The biggest failure of “feminism” as it is defined by the Double X women and others of that ilk is that it not only tries to define men and women as equals then say it’s not fair, but that it denies both God and science. I mean, COME ON, obviously some men will stray (we’ve seen by example sadly) but quite a few know what is best that we humans are not simply animals following our instincts we posess reason and discernment. Ah, but those are gifts of God so they can’t go with science. And I’m not really sure why these groups feel that it is unfeminine to carry a child and give birth. I mean if we are reducing it all down to being scientific, that’s what our bodies were scientifically built and designed to do. To propogate the species. But what do I know. I’m just a cluster of two “x” chromosomes who wasted them my conciously conceiving children with a person I love and am legally and before God committed to, carrying these children to term, breastfed them and now am teaching them to be caring, compassionate, humans. Yeah, that right there sucked my brain right out of me.

It is kind of amazing, actually.  As a young female in this secular world, it gets very easy to buy in to all the feminist shticks.  You start to feel bummed out for no good reason, wondering why you can’t find your place in this world…

Then you read something from the Catholic Church, or more specifically PJP2 (Love and Responsibility, Theology of the Body, Evangelium Vitae, Fides et Ratio, etc.), and suddenly you’re thrown back, breathless.  Hey yeah, that IS what’s missing.  It DOES fall into place that easily.

In the words of my generation: Srsly, Catholic Church ftw!

“They want everything to be fully quantifiable through research.”
   
Boy could I ever go off on a tangential tirade based on that sentence. I work at a University in a department in the social sciences.
   
I’ll try to keep it short at least. Really, this problem is everywhere. Numbers can be helpful; but with the help of information technology, we’ve started to rely on them and trust them over the senses (moral, intellectual, spiritual…even physical) God gave us.
   
There is no end of resulting stupidity and mischief.

“We get the implication that there’s a certain degree of magic at work in how the sexes relate to one another”

I laughed out loud when I read this.  My goodness…all the pop songs over the years.  The poetry. The romantic fiction.

Do these DoubleX women not think that humanity has been entirely hood-winked all this time?  Do they think they’re the first to admit (however reluctantly) to this “magic”??

It is not just “magic” - find the CD or articles titled “Biology of the Theology of the Body” - when a woman ovulates, she emits pheromones, but if a man is already attuned to his mate’s chemistry his body will reject the other female’s messengers. Our bodies change each other when we share fluids. We are just starting to study this part of our biology also, and these studies also drive feminists and libs nuts too, but the studies have been happening. 
Incidentally, Chemical contraceptives changes a woman’s pheromones and chemistry, and if she chooses a mate while she is chemically altered she may be choosing a mate who is not genetically compatible… studies are starting to show linkages to the rise in allergy-ridden children and genetic health issues in children from these unions… And linkages to divorce rates and infidelity when the woman stops taking the chemical contraceptives and she and her mate starts “smelling” wrong to each other…

Thanks to NFP, I have noticed on many occasions that I find my wife not only more attractive when she’s ovulating, but that I find she is less irritating, stubborn, annoying, and leaves drinking glasses around the house less…or could it be that when she’s ovulating, something in me is more willing to overlook those things?  It’s not that I love her more when she’s ovulating, it’s that I find it easier to love her.  I’m more predisposed to love her.

I think that’s a beautiful thing.  Maybe I’m just a misogynist pig.  Or maybe XX women are just bitter that they’ve taken so much estrogen the men in their lives never find it easy to love them.  I know I don’t find it easy to love radical feminists.  They’re so prickly!  When I was in high school, I held the door open for my class, my whole class, men and women, during a fire drill.  The radical feminist came at the end of the line and said, “you know, we can get the door for ourselves!”  Yep.  Radical feminists make it SO easy for themselves with their warm-heartedness.

“Yeah, that right there sucked my brain right out of me.”

Don’t worry, Kristen.  Radical feminists like when the brains are sucked right out of someone.

It really, really is right about everything.  I was never so shocked in my life as to discover that the stodgy, Old-Man-Winter Church I grew up in actually had all the answers, and was not stodgy at all.

This reminds me of an article I read about how oral contraceptives mess up a woman’s ability to process male pheromones correctly.  It was talking about how our pheromones receptors naturally lead us to pick a complementary mate (opposites attract) and be more selective in their mate but because OC simulate pregnancy these receptors get skewed because the body assumes that once you are pregnant you’ve already found the right mate. 

Dr. Miriam Grossman also writes in one of her books about a study that discovered that constant exposure of the pheromones of a teenage girl’s biological father can dissipate her sex drive, making it less likely that she will be sexually active.  Of course, if he is wielding a shotgun the chances decrease even more.  ;-)

What’s also interesting is the fact that contraception messes up these silent clues. In several studies, women taking contraception choose the partners that are bad for them!! 

We truly are wonderfully and fearfully made.

Weird Barbara - we must have posted about that at the same time. You said it much better than I did.

Tara, I know what you mean.  The hardest part about being Catholic is that the Church is always right even when I don’t want it to be.

Harvey, great minds think alike!  LOL

Francis Kissling is try to obfuscate.  If you look at her “extreme cases,” you will find she cites “psychological health” which in practice means any reason at all.

Indeed Her dogma is infallible.  That’s a Divine promise.  That’s why when you find that you are somehow puzzled or in disagreement with dogmatic teaching, your default response must be that you are wrong, and the 2,000 year old Divine Church is right.  So you must pray with an open heart for understanding and get to work with your mind trying to figure out where your thinking is off the mark.  It’s a wonderful experience that is abundant with grace. 

As for the doublex types, my wonderful gift of a daughter correctly reminded me once that the pinnacle of God’s creation is the last thing He created, a woman.  And that the greatest non-divine human ever created was also a woman, our Mother Mary.  Satan hates humanity but especially women.  That’s why he lies to them, convincing them to hate their own womanhood as well.  Pray for those women that they break from the lies and self-loathing and embrace the miracle that is genuine Catholic femininity.

@Tara:  this is precisely why conversion is a life-long endeavor, and why even those of us who are cradle Catholics often have to learn to be Catholic all over again:  we see and appreciate the Catholic Church in a new light, and the experience prompts us to ask hard questions.

Yes, the catholic church is right about everything. Limbo, purgatory, paying to out of puratory. My fave is ; there is no salvation outside of the catholic church. The billions payed out in lawsuits proves that. Another fave of mine is; that catholic priests are little Christs. Well,the billions in payouts testify to that.

To Jason:

You hit the nail on the head.  I’ve never thought of Catholic dogma in that way, in how if our finite minds can’t comprehend a fiber of dogma, sometimes wanting to refute it, that at that point we must prayerfully discern through the meaning which poses difficulties to our own perceptions.  I think a lot of people miss how the default response should be that we should regard 2000 years of solid dogma as that in and of itself.  With respect.  Who are we to say we are “right”, especially at a point when we can’t make sense out of a certain time-tested teaching?

As for your second paragraph, your wife and daughter are incredibly gifted to have you as a husband and father.

When in the coffer a coin rings
out of purgatory a soul springs

Wayne, is your point that Catholics, including priests, are sinners in need of salvation?  Because that is one of the central ideas of Catholic teaching.  I didn’t say the Catholic Church always DOES right—but only that everything that She TEACHES always turns out to be true.

wayne, you need to read official council documents and read the Catechism to understand what the church officially teaches on those subjects.  For instance, “no salvation outside the church” is not meant to mean that non-Catholics are not saved.  It simply states the very biblical premise that there is no salvation outside of Jesus Christ.  Scripture says that Jesus is the head of the body, which is the Church.  As a body of believers we all make up the Church.  It follows that there is no salvation outside the Church.  Non-Catholic Christians are our brothers and sisters in Christ.  Period.  Salvation is yours as well!  As for Purgatory, you can’t pay your way out or work your way out.  As Catholics, we believe that when you die your eternity is determined.  You are either going to heaven or hell.  If you are going to heaven, we believe that you must be purified first.  Scripture is pretty clear that nothing imperfect will enter heaven.  I don’t know about you, but I will welcome the refiner’s fire to become perfect as He is perfect.  Limbo is not dogma.  It was simply theological discussion.  Priests are not “little Christs”.  They act in the person of Christ.  There is a big difference.  Lastly, no one said that the people in the Church would be perfect.  The first leaders (all but John) all abandoned Jesus at the Cross, Peter denied Him, and Judas betrayed Him.  Thankfully people didn’t judge the Church by its members.  I will pray for you.  God bless!

Hi Simcha, so the catholic churchs motto is; do as i say, not as i do. I get this paper in my email. Once in a while i come in and look if its interests me. This one caught my eye. I had to come in and say something. Johnny is trying to muddy the water about salvation outside the church. Im not going to cut and paste catholic popes and doctors of the faith saying that there is no salvation outside. He is correct in that the church is all of the born again people in total.Hes of the new catholicism that is flip floping on the catholic dogma that is embarassing. And there is tons of it.I can find where some pope or another called priests ‘little Christs’ if you are interested. What is the catholic church? a machine that spits out a paper with dogma on it? Or is it men who write things ? I saw in the catholic canon, where, i forget, where it says that negroes were sub human. Im trying to find the site that had the canon chp and vrs. But i went to the official vatican site and went into the canon and there it was. What im saying is that the CC is wrong most of the time. Thanks

Johnny, why do the ones slated for heaven need to be punished in refiners fire to be purified? Where did you hear that? You didnt get that from the bible. I guess you dont believe Christ paid in full the price for our sins. What kind of a sadistic religion will tell their flock that they have to be punished to get to heaven, when its not true. Well, truth and religions never mix anyway

Wayne, not sure if you’re still around to read this, but I think your basic misunderstanding is a common one:  you think that everything that has the word “Catholic” attached to it, whether it’s a half-remembered verse from childhood or “something some pope said somewhere,” carries the same theological weight.

If you are sincerely interested in what the Church actually teaches about anything, from racism to indulgences to “no salvation outside the Church,” please go to the Catholic Encyclopedia (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/) and do a search.  There you will find reliable information.

Why do people who hate religion or religious things stalk religious blogs? 

I heard a story once about a man who decided that he needed to figure out what he believed.  The only thing that he knew with certainty was that Christianity was bad.  So, starting with the only certain thing he knew, he started attending various bible studies in order to figure how why Christianity was so bad.  Well, within the year he had become a Christian, and within a few years he had become Catholic.  He is now nearing ordination to the priesthood. 

I remind myself of this story when I just want to make snarky responses to people who just seem filled with hate and misunderstanding.  I guess God takes care of everyone in His own time.

@ Simcha & JohnnyC: Please don’t feed the trolls.

“Why do people who hate religion or religious things stalk religious blogs?”  Because they are being called to them by the Holy Spirit!! I started out that way, all the while the Spirit was at work within me. Just keep in mind the Apostle Paul. :)

Hi Simcha, i get notice of reply in my email. I think Harvey is refering to me when he says hate and misunderstanding.Lots of disturbed people go to blogs and spew hate to catholics, and others. Maybe thats why catholics are quick to accuse me of hate. Do i sound hateful? Catholics tell me all the time to go read this and that. Oh, look at what our church says about itself. Its just words on paper. Ive never once had a catholic tell me to search the scriptures.The CC tells its flock that they cant understand the scriptures. Isnt that correct? No hate speech, just a fact. Theres a falsehood and a big one. The CC tell its own, basically, not to bother with the bible, and just to read what catholic men say about the CC. Catechism and what not.Was it Peter or Pual who said; the scriptures are of no private interpretation…and that they are good for all to read and find answers to lifes questions. Why would god write a book that only a select(must also be catholic) few can understand. The CC says it alone and its magisterium can only understand the bible. I dont need to ask if you really believe that. Try as hard as i might, i cant bring myself to believe that the CC owns god. Especially with the black history of the catholic church, and whats going on now in it.
And no, i havent singled out the CC for ridicule. All religions fall short.None of them offer salvation. They say they do, as long as you do what they say, stand here, face this way, watch the golden cup, bow befor the pretty statue. Protestantism, i wouldnt call a religion. Theres no rituals you have to do, no set of believes you have to take a class for, then the test(confirmation). Protestantism wont save you either. I just am amazed that people fall for religions that go totally against scripture while at the same time saying they love and obey Christ, while they bow befor cement gods and call holy men Father and do vain repitions while rubbing babylonian beads. I ask myself…‘what are these people thinking’?

Anthony, if your house was on fire and you were asleep, wouldnt you was someone to beat on the door and wake you up?

Hi Emma, lovely name. You said to keep in mind Paul. Which Paul are you talking about? Theres 2 Pauls. One was the big religious man who hated the followers of Christ.He belonged to a religion thattaught that it was the only and best religion by god.It had so many rituals and dos and donts that it wasnt even funny.Besides the scriptures, they had a thick book of traditions they claimed were equal or better than scriptures.They were called the Sanhedron.
Then theres the Paul who met Jesus.
I am also one of the few people who actually met Jesus. Youre never the same.Religions are now useless. Simply , i follow the Lamb

Wayne, I’m not following you down that rabbit hole. By your own admission, you won’t even read the Catechism to find out what the Church teaches and what Catholics believe; by what I can tell from your own responses, you barely know who said what in the Bible. I don’t see any reason to indulge you any further, let alone give credence to your private interpretation of Scripture ... I’ve already got a Pope, whose succession to the apostles I’m certain of.

I totally disagree with any concept of anything spiritual or in any way outside the bounds of pure evolutionary drive that is involved in the mating drive of humans. If I had time I could prove this view point. Unfortunately, the biological unit I have dedicated my energy to has demanded I remove the container of yesterday’s refuse from our domicile, or she will disturb the tranquility of our ecological niche. In a purely evolutionary instinct for survival, I am at this time complying.

Anthony, i try hard not to interpret scripture. I take it at face value. If Peter says that scripture is of no private interpretation, i believe it. Oh yes, the succession of Popes.I recently read some of the histories of some of the Popes. Quite a colorful bunch. One of my faves is Sixtus, who started the policy of selling indulgences. Steven the cadavor Pope is another fave of mine.

Anthony, i have skimmed thru the catechism.

WHAT ABOUT POPE CROCODILLUS II? THE FIRST REPTILIAN ELECTED POPE? I READ ABOUT HIM THAT ONE TIME IN A MAGAZINE I FOUND IN THE BATHROOM AT THE LAUNDROMAT. THEY TOLD ME NOT TO COME BACK.

As I like to say, though maybe not theologically correct: God created man first as the prototype for the creation of woman.

Wayne, I wasn’t referring specifically to you when I used the word “hate” - but misunderstanding, yes.  I was speaking in a general sense, and it seems that you know what I mean.

You say a lot of things that I agree with.  No one “owns God”, and yes, I have met Jesus and know Him as well as my feeble self can know Him.  It relationship takes work… always on my end, of course.  I think religion is helpful for someone weak like me to give me a kind of road map. 

The miracle of the Catholic church is that it has survived through some crazy people for the past 2000 years. 

I’m sorry that you have the impression that Catholics don’t read the bible.  In fact, we read three selections from the scriptures at every Mass.  Further, we have various traditions of daily prayers that include reading the scriptures.  Like the Tower of Babel, everyone can take what they like or don’t like from it and create their own set of beliefs… which is why Catholics rely equally on the scriptures, tradition and the Magisterium. 

Also, I don’t think that arguments change hearts, Christ does.  I believe wholeheartedly that if you continue to be a faithful follower of Christ then He will lead you to the Church.  You’re in my prayers and I ask you to keep me in yours.

Of course harvey, ill keep you in my prayers.Thanks for your kind response.Im here because of the headlines. The CC is always correct. The CC is made up of men. Men are liars. Let god be true, and every man a liar. I cant see how modern man falls for stoneage ideas, like the unerring holyman routine.These holymen put their pants on one leg at a time, like i do. There are no holymen. Jesus said we are all brothers and fellow servants.And we are all evil.

“Anthony, if your house was on fire and you were asleep, wouldnt you was someone to beat on the door and wake you up?”
Don’t bother with putting out the fire of a Catholic house because the fire that burns is the fire of the Holy Spirit and every Catholic is safe within that fire! That fire burns so deep and it is not the Catholic that needs to awake, the Catholic is always awake, even in sleep. Jesus built his Church on Peter the rock, and his promise was to Peter that the gates of hell would never prevail. My God, My church, My Safety!
BTW, Wayne, check your spelling, it doesn’t look good on you if you know what I mean…...I usually don’t feed trolls but I guess there is a first for everything.

Hi Anthony.As long as you get the message, my spelling is good enough.I came here because of the sensational headline. Im not concerned about which faith you belong to. But do you believe that the CC is always correct? Ask the Lord yourself. Ask him to show Himself to you. About everyone being safe in the catholic church,not being in the church i cant say first hand.But watching the news and reading the news papers,i dont come to the same conclusion. Lots of religions out there claim to be the best. LDS, SDA, Jehovas.You have to go to Christ and ask. Find a time when youre alone and ask him. Thanks Anthony

Hi Wayne,.....I found time alone and asked my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ if the Catholic Church is always correct and He answered YES! Read the bible Wayne, Matthew 16:15-19…..“Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven.” CHRIST has GIVEN the authority to PETER and the ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC, and APOSTOLIC church, to always be correct. That doesn’t mean that every Catholic lives a correct life, all the time, for we are all sinners (that’s why we have confession), but to answer your question, the CC is always correct in everything it TEACHES, guided by the Holy Spirit of the Trinity. The CC is an historical church that can trace all the way back to St. Peter…enough said. Thanks Wayne and you will be in my prayers.

When I read the NY Times article, and other like it, all I thought was what a blessing science is—that unlike animals, God gave us the means to separate our sexuality from procreation. We are no longer slaves to our nature—our biology isn’t nessarily our destiny.

Simcha.  This happy innocent wonders why thou art reading a femminist blog.

Yes Anton, i know the bible and what it teaches. My feet still hurry to sin. Wretched man that i am. Ok, if the Lord has confirmed that the CC is the real deal, then thats thats. Thanks

Gary O:  I think it’s a good idea to step out of the echo chamber from time to time!  Most of what I read is Catholic and/or Conservative, and it’s interesting and instructive to find out what people like me look like to people who are not like me.  (I am often surprised, to be honest, to find that we have more in common than I expected.) It’s also useful to hear the other point of view from the horse’s mouth—you can discuss things more intelligently if you know what other people actually think (even if you don’t agree with it!).

“Is this a joke?”

Ignoring trolls and getting back to the subject:  I am permasingle and never contracepted and I noticed when I was fertile, men were particularly attentive.  To me the study is a big DUH!

Women on the Pill screw up their hormones and never put out the right pheromone signals to attract that natural male attention.  Poor things.

Plus a lot suffer weight gain, irritability, and depression from the Pill.  Hormones powerfully affect mood and behavior.  Men find fat, cranky, depressed women so attractive.

Kentuckyliz, I was never fond of the pill, either (and I’m fat, cranky and depressed enough without it), but I’ve known women who have been able to take it with no side effects—and I know lots of women who took hormones for other reasons that to avoid pregnancy.
I wonder, though, is it possble to step out of the echo chamber from time to time and comment without being considered a troll?

L. it is your choice to remain in the echo chamber of your own mind. It is not too late to turn back to Christ. He offers you forgiveness and mercy. He will help you throw off the yoke of your slavery to Satan if you asked Him.

Thanks, Robert—but I’m very happy with my choices. Some of us slugs do love salt. ;)

Wayne, The Bible is a Catholic book, written by Catholics, for Catholics. We are delighted that you read it. The Bible does not interpret itself. If so, there would not be such confusion as to its meaning. In my book “Bible Sabotage”, I recount a dialogue with a “Bible Christian”, who had been teaching a Bible study for 15 years. He considered himself quite an expert on the Bible, and offered to answer any question I might ask about the Scriptures. I asked, “How do you know you are teaching truth?” He replied that he relied on the guidance of the Holy Spirit. I replied, “If the Holy Spirit could be relied upon to teach us the meaning of Scripture, how come we don’t all receive the same understanding; why are there so many denominations?” He did not have an answer.
Do you believe that after teaching His Apostles and disciples for three years, that HE told them they would have to figure the rest out for themselves. The Bible makes it quite clear that he left behind a visible Church with a visible authority (2 Tim) comprised of bishops, priests, and deacons. The Church is made up of fallible men and women. However, Jesus guaranteed that this Church of His would never fail, that the Holy Spirit would guide it until the end of time.
One day, a Methodist minister telephoned me to say that he wanted to study Catholicism. He explained that his brother was converting to the Catholic faith and he wanted to save him. I answered, “If you study Catholicism with an open mind, you will become a Catholic. He said, “I’ll take that chance. Nine months later, I was kneeling beside him as he received his first Holy Communion. It is easy to criticize something that one does not understand. I challenge you to take the time to examine the truth of Catholicism.

Simcha, Excellent article. Bravo!

@Wayne et al:

Stop doing a headstand and start talking from the orfice that was actually created for talking…

OK Pepin, thanks.Say pepin, may i ask,which is your favorite statue to pray to? We all know god loves his people to bow to statues

Wayne,
If you had any real knowledge of Catholicism, you would realize how ridiculous you sound. It is one thing to have a conversation with someone who has intellectual integrity, and another with someone like you, who obviously wants to argue about something he does not even care to understand.

Hi Victor. Which Statue do you like to bow to?

Once Again, you prove my point!

wayne, Victor is right. You have idea how much ignorance you are exhibiting towards the Christian Church. Unless you are actually acting like this deliberately, but it is charitable to assume it is ignorance in stead. I truly hope you open your heart up to Christ and His gospel while you still have the chance.

correction: “You have no idea…”

I see you’re still standing on your head, Wayne…  and talking, well, not from your mouth, obviously…

Victor - your story about the Methodist minister brought a tear to my eye.  How beautiful!  And your book sounds very interesting!

Tiffany. If you are interested, you can order “Bible Sabotage” by going to my website: http://www.evangelizationstation.com. I’m certain you will find it an interesting read. It answers about 70 questions posed by “Bible Christians”. Including the use of statues. ;-)

Hi Victor. You said earlier that catholics wrote the bible. I learn something every day.I had no idea that Paul and Luke and Moses and the rest of them were catholic. Shows you what i know.So Victor, you wrote a book. Id love to see whats in it.

Wayne,
Well, it certainly was not written by Protestants. My book “Scripture Through History” recounts the history of the Bible Canon and why there is a difference between the Catholic and Protestant versions of the Bible.  Why not invest a few dollars and learn something. These, and my other books, can be ordered from my website.

Folks, don’t let the silly troll offer an occasion for sin.  And Victor, your book sounds great.  Hopefully, Wayne will actually read it.

Hey Victor. I know protestants didnt write the bible. There were no catholics when the scriptures were written either. I dont know how you claim catholics wrote the bible. Well, everyone thinks their religion is the best. I dont belong to a religion. I follow the Lamb. My question about which statue do you like was a serious question. One catholic i know has as his favorite, St Bosco. Some favor Mary statues. Maybe you are impartial and bow to them all. If you think catholics wrote the bible, id be interested to see what else you come up with in your book. Mark Shea sent me his 3 Mary books. He makes up all kinds of things. Funny stuff.I understand that the new catholic bible has the second commandment changed. It doesnt say dont bow it idols anymore. I can understand why.I get called names by catholics when i bring up the graven image thing. They never say they dont bow befor them, they just call me names.

PEOPLE CALL ME NAMES TOO! THEN I EAT THEM!

Wayne, There have been Catholics in the Church since it was formed by Christ. “A rose by any other name is syill a rose.” 
I owned a Catholic bookstore for 13 years. One day, I noticed a young woman walking back and forth in front of my store. She seemed upset and agitated. I was about to ask if I could be of help, when she burst in the front door, and said, ‘I’m here to save you, you are in the !@#$% of Babylon and if you don’t come out, you’re going to rot in hell fire.’ Needless to say, I was a bit taken aback. I replied, ‘What is it about the Catholic Church that you find so bothersome?’ Pointing to the statues on display she said, ‘You worship statues and that’s idolatry.’ ‘Well,’ I answered, ‘it certainly would be idolatrous if Catholics really did worship statues, but we do not. There are one billion two hundred million Catholics in the world; do you think that we are all stupid enough to worship plaster?’ She was quite surprised by my response. Fortunately, she allowed me to explain the use of images in Catholic practice.
Enter any Catholic home and you will find statues of Jesus, Mary, or the Saints. These treasures of stone, bronze, marble, or even plastic are used to remind us of those who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith. Crucifixes remind us of the dramatic sacrifice of Christ. Statues or images are representations of those who found favor with God. Each statue represents a person, who demonstrated a specific charism. For example, a statue of Saint Joseph reminds us of the responsibilities of proper fatherhood. Joseph is also the patron of families, and of a happy death. The Blessed Mother is the purest example submission to God and of proper motherhood.
One of the principle purposes of images is to help instruct. The state and city governments erect statues of the nation’s founding fathers to inspire patriotism and loyalty. The Church erects statues of Christ, His Mother and the saints to teach her citizens loyalty to God. Sacramentals are objects, which serve to elevate our minds toward God. Statues are sacramentals blessed by Mother Church. Saint Paul told the Romans to render honor to whom honor was due (12:9). Honor certainly is due to Christ and in a different, lower degree; honor is also due to those heroic men and women who died following Christ. That is the basis, the principle for our veneration of images. Statues adorn our churches and homes. There is a distinctive difference between Catholic and non-Catholic churches. Catholic churches present an atmosphere of beauty and warmth. This homelike feeling is due principally to the Presence of Christ in the tabernacle, but also the welcoming lifelike statues. During the many ages before the invention of printing, Catholics learned their Faith from studying the figures of the saints and holy scenes in the stained glass windows of our churches. Furthermore, statues spur us on to put in to practice what we have learned about the people represented. Statues of patriots inspire us to be more patriotic and less self-serving. At the same time, don’t you want to be more modest and pure-minded, more thoughtful of God and of others, every time you see a carving of Christ and His saints? Who can gaze upon a reproduction of the crucifixion without experiencing the same feeling as the penitent thief hanging next to the dying God-Man? Whoever cast his eyes upon the sweet face of Michelangelo’s Pieta, chiseled in immaculate marble, and did not wish to share the priceless purity that beams from her motherly expression? “Were it not repeated so often I would feel it a waste of time to answer the charge that the veneration of statues is idolatry. The simplest Catholic will tell you that he does not worship or adore or in any way honor the actual marble or stone of that figure. He honors the one represented. Let the Church explain her stand officially. I quote from the Council of Trent: “The images of Christ, of the Virgin Mother of God, and the other saints, are to be kept especially in churches. Due honor and veneration is to be paid to them, not that we believe there is any divinity or power in them, not that anything is to be asked of them, not that any trust is to be placed in them, as the heathens of old trusted in their idols. . . on the contrary, the honor we pay to images is referred to the originals whom they represent; so that by means of images which we kiss and before which we bow, we adore Jesus Christ and we venerate His saints.”
The Catholic Church stresses the importance of religious atmosphere and environment, not only in the house of God, but also in the homes of the children of God. Yet, how many Christian homes are barren, totally barren, of religious images of any kind? What is the cause? It is not ignorance, for you know full well that a little Christian atmosphere in your home is good for your spiritual health. Christian atmosphere makes the home peaceful and happy. The cause is indifference and thoughtlessness. Perhaps my explanation on the use and reasonableness of statues will induce you to place one or two in your home. You might also appreciate the beautiful statues we have in Catholic churches. Remember these images represent holy people that we should emulate.

Wayne. You said “I follow the Lamb.” Do you really?
What does it mean to truly follow the Lamb? Does it not mean that we must believe that everything He said is true? Does it not mean that we must be in total submission to His will in our lives?  Does it not mean that we must obey His every command?
Many Christians believe that when Jesus died on the Cross He paid the ultimate price for all of man’s sins and therefore nothing is required of us except making a “personal commitment to a personal savior.”  Let’s take a more in-depth look at what the New Testament Scriptures teach on this subject.
Belief is necessary.
Rom. 10:9, “Because, if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
We must do God’s will.
Matt 7:21, “Not every one who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
We must obey Jesus.
John 3:36, “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God rests upon him.”
Baptism is necessary for salvation.
John 3:5, “Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”
See also: Mark 16:16; Titus 3:5-8.
We must also love God completely and our neighbor as ourselves.
Luke 10: 25-28, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered right; do this, and you will live.”
We must keep the Commandments.
John 14:15, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”
See also: Matt. 19:16-17,
Good works are necessary for salvation.
Romans 2:7, “For he will render to every man according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.”
See also: James 2:14,26;  Phil 2:12.
We must hold out to the end.
2 Tim 2:12-13, “If we endure, we shall also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself.”
See also: Mark 13: 13; 1 Cor 10:12, 27.
I write to you as one Christian to another in order to share with you the opportunity to experience a deeper dimension of intimacy with our Lord and Savior.
We must also eat His body and drink His blood.
Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me. This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live for ever.” (John 53-59).
Would Jesus command us to do something impossible? Jesus would have had to have made some provision for His followers to carry out the command to “eat His flesh and drink His blood”.
One of the fundamental differences between Catholics and the hundreds of different denominations is how the above verses are understood.
Isn’t it true that all Christians are taught to interpret the Bible literally, except where the use of symbolic or figurative language is obvious? So the issue is: “Did Jesus really mean that we must eat His flesh and drink His blood?”
Ther is an avalanche of evidence to support the Catholic position.

Victor, thanks for the explanation. That sounds familiar.I think i know you but you dont know me. There is a british newspaper that i accidently found 2 yrs ago, they have a blog for a religious writer.Catholic mainly. Priests and paupers are in there all the time.
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/damianthompson/100079296/the-satanist-sex-abuser-and-his-followers-evil-and-depraved-but-was-this-really-a-cult/
You have to make a screen name and sign up to talk. Im stBosco.
I have a blog too. I believe i posted your short story, without editing, about 5 mos ago.
cherrybombcoutour.blogspot.com/
My site is not for the faint of heart, but go to the telegraph, lots of catholics who make it their business to tell me how god loves graven images. Personally, i dont believe he does. Im in the telegraph most mornings and then after work. Im in so calif, that should give you an idea of when my mornings are. Pleased to finally meet you Victor. Ive mentioned you a few times in the telegraph

There was a study done that I am having trouble finding-I’m sure because the science pointed to the real damage done by oral contraceptives not only to the women but to men-and we all know that kind of stuff is buried.  Anyway, an anthropologist studied a colony of monkeys sexual behavior before and after the females were all put on oral contraceptives.  The whole colony’s social and sexual behavior went haywire.  The males became confused, less interested in their mates and therefore remaining monogamous- and even gender rolls were messed up. 

If anyone knows where to find it please post the link…I will keep looking for it too.

Wayne. I do not know you and frankly have no desire to get to know you. After reviewing your website, it is clear that you are nothing more than a religious bigot, who takes joy in bashing the Catholic Church. I am willing to do anything and everything possible to help those who sincerely desire to get to know and understand the teachings of the Catholic Church. You, obviously do not fall into that category. In your case I am led by Matthew 7:6. You are obviously a disciple of Jack Chick, rather than Jesus. Anything or anyone who seeks to divide the Body of Christ is not doing the work of God. Shame on you!

Wayne. As I said, we have not met. However, I am curious to know who you are. I went to your website and looked up your profile. Apparently you do not have the courage to identify yourself. Why hide your identity? Do you have the courage of your convictions, or do you not?  Your profile picture is quite appropriate.

Hi Victor. I was honest enough to put your article on my site. No, i dont follow Jack Chick, i just decieded to put a few things of his on my site to freshen it up. Everything is true what i have said in my blog. The pitures are taken by catholics of catholics. You cant argue with that. The dead bodies in catholic churches thru europe, its a fact.If your religion is that repulsive to you, you should do something about it. Calling me a bigot wont change the facts.
There is nothing to know about me. Im not paid to witness to people. I studied history as a requisit for prw law, and science for pre med studies.I play chess and guitar and piano. I got saved when i was 16.
go sing up at the telegraph. Its mainly catholic. im there more often than not. Thanks brother Victor

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/damianthompson/100079958/look-at-this-revolting-building-and-guess-what-the-catholic-bishops-are-thinking-of-doing-with-it/#dsq-content

Wow! Wayne sounds like a collection of all the favorite attacks against Catholics that we have heard over and over! They ahve been asnwered so well over the centuries by so many I don’t see how people can still say these things to us Catholics with a straight face. Sometimes I feel like saying “can’t you find some original attack?”

I find it both troubling and frustrating that Catholics have boarded the anti-Liberal, anti-women’s rights by calling pro-choice advocates “anti-life”.  I am a Catholic but am quite disturbed how a reasoned approach to God’s word has become as extremist as that of the radical protesants like Michelle Bachman and company. If you think like this article outlines, you are not a Christian at all.  This kind of vitriol is the exact oposite of what Jesus taught: Judge not lest ye be judged, my brethren.

It is not a woman’s right to murder her children. You can’t be Christian and be pro-abortion at the same time. The term pro-“choice” is not accurate and is synonymous with pro-abortion. If you are Christian, then you follow the way of Christ, not the ways of the world. There is no question at all concerning the genocide of abortion. It is absolutely wrong no matter what. This is the teaching of Christianity. Follow Christ, or continue following the ways of the world. This true choice is a necessary one to make. Can’t have it both ways or neither. The irony of your post: “This kind of vitriol is the exact oposite of what Jesus taught: Judge not lest ye be judged, my brethren.” Honestly study what the Church teaches, and pray about. Christianity is outside the terms of conservative and liberal, which vary in what they refer to over time.