Mark P. Shea's Blog, page 1281

Leah LIbresco is my favorite atheist

What I love about her is that, unlike those in the "new atheist" subculture, she uses her intellect instead of merely worshipping it.

And she needs your help:

The first round of my religion Turing test was a smashing success. Can you help me recruit judges one more time? I did a little write-up to post below:

Thanks for the linking last week. The results of the first round of my religion-themed Ideological Turing Test will be up soon. Now I need judges and voters for the second round.

This week, a slate of 15 Christian and atheist participants wrote answers to questions intended for Christians. The Christians answered honestly and the atheists tried to answer as they thought a Christian would. Now, it's up to reader to guess who was sincere and who was shamming. (There's a slightly more involved explanation here).

Everyone is invited to look through the responses and see if they can spot the fakes. The link to the survey is up here.

By Wednesday, I'll reveal the answers and we'll see how well both sides do at knowing what the other side actually thinks!

Go forth, minions!

Prayer Request

A reader writes:

I just found out that my wife's cousin's little baby boy drowned by falling in the pool. Probably about a year old or so.

10 years ago her cousin in the same family committed suicide. The Mother who was raised Catholic has stopped the practice of the faith and the children have not been baptized. When her cousin committed suicide years ago my wife's grandmother converted to the Catholic faith. My prayer is that out of this tragedy God will bring some great grace out of it and some will be drawn close to his sacred heart and divine mercy.

Father, hear our prayer for the repose of this child's soul and for this family that has endured such heartbreak. Grant that your Name will be glorified in this and that everyone involved will find the happiness you intend for them through Christ Jesus. Mother Mary, pray for all involved in this tragedy.

This...

...is the sort of thing that gets the average Spirit Daily reader all a-twitter.

Me: Anything is possible, and there certainly have been Eucharistic miracles elsewhere. But still, how's about we all wait till the lab tests are back?

Chesterton Would be Proud

A snapshot of the sort of person who makes our civilization function.

This goes out to John C. Wright

THE NEW TRAILER FOR JOHN CARTER OF MARS!!!



No mortal power will keep me from seeing this.

Take a Good Hard Look at the Evidence

...and I think you'll agree with Donal Foley that "despite some 'good fruits,' Medugorje bears all the hallmarks of a vast religious fraud."

Prayer Requests

A reader writes:

Around this time last year you were kind enough to post my prayer request for my unmarried sister whose boyfriend was pushing abortion. The wonderful news is that my nephew was born a few months ago and is as beautiful as can be! So thank everyone for their prayers. I do have an additional prayer request -- my sister's school promised her a space in the late August class so she could take a few months and be at home with the baby. The school is now saying it doesn't look like they will have room for her. She really needs to finish school so she can support baby. So I ask that people pray that a spot will open for her. Thank you!

Father, grant this woman a place in this class, so that she can finish school. And thank you for hearing our prayers for this child's life last year. We pray all this through Christ our Lord and ask the intercession of the Blessed Virgin for all for whom we pray.

Another reader writes:

I'm a student at Christendom College, in Front Royal, VA. One of the most beloved teachers on campus is a history professor, Dr. Brendan McGuire, a young man (only 28!) a wonderful teacher, with a lovely wife and several little kids. This past spring he was diagnosed with a severe and rare case of Ewing's Sarcoma; although there is a chance of a cure, the treatment will be long, intense, difficult and expensive--and might require the amputation of one of his legs. This news sent shockwaves through the campus when it was announced last semester, and so all the students and faculty have been praying for him--but a few more prayers would very, very much be appreciated! Here's a facebook page with periodic updates about his condition: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Prayers-For-Dr-Brendan-McGuires-Recovery/148078308592987 Also on that page, if any of your readers are feeling generous, is a link to a fund to which they can contribute, to help ease the huge financial burden the treatment will bring. (If you'd like the link to donate directly instead of going through facebook, here it is: http://mcguirecancerfund.wordpress.com/). 

Father, hear our prayer for this young man's complete healing in body, soul, and spirit through Christ our Lord. Grant that he unite his sufferings with those of Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit, that his caregivers have skill and compassion, and that all who love him receive grace, peace, and strength through Christ our Lord. Mother Mary, St. Luke, and St. Peregrine, pray for him and all who love him.

Attention all Old Beans, Gents, Tweedy Fellows, and Their Madeleine Bassett Companions

You are cordially invited to the Chap Olympics.

The Two Phases of History...

are "What could it hurt?" and "How were we supposed to know?" Combined with pro-abort denialism of the highest order, they give you a strange desire to laugh and vomit at the same time. A reader writes:

Perhaps you've already linked this.

Population Control leads to an uneven ratio of boys to girls world wide.

Who woulda thunk?

Here's a fun quote:

"Anti-abortion groups and pundits have proven all too eager to to take on the issue [of the gender ratio crisis], though they seem far more interested in driving home restrictions on abortion than they do in increasing the number of women in the world and protecting the rights of women at risk."

See, us anti-abortion folks, we're still motivated by misogyny.

Because... 'increasing the number of women' would mean...you guessed it: using the same sex-selecting abortion policies currently encouraged and even enforced, only this time, the boys get it.

I suppose this is a classic 'how were we supposed to know?' scenario.

This kind does not come out but by prayer and fasting.

Have I mentioned

...that the criminal justice system in Washington is insane?