More from St. Christina the Astonishing...

By Cynthia Large

.

This is Cynthia's latest work depicting St. Christina the Astonishing, entitled "A Pelican In the Wilderness" - a verse taken from Psalm 102 (101 depending on the translation). Cynthia's work is masterful, I hope you enjoy it. Please visit her website for a description of the painting as well as her narrative on the saint. Visit Cynthia Large

You mean we didn't win?

White House admits fault on 'Mission Accomplished' banner!

.

"Major combat operations in Iraq have ended," Bush said at the time. "The battle of Iraq is one victory in a war on terror that began on Sept. 11, 2001, and still goes on." The "Mission Accomplished" banner was prominently displayed above him—a move the White House came to regret as the display was mocked and became a source of controversy. - Story

.

You mean to tell me that wasn't true? Does that mean we are still fighting in Iraq then? Nice time to tell us. All I can say is that Bush is definitely not getting my vote this fall.

Switzerland grants unprecedented “rights” to plants and animals - "Isn't that funny?"

"Save the liturgy, save the planet.".

.

Yeah... That one doesn't work for me on this story. Anyway - read this...

.

"Geneva, Apr 30, 2008 / 04:01 pm (CNA).- Switzerland has now become a country in which the unborn are less important than plants and animals. The country’s Federal Ethics Committee is encouraging the defense of the “dignity” of plants, and Parliament has approved a law granting animals unprecedented rights.

.

According to a report on LifeSiteNews.com, the Swiss Parliament passed a law last week requiring prospective dog owners to complete a course in canine treatment that will include both theoretical and practical elements. Due to concern over recent studies suggesting the pain experienced by fish, anglers are now subjected to a preparatory course on humane fishing. The new laws will also dictate how farmers treat their livestock and even regulates the proper treatment of rhinoceroses." - Story

.

My thoughts:

.

I'm all for the humane treatment of, and the prevention of cruelty to animals, but things get out of hand when human life is no longer respected or given pride of place. If human life is considered secondary or of equal importance to plant and animal life, then a science and technology that is powerful enough to dictate legislation, seems to be rapidly propelling us toward that brave new world Aldous Huxley warned about in his novel.

.

That said, the so-called "rights" of plants may have more to do with genetic manipulation and "Frankenfoods" - that can affect fertilization and cross pollination processes; while the reasonable rights of various species, such as rhinoceroses, may have more to do to do with protection from poachers who contribute to their extinction. Not all of these measures originate in so called fringe theories, anthropomorphic emotionalism, or even "new age" principles - although it is obvious an international movement to control society through arbitrary and immoral legislation is currently underway. Regardless, the implication that an unborn child has less rights than animal and plant life is a great evil and seems to me to be the final warning that civilization is in decline.

.

Disclaimer: Yes, I know, the popular slogan is "Save the liturgy, save the world" - I meant to use "planet". No, I don't think fishing is cruelty to fish - well maybe the huge ocean nets that disturb and disrupt aquatic life... And no - I am not against hunting, eating meat or fish, and so on. Yes, for the record, I am against zoos that confine animals, and circuses that exploit animals for entertainment, as well as the inhumane farming of animals - I hate that stuff.

.

[I know, I know - I sound like a nut. I keep waiting for something big to happen and it never does. LOL!]

ROFL!

Adolescent pregnancies...

Children having children...
.
It has been an issue of late in our country - most notably in Texas. Did you realize the U. S. rates highest in the world for teen pregnancy amongst developed countries?
.
The following are some of the stark facts about a problem that has become to many Americans, a symbol of a national moral malaise. (Not so much the sexual activity - rather the unwanted pregnancy. Perhaps we should send in the Texas Rangers? Not likely.)

• Every year almost one million teenage girls become pregnant.


• More than half of them are 17 years old or younger when they have their first pregnancy. Approximately one-third of the girls who get pregnant carry their pregnancies to term and keep their babies.


• About another third have abortions, and the other third has spontaneous miscarriages.


• Only about five percent of pregnant girls put their babies up for adoption.


• Approximately 40 percent of young women become pregnant before they reach 20 years old. The United States of America has double the adolescent pregnancy and birth rates of any other industrialized country.


• The poorer the young woman, the more likely she will become a mother.


• Less than one-third of teens who have babies before the age of 18 finish high school.


• Almost half of all teen mothers end up on welfare.


• Less than 25 percent of births to teens occur within wedlock. - Source

.

That must mean the girls who happen to be sexually active but are not "punished with a child" - as Obama stated - are either using some sort of contraception or engaging in masturbation, oral or anal sex. I'm sure that doesn't count however.

Hannah Montanna and slut fashion.

Big News!

.

Hannah Montana (Miley Cyrus) apologized to her public because of racy photos in Vanity Fair. As if her cut-to-the-pubic-hair jeans, bare midriffs and tight tops have been more modest? Has Miley been such a model of decency for pre-tweens who emulate her style? The American cultural sexual exploitation of minors has been going on for decades; think Britney Spears and the way her handlers, supported by her mother, sexualized her image. Long before her was Brooke Shields. There is always an excuse, or someone to blame, as the innocent "victim" and her family climb the ladder to super-stardom.

.

Perhaps the police should raid the Cyrus' household and take the 15 year old Miley away and place her in foster care, and do the same with parents who permit their daughters to dress like sluts. It worked so well with the Fundamentalist Mormons in Texas.

.

[Photo: The 15 year old singer/actress at the 2008 CMT Awards in Nashville. Notice how her dress is cut.]

Things change.

You shall not take hallucinogenics.

I read a story today that the Netherlands may be trying to change their "anything goes" image. Not long ago they tightened the regulations for brothels and prostitution, as well as drug use. Of course they are still far more liberal than any other country in the world, but now they are going after "magic mushrooms" too... and some people fear cannabis will be next. (I knew I waited too long to visit Amsterdam.) Story here.

.

This supports my "people change" theory. It is a highly scientific thesis developed at the graduate School of Hard Knocks, associated with Whatsamatu U in northern Minnesota. "People Change - Things Change" is the title of my dissertation, which will be coming out in book form one of these days.

.

People change - I did.

.

For instance, look at me - which happens to be the title of the first chapter - I've changed. In the beginning, I thought President Bush was a hero going to war with Iraq, after awhile I thought he was an idiot, then I thought he was a monster, and now I love him and think he did the best he could do and we are stuck there. (And I get so scared when I think of the people hoping to replace him.)

.

Another example of how I've changed is I once was intrigued with apparitions and private revelations, especially Garabandahl and Medjugorje - now I have pretty much lost all interest in those things.

.

I also once smoked - and now I don't - that is a big change. Truly, there are very many things I once cared about that I no longer do. There are many little anecdotes in the book that I will not recount here, but let this be a warning - people and things do change - even though they stay the same. You see, I'm the same person - but my ideas and attitudes can change. Just like the laws in the Netherlands or in this country can change.

.

The children are our future... take them away.

.

For instance, someday in the United States, abortion will no longer be legal. Or someday in the Netherlands, sex with consenting minors will be against the law and gay marriage will no longer be recognized either. As repressive as it may sound, one day they may even ban public sex in parks. In fact I'm convinced of it - many rights people enjoy today will be taken back, taken away one day.

.

It could happen. Someday the State could enter a small community and take all of the children away and put them in foster homes or a sort of orphanage in what is really a concentration camp. While the parents would be arrested and sent to prison because they were out of fashion and did not provide video games and laptops, and other modern conveniences for their children.

Update on Mary Jo Copeland

Thanks everyone for your prayers and efforts!

.

Mary Jo Copeland met with the city of Minneapolis Regulatory Committee yesterday and emerged victorious... kinda/sorta. Mary Jo said the results were favorable towards Caring and Sharing Hands, and that a city regulator will visit the operation next week to help formulate a security plan. Mary Jo keeps her license and may continue to serve food - which happened to be the first point of contention with the city - so that is a relief.

.

The only thing I found strange in the comments after the meeting took place is that the police department said they will be "relentless" in policing Caring and Sharing Hands from now on. (That can be taken several ways - yet, isn't that enough security then?) I find the police response odd since the drug busts they performed last year were undercover operations... so does that mean they were set ups? No, of course not... Well, I don't think so.

Poor Amy Winehouse

Arrested for assault. The whole story here.
.
I'm not passing any judgement, nor casting any slurs... You know 'there for but the grace of God'... That said...
.
In the old days, people like Amy would have been called "public sinners" and roundly condemned. Today they are celebrities and fodder for the paparazzi, and people just love to watch a train wreck. I think the fascination is due in part is to the base human desire to watch and see how far melt-down can go before implosion. I also think God permits it to show how miserable human nature truly is - how decadent we can become - and exactly how illusory and fleeting fame is...
.
She's a person and I happen to like her - and I pray for her. (I'm fairly certain she continues to believe everything is still just a joke. And I'm afraid she may kill herself laughing.)

National Day of Silence

Keep your mouth shut until tomorrow.

.

April 25 is observed as a National Day of Silence in public high schools throughout the country. Actually it is the first I have ever heard about it. It's a gay thing. I think people who think that gay sex is a dirty, filthy habit, are not supposed to say that kind of stuff today.

.

I found some information on the national observance here.

Thursday storybook time.

It's spring!

.

Once upon a time, I had a friend who married a woman he thought was the most beautiful in the world, and in fact she was very pretty, in a Delta Burke/Imelda Marcos sort of way. They had two children and lived in a lovely over-sized house in the best suburb; the windows draped with layer upon layer of ruffled sheered curtains, in the softest shade of pink you have ever seen. They did everything with flair and style, and much better than their neighbors ever could. (The Mrs. had been a hair stylist before they married, which may explain why her hair was nearly as big as the house.)

.

One spring day, I called my friend just to see how he was doing and the answering machine went on. Symphonic music was playing softly in the background, and his wife's melodic voice began her sing-song, operatic message. It was her springtime poem, recited in the style of the good witch Glinda from the Wizard of Oz. It began "It's spring! Ohhhhhhhh! It's spring! Ahhhhhhhh! The girls are scampering to and fro in the ya----"

.

Clunk! I hung up!

.

The End.

NEWMAN TO BE BEATIFIED!!!

WOW!
.

This is such wonderful news! Read the entire story here.

Mary Jo Copeland

The poor need Caring and Sharing Hands!

.

I'm so happy some other good Catholic bloggers came to Mary Jo's defense and posted about the dilemma her homeless shelter faces - the city of Minneapolis trying to shut her down that is. Ray, Monica, Cathy, and Adoro all posted about the situation far better than I could. Now if only others from Minnesota, even those who live on farms as far away as the Wausau/Green Bay area of Wisconsin; if only they would show some concern - beyond what they usually say - step out of their paradigm for a moment and demonstrate they actually do have a social conscience, and at least post something on their blog, I'd be happier. That said, they should at least call the city of Minneapolis in support of Mary Jo - their pedestal isn't that high off the ground, is it?

.

Anyway...
.

I wish we could get some "big" names to come out for Caring and Sharing Hands too. Mega stars like Prince - hey Roger, why don't you help Mary Jo? Or former Twins players - say Kent Herbeck, where are you? Josh Hartnet? Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis - can you guys help out? Or how about the Coen brothers? Does anyone out there know them? Give them a call and tell them to help out a real person in need. How about Lori and Julia? They could do something... Julia is Catholic! Everyone - call the city, post a protest, or get your butts down to the City Council meeting on April 25. (If anyone knows these famous people or how to get them involved - please contact them ASAP.)
.
WDTPRS? (What does the petition really say?)
.
PLEASE! If you haven't done so - come to the aid of Caring and Sharing hands and make your objections known to the City of Minneapolis. Please call today or before April 25 Mayor R.T. Rybak's policy aide: Erica Prosser 612-673-2133 or erica.prosser@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

The Pope in NYC

What a farce - he snubbed Bayside!
.
.
[Photo: I believe that is Joan Lewis of EWTN in the blue beret, seated next to Veronica.]

My six word memoir meme.

Angela tagged me for this:

.

Write a memoir of your life in just six words. Post it on the blog. Tag 5 others.

.

So - right off the top of my head I thought of this from "Chic":

.

"Dance, dance, dance... keep on dancing."

.

Then I thought of this from the "Four Tops":

.

"What becomes of the broken hearted?"

.

While I considered this from Tina Turner:

.

"Rollin', rollin', rollin' on the river!"

.

Although something from Abbey Road would certainly be appropriate:

.

"(She) came in through the bathroom window."

.

But then I just went with Cece Peniston:

.

"I don't know what to do."

.

Although, thinking about it more seriously, I decided on this:

.

"Let the children come to me." - Matt. 20:14

.

I tag the following people I would most like to hang out with for an evening:

.

Tina Fey, Charo, Drew Carey, Karen Walker, and Jack Mcfarland. However - if they can't do it, I tag everyone from The Office.

It's all their fault.

The poor are responsible for their own plight.
.

In biblical times, the plight of the poor, the homeless, the beggars of the day, was considered to be a punishment for sin - hence the popular mindset held that "it was their own fault". The righteous could easily dismiss them, and walk on by because they were unclean, like Samaritans and lepers, they were sinners. "They brought it upon themselves."

.

We do the same thing today, only we dismiss the poor as drug addicts, alcoholics, hookers, mentallly ill, and so on - and we are certain we "know" most of them are there on the street through their own fault - or even because "they want to be". Maybe - maybe not. Whatever the case, does that justify the fact that we so easily ignore them and their plight?

.

I know people who treat sick pets with more concern than Christians do a homeless stranger on a street corner. Indeed, how often I've heard of Catholic people who have solicited funds from others to care for their pets, or make house payments, or to help pay for personal tuition expenses, or even to ask people for money to go on a pilgrimage to Rome or to pay off student loans to enter a monastery. I expect we imagine ourselves to be good - and therefore deserving, even worthy - hence we permit ourselves to ask people we do not even know for money to support our "good" causes. Yet it is such a different story when it comes to helping the homeless, the down and out.

.

The mayor's assistant wrote me the following in an email:

.

"Those who are served by Sharing and Caring Hands are unique in that many users may be homeless and vulnerable because of these criminal behaviors such as drug abuse. The City can not look the other away, we have a responsibility to ensure the safety of everyone at Sharing and Caring Hands is considered, from the chronic crack cocaine user to the young single mother and her new born child." -Jeremy Hanson, Office of Mayor R.T. Rybak

.

Can't you just feel the love? The concern to protect the poor, young single mother and her newborn child? Protecting her from those awful criminals? If the poor mother lives anyplace - she probably lives on the north or south side, in a neighborhood bordering downtown Minneapolis. These neighborhoods are hot beds of crime, drug trafficking and murder. That poor mother is much safer at Caring and Sharing Hands. Just last night, I watched a news story about a south Minneapolis family who narrowly escaped gun shots that came in through their bedroom window, piercing the opposite wall. The family wants to move to a better neighborhood but cannot afford it.

.

I think the city of Minneapolis has a responsibility to ensure the safety of everyone in the city - leave Caring and Sharing Hands alone - the center was doing just fine until construction on the stadium began last year.

.

PLEASE! If you haven't done so - come to the aid of Caring and Sharing hands and make your objections known to the City of Minneapolis. Please call today or before April 25 Mayor R.T. Rybak's policy aide: Erica Prosser 612-673-2133 or erica.prosser@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Caring and Sharing Hands and the City of Minneapolis

A Case of Harassment By the City of Minneapolis...
.
I just got off the phone with Dick Copeland, after receiving an email response from the Mayor's office explaining the City's position regarding the security issues associated with Caring and Sharing Hands. I wanted to hear the other side of the story directly from the Copelands. The City claims the help center is not cooperating - which I know to be untrue - but I needed to have that confirmed for me by either Mary Jo or her husband Dick.
.
It is rather obvious the City's motivation to shut down Mary Jo Copeland's emergency center for the homeless poor is because the property would be more valuable for commercial development servicing the new Twins ballpark - being constructed across the street. Although the city denies it and insists it is instead trying to work with the Copeland's to develop a security plan which would eradicate drug trafficking in the area.
.
I asked Dick if they (Caring and Sharing) are refusing to work with the City - he said absolutely not - that in fact they do have security people on hand. Dick explained that Mary Jo has been doing this work for 20 years and only last year the police started coming around.
.
I remember one of the first incidents. The police showed up at noon. It was during the dinner hour when they made the well publicized sting - and if I remember correctly, media just happened to come along. Supposedly a drug deal was going down right on camera - next to a security guard while Mary Jo was serving food. This pretty much coincided with the final go ahead for construction of the new ball park to take place - but I never connected the dots at that time.
.
Mr. Copeland explained to me that for years they asked help from the city and police to help them move along the trouble makers amongst the street people who slept on the grassy street intersections and areas surrounding the center, but the police told the Copeland's it wasn't their problem. Then last summer the arrests happened, although there have been no arrests recently, at least in the past 4 months.
.
I asked what kind of security system the City is asking of them - Dick said they want the center to check ID's of everyone who enters the facility. Wait a minute. Isn't that a violation of civil rights? Isn't this the USA? And furthermore - maybe the poor do not always have identification - and yes, they should - but maybe they don't. Can you see where this is going? The next step for the City is probably going to be calling in immigration officials to help in shutting down the facility. Do you see how government operates when revenue is involved?
.
Anyway - the City "miss-speaks" - they want Mary Jo out. From what I understand they have already negotiated with the Salvation Army to limit their outreach to the poor - no more over night accommodations from what I've been told. (The Salvation Army is on the opposite side of the new stadium.)

Mayor's Office response to my earlier post:
.
Jeremy Hanson, Office of Mayor R.T. Rybak Says: after publication. e-->April 17th, 2008 at 2:43 pm e
.
Mayor Rybak very much values and appreciates the important work of Sharing and Caring Hands – the services they provide to Minneapolis and those in need are admirable and the last thing we want is to stand in the way of that service. That being said, when you operate a business in the City of Minneapolis, no matter what type of business, you must comply with City ordinances that relate to the management of that business, including a plan to ensure adequate security to prevent criminal activity. And the City has an obligation to ensure that licensed businesses are in compliance with these ordinances. There are a number of other facilities that serve the homeless and those with great housing needs in this area of Minneapolis. None of them have these safety issues because we are in partnership with them, and we simply want the same with Sharing and Caring Hands. We don’t want to relocate them. We want to work with them to address these issues so that the people who go there for care and support can be safe. We have been trying to work with them to protect the very needy people who come there, but we need Mary Jo’s partnership to do that. We have clear standards for public safety in Minneapolis that we expect everyone – even Sharing and Caring Hands – to meet.
.
Those who are served by Sharing and Caring Hands are unique in that many users may be homeless and vulnerable because of these criminal behaviors such as drug abuse. The City can not look the other away, we have a responsibility to ensure the safety of everyone at Sharing and Caring Hands is considered, from the chronic crack cocaine user to the young single mother and her new born child.
.
The security issues surrounding Mary’s place have a long history as do the City’s attempts to work in partnership with Mary Jo to address these issues. Sharing and Caring Hands has had little progress in addressing these concerns and so, once again, we have asked Mary Jo to come to the table so we can help her put together a comprehensive and achievable security plan. We are extremely hopeful that Mary Jo, with the needs of those she serves in mind, will work cooperatively with us so that we have a result that will make us all happy, the license renewal of Sharing and Caring Hands and safe place of refuge for those in need.
.
Minneapolis has underway one of the most comprehensive and aggressive efforts to end homelessness in the nation, and ending homelessness will continue to be a priority for the Mayor and the city. This is why we have helped place affordable housing in downtown as well as throughout the city and will continue our efforts to end homelessness by helping people get into safe, affordable and stable housing. This year we are spending $10 million on an Affordable Housing Trust Fund. We are funding street outreach workers to help connect homeless residents to permanent services and move them into a more stable life. We are about to have our next Project Homeless Connect, in which we invite the homeless people in the community to the Convention Center to connect them to services. This is part of Heading Home Hennepin, a city and county partnership to solve long term homelessness. The city has worked very hard to address the needs of the homeless, and those who have housing challenges, and we will continue to do so – hopefully with the partnership of Sharing and Caring Hands. - End of Mayor's Office statement.
.
There is a City Council meeting on April 25th and we need thousands of people to call the Mayor’s office and tell him you support Mary Jo’s work and you oppose any move to remove Mary Jo’s restaurant license. Please call today or before April 25th. The license thing is only the first step in closing down the entire facility.
.
PLEASE! If you haven't done so - come to the aid of Caring and Sharing hands and make your objections known to the City of Minneapolis. Please call today or before April 25 Mayor R.T. Rybak's policy aide: Erica Prosser 612-673-2133 or erica.prosser@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Links:
Corruption and the City of Minneapolis

Sharing and Caring Hands Under Attack In Minneapolis

Urgent!

.

Sharing & Caring Hands needs your support. The City of Minneapolis has threatened to remove Mary Jo Copeland's restaurant license and in turn her ability to serve meals to thousands of the poor and hungry of Minneapolis.

.

This move has been raised because of alleged security concerns, and comes on the heels of the new ballpark stadium being built across the street from the facility. Those who would suffer from this are the poor, the disabled, the elderly, families with children, and people suffering from mental illness who come for a warm meal.

.

There is a City meeting on April 25th and we need thousands of people of faith to call the Mayor's office and tell him you support Mary Jo's work and you oppose any move to remove Mary Jo's restaurant license.

.

Please call today or before April 25 Mayor R.T. Rybak's policy aide: Erica Prosser 612-673-2133 or erica.prosser@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

.

PROTEST MARCH Thursday April 17, 1PM The community is organizing a march to protest this threat. It is set for Thursday, April 17 at 1 pm in the Parking lot of Sharing and Caring Hands. Parking will fill quickly there so attendees are encouraged to park at the Target Center just 5 minutes away. Please call 612-338-4640 9-5 PM for more details or questions."

http://www.sharingandcaringhands.org/"

.

If you cannot make the event on April 17 - call the Mayor's office and let him know you object to the harassment the City of Minneapolis is directing against Mary Jo Copeland and Sharing and Caring Hands. And PRAY!

Proud to be an American.

He likes us! He really, really likes us!

.

I watched the welcome for the Holy Father on the White House lawn by the President and the Nation. What a wonderful tribute.

.

Happy Birthday Holy Father!

Cathy is so excited that the Pope will be here today!