My work, school and life schedule is keeping me a lot busier than I thought I'd be, so I apologize for the short intermittent posting. And the comments! I'll work on it when I get the chance.

I'm usually a politics nerd. But this year, I'm having a hard time getting really excited about this Presidential race. Barring some unforseen disaster, I'm voting McCain/Palin this year-- and until a few weeks ago, considered abdicating my vote altogether. I can't explain it.

But the political season has been interesting from a Catholic perspective-- some of the most prominent Catholic Democrats are making indefensible statements about the Church and Abortion. Are you watching Madam Speaker Pelosi and Vice Presidential Hopeful Biden crowing about when life begins-- as if the matter is up to some kind of theological debate!

(One day I will tell my story of why I am pro-life. I don't have the energy to do so right now, but I will hammer it out one day. I am not pro-life just because I am Catholic, though it has certainly colored my view on the subject)

In the meantime, you should be following Sen. Biden and Rep. Pelosi step on themselves trying to explain why they see no conflict between declaring themselves Catholics and ignoring one of the Church's most important teachings on human souls. I suggest American Papist as THE BEST blog covering the issue in the blogosphere.

I'll resume regular blogging sooner or later. Outside life is demanding most of my attention lately.

Today is the Primary Election Day in Kansas. The building where I work is a polling location so it was hard to find a place to park this morning.

The price we pay for democracy!

Kindly, take a moment to pray for voters and candidates; for wisdom and courage.

AN ELECTION PRAYER TO MARY

O Most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy, at this most critical time, we entrust the United States of America to your loving care.

Most Holy Mother, we beg you to reclaim this land for the glory of your Son. Overwhelmed with the burden of the sins of our nation, we cry to you from the depths of our hearts and seek refuge in your motherly protection.

Look down with mercy upon us and touch the hearts of our people. Open our minds to the great worth of human life and to the responsibilities that accompany human freedom.

Free us from the falsehoods that lead to the evil of abortion and threaten the sanctity of family life. Grant our country the wisdom to proclaim that God's law is the foundation on which this nation was founded, and that He alone is the True Source of our cherished rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

O Merciful Mother, give us the courage to reject the culture of death and the strength to build a new Culture of Life.

From EWTN. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners.

It took me a long time to appreciate how important receiving Communion on the tongue was for Catholics. I always figured it was something that only the overly pious people did and that rumors of people snatching the Eucharist were only objects of overblown rumors.

But people who discreetly steal hosts for nefarious purposes are not just characters in fiction.

From Creative Minority Report:

Webster Cook is a student at the University of Central Florida. He is also a top notch jerk.

Last week Cook attended a campus mass. At that mass, he attempted skulk back to his pew with a consecrated host. The extraordinary minister saw what he was doing and blocked his path until he put into his mouth. However, when he got back to his pew he removed the host. A lady from the Church saw what he done and attempted to get the host back from him by trying to pry his hand open. Cook now claims he is a victim.

As always, go read the whole thing.

Two notes:

(1) This could have been easily prevented if the Blessed Sacrament was given properly on the tongue. Such a practice would make abuses like this pretty hard to accomplish.

(2) It's further evidence how a seperation of Church and State benefits not only the State, but also the Church. It sounds like Mr. Cook was planning on making a political point, not a religious one when he says:

"The church feels that I'm the problem here," Cook said. "The problem is actually that this is a publicly-funded religious institution. Through student government here, we fund them through an activity and service, so they're receiving student money."

Some people insist that religion should stay out of government. I'm inclined to agree as long as the reverse it also true.

UPDATE:
I STRONGLY URGE you to send an email to the UCF President and Director of OSRR in protest. This is the email I just sent to:

jhitt@mail.ucf.edu (president) and pmackown@mail.ucf.edu (OSRR).

Dear Dr. Hitt,

I am writing you to express my sincere dismay with a student at the University of Central Florida. I'm sure you've already received a fair amount of email on the subject of Webster Cook. Futher, I'm sure that you understand that this is a serious offence that must be addressed by the University in light of the "Golden Rule" of conduct at UCF. Specifically: Rules of Conduct 2.F.3.a Disruptive Conduct; "An act that impairs, interferes with, or obstructs the orderly conduct, processes, and functions of the University or any part thereof." Furthermore, his actions are a direct slap to the UFC creed tenets of Integrity, Community and Excellence--a creed that, no doubt, the University of Central Florida takes quite seriously.

Mr. Cook is no doubt a bright young man. He serves on Student Government and even started a student run newspaper. But his little stunt is a serious offence against his fellow students and other members of the UCF community and must be addressed by the university in an expeditious manner. It is nothing short of religious harassment, and no public academic institution should stand for such conduct.

Please find this email CC'd to Ms. Patricia MacKown, Director of the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities, as per the instructions of the Office of Student Conduct rules section 2; "Alleged violations of the UCF Rules of Conduct shall be reported in writing to the Director of the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities (OSRR) or designee. The written complaint of violation of the UCF Rules of Conduct shall be made no later than six months following discovery of the alleged violation."

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

UPDATE 2:
I hear that Dr. Hill is on vacation. Nonetheless, he is responding to his emails quite quickly. His blackberry must be getting a workout! Here is his extremely prompt reply:

Thank you for your note Mr. Walberg. I have been told that Mr. Cook returned the consecrated Eucharist yesterday. The university takes this matter very seriously, and it is in the hands of our student judicial system. John C. Hitt President, UCF

I hope that news is true.

If so, it's time to start praying for Webster Cook's repentance and forgiveness.

Yesterday when I was listing to NPR (I know, I know), I heard a group of people explain their interest or disinterest in this year's presidential candidates.

Their designated Republican voter was an older guy who sounded like he suffered from a severe case of redneckery--so pretty typical NPR stuff.

He explained that he couldn't vote for (paraphrasing) "Osama, er Obama. It's just one letter, you know. And his middle name is Hussein". Hard hitting stuff, NPR. You're doing a bang-up job.

And of course, you might have seen the emails with the picture (right) attached. You might have heard Rush Hudson Limbaugh pronounce Barack's middle name over and over as if it mattered. Maybe you've done the same.

Before we get any further: let's get this straight, America.

Senator Obama is NOT a Muslim.

Weren't you paying attention during that episode where the Senator had been going to that batshit church with the batshit pastor on Chicago's South Side? HELLOOOO! Jeremiah Wright is not Muslim, he's the pastor of the Trinity United Church of Christ. Mr. Obama went to this church for TWENTY YEARS.

Indeed, the senator's father was Muslim. And a young Barry Obama was Muslim as a boy before eventually leaving Islam to become a Christian, inspired by his mother. But the Senator is no longer a Muslim, he is not a "secret" Muslim (Muslims don't pretend to be Christian EVER, for ANY reason). This is not a point of debate. It is not a discussion.

Listen, there's plenty of reasons to not vote for Obama. Gentle reader, I'm probably with you on most of them. But Islamitude is not a good reason. Get a new argument. Try this one: as a Muslim apostate, he might be more offensive, more hated, more detestable to the Muslim world than any gun-toting Christian might ever be. There. Now you might have a reasonable argument. At least it begins with a fact rather than a fictition.

I doubt the guy from NPR reads this blog. If someone knows the guy, please forward to him this piece of information. And if you're out there saying Barack Obama's middle name as if it mattered, please re-read this post from the point where I write: Senator Obama is NOT a Muslim.

It occurred to me the other day: given Mr. Obama's experience with Islam and the batshit church, is there any doubt as to why he is bitter about religion? The poor guy. He's been given barrelfuls of vinegar and not a spoonful of honey. It'd make me bitter, too.

As a final note, the Senator decided earlier this year that it wasn't a good idea to hang around Rev. Wright anymore. Agreed, Senator. So he's church shopping these days. Has anyone invited him to St. John Cantius in Chicago? When I'm in Chicago next, Senator, you can come with me. I'll save you a spot in the pew. After Mass, we'll have some tea and you can introduce me to your wife and punishments. Sounds nice, huh?

In today's Kansas City Star:

Since the Supreme Pontiff arrived in America, the three branches of US Government welcomed His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI in their own unique ways.

The President greeted the pope at Andrews Air Force Base, then threw a welcome ceremony with 13,500 people, the Marine Corps band and a 21-gun salute.

The United States Congress passed a resolution welcoming the pope, even though Senator Barbara Boxer noted she does not value each and every human life.

For their part, the Supreme Court voted 7-2 to kill people. There are 5 members of the Court who are Catholic: Roberts, Kennedy, Scalia, Thomas and Alito. They were joined by Breyer (Jewish) and Stevens (Protestant), all voting for more death. The two dissenting justices were Ginsburg (Jewish) and Souter (Episcopalian).

Welcome to America, Holy Father. Ora pro nobis.

From Politico.com:

"Look, I got two daughters — 9 years old and 6 years old," he said. "I am going to teach them first about values and morals, but if they make a mistake, I don't want them punished with a baby. I don't want them punished with an STD at age 16, so it doesn't make sense to not give them information."

(emphasis mine)

Usually comments about politically dangerous topics (like Abortion) are handled delicately and cloaked in euphamisms, but here the Senator comes out and says that human beings are some kind of plight inflicted on wrongdoers. Interesting to think what logical path this would take us down.

I went from being disinterested in Barack Obama to distrustful of Barack Obama to disdainful of Barack Obama. What a disgusting comment.

hat tip to The Curt Jester and Creative Minority Report.