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Spiritually Adopt a Radical Liberal for Lent

The radical liberals are coming for your children.  It’s time to wake up, people.  These extremists have become emboldened by the decaying morals and rising apathy in America and they are now hard at work re-programming your children through our educational system.

A recent article  from the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute included several disturbing quotes from Diane Schneider, a representative of the NEA (National Teacher’s Association— the largest teacher’s union in the US).  She actually stated, “Oral sex, masturbation, and orgasms need to be taught in education.”  She’s not just talking about the colleges and universities, which sadly already include such topics in their curriculum. 

Ms. Schneider is concerned about younger children because too many “are stuck in a binary box that religion and family create.”   To reduce these pesky influences, she wants to include mandatory classes on comprehensive sex education in the middle and high schools.  This is all in the spirit of promoting tolerance, or course.  At least that’s the cover story.  Ms. Schneider feels that sexualizing our children at a young age will help “combat heterosexism and gender conformity,” thus somehow reducing criticism of homosexual and transsexual lifestyles. 

Although my middle school-age children will likely not be forced to take Orgasm 101 or Basics of Masturbation next fall, I still feel a need to DO something to protest this twisted philosophy that is slowly but surely creeping into our society.  As I searched for contact information for Diane Schneider and the NEA, an interesting thought crept into my mind.  I could express my outrage in a strongly-worded email that will probably never be read by either Ms. Schneider or anyone influential within the NEA, or I could pray to change her heart and mind. 

In fact, I could “spiritually adopt” Ms. Schneider during Lent just as I have “spiritually adopted” six babies in danger of abortion over the last five years, praying daily for nine months each to change the hearts and minds of the mothers who considered aborting them. 

It’s one thing to pray each day for an innocent unborn child but quite another to sacrifice time and effort for a woman I’ve never met who wants to unravel the values I’ve taught my children.  It makes giving up desserts seem easy!  Yet Lent is all about doing what is difficult to help us grow spiritually.  Jesus challenges us to “love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” (Luke 6:27-28)   

During Lent (in addition to giving up desserts), I’m going to pray and sacrifice to change the heart and mind of Diane Schneider.  I will pray Rosaries for her, offer up Masses, even fast for the intention of her conversion of heart.  Perhaps one day I’ll watch her on The Journey Home or read her best-selling book on abstinence education. 

I hope you’ll join me in “spiritually adopting” a radical liberal for Lent.  We can all do our part to change hearts and minds, one person at a time.

(© 2011 Peggy Bowes)


Peggy Bowes, a devout Catholic, is the author of The Rosary Workout – available through amazon.com. She graduated from the US Air Force Academy in 1988 and served nine years as an Air Force pilot and Health and Wellness consultant. After leaving the military to raise a family, Peggy continued her education in the fitness industry by becoming certified as a personal trainer, Lifestyle and Weight Management Consultant and Spinning® instructor. She established a successful and rewarding business in metabolic and athletic performance (VO2) testing, with an emphasis on weight loss counseling.  Peggy is also very active in parish life.  She has been a lector, CCD teacher, and Little Flowers Girls' Club leader.  She also enjoys triathlons, hiking, adventure races, and other sports as she incorporates all the benefits and blessings of The Rosary Workout.  Peggy and her husband and two children currently reside in North Carolina.