Guests for Friday, 8/5/2011

Mike Aquilina is online at fathersofthechurch.com.


Dan Egan is online at bibletidbits.blogspot.com.

Randy Hain is online at integratedcatholiclife.org.


Danielle Bean is online at faithandfamilylive.com.


Steven Greydanus is online at decentfilms.com.

Tony Beshara is online at thejobsearchsolution.com.

Fr Greg Friedman is online at franciscanmedia.org.

Brian O'Neel, author of 39 New Saints You Should Know


An article on the late Cardinal Swiatek can be found at acnuk.org

Anthony Buono is online at avemariasingles.com.

Msgr Dan Sullivan and the Healy Foundation are online at monsignordanielsullivan.com.


Liz Lev's article in appreciation of the papacy is online at zenit.org.


Cheryl Dickow is online at bezalelbooks.com.

Air Force Axes Classes for Including Bible Verses

Challenged by militant secular groups, the Air Force recently suspended a 20-year-old class on ethics because a section on Christian Just War Theory included Bible verses.

Taught by chaplains, the class for people who may one day have to decide whether or not to launch nuclear bombs included information on wars in the Bible, quotes from just war theorist St. Augustine, and quotes from the Old and New Testaments.

According to CNN, “more than 30 Air Force officers” protested the “religious overtones” of the class. CNN also quoted the director of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, which it referred to as a “watchdog” organization, who professed himself shocked -- shocked! -- that images of saints and Bible verses are included in the part of the Power Point presentation that deals with Christian and Jewish theology.

But the real story is a little different from CNN’s version. For one thing, Mikey Weinstein, MRFF’s director, is hardly an expert the cable station called in for his opinion. He is directly behind the Air Force’s decision to axe the class. Weinstein is a member of the board of directors for Truthout, a news website created to “broaden and diversify the political discussion by introducing independent voices and focusing on under-covered issues and unconventional thinking.... devoted to equality, democracy, human rights, accountablity and social justice.”

Truthout’s story on the class, the Washington Post said, prompted the Air Force to suspend it. And the story’s top source was none other than Mikey Weinstein. As far as the MRFF goes, a quick glance at its website makes its stance clear: despite a descriptor saying it’s dedicated to fighting for both freedom of religion and freedom from religion, they are all about the latter.

Jason Ukman at The Washington Post called the Air Force suspension of the class “a victory for the MRFF” -- something that CNN conveniently left out. And why is it a victory? Because, according to Truthout, all missile officers had to take the class. “No way in hell should this have been presented as a mandatory briefing to ALL in the basic missiles class," it quotes an anonymous missile officer as saying. Religious people who are worried about their faith should be given a special class or training session in their faith, secular people should get one with a counselor or ethicist, and “if you're already good with your role and duty as a missile officer, then you're welcome to hit the golf course or gym."

I’m concerned to hear that the MRFF considers it a good use of Air Force time and money to set up individual classes and counseling for every single missile officer, but I’m even more worried to find that people who may potentially launch a nuclear war are too emotionally fragile to be able to look at a picture of St. Augustine or listen to a Bible verse without suffering irreversible harm.

It’s this kind of stuff that makes me crazy. Weinstein and his goofy MRFF and Truthout people want God to stay the hell out of the U.S. military. But why? How would NOT learning about an influential Christian view of war be better for soldiers of all (and no) faiths? Surely the people entrusted with actually waging war should learn all they can about it, and that includes historically important theories about war -- whatever culture and religion proposed them.

No, this has nothing to do with how to train a good soldier and everything to do with MRFF and friends sticking their fingers in their ears and saying “nyah nyah, I can’t hear you.”

As for me, I’d rather have soldiers learning what just war theory is and deciding whether or not they agree with it than simply heading off to the golf course or gym. A man who can't even think about what some of the world's great religions and minds have said about war because they involve God has no business with his fingers on the button.

Pickle Recipes from Rita Heikenfeld

Sonia’s freezer pickles

My sister, Sonia, loves her garden and each year makes these awesome pickles.

4 cups thinly sliced cucumbers, unpeeled
1 medium onion, sliced thin
2 tablespoons salt
Up to 1-1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup vinegar
1-1/2 teaspoons pickling spice
1 red bell pepper, diced (opt)
1 clove garlic, smashed (opt)
Arrange cucumbers and onions in large bowl. Sprinkle with salt and mix. Pour enough water over to just cover them. Stir again. Soak at room temperature for 2 hours. Drain, but don’t rinse. Meanwhile, mix sugar, vinegar and pickling spice in small saucepan. Bring to a simmer and cook until sugar dissolves. Let cool while pickles are soaking. After pickles have been drained, add bell pepper, then pour pickling brine over them. Mix. Put into containers. Let marinate overnight in refrigerator. Keeps at least three weeks, or up to six months in freezer.


Bonus Recipe: Buffet bread & butter pickles

4 cups thinly sliced cucumbers, unpeeled
1/2 cup or so thinly sliced onion
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon dill seed or handful fresh dill leaves, minced
1/4 cup cold water
1/8 teaspoon turmeric
1/4 teaspoon ea: mustard seed and celery seed
1 tablespoon salt
1/2 cup vinegar, either cider or clear

Mix cucumbers and onions together. Set aside. Mix rest of ingredients and stir well to dissolve some of the sugar. Pour over cucumbers and onions. Put a plate on top to keep the veggies under the brine. Cover and refrigerate a day or so before eating. Can be kept up to a month, tightly covered in the fridge.
Good add ins:1 garlic clove, smashed

Guests for Thursday, 8/4/2011

Elizabeth Ficocelli, author of "Where do Deacons Come From?"


Peggy Flick and the Grace Virtual Catholic Education Program are online at pmgrace.com.

Marlene Elias is online at motherteresaandme.com.

Send your questions for Catholic counselor Kevin Prendergast to sonrise@sacredheartradio.com.

Irene Lagan and the Summer of Mercy are online at summerofmercy.com.

Fr Dwight Longenecker is online at dwightlongenecker.com.


Rita Heikenfeld is online at abouteating.com.

Dan Egan is online at bibletidbits.blogspot.com.

Liz Lev's article in appreciation of the papacy is online at zenit.org.


Mary DeTurris Poust's article on the point of prayer is online at huffingtonpost.com.


Marybeth Hicks is online at marybethhicks.com.


Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio is online at dritaly.com.


Lisa Hendey is online at catholicmom.com.

Guests for Wednesday, 8/3/2011

Paula Westwood blogs at createdorder.blogspot.com.

Fr Dwight Longenecker is online at dwightlongenecker.com.


Kevin Lowry is online at chnetwork.org.

Marybeth Hicks is online at marybethhicks.com.


Mike Aquilina is online at fathersofthechurch.com.


Anthony Buono is online at avemariasingles.com.

Kevin O'Brien is online at thewordinc.org.

Elizabeth Ficocelli, author of "Where do Deacons Come From?"


Dr Marcellino D'Ambrosio is online at dritaly.com.


For more information about St. Peter Claver Latin School for Boys, visit their Facebook page.

Gary Zimak is online at followingthetruth.com.

Msgr Charles Pope is online at blog.adw.org.

Marlene Elias is online at motherteresandme.com.

Guests for Tuesday, 8/2/2011

Fr James Kubicki is online at apostleshipofprayer.org.

Dr Kevin Vost is online at drvost.com.


Fr Rufino Ezama is online at combonimissionaries.org.

Gary Zimak is online at followingthetruth.com.

Kevin Schmiesing is online at catholichistory.net.

Chris Findley writes at integratedcatholiclife.org.

Paula Westwood blogs at createdorder.blogspot.com.

Send your questions for Catholic counselor Kevin Prendergast to sonrise@sacredheartradio.com.

Kevin Lowry is online at chnetwork.org.

Kevin O'Brien's article on Christianity and usury is online at The Distributist Review.

Fr Dwight Longenecker is online at dwightlongenecker.com.


Info on Family Movie Night at NBC is online here.

The GRACE Virtual Catholic Education program is online at pmgrace.com

Guests for Monday, 8/1/2011

Kevin Schmiesing is online at catholichistory.net.

Dr Helen Alvare is online at gmu.edu.


Corey Huber is online at fundforvocations.org.

Fr Robert Spitzer, author of "New Proofs for the Existence of God"


Teresa Tomeo is online at teresatomeo.com.


For information on upcoming Retrouvaille weekends, visit retrouvaille.org.

Fr James Kubicki is online at apostleshipofprayer.org.

Diane Moczar, author of "Seven Lies about Catholic History"


Tony Beshara is online at thejobsearchsolution.com.

Br. Dan Korn is online at liguori.org.


To reach Dr. Mike Gable and the Mission office for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, call 513-421-3131.