Weekly News (Fourth Week of September 2012)

1. Religious Liberty at Risk

ROME, SEPT. 28, 2012 (Zenit.org). - Two recent reports on religious liberty have amply documented the challenges believers face in practicing their faith. [Read More]

2. Pro-Life Speakers in UP Forum Urge Students to Protect Freedom Threatened by RH Bill

MANILA, Sept. 24, 2012—Forty years after the declaration of Martial Law in the Philippines, Filipinos are still hounded by attempts to impose legislation despite vehement opposition. Fortunately, the opposition is sustained – and continuously growing, as more and more life-loving, God-respecting citizens learn more about a measure which seeks to earmark P14 billion of taxpayers’ money annually for its implementation. [Read More]

3. Book Busts Myths About Church Teaching on Hot Topics

Denver, Colo., Sep 27, 2012 / 04:23 am (CNA).- Dr. Christopher Kaczor's new book addresses some of the most widely-held myths about the Catholic Church and its teachings, tackling sensitive topics like homosexuality and the abuse scandal. [Read More]

4. ‘Kvetch and Retreat’: Paul Ryan’s Capitulation on Homosexuals in the Military

Republican Vice-Presidential candidate Paul Ryan’s recent politically correct reversal on homosexuals in the military (to align with his running-mate) illustrates why conservatives often lose in politics by following a defeatist model of “Kvetch and Retreat,” as laid out by New York Orthodox Rabbi Mayer Schiller. [Read More]

5.  Why Teen Pregnancies Are On The Rise

PASAY CITY, September 19, 2012—Factors like lesser parental supervision, lesser stigma for pregnancies outside of marriage, earlier sexual activity and inadequate life skills, among others make it easier for teens today to get pregnant, according to a professor. [Read More]

6. Study: Urging Better Care for Pregnant Women Upsets Abortion Backers

New York, NY (CFAM/LifeNews) — A new study critiquing a drug’s effectiveness in childbirth sparked a vicious backlash from the abortion lobby this week, deepening concerns over the politicization of international maternal health research. [Read More]

7. Mother Teresa at 100: The Life and Work of a Modern Saint

In recent weeks, as we’ve celebrated her feast day and the 101st celebration of her birth,  we’ve been pondering the life and amazing contributions of a tiny woman who made a huge impact on our world. [Read More]

8. Dad Finds Porn on His 13-Year-Old Son’s Computer, Suggests Better Porn Sites

September 28, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) – It’s a situation too many parents find themselves in nowadays: they stumble across their child’s web browser history, or walk into his room and catch him in the act - viewing porn. [Read More]

9. Megachuch Pastor Joel Osteen Dodges CNN Questions on Homosexuality

September 27, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Texas Megachurch Pastor Joel Osteen squirmed under a barrage of question about his beliefs on homosexuality during a discussion on CNN’s “Talking points with Soledad O’Brien” last Thursday. [Read More]

10. Abstracted From Reality: France Bans ‘Mother’ and ‘Father’

Just when you thought things couldn’t get any stranger — or at least give a glimpse of how strange they will soon become for us — France has decided to ban the words “mother” and “father” in regard to the civil-legal treatment of marriage. [Read More]

Sirena

A critique of the song "Sirena" by Anonymous.


The LGBT camp has once again won immensely in the ongoing cultural war, which grows fiercer by the day. A new single titled “Sirena” seems to have snagged a major deal with FM radio stations for massive airplay, and mainstream listeners seem to like the result.

“Sirena,” which literally means “siren” or “mermaid,” is a new song that asserts the gay identity to be a fixed, natural, and thus unchangeable identity among some people somehow burdened with their XY chromosome. It is admittedly a song designed to appeal to the masses, by making use of an effective lyric and melody and rallying the best possible talents to the LGBT cause in its production, especially the accompanying video production. It employs the husky, empathetic voice of former Sugarfree lead singer, Ebe Dancel, an award-winning vocalist who’s popular among the youth, as well as some unique beats from Gloc-9, an equally multi-awarded and popular rapper.

The video version is especially noteworthy. It narrates a story of a boy who is routinely bullied by chauvinistic men because he is different from the other boys: he acts like a girl and is sexually attracted to good-looking boys. Truth be told, the story is typical, but the visual telling is effective enough in tugging at the heartstrings and ensnaring the viewer to take the side of abused. At the end of the video are shots of various personalities freezing for the camera, as though caught in the middle of busy work. In effect, these relatively prominent names who are successful in their chosen fields such as Boy Abunda (TV), Tuxs Rutaquio (theater), and Carlo Vergara (graphic arts) seem to say, “Look at me, I may be gay, but I am successful.” It’s a roundabout way of saying, “Hooray for gays and the gay lifestyle.”

To be fair, the overall concept is not new. There are a few but similar local songs in the past with the same theme. Eraserheads had the compassionate-sounding “Jay,” which describes a male friend who is tormented by his gender identity confusion, and as expected, he is judged and persecuted for it by society. A lesser-known artist went down the humorous path with a song titled "Nagmamahal Ako ng Bakla," which essentially says, “I’m a guy, but I’d rather have a relationship with gays, who always lavish me with gifts and favors, than endure difficult women, who take advantage of me then torture me with heartbreak.” This particular song, I imagine, should be insulting to the so-called gays, but I won’t be surprised to learn if some ‘gays’ would welcome the arrangement.

“Sirena,” however, is different in that it seems to have found greater mainstream acceptance, if not for its sound, then for its message of “Let us all accept gays for who and what they are.” To its credit, “Sirena” goes deeper by its neat usage of metaphor. With the songwriter’s declaration, “Ako ay isang sirena” (’I am a mermaid’), the song plays around the mermaid metaphor, as though saying, “I am a mermaid (the insider term for ‘gay’), and that is that. No matter what the rest of the world says, I will stay gay even if you drown me in a drum filled with water. I will instead dive into its depths as any self-respecting mermaid would.”

Behind this success of delivery of the message, however, is one big failure of assumption and the ensuing tragedy of claiming a false identity. “Sirena” is kind-hearted at its core, for who can argue against human rights violation or plain unkind behavior, particularly the bullying of the weak? But by embracing oneself as ‘gay,’ the songwriter assumes, wrongly, that since he was “born gay,” he is bound to “fall in love” with men and have sex with them. He wrongly assumes that what he does or chooses or prefers to do is what he is. As the psychologist Dr. Melvin Wong puts it, “If you see yourself as a hammer, everything will look like a nail.” Further, the songwriter is bound to assume that any negative social reaction to his gayness is a form of oppression, persecution, or discrimination. What if he is wrong? What if he turned ‘gay’ not because it’s in his genes or nature, but because he has had a personal history of abuse (whether real or as interpreted)? What then?

For me and other ‘ex-gays’ who believe in the reverse and who’ve seen that people can change, the song espouses a downright wrong, cynical, and sad view of homosexuality, a view that is harmful to a lot of young boys suffering from the problem of same-sex attraction, especially unwanted same-sex attraction. “Sirena” spells death because it doesn’t tell the whole truth. It stops at the bullying of homosexuals by men, which is a sad reality, but nothing can be farther from the truth than the equally sad mistake that gayness is good and to be encouraged, even applauded as heroic in the face of wide social disapproval.

As someone who has benefited immensely from one-on-one and group counseling or cognitive behavioral therapy, reparative therapy, trauma therapy, inner child retreat, psychogenetics retreat, bibliotherapy, spiritual therapy, life-coaching, etc. just to have my unwanted same-sex attraction healed or reversed or at least diminished, I am constrained to declare my discovery of the plain truth. As someone who has seen so many fellow former homosexuals getting out of the gay lifestyle and the false self-identification we have grown accustomed to since childhood, as someone who has seen a number reverting to heterosexuality, getting married, having children, and discovering each of their religious and secular vocations, I have the duty to say my piece.

I am not ‘bakla’ or a gay man, as I used to think I was. I was created by God as a man, and He claims me as no less than His friend, brother, or son. God doesn’t create people ‘gay,’; it is negative life incidents and circumstances and people’s behavioral flaws and sins (interpreted by the young boy as abusive or unloving) that does.

I pity everyone, ‘gay’ or ‘straight’ alike, who is taken in by the error that such songs as “Sirena” popularizes. Because of the weightiness of the subject and its moral consequences, I believe no one deserves to be deceived by the lie. I pray that the music industry and its listeners will be more discerning in the kind of music they churn out and listen to.

Weekly News (Second Week of September 2012)

1. Benedict XVI: Fundamentalism a 'Falsification' of Religion

Aboard the papal plane, Sep 14, 2012 / 05:07 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Benedict described fundamentalism as “a falsification of religion,” which goes against its true purpose as “an invitation to share God’s peace throughout the world.” [Read More]

2. Confusion Over Sexual Identity Contributes to Rise in HIV-AIDS Cases

MAKATI City, Sept. 13, 2012―With 88% of new HIV-AIDS infections being transmitted through “men having sex with men” (MSM), a recent HIV-AIDS training identified sexual orientation confusion as indirectly contributing to the spread of the virus. [Read More]

3. Embracing ‘Gay’ Lifestyle Contrary to Gaining Authentic Joy – Ex-‘Gay’

MANILA, Sept. 14, 2012—Living out one’s sexual attraction to persons of the same sex may give a semblance of fulfillment, but it is essentially a hindrance to attaining real joy, said a former entertainment writer and showbiz talk-show host who for years was steeped in what is often referred to as the “homosexual lifestyle.” [Read More]

4. RH Bill Is Not Pro-Life

by Bernardo M. Villegas, Ph.D.

It is not my usual practice to debate with specific individuals or groups about the issues I address in my columns. I am making an exception this time, as some might already have inferred from the title of this commentary. [Read More]

5. Christians Are Winning the Abortion Battle, But Don’t Stop Fighting [Read More]

6. Boys Will Be Girls and Girls Will Be Boys?

A conservative activist is concerned about the summer camps for transgender children that promote and normalize homosexuality, cross-dressing and transgenderism. [Read More]

7. Study: Time is Ripe for Catholic Church to Reaffirm Teaching on Contraception

WASHINGTON, DC, September 12, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A ground-breaking study titled “What Catholic Women Think About Faith, Conscience, and Contraception” offers new data that may finally lay to rest the oft-touted claim that “98 percent of Catholics use birth control.” [Read More]

8. On Humility and Staying Humble [Read More]

9. Marriage and Child Poverty

Collapse of Cultural Norms Regarding Marriage, Childbirth 'Has Been a Disaster'

ROME, SEPT. 14, 2012 (Zenit.org).- The economic problems caused by single parenthood were the topic of a report published last week by Heritage Foundation, a think tank based in Washington D.C. [Read More]

10. Ravi Zacharias: "A Sincere Christian Must Not Practice Homosexual Behavior."

Below is a YouTube video of world renowned Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias responding in an open forum (early this year) to the question: “Is it possible for a man or woman to live a sincere Christian life as a homosexual?



(Source: americansfortruth.com)

The 700 Club Asia Tackles RH Bill

You think RH bill is a "Catholic issue" as some politicians and pro RH groups would have you believe? Why don't you watch this video by The 700 Club Asia, a non-Catholic Christian group, who devoted an entire episode of their program so that the truth about the bill would be exposed to many.

Fr. Barron on Mary

This video is an episode on Mary from Fr. Robert Barron's Catholicism Series DVD. You can visit his website at www.wordonfire.org.

Today, September 8, is the Feast of the Nativity of Mary.

Weekly News (Fifth Week of August 2012)

1. Philippines Looking Forward to Canonization of Native Son

CEBU, Philippines, AUG. 30, 2012 (Zenit.org).- On Oct. 21, Benedict XVI will canonize Blessed Pedro Calungsod who gave his life for the faith on April 2, 1672, in Guam. [Read More]

2. AIDS Cure Alone Not Enough

MANILA, August 30, 2012— As science takes steps forward to stop “needless deaths” from HIV/AIDS, Msgr. Robert Vitillo urged governments to take measures that would prevent “needless infections”. [Read More]

3. Restoring Hope for Homosexuals

A new organization aimed at providing Christian-based help for homosexuals is in the beginning stages of development. It is designed to be a place for homosexuals disenchanted with Exodus International. [Read More]

4. Defeat Barack Obama: The Most Extreme President Ever on Abortion

America has never had a more pro-abortion President than Barack Obama. In another time, Obama’s views on late abortions and on eliminating virtually all current protections for unborn children and their mothers would have been considered a scandal. They would have disqualified him from holding high office. [Read More]

5. Pope Suggests It’s Best to Be ‘Honest’ and Leave The Church If You Don’t Believe: HLI Priest

VATICAN CITY, August 28, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) - In his Angelus address Sunday, Pope Benedict XVI spoke of Judas’ betrayal of Christ, saying that Judas’ problem was failing to leave Christ when he no longer believed – a “falsehood,” said the Pope, “which is a mark of the devil.” [Read More]

6. University Upholds Study Finding Children Do Better With Straight Parents Than Homosexuals

AUSTIN, TX, August 30, 2012, (LifeSiteNews.com) - A Texas university has determined that “no formal investigation is warranted” against a professor who published a rigorous study this summer finding that children of heterosexual parents fare better in many respects than children of homosexual parents. [Read More]

7. Religious People Donate More to Church and Charity

A recent study reveals that states where religious participation is highest give the greatest percentage of their discretionary income to charitable organizations. Conversely, states that are less religious give less. [Read More]

8. Demographics as The Grim Reaper: The Death Knell of Low Birth Rates

The developed countries are suffering a severe birth dearth and, as a result, an enormous shift in global power will soon be upon us. [Read More]

9. Five Ways to Stop Your Six Year Old from Becoming a Sex Object

A new study just out from Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, shows that girls as young as six are being conditioned by secular media to view themselves as sex objects. [Read More]

10. No Divine Life Without a Social Life

One day, as I was listening to the radio, a mother called in to a Catholic talk show with a concern. She said that although her family prays the rosary on a regular basis, her high school daughter was being “lost” to some very important issues such as same-sex marriage. [Read More]