Adherents.com: Catholics

According to Adherents.com's stats on Catholics:, "Catholic countries consume significantly more alcohol than Protestant (or neither religion dominant) countries.' "

Remember: behind every four Catholics is a fifth.

Also: "More Catholic science fiction and fantasy writers belong to the Catholic Church than to any other religious body".

That's because when we Catholics drink a lot, we start seeing things. At least we're smart enough to write it down!

Religious identification in the U.S.:

This is the page where I obtained stats on religious affiliation. The meat:

76.5% (159 million) of Americans identify themselves as Christian. 52% of Americans identified themselves as Protestant.
24.5% of Americans identified themselves as Roman Catholic.

Finally, a note on those who are unaffiliated with any religion, a trend which socially and geographically mirrors the Republican-Democratic split:

The unaffiliated vary from a low of 3% in North Dakota to 25% in Washington State. The six states with the highest percentage of people saying they have no religion are all Western states, with the exception of Vermont at 22%.

Vermont is crunchy granola liberal. Go figure.

Polls Emphasize Growing Religious Gap in Politics

Good news for Republicans. If you go to church, you most likely are conservative. Finally, a trend to like.

How You Can Take Back Christmas

This flawed ABC News article reflects on restoring the meaning of the holiday, the reason for the season. Mom complains about the sexy outfits. New agey sounding woman celebrates winter solstice (please). Never mind that 86% of people in this country say they are Christian according to the 1990 census (76% if you believe the 2000 figures, which I don't), the new age woman gets as much coverage as the others and the religious aspect of the holiday is totally downplayed....I like the idea of this article but the final product is lacking.

ABCNEWS.com : Court OKs Law Banning Late-Term Abortion

For those looking for a respite from the madness of the 9th Circus, we offer the 6th.

Mary and Muhammad: Bearers of the Word

I have made mention of Muslim devotion to Our Lady in this column before. This is a snippet of an article on that very theme.

Vatican Shuffler

While I am loath to appear to be slamming the church, the hierarchy is filled with humans and therefore susceptible to error. The American Spectator pretty much says it like it is:

Liberal Church officials -- who didn't make a peep when Terri Schiavo's cloddish husband tried to dehydrate her to death -- will now speak up for Hussein's right to life. The same pacifism that leads Church officials to forbid war against a mass murderer will forbid the death penalty against him. In its official documents Church officials can't quite bring themselves to oppose war or the death penalty outright. But nevertheless they portray a pacifist position their predecessors would consider heretical as a 'development' of teaching. They deform Catholic teaching and call it development. And it is one -- a development of Catholicism into modern liberalism.

Actually the comment about Terri Schiavo isn't 100% accurate, because numerous priests did weigh in on her side. Yet the church hierarchy was silent on that issue and Martino is showing his ass on this one. Then again, Martino does not speak for the Pope and he is not as high in the grand scheme of things as he would have you believe. He also spent time at the U.N. as the Holy See's ambassador there, and has apparently drank from the Kofi Annan Kool Aid pitcher.

Driver's Test Taker Crashes Into DMV

Can you tell me where the DMV building is? BAM!

Perspective

(Someone sent me this in an email, so I am unable to attribute.)

The Democrats are complaining on how long the war is taking but consider this:

It took less time to take Iraq than it took Janet Reno to take the
Branch Davidian compound. That was a 51-day operation.

It took less time to find Saddam's sons in Iraq than it took Hillary
Clinton to find the Rose Law Firm billing records.

It took less time for the 3rd Infantry Division and the Marines to
destroy the Medina Republican Guard than it took Teddy Kennedy to call the police after his Oldsmobile sank at Chappaquiddick.

It took less time to take Iraq than it took to count the votes in
Florida!!

Chirac to Seek Law Banning Head Scarves

Leave it to the French: never before has a politician so blatantly attempted to taunt Muslim extremists into assasination attempts. After years of unfettered immigration into France by Muslims, now Chirac is trying to prohibit them - and more crucially their children - from making an outward expression of their faith. Does he honestly think they are going to comply quietly? Does he realize that they are going to see this as oppression? What is the French word for cojones anyway?

I love this quote:

"Secularism is one of the great successes of the Republic," Chirac said in an address to the nation. "It is a crucial element of social peace and national cohesion. We cannot let it weaken."

Ah, that Chirac. In trying to put down Muslims, he tales a shot at religion in general. Yeah, that'll show that mean old Pope with his lack of army and inability to stand!

By the way, define success: rampant adultery and out-of-wedlock births, zero productivity and a near-communist system. Vive la France!

Getting Milked? IJ Challenges Compelled Speech

I support the Institute for Justice about 99% of the time because they are true libertarians and not leftists like the ACLU. They like competition and free markets. So they've taken on "big milk" (tee hee).

This is an especially delicious turn of events since the creator of the Got Milk campaign is a Hollywood Bush hater who attended the Laurie David anti-Bush conclave.

Initials BB

Bardot is in trouble for speaking her mind on Islam, yet her statements are worth a look.

Vatican slams handling of Saddam

That headline is not accurate, as the Pope did not make these statements. To the Cardinal, I say "Pardon me, your grace, but who asked you?"

Sedition

Sinister forces are at work. If foreign interests can influence a presidential election, I shudder to think what the result will be on our governing process.

Rep. Jim McDermott condemned over comments on Saddam's capture

If anybody ever doubts the influence of marijuana on Leftist politics...

BREAUX ANNOUNCES HE WILL RETIRE FROM THE U.S. SENATE

This is a good thing, believe me. Breaux is a conservative as far as Dems go, but David Vitter will be a true conservative.

Heavy Rotation

I won't link to his site - he likes Michael Moore and Al Franken enough tp place links to their sites on his front page - but I'll give Ryan Adams his due. His new record, lloR N kcoR is a masterwork. You must own it, it's that good. (When you buy it, though, send him a note saying he needs to get a clue when it comes to world affairs.)

My second favorite record is Outkast's Speakerboxx/The Love Below. It's two solo albums for the price of one.

Finally, I'm going all Christmas music for the next ten days. The pole position in my car changer belongs to Ella Fitzgerald's Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas. Remember: if Christmas doesn't swing, the bells won't ring. And a lot of angels will be wingless.

Lauryn Hill blasts Catholic Church

My question is this: what was a rap artist who has a child out of wedlock doing performing at the Vatican? No one doubts the seriousness of the "recent unplesantness" in the church. Hill's comments, however, were directed at people who are innocent for the most part in the scandals (the US Bishops are the guilty ones) and consisted of statements that smack of anti-Catholicism. At one point, she prompted the crowd to seek blessings "from God not men" while revealing she did "not believe in representatives of God on earth." What ultimately did she accomplish except to insult those in attendence? What has she done in her own country to assist victims of the scandals? I mean really...who asked her opinion?

Star Spangled Ice Cream - Mail Order Ice Cream with a Conservative Flavor

In honor of today's news, let's all order a pint of "Iraqi Road."

Official Christmas portrait

While we're at the White House, I'd like to point out that this Not a holiday tree, not a seasonal tree, not a solstice tree, not even a post-Vatican II "Jesse Tree" (please). It's a CHRISTMAS TREE, DAMMIT!

Ace of Spades

The perspective from Rummy and Co.

President Bush Addresses Nation on the Capture of Saddam Hussein

As it happened, from WHitehouse.gov: "Good afternoon. Yesterday, December the 13th, at around 8:30 p.m. Baghdad time, United States military forces captured Saddam Hussein alive. He was found near a farmhouse outside the city of Tikrit, in a swift raid conducted without casualties. And now the former dictator of Iraq will face the justice he denied to millions.
The capture of this man was crucial to the rise of a free Iraq. It marks the end of the road for him, and for all who bullied and killed in his name. For the Baathist holdouts largely responsible for the current violence, there will be no return to the corrupt power and privilege they once held. For the vast majority of Iraqi citizens who wish to live as free men and women, this event brings further assurance that the torture chambers and the secret police are gone forever.
And this afternoon, I have a message for the Iraqi people: You will not have to fear the rule of Saddam Hussein ever again. All Iraqis who take the side of freedom have taken the winning side. The goals of our coalition are the same as your goals -- sovereignty for your country, dignity for your great culture, and for every Iraqi citizen, the opportunity for a better life.
In the history of Iraq, a dark and painful era is over. A hopeful day has arrived. All Iraqis can now come together and reject violence and build a new Iraq.
The success of yesterday's mission is a tribute to our men and women now serving in Iraq. The operation was based on the superb work of intelligence analysts who found the dictator's footprints in a vast country. The operation was carried out with skill and precision by a brave fighting force. Our servicemen and women and our coalition allies have faced many dangers in the hunt for members of the fallen regime, and in their effort to bring hope and freedomto the Iraqi people. Their work continues, and so do the risks. Today, on behalf of the nation, I thank the members of our Armed Forces and I congratulate them.

I also have a message for all Americans: The capture of Saddam Hussein does not mean the end of violence in Iraq. We still face terrorists who would rather go on killing the innocent than accept the rise of liberty in the heart of the Middle East. Such men are a direct threat to the American people, and they will be defeated.

We've come to this moment through patience and resolve and focused action. And that is our strategy moving forward. The war on terror is a different kind of war, waged capture by capture, cell by cell, and victory by victory. Our security is assured by our perseverance and by our sure belief in the success of liberty. And the United States of America will not relent until this war is won.

May God bless the people of Iraq, and may God bless America. Thank you."

We Got Him

The remarks of Ambassador L. Paul "Jerry" Bremer from earlier this morning: "Ladies and gentlemen, we got him.
Saddam Hussein was captured Saturday 13 December at about 2030 local, in a cellar in the town of al-Dawr which is about 15 kilometres south of Tikrit.
Before Dr Pachachi, who is the acting president of the governing council, and Lieutenant General Sanchez [the top US military commander in Iraq] speak, I want to say a few words to the people of Iraq.
This is a great day in Iraq's history.
For decades, hundreds of thousands of you suffered at the hands of this cruel man.
For decades, Saddam Hussein divided you citizens against each other.
For decades, he threatened an attack on your neighbours.
Those days are over forever.
Now it is time to look to the future, to your future of hope, to a future of reconciliation.
Now is the time for all Iraqis to build a prosperous, democratic Iraq, at peace with itself and with its neighbors.
Iraq's future, your future, has never been more full of hope. The tyrant is a prisoner.
The economy is moving forward. You have before you the prospect of a sovereign government in a few months.
With the arrest of Saddam Hussein, there is a new opportunity for the members of the former regime to end their bitter opposition.
Let them now come forward in a spirit of reconciliation and hope, lay down their arms, and join you, their fellow citizens, in the task of building the new Iraq.
Now is the time for all Iraqis — Arabs and Kurds, Sunnis, Shia, Christian, and Turkmen — to build a prosperous, democratic Iraq, at peace with itself and with its neighbors. "