CHRISTIANITY & THE REPUBLICAN PARTY

CHRISTIANITY & THE REPUBLICAN PARTY

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I have often expressed my objection and concern about the involvement of religion in our political American system. I have been vocal about my objection to the American bishops attempt to dictate political outcomes in America by religious influence and intimidation. I have suggested that those bishops and other Christian religions who fail to observe separation of church and state should have their tax exemption removed. See for example,                        https://paulluverajournalonline.com/weblog/2012/10/more-un-christ-like-bishops.html.html  Columnist Leonard Pitts has expressed his viewpoint on this general subject…

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THE NEW YEAR AND SETTING GOALS FOR 2013

THE NEW YEAR AND SETTING GOALS FOR 2013

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Why do we celebrate the new year on January 1st? In fact New Year's Day is the closest thing to being the world's only true global public holiday. It's because of the Gregorian calendar as well as the Julian calendar used in ancient Rome which set January 1st as a first day of the new year. The Romans celebrated New Year's Day in honor of Janus. Janus is the God who had two faces, one looking forward and the other looking…

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DOROTHY DAY AN AMERICAN SPIRITUAL MENTOR

DOROTHY DAY AN AMERICAN SPIRITUAL MENTOR

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I've written about Dorothy Day here in the past. See: https://paulluverajournalonline.com/weblog/2011/11/dorothy-day-a-modern-undeclared-saint.html She has recently been in the religious news because the U.S. Bishops, at their semiannual meeting in Baltimore,voted unanimously to support the cause of sainthood for Dorothy. Dorothy was born in Brooklyn in 1897, where she was baptized in the Episcopal church. She attended college in Illinois but left to return to New York where she got involved in women's suffrage, issues of war and the labor movement. She…

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ELIZABETH CATHERINE BARNETT 1910 – 1995

ELIZABETH CATHERINE BARNETT 1910 – 1995

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I'm writing this about my late mother in law, Elizabeth (Betty) Catherine Devitt, who was born December 5, 1910 in Butte,Montana and died December 20, 1995 in Puyallup. Her children included my wife, Lita, Devitt (deceased) Hollis, Barbara and Monica. She was a very remarkable woman in so many respects. She was also someone for whom I had a great deal of admiration, respect and love. Betty's parents were Merritt John Devitt and Elizabeth McCarthy Devitt. She was baptized at…

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PHYLLIS FLIPPA LUVERA 1870 – 1946

PHYLLIS FLIPPA LUVERA 1870 – 1946

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My grandmother on dad's side of the family, Phyllis Filippa Luvera died in Anacortes, Washington on December 20, 1946. By coincidence, that is also the day my wife's mother died. Nonna Luvera was born in Italy May 26, 1870 and spoke little English. Since dad believed the children should speak English we never learned Italian and could only communicated with her through dad. She was typical Italian grandmother, an excellent cook and who was always feeding us something. She had…

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NICHOLAS JAMES PETRISH 1937 – DEC 19, 2011

NICHOLAS JAMES PETRISH 1937 – DEC 19, 2011

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Nick Petrish died in Anacortes on December 19, 2011. Nick and I were friends since our days as grade school students at the Whitney Grade school in Anacortes over 70 years ago. We also went through Junior High and High School together. His father "Big" Nick operated a salmon fishing boat the Traveler in the summer and Nick fished with his dad in Alaska while I fished there on other seine boats. At Anacortes, we played on the same football and…

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George Washington & Leeches

George Washington & Leeches

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Bloodletting was commonly practiced in the United States during the time of George Washington. It played a major role in the death of the father of our country who died at his home on December 14, 1799. The 67 year old Washington had developed a fever and laryngitis in the middle of the night. In the morning, his doctor, Doctor James Craik was summoned and Dr. George Rawlins arrived to care for him until Craik could get there. Dr. Rawlins…

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JESUS PRAYED FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY – WHAT DOES DID HE MEAN?

JESUS PRAYED FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY – WHAT DOES DID HE MEAN?

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 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you." John 17:20 This passage has been interpreted by different religions in different ways. Some seeing it as a call for conversion into one "true" religion and others as a general call for unity of belief of Christians. So what is the real meaning of…

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THE LAST SHOTS OF THE CIVIL WAR WERE FIRED IN ALASKA

THE LAST SHOTS OF THE CIVIL WAR WERE FIRED IN ALASKA

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Did you know that last shots of the American Civil War did not take place in the continental United States but rather in Alaska? It's true. http://www.nps.gov/cwindepth/StateByState/Alaska.html It was about hundred and 50 years ago that supposedly neutral Great Britain secretly transferred to the Confederate Navy at a rendezvous off the coast of Africa a ship, the Sea King, that was renamed the Shenandoah. Built in Great Britain as a supposed troop transport, Great Britain, who claimed to be neutral in the war, constructed…

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MUSINGS OF AN IDLE MIND

MUSINGS OF AN IDLE MIND

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I was reading a passage from the journal of the great saint of the Church, Theresa of Lisieuz, "the little flower." She wrote: "As I meditated, I saw how imperfect was my love for the other nuns and I knew I did not love them as Jesus loves them. But now I realize that true charity consists in putting up with all ones neighbor's faults, never being surprised by their weakness and being inspired by the least of their virtues."  I…

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