The Catholic Defender: In Honor Of A Brother

(Editors note) in honor of the 30th anniversary of those who gave their lives defending our Country who were killed this day.) I was in the United States Army for more than 26 years and during that time I have had many close encounters with the enemy.

It was a daily occurrence as anytime we went outside the wire there was always a risk.

This weekend my wife and I were doing some spring cleaning and I found an old newspaper clipping about my Brother, Randy when he was in the Marine Corps.

The story was written by Louise Whall for the Humansville paper called, "The Daily News".
I want to share this story because it reflects heros in American life:

"Cpl. Randy Hartley joined the Marines after high-school graduation in 1979 because the United States honor was at stake a half a world away in Iran, where 52 Americans were being held hostage.


On Monday, his mother, Mary Ann McKinney, mailed her son a package of cookies and tobacco, trying her hardest to believe he survived Sunday's bombing of a Beirut Marine compound-- an act the government says may be linked to Iran.

"I almost feel like 'yeah, go out and blow up Iran' if that's who did it," Mrs. McKinney said. "That's how come Randy decided to join in the first place. He was furious about the Iranian situation. He'd be sitting here watching TV and he'd be so mad".

Hartley, 23, went to Beirut in May and was scheduled to leave sometime after Nov. 6. All he complained about in letters home was the heat and the flies. Occasionally, he asked for cookies and his favorite snuff, which was not available in Beirut, Mrs McKinney said.

Hartley suffered a knee injury during a training exercise that could have prevented him from joining the multinational peacekeeping force in Lebanon. But he said the rest of his 800-man outfit was going and he wanted to be with them, Mrs. McKinney said.

When he decided to enlist after high school, Mrs. McKinney said she tried to discourage him. Now she's proud that Randy and an older son, David, who died in 1976, joined the Marines. Still, she said, she doesn't completely understand the political dynamics that require a U.S. presence in Lebanon.

"I tried to talk him out of it, but I don't know our political situation", she said. "But I'm behind every one of them 100 percent. He told me he knew what his job was. Mostly, when he writes home, he wants to know how his horses are".

Since about 8 a.m. Sunday, when she and her husband, Henry, learned of the bombing from a television news show, she and family and friends have kept a vigil by the phone waiting for some word about Hartley.

They scan news programs hoping to catch a glimpse of him and glance nervously at the window each time a car drives down the dirt road in front of the comfortable rural Humansville trailer home.

Mrs. McKinney said she thinks her son is living in a tent, but his address is listed as the destroyed barracks. She is hoping the mail is simply routed there and then distributed in the area. 

She said she was even more panicked recently when snipers killed four Marines. This time, the tragedy is almost too big to comprehend, she said.

Attempts by another son, Donald, of Harrison, Ark., to get information about Randy for the family were futile, she said. Donald did telephone Monday morning, though, with the news that his wife had given birth to their second son, Joshua.

Hoping that the birth is a positive omen, family and friends continued to wait and pray that the longer they don't hear anything, the better the news.

Outside the trailer, the American Legion flag the family received upon David's death (Viet Nam Vet) wafted at less than full mast to express sympathy for the families across the nation sharing the same sorrow.

"I put it up for all of them", she said. "Whatever Marine is killed, it could be my Marine".

In remembering this terrible event, there were 220 Marines, 18 Navy, and 3 Army Soldiers that died in the explosion. My Brother would survive the blast and our family did move on. 

I would deploy to Saudi Arabia during the first Gulf War and subsequently a number of times during Operation iraqi Freedom.

I have three immediate family members that are in the Army and all three of them served in Afghanistan and iraq. Please keep our Soldiers in prayer as our Nation is in much need of God's presence.

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The Catholic Defender: Wake Up America

To understand the current war between President Obama and the Progressive Left with the Christian Right, the conservatives, it is important to understand the foundation of Progressivism.

Progressivism is an ideology that stems back to Europe and the Industrial Revolution.  

Progressivism maintains and fosters the advancement of a secular state.  It is embodied in Marxism, Socialism, and Communism.   

This is why it has been seen as anti-American by the vast majority of Americans.   

The Progressive movement 100 years ago began pushing for European models on health care going back to Theodore Roosevelt, after losing the Republican bid for President, was picked up by the Progressive Party who then ran on a universal health care system.    

What the Progressives seek to do is bring about change due to science, technology, the economy, and social development.  

The more you understand this, the more you see Obama’s rhetoric calling for change being a ruse for this change.   

Universal health care is an ongoing attempt by the progressives to take over control of the Government, which would empower itself to maintain power over the people.  

Any opposition will be squashed.  Obama’s attempt to take over the health care system in the United States was built upon beginning with Theodore Roosevelt.  

Consider our Presidents who would try to condition our society for such a takeover: 

Presidents Franklin Roosevelt, Truman, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon (only Republican), Carter, and Clinton.  

Clinton’s (Hilarycare) attempt is noteworthy because of the great opposition that caused the takeover to be tabled.    

The Progressives simply waited until they took back both houses and finally, Obama. 

Once the Progressives, embodied in the Democratic Party, gained a majority, they took advantage of pushing for this Universal Health Care.   

A bill that has 11,000 pages on regulations not even counting the bill itself.  It is a monster.   

Nancy Pelosi called for voting for the bill so you can see what is in the bill.  Despite 70% of the American people’s opposition to the bill, the Democrats passed the bill in Congress without one Republican vote.   

How did the Progressives do it? By taking piece by piece a dismantling of American freedoms.   

The war on Christmas, the continued secularism of America, the war on religion coupled by the dumbing down of America. 

Developing a class of dependence on the Government by many people has led to where we are today.   

Obama has increased American dependence on Government to such a degree that people are becoming entrenched towards a socialized state.  

Food stamps is a perfect example, millions upon millions.

Obamacare cripples the American economy taking 1/6^th of the overall cost.  We cannot afford such a dragon that will bring America down the road of Greece bringing bankruptcy.  

All of this has a goal that the Progressives really want, and that is a move towards a single-payer system.  

It matters not what the American people stand for that concern the Progressives, it is power that emboldens the Progressive.   

America better wake up before it is too late.   

The Progressives have taken over the mainstream media, Hollywood, the Judicial Branch and they want to take you as well.  

Obama’s war on the Catholic Church is but a strategy to arrive at an end goal.  Total dependence to man.

President Ronald Reagan warned:

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free."

 The Virgin Mary at Fatima told the children, “Say the Rosary every day to obtain peace for the world and the end of the war... If they do what I tell you, many souls will be saved, and there will be peace. The war is going to end [World War I]. But if they do not stop offending God, another and worse one will begin in the reign of Pius XI... When you see a night illumined by an unknown light, know that it is the great sign that God gives you that He is going to punish the world for its crimes by means of war, of hunger, and of persecution of the Church and of the Holy Father."

The virgin Mary reminds the children of Fatima that men “must amend their lives and ask forgiveness for their sins,” and that they “offend the Lord God no more, for He is already much offended”. This is intended to be for the whole Church. Praying the family Rosary is a great sign of predestination.

 How important is that? The Virgin Mary at Fatima after giving the Children of Fatima a vision of Hell (13 July 1917), told them: "You see Hell, where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them God wishes to establish in the world the devotion to my Immaculate Heart. If they do what I will tell you, many souls will be saved, and there will be peace... But if they do not stop offending God... He is going to punish the world for its crimes by means of war, of hunger, and of persecution of the Church and of the Holy Father." 

If my requests are heeded, Russia will be converted, and there will be peace; if not, she will spread her errors throughout the world, causing wars and persecutions of the Church. The good will be martyred, the Holy Father will have much to suffer, various nations will be annihilated.

Consider what takes place soon after the Fatima message, in 1917, the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia began a systematic persecution of the Church and many nations were forced into the "Iron Block" of the Soviet Union.  

In 1926, the Communist influence is felt in Mexico where again, a massive persecution of the Church takes place.  I find it interesting that the Progressive movement in the United States can be traced to that time period as well and today, the battle for America continues.  America is truly in the sites of Our Lady from Heaven.  That is very good news, but Satan continues to seek America for himself. 

I was just thinking that with all the problems Obamacare has had with it's website, is it possible that Heaven is responsible? I can't help but think that as we see great success with the internet.  Consider Facebook, You-tube,  Myspace, these continue to do well, yet Obamacare had three years to prepare, spent over $650,000,000 for it, and it is a mess.  Is this a travesty that can sink itself? With the help of Heaven, Senator Ted Cruz, and Sean Hannity, maybe this will loudly go away.

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*BEST OF DTB #256* The Catholic Defender: Lifting Up The Arms

The attacks on the Catholic Church today from outside the Church and even from within carries a tremendous weight on the shoulders of Pope Francis.

The stress of the world can certainly bear down on any one, the Japanese disaster and the great suffering there is extraordinary.

World events taking place such as the threat of the Muslim extremist and the uprisings in the Middle East has to be a heavy burden for the Pope.

The blood of the martyrs must bring tears to his eyes as there is little he can do but pray and intercede. The diplomacy can only go so far.

The Secularism of the world has to be a top concern, the abandonment of the holy to the free thinker. Abortion, pornography, the priest scandal, divorce and the breakdown of the family has to weigh heavy on his shoulders as well.

The threat of disease especially AIDS and other Sexually Transmitted Diseases attacks the core of the Church. Condoms and other forms of Artificial Birth Control seem to be the preference of the sexual revolutionary.

Even shepherds supposedly backing the Holy Father do not preach the truth from the pulpit. The rebellion of Notre Dame a chilling example. What must break his heart the most is some Catholics abandoning the faith for just about everything out there.

The infiltration of Communist, Marxist, Socialist, even Homosexual men into the priesthood with the purpose of causing scandal and the scattering of the faithful bears much weight upon the Popes shoulders.

These are just some of the issues that confront the world today. What is the answer that can turn things around for the hope of mankind and the Church?

Exodus 17:8-13 has the answer: "At Rephidim, Amalek came and waged war against Israel. Moses, therefore, said to Joshua, Pick out certain men, and tomorrow go out and engage Amalek in battle. I will be standing on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand. So Joshua did as Moses told him: he engaged Amalek in battle after Moses had climbed to the top of the hill with Aaron and Hur. As long as Moses kept his hands raised up, Israel had the better of the fight, but when he let his hands rest, Amalek had the better of the fight. Moses hands, however, grew tired; so they put a rock in place for him to sit on. Meanwhile Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other, so that his hands remained steady till sunset. And Joshua mowed down Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword".

I want to take a few things from this scripture and take a deeper look at this.

1. Moses instructed Joshua to "pick out certain men", these were to be taken into the battle. The Church needs to "pick out certain men" who are faithful to the Magisterium. St. Peter said, "So I exhort the presbyters among you, as fellow presbyter and witness to the sufferings of Christ and one who has a share in the glory to be revealed. Tend the flock of God in your midst, overseeing not by constraint but willingly, as God would have it, not for shameful profit but eagerly. Do not lord it over those assigned to you, but be examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd is revealed, you will receive the unfading crown of glory" (1 Peter 5:1-5).

2. As Moses was taken up to the top of the hill, so too must the Church be set upon the top of the hill.

Jesus said, "You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lamp stand, where it gives light to all in the house" (Matthew 5:14-15).

When the Shepherds stand up for the truth the flock follow with confidence.

The people will be encouraged. Otherwise the people will scatter.

3. As long as Moses held his hands up Israel had the better of the fight, when he would rest them the enemy was getting the better of the fight.

We must spiritually help hold the Popes hands raised supported by prayer on the one side and adoration on the other side to strengthen the Church Militant.

Jesus promised that the gates of the Netherworld would NOT prevail against the Church, we must keep his hands raised towards heaven to win the fight against the enemy of our time.
4. Through the supports given Moses, he was able to keep his hands raised until sunset when Joshua won the victory.

Jesus has been raised from the dead, he is alive alleluia! The battle has been won, yet the Church continues to battle for souls accomplishing the works of God in the power of his name.

We have a choice either to follow Christ or to follow the way of the world. Choose Christ!

There are great problems to solve in this day and time, yet, if we keep our eyes on the Lord and his Prime Minister, we can prayerfully keep the Popes arms raised for battle to lead the Church through the stormy seas as they are swirling.

Please keep the Pope, the Bishops in union with him, all our Priests, all our religious in prayer so they will represent that leadership the Church needs today.

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The Catholic Defender: Going Back To Springfield

This coming week I will be flying to Springfield Missouri to participate in the second annual Marian Conference.

What a great opportunity this is to meet so many people who will be coming from many parts of Missouri and Arkansas.

This conference will be held at Holy Trinity Catholic Church located at 2818 E.Bennett St.  Springfield Missouri, 65804.  (October 26-27)

There is no cost for the event and it all begins with registering beginning at 7:15 A.M. followed by Coffee and donuts.  The Rosary begins at 8:00 A.M.  We have a lot of great speakers and topics that will be highly interesting.

Deepertruth will have a booth at the event and we will have two speakers at the event, myself and Dr. Gregory Thompson.  If anyone is available, I want to invite you to this conference which is sponsored by the Springfield-Cape Girardeau Marian Association.

I was meditating on something that St. John writes in Revelation 12:17.  He states, "Then the dragon went off to wage war against the rest of her (Mary's) offspring..." 

Now at first glance, who are these offspring that St. John is speaking of? Could this be James, Joses, Judas, and Simon (Mark 6:4)? No, it wouldn't specifically refer to them because these Brothers were actually cousins of Jesus, close relatives who were regarded as brothers.

Then who are these offspring of Mary that St. John is speaking of? St. John answers this question himself continues writing, "those who keep God's Commandments and bear witness to Jesus".

King David actually writes of this in the Psalms in a state of prophecy he writes referring to Jesus "You love justice and hate wrongdoing; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellow kings."  This is a description of Jesus who King David recognized as "God".  He did not have the revelation of the Trinity so he uses language to show his understanding, "therefore God, your God" refers to the relationship between the Father and the Son.

Then Psalms 45 takes a turn from this anointed one to a Queen.  Psalms 45:10 refers to the Queen arrayed in Ophir's gold who comes to stand at your right hand.  This is important in identifying who this Queen really is.

1 Kings 2:12-20 gives the story of Bathsheba who was the mother of King Solomon.  King Solomon in the middle of council, when his mother appeared to see him, Solomon stood up to meet her and paid her homage (honor).  Then he sat down upon his throne, and a throne was provided for the king's mother, who sat AT HIS RIGHT HAND.

The Queen spoken of by King David in Psalms 45 is the Mother of the anointed one whom David called "God".  Of this Queen, David writes, "The throne of your fathers YOUR Sons will have; you shall make them princes through all the land."

Those "sons" that David is speaking to are the same "offspring" that St. John is speaking to.  Who are they? "Those who keep God's Commandments and bear witness to Jesus", this includes us!

While serving as the NCO of one of the Fort Campbell Troop Medical Clinics, I was in the pharmacy when during sick call one morning when this stranger shows up to the front desk.  He was looking for me in particular and wanted to challenge me about Mother Mary.

I did not know this gentleman nor had I ever seen him before, but he obviously has me in his sights.  He asked the room full of people waiting to be seen where he could find me.  I stuck my head through the window bars at the pharmacy to see what was going on.

When he wanted to challenge me about Mary, I quickly took him to the side and instructed him to go to his car and I would be out there in about 15 minutes until I was able to get a quick break.

This stranger quickly went out the back door to the parking lot.  I did not want this happening where my physical physician or Doc would come out wondering what was happening here.  Some of those on sick call thought I had brought this guy in for entertainment.

I did go out to speak with him and from his bible, I showed him how Mary was his mother and that following weekend, he was going to Sunday Mass with us!

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I love Barack Obama

I will be honest. Saying those words literally causes a feeling of nausea. I truly, in the literal sense of the word, suffer a physical reaction to the very thought of saying that I love Barack Obama. The truth is that I don't feel like having any love for him. What I feel is nothing but utter revulsion for him.

Love isn't about feelings, it's an act of the will. The God who has shown me that He can love me, even when I feel utterly unlovable, has shown me that I must do the same.

So, though I have complete and utter contempt for his smugness, his narcissistic avarice and disdain for his fellow Americans, as well as his ruthless and heartless policies, I must still hope for his awakening and pray for his salvation, as the cost of my own.

I will be honest. I do not want to love Barack Obama. I want to hate him for the way he his destroying our country, fiddling ala Nero, as our economy burns. I want to despise him for his naked assault on human life, the sanctity of marriage and all of Christianity. No, I do not believe Obama is a Christian, as he absurdly claims. No, I do not believe he is an American citizen- I think that has been proven to be false. No, I do not think he cares for Americans and, Yes, I do believe his policies are destroying our country, even as he and his elitist wife sip Champagne on our dole.

It is undeniable that he has inflicted untold and catastrophic pain and hardship on millions and turned a blind eye to it. Yes, I have very good reason to be angry. Yes, I am more than justified in hating all of his policies and the arrogance and tyranny behind them. There is no denying that Barack Obama is a tyrant. There is no question that he is an enemy of the United States and of all that is decent and holy.

Yet, Jesus told me not to revile my enemies but to love them and pray for them. (Matthew 5:43-48). The sad fact is that if I cannot find a way to do this, I cannot be a Christian. For this was not a suggestion from Jesus, it was a command. If I dare to try and approach Jesus to raise me up, to forgive me, I must overcome this stubborn pride within me.

Should we as Americans be angry at the Democrats for trying to make slaves of us all? Absolutely. Yet, let's not be hypocrites, either. The Republicans have milked the public treasury just as much and are willing puppets of their own masters as well. If we are honest, are not money grubbing narcissists like Rush Limbaugh, Donald Trump and Mitt Romney every bit as bad an example of what a Christian should be as Barack Obama? One worships at the altar of power, the other at the altar of greed.

We, the people, bloodied and beaten, can either drown in our own tears or be washed and sanctified by them. It is love that covers the multitude of sins. There are numberless songs that say it-Love is the answer. Love will find a way. All you need is love. Love is like a rock. Love is like oxygen. How deep is your love? and well..... I'll leave you with this one.... because, it is what I need to live...

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The Catholic Defender: "If I Were The Devil"

I was watching Sean Hannity tonight and on this particular evening, Sean played "If I were the Devil" by Paul Harvey.

The original airing of this episode of Paul Harvey was 1964.

Interestingly, this episode was near the beginning of the Sexual Revolution.

By this time our Country was already in turmoil because of the Viet Nam War.  These days were hectic as President John F. Kennedy was shot not long before this episode.

As you listen to this broadcast, it is unreal how right this is.  The attack on Faith, family, County, all our ideals are embodied in this show.  Does this remind you of some political figures today?

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Declaration of political freedom

The latest '11th hour deal' is the straw that has broken the camel's back. The hand-wringing and wrangling in Washington is no more than thinly veiled political theatre. As staged and predetermined as professional wrestling, each of these new crises are nothing more than an opportunity for the creation of drama that leads to a deal that the adoring media is only too happy to exclaim as saving us all from impending doom.

With each one of these crafted and scripted scenes, comes more sabotage of our rights, more goodies for the aristocracy and an increased certainty of the very doom they were purported to keep at bay.

It has now reached the point where any one looking honestly has to admit that the very politicians performing for the cameras as modern day Pharisees and Sadducees are, toasting each other, when the lights go off, at another brilliant performance.

The sheer evil spewing forth from the Washington meat grinder rivals the worst of the Roman empire or Napoleon's France or Hitler's Germany. Maybe, it even surpasses these.

The truth of these times we live in reads as a horror story and I feel a great sorrow and revulsion recounting it. Yet, recount it I must, because it is my duty as a Christian and a human being.

Since the horrific decision of 1973 that reduced human offspring to nothing more than the disposable residue of pleasure, more than 100 million babies have been sacrificed on that altar. Since then, those same ghouls in black robes have licensed the confiscation of private property by corporations, the confiscation of our money for the purposes of forced purchase of a destructive, third party product, the denial of the right of a state to defend it's own borders and the open degradation of the sacred bond of marriage.

The 20th century was the bloodiest in human history and that fact is established even without the holocaust of abortion- a holocaust that makes Hitler's exploits look like child's play. What size will be the tidal wave of blood that overtakes us when God's righteous and furious wrath is finally unleashed? What amount of grief can even begin to atone for the world we have let unfold before us?

I, for one, am done with politics. I am beaten down, utterly exhausted and fed up with being played for a fool by tyrants on both sides whose lust for blood, vengeance and power is unquenchable.

The entire American political system is built on one utterly foolish and corrosive lie- the enemy of my enemy is my friend. When people on the left realize that Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid only seek to enslave them, people on the right must realize the same about Mitt Romney and Donald Trump and Rush Limbaugh. The one worships the god of unlimited government rule and power, while the other worships at the altar of unbridled greed, avarice and self indulgence.

Christians need to wake up and understand that there is no difference between the wolf on the left and the wolf on the right- both mean to devour you. These are the modern day Pharisees and Sadducees. The latter, deny God in word and in open contempt for anything good, precious and holy but the former deny Him by trampling the less fortunate under foot in their insatiable thirst for wealth.
What is lost on most of us is the difference that, today, Pharisee and Sadducee, Wolf and Wolf meet daily behind the scenes and strike deals that divide us up on the plate. Harry Reid gets more power to increase spending anytime he wants, Mitch McConnell gets $2 Billion for a pet project in his home state of Kentucky. John Boehnner gets to keep his speakership, Barack Obama builds more temples to offer worship to himself.

Ben Franklin once pointed out, so presciently, that democracies were no more than two wolves and a sheep deciding what is for dinner. Well, folks, the soup is on....and we are in it.

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The Catholic Defender: The Seven Woes of Jesus

Matthew 23 is perhaps one of the most famous chapters in the Bible where Jesus gives the seven woes to the scribes and Pharisees.

A "woe" is a "condition of deep suffering from misfortune, affliction, or grief".

Because of the disobedience of the Jewish people and the religious leaders Jesus lowers the boom against them.

Consider Leviticus 26, we see a clear warning God gives the Israelite's.  The Lord says, "I will punish you with terrible woes" for refusing to obey His Commandments and breaking the Covenant.

Verse 17, "I will turn against you, till you are beaten down before your enemies and lorded over by your foes.

Verse 18, "...I will increase the chastisement for your sins sevenfold, to break your haughty confidence"

Verse 21, "...I will multiply my blows another sevenfold, as your sins deserve."

Verse 25, "I will make the sword, the avenger of my covenant, sweep over you.  Though you then huddle together in your walled cities, I will send in pestilence among you, till you are forced to surrender to the enemy."

Verse 26, "And as I cut off your supply of bread, ten women will need but one oven for baking all the bread they dole out to you in rations, not enough food to still your hunger."

Verse 28-29, "I, also, will meet you with fiery defiance and will chastise you with sevenfold fiercer punishment for your sins, till you begin to eat the flesh of your own sons and daughters."

Verse 30, "I will demolish your high places, overthrow your incense stands, and cast your corpses on those of your idols."

Verse 31, "I will lay waste your cities and devastate your sanctuaries, refusing to accept your sweet-smelling offerings."

Verse 32, "So devastated will I leave the land that your very enemies who come to live there will stand aghast at the sight of it."

Those are some very important warnings that the Israelites  were given and yet, they fell flat on their faces over and over again.

Because the religious leaders did not recognize the true Messiah, because the people killed the prophets of God, Jesus  declares the woes of disobedience to the Scribes and Pharisees.

Matthew 23:13, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.  You lock the kingdom of heaven before human beings.  You do not enter yourselves, nor do you allow entrance to those trying to enter."

Verse 15, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.  You traverse sea and land to make one convert, and when that happens you make him a child of Gehenna twice as much as yourselves."

Verse 16, "Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'If one swears by the temple, it means nothing, but if one swears by the gold of the temple, one is obligated."

Verse 23, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.  You pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier things of the law."

Verse 25, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.  You cleanse the outside of cup and dish, but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence."

Verse 27, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.  You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men's bones and every kind of filth."

Verse 29, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.  You build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the memorials of the righteous, and you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have joined them in shedding the prophets blood."

Jesus would call the Pharisees, "brood of vipers" and warns, "Amen, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation." (Matthew 23:36)

Recall the warning God gives in Leviticus 26? Jesus states, "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how many times I yearned to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her young under her wings, but you were unwilling! Behold, your house will be abandoned, desolate.  I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." (Matthew 23:37-39)

It is clear that Jesus is very familiar with the "woes" of Leviticus 26 and Jesus is clear that this will happen during this generation. (Matthew 23:36, Matthew 24:34)

The Fall of Jerusalem did in fact occur as Jesus forewarned and the Jewish Historian Josephus wrote the history of this epic siege.  He writes of a woman called Mary, the Daughter of Eleazar:

 "My poor baby, why should I keep you alive in this world of war and famine? Even if we live till the Romans come, they will make slaves of us; and anyway, hunger will get us before slavery does; and the rebels are crueler than both. Come, be food for me, and an avenging fury to the rebels, and a tale of cold horror to the world to complete the monstrous agony of the Jews." With these words she killed her son, roasted the body, swallowed half of it, and stored the rest in a safe place. But the rebels were on her at once, smelling roasted meat, and threatening to kill her instantly if she did not produce it. She assured them she had saved them a share, and revealed the remains of her child. Seized with horror and stupefaction, they stood paralyzed at the sight. But she said, "This is my own child, and my own handiwork. Eat, for I have eaten already. Do not show yourselves weaker than a woman, or more pitiful than a mother. But if you have pious scruples, and shrink away from human sacrifice, then what I have eaten can count as your share, and I will eat what is left as well."

Matthew laments as he quotes Jesus saying, "Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days." (Matthew 24:19)

The Siege of Jerusalem was total devastation and the destruction was brutal.  More than a million people were killed.  Many crucified. 

So terrible was the plight of the Jewish people within the walls of Jerusalem.  Because of Jerusalem's unfaithfulness, riding on the back of Rome, St. John would write of this in the 17th and 18th Chapter of Revelation.

Jerusalem would be the seven hill (mountain) city that would become known as the "Whore of Babylon".  St. John simply spoke of Jerusalem as "The Great City", 'Where indeed their Lord was crucified.' (Rev 11:8).  Because of the political ties between Jerusalem and Rome, St. John recognized the "Woman" 'represents the great city that has sovereignty over the kings of the earth."  (Rev 17:18)

It is interesting that St. John is giving a play on words here.  Something that he recognized from something Jesus once said, "Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God." (Mark 12:17) 

To St. John, obviously God is supreme and the people's refusal to accept His sovereignty lands the seven woes of Jesus and the coming destruction of Jerusalem. 

Because the Jews failed in keeping the Commandments and the Covenant, St. John saw this rebellious spirit  regarding this woman (representing Israel) whom God called the "harlot", the "prostitute", the "adulterous wife".  (Ezekiel 16)

As a result, the Old Testament Priesthood was obliterated and the sacrifice ceased on the 9th of Av, 70 A.D. exactly as Jesus foretold.

With this behind us, are we sure that in the United States we want to turn our gaze away from the Lord?

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The Catholic Defender: The 2013 Rosary Crusade

What a great opportunity to pray for our Nation as Pope Francis begins a Pilgrimage to the Tomb of St. Peter. This begins with Eucharistic Adoration and the Rosary.

Here in the United States tens of thousands of Christians gathered at 12 Noon to pray the Rosary. Today is the eve of the great miracle given at Fatima on October 13, 1917.

Our Lady called for Christians to pray the Rosary for the conversion of sinners. Acts 2:17 states, "It will come to pass in the last days, God says, that I will pour out a portion of my spirit upon all flesh. Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. Indeed, upon my servants and my handmaids I will pour a portion of my spirit in those days, and they shall prophesy. And I will work wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below..."

What a story that has been given to us from Heaven. Mother Mary's appearance at Fatima especially on October 13, the eye-witness accounts that confirms the testimony of thousands who actually witnessed the event.

There were between 70,000 to as high as 100,000 people from all over the region that was there.

This gives great credibility to the Fatima message.

Consider the Atheistic reporters who witnessed this event.  They were present with the intent to report the mass chaos and rioting, however, they ended up on their knees and the next day were reporting the glory of God.

The next days they were reporting the miracles which was not their original intent.

Our Lady gives us a great promise, "In the end, My Immaculate Heart will triumph".

This was the basis for a national day, a Rosary rally Crusade that would take the Rosary to the street, to the high ways and the bi-ways.

What a great joy it was to participate in today's Rosary dedicated by our team Captains, "Doc" Oran Hrncir and myself (The Catholic Defender) and everyone involved.

2nd Chronicles 7:14 states, "and if my people, upon whom my name has been pronounced, humble themselves and pray, and seek my presence and turn from their evil ways, I will hear them from heaven and pardon their sins and revive their land".

This is exactly what we need for America, this is Mother Mary's peace plan from heaven.

What a great joy it is to be part of heavens peace plan here on earth.  To be called by Our Lord to spread Our Lady's message causes the powers of darkness to shake like a flashing lightening bolt.
 
2 Corinthians 9:25 states, "Every athlete exercises discipline in every way.  They do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one.  Thus I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight as if I were shadowboxing.  No, I drive my body and train it, for fear that, after having preached to others, I myself should be disqualified".  In others words, we must hang tough in our commitment to follow the Lord.

The great news that we received at this Rosary was the closing of a local abortion clinic in Killeen Texas.

We have been out there everyday praying at the abortion clinic.   After the Rosary at the Church, we took the prayer at the abortion clinic.  We will hold tight until they do close down this clinic

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The Catholic Defender: The Walking Dead

(Editors Note) This weekend (October 10, 2013) is "The Walking Dead" marathon on AMC, Sunday evening (October 13) begins the 4th season.

If your watching this, take the zombies and replace them with the terrible effects of sin and this really makes the show very interesting.

This may not be the organizers intent, but, it helps make us see the terrible effects of sin...

Very few contemporary shows do I like to follow, but this one I can't help but get behind. !!!

I have not been one to get motivated or interested in modern Television shows, but every now and then I surprise myself.

Especially shows that are fairly recent.

When I was deployed in Iraq early February 2009, a couple of my Soldiers introduced me to the first season of 24.

With that first season I was hooked, by the end of the deployment, I had watched all the season episodes and finished the final series in 2010.

My wife recently introduced this new series, "The Walking Dead", something that began in 2010.

I remember the show coming on television, but I didn't pay it no mind.

Family members introduced this to my wife, Gigi, when she was in Washington helping them move.

I spent today watching the first 18 episodes and I must say that I was captivated with the story, the suspense, the action.

As I watched the show, I began to see what I thought was a constant satire to what is taking place in America and the civilized world.

Do I really believe in zombies? No, not at all, though people high on meth can certainly act like they are zombies.

As I watched one episode after another, it was fun keeping up with the main characters, the good and the bad.

The zombies played an interesting roll, the condition reminds you of a post nuclear Holocaust. People are disconnected, lost is the ability to move about without the constant danger.

If you would trade out the zombies for the major conditions taking place in our society today, it is really wild.

Consider the threat of the zombies, it is constant, it is universal, it is obvious.

Look at the growth and acceptance of sin today, because societies have been tolerating sin, now it is being accepted.

The worst case scenarios are the terrible human tragic events such as the shootings in Connecticut, Colorado, Oregon, and Fort Hood Texas. These are some the most notable ones.

The condition of sin affects everyone, that is the problem associated with having a fallen nature.  The crowds asked St. John the Baptist, "What then should we do"? When a society restricts the work of God, then evil will increase and the terrible tragedies will continue to intensify and worsen. 

In the United States, there is a violent crime taking place every 22-23 seconds. That is nearly 4,000 to 5,000 per day.

I have had close relatives murdered and can certainly identify with this tragedy. Violence of this magnitude transcends gender and economic conditions. It is a great evil.

According to The National Women's Study, 683,000 forcible rapes occur every year; which equals 56,916 per month; 1,871 per day; 78 per hour; and 1.3 per minute {National Crime Victimization Survey. Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice, 2000.}

There was a 20% increase in rapes, and a 33.3 percent increase in sexual assaults in 1999 (National Crime Victimization Survey. Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice, 2000.)

An estimated 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men will experience a sexual assault in their lifetime (National Crime Victimization Survey. Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice, 2000.)

In the United States today, there are about 1.3 to 1.5 million abortions each year. This is about 3,562 abortions each day, according to the New England Journal of Medicine.

I've not even considered Sexually Transmitted Disease, alcohol and drug use, car accidents, or divorce and their consequences.

Consider the current Administration's war on the Catholic Faith? The attack on freedom and liberty?

The Progressive positions are a real threat to liberty and many young people are losing their religion.

It is becoming more clear and obvious that the United States of America is not the same Nation I grew up in.

The war on Christmas, the war on Christianity, sometimes it can feel like the Obama Administration are like the zombies because of the danger to the soul of America.

The Virgin Mary warns the Children of Fatima and the world on July 1917 that if men did not return to the Catholic Church there would be worse wars, the Church would suffer much, the Holy Father would have much to suffer, the good would be martyred.

The Godless would attack our liberties and rights in following our holy Faith.

As I contemplated on the episodes one after another, "The Walking Dead", I was enjoying the storyline, but I couldn't help but see the reality of how invisible these "zombies" really are.

I compare this with the story of Dracula, notice the use of the crucifix, holy water, the evil of the vampire. This too has satire to the real evils confronting us today.

There is so much talk about how the world has changed and continues to change. In truth, we see modern politics simply repackaging Paganism, Socialism, Marxism, and Atheism.

St. Paul exclaimed, "The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ".

It is important that you do not get bit by this as a result of the sinful condition or you could transform into one of these "zombies".

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