Stopping 2 Ask 4 Directions

Mr. Bluelight's Christmas Countdown

2009-11-23T23:47:00.001-05:00

For the Sake of Christ's Sorrowful Passion....

2009-05-31T14:27:00.003-04:00

For the sake of Christ's most sorrowful passion, may God have mercy on the soul of abortionist George Tiller.

It wouldn't hurt to offer up a few prayers for him either.

The bane of pro-life advocates, Dr. Tiller performed abortions at his Kansas clinic, essentially, up until birth. The 67 year old was murdered this morning in the lobby of Reformation Lutheran Church in Wichita. He was a member of the church. May God have Mercy on his soul.

Bishop Rhoades and Notre Dame's Defiance

2009-03-31T11:33:00.002-04:00

The letter below was forwarded to me yesterday.
I have since been assured by Jean Scicchitano of the Harrisburg Diocese's Pro-Life Office that it is legitimate and that permission has been given for it to be distributed beyond the original recipient.

Subject: FW: Bishops statement re Notre Dame

Dear Christina,

Thank you for your note of concern which you recently sent to the Bishop’s office regarding the University of Notre Dame.

Maria Wood, secretary to Bishop Rhoades, referred your email to me. Bishop Rhoades has discussed this issue with me, as it pertains specifically to my office.

As is clear from Bishop Rhoades’ most recent commentary entitled "Disturbing advances for the culture of death", President Obama’s policies, and those of his administration, on abortion and embryonic stem cell research violate the moral law and Church teachings on the sanctity of human life and dignity of the person. Bishop Rhoades concurs with Bishop D'Arcy's statement and position on the matter. (Bishop D’Arcy is the bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend, the diocese in which Notre Dame is located). Bishop Rhoades stands firmly with the US Catholic Bishops’ statement called “Catholics in Political Life” which unambiguously says –

The Catholic community and Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.

Bishop Rhoades also supports those who exercise their freedom of conscience and speech to express their opposition to the university’s decision to have President Obama as commencement speaker and honoree. In fact, Bishop Rhoades has written to the president of the university to express his disagreement with the university’s action.

It is disheartening and distressing when an institution that is regarded as Catholic, such as Notre Dame, fails to follow the guidelines set forth by the Bishops of the Catholic Church, especially in these vital moral matters. It is not political nor partisan to stand for the sanctity of human life and the dignity of the human person. President Obama clearly does not stand for or advance the cause of the defenseless unborn and their mothers and families. This is the tragic reality we must come to terms with as Catholics living in an increasingly secular environment. It is heartening on the other hand, to see how many Notre Dame students, faculty and alumni have made their commitment to human life known and how many Catholics and others of good will have done the same.

It is Bishop Rhoades’ hope and prayer that all the institutions that bear the name “Catholic” will affirm the Church’s teachings, expose the culture of death and build up the Culture of Life. Thank you for your selfless commitment to the defense of innocent human life. Please be assured of our prayers.

On behalf of Bishop Rhoades and myself, I am

Sincerely,

Paul CB Schenck, MA (Theol.), LHD

Director Office of Respect Life Activities
Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg

I've got to share this...

2009-01-19T15:27:00.003-05:00

But first let me say that I will get back to blogging and that I apologize for this extended absence. Health issues are the reason and I'm hoping to be back to things within a week, or so.

Anyway, I just have to share this

Piece by Thomas over at the American Papist.

It is a response to a response sort of thing --- usually not that interesting to read but it is this time. It definitely offers a view of the crassness of the morally relative self-righteous responding to what they view to be self-righteousness.

Did I just hear you say, somewhat loudly, "Huh?"

Just ignore what I wrote and checkout the above link. Hopefully, I'll be more coherent the next time we meet. Peace.

First Catholic University in India Opens

2008-12-08T23:32:00.005-05:00

Although this piece is from the same portion of the world as the last post, it is about a vastly different subject and source.
From the Indian Catholic Newspaper:

The Don Bosco University, India’s first Catholic university, was opened by Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Saturday at a prayerful function in Guwahati. "Let all involved in the project be filled with the spirit of Don Bosco and the mission of empowering youth with necessary skills and knowledge," wished Gogoi while opening the university.

Archbishop Thomas Menamparmbil of Guwahati released the DBU Brochure and presented it to the Chief Minister. Salesians are known for their schools and colleges in north east India and have set up the region’s first college, St. Antony’s college, in Shillong in 1934.

The college is also the world’s first university college Salesians have opened. The Salesians now have 27 colleges and over one hundred Technical Schools.

Hundreds of Salesian centers serve people across the country [of India] helping people for non formal courses, agricultural development, literacy and to shelter for street children. The newly opened university plans to link and upgrade Salesian educational facilities with its government approved and nationally recognized system.

“This is the first catholic university in India. The project has been sanctioned by the Rector Major and his Council. The Government of India has welcomed the move to set up a Catholic University in India. The Ecclesiastical authorities in India have been very positive in their attitude to the setting up of a Catholic University in India,” said a Salesian web site.

While the Chancellor-designate of the new University, Fr. Joe Almeida welcomed the guests, Fr. Stephen Mavely, the Vice Chancellor, gave a short account of the evolution of the dream of a University. K. Sudha Rao, former vice chancellor of Karnataka State Open University, in the key note address stressed the need of a University in the cultural context of the North East.

Twilight Years

2008-12-08T21:50:00.003-05:00

When one imagines their twilight year in a realistic fashion, the possibility of having to use diapers might come to mind. Improper muscle function can be a problem. An inability to self-feed might also be an issue with which the household might have to deal.

That's why it is so nice to have someone with whom to share those difficulties.

I just have to question if it is a good idea to share your second childhood with your newborn first child.

That is what a 70 year old Rajo Devi and her husband Bala Ram, 72, have decided to do.

On November 28th Rajo Devi, post-menopausal for roughly 20 years, delivered a girl who had been conceived by in vitro fertilization treatment at Hisar Fertility Center in Haryana, India. The baby girl weighed in at slightly more than 3 pounds at birth. Both mother and child are said to be doing well. Click HERE for more on this.

May God bless them while the angels watch over them.

A Babe in a Manger - A Priest at His Prayers

2008-12-03T20:49:00.004-05:00

A baby merely hours old was found lying in a church's creche in southern Germany

"I was in the church shortly after midday to pray and I heard the baby crying," said Father Thomas Rein, parish priest at St. Peter and St. Paul Catholic Church in Poettmes.

"We prepared the crib in the pre-Christmas period so children could lay fresh straw in it and ponder on the meaning of Jesus and Lo! There really was a Jesus-child in it!" Fr. Rein said excitedly.

"His cries saved his little life; I would not have noticed him otherwise."

The priest noted a serious concern for the babe's welfare because the church's temperature was below 55 degrees F, "It was only 12 degrees C in the church. There were fears that he could have hypothermia."

Neuburger Pediatric Clinic nurses and emergency staff have named the little one Peter. He is said to be doing well.

Police are only saying that they believe the mother is 38-year-old Romanian woman. The woman is thought to have lived in the Poettmes.

50,000,000 Pennies Mark 50,000,000 Abortion Deaths

2008-12-02T22:08:00.003-05:00

Mississippi Memorial Uses 50 Million Pennies to Mark 50 Million Abortion Deaths

Jackson, MS (LifeNews.com) -- A group of pro-life advocates in Mississippi found out as they collected 50 million of the coins for a unique memorial to mark the deaths of unborn children since Roe v. Wade allowed unlimited abortions in 1973.

The Mississippi Baptist Convention put together this one-of-a-kind visual reminder of the number of babies who have died from abortions. The group collected pennies from church congregations across the state and erected a large glass house to store all the pennies the size of a backyard storage shed.

Called the Memorial to the Missing, the penny-filled structure contains a plaque that encourages visitors to the Baptist convention's headquarters -- and the legislature across the street -- to respect life. Full story at LifeNews.com

So All May Eat - Pay as You are Able - Cafe

2008-12-02T21:15:00.004-05:00

The Washington Times' Chris Gergen and Gregg Vanourek shown a spotlight on a wonderful nonprofit restaurant located in Denver, Colorado called "SAME Cafe." It is well worth a read. Here is a snippet of Gergen and Vanourek's article:

The 'pay as you can' cafe

This holiday season, many are thinking of those who are less fortunate. Taking that sentiment several steps further, Brad and Libby Birky of Denver have created a nonprofit restaurant called SAME (So All May Eat) Cafe with a "pay as you can" pricing model.

Yes, you read that correctly. Instead of standard menu-based pricing, a donation box is set in the corner, and people are expected to pay what they can. Those who can't afford to pay are asked to help with manual labor: washing dishes, mopping the floor and the like. Those who can afford it often pay a bit more to contribute to the social mission.

The Birky family wanted to do something dramatically different after putting in years of volunteering at various food banks and shelters, where canned food is the standard fare and handouts sometimes are dispensed with cold detachment. At SAME, their philosophy is that everyone - regardless of economic status or station in life - deserves the chance to eat healthy food while being treated with dignity and respect.

SAME is not a soup kitchen. The volunteers are vigilant about asking customers to contribute something, whether money or labor. There also is a spirit of the place, a welcoming family atmosphere.

Isn't that something? If you'd like to read the complete article please click HERE.

THe Holy Father's December Intentions

2008-12-02T09:26:00.000-05:00

Papal Intention for Culture of Life

VATICAN CITY, DEC. 1, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI is praying this month for the expansion of the culture of life.

The Apostleship of Prayer announced the general intention chosen by the Pope: "That, faced by the growing expansion of the culture of violence and death, the Church may courageously promote the culture of life through all her apostolic and missionary activities."

The Holy Father also chooses an apostolic intention for each month. In December, he will pray that especially in mission countries, Christians may show through gestures of brotherliness that the Child born in the grotto in Bethlehem is the luminous Hope of the world."

Pastoral Care

2008-12-02T08:28:00.003-05:00

Rev. Joseph Illo of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Modesto, CA recently sent his parishioners a letter which discussed the potential need for the Sacrament of Reconciliation for individuals who voted for Barack Obama in the recent presidential election.

In part, Fr. Illo said:

If you voted for a pro-abortion candidate, I cannot say for certain is you should refrain from Holy Communion. I don't know what you were thinking. But voting for a candidate who promises "abortion rights," even is he promises every other good thing, is voting for abortion. It is a grave mistake, and probably a grave sin. No issue can compare withe the legalized destruction of a mother's child. I am writing because I love you and I care about your relationship with God. I am also writing because God requires this of me as a Catholic priest...

You've gotta love a pastor who for the salvation of his parishioners knowingly set himself up for the furor of our moral relativistic society. Kudos and thanks to Fr. Illo!!!!!

By the way, the emphasis in the above paragraph is in the original text. To read the whole letter, click HERE.

Special Holiday Postmarks

2008-12-01T23:00:00.004-05:00

Would you like your little ones to receive a letter from Santa with an actual "North Pole" postmark?

If so, place the sealed, stamped and addressed letter inside a larger envelope that is addressed to:

North Pole Christmas Cancellation Postmaster

5400 Mail Trail

Fairbanks, AK 99709

Be sure that both envelopes bear the appropriate postage so the addressee of the inner envelope receives the Santa mail with the "North Pole, Alaska" cancellation.

Special holiday postmark designs may also be had by routing your Christmas cards through these post offices:

Bethlehem, PA 18016

Carrollton, MO 64633

Christmas Valley, OR 97641

Holly, CO 81047

Holly, MI 48442

Hope, ID 83836

Hope, KS 67451

Hope, MN 56046

Nazareth, PA 18064

Noel, MO 64854

Saint Joseph, MI 49085

Saint Marys, WV 26170

Santa, Claus, IN 47579

Santa, ID 83866

Star, ID 83669

Star, MS 39167

Star, TX 76880

Starlight, PA 18461

Place your addressed cards in a larger envelope that has been addressed to the Postmaster of the office you wish to cancel your cards. At the bottom left corner mark it "Attention: Christmas Re-Mailing."

To have the your mail reaches the ultimate destinations before December 25th, plan so that the package/envelope reaches the cancelling post office by the 15th and be sure to use the proper postage - inside and out.

For a full list of U.S. Post Offices with holiday-based names, please click HERE. Not all on this list will have holiday design cancellations. However, the Post Offices actually listed above are to have a special design.

Bushmen Appeal to Pope

2008-11-27T09:30:00.002-05:00

Survival International had the following article on their web site:

The Kalahari Bushmen have appealed to the Pope to support them in their struggle to return to their land, as the Vatican established diplomatic relations with Botswana earlier this month.

A Bushman spokesman said today, ‘We beg the Pope to help, to pray for us so that the government changes its attitude towards us and respects our rights as indigenous peoples of this land.’

The establishment of diplomatic relations was initiated by Botswana’s former president Festus Mogae. He was the architect of the government’s controversial policy to forcibly evict the Bushmen from their ancestral lands in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.

Despite Botswana’s High Court having affirmed the Bushmen’s rights to live in the reserve in 2006, the government of the new president General Ian Khama continues to violate their rights. It has also given the company Gem Diamonds permission to mine diamonds on their land.

Not one Bushman has received a hunting permit, despite the High Court ruling that it was unlawful for the government to withhold permits. Nor are the Bushmen allowed to access the water borehole on their land. The lack of hunting and water has made life extremely difficult for the Bushmen.

Dom Erwin Kräutler, Bishop of Xingu, Brazil, said today, ‘In the 21st century it is more vital than ever that the Catholic Church support indigenous peoples throughout the world in the struggle for their rights.’

On 1 July, the Pope Benedict XVI expressed his solidarity and support for the indigenous peoples of Raposa-Serra do Sol in Brazil when he met them in the Vatican and declared ‘We will do everything possible to help protect your land.’

One Day Advent Retreat

2008-11-25T18:29:00.007-05:00

Holiness or Hecticness? Praying in Advent.

One Day Retreat

U.S. National Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes

Emmitsburg, Maryland

December 13, 2008

10 - 3

Fr. Jack Lombardi, Grotto Chaplain, will be conducting a day retreat entitled “Holiness or Hecticness? Praying in Advent.” on Saturday, December 13th from 10 am to 3 pm. The day will include Confessions, Spiritual Conferences, Mass and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

Fr. Jack, a kind and thoughtful priest, is an experienced retreat master committed to sharing the way of Our Lord with His people. You won't want to miss this opportunity to relax, reflect and refocus as we prepare for the celebration of our Savior's birth.

All are welcome!

Feast of Christ the King

2008-11-23T00:01:00.003-05:00

Jesus answered, "You say I am a king."

(John 18:37)

Window - St. Joan of Arc Roman Catholic Church, Hershey, PA

When the Son of Man comes in his glory,and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him.

(Matthew 25:31-32)

Powerful Essay by the Mother of a Trisomy 13 Child

2008-11-22T19:03:00.004-05:00

Below is a piece from UK's Times Online. Unfortunately, there was no byline. Written in first person, one is left to assume it was written by the mother of the child who had Patau's Syndrome.

It was all too easy to lose my son
Victoria Lambert terminated her pregnancy because the baby was disabled, but is now troubled by how readily society accepts such action

When I see boys at my daughter’s school, all gangly limbs and scruffy hair, I wonder what my own son would have looked like. He would be nine now. He would have blond hair and blue eyes – his father and I share that colouring. He might have my prominent chin; definitely a grin all his own.

My son would also be unable to speak, walk or possibly even think for himself. He would have extra digits and a heart defect. The first child I conceived had Patau’s syndrome – also known as trisomy 13 – which affects 1 in 10,000 children. The condition typically results in death before birth, at birth or in the following few days.

Those with the syndrome can survive, though rarely do, into young adulthood, and that possibility has been enough to fuel my dreams. Over the years, I’ve allowed my imagination to run unchecked: I’ve seen him playing conkers, glued to a PlayStation, eating pizza.

Yet all this can only ever be conjecture, for I had a termination in my 13th week of pregnancy, two weeks before the turn of the millennium. It was an experience that has scarred me in ways I could never have foreseen. Put simply: my decision and its consequences have tortured me for the past nine years.

I’ve been unable to talk about it easily, unless with drink in hand, let alone write about the experience. I have felt out of step with the rest of the world, where the validity of abortion is a given and to admit to being uneasy about it seems to make you a traitor to any notion of “sisterhood”. But what has isolated me most, and this is the crucial point, is an overwhelming sense of shame.

Almost from the moment I awoke from the anaesthetic, I have deeply regretted my decision. Whichever way I looked at it, it felt then and it feels now like murder. When I signed the consent form that permitted staff to perform a termination, I killed my first child. Why? Because he would have been born disabled.

What a terrible admission that is. Although I suspect a few other women may be quietly nodding their heads in recognition, I’m not sure the majority of people will understand or sympathise with me. Some will find my action abhorrent; some do not approve of anyone criticising abortions.

The underlying issue is that society has changed in its attitude towards disability. After all, antenatal testing (and its consequences) is now so commonplace that when it was revealed last month that a new blood test had been developed that could detect Down’s syndrome, the news was greeted with what seemed to be universal delight.

“Science takes some stress off would-be parents,” was the New Scientist magazine’s take. And it’s true that significantly fewer women will endure invasive procedures – amniocente-sis or chorionic villus sampling (CVS) – that carry a distinct risk of miscarriage. In fact, recent research suggests that in the course of detecting and preventing the birth of 660 Down’s babies, 400 healthy foetuses are lost each year.

What no one seems to address is why this test – and the others – exists. The orthodoxy may be that it helps to prepare a couple for the possibility that their baby’s future will not be as they envisaged. But anyone who has been given a result that differs from the norm knows the expectation is that the pregnancy will be ended. Why give birth to a baby who is not “perfect” this time, when you might be “lucky” next time? The latest estimates are that more than 90% of Down’s syndrome pregnancies are terminated.

“There is an implicit message within the goals of prenatal testing”, says the disability ethicist Lisa Bridle, “that society believes that raising a child with disability is such a grave burden that it is both morally correct and medically appropriate to take expensive measures to ensure such children are not born.”

The popularity of antenatal testing is undoubtedly due as much to fear as to a sense of social responsibility. Few of us would undergo nerve-racking tests were we not frightened of the unknown. And as disabilities become less common – because of increased numbers of terminations – that fear increases.

My own situation came about almost by accident. A friend suggested that when I reached the 12th week of my pregnancy I should take myself off for a nuchal fold scan at a private clinic in central London. The idea didn’t seem to require much thought.

I was 34 and healthy; the pregnancy had so far been easy and exciting. I’d always been desperate to have a large family – and here we were, on the way. Yippee. “You get to see the baby much sooner than in an NHS clinic,” my friend told me, “and for £95, it’s a really lovely experience, very posh – worth it as a treat!” To me, in my gleeful hormonal state, it seemed a no-brainer.

My husband, as he then was, and I would head up to Harley Street that Thursday, see our cute little baby squirming on screen, get a picture and then head off for some Christmas shopping. Almost as soon as we arrived at the clinic, that cosy, festive mood passed.

After a blood test, we were ushered into the consulting room, where a charming doctor covered my tummy in gel to ease the passage of her scanner, and pictures appeared on the small black-and-white screen at the side of the bed. My husband and I may have been making the standard jokes to each other about whom the foetus resembled, but we quickly noticed that our doctor was not joining in.

She was quiet and focused, taking down numbers. A few minutes later she had the test results. At that point she told us: “Statistically, you’ve a one in four chance of serious, life-threatening abnormality. I’m certain you are that one.” Nine years on, I can still hear the scream I let out. I can also remember biting my hand: I didn’t want the other mothers waiting outside to hear me and feel a jolt of fear.

We were advised to return the following day, when a professor would offer a second opinion. Twenty-four hours later, the scan played out the same way. Now I could hear the professor saying he could see on screen that my child had extra digits on his hands and feet, and that his forebrain had not divided in two. All I could see was my dearly wanted baby, kicking and wiggling just like any other foetus.

I was torn between staring at him and not looking at all, imprinting him on my brain and wanting to forget. The doctor performed a CVS on me – the test for Down’s and other abnormalities.

Tears were rolling down my face. He then told me that although he was in no doubt my baby had either Patau or Edwards syndrome (the effects are similar), he would send off the placenta sample for examination, and the results would be back early the next week.

And he gently suggested that I book an immediate termination – before the results were even due – as Christmas was just over a week away and it would be my last chance to have an abortion before the new year. As I was already 12 weeks pregnant, waiting any longer would mean having to endure labour, rather than a “neat” termination under general anaesthetic. I felt confident that he was right; that misdiagnosis was impossible. What nobody told me, then or later, was that not everybody terminates such a pregnancy.

That I could have carried the baby to full term. The baby might even have survived for years – albeit with a serious and life-limiting set of disabilities. I numbly watched the clinic’s secretary arrange, through my GP’s practice, for a termination three days later at our local maternity hospital.

When I tried to speak to my GP – whom I had known for more than five years – she made it plain she had no time to discuss my situation. Was it because I had gone to a private clinic, or because she disapproved of terminations, or just because it was a Saturday morning and she couldn’t be bothered? I never knew. But she left me feeling worse – alone, scared, unimportant and filled with guilt.

My husband, family and friends were as kind as possible – and as shocked. None doubted that the termination was for the best. “Put it behind you,” were the four words I became accustomed to hearing. And in many ways they were right and fair. The decision was not mine alone, anyway: my husband was convinced of the correctness of this course of action, and his point of view was as valid as mine.

He was worried for my health, too – would carrying such a sickly child put me at risk? We knew so little. We struggled on till Monday and drove to the hospital for the operation. Here, I met the one person who allowed me to question what was happening – an anaesthetist who threw everyone out of the room and sat down on the bed to ask whether this was what I really wanted.
I wish she had been there 24 hours earlier – by this time it was too late. I’d lost all willpower, all ability to do anything but cry. I said: “Yes, I’ll do this.” And with that I gave permission – and I cannot put this any other way, try as I may – to murder my unborn baby. Premeds were given, and I was placed on a trolley and wheeled down to theatre. I didn’t stop crying once. I dimly remember repeating, “No, no, no.”

And then I remember waking up crying, and it was over. A few days later, the CVS result came back in the post. My baby had been trisomy 13 – and a little boy. I then learnt of a tiny, impartial charity called ARC – Antenatal Results and Choices – which had been set up to provide information to parents who discover that their child may have a disability or disease. I steeled myself to call one of its helpers one night.

I don’t think I told her my story; I think I just sobbed down the phone and she listened. I should have thanked her, but I wasn’t capable of seeing or saying anything outside my bubble of pain. Had I been offered professional counselling at any stage in this chain of events, I’ve no doubt that my experience would have been different. I didn’t know I could ask for it, and I certainly wasn’t recommended any.

Christmas came and went, and I forced myself back into work on Boxing Day to try to preserve a little sanity. My colleagues were wonderful, but I was so ashamed of having had a termination that I said I’d miscarried. I couldn’t face what I felt would be inevitable disapproval of my decision to have an abortion. The weeks went by, and friends and family stopped asking how I was.

I found myself pregnant again a few months later, but that pregnancy ended in miscarriage on the exact weekend my son should have been born. I suppose it was inevitable I would think it was some sort of natural justice or punishment. The trail of misery went on.

My marriage ended six months later. I went on to have two more miscarriages in another relationship. I felt cursed. Finally, tests revealed that there was a reason for at least the miscarriages: I had antiphospholipid syndrome, which means my blood clots too easily, usually preventing pregnancies from taking hold. Why this did not stop the first one, no one has been able to tell me. Diagnosis did mean, however, that when I became pregnant in 2005 I could receive treatment to stop me miscarrying: daily injections of heparin to thin the blood.

Then came the day when I had to decide about antenatal testing. I was nearly 40 by this time, and my risk of having a baby with another chromosomal abnormality was much higher. At 20, you have a one in 1,529 risk of having a Down’s syndrome child; at 40, the risk is one in 112.
I was offered – and accepted – a scan at the hospital where I was being monitored. In fact, I’d also given blood for testing, when suddenly the realisation of what I was doing hit me.

I sat in my consultant’s office with my new husband, and started to cry (yes, again). “I don’t want to do this,” I said. “I’m not going through that again – whatever the consequences.”

The consultant sent us away to have a coffee and talk the decision through, but my husband was already in agreement. There would be no termination. And therefore no need for testing. Simple. My blood samples were thrown away, and an entry confirming our decision was made on my case notes. I made my peace with my unborn baby: I would take what I was given.

About five months later, my daughter was born. She had no sign of chromosomal abnormalities. It dawned on me that once we had decided not to go ahead with tests for Down’s or anything else, I had stopped worrying about how our child would turn out. She was going to be our baby, and as long as she was born alive, everything else could be dealt with.

I’m not trying to underplay the enormous work and sacrifices that many families must undergo when they have a disabled child. And I’m certainly not sitting in judgment of families who do choose to terminate such a pregnancy and are at peace with their decision. I’m not against abortion per se, and never have been.

I worry nonetheless that there is a growing consensus that abortion should be the automatic choice when any foetus is diagnosed as less than “perfect”. It is an issue in desperate need of open debate. As for me, when the fear of losing another baby was weighed against the risk of disability, I knew where I stood.

Now aged 43, still desperate for that large family and still suffering miscarriages, I have to accept that I may never have another child. It’s very hard.

The ghost of my son lingers painfully, haunting my thoughts. In the past nine years, not a week has gone by when I haven’t thought of him. Despite the support that others – including those closest to me – expressed for my decision at the time, I don’t think I can ever truly forgive myself for what I did.

What I do know, and often think, is that if my son had been born alive and perhaps with two years to live, were those not two years of my life that I could have spared to nurse him? Would it really have been such a big deal? With hindsight, I think I could have offered that at the very least to a child I had wanted so much.

Bigger and better antenatal testing may thrill research scientists and be of enormous importance to those parents who are clear in their minds about the kinds of baby they want to bring into the world. For some of us, though, there is a grave danger that the very ease and simplicity of the tests make life-and- death decisions too easy to take – and to regret.

More information about the charity Antenatal Results and Choices can be found at www.arc-uk.org

Another Rapidly Pro-Abort for Obama

2008-11-22T18:39:00.003-05:00

Ellen Moran, executive director of the Washington group of the radically pro-abortion group EMILY's List, will be director of communications at the White House.

The stench of the Obama White House is enough to choke a person.

Well, not everybody.

If you don't mind the smell of the rotting choice carcasses which resemble babies, it's not so bad.

Tell Your Story. Speak of Change.

2008-11-22T14:06:00.004-05:00

Want to tell the president-elect what is on your mind, share your personal story or your vision of change?

Well the Barack Obama's transition team's say on their newsroom blog,
"We created An American Moment on our website because you deserve a government that respects your involvement in the process by being open, transparent and bipartisan. We want to continue to hear about your hopes and dreams, answer your questions, and get your advice about what should come next."

Here are some phone numbers where you may share those things:

Senator Barack Obama's offices -
D.C.: (202)224-2854
CHICAGO, IL: (312)886-3506
SPRINGFIELD, IL: (217)492-5089
MARION, IL.: (618)997-2402
MOLINE, IL.: (309)736-1217

The form to e-mail your story may be found HERE.

Carmelite Focus for World Human Rights Day

2008-11-22T13:17:00.003-05:00

A press release for Catholic Online:

TUCSON, AZ (NOVEMBER 22, 2008) - The Carmelite NGO, a non-governmental organization working with the United Nations, announced A Day of Prayer in observance of World Human Rights Day, December 10, 2008. The focus of the Day of Prayer is to call attention to the violence that is robbing people of their human rights.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said, “It is our duty to ensure that these rights are a living reality – that they are known, understood and enjoyed by everyone everywhere.”

The Carmelite NGO is inviting people to join in solidarity with the peoples of the world that are suffering violence in any form - be it from war, hunger, lack of education, lack of medical care or lack of a healthy environment.

A booklet entitled “A Day of Prayer” designed specifically for use on December 10th is being made available at no charge for anyone interested. The booklet is an instrument of calling upon all to join in solidarity against violence in all it forms. This year Carmelites are especially asked to pray for victims of violence in Zimbabwe.

To obtain a copy of the “A Day of Prayer” booklet, email jremson@carmelitengo.org with your name and mailing address. Copies can also be downloaded from the website of the Carmelite NGO by clicking HERE.

The Carmelite NGO was affiliated to the Department of Public Information of the United Nations in December 2001. It is a representative body to the United Nations for the men and women around the world who are members of the Carmelite Order of the Catholic Church or its ministries.

A Group Permitting the Lord to Lead

2008-11-21T23:09:00.005-05:00

The following piece is a very nice article highlighting a group which is really making a difference in their community:

More than a place to pray:
Charismatic Catholics serve community, too

María Cortés González/El Paso Times

EL PASO -- Open Arms Community is not a church.

But the common mistake people make is not surprising considering all the activity taking place inside its facility, Centro Santa Fe, once a popular ranchera music dance place, off North Loop.
A Charismatic Catholic organization, Open Arms began as a small group meeting for prayer in people's homes. In its 35 years, the organization has gone from meeting in homes and churches to its own permanent home, where it still meets for prayer but also stores a food bank that gives supplemental groceries to about 500 families a month. It also runs a thrift store and a bookstore that support the food bank.

This holiday season, they plan to serve from 500 to 600 people a holiday meal at Mount Carmel Church. The organization also sponsors two conferences a year, one of which will take place this weekend at Las Alas Center, 501 E. Paisano.

Leaders have even bigger plans for the organization. Having taken on a mortgage on 15 acres of adjacent property that used to house a drive-in theater, the organization plans to build a retreat house and renewal center as well as a Catholic adult day care in a few years.

Joanne Ivey, executive director of the organization, was part of the original group that brought Catholics from various churches for small prayer meetings.

"It was in the early '70s and part of the pentecostal movement ... that felt a need to gather to pray in a more informal setting than what you would see in church on Sunday," she said.
The organization, which has the blessing of the El Paso Catholic Diocese, which is only a few yards away, emphasizes the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit, through which believers may prophesy, heal or speak in tongues. Charismatic comes from "charisma," a Greek word for gift.
It is believed that worldwide there are more than a 100 million Charismatic Catholics -- roughly 10 percent of Catholics. Several popes including Pope Benedict XVI and Pope John Paul II have acknowledged and supported the movement as a way of helping to renew the church.

"The pentecostal experience to me enhances everything we already believe and do as Catholics," Ivey said. " ... We believe that any baptized person has the Holy Spirit within them and can receive those special charisms if they do desire, not for their own upbuilding, but for the church."
Ivey stresses that while members of the organization meet for the small prayer groups on Mondays and Tuesdays, they also belong to various Catholic churches around the city.
She is excited about the enthusiasm that members have not only to enrich their relationships with God but also to reach out to the community with their food pantry and retreats.
Sara Barraza, who is raising three children by herself since her husband left, appreciates the supply of food she receives monthly from the organization.

"It's been difficult for me to support my three children, so I appreciate that they give me rice, beans and pastas -- staples that we eat every day," saidBarraza, who supports her family by taking care of friends' children.

"They give me a big help and it lightens my load," she said
.
Julia Martinez is another El Pasoan who not only has received food staples monthly but also has volunteered when she can, preparing grocery bags or doing mailings. Martinez said she has not been able to go since her husband became terminally ill in October.

"But I appreciate that they still call me to see how I'm doing and that they pray for me," she said. "It makes me feel better to have their support and prayers."

Jerry Blaine, who attends Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Horizon City, has also been involved in Open Arms for many years. He appreciates the intimacy of the small group.

"There's a close bonding with others," he said, "and I think almost everybody who is involved has had that common experience" of the Holy Spirit.

Blaine said the support of the church's hierarchy is also important to him.

"Before I became involved, I was conservative religiously," he said. "But I read a lot about the renewal and the statement that it was well within the church."

Ivey said the retreat center will have about 80 rooms, with classrooms, a chapel and two spacious places to conduct retreats. Besides receiving private donations, the organization has fundraisers for its retreat center, such as the annual Fiesta of the Nations.

Blaine is confident the organization will be able to build a great retreat center.

"A small group was able to buy and pay for this property and we're steadily paying off the drive-in property," he said. "And this is what we think the Lord is leading us to do and he will supply the means."

Article author María Cortés González may be reached at mcortes@elpasotimes.com; 546-6150.

Auschwitz, Buchenwald, Dachau... Obama

2008-11-20T11:31:00.003-05:00

The latest news regarding the Obama administration is that Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano is to be Homeland Security director for the Obama Administration.

She is decidedly pro-abortion. Earlier this year Napolitano vetoed a partial birth ban. In fact, in one month she vetoed four anti-abortion bills.

Now, really, I don't think that will directly impact the office of Homeland Security, but the smell of death that is coming from the president-elect's cabinet is becoming increasingly nauseating. Instead of the fresh aroma of change, I'm smelling something akin to what I imagine the death camps to have smelled like.

This Should be Seen

2008-11-19T22:56:00.002-05:00

Fr. Dwight Longenecker has a photo posted on his blog that gorgeous. Check it out by clicking HERE.

To Quote Ronald Reagan:

2008-11-19T22:38:00.007-05:00

"Abortion is advocated only by persons who have themselves been born."

Can't beat that logic.

Fr. Peyton Canonization Cause to Open Thursday

2008-11-19T22:20:00.003-05:00

From the Baltimore Archdiocese site:

Opening Session in Cause for Sainthood of Father Patrick Peyton to Take Place in Baltimore
Fr. Peyton coined the phrase, “The family that prays together stays together.”

Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien, Archbishop of Baltimore, will preside over the opening session of the Cause for Sainthood of Father Patrick Peyton, CSC during the 12:10 Mass at the Baltimore Basilica on Thursday, November 20. Father Peyton is best known as the “Rosary Priest,” who encouraged families through his radio and television programs in the 1940s and 50s to pray together daily, especially the rosary.

The investigation into the Cause for Sainthood of Father Peyton, which opened in June of 2001, was moved from the Diocese of Fall River, MA to Baltimore by the Holy See. Members of the ecclesiastical tribunal, which will investigate the life and ministry of Father Peyton, will be sworn-in during the Mass on Thursday and will receive instruction from the Archbishop as to how the inquiry is to take place.

The Catholic Church’s process leading to canonization involves three major steps. First is the declaration of a person’s heroic virtues, after which the church gives him or her the title Venerable. Second is beatification, after which he or she is called Blessed. The third step is canonization, or declaration of sainthood.

At various steps in the canonization process, evidence of alleged miracles is presented to Church authorities. In general, two miracles need to be accepted by the church as having occurred through the intercession of the prospective saint.

The Archdiocese of Baltimore has previously been involved in the Causes of Canonization of the Servants of God, Sr. Faustina Kowalska, Mother Mary Elizabeth Lange, and Father Francis Xavier Selos.

Father Patrick Peyton emigrated from Ireland to the United States in 1928 when he was 19. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1941 and founded Family Rosary in Albany, New York the following year. He conducted rosary crusades in 40 countries, drawing 28 million people. In 1947, he created Family Theater Productions, producing some 600 radio and television programs featuring hundreds of actors and celebrities, and more than 10,000 broadcasts.

Family Theater Productions is now part of Holy Cross Family Ministries, which carries on the work of Father Petyon and is headquartered in North Easton, MA. For more information about the life and work of Father Peyton, visit www.hcfm.org.

California Court to Hear Prop 9 Case

2008-11-19T21:09:00.005-05:00

Reuters is reporting that the California Supreme Court is going to hear a case disputing the validity of the same sex marriage ban that was approved in the recent election.

In the article, the legal director of a group which advocates gay marriage stated that the election's Proposition 8 mandates discrimination.

I don't see it that way. And that isn't religious right thinking.

Simple logic says that it isn't a discrimination to define marriage as being between a man and a woman. It is just codifies that which social convention has held for years.

I don't see why advocates for homosexual unions don't go at this from a different angle.

It seems the smartest approach would be to get civil unions recognized with the same rights afforded legally to married couples. Isn't that what this is about?

Or is there something more? A different agenda than what is being put forth, perhaps?

Adult Stem Cell Medical Miracle

2008-11-19T09:16:00.003-05:00

Below is a portion of an article from The Independent:

A 30-year-old Spanish woman has made medical history by becoming the first patient to receive a whole organ transplant grown using her own cells.

Experts said the development opened a new era in surgery in which the repair of worn-out body parts would be carried out with personally customised replacements.

Claudia Castillo, who lives in Barcelona, underwent the operation to replace her windpipe after tuberculosis had left her with a collapsed lung and unable to breathe. The bioengineered organ was transplanted into her chest last June at the Hospital Clinic in Barcelona.

Four months later she was able to climb two flights of stairs, go dancing and look after her children – activities that had been impossible before the surgery. Ms Castillo has also crossed a second medical frontier by becoming the first person to receive a whole organ transplant without the need for powerful immunosuppressant drugs.

Doctors overcame the problem of rejection by taking her own stem cells to grow the replacement organ, using a donor trachea (lower windpipe) to provide the mechanical framework. Blood tests have shown no sign of rejection months after the surgery was complete.

The operation takes transplant surgery a step closer to the goal of replacing damaged or worn-out organs with functioning replacements that are not rejected by the body, which are in increasing demand as life expectancy grows. Conventional transplant surgery involving the transfer of organs from dead donors means the living recipients have to spend the rest of their lives on powerful drugs to suppress their immune systems, putting them at risk from infections and diseases such as cancer.

Two years ago, doctors in the US claimed a world first after transplanting seven patients with bladders grown in the laboratory. Yesterday, British researchers involved in the new case said that development had been a "major advance" which had "paved the way" for the new technique. But they said the bladder transplant had been of a "cellular patch" of tissue, not a whole organ.

The new technique of customising organs so that they are indistinguishable from the body's own tissues not only overcomes the problem of rejection but also greatly extends the range of organs and tissues that can be transplanted. Only one attempt had been made previously to transplant a windpipe – by surgeons in Ohio in 1998 – and the operation had not been repeated because the immune response had been too severe, requiring very heavy doses of immunosuppressant drugs. Transplant of other body parts, such as limbs, had been restricted by concerns over immunosuppression.

Professor Anthony Hollander, of the University of Bristol, said the advance had been achieved as a result of developments in stem-cell technology. "For stem-cell science, this is really exciting," he said. "Without stem cells this procedure would not have been possible."

ADULT - not embryonic - stem cells made this possible.

Go Figure

2008-11-19T08:26:00.004-05:00

In an article about a woman planning to become a minister of the non-Catholic group Womenpriests, the future minister shared with the reporter an exchange with her Catholic mother:

“My mother is 85,” explained Wilcox. “I said, would she come to my ordination, and she said, ‘Of course; we will burn in hell together.’”

“Of course, there is no hell.”

And across the devil's face broke a glee filled smile.

Kenyan Government Demands Release of Kidnapped Nuns and Driver

2008-11-18T14:18:00.003-05:00

Iranian Press TV is carrying the following piece:

Kenya has threatened to raid Somali territories to free the abducted Italian Catholic nuns believed to be held by al-Shabaab fighters.

Kenya Internal Security Minister George Saitoti said Tuesday that the government had warned the fighters affiliated with the Union of Islamic Courts in Somalia to release the nuns, a Press TV correspondent reported.

Al-Shabaab has not formally claimed responsibility for the abduction.

"We have given them [al-Shabaab] the ultimatum to return back those Catholic nuns and to return the vehicles, three of them, including the Kenyan [driver]. And we are very firm on that one," he said, adding that the group had violated Kenyan sovereignty. "This, you have to understand, was a violation of our own boundary," the minister emphasized.

Two nuns and their driver were kidnapped after gunmen attacked the town of Elwak, in Mandera Central District, on the border with Somalia last week.

Cross-border raids are common in the region, with Kenyan forces struggling to maintain security along the border. Humanitarian workers have mainly become the target of kidnappings, raising concerns over the safety of foreigner aid workers in the region.

Insurgents, clan militias or criminal gangs are usually blamed for the attacks.

Stolen Tabernacle

2008-11-18T12:29:00.006-05:00

A tabernacle was stolen from a church in the Miami Diocese.

Please pray for all involved.

Pray for us all.

Bishop Aquila's Clear Statement

2008-11-17T23:13:00.006-05:00

"Some believe that it is possible to be a faithful Catholic and be pro-choice. This is impossible."

"Abortion is an intrinsic evil, which means that in no circumstance is it permitted nor may it ever be supported, even as a means to a good end. No Catholic can be faithful to Jesus Christ and the Church and support an intrinsic evil."

+++Bishop Samuel J. Aquila, in the Fargo Diocesan Newspaper, "New Earth"

Obama Presidency Our Gethsemane

2008-11-17T21:53:00.008-05:00

During his lecture this past Thursday at Catholic University of America, His Eminence James Francis Cardinal Stafford noted that Barack Obama is an "aggressive, disruptive and apocalyptic" man who campaigned on an "extremist anti-life platform."

Stafford, a high ranking American at the Vatican, drew a parallel between Christ's Passion and what American will face during the Obama presidency.

"For the next few years, Gethsemane will not be marginal. We will know that garden. On November 4, 2008, America suffered a cultural earthquake."

In his estimation, we have been dealt a future of "hot, angry tears of betrayal" akin to those experienced by "Jesus, sick because of love."

H/T - The Cardinal Newman Society

Humanae Vitae Mass of Thanksgiving

2008-11-17T12:26:00.011-05:00

In that Bishop Rhoades, prelate of the Harrisburg Diocese, was out of the country on the actual anniversary of the encyclical "Humanae Vitae," he celebrated that landmark papal letter to the faithful this past Sunday, November 16, 2008, at Saint Patrick's Cathedral in center city Harrisburg.

To paraphrase the Bishop's homily:

Humanae Vitae was born in and of a turbulent time. When Pope Paul VI wrote it,there was significant turmoil in the Church and the world. There was descent then, as there is now, against this teaching which in reality has always been the teaching of the Church as it is now. It is the truth of the Lord Himself; therefore, it is immutable.

Pope John Paul II expanded on Humanae Vitae in his own encyclical Theology of the Body. A powerful letter itself, Theology of the Body not only illuminates our thinking, but it can change our lives. These encyclicals are treatise of what the Master taught. It is incumbent upon us to be good and faithful servants. If we are, much like the parable in the day's Gospel, we will receive our Master's joy.

The heart of Humanae Vitae is that a married couple is to give themselves to each other completely. Through the conjugal love of marriage, by freely and completely giving of themselves, the couple becomes part of the mystery of creating life. Children are an authentic gift that is a matter of responsibility to God.

The Church is calling couples to say "yes" to life and "yes" to authentic love.

There may be times when couples must space children, or even suspend births. During those times, a husband and wife bear a responsibility to respect each other and their love. Within the framework of the conjugal love, couple should use Natural Family Planning methods. Part and parcel of NFP methods is mutual respect between the spouses. These methods entail a maturity of love that is part of the journey in virtue and of holiness.

Not only must marriage be respected, but also the dignity of human procreation itself. Science has blessed us with technology to help couples struggling with infertility. Care needs to be taken in the development and administration of technology though. Such research needs to be ethical - within the design and will of God. Unfortunately, there have been developments which have produced methods which spurn the God's plans - unethical methods of dissociation. Within these unethical dissociative methods is a void, a void wherein the respect for the dignity of the spouses and the child to be born ought exist. The Church recognizes the fact that a child deserves the dignity and respect of personhood from the moment of conception. It is essential that methods used respect the dignity of spouses and the child.

It is important for us to pray for couples facing the pain of infertility. It is a heavy burden they bear and we as the Church must pray for them.

Our teaching is counter-cultural, but following this teaching is part of following the way to holiness, to following Christ. It is part of fidelity to God.

Update: I just found that the Bishop's homily may be seen HERE in PDF format.

Free Rosaries to the World

2008-11-16T08:45:00.002-05:00

I ran across this article on a Central New Jersey web site:

Since 1992, Holy Cross Family Ministries has given away approximately 17 million Rosaries. The mission is to provide people from all around the world with Rosaries. There is no charge and Rosaries can be sent to families, schools and parishes.

The Rosary has been a major influence in Roman Catholic thought for over 500 years while paving the way for a greater understanding of the mystery of Christ; celebrated within family prayer.

Holy Cross Family Ministries believes in the importance of family prayer so much so, that they do not want anyone in the world to be without the Rosary. So they have been fulfilling their goals by providing the rosaries free of charge to anyone and everyone.

Rosaries for the world would not be possible if it were not for the support of parishes and individuals who donate Rosaries to the cause.

Website owner Jose Rodriguez of TheOnlyDish.com has decided to join forces and help support the goal of providing Rosaries to the world. TheOnlyDish.com is an affiliate of VMC Satellite an authorized retailer of Dish Network. Rodriguez has been selling Dish Network since 2004. Rodriguez has vowed to donate $10.00 for every Dish Network that is installed using his website. He states that Holy Cross Family Ministries has a great vision and that they are helping many people including people in remote parts of the world who would otherwise not be able to afford Rosaries. Rodriguez has donated in the past and wants to continue to contribute to the cause.

Anyone interested in receiving Rosaries can visit http://www.HCFM.org & clicking on Rosaries. People are also encouraged to donate for the cause which can be done on the website as well.

Kenyan Government on Recent Abduction

2008-11-14T10:24:00.002-05:00

The Shabelle media outlet posted the following:

A Kenyan driver and two Italian nuns abducted by Somali militants on Sunday are safe, the Government has said. Spokesman Dr Alfred Mutua said they have established the trio was abducted by Al Shabab Militants from their Elwak home. “They are being held in Somaliland,” he said adding that the government had put in place measures to ensure their safe release.

There was however little progress reported according to the police. Deputy Police Spokesman Charles Owino told Capital News there were no fresh leads but expressed optimism the kidnappers would be tracked down. “We have nothing to report at the moment. The search for the nuns is going on but they have not been traced. Officers are still on the ground searching for them,” he told Capital News on telephone.

Mr Owino said officers deployed to rescue the three were still combing the Somalia border where security has been intensified. He could not confirm reports that the team conducting the search planned to cross over the border into Somalia. “I am not able to confirm that, let it be known that we are on the ground and that everything is being done to find them,” he asserted.

A senior police officer in El Wak however, confided that the security forces were planning to cross over the border to search for the nuns. “It is one of the alternatives that is being considered. Our officers are also talking to elders in that country (Somalia) to try getting the nuns and the vehicles that were stolen returned,” the source said.

The nuns who were working with a missionary group providing health care in El-Wak were abducted in the early hours of Monday when 60 men stormed the town. They are reported to have hurled a grenade and sprayed bullets at a police station in the town before they kidnapped away the nuns from a Roman Catholic Church.

The nuns have since been identified as Caterina Giraudo, 67 and Maria Teresa Olivero, 60.

The Chief of Vatican Spokesman, Rev Federico Lombardi on Tuesday said that Pope Benedict was aware of the incident and was praying for them.

Vatican "Right" to Die

2008-11-14T10:13:00.004-05:00

From the AFP:

The Vatican on Friday firmly condemned an Italian court decision allowing a father to remove his comatose daughter from life support, saying "the right to die does not exist."

"Life is sacred, the right to die does not exist," the Vatican's "health minister" Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan said in an interview published by the Italian daily La Stampa.

On Thursday, Italy's highest appeal court upheld an earlier ruling that doctors could stop artificially feeding Eluana Englaro, 37, as it had been proven that the road accident victim's coma was irreversible.

"To stop giving food and drink to Eluana is tantamount to committing murder," said Barragan, who heads the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral Care.

"It means letting her die of hunger and thirst, condemning her to a monstrous end," he added.

Englaro has lain in a hospital in northern Lecco since January 1992, and her father Beppino Englaro has been seeking an end to her life support since 1999.

The lower court had accepted testimony that when fully conscious Eluana Englaro had stated her preference to die rather than being kept alive artificially.

Her father hailed the ruling, telling the daily La Repubblica: "I wanted justice and the judges gave it to me. They tried to put themselves in Eluana's place, (to understand) her thoughts, her strength, her freedom and her irreversible vegetative state."

Such a state "does not exist in nature, while medicine can take forced feeding and care to an extreme, even when it no longer serves any purpose," he said.

Barragan also spoke to La Repubblica, saying: "The term 'vegetative state' is appropriate for plants, not human beings."

All Carmelite Saints Day

2008-11-14T08:48:00.005-05:00

If you're a Catholic, you are aware of the feast days known as All Saints and All Souls.

Did you know that there are feast days specifically for Carmelites that are in the same ilk as those feast day? They even follow each other, one day immediately after the other, as All Saints and All Souls of the larger Church.

On the Carmelite calendar, yes the orders have order specific calendars, today is the celebration of All Carmelite Saint. Tomorrow, November 15th, is the Feast of All Carmelite Souls.

So,

Happy All Carmelite Saints Day!

Consider asking the Carmelite saints to pray for a special intention today and be sure to offer a prayer tomorrow for the Carmelites who may be in Purgatory anticipating Heaven.

Priest to be Excommunicated

2008-11-14T08:12:00.003-05:00

The following is from the NY Times:

The Vatican has informed a Roman Catholic priest in the United States that he will be excommunicated next week for participating in a ceremony it considers illicit and invalid: the ordination of a woman as a priest.

The priest, the Rev. Roy Bourgeois, 69, has been a member of the Maryknoll religious order for 36 years. He said he was anguished at the thought of excommunication, but could not disavow his actions.

In August, Father Bourgeois joined a ceremony in a Unitarian Universalist church in Lexington, Ky., in which a [female] friend claimed ordination as a Roman Catholic priest. Father Bourgeois gave the homily and laid hands on her.

He had known that excommunication was possible but said he thought it unlikely. His order summoned him to headquarters and gave him a warning but did not discipline him.
Then he received a letter dated Oct. 21 from the Vatican’s doctrinal watchdog, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, warning that if he did not recant, in writing, he would be excommunicated within 30 days.

“When I got the actual letter, I had to sit down,” he said. “I felt nauseous. I thought, this is serious stuff. The first thought that came to mind was, How am I going to explain this to my dad and my family?”'

Father Bourgeois informed the Vatican that he would not repent.

Father Bourgeois said he would try to appeal the Vatican’s decision. Excommunication, according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, is “the most severe ecclesiastical penalty.” The person is forbidden to receive or administer sacraments.

Three Effects of Faith Directed Life

2008-11-14T07:10:00.002-05:00

At this week's public audience Pope Benedict XVI focused on St. Paul's dedication to our Risen Lord. Pope Benedict noted that there are three fundamental marks of living a faith filled Christian life:

The first attitude is the certainty that Jesus has risen, is with the Father, and because of that, is with us forever. Because of this, we are secure and free of fear. This was an essential effect of Christian preaching. Fear of spirits and gods was spread throughout the entire ancient world. And today as well, missionaries find -- together with so many good elements in natural religions -- the fear of spirits and the ill-fated powers that threaten us. Christ is alive; he has overcome death and has overcome all these powers. With this certainty, with this freedom, with this joy, we live. This is the first element of our living directed to the future.

[A believer knows - Christ] is with me. And that in Christ the future world has already begun -- this also gives the certainty of hope. The future is not a darkness in which no one gets one's bearings. It is not like that. Without Christ, also for the world today, the future is dark; there is fear of the future -- a lot of fear of the future. The Christian knows that the light of Christ is stronger and because of this, lives in a hope that is not vague, in a hope that gives certainty and courage to face the future.

We don't live as if good and evil were the same, because God only can be merciful. This would be a deceit. In truth, we live with a great responsibility. We have talents, we have to work so this world opens itself to Christ, so that it is renewed. But even working and knowing in our responsibility that God is a true judge, we are also sure that he is a good judge. We know his face -- the face of the risen Christ, of Christ crucified for us. Therefore, we can we sure of his goodness and continue forward with great courage.

The Pope concluded the audience with an adaptation of St. Paul the prayer that he taught earlier followers.

Noting that Paul taught them to say, "Maranà, thà, which literally means, 'Our Lord, come!'" Pope Benedict said that in this time time in history, "...totally and deeply, we too can and should say, with great urgency and in the circumstances of our time,

Come, Lord! Come to your world, in the way that you know.

Come where there is injustice and violence.

Come to the refugee camps, in Darfur and in North Kivu, in so many places in the world.

Come where drugs dominate.

Come, too, among those rich people who have forgotten you and who live only for themselves.

Come where you are not known.

Come to your world and renew the world of today."

Bishop - Catholics Should Defend Life

2008-11-14T04:13:00.006-05:00

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:

Zubik urges Catholics to defend right-to-life stance

Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik said Thursday he will urge local Roman Catholics to fight any effort to expand abortion rights across the country.

"That is part of the beauty of being citizens of the United States," Zubik said. "We can speak to our legislators and let them know, as Catholics, where we are coming from."

Zubik returned from this week's U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Baltimore, where about 300 bishops adopted a formal blessing for a child in the womb and drafted a document asking President-elect Barack Obama not to erode gains made by right-to-life supporters. "We really felt that it was important for a statement to come out as soon as possible," Zubik said in a phone interview.

The bishops are concerned that Obama and a majority of pro-choice Democrats in Congress might approve the proposed Freedom of Choice Act, which would override state-by-state limits on when a woman can abort a pregnancy, Zubik said.

That could eliminate "freedom of conscience" clauses for doctors who refuse to perform an abortion and limits against late-term and partial-birth abortions.

Pittsburgh Catholics should call their lawmakers to voice opposition to the proposal, Zubik said. But that stance could set church leaders against supporters of Obama, who has said he would sign the act into law if Congress passes it.

Nationwide, Catholics supported Obama over Republican Sen. John McCain by 54 percent to 45 percent, according to a CNN exit poll. In Pennsylvania, a pre-election Franklin & Marshall College poll showed Obama with a similar lead among Catholics who were likely voters.
Fifty-seven percent of Allegheny County voters chose Obama, compared to 41 percent who voted for McCain.

Zubik said he would not punish vocal Obama supporters by refusing them sacraments such as communion, but said he understands and respects bishops who are taking such positions.
"They are perfectly within their right to do that," he said.

Zubik said Catholics ultimately will be judged by how much they embraced the teachings of the faith.

"What I always tell people is this: 'If you make a decision, you have to imagine yourself looking at God eyeball to eyeball,' " Zubik said. "I think, in the end, we are all going to be judged by how sincere we were with God and how much we embraced the teachings of our faith."

Locally, perhaps no devout Catholic was a more outspoken supporter of Obama than Steelers Chairman Dan Rooney, who appeared at a rally with Obama and gave him a Steelers jersey a week before the election. Rooney could not be reached for comment.

The bishop might not be judgmental, but Rooney might have to make amends with one of his brothers.

Pat Rooney, one of five Rooney brothers who own shares in the Steelers, said he hopes Dan Rooney's influence and the Steelers brand name did not sway Catholic voters. He questioned how Catholics could balance a religious obligation to oppose abortion with a political inclination for a pro-choice president.

"We can't be smorgasbord Catholics, because morality cannot be negotiated," Pat Rooney said.
In politics, conflicts between governing and staying true to faith long have shadowed Catholics elected to public office.

Pastor to Obama Voters - Reconcilation or No Communion

2008-11-13T23:57:00.000-05:00

Dear Friends in Christ,

We the People have spoken, and the 44th President of the United States will be Barack Hussein Obama. This election ends a political process that started two years ago and which has revealed deep and bitter divisions within the United States and also within the Catholic Church in the United States. This division is sometimes called a “Culture War,” by which is meant a heated clash between two radically different and incompatible conceptions of how we should order our common life together, the public life that constitutes civil society. And the chief battleground in this culture war for the past 30 years has been abortion, which one side regards as a murderous abomination that cries out to Heaven for vengeance and the other side regards as a fundamental human right that must be protected in laws enforced by the authority of the state. Between these two visions of the use of lethal violence against the unborn there can be no negotiation or conciliation, and now our nation has chosen for its chief executive the most radical pro-abortion politician ever to serve in the United States Senate or to run for president. We must also take note of the fact that this election was effectively decided by the votes of self-described (but not practicing) Catholics, the majority of whom cast their ballots for President-elect Obama.

In response to this, I am obliged by my duty as your shepherd to make two observations:

1. Voting for a pro-abortion politician when a plausible pro-life alternative exits constitutes material cooperation with intrinsic evil, and those Catholics who do so place themselves outside of the full communion of Christ’s Church and under the judgment of divine law. Persons in this condition should not receive Holy Communion until and unless they are reconciled to God in the Sacrament of Penance, lest they eat and drink their own condemnation.

2. Barack Obama, although we must always and everywhere disagree with him over abortion, has been duly elected the next President of the United States, and after he takes the Oath of Office next January 20th, he will hold legitimate authority in this nation. For this reason, we are obliged by Scriptural precept to pray for him and to cooperate with him whenever conscience does not bind us otherwise. Let us hope and pray that the responsibilities of the presidency and the grace of God will awaken in the conscience of this extraordinarily gifted man an awareness that the unholy slaughter of children in this nation is the greatest threat to the peace and security of the United States and constitutes a clear and present danger to the common good. In the time of President Obama’s service to our country, let us pray for him in the words of a prayer found in the Roman Missal:

God our Father, all earthly powers must serve you. Help our President-elect, Barack Obama, to fulfill his responsibilities worthily and well. By honoring and striving to please you at all times, may he secure peace and freedom for the people entrusted to him. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever.

Amen.

Father Newman
St. Mary's Catholic Church
Greenville, SC

Seconds to You, a Scholarship for Him

2008-11-13T14:56:00.003-05:00

How would you like to help someone with just three clicks of your left mouse button?

Come on... It'll take you between 3 and 10 seconds.

Yes, only 10 seconds even with a dial-up connection. I speak from experience.

The American Papist needs your assistance!!!

Please click HERE or on one of those other off-colored words to help.

Humanist "Godless Holiday Campaign"

2008-11-12T22:06:00.006-05:00

The following is a portion of a press release issued yesterday:

"Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness' sake," proclaims a new holiday ad from the American Humanist Association. Already appearing today in the New York Times and Washington Post, the message will soon be blazoned on the sides, taillights, and interiors of over 200 Washington DC Metro buses.

It's the first ad campaign of its kind in the United States, and the American Humanist Association predicts it will raise controversy over humanist ideas.

The exterior posters will appear on buses in Northwest Washington starting Tuesday, November 18. The interior posters will begin December 1 in Northwest and Southeast.

"We expect these bus signs to generate a lot of public interest," said Fred Edwords, director of communications for the American Humanist Association.

Such high-profile promotion isn't new to the American Humanist Association. Throughout 2008, humanist advertising has become more visible across the nation. In particular, highway billboards have been erected just outside of New York City, Philadelphia, and other major cities. They read: "Don't believe in God? You are not alone."

Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League, responded:

“Codes of morality, of course, have always been grounded in religion. For those of us in Western civilization, its tenets emanate from the Judeo-Christian ethos. By casting this heritage aside, and replacing it with nothing more than the conscience of lone individuals, we lay the groundwork for moral anarchy. And that is because there is nothing that cannot be justified if the only moral benchmark is what men and women posit to be right and wrong. Indeed, every monster in history has followed his conscience."

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein said ads are accepted as long as they aren't obscene or pornographic. Personally, I find it obscene for an organization to promote the emptiness of non-belief.

Let's hope (and pray) that people use this $40,000 campaign as a reminder to pray for the unbelieving to be given the gift of faith. If each time one of the ads is seen such a prayer is said, this could have some very positive results.

May the angels and saints join us in praying for these lost souls.

USCCB Statement to President Elect

2008-11-12T15:37:00.003-05:00

BALTIMORE—Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), voiced hope for the Obama Administration but pointed to possible obstacles to our desired unity, in a Nov. 12 statement at the end of the annual fall assembly of the USCCB.

"The bishops of the Catholic Church in the United States welcome this moment of historic transition and look forward to working with President-elect Obama and the members of the new Congress for the common good of all," he said.

He said that "the unity desired by President-elect Obama and all Americans at this moment of crisis will be impossible to achieve," if the administration's policies increase abortions.

"Aggressive pro-abortion policies, legislation and executive orders will permanently alienate tens of millions of Americans, and would be seen by many as an attack on the free exercise of their religion."

"We express again our great desire to work with all those who cherish the common good of our nation," he added. "The common good is not the sum total of individual interests: it is achieved in the working out of a common life based upon good reason and good will for all."

Cardinal George's Prepared Statement:

STATEMENT of the President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops"If the Lord does not build the house, in vain do its builders labor; if the Lord does not watch over the city, in vain does the watchman keep vigil." (Psalm 127, vs. 1)

The Bishops of the Catholic Church in the United States welcome this moment of historic transition and look forward to working with President-elect Obama and the members of the new Congress for the common good of all. Because of the Church's history and the scope of her ministries in this country, we want to continue our work for economic justice and opportunity for all; our efforts to reform laws around immigration and the situation of the undocumented; our provision of better education and adequate health care for all, especially for women and children; our desire to safeguard religious freedom and foster peace at home and abroad. The Church is intent on doing good and will continue to cooperate gladly with the government and all others working for these goods.

The fundamental good is life itself, a gift from God and our parents. A good state protects the lives of all. Legal protection for those members of the human family waiting to be born in this country was removed when the Supreme Court decided Roe vs. Wade in 1973. This was bad law. The danger the Bishops see at this moment is that a bad court decision will be enshrined in bad legislation that is more radical than the 1973 Supreme Court decision itself.

In the last Congress, a Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) was introduced that would, if brought forward in the same form today, outlaw any "interference" in providing abortion at will. It would deprive the American people in all fifty states of the freedom they now have to enact modest restraints and regulations on the abortion industry. FOCA would coerce all Americans into subsidizing and promoting abortion with their tax dollars. It would counteract any and all sincere efforts by government and others of good will to reduce the number of abortions in our country.

Parental notification and informed consent precautions would be outlawed, as would be laws banning procedures such as partial-birth abortion and protecting infants born alive after a failed abortion. Abortion clinics would be deregulated. The Hyde Amendment restricting the federal funding of abortions would be abrogated. FOCA would have lethal consequences for prenatal human life.

FOCA would have an equally destructive effect on the freedom of conscience of doctors, nurses and health care workers whose personal convictions do not permit them to cooperate in the private killing of unborn children. It would threaten Catholic health care institutions and Catholic Charities. It would be an evil law that would further divide our country, and the Church should be intent on opposing evil.

On this issue, the legal protection of the unborn, the bishops are of one mind with Catholics and others of good will. They are also pastors who have listened to women whose lives have been diminished because they believed they had no choice but to abort a baby. Abortion is a medical procedure that kills, and the psychological and spiritual consequences are written in the sorrow and depression of many women and men. The bishops are single-minded because they are, first of all, single-hearted.

The recent election was principally decided out of concern for the economy, for the loss of jobs and homes and financial security for families, here and around the world. If the election is misinterpreted ideologically as a referendum on abortion, the unity desired by President-elect Obama and all Americans at this moment of crisis will be impossible to achieve. Abortion kills not only unborn children; it destroys constitutional order and the common good, which is assured only when the life of every human being is legally protected. Aggressively pro-abortion policies, legislation and executive orders will permanently alienate tens of millions of Americans, and would be seen by many as an attack on the free exercise of their religion.

This statement is written at the request and direction of all the Bishops, who also want to thank all those in politics who work with good will to protect the lives of the most vulnerable among us. Those in public life do so, sometimes, at the cost of great sacrifice to themselves and their families; and we are grateful. We express again our great desire to work with all those who cherish the common good of our nation. The common good is not the sum total of individual desires and interests; it is achieved in the working out of a common life based upon good reason and good will for all.

Our prayers accompany President-elect Obama and his family and those who are cooperating with him to assure a smooth transition in government. Many issues demand immediate attention on the part of our elected "watchman." (Psalm 127) May God bless him and our country.

Child in the Womb Blessing Approved

2008-11-12T07:34:00.000-05:00

BALTIMORE—The U.S. bishops approved the Order for the Blessing of a Child in the Womb for use in the dioceses of the United States with a 223-1 vote November 11, at their General Assembly in Baltimore. The bishops also approved a Spanish version of the blessing with a 224-0 vote.

The Blessing of a Child in the Womb was prepared by the USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities after receiving requests from dioceses for such a blessing and not finding an existing blessing for a newly conceived child. In March, 2008 a blessing was prepared and submitted to the Committee on Divine Worship. The proposed blessing is distinct from the Blessing of Parents before Childbirth found in the Book of Blessings.

The Blessing of a Child in the Womb Within Mass and Outside Mass, in English and in Spanish, upon recognitio by the Congregation on Divine Worship and the Sacraments in Rome for use in the dioceses of the United States of America, will be included in future editions of the Book of Blessings (de Benedictionibus) when the text is revised.

Recovery from Vandalism

2008-11-10T13:43:00.000-05:00

Unfortunately, multiple churchs in the Richford, Vermont area were violated last week. Refreshingly, however, the congregations did not allow the violations to keep them from their Sunday worship. Below is a story from a local television station:

Sunday morning's mass at the All Saints Church was the first since it was reconsecrated by the bishop Saturday night.

"It was just so spiritually uplifting," organist Fredda Ploof said. "I've never witnessed anything like that before. It was very emotional."

Ploof said the ceremony made the church feel sacred once again. Monday night, it had been broken into. The tabernacle that holds the Eucharist -- the sacramental body of Christ -- was vandalized. "We consider the church holy, very holy," she said. "And for anybody to come in like that, it's like invading our religion and how we respect this as a house of God."

All Saints is just one of four area churches broken into or vandalized over the past week. A church in Cavendish was burglarized, and a church in Berlin, New Hampshire, sustained an estimated $20,000 worth of damage. Just up the road from All Saints, Our Lady of Lourdes, in East Berkshire, was broken into Tuesday night. While nothing appeared to have been taken, the church was ransacked.

"Somebody came in and took Christ forcefully out of the church, in the blessed sacrament," Rev. Karl Hahr said. He serves both Franklin County parishes and said the break-ins were not just acts of vandalism, but attacks on Jesus Himself. Catholics believe Jesus is present in the hosts, or wafers shared in the Eucharist."They had smashed the doors in, so it was heartbreaking to see it," he said. "It was hard to see if they took any of the hosts."

The tabernacle used in Sunday's mass is about half the size as the one that was destroyed. The original one weighed about a hundred pounds, and was found dumped in the church basement. Hahr said police have not named a suspect or a motive. "It's either idiots that don't realize there's nothing of monetary value kept in the church," he said. "Or there's a possibility it's a hate crime. I'm hoping it's not that, but it's always a possibility."

Hahr explained that while the tabernacle holds tremendous value to the church and its parishioners, it does not have much value outside. It appears gold but is actually made of steel, so it's not likely to be sold for scrap.

Whatever the motive, Hahr said parishioners are ready to forgive whoever did this. "We're used to going to confession and being forgiven ourselves," he said, "so it's very easy to begin to forgive."

For video footage of WCAX-TV's reporting of this story, please click HERE.
An earlier story by WPTZ on the burglary may be found HERE.

94-Year-Old's Service to the Church

2008-11-10T11:29:00.005-05:00

Ran across an article in The Dominion Post today that I'm so glad not to have missed. I think you'll like it too.

New Zealander Noel Byford suspects he is the world's oldest altar boy. Every weekday at 7am, the 94-year-old, despite blindness and spinal damage, arrives at St Mary's Parish church in Taihape to begin a dutiful routine in preparation of the altar for Mass.

It has been this way for the past three years, since Father Bill Casey asked his most regular attendee if he could be his weekday altar server, filling the same role as the primary school-age altar boys and girls who help the priest prepare for liturgies at weekend services.

Mr Byford missed out on being an altar boy as a child and, more than 80 years on, he's taken on the role with total devotion.

Sometimes there are only four people at morning mass, but the diminutive Mr Byford performs his duties with absolute reverence.He slowly lights candles, retrieves the sacramental wine and wafers from locked cabinets and prepares them for communion, and rings a bell three times.

"I love it. I really do. I'm fond of my faith," he says.

Last month, Mr Byford was honoured with a Benemerenti Medal, sent from the Vatican, honouring his years of service to St Mary's.

He wears the gold medal on its yellow and white ribbon pinned to his heavy green suit; thick head of hair on his head, cane in hand.

The medal - which director of Catholic communications Lyndsay Freer says is held by only a few dozen New Zealanders - was an honour to add to the other accomplishments that have punctuated Mr Byford's long life.

The self-made businessman and former Taihape mayor was born in 1913. His mother went into hospital when he was six and later died.

His father told him: "We'll all meet in heaven." The young Noel Byford took this literally, and so began a lifelong commitment to his faith. "It had an impression on me. I kept that in mind."

At his modest home on the edge of Taihape, statuettes of Christ and Mary watch over him from the wall as he eats. He says grace before a lunch of tomato and ham sandwiches.

Mr Byford moved from Hawke's Bay to Taihape as a 19-year-old to take up a horse-and-cart milk run. It was 1933. "I was only going to stay a while, save up and get my fare home again. But I'm still trying to get my fare." On his milk run, he met brown-haired Marjorie, who came to the gate in a pink top with white dots.

"I often remember that summer's morning, when God gave me no warning," he says, reciting a ditty he wrote about their courtship.

A mate of his was very fond of Marjorie but Mr Byford asked her to a dance and so began a relationship that grew to marriage and produced five children, 21 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren.

Sitting in a soft chair, hunched by 94 years of life, Mr Byford wonders whether he should feel guilty about cutting his mate's grass: "Was it a dirty trick?"

Marjorie - "my wife, my bride" - died in 1983. "She's always got my heart."

Gumboot capital Taihape, a popular tea stop south of the Desert Road on State Highway 1, has about 1800 residents. It's only a small rural town but it was here that Mr Byford launched a construction, transport and ready-mix business that employed 68 people and was worth several million dollars by the time he retired in 1993.

Mr Byford was mayor of Taihape from 1983 till 1989, spent 20 years on the Power Board and is a life member of Victim Support. Alongside photographs of him on official mayoral business on his dining room wall is a mirror featuring an image of Christ.

Now he will need to find some space, between the landscape paintings and family photographs, for the certificate celebrating the outstanding and meritorious service of quite possibly the world's oldest altar boy.

Catholic Nuns Kidnapped

2008-11-10T10:21:00.004-05:00

By MOHAMED SHEIKH NOR,

Associated Press Writer Mohamed Olad Hassan contributed

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Gunmen seized two Italian Catholic nuns from a church in northern Kenya before dawn Monday and took them across the border into a Somali region largely controlled by Islamist insurgents, officials and witnesses said.

The Italian Foreign Ministry said its crisis unit was working with its ambassador to Kenya to secure the nuns' freedom. The papal nuncio in Kenya is also involved, the ministry said.

The nuns were seized from their home in El Wak, on the Somali border about 420 miles (675 kilometers) northeast of the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, the Kenyan Red Cross said.

The bandits also stole three vehicles, the Red Cross said.

Aden Mohamed Isaqm, a local aid worker, said six gunmen hurled a hand grenade and fired a rocket at Kenyan police just after dawn prayers before seizing the nuns from the local church and driving toward the border.

Witness Shacban Mohamed Ali told The Associated Press that he had seen two foreigners in a car surrounded by militiamen.

The nuns had been visiting areas affected by a recent drought, Ali said.

The Catholic church has been the target of frequent attacks in Somalia, parts of which were once colonized by Italy. In 2005, insurgents dug up remains in an Italian cemetery where around 3,000 people were buried, and threw them into the sea. The following year an Italian nun working in a hospital in the capital was shot dead. Earlier this year, residents of the southern town of Kismayo began destroying an abandoned Catholic church after the town was taken by Islamic extremists.

Somalia has not had a functioning government since clan-based warlords overthrew a socialist dictator in 1991. The current weak and corrupt transitional government is supported by Ethiopian troops, who ousted the Islamists from the capital and much of the south in December 2006.

Unholy Clash

2008-11-10T09:30:00.003-05:00

Below is a portion of an AP article:

JERUSALEM (Nov. 9) -Israeli police rushed into one of Christianity's holiest churches Sunday and arrested two clergyman after an argument between monks erupted into a brawl next to the site of Jesus' tomb.

The clash between Armenian and Greek Orthodox monks broke out in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, revered as the site of Jesus' crucifixion, burial and resurrection.The brawling began during a procession of Armenian clergymen commemorating the 4th-century discovery of the cross believed to have been used to crucify Jesus.

The Greeks objected to the march without one of their monks present, fearing that otherwise, the procession would subvert their own claim to the Edicule — the ancient structure built on what is believed to be the tomb of Jesus — and give the Armenians a claim to the site.

The Armenians refused, and when they tried to march the Greek Orthodox monks blocked their way, sparking the brawl.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said police were forced to intervene after fighting was reported. They arrested two monks, one from each side, he said.

A bearded Armenian monk in a red-and-pink robe and a black-clad Greek Orthodox monk with a bloody gash on his forehead were both taken away in handcuffs after scuffling with dozens of riot police.

Protest at Annual USCCB Meeting

2008-11-07T17:55:00.006-05:00

WASHINGTON, Nov 07, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Pro-life Catholics from Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania will "welcome" Catholic Bishops to Baltimore with two days of protests, decrying what is being termed the USCCB's silence and treachery concerning the unborn during the 2008 Presidential Election.

Some protesters will wear "Obama Masks" and hold signs saying: "Bishops: Thank you for your silence!" and "Bishops: I couldn't have been elected without You!" Other signs to be unveiled.
Randall Terry, Protest Organizer states: "A key factor in the election of Barack Obama was the silence of U.S. Catholic Bishops. They had a duty to clearly and courageously defend the lives of unborn children; most of them failed miserably. Their silence and cowardice over the last 12 months paved the way for Obama's victory, and will cost millions of innocent babies their lives."

"The USCCB's document, 'Faithful Citizenship,' is a disaster," observed the Operation Rescue founder. "It was used by every pro-abortion Catholic in the country to justify voting for Obama. The double tragedy is that the Bishops ignored John Paul II's directives in 'Evangelium Vitae' (the Gospel of Life), and chose their own failed document to vindicate their silence and inactivity."

"God have mercy on them. Let's hope they recognize the abject failure of 'Faithful Citizenship,' and formally abandon it, or radically rewrite it in a way that accurately reflects Church Teaching," concluded Terry.

Not only will pro-lifers will provide media with Church documentation, showing the betrayal their duty, but they will also be acknowledging and honoring the handful Bishops who made clear statements regarding Church teachings.

Where:
Marriott Water Front
700 Aliceanna St.
Baltimore Maryland, 21202

Dates and Times:
Sunday, November 9, 2008, 2-5 pm,
Monday, November 10, 2008, 12 Noon - 2:00 pm

Okay, it may seem out of character for me to promote something that may intially seem to be against the Church, but my perspective of this is that, in this matter, many of the Bishops let the Church and her people down.

People were really looking for direction this election. I have no idea how many people asked me if I knew where Catholic teachings placed the electorate, but there were quite a few. They wanted to know how doctrine should impact their vote. They wanted to be faithful to the Church!!!! Consciously, really and truly, wanted to vote in a morally relevant fashion -- yet didn't know how to go about so doing.

It wasn't just the people in my quiet country parish. This little blog had many visitors looking for Catholic and/or pro-life voting guides. They wanted to hear that the Church felt the evil of abortion supersedes other issues. They wanted to know that there is moral complicity in voting for a pro-choice candidate when the other one is very much more pro-life. They needed to know those things. Shamefully, they weren't told them.

Maybe if the Bishops are shown by the protest that the faithful recognize their need for direction, the Bishops will be less likely to shirk that responsibility.

Benedict XVI Offers Kind Words to President-Elect

2008-11-05T23:57:00.003-05:00

From Reuters:

Pope Benedict XVI sent a telegram of congratulations to Obama yesterday to hail the “historic occasion”, Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said. The Roman Catholic pontiff offered Obama “his blessing so that God will support him and the American people, and that all people of goodwill can work to build a world of peace, solidarity and justice,” Lombardi said.

I'm wondering if the United States can be part of building a world wherein every life is respected. Where abortion isn't a choice and the infirmed expendable. It seems that a world of peace, solidarity and justice would be the world of people not consumed by a drive to secure their own well-being; rather, they would vigilantly be working for others'.

Doesn't quite seem to be the way of a FOCA backing man, but with God all things are possible. Thanks be to God that we may rely upon Him.

Rest and Hope

2008-11-05T11:07:00.004-05:00

Loving God
In this hour in which one might despair
For reason tells us that we are in dark times
We turn to You to ask that Your will be done

Without You
We are mindless creatures of sopping waste
Designing elitist commonality
Numbed by hollow aching cries of emptiness

By Your Light
A righteous path of mercy is well lit
Leading us to the freedom of peace and joy
Realized in the glory of Your saving Love

So Father
Before this abyss we stand, hearts in hand
Asking Your forgiveness, renouncing our ways
We beg deliverance from what we deserve

We ask You
Blind us to that which we had blindly sought
Render man's vile death-filled promises null
For only in Your Truth we find rest and hope

Amen.

Formative Obama Event

2008-11-04T08:04:00.004-05:00

The portion of an AOL article for your consideration:

It was an incident during his teenage years that became one of Obama's most vivid memories of the woman he called "Toot" — a version of the Hawaiian word for grandmother, tutu.

She had been aggressively panhandled by a man and, for safety's sake, she wanted her husband to take her to work. When Obama asked why, his grandfather said Madelyn Dunham was bothered because the panhandler was black.

The words hit the biracial Obama "like a fist in my stomach," he wrote later. He was sure his grandparents loved him deeply. "And yet," he added, "I knew that men who might easily have been my brothers could still inspire their rawest fears."

Obama referred to the incident again when he addressed race in a speech in March during a controversy over his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. "I can no more disown him than I can my white grandmother," he said.

Dunham was "a woman who loves me as much as she loves anything in this world but who once confessed her fear of black men who passed her on the street."

I cannot imagine how that must have impacted him. I mean I have imaginings of the damage it caused, but -- really -- something like that has to have warped the very center of his being. Shook and transformed his view of the world in ways that someone not faced with that can't fully understand. I can't even imagine sharing that story with other, let alone have it be my reality.

"My name is ___ & I'm a local volunteer calling for..."

2008-11-03T21:36:00.012-05:00

Scott's embarked on a new enterprise this evening... political phone bank volunteer.

He has been a promoter of Senator McCain's campaign since August, so after a doctor's appointment in Hershey I took him to the PA state Republican National Committee headquarters from which he phoned registered voters asking them if we (Senator McCain's campaign) can rely up their support in tomorrow's election. Yep, my son can now add to his resume that he is proficient at script reading.

Oh, to think, this might be the first step in an illustrious telemarket-ing career.

Might a mother dare to dream a dream of her son professionally interrupting people's meals? Hmmm...

The young woman pictured is Amanda -- another volunteer in search of people she could count on to vote for John McCain and Sarah Palin. Amanda was as laid back and friendly as you might expect someone with the casual poise to make do with a stool for a seat and an elephant to prop her feet upon while phoning the electorate.

A special thank you goes out to Dugi (sp?)! A real sweetheart, she is the one who took the pictures of Scott.

Sarah Palin - York, PA - October 31, 2008

2008-11-02T07:25:00.011-05:00

Happy All Hallows Eve

2008-10-31T22:25:00.004-04:00

Our next VP rendered in squashMoonlight Cafe staff as a cowgirl, Emeril and...
a diner waitress - plus Angie as a cat.

Neighborhood boys and ghouls

40 Days for Life - the State of the Cause

2008-10-31T21:55:00.005-04:00

As the end of the current 40 Days for Life is coming to a close, LifeNews.com has an article discussing the cause. Below is a portion of that article.

"Tens of thousands of people have prayed in front of abortion facilities, many for the first time," David Bereit, the campaign director, explained. "They see the impact of that peaceful presence, and they yearn to keep going."

Beginning September 24, intensive 40 Days for Life campaigns have been conducted in more than 175 communities in 47 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa and two Canadian provinces.

Bereit said the biggest success of the campaign may have been jumpstarting efforts by existing groups to do more in their community and taking existing efforts that had grown stale and given them new life.

"People across the country have expressed an interest in getting involved in the effort to end abortion," said Bereit, "but far too often, they didn't know where to start. 40 Days for Life provided a starting point. Now they've seen what can happen; and now that they've taken that first step, they're eagerly anticipating additional opportunities for continuing their pro-life outreach."

"We know of at least 441 lives that were saved from abortion as a result of the 40 Days for Life effort thus far," said Bereit. "But those are not the only lives that have been changed."

"We hear every day about people seeking help who have been dealing with abortion experiences - some of them have been hurting for more than 30 years," he added. "There are people in the abortion industry who have been touched by this effort. They, too, are witnessing the power of prayer at work first hand." Click HERE to read the complete article.

McCain Health Care Plan

2008-10-28T21:46:00.006-04:00

After posting the last entry to this blog, I almost immediately ran across the following information that eases my mind. The ads funded by McCain's opponent make Senator McCain's health care plan sound downright scary. I mean, who thinks they want more taxes for employees while expanding the wallets of the insurance conglomerations or medicare patients losing benefits? Scary stuff. Below is the short version of the real McCain plan.

John McCain believes that we can achieve savings in Medicare without reducing benefits or eligibility. He has proposed common-sense reforms that will not only put Medicare on a path of financial stability but ensure access to quality care for millions of Americans. Some of the policies proposed by the McCain plan include:

Promote payment reform that allows us to move away from the current fragmented and volume-based service to a system which rewards coordinated and quality focused care.Eliminate Medicare fraud and abuse to ensure that nearly $60 billion a year, almost 10 percent of total Medicare spending, that goes to line the pocket of criminals instead of providing quality care for seniors.

Ensure that drug premiums for the wealthiest Americans are not being subsidized by the middle class.

Promote a new generation of treatment models that better manage chronic care conditions while rewarding prevention and wellness.

Greater use of Health IT and medical homes to promote greater co-ordination of care.Reduce drug costs by allowing greater use of generics (including bio-generics).

If you want more information on the McCain-Palin Health Care Plan click HERE.

McCain's Economic Plan

2008-10-28T21:01:00.005-04:00

Below is portions of a McCain press release of Senator John McCain's remarks that he made in Hershey, PA this morning.

I have a plan to hold the line on taxes and cut them to make America more competitive and create jobs here at home. We're going to double the child deduction for working families. We will cut the capital gains tax. And we will cut business taxes to help create jobs, and keep American businesses in America. Raising taxes makes a bad economy much worse. Keeping taxes low creates jobs, keeps money in your hands and strengthens our economy.

I will freeze government spending on all but the most important programs like defense, veterans care, Social Security and health care until we scrub every single government program and get rid of the ones that aren't working for the American people. And I will veto every single pork barrel bill Congresses passes.

I'm not going to spend $750 billion dollars of your money just bailing out the Wall Street bankers and brokers who got us into this mess. I'm going to make sure we take care of the working people who were devastated by the excesses of Wall Street and Washington. I have a plan to fix our housing market, so that your home value doesn't go down when your neighbor defaults, and so that people in danger of defaulting have a path to pay off their loan.

If I'm elected President, we're going to stop spending $700 billion to buy oil from countries that don't like us very much. Senator Obama will argue to delay drilling for more oil and gas and against building new nuclear power plants in America. If I am president, we will start new drilling now. We will invest in all energy alternatives -- nuclear, wind, solar, and tide. We will encourage the manufacture of hybrid, flex fuel and electric automobiles. We will invest in clean coal technology. We will lower the cost of energy within months, and we will create millions of new jobs.

My opponent's massive new tax increase is exactly the wrong approach in an economic slowdown. The answer to a slowing economy is not higher taxes, but that is exactly what is going to happen when the Democrats have total control of Washington. We can't let that happen. We need pro-growth and pro-jobs economic policies, not pro-government spending programs paid for with higher taxes.

This is the fundamental difference between Senator Obama and me. We both disagree with President Bush on economic policy. The difference is that he thinks taxes have been too low, and I think that spending has been too high.

If we are going to change Washington, we need a President who has actually fought for change and made it happen. The next President won't have time to get used to the office. We face many challenges here at home, and many enemies abroad in this dangerous world.

I know you're worried. America is a great country, but we are at a moment of national crisis that will determine our future.

Will we continue to lead the world's economies or will we be overtaken? Will the world become safer or more dangerous? Will our military remain the strongest in the world? Will our children and grandchildren's future be brighter than ours?

My answer to you is yes. Yes, we will lead. Yes, we will prosper. Yes, we will be safer. Yes, we will pass on to our children a stronger, better country. But we must be prepared to act swiftly, boldly, with courage and wisdom.

I'm an American. And I choose to fight. Don't give up hope. Be strong. Have courage. And fight. Fight for a new direction for our country. Fight for what's right for America.

Fight to clean up the mess of corruption, infighting and selfishness in Washington.

Fight to get our economy out of the ditch and back in the lead.

Fight for the ideals and character of a free people.

Fight for our children's future.

Fight for justice and opportunity for all.

Stand up to defend our country from its enemies.

Stand up, stand up, stand up and fight. America is worth fighting for. Nothing is inevitable here. We never give up. We never quit. We never hide from history. We make history.

Eduardo Verastegui's McCain Endorsement

2008-10-26T20:53:00.009-04:00

Bev e-mailed letting me know that Anita Crane of LifeSiteNews.com recently spoke with Eduardo Verastegui, star/producer of the movie "Bella" about his support of John McCain's campaign. Below is a portion of Crane's article:

"I said more than 45 million babies have been killed by abortion in America and more than 200,000 Latino babies are killed by abortion each year. I told everyone that we need to put an end to this and, when I finished, I went to John McCain and I said, ‘Senator, thank you for your commitment to life. I’d like to give you something.’ I gave him a Miraculous Medal blessed by Pope Benedict XVI and he was amazing. He said, ‘Thank you so much! Look what I have here in my pocket.’ Then Senator McCain took a medal out of his pocket that he carries everywhere and it was a Blessed Mother Teresa medal. He said, ‘Eduardo, now I am going to keep both.’

Verastegui also gave McCain’s wife, Cindy, a Miraculous Medal. He said, “I was touched when I found out that the McCains adopted one of their daughters from Mother Teresa’s orphanage in India. There is nothing more beautiful than to give children homes with families who will love them. I hope that one day that I can do the same.”

Verastegui gives out Miraculous Medals because, as a practicing Catholic, he believes the Blessed Mother promised Saint Catherine Labouré that “all who wear it will receive great graces.”

As Americans prepare to vote, many think their country is in crisis and Verastegui agrees. Therefore, he said, “It would be a disaster if Senator Barack Obama is elected president.”
Verastegui believes that unless Americans elect a president who will defend fundamental human rights, no one can expect a sound economy, health care or national security, including immigration reform.

“Obama speaks about ‘change,’ but what change are we talking about?” he asked. “Fidel Castro spoke about change in Cuba. Hugo Chavez talks about change in Venezuela. A lot of other charismatic dictators promised change, but look what happened to their countries.”

Verastegui explained, “Obama’s change agenda is very, very dangerous. This is a historic moment. Whoever wins the presidential election will affect this country and the world for decades.

Click HERE for complete article.

"Oh Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!"

Election Novena

2008-10-25T20:36:00.003-04:00

The Bishops' election novena should be started tomorrow. The ninth day, and final day, of praying the prayer is the eve of the election - November 3th.

If your parish didn't distribute the prayer along with the daily reading and reflection, please visit the novena prayer page of the USCCB's Faithful Citizen site by clicking HERE.

2008-10-24T21:00:00.000-04:00

The piece below is from almost two weeks ago. I had wanted to post it then, but time, obviously, got away from me. Just the same, it is unfortunately going to be relevant for awhile. We need to share it and pray for the obsolescence of its message.

Bishop Holley Calls on Black Community to Overcome Abortion

WASHINGTON—Bishop Martin D. Holley, Auxiliary Bishop of Washington, issued a statement responding to a report by the Guttmacher Institute, Planned Parenthood's research branch, showing that black women have abortions at five times the rate of white women.

"As an African American, I am saddened by evidence that Black women continue to be targeted by the abortion industry. The loss of any child from abortion is a tragedy, but we must ask: Why are minority children being aborted at such disproportionate rates?" Bishop Holley said.

"Our legitimate commitment to other social concerns must not push the primary moral issue of abortion onto the back burner. It clearly must be at the heart and center of our discussion of the survival of African American people," Bishop Holley said.

Bishop Holley serves as Chair of the Sub-Committee on African American Affairs and is a member of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).Bishop Holley called for the federal defunding of the abortion industry. "Every year the federal government gives over $300 million to Planned Parenthood. Last year for the first time, Planned Parenthood took in over one billion dollars and reported a profit of $51 million," he said of the non-profit organization.

The Bishop called upon African Americans to "defend our community by rededicating ourselves to family life and marriage, promoting the gift of chastity and marital fidelity, committing ourselves to prayer and service to others and defending the life and dignity of each human person. We can welcome every child as a gift and we can overcome abortion."

The full text of Bishop Holley's statement follows:

As an African American, I am saddened by evidence that Black women continue to be targeted by the abortion industry. The loss of any child from abortion is a tragedy, but we must ask: Why are minority children being aborted at such disproportionate rates?

Many African Americans are not aware that since the Roe v. Wade decision legalized abortion throughout all 9 months of pregnancy, the number one cause of death in the African American community has been abortion. We have lost over 13 million lives. To put that in perspective, it is one third of our present Black population. Since 1973, twice as many Black Americans have died from abortion than from AIDS, accidents, violent crimes, cancer, and heart disease combined.

As I noted in my recent Respect Life Program article, "A Reflection on the African American Family and the Culture of Life" (www.usccb.org/prolife/programs/rlp/holley.pdf), our legitimate commitment to other social concerns must not push the primary moral issue of abortion onto the back burner. It clearly must be at the heart and center of our discussion of the survival of African American people.

The Guttmacher Institute called on policy makers to "redouble their efforts to improve access to subsidized contraceptive services for these women." Yet studies have shown that increased access to contraceptives, especially among teens, does not reduce unintended pregnancy and abortion. On the contrary, several studies link increased access to contraceptives to an increase in STDs, with no decrease in abortion rates.

As the research arm of Planned Parenthood, the Guttmacher Institute is shamelessly trying to build a case for receiving more of our taxpayer dollars. Every year the federal government gives over $300 million to Planned Parenthood. Last year for the first time, Planned Parenthood took in over one billion dollars and reported a profit of $51 million. I join my voice with others in the Black community who have called for the defunding of the abortion industry.

We must demand an end to the victimizing of African American children, women, families and communities by Planned Parenthood and others in the abortion industry. Over 80 percent of Planned Parenthood clinics are located in minority neighborhoods. Margaret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood, began the "Negro Project" to reduce the Black population. We should be shocked and heartbroken by the findings of a recent phone investigation, that recorded a fundraiser at an Iowa Planned Parenthood clinic saying she was "very excited" about a donation specifically for aborting Black babies.

My brothers and sisters, we can overcome abortion in our nation. Let us defend our community by rededicating ourselves to family life and marriage, promoting the gift of chastity and marital fidelity, committing ourselves to prayer and service to others and defending the life and dignity of each human person. We can welcome every child as a gift and we can overcome abortion.

If anyone doubts what Bishop Holley has said in the above piece, please do your own research. Genocide is happening right here in our country.

Duluth Bishop Reassigned as Cincinnati's Archbishop

2008-10-23T18:51:00.003-04:00

USCCB press release:

Pope Names Bishop Dennis M. Schnurr of Duluth
Coadjutor Archbishop of Cincinnati

WASHINGTON—Pope Benedict XVI named Bishop Dennis M. Schnurr of Duluth, Minnesota, 60, coadjutor archbishop of Cincinnati.

The appointment as coadjutor bishop confers on Archbishop-elect Schnurr the right to succession to Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk of Cincinnati. Archbishop Pilarczyk is 74.

The appointment of Archbishop-elect Schnurr, who is treasurer of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, was announced in Washington, October 17, by Archbishop Pietro Sambi, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States.

Archbishop-elect Schnurr, a native of Sheldon, Iowa, was named Bishop of Duluth January 18, 2001, when he was General Secretary of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Sioux City, Iowa, July 21, 1974.

Dennis Marion Schnurr was born June 21, 1948, and raised in Hospers, Iowa. He was educated in local Catholic schools and Loras College, Dubuque, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He studied for the priesthood at North American College and the Gregorian University, Rome, where he earned a Master of Arts degree in Theology in 1974. He was awarded a Doctorate in Canon Law from The Catholic University of America in 1980.

After ordination to the priesthood, he worked in parish assignments and as vice-chancellor and chancellor of the Sioux City Diocese. In 1985, he was assigned to the staff of the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington, where he gave advice on canon law, monitored financial affairs and researched issues of interest to the church. In 1989, he was appointed Associate General Secretary of the United States Catholic Conference/National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB/USCC), where he supervised pubic policy departments and was principal staff person for an assessment and overhaul of the Conferences' budget and staffing procedures. In 1995, the bishops elected him General Secretary of the NCCB/USCC.

After being named a bishop, Archbishop-elect Schnurr served on the USCCB Administrative Committee and Executive Committee and was vice-president of the Priorities and Plans Committee, a member of the board of trustees of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., and on the Task Force on Promotions of Vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life.

Archbishop Pilarczyk, a native of Dayton, Ohio, was ordained December 20, 1959, for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati where he was chancellor and on the faculty of St. Gregory Seminary. He was named Auxiliary Bishop of Cincinnati in 1974, and named Archbishop of Cincinnati, November 2, 1982. He holds a Doctorate in Sacred Theology from the Urban University, Rome, and a Doctorate in Classics from the University of Cincinnati. He served as vice-president of the NCCB/USCC from 1986-1989, and president from 1989-1992. He also served as a consultant to the U.S. bishops' Committee on Ecumenical and Inter-religious Affairs.

The Cincinnati Archdiocese includes 19 counties in Ohio. The total population of the archdiocese is estimated at 2,988,285 people, with 485,112 of them Catholic.

The Miracle of the Sun Video

2008-10-23T15:14:00.002-04:00

Just today I was thinking of the fact that I have never seen pictures from the final apparition of the Blessed Mother at Fatima. It isn't that I think there are photos of her from that day;rather, I have always thought there should be books featuring pictures of the crowd (in excess of 100,000 present - if I'm remembering correctly) and of the sun dancing. The secular press was said to be there, yet I've not seen pictures.

Well, ask and you shall receive.

I was just made aware that there is a video on YouTube of pictures from that day. If you'd like to see it, please go here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBIs8cuIwTo
It is entitled "The Miracle of the Sun."

Catholic Culture in Mainstream America

2008-10-23T07:33:00.005-04:00

The following story is from yesterday's Washington Times:

Va. pharmacy caters to pro-life customers
Will stock no birth control

When Divine Mercy Care Pharmacy opens Tuesday in a Chantilly shopping center, it will have on display a picture of St. John Leonardi, the 16th-century patron saint of pharmacists.

But there will be no birth-control pills, condoms, cigarettes or pornographic magazines. There will, however, be booklets on natural family planning.

DMC Pharmacy is one of the country's few "pro-life pharmacies" that refuse to dispense contraceptives on moral and health grounds, arguing that they cause abortions, lead to promiscuity or endanger a woman's health.

"Birth control is not health care," said Robert Laird, executive director of DMC, the Fairfax nonprofit that will own and operate the 1,500-square-foot store at 13945 Metrotech Drive. "We are catering to a special niche of people who like the pro-life message in their business."

The store is within a mile of two large parishes serving about 20,000 Catholics. Within five miles are four other booming parishes, bringing the total population of Catholic residents to about 50,000. The Catholic Shop, a bookstore next door to the pharmacy, already attracts plenty of customers.

"In the pharmacy business," Mr. Laird said, "you don't normally go more than two miles from your drugstore, but people are going to be coming from miles to come here."

If people want contraceptives, he said, there are two other stores in Sully Plaza that stock them. Robert Semler, the pharmacist in charge, will not direct people on where to find such stores.

"People can look it up," Mr. Laird said.

DMC Pharmacy opens for business at 10 a.m. Tuesday with a blessing by Arlington Bishop Paul Loverde. Benefactors of the $350,000 project also will attend. A more elaborate grand opening is planned for December.

Catholic doctrine forbids the use of any kind of artificial birth control, and all DMC's board members are Catholic. Click HERE for the full article.

If you'd like to visit Divine Mercy Care's web site, please click HERE.

HT: Gina of Catholic Treasures

Election Teleseminar/Webcast

2008-10-22T08:27:00.003-04:00

Below is a letter sent out by Priests for Life:

If there were ever a time to take decisive action in regard to the elections, it's now! No matter what you may or may not have done up to now, there is still time to make a difference!
One way you can do this is to join me for an election-related teleseminar-webcast on Monday, October 27 from 9 to 10pm Eastern Time. Clergy, laity, and pro-life leaders from coast to coast will be joining me and an expert panel to receive practical information and inspiration to become involved and make a difference in our national elections. This is our fifth such teleseminar and being only days from the elections, will be the most important.

I would like you, as well as the membership of your organization or church, to be part of it. Sign up at www.priestsforlife.org/conferencecall/index.aspx.

The discussion will include what each of you can do to generate votes and impact the outcome of the elections for the better. Please see www.prolifevoter.org for some of the ideas that we will be discussing. One of our expert panelists will be David Barton, President and Founder of Wallbuilders. In the past we have had such guests as Congressman Chris Smith, Senator Sam Brownback and Dr. David O'Steen of National Right to Life.

You may listen to the teleseminar either by phone or through your computer, where you will also be led to key documents you can download. The instructions are simple. To sign up for the teleseminar, go to www.priestsforlife.org/conferencecall/index.aspx. From that page you can also listen to our prior teleseminars or read transcripts of them. After you sign up you will receive an email with the teleseminar web link (if you intend to listen on the web) and the phone number and passcode (if you intend to listen by phone).

Please do me a favor and extend this invitation to your personal email lists, organization lists, friends and family. Tell them to go to www.priestsforlife.org/conferencecall/index.aspx and sign up today.

Sincerely,

Fr. Frank Pavone
National Director, Priests for Life

28th of 40 Days for Life - Fr. Frank Pavone Comes to Town

2008-10-21T17:30:00.024-04:00

As part of 40 Days for Life, Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priest for Life, visited Harrisburg, PA today to concelebrate Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral and visit the local vigil site.

In his homily, Fr. Pavone spoke of vigilance. To paraphrase what he said:

We must watch out for one another - to actively live as Christ instructed us. We are called to be brothers and sisters in Christ looking out for each other. Part of that is intervening for the helpless.

We need to be vigilantly Christian in our awareness in the political forum, vigilant in our choice of public officials. Democracy rests on our being able to judge/discern what is right and what is wrong. Jesus charged us, His disciples, to go forth and change the world. We must respond.

Pope John Paul II, in his 1995 encyclical Evangelium Vitae, “The Gospel of Life,” noted that if the state permits abortion then it cannot be thought to be a democracy for it is a tyrannical state. The state becomes a tyrant when vetoes human rights, when it allows abortion.

We must vigilantly work for justice and equality for every human being.

We must be vigilant for the Lord is coming.

Deacon Charles Clark (Cathedral Pastoral Associate), Fr. Thomas J. Rozman (Cathedral Pastor) and Fr. Frank Pavone just before consecration.

After leaving St. Patrick's Cathedral, everyone came together in the crisp autumn winds that knocked down tree limbs and signs along Front Street.

The vigil group prayed the rosary while waiting for Fr. Pavone to arrive.
Once he arrived, Fr. Pavone spoke of the value of a Pro-Life presence outside of abortion centers such as Harrisburg's Hillcrest Clinic.

He told of people whose hearts were changed by the presence of Pro-Lifers outside of clinics.

He encouraged all in their witness to the Gospel of Life.
Father led a particularly pertinent prayer - a litany asking for God's mercy for the souls of women who died as a result of an abortion.

Once that prayer was done, a few of the people present spoke up to let Fr. Pavone know that they had recognized the name of one of the women's names in the litany - she was a local girl who had as the result of her procedure done at Hillcrest.
That prayer was very down-heartening in that it just seemed to go on and on. That so many women died from something that "choice" advocates rally to keep legal because they say it is the safe prudent answer to unplanned pregnancies rests in the pit of one's stomach like a lead balloon. Chilling is the fact that it was only a partial list of women known to have died because of a legal abortion.

Local doctor and Pro-Life advocate, also spoke to the group. After the heaviness of the litany, it was good to hear that abortion protesters had impacted a woman he knew. She had once aborted a child and worked in the industry, yet she has turned away from all of that and joined the Church this past Easter.

Before leaving for a prayer vigil at the York Planned Parenthood facility, Fr. Pavone gave us all his priestly blessing.

Groups participating in the Harrisburg

40 Days for Life initiative:
A Cry Without a Voice
Harrisburg 40 Days for Life
Operation Outcry Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation
Priests for Life
Silent No More

Additional Resources:
Post-abortion healing -www.rachelsvineyard.org/
Pregnancy help -www.birthright.org/

Sleep Cheap - With Abortion Receipt

2008-10-21T07:45:00.003-04:00

New Jersey Quality Inn, Clarion Hotels Give Women Discounts for Abortions

Cherry Hill, NJ(LifeNews.com) -- Women heading to New Jersey for abortions are getting discounts at two brand name hotels and pro-life advocates are working to expose the practice. An abortion business in Cherry Hill that does abortions up to six months into pregnancy worked out the discounts with two local hotels.

New Jersey Right to Life indicates that participants in the local 40 Days for Life prayer campaign have learned that the Cherry Hill Women's Center made the arrangements.

The Clarion Hotel in Cherry Hill offers a reduced rate of $59 for a room originally priced at $109 to women staying there from out of town to get an abortion. Women need only show a receipt from the abortion business saying an overnight stay is necessary. In addition, the Quality Inn in Maple Shade offers a discounted rate of $74.95 for a room originally priced at $99.99 and a free breakfast of eggs and pancakes for women who present a stamped pamphlet from the abortion center.

Marie Tasy, the director of New Jersey Right to Life, told LifeNews.com the hotel arrangements make it appear to her that teenagers from other states are taken to New Jersey to avoid parental involvement laws in their home states.

"The Cherry Hill Women's Center has a track record of aggressive advertisement in the Pennsylvania market to intentionally lure pregnant minor girls to the NJ abortion clinic in order to evade Pennsylvania's parental consent laws," Tasy added.

Send your complaints to the following:
a) Clarion Hotel, Route 70 & I-295, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034, (856) 428-2300, fax (856) 354-7662, or contact via web site;
b) Quality Inn Maple Shade, 531 Route 38 West, Maple Shade, NJ 08052, (856) 235-6400, fax (856) 727-1027.

Full story at LifeNews.com

Gettysburg Life Chain 2008

2008-10-20T09:02:00.018-04:00

Yesterday afternoon, from 2:30 - 3:30, people gathered in the center of Gettysburg, PA, to pray and give silent witness for the Pro-Life cause. The sentences in blue were given to participants as suggestions for prayer and meditation during the hour of the Life Chain.

Pray a personal prayer of repentance for past failure to actively oppose abortion and to aid its victims.

Pray God's grace and healing on mothers who have had abortions.

Pray for local crisis pregnancy centers and other pro-life healing-support ministeries.Pray God's sovereignty against abortionists.

Pray for the eyes of abortionists to be opened to their killing of children.

Pray for Godly wisdom in our government and courts, and pray that God will strengthen and aid pro-life officials.Pray for the convicting impact of hundreds of Life Chains across America.

Pray for love and unity among us, God's people. Pray that we and our fellow believers will submit to God's will for our lives, families and our nation.

Pray that God will direct a profound spiritual awakening in our local community and throughout our land. Ask God how you can best help end abortion in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

Gettsyburg 2008 Pro-Life Chain

2008-10-17T22:26:00.003-04:00

This Sunday, October 19th, is when the Pro-Life Chain is being held in Gettysburg, PA. I'm thinking of going but am unsure of the timing. In a discussion with some friends yesterday, we all had said we thought that it was to start at noon on Sunday. However, I just ran across a blurb in the Gettysburg Evening Sun newspaper that said the following:

Pro-life event planned in Gettysburg
Article Launched: 10/16/2008 09:30:29 AM EDT

The Gettysburg Life Chain is part of a national pro-life event in which people line the streets of towns holding signs affirming life.
The event will be Sunday at the square in Gettysburg from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.

If you happen to know - for sure - when this is to occur, please leave a message in the comment section. Thanks!

Hope to see you there.

Freebie -- Splenda Samples

2008-10-16T19:58:00.002-04:00

Have you wished you could try the Splenda Sweetener Flavors for coffee or thought it might be nice to be able to up your fiber intake by simple switching to Splenda Sweetener with Fiber but you didn't want to purchase a whole box - just in case you found you didn't like it?

If so, click HERE.

Splenda will send you a sample of one of those products - your choice - if you complete and enter the form on that page.

EWTN Live - Tonight

2008-10-15T14:12:00.002-04:00

Catholics Come Home founder Tom Peterson and Phoenix's bishop, the Most Reverend Thomas Olmsted, will be appearing on EWTN Live at 8:00pm EST, 5pm Pacific. They will be discussing the Catholics Come Home ministry's impact and future.

Now, if that doesn't really sound enticing to you, I have to ask you to give it just five minutes of your attention this evening to see if it might actually interest you. Tom Peterson has been a force within Catholic lay ministry for quite awhile. He is intelligent and very articulate. Bishop Olmsted is also a dynamic individual actively involved in reaching Christ's people.

Tune in - I can't imagine that you'll be disappointed!

A Pro-Life Voters Guide

2008-10-12T14:22:00.004-04:00

State-by-State Resource of Pro-Life Groups/Endorsements
Compiled by LifeNews.com

Alabama
Contact Alabama Citizens for Life

Alaska
Contact Alaska Right to Life

Arizona
Contact Arizona Right to Life and see its endorsements
Citizens for Arizona Policy also has a voting guide

ArkansasContact Arkansas Right to Life
The Arkansas Family Council also has a guide

California
California Pro-Life Council has a voting guide.
California's Yes on 4 web site

Colorado
Colorado Family Institute has a voting guide
Colorado's Yes on 48 web site

Connecticut
Call the Pro-Life Council of Connecticut at (212) 348-0422See the Family Institute of Connecticut

Delaware
Call Delaware Citizens for Life at (302) 655-9624
Delaware Right to Life has a voting guide

Florida
View the Florida Right to Life election endorsements here.

Georgia
Click here for Georgia Right to Life's endorsement list.

Hawaii
Contact Hawaii Right to Life

Idaho
Contact Right to Life of Idaho at (208) 367-9378
See also the Gem State Voter's Guide and Idaho Choose Life.

Illinois
See the Illinois Federation for Right to Life endorsement list
Also see the Illinois Citizens for Life rankings list

Indiana
Indiana Right to Life has information and a judicial list

Iowa
Contact the Iowa Right to Life Committee

Kansas
Kansans for Life Political Action Committee has extensive information

Kentucky
Kentucky Right to Life endorsements and recommendations

Louisiana
Contact the Louisiana Right to Life Federation and see their election section

Maine
Contact Maine Right to Life

Maryland
Contact Maryland Right to Life

Massachusetts
Contact Massachusetts Citizens for Life

Michigan
Contact Right to Life of Michigan and get your own personalized ballot or see the full endorsement list.
Vote no on Proposal 2 More info here and here.

Minnesota
Visit the Minnesota Citizens for Life PAC page for more information

Mississippi
Contact Mississippi Right to Life or Pro-Life Mississippi

Missouri
See Missouri Right to Life for information

Montana
Click here for Right to Life of Montana's endorsement list.

Nebraska
Contact Nebraska Right to Life or call them at (402) 438-4802

Nevada
Contact Nevada Life or Nevada Right to Life for information

New Hampshire
Contact New Hampshire Citizens for Life or see their PAC
Contact New Hampshire Right to Life or see their voter guide

New Jersey
Find information on New Jersey Right to Life endorsements

New Mexico
Contact Right to Life Committee of New Mexico, endorsement list here

New York
Contact the New York State Right to Life

North Carolina
Contact North Carolina Right to Life

North Dakota
Contact North Dakota Right to Life

Ohio
Contact Ohio Right to Life or see their election page

Oklahoma
Contact Oklahomans for Life or see their candidate survey

Oregon
Contact Oregon Right to Life or see their election site

Pennsylvania
Contact the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation

Rhode Island
Contact Rhode Island Right to Life and see their election page

South Carolina
Visit the South Carolina Citizens for Life web site

South Dakota
Contact South Dakota Right to LifeView the VoteYesforLife.com site for info on the abortion ban.
Tennessee
Contact Tennessee Right to Life

Texas
Contact Texas Right to Life or Texas Alliance for Life

Utah
Call Right to Life of Utah at (801) 491-9742.

Vermont
Contact Vermont Right to Life

Virginia
Contact the Virginia Society for Human Life

Washington
View the Human Life web site and see their endorsements
Vote no on I-1000 which would legalize assisted suicide. Info here

West Virginia
Contact West Virginians for Life and see their endorsement list

Wisconsin
Contact Wisconsin Right to Life and see their endorsement list

Wyoming
Email Right to Life of Wyoming at info@prolifewyoming.com for information

2008-10-07T23:38:00.000-04:00

I just read an article which contained an author's explanation of a group. The explanation bothers me a bit. The reporter said that most of these groups "retain a deep commitment to social justice, which has led them to embrace liberal positions over the years."

I'm not troubled by a commitment to social justice, nor liberal positions even. What bugs me is the meaning ascribed to those phrases

People who know me, even people whose lifestyles would cause lead the reporter to call them liberal, would term me a liberal. In fact, I only have one friend who has ever called me a conservative, but the phrase she used was "compassionate conservative." And who knows - maybe because of how society defines liberalism, she just might just have been afraid of painting me with what has become a broad stroke. Yet I am sure that the reporter of the article which caused me to start this post would never imagine calling me anything a but "conservative Catholic" because I am an orthodox/traditional Roman Catholic.

The perception of a conservative Catholic is that of a closed minded individual whose identity has been molded by a rigid patriarchal institution that is out of touch with reality. A conservative Catholic is essentially thought to be what modern society would term a "hater;" a cC hates gays, feminism, AIDs patients and human sexuality that isn't specifically for procreation between married people while the bedroom lights are turned off. CCs mindlessly empty their wallets into the coffers of the Church which refuses to help the poor and otherwise needy. Conservative Catholics even want to impose their Church's oppression on women to the point of wishing to remove their right to choose while insisting that the elderly not have the right to die with dignity. If anything, a cC is the antithesis of a liberal - they could hardly be thought to have any interest in social justice, let alone "embrace social justice."

I'm just not those things, yet I am very much an orthodox/traditional Roman Catholic.

First, at one point in my life, I was very much in touch with what society would call "reality." Can't say that there is much that there are many things in life I haven't done or at least seen done. So, I'm in touch with the larger cultural "reality" in which society on the whole exists. I now choose to be counter-cultural in my approach to things by leading a Christo-centric life which is formed by the faith and traditions of the Catholic Church.

Within that framework, I find that I am able to be genuinely loving to others.

I consciously use the word "genuine" because previously I also acted in a loving fashion but now see my motivation to be disingenuous. Before I became what would be termed a conservative Catholic, I was loving because that is how I wanted be perceived. I was ever helpful and accepting. I was epitome of moral relativity in action. As long as you weren't hurting innocent people or children, I felt I had no call to make any judgments. Plus, judgments bring with them the responsiblilty for having made them; therefore, it could be seen as a way to avoid responsibility, too.

Do you know --- now this is an aside, but a relative one --- Anyway, do you know that I was such a fence sitter, disinclined to make judgments, that I once actually had a psychic tell me I was a fence sitter. The true irony in that is that, now that I will make judgments, I now disavow anything to do with psychics. Go figure!

Where was I?

Genuinely loving toward others. Yeah, that was it. Being genuinely loving toward others.

Acting in a genuinely loving way is a matter of consideration. Honestly, what does it matter if we seem to be loving to someone if we don't consider them, their situation and the outcome of action? It is simply hollow action if you don't take the person, et. al into consideration. And, let's face it, hollow action is just about as meaningful as inaction and can be infinitely more damaging in the fact that it can be seen as supporting what might or should be unsupportable.

Rabbi Opposes Pius XII's Beautification

2008-10-07T10:35:00.005-04:00

Richard Owen of the Times reports from Rome:

The first Jewish rabbi to attend a Synod of Roman Catholic bishops in Rome has used the occasion to to oppose plans to put Pope Pius XII, the controversial wartime pontiff, on the road to sainthood by beatifying him.

Contradicting recent statements by Pope Benedict XVI, Shear-Yashuv Cohen, the Chief Rabbi of Haifa, said Pius XII's "silence on the Holocaust" could not be forgotten or forgiven. He added: "He should not be seen as a model and he should not be beatified, because he did not raise his voice against the Holocaust. He did not speak, either because he was afraid or for other personal reasons".

He added: "He may have helped in secrecy many of the victims and many of the refugees, but the question is - could he have raised his voice, and would it have helped or not? We, as the victims, feel the answer is yes, and I am not empowered by the families of the millions of those who died to say we forget, we forgive."

However Rabbi Cohen made his remarks to journalists at the Vatican in the margins of the three week Synod, and did not refer to Pius XII in his formal address. Instead he spoke on the meaning of the Torah for Jews, and said his presence was a "signal of hope for generations to come " after a history of "blood and tears" between Christians and Jews.

The beatification cause for Pius XII was opened in 1967, but has been opposed by critics of the Pope's behaviour towards Nazi Germany not only as pontiff but previously as Secretary of State and as papal nuncio (ambassador) to Berlin. Last month (September) Pope Benedict, who is to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of Pius XII's death on Thursday, insisted that Pius had "spared no effort" to save Jews from Nazi and Fascist extermination. Complete Story

Personally, what I've heard of Pius XII's involvement in WWII has left me conflicted. We don't really know what went on behind the scenes, but my hope is that the Church acted in a manner consistent with being the Church of Christ.

No matter what happened then, sainthood is always a thing of heaven, not earth. Yes, the nominations can be seen as a thing of man, but the miracles are definitely determined by God. If God wants someone recognized as a saint, the miracles will occur. If not, they won't.

Good Enough to Repeat

2008-10-06T03:00:00.000-04:00

This is an identical posting to that which was posted September 12, 2008. Since the giveaway is tomorrow, I thought it would be a good to repeat it.

Yesterday, Lisa Hendey thanked Susan Bailey on her blog for sharing in her blog that SpiritandSong.com, from 5 to 10 p.m. (Eastern Time) on October 7th, is giving away five downloads for free.

Today, I'd like to give thanks for Lisa thanking Susan. Thanks to them and SpiritandSong.com we all can download five tracks from Jackie Francois' forthcoming album. The album doesn't even "drop" until November, yet the company giving this generous preview on October 7th.

That definitely makes me thankful.

Now I just need to remember to visit on the 7th!

Just Sharing Some Pictures

2008-10-05T16:12:00.009-04:00

Happy Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi

2008-10-04T03:00:00.000-04:00

The Peace Prayer

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is error, the truth;

Where there is doubt, the faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,

Grant that I may not so much seek

To be consoled, as to console;

To be understood, as to understand;

To be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

Cardinal Rigali and the Freedom of Choice Act

2008-10-01T21:26:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Secretariat for Pro-Life released a statement made by Philadelphia's Cardinal Rigali, USCCB Committee on Pro-life Activities Chairman. The statement was written to mark this weekend's Respect Life Sunday.

There was one portion I think needs highlighting:

We face the threat of a federal bill that, if enacted,would obliterate virtually all the gains of the past 35 years and cause the abortion rate to skyrocket. The "Freedom of Choice Act" ("FOCA") has many Congressional sponsors, some of whom have pledged to act swiftly to help enact this proposed legislation when Congress reconvenes in January.

FOCA establishes abortion as a "fundamental right" throughout the nine months of pregnancy, and forbids any law or policy that could "interfere"with that right or "discriminate" against it in public funding and programs. If FOCA became law, hundreds of reasonable, widely supported, and constitutionally sound abortion regulations now in place would be invalidated. Gone would be laws providing for informed consent, and parental consent or notification in the case of minors. Laws protecting women from unsafe abortion clinics and from abortion practitioners who are not physicians would be overridden. Restrictions on partial-birth and other late-term abortions would be eliminated. FOCA would knock down laws protecting the conscience rights of nurses, doctors, and hospitals with moral objections to abortion, and force taxpayers to fund abortions throughout the United States.

We cannot allow this to happen. We cannot tolerate an even greater loss of innocent human lives. We cannot subject more women and men to the post-abortion grief and suffering that our counselors and priests encounter daily in Project Rachel programs across America.

For twenty-four years, the Catholic Church has provided free,confidential counseling to individuals seeking emotional and spiritual healing after an abortion, whether their own or a loved one's. We look forward to the day when these counseling services are no longer needed,when every child is welcomed in life and protected in law. If FOCA is enacted, however, that day may recede into the very distant future.

Something Cardinal Rigali doesn't say about the Freedom of Choice Act is that presidential candidate Barack Obama has said that he looks forward to this being the first piece of legislation he signs into law.

Please contact your Representatives and Senators in Congress to express how you feel they ought vote on this matter. The Capitol switchboard number is (202) 224-3121 - an operator will then direct your call to either one of your Senators or Representatives. TTY (hearing impaired) calls may be placed to (202) 225-1904

United States Senate
For E-mail Address:
Member Web Site Listing

Address via U.S. Postal Service:
Office of Senator (Name)
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510

United States House of Representatives
For E-mail Address:
Visit Member Web Site Listing

Address via U.S. Postal Service:
Office of Representative (Name)
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510

Faith in Space

2008-10-01T10:09:00.005-04:00

There is going to be an interesting interview with NASA Astronaut Thomas Johns in the October 5th issue of the National Catholic Register. I had previously thought of the fact that an astronaut misses Mass while in space, but never considered that they might still be able to receive communion while on a mission. Just didn't think of it. Here is the portion of the article related to that:

You’re a Catholic who has spent a lot of time in space. Were you able to receive Communion up there?

Yes. The first trip was the best. It was a really special moment. On my first trip there were three Catholics — myself, Kevin Chilton and Sid Gutierrez. Kevin was a fellow parishioner at St. Bernadette’s in Houston and was a Eucharistic minister. The first Sunday we were in space we were too busy, but on the second Sunday, the three of us received Christ just before dawn, just as this spray of brilliant sunlight lit us up.

It was almost simultaneous with receiving the host. Tears came to my eyes from the beauty of that moment. Then there was the brilliant blue of the ocean. We all shared in that inspiration. Kevin described it as the blue of the Virgin’s veil.

On my other flights, I think I might have been the only Catholic. I would carry the Eucharist in my space suit pocket on launch and all the way up into orbit and then put it in my clothes. In free-fall, things tend to wander off; you don’t want to lose Jesus.

Johns wrote a book entitled "Sky Walking: An Astronaut’s Memoir" that discusses how his faith has impacted his life.

Eugenics on the Bayou

2008-10-01T09:12:00.004-04:00

Louisiana State House of Representative member John LaBruzzo last week suggested that it might be a good idea to pay poor people $1000 each if they sterilize themselves. Taking the matter even a step further, LaBruzzo suggested that tax incentives could encourage the more affluent members of society to reproduce more.

So, one group of people has a greater value than another - one should be eliminated, the other fostered.

It is disturbing that people have such ideas. It is more disturbing that a person who thinks this way is a legislator. Even more disturbing is that LaBruzzo thinks this mindset is noteworthy enough to share not only with others, but with society at large. Most disturbing of all is that this man is the Vice Chairperson of the Louisiana House's Health and Welfare Committee.

You would think that no one would want to align themselves with such thinking, but that isn't the case. National animal organization PETA yesterday issued a news release related to matter. It said in part:

PETA dispatched a letter to Louisiana State Rep. John LaBruzzo urging him to introduce a spay-and-neuter bill that would help low-income families spay and neuter their dogs and cats. LaBruzzo recently set off a firestorm of controversy when he proposed providing financial incentives for low-income residents to stop having babies. PETA believes that everyone should consider the impact of population growth on the Earth, animals, and our limited resources. The group points out that Louisiana could save a fortune by preventing the births of thousands of homeless cats and dogs who must be collected, transported, and fed--and who, in most cases, end up being put to death in Louisiana animal shelters.

ICCKKKK!!!!!

Happy Feast Day, Little Flower

2008-09-30T21:07:00.004-04:00

I was going to have a post with lots of pictures to celebrate this the feast day of St. Therese of Lisieux. In fact, I began it last night and was going to finish it this morning.

I've decided to instead let the above picture speak of and for her.

Happy Feast Day!

Just Sharing a Picture

2008-09-30T15:00:00.002-04:00

A Baby Saved, a Family Begun

2008-09-30T07:12:00.010-04:00

When I posted about the kick-off rally for 40 Days for Life in Harrisburg, PA, I indicated that there was a story Michael Ciccocioppo, Executive Director of Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation, told at the rally that I wanted to retell here. Well, thanks to Mr. Ciccocioppo, I can do better than that. Below is his speech which he presented at the 40 Days for Life Kick-Off Rally.

At the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation we are on the front lines of the cause for LIFE --- 24 – 7. We educate on the truth about abortion, infanticide and euthanasia everyday, in many ways
from Philadelphia to Erie and Scranton to Pittsburgh and everywhere in between. We are vigilante in promoting laws and public policy that respect the right to life of every living person, born and unborn

Sometimes we don’t see all the fruits of our labors, sometimes we do.

The same can be said by those who pray for an end to abortion and by those who pray for women entering abortion centers. Sometimes a turn-around is obvious. But no one really knows how their prayers touch the hearts of those who are being prayed for... that is, until they tell us.

Let me tell you the story of one day at the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation.

It was a few years ago when we received a call from Christine. Christine said that we didn’t know her but she wanted us to pass on a message.

She told the story of how she and her boyfriend, Tim, found out she was pregnant in August of the previous year. She was terrified, scared, and alone. She did not know what to do.

She and Tim were not married. They both had things going on in there lives that did not include children, and they were just not ready for that kind of commitment.

She said she didn't believe in abortion, yet, all of a sudden, it seemed like the best thing to do. She had a job, wasn't done with school, and enjoyed her freedom .

Tim was working, and trying to get his life together. He wanted to work on his music and play pool.

How could they be parents of a child she thought?

They started to believe that the baby would be better off if it were not born. They started to believe that the best thing for everyone would to be to end the pregnancy, never tell anyone and go on with life just as before.

She called the Hillcrest Abortion Center in Harrisburg and made the appointment. The next morning, they made the drive to Harrisburg. She said she felt sick, sad, and scared. She thought, "What if it hurts? What if I can't have kids again? What if something goes wrong?"

She had just become a Christian in July!! She didn't know what to do, so she said she prayed. She prayed for a sign, something from the Lord to tell her NO!! Traffic, a broken down car, anything.

When they arrived, she said, the Lord answered her prayers. She said she believed that He sent his messengers to pray that day in front of the abortion center to show her the horror of what she was about to do. He gave her a sign.

These people gave their time to save unborn babies.

She and Tim never entered that facility or even drove in the drive way. They drove past, parked the car, and sat and cried for an hour. She called Hillcrest and they were cold and uncaring. They said, “You just ignore those crazy religious fanatics!”

Christine said she knew the people at Hillcrest could not be of God.

So they drove home, somber, yet relieved. She knew then that this was something she had to deal with.

She was going to be a mom and the Lord would walk with her the whole way and He did.

Her pregnancy was without incident. She said the greatest of all gifts she received was her son, Christian Timothy - born on April 21st, 2003 at 7:47 in the evening. She said that she will never forget the feeling of seeing him for the first time, of hearing his cry. And she exclaimed, “The blessings have not stopped ”

She ended the conversation by saying that she can't express enough gratitude to those people who volunteered that day to pray at Hillcrest, who gave up their free time to stand for something they believed in. She said she wished she could thank each and everyone personally, “They changed my life.”

She said to tell them all that they are angels and I will never forget you. She e-mailed us a photo of Baby Christian.

Just last month, she sent us another e-mail. She wanted us to know they are all doing fine and five year old Christian has a little brother now.

She continues to be grateful to those who were praying that fateful day.

And so, as you pray at this place of death and evil during these next 40 days and beyond, other Christines and Tims may drive past and decide not to go through with it. Other little ones, like Baby Christian, will be spared and you may never even know about them.

It’s not important that you know about them. It’s only important that you answer the call to prayer. And trust that the Lord, in His infinite mercy, will save the lives of so many. And spare their moms and dads of lives of regret and unrelenting sadness and sorrow.

It is not for us to know God's ways. It is a gift just to be able to trust in Him and have hope that we might be of service to Him.

Merciful God, Author of Life, -

Bless all involved in 40 Days for Life.

Guide tireless prayer, unerring witness and meaningful sacrifice.

Dispel the darkness which envelops our country.

Touch hearts with the light of Your love.

Remove the scourge of abortion from our land.

Forgive our sinful ways.

We ask this in the name of Your Most Holy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Visit Pennsylvania Pro-life Federation at www.paprolife.org

Or call: 717-541-0034

Just Sharing a Picture

2008-09-29T00:39:00.000-04:00

Minnesota ACLU Picks Up Tab for South Dakota Volunteers

2008-09-27T19:32:00.003-04:00

Is there any logical explanation for an organization whose "About Us" page says it exists solely to "protect the civil liberties of Minnesotans" can justify its campaign "to persuade South Dakotans to vote against the abortion ban?"**

Not that I can see. It defies logic.

"The American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota will be sponsoring volunteers to go to South Dakota and talk to voters. Travel, and most meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner, including vegetarian options) will be provided. There will also be lots of hot chocolate, coffee, and cookies for those hitting the streets and turning the tide in this critical election effort."** "Lodging scholarships" are being provided to those requesting them.

Their site is says this as a this a way for individuals to be "part of defeating South Dakota's ban on virtually all abortions and protecting reproductive freedom."** They justify their efforts "in Sioux Falls because freedom can't protect itself."** Call me silly but it seems that the reality is that big money is being thrown at this measure from the abortion industry which can't afford its passage.

In that it is comical that this Minnesota group is showing extreme partiality by stretching their politically partisan neck across state lines yet touts itself as a "nonpartisan, impartial organization," my response is that of an comic strip cat responding to a particular offensive hairball, "GAACKKK!" Though comical, it is decidedly disgusting.

Someone ought sue them for misappropriating funds that are specifically to be spent for Minnesota civil liberty protection.

** Source: MN ACLU Mobilization page.

Mary Unites Christians - Zenit Article

2008-09-26T13:40:00.004-04:00

I think the reason I liked the article below is because, on the surface, many would see the Catholic tradition of honoring Our Lady as one of the biggest stumbling blocks to the reunification Christian religions; therefore, I find it noteworthy that Cardinal Kasper asserts that she "is an essential part of the ecumenical movement." This serves as a reminder that man's ways and perceptions cannot be counted on as being the ways of God. Sin leads us to be self-centered separatists while God and His heavenly saints long for us to be joined in Christ-centered communion.

Mary Unites Christians, Cardinal Tells Anglicans

Ecumenical Pilgrimage to Lourdes Called a Miracle
By Inmaculada Álvarez

LOURDES, France, SEPT. 25, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Devotion to the Virgin Mary has an essential role in ecumenical dialogue and the journey to full and visible unity among Christians, says the president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

Cardinal Walter Kasper affirmed this Wednesday when he presided over an ecumenical celebration in Lourdes, where Anglicans and Catholics had joined on pilgrimage. Anglican Archbishop Rowan Williams of Canterbury gave the homily at the event. The pilgrimage began at the Anglican shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham in England.

"Lourdes is known for its miracles," Cardinal Kasper said. "Who would have imagined, only 20 or 30 years ago, that Catholics and Anglicans would go on pilgrimage and pray together?

"For those who are familiar with the debates and controversies of the past on Mary, between Catholics and non-Catholic Christians, for those who know the reservations of the non-Catholic world toward Marian pilgrimage sites, for all these people, today's unprecedented event is a miracle."

The cardinal contended that, in fact, Mary is an essential part of the ecumenical movement, though this topic "is neither common nor obvious among ecumenists." Click HERE to read complete article.

One other thing - Did you read what the Anglican Archbishop Rowan Williams said of the Blessed Mother's appearance to St. Bernadette in his homily at Lourdes? If not, please read this snippet of it:

"She came at first as an anonymous figure, a beautiful lady, a mysterious thing, not yet identified as the Lord's spotless mother. And Bernadette -- uneducated, uninstructed in doctrine -- leaped with joy, recognizing that here was life, here was healing. Only bit by bit does Bernadette find the words to let the world know; only bit by bit, we might say, does she discover how to listen to the Lady and echo what she has to tell us."

In an article that I read before Williams went to Lourdes, his secretary noted that the Anglican Archbishop is devoted to Our Lady. Gives you hope, doesn't it?

40 Days for Life - Harrisburg, PA Kick-Off Rally

2008-09-24T15:11:00.018-04:00

The Harrisburg, PA area 40 Days for Life opened at the Pennsylvania State Capitol rotunda.

A local dance troupe performed interpretive dances before the speakers came to the podium.
Karen Bodle, Pennsylvania team leader of Operation Outcry, said that the shoes the children placed on the steps are part of the international pro-life "A cry without a Voice" campaign. Each pair of children's shoes is tagged with the name of a child lost to abortion. All present were encouraged to complete a tag for an untagged pair if they knew of a such a child not yet so memorialized.

Sandy Paveglio, co-chair of Harrisburg's 40 Days for Life, was the MC for the Capitol Kick-off Rally. Unfortunately, Nancy Faller , the other local driving forcing, was not able to participate due to a pro-life conference elsewhere.
Rev. Peter Hahn, Pastor of St. Leo the Great parish in Lancaster, PA is serving as the spiritual director for this effort in the Harrisburg area. Fr. Hahn is not only a diocesan priest, but he is associated with Priest for Life. In that I felt his speech at the Capitol captured the tenor of the day, I offer it here to you:

What a joy it is to see so many of you as we have gathered here to celebrate God's most precious gift to us of life, to look out and to see that life and that love and joy of God in your hearts.

In our Catholic faith, we have received a keen insight and a clear understanding of the truth of God and of the human person. While reason alone will lead us to a level of understanding of God, faith will illuminate that understanding further. For all of us here that illumination is a special gift of our Baptism where each of us received what the Church calls the theological virtues of faith, hope and love. It is in the power and light of these virtues that we are assembled here today.

We are a people of faith given that special gift of truth knowing that God has a plan and a mission for all of us and that it is illegitimate for individuals or societies to seek to refute and oppose that plan. We believe in what has been revealed by God about the sanctity and dignity of every human person, who is, in fact, created by God in His image and likeness, destined for eternal life with Him. These are not propositions of one faith perspective against another that we wish to oppose on society. They are eternal truths - part of what is termed as "the natural law" known to the human person both in faith and in reason, which are the best for the common good of any society. And, sadly, we know that any society that seeks to oppose these truths - truths which our founding fathers knew and embodied in our Declaration of Independence and in our Constitution - goes down a path that will only and inevitably lead to destruction.

We are a people of hope that trust in the infinitely wise vision of God who sees all things as part of His divine plan of salvation. We do not despair despite the facts and the history of the national disgrace that is legalized abortion. We know that even something so obscene as this is mysteriously permitted in the Providence of God and that He is working constantly to bring good from and through it. We know the battle is His, not ours, and that despite the facts which we see that show the pervasive influence of the forces of sin and death, we know there is nothing in this world that is stronger than the power and the love of God.

We are a people of love. We have not gathered here motivated by some selfish or financial concern. We are not part of that billion dollar industry that is Planned Parenthood and all of the other abortion providers. We are simply here, some at significant cost, to try to reach out and love the unborn child and his mother whom, we must always remember, is often another victim in this tragedy, deceived and pressured at such a vulnerable time by the purveyors of death.

We pray earnestly for all who feel so helpless and afraid that they think it the only alternative. We pray for those physicians and support personnel whose eternal souls are at such great risk as they have mistakenly chosen the path of death instead of life. We continue in all of the many ways available to help all who face unplanned pregnancies and those who in the past have made this wrong decision, and now grieve and suffer because of it, praying that all who have been harmed by this horror might know God's healing and peace.

Our Lord said that He came so that we might have life and have it to the fullest. And so we long for a reawakening in the faith and in the conscience of our nation so that all might experience this gift of life and know its fullness in the light of Christ, our Lord and Savior.

The battle is fierce. Satan's work is extensive and, sadly, successful in so many instances. We know the evil that is abortion and we know Our Lord's exhortation that certain demons can only be driven out by prayer and fasting. And so we gather this day to begin 40 days of that activity.

Let us pray each day ardently and intently that this scourge of abortion may end. Let us fast, denying ourselves of material comforts to offer up to God some sacrifice to ask that His healing come to us. And let us persevere, always in the joy of the life that He gives us, knowing with absolute certainty that 2,000 years ago, on that hill outside of Jerusalem, His infinite love for us, expressed in his passion. death and resurrection, has assured final victory.

May God bless each and every one of you here for your sacrifice and your faithful witness. May He extend His mercy and forgiveness to all who have sinned so grievously against Him. and may, by His grace, our nation once again regain its moral compass and recognize the truth that faith and reason confirm of the dignity of every human person so that we might once again embrace life and provide that basic legal protection to those who are defenseless so that they too might enjoy what all of us know -- the blessings of this life now and one day, we pray, that never ending life with God in the glory of His Kingdom of heaven.

State House of Representative Mauree Gingrich most importantly noted that as a society we are responsible for the lives and dignity of all.

Representative Will Gabig, who because of committee duties had to hurry to a meeting after speaking to the 40 Days for Life Rally, spoke next. His main thrust was that architects of the Declaration of Independence listed the right to life as the first inalienable right - we must stand for the protection of all. He also made note of George Washington assertion that the "pursuit of happiness" was analogous to the "pursuit of virtue."

Diane Wells, South Central Regional leader of Silent No More, was joined at the podium by Karen Boswell, a member of her team. Ms. Wells told of the price her two abortions had upon her life - panic attacks, sleeplessness that alternated with horrific nightmares and two suicide attempts.

Michael Ciccocioppo, Executive Director of Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation, told of a couple whose child was saved by the presence of pro-life people outside of Hillcrest Clinic. The woman, twice in the last five years, has contacted the Pennsylvania Pro-life Federation to give thanks and tell of the impact the pro-life presence at the abortion mill made in her family's life. I hope to post the story later this week.

At its conclusion, Rally participants were encouraged to go to the site of Harrisburg's 40 Days presence - Hillcrest Abortion Clinic on Front Street.
Once there, participants were lead in prayer and song by Fr. Hahn.
Most of the people who acknowledged the presence of the prayerful did so in a positive manner: thumbs-up motioning, light taps of horns, waving. Two times menacing voices were heard from traffic - one an indistinguishable growl of sorts - the second said a sentence but the only discernible word was an angry sounding "family."

Seeing this father using Hillcrest's driveway to take what seemed to be a short-cut home brought to mind that there are fathers who had likewise once casually walked their daughters at such a young age never imagining that their innocent girls might one day abort their grandchild. I certainly hope that is never an option for this little girl.

No one knew who this person was who drove this pro-lifemobile by Hillcrest multiple times. Their website, http://www.whos4life.com/, says of their organization: "Whos4life is a fun & creative, grassroots, non-profit ministry that is attempting to bring to the forefront of our state and national dialogue the issue of abortion and the future lives of millions of unborn Americans."

Look at the back of the girl's shirt - note the name. I loved that grace was with us because it is only through God's graces that our country will turn from abortion. I know, that may sound hokey, but the thought warmed my heart.

This isn't everyone present - some people were camera shy.

I apologize to those in the picture - I did shoot another one that is framed okay, but in that one not everyone is facing the camera. I think I was focusing more on not trepassing on Hillcrest's front lawn than taking the picture.

For information on the national/international 40 Days for Life, please click HERE.

Links to organizations mentioned in this posting - click on the name to be redirected to the site:

A Cry Without a Voice

Harrisburg 40 Days for Life

Operation Outcry

Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation

Priests for Life

Silent No More

Additional Resources

Post-abortion healing -www.rachelsvineyard.org/

Pregnancy help -www.birthright.org/

40 Days for Life Campaign

2008-09-22T21:27:00.003-04:00

Pro-Life Advocates Nationwide Excited About Next 40 Days for Life Campaign

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Pro-life advocates across the country are excited about the upcoming 40 Days for Life prayer campaign. The event, which takes place in communities and at abortion centers nationwide, doesn't officially start until this Wednesday yet thousands of people have already begun to get involved.

David Bereit, the head of the campaign, tells LifeNews.com that he went to Indiana to meet with hundreds of people getting started at a kick-off rally. "Yesterday afternoon, I was blessed to join more than 200 people at the 40 Days for Life kick-off in Indianapolis -- which concluded with a two-mile procession to the Planned Parenthood abortion center where the campaign will be focused," he said. "I then drove up to Fort Wayne where 300 people packed a Lutheran school gymnasium for an electrifying kick-off event," he added. "At the end of the rally, the attendees collectively committed to hundreds of hours of participation in their local 40 Days for Life vigil."

Bereit says he is getting similar reports from other cities across North America and many locations are still gearing up for their kick-off events which will be held over the next three days. Full story at LifeNews.com

Please visit the 40 Days for Life site.

The 40 Days for Life site, http://www.40daysforlife.com/, has links to local initiatives, videos and lots of information about 40 Days for Life.

40 Days for life is something that everyone can participate in. It is a matter of:

Persistent Prayer - Prayer and Fasting
Peaceful Presence - Public witness outside of abortion centers
Prudent Presentation - Share the Pro-life message

Whatever your abilities or comfort level, you can be part of 40 Days for Life!

Set the Spirit Free Conference

2008-09-22T20:36:00.007-04:00

Saturday, September 20, 2008, the Harrisburg Diocese hosted its 2008 Day of Charismatic Renewal at the Diocesan Center in Harrisburg. The theme was "Set the Spirit Free."The day began with faith filled music provided by the Upper Room Prayer Group Music Ministry.

They played, led songs and gave praise for about an hour before Mass began.
The five altar servers were from multiple parishes in the diocese.

Harriburg's Bishop Rhoades was the principal celebrant of the concelebrated Mass.
The religious pictured below are, left to right, Msgr. Robert Lawrence, Fr. Francis Karwacki, Fr. William Weary, Master of Ceremony Fr. Neill Sullivan, Deacon James Rush, Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades and Bishop Sam Jacobs (Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, Louisiana).
In Bishop Rhoades homily he told the congregation that we must take up the cross daily -- it is not an optional element of the Catholic Christian. We are called to embrace the cross everyday. We must love as Christ loved. Give of ourselves in imitation of the self-giving love of Calvary. The Eucharist strengthens us to do that.
In that Saturday was the feast day of the 103 Korean martyrs, Bishop Rhoades spoke of their willingness to take up the cross. They, individuals ranging in ages from 13 - 72, were true to Christ - they denied themselves and bore their crosses. The Bishop told us that we should pray to the martyrs - all martyrs - asking them to help us by their intercession to take up our cross.

Beyond the 103 Korean martyrs who are recognized as members of the communion of saints, the Church in Korea, young as it is, has had more than 10,000 martyrs. They knew ridicule, unpopularity and faced opposition - things that have kept lesser people from stepping up to embrace their cross. Bishop Rhoades implored everyone to hear again the words of Christ in the Gospel when He said that if we denied Him before men that He would deny us before the Father. Shame should not be a part of our relationship to/with Christ. We need courageous disciples of Christ in the Church. When the apostle Paul wrote, The love of Christ urges me on, he was witnessing to the fact that he didn't lose faith or courage, no matter the circumstances, because he KNEW Christ was with him. In the eighth chapter of his letter to the Romans, with conviction, Paul tells us to take up our cross and follow the Lord everyday for if God is for us, who can be against us? (31). Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (39). Bishop Rhoades concluded his homily by asserting that the love of Christ urges us.

Just before the the concluding blessing of the Mass, Bishop Rhoades came forward to address those present. He thanked the individuals who shared their inspiration, spoke of his experience at World Youth Day 2008 and encouraged everyone to evangelize.

After a break following Mass, because of concerns expressed by conference attendees, Bishop Sam Jacobs first spoke of the the state of his Diocese (Houma-Thibodaux) which was the hardest hit by Hurricane Gustav. He also spoke encouragingly of the outpouring of goodwill by some people, including a priest who was industrious enough to get a hold of a horse so as to visit areas in which people were stranded to ascertain conditions and needs.

There was a couple who went to shelters with the Bishop. The husband and wife were grateful for having not being adversely impacted by the hurricane and felt compelled to find and address the needs of those not so fortunate. Bishop Sam said the Red Cross was very good at addressing the very basic needs of those in shelters, but this couple took it a step further in that, after talking to shelter directors, they went to Wal-Mart and spent $1,000 on items such as fans, towels and food (emergency food ration packages were provided by the Red Cross, but some directors asked for things such as spaghetti and tomato sauce for meals).

Another person who understood that people were in need and wanted give immediate aid decided to raise funds by selling bracelets akin to Lance Armstrong's LIVESTRONG bracelets - having WINDSTRONG on the hurricane recovery bracelets. In the first day, Bishop Sam said, $10,000 was raised. The man and his friends procured a 16 ft truck with which they are directly taking down the bayous to the people in need. The Windstrong Foundation is directly asking people what their needs are and returning with the truck filled with those items which range from water to clothing.

The Bishop said that in spite of devastation there is faith, hope and love to be found. He asked that all pray for those hurt and the workers - both being groups that are very stressed and stretched thin. They were still try to recover from Katrina when Gustav and Ike hit. The USCCB has authorized a special collection at Masses this coming weekend (Sept. 27 & 28) to help the recovery efforts from the latest hurricanes.

Before moving to the "Set the Spirit Free" theme of the Conference, Bishop Sam concluded talk of the hurricane recovery by saying, "We are going to survive, but need the help of others."

Bishop Sam then moved to the topic of the day - Set the Spirit Free

Before we can set the Spirit free, the Spirit must set us free.

God's plan is that we be filled with the Holy Spirit.

In the first two chapters of Luke's Gospel it is noted that seven people are filled with the Holy Spirit. This is not coincidence that at the beginning of this book that such mention is made - it is documentation of God's plan. The seven people listed are:

John the Baptist
Mary
Jesus
Elizabeth
Zachariah
Simeon
Anna

The Acts of the Apostles also has being filled with the Holy Spirit as a theme.

The Holy Spirit gives sanctification. The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit - wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord - are personal sanctifers. They are tools for the use of those who have been filled by the Holy Spirit.

We need to get out of our comfort zone - to let God have control. We need to freely be a fool for Christ. In that the life Christ calls us to is in opposition to the ways of the world, to be for Christ is to be foolish in the eyes of the world.

The word "yes" can be seen as an acronym answer to the question of "How will you lead your life?"

Y - Yield, E - Everything to, S - Self
Y - Yield, E - Everything to, S - Satan
Y - Yield, E - Everything to, S - Savior

God has given us freewill. He wants us to be reunited with Him -- freely chosen reunification. We must each decide how we will live our lives. Once we decide to yield everything to our Savior, we can then move toward setting the Spirit free in our lives and the world.

Having received sanctifying grace in the sacraments, we must now set the Spirit free to move in our lives. We need to act on the leadership of the Lord in the use of our freewill. We are filled with the Holy Spirit so that we can be holy -- holy so that we can enter into a relationship with God. This then lets us be witnesses to Christ.

Lacking in today's Church is evangelization, yet God wants it to be done.

God can do anything through you if you are open to Him working through you. What is the use of zeal for the Holy Spirit if you aren't a zealot? We have our marching orders but aren't marching.

Conversion is missing from the Church. That is why so few Catholics regularly attend Mass. We have all been baptized, but we aren't all on fire.

There once were two Baptist ministers - one having the charge of a predominantly African-American congregation which would have loud, nearly riotous, services of praise, the other having a congregation which was predominantly Anglo-American with very sedate services. One day the pastor of the reserved congregation asked the other how it could be that their services were so vastly different. The pastor of the lively followers paused in thought, then said, "Well, we both have filet mignon." He paused, again, then went on, "It's just that yours is still in the freezer. Ours is in the fire."

There is a need to reach out to people, to bring them to conversion. We must witness the Gospel to them.

As persons of God we are good beings; however, we may do bad thing. We should act out of the core of our being - out of the good of God. We should not be doing simply out of a desire to be doing.

We should be looking for opportunities to share what God has done for us. We are to stir the Holy Spirit within the people with whom we are sharing God's impact in our life. One of Bishop Sam's priests held a town hall sort of meeting with the people in the area of his parish -- Catholics and non-Catholics. He did this to find out the needs of the people. The next weekend he had people at Mass whom he had never seen in the church. They told him that the meeting was the first time they had experienced the Church as a church that cared about them.

People need to know of the love of Christ, the love of His Church. We catechize before God is real to individuals. We should be evengelizing them first. They need to be given a taste, then catechize/feed them. Right after Pentecost, Peter gave first gave the 3,000 the experience of Christ -- then brought them into the fold of the faithful.

Of course, the conversion moment is important, but conversion is and ongoing concern.

Solemnly I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these (John 14:12).

It is up to us to step out and do. Too often though, people get stuck in the preparation for doing stage and never get to the actual doing.

At some point during the early to mid 1970's, the prolific period of feel good felt banners, an elderly nun was scuffing through the convent when she began to pass by a room where some of the younger sisters were making banners. In an effort of redirection, she detoured through that room to see what was going on. Bend over by the weight of many years, the frail woman again took up her slow methodical pace. As she began to pass a postulant intent upon her purpose, the elderly sister slowly turned her head a bit, yelled, "Do it!," and continued on her way.

The message on the banner? "Love one another."

Today is the day.

"The Church exists to evangelize" (Pope John VI). Evangelization is the nature of the Church. Our faith must be evident. We must bear witness so people may look at the Lord when they see us.

For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
But how can they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? (Romans 10:13-14)

We must give the Spirit total freedom to lead us to what He has called us to do -- Evangelize -- to introduce others to Him.

At the end of his talk, before Exposition, the Bishop gave people who had never done so before the opportunity to come forward and publicly give their lives to Christ.

This is a link to WINDSTRONG Bracelet web site

Just Sharing a Picture

2008-09-20T20:52:00.001-04:00

Meeting of the Candidates to Help Poor and Sick

2008-09-19T00:02:00.002-04:00

Senators John McCain and Barack Obama are slated to be co-guest speakers at a dinner hosted by New York Cardinal Edward M. Egan. The October 16th memorial dinner, named for New York Governor Alfred Smith who was the first Catholic presidential candidate, is a black-tie affair that has raised millions of dollars to help the poor and sick of the New York Archdiocese.

The presidential candidates will come together at this the 63rd annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner for what should be a lighthearted evening. Although speakers at this dinner have traditionally been hard hitting politicos, as the foundation's site notes, the "luminous guest speakers have stepped from the world stage to honor and entertain Annual Dinner audiences with their light humor and political savvy."

"Indeed, the occasion has evolved into something of an opportunity for speakers - particularly ones whose mien is typically quite serious - to show, through quips and slightly irreverent humor, that they can poke fun at a political issue, an opponent, or themselves."

The first time presidential opponents came together for this event was in 1960 when John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon both spoke at the dinner. Click here to visit the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation's site where you may find more information, including a list of former speakers.

USCCB and Conscientious Voting

2008-09-18T21:40:00.008-04:00

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishop has developed a Faithful Citizenship site that has information to help individuals be politically responsible. Part and parcel of the site's offerings is free downloads. The site address is http://www.faithfulcitizenship.org/

While you are there, be sure to sign-up for the Faithful Citizenship e-mail list to be entered to win an IPod from the USCCB. The drawing for the IPod will be on or after November 5, 2008.

Good Luck and Good Voting!

HT: Deacon Greg Kandra over at The Deacon's Bench

Heartwarming Article

2008-09-18T16:42:00.001-04:00

I'm not posting this article from the September 19th edition of The Tidings, the Los Angeles Archdiocese newspaper, because of the pro-life aspect of the story. Instead, I'm sharing it just because I find it to be heartwarming. Hoping you like it too!

'The baby who was born too soon' thrives
By Betsy Potts

"Pray for the baby who was born too soon…" is the opening line to a poem that Katherine Meyer's mother dedicated to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Tarzana Regional Medical Center.

On Dec. 7, 1989, Katherine Meyer was born two months premature. Because of her undeveloped lungs, she was immediately put on a high pressure respirator. Unfortunately, the pressure was set too high and caused Katherine to have brain bleeds. She spent the first three months of her life in the hospital and was one of the sickest preemies the NICU had ever had.

Her prognosis was grim. The doctors said that there would be permanent damage to her hearing, and that her lungs would be weak. They also predicted she would not be able to walk or open her hands.

Last June 14, Katherine Meyer walked down the steps of La Reina High School in Thousand Oaks and graduated with her class. Her hands held a diploma and a dozen roses.

But the doctors were not entirely wrong about Katherine. She does have hearing loss: she is 50 percent hearing impaired, with 90 percent impairment at high frequencies. She also has asthma. And ADHD. But her disabilities have only made her determined to overcome them.

This determination came early. When Katherine was very young, she wanted to play the piano like her older siblings. Today, she is an accomplished pianist, who has created original medleys --- a ragtime medley of Scott Joplin songs, and a church medley of liturgical songs --- all extraordinary accomplishments for any 18-year-old. What makes Katherine even more extraordinary, though, is her generosity. For the last four years, she has played the piano at every school Mass and at every graduation.

According to Katherine, a turning point in her life was coming to La Reina in the eighth grade.

Determined to make the most of her experience, she immediately joined the Speech and Debate Club, Campus Ministry and the liturgical music group. She has remained active in all three.
Speech and debate proved to be the biggest challenge because her speech has been affected by her limited hearing. Frustrated by her inability to place at competitions and by judges' comments like, "difficult to understand," "work on enunciation and vocal clarity," Katherine practiced and practiced. Soon, she began to win and reached another milestone: for two years in a row, she qualified for the state tournament.

What has meant the most to Katherine throughout high school is her association with the Sisters of Notre Dame. A non-Catholic, she has played the piano for them at their Sunday Masses at Notre Dame Center and at all their special events. At the Sisters' July 12 jubilee celebration, under the direction of Christopher Walker, she accompanied a choir of Sisters and Associates of Notre Dame and members of the St. Paul the Apostle (Westwood) and St. Mary Magdalen (Camarillo) choirs.

"I love being at the convent," she says. "From the moment I walked in, I clicked with the sisters. They have been welcoming, and fun to be around. They treat me as though I am one of them."
Her faith, which she describes as "weak" before coming to La Reina, has strengthened to such an extent that she has expressed interest in becoming a Catholic.

This fall, Katherine will attend Cal Poly Pomona where she will major in business with an emphasis in marketing and minor in music performance.

Indeed, the "baby who was born too soon" not only lived, but thrived. Her classmates and the sisters and the staff see her not as a girl with limitations, but as a girl whose personal courage, strength, and generosity, inspire the entire La Reina community.

The Tidings' site may be found at www.the-tidings.com.

Chaput & Conley's Cross Country Clarification

2008-09-18T12:42:00.007-04:00

I was reading the Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper online when I came upon an article which made mention of a letter distributed in an Atlanta parish's bulletins this past weekend. It was a reprint of a letter the bishops of the Denver archdiocese addressed to the members of the archdiocese.

The article only included snippets of the letter, but the archdiocese web site had the complete document. In that it is reaching Catholics from across the country, I thought you might want to see it too.

Public Servants and Moral Reasoning:
A notice to the Catholic community in northern Colorado

To Catholics of the Archdiocese of Denver:

When Catholics serve on the national stage, their actions and words impact the faith of Catholics
around the country. As a result, they open themselves to legitimate scrutiny by local Catholics and local bishops on matters of Catholic belief. In 2008, although NBC probably didn't intend it, Meet the Press has become a national window on the flawed moral reasoning of some Catholic public servants.

On August 24, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, describing herself as an ardent, practicing
Catholic, misrepresented the overwhelming body of Catholic teaching against abortion to the show's nationwide audience, while defending her "pro-choice" abortion views. On September 7, Sen. Joseph Biden compounded the problem to the same Meet the Press audience.

Sen. Biden is a man of distinguished public service. That doesn't excuse poor logic or bad facts.
Asked when life begins, Sen. Biden said that, "it's a personal and private issue." But in reality, modern biology knows exactly when human life begins: at the moment of conception. Religion has nothing to do with it. People might argue when human "personhood" begins - though that leads public policy in very dangerous directions - but no one can any longer claim that the beginning of life is a matter of religious opinion.

Sen. Biden also confused the nature of pluralism. Real pluralism thrives on healthy, non-violent disagreement; it requires an environment where people of conviction will struggle respectfully but vigorously to advance their beliefs. In his interview, the senator observed that other people with strong religious views disagree with the Catholic approach to abortion. It's certainly true that we need to acknowledge the views of other people and compromise whenever possible - but not at the expense of a developing child's right to life. Abortion is a foundational issue; it is not an issue like housing policy or the price of foreign oil. It always involves the intentional killing of an innocent life, and it is always, grievously wrong. If, as Sen. Biden said, "I'm prepared as a matter of faith [emphasis added] to accept that life begins at the moment of conception," then he is not merely wrong about the science of new life; he also fails to defend the innocent life he already knows is there.

As the senator said in his interview, he has opposed public funding for abortions. To his great credit,he also backed a successful ban on partial-birth abortions. But his strong support for the 1973 Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade and the false "right" to abortion it enshrines, can't be excused by any serious Catholic. Support for Roe and the "right to choose" an abortion simply masks what abortion is, and what abortion does. Roe is bad law. As long as it stands, it prevents returning the abortion issue to the states where it belongs, so that the American people can decide its future through fair debate and legislation.

In his Meet the Press interview, Sen. Biden used a morally exhausted argument that American
Catholics have been hearing for 40 years: i.e., that Catholics can't "impose" their religiously based views on the rest of the country. But resistance to abortion is a matter of human rights, not religious opinion. And the senator knows very well as a lawmaker that all law involves the imposition of some people's convictions on everyone else. That is the nature of the law. American Catholics have allowed themselves to be bullied into accepting the destruction of more than a million developing unborn children a year. Other people have imposed their "pro-choice" beliefs on American society without any remorse for decades.

If we claim to be Catholic, then American Catholics, including public officials who describe themselves as Catholic, need to act accordingly. We need to put an end to Roe and the industry of permissive abortion it enables. Otherwise all of us - from senators and members of Congress, to Catholic laypeople in the pews - fail not only as believers and disciples, but also as citizens.

+Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.
Archbishop of Denver

+James D. Conley
Auxiliary Bishop of Denver