Poker game for Life

This Saturday night from 7-11pm, NC State Students for Life will be hosting a Poker Tournament to raise money for BirthChoice in our student center. It has a $10 buy-in with great prizes (autographed NC State memorabilia) and free Chick-Fil-A! Contact Students for Life NCSU at: studentsforlife@ncsu.edu

Update on The Funeral Arrangements for Fr. Robert CFR

Sunday, March 29
Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church - 18 Trinity Plaza, Yonkers, NY 10701
2:00 pm - 7:00 pm Viewing
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
Vespers for the Office of the Dead
Russian Orthodox Prayers
Benediction
Eulogy

Monday, March 30
Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church
8:00 am Lauds for the Office of the Dead
9:00 am Memorial Mass
11:00 am Reception at the Most Holy Trinity Parish Hall
Departure of the body to funeral home for later burial in Albuquerque, NM

N & O to take photos at the Clinic during 40 days for Life

I got word that a photographer from the N & O was at the
abortuary yesterday and may be back today at 1 PM to take
more pictures... so if you are free and can go over at 1 PM
to pray, it would be great. Would be?wonderful to have a
strong pro-life presence there.

For Life, M

Good example of the kind of public rhetoric :

A friend sent me this and it is such a great example of how to use rhetoric instead of emotion and a way to find common ground! Thank you my friend!
SYG

June 8, 1981
By Walker Percy
A View of Abortion with Something to Offend Everybody

Covington, La. -- I feel like saying something about this abortion issue. My credentials as an expert on the subject: none. I am an M.D. and a novelist. I will speak only as a novelist. If I give an opinion as an M.D., it wouldn't interest anybody since, for one thing, any number of doctors have given opinions and who cares about another.

The only obvious credential of a novelist has to do with his trade. He trafficks in words and meanings. So the chronic misuse of words, especially the fobbing off of rhetoric for information, gets on his nerves. Another possible credential of a novelist peculiar to these times is that he is perhaps more sensitive to the atrocities of the age than most. People get desensitized. Who wants to go about his business being reminded of the six million dead in the holocaust, the 15 million in the Ukraine? Atrocities become banal. But a 20th century novelist should be a nag, an advertiser, a collector, a proclaimer of banal atrocities.

True legalized abortion--a million and a half fetuses flushed down the Disposall every year in this country--is yet another banal atrocity in a century where atrocities have become commonplace. This statement will probably offend one side in this already superheated debate, so I hasten in the interests of fairness and truth to offend the other side. What else can you do when some of your allies give you as big a pain as your opponents? I notice this about many so-called pro-lifers. They seem pro-life only on this one perfervid and politicized issue. The Reagan Administration, for example, professes to be anti-abortion but has just recently decided in the interests of business that it is proper for infant-formula manufacturers to continue their hard sell in the third world despite thousands of deaths from bottle feeding. And Senator Jesse Helms and the Moral Majority, who profess a reverence for unborn life, don't seen to care much about born life: poor women who don't get abortions, have their babies, and can't feed them.

Nothing new here of course. What I am writing this for is to call attention to a particularly egregious example of doublespeak that the abortionists--"pro-choicers," that is--seem to have hit on in the current rhetorical war.

Now I don't know whether the human-life bill is good legislation or not. But as a novelist I can recognize meretricious use of language, disingenuousness, and a con job when I hear it.

The current con, perpetrated by some jurists, some editorial writers, and some doctors is that since there is no agreement about the beginning of human life, it is therefore a private religious or philosophical decision and therefore the state and the courts can do nothing about it. This is a con. I will not presume to speculate who is conning whom and for what purpose. But I do submit that religion, philosophy, and private opinion have nothing to do with this issue. I further submit that it is a commonplace of modern biology, known to every high school student and no doubt to you the reader as well, that the life of every individual organism, human or not, begins when the chromosomes of the sperm fuse with the chromosomes of the ovum to form a new DNA complex that thenceforth directs the ontogenesis of the organism.

Such vexed subjects as the soul, God, and the nature of man are not at issue. What we are talking about and what nobody I know would deny is the clear continuum that exists in the life of every individual from the moment of fertilization of a single cell.

There is a wonderful irony here. It is this: The onset of individual life is not a dogma of the church but a fact of science. How much more convenient if we lived in the 13th century, when no one knew anything about microbiology and arguments about the onset of life were legitimate. Compared to a modern textbook of embryology, Thomas Aquinas sounds like an American Civil Liberties Union member. Nowadays it is not some misguided ecclesiastics who are trying to suppress an embarrassing scientific fact. It is the secular juridical-journalistic establishment.

Please indulge the novelist if he thinks in novelistic terms. Picture the scene. A Galileo trial in reverse. The Supreme Court is cross-examining a high school biology teacher and admonishing him that of course it is only his personal opinion that the fertilized human ovum is an individual human life. He is enjoined not to teach his private beliefs at a public school. Like Galileo he caves in, submits, but in turning away is heard to murmur, "But it's still alive!"

To pro-abortionists: According to the opinion polls, it looks as if you may get your way. But you're not going to have it both ways. You're going to be told what you're doing.

Walker Percy's latest novel is "The Second Coming."

Sarah Palin's Address to Special Olympics

ND Students have responded...

Click here to read more.

Eternal Rest Grant unto him and may perpetual light shine upon him!

Father Robert Stanion, CFR, passed away on Monday, March 23, 2009, in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was one of our founders and had been stationed at San Juan Diego Friary in Albuquerque, New Mexico. See his Obituary here.

Fr. Robert was born on April 1, 1947 in Boston, MA. He entered the Capuchins on March 18, 1966 and made his final profession on May 8, 1972. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 16, 1992. He was an expert on rocks, precious stones, herbs, flowers, cooking, saints, eastern Christianity and many other things. His holiness and Franciscan joy will always be remembered by those who knew him.We thank you for your prayers for Fr. Robert, and we ask you to continue praying for his family and the entire CFR community. God bless you. --the friars of San Juan Diego Friary.

Albuquerque memorial arrangements for Father Robert Stanion
You are invited to join the friars this Thursday (3/26/09) at San Jose Parish (2401 Broadway SE, ABQ, NM 87102) for a wake, Rosary, and memorial Mass in honor of Fr. Robert. The wake is from 2-6 PM, the Rosary is at 6 PM, and the memorial Mass is at 7 PM. A reception will be held after Mass in the parish hall of St. Francis Xavier Church (820 Broadway SE, ABQ, NM 87102).

Father Robert’s funeral Mass and burial will take place in Yonkers, New York. Please see www.franciscanfriars.com for the NY arrangements which will be posted soon.

There is a Secondary Reading in the office of the dead that is so comforting a section of a letter written by Saint Braulio, Bishop of Saragossa is below...

“Let the hope of resurrection encourage us, then, because we shall see again those whom we lose here below. Of course, we must continue to believe firmly in Christ; we must continue to obey His commandments. His power is so great that it is easier for Him to raise the dead to life that it is for us to arouse those who are sleeping, As we are saying all these things some unknown feeling causes us to burst into tears; some hidden feeling discourages the mind which tries to trust and to hope. Such is the sad human condition; without Christ all of life is utter emptiness.

“O death! You separate those who are joined to each other in marriage. You harshly and cruelly divide those whom friendship unites. But your power is broken. Your heinous yoke has been destroyed by the One Who sternly threatened you when Hosea cried out: ‘O death! I shall be your death!’ And with the words of the Apostle we, too, deride you: ‘O death! When is your victory? O death! Where is your sting!’”

Happy Feast of the Annunciation!

The Incarnation of Jesus was announced to Mary by the Angel Gabriel! This monumental moment in time marked by a herald from heaven shows the importance of the entrance of our Lord into Humanity. This single moment is celebrated today and shows the importance of the beginning of Life. When does life begin? It is answered for us in the Gospel! The Incarnation of our Lord, the Word that became Flesh, begins and it is announced that Our Lord has entered into the womb of his chosen mother Mary. She was Immaculately Conceived and prepared to be a tabernacle here on earth for our Lord! We are so moved by the attention that is given to this moment of Christ's Life in the Gospel. Elizabeth when she greets Mary recognizes Our Lord even though he is within the womb of Mary. He began small to show the importance of every stage of development of Human Embryos and indeed every stage of our lives are of utmost importance from Conception to Natural Death... It is impossible to ignore the attention given to this event in the Gospels!

Happy Feast Day!
+JMJ+
SYG

Order your DVD or CD today from the March 7th Life Conference...

Click here for Bios on the speakers...

New website created ND scandal...

Click here for more information... http://www.notredamescandal.com/
Below Cardinal Newman describes a University and we reflect on the words: seat of wisdom, a light of the world, a minister of the faith... and rashness rendered innocuous, and error exposed! Let us pray that Notre Dame will be the place where these ideas are found. We pray that "Our Lady" is a place that She keeps especially protected within Her Mantle! Dear Lady of Light shine it on your University and allow the Truth to be exposed...

From Chapter 2 What is a University? Cardinal Newman
THE following illustrations of the idea of a University originally appeared in 1854, in the columns of the Dublin "Catholic University Gazette." In 1856 they were published in one volume, under the title of "Office and Work of Universities."

—a University is a place of concourse, whither students come from every quarter for every kind of knowledge. You cannot have the best of every kind everywhere; you must go to some great city or emporium for it. There you have all the choicest productions of nature and art all together, which you find each in its own separate place elsewhere. All the riches of the land, and of the earth, are carried up thither; there are the best markets, and there the {16} best workmen. It is the centre of trade, the supreme court of fashion, the umpire of rival talents, and the standard of things rare and precious. It is the place for seeing galleries of first-rate pictures, and for hearing wonderful voices and performers of transcendent skill. It is the place for great preachers, great orators, great nobles, great statesmen. In the nature of things, greatness and unity go together; excellence implies a centre. And such, for the third or fourth time, is a University;It is the place to which a thousand schools make contributions; in which the intellect may safely range and speculate, sure to find its equal in some antagonist activity, and its judge in the tribunal of truth. It is a place where inquiry is pushed forward, and discoveries verified and perfected, and rashness rendered innocuous, and error exposed, by the collision of mind with mind, and knowledge with knowledge. It is the place where the professor becomes eloquent, and is a missionary and a preacher, displaying his science in its most complete and most winning form, pouring it forth with the zeal of enthusiasm, and lighting up his own love of it in the breasts of his hearers. It is the place where the catechist makes good his ground as he goes, treading in the truth day by day into the ready memory, and wedging and tightening it into the expanding reason. It is a place which wins the admiration of the young by its celebrity, kindles the affections of the middle-aged by its beauty, and rivets the fidelity of the old by its associations. It is a seat of wisdom, a light of the world, a minister of the faith, an Alma Mater of the rising generation. It is this and a great deal more, and demands a somewhat better head and hand than mine to describe it well.

Such is a University in its idea and in its purpose; {17} such in good measure has it before now been in fact. Shall it ever be again? We are going forward in the strength of the Cross, under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin, in the name of St. Patrick, to attempt it.

Due to rain the St. Patricks Parade was rescheduled for 3-21-2009

Amazingly the new date for the parade fell on the date of the World Down Syndrome Awareness Day. Our Lady of Lourdes Raleigh participated for the first year with a float that said All Life Is Precious. Float participants included parishioners and the Lifeguards and three Ambassadors for Downs Syndrome. What a beautiful day! During the parade children handed out lifesavers,pencils with sayings like Down's Syndrome isn't scary it is just different, there were signs that said All Life is Precious and Love doesn't count Chromosomes...

After the parade there was an information booth where literature was handed out to many and a special thanks to the One Bread Lay Apostolate! who allowed us to use a corner of their booth that sold Catholic Items and have served to be a voice of truth for so many years in the St. Patrick's Day parade.

God is Good! thanks to Mary and Theresa!

Great letter by AH re: Notre Dame!

Dear Notre Dame and Catholic friends,

I was very saddened on Friday night to hear that my alma mater, the University of Notre Dame, plans to host Mr. Barack Obama, President of the United States, as the commencement speaker this spring. Mr. Obama's clear pro-abortion policies and positions make him unfit to have a platform at our Catholic university to promote his anti-life agenda. It should be clear to everyone that the Catholic Church teaches that abortion is wrong and always has taught that. To have a Catholic university ignore the teaching of the Catholic Church in such a blatant way is scandalous. The adminstration of Notre Dame, to put it nicely, has done a great disservice to the integrity and character of the university.

I urge everyone to consider taking the following actions as they see fit.

1. Voice your opinion on the matter to the president of the university, Fr. John Jenkins. His email address is: president@nd.edu or you can contact him on the web at: http://president.nd.edu/contact-us.

2. Pray for the University's administration. Better yet, go to the Notre Dame prayer website pray.nd.edu and specifically to http://pray.nd.edu/the-green-candle to make a prayer request at the Grotto. We need to storm Our Lady in heaven to watch over our university and intercede on the behalf of life since it's pretty obvious that things have gotten pretty bad there. The Grotto seems like a good place to start praying for these intentions since it is one of the prayer focal points on campus.

3. Sign the Cardinal Newman Society petition at http://notredamescandal.com/.

4. Learn more about the church's teachings on life if you need to: read JPII's 'The Gospel of Life' at: http://www.priestsforlife.org/magisterium/evtext.htm; learn more about the connection between birth control and abortion at: http://www.goodmorals.org/smith4.htm; learn more about healing and forgiveness after an abortion at: http://www.projectrachelnc.org/ (Note this is the North Carolina Project Rachel link but they are found in every state); learn more about how one of the many crisis pregnancy centers in our country help women with their unplanned pregnancies: http://www.birthchoicewake.org/html/birthchoice.html; learn more about how parishes can get involved: http://www.glgabrielproject.org/; Learn more about what is happening in your community to stop abortion now: www.40DaysforLife.com.

4. In my initial upset and emotional reaction, I felt like starting a 'Blue' envelope project (modelled after the famous 'red envelope project'-See http://www.redenvelopeproject.org/) where I would send an empty blue envelope to President Jenkins with the words, "The empty envelope represents the amount of money I plan to donate to the University while it continues to mock the Gospel of Life"....However, I realized that I cannot do this because I do plan to donate to the University but to a specific on-campus fund: The Notre Dame Fund to Protect Human Life. The group running this fund appears to be the only group on campus who actually promotes the culture of life. And given the administration's showing of its true anti-life colors, these people working from the inside need all the help they can get. I urge all of you who plan to donate money to Notre Dame to consider specifying it to this pro-life group on campus. See http://ethicscenter.nd.edu/NotreDameFundtoProtectHumanLife.shtml for more details.

The culture of life will triumph, we just need to do our part. God's grace works many miracles and we know He will never abandon us.
Come, Holy Spirit,
in Faith,
AH

“forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies ahead, I continue my pursuit toward the goal, the prize of God’s upward calling in...

... Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:13-14)

President Barack Obama - Commencement Speaker at Notre Dame!

Find out more by clicking here or here.

Sign the petition here and find out how you can send a personal letter or email to the University president.

Check out this award winning Blog!

http://catholicfire.blogspot.com/

New Message from Pope Benedict

Enjoy this video of the message that the Holy Father gave to the African People during Mass!

Today I reflect on a man that has been such an inspiration for our time and our country!

Please view this beautiful video of Fr. Benedict Groeschel CFR.
Last night we went down to SC for a Parish Mission at St. John Newmann Catholic Church. It was such a joy to hear Fr. Benedict in person. His message was so encouraging as he spoke of Mother Theresa and Fr. Solanus Casey relating their witness for Christ in their lives and bring a bit of Heaven to earth.
Fr. Benedict CFR is a great witness for Christ in NY. He started out as a Jersey boy becoming a Capuchin and then one of the founders of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal bringing hope and Christ's love to those who were in need in the Bronx, and now in Harlem, Newark, Yonkers, New Mexico, Texas, Ireland, and England. He has written over 30 books and has been a light for many by offering shelter to the poor, food to the hungry, courage to the weak, and truth to those who desire it. He has been very active in the civil rights movement. Father Groeschel and a rabbi in Croton-on-Hudson had raised the money to buy the blue station wagon that Michael Schwerner was driving when he, James Chaney and Andrew Goodman were kidnapped and later killed by the Ku Klux Klan in Mississippi in 1964. He has continued to fight for those who had no voice as he tirelessly speaks for the unborn and forgotten having lead prayer vigils at abortion clinics, written inspiring books and articles, through his Sunday Night Live show and always teaching about the ways to walk in the steps of Christ carrying our individual Cross given to us by our Lord, he has also shown how many more can also be Christ to the poor, hungry, disheartened, and a voice for the silenced. He has been a leader in this battle against the culture of death and inspired many to take up their cross and pave a new path that leads to a culture of Life!

Throughout the CFRs there is a little of Fr. Benedict in all of the brothers and none of them lack that quick wit, strong faith, love of the Eucharist and brightly shining Christs Love to all they meet. He has instilled a lover of souls to all of his brothers. Thank you Fr. Benedict for your example and for your faith and the love you show us through your love of Christ truly present in the Eucharist!

Here is an interesting article on Fr. Benedict CFR from the NY Times...

Virginia Choose License Plate on Gov. Desk!

Richmond, VA (LifeNews.com) -- A Virginia pro-life group is renewing its call to pro-abortion Gov. Tim Kaine to sign a bill that would authorize Choose Life license plates. The Virginia state legislature put the final touches on the bill last month that includes a provision allowing motorists there to purchase plates to help pregnancy centers. Senator Ken Cuccinelli was the sponsor of the Choose Life plate bill that a Senate committee defeated earlier in the legislative session. Cuccinelli, however, didn't give up and amended another license plate bill on the floor of the Senate several days later with the Choose Lifeplate on a 20-19 vote. Kaine, whom President Barack Obama named as the head of the Democratic party, claims he wants to reduce abortions but he won't pledge to sign the license plate bill. "When it comes to the governor's desk, he'll take a look at it and act accordingly," spokesman Gordon Hickey told the Washington Post last month.
Victoria Cobb, the head of the Family Foundation, tells LifeNews.com she wants Kaine to sign the bill so state residents can purchase the plates. "The hard work and determination of Senator Cuccinelli and those legislators who voted for this legislation could all be void if Governor Tim Kaine chooses to listen to Planned Parenthood and amend the bill to remove the Choose Life plate or veto the entire bill outright," she says. "The Governor is now in the process of deciding what his action will be concerning the bills recently placed on his desk," Cobb added. "Hearing from [pro-life advocates] and other concerned citizens has a profound impact on this process. "As in other states, the Choose Life plates would allow some of the purchase price to go to groups that help women avoid abortions by providing them with adoption and pregnancy help. Of every $40 spent on the plates, $15 will go to pregnancy centers. The governor is expected to make a decision soon on the license plate bill, SB 817. Should he veto the measure, the General Assembly reconvenes for its Veto Session on April 8 and could attempt a veto override.
Should a veto occur, Cobb tells LifeNews.com her group will rely on a strong grassroots effort to override the veto. "While is it our hope that Governor Kaine does sign this Choose Life plate into law, The Family Foundation is prepared to mount an overwhelming grassroots advocacy campaign to put pressure on swing legislators and gather enough votes to override a gubernatorial veto," Cobb promised.
ACTION: Urge Governor Kaine to sign SB 817 with no amendments, including the Choose Life License Plate. Contact him at
http://www.governor.virginia.gov/AboutTheGovernor/contactGovernor.cfm

Bishop Burbidge Calls President's Action "Disappointing"

The Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge today called President Obama’s executive order to provide federal funding for embryonic stem cell research “a disappointing decision.” In signing the controversial order, the President overturned a policy enacted by former President Bush that limited federal funds for research which necessitates the destruction of human embryos.

Bishop Burbidge noted that while the President stated “that medical miracles do not occur by accident,” he failed to acknowledge that the source of all miracles is the Lord our God, the Source of all life. “It is our duty to protect the sacredness of all human life at every stage,” the Bishop said. “Its destruction can never be morally accepted.”

Bishop Burbidge stressed the compassionate care that must be extended to the sick and to all those with medical conditions. “We must support them in our prayers and through the many ministries that provide spiritual and pastoral outreach,” the Bishop said.

He pointed out that the Church supports medical research that reflects a consistent ethic of life, including research using adult stem cells and umbilical cord cells, which have produced significant results. “We must remember that we are creatures and God is the Creator,” the Bishop added. “If we, as His instruments, use technology, science and research for the purposes He intended, then with God’s grace medical miracles will continue to occur.”

* Watch Bishop Burbidge’s comments on the President’s decision (Windows Media)
* Read Cardinal Justin Rigali’s statement on the President’s decision
* Read resource material on Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Pro-Life Float to be in St. Patricks Play...

This year come out and help increase awareness of the Gift of Life and support the Pro-Life Float and the Catholic Evangelist who will be handing out material about St. Patrick and the reason for he feast! Prior to the parade join the faithful at Sacred Heart Cathedral with Mass, at 9:00am that morning followed by the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Downtown Raleigh, 12:00noon

EXECUTIVE ORDER ON EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS ‘A SAD VICTORY OF POLITICS OVER SCIENCE AND ETHICS,’ SAYS CARDINAL RIGALI

WASHINGTON—Cardinal Justin Rigali, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, today called President Obama’s executive order on embryonic stem cell research “a sad victory of politics over science and ethics.” Under the order, for the first time in U.S. history, federal tax dollars will be used to encourage researchers to destroy live human embryos for stem cell research. Cardinal Rigali also cited a January 16 letter in which Cardinal Francis George, president of the USCCB, urged President-elect Obama not to issue such an order. Cardinal Rigali’s statement follows:

“President Obama’s new executive order on embryonic stem cell research is a sad victory of politics over science and ethics. This action is morally wrong because it encourages the destruction of innocent human life, treating vulnerable human beings as mere products to be harvested. It also disregards the values of millions of American taxpayers who oppose research that requires taking human life. Finally, it ignores the fact that ethically sound means for advancing stem cell science and medical treatments are readily available and in need of increased support.

“In his January 16th letter to President-elect Obama, Cardinal George, writing as President of the USCCB, cited three reasons why such destructive research is ‘especially pointless at this time’:

• ‘First, basic research in the capabilities of embryonic stem cells can be and is being pursued using the currently eligible cell lines as well as the hundreds of lines produced with nonfederal funds since 2001.

• ‘Second, recent startling advances in reprogramming adult cells into embryonic-like stem cells – hailed by the journal Science as the scientific breakthrough of the year – are said by many scientists to be making embryonic stem cells irrelevant to medical progress.

• ‘Third, adult and cord blood stem cells are now known to have great versatility, and are increasingly being used to reverse serious illnesses and even help rebuild damaged organs. To divert scarce funds away from these promising avenues for research and treatment toward the avenue that is most morally controversial as well as most medically speculative would be a sad victory of politics over science.’

“If the government wants to invest in hope for cures and promote ethically sound science, it should use our tax monies for research that everyone, at every stage of human development, can live with.”

Blogger Posts on Life Conference held in Raleigh March 7th 2009

See Christine's Post on the Life Conference...

HB #88 will make comprehensive sex education the default sex ed curriculum in North Carolina public schools

Legislative Alert

A bill that would make comprehensive sex education the default sex ed curriculum in North Carolina public schools has been scheduled for a hearing in the House Education Committee next Tuesday, March 10.

Since the North Carolina General Assembly enacted abstinence until marriage education as the standard in 1995, the teen pregnancy rate has dropped by a third, the teen abortion rate has been cut in half, and the rate of teen infection for sexually transmitted diseases like syphilis and gonorrhea has plummeted.

Please contact your State House member and ask him or her to OPPOSE House Bill 88, entitled "Healthy Youth Act."

Citizen Action Center to quickly send an email to your State House member about House Bill 88.

Please download our Issue Brief on House Bill 88 for a detailed analysis of the bill and the impact it would have on sex education in North Carolina's public schools.

Life Conference

Madonna Thank you so much for sharing your faithfulness through coordinating this conference. The speakers were amazing and the day was refreshingly smooth! Many were so inspired by the turnout and the excitement that was felt in the room. There is so much to be thankful for and so much to be done.
Thank you for video taping the talks so that the conference can be shared with others.
For those who were not able to go to the conference please contact prolifeeventsnc@gmail for copies of the CD's and DVD's of the talks~

God Bless,
SYG

Down Syndrome Awareness Day March 21st 2009

Come and enjoy a day of fun March 21st 2009. For more information contact lifeguardnc@gmail.com

Anniversary of Dred Scott Reminds Pro-Life Advocate Abortion Targets Blacks

"One hundred and fifty seven years ago today, Dred Scott, a black slave, petitioned the Supreme Court for his freedom, but was denied," Gardner recounts. "In the case known as the Dred Scott decision, the Supreme Court ruled that slaves--even freed slaves, and all their descendants, had no rights protected by the Constitution and that states had no right to abolish slavery."
Read more here in this article

Bishop Jugis at Press conference for Mariage Amendment Legislation

For More information click here for Catholic Voice NC...

Life Conference in 3 days...

Still time to sign up!
http://nccatholicsforlife.com/lifeconference.html

Excellent Ad rejected by CNN

We have been quieter than usual the past two weeks for good reason. Following NBC's refusal to air our ad during the Super Bowl, we received some great feedback from our members on what we should do next. The consensus was that our latest ad should be broadcast following President Obama's first State of the Union Address -- scheduled for next Tuesday.

So we contacted CNN, thinking their audience contains precisely the type of people we want to reach. Further, given CNN's track record of running advocacy ads, we were confident we would succeed. Not so.

For the past two weeks, we have been pushing and prodding them for an answer. And late this week we finally got a response: No way.

A representative from CNN wrote: "Thank you for your patience. We have decided to pass on this creative. CNN doesn't accept advocacy ads that portray personal decisions in a manner that suggests a position in favor of the advocacy message, without having permission of the persons involved."

This is absurd. Our ad does not suggest that Barack Obama is pro-life. Instead, our ad presents nothing but facts. President Obama, like every human being, began as an unborn child. Because he was born, he was able to become the President of the United States.

CNN and others simply don't like the obvious conclusion of our ad - there was no ‘choice' for abortion back in 1961. Thankfully, we had laws then safeguarding unborn children -- laws that protected the life of a future president who tragically is unwilling to fight for those same protections today.

But wait. Is this fair?

The standard CNN used to reject our ad did not prevent the network from airing a 2005 ad sponsored by the pro-abortion group NARAL that suggested that then Judge John Roberts supported violence against abortion clinics.

FactCheck.org described the NARAL ad this way: "An abortion-rights group is running an attack ad accusing Supreme Court nominee John Roberts of filing legal papers ‘supporting . . . a convicted clinic bomber' and of having an ideology that ‘leads him to excuse violence against other Americans' It shows images of a bombed clinic in Birmingham, Alabama. The ad is false.'"

Several prominent pro-abortion supporters condemned the ad, including President Clinton's Solicitor General Walter Dellinger. The commercial, which attributed views to John Roberts that were not his, was ultimately pulled from the air not by CNN, but by NARAL.

At the time CNN issued a statement saying: "CNN accepts advocacy advertising from responsible groups from across the political spectrum who wish to express their views and their opinions about issues of public importance."

CNN is willing to run ads insinuating that a federal judge supports violent criminal activity, but it won't allow an ad celebrating the potential of all human life, including Barack Obama? Not to mention, we are fairly sure NARAL didn't get permission from John Roberts to run their ad.

If you want to express your concerns, please do so firmly, but charitably. You can write CNN President Jonathan Klein at jonathan.klein@cnn.com

So what now?

We aren't going to sit back and complain. We are still looking at several additional options to air the ad. We are also working on our next ad, and have set our sights high once again.

If you liked what we have done so far, we are confident you will be excited about what is coming next.

Brian Burch
CatholicVote.org

Beautiful Meditation during Lent...

When we are suffering, we know that God is always there. We offer up our day with a Morning offering...
Oh my God in Union with the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you the precious blood of Jesus. From all the altars throughout the world, and joining with it my every thought, word, and action of this day. Oh my Jesus I desire today to gain every indulgence and merit I can, and offer them together with myself to Mary Immaculate. That she may best apply them to the interests of your most Sacred Heart.
Precious blood of Jesus, Save Us!
Immaculate heart of Mary, Pray for Us!
Sacred heart of Jesus, Have Mercy on Us!

North Carolina Legislature May Consider Bill on Crimes Against Pregnant Women

by Steven Ertelt, LifeNews.com Editor, March 2, 2009

Raleigh, NC (LifeNews.com) -- North Carolina is one of 14 states with no law that offers protection and justice for pregnant women and unborn children who are victims of assault or homicide. Other states allow two charges for the two crimes but North Carolina law fails to charge for the death of or injury to the unborn child.

With the case of Jenna Nielsen, the legislature may debate the issue.

Jenna was expecting the birth of her third child, Ethen, with whom she was eight months pregnant, when, in 2007, an unknown assailant murdered her and her unborn child.

Now her family is lobbying members of the legislature to change state law to recognize the death of unborn children as separate victims of similar crimes.

"It's just gut-wrenching to find out that not only did you lose your daughter and your grandchild, but that your grandchild is not even recognized," Nielsen's father, Kevin Blaine of Raleigh, told the Journal newspaper.

Pro-life groups and legislators have rallied behind an Unborn Victims bill in past sessions only to see Democrats, who control the General Assembly, turn back the bills by not allowing hearings.

Rep. Dale Folwell and Sen. Pete Brunstetter are leading an effort this year to change the law, though their bill isn't quite what pro-life advocates want.

"These women have chosen to keep their children," Folwell said. "That choice was not taken away from them by a legislator but by a murderer."

Another legislator, Democratic Sen. Doug Berger, has filed a bill that isn't as extensive because it doesn't offer protection for pregnant throughout pregnancy. It only covers them after 20 weeks of pregnancy, discriminating against them in the earlier stages of pregnancy.

Because he is a Democrat and because his bill isn't as expansive, Berger's legislation may be the vehicle that moves through the legislature and would be a first step to protecting unborn children and offering them justice as well.

Berger told the Journal that his bill may get a hearing this year, but only if Republicans promise not to offer amendments to it that would expand the bill and make it more like the one Folwell and Brunstetter are supporting.

The bills are also drawing opposition from North Carolina Right to Life because they don't specifically acknowledge two victims.

"It's not recognizing two victims -- it's only recognizing two charges. And we want the unborn child named as a victim," NCRTL president Barbara Holt says.

"I understand their goal, and I understand their thinking on this matter, but we see this as moving away from what they're trying to do," Holt said, "because if (the more moderate bill) passes, people are going to think this matter is settled."

Another Republican legislator, Rep. Mark Hilton, is planning to file a bill that would recognize both unborn child and his mother as victims, and that is the bill pro-life advocates support the most. However, it likely has little chance of getting a hearing.

The divide has upset the families of victims.

"I'm not Republican, I'm not Democrat. I'm not pro-life, I'm not pro-choice," Kevin Blaine, the father of Jenna Nielsen, told the Journal. "I don't want to team up with any side. What I want to do is team up with everybody."

Related web sites:
North Carolina Legislature - http://www.ncga.state.nc.us
North Calolina Right to Life - http://www.ncrtl.org

"Park & Ride" locations to help you get to the Marriage Rally this coming Tuesday, March 3rd at 11am!

C2A...FYI
Please forward this alert to family & friends!

Friends,

There will be two "Park & Ride" locations to help you get to the Marriage Rally this coming Tuesday, March 3rd at 11am!

Parking downtown is always a challenge so don't let that keep you from taking a stand for marriage next Tuesday! We have worked with several C2A supporters and church partners to make two locations available to you:

* E. Six Forks & Wake Forest Rd. inside the beltline: the parking lot behind the Applebee's (see map here)
* Beacon Baptist Church off Capital Blvd. near the beltline: this is where many out-of town people will be parking (see map here)

These areas will begin shuttling people around 9:15am...please get there early so you have enough time! The buses will return downtown after the rally to shuttle you back to your car. They will be clearly marked and will pick-up in the same location where they drop you off for the rally.

NOTE: the weather forecast over the next few days looks rather interesting and the high Tuesday is supposed to be 43 degrees. Don't let less than optimal conditions deter you from attending! Our liberal legislature needs to SEE how committed we are to seeing this effort through...by showing up next Tuesday, by calling, by emailing...this will be a long, hard road to victory and it really is a test of wills. Are you willing to stick it out and do your part to protect marriage in North Carolina?

MAY GOD BLESS OUR EFFORTS!



In His Service & Yours,

Steve Noble, Chairman

It can be weary speaking for those who have no voice...

There are many in the Pro Life Movement who become weary. It is a temptation to feel alone, helpless, and attacked by your family, friends and even those in your church community. Do not loose hope offer your suffering, united with our Lord and the Cross for the Redemption of the World!

Here are some talks, listen and do not loose hope!
Click here for the Talk by Msgr Reilly

Homily for Respect Life Sunday Oct 7, 2007 St. Francis of Assisi

(2) So too we must respond. As disciples of the Lord, as our Second Reading tells us, we must stir into flame the gift of God we have and be a light in the midst of the darkness. We have His Spirit dwelling within us; we have His truth and His promise that Light has conquered the darkness. We must be on fire with our love for the Lord, for the proclamation of the Gospel of life and in our service to those in most need. Your parish provides so many opportunities to reach out to those who hunger and thirst for human dignity and I am inspired to know the great number of parishioners who participate in these various endeavors and the countless number of people who benefit from your compassion and care. On this Respect Life Sunday, I repeat the request that I have made to all throughout the Diocese: as individuals and/or as a family, please pray the Rosary today with the special intention for the end of abortion. Our respect for the dignity of each person must also be reflected in the way we speak and treat those closest to us (spouses, parents, children and family members). And if you are going to respond on behalf of human life, others must see the respect and reverence you show yourself by treating your body as a temple of the Holy Spirit; avoiding substances and patterns of living that are destructive and behaviors that keep you from being a person who lives the life worthy of your calling. ~Bishop Burbidge,

Choose Life License Plate... Notes from the Legislative Bld.

Walking the hallway of the 5th floor of the legislative building after the Choose Life Rally we surveyed the representatives and asked if they supported the House Bill 168. Ninty percent of the representatives we spoke to said they would vote in favor of this bill if it was given to them be voted on. There are those that are keeping this bill from being voted on. Every year the bill has to have enough signatures from citizens to present the bill. Each year enough signatures are compiled. The citizens are asking and the house is suppressing this bill! This bill has been presented for 7 years in a row. It has been referred to the house rules committee each time and has died there. This bill has not made it to the floor of the House to be voted on. In the southease all states except NC has this choice of License plate... This Year the bill has been sent to the House Rules Committee by the Speaker of the House, Joe Hackney of Orange County. When an eight year old asked a few of the representatives why we had Save the Highways, Save the Mountains, save all different animals, and we did not have save the babies she was told that they would support this plate. She left a note for the Speaker of the House and he did not respond to her. It is clear that the freedom of speech is inhibited by this bill! Anyone that wants this plate can pay for it. Anyone that doesn't want the plate does not need to put it on their car. Clearly this is an agenda to suppress this type of free speech! All the proceeds go to the pregnancy help centers. The only Money that is collected is from those who would like to support this funding. On the other hand our taxpayer money is going to support Planned Parenthood even if the taxpayer does not approve of this industry. So voluntary giving to a cause you care about is not allowed in this state but involuntary giving to a cause you disagree with morally is demanded by the Federal Government. How free is this Country? How Free is our Speech in this state of North Carolina and do we really have freedom of Religion?
SYG

Bishops Letter Re: House Bill 168 Choose Life License Plate

March 2, 2009

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

House Bill 168, which would permit the citizens of North Carolina to purchase a Choose Life license plate to support pregnancy crisis centers throughout the state, has been sent to the House Rules Committee by the Speaker of the House, Joe Hackney of Orange County. The Rules Committee is often the place where bills are sent to die.


We urge you to contact Speaker Hackney, President Pro-Tem of the State Senate, Senator Marc Basnight and your local Representative to ask that HB 168 be permitted a vote in the Rules Committee in order for it to proceed to the next step in the legislative process.

You can contact each of these legislators by clicking on the link below.


Without our continual pressure, it is unlikely this bill will become law. Thank you for supporting the passage of a law that will assist expectant mothers and their unborn children without any cost to taxpayers.

Sincerely,



The Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge
Bishop of Raleigh


The Most Reverend Peter J. Jugis
Bishop of Charlotte

Click the link below to log in and send your message:
http://www.votervoice.net/link/target/cvnc29508971.aspx

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President Obama Starts Process of Removing Doctors' Protections on Abortions

This story has great ramifications for all health care workers. Is there no such thing as freedom of religion. Are we to go against our own beliefs to keep our jobs? What kind of land of the free is this?

SYG

The Following Article is by Steven Ertelt LifeNews.com Editor February 27, 2009

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The White House quietly announced on Friday that President Barack Obama is starting the process of overturning protections President Bush put in place to make sure medical staff and centers are not forced to do abortions. The move is the latest that will add to Obama's growing pro-abortion record.

Existing federal laws already make it so doctors and hospitals are not required to perform abortions. Because those laws aren't always followed, the Bush administration added additional protections.

Bush officials noted a pattern of grant recipients being unaware of or flouting existing laws protecting medical professionals’ rights of conscience. So, HHS enacted the new regulations to require grantees to certify compliance with them in order to receive funds.

In August, 2008 the Department of Health and Human Services proposed regulations to strengthen those existing laws. The regulations were finalized on December 18, 2008 and went into effect January 20, 2009.

Abortion advocates complained about the new regulations and made false claims that they would somehow deny women access to birth control even though the regulations do not limit or restrict any legal practice or product.

Three pro-abortion groups and pro-abortion attorneys general from seven states filed a lawsuit to overturn the rules and today's news makes it clear the Obama administration is preparing its own move to rescind them.

Obama officials told the Chicago Tribune that they are opening up a 30-day public comment period, after which they will roll back the protections for medical personnel and facilities.

"We believe that this is a complex issue that requires a thoughtful process where all voices can be heard," one unnamed official told the newspaper.

The Obama aides indicated the administration will draft a new set of rules that will clarify, but also likely lessen, the protections and enforcement health care workers enjoy under the Bush rules.

Three pro-life medical associations banded together last month to fight the lawsuit from abortion advocates and the pro-abortion state officials. Attorneys with the Christian Legal Society and the Alliance Defense Fund filed motions to intervene in that and two other lawsuits filed by top pro-abortion groups to overturn the Provider Conscience Clause.

Casey Mattox, an attorney with the Christian Legal Society, told LifeNews.com that the rules are needed so medical professionals have the security of knowing they won't be pressured to participate in abortions.

“Medical professionals should not be forced to perform abortions against their conscience. Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, and their pro-abortion allies are seeking to punish pro-life medical professionals for their beliefs,” Mattox said. “Far from arguing for ‘choice,’ these lawsuits seek to compel health care workers to perform abortions or face dire consequences.”

Matt Bowman, a senior legal counsel with ADF, also weighed in on the case.

“For over three decades, federal law has prohibited recipients of federal grants from forcing medical professionals to participate in abortions," he told LifeNews.com. "The arguments in the lawsuits themselves demonstrate lack of compliance with these laws and the necessity of the regulation they are challenging."

The Bush conscience rules were intended to educate those in the medical field as well as the general public about the rights of medical personnel to treat their patients in accordance with their conscience free from discrimination or intimidation.

They also give health care professionals recourse to the HHS Office of Civil Rights and a way to press charges in the event they experience discrimination.

President Obama has already upset pro-life advocates with his move to make them fund groups that perform and promote abortions overseas and by his appointing numerous pro-abortion officials to top posts.

Obama had been expected to wait to overturn the conscience rules until after he named a new Secretary of Health but that process has been held up because his top choice, Tom Daschle, had to withdraw and his second choice, Kathleen Sebelius, is under fire for her radical pro-abortion stance supporting late-term abortions.

Printed from: http://www.lifenews.com/nat4865.html