Who's Dumping Who?

This makes as much sense as the NYTimes story!

Scrappleface:

William Ayers, founder of the radical Weather Underground group which carried out a bombing campaign against U.S. targets in the 1960s, today attempted to distance himself from both Barack Obama and The New York Times.

Mr. Ayers distributed a news release in response to the Times’ 2,100-word investigative story, originally titled “Obama Has Met Ayers, but the Two Are Not Close” and later re-headlined “Obama Met Ayers By Accident, Worked with Him Unwittingly, Can’t Recall What He Looks Like.”

“I don’t read the mainstream media propaganda rags,” said Mr. Ayers, now terrorist emeritus at the University of Illinois at Chicago. “The New York Times and the rest of them are just tools used by The Man to deceive the people of the world. If I had the sixties to do over again, I’d bomb them first.”

As for Sen. Obama, whose political career Mr. Ayers helped to launch, and who served as chairman of Mr. Ayers “education” project in Chicago, the professor agrees with the presidential candidate that they barely know each other.

“Just because a guy lives in your neighborhood, starts his run for the White House in your living room, and helps you channel millions of dollars into a program to teach kids what kind of country we really live in…that doesn’t mean we’re close,” he said. “That’s like saying the dude I saw in the hardware department at Wal-Mart is my best buddy just because he showed me where the fuses were…and then gave me some bread to buy them.”

(satire disclaimer)

"Sign of Contradiction"

Michael O'Brien talks about the 'new world order':

...Ours is a self-blinded condition, a willing cooperation with the very thing that is killing us—a slow and complex process that involves many pleasures of bodily and emotional appetite and the more dangerous pleasures of intellectual and spiritual pride. Our eyes do not penetrate beneath the surface appearance of the process, do not see the elaborate unfolding of sinful dynamics in which horror and pleasure are combined, as if in a diabolic ritual. We can only sense its presence from time to time. Then, to placate our self doubts, we make our minor protests, we state our positions in the apparently neutral public agora, and are suitably ignored—or worse, are absorbed into the liturgy of hell that depends for its success on all kinds of human instruments, good and ill.

Which brings to mind something C. S. Lewis wrote in his preface to The Screwtape Letters:

"The greatest evil is not now done in those sordid “dens of crime” that Dickens loved to paint. It is not done even in concentration camps and labour camps. In those we see the final result. But it is conceived and ordered (moved, seconded, carried, and minuted) in clear, carpeted, warmed, and well-lighted offices, by quiet men with white collars and cut fingernails and smooth-shaven cheeks who do not need to raise their voice."

Who are these people? Did we elect them? In all probability we did, and we did so because they understood human nature sufficiently to offer us many apparent “goods” in a package-deal containing the great evils that are an essential part of their agenda. The very quality of our cooperation with the terms of the deal should tell us something about ourselves: we have come to accept as normal a complicity, albeit reluctant, with the most hideous crimes and endless self-justifications fostered by our governments, which have become aggressively materialistic in political philosophy (where there is any conscious philosophy at all). Our compliance is not enforced by starvation or the threat of torture chambers, but is rooted deep in the psyche, neo-Pavlovian and passive, for there are few things that condition human judgment as powerfully as security and dread, pleasure and the fear of pain, real or imagined...

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

Michael O'Brien is an artist, essayist and novelist living in Barrie's Bay, Ontario. You can find his work at studiObrien

Wardrobe Selections For Nov. 4

Dear IRS, Take the shirt off my back...but not this one please!

Catholic Blog Spotter

10 Tips to 'spot' a Catholic Blog from Creative Minority Report:

10) Pictures of families are posted in widescreen so that Mary, Therese, James, Peter, Matthew, Bridget, Mark, Luke, and John Paul all fit in while holding the baby.

9) There’s a quote from GK Chesterton on either the sidebar or the header.

8) The word “heterodox” is used. A lot.

7) There’s someone in the combox scolding the blogger for not being Catholic enough.

6) "Feast days" are not as fun as they sound.

5) You find at least three posts screaming about Doug Kmiec.

4) The title of the blog is not “Vox Nova” (See Rule 4)

3) There’s a comment from David L. Alexander.

2) It's the only place you’ll find flattering pictures of Popes on the internet.

1) Lovely posts written about what people from the Middle Ages who had their heads chopped off or were burned to death mean to me.

-1) NFP links!

-2) Fathers and Doctors mean something completely different.

-3) Posts Titled “Novus Ordo: Evil or Good" have 1,393 comments.

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

Do we have a couple of those? (Definitely the 'Kmiec' one!!)

How about " lots of pictures of babies"? "baby-ticker" (see top of page)?

Heather Mallick In Lipstick *UPDATE*

Heather Mallick is scheduled to speak at St.Mary's Univ. College, in Calgary. St. Mary's is purportedly a Catholic institution, though not really a Catholic College - by obedience and affirmation standards. They have not signed allegiance with the Magisterium, for example, as other faithful Catholic colleges do.

This may seem a narrow scope of qualification, but the Vatican has repeatedly instructed universities and colleges on their faithful representation as 'Catholic' institutions, and there are in fact STANDARDS.

One of these standards involves who is invited to speak . The usual excuse is 'intellectual freedom'.( Can anyone seriously package Heather Mallick as 'intellectual'?.) She is invited for her edgy popularity, hardly intellectual, and definitely not Catholic. Parents paying tuition to a 'Catholic' institution might reasonably expect Catholic perspective - i.e. Christ as the centre, all things in relation to Him. How would Mallick help in the pursuit of a Catholic Liberal Arts education? Truth, for example, is entirely missing from her feminist,'culture of death' perspective'.

Pope Benedict XVI:

The Church’s mission, in fact, involves her in humanity’s struggle to arrive at truth. In articulating revealed truth she serves all members of society by purifying reason, ensuring that it remains open to the consideration of ultimate truths. Drawing upon divine wisdom, she sheds light on the foundation of human morality and ethics, and reminds all groups in society that it is not praxis that creates truth but truth that should serve as the basis of praxis. Far from undermining the tolerance of legitimate diversity, such a contribution illuminates the very truth which makes consensus attainable, and helps to keep public debate rational, honest and accountable. Similarly the Church never tires of upholding the essential moral categories of right and wrong, without which hope could only wither, giving way to cold pragmatic calculations of utility which render the person little more than a pawn on some ideological chess-board.

A Liberal Arts education without TRUTH is no more than indoctrination of the 'liberal' kind. Perhaps Mallick, or maybe even the college itself are unaware that Liberal education has nothing to do with being 'liberal'? Its all about TRUTH.



*UPDATE* OCTOBER 8 - Apparantly She's been disinvited

"How To Succeed In Politics"

Of the ten observations by Gerry Nicholls, this one is my favourite:

"The Tweedle-dee-Tweedle-dum Syndrome
Always make sure your principles are diluted to the point where they will offend no one and will appeal to the greatest mass of voters possible. This may upset some of your more ideologically-inclined supporters, but they can usually be soothed with vague, rhetorical assurances. You will know you are succeeding if your policies essentially mirror the policies of your opponent."

Now, who is this bringing to mind...

Being Faithful

Bishop Blair (Toledo):

"..Over the last 30 years or more there has been a great upheaval in the life of our society. Consensus about fundamental moral issues has broken down, for example, with regard to the protection of unborn life and the very definition of marriage and family.

In the Catholic Church this tidal wave of cultural and social change has given rise to a situation in which some people claim to be Roman Catholic and yet dissent from fundamental teachings of the Catholic Church. Sometimes they do this in a public manner that is scandalous, sometimes out of ignorance of what their own church believes and teaches, and other times not.

Recently, in anticipation of the November elections, we have witnessed the spectacle of certain politicians who say they are Catholic yet publicly misrepresent the history and content of church teaching. Our U.S. Bishops’ Conference, as well as several bishops individually, were compelled to respond to this intrusion of politicians into the teaching office of the church.

Lest anyone be misled, it bears repeating that "since the first century the church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion." (Catechism, no. 2271) The Second Vatican Ecumenical Council defined abortion, together with infanticide, as an "unspeakable crime." (Gaudium et Spes, no. 51) And, "while in past centuries biological knowledge was often inaccurate, modern science leaves no excuse for anyone to deny the humanity of an unborn child. Protection of innocent human life is not an imposition of personal religious conviction but a demand of justice." (USCCB, 9/9/08)

As moral teachers and leaders, what we bishops are calling for is a political engagement by the Catholic people "shaped by the moral convictions of well formed consciences and focused on the dignity of every human being, the pursuit of the common good, and the protection of the weak and the vulnerable."

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

The Catholic community in America should be greatly encouraged by the forthright and instructive way in which the Bishops are standing up and defending their faith, and the American society as a whole.

Fair Comment

Calgary Herald on Linda Gibbons:

"...This past Tuesday though, and unlike former occasions, she was acquitted. A Toronto provincial court judge decided her non-violence and non-resistance could not be construed as obstructing a peace officer in the performance of his duties.

The judge added that a charge of disobeying a court order might have stuck, but as that wasn't the charge, home she went. That's an interesting development by the way: Should she be so charged, she could have a jury trial.

Who knows what 12 of her peers might make of it? After all, even if they're not pro-lifers, they would have to consider some of the ironies here.

There's the free speech aspect, for instance.

If she was a union militant involved in a strike, she could be as shrill as she liked.

In this country, police stand back while truckers get their windows smashed. So what exactly is the problem if she quietly approaches a woman heading to an abortion clinic? Ah, says the other side, nobody should interfere with another's health care.

True. But the woman is pregnant, not sick. Given the bloody reality of abortion, asking somebody if they really know what they're up to seems fair."
(h/t ProWomanProLife)

Day 11

Intention:

Pray that when those representing Planned Parenthood and other abortion groups see volunteers for 40 Days for Life, they see ambassadors of Christ, and may each volunteer be consciously aware at all times we represent Him.

Scripture:

I...beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness, and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love.

-- Ephesians 4:1-2

Reflection:

When a former abortionist and post-abortive woman, Carol Everett, was asked what turned her heart from death to life in Christ, she replied, "It was unconditional love" shown by a man who prayed daily for her in front of the facility where she worked.

He told Carol that "God had sent him" because there was someone in there that God wanted out. She left 27 days later and now serves as Christ's ambassador to help others. We too have been sent by Christ as an ambassador to love unconditionally those God seeks to "get out" of their bondage and sin.

In his book, "Fishers of Men," Dr. Sumner Wemp describes what it means to be an ambassador of Christ, the King of Kings:

God has chosen us (John 15:16)
We are sent into a world that is not our home (1 Peter 2:11)
Our walk must match our talk (1 Timothy 3:7)
We must abide in Him for daily instruction (John 15:5)
Know our purpose -- to seek and to save that which is lost (Luke 19:10)
We are to reconcile others to God with His authority (Matthew 28:19-20)
Our service is to be grounded and rooted in love (Ephesians 3:17)
Pray that we each will walk worthy of the calling with which we were called!

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, we are humbled that you have called us and appointed us to be ambassadors of Christ in a world that is not our home. It is a calling much higher and grander than our finite minds can imagine.

We pray that your Holy Spirit will empower us to walk worthy of the calling. We pray that Your unconditional love will flow through us onto those who desperately need Your saving grace. In the name of Christ who is worthy, amen.

Carmen Pate
Co-host, "Point of View" Talk Show

40 Days For Life

Kmiec On The Record

The Catholic Key:

February 18, 2008
"When Catholic answers challenge unlimited claims of personal autonomy that disregard innocent life, the Catholic perspective can be expected to be shunned."

February 11, 2008
"Thirty-five years before was one of the darkest days in American history, for on that day in 1973 the U.S. Supreme Court had the temerity to presume -- for the second time in its history -- that it could define the essence of the human person.

The stark memory of this judicial hubris seemed especially poignant this year since by happenstance we honored the memory of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. only a day earlier. Rev. King's nonviolent courage overcame the dehumanization of the black man and woman that had also been declared by the Supreme Court a century before the abortion ruling..."
...............................................................................

Are we SURE this is the same guy?

Not Only In B.C.

Calgary Herald tells a tale of repression of parental rights and freedoms,and social engineering:

"...The couple, who are known homosexual activists, went to the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal to allege systemic discrimination against homosexuals by the B.C. Ministry of Education. A few years later, they filed another complaint. At first, the Ministry of Education denied the allegations but, as time dragged on, it decided to capitulate. The Ministry gave in -- without any defence or discussion, or even an impartial consideration of the allegations. In fact, it rolled over and played dead so fast it makes the Second World War Italian army look like hardcore U.S. Marines.

In giving up, the B.C. government made a legal agreement that gave the complainants unprecedented control and influence over the province's curriculum in exchange for dropping the human rights charges.

The complainants have since developed resources on alternative sexuality that teachers can use to integrate the topic into any subject from grades K to 12, as well as a Grade 12 course that covers issues like sexual orientation and gender identity.

The Education Ministry now proudly proclaims that it is a world leader in diversity training, but not all parents and teachers are pleased. There's controversy over the content and whether it should be an elective or a required course, and how appropriate the resources will be for young children and whether the whole scheme usurps the parent's role as the primary educator of their children. Just this week, it was announced that these events had spurred an initiative to "Take Back our Schools" by parents and organizations who believe the government has overstepped its limits..."
(h/t black kettle)
............................................................................

British Columbia is not alone in its penchant for taking rights away from parents and giving them to others. Last year the NS Dept. of Ed. decided to fire a schoolboard that was having difficulty accepting the dept's idea of a curriculum. Oh well. Why pretend to be democratic in Canada? Somehow the people with the MOST bizarre idea of 'public good' always think only the 'crazies' disagree, and everyone knows 'crazies' have no civil rights - like freedom.

Bishop Martino , Shepherd

Bishop Martino of Scranton's pastoral letter for Respect Life Sunday:

"My brothers and sisters in Christ,

The American Catholic bishops initiated Respect Life Sunday in 1972, the year before the Supreme Court legalized abortion in the United States. Since that time, Catholics across the country observe the month of October with devotions and pro-life activities in order to advance the culture of life. This October, our efforts have more significance than ever. Never have we seen such abusive criticism directed toward those who believe that life begins at conception and ends at natural death..."

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

We must continue to pray for our Bishops and priests, that they may have the fortitude to persevere in doing God's Will, and support them in all their efforts, with love and patience.

"I Went To The CLinic And Nothing Happened!"

from the 40 Days For Life" blog:

"...There’s always something good going on when people gather to pray — we have Christ’s word on it! But sometimes, those things are not immediately evident.

Jenifer wrote, 'I have been reading the wonderful, encouraging stories – the babies being saved, the employees who had changes of heart about their jobs and the moms who have given life to their babies instead of having abortions. Truthfully I was envious,' she said. 'Why wasn’t that happening in my city? I went tonight asking that of God.'

After praying for a while at the 40 Days for Life vigil site, Jenifer said she felt an answer in her heart. 'My job isn’t to wonder why we aren’t getting these results. My job is to be faithful to the call He has given me and to be a witness to others. My job is to pray, pray, pray and wait on God to use those prayers in the ways He ordains.'

Michele in Colorado Springs, Colorado said her team never heard of any babies being saved during their entire 40 Days for Life campaign last year. 'I believe in my heart that there were,' she said, 'but for some reason, God withheld the information from us. For those of you who do not know of any saves yet — and may not know for some time — I just tell you to continue to trust and hope in God and continue to pray. We do not know His ways, but He knows what is best for us and when it is best for us to know.'.."

Jill Nails It

Jill Stanek pus it all together at her blog - Democratic Party of Death, Liberal response to Life, Creepy 'Dear Leader' Videos through the ages, and a reader-shot video with a 'Bama twist on the 'Silent Scream'. Go!

NY BISHOPS CLARIFY PRIORITIES

In case Catholic Voters have been getting their catechism from Doug Kmiec and the like, The NY Bishops have released a statement to clarify Catholic DUTY:

"The document [issued by the bishops of NY] 'Our Cherished Right, Our Solemn Duty,' states that there are many important issues such as the right to life, issues of war and peace, the education of children and how we treat the poor and vulnerable. While all must be considered, 'not every issue is of equal moral gravity.'

'The inalienable right to life of every innocent human person outweighs other concerns where Catholics may use prudential judgment, such as how best to meet the needs of the poor or to increase access to health care for all,' the New York bishops’ document says.

'The right to life is the right through which all others flow. To the extent candidates reject this fundamental right by supporting an objective evil, such as legal abortion, euthanasia or embryonic stem cell research, Catholics should consider them less acceptable for public office.'"
(h/t americanpapist)
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There now. Everybody get that?

Refresher Course on Death Promoters UNFPA

Population Research Institute (PRI) is active in monitoring funds, governments, and organizations that support active population control (as opposed to freedom). In an article from Feb.10,2006 we are reminded of exactly what the United Nations Population Fund supports:

"...On January 30(2006), the New York-based Executive Board of the United Nations
Population Fund (UNFPA) approved, as UNFPA itself put it, "the sixth UNFPA
programme of assistance to China, totaling $27 million over five years.
As they did so, board members and other United Nations countries praised
UNFPA as a 'force for good' that promotes and protects human rights,
implicitly repudiating a claim that the Fund abets coercive practices."
That last clause refers to the Bush Administration, which has withheld
American money from UNFPA because of its assistance to the Chinese
population control effort. In China, women and their husbands are
severely penalized for having more than their quota of one or two
children. UNFPA officials do not directly engage in the forced abortion
and sterilization practices of the Chinese regime, but subsidize them with
its financial and technical assistance to Chinese population control
bureaucrats..."

As previously posted, the US has denied funding for Marie Stopes Int'l , based on their cooperation with UNFPA.

Day 10

Intention:

Let us affirm the unborn by our language.

Scripture:

Anyone who says to his brother, "Raca," is answerable to the Sanhedrin; anyone who says, "You fool!" will be in danger of the fire of hell.

-- Matthew 5:22

Reflection:

Before the schoolyard bully beats up his victim, he calls him names. This is a way to dehumanize the victim, and therefore make it easier to justify attacking him.

In this verse from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says that using dehumanizing language is sinful. "Raca" was an Aramaic term of contempt. The respect and love we are called to have for other human lives is not limited to action alone; it also has to manifest itself in language.

Professor William Brennan, in his book Dehumanizing the Vulnerable: When Word Games Take Lives, traces the dehumanizing language used to oppress various groups of people in history, such as our African-American brothers and sisters, or our Jewish brothers and sisters in the Holocaust.

He then shows that the same kind of dehumanizing language is used against the unborn, who have been called "parasites," "tissue," and "medical waste," among other things.

What are we to do instead? We are to affirm one another, including the unborn, with ennobling language that inspires respect and love. The unborn are precious children, they are our brothers and sisters, they are the image of God. Let us multiply the language of affirmation, as we hasten to the day of their protection!

Prayer:

Lord, we ask your forgiveness for any times our words have dehumanized our brothers and sisters. We also ask you to send your grace to those who speak and write in degrading terms about the children in the womb. Convert those who do not see the dignity of these children. Loosen the tongues of those who do not know how to acknowledge the humanity and sacredness of these tiny lives. Keep us all aware of the power of language, and help us to use it rightly in the cause of life and justice. We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Fr. Frank Pavone
National Director, Priests for Life and President, National Pro-life Religious Council

40 Days For Life

Marie Stopes Denied Funding By Bush

LifeNews:

"Assistant Administrator for Global Health Dr. Kent Hill, has banned cooperation with UK-based Marie Stopes International (MSI), one of the worlds largest purveyors of abortions, on the grounds that it is complicit in 'coercive abortion and involuntary sterilizations' in China.

MSI denies that it supports China's coercive policies, but its aggressive promotion of abortion, and its longstanding collaboration with China's coercive program leave little doubt that it is not only aware of the massive human rights abuses that have resulted in that country, but is actively collaborating with it.

The USAID instruction, which PRI applauds, will force cutbacks in MSI's population control programs in a number of African countries, including Ghana, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe, and Kenya.

MSI's claims that woman in these countries 'will be left with few options other than abortion' is particularly risible, coming as it does from the very agency that is responsible for many of the abortions that are performed in Africa in the first place. PRI investigators, for example, have demonstrated that MSI, through its network of clinics, is one of the biggest abortion actors in Kenya.

For MSI to claim, as it does, that Dr. Hill's order will result in 'unsafe abortions' with the 'likely result' of women's 'death or disability' is not only a gross exaggeration, but should be taken as self-criticism. It is not the Bush Administration's fault if African women and girls die in MSI's clinics. It is the fault of the organization itself.

U.S. law prohibits US foreign aid from flowing to any organization that 'supports or participates in the management of a program of coercive abortion or involuntary sterilization'..."

Outrageous Lies Are Very Very Bad Things

Deal Hudson:

"Just when this presidential election could not get any stranger, David Brody reports the launching of a "Pro-Life Pro-Obama" Web site. When is the "John McCain, Pacifist" Web site going to show up?

The effort to sell Obama as a pro-life candidate is being spearheaded by a group called the Matthew 25 Network, a PAC created by former Democratic political operative Mara Vanderslice. Vanderslice was director of religious outreach for the Kerry campaign in 2004 but was "silenced" when Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League, publicized her connection with various far-left political groups.

Window readers might also remember the Matthew 25 organization from my story on the "non-partisan" convention in Philadelphia rallying Catholics to political involvement. The Matthew 25 booth featured a prominent picture of Obama along with words from Matthew 25:38, "I was hungry and you gave me something to eat," made to look like they belonged to Obama, not Jesus.

The "Pro-Life Pro-Obama" Web site confirms what I wrote yesterday: Doug Kmiec has become the Catholic outreach of the Obama campaign. The first thing you notice when the site opens is a prominent "Welcome from Doug Kmiec."

Kmiec's message is the one we have been hearing from Obama's Catholics since the beginning of the campaign -- that overturning Roe v. Wade is not an effective way to reduce abortions..."

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The anti-Catholics in sheep's clothing (liars) are at it again. They're absolutely shameless. Who are they hoping to influence? Catholics who get their catechism from the New York Times!?

Scary Enough For Ya?

...for your tricking pleasure at Amazon.
(h/tKathy Shaidle)

Victim Speaks

ProWoman ProLife:

"We, as women, won the right to vote when women suffragettes mobilized. All black people won the fight against segregation when black activists raised their voices. Unborn children, victims of abortion, may ultimately receive recognition thanks to women like this..."

"No Carbon Taxes"

(NoCarbonTax.Com)

"Your support, coupled with thousands of other Canadians is sending a powerful message to federal and provincial lawmakers.

Carbon taxes and trading schemes hurt families and damage the economy. They do far more to fatten government treasuries than control global temperatures.

Since 1990 the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) has been fighting on behalf of over-burdened taxpayers. But on this issue, your help is needed more than ever as politicians of all political stripes are bent on imposing policies that will lead to higher energy prices..."

PETITION

(h/t Western Standard)

Pope in Marathon

A Bible Reading Marathon!:

"Some 2,000 people will take turns reading the Bible's 73 books, from the Old Testament's Genesis to the New Testament's Book of Revelations, at Rome's Holy Cross in Jerusalem basilica.

The pope will record the first reading at the Vatican.

Senator for life Giulio Andreotti, former presidents Francesco Cossiga, Oscar Luigi Scalfaro and Carlo Azeglio Ciampi as well as several ministers in the centre-right government of Silvio Berlusconi including his top aide Gianni Letta will be among the readers.

From the world of entertainment, Benigni ("Life Is Beautiful") will be joined by filmmaker Michele Placido and blind tenor Andrea Bocelli..."


COOL!

"Dissentasaurus"

New Word coined by Curt Jester. Jeff starts us off with Fr. Andrew Greely. I'll suggest (the easy ones)Doug Kmiec and Nancy Pelosi.


Feel Free to add to the list(in comments).

Pro-Life Chuckle

from Veronique at ProWoman ProLife:

"My 6 year-old daughter’s grade 2 assignment is to present her family tree. Amongst pictures of assorted siblings, we added an ultrasound picture of Nouveau Bébé at 18 weeks gestation. While rehearsing her presentation, Martha said that there were 5 children in her family, for which she was immediately corrected by her 11-year-old brother who said: 'There are six children in our family. Just ask Mom…' At that point, I thought he would say something like 'She’s the one carrying that baby 24/7.' But no, you can always count on Kurt to go the extra mile. Instead, he said: 'She spends her job thinking about dead people so she knows a family member when she sees one. And there are 6 children in this family.'

'She spends her job thinking about dead people.' Ahem. No doubt, he was confusing my hobbies — pro-life blogging and getting graduate degrees in bioethics — with my actual day job which involves answering the phone and filing travel claims for other people."

Catholic Carnival # 192

Up at Awesome God!

Petition The UN to Respect Life

Ephemeris:

"The UN will celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights this December 10th.

To celebrate this occasion, radical pro-abortion groups intend to present the UN General Assembly with petitions calling for a universal right to abortion.

Campaigns are being waged right now by International Planned Parenthood Federation and Marie Stopes International, the two groups responsible for more abortions than any other groups in the world. Both are beloved of the powers that be at the UN; and their efforts to promote an international right to abortion are welcomed by many UN Member States, perhaps most of the UN bureaucracy, and powerful US foundations that give millions to promote abortion at the UN and around the world.

Below is a petition calling on UN Members States to interpret the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as protecting the unborn child from abortion. Please consider signing the petition and passing it on to others to sign as well."

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


International Call for the Rights and Dignity of the Human Person and the Family


We, the citizens of UN member states, in this year of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted and proclaimed by the UN General Assembly resolution 217 A (III) of 10 December 1948,


Recalling that:

The Universal Declaration is a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all Nations,

Bearing in mind that:


Human rights, dignity, freedom, equality, solidarity and justice constitute the spiritual and moral patrimony on which the union of Nations is based,


Stress that:

Proper consideration must be given to


1. The right to life of every human being, from conception to natural death, each child having the right to be conceived, born and educated within the family, based on marriage between a woman and a man, the family being the natural and fundamental group unit of society,

2. The right of every child to be educated by his or her parents, who have a prior and fundamental right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.


Therefore, we call upon:

All governments to interpret the Universal Declaration of Human Rights properly such that:


Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person (Article 3)

Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family (Article 16).

The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State (Article 16).

Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance (Article 25).

Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children (Article 26).



PETITION

Stand Strong With The Lord

Some of the 40 Days For Life participants have met with violence, but no-one is giving up easily:

"A black SUV with two guys in it pulled up. They jumped out and attacked all of us with fire extinguishers. They doused us all with the powder (it was very frightening while it was happening) and then jumped in their car and sped off.”

The SUV’s license was covered, so they couldn’t get the number. But the police did respond and a report was filed.

“The reason I am telling you this is that I have been sidewalk counseling for many, many years and NOTHING is going to scare me away, but I did anticipate that some of the people who were there for the very first time might be very intimidated with what happened and leave and possibly never come back.”

But that didn’t happen. “No one left, and one man who had come out for the first time said it only made him more courageous and strong in his conviction to come out again. Praise God! So even though we were covered in powder, we continued praying.”

Satan is clearly not happy about what 40 Days for Life is doing to one of his strongholds — the abortion industry.

“Christ said, ‘Be not afraid!’ We won’t be!”

Vote YES in S.D.

Dr.Bernard Nathanson, sole surviving founding member of abortion advocate group NARAL, confesses his error and pleads with South Dakotans to 'vote yes' to abortion restrictions:


(h/t Jill Stanek)

Couric and Biden on the Same 'Brain' Wave

That pretty much indicates her intelligence. Ann Coulter gives MORE proof of Couric's journalistic prowess (and her favourite's 'expertise'):

While Gov. Sarah Palin is being grilled on her position on mark-to-market accounting rules, the press can't bother to ask Joe Biden if he could give us a ballpark estimate on when Franklin D. Roosevelt was president -- or maybe take a stab at guessing the decade when televisions were first available to the public.

Being interviewed by Katie Couric on the "CBS Evening News," Biden said: "When the stock market crashed, Franklin D. Roosevelt got on the television and didn't just talk about the, you know, the princes of greed. He said, 'Look, here's what happened.'"

For those of you who aren't hard-core history buffs, Biden not only named the wrong president during the 1929 stock market crash, he also claimed a president who wasn't president during the stock market crash went on TV before Americans had TVs.

Other than that, the statement holds up pretty well. At least Biden managed to avoid mentioning any "clean" Negroes he had met.

Couric was nearly moved to tears by the brilliance of Biden's brain-damaged remark. She was especially intrigued by Biden's claim that FDR had said the new iPhone was the bomb!

Here is Couric's full response to Biden's bizarre outburst about FDR (a) being president and (b) going on TV in 1929: "Relating to the fears of the average American is one of Biden's strong suits."...

Day 9

Intention:

May we grow in joy, knowing we serve a living God.

Scripture:

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

-- John 1:14

Reflection:

The Word of God came to us in human form in Jesus Christ. Every time I contemplate this fact I get chills! And I think it is something that we, as Christians, tend to gloss over. I can only imagine how the first disciples felt when they were looking into the eyes of the one and only Almighty God who created them.

The first disciples developed a close relationship with Him as they daily walked and talked with Him. They ate with Him, prayed with Him and rested when He rested. As they listened to the Word of God, who was and is Jesus….they believed and "beheld His glory."

Today, this is something we can still do because we serve a living God. Remember, Jesus died on the cross but rose from the dead in victory! Jesus is every bit as real and alive for all of us as He was to the first disciples. He wants us to develop a close relationship with Him in the very same way. Jesus wants us to know Him personally. He wants us to walk with Him and talk with Him on a daily basis.

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for your love and saving grace in Christ Jesus. Help us to realize every day the great blessing we have in our Savior. I pray that we will rise every morning with excitement and zeal, looking forward to walking another day in your footsteps fully knowing that you continue to dwell among us. Amen.

Day Gardner
President, National Black Pro-life Union

40 Days For Life

Quote of the Day

Physicians For Life:
“A young woman with an unintended pregnancy clearly sacrifices the protective effect of a term delivery should she decide to abort and delay childbearing ... Thus, we conclude that informed consent before induced abortion should include information about the subsequent risk of preterm delivery and depression.” ( --Thorpe et al., Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey, 1/2003 )

"Tyranny of Nice"

LifeSite News:
"Yesterday Interim Publishing released the e-version of its book on Canada's human rights commission, 'Tyranny of Nice: How Canada Crushes Freedom in the Name of Human Rights (and why is matters to Americans)' by Kathy Shaidle and Pete Vere. Internationally renowned columnist and author Mark Steyn writes the introduction.

The book exposes how when it comes to the human rights commissions the 'process is the punishment,' provides a thorough account of the two major cases from the past year that have made human rights commissions a hot topic and examines some the less famous cases that eluded media attention until Ezra Levant and Maclean's were hauled before these kangaroo courts..."

'Got Burned!'

(...as my eighteen yr./old rugby son exclaimed!)

Peter Wehner-first things:

"In her column yesterday, Washington Post’s Ruth Marcus argues for why having Sarah Palin in high public office is a 'terrifying prospect.' Marcus’s specific complaint is that Palin, in her interview with Katie Couric, said that the way she has understood the world is not through travel but “through education, through books, through mediums that have provided me a lot of perspective on the world.” In response, Marcus writes this:

'This would be more reassuring if Palin had demonstrated more evidence of having
read extensively about history or world affairs. Asked in an interview for PBS’s Charlie Rose show last year about her favorite authors, Palin cited C.S. Lewis–”very, very deep”–and Dr. George Sheehan, a now-deceased writer for Runner’s World magazine whose columns Palin still keeps on hand.'

Marcus seems to believe that unless Palin’s favorite author is Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. or Zbigniew Brzezinski, she is unfit to serve as vice president.

I gather as well that Marcus believes citing Lewis as her favorite author is somehow an indictment against Palin. As one who counts Prof. Lewis as one of my favorite authors, let me write what may be the most indisputable and uncontestable sentence I have ever penned: There is more depth, intelligence, and insight into human nature in a single letter from Screwtape to Wormwood than in everything Ruth Marcus has ever written and said. That is probably true for most of us; but it is doubly true when it comes to Ms. Marcus.

In using Lewis to criticize Palin, there are two possibilities: Either Marcus has not read Lewis or, if she has, she was unable to grasp him. The fact that Sarah Palin reads C.S. Lewis more than she does Ruth Marcus is reassuring to me; it should be to others as well.

A Before/After Story

LTI:

(Talking about an article proposing anti-spanking laws)
"It sounds so logical when someone talks about it in those terms. Laws reduce the specifically addressed action and inform our community morally? Now how does this differ from proposed restrictions on abortion? Why are these arguments so much more compelling when we are talking about spanking your child rather than tearing your unborn children limb from limb and then sucking the parts out of the uterus to be reassembled like a grisly puzzle on the table?

Oh yeah, women have a constitutional right to kill their offspring as long as they have not yet been born. Then we have a responsibility as a society to protect that child even from spanking. Another noticeable difference is that in one case the cool Europeans agree with you. Never underestimate how important that is.

Day 8

Intention:

May the spirit and example of the Good Samaritan fill the hearts and minds of all our citizens.

Scripture:

Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So, too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'

"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

-- Luke 10:30-37

Reflection:

Here Jesus commands us to show mercy to the victims of the culture of violence and death.

But why did the priest and Levite fail to show mercy? Perhaps they feared that the robbers were hiding just around the next corner to attack them. They asked themselves, "If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?"

The Samaritan, however, reversed the question, and asked, "If I don't stop to help this man, what will happen to him?"

In working to save the unborn, let's not worry about what will happen to us if we act; let's worry about what will happen to the unborn if we don't.

Prayer:

Father, we are moved by the lesson of the Good Samaritan, who allowed compassion to influence him more than fear. Give us the same heart. Grant that we may never count the cost of standing up and speaking out for the unborn. We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Fr. Frank Pavone
National Director, Priests for Life

40 Days For Life

Canada: No Time For Pesky So-Cons

National Post:


"Instead of worrying about money all the time, we would worry about our ethical thinking: abortion, homosexuality, euthanasia, the poor, the mentally ill,' said Ms. Jullion, a mother of two and part-time bookkeeper from the Northern Alberta farming community of Barrhead. 'I was hoping that at least we would begin talking about these social issues.'

'Social conservatives feel left out in our own nation,' (Corry Morcos) said. 'We are continually being told to shut up. We're being told by the Human Rights Tribunal and by our government. They don't want us to say what we believe.'...

...(Jill Cahoon) put more stock in her family than in political parties and thinks that by teaching her children the right way to live that eventually Canada will turn around.

'My husband and I have eight children ... I can raise my family to respect life. To respect family values. To encourage them to have good sound marriages and stay with their marriages and work out problems when they arise. That will be an influence in society. If we stick to our views it will have an influence down the road. In politics I'm not sure we'll ever get what we want.'"

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

That's right! My parents have 33 grandchildren and a great-grandchild - so far (I still have some unattached siblings!) More than half are homeschooled. Do we care about life issues? You bet. And the youngsters are out there spreading the message on campus and at work.

(Funny thing about those pro-lifers....THEY HAVE KIDS!!)

Couric Trivia

An oldie but a goodie from Scrappleface:

According to a leaked internal memo, here are the top 10 viewer-suggested Katie Couric sign-offs ranked according to frequency of suggestion:

10. “Well, there’s 22 minutes of your life you can never get back.”
9. “News pH balanced. We report. You admire.”
8. “I hope to see you tomorrow night, because all I see tonight is the TelePromTer.”
7. “I’m Katie Couric, and that’s the way it is at the DNC.”
6. “That’s the news and I mean it. Does anybody want a peanut?”
5. “I’m Katie Couric and this is one sweet gig!”
4. “If you stand up for a few minutes now, you won’t get so many sofa sores.”
3. “Now you know what to think. But you don’t really have to.”
2. “Why read the news online when I get paid millions to do it for you?”
1. “What makes a muskrat guard its musk?”

(my personal favourite is no.6)

Different Perspective

Not mine, but I believe in free speech so...

Leonard says:

"Yes, Harper won't reopen the abortion debate. But at least he won't try to enshrine abortion in the Charter - something that was a part of the Liberal platform in the last election. At least he won't try to force New Brunswick to pay for clinic abortions on demand - his government has already dropped the law suit initiated by Paul Martin's Liberals. And there's more to that:

Under the Harper government a series of highly qualified and conservative judges have been appointed, most of whom would never have been thus elevated under a Liberal administration.

For the first time in generations the law is open to less activist lawyers and legal theories.

Harper has taken most of the funding away from the court challenge program, which financed out of the public purse a whole variety of radical special interest groups and allowed them to challenge the courts on issues of no interest to the mass of people.

This was a make-work scheme for leftist lawyers and an enabler mainly for radical feminist and gay groups.

The government removed the tax grab enjoyed by extremist film makers, who were forgiven the taxes all of the rest of us are obliged to pay so they could make sexually perverse and grotesquely violent movies and television shows -- seen, by the way, mainly by their weird friends.
...
He's done just enough to show the right that he's more than worth voting into further years of power. Perhaps an increased number of MPs would allow him to institute more of what some of us had hoped for. Even if not, the alternative is ugly.
More >>>
Exactly. No I'm not saying that we should stick to the Conservative party no matter what. But at the same time - it's not yet the time for voting them out of power. Not until we have a strong SoCon alternative to Harper's FisCons."

Sign the UN Petition for the Unborn Child! PRO-LIFE ACTION ALERT! PLEASE FOLLOW UP!

BIG BLUE WAVE: Sign the UN Petition for the Unborn Child! PRO-LIFE ACTION ALERT! PLEASE FOLLOW UP!

"They would like to get 50 000 names by December 10th, the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

You can be certain on that day, pro-abortion advocates will be pushing for the right to kill the unborn. Our voice must be present and heard. Please contribute to the effort by signing your name.

Please reproduce this request on your blogs. I know there's a lot going on right now with elections in the US and Canada, but this is very important, and it takes so little to help."

Disgusted With Your CHoices?

If you find yourself unwilling to vote for any of the 'culture of death' candidates in your riding, you can record a 'non-vote'. You return your ballot and tell the returning officer that you had no candidate willing to support 'life'. They are supposed to record your reason. UPDATE: They DO NOT record your non-vote, other than to count it as a returned ballot.(I checked with elections cda)

It may seem like a small thing, but perhaps someone needs to know the number of people who do not trust ANYONE in politics. If it causes an unexpected result, how worse off can we be than killing our future and repressing our present? Really?

Campaign Life Candidate Evaluations

Check out your 'choices' and express yourself while you still can - at the ballot box!

A Young Man With A Mission

A little 'star power' helps out the 40 Days For Life efforts in California:


“Eduardo Verastegui arrived a little after 8 am and did not stop counseling, praying and encouraging women to choose life for their babies — with love, tenderness, humility and compassion — until a little after noon,” John Anthony said. “God is good — five babies were saved that morning!”

But that isn’t the end of the story. John Anthony said it wasn’t just abortion-minded mothers that caught Eduardo’s attention. “The day had a dramatic ending when eight nurses from the clinic came outside to meet Eduardo!” He spoke with the nurses and gave them copies of his new Spanish language pro-life video, “Dura Realidad.”

“Please pray for these precious turnarounds,” John Anthony asked, “and for the conversion of all clinic workers and for Eduardo — what a courageous witness and backer of courageous words with action!”

Here’s a photo of Eduardo at that 40 Days for Life outside the abortion center on Saturday morning:

Canada v. Catholicism

American Papist: Not Your Average Catholic!: Canada v. Catholicism:

"In Quebec, a french speaking province in Canada they have passed a law requiring all schools to teach a mandated course that will force Catholic schools to no longer be able to teach distinct Catholicism outside of social constructivism...This move by the Quebec government is quite literally the most dangerous regression of religious rights in North America. Because it is occurring in a French province in Canada it has not gotten the press it deserves,l it should serve as a canary in a mine..."

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

They're getting desperate, and the more desperate they get - the more repressive they will be. Its up to the Quebecois, really. Are there any who care that they are being repressively 'managed' into good little state-owned peons? Anyone bristle at being told which holidays are fit, who their heroes are? Anyone feel put out by the IDEA of the gov't dictating that only the state religion should be allowed? The gov't also has a repressive attitude towards homeschoolers, which is consistent with their 'we will tell you what to believe' policy. Anyone feeling rebellious?

Without Life, What?

reminded by Ephemeris:

"..We cannot accept for ourselves a political leadership which does not safeguard the inviolable dignity of human life. Are there other issues? Of course there are, but the primary issue has to be the question of human life."(Vatican's Archbishop Raymond Burke, recently named Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura - roughly the Vatican equivalent of the Supreme Court's Chief Justice)

Day 7

Intention:

May we have a heart and a zeal to save the poor and release the oppressed.

Scripture:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.

-- Luke 4:18-19

Reflection:

This passage is a very familiar one. It has been preached on many occasions, even made popular in books and songs. Though the quote is about Jesus, all Christians take this commission seriously as a directive on how to reach the world with the gospel. We, like our Savior, are to bring the good news to the poor, the broken hearted, those in captivity, those who cannot see, and the oppressed.

The commission given to us in this passage is clearly a charge to care for those for whom God cares the most. I wonder though, whom do we look for to be touched by the Holy Spirit as we go out into the world?

Who are the poor, if not those unborn children who have been abandoned by their parents before they ever leave the womb? Who are the broken hearted, if not those unborn children whose only example of love is having their mother take them to an abortion clinic to be destroyed, or the mother of a child who has been deceived by everyone around her into believing that what she is doing is best for her and her child? Who are the captives, if not those unborn children who are bound over to death by the "choice" of abortion? Who is more blind than an unborn child in the darkness of a womb that has become a waiting room for their death? And who is more oppressed than those unborn children whose oppression has been legitimized by their government, their church and even their family and loved ones.

Prayer:

Lord, You empower us with Your Spirit to do your will in the earth. Send us to the poorest, the most broken, the most captive, the most blind and the most oppressed in the world, the innocent pre-born children in their mother's wombs that are scheduled for destruction. Help us to bring them healing, liberty, sight and justice through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Fr. Terry Gensemer
National Director, Charismatic Episcopal Church for Life

40 Day For Life

better than the bitter butter

(IowaHawk)

Umbert On The Stump

New Opportunities Abound For Harper

Oh Yeah!

Just think what floodgates of support and acceptance have been opened up with Harper's straightforward revelation that he supports killing off 100,000 Canadian babies a year. He may get calls to appear on 'The View' ! He can now be interviewed by Jane and Peter as 'friendlies'.! Where's his 'Order of Canada'? Get the man a new suit!

I'm sure it was worth it. Really. I mean, afterall, this isn't America! Harper can count on the Canadian Catholics not being a problem. And don't forget, he STILL HAS THE CHRC to keep in line any dissidents who may infringe on the rights of baby killers and perverts to indoctrinate our children in tax supported schools.

Oh Yeah. The party's just startin' folks!

Human Life Int'l To Convert Harper et al

From The Grapevine:

FRONT ROYAL, VA — The Rev. Thomas J. Euteneuer, STL, president of Human Life International, (HLI) today launched an international campaign to promote praying the St. Michael prayer after every Mass. The grassroots campaign is designed to encourage the laity to pray for St. Michael’s intercession for the conversion of abortionists. It is also a call to priests and bishops to include the St. Michael prayer after the final blessing at all Masses.

“The fight against the culture of death is primarily a spiritual battle,” Euteneuer said, “and Human Life International knows that with the aid of St. Michael, abortionists around the world will convert from their cooperation with evil.”

Euteneuer said, “Nowhere are the words of St. Paul that ‘our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens’ (Ephesians 6:12), more evident or obvious than in the abortion battle.”

He continued, “As a pro-life organization we are naturally concerned with the babies killed by abortion and their mothers who are ravaged by it. But we are also concerned with the eternal souls of those caught up in this evil, the abortionists, and others who promote it. We want to see them in Heaven, and as a priest that is of ultimate concern to me.”

HLI is asking people to sign a pledge of support for the campaign and pray the St. Michael prayer daily, especially after each Mass, and send copies of the pledge to parishes to be inserted in the weekly bulletins.
(John Mallon)

Harper Continues The Legacy

"There have been 74,744 babies aborted in Canada so far this year.
Our abortion counter was formulated using annual Stats Canada figures.
Apparently it is now the official national Canadian position to celebrate abortion; and we are now duty-bound in this country to officially celebrate abortionists.
Please think and behave correctly."

(xxx to be canadian)

HARPER FOR DEATH

Prime Minister Stephen Harper HAS said something about something!

(LifeSiteNews):

"In his strongest statements in support of unlimited abortion on demand in Canada, Prime Minister Harper today told reporters that his government would not only not open the abortion issue itself, but would prevent anyone else from raising it.

Asked by a reporter if Harper could give assurances to pro-abortion groups, who are accusing the Conservatives of engineering a stealth pro-life campaign, Harper said that he could.

"The answer is yes. This government will not open, will not permit anyone to open the abortion debate. Our position is clear," he said, speaking in French.

Another French-speaking reporter sought clarification, asking if Harper was prepared to promise that he would not tolerate the reopening of the abortion debate. "That's absolutely correct," replied Harper emphatically. "It's the position we took in the last parliament. Our position in the future is that this government will not open the abortion debate and will not allow another opening of the abortion debate."

Concluding the press scrum, a Reuters reporter asked, "Why would a conservative government not want some restriction on abortion?" Responding, Harper said: "I've been clear throughout my entire political career. I don't intend to open the abortion issue. I haven't in the past. I'm not going to in the future. Yes, there will be people in the Conservative Party who wish I would and there are some in the Liberal Party who also wish I would. But I have not done that in my entire political career, don't intend to start now. We have a lot of challenges in front of the country ... That has to be the focus of government. And I simply have no intention of ever making that a focus, the abortion question a focus of my political career."

Jim Hughes, President of Campaign Life Coalition - the political arm of the pro-life movement - told LifeSiteNews.com that Harper's statements proved once again that pro-life advocates must vote for the pro-life candidate in their own ridings regardless of the party they represent. Hughes said that he has told people for years that Harper would not protect the unborn. "I'm sorry that there are people out there who have believed that he was waiting for a majority before acting on the issue," said Hughes. "

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

That's it for me folks. Stephen Harper is now officially PART OF THE CULTURE OF DEATH. By his own lips, he could care less that 1/3 of the babies conceived this year IN CANADA will be murdered at the expense of the CANADIAN taxpayer. It is not a subject worthy of his consideration. Worse than that, he supports abortion. He has vowed to 'NOT PERMIT' a 're-opening' of the debate on abortion restrictions. There HAS NEVER BEEN A DEBATE ON ABORTION RESTRICTIONS.



I don't know about you guys, but Cayman is looking good today!

48 And Counting...

Results are pouring in from 40 Days For Life locals:

"..Michele in Colorado Springs reports a car drove up to the clinic and two young women got out — a woman scheduled for an abortion and her friend. The friend called out to the people praying outside the clinic, “I’m with you! Pray for her!” And of course they did just that. The two women went inside the clinic, then came back out and talked. They went back in again, and came back out and talked again.

This time, someone shared a scripture verse with them — Isaiah 49:15: “Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you.” After reading this together, the two young women went home. The baby was saved!

Carol in Toms River, New Jersey was praying with a small group outside the clinic when a young couple walked out, quietly talking to one another. “She was crying,” Carol noticed. “He hugged her and then she began to walk down the steps with a smile on her face and tears in her eyes.”

The young woman looked at the vigil volunteers and said, “I could not do it. I just could not do it.” Still, she was afraid of her mother’s reaction, because it was her mother who was pushing the abortion. She also had concerns that her boyfriend might not be able to finish college. 'But she took the first step in conquering those fears,” Carol said, “and God will bless her.' ..."
....................................................................

Keep up those prayers and sacrifices. God is listening!

Free Speech For Some (read 'for Culture of Death')

It must be really aggravating to some that they have as yet not found a way to apply the 'gag' law to bloggers...

Calgary Herald(my new favourite):

"...The Friends, a group of mostly retired geologists who reject the conventional wisdom that mankind is exclusively responsible for global warming, aired radio ads criticizing the Kyoto Protocol in the weeks preceding the 2006 election. They paid for them through a University of Calgary research account over which Cooper had signing authority, but were not registered with Elections Canada as a third-party advertiser.

In other words, they were charged with violating Canada's gag law, a pernicious piece of Chretien-era legislation designed to limit interest groups from advocating their cause during an election. Politics at election time, it seems, is much too important to let amateurs dabble. Heaven forbid that religious groups should make a point about the morality of legislation, trade unions raise worker issues -- free trade, perhaps? -- or that anybody challenge the global warming consensus.

The law deserves to go, but sadly it is still on the books.

This is surprising. Prime Minister Stephen Harper was himself a victim of it during his time as president of the National Citizens Coalition. In those days, he was highly vocal on the subject, and conservatives had great expectations this heavy-handed restriction to free speech would be among the first pieces of legislative nonsense on his hit list.

We will assume he was waiting for a majority, as none of the opposition parties are anxious to extend citizen participation and therefore support the law. We will also assume that if he gets it, he will scrap the law. It would be good to hear him say so, though.."

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

Yep, there are a few things I'd like to hear Harper 'say something' about too. We're giving him the benefit of the doubt, since we know where the 'other guys' stand.

It's a BIG DOUBT. UPDATE

And why isn't he addressing the one-sidedness of Elections Canada in how they prosecute this law?

Protect Us In Battle

ArchAngels St. Michael, St. Gabriel and St. Raphael today. Check out Happy Catholic for a great round up!

Something I didn't know...

"..You should be aware that the word "angel" denotes a function rather than a nature. Those holy spirits of heaven have indeed always been spirits. They can only be called angels when they deliver some message. Moreover, those who deliver messages of lesser importance are called angels; and those who proclaim messages of supreme importance are called archangels.."

(From a homily by Pope Saint Gregory the Great)

REAL SHEPHERD - Bishop Soto

California Catholic News :

"When two Catholics from Southern California learned that Sacramento Coadjutor Bishop Jaime Soto was to be the keynote speaker at the National Association of Catholic Diocesan Lesbian and Gay Ministries conference in Long Beach on Sept. 18, they decided to attend themselves to see and hear the talk in person. They say what they witnessed was a bishop who “courageously but gently” gave a clear presentation of Church teaching on sexuality...

The National Association of Catholic Diocesan Lesbian and Gay Ministries, based in Berkeley, is a network of local ministries that has the reputation of taking, at best, an ambiguous stance on the moral character of homosexuality and homosexual acts.

But there was noting ambiguous about Bishop Soto’s remarks to the group. 'Sexual relations between people of the same sex can be alluring for homosexuals, but it deviates from the true meaning of the act and distracts them from the true nature of love to which God has called us all,' Bishop Soto said. 'For this reason, it is sinful. Married love is a beautiful, heroic expression of faithful, life-giving, life-creating love. It should not be accommodated and manipulated for those who would believe that they can and have a right to mimic its unique expression.'

At least five members of the audience walked out during the bishop’s address. When he finished speaking, there was general silence -- with only a very small number applauding.

..The chairman of the conference then announced that the bishop would answer questions at a reception that would be held in another room. That led to widespread expressions of disapproval from members of the audience, who said they wanted to be able to express their responses immediately. It was agreed that those who wanted to speak would line up. The bishop was told twice by the chairman that he was free to leave if he wanted -- or to stay and listen. Bishop Soto stayed and sat quietly listening to every response..."

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

A difficult message given in a compassionate and loving way. Christian.

Day 6

Intention:

That knowing the shortness of life, all may value it more deeply.

Scripture:

Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the well. Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.

-- Ecclesiastes 12:6-7

Reflection:

God is giver of all life. Short lived or long lived, human lives are lived out in this world. The metaphors for death are many. But their meaning is clear and singular: all will die. Even so, death is not the absolute end. It is not the end of the story. For as certainly as God gave life, at death the life or spirit that God gave returns to God.

By God, we are created. For God, we live our given days. To God, we return at the end of our earthly days. And with God, we live through eternity. Clearly, all along the way, this gracious, loving God is with us. No human life is random or alone. No human life was created without purpose. Not one human life is without destiny.

All human lives, acknowledged or not, are related to God -- from beginning, to end, throughout eternity. Therefore, in this world, all human lives are to be respected and protected, for their lives are signs of God's sovereignty.

Prayer:

O God, we too often try to live in ways that ignore our coming death. We forget that our days are numbered by You, that at the end of our days your judgment awaits, that You are the Lord of our destiny.

Help us to repent daily, and then to live each day in joyful obedience. Lead us to live in the light and promise of eternity. Prepare us to live fully and sacrificially. Prepare us to die faithfully and hopefully, so that we might live forever with You. Through Jesus Christ, who has gone before us, we trust and hope and love and pray. Amen.

Rev. Paul Stallsworth
President, Lifewatch (United Methodist Church)

40 Days For Life

Life First

These are the kind of youth Obama will NOT be picking up to bring to the polls.

CBC - Too Little Too Late ?

Well, here is John Cruikshank of the CBC admitting what some of us have been saying for a while - the CBC is a political tool for the left with no 'fair and balanced' intentions, in other words an unabashed use of public dollars for partisan gain.
Apparantly they are about to improve... will that save the corporation that has sucked the intellectual life out of Canada, or is it TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE!?

CBC PUBLISHER ADMITS BIAS,PROMISES REFORM:

"..Vince Carlin, the CBC ombudsman, has now issued his assessment of the Mallick column. He doesn’t fault her for riling readers by either the caustic nature of her tone or the polarizing nature of her opinion.
But he objects that many of her most savage assertions lack a basis in fact. And he is certainly correct.
Mallick’s column is a classic piece of political invective. It is viciously personal, grossly hyperbolic and intensely partisan.
And because it is all those things, this column should not have appeared on the CBCNews.ca site...
...Ombudsman Carlin makes another significant observation in his response to complainants: when it does choose to print opinion, CBCNews.ca displays a very narrow range on its pages.
In this, Carlin is also correct.
This, too, is being immediately addressed. CBCNews.ca will soon expand the diversity of voices and opinions and be home to a diverse group of writers with many perspectives. In this, we will better reflect the depth and texture of this country.
We erred in our editorial judgment. You told us in no uncertain terms. And we have learned from it."
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Of course, Mr. Cruikshank has admitted on CBC's behalf, as narrow a scope of 'crimes' as the Ombudsman's report allowed. What is needed is a sweeping reform from top to bottom. Start with television please.(I cannot abide having Peter Mansbridge 'tell me what's important about the news'.)

(h/t SDA)