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The NFL and a major television network are apologizing today for another Super Bowl Halftime show scandal, this one involving British singer M.I.A. who flashed an extended middle finger during the show.

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Women of Grace enjoyed a lively response from the TV episode on genetically modified organisms (GMOs).  What is a GMO? Essentially a genetically modified organism (typically food) is the insertion of gene components from one species into a target organism of another species. For instance, a fungus-eating bacteria may be coded via bio-technology into a variety of corn so that the resulting GMO corn seed is more resistant to fungus.  The new seed is then patented by the bio-tech corporation.  Such seeds are attractive to agribusiness because they increase yields (less loss to pests) and profits. Proponents argue that GMO seeds will “feed the world.”  But, are there risks?

Most of us have simply trusted that a trip to the grocery meant a purchase of nutritionally sound food for our families. While trust in our food sources was once well placed, we no longer have such assurances. Today we face an urgent food crisis, literally seeds of our destruction.

Perhaps you recall the panic in Great Britain in the late 1990s over “mad cow disease.”   Soon afterwards, the rest of Europe, Canada and the United States refused to allow imports of British meats. Governments moved to protect their populations from deadly food contaminations. More recently, Chinese baby food exports were found to contain melamine, a by-product of plastic manufacturing. Why would plastic be used in infant formula? Melamine was used as an additive that mimics protein at a fraction of the cost. And this past summer Germany was put on alert when over 3000 people were sickened and more than 50 died from consuming sprouts on their salads. The sprouts were grown in Germany from bacteria-contaminated seeds shipped from Egypt.

These three examples (and there are thousands more!) illustrate the point of this post: Food has gone global. Food is a key element in the global economy. Giant corporations seek advantages in the international markets. Governments regulate the import and export of food products and food additives to protect their populations and their own agribusinesses. Global trade in food is often a blessing—surplus food can be shipped to nations where crop failures cause famines. Food aid is rushed to countries suffering from natural disasters. However, food can also be used as a political tool, an economic club, or even a means to curb population growth.

Yet, a second factor to the globalization of food is more alarming: Some globalized mega- corporations seek to control the very genetic code of the food that is produced everywhere on the planet. This is the crucial difference: A few corporations no longer hope to create a product that will sell well in global markets; they seek to control all commercial-grade seeds so that farmers will be dependent on such seeds each year. That is, they seek to control the food of the world.  How?   Two methods overlap.  The first is the production of seeds deliberately engineered not to germinate from saved seeds.  Community or small scale farmers cannot save seed for the next season’s crop. Second is the growing dominance of GMO seeds.  It’s true that nature cannot be patented.   Bio-tech firms splice genes to create a new organism—one that has never existed before –and the new gene code (for seeds or animals) is then patented. These patents permit a few international corporations to “own” the seeds of basic food crops.

In just15 years the avalanche of genetically modified foods (GMOs) has taken huge a market share of commercial agribusiness. Soy, corn, canola, papaya, sugar beets, alfalfa and cotton have been modified for mass market farming. Conceivably, farmers will soon lose the ability to grow crops from traditional seed, and, will be forced to re-purchase new seeds each year.

Does this sound like science fiction?  Let’s look at what one company spokesman said, “The hope of the industry is that over time the market is so flooded that there’s nothing you can do about it. You just sort of surrender.” (quoted in Toronto Sun 1.9.2001)

Next: Are GMO Foods Safe?

©Mary Jo Anderson  February 2012

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Two jaws containing the remains of two babies between 20 and 26 weeks gestation were found in the basement of a home in Hannibal, Missouri where abortions were once preformed.

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The government stumbled badly this past week when it attempted to stop Catholic chaplains on military bases from reading the same letter of protest against the HHS mandate read in most parishes during the last few weeks, and was forced to backtrack when confronted by the Archbishop of the Military. In military if you are charged with rape or any sexual assault then this content is useful for you to take right attorney for your case.

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A Catholic College located in suburban Philadelphia sponsored a fortune teller who entertained hundreds of students during a "Psychic Night" held last month.

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Psalm 27

The Lord is my light and my salvation;

whom should I fear?

The Lord is my life’s refuge;

of whom should I be afraid?

When evildoers come at me

to devour my flesh,

My foes and my enemies

themselves stumble and fall.

Though an army encamp against me,

My heart will not fear;

Though war be waged upon me,

Even then will I trust…

For he will hide me in his abode

In the day of trouble;

He will conceal me in the shelter of his tent,

he will set me high upon a rock…

Wait for the Lord with courage;

be stout-hearted, and wait for the Lord.

For Reflection: Meditate on Psalm 27 in light of the Flight into Egypt. Why would this psalm have been an apt prayer for Our Lady and St. Joseph from the time the angel bid them leave for Egypt until their return trip home? What parts of the psalm speak to you most deeply? What part would you most like to emulate?

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An angel appears to St. Joseph in a dream and tells him to take the Baby Jesus and Mary to Egypt because Herod is seeking to kill the child. Egypt had been regarded as a place of safe refuge since the time of the Maccabees.

For Reflection:              Read Matthew 2:13-15. What virtues do you see in St. Joseph’s response to the angel’s command? Though not explicitly stated, with what virtues do you think Mary responded (recall her response to the news of Elizabeth’s pregnancy)?  What emotions do you think they experienced? Is there an incident in your own life with which you can compare Mary’s experience? What virtues did you exhibit? How was the presence of Christ revealed to you in that time and how did His presence encourage you?

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I went to Cconfession today. And once again, I was overcome by the gracious goodness of our God. It caused me to wonder why it is that we do not use this sacrament more frequently.

I do know numbers of dear souls who have made a pledge of sorts to go to the Sacrament of Penance at least once a month. And this is commendable -- laudable, even. And I know other souls who frequent the Sacrament bi-weekly or even weekly. This is saintly.

It is said that Pope John Paul II went to confession every day. Imagine. Every day!  He, like so many others who have been raised to the altar of Christ, discovered the treasury of grace that awaits us in the Sacrament even when grave sin is not present. Simply put, the Sacrament of Reconciliation is restorative. It is, after all, a sacrament of healing.

For myself this morning, I found it to be exactly that: restorative. And renewing, revitalizing. redeeming. The graces received in the quiet and solitude of confronting Our Lord with our weakness and frailties, our struggles and concerns, our discouragements and frustrations are boundless -- like God's own mercy of which they are replete.

Something about exposing the dark parts of our being to the rays of light that emanate from the Heart of  Christ sets us free in new ways. It affects every part of us -- our psyche, our emotions, our spiritual life to be sure, even our physiology -- all are inundated with the healing love of God and, in that holy exchange of Heart-to-heart, new life comes.

I remember one of my teachers in grade school tell us that she often prayed that God would let her die right after receiving the Sacrament of Penance because she would go straight to Heaven. My little girl's mind strove to plumb the depths of what this good and holy religious woman was imparting. She pointed to the sun shining on the snow outside of our classroom window so bright it was near blinding. "That", she said, "is what a soul looks like when it has made a good confession." I got it then. I understood.  At least to some extent. Today, I understand more.

What is your burden this day? Is it a deep sin for which you need to receive forgiveness? Is it a weakness or tendency from which you wish to be set free? How about discouragement, hopelessness, or despair? There is a solution. Run -- don't walk -- to the Sacrament! Be set free!

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“The references to Mary in Scripture transcend the limits of her own personality in order to be the symbol of all humanity. She becomes for us a sign, or symbol, of eternal values. All that has been revealed to us about her is for the sake of our own participation in the redemption wrought by her Son.”

                                                      Sister Mary Elise Krantz, S. N.D.

 

For Reflection:              What eternal value(s) is Mary a sign or symbol of at the Presentation? Consider this in light of the last sentence of the quote. How does this apply to your own life in general? Specifically? Right now?

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After an onslaught of negative press, the hacking of their servers, and threats from all corners of the abortion industry, Susan G. Koman (SGK) for the Cure issued a new statement today which appears to reverse a decision to cease providing grants to Planned Parenthood, although the statement is nuanced enough to suggest they just might be looking for some "breathing room."

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