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TUESDAY February 15, 2000 vol. 11, no. 32 SECTION ONESee why so many consider the Daily CATHOLIC as the "USA Today for CATHOLICS!"
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In today's editorial, we introduce our newest columnist Michael Vincent Boyer and point to the importance of his input for a Catholic perspective of what's happening in Hollywood and the political scene in this pivotal election year. It is not enough to give lip service to the passage above from Matthew 22: 21, we need to put in in action by limiting Caesar's influence and increasing Christ's influence. For today's editorial Limit Caesar before it's too late! , click on CATHOLIC PewPOINT
Therefore, we are delighted and pleased to introduce Michael Vincent Boyer as a new addition to our staff of regular contributing columnists to the DailyCATHOLIC. A cradle Catholic from northern Ohio and long a resident of Dixie, Michael brings to the table a tremendous insight as to Hollywood's true agenda for he is one of the insiders who has worked closely with the Hollywood establishment for over twenty years, most recently as Director of the Alabama Film Commission. He has seen the decline of the moral standard through the Hollywood industry's insidious, subliminal and not so subliminal methods. Sadly, so many have been caught in the vice and we do mean "vice!" Thus we present Michael's column which will continue to be called MOVIES & MORALS as well as VIDEOS & VIRTUES and TELEVISION & TEMPERANCE. If you have a better title for his columns, please let us know because his articles will reflect Catholic teaching and the fine mesh of the sacred with the secular. We've been toying with HOLY WOULD HELP HOLLYWOOD! but aren't totally sold on that one yet. We're open to suggestions. Let us know what you think by emailing the webmaster.
This week we're running his column each day to acquaint the reader with his style and content and next week he will fall into the regular rotation of Tuesday and Friday. After Lent we hope to be bringing you a daily feature on what Catholics should watch for or watch out for on TV for each day, but since so many should be giving up TV during Lent (except, of course, for Mother Angelica's EWTN - if you can get it!) we will not introduce it until the Easter Season.
We have added his columns to balance Dr. Frank Joseph's excellent Pro-Life Prescriptions column LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL! brought to you every Wednesday for the leading exponent of the culture of death is Hollywood. In this election year it is important to know the facts and which politicians are in bed with the Hollywood establishment and vice-versa. In fact, beginning tomorrow we will bring you an article he wrote for his excellent print monthly publication Goodbye Hollywood that is much needed to combat the sleaze that's out there. The article in question, condensed into his columns, is the inside scoop on the Hollywood-Washington D.C. connection and how the Democrats have allowed Hollywood to buy them off. Beginning with the biggest ego and culprit of them all - the president of this country Bill Clinton right down to local politicians, the Hollywood movers and shakers have bribed their way to prolonging the cesspool that respected comedian, writer, actor and philosopher Steve Allen, currently honorary chairman of the Parents Television Council, says has contributed to the decline: "It is generally agreed on both the political right and left - that our whole culture and society is sliding down a moral sewer." The source of that sewer is Hollywood and the biggest flushers are in cahoots with the politicians.
This is very evident in California where a Proposition is on the ballot to prohibit same-sex marriages. It's called Proposition 22 and Hollywood-backed money is trying to defeat it by calling it a "Catch 22" proposition; however, it's anything but that. Rather, it's the only way California can save its own soul by preserving the sanctity of marriage on the law books. It is no secret that as California goes, so goes the world. Blame it on Hollywood, blame it on the fact that the cultural-commercial status of the golden bear state has more influence than four-fifths of all the nations of the world combined. Over the next few weeks it's going to be a bitter battle as the gay agenda and the left wage an all-out assault on decency and the sanctity of the union between man and woman as God intended. There is a growing tolerance in Hollywood that is seeping through the sewers affecting all of America. The ballot proposition will be the litmus test between so-called tolerance and acceptance. The liberals argue that "we're not hurting anybody" but they don't realize they definitely are for the decline of moral consciousness is contributing to the modern Sodom and Gomorrah mentality in California as well as the rest of the USA. Liberal judges have not helped, overturning rulings because of intimidation and lobbying by the radical left. Presently 52 percent are in favor of Proposition 22 as opposed to 39 percent who want to defeat the measure and provide a free license for homosexuality everywhere in California. The organizers for Prop 22 have been smart in targeting the large Hispanic population in California, counting on their Catholic culture to oppose the gay agenda. Hopefully every California Catholic's conscience will be tweaked and they, too, will go to the ballot box on March 7th and resoundingly pass this measure that sends a statement that God gave us these laws and no state is going to take them away!
Speaking of God and politics, it brings us to one of the most liberal of the politicians, the other half of Bill Clinton - his wife Hillary Rodham Clinton who is carpetbagging for senator of New York. Folks, it's going to be a hot and heavy, bitter, take-no-hostages campaign between the chameleon from Arkansas and the current mayor of New York City Rudolph Giuliani, who, though he is Catholic, has been paralyzed by the pro-aborts and caved to their demands. Talk about a cesspool for the voters to choose from! Nevertheless, the first volley has been launched with Giuliani questioning Hillary's disregard for religious reasoning and morality. In typical Clinton fashion she has struck back, coiling and striking with hypocritical venom that she has been "misunderstood" and has no animosity toward the religious right. Say again? That's right. This is the woman who has labeled religious tradition an enemy, the woman who has said she wouldn't appoint a pro-life judge and praises those liberal justices who prohibit the Ten Commandments from being displayed in schools and government offices. This is the woman who has been the icon of NOW and Planned Parenthood, who has mocked the Roman Catholic Church by receiving Holy Communion during a much publicized trip with her husband and daughter Chelsea to South Africa, who has adopted the "religion of the day" mantra setting aside time for Ramadan and Hannukah, but dismissing Good Friday as "superstitious." Many have asked what denomination she is and our answer is the only denomination she cares about come in tens, twenties and hundred dollar bills in her pursuit of power in trying to escape the shadows and sexcapades of her husband.
No matter how you look at it, Hillary Clinton, Al Gore, Hollywood culture of death advocates and the liberal pro-gay agenda are all bad for this country and bad for the moral conscience and soul of America and we intend to illustrate these facts this election year in hopes of tweaking consciences in ridding our land of the godless agendas. It begins March 7th in California. Already thirty states have adopted laws similar to Proposition 22 in trying to preserve the dignity of the union between man and woman. Proposition 22 confirms a cultural cornerstone. Now it's time for California to follow suit. Al Gore and the Hollywood establishment will be campaigning feverishly against it and that should wake every California Catholic up to the fact that, despite their political affiliation, this is our opportunity to pass it and send Gore and his ilk a strong message for returning morality to California. Just think, the outcome will be the litmus test that could be the beginning of the end for the pro-aborts.
Thanks to the excellent contributing columnists of the DailyCATHOLIC like Pat Ludwa, Sister Mary Lucy Astuto, Dr. Frank Joseph and now Michael Vincent Boyer, we will keep you abreast of what is best for Catholics everywhere in following the teachings and traditions of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. The Church was persecuted during the height of the Roman Empire and survived; Caesar and his empire crumbled. Now another empire is ready to collapse and only those loyal to God, who heed His words and intercede, as Abraham did in pleading for the Lord to spare Sodom and Gomorrah, can prevent the total implosion of America. Remember what happened to Caesar's empire? It crumbled from within. It equates with Jesus' words in Matthew 22: 21, "Render, therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." We'll render to California's "Caesar" the taxes due, but when it comes to regulating morals, that we can only render to God! What it all comes down to is, that with the dominating influence of Hollywood, liberal politicians and judges, modernists in the Church, and a growing dependence on government to solve our problems, we need to turn back to God, elect those upholding the sanctity of life, only patronize programs and films that uphold those values, and limit Caesar before it's too late!
Today we continue a probing, in-depth series begun Friday by Michael Vincent Boyer, a well-respected Catholic insider on what's happening in the entertainment industry. There has been a lot of rhetoric about the cure-all "chip" that would allow TV viewers to control violence and sex on their own television sets. It's a simple device that was ready years ago but Hollywood big-wigs and Bill Clinton himself have stalled implementation of it with every feeble excuse they can in an effort to either kill it or tamper with it. For part three of his column, see MOVIES & MORALS-VIDEOS & VIRTUES-TELEVISION & TEMPERANCE
The entertainment industry put on a show of outrage, declaring war on the legislation claiming the tired old "censorship" cry, even though the legislation actually offered freedom of choice. TV manufacturers cried foul saying the installation would raise the price of television by hundreds of dollars per set. Advocates for choice were insulted by the industry's condescending position toward viewers and by television producer's own failure at letting entertainment sink so low in the first place. Various congressmen and interest groups kept up the pressure for action. When the Telecom Bill finally passed, leaders of the television industry were allowed to set up a ratings system to work in conjunction with "The Chip". Everyone involved knew that was like letting the fox guard the hen-house. But, as the maniac Ted Turner said in a brief episode of sanity, "If we don't do it, someone (government) will do it for us." Adding to the complication was the loophole that each network and cable station would be allowed to apply their own definitions of standards to each individual ratings code. The industry quickly rallied around MPAA president Jack Valenti to help broker a solution. It was Valenti who established the ratings system for feature films in 1968 by abolishing the movie industry's own Production Code of ethics, a move that caused the rapid decline in feature film quality and content and the dramatic increase in vulgarity and depictions of debased moral values. What better choice than the two-faced industry lobbyist who pretends to placate the audience while doing the bidding for the industry. However, the TV industry was moving ahead at snail's pace.
But, by early 1996, the TV industry finally gave in to rising public pressure and said it would work together to promote a rating system compatible with "The Chip". But, a new call to arms was about to begin. The system proposed by the industry was almost identical to the one developed by Valenti for the motion picture industry. No surprise there. Throughout all of 1996, the defenders and detractors of television ratings waged a heated debate with the public and congressional leaders saying that the system was basically worthless without additional content descriptors that would denote sexual situations, violence, coarse and suggestive language. The industry talk and media coverage of the ratings fell silent just before the presidential election in November 1996 with a few industry leaders actually saying they agreed with Clinton's support of ratings. After all, Hollywood knew Clinton had to pretend to support morality if he was to beat Bob Dole, who the entertainment industry despised after Dole challenged them to clean up their act in early 1996.
But, once Clinton's victory was cinched, it was back to the same old stone-walling as the manipulative Jack Valenti said the industry would not budge from its original age-based system, and added that the government need not interfere or "we're going to be in court in a nanosecond." Despite the threat, it was a short time before the industry, minus NBC and BET, signed off to adding content-based descriptors to the age-based labels. Senator Joseph Lieberman said that the public wants "higher quality and lower amounts of what might be called 'Must Flee TV' and the attitude of 'anything goes' mentality."
As for "The Chip", television manufacturers are still pleading for more time to "fine-tune" the system, even though the little electronic chip was invented back in 1993 by Canadian engineer Tim Collings and could cost as little as one dollar if installed directly into sets by the manufacturer or up to $35 if retrofitted into special digital cable boxes, according to Shaw Communications of Canada.
Finally, parents are still confused and misled about ratings given the fact that each network and cable channel decides what is and what isn't offensive. And as one industry insider said, "That's the way we like it."
Tommorow: The devil's disciples: Hollywood and Washington part one: The Ties that Bind
Today we continue with our new series in the search to uncover the wonderful treasures of the Church contained in the great Deposit of Faith. Today we present the third part of this brief catechesis on the essence of the Holy Trinity with the Unity of the Blessed Trinity. For the 110th installment, see APPRECIATING THE PRECIOUS GIFT OF OUR FAITH
The three divine Persons are perfectly equal to one another, because all are one and the same God. "Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost. The Father Uncreated, the Son Uncreated, and the Holy Ghost Uncreated. The Father Infinite, the Son Infinite, and the Holy Ghost Infinite. The Father Eternal, the Son Eternal, and the Holy Ghost Eternal, and yet they are not Three Eternals but One Eternal. As also there are not Three Uncreated, nor Three Infinite, but One Uncreated, and One Infinite. So likewise the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty, and the Holy Ghost Almighty. And yet they are not Three Almighties, but One Almighty." (From the Athanasian Creed).
All three Persons are equal in every way, equal in power and glory. The attributes and external works of God are common to all three Persons. However, in human speech we attribute certain works to each Person.
Thus we attribute to the Father the works of creation, to the Son the work of redemption, and to the Holy Ghost the work of sanctification. In reality these works belong equally to all three. The three divine Persons, though really distinct from one another, are one and the same God because all have one and the same divine nature.
Each of the divine Persons is God. "So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet they are not three Gods, but one God. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son is Lord, and the Holy Ghost is Lord. And yet they are not three Lords but one Lord. For, like as we are compelled by Christian truth to acknowledge every Person by Himself to be God and Lord, so are we forbidden by the Catholic Religion to say there be three Gods or three Lords." (From the Athanasian Creed).
There are three Persons, but only one Being. The Father is neither the Son nor the Holy Ghost. The Son is neither the Father nor the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is neither the Father nor the Son.
It was the Son Who became man and died for us, not the Father or the Holy Spirit. But when we receive God the Son in Holy Communion, we also spiritually receive God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. The Blessed Trinity then dwells in us as in a Temple.
Tomorrow: Unity of the Blessed Trinity part two
Today is the Sixth Tuesday in Ordinary Time with tomorrow being the Sixth Wednesday in Ordinary Time during a week primarily observing Ordinary Time where green vestments are the norm. For the readings, liturgies, and meditations, see DAILY LITURGY.
"Why do you argue because you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive, nor understand? Is your heart still blinded? Though you have eyes do you not see, and though you have ears do you not hear? And do you not remember?"
NOTE: We respectfully recognize and accept the final authority regarding apparitions, locutions and prophecies presently being reported around the world rests with the Holy See of Rome and the Magisterium of Holy Mother Church to whose judjment we humbly and obediently submit.
"Dear children! I call you, little children, to pray without ceasing. If you pray, you
are closer to God and He will lead you on the way of peace and salvation. That is why I call you today to give
peace to others. Only in God is there true peace. Open your hearts and become those who give a gift of peace
and others will discover peace in you and through you and in this way you will witness God's peace and love
which He gives you. Thank you for having responded to my call."
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