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I blog @ FRIENDLY FIRE read my LATEST COLUMN FRIENDS' BLOGS CATHOLIC LINKS  mater dei, ora pro nobis contact: @ weinkopf.com (C) 2001, - 2007. All rights are reserved. 
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Friday, July 13, 2001
Today's gospel reading reminds us just how brutal and treacherous the call to discipleship can be. When I think back to the sort of persecution and oppression that centuries of martyrs have faced, I like to think that in such a moment, I, too, would remain steadfast in my faith -- that I would withstand a scourging or endure death itself before denying or renouncing Christ. But how often do I -- how often do we all -- deny or renounce Him in millions of smaller ways every day? How often do we deny Him when we pass up on an opportunity to share the Gospel for fear of embarrassment? If I am unable to withstand a little bit of social pressure, what makes me think I could ever handle real persecution? Thankfully, the Gospel offers hope: "Do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour." If we put our strength and faith in the Lord, He will give us the grace to endure all our struggles, big and small alike. We should pray for the persecuted believers in China, host of the 2008 Olympic games. Their leaders persecute them and the world has forgotten them -- may Christ bring them peace. Thursday, July 12, 2001
We continually hear that President George W. Bush is struggling over the decision to give federal funding to embryonic stem-cell research. It's difficult to understand his dilemma. The facts of the matter are indisputable -- taking stem cells from embryos requires their destruction. The only question, then, is whether the President -- who insisted throughout the Republican primary that he was a committed pro-lifer -- believes it's justifiable, in the interest of medicine and science, to take young human life. That the embryos -- leftovers from in-vitro fertilization treatments -- are most likely destined for termination is irrelevant. Prisoners on death row and the terminally ill are also near death, yet no one would propose using them for lethal medical experimentation. Federal law clearly prohibits such research. Bill Clinton used a cheap play on words to skirt the law in the first place. Even if Bush were insincere about his commitment to protecting human life, he should still support overruling Clinton's policy -- out of deference to the rule of law and the English language. Wednesday, July 11, 2001
The Gary Condit affairs -- political and sexual -- are a sad byproduct of the Clintonization of America. Once upon a time, a politician found to be cheating on his wife (with an intern, no less, who is half his age) would leave office in disgrace. If he were found to be lying about the affair, and possibly encouraging others to lie under oath (the stewardess) his career would be over. But Clinton has so lowered the bar that adultery is now permissible, as is lying and obstruction of justice, so long as it's "only about sex." Unless police discover direct evidence connecting Condit to Chandra Levy's death, he is essentially immune from political repercussion. And even then, it's an open question: In America 2001, is it permissible for politicians to kill, so long as it's only about sex? Greetings! Thanks to Blogger, this site should become much more interesting, featuring daily personal updates and the occasional thoughts on life, faith, and politics. Stay tuned . . . |