“Our once great western Christian civilization is dying. If this matters to followers of Jesus Christ, then we must set aside our denominational differences and work together to strengthen the things that remain and reclaim what has been lost. Evangelicals and Catholics must stand together to re-establish that former Christian culture and moral consensus. We have the numbers and the organization but the question is this: Do we have the will to win this present spiritual battle for Jesus Christ against secularism? Will we prayerfully and cooperatively work toward a new Christian spiritual revival ― or will we choose to hunker down in our churches and denominationalisms and watch everything sink into the spiritual and moral abyss of a New Dark Age?” - Mark Davis Pickup

Sunday, September 23, 2018

THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH AND THE COMMUNITY


H.W. Pickup
my father
My father has been dead for nearly 50 years. He was of an older generation that believed Christians' should hold themselves accountable to civic responsibility and their faith should be reflected in their public and private lives. Below is a quote of his about the Christian Church in the community.


__________________

“The Christian Church is the most stabilizing influence for any community and that influence is reflected in the interpersonal relationships of its people. This stabilizing and strengthening influence – supplied by Christians who are aware of their responsibilities to live under the direction of their God – has its effect also on their young folk: It is reflected in the schools; it has its effect in young people’s appreciation generally of things that are provided for them at all levels of government, as well as by their families. Not only are they easier to serve within the municipality, but they almost govern themselves. These are ideal people within any community.”

Howard W. Pickup
1960

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

THE CHARACTER ASSASSINATION OF BRETT KAVANAUGH

The Honorable Judge Brett Kavanagh is being attacked from every angle by liberals and liberal Democrats. Why? They are afraid that his appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court will tip the scales in a conservative direction and put their beloved Roe v. Wade in jeopardy.  What they euphemistically call reproductive choice is the choice to kill unwanted unborn children.

As decision day on Brett Kavanaugh draws near, the Democrats are getting desperate to stop his appointment to the Supreme Court. They are even prepared to highlight the dubious accusation of a woman who stepped forward to accuse him of sexual assault over 30 years ago when they were teenagers. The claim is unsubstantiated and Judge Kavanaugh has categorically denied it.

Christine Blasey Ford accuses Brett Kavanaugh of groping her while he was in a drunken state at a teen party when he was seventeen years old. It would be a case of he-said-she-said, if it was not for the only alleged eyewitness Mark Judge.  Ford claims he was present. Mr. Judge says her sex assault claim is completely false, and Ford is lying. Over the next few days, watch to see if the Democrats will try to suppress or ignore Mr. Judge's word and accentuate Ms. Ford's allegation.

We must ask a few questions: Why did Christine Ford come forward with this accusation now, after three decades? Might the answer have something to do with her anti-Trump political activism? (She reported wore a pink brain "pussy hat" at an anti-Trump rally.)

Why are the Democrats so wholeheartedly embracing an unsubstantiated allegation without establishing its veracity? The answer might lie in the fact that the Democratic Party cares less about truth than winning. They are not above trumping up false allegations to discredit opponents or people with whom they disagree (pun intended). We need only remember Roy Moore, Justice Neil Gorsuch and even further back to Justice Clarence Thomas and Robert Bork.

Should Christine Blasey Ford be heard? Absolutely! But If her allegation against Brett Kavanaugh does not hold up to scrutiny, and her testimony proves to be false, then Christine Blasey Ford's behaviour must be utterly condemned by people of all political stripes! It would tarnish the real testimony of women who have been sexually assaulted. It would possibly even hurt the #MeToo movement.  That would be wrong and an injustice to Justice Brett Kavanaugh!

MDP

Thursday, September 6, 2018

SCANDALS IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

I received an email this morning from my friends at Rockford Pro-Life in Illinois. It had a link to an article entitled "It's been tough to be Catholic these past few weeks." It was written by a young man named Broderick Hooker . (http://prolifecorner.com/its-been-tough-to-be-catholic-these-last-few-weeks/)

Broderick wrote:


'The Delivery of The Keys',
(1481-1482)
Pietro Perugino
"But I refuse to walk away. Here's why. I'm Catholic because I believe what Jesus said when He said, "You are Peter, and upon this Rock I shall build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld will not prevail against it." I believe the words of Jesus when he said, "Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you shall not have life in you." I believe the words of Jesus when he said, "Whatsoever you do to the least of these, you do to me."

Broderick shows a tenacious loyal adherence to his faith during these discouraging times when the laity are shocked by the behaviour of the clergy, and not the other way round. Catholics everywhere could learn something from Broderick's loyalty to his Catholic faith, and the Mother Church, even in circumstances that have discouraged others to walk away from the Church—and even their faith in Jesus Christ. 

I do not want Catholics to be discouraged by moral corruption being revealed by clergy up to, and including Cardinals. This is what I think: Satan is so threatened by the Catholic Church that he put corruptible and corrupted men into seminaries decades ago knowing they would deviate, corrupt, and create scandal from within—as they rose to positions of authority in the Church. If the Evil one is that threatened -- and He is, then we should take the Church very seriously. 

Let the scandals validate the words of Christ quoted above by Broderick. If the Catholic Church was not a threat to Satan, he would not try so hard to bring it down from within. The gates of Hell could not prevail by attacks from the outside the Mother Church, so the Devil attacks from within.

These scandals will be set right: If not by the princes of the church then by God Himself. Stay and fight for the Catholic Church and Christ. 

Wednesday, September 5, 2018

A THOUGHT ABOUT THE SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE

“Precisely by contemplating the precious blood of Christ, the sign of his self-giving love, the believer learns to recognize and appreciate the almost divine dignity of every human being and can exclaim with ever renewed and grateful wonder: "How precious must man be in the eyes of the Creator…” 

Pope St. John Paul II, Evangelium Vitae, #25

Tuesday, September 4, 2018

STACKING THE DECK FOR EUTHANASIA IN CANADA?

Well, Canada is into its second year of medical killing.  More than 99% of our killings under the Justin Trudeau government's so-called Medically Assistance in Dying law are really legalized lethal injections. That's medical killing, not medical assistance in dying. Medical assistance in dying is called palliative care. What we have is euthanasia on demand (or even coerced). A recent story came out about coercion to accept "medical assistance in dying" (euphemism for euthanasia). 

Roger Foley (42) who suffers from cerebral ataxia has released an
audio tape he says proves an Ontario hospital offered him assisted suicide when he actually wants to live with dignity at home. Mr. Foley stated, 

“I have not received the care that I need to relieve my suffering and have only been offered assisted dying.  I have many severe disabilities and I am fully dependent. With the remaining time I have left, I want to live with dignity and live as independently as possible.” 

Mr. Foley continued:

“It is the real truth of what is going on in Canada regarding so many assisted deaths without appropriate safeguards, in combination with the lack of necessary care that is not being provided to persons who are suffering,” 

Foley's lawyer commented: "“Here he is, needing society’s help and care and we turn our back on him and we’re in essence … asking him if he is interested in assisted dying rather than working with him to provide the services he needs,” 

A spokesperson for Canada's Health and death Ministry parrotted the official government line that the federal government's 
policy ensures safe and consistent access to medically assisted death for all Canadians, in accordance with all Charter rights.  Yada-yada. (Pssst! The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms does not mention a right to death, only a right to life.) The new right to death is a recent twisted aberration of the Canadian Supreme Court.

Welcome to 21st Century Canada where killing the vulnerable is good and helping them to live with dignity is bad. Oh, Canada! 

You can see the news article here.