The Catholic Monitor

Michael O'Brien is the greatest writer since Tolkien. His stories take you on a journey like a dream where you forget that you're in a dream. Only you feel the joy or sadness that is like real life reunion or heart break. The wisdom is experienced in his tales. This is subcreation that equals Homer or Tolkien. Fred New novel by Michael D. O'Brien The Island of the World The Island of the World is the story of a child born in 1933 into the turbulent world of the Balkans and tracing his life into the third millennium. The central character is Josip Lasta, the son of an impoverished school teacher in a remote village high in the mountains of the Bosnian interior. As the novel begins, World War II is underway and the entire region of Yugoslavia is torn by conflicting factions: German and Italian occupying armies, and the rebel forces that resist them — the fascist Ustashe, Serb nationalist Chetniks, and Communist Partisans. As events gather momentum, hell breaks loose, and the ...

I thought I’d reprint this important advice from one of the great writers of our time. Dear Fred, Thank you for your most recent message, with the copies of the correspondence with Fr X.There is a lot of material in it, some of it factual, some of it conjecture, both intertwined with private revelation, ponderings and deep feelings. I share some of those feelings very much. I read Ezekiel 9 frequently. Like you I grieve over the state of the household of God. I should explain my take on the current state of things. For years I've read a lot of private revelation, and found some of it to be true gold, some of it false, some a mixture of gold and personal opinion. I am a firm believer in the Fatima message (pure gold).I am also convinced we are in the midst of the worst apostasy in the history of the Church, probably the Great Apostasy. The Spirit of Antichrist which has been present from the beginning is growing power. We may well be (though I don't know for certain) on the brin...

Father Edward Warren recently past on to his reward. His kindness and joy will be greatly missed by me and everyone who knew him. He was one of the true saints I've meet in my life. I did the interview below a few years back for the San Francisco Faith. In the interview I asked: "What was your happiest time in the priesthood?" He answered: "It isn't over yet. So, there might still be happier times. It might be when you are allowed to die and be with God." Father Warren please pray that I can be as happy as you are now. Fr. Warren was an assistant dean for 25 years at Santa Clara University. Since retiring in 1988, he does volunteer work at parishes throughout the Bay Area. I met Father Warren in the mid 1970s. He picked me up while I was hitchhiking in San Jose. This encounter with Father is one of the factors in God's mysterious providence that helped bring me back to the faith. Q. How and why did you decide to become a priest? A. You have not chosen me...

Ronald Reagan Endorsed Ron Paul Ron Paul was one of only 4 Republican congressmen to endorse Ronald Reagan for President. He led the Texas delegation to nominate Ronald Reagan. "Ron Paul is one of the outstanding leaders fighting for a stronger national defense. As a former Air Force officer, he knows well the needs of our armed forces, and he always puts them first. We need to keep him fighting for our country." - Ronald Reagan

Below are an anti-Ron Brown piece and a pro-Ron Brown article from the Townhall site. The anti-article sounds like a sound bite and the pro-article seems to use reason. It's hard to get a take on Brown because nobody against him seems willing to debate the guy issue to issue. Am I the only one to notice this, but doesn't Brown seems like the only presidential candidate who is a real person? The rest of the would be presidents, be they demos or repubs, seem like cartoon characters at best. I say at best because I like cartoons. Phoney is a better word to describe the impression I get from the rest of presidential candidates. Fred Is Ron Paul really so crazy? (townhall) Townhall.com ^ | 10/23/07 | Jason Wharton Posted on 10/24/2007 12:03:08 PM PDT by traviskicks Is Ron Paul crazy for his position on the war and for criticizing our nation's foreign policy? Many believe this to be the case. But, might we be mischaracterizing Ron Paul by over simplifying or clouding the issues? ...

Ron Paul Reminds me of Ronald Reagan I'm starting to to like Ron Paul. He reminds me of Ronald Reagan. Fred Ron Paul: Republicans need Reagan's courage Nick Juliano Published: Tuesday May 15, 2007 Long-shot Republican candidate Ron Paul said the current slate of candidates need the "courage" of former President Ronald Reagan to be able to withdraw US troops from Iraq. The Texas Congressman, who has become an internet favorite but does not register much support in polls, said the Middle East is too unstable a region in which to maintain an indefinite US military presence. Paul compared the current "quagmire" in Iraq to military involvement in Lebanon in the early 1980s. "We need the courage of a Ronald Reagan," Paul said, explaining the former president initially vowed not to withdraw US Marines who were attacked in October 1983 in Beirut while serving as part of a multinational peacekeeping force. Reagan withdrew the troops in February of the fo...

A Rudy Giuliani letter showing his support of homosexuality From: Donna Garner wgarner1@hot.rr.com How can we as values voters possibly consider voting for Giuliani? http://www.stonewallvets.org/RudyGiuliani.htm A photocopy of the following transcribed letter is at the above link, along with more letters and other material showing that Giuliani is pro-homosexual to the max. Donna Garner ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- June 25, 2002 STONEWALL Veterans' Association Williamson L. Henderson, Director 70-A Greenwich Avenue, Suite 120 New York, New York 10011 Dear Friends: I wish to extend my warmest congratulations to you on the occasion of the 33rd anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Rebellion. The work of the STONEWALL Veterans' Association keeps the spirit of the rebellion alive. The Rebellion was a triumph at a time when the struggle for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Civil Rights was just beginning. Over the past ...

Evangelicals Boycott Pat Robertson BUENA PARK, Calif., Nov. 11 /Christian Newswire/ -- Former 2nd Vice President of the 15 Million strong Southern Baptist Convention said he is calling his Church, First Southern Baptist of Buena Park and all Evangelicals to boycott CBN and The 700 Club, since Pat Robertson has endorsed Rudy Giuliani for President. Drake said there is a special nationwide prayer meeting daily to pray that Robertson will "repent and return to his first love" especially concerning the unborn and the homosexual agenda in America. The Daily Telephone Conference call can be joined at 8:00 am ET 1-605-772-3900 access code 399430# There are several suggestions on the Boycott: Call CBN Switchboard 1-757-226-7000 or their 24- hour Prayer Line 1-800-759-0700 and order line 1- 805-549-2500 and let them know you are boycotting until Mr. Robertson repents and returns. List your name as an individual or your organization in support of the boycott, daily on the "Wiley D...

Hurry to see Bella! It is a great story and a good story - those don't always go together! It's great because of the dramatic events that the characters go through, and it's good because it shows you how things should be. Don't think it's a standard romance with a standard ending because it's very different. You really won't see it coming - I didn't. It is so powerful that several women who saw the movie immediately decided not to have a planned abortion. You really have to hurry because it might only be in town for a week. It has won numerous awards but Hollywood won't distribute it because of its prolife message. A grass-roots network of volunteers is distributing it, so catch it while you can. Here's how to find a theater: www.bellathemovie.com Why not to go: Violence--a car accident has a brief flash of blood. Language--one rude word is said instead of "that stinks." Abortion--they discuss it but you don't see it. Rela...

Our Lady of America Purity Torchbearers of the Queen Richard Salbato 11-09-2007 Some say it will take a miracle to turn America around to purity. America is known throughout the world, especially in developing nations, as a beacon of impurity. Since the 1960s Hollywood has produced and exported pornography, both subtle and explicit, around the globe. However, just prior to America's descent into the sexually quagmire of the 1960's, a nun in Rome City, Indiana began receiving messages from heaven; messages from "Our Lady of America." From the start, those messages called for purity. The first words that Sister Mary Ephrem (Mildred Neuzil) heard from the Lady on September 26, 1956 were: "I am Our Lady of America. I desire that my children honor me, especially by the purity of their lives." Essentially, the messages teach that purity in love is pleasing to Jesus and call for reformation of lives regarding purity, a change that is impossible without great love f...

"[C]asting a blind eye to Rudy Giuliani's big-time advocacy of the transsexual, bisexual, and homosexual agenda" America's Pro-Family Leaders Selling Out Pro-Family Values: Latest Hypocrisy is Pat Robertson's Endorsement of Giuliani Thomasson: "Pat Robertson is casting a blind eye to Rudy Giuliani's big-time advocacy of the transsexual, bisexual, and homosexual agenda" Campaign for Children and Families does not support or oppose candidates for public office, and provides the following information solely for educational purposes. SACRAMENTO, Nov. 7 /Standard Newswire/ -- Campaign for Children and Families (CCF), a leading West Coast pro-family organization, condemns the selling out of family values in the U.S. presidential race by national pro-family leaders, such as Pat Robertson, who today endorsed liberal Republican candidate Rudy Giuliani. "Pat Robertson is leading pro-family voters astray by abandoning moral standards for government," ...

In a message dated 11/6/2007 2:37:16 AM Pacific Standard Time, DrFrank@abortiontruths.net writes: http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewPolitics.asp?Page=/Politics/archive/200711/POL20071105c.html Fred Thompson Rejects GOP's Pro-Life Platform Plank By Terence P. Jeffrey CNSNews.com Editor in Chief November 05, 2007 (CNSNews.com) - Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson, now running for the Republican presidential nomination, said on Sunday he does not support the pro-life plank that has been included in the Republican National Platform since the presidency of Ronald Reagan. Appearing on NBC's "Meet the Press," Thompson told host Tim Russert that he favors overturning Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision that took the issue of abortion away from the states by declaring abortion a constitutional right. Thompson said he wants to keep abortion legal at the state level. "People ask me hypothetically, you know, OK, it goes back to the states," said Thompson. "Someb...

by Robert D. Novak Abortion Wars October 25, 2007 02:00 PM EST WASHINGTON -- National anti-abortion leaders Wednesday put finishing touches on a letter to be sent to all members of Congress urging suspension of more than $300 million in federal funding of Planned Parenthood until a massive criminal case brought in Kansas against the abortion rights organization is settled. That launches an attack against the nation's largest purveyor of "reproductive health care" -- including abortions. On Oct. 16, Kansas District Judge James F. Vano in suburban Kansas City spent eight hours reviewing a 107-count grand jury indictment against Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri Inc. and decided there was "probable cause" to proceed. Allegations of unlawful late-term abortions and other abortion-connected crimes were brought by Johnson County District Atty. Phill Kline, a pro-life hero nationally who is viewed as a fanatic by abortion rights advocates. The prosecutio...

The Ron Paul Juggernaut By David Knowles Nov 6th 2007 8:14AM Filed Under:Republicans, Ron Paul, 2008 President This morning, a collective gasp of dismay was heard coming from the Republican party candidates for president. The news? Texas congressman Ron Paul has set a new GOP single-day fundraising record. In a 24-hour period Mr. Paul raised $4.2 Million dollars through on-line donations. The astonishing total suddenly has people wondering: Is this guy for real? Though he may not win the Republican nomination, his candidacy can no longer be written off as "the longest of long shots." He's raising top-tier money, and attracting thousands of new supporters every week, in part due to a strong performance on the Tonight Show (see below). Much to the disdain of the GOP establishment, one thing has become certain about Mr. Paul, he will have an effect on the race. So how did Paul do it? Who are these hordes of internet supporters that he is reaching? Well, according to Reuters ...

The Greek language of the New Testament has three different words for love: agape, philia and eros. Eros is the love of a person for another person. Its highest form is the attraction of a man for a woman. The symbol of eros is a man and a woman facing each other. Philia is the love of a group of persons for each other. The city of brotherly love in the East Coast is named after this love. Its highest form is the unity of family members. The symbol of philia is persons side by side. While eros and philia were widely used before Christ's time, agape was relatively unknown. Agape is the love of God for mankind. Its highest form is the God-man giving His life for enemy and friend. The symbol of agape is the cruxifix. Agapes fulfillment is the resurrection.

Pullman's Dark Materials http://studiobrien.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=156&Itemid=76 In terms of popularity and themes, the Pullman trilogy is sometimes compared with fantasy books like A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle and the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling. The latter comparison is interesting, because I have recently come across a shift in evaluation of the Potter series offered by a few reviewers, orthodox Christian thinkers who are somewhat more thoughtful, and usually more discerning about neopaganism than is Rowan Williams. They now maintain that Pullman’s novels are so obviously a corrupt mythology and so overtly anti-Christian that by comparison the Potter books, which do not display open or aggressive hostility against Christianity, fall within acceptable parameters of healthy fantasy. This is an easy conclusion to jump to, but a superficial one. It is one of Satan’s most effective and time-tested strategies in his war agains...

This Eloquently Written Book Reveals the Evil Truth is a rare commodity in today’s media. It has fallen victim to spin, misrepresentation and outright lies. But I’m happy to report that there is truth-cold, hard truth-on the pages of The Hidden Axis of Evil by my friend and colleague Fred Martinez. Some of what he writes is not pleasant. Take, for example, the following passage: “Likewise, liberals replace the Constitution with sex and ethnic power struggles that lead to the breaking of the rule of law. If a president can sexually abuse women and possibly even rape them, then obstruct justice and lie under oath, are we under the rule of law?” This is one of many points not covered in today’s media. Nor is there any serious discussion of the true sources of much of what is wrong with America, such as: - “Freud…profoundly changed America from a Christian culture to a therapeutic or self-centered culture.” -“Homosexuality is one of the causes the networks will cover up and defend at any c...

http://www.calcatholic.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?id=66b0b863-223e-4357-b06f-e66364e13446 California Catholic Daily October 17, 2007 How does Planned Parenthood explain this? Rate of sexually-transmitted diseases soars among young Californians A study published last month in the Californian Journal of Health Promotion reports that in 2005 there were 1.1 million new cases of sexually-transmitted infections among young people in California. The 1.1 million figure is ten times higher than previously believed, and it means that in the 15-24 age group, diseases such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HPV and HIV now infect almost one out of every four young Californians. Is this because of a lack of sex-ed in the public schools? Apparently not. According to Chris Weinkopf, editorial-page editor of the Los Angeles Daily News, the California Department of Education reports that "96 percent of California school districts provide comprehensive sexual health education" and all Cali...