Monsters by nature or nurture?

I'm having trouble posting videos to my blog from YouTube, so forgive me for making you click on this link.

When the Archbolds saw this video of Nancy Pelosi, they had one word to say: "Monster." I agree. I also have a few more thoughts about it I'd like to share.

It leaves me stunned that our esteemed Speaker of the House would invoke Glorious St. Joseph to sing the praises of what she calls the "life-affirming legislation" of health care reform. Frankly, it's insulting. She has apparently been meeting with target groups to "talk about what it means to them." (Read: Going around lecturing people to guilt them into supporting--as 11-year-old Curly would call it--the Bill of Death. "This Is What You Need Because I Say So.") If you listen carefully, you might find one reason why Nancy Pelosi is the way she is: Bad catechesis. She mentions the Sisters of Notre Dame, who, along with 60 religious orders, just this past week spit in the face of Catholic teaching and publicly announced their support for what will essentially be FOCA in disguise. She admits that two of the sisters had "taught me in my life," presumably to form her in their version of the Catholic faith.

The other day Glenn Beck remarked that Congress and the Obama administration is full of hippies and Sixties radicals (his loaded language makes me laugh sometimes, but it's kinda scary because he's right), and it made a light bulb go off in my head. If during the '60s and '70s some Catholic leaders decided to pervert the teachings of Holy Mother Church (and the purpose of Vatican II), there must be at least a generation or two of Catholics who reflect those attitudes. They've been brainwashed by rogue Catholic teachers purporting to proclaim the faith. If the people leading our nation have been taught that it's perfectly fine to ignore the Christian principles they supposedly grew up with, what's to stop them from ignoring the Constitution, too?

Let's work all the more to make sure the future leaders of this great nation will stand up for the values America was founded on, and put God's law above Man's evil whims. It's more important than ever to make sure our children learn the teachings of Christ and His Church. Meanwhile, it's time to cast the monsters out.

St. Joseph and St. Michael, pray for us.

Facts from Reliable Sources: Who's Telling the Truth?

There is so much information about Obamacare out there in Media Land, it's hard to make heads or tails about what the facts really are. Have you looked at HR3200? Holy Cow, it makes my eyes cross just trying to read one sentence. Like most citizens, I'm relying on people who know much more about it than I to interpret what is written in the bill. (Incidentally, there are several different versions of the plan; the others are still in committee, and from what I understand, still being written.) Some say that abortion is absolutely NOT covered in the plan, and others insist that it IS, and it will be MANDATED; abortions will therefore increase dramtically, and be paid for by We The People. Some are concerned that under the Obama health plan, care will be rationed, and that the elderly and people with disabilities will be given the short end of the stick. Is euthanasia about to become an essential part of health care? People on the side of Obamacare say this is a ludicrous. It sounds crazy to me, and I hope and pray that people who are crying foul on that point, including Sarah Palin, are indeed making a mountain out of a molehill.

Whom should I believe? The White House put up a web page to explain some of the "myths" about health reform. (Oh, I'm sorry; I can't call it that anymore. It's health INSURANCE reform.) Interestingly, abortion is not addressed at all. Are they avoiding the issue? The videos and explainations are admittedly reassuring, and there is NO QUESTION that our current health system needs some major changes. This "reality check" by the White House certainly makes that clear. Many people I know cannot afford health insurance. Too many doctors order unnecessary tests to avoid being sued for malpractice. Too often insurance companies get greedy and refuse to cover services their clients need (not to mention charging high premiums for minimal coverage). Something must be done.

As a pro-lifer, I pay close attention when well known and trusted pro-life leaders like Father Frank Pavone and Congressman Chris Smith express their concern that Obama's health care plan is being used to quietly sneak in the controversial Freedom of Choice Act. For all we knew, this bill mandating abortion on demand was abandoned when concerned Americans rightfully opposed it. Today I found this fact sheet from National Right to Life that explains in detail how abortion fits into health reform. I've already bookmarked it on my computer, and hopefully it will help me when I need to explain my concerns to friends and acquaintances who support the bill and don't see any problems with it with regards to abortion. (Is it just me, or are most people who support Obamacare pro-choice?) StopTheAbortionMandate.com put up this mythbuster in response to what the health care reformers are assuring us--that abortion isn't covered in the plan and that taxpayers will not be forced to fund abortions.

I've emailed my senators and congressman twice. I'm planning to call their offices as well, as soon as I've figured out what to say. I'll mull it over in my mind and write it down over the weekend, and hopefully I'll be brave enough to pick up the phone on Monday. (My irrational fear is that when I call the local office of my representative in Congress, he will be the one who answers the phone!! How crazy is that? And he's pro-life, too!) Please pray that I will have the courage to voice my concerns about this legislation, something I've been silent about for too long. Meanwhile, I'll pray for you and all concerned Americans to do the same. Maybe I'll take another look at that bill, too.