Resurrection of the Lord Church

Director
Mrs. Mary Bretschneider

 

July 11, 2010

Thank you, to all who made the phone calls, sent e-mail or letters, or simply prayed that Governor Lingle would veto HB 444. She was under considerable pressure. In her announcement press conference she said that she felt this was such a huge decision for our society that it should be made through a vote of the electorate. If the powers that be decide to put the question on the ballot, it would first appear in Nov., 2012. However, Rep. Blake Oshiro, who spearheaded the bill at the last moment of last session, indicated that it could again become an issue during the next legislative session if the proponents push hard enough. For Oshiro to be around next January, though, he needs to survive an election battle with now-Councilman Gary Okino who has announced he wants Oshiro's seat. Okino is a strong supporter of traditional marriage.
It's time that we start to take notice of those running for office.

Our own senator from Waipahu, Clarence Nishihara, voted for the civil union bill last session. It is up to us to let him know that we do not want to water down traditional marriage. If a case can be made that civil rights are being denied, the reciprocal agreement legislation should be amended. We should not simply believe the rhetoric. We should challenge their assertions about civil rights violations. This issue is far from over so we must remain vigilant.

What can you do now? First, call Gov. Lingle and thank her for taking a stand in defense of traditional marriage. Second, register to vote. Third, get informed on the issues; Fourth, vote in the coming Primary (9/18) and the General Election (11/2). And finally, PRAY ALWAYS for our government and church leaders, for married couples and their families, for supporters of this legislation that they stay strong, and for our state and entire country.
Gotta go boot up my hard drive! Aloha, Mary B


July 4, 2010

In 1776, on July 2, the American colonies declared their legal separation from Great Britain. Two days later, July 4th, they formalized their new liberty by signing the Declaration of Independence. John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail: "The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more." Ok, so he was off by two days, but you can see what our forefathers were thinking when they finally earned what they had fought so hard for….honor God, then celebrate. Today our city leaders are considering banning the fireworks that Adams referred to. How could he possibly have foreseen the chaos that such fireworks cause in a crowded city? But, not to worry, as long as we have political campaigns, we will have fireworks! Maybe not the kind that lights up the sky, but certainly the kind that lights up debate!

Fireworks aside, we still have the representative government that was created in those days. This Tuesday, July 6, at noon, we will have a chance to participate in that process. There will be a rally at the State Capitol. Organizers are asking us to come down wearing white shirts and again ask Governor Lingle to veto HB 444. This will be our last effort to address the governor before she makes her decision. Proponents of civil unions (gay marriage) will be there too. In the meantime, contact the governor (586-0034) or e-mail her at governor.lingle@hawaii.gov. This is not about anybody's civil rights. This is about preserving the moral status of our society.

Gotta go boot up my hard drive. Aloha-- Mary B


June 27, 2010

The fight to protect marriage as being between a man and woman only is far from over both on a local and a national level. Governor Lingle has merely bought herself two more weeks of sleeplessness by delaying her decision on HB 444. Her staffers say that the majority of phone calls coming in to her office are asking her to veto the bill. That should make us feel as though our efforts are worthwhile, but please don't let it make you feel confident. Continue to call her office (586-0034) until the last minute. Several scenarios will follow her decision deadline of July 6:
1) If she vetoes the bill, the legislature can choose to hold a special session to consider an override. The Senate president feels she would have the votes to override. (Remember in November, this is the same person running for Congress who could make these things happen at a national level.) The House leader doubts that he would have the required votes. It would die FOR THIS YEAR.
2) If she signs the bill, it becomes law.
3) She can choose to ignore the bill altogether in which case it becomes law without her signature.
Those of us opposed to this bill have been accused of trying to deny basic civil rights to others. Don't be fooled into apologizing for your Catholic faith. Our faith supports marriage between a man and a woman for the good of, and perpetuation of, society. There are no human rights being denied. It's an emotional tactic. Going one step further, Hawaii's reciprocal beneficiary registration (1997) specifically covers many of the rights proponents of the bill say they are being denied: inheritance, worker's comp., right to sue for wrongful death, health insurance and pension benefits for state employees, hospital visitation and healthcare decision making. Protect traditional marriage.

Gotta go boot up my hard drive!


June 20, 2010

Happy Father's Day to all our dads, first time to great-grandpa!

Over the years, fathers have had to adapt:

In 1900, father came home to dinner.
Today, fathers come home to a note on the fridge: Jimmy's at baseball,
Cyndi's at soccer; I'm at pilates; pizza in freezer.
In 1900, father and son had heart to hearts while fishing.
Today, dad plucks the ear buds from his son's ear and says,
"When you have a minute…."
In 1900, a happy meal was when dad shared funny stories around the
dinner table.
Today, a Happy Meal is from McDonalds.

When Father's Day was first suggested in 1909 by a woman in Washington who wanted to honor her father who had recently passed away, no one beyond her own church members took her seriously. In fact, it took until 1966 when President L. Johnson proclaimed the 3rd Sunday of June as the official day to honor dads nationwide.

Dads have struggled long and hard to have their role in the family recognized as essential. Today we face a threat not only to dad's role, but to the role of the traditional family as well. Please honor your dad by taking time TODAY or TOMORROW morning to contact the governor's office regarding her veto of HB 444. She must make it known by June 21st if she intends to sign or veto.

Gotta go boot up my hard drive.


June 13, 2010

Lee Cataluna has been writing an article several times a week for the Advertiser for several years. This week when the two papers merged she was one of the lucky ones who kept her job. Since we've been getting the Star Bulletin, I was looking forward to reading her thoughts on certain issues. I was disappointed, though, to read her "live and let live" column on civil unions. My parents were also "live and let live" people. But their idea of "live and let live" was to let people keep a messy house if they wanted to, or spend their money however they wanted, or sleep late past eight in the morning.

HB 444 elevates same-sex relationships to the same level as the traditional man/woman marriage relationship (regardless of what proponents will say out loud). So, although we love the people in same-sex relationships, we do not as a society have to endorse their behavior. There is no doubt that the long-range goal is to have their relationships called "marriage." It's all part of a desensitization process that we've been experiencing for the last 30 years or so. It's like the lobster in the pot that I keep mentioning….we need to get out of the pot before the water is too hot and it's too late!

You can either be a part of the problem or the solution on this matter. If Governor Lingle vetoes the bill, it will go back to the House for another vote. They would need 34 votes to override her veto. The following representatives voted against the bill on the last day of the session: Aquino, Awana, Chang, Choy, Evans, Har, Ito, Magaoay, Manahan, Mizuno, Sagum, Souki, Takai, Tokioka, Tsuji , Yamane, Ching, Pine, Ward, Finnegan. They should be congratulated and encouraged. Everyone else voted in favor of the bill. Their names and numbers are listed in the white pages beginning on page 19. Call as many as you have time for. In the overall picture, it's a small investment of time.

Gotta go boot up my hard drive. Aloha-Mary B


June 6, 2010

Pericles said in 430 B.C., "Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you." Like it or not, everything that happens in Washington D.C. or here at our own Capitol affects us-It may be directly in our pocketbook; it may be our social mores. Right now we are fighting for the very basic foundation of our society. Can we keep the traditional family intact? Governor Lingle will be gone for two weeks. Her office will continue to take phone calls and other commentary from us. Please do not let up with your messages expressing concern over HB 444. Again, the governor's phone number is: 586-0034; her e-mail address is: governor.lingle@hawaii.gov.

Election time will soon be here. We will be bombarded with fancy brochures that will look nice but say little. It will be up to us to find out how our chosen leaders will vote on various issues. These are not legendary mythic creatures. These are flesh and blood men and women, our neighbors, who have stepped forward to lead us. We have not only a right, but an obligation, to follow their performance.

Let's resolve to know not only who our congressmen, senators and representatives are but how they have voted in the past. As journalist Charlie Reese says, "Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them."

Gotta go boot up my hard drive!


May 30, 2010

Tomorrow we will remember those men and women who have given their lives so we can live free. However, as the bumper sticker goes: "Freedom is NOT free." Do we do our part? Do we participate in our society by being involved in our governance? What do we do with the freedom they have earned for us?

One way we can do our share is to help create a society that will honor their service. And, not to sound like a broken record, but one bill sitting on Governor Lingle's desk waiting for veto or approval is such an example. This week I received another notice from the Hawaii Family Forum reminding us that HB 444 is still alive. They provided specific ways to stop the bill: 1) Pray; 2) Call the governor's office (586-0034); 3) Save that number in your cell phone. When you run into like-minded people, dial the number for them & and hand them your phone so they, too, can leave their name/address & veto message; 4) Write a personal letter to the governor in opposition to HB 444 and include a picture of your family; Fax that letter to 586-0006; E-mail that letter and attached picture to: governor.lingle@hawaii.gov. ; or send a hard copy to: Office of the Governor, Hawaii State Capitol, Executive Chambers, Honolulu, HI 96813; 5) Encourage your family and friends to do the same.

Several points to include in your letters or discussions with friends and family are: 1) The Hawaii Legislature is disenfranchising thousands of Hawaii's voters who have consistently lobbied the Legislature in large numbers against HB 444 for the past two years; 2) HB 444 is not the result of sincere legislative debate and honest constituent representation. Rather, it is the product of political maneuvering; 3) Children's physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs are best met with both a mother and a father are in the home.

Gotta go boot up my hard drive! Aloha-- Mary B


May 16, 2010

One of the things that our newly confirmed were asked to do was to ascertain their "talents." It's oftentimes easier to say that we have no talent to share and leave it at that. This week I came across this story that helps us to see that what may look like adversity is really opportunity in disguise.

A parish was having a particularly difficult time, so the pastor decided he needed to raise some extra money. In the storage room, he found several boxes of new bibles that had never been opened. On Sunday he asked if anyone would be willing to try to sell them door to door at $10 each. Three parishioners raised their hands. Two were professional salesmen, and the third was a local farmer who had always kept to himself because he was shy about a speech impediment he had. But, nonetheless, he had offered to try to sell the bibles, and the pastor agreed. The next week, the three men returned to church. The first man proudly presented an envelope with $200, representing the 20 bibles he was able to sell. The next man, smiling and sticking out his chest, said, "I am a professional salesman, and I sold 28 bibles. Here is the $280 I collected. Apprehensively, the pastor turned to the farmer who handed him a large over-stuffed envelope. Inside, he found $3,200. "That's impossible," the other men said. "We're professional salesmen and yet you claim to have sold 10 times as many bibles as we did." The pastor asked the farmer to explain his huge success. The farmer shrugged. "I-I-I re-re-really do-do-don't kn-kn-know f-f-for sh-sh-sure. Frustrated one of the other men said, "For crying out loud, just tell us what you said to them when they answered the door!" The farmer replied, "A-a-a-all I-I-I said w-w-was w-would y-y-you l-l-like to b-buy th-th-this b-b-bible for t-t-ten b-b-bucks---o-o-r w-w-would yo-yo-you l-l-like m-m-me t-t-to st-st-stand h-h-here and r-r-read it to t-t-to y-y-you?'

Gotta go boot up my hard drive! Aloha--- Mary B


May 9, 2010

Let's not forget that this legislative session is not really over. Governor Lingle has almost two months to decide whether or not she will veto HB444, allowing the civil union bill to become law. Please don't wait to contact her, however, because she could make an announcement at any time. She can be reached at 586-0034 or governor.lingle@hawaii,gov. In the meantime, please continue to pray that she, as well as our legislators if called upon again to vote, will make the right decision for our families and our society. Traditional marriage between a man and woman is the basis for civilization. It's pretty simple.

Today we honor the mothers who provide the nurturing that a family needs. A mother provides a safe haven in her home. She provides the encouragement that her children need. Phyllis Diller summed up her thoughts on being a mother when she said, "I want my children to have all the things I couldn't afford. Then I want to move in with them." It helps to have a sense of humor as a mom. Then it also helps to be philosophical as Mark Twain was when he said, "My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it." A kid can drive you crazy during the day, yet as mothers we can stand by their bed at night as they sleep and marvel at the little angel we brought into the world! I'm not really sure that you can grasp the importance of the role you play as a mother until your kids are grown and begin to reminisce about their childhood. They are quick to offer their views on where you went right or wrong and how what you did made their lives either richer or more miserable! I repeat, it helps to have a sense of humor.

So, Happy Mother's Day to all moms! Enjoy the day and the pampering. The laundry, cleaning and dishes will be there tomorrow.

Gotta go boot up my hard drive! Aloha-- Mary B


May 2, 2010

I'm not a big conspiracy theorist, but I woke up Friday morning with a strange feeling that the House intended all session to bring up the civil union measure at the last minute when opponents would have no time to react. It's the reversal of the ploy used last session by the Senate. The only good part of this final vote passing HB 444 is that we have the names of all senators and representatives and how they voted.

Although they will say that this bill is not a "marriage" bill, it is clear to provide to any couple the same privileges extended to those in a traditional marriage. If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck……

This bill will now go to Gov. Lingle's desk. She has three choices: (1) sign the bill into law; (2) veto the bill; or (3) let the bill become law without her signature. She has not indicated her intentions. The House vote was 31 in favor of passage. If Gov. Lingle does veto the bill, they would need 34 signatures to override. We can do the following:
1. Continue to pray.
2. Call 586-0034 or e-mail governor.lingle@hawaii.gov
3. Follow up with your own representative. If your rep. voted "No," thank them for standing against HB 444. Our area reps. who voted "No" were: Henry Aquino; Michael Magaoay; Mark Takai; Ryan Yamane; Lynn Finnegan; Kymberly Pine.
*Those who voted "For" HB 444: Jon Karamatsu-586-8490; Marilyn Lee-586-9460; Roy Takumi-586-6150. Just a simple, polite phone call asking them to rethink their vote is all you need to do. The preamble to the Hawaii Constitution says: "We reserve the right to control our destiny, to nurture the integrity of our people and culture, and to reserve the quality of life that we desire."

Gotta go boot up my hard drive. Aloha--- Mary B




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