March For Life and Blogs4Life : Success

The Blogs For Life Conference was Great! And so was the March for Life, with 300,000 + participants of all ages and creeds. Inspite of the 'regular' media ignoring this annual event, or , in the case of Newsweek, going out of their way to 'misreport' it, the 'in person' support for the culture of life grows year to year. Hurrah!



Speakers included Jill Stanek, Kristen Day (Democrats for Life), Joseph Farah (WorldNetDaily), Carol Clews (Center for Pregnancy Concerns), Kristin Hansen (CareNet), Marjorie Dannenfelser (Susan B. Anthony List), Charmaine Yoest (Americans United for Life), David Prentice (StemCellResearchFacts.org), Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO), Tony Perkins (FRC) and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH).

An emerging online technologies panel featured Molotov Mitchell(Illuminati Pictures), Peter Shinn (ProLifeUnity.com) and Krystle Weeks(FRC).

In addition, Katie Walker of the American Life League hosted a panel of ALL's Pro-Life Blog Contest Winners

HELPING HAITI

The Missionaries of the Poor are on the frontline everyday in Haiti, providing the people with the essentials- food, clothes, education and most importantly love. If you desire to help Haiti in this time of dire and overwhelming need, you may do so through the M.O.P. here: HELP


*UPDATE*
FROM M.O.P.
15 January 2010

Dear Friends,

The catastrophe in Haiti caused us to reach out and save the lives of hundreds of thousands who are homeless and have children and relatives who are without anything. Many people have lost hope in Haiti and are turning to the second big capital city Cap-Haitian where our brothers are for refuge. Our brothers have taken them in. Our Community Chapel is now a refugee center and the Asile Communal Center for homeless and destitute adults as well as our Bethlehem Center for disabled children have been expanded to take in temporary refugees. Brother Henry is receiving people from the Hospitals, and from trucks and buses coming from Port au Prince to the Missionaries of the Poor to receive shelter. Jesuit priests from the Dominican Republic and others are now helping the brothers in this refugee work.

Our Brother John Presca, MOP has lost his sister in the earthquake. Brother Loubert, MOP has lost his aunt and brother Pierre Charles' entire family is missing. All three are our Haitian Brothers.

We need all the support you can offer specially with basic food items like rice, corn meal, flour, sugar beans and clean water. Home supplies like beds, bed linens, clothes, towels, etc. are also greatly needed.

In His service,

Rev. Fr. Richard Ho Lung, MOP
Superior General

..................................................................................................

Pope's Rep. in Haiti Eye-Witness

Photos of the earthquake (The Big Picture)

Archbishop Dies in Quake

CNS Report

Word from the Brothers in Haiti

Christmas in Haiti with the MOP

Martin Luther King - The Legacy

Dr. Alveda King, niece of the celebrated Martin Luther King Jr., reminds us that 'the Dream' includes everybody, even the unborn:

"Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke of a Beloved Community where all are treated with respect and dignity," said Dr. King. "He fought against society's exclusion of people who were treated as less than human because of their appearance. Today, we are compelled to continue Uncle Martin's fight by standing up for those who are treated as less than human because of their helplessness and inconvenience.

"The unborn are as much a part of the Beloved Community as are newborns, infants, teenagers, adults, and the elderly. Too many of us speak of tolerance and inclusion, yet refuse to tolerate or include the weakest and most innocent among us in the human family. As we celebrate the life of Uncle Martin, let us renew our hearts and commit our lives to treating each other, whatever our race, status, or stage of life, as we would want to be treated. Let us let each other live."

Dr. Alveda King- 'Abortion and Civil Rights' (youtube)

Christian Heritage Party : Jim Hnatiuk Speaks

Jim Hnatiuk - Leader of the Christian Heritage Party
Communiqué Vol 16, No 01 Jan 05, 2010

"The Spin Stops with CHP Canada"

Yesterday I was challenged with the comment: "If the CHP is really serious about winning .... then let us see some promises that amount to something!" my challenger then went on to give me some sample promises we should consider.
"Promise to remove the G.S.T. and the Federal government's part of the H.S.T. across the nation and promise a standard of living for all the poor that matches the cost of living in the country."
I say, sir, the CHP will do much better than that! We'll instead remove all federal income taxes both personal and corporate, gift, estate, and capital gains, and replace them with one simple, visible, federal retail sales tax! This makes taxation simpler and much more sensible, instead of paying taxes on what you earn; you would pay on what you spend. Now, to ensure that this tax is fair, all taxpayers will receive a monthly subsidy, called a "pre-bate," to offset the tax on bare necessities. So, low-income families would end up paying no taxes at all. The wealthy that buy and spend a lot, would pay a lot. 'Fair Tax' rewards productivity and better protects the very low income earners. Consumption based taxation is widely recognised by economists to be the most equitable form of taxation, hence its name, the 'Fair Tax'.
Another promise he suggested we use was to "Raise the Old age pensions and Canada pensions in a method that keeps up with a cost of living and give stay at home mom's Canada pension benefits.
Once again, sir, CHP Canada will do much better than that! We'll instead overhaul the broken Canada Pension Plan with a new Personal Income Security Account (PISA). This proven plan will provide a portable investment portfolio, vested in the name of each worker, for health, employment, and retirement income. This proven plan adopted by Chile has shown that those Chilean workers who chose this investment plan are now retiring wealthy -- and Chile has become an economic powerhouse in Latin America because of the pools of investment created.
As for the stay-at-home mom, CHP Canada would do much more than just pension benefits. We see the married two-parent family as the most important foundation of society, and as such, deserves protection. CHP Canada's Family Friendly Childcare Allowance would provide $1000 per month to any family where one of the parents chooses to stay home and raise their children-until age 18. Now that's real childcare and true recognition of the importance of the stay-at-home mom.
Another of my challenger's suggestion was to: "Bring in a law that will confiscate all assets of those who gain financially through crime, such as swindling by white collar workers, the sale of street drugs, and any other criminal activities in which profit is made."
Under the Criminal Code of Canada, the government does have broad powers of seizure, but this is not the full picture of what criminal justice in Canada should accomplish either. The CHP would require criminals to make restitution to the victim, who is all too often forgotten in today's justice system.
He said promise to "Make the Senate ..elected positions.." Yes, again, we agree! That is CHP Canada's position.
CHP Canada provides Canadians with sound federal political solutions, unfortunately as with this gentleman, most Canadians have yet to find this out. That is where each CHP member comes in, our solutions are not complicated; they only need to be communicated. Let's all work to show Canadians that the Spin stops with CHP Canada! We're not all politically minded but we can all communicate CHP Canada's basic, better solutions. Our national team is always glad to help you present it clearly. Make it your New Year's project to present our better solutions to those who don't know about the CHP.
For a more comprehensive read of our platform check out our Better Solutions at www.chp.ca
(via FB)

"The Word Became Flesh"

"O Emmanuel"

O Emmanuel, our King and Lawgiver, the Expected of the nations and their
Savior. Come and save us, O Lord our God.

O Emmanuel,
Rex et legifer noster,
expectatio gentium,
et Salvator earum:
veni ad salvandum nos,
Domine, Deus noster.

more from Fr. Z...

"O Rex"

O King of the Gentiles and the Desired of all, you are the cornerstone that binds two into one. Come, and save man whom you fashioned out of clay.

O Rex Gentium,
et desideratus earum,
lapisque angularis,
qui facis utraque unum:
veni, et salva hominem,
quem de limo formasti.

more from Fr. Z...

"O Oriens"

O Rising Dawn, Radiance of the Light eternal and Sun of Justice: come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

O Oriens,
splendor lucis aeternae,
et sol justitiae:
veni, et illumina
sedentes in tenebris,
et umbra mortis.

more from Fr. Z..

"O Key of David"

O Key of David and Scepter of the House of Israel; you open and no man closes; you close and no man opens. Come, and deliver from the chains of prison those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

O Clavis David,
et sceptrum domus Israël,
qui aperis, et nemo claudit,
claudis, et nemo aperuit:
veni, et educ vinctum
de domo carceris,
sedentem in tenebris,
et umbra mortis.

more from Fr. Z..

"O Root of Jesse"

O Root of Jesse, you stand as a sign for the peoples; before you kings shall keep silence and to you all nations shall have recourse. Come, save us, and do not delay.

O Radix Jesse,
qui stas in signum populorum,
super quem continebunt reges os suum,
quem gentes deprecabuntur:
veni ad liberandum nos,
jam noli tardare

more from Fr. Z...

"O Adonai"

O Adonai and Ruler of the House of Israel, you appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush and on Mount Sinai gave him your law. Come, and with outstretched arm redeem us.

O Adonai,
et dux domus Israël,
qui Moyse in igne flammae rubi apparuisti,
et ei in Sina legem dedisti:
veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento.

more from Fr. Z...

"O Sapientia"

O Wisdom, you came forth from the mouth of the Most High and, reaching from beginning to end, you ordered all things mightily and sweetly. Come, and teach us the way of prudence.

O Sapientia,
quae ex ore Altissimi prodiisti,
attingens a fine usque ad finem fortiter,
suaviterque disponens omnia:
veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae.

more from Fr. Z...

The "O Antiphons"

Starting on December 17, through to December 23, the Liturgy of the Hours features the "O Antiphons" , messianic promises proclaimed by the prophets.

Each O Antiphon begins with an invocation of the expected Messiah, followed by praise of him under one of his particular titles. Each ends with a petition for God's people, relevant to the title by which he is addressed, and the cry for him to "Come".

The seven titles attributed to Jesus in the antiphons are Wisdom (Sapientia in Latin), Ruler of the House of Israel (Adonai), Root of Jesse (Radix), Key of David (Clavis), Rising Dawn (Oriens), King of the Gentiles (Rex). and Emmanuel. In Latin the initials of the titles make an acrostic which, when read backwards. means: "Tomorrow I will be there" ("Ero cras"). To the medieval mind this was clearly a reference to the approaching Christmas vigil.

Today the O Antiphons are most familiar to us in the hymn "O come, O come Emmanuel". Each verse of the hymn parallels one of the antiphons. In addition to their use in the Liturgy of the Hours and the gospel acclamation, they have been popularly incorporated into church devotions and family prayer. An Advent prayer service for use at home, in school, or in the events of parish life can be built around the singing or recitation of the antiphons, accompanied by the related Scripture readings and prayers. They can be prayed at family dinner times or with the lighting of the Advent wreath, with a short explanation of their biblical background. The titles can also be depicted by simple symbols - for example, on banners and posters or in bulletin illustrations - to help us to reflect on these Advent themes.

(Jeanne Kun)

more from Fr. Z...

Remembering Avery Cardinal Dulles

Cardinal Dulles' articles were the ones that initially attracted me to 'First Things' so its appropriate that I found this beautiful tribute to him in their
'comments' section : by Nicholas Frankovich

In the last year of his life the polio that he’d lived with since the Second World War robbed him of the ability to speak, or at any rate to speak intelligibly. He was articulate and lucid and spoke in complete sentences that it was always a pleasure to listen to. He still was, and he still did, but now some neurological error that was affecting his speech made it hard for anyone to make sense of the sounds. His long-time assistant, Sister Anne Marie Kirmse, knew him that well that she could interpret for his interlocutors. All of this he handled with supreme grace. It was admirable.

Apparently immunity to self-pity was a lifelong strength of his. In the course of a talk that involved reference to Christians who had been persecuted for their faith, he added something to the effect that he’d led a fairly easy life and didn’t know anything like persecution first-hand, and I thought: Hey, I know enough about your background to know that you fought in a war. You surprised (and probably more) family members by converting to Catholicism. As an academic theologian you’ve experienced your share of polemical vituperation. Whatever pain you experienced along the way you’re counting as negligible, petty, not worthy of being referred to at all, even if only to dismiss it? I salute you, Cardinal Dulles.

I was so used to being awed by his professional accomplishments (the dozens of books, hundreds and hundreds of articles) that it hit me when, in his introductory remarks before one of the last McGinley Lectures, the president of Fordham used the word “holy” to describe him. He was right. It’s a word we tend to be shy about applying to anyone who’s still living, but in this case it was so apt I wondered why it never occurred to me to think of Avery Dulles as that all along.

In that last year of his life, he still had things to say that we wanted to hear, and so his final McGinley Lecture was read for him by a Jesuit colleague at Fordham. His concluding remarks:

“Suffering and diminishment are not the greatest of evils but are normal ingredients in life, especially in old age. They are to be expected as elements of a full human existence. Well into my 90th year I have been able to work productively. As I become increasingly paralyzed and unable to speak, I can identify with the many paralytics and mute persons in the Gospels, grateful for the loving and skillful care I receive and for the hope of everlasting life in Christ. If the Lord now calls me to a period of weakness, I know well that his power can be made perfect in infirmity. ‘Blessed be the name of the Lord!’”

Pray for us, Cardinal Dulles.

Oh, Christmas Tree...,

Here we are in Advent, and we have the annual stories of 'cultural vandalism' filling the air. First , two tree stories - one from Orange County, Calif., and the next from Cambridge (Incidentally, Dundee has had a change of 'Spirit'!)

If that's not cheerful enough, how about a 'Naughty & Nice' list from the American Family Association, or one from Liberty Counsel?