I'm bleggin' cause he won't

One of our own is in a bad place. Check out Ron's situation, and other bloggers' suggestion.

Pray when you can. Pay if you can.

Duh Vinci Code and Jesus Papers

Both Dan Brown's book, The Da Vinci Code Michael Baigent's The Jesus Papers (from which Brown allegedly copied) will go on sale in paperback tomorrow.

I have read Brown's book, and will have to say I am better for it. It called into question so much of what I was taught and believed as a Catholic that I began reading the Catechism for real answers. It made me a better Catholic. Unfortunately, it has had a tremendous impact the other direction for others not as grounded in their faith.

My hope is that the sale of both these heresies affect one another's sales and neither sells many copies.

For information on how you as a Catholic can refute what is taught in these books go here:
Jesus Decoded by the USCCB
Dismanteling the Da Vinci Code
Jesus Decoded by Amy Welborn

Reading the news: Abortion

Felonizing in the US continues....
Please keep Alabama legislators in your prayers. Following the lead of South Dakota, they may be the next state to make abortion illegal. Read about it here.

Facilitating in the UK continues...
UK's answer to growing teen pregnancy.

The joint Department of Education and the Department of Health initiative will facilitate abortion referrals without a parents knowledge, as well as give schoolgirls instant access to the abortifacient morning-after pill, among other things.

And when "anti-abortionists" try to educate and expose these ideals in CATHOLIC SCHOOLS, using ">tactics associated with animal rights extremists in an escalating campaign of intimidation" like emails and other forms of free speech (still allowed in the UK, right?), its becomes a crime? Give me a break - read the "unbiased" story from the Guardian Unlimited here.

Nebraska's government dollars reworked...
Nebraska decides to fund another 1,597 murders by reversing a decision to appropriate $519,000 to legitimate health care agencies and instead give it to Planned Parenthood instead. The average "hit" on an unborn costs $325. The story here.

Listening to C.E. podcast

On my drive to Louisville, I was listening to the last downloadable Catholic Exchange Today podcast and listened to an interview with Steve Ray from Defenders of the Catholic Faith. John Morales and Steve highlighted Steve's DVD series, The Footprints of God. From what I heard and read, this is definitely something worth picking up and watching. Both the site and blog have some great information and photos from the Holy Land. Check it out if you havent already seen it.

Out of town today and tomorrow

I'll be in Louisville, KY today and tomorrow attending a conference at the Holiday Inn Hurstborne. Obviously they have wireless access because I am able to post this. I'll take the lunch and dinner opportunities to check email and hang out in the blogsphere. Have a great day everyone!

The Eleventh Station - Jesus is Nailed to the Cross

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me, far from my prayer, far from the words of my cry?
Oh my God, I cry out by day, and you answer not; I cry out by night, and there is no relief for me.
All my bones are racked.
My heart has become like wax melting away within my chest.
My throat is dried up liked baked clay, my tongue cleaves to my jaws; they have pierced my hands and my feet;
I can count all my bones.
Ps. 22:2-3, 15-16, 17b)

An upturn in my special intention

Thank you for all your prayers to my "special intention" over the last days. I am happy to report that the intention has had a positive turn, yet has not been resolved. Your continued prayers are appreciated.

Emily Loses First Tooth!

Check it out here.

The Connection Between Terri Shiavo and Pope John Paul II

I didn't really realize it before, maybe because I wasn't as atuned to it, but the connection between the late Terry Shiavo and Pope John Paul II is a magnificent one!

Consider the following:

• Both were Catholic.


• Terri's feeding tube was removed on March 18, 2005.


• Pope John Paul's feeding tube was inserted on March 30, 2005.


• Terri dies of starvation on March 31, 2005.


• Pope John Paul II dies on April 2, 2005

From the March 20, 2004 Address of John Paul L II to the Participants in the International Congress on "Life-Sustaining Treatments and Vegetative State: Scientific Advances and Ethical Dilemmas" a little over a year before his and Terri's death.

I should like particularly to underline how the administration of water and food, even when provided by artificial means, always represents a natural means of preserving life, not a medical act. Its use, furthermore, should be considered, in principle, ordinary and proportionate, and as such morally obligatory, insofar as and until it is seen to have attained its proper finality, which in the present case consists in providing nourishment to the patient and alleviation of his suffering.

I imagine Terri and the Pope in Heaven, crossing one another's path.

Prayer for the Dignity of Human Life
Lord and giver of all life, help us to value each person, created in love by you.In your mercy, guide and assist our efforts to promote the dignity and value of all human life, born and unborn. We ask this through Christ our Lord.Amen.
from Catholic Online

Blogs for Terri

I'm getting in a little late on this, but still would like my limited readership to remember the circumstances surrounding Terri Shiavo one year ago this week.

The website's, mission states:
We Believe that:

1. Value of life unrelated to quality of life.


2. Loving care, nutrition, and hydration are basic human needs, and not options of medical care.


3. The lessons to be learned from the medical, judicial, and regulatory and criminal law-enforcement issues related to Terri Schindler Schiavo's death by judicial fiat should not and must not go unheeded.

I love this picture!

Check out this picture on Starting Afresh From Christ.

*** Special Prayer Intention ***

Please pray with me for a special intention of mine - that the Lord's will be done, and for His strength to those invloved.

I'm still here

My apologies for not posting here lately. It has been a very busy couple of weeks. I have, though been posting some on my other blogs.

At Parties and Pictures there is a new post about our new pet, some pictures from a Scout visit to the Animal Shelter, and good shots of everyone celebrating my dad's 64th birthday.

I have created a new blog space on my school district's server which will highlight things going on at our school. I haven't decided if that means the demise of Principal Pokes & Ponderings, since they both will serve the same purpose to some extent.

My brother, Todd has created a new blog, A Little West of KY, to share pictures of his family in San Diego.

I'll be posting here more regularly now, hopefully.

Gay-vs.-Muslim Soccer Set in Netherlands

I'm at a loss...

Muslim-gay tension is the theme of the soccer tournament organized by the Institute of Multicultural Development, to be held next week.

Read it here.

My Blogging Inspiration

When I first started blogging, I created several blogs to reflect different areas of my life. Norton's News, Notes 'N' Nonsense was the first, a sot of eclectic journal to get me started. I then created Parties and Pictures to highlight pictures of my family celebrating life. Finally I created My Catholic Reflections which has taken most of my blogging time to the neglect of the others. I'll get around to updating them.

Before I even created Norton's News, I read a blog by Bob O. Shep called The BBC:Hillsborough. I read it daily. Much of what he wrote about was on target with how I felt at the time. I took much of what he put in his blog (like 43 Things) and put them in mine. This was before I ever knew about Catholic blogs, or any other blogs for that matter. Most of what I read from others included very negative, profane and self-aborbed ramblings whenever I clicked on Blogger's "Next Blog" button.

Bob's blog is worth a visit. His earlier posts are very witty and it is interesting following this man's life. His recent posts have included the Top 24 Hockey Jerseys and a number of posts on comics.

If any of that interests you, drop on by and leave a comment. Let him know I sent you there. He feels like no one is reading his stuff (and we all know how bad that feels). It's good once in awhile to read what others are writing out there, even if it isn't Catholic themed.

I never thought about this....

This article outlines the difficulties of an autistic boy receiving the Eucharist. It is a sad situation in which this Canon lawyer breaks it down beautifully.

New Poll - Girl Scout Cookies

I promise I will post something substantial this week. But for now, check out the new poll to the left. We are up to our eyes in GS cookies, and in the first week of Lent, too. Is that a coincidence?