Three Links Wednesday (vol. XIII)

"I find it ironic when contraception is said to allow anyone to live "freely." Secular culture assures women that they can go ahead and engage in the act that creates babies, even if they are not ready to be mothers. They are handed contraception, and told to forget all about the possibility of parenthood. Then, when the contraception fails, as it so often does, they find themselves feeling trapped, perceiving that their only escape is through the doors of an abortion facility. This, to me, does not look like freedom."
-- Mrs. Jennifer Fulwiler

--I--

In the good news category, it looks like the superior for the Society of Saint Pius X will sign the doctrinal preamble put forth as a condition for reunion (regularization and full communion, that is) with Rome. Cheers all around for Christian unity if this happens. (H/T).

--II--

Bishop Fulton Sheen is one of three men from the last century whose causes for canonization I would like to see gain some traction (the other two are Professor Dietrich von Hildrebrand and G.K. Chesterton). According to Bonnie Engstrom, the good news is that it looks like Sheen's cause may be moving forward with a review of the positio paper by the ordinaries who advise the Congregation for the Cause of the Saints. Fingers crossed and prayers prayed. In fact, Mrs Engstrom has such a prayer on her blog:

Father, source of all holiness, You raise up within the Church in every age men and women who serve with heroic love and dedication. You have blessed Your Church through the life and ministry of Your faithful servant, Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. He has written and spoken well of Your Divine Son, Jesus Christ, and was a true instrument of the Holy Spirit in touching the hearts of countless people.

If it be according to your Will, for the honor and glory of the Most Holy Trinity and for the salvation of souls, we ask You to move the Church to proclaim Bishop Sheen a saint. We ask this prayer through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen

--III--

This would be in the humor/bonus links if it weren't actually serious: some bioethicists have proposed bio-genetically engineering people so that future generations will use fewer resources and have less of an impact on (supposedly anthropic) climate change. They suggest this, because geo-engineering would be too difficult. In particular, the point about engineering future generations to be smaller kind of makes me think of a bad plot for a sci-fi movie. Or maybe an episode of the old "Superfriends" cartoon:

Here's Mr Mike Flynn's take on the broader topic of attempting to scientifically immanentize the eschaton genetic engineering in humans.

--Bonus--

And just for fun (the bonus seldom isn't), Mr Taylor Marshall has a post concerning the references to "unicorns" found in some translations of the Bible, not to mention in the writings of some Church fathers/doctors.