Cardinal Dolan and Father Barron About Pope Francis ...Love This! Perfect NY

Ten Commandments Monument Toppled in DC

In a sign of the times we live in, where irreverence can be the norm, a monument inscribed with the Ten Commandments was toppled in Washington, D.C. The Ten Commandments which are found in the Hebrew Scriptures, and revered by Jews and Christians as the Law and the Word of God were given to Moses on stone tablets on Mt. Sinai. The granite monument inscribed with these sacred laws were carved on a stone monument which weighs 850 pounds and is located in front of the headquarters of Faith and Action, a Christian outreach ministry. Because of its size and weight, it would not be easy to topple, but these disrespectful vandals were determined, it seems.
The monument was pushed down so that the words of the Ten Commandments are face down, (for the time being). Of course this will be rectified and security cameras will be installed so that vandals will not have their evil last word.
It's sad how such disrespect and anger for the words and laws that are held sacred by Jews and Christians can motivate illegal and unlawful behavior. I wonder who did it? I'd like to know their motivation. Why are they against laws divinely given that help keep order and civility in society. Such a pity that there is such disrespect for religious values and beliefs which have helped society and helped our country.
The Rev. Robert Schenck who heads the organization where the monument was vandalized said, "the vandals had helped the organization convey important messages: 'We all violate the Ten Commandments' and 'We all violate God's rules.'"
Whoever did this obviously has no fear of the Lord, but they should. Though God is very patient, such behavior will bring some trouble into the lives of those who did it. They'll get punished in one way or another. There will be justice, divine retribution, in one form or another.
NJA

Aaron Alexis Mentally Disturbed, Influenced By Evil

Another national tragedy. More innocent lives ending in violence. More of the same. A weapon in the hand of someone who shouldn't have one. A psychotic person, driven to evil and violence, driven by evil voices reverberating in his head. Aaron Alexis,  the 34 year old former Navy reservist was obsessed with violent video games. This has happened before. Newtown mass murderer, 20 year old Adam Lanza was also obsessed with violent video games and guns. He killed 20 innocent children and 6 adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School. It keeps happening, the same story in different places. People who shouldn't have guns, people who are psychotic and hear voices, demonic voices I'm sure, violent video games which desensitize the insane and make killing look glamorous and easy. When will the madness stop?
A mother cries. She lost her son, a happy man. "He didn't do anything wrong" is what she said on TV in her grief. It's unimaginable, that people go to work happy and never return home because crazy people slip through the cracks, crazy people with guns who shouldn't have guns in the first place.  When Aaron Alexis walked into a gun store in Virginia to purchase a weapon, his former arrests, the disciplinary actions against him in the Navy should have surfaced on a computer screen and made it impossible for him to buy that weapon. With modern technology, there's no excuse for someone like Aaron Alexis to be able to buy a gun and kill in cold blood, innocent, hard working people. It's a disgrace.
I'm sure the devil had a part to play in this tragedy. The devil plays on the weak, mentally unstable and confused. He lurks and waits and puts evil thoughts into the mind of the insane and then they do the unthinkable.
Mental health systems and reporting has to improve, and anyone who tries to buy a gun legally should have a perfect record, no brushes with the law, no disciplinary actions. Let's hope the country learns something from this latest atrocity.
God weeps. God weeps each time someone goes insane and  commits evil actions, and listens to the evil voices in their heads. God be near to the families that have lost loved ones so violently and senselessly.
NJA

Mars One Explorers- A One Way Ticket to the Red Planet

Just when you think you've heard it all or read it all comes a news article about an organization called "Mars One," that is planning to put a human settlement on Mars in the year 2023. Though this is the first time I'm hearing about it, apparently a year ago they publicized that they are going to colonize Mars (the Red Planet, 4th planet from the sun) which is currently uninhabited with a select group of people who volunteer to go. There is only one stipulation-it's a one way ticket. You go and you never come back to Earth. Sounds like science fiction, sounds a little crazy....well apparently they already have over 200,000 applications from people who are interested in leaving this planet permanently. You can't make this stuff up. The applicants come from all over the world.
The people who are selected will train for seven years. The first team of planetary adventurers will leave in 2022. The mission is expected to cost about $6 billion.
Interested? They are looking for people who work well with others, can live in close quarters and are good natured.
I'm certain they will need to have a priest and ministers for the Mars mission. Anyone interested in signing up? The settlers will have to have spiritual nourishment and religion in that strange environment. The settlers may be leaving civilization behind but God is everywhere.
It's not for me and I am truly amazed that anyone would be interested but some people are born explorers......One person who sent in an application, a Yale graduate said, "This is going to be a pretty important thing to do with my life. Talk about leaving your mark on humanity." I'd say!
And for those who apply who can't break away from modern technology, the mission will be equipped with the latest technology, so everyone back here on Earth can see how things are going.
NJA

Interesting Facts about Mars
Mars is named after the ancient Roman god of war- The Romans copied the ancient Greeks who named the reddish planet after their god of war-Ares
Mars is referred to as the "red planet" because of its reddish, rust color which is due to its iron rich materials in its dust and rocks, that cover the surface.
Mars has the largest volcanoes in the solar system.
Mars is much colder than Earth because it is further from the Sun.

Americans Don't Want War-The Pope Doesn't Want War

According to a poll that I took part of, the majority of Americans do not want to get involved in another Middle East war. I feel the same way. I, like the majority of Americans are appalled and dismayed by the Syrian regime's use of chemical weapons against its own people. It's horrific that at this time in history, (at any time)that the killing of innocent civilians in a cruel and inhuman way has taken place.  But the majority of Americans are wary of war, wars that can't be won, wars that have uncertain outcomes and will inflame more hatred towards Americans and our allies.
As I wrote in my last blog post, it says in the Bible, "Seek peace and pursue it." War should always be a last resort, after every other sort of diplomacy has been tried, in my opinion.
During a town hall meeting, Senator John McCain faced a difficult crowd, who were mostly against the U.S. getting involved in a war with Syria. People held up signs saying, "Security through peace," and "Don't bomb Syria."
The Bishops and of course Pope Francis agree that President Obama should not bomb Syria, but try diplomatic solutions. Pope Francis will hold a prayer vigil on Saturday night at the Vatican, to pray for peace and bishops throughout the world will hold prayer vigils as well.
The Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington, LI, will hold a Prayer Service from 1:00-5:00 PM,  during the day on Saturday to pray for peace, in accordance with the Pope's wishes (and at the request of Bishop Murphy).   The Pope has asked Catholics and non-Catholics alike to spend the weekend in prayer and fasting for peace. Let's hope these prayers affect the hearts and minds of those in power, who have killed innocent children and convert them to compassion and love for others. May they see the darkness in their lives. And may President Obama find another way to stop extremists, other than war.
NJA

Let the cry for peace rise up across the Earth!
War never again! Never again war!
Humanity needs to see these gestures of peace and to hear words of hope and peace.
Pope Francis