Robert P Denoncour

Sunday Mass time is very comforting as it is the ONE hour of the WEEK that I know, for sure, that I am where I should be and doing what I should be. The rest of the week is guessing or falling short.
This Sunday … Matthew 17:5… “From the shining cloud the Father’s voice is heard: This is my beloved Son, listen to him.”
Our First Reading reviewed Abraham’s obedience to the Lord.
The Second Reading… Romans 8:31b-34 “… It is God who acquits us, who will condemn?…”
The Gospel: Mark 9:2-10 “Jesus took Peter, James and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves….”
Programed years earlier, The Theme of this Mass was Listening to and Obeying the Lord.
The Catholic Church has never been political from the pulpit. This has proven to be a mistake. The Obama Administration has chosen to remove Constitutional Rights from Catholic Organizations and other organizations of conscience. Apparently the Obama Administration feels that this is a good place to begin a destruction of our society as we have known it. Remember: Niemöller:
“First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out —Because I was not a Socialist….”
In brief, fifty years ago the Liberals wanted the right to use contraception. Then the Liberals wanted the right to kill un-born human babies. NOW, the Liberals want everybody to participate in contraception and the killing of new born babies…. no matter what their conscience and religious beliefs may be.
Mass was more alarming and less comforting than it usually is. My concern is the Federal Government is defining the killing of unborn human babies as “Moderate Behavior”. Now the powerful Federal Government under the Obama Administration is waging war against Catholic and Christian Beliefs. Is it too farfetched to believe that Obama will soon demand that we all belong to Reverend Wright’s “First Church of God Damned America”?

Of course, I am proud that our Bishops and Pastors have finally stood up to the liberal, anti-Church, Pro Abortion politicians.
As the READINGS at Mass are determined years ahead of time, I found these readings from February 2012 Masses to be especially potent. We Catholics must also speak out in support of our Catholic and Christian beliefs.
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“… Whoever will not listen to my words which he speaks in my name, I myself will make him answer for it. But if a prophet presumes to speak in my name an oracle that I have not commanded him to speak, or speaks in the name of other gods, he shall die.…” .1.
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“…Brothers and sisters, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. Avoid giving offense, whether to the Jews or Greeks or the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in every way, not seeking my own benefit but that of the many, that they may be saved. Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ…” .2.
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“…If I preach the gospel, this is no reason for me to boast, for an obligation has been imposed on me, and woe to me if I do not preach it! If I do so willingly, I have a recompense, but if unwillingly, then I have been entrusted with a stewardship…” .3.
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.1.
Deuteronomy 18:15—20

Moses spoke to all the people, saying: “A prophet like me will the LORD, your God, raise up for you from among your own kin; to him you shall listen. This is exactly what you requested of the LORD, your God, at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, ‘Let us not again hear the voice of the LORD, our God, nor see this great fire any more, lest we die.’ And the LORD said to me, ‘This was well said. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their kin, and will put my words into his mouth; he shall tell them all that I command him. Whoever will not listen to my words which he speaks in my name, I myself will make him answer for it. But if a prophet presumes to speak in my name an oracle that I have not commanded him to speak, or speaks in the name of other gods, he shall die.’”
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1 Corinthians 10:31—11:1

Brothers and sisters, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. Avoid giving offense, whether to the Jews or Greeks or the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in every way, not seeking my own benefit but that of the many, that they may be saved. Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
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1 Corinthians 9:16—19, 22—23

Brothers and sisters: If I preach the gospel, this is no reason for me to boast, for an obligation has been imposed on me, and woe to me if I do not preach it! If I do so willingly, I have a recompense, but if unwillingly, then I have been entrusted with a stewardship. What then is my recompense? That, when I preach, I offer the gospel free of charge so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

Although I am free in regard to all, I have made myself a slave to all so as to win over as many as possible. To the weak I became weak, to win over the weak. I have become all things to all, to save at least some. All this I do for the sake of the gospel, so that I too may have a share in it.

The Pro Abortion Obama Administration ({backed by his fellow Pro Abortion Democrats) and the Catholic Church (and other Pro Life religions, organizations, and individual citizens) are at odds over the attempt by Obama and the Democrats to FORCE their will over all Pro Life citizens and law abiding Citizens

To many, the Catholic Mass is a mystery and misunderstood. To many Catholics the Mass is sadly taken for granted.
In short, the Mass centers on the Most Sacred Celebration of the Eucharist. (“The name given to the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar in its twofold aspect of Sacrament and Sacrifice of Mass, and in which Jesus Christ is truly present under the bread and wine”.)
During each Mass there are three Bible Readings. (Should one attend Mass every day for three years, he would pretty much hear the entire Bible.) In addition there is a Sermon usually based on the Gospel (3rd Reading), some Church Hymns, and a few short Prayers. I believe that I have listed the elements in order of importance. Maybe that is just my opinion.
My Catholic education starting at Sacred Hearts Grade School in Bradford Massachusetts teaches that as Catholics we should spread the Word of Jesus Christ and give Testimony to Christian Life. Catholics as a whole and I in particular tend to do a bad job of this effort. The Sacrament of Confirmation calls upon the Holy Spirit to give us the strength to follow this ministry.
Recent political events, such as the Obama Administration’s intentional attack on the Church, makes me realize that if we do not speak up now…. we may not have a voice later. This BLOG will be my effort to defend and promote the Catholic Church, Christianity as a whole, and a conservative way of life.
The most haunting concern I have in speaking of my Religion is that I may be in error on my understanding of a Catholic Teaching. Should any reader spot a factual error please help me correct the BLOG.

“Projection Bias is a psychological defense mechanism where a person subconsciously denies his or her own attributes, thoughts, and emotions, which are then ascribed to the outside world, usually to other people.”

“Hypocrisy is the state of pretending to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that one does not actually have. Hypocrisy involves the deception of others and is thus a kind of lie.”

The LIBERALS are always bringing up “The Separation of Church and State” (A misleading paraphrase of the Free Exercise Clause in the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States).

These same LIBERALS loudly protest when a person simply expresses Faith or religious conviction. These liberals have no problem using the powerful Federal Government to deny a religious person’s Rights.
The “Example of the Week” is the Obama Administration forcing Catholic Organizations to pay for abortions and birth control.

I’ll save “Abortion” for another “Post” This post is about the Federal Government imposing its “Principles” on the Catholic Church.

Remember the words of Martin Niemöller?

Niemöller is perhaps best remembered for the quotation:
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out —
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out —
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out —
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me — and there was no one left to speak for me.

Martin Niemoller (1892-1984) was an ardent nationalist and prominent Protestant pastor who emerged as an outspoken public foe of Adolf Hitler and spent the last 7 years of Nazi rule in concentration camps.

Well…. it looks like the Pro Abortion Democrats and especially the Obama Administration are coming after MY Religion. http://www.dosafl.com/NewsBriefs.asp?ArticleID=960