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Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Do Mad Scientists Control the World?
Dear Mr. Martinez,
One wonders why so many politicians wish to protect the kind of experiments which, just a few decades ago, would have been conducted only in horror movies featuring mad scientists. In the present instance, I refer to the proposed legislation in the United Kingdom permitting the creation of hybrid human-animal embryos.
I suppose one does not really need to wonder for very long. In our fallen state, we have a powerful thirst for total autonomy and a painless way to cheat death. It's as if someone is whispering in our ears: "You certainly will not die! No, God knows well that the moment you [do this] your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods" (Gn 3:4-5).
What one really wonders is how a serpent with a crushed head can still speak persuasively. Anyway, the Church in the UK is putting up a fight. See, among other evidence, the letter from the bishops of Scotland: Scottish Bishops' Pastoral on Human Embryo Legislation.
In league with the mad scientists is basketball coach Rick Majerus of St. Louis University, whose outspoken defense of abortion rights and stem-cell research has drawn the ire of his bishop, Raymond Burke. Sports fans don't often get this kind of story, so we're following up our previously-cited blog entry with an interview given by Archbishop Burke entitled Catholic Identity.
One more bit of gloom and doom before we turn to something brighter. I promised to say more about the Pope's final words to the Jesuits, because it is clear that Benedict is rejecting the Order's own self-assessment. That's fairly significant; I want to be sure everybody gets it: The Pope and the Jesuits: Explaining the Problem.
What's Good is Very Good
Some time ago I referred to a question and answer session between Pope Benedict and seminarians. Now the Vatican has published a similar Q&A session with priests in Rome. It enables us to witness a spontaneous demonstration of our Holy Father's pastoral care, warmth, wisdom and spiritual depth, all of which I find enormously encouraging.
See if you respond the same way: Pope Speaks with Roman Priests on Lent, Evangelization, Judgment.
Jeff Mirus
President
Trinity Communications
www.CatholicCulture.org - Email: contact@catholicculture.org
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Trinity Communications - 13705 Orlando Road, Nokesville, VA 20181
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Do Mad Scientists Control the World?
Dear Mr. Martinez,
One wonders why so many politicians wish to protect the kind of experiments which, just a few decades ago, would have been conducted only in horror movies featuring mad scientists. In the present instance, I refer to the proposed legislation in the United Kingdom permitting the creation of hybrid human-animal embryos.
I suppose one does not really need to wonder for very long. In our fallen state, we have a powerful thirst for total autonomy and a painless way to cheat death. It's as if someone is whispering in our ears: "You certainly will not die! No, God knows well that the moment you [do this] your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods" (Gn 3:4-5).
What one really wonders is how a serpent with a crushed head can still speak persuasively. Anyway, the Church in the UK is putting up a fight. See, among other evidence, the letter from the bishops of Scotland: Scottish Bishops' Pastoral on Human Embryo Legislation.
In league with the mad scientists is basketball coach Rick Majerus of St. Louis University, whose outspoken defense of abortion rights and stem-cell research has drawn the ire of his bishop, Raymond Burke. Sports fans don't often get this kind of story, so we're following up our previously-cited blog entry with an interview given by Archbishop Burke entitled Catholic Identity.
One more bit of gloom and doom before we turn to something brighter. I promised to say more about the Pope's final words to the Jesuits, because it is clear that Benedict is rejecting the Order's own self-assessment. That's fairly significant; I want to be sure everybody gets it: The Pope and the Jesuits: Explaining the Problem.
What's Good is Very Good
Some time ago I referred to a question and answer session between Pope Benedict and seminarians. Now the Vatican has published a similar Q&A session with priests in Rome. It enables us to witness a spontaneous demonstration of our Holy Father's pastoral care, warmth, wisdom and spiritual depth, all of which I find enormously encouraging.
See if you respond the same way: Pope Speaks with Roman Priests on Lent, Evangelization, Judgment.
Jeff Mirus
President
Trinity Communications
www.CatholicCulture.org - Email: contact@catholicculture.org
To learn more or make a tax-deductible contribution, visit www.CatholicCulture.org/promo/contribute/ today.
To unsubscribe from the CatholicCulture.org email list, simply use the "Control What We Send You" link in your Account Options, and then uncheck the email categories you wish to decline. CatholicCulture.org does reserve the right to send occasional fundraising requests to your address. If you do not wish to receive fundraising messages, please contact us and we will deactivate your account in our system. Please note that this will preclude you from receiving any email from CatholicCulture.org in the future.
Trinity Communications - 13705 Orlando Road, Nokesville, VA 20181
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