References

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    http://www.philosophypages.com/ph/aqui.htm

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   website: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06259a.htm

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    http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/aquinas/

Mckay, H. (2010, June 11). Lady Gaga is Latest Celeb to Abuse Catholic

   Imagery in Hollywood's 'War on Religion'. Retrieved November 7, 2010,

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   Aquinas. The Journal of Theological Studies , 58(1), 341.

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   of Virginia. Retrieved November 5, 2010, from Office of Representative 

   Robert C. "Bobby" Scott website: http://www.bobbyscott.house.gov/

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   General and Special Elections Unofficial Results. Retrieved November 6,

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Blake Armstrong and Kathryn McCann-Slaughter

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga is the “queen of controversy” and I feel as if I must speak on my views of this troubled star. She has crossed the line between edgy and tasteless and is distorting Catholic images. I am a big fan of the song Alejandro however; the music video is a disgrace.

Lady Gaga is abusing Catholic symbols in her music video for Alejandro. She is squirming around with half naked men, while she is half naked herself, swallowing rosary beads and flashing crosses across the screen. What has happened to this woman? Who as a teen attended catholic school, has she lost her mind?  Her catholic parents should be ashamed of her lifestyle choices. Now, Lady Gaga is making claims that she is a bisexual. She has been morphed into something unrecognizable.

I am convinced that Lady Gaga is more than confused, and in need of some serious intervention. The Catholic Church does not appreciate being bashed by such a talented young woman. She could be a positive role model for fans, who enjoy her music, but the path she has taken is one filled with sin. Instead, Lady Gaga has declared that her song Alejandro “was a celebration of her love for the gay community”. This sort of behavior is unacceptable to me and the Catholic Church!

I am greatly concerned by the messages portrayed by her songs. The sexual references in her songs, overpower the generally good beat, that she has going on. I greatly enjoy listening to her songs but, I cannot get the horrible and corrupting lyrics out of my head. Some days I find myself humming along to her songs and feel so horrible knowing they are sinful songs. I next must address her horribly, revealing attire. It is inappropriate to be half naked dancing around in front of people. Her taste in attire, is mind boggling and I feel as if I have sinned just by looking at her.

I hope Lady Gaga cleans up her image and can become a positive role model. I look forward to her newly redefined self full of good Christian music that I won’t feel guilty listening to.

-T.A.

 (Blake and Kathryn)

Does free will really exist?

The Catholic Church teaches the Gospel, or God’s plan of salvation, and God predetermines your life. If this is the case, what is free will? Or does this “free will” even exist?

Explaining this problem is very difficult, and very contradicting. How is it possible that you can be making decisions yourself, and at the same time be forced to make these decisions? Aristotle would point out that this is by the Prime mover, a being very close to that of God, but not of the same makeup, as this being is unaware of the changes being caused by his movements and existence. I do not agree with this idea, as there is obviously a heavenly father in complete mind of what he is doing, but at the same time, I believe that some free will comes into play here.

The doctrine that God has created man, has commanded him to obey the moral law, and has promised to reward or punish him for observance or violation of this law, made the reality of moral liberty an issue of transcendent importance than most think of it. So unless a man is really free, how can he be justly held responsible for actions he does? How can he be sent to jail or set free when he doesn’t get to chose? Or heaven or hell when he has no control over his life? How can this be?

God does choose this path for each being that is to be taken, but when he chooses this path he takes much into consideration. Each and every being is premoved, or set on a path, but this path can change as the being does, and God takes into account the values, ideas and beliefs of this person. This is much different than the ideas of Luther or Calvin on predestination, as there is not even a chance that you can have a choice, at birth your destiny is already decided.

So you do have free will to a certain extent. You decide who you are, what you believe, and what values you possess as a being. God simply uses these values and morals to help guide you along a path that he has chosen for you, and you do make choices down this path, these choices being influenced by morals and values. It is somewhat confusing, but all it comes down to is, you have a path to follow. You don’t decide where to turn on this path, but you decide where this path goes.

-T.A.

 (Blake and Kathryn)

The Recent Elections

I am very pleased with the Republican takeover of the House of Representatives. I agree with many of their beliefs and values.

The newly elected republicans’ beliefs on family life and values are very critical to the society here in America. As a member of the Catholic Church, I support their ideas of a pro-life, pro-family legislation. Newly elected congressman Rob Wittman supports “marriage as a union between one man and one woman”, which I strongly believe in. This bond should only be shared by two,  which are the opposite sex. Wittman also supports trying to curb internet pornography and obscenity, two of the largest problems in the country at this time, and it is sinful and should be ended.

Another large issue in American life is that of Illegal immigration. I agree with the newly elected congressmen that we do need to secure our borders, breaking the law is no excuse, but that legal immigration should be made easier. As it says in the bible, "You shall treat the alien who resides with you no differently than the natives born among you; have the same love for him as for yourself; for you too were once aliens in the land of Egypt" (Lv 19:33-34). These people need an equal opportunity to make a good life and pursue happiness, but without costing others.

According to the Catholic beliefs, and therefore what I believe, we are to “cultivate and care for God’s creation”.  We must cultivate and care for earth as God does, with love and wisdom. As time goes on though, we have cared less and less for this beautiful creation and we need leaders to intervene and stand up against issues such as global warming. We need more renewable energy and energy efficiency, as this will eventually lead to a cleaner world. Newly elected congressmen Bobby Scott is very centered on the idea of the environment and says about offshore drilling, “The Commonwealth’s beaches and the Chesapeake Bay should not be put at risk while the public may only enjoy negligible benefits”.

Congressman Rob Wittman believes that education requires “strengthening the role of the parents”, and I would have to agree. Parents play a key role in children’s education, as teachers can teach all the knowledge to the younger ones, but the parents helps decide what and where this knowledge is used. It is also necessary that the school be organized, and that the teachers are well qualified. These new leaders have made a commitment to follow through with these ideas of having parents more involved and teachers more qualified, and I believe in long term, it will result in success of our country.

Again, I am very pleased with election results of this year, and would like to wish the new leaders of our congress the best of luck in fulfilling their promises and roles.

-T.A.

(Blake and Kathryn)

Why is there sin?

I believe that an act becomes evil through divergence from reason and divine moral law. Sin originates from will, which goes against reason. God is not the cause of sin. Sin is original therefore; the devil is not the exact cause of sin. But the devil provokes sin by playing with the imagination.

Adam’s first sin passes to all of his children because he is the head of the human race. Through reproduction human nature is spread and along with it is “infection.”  By reason of the human sin the human race has brought death upon itself. Death comes to all even if they have not sinned themselves because they are a progeny of Adam. I believe that by sin, death came into the world and under original sin man was not subjected to death.

Original sin effects will before all other powers. When sin occurs, will is not completely corrupted. The primary effect of sin is in the soul itself, and is secondary to the power of will. Sin is a crime against god, and definitely deserves divine punishment. Actual sin is transmitted to the human race through being moved by will.

Jesus Christ was given a body free from sin. Jesus was not “one body” with Adam.  Original sin is only contracted from those who are descendants of Adam. Jesus Christ was formed by God, out of human flesh and was not derived from Adam. Therefore, he had no contact to original sin and would have no need to cleanse his body. Jesus’ conception was independent from “carnal generation” and was without sin.

Sin comes in many different forms. May I warn you not to let your will over take your reason. Just because you are a descent of Adam always try to do what is right even if sin is inevitable.

-T.A.  

(Blake and Kathryn)