Pastor's Page
By Fr. George Welzbacher
July 22, 2012

Madame Nancy Pelosi's now famous dictum á propos of Obamacare - "First you have to PASS this bill in order to FIND OUT what's in it!" - is equivalent to saying: " There's a simple way to find out for sure which of these mushrooms are deadly!" Well, we're finding out now what was in that bill-a cup of hemlock for our republic.

May I share with you here an appraisal of ObamaCare's threat to our freedom. It was written by the news editor for the United States Justice Foundation.

*          *         *         *         *
In 2014, The Obama Dictatorship Will Be Complete
The United States Justice Foundation, July 9, 2012

Though few Americans are aware of it, the... ObamaCare ruling of Chief Justice John Roberts stands to provide Barack Hussein Obama unlimited ... power less than 2 years after the November election. For should he win, Obama will acquire the "legal" authority to select 15 INDIVIDUALS whose word will AUTOMATICALLY become the LAW of the land.

Within the 2500 pages of the comically-named Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is cached the 2014 establishment of the Independent Payment Advisory Board [IPAB]. Nominated EXCLUSIVELY by the president, the 15 members of the Board will ostensibly be tasked with " ... prevent[ing] per-enrollee Medicare SPENDING from GROWING faster than a specified     target    rate."  To accomplish this congressional mandate, ObamaCare has provided the Board with the authority to submit legislative  "proposals" to Congress; proposals which will AUTOMATICALLY BECOME LAW UNLESS BOTH Houses AND the President agree upon and pass into law a SUBSTITUTE measure.

In short, "the Board's EDICTS ... BECOME LAW WITHOUT congressional action, congressional approval, meaningful congressional oversight, or being subject to a presidential veto." Moreover, CITIZENS will have NO authority to challenge the Board's pronouncements IN COURT, for ObamaCare "...specifically states that the Secretary [of Health and Human Services'] IMPLEMENTATION of IPAB's proposals is NOT JUDICIALLY REVIEWABLE." Therefore a group of presidential POLITICAL appointees will have the practical power of shaping and imposing upon the American public the LAWS of the land! For in addition to creating EDICTS LOOSELY ATTACHED TO MEDICARE AND ITS MYRIAD APPLICATIONS in 2015 the IPAB will be permitted to impose price controls and taxes and to " ... RATION CARE FOR ALL AMERICANS whether the government pays their medical bills or NOT!" Thus even the Medicare stipulation will no longer be a practical deterrent to the Board's authority.

How is all of this possible? According to the Cato Institute, "...by carving out a discrete list of LIMITATIONS on the Board's delegated powers, the [Affordable Care] Act IMPLICITLY gives IPAB OTHERWISE UNLIMITED POWER to exercise ANY enumerated congressional power with respect to ANY governmental body, industry, property, product, person, service or activity." And JUST LIKE CONGRESS, the IPAB has been given the authority TO APPROPRIATE federal funds and TO IMPOSE CONDITIONS for their receipt. This means "the Board could propose ... to REQUIRE states to implement federal laws or to enact new state laws in order to receive federal funding...."

*          *         *         *         *
Were all of this not enough, thanks to a law signed by the president last December 31st, viz., the NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT (NDAA), President Obama now has the power to COMMIT YOU AND ME TO INDEFINITE DETENTION, were we to be so careless as to let it be widely known that we are pro-life and "revere individual liberty" or are "suspicious of centralized federal authority". Here is a report from The LifeSite News.com for July the sixth.

Federal Judge Stops Feds' Indefinite Detention Law
LifeSite News, July 06, 2012
Ben Johnson

A controversial law that would allow the president to INDEFINITELY DETAIN AMERICANS WITHOUT TRIAL hit a roadblock after a federal judge BLOCKED the federal government from making any arrests under its purview.

U.S. District Judge Katherine Forrest of New York City TEMPORARILY HALTED any arrests or detentions that would take place under the terms of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which took effect on July 1.

In a 68-page opinion, Judge Forrest wrote, while she only enjoined the law "with great caution," the government had "a strong public interest in ensuring that due process rights guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment are protected by ENSURING THAT ORDINARY CITIZENS ARE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THE SCOPE OF CONDUCT THAT COULD SUBJECT THEM TO INDEFINITE MILITARY DETENTION." [Welcome to the Fourth Reich!]

"It is the responsibility of our judicial system to protect the public from acts of Congress that infringe upon constitutional rights," Judge Forrest wrote.

Virginia Delegate Bob Marshall has taken a strong stand for individual rights.
 
The NDAA, which President Barack Obama signed last December 31, allows the president to hold enemy combatants in military detention facilities without trial until the end of hostilities, IF the person "substantially supported al-Qaeda, the Taliban, OR ASSOCIATED FORCES THAT ARE ENGAGED IN HOSTILITIES AGAINST THE UNITED STATES or its coalition partners."

Critics of the law note that THE PRESIDENT ALONE [MEIN FUEHRER!] DETERMINES WHO FITS these criteria, WITHOUT any judicial or congressional input. The law merely requires the Secretary of Defense to "regularly BRIEF" Congress ABOUT "covered persons."

During deliberations, the Senate REJECTED an amendment offered by Dianne Feinstein, D-CA, LIMITING permanent detention to those captured "ABROAD."

"THIS LAW CAN APPLY TO PRO-LIFERS, YES," John W. Whitehead, a constitutional attorney and founder of The Rutherford Institute, told LifeSiteNews.com.

Meanwhile, the federal government continues to give signs that it considers pro-life organizations (and believers in limited government) PUBLIC ENEMY NUMBER ONE.

A federally funded study conducted on behalf of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) this January CLAIMED that "SINGLE ISSUE GROUPS" such as "'anti-abortion" organizations had committed MORE terrorist acts over a longer period of time than any group, including Islamic fundamentalists. [Are such Islamist adventures as 9/11 included in this assessment?] The report also WARNS officials to BEWARE OF ANYONE who is "SUSPICIOUS of centralized federal authority" or "REVERENT of individual liberty."

DHS and FBI agents have also been briefed by Planned Parenthood to monitor right-to-life activists.

Virginia Delegate Bob Marshall, R-Manassas, filed an amicus curiae brief in the anti-NDAA lawsuit. He previously authored a law forbidding Virginia, the state National Guard and Volunteer Defense Force from making arrests pursuant to NDAA.

New York Times reporter Chris Hedges testified that, because he associated with terrorists while REPORTING on them, HE could be indefinitely detained.

Judge Forrest, who was appointed by Barack Obama, issued her ruling on May 16.

Others who joined Marshall in opposing the law before Judge Forrest include Virginia State Senator Dick Black, the Tenth Amendment Center, Gun Owners of America, Pastor Chuck Baldwin, U.S. Border Control, the Constitution Party National Committee, and many others.
[Emphasis added].

*          *         *         *         *
Time perhaps then for some brighter news? How about this report from the latest issue of the Catholic Spirit (July 5, 2012). It reminds us that there are still lots of young people who are strong in the faith despite the rampant evil with which the media, much of academe and certain political coalitions surround them, laying siege to their code of morals day after day.

Class Acts: Standouts Lead Teams to Prep Baseball Titles
The Catholic Spirit, July 5, 2012
Dave Hrbacek

Mike Streitz was having another sleepless night on June 15. His slumber cut short by a late quarterfinal win in the state Class A baseball tournament, the St. Agnes High School coach chose to work on his lineup card for the next night's semifinal game rather than lay his head on the pillow.

The job was easy except for one thing - should he play senior Charlie Turch at shortstop, or put him on the mound to face Blackduck High School for the right to play in the finals at Target Field June 18?

The answer was announced the following morning: "Nine [a.m.] at Perkins," said Turch, a senior righthander who was chosen to take the hill that day. We were just eating breakfast at Perkins and I had an idea that I might be pitching, but he was still deciding. We had talked the whole night before. And then, over scrambled eggs, he told me I was going to be pitching that game."

Streitz was proved right in his decision. Turch turned the Blackduck lineup into scrambled eggs, throwing a four-hit shutout in a 7-0 win that PROPELLED his team to the championship game.

It was the SECOND consecutive shutout for the Aggies, and they would add a THIRD in the finals, BECOMING THE FIRST TEAM SINCE RICHFIELD IN 1971 TO NOT ALLOW A RUN IN THE STATE TOURNAMENT. They defeated Lac Qui Parle Valley 6-0 for their first state baseball title since 2001, finishing the season with a record of 23-6. In addition, Turch was named the Class A Player of the Year.

Strong skills, strong faith

In 34 years of coaching high school baseball players, Streitz has held his share of hardware and developed his share of all-stars. But not many players like Turch have come along in three-plus decades.

"He's in the top 10," said Streitz, 54, who came to St. Agnes seven years ago and also serves as the school's athletic director. "Charlie is one of a handful of kids that I hope I have a lifelong friendship with."

Sharing those sentiments is the outgoing pastor of St. Agnes, Father John Ubel, who at the moment is making a transition to his new job as rector of the Cathedral of St. Paul. A passionate baseball fan, he will take with him to the Cathedral a baseball signed by all 18 members of the St. Agnes varsity squad.

"It's going to go right on my desk for everyone to see at the Cathedral," Father Ubel said. "It [the championship] was a great way to end my time at St. Agnes."

Father Ubel could be seen throughout his six years at St. Agnes in the front row of the bleachers at baseball games wearing a St. Agnes baseball cap. He felt a particular connection to this year's team, as he took some of the players, including Turch, to Italy for a vocations trip in November.

"We took 16 boys ... and eight of them were baseball players," said Father Ubel, noting that a similar trip for girls will be offered during the upcoming school year. "When you're with a group for 10 days, morning, noon and night, you really do get to know them a lot better."

Father Ubel discovered one thing first hand - Turch is fast. When the group visited San Giovanni Rotundo, Father Ubel climbed a long set of stairs and staged a race to the top among the boys. Turch got there first.

"He really is a solid, solid athlete all the way through," Father Ubel said, of Turch. "That was no surprise that he won the race."

Yet, Father Ubel is far more impressed by Turch's FAITH. A frequent visitor to the confessional, the baseball captain made quite an impression on the St. Agnes pastor.

"I would say he's very humble," Father Ubel said. "He is, I think, the antithesis of what you see in some quarters today, where people are out there, especially at the pro level, showing everyone just how "good" they are. He's very quiet and reserved. But he's clearly very serious about his faith."

That is precisely why Turch was so glad that Father Ubel celebrated Mass for the team the morning of its first state-tournainent game. And, why he spent seven years as an altar server at his parish, St. Charles Borromeo in St. Anthony.

"It's a cool thing being involved and seeing everything that goes on [in the Mass] and being right there by the altar," said Turch, whose brother Nick, a sophomore, also played on the varsity baseball team this year. "You just feel closer to God when you're up there with all the priests."

Such thoughts could get Father Ubel to hoping that Turch might one day wear the Roman collar and celebrate Mass himself. But he is keeping such tempting thoughts at bay - for now.

"I will certainly leave that up to the Lord," the priest said. "I don't know God's designs. He [Turch] is very serious about his faith, but I would leave that [priesthood vocation] up to his own discernment.

"He's going to make the right choice, whatever that choice is. We are so in need of healthy, normal, well-balanced young Catholics. I am convinced that that's what he is. He will be a great leader."

In the fall, Turch will attend the University of St. Thomas, where he plans to study mechanical engineering and play baseball. Streitz said that Turch is definitely on the radar screen of the Tonunies' new coach, Chris Olean.

"Coach Olean is well aware of him," Streitz said. "He's got to earn it, but I know coach Olean likes what he sees. There's no doubt in my mind Charlie will be successful there."
[Emphasis added].

*          *         *         *         *
These are the kinds of young Americans who are helping to "ransom the times, for the times ARE, evil." (Ephesians 5:16). By way of contrast, and in exemplification of the moral rot that is fostered by our country's cultural and political leaders, may I share with you one last item from the Wall Street Journal for July 9th.

*          *         *         *         *
Frank's Same-Sex Wedding Is a Congressional First
The Wall Street Journal, July 9, 2012
Daniel Lippman

Rep. Barney Frank (D, Mass.) married his longtime partner, Jim Ready [thirty years younger, and replacing an earlier lover, Steve Gobie, who ran a male escort service out of Congressman Frank's apartment], on Saturday night in a ceremony that marked the first same-sex marriage of a sitting member of Congress.

Among the 300 guests at the Boston Marriott hotel in Newton, Mass., were a number of top Democrats, including House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California, House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland, and Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts. BAY STATE GOVERNOR DEVAL PATRICK OFFICIATED.

"I did want to get married while I was still in office. I think it's important that my colleagues interact with a married gay man," Mr. Frank told New York Magazine in April.

Mr. Frank, the former chairman of the House Financial Services Committee [and co-author with former Senator Chris Dodd (Dem., Connecticut) of the Dodd-Frank legislation that has imposed a gigantic set of new regulations upon the financial sector of our nation's economy, to be enforced by a brand-new army of bureaucrats], was first elected to the House in 1980 and is retiring from Congress at the end of this term.

*          *         *         *         *
A charming little get-together of "The Deval" and his own?

*          *         *         *         *