Adult Stem Cell Research? Why Not?

I saw a National Geographic documentary where a man with heart problems had triple bypass surgery. In addition to this surgery, the doctors took stem cells from his bone marrow and injected them into his heart. Three months after the surgery, his heart was pumping more blood than before, and he was playing basketball again. The doctors felt the adult stem cells worked. There are many more examples of such success stories, which the media won't report. So I'd like to pose this question to everyone, "Why is everybody obsessed with embryonic stem cell research, when adult stem cells are more readily available and are proven to work?"

Do You Believe in Angels?

A friend told me that he & his wife visited Mexico a few years ago. During the vacation, his wallet was stolen. So he prayed that the wallet be recovered. The chances for recovery were slim. One day, when he & his wife visited the Basilica in Mexico City where the tilma or cloak containing the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was kept, a stranger approached him. He was "baby faced" and was dressed in white. The man showed him a wallet and asked if it was his. My friend examined it and discovered it was his and all the money, credit cards, and IDs were still in it. He asked for the stranger's name and the man said it was Luis Angeles. The man gave him a hug and walked away. "Angeles" is Spanish for Angels. Was this stranger his guardian angel? What do you think? How about you? Do you believe in angels? If so, when was the last time you asked your guardian angel for help?

Are People Good or Bad?

We tend to think that people are either good or bad. So if someone we consider as good does something wrong (whether it's a priest, a civil rights activist, or a politician), we're shocked. I was wondering about this subject until I read a book by a psychiatrist who said that each person has good and bad characteristics. We view a person as good if we focus on their good characteristics. We view a person as bad if we focus on their bad characteristics. This made sense to me. I always wondered why people I perceived as being bad, were loved by others. Those people must see something good in that person. Perhaps this is the reason why Jesus asked us to forgive others. So maybe next time, we shouldn't be too harsh with others for their imperfections, since we also have our own weaknesses.

Would You Want Someone to Help You When You're in Need?

I was at Costco with my mom a few weeks ago. She & I were shopping in different parts of the store, when mom suddenly felt dizzy and asked a woman for help. The woman refused to help and left her. When I found mom, she told me about this incident. I was quite upset about it. Who wouldn’t? I'll bet you would be too if this happened to your or your loved ones. So I wondered, maybe next time someone asks us for help, we should. Perhaps our good example may inspire others to do the same.

Child Martyr of the Eucharist

I read an article by the late Archbishop Fulton Sheen of New York. It's about an 11-year old Catholic girl who lived in China during the Communist revolution. One night, the Red Guards broke into her church and threw the consecrated hosts from the Tabernacle onto the floor. They left one soldier to guard the inside of the church to prevent people from entering. The girl, who was hiding inside the church, witnessed this desecration. Because she believed the Eucharist was the Body of Our Lord Jesus, she waited for the soldier to fall asleep each night before sneaking into the church to gather and eat one host. On the last night, when she consumed the last of the remaining hosts, the soldier awakened. Frightened, she ran outside of the church but the soldier caught up with her and beat her to death with the butt of his rifle. The parish priest, who was under house arrest and locked up in the house next to the church, could only watch in horror from his bedroom window. This girl's courage and martyrdom makes me wonder, "How many Catholic children today believe in the Real Presence of the Eucharist?" And how many Catholics today would have the courage & willingness to suffer martyrdom for this belief, like that brave girl?"

Is a Person Less Human Just Because He's Homeless?

I was waiting for the train to go home from work yesterday. Suddenly, this woman standing nearby ran towards the stairs. As I looked towards the direction she was running to, I saw a homeless person on the floor on his knees. He must have tripped and fallen. The woman, who was well dressed in office attire, did not hesitate to help this man get up. I went over to them to offer some assistance. Most of the people there, however, didn't bother to do anything at all. I was just wondering, "Were they afraid?" Or was it because they considered it beneath their "dignity" to get their hands or neat clothes dirty by touching this homeless man? I'd like to pose this question to those people, "Is a person less of a human being than your or I, just because he's homeless or poor?"

Abstinence vs. Condoms in Preventing AIDS?

I'm sure you've heard this all before from the biased media and politicians. They say that condom use will prevent the spread of AIDS. Westerners believe that just using condoms without abandoning promiscuity will stop AIDS. They've been promoting that solution in the US for years. Yet AIDS continues to spread in this country. So, Harvard University conducted a study in the continent that has the worst case of AIDS epidemic - Africa. There, they discovered that Uganda had the most success in reducing the spread of this disease. Why? It’s because their government rejected the failed policies of the West and adopted their own solution. They focused on changing risky behaviors instead, which is a solution rejected by the West. They promoted abstinence and monogamous relationships. The statistics prove that their solution worked. So ask yourselves this question. Given this evidence, "What is the logical solution to stop the spread of AIDS?" If you're a rational human being, the answer is obvious. But if you're a politician , or a member of the media or Hollywood, then you wouldn't have a clue even if the answer stared at you right in the face.

When Will People Learn?

I was watching the news last night. They reported that a child was murdered by the ex-boyfriend of the child's mother. This reminded me of a conference I attended years ago. At this conference, a researcher from England presented the results of a study he conducted. He discovered that the incidence of child abuse is much higher in households where one of the adults is not the biological parent of the child. The incidence was much higher in households where the couples were not married to each other. This is not new. Similar findings were reported by CNN a long time ago. I remember hearing about this also in my Psychology class in college. Then common sense dictates that these alternative relationships should be avoided to reduce the incidence of child abuse. But despite the preponderance of the evidence, some people continue to reject the traditional family and choose "alternative" household settings, which give rise to these abuses. When will people learn?

Causes of Crime

You'll often hear activists and politicians guess the causes, and then propose quick & dirty, politically expedient band-aid solutions, to the crime problem in our society. For example, they'll say that the cause of crime is unemployment. I don't think so. I remember reading a news article about a carpet installer who raped and murdered his client. Do you know where the police caught him? At his next client, installing carpets as usual. Sometimes the "experts" claim that poverty is the cause of crime. Tell that to the "poor" executives of Enron. I also know someone who receives only $200 a month in social security benefits, but she doesn't commit crimes. Some say crime is caused by a lack of education. Well, did you know that the first, and probably worst, serial killer in US history was a doctor? His name is Henry Holmes. So next time you hear politicians or activists propose solutions to these "causes" of the crime problem, we should ask them this question, "What really is the root cause of crime in the first place?" Then and only then can they come up with the proper solution.

The Media's Misuse of God's Name

If you have ever watched a movie, one of the things you'll always hear is the misuse of God's name. Almost every script written by Hollywood includes the expression "Goddam." The use of this blasphemy is so prevalent in movies that many people think this is a "normal" term to use. So you hear it everyday from other people, even in the workplace. I have a question for these screenwriters. What do you think would happen if you replaced "Goddam" with "Allahdamn" instead? How do you think Muslims would feel? So don't you think Christians would feel the same way? Of course, since it's open season on Christians only, Hollywood wouldn't mind offending Christians by blaspheming God, but they certainly wouldn't offend Muslims by blaspheming Allah. That would be politically incorrect. Can you spell "hypocrisy?" Here's something else to consider. "Damn" is not God's last name. If someone added "damn" to your name and called you "Johndamn", "Mikedamn", "Joedam", "Stevedamn", and so on, how would you feel? Now how do you think God would feel if you do the same to Him?

Does Spanking Really Harm Kids?

I’m sure you’ve heard this from “experts” who appear on TV. But is this really true? Let’s use some common sense. How many of you had been spanked as kids? Did you end up becoming a child abuser? How many of you had parents who were spanked? Did they end up becoming abusers? Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying you should spank your kids. I know people who can discipline their kids without resorting to this. But the point I want to make is that a child who is spanked does not automatically become dysfunctional and abusive. In fact, I’ve heard of kids who were not disciplined by their parents and the kids did end up becoming dysfunctional, even violent and abusive. So next time you hear someone say that spanking is bad, ask them if they or their parents were spanked, and ask them if they became violent as a result.

Modesty

Often, you’ll hear women say they have a right to wear whatever they want, or what little they want. Even so, here’s a reason why women probably should reconsider, and practice modesty. I read an Internet article about an interview of prisoners convicted of sexual assault. They were asked how they selected their victims. They all unanimously said that one of the things they looked for were women who wore clothes that could be removed quickly and easily. Ask yourself how many women today wear clothes that are considered “fashionable” but meet this criterion used by rapists. Then common sense dictates that to avoid being a victim, don’t wear these types of clothes. So next time your wives, girlfriends, or daughters want to wear revealing clothing that’s easy to tear off, you might want to remind them of the results of these interviews.

Civility - Some People May Surprise You

I was told about a comment made by someone who read my blogs. Although the comment was made by an agnostic, he actually said some nice things about me and my blogs. That surprised me. I was expecting a hostile reaction since I perceived that agnostics or atheists wouldn’t like my blogs about religion. I guess my perception was wrong. Unfortunately, this is the common perception we developed, due to the hostility or animosity that we hear about, from the media, between Christians and atheists. I read somewhere that G.K. Chesterton (a convert to Catholicism) was a friend of George Bernard Shaw (an atheist). Although they debated about God and religion, there was no animosity between them. In fact, when Chesterton died, Shaw had only nice things to say about him. I was just wondering if it was ever possible someday for people to discuss things, whether religion, politics, or other topics, with civility once again. There seems to be a shortage of that nowadays.

Why is Missing Sunday Mass Considered a Sin?

I’ve been asked this question many times before. To answer it, one has to understand the mass. It is a reliving of the sacrifice of Jesus in Calvary. In doing so, we also commemorate the sacrifice he made to “save” us. Let’s draw an analogy. Suppose your father fought during WWII and died in the war. It’s only proper to honor the sacrifice he made to “save” you from fascism. If you refuse to go to his memorial service, then this would be a grave insult. Refusal to commemorate the sacrifice he made would send the message that you don’t care that he died for you. It further implies that what he did was not important to you. How do you think his dad, your grandfather, would feel about that? I think he would be deeply hurt and offended by it. So ask yourself, how do you think God the Father would feel, if you refuse to commemorate the fact that His Son Jesus gave His life to “save” you from eternal damnation? Do you now see why it’s considered a serious offense to deliberately miss Sunday mass without any legitimate reason?

Can Fame or Fortune Bring Happiness?

I was watching the biography of Errol Flynn last weekend. This famous actor had everything: looks, fame, fortune, & women. Unfortunately, he discovered the hard way that these don’t make him immune from other problems, such as frivolous lawsuits & dishonest accountants. He became despondent, and abused alcohol and drugs. He developed liver problems and, in his 50’s, died of a heart attack. He’s not alone. Other celebrities had it all, such as Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, etc. But they all died due to substance abuse. So everyone is asking, “Why could people, who have it all, be so unhappy?” That’s because everybody assumed that fame or fortune can bring happiness. That’s what the media wants you and I to believe. Apparently this isn’t true. So what is the true source of happiness? I won’t attempt to answer that for you. Each of you will need to seek & discover that answer for yourselves.

Should We Stand By Our Principles?

I was discussing politics with a co-worker during an election year. She told me, “You can’t eat your principles. So think about your stomach first!” Do you believe she’s right? Think about this for a moment. What if Martin Luther King, Jr. followed her advice? Would racial segregation have been eliminated? What if Mohandas Gandhi followed her advice? Would India have gained its independence? So do you still believe that we should think about our stomachs first before standing up for our principles? Then what kind of a world do you think we’d live in if people did that?

Why Would God Create Hell?

Someone asked me this question a few years ago. Here's one way of looking at this. Imagine someone you dislike. Now imagine what it would be like to live with that person your entire life. You wouldn't like it would you? So if someone dislikes God, God won't force that person to live with Him forever in Heaven. Otherwise, that person wouldn't like it. But there's a problem. God is everywhere. So God had to create a place where He is absent for those who don't want to be in His presence. We call that place Hell. Now the question for the rest of us is, "Where do we want to be?"

Why Visit the Blessed Sacrament?

As I mentioned before, Jesus is truly present in the Blessed Sacrament. So why aren't there more people visiting Him? If you think about it, our ultimate end is to be with God forever in Heaven. So we need to spend more time with Him here on earth. Let's look at an analogy. If you were planning to marry someone (i.e. spend the rest of your life with that person), wouldn't you want to get to know him/her first? And how do you get to know someone? You do it by spending time with that person. So if you plan on spending the rest of eternity with God in Heaven, wouldn't it make sense to get to know Him better? Then you should also spend time with Him here on earth by visiting the Tabernacle of your church, where Jesus is really, physically present in the Eucharist. And like people in love, spend that time conversing with each other. That's what prayer is - conversing with God about anything and everything. So next time you pass by a Catholic church, drop in to say, “Hi.” Or better yet, schedule time to visit Our Lord regularly, maybe once a week. You won't regret it.

Are Pro-Lifers Really Right-Wing Extremists?

I'm sure you've heard this accusation before from pro-aborts. But is it really true? I read about a conversation that Mother Teresa had with a Catholic priest years ago, when he visited her in India. She found out that President Clinton had signed a bill into law, making it illegal in the U.S. to peacefully obstruct access to an abortion mill. Mother Teresa replied, "Father, if we had laws like that here in India, I would have been thrown in jail many times! Here I go to the places where abortions are done and I take the women by the arm and say, 'Come with me; we will help you and your child!'" Now ask yourselves, "Does Mother Teresa look like a right-wing extremist to you?"

Will the World Really Be Better Without God?

I saw a TV show called “Masters of Science Fiction.” In it, the President said nuclear weapons & God were invented due to fear. This represents Hollywood’s belief that God is just an invention. But there’s more. John Lennon’s song, “Imagine”, expresses his belief that the world will be perfect if there’s “no heaven” & “no religion too.” The music industry shares this belief. So is it true? Will the world be better if people didn’t believe in God? Examine the evidence. Stalin, Mao, & Pol Pot are examples of atheists who tried to create a utopia on earth. These despots are responsible for murdering millions of people. What they created instead is hell on earth. Just ask any survivor of their regimes. Now look at those who genuinely believed in God, & actually practiced their belief, such as St. Francis of Assisi & Mother Teresa. They were motivated by faith in making the world a better place. Ask anyone who benefited from the works of the Franciscans or the Missionaries of Charity. So do you still believe the Entertainment Industry’s notion that eliminating God will make the world a better pace? Judge for yourself.