This Sunday is the feast of the Most Holy Trinity. I would like to begin my brief reflection on the Mass readings for the feast this year by focusing on the first reading, the account from Exodus of God's manifestation of himself in his glory to Moses on Mt. Sinai. What does this reading have to do with the Trinity?

Two things (perhaps among others), I want to suggest. First, this is a key moment in the history of God's self-disclosure, or revelation, to man. And this is the same history that culminates in the Father's sending of the Son - whose mission concludes with their sending of the Holy Spirit - and so, therefore, in God's revelation of himself as the Trinity. We Christians might not find in this passage such obvious prefigurations of the New Testament revelation of the Trinity as we find in some other Old Testament texts. It is nevertheless well worth remembering that the Old Testament self-disclosure of the Lord, "He Who Is," is fulfilled in the New Testament revelation of the Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Trinity - indeed, each of the three Divine Persons - is the one real and supremely transcendent God, the God of creation and the covenant and Commandments. And this God is the Trinity.

Reports: CNS (quoting SF Abp. Niederauer), Zenit (quoting lawyer and Ethics and Public Policy Center president Ed Whelan, and SF's Catholics for the Common Good chairman Bill May).

By Wesley Smith - have a look.

For the past two decades, euthanasia/assisted-suicide ideologues have worked overtime to conflate palliative care—the medical alleviation of pain and other distressing symptoms of serious illness—with intentionally ending the life of the patient. The movement’s first target was the hospice, ... created forty years ago ... by ... Dame Cicely Saunders. ...

Saunders believed that suicide prevention, when needed, is an essential part of the package, crucial to fulfilling a hospice’s call to value the lives and intrinsic dignity of each patient until the moment of natural death. ... As a consequence of this philosophy, many patients who might have killed themselves were later very glad still to be alive to get the most of the time they had remaining.

But assisted-suicide advocates wish to transform hospice into “hemlock” (as one advocate once put it), a facilitator of suicide rather than a preventer. ...

(Via Dave Andrusko.)

And no, I'm not reading her book or watching the program. (Anyone notice the special irony in the name of the bookstore at which she spoke?)

Like Kevin said, organizations that work to help women prevent and cure this scourge are good investments.   I don't know if the woman who founded this midwifery school that grew out of her obstetric fistula repair work in Ethiopia was in the Nova show or not.  I agree with Kevin - this is reproductive health work we should get behind.

Dr. Jim Sears, Dr. Bill Sears son and star of the new CBS medical series, The Doctors, will join us on Fully Alive! with Dr. Greg and Lisa Popcak, Wed 5/28 at 10:30pm Eastern (7pm Pacific) to discuss, "Attachment: What is it and why should you care?"

We start Monday. Please keep us in your prayers.

Some years ago (before the purge of the blog archives), I posted some things about this. Earlier this week, PBS aired a new NOVA episode about it, focusing on a hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It was fascinating. Check out the web site. Organizations that are working to help these women - and that, unlike the UNFPA, don't support other, morally evil "reproductive health" practices - seem like they're worthy of contributions.

Example one: Conservative support for waterboarding and other (some milder, some harsher) forms of torture.

Example two, in today's WSJ, by an author whose stuff I've seen in at least one other conservative publication: "Why We Need a Market for Human Organs"

I think that readers of this blog will agree that I'm a strong proponent of organ donation/transplantation.

But the human body is not a commodity, and the end doesn't justify the means.

As for the "argument" that it's going to happen anyway, how is that different from what a lot of people say in support of legalized abortion? Furthermore, it'd be especially bad if we not only legalized private organ-selling/buying, but also (as proposed in Australia) actually got the state directly involved in the transactions. That isn't simply tolerating an evil to avoid a worse evil - that's doing evil.

A reader emails:

In your post on today's CA Supreme Court decision striking the state's ban on same-sex marriages, you added that at least CA's constitutional ammendment process is less onerous than in, say, MA. It turns out that folks were on the ball with this one, and the signatures required to put the California Marriage Protection Act on the ballot this November have already been turned out (1.1 million of which 690,000 are required to be legitimate).

Maggie Gallagher discusses it at the end of her column on today's decision, including this optimistic note:

"The decision does contain one small legal victory that may prove important down the road. Plaintiffs argued the language of Prop 22 prevented the recognition of same-sex marriage performed outside of California but not (they argued) same-sex marriage inside of California. All seven justices clearly rejected this view. A proposed California marriage amendment for the ballot this November merely takes the language of Prop 22 and puts it in the state constitution ... The opinion makes it clear that if this language is approved by 50 percent of voters this November, marriage in California will continue to be defined as the union of one man and one woman, regardless of what other jurisdictions do."

Thanks. Here's more news on the amendment drive (with mention of der Übergropenführer's opposition thereto); here's an NRO "Bench Memo" on the decision; here's another NRO article on it, by the Marriage Law Foundation's Bill Duncan.

Thanks, Pam, for posting this. As readers may recall, Richard Fehring is a longtime good friend of mine, and has been doing excellent and very important work in the areas of NFP research and education. I've learned a lot from him about the medical/scientific and educational aspects of NFP, and he's asked me for occasional input on moral aspects (and I'll be answering moral questions on the web site). I'd like to join in encouraging couples to give this a try.

A recently reported study claims that youth benefit from the thoughts that they are liked by others - whether or not it is an accurate perception.  Here's the scoop:

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-05/sfri-tpt050808.php

That's why I like to keep a healthy entourage of imaginary friends around me at all times.

Dr. Fehring gave me permission to post this - it sounds good!

Dave Andrusko writes about it today.

"Fla. to Consider Key Church-State Question: Funds Ban for Religious Groups at Issue"

As suggested by the WP article's brief history of these Amendments, they had nothing to do with Church-state separation. They were passed at a time when state-funded/run schools were, effectively, Protestant schools. They were meant to give these Protestant schools a monopoly on public funding.

That was wrong. Neither should today's secularist schools have a monopoly.

"California's Top Court Overturns Same-Sex Marriage Ban"

This is why statutes correctly defining marriage aren't enough. Does your state constitution define marriage as a union between a man and a woman? If not, it needs to.

Fortunately, as I understand it, California's constitution is easier to amend than some (e.g., Massachusetts's). We'll see what happens next.

(By the way, can someone remind me how Schwarzenegger is an improvement for California over Davis?)

Meanwhile, this decision also adds to the argument for a Federal Marriage Amendment. Sooner or later, some same-sex "spouses" - and the more states that allow same-sex "marriage," the more such "spouses" there'll be - will go to Federal court over some other state's refusal to recognize their "marriage" - i.e., over the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act. And it's anyone's guess what the courts will do.

I've enjoyed this thread a great deal.

I think Rachel hit it right on the head when she wrote:

And even if the Freakonomics guys are right, and it doesn't impact on test scores, does that really matter in the long run?  I hope my children's memories of me include cuddling over a good book when they were younger and arguing over which Redwall is our favorite as they got older.

The value of developing a love for reading should be seen, not in the numbers it may translate to on a test, but rather in the memories it will create in their hearts.

Our culture (e.g., Freakonomics) often confuses end and means or substitutes less important ends for more importants.  In this case, reading is serving closeness and relationship (mind, body, heart and soul) not simply aptitude tests - no one posting on this thread was fondly remembering their grades - we were fondly remembering our loved ones and how reading brought us together on many levels.

Indeed, Reading is Fundamental... to... relationship.  The Gospels are the perfection of this - we aren't reading about Jesus, Jesus is reading to us!  Amen.  Alleluia.

I read w/ great interest Erin's post on getting in exercise as a busy, nursing, homeschooling mom.  I agree completely!

Ever since January I've been working very hard on getting myself in better shape as well.  My decision was motivated by several factors including my struggle w/ MS, my age and my weight.  I've been successful thus far w/ a simple mantra of calories in/calories out.  I watch how much and what I am eating, together w/ getting more exercise.

I resisted doing anything for a long time because I was under the mistaken belief and 80's propoganda that unless you were sweating in an hour of heavy aerobics (wearing very ugly clothes) you weren't exercising.  I'm not trying to be the biggest loser and don't need (and couldn't do) hours and hours of exercise.  I had to find something I could do in my house in short bursts of time I might have and guess what - you can!

Much to my surprise through research w/ good books and on-line, I've realized that you can get into better shape w/ less exercise than you may think.  No, this isn't some get in shape quick silly idea but the reality that if you put in 15 or 20 minutes every day w/ regular exercise over time you will see results.

I would prefer to swim as Erin does but that is not available to me, so I use a variety of exercises I've torn out of magazines, copied from books or seen on TV.  I do a mixture of yoga stretches, pilates moves as well as some strength training w/ simple hand weights (3 lbs. some days, 5 lbs. other days).  I put all my exercises together in a 3 ring binder and keep a quick check off calendar log.  I have a few DVD's I use sometimes as well (I never do an entire one, but again just 15 or so minutes).  This time frame is perfect - not too long for my kids and not too short for some real results.

Infants and toddlers whose mothers are severely depressed are almost three times more likely to suffer accidental injuries than other children in the same age group, according to a new study. The study's findings, published May 14 in the Advanced Access edition of the Journal of Pediatric Psychology, suggest that proper treatment for depression would improve not only the mothers' health, but the health of young children as well.

Prior studies have shown that mothers who reported symptoms consistent with clinical depression had children who experienced a significant number of accidental injuries between the ages 3 months to 2 years. MORE

has been posted!

JS story about a Milwaukee-area district: "Sex ed oversight approved: Elmbrook parents, board get larger role"

Based on the article, though, it's not clear that official approval has already been given. And it remains to be seen, I guess, whether the new process (if/when approved) will result in better content. What's perhaps most disconcerting is the superintendent's comment. Chastity isn't a distinctively Christian thing. Shouldn't someone who recognizes that be in charge of developing these classes?

Of course, this risk isn't the only - or most basic - reason to oppose IVF, period. But it's still worth keeping in mind. And a problem with this way of solving the problem is that human persons will still be created and killed (or allowed to die) as part of the embryo-selection process. One sees no real moral progress here.

CNS reports:

The brief policy statement on embryonic stem-cell research that is to come before the U.S. bishops at their June 12-14 meeting in Orlando, Fla., is designed to set the stage for a later, more pastoral document explaining why the Catholic Church opposes some reproductive technologies.

"While human life is threatened in many ways in our society, the destruction of human embryos for stem-cell research confronts us with an issue of respect for life in a stark new way," says the statement drawn up by the Committee on Pro-Life Activities of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Although the topic of embryonic stem-cell research has been raised in several broader USCCB documents and has been the subject of testimony and many letters to Congress, there has never been a formal statement on the issue from the full body of bishops, said Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia, chairman of the pro-life committee, in an introduction to the draft document.

"The issue of stem-cell research does not force us to choose between science and ethics, much less between science and religion," the document says. "It presents a choice as to how our society will pursue scientific and medical progress."

The policy statement seeks to refute three arguments made in favor of permitting stem-cell research that involves the destruction of human embryos. ...

A reader responds to my post:

There are three parishes in my town, with a single priest at each of them. All three priests take Monday off, so no Mass is available to the public on Monday (or on Saturday for that matter, excluding the vigil Mass); one parish holds a communion service on Monday morning. The parish I attend on weekdays (aside from Monday, of course) will offer a communion service when the pastor is out of town or otherwise unavailable. The communion services are led by one of the permanent deacons, at least, and not a lay person.

As far as the day off starting with an early morning Mass, I don't know what the other priests do, but our pastor heads out on Sunday for his condo in the city 20 miles up the road. Considering he is 60-something and running a 1000+ family parish and helps with the school jointly sponsored by all three parishes, I don't begrudge him some down time, but it would be nice if they could coordinate their schedules better.

I came across an article that stated that the Vatican's chief astronomer made the comment that it is possible there could be other forms of life outside Earth, even intelligent ones.  Not sure what all the implications of this are, but interesting none the less. 

Any thoughts on this from our resident theologians?

Here is the story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080513/ap_on_re_eu/vatican_aliens

For years, I somehow never managed to get regular exercise into my schedule.  But in the last few months, I've been swimming twice every week for forty minutes -- it is a firmly established habit.  This morning as I hurried back from the gym so my husband could leave for work, I was thinking about the typical advice in women's magazines about how to find time for fitness.  They always have lots of tips, but those tips never worked for me.  The tip that did work -- the one I'll share below the jump -- I can just about guarantee you'll never see in a mainstream women's or fitness magazine.

The usual tips aren't bad, but they're incomplete, and they're not always compatible with very intensive parenting or with large families.  "Wake up a half hour earlier."  (Good luck, with co-sleeping nurslings.)  "Use the childcare at the local gym."  (Fine... if none of your children will be so sad you can't bear to leave.)  "Put the baby in the sling or stroller and go for a walk."  (Not in a Minnesota winter, and it's hard to keep your heart rate up when you've also got a 7-year-old who is very interested in every bug on the sidewalk and a 4-year-old who tires quickly and needs a lot of coaxing.)  "Run with a friend."  (Oh, so now I have to coordinate two mothers' schedules?)

The recent posts about the benefits and joys of reading aloud and as a family have been good.  However, the authors of Freakonomics, will tell you it doesn't matter what you do.

Written by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, these economists tackle everything from reading aloud to murder to abortion (an interesting spin) from a numbers point of view.  Matt read it recently on his train commute and we would have great discussions when he finally got home.

According to the authors, they say the numbers (test numbers that is) don't make a difference when it comes to reading aloud to your kids.  They speak more of the quality of their education, school system, etc., but not reading to kids.

However, Greg's post and my own experiences (Michael's as well) would beg to differ.  I also grew up in a family of readers.  Many a night, my Mom would be cooking dinner w/ one hand and holding a book in another.  It is remarkable that none of those made into the pot of boiling spaghetti.

As a result, while not all of my siblings (there are 10 of us) are readers but most of us are. With my own children, all those that can read, do w/ arguments and discussions about books, authors, books to movies a regular activity.  I don't read aloud to the older children as much as I would like to or perhaps should, but the younger kids are read to every day.  With the older children it is often a sharing of books w/ three of us currently trying to read the newest Percy Jackson and the Olympians book at once, The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan.

This is absolutely outrageous - Reproductive "Health" Reality Check website ran an essay contest on the benefits of Plan B for folks age 14 - yes, that's FOURTEEN - to age 24. 

Holy smokin' cow!!!!

The winner was in fact....gulp...FOURTEEN!!!

Read the "winning" essay here.   And file this in the What Is the World Coming To file.  Or just go straight to Hell In a Handbasket file and get right to the point.

Our new show, Fully Alive! with Dr. Greg and Lisa Popcak  begins airing next Monday, May 19, from 10pm-Midnight Eastern (7-9pm Pacific).

We're very excited to see how it is taking shape. Regular listeners to HMS Radio will be able to enjoy the same opportunity to call in with their questions about marriage, family, and personal issues.

But additionally, Fully Alive! listeners will have the opportunity to hear interviews and interact with some of the leading experts in clinical psychology, pastoral ministry, and marriage and family studies who will join us as our guests.  Here are some of the people who will be appearing in our initial weeks.

Dr. Alan Kazdin--President: American Psychological Association, Author: The Kazdin Method for Parenting the Defiant Child With No Pills, No Therapy, No Contest of Wills.

Dr. James McKenna--Director: Mother-Infant Behavioral  Sleep Lab, Notre Dame University.  Author: Sleeping with your Baby:  A Parent's Guide to Co-sleeping

Dr. Bill Doherty--Director:  The National Registry of Marrage-Friendly Therapists.

Diane Sollee--Executive Director: SmartMarriages

Bill Urbine--President, National Association of Catholic Family Life Ministers.

And many more.  I hope you'll tune in, and by all means, whether or not you subscribe to Sirius, please feel free to call in (1-888-3CATHOLIC / 1-888-322-8465) with your questions about finding faithful answers to your marriage, family, and personal questions and unlocking the secrets to living Fully Alive!

Greg's post below regarding the benefits of reading to kids.  Kevin commented on his mother reading to him and the impact that made on his own reading.  These two posts got me reminiscing: I'd like to put foward another example which was my parents habits of reading books together rather than being reglar TV viewers.  I can still picture them reading in the family room, each with their own books, but together sharing a love of reading.  While I don't remember being read to (I'm sure I was read to), I do remember growing up in a reading household and typically was many grades ahead of my peers in reading in great contrast to other subjects. 

The practice of reading books as a family is also a wondeful past time - even though the littler kids might not grasp all of the details and concepts in a Narnia book or even Lord of the Rings, they will still enjoy the story time with the family.  As a final side not, Tolkein was a linguist and his Lord of the Rings is a far better book read aloud than read silently.