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Contents © 2000
by Jim Holman.
All rights reserved.

JANUARY 2000 LITTLE NOTES

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Responding to a request by a News Notes writer for an interview following the deadline for an article about her 1998 campaign finances, she initially declined to reply. "I have never been given a chance before publication to speak, so what is there to talk about?"

After receiving apologies for the delay and assurances that her comments would be published in this month's issue, Zettel found much to talk about.

"I am amazed at your questions," she began, "especially the one asking if I receive Holy Communion regularly. What gives you the right to ask me such questions?" The News Notes interviewer replied, "I have the right to ask you anything I want to, but whether you answer my questions or not is up to you." "I am amazed that anyone would dare presume to question someone else's relationship with God," she said.

A parishioner of St. Gabriel in Poway, Zettel admitted that she receives Holy Communion regularly there and occasionally at St. Michael, also in Poway, or San Rafael in Rancho Bernardo.

When asked why she accepted a $450 campaign donation last year from abortionist Bruce Tarzy, Zettel said, "He is my family doctor and delivered both of my sons." When told that he kills unborn babies, Zettel insisted, "He is my friend." Both Tarzy and Zettel's husband, David J. Zettel, D.D.S., maintain medical offices at 15725 Pomerado Road, and both the Zettels and the Tarzys live on Ranch Hollow Road in Poway.

She defended contributions from Planned Parenthood board members Darlee Crockett and Jinx Ecke, who in October 1998 persuaded Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham to tour that organization's Escondido clinic.

"Like Duke," Zettel said, "I have toured several Planned Parenthood facilities and most of their practice is healthcare for women, such as pap smears, so to assume all Planned Parenthood's work is abortion is ludicrous."

Of one 1998 campaign expenditure for a Planned Parenthood data disk, Zettel said, "I paid over $500 to Planned Parenthood to target voters who believe in the right of individuals to make their own decisions." When pressed for further details about the exact nature of the data, she first said it was "administrative data," then later admitted it was Planned Parenthood's voters list.

"I know many people who are personally pro-life, but they would never presume to make an abortion decision for someone else." Though reminded that as a Catholic she is duty-bound to uphold life, Zettel insisted that the decision to abort "should be between a woman, her doctor, and God."

When asked how she reconciles her faith with her pro-abortion supporters, she said, "The government should not be involved [in abortion]. As a policy setter, I will not put government into the personal lives of women."

"That's not the question I asked," said the interviewer. "It doesn't have anything to do with government being involved or not being involved. My question to you, Charlene, is, 'Why as a Catholic are you involved with people who promote abortion?'"

Zettel replied, "I vote on each issue as a matter of public policy. Did you check my voting record before writing your article? I voted for the partial-birth abortion ban and against euthanasia. My voting record has been one that is pro-life."


ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2ND, a News Notes writer attempted to attend a meeting of Pride at USD, the campus homosexual support group. Members appeared open and willing to talk about their group until faculty advisor Dr. Evelyn Kirkley (theology) intervened. She said that she would not talk to News Notes about the group and instructed student members not to talk. Dr. Kirkley insisted that all meetings were confidential.

A glance at PRIDE at USD's website (http://pride.acusd.edu), however leads readers to believe that this is an organization dedicated to openness with nothing to hide, listing the dates for meetings at USD's United Front Multicultural Center. One link to Dr. Rembert Tuluck, author of Steps to Recovery from Bible Abuse, informs students that sexual orientation is not listed in the Bible and that the Bible is mistranslated in its condemnation of homosexuality. Among the resources listed are Dignity of San Diego (outlawed by the Catholic Church), Gay, Lesbian and Friends Buddhist Group, Different Strokes Swim Team, Bi-Pol, Bisexual Political Action, Transgender Counseling Program and San Diego Lesbian Avengers. Courage, a group for Catholic homosexuals pursuing chastity, is not listed.


THIS NOTE FROM WOMEN'S RESOURCE NETWORK: "Dear Defender of Life, Once again, California has been made the target for National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League. NARAL plans to air a major media campaign in January of 2000. They have already aired in 11 media markets. California is leading the nation for abortions and teen pregnancies. In 2000 all eyes will be on California because of elections. It is not a coincidence that NARAL is coming here next.

"The churches, pro-life organizations, and individuals have created a network to work together and have professional pro-life commercials complete that have proven effective in other states. San Diego is in the process of raising $550,000 to air a full television campaign in January because of the grass roots networking. But, now that California is the target, we need to respond across the entire state and raise $4 million for all media markets. NARAL has unlimited funding to buy television and radio time in California.

"The public can call (760) 741-4010 or 1-800-652-HOPE or send a donation to [2319 E. Valley Parkway, 174, Escondido, CA 92027]. The NARAL media campaign can only be combated with an equally powerful media campaign. The pro-life commercials are just that. In Wisconsin, when both campaigns were running, their polls showed a pro-life shift in public opinion. It is imperative that we meet that challenge here in California. All eyes are on us and effect the entire nation.

"NARAL Commercial: It is a :60 (that's important to note). The visuals contain deliberately various images of women of different backgrounds, demographics and lifestyles. There are also some images of men, as well as images of flags. A single female voice narrates with the background bed being America the Beautiful. This spot clearly creates an Americana feel, possibly to play into the timing of the political process next year. At the end of the spot, the narration drops out, the screen goes dark with reversed out 'what's life without choice' then drops to pro-choice and NARAL referral information. At that same time the audio track crescendos to "from sea to shining sea." The production quality is very good. Here is the narration:

"'I believe there's a reason we're born with free will. And I have a strong will to decide what's best for my body, and my life.

"'I believe in myself. In my intelligence, my integrity, my judgment. And I accept full responsibility for the decisions I make.

"'I believe in my right to choose, without interrogations, without indignities, without violence. I believe that's one of the founding principles of our country. And I believe that right is being threatened.

"'The greatest of human freedoms is choice. And I believe that no one has the right to take that freedom away.'"


DURING THE 1998 ELECTION a radio talk show host lamented that Congressman Bob Filner was running unopposed for re-election. After hearing the host's plea for someone to run against the incumbent, Alex Sorongon, 37, says "the Lord put it on my heart." Sorongon will be on the ballot as a Republican candidate for the 50th Congressional District in the March 2000 primary. Sorongon describes himself as pro-life, pro-family, and conservative.

Filner, a liberal Democrat, was elected to Congress from the South Bay in 1992. His voting record has earned him a 100 percent rating from the National Abortion Rights Action League and Planned Parenthood and a zero percent rating from the National Right to Life Committee. The Human Rights Campaign, which lobbies for the homosexualist agenda, has awarded him a 100 percent rating.

Sorongon has lived in the San Diego area for 30 years, holds a bachelor's degree in economics from UCSD, and works as an account executive in the transportation industry. Although he has no political experience, Sorongon says that his 13-years in the transportation field has provided him with leadership and public speaking experience.

The South Bay holds a population that is 40 percent Latino and 29 percent Asian, according to Sorongon, whose parents are Filipino.

He points out that the district is 27 percent Filipino and that both Filipinos and Latinos share a Catholic heritage. Sorongon, an "evangelical Christian," said he is running because "the views of this district haven't been represented by Bob Filner. Even though the percentage is 49 percent Democrat, I would say that they're conservative Democrats, and so, on social issues, since the majority of the constituents here are Latino and Filipino, they would have Roman Catholic values. Bob Filner is pushing a social agenda that is really anti-Christian: he's pro-abortion; he's one of the few congressmen that voted against the ban on partial-birth abortion; he was one of the congressmen who abstained from voting to denounce ... the study that validated sexual relations between men and boys."

"What kind of qualifications do you need in order to vote against a study that says it's okay for a man to have sex with a boy? What kind of experience do you need in order to say, 'I want to save the children in the womb?' So many times individuals tell me, 'If I knew you were a Republican, I wouldn't have listened to you, but you don't look like a Republican; you don't speak like one, either.'"

Sorongon's top priorities as a newly-elected congressman would be the passage of a partial-birth abortion ban, the strengthening of the military, and the enactment of school choice, goals. According to Sorongon, most of the district's public schools rank in the bottom 30 percent of the state with regard to academic performance and test scores. He believes school choice would improve public schools by forcing them to become competitive.

Sorongon is appealing for volunteers and donations. For more information, contact Sorongon for U.S. Congress, 50th District, P.O. Box 211511, Chula Vista, CA 91921, (619) 656-1037 / e-mail: congress50@home.com.


AN INDICATION of Bishop Brom's state of mind: "Pastoral Center Monthly Communication Of August 5, 1999 To Priests: Posture for Celebration of the Eucharist. Bishop Brom has directed that in the Diocese of San Diego the present practice of the assembly kneeling after singing or reciting the Lamb of God and of kneeling or sitting after Communion is to be maintained. The practice of standing throughout this time is not to be implemented. It is being promoted by some, but is without sanction by the National Conference of Bishops."


LOCAL CATHOLIC EVANGELIST writes about the month of November in the field: "Dear Friends -- We are coming up on one of the most joyous feasts in the Christian world--The Birth of Our Lord, Jesus Christ. What better way to give back to our Lord than to proclaim His message. I am very excited about going out again evangelizing the Catholic faith--this time in the parish of St. Gregory the Great.

"They have just completed the building of a beautiful new church in the Scripps Ranch area. I met with Fr. Jim Poulsen and he is equally excited about our evangelizing to his flock. As in past missions in other areas, we will not only provide an example to his parishioners, but to also let people know of the beautiful Catholic Church and give them information about the Catholic faith and St. Gregory.

"We will meet at our house at 9:30 and start knocking on doors by 10:00. We will finish up before noon to allow time for a rosary and snacks. Remember, no apologetics or theology degrees required. We are simply planting seeds for a very rich harvest for our Lord and Savior.

"Last month we had a very successful mission in Del Cerro/La Mesa. Let me recap our last outing if I may. We were in the parish community of St. Therese on November 13th. We came across many Catholics that have either not participated in the Sacraments (e.g. reconciliation) or do not attend Mass on a regular basis. It was nice to be able to understand why they are not participating in the fullness of the Church, and offer some simple advice for them. These are the people that are slipping away, and if we don't meet them, we have little chance of saving them from leaving the One True Church that Jesus Christ established 2000 years ago!

"We passed out many Be magazines and Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth. We concluded with a rosary to pray for all of those we met and for all of the prayers that were requested. One women was on the fence about whether or not to send her grandchild to the Catholic School or not. Hopefully, we provided her with enough information that her grandson will attend St. Therese Academy. If she didn't meet us, maybe she would have sent him anyway. But I am sure it helped talking with us.

"I understand that this is the "busy season," but I hope you are spending time helping others, living the gospel as Christ and the Apostles have taught us, and taking time to serve Christ. Evangelizing is definitely not the only way to serve Christ, but if you can squeeze 2 hours out of a Saturday to witness to others about the power and beauty of the Catholic Church, and maybe witness to them the true meaning of Christmas, please join us. At this point, only the Lord knows if we are making an impact, but I believe we are. I can be reached at (760) 788-3166. Please pass this along to others, especially those that do not have email. May the Peace of Christ be with all of you. Merry Christmas and a Joyous New Year. --Scott"


AUSTRALIAN PRO-EUTHANASIA ADVOCATE Dr. Nitschke laid out pro-euthanasia strategy at a November 28 meeting of the Hemlock Society, in Hillcrest. He spoke of removing the "stigma" from euthanaisa via euphemisms ("Death with dignity," peaceful death, freedom of choice) Nitschke advocated capitalizing on ambiguity in present laws particularly with counseling, assistance, and obscuring evidence of a doctor's involvment."Would it be counseling someone to commit suicide if he were to go to a doctor and ask if he would die were he to take such and such quantity of such-and-such drug?" He described an advanced model of a Kevorkian death machine that is run by a laptop computer.

In time alotted for questions, I asked Nitschke how many doctors favored legalizing physician assisted suicide?" He admitted that 75 percent of doctors opposed it but maintained that the same percentage of nurses and lay people supported it and that legalized euthanasia puts the power to choose in the hands of the people.


FROM DEACON KEN FINN, who led a pro-life procession on December 12 at San Marcos abortion clinic: "We had about 30 parents and children show up. We had a banner from the group in Michigan and we said the glorious mystery rosary. We sang a pro-life song and did a Lady of Guadelupe Litany closed by a prayer from Our Holy Father's Gospel of life. I think it was a great idea doing this together at the same time in front of the one thousand abortion centers across the nation. The one we picket by saying the rosary in front of it, is at 120 South Craven Street. This is right across the street from San Diego State San Marcos and the business is booming."


FROM OUR E-MAIL: " As part of my efforts with the Grossmont Recall, I've been investigating homosexual practices and am subscribed secretly to some local homosexual community mailing lists. What an eye-opener they are! The sexual depravity of our society is truly sad and shocking. I think the public would be more motivated to oppose the homosexual agenda if they knew the truth about some of their sex practices. Also, people need to see that these things don't go on "out there" somewhere, but right here in San Diego, right in their own backyards.

"I think News Notes could do a lot of good by occasionally running "educational" items like the one below sent to me by the San Diego Leather Leadership Coalition. It's an announcement for a "Fisting for Beginners" workshop that took place at the Metropolitan Community Church on November 1. We could just run the announcement along with the definition of fisting. Let me know if you like the idea of running these things or not. There's a lot more where this came from.

Date: 1 Nov 1999

We would like to remind you of this upcoming event.

Fisting for Beginners Workshop

Date: Monday, November 01, 1999

Time: 07:30PM - 09:30PM PST

On Monday the first of November, the GLO Monthly Meeting and Workshop will feature "Fisting for Beginners", hosted by Bill Freyer. It will be a wild demonstration/lecture, and no actual fisting will be done on the premises, but a videotape will supply the missing visuals. MCC Church Hall at 4333 30th Street, across the way from the Aztec Bowling Alley.

DEFINITION: fisting. n. The insertion of the hand into the anal or vaginal openings of the body. The act of having sexual intercourse where the male uses their fist in place of their male sex organ."

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