NunEssential

For years, one of my biggest pet peeves about the beach volleyball world were the tiny little bikinis that the world class women athletes had to wear as a "uniform." I enjoy watching volleyball immensely but found their tiny outfits so degrading and irksome that I was rather loathe to watch the events on sports networks. People often ask me, "why do they have to wear those tiny little bikinis?" And my answer is, "eye candy. Pure and simple." The men don't wear speedos when they play beach volleyball (and we are BEYOND thankful for that). The only reason these tall athletic women would have to wear bikinis is to attract attention. How lame that they are in the top one percent of all athletes in the world, yet they are being promoted via exploitation of their sexuality. Drives me crazy. Sooo.......I found it very interesting that the Olympic committee for this summer's games are allowing women to wear shorts and long sleeved or sleeveless shirts ...

Wow! who knew that Planned Parenthood was an innocent organization that merely "protects women's health care"??? Gosh, I thought their main cash cow was abortion, the direct destruction of new and innocent life. Hmm....I wonder if that memo got lost on the way the to Oval Office? Or.....is something else at work? I think as a nation, we are reaping what we have sewn. We see time and time again in the Old Testament that when the people sinned, God took away their leadership. We did what we wanted and chose the idolatry of ourselves instead of the freedom of the service of God, Our Father. Until we are serious about conversion as individuals in this great nation, we will languish for lack of leadership. Welcome to 2012. Let us pray.....

Rock on Cardinal Dolan! We thank God for you-- Watch the latest video at <a href="http://video.foxnews.com">video.foxnews.com</a>

And now a word from your friendly, neighborhood atheist.... 

The truth lives on..... http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2012/03/27/pro-life-october-baby-rejected-by-major-studios-blitzes-box-office/?test=latestnews

This audio was featured on Glenn Beck's show last week and it is truly profound. Below is the text of some thoughts that radio commentator Paul Harvey spoke of in.......1965. What he said has come to pass about how he would destroy us [America] if he were Satan… “If I were the devil, I wouldn’t be happy until I had seized the ripest apple on the tree—Thee. So I’d set about however necessary to take over the United States. I’d subvert the churches first—I would begin with a campaign of whispers. With the wisdom of a serpent, I would whisper to you as I whispered to Eve: “Do as you please.” “Do as you please.” To the young, I would whisper, “The Bible is a myth.” I would convince them that man created God instead of the other way around. I would confide that what is bad is good, and what is good is “square”. And the old, I would teach to pray. I would teach them to pray after me, ‘Our Father, which art in Washington…’ And then I’d get organized.  I’d educate authors on h...

I am nearly finished with Jessica Valenti's book The Purity Myth . I hope to write several posts addressing her claims that virginity and desires for purity are a myth perpetrated by right-wing conservatives and "anti-choice" extremists. (that very title of "anti-choice" that she often uses, says a lot right there.) However, there is something of this tidal wave irrationality that I would like to point out now. In the book, Valenti talks about how extremist pharmacists are denying women (often very young women) their 'right' to "emergency contraception" pills more commonly known as Plan B. Valenti claims that Plan B works by preventing ovulation and therefore claims her outrage over the failure of pharmacists to help prevent pregnancy in the first place. Never mind that the problem here hasn't begun with the pregnancy. It's not the pharmacist's fault. The struggle begins with the man and the woman freely choosing to be sexually ...

Check out this article on the upcoming movie October Baby.

This rising song captures today's "let's live together and have a convenient relationship" mentality and the emptiness it entails. the ache of being used and then dumped, like it was nothing. Deep stuff--

For those who promote abortion as a "woman's right to choose" with no regard to anyone else (least of all the living person in the womb), the circle of horror just keeps getting bigger. Think abortion doesn't affect you directly? Think again.......

Don't you think it would be an odd way to live your life knowing that you could be "traded" for another person at any time?

Bye bye Timmy :( Peyton Manning became an official Broncos quarterback today . Both of those guys are great.

Need a little encouragement to make a jump in your life? Check out this fourth grader's daring new mission...super cute!

Perhaps this is Jesus' song to us in a certain way and the journey of inner healing and Lent....We push Him away because of our struggles from the past and all He wants to do is love us and heal our cold hearts. The lyrics are piercing, indeed...... I've tried so hard my dear to show That you're my every dream Yet you're afraid each thing I do Is just some evil scheme A memory from your lonesome past Keeps us so far apart Why can't I free your doubtful mind And melt your cold cold heart Another love before my time Made your heart sad an' blue And so my heart is paying now For things I didn't do In anger unkind words are said That make the teardrops start Why can't I free your doubtful mind And melt your cold cold heart There was a time when I believed That you belonged to me But now I know your heart is shackled To a memory The more I learn to care for you The more we drift apart Why can't I free your doubtful mind...

How sad that a woman can be so broken that she openly embraces murder of the most innocent and claims to love it. Usually we call people like this sociopaths and mentally ill and we lock them away for a very long time to keep them from harming others. Depravity at its deepest......May God have mercy on her soul.

I don't know about you, but Lent is really working on me this year. It's not easy to see your idols, long hidden in the grasp of your hand, revealed in the light of day. We cling to what we think will bring us happiness or satisfaction, success or intimacy- and while many times these things to which we cling are not bad in themselves, when we place them in front of God and insist on paradise in this life, it creates all sorts of problems. We bow down and worship that which is beneath our dignity. For what? Fear of loss, fear that our Father will not come through for us, fear that if we want happiness we better provide it for ourselves. As the Big Book states--we hope to wrest some satisfaction out of life by managing life well. It doesn't quite work like that- for we were made for higher things. I am reading a book by John Eldredge at this time entitled "The Journey of Desire". I do not know Mr. Eldredge and I am pretty certain he will never read this b...

Perhaps you could use a vision of fields of gold at this time in Lent----

In a very interesting and telling promotion, the organization 'Liberal Ladies Who Lunch' have made a  self-declaration of a "sex strike" with the slogan posted on their facebook page, “In truth, if we lose our hard won rights to medical care, birth control and pregnancy choice, it won’t only affect women. Men will have to go back to the days when they waited for or paid for sex. This issue impacts all of us. This strike is designed to make that point. Ask your man to speak up for your rights, because when we lose our reproductive choices, so do they.” Can we just talk a little bit about this statement? It asserts some falsity-- much of which is being promoted without facts or common sense. Point #1) if we lost our hard won rights to medical care, birth control and pregnancy choice, it won't only affect women.  What is the definition of "medical care"? As far as I know, there is no one in America who is advocated for the removal of medical car...

Found this fun song for all the ladies out there. Enjoy! Happy Sunday :)

Check out this horrendous video of Nancy Pelosi supposedly educating women on Catholicism and contraception at the Women in the World Summit held yesterday. AGHHH!!!!! i need another barfing emoticon. Yet ANOTHER example of misinformation and skewing the issue. Rep Pelosi: you know very well that this issue is not about the morality of contraception, that is an entirely different conversation that we would be happy to have with you. This mandate is about the government trying to force people of a certain religion (supposedly yours! why aren't you speaking out for the rights of religious freedom?) to go against their conscience in providing something that is harmful to women, children and society. This is indeed a moment of truth, more than you could ever imagine.  FYI, before you make jokes about the "rhythm method", you might want to do a little research about NFP, the truth will surprise you.

Check out this article about the potential future of Peyton! http://denver.cbslocal.com/2012/03/09/peyton-manning-arrives-in-denver-for-meeting-with-broncos/ Oh no, Timmy! come to Seattle!

Even gigantic stuffed bears pray during Lent....

I finally listened to the actual lyrics of this Britney Spears' song Criminal the other day and it is another classic example of emotions driving the car of our lives, rather than being at the service of reason- much to our detriment on a number of levels. Then we wonder what went wrong? At least Britney admits it in this song. She sings "this kind of love isn't rational, it's physical." How true.....

From one Rose to another.....Happy Saturday, Mother :)

Good work Mr. O'Reilly-- check out this article regarding the background and support of Sandra Fluke. Random innocent victim? I think not.... Watch the latest video at <a href="http://video.foxnews.com">video.foxnews.com</a>

The situation with President Obama calling Sandra Fluke to encourage her after Rush Limbaugh rude comment about her was lame enough. But now White House Spokesmagician Jay Carney says that President Obama is not going to get involved with the Bill Maher controversy because  "language that denigrates women is inappropriate," but it is not the President's place to be the "arbiter" of every controversial statement. "He chooses to lead by example or tries to," Carney said of the president, adding that "he chooses to try to practice that civility himself and he calls on everybody to do just that..." Spare me! The whole thing is nonsense and a double standard. And there is a million dollars of campaign money involved....where is a barfing emoticon when you need one? oh, wait, here it is..... Read the whole lame story here.

Check out Fr. Pontifex's new video about the HHS Mandate. God bless him. Awesome way to use mass media to get the message out. Rock on Father!

In a press conference not found surprising by many, the Indianapolis Colts released venerable quarterback Peyton Manning. See Peyton's emotional response here on espn. To avoid having to pay Manning an additional 28 million dollar bonus, the Colts released the 35-year-old quarterback today, making him a free agent after missing an entire season due to a neck injury. Manning was one of the most visible NFL players ever and led his former team to recording breaking wins, himself being a four-time MVP. I feel bad for him. Obviously, if you play professional sports, you have to know that it's a serious business that urges winning at any cost and seems dubious to any sort of personal human loyalty. However, people are people and no one likes to be cast aside when they are no longer "of use." I hope he can become healthy and continue to pursue his dreams. On the other hand, with a serious neck injury, Peyton will really have to discern if its worth it and at what c...

Readers: Please read the latest letter written by Cardinal Dolan regarding the HHS mandate that has been much talked about in the Church, media and social circles around the country. On youtube, I posted two videos regarding the mandate and since much of the opposition from the videos had to do with people's disagreement over the Church's teaching on birth control, I see that most of us have fallen right into the trap set by the Obama administration. The trap is this-- get people to argue over birth control vs seeing the deeper issue which is a government takeover of healthcare and the Church. Mission Accomplished. The letter by Cardinal Dolan is an excellent explanation of what is REALLY going on. Please read it. Pass it on. Get informed and stay informed. This is not a joke nor is it something that is going to go away on its own. This is a big deal and we must live in the light and the truth and speak out.

Here is week two's reflection on the Holy Father's Letter for Lent Fr. Richard Gabuzda, S.T.D., Lent 2012, Week II from IPF on Vimeo .

okay, okay....so this song has been in my mind for WEEKS, I tell you, WEEKS. And as I listen to it, I think it's about Jesus (you can stop laughing now). I will post the lyrics below the video. You be the judge ;) I am changing one of the lyrics because true love is not sinful, and obviously, that has nothing to do with Jesus [Verse 1] It's been said and done Every beautiful thought's been already sung And I guess right now here's another one So your melody will play on and on, with the best of 'em You are beautiful, like a dream come alive, incredible A sinful (NO!!), miracle, lyrical You've saved my life again And I want you to know baby [Chorus] I, I love you like a love song, baby I, I love you like a love song, baby I, I love you like a love song, baby And I keep hitting re-peat-peat-peat-peat-peat-peat I, I love you like a love song, baby I, I love you like a love song, baby I, I love you like a love song, baby And I keep hitting r...

Check out this beautiful reflection on the Holy Father's Letter for Lent by Fr. Richard Gabuzda-- Fr. Richard Gabuzda, S.T.D., Lent 2012, Week I from IPF on Vimeo .

Rush Limbaugh issued an apology to Sandra Fluke for the words he used to describe her behavior regarding her lamentation of not receiving free birth control from her Catholic university where she attends law school. While she has been packaged as being an innocent victim of Mr. Limbaugh's cruelty, there is more to this story than we ever knew. Have you ever wondered how people are chosen to testify before Congress? How was Ms. Fluke selected? Was she merely a random law school student fighting for the rights of women who have ovarian cysts to have access to free birth control pills? Sadly, not even close. Check out this article about Ms. Fluke's past participation in "reproductive justice." Her attitude toward "justice"? "A woman’s right to access an abortion, like her other reproductive rights, is rooted in fundamental human rights, including the right to life, the right to health, the right to dignity, the right to equality and non-discrimi...

Rush Limbaugh was hammered today by the right and the left over his comments regarding a 30 year-old law school student who was advocating for free mandatory birth control coverage and lamenting her situation of being at Georgetown University and not being provided with free birth control because it is a Catholic University. Mr. Limbaugh commented on Sandra Fluke's complaint that she must pay for her own birth control because she attends a Catholic institution that won't pay for her birth control (as I am writing this, I cannot believe these words are being formed by my hands, has it really come to this? a law school student whining that a Catholic institution won't pay for her birth control? nonsense. anyway...). Mr. Limbaugh compared her comments about her behavior to prostitution, and then used a rather inappropriate name to describe Ms. Fluke . You can read all the details here. (link from foxnews fixed) Should he have called her that name? no. But here is where the...

We live in a culture that prizes feelings as objective truth over the power of reason to tell us the difference between right and wrong. The mass media implicitly tells us, "if you feel really strongly about something, it must be right and no one can tell you any differently. Unfortunately, while feelings are given to us by God to help move us and serve reason, they aren't supposed to make our decisions for us. That's completely backwards. Case in point- check out this article about a mother who is trying to have a local high school teacher arrested for luring her daughter into a physical relationship. The teacher who is a 41-year-old married man with children, has recently left his wife and kids to live with the 18 year-old high school student. Denying any physical intimacy together before she turned 18, the teacher said they finally decided to follow their hearts and be together. Even more telling, the girl says, "he is my best friend. he is more than a love...