Pro-Aborts Offer "State of the Uterus" Address

Sadly, the headline is not a joke. Their video message, which I've decided not to embed on +Ponderings+, is this (my words, their message):

"The objectification of women must stop. We will use an object which resembles a uterus to teach this lesson of respect for all women. Women are objects (bonus points when they resemble reproductive organs) when we say they are, and that objects are used to is especially important when mocking people with antiquated and barbaric values."

I will let you decide if you want to go to YouTube to search for the video. Screenshots below of the video with title, and a snip from the transcript.

*This is a screen-shot of the video and not the actual video. Go to YouTube and search under the name to view it. 

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From a 2012 post, girls selling chocolate suckers in the shape of a vagina in order to 'raise awareness of violence against women.' (From +Ponderings+ post found HERE.)

Bishop Malone on Gov. Andrew Cuomo Directive Against 'Extremists'

Latest on Cuomo's comments at the New York Post HERE.

And Fr. Barron spoke out on the matter:

'Gimme Shelter' in U.S. Theaters January 24th

In February of 2008, I posted about Several Sources Shelters. Today, as I write this, thousands of people are marching in Washington, D.C. at the March for Life. 'Gimme Shelter' promises to be a gritty look at true life struggles of young women who find themselves pregnant in less-than-ideal circumstances. We are called to not only fight for the life of the child, but to show undying compassion toward the women who face the most difficult intersection of their lives. We can help. P.S.: the message of the film is pro-life and I'm hoping the secular media won't notice until it is too late.

Synopsis: "A pregnant teenager flees life with her drug-addicted mother and ends up living on the street before being welcomed into her first real home in Gimme Shelter, an extraordinary tale of survival and redemption inspired by actual events. For 16-year-old Agnes "Apple" Bailey (Vanessa Hudgens), life has been a constant struggle to overcome the harsh reality of a subsistence existence with her abusive mother, June (Rosario Dawson), and June's string of lowlife boyfriends. When she finds herself pregnant and alone, Apple temporarily takes shelter with her biological father, Tom (Brendan Fraser), a wealthy Wall Streeter living in a New Jersey mansion with his wife Joanna (Stephanie Szostak) and two young children. But Apple's inability to adjust to her new circumstances, and her refusal to terminate her pregnancy, soon force her back onto the streets. Desperate to find a haven for herself and her unborn child, Apple reluctantly agrees to move into a suburban shelter that houses other pregnant teens. Emotionally scarred and unable to trust those who want to help her, it seems unlikely that Apple will be able to adapt to the shelter's strict rules and high expectations. With her safety and that of her unborn child at risk, Apple must find a way to break the shackles of her unhappy past and embrace the future with clarity, maturity and hope. Inspired by the real-life, David-and-Goliath story of Several Sources Shelters founder Kathy DiFiore, award-winning writer and director Ronald Krauss wrote his original screenplay while spending a year in a shelter for pregnant teens, and based his poignant screenplay on the lives of several of the shelter mothers. Gimme Shelter stars Vanessa Hudgens (High School Musical franchise, Machete Kills), Rosario Dawson (Sin City, Trance), Brendan Fraser (Crash, The Mummy), James Earl Jones (The Great White Hope, Star Wars franchise), Ann Dowd (Compliance, Side Effects) and Dascha Polanco ("Orange is the New Black"). Also appearing in the film are several real life shelter mothers, their babies and Kathy DiFiore. The film is produced by Krauss and Jeff Rice (End of Watch, 2 Guns). Director of photography is Alain Marcoen (The Kid with a Bike, She is Not Crying, She is Singing). Production designer is William Ladd Skinner (This is the End, Pirates of the Caribbean franchise). Costume designer is Ciera Wells (All is Bright, Damsels in Distress). Executive producers are Paul Hellerman (Pulp Fiction, The Mexican) and Scott Steindorff (The Lincoln Lawyer, The Human Stain)."




'Gimme Shelter' Facebook page
National Catholic Register article on the film
Several Sources Shelters

My Pope, Our Pope, the Sinner

2013-09-21, Vatican Radio

As a lay observer, I decided to use bullet points to share my interpretation of Pope Francis' recent remarks in the interviews documented by America Magazine. The mainstream media has a practice of quoting everything the Holy Father says with the accuracy of a telephone game. Here is what I gleaned from the interview:

Pope Francis:

• sees himself as a sinner who was chosen by God.
• chose not to live in the papal apartment because he prefers community life.
• takes his prayerful time when making a decision.
• is irritated when people say that Ignatian spiritual exercises are Ignatian because they are done in silence. They can be done with or without silence. 
• is close to the mystical movement.
• had a bit of a bumpy start as a young Jesuit provincial who ran the Society with an authoritative hand.
• views ministers within the Church who behave badly as spiritually barren.
• believes that the young Church (view themselves as self-sufficient) and old Church (may try to impose cultural models upon the young) must build a future together.
• sees the Church as a field hospital after battle - needing to heal and nurture the faithful.
• believes that a confessor must be neither too rigid, nor too lax.
• wants the Bishops to leave no one behind, including those who have left the Church or are indifferent.
• wants all sinners to be treated with mercy.
• does not speak much about artificial contraception, homosexuality, or abortion because the Church teaching is clear on those subjects - and that they are not at the heart of Christ's message.
• believes that the Church has a lot of doctrines and for him to focus on only a few incessantly would be wrong.
• wants the salvific message to be proclaimed first, followed by catechesis.
• sees the vowed religious as prophets, leaven. 
• thinks that the volume of complaints sent to the curia in regard to unorthodox practices at a local level are misdirected (I wonder how many are from the Diocese of Rochester). He wants those issues to be reported to the local levels.
• thinks that the current methods of  the Synod of Bishops may not be a good model and wants to look more at how things were done prior to the Great Schism in 1054.
• wants us to walk united with differences as this is the way of Jesus.
• knows that women are different than men, though they are equally important. Functionality and dignity are two very distinct things, and the Church must be clear in the treatment of women in regard to the latter.
• thinks that the moto proprio of Benedict XVI allowing wider usage of the Tridentine Mass was a good thing, but that we must be careful not to malign the novus ordo.
• warns that finding God takes patience, and a contemplative attitude
• believes that if someone says that they met God with total certainty and without a smidgen of doubt, it is not good. If someone believes to have all the answers, God is not with them.
• said that if a Christian is a legalist, he will find nothing. 
• believes that those who look for 'exaggerated doctrinal security' have an inward view of things.
• prefers to say that we must have hope rather than be optimistic. God is hope, and optimism is for humans.
• thinks that we must get out of a 'laboratory' and into the field. In the field, we can see the bigger picture of what is needed to help others. 
• views the Church as having been at times brilliant, and at other times in history, unable to think.
• suffers from a wandering mind in prayer, and sometimes even falls asleep while at adoration (I'm in good company!).

I was a little surprised by a couple of items, but on the whole the interview appears to be rather uneventful. As usual, the mainstream media has created a stir where nothing I would consider 'breaking news' was said. Full disclosure: I had not read any other blog entries, news stories (Catholic or secular) or watched any commentary about the Pope's remarks prior to making this post. After seeing the headlines flood my newsfeed on various social sites, I decided to go directly to the source. I am the first to admit that on +Ponderings+ my focus is often on the very topics (both Abortion and Obama are the most tagged posts) that our Holy Father would view as being more political than spiritual. While thinking about this tendency, I have decided that it is because I hope to have others awakened from a crooked path. I was once lost and want to create a visible waypoint for someone else. Like an ex-smoker preaching about health to a smoker. And with this thought in my heart and on my mind, I close. 

Edited to add: Here is what Bishop Richard Malone of the Diocese of Buffalo had to say about the matter:



Edited again to add: Read what Fr. Z has to say about the liberal (Catholic and non) comments on the Holy Father HERE.

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This was our 400th +Catholic Ponderings+ post!

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: Governor Dannel P. Malloy

Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy
Won election in 2010, up for re-election 2014

Though the phrase 'even a broken clock is right twice a day' has been proven to be true time and time again, when it comes to CINO politicians, their brokenness is overwhelming. If he were a clock, Gov. Dannel P Malloy is broken to the extent that only Jesus can repair. There are some issues which are left to individual conscience, and there are some that are non-negotiable. Governor Malloy holds views completely incompatible with Catholicism. I pray that Gov. Malloy will someday see his separation from God, and seek reconciliation with the Church he left behind.

Gov. Malloy is supportive of abortion, stem-cell research (does not differentiate between adult stem-cell and embryonic stem-cell), and same sex "marriage." 

Quotes:

Stem Cell Research: "As Governor I will expand state investment in stem cell research and other cutting edge bio-medical fields; these investments directly generate high-quality, high-skill jobs and strengthen competitiveness in this critical field." Source

On the anniversary of SCOTUS ruling on Roe v. Wade: "A woman's right to control her own reproductive health care--her own body--is not and should not be a question for politicians," said Governor Malloy. "I've always been a strong supporter of a woman's right to choose, and the anniversary of Roe v. Wade certainly marks a milestone. That said, across this country we are witnessing a tremendous erosion of a woman's access to quality healthcare. Through defunding and the egregiously burdensome regulation of fundamental healthcare services, women are being denied their rights to control their own bodies and their futures. Just as we recognize how far we've come in 40 years, we also recognize how far we have to go."

"This anniversary is a reminder that the fight for a woman's right to choose is as crucial today as it was four decades ago--despite all the gains we have made over the years, the battle is not yet over," said Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman. "We are fortunate that Connecticut has a long tradition of being a leader on this issue, and that the Obama administration is clearly on the side of choice. But we must continue our commitment to keep and strengthen this important freedom--no matter who is in the White House." Source

*Do you have a nominee for a future 'Misguided Politician' entry? Submit your suggestion (does not need to be a politician in the United States) to catholicponderings@yahoo.com

Pope Francis

Pope Benedict XVI greets Cardinal Bergoglio of Argentina

Cardinal Bergoglio, now Pope Francis, is our first Jesuit Pope, and also the first from Latin America.

Greeting the faithful

Blessing the faithful after humbly requesting that they pray for him. 

Good night and sleep well.

His first words publicly spoken as Pope:

2013-03-13 Vatican Radio

Brothers and sisters good evening.

 
You all know that the duty of the Conclave was to give a bishop to Rome. It seems that my brother Cardinals have come almost to the ends of the earth to get him… but here we are. I thank you for the welcome that has come from the diocesan community of Rome.

First of all I would say a prayer pray for our Bishop Emeritus Benedict XVI.. Let us all pray together for him, that the Lord bless him and Our Lady protect him.

Our Father…
Hail Mary…
Glory to the Father…

And now let us begin this journey, the Bishop and people, this journey of the Church of Rome which presides in charity over all the Churches, a journey of brotherhood in love, of mutual trust. Let us always pray for one another. Let us pray for the whole world that there might be a great sense of brotherhood . My hope is that this journey of the Church that we begin today, together with help of my Cardinal Vicar, be fruitful for the evangelization of this beautiful city.

And now I would like to give the blessing, but first I want to ask you a favour. Before the bishop blesses the people I ask that you would pray to the Lord to bless me – the prayer of the people for their Bishop. Let us say this prayer – your prayer for me – in silence. 

[The Protodeacon announced that all those who received the blessing, either in person or by radio, television or by the new means of communication receive the plenary indulgence in the form established by the Church. He prayed that Almighty God protect and guard the Pope so that he may lead the Church for many years to come, and that he would grant peace to the Church throughout the world.]

[Immediately afterwards Pope Francis gave his first blessing Urbi et Orbi – To the City and to the World.]

I will now give my blessing to you and to the whole world, to all men and women of good will.
Brothers and sisters, I am leaving you. Thank you for your welcome. Pray for me and I will be with you again soon.

We will see one another soon. 

Tomorrow I want to go to pray the Madonna, that she may protect Rome.

Good night and sleep well!

Pope Francis (as Archbishop/Cardinal) on same-sex marriage:
"Let's not be naive, we're not talking about a simple political battle; it is a destructive pretension against the plan of God," writes Bergoglio in a letter sent to the monasteries of Buenos Aires, where he is archbishop. "We are not talking about a mere bill, but rather a machination of the Father of Lies that seeks to confuse and deceive the children of God."-Source

On the sanctity of life:
“Those who think they own life are mistaken,” he said. “We should not think that because we have a little bit of power, we can monopolize or make ourselves the owners of life.”--Source

On dissenting politicians and the reception of communion:
“we should commit ourselves to ‘eucharistic coherence’, that is, we should be conscious that people cannot receive holy communion and at the same time act or speak against the commandments, in particular when abortion, euthanasia, and other serious crimes against life and family are facilitated.  This responsibility applies particularly to legislators, governors, and health professionals"--Source

On the Year of Faith and the New Evangelization:
"We need to come out of ourselves and head for the periphery. We need to avoid the spiritual sickness of a Church that is wrapped up in its own world: when a Church becomes like this, it grows sick. It is true that going out onto the street implies the risk of accidents happening, as they would to any ordinary man or woman. But is the Church stays wrapped up in itself, it will age. And if I had to choose between a wounded Church that goes out onto the streets and a sick withdrawn Church, I would definitely choose the first one."--Source

Quoted St. Francis Prayer to children in 2010:
“where there is hatred, we will bring love, where there is fighting, we will bring peace.”--Source

Pope Francis' Schedule (EWTN News/CNA):

The Vatican has announced Pope Francis' schedule for the coming days, which will begin with Mass on Thursday, March 14 in the Sistine Chapel together with the cardinals at 5 p.m. It is expected that Pope Francis will pay a private visit to Santa Maria Maggiore the same day, asking for the Blessed Virgin's protection and intercession during his pontificate. On March 15 at 11 a.m. he will officially welcome and address the cardinals, both those who elected him and those who are over 80. On Saturday March 16, Pope Francis will hold an audience for journalists and media representatives in the Paul VI Hall. He will give an Angelus address on Sunday. Pope Francis' inauguration as Bishop of Rome will be held Tuesday, March 19, the feast day of Saint Joseph. The inauguration is to be held at St. Peter's Square.

And now a word from my Bishop:

Irony: When the Abortionist is Forced to Sign Your Birth Certificate

I first posted about Gianna Jessen back in October of 2008 HERE. What makes Gianna's story extraordinary, is that she survived a saline abortion at seven months gestation. If you are not familiar with her story, please read my previous post and watch her testimonial videos. The abortionist had not yet arrived at the Planned Parenthood clinic where she was expected to be exterminated, when she was born alive. The man later had to sign her birth certificate.

Gianna Jessen

The new film October Baby was inspired by Gianna's story. In the film, a young woman discovers that she was a survivor of an attempted abortion, and goes on a journey of discovery and healing. I went to see October Baby on opening weekend, and recommend that all go see it as well. Find it in a theater near you by searching HERE. Even if you happened upon this post with a pro-choice mindset, I ask that you open your heart and mind to the story. As you can see on Rotten Tomatoes, there is a giant chasm between Hollywood critics and what the ticket-buyers long to see. At the time of this post, only 7 out of 30 critics enjoyed the film, yet a whopping 91% of the audience (9,492 reviewers) enjoyed the film. Even the New York Times was pressed to acknowledge the film's success - though in the linked article you'll find that the article has a definite bias against the pro-life movement. Many critics have gone so far as to discount the story in the film, believing it impossible that anyone would survive an abortion. Of course, many people still deny that the Holocaust happened - so, there you go.

The soundtrack for October Baby is now available on iTunes and Gianna Jessen performs the song Ocean Floor. Give it a listen and support the project. The entire album is only $9.99 and contains some of the most enjoyable new music I've heard in a very long time.

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*Read about another abortion survivor in this NYT article HERE. Learn about late term abortion methods HERE, including 'saline amniocentisis' (the method Gianna survived), and President Obama's record on the Infant Born Alive Protection Act HERE. Why don't we hear of more survivors of abortions? Find the answer HERE.

$1 Mandatory Abortion Surcharge - 'Accounting Procedure'

If you have a cellphone, you've probably griped at some point about the insane surcharges that are added onto your bill. You cannot opt out, unless you are willing to get rid of your cellphone. In New York,  we have paid $1.20 every month for over a decade into a state mandated fund intended to assist counties to update their 911 programs. In 2010, $190 million was collected and only $9.3 million was actually disbursed to the counties in New York. I cannot imagine anyone being against having an emergency response service in our communities. Most of us have benefited at one time or another by having police, ambulance, or fire services just a few moments away thanks to an efficient 911 dispatch system. Governments are important for a civilized society, but why do we sit idle when we are being forced to pay, or overpay, for things that do not benefit us as they promised? HERE is the legislation calling for a repeal in NY.

Once something becomes law in the U.S., like most places, it may take decades to repeal. This includes legislation that is unpopular with the vast majority of voters, but the officials we elect sponsor the programs. If they received the majority of votes by constituents, certainly those elected are much wiser and more experienced than the voting public. Right?

Enter PL 111-148, also known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or the less-than-affectionate moniker, Obamacare. Open the linked document if you must, but consider yourself warned; it is a 906-page .pdf file. On page 53, you'll find that the secretary of Health and Human Services has a lot of power to determine what will be paid for and the cost of services provided. Those of us enrolled in the healthcare program won't be charged more than $1 per month for abortion coverage so that others may exercise the their right to abortion. But - but - we won't have to pay for abortions, right? That is what we are promised by the government. This cannot be right - Kelly and others are stupid, know-nothing-right-wing-woman-hating-homophobic-ignorant-pigs, right?



Accounting procedure. If I had withheld a few numbers on my 1040 form this year, or moved numbers from the income field to the expense field, it would have been an 'accounting procedure.' Just pay the surcharge to a 'special account' and hide your head under your pillow. You'll be paying for 'services' that won't deny women their rights, but you won't be told what the services are just in case it might make you feel uncomfortable.

Only a dollar. Human flesh is still cheap.

When Jesus came to Golgotha, they hanged Him on a tree, 
They drove great nails through hands and feet, and made a Calvary; 
They crowned Him with a crown of thorns, red were His wounds and deep, 
For those were crude and cruel days, and human flesh was cheap. 
--From When Jesus Came to Birmingham by G. A. Studdert-Kennedy 



More on the story HERE and HERE.


Let the government know what YOU think about the HHS mandate and Obamacare by filling out the form HERE. I did.

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.

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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.)

dear Planned Parenthood, Bring it On!

http://i--have--a--say.blogspot.com/



This next video is NOT to be viewed by children. It is an offensive expose of material propagated by PP:



By the numbers as reported by Planned Parenthood themselves:

• 11% of PP's 'healthcare clients' receive abortion services (they shout from the rooftops that 3% of their services are abortions. They justify this because they pad their numbers by including services to the community that are not healthcare services. If they offer a presentation for 1,000 people, they count them as being served. Only when they provide their 'healthcare' service numbers do we see the truth. Nearly 1 out of 10 healthcare visits end in abortion.)
• Number of clients receiving 'healthcare' at PP clinics: 2,900,000
• Amount of federal tax money given to PP last year: $487,000,000
• Number of adoption referrals in 2010: 841
• Number of mammograms performed by PP annually: 0

"Guilty? Yes. No matter what the motive, love of ease, or a desire to save from suffering the unborn innocent, the woman is awfully guilty who commits the deed. It will burden her conscience in life, it will burden her soul in death; But oh, thrice guilty is he who drove her to the desperation which impelled her to the crime!"--Susan B. Anthony on abortion. The Revolution, 1869. 

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.

Buffalo Area Catholics Confront Rep. Kathy Hochul

A line has been drawn in the sand, and President Obama and his supporters have made their contempt for religious freedom known by proceeding with the HHS Mandate. Sadly, many such supporters are among the nearly 70 million American Catholics. The outstanding turnout of over 100 Catholics from the Diocese of Buffalo at a town hall meeting with Rep. Kathy Hochul (D) was due to the concerted efforts of  WLOF Catholic radio, the Catholic Men's group MOJC, and Fr. Leon Biernat. With only two days notice, they were able to move Catholics to attend this meeting which took place last Friday morning. It must also be mentioned that WGRZ News in Buffalo is very supportive of the local Catholic community and did an excellent job providing coverage.

Click HERE to view all footage provided by WGRZ.

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

October Baby

Sanctity of Human Life Day is Sunday, January 22, 2012.

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

Children: Begotten, Not Made

Over the past week, I have been strongly conflicted while reading the book Inconceivable.  It is about a Catholic couple who struggled with secondary fertility issues since their first child was born and turned to science in order that they may have more children.  Since men are fallible, a medical error resulted in the mother's pregnancy with a child who was not genetically hers.

On one hand, I was deeply saddened while reading what Carolyn and Sean Savage went through.  Their pain from having dreams of a large family dashed could not prepare them for the pain that was yet to come.  Carrying a child and subsequently falling in love with the boy, all while knowing that the child was to go to his genetic parents upon delivery is for most of us unimaginable.  On top of this, Carolyn had health complications and was putting herself at risk by carrying this child and giving him the gift of life.  As Carolyn noted in the book, she could legally kill the child through abortion, yet would have to give the child to his biological parents upon birth if she chose in favor of life.  Though I personally have not and would never  choose to use In Vitro Fertilization to expand my family, I can feel so much pain while reading the words of both Sean and Carolyn.  They desperately longed to do what was right for their family.  Their plans for a large family resulted in two healthy sons and two miscarriages before they decided to choose IVF to offer them hope for a larger family.  They are blessed to have a daughter who was conceived through IVF and in an attempt to further add to their family, once again underwent the implantation of three lives - embryos -which had been preserved frozen at a fertility clinic.  This is where the real nightmare began.

On the other hand, and this is where the conflict rises, they knew what the Church teaches about IVF and decided that the Church was wrong and that they were right.  They perceived a certain 'discrimination' against people who could no physically get pregnant without resorting to IVF procedures.  A look at Sacred Scripture shows that Carolyn and Sean were not alone in their longing for children.  There are perhaps dozens of instances of infertile couples struggling emotionally in the Bible.

In the Old Testament Elkanah says to his wife who was unable to conceive, "Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart so sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?" Of course Elkanah's wife loved him, but she wanted to bear their child. Source

I do not wish to hurt the Savages any more than they have been hurt.  It is they who put this story into a book and over the air waves into our living rooms, so I do feel I have some sort of implicit permission to give my own perspective on their deeply personal story.

It is my hope that they will read these comments and take them with the love and concern they are intended:

• Children are begotten, not made. 
• Gifts are to be freely given and accepted - but never forced.  
• You are deeply in love with a boy who is not genetically yours, and could have been as well with an adopted child.  
• The Church does not discriminate against you because of your infertility; to the contrary her members want to help you carry the burden of the cross.
• You made an extreme error in judgement just as everyone does.  Begin anew and put aside your anger with Church teaching. Prayerfully discern why the Church says that IVF is morally unacceptable.
• Isaac was the only son for Abraham and Sarah, yet through his obedience, Abraham was willing to sacrifice his only son for God. 
• Put yourself at the foot of the cross during this Lenten season and consider Mary, with her only beloved Son, knowing that he was destined to die upon a cross in order that all of humanity may be saved.  She too carried a child knowing heartbreak would be inevitable.
• Further encouragement of others to seek IVF not only leads yourself to further separation from God through mortal sin, it also brings others to the same destination. 
• Having children through 'any means necessary' serves yourself and your needs, disregarding God's will
• Gestational Carrier is a horrid term and one the Savages used when they decided to have their remaining embryos transferred to another woman in further efforts to expand their family.
• We all sin and sometimes it is with the best of intentions.  If we are off the mark according to Church teaching, it is best to further investigate where we are wrong - not the Church.
• Catechism of the Catholic Church: 2378 A child is not something owed to one, but is a gift. The "supreme gift of marriage" is a human person. A child may not be considered a piece of property, an idea to which an alleged "right to a child" would lead. In this area, only the child possesses genuine rights: the right "to be the fruit of the specific act of the conjugal love of his parents," and "the right to be respected as a person from the moment of his conception."

EDITED 3-31-11:  A link to this blog entry was posted on the Savage's Facebook page and a storm followed.  I temporarily removed the previous bullet points, but after having read and re-read the comments made by Mrs. Savage and others, have since returned them where they were initially. There is no delicate way to tell someone that they did something wrong and to suggest alternatives.  Certainly that is the case where someone has been through difficult trauma such as Mrs. Savage experienced.  One additional note:  If a priest comments that he does not support the Church's position on IVF, one should not feel justified as many a priest has also supported gay marriage, artificial contraception, fornication, female ordination and numerous other topics against Church teaching.  No one has stated that a child brought into the world via IVF is any less precious than any other child.  It is not the child, but the means that the parents used to become pregnant that is a serious matter.  Does that mean you think a child born out of wedlock is somehow inferior?  Nonsense.  Please read the information contained in the links at the end of the entry as I have added more.

From their Facebook page (not including comments made by other individuals though some are quite interesting): 

 "It is articles like this that leave me shaking in my chair. Off to take a deep breath and say a prayer for guidance. C"

"I know...it just hurts. I feel like the doctrine is so shortsighted and discriminatory. And, I can't count the number of priests who have whispered to us...."I don't really agree w/the church on this issue!", but are so deathly afraid to speak up and urge the hierachy to reconsider. C"

"[facebook fan], So sorry this upset you so! I just keep torchering myself and rereading it. My goodness, to say that we should have adopted....to say that she would never personally choose IVF...I find it so interesting when people are quick to say what they would or wouldn't do when they have never been in a certain situation. It seems so arrogant."

"I love my church. My next blog post is about my relationship with our parish. A few Sundays ago I sat in my pew and admired all of the families that had gathered for worship. Funny thing about it was...there were many there that have IVF children. They've just never been publicly 'outed' (or chastized). It's really, really hard to reconcile right now. C"

"Interesting thing about the [Catholic Ponderings] author. I think if the church changed it's mind, she'd change her mind. She is a devoted follower. I'm not always a fan of devoted "followers". Instead, I love to read articles, blogs, and published works written by "inspired ponderers". Critical thought, prayerful reflection and the recognition of the dangers of arrogance are probably a more accurate reflection of Jesus' loving approach to mankind. I often wonder what Jesus would say about the Church of our world. My guess is, he'd be shaking his head in disappointment. C"

Inconceivable was, as mentioned, a difficult read.  It was well-crafted, alternating between Sean's perspective and that of Carolyn's, seamlessly taking you through a very painful time in their lives.  I was brought to tears over and over as the waves of painful news mounted against this loving couple who were trying to cope with unimaginable circumstances. A little boy and a family were blessed with life and yet another family was left to cope with incredible emptiness and despair at what they had hoped could have been.  +

*To read more about the Savage family or to order the book, visit their website HERE.  

_________________

For further information on Church teaching in regard to infertility treatments and IVF consult the following:

In Vitro Fertilization: Ethical Implications and Alternatives 

Catechism of the Catholic Church

In Vitro Fertilization and Reproductive Technology - USCCB

Embryo and Fetal Research - USCCB

Technology to assist infertile Catholic couples consistent with Church teaching - USCCB

What you need to know if you are struggling with infertility

Infertility: Terms you need to know

Quick Questions on IVF answered

Dignitas Personae

IVF and the Catholic Couple

The Multiple Injustices of IVF

NaPro Technology:  Moral and Better than IVF

In Virto Fertilization and the Hermeneutic of the Gift  by Christopher West

U.K. article: New fertility legislation will make it illegal to use embryos with a known genetic abnormality in IVF treatment

Read THIS powerful story. Yet another situation where a family is changed forever due to an IVF implantation.  This time, the mother was implanted with three fertilized eggs and found herself pregnant with triplets. Read this agonizing tale as told by the father, sharing what it was like to watch his children die in utero on a monitor after his wife insisted on aborting two of the children.