So here’s the latest at Planned Parenthood and another well documented expose by Live Action. (You still can’t get mani/pedis or parenthood at PP, but you can get advice on how to traffic minor girls.) In this one, an office manager at PP not only offers to assist a pimp and a prostitute in getting STD treatment and abortion for the minor girls they “manage,” but she also gives them advice on how to run their business. When asked what... Read more

We need Tiger Parents. I was somewhat amused to see the level of concern in reaction to Amy Chua’s Tiger Mom manual of parenting. I’m not a parent or a parenting expert and I don’t wholly agree with her approach, but she started a major debate that peaked with David Brooks calling her a wimp (I’m somewhat sympathetic to his argument.) and one of her daughters writing a letterin her defense: The card was feeble, and I was busted. It... Read more

I’m not against a rational argument in favor of same-sex relations. Rational discussions force us all to better understand our own convictions and those of others. That said, a rational conversation needs to use objective, not imagined, facts. Thiscommentaryfrom Diogenes makes the point in a brilliantly sardonic way. Maybe I just needed to laugh, but I found it hilarious. Hope you enjoy regardless of your perspective on same-sex relations. Read more

Bono has a great column honoring Sargent Shriver (RIP) in today’s NYT. (H/TMary DeTurris Proust) It’s a beautiful testament to Shriver’s work (who was, btw, the last pro-life Democrat to run on a national ticket) and, more importantly, his faith and life. His faith demanded action, from him, from all of us. For the Word to become flesh, we had to become the eyes, the ears, the hands of a just God. Injustice could, in the words of the old... Read more

This week, pro-lifers around the U.S. are commemorating the anniversary of Roe and Doe with various forms of peaceful demonstrations. In some ways we’re better off than in other parts of the world where abortion is not even a legitimate discussion. But we’re still unable, for the most part, to have a rational conversation about a controversial topic. And this is largely what freedom of speech is about – being able to speak freely on all matters, including those of... Read more

Lately I’ve been musing/ranting about Advent and Christmas prep. While I think it’s great to give to charities and help out with charitable projects, I also think it important to make sure that we have time to be charitable towards those closest to us and towards those whom we know. Again, I’m not dismissing any type of charitable projects; just thinking back on many cases of charity that I know which would never have attracted the attention of giving trees,... Read more

In case you’re interested in Fr. Lombardi’s formal statement from the press conference yesterday, here’s a link to the Italian text. Specifically: “Alla luce di questa visione ampia e profonda della sessualità umana e della sua problematica odierna, il Papa riafferma che “naturalmente la Chiesa non considera i profilattici come la soluzione autentica e morale” del problema dell’AIDS. Con ciò il Papa non riforma o cambia l’insegnamento della Chiesa, ma lo riafferma mettendosi nella prospettiva del valore e della dignità... Read more

Well, it’s never dull. At the press conference to release the new book Light of the World, Fr. Lombardi made some “clarifications.” [I’ve posted a link and excerpt below.] I’m not sure why Fr. Lombardi chose to jump into the fray with this. There’s much more in the book that deserves comment besides the Pope’s reiteration of the Church’s teaching on condoms. Yes, he give the example of a male prostitute who uses a condom as a form of “moral... Read more