult couples. Here is the story of the latest saga.
Am I the only one who sees this as obtuse? Why would the the state pay these bills? Is it truly a matter of fairness or simply another scam to dupe Coloradans? I'll vote for the later. Colorado voters made it clear that this type of monkey business is not a state priority. With tight budgets and a lack of funds, there is no way this bill should see the light of day.
A Trojan horse? You bet. Its Colorado marriage "lite."
Led by gizillionaire software designer Tim Gill and State Senator Jennifer Veiga, Colorado homosexuals continue to chip away the the public will. Three years ago, Colorado voters tweeked the ears of homosexual zealots by passing Amendment 23, which defined marriage as an exclusive relationship between a man and a woman. The "two-fer" was completed with the simultaneous voter rejection of Proposition I, the civil union flat tire.
Well, they're back and they haven't read the public memo of three years ago
Led by State Senator Jennifer Veiga, State Senate bill 88 would require the state to pay insurance for the partners of unmarried adult couples. Here is the story of the latest saga.
Am I the only one who sees this as obtuse? Why would the the state pay these bills? Is it truly a matter of fairness or simply another scam to dupe Coloradans? I'll vote for the later. Colorado voters made it clear that this type of monkey business is not a state priority. With tight budgets and a lack of funds, there is no way this bill should see the light of day.
A Trojan horse? You bet. Its Colorado marriage "lite."
Monday, February 23, 2009
Homosexual Rights Bill Gains Steam in Colorado Legislature
A bill working its way through the Colorado State Legislature which would grant homosexuals additional legal benefits is gaining steam.
Three years ago, Coloradans soundly defeated a state ballot measure that would have dispensed these benefits to unmarried couples, such as: inheriting property, hospital visitation, funeral arrangements, etc.
This bill is a trojan horse designed to circumvent the will of Colorado voters and give civil union rights to homosexual couples.
Here is the story...
Three years ago, Coloradans soundly defeated a state ballot measure that would have dispensed these benefits to unmarried couples, such as: inheriting property, hospital visitation, funeral arrangements, etc.
This bill is a trojan horse designed to circumvent the will of Colorado voters and give civil union rights to homosexual couples.
Here is the story...
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Pope Benedict XVI Lowers the Abortion Boom...
Pope Benedict minces no words with this statement.
From Washington DC to our Colorado state capital, Catholic politicians who take their faith seriously, are uncomfortable today.
For many of these politicians, their faith stops at the doorstep of their politics. This inconsistency of faith and their actions in the public square has directly contributed by association to the deaths of nearly 40 million and counting unborn Americans.
Someday, this bill will come due.
From Washington DC to our Colorado state capital, Catholic politicians who take their faith seriously, are uncomfortable today.
For many of these politicians, their faith stops at the doorstep of their politics. This inconsistency of faith and their actions in the public square has directly contributed by association to the deaths of nearly 40 million and counting unborn Americans.
Someday, this bill will come due.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Be Safe But Let's Be Realistic Too
Most Coloradans remember the night-marish events here in our state involving teenagers and guns. Without a doubt, our state has had its share of tragedies: the Columbine massacre; the Platte River High School Shootings; and the tragic shootings at YWAM and at New Life Church in Colorado Springs.
Understandably, new laws were passed to hoepfully prevent these tragedies from occuring again.
Earlier this week comes a splash of reality. Marie Morrow, a 17 year old senior was bounced from her high school for having a facsimile gun in her car that she used for drill practice with the Douglas County Young Marines drill team. Here's the story.
Apparently, someone spied the gun in her car and informed school authorities. Under current state law prohibiting any gun possession on public school grounds, Miss Morrow was expelled.
This story underscores the rigidity of current law. Understandably, no one wants a repeat of more school gun tragedies.
The higher ground of reason here demands a modification of this current law, allowing school authorities to make a more accurate decision once all of the information is gathered by officials.
Guns are not evil in of themselves. Its the criminals who used them for evil purposese. Marie Morrow is no criminal but simply a young lady who works hard and who happens to command a group of exemplary teenagers who drill with facsimile guns.
Let's change this law and not punish the innocent.
Understandably, new laws were passed to hoepfully prevent these tragedies from occuring again.
Earlier this week comes a splash of reality. Marie Morrow, a 17 year old senior was bounced from her high school for having a facsimile gun in her car that she used for drill practice with the Douglas County Young Marines drill team. Here's the story.
Apparently, someone spied the gun in her car and informed school authorities. Under current state law prohibiting any gun possession on public school grounds, Miss Morrow was expelled.
This story underscores the rigidity of current law. Understandably, no one wants a repeat of more school gun tragedies.
The higher ground of reason here demands a modification of this current law, allowing school authorities to make a more accurate decision once all of the information is gathered by officials.
Guns are not evil in of themselves. Its the criminals who used them for evil purposese. Marie Morrow is no criminal but simply a young lady who works hard and who happens to command a group of exemplary teenagers who drill with facsimile guns.
Let's change this law and not punish the innocent.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Your Tax Dollars Funding Abortion Overseas
"Change that we can believe in?" I think not. Barack Obama has already stained his administration by refunding overseas abortion services. In comparison to many nations, America has some of the most liberal abortion laws. The President's actions have given us a notorious new export: abortions.
The U.S. may be divided on the subject of abortion but not on funding it. Despite President Obama's incredible popularity, the honeymoon is already over on social issues. Gallup has found widespread opposition to the President's decision to repeal the Mexico City policy. Only 35 percent of those surveyed said they agreed with the decision to allow taxpayer funding for overseas groups who promote abortion.
Americans aren't the only ones disturbed by the shift. Countries across Latin America have lashed out at the new White House for contaminating their laws with anti-life policies. Congresswoman Martha Lorena de Casco of Honduras said she felt "sorrow" that one of the President's first acts was to threaten her country's pro-life law. Representatives from Argentina, El Salvador, and other countries echoed de Casco encouraging Americans to follow their example and respect the right to life in national law. As I've said before, President Obama's election was the result of an economic mandate, not a social one. The further he deviates from that mandate, the more likely he is to lose it.
The U.S. may be divided on the subject of abortion but not on funding it. Despite President Obama's incredible popularity, the honeymoon is already over on social issues. Gallup has found widespread opposition to the President's decision to repeal the Mexico City policy. Only 35 percent of those surveyed said they agreed with the decision to allow taxpayer funding for overseas groups who promote abortion.
Americans aren't the only ones disturbed by the shift. Countries across Latin America have lashed out at the new White House for contaminating their laws with anti-life policies. Congresswoman Martha Lorena de Casco of Honduras said she felt "sorrow" that one of the President's first acts was to threaten her country's pro-life law. Representatives from Argentina, El Salvador, and other countries echoed de Casco encouraging Americans to follow their example and respect the right to life in national law. As I've said before, President Obama's election was the result of an economic mandate, not a social one. The further he deviates from that mandate, the more likely he is to lose it.
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