Election 2008 – Either way we dodged a bullet

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The disappointment many of us felt on Election Night 2008 really began ten months prior – when John McCain made his unlikely comeback in New Hampshire on January 8th. He was never the best candidate to defeat Barack Obama, nor was he the best standard bearer for the conservative voice in America. Not by a long shot. He may be an American hero and an honorable man, but his inability to fully grasp (let alone articulate) the fundamentals of true conservatism weakened him with his base, and with the general electorate. Just ask yourself how many times, during the three Presidential debates, you found yourself screaming at the television incredulous at McCain’s refusal to stand up to Obama’s sophistry. Anyone who lets his wealth-spreading opponent get away with co-opting Republican “tax cutting” rhetoric doesn’t deserve to win. Now the President-Elect is “ready to rule on day one” and many of us (especially those of us who care about the Life issue) are deeply troubled. But I like silver linings. I need them. WIth McCain no longer in the position of being the de facto representative for conservatism, we now have a tremendous opportunity. It’s time for us to purge our ranks, relearn what it means to be a consistent social and economic conservative and look for new and persuasive ways to not just articulate, but implement conservative principles on the ground. When those ideals are actually applied, not just touted, you get real results. But enough about Bobby Jindal.

The point is this: we dodged a bullet either way. To be sure, the bullet of Barack hurts far more than would have that of McCain and we’ll suffer longer because of it. But let’s not forget, from the ashes of Jimmy Carter rose Ronald Reagan. We mustn’t squander this opportunity to refine.

               

FAQ for Rosaries for Obama

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Can I enter prayers more than once?

Absolutely! That’s the whole point. Please feel free to enter as many Rosaries or prayers that you have prayed.

I want to pray, but I’m not Catholic. Do I have to pray a Rosary?

You can pray any prayer or even fast for the President Elect. Just be sure to click the appropriate box and not the box marked “Rosary”.

How do I pray the Rosary?

You can find instructions here.

Why should we pray for Obama?

A biblical case for praying for Obama can be found here: Christians must honor and pray for Barack Obama.

What do you hope to accomplish by praying for Barack Obama?

We pray that he will be led to make righteous decisions regarding all issues, but especially that of abortion.

What if I am pro-choice?

We hope that you will examine your conscience and re-examine the issue. All the same, we ask you to join us in prayer.

Do I have to be an American?

No, anyone may log their prayers. Everything is anonymous.

Do you have a question that is not answered here? Please leave it in the comments below and we’ll try to get to it.

Click here to return to the main page: Rosaries for Obama!

               

Rosaries for Obama!

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Repeat this process and enter more prayers by clicking here.

What if we joined together anonymously to pray for Barack Obama without judging or condemning him? What if together we prayed one thousand Rosaries for the spiritual benefit of Barack Obama? Would not innumerable graces be poured out upon for our nation and our elected leader?

In order to encourage others Rosaries for Obama is keeping an anonymous tally of the number of Rosaries prayed for Barack Obama. Keep in mind that this is not a venue for judgment, but a place to earnestly ask God to bless our President-Elect.

Please join us in prayer and please email this to your friends or blog about it if you are able. Every time you pray a Rosary for Barack Obama, please add it below to the growing numbers of anonymous prayers. In this way we can keep track as to how many Rosaries have been prayed for this intention and find encouragement in the fact that we are praying together.

Click here for Frequently Asked Questions about “Rosaries for Obama”.

               

Military Chaplains…Church and State

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Tuesday’s celebration of Veterans’ Day has gotten me thinking about military chaplains. I have a family member serving on active duty in the Armed Forces in Iraq and he has told stories of the comfort and guidance provided by his unit’s chaplain. I am also uplifted by stories of brave military chaplains, like Fr. Vincent Capodanno, who have given their lives to minister to men and women serving in harm’s way.

Not everyone, however, is impressed by the service of these military chaplains. Christopher Hitchens, a writer, intellectual, and fellow Washingtonian, whom I admire greatly is perhaps the most vocal critic of our nation’s military chaplaincies. In a 2006 article in Slate he writes, “why are there official chaplains in the armed forces at all? Is not their very presence, paid for out of the public treasury, an affront to the establishment clause of the all-important First Amendment? The author of that amendment, James Madison, certainly thought so.”

As a Catholic, I like the fact that my coreligionists are able to worship as they serve our country around the world, often away from their families. However, I admit to being uncomfortable at the prospect of spending tax dollars to fund Muslim chaplains to conduct sexually segregated services – an example raised by Hitchens.

In fact, a 1986 court case (Katcoff v. Marsh) challenged the constitutionality of military chaplains, but the court found that it was within the armed forces mission to employ religious leaders. Indeed, the provision of military chaplains is critical in allowing men and women serving in the armed forces the ability to freely practice their religion.

Writing in the University of Toledo Law Review Richard Rosen summarizes the court’s finding: “Recognizing the inherent tension between the Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses, the Second Circuit found that if Congress did not establish an Army chaplaincy, it would deny soldiers the right to exercise their religion freely, particularly given the mobile and deployable nature of the nation’s armed forces.”

So, as we remember the brave men and women who have fought for our country, let us also remember the men who have served them as chaplains, following them around the world, through artillery fire and machine gun volleys and roadside bombs. I hope we are always willing to ensure that those who fight for our freedoms are able to exercise theirs.

               

We Christians must honor and pray for Barack Obama

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It’s no secret that I do not agree with Barack Obama’s policies on abortion and homosexual unions (he didn’t get my vote, if you’re wondering). However, I have been alarmed by some Christians who have resorted to an attitude of disrespect to our President-Elect. Racist remarks and off color comments are completely unacceptable in the mouth of a Christian.

We must honor and pray for Barack Obama and Joe Biden. They are our elected leaders. We may disagree their policies, but we must remember that Sacred Scripture commands us to show honor to them:

“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God” (Rom 13:1).

Despite our disagreements, we must “be subject to the governing authorities”. This is not a suggestion, it a command from the Word of God. It may be hard for us, but “there is no authority except from God”. God granted Barack Obama the presidency. This does not mean that God approves of everything espoused by the President-Elect, but He allowed it to happen for some greater purpose. The purposes of God are unknown to us. Some great good must come out of this. We mustn’t despair.

Saint Peter also taught that Christians should be subject to the governing institutions, even to the emperor as supreme.

“Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right” (1 Pet 1:13-14).

Keep in mind that Saint Peter spoke of Nero, the most vile Roman emperor and fierce persectutor of Christians.

We should also pray for our leaders. They need extra grace and virtue to fulfill their public offices. Maybe God will bring them to see the light about the injustice of abortion. Whether the conversion of Constantine helped or hindered the Church, it certainly extended the cause of Christ in Europe for subsequent centuries. God had a greater plan. And this is why would should continually pray for our leaders.

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way” (1 Tim 2:1-2)

Saint Paul, speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit states that we should pray “for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life.” We must pray for our leaders. If you count them as enemies in the culture war, then that’s all the more reason to pray for them. Our divine Lord taught us to love and pray for our enemies. Personally, I need a lot of work in this area.

Let’s pray for Barack Obama and ask God to bless him.

Godspeed,

Taylor Marshall

PS: I still haven’t decompressed after the election and this post was not easy for me to write. However, I know in my heart that this is the right thing to say at this moment.

               

Eric Wilson reflects on Obama’s win last night

Last night, as the networks began announcing Obama’s win, I started to sense the uphill battle we will face as Catholics, Christians, and Americans in promoting a culture of life for the next four years.  The Church, in many quarters, has failed to provide the clarion call for that which we must hold dear.  During the campaign, Obama promised to sign the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) into law upon reaching the White House.  Should he make good on this promise, the consciences of millions of Americans will be violated – an overreach for which nobody will ever have a mandate.  Lastly, I found it tragically ironic that while we were reflecting, as a nation, on the racial progress represented by the historic election, that roughly one third of our country’s African Americans are not alive to witness it because they have been killed through legal abortion.

               

Alexandra Windsor Considers Obama’s Victory

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There is much to be said about Barack Obama’s win last night. The
breadth of his ambition and the enormity of his political talents have
been underestimated from the start of his campaign. And I believe
what happen last night represents a real and long-lasting change in
America. But for now I will not dwell or expound on that. I wish
instead to return to the topic of abortion – the same, old, tired
topic that most people would be happy to never hear about again. That
topic that seems to have been written about over and over by Christian
conservatives this election. These are not new insights but here is a
short summary of where we stand:

- Every year between 1.2 and 1.3 million humans are killed in our
country by an act that is not only tolerated but protected as a
constitutional right – a right so important to protect, says the high
court, that states have no interest in interfering with it in almost
all instances.

- This is the case because of the Supreme Court cases Roe v. Wade and
Doe v. Bolton.

- Last night’s election put a man into office who will almost
certainly effect the composition of the Supreme Court in such a way
that Roe and Doe will remain in force for the foreseeable future.

- And in that time, more than 1 million humans a year will be legally
killed on an annual basis.

- That this happens is not the fault of the small minority who boldly
proclaim their support for abortion rights. It is the fault of the
hundreds of millions of Americans who regularly say, “I’m personally
against it but . . .” Those hundreds of millions of Americans who
would just prefer not to bring it up – to not have to think about it.
They are moral cowards and because of their cowardice a million humans
will die this year.

I have been pondering all this now for the last 24 hours and I find it
very, very sobering.

               

Today I wear black

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Today I wear black.

We are the nation of:

1. legalized and state-funded contraception
2. legalized and state-funded embryo destruction
3. legalized and homosexual “marriage”
4. legalized no-fault divorce
5. mandatory income redistribution (to fund the items above in large part)
6. and our elected president is a man who fought for legislation stating that babies that survive botched abortion should be killed by a doctor

This is what the United States has become. I mourn.

When I finish mourning I will do everything that I can do to reverse these evils in our land.

If God’s wrath comes, we can only blame ourselves. We voted for it.

               

Prayer for National Elections

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O God, we acknowledge You today as Lord, Not only of individuals, but of nations and governments.

We thank You for the privilege Of being able to organize ourselves politically And of knowing that political loyalty Does not have to mean disloyalty to You.

We thank You for Your law, Which our Founding Fathers acknowledged And recognized as higher than any human law.

We thank You for the opportunity that this election year puts before us, To exercise our solemn duty not only to vote, But to influence countless others to vote, And to vote correctly.

Lord, we pray that Your people may be awakened. Let them realize that while politics is not their salvation, Their response to You requires that they be politically active.

Awaken Your people to know that they are not called to be a sect fleeing the world But rather a community of faith renewing the world.

Awaken them that the same hands lifted up to You in prayer Are the hands that pull the lever in the voting booth; That the same eyes that read Your Word Are the eyes that read the names on the ballot, And that they do not cease to be Christians When they enter the voting booth.

Awaken Your people to a commitment to justice, To the sanctity of marriage and the family, To the dignity of each individual human life, And to the truth that human rights begin when Human Lives Begin, And not one moment later.

Lord, we rejoice today That we are citizens of Your kingdom.

May that make us all the more committed To being faithful citizens on earth.

We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

(This prayer was written by the Reverend Frank Pavone.)

               

John McCain on SNL (Saturday Night Live)

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These videos of McCain on SNL with Tina Fey are so funny! You’ve got to watch them. (They make take four or five seconds to load…)

This one is my favorite:

And an interview with John and Cindy with an excellent clip of McCain impersonated Barbara Streisand:

               

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