While we’re on the symbolism, let me remind you how many Europeans see U.S. voters—as a trigger-happy bunch with a Bible in one hand and a rifle in the other.

We do tend to cling to our guns and religion.

Does either of you senators have any serious plans to reduce the number of guns available in the U.S. or even dare to suggest it? That really would impress the Europeans, that you stand for change.

I can only hope that “impressing Europeans” is way down the priority list for both candidates.

“I think we need a transformational figure. I think we need a president who is a generational change and that’s why I’m supporting Barack Obama, not out of any lack of respect or admiration for Senator John McCain”

Some pundits have stated that their belief that Powell’s endorsement is based more on his treatment by the Bush administration than on his ideological affinity with Obama. Powell could have avoided some of this criticism if he would have stated what specific “transformations” Powell would like to see and for which specific positive “changes” he believes Obama will serve as the agent.

The following Powell comment, however, is telling…

“[The Republican Party] has moved more to the right than I would like to see it.”

I am surprised, given this comment – bogus, in my opinion – and Powell’s positions on issues like abortion, gun control, and affirmative action, that the former Secretary of State still identifies himself as a Republican.

Worth a look…the Patriot Post’s “Day of Terror: A September 11 Retrospective“.

If we claim to be Catholic, then American Catholics, including public officials who describe themselves as Catholic, need to act accordingly. We need to put an end to Roe and the industry of permissive abortion it enables. Otherwise all of us – from senators and members of Congress, to Catholic laypeople in the pews – fail not only as believers and disciples, but also as citizens.

Amen.

Full text at: http://www.archden.org/repository//Documents/ArchbishopChaputCorner/Addresses/PublicServants&MoralReasoning9.8.08.pdf

MR.BROKAW: If Senator Obama comes to you and says, “When does life begin? Help me out here, Joe,” as a Roman Catholic, what would you say to him

SEN. BIDEN: I’d say, “Look, I know when it begins for me.” It’s a personal and private issue. For me, as a Roman Catholic, I’m prepared to accept the teachings of my church. But let me tell you. There are an awful lot of people of great confessional faiths–Protestants, Jews, Muslims and others–who have a different view. They believe in God as strongly as I do. They’re intensely as religious as I am religious. They believe in their faith and they believe in human life, and they have differing views as to when life–I’m prepared as a matter of faith to accept that life begins at the moment of conception. But that is my judgment. For me to impose that judgment on everyone else who is equally and maybe even more devout than I am seems to me is inappropriate in a pluralistic society.

I. Sen. Biden has stated here that he accepts that life begins at the moment of conception. I happen to share this belief with the Senator. CCC 2270 states – pay attention here, Madame Speaker – that:

“Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person—among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life”

II. Sen. Biden goes on to say later in the transcript, that he voted against telling everyone else in the country that they have to accept my religiously based view that it’s a moment of conception.

Unless I am mistaken, Biden seems to have admitted that he believes abortion to be homicide (since, after all, abortion destroys the life that he agrees begins at conception) and yet, even now, supports a woman’s right to engage in homicide as long as she “only” terminates the life of her unborn child(ren).

A good followup question for Sen.Biden would be: “How do you morally differentiate various forms of homicide such that one type – e.g. abortion – is right (and/or legal) while other types are wrong (and/or illegal)?”

Such a question should not be above the pay grade of a man seeking to become the next VPOTUS.

For Caleb’s part, he was amazed and delighted at his new sibling. We have been told to expect jealousy to eventually rear its ugly green head,but for now, Caleb’s reactions to Sophia have been spontaneous reactions of loving affection. His willingness to give his favorite Transformer to the baby so that she had at least one cool toy with which to play was the kind of selfless act I have been working hard to encourage.

Babies have the tendency to inspire us in all sorts of ways – from giving a gift of a favorite toy to experiencing profound insight:

If one feels the need of something grand, something infinite, something that makes one feel aware of God, one need not go far to find it. I think that I see something deeper, more infinite, more eternal than the ocean in the expression of the eyes of a little baby when it wakes in the morning and coos or laughs because it sees the sun shining on its cradle. — Vincent van Gogh

Tiffany and I appreciate all of the well-wishes and congratulations from family, friends, and co-workers. Your support and sentiment have meant a lot to us.

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You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb. I praise you, so wonderfully you made me; wonderful are your works!   – Psalm 139:13-14

Children too are a gift from the LORD, the fruit of the womb, a reward. – Psalm 127:3

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P.S. For those that were speculating…yes, I did in fact cry for the second time in my adult life when I first saw my daughter emerge into the wider world.

1. Wealth without Work
2. Pleasure without Conscience
3. Science without Humanity
4. Knowledge without Character
5. Politics without Principle
6. Commerce without Morality
7. Worship without Sacrifice

“Freedom requires religion just as religion requires freedom.”

I found much to appreciate in Romney’s speech. This ahistorical statement, however, made me wince. Even a precursory perusal of the history of Christianity and Judaism gives lie to the statement that “religion requires freedom”.

• Time: 09:35 CST
• Method: Stand Hunting
• Firearm: Remington 700 BDL SS DM 7mm Rem Mag
• Ammunition: Winchester 150 gr. Supreme Ballistic Silvertip
• Shot Placement: Single Shot, Heart (entrance at left shoulder)