Father Malachi Martin: Vatican envoy and exorcist

Recently Lionsgate Home Entertainment sent a copy of a newly released DVD called “The Possession." 

I popped it into the machine and for the next hour and a half watched a story based loosely on a real event; A young girl buys an antique box at a yard sale, unaware that it is actually a Dybbuk Box.  According to Jewish folklore the box was used to house ancient demons. Soon she begins exhibiting Linda Blair’s "Exorcist" symptoms.

I yelled at the TV screen several times, trying to warn the young woman NOT to open the box…But she didn’t hear me and predictably, the demon was released to set up shop in her body.

Of course the story has a Yiddish twist. Instead of the heroic Priest entering armed with a crucifix, holy water and a holy book.....this one features a Rabbi with a Torah and the Star of David.

The story had a happy ending for the girl and her family…. however the Rabbi, who gave his all, met a horrible fate and the demon lived on to inhabit another hapless victim.

But the premise of the movie reminded me of a Priest who I used to communicate with years ago.

The first time I heard him was when I would awake at 0 dark thirty a few times a week to drive to my job in the city.  On the way, I would turn on the radio for company.  One morning the first voice to greet me was the melodious accent of an Irishman.  Of course, I tuned in to hear what he was speaking about.

That voice was Father Malchi Martin, a Kerry Ireland native, learned scholar, author and traveling envoy for the Vatican.  At the time, he was a guest of the largest syndicated radio show in the world…so he was speaking to millions of listeners.

The drive took me an hour as I listened to how how he described his brushes with evil.  How every person has crossroads, how the seductive power of evil draws you down a path, even a seemingly insignificant one and puts you at risk.

As he went on, he described how he sometimes went to the extreme and ended up performing exorcisms on people who had become possessed.

 Father Martin was a firm believer in the power of evil and  battled it throughout his career as a Catholic Priest.

What he was talking about reminded me of Dr. Scott Peck, an author who was selling tons of books at the time. .A brilliant psychiatrist and author, his books combined medical science along with his personal experiences. I had just read his “Road Less Travelled” and now had picked up his other book “People of the Lie” See video

 People of the Lie, was Pecks scientific study of evil.  He took documented cases of patients treated over his career and painstakingly investigated the genesis of evil.  It was chilling to read of the cruelty that leaped out of that book. In fact he prefaced “People of the Lie” with the warning that “it was a dangerous book.”

That day I wrote Fr. Martin a message. I let him know I had heard his interview on the radio and was appreciative of his points.  I also informed him there was a prominent figure in the scientific/media world who would be a great person for him to contact and compare notes with, Dr. Scott Peck.

Later that night Fr. Martin sent his blessings via email.  He thanked me for my input and suggestion, but that he was already very aware of Scott Peck and knew him personally.

As I read the rest of Peck’s “People of the Lie,”  I reached chapter 5,  Peck wrote of his experiences with exorcism and how he had worked with Fr.Martin in two of them.  He described the exorcisms in detail from a scientific, case study point of view.

From time to time after that, I kept in touch with Fr. Martin. I always appreciated his intelligence and controversial points of view on the Church, as well as society in general.

Fr. Malachi Martin was an accomplished best selling author who possessed not only superb writing skills but also displayed tremendously keen insights into the Vatican, its operations and problems.

His excellent contacts in Rome gave him first hand knowledge. However, he made enemies by his criticisms of those in positions of power and prominence, especially when he came out with his novel “Windswept House." A Vatican novel.

Fr. Martin was asked if he feared for his life since writing "Windswept House". He just said that he was, but was too old to change his ways.

But Father Martin soon met his death, many think it was under very suspicious circumstances. He was found unconscious and bleeding in his home with wood fragments imbedded in his skull.  Some say he regained consciousness just briefly enough to declare that it was a murder attempt, but that he did not get a chance to see who did it. Fr. Martin fell into a coma and died on July 27, 1999. He was 78 at the time of his death.

A documentary titled ‘Malachi Martin: The Pope’s Exorcist’ is in Pre-Production at Irish Causeway Pictures.  Belfast producers Chris Patterson and Paddy McCarney plan on featuring the life and times of one of religions most famous figures.

Was it a mistake for Cardinal Dolan to give the DNC his blessing?

Cardinal Dolan stood on the platform of the 2012 Democrat National Convention Thursday night and gave the gathering his blessing with a closing prayer.  This, in spite of the fact boos still echoed from the assembled crowd who had earlier fought to keep even the mention of God out of their platform.

What was he thinking? True he had a bit of a pro life message in the prayer, but he was thoroughly F bombed for that later on Twitter and other social media by democrat activists.

But if there is a major political party in the United States that has set its sights on any more anti Catholic policies than the Democrat Party, please let me know.

The Democrat Party can’t state any stronger than it does, it is committed to taxpayer paid abortions, including late term (9 months).  Isn’t the church firmly against infanticide?

The Democrats firmly stand for free taxpayer supplied birth control. Their featured speaker and poster child, activist Sandra Fluke, militantly stood for her right for taxpayer paid birth control. Did she infer it was a God given right, or is she an atheist? 

To illuminate the matter, the convention floor was flooded with free condoms adorned with anti Romney/Ryan ads on the packaging.

The Democrats denied 3 times before the rooster crowed Thursday morning, an addendum to restore God back into the platform.  It was plain from the crowd roar,  the the majority did not want mention of God in the platform.  But moderator, LA Mayor Villaraigosa barreled over their protests and inserted God back in the platform, knowing it would be political suicide for the Democrats if they willfully left God out of their platform.

Under provisions of Obamacare, Catholic & other religious institutions will be forced to provide and pay for birth control as well as abortion services for their employees. These institutions have joined together to sue the administration for forcing upon them policy that totally violates what their religions stand for.

By performing the closing prayer and blessing upon the convention, Cardinal Dolan puts his stamp of approval on it.  Perhaps he thinks he can gain favor from this or score political points?

Somewhere along the line, politics and religion intersect and religious leaders become more like politicians.  They tread a thin line of trying to appease the state at the expense of their religions and moral convictions.

What happened to the religion built upon the rock of Peter? Early believers were crucified for their religious beliefs, rather than bow to the immoral will of the state.  Perhaps it is time for the church to do some deep soul searching and see what they really stand for these days.

Perhaps it would have made a much stronger statement to steer clear of the convention, rather than appear to give it tacit approval by his appearance.

As a wise man once said, if you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything.

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For a refreshing change visit Tea Party Cheer

President Obama better hope he doesn't get cornered by Paul Ryan again

Congressman Paul Ryan is a tough, straight talking man with loads of intelligence. President Obama found this out to his dismay when Ryan was able to confront him on Obamacare —at a bipartisan White House health care summit held in February of 2010.

When Ryan addressed the summit, televised on live TV, he immediately quoted from Obama's speech to a Joint Session of Congress, September 9, 2009 "I will not sign a plan that adds one dime to our deficits -- either now or in the future."

For the next 6 1/2 minutes Ryan calmly yet forcefully exposed Obama and the audience with facts and figures on the Obamacare legislation.  As Ryan went forward dismantling the bill, President Obama had to sit there silently getting confronted with all of the smoke and mirrors that were used to craft Obamacare...It seems, unlike most of the politicians in Washington, Paul Ryan did read every page of the proposed healthcare bill,  before it was passed.

Ryan was well versed and aware of the gimmicks in the bill, the double counting and stealth spending not accounted for, saying "Hiding spending, doesn't stop the spending" and "The bill is full of gimmicks that more than erase the false claim of deficit reduction"

Staring at the President and not backing down, Ryan stated "By removing the Doctor fix in this legislation and ignoring the additional cost does not remove it from the backs of taxpayers." The President shot daggers at Ryan throughout the 6 1/2 minutes but he didn't miss a beat.

Ryan  ended up cuffing aside Joe Biden's earlier comment/gaffe that "legislators weren't qualified to speak on behalf of the American citizens on the healthcare bill," by saying: "We have attended many townhall meetings and listened to the people, they are telling us they don't like this healthcare overhaul."

Paul Ryan has no trepidation standing up to the President and speaking the truth.  That was clearly shown the day of the healthcare summit as President Obama squirmed under Ryan's direct attack on the Obamacare bill.

Congressman Ryan crafted budgets for our country,  have been approved by Congress and received 41 votes in the Senate.  President Obama's budgets received no approval by congress and zero votes in the Senate.  Perhaps the embarrassment of receiving no votes for the Presidents budget is the reason Harry Reid has not allowed a vote in 3 years.

Paul Ryan is young, principled and not afraid of a fight.  He will do well in the debate arena against Joe Biden, on any topic, including foreign policy.  Joe Biden's foreign policy history of being wrong on almost every major decision the country has made in the past 12 years, belies his foreign policy "expertise." Ryan of course can spin circles around Biden on budget issues, easier than he can with Obama. 

My advice to President Obama, is to avoid any impromptu debates with Paul Ryan over the next 3 months, unless you want a replay of the healthcare summit.

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Biden booed in St. Patricks parade, indicates deep trouble for Obama - VIDEO

Joe Biden and his crew running at the Pittsburgh St. Patrick's Day parade

Team Obama had designed to piggy back on the popularity of the huge St. Patrick's Day parade in Pittsburgh and turn it into a campaign photo op for their political purposes.  Obama supporters had even spread through the thousands of onlookers along the parade route handing out  "I heart O'Bama" signs, so they would be displayed prominently on national news. They dusted off  and quaffed Vice President Joe Biden, to headline the parade.  Biden, in the eyes of Obama campaign strategists, was the perfect choice to represent the Obama administration in this all important state. Joe is a native Pennsylvanian and has always represented himself as a regular working class guy. 

But something went horribly wrong for Biden as he wended his way through the streets of Pittsburgh.  The generally jubilant, cheering crowd celebrating the St. Patrick's Day parade, suddenly turned to boos, when the Vice President turned down Stanwix Street. Cheers faded into jeers as the crowd laid eyes on the 6 term Senator turned Vice President.

It seemed there was a pent up demand from the crowd to be able to show in person to the Obama administration, just how displeased they were with the Obama policies. 

Any positive political cache Obama strategists thought they were going to get from this parade,evaporated as Biden passed by the hostile crowd. But being the trained political veteran that he was,  Biden continued to smile as he passed between the gauntlet of unhappy constituents.
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There were some positive photo ops of Biden passing through supporters that day, with the "I heart O'Bama" signs in the background, but what is making national news and filling the airwaves are the sensationalized videos and photos depicting the unhappy crowd.

Perhaps the Obama campaign strategists, should have taken into consideration the large segment of Irish Catholic citizens who feel offended and betrayed by the Obama administrations decision to force Catholic institutions to pay for abortion procedures and contraceptives.

On the other hand, the crowd might still be smarting by some of Joe Bidens famous "gaffes" directed at them.  Like when he called certain American citizens "terrorists" for not supporting Obamas economy breaking budget requests. Or when he promised America the almost 1 trillion Obama stimulus was going to create 500K new jobs per month, or telling American citizen rapes and murders would increase if Republicans didn't pass Obamas "jobs" bill....Are citizens starting to catch on?

American citizens don't feel the "love" from this administration when they go to the service station and fill their cars up with fuel that has doubled in price since Obama/Biden took office. Contrary to the Administrations claim that unemployment has dropped to almost 8.3%, this doesn't account for the millions of Americans who were dropped off the unemployment rolls as their benefits ended.

Recent pols show 67% of Americans are not in favor of the administrations health care bill that was pushed through in a non partisan manner and they want it repealed, if the Supreme Court doesn't do it first.

With these raw feelings of anger and disappointment gnawing at them, many Americans feel they rarely get a chance to be heard by this administration, so when the opportunity arises.....they don't hesitate to use it.

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Time for Catholic Church to welcome women as equals

The Catholic Church has provided comfort to billions of people over the ages by offering continuity and tradition in an always turbulent world. The church and its ceremonies have survived the dark ages, plagues, wars, and despotic governments. Through every sort of calamity imaginable, the church has remained solid, like the rock it was built upon.

But times have changed and to deal with it can be difficult. Sometimes tradition and obstinacy are blurred and if you don't recognize that, the world will pass you by. Recently, the church has been rocked by sex abuse scandals, waning influence and a worldwide shortage of Priests.
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The Church is ignoring the great social changes that have swept advanced cultures around the world, one of the major changes is that women have achieved parity with men in almost every arena....They are equal human beings. No longer are women expected to stay home and bear children. They are free to do that, but they are also free to pursue anything else and rightfully so.

In today's world women are heads of state, test pilots, astronauts, doctors, scientists, pastors, CEO's, Generals and someday soon, a conservative woman will step up to be President of the USA.

So with all of this progress throughout civilized countries of the world, why can't the church recognize that women are equals and deserve a seat at the table of power? It seems that women were able to have positions of importance in the church prior to 494 AD.

But in 494 AD, Pope Gelasius decreed women could no longer be ordained to the priesthood. From that time, women’s roles in the church diminished and they were deprived of leadership roles.

Time for the church to step into the 21st century and ordain women as priests, nominate them to be cardinals and bishops and one day soon, when we see smoke over the Vatican, it will mean a woman has been selected to be pope.

Sometimes you either change or you self destruct. Which will it be?

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