There were other similar horrific murders of children in the news around that time. Proud Republican, like you the visions tormented me, often drove me to tears, drove me to stop watching / listening to msm altogether.

So much "news" is lurid poison, a trap to sell commercials to the captive audience. I chose to stop participating. I try to fill my thoughts with beautiful culture instead.

One Political Plaza is one of the few places where i feel safe to read what's happening in the world. Some posts are annoying but none are horrific / nightmarish.

[quote=2bltap]All I can say is all of the Popes to include the current one (maybe the previous one was OK?) are nothing more than corrupt pimps having been behind both before and currently the hiding of all of the p*******e so called religious leaders within their leadership. Actually, I'm not sure if there are in fact any good religious leadership anymore. The Vatican with everything that has been uncovered over the recent years just shows me that the corruption between them and our politicians are legendary."

end quote

I converted to Catholicism 20 years ago at age 42 when I heard, for the first time in my life, a priest witness to the astounding fact on which the Catholic church is formed- that Jesus Christ is truly and substantially Present, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity, in the Holy Eucharist. Upon hearing this I instantly knew in my heart that it's true, and it's changing me profoundly for the better.

So Jesus is the undisputed Leader of the Catholic Church. He is actually there in every church worldwide 24 /7, (except Good Friday / Holy Saturday), physically present in the Holy Tabernacles. Anyone can go in if the doors are unlocked and spend time both physically and spiritually with Our Lord and Our God. Talk, listen for a response, pray, laugh, cry, give thanks or vent anger. Or just be silent and know that He is God. And He loves you no matter what. The Love is tangible.

The Popes are the Vicars ( representatives) of Christ. There is very little leadership going on there. They and bishops and priests are the sinful servants, the rest of us are sinful children.

The closest thing to visible flesh and blood leadership in the Catholic church, in my humble opinion, are most parish priests and the priests and lay teachers on Catholic radio and television, for example the Relevant Radio network and EWTN. They teach, thereby indirectly leading us to Christ.

God Bless America.

Specifically, the Declaration of Independence states that Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness are inalienable rights granted by our Creator and should be protected by the government. Now we find ourselves again being asked to soon v**e on, among many things, a woman's "right to choose".

I've gotten so irritated with this banal phrase. It is purposefully incomplete in that it hides, in the most cowardly way, the thing that women supposedly have a right to. Come on! Finish the phrase! A right to choose what? And don't continue this assault on our intelligence with more stupid euphemisms like "terminating a pregnancy" or "reproductive health" (what's healthy about destroying the product of healthy reproductive organs?) And the embryo>fetus>pre-born baby is not actually a part of the mother's body, so don't say "it's my body to do with as I please". A******n k**ls a baby, it doesn't help the mother's body. Pregnancy is not a disease.

Women definitely DO have a right, even an obligation, to CHOOSE whether or not they are open to pregnancy. Both sexes (or maybe I should say all sexes) must be taught at an early enough age how human reproduction works and what they can do to have incredible sex without moving dangerously into the reproductive zone. They need to know the lurid details of a******n. They need easy access to all the contraceptives available. They need to know the down side of a******n from all angles- physical, psychological and religious. Likewise they need to know the basics of raising children. There must be no "forced motherhood". The father must be required to support the pregnant woman whenever possible. It is ignorant, irresponsible, domineering men who are forcing unwanted motherhood, not pro-life groups that advocate for the mother and baby. And there are so many couples that yearn for a baby to adopt, it's a shame that it's so difficult.

These things are relatively easy to learn and are vitally important. Being PRO- INFORMED CHOICE before an unwanted pregnancy occurs can be an enormous boost for the political cohesiveness of our country. The pursuit of Life, Liberty and Happiness will be more real for many.

Being pro-life (anti a******n), I would like very much to be able to v**e outside the Republican Party. I hope and pray that some day the "right to choose murder" will no longer be a plank in the Democratic Party platform.

Hi Peter. I applaud your comment on this a*********n of children k**led in war. Your signature contains a great line by Steven Hawking about ' looking to the stars rather than your feet and wonder why the universe exists'. I and many others say it exists by the power of love, by the power of God, the personification of love.

My heart aches and breaks when I become aware of any suffering, but especially when it's children. And the sufferings of victims of a******n are not in some people's "wheelhouse of caring".

Many years ago I had to stop watching msm news because the endless accounts of the horrible suffering of children of all ages would not allow me a moment's peace. ( And I abandoned TV pretty much totally). My wife and I raised three sons and I couldn't stop the dreadful imaginations of them being likewise tortured. To this day I care for all other children as if they are mine or my grandchildren, supporting them thru donations, smiles and prayer.

I write this not to boast but rather to speak for the millions of people who think like me, many of whom do things far greater than I can.

Let's pray for hearts filled with love and caring for EVERYONE from the moment of conception to the hour of natural death. Release THAT whirlwind!

I meant to say, CHOOSE to abstain from intercourse on their fertile days if they are not open to motherhood...

I am pro-life. I also feel very strongly that women should CHOOSE to abstain from intercourse during their fertile days. There are plenty of alternative sexual activities to enjoy. Like you said Kevyn, accurate and thorough sex education ( which also needs to be arousing, not just clinical) combined with easily available birth control for all prevents unwanted pregnancies.

It's not the pro-life people who create forced motherhood, it's irresponsible or domineering males that are at fault. We need to educate them in the same way and shift more of the burdens to them along the lines of an easy paternity suit. And pro- life groups are eager to help women that have been victimized, to care and offer companionship, to help care for the baby and also help with adoption if needed.

Maybe we can at least return to the scenario envisioned by President Clinton, when he said that a******ns should be legal, safe and rare!

Pray that love prevails. Release THAT whirlwind!

A valid point. However, religious beliefs have little or nothing to do with the science of reproduction. A human embryo has human DNA from the moment of conception. In fact, each embryo is a unique individual with a unique DNA code. It differs from the codes of the mother and father. The embryo > fetus (Latin for "tiny baby") is not a lump of tissue, it's not a part of the mother's body (different DNA), it is not a religious article. It's a human being which, if purposely destroyed, will have been murdered.
The pro-life agenda is not to punish those who commit a******n, it is merely to nurture the expectant mother and to protect her baby. A woman has the RIGHT TO CHOOSE - to say NO to intercourse during her fertile time or to say YES to bringing new life into the world. But after THAT choice is made- that COMMITMENT is made- now there is another person involved. A human baby girl or baby boy. Who is innocent, who is not religious. If the mother becomes ill or cannot keep the baby, pro- life groups are eager to help. And pro- life groups are free and plentiful.

Whether religious or secular humanist, being open to life is natural law. It is true reproductive health. It shouldn't even be a political topic. Pray for love to prevail. Release that whirlwind!

I recently heard someone use the phrase, "specious argument". I pretty much knew what it meant but today I googled it anyway just to be sure. After reading about Senator Schumer's backing away from his angry outburst over the proposed requirement that a******nists have hospital admitting privilege, it occurred to me that the pro-choice arguments are specious and those that voice these arguments probably feel frustrated, trapped, perhaps even guilty and hence the anger.

hi, what a great topic, posts and replies by so many! This is my first time participating in OPP so this reply is a practice run for me to become adept at replying.

Roamin' Catholic

I've been reading and enjoying One Political Plaza for a couple years. The things you believe and say are important. I admire you all for speaking out.

I'm neither Republican nor Democrat. Neither Liberal nor Conservative. I'm devoutly Catholic in the service of our Lord.

I'm not able to post often, but i will continue to read your posts daily and now that I'm registered I think it will be good for you and I that I join my voice to yours.

Peace be with you.