[MUSIC] >> Doug: WELCOME TO FATHER SPITZER'S UNIVERSE. I'M DOUG KECK YOUR HOST AT THE BUSY INTERSECTION OF FAITH AND REASON, YES, BOTH STILL EXIST IN THIS INTERESTING WORLD WE LIVE IN TODAY. AND YOUR QUESTIONS ARE IMPORTANT TO US ON THIS PROGRAM. YOU CAN EMAIL THEM TO US, CHECKS OUT ON FACEBOOK, THE ONLY TWEET US ON TWITTER FOR ALL THINGS FATHER SPITZER THERE'S THE MAGIS CENTER WEBSITE AND CREDIBLECATHOLIC.COM THAT WE USE ON THIS PROGRAM. RIGHT NOW WE'RE GOING THROUGH GOD AND SATAN AND THE BATTLE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL. THAT BOOK IS AVAILABLE ON WWW.EWTNRC.COM FOR ALL THINGS FATHER SPITZER AND CATHOLIC. ALSO BOOK OF THE MONTH, MAKING A HOLY LENT WITH FATHER CASEY. AND THE FOUR LAST THINGS ALWAYS POPULAR, DR. WADE MENEZES AS WELL AVAILABLE THROUGH THE BETWEEN RELIGIOUS CATALOG. NATURALLY AS WE MOVE AHEAD THROUGH LENT AND HERE IS FATHER SPITZER. GOOD TO SEE YOU. >> GREAT TO BE WITH YOU DOUG. HAVE CONTINUED HAPPY LENT. >> SO DO YOU WANT TO ICK KICK US OFF WITH A PRAYER. >> IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER SON AND HOLY SPIRIT AMEN. WE GIVE YOU THANKS FOR YOUR MANY BLESSINGS TO US, BLESSINGS ESPECIALLY OF THIS WONDERFUL LENTEN SEASON THAT LEADS UP TO OUR CELEBRATION OF THE RESURRECTION OF YOUR SON. WE ASK YOU THAT WE MIGHT PULL CLOSER TO YOU IN RELATIONSHIP THROUGH THIS LENTEN SACRIFICE AND THROUGH THE SEASON, ASK YOU TO SEND YOUR HOLY SPIRIT DOWN UPON DOUG, MYSELF, OUR WHOLE AUDIENCE THIS DAY SO THAT EVERYTHING WE DO AND SAY WILL BE BROUGHT TO FRUITION IN YOUR WILL FOR THE GOOD OF YOUR CHURCH AND KINGDOM, THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD, AMEN. AND MARY, SEAT OF WISDOM PRAY FOR US. >> IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT. >> AMEN. >> VERY GOOD. SO YOUR HEALTH IS WELL, AND -- ABSOLUTELY. >> AND YOU'RE ALL VACCINATED AND EVERYTHING. DID YOU GET BOTH SHOTS. >> I'M DOUBLE VACCINATED. YES. >> DID YOU EVER ANY BAD DAYS AFTER ANY OF IT THAT YOU NOTICED AT ALL? >> I JUST HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A CHILL FOR ABOUT MAYBE 24 HOURS, AND IT WAS REALLY NOTHING TO SPEAK OF. AND YOU KNOW I HAVE HEARD A FEW PEOPLE WHO SAID THEY HAD A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A REACTION BUT I REALLY DIDN'T. NOTHING TO SPEAK OF. >> SO WAS THAT AFTER THE FIRST OR SECOND SHOT YOU HAD THAT. >> THE SECOND SHOT. FIRST SHOT I FELT NOTHING. >> INTERESTING. THAT'S ABOUT RIGHT. >> LET ME ASK YOU, A SHORT THING AND JUST KIND OF AN INTERESTING STATEMENT. I THINK IT WAS GEORGE WEI LGEL WRITING IN AN ARTICLE IN THE CATHOLIC WORLD REPORT AND I THOUGHT THIS QUOTE WAS INTERESTING TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE ISSUES IN THE CHURCH AND THE WHOLE IDEA THAT KIND OF THIS WORLD WE LIVE IN SOMETIMES OF CATHOLIC LIGHT. AND HIS POINT WAS THE PROBLEM IS, IF YOU FOLLOW A ROAD WITH CATHOLIC LIGHT IT EPISODE UP WITH CATHOLIC ZERO AND THAT'S WHERE YOU SEE IT IN MANY PLACES AROUND THE GLOBE. IF THAT'S THE CASE, WHY IS IT THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE SEEM TO BUY INTO THAT APPROACH: WELL, I THINK HONESTLY IT'S SUCCUMBING TO THE SECULAR CULTURE'S PRESSURE, AND THE PRESSURE COMES FROM A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT SOURCES. I BELIEVE IT OR NOT SOCIAL MEDIA DOES EXERT PRESSURE ON PEOPLE. SO THEY GET A LOT OF THESE DIFFERENT FOLKS YOU KNOW PUSHING ON THEM TO QUOTE/UNQUOTE LIGHTEN UP, NO PUN INTENDED AND FURTHER, THEY'RE WATCHING THEIR COMPUTERS, WATCHING A VARIETY OF WEBSITES AND GETTING CLUED INTO WEBSITE FROM VARIOUS SOURCES. AND THESE WEBSITES HONESTLY JUST CHISEL AWAY AT YOU AND FINALLY YOU BEGIN TO THINK AM I NUTS? SO THAT EFFECT OF WHAT I CALL SOCIAL NORMING ON PREVIOUS SHOWS BEGINS TO TAKE HOLD. SO YOU THINK, WELL, WAIT A MINUTE HERE, I'M JUST OUT OF TOUCH WITH THE MAINSTREAM. I'M WAY UP HERE IN TERMS OF MY MORAL COMPASS AND STANDARDS AND THE CULTURE'S OVER HERE. I NEED TO BELONG MORE TO THE MAINSTREAM. I NEED TO BELONG MORE TO MY FRIENDS. SO WHAT HAPPENS YOU KIND OF COMPROMISE AND COMPROMISE AND YOU TALK YOURSELF OUT OF THE SANITY OF GOOD MORALITY, THE SANITY OF A TIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD, THE SANITY OF REAL RELIGIOUS SACRAMENTAL PRACTICE OPEN A REGULAR BASIS AND EVEN MORE THAN JUST ON SUNDAYS OR THE OCCASIONAL CONFESSION. YOU GOING TO KNOW TALK YOURSELF OUT OF IT AND THEN EVENTUALLY AS THE DISTANCE GROWS, IT GETS EASIER AND EASIER TO CONTINUE TO TALK YOURSELF OUT OF IT. EASIER AND EASIER TO CONFIRM YOURSELF TO YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA BUDDIES, CONFORM YOURSELF TO THE MAINSTREAM OF THE CULTURE, CONFORM YOURSELF TO THE MAINSTREAM OF THE WEBSITES YOU'RE READING AND IT JUST CONTINUES TO PLUMMET FROM THERE UNTIL IT BECOMES CATHOLIC ZERO, AS WEIGEL SAID. >> WE WILL START WITH THE FIRST QUESTION HERE AS WE MOVE INTO THE PROGRAM. DEAR FATHER SPITZER, HI, GUYS, YOU AND FATHER SPITZER HAVE A FANTASTIC SHOW. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I SHOW YOU WILL CONTINUE TO DISCUSS CATHOLIC ISSUES OF MORALITY EVEN AS THEY RELATE TO POLITICS. I THINK THIS IS PROBABLY IN RESPONSE TO A REASON QUESTION WE HAVE. WE LIVE IN A CULTURE GOVERNED BY PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT AN EVIL AGENDA. I APPRECIATE THE AWARENESS AND INFORMATION. THAT'S JOAN. JUST WANTED TO PASS THAT ALONG. >> THANKS SO MUCH. GREAT. I APPRECIATE IT. YEAH, I THINK IT'S OUR MORAL OBLIGATION TO DO IT. YOU CAN'T SILENT ABOUT INJUSTICES THAT SHOULD BE PERCEIVED NOT ONLY THROUGH THE LENS OF CATHOLICISM BUT THROUGH THE LENS OF THE NATURAL LAW. WE NEED TO BRING THAT RIGHT TO THE FRONT BECAUSE THESE ARE ISSUES OF REAL JUSTICE, KILLING INNOCENT HUMAN BEINGS IS A JUST ISSUE. WE CANNOT SEPARATE IT FROM THE WORD AND THAT'S WHY THE NATURAL LAW IMPINGES ON IT, AND WE SHOULD BE SPEAKING ABOUT IT IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE. THIS IS NOT FORCING OUR CATHOLIC RELIGION ON THE WORLD. IT'S SPEAKING ABOUT JUST. BECAUSE KILLING HUMAN BEING BEINGS IS PRETTY LARGE. WE SHOULD BE DISCUSSING THIS EVERYWHERE WE ARE AND ON THIS SHOW. THANK YOU FOR THE VOTE OF CONFIDENCE. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. >> ANOTHER QUESTION: DEAR FATHER SPITZER. I RESEARCHED FATHER SPITZER'S EYE CONDITION AND STEM CELL RESEARCH IS MENTIONED. WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO CONDONE STEM CELL RESEARCH. SO WHY IS HE CONSIDERING IT? OR HAVE I MISINTERPRETED? >> THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF STEM CELL RESEARCH. ONE IS CALL EMBRYONIC AND THE OTHER IS CALLED ADULT STEM CELL RESEARCH. AS CATHOLICS WE ARE ALLOWED TO RECEIVE ANY KIND OF ADULT STEM CELL TREATMENT. THAT WOULD BE FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE WHEN I WENT TO MY DOCTOR'S OFFICE, HE GOES UNDERNEATH MY ARM AND HE JUST PULLS OUT SOME OF THAT SKIN TISSUE AND FAT TISSUE THAT IS UNDERNEATH MY ARM RIGHT HERE. IT'S JUST A LITTLE VIAL OF IT. THEN HE PRODUCES THE STEM CELLS THAT ARE NEEDED. THERE'S ACTUALLY A PROCESS WHERE YOU CAN TURN A STEM CELL INTO ANYTHING YOU WANT. SO YOU USE BASICALLY A TECHNIQUE TO REDUCE THE STEM CELL BACK A NOTCH SO THAT IT TRULY IS A STEM CELL THAT CAN BECOME ANY STEM CELL. NOT A STEM CELL THAT IS ORIENTED TOWARD BECOMING A SKIN CELL. SO BASICALLY YOU GO BACK TO A PUREE PROTEIN STAGE AND ONES IT'S THERE YOU CAN TURN IT INTO A RETINAL CELL LIKE A ROD OR CONE AND THEN YOU CAN INJECT IT INTO THE EYE OR IN THE CASE OF THE TREATMENT THAT I WAS PURSUING AT ONE TIME YOU CAN ACTUALLY GET A LITTLE A LITTLE BIT. OF IT IN YOUR EYE AND AN ACCURATE -- IT'S ALL MY STEM CELLS. IT DOESN'T COME FROM A HUMAN EMBRYO AT ALL. NOT ONLY DOES THE CATHOLIC CHURCH SUPPORT IT, THE CATHOLIC CHURCH SUPPORTS RESEARCH IN THAT AREA OF ADULT STEM CELLS. REMEMBER THAT ONE WORD EMBRYONIC IS WHAT YOU ATTACH TO IT AND MAKES IT PROBLEMATIC. BECAUSE IF YOU DO EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS THEN YOU ARE USING -- OUR AN EMBRYO THAT HAS BEEN ABORTED AND YOU'RE USING THEM, THAT HUMAN BEING THAT WAS EITHER ONCE THERE OR IS THERE IN STEM LINE -- STEM CELLS, YOU'RE USING THAT HUMAN BEING SIMPLY AS A MATTER OF PRODUCING STEM CELLS. YOU'RE USING IT TO BECOME A MANUFACTURING MECHANISM TO PRODUCE STEM CELLS AFTER WHICH YOU KILL IT OR MAYBE IT WAS ALREADY KILLED BY ABORTION AND YOU JUST PICKED UP THE CELLS FROM THERE AND ARE USING IT TO CREATE STEM CELL LINES FOR RESEARCH. TERRIBLY IMMORAL. BECAUSE FIRST OF ALL YOU SHOULDN'T BE USING A HUMAN BEING OBVIOUSLY AS A MECHANISM TO PRODUCE STEM CELLS TO HELP SOMEBODY AND THEN KILLING THEM -- KILLING HUMAN BEINGS IS BAD IN ITS SELF WHETHER ARE THEY'RE IN THE WOMB OR OUT YOU HAVE WOMB. SO YES BAN EMBRYONIC SELL CREMES. BUT FOR ADULT STEM CELL TREATMENTS IT'S PERFECTLY LEGITIMATE. THEY'RE YOUR OWN STEM CELLS. THEY'RE REGRESSED BACK TO A PLURI PROTEIN STAGE AND THEN INSERTED IN THE PLACE WHERE YOU WANT THE CELL TO BE. FOR ME IT WOULD BE CONES ON THE SURFACE OF MY RETINA. >> SINCE THIS BROUGHT THIS QUESTION UP, SO WHAT IS THE STATUS ON YOU IN RELATION TO HAVING ANYTHING DONE? OBVIOUSLY COVID HAS PUT A BIG STOP SIGN IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL OF THIS. >> IT HAS. I HAVE BEEN PURSUING TWO THINGS. I'M TRYING TO GET A CRISPR INJECTION IF POSSIBLE, AND THAT'S A LITTLE UP IN THE AIR RIGHT NOW. BUT I THINK MAYBE WE'RE CLOSING IN ON THE POSSIBILITY OF IT BUT IT'S AN INJECTION. CRISPR IS DIFFERENT FROM STEM CELL TREATMENT I WAS TALKING ABOUT. THE CRISPR TREATMENT, WHAT YOU DO, YOU TAKE A MOLECULE GET A VIRAL VECTORIAL. YOU BASICALLY TAG A VIRUS SO IT WILL GO TO A PARTICULAR CELL. ALL OF MY RODS AND CONES ON THE SURFACE OF MY EYE ARE CALLED PHOTO APPROXIMATE REACTOR CELLS RETINITIS PIGMENTOSA, YOU PUT A MOLECULE IN THAT BASICALLY GIVES DNA INSTRUCTIONS. YOU PUT IT IN THE VIRUS. THIS ALTERED DNA STRING. AND IT GOES AND TARGETS THIS PHOTO TRANSMITTER CELL. BUT IT TELLS THAT PHOTO TRANSMITTER CELL YOU'RE NOT A PHOTO TRANSMITTER CELL. YOU'RE REALLY A RECEPTOR CELL LIKE A CONE. THEN IT SAYS WHEN YOU REPRODUCE AND REPLICATE, REPLICATE A CONE INSTEAD OF A PHOTO TRANSMITTER CELL AND IT STARTS GROWING ALL OF THESE CONES ON THE SURFACE OF YOUR EYE. AND YOU MAY HAVE SEEN -- IT WAS OF BASICALLY ONE OF THOSE 60 MINUTE SHOWS. THIS IS MAYBE THREE YEARS AGO OR MAYBE MORE WHERE, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS THESE MONKEYS, AND THEY HAD BEEN -- THEY WERE BLIND FROM RP, AND AN INJECTION WAS GIVEN TO THEM AND WITH THE VIRAL VECTOR THAT HAD THE CHANGED DNA INSTRUCTIONS, YOU KNOW, THAT WENT TO THE PHOTO TRANSMITTER CELLS. AFTER A MONTH, THOSE MONKEYS COULD SEE JUST A LITTLE PIECE OF BANANA BEING WAIVED IN FRONT OF THEM BY A RESEARCHER. AND THAT HAND WAS SINGING OUT THERE TO CATCH THE PIECE OF BANANA FROM THE RESEARCHER. SO THEY BASICALLY OBTAINED A GREAT DEAL OF VISION BACK. BUT THIS IS NOW IN PHASE ONE CLINICAL TRIAL IN VARIOUS PLACES. BUT I'M NOT SURE, YOU KNOW, I'M TRYING TO GET INTO THE PROTOCOL AND WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE LONG RUN. >> WE WILL ALL PRAY FOR YOU AS WE HAVE BEEN ALL ALONG. >> IF IT'S GOD'S WILL, YOU KNOW, IT WILL HAPPEN. IF IT'S NOT GOD'S WILL. I'M HAPPY BECAUSE I JUST WANT GOD'S WILL BECAUSE THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS LIFE IS GET TO HEAVEN. WHETHER I'M REMIND IN HEAVEN -- LET'S SAY I WILL JUST KEEP FOLLOWING HIS GOOD INSTRUCTIONS. >> THAT'S UPLIFTING I MUST SAY. THANK YOU FATHER. I WISH WHO MORE OF US IN OUR OWN SITUATIONS COULD SEE THAT POSITIVE ASPECT. AND I GUESS IF YOU FOCUSED ON THE LORD, IT HELPS. A QUESTION: DEAR FATHER SPITZER: IN THIS LIFE I HAVE FIND IT IMPOSSIBLE TO RID MYSELF OF SINFUL TEMPTATIONS. IT'S SAID WE GO TO PURGATORY TO CLEAR OURSELVES OF THIS TEMPTATION. HOW DO WE DO IT IN PURGATORY IF I CAN'T DO IT NOW. I FEEL I WILL BE IN PURGATORY FOREVER UNABLE TO TEE TAP FROM TEMPTATIONS. >> RONIN, YOU'RE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR TEMPTATIONS. YOU CAN ENTERTAIN THOSE TEMPTATIONS LONGER THAN YOU WOULD WANT TO DO. BUT YOU'RE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TEMPTATIONS COMING ON. EVEN ST. ANTHONY IN THE DESSERT, WHERE HE IS OUT THERE GETTING TEMPTED ALL THE TIME. HERE IS THIS GREAT SAINT AND HE IS TEMPTED RIGHT AND LEFT AND PADRE PIA, AND EVENT SATAN WENT AFTER JESUS ALONE IN THE DESERT. SO RONIN, YOU ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TEMPTATIONS. OUR RESPONSIBILITY BEGINS WHEN WE START ENTERTAINING THEM. AND YOU KNOW, TEMPTATIONS CAN COME FROM A VARIOUS OF PLACE ELSE WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE ANY VOLUNTARY CONTROL OVER THEM. SO FOR EXAMPLE, YOU COULD GET IT FROM YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS MIND. THE SUBCONSCIOUS MIND HAS ALL KINDS OF IMAGES AND THINGS THAT IT SHOOTS UP AT ITS CONVENIENCE. YOU CAN SEE HOW THAT HAPPENED. ANOTHER THING THAT OFTENTIMES HAPPENS, SATAN CONTINUES TO BADGER YOU TELL WITH ALL KINDS OF TEMPTATIONS. AND HE CAN DO IT BECAUSE IT'S IN THE IMAGINATION AND HE CAN MAKE ALL OF THESE SUGGESTIONS TO YOU. THAT -- YOU ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT ANY MORE THAN JESUS OR SAINT ANTHONY OR PADRE PIE OR ANYONE ELSE. BUT ONCE THAT IF OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO TRY AND SAY I'M GOING TO STOP INTERNALIZING AND BEING FASCINATED BY IT AND THINKING IT THROUGH. I, BY NO MEANS, HAVE GOT IT MYSELF. AFTER YOU WORK ON IT EASTER LONG PERIOD OF TIME, AND PLEASE BE PATIENT WITH YOURSELF BECAUSE IT'S NOT EASY TO DO AND IT DOESN'T HAPPEN EASILY. BUT AFTER A WHILE YOU CAN ACTUALLY GET SOME PROGRESS MADE AND YOU CAN GET PRETTY GOOD AS RESISTING THESE TEMPTATIONS BECAUSE YOU SAY THIS THING IS POPPING UPAL AND SAY, LORD, I PUT MY STOCK WITH YOU AND THE BLESSED MOTHER AND I'M STOPPING IT. AND SOMETIMES I HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF SUCCESS KEYING IT AWAY AND SOMETIMES I STOP AND REENTERTAIN IT AND GO BACK AND THEN STOP AGAIN. AND THEN FINALLY GET IT UNDER CONTROL. SO YOU JUST HAVE TO SORT OF BE PATIENT WITH YOURSELF. BUT IF YOU KEEP STRUGGLING, IT'S WORTH IT BECAUSE YOU GET PRETTY GOOD AT RECOGNIZING WHEN IT'S THEIR. SOMETIMES IT JUST TAILS YOU SO MUCH BY SURPRISE, YOU CAN JUST DRIFT OFF INTO THE THING. AND EVEN IN THE MIDDLE OF CONTEMPLATION, YOU CAN BE -- LET'S SUPPOSE YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT SOME GUY WHO BUSTED YOUR CHOPS EARLIER IN THE DAY. AND NOW YOU'RE AT PRAYER. SO YOU'RE SITTING THERE IN PRAYER AND YOU DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT AND THIS THING IS HAD WELLING IT UP IN YOUR MIND AND YOU'RE SITTING THERE AND THEN YOU SAY WAIT A MINUTE, THIS IS PRAYER! SO IT CAN BE VERY SNEAKY HOW IT COMES UP ON YOU. AND THAT ALSO CAN BE DO I FEEL CONTROL. BUT BELIEVE ME, IT'S WORTH THE STRUGGLE. DON'T WORRY ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN PURGATORY. BECAUSE THE LORD'S GRACE -- IF YOU'RE DOING YOUR PART AND TRYING TO STRUGGLE AND TRYING TO SEE I FIGHT AGAINST IT AND IF YOU'RE HAVING TO GO BACK TO AND IT STOP IT AND ET CETERA, DON'T WORRY. GOD WILL TAKE HOLD ULTIMATELY AND DO FOR US WHAT WE CANNOT DO FOR OURSELVES. LEPULL US ALONG. SO RONIN, BE PATIENT, TRUST IN THE LORD AND ABOVE ALL KEEP THE STRUGGLE GOING. DON'T GET DISCOURAGED. BY THE WAY, I FELL FOR THE -- I'M SO INADEQUATE IN MY STRUGGLES AND TEMPTATION. HE'S TRYING TO GET YOU TO DESPAIR AND GIVE UP. DON'T DO IT. JUST KEEP STRUGGLING AND TRUSTING IN TO GOD HE WILL BRING IT TO FRUITION IN THE END. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE IN PURGATORY FOREVER MY FRIEND. YOU WILL BE IN HEAVEN WITH THE LORD BECAUSE HE CAN HELP US WITH WHAT WE CAN'T HELP OURSELVES. >> THE STRUGGLE IS PROOF THE YOU'RE MOVING FORWARD. AND AT THE SAME TIME IT'S KIND OF THING THAT THE. >> YOU KNOW C.S. LEWIS GOT ASKED THAT QUESTION ONCE. HE HAD A SHARP GOOD ANSWER. HE SAID SOMETIMES WHEN YOU'RE BEING REALLY TEMPTED, YOU CAN SEE THAT YOU'RE BEING THE MOST UNVIRTUOUS BECAUSE TEMPTATIONS ARE FLYING IN TO YOU WHERE FROM YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS MIND OR THE DEVIL OR WHEREVER, IF YOU'RE STRUGGLING WITH IT VALIANTLY THAT'S WHEN YOU'RE THE MOST VIRTUOUS WHEN YOU'VE PUTTING UP THE GOOD IF FIGHT. THE STRUGGLE IS VIRTUE. AND THERE IS REALLY. SOMETIMES WHEN YOU THINK YOU'RE BEING THE MOST UNVIRTUOUS THAT'S WHEN YOU'RE THE MOST VIRTUE US! EVEN ST. PAUL HAD THAT COPPER SMITH HE WASN'T TOO HAPPY ABOUT. >> THAT'S RIGHT. EVEN ST. PAUL SAID WHY DO I DO WHAT I DON'T WANT TO DO. I DO NOT DO THE GOOD I WOULD DO AND I DO DO THE EVIL I WOULD NOT DO, WHAT A WRETCHED MAN I AM. HOW IN ANY -- HE SAYS WHO IS GOING TO RESCUE ME FROM THIS. THANKS BE TO GOD FOR OUR LORDAL SOUTH KOREA. HE SAID THAT'S THING TO DO. DO WHAT SAINT PAUL DOES AND PUT YOUR TRUST IS IN SO HE CAN HELP YOU. >> DO SOULS SUFFER MORE IN PURGATORY THAN IF THEY WOULD ATONE ON EARTH AND CAN SOULS COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER AND PERHAPS CONSOLE ONE ANOTHER WHILE THERE? SUSAN. >> SUSAN, I THINK THE LORD USES WHATEVER TACTIC THAT HE THINKS WILL WORK TO GET US PURIFIED. THE WHOLE POINT OF PURGATORY, AS YOU WELL, PUT IT IS PURIFY CAKES. THAT'S THE OBJECTIVE. AND THE LORD IS VERY PRACTICAL. HE USES TACTICS THAT WORK. BECAUSE HE'S REALLY SMART AND HE'S REALLY GOOD. SO HE DOESN'T WASTE HIS TIME USING NONWORKABLE TACTICS. SO MY RULE OF THUMB IS, THE LORD BASICALLY USES TACTICS THAT HE THINKS WILL WORK SO IF YOU THINK, WELL, WOULD SOME EXTRA SUFFERING WORK, LET'S SAY, TO HELP ME TO BE PURIFIED? IF SO, HE MIGHT USE IT BECAUSE SOMETIMES FEAR AND SUFFERING WILL DETACH ME FROM SOMETHING THAT I MIGHT BE VERY SLOTHFUL OR RETICENT TO WANT TO DETACH MYSELF FROM. THEN HE WOULD COME ZOOMING ON IN THERE AND MAYBE BOUGHT LITTLE EXTRA INCENTIVE OR MOTIVATION THERE. BUT HE WOULD NEVER RETRIBUTIVE SUFFERING OR SUFFERING OR OH, YOU'RE IN PURGATORY AND YOU SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS ON EARTH, I'M GOING TO GET YOU MORE TIME ON EARTH. NO WAY. IF HE THINKS SOME SUFFERING WOULD BE GOOD HE MAY USE IT. IF HE THINKS EXTRA FEAR MIGHT BE GOOD, HE MAY USE IT. BUT IF HE DID NOT THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD HE WOULD NOT USE IT. IF SO IF HE THOUGHT IT WOULD CAUSE DISCOURAGEMENT HE WOULD NOT USE IT. JUST THINK OF THE LORD BEING REALLY GOOD PHYSICIAN, A GOOD INTEREST OF THE SOUL WHO IS BASICALLY SAYING, WHAT -- HOW WOULD WE WORK IN A WAY TO SEPARATE HERSELF FROM THE ATTACHMENTS AND FROM THE EGO. I'M SPELLING FOR MYSELF. HOW WOULD WE SEPARATE HIM FROM HIS EGO, FROM HIS ESSENTIAL ATTACHMENTS FROM HIS GREED, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, AND FROM HIS ANGER AND TEMPER. SO HOW WOULD WE DO ALL OF THAT? >> THAT'S ANOTHER WHOLE SHOW. >> THAT'S A WHOLE SHOW. IT IS. BELIEVE ME, YOU KNOW, THE DEPTHS AND LAYERS OF MY STUPIDITY THAT I STILL SURPRISE MYSELF WITH. WELL, I THINK ALL OF US AND PEOPLE UNDERSTAND BECAUSE WE LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND WE SEE PLENTY. DEAR FATHER SPITZER: IN A DISCUSSION ON PURGATORY MY PASTOR SAID HE BELIEVES PURGATORY IS THE REVELATION OF REAL SINS TO EVERYONE. IS THIS TRUE? OR IS IT SIMPLY OUR PURIFICATION FROM SIN. SANDY? >> OH, DEFINITELY THE LATTER. I'M NOT SURE IN YOU UPSIDE YOUR PASTOR CORRECTLY. GOD'S WHOLE INTENTION IS NOT TO GO BLAST LIKE A TRUMPET YOUR SINS TO EVERYBODY. LIKE I SAID, THE RULE OF THUMB IS BASICALLY THAT GOD USES WHAT IS GOING TO BE GOOD FOR YOUR PURALIFICATION. SO IF THAT'S HIS OBJECTIVE -- WHEN YOU SAY TACTIC, THAT'S HIS PRIMARY OBJECTIVE. HE'S GOING TO FIGURE OUT WAYS, A THERAPY, A COURSE OF ACTION, A WORKABLE STRATEGY, THAT IS GOING TO GET YOU TO THE END WHERE YOU CAN JUST DETACH AND NOT THINK ABOUT IT WHERE YOU CAN LOOK AT SOMEBODY ELSE'S -- AND SO THEY GET SOMETHING THAT MAY NOT REDOWN TO YOU FIRST. AND I PUT MYSELF IN THE FRONT OF THE LINE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT VERY HUMBLE, NOT VERY PATIENT, ET CETERA, ET CETERA. I PUT MYSELF RIGHT IN THE FRONT OF THE LINE AND IT TAKES TIME. BUT IT WORKS. IF YOU KEEP STRUGGLING THERE, YOU CAN SEE THAT YOU DO CALM DOWN. YOU CAN SEE THAT YOU DO GET -- YOU BEGIN TO THINK OF THAT PERSON'S FEELINGS OR WELFARE BEFORE YOU KNOW VENTILATING MONEY, ALL IMPORTANT ANGER OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE. SO YOU DO -- YOU GET BETTER AND BETTER. THERE'S NO DOUBT WITH THE STRUGGLE. AND GOD THINKS OF THE TACTIC THAT WILL BEST WORK. BUT SHOUTING YOUR HIDDEN SINS OUT TO EVERYBODY. THAT'S NOT GOD'S PURPOSE AT ALL. I COULD THINK OF NO REALLY GOOD REASON TO DO IT. MAYBE IF THERE WERE HE WOULD DO IT. >> LIKE WHAT THE DEVIL THREATENS YOU WITH. EVERYBODY WILL KNOW WHAT YOUR SINS ARE. YOU THINK YOU'RE SO GOOD, WAIT UNTIL THEY FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS! JUST WAIT UNTIL YOU GET TO PURGATORY. THERE'S NOTHING HOPPING OVER THERE. ONE MORE. DEAR FATHER SPITZER: MY SISTER KEEPS TELLING ME THAT WE CAN ASK SOULS IN PURGATORY TO PRAY FOR US. IS THAT TRUE? IF SO HOW CAN A SOUL THAT IS BEING HELD AND PURIFIED PRAY FOR OTHERS. >> MY VIDEO IS THAT THERE'S PURIFICATION GOING ON AND UP PRAYING FOR OTHER PEOPLE IS ONE OF THE GREATEST SINS OF LOVE AND MERCY THERE IS. WHY WOULD GOD PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING? THAT WOULD BE LIKE CASTING OUT DEMONS BY THE POWER OF THE PRINCE OF DEMONS. WHY WOULD GO SAY, WELL, IN PURGATORY YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BELIEVE ABLE TO DO AN ACT OF MERCY AND LOVE FOR SOMEONE IN A MOST GENEROUS WHY WHEN THAT'S PRECISELY THE OBJECTIVE HE'S TRYING TO GET YOU TO. SO YES, I THINK YOUR QUESTION IS A VERY GOOD ONE. I'M JUST SAYING I THINK THERE'S A CONTRADICTION IN SUGGESTING THAT. SO, YES, I THINK GOD WOULD ALLOW EVERY SOUL IN PURGATORY TO PRAY FOR YOU. THAT'S WHY I'M ALWAYS -- I THINK MY MOM WAS IN HEAVEN. SHE'S A LOT BETTER PERSON THAT BE ME. BUT EVEN IF SHE STILL IN PURGATORY, I'M STILL ASKING HER FOR HELP BECAUSE I THINK SHE WILL BE ABLE TO PRAY FOR ME. >> HERE IS ANOTHER QUESTION ON A DIFFERENT TOPIC. AND KIND OF RELATED MORE TO THE BOOK. HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN SPIRITUAL WARFARE TO SOMEONE WHO IS AN ATHEIST? MATTHEW. >> MATTHEW, UNFORTUNATELY THE ATHEIST HAS A BLOCK. BUT IT'S WHAT WE CALL AN APRIORY BLOCK. AND THAT MEANS THAT YOU HAVE DECIDED BEFOREHAND THAT THE DEVIL IS NOT REAL. MAYBE YOU NEVER LOOKED INTO THE DEVIL WATTS REAL. AND, OF COURSE, THE ATHEIST DOESN'T BELIEVE IN GOD. HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION MAYBE HE DIDN'T LOOK INTO THE EVIDENCE. MAYBE HE DID AND COULDN'T FIND ANY THAT WAS ADEQUATE ENOUGH FOR, BUT I HAVE A WHOLE WEB SITE THAT GIVES YOU A LOVE -- IF YOU DON'T LIKE NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCES, HOW ABOUT THE NEW PHILOSOPHICAL PROOF FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD, ALL OF THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE, HOW ABOUT LOOKING AT ALL OF THE EVIDENCE WHY A MULTIVERSE DOESN'T WORK AND IT'S ONE OF THE SILLIEST KIND OF HYPOTHESES THAT HAVE COME UP WITH. HOW ABOUT LOOK PRECISELY AT EVIDENCE OF JESUS' RESURRECTION. HOW ABOUT JESUS' RESURRECTION BASED ON EXTRA INSTRUMENTAL AND NEW TESTAMENT TEXT ET CETERA. ET CETERA. IF SOMEBODY HAS AN APRIORY. NOW, IF SOMEONE SAYS THE DEVIL DOESN'T EXIST YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO CONVINCE THEM. BUT YOU COULD SAY, BY THE WAY, IF YOU EVER GET AS YOU'RE WALKING DOWN THE STREET, THIS KIND OF NOTION IF THAT YOU ARE BEING TOUCHED BY OR CONFRONTED BY SOMETHING OF IMMENSELY VACUOUS, DARK AND EVIL PROPORTIONS. SOMETHING THAT JUST LOOK LIKE SOMEBODY WITH THE LOOK OF EVIL IN THEIR EYES, EVEN IF YOU CAN'T SEE A HUMAN FACE WITH THE LOOK OF EVIL IN THEIR EYES. BUT IT'S -- SORT OF IMAGINE THAT. AND IMAGINE THAT YOU GET THE FEELINGS, THE SHUDDER AS IT WERE, THE GHOST LIKE SENSE OF HORROR. REMEMBER, HORROR IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM FEAR. FEAR IS LIKE WHEN A CAR IS CAREENING DOWN THE ZERO TOWARD ME AND I'M WALKING ACROSS THE STREET, MY ADRENALINE LEVEL GOES UP AND I KNOW I HAVE TO JUMP OUT OF THE WAY OF THAT CAR, AND MY HEART IS RACING AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENS WITH HORROR. HORROR IS THE OPPOSITE. INSTEAD OF GETTING RED IN THE FACE FROM ALL OF THE BLOOD PUMPING THROUGH AND THE ADRENALINE REACTION, WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU? WHEN YOU HEAR A GHOST STORY AND YOUR SKIN BEGINS TO CRAWL, YOUR HEART RATE SLOWS DOWN AND YOU BEGIN ARE -- LIKE YOUR FACE TURNS WHITE AND PALE AND THERE'S A SENSE OF SHOCK THAT THERE'S SO MUCH EVIL THAT IT SCARES YOU TO DEATH. AND THAT SORT OF -- JUST TELL HIM. IF YOU START GETTING THAT SENSE ONE DAY, AS YOU'RE WALKING DOWN THE STREET, YOU KNOW YOU HAD BETTER TURN TO GOD IN A HURRY. BECAUSE THAT'S THE OTHER SIDE OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE. THAT'S YOUR SPIRITUAL ENEMY COMING BACK TO GET HIS DUES. >> WELL, WE HAVE TO TAKE A BREAK. WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK AFTER THIS WITH FATHER SPITZER AND THE SPIRITUAL WARFARE ALL OF BASED ON HIS BOOK. STAY WITH US. [MUSIC] [MUSIC] >> WE APPRECIATE YOU STAYING WITH US HERE IN FATHER SPITZER'S UNIVERSE COMING TO YOU FROM EWTN'S MOTHERSHIP. MOTHER ANGELICA STARTED IT ALL 40 YEARS AGO BELIEVE IT OR NOT. AND OF COURSE WE TURN TO FATHER SPITZER OUT OF OUR EWTN STUDIOS IN ORANGE COUNTY CALIFORNIA AT THE CHRIST CATHEDRAL CAMPUS. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU. WE HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION AND WANTED TO HIT BEFORE WE WENT INTO THE BOOK BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF TIMELY. DEAR FATHER SPITZER THIS WEEK I HEARD ON THE NEWS DURING A DISCUSSION OF THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE THAT THERE'S OBVIOUSLY SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT THE MANY DRUGS ARE TESTED USING ABORTED FETAL CELL LINES INCLUDING ASPIRIN TYLENOL AND ADVIL. I GUESS THE PERSON'S QUESTION IS IT IMMORAL TO TAKE THESE AS WELL. AND THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE WHICH YOU YOURSELF SPOKE ABOUT. >> LET ME ANSWER IT IN TWO PARTS. NUMBER ONE, THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE IS IS NOT AN APPROPRIATE ETHICAL VACCINATION. IT'SLY FROM EMBRYONIC STEM CELL LINES. SO YOU AS A CATHOLIC SHOULD NOT GET THE JOHNSON AND JOHNSON VACCINE. THAT'S VERY DIFFERENT FROM MODERNA AND PFIZER WHICH IS NOT MANUFACTURED FROM EMBRYONIC STEM CELL LINES. NOW YOU GET TO A SECONDARY QUESTION. IS THERE SECONDARY MATERIAL THAT MAY HAVE BEEN DERIVED FROM AN EMBRYONIC STEM CELL LINE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN USED INITIALLY TO TEST A DRUG LIKE TYLENOL OR WHATEVER DRUG IT MAY HAVE BEENAL. AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO APPLY FOR A SPECIFIC BRAND OR WHATEVER: IT IS LEGITIMATE TO TAKE TYLENOL. THE TYLENOL THAT YOU ARE TAKING, EVEN SOME CELLS WERE USED TO TEST THE VIABILITY THAT CAME FROM A STEM CELL LINE, NOW, TODAY, THE TYLENOL YOU ARE TAKING IS NOT MANUFACTURED BY UTILIZING ANYTHING LIKE AN EMBRYONIC STEM CELL LINE. SO IT IS LEGITIMATE FOR YOU TO TAKE TYLENOL AND USE OTHER DRUGS THAT MAY HAVE USED TO EMBRYONIC LINE IN THE INITIAL RESEARCH TO TEST IT. I MEAN IF YOU STARTED TRYING TO GO DOWN DECADE 'ER TERTIARY LAYERS, YOU MIGHT ELIMINATE '90 PERCENT OF THE MEDICATIONS THAT ARE OUT THERE, BECAUSE WE -- THE RESEARCH PROTOCOLS ARE CHANGING NOW AND ARE NOT JUST INDISCRIMINATELY USING THE EMBRYONIC STEM CELL LINES BUT A LOT OF THEM DID. SO, YES, IT'S OKAY TO TAKE TYLENOL BUT NOT TO GET THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINATION. >> WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF SOMEBODY WAS IN A SITUATION, MAYBE NOT IN THE UNITED STATES BUT SOME OTHER LOCATION WHERE THEY WERE AT HIGH RISK AND AT THE SAME TIME THE ONLY ONE THAT WAS AVAILABLE FOR THEM WAS JOHNSON & JOHNSON? WOULD THAT CHANGE? >> YES. THAT WOULD CHANGE IT. DOCTORS A DOCUMENT ISSUED BY THE VATICAN I BELIEVE IT WAS ABOUT ONE 1/2 YEARS AGO OR SO, OR MAYBE TWO YEARS AGO, WHICH ACTUALLY DID PROVIDE FOR THAT EXCEPTION. THAT IF THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO OTHER POSSIBILITY EXCEPT THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINATION IN SOME PLACE IN A DEVELOPING COUNTRY, AND, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THE CONTAGION MAYBE OUT OF CONTROL OR MAY BE VERY SERIOUS. YES, YOU ARE AS A CATHOLIC PERMITTED TO TAKE THAT SINGLE VACCINATION IF THERE'S NO THEY WILL ALTERNATIVE. AND I WILL TRY TO AND GET YOU THE EXACT VATICAN DOCUMENT,. CITATION. BUT I THINK IT WAS ABOUT ONE 1/2 YEARS AGO WHERE THEY DID ISSUE THAT EXCEPTION FROM THE VATICAN. I WILL GET IT FOR YOU. AND WE CAN POST IT ON MAGIS CENTER ON EWTN. >> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, FATHER. LET'S MOVE INTO THE BOOK CHRIST VERSUS SATAN IN OUR DAILY LIVES. AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE IDEA OF PERSONAL ETHICS VERSUS SOCIAL ETHICS AND THE FIRST PART WE GET INTO IS KIND OF PERSONAL ETHICS. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH AT THE SAME TIME TODAY THAT SOCIAL ETHICS ALMOST SEEM TO BE REALLY INFLUENCING HEAVILY MAYBE MORE SO TODAY PERSONAL ETHICS THAN BEFORE, AND EVEN FORCING TEAM MAYBE CHANGE THEIR OWN PERSONAL ETHICS. WELL, FIRST OF ALL YOU DON'T WANT TO -- YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL. THERE'S A GOOD CONSISTENCY BETWEEN PERSONAL ETHICS AND SOCIAL ETHICS. BUT THE CHURCH IS YOUR BEST GUIDE TO GETTING CONSISTENCY BETWEEN THE TWO. SO FIRST OF ALL, THE CHURCH HAS VERY GOOD SET OF GUIDELINES FOR PERSONAL ETHICS THAT'S CONTAINED IN PART THREE OF THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. SO IF YOU GO TO PART THREE THERE ON, YOU KNOW, THE MORALITY BASICALLY IN THE CATECHISM YOU CAN GET VERY EXCELLENT GUIDELINES ALL THE WAY THROUGH. I WILL IN THE THIRD VOLUME OF MY TRILOGY COMING OUT CALLED THE MORAL WISDOM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, I HAVE VERY SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION, ESPECIALLY IN THE AREA OF THE FIFTH AND 6TH COMMANDMENTS THOU THAT WILL NOT KILL, NOT COMMIT ADULTERY -- AND I TRY TO TO JUSTIFY I DIDN'T MAKES SO MUCH TENSE WITH THE TERRIBLE STRESS IT CAUSES TO YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE AND THE TERRIBLE DISS STRESS TO YOUR EMOTION LIFE. WHEN YOU START OWE -- WE ARE TALK ABOUT DOUBLING AND TRIPLING. AND OF COURSE SUICIDE. SUICIDE CAN BE SIX TIMES HIGHER FOR VIOLATIONS OF SPECIFIC MORAL COMMANDMENTS. WHEN THAT BOOK COMES OUT, PROBABLY IN JUNE OR JULY OR SO, I WILL BE GOING THROUGH EACH ONE OF THOSE THINGS AND EACH ONE OF THOSE SECULAR STUDIES AND IT'S VERY, VERY CLEAR THAT THE COMMANDMENTS MAKE A WHOLE LOT OF SENSE. GETTING BACK TO THE POINT, THAT'S THE FIRST THING IS YOU CAN GO TO YOUR CATECHISM AND GET GOOD GUIDELINES. SECONDLY FOR SOCIAL ETHICS THE HAS "THE SOCIAL TEACHING OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. THERE'S A WONDERFUL FREE BOOK. IT'S CALLED THE COMPENDIUM OF THE CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING OF THE CHURCH. BUT JUST PUT COMPENDIUM CATHOLIC SOCIALLY TEACHING, PUT IT INTO YOUR GOOGLE OR YOUR SEARCH ENGINE AND JUST TAKE A LOOK AT IT. YOU WILL GET IT. IT'S FREE OF CHURCH. EVERYTHING THAT THE CHURCH TEACHES. SO IT GOES THROUGH THE SIX PRINCIPLES OF CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING SO YOU GET A PRIMER ON THE PRINCIPLE OF THE DESTINATION OF GOODS, THE PRINCIPLE OF THE COMMON GOOD, THE PRINCIPLE OF SUBSIDIARY, THE PRINCIPLE OF THE SOLIDARITY, OF DEMOCRACY, ET CETERA AND IT GOES THROUGH THE WHOLE THING AND THEN IT APPLIES IT TO THE SEVEN AREAS OF CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING SO YOU CAN GET IT'S APPLIED TO THE FAMILY, TO BILLS AND ECONOMY. APPLIED TO GOVERNMENT AND DEMOCRACY. APPLIED TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS. APPLIED TO ENVIRONMENT AND ET CETERA AND WAR AND PEACE AND ASSETS. ET CETERA. IT'S PUT OUT FREE OF CHURCH. IT'S A GRID. AND IT'S EXCELLENTLY DONE. AND OBVIOUSLY THERE'S CONSISTENCY BETWEEN THE PERSONAL ETHIC AND THE SOCIAL ETHIC THAT'S THERE. AND SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY, IF YOU JUST FOLLOW THOSE THINGS YOU CAN SEE PRETTY CLEARLY THE CHURCHES UTTER CONSISTENCY IN MAKING SOCIAL ETHICS AND PERSONAL ETHICS VERY, VERY CONSISTENT. >> RIGHT. AS YOU SAY, SOME PEOPLE I THINK -- AND IT'S KIND OF WHAT I WAS ALLUDING TO, THE IDEA OF A SOCIETY IN A SENSE HAVING AN IMPACT ON WHAT BECOMES YOUR QUOTE/UNQUOTE SOCIAL ETHICS. >> OH, YEAH. WELL, NOW THAT'S CALLED SOCIAL NORMING AND THAT'S -- THAT'S CALLED SOCIAL NORMING AND THAT'S LOUSY. THE WORST PLACE YOU CAN LEARN YOUR SOCIAL ETHICS IS THE MAINSTREAM OF THE POPULAR CULTURE. YIKES. WHAT DOES THE POPULAR CULTURE KNOW ABOUT ETHICS ON ANY FORMAL LEVEL? ALMOST NOTHING. WHAT DOES POPULAR CULTURE KNOW ABOUT ETHICS ON A CHRISTIAN OR RELIGIOUS LEVEL? ALMOST NOTHING. WHAT DOES POPULAR CULTURE TEACH YOU ABOUT FOLLOWING YOUR CONSCIENCE, EXCEPT FOR JIMINY CRICKET, LET YOUR CONSCIENCE BE YOUR GUIDE. ALMOST NOTHING. IT'S LIKE, WHOA, YOU'RE LEFT IN A VACUUM OF ETHICS AND RELIGIOUS SOURCES OF ETHICS AND JUST PLAIN MORAL ETHICS. IF THAT'S THE CASE SOCIAL NORMING IS SUICIDE OF ETHICS, IT'S SUICIDE OF THE CONSCIENCE, IT'S SUICIDE BASICALLY OF MORAL ORDER, IN YOUR LIFE. SO WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T LOOK AT THE MAINSTREAM OF THE CULTURE ASK GO WOW, I OUGHT TO BASE MYSELF ON THAT. I JUST WANT TO FOLLOW WHAT MY FRIENDS ARE SAYING. I JUST WANT TO FOLLOW WHAT'S OUT THERE ON SOCIAL MEDIA. IT'S A VACUUM. THAT'S JUST LIKE -- I'M GOING TO PREDICATE MY STUDIES, BY STARTING -- MY SCIENTIFIC STUDIES BY STARTING WITH ALCHEMY. WHAT WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU DOING? THIS IS THE WORST PLACE TO TURN. BUT, YES, A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK I SHOULD FORM MY CONSCIENCE ON WHAT POPULAR CULTURE IS SAYING. NOTHING COULD BE WORSE. MEDIA -- I CAN TELL YOU THIS RIGHT NOW, MEDIA MOGULS DO NOT CARE WHAT YOU DO IN YOUR ETHICAL LIFE. IN FACT, THEY WOULD DO ANYTHING TO DETACH YOU FROM YOUR ETHICAL LIFE AND YOUR RELIGIOUS LIFE IF IT WOULD MEAN WATCHING THEIR SHOWS MORE, POUTING IN THINGS THAT ARE MORE STIMULATING TO YOU AND OF COURSE GETTING YOU TO BUY MORE PRODUCTS. IT'S MAKING A BUCK. EXACTLY. SO I TOTALLY AGREE. DON'T FOLLOW POPULAR CULTURE: YOU'RE SURE TO WIND UP DEPRESSED AND ANXIOUS WITHOUT A SPIRITUAL LIFE WITHIN A FEW MONTHS. >> JUMPING BACK TO PERSONAL ETHICS, YOU SAID DEEPENING OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD AND THEN YOU SAY CULTIVATING THE FREEDOM TO FOLLOW -- TO LOVINGLY FOLLOW THE PRECEPTS OF THE CHURCH AND CHRIST WHAT DO YOU MEAN CULTIVATING THE FREEDOM? HOW DOES THAT WORD SPIRITUAL CONVERSION LEADS TO MORAL CONVERSION. THE FIRST STEP IN GETTING OUR CONVERSION ON THE SWAY BEING INTELLECTUALLY SECURE NOT ONLY IN THE EXISTENCE OF GOD AND THE EXISTENCE OF JESUS, THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS, ET CETERA, BUT ALSO TO HAVE THAT INTELLECTUAL CONVICTION THAT WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT THE MORAL LIFE IS ACTUALLY NOT JUST RATIONAL AND PROBATIVE BUT WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS GOOD FOR YOU, GOOD FOR THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU, YOUR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS, AND GOOD FOR YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR MARRIAGE, AND GOOD FOR YOUR INTERACTION WITH THE CULTURE. IF YOU ARE RATIONALLY CONVINCED, GO TO STEP TWO. SPIRITUAL CONVERSION. WHAT'S SPIRITUAL CONVERSION? IT'S BUILDING THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IN PRAYER. HERE WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LENTEN SEASON. LET'S ASK THE LORD FOR THAT BLESSING OF BEING ABLE TO DRAW CLOSER TO HIM IN PRAYER THROUGH OUR SACRIFICE AND MAYBE OUR FASTING AND THE OTHER SACRIFICES WE MAY AND ACTS OF CHARITY, SO MAYBE WE INCREASE A DONATION TO THE ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY OR EWTN OR SOME OTHER THING, WE'RE MAKING A SACRIFICE OR THEN WE ALSO HAVE THAT DESIRE, YOU KNOW, TO -- SUDDENLY THE FREEDOM STARTS POPPING UP ALMOST THIS DESIRE STARTS POPPING UP AND YOU GET THIS NEW IDEA. HEY, I THINK I REALLY WANT TO LOOK INTO THIS APPROXIMATE PATIENT THING. I HAVE BEEN IM PANT FOR A LONG TIME. OR MAYBE YOU LIKE FASTING OR PENANCE AND ONE DAY YOU NOTICE YOU'RE PRAYING MORE AND DOING CHARITABLE THINGS AND ET CETERA AND YOU NOTICE, HEY, I THINK I'D LIKE TO REALLY, REALLY INCREASE MY FASTING OR DO SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE PEN 10 SHALL JUST TO PROVE MY LOVE FOR HIM. IT'S SO AMAZING THAT AS YOU GROW IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, AS YOU GROW CLOSER AND CLOSER, AS YOU WANT TO PLEASE HIM MORE AND MORE AND YOU RECOGNIZE HIS LOVE FOR YOU AND THE BLESSED MOTHER'S LOVE FOR YOU AND YOU WANT TO LOVE THEM MORE AND MORE -- IN FACT YOU DO LOVE THEM MORE AND MORE, YOU WILL NOTICE THESE LITTLE IDEAS START POPPING UP IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND AND YOU HAVE THE GO I DON'T KNOW WHY I DIDN'T THINK OF THIS BEFORE BUT I OUGHT TO PROBABLY INCREASE THIS FASTING OR I PROBABLY OUGHT TO DO MORE CHARITABLE THINGS I JUST HAVE TO START WHATEVER, AND IT COMES TO YOU AND YOU DO IT AND YOU LIKE IT AND YOU IS THAT RIGHT GETTING HOOKED ON IT AND THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW, YOUR YOU'RE ZINGING ALONG. YOU START NOTICING IT. AND THAT'S FREEDOM, THE FREEDOM TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND REJECT THE WRONG THING. YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT -- MAYBE YOUAL LIKE POSSESSIONS OF VARIOUS KINDS AND HOOKED ON EVERY TIME YOU SAW A COIN COLLECTION OR PAINTING OR SOMETHING AND I JUST HAVE TO HAVE IT AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU JUST NOTICE, YOU KNOW, I REALLY DON'T NEED THIS. I DON'T KNOW WHY I THOUGHT IT WAS SO IMPORTANT. AND IT'S JUST COMING UP AND THE THOUGHTS IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND, AND YOU JUST SIZE, WELL, THAT'S JUST ONE CHAPTER OF MY LIFE. I'M JUST CLOSING THAT CHAPTER. AND YOU GO WAIT A MINUTE. THAT'S DIFFERENT. I'M CHANGING. SOMETHING IS HAPPENING TO ME. SO IT'S FREEING. IT'S FREEING. EXACTLY. >> MY TROUBLE IS I HAVE BEEN CULTIVATING MY IMPATIENCE SO I GOT THAT. I HAVE TO WORK ON THE OTHER PART APPARENTLY. >> AND THE OTHER THING THAT YOU TALK ABOUT HERE AND GOING BACK AND TALKING ABOUT THE COMMANDMENTS AND YOU KNOW, DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, DO NOT STEAL AND ET CETERA AND YOU MAKE THE MOUNTAIN AND IT'S AFTER TALKING AT TECHNOLOGY AND THE WORLD THAT WE LIVE IN ALSO, AND IN CHAPTER TWO AND THREE SPECIAL CONSIDERATION GIVEN THROUGH PROHIBITION OF ADULTERY BECAUSE THE SEXUAL REVOLUTION CAUSED THE REINTERPRETATION OF SEXUAL ASSAULT THAT UNDERMINED SEXUALITY WITHIN MARRIAGE. THE MARRIAGE COMMITMENT ITSELF. AND AGAIN IT'S ONE OF THESE WORDS -- ADULTERY, YOU DON'T EVEN HEAR THAT ANYMORE. SOMEBODY MIGHT BE HAVING AN AFFAIR OR HAS A WONDERING EYE OR WHATEVER THEY HAPPEN TO HAVE. >> AND IT'S SO HART IN THIS CULTURE BUT IT COMES FROM THE SOCIAL NORMING THAT I WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT. AFTER A WHILE YOU BEGIN TO THINK IT'S ALL OK. AND EVERYBODY IS DOING IT; RIGHT? IT'S NORMAL. EVERYBODY IS DOING IT. SO IT MUST BE OKAY. I'M LOOKING AT THE MAINSTREAM. HEY, MOST PEOPLE ARE HAVING AT LEAST THREE AFFAIRS IN THEIR LIFE OVER A LIFETIME -- I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S TRUE BUT YOU LOOK AT SOME STATISTIC THAT WOULD BE RIDICULOUS, YOU KNOW, AND YOU START SAYING TO YOURSELF, GOSH IF THEY'RE HAVING THREE, I MAY AS WELL START WITH ONE, YOU KNOW. I MEAN I JUST -- WHAT COULD BE WRONG WITH IT SINCE EVERYBODY IS DOING IT SO MUCH MORE THAN ME. AND THAT'S THE WHOLE THING OF SOCIAL NORMING MOTIVATES US BUT OFTENTIMES IT PUSHES US DOWN AND MOTIVATES US IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. AND SO THE IDEA, YOU KNOW, THAT WE NORM OURSELVES TO THE MAINSTREAM OF THE CULTURE, WE JUST HAVE TO RESIST IT. THAT'S WHY YOU NEVER HEARD ADULTERY ANYMORE. PEOPLE HAVE SO NORMED THEMSELVES TO THE MAINSTREAM OF THE CULTURE. BUT LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING. THE RATE OF RAPES HAS INCREASED SIX TIMES. AND YOU LOOK AT THAT AND GO, WOW, A 600 PERCENT INCREASE IN RAPES SINCE OF THE SEXUAL REVOLUTION. IS THAT A BUY PRODUCT? AND PEOPLE SAY NO THAT'S REPORTING MR.. REPORTING. NO. 23 PERCENT INCREASE IN REPORTING. (6) HUNDRED PERCENT INCREASE IN RAPE. SOMETHING HAS GONE WRONG IN THE CULTURE. WE NORMED OURSELVES DOWNWARD AND DOWNWARD SO PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THAT IMMEDIATE GRIP OF, CAN I RUIN SOMEBODY'S LIFE? YOU KNOW, STEP OVER THIS BOUNDARY. THING THAT WILL SEND A PERSON INTO DEPRESSION AND DESTITUTION AND YOU SAY OH, NO THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. EVERYBODY IS MOVING OVER THIS LINE. EVERYBODY IS MOVING BEYOND THIS BOUNDARY. THAT IS JUST FOR A BUNCH OF PRUDES FROM THE OLD TIMES. THEN YOU DO SOMETHING HORRIBLE. THAT'S HOW RAPES INCREASE 600 PERCENT; RIGHT? SO YOU START LOOKING. AND IT'S NOT JUST THAT. IT'S LIKE AFFAIRS. NOW, WOMEN ARE HAVING AFFAIRS AS MUCH AS -- NOT QUITE AS MUCH AS MEN BUT A 10 PERCENT DID THERE AND FROM USED TO BE A HUGE DID THERE AND YOU'RE GOING, HUH, WHY IS THIS HAPPENING? IS IT BECAUSE IT'S BEING REPORTED MORE. NO. IT'S HAPPENING MORE. AND YOU THINK WHY? BECAUSE WOMEN ARE NORMING THEMSELVES TO A SOCIAL NORM THEY WOULD HAVE NEVER NORMED THEMSELVES TO 40 YEARS AGO. NEVER. AND EVEN IN THE '60S THEY WOULDN'T HAVE NORMED THEMSELVES TO. SO THE POINT I'M TRYING TO GET TO IS THERE'S SOMETHING TERRIBLY WRONG THERE. AND YOU SAY OKAY, SO WHAT, SO WE HAVE A MORE OPEN CULTURE AND SO FORTH AND SO ON. OKAY. THEN START LOOKING AT THESE STATISTICS. THE MORE YOU START HAVING AFFAIRS, RIGHT, OR THE MORE YOU START PREMARITAL PARTNERS THAT YOU HAVE, THE FIRST THING TO NOTICE, THE MORE UNSTABLE YOUR MARRIAGE BECOMES. AND THAT'S -- THAT'S A PROVEN STATISTIC. JUST LOOK AT THIS FOR A SECOND AND SAY, OKAY, PEOPLE WHO HAVE AFFAIRS -- NOPE, PEOPLE WHO HAVE ZERO PREMARITAL PARTNERS, THEY MAY HAVE A DIVORCE RATE OF WHATEVER IT IS, OF 35 PERCENT. THEN YOU HAVE ONE PREMARITAL PARTNER JUMPS TO 22 PERCENT. THEN YOU HAVE TWO TO THREE -- JUMP TO 35 PERCENT. HEY, WAIT A MINUTE, SOMETHING IS AMISS HERE. SOMETHING IS GOING -- IT'S NOT JUST PREMARITAL PARTNER. YOU START HAVING AN AFFAIR AND YOUR RATE OF DIVORCE GOES UP TWO AND A HALF TIMES, AND YOU SAY, WELL, OF COURSE PEOPLE FIND OUT ABOUT THE AFFAIR AND THEY'RE OFFENDED BY IT. WELL, THERE'S A DIRECT CAUSAL CONNECTION NO. QUESTION ABOUT THAT. BUT IT ACTUALLY -- EVEN FOR PEOPLE WHO SAY, WELL, I FORGAVE MY SPOUSE FOR DOING THIS TERRIBLE THING -- SO ON, OR EVEN HERE IS THE KEY THING -- PEOPLE WHO HAD AFFAIRS BUT THEY WERE UNDISCLOSED AND NEVER DISCOVERED. IT STILL DESTABILIZES THE MARRIAGE. AND NOT ONLY THAT, IT DECREASES MARITAL SATISFACTION, WHICH OF COURSE TO DESTABILIZES THE MARRIAGE. AND DO YOU THINK THIS DOESN'T GET COMMUNICATED TO THE CHILDREN WHEN EMOTIONAL INTIMACY PLUMB ES THROUGH THE FLOOR? DO YOU THINK FOR JUST A MINUTE THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE PERCEIVED THAT THE EMOTIONAL INTIMACY IN THE FAMILY IS NOT THERE? OF COURSE. IT PLEADS OUT EVERYWHERE. AND YOU SAY WHAT DOES SOCIAL NORMING COME UP IN OUR CULTURE, FROM THE PRUDISH WAYS OF THE '50S AND '60S. HAS THE SEXUAL REVOLUTION CHANGED ANYTHING? YES. IT'S BEEN TERRIBLE. IT'S NOT JUST THE RATE OF RAPES, THE RATE OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT, THE RATE OF INDISCRIMINATE SORT OF VIOLATION OF SEXUAL BOUNDARIES ON EVERY LEVEL, THE NUMBER OF AFFAIRS, THE DESTABILIZATION OF MARRIAGE, THE DIVORCE RATE GOING UP FROM 16 PERCENT TO 51 PERCENT AND RISING. OF COURSE IT'S JUST BEEN A DISASTER AREA. AND CONCOMITANT WITH THE DESTABILIZE OF THE KIDS IN THE MARRIAGE BUT THE INCREASE IN DEPRESSION, THE INCREASE IN ANXIETY. >> THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THIS SHOW AND WHY WE NEED YOUR BLESSING TO HELP US GET THROUGH THE NEXT WEEK. >> YOU GOT IT. >> ALL RIGHT. BOW YOUR HEADS AND PRAY FOR GOD'S BLESSING. AND MAY THE LORD IN HIS GOODNESS AND COMPASSION NOTE THE LORD IN HIS WISDOM AND TRUTH WHICH IS HIS LOVE AND COMPASSION, BLESS YOU WITH THAT GREAT SENSITIVITY TO FOLLOW HIS WAY. AND IN HIS LENTEN SEASON TO PEW PHI YOUR HEARTH SO YOU MIGHT FOLLOW HIM EVER MORE NEARLY INTO THE SANITY, INTO THE LOVE AND THE COMPASSION OF HIS HEAVEN. IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, AMEN. >> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU FATHER. WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK. STAY WELL. DON'T FORGET FATHER SPITZER'S BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE RELIGIOUS CATALOG. WE WILL CONTINUE ON WITH OUR TOPIC. I HAVE A GREAT BOOK, CARDINAL GEORGE PELL. AND VIRTUAL BOOK SIGNING ON OUR FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE ON MARCH 11 AT 7:00 P.M. EASTERN. THAT SHOULD BE FUN. AND DR. SCOTT HAHN NEXT WEEK AND A SPECIAL SERIES ON SAINT JOSEPH ALSO AIRING ALL NEXT WEEK HERE ON EWTN. AND WE SHALL SEE YOU NEXT TIME WHEN WE ONCE MORE VENTURE INTO FATHER SPITZER'S UNIVERSE. STAY WELL. [MUSIC]
