Dear readers, my brain has not been functioning properly for the last few days. I hope I’m not getting sick, but I sure don’t feel very well. However, there are a few things that I’ve been wanting to draw your attention to, so hopefully I can hold out at least that long:

First, the always wonderful Archbishop Chaput gave an excellent talk in Ireland outlining the dos and don’ts for building a culture of life. I can’t find an actual transcript of the talk, but this CNA news story comes close. I can’t pick out one thing that stands out more than the rest, the whole thing is great and all of the advice worth taking in.

Rebecca Taylor comments on Reproductive rights and the octuplets. She also has an excellent response to pro-life conservative Mary Kate Cary’s recent column arguing the “pro-life case for embryonic stem cell research.”

The Mo. House passes resolution opposing FOCA. The measure was approved by a bi-partisan vote of 116-40 on Wednesday.

Shamefully I have not yet even mentioned the death of Eluano Englara, nicknamed “Italy’s Terri Schiavo,” this week. After being without food and water for just a few days she died of an apparent cardiac arrest. Wesley Smith has the details on her “gentle”, “peaceful” and “dignified” death.

Yesterday I watched an EWTN interview with Steven E. Rhoads author of Taking Sex Differences Seriously. I’ve been bringing this issue up over the last few weeks in my TOB Tuesday posts. Rhoads takes a look at hormones and other physiological and chemical distinctions between men and women. The interview was very interesting, so I can only imagine the book is as well. Check it out!

This article considers how far some parents will go in the process of “unnatural selection.” Interestingly that was the exact term I used to describe how these parents went about having a child born without a certain gene that may cause breast cancer.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go take comfort in these words from St. Peter:

In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, as you attain the goal of (your) faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:6-9)