Medjugorje:Video of ABC News Report late 1980s

Medjugorje: Miracle Healing of Irish singer David Parkes

David Parkes, professional soccer player and singer was miraculously healed of Crones disease in Medjugorje.

Ireland: 2010 Winter most severe since 1741 when 480,000 died

We haven’t seen weather this cold since the Great Irish Frost of 1740-1741 which killed about one fifth of the Irish population.Back then Ireland’s population was only 2.4 million. But as many as 480,000 people are thought to have died during the “Great Frost” which swept across Ireland between 1739 and 1741 during 21 months of bizarre weather.

Trinity College history professor David Dickson’s book “Arctic Ireland” explores the event. Mr Dickson says it “remains to this day the longest period of extreme cold in modern European history....

Continue reading at NEWSWHIP.ie

Medjugorje: Pope John Paul II, Mother Teresa and Convert Lola Falana

Brief description of the events of Medjugorje, its impact on the Church, the reaction of the Church worldwide, scans of actual letters from Blessed Teresa of Calcutta and John Paul II concerning Medjugorje, and the mission of Mary TV. This video also deals with the conversion of actress Lola Falana amongst others.

Prayer to Our Lady of Medjugorje

Our Lady of Medjugorje

Queen of Heaven and of the Universe,

Mother of Jesus and of all Mankind,

We humbly apologise to you and to your dearly beloved Son,

For all the blasphemies uttered daily by ungrateful man.

Mary protect us from Satan,

And from all the evil spirits,

who rampage throughout the world,

Devouring souls,

Save the world from the tidal wave of sin

Which now engulfs it.

Plead with your Son for the conversion of unbelievers

And for the forgiveness of sinners.

Mary we beg you to intercede with Jesus to save the World

( Author: J. Barry)

Urbi Et Orbi December 25, 2010

Ireland: Ice on Frozen River Blackwater between Cappoquin and Lismore- Christmas Day 2010

Click on Images to Enlarge

Medjugorje Christmas Crib at St James Church (December 25, 2010)

Source:www.medjugorje.hr

Video: Ten Reasons to Come Back to The Catholic Church

Ireland: Pro-Life Group responds to judgement of European Court of Human Rights in the case of A, B, and C v Ireland

Family and Life Responds to ECHR Judgement : 21st Dec 10

The judgement of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of A,B, and C v. Ireland has given rise to a good deal of confusion regarding its implications for Ireland’s law on abortion. A number of important points need to be borne in mind which have received scant attention in media reports.

Firstly, the Court did not find fault with Ireland’s law on abortion, in fact it recognised that “the protection in Ireland of the right to life of the unborn” is a “legitimate aim” of Irish law. It dismissed the claims of plaintiffs A and B that their rights were infringed by the fact that they could not lawfully obtain abortions in Ireland on grounds of health and wellbeing. The Court dismissed the Irish government’s worrying contention that A and B might have gained approval for abortions in the domestic courts. This is welcome. The Court also stated explicitly that “Article 8 cannot ... be interpreted as conferring a right to abortion”.

The case made by C was unsubstantiated and unsupported by any medical evidence for her claim that her pregnancy endangered her life. By the time that C underwent her abortion it had been confirmed that she did not have an ectopic pregnancy. She was, in fact, able to avail of medical care in Ireland subsequent to her abortion. The Court acknowledged the finding of the 1999 Green Paper on abortion that “there was no medical evidence to suggest that doctors in Ireland did not treat women with cancer or other illnesses on the grounds that the treatment would damage the unborn,” and the testimony of the Chairman of the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in 1999 that “where there is a direct physical threat to the life of the pregnant mother, we will intervene always.”

The legal action of the three women was backed by major Irish and international abortion advocates. In addition to the Irish Family Planning Association (an affiliate of the International Planned Parenthood Federation), which funded the litigation, Doctors for Choice (Ireland), the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), the Center for Reproductive Rights and the International Reproductive and Sexual Health Law Programme all submitted observations to the Court.

What the Court found was that C’s rights were infringed by the fact that there is no legislation providing a framework for the implementation of the Irish Supreme Court’s ruling in the X Case. The problem is fundamentally one relating to that judgement. The reason there is no such legislation is that it is widely recognised that it would be impossible to draft legislation within the parameters of the X Case judgement that would not widely permit abortion in circumstances that would be unacceptable to a substantial majority of the Irish people. The X Case provided no gestational time limit for abortion and, by recognising a threat of suicide as grounds for abortion, opened the possibility, in effect, of abortion on demand. In the absence of a revisiting of the X Case judgement by the Supreme Court, the only means whereby this problem can be resolved is a further amendment of the Irish Constitution that would allow for legislation clarifying the circumstances in which doctors can intervene to save the life of a pregnant woman. This is why Family & Life is in favour of such an amendment.

If the government believes what it argued in this case, then it must act to ensure that current medical practice which ensures that essential medical treatment is provided to all women in Ireland continues. Medical interventions necessary to save a mother’s life, even if the life of her unborn child is unintentionally lost, are legal and available, but the deliberate killing of the unborn must remain a crime. Family & Life. December 17.
Source: Family and Life

Video: Former Protestant Bill Jarrell a Catholic convert

Marcus Grodi speaks with Deacon Bill Jarrell. Here Bill Jarrell who was formerly a Southern Baptist explains why he converted to Catholicism.

Christian Rock Band Leeland- Tears of the Saints (with lyrics)

Leeland is an American Christian rock band from Baytown, Texas. The band was formed in 2004. Leeland is composed of Leeland Mooring (lead vocals, guitar), Jack Mooring (backing vocals, keyboard), Matt Campbell (guitar), Jake Holtz (bass) and Mike Smith (drums).

Tears of the Saints-Lyrics

There are many prodigal sons
On our city streets they run
Searching for shelter
There are homes broken down
People's hopes have fallen to the ground
From failures

This is an emergency!

There are tears from the saints
For the lost and unsaved
We're crying for them come back home
We're crying for them come back home
And all your children will stretch out their hands
And pick up the crippled man
Father, we will lead them home
Father, we will lead them home

There are schools full of hatred
Even churches have forsaken
Love and mercy
May we see this generation
In it's state of desperation
For Your glory

This is an emergency!

Sinner, reach out your hands!
Children in Christ you stand!
Sinner, reach out your hands!
Children in Christ you stand!

And all Your children will stretch out their hands
And pick up the crippled man
Father, we will lead them home
Father, we will lead them home

Our Lady of Medjugorje messages to iPhone users via new application

Application brings Our Lady of Medjugorje messages to iPhone users-Croatian Times

Osijek programmers have developed an iPhone application that will allow the users to receive Our Lady of Medjugorje’s messages directly on their mobile devices.

In cooperation with their American partner Surgeworks, programmers from Osijek’s Inchoo d.o.o have made Lady of Medjugorje’s messages available to well-connected believers everywhere. In addition to reading them, the mobile device users will be able to forward the messages to friends or share them on Facebook.

Our Lady of Medjugorje is the name given to Virgin Mary who has said to have appeared to six Croat children in June 24, 1981 in Medjugorje (Bosnia and Herzegovina).

Ivan Kalaica, the leader of the Osijek part of the team, says that the
development of the application continues the company’s Christian-themed specialization.

The "Medjugorje" application is one in the series which include "Divine Office" and "Prayer. The first performs daily downloads of services and enables users to see how many people are participating in prayer around the world at the same time, while the latter is a multilingual archive of more than 1,500 Christian prayers. According to Kalaica, "Prayer" is one of the 50 most sold applications in the Reference category both on Apple and iTunes online stores in the United States, Kalaica said.

The "Medjugorje" application is currently available in English and Italian, while a Croatian version is on its way, the daily Jutarnji List writes.
Source of Entire Article Above:Croatian Times ©

Videos: Full BBC TV Documentary on Medjugorje

This is the story of the thousands of Northern Irish pilgrims who flock to the shrine of Medjugorje. Every year around 25,000 people from Northern Ireland travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina and the small town of Medjugorje.
But sun, sand and silly souvenirs are not high on the list of priorities for these holiday makers, rather they are searching for spiritual enlightenment; for a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary; and for cures for everything from addiction and loneliness to cancer. Pilgrims looks into these issues of faith and spirituality as it follows a group of pilgrims from Northern Ireland as they make their way to the world-renowned shrine in the small town of Medjugorje.

Medjugorje: Our Lady is really appearing here-Bishop

Bishop Hilarius Datus Lega, bishop of Diocese Manokwari – Sorong from West Papua, Indonesia came to Medjugorje for the first time. He was ordained as Bishop in 2003 and he is normally very busy throughout the year, but he accepted the invitation of his friends who came to Europe.


He heard about Medjugorje in the very beginning, he thinks it might have been already in 1981. “Medjugorje is the world centre, place of prayer and peace”, says Bishop Hilarius and adds, “People are coming here because Our Lady is really appearing here, this is the place of renewal, conversion, new beginning. Medjugorje attracts many people; I can see personal relationship, this is all work of God, something that he does through His Blessed Mother and visionaries, I really like everything I see here. God is always at work, whether we see that or not, God’s message needs to be announced all over the place”, said Bishop Hilarius at the end, who will stay in Medjugorje for three days.[date: 17.09.2010]
(Source: © Medjugorje (http://medjugorje.hr)

Video: Medjugorje responsible for at least 500 Vocations

Senator Feargal Quinn out of touch on Dunphy Show, December 12, 2010

The Dunphy Show today was most entertaining and informative. The guests were Dr Elaine Byrne lecturer at TCD, Damien Kiberd of the Sunday Times and Senator Feargal Quinn. Both Kiberd and Byrne made excellent contributions on the IMF/EU package et al and pointed out the weaknesses. Sadly Senator Quinn is completely out of touch with the implications of the IMF/EU rescue. As far as he is concerned the opposition must just remain quiet and play ball. He is in no way concerned with the onerous interest rates imposed on Ireland and the frightening implications for taxpayers. As a millionaire of course Feargal will not suffer too severely. Sadly he appears to have no concern for middle income and lower income groups.

He endeavoured to compare the current crisis with that of 1987. In this he is gravely mistaken. In 1987 Ireland had a fully functioning banking sector. Today we have a budget deficit problem and a banking crisis. In addition the cost of the banking crisis has been foisted on the taxpayer. The IMF/EU is calling the shots. The new government of whatever hue must renegotiate the IMF/EU deal. The conditions are much too severe.
Lower interest rates on the loans and a longer term to repay the loans will ensure that there is no default.
Feargal Quinn criticised ther number of teachers in the Dail. Here he has a point. However neither the Taoiseach, Minister for Finance, Minister for Justice or Minister for Social Welfare are teachers. Neither for that matter were Bertie Ahern or Charlie McCreevy. There are very few teachers on the FG front bench.

Medjugorje Video: Apparition to Mirjana December 2, 2010

Our Lady's Message to Mirjana at Medjugorje on December 2, 2010

“Dear children; Today I am praying here with you that you may gather the strength to open your hearts and thus to become aware of the mighty love of the suffering God. Through this His love, goodness and meekness, I am also with you. I invite you for this special time of preparation to be a time of prayer, penance and conversion. My children, you need God. You cannot go forward without my Son. When you comprehend and accept this, what was promised to you will be realized. Through the Holy Spirit the Kingdom of Heaven will be born in your hearts. I am leading you to this. Thank you. ”

Medjugorje Visionaries Mirjana and Marija condemn Abortion at Masnago (Italy)

A huge crowd of believers turned out on Sunday afternoon at Masnago in Italy  for the visit of Medjugorje visionaries Mirjana Dragicevic and Marija Pavlovic. They brought a simple message that: prayer and fasting are absolutely essential-the first daily, the second two days a week. This is what Our Lady wanted since the first apparition on June 24,1981.
Mirjana said that the pilgrimage to Medjugorje is a must for those seeking faith, in order to  look inside and look for hope. Even Protestants are visiting Medjugorje Mirjana said. She said that they had also seen people from Hollywood too, kneeling on the stones, even with tears in their eyes.
Mirjana recounted the early days of the apparitions during the rule of the Communist regime.

Mirjana said "Our Lady does not speak of "non-believers" but speaks of "those who have not yet found the love of God." They are his children, Our Lady's eyes are filled with tears at the thought of what awaits them. From the lack of faith there are many evils, warned Mirjana: Wars, suicide, abortion, separation. However we need to pray. When you lose respect for the priests, it is lost for the Church, and with time, for His Son.  She said that we need to pray for priests." Mirjana stressed that abortion was hated by Catholics as an absolute moral evil.

Marija stated that "Our Lady calls us all to holiness". She said that the earthly life is like a flower. Now here but gone tomorrow. We may reach up to a hundred years of age, but if we do not believe in the eternal, everything is in vain. Marija spoke about the culture of death. She said we are creating a worse world. Because of abortion many say no to life. Find me a politician who is pro-life and against abortion. Lets have the law of God. She spoke about the evil of euthanasia.  She said that even in our culture we have Hitler.
She said "In Medjugorje, the revolution has begun, not for the communists, but for God.

Medjugorje Miracle Photograph of Virgin Mary

In the first of the apparitions in Medjugorje, a woman snapped a whole roll of film at the point where she was watching the six visionaries during the ecstasy of the apparition. When the photographic film was developed all the pictures were burned except this beautiful image where one can see the face of the Madonna.
Source:MEDJUGORJE: FOTO PARTICOLARI

Economist Constantin Gurdgiev's Solution to Irish Banking Problem

The following is an extract from an article which appears in today's Sunday Independent. It is titled:

There is no safety in these numbers

....The first path requires abandoning the memorandum on the State's bank guarantee, signed with the troika, that commits the Irish State to ensure the continuation of bond repayments to Irish bank bondholders. This step is easy to take.

Within the ECB/EU/IMF team, it was the EU that insisted on underwriting bank bondholders, against the advice of the IMF. Even a simple glance at the numbers above would imply that should the EU continue to adhere to the same position, by 2012-2013 it will have to deal with the worst possible scenario -- an insolvent member state with insolvent banking and household sectors. The fallout from this for the EU would be far worse than some €60-90bn in the debt writedowns required to repair the Irish economy.

The next step -- after shredding the Irish Government commitment to the bank bondholders -- will be to rebuild the banking sector through a structured recapitalisation of the Bank of Ireland and AIB, by a combination of debt-for-equity swap -- setting current bondholders to equity holders in the banks -- the state purchase of shares in the banks at a heavily discounted price, and a restructuring of Irish bank debts to the ECB. Alongside these financial measures, the banks must be cleansed of their top management and reformed in areas of their long-term strategy and operations.

The state guarantee must remain only for the depositors and even this should be limited, after the reforms take place, to deposits under €200,000. A voluntary insurance scheme should be set up for all deposits in excess of that amount. It can be underwritten, in part, by the State in exchange for premium payments out of deposits. Anyone suggesting that a debt-for-equity swap would result in the Irish banking system collapsing altogether should go back to May this year, when the Bank of Ireland carried an €852m conversion of subordinated debt for equity, netting a capital gain of €233m in the process.

Restructuring bank debt today is the only alternative to a disorderly default in a few years' time. The latter outcome would imply -- following Argentina's and other recent scenarios -- a total stop to all functional banking operations in the country and a full restructuring of the sovereign and bank debts, carried out while the markets panic.....

Read the full article at Sunday Independent

Ireland: FG’s Budget Plan for 2011 published on Friday December 3, 2010

Fine Gael Leader Enda Kenny TD and Finance Spokesman Michael Noonan TD have published a far-reaching Pre-Budget Plan to create jobs, stabilise the Exchequer and get Ireland back on track over the next four years.

Deputy Kenny said Fine Gael aims to create 100,000 new jobs, achieve the 3% deficit target and the €15 billion worth of adjustments within the original four year timeframe. Job creation and fairness will be the over-riding principle, within the financial constraints.

The plan will be built around three pillars:


1. Limiting tax increases to one-quarter of the adjustment next year, and one-third of the adjustment over four years;
2. Radical public sector reform to end waste, inefficiency and duplication, starting with the political system;
3. And a jobs and stimulus plan.

Deputy Kenny said: ‘There is a better way, and a fairer way, than anything offered by the current failed Government. Fine Gael will make jobs and economic growth a precondition, not an aspiration’.

“International experience shows clearly that cuts in spending are more effective at fixing deficits and are better for growth and jobs than tax increases. Confronting waste, inefficiency, duplication and redundancy in public spending should be the focus of Ireland’s budgetary adjustment.”

Tackling the Deficit

Key proposals to tackle the deficit include:

• Protecting pensions, including contributory and non-contributory old age pensions, those for widows, the blind, people with disabilities, and carers’ allowances, while collecting some extra tax from those with generous occupational pensions;
• No income tax increases in 2011 before recovery takes hold, and limiting income tax increases to half the levels proposed by Fianna Fáil over the entire four years;
• A much greater emphasis on closing tax loopholes for the rich, including suspending property-based tax reliefs and tightening the rules for tax exiles;
• A fairer approach to Fianna Fáil's proposed annual recurring property tax on the family home;
• Cutting tax relief on schemes offering pensions greater than €60,000, while protecting pensions tax relief for middle income families;
• 18,000 more voluntary redundancies in the public sector than the Government proposes;
• Targeting the €3 billion worth of annual social welfare fraud through the establishment of a single Payments and Entitlements system.

Fine Gael recognises the need to raise more revenues from property. But a residential property tax would unfairly hit the young generation already burned by the housing bubble. So we will increase the second home tax, cut Capital Acquisitions Tax thresholds and introduce a low Capital Gains Tax on the site values of primary residences. Alongside this, we will cut stamp duty for families trading up and down, and provide greater relief for working families in mortgage distress.

Supporting jobs and growth

Deputy Noonan said: ‘We will strengthen significantly the reforms needed to cut business costs, to improve productivity, and to incentivise and facilitate people to acquire the skills needed to re-enter the workplace’:

• Replacing the minimum wage cut proposed by Government with a cut in the jobs' tax to encourage people off welfare and into work;
• Accelerating capital allowances on business software investments to support a local high-tech industry;
• A €10 million one-off marketing budget for State agencies to restore Ireland's battered business reputation across the globe;
• No change in either the standard or top rates of income tax, or the 12.5% rate of corporation tax;
• Abolish the travel tax subject to deals on re-opening routes with Ryanair and Aer Lingus;
• Abolish the lower 8.5% rate of employers’ PRSI on staff earning below €356 per week for at least three years to reduce employment costs;
• A 1.5% cut in the lower 13.5% VAT rate to re-direct consumer spending away from imports, and into labour-intensive services such as trades, restaurants, hotels and newspapers;
• Increase DIRT to 30% to encourage higher levels of household consumption;
• A pre-announcement that home insulation and other residential and commercial energy saving subsidies will terminate in 2013, leading to a bringing forward of demand in the intervening two years.

Deputy Noonan added: ‘Fine Gael’s job stimulus plan, NewERA, will use streamlined and restructured semi-State companies to invest an additional €6-7 billion, over and above current plans, in investments in “next generation” energy, broadband, forestry and water infrastructure. In discussions with the IMF, Fine Gael has confirmed that funds from the National Pension Reserve Fund and proceeds from the sale of State assets remain available, under conditions to be agreed, to finance the NewERA stimulus plan.

Achieving greater public sector savings and  reform

Deputy Kenny said: ‘The split between spending reductions and tax increases in the Government’s four year plan moves in the right direction but there is room for additional spending savings from public sector pay of at least €900 million by 2014. This will make room for targeted initiatives to support employment and economic activity’:

• Cutting the number of national politicians by 35%;
• Cutting the threshold for application of minimum 30% effective tax rate to €250,000 from €400,000 at present (with marginal relief from €125,000);
• Reducing the size of the public sector by 10% - just over 30,000;
• Reducing the size of the core civil service working in Government Departments by a third through the establishment of shared service operations;
• Implementing at least half of the McCarthy report recommendations, and 80% of the savings recommended by the Local Government Efficiency Review;
• Close FÁS and the HSE and abolish 145 quangos.

Deputy Noonan concluded by saying: ‘Extending the period of the adjustment will only force Ireland to borrow more money and pay more back in interest, so we will aim to reach the targets within four years’.

Perspectives on Budget 2011 and the 4-Year Plan is available at:

www.finegael.ie/upload/BudgetPerspective2011.pdf

The spending spreadsheet is available at:

www.finegael.ie/upload/BudgetTargets2011.pdf

Videos of Visionary Maria's talk in Medjugorje August 2009 (English Translation)

Marias talk in Medjugorje August 2009 Part 1

Marias talk in Medjugorje August 2009 Part 2

Marias talk in Medjugorje August 2009 Part 3

Marias talk in Medjugorje August 2009 Part 4

Marias talk in Medjugorje August 2009 Part 5

2010 Medjugorje Youth Festival-short video

Italian Actress Claudia Koll on a pilgrimage to Medjugorje

Famous Italian actress and convert, Claudia Koll, came to Medjugorje in the beginning of November on a pilgrimage. She gave interview to radio station “Mir” Medjugorje and she openly spoke about her life and her conversion. It felt as we had listened to the unwritten story of Mary Magdalene of our days. She told us about all of the troubles and difficulties she had while she was growing up, all beacuse her mom had died during her birth. She was raised by her granny and had many identity crises while she was educated and at the end got completely lost in the world of movie production.

After a number of obscene roles in movies, Claudia walked through the Holy door on Basilica of St. Peter in Rome, in Jubilee Year of 2000 and instantly felt that the life she had up to that moment was broken and disappeared. And then, she said: “One day there was this dramatic situation that needed to be resolved and I did not know how to handle that at all. I remember being desperate, I walked the room up and down, and just simply in one moment I started to speak to God. I prayed Our Father and I was squeezing in the palms of my hands a little crucifix that one of my friends gave to me few days prior to that. In those moments, my whole being was turned towards the God, I felt as I was tied close to the Cross and I was able to feel complete liberation. I felt as I was immersed in something like a deep peace. And I rested in that feeling. No longer was I worried, nor afraid; it felt as there was only one feeling of deep silence, something unknown to me prior to that particular moment. It was that silence that spoke to me about God, I did not see Him, but I was able to feel Him. I asked Him, ´Why did You do that, why did you console me, I do not deserve that?’ Then I said: ‘You are my Father, I prayed to you in the prayer of Our Father and I told You that I would like to meet You!’ That was my prayer!”

“Lord did not take away my suffering, but He walked with me, slowly, and helped me to resolve that pain. Even more, that suffering was my journey towards Him, I started to feel desire to go back to the church. In the beginning I would just spend time in a church and enjoy silence and peace of God and that had brought me to the sacrament of Holy Eucharist. God started to heal me through the sacraments. It was a long process, with its ups and downs, but every time I would fall down, I would be getting up again.” She realised that she needs to follow Jesus and it needs to be on both of her feet, one of love and the other of truth. She would turn down all of the movie roles that were not in accordance with the spirit of Gospel. She told us interesting detail from those days: “One day I signed the contract that offered me lots of money. The role itself was not negative but I knew I shouldn’t have had signed that contract, since I was to meet those same people that I had promised to the Lord I would not meet ever again. The second I signed the contract I knew I made mistake. I was not able to say no, because I was still weak in my decisions. But, when I got the money for that project, I started to give it to the poor people in the church. I felt that money did not belong to me, it was the money of betrayal.”

The following chapter of her life was how she went to do mission work, in Ethiopia where she had witnessed so much poverty, famine, little children dying all over the place. She said: “I remember one little boy whose eyes were closed not because he was blind but because he did not have any water to wash his eyes. His eyes were inflamed because of all of the dirt that was in his eyes. I used moisture tissues to clean and wash out his eyes and while his eyes were being opened, the Lord was opening mine. I realised I lived in a luxurious home, I had expensive carpets, silver cutlery and none of that was able to save my life. I started to see everything in a different way and I realised I needed to give part of my wealth to those who were poor. “

After she came back, she visited the shrine of Divine Mercy and she was able to discover the message of Divine Mercy. “I realised that the Lord was saying to me ‘Claudia, if you fell down, that was because you trusted too much in your own abilities, trust me!’ For me, that was what ‘Jesus, I trust in you’ meant. I needed to realise that my conversion was going to happen together with Jesus and I should have trusted in my Lord more, from the beginning. I think that genuine faith is the one Abraham had, he hoped and believed beyond and against every hope and belief”, says Claudia.
Claudia also spoke about her relationship and devotion towards Our Lady. “Our Lady was always present in my life, ever since I was born. I remember watching a movie about Our Lady from Fatima, it was when I was 8, 10 years old, I do not remember exactly. And I remember saying how Our Lady was not just a statue, she was a woman. I was really impressed that Our Lady gave such important tasks to the visionaries. I remember, as I was going back home after seeing that movie, I was reciting a little prayer in my heart to Our Lady and I told her ‘I want to live with you and come to you, bring me closer to You as You brought Jacinta.’ I was asking from Our Lady to die, and Lord did not answer that prayer, but I think He wants me now to witness for Him, and all of the experiences I had are just evident proofs of Divine Mercy. “

Claudia mentioned how Our Lady was with her all along her conversion, and she feels strongly about Medjugorje and apparitions to the visionaries. In the moments of apparitions, she feels powerful presence of Our Lady. Describing one such event she said: “I could see that it was raining, but I did not feel rain drops on my umbrella at all. I think it is such a wonderful experience to feel Our Lady with heart. It never occurred to me to look for the signs, to look in the sky. I think that this encounter takes place in the depths of our hearts. I do not even want to look into the face of the visionary, I am only interested in my own prayer and encounter with Our Lady. “

Claudia emphasises especially the love she feels now through Our Lady’s presence. The love in a completely new way. The journey to that new experience had several stages. This is just one of them. “When my conversion began, first people that Lord would place in front of me were those who had AIDS. And it was through one of such young man, through his suffering that I got to know Christ’s love. I started to think about Jesus in a Garden of Gethsemane, and his sweat of blood, how he must have feared death. On the other hand, this young man was lying in a bed and he was in a very bad state. He was unable to speak because illness affected speech centre in his brain. But his eyes spoke about his fears. And when I took his hand, I felt great love in my heart. The love I never felt before, strong and gentle. It was that love that converted me. When I look into my past now, I think about how many times Jesus entered such areas of my life. But my eyes were blind, closed and I was not able to recognise Him. When my conversion started, I realised that Jesus was present in all those who were suffering.”

Claudia Koll is the founder of Association “The Works of the Father” that is dedicated to missionary work in Africa. She is building a house for disabled people called Little Lourdes. In the world of Arts, she is the Head of the Academy of Arts that was founded on the principles from the Letter to the Artists of late Holy Father John Paul II. Through this Academy, she wants to help young people to enter into the world of fame and spectacle in a healthy, Christian way. It is interesting that music from Medjugorje regularly plays inside this Academy.
Source: © Information Centre Mir Medjugorje

Prayer For The Unborn by Pope Benedict XVI

Lord Jesus,
You who faithfully visit and fulfill with your Presence
the Church and the history of men;
You who in the miraculous Sacrament of your Body and Blood
render us participants in divine Life
and allow us a foretaste of the joy of eternal Life;
We adore and bless you.

Prostrated before You, source and lover of Life,
truly present and alive among us, we beg you.

Reawaken in us respect for every unborn life,
make us capable of seeing in the fruit of the maternal womb
the miraculous work of the Creator,
open our hearts to generously welcoming every child
that comes into life.

Bless all families,
sanctify the union of spouses,
render fruitful their love.

Accompany the choices of legislative assemblies
with the light of your Spirit,
so that peoples and nations may recognize and respect
the sacred nature of life, of every human life.

Guide the work of scientists and doctors,
so that all progress contributes to the integral well-being of the person,
and no one endures suppression or injustice.

Give creative charity to administrators and economists,
so they may realize and promote sufficient conditions
so that young families can serenely embrace
the birth of new children.

Console the married couples who suffer
because they are unable to have children
and in Your goodness provide for them.

Teach us all to care for orphaned or abandoned children,
so they may experience the warmth of your Charity,
the consolation of your divine Heart.

Together with Mary, Your Mother, the great believer,
in whose womb you took on our human nature,
we wait to receive from You, our Only True Good and Savior,
the strength to love and serve life,
in anticipation of living forever in You,
in communion with the Blessed Trinity.

Video: BBC Newsnight Report on Medjugorje by Allan Little

This BBC Newsnight Report on Medjugorje by Allan Little focuses largely on the political situation in Bosnsia and fails to address the spiritual significance of apparitions at Medjugorje. Perhaps he should return and look at the spiritual dimension in more detail with an open mind.
Perhaps he should consider why Our Lady chose Medjugorje:

Why did Our Lady choose Medjugorje?

Our Lady gave a message on June 26, 1981, stating:

“I have come because there are many true believers here. I wish to be with you to convert and to reconcile the whole world.”

Our Lady also gave a message on March 21, 1985:

“…I love you and in a special way I have chosen this parish, one more dear to me than the others, in which I have gladly remained when the Almighty sent me…”

Videos: Vicka speaks about the messages of Medjugorje

Debt-For-Equity Swap Solution to Irish Banking Problems

A debt-for-equity swap (bondholder haircut) appears to be the most realistic approach to tackling the Irish banking crisis. US Economists such as Joseph  Stiglitz and Jeffrey Sachs have advocated this mechanism in relation to the subprime mortgage crisis. They argue (correctly) that there is no reason why taxpayers should bail out bondholders and share holders. Bank debt levels can be reduced by converting debt into equity. Converting debt into equity via bondholder haircuts MUST be the way forward for Ireland. By this means debt and interest payments are reduced whilst equity is simultaneously increased. Investors can then have more confidence that the bank is financially sound. This would address the bank solvency issue. Irish economist David McWilliams is advocating this approach also.

How would this work in practice in relation to an individual Irish bank ? Lets call the bank the Irish Ranchers Bank. Suppose that it owed bondholders €50 billion
A 25% haircut would reduce this debt by €12.5 billion. This would lead to the creation of €12.5 billion in equity. Thus the bank would be significantly recapitalised.

However for this to work it is a sine qua non that the Irish government pass a law (urgently) which compulsorily converts the existing creditors of the banks into shareholders thereby liberating the Irish taxpayer. As of now Ireland has no such law. Such a bank resolution law would protect depositors with an ECB-backed deposit insurance scheme.
Recalcitrant creditors tempted to overthrow the new arrangements would undoubtedly resort to legal action. On balance it is likely that they would lose out in the Irish courts.

 The IMF’s involvement here means that Ireland will not return to the bond markets for three years. We NOW have a window of opportunity to resolve the banking crisis. NOW is the time for the government to take the bull by the horns and adopt this approach. It may not make us too popular in some quarters. Politicians are generally thick skinned and can wear this unpopularity.  The alternative is too horrible to contemplate.

Ireland:National Recovery Plan 2011 - 2014 published on November 24, 2010

National Recovery Plan 2011 - 2014

The National Recovery Plan 2011 - 2014 documents (published on the 24th of November 2010) are available below.

• National Recovery Plan 2011 - 2014 (PDF)
• National Recovery Plan Summary Leaflet (PDF)
• An Plean Téarnaimh Náisiúnta (PDF)

Requires AdobeReader

Schubert's Ave Maria sung by Barbara Bonney-amazingly beautiful rendition

Irish Politics: Greens, Healy-Rae, Lowry clown acting threatens government (22/11/10)

Today the Greens have announced their intention to withdraw from government but have pledged to support the budget due in 15 days time. John Gormley, party leader and environment minister, said he wants an election held in the second half of January 2011.

The behaviour of the Greens is inexplicable. They must have known that a political crisis would ensue once an announcement was made to withdraw from government(even if that withdrawal is not until January 2011). The Green Party could have kept its powder dry until a budget was passed. Then it could have announced its intention to withdraw. Now everything is thrown up in the air. There is a strong likelihood that the budget will not pass as the two independents- not to be outdone by the Greens- have cynically withdrawn their support from the government.

The two Independent TDs Jackie Healy-Rae and Michael Lowry have withdrawn their support from the FF/Green government. Mr Lowry said that it was highly unlikely that he would support the government's budget proposals unless FG and Labour were given an input into the formulation of the budget and supported it. Mr Healy-Rae said that it was very unlikely that he would support the budget.

These two Independent TDs have used their political leverage to secure concessions for their constituencies. Now that the well has run dry they seek to put the onus on the opposition to support the government. This is hypocrisy of the highest order.

Lowry cynically speaks about "the duty and responsibility and obligation of FG and Labour to support the budget", conveniently ignoring his own obligations. No wonder the Irish electorate is disillusioned.

Jackie Healy-Rae and Michael Lowry give the government a majority of 83-79 when they vote in its favour however Sinn Fein may win the Donegal SW by-election on Thursday next. In that event the government would most likely fall on the budget. However that is not the end of the story. Healy Rae has left some wriggle room and could yet vote for the budget. He is demanding fairness in the budget. This just adds to the uncertainty. On balance I believe Healy Rae will support the budget. After all he comes from the FF gene pool. He  has stated that he would have to see what was in the budget before  deciding to support it.


Today we have witnessed political clown acting of the highest order on the part of the Greens and the two Independents. Clowns are figures of fun but certainly should not be elected to the Dail.

Healy-Rae's remit never seems to extend outside the South Kerry constituency. Almost every sentence uttered by him includes the words South Kerry.
The country is on its last legs  with negotiations ongoing on the EU/IMF rescue package. Yet the Greens, Lowry and Healy Rae appear determined to play political games. Shame on them.

Ireland: Video of Cowen and Lenihan Press Conference on Bailout-21 November 2010

A video of the Cowen /Lenihan press conference on the bailout is available here
It requires Real Player. A free version may be downloaded here

Irish Government Statement on EU/IMF Bailout, 21 November 2010

European Central Bank Press Release on Irish Financial Aid Request- 21 November 2010

21 November 2010 - ECB Governing Council welcomes the request of the Irish Government for financial assistance

The Governing Council of the European Central Bank (ECB) welcomes the request of the Irish Government for financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the European Union and euro-area Member States. The ECB concurs with the Commission, Ecofin Ministers and the Eurogroup that providing assistance to Ireland is warranted to safeguard financial stability in the European Union and in the euro area.

The European Union and euro-area financial support, together with the IMF financing, will be provided under strong policy conditionality, on the basis of a programme negotiated with the Irish authorities by the Commission and the IMF, in liaison with the ECB.

We are confident that this programme will contribute to ensuring the stability of the Irish banking system and permit it to perform its role in the functioning of the economy.

European Central Bank

Directorate Communications

Press and Information Division

Kaiserstrasse 29, D-60311 Frankfurt am Main

Tel.: +49 69 1344 7455, Fax: +49 69 1344 7404

Internet: http://www.ecb.europa.eu

Reproduction is permitted provided that the source is acknowledged.

http://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2010/html/pr101121.en.html

Ireland: Co. Waterford link with George Osborne British Chancellor of the Exchequer

UK Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne has pledged that Britain would support Ireland's attempts to stabilise its banking system. It is anticipated that this could involve a loan of £6 billion. Osborne is part of the old Anglo-Irish aristocracy and has links with Co. Waterford (in Ireland). He is the heir to the Baronetcy of Ballentaylor, in County Tipperary, and Ballylemon, in County Waterford. His father Sir Peter George Osborne succeeded to the title of 17th Baronet Osborne, of Ballintaylor and Ballylemon, Co. Waterford  on 21 July 1960.

The Osborne Baronetcy, of Ballentaylor in Tipperary, and Ballylemon County Waterford , was created in the Baronetage of Ireland on 15 October 1629 for Richard Osborne.  He was M.P.  for Co Waterford between 1639 and 1649. He was also  M.P. for Co. Waterford between 1661 and 1666.

Sir Richard Osborne, second  baronet  held the office of   M.P.  for Dungarvan between 1639 and 1649.   He held the office of High Sheriff of Co. Waterford in 1671.

Sir John Osborne, 7th Baronet sat as an  MP  in the Irish House of Commons for Lismore between 1719 and 1727 and for County Waterford between 1727 and 1743.

The eight  baronet  Sir William Osborne held the office of High Sheriff of County Waterford in 1750. He held the office of M.P.  for Carysfort between 1761 and 1768.  He was M.P  for Dungarvan between 1768 and 1783. He was invested as a Privy Counsellor  in 1770. He held the office of  M.P. for Carysfort in 1783.
Sir Thomas Osborne the ninth Baronet sat for Carysfort  and also held the office of Sheriff of Waterford .
Sir  Henry Osborne, 11th Baronet  was MP to the Irish House of Commons for Carysfort in 1798 and for Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, in 1800.

Ireland: Waterford Collr. John Halligan misrepresents FG policy

Wateford Today carries a report titled Colr. John Halligan to run as Independent.
"Independent councillor John Halligan declared his nomination to contest the Waterford constituency at the earliest opportunity. Whether it is the by-election which is pending or a general election.."

Ex Workers Party member Clr Halligan targets FG unfairly

His comments in relation to the FG party can be taken with a grain of salt.
He states "that in spite of all the promises about public radiotherapy by both the major parties Fianna Fail and Fine Gael it has not materialised."
His criticism of FG is nonsensical as FG has not been in power since 1997 (13 years ago). This is a fine example of silly politicking on Halligans part.
Would Halligan care to explain how FG could have provided radiotherapy for Waterford?
In relation to FG he is also quoted as follows:
"They had also just announced that they would cut 30,000 public service jobs which would devastate communities. He reminded the audience they were talking about gardai, nurses, care workers, and teachers."
This is more poppycock from the ex Workers Party member. The Workers Party is a far left political party.
Once more he MISREPRESENTS the FG position. The redundancies are to be achieved voluntarily and by natural wastage. NO COMPULSORY REDUNDANCIES are involved. The redundancies are targeted at administrative positions in the public service. Gardai, nurses, care workers, and teachers are SPECIFICALLY EXCLUDED.
Halligan is all things to all men with plenty of populist sound bytes. He is a typical parish pump politician. He has provided no explanation as to how his plans could be funded. Does he support the   far left approach of a massive nationalisation of the means of production a la North Korea.
All and all this is a very poor start by John Halligan. Halligan needs to realise that the the neo-Marxist analysis  has long been discredited.  Extreme left wing policies offer equality of poverty. This is something for John Halligan to contemplate.

Statement by the Eurogroup concerning Ireland after Brussels meeting (16 November 2010)

The Eurogroup welcomes the significant efforts of Ireland to deal with the
challenges it faces in the budgetary, competitiveness and financial sector areas.

The Eurogroup welcomes in particular the announcement by the Irish authorities that their four-year budgetary strategy will be frontloaded by € 6 billion in 2011 on a total consolidation effort of € 15 billion.
We have full confidence that the four-year strategy to be announced by the end of the month will be thorough and detailed and will firmly anchor the 2014 target date for the correction of the excessive deficit. This strategy will also ensure that the public debt ratio will be put on a firm downward path.

Together with the structural reforms that will be announced in the strategy, this budgetary adjustment should allow Ireland to return to a strong and sustainable growth path while safeguarding the economic and social position of its citizens. We nevertheless invite the Irish authorities to include an annual review in their strategy that will allow them to cope with the implications of less favourable macro-economic developments were they to arise.

We welcome the measures taken to date by Ireland to deal with issues in its
banking sector, via guarantees, recapitalisation and asset segregation. These measures have helped to support the Irish banking sector at a time of great dislocation. However, market conditions have not normalised and pressures remain, giving rise to concerns that further reforms and stabilisation measures may be appropriate.

We welcome the determination of the Irish government to engage in a short and focussed consultation with the Commission, the ECB and the IMF in order to determine the best way to provide any necessary support to address market risks, especially as regard the banking sector, in the context of the four-year budgetary plan and the upcoming budget.
We confirm that we will take determined and coordinated action to safeguard
the financial stability of the euro area, if needed, and that we have the means available to do so.

Video: Medjugorje Inspired Pro-Life Art

JoAnne Von Zwehl describes how she was inspired to paint pro-life art as a result of a miraculous photo she took in Medjugorje. JoAnne Von Zwehl also wrote this beautiful pro-life poem

My Silent Plea (Pro Life Poem)

Today I had nightmare,
It was scary as can be.
From inside my mothers womb
I was taken so violently.
No longer would I live and feel Gods life in me.
I knew it was a nightmare.
That was not Gods plan for me.
He wove me in your womb.
So I may be a blessing to all humanity.
I feel, I touch, I am alive.
Mammy tell me it cant be.
Today I had a nighmare.
I would be taken from thee.
Let me stay another day.
Let me grow to be me.
God so loved me.
He gave me life.
Please don’t take my life from me

Photograph of Ireland at Night taken by Douglas H. Wheelock NASA Astronaut, STS-120, Expedition 24/25

Click on image to enlarge

Video of Medjugorje Film Gospa (The Miracle of Medjugorje) in English with Spanish subtitles

US: Former Chief Economist of the IMF Claims that the finance industry has effectively captured the government

The former chief economist of the International Monetary Fund, has claimed that the finance industry has effectively captured the US government in a quiet coup.
Here is an excerpt from the article titled the Quiet Coup written by Simon Johnson:
The Quiet Coup

The crash has laid bare many unpleasant truths about the United States. One of the most alarming, says a former chief economist of the International Monetary Fund, is that the finance industry has effectively captured our government—a state of affairs that more typically describes emerging markets, and is at the center of many emerging-market crises. If the IMF’s staff could speak freely about the U.S., it would tell us what it tells all countries in this situation: recovery will fail unless we break the financial oligarchy that is blocking essential reform. And if we are to prevent a true depression, we’re running out of time

One thing you learn rather quickly when working at the International Monetary Fund is that no one is ever very happy to see you. Typically, your “clients” come in only after private capital has abandoned them, after regional trading-bloc partners have been unable to throw a strong enough lifeline, after last-ditch attempts to borrow from powerful friends like China or the European Union have fallen through. You’re never at the top of anyone’s dance card.

The reason, of course, is that the IMF specializes in telling its clients what they don’t want to hear. I should know; I pressed painful changes on many foreign officials during my time there as chief economist in 2007 and 2008. And I felt the effects of IMF pressure, at least indirectly, when I worked with governments in Eastern Europe as they struggled after 1989, and with the private sector in Asia and Latin America during the crises of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Over that time, from every vantage point, I saw firsthand the steady flow of officials—from Ukraine, Russia, Thailand, Indonesia, South Korea, and elsewhere—trudging to the fund when circumstances were dire and all else had failed.Read ahead at the Atlantic

Video:Sand and Water sung by Beth Nielsen Chapman (With Lyrics)

All alone I didn't like the feeling

All alone I sat and cried

All alone I had to find some meaning

In the center of the pain I felt inside



All alone I came into this world

All alone I will someday die

Solid stone is just sand and water, baby

Sand and water, and a million years gone by



I will see you in the light of a thousand suns

I will hear you in the sound of the waves

I will know you when I come, as we all will come

Through the doors beyond the grave



All alone I heal this heart of sorrow

All alone I raise this child

Flesh and bone, he's just

Bursting towards tomorrow

And his laughter fills my world and wears your smile



I will see you in the light of a thousand suns

I will hear you in the sound of the waves

I will know you when I come, as we all will come

Through the doors beyond the grave



All alone I came into this world

All alone I will someday die

Solid stone is just sand and water, baby

Sand and water and a million years gone by

Video: Fr. Schiffer and seven other Catholic priests survived Hiroshima by praying the Rosary daily

Eight Jesuit priests survived the searing hurricane of blast and gamma rays during the atomic bomb explosion in Hiroshima, Japan, in 1945. They were in a rectory only 8 blocks from the blinding center of the nuclear flash. Although everyone within a mile radius perished, all survived and they attribute their survival to the Rosary and living the Fatima message.
Full story here

Volcanic Eruption at Mount Merapi, Indonesia on November 10, 2010

CLICK on Image below to enlarge)

A thick plume of ash rose from the Merapi Volcano on November 10, 2010, when the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite captured this photo-like image. The image provides the most cloud-free satellite view of the eruption to date. A dark brown streak down the southern face of the volcano is ash and other volcanic material deposited by a pyroclastic flow or lahar.
Though still erupting and dangerous on November 10, the eruption was quieter than it had been the previous week. The ash plume caused flight cancellations in both Jakarta and Yogyakarta, reported CNN. As of November 10, the eruption had killed at least 156 and displaced about 200,000.
(Image and Text-NASA)

Irish Economy: Bloomberg Programme Comments Misleading and Incorrect 9/11/10

On Bloomberg this morning it was stated by Mark Grant managing director at Southwest Securities Inc that Ireland had only three months funding left to run the country. This is utter nonsense. The country is well funded until July 2011. In addition it has 24 billion euro left in the Pension Reserve Fund which could be tapped in an emergency. Mark Grant was talking through his hat.

The Government of FF and the Greens together with Ireland's main opposition party FG are in agreement with the EU on the TARGET of a €6 billion adjustment in the upcoming budget-on November 7- comprised of tax increases and public expenditure cuts. On Bloomberg this morning it was further stated that Ireland was going bankrupt. Whilst Ireland has very serious economic problems this is somewhat of an exaggeration.

The big bang approach of a major sharp budget adjustment carries risks but on balance it is probably the correct approach. However it must be accompanied by an economic stimulus package as advocated by FG.

If consumers feel that most of the heavy lifting is out of the way confidence will return.
One of the major problems is that consumers are afraid to spend.

In the interests of fairness Bloomberg needs to correct the mistaken impression conveyed this morning. It should first ascertain the facts from the NTMA before disseminating half-baked economic data in relation to Ireland.

Videos: Pope Benedict XVI at La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain (07/11/10)

The Pope Consecrates la Sagrada Familia (07/11/10)

Ireland: New FG Policy Document- Reinventing Government to protect frontline services

One hundred ideas to protect Front Line Services

“Among the actions set out in Reinventing Government to make Fine Gael’s vision of Government a reality are:
· The abolishing of over 145 state bodies and companies including the dismantling of the HSE and FAS and their replacement with better, more cost effective alternatives;
· Saving over €5billion, or 1 euro in 10 spent by public bodies, by confronting waste, duplication and inefficiency;
· Externally recruiting new high level specialists in banking, taxation and macro economic forecasting to improve the Dept. of Finance’s capacity to deliver on key tasks;
· At least 1/3rd of all appointments at a senior level in the Public Service (above PO level) will be made from outside the current system for a period of 5 years;
· All lobbyists will have to be registered with the Standard’s in Public Office Commission and recent restrictions to the Freedom of Information Act will be reversed.
· We will establish an Independent Fiscal Council to advise Parliament on issues such as borrowing levels, debt reduction and taxation planning. The Fiscal Council will be accountable to the Oireachtas Finance Committee.

“Unless there is a fundamental change in the way Government does its business, it will continue to be part of the problem rather than the solution. We need a Public Service that is smaller, better and one that gets things done. Through the systems and plans outlined in “Reinventing Government”, Fine Gael will make that happen.”

Full Document Here

Video: Apparition to Mirjana at Medjugorje on November 2, 2010

Italy: Video of Medjugorje Visionary Marija at Brentino on October 28, 2010

Nearly 2000 people turned out at Brentino (VR) on October 28, 2010 to hear and see Marija. Here Marija is speaking in Italian.

US: Five Things We Know About the Catholic Vote (via Catholic Advocate)

By Deal W. Hudson
The polling results released by the New York Times last week do not come as a surprise to anyone familiar with the recent history of the Catholic vote.

The NYTs poll found that the percentage of self-identified Catholics favoring GOP candidates has risen 34% since the 2008 election.
In fact, Catholic voters moved the most toward the GOP among all the groups being polled, including women, college graduates, independents, West region, 30-44 year olds, suburbanites, and families with under a $50,000 income.

Catholics are a powerful swing vote in American politics, but that dynamism is easily misunderstood.

Between 1999 and 2004, as Chair of Catholic Outreach at the RNC, I led an effort that successfully helped to move 15% of self-identified Catholic voters from supporting the Democratic presidential candidate to voting for the Republican, in this case, George W. Bush. (In 1996, Dole won 37% of Catholics compared to 52% of Catholics who voted for Bush in 2004.)....

Continue reading at Catholic Advocate

Alaska: Sarah Palin blasts Lisa Murkowski on Facebook (October 30, 2010)

Yesterday, Lisa Murkowski’s hired guns threatened radio host Dan Fagan, and more importantly, the station that airs Fagan’s show, with legal action for allegedly illegal “electioneering.” The station, unlike Murkowski, who is flush with millions of dollars from vested corporate interests, does not have a budget for a legal defense. So it did what any small market station would do when threatened by Beltway lawyers charging $500 to $1000 an hour – they pulled Dan Fagan off the air.

Does all this sound heavy handed? It is. It is an interference with Dan Fagan’s constitutional right to free speech. It is also a shocking indictment against Lisa Murkowski. How low will she go to hold onto power? First, she gets the Division of Elections to change its write-in process – a process that Judge Pfiffner correctly determined had been in place without change for 50 years. She is accepting financial support from federal contractors, an act that is highly questionable and now pending before the FEC. And today, she played her last card. She made it clear that if you disagree with her and encourage others to exercise their civic rights, she’ll take you off the air.

Continue reading at Facebook

Ireland: Medjugorje Visionary Ivanka Ivankovic-Elez visits Carlow Cathedral

A report on the visit of Medjugorje Visionary Ivanka to Carlow Cathedral on October 17, 2010 is available here

Video: How Obamacare uses tax dollars to fund abortion

Check out this incredible video from Steven Mosher and the Population Research Institute.

Newstalks George Hook and Lara Marlowe in one-sided discussion on the Tea Party movement

This evening George Hook and Lara Marlowe discussed the Tea Party movement in the US. It would be charitable to call it a discussion as no proper effort was made to give the real views of the Tea Party movement

Lara Marlow strongly criticised Christina O’Donnell, Sharron Angle and Joe Miller. Her criticism of O’Donnell was savage. She was careful to mention that O'Donnell's Democrat opponent Chris Coons (also known as the Bearded Marxist) was educated at Yale. But Marlowe omitted to mention Coon's record in Delaware. He introduced a 54% property tax and a 64% sewer tax increase.
Now I wonder who the real extremist is.
One would have expected some effort at balance from G.Hook.It was singularly lacking. He made no effort to defend O’Donnell. No effort was made to stress that candidates such as O’Donnell, Angle and Miller are fiscal conservatives determined to see a balanced budget and stringent controls on government spending. They were just painted as extremists.

Now of course O’Donnell and Angle are pro-life women. Democrats and their friends in the liberal media detest O’Donnell and Angle because they are anti-abortion. No reference to this was made by either Marlow or Hook.

It was particularly interesting to note that Lara Marlowe failed to discuss the ugly personal attacks on Christina O’Donnell and Sharron Angle by Democrats and their friends in the media.
Lets look at ONE particular attack on O’Donnell:

Christine O'Donnell called a Whore in Scurrilous Attack by Behar Guest Judge Karen Mills-Francis

Via FoxNation
On Wednesday’s Joy Behar Show on HLN, when a panel discussion turned to the subject of Delaware Republican Senate nominee Christine O’Donnell, panel member Judge Karen Mills-Francis of the Judge Karen’s Court show described O’Donnell as having been a "whore" as she listed some of the Senate candidate's past and recent problems.

Mills-Francis: "She’s a real train wreck, and the reason why she said that is, I mean, have you looked at this woman’s resume? She was a whore by her own admission. She was an alcoholic. She owed her college $5,000 for 10 years – they had to sue her. The IRS levied an $11,000 tax lien against her. I mean, do I need to go on?"
Apparently impressed by her rant, host Behar responded, "Keep going."
View video of comments here The segment of the programme concerning Christine O'Donnell commenced at 4.36 on the video.The scurrilous comment was made at 5.10 on the video.

Finally is it too much to ask George Hook to give the GOP side of the argument in future? Sadly in Ireland most news comes from American Pro Democrat sources. Lara Marlowe might care to define what she means by moderate Republican?
I suspect moderate to her means pro-abortion and big spending.

Delaware Video: Chris Coons the Taxman

Kentucky Video:Rand Paul Answers Jack Conway's shameful Ad

Video:Jimmy McMillan of The Rent Is Too Damn High Party at the NY Governor Debate

Jimmy McMillan, also known as Papa Smurf, is the founder of the Rent Is Too Damn High Party, a New York-based political party. Since his latest appearance at the 2010 New York State gubernatorial debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y. that was held on October 18, 2010 he has become a news and media celebrity. Foxnews.com reported that McMillan is a retired postal worker and he is the party's current nominee in the New York gubernatorial election, 2010. In 2005 and 2009. McMillan was the party's mayoral candidate for New York City.

In 2005, he received over 1000 votes (.03% of the total vote). In 2009, he received 2615 votes for his second campaign for Mayor.

During an appearance at a 2010 gubernatorial debate dominated by McMillan and the four other minor-party candidates , he stated his views on gay marriage, by saying "The Rent Is Too Damn High Party believes that if you want to marry a shoe, I'll marry you."

Regarding his use of black gloves during the debate, "I’m a war vet," McMillan said. "Don’t forget I was in Vietnam for two and half years and I have three Bronze Stars, but the chemicals of Agent Orange -- dioxin and a lot of other chemicals mixed up -- I would get sick. When I get home tonight, I know I’m not going to be able to breathe if I take them off. It could be psychological, I don’t know, but I just put em on and wear them anyway." Source (Wikipedia)

California Video: Sarah Palin speaks at GOP Anaheim Rally October 16, 2010

Give video time to load.

Colorado Video: Vote YES on Amendment 62 (November 2, 2010)

Every year, approximately 20,000 people are annihilated in Colorado through surgical abortion. Tens of thousands more are killed through chemical abortions, often unbeknownst to mothers who are tricked into thinking that their commonly used forms of "birth control" do not kill a developing human being. Many more developing humans perish at the hands of researchers seeking panaceas that never materialize.
Read more: Yes on Amendment 62: Protect innocent humans - The Denver Post

Congressman Henry Hyde Pro-Life Quote:You are not alone…

The following quote has provided inspiration for many
in the pro-life cause:

"When the time comes, as it surely will, when we face that
awesome moment, the final judgment, I've often thought,
as Fulton Sheen wrote, that it is a terrible moment of
loneliness. You have no advocates, you are there alone
standing before God -- and a terror will rip your soul
like nothing you can imagine. But I really think that those
in the pro-life movement will not be alone. I think there'll
be a chorus of voices that have never been heard in this
world but are heard beautifully and clearly in the next
world -- and they will plead for everyone who has been
in this movement. They will say to God, 'Spare him,
because he loved us!'"
Congressman Henry Hyde