Since Mike Huckabee is Quoting G K Chesterton

Since Mike Huckabee is quoting Chesterton , I thought we would expand on him. Just by luck I see the Blogger The Dawn Patrol has as her quote of the day a quote by him.


"There is one view very common among the liberal-minded which is exceedingly fatiguing to the clear-headed. It is symbolised in the sort of man who says, 'These ruthless bigots will refuse to bury me in consecrated ground, because I have always refused to be baptised.' A clear-headed person can easily conceive his point of view, in so far as he happens to think that baptism does not matter. But the clear-headed will be completely puzzled when they ask themselves why, if he thinks that baptism does not matter, he should think that burial does matter. If it is in no way imprudent for a man to keep himself from a consecrated font, how can it be inhuman for other people to keep him from a consecrated field? It is surely much nearer to mere superstition to attach importance to what is done to a dead body than to a live baby. 1 can understand a man thinking both superstitious. or both sacred; but I cannot see why he should grumble that other people do not give him as sanctities what he regards as superstitions. He is merely complaining of being treated as what he declares himself to be. It is as if a man were to say, 'My persecutors still refuse to make me king, out of mere malice because I am a strict republican.' Or it is as if he said, 'These heartless brutes are so prejudiced against a teetotaler, that they won't even give him a glass of brandy.'"— G.K. Chesterton, The Superstition of Divorce (1920)

Update-
A rare Gem indeed- Apoloblogology has the voice of GK Chesterton here!!!

Young People are FLocking To Traditional Catholic Vocations!!

I saw this great post over at the Anchoress blog when I was feeling human yesterday.(see post below to see what I am talking about). Anyway the pain came back and I forgot to post it. So better late than ever check out this must read full of linksYoung people & traditional vocations, part II

Note To "Who Cares About Politics" Readers

Sorry if my posts , the past few days have been on the political side. A balance shall be struck!!!. FOr instance the Louisana Catholic blogger daily update will hopefully make an appearance tomorrow or Saturdasy depending how I feel..

TO be honest I have had to sort of fade in and out on this blog because I am in tad of major pain this week. Not to bore you with the details but genetic wise, I seemed to have been blessed with problem of weak teeth all my life. I now have a lapse in Dental Insurance and what I was putting off because of funds has got a lot serious over Christmas. So when I can feel human, often something political is going on and I am blogging on that..

Anyway I need your prayers. I don't know the Patron Saint for Dental things but I need some intercession in a big way. If not I am going to have drink a fifth of Ole Charter every night to dull this nonsense and get to sleep. To say the least it has been depressing and TIRING. So hang with me.

Does Huckabee Read Catholic Apologist Mark Shea?

A few days ago noted Catholic Apologist Mark Shea wrote a not too flattering Huckabee piece called The Acoustic Candidate I thought it was a tad nitpicking. In a excellent Response A noted Pro-life leader, Catholic Apologist, Huckabee Supporter, Notre Dame Fan(well he is not perfect) at his blog Fighting Irish Thomas wrote a excellent response here at Missing the “Mark”—Oh, Shea can't you see (that Huckabee has heart) .

Now if you notice Catholic Icon GK Chesterton is a huge topic in both posts. Tonight I was listening to Huckabee's Iowa Victory speech and almost fell out of my chair during it he said:

G.K. Chesterton once said that a true soldier fights not because he hates those who are in front of him, but because he loves those who are behind him. Ladies and gentlemen, I recognize that running for office, it's not hating those who are in front of us. It's loving those who are behind us.

I don't know why or how that quote got into that victory speech. Like I said I almost fell out of my chair when he said it. For all I know Gov Huckabee might be a GK Chesterton Fan. I know that Huckabee has several Catholics on staff and perhaps they were observing it :). But it seems very deliberate. However that raised a lot of Catholics ears that are conservative and likely Huck friendly I suspect!!!

I am not sure the MSM caught on. However the National Review(they are pro romney) in this circle the wagons piece took notice:
Huckabee made the best speech of the evening — personal, direct, untechnical, and designed — well, seemingly not designed but effortlessly succeeding in reaching people who generally tune politicians out. It even contained a quote from G. K. Chesterton which will endear him to conservative Catholics.

I did a a little search and the London Telegraph Sure noticed. They said:

There were three winners in Iowa. Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee take two gongs, but the third goes to that most English of writers GK Chesterton, the poet and author of the Father Brown mysteries, who is fast becoming the poet laureate of the political underdog.
When Mike Huckabee made his victory speech he was quick to quote from Chesterton: "A true soldier fights not because he hates those who are in front of him but because he loves those who are behind him.
"Running for office is not hating those who are in front of you but loving those who are behind you."It was all reminiscent of that remarkable night in the British general election of 1997, when independent Martin Bell seized one of the Tories' safest seats. His chosen lines: "Smile at us, pay us, pass us; but do not quite forget. For we are the people of England, that never have spoken yet." Bell added: "Well you have spoken."
The people of Iowa have spoken and they bestowed victory on Mr Huckabee, whose campaign - like Mr Bell's - was held together with sellotape and sticking plasters.

So who knows. But I suspect Huckabee is very very good at his words and perhaps is showing that he is a tad more than just some Evangelical former pastor from the SOUIEEE Go Hogs State and is sending messages to several groups. Touche. This campaign will be fun and different

My Two Cents on the Election Tonight

Huckabee
Needless to say a good win for Huckabee. I notice that the media and place like the National Review Corner blog for the most part just don't get it. They are treating Mike's voters like some strange zoo exhibit. It is true that the turn out was 60 percent Evanglical. However this is not so much lets elect one of our guys things. Huck 's campaign was mostly about Economic issues and concerns these Republicans voters had. This has been picked up strangely by the MSM but ignored by the conservative press with some exceptions. Where he goes from here. Where I think it is apparent unless there is a miracle he will not win New Hampshire but he can have a strong showing. Then its on

McCain-
Good showing for a man that did not campaign that much in Iowa. He almost beat Thompson who was campaigning there. I think Huck's win will help McCain win New Hampshire and then he will go on to South Carolina. I should note his support there should not be overlooked.

RUDY-
He benefits. I think having Romney having to fight a very aggressive campaign by Huckabee and McCain helps him big time. He is lurking out there and I am taking his campaign very serious.

Romney-
Not a good night. He will have to fight for his political life in New Hampshire against McCain. If Romney cannot win a state, in which a good bit is in the Mass media market, then he is in trouble. He will looking at the calender have to hope for a Michigan Miracle if he is still in

Thompson-
Mixed. HE got third.(note McCain just went ahead) However the fact he barely beat McCain(if these numbers indeed hold ) is not a good sign. I don't see him surging in New Hampshire either. The question is where will he win a state?

Conservative Pundits-
Big losers. Also there is a sense that was a pile on Huckabee by many of his of supporters. The McCain, and the Rudy people all have had that experience.

If the conservative media from Fox, to Talk Show hosts, to blogs want to be taken seriously they have to at least be objective. Again let me quote again from someone I posted on last night. That is a person that worked for 30 days in the Huckabee campaign and gave his insights.
The Mainstream Media Ain't So Bad --

Many bloggers (including me) have a knee-jerk reaction to the mainstream media. We "just know" they have a liberal bias and that they can't be trusted to report accurately on Republicans and conservatives. If my experience is any indication, then most of what we know is "just wrong." My job wasn't to spin the press but to present the facts for the Huckabee campaign's side of the story.

I expected that I'd have the toughest time with the professional journalists but most of the reporters that I dealt with (especially Michael Luo of the New York Times and Jonathan Martin of Politico) were quite fair and always professional. Even when their coverage was cringe-inducing I rarely could fault them for being inaccurate or putting their own biases ahead of the facts.Unfortunately, the same can not be said of the conservative media.My rapid response list included a broad range of journalists, pundits, and bloggers and variety of outlets--everything from The New York Times to HotAir.

Often they would ask me to clarify statements made by the Governor, defend claims made by the campaign, or offer evidence on a point of contention. Almost always the mainstream media from the "liberal" outlets were more fair and balanced than were the ones from the "conservative" side of the media. Some conservative outlets, of course, were notably fair and accurate. Although he never pulled his punches, Jim Geraghty at NRO's The Campaign Spot always let me present a rebuttal to the claims of other campaigns.

The same can be said for NRO's Byron York, one of the few conservative reporter/pundits that seemed more concerned about getting the facts straight than he was in shoring up the conventional wisdom of the GOP establishment.But while there were a few other exceptions that I could praise (e.g., Terry Eastland from The Weekly Standard, Phillip Klein and Jennifer Rubin from The American Spectator, the guys at RedState), far too many of the conservative outlets refused to present any evidence that conflicted with their typical anti-Huckabee narrative. I even sent out personal emails to a number of prominent pundits and bloggers who had criticized Huckabee for being insufficiently conservative. I told them that if they would send me a list of their grievances I'd provide a personal response from the campaign addressing their concern. My only condition was that they would post the exchange in its entirety. Not one of them took me up on my offer.

As a campaign staffer, I found such behavior frustrating. But as a consumer of conservative media I found it infuriating. There are a number of pundits, bloggers, reporters, and radio hosts that I will never trust again to be "fair and balanced."

(To clarify my last point, let me say that I had only one expectation from my fellow conservatives: that they apply the same standard to every candidate. I had no problem with a conservative pundit bashing Governor Huckabee for raising the sales tax by a penny in Arkansas…as long as they also bashed Governor Romney for raising "fees" in Massachusetts. I had no problem with their complaints that Governor Huckabee wanted to establish diplomatic relations with Iran…as long as they hammered Mayor Giuliani for the same sin. Very few even made an attempt to be consistent in their criticism. That was what I found so disappointing.)

That is a important message. This is just not a Huckabee issue either. I expect other campaigns would agree. If the conservative media and pundits want to become as unhinged as the left so be it. But I not getting on that train.

One quick word on the Dems. I think Hillary is in trouble. Congrats to Obama. History was made tonight

Huckabee Wins Iowa and Kathryn Jean Lopez Spins As Usual

CNN projected real early That Huckabee wins Iowa. Mrs Kathryn "attack dog" Lopez of the National Review reaction:
Bill Schneider and Others [Kathryn Jean Lopez]
are pointing out the high percentage of evangelical voters who have reportedly turned out. Anti-Huck people are freaking. Deep breaths. As Bill Bennett just pointed out on CNN, evangelicals aren't necessarily a voting block, as much as Pastor Huckabee has tried to suggest (and prays?) they are in his identity-politicking. Just ask Mark DeMoss.
01/03 08:41 PM

Classic. Oh and sorry Rush too bad. I hate to gloat but the National Review(with the exception of Bryon York) has it a tad coming.

Ohh so sorry. Again Mrs Lopez is still trying to spread the myth. As I posted earlier this Catholic Deacon might have a few things to counter this Manhatten Conservative.

I will post later when fuller numbers come in.

About Those Republican Hating Republican You read in the New York Times

When I lived in SHreveport , I would pick up a daily copy of the New York Times. Their Letter to the Editor section seemed to have an awful lot of fed up Republicans that were fed up at Bush, their Party, etc etc. Seems not everything is what it appears.

Thank God For Oddballs

I was really struck by a entry That Cajun Hugenot did at his post Different Thoughts. It was like looking in a mirror. I know exactly where he is at

Catholic Deacon Explains Huckabee To Rush Limbaugh

As well as others :).

I am pretty amazed that much of the conservative media is parroting what the dems did in the aftermath of the 04 election. That is "those ignorant Jesus Freaks" look what they are doing. It seems that after so many years some conservative's don't understand "faith" voters. If they don't this is largely their fault. The fact is their ignorance is making them not even understand what is going on. Catholic Online has a great Commentary today called The Huckabee Phenomenon and the fall of the 'religious right'.

What is said here is being picked up my more observant members of the MSM. However I think he pegs it right on. I shall excerpt in full:
COMMENTARY: The Huckabee Phenomenon and the fall of the 'religious right'
By Deacon Keith Fournier1/4/2008
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Many of these voters do not take kindly to being called “fundamentalist” Dr Sabato. And Rush, with all due respect, they simply do not care if they if they fit your definition of what constitutes a “true conservative.”

LOS ANGELES (Catholic Online) - First, it was Larry Sabato and then it was Rush Limbaugh. Sabato is the Robert Kent Gooch Professor of Politics of the Center for Politics at the University of at the University of Virginia. I watched him on weekend television. He certainly established himself as a “talking head” favorite, showing up everywhere these days in what has become an ever increasing sea of media punditry. He is also a former Rhodes Scholar and Danforth Fellow with an earned Doctorate in politics from Oxford.

In other words, one would think he would speak more articulately and check his facts, right? No, he told the viewers, on a major news network being aired globally, that Huckabee’s support came from his “fundamentalist” Christian base.

What?

Even within Huckabees support in the broader Christian community, this candidate has a growing base of Catholic support. Obviously, Catholic Christians cannot be called “fundamentalists.”

Additionally, he has a growing base of populist supporters, showing himself to be not unlike Democratic candidate John Edwards. The HUGE difference, among several, is that Huckabee hears the cry of the poorest of the poor, children in the first home of the whole human race, their mothers womb. Edwards has bought the Democratic frontrunners’ line of calling their intentional killing through procured abortion an exercise of “freedom.”

Next, it was Rush Limbaugh. I listened to him on the radio Wednesday during the long drive between Hampton Roads and Richmond, Virginia. There is no doubt that Limbaugh is a highly informed and intelligent man. He is singularly responsible for the media phenomenon that is now called talk radio. On this particular day he was asked by an otherwise adulating listener if he saw a priority of importance which would place the issue of protecting children in the womb, opposing abortion and defending the right to life above ensuring that taxes stay low. He said he would not. That it must all be seen as one concern. He added that anyone who sets one above the other was not a true conservative.

What?

These two commentators reveal what is becoming a tectonic plate shift lying beneath the emergence of Mike Huckabee that many in the media do not understand. Whether he wins in Iowa, or even takes the Republican nomination, he has signaled the end of what was formerly called the “religious right” and the emergence of a new issue focused alliance of voters.

These folks are not capable of being pidgeon holed and can exercise their prudential judgment, placing the multitude of political, economic, social and policy issues which form the backdrop for this campaign in a hierarchy of importance. These voters never felt comfortable being lumped under the assorted vacuous verbal political labels used by the media such as “religious right”, “conservative”, “right wing” or “neo-conservative”.

Oh, do not get me wrong, these folks also do not fit the contemporary American use of the word “liberal” either. They also never liked the effort to marginalize their intelligence or dismiss their deeply held religious convictions by using disparaging labels to lump them together such as “fundamentalist”, “evangelical”, or even “traditionalists” in a manner that is eerily reminiscent of past anti-religious bigotry such as the "no-name" anti-catholic party of America’s past.

These folks place the dignity of every human person and the right to life from conception to natural death at the head of every concern. It is not a “single issue” for them but a framework through which the entire race must be seen. They argue that without the right to life there are no other rights and that persons must always take precedence.They will never accept the idea that a society should allow the killing of it’s young in the womb and, worse yet, celebrate it as a “right” when it is wrong. They value marriage and family as the first cell of society, the first school, first economy, first church and first mediating institution.

They reject the misguided notion of “freedom” hidden behind the smiling mask of the new libertines who seek to redefine several aberrant chosen sexual lifestyles as the equivalent of marriage and then use the power of the State to enforce their new cultural revolution. Marriage is what it is to these folks and it serves the common good. Nor will they be won over to a model of the market which forgets that it is a servant and not a master. These folks care about those who have not experienced the benefits of the engine of freedom that is supposed to be the market economy; the poor, the marginalized, the forgotten.

They see a proper role, limited though it may be, in the exercise of “good” government in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity. They are not “anti-Government.” They believe that we are, in a real sense, “our brother’s keeper” and want to serve the common good by not only caring for their own families but reaching out in solidarity to the poor and the needy. These folks are also concerned about a lot of other issues.

However, they are able to order those issues in a hierarchy through the exercise of prudential judgment. Many of these voters do not take kindly to being called “fundamentalist” Dr Sabato. And Rush, with all due respect, they simply do not care if they if they fit your definition of what constitutes a “true conservative.” They are finding their voice and they may be the beginning of a new political phenomenon.

This phenomenon may represent the fall of the old ‘religious right” and the emergence of a true populist movement which crosses the old, tired lines and labels. They also may explain the Huckabee phenomenon.

So what do Catholic Believe About "proselytism"

I have to admit, that when I came into the Church there was a ton of misinformation about this. The whole generation of priest , often led on my militant Religious, seemed to say converting people to the Catholic Fatih was so Pre- Vatican II. Of course after a little digging one find this was nonsense. Thankfully we soon not only had the Pontificate of Pope John Paul the II to clear up this confusion but an explosion of Catholic apologetics that came from the lay level. The Internet has casued this too boom

Michael Liccione over at his blog has a good piece on this subject. Go see A note on the latest CDF Note

In Case You Missed the Pope's New Year's Day Vespers

Father Z has some wonder pics and commentary.

Former Huckabee Staffer Tells Truth About Conservative Media

I really do enjoy the Evangelical Outpost blog..

His political and social commentary is well known. He was on leave to work for the Huckabee Camapign and he gives a lot of insights. I think people from various other camps would agree. He does say something about the Conservative media that I agree with 100 percent. I should also point that he ID's several of the same people(Such as Bryon York at National Review) that try to thier jobs in a good way. He talks about this, the Huckabee Campaign, his experiences , and other candidates here at The Short, Fast Ride: My 30-Day Crash Course In Presidential Politics. I think political nerds that know things like who Brian Lamb is will enjoy it. It also shows what is a growing feeling that I have had that Huckabee supporters will go McCain if something happens to Huck. I am seeing that feeling too much all over the place on the net and is the general vibe I get.

Anyway again the whole thing is a good read. As to the conservative media , he is right on. As a conservative supporter of Immigration reform , I can attest to this. My efforts went no where. Put in place the SO called Dubai Terminal Lease Controversy, the Harriet Miers so called Controversy, and one just gets a sense of been there done that for the millionth time. One really wonders if the who is doing the wagging. That is the dog or the tail. Anyway I shall highlight that part. However be sure to read the whole piece that gives his interesting observations on various facets of the campaign and the process.
The Mainstream Media Ain't So Bad --
Many bloggers (including me) have a knee-jerk reaction to the mainstream media. We "just know" they have a liberal bias and that they can't be trusted to report accurately on Republicans and conservatives. If my experience is any indication, then most of what we know is "just wrong."

My job wasn't to spin the press but to present the facts for the Huckabee campaign's side of the story. I expected that I'd have the toughest time with the professional journalists but most of the reporters that I dealt with (especially Michael Luo of the New York Times and Jonathan Martin of Politico) were quite fair and always professional. Even when their coverage was cringe-inducing I rarely could fault them for being inaccurate or putting their own biases ahead of the facts.

Unfortunately, the same can not be said of the conservative media.

My rapid response list included a broad range of journalists, pundits, and bloggers and variety of outlets--everything from The New York Times to HotAir. Often they would ask me to clarify statements made by the Governor, defend claims made by the campaign, or offer evidence on a point of contention. Almost always the mainstream media from the "liberal" outlets were more fair and balanced than were the ones from the "conservative" side of the media.

Some conservative outlets, of course, were notably fair and accurate. Although he never pulled his punches, Jim Geraghty at NRO's The Campaign Spot always let me present a rebuttal to the claims of other campaigns. The same can be said for NRO's Byron York, one of the few conservative reporter/pundits that seemed more concerned about getting the facts straight than he was in shoring up the conventional wisdom of the GOP establishment.

But while there were a few other exceptions that I could praise (e.g., Terry Eastland from The Weekly Standard, Phillip Klein and Jennifer Rubin from The American Spectator, the guys at RedState), far too many of the conservative outlets refused to present any evidence that conflicted with their typical anti-Huckabee narrative.
I even sent out personal emails to a number of prominent pundits and bloggers who had criticized Huckabee for being insufficiently conservative. I told them that if they would send me a list of their grievances I'd provide a personal response from the campaign addressing their concern. My only condition was that they would post the exchange in its entirety. Not one of them took me up on my offer.

As a campaign staffer, I found such behavior frustrating. But as a consumer of conservative media I found it infuriating. There are a number of pundits, bloggers, reporters, and radio hosts that I will never trust again to be "fair and balanced."

(To clarify my last point, let me say that I had only one expectation from my fellow conservatives: that they apply the same standard to every candidate. I had no problem with a conservative pundit bashing Governor Huckabee for raising the sales tax by a penny in Arkansas…as long as they also bashed Governor Romney for raising "fees" in Massachusetts. I had no problem with their complaints that Governor Huckabee wanted to establish diplomatic relations with Iran…as long as they hammered Mayor Giuliani for the same sin. Very few even made an attempt to be consistent in their criticism. That was what I found so disappointing.)

Jewish Reflections and the Mass

I really enjoyed this post by the Anchoress called Cracking open the Gates of Prayer. As you can read this is the Jewish book, that has a lot of gems in it. I was struck by this part:
18 If anyone comes to public worship and leaves with the feeling that he has got nothing out of it, let him ask: Did I bring anything to it? Most often the answer to the second will supply the cause of the first. A stubborn heart, a rebellious heart, a cold heart that cherishes its coldness, a critical mind that looks for objects of criticism, will not profit. It is true of public worship in a high degree that only they receive who give. The influence of public worship, like that of electricity, is felt only where there is a capacity for receiving it. Stone and ice are spiritual non-conductors

How true. That very much struck me as a Catholic. I had a interesting discussion online with a Catholic that might or might not be having doubts. He asked if Catholics truly believe in the real presence why don't we act like it more. Good Question.

I did a post how I am loving the 1962 Missal I got for Christmas. Here it is right here.

What I love about it is the pages upon pages of prayers. About 20 pages are devoted to "Devotions for Communion". It echos the same senitments as the above quote.

I have met Catholics that can remember when one had to fast starting at Midnight if they wished to go to communion. Now one can argue if that was too much. I can't help but note it has gone from Midnight, to three hours prior to now just one hour before communion. I suppose many of us, I included, take that quite lierally at times and think as long as we are not whoofing down a McDonalds breakfast as we enter the Church door we are ok. OF course this does not reflect the spirit of the law at all.

Now I am not recommending we go back to the Midnight fast..However I do think it shows a whole attitude of preparation for Mass that was much more prevalant even just a few decades before

A Feast of Links Fo the memorial of Saints Basil and Gregory.

Via the Way of the Fathers.

First day of trading at the Manila stock exchange ended with Mass.

Wow, as this blogger says you will not see this in New York.

Huckabee and Catholics - A Catholic Deacon Pegs it

sI just read a very interesting article on Catholic Online. That is COMMENTARY: Huckabee and Catholics . I recommend reading the whole thing. However the good Catholic Deacon pegs it right on in this part:

It appears that the establishment was wrong. Along comes another former Governor from Hope, Arkansas, with a message that cannot be pigeonholed, an appealing manner and style, and an ability to draw from diverse constituencies, to upset the playbook of both major parties. His name is Mike Huckabee. Now, the real strategy of opposition has begun. One of the efforts, a standard opposition research approach, is to plumb the candidate’s past and attempt to paint the future with a brush dipped in out of context quotes

. I understand this approach. I have been involved in political campaigns and know that every campaign has an opposition research strategy. We can expect a careful reading of the formerly active Baptist ministers’ sermons for weeks to come. Of course, many Americans can quickly discern what is happening. They know that this candidate was a Baptist preacher. They also know we are not electing him to be the Nations pastor but the Nations President. They have listened to him in the debates and they are beginning to pay attention to his public policy positions. This approach has little staying power. No, the real opposition strategy is the one that is only now winding up in the playbook. The effort consists in intentionally evoking fear in the electorate by insinuating that Governor Huckabee is an ‘intolerant fundamentalist’ kind of Christian who will seek to force his narrow faith upon the rest of the Nation.

You see this strategy lurking behind so many of the stories and the statements coming from the establishment of both major parties. The long and the short of this approach will be to paint Mike Huckabee as the candidate of “the Evangelicals”, a term which has sadly become a code word for “the fundamentalists.” It falls just short of accusing the former governor of being a closet Theocrat, a kind of “extremist” of the Christian variety. Not only is the approach anti-Christian and bigoted, it also fails to see the growing ability that this candidate seems to have to reach into many diverse constituencies. His recent crowds have shown his increasing appeal.

They have also shown some unexpected demographics, such as an uncanny capacity to speak to youth. Demographic analysis shows Mike Huckabee cutting across many of the categories. The unexpected shocker that very few of the pundits and prognosticators expect is Mike Huckabees growing support among Catholics. Catholics, at least those who heed the continuing direction from their Church leaders, are obligated to inform their conscience by the social teaching of their Church and vote accordingly. Among the ways that this teaching can be grouped is one that I have used for years. This approach is what I have called the “four pillars of participation”, life, family, freedom and solidarity.

This is what truly disturbs me. PEople are trying to say that Huckabee is trying to divide. Even Rush goes on about ID politics. But this article points out who the real people pushing division are

Also Rod Dehrer at Cruncy Con again brilliantly points out the double standard here at A Huck double standard.

Oh and Fighting Irish Thomas has a good response to a popular Catholic apologist online here at Missing the “Mark”—Oh, Shea can't you see (that Huckabee has heart)

Brownback helping McCain attract Iowa Catholics

I thought this was an interesting news item out of the the AP.

Brownback helping McCain attract Iowa Catholics-

Associated Press - January 1, 2008 1:54 PM ET
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Just days before the Iowa caucuses, presidential hopeful John McCain has enlisted Kansas Senator and fellow Republican Sam Brownback to try to win Catholic voters.
Brownback -- who dropped out of the presidential race in October -- is co-chairman of Catholics for McCain. The move is seen as an attempt by McCain to lure Christian conservatives, who could have a significant impact at Republican caucuses Thursday in Iowa.
In a statement, Brownback calls McCain "a genuine American hero with a conservative record who has what it takes to lead this country."
Evangelicals have been wary of McCain since 2000, when he criticized Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson as "agents of intolerance."
So far, most Iowa evangelicals support former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts.

Now this organization is a lot more than just for IOWA. Ex Governor Keating is also the Co- Chair. However I do wish the Huckabee Campaign that has I feel considerable Catholic support and Catholic Interest will take note.

Senator Brownback , while not having great poll numbers, is still influential and listened to by the political nerd Catholics like myself. I was not surprised that he backed McCain. Also note despite this he said some nice things about Huckabee a few days ago. If Huckabee can get through the primaries getting Senator Brownback on board is a must.

I will be looking to see where the Catholic Mass Going vote goes. Sadly, this vote is rarely tracked. Often on those surveys you see on TV and by the big papers Mass Going Catholics are never ID'ed as religious voters. Those are almost always regular Church going Evangelicals. Why this is done I am not sure. I think it is a huge flaw in many surveys and polls. For instance as to the Evangelical Religious vote pollsters will pose their qualify questions usually as to Church attendance. For Catholics they just ask if they are Catholic. Again the reasoning escapes me on why they do this.

Anywho!!! This is one recent why in several recent elections the Mass Going Catholic votes and where it swings to has surprised some folks. The 04 Bush/Kerry election is a recent example. I had hopes that polls would adjust their questions to track it after that election. However as I noted in the immigration poll questions the last year they have not on the whole changed their polling groups dynamics

SO what does the mean for the Huckabee Campaign. Well Catholics in the trenches and on the National Level need to make sure the word is out that Catholics are also in Huckabee camp. Short term I think this bodes well for Huckabee in Iowa and New Hampshire especially because it will Cause more problems for Romney.

The Factors that Divide the Pope from the Muslims

Chiesa has a excellent article called The Cardinal Writes, the Prince Responds. The Factors that Divide the Pope from the Muslims.

I am catching up on my Catholic and Political news after watching two full days of College Football nonstop. This is a interesting article that talks about the upcoming historic meeting between the Pope and leading scholars of Islam. I think the what topics each side wants to be the center of the talks, as the article so well points out, is the key

The Pope's First Wednesday Audience of the Year

As we get back into the post Holiday swing of things, I need to post the Holy Father's Wednesday talk as is my custom. I am having trouble accessing my Photobucket account today so no pics. However the Ratzinger Forum has some nice ones here. Also thanks again for the quick translation. Today the Holy Father talks about Mary and Family.

Dear brothers and sisters!

We have started a new year and I wish that it may be peaceful and prosperous for all. I entrust this to the celestial protection of Our Lady whom we implore today, according to the liturgy, by her most important title, Mother of God. With her Yes to the Angel on the day of the annunciation, the Virgin conceived in her womb, through the Holy Spirit, the eternal Word, and brought him forth on Christmas night.

In Bethlehem, in the fullness of time, Jesus was born of Mary. The Son of God became man for our salvation, and the Virgin became the true Mother of God. This immense gift received by Mary was not reserved for her alone, but for all of us. In her fecund virginity, God had given "to men the benefits of eternal salvation, because through her, we received the author of life" (cfr Collect Prayer).

Therefore, Mary, after having given mortal flesh to the Only Son of God, became the mother of all believers and of the entire mankind. And it is in the name of Mary, Mother of God and of men, that for the past 40 years, on the first day of the year, the Church has celebrated the World Day for Peace. The theme that I chose for this year is "The human family: A community of peace". The same love that constructs a family - vital cell of society - and keeps it united, favors the establishment among the peoples of the world of those relationships of solidarity and collaboration necessary within the one human family.

The Second Vatican Council pointed this out in saying that "all peoples constitute one single community; they have single origin - and also have a common end, God" (Nostra aetate, 1).

There is a close relationship between family, society and peace. "Whoever, even if unconsciously, holds the institution of the family hostage," I wrote in the Message for today's World Day for Peace, "makes peace fragile in the entire community, national and international, because he weakens that which is, in fact, the principal agent for peace" (No. 5). Also, "we do not live next to each other by chance: we are all going along the same path as men, and therefore as brothers and sisters" (No. 6). Thus, it is truly important that each of us assumes his own responsibility before God and recognize in him the original spring of our own existence and that of others. This awareness gives rise to a commitment to make mankind a true community of peace, guided by 'a common law which allows the freedom to be oneself - and which protects the weak from the abuse of those who are stronger" (No. 11).

May Mary, Mother of the Prince of Peace, sustain the Church in its tireless work in the service of peace, and help the community of peoples, which celebrates in 2008 the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to proceed along the path of authentic solidarity and stable peace.

After the Angelus, he added a special message in Italian:

From the heart I thank all those who have sent me their greetings and wishes for the new Year. I am particularly grateful to the President of the Republic, who extended his wishes last night in his television message to the nation. I gladly reciprocate his greeting, and express every good wish for his important mission and for the concord and prosperity of the beloved Italian people. On the occasion of the World Day for Peace, the church communities in every continent have promoted numerous initiatives. To all the organizers and participants, I extend my appreciation and encouragement that they may always and everywhere be witnesses for peace and reconciliation. In particular, I greet those who have inspired the demonstrations called "Peace on all the earth" organized by the Community of Sant'Egidio in Rome and in many other cities around the world.

In English, he said:

I greet all the English-speaking visitors gathered for this Angelus prayer on New Year’s Day. On this, the Octave of Christmas, the Church honours Mary, the ever-virgin Mother of God, whose complete openness to God’s saving plan bore fruit in the birth of the Prince of Peace. May the peace proclaimed by the angels at Bethlehem take ever deeper root in men’s hearts, and inspire the whole human family to live in harmony, justice and fraternal solidarity. To you and your families I offer cordial good wishes for a happy New Year! At the end, he said in Italian: I greet the Italian-speaking pilgrims, especially those who belong to the Movement for Family Love, which kept vigil in St. Peter's Square last night to pray for all families and the great Family of the Church. And I also greet the Orionist youth, who have come from all over Italy and other European countries to pledge friendship and commitment togetheron New Year's Day. I also greet the Centro Sportivo Italiano and gladly bless the Torch of Peace, that a marathon relay will eventually bring to the Holy Land. My thoughts go to all present here, wishing you abundance and peace in the New Year

Limbaugh's Attacks On Huckabee Over the Top

Limbaugh's is back on the air and attackng Huckabee left and right. Years later a book will be written about which pundits aligned for whom and why. I do get the feeling the feeling this is backfiring and helping Huckbee a tad. Politico has a roundup of the attacks here.

Anyway, more blogging today. Since the Holidays are over(secular wise) we shall be getting back to a more regular schedule. ince we have the first Party ELections tomorrow night expect a few more political posts. However I shall try to keep the Catholic and political post 50/50

Thought on Auburn Game at Halftime

Coach Tuberville has this habit it appears of not to really care if they win Bowl Games or not. Installing a whole new offensive scheme and giving the players not even two weeks to game it is insane. Also Lou Holtz is correct in what he just said. QB Brandon Cox is the not the mobile QB to do this scheme. Current mood Frustrated.

Clemson 7 Auburn 3 at the half

Happy New Year and Thoughts On Bowl Games

I have been soaking up all the College Football I can get today. I love Bowl season and for that reason I suppose I have never been a playoff fan for college ball.

I am glad Bama won last night

I am glad that Fresno beat GA Tech

I have 20 Dollars on this Kentucky Game and how they are playing right now is driving me to distraction.

I am glad Cal got it together and beat Air Force. I would have loved Air Force in some ways to win however that would have hurt me in my Bowl Pick em Contest

I am anxious to watch the Clemson/Auburn Game tonight. I am really amazed that so many people think Clemson will win. I think Auburn handles them nicely but we shall see.

I so wish I was in New Orleans. I am hearing that the Hawaii fans are having a blast down there. I normally root for all SEC teams. However I shall be rooting for Hawaii and the WAC tomorrow night.

Anyway more later. Also one other thing:

Tomorrow is a HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION- GET TO MASS. I shall post on that after midnight!!

Huckabee Beats Out Pope Benedict

At least as to news stories on Catholic News Services.

I just posted the full text of a interesting article that was just released from Catholic Online News. You can see it here at BREAKING: Governor Huckabee Addresses Anti-Catholicism and Abortion

It has been noted by Huckabee supporters that many people wish to argue that the Huckabee supporters are all Evangelical. Thus setting up , in a very clever way, a feeling that if one is not of this faith tradition you are oddball for supporting Huckabee. One person on the Corner blog responded to this last week:

Huckareaders [Ramesh Ponnuru]
Here is a very representative example of the response from Huckabites to my latest article:
Bro, you need not be an evangelical to appreciate and support Huckabee's candidacy ... what, you think his issues only appeal to evangelicals? For your sake and the future of the party, I hope you don't. What is so appealing about him is that he is speaking to the concerns, and fears even, that many people are experiencing in a global economy.
And for God's sake, in case you are so inclined, leave the floating cross/bookcase alone ...
And another:
The only problem with the thesis of your column is that you are wrong.
Many other people other than evangelicals are listening to Huckabee. We listen because he is not part of the "crowd."
You make a huge mistake if you think this election will be business as usual. Or that illegal immigration will swing your way.
(I have no idea what that last bit means.)
I didn't mind the Huckabee Christmas ad: I'm a keep-Mass-in-Christmas kind of guy, myself. As for why I think that non-evangelicals don't find Huckabee very appealing, it is a hunch about the way he has been campaigning combined with the polling data I have seen. Anyone who has recent data on this question, send it in.

12/27 05:22 PM

As the article noted the Huckabee Interview was the most read article in the HISTORY OF CATHOLIC ONLINE. Catholic Online is one of the Major Catholic News Services. Thus meaning that in a way Huckabee beat out the Pope and stories on the "Latin Mass". That indicates to me a lot of linking and emailing of that article going on and thus interest by serious Mass Going Catholics. A vote that went to Bush in 04.

BREAKING: Governor Huckabee Addresses Anti-Catholicism

Just Checking in. I find this very significant:

BREAKING: Governor Huckabee Addresses Anti-Catholicism and AbortionBy Deacon Keith Fournier12/29/2007Catholic Online (http://www.catholic.org/)Following our first interview with Governor Mike Huckabee there was an intimation of anti-catholicism by several pundits and commentators. We asked the Governor directly about this and about another issue of importance to our Catholic Online readers and viewers.LOS ANGELES (Catholic Online) - We set forth below the questions asked by Catholic Online and the candidates responses.

DEACON KEITH FOURNIER: “Governor Huckabee, on December 18, 2007 Catholic Online issued a challenge to all of the candidates running for the President in 2008, in both major political parties, asking each of them to answer a series of questions of particular concern to Catholics. We promised that their response, or lack of response, would be made known to all of our readers and viewers. Governor, you were gracious enough to give us an exclusive interview. In that interview you answered each of our questions, thoroughly, thoughtfully and forthrightly.

Just days from now, the first real contest of the Presidential Primary season, the important Iowa caucus, will be underway. In a Primary schedule that has become compacted by changes in dates, Iowa results loom quite large. And, the 2008 election contest which was once considered a “lock”, has become a real “horse race”, voters are truly paying attention.

Your interview with Catholic Online is one the highest read stories in our history.

However, shortly after its publication, you spoke at a Church in Texas, on a Sunday morning. Of course, there is nothing unusual about that. What caught the attention of many of our readers and viewers was a concern that the Pastor of the Church has written some material that insults the Catholic Church and has been labeled by some as anti-Catholic. Our readers understand that you, like all of the candidates, are running for the Presidency.

In other words, we know that you seek to govern the whole Nation and, of course, you must reach out to all Americans. However, there has, unfortunately, been a history of anti-Catholicism in this Nation that we all love. Your campaign quickly noted the presence of Catholics in many of the top positions of your campaign staff.However, the issue and the concern raised by your visit, has not gone away. Would you comment upon your visit and on your views concerning Catholics in America?

GOVERNOR HUCKABEE: “I am invited to speak at thousands of diverse venues each year. My willingness to address a group says nothing about whether or not I agree with every tenet, policy or belief espoused by a group. To be honest, I have never thought about having “a view” about Catholics in America. Rather, I have enjoyed strong, personal relationships with many Catholics over the years and I would hate to think about my life without those relationships having been there.

For more than a decade, I marched side-by-side with Catholic Bishops in Arkansas’ annual March for Life. Throughout my years as Lieutenant Governor and Governor, I enjoyed a very close relationship with leaders and members of the Catholic Church in Arkansas. My pro-life record is largely the result of this close working relationship. My relationships with Catholics predated my entry into politics.

When I was pastoring a Baptist church in Texarkana, I had the opportunity to work closely with the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word at the St. Michael Hospital near my church. I was always welcomed warmly by the sisters when I visited the sick.

As a pastor, I held joint services with my neighboring Catholic congregation, was invited to speak in Catholic churches for special services, and had regular breakfast meetings with the Bishop of the Arkansas Diocese, Bishop Peter Sartain, now in Illinois. Those early years of ministry showed me the value of working with caring people whether or not every one of our religious tenets line up exactly. In short, if I held any animosity toward Catholics, I don't think Justice Scalia would have ever taken me up on my invitations to go duck hunting.

As I mentioned before, many of my top-level staff and closest advisors are Catholic, including my national campaign manager, national campaign director, my policy advisor and my campaign’s chief operating officer.

DEACON FOURNIER: Governor, you have expressed your long term position on what most Catholics consider the fundamental human rights issue of our age, the dignity of every human life from conception to natural death, in these words: “I support and have always supported passage of a constitutional amendment to protect the right to life. As President, I will fight for passage of this amendment. My convictions regarding the sanctity of life have always been clear and consistent, without equivocation or wavering.” Does your position in opposition to abortion admit of any exceptions?

GOVERNOR HUCKABEE: “First, let me say I have appreciated that Catholics led in the pro-life issue and were firm on this even before the Baptists. Before the Baptists really started taking a strong position on the sanctity of life, I was a part of an organization called "Southern Baptists for Life" which was launched to move our denomination to a more consistent pro-life position. In regard to exceptions, experience has shown that health of the mother exceptions are so broad that they result in ‘carte blanche’ abortion on demand. Consequently, I do not support an exception in those terms. Abortion proponents point to exceptions and worst-case scenarios as a way to defend abortion on demand.

DEACON FOURNIER: "Thank you for taking the time out of a busy schedule to speak with us once again. Blessed Christmas to you and your family and Happy New Year"

IT appears that GOvernor Huckabee has a very significant and friendly voice and ally in the major US Online Catholic Press

Off To Mississippi

After a few hours sleep I am off to the Magnola State. My mothers side of the family is all getting together to celebrate Christmas. Blogging will resume either Sunday night or Monday

Pope rejects ideology for its own sake

I was very impressed by this article. Partly because it appeared in the secular press.

AT midnight mass in St Peter's, Benedict XVI conjured in his sermon with an image from the writings of Gregory of Nyssa, of the whole universe torn and disfigured by sin."What," the Pope wondered, "would he say if he could see the state of the world today, through the abuse of energy and its selfish and reckless exploitation? Anselm of Canterbury, in an almost prophetic way, once described a vision of what we witness today in a polluted world whose future is at risk."
At first blush, it seems as though he's talking about global warming. That's certainly the way Ian Fisher, the Fairfax stringer in Rome, framed his story about the event and construed those passing remarks in a sermon mainly devoted to the incarnation. "Benedict has spoken out increasingly about environmental concerns and the Vatican has purchased carbon offsets, credits to compensate for carbon dioxide emissions created by the energy consumed in the world's smallest state, Vatican City," Fisher's report said.
There are three problems with such a gloss. The first is that the line about selfish and reckless abuse of energy might be no more than a reference to the First World's consumption of dwindling oil reserves. The second is that the idea of a polluted world whose future is at risk could just as well be interpreted as an allusion to acid rain, contaminated waterways, general environmental degradation and the problem of nuclear proliferation.
The third and most conclusive objection is that we already know what Benedict thinks about global warming. He made a telling intervention during the Bali conference earlier this month, releasing a message prepared for World Peace Day fully three weeks earlier than scheduled just to emphasise the point. Whether some Vatican bureaucrat - who probably got the project under way in the dying days of the previous reign - has bought some tokenistic carbon credits is neither here nor there. What matters is what the Pope himself says.
He warned that "any solutions to global warming must be based on firm evidence and not dubious ideology ... Fears over man-made emissions melting the ice caps and causing a wave of unprecedented disaster are nothing more than scaremongering. While some concerns may be valid, it is vital that the international community bases its policies on science rather than the dogma of the environmentalist movement ... Humanity today is rightly concerned about the ecological balance of tomorrow. It is important for assessments in this regard to be carried out prudently in dialogue with experts and people of wisdom, uninhibited by ideological pressure to draw hasty conclusions."
It cannot have escaped the Pope's attention that carbon dioxide continues to build in the atmosphere but the mean planetary temperature hasn't increased significantly for nearly nine years. Similar misgivings about how well the greenhouse theory fits the available facts informed the views of his leading local representative, Cardinal George Pell. In February this year Pell wrote a column calling for caution over exaggerated claims of severe global warming. He said he is "deeply sceptical about man-made catastrophic global warming, but still open to further evidence. What we are seeing from the doomsayers is an induced dose of mild hysteria, semi-religious if you like, but dangerously close to superstition. I would be surprised if industrial pollution and carbon emissions had no effect at all, but enough is enough."

A reporter with a sharper eye for coded messages could have found one at least that was unmistakable in the text of the sermon and within the rest of the liturgy half a dozen actions that spoke far louder than words.
The Pope has long been concerned about the place of Gregorian chant, which after the Second Vatican Council has been more honoured in the breach than in the observance, even in Rome. He said: "According to the Fathers, part of the angels' Christmas song is that now angels and men can sing together and in this way the beauty of the universe is expressed in the beauty of the song of praise. Liturgical song - still according to the Fathers - possesses its own peculiar dignity through the fact that it is sung together with the celestial choirs."
On the face of it, this is a scholarly account of the Patristic view of what inspired plainchant and why it should continue to command attention. Another way of putting it would be to say that earthly worship and its distinctive music is both modelled on and hopes to prefigure the celestial liturgy. These lines serve to encapsulate a distinctive theology of beauty, most recently articulated by Hans Urs von Balthasar. It's also a signal that the Pope will be setting much higher standards in the selection and performance of church music, not least in St Peter's Basilica. The Sistine Chapel Choir, which has been going to the dogs for at least a decade and sang dismally on the night, has been put on notice. Its conductor, who has a marked preference for saccharine ecclesiastical pop, is widely reported to be departing in the next few months. Plainchant and polyphony are back in a big way, which is welcome news for everyone who loves fine music, regardless of whether or not they subscribe to any form of religion.
Recently there was another involuntary departure, that of John Paul II's favourite master of ceremonies, Piero Marini. He is a passionate advocate of modern liturgical style and music, and presided over a lot of gimmicky papal mega-masses designed to ingratiate the young. Another unrelated Marini, Monsignor Guido, has been appointed to replace him and the first midnight mass offered on his watch, broadcast to a potential audience of more than a billion Catholics and consciously offered as world's best practice, at every turn stressed continuity with tradition rather than novelty for its own sake.

Mindful of the fact that this is a column for the general reader, I'll try to locate some of the main changes, using themes in the culture wars as points of reference. A few weeks ago Franco Zeffirelli, an elderly film director, was asked to consult to the Holy See on aspects of media management.(NOTE THIS HAS BEEN DENIED) A man of the Left, at least in cultural terms, he rashly interpreted his brief as giving the Pope an image makeover and began by publicly criticising "his too sumptuous attire and trappings" and recommending the "noble simplicity" that was de rigueur after Vatican II. As an exercise in media management, it left a lot to be desired.

The first thing most viewers of the Christmas ceremonies would have noticed is that John Paul's faux-democratic armchair, which might well have graced a gentleman's library but looked ridiculous in a basilica, has gone. At mass and later in the loggia, Benedict sat on seats that were unmistakably thrones, and gilded ones at that, designed for his predecessors. He may have disdained the papal tiara, but he's quite comfortable with the symbols of presidential authority. Another indication of how much store the Pope and his master of ceremonies set by Zeffirelli's fashion tips was the papal headware. Until the 1960s, popes and bishops routinely wore a mitre decorated with jewels on major feasts. Benedict has restored the tradition, wearing during Christmas two different examples of the mitra pretiosa inherited from earlier popes, along with some of their elaborately embroidered vestments. It drives the so-called progressives to distraction, but like any sensible bishop he unapologetically dons his best to celebrate the birth of a king's son, let alone to greet the Prince of Peace. This is a pope who's meekly put up with a lot in his time and has now resolved never to wear liturgical polyester again.
I could - but won't - list the number of times when the Pope, celebrating the new rite, bowed or made symbolic gestures found in the Gloria, the Creed and the Preface in the old rite which the new rubrics seemed to have suppressed. Suffice it to say that all over the world people will have seen Catholicism's supreme lawgiver setting precedents he knows will be followed. Having restored the old rite to equal standing with the new, he obviously hopes that its more measured approach will inform the way the new rite is celebrated from now on. The choice to use a Latin version of the newer form of mass once again highlights the Pope's emphasis on continuity with tradition, rather than rupture, and his view that Latin remains something of a universal lingua franca.
Last but not least, there has been a long-running dispute over the most appropriate means of receiving communion, whether on the tongue or in the hand. Though to hostile observers this will seem an argument over nothing, at its core is the question of whether communion in the hand risks subverting a sense of the real presence and promotes the modernist misconception that mass is merely a community meal.

The Pope has often said that sudden changes in what is allowed in church are needlessly disruptive and distressing. Catholic viewers will have noted on Christmas Eve that distribution in the hand was permitted, particularly with all those cantankerous, grabby older nuns who project the attitude that it's their God-given right. However, everyone in the queue that was privileged to be given communion by the Pope received the host on the tongue, no doubt by prior arrangement. Pluralism still prevails perforce but it's safe to say there's now an officially preferred method of communicating. The modernist conventions ushered in after VaticanII, which seemed so well entrenched even three years ago, are falling like ninepins.

Iowa Trappists expand casket factory

I thought this was a cool article here at Iowa Trappists expand casket factory due to increased demand. We find among other interesting tidbits that they are the "official casket of the University of Notre Dame".

Here is their web site.

A Meditation on The Feast of Innocents

TOday is the Feast of the Holy Innocents. I thought Fighting Irish Thomas had a good post here that is worth reading as we remember them on this day here at The Blood of the Young Innocents .

Iraqis Hope to Restore Patristic-era church

Tip of the hat to Way of the Fathers blog for this very interesting and important article Ancient church awaits restoration in Iraq desert.

Iraqis determined to restore ancient Al-Aqiser church - 1,500 years old - to past glory.
AIN TAMUR, Iraq - No-one celebrated Christmas in Al-Aqiser church on Tuesday, for what many consider to be the oldest eastern Christian house of worship lies in ruins in a windswept Iraqi desert.
But 1,500 years ago, the first eastern Christians knelt and prayed in this barren land, their faces turned towards Jerusalem.
The remains of Al-Aqiser church lie in the windswept sand dunes of Ain Tamur, around 70 kilometres (40 miles) southwest of the Shiite shrine city of Karbala, forgotten by most.
But some Iraqis are determined to restore the ancient edifice to its past glory.
"It is a place of worship, a church, and without doubt, the oldest church of the East," said Hussein Yasser, the head of the antiquities department of the province of Karbala.
"According to our research, it was build 120 years before the emergence of Islam in the region," Yasser said.
In time, Karbala overshadowed it and became a key Muslim Shiite pilgrimage destination, while across the region Christian communities began to recede.
Deserted by its worshippers, Al-Aqiser slowly sank into the sands and would have been totally forgotten had it not been for a team of Iraqi archeologists who stumbled on its ruins in the 1970s.
The foundations of the church jut out of the desert, forming a perfect rectangle 75 metres (yards) long by 15 metres wide.
The nave is clearly visible as well as the central part around the altar where masses were celebrated.
"The church was built facing Jerusalem," said Yasser, who has been struggling since 1993 to attract funds and interest to restore the church and carry out excavations in the area.
His efforts were briefly rewarded some years ago when the authorities agreed to finance a brief excavation that lasted six months.
The work revealed an archway which he believes probably belonged to an underground crypt, bearing inscriptions in Syriac -- the language spoken by the first Christians.
"I am sure there is a city underneath the sand," said Yasser, a Shiite Muslim.
"Even then the city was known as Ain Tamur and stood at a major trading junction between Persia, the Arabian peninsula and the Roman empire," he added.
"There used to be a vast lake. People made their livelihood from fishing," he said, adding that the site was more archeologically, than religiously, significant.
A sand embankment indicates the location of the outer walls that protected the church, and Yasser is convinced that the uneven terrain that surrounds the church hides a wealth of archeological evidence.
"There are certainly houses beneath it all, and inside I am sure we can find cooking utensils, inscriptions," he said.
In the past Catholic Chaldeans, the largest single Christian denomination in Iraq who follow an eastern rite but recognise the Pope in Rome, used to pray in Al-Aqiser on Christmas Day but the faithful have not returned in a long time.
The church "is part of out country's memory, part of the great civilisation that the Iraqis have built and it must be saved," said Yasser.
Ain Tamur police chief Mahfoud al-Tamimi said he agreed that Al-Aqiser must be saved.
"The church does not belong to the Christians only or to the Muslims. It belongs to the world," Tamimi said.
"The world must help us save it," he said, calling for the church to be added to UNESCO's world heritage site list.

I so agree. This seems like something we should all get behind

Louisiana ExPat Columnist Helps Get a Louisiana Guy to Come Home

Go see Capt. Crunchy gets results.
Perhaps Mr Dreher will leave the big city of Dallas and come work for the Adovcate, The Shreveport Times, or the Daily Town Talk. Well we can dream :)