Cloning Christ?

January 23, 2009 by  
Filed under Weird

Alright. I’ll be the first to say that this strange story is about as strange as strange can get. But it is significant insofar as modern biomedical technology is very close to, if not already at, the point of actually doing what these researchers are proposing: using extant DNA latent in the blood of long-deceased persons (in this case, from nothing other than the Shroud of Turin), in an attempt to produce a human clone.

Bizarre? Yes. But, sadly, it’s more than a mere theoretical curiosity to those involved in this project. Read what the Russian newspaper Pravda (Правда — which, ironically, means “the truth”) said a couple of years ago about this venture:

Researchers say they would like to clone Christ. But with this good intention they on the contrary may get an antichrist. Famous chemist Alan Adler who studied samples of the Shroud of Turin, the legendary burial cloth into which Jesus Christ was wrapped after crucifixion, made a sensational statement not long ago.

The researcher said there was blood on the Shroud and it was shed by a man who died a violent death.

The University of Texas Center for Advanced DNA Technologies, USA, analyzed the DNA of the bloodstains. Head of the Center Victor Tryon confirmed that was human genetic material. It was divided into several samples and sent to different laboratories for further analysis.

No results of the research have been published yet but there are certainly some. Dr. Leoncio A. Garza-Valdes, one of the few researchers allowed to touch the Shroud of Turin is working on his book that will have a shocking name, The DNA of God.

The very abbreviation DNA seemed to be rather common for majority of people a couple of years ago. But today it is a serious cause for anxiety. Indeed, DNA gives researchers an opportunity to produce clones, a copy of any creature whose DNA is available for experiments. Experiments of this type have been already made public: Dolly the sheep became an absolute cloned copy of a sheep whose genetic material, DNA, was available.

Soon, it became clear that cloning humans was also possible. Professor Richard Seed declared he would solve the human cloning problem by the end of the millennium. He said he was seeking a fitting candidate for cloning. Finally, researchers supposed that blood found on the shroud of Turin might be used as genetic material for cloning  . . . (continue reading)   

Cloning Christ?

January 23, 2009 by  
Filed under Patrick's Blog

Alright. I’ll be the first to say that this strange story is about as strange as strange can get. But it is significant insofar as modern biomedical technology is very close to, if not already at, the point of actually doing what these researchers are proposing: using extant DNA latent in the blood of long-deceased persons (in this case, from nothing other than the Shroud of Turin), in an attempt to produce a human clone.

Bizarre? Yes. But, sadly, it’s more than a mere theoretical curiosity to those involved in this project. Read what the Russian newspaper Pravda (Правда — which, ironically, means “the truth”) said a couple of years ago about this venture:

Researchers say they would like to clone Christ. But with this good intention they on the contrary may get an antichrist. Famous chemist Alan Adler who studied samples of the Shroud of Turin, the legendary burial cloth into which Jesus Christ was wrapped after crucifixion, made a sensational statement not long ago.

The researcher said there was blood on the Shroud and it was shed by a man who died a violent death.

The University of Texas Center for Advanced DNA Technologies, USA, analyzed the DNA of the bloodstains. Head of the Center Victor Tryon confirmed that was human genetic material. It was divided into several samples and sent to different laboratories for further analysis.

No results of the research have been published yet but there are certainly some. Dr. Leoncio A. Garza-Valdes, one of the few researchers allowed to touch the Shroud of Turin is working on his book that will have a shocking name, The DNA of God.

The very abbreviation DNA seemed to be rather common for majority of people a couple of years ago. But today it is a serious cause for anxiety. Indeed, DNA gives researchers an opportunity to produce clones, a copy of any creature whose DNA is available for experiments. Experiments of this type have been already made public: Dolly the sheep became an absolute cloned copy of a sheep whose genetic material, DNA, was available.

Soon, it became clear that cloning humans was also possible. Professor Richard Seed declared he would solve the human cloning problem by the end of the millennium. He said he was seeking a fitting candidate for cloning. Finally, researchers supposed that blood found on the shroud of Turin might be used as genetic material for cloning  . . . (continue reading)   

My “Debate” With Bishop Gumbleton on Gays in the Priesthood

January 23, 2009 by  
Filed under Patrick's Blog

A couple of years ago, I was asked to appear on a secular talk-radio show to discuss the issue of homosexuals in the priesthood with now-retired Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, a perennial fixture within the “progressive” fringe of dissenting Catholics. He argued the case that homosexuals in the priesthood is no problem at all. I, as you might guess, said exactly the opposite. It was a brief discussion, only about 20 minutes (including a commercial break), but long enough to see two very different approaches to this important issue. What are your thoughts?

Listen to the show here:

Part one


P.S. Awhile ago, the late-great Father Neuhaus commented briefly here on this issue.

Islam’s Long-Awaited “12th Imam” and What That Means for You

January 23, 2009 by  
Filed under Patrick's Blog



“It is said that in the 10th century, the 12th and last Imam of the Shiite branch of Islam disappeared. He is said to be hidden by God and will reappear at the end of history to lead an era of Islamic justice. Actions by, and rumors about, Iran’s president have renewed interest in the 12th Imam.”  (Additional info)

Islam's Long-Awaited “12th Imam” and What That Means for You

January 23, 2009 by  
Filed under Patrick's Blog



“It is said that in the 10th century, the 12th and last Imam of the Shiite branch of Islam disappeared. He is said to be hidden by God and will reappear at the end of history to lead an era of Islamic justice. Actions by, and rumors about, Iran’s president have renewed interest in the 12th Imam.”  (Additional info)

25 Random Things About NekoGal

January 23, 2009 by  
Filed under Patrick's Blog

Okay, I admit that I don’t share her love for cats. Not. At. All. But I’m definitely sympatico with her love for languages, especially Japanese (though she’s a great deal more advanced in Nihongo than I am). When I first discovered her blog, I complimented her on the layout and design. Y’all say hi to NekoGal, our Catholic galpal in Singapore.

Margaret Sanger: Planned Parenthood’s Racist Founder

January 22, 2009 by  
Filed under Patrick's Blog

About the 5-minute mark is where she talks about her eugenics solution to the “negro problem.” But watch the whole thing to get the full effect. Please share this far and wide, especially with young women, who are the vulnerable targets of the nefarious organization.


Margaret Sanger: Planned Parenthood's Racist Founder

January 22, 2009 by  
Filed under Patrick's Blog

About the 5-minute mark is where she talks about her eugenics solution to the “negro problem.” But watch the whole thing to get the full effect. Please share this far and wide, especially with young women, who are the vulnerable targets of the nefarious organization.


Could It Come to This?

January 22, 2009 by  
Filed under Patrick's Blog

(click headline to read and post comments)

Those of you who know me personally know that I’m not an apocalyptic type of guy. I don’t put stock in conspiracy theories. I don’t see black helicopters anywhere, and I don’t follow the “prophecy” prognosticators.

I do, however, follow what’s being discussed and forecast in the mainstream media, and even though many still blythely assume that, at least as far as the economy goes, things have gotten as bad as they’re going to get and the economy will soon be on the upswing, I am not so sure. In fact, when I listen to people like economist Peter Schiff, I find myself growing pessemistic about the likelihood of a rebound anytime soon and how things could get much worse rather quickly.

So, when balanced, trusted sources who happen to be my friends and work in the purely secular financial world send me articles like this, and this, and this, and they tell me, as one recently did, “the scary thing is that nothing in the article is exaggerated or fabricated,” I take notice.

This is yet another reminder to me of why I am so grateful that, by God’s grace, I am Catholic. We have the certitude of knowing that, come what may, Jesus Christ is with us and, as He said, “In the world you will have tribulation. But be of good cheer for I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). But notice that the Lord’s promise of having overcome the world includes the reminder that there will be tribulations we must pass through.

The articles I linked to above are brief but representative of many others out there, and they raise unsettling questions that require further elaboration and study.

I’d be curious to know what you think about them. Do you think these warnings are just baseless  fearmongering, or is there some truth to them? I’m not sure yet which way I would tilt on this question, but with everything wierd and unsettling that’s been going on in the world lately, especially in the U.S., I’m definitely paying closer attention to things like this. What about you?

Greed

January 22, 2009 by  
Filed under Patrick's Blog

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