I shut up the religious right today - with help from my DU family.

Okay all I just got back from church, physical therapy, and lunch and I am flying high as a kite but let me rewind a bit. A few days ago I asked you all for your opinion about whether or not I should attend an mass read by my niece in my familys church. My sister lead me to believe that it was an anti stem cell homily and I was in alot of distress. Anyhow heres what happened.
We got there about nine fifteen and it was pretty cool. I wore my donkey pin and flag lapel Senator Durbin gave me for luck. Since it was the first day of advent the homily was aboutvigilance and not about stem cell - okay i though selene was playin games and I should blow it off.
Next comes destiny readding the prayers of the people. In it Destiny reads "Please change the mind of women seeking abortion and those voting for stem cell research." That blows my top and I stood up. My dad told me to sit down. He said ignore it because it was just someones opinion. And I should respect differences of opinion no matter how much I disagree with them.
Next comes the announcement that as its the first friday of the month its respect life rosary vigil. And that the kids are supposed to pray on the sacrments to get people to change thier minds on stem cell research and abortion.. So my dad tells me to go and kick the priests ass.
As were walking out of the church I see father Enriot greeting people and I say "Father I have parkinson's disease. Howcome your having these kids ask god to keep me crippled?" The fathers face grows white as a sheet and he motions for me to go out of the church. I than say "Okay but I expect an answer next week."
My dad told me "nice job" and took me out for breakfeast. I want to thank DU for giving me the courage to do this. It was scary as hell doing it. But we got to start playing offense with the goon squad.
Cmon if I can do it we all can. No matter what happens this will be a good weekend.

Keep asking questions in public and making it personal. Good job.

is quite likely the antichrist.

And do they know that their leaders have been funded by Moon and they support his marriage programs in the White House?

You're absolutely right - none of us should pass up an opportunity to set the record straight. Good job, Dan.

:hug:

:yourock:

And please know there are those that will never change our minds about Stem Cell research - we are for it and always will be for it - but we WILL still pray - pray for you and all others afflicted with any malady - like Jesus would too.

Nice Job! :applause: :toast:

I am in the Lutheran church....missouri synod (they still won't let women read scripture in front of thechurch) because there are no evangelical around...i understand how hard itmust have been though. very proud though.

You deserve a good weekend.

I'm not pleased about what she read, though.

Who wrote that (if I understand correctly)?

I feel that you are gifted, and maybe can correct the ignorance of people who are anti-stem-cell research.

Take care!

:grouphug:

I have been away from the church a very long time . Except when i attend episcopal mass.

What I'm sorry about is that you had to go through some distress.

I enjoy your posts.

Take care!

I wouldn't have the courage to do this if you didn't have my back. I burried alot my demons today. Thank you.

Bravo! People need to have the realities of how their closed opinions effect others. Nice job making him own his comments. I can't wait to see if he answers you next week.

Cheers!

PS....hope you went to Egg Harbor and had the Eggs Benedict!

As a Catholic, I always applaud when someone holds the priests accountable.

ChicaAzul and I DO NOT stay silent in the back pew, and we also speak with our $$$$.

DON'T let him get away with not answering you!

the personal connection is the best way to change minds.

I'm glad you stood up for what you believed. My stepson has something called Friedrich's ataxia; he's slowly losing feeling in his limbs, is using a walker, and is on his way to a wheelchair. I too am fervent in my belief that stem cell research must be allowed. Perhaps Father Enriot will have a change of heart, but I hope he at least addresses your concerns. Keep up the good work; nothing good will happen if we all remain mum. :applause: :applause:

There are days when I need a walker or wheel chair. Your stepson has a good mom. I promise to keep lobbying for a cure for him.

:woohoo: :applause:

You should know that your post put me in a good mood too. Congrats!

Listen to your dad, the general intercessions are opinion. But what Destiny read seems to me very inappropriate for the occasion. The Church needs to be very cautious about the words it puts in the mouths of children.

Have a very good weekend!

Peace

:yourock: !!

I love it when "parishoners" show that they have a mind of their own, and that they don't need clergy telling them how to believe. Even good Christians can do that!! And, it wasn't even on a Saturday night--the best night for fightin'.

How's your friend, BTW?

BTW, if you don't mind me asking, how old are you?

That was admirable. Keep at it. Your strength made my day that's for sure.

You stood up not just for youself but for people like my Grandfather has Parkinsons and diabetes.

:grouphug:

:yourock:

We gotta start playing offense.

You're wonderful - thanks!

You are very courageous

telling people whether or not stem-cells have souls.

You were great - nothing less than great.

I am happy to hear about your saying what you think to the priest. And I am happy for you that your dad was supportive.

It seems like you were taken advantage of by your sister and possibly your niece. You struggled with deciding if you were going to go to the mass but felt that you needed to for the sake of your niece, if for no other reason. I think it was unfair to you that you went for the sake of your niece, and that of all the topics your niece could read something about, she had to say something controversial, about abortion and stem cell research (and that knowing your condition). I think you should take your sister and your niece to task about the matter, and (I would suppose) let them know that you will not attend mass with them again.

Hope that priest gives you a decent answer, and not some bullshit "sanctity of all live...future generations...more important than one person" one.

that 60-80% of blastocysts are washed out of the body in body fluids,
and so if they are saying that every fertilized egg is sacred, it's
a totally ridiculous argument, if God has the body flush out these
blastocysts, he obiviously is not following the sacredness of the
fertilized egg argument, let's use the technology to help people.

:applause:

Let us know what happens next week. :)

One by one we will all be called to stand and speak the truth. Thank you and keep up the good work.

i have said it, too, and i'm named after a nun. LOL.
good for you!

That took some guts. :applause:

will help you. God loves you and wants you healed. I believe that and I hope it so very much for you. Hugs. You are a warrior for truth and a hero.

It may be a longer slog than first thought, but worth it.

Good job so far.

What about adult stem cell research? The adult body has a small number of stem cells in many tissues and organs. Stem cells from a newborn's umbilical cord (considered adult because they are non-embryonic) can produce blood, bone, and cartilage cells. Some people condemn all stem cell research out of ignorance, because they don't know adult stem cells exist.

Why are you against embryonic stem cell research and not against in vitro fertilization (IVF)? Nearly 400,000 embryos are in storage in the USA, left over from IVF. Less than 3% have been donated for research. Almost as many are designated to be discarded each year. I have never heard of any priest (or any other religious leader) asking for volunteers to be implanted with these 400,000 embryos so that they can be 'saved'.

Be aware that a very small number of leftover IVF embryos is indeed 'adopted' and implanted in women who resultingly give birth.

Isn't it better to use leftover IVF embryos for stem cell research if they are just going to be discarded anyway?

Source: National Geographic July 2005 hard copy version

If life begins at conception, why doesn't the Bible treat termination of a pregnancy the same as murder? "Suppose two men are fighting and hit a pregnant woman, causing the baby to come out. If there is no further injury, the man who caused the accident must pay money -- whatever amount the woman's husband says and the court allows.

"But if there is further injury, then the punishment that must be paid is life for life..."

Source: The Holy Bible Exodus 21: 22-27

An opponent might respond to you by saying this was part of the Law, which hasn't applied since Jesus was born. I don't know if this widely held belief can be defended or not, so you're on your own from there on.

Nicely done.

Remember Jefferson : The price of Liberty is eternal vigilance!

I plan to go down thier now every chance I get and confronting them on issues. Making them talk about whatever they bring up in mass until they start to see our side. For instance If they bring up abortion Ill say than how come you can be pro life and pro war. I think I finally found a way to protest that suits me. Right in the mouth of the lions Dan.

I know its a hard thing to do, bravo...:)

nice job. now leave that man to ponder, meditate on, and perhaps even languish in the direction and purpose of his life.

:woohoo: :hug:
Jenn