Raising up, supporting, maintaining

Posted on January 26, 2012 by catholicpostergirl

I am beyond thrilled to announce that I am now a regular contributor to a fantastic new online community for Catholic women– Suscipio! The title is Latin for “to raise up, support, maintain”, and that is what we do for each other at this lovely website/community.

We have a book club! And a blog (which is where you’ll find me every Friday–thus far–and meet the other lovely bloggers!). And other stuff! Come join us!

My first post will be up tomorrow morning. It’s about….joy. :)

I hope you come join us. :)

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File under: Confused

Posted on January 24, 2012 by catholicpostergirl

It has recently come to my attention that there seems to be a pretty big “worldview” gap between Catholics and Protestants.

Or at least, the Catholics and Protestants I, personally, know.

They seem totally fixated on that fact that we are “fallen”, that we are “sinful”, that humanity is a “fallen race”, and that good things that happen are just sort of points of light in our dark, long night of sinfulness.

Is this accurate?

Now maybe I just hang out with a lot of happy Catholics, but I’ve never noticed this among us, and we’re supposed to be the “guilt” ridden ones (another thing I have NEVER gotten. Who came up with this? Is it because of confession or something?).

Yes, humanity is fallen.

But we have been redeemed, folks!

The Earth is full of God’s goodness! He makes good things! Everything He makes is good!

That doesn’t mean that humanity always uses it for good (ie, knowledge….sigh.)

But I don’t know any Catholics who write things like this, who say that wanting to be freed from pain is somehow a huge cosmic black mark. It’s, um, human. EVEN JESUS wanted the cup to be removed from Him!

Sure, we sinned. Yes. Original sin. “In Adam’s Fall, we sinned all,” as the old Puritan samplers say.

But Jesus has saved us. He is risen! Death and sin do not have the final word.

We can live in light!

So I don’t understand all the dark, heavy, “sin”, “guilt”, “fallen people” talk.

Hence, the wondering if it’s Uniquely Protestant?

Or if I’m just a really happy Catholic? :)

Because, like Anne Frank, I believe that people really are good at heart. I believe we want to do the right thing.

We were made for love!

So, folks, cut it out, ‘kay? Let’s be happy.

Remember Pollyanna and her happy texts? Let’s try that!

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One Thousand Gifts, XI

Posted on January 23, 2012 by catholicpostergirl

Today, it’s just one gift.

330) LIFE

Today is the March for Life in D.C. I know a few people participating. I went to Mass today, am abstaining from meat, and said the rosary and the Divine Mercy chaplet.

Abortion is such a horrible thing. It’s impossible, really, for me even to comprehend. And it strikes me personally. I know that, if my mother had been different, I could’ve been easily “taken care of.”  Because to some people, life with pain and suffering isn’t life. But to me, it’s everything.


Will you decide what men shall live, what men shall die? It may be that, in the sight of Heaven, you are more worthless and less fit to live than millions like this poor man’s child. Oh, God! To hear the Insect on the leaf pronouncing on the too much life among his hungry brothers in the dust!
–Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol
I was born in 1982. Abortion was legal then.
But, oh, my life has been so wonderful. Not that it doesn’t have its bumps. But I’m so glad that I’ve had it, bumps and everything, rather than to not exist at all.
We cannot take God’s most precious gift to us–our very lives–and treat it like it’s last Sunday’s paper. How can we decided that a baby–another human being–cannot be born, because it will “mess up” our lives? Or because the child might suffer? Who does not suffer? God’s own son died on the cross for us. If He suffered (and He surely did), how do you think you’re going to avoid it?
And why do we want to? I mean, besides the obvious. Everything I am today I owe to a few things: My parents; my faith; and my life, all of it, the suffering, the joys. The joys would not be so wonderful without the suffering. I know the difference now.
Nothing, absolutely nothing, is more vital than this. And until we change this, until every human life is protected, without limits, we cannot have peace. We cannot claim to be a civilized and just society. Not if we allow the slaughter of millions of innocents to continue without abatement.
This one gift–this is everything.
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Suing the government

Posted on January 21, 2012 by catholicpostergirl

On the heels of the government’s announcement yesterday (scroll down), here’s an interview with National Review Online’s Kathryn Lopez and Hanna Smith, senior council for the Beckett Fund for Religious Liberty.

A sampling:

LOPEZ: And why should Belmont Abbey be allowed to keep basic medical care from its non-Catholic professors?

SMITH: Belmont Abbey believes strongly — as part of its commitment to Catholic education and in accordance with Catholic social teaching — in promoting the well-being and health of its employees and students. That is why Belmont Abbey provides health insurance to its employees and students. But as part of its religious commitment, Belmont Abbey vigilantly ensures that its policies do not cover drugs or services that are inconsistent with its religious faith. Belmont Abbey is not denying basic medical care to its employees. Any employees are free to purchase the preventative services. The issue is whether government can force a religious college to pay for drugs and services that violate its core religious convictions. Moreover, Belmont Abbey employees and students know — when they accept a job or enroll as a student — that they are doing so at a religious institution that takes seriously its faith commitment. They are free to work or study elsewhere.

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Conscience means nothing

Posted on January 20, 2012 by catholicpostergirl

At least to the current administration.

We have one year to, in the words of Archbp. (Cardinal to be) Nolan, ” figure out how to violate our consciences.”

If you needed a reason why this upcoming election is important–how about this?

This administration sees Catholics as votes. And that’s about it. There is no respect for us, or what we believe.

What BXVI said to the U.S. bishops during their ad limina visit is more important than ever to read and internalize. Coincidence that his speech happened the day  before this announcement came out?

We have to be willing to fight for our religious freedom, it seems–as did our founders. As did Elizabeth Ann Seton, and all the Catholics who first came here.

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Life, transplants, and Amelia

Posted on January 17, 2012 by catholicpostergirl

I wrote about it here.

I will defend a person’s right to life–from conception until natural death–no matter what people might say about “quality of life.” Every single person has dignity. Every single person has worth.

But I think we’re getting our lines crossed here.

The “Amelia case” isn’t about that stuff. If it was, I’d be banging the drum for her, huge.

Transplant makes life very, very difficult. It’s a complex medical maze. There are a lot of things to think about here, and I’ll reiterate them.

1) They are talking about a directed donation–from an adult in the family, most likely. Will the kidney be the right size for Amelia? Will anyone even be a good match?

2) The drug regiment she is currently one has some definite contraindications to transplant. The kidney might not even function in her. The body might not even accept it.

3) CHOP (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia) is on the line for a lot here. First: their Medicare/Medicaid/insurance viability. Every transplant a center does goes into the UNOS database. Success rates are incredibly important for payment by Medicare/Medicaid/insurance. It’s incredibly important for UNOS certification. Some centers take risks. Some don’t. If CHOP doesn’t feel comfortable doing the surgery, they should look elsewhere. There may be a hospital willing to take her on. Some hospitals won’t transplant CF kids with a certain type of bacteria. Some won’t do second or third transplants for patients. And yet, we don’t hear thousands of people crying out for injustice there.

I feel really uneasy about the fact that the pro-life side, of which I am a proud member, is looking at this as clear-cut discrimination and not looking at it dispassionately, or with any sort of regard for transplant ethics and complications. Transplant medicine is probably one of the least-understood forms of medicine–that much is evident in the myths that swirl around it.

Yes, she is a sweet girl. Yes, her life is important.  Everyone’s life is important. And YES, she should get treatment. But sometimes this is the end of the road. Some CF kids don’t get transplants, and mentally, they’re fine. But they’re too sick, or they were too non-compliant, or a plethora of other things.  We do not know the hospital’s stance on this, and we will probably never know because of HIPPA and things like that. Many of these people writing about Amelia have no idea how transplants work, or how the screening process works. (And why aren’t we talking dialysis, here?)

I have read some commenters who say they have written to Archbishop Chaput in Philly about this. This makes me cringe. This is NOT how transplant works. In fact, to me, it undermines the entire system. Transplant medicine is based on allocating very scarce resources to a huge population of people. Every single person on the waiting list is special to someone. Affection has no place in this. Hard, cold science does. If a person can benefit from a transplant, materially benefit, and the benefits outweigh the substantial risks, then, the person is usually listed.

Yes, mental capacity does have a place in listing someone, because you have to determine if a person can take care of themselves under the intense regiment of meds. But her parents would do that for her. That’s not really a problem. But what is a problem is the way this is being gone about. The hospital could’ve handled this better. But just because you need a transplant doesn’t mean you’ll get one. 18 people died today waiting for a transplant that never came.

ABC news has this tidbit:

Patients can be denied an organ transplant for a variety of reasons, according to the American Society of Transplant Physicians. Transplantation will not be offered to those would could be harmed by the surgery itself or by the immune-suppression that is required to prevent organ rejection.

Patients with weak immune systems or a high risk of infection, such as some children with Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome, cannot be immunosuppressed, according to those guidelines.

That is a HUGE medical reason not to transplant her that has nothing to do with her mental state. It is cold, hard, medical fact.

It makes me happy to see such a great pro-life community out there. But at the same time, I think we are seriously misdirecting our anger here.

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One Thousand Gifts, X

Posted on January 16, 2012 by catholicpostergirl

277) Brave little girls

278) Much loved stuffed animals

279) Friendly, familiar faces

280) Easy labs!

281) Disney princess stickers in brightly colored plastic bins

282) good PFTs (they’re lung function tests. :) )

283) Cozy lunch with my brother on a rainy day

284) The fire crackling away, and next to it a rain-streaked window pane.

285) long-stemmed carnations in black florists’ buckets

286) good doctors

287) hospital availability

288) Brownies backing

289) Moon and sun, together

290) Prayer before meetings

291) Patterns in frost

292) mochas

293) Flexible bosses

294) Polished shoes

295) seeing movies with friends

296) Freshly vacuumed floors

297) Hot pizza

298) Humming dishwasher

299) Catholic friends!

300) Book club discussions

301) Being able to share myself with others.

302) Working car batteries!

303) Thick sweaters

304) Winter boots

305) Ice/snow scrapers

306) Snow plows!

307) Salt trucks

308) Lenten books

309) a paycheck

310) Fridays

311) Indoor parking

312) Full gas tanks

313) scarves

314) Long black winter coats

315) popcorn and sno-caps, eaten together

316) Tabletop jukeboxes

317) Wiper fluid

318) Jumper cables

319) children sledding

320) movie theaters

321) Dinner with friends

322) soda fountains

323) Cheerful waitresses

324) red vinyl stools at a restaurant counter

325) Milkshakes

326) new sweaters

327) baking supplies

328) multitudes of cheese

329) hymnals

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If you give three Catholic girls a book…

Posted on January 12, 2012 by catholicpostergirl

(and some pizza)

They might talk about it for more than three hours.

We loved Teresa Tomeo’s book, Extreme Makeover. It was relevant and fantastic, and gave us plenty to talk about! Such as:

  • How often we go to confession. C used to go every week (she was in a convent), I’m trying to go more often (once a month is the goal) and N goes when she can.
  • How the TV should not be on all the time! Or in the bedroom! Or be 80″ wide! Why are people so fascinated and addicted to the TV?! None of us got that. (We met in my living room, and after our discussion I said that my TV, which is in the living room, probably felt very abashed. But I love my TV–even if it’s “too small” and I don’t watch  much TV on it!)
  • The trick to dressing modestly, yet attractively. And how “tempting” men is a two way street–boys, control your imagination! It is not all the fault of women!
  • How parents play a huge role in what their kids watch, see, and do, and what media habits they develop.
  • Things we like–and don’t like–about being a girl.
  • How Jesus is important, but sometimes we just need a real, flesh-and-blood person to make us feel better. :) (Sort of reacting to the idea of “You’re not alone, you have Jesus” that can make the rounds in religious thought.) Not all of us are that spiritually astute, and that’s OK, dang it!
  • How we pray, and what works the best for us.

Overall, a very productive and thoughtful meeting! I know it’s Protestants who talk about “fellowship”, not Catholics, but dang it, we did have some good fellowship. :) It’s so great to share what we like and what we struggle with about being Catholic women in the 21st century.

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One Thousand Gifts, IX

Posted on January 9, 2012 by catholicpostergirl

153) Sun through the stained glass

154) Warmth

155) Altar candles

156) Old men making the stations of the cross

157) Holy priests

158) Safe returns from travels

159) Bright scrunchies made of wisps of ribbon in a little girl’s head–exotic bird perched.

160) Towheaded little boys

161) Leather kneelers, scarlet

162) Christmas roses

163) copper curled babies

164) Brothers giving little sisters piggyback rides

165) Sister love

166) The grace of forgiveness

167) Christ, adored in the monstrance

168) Priests hearing confession

169) The sacraments

170) Confession itself

171) grace, grace, grace

172) brilliant January sun

173) astronomy app on my iPhone–seeing the stars and knowing which ones they are

174) All the stars that He arranged

175) Pens, and ink

176) Lipstick

177) Mirrors

178) dentists

179) clean teeth

180) being able to read!

181) getting to start again

182) Keys on a key ring

183) Red cashmere sweaters

184) Outdoor nativities

185) amaryllis

186) Poinsettias

187) altar boys lighting candles

188) votive candles

189) prie-dieus

190) shrines

191) Polished wood floors

192) carved shamrocks on the ends of each pew

193) the red glow of the sanctuary lamp

194) the scratching of pencil on paper

195) another beautiful day

196) flags flapping in the wind

197) outside walks

198) studying for class

199) Bach

200) Stir-fries

201) the scent of freshly chopped peppers

202) cut vegetables and herbs on a bright red cutting board, ready for the pan

203) good knives

204) pork, seasoned with five spice powder, browning in the skillet

205) pineapple sweetness

206) workout shoes

207) moonlight on my face and bed

208) long nightgowns

209) air so clear you could drink it!

210) toddling little girls

211) Clean white cabinets

212) driving with the windows cracked

213) A fresh bar of soap

214) shaving cream

215) fresh towels

216) light through windows

217) morning fires in the fireplace

218) letters in the mailbox

219) Eucharist

220) baby blue sky

221) cinnamon

222) fresh nutmeg

223) gingham print mugs

224) napkins in a silver holder

225) cozy sweatpants

226) football

227) Dominican brothers and sisters

228) navy blue tote bags

229) pencils

230) workbooks

231) Binders full of lists

232) photos of friends

233) bright blue plastic cups

234) hand knit sweaters

235) ASL

236) Microphones

237) church statues

238) the CCC

239) broadway cast recordings

240) sheet music

241) Pretty dolls

242) new bookshelves

243) sandwiches made for the homeless

244) holy water

245) men and women kneeling, lost in prayer

246) ambulances

247) firefighters

248) paramedics

249) police officers

250) tolling church bells

251) richly embroidered chair cushions

252) gold altar clothes

253) relics

254) clean, cool water

255) fizzy drinks

256) cream

257) sugar in a jar

258) milk-glass rosary beads

259) stacks of newspapers

260) garlands

261) bright colored neckties

262) red velvet bows

263) flickering candle flame

264) the book of Isaiah

265) baptism

266) voices raised in song, echoing in the church

267) the gloria–song of praise sung by angels

268) cameo earrings

269) bags of flour

270) groaning pantry shelves

271) homemade tomato sauce, bright red

272) red hair in braided pigtails

273) baby shoes

274) wide-eyes babies

275) fat novels

276) shiny pennies

Come take the Joy Dare with us!

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What we can, and cannot, decide

Posted on January 8, 2012 by catholicpostergirl

Since Rick Santorum’s amazing upward bound in the Hawkeye Cauci, a ton of media attention has been paid to him, his family, and his beliefs. To some people, this is bringing to light a candidate they knew only a little about previously. To others, it’s welcome attention to someone who really walks the walk, so to speak, when it comes to social conservatism. And to yet a third group, it’s the embodiment of their worst nightmare in one person.

You can guess which group I’m in.

Full disclosure, before we start: I’m a fan. He’s a true blue Catholic. The things he believes, when it comes to abortion and marriage, are what Catholics actually believe. I know this is a shock to some people. The Catholic Church is unabashedly pro-life. Abortion, to Catholics, is murder. Full stop. We believe in protecting life from conception to natural death–so we don’t support euthanasia, either. We support the death penalty is very limited cases.

We believe that marriage is between a man and a woman. The rules for sexual relations being licit in Catholicism are easy: Only between one man and one woman, within the bond of marriage. That’s it. So I, as a single woman, could not have sex with my boyfriend and have it be morally licit. I realize this is a deeply unpopular sentiment in our times. But anyone who isn’t married is called to be chaste. Full stop. That means me, that means everyone else who is not married.

These are deeply, deeply unpopular positions, for the most part, in 21st century America, especially the latter. In the abortion public opinion wars, progress is being made.

So, Santorum’s beliefs–Catholicism’s beliefs–are bringing out a lot of vitrol. People are appalled at what he believes. I’ve read on my facebook page posts that say things like “If anyone supports Santorum, I don’t want to know them”. What they really mean is, If anyone here is actually Catholic, I don’t want to know them.

Others see this as an undermining of the “small government” idea preached by conservatives. What they’re missing is that you can be for small government, but also have strong socially conservative morals. This is what it means: That government should allow the people to be able to make the choices they can make–who their doctor is, where their kids go to school, whether or not to carry a gun (as a law-abiding citizen, natch!), and things like that.

But there are some things government can’t tell us to do, because it goes against basic moral law. Abortion is murder; therefore, if government condones it, that is outside its sphere. Marriage is something ordained by God, and created by Him; therefore, government can’t change its definition. Marriage is not a right. Conservatives do not, contra popular saying, want to be “in people’s bedrooms.” We simple believe that there are things people cannot change–things that God has ordained. Things that are moral absolutes, and we have to follow them.

I’m sorry if this is unpopular. I’m sorry if it offends some people. But what Rick Santorum is presenting in his social policy is exactly what the Church teaches, and has always taught. People who rage about Santorum’s thoughts on these topics aren’t just ranting about him–they’re ranting against all faithful Catholics.

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