Thursday, March 27, 2014

David Adler's Idaho Statesman Piece on the Hobby Lobby case.

Check here for David Adler's questionable piece on the Hobby Lobby case:

David Adler: Women's rights at stake in Hobby Lobby case

Here is my response:

JOHN C. KEENAN, J.D., O.P.L.

Thursday, March 27, 2014
Mr. David Adler
Director
Andrus Center for Public Policy
Boise State University
1910 University Drive, MS1140
Boise, Idaho 83725-11140 

            Re:  Your Editorial, 03.27,2014, Idaho Statesman
 
Dear Mr. Adler: 

            Rarely do I find your opinion articles objectionable.  I may not agree with you in every case, but I do not find them objectionable. The referenced editorial flies in the face of good sense.
            The Hobby Lobby case was not an affront to the rights of women.  Your editorial politicizes the issue and read like a music sheet for the proverbial Planned Parenthood choir.  It falls short.
            Prior to March 23, 2010, the issue of contraception was a personal choice of men and women and a personal choice of employers to provide contraception insurance benefits.  Then, in accord with the President’s philosophy, the legislation was signed into law and used the force of government to convert these traditional choices upon the American people.  The law itself hid the agenda under the title of “preventive” medicine and turned it over to the Institute of Medicine to expand the definition of “preventive” medicine beyond its historical meaning and its application to pregnancy.  Returned to the U.S. HHS, the Secretary dutifully promulgated rules forcing employers to provide the contraception benefits.  The bait got magically switched. 
            Two points: (1) you are wrong: not all, but some of the contraception used are abortifacients and, by definition, rid the womb of an embryo; and (2) you are wrong about “religious liberty.”  The rights of conscience are at the heart of the case, a liberty so well grounded in natural rights that the American history and jurisprudence universally testifies to it—compared to what you call women’s rights granted by government and forced on employers barely four years ago.
            This issue is more about people than the corporations they inhabit and more about human dignity than forcing employers to pay for morally-objectionable benefits. 

Sincerely, 
John C. Keenan

Monday, March 24, 2014

From a dusty corner of the old noodle...

To be just, judge the Catholic religion on its effects on the man who has followed it, not the man who is impervious to it.

Tuesday, March 04, 2014

Day of Reflection with Fr Vincent Serpa OP


THE BLESSED MARGARET OF CASTELLO CHAPTER
OF THE IDAHO LAY DOMINICANS
BOISE, IDAHO
 

WELCOMES

FR. VINCENT SERPA, O.P.

DOMINICAN FRIAR, from

CATHOLIC ANSWERS

AS HEARD ON 1140 KGEM, CATHOLIC RADIO AND EWTN, ON

“OBEDIENT FAITH”

Romans 1: 5 & Romans 16:26

DATE:   Saturday, March 29, 2014
TIME:     9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.--With morning and afternoon sessions.
PLACE:  St. Mark’s Catholic Church
                7960 West Northview Street, Boise, Idaho.
LUNCH:  Lunch on your own; however, a no host lunch, will be served at
                12:00 noon at St. Mark’s, ($8.50 per person), if you want lunch
                 please R.S.V.P. in advance at the sign-up sheet at St. Mark’s or
                 call 375.2532 (RSVP message), or email chapter@dominicanidaho.org
                 Please give your name and the number of people who will attend the lunch. 
INFO:      John C. Keenan, O.P.L.
                208.375.2532 or 208.867.6327
                chapter@dominicanidaho.org or john@keenan.org


Monday, March 03, 2014

No, I've seen them praying to Idols!

No matter how many times a Catholic explains special devotions to those not familiar with nor friendly to the fullness of the faith, there comes back, again and again, a denial of truth vouchsafed by "I've seen them, on their knees, praying to their idol of Mary!"



Yes, my darkened brother, you have seen people on their knees; Is it not amazing how you know the secrets of their heart? Well, "Stop judging by appearances, but judge justly" (Jn 7-24).

For if the charge of idol worship could be so lightly laid and be true, what am I to think when I see you praying on your knees before your bed at night?



Should I assume, since you are kneeling before your bed, that you are worshiping and praying to your bed, and in spite of your protestations, reply "No, you worship idols; I have seen you on your knees praying to your bed!"

It would be nice if we'd have a little more smarts and charity than the glorified monkeys that the fans of Darwin would have us be...