Is Life Conceived by Rape Intended by God?

Pro-life Senate candidate Richard Mourdock, has become the latest target for pro-abortion activists, due to his recent statement that life is a gift from God, even if it results from rape - and that such life was "intended by God". Pro-abortion activists along with the major media, have pounced on candidate Mourdock's remarks, painting him as an extremist. Candidate Richard Mourdock is not the first and he won't be the last pro-life candidate to have their comments totally distorted. So let's look at some real facts here.

To begin with - here is candidate Mourdock's full statement: "The only exception I have to having an abortion is in the case of the life of the mother. I struggled with it myself for a long time, but I came to realize life is that gift from God. I think that even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen."

Pro-abortion activists immediately went on the attack, demonizing Mourdock's statement and his pro-life position, as they have done with other pro-life candidates, such as Missouri Senate candidate, Rep Todd Akins' and his remarks on rape. It is for sure, that they have honed in on this issue of "rape" as a tool to confuse voters on the issue of abortion.

Of course, what is at the heart of the issue here is the difference between a spiritual perspective and a non-spiritual perspective.

Our reproductive faculties - along with our free will - are two of the most mysterious of God's gifts with which we have been endowed. Add to this, God's other gift to mankind, which is our capacity to think and reason - which mere brute beasts are not endowed - and we get to the very heart of the matter - that being, the age old struggle to understand and make sense out of suffering, violence, life and death.

So for anyone to say that a child conceived in rape was "intended by God" seems to be saying that God is being complicit in violence and wrong-doing - and that He actually condones such behavior, which even we human beings do not condone. And of course pro-abortion activists are running with this.

So what was pro-life candidate Richard Mourdock really trying to say? Was he saying God intends or condones the act of rape, as pro-abortion activists are accusing?

What did God intend with the mysteries of our reproductive faculties and our free will? God's original design and intent, was for life to come about through the action of a sperm and egg connecting as the result of the sexual expression of love between a man and a woman. This was God's original "intent".

Now whether or not we humans use proper or improper means to cause the meeting of said sperm and egg - God does not change the rules of nature which He set in motion; nor does He interfere with man's free will - even if it means preventing a tragedy. This is for sure a deep mystery to wrap our reasoning minds around, and we will often hear people say, "Why does God permit all the evil in the world?"  

The mystery of our free will results many times, in some people using their free will to overcome and take away the free will of others.  Even still - God does not interfere. This is at the heart of Mourdock's remarks. God never "intended" violence - but merely that we have the capacity to create life with our sexual faculties; and He does not take away those faculties, even if we use them inappropriately - or even brutally.

There is no denying the fact, that a woman who is raped, has had her free will negated by the free will of the rapist. This is totally reprehensible; and neither Mourdock or God intend or condone such behavior as a vehicle to engender new life.  

Nevertheless - life comes about through the natural processes which God set in motion from the very beginning of time.   As the rapist has imposed his free will over the will of the woman - so also is abortion an imposition over the free will of the pre-born child, who now has absolutely no choice in the matter - even though he/she is not responsible for the crime against his/her mother. 

So - is life which comes about as the result of nature's natural response to natural forces - even though those forces may be set in motion by an act of violence, of less value? And is it still not ultimately created (intended) by the Creator Himself?

Children are conceived many times, by means which can be unwise, improper or even brutal. Many a mature married couple may struggle to conceive, while two teenagers engaging in pre-marital sex can easily and thoughtlessly create a new life. Other times new life will even result from an act of violence, such as rape. This certainly highlights the seeming unfairness and senselessness of life, with which our reasoning faculties grapple.  

But, if a flower is lovingly planted and cultivated by a gardener - while another flower results from a violent storm blowing one of the gardener's seeds over the fence - do not each of the flowers possess the same beauty and qualities - and are not those same forces of life imbued in each bud, granted (intended) by the same loving God?

This is what Candidate Mourdock was trying to express - the simple fact that - one way or the other - life itself is a wondrous and miraculous gift from God - whose original "intent" was that we humans should share with Him this sacred privilege - a privilege He did not share with the angels.

The simple fact remains - even though we participate in the life-giving process - either rightly or wrongly - we are NOT the AUTHORS OF LIFE! . This is what Richard Mourdock was simply trying to get across.  We are in God's laboratory.

Gardasil - Deadly Prophylaxis For Behavior Not Even Being Engaged In!

A recent article in a local Daily Herald, reported that a new study on the Gardasil vaccine, given to women and young girls to protect against cervical cancer, does not cause young girls to become promiscuous.  Hmmmm.

The article went on to explain, "Researchers examined up to three years of records on whether girls had sought birth control advice; tests for sexually transmitted diseases or pregnancy; or had become pregnant.  The results showed that, few of the girls who got the shots at age 11 or 12 had done any of those things over the next three years, or even by the time they were 14." The study is using these results to counter parental concerns that, the shots "are a license to  have sex."  Dr. Alderman, an adolescent medicine specialist at the Children's Hospital at Montefiore in New York City, stated: "The study bolsters evidence against that concern."

OK  - While this may be good news that giving Gardasil to young girls does not promote promiscuity - at the same time - it begs the question - why then are we administering a very dangerous prophylaxis to young girls, for behavior, which is now proven they are not even engaging in?  

To date, Gardasil, which was developed to protect against the sexually transmitted Human Papilloma Virus or HPV, (which can lead to cervical cancer)  and which has already been given to millions of women and young girls around the world, has had a total of 9,749 'reported' adverse reactions and 21 'reported' deaths from the controversial vaccine.  How many others have not been reported - since most people don't even know where to go to report Adverse Vaccination Reactions.  You're doctor doesn't do the reporting.

The unknown dangers of a life-threatening adverse reaction to the Gardasil vaccine, far outweigh the known risks of contracting HPV itself.  In fact, a medical study conducted by the University of British Columbia's Neural Dynamics Research Group, confirms the alarming side-effects of the vaccine that was fast-tracked (meaning it was not tested before it was released to the public) and then pushed by government at every level.

That study listed the following side effects of Gardasil: "Death, convulsions, paraesthesia, paralysis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, transverse myelitis, facial palsy, chronic fatigue syndrome, anaphylaxis, autoimmune disorders, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolisms and cervical cancers."

The same study also pointed out, "In the Western World, cervical cancer is a rare disease with mortality rates several times lower than the rate of reported serious adverse reactions (including deaths) from the HPV vaccine. In fact, the overwhelming majority (88%) of cervical cancer deaths occur in Third World countries."

Now comes another report from the British Medical Journal, that Gardasil has the possibility of causing "ovarian failure" in some cases. Their report came on the heels of a specific case from Australia, where a 16 yr. old girl suffered "premature ovarian failure" after receiving the vaccine.

Australian physician Dr. Deirdre Little, who treated the girl, has published a complete account in the British Medical Journal. Dr. Little's report explains, the girl's menstrual cycle, which had been regular up until receiving the Gardasil vaccination in the Fall of 2008, suddenly became irregular by January 2009. Over the next two years, the girl's menses continued to become more and more scant and irregular, until by 2011, she had ceased menstruating altogether. 

Early menopause is highly unusual, and particularly in the case of this 16 yr. old girl - who had been in excellent health with no prior personal or family medical history that could explain the premature menopause.

In my humble opinion, regarding the local Daily Herald article on the study proving HPV shots don't make young girl's promiscuous - this only lends further credence to the arguments against administering an extremely dangerous prophylaxis to adolescent girls for behavior they are not even engaging in! If a study proves adolescent girl's are not sexually active - why are we risking their health and lives, with an untested, virulent vaccine?

Be further advised - the threat looms that this dangerous vaccine will soon be government mandated - especially if ObamaCare is implemented. Among states that have already enacted Gardasil-related measures are:  California, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Virginia, Main and Utah. In all 50 states, tax dollars already help pay for the costly shots ($360) because the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) makes them available through the federal Vaccines for Children program.  

Gardasil is an insidiously virulent vaccine, that has been untested and government pushed - soon to be government mandated - which endangers the lives and health of young girls and women.  Now, this same toxic prophylaxis is being pushed for adolescent boys as well.  Why?   Why use any kind of prophylaxis (much less an insidiously dangerous one) for behavior that is not even being engaged in?  This makes no sense.  What is the agenda here?   

Life At Risk--ObamaCare

Center for Medical Ethics at the Louisiana Right to Life Federation has produced a 60-second video entitled “Life at Risk” that very effectively highlights the denial of medical treatment authorized by ObamaCare. http://youtu.be/rCTN_QqYPU4

Are You Pregnant - Or Are You With Child?

Ok, not to let Planned Parenthood off the hook here, with their deceptive use of words and terminology, but I would like to speak today of yet another odd, perhaps not heretofore considered, contribution to our clouded understanding of reality, due to words - that being today’s language itself.

We live in a modern, cold world, where science and technology have greatly altered our communication and our language - a world where people are computer literate, while they are almost completely illiterate in a classical sense. While computer readiness is part of early childhood curriculums today, philosophy, poetry, music appreciation and all the great writers - most of all – the art of critical thinking, have been largely left out of our children’s education.    

Socrates taught his students on the subject of reality:  “Truth is not subject to the whims and caprices of fickle human opinion,” one of my favorite quotes actually.  But is this true today?  Does our modern language reflect such?

Today’s modern Vulgate seems to be making it more and more difficult for people to discern what is real and what isn’t – what is truth and what isn’t.   With our ever-changing vernacular and lack of critical thinking, the original meaning of Shakespeare’s, “a rose by any other name, “might not be as easily understood by today's vaguery and ambiguity. Texting has turned back the clock on our language to the primitive grunts of Neanderthals. And the coarseness and vulgarity of certain modern entertainment has caused our civilization to regress into a primitive state of brutishness and ignorance.   

When we read the language and expressions of older generations, we many times experience far more poetic and meaningful usage of words, than our present dumbed-down vernacular. I watched an old Civil War documentary, where preserved letters from Civil War soldiers were read out to viewers. I was completely startled by how erudite and profoundly these soldiers expressed themselves to mothers, wives and sweethearts!       

Our scientific and technologically advanced generation has heavily influenced our vocabulary to be sure.  Terms such as interface, dialogue and relative, designed to be such great verbal aids to our communicative relationships, sound idiotic – and have lent nothing to our human intercourse with one another, in my humble opinion.  Indian sign language would be more effective.  And let's not forget psychology and its' role in how we speak and understand ourselves.  Today, you will hear people say “I’m depressed, where previous generations would have simply said, “I’m sad or melancholy.”   So many children today are diagnosed as being hyperactive and a variety of other maladies, when they would previously have been viewed as healthy, active, mischievous little rascals. Instead of being medicated, they would have had their buts paddled or sent to bed with no supper.     

We have seen ourselves as being in an age, where we have a much deeper understanding of the world around us and its’ realities. Yet I believe, in many ways, we are becoming less aware of these things - in spite of the fact that we've walked on the moon. 

Recently watching a movie on Elizabeth I, Queen of England, where Sir Walter Raleigh has a tryst with one of the queen’s ladies – I was struck by a touching scene in which the young lady attempts to make her condition known to her lover Raleigh; whereupon he immediately anticipates her with these lovely words – “You’re with child, aren’t you?”  Those words struck me through!  Not only were they so much lovelier than a modern beau saying to her, “You’re pregnant aren’t you?” – But they said so much more – so much more!

The term pregnant is a cold - scientific word - a term, used perhaps, by a much more scientifically advanced world than the one Sir Walter Raleigh inhabited.  Yet, Sir Walter’s generation’s limited scientific knowledge was nevertheless far surpassed by their generation’s deeper and more profound grasp of reality itself.  The two terms, “pregnant” and “with child” both describe the same reality – or do they?  One speaks of a biological state or condition – while the other speaks so much more profoundly of a change whereby the woman is no longer by herself, but suddenly accompanied by another – her child.  A reality wherein someone else is inhabiting her space.

It is one of the main reasons for post-partum depression ( another modern term), which scientifically speaks of  the simple fact, that the umbilical cord has been cut – and the mother and child will never again be as close as they were for those past 9 months.  For 9 months they both inhabited the same space. For nine months, her child listened to her heartbeat, while she felt her child’s movements stir within her.  I recall an experience with my 1^st child - before any physical indications of being “with child” – I suddenly had the feeling one afternoon, that I was no longer alone in the room.  A few weeks later, after a visit to my doctor, I discovered why – for it seemed I truly was no longer alone – I was “with child”. 

It says in the Bible, regarding the birth of Jesus: “When His mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, and before they came together, she was found to be “with child.” By  the Holy Spirit.” Matt 1:18.    Some recent modern biblical interpretations will use the word pregnant – but once again, I believe this is a mistake.  For the term, “with child” far more adequately describes the reality of the woman's situation.   Perhaps if we use the term, “with child” more readily today, women might more truly understand what is occurring within.  Perhaps, if we use the term, “with child”, they could better comprehend, that “their body”  now carries a little passenger on board.

Pregnant or With Child – which term do  you prefer?  

Our Daughter & The HHS Mandate

I watch her walk across the room, 24 years of age; lovely, sweet and strikingly beautiful to behold. Perhaps because she was named for the Angel Gabrielle, she possesses an almost angelic nature in her tenderness of heart and loving character to all. Bright, energetic and filled with life, with a sometimes mischievous humor, she is not just alive, she is a force of life; and I stare at her in amazement.  Why? And what does her life have to do with the HHS Mandate?

She is our 5^th child - and it is not as if she is any more special than our other 4 children, who are each in their own way, unique, amazing creations from the hand of God; whom I love more than words can say. Yet this child, who came to my husband and I, 10 years after our 4^th child was born, is a sign to me more than any of our other children - simply because – if not for the teachings of the Catholic Church, she would have never been! 

When I was pregnant with my 4^th child, I was advised to see a different OB/GYN by someone very close to me, because, she told me - he was a “good Catholic doctor”. My own OB/GYN was a Jewish Doctor, with whom I had been very satisfied and comfortable; as my own grandmother had always told me, “Jewish doctors are the best”. Yet upon this woman’s persuasion, I figured I’d try her doctor. Each of my previous pregnancies, had come in rapid succession since the age of 25; so that now I was expecting my 4^th baby at 30 years of age.  To my surprise & shock, my new “good Catholic OB/GYN”, immediately began pressuring me to have a tubal ligation after this 4^th birth.  He did not simply ask if I wanted to have this procedure done, but repeatedly ‘insisted’ - commenting on how I was so young and pretty –  that having so many babies would burn me out and destroy my looks … yada, yada, yada.  I went back to my Jewish doctor and gave birth to my 4^th child, with no pressure to tie my tubes.   

After the birth of our 4^th child, though my husband and I remained faithful to Catholic teaching on contraception - for some unknown reason I did not get pregnant again for 10 years. During those 10 years, my husband and I began to experience marital difficulties, which many couples do, and so we sought the advice of a Catholic priest/counselor;  who - lo and behold - also began pressuring me to contracept.  The reasoning he gave was that, “with all the marital difficulties we were undergoing, the worst thing possible would be for me to get pregnant again.”  “What?”   “Even a Catholic priest is advising me to contracept?”  

Now, let me be honest here. Having one child after another in rapid succession was NOT easy! The pregnancies were extremely difficult, and I was getting thinner and thinner and weaker and weaker after each birth – on top of which I had developed a high blood pressure problem, which further complicated things.   Had I been tempted at times to use birth-control pills, so that at the very least, I could extend the time length between my pregnancies, allowing my body to recuperate a bit better?  You bet I was!  I watched my friends limit the number of children they had, so that they could advance monetarily, and get nicer homes and cars etc., while not only was I sick as a dog with my pregnancies, but my husband and I struggled financially, and were still living in a 2 bedroom apartment when we discovered we were expecting our 4^th child!  Now, not only was a “good Catholic” doctor pressuring me to stop having children – but also a Catholic priest? 

So, were there moments when I considered their advice? After all, this was a Catholic doctor and a Catholic priest who were telling me to go against Church teaching and think about my health and my marriage! Yet, for some reason that I’ve never been able to quite put my finger on – except that I loved God and I loved my Catholic Faith, I could never fully act upon these temptations. Once I even dialed my OB/GYN’s office to make an appointment to get on birth-control pills.  But the minute the receptionist answered the phone, I hung up! I couldn’t go through with it.

So, at the age of 39, just when I thought I was too old to get pregnant, and in the middle of the marital counseling sessions with the Catholic priest, who was advising me to contracept, my husband and I got the surprise of our lives, when we found out there was going to be a new arrival!  Needless to say, I stopped the counseling sessions with the priest, and my husband and I focused on the arrival of a new life, instead of our dumb marital difficulties, which suddenly seemed to evaporate. In fact, things turned out quite the opposite of what the priest warned, “that it would be the worst thing for me to have another baby given our marital difficulties.”  And - I might add - in spite of what the Catholic doctor had warned me, my looks had also held up quite well for a 39 year old mother of four.   

So, back I went to my little Jewish OB/GYN, who had always respected my own personal belief system, and would never consider pressuring me to go against it, even though he himself always said he was not religious. He had many Hasidic Jewish patients, who also came to him with very large families, so he told me, he was very familiar with and fully respected, people’s religious convictions, and would never think to pressure me to go against mine. Here was a Jewish doctor respecting my beliefs, while a Catholic doctor and a Catholic priest, were pressuring me to go against them. One never knows where encouragement or support is going to come from in this world; and the fact that my Jewish OB/GYN respected my beliefs, was a great encouragement for me to remain faithful to them.

In fact, when professionally, my Jewish doctor had to offer an amniocentesis to determine Down Syndrome, due to my advanced age – and I responded - “no thanks, I will love my baby no matter what,” I will never forget, with what fatherly affection, he squeezed my foot and said, “good for you.”  A short time after he delivered our beautiful 5^th child, he died of cancer. And even though he had always told me, “he was not a religious man”, I think his respect and support for the religious beliefs of others, was his ticket to heaven – along with the copious prayers I offered for his soul.

So, at 40 years of age, she came into our lives – this lovely little girl - who might have never been, had it not been for the teachings of Holy Mother Church and a little Jewish doctor, who supported my choice to hold fast to those teachings.

She was the joy of our hearts – my husband’s and mine - as well as our 4 older children, who were all school age by that time.  Had I been scared to start all over again with a newborn? I don’t know why – as I had 4 babysitters, who were more than willing to coddle and care for their youngest sibling.  We ended up donating the beautiful crib we had bought for her, as she never slept in it – but meandered from one bed to another as she took turns sleeping with each of her siblings.  She only had to stand up in her crib and let out a little cry, and they jumped to their feet and took her into their beds.

 

So, with all the hub bub over the HHS Mandate, I once again consider, with the most profound wonder, the life of this lovely young woman, our 5^th child, whose very existence is a testament to the teachings of the Holy Catholic Church – the Church which has stood firm against the use of artificial contraception - in a modern world wherein many of her own members participate in the practice - and some of her own priests and Catholic doctors advise the use of it –  yet Her teachings never waver.

How many times have I told our daughter Gabrielle, that she exists precisely because of the teachings of the Catholic Church, which I persevered in remaining faithful to, against all odds. How many times, have I thought to myself, “what if I had not been Catholic - or, what if I had listened to that Catholic doctor or even that Catholic priest?”  This amazing and beautiful creature would have never been!  It sends shudders through me to this very day!  Who am I, or anyone else for that matter, to say that she should never have been? Even though we humans participate in the awesome act of creation, am I or anyone else, the author of life?   

Now, Obama’s HHS Mandate wants to put that Church and her teachings in handcuffs – to force her to go against those teachings - the very same teachings which are responsible for the very life of our beautiful daughter!

I actually feel sorry for Obama and his minions. They are so blind to the amazing power of our reproductive faculties.  How Obama can speak of the love he has for his own daughters, yet how many other daughters, and even sons, might he and Michelle have known? How many other amazing Gabrielle’s are there that might have been?

As a very young girl I learned a hard lesson of life – that being – that those who have lost something, always want to see others lose it too.  Obama and his minions are not happy to simply deny themselves the many blessings of the gift of life, but they seek to take it away from others as well, by shackling the Catholic Church so that her teachings are meaningless and impotent.  

But each time I look with wonder at my beautiful daughter – I know that Her teachings are not meaningless – and the life of our lovely daughter Gabrielle, will always be a living testament to me that the Catholic Church’s teachings are the voice of Christ Himself.  I’m glad I listened. 

P.S. The Angel Gabrielle announced the birth of Christ Himself.  What a perfect name for our little girl. 

New Look at Obama Care

The Democratic Party has produced a television ad purporting to show Rep Paul Ryan throwing grandma off the cliff, by opposing ObamaCare. A couple of San Antonio doctors have responded with an effective ad to counter this injustice. See the ad produced by Drs. Jane Hughes and Kris Held.

Who will be the our Hero's The people we look up to?

The Summer of '69 "it was the best years of my life", as the song goes. a few months before I met my girlfriend and future wife. A time of war but a time of extraordinary achievements. A time when American exceptionalism that sent American pilots in a tin can, who had nerves of steel, to the Moon. And that pilot said, "it was a small step for a man, a giant leap for mankind." He did not brag about America, just planted a flag, an American flag on the desolate lunar soil. Not just Americans were in awe but all mankind our friends and our enemies. I saw it on TV; I heard his words as he stepped off the LEM all live for the world to see.

We now do not have a JFK to urge Americans to great achievements, but one who dismisses and diminishes American exceptionalism. One who has defunded the NASA program, and in some remarkably backward notion wants to let others nations lead the way.

It is not the economy, or finance, or some other material deficiency that is America's great hurdle. It is spiritual. How many Neil Armstrongs have been aborted via birth control pills or abortion. How much of our future was sacrificed under the banner of "Choice" ? How much longer can America rely on God's grace when we have so many that spit on His laws? From Obama to virtually all Democrats they have codified into the laws of America, every perversion, and every anti God perversity under the banner of tolerance. They are now so tolerant that they do not have the logic that would condemn the actions of their fellow leftists, Stalin and Hitler.

What Americans need to ask themselves is "is it better to live in God's freedom or in Satan's slavery."

"You can avoid reality, but you cannot avoid the consequences of avoiding reality."
- Ayn Rand (1905-1982)

"Political correctness is tyranny with manners."
- Charlton Heston (1924-2008)

I never saw fool yet that thought himself other than wise.
— A Dialogue of Comfort Against Tribulation (1534) St Thomas More

May God rest your soul Neil Armstrong and may your soul and the souls all of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God rest in the peace.

Astronaut Neil Armstrong dies at 82

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