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.

Being a Christian Means More Than Just Going to Church

A retired nurse, who went to church last Sunday, told us this story. A man sitting nearby started to go into shock. She recognized the symptoms and immediately helped him. She also called 911. What upset her was the fact that there were other nurses there who did nothing but watch them. Is your notion of Christian behavior similar to these people? Is Christianity limited to just going to church on Sundays? Or does Christian behavior actually require that you practice what you believe, such as emulating the “Good Samaritan”, or “doing unto others what you want them to do unto you?” Will God say to you “Well done,” when it’s your turn to face judgment before Him?”

Why Go to Confession?

I've heard this question before. Here's how I look at this issue. You love your spouse. So, you have a personal relationship with each other. You love God and He loves you. Then, there should be a personal relationship between you and God. Because your are not perfect, you will sometimes "offend" your spouse, either deliberately (e.g. making fun of him/her) or inadvertently (yelling in anger). Sometimes, the offense can be more "serious", such as going to the baseball game with your buddies on your anniversary. What do marriage counselors advise in these situations? Ask your spouse for forgiveness to restore your relationship with your spouse. Likewise, you will occasionally offend God too. It happens. It can be a minor sin, such as fibbing at a job interview. Or, it can be more serious, such as fornication or adultery, or having sexual fantasies about someone other than your spouse. So how do you restore your relationship with God? For Catholics, it's called Confession. This is how you formally apologize to God for any offenses committed against Him. This includes failure to do the right thing. So don't be afraid of confession. It's the way to restore your relationship with God.

Do Pro-Choice People Really Want You to Have a Choice?

I tried to enter the URL of a pro-life site today. It brought me to a different website instead. Someone hacked into the pro-life site & redirected all traffic to another site. The culprit was very smart. This reminded me of an incident last year. The Catholic Diocese of Oakland, CA placed pro-life ads inside trains. These ads were not offensive. Yet within a few days, hundreds of ads were destroyed. These were not random incidents. These acts of vandalism were systematic, deliberate, well-planned, & organized. To destroy hundreds of ads, hundreds of people would have been involved. I don't know any pro-life person who vandalized pro-abortion ads. So why would pro-aborts vandalize pro-life ads? I also don't know any pro-life person who hacked into Planned Parenthood's site. So why would pro-aborts hack pro-life sites? I concluded that pro-abortion people don't believe in free speech. They also believe the end justifies the means, including committing crimes. What are they afraid of? Are they worried people might change their minds about the abortion issue? If so, then how can they claim to be pro-choice when they don't want people to have an alternative choice in the first place?

How I Came to Believe in the Real Presence

I said I believed the Eucharist is Jesus. I didn't believe it at first. One day, my mom was taken to the hospital. She was seriously ill & her condition was worsening. At a retreat, I asked a priest why God allowed it. He said, "Ask our Lord in the Tabernacle." So I did & I asked for her cure. I got a Bible & chanced upon John 4:47-54, about the cure of an official's son. This occurred on Saturday. When I came home, I called the hospital & found out that mom was better. I asked her when her condition turned around. She said, "On Saturday." Coincidence? On Monday, a Protestant asked me why I visited the church on weekdays. I told her what the priest told me, "to visit our Lord in the Tabernacle." So I invited her to church. Later, she told me, "I found what I'm looking for." So she became a Catholic. I asked myself, "Can bread bring about conversion?" Another person told me he had a problem & had been praying for weeks for a solution. When he asked me what to do, I said, "Pray to our Lord in the Tabernacle." So I invited him to church on Friday. On Monday morning, he told me his problem was solved. These could not be just coincidences. So from that day onward, I was convinced that the Eucharist was truly our Lord Jesus, and not just a piece of bread.

Going to Communion at Mass: What Does It Mean?

Like many Catholics, I've received communion almost as a matter of routine, without thinking much about it. One day, while falling in line to receive communion at mass, a Eucharistic Minister asked me, "Do you believe this is Jesus, your God, that you're about to eat?" I was taken aback for a moment. I was expecting her to say the usual phrase "Body of Christ." I had to think for a moment what to say. Then I realized that this is precisely what we believe as Catholics, that the bread, after being consecrated by the priest, actually becomes Jesus. So it is God that we Catholics eat during communion. Since I do believe this, I said the usual response, "Amen", which means "truly" or "I agree." I'm not sure if what she said was proper, but it did bring to mind this important Catholic belief, which I and many other Catholics, had taken for granted. I guess it's a good thing to be reminded of this key doctrine of our Faith once in a while.

Why Talk About Political Issues?

Others have asked me why I include political issues in this blog. What's the connection between politics and living a meaningful life? In order to live a more meaningful life, one would need the freedom to pursue a meaningful life. So if this freedom is denied to a person, then an injustice is being committed against that person. Such a person would not be happy. For example, when African-Americans were sold as slaves, their freedom to live genuinely human lives were denied to them. When a child is aborted, the child's right & freedom to live a meaningful life is denied to that child. When a disabled person's life is terminated, such as Terri Schiavo's life, then her freedom to live a meaningful life is also being denied. There are several cases of people, in similar or worse condition than her, who were able to recover with rehabilitation. Terri was denied rehabilitation. In conclusion, freedom and justice are required in order for people to pursue a more meaningful life. These issues happen to be considered "political" issues also. Therefore, it becomes necessary to address these "political" issues if they interfere with a person's legitimate pursuit of a meaningful and purposeful life.