I Am
I am 13 years old and my great story is being written and my great accomplishments and successes are to come.

I am a self-advocate speaker. I like giving Power Point presentations and answering questions. When I was six years old I read a welcoming statement in three languages at the National Down Syndrome Society Conference in St. Louis. At age 12 I spoke at the 10th World Down Syndrome Congress in Ireland and played a violin recital in front of 900 people at the Plenary Session.

I am a swimmer. I train everyday. I set six Junior Down Syndrome World Records in freestyle, long course:
• 50 meters
• 100 meters
• 200 meters
• 400 meters
• 800 meters
• 1,500 meters

I am a traveler. I have a passport. I have visited:
• Canada
• Mexico
• Honduras
• Ireland
• France

I am a violinist. I started to play when I was six years old. I am on Suzuki Book 3. I am a golfer. I learned to play when I was 8 years old. I like to practice at the driving range. I open golf events with ceremonial drives. I am a polyglot. I am good at learning foreign languages. I speak:
• English
• Spanish
• French
• and I study Latin

I am homeschooled. I know the multiplication tables. I know the Ten Commandments. I know all the presidents of the United States. I study botany and entomology. I am a reader. I learned to sight-read when I was 2 years old. I have a bookcase at home with all my books. I have a library card.

I am a cyclist. I learned to ride a bike when I was 8 years old with Dr. Dick Klein at Lose the Training Wheels bike camp in Chicago. I ride 12 miles with my father in the summer and fall. I am Catholic. I was baptized when I was a baby. I made my First Communion when I was 10 years old. I am an altar server and I am studying for my Confirmation.

I am valuable because I exist. Not because of what I do or what I have done.

I am not a burden to society. My life is worth living with respect and dignity.

I am a self-advocate so that others may understand.

I am a person.

I am Emmanuel Joseph Bishop.

Friends. This is what life is all about. God said “I Am who Am”. We are His creation, always. There is no sometimes, or not this time…God is all in for us 100% of the time. I cannot explain why this young man, and countless others, is born a little different in how they see the world, communicate, and think. I can however be certain that they are beautiful, just like you.

So, why am I posting about this? What’s the point Bob…you ask…

I read this story and my first thought was “I hope that I have the courage to love as this young man’s parents have.” There is another story on the website in which a young lady says she is glad her parents did not abort her! Have you ever had that thought?

As spouses we are expected by God to love unconditionally. Do we?

As parents we are expected by God to love unconditionally. Do we?

As siblings. As friends.

Friends in this young man I see Christ. I see pure Love. And I’ve never met him. And I probably never will. But in reading this story I learned something about me that I needed to hear…and perhaps you do to.

I have value because I am…not because I do.

Lord if we could only learn that our world would be dramatically different. Our marriages would be different. We would be different. And God would be greatly glorified.

Thank you Emmanuel for teaching me how beautiful we are in God. You are in my prayers.

Please become a fan of the IDSC for Life on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/IDSCforLIFE

Also visit their website and learn more about this great organization: http://www.idscforlife.org/p/self-advocates.html

Please take the time to read the stories of the other Self Advocates here: http://www.idscforlife.org/p/self-advocates.html

What is Cafeteria Catholicism? Amazingly there is even a Wiki page dedicated to this topic! It says: “The term “cafeteria Catholicism” is a pejorative term applied to Catholics who dissent from Roman Catholic doctrinal or moral teaching.” That’s a pretty descriptive definition. In simple terms it means one picks and chooses which teachings they want to adhere to and which they do not. Most often this can be seen in relation to the Church’s teaching on birth control.

Soon to be ‘Blessed’ Pope John Paul II had this to say about this issue in 1987 to the Bishops while visiting the US:

“It is sometimes reported that a large number of Catholics today do not adhere to the teaching of the Catholic Church on a number of questions, notably sexual and conjugal morality, divorce and remarriage. Some are reported as not accepting the clear position on abortion. It has to be noted that there is a tendency on the part of some Catholics to be selective in their adherence to the Church’s moral teaching. It is sometimes claimed that dissent from the Magisterium is totally compatible with being a “good Catholic,” and poses no obstacle to the reception of the Sacraments. This is a grave error that challenges the teaching of the Bishops in the United States and elsewhere.”

There is also example of someone in the bible who chose not to accept everything Jesus offered.

Now someone approached him and said, “Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?” He answered him, “Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He asked him, “Which ones?” And Jesus replied, ” ‘You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; honor your father and your mother’; and ‘you shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” The young man said to him, “All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to (the) poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions. – MT 19:16-22

The man in this story does many good things. Jesus tells him he lacks in only one thing. Yet this man could not (at this time) conform to Jesus teaching. He chose not to sell his possessions. He “went away sad”.

In today’s world, unfortunately, many Cafeteria Catholics do not go away sad. Rather the choice is to, through pride, state “I know better than the Church”. Really that is the message we send when we choose not to accept Her teachings. As stated previously much of this problem relates to teachings such as birth control.

I once met a man who told me he agreed with Humane Vitae right up to the end, but didn’t agree with the conclusion. Huh? How can you do that? Or rather, under whose authority? Jesus entrusted the teaching of His Church (faithful) to the Apostles and throughout the ages they have defended the faith and beautifully (well not so beautifully at times) instructed the hearts of Men. Through the Holy Spirit the Church is guided to Truth….. And you don’t agree with the conclusion? I simply don’t get it. Actually, I think he was the one who didn’t get it. ?

Cafeteria Catholics can be likened to church hoppers in the non-Catholic Christian arena. Those in this category attend church somewhere they are comfortable until the Pastor says something they don’t like or are challenged by and then in order to avoid the challenge, they hop to another church where the message is less challenging. So, we now have a phenomenon of watered-down-Gospel churches who teach a mere acceptance version of the Gospel. Don’t get me wrong, we in the Catholic Church have a lot to learn with regard to welcoming people, however watering down the Gospel isn’t the answer either.

In the end Cafeteria Catholicism is a consequence of the sin of pride. If we find ourselves challenged by a moral teaching of the Church, I hope and pray we have the courage to discern why we cannot accept it rather than to dismiss it as being wrong. The Holy Spirit will not allow the Church to fail; the Victory is already won in Heaven by Christ!

If you are reading this and think I’m wrong, that you do have the right to dismiss a teaching if it doesn’t suit you…well…let me ask you this: Why are you a Roman Catholic? (or whatever Church you belong to)

It’s like this. If you want to be a runner and call yourself a runner, then you have to run right? You have to train and become a runner. If you call yourself a runner and are actually a lazy-couch ridden-tv addict…then you aren’t a runner. The same is true here. If you call yourself a Roman Catholic then you HAVE to believe in certain things…because if you don’t then by extension you are not a Roman Catholic. Here is a simple, incomplete, and short list of some key beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church:

- The Eucharist is the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ. We receive Him in Mass.
- One must attend Mass weekly
- Sex is reserved for the marital relationship only.
- Birth control restricts the marital act and is not in keeping with God’s law (moral)
- All life is created by God and therefore has dignity
- Abortion is illicit under any circumstance. Even one which affects the life/death of the pregnant mother.
- Mary is the Mother of God and was without sin (Immaculate)

These are few of the Truth’s taught by the Roman Catholic Church.

We should be asking ourselves often: Am I in Communion with the Church? This does not only relate to sin, but to our beliefs. If we find that believing in a teaching is hard, then we have an obligation to learn more about it and conform our hearts.

“Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.” These things he said while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. Then many of his disciples who were listening said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?” – John 6:53-60

This saying is hard. Isn’t that the truth? For centuries we have been attacked for this belief and for centuries it has been hard to believe it. Yet we are called to believe and to accept Jesus in the Eucharist. Many have left the Church because they could not, rather would not, accept this teaching. Or the teaching on birth control, or the teaching on Abortion, or marriage, or homosexuality, or this or that. These are not arbitrary thoughts in the minds of some old guy in Rome. These are part of the beauty of the Catholic Church’s teachings. These are part of the beauty of revelation. These are the beauty of Creation.

My prayer is that we can continue to conform ourselves to the whole Gospel…not just the easy parts. I pray we accept the Resurrection AND the Cross.

Let me clarify this post by saying (1) I am a pro-life Catholic who tries to live the teachings of the Church fully and (2) I am a very conservative voter and I do not associate with any political party or movement (3) and lastly that I am a gun owner who wouldn’t think for one second about shooting a home intruder to defend my family.

Recall that recently I wrote about the desire to seek justice and the desire to love.  These two desires are not congruent with one another.  Love is an action, or choice, which is wholly separate from justice because love is our action and justice belongs entirely to God.  This idea is fundamental to understanding my stance on political Catholics. 

The Political Catholic is a breed of Catholic who sees their ministry/passion solely as accomplishing things such as the reversal of Roe v. Wade, or the removal of guns from society, or the reinstatement of prayer in schools.  These “political” issues are, while very important, not elements of the Catholic faith.  As Catholics we are called to be pro-life, pro-prayer, and while the 5^th Commandment tells us not to kill there are no real Catholic teachings on gun ownership. 

See the problem with the Political Catholic isn’t their passion, and often times their theology isn’t faulty.  Rather it is the method of carrying out their agenda, their “mission”, which causes grave concern.  Political Catholics place the advancement of their agenda above the dignity and love of others and often are unwilling to accept any lower result than the perfect one.  This not only turns off others and alienates the Political Catholic, it alienates those that might more tact and Grace to hear the Gospel. 

An example, and an easy one at that, is quote “Pro-Life Catholics” who are overtly passionate about the issue of Abortion.  Abortion is wrong and it IS murder of the innocent.  Roe v. Wade is the most destructive law on the books in the U.S. Government and we lose millions each year because of this lie. 

The problems with the Political Catholic approach to this issue are three fold:

-          First these folks have a distorted view of the Pro-Life movement and they hijack it solely for the issue of abortion.  I am constantly amazed at those that proclaim to be pro-life and yet forget the elderly, sick, abandoned, hungry, homeless….  And don’t get me started on pro-life people who are devoid of love for those among us with disease, physical ailment, or mental ailment such as Downs or another (note that I didn’t say disease or dysfunction, these beautiful people often love better than any of us can ever hope too; would you call that dysfunction?)

-          Second, these folks place the reversal of Roe v. Wade as the number one priority of the pro-life movement.  Hear me clearly: The reversal of Roe v. Wade is an ignorant attempt by those involved.  I wish you luck in your losing effort.  The reversal of this decision will happen only when and only if we Evangelize the world to become more pro-life.  Until then the pro-life is only a movement and not a state of society….which is the ultimate goal.  It’s like a sport, almost always the way to score is not to go directly for the goal, rather it is to work as a whole team to move the ball around and find the best angle.  At this point, we need more on our team to win.

-          Lastly, these folks place their passion, in this case the anti-abortion agenda, ahead of everything else regardless of any collateral damage.  After all what could be more important right?  How about working to save the souls of those that are pro-choice, the abortionist, and those that are turned off by this agenda?  Political Catholics do not consider the negative impact of their words/actions on others.  Often they explain away those that disagree as ignorant or not faithful.

The Political Catholic does more damage than good to the Church.  Their efforts are destructive to the Body of Christ and to others perception of our faith. 

How many people proclaim to be Catholic and yet do not know the Truth?  Shouldn’t we be focused on strengthening our Body [of Christ] rather than berating those among us who don’t agree?  Don’t get me wrong, you cannot be Catholic and pro-choice.  Well, unless you like hot places….[sarcasm…].  Seriously if you are pro-choice you should not be receiving the Eucharist as you are not in communion with the Catholic Church.  You should discuss this with your Priest or another trusted person with a properly formed conscience (which means someone who believes and lives the teachings of the Church)…

Back to the issue.  The Political Catholic would rather those who are not in full communion with the Church simply leave.  Is this Christian?  Is this Catholic?  No, it’s not.  Rather it is a distortion of the Church to advance a personal political agenda.  And more importantly, it’s not acceptable.

Lastly I want to say this.  I agree with a Catholic Politician (who may or may not be a Political Catholic) being denied the Eucharist if they publically proclaim a belief not in communion with the Catholic Church.  I pray I’m never asked to carry that out because I cannot imagine the drama involved however, publically proclaiming a belief that does not fit the Church’s teachings is not acceptable.  Note however that this is a Church issue, not a politic issue. 

If you find yourself in the un-lucky position of being a Political Catholic, you should seriously consider why you say and act as you do and if those words and action reflect Christ.  I pray for you.  And I’m here to help however I can if you ask.

If you find yourself in conversation with a Political Catholic and you yourself are not one my request is simple.  Love.  Show them what real unconditional Christian love is all about.

I pray we are able to find greater unity in the Body of Christ.  That means that the ultra-conservative and the ultra-liberal Catholics need to move to the center….where Christ is.

In Him!

In the next article I’m going to address further the Pro-Life Movement.  I’m growing tired of “pro-lifers” not being pro-life and simply being anti-abortion.  There is more to the picture than that.

I believe without question that in order for one to be “pro-life” they must love all life from conception until natural death.  I don’t believe this because the Church teaches it, though that is helpful. I have actually held this belief since before I was Catholic, before I was Christian. I believed this when I was simply, human.

To compromise this would be to compromise who I am…who God made me.

I decided tonight to look up some statistics. Often I have quoted statistics about abortion and the quantity of children lost to this tragedy of human stupidity and greed. Here they are again, to help you understand my belief.

• For 2003, approximately 848,000 legal induced abortions were reported to CDC from 49 reporting areas.

• The abortion ratio was 241 legal induced abortions per 1,000 live births. This represents a decrease from the 2002 ratio of 246 abortions per 1,000 live births. • The abortion rate was 16 legal induced abortions per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44 years. This represents no change from the 2002 report.

• As in the past, the highest percentage of abortions were obtained by white women, at fifty-five percent. Unmarried women accounted for 82% of abortions. Women under 25 years of age represented 51% of all abortions.

• Sixty-one percent of reported abortions were performed during the first 8 weeks of gestation. Approximately 88% were performed within the first 12 weeks of gestation.

If you say, well that’s only one year, perhaps it spiked that year.

A total of 839,226 legal induced abortions were reported to CDC for 2004. A big ole 1.1% decrease.

One chart from the 2004 report shows that between 700 and 800 abortions occur per 1000 births in girl 15 years of age and younger. That’s 70-80% of girls 15 and under getting pregnant have Abortions! HOW is that acceptable? HOW is that benefitting the health of the mother?

There are many more statistics in the 2004 report which I encourage you to read, especially the findings/results section. You can read it here: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5609a1.htm?s_cid=ss5609a1_e

Psalm 127:3 reads, “Behold, children are a gift of the LORD; the fruit of the womb is a reward.” How precious is this gift and yet, we squander it like everything else. In Act’s it is written, “…because he himself gives men life and breath”. I believe that when man is in conflict with God, an internal turmoil exists that cannot be forgiven or reconciled by man. Only God can resolve this war within us. This is true with abortion as well.

While in college I dated a girl shortly after she had an abortion. No, it was not my child. Though in a variety of circumstances in my life, I too could have dealt with a teenage or college girlfriend who became pregnant. Thankfully I did not. This girl was nice, fun, and we had a deep relationship. My affection for her was quickly replaced with caring and the desire for physical intimacy. Her need, while I know was in her mind a love for me, was actually a soulful need for forgiveness. There are multiple nights in which she cried in my arms. Her pain was deep and her wound was a thrashing cut on the soul. I have and continue to pray that she finds peace with her decision and reconciliation with God.

But this furthered my belief that life is precious and those that mess with it, mess with God on a personal level.  And God don’t play that.

I have to be honest.  I strongly considered not voting at all.  In fact just this evening I had that conversation again.  But 2 things have swayed me to vote. 

First, my Dad is a WWII veteran of the Navy.  I've met many of the men who fought for you and I to have the right and opportunity to decide our country's leaders.  I've attended too many memorial services for those that died for the same cause.

Second, my wife and I talked about this and she is right.  I have a moral obligation to fight for what I hold as the highest value.  That of human life.

So, I'm voting for McCain.  Failed economic policies, crappy health care ideals, stupid public policy and all, I'm voting for him because I choose life.  And while there are many uneducated and ill informed Catholics out there who think they can side step the issue and vote for Obama, let me be clear.

Immediate moral corporation occurs when the cooperator participates in circumstances that are essential to the commission of an act, such that the act could not occur without this participation.  So, because Obama has said he will do everything he can to uphold a woman’s right to kill her baby, and he will provide public funds to do so, and he will and has supported partial birth abortions…a vote for him is immediate moral cooperation with evil because Abortion is killing which for those of you who read the bulletin too much during Mass, is a commandment.

Vote McCain, save your soul.

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