Weekend Weather/Trash Trouble/FOCA

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
Wednesday's severe weather total was 172 (10 of those tornadoes in Georgia--only 1 injury reported). It was high wind that caused 1 death in Georgia -- trees falling on a house. There were NO severe reports today (Thursday).

Friday's weather will be tranquil. There will be scattered snow from the northern Rockies to the Great Lakes to the northeast. There will be rain in St. Louis. Highs will be in the teens across the northern plains while the southern states will be bathed in sunshine and will enjoy highs in the 60s and 70s.

Houston will be pleasant and sunny with a low near 40 and a high in the upper 60s. Clouds return Saturday and there will be showers in the afternoon. Sunday will be cool and sunny with lows near 40 and highs in the low 60s.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do memorial or conmemorativo, pronounced cown-meh-more-ah-tee-VOH. Steve Austin's fathers conmemorativo was very moving.

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AND MORE
Well here is a pet peeve for you...what is up with all the trash? Gordy and I see so much trash on our long walks. We walk along Oyster Creek path and there is trash up and down the banks of the creek. I teased Gordy that I am going to bring along a trash bag as he picks so much stuff up. But seriously folks, how hard is it to put the trash in a trash can? They are everywhere!!! And even if you in a car, you can wait until you get home and throw the items away.

When I went to St. Mary's in Brownsville, Texas, our principal, Sister Antoinette, had a big problem with trash on the school grounds. Frequently, she would have the entire school student body go outside and scour the grounds for trash. Our grounds were immaculate...it was like winning the lottery to find a piece of trash to throw away. We need more Sister Antoinette's in this world.

I am not one to force my religious opinions on others. But even before I knew the official teaching of the Catholic chuch, I was adamantly opposed to abortion. To me, it seemed unbelievable that a life, however dependent, and no matter at what stage of development, could be considered anything but life. At mass this last weekend, our church body signed 3 post cards opposing the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA). These cards are going to our various congress people. This is something being undertaken by every Catholic church in America. Even if you are not opposed to abortion, you should know that FOCA will allow girls who are minors to obtain abortions--without parental knowledge and definitely without consent. And, Catholic hospitals will be required to perform abortions. The church is prepared to close every Catholic hospital if this comes to pass.

My mother forwarded the following Associated Press article about Nancy Pelosi's recent visit with the pope.
VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday told U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, a Catholic who supports abortion rights, that Catholic politicians have a duty to protect life "at all stages of its development," the Vatican said.
Pelosi is the first top Democrat to meet with Benedict since the election of Barack Obama, who won a majority of the=2 0Catholic vote despite differences with the Vatican on abortion.
The Vatican released remarks by the pope to Pelosi, saying Benedict spoke of the church's teaching "on the dignity of human life from conception to natural death." That is an expression often used by the pope when expressing opposition to abortion.
Benedict said all Catholics—especially legislators, jurists and political leaders—should work to create "a just system of laws capable of protecting human life at all stages of its development."
Pelosi could not immediately be reached after the 15-minute meeting, which was closed to reporters and photographers. The two met in a small room of a Vatican auditorium after the pope's weekly public audience.
A number of the bishops in the United States have questioned Pelosi's stance on abortion, particularly her theological defense of her support for abortion rights.
Benedict has cautiously welcomed the new Democratic administration, although several American cardinals have sharply criticized its support of abortion rights in a break from former President George W. Bush.

Have a fantastic Friday everyone!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman