Thursday, April 30, 2009

Conscience Clauses for Prolife medical professionals

good news from Citizen Link
'
Through the efforts of nearly a dozen pro-family groups — including Focus on the Family Action — more than 340,000 Americans have sent comments to the Health and Human Services Department (HHS) in support of health care professionals' right of conscience.
President George W. Bush put regulations in place in December to reinforce federal laws that protect medical professionals from being forced to participate in abortion and other anti-life practices that violate their morals. President Barack Obama wants to overturn them.
Carrie Gordon Earll, senior bioethics analyst at Focus on the Family Action, called it a serious situation.
"If the Bush regulations are reversed and the trend to discriminate continues, people of faith and strong conviction will stop going into medicine," she said. "In 20 years, you may not be able to find a pro-life doctor. Reversing the regulations puts medical professionals and patients at risk." In a recent survey, 95 percent of faith-based physicians said they would rather stop practicing medicine than be forced to violate their consciences.
In another poll — also conducted by WomanTrend on behalf of the Christian Medical Association — nearly 90 percent of Americans said they believe it is important to “make sure health care professionals in America are not forced to participate in procedures and practices to which they have moral objections.”
FOR MORE INFORMATIONLearn more at the
Freedom2Care Web site.

Catholic New Media Awards

This year, instead of the Catholic Blog Awards, the title has changed to the Catholic New Media Awards. Nominations will be accepted the entire month of May.

Judge John T. Noonan to replace Mary Ann Glendon as speaker at Notre Dame

According to American Papist, former 9th Circuit Court Judge Noonan who received the Laetre Medal in 1984, wil be the commencement speaker.
It seems as if President Jenkins was really reaching far into the past to find a speaker willing to prop up his controversial stand on Barack Obama.
Here's an excerpt from Jenkin's announcement:
“In thinking about who could bring a compelling voice, a passion for dialogue, great intellectual stature, and a deep commitment to Catholic values to the speaking role of the Laetare Medalist – especially in these unusual circumstances – it quickly became clear that an ideal choice is Judge Noonan,” said Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., president of Notre Dame. “This commencement ceremony, more than anything else, is a celebration of our students and their families. Judge Noonan will join with President Obama and other speakers in that celebration, sending them from our campus and into the world with sound advice and affirmation.
“Since Judge Noonan is a previous winner of the Laetare Medal, we have decided, upon reflection, to not award the medal this year.”
Well, that is classier than re-gifting the medal to a second best awardee.

Family Research Council Video on First 100 Days

This chilling video gives a synposis of the terrible damage the family has suffered under the Obama Administration.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Something I'm considering


a tempting offer from Students for Life of America

Want to Protest President Obama at Notre Dame?
Prominent pro-life leaders (
ND Affirm Life) are making arrangements right now to gather in South Bend, IN (Notre Dame) for the weekend of May 15-17th to protest the University's decision to allow President Obama to speak at graduation and receive an award.Scheduled Events Include:
Friday, May 15th
- Pro-Life Rally featuring Pro-Life Leaders
Saturday, May 16th -Interdenominational Prayer Service and Catholic Mass featuring Fr. John Raphael and Alan Keyes
Sunday, May 17th - Mass and Notre Dame Perimeter Protests
Travel Costs will be provided for you and your group.
If you are interested in going, e-mail us now and let us know how many you can bring!

True story of Obama's first 100 days in office


Jill Stanek calls it the First 100 days of death in her column on World Net Daily. Read it to get the true extent of the damage done to the most innocent Americans, others around the world. Catholics who voted for Obama, are you awake yet?!

Graphic courtesy of Conserva blogs. com

Cardinal George says Obama is "on the wrong side of history"

In an article in the Boston Archdiocesan newspaper, "The Pilot" Cardinal George, President of the USCCB describes an intense conversation he had last month with President Obama.
Cardinal George compared abortion with slavery,
"These are members of the human family, genetically individuated, (with) a human father and a human mother," he said. "What their legal status is, of course, you can debate, and we have. ... John Paul II says you cannot simply live comfortably with an immoral legal system, any more than you could live comfortably with slavery, and therefore you have to work to change the law."
It's a society-dividing issue, and on this issue, we're with Abraham Lincoln and he's with Stephen Douglas, and he doesn't like to hear that, but that's where he is."The cardinal was referring to the seven debates held in 1858 between Lincoln and his opponent for an Illinois seat in the U.S. Senate. Slavery was the main issue discussed in all of the debates."
I'll bet Obama who sometimes compares himself with Abraham Lincoln, did not appreciate being put on the Stephen Douglas side of the slavery debate! Read the entire article for the ominous prediction Cardinal George makes about what it may take to end the abortion debate.
It sure wasn't dialogue at Notre Dame!

Donohue on hate crimes

DEMOCRATS DEFINE CHILD MOLESTERS AS GAY

Catholic League president Bill Donohue explains this unusual headline:

“The House of Representatives will vote this week, possibly tomorrow, on a hate crimes bill championed by gay groups that includes pedophiles under the rubric of sexual orientation. This is the ultimate confession: liberal Democrats think of pedophiles as indistinguishable from homosexuals.

“When this subject came up last week in the House Judiciary Committee, an amendment to the hate crimes bill that would have excluded pedophilia from the definition of sexual orientation was defeated by Democrats along party lines, 13-10. This was considered good news by gay organizations like the Human Rights Campaign, left-wing groups like the ACLU and various Jewish groups like the ADL.

“The debate is over: for liberals, child molesters should be given the same rights as homosexuals. Moreover, they should be given more rights than pregnant women and veterans; the latter two categories were explicitly denied coverage under the hate crimes bill. Even worse, an amendment that would bar prosecution based in whole or in part on religious beliefs quoted from the Bible, the Tanakh (Judaism’s sacred book) or the Koran was defeated by Democrats along party lines, 11-8. In other words, religious speech may be denied First Amendment protection.

“There would be national outrage over this if the media were to report on it and the public were allowed to weigh in on it. But the clock is ticking and freedom and morality are hanging in the balance.”

To verify the vote tally click
here

Rep. John Conyers is leading the supporters of this bill: contact
john.conyers@mail.house.gov

Rep. Louie Gohmert is leading the opposition: contact
louie.gohmert@mail.house.gov

American Papist: Not Your Average Catholic!: Round-up: *53* Bishops have responded to Notre Dame's Obama invitation

American Papist: Not Your Average Catholic!: Round-up: *53* Bishops have responded to Notre Dame's Obama invitation

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Judy Brown on Sebelius Confirmation

from American Life League

Sebelius received the support of Kansas senators Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts, two so-called pro-life leaders. “Today we witnessed a tragedy. Two good men, Sens. Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts, cowed by political expediency and a despairing pragmatism, have cooperated with evil and helped pave the way for the Obama administration’s virulently pro-abortion agenda. “Faced with the most extreme anti-life presidential administration in history, these two ‘pro-life’ men had the opportunity to radically change the course of Gov. Sebelius’ confirmation process and make a heroic stand against the evil of abortion.“Instead, they chose to congratulate, support and appoint a woman who, wedded to the Kansas abortion lobby, helped make that state the ‘late-term abortion capital of the world.’
“In her new position as secretary of Health and Human Services, Sebelius will have the power to make the United States the abortion capital of the world. “Now is not the time to make concessions to evil. Now is the time to stand tall for the personhood of all human beings, from their biological beginning. We will not be intimidated into compromising our principles. Faced with persecution by the Obama administration, we will flourish and overcome the chokehold the culture of death has on our nation.
“The nomination of Kathleen Sebelius as HHS secretary has taught us one thing above all. We cannot count on our elected officials to lead the charge toward human personhood. “The change – and the charge – starts with each one of us living, breathing and fighting each moment for the day when human personhood is proclaimed and recognized by and for all.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION:U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes: On the Nomination of Gov. Kathleen Sebelius
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=1&vote=00172

Sebelius nomination confirmed in Senate 65-31

from the Susan B Anthony List
Washington, D.C. – Today the U.S. Senate voted 65-31 to confirm Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius as President Obama’s Secretary of Health and Human Services.
“Despite the results of tonight’s vote, we’re finding that more and more Americans are waking up to the danger of President Obama’s nominations of extreme abortion advocates to serve in his administration,” said Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser.

“The high profile Sebelius confirmation battle has generated new interest and brought thousands of new activists on board for the pro-life cause. This grassroots energy will only increase our momentum as we confront the next round of President Obama’s extreme pro-abortion nominees, beginning with former NARAL Legal Director Dawn Johnsen. We expect all pro-life Senators will oppose Dawn Johnsen’s nomination for Office of Legal Counsel, and their support will be critical to keeping her extreme abortion views out of the White House.”
Susan B. Anthony List activists generated over 60,000 letters of opposition to Senators regarding the Sebelius nomination. Already over 37,000 letters have been sent in opposition to the Johnsen nomination.

Of all the idiotic stunts!

I don't care who really ordered it, the jet fly-over of New York City on Monday which sent thousands into a panic, fearing a repeat of 9-11 proves that the Obama White House suffers a terminal case of hubris. Trauamtize the entire city of New York without even warning the mayor or the governor, spend untold thousands of dollars, for what? A photo-op?!
It's all about image, isn't it?
I can only imagine how the Notre Dame event is going to be exploited, if this is a taste of the priorities of the Obama administration. An anonymous source saying the president is furious doesn't ring true. This sounds like just his style.
A disgusting abuse of power, but then, what did you expect from the man who dissed Joe the Plumber?
Read the entire story here.
HT CNS news.

Here's a photo of the Twin Towers taken by a woman returning from a cruise. She never guessed what this photo would come to mean to Americans. Too bad Obama doesn't get it.

Monday, April 27, 2009

Mary Ann Glendon has too much class for Notre Dame!

Mary Ann Glendon was to be used by Fr Jenkins at Notre Dame to give a speech at the graduation on May 17, to counter the pro-death postion of President Obama. She refused to be used in this manner, to justify disobedience to Catholic teaching. Bravo!
Here is her letter to Fr Jenkins, published in First Things. "Finally, with recent news reports that other Catholic schools are similarly choosing to disregard the bishops’ guidelines, I am concerned that Notre Dame’s example could have an unfortunate ripple effect.
It is with great sadness, therefore, that
I have concluded that I cannot accept the Laetare Medal or participate in the May 17 graduation ceremony."

Noble words from a noble lady. Fr Jonathan Morris said on Fox News today that she is the most widely respected layman in America. Let's see if she creates a ripple effect on her own. She has elicited a less than noble response from Fr Jenkins. here.

4/49 UPDATE: Francis Beckwith seconds my opinion that re-gifting a Laerte Medal is tacky over at Southern Appeal.

Amy Welborn has commentary on her new blog at Belief Net called Via Media. and the Curt Jestor's commentary.

Mona Lisa Project on Glenn Beck Show

CT Gov Rell signs gay marriage bill



Now the Supreme Court's ruling to approve gay marriage will be forced upon the rest of Connecticut, especially the public schools. I am counting the days till I have to take Christina out of her local public school inclusion program. Just visit the website Mass Resistance to see the extremes Gay Lesbian Straight Educational Network (GSLEN)will go to to re-educate your children against the traditional veiws of marriage and family. Be on the lookout for titles like "King and King" and "Who's in a Family?" as the thin edge of the wedge of the gay agenda in your child's school. I just wrote a piece for Canticle magazine's Sept/Oct issue on this subject, and I fully expect it to be outdated by the time it goes to print. Maine, New York, Rhode Island may well have approved gay marriage by then. Then it goes directly to your public school, starting in Kindergarten, according to David Parker who fought a good fight in Lexington, MA. Gay marriage was approved there in 2003, and by 2005 he had a fight on his hands, leading to his arrest and banishment from his 5 year old son's school. Then his son was beaten on the playground, while school officials did nothing.
GSLEN cares about violence against gay students, as stated on it's website, but no one stood up for the little boy whose parents dared object to homosexual indoctrination.
"Rell this afternoon signed Senate Bill 899, which incorporates the findings of the Kerrigan case into Connecticut statutes. That ruling, handed down by the state Supreme Court in October, paved the way for same-sex marriage."

Even though the article mentions an amendment to protect religious instituions, Raymond Arroyo on "The World Over" Friday sounded skeptical as to whether the government might be able to impose homosexual lifestyle indoctrination on Catholic schools.

Why didn't we fight harder?! What happened to Republican Governer Rell?

Heres' one good shepherd, Bishop Thomas J. Tobin of Rhode Island who's not going down without a fight. Read his inspiring piece in the Rhode Island Catholic. "The march toward gay marriage across our nation is relentless, and liberal New England is leading the way. The supporters of gay marriage in Rhode Island are well-organized and well-funded. They’re fiercely determined to impose their politically correct agenda on all the citizens of the state – human history, culture and moral principles not-withstanding. Anyone who opposes them is quickly labeled a bigot.
And what’s the typical response of Catholics in Rhode Island? “As long as it doesn’t affect me, I really don’t care what other people do,” you say. “We shouldn’t judge other people,” you demur. “The Church is losing its influence. I don’t think there’s anything we can do,” you rationalize.

Well, my friends, gay marriage will affect you and you should be concerned. And there’s a lot we can do. . ."

Thank you, Bishope Tobin for your leadership in Rhode Island. Thank you Family Institute of Connecticut and Holy Apostles Seminarians for protesting this disatrous legislation. My heart is broken, but I'm not defeated, like Winston Churchill, I've only begun to fight. My children's future is worth it. I will not have the Catholic faith marginalized while I draw breath.

Read the entire story in the Hartford Courant.

Sebelius and the T4 Program

Hitler's quiet T4 Program targeted disabled people like my precious daughter Christina for elimination by euthanasia. The disabled were the first to visit the deadly showers/gas chambers. Only their clothing returned on the buses which shipped them to Hartheim Castle. Only the clothing had any value to the Nazis. Pope Benedict lost a cousin with Down syndrome to this program.
Thankfully Christina was born 60 years too late to be euthanized for her disability. Or was she?
According to Jon Kyl of Arizona, Sebelius is starting to sound like one of the T4 program officers. Deny medical care to 'useless eaters'.
Like Christina.

"'Allocation of health resources' is a euphemism for denying care based on cost. Yet, Governor Sebelius did not agree to pull this project.
"I believe in the right of every American to choose the doctor, hospital, and health plan of his or her choice. No Washington bureaucrat should interfere with that right or substitute the government's judgment for that of a physician."
"I will oppose Governor Sebelius' nomination because of her insufficient commitment to these principles."



Read the entire post at WI Catholic.

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Obama knows not of what he speaks

“It is the grimmest of ironies that one of the most savage, barbaric acts of evil in history began in one of the most modernized societies of its time, where so many markers of human progress became tools of human depravity: science that can heal, used to kill; education that can enlighten, used to rationalize away basic moral impulses; the bureaucracy that sustains modern life, used as the machinery of mass death, a ruthless, chillingly efficient system where many were responsible for the killing, but few got actual blood on their hands.”
Reading this, you might think that he was talking about abortion.
Nope. He just doesn't get it, does he?

Read the entire story at the NCR blog.

Friday, April 24, 2009

Donohue on Sebelius veto on late term abortion limits

SEBELIUS’ POLITICAL KICKBACK

Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, nominated to be the next secretary of health and human services, vetoed a bill yesterday that would have placed new restrictions on third trimester abortions. Catholic League president Bill Donohue spoke to this issue today:

“The veto by Sebelius was a political kickback to Dr. George Tiller, the infamous abortion doctor who specializes in killing kids just before they are born (and in some cases when they are mostly born). It was also a clear rejection of women’s rights.

“Tiller is a long-time donor and friend of Sebelius, having greased her with so much dough that she can’t even remember how much he has forked up. All along he was buying protection from lawsuits, and yesterday he got what he wanted. Sebelius, like all pro-abortion Catholics, says she wants to reduce abortions, yet what she just did was to shield abortionists like Tiller from publicly stating why it is necessary to kill a kid after the 22nd week of pregnancy. Now he can go about his death trade willy nilly, without any accountability. Moreover, the bill would have allowed a woman to sue if she believed the abortionist lied to her about the need for a late-term abortion. So much for women’s rights.

“Sebelius seems incapable of shame. She waited until the 11th hour yesterday to deliver her body blow: she vetoed the bill at 4:45 p.m. on the 10th and last day before the clock ran out. And President Obama wants to put a person like this in charge of the nation’s healthcare? It just doesn’t get any dirtier than this.”

WAKE UP CONNECTICUT!!!

This post is from my parish pro-life coordinator who also directs 40 Days for Life. By the time I had a chance to post this, Governor Rell signed 899 into law, meaning my child in public school has a clock ticking. The minute the homosexual agenda is made part of the curriculum, she is leaving! This is especially sad in the wake of a PPT meeting I attended today in which I was told that she is doing exceptionally well in Kindergarten. But I won't have her innocence betrayed!

Wednesday night, at 10:55 PM, the Ct House of Representatives voted to pass Senate Bill 899...100 to 44
earlier the same night, the Ct Senate passed the bill 28 to 7...
perhaps you were watching TV maybe even CT-N TV....but most likely you weren't even aware that the Ct Democrats in the House decided to ram through bill SB 899, by suspending the House rules and bringing it for an immediate vote before you would even find out that it passed the Ct State Senate earlier in that same evening!!!
In other words, they didn't want to leave you a chance to respond and to have more of your voices heard...!!! Thankfully, your voices (and many working at the Capital) were the only reason that the Senate even considered any Amendments to Senate Bill 899, that made bad legislation, slightly better, protecting the rights of religious institutions.
Connecticut Supreme Court Justice Peter Zarella ended his dissenting opinion in the Kerrigan case with th e following common sense statements, "the majority has [abused] this court’s power to interpret the constitution in order to mandate a vast and unprecedented social experiment. . . To end an institution that the plaintiffs contend is time honored and special by judicial fiat is a usurpation of the legislative prerogative and a violation of the fundamental right of the people, on which the very existence of our constitution is premised, ‘‘to define, secure and perpetuate the liberties, rights and privileges which they have derived from their ancestors . . . .’’ Conn. Const., preamble."
Last night, during the debate on the House floor, one representative complained that he didn't even know they would be voting today (tonight) on this bill, and he wanted more time to introduce a measure that would provide for parents to be notified that their children could be taught that same-sex marriage is now the law in Connecticut, therefore, normal, and that parents should have the opportunity to know when that would be happening, and also to be able to prevent that indoctrination of their child, sadly this idea was squashed by the Democrats.

Another proposed amendment would have protected businesses, such as Florists or Justices of the Peace, to conscientiously object to dealing with same sex couples, now they will be open to lawsuits! One of the Amendments that made it through the Senate and then the House, was to allow Adoption agencies thatare affiliated with a religious organization, to be protected by their existing beliefs of working with "traditional" couples,but only if they don't accept any gov't funding for their adoption services....if they accept any gov't funding for ADOPTION, then they MUST ADOPT TO SAME-SEX COUPLES, no matter what their deeply held religious values are....WHERE IS THAT SAME PROTECTION FOR GOV'T FUNDING FOR ABORTIONS!!! (So our tax dollars can only go to fund for ADOPTIONS if they include gay and lesbian couples, but our tax dollars are already funding ABORTIONS whether the parents of the "FETUS" are "gay," "lesbian" or "straight"....!!!
The gay rights activists beliefs are protected, but the ProLIFE people are a danger to society...!!! We need a referendum on this entire issue in Connecticut. The Supreme Court should not be deciding major social policy in Connecticut by a 4-3 vote.... Critical social issues like gay marriage should be left up to the people or the people's elected representatives. We should continue to fight for the right of initiatives and referendum in Connecticut so the voices of the people can be properly heard.

I had a Democrat representing Windham, tell me that my values were "religious" and don't belong in the debate, and furthermore told me that my religious views are not in the Bible... how's that for contradictory? (since I get my "religious" views from the Bible) The Democrats think they can push the agenda while we sleep!
LITERALLY!
Well, we need to WAKE UP!!!
Brian Daly

Thanks, Twitter!

Whoever said social networking was for teens was wrong. I just found this wonderful new blog, Beginning to Pray by Anthony Lilles by connecting to him on Twitter. He was also linked to by New Advent whose daily Catholic updates are invaluable. With all the hostility out there to the Church, the more ties which bind us together, the better!

Thursday, April 23, 2009

National Abortion Federation creates abortion emergency

I've seen this link from Reuters on Twitter and Facebook "Recession Linked to more Abortions, Vasectomies" and I was immediately suspicious. Check the sources, I said to myself, and, sure enough the National Abortion Federation is in full panic mode that Americans need abortions most just when funding is drying up. Funding for abortions just hit the jackpot when Obama was elected, don't be fooled by the smokescreen.
Here's a tell tale quote from the article with the baloney in red.

"The recession may (we fervently hope) be a factor influencing more Americans to opt out of parenthood with abortions and vasectomies, although there is no data available yet to suggest a trend. (of course not, because the entire thing is fabricated!)
Even so, there is some anecdotal evidence (from Planned Parenthood donors) that would-be parents are factoring the rough economic times into the most personal of reproductive choices,
some experts said." (Which experts, the ones who work for Planned Parenthood?)

The abortion buddies of Nancy Pelosi (remember she wanted birth control funding in the stimulus package, but was forced to withdraw it?) are just creating a crisis to throw an old friend some support.

You can go home now, folks, nothing to see here. Just the Obama progaganda machine getting warmed up, and creating a crisis only the chosen one can solve with, you guessed it, more abortion funding!!

Creative Minority Report: Parents! We Don't Need No Stinking Parents!

Creative Minority Report: Parents! We Don't Need No Stinking Parents!

CT: SB 899 Passes with protection for religious liberty

from the Family Institute of CT
SB 899 Passes--But *Only* After Being Amended to Protect Religious Liberty!
The headline on The Courant's website nicely summarizes the end result of the fight over SB 899: "Amendment Gives Religious Organizations Exemption to Same-Sex Ruling." Make no mistake: The amendment is not perfect and SB 899 itself is the result of an illegitimate court ruling, not the will of the people.
That said, the bill passed last night is a significant improvement for religious liberty in the wake of that ruling. After the Kerrigan same-sex "marriage" decision, religious liberty in Connecticut was left wide open to each and every one of the ssm-related attacks on it that have occurred elsewhere. The amendment passed last night goes beyond Kerrigan and gives protections to religious liberty in Connecticut that Kerrigan did not. The amendment also gives religious liberty many of the protections which were explicitly rejected by the Judiciary Committee last month.
In my March 6th testimony before the Committee I cited several examples (Boston Catholic Charities being forced out of adoption services, the New Jersey Methodist organization losing tax-exempt status over a pavilion, the Canadian Knights of Columbus hall that was sued) of ssm-related attacks on religious liberty which made an amendment necessary. The Committee treated our concerns with contempt and on March 30th passed SB 899 with no amendment to prevent those attacks. But almost every one of the ssm attacks I mentioned will now be against the law in Connecticut because of the amendment that was passed last night.
When it comes to protecting religious liberty, the version of SB 899 which was passed last night is miles ahead of the Judiciary Committee's version. Of course, you will not hear that from our opponents. They are claiming that they are satisfied with the amendment passed last night. History suggests otherwise.Going into yesterday's vote, the adamant position of Love Makes a Family and its lobbyists was: "Pass 899 with no amendments." Once it became clear that we had the votes for an amendment, their strategy shifted to having Sen. Andrew McDonald offer a phony amendment. But McDonald's amendment was shot down in behind-the-scenes discussions by senators who were unhappy with him and with Rep. Lawlor for forcing yet another religious liberty controversy upon the legislature.
At that point, the only way for Love Makes a Family to claim victory was to say they were satisfied with our amendment, as they are now doing. The overwhelming vote for our amendment was a product of the 20,000 phone calls the legislature received this past week--and of the continuing backlash against SB 1098, the bishop removal bill. Connecticut legislators are very sensitive--at the moment, at least--to any suggestion that they oppose religious liberty. That dynamic helped shift the ground on SB 899 to the point where even Lawlor and McDonald had to vote for an amendment which they surely would have condemned as anti-gay "bigotry" just six weeks ago.
FIC is very grateful to the 60 or so volunteers who joined us throughout the day to lobby legislators. I especially want to acknowledge the seminarians of Holy Apostles College in Cromwell and the prayer warriors of the Connecticut House of Prayer. "We fight not against flesh and blood" and several victories against unseen adversaries occurred yesterday because of your prayers and your support.
As recently as a week ago SB 899 was expected to sail through the legislature with no amendment. That did not happen because of all of you. But, while yesterday was a significant victory for us, there is still more to be done.
An FIC-supported amendment to require parents be notified before "gay-friendly" curricula are taught in schools and be allowed to "opt out" was defeated in the Senate and the House. Watch for more information on that vote and what you can do about it.
We will also have more information about the amendment that did pass last night, the votes on that amendment, our allies, and our usual breakdown of "the good, the bad and the ugly." We cannot do it without you! Please click here to make your most generous donation to the one group leading the fight for faith and family in our state day in and day out: The Family Institute of Connecticut!

Opposition to Sebellius growing; vote delayed

from Operation Rescue
- Opposition to the nomination of Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius as Secretary of Health and Human Services continues to grow as the Senate is flooded with calls, faxes, and e-mails from grassroots campaigns led by an increasing number of conservative, pro-family groups.
This opposition exploded when Operation Rescue made public, and the Associated Press reported the fact that Sebelius had grossly underreported to the Senate Finance Committee the amount of financial support she had received from controversial late-term abortionist George Tiller.
"We have been urging our supporters to call, e-mail, and fax their Senators, and I know several other national groups have been doing the same. It is our understanding that thousands and thousands of people have been voicing their concerns that Gov. Sebelius' extreme views on abortion, and her lack of candor about them, make her unfit to head the Department of Health and Human Services," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman.
After a surprisingly split vote in the Finance Committee on Tuesday, Sebelius' vote in the full Senate has been delayed, and may not occur before Wednesday of next week.
Just prior to this week's committee vote, Sen. Jon Kyl blasted Sebelius for her support of "comparative effectiveness," which means that costs of treatment are considered above the interests of the patient. A "comparative effectiveness" policy would mean that patients who need ceertain treatments could be denied them in order to save money. Sen. Kyl expressed concern over Sebelius' "lack of commitment" to patient safeguards.
"The offensive policy of selecting who lives and who dies using a financial equation is a logical offshoot of Sebelius' extreme views on abortion, and demonstrates an overall lack of concern for human life," said Newman. "She supports aborting healthy babies in the latest stages of pregnancy, so it isn't much of a leap for her to decide that some people are not deserving of certain medical treatments that could save their lives. This is really a Mengle-esque approach to health care with far-reaching implications, and further illustrates why she is unfit for the job at HHS."
More information is available on our Sebelius Fact Page.

Freedom of Speech on the Internet is threatened

Now this should be a bi-patisan issue for bloggers, but I bet you won't see any furor about it at the Daily Kos or the Huffington Post. They know that the true intent of this legislation is to silence right wing bloggers, the way Obama is trying to first vilify and then silence talk show radio hosts like Rush Limbagh. All in the name of national security, bloggers, talk show hosts, tea party attendees, pro-life activists are being blackballed and silenced. Rep McCarthy introduced a bill to draft our children into a civilian police force akin to the Communist pioneers or the Hitler Youth.
Read this chilling report on the Fox News website:
The days of an open, largely unregulated Internet may soon come to an end.
A bill making its way through Congress proposes to give the U.S. government authority over all networks considered part of the nation's critical infrastructure. Under the proposed Cybersecurity Act of 2009,
the president would have the authority to shut down Internet traffic to protect national security.
Read the entire story here.

So, Obama is worried about national security, eh?

Is this the same guy who gave away our interrogation secrets to the world last week?

. . .and shook hands and exchanged insults about America with thugs like Castro and Chavez last week?

Who is about to release the world's most dangerous terrorists into the general population?

And they had the nerve to complain about the Bush Administration bugging foreign cell phone calls?

Maybe Obama needs to re-define national security by saying what he really means is re-election security. He is skewing the Census to make sure the Dems have better election districts, and is steadily silencing the opposition. Bloggers beware!
Maybe Alan Keyes is not so extreme when he warns that Obama will have us under martial law by the time 2012 rolls around. . .and cancel the election. For national security purposes, of course. “'The minute they think they can get away with it, they will end this system of government and that is their intention,' added Keyes, noting that everyone acting as if the time we are in was just “business as usual” reminds him of the attitude of politicians in the Weimar Republic when Hitler was rising to power or eastern Europe when the Communists were taking over after the second world war."

And the whole of Europe stood by and watched until war was inevitable, Hitler was already unstoppable politically.

Are we going to wait that long to fight for our freedom from the increasing oppressive Obama regime?
In four years or less, this will start to sound plausible. I really want to be wrong about this, but I feel a cold chill in my spine when I start to add up the attacks on conservatives in the first 100 days Obama has been in office. It resembles a Latin American junta. First they grab the media. Then they have the nation in a death grip. And we are too busy watching American Idol to care.
May God have mercy on America!

See the entire Alan Keyes article here.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

People of Connecticut don't want SB 899 to curb their freedoms

This poll is vastly reassuring to a new resident who wonders what kind of foreign land she has entered. My red state neighbors might be more permissive than I in terms of supporting gay marriage IF activists don't foist it upon their children's schools, local magistrates, businesses or adoption agencies, which has happened in neighboring Massachusetts, and will happen here if SB899 is passed.

By wide margins, voters don’t want same sex marriage bill without strong religious freedom protection.

View Poll Results
A significant majority of Connecticut voters want significant changes to a proposed Connecticut law on same sex marriage, according to a new Knights of Columbus-Marist poll.
With the Connecticut legislature considering the implementation of the state’s Supreme Court decision in Kerrigan, which mandated same sex marriage, the poll found that Connecticut voters want any legislation to steer clear of violating First Amendment religious liberty protections and oppose many of the legislation’s potential consequences.
Voters are nearly evenly divided (within the margin of error) on the issue of support for politicians who support same sex marriage legislation (with 1 in 5 undecided).
But, by a 3 to 1 margin (57 percent to 19 percent), Connecticut voters are less likely to support a politician who votes in favor of same sex marriage legislation without religious liberty protection for faith based organizations.
Among the poll’s other key findings:
• 7 in 10 disapprove or strongly disapprove of imposing penalties or fines on public officials who refuse to perform same sex marriages for religious reasons.
• By a more than 2 to 1 margin (65 percent to 27 percent) voters disapprove or strongly disapprove of allowing affirmative action quotas and preferences based on sexual orientation for gays and lesbians.
• By a more than 2 to 1 margin (63 percent to 30 percent) voters oppose a law that would allow the promotion in school curriculum of a gay or lesbian lifestyle.

Read the poll findings on the K of C website.

Congressman Smith confronts SS Clinton on abortion



Here's the text of Clinton's response, where she advocates the abortion party-line and manages to completely ignore acknowledging the eugenics views of Margaret Sanger:

CLINTON:
Congressman, I deeply respect your passionate concern and views which you have championed and advocated for over the course of your public career.

We, obviously, have a profound disagreement. When I think about the suffering that I have seen of women around the world, I've been in hospitals in Brazil where half the women were enthusiastically and joyfully greeting new babies and the other half were fighting for their lives against botched abortions.

I've been in African countries where 12 and 13-year-old girls are bearing children. I have been in Asian countries where the denial of family planning consigns women to lives of oppression and hardship.

So we have a very fundamental disagreement and it is my strongly held view that you are entitled to advocate and everyone who agrees with you should be free to do so anywhere in the world, and so are we.

We happen to think that family planning is an important part of women's health and reproductive health includes access to abortion, that I believe should be safe, legal and rare.
I've spent a lot of my time trying to bring down the rate of abortions and it has been my experience that good family planning and good medical care brings down the rate of abortion.

Keeping women and men in ignorance and denied the access to services actually increases the rate of abortion.

During my time as first lady, I helped to create the campaign against teenage pregnancy and while we were working to provide good information, access to contraception, and decision-making that would enable young women to protect themselves and say no, the rate of teen pregnancy went down.

I'm sad to report that after an administration of eight years that undid so much of the good work, the rate of teenage pregnancy is going up.

So we disagree and we are now an administration that will protect the rights of women, including their rights to reproductive health care.

Some questions I have for the Secretary of State:

Did you happen to pass by China in your tour of Asia where they pratically sell girls on the open market because of the One Child Policy your husband supported?

Or the millions of scarred Chinese women whose late term abortions (some while the child was in the birth process) haunt them forever?

Did you try and help the 12 and 13 year olds from being raped, or just offer them murder to solve their problem, and send them back to the arms of the rapist, like Planned Parenthood does?

Or are you so beholden to your Planned Parenthood contributors that you put on the blinders to the suffering of these women?

Madame Secretary, you disgust me with your willfull blindness.

Raymond Arroyo reflects on Mother Angelica

Mother Angelica at 86 and Memories of A Friend Lost
April 20, 2009 Personally, this is a reflective day mingled with joy and sadness. It was exactly a year ago today when Pope Benedict concluded his triumphant Papal visit to America. But a year later it isn’t what the Pope said or did that remains in my memory, so much as the man who sat next to me during our coverage of that visit.

I remember telling my friend and co-host, Father Richard John Neuhaus, who gamely contributed commentary (when we weren’t doing our Abbott and Costello act), that though this papal visit was history we would certainly revive our long running partnership for the next “big event.” Little did either of us realize that this was to be the last “big event” we would share.

Father Neuhaus succumbed to cancer on January 8th of this year. As I read his last book, “American Babylon” he is ever present in my thoughts and prayers. There is however at least one reason I jubilate this day. It is Mother Angelica’s 86th Birthday. Who would have imagined at the end of 2001, after suffering a massive stroke which required emergency brain surgery, that Mother Angelica would still be with us? And yet, eight years later she continues her mission today just as she started it: in contemplative silence and in communion with her Spouse.

Mother’s speech is greatly diminished these days. She no longer tells those hilarious stories or shares her practical teachings, but she is engaged in the lives of her sisters, reacting with those expressive eyes to each bit of shared news and to each funny story related. I spoke with Mother the other day and can attest that her laugh is hearty as ever. And no one saying “I love you” can bring tears to my eyes quicker. It is a relief to know that despite her infirmities, Mother is still with us.
What distinguishes Mother Angelica from just about any other Church leader is her humble origins. She is truly of the people; the product of a working class, dysfunctional immigrant family. That tortured biography would make her more sensitive to the struggles of the common man and allow her to give voice to their greatest hopes. Hers is a story of faith’s power to transform and redeem, not only one life, but millions of lives. Mother Angelica loved Christ enough to offer Him everything, even her voice and her independence.
Today she is continuing to present this final oblation. My great grandmother used to say: compliments and thanks are only worthwhile when you’re living. There is so much I would have liked to have said to Father Neuhaus and to other friends who have departed in recent days. So, following my great grandmother’s advice, on this great day of celebration, I want to offer my love and thanks to Mother Angelica. She has inspired so much of my work and has altered countless lives. But for her, this blog, the entire broadcast apparatus that is EWTN would not exist and you and I might never have met in this way.
On a personal level she has taught me how to communicate in ways I never expected--how to simply let go and reveal the personality that was given me. She has been a true Mother to me, and I know I am not alone in this. Next time that you happen across something moving or insightful, inspirational or challenging on EWTN’s television or radio feed, do me a favor. Stop for a moment and offer a prayer of thanksgiving for the brave and battle scarred woman who gave so much for that message-- the cloistered nun who built a media empire on faith. Her love is still reaching millions around the world; quietly, gently, powerfully. What a gift she is to us on her 86th birthday. Here is wishing you many, many more birthdays Reverend Mother.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Jenn Giroux on Sebelius

To disclose the entirety of the connection between herself and Tiller, the Governor needs to reveal the total political dollars provided by Tiller and his PAC to any organization which used those funds in a state campaign for the offices of Attorney General, Governor, or state legislative post of candidates that the Governor endorsed or directed the funds to be so used. If confirmed, Sebelius will have direct control over millions of tax dollars that will be doled out to the abortion industry nationwide at her discretion and the nation deserves to know her full affiliations with the industry.
Read her entire column on Renew America.

Miss California stands for traditional marriage loses Miss America contest

It was a set up. Perez Hilton knew Miss Carrie Prejean was pro-family and asked her if she supported gay marriage. She paid for her answer by losing the title to equally gorgeous Miss North Carolina. When asked by judge Perez Hilton, an openly gay gossip blogger, whether she believed in gay marriage, Miss California, Carrie Prejean, said "We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite. And you know what, I think in my country, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there, but that's how I was raised."
Miss Prejean, God will reward you for your brave stand. Thanks for being a role model for my daughters! Carrie has several Facebook fan clubs, only one of which has over 3,500 members.
Read the entire story on Fox News.

STOP SEBELIUS URGENT CALL NOW!!!

SEBELIUS CONFIRMATION COULD BE TODAY; OPPOSITION GROWING; CALL NOW

Dear friends,
Sebelius may be confirmed as early as today! Call your senators NOW!
The Senate Finance Committee earlier today narrowly voted to confirm Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to Secretary of Health and Human Services by a vote of 11-8. The vote reflects the growing opposition to Sebelius in light of new revelations about her deep financial ties to the abortion industry and notorious abortionist George Tiller in particular. There is growing momentum against this nomination among Senate members and we need YOU to light up the Senate switchboards. We can stop this by acting NOW!
Please call your senators at 202-224-3121.

Urge them to oppose this radical nomination. Kathleen Sebelius is a threat to our nation’s healthcare. Gov. Sebelius lied to the Senate Finance Committee when she testified she received $12,450 over an eight-year period from infamous late-term abortionist, George Tiller.In reality, Gov. Sebelius received over $35,000 in personal and PAC contributions from Tiller and another $200,000 he donated to ProKanDo, a political action committee dedicated to defeating Sebelius’ pro-life gubernatorial opponent.Kathleen Sebelius is radically wedded to the pro-abortion industry. She must be stopped and we need YOU TO STOP HER! CALL NOW!Please contact Sebelius' home state senators - Sen. Brownback's and Sen. Roberts' offices.

Ask them to stand up against this nomination and stop Sebelius by invoking senatorial courtesy!U.S. Senator Sam Brownback -
Phone: (202) 224-6521
U.S. Senator Pat Roberts -
Phone: (202) 224-4774
Sincerely, in the Lord who IS Life,
Judie Brown,
President,
American Life League

Franciscan order turns 800


The best known order in the Church turning 800, Praised be God, now and forever!
"Speaking to the Franciscans assembled Saturday at Castel Gandolfo, “The Pope recalled how St. Francis heard God’s voice telling him, ‘Repair my house,’ and he urged today’s Franciscans to continue those efforts of fixing the serious ‘ruins’ in society and mankind,” CNS reported.
“Like Francis, always begin with yourself,” Benedict said. “We are the first homes that God wants restored.”

I have a Friary of the Franciscans of the Immaculate close by, and I am so grateful for their gifts to the Church. I can go there for Perpetual Adoration, Latin Masses on feastdays, orthodox counsel, and wonderful Catholic fellowship. There is an air of peace at the Marian Friary of Our Lady of Guadalupe that is delightful and rare.
Happy Birthday Franciscans and their renewal offshoots, the Friars of the Immaculate and the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. (Fr. Luke, CFR, seen with me in this photo)
May God give you His peace.
Read the entire story on the National Catholic Register blog.

Progress on the Apostolic Visitation of Women Religious

Dear Friends in Christ!
I am so happy to greet you at the beginning of this Easter Season.
I wish all of you abundant blessings for a grace-filled season of joy and peace!

Your membership in the Apostolic Visitation Prayer Support group is a sign of great hope to me that you believe in God’s unconditional love and providence for tens of thousands of women religious in the United States. The power of the Risen Lord deepens and renews the vocation He so generously bestowed on each of us who have been called to the religious life. What a joy it is that the Apostolic Visitation Prayer Group now numbers more than 1000 members!

It is my hope that many more men and women will come together through this communications network to thank God for the gift of the consecrated life and to intercede for intentions of the Apostolic Visitation.Phase One of the Apostolic Visitation is well underway. In this phase, the Superiors General of religious communities have been invited to meet individually with me. Their voluntary input of their hopes, joys, and concerns is assisting me in my role as Apostolic Visitator. I have personally been enriched and encouraged by my conversations with the Superiors General I have already met in Rome.
My calendar remains full of new appointments for the next several weeks.As many of you already have read, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith recently announced a study centered on the Leadership Conference of Women Religious. This activity is being conducted by Bishop Leonard Blair of Toledo, Ohio and is independent of the Apostolic Visitation.

The two studies, each with distinctly different goals, are being conducted under the auspices of two separate departments of the Holy See.Please continue to keep all of us in your prayers, as together we deepen our mutual love for the vocation to which God has called us.
I assure you of my prayers for each of you and your families and friends!

Gratefully yours in Christ,
Mother Clare Millea, ASCJ

Soldiers of Christ

Growing up there was a song "I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden, along with sunshine, there's got to be a little rain sometime".

This is the same thing Jesus was saying when He told us "if you want to be my disciple, you must take up your cross and follow me". I just had my college roommate tell me that she was enjoying the unity of Obama.
Bishop Robert T. Finn, a true shepherd and general in the Church Militant gave the Keynote Address at the Gospel of Life Convention in Kansas City. Here's part of his address,
"If you and I fail to realize the meaning and finality behind our choices, and the intensity of the constant warfare that confronts us, it is likely that we will drop our guard, be easily and repeatedly deceived, and even loose the life of our eternal soul.
As bishop I have a weighty responsibility to tell you this over and over again. This obligation is not always easy, and constantly I am tempted to say and do less, rather than more. Almost everyday I am confronted with the persuasion of other people who want me to be silent. But – with God’s grace – you and I will not be silent.
This work of speaking about the spiritual challenges before us is not just the responsibility of the Bishop. I am not the only one entrusted with the work of faith, hope and charity. You are baptized into this Church militant. You are also entrusted with the mission of righteousness. You have the fortification of the sacraments, and the mandate to love as Jesus loved you. You share in the apostolic mission and work of the Church."
Few bishops lead as well as Bishop Finn, here is his bold denunciation of pornography, a silent killer of marriages, and destroyer of the innocence and safety of children, and to our shame, a 9 billion dollar industry, bigger than Holly wood and sports combined.

Read the entire post at Catholic Key Blog.

Monday, April 20, 2009

Hate Crimes legislation threatens the First Amendment

Democrats in Congress are pushing to create a new class of crimes based on the victim's "actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity."
Under such "hate-crime" laws, pastors could be prosecuted for preaching the biblical view of homosexuality. Similar laws have been used to prosecute religious speech in the U.S. and abroad.
The U.S. House Judiciary Committee is expected to take up the legislation — H.R. 1913 — this week.
Tony Perkins, president of FRC Action, said the legislation "gives one set of crime victims a higher level of protection than it gives to (others)."
"All people deserve to be protected from crime, not just certain groups," he said.


Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, called the legislation one more assault on traditional values.
“A crime’s a crime; an assault is an assault," he said. "The penalty should be the same for the people doing those terrible things.”
TAKE ACTION

If your U.S. representative serves on the Judiciary Committee, please call the committee — (202) 225-3951 — as well as his or her office and request a vote against the hate-crimes bill.
If your representative does not serve on the committee, please call the committee line — (202) 225-3951.
If you have trouble getting through to Washington, try your lawmaker's
district office.

The Church in America needs the Catholic League

Deacon Keith Fournier wrote a column about the Catholic League.
"I am deeply grateful for the work of the Catholic League in defending the Catholic Church and all of her sons and daughters at the beginning of a new missionary age. In the boardroom, the marketplace, at the movies, in the halls of political power, on the television, the internet or on the front page of newspapers, they are there to defend the rights of the Church to proclaim and live her liberating message. I am convinced that as our culture becomes increasingly hostile to the message of the Catholic Church we need this defender of the faith now, more than ever. "

I couldn't have said it better myself! It was my great pleasure to meet Dr Donohue at the Society of Catholic Social Scientists Meeting in October 2007 and praise his leadership in defence of the Church in person. The speaker who introduced him said he was chosen to lead the League because on a televised 'talking heads' debate during which he defended the Boy Scouts vigorously, he signed off with a smile. He takes his battle seriously, not his ego. Bill Donohue is the St Thomas More of our day. Let's hope he escapes his fate.

Read the entire column here.

Laura Ingraham on Sibelius's ties with late term abortionist Tiller


HT Catholic Fire

Divine Mercy Chaplet Video from EWTN

Lila Rose in Memphis, TN

Student Undercover Video Shows Tennessee Planned Parenthood Coaching14-year-old To Lie About Age Of "Boyfriend"
Contact: Lila Rose,
lilarose@liveaction.org,
408-497-3982
MEMPHIS,
April 20--A counselor at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Memphis, TNwas caught on hidden camera coaching a 14-year-old girl to lie to a judge so he would not find out about her 31-year-old boyfriend and the girl could obtain a waiver for an abortion without her parents' knowledge.
This is thesixth Planned Parenthood clinic implicated in a developing multi-state child abuse scandal involving the deliberate suppression of evidence of statutory rape.Lila Rose, 20-year-old UCLA student and president of the nonprofit LiveAction, entered Planned Parenthood's Memphis Health Center undercover and told a counselor that she was 14 years old, pregnant by her 31-year-old"boyfriend", and needed a secret abortion so her parents would not find outabout her sexual relationship with the older man.
Tennessee Code 37-1-605requires health professionals to report suspected cases of sexual abuse ofminors to law enforcement immediately.
The Planned Parenthood counselor tells Rose on camera, "Look, if we keep this conversation I'm gonna have to talk to my manager and yeah, [your boyfriend]'s gonna get in trouble," but promises, "I'm not gonna tell anybody, ok?" She adds, "And please don't say that I told you this." When Rose tells the counselor she thinks her boyfriend will get in trouble if her parents find out, the counselor advises Rose to lie about the man's age when speaking to a judge in order to obtain a by pass of Tennessee's parental consent law for abortion: "Don't mention it. Just say you have a boyfriend 17 years old...whatever."
"The Planned Parenthood counselor hears about the abuse, says she should report it, decides to remain silent, then tells me to lie to the judge about 31-year-old man." Rose notes of the video. The new video marks the fifth in Live Action's "Mona Lisa Project," a nationwide undercover investigation that documents Planned Parenthood'srepeated non compliance with state mandatory reporting laws for sexual abuse of minors. Tennessee is the third state to be implicated in the controversy, along with Arizona and Indiana."This is the sixth clinic we have recorded that manipulates the law and covers up sexual abuse. Planned Parenthood's abortion-first mentality makes it operate as an advocate for terrible crimes against children," Rose states. "What more do authorities need to see before holding this organization accountable for its institutionalized indifference to statutory rape and sexual abuse of children?"
View the video online at
http://liveaction.org/memphis###
Live Action Online

1. http://liveaction.org/email
2. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=19499808086
3. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Live-Action/49651563727
4. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=19499808086
5. http://twitter.com/liveactionfilms
6. http://www.youtube.com/liveactionfilms
7. http://liveactionfilms.org/donateAbout

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Why we need God's mercy more than ever

I have been reading "A Mother's Ordeal" by Steve Mosher, the story of a Chinese woman and her intense suffering growing up in China during the Cultural Revolution as an abortionist in the one child policy makes one shudder with horror that Obama will be sending our money to fund this horrible regime.
And here he is embracing another murderous thug,Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, who has declared himself "pope" of the Catholic Church in his country and Presdent Bush, "Satan".


Lord, forgive us our misjudgement for voting for Obama, convert him and Hugo Chavez from their evil ways, and heal this nation before we self-destruct in our sins.

Bishop Wenski offers a Mass of Reparation for Notre Dame scandal

All are Invited to the Mass of Reparation
As Catholics we are aware of the many shortcomings and transgressions committed against the dignity and sacredness of human life in our world. That is why it is inconceivable that Notre Dame University, a Catholic institution of higher learning, should receive and honor anyone who promotes policies that are contradictory to who we are as a people of faith.
As our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI stated in his visit to the U.S. last year in reference to Catholic university presidents, "to justify positions that contradict the faith and teaching of the church would obstruct or even betray the university’s identity and mission."
Mass of Reparation
May 3 at 6:00 p.m.
Cathedral of St. James
215 N. Orange Avenue
Downtown Orlando
Come and pray with Bishop Wenski for all of our transgressions against the Gospel of Life.
Reparation is the making amends for a wrong done or for an offense against God. By his death on the cross, the Son of God offered his life out of love for the Father to make reparation for our sinful disobedience (CCC #614).
We are obliged to make reparation for personal sins against justice and truth (CCC #2412 and #2487).

Saturday, April 18, 2009

More on profiling of pro-lifers

The following link, provided by CBS Political News Hotsheet, leads from this posting to the full report by Homeland Security on “Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment, issued April 7, 2009.
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/04/16/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry4949431.shtml
The report, prepared by the “Extremism and Radicalization Branch, Homeland Environment Threat Analysis Division” was coordinated with the FBI. It includes under the definition of “Rightwing extremism,” “groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration.”
Among other things, the report states: “Many rightwing extremists are antagonistic toward the new presidential administration and its perceived stance on a range of issues . . . From the 2008 election timeframe to the present, rightwing extremists have capitalized on related racial and political prejudices in expanded propaganda campaigns, thereby reaching out to a wider audience of potential sympathizers.”
While the report is labeled unofficial and for official use only, it has been circulating widely and when questioned, about it Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said intelligence reports highlighting the potential terrorist threats posed by right wing extremists groups are "not accusations, they're assessments." See her response at the link provided above.
Under “Revisiting the 1990s,” the report parallels today’s situation with that of the 1990s, and speaks of the exploitation of “a variety of social issues and political themes [used] to increase group visibility and recruit new members. Prominent among these themes,” it states, were “perceived government infringement on civil liberties as well as white supremacists’ longstanding exploitation of social issues such as abortion, inter-racial crimes, and same-sex marriage. During the 1990s,” it continues, “these issues contributed to the growth in the number of domestic rightwing terrorist and extremist groups and an increase in violent acts targeting government facilities, law enforcement officers, banks, and infrastructure sectors.”
Jane Gilroy, PhD, President
Long Island Chapter University Faculty for Life

Friday, April 17, 2009

On profiling pro-lifers: Thomas More Socitey Lawsuit

Janet Napolitano is Lying to Americans About Her Department’s Rightwing Extremism Report
Radio talk show host Michael Savage said that he is a party to this suit.
Friday, April 17, 2009 ANN ARBOR, MI –
The Thomas More Law Center, a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, announced that yesterday evening it filed a federal lawsuit against Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. The lawsuit claims that her Department’s “Rightwing Extremism Policy, ” as reflected in the recently publicized Intelligence Assessment, “Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment, ” violates the civil liberties of combat veterans as well as American citizens by targeting them for disfavored treatment on account of their political beliefs.

Click here to read the complaint filed by the Thomas More Law Center.

Napolitano tried to blunt the public furor over the Report by a half-hearted apology to veterans, but she left out of her apology all of the other Americans her Department has targeted because of their political beliefs. In fact, officials in DHS now admit that their internal office of civil liberties objected to the language in the extremism report, but the Department issued it anyway.
Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Law Center stated, “Janet Napolitano is lying to the American people when she says the Report is not based on ideology or political beliefs. In fact, her report would have the admiration of the Gestapo and any current or past dictator in the way it targets political opponents. This incompetently written intelligence assessment, which directs law enforcement officials across the country to target and report on American citizens who have the political beliefs mentioned in the report, will be used as a tool to stifle political opposition and opinions. It will give a pretext for opponents of those Americans to report them to police as rightwing extremists and terrorists. You can imagine what happens then.”
The Report specifically mentions the following political beliefs that law enforcement should use to determine whether someone is a “rightwing extremist”:
Opposes restrictions on firearms
Opposes lax immigration
Opposes the policies of President Obama regarding immigration, citizenship, and the expansion of social programs
Opposes continuation of free trade agreements
Opposes same-sex marriage me
Has paranoia of foreign regimes
Fear of Communist regimes me
Opposes one world government
me
Bemoans the decline of U.S. stature in the world.
Upset with loss of U.S. manufacturing jobs to China and India
. . . and the list goes on
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan on behalf of nationally syndicated conservative radio talk show host, Michael Savage, Gregg Cunningham (President of the pro-life organization Center for Bio-Ethical Reform, Inc (CBR)), and Iraqi War Marine veteran Kevin Murray. The Law Center claims that Napolitano’s Department (DHS) has violated the First and Fifth Amendment Constitutional rights of these three plaintiffs by attempting to chill their free speech, expressive association, and equal protection rights. The lawsuit further claims that the Department of Homeland Security encourages law enforcement officers throughout the nation to target and report citizens to federal officials as suspicious rightwing extremists and potential terrorists because of their political beliefs.
Thompson added, “The Obama Administration has declared war on American patriots and our Constitution. The Report even admits that the Department has no specific information on any plans of violence by so-called ‘rightwing extremists.’ Rather, what they do have is the expression of political opinions by certain individuals and organizations that oppose the Obama administration’s policies, and this expression is protected speech under the First Amendment.”
The Law Center is asking the court to declare that the DHS policy violates the First and Fifth Amendments, to permanently enjoin the Policy and its application to the plaintiffs’ speech and other activities, and to award the plaintiffs their reasonable attorney’s fees and costs for having to bring the lawsuit.
Click here to read the DHS extremism report.
The Thomas More Law Center defends and promotes America’s Christian heritage and moral values, including the religious freedom of Christians, time-honored family values, and the sanctity of human life. It supports a strong national defense and an independent and sovereign United States of America. The Law Center accomplishes its mission through litigation, education, and related activities. It does not charge for its services. The Law Center is supported by contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations, and is recognized by the IRS as a section 501(c)(3) organization. You may reach the Thomas More Law Center at (734) 827-2001 or visit our website at www.thomasmore.org.

Happy Birthday, Pope Benedict!


Last year, the Holy Father spent his 80th birthday in the USA. What a wonderful time I had at the Papal Youth Rally in Dunwoodie, NY where I taped the interviews for my article "The Pope of the Young" in the National Catholic Register.
Hard to believe it was a year ago.Read about it here at the National Catholic Register blog.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

I'm one of America's most wanted!

According to this warning most of my friends and I are being listed as dangers to the state.
Some of the people I admire most were jailed under the Clinton regime for violating FACE laws (ie praying in front of or accross the street from abortion mills). Now after 8 years of tolerance under the Bush administration, we are back on the watch list.
Ask Pastor Walter Hoye what kind of freedom of speech he was allowed when he was arrested and jailed for a month for saying "Jesus loves you" to abortion-bound women in front of an Oakland abortion mill.
If being a pro-lifer is against the law, the jails will be filling up shortly in South Bend, IN.

"In the new document, the Department of Homeland Security warned law officials about a supposed rise in "rightwing extremist activity," saying the poor economy and presence of a black president could spark problems.
According to the Washington Times, a footnote attached to the nine-page report from the Homeland Security Office of Intelligence and Analysis say the activities of pro-life advocates is included in "rightwing extremism in the United States.”"It may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single-issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration," the warning says."

I smell a rat. Planned Parenthood is claiming it will have a 'unique roll' in the Obama health care plan. They have to clear out the potential troublemakers first. Like me.
Read the entire story at Life News.

Providence RI Tea Party

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

RB 899 - Religious Liberty Threatened - Again!!!


Soon, possibly as early as the beginning of next week (April 20th), the Connecticut legislature could take up Raised Bill 899, dealing with same-sex marriage. It supposedly will simply implement the Connecticut Supreme Court’s Kerrigan decision legalizing same sex marriage, but Raised Bill 899 actually goes much farther.
The bill comes from the same Judiciary Committee co-chairmen who tried just a few short weeks ago to push through Bill 1098 (taking away all administrative authority from Catholic bishops and priests) and Bill 1138 (allowing assisted suicide).
Raised Bill 899 goes beyond what even the State Supreme Court requires. This bill goes too far. It repeals provisions of current law that: · protect our chil dren from government indoctrination in sexual lifestyles, · prevent judges from imposing sexual lifestyle quotas in employment and housing, · safeguard the integrity of teachers in both public and private schools.
Raised Bill 899 sets the stage for legal attacks against any person, association, business or church that does not accept and celebrate alternative sexual lifestyles. The private lawsuits that this bill authorizes would have serious financial consequences for individuals, companies and other groups targeted by litigants. Raised Bill 899 provides no religious liberty protection for religiously affiliated groups, such as the Knights of Columbus.
The Judiciary Committee refused even to consider an amendment that would provide real protection for religious groups. Please contact your state senator and representative immediately, and tell them to oppose passage of Raised Bill 899. If you’re not sure who your state legislators are, go to the legislature's website (http://www.cga.ct.gov) and use their "Find Your Legislator" feature. You can place phone calls through the Capitol Switchboard at (860) 622-2200 or call your legislators toll-free at:
Senate: Democrats: 1-800-842-1420 Republicans: 1-800-842-1421 House: Democrats: 1-800-842-1902 Republicans: 1-800-842-1423
Also, an easy-to-use website (www.actnowct.org) has been set up that allows you to send your message on line.
Send your emails today!Please pass this email on to everyone you know in Connecticut who is concerned about religious liberty and rights to freedom of conscience! Legislators in Hartford heard us loud and clear when we objected to Bill 1098. They must hear us now on Raised Bill 899!