Well, umm, about that so called Fortnight for Freedom

Proof positive that it's a joke...found this via Rorate, who got it from the NYT

You can read the entire article at the NYT link....but I highlight this section, and will then comment.

But even as Cardinal Dolan insiststhat requiring some religiously affiliated employers to pay forcontraception services would be an unprecedented, and intolerable, government intrusion on religious liberty, the archdiocese he heads has quietly been paying for such coverage, albeit reluctantly and indirectly, for thousands of its unionized employees for over a decade.

The Archdiocese of New York has previously acknowledgedthat some local Catholic institutions offer health insurance plans that include contraceptive drugs to comply with state law; now, it is also acknowledging that the archdiocese’s own money is used to pay for a union health plan that covers contraception and evenabortion for workers at its affiliated nursing homes and clinics.

“We provide the services under protest,” said Joseph Zwilling, a spokesman for the Archdiocese of New York.

Comments

1. I am often known for saying the Bishops' undermine their own authority whenever they speak on matters of prudential judgement or that are outside their competence....This act by Cardinal Dolan (and his predecessor) not only undermines all authority, but also renders any act called upon by him null and void. The political system is a means to an end, but not the end in of itself. Most certainly this doesn't surprise me...but the fact that nothing's been done to STOP this....is it any wonder that people want to give up on the Faith when acts like this are going on
2. I think this video sums it up perfectly: 

3. I must say, I think we need to pray and sacrifice for the Bishops' more...clearly we're not doing enough....:D...God Bless!

Thought of the day

Pope Francis is not a universalist. He was absolutely correct in stating that Atheists are redeemed. Christ died for all. It does not follow that everyone will accept the merits of His redemption.

Thought of the day

Prayers with Oklahoma!

Thought of the day

Love, if one finds such, is something one must pursue with total faithfulness and devotion. One must follow it wherever it leads...seek joy when joy comes, sorrow when sorrows come, but most of all stay faithful unto the end.

Thought of the day

Weaknesses do not define us.

Some thoughts...

I. Cardinal Mahony...again

I guess there is a saying that sometimes the best thing to do is to let a person hang themselves on their own words and actions. Many in the blogosphere are thinking that Archbishop Gomez absolutely must be in on the coverup since he has not said anything publicly in regards to this situation.

As I've mentioned before about the good Archbishop, from what it seems, he likes to keep a lot of things in house instead of out of house, when possible and in my brief conversations with him, I get the sense that, the need to pray for him is ridiculously high.

a. It is Cardinal Mahony that we're talking about here, the one who famously said there were no Liturgical Abuse problems in his archdiocese....you really think that EVERYTHING was revealed to Abp Gomez? LOL! That'd be like me believing Obama when he says he had nothing to do with Bengazi and the IRS scandal....just not happening, the track record of both just prove that one should not trust them :) (Obama and Mahony obviously)

b. The wolves in the archdiocese are numerous in number, and you should definitely pray for Archbishop Gomez....Let me put it this way, the wolves out number the good ones by many...To undo the damage the in the archdiocese will take a little more than 2 years ;)...Jesus did say there would be weeds in the field...He wasn't kidding ;)

c. The axiom that silence means consent, probably only works with extroverts....introverts are silent by their very nature, so to say that Abp Gomez necessarily approves of what's going on, I think would be a bit much to assume. Perhaps, it's just a matter of letting the fire burn out, or rather, letting the Cardinal choke on his own words....Instead of giving the Cardinal an even BIGGER spotlight than he's already placing upon himself, perhaps it's better that Archbishop Gomez not say anything....Granted, it will seem like an undermining of his own authority at times....but really, I think Archbishop Gomez knows that Cardinal Mahony likes the spotlight, and precisely BECAUSE he knows that Cardinal Mahony likes to be in the spotlight, he's NOT saying anything to add a bigger spotlight on him.

d. Really the only solution I see to this is Pope Francis moving Cardinal Mahony far, far far away. like maybe the Archdiocese of the Lunar landing?

II. The IRS scandal

You know, if someone said that they didn't know what was going on in their own organization or company, they'd probably get fired 99.99% of the time (unless they gain tenure as a teacher in which case, lol)...to say that zero had no idea of what was going on with either the Benghazi situation or this IRS situation, would be as Obama's saying, "I'm an idiot, I can't control those that are under me." or something like that...The only question is whether his role was direct, or from one of his underlings. Bottom line, the WH, it's staff, and at this rate congress all need to be behind bars.

III. Gosnell Life in Prison

I am glad that the jury found him guilty. As Christians in particular as Catholics we're bound to pray for his conversion, and while the death penalty is warranted for this situation in my humble opinion...Perhaps upon reflection, he will realize the error of his ways. No soul is too darken to have an opportunity for conversion....Let's put it into practice.

IV. A few necessary rants:

a. I am under no obligation to reveal ANYTHING that goes on in my life. If I choose to reveal something, it's because I want you to know it, if I do not, it's because I don't, it's really not complicated. But when I request for prayers for a situation, I mean it, even if I don't go into detail about the situation. There are some situations which I'd rather discuss privately, but have the intention to pray for it public.

b. Rules for me "liking" a page are as follows:
i. it was NOT suggested by facebook.
ii. it was NOT mentioned to me by anyone else, and done because I saw the page on my own.
iii. must be something that I actually enjoy, or a place that I like being at.
iv. last, and most importantly, it must be something where I do not have to "like" it to get information about it (or log into facebook)...you know those things where "like" if one wishes to read more.

c. (not really a rant)...If I decide to pursue even more crazed education...

It will be here: or here

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day...this is the icon I was supposed to share with mother's so I'm sharing with all of you mothers. May God bless you :)

Thought of the day

Thought of the day

I love my students, former and past, no matter how much hell some of them put me through, I love them. I would not trade the chance to teach for anything in the world. (Okay, maybe one thing)

Thought of the day

Never give up, never let go, seek til you succeed.

Teacher Appreciation Week...some stories

This week happens to be teacher appreciation week...I keep a lot of the reasons why I chose to go into teaching a top secret...but I will share some stories that are worth re-telling for some thoughts on the subject.

a. Humility

Anyone who knows me in real life knows I make no secret of my favorite teacher that I've had being Mrs. Makárova who was my HS math teacher (and for all intensive purposes, Physics, and Russian teacher as well)...and the amount of stories I could tell you about her influence on me would probably take up an entire new blog system...but I'll spare you that, and tell you a few stories...

Way back in HS during my ridiculously painful senior year, I was in Pre-Calculus class where the class as a whole was struggling. I remember finishing Chapter 3 in our book at the time. I had her the previous year for Geometry, so her and I were very familiar with each other...(Enough to get students at the school thinking things they shouldn't). I spoke to her after class had finished, and I told her quite openly that the class would be better if you returned to teaching how she normally taught. I think she was trying a new method from a different teacher, and I thought it wasn't working because of the class results. We had a good discussion on why these things weren't working, and my concluding words were "Return to being you, and things will get better." After said conversation, class began the next Monday, and she returned to her old teaching methods, grades proceeded to improve and get better :). The fact that I could be open with my teacher was something I always appreciated, and most certainly, I wouldn't forget that my feedback was appreciated :D...(Well, it wasn't feedback as it was, me giving a gentle reminder...yes, at 17 years of age, I had the system figured out :p, I was forced to grow up quickly)....

Another story from later on in that same year Mrs. M was doing a problem in front of the class, that she got wrong, she was embarrassed, and she was working on the problem after school, and I stopped by and we discussed the problem she did on the board, both of us working together realized she used the wrong equation....she of course felt embarrassed by realizing the simple mistake. I told her not to worry, that we're not perfect,  if I remember, I received EC for helping on the problem. It's not the fact that I got EC for helping that I tell this...but because of the fact that it's important for people to recognize that they are not perfect. I LOVED when teachers were human with me and told things as they were...even better when I could be a human with them.

b. Corrections

A teacher is someone who really wants you to truly understand why you're doing what you're doing as well as someone who will point out when you mess up. There are many practices that I used to do that I no longer do because of such a positive influence. One of them closing off your square roots, looks neater and cleaner than not closing them....(i'll put sample of my handwriting up to show you comparison later)

...Or the unforgettable rant on Newton's 2nd Law she yelled at me for an entire lunch period for :p...And to this day, anytime I have questions, or anytime I just feel like calling, she always takes my call and is excited to hear from me....

I don't think thank you can be said enough for everything that Mrs. M has done for me....so I say thanks again....

Thought of the day

The Church in the West and the Church in the East need to re-unite...NOW!

Thoughts of the day

a. One can't be obliged to accept something one has no obligation to accept. This coming out of the closet if anything makes matters worse for said people because now their actions are subject to the court of public opinion, which is often far crueler than the court of private opinions. What one does in their private lives is not anyone else's business, but once one puts their thoughts or actions out in the public, one should not be surprised if there is a backlash, or people have an attitude towards the particular thing. It's not that complicated, if you don't want an opinion said about your private life, keep it private.

b. Society can't exist without judgement. WIthout the ability to judge, free will would not exist. It is therefore, "judge not lest ye be judged" isn't meant to be taken literally. It is meant that we are not to place ourselves in the position of God and condemn people to heaven and hell. Peoples' actions however that are in the public eye, can be given an opinion as they have placed themselves in the court of public opinion