Dear friends,
So, when you think your financial situation is already dire, it is usually then that more bad news hits. This was my yesterday. While the situation isn't as dire as some people's situation, it is still distressing, trying to figure out where money is going to come from to do basic things. As an addendum, to add insult to injury, my paycheck shrunk slightly (alas!).
But despite the bad news yesterday, I didn't despair. I went to the chapel, to turn to God, and I asked Him for help. I feel very at peace right now, although I don't know where the money is going to come from. I don't have any answers about the next year, except that I know the next year is going to happen, with or without me. I feel right now, that even though I don't have any answers, My wife and I will be ok, and that we will be able to do what we have planned. But let me reiterate: I don't have the answers. But it will be ok.
Actually, this is only half true. I called my wife after the news and told her, and I really had my doubts that everything was going to work out. It was her who told me to go pray, and it was her that helped me get back on the right track. Oh, me of little faith. I am always so quick to despair, and not so quick to say a prayer! Lord, increase my faith in you and your Divine Providence. Help me to always follow you, regardless of the circumstances.
I firmly believe that the trials of late are really tests; may these tests strengthen me, and may they allow me to follow Christ more clearly and more nearly.
We must pray for all of those who are really in dire straits, that God may bless them and give them the grace to persevere. May they be in Mary's arms during this time of need.
May God bless you. And please, if you have a moment, say a prayer for me and my intentions. Know that I pray for those who read these words which I speak. May the Holy Spirit abundantly make up for what I lack.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Mary, Mother of God
Dear friends in Christ,
On Friday, January 1st, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. This holy day of obligation celebrates the life of Mary in the life of Christ: that of being His mother. The term Mother of God harkens back to a term the Church first clarified in the fifth century at the Council of Ephesus. Mary just is not the mother of the human nature of Jesus, but also of the divine nature, since they are inseparable.
It is appropriate that the Church celebrates this solemnity when it does. It not only celebrates it on the first day of the New Year, but also a week after Christmas. On Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Jesus, and on the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, we celebrate Mary as the Mother of God, Jesus Christ.
We also look forward to the new year as we celebrate this feast. We look to Mary as an example of love and fidelity; we look to her as a perfect example of motherhood and obedience to God the Father; and, we look to her as someone to imitate in our lives. How do we imitate Mary? We listen to God, and we follow His will for us. Was it not Mary who said "Let it be done according to your word" when Gabriel came to her, telling her about the birth of Jesus, and who Jesus was?
Mary is the perfect example for us to follow God most perfectly. We must listen to our hearts. What is God asking of you? How can you best follow His will? God calls each of us, like He called Mary. Let us make a resolution this year to be like Mary, following the will of God in all things, and listening to His will for us.
May you remain close to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Monday, December 28, 2009
On Trust in God
Dear friends in Christ,
Has anybody noticed that when the going is easy, it is very easy to say "Trust in God", but when you actually have to rely on God because of changes in your life situation, it gets hard? It is in these moments which tell us how much we really do trust in God compared to just saying we do.
There are many things that come up in one's life. You can just reflect on your own life to know that. How often do we trust in God, and listen to Him? Trusting in God does not mean to do what we want to do, and then trust that God will bail us out! How many people pray to God after the bad investment, asking God to bail them out? The more important question: if God does bail you out, how often do you find yourself thanking Him afterwards. God's work is often thankless, but yet He still loves us, so He will continue to give us graces He knows we need.
What am I saying? Trusting in God is one of the hardest things we can do, but by doing it, we will find extraordinary amounts of graces given to us.
God bless.
Has anybody noticed that when the going is easy, it is very easy to say "Trust in God", but when you actually have to rely on God because of changes in your life situation, it gets hard? It is in these moments which tell us how much we really do trust in God compared to just saying we do.
There are many things that come up in one's life. You can just reflect on your own life to know that. How often do we trust in God, and listen to Him? Trusting in God does not mean to do what we want to do, and then trust that God will bail us out! How many people pray to God after the bad investment, asking God to bail them out? The more important question: if God does bail you out, how often do you find yourself thanking Him afterwards. God's work is often thankless, but yet He still loves us, so He will continue to give us graces He knows we need.
What am I saying? Trusting in God is one of the hardest things we can do, but by doing it, we will find extraordinary amounts of graces given to us.
God bless.
On Obedience and Freedom
"St. Maurus instantly left his work to answer the call of his Superior, St. Benedict. The other monks all had something to finish first."
-St. John Vianney, On Self Denial (Sp.).
If we are to follow Christ, who attended to the needs of all, we must in fact ourselves attend to the needs of all; this feat is nothing short of sanctity. To follow Christ is to be like Christ, who was born of Mary in the lowliest and humblest of circumstances, in a manger surrounded by animals. Following Christ is to be truly free. Some say that freedom is that ability to do what you want. Real freedom is the ability to follow Christ is all things, for it is in Christ that we are truly free. Silly people! Do you really think that if God is love (1 John), he will give us restrictions and prohibit our freedom? God calls us to greatness, but we don't find greatness in earthly things and things which restrict our freedom, though many people think they can find freedom in these things. God calls us to live in freedom, and real freedom is the ability to follow Christ in whatever He asks of us. Are we truly free if we place limitations on God's love, and we don't let God into every aspect of our life?
We are to be obedient to the good God, just as the Christ child was obedient to His parents, and Mary was obedient to God. In some of the earliest stories of the Gospel, there is a lesson learned related to obedience. In the Annunciation, where Gabriel visited Mary and told her that she was to give birth to Jesus, son of the Most High God, it took a great deal of obedience on Mary's part to see "Let it be done according to your word." When Jesus was found by his parents in the temple after being lost, the Scriptures tell us "From that moment on He was obedient to His parents." When we are obedient to God, we are open to His divine will, which makes us freer than anything else can. Once again, I challenge you: if freedom is the ability to do whatever you want, then why is it that many of the things we think make us "free", in fact, ensnare us? Contraception is ensnaring, as well as pornography, adultery, and promiscuous sex. These things are things of addiction, not freedom. Complete obedience to God allows us to be truly free to follow His will.
But we are obedient to people at the same time; God puts people in our lives, holy people, that we are obedient to, to help us be obedient to God. We are obedient to our spouses only because God says to be obedient, because that obedience is an imitation of obedience to God. St. Paul brings this up very nicely in Ephesians 5, that through marriage spouses are called to be obedient to the other. Ephesians 5 is one of the most important passages in the entire Bible because it gives us a model of the Church as a family, and it gives us a model of what Christian marriage is supposed to look like (Christo centric!).
For the clergy, they take a promise of obedience to a bishop, not because they are giving up their freedom, but rather, because they desire to be truly free to do the will of God in all things. Who would willingly give away their freedom? Nobody! It is the trust in God which allows an ordained man to offer himself to God for the sake of His Church, and for the freedom which comes from that. It is a paradox: becoming obedient makes you free. But it is in obedience that we truly become free.
May God bless you during this Christmas season.
-St. John Vianney, On Self Denial (Sp.).
If we are to follow Christ, who attended to the needs of all, we must in fact ourselves attend to the needs of all; this feat is nothing short of sanctity. To follow Christ is to be like Christ, who was born of Mary in the lowliest and humblest of circumstances, in a manger surrounded by animals. Following Christ is to be truly free. Some say that freedom is that ability to do what you want. Real freedom is the ability to follow Christ is all things, for it is in Christ that we are truly free. Silly people! Do you really think that if God is love (1 John), he will give us restrictions and prohibit our freedom? God calls us to greatness, but we don't find greatness in earthly things and things which restrict our freedom, though many people think they can find freedom in these things. God calls us to live in freedom, and real freedom is the ability to follow Christ in whatever He asks of us. Are we truly free if we place limitations on God's love, and we don't let God into every aspect of our life?
We are to be obedient to the good God, just as the Christ child was obedient to His parents, and Mary was obedient to God. In some of the earliest stories of the Gospel, there is a lesson learned related to obedience. In the Annunciation, where Gabriel visited Mary and told her that she was to give birth to Jesus, son of the Most High God, it took a great deal of obedience on Mary's part to see "Let it be done according to your word." When Jesus was found by his parents in the temple after being lost, the Scriptures tell us "From that moment on He was obedient to His parents." When we are obedient to God, we are open to His divine will, which makes us freer than anything else can. Once again, I challenge you: if freedom is the ability to do whatever you want, then why is it that many of the things we think make us "free", in fact, ensnare us? Contraception is ensnaring, as well as pornography, adultery, and promiscuous sex. These things are things of addiction, not freedom. Complete obedience to God allows us to be truly free to follow His will.
But we are obedient to people at the same time; God puts people in our lives, holy people, that we are obedient to, to help us be obedient to God. We are obedient to our spouses only because God says to be obedient, because that obedience is an imitation of obedience to God. St. Paul brings this up very nicely in Ephesians 5, that through marriage spouses are called to be obedient to the other. Ephesians 5 is one of the most important passages in the entire Bible because it gives us a model of the Church as a family, and it gives us a model of what Christian marriage is supposed to look like (Christo centric!).
For the clergy, they take a promise of obedience to a bishop, not because they are giving up their freedom, but rather, because they desire to be truly free to do the will of God in all things. Who would willingly give away their freedom? Nobody! It is the trust in God which allows an ordained man to offer himself to God for the sake of His Church, and for the freedom which comes from that. It is a paradox: becoming obedient makes you free. But it is in obedience that we truly become free.
May God bless you during this Christmas season.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Giving glory to God
"We must always act in the way that will give most glory to God." -St. John Marie Vianney, Catechism on the Word of God
When reflecting on what gives God glory, we can also reflect on what doesn't give God glory. Idleness, mindless chatter, gossip, laziness, sloth, and mediocrity does not give God glory. What good is it if you go to Sunday Mass, if you are reading the bulletin during Mass, and what good is going to Mass if you raise a fit about going in the first place, only to have happen after Mass that you are not internally changed and converted? How many leave church only to restart the argument from before Mass, and this time, with our precious Lord dwelling inside of us?
Does this give glory to God, idly going through life, being safe and neutral? Does it give glory to God by avoiding trouble, and by taking the easy road?
Giving glory to God means to glorify Him at every moment, whether you feel like it or not. Giving glory is not reserved just for inside the church, but rather, you give glory with every action that the good God can deem as glorifying. By serving the poor, protecting the unborn, fighting for the Truth of the Church and Jesus Christ, living holy lives, we give glory to God. I am trying to glorify God right now by writing about God, so that through my writing, at least one person may come closer to God. The God who beckons us to come, sit at His feet, and learn. You don't just raise your hands and shout glory; glorify Him internally, and glorify Him in all things.
We must always act in the way that will give glory to the good God. How do we do this? Sin no more, and replace our sinning and idleness with things that will glorify God.
Glorifying God also involves doing the will of God. By doing His will, we do Him greater glory. God loves us tremendously; he is our tremendous lover. Every man looking for love is looking for God, for God is love. We love Him mostly when we love Him and when we listen to Him. We don't need to waive our arms up and down and shoot Alleluia; all we need to do is kneel in silence and gaze in wonder at the tabernacle, the house of God where the Eucharist resides. The Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Christ himself, is present, ready to be spiritual food for the soul, so that we might do God honor and glory all the more through graces bestowed to us from the "true blood and true drink" (See John 6:55). "For God so loved the world that He gave His only son" (John 3:16). As a result, there is also a glorifying aspect to sacrifice. Jesus gave the ultimate sacrifice on the cross, glorifying His Father in a profound way in which we partake at Mass. In order to give God the fullness of glory, we must participate in the ultimate act of sacrifice, which gives God the fullness of glory. Glory is the effect of love. If we love God, then we will give Him glory in all things. Glory is also the effect of sacrifice. If we sacrifice for God, and if we truly recognize and participate in the sacrifice of God, we give Him glory.
So, is glory easy? No, but it is sanctifying. Holiness isn't easy, but it is joy filled for all who wish to take up the cross of Christ and follow after Him. By doing this, we give God greater glory and honor.
May God bless you. May we imitate the Mother of God, Mary, as she says "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word", and through the laying down of our lived and the acceptance of God will, may we give God glory, so that when our life ends, He may glorify us at the eternal banquet of the Lamb.
When reflecting on what gives God glory, we can also reflect on what doesn't give God glory. Idleness, mindless chatter, gossip, laziness, sloth, and mediocrity does not give God glory. What good is it if you go to Sunday Mass, if you are reading the bulletin during Mass, and what good is going to Mass if you raise a fit about going in the first place, only to have happen after Mass that you are not internally changed and converted? How many leave church only to restart the argument from before Mass, and this time, with our precious Lord dwelling inside of us?
Does this give glory to God, idly going through life, being safe and neutral? Does it give glory to God by avoiding trouble, and by taking the easy road?
Giving glory to God means to glorify Him at every moment, whether you feel like it or not. Giving glory is not reserved just for inside the church, but rather, you give glory with every action that the good God can deem as glorifying. By serving the poor, protecting the unborn, fighting for the Truth of the Church and Jesus Christ, living holy lives, we give glory to God. I am trying to glorify God right now by writing about God, so that through my writing, at least one person may come closer to God. The God who beckons us to come, sit at His feet, and learn. You don't just raise your hands and shout glory; glorify Him internally, and glorify Him in all things.
We must always act in the way that will give glory to the good God. How do we do this? Sin no more, and replace our sinning and idleness with things that will glorify God.
Glorifying God also involves doing the will of God. By doing His will, we do Him greater glory. God loves us tremendously; he is our tremendous lover. Every man looking for love is looking for God, for God is love. We love Him mostly when we love Him and when we listen to Him. We don't need to waive our arms up and down and shoot Alleluia; all we need to do is kneel in silence and gaze in wonder at the tabernacle, the house of God where the Eucharist resides. The Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Christ himself, is present, ready to be spiritual food for the soul, so that we might do God honor and glory all the more through graces bestowed to us from the "true blood and true drink" (See John 6:55). "For God so loved the world that He gave His only son" (John 3:16). As a result, there is also a glorifying aspect to sacrifice. Jesus gave the ultimate sacrifice on the cross, glorifying His Father in a profound way in which we partake at Mass. In order to give God the fullness of glory, we must participate in the ultimate act of sacrifice, which gives God the fullness of glory. Glory is the effect of love. If we love God, then we will give Him glory in all things. Glory is also the effect of sacrifice. If we sacrifice for God, and if we truly recognize and participate in the sacrifice of God, we give Him glory.
So, is glory easy? No, but it is sanctifying. Holiness isn't easy, but it is joy filled for all who wish to take up the cross of Christ and follow after Him. By doing this, we give God greater glory and honor.
May God bless you. May we imitate the Mother of God, Mary, as she says "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word", and through the laying down of our lived and the acceptance of God will, may we give God glory, so that when our life ends, He may glorify us at the eternal banquet of the Lamb.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Custody of Words
Dear friends in Christ,
What I want to reflect briefly on is the casualness of damnation, mainly, of others damning others as a casual thing. Growing up, my family was a little chaotic. We would get in yelling matches that involved phrases that included "I hate you", and "go to hell". It rolled off the tongue very easily by whoever said it. It seemed to continue, not only in high school, but also in college, where these phrases rolled off the tongue very easily. I wised up eventually not to say them, but I know many others continued to do so. When they were challenged, provoked, or corrected, one of these phrases usually followed.
Hate is usually considered the opposite of love. When we say "God is love", for example, we are equating God with love. Love is a transcendental. If hate is the opposite of love, then it is also the opposite of God. But pure hate is not possible; the reason is that it doesn't exist. When we say the word hate, it is the strongest word to non-love that we have. Hate then is the closest possible thing to the opposite of love. Now, you may be wondering, what about the devil? The devil, as evil as he is, is and will always be a fallen angel; originally he was created good, but because of his choice, he defied God, and became as evil as possible. The devil though was created with good in him, and there is still a minor speck of good in him, because it isn't possible for a being to be completely evil. The only way this was possible was if we said that the devil is as evil as God is good and loving. But that is dualism, and in a dualistic system, God and the devil would be equal: two cosmic forces duking it out for all eternity. In such a system, an innocent bystander to this cosmic brawl would be forced to appease both deities, since both are all powerful. But the truth is that because the devil is created (he was an angel), he can never be all powerful and opposite of God, but he is the most opposite a being can be. And as beautiful an angel of God is, that is how ugly and corrupt the devil is.
The devil hates us almost as much as God loves us. By saying "I hate you", we are quoting the devil, who says the same thing to every person in the world. The devil wants you damned. He doesn't want anything else but to control you for eternity. And when you say "I hate you", you are wishing, implicitly usually, that the person to whom you say it is cast into hell, and that you wish that person was dead and damned. In my opinion, saying "I hate you" is worse than calling someone a host of other things.
With the phrase, "go to Hell", do we know what we are saying when we say that? We are wishing upon the person we say it to an eternity away from the good God, and an eternity in the eternal flames of hell, punished forever. Scary stuff. So, why do we wish to say this to someone, except to express to them that you wish they were damned for eternity and that they suffer endlessly?
Now, you might be thinking, they are just phrases, and everybody uses them. They aren't just words. You say what you mean. If you say "I love you" to someone, is it just a phrase that everybody uses, or is there an important message in there? By saying "I love you", you convey to someone that you desire to love them as God loves them. We don't throw this phrase around, so why do we throw "Go to Hell" and "I hate you" around? We need to take custody of what we say, and realize that our words mean a lot more than we think. We need to think about what we say, and work better not to say certain things.
Try to separate yourself from these phrases, and others that convey to others that you wished you saw them dead and damned, and instead, pray for those people you feel tempted to say them to, that they, upon their death, may be lifted up to eternal glory and perpetual light.
If you have trouble with custody of words, try to pray to Mary, the Mother of God, someone who we can look to as an example of holy words, for she says to the Angel Gabriel, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done unto me according to thy word". May it be done onto us according to the word of God, and may we reecho the words of Mary instead of the words of the devil.
May you remain close to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of Mary
What I want to reflect briefly on is the casualness of damnation, mainly, of others damning others as a casual thing. Growing up, my family was a little chaotic. We would get in yelling matches that involved phrases that included "I hate you", and "go to hell". It rolled off the tongue very easily by whoever said it. It seemed to continue, not only in high school, but also in college, where these phrases rolled off the tongue very easily. I wised up eventually not to say them, but I know many others continued to do so. When they were challenged, provoked, or corrected, one of these phrases usually followed.
Hate is usually considered the opposite of love. When we say "God is love", for example, we are equating God with love. Love is a transcendental. If hate is the opposite of love, then it is also the opposite of God. But pure hate is not possible; the reason is that it doesn't exist. When we say the word hate, it is the strongest word to non-love that we have. Hate then is the closest possible thing to the opposite of love. Now, you may be wondering, what about the devil? The devil, as evil as he is, is and will always be a fallen angel; originally he was created good, but because of his choice, he defied God, and became as evil as possible. The devil though was created with good in him, and there is still a minor speck of good in him, because it isn't possible for a being to be completely evil. The only way this was possible was if we said that the devil is as evil as God is good and loving. But that is dualism, and in a dualistic system, God and the devil would be equal: two cosmic forces duking it out for all eternity. In such a system, an innocent bystander to this cosmic brawl would be forced to appease both deities, since both are all powerful. But the truth is that because the devil is created (he was an angel), he can never be all powerful and opposite of God, but he is the most opposite a being can be. And as beautiful an angel of God is, that is how ugly and corrupt the devil is.
The devil hates us almost as much as God loves us. By saying "I hate you", we are quoting the devil, who says the same thing to every person in the world. The devil wants you damned. He doesn't want anything else but to control you for eternity. And when you say "I hate you", you are wishing, implicitly usually, that the person to whom you say it is cast into hell, and that you wish that person was dead and damned. In my opinion, saying "I hate you" is worse than calling someone a host of other things.
With the phrase, "go to Hell", do we know what we are saying when we say that? We are wishing upon the person we say it to an eternity away from the good God, and an eternity in the eternal flames of hell, punished forever. Scary stuff. So, why do we wish to say this to someone, except to express to them that you wish they were damned for eternity and that they suffer endlessly?
Now, you might be thinking, they are just phrases, and everybody uses them. They aren't just words. You say what you mean. If you say "I love you" to someone, is it just a phrase that everybody uses, or is there an important message in there? By saying "I love you", you convey to someone that you desire to love them as God loves them. We don't throw this phrase around, so why do we throw "Go to Hell" and "I hate you" around? We need to take custody of what we say, and realize that our words mean a lot more than we think. We need to think about what we say, and work better not to say certain things.
Try to separate yourself from these phrases, and others that convey to others that you wished you saw them dead and damned, and instead, pray for those people you feel tempted to say them to, that they, upon their death, may be lifted up to eternal glory and perpetual light.
If you have trouble with custody of words, try to pray to Mary, the Mother of God, someone who we can look to as an example of holy words, for she says to the Angel Gabriel, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done unto me according to thy word". May it be done onto us according to the word of God, and may we reecho the words of Mary instead of the words of the devil.
May you remain close to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Archbishop takes stand against contraception
begin article
-----
Milwaukee Archbishop: You Can’t Call Yourself Catholic and Support Contraception
By John-Henry Westen
MILWAUKEE, December 15, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The incoming Archbishop of Milwaukee, Jerome Listecki, has responded to a campaign by "Young Catholics for Choice" to promote use of contraception and abortion among Catholic youth.
Using media advertising the group is, says the Archbishop-Designate, "attempting to convey the message that Catholics can disregard Church teaching regarding contraception, abortion and human sexuality in general and remain Catholics in good standing." However, "Nothing could be further from the truth."
"While people can call themselves whatever they want, it is my duty as a bishop to state clearly and unequivocally that by professing and disseminating views in grave contradiction to Catholic teaching, members of organizations like 'Young Catholics for Choice' in fact disown their Catholic heritage, tragically distancing themselves from that communion with the Church to which they are called," added the archbishop.
Using language first employed by Catholic dissenters to Humanae Vitae, YCFC calls on Catholics to use an "informed conscience" to decide to use birth control and the morning-after-pill, also called "emergency contraception."
Their ad campaign states: "Young Catholics are having sex. We are using contraception and condoms. We are having abortions. We are bisexual, gay, lesbian, straight and transgender. And none of this makes us any less Catholic than conservative Catholics who speak out against us.
"The truth is, they don't represent what the majority of Catholics - especially those of us in our 20s and 30s - think about sex. It comes down to Catholic teaching on conscience. Basically, every individual has the right and responsibility to follow his or her own conscience - and respect others' right to do the same. With conscience and respect, good Catholic sex is not only possible, it's already happening. "
The group, claiming to be a youth wing of "Catholics for Choice," admits that it's mandate is to "take action to counter the bishops' impact both in the United States and around the world. "
Archbishop Listecki concluded his statement calling for prayers for the YCFC members. "We pray that they may reconcile their position which is contrary to the Catholic Faith they claim to profess."
---
end article
This is a real landmark article; most bishops take a stand against abortion, but rarely do they take a stand against contraception. It is a subject that makes people turn against you immediately. It is not a popular subject. But despite this, thank you, Bishop Listeki, for promoting the culture of life by fighting against the use of contraception. You will do great things in Milwaukee.
Catholics for Choice, Call to Action, and every other group like this attempt to do one thing, even if done implicitly. They attempt to divide the unity of the Church on teachings of faith and morals. They do this to destroy the Church from within. My previous post talked about being wary of the devil. The devil can also work from inside of the Church and try to subvert Church teaching that way. Always be aware of the devil.
God bless.
-----
Milwaukee Archbishop: You Can’t Call Yourself Catholic and Support Contraception
By John-Henry Westen
MILWAUKEE, December 15, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The incoming Archbishop of Milwaukee, Jerome Listecki, has responded to a campaign by "Young Catholics for Choice" to promote use of contraception and abortion among Catholic youth.
Using media advertising the group is, says the Archbishop-Designate, "attempting to convey the message that Catholics can disregard Church teaching regarding contraception, abortion and human sexuality in general and remain Catholics in good standing." However, "Nothing could be further from the truth."
"While people can call themselves whatever they want, it is my duty as a bishop to state clearly and unequivocally that by professing and disseminating views in grave contradiction to Catholic teaching, members of organizations like 'Young Catholics for Choice' in fact disown their Catholic heritage, tragically distancing themselves from that communion with the Church to which they are called," added the archbishop.
Using language first employed by Catholic dissenters to Humanae Vitae, YCFC calls on Catholics to use an "informed conscience" to decide to use birth control and the morning-after-pill, also called "emergency contraception."
Their ad campaign states: "Young Catholics are having sex. We are using contraception and condoms. We are having abortions. We are bisexual, gay, lesbian, straight and transgender. And none of this makes us any less Catholic than conservative Catholics who speak out against us.
"The truth is, they don't represent what the majority of Catholics - especially those of us in our 20s and 30s - think about sex. It comes down to Catholic teaching on conscience. Basically, every individual has the right and responsibility to follow his or her own conscience - and respect others' right to do the same. With conscience and respect, good Catholic sex is not only possible, it's already happening. "
The group, claiming to be a youth wing of "Catholics for Choice," admits that it's mandate is to "take action to counter the bishops' impact both in the United States and around the world. "
Archbishop Listecki concluded his statement calling for prayers for the YCFC members. "We pray that they may reconcile their position which is contrary to the Catholic Faith they claim to profess."
---
end article
This is a real landmark article; most bishops take a stand against abortion, but rarely do they take a stand against contraception. It is a subject that makes people turn against you immediately. It is not a popular subject. But despite this, thank you, Bishop Listeki, for promoting the culture of life by fighting against the use of contraception. You will do great things in Milwaukee.
Catholics for Choice, Call to Action, and every other group like this attempt to do one thing, even if done implicitly. They attempt to divide the unity of the Church on teachings of faith and morals. They do this to destroy the Church from within. My previous post talked about being wary of the devil. The devil can also work from inside of the Church and try to subvert Church teaching that way. Always be aware of the devil.
God bless.
Be wary of the devil
Dear friends,
The devil tries his hardest to wave temptations at us. He does this through other people, people who say, "Its ok to do that; they'll never know".
The devil is also smart, but his intelligence is limited; God's grace is much more powerful than is the devil smart. God's grace abounds, if only you look for it.
I write this because someone wrote a comment for me on an earlier post on the sacrificial notion of marriage. He included websites that may not have been pornographic (I am not sure, since I didn't investigate, but they were definitely questionable in nature). This is also why I moderate my comments.
I don't believe it is coincidence that he posted the comment on this post, considering I talked about the sacrificial notion of marriage.
It is interesting, how subtle attacks can turn someone away from Christ very quickly. It says in night prayer, "Your opponent the devil, is prowling like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, solid in your faith." He stalks like a lion, waiting for an unsuspecting victim. Notice that when a lion pounces on something, that something is always looking the other way. The victim doesn't recognize danger when it is near. We must recognize that danger, and know when it is present. Often before temptations, we fail to see the devil's tail in the mix, but only after does the devil present himself as who he truly is: sadistic and evil. If we give into temptation, it is only after we give in that we can recognize the devil. But this is a God given grace, to recognize when we have fallen, so that we can have the grace to turn towards the good God and ask for His mercy. By recognizing, we also hope to avoid falling into sin in the future. If it was the devil's wish, he would stay concealed, staying hidden, so that we may not recognize him, and come even closer to him next time. But we thank the good God for giving us the hindsight to know when we have done wrong.
At the same time, we shouldn't turn to the devil to see him; instead, keep your eyes fixed on Christ. If one's eyes are totally fixed on Christ, then temptations will be able to be viewed as coming from elsewhere, so we need not worry about temptation, since it isn't from God. If we truly follow God though, the temptations we experience will be just that: temptations, and they will not be acted upon. I mean, this is someone who truly follows God. We can achieve this: it is called sanctity. This is what we strive for.
May the love of the child Jesus warm your hearts, and may you always seek the face of Christ. God bless.
The devil tries his hardest to wave temptations at us. He does this through other people, people who say, "Its ok to do that; they'll never know".
The devil is also smart, but his intelligence is limited; God's grace is much more powerful than is the devil smart. God's grace abounds, if only you look for it.
I write this because someone wrote a comment for me on an earlier post on the sacrificial notion of marriage. He included websites that may not have been pornographic (I am not sure, since I didn't investigate, but they were definitely questionable in nature). This is also why I moderate my comments.
I don't believe it is coincidence that he posted the comment on this post, considering I talked about the sacrificial notion of marriage.
It is interesting, how subtle attacks can turn someone away from Christ very quickly. It says in night prayer, "Your opponent the devil, is prowling like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, solid in your faith." He stalks like a lion, waiting for an unsuspecting victim. Notice that when a lion pounces on something, that something is always looking the other way. The victim doesn't recognize danger when it is near. We must recognize that danger, and know when it is present. Often before temptations, we fail to see the devil's tail in the mix, but only after does the devil present himself as who he truly is: sadistic and evil. If we give into temptation, it is only after we give in that we can recognize the devil. But this is a God given grace, to recognize when we have fallen, so that we can have the grace to turn towards the good God and ask for His mercy. By recognizing, we also hope to avoid falling into sin in the future. If it was the devil's wish, he would stay concealed, staying hidden, so that we may not recognize him, and come even closer to him next time. But we thank the good God for giving us the hindsight to know when we have done wrong.
At the same time, we shouldn't turn to the devil to see him; instead, keep your eyes fixed on Christ. If one's eyes are totally fixed on Christ, then temptations will be able to be viewed as coming from elsewhere, so we need not worry about temptation, since it isn't from God. If we truly follow God though, the temptations we experience will be just that: temptations, and they will not be acted upon. I mean, this is someone who truly follows God. We can achieve this: it is called sanctity. This is what we strive for.
May the love of the child Jesus warm your hearts, and may you always seek the face of Christ. God bless.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
The Sacrificial Notion of Marriage
Dear friends,
How do I reflect on marriage, except to say that if you are called to marriage and you follow the will of God 100%, then you will lead a joy filled life. It will be hard, but you will do it with joy. Easier said than done.
True love is sacrificial. When you marry someone, you lay down your life for the other. It isn't just about who will make you happy; it is about who will sanctify you. True marriage and true love is joy filled, but as married people know (I am one of them), your day to day may not be the happiest. Marriage is sacrificial. If marriage was just about happiness, then every married couple would probably be seeking divorce. Arguments happen; disagreements happen, and they don't cause happiness, do they?
In marriage, the couple reflects in an intimate way the love of Christ, who humbled himself by being obedient onto death, death on a cross. How often do we hear about marriage being a reflection of the crucifixion of Christ, but it is precisely in imitation of Him who died for us that we are called to be sacrificial. A married man or woman is called to totally give him or herself, as Christ did on Good Friday, to his or her spouse. In the words of Archbishop Fulton Sheen: "Do you know what is happening at the foot of the cross? Nuptials!" The cross is a nuptial union between God and Man, not just a final covenant, but so much more than a covenant. It is the self-giving of God for mankind. It is in that moment that we find true joy, true happiness, in the sacrifice of Christ for the sake of our salvation. It is true happiness, achieved only in heaven, that we seek, and we help our spouse seek.
Let me say this again, if we think that marriage was just about what brings us happiness, we are delusional, stupid, and idiotic. Sometimes I am delusional, and stupid, and idiotic by thinking that marriage would solve all of my problems. Once one gets married, you still have those problems and you still live with them, but now, other things come up.
In the end, marriage must be for something else. In the "end" marriage is for the "end". Marriage is about sanctification. One's vocation in life gives us a sanctifying quality; through our vocations, we are made holy. In the case of marriage, it is the other person sanctifying you by the love you share, and the concern you share for the other. A consistent theological point to Pope John Paul II would be to say that in marital intercourse, one is experiencing the sacrament of matrimony, and one is experiencing sacramental love. As Christ laid down His life for his bride, so a man lays down his life for his bride. It isn't "alter Christus" in the priestly sense, but we do become another Christ in a sacrificial sense. A way of putting this is that as a priest lays down his life every time he celebrates Mass and consecrates the Blessed Sacrament, the Eucharist, a husband and wife lay down their lives during the most intimate of aspects of marriage, where both are totally vulnerable, gazing into the other's eyes with total love for him or her. I am not saying both sacrifices are equal, but yet they both share in the supreme sacrifice of Christ on the cross.
It is in the love of God expressed between a husband and wife that they can become mystics. As a priest consummates the Eucharist during Mass, so a husband and wife consummate their vocation during intercourse. Again, not equal ways, but both express the ultimate consummation of Christ on the Cross.
Am I making you blush? Human sexuality can indeed be hard to talk about; one speaker I know says that human history is really dependent on who is having sex with who (think about that). It is precisely in the marital act that married couples can be truly complete.
Being a married man myself, I am constantly reminded of the love of God, the same love that created my wife, and the same love that created me, so that the love my wife and I share may be fruitful.
God bless.
How do I reflect on marriage, except to say that if you are called to marriage and you follow the will of God 100%, then you will lead a joy filled life. It will be hard, but you will do it with joy. Easier said than done.
True love is sacrificial. When you marry someone, you lay down your life for the other. It isn't just about who will make you happy; it is about who will sanctify you. True marriage and true love is joy filled, but as married people know (I am one of them), your day to day may not be the happiest. Marriage is sacrificial. If marriage was just about happiness, then every married couple would probably be seeking divorce. Arguments happen; disagreements happen, and they don't cause happiness, do they?
In marriage, the couple reflects in an intimate way the love of Christ, who humbled himself by being obedient onto death, death on a cross. How often do we hear about marriage being a reflection of the crucifixion of Christ, but it is precisely in imitation of Him who died for us that we are called to be sacrificial. A married man or woman is called to totally give him or herself, as Christ did on Good Friday, to his or her spouse. In the words of Archbishop Fulton Sheen: "Do you know what is happening at the foot of the cross? Nuptials!" The cross is a nuptial union between God and Man, not just a final covenant, but so much more than a covenant. It is the self-giving of God for mankind. It is in that moment that we find true joy, true happiness, in the sacrifice of Christ for the sake of our salvation. It is true happiness, achieved only in heaven, that we seek, and we help our spouse seek.
Let me say this again, if we think that marriage was just about what brings us happiness, we are delusional, stupid, and idiotic. Sometimes I am delusional, and stupid, and idiotic by thinking that marriage would solve all of my problems. Once one gets married, you still have those problems and you still live with them, but now, other things come up.
In the end, marriage must be for something else. In the "end" marriage is for the "end". Marriage is about sanctification. One's vocation in life gives us a sanctifying quality; through our vocations, we are made holy. In the case of marriage, it is the other person sanctifying you by the love you share, and the concern you share for the other. A consistent theological point to Pope John Paul II would be to say that in marital intercourse, one is experiencing the sacrament of matrimony, and one is experiencing sacramental love. As Christ laid down His life for his bride, so a man lays down his life for his bride. It isn't "alter Christus" in the priestly sense, but we do become another Christ in a sacrificial sense. A way of putting this is that as a priest lays down his life every time he celebrates Mass and consecrates the Blessed Sacrament, the Eucharist, a husband and wife lay down their lives during the most intimate of aspects of marriage, where both are totally vulnerable, gazing into the other's eyes with total love for him or her. I am not saying both sacrifices are equal, but yet they both share in the supreme sacrifice of Christ on the cross.
It is in the love of God expressed between a husband and wife that they can become mystics. As a priest consummates the Eucharist during Mass, so a husband and wife consummate their vocation during intercourse. Again, not equal ways, but both express the ultimate consummation of Christ on the Cross.
Am I making you blush? Human sexuality can indeed be hard to talk about; one speaker I know says that human history is really dependent on who is having sex with who (think about that). It is precisely in the marital act that married couples can be truly complete.
Being a married man myself, I am constantly reminded of the love of God, the same love that created my wife, and the same love that created me, so that the love my wife and I share may be fruitful.
God bless.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Twitter Problems
Friends,
As you could probably tell, I was having some problems with Twitter. Instead of picking up my tweets, it was picking somebody else's up, who seems to have been a scientist or something. I was waiting to see if the problem would get fixed, but it has been about a week. In addition, this gentlemen was using language not consistent with this blog, and he was taking the Lord's name in vain, so I had to remove the application. I hope to get it up and running soon.
Until then, click here for my Twitter page.
God bless.
As you could probably tell, I was having some problems with Twitter. Instead of picking up my tweets, it was picking somebody else's up, who seems to have been a scientist or something. I was waiting to see if the problem would get fixed, but it has been about a week. In addition, this gentlemen was using language not consistent with this blog, and he was taking the Lord's name in vain, so I had to remove the application. I hope to get it up and running soon.
Until then, click here for my Twitter page.
God bless.
Supporting Archbishop Wuerl
Dear friends,
Archbishop Wuerl of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia is in a battle over same sex marriage. He is seeking religion-neutral language in a bill being passed by the Washington DC Council. The basic thing is that he wants a religion-neutral amendment so Catholic Charities can continue to work in Washington DC without being subject to the allowance of same sex marriage. He is avoiding the church in Washington from being in material cooperation with something our Faith opposes: same-sex marriage.
Here is an article that was in a local Pittsburgh office. He has battled local legislation efforts similar to this in the past. Good for you, Archbishop Wuerl!
Let's all pray for Archbishop Wuerl, that he may continue to take a stand for truth and the sanctity of marriage.
Archbishop Wuerl of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia is in a battle over same sex marriage. He is seeking religion-neutral language in a bill being passed by the Washington DC Council. The basic thing is that he wants a religion-neutral amendment so Catholic Charities can continue to work in Washington DC without being subject to the allowance of same sex marriage. He is avoiding the church in Washington from being in material cooperation with something our Faith opposes: same-sex marriage.
Here is an article that was in a local Pittsburgh office. He has battled local legislation efforts similar to this in the past. Good for you, Archbishop Wuerl!
Let's all pray for Archbishop Wuerl, that he may continue to take a stand for truth and the sanctity of marriage.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Manhattan Declaration
Dear friends in Christ,
Recently the Manhattan Declaration went public. This is a declaration of Judeo-Christian beliefs, stating the ideals of religious liberty, defense of life, and defense of traditional marriage as ideals for which we should fight. This is an affirmation of biblical truths that we, as an American people, should take to heart.
The United States was built on the basis of Judeo-Christian beliefs, and yet at this point in the history of this great country, we have a society and an administration that completely ignores our past, a society that ignores God and His precepts, and a society and administration that disregards human life, and is more concerned about the pushing an extremist agenda that says that it is already for two homosexual men to get married, that says that slaughtering the unborn as a women's right.
This Manhattan Declaration is an affirmation of the reality of biblical truths: that all men are created equal (they weren't born equal, but rather created equal), that marriage is for a man and a woman, and that God is the creator of all, no matter how much we try to ignore him.
The time has come for Christians in the United States to be united in the fight for our society, a society of death and indifference. A society where God is cast to the side, as much as the unborn are cast to the side. A society which ignores the lessons of the Old Testament and says that sodomy is not only OK and tolerated, but we will recognize it as a legitimate marriage.
It is time to pray for our country, and it is a time to resist the attacks of the secular forces that seek to implicitly destroy our country from within. We need to tell our friends about the declaration; we need to sign the declaration and be in unity with the other 245,000+ people who have already signed it. We need to take a stand for life, not only in front of the abortion clinic, but also in front of our congressmen. We need to take a stand, saying that marriage is between a man and a woman. We need to say "In God we trust", and he will not lead us astray.
It is no coincidence that our society is going down the tubes when we have removed God from every aspect of public life. We need to act locally and fight for the rights which many men and women before us have died for. We need to do it for George Washington, for Abraham Lincoln, for those thousands of soldiers who have died in combat, defending this country from tyranny. We need to do it for the soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan; we need to do it for the victims of 9/11/2001. We need to do it for ourselves, so that our kids and their kids can enjoy an America under God, with liberty and justice for all. May God bless us, and may we take a stand and fight for liberty for all, and justice for all!
Recently the Manhattan Declaration went public. This is a declaration of Judeo-Christian beliefs, stating the ideals of religious liberty, defense of life, and defense of traditional marriage as ideals for which we should fight. This is an affirmation of biblical truths that we, as an American people, should take to heart.
The United States was built on the basis of Judeo-Christian beliefs, and yet at this point in the history of this great country, we have a society and an administration that completely ignores our past, a society that ignores God and His precepts, and a society and administration that disregards human life, and is more concerned about the pushing an extremist agenda that says that it is already for two homosexual men to get married, that says that slaughtering the unborn as a women's right.
This Manhattan Declaration is an affirmation of the reality of biblical truths: that all men are created equal (they weren't born equal, but rather created equal), that marriage is for a man and a woman, and that God is the creator of all, no matter how much we try to ignore him.
The time has come for Christians in the United States to be united in the fight for our society, a society of death and indifference. A society where God is cast to the side, as much as the unborn are cast to the side. A society which ignores the lessons of the Old Testament and says that sodomy is not only OK and tolerated, but we will recognize it as a legitimate marriage.
It is time to pray for our country, and it is a time to resist the attacks of the secular forces that seek to implicitly destroy our country from within. We need to tell our friends about the declaration; we need to sign the declaration and be in unity with the other 245,000+ people who have already signed it. We need to take a stand for life, not only in front of the abortion clinic, but also in front of our congressmen. We need to take a stand, saying that marriage is between a man and a woman. We need to say "In God we trust", and he will not lead us astray.
It is no coincidence that our society is going down the tubes when we have removed God from every aspect of public life. We need to act locally and fight for the rights which many men and women before us have died for. We need to do it for George Washington, for Abraham Lincoln, for those thousands of soldiers who have died in combat, defending this country from tyranny. We need to do it for the soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan; we need to do it for the victims of 9/11/2001. We need to do it for ourselves, so that our kids and their kids can enjoy an America under God, with liberty and justice for all. May God bless us, and may we take a stand and fight for liberty for all, and justice for all!
Madison's Department Store Display
A department store in Los Angeles has caused quite a stir.
If you are outraged, here is the contact information for the store. Call to tell them that you are offended, and ask them to remove the display:
Madison Website and
Corporate Office
8745 West 3rd Street
Los Angeles, CA 90048
Phone: 310.273.9900, Ext. 307
Fax: 310.273.9901
Store Hours 11am-7pm Mon-Sat, 12-5pm Sun
Their website
If you are outraged, here is the contact information for the store. Call to tell them that you are offended, and ask them to remove the display:
Madison Website and
Corporate Office
8745 West 3rd Street
Los Angeles, CA 90048
Phone: 310.273.9900, Ext. 307
Fax: 310.273.9901
Store Hours 11am-7pm Mon-Sat, 12-5pm Sun
Their website
Italian translations
I went on Word Reference today to figure out how to say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in Italian. When I looked on the "happy" entry, and the sentence examples, I got this:
happy adj (having pleasure) contento, felice, allegro, sereno agg
I was happy last spring when we were dating.
Ero contento la scorsa primavera quando ci frequentavamo.
happy adj (pleased) felice, contento agg
I'm happy you came.
Sono felice che tu sia venuto.
happy adj (fulfilled) felice, sereno agg
I suspect I'll never be happy in this life.
Ho il sospetto che non sarò mai felice in questa vita.
I guess the poor person who wrote these sentences was somewhat love-sick. Let's offer a prayer for them.
Source: Word Reference
happy adj (having pleasure) contento, felice, allegro, sereno agg
I was happy last spring when we were dating.
Ero contento la scorsa primavera quando ci frequentavamo.
happy adj (pleased) felice, contento agg
I'm happy you came.
Sono felice che tu sia venuto.
happy adj (fulfilled) felice, sereno agg
I suspect I'll never be happy in this life.
Ho il sospetto che non sarò mai felice in questa vita.
I guess the poor person who wrote these sentences was somewhat love-sick. Let's offer a prayer for them.
Source: Word Reference
Pro-aborts rallying
begin article
-------
Hundreds of Pro-Aborts Rally, Pressure Congressmen to Erase Stupak Amendment
Rep. Maloney: "Fortunately, we have President Obama on our side,"
By LifeSiteNews Staff
WASHINGTON, D.C., December 2, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Hundreds of placard-waving abortion lobbyists descended upon a rainy Capitol Hill Wednesday to lobby against the pro-life Stupak amendment in the Democrats' health care bill, and receive encouragement from top pro-abortion leaders and lawmakers.
The "Stop Stupak-Pitts Lobby Day" was sponsored by Feminist Majority Foundation and co-sponsored by a plethora of leading pro-abortion groups, including Planned Parenthood, National Organization for women, NARAL, the National Abortion Federation, the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, and the ACLU.
An overflow crowd of abortion supporters packed into the auditorium and Russell Caucus room in the Dirksen Senate Building midday to listen to lawmakers decrying the Hyde-amendment restrictions in Rep. Bart Stupak's amendment, and giving advice on how to lobby congressmen against it.
Lawmakers in attendance included Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Rep. Jerrod Nadler (D-NY), Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA), Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA), Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA), Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY), Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), and Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA). Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards acted as Master of Ceremonies.
One theme stressed by the speakers was the notion that the Stupak amendment went beyond Hyde-amendment restrictions, and prevented women from purchasing abortion coverage with private monies. "Don't let any office tell you that the Stupak amendment is Hyde revisited," warned Rep. Lynn Woolsey. "It is not. If they say it, you tell them that's not true: it's way, way more serious than that and it takes even more away from women than the Hyde amendment does."
Pro-life analysts have denied that the Stupak amendment would prevent women from privately purchasing abortion coverage, a claim first stated by pro-abortion Rep. Nita Lowey, D-N.Y. Last month, the non-partisan fact-checking site Politifact.com also deemed the private-purchase claim false.
Rep. Maloney praised President Obama for his dedication to their efforts against the amendment. "Fortunately, we have President Obama on our side," she said.
Some speakers directed criticism at the U.S. Catholic Bishops for their role in the Stupak amendment's success.
"The nature of this bill was pro-life legislation from the start. That is what health care reform is. It was a pro-life piece of legislation before the bishops engaged in trying to [take this down]," said Rep. Rosa DeLauro.
Rev. Carlton Veazey, President and CEO of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice and a minister of the National Baptist Convention, took a moment to "call out" the bishops' involvement before closing the conference with a prayer.
"No one religion, no theological perspective, should get the kind of weight that they can put pressure on the Congress," said Veazey. "We in the religious community resent that, and ... we believe that no religion should carry that kind of weight in legislation."
"You not only have a constitutional right for abortion, but you have a God-given right - given to you by God," he continued.
Richards paused the rally at one point to offer applause, in memory of late-term abortionist George Tiller, in support of all abortionists.
Pro-life leaders responded by questioning whether lawmakers would heed the ralliers' message over the majority opinion of American voters regarding the bill's abortion funding. The National Right to Life Committee last month compiled a string of poll results showing broad public support for the abortion restrictions represented by the Stupak amendment.
"As intimidating as the coat hanger deliveries might be, the longer term effect of voting for a health care bill that involves every American in almost every abortion that takes place in the nation will be far more consequential in the minds and actions of voters," said Marjorie Dannenfelser, the president of the Susan B. Anthony list.
Eric Scheidler, the Executive Director of Pro-Life Action League, said the abortion lobby was "showing its true colors ever more clearly" as the battle over federal abortion funding heats up. "Not satisfied with legalized abortion, they're now seeking to force all of us to pay for abortion through our tax dollars," he said.
"It is amazing to me to see Planned Parenthood, who would benefit financially from the current national healthcare legislation, join up with their pro-abortion allies to continue to further their lies about what the Stupak-Pitts status quo amendment really does," remarked Students for Life executive director Kristan Hawkins.
"Their tired rhetoric of the 1970s no longer works and they now know with their declining profits each year they need this Obama healthcare bill to stay in business," said Hawkins.
"At the end of the day, Planned Parenthood and their pro-abortion allies only care about their own survival and not the best interest of American women."
----
end article
"Fortunately, they have Obama on their side". Unfortunately for them, it won't get to him without the Stupak Amendment, at least that's what I pray.
And by the way, abortion isn't a God given gift; it is an atrocity.
God bless.
-------
Hundreds of Pro-Aborts Rally, Pressure Congressmen to Erase Stupak Amendment
Rep. Maloney: "Fortunately, we have President Obama on our side,"
By LifeSiteNews Staff
WASHINGTON, D.C., December 2, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Hundreds of placard-waving abortion lobbyists descended upon a rainy Capitol Hill Wednesday to lobby against the pro-life Stupak amendment in the Democrats' health care bill, and receive encouragement from top pro-abortion leaders and lawmakers.
The "Stop Stupak-Pitts Lobby Day" was sponsored by Feminist Majority Foundation and co-sponsored by a plethora of leading pro-abortion groups, including Planned Parenthood, National Organization for women, NARAL, the National Abortion Federation, the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, and the ACLU.
An overflow crowd of abortion supporters packed into the auditorium and Russell Caucus room in the Dirksen Senate Building midday to listen to lawmakers decrying the Hyde-amendment restrictions in Rep. Bart Stupak's amendment, and giving advice on how to lobby congressmen against it.
Lawmakers in attendance included Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Rep. Jerrod Nadler (D-NY), Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA), Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA), Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA), Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY), Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), and Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA). Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards acted as Master of Ceremonies.
One theme stressed by the speakers was the notion that the Stupak amendment went beyond Hyde-amendment restrictions, and prevented women from purchasing abortion coverage with private monies. "Don't let any office tell you that the Stupak amendment is Hyde revisited," warned Rep. Lynn Woolsey. "It is not. If they say it, you tell them that's not true: it's way, way more serious than that and it takes even more away from women than the Hyde amendment does."
Pro-life analysts have denied that the Stupak amendment would prevent women from privately purchasing abortion coverage, a claim first stated by pro-abortion Rep. Nita Lowey, D-N.Y. Last month, the non-partisan fact-checking site Politifact.com also deemed the private-purchase claim false.
Rep. Maloney praised President Obama for his dedication to their efforts against the amendment. "Fortunately, we have President Obama on our side," she said.
Some speakers directed criticism at the U.S. Catholic Bishops for their role in the Stupak amendment's success.
"The nature of this bill was pro-life legislation from the start. That is what health care reform is. It was a pro-life piece of legislation before the bishops engaged in trying to [take this down]," said Rep. Rosa DeLauro.
Rev. Carlton Veazey, President and CEO of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice and a minister of the National Baptist Convention, took a moment to "call out" the bishops' involvement before closing the conference with a prayer.
"No one religion, no theological perspective, should get the kind of weight that they can put pressure on the Congress," said Veazey. "We in the religious community resent that, and ... we believe that no religion should carry that kind of weight in legislation."
"You not only have a constitutional right for abortion, but you have a God-given right - given to you by God," he continued.
Richards paused the rally at one point to offer applause, in memory of late-term abortionist George Tiller, in support of all abortionists.
Pro-life leaders responded by questioning whether lawmakers would heed the ralliers' message over the majority opinion of American voters regarding the bill's abortion funding. The National Right to Life Committee last month compiled a string of poll results showing broad public support for the abortion restrictions represented by the Stupak amendment.
"As intimidating as the coat hanger deliveries might be, the longer term effect of voting for a health care bill that involves every American in almost every abortion that takes place in the nation will be far more consequential in the minds and actions of voters," said Marjorie Dannenfelser, the president of the Susan B. Anthony list.
Eric Scheidler, the Executive Director of Pro-Life Action League, said the abortion lobby was "showing its true colors ever more clearly" as the battle over federal abortion funding heats up. "Not satisfied with legalized abortion, they're now seeking to force all of us to pay for abortion through our tax dollars," he said.
"It is amazing to me to see Planned Parenthood, who would benefit financially from the current national healthcare legislation, join up with their pro-abortion allies to continue to further their lies about what the Stupak-Pitts status quo amendment really does," remarked Students for Life executive director Kristan Hawkins.
"Their tired rhetoric of the 1970s no longer works and they now know with their declining profits each year they need this Obama healthcare bill to stay in business," said Hawkins.
"At the end of the day, Planned Parenthood and their pro-abortion allies only care about their own survival and not the best interest of American women."
----
end article
"Fortunately, they have Obama on their side". Unfortunately for them, it won't get to him without the Stupak Amendment, at least that's what I pray.
And by the way, abortion isn't a God given gift; it is an atrocity.
God bless.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Obama's approval ratings
Obama is the fourth quickest to slip below majority level in popularity in post war presidency. Interesting read about who the other three were.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/122627/Obama-Job-Approval-Down-49.aspx
http://www.gallup.com/poll/122627/Obama-Job-Approval-Down-49.aspx
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