Hi Bill,

I am delighted to let you know that your submitted photo has been selected for inclusion in the newly released second edition of our Schmap California Guide:

Almaden Quicksilver County Park
www.schmap.com/california/parks/p=167388/i=167388_5.jpg

If you like the guide and have a website, blog or personal page, then please also check out the customizable widgetized versions of our Schmap California Guide, complete with your published photo:

www.schmap.com/guidewidgets/p=7577171N07/c=SG33023019

Thanks so much for letting us include your photo - please enjoy the guide!

Best regards,

Emma Williams,
Managing Editor, Schmap Guides

In my view, there is only one reason to be in politics, and that is to make other people's lives better. This was driven home to me this weekend when I was at Leland High in San Jose for a swim meet. New fields had just been put in over last summer, and they were in spectacular shape. What really put a fine point on it was the amount of people on the field enjoying a beautiful Northern California February day. I took a picture of it for good measure.

Now this is what politics is all about. The work we've done on Measure A, Measure F, and getting city representitives like Nancy Pyle elected have paid off. The work is hard, the payback long in coming, but that is what it takes.]]> Politics http://roth.lunarpages.com/blog/index.php?itemid=43 Mon, 18 Feb 2008 13:59:46 -0800 http://roth.lunarpages.com/blog/index.php?itemid=42
Abortion is the single most divisive, polarizing and destructive issue in American politics. It is an issue that has been used by political consultants for decades to drive a wedge into the Catholic community, severely diluting our ability to have a voice on a range of other important topics.

Consider the following: If I say Catholic Democrat what is the next word that comes into your mind? Abortion. It is the issue that sucks all the air out of the room, and keeps us from making progress on other important issues like human rights, poverty, workers rights and stewardship of the environment. The politicians on both sides know it. They use this issue to bend our community to their political ends.

But a new study (Induced Abortion: estimated rates and trends worldwide, G. Sedgh, et al) published in the British medical journal, The Lancet, offers some data which may allow some common ground for Catholics. It may also allow us to make headway on other important issues such as the war in Iraq, poverty, human rights, and stewardship of the environment.

The position of the Roman Catholic Church is clear. As Catholics, we believe in a consistent ethic of life from the moment of conception to a natural death (Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, November,2007) Abortion is an intrinsic evil, and morally unacceptable in all cases. Every abortion is a tragedy. Every abortion is a failure of the Catholic community. Every abortion is a failure of society to protect our women and our children. Every child deserves a chance at life, and every woman deserves unfettered healthcare options.

But what if making the practice illegal had no effect on the number of abortions? What if making the practice illegal actually caused more harm? What if making the practice legal actually caused the number of abortions to go down?

If all this were true, it could change the nature of debate, and strengthen our community and our ability to be a force for positive change in the world.

It turns out that all 3 of these hypotheticals are true. The facts of the study are clear. First, there is some encouraging news. The number of abortions is down worldwide for the period from 1995 to 2003, by from 46 million to 42 million. Every abortion is a tragedy, and a diminution of the number is a good thing.

However, the rest of the data in the study is bracing. We know, for instance, that unsafe abortion is major cause of maternal mortality, and a threat to womens health. We also know that safe abortions have relatively few heath consequences.

The studys most startling finding is that overall abortion rates are roughly similar between developed countries (where abortion is largely legal) and developing countries (where abortion is largely illegal). This indicates that criminalizing abortion has no effect on lowering the abortion rate, but it does have the effect of causing serious risks to womens healthcare. In effect, criminalizing abortion does more harm than good.

The study also says that 48% of all abortions were unsafe, and that 97% of all unsafe abortions happen in the developing world. Of the 42 million abortions performed, 35 Million of them were performed in the developing world, where the practice is largely illegal.

If all this is true, then what is an American Roman Catholic to do? We need to work for an end to the practice of abortion, the same as before.

However, we need to achieve this without criminalizing it, as this only causes a greater harm. As Democrats have shown with their Reducing the Need for Abortion and Supporting Parents Act bill (HR 1074) and the Prevention First Act (HR 819) bill, they are serious about finding new solutions to serious problems posed by the practice of abortion. The have also worked on making other alternatives more attractive, including adoption, with the Adoption Promotion Act of 2003, which is now Public Law No: 108-145. Their new approach could be a forerunner of a strategy that will avoid the divisiveness of the past, and give a glimmer of hope that we can make real progress on this issue in the future.

]]> Politics http://roth.lunarpages.com/blog/index.php?itemid=42 Tue, 5 Feb 2008 12:01:34 -0800 http://roth.lunarpages.com/blog/index.php?itemid=41 By BERNARD BAKER
Register & Bee staff writer
February 5, 2008

The Rev. James A. Forbes Jr. said he didn?t come to Danville on Monday to politick for Democrat Tom Perriello. But he couldn?t help it.

Forbes returned to an area where he once preached to let about 200 people at Bibleway Cathedral know that Danville has better days ahead.

Forbes and Perriello, who is challenging Congressman Virgil Goode in the 5th District, got to know each other in New York when Forbes was pastor of Riverside Church. The first African-American pastor of Riverside Church has been listed as one of the best U.S. preachers in Newsweek.

Perriello, also at Monday?s gathering, said he heard about the prophetic justice principles Forbes developed and he wanted to know more. Forbes believes the problem isn?t who is sitting in the White House, but the culture that elected that type of person.

?Poverty is a weapon of mass destruction,? he said.

Read the full story here.]]> General http://roth.lunarpages.com/blog/index.php?itemid=41 Tue, 5 Feb 2008 10:25:05 -0800 http://roth.lunarpages.com/blog/index.php?itemid=40
Abortion is the single most divisive, polarizing and destructive issue in American politics. It is an issue that has been used by political consultants for decades to drive a wedge into the Catholic community, severely diluting our ability to have a voice on a range of other important topics.

Consider the following: If I say “Catholic Democrat” what is the next word that comes into your mind? “Abortion”. It is the issue that sucks all the air out of the room, and keeps us from making progress on other important issues like human rights, poverty, worker’s rights and stewardship of the environment. The politicians on both sides know it. They use this issue to bend our community to their political ends.

But a new study (“Induced Abortion: estimated rates and trends worldwide”, G. Sedgh, et al) published in the British medical journal, The Lancet, offers some data which may allow some common ground for Catholics. It may also allow us to make headway on other important issues such as the war in Iraq, poverty, human rights, and stewardship of the environment.

The position of the Roman Catholic Church is clear. As Catholics, we believe in a “consistent ethic of life” from the moment of conception to a natural death (“Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, November,2007) Abortion is an intrinsic evil, and morally unacceptable in all cases. Every abortion is a tragedy. Every abortion is a failure of the Catholic community. Every abortion is a failure of society to protect our women and our children. Every child deserves a chance at life, and every woman deserves unfettered healthcare options.

But what if making the practice illegal had no effect on the number of abortions? What if making the practice illegal actually caused more harm? What if making the practice legal actually caused the number of abortions to go down?

If all this were true, it could change the nature of debate, and strengthen our community and our ability to be a force for positive change in the world.

The facts of the study are clear. First, there is some encouraging news. The number of abortions is down worldwide for the period from 1995 to 2003, by from 46 million to 42 million. Every abortion is a tragedy, and a diminution of the number is a good thing.

However, the rest of the data in the study is bracing. We know, for instance, that unsafe abortion is major cause of maternal mortality, and a threat to women’s health. We also know that safe abortions have relatively few heath consequences.

The study’s most startling finding is that overall abortion rates are roughly similar between developed countries (where abortion is largely legal) and developing countries (where abortion is largely illegal). This indicates that criminalizing abortion has no effect on lowering the abortion rate, but it does have the effect of causing serious risks to women’s healthcare. In effect, criminalizing abortion does more harm than good.

The study also says that 48% of all abortions were unsafe, and that 97% of all unsafe abortions happen in the developing world. Of the 42 million abortions performed, 35 Million of them were performed in the developing world, where the practice is largely illegal.

If all this is true, then what is an American Roman Catholic to do? We need to work for an end to the practice of abortion, the same as before. However, we need to achieve this without criminalizing it, as this only causes a greater harm. As Democrats have shown with their “Reducing the Need for Abortion and Supporting Parents Act” bill (HR 1074) and the “Prevention First Act” (HR 819) bill, they are serious about finding new solutions to serious problems posed by the practice of abortion. Their new approach could be a forerunner of a strategy that will avoid the divisiveness of the past, and give a glimmer of hope that we can make real progress on this issue in the future.

]]> Religion http://roth.lunarpages.com/blog/index.php?itemid=40 Thu, 22 Nov 2007 10:48:21 -0800 http://roth.lunarpages.com/blog/index.php?itemid=39
The bishops express "profound concern" with respect to the situation in Iran. They deliver a balanced message, saying on the one hand, that for Iran (and indeed any nation) to develop nuclear weapons is "unacceptable". On the other hand, they make it clear that to "engage in preventative war" without proof of imminent danger raises "serious moral and juridical questions". Couching the topic in terms of the Just War teaching, they point out that "use of force must always be a last resort" and that all options need to be exhausted before force is used. From the bishops' point of view, the mere fact of having a nuclear energy program, possession of nuclear weapons, or delivering bellicose statements, are not sufficient to justify a preventative war.

The bishops conclude the letter by placing the discussion in context of their long-standing position on nuclear disarmament and proliferation. The point out that Iran is entitled to improve itself and promote economic development for its people. This includes developing a peaceful nuclear energy program. But the international community has a role to play. The international community must do what it can to fulfill its obligations in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which include ending reliance on nuclear weapons by any country, including the United States.

In his inaugural, President John F. Kennedy said "We must never negotiate from fear, and we must never fear to negotiate." Echoing this, the bishops are forceful in their language around the need for thorough and exhaustive diplomacy. They urge Dr. Rice to begin a dialogue with Iran immediately. Discussions with Iran are essential, and should not be viewed as a reward, but a means to a much more important end. That end is peace.
]]> Religion http://roth.lunarpages.com/blog/index.php?itemid=39 Thu, 15 Nov 2007 10:16:05 -0800 http://roth.lunarpages.com/blog/index.php?itemid=38
The first question is "Why does the Church teach about issues affecting public policy?" In fact, Scriptures and the teaching of Jesus teach us much that informs our public policy. This includes showing us what is true and good, that all human beings are in God’s image, and are endowed with dignity and rights. This becomes the foundation on which our well-formed conscience is based.

The second question is "Who in the Church should participate in public life?" The Catechism is quite clear: "As far as possible, all citizens should take active part in public life."(1913) But the Church also calls us to engage in a way that seeks to recognize the “dignity of every human being, the pursuit of the common good, and the protection of the weak and vulnerable.” We should be guided more by our well-formed conscience than by any political party or interest group.

The third question is "How does the Church help the Faithful to speak about political and social questions?" The Church does this by helping the faithful develop well-formed sciences, through its writing and teaching. It also fosters a spirit of prudence, whereby we attempt to discern true good in every circumstance. It also assists us in its teaching role providing a framework what allows us to make difficult moral choices.

The fourth question is "What does the Church say about Catholic social teaching in the public square?" The document concludes with seven key themes about its social teaching. The first theme is the consistent ethic of life, from conception until natural death. The second is the Church’s call to family and participation in society. The third is the human rights and human responsibilities. The fourth is the principle of having a preferential option for the poor and needy. The fifth is on the dignity of work and the rights of workings. The sixth theme is solidarity and an end to racism, divisiveness, extreme poverty and disease throughout the world. The final theme is about the care and stewardship of God’s creation.

The document is a worthwhile read for all Catholics of voting age, and should be available shortly after the November 12th-15th meeting.
]]> Politics http://roth.lunarpages.com/blog/index.php?itemid=38 Mon, 5 Nov 2007 20:51:52 -0800 http://roth.lunarpages.com/blog/index.php?itemid=37
Is it ever possible to use military force? The Catechism says “as long as the danger of war persists, and there is no international authority with the necessary competence and power,” then states have a right to defend themselves. But there are strict conditions for a war must meet.

First, the damage by the aggressor must be lasting, grave and certain. This means that there must be tangible damage to respond to. It also implies that there no justification for a pre-emptive or first strike.

Second, all means of avoiding war must have been shown to be exhausted or ineffective. Diplomacy, negation and proper discourse among nations should be the principal means of avoiding war.

Third, there must be serious prospects of success. The means that fighting a battle that is sure to fail, or a suicide attack, is not morally legitimate.

Finally, the war must not produce evils greater than the ones they are replacing. The Catechism make it clear that “the power of modern means of destruction”, like nuclear weapons, “weighs very heavily” in consideration of this condition(2309). Clearly, a phrase such as the one that arose in the Viet Nam war’s My Lai incident “We had to destroy the village to save it” is patently morally illegitimate.

For the use of force to be morally legitimate, all of these conditions must be met. This is a high bar with makes the moral use of force a rare thing. But will we ever be free of the prosect of war? Gaudiam et Spes says no: “To the extent that people are sinners, the threat of war hangs over them and will so continue until the coming of Christ; but insofar as they can vanquish sin by coming together in charity, violence itself will be vanquished…” (74)
]]> Religion http://roth.lunarpages.com/blog/index.php?itemid=37 Sun, 21 Oct 2007 22:27:00 -0700