Bishop Richard Malone on Opposition to Trojan Horse Within Cuomo's 'Equality Act'

URGENT: Cuomo Hoping for More 'Gosnells' to Have an Opportunity in NY

Gov. Andrew "CINO" Cuomo of New York has some close friends scheduled to visit Albany on Tuesday: Planned Parenthood. The purpose of the visit is to lobby, and it is expected their reward will be rich in more dead children for the nation's abortion capitol. When a politician gets a a 'tweet' hug from Cecile Richards, it is quite an honor - that is, if you're into killing more babies.

Planned Parenthood has had plenty of headlines at +Ponderings+, and Cuomo earned Misguided Politician of the Week earlier this year. Do what you can NOW to make your voice heard. Stop the killing. Stop Cuomo.

TAKE ACTION - CLICK HERE

Wall Street Journal: Cuomo Abortion Push Sets Up Fight In NY Senate

If you are near the Rochester area, read this article from Cleansing Fire

Misguided Politician of the Week: NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo

Okay, so he isn't really the Misguided Politician of the Week. He really deserves at least a month. In 2007, I warned New Yorkers and the world about legislation in the works under the moniker of 'Reproductive Health and Privacy Protection Act.' Gov. Cuomo, a CINO who is infamous for forcing the passage of legislation in the night (see HERE and HERE), embraced the bill from the beginning of his term and now seeks to make it law.

Did you know that New York City is the Abortion Capitol of the United States? Yet Planned Parenthood advocates think women need MORE access to abortion (See HERE and HERE). How can you get more when you already have the most?  They seek late term abortions. None of this 'killing tissue' stuff - let's go right to the far boundary of the murdering business and kill infants. Despite the horrific Gosnell case, and the news of another abortion 'house of horrors' in Delaware, New Yorkers now need to be gravely concerned about this horrific legislation being shoved through the NYS Assembly and Senate.

What can you do? 

• Please read the bullet-points of the proposed law at NY State Catholic Conference HERE. 
• Send a letter opposing the legislation to Cuomo, your Assemblyman, and your Senator HERE. 

P.S. I will not apologize for the negativity on this page. When people sanction the murder of children, yet go on television with a plea for law-abiding and peaceful people to hand over the guns so that perhaps 'even just one child' may be saved, I am frankly dumbfounded. Murder is murder is murder. How many Catholics voted for this man? And how many remain his supporters even now?

Two peas in a pod

4/23/2013 Times Union: Cuomo: Take a position, details be damned

Misguided Politician of the Week: NYS Assemblywoman Markey

On Friday, March 8th of this year, New York State Assemblywoman Margaret Markey will hold a rally in Manhattan, New York re-introducing The Child Victims Act. She and the bill co-sponsors hope to: "Eliminate statute of limitations in criminal and civil actions and revive civil actions for certain sex offenses committed against a child less than eighteen years of age." Sounds good, right? Did you notice that the quoted memo mentions 'certain sex offenses' will be included? Are there some sex offenses are healthy for children, or is there something else being left unsaid? I digress.

NYS Assemblywoman Markey
District 30

First the back-story. This isn't the first time the bill has been in the news. The bill has been presented several  times before with the last attempt failing in 2009. What Assemblywoman Markey fails to mention is that the bill affects only private institutions and schools, not public ones. For example, a child sexually assaulted in a public school by a teacher will not have the same window of time in which to file a claim as a child sexually assaulted by a teacher in a private institution or school. Why is that? The Assemblywoman has a history of being heavy-handed toward the Catholic Church, yet ignores the continual sexual assaults against minors in the public school system. It is also too difficult to change the laws in regard to public schools because of an immeasurable length of red tape. 

                                                                                                             Read what the New York State Catholic Conference has to say about it HERE. 

Read the bill in its entirety HERE.     

Bill Donohue

Read what Bill Donohue from the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights has to say HERE. 

HHS Mandate Updates March 7, 2012

The fight to retain our religious liberty continues to mount. In the media, Catholics are referred to as outdated, anti-choicers, oppressors, and totally barbaric in our treatment of women. This is the Garden of Eden all over again. The serpent taunting Eve, insisting that she needs to be enlightened and will be much better for eating the forbidden fruit. It is difficult to sift fact from the enormous amount of fiction circulated by the secularists. I wanted to give you some updated information and will continue to post new information as it is available. The more we educate ourselves on the situation, the better we will be prepared to act.

Cardinal Dolan

Timothy Cardinal Dolan released a new letter to all U.S. Bishops on March 2, 2012 and it may be found HERE.

Some highlights of the four-page memo:

• We will once again dedicate ample time at our Administrative Committee meeting next week, and at the June Plenary Assembly, to this critical subject. We will continue to listen, discuss, deliberate and act.
• We have made it clear in no uncertain terms to the government that we are not at peace with its invasive attempt to curtail the religious freedom we cherish as Catholics and Americans. We did not ask for this fight, but we will not run from it.
• We are grateful to know so many of our fellow Americans, especially our friends in the ecumenical and interreligious dialogue, stand together in this important moment in our country. They know that this is not just about sterilization, abortifacients, and chemical contraception. It’s about religious freedom, the sacred right of any Church to define its own teaching and ministry.
• In the coming weeks the Conference will continue to provide you, among other things, with catechetical resources on the significance of religious freedom to the Church and the Church’s teaching on it from a doctrinal and moral perspective. We are developing liturgical aids to encourage prayer in our efforts and plans on how we can continue to voice our public and strong opposition to this infringement on our freedom.
• The White House already notified Congress that the dreaded mandates are now published in the Federal Registry “without change.” The Secretary of HHS is widely quoted as saying, “Religious insurance companies don’t really design the plans they sell based on their own religious tenets.” That doesn’t bode well for their getting a truly acceptable “accommodation.”
• At a recent meeting between staff of the bishops’ conference and the White House staff, our staff members asked directly whether the broader concerns of religious freedom—that is, revisiting the straight-jacketing mandates, or broadening the maligned exemption—are all off the table. They were informed that they are. [...] Instead, they advised the bishops’ conference that we should listen to the “enlightened” voices of accommodation, such as the recent, hardly surprising yet terribly unfortunate editorial in America. The White House seems to think we bishops simply do not know or understand Catholic teaching and so, taking a cue from its own definition of religious freedom, now has nominated its own handpicked official Catholic teachers.
•  ...our bishops’ conference, many individual religious entities, and other people of good will are working with some top-notch law firms who feel so strongly about this that they will represent us pro-bono. In the upcoming days, you will hear much more about this encouraging and welcome development.

Ms. Fluke testifies about her right to birth control.
Washington Post

Unless you've been living in a cave (and who could blame you?), you have heard and/or seen the testimony before Nancy Pelosi and her committee teary-eyed individuals, touched beyond compare. Ms. Fluke shared the horrendous burden of paying for her own birth control pills. 

As with all radicals targeting the Church today, Ms. Fluke's story proved to be much more interesting upon further investigation. As reported by Stephen Gutowski:

However, as I discovered today, birth control is not all that Ms. Fluke believes private health insurance must cover. She also, apparently, believes that it is discrimination deserving of legal action if "gender reassignment" surgeries are not covered by employer provided health insurance. She makes these views clear in an article she co-edited with Karen Hu in the Georgetown Journal of Gender and the Law.  

It seems that Ms. Fluke is a radical prop embraced by the sex-obsessed left, and not the financially barren birth control deprived law student the media and radical left wing sold her to be. Read the entire article by Mr. Gutowski HERE.

Fr. Frank Pavone, Priests for Life

Many have been filed lawsuits against the mandate, including Priests for Life. They have asked others to add their names to a Citizens Amicus Brief in Support of Priests for Life vs. Sebelius. You may do so HERE.

President Obama and Kathleen Sebelius, HHS Secretary

You may contact Ms. Sebelius and tell her to Stop the HHS Power Grab by going to Catholicvote.org HERE.

Did you know that there is going to be a nationwide rally in defense of religious freedom? Please click HERE to learn more. In Buffalo, it will take place at Senator Schumer's office (contact info. HERE) and in the Diocese of Rochester, it has been reported that one will take place in Canandaigua (further info. will be found in comments on the Cleansing Fire post HERE). 

Did you sign the petition yet? Go HERE to learn more and add your name.

________________________________________________

Edited to add: I came across an article written by law professor Robert K. Vischer in First Things. He argues that the current trend to fight against sharia law in some of our states is a fight against religious freedom. The article is very interesting and one I find important to consider as Catholics and other groups are engaged in a fight to retain our own religious liberty.

March 12, 2012: This just in from Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life:

The eight lawsuits so far, arranged by the date they were filed, are as follows:

November 10, 2011 Belmont Abbey College v. Sebelius 
December 21, 2011 Colorado Christian University v. Sebelius 
February 9, 2012 Eternal Word Television Network v. Sebelius 
February 15, 2012 Priests for Life v. Sebelius 
February 20, 2012 Louisiana College v. Sebelius 
February 21, 2012 Ave Maria University v. Sebelius 
February 21, 2012 Geneva College v. Sebelius 
February 23, 2012 Bruning v. Sebelius (This is the one whose plaintiffs include the states of Nebraska, Texas, Florida, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, and South Carolina.)

President Obama and the Church

"Jesus is an historical figure for me, and he's also a bridge between God and man, in the Christian faith, and one that I think is powerful precisely because he serves as that means of us reaching something higher. And he's also a wonderful teacher. I think it's important for all of us, of whatever faith, to have teachers in the flesh and also teachers in history." --President Obama





"This has not been a fight of our choosing.  We’d rather not be in it.  We’d prefer to concentrate on the noble tasks of healing the sick, teaching our youth, and helping the poor, all now in jeopardy due to this bureaucratic intrusion into the internal life of the church.  And we were doing all of those noble works rather well, I dare say, without these radical new mandates from the government.  The Catholic Church in America has a long tradition of partnership with government and the wider community in the service of the sick, our children, our elders, and the poor at home and abroad.  We’d sure rather be partnering than punching." --Timothy Cardinal Dolan


"Practically, we’re told that the majority of Catholics use artificial contraception. There are properly medical reasons, in some circumstances, for the use of contraceptive pills, as everyone knows. But even if contraceptives were used by a majority of couples only and exclusively to suppress a possible pregnancy, behavior doesn’t determine morality. If it can be shown that a majority of Catholic students cheat on their exams, it is still wrong to cheat on exams. Trimming morality to how we behave guts the Gospel call to conversion of life and rejection of sin." -- Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I.


"The American people intuitively understand this, which is why the majority of Catholics practice birth control and some of those opposed to gay marriage nevertheless are opposed to a Constitutional amendment to ban it. Religious leadership need not accept such wisdom in counseling their flocks, but they should recognize this wisdom in their politics." --President Obama


"Whatever we once were, we are no longer a Christian nation" --President Obama


"I also know that Islam has always been a part of America's story." --President Obama




Did you take the +Ponderings+ poll on President Obama yet?  Click HERE.


Stand up for religious freedom! VISIT THIS SITE

Take Action to Defend Religious Liberty

Find other ways to take action by clicking HERE.

Don't buy what the mainstream media is selling. This is not about birth control or "those crazy Catholics."





UPDATE: "Senate votes, 51-48, to table the Blunt Amendment, which would have allowed employers and insurers to opt out of parts of the Obama health care law -- in particular, birth control -- on moral or religious grounds."


Click HERE to read the USCCB News Release


How did Catholic Senators vote? Read about it at the National Catholic Register.

Call to Action: Respect for Rights of Conscience Act

UPDATE 2/2/12 and URGENT:  Have you signed the petition on the White House website yet?  CLICK HERE to SIGN.


Under the fine leadership of Cardinal designate Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York and President of the USSCB, an unquestionably quick call to action has been heralded against the recent attack against the rights of every Catholic in the United States.   

Dated January 20, 2012:

WASHINGTON—The Catholic bishops of the United States called “literally unconscionable” a decision by the Obama Administration to continue to demand that sterilization, abortifacients and contraception be included in virtually all health plans. Today's announcement means that this mandate and its very narrow exemption will not change at all; instead there will only be a delay in enforcement against some employers.

“In effect, the president is saying we have a year to figure out how to violate our consciences,” said Cardinal-designate Timothy M. Dolan, archbishop of New York and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The cardinal-designate continued, “To force American citizens to choose between violating their consciences and forgoing their healthcare is literally unconscionable.It is as much an attack on access to health care as on religious freedom. Historically this represents a challenge and a compromise of our religious liberty."

The HHS rule requires that sterilization and contraception – including controversial abortifacients – be included among “preventive services” coverage in almost every healthcare plan available to Americans. “The government should not force Americans to act as if pregnancy is a disease to be prevented at all costs,” added Cardinal-designate Dolan.At issue, the U.S. bishops and other religious leaders insist, is the survival of a cornerstone constitutionally protected freedom that ensures respect for the conscience of Catholics and all other Americans.

“This is nothing less than a direct attack on religion and First Amendment rights,” said Franciscan Sister Jane Marie Klein, chairperson of the board at Franciscan Alliance, Inc., a system of 13 Catholic hospitals. “I have hundreds of employees who will be upset and confused by this edict. I cannot understand it at all.”

Daughter of Charity Sister Carol Keehan, president and chief executive officer of the Catholic Health Association of the United States, voiced disappointment with the decision. Catholic hospitals serve one out of six people who seek hospital care annually.“This was a missed opportunity to be clear on appropriate conscience protection,” Sister Keehan said.

Cardinal-designate Dolan urged that the HHS mandate be overturned.“The Obama administration has now drawn an unprecedented line in the sand,” he said. “The Catholic bishops are committed to working with our fellow Americans to reform the law and change this unjust regulation. We will continue to study all the implications of this troubling decision.”

To take action, go HERE.

Read other +Ponderings from the past about the Obama administration and Ms. Sibelius HERE. 

*See also USCCB January 23, 2012 News Release HERE

Governor Cuomo Statement is Call to Action

Archbishop Timothy Dolan with then Attorney General Andrew Cuomo/NY Daily News

This story is just developing.  Thanks to a notice from  New York State Catholic Conference, Gov. Andrew Cuomo (noted to be a practicing *CINO) is revisiting the nightmare legislation former Gov. Eliot Spitzer championed.  Today in his State of the State address, he once again mentioned the Reproductive Health Act.    According to the NY State Catholic Conference, "Although in his prepared remarks, Gov. Cuomo pledged to fight for the radical abortion bill known as the Reproductive Health Act, he eliminated the paragraph from the remarks he delivered and ended up saying nothing about abortion. Time will tell how the battle over this Spitzer-era bill will develop."  Clearly, he thinks we will not pay any attention and no alarm will be raised if the word 'abortion' is omitted.  The final transcript for the address today reads as follows:


"I will continue to vigorously protect a woman's right to choose and will fight for passage of the Reproductive Health Act. This Act protects the fundamental right of reproductive freedom and a woman's right to make private health care decisions. A woman facing an unplanned or problem pregnancy should have the opportunity to make the best decision for herself and her family. The Reproductive Health Act will ensure that the rights of individuals to make difficult and personal health care decisions are preserved."

From his previous State of the State (New York) address, January 5, 2011:

Protect Reproductive Rights 

A woman facing an unplanned or problem pregnancy should have the opportunity to make the best decision for herself and her family, whether her decision is continuing the pregnancy, adoption, or abortion.  I will continue to vigorously protect a woman’s right to choose and will fight for passage of the Reproductive Rights Act,  which will protect the fundamental right of reproductive freedom and a woman's right to make private health care decisions.   

The Reproductive Rights Act will ensure that the rights of individuals to make difficult and personal health care decisions will be preserved.

Reproductive Rights Act sounds benign enough, really.  +Ponderings+ has covered the legislation that then Governor Eliot Spitzer was championing for years (before he was embroiled in a very public scandal).  Read that post HERE.

From my previous post in February of 2007:

According to Kathleen M. Gallagher, director of pro-life activities for the New York State Catholic Conference:His euphemistically titled ‘Reproductive Health and Privacy Protection Act’ would raise abortion to the level of a fundamental right, like the freedom of speech, and would therefore prohibit virtually any restrictions at all.
“This bill would ensure the easy availability of late-term abortions of fully formed infants, even if there was no threat to a woman’s physical health, and allow non-doctors to perform abortions. It would prohibit ‘discrimination’ regarding the right to abortion to such an extent that Catholic hospitals could be forced to provide abortions or lose their license to operate. It would prohibit parental notification, expand the over-the-counter availability of the morning-after pill to children of any age and force all insurers to cover abortion for any reason.
“In many ways, this intolerable bill is more radical than the original state law legalizing abortion nearly 40 years ago. It would potentially force the closure of Catholic health care institutions and undoubtedly lead to the deaths of countless unborn children who otherwise might have had a chance at life. No matter what Mr. Spitzer calls his bill, clearly it is not about reproductive ‘health.’ On the contrary, this bill is about death, and it must be rejected.” Source

NY State Right to Life's statement on the proposed legislation is HERE.

Read the perspective of Planned Parenthood when the legislation was reintroduced to the State Assembly back in April of 2011 HERE.


When/if The Catholic Conference alert comes available, I will update this post and include a link where you can make your voice heard.

*CINO: Catholic in name only

North Dakota Bishops Warn Against Donating to Certain Charities

On Ash Wednesday, the Bishops of North Dakota issued a guide on charitable giving.  You may find that document HERE in its entirety.



They noted that all Catholics and Catholic entities including churches, schools and other organizations have an obligation to support only those missions which clearly support Catholic teaching.  Listed are some less obvious and perhaps a surprise or two for you in the 'do not support' list:


American Association of University Women: AAUWʼs stated mission is to advance “equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research” and often provides local scholarships with money raised through book fairs.  AAUW, however, strongly supports abortion rights and same-sex “marriage,” and opposes parental choice in education.

Amnesty International: In 2007, Amnesty International abandoned its neutral stance on abortion and adopted a pro-abortion position.

Crop Walk/Church World Service: CROP Walk, an annual hunger awareness and fundraising effort that benefits many local food pantries, is sponsored by Church World Service (CWS), an agency of the National Council of Churches. Catholic Relief Services withdrew its name from the list of funding recipients since some of the partners of CWS support the provision of contraceptives in their overseas missions and programs and CRS could not guarantee that donations, particularly Catholic donors who have earmarked their contribution to those efforts consistent with Church teaching, would not be utilized for objectionable services.

March of Dimes: The March of Dimesʼ focus is the prevention of birth defects, premature birth, and infant
mortality. March of Dimes, however, also supports embryonic stem cell research, preimplantation diagnosis for untreatable conditions, and mandatory contraceptive coverage for insurance plans.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure: This anti-breast cancer organization is known for its “Race for the Cure”
fundraising activities (not to be confused with “Relay for Life.”)  Money raised at these events has gone to
Planned Parenthood and the organization refuses to acknowledge the link between abortion and breast cancer.

UNICEF: The Holy See suspended an annual symbolic contribution in 1996 due to the “shift in UNICEF activities” that were once solely focused on child welfare but now includes contraceptive and abortion services.


May God bless †Most Rev. Paul A. Zipfel  and  †Most Rev. Samuel J. Aquila

_________________________

Hat tip to Thomas Peters from Catholic Vote for sharing the story.  

URGENT: American Catholics Must Unite

Action is also needed to protect our families and children around the world.  Please visit the Catholic Families and Human Rights Instituted (C-Fam) website and sign their Statement of Youth to the UN and the World .

UPDATED: How to Help in Haiti

Click on the CRS, Fast for Haiti or Caritas images below and you will be directed to the appropriate donation page.  All donations made on this page will go directly and immediately to assist with the effort in Haiti.

'Religion of Peace' Attempts to Exterminate Catholicism in the Middle East

What of those Christians in Iraq? Are there any left?

Pope Benedict XVI announced in September 2009 that there will be a Synod of Bishops in the Middle East to address the current crisis in the region. The eastern 'lung' of the Church is on a ventilator and most people in the world are turning a blind eye. Under the guise of political correctness, many world leaders, including Mr. Obama, are more concerned about avoiding 'hurt feelings' among the Muslim world, than the bodies of Christian martyrs piling up.



Below, an appeal from the Bishops and Priests in Iraq:


(Click to enlarge)

What now? A new documentary has been produced by the Charity and Justice organization. Part one is available and here is a description of An Open Door:

The most important aspect of this documentary is to show Iraqi Catholics in their true light, conveying to the world that Catholics in the Middle East are neither terrorists nor refugees. They are people – individuals with a deep faith, rich heritage, and courage. Episode One covers health, with episodes on spirituality, education, contributions of Iraqi Catholics, and employment to follow.

For Catholics to to stay in Iraq, to thrive, and foster positive relations with their Muslim neighbors, and for those who have already migrated due to persecution or poverty to stay connected to their religion and roots, the global Catholic community must work together to provide the opportunities that will enable Iraqi Catholics to shed their refugee status, and become fully participating Iraqi citizens once again.

This will occur through the construction of Catholic schools and hospitals, and development of industry. This is something Iraqis long for and are ready to work for, and a gift for which Iraqi Catholics will be forever grateful to those who can help them.

View part one of An Open Door below:

Darfur, Qaddafi and the United Nations

While Colonel Qaddafi is in the U.S. casting a shadow over the U.N. this week, the people of Darfur can place no hope in the Libyan leader's words - they know they are empty. As Ahmadinejad denies the Holocaust in front of the U.N. assembly, Qaddafi pretends the situation in Darfur has nothing to do with him. Two peas in a pod, each having an exceedingly difficult time finding a hotel which will accommodate them in New York City while visiting the U.N.

Since 2004, Catholic Relief Services has been providing humanitarian relief despite enormous security risks. According to the CRS website:

Key activities include:

• food distribution to more than 150,000 people each month
• shelter assistance for displaced families
• distribution of essential household items
• educational projects including classroom construction and teacher training
• agricultural support through seed and tool fairs
• livestock health initiatives
• health and nutrition education
• extensive water and sanitation projects, including construction of water systems, latrines and hand-washing facilities

CRS provides this relief assistance in El Geneina and up the 85-mile corridor running north to Kulbus. Across the border in eastern Chad, CRS also works with a local Church partner, Secours Catholique et Developpement (Catholic Relief and Development), to manage three camps in Farchana, Kounoungou and Milé that are home to more than 50,000 refugees from Sudan.

CRS Sudan serves all people in need without discrimination, including those living in camps, nomadic communities affected by the conflict and communities hosting displaced people. While insecurity at times restricts service delivery, CRS reaches thousands of people in need each month.

In 2007, CRS launched a peacebuilding and vocational program in El Obeid in partnership with the Don Bosco Vocational Training Center. The project trains youth of different ethnicities coming from Nyala and other parts of Darfur, providing an opportunity for these youth to live together in shared dormitories, building common understanding through vocational, educational and recreational activities.

To learn more about Darfur and the ongoing crisis situation, visit Save Darfur. To read more about the efforts of CRS in Darfur and other locations, CLICK HERE. To make a donation to help CRS in its efforts in Darfur, the rest of Sudan and around the world, CLICK HERE.

To read other +Ponderings+ about the problems faced by Africans, CLICK HERE. The horrors these people face are unimaginable. Generations have been murdered, raped, tortured and kidnapped.

President Obama promised to offer a plan to help Darfur and now we anxiously await his plan for a peaceful end to the atrocities taking place. Action is needed for the people of Darfur and Sudan and they need it NOW.

More about CRS:

ACTION NEEDED - Health Care Bill(s) and Abortion

I am not certain how one can consider abortion to be entirely an issue pertaining to privacy and then out of the other side of their mouths it is a medical issue. Don't get me started about the health of a murdered child - and the fact that a dead child is not a healthy one.

As the Obama administration pushes the current 'health care' legislation, only the stiff-necked are able to ignore the plight of the unborn and the infirm - both unable to fight for their own privacy and health. What they will not tell you, and have repeatedly lied about, is that abortion WILL be included in any and all proposals. Through the front door, the side or the back - the United States of America will demand that her citizens fund abortions as part of a 'health care' program.

Mr. Obama, you and your ilk are liars. Again, I post the above link to a non-partisan site: Factcheck.org .

"As for the House bill as it stands now, it’s a matter of fact that it would allow both a "public plan" and newly subsidized private plans to cover all abortions."

The National Right to Life Committee has declared the situation CONDITION RED and all Christians need to either step up or step aside. Either you take up the Cross or you discard it.

Take action HERE.

Read the latest updates HERE.

Print out a .pdf fact sheet on the health care bill proposals HERE.

E-mail your representatives, call their offices, send this information to your friends, neighbors, local media, church members. Your involvement is imperative.

____________

Side ponderable: Do you think that rhinoplasty and breast augmentation are going to be included in the health care plan? I mean, you wouldn't want someone to be punished with 'imperfections', would you?

____________

9-11-2009

Just to be certain that you are absolutely aware of what we are up against, in regard to others who refer to themselves as Catholic, I want to share with you some commentary from a Catholic online forum in regard to this topic:

"...... I would just like to say that all those abortions the occurred from 1974 to today.

Water under the bridge, right ?

Lets move on."

"Pro-lifers are never satified. "
-----
"We want a clear statement that health care reform won't include public funding of abortion"

Obama says the same in front of an international televised joint session of Congress.

"Obama is lying, we want more"

What do you want ?

Really.

I'm asking.


What IS good enough ?"

---

"....I refuse to identify myself as a pro-lifer because there are those proudly identiyfing themselves as pro-life who (and this is only a partial list):

1) wink and nod at murder.
2) Protect vandals, arsonists and batterers
3) Openly endorse violence
4) Hide behind secret organizations
5) Maintain enemies lists
6) Recruit, Cultivate, and encourage fringe people with violent tendenices
7) Just generally crying havoc
8) ..and are on the verge of letting slip the dogs of war

(That's a referance to Shakesphere - should be obvious but then again missing the obvious is why I'm writting this post)

I choose not to identify myself as pro-life because I choose not to associate myself with above said people.

I am anti-abortion."

---

"Laws can be changed pretty easily. If healthcare has some provisions that aren't to your liking, at some point in time new representatives will be bound to modify them.

Fr. Pavone himself could write a "no abortion funding" provision in the healthcare bill and it would only be a guarantee until the November, 2010 election.

Every law we have goes through periodic revision, and health care will be no different."

---

New York State Catholics: Act Now to Stop the Markey Bill!

Act Now to Stop the Markey Bill!

Take Action Here

The New York State Assembly is scheduled to vote within the next several days on a bill that would suspend for one year the statute of limitations for civil lawsuits related to child sexual abuse. The bill would allow for lawsuits against the Catholic Church and other institutions dating back decades. It has now been amended to include public institutions as well. While this makes the application of the bill fairer, it is no less detrimental to the Church and will now also financially devastate public school districts and other public institutions.

The bill currently exists in two very similar forms. In either case, it would allow for new lawsuits against public school districts, cities, towns and municipalities, churches, not-for-profits and businesses for claims going back several decades. Such claims can be impossible to defend because the accused are often long dead, as are anyone who may have been in a supervisory capacity. As a result, it would encourage the filing of false claims against teachers, doctors, clergy and others from long ago.

Please contact your Assembly member immediately by sending the the prewritten message HERE and tell him or her to vote NO on A.8739 or A.2596 (as amended), both sponsored by Margaret Markey. The message is fully editable except for the required text in the first paragraph. If the link does not work, just go to www.nyscatholic.org and click Take Action Now.

Edited to add: 'Hat tip' to the Diocese of Buffalo

Following is a statement from Richard E. Barnes, executive director of the New York State Catholic Conference, regarding the amendments to a bill sponsored by Assembly Member Margaret Markey (D-Maspeth) that would suspend the civil statute of limitations for claims related to child sexual abuse in New York State :

“After several years of denying the fact that her bill would exempt public institutions, Mrs. Markey has now acknowledged that her original bill did just that. However, even this amended bill remains terrible public policy for the state.

“For several years, the Catholic Conference has opposed Mrs. Markey’s bill for several reasons, namely that statutes of limitation exist in law for a good reason and that it is impossible to defend decades-old claims; that the bill could seriously impact the ability of the Catholic Church and other not-for-profits to provide health care, social services and education programs to the citizens of the state; and, finally, that because the bill only applied to private institutions and not to public institutions where the majority of non-familial abuse occurs, it is inherently unfair.

“In our opposition, we have been very clear that a legitimate debate on the merits of this bill could not occur until all institutions, including public, were included. The Assemblywoman has now announced her intention to do just that. This amended proposal will therefore impact not only the Catholic Church and non-profit sector but also public school districts, public health care institutions, state agencies, counties, cities and towns, as well as their insurers.

“Mrs. Markey and her supporters have stated that Catholic clergy account for only 2 percent of sexual abuse cases. In California , a “window” bill aimed at the Church resulted in some $1.3 billion in settlements from Catholic entities. It is therefore likely that Mrs. Markey’s bill could easily result in hundreds of billions of dollars in settlements against all entities, public and private, in every corner of our state. Clearly, such staggering numbers make this legislation a matter of grave consequence and intense public interest.”

New York State Catholics: Action Needed

Tell Your Lawmakers to Reimburse Catholic Schools

In dealing with two important issues this legislative session, namely the growing State Budget deficit and the deficit of the 12-county Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), lawmakers delivered some good news and bad news to schools in New York State. For public schools the news was good. For Catholic and other religious schools, the news is very bad.

The legislative session ends on June 22. Please act immediately to urge lawmakers to treat all schools fairly. Go to this link to send a pre-written, fully editable e-mail to the Governor and your Senator and Assembly member. Be sure to edit the letter to include your personal stake in religious education: tell your lawmakers if you are a principal, administrator, teacher or Catholic school parent.

If the link above does not work, go to www.nyscatholic.org and click "Take Action Now!"

Help Preserve Marriage in New York State

Help Preserve Marriage in New York State!

On May 12 the State Assembly voted 89 to 52 to legalize marriage between persons of the same sex. The vote on this legislation (A.7732/S.4401) is available here.

The bill now proceeds to the Senate where indications are the vote will be very close. With the legislative session scheduled to recess on June 22, now is the time to communicate your belief in the sanctity of traditional marriage to your State Senator. If you have already used our web-based alert system to communicate with your elected officials, please do so again here. Then take these additional action steps.

1. Call your State Senator to register your opposition to the bill and to redefining marriage in state law. You can identify your State Senator here. Then call the Senate switchboard in Albany at 518-455-2800 and ask to be connected to your state Senator's office. Identify yourself as a constituent and be clear in articulating your opposition to S.4401, the bill to legalize same sex "marriage."

2. Urge three friends, co-workers and family members to use the Catholic Conference Action Center to communicate their opposition to S.4401. Urge them to send an e-mail here and to follow it up with a phone call.

3. Send a letter to the editor of your local newspaper to raise awareness of this issue and urge others to contact their State Senator. Use the talking points and materials here to make your case. You can use our Media Guide to simply and efficiently send your letters to the media.

4. Come to Albany on June 9 for the "Stand Up 4 Marriage" rally on the State Capitol (East) steps beginning at 10:30 a.m. Thousands of New Yorkers from Hispanic evangelical churches rallied for traditional marriage on May 17 in New York City. Now it is time to show lawmakers in Albany the same demonstration of support for marriage. The June 9 rally will be hosted by New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms.

5. Pray for your elected officials, especially for your State Senator as they consider their vote on this issue.

Thank you for taking action to preserve the time-honored definition of marriage.

(via Catholic Advocacy Network e-mail)

ATTN: New Yorkers - Action Needed

Take action to make Timothy's Law permanent Urge your legislators and the governor to renew this important law

Timothy's Law, which provides health insurance parity for mental health benefits, is set to expire at the end of this calendar year if the legislature does not act to extend it before the end of session.

The state legislature first passed Timothy's Law in 2006. It requires health insurance plans and health maintenance organizations to stop limiting access to mental health services by arbitrarily restricting the number of visits and /or requiring higher co-payments than they do for access to general health services. The bill unfortunately had a three-year sunset provision, meaning it needs new legislation to be made permanent.

Timothy's Law has made it possible for millions of New Yorkers to have greater access to mental health treatment. Justice requires that barriers to access to mental health services be removed. Timothy's Law is a significant step to accomplish this goal. The New York State Catholic Conference also supports expanding the law to include coverage for substance abuse treatment. Please fill out the form HERE and send the editable message to Gov. Paterson and your state Senator and Assembly Member.

Read more about Timothy's story HERE.

New York's Gov. Paterson on Gay Marriage

It shouldn't come as a surprise that Gov. Paterson introduced a bill for the legalization of gay marriage in the state of New York. After all, he and former Gov. Spitzer are grand champions of the cause. New York has a long history of 'firsts' and how frustrating it must be to introduce legislation once again knowing that it has no chance of passing. New York is the abortion capital of the U.S. - perhaps we have to let others beat us to the chase on at least some ungodly attempts at new legislation.

What is next? A battle for the legalization of polygamy? A plea to legally marry a chimp who treats you well and is a consenting adult? You just wait. The slope has been slipping for nearly a century. The same people who pushed birth control, overpopulation tripe, abortion and gay marriage march on until they meet no resistance. Right over the edge of no return.


Read Bill Donohue's Opinion Piece on the Culture War in our midst.

UPDATE: Click HERE to take action, New Yorkers!

UPDATE 5/18/2009: From the NY Times: "The Assembly passed a same-sex marriage bill last Tuesday by a margin of 89 to 52, shifting the debate to the Senate. But the bill’s fate there remains uncertain. So far gay rights advocates have received commitments from about 25 of the 62 senators. As many as four Democrats could vote against the bill, and no Republicans have said publicly that they would support it."