For whom the bells toll . . . Did the bell toll . . .

Yesterday, the Fourth of July, concluded the Fortnight for Freedom time of prayer prescribed by the American Bishops . . . for the most part. Very little, if anything happened in our diocese. I did note that one, small parish observed the time with daily Rosary and Benediction. Less than forty people showed up for morning Mass at our parish, yesterday. I later heard that it was encouraged to have every parish toll their bells at the conclusion of the Fortnight for Freedom. Granted, not many churches in our diocese have bells but given the serious need for prayer regarding our future religious freedoms, you would think that a gathering of people with various bells from home could have been organized. I guess that like everyone else, I waited for someone in charge to take charge so nothing much happened. Very disappointing that this matter isn't talked about, kept in the daily Mass petitions, and printed in each and every weekly church bulletin. Yes, such an outpouring of response to the president's attack on our Church would have drawn adverse press but silence condones it. Kind of like a shepherd who just opens the gates and the flock wander hither and yon. So, does politics come first or Faith? If we are called to defend our Faith midst the attackes against it, will we defend it? Time will tell but we really don't have that much time left.

Super-Quick Tortilla Soup

When time is short and you need something hot and tasty set before your hungry family, this recipe might work for you.

Super-Quick Tortilla Soup
2 cups canned diced tomatoes
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves of garlic
2 teaspoon chili flakes (optional)
3 tablespoons or so of cilantro
1/2 teaspoon sugar
4-6 cups of chicken broth - canned or homemade
Tortilla chips
1 cup sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded
1 cup Monteray Jack cheese, shredded

In a blender or food processor, combine the tomatoes, onion, garlic, chili flakes, cilantro, sugar and chicken broth and liquify. Pour into a large cooking pot and simmer for 15-20 minutes. To serve, place a good handful of tortilla chips into each serving bowl, top with cheese, add hot soup, and serve. You can have some extra cheese and cilanto on hand for those who might like a bit more.

When a WHEN does matter . . .

Looking back thru the past 4 years, many "Whens" pop up. Read them all to better understand where we are going as a country.

WHEN - he refused to disclose who donated money to his election campaign, as other candidates had done, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he received endorsements from people like Louis Farrakhan, Muramar Kaddafi and Hugo Chavez, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - it was pointed out that he was a total newcomer and had absolutely no experience at anything except community organizing, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he chose friends and acquaintances such as Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn who were revolutionary radicals, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - his voting record in the Illinois Senate and in the U.S. Senate came into question, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he refused to wear a flag lapel pin and did so only after a public outcry, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - people started treating him as a Messiah and children in schools were taught to sing his praises, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he stood with his hands over his groin area for the playing of the National Anthem and Pledge of Allegiance, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he surrounded himself in the White House with advisors who were pro-gun control, pro-abortion, pro-homosexual marriage and wanting to curtail freedom of speech to silence the opposition, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he said he favors sex education in kindergarten, including homosexual indoctrination, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - his personal background was either scrubbed or hidden and nothing could be found about him, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - the place of his birth was called into question, and he refused to produce a birth certificate, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he had an association in Chicago with Tony Rezco - a man of questionable character and who is now in prison and had helped Obama to a sweet deal on the purchase of his home - people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - it became known that George Soros, a multi-billionaire Marxist, spent a ton of money to get him elected, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he started appointing White House Czars that were radicals, revolutionaries, and even avowed Marxist /Communists, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he stood before the Nation and told us that his intentions were to "fundamentally transform this Nation" into something else, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - it became known that he had trained ACORN workers in Chicago and served as an attorney for ACORN, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he appointed cabinet members and several advisers who were tax cheats and socialists, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he appointed a Science Czar, John Holdren, who believes in forced abortions, mass sterilizations and seizing babies from teen mothers, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he appointed Cass Sunstein as Regulatory Czar who believes in "Explicit Consent," harvesting human organs without family consent and allowing animals to be represented in court, while banning all hunting, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he appointed Kevin Jennings, a homosexual and organizer of a group called Gay, Lesbian, Straight, Education Network as Safe School Czar and it became known that he had a history of bad advice to teenagers, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he appointed Mark Lloyd as Diversity Czar who believes in curtailing free speech, taking from one and giving to another to spread the wealth, who supports Hugo Chavez, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - Valerie Jarrett, an avowed Socialist, was selected as Obama's Senior White House Advisor, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - Anita Dunn, White House Communications Director, said Mao Tse Tung was her favorite philosopher and the person she turned to most for inspiration, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he appointed Carol Browner, a well known socialist as Global Warming Czar working on Cap and Trade as the nation's largest tax, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he appointed Van Jones, an ex-con and avowed Communist as Green Energy Czar, who since had to resign when this was made known, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - Tom Daschle, Obama's pick for Health and Human Services Secretary could not be confirmed because he was a tax cheat, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - as President of the United States , he bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia, people said it didn't matter..

WHEN - he traveled around the world criticizing America and never once talking of her greatness, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - his actions concerning the Middle East seemed to support the Palestinians over Israel, our long time ally, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he took American tax dollars to resettle thousands of Palestinians from Gaza to the United States, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he upset the Europeans by removing plans for a missile defense system against the Russians, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he played politics in Afghanistan by not sending troops early-on when the Field Commanders said they were necessary to win, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he started spending us into a debt that was so big we could not pay it off, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he took a huge spending bill under the guise of stimulus and used it to pay off organizations, unions, and individuals that got him elected, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he took over insurance companies, car companies, banks, etc., people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he took away student loans from the banks and put it through the government, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he designed plans to take over the health care system and put it under government control, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he claimed he was a Christian during the election and tapes were later made public that showed Obama speaking to a Muslim group and 'stating' that he was raised a Muslim, was educated as a Muslim, and is still a Muslim, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he set into motion a plan to take over the control of all energy in the United States through Cap and Trade, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he finally completed his transformation of America into a Socialist State , people woke up--- but it was too late. Add these up one by one and you get a phenomenal score that points to the fact that Barrack Hussein Obama is determined to turn America into a Marxist-Socialist society. All of the items in the preceding paragraphs have been put into place. All can be documented very easily. Before you disavow this do an Internet search. The last paragraph alone is not yet cast in stone. You and I will write that paragraph.
Will it read as above or will it be a more happy ending for most of America ?

Don't just belittle the opposition. Search for the truth. We all need to pull together or watch the demise of a free democratic society. Pray for Americans to seek the truth and take action for it will keep us FREE. Our biggest enemy is not China, Russia, North Korea or Iran. Our biggest enemy is a contingent of politicians in Washington, DC . The government will not help, so we need to do it ourselves.

Question....will you delete this, or pass it on to others who don't know about Obama's actions and plans for the USA , so that they may know how to vote in November, 2012 and the ensuing years?

It's your decision. I believe it does matter. How about you?

WHEN - November 2012 comes, it will matter who you vote for!

The Pope's Secret Cardinals . . . I didn't know this!

This is a great site that offers many interesting bits of history about the Church that amaze, amuse, and inform. This is something I didn't know about . . . but now I do!

http://cantuar.blogspot.com/2012/07/about-pope-secret-cardinals-in-pectore.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+taylormarshall+%28Canterbury+Tales+by+Taylor+Marshall%29

Would that all our bishops were like this . . .

“Sometimes, throughout our nation’s history, we have had to lift our hands in defense, and take up arms to defend our sacred liberties,” Cardinal Dolan, the archbishop of New York, said in his homily opening the event. “Today we lift up our hands in prayer, to thank God for them and ask him to protect them.”

Research your vote in 2012 and remember this!

Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably ruined.

- Patrick Henry