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In that respect, we'd like to point out a very important CAUTION sign. While government has its place, it has no place telling the people how they should or should not "interpret" God's laws…on abortion, assisted suicides and euthanasia which all are, in no uncertain terms, murder; on the acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle and same-sex marriages; on genetic engineering; on judging who is and who is not worthy of "the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" by nature of their race or creed; and many other issues that have become so much a part of the political scene. There is supposed to be a separation of Church and State. The State makes sure, such as the regulations regarding political endorsement, that the Church does not meddle in affairs of state; but then they turn around in stirring up, meddling and bungling things by trying to meddle in the affairs of the Church in respect to God's Laws which rightfully are regulated by the Church as Jesus Christ so instructed when He gave Peter the charge of His Church. Yet our government, specifically this current administration if you examine the records, has meddled more in matters of faith and morals than ever before evident from the veto of the partial birth amendment, the encouragement of same-sex unions, the flaunting of amorality in the lifestyles of influential politicians with no regard to the Eighty Commandment. But they greatly limit Catholic education by forcing Catholic parents who choose to send their children to parochial Catholic schools to bear the burden of paying taxes for public education without any tax break for the vast amount of money they sacrifice to ensure their sons and daughters are raised in the True Faith. In fact, the United States is the only country where there is no spirituality incorporated into the education system. It is the only country, now that the Iron Curtain has fallen, where God is outlawed in our schools, where it is illegal to even speak His name. No wonder this generation is so lost, no wonder this generation is wandering in a godless wasteland! Yet we accept with resignation whatever the government dictates as our religious freedoms are slowly eroding. How much will we allow government to regulate before we wake up and realize that this is precisely what has been foretold in Sacred Scripture, what the Blessed Mother of God has imparted in her apparitions from LaSalette to the present day? Is it that we're really that blind? Or is it, rather, that we've become that apathetic that we depend upon politicians who've abandoned the straight and narrow way to tell us what we're going to do in order to have a nice, comfortable life here on earth? So when we see CAUTION o the road ahead, it is a sign that one of the dangers we might encounter and which is a particularly deceiving, ugly pot-hole is political correctness. This, unfortunately, is doublespeak for letting conscience die and allowing satan to take over.
Just look at the events over the past few weeks and we can see how far our society has fallen. We can see the emperor has no clothes but refuse to acknowledge it for fear of being criticized or because the economy is good. First of all, this administration has nothing to do with the current economy and secondly, the economy world-wide is not good. Thirdly, you can't take economy with you. The longer we pander to the polls and the atrocities of this administration and the disregard for life in the Senate, especially by those Republican senators we exposed in Tuesday's editorial and the supposedly Catholic senators from Illinois Carol Mosely-Braun and Dick Durbin. The latter two were both officially asked by the Bishops' Committee of Illinois headed by Cardinal Francis George, OMI to vote to overturn the veto and they responded by saying in effect, "butt out, we'll do it our way and the hell with our faith." The Executive Director of the Pro-Life Action League Joseph Scheidler has called for the Cardinal to take action saying, "It is particularly offensive when a politician supports killing children and then pretends to belong to the Catholic Church, which holds all life to be sacred. Our unborn brothers and sisters deserve protection from public officials, not extermination. I hope that Cardinal George, Bishop Gregory, Bishop Meyer, Bishop Doran and Bishop Ryan are poised to issue a statement on excommunication." Those might seem like strong measures but considering the times and the circumstances possibly not strong enough. Scheidler points out what Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz pointed out to members of We Are Church and Call To Action a few years ago - that through their actions they are excommunicating themselves and thereby the Church takes action. Maybe it is time for the rest of the bishops to call their political representatives on the carpet as well, men like Ted Kennedy and that ilk who are an embarassment to Catholics everywhere. Maybe if they took the action, spoke out strongly for what the Church stands for and reinforced Canon Law regardless of the political fallout or consequences publicity-wise, it wouldn't be such a struggle to overturn the vetos of a president who has proven he is no friend of Jesus or children or Catholics!
If we look through the haze of all the media spin and soundbites, we can see what a smokescreen we're being fed by this administration's campaign on cigarettes. While smoking is not good for our health, neither is too much alcohol, excessive eating, nor all the rest of the faults we possess as finite humans. But it's a case of too many obsessions with the body and none toward the soul. It's another example of our government trying to dictate our lives. With so much anti-smoking ordinance passage, we may not be able to find a cigarette but condoms will be plentiful. It could eventually become a crime to smoke a Winston because it could harm the body, but it's perfectly okay to have an abortion! Oh, what a tangled web we weave! We seem to be so preoccupied with our bodies - from Jenny Craig to liposuction to bulking up with Plex and Andro to vitamins ad nauseum that we've forgotten what really counts. We've forgotten Jesus' words in Matthew 16: 26 and Mark 8: 36, "For what does it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, but suffer the loss of his own soul?" With all the political rhetoric and poll twisting, it reminds this writer of what a wise professor of logic once said, "When it comes to politicians, believe half of what you hear and forget the half you heard!" That is truer than ever, especially with this current regime. Being careful not to get into politics, we quote the funny papers but it really is no joke. The comic strip "B.C." by noted cartoonist Johnny Hart is often very spiritual, very poignant. Hart really hit the nail on the head a few years ago with the following lines in a series of eight boxes.
There are those who criticize those who lambast Clinton, but consider that Jesus asks us to be charitable to Him first, the First Fruit of the Holy Spirit - Charity. Afterall, it's not very charitable to allow unborn babies to be ripped from their mother's wombs; it's not very charitable to promote a promiscuous lifestyle by encouraging prophylactics; it's not very charitable to be shameful before the nation and scandalize our children; it's not very charitable to lie and cheat for his own purposes at the expense of a nation founded on the principles of God. In truth when it comes to principles the principal of the United States has none! Consider the second part of Jonny Hart's words:
Are we going to YIELD to this atmosphere, this false philosophy, or by our prayers and convictions turn this country back to God? The choice is ours to make: The EXIT from all this lies in the ENTRANCE to the straight, narrow and harrowing road. It's the most difficult path we can take, but the only one. We must stay the course.
In the next installment we will examine the itinerary to traveling this road - Interstate 2000.
I say now to all my children that far too many live as if they had already won the battle. In my Son's Church it is as if the Heavenly banquet has begun. My little children go to church to celebrate, but they do not truly know what they are celebrating because they do not even know my Divine Son.
My children, please open your hearts on this the Feast of the Sacred Heart. Behold this Divine Heart enflamed with Infinite Love and Mercy. Behold, it is crowned with thorns. It has been pierced by a lance, and all its blood has been given to save you. Place yourself in my Son's Sacred Heart that you might become wise in these critical days for all mankind.
My little ones, are you truly prepared for battle? Do you know where your weapons are? Daily Mass, frequent Confession, reverent Communions, ceaseless prayer. These are the weapons, the only weapons which can and will defeat satan and all his demons. Hear your Mother's words, for I have come to lead you into the battle. That is why I say to you: Pray with the heart! In your heart is Truth. In your heart resides purity. Therefore, lift up your heart and allow me to care tenderly for it as I present it to my Son. He will abide in you. From Him shall come your strength, for He loves you Infinitely."
Thank you for responding to my Call.
This is the age of the heart, and My Heart burns with fervor. How I desire for My Sacred Heart to be honored, adored and loved in each home. I tell you, my children, that My Heart is ripe. It soon shall be the harvest season. My Sacred Heart comes to complete the harvest, for all Scripture is now to be fulfilled.
I go among My children to harvest My lambs, but what do I find? Billy-goats who are filled with pride and arrogance. They are the ones who rely only on their feeble human intellect, and have made of their intelligence a god. They call Me by name and I hurry to their side, only to be scorned, rebuffed, ignored. How shamelessly have the billy-goats become, so self-assured that they reject My Word, they dismiss even My Presence in the Sacred Host.
My children, does not the host maintain the right to sit at the head of the banquet table when He may lovingly gaze upon His guests? Why then am I, your God and Savior, removed from My own church? In how many lonely tabernacles do I reside, hidden away from sight so that My guests cannot find Me? And yet, you call this a celebration when you come to Church! How can you celebrate before the Host has assembled the guests? How can you celebrate without the Host present?
My children, do you realize how the evil one even now attempts to remove Me, Who Am Life, from you? Do you not recognize how empty are your lives, your churches, your services when I am not there?
Return Me, your God and Savior, to My rightful place in My Church. Allow Me to gaze upon my lambs as I eagerly await feeding them. I desire that all My children gaze upon Me so that I might draw them into My Heart where I shall truly be the Good Shepherd.
I warn all My children: The evil one seeks to destroy Me by taking Me away from you! You must be on guard lest this happen, for surely this is the greatest famine that could befall mankind. Know, my children, when you see that this has happened that My return shall come. I shall come again, as Judge, and woe betide all who knowingly and willingly have assisted the evil one in his plot. For then as Judge I shall cast all of these aside so that I may lovingly embrace My faithful ones.
How I love you! Love Me in return. Am I not worth every effort? Have I not proven My Love? Even now I give to you My Mother, but She speaks as if to walls of stone. Even now I give you signs of My Coming, but these too are laughed at.
Therefore, I say to you: Be alert! Wait and watch faithfully. I am coming and you do not want to be caught by surprise. Oh, My lambs, how I call you! Do you not hear Me in the depths of your heart? It is I, Jesus Christ, and I alone am the Way, the Truth and the Life. Believe in Me.
Trust and heed My Mother's words. Convert your hearts by means of prayer and fasting. Do not neglect Me in My Sacrament of Love.
I bless each of you. I long to embrace each of you. Wear My Sign and be numbered among My lambs. I go now to the harvest.
