Discover Happiness

The life of a 22 week old baby saved from abortion

2012-02-03T11:10:00.000Z

On Monday 31st January 2012, a 22 week old baby was saved from abortion thanks to the work of Abort67 in Brighton by showing the reality of abortion. Abortion will end in Britain when Britain sees what abortion really looks like.

At the heart of the Gospel

2012-02-03T11:07:00.002Z

At the Heart of the Gospel demonstrates how the "great mystery" of human sexuality illuminates the entirety of God's plan for human life and gives us an effective program for reaching the modern world in the new evangelization.

Why can't others love me here... as much as they love me here?

2012-02-03T11:05:00.000Z

“And will we overcome? Will we prevail? We have overcome and have prevailed ultimately because He has overcome and He has prevailed. There are days in which you and I get discouraged. On those days I tell myself — I suppose almost every day I tell myself, sometimes several times a day — those marvelous lines from T. S. Eliot's 'East Coker,' where Eliot says, ‘For us there is only the trying. The rest is not our business.’

For us there is only the trying. The rest is not our business. Some people read those lines as lines of resignation, kind of shrugging your shoulders and saying, 'What can you do?' But I read them as lines of vibrant hope. The rest is not our business. The rest is God's business.

Thank God, we are not God. Thank God, God is God.”

-- Fr. Richard John Neuhaus

Precious Time

2012-02-03T11:04:00.000Z

"What is more precious than anything in the world? Time! And what do we waste uselessly and without being sorry? Time! What do we not value and what do we disregard more than anything? Time! When we waste time, we lose ourselves. Time is given by God to use correctly for the salvation of the soul and the acquisition of the life to come. The Lord will call us to account for having stolen time for our own whims, and for not using it for God and our souls."

-- St. Sebastian of Optina

We've all been here: stop abortion now!

2012-02-03T11:02:00.002Z

"Each of us is called to witness to the dignity of all human life. As uncomfortable as it might be, we are called to share our pro-life convictions with our neighbors, friends and families. We can counter the influence of relativism by speaking the truth with love — convincingly, clearly and without compromise. We need not be combative or polemical — but to be serious Christians, we need to be honest. And honesty means telling the truth, in love, about abortion."

-- Bishop James D. Conley

The Wisdom of youth

2012-02-03T11:01:00.002Z

"So often people say that we should look to the elderly, learn from their wisdom, their many years. I disagree, I say we should look to the young: untarnished, without stereotypes implanted in their minds, no poison, no hatred in their hearts. When we learn to see life through the eyes of a child, that is when we become truly wise."

-- Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta — with Julie Marchant.

Unworthy of life?

2012-02-03T11:00:00.000Z

"Long ago, I took a class at a Catholic college in which we discussed life issues, and I recall the teacher saying that the 'choice' of abortion would quickly become an obligation for some women, from society's viewpoint. I thought at the time that this was a bit farfetched, as pro-life as I was and still am. How could the pro-abortion side, so enamored of 'a woman's right to choose' to have her child slaughtered in utero, stand idly by should women be pressured or coerced to do so? But the subtle coercion that is out there takes many forms, from the daughter who is told she'll be thrown out of the house to the woman with disabilities ordered by a judge to abort to the pervasive attitude out there that children with disabilities don't deserve to be born and should die as quickly as possible. All it takes is the belief that there is such a thing as 'life unworthy of life' for these things to happen, and we are much further along that path now than I ever thought we would be in my lifetime."

- Erin Manning, author of http://redcardigan.blogspot.com/

Please visit our websites: www.VoicesForLife.net
and www.FreeProLifeImages.net

And the clock ticks on....

2012-02-03T10:56:00.000Z

"There are two abortions every minute in the United States. Maybe slightly more, maybe slightly less: The gathering of medical statistics has been corrupted by the politics of abortion, in the same way that everything abortion touches gets clouded by falsity. But call it two abortions a minute. Two abortions a minute. Two abortions a minute . . .

An unborn child has been killed, probably, while you were reading this. Another will die, almost certainly, before you’re done. We are slaughtering by the seconds, and the relentless motion of that murderous clock — tick, tock, tick, tock — can drive you mad, if you start listening to it."

-- Joseph Bottum, Editor of http://www.firstthings.com/

Support Komen!

2012-02-03T10:51:00.000Z

Whenever someone makes a difficult public decision, they need support to know that they made the right decision.

Well, the Susan G. Komen Foundation is getting some backlash from deciding not to support abortion giant Planned Parenthood.

Please take just a moment to either call or write the Susan G. Komen foundation and thank them for removing their funding from Planned Parenthood. Let them know that this action will increase your support and good will towards their organization!

Phone: 1-877 GO KOMEN (1-877-465-6636)

Email: news@komen.org

This only takes a second and it is very important! Please call now!

Abstinence: the abortion industry's worst nightmare

2012-02-03T10:49:00.002Z

"[Actress, Kate] Walsh is on the Board of Advisors for Planned Parenthood and loves to help them make money." "She urged Washington University students to boycott a speech by Bristol Palin on abstinence."

“Kate Walsh and her fellow Planned Parenthood drones can’t stand abstinence education because abstinence doesn’t cost anything. Let me make that clear: Planned Parenthood makes its money selling abortions, oral contraception, emergency contraception, long-term contraception, condoms, STD treatments, and the like. When young people abstain from sex, Planned Parenthood doesn’t make any money. Like, at all."

"Abstinence is the only form of birth control that is 100% effective and 100% free. So, if the whole world listened to Bristol Palin and didn’t have sex until they were married and ready to procreate, Planned Parenthood would go out of business. They don’t offer obstetric care if you’re pregnant. All they can do is make you un-pregnant. They don’t treat infertility. They treat fertility.

People who abstain don’t get pregnant, so they can’t have abortions. And they don’t need contraception, so you can’t sell them birth control pills. And they don’t get STDs, so you can’t sell them cures. Basically, abstinent young people are Planned Parenthood’s worst nightmare."

-- Kristen Walker

More pro-life quotes and a plethora of information at www.VoicesForLife.net
More powerful pro-life images at www.FreeProLifeImages.net

Catholic History Walks

2012-01-29T23:23:00.000Z

Come and Enjoy discovering our Catholic heritage

For all these events, there is no need to book - just turn up!

Wednesday, 15th February
2.30PM Tour of Westminster Cathedral. Meet inside the Cathedral by the shop entrance.

Thursday, 29th March
6.30PM. Meet on the steps of Westminster Cathedral after the 5.30 Mass. We will explore the Westminster and Pimlico areas.

Monday, 30th April
6.30PM Meet St Mary Moorfields. Eldon St. EC2. We will be exploring the City of London, its old churches, and Cardinal Newman's birthplace.

Sunday, 6th May
2.00PM Visit to Allen Hall, the Westminster Diocesan seminary. We have tea, followed by tour of the seminary led by teams of students, and then join them for a Holy Hour and Benediction. Come and pray for our future priests.

Sunday, 24th June
1.30PM for 2.00PM start. Meet at St Sepulchre's Church yard (Opposite Old Bailey). Nearest Tube Station is St Pauls. The Martyrs' Walk: A prayer walk through central London honouring the English Martyrs. This is our major event of the year. Please tell your friends and spread the word in your parish!

The Catholic History Walks will be led by Joanna Bogle. Wear comfortable shoes and suitable clothing - we'll be walking whatever the weather.

Just a clump of cells?

2012-01-27T15:20:00.000Z

"The Church should seek the conversion of pro-abortion politicians, but if they remain obstinate they should be expelled from the Church. Catholics are called to defend human life, particularly that of the unborn. The Church’s teaching is clear.
If we don’t challenge public officials who reject this teaching, we leave them in their sins and confuse the faithful.”

-- Bishop Samuel Aquila of Fargo

More at voicesforlife.net

A time to live

2012-01-27T11:59:00.000Z

By George Pitcher

I tried to kill my mother in 1993. I didn’t attempt the actmyself, you understand, but I asked a nurse to increase her morphine dosage toa lethal level, so that she might be washed away on an opiate tide. Atseventy-five, Mum had been operated on for a brain tumour, but the cancer hadspread uncontrollably and they had stiched her up and told us she hadn’t hotlong left. My sister made her comfortable in her house, and when her conditionnosedived, I took the train to the West country and found my sister taking abreak in the garden. It was easy to see why. Mum was unconscious, but takinggreat, rattling last gasps of breath, her body clearly staging one last,hopeless rage against the dark.

When the nurse came that afternoon to change her morphinedrip, I begged her, in tears, to bring this pointless suffering to an end. Thenurse was lovely: patient and kind, but firm. No, she said, she couldn’t dothat, but she held my hand and said that all would be well soon. Given all thefuss recently about nurses offering prayer for their patients, I recall thatshe also assured me that Mum would be “better” soon. It was an act of excellentand professional pastoral care.

She was right, of course – about the morphine dosage, Imean. That evening, the morphine faded and Mum regained consciousness for a fewminutes. We could talk to her, hold her, say goodbye, tell her we loved her.She couldn’t speak, but she struggled to communicate with my sister and me,with her eyes and her smile. And I realized in awe that, in a final, selflessact of motherhood, she was comforting us, rather than the other way round.

I wouldn’t have missed that last exchange for the world and,of course, I will carry it with me, as a comfort and a revelation of themeaning of death, for the rest of my own lie. But had the nurse been able torespond to my earlier pleas for release, we would have been denied thoseprecious fifteen minutes. I shiver when I think of what I could have lost, hada medical professional not saved me from myself.

March for life in Washington 2012

2012-01-26T09:20:00.000Z

This great video shows views of those who attended the March for Life in Washington. It is inspiring to see so many young people at this event every year!

Why I love Jesus and love religion

2012-01-21T23:16:00.001Z

The youtube phenonmenon "Why I hate religion, but love Jesus" has inspired several outstanding responses from Catholics such as the one above. The attempt to divide Jesus from religion in such a dramatic way is a fallacy. Jesus came to fulfill the prophets, not to get rid of them. His ministry makes no sense without any organized religion.

It is extremely important to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. But to have no reference to the Church is to be without a valid reference point and without the institution he founded to continue his work. It is to pay insult to history, to ignore the fact that the Catholic Church is the largest philanthropic organization on earth and large chunks of Scripture have to be ignored or misinterpreted.

There are many beautiful and wonderful things about being a Catholic. Trying to have Christ without the Church is missing out on an essential dimension of the relationship with Jesus. The sacraments are channels of grace with which God pours his blessings upon us.

Northland Family Planning Centers Forced To Disclose Shocking Email Messages

2012-01-21T01:11:00.001Z

CBR recently edited abortion video footage into an abortion industry infomercial and titled the resulting production Angel of Light, which can be viewed at http://www.abortionno.org/index.php/blog/the_most_shocking_graphic_imagery_four-minute_abortion_debate_you_will_ever/. As a consequence, we were sued by the late-term (24 week) abortion business which owns the copyright to that infomercial in a case titled Northland Family Planning Clinic, Inc. v. The Center For Bio-Ethical Reform, 2011, U.S. District Court, Central District of California, Southern Division. The Plaintiffs, a chain of Michigan abortion clinics, claim that CBR has actionably damaged their businesses and injured their reputations by exposing the fraud through which they deceive and exploit vulnerable young mothers and poorly informed voters.

As a result of Northland’s ill-advised lawsuit, CBR has forced the Plaintiff’s abortion clinics to release email messages which shed light on their outrage at having their false advertising exposed and reveal their belief that their predatory practices should be immune from public criticism. Northland’s owner, Renee Chilean, received an email message from another “Abortion Care Network” abortionist who told her our Angel of Light video “… holds you up to public scorn and ridicule and demeans your reputation ….”

Ms. Chilean’s reputation has indeed been “ridiculed and demeaned,” but it is abortion video, and not CBR, which damages her reputation. She replies that after seeing our Angel of Light video, “I am sick to my stomach ….” If she really believes that abortion is, as her narrator says, “the best you can do,” why would she be “sick” that we let her potential clients see what it looks like? Ms. Chilean then added that “I am done crying now and just need to move forward but these people are so hateful and disrespectful I can’t stand it.” But how is it hateful for CBR to show abortions when Northland’s infomercial says abortions are a “courageous” decision?

In another email message Renee Chilean tells this same abortionist that “I know that they [CBR] preach to their own choir but I am worried about this.” She then admits that the source of her worry is the possibility that CBR will use our Angel of Light video for “… anti-D&E legislation.” The term “D&E” refers to dilatation and extraction (or evacuation) abortions in which the arms and legs of babies are torn off and removed one appendage at a time. The baby sinks into shock and bleeds to death. She explains that “They [anti-abortion activists] are looking for new ammunition since PBA [partial-birth-abortion] is pretty much done.” Precisely. And Northland’s lawsuit is giving CBR the perfect forum in which to use that “ammunition.”

Renee Chilean ends by conceding that “… this just makes me sick. But by now I have spent several hours crying and being miserable so I am putting on my big girl underpants and getting over it.” Ms. Chilean’s “underpants” are not the sort of word picture over which we are inclined to linger, but she is right to fear a political backlash as more and more voters see our Angel of Light video. D&E is a viciously savage procedure and most voters who see it aren’t likely to think it should be lawful.

At another point, the narrator of the Northland infomercial we mocked forwarded a message to Ms. Chilean which said: “… it’s despicable what Gregg Cunningham, CBR did ….” How can it be “despicable” to show the public something which Northland’s infomercial says it is an “honor” to do? Another abortionist sent Ms. Chilean a similar message (with copies to the Abortion Care Network) saying: “I also watched [the Angel of Light video] and it was so painful to see such a sincere and good piece of work treated so shabbily. It’s really hard to have to confront these things, emotionally big downers.” It apparently isn’t an “emotional downer” to kill these babies -- just to be caught lying about killing them.

Renee Chilean then repeats that “I am sick to my stomach as are my entire staff.” Why would showing abortion sicken her if abortion is, as her infomercial claims, a “thoughtful” decision? She also says: “This is just wrong and hard at so many levels” and that “This is the second time we have been attacked by an anti-abortion group for this video.” Ms. demands the right to mislead and prey upon and victimize vulnerable young women -- and do so with impunity. She won’t get impunity from CBR. She may have a legal right to live in a twisted fantasy world which transforms the horror of abortion into an act of virtue, but she has no moral right to fraudulently lure others in behind her. Her infomercial says abortion is a “normal experience,” and “sacred,” and uses some variant of the word “good” eighteen times to describe it. No wonder Renee Chilean was furious that we showed abortion every time she lied about it.

Ms. Chilean then reveals that “There is a team of four attorneys working on this [CBR lawsuit]” for Northland and that these lawyers will immediately “ask for an injunction” to force CBR to take down our Angel of Light video. Her lawyers apparently told her that her case was too weak to warrant an injunction because they never petitioned for one. A filing of that sort would risk the embarrassment of the court’s virtually certain rejection of Ms. Chilean’s request. That is apparently why Northland has still filed no petition for injunctive relief, despite CBR’s repeated refusal to stop posting our Angel of Light mock-u-mentary video.

Ms. Chilean concludes one email message with a description of “… the horrible anxiety about what to do and worrying that it would be bigger and more scary than what we face every day.” She has every reason to be “horribly anxious” that she can no longer use the “aroma therapy” and “soft lighting” and “relaxing music” to make her slaughterhouse sound like a day spa. She also expresses the hope that she can “… just end this easily and quickly.” CBR director Gregg Cunningham announced today that “It’s too late for ‘easily and quickly’ now.”

In paragraph 37 of their Complaint Northland speculates that “tens of thousands” of viewers have now seen our exposé video, on our site and many others. By now the number is far higher. In paragraph 25 the Plaintiff says YouTube.com removed the initial concept version of our Angel of Light parody with the explanation that “This video … [is] a violation of YouTube’s policy on shocking and disgusting content.” Our video is “shocking and disgusting” because abortion is shocking and disgusting.

In paragraph 48 of their Complaint, the Plaintiffs allege that as a consequence of our parody video, “… Northland has been injured ….” In paragraph 49 they complain that “The value of the Good Woman video as an educational and counseling tool has been diminished …” by our parody video. In paragraph 50 they whine that as a result of our video, “Northland’s reputation has been harmed ….” Of course it has. The truth always inhibits consumer fraud and voter deception and thank Heaven for that.

CBR’s use of Northland’s infomercial is permitted under the Fair Use section of the U.S. Code and we are planning the production of many additional exposé videos as we find more abortion industry advertising, at home and abroad, which makes false and misleading marketing claims. The more we are sued, the more numerous become the forums in which to expose abortion clinic fraud.

Conceived in Rape

2012-01-20T17:31:00.001Z

There is no arguing with a personal testimony. This is a powerful video.

Recognize the case of the humanity of the unborn child.... and the argument for abortion collapses!

2012-01-17T18:45:00.000Z

This video contains actual audio from the infamous Roe vs Wade decision. When the humanity of the unborn child is understood, the argument for abortion collapses!

National Pro-life youth rally

2012-01-17T15:14:00.002Z

Looks Fantastic!

Solemnity of the Epiphany

2012-01-17T12:25:00.000Z

Solemnity of the Epiphany

8^th January 2012

“Falling to their knees they did Him homage”

Today’s great Feast of the Epiphany completes our celebration of Christmas. It is that moment when the son of God, the Messiah, is manifested and revealed not just to the Jewish world but to all people. As we complete our celebration we don’t do so simply by putting away the decorations for another year but by committing ourselves to a new life in the spirit. We are invited to be resolved and determined in this time to come to be evermore guided by Christ, to search for Him in every part of our lives; our relationships, friends, workplace, home and to be evermore people of deep and searching prayer. Today’s Feast teaches us how to approach the God of love, of how to pray and of how to be gentle.

This last week the newspapers spoke of the 70^th birthday of Stephen Hawking, the great scientist. He has had a remarkable life, in his mid-twenties he was told he would soon die but throughout his life he has battled against illness and frailty. In his intellectual and scientific endeavours he has pushed back the boundaries of research in the areas of radiation, black holes and the understanding of space and time.

The Magi, the wise men, were also scientists – they were astronomers who wanted to know more about space, the universe and the origin of things. They belonged to a great astronomical community in Mesopotamia. They searched for scientific knowledge to better understand the world but as well as a search for reason and knowledge they also wanted to search for God. They wanted to understand the truth, what it means to be human and how we can find our human dignity. They left the security of their home, their community and their scientific lives – full of courage they reached out in humility. Almost certainly they would have faced ridicule and incomprehension and as we hear in today’s Gospel the hatred of Herod was directed against them. However they took upon themselves a journey which led them to a distant stable where they were to fall on their knees and did homage.

In that stable God came in search of them speaking a language also of humility but of softness and with a truth that would penetrate deep into their hearts. As a society and people we pride ourselves on having extended the boundaries of science, knowledge and reason but it can often leave us hard, aggressive and unable to hear the cry of the poor and broken. The search for knowledge can leave us frustrated and not at peace, if there is no faith, no search of a God. The wise men were men both in search of scientific knowledge and reason but also in search of God and of faith.

As they searched and journeyed for God so He came in search of them. As He comes in search of us in Bethlehem so He does on the next feast of tomorrow, the Baptism of the Lord, the Prodigal Son and then of course in Calvary. As the wise men got down on their knees to do Him homage and adoration so God comes to us in softness and humility to adore us. The Christmas decorations may be put away but let us commit ourselves once again to search endlessly, to pray unceasingly and to be gentle and humble so that we may meet Christ despite the opposition and ridicule that may meet us as it met the wise men.

We will never be, or find, the beauty and dignity that God intended us for unless we are ready to do homage to Him on bended knee.

St Patrick's Soho Square.

Why I love religion and love Jesus!

2012-01-17T00:18:00.000Z

Here Chris Stephanick gives a rather sensible response to "Why I love Jesus and hate religion" video that has been extremely popular.

Being pro-life in a culture of death

2012-01-15T17:52:00.002Z

Chris Sparks
From the Jan/Feb 2012 Issue of Lay Witness Magazine

Every Friday during my undergraduate years at Gonzaga University, a group would get together, walk the few blocks to the nearby Planned Parenthood outlet, and pray a rosary in front of it for an end to abortion. When I became president of the club that organized the prayers, I started going along. It was a strange experience—I suddenly came to realize how very alone pro-lifers can be in modern culture, and what a stark witness this really was.

Like a Sore Thumb

We’d be there in front of this place of business, outside the nice looking iron fence, the standard issue parking lot, all tucked in between some other businesses and a children’s center across the street (oh, subtle ironies!). Depending on the season, we’d be kneeling in leaves or deciding if we’d kneel in snow. I followed the lead of the old hands and the very dedicated seminarians who helped keep the practice alive. Sometimes someone brought an image of Our Lady. Sometimes, we’d shift our spot to put some distance between our prayer and the folks who’d bring the really graphic aborted baby images—not our preferred method of pro-life presence. But each time I went, as I had my eyes shut to pray, I’d alternate between focusing on the mysteries and becoming hyperaware of every change in sound around me.

You get nervous, you see. You wonder, “What might someone do to me?” And then you realize that it was a serious thought. This is an issue over which people have killed. Heck, this is an issue that’s all about caring and killing, life and death, blessings or curses, prayers or profanity. I don’t recall hearing anyone actually yell something foul—I suspect that tells you more about my memory than it does about what actually went on. But we got honked at (Support? Disdain? Dunno . . . ), we got yelled at, we were asked if we’d take our grotesque signs and leave (we weren’t part of that group, we explained), someone tried to argue we weren’t allowed to be doing this on that particular patch of ground (we were on public grass, we told them, not private property), and so forth.

I wasn’t one of the truly dedicated, though I should have been. I didn’t go for the late night and early morning shifts for 40 Days for Life as my stoic housemate so faithfully would. But I was there, and I was praying, and I did a little bit, the tiniest of bits to try to witness, to try to bring an end to the slaughterhouse which is the culture of death.

Intolerable Light

But our efforts, like similar efforts everywhere, seemed to be the most provocative thing imaginable to many people. “How dare you politicize prayer?” demanded fellow students in the school newspaper. “How dare you attack women making a very difficult choice?”

We represented a sign of contradiction by doing a very simple thing: kneeling in prayer outside the site of a hidden holocaust, one of many such sites in our country and around the world. We were there, bearing witness to the reality within, and some people could not bear the smallest glimpse.

Prayer sheds light, you see, as does the presence of the Body of Christ. We go, and God goes with us, joined to us by covenant and creed, by sacrament and self-donation. Even the sinners in the Church bear that light within, those marks of baptism and confirmation, the name of God and the Sign of the Cross upon us.

So, of course, our war was not with flesh and blood, but with the powers and principalities of this present darkness—hence the prayers. Hence the pro-life movement. Pro-life, not anti-woman, not anything other than a group of people saying, “It is the most unnatural thing in the world, in human history, for the womb to be the deadliest place on earth, for mothers to pay for the killing of their children, for fathers to insist the women bearing their children seek to destroy the fruits of their wombs.”

Yes, point to the iniquities of pagan days, the worship of Moloch, the service of bloody mouthed gods, the enlightened culture of death in other lands and other ages. Point to these and decry the Christian intolerance of similar sacrifices—you do us honor by such polemic.

The Loneliest Number

“One is the loneliest number,” wrote Harry Nilsson. Almost. The loneliest number is two minus one—the mother bereft of her child by the hand of a person she’s paid for the privilege. Or the father who someday recalls, someday regrets, and weeps.

They are the lucky ones, though. What of the men who never know, who’ve fathered multitudes who’ll never see the light of day because the father went away and the mother just couldn’t handle a kid on their own? What of the women for whom abortion is merely a convenience, the fast food of contraception?

There’s a YouTube video making the rounds online in which a Planned Parenthood supporter hopes for the day when a Planned Parenthood waits on every corner, like Starbucks. An odd image. Grab your coffee, have your kid killed, and get on with your day. Easy!

What’s Next?

Pray for them. As Abby Johnson has repeatedly asked, pray for the doctors, the nurses, the clinic workers, all the Planned Parenthood apparatchiks and wandering children of God. Pray for the children, and for an end to the hideous plague. Go for a walk, wander by one of the clinics, and pray for a while. Prepare a defense for the hope that is in you so when someone asks, you can say, “I am pro-life,” and tell them why. There are reasons, not just arguments from Scripture and tradition. You’ll need the philosophy for the people of other faiths or no faith at all. Write to your elected representatives, write to the President, vote your conscience, organize and work, rally and fight in the ballot boxes and debating forums! Be a lay witness to the Gospel of Life, and to the natural law of life, as well.

And above all else, love. Love the woman in need of a home because a child shall be born, if only she has shelter. The Mother of us all was one such woman—see her face in the faces of her many daughters, and say, “I will love you, I will shelter you, I will aid you and your child.” Love as Mother Theresa loved, and try to end abortion by adopting. Let it be known that you and your husband, you and your wife, will help the women and men who conceive children before they’re ready, or who simply don’t want to raise children. Say, “I will take that image and likeness of God, I will love them for the Christ Child’s sake, for their own sake. I will love them, I will care.”

Above all, love—not hate. We are forbidden to hate them, doctor and clinic worker, mothers and fathers made barren for convenience sake. No—we must love, going down into the depths after them, standing firm in the boat captained by Peter’s heir, capable of sailing beneath the waves without sinking, without drowning, drawing on the lifeline of grace from the sacraments. Out of the depths we can cry to God, and draw Him down there with us, with them, to all the forces of the culture of death, to raise them back up to light and life, to love.

Love, and grace, and prayer—politics, and preparing the ground with reason, and Peter Maurin’s “roundtable discussions for the clarification of thought.” Let us prepare well for this fight, which has been going on far too long, and let us return to the field renewed, refreshed, and ready to press home the advantage of standing for the person, for the truth, for all that is right and good.

Chris Sparks recently received his MA in theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville.

From Catholics United For the Faith
http://www.cuf.org/Laywitness/Online_view.asp?lwID=2112

40 days for life cast the vision event

2012-01-15T12:29:00.000Z

Cast the Vision 2012

This is the Cast the Vision event for Lent 2012: please attend!

Briefing on Assisted Suicide

2012-01-15T12:27:00.000Z

RTL Assisted Suicide Briefing for MPs

Some useful points on Assisted Suicide.

A great danger to the vulnerable

2012-01-15T00:16:00.001Z

If we legalise assisted suicide, we risk having a stridentelite condemning the less fortunate to a premature death. The marginalised, thedisabled, the less articulate and the poor are most likely to be under pressureto accelerate their death. The legalisation of assisted suicide risks harmingthe most vulnerable. It should be rejected on the grounds of public safetyalone.

Baroness Finlay has said, “A law permitting assisted suicideof euthanasia would create a facility for these actions to be taken subject toa procedural checklist and would send a clear message that, if you areseriously ill or incapacitated, ending your life is a reasonable course ofaction for you to contemplate.”

Baroness Warnock put it more clearly, “Pensioners in mentaldecline are ‘wasting people’s lives’ because of the care they require andshould be allowed to opt for euthanasia even if they are not in pain.”

The legalisation of assisted suicide and euthanasia put thesocially marginalised at serious risk. It would create a new category of secondclass human beings. Attempts to changethe law should be resisted.

For this excellent publication see: here

Why the contraceptive mentality is the parent of the culture of deat

2012-01-14T23:57:00.000Z

Why is the contraceptive mentality the parent of the culture of death?

The meaning of sex and the language of the body point towards the total gift of yourself to another person. The first commandment that God gives man is, "Be fruitful and multiply." Sex is for babies and bonding. The Catholic Church is the one encouraging the gift of sexuality in all its fullness. The meaning and purpose of sexuality is the marriage vows made flesh. We make various promises at a wedding: freely, totally, faithful and fruitful. To enter the sanctuary of the bedroom - those vows are exchanged with bodies and not words.
The world inverts the teachings of the Church. An openness to life is changed to a certain sterility.

The Catholic Church glorifies sex. The one flesh union between a man and a woman is one of the least inadequate ways of describing God's love for man. The Church does not have a prudish attitude towards sex, saying, "You shouldn't go so far," but rather says that we are not really going far enough. We need to give our hearts, give our bodies and give children. The Church is the one encouraging the gift of sexuality in all fullness.

Contraception is not a reflection of authentic human life. Contraception promises freedom, safety, practicality and to be scientific. It promises to reduce abortion and AIDS (but these are promises in vain). But contraception has opened the road towards marital infidelity. It has lead to a general lowering of morality. When the consequences are taken away, people take things to the max. Man his finally lost respect for woman. She is now a mere instrument for his enjoyment.

Contraception inhibits ovulation and causes a woman to think that she is pregnant. It thins the lining of the uterus and the pill can cause abortions. It causes around 100 physiological changes to a woman's body. The birth control pill also lowers a woman's sex drive. It also has links to breast cancer. Oral contraception impairs a woman's immune system.

The mentality of contraception causes users to think that they can 'get away with it.' But when the condom or pill fails, they need a back up plan. That is why the business plan of abortion clinics encourages the promotion of contraception: because it is good for business! One former abortion clinic worker said, "We had a whole plan to sell abortions and it was called sex education.... break down their natural modesty, separate them from their parents and their values, and become the sex expert in their lives so they turn to us."
Children that are about to be aborted have been spiritually aborted before they are physically aborted, because the contraceptive mentality was that if they were ever conceived, they would definitely be aborted.

The immorality of contraception is not because it is artificial. The purpose of medicine is to aid the body to function properly. A correct contraceptive use makes the body infertile. This violates the meaning and purpose of sex. There is nothing wrong with controlling births. A couple can use Natural Fertility Awareness. Contraception is a violation of the wedding vows and damages the very meaning of sexuality. One of the greatest gifts to give is the gift of life. With the widespread use of contraception, we have more people than ever having sex and not expecting children. The fruit of this is thinking abortion is the cure. The highest rate of abortions is among contraceptive users.

Vote Pro-Life!

2012-01-14T23:19:00.002Z

"The Church should seek the conversion of pro-abortion politicians, but if they remain obstinate they should be expelled from the Church.
Catholics are called to defend human life, particularly that of the unborn.
The Church’s teaching is clear.
If we don’t challenge public officials who reject this teaching, we leave them in their sins and confuse the faithful.”

-- Bishop Samuel Aquila of Fargo

2012-01-14T23:17:00.000Z

She said "No" ABORTION.
Only weeks after Jenni was diagnosed with cancer, she found out she was 10 weeks pregnant. Doctors told her she had to terminate the pregnancy or stop treatment while pregnant for the safety of the baby. Jenni reportedly did not consider terminating the baby. She decided to forgo radiation and chemotherapy while pregnant.
"Jenni sacrificed her own life, denying chemotherapy, to save her baby. She is my Hero. We need role models like her. She wasn't perfect, but she made a perfect effort for her baby. For her young age, she was much more wise, more knowing, and more valiant than most of us can ever be. And definitely more inspirational than so many people on tv these days" ... this what one of her friend wrote about her

American Life League videos on Planned Parenthood

2012-01-14T23:12:00.001Z

There are a few "services" Planned Parenthood keeps off its list.

Planned Parenthood's history goes back to the eugenic ideals of its founder, Margaret Sanger.

Planned Parenthood claims that only three percent of its health services are abortion services.

Taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood is taxpayer funding of abortion.

abortion is forever

2012-01-14T00:04:00.000Z

"I read a newspaper editorial arguing that abortion is just another surgery, no different from a root canal or appendectomy. But why don't people remember the anniversary of their appendectomy twenty years later? Why don't they find themselves weeping uncontrollably, grieving the loss of their appendix? And where are all the support groups and counseling for those who've had root canals?"

-- Randy Alcorn

40 days for life fundraising banquet

2012-01-11T23:05:00.002Z

Saving lives - inspiring hearts and minds

40 Days for Life
Fundraising Banquet

11th February 2012

International Guest speakers

The guest speakers on the night are the founders of 40 Days for Life movement, Shawn Carney and David Bereit, who will be flying over from the US purely for the banquet

Shawn Carney - Co-Founder of 40 Days for Life

Shawn Carney is one of the youngest and most inspirational pro-life speakers in America today.

Shawn began in the pro-life movement in college as a volunteer and after college was asked to be the Executive Director of the organization he volunteered for, the Coalition for Life.

Shawn’s passion for local pro-life ministry led to rapid growth during his four years as executive director

David Bereit - Co-Founder of 40 Days for Life

David became an outspoken pro-life advocate after Planned Parenthood announced plans to build an abortion clinic in his Texas town in 1998. He helped to start and build a local grassroots coalition that rallied 60 churches and thousands of people together and dramatically reduced abortions in the region. David led the first-ever 40 Days for Life campaign in College Station, Texas.

40 Days for Life Mission

40 Days for Life is a grass roots organisation of half a million supporters

In 4 years the 40 days for life movement has:

saved over 5000 lives
led the closure of over 19 abortion clinics
... and the conversion of at least 63 abortion workers

"This event is set to be one of the best,
with great food and a great social atmosphere!"

Frequently asked questions

Who is this banquet aimed at?

Anyone with an interest in saving the lives of innocent babies.

How much does the course cost?

The banquet is a mere £20 for an early bird ticket. This discounted rate ends on 31st January 2012, after which normal rate of £30 resumes.

How will I benefit from attending?

At the banquet, learn how to...

	Learn how YOU can save lives
	Be a witness to the humanity of the unborn child
	Bring a growing consciousness to the community for life
	Be a mediator of hope
	Be a voice for the voiceless
	Bring hope and healing to those most affected by abortion
	Learn how to take the pro-life message to the streets

;

"Early Bird Ticket!"

Purchase your ticket now to benefit from the early bird ticket price of £20. This discounted rate will end on the 31st January 2012, after which price is £30.

Join a growing revolution! This Event
Could Be a Major Turning Point In Your Life

"Thank you for the opportunity to be part of this wonderful initiative. I feel galvanised at least and 100% committed to continuing to support this work in any way I can. IT has been a life changing 40 days. Deo Gratias!"

- Clare Mulvany

"40 Days for Life Campaign"

A previous 40 Days for Life campaign outside a London based clinic.

If you would like to attend the banquet please call 07947698195 or email 40daysforlifelondon@gmail.com to reserve a place. First come first served. But hurry! There are only a limited number of places available!

Please join our next campaign with hundreds of cities all around the world, starting 22nd February. See 40daysforlife.com/london for more details.

Robert Colquhoun
40 Days for Life London Coordinator

Jill stanek on Pro-life adverts

2012-01-11T18:02:00.000Z

Jill Stanek mentions here about the possibility of pro life adverts at the superbowl.

Her Voice will be heard

2012-01-11T17:02:00.000Z

Back to Life - Her Voice Will Be Heard from Back to Life on Vimeo.

January, 1973 Roe v. Wade declares abortion as a woman's right. Since then an estimated 54 million have been aborted in our nation.

This spring 39 young women, each signifying a year marked by Roe v. Wade will walk over 250 miles from the nations largest abortion clinic in Houston, Texas back to the Dallas court house where it all began to call our nation Back to Life.

WWW.BACKTOLIFEMOVEMENT.COM

Articles about euthanasia and assisted suicide

2012-01-11T14:34:00.000Z

Here are some greatarticles about euthanasia and assisted suicide from the archives

M Beckford, ‘Hospitalsfailing to provide basic care for the elderly.’ (Daily Telegraph, 26 May 2011)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8536172/Hospitals-failing-to-provide-basic-care-for-elderly.html

J Campbell, ‘Stop tryingto kill us off.’ The Guardian (9 May 2006)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2006/may/09/comment.health

J Campbell, ‘AssistedDying: Not in our name’ The Guardian (7 July 2009)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/07/assisted-dying-disabled-terminally-ill

Baroness Campbell et al, ‘OpenLetter from leaders of Disabled people’ Movement in the UK and USA,’ www.carenotkilling.org.uk/?show=775

‘RCP cannot support legalchange on assisted dying

www.rcplondon.ac.uk/news/news.asp?PR_id=310

S Caldwell ‘Now dutchturn against legalised mercy killing (Daily Mail, 9 December 2009)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1234295/Now-Dutch-turn-legalised-mercy-killing.html

S Field ‘Why assistedsuicide has no place in the UK’ The Guardian (22 June 2009)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/joepublic/2009/jun/22/assisted-suicide-uk-nhs

Baroness Emerton ‘ Adangerous road for nurses to tread (The Times, 29 July 2009)

http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/A_Dangerous_Road_For_Nurses_To_Tread.aspx?ArticleID=3302&PageID=12&RefPageID=122

M Cook ‘ Steep Rise in OfficeDutch Euthanasia’http://www.bioedge.org/index.php/bioethics/bioethics_article/9297

D Martin ‘Elderly carecosts soar for millions as councils feel pinch. (daily mail, 25 April 2011)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1380241/Elderly-care-costs-soar-millions-councils-feel-pinch.html

T Ross, OECD: HugeElderly care bill threatens family ties, daily telegraph 22 May 2011

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/8501333/OECD-huge-elderly-care-bill-threatens-family-ties.html

A tale of two anthropologies by Graziano Freschi

2012-01-10T15:43:00.000Z

A Tale of Two Anthropologies

This excellent piece by Graziano Freschi shows the debate about anthropology. It also shows how so much of contemporary moral thinking is opposed to our Christian heritage.

Assisted Suicide media coverage

2012-01-10T15:36:00.000Z

James Reinl hosts a debate for VOR London on new calls for changes to British law to allow the terminally ill to end their lives. The Commission on Assisted Dying, led by Lord Falconer, said there is a "strong case" for changing the law to allow for assisted suicide.

He was joined by some of the fiercest advocates on both sides of the debate: James Harris, of the advocacy group Dignity in Dying, John Wiles, from the Care Not Killing Alliance, and Dr Kathryn Myers, a consultant in palliative medicine.

Dr John Wiles, chairman of the Care Not Killing Alliance, believes assisted
suicide offers people an "easy option".

http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/16142541

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16422545

http://www.christianconcern.com/media/sky-news-dr-peter-saunders-responds-to-falconer-commission-recommendations

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2082255/Lord-Falconer-sham-Commission-lead-13-000-deaths-year.html

Let’s celebrate the new, not see off the old

2012-01-07T11:30:00.000Z

The New Year begins with Father Time, who derivesfrom the Greek God Chronos, more commonly known as the Grim Reaper. Howfitting, that a biased and unbalanced Commission on Assisted Suicide is aboutto report back its findings in the first week of January. The FalconerCommission on ‘Assisted Dying’ is stacked full of euthanasia sympathisers and wassuggested by Dignity in Dying (Formerly the Voluntary Euthanasia Society). TheFunding for the Commission was provided by Bernard Lewis and Terry Pratchett,the latter a patron of Dignity in Dying. It is expected to recommend the legalisationof assisted suicide with ‘strict safeguards’ for those who are terminally ill.

On the 30^th November 2010 it was revealedthat nine of the twelve commissioners were well-known names in thepro-legalisation lobby. The remaining three are certainly not againsteuthanasia. The euthanasia lobby have decided to take the ‘independent’ routebecause previous attempts at legislative change have resulted in large defeatsthrough the standard parliamentary process (148-100 and 194-141 in the House ofLords in 2006 and 2009). The last attempt at legalization in Scotland resultedin a heavy defeat (85-16) for Margo Macdonald’s Bill in 2010.

When the Care Not Killing Alliance and 5 other majorstakeholders declined to give evidence to the commission, Falconer’s Commissionattempted to restore lost credibility. To date, over 50 organizations haverefused to give evidence. Instead, Dignity in Dying contacted its own membersasking them to give evidence to the Commission. The Falconer Commission hasalready been seriously questioned by the British Medical Association (BMA) andthe BBC as being unnecessary, unbalanced and lacking in transparency. The BMApassed a 5 point resolution that undermined the Commission credibility byquestioning its impartiality and independence. Edward Stourton on the BBCSunday programme laughed when he considered how the group could be independentif it was overwhelmingly full of those wanting change.

The pro euthanasia lobby was forced to go down aroute of a private commission when attempts to get a parliamentary committee tolook at the issue failed. The Think tank Demos have provided administrative andresearch support for this group. The hope was that, the conclusions, oncepublished, might influence Parliament. This now looks unlikely.

There are others actively campaigning for the rightto help others kills themselves. Baroness Warnock once suggested in a national newspaper that “if you’re demented, you’re wasting people’slives – your family’s lives – and you’re wasting the resources of the NationalHealth Service” and that “I thinkthat’s the way the future will go. Putting it rather brutally, you’d be licensing people to put othersdown”.

Philip Nitschke, an extremist and self publicist,recently visited the country with a series of seminars instructing people howto commit suicide. He is on public record as supporting assisted suicide fordepressed people and teenagers. Nitschke’s seminars only attract a handful ofattendees, but let’s hope that no one is helped over the edge as a result ofone of his seminars. The BBC in recent years has held 5 major programmessympathetic to euthanasia and none against. This led to a group of MPs lastJuly calling for an enquiry to see if impartiality rules had been breached.This included a documentary with Terry Pratchett showing a dying man’s lastmoments that came in for very strong criticism.

There is some good news in the debate about end oflife issues. Britain has some of the best palliative care in the world. TheTimes of London launched a fifty point plan of how to improve the lives ofelderly people. Some of the ideas were to run care homes like homes and nothospitals, give older people a role in schools and make text on computer menusbigger.

The Royal College of Nursing produced somethoughtful and valuable advice about how to address the topic of assistedsuicide sensitively, acknowledging the status of the law and how to respect thepatient. This included how to respond to assisted suicide requests frompatients and the information in the guidance was valuable and thoughtful. TheDepartment of Health also held a consultation on suicide prevention strategy.

A change in the law would be unnecessary, dangerousand unethical. Requests for euthanasia are extremely rare when the physical,psychosocial and spiritual needs of the patient are met. Less the one in athousand people persistently ask for it. 95% of Palliative Medicine Specialistsare opposed to a change in the law. What is needed is that palliative careshould be extended and further care provided.

Imagine a world where assisted suicide is availableas an option. You have a terminal incurable disease. You have the option ofpalliative care at £1,000 a week or a glass of barbiturates at £5. Would wehonestly see relatives seeing granny living on and exhausting the inheritance,health ministers counting their pennies in a recession, will not be tempted togo for the cheaper option? One in eight current cases of elder abuse currentlyinvolves financial abuse by relatives. Do we really thing that proportion wouldnot increase were assisted suicide to be made legal? Any bill allowing assistedsuicide will carry the seeds of its own extension. If we allow assisted suicidefor reasons of compassion, why deny it to patients who are suffering unbearablebut not terminally ill?

Assisted suicide and euthanasia are dangerous andunethical, and their so called safeguards will not stand up. It is a threat forelderly people and a recipe for elder abuse. For reasons of public safetyalone, they should not be legalized.

"I am the clump of cells. I am the 100%."

2012-01-02T17:34:00.000Z

"The life of every single one of us started at fertilization. Neither you nor I were ever anything other than a human being, from that very instant that sperm and egg joined together. And our law will continue to be absurd and unjust until it recognizes that fact."

-- Edward Mechmann

How to help a friend in a dead end relationship

2012-01-02T17:28:00.000Z

Jason Evert explains how a young woman can help a friend who is an unhealthy relationship.

Jason Evert discusses the question of sexual experience and what's most important in a relationship before an audience of high school girls.

Jason Evert discusses the problem with the modern phenomenon of being "friends with benefits" to an audience of high school girls. In this clip, he explains why a woman who settles for such an arrangement hasn't found a friend, and doesn't benefit from allowing herself to be used.

"Should doctors provide, or refer for, abortion?"

2012-01-02T11:34:00.000Z

University of Ottawa - abortion debate Nov 11, 2011 from Jeannie on Vimeo.

"Should physicians provide, or refer for, abortion?"
Debate between Stephanie Gray (Canadian Centre for Bioethical Reform) and Jovan Morales (Atheist Community of University of Ottawa);
Sponsored by University of Ottawa Students for Life and University of Ottawa Medical Students for Life.

At the moment of fertilization...

2012-01-01T23:27:00.000Z

“… at the moment of fertilization two separate cells form one new life, genetically distinct in every way from every other human being on earth. The color of our eyes, the shape of our hands, even where we put on weight and when we will go bald was programmed into that one tiny cell that we all began our lives as.”

-- National Right to Life

You will find hundreds more pro-life quotes and a plethora of useful information at:
www.VoicesForLife.net

Fertility levels

2012-01-01T23:25:00.000Z

"Because fertility levels are unlikely to rise again to the high levels
common in the past, population ageing is irreversible and the
young populations that were common until recently are likely to
become rare over the course of the twenty-first century.

Pretty soon, the world will not have enough young people to sustain viable economies as the population continues to age. I guess in a few years, Planned Parenthood will have to turn from destroying babies to killing off the elderly … God help us."

-- Susan, author of http://avoiceintothevoid.wordpress.com/

abortion doesn't make you unpregnant, it makes you the mother of a dead baby!

2012-01-01T23:23:00.000Z

"As a nurse I can tell you personally of the pain and anguish that I have seen in women that made a decision to kill a child and then suffered immensely afterwards. The post-abortion syndrome gets little attention and study and yet has tremendous impact on so many women. Speaking with psychologists, the second reason for seeking counseling is the anguish from having an abortion. There really are no winners with abortion despite the celebrations of those that are pro-abortion (I stopped using the term pro-choice long ago as the baby was not given a choice). There is nothing more heartbreaking (and destructive) than seeing a 19 year old coming in the ER with post-abortion hemorrhage. As she is prepped for surgery, the consent includes the potential for hysterectomy if the damage is not repairable. I have seen a 15 year old end up with a hysterectomy secondary to a perforated and infected uterus that was not repairable. This is the true face of abortion. The myriad of unintended consequences do have a horrific impact on a woman despite the levity and dismissiveness and of the pro-abortion fem-ogyists. The life-long guilt and pain cannot be glossed over or delegitimized."

-- Peachey

More pro-life quotes and a plethora of information at www.VoicesForLife.net

Ending abortion in 2012

2011-12-29T00:33:00.002Z

Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, talks about the fighting abortion in 2012. He also talks about how saving lives something that just comes from a title or position, but rather it is because it is fundamentally a matter of human conscience.

Who are the Holy Innocent today?

2011-12-28T23:49:00.001Z

by Mgr Charles Pope

http://blog.adw.org/2011/12/a-dangerous-reflection-on-the-feast-of-the-holy-innocents/

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Innocents, all those young boys in and around Bethlehem, two and under, whom Herod had massacred in order to kill Jesus Christ. We do not know their number or their names, but the Church lists them as among her martyrs. Some have disputed that they should be called martyrs since they did not submit freely for the sake of Christ but were “merely victims” of Herod. Nevertheless, the Church has long numbered them in her ranks of martyrs. St. Augustine says of them:

And while [Herod] thus persecutes Christ, he furnished an army (or martyrs) clothed in white robes of the same age as the Lord…. O blessed infants! He only will doubt of your crown in this your passion for Christ, who doubts that the baptism of Christ has a benefit for infants. He who at His birth had Angels to proclaim Him, the heavens to testify, and Magi to worship Him, could surely have prevented that these should not have died for Him, had He not known that they died not in that death, but rather lived in higher bliss. Far be the thought, that Christ who came to set men free, did nothing to reward those who died in His behalf, when hanging on the cross He prayed for those who put Him to death. (Serm. 373, 3, quoted in the Catena Aurea).

Today we honor their sacrifice. And through our honoring of them, and worship of God, we seek to atone for the many sins against human life, beginning with abortion, and including other forms of murder, and euthanasia, disregard for the safety and dignity of others, mistreatment and indifference to the plight of others, and all other sins against life.

Where does human cruelty come from? Surely it grows in us by stages, for most of us are not born with murderous fear of others. It is “bequeathed” to us by others, and we grow it in our heart. Hatred, rooted in fear, is handed on down through the generations, and the murderous inherit a thinking that there are some who are not worthy of their respect and love. Perhaps they are a threat, perhaps their relatives did something in the past. Perhaps they may do something in the future. Herod was clearly a fearful man, so fearful that he was unmoved by the cries of wailing parents, or of suffering infants. His heart had grow cruel through repeated insensitivity inflicted on others, due to raging and irrational fear.

An Old Latin Hymn says, Crudelis Herodes, Deum Regem venire quid times? Non eripit mortalia, Qui regna dat caelestia (Cruel Herod what do you fear in the King and God to come? He seizes not earthly things who gives heavenly kingdoms). But in the end it IS his fear that drives him.

We know well that Holy Innocents continue to be killed in our world through abortion. And here too, it is most often fear that drives the killing. How will the baby be afforded?! What changes will this baby bring that I cannot take? Perhaps the prenatal tests show a possible defect. I cannot deal with this! What if my parents know that I am pregnant? How will this pregnancy affect my career?! What if my father finds out I got my girl-friend pregnant!? And society says, What of poverty? What of overpopulation? What of deformity? How can we collectively handle all this?

And thus fear drives the current bloodshed. Fear makes us focus on our self, such that we think too little of what we do to others. Abortion thus becomes an “abstraction,” an “issue” that is debated, a “choice.” Abortion, to many, is anything but real. The reality of fetal pain is out of sight and thus less real than the fear. What abortion is doing to our world, that too is less real than the fear. It is the fear that is real, and the fear eclipses everything else. And fear desensitizes, and thus the killing of the innocent becomes plausible, a woman’s “choice,” reproductive “freedom.”

The only solution to fear is trust, faith in God. God alone can set us free from the awful fears that currently drive abortion. We in the Church must be realistic about the fears that many face before the mystery of new life and we must provide reasons for hope and trust. Fear is a cruel task-master and it drives us to do some pretty awful things.

One of the most common lines in the New Testament is “Do not be afraid.” Hope, trust and Faith are important to us on this feast of the Holy Innocents.

There is also this dangerous thought on this Holy Feast.

I’ll explain what I mean by “dangerous” in a moment. But for now consider some biblical facts with me.

When God was drawing close to liberating his chosen people from slavery in Egypt there occurred the order to murder of the all the baby boys among the Hebrews. It is almost as though Satan sensed that God was up to something good, and Satan raged, through Pharaoh, in murderous anger driven by fear. Thankfully the actual numbers were reduced since the Egyptian midwives engaged in civil disobedience, refusing to allow the practice to continue.
At the time of Jesus, when God was preparing to liberate his people from sin, there also occurred the murder of innocent baby boys. Here too, it is almost as though the Devil sensed that God was up to something good and, he once again raged, this time through Herod, in murderous anger driven by fear. Thankfully too this infanticide also ended at some point.
Notice the pattern. When God prepared a great liberation, the Devil, raging in fear, went after the babies. In our time, on a scale as never before, the Devil is going after our babies in murderous anger driven by fear. What is he afraid of? Is God planning something big in the near future? Is there a great liberation at hand? Is there a great advancement of evangelization and conversion in the offing? We can only speculate. But patterns are patterns and Scripture has a way of repeating its patterns and echoing down through the centuries.

Why is this a dangerous reflection? Because I want to make it clear that abortion, the killing of the innocents in our age, is NOT, and never can be, considered something good, or a “positive sign.” Such a speculation might cause some to wrongly conclude that abortion is part of God’s plan or something we should see “positively.” We should not. It must be fought. It is of Satan, it is rooted in fear.

End the Massacre And the Glory follows – I want to conclude by reminding you that the great liberation that followed the past infanticides did not occur until AFTER those murderous rages were stopped. Hence, to follow the pattern established in Scripture, and to see a potentially great and liberating act of God, we must first see an end to the slaughter. Work and pray to end abortion. May the Holy Innocents pray for us!

I put the following video together to honor these young martyrs. The musical setting is by Michael Haydn of the hymn for the Feast of the Holy Innocents: Salvete Flores Martyrum – It is from his Vesperae In F for Equal Voices, Soli and Orchestra.The singers are the Collegium Instrumentale Brugense. This music is available at iTunes. The Latin text of this ancient hymn is quite beautiful. I produce here the Latin text followed by a fairly literal translation.

I would like to call your attention to the second verse and a very charming detail. That verse described these young, two year old martyrs as holding palm branches (the symbol of martyrdom) but as they hold them they play with them, in the way a young child will often fiddle with palm branches in Church. Beautiful and so very human!

Salvete flores martyrum, – Hail Martyr Flowers
quos lucis ipso in limine – On the very threshold of the dawn (of life)
Christi insecutor sustulit – Christ’s persecutor destroyed (you)
ceu turbo nascentes rosas. – like the whirlwind does the budding roses.

Vos prima Christi victima, – You Christ’s first fruits
grex immolatorum tener, – A flock of tender sacrificial victims
aram sub ipsam simplices – right up by the very altar
palma et coronis luditis. – now play with your palms and crowns

Iesu, tibi sit gloria, – Jesus to you be glory
qui natus es de Virgine, – who were born of the Virgin
cum Patre et almo Spiritu, – with the Father and loving Spirit
in sempiterna saecula. Amen. – unto to eternal ages. Amen.

Humanae Vitae: what was true yesterday, is also true today

2011-12-28T20:14:00.000Z

On 25 July 1968 Pope Paul VI issued an encyclical letter called Humanae Vitae. A Latin phrase meaning "of human life". The encyclical letter was written in answer to the development of the contraceptive pill in the 1960s and the new challenges this would bring to sexuality and marriage.

It presents the beautiful vision that the Church has always held of the dignity of marriage and our ability to participate in God's creative work through our fertility.
In fact all Christian churches before the 1930s taught contraception was wrong.
However Humanae Vitae reaffirmed the Church's enduring teaching that artificial birth control is not morally acceptable within this rich understanding of marriage and the creation of new life.
Humanae Vitae is also a prophetic document. Pope Paul VI predicted in the letter that the use of contraception would have four serious consequences:
1. Increased adultery
2. Sexual irresponsibility, especially among young people.
3. Contraception would lead men to use women as sexual tools and so lose respect for them.
4. And finally, contraception would enable governments to introduce population control programs.

Who can doubt that what the pope predicted has now become a reality? With contraception, sex, indeed, has become a casual past-time, just another activity on the dating round-a-bout.

Let's listen to the wisdom and insights of Pope Paul VI's encyclical, Humanae Vitae...

The De profundis of The Unborn Child

2011-12-27T00:00:00.000Z

I am the human being denied the right to breathe,
And I cry not for myself but the legacy they leave.
I am the voice in your conscience that cries from the bleak.
I am the words that the world is not willing to speak.

I am the gaze you will never see,
For I am the child who will never be.
I am the memory you cannot forsake,
I am the life they had no right to take.

But I am the error, the unfortunate mistake
I am the cold shiver that keeps you awake.
I am the touch that you will not feel:
I am the spirit that you cannot conceal…

They may tear me away,
And tear me apart,
But I had a right to life from before the start.

I am the heart that will not cease to beat
I am the footprints without any feet.

I am the innocent you can’t put to sleep.

For I am the tears that the fallen will weep.

Dignity is reserved for those with a name
But heed this my people
So is the blame.

Anon

Act of reparation to Jesus

2011-12-26T19:01:00.002Z

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, animated with a desire to repair the outrages unceasingly offered to You, we prostrate before Your throne of mercy, and in the name of all mankind, pledge our love and fidelity to You.
The more Your mysteries are blasphemed, the more firmly we shall believe them, O Sacred Heart of Jesus!
The more impiety endeavours to extinguish our hope of immortality, the more we shall trust in Your Heart, sole Hope of mankind!
The more hearts resist Your Divine attractions, the more we shall love You, O infinitely amiable Heart of Jesus!
The more unbelief attacks Your Divinity, the more humbly and profoundly we shall adore it, O Divine Heart of Jesus!
The more Your holy laws are transgressed and ignored, the more we shall delight to observe them, O most holy Heart of Jesus!
The more Your Sacraments are despised and abandoned, the more frequently we shall receive them with love and reverence, O most generous Heart of Jesus!
The more the imitation of Your virtues is neglected and forgotten, the more we shall endeavour to practice them, O Sacred Heart, model of every virtue!
The more the devil labours to destroy souls, the more we shall be inflamed with desire to save them, O Heart of Jesus, zealous Lover of souls!
The more sin and impurity destroy the image of God in man, the more we shall try by purity of life to be a living temple of the Holy Spirit, O Heart of Jesus!
The more Your Holy Church is despised, the more we shall endeavour to be her faithful children, O Sweet Heart of Jesus!
The more Your Vicar on earth is persecuted, the more will we honour him as the infallible head of Your Holy Church, show our fidelity and pray for him, O kingly Heart of Jesus!
O Sacred Heart, through Your powerful grace, may we become Your apostles in the midst of a corrupted world, and be Your crown in the kingdom of Heaven. Amen.

The joy of sharing - pay it forward!

2011-12-25T09:45:00.000Z

Generosity works. Pay it forward!

Christmas Blessings

2011-12-25T09:21:00.000Z

3 Priests. 3 Continents. 3 Blessings.

Interview with Bishop Fisher on euthanasia

2011-12-24T00:35:00.000Z

This is an interview with Bishop Antony Fisher on the topic of Euthanasia.

Retuning the Nativity

2011-12-24T00:14:00.002Z

This interesting piece looks at the Scriptural story of the Nativity and rethinks the story.

Lila Rose on 2011

2011-12-23T17:29:00.000Z

Live Action president Lila Rose shares her thoughts about the past year of the pro-life movement. Live Action's undercover videos released in February, showing Planned Parenthood aiding and abetting the trafficking of young girls, sparked national outcry and led to the first congressional vote on defunding the abortion business. In 2011, 61 million tax dollars were stripped from the organization. Learn more at liveaction.org

Janet Smith lecture series

2011-12-23T11:32:00.000Z

This is a collection of powerpoints from our amazing retreat series last summer with the world renown Professor Janet Smith:

Intro 21-57 57-100 101-140 143-173 173-210 211-244 245-288 Experience

Abortion makes lonely toys at Christmas

2011-12-23T11:24:00.000Z

There are some really lonely toys out there this Christmas because their children have been aborted.

John Henry Westen on building a culture of life

2011-12-23T11:22:00.000Z

John Henry Westen talks about love in truth, justifying many of the positions of lifesitenews.com and why they present the articles that they do.

Fred Hammond's powerful personal testimony

2011-12-22T22:13:00.000Z

Gospel singer Fred Hammond has a powerful testimony about the attempted abortion on his life. Astonishing personal testimony.

Sarah Swafford on emotional chastity

2011-12-22T22:11:00.002Z

In this episode of life on the rock, Sarah Swafford talks about emotional chastity. Compelling viewing.

Stephen Brady's defence of the unborn in university debate

2011-12-22T22:10:00.000Z

Youth Defence member Stephen Brady participates in University of Limerick's annual debate on abortion.

Apparent Eucharistic Miracle (2008)

2011-12-22T16:20:00.002Z

Sokółka is a town in north-eastern Poland, close to Belarusian border. The area has a Tatar minority – Tatars are a Turkic people originating with the Tatar confederation in the north-eastern Gobi desert in the 5th centaury. After subjugation in the 9th century by the Khitans, they migrated southward. In the 13th century, they were subjugated by the Mongol Empire under Genghis Khan. Under the leadership of his grandson Batu Khan, they moved westwards, forming part of the Golden Horde which dominated the Eurasian steppe during the 14th and 15th centuries. In Europe, they were assimilated by the local populations or their name spread to the conquered peoples: Kipchaks, Kimaks and others; and elsewhere with Uralic-speaking peoples, as well as with remnants of the ancient Greek colonies in the Crimea and Caucasians in the Caucasus. The three ethnic descendants of the 13th-century westward migration are Volga Tatars, Lipka Tatars and Crimean Tatars, most of whom adopted Islam in the medieval period.

In 2008, during the Liturgy of the Mass in the eastern Polish town of Sokolka, a consecrated host was accidentally dropped on the floor by the priest who was distributing Holy Communion to the faithful. The consecrated host was then carefully placed in water in order to allow it to dissolve. However, several days later a nun discovered that the host remained undissolved. On her further inspection of the consecrated host, she noticed a distinctive red mark on it.

According to an Associated Press report, "Two medical doctors determined that the spot was heart muscle tissue, church officials have said."
Archbishop Edward Ozorowski reminded the faithful present during Mass that, in history, the "substance of Christ's body or blood has become available to the human senses, and this also happened in Sokolka." The Eucharist was displayed in a reliquary during a procession by the town priest while about 1000 of the faithful were present.
While the Church has not yet declared this apparent miracle in Sokolka to be authentic, eucharistic miracles in which the body or blood of Christ becomes perceptible to the human senses have occurred at various points in history, always as a divine call from heaven in order to provoke an increase in faith in Christ's own words: "This is my body" (Luke 22:19).
One of the most well known eucharistic miracles which has Church approval occurred in the eighth century at the Church of St. Legontian. As a Basilian monk, who had doubts about the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, spoke the words of consecration during the celebration of the Liturgy of the Mass, the host miraculously changed into human flesh and the consecrated wine into human blood.
The miracle was witnessed by the congregation. Later, the blood coagulated, but the flesh remained the same. The relics were placed in the cathedral and can be observed even today -- over 1200 years later. In May of 2005, Dr. Edoardo Linoli said that, some years ago as he analyzed the relics of the eucharistic miracle of Lanciano, "I had in my hand the endocardium. Therefore, there is no doubt at all that it is cardiac tissue." Dr. Linoli is a professor of anatomy, pathological histology, chemistry, clinical microscopy, and is the former head of the Laboratory of Pathological Anatomy at the hospital of Arezzo.

We might ask, why do these miracles not happen more often? The answer is simple: while faith is a gift of supernatural grace, it is realized and completed through the free assent of the human will. God does not force faith on his children; rather, each of us, like little children, must abandon ourselves in faith to God. The question is, will we respond to the free gift of God's grace?
Further, belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist should be a rather simple matter for every Christian, since this teaching of the Catholic Church dates to our Savior's divine words of institution at the Last Supper. It is important to remember that Christ did not say the bread "contains my body" or "looks like my body." On the contrary, Jesus said "This is my body." The Risen Lord is truly present in the validly consecrated bread and wine -- in the Eucharist.
So, while the eucharistic miracle of Lanciano, Italy is important, while we rejoice at what has occurred at Sokolka, let us remember we experience an even greater miracle each Sunday as we receive the body, blood, soul and divinity of the Risen Lord in the Eucharist.
There are no words for this act of supreme love which our Savior offers, and which sweeps us up into the very life of the Holy Trinity.

Also, let us not forget that by virtue of the accidents (appearances) of bread and wine remaining perceptible to the human senses after the words of consecration, we too witness a miracle. Although the substance of the consecrated species has changed into the true body, blood, soul and divinity of Christ, we yet continue to see and taste what appears to be bread and wine. This is in itself a miracle. God sustains the appearance of what was before yet exists no longer in substance. Why? While there are several possible reasons, one is that this allows God's children to freely make an act of faith in adoration and love.
"At the Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Savior instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice of his Body and Blood. This he did in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until he should come again, and so to entrust to his beloved Spouse, the Church, a memorial of his death and resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a Paschal banquet 'in which Christ is consumed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us'" -- Sacrosanctum concilium 47
http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=43101

Letter to an abortion clinic worker

2011-12-22T08:47:00.000Z

Dear __________,

Welcome, and congratulations on your new position at the clinic. You have a lot of learning ahead of you, so allow me to make the process easier by filling you in on a few things. This is all confidential, mind you.

First, you have no doubt noticed the protesters gathered outside. The activity you have seen is pretty typical; they mostly just pray and when they do approach a patient, it’s quiet and respectful. The orange-vested escorts we employ aren’t really necessary for the patients’ safety, but they are very necessary for our image. It’s important we continue to advance the fallacy that pro-lifers are violent, or at least unpredictable, despite the fact that the overwhelming majority are respectful and law-abiding.

Pregnant patients will meet with counselors. Luckily, some will know right away they want an abortion. If they’re wavering, our counselors will coerce them into it. May sound harsh, but trust me, it’s for the best. And after all, abortion is our bread and butter. We try not to use the word “abortion,” though. It puts people off. Other words to avoid include “baby,” “child,” and ”mother.”

If they ask about adoption, it’s important we emphasize how difficult it is, and how complicated a process. We need to talk her out of it.

If the pregnant patient doesn’t want to abort, we can’t really do anything else for her. We’re an abortion clinic, not an obstetrician or a counselor.

Whatever you do, avoid telling the patient anything about her baby’s development. If she insists on seeing a sonogram, come find a more senior employee. If she asks about the size or other details of the fetus, tell her it’s just a “blob of tissue.” Always refer to the “products of conception” or “tissue.” Try not to even say “fetus” if you can help it. It sounds too human.

No matter what the gestational age, if she asks to see the sonogram, discourage her strongly. Tell her there’s nothing recognizable to see. We don’t want her knowing the embryo has arms and legs as early as six weeks, and we certainly don’t want her seeing movement or facial features in the later weeks. No matter how far along she is, tell her, “It doesn’t even look like a baby yet.”

The heart starts beating at 18 days gestation, and a heartbeat can be audible not long after. By no means should you ever let the mother hear it. And never ever refer to her as the “mother.”

You may have heard rumors that we sometimes perform “abortions” on women who aren’t pregnant. Look, we have to keep our doors open so that the women who need them can have abortions, and sometimes that requires getting a little creative. If we weren’t constantly up against anti-choice opposition, we wouldn’t have to do this. She never needs to know.

Cases of rape and incest are extremely rare. Cases in which an abortion was necessary because the life of the mother was threatened are even rarer. But try not to let this get around.

By the way, if patients suffer any psychological damage after abortions, it’s not our fault. We’re providing a service, and we can’t hold everybody’s hand after it’s over. That’s what shrinks are for.

You should go ahead and accept now that what we’re doing is killing. You’re going to see blood and body parts. It’s best if you get used to this fact right up front. All of us who work in clinics understand the reality of abortion, but we accept that it’s what’s best for society. Our civilization can’t support all those unwanted children, anyway.

Does the unborn fetus feel pain? Yes. I won’t pretend the procedures aren’t gruesome, but they are necessary. All doctors know an abortion kills a living human. Just don’t go around talking about it.

Remember: if we quit doing this, someone else would take our place. It may help to think of all the doctors and employees like us who are able to support our families — our born, wantedchildren — with the work we do here. Think of all the women who come to us for help, and then get to go on and finish college, have careers, and start real families.

If you start having doubts, come to one of us who’s been here for a while and we can help you get your head straight. And whatever you do, don’t talk to them. They have a way of brainwashing people. Don’t listen to those traitors who’ve had their heads messed up by the anti-choicers.

Remember we’re ensuring the liberty and equality of women, and sometimes that fight can be bloody. If you remember the end justifies the means, you’ll be just fine here.

I’ll remind you once more: all this is confidential. We have lawyers, and we’re not afraid to use them, so even if you end up not working out, keep your mouth shut about everything you see. We are very good at lawsuits and at discrediting people in the press.

But there’s no need for all that unpleasantness. I’m sure you’ll like it here. We’re like one big happy family.

Sincerely,

_________

h/t Live action

St Irenaeus against the Heresies

2011-12-22T08:35:00.000Z

"In the Church God has placed apostles, prophets, teachers, and every other working of the Spirit, of whom none of those are sharers who do not conform to the Church, but who defraud themselves of life by an evil mind and even worse way of acting. Where the Church is, there is the Spirit of God; where the Spirit of God is, there is the Church and all grace" (Against Heresies 3:24:1 [A.D. 189]).

"Consequently, then, Mary the Virgin is found to be obedient, saying, ‘Behold, O Lord, your handmaid; be it done to me according to your word.’ Eve, however, was disobedient, and, when yet a virgin, she did not obey. Just as she, who was then still a virgin although she had Adam for a husband—for in paradise they were both naked but were not ashamed; for, having been created only a short time, they had no understanding of the procreation of children, and it was necessary that they first come to maturity before beginning to multiply—having become disobedient, was made the cause of death for herself and for the whole human race; so also Mary, betrothed to a man but nevertheless still a virgin, being obedient, was made the cause of salvation for herself and for the whole human race. . . . Thus, the knot of Eve’s disobedience was loosed by the obedience of Mary. What the virgin Eve had bound in unbelief, the Virgin Mary loosed through faith"
--St. Irenaeus Against Heresies 3:22:24 [A.D. 189]).

"The Lord then was manifestly coming to his own things, and was sustaining them by means of that creation that is supported by himself. He was making a recapitulation of that disobedience that had occurred in connection with a tree, through the obedience that was upon a tree [i.e., the cross]. Furthermore, the original deception was to be done away with—the deception by which that virgin Eve (who was already espoused to a man) was unhappily misled. That this was to be overturned was happily announced through means of the truth by the angel to the Virgin Mary (who was also [espoused] to a man). . . . So if Eve disobeyed God, yet Mary was persuaded to be obedient to God. In this way, the Virgin Mary might become the advocate of the virgin Eve. And thus, as the human race fell into bondage to death by means of a virgin, so it is rescued by a virgin. Virginal disobedience has been balanced in the opposite scale by virginal obedience. For in the same way, the sin of the first created man received amendment by the correction of the First-Begotten"
--St. Irenaeus (ibid., 5:19:1 [A.D. 189]).

You make the choice. We make a killing

2011-12-22T08:30:00.000Z

"It seems that researchers with an agenda have a hard time coming to terms with the data when it doesn’t support their assumed or desired outcome. Here’s a little fact: When contraceptive use goes up, so do unwanted pregnancies and abortion. Hmmm … Planned Parenthood is always telling us that we need to use more contraceptives to lower the rate of abortion. The facts do not support the theory. But then again, why would they want to reduce unwanted pregnancies? It’s where they make all their profit."

-- Susan, author of http://avoiceintothevoid.wordpress.com/

Nothing transforms life more than a baby

2011-12-22T08:27:00.002Z

"Nothing transforms a life more than the birth of a baby. A woman becomes a mom, a man a dad, a boy or girl becomes a brother or sister. Their lives are never the same. No one has transformed history more than the one conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary."

"Good news indeed! She’s pregnant! His birthday is right around the corner! Get the baby’s room — our hearts — ready! Life will never be the same."

-- Archbishop Timothy Dolan

The magnificence of human life

2011-12-22T08:25:00.000Z

"As we approach Christmas we ought to ponder the magnificence of human conception, gestation, birth and life. Even as we extoll the birth of Jesus, we also do well to acknowledge the awesome and mysterious truth that every human person emerges not merely from a biological process, but from the very mind and heart of God, from His will and as an act of His love. None of us are here by accident."

-- Monsignor Charles Pope

A pro-life Christmas

2011-12-22T08:21:00.000Z

"At Christmas we celebrate the glory of conception, birth and the dignity of human life joined to divine life. God is the author of every human life. Not just the ones we we like, find acceptable, useful, pretty or perfect. All life comes from Him and belongs to Him. Jesus came to us miraculously from the Virgin Mary. And this is a solemn reminder that the initiative is always God’s. It is He who acts.

And though most all of us have been conceived in the more usual way, we too miraculously stir forth from the mind, the heart, the love of God. Human life is sacred. Sexuality is sacred, conception, gestation, and birth are all sacred. The great feast of the incarnation affirms all of this."

-- Msgr. Charles Pope

Fr Paulo Azevedo on cultural marxism

2011-12-22T08:17:00.000Z

LifeSiteNews Latin America correspondent Matthew Hoffman interviewed the will known Brazilian Priest on this important subject in Sao Paulo, Brazil on November 6, 2011 at the close of a Human Life International conference.

Sister Mary of the Trinity shares her conversion story on EWTN

2011-12-21T09:57:00.000Z

In this version of the journey home. Marcus Grodi, Sister Mary of the Trinity, SOLT, Jeremy De Satge and Monsignor Keith Barthlop join the Journey Home discussion rountable in London.

Sex selective abortion testimony

2011-12-21T09:18:00.002Z

A young lady gives her testimony of almost being aborted through a sex selective abortion. A Very Touching and Powerful, Take a look.

With this ring

2011-12-21T00:17:00.000Z

A beautiful song by Amanda Vernon called with this ring. How amazing when beauty and truth sing in symphony!

I will wait for you

2011-12-21T00:14:00.000Z

A beautiful video about waiting.

October Baby

2011-12-20T23:39:00.000Z

This film looks superb and exciting. I am warmly looking forward to watching it next year. It seems to be based on the life of Gianna Jessen.

Happy Christmas from Youth Defence

2011-12-20T11:23:00.002Z

This great video shows the gift of human life in the womb. It shows why we should protect it and cherish it.

Babies don't choose abortion

2011-12-17T10:44:00.000Z

“Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote… that
he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country.”

- Founding Father Samuel Adams

Fatherhood begins in the womb

2011-12-17T10:41:00.000Z

"In the early ‘60s, politicians raised the alarm about a 25% fatherlessness rate in the black community. Today, 41% of all U.S. children are born to unmarried women: 35.7% of white children and an astounding 72.3% of black children.

This is a nationwide family crisis. Abortion has taken the place of fathers. According to the CDC, 84% of women who have abortions are unmarried.

'When a child is conceived, a father is born,' says Ryan Bomberger, Chief Creative Officer of The Radiance Foundation, a national public speaker and father of four. 'The abortion industry has created a culture of abandonment. Responsibility has become someone else’s concern, and death the solution to ‘unplanned’ pregnancies – the natural result of sexual behavior. There’s nothing natural about an industry that generates over $200 million annually by killing a child left defenseless by the absence of a father.'”

-- TooManyAborted.com

He came as a baby

2011-12-17T10:39:00.002Z

“There is in fact, a huge force, a tremendous power for love being neglected, not being used, at the time when it is needed as never before and when every sign seems to be pointing to it and challenging it as the only answer -- the power of the Infancy of Christ.

The Infant Christ is the whole Christ. Christ was not more God, more Christ, more man, on the Cross than He was in His Mother’s womb. His first tear, His first smile, His first pulsation in the womb of His Mother, could have redeemed the world.”

-- Caryll Houselander, The Passion of the Infant Christ

Prenatal screening

2011-12-17T10:37:00.002Z

‎"Offering prenatal screening as a routine procedure communicates a message that a woman is conditionally pregnant, until she is told there is 'nothing wrong' with the baby -- until the fetus is certified as 'normal' -- or it is the 'right sex'. This approach contravenes our concept of parental love – that it is unconditional - that we love our children just because they are our children.

The societal level message we will unavoidably be delivering is that 'We don’t want you in our society unless you measure up to a certain genetic or other standard. You are only a potential member, until you’ve passed the admission test that we are willing to pay for with our tax dollars and implement'."

"And, how will women who refuse screening be regarded? What will be the impact on families who 'choose' not to abort when 'abnormalities' are discovered? Will they be seen as socially irresponsible? That belief, in itself, creates a climate of coercion not to proceed with the pregnancy.

Perhaps, in deciding about the ethics of prenatal screening we should recall it’s true for all of us that 'the well are only the undiagnosed sick' and we are thankful that no one 'deselected' us."

-- Margaret Somerville

Prayer to patroness of unborn children

2011-12-17T10:35:00.000Z

Virgin of Guadalupe, Patroness of unborn children, we implore your intercession for every child at risk of abortion. Help expectant parents to welcome from God the priceless gift of their child’s life.

Console parents who have lost that gift through abortion, and lead them to forgiveness and healing through the Divine Mercy of your Son.

Teach us to cherish and to care for family and friends until God calls them home. Help us never to see others as burdens.

Guide our public officials to defend each and every human life through just laws. Inspire us all to bring our faith into public life, to speak for those who have no voice.

We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who is Love and Mercy itself.
Amen.

Chaput on the Pro-life movement

2011-12-17T10:33:00.000Z

"The pro-life movement needs to be understood and respected for what it is: part of a much larger, consistent, and morally worthy vision of the dignity of the human person. You don’t need to be Christian or even religious to be 'pro-life.' Common sense alone is enough to make a reasonable person uneasy about what actually happens in an abortion. The natural reaction, the sane and healthy response, is repugnance.

What makes abortion so grievous is the intimacy of the violence and the innocence of the victim. Dietrich Bonhoeffer — and remember this is the same Lutheran pastor who helped smuggle Jews out of Germany and gave his life trying to overthrow Hitler — wrote that the 'destruction of the embryo in the mother’s womb is a violation of the right to live which God has bestowed on this nascent life. To raise the question whether we are here concerned already with a human being or not is merely to confuse the issue. The simple fact is that God certainly intended to create a human being and that this nascent human being has been deliberately deprived of his life. And that is nothing but murder.'”

-- Archbishop Charles J. Chaput

“I used to be pro-choice.”

2011-12-17T10:29:00.000Z

"As God is famous for doing, I opened the door an 1/8 of an inch; He blew it off the hinges. I forced myself to read through the Catechism and Evangelium Vitae. All the while, I prayed that if I was missing something, I would see it. There was so very much to see. I prayed for a well-formed conscience. That prayer softened my heart. After much soul searching and many hours spent in prayer and reflection, I saw the beautiful truth of these words:

'As far as the right to life is concerned, every innocent human being is absolutely equal to all others. This equality is the basis of all authentic social relationships which, to be truly such, can only be founded on truth and justice, recognizing and protecting every man and woman as a person and not as an object to be used.' (EV, 57)

This is the kind of statement that either is true, or is not true. It finally became that clear to me. It was the beginning of a fundamental shift in my attitude about the purpose of the human person, and the primacy of the social teaching of the Church as the thing that forms and guides my beliefs, choices, and attitudes."

- Sarah Babbs

We Manufacture Babies Now, and Business is Booming...

2011-12-17T10:27:00.000Z

"The Republican presidential candidates have agreed lately that one of America’s big problems is that we don’t manufacture things here anymore. That’s not entirely accurate. We manufacture babies now, and business is booming, both for the makers and the destroyers. One of the women featured in that hideous NY Times magazine story, 'The Two-Minus-One Pregnancy' articulated it perfectly:

'If I had conceived these twins naturally, I wouldn’t have reduced this pregnancy, because you feel like if there’s a natural order, then you don’t want to disturb it. But we created this child in such an artificial manner – in a test tube, choosing an egg donor, having the embryo placed in me – and somehow, making a decision about how many to carry seemed to be just another choice. The pregnancy was all so consumerish to begin with, and this became yet another thing we could control.'

We kill our babies, but we add unthinkable insult to unimaginable injury by denying them their humanity. We call them blobs of insentient tissue; parasites; invaders. But worst of all, we call them unwanted, even after we've gone to ridiculous lengths to manufacture them. We order 'em up, and we order 'em killed."

- Jennifer Hartline

One of the Spiritual Works of Mercy, Admonishing the Sinner

2011-12-17T10:25:00.003Z

“The prophet Ezekiel tells us that we are to be watchmen for each other, warning the sinner to turn away from his wicked ways, that he may live. Ezekiel says that if the sinner converts, we share the reward, but that even if he does not convert, we will save ourselves by warning him. This is especially true when it comes to dissuading people from abortion. Abortion supporters tell us we should mind our own business, but the Word of God tells us that warning the sinner is our business. This is also called fraternal correction, and is one of the spiritual works of mercy, admonishing the sinner. John Paul the Second wrote in The Gospel of Life, ‘God has entrusted the life of every individual to his or her fellow human beings.’”

- Fr. Frank Pavone

The Spiritual battle inside of the Church

2011-12-17T10:22:00.000Z

“The spiritual battle does not just exist outside of the abortion clinics; the war is raging inside the churches as those who call themselves followers of Christ continue to ignore this battle. The spirit of apathy is alive and well inside of churches and it is winning.

Can you imagine if those of us who called ourselves Christian and claimed to be pro-life actually stood up and said, ‘NO MORE'? What if the pastors and priests led their congregations to the gates of hell, the killing centers, and got on their faces before God to cry out about this blood being spilled in the streets? What if every single person in each city where these death camps existed marched to the front doors and said, ‘NO MORE'?”

“As we enter the 40th year of decriminalized child killing in America it is time for Christians to break off the chains of 40 years of apathy and rise up, stand true and cry out for the abolition of abortion. ARE YOU WITH US?”

-- Bryan Kemper

Life and flowers

2011-12-17T10:20:00.000Z

When we plant a rose seed in the earth, we notice it is small, but we do not criticize it as rootless and stemless.

We treat it as a seed, giving it the water and nourishment required of a seed.

When it first shoots up out of the earth, we don’t condemn it as immature and underdeveloped, nor do we criticize the buds for not being open when they appear.

We stand in wonder at the process taking place, and give the plant the care it needs at each stage of its development.

The rose is a rose from the time it is a seed to the time it dies. Within it, at all times, it contains its whole potential.

It seems to be constantly in the process of change: Yet at each state, at each moment, it is perfectly all right as it is.

A flower is not better when it blooms than when it is merely a bud; at each stage it is the same thing — a flower in the process of expressing its potential.”

-- W. Timothy Gallway

Prayer Procession

2011-12-17T09:43:00.000Z

Prayer Procession

PROCESSIONAL PRAYER VIGIL LED BY THE FRANCISCAN FRIARS OF THE RENEWAL

The next vigil at the BPAS abortion centre, 32-36 Romford Road, Stratford, E15 4BZ,
will be held

ON 14TH JANUARY, 2012
FROM ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI CHURCH, GROVE CRESCENT ROAD,
STRATFORD, E15 4HT.

8.45AM MASS AT ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI CHURCH
9.30AM PROCESSION TO BPAS CENTRE
11.45AM RETURN PROCESSION WITH PRAYERS AND HYMNS
12.15PM BREAK AND LUNCH

Telephone: 020 8252 3109

E-mail: info@hgpi.co.uk
Web: www.hgpi.co.uk

Christian Bale attacked by Chinese Guards

2011-12-17T09:31:00.000Z

The Oscar winner and Batman star Christian Bale was in Beijing to promote a movie about 13 young prostitutes set during Japanese army's brutal rampaging of China's wartime capital, known in the West as the "Rape of Nanking."

Overcoming pornography

2011-12-17T08:21:00.000Z

Catholic Answers chastity speaker Matt Fradd discusses pornography addiction and how to overcome it.

Matthew Fradd is Australian by birth and Catholic by choice. After experiencing a profound conversion at World Youth Day in Rome in 2000, Matthew committed himself to inviting others to know Jesus Christ and the Church He founded. As a missionary in Canada and Ireland, Matthew proclaimed the Gospel to over ten thousand teens and young adults. Matthew has also served the Church through full-time lay ministry in Australia, Ireland, Canada, and Texas.

Matthew has been seen or heard on the BBC, EWTN, The Irish Morning Show, and Catholic Answers Live, where he has shared his personal story of sin, redemption, and healing to people all over the world.

Recently, Matthew, his fearless Texan wife, and their three beautiful children (Liam, Avila, and baby on the way) moved to sunny San Diego where Matthew now works as an Apologist and Speaker with Catholic Answers. Matthew best demonstrates his infectious passion for the faith when he speaks about the many wounds that pornography inflicts, the healing that Christ offers in the Sacraments, and the freedom that the Church proposes in Her teachings on the virtue of chastity.

He Said, She Shred

2011-12-17T00:50:00.001Z

American Life League explains the miscarriage of justice in Kansas and calls for Kathleen Sebelius' resignation.

A course on the spiritual life by Jean Khoury

2011-12-13T00:44:00.000Z

A course which provides a great opportunity to transform and deepen your spiritual life is being offered by Jean Khoury, founder of the School of Mary.

Jean Khoury, author of many articles and books on spiritual life including the CTS book Lectio Divina, has lectured worldwide on spiritual life and has a unique ability of unravelling 2000 year of spiritual tradition in a refreshingly modern way.

The course An Initiation to Spiritual Life, which has received the blessing and support of Archbishop Peter Smith of Southwark diocese, offers concrete and practical steps to aid a person towards a deeper spiritual life and ultimately to union with God. Its goal is the empowerment of Christians to fully respond to the call to holiness. The course is given under the patronage of Our Lady, who has at the heart of her mission, the promotion of a fuller and deeper spiritual life of every human being.

You can now sample the first lecture of the course online!
Please visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knb0Ny66Kbk and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMO_I_oAbrY&feature=related

Information about The School of Mary and the contents and structure of the Initiation to Spiritual Lifecourse can be found on the website: http://www.amorvincit.com

The course, currently taught in Italy, France and Egypt, is now being offered to English speakers. Should you be interested in this unique opportunity, please could you register your interest by Friday 16th December 2011 (email Karim kbelbachir@yahoo.co.uk or Leonora Paasche: leonorapaasche@aol.com).

I look forward to hearing from you.

With kind regards and prayers

Leonora Paasche

Archbishop Nichols on Theology of the Body

2011-12-12T23:21:00.000Z

Cardinal Hume's 1980 Synod Intervention from Catholic Church (England/Wales) on Vimeo.

Archbishop Vincent Nichols highlights paragraph 31 of Familiaris Consortio on which Cardinal Hume had some influence and draws attention to Pope John Paul II’s teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Face the truth

2011-12-12T23:14:00.001Z

Face the Truth is a bold public initiative that tears the mask off of "choice" and shows the truth about abortion. Truth Tour staff and participants explain the motivation behind these Tours and address some common objections.

See why this campaign is so desperately needed, and get an idea what it would be like to join a Face the Truth Tour. Get more information -- including how you can get involved -- at:

http://prolifeaction.org/truth

No Greater Joy

2011-12-12T23:11:00.002Z

The most important work we do in the pro-life movement is to offer abortion-bound women a real choice: the opportunity to choose LIFE for their babies.

That's what SIDEWALK COUNSELING is all about. In "No Greater Joy" you will meet some of the compassionate men and women working in this crucial pro-life ministry, and some of the parents they have helped to choose LIFE.

Learn more about sidewalk counseling here:

http://prolifeaction.org/sidewalk

Promoting Theology of the Body in your local community

2011-12-12T16:01:00.001Z

How to make the teachings of Theology more accessibleto your community or social circles:

1) Thepower the this teaching comes in the following manner:

-personal and/orgroup study and then discussion (light of reason)

-personal prayer (contemplationof the heart) à

-personalcommitment to ACT (missionary zeal)

2) Thisis how it works and this is a sure proof method you can begin using:

-Begin studycircles on the Subject in parish or at your home

-This immediatebrings up the next subject for a European:

· Does there exist an understandabletranslation/commentary on TOB? What languages?

· Do my circles speak English?

· If not then this is the first startingpoint. Most likely there are some materials that DO exist already in yourlanguage.

(Perhapswe could put together contacts on this?)

Ongoing Discussion and Prayer:

Missionary Churchneeds to share this à build Community

· One day workshops for bigger groups

· Conferences (Gaming, London, US)

· One day/weekend retreats

· Pilgrimages

Clergy

What is an easyway to make it accessible to priests who are too busy?

1) Startworking with priests that know the Teaching

2) Organizea priest workshop for those who do not

3) Talkto Bishops who are open to it

Reflection

These insightful words of our present Holy Father place us in thevery context that God allowed us to live in these present times:

The deepest poverty is the inability of joy, the tediousness of alife considered absurd and contradictory. This poverty is widespread today, invery different forms in the materially rich as well as the poor countries. Theinability of joy presupposes and produces the inability to love, producesjealousy, avarice -- all defects that devastate the life of individuals and ofthe world.(December 12, 2000
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger)

My task in 15 minutes isto assure all of you especially from the non English speaking world of Europethat Theology of the Body and the ability of joy that flows from it cangrow and must grow in your own catholic community wherever God hasplaced us. If the Holy Spirit is asking anything us in these days it is firstto be profoundly grateful for such a teaching and secondly to ask ourselves againlike good followers of Christ: if Christ has loved me so much and showsme so again through this teaching, then Christ what am I going to do for you?

Wwhat are we going to doto share it more effectively our own personal circles?

These brief reflectionswere gathered based on my experiences of teaching and preaching Theology of theBody both Ireland and England for 7 years and just these last years in theUS. They are by no means exhaustive buthopefully will give you some ideas on how to overcome the anxieties: “How am Igoing to make this happen with so many obstacles back home, my friends/familyback home are going to think that I am crazy.”

Let’s begin with thecritical but very practical question again:how are we going to make this teaching more accessible to a broader audience,maybe even to people we do not find in Church on Sunday, which is most ofEurope from what I understand. As mostof us here present know the power of the teaching comes to us in the followingmanner:

a) Webegin reading either the original text or some commentary either by ourselvesor with others. In other words personal reflection and study so that the lightof the teaching is exposed.

b) Thenwe notice that it moves us to pray more or to pray about what we haveread. The heart gets involved and we godeeper.

c) Finallywe begin sharing this experience, this journey with others and we findourselves desiring to make a commitment to share it with more people because ithas profoundly touched us and in many cases even starting a healing process inus.

Summary:Study, prayer, and action (apostolic response)

Thisis what God is asking of us right now: Study, pray, and give it to others. We can do this with our families, with ourparish, with our school, with friends, with our work mates. It is a simpletemplate.

A onepage summary on a how to begin something more formal like an apostolate foryour parish or even for your diocese is available in the back for anyoneinterested.

Language should not be abarrier. Theology of the Body existsaccording to my recent inquiries in about 9 different languages if not more.

From these personal studyand prayer circles you will soon go to other such like activities as is provenby in the US:

· One day workshops for bigger groups

· National and International conferences

· (Gaming Austria 2010, London June 2011,Ireland 2007 and 2008, and the US June 2010 and more)

· One day/weekend retreats on this subject

· Pilgrimages (like the one I am leadingright now!)

These are all wonderfulways that Theology of the Body has taken hold of the heart our MissionaryChurch and changed many lives.

Finally a word aboutpriests and this teaching. Pope Benedictrefers to this generation as the creative minority and so it is critical that weare creative in our attempts to bring our beloved priests to thisteaching. Given the sacramental power oftheir priesthood and the office they hold they are sources of grace for all thelay faithful who come to them especially on Sunday’s to be fed by the word andthe Eucharist. With Theology of the Bodyfirmly in their hearts they will be apostles of TOB in the most unprecedentedway as witnessed by many in the US.

What is an easy way tomake it accessible to priests who are too busy?

1) Startworking with priests that know the teaching, support them, love them.

2) Withtheir help organize a priest workshop for those who do not know the teaching

3) Talkto the Bishops in your country that are open to it.

4) Keepknocking on the door. Perseverance!

To close this reflection:‘Be not afraid!” Our modern world with all its social networking has made theaccess and sharing of information lightening quick regardless of the distancesthat separate us. Those of us who areahead of your in experience are willing to do all we can to help you make ithappen in your own communities, cities, country!

So I end where I began: wewant our brothers and sisters to experience joy, we want to break through thisterrible inability to joy and therefore inability to love. I end with thesewords from Successor of Peter who encourages us but warns us on just how to dothis:

We can see a progressiveprocess of de-Christianization and a loss of the essential human values,which is worrisome......This is why we are searching for, along with permanent and uninterrupted andnever to be interrupted evangelization, a new evangelization, capable ofbeing heard by that world that does not find access to "classic"evangelization. Everyone needs the Gospel; the Gospel is destined to all andnot only to a specific circle and this is why we are obliged to look for newways of bringing the Gospel to all....Yet another temptation lies hiddenbeneath this -- the temptation of impatience, the temptation ofimmediately finding the great success, in finding large numbers. But this isnot God's way. For the Kingdom of God as well as for evangelization, theinstrument and vehicle of the Kingdom of God, the parable of the grain ofmustard seed is always valid (see Mark 4:31-32).

The Kingdom of God always starts anew under this sign. Newevangelization cannot mean: immediately attracting the large masses that havedistanced themselves from the Church by using new and more refined methods. No-- this is not what new evangelization promises.

New evangelization means: never being satisfied with the fact that fromthe grain of mustard seed, the great tree of the Universal Church grew; neverthinking that the fact that different birds may find place among its branchescan suffice -- rather, it means to dare, once again and with the humility ofthe small grain, to leave up to God the when and how it will grow (Mark4:26-29).

H/T Theology of the Body Conference, Rome - Fr Martin Connor

Course on Marriage and Family at Marvyvale

2011-12-11T11:58:00.000Z

A new course has just begun at the Maryvale Institute in Birmingham, an international Catholic distance-learning College. It is an MA programme in Marriage and Family based on the teaching and vision of John Paul II (especially his Theology of the Body) drawn up in close collaboration with the John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family in Rome. The new MA programme runs via distance learning on somewhat similar lines to Open University courses and promises to be a really exciting and innovative way to bring the wisdom and beauty of John Paul II’s teaching to others.

The Maryvale Institute was also the home of Blessed John Newmanin 1846 after his conversion when he lived there with a small community. Maryvale is also a former seminary (1794-1838) and orphanage (1851-1980) run by the Sisters of Mercy. It houses the historic and beautiful Chapel of the Sacred Heart from its seminary period and has also today houses a convent for Bridgettine sisterssince 1999.

The new MA pathway “seeks to develop an ‘adequate anthropology’ through the study of God’s plan for marriage and family” (seepathway No. 6 here). It is therefore interdisciplinary and could be of interest to students from a wide variety of backgrounds such as teachers, priests, youth workers, those involved in marriage care, medicine or family law.

H/T Witness to love and Bridges and Tangents

40 days for life Banquet

2011-12-11T11:53:00.001Z

40 days for life London is organizing a Banquet on Saturday 11th February 2012! Save the Date!

Shawn Carney and David Bereit, the founders of 40 days for life will be our special guests of honour for the event. We will be blessed to have their company for 3 days surrounding this time and are planning additional events.

Since starting 40 days for life in 2007 on a national basis, Shawn and David have built a grassroots organization of 500,000 people, organized campaigns resulting in the closure of 19 abortion clinics, the conversion of 63 abortion workers and more than 5,000 lives have been saved from abortion as a result of campaigns.

Their visit to the UK could place a pivotal moment in the ending of abortion in our country!

We have 250 places for the Banquet.

If you are interested in hosting a table or attending, please email 40daysforlifelondon (at) gmail.com to register your interest. We will not be selling individual places until 11th January for the event (if there are any left).

Recently it was announced that there was a vulgar campaign promoting the morning after pill over Christmas.

In response, we have our own very special present: hours of talks on Theology of the Body which is available here:
http://tobinternationalsymposia.com/
http://tobinternationalsymposia.com/?page_id=16
The talks from the London conference have only just been made available online, and provide hours of outstanding teaching!

Finding joy

2011-12-09T18:11:00.000Z

In 2000, the then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, made the following comment: "The deepest poverty is the inability of joy, the tediousness of a life considered absurd and contradictory... the inability of joy presupposes and produces the inability to love, produces jealousy, avarice -- all defects that devastate the life of individuals and of the world." On the third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday, the Church calls all of us to remember the importance and the power of joy (gaudete) in our lives. It is truly our singular duty to bring joy into this world which is steeped in so much spiritual poverty. The Prophet Isaiah could not say it more directly to us: "He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor." If I do not first find joy in my own life, in my very spirit, I will be unable to give this joy to others.The key to finding this joy begins with prayer.

St Paul, in the second reading, calls us to "pray without ceasing," in other words, be connected to the spirit of God by developing a more "listening" demeanor in all things. Blessed John Paul II called this listening demeanor, "receptivity." We are all called to a deeper and more profound "receptivity" of the presence of God in our life. Given the extreme activism of our world, we fall into thinking that with prayer we need to be "doing" something. Yet quickly we find that perhaps "It is not working." "Nothing is happening." "I do not sense the presence of God even with all my efforts." Where are we to find this joy? Perhaps rather than busily "looking for it" in our lives, let's just have joy find us. Let's take the joys that come to us day by day in the little things and "receive." True joy comes in first recognizing that we have received so much and this leads us to give thanks. Again the second reading beckons us "to give thanks in all circumstances" and immediately after says, "Do not quench the Spirit." God wants to give us so much, but we often are not receptive to His giving and to the movements of the Spirit within us, because things in our life are just too hectic. There is little quiet reflection and almost no solitude. How can we listen if there is so much noise and how can we receive what the Spirit wants to give if we are not listening?

Mary teaches us the ways of receptivity and joy, and this is why the Advent season is a very "Marian" season. This is so, not just because of certain important Marian feast days in Advent, but because of the amazing example of the listening and contemplative power of Mary. In her own words fromthe responsorial psalm, she witnesses to joy bursting forth from gratitude in prayer: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior." Rather than focusing on what is not "right in my life," let's bring our attention to all the blessings. We all have something we can be thankful for, don't we?

These days of Advent call us to hope, to a heightened expectation of God coming into the world. He comes to us out of sheer love, to bring us back to him. We are not alone. He is Emmanuel, God with us. "Brothers and Sisters, rejoice always."

H/T Fr Martin Connor

Marriage Talk

2011-12-09T14:10:00.000Z

Talk Marriage

Talk Marriage

A panel discussion to promote marriage and family

Why should I come?

Britain needs to rediscover the foundation on which families and society are built - a mn and woman married for life. You need to be part of this, either for your own marriage or for others

Speakers:
Les Isaac, Street Pastors
Steve and Ann Clifford, Evangelical Alliance
Edmund Adamus, Catholic Diocese of Westminster
John and Regula Fransham, Bruderhof

Canada debates legalization of assisted suicide

2011-12-09T11:30:00.000Z

An all party group of Canadian MPs on palliative andcompassionate care have produced a valuable report on palliative care andfamily caregiver support. The report also has strategies proposing suicideprevention and the reduction of elder abuse. Not to be forgotten: care of vulnerableCanadians recommends thedevelopment of national standards for quality palliative care, a model ofhealthcare delivery taking into account the geographical and cultural diversityof the nation and establishing a palliative care secretariat to conduct andsupport research. The Canadian Cancer Society has applauded the recommendationsof the report and urges the government to take action.

This news has come at a time when the Royal Society ofCanada released a report urging the federal government to legalize assistedsuicide in Canada. The RSC report believed that decriminalization would not besubject to abuse or a development from voluntary to non-voluntary euthanasia. TheRSC panel was in fact made up of advocates of the euthanasia lobby. A furtherinvestigation of the panel by Alex Shadenburg, head of the EuthanasiaPrevention Coalition, revealed that it was clear the report was a pro-euthanasiapropaganda effort.

In addition, in British Columbia, five people are asking forthe right to choose to be killed by a physician in the Supreme Court. It wasonly a little over a year ago that Canadian parliamentarians overwhelminglyrejected a private member’s bill seeking to legalize physician assisted suicideand euthanasia by a vote of 228 to 59. The Supreme Court case seeks to out-playParliament. Representatives of all parties clearly saw the potential damage ofa change in the law to public safety, friends and relatives. Parliamentaryprocedure had already judged that it was bad public policy and would leavepeople open to abuse.

The ‘Carter Case’ in British Columbia is a constitutionalchallenge to Canada’s laws prohibiting physician-assisted suicide andeuthanasia. The ‘Carter case’ seeks to legalize these practices as a medicaltreatment. The case defines physician assisted suicide as being open toincluding a family member. It would be open to including an adult child whogives the medication to his parent under the general supervision of a doctor.Overall, the case is a threat to individual patient rights and would create anew path of abuses. There could be a lack of oversight when the lethal dose isadministered. If the patient was given a dose without consent or if theystruggled, it is not clear who would know. The prevention of elder abuse is anofficial policy of the Government of Canada.

Protesters opposed to changes in Canada’s suicide law havewarned that legalizing assisted suicide would open the floodgates for elderabuse. Dr Will Johnston, a doctor and campaigner against euthanasia said, “Weneed a strong law that prevents people urging or facilitating others to commitsuicide. In the messy real world that I work in as a family physician, I haveno illusions but that improper inducement to end their lives prematurely wouldbe given to a lot of the elderly.” The case continues.

We all began as a zygote

2011-12-08T23:11:00.000Z

There is no debate about when a dog becomes a dog. Scientists agree that its life begins at fertilization. They know that any organism that reproduces sexually begins its life at this point.

So it is with our own species. Drs. Keith Moore and T. Persaud’s embryology textbook used by medical students at the University of British Columbia confirms this:

Human development begins at fertilization [emphasis in original], the process during which a male gamete or sperm (spermatozoon) unites with a female gamete or oocyte (ovum) to form a single cell, the zygote. This highly specialized, totipotent cell is the beginning of embryonic development.

Just as an adult was once a teenager, toddler, and infant, so too was she once a fetus (Latin term meaning "unborn offspring" or "little one"), embryo (meaning "growing within"), and zygote (meaning "yoked"). These labels merely identify an age-range reflecting different stages in the development of any organism that begins life at fertilization, including human beings.
Moore and Persaud acknowledge this:

Although human development is usually divided into prenatal (before birth) and postnatal (after birth) periods, development is a continuum that begins at fertilization (conception). Birth is a dramatic event during development, resulting in a change in environment. Development does not stop at birth; important developmental changes occur after birth—development of teeth and female breasts, for example [all emphases in original].i

In a way, our development is like a Polaroid picture that is yet to be exposed to light. Fertilization is akin to the moment the photograph is taken. The image already exists at that point but it simply has not developed yet. If you destroy the pre-exposed image, you destroy the picture. Likewise, we may develop over our lifetime but we do not change our identity. From fertilization onwards, our development changes, just as from birth onwards our development changes; however, we retain our identity throughout. Thus, destroying the unborn is still destroying a human being.

Source: http://www.cbrinfo.com/science.html

Not a potential life, a life with potential

2011-12-08T23:05:00.000Z

"There should be little to surprise us now when murder is seen as sport or something to liven up the day, holding human life in such low regard. As we slip further into moral relativism and materialism, the dignity of the human person also slips farther away. After all, children, who themselves are viewed as dispensable burdens rather than blessings, are weaned on the lies of the abortion culture. Why shouldn’t they grow up to see murder as a solution to the day’s hardships? It already is. Abortion is the seedbed of violence from which our society is reaping what we have sown. It’s not the guns we need to be wary of, but the culture which has replaced the inherent dignity of the human person with the false lies and empty promises of material goods and sexual gratification 'without consequences.' The problem is, everything we do has consequences."

-- Susan, author of
http://avoiceintothevoid.wordpress.com/2010/09/28/tell-me-why/

"Potential is a great adjective meaning 'existing in possibility.' It is useful for describing nouns such as 'opportunity,' 'benefit' or 'risk.' But it is not an adjective that can be used in the biological sense with the noun 'life.' Unfortunately, it is used exactly in that manner. We have all heard that a human embryo not human life, only 'potential' human life. But in biology there is only life or non-life. Either an organism is living or non-living. There is no 'potential' life. So a living human embryo is human life, period.

-- Rebecca Taylor, author of http://www.marymeetsdolly.com/